Worth the Wait

by Jamie Beck

  She wrapped her legs around his waist as he rose and cupped his hands under her flawless little bottom. He started carrying her toward the steps, but fumbled behind the sofa. Her legs released his waist and her feet hit the floor without her breaking their soul-stealing kiss.

  A minute passed before he pulled his hands from her hair and led her up the steps at a near run. Closing the door quietly, he scooped her up and threw her onto his messy bed. Her swollen lips and dreamy eyes beckoned him. No one had ever looked prettier curled up in his sheets than she did just then.

  White noise roared in his ears as he crawled on top of her and kissed her everywhere. His frenzied hands explored her body. Overwhelming desire made him feel like an untried puppy.

  “God, I want to be inside you already,” he confessed between kisses. “I don’t think I can wait and make this good for you.”

  “Don’t worry, I’m not experienced enough to know the difference,” she teased. “Unless you count my fantasies.”

  He drew back and stared at her. The possessive feeling he’d experienced on the beach two days earlier reared again. “Not helping.”

  He bent over, willing himself to slow down, and kissed her gently. She mewled and ran her hands under his shirt, sending him spiraling out of control again. As he worked his way down to her shoulder and breastbone, she said, “Besides, if it happens too quickly, the perfectionist in you will insist on a do-over until you get it just right.”

  For the first time ever, he laughed out loud in the middle of foreplay. God, she knew him well. He shot her a look. “Maybe I’ll need multiple do-overs.”

  That shut her up. He raised the hem of her shirt to kiss her abdomen. She sank her fingers into his hair. He licked the center of her stomach as he raised her shirt. Her skin smelled like vanilla and tasted just as sweet. She lifted her arms in anticipation of him removing her tank top.

  While on his knees, he shrugged off his own shirt as he stared at her perky breasts, which were slightly upturned, just like her nose. Her rosy nipples were fully aroused.

  “You’re beautiful, Vivi,” he said before he lowered his head to take one into his mouth. His eyes fluttered open and closed. He was torn between wanting to watch her respond and drowning in his own bliss.

  She arched her back and inhaled sharply. Using his hands and tongue, he fondled, bit, and pinched her until she squirmed beneath him. Her fingers drew lines down his waist and tugged at the drawstring of his pants. Without breaking contact with his mouth, he raised his hips and she used her feet to disrobe him.

  Skin to skin, Vivi felt feminine and soft despite being fit. Her flesh broke into goose bumps with each stroke of his hand or tongue.

  “Mmm,” she purred.

  Her knees fell apart as he reached between her legs.

  “God.” He looked down the length of her. “You’re so ready.”

  “I’ve been ready for you forever,” she said as she kissed his chest.

  “Jesus . . . I really can’t wait.” He bit her shoulder and thrust himself home.

  She gasped. He kissed her hard and began a slow withdraw. She dug her hands into his hips.

  “Wait,” she breathed. He looked into her glassy eyes.

  “Did I hurt you?”

  “No.” She looked at him in wonder. “Now we’re finally as one.”

  Air raced from his lungs as he gazed in her eyes, which revealed endless stores of love. It gripped his soul and undid him.

  As one. They’d always shared an innate understanding of each other. Now their bodies moved in unison and, for the first time in a very long time, he felt at home. It scared him shitless.

  Her hips rolled forward, scattering his thoughts.

  “I knew you’d feel this good,” she murmured before closing her eyes and lifting her spine off the mattress.

  Her inner muscles squeezed him, urging him to move.

  “Tell me where to touch you,” he uttered. “What excites you?”

  “You do,” she whispered. “No hands needed.”

  When he looked at her quizzically, she said, “Everything you do and say excites me.”

  Passion and affection fused within him. He pushed her arms above her head and kissed her as he began to meet her rocking hips with his own. He struggled to maintain control with easy, steady movements while he watched her. Her unpracticed, yet thoroughly erotic, touches enthralled him. His heart pounded in his chest as he nipped at her face, shoulder, and breasts.

  As his pace increased, he worried he might break her tiny frame, which didn’t seem capable of withstanding the punishing tempo. She bit her lip and moaned, lifting her hips to meet his. “God, yes, David. Don’t stop!”

  He couldn’t stop if he wanted to, which he didn’t. Everything blurred. He was dizzy with ecstasy.

  “Oh! Oh, David. Yes, yes.” Her muscles contracted around him as her body shuddered beneath him. The sight and feel of her orgasm triggered his own. Each cell in his body seemed to explode simultaneously. A string of expletives burst from his lips. Before he blinked, he spilled deep inside her.

  For an instant everything went dark, then he woke from his haze. His face lay buried against the side of hers. He spent a moment enjoying the feeling of her hands softly caressing his back.

  So much mine.

  He kissed her neck and thrust himself in deeper, needing to feel closer. Then it hit him.

  “Oh, shit, Vivi. I forgot a condom.” He propped up on his elbows to look at her, stunned. “I’ve never forgotten before.”

  “It’s okay.” She stretched her neck to kiss him. “I’m on the pill.”

  He narrowed his gaze. “Why?”

  “My cycle is irregular.” She blushed. “The pill makes life predictable.”

  “There are other protections to consider.”

  “I’m not worried. If you always wear one, then you’re safe. I know I am. We’re all good.” She smiled and ran her hands through his hair, letting her finger slide down his forehead to rub the frown line between his eyes. “Don’t stress and ruin everything, okay?”

  He kissed her again. “Okay.”

  He withdrew from her and rolled onto his back, dragging her alongside of him. Her fingers traced the lines of his chest. Closing his eyes, he relived the unforgettable orgasm.

  Had it been so incredible because he hadn’t been wearing a condom? Doubtful. His connection with her ran far deeper than he was prepared to consider or admit. Foreboding collided with his pleasure as he realized, despite his warnings and her consent, he probably wouldn’t escape this night without some regret. But regret could wait. Right now he’d enjoy his time alone with her.

  Peace settled over him while laying with her in the dark. Her soft breath brushed against his skin as she ran her hands along the planes of his torso. Since they’d met, he’d thought of her as his muñequita—one he wanted to protect.

  His sexual desire for her this week still shocked him. Had absence made his heart grow fonder, or had he simply been blind all those years? Why’d she have to fit so perfectly against his body?

  If David were convinced they could last a lifetime, he might risk everything. Yet how could he know that now, when these feelings were so new, and when his faith in love was shaken? The stakes were too high, and the likelihood of a breakup too great.

  She’d harbored a crush on him in the past. But her idealized vision of him didn’t match reality, even if she wouldn’t believe him. He could never make her happy long-term. She’d grow to resent his time commitment to work. She’d become bored with his staid emotions.

  She believed in everlasting love, and since he no longer did, he doubted he could be the man to give her the kind of commitment and family she deserved.

  So they would share one single night of passion. He’d content himself with memorizing every second of it so he could enjoy it again in his
daydreams.

  “David?”

  “Hmm?” He caressed her shoulder and threaded his fingers through her hair.

  She rested her chin on his chest. “More.”

  “More what?” He pushed her wild hair away from her eyes.

  “More you,” she said before nibbling on his jaw.

  He briefly hesitated, sensing the more time they spent intimately, the harder it would be to let go. Then her hand tickled his inner thigh and chased away his better judgment.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  David’s tender kiss sent Vivi’s heart rate soaring once more. She was living out her fantasy. And reality eclipsed her dreams. He was absolutely perfect in every way, from the musky scent of his skin and its salty taste, to the firmness of his touch. For more than a decade she’d waited for his eyes to cloud with desire for her, and now they did.

  I’m so happy. Please let it last.

  “Is this my do-over?” He kissed her nose, cheeks, and eyelids.

  “Yes.” She giggled and reached between his legs.

  He grabbed her wrist, dragging her hand away. “Oh, no. My do-over, my pace.” He kissed her, drawing her upper lip into his mouth.

  His gentle hands swept over her arms and down the length of her waist, then ran up her stomach to her breasts. She watched his eyes darken as he took her into his mouth. His tongue flicked and teased her, making her body writhe and twist to pull him closer. She wanted him inside her already, so she drew her legs around his hips and tilted her pelvis in invitation.

  “Not yet,” he growled while pushing her legs down. “Slowly.”

  “Now, David,” she moaned.

  He looked at her and arched one brow. “Patience.”

  When his mouth found her abdomen and headed south, her body shivered in anticipation. She stared at his shadowed, beautiful face and bit back the words I love you. Those words coiled in her mouth like a spring waiting for release. But even in a state of bliss, she knew if she sprung them on him too soon, they’d destroy the fragile bud that was taking root tonight.

  “Be still, Vivi,” he commanded before his head sank between her thighs.

  She squirmed and gripped the sheets as he explored her with his tongue and fingers. “David,” she rasped.

  She heard a rumble from his chest, but he didn’t stop his relentless teasing. His right hand came up to play with her breast while his mouth assaulted her, leaving her panting shamelessly.

  “Oh, God.”

  He broke away just long enough to whisper, “Come for me, baby.”

  And she did. Her body quaked uncontrollably and she moaned in satisfaction. She’d barely recovered before he slid on top of her.

  “I love how you respond to me,” he murmured while kissing her. “I don’t know which part of you I like kissing most.”

  “Don’t discriminate,” she replied. “You keep on testing until you figure it out.”

  He smiled just before his expression turned hungry. Then he was inside her again, stretching her mercilessly. The slight pain somehow enhanced her pleasure.

  “You feel so good, Vivi.” His warm breath heated her neck as he tightened his hold on her.

  Her body couldn’t take much more. Every nerve tingled with sensation overload. David somehow seemed to remain in complete control. Determined. He alternated slow and quick thrusts, bringing her close to the edge and then whisking her away, only to drive her back over it again. Granted, she had limited experience, but he was beyond amazing.

  She loved him with every part of her being. How could her feelings not heighten his every touch? And now she knew he loved her, too. He must, or none of this would’ve happened between them. Surely he felt as awed by their lovemaking as she did.

  His hungry groan drew her attention back to their bodies. He flipped onto his back, keeping himself buried inside her while he pulled her on top. His skin glistened from perspiration, emphasizing the corded muscles in his chest and abdomen. The intensity of his gaze and the fullness of his luscious mouth excited her.

  She sank down, taking him even deeper inside. His control slipped. He gripped her hips, then reached for her breast. He pulled her down to suck her nipple into his mouth again while driving himself deep inside her.

  “David, don’t stop,” she panted. “Don’t stop.”

  Teasing subsided as she rode him hard and quick. They came together, their bodies shaking. He swore again, which made her feel powerful and sexy. She collapsed on top of him.

  Lying in the dark, she listened to the sound of his heartbeat thudding in her ear. Strong and steady, just like him. Her beloved David.

  She closed her eyes and absorbed every detail of the moment, each one like a tattoo on her heart. His arm lay slung over her shoulders while he tucked his other arm behind his head. She couldn’t tell if his eyes were open or closed, and wouldn’t risk being separated from his body for even an instant to check.

  Her fingers traced a capital I, the shape of a heart, and a capital U on his chest. He stopped breathing for an instant. No, she felt his breath against her hair. Perhaps she’d imagined it. His hand came to rest on top of hers. Neither said a word.

  Minutes later, she giggled softly.

  “What’s so funny?” He stretched his neck to peer down at her.

  She raised her chin to face him.

  “I’m imagining Jackson’s and Cat’s reaction to all of this. Shocked is not a strong-enough word.”

  He didn’t smile. In fact, she saw a thousand conflicting emotions race through his eyes in the span of five seconds. He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it, then frowned.

  “I didn’t think we’d be sharing this with them.” His sober expression made her stomach fall to the floor.

  “You want me to lie?” Her body stiffened.

  “I want this to be our private memory. Something intimate and special only we share.” He paused, then stroked her arm. “I don’t want it debated, dissected, and joked about by my brother and sister from now until eternity.”

  All the heat drained from her body. She felt disconnected from the setting while she processed his intent. Stupid, Vivi. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Tonight hadn’t been the beginning of their love affair.

  For him, it had been a whim. For her, a mistake.

  An enormous, brutally painful mistake.

  Her ears buzzed louder than a chainsaw. She moved mechanically, unable to focus on him or anything else in the room. She needed to escape before she cried, hit him, screamed, or did anything else to further humiliate herself—if that were even possible. Pulling away from the warmth of his body, she searched for her clothes in the covers. He gripped her arm.

  “Where are you going?”

  She couldn’t meet his eyes. Shrugging out of his grasp, she sprang from the bed as if it were on fire before she bent over to retrieve her discarded pajamas. The chill of her bare feet on the cold floor helped shake her from her haze.

  “If Cat wakes up, she’ll wonder where I am.” She pulled her tank over her head. “I should go.”

  “Hold on. Don’t rush off.” He sat up. In her peripheral vision, she saw him extend his arm to her as he spoke. “Let’s make this last a little longer.”

  Her throat closed while tears collected behind her eyes. Thank God for the dark room. She shook her head in silence, eager to flee.

  “Vivi, look at me.” She heard a twinge of remorse in his voice. His pity only heightened her anguish.

  From across the room she faced him. Her heart squeezed at the sight of him sitting naked where they’d been so intimate. Flashing a weak smile, she dashed for the door. “Bye.”

  He called her name again as she turned and ran. She tiptoed downstairs without slowing.

  Once on the ground level, she dropped to her hands and knees, curling into a ball. His scent clung to her body. She listened for h
is footsteps, but he hadn’t chased after her. It was done.

  They’d destroyed their friendship. He’d tried to warn her away tonight. Of course, she’d ignored him. Please let this be the last of my punishments. Now another big secret threatened to damage her friendship with Cat and Jackson.

  Hiding the truth mere hours from now, with David lurking around, would be unbearable. She had to leave right away before anyone realized she’d gone. In a day or two, she’d start to put the pieces of her heart back together and face the world. By morning? Not possible.

  One final lie would be required to explain her abrupt departure, but she had to do whatever it took to get away.

  Drawing a deep breath, she entered her bedroom noiselessly. Cat was in a deep sleep, as usual. Moonlight slipped past the edges of the shade, illuminating Vivi’s corner of the room. Her suitcase lay on the floor—clean clothes inside, dirty ones piled next to it. For once her slovenly habits would pay off. Gathering her belongings would be quick and quiet work, without drawers to open and close.

  She glanced at her watch and raked her hand through her hair and over her face. Only three o’clock. The first ferry wouldn’t depart the island for five more hours. If undisturbed, Cat might sleep in late enough to make it impossible for her to storm the harbor and drag Vivi back. Vivi would have to leave the house before seven in order to avoid questions and confrontations. It wasn’t much of a plan.

  She dozed in and out of fitful sleep during the following hours. Shortly after six, she awoke again. Although the ache in her body weighed her down, fear of discovery pushed her out of bed.

  Moving like a cat burglar, she changed into clean clothes, threw her other clothes in her bag, and crept from the room. She stopped in the hall bathroom to brush her teeth and splash cold water on her face. Once she calmed her shaky hands, she twisted her hair into a ponytail, then she started for the front door.

  At the top of the first half flight, she reached for the doorknob. She paused, her body paralyzed. Doubt took root as she considered that fleeing might only raise suspicion. No, she must go. But if she left without any word, everyone would worry.