by Tina Folsom
“Thanks.”
Paul watched as both women stepped off the boat.
He heard Sabrina thank Holly, then watched as Holly took her friend’s arm. A few words drifted to him with the wind blowing his way. “ . . . feeling a little queasy myself.”
Moments later, the boat was out on open water, the sails filling with wind and propelling them forward. Paul went into the cabin and grabbed a couple of beers from the large galley, then went back outside, where Jay steered the boat and Zach trimmed the jib. He handed one beer to Jay, then took a seat on the bench. Wade and Hunter were sitting on the gunwale, letting their feet hang over the side. He couldn’t hear their conversation, the wind blowing past his ears making it impossible.
Paul had just popped the beer open and taken a gulp when a shadow fell on his face. Daniel stood over him. “Hey.”
Daniel took a seat next to him. “So.”
Instinctively he knew what Daniel wanted to talk about, but Paul wasn’t going to volunteer. Besides, it was none of Daniel’s business what he and Holly had arranged between them.
“I’d never have thought of you as somebody who wasted money.”
So Daniel knew what he’d spent on the privilege of spending time with Holly. “I’m not.”
“Could have fooled me.”
“Listen, Daniel, I think you should stay out of this.” Paul brought his beer bottle to his lips and took a sip.
“I can’t. Because something is fishy about this whole thing.”
“There’s nothing fishy about it,” Paul protested, and glanced in Jay’s direction. But it appeared his friend couldn’t hear their conversation. Nevertheless, he leaned closer to Daniel and lowered his voice. “Holly is a call girl. This is what she does for a living. And I happened to be in need of somebody like her, so I hired her. End of story.”
“On the contrary, that’s where the story begins. Or are you honestly going to tell me that you don’t want to have sex with her?”
“My arrangement with Holly doesn’t include sex.”
“That’s not what I asked. I know all about the arrangement. I don’t care about that. What I want to know is the truth. And it appears that neither you nor Holly is willing to tell anybody what’s really going on here. Because there is something going on.”
Paul crossed his arms. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Daniel poked his finger into his chest. “I’m warning you, Paul. If you hurt Holly, I’m going to have your hide.”
Paul glared at him. “I have no intention of hurting her.”
“Hey, you guys, what’s going on?” Jay called to them.
Paul turned his head at the same time Daniel did. “Nothing!” they said in unison.
17
Holly stretched out on the lounge chair next to the pool, soaking up the afternoon sun. After having lunch with Sabrina at the Sinclair house and hanging out with her for a few hours, Sabrina had felt tired. According to Sabrina, ever since she’d gotten pregnant, she’d started to nap in the afternoons. Her friend had warned her that Holly would feel the same very soon too.
None of that looming tiredness showed at the moment. Instead, Holly felt almost invigorated as she lay there under the warm rays of the sun, wearing a tiny black string bikini that barely covered her breasts. She’d always loved getting an overall tan, and now seemed the right opportunity. She was alone. Nobody would see her if she took off her top and sunbathed topless.
Holly reached behind her back and undid the knot, then pulled the top over her head and dropped it on the little table next to her. Not wanting to get burned, she poured a small dollop of suntan lotion into her palm and rubbed it over her breasts, massaging it in. To her surprise, her nipples stiffened instantly. She’d never been that sensitive before and blamed it on her pregnancy.
She lay back and enjoyed the sun warming her body. The cool ocean breeze coming from the beach made sure she didn’t overheat and helped keep her body at a comfortable temperature.
After Paul’s heartfelt apology in the morning, she was more confused than ever. He’d sounded so sincere that she’d had no reason not to believe that he regretted his behavior toward her. At the same time, he’d confessed that he was still attracted to her, and those few words had stuck with her all day. She couldn’t get them out of her mind.
Paul wanted to touch her, to kiss her and hold her in his arms. Yet he knew what she was, or rather, what she still pretended to be: an escort. Did this mean they still had a chance?
She shook her head, trying not to get her hopes up. No, Paul was simply trying to make up for his loutish behavior the night before and smooth things over before his parents returned tomorrow. Any tension between them would make his parents smell a rat. That was all.
Holly sighed when the sound of a door opening drifted to her ears. She looked toward the house to see Paul stepping out onto the terrace. He noticed her and waved, but from where he stood, she knew he couldn’t see that she was topless. She would have enough time to cover up before he reached her. She reached toward the table, but instead of grabbing her bikini top, she clasped the suntan lotion in her hand.
A moment later a shadow fell over her body and she looked up at Paul standing next to her. His eyes went wide in surprise, then he abruptly looked away, purposely not looking at her bare breasts.
“Hi! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you. I’d better—”
She appreciated the fact that he tried to give her privacy and that very fact fortified her resolve. “I was just about to apply more suntan lotion,” she lied. “I could use some help.”
Slowly, Paul turned back to her and stared at the bottle of lotion she held out. “Holly, I really shouldn’t—”
She rubbed a hand over her breast. “I don’t want my breasts to get sunburned.” She lifted her lashes and looked directly at him, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to resist her. She was playing with fire, but she couldn’t help herself. Paul wanted her and she wanted him. The fact that they had no future together didn’t count right now.
Paul lowered himself onto the lounge chair, taking the bottle of suntan lotion from her. “That would be a shame,” he said, his voice husky.
Her heart beat into her throat as she watched him pour suntan lotion into one hand, then spread it over both his palms. His eyes seemed to darken as he leaned over her and placed his hands on her breasts. A low moan came from his throat and she sighed.
“Rub it in,” she murmured, and pushed her breasts into his palms.
“Oh God, Holly,” he ground out as his hands began to spread the lotion in a circular motion.
Already her nipples were hard, and with every stroke he aroused her even more. He began to massage her breasts with firmer strokes.
Holly pressed her head back into the lounge chair and arched her spine, urging him not to stop. She loved the way he caressed her, with long, sure strokes and with just the right pressure when he squeezed her. Whenever his fingers grazed her nipples she wanted to cry out, but instead she pulled her lower lip between her teeth and held it there.
Her heart was racing, and suddenly she felt the heat of the sun more intensely. Or was it Paul’s heat she felt? In either case, she was burning up.
When one of his hands left her breast, she said, “You’re not done.”
His gaze met hers. “No, we’re not done, are we?”
Paul reached for the hand towel on the table and poured a little water onto it. She watched as he wiped his hands clean.
“What are you doing?”
He bent closer so their faces were only inches from each other. Her breasts were nearly touching the polo shirt he still wore.
“Holly, I know I said I wouldn’t do this, but that was before you invited me to touch your breasts. I know I should walk away right now and take a cold shower, but I don’t want to. That night when you were in my bed, I loved putting my mouth on you and licking you. And I’d love to do it again. I’m not asking you to sleep with me. I
don’t want anything in return. All I want is your permission to lick your pussy and make you come.”
Holly’s pulse raced. Paul wanted to go down on her? Despite the fact that he knew what she was? “You want to lick me?”
“Yes, I want to lick and suck you until you climax. And I want to touch your beautiful pussy with my hands and feel you grip my finger when you come. May I do that, Holly, please? Just this once, so I can refresh my memory of what it was like that night. So that tonight I can lie in my bed and think of you.”
Had he thought of her that night in his condo in New York? Had he imagined her touching him when he’d stroked himself to completion?
“And when you’re in your bed tonight, will you touch your cock and make yourself come while you think of this?” The thought of it made her heart beat even faster.
“Yes,” he groaned.
“Then let me feel your lips on me, your tongue on my pussy, and your finger inside me,” she whispered against his lips.
“Thank you.” He captured her lips and kissed her hard.
Too soon, Paul released her lips and moved downward. He reached for the strings on the side of her bikini bottoms and undid them, peeling the fabric away and laying her bare. His hungry eyes roamed over her almost reverently. Then he spread her legs and moved into the space he’d created for himself.
“Put your legs over my shoulders.”
Holly followed his command without hesitation. A moment later his head dipped to her sex and every last sane thought fled her brain, leaving her at the mercy of her body’s desires.
His hot breath blew against her drenched folds. An even hotter tongue followed, lapping against her flesh. His groan reverberated against her and made her shiver with pleasure.
Suddenly cool air wafted against her burning flesh and she lifted her head. Paul was staring straight at her. “Tell me you like this as much as I do,” he demanded, his eyes blazing with passion.
“More,” she admitted. “I like it more.”
“Impossible,” he claimed and dove back between her legs, continuing what he’d interrupted.
His hand caressed the inside of her thighs and stroked higher up, spreading her wider. Then his fingers touched her aroused flesh and stroked along her weeping cleft, while his tongue moved higher up and licked over her clit.
She almost lifted off the lounge chair, but Paul pressed her down and growled almost like a beast. “I’m not done,” he said.
Remembering how much he liked to hear his name called out while he pleasured her, she combed her hands through his thick hair and murmured, “Paul, oh Paul.” Holly caressed his nape and sensed him shiver under her touch. “So good.”
His tongue was relentless, but not just that. He was also talented, varying his caresses to adjust to her body’s rhythm, as if his purpose truly was to give her pleasure, without concern for his own. No man had ever been so selfless.
“Need to feel you inside,” she whispered.
Another groan bounced against her sensitive flesh, then one finger probed at her entrance. Slowly, he parted her folds with it, and even more slowly, he slid his finger into her. Instinctively her muscles clamped around him, holding him there so he couldn’t escape. “Oh yes!”
Paul withdrew his finger, then thrust back inside while he sucked her clit between his lips and swiped his tongue over it. But it wasn’t enough. She needed to be filled.
“Paul! I need more. Another finger. Please,” she begged, unable to stop herself.
He lifted his head. His lips glistened with her juices, and his eyes were dark with lust. “I’ll give you as many fingers as you can take, baby. And then I’ll finger-fuck you as hard and as long as you want.”
Holly panted. “Yes, yes, do it!” Relief flooded her when she felt two fingers invade her and plunge deep into her. “Oh God!”
“Say my name!” he suddenly demanded.
She looked at him and sought his eyes. When she met his gaze, her lips opened. “Paul. I love the way you touch me. Don’t stop.”
Then she let her head fall back and closed her eyes, giving herself over to the multitude of sensations racing through her body.
“I’ll take care of you,” he said before his mouth was back on her sex, licking her with abandon, and his fingers continued fucking her deep and hard.
All the while she imagined it was his cock filling and stretching her instead of his fingers.
Seconds turned to minutes as he continued pleasuring her without tiring, without rushing her, because it appeared he truly didn’t want anything for himself but to make her come. At that thought, her heart swelled with affection for him, and behind her closed lids, tears started to collect. She was overwhelmed by the tenderness and passion he shared with her.
The moans and grunts that came from him were proof of Paul’s pleasure in caressing her, and there was nothing more she wanted to do than return the same pleasure, and make his body burn the way hers burned now.
She was near boneless, and had she been standing, she would have fallen long ago. Paul’s mouth coaxed sensations from her body she didn’t know she was capable of, and his fingers inside her made her womb clench with unquenchable need. She wanted to soak up every second of tenderness and passion he was granting her, knowing that soon all this would be over, and she would be alone again.
Unable to hold back any longer, she cried out, “Damn it, Paul! I want your cock inside me. Take me.” She lifted her head just as he did, surprise shining back at her.
“You want my cock?” he asked incredulously. “But you don’t have to . . . ”
“I want to.” Holly took a deep breath, knowing there was no way back from the road she was taking now. “I want you to fuck me the way you did that night. Hard and deep. And I don’t want you to stop until we both can’t get up.”
Paul reached for his shirt and pulled it over his head.
“Paul, is that you?” a female voice called from the direction of the terrace.
Shock and horror reflected on Holly’s face as she frantically reached for the hand towel on the table. She pressed the small piece of cloth against her, but it hid nothing of her nakedness, while she scrambled to pull the towel she was lying on from underneath her.
“Fuck!” Paul cursed under his breath, and jumped up.
18
Paul had a hard-on the size of Florida and didn’t know which way to turn. Worse, Holly lay naked on the lounge chair and was trying frantically to cover herself. He didn’t have a choice but to stand there, blocking the approaching interloper’s view of Holly’s body. Though in a few seconds, the woman he now recognized as Tara Pierpont, the youngest daughter of one of his mother’s bosom friends, would surely be able to see what was tenting his white shorts and figure out what she’d interrupted.
What fucking bad timing! A few more seconds, and he would have been submerged in Holly’s glorious body, making love to her under the afternoon sun. He hadn’t expected it either. He’d only wanted to pleasure her, content with seeing her body explode in ecstasy and that beautiful smile form on her lips again when she was satisfied. He’d only wanted that. It had shocked him to the core to hear her ask him to fuck her. But he wouldn’t have refused her. Hell, no! He’d been ready to take his cock out and thrust into her with such force that they would have catapulted the lounge chair into his mother’s priceless azaleas.
But none of that would happen now.
Paul glanced down at Holly and saw that she’d managed to wrap a towel around her torso, but there wasn’t enough time to put her bikini back on. The top lay on the table, but he couldn’t even see where he’d tossed the bottom.
The other thing he noticed was that Holly was avoiding looking at him again. Everything seemed to be back at square one.
He suppressed another curse when Tara reached him.
“Hi, Paul! I’m sorry I’m getting in so late. I hope you weren’t waiting for me. I meant to call but my cell phone battery ran out.” Then she glanced past him and h
er face fell. “Oh.” Her gaze fell on the bikini top on the table, before her eyes darted back to him.
“Uh, hi, Tara.”
“You invited somebody?” Holly asked, her voice flat and almost inaudible, disappointment sitting deep within her eyes as she glanced toward Tara.
Before he could set the record straight, Holly jumped up from the lounge chair. “Excuse me. I’d better take a shower.”
As if she wanted to wash him off her. “Holly!” Paul called after her, but she charged into the house without looking back.
“I’m sorry, I rang the doorbell,” Tara said, clearly embarrassed, as the rosy blush on her cheeks attested. “But nobody answered.” She pointed to the side of the house. “So I left my luggage at the front door and walked around.”
“Luggage?” he echoed, shoving a hand through his hair.
She nodded, her face suddenly etched with worry. “Yes, of course. You invited me to stay for a few days.”
“I invited you?”
Tara fidgeted. “You didn’t? But . . . ” She dropped her eyelids.
“Tara, tell me how I sent you this invitation? Did I email you? Leave a voicemail?”
She shook her head. “You don’t remember? Mom said you called her house because you didn’t have my phone number. So she relayed the message.”
Paul cursed. He knew exactly who had called Tara’s mother, and it sure hadn’t been him. “I’m going to wring my mother’s neck!”
Tara’s shoulders sagged. “So you didn’t invite me, did you?” She motioned to the empty lounge chair. “Well, it was kind of obvious anyway. You’re with somebody. I’d better call a cab and see if I can catch the train back to New York.” She turned.
“Stay.”
Surprised, she whirled back to him. “But I can see that I’m in the way.”
“It’s not your fault that our mothers are trying to play games with us. There are plenty of guest rooms in the house.”
“I didn’t really want to come, but my mother insisted. She’s been awful lately. It was either come here or spend four days with her and the Willamotts at the lake. And the Willamotts’ son I dislike even more than—” She stopped herself and slapped a hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry.”