Through The Lens (Creative Hearts Book 1)

by Jackson, K. M.

  “I guess it’s been a long day,” Alejandro said, caught in a sudden irritable need to fill the empty space now that he was alone with Tai. What was this? He’d never been a space-filler before.

  Tai gave him an overly long look before shaking her head with...scorn? Chastisement? Damn. It seemed he couldn’t win today. Why was he explaining himself to this woman? And what happened to his cool and demanding demeanor that had men and women shivering in their designer shoes? He’d seriously lost his touch.

  Tai waved a hand. “I’m sure she’s fine. I have a good meal here for you.” The table on the balcony was set as if for a romantic dinner. He knew Mika would balk at it, but it was a nice gesture, and he was grateful. Tai showed off the platters of roasted meat and vegetables she’d prepared, lifting off the covers with pride.

  “It all looks wonderful. You’ve done too much.” He reached in and tasted a piece of well-seasoned meat, suddenly ravenous. “Delicious,” he said, and Tai beamed. “Thank you. But please, go and have dinner with your family. I’m sorry we kept you away from them so long.”

  Tai’s eyes narrowed again, her thoughts and focus clearly going toward Mika’s hut. The woman was good at playing the mother hen.

  Ale gave her a wry smile. “You don’t have to worry about her. She’ll be safe with me.”

  She softened her shrewd gaze then shrugged. “Okay, fine. You enjoy.”

  He watched as she ambled back down the beach toward her own family huts in the distance, then sat at the table. There was a moment of quiet as he listened to the surf cracking against the shore. His ears perked up when he heard the rush of Mika turning on the shower. He felt himself immediately harden. Damn, did she really have him this trained already? He shook his head. It was unimaginable. Yet his mind pictured how she must look with the water flowing down her beautiful body, and he mentally began stripping off his clothes, strolling toward the shower to join her. But no, he couldn’t do that. Not now, after her declaration. A man had to have some pride.

  He reached across the table to snare a piece of pineapple. The juice was ripe and sweeter than any pineapple he’d ever tasted. And it did nothing but bring his thoughts of Mika into sharper focus. A vision of her, head thrown back, mouth open in complete abandon, golden skin glowing in the sunlight, floated in his mind’s eye. Yeah, she may balk at him calling her “honey”, but the sweet name perfectly fit the way she tasted on his tongue.

  He swallowed.

  In that moment he knew he’d never last being alone with her, not in this close proximity. He also knew he’d never go for her complete fantasy bullshit. What they did, what they had was real, and it would be repeated over and over if he had anything to say about it.

  “I’m done.”

  Alejandro’s eyes shot up at the sound of Mika’s soft but strong voice. He didn’t even hear her turn the water off, let alone walk up on him, lost in his own thoughts. She looked beautiful in a simple dark brown cotton sundress with thin shoulder straps and an empire waist, falling loosely around her hips. Her wet hair was slicked back and away from her face, showing off her rich almond-shaped eyes and high cheekbones. And her lips looked even fuller, the evidence from their afternoon of lovemaking imprinted all over them. She had no makeup on, but her smooth skin still glowed, rivaling the setting sun.

  He wanted so badly to photograph her right then that his hands ached. “Was the shower good?”

  “Surprisingly, yes. They actually get decent water pressure here,” she said, putting on a wide smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes and taking a seat across from him. “You should have one. I’ll wait for you to eat.”

  Easy for her to say. Sure, he’d take one, a cold one, if he could stand without being embarrassed like a schoolboy. “Not now. Tai prepared a great dinner for us, and you must want to eat. I, for one, am starving.”

  She gave him a look that said she got his double meaning but simply shrugged. She looked at the feast set out before them. “Wow, she really didn’t have to go to so much trouble, but I’m glad she did.”

  Mika immediately started dishing food onto both of their plates, and he fell into step right along with her, pouring her some water. For a moment they were back to their old selves, and it was like sharing a meal in the office. The familiarity felt good. Finally Ale stood, feeling safe to do so.

  “Where are you going?”

  “This meal calls for wine, of course.”

  “You packed wine?”

  “Sure, I had the hotel put some on the ferry. The island is practically deserted. No place to order up.”

  “Good thinking.” Mika downed her water and then stuck her glass out to Alejandro.

  He filled it and watched in shock as she took a few long gulps, practically draining it. Her tongue tipped out and licked the top of her lush lips.

  “I really needed that,” she said, easing her head back, letting her guard down. He watched as her chest rose and fell rhythmically.

  Something twisted low in his gut. She opened her eyes and looked back at him, but didn’t say a word. She just held out her glass for him to refill. He did, then took a long swallow from his own. He watched her as she drank, the deep red liquid disappearing between those beautiful full lips. Warmth spread throughout his body. He needed her. Fully and completely. To hell with her one-time-only crap. This was something more and he wasn’t ready to give it up, no matter what she said.

  They ate in silence for a while, lost in their own thoughts, while the air grew thick with heat and their unsaid words.

  “You know,” he started.

  “I was thinking,” she said. The words tumbled out from both of them at the same time.

  Ale nodded at her. “You go first, please.”

  She looked down, seeming suddenly shy and scared.

  “Mika, it’s okay. Whatever this is, don’t you dare be afraid to be yourself with me.”

  With that, she looked up at him with all the power and strength he was used to. “I was thinking that if you still need that shower, I’d like to join you. I’m suddenly quite hot again.”

  Ale coughed, choking on his last sip of wine, the breath completely knocked from him. Did she really say what he thought she said? “Are you playing games with me?”

  Her voice sailed over to him, a whisper on the wind. “What if I am?”

  His brows shot up. “If you are, I’d say you’re being very bad. Maybe you’d have to be punished.”

  Her mouth formed an “O” and it was her turn to look shocked. Good. She’d put him off balance enough. Let her wobble a bit. The Mika he knew was never like this, this...little she-devil before him. Ale ran his hands though his hair and watched as she surprised him once again—she reached for a piece of pineapple, dipped it into her wine, then took it back out to suck on the juice invitingly.

  He gripped the arms of his chair. So this was how she wanted to play it. Damn her. She seemed determined to keep him teetering on the edge for some reason, and so far, she was doing an excellent job of it. But what else should he expect when she put her perfect little mind to something? Ale steeled his will. She’d obviously forgotten who she was dealing with. Hell, under her spell, he was forgetting who he was. But he was determined to have Mika, and if it took playing her game to have her his way, bring it on.

  He let go of the chair and stripped off his shirt. “A shower sounds great. If you care to assist in helping to get me clean, I’m sure that can be added to your job description.”

  Her eyes flashed with a hint of a storm brewing in the distance.

  He grinned, not bothering to hide his pleasure at rattling her. “Only for these few nights, of course.”

  She surprised him once again and offered a sweet smile that had him pulsing with anticipation. “Of course, boss. I’m glad we’re on the same page.”

  *

  Mika woke with a start, eyes popping open and heart racing. It took a moment to realize where she was. She looked up at the gauzy mosquito netting waving softly in the moonli
ght and took stock. Alejandro’s heart beating against her back, his erection at her backside, his heavy arm around her midsection, cradling her gently. Yes, she was still here, on the island, in bed with Alejandro. She took a deep breath, just letting the feeling in, seeing if it would ease the turmoil she felt.

  It didn’t.

  Instead, tears welled in her eyes. Oh hell. She had to get some sort of control over her emotions if she was going to let go and really enjoy these next few days. That’s what it was all about, right? Having a good time. Living out her Alejandro fantasy and moving on.

  Mika closed her eyes, mentally willing the tears to recede. She had to let go of these stupid emotions she was feeling and see this thing for what she knew it was.

  Great sex. With her boss. No, her soon-to-be ex-boss, and that was all. Her stomach flipped at that thought and a tear escaped, rolling down her cheek and onto Ale’s arm below. Oh jeez, she couldn’t just lie here getting sick and weepy. Waking him in a fit of tears? What kind of seductress would that make her?

  Mika eased Ale’s arm off her waist and scooted out of his grasp, careful to be quiet as he turned over, throwing an arm over his eyes.

  She got up and looked around for her dress by the light of the moon, turning in awkward little circles, and coming up empty. Great. Here she was, ridiculously naked—again—and the air had grown cool. Who in the world did she think she was all of a sudden? She frowned. Naked with Ale. What must he be thinking? She’d slip to her own hut and cover up properly if she weren’t afraid of falling over the edge of the walkway in the dark. Where was that freaking dress? Her mind went to the shower and the image of the dress in a heap on the bathroom floor. Perfect. She’d have the same problem trying to make her way back there.

  With a sigh, she reached instead for the blanket tangled on the foot of the bed and wrapped it around her body. The shiver that ran through her now was not from the cold as she strode over to the little wicker couch and let her body fall onto it, her legs going weak.

  It scared her, this feeling of being out of control. She glanced at Ale’s sprawled form. He held way too many of the cards. Even with her leaving, she still had so much to lose. He was so different from anyone she’d ever been with. Anyone she’d ever known. With him, the hurt could be so real. First she was leaving a job she was secure in, and now she went and put her heart on the line too. Hello, stupid, party of one. Your table is ready.

  And now him with his talk of more and that bit with the flower, it was just too much. He was making it so hard to walk away.

  Not that she’d ever walked away before. Eric had left her, just like all the rest. And though part of her knew that Eric wasn’t the one, him leaving her still pissed her off. She thought he was safe—a corporate accountant who seemed relatively stable. What did she know? In the end, even he wanted someone better than her. A more put-together version of what she could give. Someone more pert and pretty and polished. So very corporate with her heels, size-two pencil skirts and weave flowing down her back. All the things Mika was not. She sighed softy. A grimace she knew she’d pay for with deep wrinkles in the years to come furrowed her brow. But there was no burning ache over Eric, just a wince of pain at being the rejected one. At not being good enough. That’s what hurt the most. The not measuring up.

  She hugged herself tighter, pulling her knees close to her chest, and leaned her head back on the couch while she looked out the window at the waxing moon. It was an old story, an old emotion she should know well from her own mother. She knew the pain of being left. Saw the hurt in her mother’s eyes each time she’d asked when her father was coming home. She learned quickly not to ask anymore. He’d moved on. To a new family and wife. One that measured up better than they had.

  Mika breathed in the smell of the sea. Even though Ale was a few feet away, she could still feel him over her, inside her. She tuned her breathing to his, wishing for a moment that the night would go on forever. Daylight would mean time passing and the real world inching closer, and that was the last thing she wanted right now in this beautiful paradise.

  She turned as Alejandro shifted onto his stomach, looking like a perfectly bronzed David exhibiting his backside under the moonlight. She sucked in a breath. Yeah, daylight meant morning, and morning meant responsibilities. All things that would come way too soon.

  Chapter 6

  Heat rushed to her cheeks as Mika opened her eyes and was face to—well, not face...with a certain part of Alejandro’s anatomy. “You’re up,” she said.

  “I am,” he replied, not bothering to cover his nakedness as he stood before her in all his glory.

  She pulled the blanket tightly around her shoulders and feigned looking around for her cell phone. “What time is it? I’d better get to my room and get dressed. I wouldn’t want Tai walking in on this and, um, getting the wrong idea.”

  She quickly stood to leave, but Ale blocked her way, surprising her by taking her by both arms. “And what idea would that be? That you slept on this couch all night? I woke up reaching for you.”

  She started to sidestep him and paused. Did he say he had reached for her? She inwardly shook herself. No, today was a new day, and last night was last night. Fantasy over.

  Ale looked at her long and hard, questions in his eyes. “So what was with the couch?” He ran his fingers gently up her arm.

  Did she flinch? She hoped she didn’t, but the quick narrowing of his eyes told her she did. Crap. She had it all worked out last night, having told herself this morning would be easier, but it sure didn’t feel like it. Not with him so near, so big and so naked. And what was with that? In all their years together, he’d never struck her as the exhibitionist type.

  She stepped back out of his embrace. “Would you mind putting on some pants? Then we can talk.”

  Ale shrugged, moving toward his luggage. He pulled out a pair of boxer briefs and tugged them on. “Sorry if my nakedness is bothering you so much. It didn’t seem to last night.”

  “Well, that was last night, and today the game is over. It’s time to get back to normal.” She tried hard to sound cool, but she knew she was missing the mark terribly. Her voice may have even squeaked a bit.

  He turned toward her. His look seared with dark fire, and he opened his mouth to say something, then closed it again, seeming to rethink himself. Finally he said, “I’ve got to use the bathroom, and then we need to talk.”

  Mika watched him stalk off, standing as steady as she could, but once the bathroom door closed, she ran—not her proudest moment, no—to find some solace in her own hut. Her heart raced as she sat on her own bed, legs shaking. This was not the way she wanted this morning to go. They had two more days together before the crew arrived.

  There were two options here. One: Spend the remaining days in heaven, enjoying Alejandro like she did last night, or Two: Tell Alejandro about the job at Stylist now and end everything. That’s it, close the door. See ya, mister. She rubbed at her tired eyes, willing the truth away. Who knows, maybe if she told him, she could still end up happily in his bed. Her mouth twisted. No way. She knew him better than anyone, knew that wasn’t true. He would be furious about the Stylist job. Her leaving would be an inconvenience and take away the security of his well-ordered life. This news would break the island spell, for sure.

  But she was already ruining things by acting like a nervous child. Telling him to put on clothes and cover up! She was sure one of his more experienced leggy models would be telling him to take it all off, not cover up.

  She groaned and fell back on the bed. His models. They would be here in two days. That was the real world. His real world. What was she to him, anyway? What could he possibly want from her? This thing was not just a seduction on her part. He was the one who kissed her first. The thought was crazy, and the more that she tried to wrap her mind around it, the more confused she got. Was this really just because it was the two of them alone? A strange hormonal thing and nothing more? It couldn’t be anything else. Plain Jane Mika
Walters was not in his league.

  She closed her eyes, letting her body sink further into the bed, now feeling all the aches of making love on the jungle floor. And sleeping on that couch was not her best idea. There were knots in her shoulders from lying in an uncomfortable position and aches in her thighs that weren’t entirely unwelcome. Yet another reminder again of the amazing afternoon and night with Alejandro. A night she couldn’t deny she wanted to repeat all over again. She knew that type of thinking was only making it that much harder to close herself off the way she would need to in two days when the crew arrived.

  She turned to her side and curled into a small ball and tightly shut her eyes. Right now, this was what she wanted. This, and Ale wrapped around her. She sighed, surprised to feel wetness on the side of her cheek. Again. It was so much safer when this was all just a fantasy. Now it was a memory, something she’d never be able to forget. The feel of him against her skin. The taste of him on her lips. The way he looked at her, said her name. Called her beautiful.

  “Are you all right?” She heard his voice and threw her arm over her face. Shit. She hadn’t heard him come in. And he was close. Too close.

  “I’m fine. Are you done in the bathroom? Because I really need to go.” She fought to hold her voice steady.

  “Yeah, sure,” he said, his voice full of uncertainly. “It’s just, um, I brought your dress.” She could feel him staring down at her, and her skin prickled under his gaze.

  “Ale,” she started, “do you mind? I’m not the best morning person. I’d like a little privacy, please.”

  She felt him hesitate then take a step back. “Sure, that’s fine. Take whatever time you need.”

  Mika raised her head slightly and looked at his retreating back with confusion. Did his voice actually squeak? Nah, Ale didn’t squeak. Must have been the floorboards.