Behind him, Lily stroked smoothly with the paddle, just as the instructor had showed them. Alex set a slow pace along the coast. A fish jumped from the water, a quick flash of silver before it dived back into the sea.
“Alex, look,” Lily said in an awed voice.
Alex stopped paddling and turned to study the area of the shore she pointed to. Several seals lay on rocks sunning themselves. Without the splash of the paddles, a series of grunts were clearly audible as two seals jostled for position on a wide, flat rock. They watched the seals for around ten minutes before continuing on.
“It feels good to do some exercise,” Lily said.
“I thought that’s what we did last night. And the night before.”
“You know what I mean,” Lily said.
Alex imagined her blush and had to turn to check. Beneath the peak of her black cap, it was easy to see the rosy glow in her cheeks.
“Don’t laugh at me.”
Alex sobered. “I’d never laugh at you, moon heart. You’re very special.”
Lily’s stern expression softened. “You’re pretty special yourself. This trip has been so much fun. It hasn’t been like work at all.”
Guilt sliced deep. If only she knew. Worried that she would read his unease, Alex turned back to the front and started to paddle. His thoughts whirled as he took in the gnarled trees that clung to parts of the coastline and the rocky shore. Being with Lily was easy. She was generous, giving and sincere. Basuko. What a mess.
Alex swallowed and stopped paddling. “That must be the first of the sandy coves that the man in the hire shop mentioned.”
“Do you want to stop soon?”
Alex twisted to search her face. What he saw made his gut churn and his cock leap with sudden need. Nothing new there. Her blue eyes glowed with inner fire. She grinned suddenly and winked…actually winked at him!
“I’m not hungry or tired. And I have to say, I’m glad you talked me into trying kayaking. I’m not sure my muscles will thank you for it tomorrow, but right at this minute I’m enjoying being out here.” The small dents either side of her mouth made an appearance.
A grin bubbled out into a laugh. “I have a few other ideas—new things for you to experience today.”
“Oh, yeah? Like what?”
That was definite interest, and Alex was fiercely glad. At least he’d have memories. “Oh, I thought we’d swim and eat our lunch. Explore some of the small islands. Make love.”
“I’m thinking you have a penchant for outdoors, Alex,” Lily said sternly.
“I admit it,” Alex said, recalling the small, breathy sighs she’d made when he’d taken her against the wall. “But then, so do you.”
“Maybe.” Lily giggled. “I think I’m learning new things about myself as I go along. I never knew sex could be so much fun.” Or so blue!
Sex. Alex’s mind stalled on the word, disliking the harsh sound of it when joining with Lily felt so good.
From the corner of his eye, he caught the curve of another sandy beach. Trees surrounded the small bay and outcrops of rocks littered the shore, jutting into the water and creating screens for some areas of the beach. Private. Perfect for what he had in mind. “How about stopping for a break over there?”
“I wouldn’t want my muscles to stiffen up too much.”
“Moon heart, some of my muscles are stiff already.”
Lily gasped and stopped paddling. “I can’t believe you said that.”
“What? You can’t believe you make me want you?” Alex waggled his eyebrows. “Wanna come over here and see?”
“You need cooling down.” An evil grin appeared on her face, so out of character that he stared. Which was a mistake. While he gaped, Lily leaned her body weight abruptly to the side.
Too late, Alex realized what the moon heart was up to.
“Wait! Lunch will get wet.”
“It’s in the waterproof containers.”
Alex hit the water with a splash. When he surfaced, gasping for air, Lily was already clinging to the kayak and making sure it didn’t drift away. She chuckled when she saw him.
“You know I’m gonna get you for that. I thought you said you weren’t a very good swimmer.”
“I lied. I can swim. I’m just not too coordinated at times. Your paddle’s getting away.”
Alex swam to the rescue. He’d lied to Lily, too. While he tried to keep away from the fact, his mind seemed to dive right back to dwell on his lie. And how much he’d hurt Lily when he left without giving her reasons. Or at least reasons that would make sense. After grabbing the paddle, he swam after Lily, who was already dragging the kayak into shore. He helped her pull the red kayak up high on the sand so there was no danger of it drifting away.
“Feel like a swim?” Alex stopped to savor the look of Lily as she raised her arms and wrung the excess water from her hair. Unaware of his stare, she unfastened the life jacket and tossed it on the kayak. Her breasts rose and fell gently beneath the black and silver fabric of her bikini top. Alex’s mouth dried. He swallowed to clear his throat. He must have made a sound because Lily glanced at him, freezing when she realized his frank interest.
“Come here,” he whispered.
“Why? What are you going to do with me?” Lily moistened her lips.
“What would you like me to do with you?” As he waited for a response, Alex tugged the waterproof compartment from the kayak and pulled out two towels. He spread them out under the shade of a pohutukawa tree. By the time he turned back to Lily, he was ready, impatient for action. Alex closed the distance between them and took Lily in his arms.
It was like coming home.
He held her tight, simply breathing in her scent and memorizing the feel of her pressed against him so later, when he was alone, he’d remember.
Her hands ran across his back and stopped to squeeze his ass.
“Nice,” she said with a hint of laughter.
“Oh, yeah?” Alex skated his hands across her ribs in retaliation.
“Stop!” she shrieked, trying to wriggle free.
“One kiss, and I’ll stop tickling you.”
“One kiss?”
“Yeah.”
Blue eyes alight with laughter, she pecked him on the chin. “You didn’t say where,” she pointed out. Then before he could react, she jerked from his touch and ran down the beach.
Alex raced after her, his longer legs gaining on her quickly. He grabbed her and tossed her over his shoulder. Kicking and screeching with laughter, she protested the whole time it took him to walk up the beach.
“Put me down. I’m too heavy.”
In truth, she was a pleasant armful. That damn lump grew inside his throat again. A bittersweet moment. Alex placed Lily on one of the towels he’d spread on the sand. Her breasts rose and fell swiftly, attracting his attention. Alex skated his hand across her bare tummy.
“Nice,” he said, echoing her previous comment with a wicked grin. He bent his head and traced the same path with his tongue. Lily moaned softly, her hands tangling in his hair and drawing him close.
Each time with Lily was better, both the anticipation and the culmination. Alex moved up a fraction until his mouth was level with her nipples.
“Alex? Have you ever swum in the sea with no clothes on? I’ve always thought it would be interesting. An experience.”
Alex smiled inwardly. He really liked this Lily—the brave one. She was appearing more often, and he loved that. She’d changed.
“Sit up, Lily.”
Lily sat up, a half smile playing on her lips. He’d been so serious today, as if he had something on his mind.
Alex climbed to his feet, the muscles in his belly and shoulders rippling as he moved.
“You’ve got a bruise on your biceps,” she murmured.
Alex frowned at the bruise while she bit back a sigh of pure appreciation. It was becoming harder and harder to remember that they’d have to say goodbye soon. Lily pushed aside the thought. Maybe she could g
o with him? Maybe somehow they could work things out and stay together.
He extended his hand and tugged Lily to her feet without effort.
“Are we going to explore?” she asked.
“No.” His hands went to the waistband of his shorts. He skimmed them down his hips and stepped out of them unashamed and at ease with his nakedness.
Her mouth twitched. But then why wouldn’t he be comfortable given his masculine beauty? Despite the in-your-face blue equipment that looked as though he’d been splashed with paint. She, on the other hand, was a coward when it came to disrobing. Lily had felt brave venturing out in the modest two-piece they’d purchased in a Nelson store. Getting naked in the great outdoors ranked right out there.
“Your turn.”
“Me?”
Alex appeared somber for an instant before his golden eyes started to twinkle. “A wise man once said that every day you should do something that scares you.” His hand skipped along the edge of her bikini panties, his hot gaze never leaving hers. “Strip. I want to make love to you in the sea. We can both try something new.”
Lily felt a pleasurable buzz in her lower body, but then that was nothing new when Alex was around. She spent most of the day in an erotic haze. Horny. Hot. Desperately hot for an alien. Who’d have thought?
Slowly, so slowly that the sensual heat seemed to ratchet upward into the burn zone, she reached behind and flicked the closure on her bikini bra.
The black and silver fabric fell away, exposing her pale breasts to the sun.
“I’ve never gone topless before,” she said, sounding a trifle breathless to her own ears.
“You’re going to go further than that,” Alex promised.
Lily swallowed, her heart slamming against her ribs. Between her legs felt damp and ready for him. She trembled but managed to hold his golden gaze. Just. Deep down, she knew the truth. It was going to be really hard to say goodbye.
The sun warmed her body, the rays feeling good on her bare breasts. They’d probably feel equally pleasant on her bare ass. Lily took a deep breath, hitched in all the parts that needed tucking and tightening then slid her fingers under the band of her bikini panties.
Approval lit his eyes as Lily let the fabric puddle down her legs. Funny, but her heart felt lighter. As if she’d cast off every single trouble along with her clothes. A wry grin twisted her lips. Lily quirked a brow. Here she was—Lily Morgan in her natural state.
“You’re beautiful.” Smiling, Alex snared her hand and led her across the fine, white particles of sand to the water’s edge. “Moon heart, any fantasy you want. Just tell me and we’ll make it come true.”
Lily felt tears build at the back of her eyes. Pleased, happy tears. She didn’t know how to express what she felt in that moment. He really was attracted to her—his penis was starting to transform already.
Alex peered closely. “Please don’t start leaking. I didn’t mean to upset you. Please, moon heart.”
Lily brushed an escapee tear from her cheek and tried to smile away the ache of happiness. “I’m happy, Alex.” She reached up on tiptoe and wound her arms around his neck, drawing his head down. “You make me happy.” And he did. She grinned up at him and angled her mouth, sliding her lips across his and coaxing him to participate. Tongues swirled together in a lazy-no-hurry exploration of smooth teeth and inner cheeks.
Alex cupped her buttocks and lifted her effortlessly, pulling her flush with his groin.
Lily laughed, fluttering her lashes at him. “My hero.”
“Ready for a swim?”
“I’d prefer sex,” Lily admitted.
A brief frown flashed across his golden face before he grinned. “We’ll do both, but we’d better do the swimming first because it looks like a kayak is heading this way.”
Holy heck! Lily spun about ready to scurry for her clothes. She might have gathered the courage to bare all for Alex. But not all and sundry.
Alex scooped her off her feet with a suddenness that made her squeak.
“Don’t worry, once you’re in the water, no one will notice what you’re wearing.”
Lily checked out the rapidly approaching kayaks. Three single kayaks, and if she wasn’t mistaken, men paddled them.
Alex waded into deeper water.
“Go a little faster,” she urged, her eyes on the rapidly approaching kayaks.
“Moon heart, males on Dalcon would pay to look at your ripe, luscious body.”
Lily glanced at the pale stretch marks on her upper thighs and grimaced. “Takes all sorts, I guess.”
“You could always ask Janaya.”
Lily hid her head against his shoulder and bit her lip on hearing his disappointment. “Do we have to talk about Janaya? I know she’s married to my brother, but I don’t know her well. She’s a little scary.”
“You don’t have to tell me.” Alex let her slide down his body until she stood. “All covered up.”
Lily doubted that. To her, the water appeared transparent. And… “Oh, my God!” she muttered, digging Alex in the ribs with her elbow. “Look!”
Alex made a choking sound. “Well, bless a fodo bird. That’s a new one.”
They both stared at his groin. His penis and balls glowed like a blue firefly in the dark.
“I guess I’d better stand in front of you so they don’t wonder what the blue light is.”
“Must be a reaction with the sea water. I have a better idea,” Alex purred. “I could slide my tom inside you—”
“Ahoy there.”
Alex lifted his right hand in lazy acknowledgment. “Hello.”
With his free hand, he tweaked Lily’s nipple. The sharp nip of his fingers sent a bungee cord of pleasure shooting along her nerve endings. Knowing other people were present intensified the thrill. Lily felt her cheeks heat. The color seeped down her neck and spread across her chest but embarrassment didn’t lessen the thirst for more. As she sidled closer to Alex, she wondered if her eagerness made her depraved. Another sharp tweak at her nipple sent a groan soaring up her throat. The kayaks were close enough now that she could see the features of the men who paddled them. A yellow kayak stopped closest. The men in the red and blue kayaks stopped to discuss a flock of sea birds on a nearby outcrop of rocks. After another pinch, Alex’s hand cruised across her belly and lower, to tangle in her pubic hair.
With her eyes on the man in the closest kayak and a polite smile pinned to her lips, she widened her stance to allow Alex better access. Immediately one finger skimmed downward across her clitoris and dipped into her pussy. Lily drew in a sharp breath.
“Have you been further around the coastline?”
“Not yet,” Alex said pleasantly. Beneath the water, his fingers stroked and played, delving in her folds then coasting further up along the sensitive skin of her perineum. “We decided to stop for a break.”
Lily shuddered violently, excitement building, her body reaching, striving to reach a pinnacle. The craving got to the agonizing, painful point where she just had to move despite the audience. Her hips tipped forward then back in counterpoint to his massaging fingers.
“We talked to another group who were out here yesterday. They saw a pod of dolphins. I don’t suppose you’ve seen them?”
“Alex.” His name came out on a longing whimper. The man in the nearest kayak gave her a funny look, but the slow, agonizing pace of Alex’s fingers never faltered.
“We saw a few seals earlier on,” Alex said. As he spoke, his thumb traced lazy circles across her swollen clit. His fingers danced in deliberate forays around the rim of her cunt, teasing, tempting, driving her higher and closer to meltdown. Flames licked her nerve endings as she hovered on the cusp of ecstasy. But the emptiness inside needed filling. She desperately needed to be filled by Alex’s cock. Now. Before she tumbled. Lily bit down on the inside of her mouth.
How could he act so calmly?
A wave, bigger than the preceding ones, brushed under the kayaks and lifted Lily off her feet.
Her upper body lifted, exposing her breasts.
Lily caught a wolfish grin from Alex as his hand whipped out to cover her tight, distended nipples. Then a soft choking noise attracted her attention. The man in the yellow kayak had received a right eyeful, and his gaze was fixed on her shoulders, avidly waiting for the next wave to do its worst.
“We thought we’d laze around here for a while,” Alex said. His eyes settled on her mouth, and for a moment, Lily thought he would kiss her. But he didn’t. Instead, two fingers slipped inside her tight channel. Regardless of the audience, Lily shifted closer to Alex and wrapped her arms around his waist. The head of his cock dragged against her belly, and the friction made his eyes narrow.
Lily smiled inwardly. Not so unaffected after all. “I hope you see the dolphins,” she said. Between their bodies, her hand fisted around his engorged cock, and she rubbed her thumb across the tip.
Another wave rocked them together, and Lily laughed. She acted on her wicked thought, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. Slowly, so slowly, she drew her body close, positioning his cock at the weeping mouth of her pussy and pushing down until she impaled herself. The empty, achy sensation fled, replaced by fullness and promise.
“Ah, I think we’ll go.”
“Newlyweds,” Lily said over her shoulder. She felt Alex’s chest rise and fall in silent laughter. “Are they going?” she whispered.
“Yeah.”
“Thank God! I thought I was going to combust. I don’t think I’m ready to do it in public, but I couldn’t seem to help myself.”
“That man saw more than I was happy with,” Alex growled.
“Just a flash of tit.”
“Mine,” he said on a slow groan as he grasped her hips, lifted her then eased her back down. “For my eyes only.”
Lily loved the sound of his possessiveness. But afraid to let herself hope. Live for the moment, she decided, as gravity and Alex’s hands slid her down his erection. Her sensitive clit brushed the length of his penis. The slow slide sent her pulse soaring. Jolts of pleasurable excitement hazed her mind on the next glide down his cock. Her fingers entwined in his hair. “Faster.”
Talking Dog II: Never Send a Dog To Do a Woman's Job Page 16