“I’ll show you where it is.” He put his hand at the small of her back and guided her down a long, narrow corridor to the guest bathroom. Finding the door locked, he leaned against the wall and pulled her to his chest. He ran his fingers through her hair. “Did you have fun tonight?”
Looking up, Jaden smiled. “I did—although I think I’m exhausted.”
Ivan smiled, took her in his arms, and kissed her softly, unrushed and uninhibited. Jaden felt warmth rush over her as the kiss deepened, and she felt pulled toward him as if by an unseen magnetic force.
She fell into him, her inhibitions slipping away. The need to feel his touch, his skin against hers, was almost more than she could bear. The feeling of him growing hard against her thigh was enough to pull her apart at the seams, so she just held him tighter.
Breaking away from the kiss, Ivan seemed to struggle for words—and for breath. “Uh, well, I’m glad you had fun.”
“It’s a lot to digest, but I think I’ll manage,” Jaden said, smiling at his momentary loss of composure.
The bathroom door opened and a disheveled woman stumbled out into the hall. Ivan released his grip on Jaden and straightened up. “How about we make our exit?”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Jaden whispered as she snuck past him. “Just give me a minute to freshen up.” As she passed, she gave his package the most casual of grabs.
“Oh, you’re in for it now, girl,” Ivan managed. Jaden batted her eyes as she slipped into the marble bathroom, leaving him at full attention.
A few minutes later Jaden emerged from the bathroom, pleased to see she still had Ivan’s attention. He shook his head and adjusted slightly before taking her hand with a smile.
Returning to the overcrowded main room of the penthouse felt like walking into a raging inferno. Even though it was after four, the party remained in full force, and Jaden swore there were more people here now than when they’d first arrived. She suspected that more than just alcohol kept some of the partiers going at such a pace.
Taking one last look around, Jaden soaked up the sights and let the memory cement into her mind. This was a real Miami party, not something you’d see on cheesy reality TV. She chuckled silently, wondering how she’d gone from a simple Colorado life to this absolute craziness in just a short few months.
“Let’s hit it before we get sucked into another conversation,” Ivan suggested, flashing her favorite cocky grin with a side of lust. They slinked through the crowd, avoiding all eye contact, and made it to the elevator unscathed.
Not able to hold back a second longer, Jaden barely waited until the doors had shut behind them before wrapping her arms around Ivan’s neck and kissing him with a passion that rivaled the heat of the sun. She pushed herself against him for a moment, just enough to awaken his desire for a second time. Then, sensing she’d provoked him adequately for the time being, Jaden pulled away, letting the knowledge of her intentions sink in.
“I…Jaden…” he breathed.
Interlocking their fingers, she turned and pulled his arms around her, taking notice of their reflection in the mirrored side of the elevator. They looked good together. They were a natural fit, and she couldn’t help but smile.
Ivan leaned heavily against the glass, and Jaden cuddled into his warmth. “Is this how all Miami parties end?” she asked seductively, unbuttoning the top button of his shirt and stroking the newly exposed patch of skin.
“Well, that all depends,” he whispered, his voice low and gravelly.
“On what?”
“It all depends on where you want to wake up in the morning,” Ivan replied, his voice thick with naughty intentions. “But wait—this is our first date,” he quickly caught himself.
Jaden looked down demurely for a moment. “Since I’ve lived in Miami, I’ve only been to the beach during the day. I think it’s time that changed,” she said, adding her own cocky grin and silly wink. She pulled him from the elevator, telling him silently that their night was nowhere near over.
“Ah, sounds perfect,” Ivan murmured, his eyes now aflame.
Wordlessly, they walked through the empty lobby, past the lone desk clerk, and out the front doors, their pace quickening with each step.
“Do you have your ticket, sir?” the valet inquired.
“Umm…we’re not quite ready to leave yet. My date wants to look for sea turtles,” Ivan tossed out on the fly, never breaking his stride. Jaden nearly collapsed in laughter as the valet stood dumbfounded. Gripping each other as if they were glued together, they headed straight for the beach.
Chapter 9
“Moondance”
ARM IN ARM THEY STROLLED the boardwalk, and Jaden felt safe and secure. They walked the one hundred yards to the beach, their time together wonderful even without words.
Reaching the sand, Ivan took off his shoes, then lowered himself to one knee to remove Jaden’s heels one at a time. He led her off the boardwalk and on to the soft, sandy beach—a far cry from the chaos they’d just left. Salt in the air replaced the overwhelming mix of perfumes and colognes. The rhythmic waves crashing against the beach were a much better background than the DJ’s boisterous beats, and the stars more elegant than any interior. Only the cool summer breeze they’d felt on the balcony remained the same.
“Well, here we are, Miami Beach in all its glory. Beautiful, isn’t it?” Ivan said as he stared up at the inky sky.
“Yes,” Jaden replied. “Yes, it is.”
Grasping her wrist, Ivan led Jaden to the water’s edge, where the sand was damp and washed smooth. Turning north, they began their moonlight stroll.
“I’d like to think it was an okay date,” he mused, looking at her from the corner of his eye.
“Meh…I’d give it a B plus,” she teased and squeezed his hand.
“B plus, are you joking?” he protested. “That hurts! It’s a good thing you’re a chef and not a teacher. I’d hate for you to flunk me.”
“Well, there is one thing that can get you some extra—ouch!” Jaden stumbled forward, her foot suddenly throbbing.
Ivan grabbed her before she could fall over, and she steadied herself with his shoulders. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” she said. “I stepped on something.” She scoured the beach, trying to find the source of her pain. Nearby she spied several drops of blood, which appeared black in the semi-darkness and stood out against the grayish sand. Not far from there was a shard of broken seashell, the culprit for this hitch in their near-perfect night. “I think it was a shell.”
“Here, let me help you.” Ivan held out his hand. He lowered her gently onto the sand and sat cross-legged beside her on the beach.
Jaden flinched as he placed her leg across his lap. He lifted her foot and, using the light of the moon, examined it as thoroughly as possible. “I think I may need to amputate. I’m a doctor, you know.”
“Ha, ha.” Jaden twisted her foot to get a better look at the damage. Congealed blood and sand coated the inch-long wound.
“It needs to be cleaned,” Ivan said, turning it back toward him and gently prodding with the tips of his fingers.
She watched in wonder as he continued to examine her. A mixture of concentration and concern played across his face, sparking something within her soul. It had been a long time since a man had cared for her wellbeing. The thought both intrigued and frightened her.
“Hold on just a second,” he said as he picked up one of his shoes and headed for the water’s edge. He dipped it into the ocean, then hurried back to her. “This is going to sting a little.”
“That’s okay,” Jaden said with a smile. “I’m a big girl. I can take it.”
Her eyes followed Ivan’s every move as he tended to her wound, cleaning it until no traces of sand or blood remained. Only once did she flinch when salt water flooded the laceration. Her eyes widened in surprise when Ivan then unbuttoned his shirt and removed it. He gripped it in both hands and pulled, easily tearing it in two. Choo
sing the smaller piece, he wrapped the cloth tightly around her foot and secured it with a knot.
“That should stop any bleeding,” he said seriously, and then an impish smile crept across his face as he looked up at her. “We have got to stop ruining my clothes like this. Pretty soon I’ll have nothing to wear.”
“Hmm…I could get used to that.” Jaden raised her eyebrow.
“Girl, you are really something,” Ivan responded with a laugh, but without warning, his pants became tight and restrictive. Mmmmm, baby girl…He couldn’t pinpoint what it was—nor did he care to analyze it at this very moment—but something about Jaden sparked a flame deep within him. She was beautiful, but also generous, caring, and kind hearted, and at that moment he realized he might never tire of her. He could happily spend of the rest of his life ruining clothes and laughing, as long as she was by his side.
He lifted Jaden’s foot to his mouth, tenderly kissing her toes. Evidently pleased, Jaden sighed and lay back in the sand. Her legs parted slightly, and his passionate onslaught began. When his kisses reached the hem of her dress, a smile danced across his face, and Ivan knew they would break his vow of no sex. He didn’t have the willpower or the desire to resist the goddess before him. Setting her leg back on the ground, and taking care not to jostle her injured foot, Ivan placed his hands under her thighs, supporting her weight. A million thoughts muddled his mind, all of them arriving at a single conclusion: I need to taste her.
Ivan slowly and torturously worked his way up her thigh to where a layer of satin was all that separated him from her sweetness. Tonguing the fabric ever so gently, he could feel Jaden writhe, and she grabbed fistfuls of his hair in her hands. The subtle moans and gasping breath that escaped her were like shots of adrenaline to his growing passion. Hastily moving her panties aside with his finger, Ivan took her in one long, luscious lick.
“IIIIIIIvan…” she moaned, evidently unable to finish her thought as pure pleasure enveloped her. Ivan continued his work, lapping at her with unrelenting strokes, and Jaden soon thrashed wildly beneath him. Her voice echoed in the night air as she screamed out his name.
Without warning, she gripped his shoulders and pushed him onto his back. With unsteady movements, she sat up and straddled his legs. She fumbled with his zipper, and he sighed in relief as his pants came undone and then struggled for a moment to reach into his pocket. He thrust the foil packet at her, and Jaden slowed her movements to tease the condom into place. She seemed to search for something deep within his eyes as she positioned herself above him and began to lower her body, her warmth encompassing his throbbing cock with each downward stroke of her hips.
Ivan guided her rhythmic movements with his hands on her waist and stroked deeper into her luscious body, bringing them both one step closer to release. Tilting her head back, Jaden ran her hands through her hair as she screamed out her pleasure. Then she collapsed on top of him and parted his lips, driving her tongue deep into his mouth. The sound of her ecstasy echoed in his ear, increasing his passion to an impossible level. He thrust deeper into her, the sounds of flesh on flesh filling the night air. Push by push, Ivan brought his hips away from the sandy beach and deeper into her. Jaden welcomed every inch of him, sending them into an orbit of sexual bliss. Minutes felt like hours as their bodies crashed into each other, the tension mounting with every upward stroke of Ivan’s hips and downward thrust of Jaden’s body as they fought for release. Ivan twitched as Jaden’s warmth tightened and pulsed around his cock. As their bodies swayed in unison, quivers of satisfaction engulfed him, and they screamed out their release in tandem.
Out of breath but full of life, Ivan collapsed in the sand with Jaden draped over him. There were no words to describe what they’d just shared. They breathed in gasps for a time, but as they lay under the stars, Ivan felt himself relax, fully and completely, and soon he and Jaden had matched their breathing into a slow, even rhythm.
“Well, I guess we broke that rule, babe,” Ivan said, finally breaking their silence.
“I’m glad we did,” Jaden said contentedly, not lifting her head from his chest. For a moment she patted his arm in time with his heartbeat.
With the sun beginning to crest above the horizon, they gathered their belongings and walked back to the building where the Jeep remained parked. Despite his offer to carry her, Jaden insisted she could walk, and she even managed to get her shoe onto her bandaged foot. The air smelled cleaner and the breeze felt fresher as they slowly walked the length of the boardwalk, dodging the dog walkers and early-bird joggers.
Ivan could tell the valet didn’t quite know what to make of them—he shirtless and Jaden a little worse for the wear, both of them covered in sand—as they approached. “Man, those sea turtles are rough,” he joked as the handed the valet his ticket. Jaden laughed, but the valet managed only a nervous titter before he ran to retrieve the Jeep.
Minutes later he rounded the corner and pulled to a stop in front of them. Ivan opened the passenger door and helped Jaden in. He tipped the still-speechless valet generously and hopped into the driver’s seat, thanking him again before pulling out onto the nearly deserted Miami streets.
Ivan took the scenic route along Ocean Drive in the hopes of stealing just a few more minutes with her. He clung tightly to her hand, occasionally lifting it to his mouth for a kiss, and they watched as the sun begin to rise as they drove. By the time Ivan pulled up in front of her building, light had crept across the sky. Releasing Jaden’s hand, he jumped out and quickly rounded the Jeep to help her down, admiring her tight form and once again stirring his arousal in the process.
“That was…magical,” he said, drawing her close for another lingering kiss. He whispered softly against her lips, “When can I see you again?”
Jaden beamed but couldn’t seem to find any words.
“There is going to be a second date, isn’t there?” he asked.
“Only if you think you can top this one,” Jaden breathed and kissed him on the mouth.
“Hmm…I think I can do that,” Ivan said as he drew her closer, the taste of her pineapple gloss flooding his mouth as he nibbled her bottom lip. “Why don’t I call you later tonight, babe? I think we could both use a shower and a nap.”
Reluctantly, he allowed Jaden to slip out of his embrace. She insisted she didn’t need help upstairs, and promised to wash her cut foot again thoroughly, so he had nothing to do but watch her go. She was still an amazing sight in her short black dress, and the look of pure satisfaction on her face caused Ivan to smirk.
Jumping back into the Jeep, he shook his head, laughed to himself, and cranked the stereo up full blast as he headed for home.
Chapter 10
“More Than A Feeling”
AS QUIETLY AS POSSIBLE, Jaden slipped the key into the lock and turned the handle. What she really needed was a hot shower and good sleep. What she didn’t need was a million questions from Tasha. Jaden took her heels off in the hall before entering the apartment, but as the door opened, the sound of someone rustling around in the living room let her know at least one of them was awake. Rounding the corner, she saw Michael sitting on the couch, tying his sneakers.
“You’re up early,” Jaden said groggily as she rubbed her eyes.
“I’m just going for a jog,” Michael replied as he sat up and saw her. Eyes wide, he looked her up and down. “Rough night?”
“Yeah, something like that.” Jaden set her purse on the table and turned to leave, but Michael’s voice held her in place.
“You look like you’ve been mugged. Have you even been to bed?”
“No, I haven’t been to bed, and it all depends on your definition of mugged.” Jaden shot him a half-assed smile. “I thought you were hitting the pavement?”
“No way. Not now—I don’t want to miss the main event. The minute you walked out the door last night, I knew you wouldn’t be coming home, but Tasha stayed up until four waiting for you.”
“She did what?” Jaden asked in disbelief
. “She didn’t have to wait up for me.”
“Let’s face it, Jade. It’s not like you really know the guy yet.”
Jaden hated when Michael called her Jade, but he had a good point. She now knew Ivan would never do anything to hurt her, but her friends had no way of understanding that. “Okay, I’ll go talk to her.”
Briefly setting aside her need for a shower and sleep, Jaden knocked softly on Tasha’s door. “Tasha, are you are you awake?” she whispered. After not getting a response, she opened the door and let herself in. She sat on the side of the bed and gently shook her friend’s shoulder. “Wake up.”
“Hmm…” Tasha mumbled and rolled over, pulling the blanket over her head. “What time is it?”
“I think it’s about six a.m.”
Jaden could hear Michael approaching and sensed him in the doorway behind her. Did he think there was going to be a catfight or something? Ignoring the hilarious image that shot through her mind, Jaden returned to shaking Tasha’s shoulder. “Sweetie, I’m home.”
“Good,” Tasha grumbled. “I’m glad Ivan’s not a psycho or anything, but can I please go back to sleep now?”
Jaden chuckled under her breath and stood up, knowing this was nowhere near the end of their conversation. She closed the door behind her and turned her attention back to Michael. “Not what you were expecting, huh?”
“It could’ve done with some whipped cream or mud.”
“Maybe next time,” Jaden shot back.
“Promises, promises,” he sighed. “I’m off to jog.”
Moving slowly and favoring her foot, Jaden limped to the bathroom. Grabbing a towel from the rack, she stripped out of her clothes. She turned on the tap and stepped into the flow of hot water, revelling in the feel of it cascading down her body and washing away the sand that that still clung to her.
The water dancing across her skin reminded her of Ivan’s fingers trailing over her body. Never before had Jaden felt so completely satisfied or content with a man—and the thought terrified her. She was the type of girl who could drink beer with the boys and laugh at all their dirty jokes—their friend, not a serious love interest. But maybe this was her chance at happiness, her chance to be the object of a man’s true affection, not just his lust.
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