by Tina Folsom
“Now I do.” He rubbed his thumb over her clit, sending a hot bolt through her core. “Put it on me.”
Tara opened the button of his shorts and pulled the zipper down. His cock sprang free, hard and heavy. When she touched him, he froze for a moment.
“Fuck, Tara!” His eyes bored into her.
She loved the smoldering look he gave her and quickly went to work to sheath him with the condom. “There.”
“Good!” He shifted his position while he gripped her hip with one hand and urged her to lift herself higher, while the other hand still held her G-string to the side. “Guide me inside,” he demanded, voice gruff and almost unrecognizable.
The sound of it made her hot. She followed his command, bringing his cockhead to her entrance. The moment the bulbous head touched her wet folds, Jay pushed upward and thrust into her.
Tara let her head fall back. A moan escaped from her throat and was carried away by the light evening breeze.
“Hold your panties to the side,” he ordered, and she complied.
Then Jay’s hands cupped her face and pulled her to him. His lips were on hers a second later, when he scorched her mouth with a mind-numbing kiss. It tasted of possession and desire, of need and lust. His tongue was demanding as it swept into her mouth, incinerating everything in its path, claiming her like a man on a mission.
Then she began to move, up and down, impaling herself, then withdrawing. His pelvis moved in synch with her rhythm, thrusting and withdrawing, slicing deep into her, filling her. With one hand he cupped her nape to hold her face to his, the other he brought to her sex, caressing her clit with tender movements as if he knew exactly what she needed.
Tara rocked against him, rubbing her center of pleasure against his calloused fingers, the delicious friction sending hot waves through her body. She felt like ripping her dress off to find relief from the heat. As if Jay could read her thoughts, he moved his hand from her nape to her shoulder, brushing the spaghetti strap first off one shoulder then off the other, making the fabric pool at her waist.
Cool air blew against her naked breasts, hardening her nipples in an instant.
Jay let go of her mouth and dipped his head, capturing one nipple in his mouth, sucking on it, while he squeezed her breast and continued to thrust into her. His moans were like soft ripples against her sensitive skin, only adding to the delicious sensations that made her body burn with pleasure. Every time they made love, he coaxed new sensations from her body, introduced her to new levels of pleasure as if he were a magician. She felt free with him, free to express herself, to let go and only feel without worrying about the consequences.
Even now as she straddled him, her torso exposed, she didn’t care if anybody from the shore could see them. All they would see were two bodies moving in synch, two people giving each other pleasure just because they could. Two people who didn’t care that their relationship was moving too fast and most definitely didn’t meet with everybody’s approval.
“Jay,” she murmured, making him release her breast and meet her gaze.
“What do you need, darlin’?”
“You, just you.” Feeling Jay inside her wiped out every fear and worry she had about her future, about finding a job, about cutting the cord with her parents and making a life for herself.
“Tara,” he murmured, capturing her mouth again.
He leveraged his thrusts by sliding one leg off the bench and placing one foot on the ground now, allowing him to thrust upward with more strength. Faster, too. She held on to his shoulders, clinging to him. She needed this, needed him, the wildness he showed her, the passion he shared with her.
His kiss drugged her, made her addicted to him, while farther south he continued to patiently caress her clit. It was impossible to hold back any longer. A wave started building in her, threatening to drown her. As it crested, she ripped her lips from his and let out a guttural moan, holding nothing back.
Jay’s eyes locked with hers. Then shudders went through his body, and his cock spasmed inside her. His chest heaved. His eyes closed and his head dropped back, a loud groan dislodging from his throat.
When he opened his eyes again and pinned her, golden flecks seemed to sparkle in their brown depth.
“You’re amazing, Tara. Out of this world amazing.”
Before she could reply, he pulled her flush to him and kissed her, while he caressed her naked back with his warm hands and continued with slow and shallow thrusts that sent aftershocks through her trembling body.
18
“What?”
“I said, do you want a blueberry muffin with your latte?” Veronica asked, staring at her from across the tiny table in one of the quaint coffee shops in Southampton.
Tara looked at her sister and desperately tried to pretend that she wasn’t daydreaming. Every moment she wasn’t together with Jay, she was reliving their passionate encounters—and there were plenty to relive. The number was growing daily, or rather nightly.
“I’m good. Just the latte.”
While Veronica gave the waitress her own order of coffee and a pastry, Tara scanned her surroundings again. She’d arrived way before her scheduled meeting time with Veronica and scouted out the area, making sure it wasn’t a trap and her parents weren’t anywhere nearby. She knew that her parents, particularly her mother, wouldn’t think twice about using Tara’s own sister against her. And while Tara knew she would eventually have to stand up to her parents, she knew she had a better chance of succeeding once she had a job offer in hand.
The moment the waitress left their table, Veronica leaned across it and dropped her voice. “So, tell me, what’s going on?”
“What do you mean?” Did her sister already know about Jay?
Veronica made a dismissive gesture. “Don’t give me that. I’m not stupid. First Mom leaves me a bunch of messages, asking whether I’d been in touch with you recently, and when I show up here, you have this far away look on your face as if you’re in some magical fairytale land. Just like when you were younger. Something is up.”
“Have you spoken to Mom?”
Veronica shook her head. “Not yet. Adam and I were too busy and since I knew I was going to see you today anyway, I figured it could wait.”
Tara sighed a breath of relief. It was lucky that Veronica had different priorities in her life now, and being at her mother’s beck and call wasn’t one of them anymore. Her husband now played first fiddle in her life.
“Can you promise not to tell Mom that you saw me?”
Veronica furrowed her forehead and cast her a critical look. “Are you in some sort of trouble?”
“Why would I be in trouble?”
“Because you’re obviously avoiding Mom and haven’t spoken to her in a while.”
“Not true,” Tara protested. “I spoke to her. Yesterday.”
“Well then, why did she leave me all those messages to ask whether I spoke to you when she spoke to you herself?”
Tara shrugged, trying to appear casual. “She’s just annoyed because she can’t push me around anymore.”
“You had a fight with her?”
“Don’t say that as if it’s my fault. She’s the one constantly breathing down my neck about… stuff.”
Veronica’s eyes suddenly softened and she chuckled under her breath. “And by stuff, you mean Mom is busy planning your future.”
Tara crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back in her chair. “Exactly. My future. And guess what? I’ve had enough of her interfering in my life. I’m going to make my own decisions now.”
“Haven’t you forgotten one tiny thing when it comes to making your own decisions?”
“Are you taking her side again?”
“Again? I’ve never taken her side. I’m just better at hiding my true feelings than you are, little sis. You’re way too impetuous and don’t know how to manipulate our parents.”
Tara huffed. “Oh, and you do? May I remind you that our mother coerced you into marry
ing Adam, because he was perfect husband material: rich, handsome, and connected?”
Instead of an angry reply, her sister suddenly broke out in laughter, drawing the attention of several customers.
“What?” Tara barked.
“You don’t get it, Tara, do you?” Veronica leaned over the table, lowering her voice in a conspiratorial way. “I picked Adam, because I wanted him. And then I made sure Mom thought she was the one who pushed me into marrying him. To this day she’s convinced that she made the greatest match for me, when in fact I pulled the strings all along. Adam was my choice. I got the man I wanted. The man who loves me as much as I love him. I would have never married any of the other candidates Mom dragged in.” Her sister smiled. “You just have to learn to manipulate Mom and Dad so they think the guy you want was their choice all along.”
Tara let all air rush from her lungs. “How am I going to do that?” Particularly since she didn’t want some rich guy from their circles. Her parents would never accept somebody like Jay. Not that she should even think that far. That was just a for instance.
“What are you thinking?” her sister asked, interrupting her thoughts. Then her facial expression changed to one of realization. “You met someone!”
Tara lowered her lids, trying to avoid her sister’s scrutiny, but Veronica was nothing if not persistent.
“Who is he? What does he do? Do I know him?”
Tara groaned in frustration. Those were exactly the kind of questions her mother had asked. Because in their society all that counted was who somebody was and what he did.
“You don’t know him.”
“Come on! Tell me about him. I want to know who’s giving my little sister that dreamy-eyed look.”
The waitress arriving with their order gave Tara a few more seconds to construct her answer. When they were alone again, Veronica gave her an expectant look.
“He’s a waiter.”
“A waiter?”
“Well, not only a waiter. He also works in construction.”
Not that this additional piece of information seemed to satisfy her sister. “Are you serious?”
Tara straightened her shoulders and took a sip of her latte before tilting her chin up in defiance. “He’s gorgeous and very nice.”
Veronica shook her head in silence.
“And he’s great in bed! There!”
Her sister moved her chair closer. “Oh Tara, what are you doing? How long have you known him?”
“A few days.”
“And you’re sleeping with him? You don’t know this guy at all. He could be a serial killer or something.”
“You watch too much bad television. He’s charming. And kind.”
“And he got you into bed within a few days.”
“That’s not how it was.”
“He seduced you.”
“He didn’t. I went to him. I propositioned him.” There, it was out. She was the wicked one who’d come on to a man, offering him sex.
Veronica drew back, her chin dropping. “You?”
“What? You think I can’t seduce a guy? Thanks for your vote of confidence!” Tara jumped up from her chair, but Veronica clamped her hand over her forearm, stopping her.
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean?”
“Sit down.”
Reluctantly, Tara sat back down.
Veronica brushed her hand through Tara’s hair, a kind, sisterly gesture. “God, you’re all grown up. I still look at you like my kid sister, but you’re an adult now.” She laughed. “And a vixen!”
“I’m no vixen!”
“Yes, you are. So tell me about this guy. He must be quite something for you to finally come out of your shell.”
Appeased by her sister’s warm smile and admiration in her gaze, Tara relaxed. “He’s wonderful. He’s sweet and kind. He really takes care of me. He listens to me. He’s so different from all the guys in our circle. He’s normal.”
“What’s his name?”
“Jay.” Tara felt her heart warm at the sound of his name.
“Just Jay?”
Tara shrugged.
“So, are you staying with him? Is that why Mom was trying to find out if I’d spoken to you?”
Tara nodded. “I’m staying on the boat with him.”
“A boat?”
“Yes, but it’s not his. His boss is letting him crash on the boat during the summer while Jay works on a renovation for him.”
“Where?”
“I’d rather not say.”
“You don’t trust me?”
“It’s not that. It’s just, I don’t want you to have to lie to Mom when she asks you where I am.”
Veronica sighed. “Fair enough.” She paused for a moment. “So what’s the plan?”
“Plan?”
“You must have a plan.”
“I’m just taking it one day at a time. I want to get to know him better.”
“But you can’t just live like that. Sooner or later, Mom and Dad will cut off your funds to force you to come back.”
“For that I have a plan. I applied for a job. I haven’t heard back yet, but I’m pretty sure that I’ll get an interview. And once they see my portfolio, they’ll just have to hire me!”
At least Paul had been impressed when she’d sent him the portfolio to forward to Hannon Boats. And he’d been sure she’d hear back in a couple of days with details of an interview.
“And then I’ll be financially independent, and Mom and Dad can’t force me to do anything I don’t want to.”
“I hope it works out.” Veronica smiled. “And if it doesn’t, then you and I will figure out a way of getting Mom and Dad to accept whatever man you set your sights on. Even if that man doesn’t fit their view of a perfect husband.”
19
Jay couldn’t believe that he’d already spent six nights with Tara in his arms and still couldn’t get enough of her. It wasn’t just that sex with Tara was passionate and utterly satisfying, but he felt comfortable with her. When he came back to the boat after the day at the construction site, she welcomed him with such open joy that he wondered what it would be like to be greeted like this every day of his life.
They’d spent the last few days like a couple on their honeymoon, except that Jay had to keep up the pretense of working at the construction site, leaving each morning and coming back to the boat during the late afternoon. He conducted whatever business he needed to take care of for his company via an iPad and his cell phone in the house, knowing that he couldn’t talk openly on the boat while Tara was staying with him. He wasn’t ready to tell her who he was. He needed more time before he could broach the subject of his real identity with Tara. It was odd though, how close he felt to her, closer than he’d ever felt to Deborah, even though they’d dated much longer.
For a moment he thought back to Paul and the fact that he was getting married soon—to a woman he’d known for less than three months. Maybe it was true that once you met the right person, you didn’t need a lot of time to make a decision. Of course, it could also be that Paul was utterly crazy. Just about as crazy as Holly. And maybe two crazies equaled sanity?
Jay smiled and peeled himself out of Tara’s arms, trying not to wake her. But she stirred instantly, as if she was aware of him even in her sleep.
“Jay?”
“Morning, darlin’. Just sleep in. I’ve gotta go to work.” And today that wasn’t even a lie. He had to go into New York City for the interviews his assistant had set up for the day. And he couldn’t let Tara know.
Tara wrapped her arms around him, pulling him to her naked body. He glanced at the clock on the nightstand and knew he couldn’t delay, though it was tempting to make love to her. His cock certainly was ready for it.
“Don’t go.”
“I have to. We’ve got a bunch of materials arriving at the house. It’ll be a busy day. And I’ll probably get back later than usual.”
Driving from Mon
tauk to Manhattan took close to three hours, depending on traffic, which was the reason he’d booked a helicopter to pick him up in East Hampton and take him into the city. That way he could be back at a reasonable time and maintain his cover.
Tara slid her hand onto his cock, sending a wave of lust through him. “But I know you want to stay.”
“Oh, I want a lot of things,” he murmured into her ear. “One is getting you on your hands and knees and fucking you until you scream my name.” He slid his hand to her ass and pressed her against his erection. “But I’m afraid that’ll have to wait until tonight. So be a good girl and behave.”
He lowered his hand and reached between her legs, touching her sex. She was wet and warm, just how he liked it.
Tara moaned and pressed against his hand. “You mean like you behave?”
“I’m just a man. I can’t help myself.” He laughed, removed his hand, and gave her a soft slap on her backside. “Gotta go.”
He jumped out of bed before he could change his mind, showered in record time, and got dressed—all while Tara was devouring him with her eyes. He could definitely get used to that.
“Tonight,” he promised when he left and headed for the truck.
He jumped into the rust bucket and drove to East Hampton.
~ ~ ~
The phone rang while Tara was in the shower, just rinsing her hair.
“Damn it,” Tara cursed.
For three days she’d waited for a call about the job interview. This could be it. She’d programmed in special ringtones for her parents’ numbers so that she wouldn’t make the same mistake again and pick up a call by her mother. And the ringtone she heard now wasn’t the one she’d assigned to her parents. It had to be from Hannon Boats.
Rushing, she snatched a towel and wrapped it haphazardly around her body, racing to where her phone lay on the nightstand.
“Hello?”
“Tara?”
“Yes, this is Tara.”
“Hey, it’s Paul. I’m so sorry.”
“Paul.” She hadn’t immediately recognized his voice. Now she sobered. “Hi.”