by Layla Hagen
Thank God, Preston arranged for a private jet today. The press would have been all over me after the panel fiasco, and I have no energy to keep lying through my teeth. I love my job, but the PR aspect of it drives me insane.
I can’t wait to be back at the resort. I wonder if Summer will still be awake.
Chapter Fourteen
Alex
Hours later, I climb the steps to my beach bungalow. When I enter my room, a basket on the windowsill catches my attention. There is a bottle of red wine in it and a note.
After the day you’ve had, I figured this would help.
Summer
I laugh out loud, the first real laughter for today. I forgot the entire thing was streamed live and that she said she’d be watching. Pulling the phone out of my front pocket, I dial her number. It’s not that late.
When she picks up, I can practically feel some of the tension bleed away from between my shoulder blades.
“Hey! You’re back?”
“Just walked into my room, found your basket. You give me too much credit. I can’t drink an entire bottle on my own. Can I come over to your room? We could sit on your porch. Drink and talk. Or just talk.”
“Umm, I’m already in bed.”
I sleep naked, she told me that night. Is she naked now? The thought sends a shot straight to my groin.
“And I have neighbors. My porch is not safe. Do you want me to come to your bungalow?”
“Yes, come here, Summer.”
“Okay. I’ll get dressed, and I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
Fuck, she is naked. After hanging up, I head straight to the shower, trying and failing to chase the memory of her naked body, of that deliciously trimmed pussy out of my mind. I rub soap everywhere, toying with the idea of rubbing one off, but there is not enough time until she gets here.
I barely have time to put clothes on before I hear a knock at the door.
“Come in.”
She steps inside, looking like a little angel in her short white dress, with a black ribbon around at the center of her waist. I walk straight to her, but instead of kissing her cheek, I wrap my arms around her waist, burying my head in her neck.
“I take it that was much worse in real life than the video,” she says softly, lacing an arm around my neck.
“Yeah. I’m so glad you came.”
She shivers lightly, and I pull back, already missing her scent, the softness of her skin.
“Do you want to order some food too?” she asks.
“I ate on the plane.”
She scrunches her nose. “I never eat on planes. Makes me queasy at landing. Shall we take the wine on the porch?” she asks.
“Sure.”
She grabs the bottle. I take the glasses from the minibar and the small package I bought at the airport. She goes straight to the round sofa lounge, climbing on it.
“When I returned, I was half hoping to see you here.”
She gives me a small smile. “I thought about it, but figured you wouldn’t want to see a soul tonight. That you’d need your space to recharge.”
I climb next to her, sitting so close that our arms touch. “I wouldn’t want to see anyone except you.”
She searches my eyes, frowning as if trying to decipher something, then holds up the glasses. I uncork the bottle, pour us each wine.
“Do you want to talk about today?” she asks as we lean back on the couch.
“Not tonight. I like that this place is drama-free. Thank you for making that happen.”
She widens her eyes, then groans. “You saw the magazines.”
“Yeah. I wanted to thank you yesterday but thought bringing the evening up would just make you uncomfortable again. But thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She takes a small sip of wine, sinking lower on the couch.
“What’s wrong?”
“Just residual embarrassment for that night. I’ll get over it. Eventually.”
I turn to her, framing her jaw with my hand, leaning in. “Summer, we’ve been over this.”
A small sound escapes her, somewhere between a chuckle and a choke. “You probably forgot all about it already.”
The gentleman thing would be to tell her I did. But I don’t have the energy to act any longer tonight, and I don’t want to act around her. I want to be honest, and something in her body language tips me off that she needs that honesty.
“I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. The sight of your beautiful body is branded in my brain.”
Her mouth pops open. “But... you said it wasn’t a big deal, that you’d seen plenty of actresses—”
“I was trying to put you at ease.” By the looks of it, I did just the opposite. “You have no idea how hard it was to keep my control, Summer. I wanted you so badly.”
She sucks in a breath. “You did?”
“I still do.”
She parts her lips, her eyes widening with surprise. I bring a hand to her face, caressing her cheek, resting my thumb at the corner of her mouth.
Her skin is so smooth, it spurs a need deep inside me, to touch more of her. To taste her. Would she taste as sweet as I remember? Have I idealized the kiss, the memory growing sweeter, more real the more time we spent together, the more I learned about her?
“I’ve missed you today,” I confess.
“You did?”
“Yeah.”
“So did I. I arrived late at breakfast, and no one saved me muffins.”
“I brought you something.” I pull the small package out of my pocket and take out the necklace with a little key pendant. “I saw it at LAX. It made me think of you.”
“I love it.”
“Let me put it on.”
She turns around, baring her neck to me. I clasp the necklace, lingering with my fingers at the back of her neck. She lets out a little sigh. I trace the contour of her shoulder, needing to touch more of her. Summer tightens her grip on one of the couch cushions.
I move closer until my chest almost touches her back, rubbing my thumb gently in the crook of her neck and shoulder. When she tilts her head slightly to the other side, giving me access, I don’t hesitate. I lower my mouth, pressing kisses to her skin.
“Alex!”
The vibration in her voice is the sexiest sound. I bring one hand to her waist, spin her around, then capture her mouth with mine.
She parts her lips, granting me access, entwining her tongue with mine as soon as I request it. I deepen the kiss, moving my hand from her waist to her thigh, bunching up her dress. I want to feel her skin, taste it, because she tastes even better than I remember, and I want to explore all of her.
“Alex,” she whispers again when I trail my mouth down her neck. “One night. Just this one night.”
I hold her close, breathing her in. “Just this one night,” I agree. I know the smartest thing would be no night at all, especially after the accusations thrown at me today. But we’ve both gone past that point. I want this woman. I need her. Working her dress up, I groan when the fabric finally gives way to skin. It’s so smooth and inviting....
“Let’s go inside,” I say on a growl.
“Don’t stop touching me.”
“Once we’re inside, I won’t stop touching you, tasting you. I won’t stop until I make you cry my name, Summer. I’ll make you come so hard that you won’t forget this night anytime soon. You won’t forget me.”
Rising from the couch, I pull Summer to her feet. Hands intertwined, I lead her inside. The second I close the door, I press her against it, kissing her, touching her. I only pause enough to pull her dress over her head. Lust shoots through my veins at the sight of her in underwear.
“You’re so beautiful. Unclasp your bra, Summer.”
She looks like something out of a sinful dream, standing there, legs slightly apart, reaching behind with one hand, obeying me. She makes a move to hook one thumb in her panties next, but I stop her.
“No. I’ll do that.”
Summer
swallows hard, then leans against the door, her hands at her side. I love the challenge in her eyes and the silent invitation to do anything I want to her.
I suck in one nipple, then pull back, circling the wet skin until the peak is a tight bud. With the other hand, I push her panties down. I only push them until they’re halfway down her thighs before I lose my composure. I trace the fine line of hair from her pubic bone, going down, down, down until the pad of my finger touches her clit. She presses her back into the door, snapping her eyes closed.
“Look at me, Summer. I want you to look at me.” Her breath is already labored as I draw small circles around her clit. When she blinks her eyes open, they’re full of lust. I want to watch her every reaction, but I want to kiss her more. I need to be closer to her, want the intimacy of a kiss, and by the sweet sound she makes when I capture her mouth, the way she laces both arms around my neck, so does she.
I kiss and stroke her until her legs are quivering and she’s so wet that my fingers are slipping down her folds. I want a taste of her desire, but her hold around my neck is tight, and I don’t want to break away. It feels too good to be in the circle of her arms. I don’t want to pull away... not even after this night ends.
When I sense that she’s close to the edge, I slip two fingers inside her, pressing the heel of my palm against her clit. She climaxes the next second, and I eat up the delicious, primal sound she makes, nearly exploding in my jeans. Then I pull slightly away, just enough to look at her, all flushed and out of breath.
She came before I even finished taking her panties off.
As if reading my mind, she glances down at her panties, still around her thighs, then hooks a thumb on one side. But then she stills, as if not knowing if she should pull them up or push them down. I hook a thumb on the other side, and she lets go, giving me free rein. I push them down, and as she steps out of them, I can’t help myself. I swipe my tongue along her entrance. She buckles forward, nearly collapsing over me. I catch her arms and pull myself up until I’m facing her.
“You can’t do that without any warning. I’m too sensitive,” she whispers, poking my chest. Then she starts unbuttoning my shirt. I kiss her cheek and move to her ear.
“Here’s your warning, Summer: I’m not going to give you a break. I’ll push more and more. You’re going to love it, I promise.”
The trust in her eyes does me in. We’re a tangle of limbs, but I feel like we’re entwined on a deeper level like she’s part of me already.
“I want you in my bed, beautiful. Now.”
***
Summer
I feel exposed, walking naked through his bungalow. I feel him right behind me, except for a brief moment when he steps sideways. I don’t look back, but the sound of foil on foil tells me he’s fetching a condom. When we reach the bed, I sit on the edge and finish undoing his shirt, then lick down the bare skin, tracing the fine dents of his muscles.
I haven’t had a one-night stand before, but I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to feel as vulnerable and open as I do. Alex won’t own just my body tonight. He’ll own my soul too.
We get rid of the rest of his clothes together, and then I follow the dusting of hair starting under his navel with my fingers, until I reach the base of his cock. I pump my hand twice before letting him go, and he bends, hooking an arm around my waist, hoisting me right in the center of the bed. He’s so strong, and his arms feel so good around me. He kisses me with so much heat that my legs shake. But there is tenderness in his kiss too, like I matter to him just as much as he matters to me. He kisses and touches every inch of my skin, and I do the same with his body. Eyes pinched shut, I feel the mattress shift, Alex moving away, then hear foiled being ripped. By the time I open my eyes, he’s moving on top of me. He’s sheathed himself already.
He positions his tip at my entrance, and as he slides inside, inch by delicious inch, he laces our fingers together. He brings his mouth to mine, our tongues twirling together while our bodies move together, perfectly in sync.
I don’t know if every sensation is magnified because my body is still strung together from the orgasm, or because he’s making love to me as if I’m his lifeline, the single most important thing in his life. I cherish every second of it, memorize every detail: the scent of his skin, the sounds he makes, and all the emotions he stirs inside me.
When I feel him widen inside me, I flex my inner muscles, wanting to squeeze him good, to make this as delicious as he’s made it for me.
He goes over the edge, taking me with him. Letting go of my fingers, he cradles me in his arms until my pulse regains a somewhat normal rhythm. Then he moves away, taking care of the condom quickly before returning to my side. He holds me to him until I fall asleep.
Chapter Fifteen
Summer
Tap, tap, tap.
The sound jolts me awake. I blink, frowning at the unfamiliar bed and room. Then I see Alex, lying on his belly, deep asleep.
Oh no, no, no. I broke the golden rule of one-night-stands. Thou shall not fall asleep in the other’s bed. Granted, the man wore me out last night. But that’s no excuse for my breaking the one-night stand code. As silently as possible, I climb out of bed and go about finding my clothes. My cheeks burn as I find them tossed around the room. Please, don’t let him wake up before I’m gone.
Though I haven’t had any one-night stands before him, twice I mistook weeks of dating and one night in bed as a relationship, but they informed me of my naivety before the sheets cooled.
But Alex and I agreed on the same thing last night. How embarrassing!
I take one last look at him before heading to the foyer. God, he looks so deliciously lickable, with his entire back and half his ass on display. He holds the pillow tightly under his head, and I remember those arms holding me just as tight last night, as if he didn’t want to let me go.
Tap, tap, tap.
“Alex, are you in here?” I freeze in my steps, halfway through the foyer. The sounds that woke me up were knocks at his front door.
“Mr. Westbrook?” the voice asks even louder. It belongs to one of the younger boys in the group. Well, now I’ve done it. How the hell am I supposed to get out? There is a large window I could escape through at the back of the bungalow, but my two experiences with window climbing as a kid made a lasting impression on me, considering I twisted my ankle both times, and knocked out a front tooth the first time.
I refuse to risk maiming myself during my walk of shame. Which leaves me... nowhere.
I swallow when Alex appears in the foyer, already wearing jeans and a fresh shirt, his eyes small with sleep.
“Why are you hiding in the foyer?” he asks. Ayayayay. I realize I was holding onto the hope that maybe he’d want last night to be more than a one-time occurrence. Which is more than a little foolish.
“There’s someone outside... and I don’t know how to get out.”
“Oh yeah. That’s Bobby. I promised him I’d sit at his table at breakfast today. Seems he thought it safest to get me.” He motions with his head toward the door. “Let’s go.”
“Umm... he might get the wrong idea if he sees me here.”
“Okay, then I’ll go with him, and you can stay here and close up. Give me the card at breakfast.” He checks his smartphone. “We don’t have that much time left.”
“I’ll skip breakfast today. I need time in the morning to make myself presentable.”
“What are you talking about? You look perfect.”
That brings a smile to my lips, and my heart might just have skipped a beat, though I’d deny it to my last breath.
“My hair is out of control.”
He twirls a strand between two fingers. “Like its owner. You’re a wild thing, Summer. After last night, I won’t be able to look at you the same way.”
I feel my cheeks burn. “Don’t leave Bobby waiting. Go. I’ll find you later and give you the card.”
“I’ll bring you muffins.”
***
After freshening up, I stuff my notes for today’s classes in my beach bag and head outside. I’m only teaching in the afternoon, but I like reviewing my notes every morning. Typically, I keep mulling over them at the back of my mind for the rest of the day and come up with new examples or a better way to explain a technique.
My feet carry me to the stretch of water near Alex’s bungalow almost by themselves. When I spot him sitting on a sunbed, phone pressed to his ear, I get cold feet at the potential for awkwardness. I wish there was a handbook with instructions for a one-night stand with a man you know and are stuck with for another week. A man you like very much. I reason that since we’ve set free all that pent-up sexual tension, I might not get all... tingly around him anymore.
Yeah, that’s just wishful thinking. The closer I get to him, the signs become more poignant. He’s with his back to me, but I warm all over at seeing those corded muscles, the strong arms.
When I notice the plate with three muffins next to him, butterflies roam in my stomach.
God, help me. Butterflies have no business here. Putting his phone down, he runs a frustrated hand through his hair, then turns around, a corner of his mouth twisting up when he sees me.