Jabarie took a sip while he stared off ahead for a long thoughtful moment. “I enjoy being out here where it’s quiet and I’m all alone. So I can think without interruptions.”
“What do you think about?”
He shrugged. “Life. My career. Sometimes, you.”
“What about me?” She dared to ask.
He turned so that he could look directly at her as he spoke. “What you’re doing and how I wish that things had been different between us.”
So do I. There was a long pause before she sighed and reached for her drink. “I think about you and the same things sometimes. Then I tell myself that things happened for a reason.”
“You don’t really believe that.”
She forced herself to nod. “Yes, I’m afraid that I do.”
“Come here,” he said, taking her hand and pulling her to her feet. Nervously, she licked her lips.
He leaned forward and retraced her moistened lips with his tongue. Desire coiled low in her belly. Her breasts tingled and her nipples hardened and all she could do was hold on.
Pulling back slightly, he stared down at her, eyes burning with desire. “I want to know if leaving Sheraton Beach was it worth it. Are you happy?”
Right now the only thing that made her happy was being here on this yacht, alone with him. With his body pressed against hers, she felt the heat radiating against her skin. She stared up at his beautiful brown eyes that she had been dreaming about for the last five years. Was she happy without him in her life? No. But she couldn’t tell him that. She couldn’t tell him that since she left her life had been empty and lonely. The only thing holding her together had been seeing her dream of opening her own bookstore turned into a reality, but even that was no longer enough. She looked down at his chest as she spoke. “I’m living my dream.”
“That’s not what I asked you. I want to know if you’re happy?” He tilted her head up to look into his eyes and when she did, the deep dark pupils were impossible to withstand.
“I am quite content.”
“But are you happy?” he demanded. His eyes burned with the need to know the truth.
“Yes.” She lied. She looked right up at him and lied because the truth would have caused her to crumble. It was too late to go back and revisit that exact moment his lawyer had come to her house, or when she rushed over to his apartment and found him in the arms of another woman. Maybe they could have talked and worked things out, if she had stuck around long enough. But she hadn’t, and there was no point in resurrecting those emotions and feelings that obviously had never gone away. They were both hurting for different reasons. She because she had felt betrayed. Him…she wasn’t sure why. Never understood that one. All that she knew now was that after five years, neither of them had moved on with their lives. And a small part of her was glad to know that he had never gotten over her walking out on him. As much as she missed him it was good to know that he had felt the same way.
“I don’t believe you,” Jabarie said then pulled her even closer in his arms. Her torso brushed against his chest. “You forget. I know you well and can always tell when you’re lying.”
“You’re wrong,” she said barely above a whisper.
“No, I’m not,” he began while brushing light kisses on her temple. “You missed me. Didn’t you?”
Her pulse pounded. “No, I didn’t.”
“Yes, you did, because I missed you.”
Her heart did a backflip and down between her thighs she felt herself dampen with need. Her breathing became shallow as she watched him watching her. “Jabarie, I think we need to…”
Jabarie placed a finger to her lips, silencing her. “I can’t Brenna. I can’t keep pretending I don’t still care about you because I do,” he said, clearly not listening to a word she had said. “You’re the last thing on my mind every night, and the first thing when I wake up. I still get hard just thinking about you.”
Excitement spiraled throughout her body. She slid her arms around his neck wanting him with everything she had. She arched her body against him and felt the thick, hard strength of him. He was solid, but then she knew that. Had never forgotten. Her heart knew what her mind had been hiding from all these years. Jabarie was the only man who could bring her body to life. And she wanted him with all she had.
He slid his fingers gently up her arm, along her shoulder until he cupped the back of her neck and pulled her closer to him. Brenna offered no resistance, instead she leaned into the solid wall of his chest and closed her eyes while his hot breath caressed her nose, sending delicious shivers raging through her body. Then he planted kisses from the corner of her mouth, along her cheek, down to her throat. Oh, did his lips feel good! How had she gone five years without experiencing this? Cool air brushed against her skin, but she didn’t seem to notice, not with the heat Jabarie stirred. Somewhere in the back of her mind, Brenna knew she should stop him, knew that she would soon be completely lost to the passion he fired within her. She knew all that, and yet she decided not to say a word.
His lips retraced their path along her cheek, inches closer to her mouth. Gazing down at her, he cupped her face in his hands. “I want you, Brenna,” he whispered in a voice husky with passion. “But I won’t do anything until you let me know that this is what you want, as well.” His questioning eyes searched her face.
Brenna looked deep into the dark depths of his eyes. She knew then that she’d worry about the consequences later because she needed him now.
To answer his question, she raised on her tiptoes and pressed her body against his. Jabarie pulled her even closer and ground his hips against her. She felt his erection, hot and hard, against her belly and she smiled, loving the fact that she could still invoke such a passionate response from his body.
Jabarie needed no further encouragement. He took her hand and led her down to the lower deck. She allowed him to lead her into the room, knowing this was her last time to say no. But why say no when it wasn’t at all what she wanted. She wanted him. She wanted him in her, over her, beside her. This was her choice, her decision and she had made it. And whatever the consequences were, she would deal with them later.
As soon as the door was shut, Jabarie bent to capture her mouth with a passion that could no longer be denied. His tongue sought hers and they entwined.
His mouth incited a firestorm in Brenna. He nibbled on her bottom lip, sucking gently on her flesh and sent shivers of awareness pulsing through her.
His kiss consumed her. His arms held her against him, and the warm pressure of his chest against her aching nipples was enough to make her knees weaken.
Pulling back slightly, Jabarie caught her hand in his, brought it to his lips and stilled her trembling.
She forced a smile. “Is this where you seduce all your women?”
His grip tightened on her hand. A muscle at his jaw ticked before his mouth softened into a slow smile. “You’re the only one I’ve ever brought aboard the Beaumont Beauty. The only one I’ve ever wanted to do everything for, give everything to.”
Brenna tried to shrug off his sweet words, believing he was saying what he thought she wanted to hear. But as she stared into his face, reading his expression, she saw the truth as clear as his desire. His words had a clear meaning. Part of her brain was flickering a red warning light, while the other challenged her to be as honest with him as he was with her. He had arranged this cruise so that he could spend time with her alone. How could she find fault in that? Brenna swallowed hard and no longer feared the feelings and emotions the night would resurrect; instead she was ready to take everything he had to offer. She felt only an overwhelming heat that surged through her and burned out everything but her deepest needs.
She took a step forward. He slipped a hand between the folds of her dress and caressed the underside of her breast.
She shuddered at his touch. “I can’t think.”
He came back and nuzzled her throat, then her ear. “Don’t think, just feel. I’ve missed you, missed this.” H
e cupped her breast then kissed his way down from her ear past the hollow in her throat to the moist valley between her breasts. “You smell good.”
“Oh,” she sighed. With his hands and mouth on her body, it was hard to remember why she had been angry with him, or how rejected and alone she’d felt after she’d left. All she could think about was what was happening now.
While staring intensely at her, Jabarie reached out and cupped her bare breast, teasing her nipple in lazy circles with his thumb. “Do you like that?” he asked. “Tell me you like that.”
“You know I like that,” she gasped. “I always have.” Jabarie had always known what she liked.
Her nipple hardened into hot pebbles. He lowered his head and drew her nipple into his mouth and suckled the sensitive bud. She arched beneath him with a little cry that exploded from her lips. After another sharp intake of breath which was quickly followed by a low moan, he painted a path with his tongue, moving from one nipple to the other. Her pulse raced and her nipples were tight knots of desire, while her breasts ached in his hands. When she didn’t think she could stand a second more, he released her and stepped back.
With his eyes holding hers, Jabarie removed his shoes and socks. His hands went to the buttons of his shirt.
“Let me,” she whispered then stepped forward. She undid the buttons slowly, then put her lips to his chest as she parted his shirt and licked his nipples.
He groaned then yanked his shirt off and threw it on the floor, revealing a torso that had haunted her dreams for years. It was hard and defined and covered with a fine coat of dark black hair. Encouraged, she kissed and licked his chest, the ridges of his ribcage and the flat torso, causing him to shudder.
Laughing, Brenna blew warm air on his belly and unzipped his trousers. They fell to his ankles followed by his boxers. She took his stiff rod in her hand and lowered to her knees in front of him and caressed him. He was slick and hot, pulsing in her hand.
She enjoyed the feel of him, anticipating what would come, then took her hand away and allowed her tongue to travel the long, hard length of him until he groaned.
Breath coming fast, he reached down and lifted her to her feet. “No more.”
He put his hands at her waist, and she put her hands on his shoulders as he walked her back towards the bed, easing her down onto her back, her legs open.
He stood between her legs, looking down at her with possessive intent. Reaching out, he slipped her silk thong off, and brought it to his nose. “Hmm. I’ve never forgotten your fragrance.” He held her eyes as he breathed deeply, absorbing her scent. “This smell has always belonged to me.”
Brenna shuddered under his gaze, uneasy with his claim to her, thrilled that he still found her attractive. He dropped her panties to the floor and took her ankles, lifting and spreading them wide, and studied her intimate secrets.
“Put your legs on my shoulders.”
She did as he asked, and he studied her while he ran his hands down her calves, then her thighs, stopping short of touching her where she wanted his hand most. She couldn’t hold back the whimper of disappointment and arched her hips in invitation. But he ignored her and had every intention of doing this his way. She groaned inwardly. It was apparent as he retraced his path, that rushing was not on the agenda this evening. Just as she was prepared to scream, he turned his head and used his tongue to outline her ankle. She quivered on contact. It was a combination of a tickle and erotic delight that she couldn’t begin to describe.
“My shoes.” She wiggled the foot still wearing high-heeled gold sandals.
“Leave them on.”
Impatiently, she waited for what he would do next. He let her legs slide down his body until her feet rested on the bed.
“Would you like me to taste you?” he asked.
When she nodded, he pushed her thighs apart and sank between her legs. Brenna wrapped her legs around his shoulders. “Yes.”
Jabarie lowered his head and Brenna felt his hot breath on her tender folds. She quivered, waiting for his tongue, and when his finally touched her there, no more than a gentle caress, she clutched the sheets and caught her lower lip between her teeth.
“Oh, yeah,” she moaned. “More, please.”
He looked up at her and replied, “No worries, sweetheart. I’ve been waiting five years to taste you again.”
After his declaration, Jabarie slid his large hands under her bottom to lift her to his mouth. His fingers kneaded her buttocks; his thumbs held her firmly in place. He buried his face in her essence, inhaling deeply, rubbing his mouth across her damp channel. She closed her eyes, all her senses concentrated on the hooded area. When his mouth closed over it and pulled it gently into her mouth, she gave a strange, tortured cry and her fingers moved to the back of his head to hold him in place.
In the distance, the soft crash of the waves rolled in a rhythm as mesmerizing as his mouth on her. He pleasured her with long strokes, lazy licks, even tiny nibbles on her flesh, pushing her ever closer to the edge. She cried out in pleasure and bucked her hips to his face. She wanted every morsel of what he had to offer. It wasn’t long before heat flared through her body and her breath caught, her body arching as she cried out his name and climaxed.
Jabarie lowered her cheeks back onto the bed then his fingers traveled around to her entrance and he slipped two fingers inside. Her hips rocked against his mouth while she begged and pleaded for him to take her. Instead, he spread her legs wider. He dipped one finger into her warm juices, then eased the tip into her as he teased her bud with his tongue. His tongue and his fingers worked together, alternately driving in and withdrawing. He was driving her wild. Every move he made sent a whirlwind of awareness through her. Panting heavily, she arched her hips into his face again.
“Oh, yes, don’t stop!” she pleaded.
He kept up the dual thrusts for a few more moments then drew back and positioned her at the center of the bed. When he lowered on top of her, it felt right. A sob clogged her throat. She felt protected in his arms.
He lifted himself up on his elbows and looked down at her. “Everything okay?”
Right now everything in her world was right. “No.”
“Is there something you want me to do?”
Her mind was a jumble of sensations, of arousal. “Yes. I want to feel you inside of me.”
After reaching over to the side table, he pulled on a condom and her hand followed his, moving quickly to the base. He groaned then kissed her slow and deep as he positioned himself at her entrance. He teased her by rubbing against her clit, easing inside, then withdrawing, pushing into her an inch, letting out a low groan and pulling back.
Brenna writhered beneath him. Her nipples were so hard they grazed against his bare skin. Each touch threatening what little self-control she had left. She wanted him and she wanted him right now. “Stop teasing.” She grabbed his hips and tugged him into her, demanding more than he’d given her.
He plunged, satisfying her demand, thrusting deeply. His breath escaped him in a long hiss as he sank deeply inside her. She cried out at his penetration. It had been too long. She felt filled, her muscles working with his, tightening and releasing as he plunged and pulled back.
“Please,” she pleaded. “Make love to me.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He smiled down at her and started moving again. This time slow, deep thrusts. Her thighs opened wider and she locked her ankles behind his back.
It lasted forever. It was over in a moment. She held him as he rode her. The tension built. Each thrust brought intense pleasure and speed as he rode hard inside her body. It was wild. It was madness. She came an instant before he did. Her orgasm went on and on, as she tightened her inner muscles around him.
He came long and hard, his body arched. Every muscle in his arms corded with tension. His breathing came in furious, hot gushes, scorching her face and temples as his face contorted with passion.
At last, he collapsed and dropped his head
onto the pillow beside hers. His breath now was labored, deep pants that matched hers.
He stilled. As her breath evened out, she became aware of the length of his legs wrapped around hers, his smooth torso resting on hers. She lifted her arms and drew him closer, nuzzling at his neck. The pulse in his throat beat hard and fast. He had his eyes closed and his mouth partly opened as he recovered.
“I didn’t expect things to get that out of control. I had planned to make it last a lot longer,” he muttered.
She panted still. “Any longer and I’d have passed out.”
He smiled. She watched an expression of supreme satisfaction cross his face. “Next time.”
Brenna clung to him. She’d never experienced anything like that before. Not even when they were together. Oh, the sex had always been the bomb, but today it was in a category all of its own.
Chapter 11
The next morning, sunlight beamed through the small window. Brenna woke slowly, not ready yet to let go of the tranquility that surrounded her. She rolled over, aware of a slight ache between her legs, and smiled. Last night, Jabarie made love to her! Part of her had expected to wake up to find that it had all been a dream. Reaching out for Jabarie, she found him gone and his side of the bed was cold. But she knew he had been there. She could see the indentation on his pillow. Grabbing his pillow, she brought it to her chest and could smell the faint, masculine scent of him. Unbelievable. She was astonished by the sense of fulfillment she felt because for the first time in five years, she felt complete.
Closing her eyes, her smile deepened as the events of the night before came flooding back. Jabarie had made her feel like a woman, but then, he had always been an excellent lover. He’d touched, kissed and stroked then held her tenderly as she came apart in his arms. Afterwards, when their hearts had slowed, he’d whispered passionate words near her ear. He’d made her feel truly special and most importantly, missed. And she could no longer deny that what was happening between them was a lot more than just sex.
Brenna tightened her hold on the pillow as feelings she had thought were long since dead, swelled her heart. Her own driven need to have him buried inside her body last night, again and again, shocked her and had conjured up the possibility that maybe they had a chance of getting back together and getting it right this time.
The Second Time Around Page 12