Bad Karma

by J. D. Faver

  “Not going to happen. We need to stay on guard and if he shows up, he’ll be dealt with.” He appeared so sure that he could handle any situation.

  Sky took a deep breath and let it out. “You make me feel safe, like I’m in the castle keep.”

  “Just promise me you’ll stay.”

  She looked up into his eyes. The swarm of butterflies sensation again. “How long?”

  “Forever.”

  ~*~

  They lingered at the Bailey house until after dark.

  Zach and Sky stayed out on the tiny sailboat, leaving Cassie to be entertained by the rest of the herd.

  She was a little miffed at being left behind, but she wanted Sky and Zach to have plenty of opportunity to bond. She smiled brightly at Tom Bailey. “So, you were saying that the lab equipment is pretty old?”

  He gave her a look over the top of his glasses. “I’ll bet if the pretty new teacher made a list of needed equipment, and got it in to the principal at the beginning of the year, he’d be inclined to purchase some of it for her.”

  She smiled at him. “Think so?”

  He nodded. “Be a squeaky wheel, Cassie. I became complacent and forgot to squeak.”

  Other Bailey’s talked to Cassie. Darla came to chat with her about her martial arts experience. Woodrow asked if she’d like to take a walk and she declined. She absolutely refused to entertain the idea of having a boyfriend who might be called Woody.

  Although, the idea of having a boyfriend who wasn’t Javier Rios seemed out of the question. That thought sent a fluttering sensation through her chest.

  She was so confused. She had never been attracted to a man the way she was to Javi, but she was also terrified of him. The feelings he stirred in her were unlike anything she’d experienced before.

  She remembered the look on his face when he’d said, “I’m a man and I’m trying to love you like a man.”

  Oh, yeah! He’s a man all right! And he thinks I’m a woman.

  ~*~

  At the end of the evening, the Danforths bid adieu to the Bailey clan and climbed into Zach’s Jeep for the drive home. Sky felt as though she were rolling along in her own bubble of singular joy. She was where she needed to be with the people she needed to be with. She glanced at Zach, recognizing the same joy written on his face.

  When he pulled up in front of their house, he put the Jeep in gear and idled.

  "Night, Zach. Your family is awesome." Cassie leaped from the back seat and sprinted up to unlock the house, leaving Sky alone with Zach.

  He turned to face Sky, his gaze expressing feelings his lips didn't say.

  She gathered her purse and prepared to follow her sister, but the look on his face made her hesitate. “It was a lovely day. Thank you for taking us to meet your family.” Sky gazed into his eyes and a shiver spiraled down her spine.

  He brushed his fingertips over her cheek. “I hate to say goodnight now. Would you like to watch the moon rise from my deck?”

  She nodded. “Let me say goodnight to Cassie.” She climbed the stairs and found her sister changing into her pajamas. “Will you be all right here by yourself if I go over to Zach’s?”

  Cassie grinned. “Sure, I’m a big girl now.”

  “I don’t know how long I’m going to stay. Come and lock the door behind me. I’m going to take my keys.”

  “Just relax and spend time with your man.”

  “He is, isn’t he?” Sky grinned as she thought about the way Zach had taken ownership of her life. Not pushy, but steady, worthy of her trust. And now she was going to do her best to seduce the tall, delicious, compassionate man.

  Time to make some waves, stir the pot, toss a pebble in the still waters.

  Sky made sure Cassie was securely locked inside and made her way down the steps, and then slowly up Zach’s steps. When she reached his deck, her injured leg ached with the effort. She stopped breathing when she saw what he’d done.

  Candles flickered from every surface, providing a soft glow. A tub of iced drinks sat by a small table with fruit and cheese with crackers. Zach’s telescope sat in the middle of the deck.

  Sky grinned as Zach came out onto the deck. He was only wearing a pair of faded cotton shorts. It appeared she wasn’t the only one with seduction on her mind.

  Relax. Let your man do all the work.

  “What can I fix you to drink?” he asked.

  Sky took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “I think I’d like to try the white wine.”

  “You sure?” He quirked an eyebrow at her.

  She nodded. “As you said before, I don’t have far to walk.”

  “Who said you were going home?” The look he gave her sent a flood of heat washing through her. A giggle tried to escape from her throat, but she captured it.

  Zach held a stemmed glass of white wine and offered it to her. When she came to him, he spread his arms and enveloped her is his strong embrace. He lowered his mouth to hers, surprising her with the ardor of his kiss.

  All of her fear and reservations melted away.

  He pulled away from the kiss, but held her close. Gazing into her eyes, he took a sip of her wine and then held the goblet to her lips.

  The liquid flowed onto her tongue, crisp and tart, a contrast to Zach’s sweet kiss. She swallowed, the chilled wine trailing down her throat.

  The memory of her last taste of wine came roiling up, bringing with it the taste of tears. She swallowed hard, not wanting to ruin the moment.

  He sat the glass on the table and embraced her with both arms. “Leave it behind you, Sky. Be here with me.” The green eyes held hers, captured her in their depths.

  She nodded, feeling the past slip away as she succumbed to his magnetic draw. His fingers found the buttons on her shirt and made quick work of them. The shirt slid off her shoulders, onto the deck. He pushed the bra strap off her shoulder and traced a line with his lips along her neck.

  A tingling sensation swirled in her core. She shivered as her bra joined her shirt on the wooden planks.

  His fingers trailed from her collarbone down to caress her breast.

  Sky drew in a sharp breath. Standing on tiptoe, she reached up to circle his neck with her arms, pressing her breasts against his lean, muscular chest. A light growth of hair swirled on his chest, tickling her skin.

  Zach cupped her face in one hand and devoured her mouth.

  She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, only feel. Zach’s hand at the waist of her skirt, unzipping it and letting it fall beside the rest of her clothing. His fingers caressed the skin on her stomach, sliding into her panties, stroking her, bringing her passions to a boil.

  “Let’s go inside,” he said, his voice deep and rough.

  Breathless, Sky nodded.

  Zach picked her up and carried her into his house.

  ~*~

  Her whole body seemed to melt against him, warm and boneless. This is it. The commitment step. Surely she won’t leave me now.

  He nudged open the door to his bedroom and sank onto his bed, being careful not to crush his precious armload. She was smiling.

  He touched his lips to Sky’s, gently and then deeper. His tongue played with hers. Nice and easy.

  He couldn’t believe he was so nervous. He had been with an adequate number of females to quash all doubts that could deliver the goods, but this was different. Sky was THE one. At least he wanted her to be. That was why it was so important that he get this right.

  He quickly shed his remaining clothes and slid onto the bed beside Sky. He inhaled her fragrance, something light and floral. Maybe it was her shampoo or some lotion. It smelled like he thought she should smell. Not a heavy, cloying fragrance, but clean and fresh.

  She reached up and stroked her fingertips over his chest, then again with her short nails. Her arms wound around his neck, drawing him down to her.

  She arched toward him, her breasts, warm and soft against his chest. Something like a match, igniting dry kindling set off a chain reaction
and he let the flame consume him. He kissed her lips and neck. Then worked his way down her shoulder. Cupping her breast, he rolled her nipple between thumb and forefinger. She let out a soft moan as her nipple tightened. He applied his mouth and she grinned, writhing under him as his tongue licked back and forth across her nipple. He focused his attention and paid the same homage to her other breast, licking and suckling until her breath came faster.

  She gasped out his name when he kissed down her ribcage and splayed his fingers over her flat stomach. Her skin felt like warm satin. He wanted her as he had never wanted any other woman. He kissed her stomach and spread her thighs. He focused his attention on the blonde mound and let his mouth nuzzle her into a breathless, quivering state. He flicked his tongue into her most sensitive part, creating a series of kitten-like mews.

  “Oh, Zach! Don’t torture me.”

  “Torture you? I was intent upon pleasuring you.” He nibbled on the inside of one of her thighs.

  “You are, but…I want…”

  “What do you want? You know I would give you anything. Just tell me what you want.”

  “Beast!” She laughed, her entire body quaking with the effort. “You know what I want.”

  He leaned close to her. “*I want you to tell me.”

  She sobered, gazing up at him, her eyes filled with passion. “I want you inside me. I want you to make love to me.” She curled toward him. “Don’t you want me?”

  “Yeah, I do.” He took her hand and wrapped it around his fully engorged member. “Check this.”

  “You’ve been holding out on me,” she laughed, stroking her hand down the length of his shaft.

  “I’ve been holding out on us,” he said. “I want this first time we make love to be the gateway to a lifetime of love making. I love you, Sky and I want this to be forever.”

  There was a silence and he thought he might have really messed things up. She gazed at him silently, her eyes filled with more questions than answers. “You must know that I love you, Zach. You have to know how I feel.” She gazed up at him.

  He brushed her hair back from her forehead and kissed her there and then her lips. “I know. But is it enough? Are you ready to spend a lifetime being loved by me?”

  She bit her lower lip. “A lifetime?”

  “Yeah. It will be something like this.” He slid his hand under the pillow and brought out a condom that he had stashed there earlier. He removed the wrapper and unrolled it down his shaft.

  She flashed him a grin. “I do love you. You know I do.”

  He kissed her forehead. “Yeah, I know.” He grazed her lips and positioned himself over her. She enveloped him in an embrace that involved her arms and legs gripping him and pulling him closer. He entered her gently, letting her warmth and wetness guide him.

  She drew in a breath and arched toward him. The little murmur of pleasure gurgled up from her throat.

  “This is me inside of you. This is me loving you.” He stroked into her deeply, syncing his thrusts with her rhythm.

  She arched into each thrust, raising her hips to meet him. Her breathing was rapid, and she pulled him closer with her legs wrapped tight around his hips. A gasp of pleasure and a tremor signaled her orgasm. Her all-consuming passion triggered him to join her. He shuddered as he ejaculated.

  “Wow!” Sky was still breathing hard but she was grinning. “That was amazing. If it’s going to be like this, I think I can hang in for a lifetime.”

  He kissed her tenderly. “That’s all I want.” He cradled her in his arms, holding her until his own heart rate had returned to normal.

  “I do love you, Zach,” she said. “I have no other reason to have stayed here, but I hope that my presence doesn’t endanger you…”

  “I’m not in danger and you have to trust that I won’t allow anything to happen to you. He said the words and hoped he could find a way to ensure her safety.

  ~*~

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Rebellion

  Cassie awoke the next morning and groped her way into the bathroom. She brushed her teeth and washed her face before peeking into Sky’s room. The bed hadn’t been slept in. “You go, girl!”

  She wondered, briefly, what it would feel like to wake up in the arms of the man you loved. She smiled, glad that Sky was happy and that she was safe.

  She brushed her hair until it shone and pulled it up into a pony tail. Locating a clean pair of shorts and tee shirt, she pulled them on and looked for her cross-trainers.

  The house was eerily quiet without Sky to keep her company. She shrugged off the feeling, knowing that her original plan was to be on her own here. I’d better get used to it. Sky and Zach are a serious item.

  Cassie had never really been alone before. She’d gone from her parent’s home to a college dorm and then to an apartment with roommates and now she was sharing a house with her sister.

  She slid the glass door open in its track and locked it behind her. Skipping down the stairs, she sprinted down the beach, knowing that Javier waited for her... waited with the talk he wanted to have with her.

  A growing apprehension settled over her as she spied the big, red truck in the distance. As she neared, she saw that Javi was sitting on the open tailgate.

  He jumped down and came to meet her, a wide grin on his face. “I was afraid you’d chicken out.”

  “I’m not afraid of you.”

  “Liar.” He reached out to stroke the side of her face, letting his fingers linger a moment.

  Suppressing a shiver, she sighed. “Okay, I’m a little bit afraid of you.”

  His dark gaze scorched her. “If it’s any comfort, I’m terrified of you, baby girl.”

  She laughed. “I doubt that.”

  He gave her a long look, his hunger searing a path into her heart. “Believe it.” He held out his hand to her.

  She looked at it, uncertainly. “Where are we going?”

  “Just into the bed of my truck.” He gestured behind him.

  Cassie saw that an air mattress filled the back of the truck.” Oh, no! I’m not getting in there with you.”

  He quirked his head at her. “Why not?”

  “It’s a bed. I’m not getting into bed with you.”

  He grinned at that. “This is the inflatable mattress my mother keeps in the hall closet for when relatives come for a visit. I wanted you to be comfortable.”

  She snorted. “I’ll just bet! Have you gotten a lot of mileage out of this routine?” She crossed her arms across her chest.

  “Baby, I blew this damned thing up for you this morning. Will you just come up here with me?”

  She sucked in a deep breath and pushed it out all the way. “I’m afraid of you, remember.” She felt her eyes tearing up and turned away.

  Javi pulled her back to lean against his chest. “Cassie, just trust me. I wouldn’t hurt you.”

  She sighed and let her head rest against his shoulder. The back of his fingers brushed against the side of her neck. He tilted her chin and placed a quick kiss on her lips.

  “Please come and sit with me in the back of my truck. We can watch the dolphins play in the water and I’ll tell you all about myself. I want you to know me. I don’t want you to be afraid of me.”

  She cast a doubtful glance back at the truck.

  He drew her with him toward the vehicle. “Look, its broad daylight. I want to learn everything about you, Cassie. I want to know who this girl is who ran away with my heart.”

  She allowed Javi to help her up into the back of the truck, its huge tires raising it high above the beach.

  Cassie sank onto her knees on the surface of the airbed. When Javi dropped down beside her, the mattress roiled like an ocean wave, knocking her over onto him. She clutched at his shoulders and he grabbed her waist, and then pulled her down onto him.

  “Easy, Cassie. Just relax.”

  She swallowed. Not so easy to do with over six feet of hot guy under me. “How tall are you, anyway?”

  “I’m
six-foot-four. How tall are you?”

  “I’m five foot eight.”

  He grinned at her. “Mmmm, love those long legs.”

  She smiled in spite of her discomfort. “I like it that you’re tall.”

  He exhaled. “Good to know. There’s one thing about me that you like.”