Sex on the Beach (Southern Comfort Book 2)

by Melanie Shawn

  As much as I appreciated feeling her open-mouth kisses, I was ready to do some smoochin’ of my own. Plus, if she didn’t stop, the inside of my boxer-briefs were about to be coated with baby batter.

  With one hand I grabbed her wrists, which were locked behind my neck, and pinned them above her head, holding them in place. But since I needed that hand back to continue busting sex myths, I commanded, “Stay.”

  Her eyes dilated and her lips parted at my barked instruction, which only served to make my balls tingle, driving me even closer to pre-jacking.

  Damn, was I ever going to be able to perform at my optimal level with this woman? I looked down into her baby blue eyes, staring up at me with a mix of innocence and adventure as she licked her lips and I had my answer. That answer was no.

  Still, I was determined to take things slow this time. The night at Peachtree Peak, I’d barely made it ten minutes. I didn’t even think I’d made it that long in the cave. Tonight, I was going to take time and make sweet, passionate love to her.

  That was the plan. But then a tiny grin that had naughty written all over it tugged at her lips, and my resolve nearly snapped like a twig in the path of a rolling boulder.

  A moan resonated in my chest as I released my grip on her delicate wrists. I quickly undressed and sheathed myself with protection before tugging her dress up and over her head and her panties down her legs. I needed to get this show on the road if I had any chance of heading off a premature curtain call.

  She lifted off the bed to accommodate me as I stripped off her clothing. When she fell back down onto her back, I was happy to see that she returned to the position I’d placed her in, her hands above her head.

  Her breasts jiggled, catching my eye. Like a hawk swooping down for his prey, my head dropped, and I captured her nipple in my mouth. Her back arched and I sucked the hardened tip, laving my tongue against it.

  My hand massaged the fullness of her opposite breast. Her beaded nub rubbed against my weathered palm, causing a tingle to shoot straight from the point of contact to my heavy cock, throbbing with need.

  “Please don’t stop,” she pleaded.

  Hearing her beg chipped at my resolve to take things slow. But I knew that the payoff would be worth it.

  I’d tried not to let the fact that no man had been where I was affect me. I knew that her sexual journey had nothing to do with me. I was pretty much the luckiest bastard in the world to be the man that she chose.

  But even though I tried to ignore it, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of connection to her that I’d never felt with anyone else. It wasn’t just the virginity thing. There was something so different about her soul. There was something there that my soul recognized. It was as if I’d known her my entire life.

  The more she writhed beneath me, the more my love valve was pushed to capacity. I knew that if I didn’t release it soon, there’d be a lot more than steam to clean up.

  Rocking back on my heels, I gripped her inner thighs, spreading her legs apart and revealing her sex, glistening with arousal. She was ready for me, but I wanted to take a moment and appreciate the woman laid out before me. I took a mental picture of the curves of her body, her hair fanned out on my pillowcase, the flush of her skin.

  Just an hour ago, I believed that I’d never see her again, at least not like this. And now, she was here. Where she belonged. Naked beneath me.

  “What’s wrong?” She lifted her head to look at me.

  “Nothing, I was just enjoying the view.” I let my palms run up her inner thighs and I pushed them apart even further and settled myself between her legs.

  Lowering on top of her, I rested on my forearms and began kissing her sweet, soft lips. The kiss was gentle at first. I pressed my mouth to hers, then brushed my lips over hers. When her lips parted I sucked first her upper then bottom lip between mine.

  I took my time, pulling each into my mouth before releasing it. I’d barely slipped my tongue between them when I was met with her tongue. Tilting my head to the side, I cupped my hand behind her neck and angled her head to give me total and complete access.

  As the kiss continued, she moaned into my mouth and her nails scratched along my back. I could feel the desire building in her.

  Slowly, I pushed between the barriers of her sex. Her inner muscles clamped down around my hard shaft, sucking me into her body. I continued to thrust my hips until I was completely buried inside of her. I could feel my erection pulsing in the clutches of her velvety warmth.

  I continued kissing her, pressing my lips to her forehead, her cheeks, and her jaw. Then I moved lower down her neck.

  Her hips began to roll seductively, urging me to get the show going. I would. But first I wanted to bring her close to the edge again, and I knew that she wasn’t there. Not yet.

  So I continued with foreplay, ignoring her body’s subtle suggestions to speed things up. A frustrated moan fell from her lips, and I knew that it was directed at me. She might be discontented now, but I knew it would be worth it in the end.

  Using one arm to hold myself up, I scooted the other beneath her back. When I had a firm hold on her, I sat us both upright and swung my legs off the bed. Bella’s arms clung to my neck and her legs stayed wrapped around my waist as I sat on the edge of the bed and she straddled me.

  In this position, I could easily maneuver her body and go deeper inside of her than I could if she were lying down. I gripped her hips and lifted her, then, using her own body weight, she lowered down onto me.

  I watched her face as she looked down at the place where our bodies were intimately connected. She watched as I disappeared into her body again and again, my shaft shining from her wetness. My fingers dug into her hips as I repeated the motion, lifting her and then pulling her back down.

  Soon, I could feel her walls beginning to contract against my intrusions. Her thighs began to tremble against mine, and her head fell onto my shoulder as her nails dug into my back.

  “Yes, yes, yes,” she repeatedly whimpered.

  She was close. I just feared I was closer.

  I kept the rhythm steady as I tilted my head down and growled against her ear, my lips brushing along the outer rim, “You feel so fucking good. Do I feel good? Do I feel good inside you?”

  “Yes! Yes!”

  “Then come for me,” I growled as I lightly bit her lobe.

  Thankfully, she heeded my command. Her body began to twitch as her inner walls convulsed around me. Her body milking me pulled the pin out of the grenade and I exploded in one of the most intense, powerful orgasms of my life.

  As I came back to reality, I was holding Bella in my arms, her naked body plastered against mine, and I was still deep inside of her. It hit me then that this was home. All my life my concept of “home” was so skewed thanks to my unconventional upbringing. And since Pop had died and Hank’d inherited the house, I’d felt even more displaced. I hadn’t realized that was what my restlessness was due to, but now I knew. I was looking for my home. And I’d found it.

  Bella was my home.

  CHAPTER 31

  Isabella

  I yawned as headlights shone on the broken fence where Cheyenne had instructed me to turn left. I was meeting her, Nadia, and Reagan for a class called Farm Strong. As far as I understood from their explanation and the flyer I’d seen the night we were at Southern Comfort, it was basically a boot camp style class that involved farm work.

  Working on a farm was on my list. My favorite book growing up had been Charlotte’s Web, and I’d always romanticized what it would be like to bale hay and feed pigs.

  None of the women had seemed that excited about it after I’d suggested it, but I was happy that they agreed, albeit begrudgingly, to come.

  When I made it down the dirt road and came out of the clearing, I was surprised to see how packed the parking lot was. Well, “parking lot” might be overstating. It was a large patch of dirt. But, still, I had to circle it to find a spot.

  When I got out, I scanne
d the crowd that had gathered around several large tires. Most of the women were dressed like they were about to be in a Beachbody video. They all matched and most of them had their midriffs showing.

  I glanced down at my sweats and hoodie with a T-shirt underneath and felt very…schlubby. But it was four in the morning and the temp was in the low fifties. I was cold, dammit! I felt like a lightweight, especially considering I was from Connecticut.

  “You found it!”

  I heard Cheyenne call out and I looked up. I was relieved when I saw that Cheyenne, Reagan, and Nadia were all dressed similarly to me, in sweats and T-shirts. Nadia had a knit cap on, and Reagan was wearing gloves.

  “Hey!” I greeted the trio as I crossed the dirt clearing to them. As I was walking two more cars showed up. “I can’t believe it’s this packed.”

  Nadia pulled her beanie down so that it was covering her eyes. “I can’t believe you got me out here at quarter to we-should-all-be-the-fuck-asleep a.m.”

  “You only came for the eye candy, and you know it,” Reagan remarked.

  “I am not here to see Harlan.”

  I couldn’t help but pick up on Nadia’s defensive tone.

  “Who said anything about Harlan?” Reagan lifted her hands up.

  “But, speaking of eye candy,” Nadia peeked one eye out from beneath her cap. “Where’s yours? If I remember correctly, he was here the last time you took this class.”

  “He’s asleep. He closed the bar last night and we were up late.” Reagan took her gloves off and started to pull her hair up in a ponytail.

  “Holy shit!” Nadia screamed and I jumped. “Is that a ring?!”

  “Yes!” Reagan smiled from ear to ear. “I’m engaged!”

  There was a lot of squealing as Cheyenne and Nadia threw their arms around Reagan while they all three jumped up and down. I wanted to join in, but I didn’t think it was my place. I barely knew the woman, but I was genuinely happy for her.

  “He finally wore you down! That’s amazing.” Nadia grabbed Reagan’s hand and we all stared at the diamond.

  “It was your mom’s.” Reagan winced at Cheyenne. “I hope that’s okay.”

  “It’s amazing! I’m gonna have a sister!” Cheyenne clapped her hands.

  We were still celebrating when a man in a flannel shirt with the arms cut off, cowboy boots, and a baseball hat addressed the group. “All right, now, settle down. No more squealin’.”

  “But there’s a reason for the squealin’!” Nadia exclaimed then put her hands up to her mouth like a bullhorn. “Billy Comfort is officially off the market.”

  Nadia held up Reagan’s hand like she’d just gone twelve rounds in the ring and come out the champion.

  There was a swell of applause, whistles, and cheers but I couldn’t help notice that there were also a few sour faces in the group of forty or so. And the faces that looked like they’d just sucked a lemon all belonged to young, beautiful women.

  Mrs. B was right. Comfort men were quite the commodity around here.

  As I scanned the crowd of well-wishers and lemon-suckers, I noticed a familiar face. The stunning woman I’d met at Jimmy’s the night before was standing in the middle of the group.

  Her dark hair was pulled up in a perfectly-placed ponytail. She wore black yoga pants paired with a pink cropped hoodie that showcased her tiny waist and curvy hips. She wasn’t wearing a drop of makeup. It was 4 a.m. And somehow, she looked even more beautiful than she had the night before.

  Insecurity began to bubble up inside of me. I just didn’t see how in any world a man would turn down a night with her to spend it with me. But that’s exactly what Jimmy had done. I wondered if that might be because of the information I’d given him.

  Maybe he’d felt sorry for me. That was the last thing I’d wanted to happen from our talk. I needed to talk to him and make sure that wasn’t the case. I needed to make it clear to him that I didn’t want his pity, and if we did try and do anything long distance, he could date anyone he wanted. Even if it did make me feel like the time I got hit in the stomach with a fast-flying tetherball. I’d leave that part out.

  After all the congratulations, Harlan instructed us to break up in groups of two. I was gladder than ever that Cheyenne had agreed to come. I’d had no idea that anything we’d do would require a partner.

  As Cheyenne and I walked to the station we’d been assigned, she whispered, “I got the results back yesterday.”

  “You did?”

  My first thought was that I’d asked the lab to rush it, but I had no clue they’d be this fast.

  My second thought was, shit. From the look on Cheyenne’s face, it wasn’t the news she’d wanted. I wished that Nadia and Reagan were here, they really did the emotional pep talk thing much better than I did.

  “Are you okay?” It was all I could think to ask.

  “James Comfort is not my biological father,” she said flatly.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay.” She grunted as we worked together to push over the tractor tire.

  “What are you going to do?” I asked as it thudded to the ground.

  Cheyenne wiped her hands together, getting the dust and debris from the tire off. “Reagan offered to covertly collect a DNA sample from Jennings since he’s her boss, but I have another idea. Buuut I’ll need your help.”

  “Of course,” I agreed, even before hearing what it was.

  “I was wondering if you’d make an appointment to see Jennings, and I’ll go with you.”

  “Yes, absolutely. But why me?” It wasn’t that I didn’t want to do it, I just thought it was strange that I would be the one she asked.

  “Well, I’d do it myself, but he does his best to avoid me, so I don’t think he’d see me. Reagan works for the man, so I don’t want to involve her. And my brothers all have…shall we say, history…with him. I don’t think they would really be able to keep their cool. He doesn’t know you, and I’m sure he’ll take your appointment. Also, I know we weren’t super close in school, but I’ve known you longer than I’ve known anyone here.”

  I hadn’t thought about that. Technically, this was her home and her family, but it probably felt like I had more history with her since we’d gone to school together from sixth to tenth grade.

  She lowered her voice even further. “And Jennings Abernathy can—”

  “Abernathy?” I whispered. “As in Abernathy Manor?”

  “That’s the one. His great-aunt, or as some say, grandaunt, was the one who put the curse on my family.”

  Oh, shit. The curse! How in the world had I forgotten the curse? If any Comfort male fell in love, that love would end tragically. If things did go the way that it looked like they were heading, I’d be a walking, talking, self-fulfilling prophecy because our relationship was more than likely going to end in tragedy.

  “And he can be a very intimidating man, but I don’t think you’ll have a problem with that.”

  “Really? Why?” It was strange that she’d say that considering how shy I’d always been in school.

  “I’ve met your dad.” She chuckled. “He’s terrifying.”

  Well, she wasn’t wrong.

  “And I think that will work in our favor, too. Jennings wouldn’t turn down a meeting with Miles Santini’s daughter.”

  “How would he know who I am? Am I supposed to mention it when I call?”

  “No.” Cheyenne shook her head. “He’ll know. In fact, I’m sure he already knows who you are and that you’re in town. He knows everything around here.”

  “Okay,” I agreed again.

  It looked like I was going to get another thing checked off my list. Seventy-one. Be part of an undercover mission.

  CHAPTER 32

  Jimmy

  My palms were sweaty as I knocked on Bella’s door. When she’d left my house that morning at 3:30 a.m., I’d lied to her. I’d told her that I couldn’t go to her workout class because I had an early morning tour. Which was technically true,
but I’d already planned on skipping it.

  And I had. I knew that she wouldn’t be expecting me or what I had planned, and even though we’d made huge strides toward a real relationship last night, these were still new waters for me, and I was finding it difficult to navigate them. I’d never had a girlfriend, and I wasn’t even sure that’s what she was, but part of my plan was to nail down that little detail.

  I fisted my hand and rapped my knuckles on the door twice. Then I waited. No one came to the door. I’d seen her rental car out front, so I knew that she was back from the class.

  Maybe she’d fallen asleep. I had kept her up all night, after all—and then she’d gotten up at the butt crack of dawn to go and do Harlan’s chores for him. Not to mention paying him for the privilege. That man was a damn genius if ya asked me. Some folks, including my brother Billy, were salty about his success. But not me. I always appreciated that sort of initiative.

  Harlan hated gettin’ his hands dirty, or puttin’ in a hard day’s labor, and he loved women. He’d managed to work it out so that each day fifty or so eager, scantily-clad women showed up at his family’s farm and paid him, at the rate of ten bucks a head, to do his work for him.

  Like I said, the man was a genius.

  After staring at the unopened door for a minute or so, I decided to knock again. She may have gone back to sleep. I didn’t want to wake her up, but this was time-sensitive.

  I was just about to knock again when the door flung open, revealing a dripping wet Bella. She wore one terrycloth towel wrapping her hair and another wrapping her body. I watched as a single drop of water slid down between her breasts. My dick had never been jealous of a drop of water before, but it damn sure was now. It wanted to be that drop sliding between her plump bosoms.

  “Hey!” Bella exclaimed, concern showing on her face. “What are you doing here? Is everything okay?”

  “Uh, yeah…” I was a little disorientated. “Everything’s fine.”

  I tried to keep my eyes above the line of the towel. If I let them slide down, I wasn’t going to be responsible for my actions, because I knew what was behind that terrycloth material. Heaven.