Seaside Hearts (Love in Bloom: Seaside Summers, Book 2) Contemporary Romance

by Melissa Foster

  Jenna crouched beside him again and began spouting off instructions. He silenced her with another glare, cooked the damn marshmallow, then turned the stick toward her for inspection.

  “Princess, your marshmallow has arrived. Not golden. Not brown. Golden-brown perfection.” After so many imperfect marshmallows, his nerves were strung so tight they twitched. He tried not to let on and forced a smile as Jenna set her mouth in a serious line and craned her neck, inspecting every ripple of the damn marshmallow.

  Her eyes widened and her lips curved into a smile as she pulled the marshmallow from the stick with two fingers. “You did it! You can roast marshmallows as good as you can kiss.”

  She popped the warm, sticky marshmallow into her mouth. Her excitement was worth every ounce of Pete’s agitation, which was dissipating quickly as he watched her luscious lips moving. Her eyes closed, and she moaned, as if the marshmallow was orgasmic. He couldn’t wait a second longer. He pulled her onto his lap and sealed his mouth over hers. The sticky sweetness slid over their tongues, dissolving with the heat of their kiss.

  “I told you I’m picky.” She was still sitting on his lap, and he was already hard, and in no hurry for her to move.

  “And I told you I could cook the damn thing.” He brushed her hair from her shoulder and cupped her cheek. “You, my sweet marshmallow princess, are picky as hell.”

  She lowered her eyes and wrinkled her brow. “Does that mean you won’t cook marshmallows for me anymore?”

  He lifted her chin. “No. It means I’ve memorized exactly what it takes to satisfy you. Sixty-seven seconds on each side, held about five inches from the fire, then twenty seconds with the tip of the marshmallow aimed directly at the flames, but a few inches away so it doesn’t burn.”

  “That’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever heard anyone say.”

  She leaned in for another kiss, and Pete deepened it as she opened to his efforts. There on the crowded beach, with music filling the night and the smell of the bay mingling with the smoky fire, Pete felt his world shift into place.

  WHEN THEIR LIPS parted, Jenna had to remind herself to breathe. Pete’s kisses made her body hum with anticipation. She was still sitting on his lap, his strong arms wrapped around her, making her feel feminine and safe against his powerful breadth. She felt his desire hard beneath her bottom, and a thrill shuddered through her.

  “Do you want to dance?” His voice was deep and carried an undercurrent of desire.

  No. I want you to kiss me again. “You’ll dance with me?”

  “Babe, I’d do anything with you.”

  Zing!

  Groups of people gathered around the band, dancing and swaying to the music. Pete pulled her close, and she slid her hands beneath his shirt and up his muscular back, memorizing the feel of him. The temperature was warmer with the crowd blocking the breeze from the bay—or maybe it was from Pete’s body pressed against hers. His hands slid to the curve of her butt and pressed lightly. Jenna’s nerves were on fire. She wanted to kiss him and touch him until she had her fill. She felt herself breathing hard, and when he gazed down and searched her eyes, pressing his hips to her, she was as aroused as he was.

  He was so much taller than her that lifting up on her toes would never get her close enough for a kiss, but oh, how she wanted to kiss him. Years of wanting him rushed forward. She might not be able to reach his lips, but she could damn well give him the signal he was searching for. She slid her hands around to his rock-hard abs and then ran them up his chest. His skin was hot, and his heart thundered against her palm. When he lowered his cheek to hers and whispered, “Let’s get out of here,” she had to stop herself from thanking him.

  They hurried along the beach hand in hand, closing the distance toward Pete’s house and stopping every few feet to kiss. Pete’s kisses were like a force unto themselves. His arms engulfed her, making her feel feminine and safe, as he explored every bit of her mouth with deep, lush strokes of his tongue. He didn’t just kiss her; he consumed her, claimed her with kisses that held promises of so much more. She’d never felt so desired in all her life.

  Waves crashed against the rocks along the shore by his house. Jenna had known that he lived in Eastham, but she’d never been to his house, and when they’d dropped off the truck, they’d gone straight down the beach toward the music. Now, as they followed the sandy trail up the bluff to his house, she took it all in. The dark shingled home and enormous barn were outlined with white trim. Set against the backdrop of the night sky, his property felt welcoming. Pete’s hand tightened on hers, big as a bear paw, and if the way he’d held her when they were dancing and kissing was any indication, just as lethal.

  When they reached the door, the bay breeze tousled Pete’s hair, and his eyes bored into her. His full lips curved up, and he pulled her into another deep kiss. A shiver ran down her spine at the realization of where they were heading. She hooked her finger into the waist of his jeans to keep her legs from wobbling. He didn’t say a word, and it was a good thing, because she was sure her nerves would have silenced her voice.

  He opened the door and Joey bounded out, climbing Pete’s legs and whimpering with excitement.

  “Hey, girl.” He crouched beside her and loved her up. Joey rolled onto her back, and Jenna joined him, petting Joey’s belly as she tried to lick her hands. Her nerves eased, until she glanced at Pete and their eyes locked. The space between them heated with unspoken desires. He reached for her hand, and Joey bounded away as Pete led her inside.

  “Joey?” she said.

  “Doggie door.” His voice was raspy and deep.

  They walked through a tidy kitchen and into a warm living room. Sheer curtains billowed around open French doors that overlooked the bay. The breeze carried the crisp, salty scent of the bay, and when Pete drew her into his arms, it picked up his masculine scent and lust clutched her again. A whisper of worry floated through her mind. Erotic, sensual. It faded as quickly as it had come. She felt safe with Pete, and she knew he’d never force her to do anything she didn’t want to.

  He swept her hair from her face. “You’re so beautiful, Jenna. I haven’t been able to think of anything but you for days.”

  She felt her cheeks flush as he lowered his lips to her neck and trailed kisses to the sensitive skin just beneath her ear. She closed her eyes and slid her hands beneath his shirt again. Jesus, his kisses spread heat through her body like an inferno, and she went a little wild, plucking at the buttons on his shirt until it fell open, exposing hard planes of tanned flesh. She ran her hands up his ribs to his pecs and felt his nipples pebble beneath her fingers. His mouth was working magic on the curve of her neck, sending goose bumps down her arms. She had to taste him. As if reading her mind, he cupped her ass and pulled her against him. Her lips pressed against his chest, and she followed the arc of his pectoral muscles with her tongue, earning her a low groan from him as he lifted her dress and took hold of her ass with both hands. His mouth moved lower, and she arched back, opening to his advances, wanting, craving, more of him. When his lips touched the crest of her breast, she sucked in air. He ran his tongue along the crease of her cleavage, sending a shiver through her. She clutched his waist at the shock of need that rushed through her. Her hand slid to the front of his pants, and she cupped his hard shaft through the rough material. His lips met hers again as he adeptly untied the top straps of her halter dress, freeing her breasts. Standing before him with her breasts exposed, while he was still dressed, shirt open, should have made her feel vulnerable and nervous. Instead she felt empowered, and the wanton look in his eyes bolstered her confidence. She tightened her grip on his hard length.

  “Jenna,” he said roughly.

  He was breathing as hard as she was, and when he filled his palms with her breasts and brushed his thumbs over her nipples, she thought she’d crawl out of her skin. When he brought his mouth to her nipple, she dug her fingers into his back to keep from collapsing with the intensity of his hot, wet tongue swirling circl
es, then sucking until she thought she might fall apart right there in his living room. Her other hand tugged at the buttons on his jeans. In the next breath, she was in his arms, being carried down the hall and into his bedroom. Her lips were so close to his neck, and his scent was so intoxicating, she settled her mouth over his neck in an openmouthed kiss, and it still wasn’t enough. She sucked, licked, then nipped and licked some more, until he tore his neck from her grasp with a loud exhalation.

  “Jesus. You’re driving me insane.” Heat flared in his dark eyes.

  He lowered her to the bed and came down on top of her, their mouths crashing together. His tongue probed hungrily, and his hips gyrated against hers, hard and eager. She pressed her hands to his lower back, wanting him, needing him. All of him. She didn’t care that this was their first real date. She’d waited a damn long time, and as she writhed beneath him and he moved his mouth down her body, she was completely, utterly, his.

  He lowered his forehead between her breasts and just breathed her in. Jenna stilled. Don’t stop. Please don’t stop. When he lifted his head and their eyes met, his desire was layered with hesitation. He moved back up so they were eye to eye.

  “I’m sorry, Jenna. I got carried away. You’re so beautiful, and when we kissed…” He shook his head. “Do you want this with me? We can stop.”

  There was no question in her mind what she wanted. She ran her fingers through his hair. God, she loved his hair. “I’ve wanted this with you forever.”

  His eyes darkened and narrowed with an animalistic, possessive look. She pressed his shoulders, urging him to continue the heavenly things he’d been doing before his beautiful conscience took over. He hooked his fingers in the sides of her dress and tugged it off, leaving her naked, save for a white thong. His giant hands came down on her hips, and he lowered his mouth to the curve of her waist and kissed and licked his way south to her belly button. Ohgodohgodohgod. One hand slid beneath her ass and lifted her hips; the other grabbed her breast, and he squeezed her nipple between his finger and thumb—hard—sending her hips bucking upward. Jenna gasped another breath, unable to remain still as white-hot sensations raced through her. He licked her through the damp material between her legs, teasing, tasting. The light brushing against her swollen sex filled her with anticipation.

  “Mm.” He hooked a finger beneath the slim line of her thong and dragged it down one thigh. He slid that hand beneath her ass and held her hips up, freeing his other hand to drag the other side of her thong down her thigh.

  She could barely breathe she wanted him to touch her so badly. She desperately wanted to open herself to him, but the tether of the thong bound her thighs inches apart. She fisted her hand in the sheets.

  “Off. Take them off. Please.” Oh God! She couldn’t believe she was begging him to strip her bare.

  Pete moved above the thong, leaving it in place. He slid his thumb from underneath where he’d held her ass and pressed it to the slick skin between her legs, stroking her into a frenzy. He lowered his mouth to her, licking circles on her sensitive bundle of nerves. She fought against the restraint of the thong, and it amped up her arousal as he took her up, up, up to the edge, then he pressed her hips until she connected with the mattress again, and slid his fingers deep inside. Adrenaline coursed through her as he probed her fast and deep, until her inner muscles clamped down around him and her hips shot off the bed. He sealed his mouth over her center as the orgasm tore through her.

  “Peter—” Lights went off behind her closed lids. Pinpricks seared her skin. She didn’t think the orgasm would ever end—and, God, she hoped it wouldn’t—as her body pulsated around him. Just as it began to ease, he buried his tongue inside her, taking her over the edge again as she flailed her head from side to side, trying to maintain her grip on reality. Every muscle was on fire, until finally, her hips fell, spent, to the mattress and she let out a long, heated breath. She panted for air as Pete pressed feathery soft kisses to her inner thighs and around her swollen, pulsating sex.

  “Good…Lord…” She reached for him, her eyes still closed, and she tangled her fingers in his hair, wanting to feel him, to be connected again. She tugged, urging him up to her. When she opened her eyes, Pete lowered his mouth to hers. Her juices were still on his mouth, and the sinful seduction of it all sent her hips rising against his again. She pushed at his shirt, wanting it off. Wanting him naked. Needing him inside her.

  Pete’s lips never left hers as he shrugged out of his shirt. Then he moved down her body and took her thong off in one move. He slid off the bed long enough to strip out of his jeans. Jenna raked her eyes over his bulging muscular chest, down the fine pattern of his rippled abs, and finally—holy shit—to his formidable erection. She felt her eyes widen and bit her lower lip to keep from grinning like a fool. He. Was. Beautiful.

  Insanely sexy.

  And you’re finally mine.

  He moved like a panther, sleek and powerful, as he came down between her legs and ran his hands up her hips, along her waist, and under her arms, finally curling his strong hands around her shoulders. The tip of his arousal pressed against her wet center, like a python seeking heat.

  “Condom.” Frustration flashed in his eyes, as he lifted off of her.

  Jenna grabbed his arm and held him still. “I’m on the pill.”

  His eyes narrowed, frustration replaced with something hot and libidinous. He lowered his mouth to hers again and kissed her sensually, running his tongue slowly along her teeth, exploring the roof of her mouth and meeting each stroke of her tongue with his own as he pushed inside her. Jenna sucked in a breath, his girth stretching her as he buried himself deep. Dear Lord, he felt good. His hands clutched her shoulders, holding her still as he thrust deeper, harder, his mouth still loving hers. She wrapped her legs around his hips, wanting to bring their bodies closer together. He must have read her mind, because he tightened his arms around her, their bodies pressed together, and he stilled.

  He slid his lips to the edge of her mouth. “I can’t believe I was so blind to us for so long.”

  “Me either.” She giggled at her candor. She couldn’t help it, and he looked down at her with a smile so genuine and full of emotion that it stole her breath.

  “Pretty sure of yourself.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek.

  “If I had known a little competition would get your attention, I’d have dated a construction worker years ago.”

  He tightened his grip until she could barely breathe. “Let’s not talk about other guys in the bedroom.”

  She laughed again, and he took her in a needful kiss as his hips began to undulate, hitting all the spots that turned her brain to mush and made her nerves roar to life. She felt another orgasm teasing her, just out of reach, as his hips pressed in deep and moved from side to side. He arched his back and angled his hips, thrusting in hard, buried so deep she held her breath. He breathed air into her lungs, then thrust faster, harder, until they parted with the need for air. With the next thrust, his teeth clenched and her nails dug into his back; they grabbed and groped for leverage. Their hips rocked, bodies slick with sweat, as release tore through them and their eyes caught and held, and they spiraled over the edge together.

  Chapter Eleven

  PETE LOVED THE sound of Jenna’s hampered breathing as she tried to calm down from their lovemaking. He loved that he had that effect on her—they had that effect on each other. He came up on one elbow and she smiled up at him. He loved her mouth, her eyes, the softness of her skin. He loved that she was in his bed, finally, where he felt she belonged. Pete traced a line down the center of her body, took her hand in his and brought it to his lips.

  “This doesn’t feel like a first date, Jenna. It feels like you’ve been with me all my life.”

  “If I’d been with you all your life, your closet would be organized.”

  He glanced into his closet, which was neat and orderly, but not color coordinated, and the thought that her mind had gone there so soon after maki
ng love made him laugh.

  “You have a point.” He lowered his forehead to hers. “I’m serious, though. All these years we’ve known each other, and this. You being here with me. It feels so right.” He kissed her cheek and loved the way she closed her eyes the second his lips touched her skin, like she was savoring his touch.

  “In my heart I was with you all these years; you just never noticed.”

  “I noticed, but you confused the hell out of me.” He searched her eyes for a reaction, hoping he didn’t annoy her with his honesty, but it had been on his mind, and he wanted to get it out in the open, because so many other things needed to fill that space. Images of Jenna trying to catch his attention flashed into his mind, but he couldn’t hold on to them. They were overpowered by her other confusing reactions.

  She laced their fingers together. “You made me nervous, but you don’t anymore.” She looked down at their naked bodies. “Obviously.” Her cheeks pinked up again.

  “Why did I make you so nervous?”

  “Because I was so damn attracted to you.” She shifted her eyes.

  “Jenna, talk to me.”

  She looked at him with a serious gaze. “You made me all flustered, and the harder I tried to get your attention, the less attention you paid to me, so I got nervous.”

  “And then you gave up and went out with that guy.”

  “Charlie.”

  “That guy.”

  The side of her lips cocked up. “You know, you come across as this quiet, well-mannered, slightly mysterious guy. But you’re much more aggressive and possessive.”

  He pulled her closer, so her legs were pressed against his, her hip against his groin.

  “That’s because I wasn’t dating you.”

  “Which begs the question…Why weren’t you interested in me?” She blinked up at him expectantly.

  “Because I was stupid.” He smiled and she rolled her eyes. Of course she wouldn’t buy his bullshit, and she deserved the truth. He lay back and arced an arm over his head, but he felt too far away from her, so he moved closer again.