by Starla Kaye
He practically tore the rest of his clothes off and strutted all proud male to the bed. As she admired the long, thick cock waving in her direction, her hands stilled on her bottom. Moisture beaded on her mound. Her clit pulsed, and she watched anxiously as he rolled a condom onto that rod she wanted so badly. With the breeze of the paddle fan above them, she could smell the tempting scent of man, leather from his boots, and a musky, sexy aftershave. She heated all over with longing.
“Hurry up,” she whispered urgently.
“I love an impatient woman.” He grinned sexily and sauntered toward her.
She started to roll over but he stopped her, straddling her legs. He released her ponytail and threaded his fingers through her hair, and then pushed it aside. Slowly he leaned down to kiss the back of her neck and sink a finger into her at the same time.
She stilled, savored the experience.
“Like this, darlin’?” He added a second finger, moved them both in and out, around.
“Ohhhh, yes!” Her inner muscles tried to clamp around his fingers.
He continued working her and leaned back to smooth his other hand over her bottom. “So pretty and pink. Still warm.” He gave her bottom a light spank and she gasped, her bottom quivering. “I definitely believe in spanking when necessary.”
“I need… Sam, I need you.” His fingers were driving her crazy. She could barely think. “Please.”
His fingers tormented her a few more minutes. She was going wild beneath him, panting, aching.
“So responsive. I like that in a woman.”
“Please,” she begged, pushing back harder against his fingers. “I need you. Now. Deep.”
“Such sweet words.” He shifted back until he was on his knees. She hugged the pillow again as he lifted her hips enough to slide into her from behind. “Oh, darlin’,” he gritted out, pulling nearly out and driving in again.
“Ohhhhh, ohhhhh, so good.” She squeezed her eyes shut, moaning. He was big and thick, but he filled her perfectly. She pushed back to fully seat him and he groaned.
He held her hips and rammed in and out with deep strokes that she met with equal desperation. His strokes became faster, more intense. He breathed hard, grunted as he ground against her, inside her. “I wanted this to last a while,” he bit out. “Maybe next time.”
“Yes, next time,” she moaned. “Faster. Oh God, faster.”
Never had she enjoyed a man’s lovemaking this much. Her thoughts tumbled all over the place. Wrong man for her. Right man. Impossible man. Perfect man. He took her hard and fast, drove her over the edge into a wild release.
“Oh, Sam!” She shoved back at him until she finally froze, until her release surrounded him as he continued to drive deep.
Her brain cells tried to function again. So good.So very, very good. She was content to remain held by him as he strained to find his own release. Finally he came on a wild roar and she smiled at it.
A few minutes later Valentine lie absolutely boneless with Sam’s big, warm body nestled against her. One of his hands was draped around her and gently massaged her breast. “So, darlin’, still think you’re a woman lover?” he asked in amusement.
“Probably not,” she teased, swiveling her head to look at him. “But I might need a little more convincing.”
“Give me a few minutes and I’ll—” He was interrupted by the sound of her cell phone ringing.
She tried to ignore it, but when the phone went to voice mail, and then rang again with persistence, she gave up. She scooted off the bed and grabbed the phone from her tote bag. “Dr. Hart.”
Five minutes later she’d finished arguing with her partners and faced a scowling, fully dressed Sam. “Sounds like you’re considering giving up on your dream and staying with the status quo. But I think that would be foolish.”
She grabbed her scattered clothes and went to the bathroom to dress. “Sometimes dreams just don’t work out.”
“Are you really going to give up so easily?” he countered, sounding annoyed. “Maybe I ought to have a talk with those partners of yours.”
She stuck her head the door. “Now who is interfering in someone else’s business?” He didn’t look the least bit interested in taking back his offer. Although she would handle her partners and her dream by herself, she felt warmed by his concern for her. And it seemed that she would have to go right back to butting into the ranch matter as well, because she had started to care for him, too.
Chapter Four
The sun was finally creeping up high enough that the lights nestled amongst the towering palm trees started going off for the new day. Sam stood, barefoot, shirtless, and exhausted with his hands braced on the balcony railing. Birds chirped noisily in the massively spread out weeping fig tree beside the small bridge spanning the fish pond in the courtyard below the half circle of condominium apartment buildings. A resort worker had already cleaned the pool and was now hosing down the surrounding cemented area sprinkled with chaise lounges. The day had definitely begun. But Sam wondered where the night had gone.
He took another deep drink of the coffee he’d made sometime in the middle of the night. Being here on “vacation” was nearly as exhausting as working on the ranch. He’d flown what had seemed endlessly to get here, and then gone to a mai tai party his first night on the island. The time zone thing had still been bothering him and he would have liked to stay at the resort that next day. But Shelby had insisted on him going on that whale-watching cruise. Then somehow Valentine had coerced him into driving almost around the whole island to go see Hana the day after that. Granted the drive had been a pretty one, but tiring. Even more so after first taking some time to burn her butt, then spend more time at the cottage they’d rented heating the sheets, and then the even hotter playtime after they got back here.
Valentine. He hadn’t seen her in two days and damn he missed her. He’d much rather have spent these last couple of days with her than at Dale’s family’s place over in Wailea. Making idle chitchat with strangers—particularly strangers who were put out with him for the ranch situation—hadn’t been a good time. He’d felt stressed by the time he drove back here late last night. He’d just wanted to crash and sleep for a good solid eight hours. That hadn’t worked out because Jake had called him around one this morning. They’d talked until well after three.
He yawned. Shelby had a family and friends get-together planned at the Old Lahaina Luau tonight. If he were going this evening, then he needed to hang out in his rooms today and rest up. Maybe he’d take a dip in the pool later. Other than that, he wanted to be alone.
He needed to think carefully about Jake’s surprising proposition. He’d known how much his friend liked working on the Thompson Ranch. He’d never suspected that Jake might be interested in owning it. And Jake probably wouldn’t have come forward with this offer if he hadn’t run into the veterinary from Crowley, who’d evidently told Jake about his plan to retire, and his desire to pass on the practice to Sam.
His gaze shifted to the waves crashing into the shoreline. The sound was peaceful, even if almost as loud as the birds in the tree having some kind of intense morning discussion. Across the blue, blue water he could barely make out the long shadow that was the island of Molokai. Shelby had mentioned something about wanting him to take a helicopter ride with her over there to go see the tallest sea cliffs on the planet. She’d claimed the sight was spectacular. Maybe so, but no way in hell would she get him up in one of those tiny helicopters. Let her drag Valentine along on that little adventure.
A smile crept onto his face as he thought about the spunky romance therapist. He wondered if she still thought he needed some advice on making love. He was pretty sure she’d been sore the next day. He’d not been easy on her…or she with him. He hadn’t been able to sleep after she’d gone back to her own condo. The scents from their lovemaking had been all over his bed.
Interrupting his thoughts, he heard Valentine pushing open the sliding doors to her balcony. He still
ed, holding his breath. Was she dressed for the day now? Or still wearing that “Hot, Hot, Hotter” sleep shirt? Damn he liked that shirt, even if it wasn’t Victoria’s Secret see-through sexy.
His body hardened. He could easily go another round or two with her in bed. Hell, even on the floor. Maybe bent over the table, or one of the bar stools. He didn’t much care where he slid his cock into her warm and willing body. He just ached to be inside her. Ached and wanted her more than he could ever remember wanting another woman. The thought made him uneasy.
“You’re here on Maui?” Sam heard her say, realizing she was talking on the cell phone while on her balcony.
He should slink back inside his condo and not listen in, but he didn’t move. Curious. Yet he told himself it was so he wouldn’t disturb her by letting her know about his presence nearby.
“No! I do not want to go to dinner with you tonight. I’ve got plans already. Tomorrow? Well, I don’t know. No! What am I saying? I do not want to see you.”
Tomorrow? He couldn’t think of any plans his sister had for the wedding party or guests. But he didn’t like the idea of Valentine being talked into meeting whoever this man was, and he definitely sensed it was a man on the phone. He’d read something in a Maui magazine about the Piiholo Ranch, where you could go horseback riding and picnic. Yeah, that sounded good. Something like that could drag on for most of the day. He’d make reservations for them both. He didn’t think he’d have much trouble talking her into going along. Maybe they had their disagreements now and then, but for the most part they got along. Even with the occasional spanking.
“Jonathan, you need to stop contacting me,” she said, sounding distressed. “Why did you call my office and find out where I’d gone? Leave. Me. Alone.”
Was the man stalking her? Sam bristled. Was he dangerous? Maybe he should say something now.
Valentine heaved a put-upon sigh, no sounds of fear in her voice, just annoyance. “We’re divorced, Jonathan. You cheated on me, left me, and have given me so many self-doubts that I don’t want to ever see you again.”
She hesitated, obviously listening. “Yes, the psychologically trained part of me understands your desperate need to finally come out of the closet. But, jeez! I’m still having a hard time believing I married a man who preferred men. How could I have been so blind not to even suspect something like that? All I’ve been able to come up with is maybe I don’t really know my own sexual leanings.”
Sam’s mouth fell open and he stumbled back to sit down in one of the patio chairs. She’d been married to a gay man! Well, damn. And she hadn’t suspected as much? No wonder she’d been momentarily confused about her sense of gender preference. Although there wasn’t a doubt in his mind about the gender she preferred! None at all. She’d been all over him in his bedroom. Doing some very naughty things that he’d certainly enjoyed. The jerk was just messing with her mind.
“Apologies don’t help. Please. Don’t call me again.” Her voice shook, and as she loudly flipped the cell phone shut, he heard what sounded like a sniffle.
He was trying to decide how to handle the situation. He’d overheard something very private. Still, he hated the thought of her crying. Before he could do anything, though, her cell phone rang again and he tensed.
She didn’t answer, but evidently saw who was calling via caller ID, because suddenly her phone went flying over the balcony railing. Normally he wouldn’t have liked that kind of tantrum fit. This time, he was of a mind to gone down there and stomp the hell out of the phone. As if it were to blame for upsetting her.
“Did you hear all of that?” she asked quietly. “You know, it’s not nice to eavesdrop.”
He stood and went to the railing, leaning forward so he could look around the corner at her. His heart raced at the strangely sexy sight of the “Hotter” sleep shirt. He struggled to calm his growing arousal. “I was out here first. I hadn’t planned to eavesdrop, just couldn’t figure out how to slip back inside without alarming you.” Okay, that was kind of a lie.
“Whatever. Now you know my deep, dark secret. I’m a woman who failed in her marriage. I couldn’t even keep my husband’s sexual attention,” she said miserably.
“That’s crazy thinking! The guy was gay, darlin’. If he had that kind of leaning, it wasn’t your fault.” He gave her a tentative grin. “Besides, you definitely keep my sexual attention.”
She gave him an oh-shut-up-I-want-to-be-sulky look. “Go shave or something. Anything. Just go away.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You needing something to pull you out of that pout?”
He almost laughed when her hands flew around to her bottom, easily understanding what he’d hinted at but not been serious about.
“I’m not pouting, I’m miserably pondering the failure in my life. I can be miserable if I want to be.” She spun around to go back into her own condo. “What you had in mind is not the answer to everything.”
He watched the sassy little wiggle of her hips and felt his cock hardening again. Maybe spanking wasn’t an answer to everything, but he sure didn’t mind having her draped over his lap. No, he didn’t at all mind warming that sweet butt. He gave a quiet groan and headed inside for a shower. ‘Course taking a shower with her would be so much better than taking one alone.
* * *
Valentine turned over on the chaise lounge she’d pulled away from the other chairs on the grassy area just above the beach wall. The sun was beating down hard by now at late morning. She should probably go inside pretty soon. But she’d spent most of the morning in her rooms, piddling around on her laptop researching B&B’s on Maui, and returning emails to her partners who were still upset with her for this little vacation. Mainly she’d stayed inside to do anything that kept her well away from Sam Thompson. It had embarrassed her knowing he knew about Jonathan, knew about why her husband had left her.
She squeezed her eyes shut tighter, trying to keep the tears threatening to fall from slipping out. Her hormones were in full frenzy today. She couldn’t come out of the funk she’d drifted into after talking to Jonathan. Even worse, she’d practically barked at poor Shelby when the younger woman had called to invite her on a helicopter ride. She’d apologized and Shelby had forgiven her easily enough, but her phone call with her ex had upset her so much. How could she have been such a poor judge of men when she’d fallen in love with him? Would she always be such a poor judge? Should she even bother with men at all? She was so confused.
A tear trickled down her cheek and she grumbled a curse in disgust at the weakness. Then, as she dashed it away, she sensed someone walking closer. “Please walk on by. Please walk on by,” she silently pleaded. But with the way her nerves tingled and the way anticipation fluttered through her stomach, she knew who had approached her chair.
When a hard hand gave a brisk swat to her upturned, bikini clad bottom, there was no longer even a doubt. Sam.
“What was that for?” she hissed, rolling sideways and glancing worriedly around to see if anyone had noticed his action. Relief soothed her somewhat when she found they were still very much alone.
“For cursing.” He crouched down next to her and reached to push a strand of hair behind her ear. “Are you still pouting?”
She saw the disapproval in his eyes. “I’m sunbathing,” she said curtly. Even though she was pretty sure his thoughts were about spanking her for childish behavior, the mere touch of his fingertips had made her shiver. It made her want more of his touch. She’d missed him the last couple of days.
“Darlin’, your back is turning even redder than your butt when I—”
She narrowed her eyes and flung out a hand to cover his mouth. “Don’t even say it! Not out here.”
He used his tongue to tickle her palm and she shivered all over again, jerking her hand back. “So long as you understand.”
“Why didn’t you go on that helicopter ride to Molokai? Shelby said she’d invited you?” She changed the subject, desperate to think about anything besides th
e delicious sensations this man could arouse in her. She was trying to stay mad at men, all men. She was pouting, just like he’d said, but a good pout now and then was okay. In her opinion.
He sat on the side of her lounge chair and she scowled at him, causing him to grin in amusement. “Flying in something that small doesn’t have a lot of appeal to me. Besides, I’ve been going what seems nonstop ever since I got here. I’m worn out.”
He grinned even more, his pupils dilating in arousal. “A certain sulky romance therapist did her own part in wearing me out. So I’m taking it easy until tonight and the luau.”
“At least I’ve had time to catch up on my sleep lately. It was peaceful with you gone, not arguing with me, not pestering me,” she teased. She studied his face, and noticed the tired lines around his eyes, the slight bagginess beneath them. “You didn’t sleep well last night, did you?”
He stood abruptly and nearly tipped the chair sideways. “I got a call from my foreman in the middle of the night. We talked quite a spell. I couldn’t sleep after that.”
She crawled off the chair and moved next to him and gently touched his arm. “Is something wrong at the ranch? You’re not going to have to leave early are you? Shelby would be devastated.” So would she, but she didn’t want to think about that immediate thought.
“No, I’ll be leaving the day after the wedding as planned.” He faced her, tension making his body stiff.
For the first time she noticed he wasn’t wearing his usual jeans, shirt and boots. He actually had on swim trunks and was barefoot. And, oh my, he looked absolutely luscious. How could she have been so sunk in depression not to have noticed that sooner?
She smiled. “It’s nice seeing you out of your cowboy uniform.”
His eyes twinkled. “Cowboy uniform?”
He pulled her into his embrace—like she’d been hoping he would—and kissed her. He picked her up and held her, toes dangling, to kiss her with such passion, with such demand for her response. And she responded, kissing him back with equal passion.