Walking in Fire: Hawaiian Heroes, Book 1

by Cathryn Cade

  “Malu,” she moaned, then came, pleasure imploding in her pussy and shivering outward, through her body.

  When it was over, she opened her eyes, abashed, and found him watching her with utter intentness.

  He caught her hand in his, his fingers still wet, and brought their joined fingers to his lips. “Oh, wahine. That was only the beginning.”

  He leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to her mons, inhaling deeply, letting her know he relished her scent. “One time soon, I’ll taste you here, pua a’ala.”

  Melia shivered again, her pussy contracting with excitement. “Only the beginning”? She wasn’t sure she’d survive. But, oh, what a way to go. Dying of pleasure in Malu’s bed.

  But now, it seemed, he had more urgent needs of his own. His hands on her waist, he lifted her back a little, sitting up under her so she knelt astride his thighs. They were hard and tight. Sliding his hands up her ribs, he pushed her tank top up.

  “Lift your arms.”

  She complied, and he pushed her tank up and over her head, then, with her hands in the air, her wrists caught in the fabric, he pulled her against him so that her breasts met his chest. With a deep sound of pleasure, he dipped his head to kiss her mouth.

  Oh, his kisses. They really should be illegal, they were so intoxicating. She let her arms, still tangled in the tank top, drop over his head, and sank into him, nibbling at his wide, soft lips.

  With a growl, he thrust one hand into her hair and pulled her hard against him, cocking his head to take her mouth hungrily. Her breasts crushed against his hot, smooth chest, his arms around her, one hand splayed on her bottom lifted her astride the long, thick, ohia-hard shape in his briefs and held her there while he kissed her long and lavishly.

  Sliding her fingers in his short, springy hair, she gave him back kiss for kiss, their mouths melded seamlessly.

  He pulled back just far enough to speak, rocking his hips under her, his briefs damp with her arousal.

  “I need you, wahine. Let me take you up in flames with me.”

  Melia pulled back, twenty-first century caution finally reasserting itself. She hadn’t meant to go this far. If they were going further, she needed information. She met his eyes bravely.

  “Malu…there’s more than one way to burn a woman. I—I need to know, if you’ve been with lots of women—are you safe?” She could feel herself blushing again, which was ridiculous considering the intimacy of their embrace, but she held his dark gaze.

  His dark brows drew together as she spoke, but then she saw comprehension dawn. Looking into her eyes, he pushed her hair back carefully from her face. “I carry no sexual diseases, wahine. But…if you want to wait until I can prove that, I understand. And of course I’ll use a condom.”

  Melia regarded him for a moment. “Lord knows why, but I trust you.”

  His eyes heated. “Then I will burn you only in the sweetest way—I swear it.”

  She looked at his broad forehead, now damp with perspiration, his hair a gleaming cap of ebony. “In my dream, you wore a crown of flame. And—and a kind of loin cloth too,” she added, almost afraid to look down.

  “Ah,” he said, his eyes widening. “You saw a lot. I’m wearing flames now—for you. If I don’t get inside you soon, I’ll burn up.” He reached between them, shoving his briefs down. His penis sprang free, slapping her on the belly like a burning brand. Melia stared in feminine awe. His erection matched the rest of him—bigger than the average man.

  He nuzzled her face, capturing a swift, sipping kiss even as he took her hand and wrapped it around his straining shaft. It jerked in her hand, and he groaned, shivering as she squeezed him carefully, then stroked her fingers up the hot, silken length and back down.

  She looked down again, distracted from the kiss. He was so magnificent, naked in her arms.

  “All for you, ku’u ipo,” he murmured in her ear, then groaned as she stroked her thumb carefully over the head of his shaft, capturing the arousal pearled there. “Ah, maybe over too soon if you keep doing that.”

  He leaned back and to the side, grasping his duffle and dragging it up onto the bed. Melia watched him fumble inside and pull out a small cardboard box. He shook it open, a number of small, flat packets spilling out onto the quilt. Condoms.

  “I hope those are extra-large,” she blurted.

  He grinned at her, his white teeth flashing. “Just the right size for you.” He dealt swiftly with the condom. Then he reached for her again, one hand on her bottom, the other cupping her face so he could kiss her as he lifted her onto her knees.

  “Let’s get these off you. I want you naked for me, wearing only your sweet skin.”

  Somehow, with his hands all over her, his mouth busy as well, they managed to get her briefs off. Then he pulled her back astride him.

  He kissed her as he positioned himself and urged her downward with one big hand on her bottom, but then he looked into her eyes. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

  Crazy as his words were, she believed that, in some way, he had been waiting for her. And when he leaned back a little, watching as he parted her with his fingers, careful in spite of his obvious desire, her heart melted.

  Melia watched him watching her—nothing in the world could have been more exciting than the look in his dark eyes as she moved with his hands, at once nervous and exulting in the feeling of the head of his cock probing at her entrance.

  Clutching his broad shoulders, she rocked her hips, ready to take him inside her. Malu groaned, a deep sound in his chest, and shuddered. His eyes were closed, his brow furrowed as if he were in pain as she teased the head. “Oh, yeah,” he breathed. “Just keep doing that and I’ll go up in a column of flame.”

  She complied, trembling at her daring in teasing him so, but all too soon it was not enough. She wanted, needed more of him. Holding on to him, she sank lower, accepting more of his straining shaft.

  It was not an easy task. He was so big—only because he held himself in check with iron control did she have the courage to continue impaling herself on him. Only her intense arousal, the sleekness in her pussy, made it possible.

  And then he slid one hand forward over her bare thigh, his thumb finding her clitoris, and her pussy tightened reflexively on his cock, already stretching her to the hilt. The sensation was so perfect that she cried out, a soft, wild sound.

  “Yes, pua,” he urged, surging up now to meet her with short, powerful thrusts that sent pleasure rocketing through her. “Tell me how good it is.”

  Melia bit her lip, but she could no more resist crying out than she could stop her increasingly wild movements as she rode him, as sensation deepened into pleasure so great it imploded. And besides the incredible friction as he used his powerful body to hammer his cock up into her, he was growing hotter inside her as well. Another climax built and burst all over again. She keened her pleasure to him and to the warm tropical night.

  With a deep shout, Malu stiffened under her, racked with deep shudders of pleasure. He fell back on the pillows with a groan, the bed shaking under them. Melia let him pull her with him, collapsing on his chest. He was hot as a stove and sweating like a racehorse.

  She felt as if she’d been swept up out of herself and then dropped back, trembling and new, somehow. And completely enervated. She would think about the implications of all this later. For now, she just wanted to revel in satiation. He was still hot inside her. And it still felt wonderful. So did his hands clamped firmly on her bottom, holding her there.

  She would just enjoy the physical, use him the way he was surely using her—as a playmate. No strings, just a Hawaiian interlude.

  Her haze of pleasure lasted just until he spoke, his voice rumbling in his chest beneath her ear.

  “Tomorrow morning, I’m taking you to my parents’ home.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Recipe for confusion—take one Hawaiian hunk, add apparent sincerity and a dose of charm. Muddle.

  Malu blinked as the wahine lying in
a damp, satisfied sprawl on his chest sat up with a jerk. Bracing her hands on his chest, she frowned down at him. He smiled at the picture she made, flushed and rosy, her long hair in a tangle of blonde curls over one shoulder. He regarded her pretty breasts, high and round, with predatory interest. He was going to spend some time enjoying those soon.

  Her green eyes told another story. They were wary. Confused.

  “‘Your parents’ home’?” she repeated. “Why on earth would I go there?”

  Her shift of position caused some interesting changes in their joining, but he barely noticed. Her words, her incredulous tone, were a blow to his chest.

  “You’ll be safe there,” he said. He patted her bare thigh, letting his hands settle there, holding her lightly. He wanted to stay buried in her hot depths as long as he could. “And you can start getting to know them.”

  “But—but,” she spluttered. “I barely know you.”

  Malu blinked. More than his cock had just tilted. In his world, women pursued him. They suggested coyly that he bring them home. They were the ones who pouted when he reminded them gently that he’d promised nothing beyond a night of pleasure for both of them.

  Now, in some cosmic twist, his wahine’s gaze focused on his face as if afraid she’d made a big mistake. “I barely know you,” she whispered as if to herself. “Oh God, what have I done?”

  She reared up like a frightened mare. With a grimace, Malu grabbed her, just barely preventing her from jerking his cock painfully to one side. He lifted her off and set her gently on the bed beside him.

  “Shh, it’s all right,” he soothed, patting her leg. With the other hand, he grabbed his T-shirt and covered himself discreetly, using it to discard the used condom.

  She sank back on her heels, hugging herself with her arms, and regarded him doubtfully, so prim and pretty with her arms covering her breasts. As if she hadn’t just been riding him wildly, whimpering her pleasure.

  With an effort, he avoided looking down at her lap. Even with her legs clamped together, the little triangle of wet blonde curls was still plainly visible.

  “Ku’u ipo,” he said, looking into her troubled eyes. “I know you’re not the kind to give yourself to every man who comes along. But listen—the first moment when I saw you, on the boat, I knew—I knew we would be together. Tell me you didn’t feel it too.”

  She gave him the squint eye again. “Right. You glared at me like I was a gate crasher at your party.”

  How to explain the sensation of a lead rope settling around his neck, like a wild stud caught by a pretty mare staked out to draw him in?

  He sank onto his elbow, framing her knees with his body. “I’m sorry,” he said, spreading his hand on her thigh. He smoothed his hand slowly up the strong, silken curve. “I’m a big fool, a lapuwale. I always thought when I met the wahine for me, I would choose her. But then I looked into a pair of big green eyes, soft pink lips, and those freckles.” He looked up into her eyes, and shrugged. “And that was it for this local boy.”

  Her eyes filled with wary delight, but it was quickly chased away by doubt. “Malu, you don’t have to say that. We—we enjoyed each other.” Her cheeks flushed pink, but she held his gaze. “We’re consenting adults.”

  He gazed up at her, measuring. She looked away, her lashes a dark fringe on her cheeks, but she didn’t try to move away from his hand, even though it had reached the tender swell of her hip.

  “Oh, I see.” He shrugged again, this time with wry self-deprecation. “I thought—maybe there could be more between us. But, if I was wrong…maybe you don’t wanna get too involved with a local boy.”

  He looked down, examining three freckles that formed a sweet triangle on her thigh. He didn’t have to wait long.

  “Oh, Malu.” Her voice was soft. “I didn’t—I mean, of course I—I feel something too. I wouldn’t have made—I mean, done this with you otherwise. It’s just that…well, a lot has happened, and you—you’re some kind of hero, and I’m just—me.”

  “I see.” He nodded gravely, his hand curving around the small of her back, urging her closer into the curve of his body. “It’s a lot for you to take in. Just remember, ku’u ipo, I’m as lost in this particular jungle as you are.”

  A line appeared between her brows, her green gaze searching his. “‘Lost in this jungle’?” she repeated, skepticism clear in her voice. “Malu, so help me, if you’re feeding me a line…”

  He picked up her hand to kiss her palm, biting the inside of his cheek to hide the grin that threatened. Ah, his wahine was as sweet as guava honey and as sharp as the honeybee. And he already wanted another taste of her.

  So, he would keep her close. No way in hell would he allow her to go back to town, where she would be a target for Dane, out on bail in a day or two, if his haole masters brought in their expensive lawyers.

  If he took her to his family’s place above Kona, he might very well miss the chance to catch the drug runners. He would keep her here, with him. They had tonight and perhaps tomorrow. Then it would be time to clean up some human flotsam washed up on his island’s shores.

  “Stay with me, then,” he agreed. “And we will learn each other, like the waves learn the shore. Where to lap gently, and where to rush in again and again, carrying all before it.”

  Her eyes narrowed, and he gave her a slow wink. She gave a huff of disgust.

  “Those waves again. You are so full of it, David Malu.”

  “I am,” he agreed guilelessly, letting his grin blossom. “And it’s all for you, wahine.”

  “Well, I don’t want the bullshit part,” she snapped. She pushed his hand away and flounced off the bed, hurrying into the bathroom. The door slammed behind her.

  He lay back in the bed, one arm crooked behind his head, and grinned to himself. She’d be out pretty soon. And she had no clothes in there, so it’d be worth the wait.

  Melia stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. The mutinous expression in her gaze, the flush on her cheeks reflected her anger. How dare he try to play her? She might trust him as a protector, but his pretty words were probably as worthless as a chunk of the black lava rock spewed by his precious volcano.

  But she gazed at her kiss-swollen lips, the heaviness of her eyes and the tousled disarray of her hair. Oh, man, she looked exactly like she’d just had fabulous sex with a—a superhero.

  Which she had. She smiled slowly, wide and gleeful. She hadn’t really known that she was capable of that kind of sensual response. But with Malu, she was. She already wanted more.

  She just wasn’t sure Malu should be the guy to give it to her. Too many mangoes—rash. Too much rum—hangover. Too much Malu…heartache.

  She blinked on a sudden wave of sleepiness and then yawned so hard her jaw popped. She was so tired she wanted to sleep for hours. Then she’d figure out what to do next.

  She needed to put her pajamas on. It was at this moment she realized that her pajamas had been discarded somewhere in Malu’s bedroom. She’d have to parade out there to get them. Looking around the small bathroom, she saw nothing except the damp yellow towels hanging from the racks.

  Wrapping one of them around her, she returned to the bedroom. Malu lay in the bed, the covers around his waist.

  She ignored him, peering around the bed on the floor. Where had he flung her shorts and tank? They might have huahua’ied, but she was not comfortable parading around nude in front of him. In fact, she was abashed that she’d been so uninhibited when they made love.

  “Looking for these?”

  She looked up to see her little shorts dangling from one long finger, her tank from another. She stalked forward to reach for them, and he pulled them back, his eyes twinkling. The only way to get them was to climb up on the bed beside him.

  “No, thanks. I have more in my bag.”

  “Oh, then you won’t mind if I keep these.” He held her shorts to his face and inhaled, his eyes drooping with exaggerated bliss.

  She turned away, pursing
her lips to hide a grin. Darn him, he irritated her and made her want to giggle like a teenager at the same time. Fishing in her duffle, she found a tank she’d bought in Kona, and another pair of boxers. She supposed it was silly to go back in the bathroom, so she turned her back on him to put them on.

  Malu eyed her new outfit with the lazy interest of a man who knew exactly what was beneath it.

  “Lucky turtle,” he said. A green sea turtle swam in stylized waves across the white cotton stretched over her breasts. Under his gaze, she could feel her nipples tightening, peaking under the tissue-thin knit.

  He held the sheet back for her. He didn’t appear to be wearing anything at all. The hard plain of his bare chest and abs faded into intriguing shadows under the sheet.

  Clambering in, Melia lay down and watched him reach to turn off the lamp. She clutched the cotton sheet to her chest, uncertain all over again. Had she just made one of the biggest mistakes of her life?

  And did she want to repeat it? Even maddening as he was, she wasn’t sure she’d say no. There was no doubt that David Malu was all her sensual dreams rolled into one hunk of manhood. And a hero in more ways than one. But would he take everything she offered and more, and think he deserved it, because of who he was and what he could do? How many other haole tourists had he charmed into his bed? The thought made her want to beat him with her pillow.

  “Are you going to glow in the dark again?” she asked grumpily.

  “Pele has healed me.” His deep voice was close, as if he’d turned his head toward her. Pillow talk, she thought. All too seductive, easy to sink into the intimacy of his deep murmur in the dark and believe everything he said. But she must be wary, emotionally at least.

  He hadn’t really answered her, either. She realized uneasily that there was probably an awful lot he hadn’t told her about the whole Ho’omalu thing. An island legend, woven with mystery…only it was true, if she could believe her own senses. And she had to, because what else was there? For example, if she were hallucinating, if someone had fed her some of that Kona Kula, wouldn’t everything be all weird and psychedelic?