He turned his gaze toward the horizon, noticing the storm clouds gathering in the distance. But as much as he tried to force his thoughts on something else, they kept returning to Vicki and the night they’d spent together in his bed.
He shook his head. He couldn’t allow his thoughts to travel in that direction. He wouldn’t be able to handle losing someone a second time. Someone who gave purpose and meaning to his life. Someone who made it a joy just to greet each new day and wonder what marvelous things it would bring. Someone who could be as much an intricate part of his life as his son had been.
A very special someone who could be the one to make his shattered life whole again.
Chapter Four
Vicki disconnected the call and replaced the handset in the charger. Her attempt to reach the rental agency had not been answered, not even by their answering service. Disappointment coursed through her. It only reinforced her fear that she would never see her money again. It also told her emphatically that she needed to find another place to live…and quickly.
The loss of her money would set back her plans for her master’s degree, but there was little she could do about that problem at the moment. It also meant she would need to find a full time job after she completed her obligation to her summer clients. She allowed a heavy sigh of disappointment. All of her perfect plans had been totally destroyed.
Suddenly she felt very alone and lost.
In an attempt to shake off her sadness, Vicki took the morning newspaper to the kitchen table and turned to the classified ads. With pen in hand, she carefully went over each and every rental listing.
An hour passed, and she had still not found a single ad to pursue. The only ones that suited her needs were far too expensive. She never should have sold her car. She never should have paid the entire five months rental in advance. She never should have…so many things she thought she had carefully planned out but never should have done.
And among them, having hot sex with Blake neared the top of the list. Not that she regretted it. In fact, it had been the best sex of her life. But that didn’t change the fact that she shouldn’t have done it. Even though neither of them had mentioned their tryst so far that morning, it made walking away that much more difficult.
She could still taste his kiss. Just the memory of their lovemaking sent dampness to her panties. Her pussy purred with satisfaction and at the same time wanted more. She couldn’t allow his offer of temporary shelter for the weekend to be anything more than that—temporary. And that brief time frame ended tomorrow evening when the owner of the house returned to confirm what she already knew—Blake had the legal right to the house. She stared at the open newspaper and all the house rental ads she had circled and then crossed out.
Blake stood on the deck looking through the sliding glass door at Vicki in the kitchen. She shoved the newspaper aside, despair etched on her face. He thought of his son and of the future he had put on hold two years ago. Once again, she touched that vulnerable spot he had tried to bury, a spot he thought had died along with his son.
On the surface, it appeared to everyone that he enjoyed the events of day-to-day carefree fun. But no matter how hard he tried, he hadn’t been able to fool himself. His life had become empty with something very important missing. He couldn’t explain it. He couldn’t even translate the feeling into conscious thought, let alone words, but it was something akin to a need to be involved in life. To once again have someone with whom he could share his days, someone who would give his life purpose and direction. Vicki had managed to awaken that place inside him, and he found it very disturbing. This compulsively ordered woman was not who he needed.
Blake forced the thoughts away and went inside the house. “Are you okay? You look like you’re about to burst into tears.”
“What?” Her head jerked up. “Oh…yes, I’m fine. I was just looking at the rental ads.” She placed her hand on the folded newspaper. “There wasn’t anything listed that suits my needs. Actually, there were two, but one was twice what I can afford, and the other requires me to have a car. Until I get my money back from Mr. Edwards…” She paused as if trying to gather her thoughts. “Well, don’t worry. I’ll find some other arrangement by Monday so you won’t be inconvenienced any longer. I’m sure he’ll refund my money.”
Blake poured himself a glass of iced tea and took a long swig before answering her, even though she had not asked a question. “We’ll tackle your Mr. Edwards first thing Monday morning and see what he has to say for himself. Gary Sanderson will be home tomorrow night, and I’m sure he can help straighten out this mess and see that you get your money back.”
He downed the rest of his iced tea. “Meanwhile…” He set the empty glass on the counter. “I’ve got a kite to get up in the air.” He looked at her for a moment, then an idea struck him. “I was going to hook some of my stunt kites together and fly them. There’s a nice stiff breeze out, but…” He offered her an encouraging smile. “Have you ever flown a kite?”
What a frivolous waste of time. Vicki had things to do. She should be doing…doing what? It suddenly struck her that without being able to unpack her belongings and set up her office, she was very limited in how much work she could do. “Flying kites? Isn’t that more the type of thing children do?”
It was certainly not a mature activity an adult should be engaged in, especially someone like Blake who was so adept at other activities.
He shot her an appraising look. “Not at all. There are kite flying championships everywhere with adults as the participants rather than kids. In fact, there’s a kite shop in the village. You could check there and find information on the contest held here every June. People come from all over the country to compete for major prizes. I’m thinking about entering this year.”
She couldn’t hide her surprise. “A kite flying contest?”
“Come on.” Blake grabbed her hand and pulled her up. He hesitated for a moment, then folded her into his embrace.
They hadn’t talked about what had happened last night, but the experience and excitement had dominated his thoughts from the moment he woke. The passion of the night had been immediately resurrected this morning when he’d gazed at her nude body sleeping in his bed. He had even allowed a fleeting thought about what it would be like to wake each morning and find her next to him, but had quickly shoved the impractical—and emotionally frightening—notion from his mind.
He lowered his mouth to hers, a kiss that started gently at first before escalating along with the desire coursing through his body. It was as if neither of them had a need to talk about what had happened.
And what seemed to be happening again.
She slipped her arms around his neck and returned his kiss, her passion matching his spark for spark. He flicked his tongue at her lower lip, then penetrated the recesses of her mouth. She answered his advance by rubbing her belly against his erection the same way the blonde had after the volleyball game. Unlike his actions with the blonde, this time he responded enthusiastically.
He cupped her ass cheeks and pulled her tightly against his lower body, grinding his pelvis against hers. He broke off the kiss only long enough to whisper in her ear. “Let’s go upstairs.”
“Yes.” She managed only the one ragged word.
Nothing else needed to be said. They quickly ascended the stairs. It took only a minute for their discarded clothing to land on the floor. The sounds of their labored breathing filled the air.
Vicki stretched out on Blake’s bed. He turned, straddled her shoulders, and stretched his torso down the length of her prone body. Wrapping his arms around her hips, he cupped her ass cheeks and plastered his mouth to her juicy pussy. He found himself quickly immersed in the addictive taste that belonged to her alone. He flicked his tongue in and out of her opening, then sucked her engorged clit into his mouth.
Her moans of delight fed his need as he continued to feast on her delicious taste. No woman had ever imprinted her essence on him the way she had.
A taste, a scent…would he ever have his fill? His thoughts came to an abrupt halt when her lips suddenly closed around his cockhead, then slid up and down his rigid shaft.
His groan vibrated from the place where his mouth touched Vicki’s clit. The sensation continued to reverberate through her body, pushing her into what she knew from the previous night’s experience would be the first of many fantastic orgasms. Each of his sucking motions sent her rushing toward the ultimate release. Her entire body quivered with sexual arousal so intense it left her breathless.
His mouth…his tongue…they were only part of his display of unparalleled talent. She floated on a cloud of euphoria. Throbbed to a primal beat. Every nerve ending in her body tingled with excitement. Then the first orgasmic wave crashed through her. A quick pelvic thrust, then her entire body convulsed in delicious, heart-pounding ecstasy.
Myriad conflicting thoughts ripped through her mind. Blake was wrong for her in every way that mattered. A kite flying beach bum. An unemployed playboy with no sense of responsibility. Orgasmic contractions seized control of her senses, banishing any further thought. And each intensely erotic ripple had her sucking in more of his shaft.
Her taste filled Blake’s mouth. Her body acted on him much like an addictive drug. The more he had, the more he wanted. The more he wanted, the more he needed. No, he’d never have his fill of her. But what did it mean and where was it leading? Her hips bucked erratically, shoving her pussy hard against his mouth. He nibbled at her clit, totally losing himself in her as she continued to work her mouth along his stiff cock.
The churning in his balls spoke to him, screaming out his need for release. He momentarily gave up her tasty pussy and reached for a condom packet. A minute later, he stretched out on his back with her straddling his hips. He gripped her waist and lowered her onto his sheathed cock. The look of exquisite rapture that covered her face sent a hard rush through him. Her eyes glowed with the same hot passion that coursed through his veins. She leaned forward, her breasts coming to rest in his hands, her tautly puckered nipples pressed into his palms.
Blake didn’t know how much longer he could hold out. Her inner muscles clenched around his shaft, tugging and squeezing with a unique rhythm that quickly drove him to the edge. He had never had his cock in a hotter nest or one that felt as good. One that felt as if he really belonged there. One that felt like home.
One that felt like a lifetime.
The unwanted thought disappeared as hard spasms shuddered through his body. He squeezed her breasts in time with her orgasmic contractions, which drained his balls of all he had to offer. Her body went limp, falling forward against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, allowing one hand to glide down her back and come to rest on her perfectly rounded ass. Playing his fingers along the crevice separating her cheeks, he fought to bring his breathing under control and restore some semblance of reason back to the moment.
They hadn’t talked about last night, but he knew they had to talk about it now. He couldn’t pretend nothing important had happened, that she represented nothing different from any other hot fuck that might come his way. She was different all right. Unique. Special.
Very special.
He smoothed her hair away from her damp face. “Vicki, we need to talk about—”
“No.” She placed her fingertips against his lips. “Please don’t make more of this than it is. I want you to know I’m not in the habit of falling into bed with every man I meet, with men I’ve only known a few hours. You and I…we don’t have anything in common. Our lifestyles and goals are completely different, but there’s obviously something about our body chemistry, something pulling us—”
Now it was Blake’s turn to place his fingertips against her lips to stop her words. “I never thought for a moment that you promiscuously hopped into bed with every man who crossed your path. If you don’t want to talk about this right now, we can wait until—”
Vicki stopped his words with a kiss. Even though it felt strange with neither of them mentioning what had happened the night before, she didn’t want to confront the truth. Didn’t want to deal with where it could lead. Two ships passing in the night. As different as could be in what they wanted from life…except in bed where they both wanted the exact same thing. To fuck each other into exhaustion and satisfy every carnal desire. The best thing to do was simply leave it at that. Accept it for what it was—two people with an incredible case of the hots for each other and nothing more. A short term situation with no long term consequences to consider.
At least, that’s what she wanted to believe. She couldn’t allow a thought to the contrary. No way would she entertain the possibility of anything more with this man. She had her entire future planned out, and he absolutely did not fit into that plan. Nothing about him fit into her life even though everything about his body fit with hers.
“We have to talk about this, Vicki. Not now, apparently, but sometime soon. This is too hot. Too all consuming. Much too…”
****
Blake stepped onto the deck, closing the door behind him when he remembered the cat was loose somewhere in the house. He stared at the storm clouds on the horizon, his thoughts lost in a confused swirl that revolved around Vicki. She tried so hard to be tough and independent in spite of her terrible predicament, and each attempt made him more aware of how much he wanted to take care of her.
“I guess I’m ready.” Her voice sounded more like someone being led to an unavoidable ordeal rather than a person enthusiastically participating in a fun activity.
She stepped onto the deck, and he turned to face her. She had pulled on a simple pale blue T-shirt that caressed the soft curve of her breasts and a pair of dark blue shorts. A sharp jab of desire attacked him. It had been less than an hour since they’d showered together after generating enough heat to nearly set the sheets on fire. Yet, just the sight of her made him want to carry her off to bed all over again, as if he hadn’t had sex in months.
It had taken a bit of convincing for him to get her to agree to a kite flying lesson. She kept using the words frivolous and waste of time. Although totally uninhibited in bed, she continued to vacillate between being uptight and guarded when dealing with innocent fun.
He quickly regained his composure, then stooped to pick up the box kite. In spite of the stiff breeze, it would be the easiest for her to fly. “Come on, let’s get away from the house.” He led her out onto the sand and held the kite toward her. “Here, give it a try.”
“What do I do?” She looked at him with reluctant eyes, making no effort to take the kite.
“Hold the kite in your left hand and the string in your right, like this.” He moved behind her and reached around to show her how to handle the kite and string. His body brushed her back as he guided her hands. Warmth washed through him at the momentary physical contact. He hoped his voice didn’t sound as unsteady as he felt. “Let out a little of the string and run along the beach until the wind catches the kite, then continue to let out the string until it’s flying high.”
He stepped away from her and offered her an encouraging smile. “There’s nothing to it.”
Vicki hesitantly took the kite from him, handling it in an awkward manner. Tremors raced through her body the moment he’d stepped behind her. What was she doing? What was this insanity she had allowed herself to be drawn into? Kite flying? She should be doing something productive to occupy her time until she could get her office set up and start work. Something like…well, she couldn’t think of anything specific at the moment. Her mind touched briefly on the time they’d spent indulging their carnal desires. An immediate ripple raced through her pussy, as if she hadn’t had sex in months rather than having just been completely and deliciously satisfied.
She dug her feet into the sand to get a firm footing. The fine granules squished between her toes as she started to run. The wind caught the kite and pulled it sharply upward. The hard tug on the string came as a surprise. Following Blake’s instructions, she let
it out. Her heartbeat increased along with her excitement as she watched the colorful kite rise into the sky.
Then it faltered and crashed to the sand, the thrill of the moment gone. Disappointment enveloped her, a totally unexpected reaction, which caught her off guard.
“Oh, no.” She looked at Blake, who’d been running along the beach beside her. “Have I broken it?”
“No, it’s okay.” He reeled in the string and picked up the kite, handing it back to her. He offered an encouraging smile. “Here, try it again. Only this time, let the string out a little more slowly.”
Vicki was not sure why she had agreed to try it the first time and now she was about to try it again. What a silly activity, running along the sand towing a box made out of fiberglass rods and brightly colored nylon fabric. She accepted the kite and string from him, took a calming breath, and began to run. The sharp tug on the string confirmed the wind had taken hold of the kite.
Blake kept pace with her, shouting encouragement as they ran down the beach. “That’s it, Vicki. Good. Now, slowly let out the string. Make sure the line stays taut.”
She slowed her pace and carefully let out the string. This time, the kite rose higher and higher into the air until she had let out the entire length.
The wind tried to pull it from her hands with a hard tug along the string. She turned her face upward and watched the colorful box kite flying in the breeze. She laughed like a child enjoying the carefree arena of play…the excitement of innocent fun. The heavy burden of responsibility she chose to carry on her shoulders like a mantle had lifted for the moment.
“That’s perfect.” His genuine enthusiasm for her accomplishment echoed in his voice. “You’ve got it.”
Summer Sizzle Page 6