Recipe for Temptation

by Gina Gordon

  She looked over her shoulder, her eyes desperate, needy. “I have condoms in my suitcase.”

  Christ. He wasn’t even thinking about condoms. He was too desperate to get inside her.

  He nodded, scrambling out of the tangle of his shorts, then followed the gesture of her chin to the corner of the bedroom. He rummaged in the top compartment and found the box.

  He sheathed himself in mere seconds, then returned to her perfect bottom, kneeling between her legs. He pressed the tip of his cock insider her, then pulled out. Over and over, reveling in the sounds of her moans.

  Then she got greedy. Before he had the chance to pull out, she rammed her bottom backward, and he was balls deep into the most impressive woman he’d ever met.

  He grabbed her ass cheeks, squeezing them tight, knowing if he continued, her ass would be pink from his manhandling. Something inside his chest swelled at the thought of leaving his mark on her.

  He used his arms to bring their bodies together, his hands grasping the flesh of her bottom. It was so perfect. So creamy. And she was loving it all. Everything he had to give.

  He was mesmerized by the sight of his cock disappearing into her. The louder her moans, the faster he thrust, the harder he smacked his hips into her ass.

  It was all too much.

  He came with a roar. Much too quickly. Emptying every last drop of his pleasure inside her.

  They fell in a tumble of limbs onto the bed, and he pulled her against him, hot and sweat-soaked.

  Sex for the first time with someone was never this intense for him. This all-consuming. But he and Penn had known each other for too long, and they’d let the attraction between them crackle until it caught fire.

  Now that it had, he needed to stay strong, focused. Because as soon as they left this island, that attraction would have to be extinguished.

  Chapter Six

  Penn awoke to a gentle breeze wafting through the sliding glass doors. The view from her room was spectacular. The sun glistened off the ocean, palm trees swayed in the wind, and the gentle sounds of exotic birds reminded her that she wasn’t at home.

  And so did the warm arm draped over her torso. It wasn’t often that she woke up with a man in her bed. Not because she’d never had men in her bed, but because she’d preferred they hit the road once the bell sounded, signaling the end of their intimate match.

  But she wasn’t kicking Cole Murphy out of her bed. No way, no how. Not fucking likely.

  She lay there, taking it all in—the sounds of nature, the soft cadence of his breathing, the heat of his body pressed against hers. If someone had told her two days ago that Cole would be in her bed, she’d have laughed—silently lamenting the depressing reality, but laughing nonetheless.

  She slipped from under the sheet and dropped her feet to the cool hardwood floor. She stretched her back, bringing her arms up and clasping her hands together high in the air with a deep breath. She glanced over her shoulder at the man sleeping soundly.

  The sheet had conveniently been pulled from his body, leaving his chest and abs on full display, his man-parts barely covered. Seeing him here in the bright light of day, in her bed, confirmed that last night had, in fact, happened. It was not a dream.

  And wow. Even her dreams had never been so amazing, so vivid, or mind-blowing. She’d finally given in to her lust… And it had been even better than she’d ever imagined.

  She slipped on a floral silk robe that hung mid-thigh and tiptoed to the bathroom, then quietly made her way to the main area of the small bungalow. A white couch sat on the far wall of the living area in between two matching wingback chairs and a small table. Another sliding glass door led out to a small patio with an amazing view of the ocean. Which is where she would be sitting as soon as she got some caffeine in her veins.

  Outside the front door, a tray with coffee and juice had been left outside the room, just as she’d asked. She placed the tray in the small kitchenette, then poured herself a cup.

  Immediately the strong aroma woke her from her haze. But it wasn’t an alcohol haze. It was a sex haze. Cole Murphy definitely knew how to get a girl drunk on sex, on his kisses and touches.

  She took her coffee to the patio and settled into one of the chairs. She breathed in deep. The air was so fresh, so intoxicating, compared to back home. Like she could start her day with a clean slate every morning, regardless of how bad, obnoxious, or horny she’d been the day before, thanks to Cole’s arrival.

  The ocean waves mesmerized her. Surfers crashed over the white ripples, and she longed to be athletic enough, brave enough, to go out on the water and paddle herself to exhilaration.

  A few minutes later, the bedroom door flew open, and Cole stood in the doorway. Damn, she could get used to that sight every morning.

  He rubbed at one eye with the heel of his hand. His dark hair stood up at all sides. He’d thrown on his shorts, but his chest was gloriously bare, the sprinkling of dark hair the perfect amount to run her fingers through and set her mouth to watering. She knew just how coarse that hair was. How it felt rubbing against the soft skin of her back. Against her nipples. She suppressed her shiver.

  He yawned with a loud exhale and finally noticed her on the balcony. “Do we have any coffee?”

  Once again, her gaze strayed from his face. Who would blame her when she had inch after inch of bare skin to ogle? But when it dipped below his abdomen, her eyes widened. Staring back at her was his morning stiffy. She hadn’t remembered it being so…substantial. She hadn’t gotten the opportunity to touch it last night.

  She took a sip of her coffee, sneaking a peek over the rim. Although she wasn’t really sneaking anything. She blatantly admired, tapping her finger on the edge of the ceramic, unable to shake the grin from turning up the sides of her lips.

  “Really, Penn?” Cole’s disgruntled voice forced her eyes up. He stood in the doorway, running his hand across the back of his neck, unable to look her in the eye. “It’s biology. Can’t help it. It’s not that I want to jump your bones.”

  And why not? He certainly had last night, and it had been fantastic.

  “I know all about morning erections. I’ve seen my fair share,” she said casually.

  He grunted. “Coffee?”

  “Over there.” She motioned to the trolley.

  Shit, he was distracting. On his way over, she crossed her legs and squeezed them together. She couldn’t help it. Just the sight of him had always made her horny, and after last night, now that she knew just how good it was between them, she didn’t think she could ever get enough of the man.

  His bicep flexed when he picked up the carafe. His abs rippled with every small movement of his torso, just screaming to be licked.

  On his way out to the balcony, he grabbed his phone and joined her in the warm sunshine. “You stare at my body any harder and your eyes are going to bug out of your head.”

  “What can I say…” She zeroed in on his shorts. “That jackhammer is hard to ignore.”

  He settled into the seat beside her, bringing with him his musky scent, making her want to set down her cup and run her hands all over him, pressing her nose against his skin. Or maybe lick his body. Yes. Definitely lick.

  Before he took a sip of coffee, he whispered, “So you’re saying you like what you see.”

  “You know I do.” She reached out, letting her index finger slide over the soft skin of his shoulder, down his bicep to his forearm, settling on the hand that held his phone.

  She wondered if anyone would notice if they didn’t surface until Thursday’s scavenger hunt. She’d much rather keep Cole hostage in her room than suffer her siblings.

  Instead of watching her finger, his eyes bore into the spot where her robe had ridden up her leg, exposing the side of her ass. She had learned last night, and from the marks on her bottom this morning, that Cole Murphy was very much an ass man.

  A soft breeze washed over her skin, tightening her nipples. The hard points strained against the softness of
the silk draped across her body. A quick look to his shorts proved she wasn’t the only one aching.

  She reached across and palmed his semi-erection. “I think I’m not the only one who likes what they see.” He sucked in a hard breath when she squeezed her hand, his cock stiffening in her palm. “Tell me.”

  He smelled of sex, and man, and everything that made her head spin. And now, with him right next to her… Her stomach flip-flopped with anticipation. Sometimes it was the lead-in, the verbal foreplay that got her engines revving. A simple phrase. A string of words. And she was a goner. But Cole’s silence eased the excitement in her stomach. She had to admit, his aversion to dirty talk was peculiar. But sometimes actions spoke louder than words.

  “You could show me.” She grabbed his hand and placed it on his erection. “Pull that bad boy out and stroke it for me.”

  He stiffened. The lustful way he’d been looking at her had suddenly vanished when his eyes glazed over and discomfort washed over his face.

  Just when she thought she’d made progress with him, he took two steps back.

  “Is everything—?”

  A loud knock sounded on their door.

  Once again, he was saved from having to open up.

  With a defeated sigh, she stood and headed to the door. Lifting on her toes, she looked through the peephole and cursed under her breath.

  It was Cathy. Damn her family. Could she not have one minute of peace to admire the hot half-naked man in her—?

  Shit!

  She turned to where Cole paced the balcony, and her mouth practically fell to the floor at the sight of him. Those shorts were riding so low on his hips, one tiny tug with her finger and they’d probably drop to the floor.

  Nervousness and shame tightened in her stomach, and she raced over to grab his bicep. She couldn’t help the small whimper that escaped when her hand clamped around his warm, hard flesh.

  Focus, Penn.

  “You need to hide.”

  “What?” He looked at her like she’d gone off the deep end. Maybe she had. At this moment she felt like she was drowning. Like every decision she’d ever made to get her career on track was now rendered null and void by him just being in her room.

  “Cathy’s at the door,” she spat.

  The last thing she needed was for her family to create some conspiracy theory about her relationship with Cole. Even worse, what if she did get the offer to be on the board? Would her family think it was because she was screwing him?

  She looked around him to the railing. Maybe he could jump off the balcony? But when she couldn’t see the ground, she knew it was too far a drop.

  “Are you seriously contemplating me jumping off the balcony?” He laughed, but it was a nervous laugh.

  She looked up, pleading, “Please. Hide.”

  His shoulders dropped and he gave in, letting her pull him toward the bedroom. She pushed him over the threshold, and he tumbled inside just as another loud knock sounded on the door.

  Cathy’s voice penetrated the room. “Pennie, are you in there?”

  “Stay here,” she whispered. Pointing to the door with her thumb, she said, “I’ll get rid of her.”

  She gently shut him inside, then walked with super-speed toward Cathy, righting her robe and tightening the tie around her waist.

  When she opened the door, Cathy barreled in. “Good morning, sleepy head.”

  Even after four cups of coffee Penn was never that perky.

  She watched as her sister-in-law toured her hotel room, peeking into the kitchenette and the balcony. She even glanced into the open doorway of the bathroom.

  It was obvious she was looking for Cole.

  “What’s up, Cath?”

  With a defeated look, Cathy stopped her inspection. “You didn’t answer my text.” Her blond hair was pulled up into another high ponytail. The clip holding it together matched her pale blue fingernails.

  “I’m barely awake.” Penn crossed one arm over her chest and rested her hand in the crease of her elbow.

  “We have lots on the itinerary today, including breakfast and volleyball…”

  Penn tuned out.

  Yay. More family time. Exactly how she wanted to spend her time when she had a half-naked Cole hiding in her bedroom.

  “Dad made us reservations tonight for—”

  Fuck me.

  Penn zeroed in on Cole’s coffee mug sitting on the small table on the balcony. This whole situation was overwhelming, so much so, that she was being careless.

  “Pennie”—Cathy tapped her foot on the floor, bringing her attention back to the conversation at hand—“are you coming with us?”

  Right. Volleyball. Dinner. Family time.

  But when Penn didn’t answer right away, the smile on Cathy’s face disappeared, and her shoulders slumped forward. “I thought you’d want to spend time with the family since we never see you, and—”

  “I’ll be there.”

  Penn silently scolded herself. Cathy was genuinely excited for the family to be together. Even though excitement wasn’t the first thing that came to mind when thinking about the Foster clan, this was a good opportunity to spend time with her niece and nephew that she barely saw.

  Cathy did one more not-so-subtle perusal of her room. “Will Cole be joining us?”

  Penn wanted to say yes. But she didn’t have any expectations where Cole was concerned. He was here to help her win the cup, which meant she only needed him for the scavenger hunt. Although last night they’d agreed to explore a new facet of their relationship. One she was hoping she could explore once more before she had to leave for breakfast.

  Wrapping her arm around Cathy’s shoulders, Penn guided her toward the door. “I’ll meet you downstairs in the lobby.”

  With one foot out the door, Cathy turned, inhaling a deep breath as if she was going to speak.

  But Penn beat her to it. “Good-bye, Cathy.”

  With a heavy sigh, she closed the door and rested her forehead against the wood. She was going to have to be more careful about the time she spent alone with Cole. She couldn’t risk her family seeing them together. She couldn’t risk having to justify that her potential promotion had been earned on her own merits, and not because she was sleeping with Cole.

  She jumped when his voice sounded behind her. “There’s an itinerary?”

  When she turned to face him, amusement sparkled in his eyes.

  “Harold Foster leaves nothing to chance.” She pushed off the door and made her way to the living area. “He likes when we’re all forced to spend as much time together as possible.”

  When she reached him, his gaze lowered to the floor. “I’m sure you want to spend time with your family. I’ll stay out of your hair until the scavenger hunt.”

  She didn’t want to push her luck. For as much as she wanted Cole as a buffer between her and her family, she wasn’t going to force him into mandatory family time. But she’d be lying if she said she didn’t want him there. For all of it. Every dinner. Every activity. Every dumb conversation.

  “You mean playing volleyball with my family isn’t number one on your to-do list?”

  She’d never admit this to his face, but she needed him this week. She didn’t relish having to face the wolves alone.

  “Well…” He threaded his hand through his beautiful brown hair. He was standing only a breath away now. Somehow they’d gotten closer to each other, close enough that she could see his erratic heartbeat pulse in his neck. “I don’t have anything better to do.”

  Suddenly, the air around them changed. The fear, the nervousness that had overwhelmed her moments ago, had vanished and was replaced with lust. That sinful feeling that poked at her libido every time she was with Cole. Especially now, with the way his eyes, like heated lasers, burned up every inch of her body.

  “You started something that afternoon in the bathroom when you kissed me.” He swallowed hard.

  “I kissed you?” She laughed. Cackled was more like it. “Yo
u kissed me.”

  It didn’t matter who kissed first. He’d solidified it last night when he let her put his hand between her legs in the bar.

  She poked her finger into his hard chest. His pec rippled under her touch. Fuck, that was hot. If she pressed into another spot, would he do it again? She forced herself to focus. “You look at me like I’m the only item on your breakfast menu and you haven’t eaten in weeks.”

  “Such a selective memory.”

  “I remember perfectly.” She gulped down a breath. “You loomed over me. Talking about soft hands and touching my mouth.”

  He reached out, his finger doing exactly what he’d done yesterday, sliding across her bottom lip. He leaned in and whispered in her ear, “Like this?”

  She swallowed hard, then nodded as a soft, “Yes,” escaped her lips. “And then you—”

  He attacked her mouth. His lips moved over hers in perfect synchronization. Warm, wet tongues clashed against each other. The sex last night had been hot. But this kiss, this kiss was scorching.

  Her heart thundered. This kiss laid all their cards on the table. Because it was acknowledging that they both wanted this. That they were both ready to drop the gloves and go ten rounds in the bedroom. And then win that trophy.

  She snaked her hands up his chest at the same time his hands traveled down and slid under the fabric of her robe to cup her bare ass. His skin was warm and firm. She loved the sensation of her palms scraping over rough chest hair. She kissed him harder as she wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing into him, practically climbing on top of him because she couldn’t get enough. Didn’t ever want to get enough.

  He pulled away, and both of them were panting. Then he dipped his head and bit the top of her shoulder. A shiver slithered down her spine, blossoming heat between her thighs.

  “Tell me what you’re thinking,” she whispered in his ear.

  Without even a touch to her good parts, Cole was able to get her hot, ready, and wanting to spread her legs. He was her kryptonite. But she feared it was only one-sided.

  “Tell me you want this as much as I do.”