by Robin Kaye
Mike stared at her like he couldn’t believe his luck and guilt slammed into her hard. She smiled and prayed it didn’t look as weak as it felt. She had to get her shit together. “I’ll go check on the knishes.”
Mike watched the emotions bouncing around Annabelle’s face like a ping-pong ball with ADD. She must be nervous as hell to choose to do anything in the kitchen. Nervousness could be a sign that a person was moving into unexplored territory. What territory was the question.
He ignored the way she avoided the bedroom. He should be thankful she hadn’t joined him, because he had a hard enough time concentrating on unpacking when he was in there alone. He could only imagine what would have happened if she’d gone with him.
He shut down that train of thought, though not quickly enough. Imagining was not helping him to forward his plan. A plan that escaped him as soon as Annabelle stepped out onto the deck. Every time he saw her, his brain went into testosterone overload. It zapped everything but his sex drive. She’d donned sunglasses and lost her shoes. Her toenails were painted a fluorescent orange, like some newfangled emergency vehicle. It should have looked ghastly, but it didn’t, and then there was that sexy little ankle bracelet.
“I think I turned off the oven, but you better check it later just to be safe.” She had a hand stuffed into a lobster oven mitt and held the baking sheet, looking for a place to put it.
Mike was too caught up in staring at her to realize she could use a hand—maybe two. She set the hot tray on a wooden table and tried picking up a knish with her fingers but moved them away quickly. That threw cold water on him. Mike pulled his tongue off the floor.
He took the oven mitt from her and picked up the baking sheet. “I’ll just put these on a plate. That way we can set them on the table.” God, she was sweet. She turned bright red, and it wasn’t from the sun either.
“Sorry. I didn’t think about logistics.”
Mike gave her a quick kiss. “No problem. Be right back.”
He took the burnt knishes back to the kitchen. What had she been doing in here? He got a plate out of the cupboard and using a spatula, proceeded to chisel the knishes off the tray. He stifled a grin. Damn, she really couldn’t cook, but the weird thing was, he thought it was cute. How sick in love was he?
When he looked up, he saw her leaning against the doorframe, watching him. “Okay, I burned them. I told you I was bad in the kitchen.”
He reached for her hand and, carrying the burnt food in his other hand, took her out to the porch. She nervously fingered the little drawstring on her white skirt. He pulled her over to sit on his lap.
Reaching around her, he moved her plate next to his, and handed her a beer. “I happen to like crispy knishes.” He clinked his bottle against hers. “Cheers.”
Annabelle shrugged and took a drink. “You really expect me to eat sitting on your lap?”
“Why not?”
“’Cause I’ll make a mess.”
“I’ll chance it. I like being close to you.” With one hand wrapped around Annabelle’s waist, Mike tried cutting one of the burnt knishes single-handed. When that didn’t work, he dipped it in some sour cream, hoping it covered the taste of incinerated potato, and smiled as he took a bite. Chewing it as the crust crumbled in his mouth was a whole new experience.
Annabelle tossed her sandwich on her plate and took the rest of the knish from him. “Don’t. Look. I love you for trying, but you’ll make yourself sick. I thought maybe we could scrape off the burnt layer.”
Mike swallowed and then chased the taste down with some beer. He wouldn’t be surprised if he had charred remains of the poor knish stuck in his teeth.
“It wasn’t that bad.” He lied like a rug and said a silent prayer to whichever saint covered the whole domestic accord area. He’d have to go to his little dictionary of saints and find out. He had a feeling he’d need a lot of help in that particular area, if the look on her face was a clue. “What did I do?”
“Nothing.” She squirmed until she sat on his lap facing him and anchored her hands in his hair. The next thing he knew she kissed him like her life depended on it, sucking his tongue into her mouth. He groaned and pulled her against him. She broke the kiss, and when he opened his eyes, she had a sad look on her face.
“I really missed you. More than I ever expected to.”
“Aw, Belle, I’m sorry. I missed you too. You do know this was unusual—the way I’ve been working isn’t normal. I won’t let us be apart for that long again.”
“I know, but it was okay. I’m fine by myself. I’m better with you, but I don’t mind being alone.”
Mike wondered if she was trying to convince him or herself. “Are you still hungry?”
Annabelle shook her head, and her eyes brightened. “Wanna go for a swim?”
No, he wanted to take her to bed. Right now. But, he’d do anything to put that light back in her eyes. “Sure.”
She climbed off his lap and gave him a quick kiss. “I’ll get my suit on. Where’s our room?”
“Up the stairs, second door on the left.”
“Be back in a sec.”
Chapter 13
MIKE TOOK A DEEP BREATH. HE SCANNED THE BEACH and was glad to see it deserted. When Annabelle returned, he prayed the water was cold. If anyone else were on the beach, he’d have to cover her with a towel. She wore a black two-piece with a halter top that did amazing things to her chest—not that she had a problem in that department, but the gold trim highlighted her assets. The bottoms—what there were of them—were low with a gold belt. It wasn’t the kind of belt to hold things up, either. No, it was the kind of belt to draw your attention with a charm hanging from it that swung from side to side. The damn thing was hypnotizing.
“Hey, Mike. Are you ready?”
“Huh?”
She handed him a towel. “I found these in one of the closets upstairs.”
Dave slept on the lounge, so Mike figured they’d leave him to his nap. She walked toward the steps, giving him a rear view that would forever be burned in his memory. He watched her hips sway as she unlatched the gate and then closed it behind her while Mike was frozen in place with his mouth hanging open.
“Last one in the water is a rotten egg!” She took off running down the steps.
Mike shook out of his stupor and checked to make sure Dave wouldn’t run for the gate and bowl him over in the process. Dave awoke when he heard Annabelle yell, but thankfully he only rolled onto his side and stretched out his legs.
Annabelle kept up her full-out run. After a few yards, Mike figured out why. The sand felt like a lumpy frying pan over hot coals. His feet sank into the deep sand. The way she moved like a freaking gazelle over the beach made him feel like a lumbering ox. She ran into the water and dove into the first big wave. He spotted her swimming past the surf just as he hit the water.
She turned around and watched as he swam to her.
“I beat you.”
He stood and wiped the water from his eyes. “That wasn’t a fair race.” He pointed at her bikini. “You came out wearing that… and scrambled my brain like you knew it would. You took off before I even knew what happened.”
“You just can’t stand losing to a girl, can you? Face it. I’m fast.”
“Yeah, you’re fast as hell. How does the ankle feel?”
“It’s fine. Dr. Dolittle said I was healing, and I didn’t need the boot or crutches anymore.”
“It’s Dr. Doyle, and just because you don’t need crutches or the boot doesn’t mean you should be running.”
“But the sand is hot.”
“Tell me about it.” He looked at the horizon and saw a huge wave heading their way. “Look out.”
She turned and swam out farther.
“We’re going to have to dive through it.” Mike grabbed her hand. “Ready?”
She nodded. The drag of the water rushed toward the building wave. “Here it comes.”
Annabelle dove, and he followed her in. Sand and
shell particles brought up from the bottom stung his skin. He popped his head out of the water and searched for her. She wasn’t there. He turned and looked toward the empty shore. Mike fought back the panic and scanned the water. “Annabelle!”
She popped up right next to him, laughing.
“You scared the crap out of me!” He reached out and pulled her to him so hard he practically knocked the wind out of her. She grabbed him around the neck like a drowning swimmer, hooked her feet around his waist, and kissed him.
He was tempted to take her right there in the water, but they were on a public beach—presently deserted, but they’d be in full view of whoever walked by. Granted, they were far enough out that someone would need binoculars to see anything, but Mike still had some decorum. Very little, apparently, since he carried her right out of the water, across the beach, and into the house and dumped her on the first couch he hit. Before Annabelle could draw another breath, Mike had her bikini top off and his mouth on her breast. She was his every fantasy come true.
He had his hands full of her. She tasted like salt water and Annabelle, and he’d been starving for her. He pulled down her bottoms and tossed them over his shoulder. He strained against his swim trunks even as she struggled with the drawstring to free him. Mike kissed her and tried to undo the damage she’d done to the drawstring. She deepened their kiss, doing her best to get him so hot he was about to embarrass himself. It had been weeks since they were together in any way other than his dreams, and he was on the edge.
Mike ended up ripping the drawstring off and sliding his wet trunks down. He gazed into eyes as open and direct as he’d ever seen them.
“God, Belle. I love you.”
A tear slid from the corner of her eye as she pulled him down to her. “I love you too.”
Mike froze, his arms locked, his mind stuttered. He wasn’t sure if he’d heard her say she loved him or if it was his imagination. He’d imagined it so many times.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing?”
“Then why aren’t you kissing me?”
“I’m just… did you? I mean, would you please repeat that?”
“Repeat what?”
“That last thing…”
“I love you too.”
She gave him a full-body kiss, stealing his air, his heart and soul.
“Mike?”
She expected him to speak? The best he could do was grunt. Before he knew what she was doing, she’d rolled over on top of him. He’d thought she was beautiful before, but man, he’d never seen anything as beautiful as she was now. Her hair wet and wild against her sun-kissed skin, her face flushed, and her eyes dark with excitement all for him. He grabbed her hips, moving her to the rhythm in his head, the rhythm both their bodies screamed for. He was so close. Annabelle chose that moment to slide down, his dick making a path up her body, slipping between her breasts. She nibbled on his stomach and headed south.
Oh God, he was going to die of sensual overload. No doubt about it. His heart hammered his ribs so hard they hurt. His lungs pulled in air and expelled fire. His whole body was one large nerve ending, and everywhere she touched set off sparks of need.
Annabelle nuzzled his dick. She wrapped her hand around the base of it and held it as she rubbed her cheek against it, all the while watching him watch her.
“I still can’t get over how soft and hard at the same time.”
Mike was mesmerized. It was the most erotic thing he’d ever seen. Annabelle kneeling over him, her cheeks flushed with excitement, her lips shiny and dangerously close to his dick, her wet hair cold against his heated skin, and her ass in the air. When she licked her lips, Mike groaned. Then with a swipe of her tongue, she licked the drop of cum off the head of his dick. He wasn’t sure how much of this he could take, but he was willing to die finding out.
Her mouth opened and took him in. Every fiber of his being called for him to first grab hold of all that hair and go deep into the hot, wet recesses of her mouth and throat. Instead, he stayed still, holding on to his rapidly slipping control, and concentrated on not coming. Not yet.
She started sucking in earnest. He couldn’t hold out much longer. He had to do something now, or he’d come right there—an appealing thought, but he didn’t want to start their weekend by coming in less than two minutes.
“Annabelle, stop.”
When she didn’t, he reached down, grabbed her under the arms, and pulled her onto his chest—her face just inches from his.
“I know I really suck at that… pardon the pun. I’m sorry.”
“Belle, that’s not the reason—”
“I wanted to try it again. I’ve been thinking about it—”
“You’ve been thinking about what exactly?”
“Making love to you with my mouth. Sucking on you. Pleasing you.”
“You have?” Oh, shit, if anything this conversation was making his situation worse.
“I thought about it the whole way here. I’ve been waiting for hours, just thinking how it would—”
Mike flipped the two of them over. With one hand, he parted her and slid home. She was hotter than he’d ever felt, tighter and wetter, and when she wrapped her legs around his waist and moved, he went deeper than he’d ever been.
“Listen to me.”
Her eyes opened wide and stared into his with an expression he couldn’t pin down. Fear? He kissed her, holding himself inside her, tasting himself on her lips, and driving himself to the brink. “You are great at that. Too good. I just didn’t want it to end so soon. I want you to come, too.”
“I think I already did.”
“When?”
“Once in the car thinking about it, and once while I was doing it.”
There it went, all the control he’d tried to hold on to slipped out of his grasp. The thought of her turning herself on thinking of going down on him was one thing, but getting so hot she came just thinking about it, and again while she doing it…
“I’m sorry, baby.” He took her hard and fast, and he could swear he hit her cervix, he was so deep. She came almost instantly, drawing him deeper, blinding him with feeling. He came hard and long with a pleasure so intense it almost hurt. Everything about her was a turn-on, and oh man, when she moved, he lost himself in her. He knew he loved her, but he didn’t know a man could feel like this—this insane mixture of lust, love, need, excitement, and fear. He looked into her eyes. It was like looking in a mirror, only her eyes were filled with tears.
It took all his strength not to collapse on top of her, but tears did strange things to men. Giving superhuman powers was a new one on him, but that’s what it seemed to take to hold his weight up and kiss her. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
He started going through a mental checklist. She came, she seemed really into it, and she didn’t seem to be in pain… Oh shit. He hadn’t worn a condom. No wonder it felt so insanely good. He’d never had sex without protection, not once, but then he’d never been with a woman who could make him forget his own name. “Belle, I’m so sorry, but I swear, I’ve never done this before, so you’re safe.”
Annabelle sniffed and wiped her eyes. “What are you talking about?”
“We had unprotected sex. Isn’t that why you’re crying?”
“No.”
“Then what’s the matter?”
“Nothing.”
“Why are you crying?”
“I have no idea.” She hiccupped. “God, this is so embarrassing.”
“So you’re not upset?”
“About forgetting to take precautions? No. I mean, I’m on the Pill now, and we’re both clean and healthy. We’re not seeing other people, are we?”
“I’m not. Are you?”
“No!”
“Then why the tears?”
“I don’t know. It’s like I felt so much. I overflowed, and it leaked out my eyes.”
“Happy tears?”
“No. Why would I be happy about smeared mascara and a red, blot
chy face?” She started laughing.
“God, I love you.” Mike couldn’t help himself. He kissed her, and she kissed him back, then wham, things heated up again.
His hand found her breast. Her nipple was already hard, and when it hit his palm, he swore there must be an electric current running straight to his dick. “Come on, we’re going upstairs.” Just as soon as he could stand. “There’s a great big bathtub with our names on it.”
So much for the bath. By the time they made the trip from the couch to the bedroom, the last thing on their minds was cleanliness. One minute they were laughing and playing, and the next they were making love. But it was different now—more intense, more satisfying, and more scary.
Annabelle had never experienced so many different emotions at once. They ran through her mind like bumper cars careening out of control. She tried to shut them down, but it was more difficult than she’d expected. Mike had a way of getting though her every defense.
She lay beside him with her head on his chest, listening to the beating of his heart. She wasn’t sure if he was awake or asleep, but the poor guy needed to sleep for a week. The nap he’d taken on the ride out had definitely done some good, but making love a few times must have worn him out. She ran her hand lightly down his side and snuggled closer, throwing her leg over him. Her leg came in contact with a surprisingly turgid part of his anatomy. The man could be dying from exhaustion and still be a veritable Energizer Bunny when it came to sex.
Annabelle moved away, not wanting to start anything. “I’m going to take a shower. I’ll just be a minute.” She slid out of bed and rummaged through her suitcase until she found a comfy pair of shorts and a T-shirt. She looked over her shoulder. Mike lay on his stomach with his arms wrapped around a pillow, watching her without even pulling the sheet over him. She could look at him all day. He was beautiful.
“What? You’re looking at me funny.”
“You make quite a beautiful picture there.” One she’d keep in her mind forever. She tried to memorize the slightly confused look on his face. “You have a beautiful body. In this light and against those sheets, in that pose—”