He laughed so hard his whole body shook, and since she was on his lap, hers shook along with his. “Believe it or not,” he said as his laughter settled and his face grew more serious, “it was definitely because of you, which reminds me...”
With skill and ease, he slightly lifted up from his seat to reach in his back pocket, careful not to let her slip from his lap. “Here’s the fifty bucks I owe you.”
“You are so bad,” she said with a laugh as she brushed his hand away. “So I was right. All the women you dated weren’t top quality like you said.”
“Ehh.” He waved his free hand back and forth. “Naw, not really.”
“Then I don’t need the money. Beating you in a bet is satisfaction enough.”
They both laughed and Winter noted that the noise in the background was growing louder.
“Looks like it’s raining harder.” When he didn’t respond, she looked down at him.
“Thank you,” he said when her eyes met his.
“For what?”
He brushed a few strands of fallen hair out of her face. “Thank you for letting me accompany you on this trip and introducing me to your great group of friends, but more important, thank you for listening to my story and not passing judgment.”
Winter had never considered herself an emotional person, but seeing the honesty reflected in his eyes tugged at emotions she’d never felt before.
“Then I should be thanking you for the same thing.” She let her hand rest on his chest. “And I’m really glad that you came on this trip with me.”
She felt his hands roam up and down her back before rising to her neck and gently connecting their lips in a tender kiss that literally stole her breath.
He was an expert at kissing, among other things. Or maybe it was just combustible when they kissed each other? Maybe it was their connection, this indescribable bond. This insatiable chemistry between them that seemed to grow the more time they spent together.
* * *
“Winter, I changed my mind. I don’t think this is a good idea.”
Taheim was always up for trying new things. Given that those new things fit into the comfortable box of things he would actually do. Better yet, the more he thought about it, the more he realized that in actuality, there were thousands of things he wouldn’t actually try to do. And jumping off a rocky cliff was one of them.
“You’ll be fine, Taheim. What’s the worst that can happen?”
His head whipped so fast to face her the movement made her jump. “What do you mean, what’s the worst that could happen? How about I jump off this cliff, hit a rock, get caught in a current and drown.”
“Oh, come on,” she said as she yanked his arm. “Look at those lush green trees in the distance on that small piece of land that we can only get to by swimming. And that beautiful turquoise-blue sea that is completely calm. Even the tropical birds flying above us agree that we should jump. And when we do, we can release all our problems, all of our worries. Leave our minds blank to only soak in this gorgeous scenery. This perfect moment.”
He wasn’t sure if it was the fact that her hair was braided in pigtails, that her arms were outstretched to the sky or that he could possibly plummet to his death that made him leery of the entire cliff-diving experience. But it was probably a combination of all three. And Winter’s free-spirit, throw-your-inhibitions-to-the-wind personality wasn’t helping the situation.
“Look, flower child,” he said, trying to bring her back to reality. “We can see those lush green trees from the ground just fine. I’m pretty sure we could rent a kayak or canoe to get to that island instead of swimming in shark-infested water. The sea may look beautiful and calm, but do you even know how deep it is or what things are living in water that deep? And I can assure you that jumping off a cliff will not calm me. If anything, I could have a heart attack before I even hit the water.”
“Dramatic much!” she said as she placed her hands on her hips. “When I mentioned that I wanted to go on a hike today and dive into the ocean, why did you agree to come with me?”
Flashes of their bodies intertwined in the crisp white sheets crossed his mind. The light breeze from the open patio door cooling off their hot bodies. Her breasts pressed against his chest, thighs to thighs.
“I don’t even know why I asked,” she said with a laugh. “It’s obviously written all across your face.”
After the conversation they’d had the other night about his ex, they’d spent the whole night feasting on each other just to wake up the next morning and do it again. Yesterday afternoon and evening had been dedicated to what he’d wanted to do in Hawaii. Today was Winter’s choice. So far, he’d already woken up at an ungodly hour, hiked up a hill, and eaten two bananas and a granola bar when all he wanted was some real food. Now she was trying to convince him that jumping off a cliff could be a liberating experience.
“If you do this for me, I’ll make it worth your while.” She leaned up on tiptoe and planted a soft kiss on his lips, slipping him a little tongue. It was useless to resist her. He’d already bared his secrets. Exposed his insecurities as she soothed the hurt.
“How do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Undress me layer by layer, leaving me naked and exposed.”
She crooked an eyebrow at him. “Are we talking about last night or is that a metaphor?”
“It’s a metaphor.”
She giggled. “In that case, I don’t know. But I can tell you that you’re not alone. You have the same effect on me. The ability to make me open up in ways I never have before. Which is why I’m trying to convince you to jump off this cliff.”
She glanced over the side of the cliff at the water, excitement evident in her features. “Trust me. You’ll be glad you did it.”
He walked over to her and followed her line of vision. “What the hell is that?”
“Calm down,” she said with a laugh. “They’re just dolphins.”
“Oh, only dolphins,” he said sarcastically as he waved his hands in the air.
“You’ll be fine. Dolphins are friendly.”
“Up here, they look small. But I bet they’re much bigger when you’re swimming right beside them.”
“The average dolphin is about eight feet long. That’s not that big.”
He gave her a look of disbelief, but she didn’t seem fazed by his uncertainty. There were really only two options and neither appealed to him at the moment. One, tell Winter that there was absolutely no way he was jumping off a rocky cliff and know she’d understand. Two, jump off a cliff, which would be one of the most terrifying things he’d ever done. The first option would result in a disappointed Winter. And maybe she was right. Maybe he would have some type of aha moment. The second option—the one he couldn’t believe he was contemplating—was frightening, but some would say that being an entrepreneur and following your dreams no matter who doubted your capabilities was just as terrifying and he’d done that just fine.
Mind made up, he nodded his head in agreement, barely able to laugh at her jump for joy because his brain was too busy trying to figure out how far out he should jump.
“Do you see that section in the water right there?” He followed the direction of her hand.
“Yes.”
“That’s where we have to jump.”
“Okay, are we jumping one at a time?”
“We can jump together, but I’m jumping a couple feet away from the section I just pointed at for you.”
She took a few steps back. “Are you ready? We’re going to run and jump. No thinking. Just do it.”
He jumped in place and waved out his arms as he would to loosen up before he took the court in a basketball game.
“I’m ready,” he said, nodding to her. She smiled as she leaned down to prepare to run.
He followed suit.
“Ready. Set. Go.” She took off running slightly before him. Don’t think. Just do it. Don’t think. Just do it. You got this. You. Got. This. When he reached the cliff’s edge, he cleared his mind of fears, finally understanding that this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
As he learned the true meaning of gravity, he was surprised that the thought that crossed his mind wasn’t about his clothing line. It wasn’t about his nightwear line. He wasn’t thinking about his family or friends and definitely not about Andrea. The only thought he had was about Winter. The woman who’d somehow impacted his life more than anyone before and made him believe in taking chances with the opposite sex. Something he’d lost sight of over the years.
It took only seconds for his body to hit the water. When his head peeked above the surface, Winter was there. Wearing a big smile on her face. However, what captivated him the most about the moment wasn’t her smile or the gleam in her eye that proved she was proud of him. It was the fact that without even asking, she’d known what he needed. A lot of people in his life considered him fearless, which he’d admit he liked. But with Winter, he didn’t have to pretend or always be courageous in his efforts. He just had to be himself and she made him feel as if that was just fine.
Chapter 16
The swim to the small island was a little longer than Winter had anticipated, and by the look on Taheim’s face, he was just as winded as she was. Luckily, when they finally made it to shore, they were excited to find a small hut that offered towels and other souvenirs for purchase. A boat of tourists had also arrived and were eating an authentic Hawaiian lunch on the beach. They blended in perfectly.
“I’m stuffed.” Taheim spread out on the towel and rubbed his stomach.
“Me too.” She glanced around and noticed a path that she was sure led to another part of the island, as the concierge at the hotel had informed her earlier that morning. “Hey, before you get too cozy on this sand, follow me.”
He smiled and shook his head. “I should have known you had other plans. I heard that the boat heads back to the mainland in two hours. We’ll be back by then, right?”
“Oh yes,” she said, standing and grabbing their towels since their discarded clothes were still atop the cliff. “I can’t swim back after eating all that food.”
Luckily, they hadn’t brought anything valuable with them. What they did have, a waterproof watch and some cash, was as dry as ever thanks to the waterproof case that had easily slid into Taheim’s swim trunks.
After about twenty minutes of walking, Winter finally found the area she’d heard about. She walked down the narrow path, pushing aside elongated green leaves as she hiked. A few more steps and they reached the teal water and intimate waterfall stationed in between two rock formations.
“Wow,” Taheim said behind her. “This is beautiful.”
“According to the woman at the information desk at the hotel, it’s one of the most romantic areas on this island.”
“You don’t say.” His arms curled around her waist and he placed a soft kiss on her neck. It always surprised her how soft his lips were. Every kiss he placed on her body made her feel as though she were being draped in silk or velvet.
She leaned her head against his chest. “You know what I want to do?”
He continued to place kisses along her neck, moving to the spot right behind her ear that he’d learned made her quiver in desire. “What do you want to do?”
“See what’s behind that waterfall.”
His eyes followed the direction of her hands. “Let’s check it out,” he said with a laugh.
A quick survey of the area proved that the only way to get on the other side of the waterfall was getting into the water. They placed their towels on the ground and paddled into the water.
She was all set to enter first, but Taheim grabbed her hand and pulled her behind him. “This waterfall doesn’t look too big, so we should be able to go underneath along the edges. I’ll go under first and pull you through.”
“I thought you didn’t like deep water, because you can’t see the bottom.”
“Have you seen this water?” he asked. “It’s so gorgeous and so clear I can see right to the bottom.”
He was right. The water really was crystal clear. “Okay,” she said softly, loving the way he was taking charge. She didn’t have the heart to tell him she’d been on the swim team in high school and had visited more waterfalls in her lifetime than she could count. It was so funny that she used to think his ways were a bit bossy and arrogant. Now she thought them to be endearing and attractive.
When they could no longer touch the ground, they swam side by side. Just as he’d said, he went to the edge of the waterfall and swam underneath. She waited a few seconds, and when she heard his faint voice, she poked her head closer to the waterfall. His hand reached through the water and she yelped as he pulled her through.
“Oh, wow,” she said as she looked around the small cave, noticing the dark rocks surrounding them and underneath them. “We can actually stand up.”
“We sure can.” He pulled her to him and crashed his lips to hers. The unique rock formation was quickly forgotten as her tongue played with his in a seductive game of hide-and-go-seek.
He backed her into the rocky wall and she noticed that the water was shallower there.
“I’ve always had a fantasy that involved a waterfall,” she said as she lightly ran her fingers over his chest. His heartbeat quickened underneath her hand.
“Do you want to know what it is?”
He nodded his head but still didn’t say anything. She loved the expression on his face. The anticipation. The power she had over him and the way he made her want to do things she’d never dared to do with other men.
“I’ll give you a hint,” she said as she licked her lips. “It involves my tongue.”
His eyes darkened and she took that opportunity to change their positions so that his back was against the wall instead.
“And my lips.” She placed soft kisses across his neck and chest, paying close attention to the spot that made his toes curl. The spot that she’d learned late last night could bring him to the edge quicker than anything else.
“You’re not playing fair,” he breathed. “If you keep your lips on that spot, whatever you’re trying to do won’t last long.”
Little did he know she was sure he wouldn’t last long with what she planned to do next. Her lips tingled from the salt water as she continued to kiss his body.
“Did you know I was on the swim team in high school?”
He blinked a couple times before his eyes roamed over her body. “No, I didn’t. But judging by how great you look in that white-and-pink bathing suit, I’m not surprised.”
“I was on the team for all four years,” she said, wearing a sly smile. “And do you know what I learned in those four years?”
He squinted his eyes in confusion. “What did you learn?”
She stood on her tiptoes, careful not to slip on the rock beneath her, and brought her mouth close to his ear. “I learned how to hold my breath on average for one minute and forty seconds.”
She watched him swallow. Hard. While he was still processing what she was saying, she bent down and prayed that she could master the ability of breathing and pleasing at the same time.
She slipped her hand in his swim trucks and cupped him until his erection was exactly where she wanted it to be. He leaned his head against the wall and blew out a long breath. Taking a deep breath of her own, she dipped her head under the water and placed her mouth on his tip before sucking him in as much as her mouth would allow.
She could feel some of the water getting in her mouth, so she relaxed her throat muscles as much as she could and concentrated on her main goal...bringing Taheim to a pleasurable new level while li
ving out one of her fantasies.
She lifted her head to get some air. “Did I forget to mention that I didn’t have this particular fantasy until I saw that waterfall during the photo shoot and then saw you watching me? All those women were around, half-naked, but you only watched me. The look you had in your eyes made me want to make love to you right then and there. But not with our bodies...with my tongue.”
She dipped her head back underwater and braced her hands on the rock wall behind him. Time to really put those breathing lessons during swim class to use. As her mouth went to work, she inwardly smiled at the animalistic noises echoing throughout the cave.
* * *
Taheim shook his head back and forth, feeling more of his control slip the longer Winter’s head remained underwater. He didn’t know how long she had been down there, and he would have been worried if he didn’t feel her tongue gliding up and down his shaft.
It took a while before he realized that the noises in the cozy cave were coming from his own mouth. But now the voices he heard weren’t really sounding like his. He glanced at the waterfall and saw shadows on the other side. Crap, it looks like people.
“Winter,” he said with all the strength he could muster. Instead of bringing her head above the water, she increased the movement of her tongue.
“Holy shhh—” Okay, so maybe saying her name is the wrong way to go about this.
He opened his mouth to form another sentence, but all that came out were broken words. He could barely formulate his thoughts with her triple-working him into submission, let alone say any comprehensible words out loud. He tried again.
“People,” he said just as she alternated fondling his balls from the left to the right one.
“There.” Oh man. Now she was doing some type of twirling rotation.
“People. There. Now. Winter.” Finally, I said it. Only she wasn’t stopping, and within seconds, he was to the point of no return. He couldn’t hold back any longer. In a few moments, he knew he would come harder than he ever had before. Then again, what man would be able to last long with a gorgeous woman pleasing him below in such an exotic location? Odds were, none could.
Enticing Winter Page 14