by Kayla Perrin
“Mel?”
She threw off the jacket and tossed it onto the beach. Then she went down onto the soft sand beside him. As his eyes widened with curiosity, she climbed onto his lap, wrapped her arms around his neck and began kissing him.
Raw carnal lust surged through her body.
No, it was more than lust. It was the sense that she was supposed to be with him. The sense that he was the missing piece of the puzzle in her life.
For several glorious seconds, they made out, the kiss they shared slow and deep. But then Lawrence turned his head to the side, saying, “Damn, Mel. I don’t know.”
“You don’t?” she challenged. “You don’t know that you want this?”
She began to stroke the back of his neck above his life vest, and felt him quiver beneath her touch. She knew how much he loved to feel her nails on his skin.
“We don’t have a lot of time here,” Lawrence said.
“Oh, I think we have enough time.” She softly kissed his lips. “Don’t you?”
“Sex is easy,” he told her. “But—”
Melanie softly kissed his lips again. “No buts. Please. There’s no one else here. At least, there are no other boats on the beach, and I have every reason to believe we’re alone.” She stroked him more, this time trailing her fingertips around to the front of his neck. He let out a low rumble. “Don’t deny me.”
She knew the moment he had succumbed to her seduction. Because he moaned softly, then wrapped his arms tightly around her waist. He planted his lips on hers and dropped backward onto the sand so that her body was fully on top of his.
His tongue delved into her mouth with a sense of urgency. It swept over her tongue, twisted with it. Then he gently bit her bottom lip before suckling it between his full, sensuous lips.
His hands smoothed over her bottom, skimmed the sides of her bikini. Again, Lawrence groaned. Then, swiftly, skillfully, he was flipping her onto her back on the sand and positioning himself on top of her.
He broke the kiss, and Melanie inhaled a much-needed breath. She looked up at him and he down at her. His eyes were filled with want, but she could see the conflicting emotions on his face.
She reached up and framed his cheek. He turned his face into her hand and closed his eyes. When he opened them, his gaze held hers for a beat, and then moved downward, heating her skin as they took in her breasts, and then her legs, which were bent at the knee.
Moments later he was kissing her again, another hot, breathless kiss, while his fingers went to the base of her throat and trailed down her skin to the hollow between her breasts.
Arching her back, Melanie purred. And then she whimpered in disappointment when Lawrence stopped touching her.
But he was only easing up to take off his life jacket, which he did in record time. Then he stretched out on the sand beside her and kissed her again. First, her lips. Then her chin. Then the base of her neck. Melanie held her breath as his fingers played over the mounds of her breasts before slipping beneath the fabric. She released her breath on a sigh of pleasure when he found her nipple.
“Oh, baby,” Melanie rasped.
In a flurry, Lawrence dragged the one side of her bathing suit over her breast, exposing her nipple. And then his mouth closed over it, and he was suckling her. Slowly at first, his tongue twirling over the hardened tip. He was laving her with hunger. Sucking her nipple hard.
He reached for the other side of her bikini top and pulled it down harshly. His lips moved from one nipple to the other, where he trilled the second one with his tongue and teased it with his teeth and lips.
Melanie slipped a hand around the back of his head, holding it in place as she savored the pleasure his mouth was giving her. He tweaked one nipple while suckling the other one, and Melanie, who hadn’t been touched by a man in nine months, knew it wouldn’t take much more for her to climax.
Lawrence eased back. “I want you naked.”
Light-headed from pleasure, Melanie got to her knees. She fumbled with the back of her bikini top until it loosened. With Lawrence’s eyes steadfastly on her body, she got to her feet and began to pull the bikini bottom down her thighs.
“Melanie,” he uttered. “You’re even more beautiful than I remember.”
His words were like a potent aphrodisiac. He got onto his knees, moved toward her, and curled his hands around her thighs. An electrical shock of pleasure zapped Melanie as she realized what he was about to do. They were on this small island, and they were alone. Yet she had never been intimate with Lawrence in an open space before now.
She felt like an exhibitionist.
It was exciting.
His tongue flicked over her center, and her knees buckled. His fingers tightened on her skin and his mouth continued to move over her. The sensations were dizzying, amazing, intense. Lawrence’s tongue worked its magic, not relenting until her entire body began to quake with the onset of her climax.
He gripped her hard as she rode the wave of pleasure, as she cried out his name in this beautiful private place. Then he gathered her in his arms and settled her on the sand and stripped out of his bathing trunks.
Naked, he stared down at her. “You’re gorgeous.”
“So are you.” Catching her breath, Melanie got onto her knees and reached for his thighs. She stroked his flesh, heard him moan. And when she looked up at him, into his lust-filled eyes, she saw his vulnerability and felt a surge of power.
She pleasured him the way he had just pleasured her, until he stepped backward and eased down onto the sand. “Climb onto me,” he told her, lying on his back.
Melanie did, straddling him. He wrapped his arms around her and urged her upper body down. Their mouths found each other’s and began a slow, sensual kiss. And as their lips mated, Lawrence gently guided his member inside her.
Melanie cried out as he filled her. The feeling... It was exquisite. But it wasn’t just the physical sensation overcoming her. It was the emotion swelling in her heart.
She and Lawrence were one with each other. One with nature.
Nothing had ever seemed more right.
Chapter 11
For the entire ride back to the main island, Lawrence felt like a new man. Like he had been recharged in a way that had been critical for his well-being. Emotionally and physically, he was on a high. He didn’t even feel the burn of his muscles as he paddled at a fast pace to get back to the resort as quickly as possible to make sure he had time to get ready for his excursion with Shemar.
He’d spent more time on the island with Melanie than he had planned, foregoing the snorkeling for making love not only on the sand, but also in the water, and then in the brush along a path leading into the trees. He hadn’t been able to get enough of her. And the seclusion of the private island made the tropical paradise truly seem like their very own personal love nest.
Making love to Melanie had been phenomenal. Nine months he had gone without a woman’s touch. Without the touch of the woman he loved. And though he knew she still had the power to destroy him, what he’d just experienced with her had been worth the risk of more pain.
Hearing her cry out his name, seeing the look of rapture on her face, nothing had been more satisfying. And the fact that they were on that small island alone, free to run around naked and do what came naturally, had been a huge thrill.
Lawrence wanted nothing more than to take her back to his room where he could make love to her without having to worry about the discomfort that came from getting naked on a beach. Sure, they’d had the ocean to themselves to wash off their bodies. And the experience of having sex in the open, totally unrestricted, had been organic and highly erotic. But he craved the comfort of his bed to finish giving it to her with every ounce of energy he had left.
If only the seaplane was coming later in the afternoon. Then Lawren
ce could take her to his room for at least an hour. But it was wishful thinking, because he and Shemar were scheduled to go to the main island of Nadi and hike through the Koroyanitu National Heritage Park. Shemar wouldn’t be happy if Lawrence canceled at the last minute.
No, as much as Lawrence wanted nothing more than to continue in his bed where he’d left off with Melanie on the island, it would have to wait until later.
“What’s this excursion you’re going on?” Melanie asked.
“Shemar and I are heading to the main island on a seaplane. Where the national airport is. We’re going hiking.”
“Ah, a seaplane. I took one to the resort.”
“You?” Lawrence asked disbelievingly. “You got on a seaplane?”
Melanie glanced over her shoulder at him. Playfully, she splashed water at him with her oar. “Yes, I did,” she said with a measure of pride. “And it was terrifying, and I could hardly breathe. But in so many ways, it was amazing.”
“Wow,” Lawrence commented. “I thought for sure you would have taken a boat over here.”
“Why do you seem so surprised? I’m out on a kayak with you, aren’t I? I’ve been doing a lot of things outside my comfort zone on this trip.”
“And?”
“And...I’ve been having a great time.”
Her words held meaning, and Lawrence knew that in part she was referring to their experience of making love. His groin tightened with the desire to touch her again, but as they were nearing the shore, he knew what he should do—wait until tomorrow to see Melanie again. The plan hadn’t been to simply bed her and move on. He wanted her back in his life. He’d just given her a taste of what she’d been missing, and maybe now she needed to spend a night alone, thinking of him, reflecting on what she wanted in order to determine if she wanted him back in her life, as well.
He needed to pull back, give her time to figure out what was in her heart.
And if she decided that one last tryst was all she wanted...
Lawrence didn’t want to contemplate that, but if she broke his heart again, then he would have to accept her decision and move on. And this time, he wouldn’t look backward, no matter how hard that would be.
“Speaking of new experiences,” Lawrence began, “have you gone into the village to experience a kava-making ceremony?”
Melanie paused her paddling and looked over her shoulder at him. “Someone prepared kava for us to drink at the wedding reception, but I haven’t been in to town to experience it.”
“Then how about tomorrow? You want to go with me?”
“Sure. I’d like that.”
“Great. How about we meet at the main lobby for ten?”
“Sounds like a plan.” Melanie began to row again. “What are you doing tonight?” she asked, her voice tentative.
“I’m not sure. But I’ll be gone for hours with Shemar. I’ll probably be tired when we get back to the resort.”
“Oh. Right. Of course.”
Lawrence knew Melanie well enough to get that she was trying to ask if they could spend the night together. After an incredible time spent on the island, he could understand why she wanted more. He did, as well.
It would be all too easy to plan to meet her later and enjoy every moment naked in bed with her. But he was going to exercise restraint.
“Ten o’clock in the lobby,” Lawrence reiterated.
“Ten o’clock. I’ll be there.”
Finally, Lawrence and Melanie reached the shallow waters of the beach. As Lawrence maneuvered himself out of the kayak, he noticed a woman rushing toward the kayak. It took a moment for him to realize that it was Richelle.
“Oh, my God,” Richelle said as Lawrence began to guide the kayak to the shore. “That really is you. Melanie Watts out on a kayak?”
“Hey, Richelle,” Melanie said casually.
Richelle gave Melanie a knowing look. Then her gaze went to Lawrence. She raised an eyebrow. “Hello, Lawrence.”
Lawrence nodded. “Richelle.”
“How nice to see the two of you out together.”
“Where’s Roy?” Melanie asked attempting to cut off her friend’s thoughts.
“He’s over there.” Richelle gestured behind her. “Can I borrow Melanie once she gets out of the boat? Just for a moment?”
“She’s all yours,” Lawrence said. “I’m heading out with Shemar, so I’ve got to get back to my room.”
“Perfect.” Richelle smiled sweetly.
Lawrence helped Melanie out of the boat. She looked up at him, the expression in her eyes saying she wasn’t ready to say goodbye. “Tomorrow,” he told her. “Don’t be late.”
Melanie nodded. “I won’t.”
He smiled down at her. “Good. See you then.”
* * *
“I can’t believe you!” Richelle said to Melanie as she walked with her down the beach once Lawrence was out of earshot. “You and Lawrence...out on a kayak? I said to Roy, that looks like Melanie. And my God, it was you. I could hardly believe my eyes!”
“We went over to the island where they filmed Cast Away,” Melanie explained, as if her getting on a kayak was no big deal.
“I could barely get you on a seaplane. And you willingly got in a kayak with a man you said you wanted nothing more to do with?”
“I didn’t exactly say that....”
Richelle rolled her eyes, guffawing. “Who are you, and what have you done with my friend? Don’t get me wrong. I like the new you.” She lowered her voice, though no one was close enough to overhear them. “Come on, Mel. You and Lawrence on that island? Were you alone?”
“Yes.”
Richelle squealed. “Oh, my God. Obviously, you reconnected. Tell me everything.”
“Let’s just say, we had the island to ourselves. And...it couldn’t have been hotter.”
Melanie blushed, remembering how liberating and exciting it had been to make love to Lawrence on the island. She hated that he was heading off with Shemar now, instead of back to her room.
“You got on a boat and went to a deserted island with Lawrence to make love! Girl, you are changing before my very eyes!”
“You told me that I’ve been afraid of so much, and I took those words to heart. So I got in a kayak and trekked across all that water.” She told Richelle about how the boat had tipped. “I panicked, of course, but Lawrence was strong and calm, and he was there for me, holding me. In his arms, I felt safe.”
“And then you thanked him appropriately.”
“Richelle!” Melanie playfully swatted her arm.
“Good. I’m happy for you. I was worried that you would be bored for the last days of your vacation. But you’re in good hands now so I don’t have to be concerned.”
A smile touched Melanie’s lips. “Yeah. There’s something magical about this place. I love it here.”
“Maybe there’ll be another wedding?” Richelle said hopefully.
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that.” And Melanie’s stomach fluttered. “I mean, it was just sex.”
“Mel, seriously. You’re here, he’s here, and you’ve reconnected for a reason,” Richelle said sternly. “But if you hold back on him, I don’t know if you’ll get another chance with him.”
Melanie shrugged. “I don’t know that this is about another chance. I don’t want to get my hopes up, only to—”
“So you’d rather hide behind your wall in hopes of protecting yourself from getting hurt?” Richelle made a face. “You just finished telling me that you haven’t been letting your fear hold you back from trying new experiences. Don’t let your fear hold you back from telling Lawrence how you feel.”
Chapter 12
It was one thing for Lawrence to tell himself that he needed to harden his heart. It was another thing t
o put it into practice.
Fifteen minutes after ten o’clock the next morning, Lawrence was still waiting for Melanie to meet him in the lobby. And he was starting to fear that he should have kept his guard up. Because it was looking like she wasn’t going to show.
Just like she hadn’t shown on their wedding day.
As each second passed, his heart sank. It was becoming pretty obvious that she’d spent the night deciding what she wanted and had come to the conclusion that she wanted to move on in her life without him.
Pain ripped through him with the thought, as raw and intense as the day of his foiled wedding. One incredible morning with Melanie, and he was back to being completely vulnerable again.
Of course she’s not going to show. Why am I even surprised?
Lawrence glanced at his watch. Ten-seventeen. Exhaling sharply, he turned, ready to head back to his room.
And there she was, hurrying toward him on the path leading into the lobby. Her lips curled in a bright smile as their eyes connected.
Lawrence’s lips parted, and a long breath whooshed out of him. She was here.
She was a vision of loveliness in a white dress with her hair pulled into a ponytail. Her ample bosom looked enticing, and her feet were especially sexy in gold wedge sandals.
“Sorry I’m late,” Melanie said, warmth emanating from the smile on her beautiful lips. That smile had always been Lawrence’s undoing.
“No problem,” he told her, speaking casually, as though he hadn’t just been experiencing a world of doubt and pain.
“So, do we call for a taxi? I can’t wait to head to the village. This is going to be fun.”
“I don’t think I can do this,” Lawrence muttered, the words falling from his lips on their own.
“Pardon?” Melanie asked.
Lawrence cleared his throat. And then he spoke clearly. “I can’t do this, Mel.” Suddenly, he was sure. He couldn’t hang out with her, act as though they were a couple if they weren’t. “You and me... I—”
“You don’t want to go into town?” Melanie’s eyes narrowed in confusion.