by Kinsley Gibb
Her eyes drifted shut as he stroked her with his feather light touch.
“Why is that, do you know? Do you use a special lotion?”
Dani shook her head, caught in his spell—served her right for doubting his mojo.
“You don’t wear lipstick, do you Dani?”
“No,” she whispered. “Sometimes some lip balm or a little gloss”. The late afternoon light wrapped around them while dust fairies danced like glitter in the air.
“I’ve always wondered if your lips were naturally red.”
He’d thought about her lips?
Dani watched as he studied her. His expression was fierce as if he waged an internal battle. At last, he moved closer. “I’m going to kiss you, Dani. You gonna be alright with that?”
She wanted to scream at him to do it already. She was ready, had been ready, had always been ready and to just move on with it because her nerves couldn’t take anymore, but she didn’t. She simply nodded. “For the sake of a successful photo shoot, I’ll do it.”
Joe chuckled and threaded his fingers through her hair to tilt her head. His tiger colored eyes twinkled. “Hold on to that thought, Dani, my little sacrificial lamb.”
Before she could reply, he’d covered her lips with his. Some guys tried too hard to show their mastery at first kiss but Joe was too good for that novice move. He sank into the kiss slowly, measured her response, tested the pressure and angle she preferred, guided her deeper and lured her to taste him, to play with him and to want more. The kiss went on as they explored—nibbling, sucking and sinking into the pleasure of a first kiss.
A knock on the door startled them and their lips broke apart while their lower bodies were still pressed together.
She felt him against her.
He was huge. And hard. Very hard.
She wanted to brush against him but he moved away to the other side of the room.
She couldn’t believe it. She’d kissed Joe. Or rather, he’d kissed her and, damn, he was good. It was obvious her choice of instructor was perfect. But still, she felt torn. Maybe he was too good. Maybe if he agreed with her request, she’d end up falling for him like the rest of his harem. A pathetic image of her trailing him like a love-obsessed fool made her shudder—what a nightmare that would be.
Yet it had been the best first kiss she’d ever had. Her readers needed spice and he could provide spice.
Her readers or her heart?
The door rattled again.
“Be right out,” Joe called to their intruder then turned to her. “You okay?”
She nodded, still flustered but not wanting to show it. “Never better.”
“Good.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Dani—you know this is just pretend, right?”
“Of course.” She stepped back, needing distance.
“Derek’s my best friend. I don’t want to jeopardize that.”
“I know, Joe. I know. Don’t worry. I’m not going to fall all over you.” God, she hoped not.
“You’re not?”
“Please. I’m not stupid. I’m well aware of your reputation and I have no interest in being a part of your harem.”
“I don’t have a harem.”
“Whatever. Doesn’t matter. I don’t want to be a part of it.”
“Okay. So we’re good?”
“We are.”
“You sure? Because that kiss was—”
“Yeah, I know. I was curious what the fuss was all about so I sort of threw myself into it.”
“Is that what it was?”
She nodded. “Plus, I needed to test out a theory.”
“Did I pass?”
“More or less.”
He looked as if he wanted to say more but someone pounded on the door. “What the hell?” They heard Lisa mutter through the door.
“Guess it’s time to get this over with.”
“Looks like it, but Joe, I need to ask you something.”
“Okay. We’ll talk after they leave.”
She nodded and followed him out. She hoped she wouldn’t lose her nerve by then.
The rest of the photo shoot was painless. Joe was able to produce some come hither looks that pleased the photographer. Lisa and the stylist enjoyed it so much, the photographer had to bark at them a few times when he needed the reflectors repositioned. The setting sun against the Gulf proved to be a spectacular backdrop just as Charlie had suggested and she had no doubt the resulting images would drive up the bidding war.
A sexy Joe, half naked and posing on the sheets, was enthralling. He smoldered and simmered while on the sidelines, she turned into a puddle of want. It was hard to believe he wasn’t a model by trade. By her estimate, he knew exactly how to turn it on.
At one point, his gaze fell on her and the expressions within its depth made her tremble. It made her think about their earlier kiss and what could have happened had they not been interrupted. He narrowed his eyes at her as if aware of her thoughts.
He dropped his gaze to her mouth and licked his lips.
“Excellent. Love it. A little more,” the photographer urged and Dani started.
She’d forgotten about the others.
Joe returned his attention to the camera and she wilted in her chair. Though he hadn’t touched her, his gaze had felt like a touch.
She moved away but she felt his eyes track her.
“Don’t go too far, young lady.” The photographer clicked away. “Can’t have the model lose focus.”
She grimaced and sat back down. Joe caught her gaze once more and did his eye seduction thing. The rat. It may help keep him in the sexy mood but it was killing her.
She needed to remember it was all for show. He smoldered so the photos would be good thus benefitting the charity. He simmered at Dani to reinforce their charade in front of Lisa. He had no intentions toward Dani and didn’t want her specifically.
She couldn’t afford to forget that. If she did, she’d be lost.
By the end of the shoot, she was ready for a cold shower. The crew packed up their equipment while Joe kept her by his side. Dani found it ironic that she played the bodyguard to a strong man who stood a few inches over six feet. Yet he seemed to think it was necessary because he never let her out of his sight.
The stylist sighed as she left with the last of the boxes. She probably saw Joe’s attention as romantic. “You are one lucky woman.”
“That I am,” she agreed while Lisa glared at her.
Dani grinned.
Mission accomplished—or at least on its way to being accomplished.
Now, on to the next step in this symbiotic relationship—getting Joe to agree to her request.
***
Dani dug her feet in the fine sand. They’d walked along the shore for almost a mile but she’d yet to work up the nerve to approach the subject on her mind.
Life is too short to wait.
The folded inspirational note remained inside her back pocket. She’d carried it around all day like a talisman.
She took a deep breath and launched her pitch.
“Joe, I’ve got problems.”
He raised an eyebrow at her opening but before he could launch into her list of problems, she clarified.
“I mean I need a favor.”
“Seems fair, considering our situation.”
“But you haven’t heard it yet.”
“Can’t be too bad.” He stopped, picked up a shell and tucked it into his pocket. The sun was low and they were the only ones left on the beach. “What do you need?”
“You know I’m not a child, right?”
“Totally aware of the fact, Dani.” He looked puzzled. “What’s up?”
“I’m on birth control.”
“That’s good to know but I’m not sure why you’re telling me. Wait. Does Derek know about this?”
“No. So don’t go tattling.”
He stopped walking and waited for
her to continue. His crossed armed stance was intimidating but she forged ahead.
“I wanted to let you know about the birth control so you won’t worry about me getting pregnant.”
“Whoa. Stop right there. What are you talking about?”
“My research.”
“What research?”
“On sexual attraction.”
“Come again.”
“I hope to.” By the face he made, she realized she’d said that out loud and blushed.
His ears were red and he cleared his throat. “I meant, repeat that. I must have been mistaken.”
“Nope. You weren’t. I plan to engage in intensive sexual exploration for the sake of my writing.”
“For your doctoral dissertation?” He looked ready to paddle her bottom.
She didn’t reply, not ready to tell anyone about her romance novels yet.
“What’s your dissertation about Dani?”
“Never mind. This is awkward. I’ve changed my mind.”
“Good. Because that sounded too risqué for a dissertation.”
“No. I didn’t change my mind about the need for research. I just changed my mind about asking for your help.”
“Son of a bitch. Are you serious?”
“Don’t worry about it anymore. It has nothing to do with you.”
“Fuck that shit. Tell me now, what are you planning?”
“You can’t tell Derek. He’ll scare off any potential experts.”
Joe scoffed. “As well he should.”
“I mean it, Joe.”
He shrugged. “I’m not promising shit.”
She paused.
“Spill Dani. We can stand here forever. I’ve got time.”
“I’m searching for someone to have sex with.”
His eyes widened.
“Not necessarily regular sex but extraordinary sex. I’m looking for an expert in the field. I’m interested in verifying the emotions during foreplay, during the culmination of the act and, of course, the afterglow. That’s what I’m looking for—more concrete information than what I currently have.”
The color on Joe’s face had increased throughout her explanation and had turned an alarming shade of red.
“Wait. And you wanted me as your expert ‘consultant’?”
“Something like that.”
Joe stormed off, kicked up some sand, came back to glare at her then stormed off again and kicked up more sand, all while muttering under his breath. Words like “stubborn”, “doomed” and lots of “fuck” met her ears.
“But you don’t have to worry about it anymore.” She raised her voice to get his attention. “I’ve changed my mind.”
“Like hell you will.” He stopped inches away and glared down at her. Though the light was low, she could see fire in his eyes. “If you think for one moment, I will let Professor Pervert touch you, you’re delusional.”
“Hey! That’s not nice.”
“Well, the position you’ve put me in isn’t nice either.”
“I told you not to worry about it.”
He gave her a look meant to silence her. “Was Professor Pervert on your list of candidates?”
She glanced at Joe from under her lashes and caught the tight set of his jaw. The rhythmic ticking fascinated her. Tick. Tick. Tick. “Maybe.” Not really but she didn’t want to admit she’d been so focused on getting Joe’s agreement she hadn’t thought of anyone else she’d rather experiment with. His anger at the possibility of them having sex stopped her from telling him the truth. She’d have to find another expert she wouldn’t mind swapping body fluids with.
“What are you thinking about so hard? I can see your mind working in overdrive.”
“Nothing.”
“Liar.”
“It’s okay, Joe. You don’t have to worry about. And I promise not to approach Professor Higgins.”
“Damn right you’re not.” He sighed with a look of doom. “I’ll do it.”
He was seriously pissing her off. “Don’t do me any favors.”
He glared at her.
She glared back. “I mean it. You look like I’m asking you to belly crawl through the sewer so I retract the offer.”
“Only if you scrap the whole idea.”
Her jaw ached from the effort of clamping it shut. She didn’t reply.
He scoffed. “Didn’t think so. You’re too damn stubborn to do that.”
She saw red but he went on unconcerned with her death glare.
“So look. I will help you out. It’s only fair since you’re helping me.”
Her eyes stung. Was the thought of them having sex so abhorrent to him?
“I’m not sure if you’re the right guy for the job.”
He gave her a heavy lidded look as if the very thought of him not being able to please a woman was laughable. “It’s either me, or I go straight to Derek and you can deal with him.” He said with his arms folded over his chest. He lowered his face until their noses almost touched. “Take it or leave it.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. The thought of drop kicking him to Mexico ran through her mind but he was too damn big. “Fine.”
“Good choice.”
“We’ll discuss terms later. I’m leaving.”
“Not staying for dinner, then?”
“I’ve lost my appetite.”
“And your mind too, apparently,” he muttered.
She stormed off and cursed her stupidity because instead of being her most brilliant plan, she’d entered into an agreement that was laden with the potential to blow up in her face.
Yep, it was official—this was the stupidest idea she’d ever come up with. No more coffee and late night brain storming sessions for her.
***
Joe watched Dani storm up the beach, kicking sand left and right. The little minx would be the death of him. He’d promised Derek he’d distract her enough to stay away from the professor yet not get too close.
He was fucked.
She wanted him to be her sexual consultant.
Totally fucked.
How was he to help her and stay in control? The strategy he’d decided upon this morning was shot to hell. That whole bit about not touching her, yeah—wasn’t going to happen now.
He was toast.
Derek would kill him or Dani would when he eventually expired from lust. He couldn’t touch her because of his friendship with Derek yet he had to touch her in order to fulfill his part of the deal with Dani.
Toast.
He’d had a hard enough time staying away from her prior to this agreement and certainly had spent hours in the boxing ring to release his frustrations, but now—what the hell was he going to do?
Damn Lisa for starting this whole mess in the first place. And damn him for coming up with the asinine plan of a pretend relationship.
It was supposed to be easy. No harm. No foul. Just a little bit of pretending so he could protect George.
How had it morphed into a potential minefield?
He couldn’t completely regret the plan though. Dani wouldn’t have approached him to be her expert consultant. She’d have passed him over for Professor Perv. That whole thought made his skin tighten, made him want to punch something.
He stalked back to his cottage and grabbed his keys.
The gym where he trained was a short ride away and he needed to release some tension. Since his favorite option in releasing tension—good old-fashioned fucking—was off the table at present, to the gym it was.
The wind whipped around him as he drove his Jeep. He loved the feeling of being free because for so long, he’d felt constrained. When he was a kid he’d assumed escaping from Sugar Bay would make him happy but it hadn’t. He’d left town as soon as he could on a soccer scholarship but lost it his first semester. Instead of returning home, he’d joined the Marines where he’d befriended Derek. After the Marines, he’d settled in a resort town i
n Washington State and took up firefighting. It seemed natural since he’d grown up looking up to George.
Since Derek lived in Seattle, a short distance away from Joe, they’d remained close. But then three years ago, Aunt Eugenia had called and he’d come home. After years of avoiding Sugar Bay and the memories the town held, his return had been anticlimactic. The feelings he’d associated with the town hadn’t appeared. The assholes he’d remembered had moved away while new residents had moved in.
Although the town had the same landmarks and street names, Sugar Bay was somehow different. He’d recognized a few families that had remained but they no longer associated him with the town scandal or at least—they were smart enough not to mention it.
He wasn’t rich, but he no longer wore the cast offs of others. He’d gotten a job at the Sugar Bay Fire Department and was seen as a local hero. The town hall he’d avoided because it had been the main hangout for the snooty set had been renovated and used as the community center where he gave demonstrations on life safety. The Gimbert Prep School outside of town remained a popular resource for international students with a boatload of money and the desire to move to America. The local private college remained an important staple to the town. There was even a booming art scene with an annual festival that drew all sorts of creative energy. Because the tourist needed to be fed, restaurants had sprung up. Each strove to outdo the other and once a well-known travel channel personality had done a piece on the town, business had boomed.
All the old hurts he’d held inside had mellowed and he was proud to make Sugar Bay his home.
That’s why this business with Lisa bothered him so much. George had been a young man when Joe’s dad had been killed. There were no blood ties between them but George had watched out for Joe and kept an eye on him especially when Joe went through the wild teenage years. It had been George who’d hauled Joe’s sorry ass home to Aunt Eugenia when he let the rich assholes’ taunts get to him. It had been George to discourage him from using his fists in anger and frustration. George had been the one who encouraged him to join the military after his brief stint in college. George had been the one who’d talked to him about the dangers of promiscuous sex. He’d done such a good job that Joe had developed a healthy fear of sexually transmitted diseases, which had corralled his crazy hormonal impulses a bit, or at least made him a generous supporter of the condom industry.