Playing Hooky (Teach Me Tonight)

by Rede, Lily

  Molly’s eyes were wide, and this close he could make out the specks of green and count every little freckle on her cute little nose. She wasn’t wearing perfume, but the scent of soap and Molly had Jack holding in a shudder. Then she nervously licked her lower lip and his cock jerked hard. Her eyes widened as she felt it, and the little gasp she tried to stifle puffed against his chin.

  It would be so easy to kiss her.

  Swearing under his breath, Jack yanked himself away, noting that the staff was rushing to help them and clean up the broken glass, noting that her hands took a moment to let him go as he pulled away. It had only been a few seconds, but his unruly body had taken swift measure of Molly Callahan and decided that she fit him perfectly.

  Too bad, he sternly warned his dick, trying to get his pulse under control, you can’t have her.

  “Stay out of my way,” he advised her, and turned away.

  Without a backward glance, Jack grabbed a fresh glass of champagne from a passing steward and walked away from temptation to the other end of the yacht.

  IT WAS BARELY DAWN when Molly woke, languidly stretching as she took a moment to orient herself. She pushed aside the mosquito netting to watch the sky slowly change color over the turquoise ocean, the only sounds the lapping of the water against the stilts that held her bungalow up and the distant shore, and the occasional early morning call of the sea birds. The resort had a main building, but she’d shelled out for one of a dozen bungalows that sat directly over the water, connected by a series of wooden pathways. It was private, it was quiet.

  It was perfect.

  Yesterday was a bit of a blur, and Molly had never been so grateful for jet lag in her life. After Jack had stomped away, leaving Molly in the hands of the concerned staff, she’d made it through the rest of the journey, let herself be ushered through check-in, and escorted to her bungalow, where she’d crashed, hard. Sleep was a welcome alternative to thinking about how Jack had dismissed her, or about the mind-blowing reaction of her body against his.

  Molly groaned, rolling to her back.

  He’d been hard against her, all over, and it was humiliating to realize that an obnoxious man who had no interest in her could still make every nerve ending sing without effort. It wasn’t like he was the first guy to dismiss her, but somehow this was worse – he didn’t like her, didn’t want anything to do with her, but that sinfully perfect body of his seemed to think that a sweaty tumble was a pretty damn good idea.

  Sounds good to me, too.

  But it wasn’t going to happen. Her fantasy about a casual island fling had been pretty much that – a fantasy. She didn’t make a habit of sleeping with strange men, or even familiar ones, though some harmless flirting would be fun.

  Sex with Jack.

  Even the though made her shiver, but her practical brain ran through all the perfectly good reasons the whole idea was nonsense – he’s a jerk, he doesn’t want you, if you fuck him you’re still going to run into him at every family function until the end of time.

  Molly sighed. It was that last one that was the real bitch.

  Why couldn’t you be some anonymous island hunk, instead of an arrogant, smart, practically related pussy-tease? she grumped.

  And oh, how he could tease. Without thought. Without effort.

  What woman could resist the press of all that golden muscle? He’d smelled terrific, too, something spicy and hot, and Molly had wanted nothing more than to nuzzle the golden stubble along his jaw and then taste the hollow of his throat with her tongue. It had taken everything in her not to rub her aching clit against his thigh, not to reach down to explore the huge shaft pressed against her.

  Tantalizing.

  Dammit.

  Feeling restless and turned on, Molly reached over her bed for her purse and the little pocket rocket she’d just purchased as an impulse buy. She’d never owned a vibrator before, but it seemed like the kind of thing a self-confident, rebellious woman would do. Molly felt a naughty thrill as she turned it on and a discreet buzz broke the silence. Lying back, she pressed the little device to her collarbone, feeling the vibration skitter along her skin.

  “Mmmm…Jack…” she murmured.

  She shouldn’t be wasting any more time fantasizing about Jack Roman, the jerk, but he’d played a starring role in her wicked dreams for so long that it was a little hard to just go cold turkey. Especially now that she knew what he felt like. All over. This week, she’d work on dreaming up a new fantasy lover, but for the moment…

  Molly pulled her silky nightgown off and traced the vibrator down to tease her nipples into tight peaks, moaning softly as she pictured Jack rolling them between his fingers, eyes filled with heat. She slid the little rocket lower, her hips arching as she found her clit and Fantasy Jack knelt up to drape her thighs over him, his voice husky and dark, his body tight with arousal.

  “Ready for me, baby?” he would murmur.

  “Shhh….” Molly murmured to her imagination, “Reality Jack is a total douche, so Fantasy Jack doesn’t get to talk. Got it?”

  Her imagination nodded obediently.

  Molly rubbed little circles into her clit with the vibrator, shuddering as sensation swamped her, her fingers growing slick as she stroked the hot, aching flesh. In her mind, Jack had a wicked smirk on his face, letting her watch as he slid into her, a thick, hard inch at a time.

  So hot. So good.

  Her imagination drove her higher as she pictured him fucking her, hard and deep and slow, getting as lost in her as she was in him, muscles rippling, hands tensed on her thighs, stretching her with every decadent stroke.

  Against orders, Fantasy Jack opened his mouth to speak.

  “Come for me, Molly.”

  Helpless to resist, she did, swamped with shame and delight as his name left her lips in an audible cry.

  That’s it, Molly Callahan. That’s all you get. Now move on.

  Panting, Molly switched off the vibrator and savored the spasms of pleasure that continues to wrack her from head to toe, trying not to think about the fact that a few minutes with her imagination was better than the best sexual encounters she’d ever had.

  Sighing, Molly pushed herself out of bed.

  JACK WOKE WITH THE determination to implement the plan he’d decided on last night, when he’d finally gotten to sleep after a cold shower and a couple of shots of tequila. He’d watched Molly disappear into a bungalow at the end of the pier and deliberately picked the bungalow furthest from hers. There was no way he was going to let Molly Callahan invade his thoughts or his space, so Jack planned to do what he did best – bury himself in work.

  Easier said than done when even his dreams betrayed him.

  He lay in bed, aching and frustrated, wondering if her nipples were pink or coral, as they’d been in his dream, and groaning softly as the rest of it came back to him – a naked Molly, rising from the surf like Aphrodite, droplets glistening on her skin, delicate fingers sliding down to stroke her bare pussy for his pleasure, his name on her lips as her head fell back in ecstasy.

  We’re here to work, he reminded his unruly flesh, but recognized the futility of ignoring it as he clasped his hand around the heavy shaft and started to stroke.

  It didn’t take long, just the memory of Molly’s full lips parting as he pinned her to the bench on the yacht, and the heat of her pussy against his thigh, even through several layers of cloth. His brain took the memory a step further, and then they were both naked and she was hot, wet, begging softly for him to fill her, fuck her, make her scream.

  Jack came hard, shuddering with pleasure as his seed spilled over his hand and onto his torso. He lay there for a moment, panting.

  It just wasn’t fair.

  Maybe if I’m lucky, I won’t see her today.

  Even as he thought it, he knew the odds of avoiding her were slim to none. He just wasn’t that lucky.

  AFTER A BREAKFAST OF papaya and yogurt and the best coffee she’d ever had at the little hotel café overlookin
g the water, Molly stretched happily and wondered what she’d do today, thrilled as reality set in.

  Anything I damn well please.

  Maybe she’d explore the resort, check out the day spa, and then spend the rest of the day on the beach. She’d thrown a gauzy cover-up over her new bikini and knotted a colorful shawl around her hips to serve as a skirt so that she wouldn’t have to go back to her bungalow to change. With her beach bag over her shoulder, she crossed the lobby, following the signs to the day spa, but as she came around the corner –

  “Oof.”

  They collided hard enough to knock the wind out of her, and his duffel bag crashed to the ground with a clank.

  What is he carrying in there, crowbars?

  Jack glared at her, but reached out a hand to help her up from where she’d landed on her ass. Molly ignored him and stood, rubbing one bruised curve.

  “Would you watch where you’re going?” she snapped.

  “You’re the one who came barreling around the corner. You could have damaged my tools.”

  He hefted the heavy bag, scowling.

  “I did not barrel,” she sniffed, “And I certainly didn’t damage your so-called tools.”

  She had to force herself not to look down at the one tool she was most interested in, the one that had been pressed against her just yesterday. As usual, he looked good enough to eat, though his clothes were rumpled – just a shirt over a pair of long swim trunks. He’d shaved, and Molly squelched the sudden urge to trace his jawline with her tongue.

  He’s your best friend’s brother. Be nice. Just not too nice.

  Molly closed her eyes and prayed for patience.

  “Where are you off to?” she asked brightly, hoping he couldn’t see how badly he rattled her with just his presence.

  He was silent, scrutinizing her, and Molly flushed, uncomfortable.

  “Fine, I know you’re not happy to see me here, but I’m really not trying to get in your way. It just seems silly to not make civil conversation when – ”

  “There’s a waterfall on the other side of the island. One of the locals spotted some odd looking rocks at the base,” he admitted.

  “I thought the island was uninhabited?” asked Molly.

  “It is, mostly. The Luveku Ika abandoned the site a hundred years ago, but there’s a small fishing village on the west side of the island.”

  Molly nodded.

  “Bree told me about your mermaid people. It sounds fascinating,” she said, “Well, good luck with it. I’m going to go exploring and then lie out and worship the sun for the rest of the day.”

  “That sounds relaxing.”

  Molly felt like cheering when his lips quirked in a tiny smile.

  “Bree thinks I should seduce one of the cabana boys,” she laughed.

  Jack’s expression didn’t change, but suddenly, the moment felt awkward. She swallowed a gulp as his fingers brushed hers when he handed back her fallen beach bag.

  “Have fun,” he said tightly, and stepped around her before disappearing down the hall.

  “That could have been worse,” Molly muttered to herself and then sighed and headed in the opposite direction.

  THE “ODD ROCKS” AT the base of the waterfall weren’t hard to spot, and Jack felt the usual spike of adrenaline that accompanied a find as he tossed his shirt and waded in waist-deep for a closer look, bracing himself against the cool water and the spray from above.

  The waterfall gushed over a two-story cliff with a shallow, crystal pool at the bottom that drained off into a creek that gurgled into the underbrush away from the clearing. The tangle of trees and vines creating a canopy overhead, letting in dappled sunlight.

  Jack took a deep, happy breath. This was his element – out in Nature, uncovering the past with his bare hands. He could stay here forever.

  That might be better for everyone, he thought, wincing as he remembered his conversation with Molly an hour ago.

  It wasn’t her fault that she tied him in knots. She’d probably saved for years to take this vacation. The least he could do was not ruin it with his own impossible attraction to the woman. He spent so much time by himself that he often felt out of place with others, but that didn’t mean that he had to be a total jerk just because Bree had it in her head that they’d be good together.

  Jack knelt down in the thundering spray and pushed the algae off one rough-hewn corner, feeling a flutter of excitement. These weren’t just rocks – they were tablets, heavily carved with writing and figures. Excited, he started scooping the wet sand back from the base of the smallest of the three.

  Luveku Ika, a mysterious tribe who worshiped a merman god, for lack of a better term. Their artifacts were few, and though Jack had seen some of their carvings in the past, this was a major find that could illuminate a lost tribe to the world.

  After a half an hour of scooping, Jack had made some progress. The tablets were heavy - two of them would require assistance, but the third one had broken in pieces years ago, and Jack managed to unearth one small slab from where it protruded from the sandy bottom of the pond and drag it to the shore. The glyphs were remarkably preserved, and excitement filled Jack as he thought about the months, if not years it would take to decipher and properly catalog the find.

  Jack touched the hieroglyph of a fish tail with reverent fingers, and felt an odd pang of regret. More often than not, his research was done in solitude, and though he’d receive plenty of accolades for his work down the road, the find still felt a little hollow – there was no one to share it with.

  His sigh sounded loud even with the noise of the jungle moving in the background. As he sat back on the bank, Jack drank deeply from a flask and wondered what Molly was doing. She’d probably finished exploring the resort and was lying on the beach.

  He frowned as he pictured her flirting with the staff – someone tanned and muscular, of course, who would make her laugh, and whose eyes would linger on her perfect tits when he thought she wasn’t looking. It was impossible to miss the appreciative glances she’d gotten as she checked in yesterday.

  Suddenly, the tablets didn’t seem so important.

  They’ve been here a hundred years or so. They’re not going anywhere.

  Lunch and a swim sounded good. He needed help with the other tablets, and more eyes to see what other secrets the clearing was hiding. Jack hoisted his bag and started back along the path. He was only thirty minutes from the resort property line, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d already been gone for far too long.

  BETWEEN HER STUDENTS, HER friends, and the massive Callahan family, Molly wasn’t used to being alone, and despite her thrill at being completely on her own for a couple of weeks, she still couldn’t resist making friends as she went along. By the time she’d explored every inch of the resort property, from the spa to the grotto to the nature trails, she knew most of the staff by name.

  Now she sat on a chaise facing the beach, blushing slightly as she tugged off her cover-up. The dark-eyed young waiter who delivered her drink order didn’t comment, but Molly couldn’t miss the way his eyes darted down admiringly before he walked back toward the resort.

  It’s just skin, she thought to herself, trying to bolster her confidence, but the truth was that she’d never worn a bikini this skimpy – a hot pink number that tied two triangles together between her breasts and behind her back, and bottoms that weren’t quite a thong, but left little to the imagination.

  The suit made her feel sexy, which was rare for Molly, so after a couple of minutes of self-consciousness, she shrugged off the discomfort and reached for the sunscreen. She’d slathered every inch she could reach and was just thinking about tracking down some cute, muscled beach hand to do her back, when a pair of dripping, golden legs appeared in her frame of vision.

  He’d obviously been swimming, and Molly’s mouth went dry as he stood over her like an avenging sea god, his face a thundercloud.

  “What the hell are you wearing?” he demanded.
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  Molly looked down at herself. The suit was revealing, but there wasn’t anything indecent about it. Besides –

  “I don’t see how my choice of beach attire is any of your business, Jack.”

  Trying to ignore the way his eyes scorched her from head to toe, lingering on her breasts, her waist, her thighs, Molly took a long swig of her strawberry daiquiri and flopped onto her stomach, settling in. She wondered if the choked sound he made was irritation, or his reaction to the sight of her partially-bare ass.

  “I thought you were working.”

  “I’m taking a break.”

  He sounded surly.

  Molly had nothing to say to that, but Jack still hadn’t moved, and her skin felt tight as she wondered what he thought of her stretched out in just a few scraps of spandex.

  “Your mother would have a fit if she saw you in that.”

  “Good thing she isn’t here, then. When did you become such a prude?” Molly demanded, watching a muscle tic in his jaw, “Now if it isn’t too much to ask, all I want to do is lie here, get a little buzzed off of fruity drinks with umbrellas in them, and entice one of those hot cabana boys to spend twenty minutes rubbing sunscreen into my back.”

  Molly waggled the tube and scowled at him before turning her face away and settling her cheek against the towel, hoping he’d take the hint and scram. It was bad enough she had to share her island with him when he seemed determined to spoil every moment, but he didn’t have to stand so close, all muscled and hot and smelling of sand and sun and forbidden fruit.

  Geeky forbidden fruit.

  “You’re a menace, you know that?” Jack growled, but instead of stomping off as any sane person would have, he sat down on the edge of her chaise, plucked the tube of sunscreen from her fingers and unceremoniously squirted a large dollop in the middle of her back.