by Jill Sanders
“Please,” she begged, not knowing if she could wait much longer.
“I’m enjoying myself too much to hurry.” He chuckled against her skin. He’d worked on her shirt buttons and before she knew it, she was exposed to his view. He leaned up and gently pulled the silk from her shoulders.
“Beautiful,” he whispered before his head dipped down to cover her exposed breast. He tugged on the strap of her bra, sending it downward until that too was removed.
His eyes slowly moved over every inch of her exposed skin and she saw them heat. Then his lips heated her skin as he trailed kisses over the same pathway.
Her fingers dug into his shoulders as she felt herself building, her hips jerked against his. Demanding. Wanting. Needing.
She reached for his shirt, then waited when he leaned back to pull it over his head. His chest was even more impressive than she’d imagined. Her hands reached out and she trailed her fingers over his bare skin.
“Lilly,” he moaned. “I wanted to go slow, but you’re driving me crazy.” He chuckled.
“Good, now you know how I feel.” She started to reach for his jeans, but he pulled back and shook his head.
“No, not that fast.” He smiled. “Let me…” With his fingertip, he inched her pencil skirt up until it was almost to the top of her thighs. “I want to take care of you first.”
Just having his hands touch her where she’d never allowed another to go had her hips jerking underneath him. His fingers swept softly to her inner thigh, causing her eyes to close in pure pleasure.
“You’re so soft,” she heard him say. She was shocked when he dipped a finger underneath her silk panties. Her shoulders bounded off the bed when he touched her. Then his finger sank inside her slowly and she fell back onto the bed as he played with her softness.
“Adam,” she begged, tossing her head from side to side. She didn’t know what was building inside, only that soon, she felt she would explode into nothingness.
“Soon,” he said, then she felt him slide her panties down her legs until he rested between her knees. When she felt his wet tongue against her inner thigh, she tensed.
“Easy,” he murmured. “You taste like heaven.” He trailed kisses along the inside of her thigh until she relaxed back against the bed.
His hot mouth trailed higher and she tensed once more, until his mouth covered her. Then she did explode, crying out his name as her fingers dug into his hair, holding him, begging him for more.
She’d never experienced anything like it before. Her entire body shuddered and jerked until she felt him pin her down to the bed with his weight as he settled between her legs. Only then did she realize that he was completely naked.
“Adam?” She started to tense, but his hands moved in slow, small circles, relaxing her once more.
“I’ve got you,” he said next to her lips.
“Yes.” She closed her eyes and turned herself over to the feeling of him sliding slowly into her.
Sex had never been something she’d desired, nor something she’d ever imagined she would enjoy. Her body easily relaxed around his, taking him in until she felt every touch, every soft caress.
She knew that it wouldn’t last, that soon her body would convulse again, but her mind kept screaming for her to hold out. Just one more moment.
His mouth covered hers. Her fingers dug into his hips as he moved over her, in her, thrusting deeper, longer than she could have dreamed.
A moment before she felt her own release, Adam tensed over her and she allowed herself to follow him.
***
He must have slept for a while. The soft breathing next to his skin and the tingle of Lilly’s hair on his chest woke him almost an hour before the sun normally did.
He glanced down at her and smiled. She was fast asleep in his arms, her leg tucked over his and her hand sprawled on his chest. He could stay like this forever, but his inner clock told him that it was time to start the morning shift. The guests would be waking up soon. Today would be an easier day than yesterday since the large group was leaving before lunchtime. The next group of guests would be arriving just before dinner.
Hopefully, he could persuade Lilly to have another picnic lunch with him down on the beach.
Then he heard the thunder outside and groaned.
“What?” she said against his skin.
“It’s raining.” He tried to get a glance out the window, but he’d shut the blinds when they had arrived.
“Yes, it’s supposed to rain until Tuesday, then again later next week.”
He groaned. “I was hoping to persuade you to go with me on a picnic for lunch.”
“And?” She leaned up and looked down at him, her hair falling over her shoulders.
“And, since it’s raining—” Thunder crashed again. “And pretty good, from the sounds of it, I guess we’ll have to settle for eating—”
“In the pavilion?” she suggested.
“Not if there’s lightning that goes along with all that thunder. How about…” He thought about it. “How about the attic?”
She frowned. “The attic? Which one?”
“The one in the main building. I went up there once when I got turned around, shortly after I started working here. Anyway, it’s pretty large and there’s some really cool furniture up there. We can make ourselves at home and find a place to finish plotting out our trap.”
He sat up slightly, taking her with him. Just the feel of her skin against his had his body reacting.
“Sounds good.” She moaned and started to stretch over him, but he was quick and pulled her atop him instead.
“But first.” His mouth took hers as he slid once more into her heat. “Breakfast.”
Less than an hour later, Adam walked into the kitchen whistling. Even the poor weather outside couldn’t dampen his mood.
He seemed to spread his good mood to everyone, and breakfast whizzed by. After the kitchen died down, he poured everything he had into making their picnic lunch a perfect meal.
Since they couldn’t have perfect weather, he decided to make perfect-weather food. He started with a creamy summer pasta salad, then added some German potato salad, along with orecchiette with pesto and oven-roasted tomatoes. Then he made crispy sweet potatoes, and for the main dish, lobster rolls with lemon herb butter. Rachelle’s specialty chocolate chip s’mores would be the perfect end to a summer’s meal.
He grabbed a bottle of Lilly’s favorite wine and packed everything into a large basket. He headed up half an hour early to make sure everything was perfect before she arrived.
He found the attic exactly as he remembered it, dusty and full of old-time charm. There were several large pieces of furniture pushed up against a wall and covered with sheets.
He flipped the white sheets up and found an antique thirty-inch round pedestal table with two bentwood chairs, a set his grandmother would be envious of. He pulled out the white tablecloth and started setting the table.
After the table was perfect, he continued his search and found several paintings and set them up around the table for atmosphere. He pulled a few boxes down, so that the lighting would be better then switched off the neon overheads. Lighting the silver-plated candelabra he had found under a pile of books, he sat back and surveyed his masterpiece.
Music! He rushed around the room looking for the old radio he’d seen up here earlier. Finally finding it, he pulled it over to a plug and prayed that it still worked. When the light came on and static echoed in the room, he twisted the dial until he found a station that played soft music, then he turned the volume low.
“Wow,” Lilly said from behind him. He turned around and lost his breath. She’d changed from the pencil skirt and silk blouse she’d worn last night into a flowing cream-colored summer dress that hugged her curves. Curves he enjoyed very much.
“Yes, wow.” He walked towards her and took her hand as his eyes moved slowly over her.
“This looks amazing.” She nodded to the table. “I
didn’t know all of this stuff was up here.”
“I think no one else does as well.” He leaned down and placed a kiss gently on her lips, then took her hand and walked her towards the table in the middle of the room.
“I always loved that window.” She nodded to the massive floor-to-ceiling arched window. The unique shape of it was part of the charm that East Haven’s main building held. Its shape mimicked the windows on the main floor and the arches in the main entrance and hallways. “This is bigger than I remember.” She glanced around as she sat down.
“You’ve been up here before?”
“Yes, but it was so packed with boxes”—she glanced towards the window again— “there wasn’t much to see.”
He sat across from her and poured them both some wine. When he lifted the lids to the food, her eyes lit up.
“Wow, it’s like a real picnic.” She smiled. “It smells so good.” She leaned in and closed her eyes as she took a deep breath.
He watched her eat, but when she stopped and glanced up at him, he realized he hadn’t touched his food yet.
“So, when do we start setting the trap?” she asked as she took a sip of her wine.
“Tonight. If it’s alright with you.” He glanced up. “I’d like to start spreading the word that we are… involved.” He held his breath.
She frowned slightly and he wondered if she knew how rapidly his heart was beating.
“What do you think that will do?” She bit her bottom lip and set down her fork. She shook her head, and her hair fell around her shoulders. She’d worn it down today, and he liked the look very much.
“For starters, I think whoever left the note will be forced to do something unexpected. Which, if you’ve ever watched a good detective show, always proves beneficial in catching the perp.”
She giggled. “Okay, so we force him to be sloppy.”
He nodded and smiled. “If all of this is about you”—his smile fell away— “about his feelings for you, then the knowledge that we’re an item will piss him off.”
“But”—she leaned closer— “why wreck my room? Why trash my stuff in the first place? Why not just leave the note?”
He shrugged. “Maybe he’s confused.”
“Speaking of confusion, I’ve got a list.” She leaned up and pulled a folded piece of paper from the pocket of her sundress. “Of employees I think would fit the profile.”
His smile returned. “So do I.” He pulled out his list from his back pocket and handed it to her.
For the next half an hour they glanced over the lists, debating the names. Some they crossed off. At the end, they had a list of ten people, all of them employees he had never liked. If it was up to him, several of them would be literally off the island.
“So, what’s the next step?” she asked finishing the last bite of her food.
Leaning down, he pulled out the box of dessert, set it between them, and opened it. “The next step is; we show everyone on the island that we’re together.”
Her eyes were glued to the s’mores. “How do we do that?”
He handed her a plate with the dessert on it. “Well, I figured after we finish this meal, we head down where we can”—his eyes locked with hers— “make a public display of ourselves.”
Her lips curved up. “Now that sounds fun.” She took a bite of the s’more and moaned with pleasure.
“If you keep moaning like that, we might have a private showing first.” Her cheeks flushed and he decided he enjoyed making her blush.
Lilly helped with the cleanup, then glanced around the room once more. “You know; this would make a great ballroom.”
He looked around again. “What would we need a ballroom for?”
“Weddings, parties, events…” She tilted her head. “A row of chairs along that wall, a glass bar there.” She pointed and spun around, then glanced down. “The flooring would need to be sanded and stained, but other than that…” She broke off. “I bet it wouldn’t take more than a few thousand dollars to fix it up.”
“Where would all this stuff go?” He motioned to the boxes and furniture.
“Some of it, like the table and chairs, would stay. Pushed up against a wall or over there in the corner.” She walked around and looked behind some boxes. “There’s more back here too.”
He nodded, then walked over to look. “Yes, some cabinets and I think some clocks and odd pieces in some of the boxes.” She turned and looked at him. “I was looking for candle holders.” He took her hand and pulled her to the other side of the room. “There’s a sofa back here that looks like a Louis XV.” He moved a few boxes and exposed the red velvet sofa.
Lilly gasped. “I can’t believe all of this is just hidden up here.” She smiled at him. “I’m beginning to think we found the best welcome home present for Sarah and Ben.”
He looked at her, not understanding.
“This.” She motioned around. “All of this. Cleaning this up, setting it up.”
He laughed. “How do you expect we get all this done in…”—he glanced at his watch sarcastically— “less than a week?
She smiled. “I have my ways.” She walked over and took up the picnic basket and waited for him at the door. “Trust me.”
He shrugged his shoulders, took the basket from her, then took her hand in his and walked down the hallway to show everyone on the island exactly how he felt about her.
Chapter Ten
Lilith had never imagined that Adam’s idea of showing everyone they were together was pushing her up against the wall and making every bone in her body melt while lighting every inch of her skin on fire. His mouth and hands had a way of making her forget time and place.
She hadn’t even heard or noticed anyone else in the room. But when he pulled back, the silence of the kitchen was almost deafening. He leaned close and, smiling, said, “I think that should do it. Don’t you?”
She was still a little fuzzy and instead of answering, just nodded.
“I’ll see you after dinner?” he asked, rubbing a finger over her lips slowly.
Again, she nodded.
“Good. I’ll try to bring you up dinner. You can supply the dessert this time.” He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her lips, then nudged her towards the door.
She walked out without a word. It wasn’t until she entered the main dining room that she remembered to breathe.
“There you are.” Tristen rushed across the room towards her and she felt her entire body go on guard. When his hand reached out, she flinched slightly. It wasn’t as if she was afraid of the man, it was just that her mind was still reeling from Adam. Instantly, Tristen dropped his hand. “I…” He glanced around, then dropped his voice. “I had hoped that I would see you before we left. I wanted to apologize for yesterday.”
“No need,” she said, not sure why she instantly felt like she needed to comfort him.
“Yes, yes, there is. I…” He sighed. “Kaleen can be a bitch.” He glanced around the room quickly, no doubt making sure the woman wasn’t within earshot. “I’m only with her because our parents are friends.” He slowly reached out and took her arm and then led them towards the patio doors. She followed him, knowing they would remain in view of the entire dining room.
“I hope your stay was…” She started her standard speech.
“I’d like to see you again,” he broke in.
She swayed back and blinked up at him a few times. “I… I’m flattered.”
“Just flattered?” he asked.
“I… I’m seeing someone,” she blurted out.
“The Frenchman?” he asked after a moment.
“Yes.”
His eyes moved to the kitchen doors. “Lucky man,” he said, then turned back towards her. “Well, I hope there are no hard feelings. I really am sorry.”
Just then her phone rang. Glancing down, she sighed. “I’m sorry, I have to…” He nodded and she stepped out onto the patio to answer the call from Sarah.
Before she even g
ot the words “hello” out, Sarah was talking.
“What is this I hear about you and Adam?” she demanded.
“Um.” She calculated that it had been less than five minutes since their kiss in the kitchen. There was no way Sarah could have heard about it yet. “What have you heard?” she asked, walking over to the railing of the porch and looking out at the rain.
“That you two caught a wine thief.”
Lilith’s shoulders relaxed. “Oh, that.”
“Oh, that?” Sarah sounded hurt. “Is there more that I don’t know about?”
Lilith closed her eyes. “Um.” She took a deep breath and spent the next ten minutes catching her friend up on everything that had happened.
By the time she was done, it felt like an enormous weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She even had to wipe away a tear or two when Sarah asked why she’d felt she needed to hide all of this from her.
“Because you’re on your freaking honeymoon!” She sighed. “You’re not supposed to worry about this kind of stuff.”
“I don’t worry. I left East Haven in capable hands,” Sarah added, making Lilith feel even worse for keeping it from her. “Besides, I remember telling you to let me know the moment Adam finally made his move on you.”
“Finally?” She turned and leaned against the railing, glancing into the front door where the entire Robinson clan was standing around with their luggage. They had all crowded into their private yachts to get here, but since the weather had taken a turn for the worse, it appeared that no one was willing to brave the rain to leave. She could see Tristen in the mix. It appeared that he was arguing with the brunette beauty.
While she was watching, he turned towards the window and waved for her to come in. She could tell there was an issue and dreaded what was going to come next.
“I can’t get into this right now.” She broke in as Sarah was asking question after question about what had happened between her and Adam. “There seems to be an issue with the Robinsons I need to go handle.”