by Petrova, Em
He rushed inside and took the stairs two at a time to Harry’s office. Airport workers and security guards hurried beside him, around him, behind him. Surrounded by a dozen people Harry barked orders and waved his arms. Behind him, the wall of glass showed a huge plane swarming with firefighters intact with the safety chutes deployed.
“The passengers are all safe. The flight crew is in the conference room to explain what happened. The most important thing right now is disaster has been averted. Everyone is safe.” Harry shouted. The noise level dropped considerably.
Charlie breathed again. Thank God. Christine was safe and here in Hawaii.
“The airline has declined to send a replacement jumbo and with their disabled one already taking up space, God knows where we’d put another one anyway,” Harry said. “All the passengers need to be re-routed on existing flights or pushed back to ones tomorrow and even the next day.”
“How the hell are we going to re-route over three hundred people?” one man demanded. “There are only so many flights scheduled today.”
“Obviously we aren’t.” Harry snapped. “It’s why I mentioned tomorrow’s flights and later ones this week. The airline is paying for hotel rooms for those we can’t accommodate immediately. This is an added mini vacation for those who don’t get a seat today.” A few people laughed. “We’ll do our best. Now get out there and help keep order. Smile, be friendly, pass around free coffee, juice, fruit, water, and whatever these stranded passengers need. They’re going to be irritated, shaken, and perhaps even in shock. Show them our famed Hawaiian hospitality.”
Charlie slowly pushed his way from the office and leaned against the wall outside. He had to find Christine, knowing he couldn’t waste another day. He walked to the staircase and paused a moment to scan the lines of people. This would be difficult but not impossible with time. He walked down, searching for her dark blonde head. He pushed through people several minutes before he took a moment to get his bearings. Where would she have gone? What would she do first? Think, Charlie, think. He moved along the two lines, ignoring the stares and murmurs of people who sat or stood behind each counter. She must have already gone through. Had she gotten a flight?
The animated boards showed no flights leaving for the next three hours. Okay, she probably hadn’t gone to a small waiting area already. His cell phone vibrated in his pocket. Charlie yanked it out and heard her sweet, sexy voice. Damnit, where could she be? He snapped his fingers. She had a serious addiction to coffee and books. He spun and headed toward one coffee stand after another. And there sitting on a bench across from a book shop, coffee in hand, sat Christine. Her eyes were closed as she leaned back and sipped her drink. Her hair and clothing were disheveled, a bit mussed but none the worse for wear. Never had a sight been more welcome. Charlie walked toward her, already planning the rest of the afternoon and coming night.
Chapter Three
Christine settled on a bench, mocha espresso in one hand, laptop case in the other. Around the bench, people laughed, joked, and one couple argued. She heard native voices and smiled at the music of their tones. The warm air, scented with cinnabuns and coffee, also held an underlying fragrance of citrus and flowers. She took a sip of mocha. Ah, heaven in a cup. Things could be a lot worse, Christine thought, running a hand through her hair for the umpteenth time. She must look a mess after hours on the plane and sitting on the terminal floor.
Christine sipped again. Charlie would be at work this time of day. He might not call at all. She should get something to eat or maybe browse the book shops for a treat after the plane scare. The books in the store across the hall seemed to be calling. Then she heard it again.
“Christine!”
The sound of her name being shouted made her glance around. She searched and found Charlie a few feet away, near the opening of the book store, dark eyes twinkling, relaxed and so very sexy. Great. He looked amazing in tight jeans and polo, and she looked a mess with her stained jeans and shirt, her hair tousled.
Charlie walked toward the bench. Christine went warm all over, her stomach in knots as other regions called to him. I’m in a dream. I must be. I’m on the plane, asleep, and dreaming this whole thing. She never wanted to wake up. He stopped so she had to lean back to hold his gaze. He brushed her palm with warm lips. “Hello, Christine. Welcome to Paradise.”
She leapt from the bench coffee and laptop forgotten as she wrapped her arms around his waist and held tight. He snuggled her in, safe, warm, and secure. His heart thundered under her ear. She pressed to him, chest to toes, and lifted her head to speak when his lips crashed on hers, smothering in a blast of heat. Christine stood on tip toe, reaching for his hair, and yanked his mouth down harder. Her lips opened under his, her tongue stroking the roof of his mouth as she sampled. He moaned and trembled; she kissed him harder. She gave, he took. He gifted, she accepted. Only a desperate need for air broke them apart. They stood panting, still entwined as cheers and applause broke out around them. He lifted a hand, waved at the people around them after she took one dazed look, and buried her face in his chest. His voice rumbled.
“Now that’s what I call an aloha to remember.”
Christine had to swallow twice before she could give a strangled gasp. “Hello.” Could he feel the trembling? Good lord, he packed one heck of a sexual punch. How could she have failed to notice it before? His warm lips would be even warmer on her skin, her breasts, her thighs. Her face flushed hot as dampness not from the air pooled between her legs.
He took her hands from around his neck, grasped them tight, and whispered, his voice filled with secrets and promise. “Come with me. Begin this journey for real.”
One glance into his face and Christine nodded. “Lead the way.”
It took minutes, long ones, as they traveled to the hotel. They didn’t speak; his hand never released hers. Christine tried to talk sense in her head a dozen times. We work together. We’re supposed to be friends. We live thousands of miles from each other. I have to lose ten pounds before he sees me naked. I have coffee breath. Then she recalled crash position terror, the screams, sirens, and murmurs of prayers. Never had anything felt as right as being with Charlie. A multi-storied building towered before them; the Sands Hotel sign blazed in pink lights across its front porch. They had arrived.
Charlie took the reservation and charmed the clerk into an early check in. The girl looked as awestruck as Christine must with this new tension between them. He hadn’t asked with words, nor had she answered with words, but it didn’t matter. In the elevator, he raised her palm to his lips, his gaze hot and intense. He raised one dark brow. She trembled and then nodded. No more waiting, no more doubts, nothing but him. She took his hand and gently suckled each of his fingers. He muttered something—she couldn’t tell what—and wrapped his arms around her.
Then they were alone in the quiet room just the two of them. Soft music played in the background. How did the music start? Christine didn’t care as his navy eyes darkened to black, and his husky male scent surrounded her like a blanket. Charlie kissed her wrist, making tremors shoot down her entire side. “Christine.”
“Charlie.” How could she have ever believed it was simple flirting between them when he gazed at her like this? She took a breath as his gaze moved over her from head to toe. The brush of their bodies was electric, a charge sizzling in the air. The snap, crackle and pop made the words difficult to say. “I’m yours for whatever we do together in this time, this place, for as long as we both have. I’ve found my Gem on the Path. It’s you. It’s me. It’s us.”
He framed her face with his large palms, fingers hot on her cheeks. “Ku’uipo, Ku’u ‘I’ini.”
Christine shook her head, not understanding his native language but comprehending exactly what his gaze said. She sighed and opened her mouth under his. Their tongues began a slow waltz of tentative exploration, becoming a rumba which sizzled with promise, then morphing into a fiery tango of twisting and twining. Desire burned throughout. She
stroked his hair, caressed his cheek, and slowly trailed down his neck and chest to where their bodies pressed together. She felt his tremors from the passion and excitement of their first time, the next step upon the journey. Christine stroked, feeling him harden.
“My Gem.” Charlie traced the same path, his fingers raising goose flesh as they stopped at the hem of her shirt. Christine closed his fingers around the soft material and pulled. Would she be sexy enough to satisfy the need he had? His lips caressed her skin, and she didn’t doubt again. She arched as he tongued one breast then the twin. The moist heat of his mouth on her nipple as he suckled and licked ignited everything inside. She moaned and felt his lips curve.
Have to touch him, have to feel him. She managed to pull his shirt up so she could touch hard flesh. His muscles clenched then released as he moved, a preview of what would be. “Too many clothes.” She tugged again on the material between them.
“Impatient?” He grinned and held up his arms.
“We’ve waited too long.” Christine yanked his shirt over his head. She kissed him with every bit of passion she wanted to release. His scent became a living thing as it invaded. His indrawn breath became a hiss as her lips and tongue caressed. He nudged them toward the bed. His erection throbbed against her, insistent, wanting to be buried inside her as much as she wanted him inside. His clever, nimble fingers stripped her clothes in seconds. She fumbled with his jeans, finally pushing them down, and glanced with wide eyes at his face.
Whatever expression she wore made him laugh. “Sweetheart, you delight me.” He kissed her again, and her breasts flattened against his chest. She leaned into him to stay upright and then lifted a leg to wrap it around his waist. He groaned and brought her closer, fitting her body firm against his as he began to lower them onto the bed. “My God, Christine.”
She fell weightless upon the bed, and he collapsed beside her. They caressed, stroked, and kissed in a frenzy of want and need, hands exploring every inch. His fingers slid nearer where she most wanted, yet he stopped. “Charlie.” He ignored the breathless plea, his teeth grazing then feasting on one tingling nipple. God. Oh God. God. God. “Charles!”
“Hmmm?” Charlie raised a brow. She urged his hand farther down. He chuckled. “Oh.” His fingers curled into a loose fist right at the base of her mound and pressed as his gentle bites made her writhe against him. She couldn’t stand the building pressure, the intense need. Now, oh God, now. She cupped his erection in both hands, stroking the shaft, tip, and sides. She rubbed the moisture back on him, up, down, around.
She felt cool air from the air conditioner before his head nestled between her thighs. Oh dear God. His erection pressed against her cheek, pulsing like a heartbeat. He licked the skin of her inner thigh, held off from the dampness of her center where she wanted him most, and murmured her name. “Taste me while I taste you.”
Christine swallowed. She’d never—He licked again as if sensing her hesitation, and she followed his lead, sliding her tongue over one testicle then the other. He groaned as he suckled her thigh, making the need build strong and thick. She nibbled and shivered at the puff of his breath against her wet core. She nibbled more. His tongue and lips stroked her so light they seemed barely there. She suckled his hard shaft head and drank the sweet, salty taste. She lapped, her hands enclosing his penis as she grazed her teeth down the sides, making him tremble again. Finally his mouth came close, his tongue stroked at the heart of her. He pressed deeper as she took more of him. She slowly rode him with her lips as he plunged his tongue deep and nipped.
She arched, her cries muffled by his hard length between her lips. His tongue moved in circles, and she mimicked his movements, feeling more drops. Tremors shook his body. He drew her swollen nub into his mouth; she released him to give a choked scream. Everything inside tightened unbearably then released in a flood. And still he tasted and tasted and tasted. She floated back to awareness as his tongue stroked up. She felt desired, almost cherished by the tenderness of his little kisses. “Your turn.”
“Yours again.” Charlie pressed their bodies together. She locked her legs around his waist, guiding and positioning him as his gaze locked to hers. “Ours.” He grasped her hands above her head as he slowly eased inside. Christine rose to meet him, wanting more, wanting it all. They sighed as one when he could go no farther. She held still, savoring the discovery, this almost fulfilled need, this path on the journey that began long ago.
He began to move, his length slipping almost out before he eased back inside. Christine felt the control as his hands gripped hers. She tightened her legs around his waist, her inner muscles gripped around him, all wet fire and their scent. His gaze bored into hers, their bodies one. The gentle slap of flesh meeting and parting became more frenzied. She arched higher to be even closer. She saw the sweat on his brow, felt it on her skin. His breathing became harsh, more gasps than not, wanting her to come, to let go first, she realized. But she wanted them together. She squeezed as hard as she could, feeling him throb and surge. “Ah, God.”
“With me. With me.” She became one tight sensation, waiting, wanting, needing.
“Christine!” He exploded deep. She shuddered at the hot flood warming her inside out, her legs shaking as she finally let go and joined him in the release. Breath ragged, Charlie laid his head on her shoulder, their hands still entwined, their bodies still joined. The scent of arousal and pleasure hung heavy in the air. Music still played in the background under the sound of their hearts thudding together. Christine kissed his shoulder and tasted his unique flavor. “Round two?”
***
Their bodies glistened with the sweet sweat of their first mating; warm, moist and slippery. Charlie held tight and felt their hearts thump. Her breath came in gasps, pure silk under him. God, she felt incredible under him. He wanted more, again and again and again. It wouldn’t ever be enough.
“Round two?” Christine asked. He chuckled and gave her neck a gentle bite. She moaned at the pain-pleasure. She read his mind, this vixen in the form of a woman. Appearing so shy in public, yet wild and wanton when they were alone.
Charlie loved it. He’d said my desire and my sweetheart in native language without thought. Both words fit this delightful woman. He loved every moment of discovery, wanted to watch her surrender again. He nibbled and felt her heart beat increase. “Now?”
Christine slipped out from beneath him, coaxing him onto his back with gentle tugs and pushes. Charlie smiled, eager to see what she had in mind as she straddled him back facing front. With a sinful grin, she tossed short hair as she glanced back at him. “There’s something I’ve always wanted to try.”
She had to be aware his gaze locked where their bodies made contact. He feasted on her ass, rounded and delectable. “What? Driving me insane with want?”
“No.” She wiggled, making him harden in seconds. “This.”
He moaned as she leaned forward on his upper thighs and ever so slowly caressed and stroked his length, patiently arousing him again. God, so sexy, so beautiful, and so confident. “You’ve got me just where you want me.”
“Do I?” She wiggled more. With the skill of an artist painting a mural, her ass moved up and down his torso, aware exactly what he wanted and yet denying him to increase the pleasure. She learned quickly. She drove him insane with this stimulation, making him wild or would when he released control. “I want you.” Her sweet voice a breathless plea, Christine melted something within him. “I want to feel you inside me, be filled by you.”
“Soon.” He brought a finger inside her delicious, warm body. She moaned as her inner muscles gripped him. He slid in a second finger, then a third, and felt the tension as he pumped in and out. “You’re filled.”
She wrapped her fingers around his cock and mimicked him. He jerked at the grip of her hot little hands. “You’re surrounded, but I don’t think it’s like you want.”
“Touché.” He opened his fingers inside and caressed inner walls until he felt the ins
tinctive clench of muscles and heard her rapid breaths. His cock had felt this grip and would again. The thought made him stiffer. His fingers worked faster, fucking harder until her hips ground on them.
“Please. God, please.” She jerked at him, her fists too tight, too good.
He almost didn’t hear, he was so close to exploding. But to admit such would give her even more power than she already had over him, whether she realized it or not. His fingers plunged deeper, scissored and stroked. “You’re so wet. So delicious. So inviting. All mine.”
“Damn it,” she muttered as she began to rock, head thrown back and skin flushing. “Damn, damn, damn.”
He laughed, but even to his ears it sounded false and strained. He bit out the words. “What do you want?”
She swallowed as her deep brown gaze met his and cheeks flamed pink. “I want your cock, not your fingers, inside me right now.” She spun, a lightning fast move, taking him deep even as his breath caught. Christine’s cry filled the air as she clenched around him. “You. I want you. Only you.”
Charlie yanked her against him, ravaging her lips as she fucked him, as she drove his cock to the hilt inside. His tongue made love to her mouth as their bodies slapped in wild abandon. She grabbed his hands and placed them on her bouncing breasts. He pinched her nipples, making her gasp before she repeated the gesture on him while she increased the pressure. Hmmm, so she likes it a bit rough, does she? He feathered a hand in the valley between her breasts; she grazed his chest with short nails. He continued the sensual game of follow-the-leader. She cupped his face to deepen the kiss, licking and biting his lips. He did the same. She pushed up, away, and leaned back so his cock bumped deep. She held him with clenched inner muscles as he clung to the last thin wire of control. She watched him watch her, more intimate than his cock throbbing inside her. He thrust his fingers in her soaked, quivering lips. She gasped and squeezed his cock so tightly he half-groaned, half-screamed. “Christine, Jesus.”