Kitabı oku: «One Kiss In... Hawaii», sayfa 7

9

IT SEEMED AS IF IT TOOK A LIFETIME for the water to adjust to the right temperature. In a small, crazy way, Mia wished that she hadn’t coaxed David to join her. She wasn’t sure she wanted to have sex for the first time with him while standing up. She could’ve taken the fastest shower in history, gotten all squeaky clean and been ready for him to do all kinds of delightful, unspeakable things to her in mere minutes.

Not that he was wasting any time while they waited. He pushed aside her hair and kissed the back of her neck, slowly moving his hips so that she could feel his need for her rubbing hot and heavy against her ass. She closed her eyes, totally forgetting where they were for a minute, and then his hands were on her shoulders and he was gently guiding her toward the spray of lukewarm water.

He let her go and, instantly feeling bereft, she turned her head to look at him. He smiled, kissed the tip of her nose, and took the big puffy lavender bath pom-pom off the granite shelf and started soaping it.

“Is that yours?” she asked, surprised.

“No.” The affronted face he made was really cute. “It came with the suite. I had it unwrapped and ready just in case.”

She grinned. “Just in case?”

“All right, I admit it. I knew I was getting you back here if I had to throw you over my shoulder.”

“Ah, you say the sweetest things.”

With one dark brow cocked in amusement, he slid the soapy, fragrant pom-pom down her back and over her buttocks, then wedged his hand between her thighs and slowly slid the pom-pom back and forth.

She gasped and turned to face the tiled wall, using it to brace herself. She didn’t utter another sound, just closed her eyes and let him glide his hands down her inner thigh to her ankle. He thoroughly washed her calf and then swept up her other calf, causing her to hold her breath when he lingered at her opposite thigh. When he finally moved up higher, it was his hand he used to wash her pussy.

He slid a finger between her lips, and she tensed, then shuddered convulsively.

“Easy, baby,” he whispered, slowly withdrawing his finger. “Not yet.”

She hadn’t come, if that’s what he thought. That would be insanely fast, but that she could feel such acute arousal so quickly, that she could come so close to falling off the edge shocked the hell out of her. When he went back to scrubbing her back gently with the pom-pom, she swallowed hard, not sure if she welcomed the delay.

But it became obvious that was his intention, and she willed the quivering in her chest and legs to stop as he finished lathering her arms and shoulders.

“Turn around,” he said in a gravelly voice that made it hard for her to move.

He didn’t wait, but took her by the shoulders and forced her to face him. His gaze went to her breasts. Hers went to his swollen cock, and she leaned back against the cold tile wall for support. She wanted him inside her. Wanted him with a growing desperation she didn’t think herself capable of.

Setting aside the pom-pom, he lathered his hands and then cupped her breasts. She looked at his face, but his lids lowered as he concentrated on torturing her tight, aching nipples. But his lips…God, his lips were damp, the tip of his tongue slowly swiping at his lower lip.

“Kiss me,” she whispered.

His gaze leisurely rose to meet hers, one side of his mouth quirking up slightly. “Where?”

“Everywhere.”

His nostrils flared, he flexed his jaw. He released her breasts, rinsed his hands and made sure she was soap free, as well. Then he turned off the water and grabbed a big fluffy towel off the rack.

She stepped out of the shower into the waiting towel, and he dried her off, starting with her shoulders and neck, kissing every area he dried as he went down her body. He lingered at her breasts, laving each budded nipple before circling them with the pointed tip of his tongue. She closed her eyes while he nipped and suckled and scraped with his teeth. When he got to her belly, her eyes flew open, but he startled her by not slowing. Instead, he quickly dispensed with the job of drying off the rest of her.

When she reached for the other towel to return the favor, he stopped her. Employing the same towel he’d used on her, he impatiently took on the job himself, making a swift task of it.

He surprised her yet again by slipping his arms around her, hauling her against him and kissing her thoroughly and a bit roughly, all vestiges of his illustrious control crumbling before her.

The thought that she could do that to him thrilled her. She figured it was time to give him a surprise or two, and wrapped her hand around his cock.

He jerked, uttering a guttural sound that was both primal and sexy. His already dark dilated eyes turned the color of midnight, and he stared at her as if she’d somehow betrayed him.

She didn’t let up. She stroked downward, and as she came back up, found the moist crown with a sweep of her thumb. Bending to taste him, she was abruptly stopped by his hand threading through her partially damp hair. He grabbed a fistful and pulled her up, and if she hadn’t willingly complied, she had a feeling he wouldn’t have been gentle. The idea should have appalled her, not thrilled her.

“Wait,” he said, his grip on her gradually loosening. He massaged her scalp for a moment, then lifted her chin and kissed her softly on the lips. “You’re making me crazy,” he whispered against her mouth. “But you know that, don’t you?”

“You think I have any sanity left?” she answered breathlessly.

He smiled, his breath coming out in rasps, teasing her sensitive jaw and throat.

“Come here,” he said, dragging her with one hand toward the bed and grabbing the duvet with the other.

She got the message and helped him stash the duvet then toss the myriad of decorative pillows onto a green upholstered chair. As soon as the bed was cleared off, they fell onto the sheets in a tangle of arms and legs.

“I sure hope you have condoms,” she said, the thought just occurring to her.

“A whole big box.” He pushed the hair away from her face and kissed her eyes, her nose, her cheeks, then rolled over and got the condoms out of the nightstand drawer and set the box next to the lamp.

Mia grinned. He wasn’t kidding. It was a really big box. “Cocky bastard.”

“Confident.” He licked one nipple, rolled the other one around with his palm. “Big difference.”

She wasn’t in any mood to debate. She closed her eyes, and his hand slid to her belly, lower, pausing to trace the outline of her bikini wax as he urged her thighs apart. There was no need to ready her. She was wet and slick, and she vaguely thought to remind him again about a condom. Expecting to feel his hand, she jerked, opened her eyes when she felt his hot breath mingling with her moist heat.

When she looked down, all she saw was the top of his head. He’d forced her legs wider open without her realizing it, and maneuvered himself into position. She sucked in some air and fisted the sheets when his tongue flattened against her, then firmed and pointed to slip between her folds. He instantly found the right spot, jolting her to her core, and she bit back a cry.

She wanted to stop him. He was too good with his mouth, too precise with his tongue. She wanted them to come together. She did. But she couldn’t quite make him stop, either.

As the pressure mounted, instinctively she shoved at his shoulders. He wouldn’t let up. She squirmed, moaned, shoved some more, startled a minute later to discover she’d cupped her hands behind his head to urge him on.

The tremors started. Dizzying sensations shimmered through her body as the convulsion started slowly, built and built until she shattered.

He brought his head up in the middle of it, quickly sheathed himself, looming over her as he pulled her legs around his hips. He pushed into her with one deep thrust that had her bucking up to meet him. She moaned, met his next thrust by wrapping her thighs around his hips as tight as she could. He didn’t stop until she begged for mercy.

MIA YAWNED AND STRETCHED, smiled when David tightened his arm around her naked waist. He lay flat on his stomach, his face buried against the side of her breast. She didn’t think he was fully awake yet, kind of caught in the twilight between sleep and alertness, and she didn’t want to disturb him. Neither of them had slept much.

She kept as still as possible and stared out at the clear blue morning sky. They hadn’t bothered to draw the drapes. Apart from the breathtaking view, being on the top floor facing the ocean had its advantages.

Neither of the past two days seemed completely real yet. In fact, no part of her life seemed real at this point. She still hadn’t accepted the idea that come Monday morning, she wouldn’t be waking up at five-fifteen, donning a suit and running for the subway to make it to the office before seven. She wouldn’t be seeing David, either, as she had almost every Monday for the past three years. It didn’t matter that there would be no rules or ethical barrier to prevent them from seeing each other. His life was the firm, hers would be swallowed whole by Anything Goes.

It wasn’t even a matter of choice on her part. The business had to succeed. It was her responsibility to make that happen after pushing hard for the idea, after convincing Lindsey and Shelby to quit their jobs. She owed them big-time.

Mia looked down at his dark, mussed-up hair, his broad muscled shoulders. How easy it had been a day or two ago to dismiss this week as a fling. No sweat, she’d reasoned. She’d been out to have a good time, a last hurrah before burying herself in work. David had blown her plans to smithereens.

God, she should have known better. Why hadn’t she summoned enough good sense to run the other way? Deep down she probably had known one encounter would propel her headlong into trouble, but the temptation of him had been impossible to resist.

Silly that she’d been reluctant to have sex for the first time in the shower. How on earth had she ever thought it would only be sex? Last night they’d made love.

“’Morning,” he murmured, and kissed the side of her breast.

His rough chin tickled, and she giggled. “’Morning back.”

He lifted his head, and smiled down at her. “What’s funny?”

She touched his face. “I’ve never seen you anything but clean shaven.”

“You’ve never seen me on Sundays. I rarely shave,” he said, rubbing his jaw and eyeing the spot on her breast where he’d kissed her. His gaze moved to her hardened nipple, and his face seemed to transform in a second.

Desire burned in his eyes, and he did that thing with his tongue, where the tip peeked out and dampened the center of his lower lip.

“You’ve got to be kidding,” she said with a laugh.

“What?”

She shook her head, and curled up on her side, facing him, her thighs clamped together.

He sank back down on his pillow with a hangdog expression. “I only wanted to fool around a little.”

“A little?” she asked, surprised to find that she was a bit sore. “Think we’d stop at a little?”

“I’ll have you know, I have an iron will.”

“Uh-huh. I’m pretty sure you lost your right to that claim last night.” She caught the glint of lust and determination in his eyes just before he reached for her.

“Whose fault is that?” he asked as he wedged his knee between her thighs.

She got the giggles again. “Stop it. Right now.”

“Or else?”

“Or else—” She jumped as his hand slid between her legs and accurately hit its mark. “No fair,” she responded weakly.

“Tough.” His mouth curved in a devilish smile as he moved in to kiss her.

She lightly bit his lower lip.

“Ouch.” He ran his tongue over the abused area. “That hurt.”

She knew that was a lie. “Tough.”

“Okay,” he said, nodding with challenge in his eyes. “You want to play rough?”

She let out a yelp and pulled the covers over her head.

He dove in after her.

DAVID FELT BADLY when he finally got it that Mia was really sore. Last night he’d been in too much of a haze to keep track of how many times they’d made love, but when he checked the box, he found there were four condoms missing.

Four times in fourteen hours. Hell, he hadn’t known he still had it in him. Worse, he wanted her again. But as he’d watched her wince as she got out of bed, his conscience quelled the notion. Though he couldn’t ease the absurd pride he felt, knowing that he was the first man she’d been with in a very long time.

She’d admitted as much—almost as an apology—when she begged off to take a soothing warm bath and made him promise not to bother her for at least a half hour. As much as he needed a shower himself, he wanted to give her privacy.

Coffee. That’s what he wanted right now. A big pot of very strong black coffee. He yawned, rubbed his gritty eyes. Ah, hell, it was almost ten-thirty. They should probably eat, too, they’d missed dinner altogether.

He picked up the phone, thought briefly about knocking on the bathroom door to get her order, but after three years of watching her trying secretly to stash candy bars in her desk drawer, he knew she had a sweet tooth. If she didn’t like what he ordered, they’d get something else.

Room service answered promptly and took his order of coffee, orange juice, eggs Benedict and an assortment of pastries. The poor woman tried to narrow down his definition of assortment, but he basically told her to bring anything that was on the breakfast menu and made with sugar.

After hanging up, he moved to the patio door to look out over the ocean, stopping short of stepping onto the balcony. He didn’t have a stitch on and had no desire to flash anyone. Sailboats glided across the calm water a fair distance from shore, where small waves broke gently to lap at the sand. Waikiki beach was perfect for swimming, appealing to both young and old.

To the east toward Diamond Head, a dozen or so surfers took advantage of the moderate waves. Beginners, probably. He wondered if Mia wanted to give surfing a try, although he still had quite a list of recommended sights to see on the island.

He turned around and eyed the wrecked bed, the sheets one big snarl of silk, pillows everywhere. No, they weren’t going to make it through half the list at this rate, and damned if he cared. He picked up the pillows and smoothed out the sheets, trying to restore some kind of order. Room service would deliver their breakfast to the dining room through the parlor, but he didn’t want the housekeeping staff to have to face this mess.

Mia’s tank top and bikini bottoms were on the floor near the door, but he had no idea where the rest of her clothes—or his, for that matter—had landed. He looked under the duvet and found his swim trunks. The whereabouts of his shirt was still a mystery when his cell phone rang. He had no trouble locating it because he’d had the good sense to park it in its charger last night.

He had a strong hunch as to who was calling and warily eyed the illuminated caller display. As he suspected, it was his father. David scrubbed a weary hand down his face. He didn’t want to answer. He had nothing to report yet, and admittedly, didn’t even want to think about having to talk to Mia about returning to the firm.

Aware his father wouldn’t give up just because his call went to voice mail, David picked up the phone. While extending his greeting, he paced toward the bathroom door, listening to make sure Mia hadn’t cut short her bath.

The pleasantries were brief. “Well, son, any news for us?”

David massaged the tension at the back of his neck. “Not yet.”

A pause, and then his father asked, “Have you talked to her at all?”

“I’ve only been here two days.”

“But you’ve seen her.”

“Yes.”

His father’s lengthy silence was fraught with questions, possibly an accusation. “I hope you understand how important it is to the firm that we bank this new client.”

David’s patience slipped. “How can you say that to me?”

“You’re right, of course.” His father paused again and sighed heavily, and David pictured him pinching the bridge of his nose, frustrated and annoyed that he wasn’t in control of the situation. “How’s the weather there?”

David smiled. “Fine. Just fine. Look, I’ll talk to her. At the right time. You have to trust me on this.”

“Of course I do, son. I apologize if I seem overbearing. It’s just that it’s been rather tense around here lately. Peter sent out the memo yesterday regarding our decision to curtail a number of the usual amenities and the employees are beginning to ask questions. Rightfully so, but we don’t have answers. No sense in further sounding the alarm.”

Guilt sliced deep. He could explain that her plans for starting a new business made getting her back more complicated, but that would aggravate rather than alleviate his father’s worries. Besides, that wouldn’t be the entire reason behind David’s stalling. “I agree” was all he could bring himself to say, especially when he didn’t agree one bit. But he knew better than to try to dissuade his father from being more forthcoming with the employees. The word layoff wasn’t in his father’s vocabulary.

“Well, I guess that’s it then.”

“How is Mother? Everything well with her?”

“Fine, fine. She’s at the Club having cocktails with Gwendolyn Mears, as we speak. Naturally I haven’t burdened her with this unfortunate situation.”

“No, that would be unnecessary.” David smiled thinly. His parents were of a different generation, all right. His thoughts went to Mia. It wouldn’t be like that with them. They’d share everything, the good and the bad. She was smart, intuitive, eager to jump in and problem-solve. He’d relied on her opinion many times; he was certain he would again.

The unbidden idea of them as a couple building a life together shocked him, but what surprised him even more was that the thought dug in to him and wouldn’t let go. Longing stirred deep and fierce inside him, derailing his thoughts as they spiraled into a vortex of uncertainty and fear. He’d known for a while that she was special, and he’d long suspected there could be something big between them, but this was different, this was serious…

“David?”

He gulped in air, exhaled shakily. “Yes, sorry. I’d ordered room service. I thought I heard them knocking.”

“You should go. I have nothing more.” Another pause. “Before we hang up, anything I should know?”

David cleared his throat. “Everything is under control.”

They hung up, and he stood motionless for a good minute, staring out at the endless sea. He finally tossed the cell phone on the nightstand and took a shuddering breath. Then he turned and saw Mia standing outside the bathroom, bundled in the thick white courtesy robe, her gaze curious. Or was that suspicion?

10

DAVID DID A QUICK MENTAL REPLAY of the end of his phone conversation and decided he hadn’t said anything detrimental. He blinked away his guilt, determined that neither his father nor his responsibility to the firm was going to steal this moment away from him. Then he saw her wet, with straight hair, and her skin—devoid of makeup—was smooth and dewy. But it was her startlingly emerald-green eyes that got him every time.

“Is everything okay?” Mia cinched the belt of her robe, her gaze lowering to his bare chest, to his belly, to his cock. She moistened her lips.

That’s all it took for him to start getting hard. “Don’t worry, you’re safe,” he said. “Room service is on their way so I won’t be jumping you. At least not in the next hour.”

Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “You have to go back, don’t you?”

He’d started for the bathroom to grab the other robe, but he stopped, frowning. “Go back?”

“To New York. The phone call, I thought—” She shrugged sheepishly. “I wasn’t listening. I just walked out here, but from the look on your face I was sure your vacation had been cut short.”

“No, it was my father, but—” He took her hand and pulled her close to press a light kiss to her lips. “It was nothing. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Good.” She looped her arms around his neck and moved her hips against him.

“Ah, being brave because you know we’re about to be interrupted.”

Her smile was real this time. “Uh-huh.”

“You underestimate me.” He jerked the robe’s belt free.

She let out a shriek of laughter, gathered the lapels together and backed away. “I need coffee. I need food. I seriously need to recover. Have mercy.”

“I’d rather have Mia.”

“Funny.”

A gap in the robe exposed the tempting curve of her right breast, and he had to hold very still. So much for his grand plan to take it slowly. “I have time for a quick shower. Room service will come to the parlor door. Do me a favor and sign for it, please?”

“I’ll listen for them,” she said, and gave him a pat on his ass as he turned for the bathroom.

David chuckled and shot her a warning look before he closed the door behind him. Too late he realized he should’ve brought clean clothes in with him. The other robe hung on the back of the door, but he wanted to be dressed and ready to hit the road as soon as they were done eating breakfast. It would be too easy to crawl back into bed with her.

He doubted she’d resist, and her being sore wasn’t the issue—he knew how to please her without burying himself inside of her. But that’s not how he wanted to spend the rest of their time together. Every minute counted. Once he presented the firm’s offer, their relationship had to be on stable ground.

After turning on the shower, he fiddled with the spray control and waited for the temperature to be just right before he got in. He lifted his face to the jetting water. The force was harsh and stung his skin, but he left it alone. The punishment was mild, he decided, but with any luck, strong enough to wash away his lingering guilt.

BY THE TIME THEY HAD EATEN, gotten dressed and Mia had touched base with Shelby and Lindsey, it was already early afternoon. Although David had planned an outing to the north shore of the island via a picnic and swim at Waimea Falls, Mia nixed the idea in favor of sticking closer to Waikiki. She was worn out, feeling lazy and really curious why David seemed determined to fill their every waking hour with a planned activity.

When she suggested taking a long walk down the beach and then finding an outside bar to have a drink, he’d immediately countered with a proposal to first visit ‘Iolani Palace and the Bishop Museum, both relatively short drives from the hotel. She agreed, and actually enjoyed the outing, especially the tour of ‘Iolani Palace, the only true royal palace used as a residence by a reigning monarch and standing on American soil.

Naturally David opted for the guided tour, which she admitted was informative and fascinating, but as soon as the tour ended and they left the palace, he was ready to hop in the car and head for the Bishop Museum. She put on the brakes, grabbing his hand and forcing him to sit beside her on a shaded stone bench.

“You do realize that you’re the kind of person who gives us New Yorkers a bad name,” she told him, dismayed that he immediately slipped his sunglasses out of his pocket and slid them on. God, she didn’t want to believe that he regretted their lovemaking, and really, there was little evidence that he did—he’d even held her hand most of the afternoon—but still, a surprising jolt of insecurity hit her hard.

“What do you mean?”

“Rushing around like you have a million deadlines.”

He smiled ruefully. “I wouldn’t call it rushing. Didn’t you enjoy the tour?”

“Yes, but I wouldn’t mind kicking back, too. We have stressful jobs. Well, you do. I did.” She sighed, hating that she was getting flustered. But something didn’t feel right between them.

She’d noticed the change in him after his shower. They’d talked some during breakfast, but he’d hurried through that, too, claiming he wanted to leave so that housekeeping could clean the suite. It was almost as if he didn’t want to be alone with her, or have too much free time to talk. Was he worried that she expected they’d spend every night together? Or that she’d monopolize his time? Maybe she should’ve begged off doing anything with him today and given him some space.

It took a while, as if his mind was working on over-drive, but he finally responded. “Sounds to me like you have regrets.”

“What?” Her heart thudded. “About last night?”

“No.” He reared his head back, his furrowed brows reflecting his bewilderment. “No, I meant about quitting the firm.”

“How did you get that idea?”

His lips lifted in a weary smile. “Guess we’re both too exhausted to make much sense.”

She frowned, trying to think back on what she’d said. Recalling her rambling, she returned the tired smile. “I’m still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that I won’t be showing up at the office on Monday. Even worse, how much unchartered, scary territory lays ahead of me.” She wished she hadn’t admitted the scary part, but it was already out there.

“You’re going to do great,” he said, closing his hand on hers and giving it a reassuring squeeze. “I’ve seen you in action. You put your mind to something and it’s a done deal.”

“Yeah, I’ve always been pretty goal-oriented.” She made a show of unnecessarily shading her eyes, and then took her dark glasses out of her purse and hid behind them. “I’ll have zero life, but I’ll make the business work.”

He barely reacted, only moved his shoulder ambiguously. “Didn’t you just tell me you didn’t have one before?”

She swallowed the disappointment that rose in her throat. “True,” she said lightly, mentally chiding herself. What had she expected? For him to declare that he’d be filling her evenings with romantic dinners and tangled sheets? Nothing would change once they returned. Not only did she already know that, but it’s what she wanted. What had to be. With their schedules, there could be no happy medium.

Oh, she knew they could grab a quickie now and then, but after last night, the thought was a bit painful.

“You’re quiet,” he said, using his thumb to trace an idle pattern against her palm.

“Just enjoying the warm breeze and flowers. Can you believe it’s still March?” She abruptly stood. “Come on. Let’s go back to the hotel and walk on the beach.”

There it was again. At the suggestion, he’d immediately tensed. But why?

“What about the Bishop Museum?” he asked, slowly getting to his feet. “We have only four full days left and a lot more to see.”

“Really?” Whether it was his unconvincing tone of voice or the way he defensively jerked one shoulder, she didn’t buy it. “You’re that interested in the history and culture of the state?”

He heaved a heartfelt sigh. “No.”

“Then what?”

Mirroring her frustration, he said, “I don’t want you to think that all I want from you is sex.”

He hadn’t seen the older couple wearing matching loud Hawaiian shirts approach from behind him. As if they’d overheard, they exchanged knowing smiles and, holding hands, veered toward the next bench.

Mia pursed her lips, trying not to laugh, but it turned out it wasn’t hard to sober. Something about the couple’s shared smiles and the familiar way they touched stirred a wistfulness in Mia’s chest that took her by surprise. She looked away from them, unsettled, because she hadn’t known she craved that closeness, the kind bred only by years of talking and touching and waking up together in the same bed. Not now, for God’s sake.

Shaking his head, David groaned, and then gave a resigned chuckle.

Mia pulled herself together, looped an arm through his and steered them in the direction of the car. “Uh, excuse me, Mr. Pearson, but were you there last night?” He only smiled, patiently waited for her to zing him. “I’m pretty sure my participation was rather enthusiastic.”

“What I meant was that I don’t want you to think that is the only reason why I came to Hawaii.”

“To get laid?” She spoke quietly so no one could hear her teasing. “Come on, if that were true, it would have been a lot cheaper to find a date in Manhattan.”

David abruptly stopped, forced her to face him. He wore the most awful expression, part angry, part offended.

“Hey, I was only teasing.”

He slowly removed his sunglasses, making her wait as if she were a recalcitrant child and he, the long-suffering teacher struggling to compose himself before he meted out suitable punishment. “Look, Ms. Butterfield, let’s be clear.” He startled her by plucking off her sunglasses, too.

She blinked at the unexpected glare, then swallowed at the spellbinding intensity in his brown eyes as they met hers and held on.

He touched her cheek. “I came here because of you, and only you. I won’t lie, the sex was phenomenal. That’s part of the problem.” He smiled a little. “We need to stay the hell away from the hotel and private beaches or anywhere else where I can get away with stripping you naked and doing wicked things to you, or there is no question how the rest of this week is going to end up.”

His seductive words and the dark lusty gleam in his eyes made her body feel all warm and tingly, and her mouth go dry. Not the same predicament down south. She unconsciously squeezed her thighs together as if that would make a difference. If he wanted to get down to business right now in the convertible parked off a busy Honolulu street, she had a nasty suspicion she’d let him.

He studied her face. “You have nothing to say?”

She moistened her parched lips. “I’m still trying to figure out why, exactly, that would be a problem?”

“Jesus.” He briefly closed his eyes. “Come on,” he said, taking her by the arm. He was already getting hard. She could see the evidence building behind his fly.