by Tara Quan
He turned and fixed his gaze on the heavy wooden door. Quirking a brow at her, he strode over and turned the lock.
A shiver rolled down her spine. “Kal….”
When he faced her, he had a Cheshire cat grin on his face. His intent couldn’t have been clearer.
Her mind raced to find excuses. “We can’t. We don’t have a—”
He reached into his back pocket, pulled out his wallet, and unearthed a small silver packet. “I’m sure this reflects poorly on me, but I never leave home without a condom.”
It became difficult to swallow. “You’re right. It does reflect poorly on you.”
He sighed and made his way toward her. “Please don’t let your imagination run amuck. I’m far less promiscuous than you think.”
She inched back. “So you admit you’re promiscuous?”
“I’m a sexually active male in my thirties. If the opportunity presents itself, I don’t turn it down.” When she scowled, he hastily added, “But I will from now on. Unless you’re the one making the offer.”
Her butt met the sink, leaving her no room for retreat. “Hold on. I can’t think straight”
Standing toe-to-toe with her, he captured her nape with a single hand. “That’s good. We’re finally making progress.”
Chapter Five
By the time the kiss ended, Michelle’s legs had turned to jelly. Her knees wobbled; her calves shook. Without the ledge propping her up, she doubted her ability to stand. The sensible part of her brain struggled to reassert itself. Despite all the fancy trimmings and pristine surfaces, she was in the women’s bathroom of an airport. She couldn’t think of a less appropriate place to be locking lips with someone.
Kal caught the hem of her T-shirt and pulled it over her head. She captured his hand before he could toss it to the floor. “I need to wear that again.”
“So?” With a mischievous grin, he let the garment drop. Glancing down at the gleaming floor, she decided to let this transgression slide. The spa seemed pretty fanatical about cleanliness.
“Stop thinking.” He slid his fingers under her waistband and yanked down hard enough she feared for the fate of her shorts. Torn clothing—now that could be a much bigger problem.
“As sexy as your caveman impression is,” she reached for his forearm, “I don’t have anything to change into.”
Their gazes met. He breathed heavily, his pupils dilated. It led her to suspect his composure as pretense. “Are you always this practical?”
She grinned. “Only when I’m about to be in the air for fifteen hours.”
He slid his forefinger under the strap of her bra. “In that case, I suggest you take off your underwear.”
Unsettled by his feral expression, she swiveled to face the sink and caught her own reflection in the mirror. Her parted lips red and kiss-swollen, the woman staring back at her appeared as a stranger. A tangled mane of red hair fanned over her bare shoulders and reached her waist. Full breasts strained against ivory lace as her chest rose and fell in a truncated rhythm. Stained a soft pink, a sheen of sweat coated her skin.
Michelle moved her arm and almost jumped when the reflected image did the same. The woman half-naked in this bathroom was her. If someone had told her past self her flight’s delay would lead here, she would have called them crazy. Though miles outside her comfort zone, nothing had ever felt more deliciously naughty.
She covered her breasts with one hand and arm before reaching around to unclasp her bra. The straps slipped off her shoulders and pooled at her elbows. Maneuvering so her chest remained covered, she slid out of the garment and allowed it to drop to the turquoise floor.
In the mirror, she watched Kal take off his polo. She had felt those hard muscled lines through his shirt, but seeing him topless took her breath away. Covered by a light dusting of dark hair, his chest and abdomen composed of neat delineated packs that rippled at his slightest movement, his body could make a grown woman weep.
The reflection cut off at his waist, but she heard the clinking of metal as he unbuckled his belt. The sound of sliding fabric followed. When he stepped forward to cage her with his body, the naked ridge of his shaft heated her lower back. “As delightful as the thought of you without knickers for the entire journey is, it may not be your most prudent decision.”
Her skin turned a darker shade. Judging from his intense expression, stalling might result in a ruined garment. Lowering her gaze to the sink, she shimmied out of the soft cotton and kicked it to the side.
He lifted one arm and spanned the front of her neck with his fingers. Tilting her head, he forced her attention back to their reflections. “Have you ever made love in front of a mirror?”
Her eyes grew wide. “Of course not.”
He chuckled. “I’m going to have fun corrupting you.”
Lowering his head, he closed his mouth over her nape and pressed his teeth over her skin. He sucked, marking her flesh. Then his lips drew a hot, wet path down her spine.
She swayed as he made his way down to her bottom. He bit each cheek before retracing his movements. When he reached her shoulders, his free hand slid up her belly to close over her wrist. She shut her eyes as he pulled her arm down to expose her breasts.
Hearing his sharp intake of breath, she bit down on her lower lip. How did she compare?
“You have the most perfect breasts I’ve ever seen.”
Tension seeped out of her.
She whimpered when his callused fingers closed over one soft mound and squeezed. “You’re so small. I didn’t expect you to fill my hands. Remind me to buy you new underwear.”
Her brows drew together. “What’s wrong with the ones I have?”
He shifted his attention to her other breast. “They flatten rather than accentuate.” His teeth grazed her neck. “You do it on purpose, don’t you?”
Her cheeks burned. “I look chunky, otherwise.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Open your eyes.”
When she didn’t react, his grip around her neck tightened.
Steeling herself, she lifted her lids. In the mirror, they created an image more erotic than her wildest fantasies. His dark sculpted arms stood in stark contrast to her soft, creamy flesh. Against the backdrop of his broad shoulders, she appeared distinctly feminine.
The hand fondling her breast lowered to splay over her waist. “I can span you with just five fingers.”
He made his way back up and rolled her nipple between his thumb and forefinger. She cried out in surprise. Her spine straightened for a brief moment. But soon, the twinge of pain morphed into waves of need.
“Does it feel good?” he rasped.
Her mind searched for words and found none. She managed a nod.
His grin hinted at masculine satisfaction. “No one’s played with your nipples before.”
She thought back. “Not like this, no.”
He bent down and bit her earlobe. “Remind me to send your former boyfriend a gift basket. Now, don’t say stop unless you mean it. Understood?”
“What are you planning to—”
He tugged, making her hiss out a startled breath.
“A little pain will make them more sensitive. Trust me, I know what I’m doing.”
He hadn’t overstated his claim. She moaned as he expertly stimulated the pale pink nub. He knew when to apply pressure and when to loosen his hold. Her flesh swelled as he twisted and teased, triggering nerves she hadn’t known existed. Just when she thought she could no longer withstand the torment, he switched to her other breast. He tortured the neglected nipple in the same fashion, pausing only once it, too, turned the color of raspberries.
“Ready for more?” he asked, his voice low and husky.
She made an incoherent sound in her throat.
He stepped back and pulled her with him, stopping when her lower body became visible in the mirror. Though his erection burned a hole against her skin, she couldn’t see it. “This doesn’t seem fair.”
He bent down an
d nipped her shoulder. “You’ll get to play soon enough. Right now, you’re going to watch yourself come.”
“But—”
He slipped his middle finger inside her while his other hand held her neck captive, forcing her to witness his bold invasion. She could see and feel each entry. The anticipation distracted her from the uncomfortable feeling of being stretched.
A knowing smile spread across his face as his thumb searched through her protective folds. With her senses heightened, her inner muscles clenched even before he found his target. When he pressed down and circled, her knees threatened to buckle. Gasping, she lifted her arms and caught his nape to steady herself.
Moisture soon coated her opening, allowing him to add his ring finger to the assault. He quickened his rhythm and increased the pressure over her clit. She writhed and struggled to withstand the heat gathering between her thighs. Her toes clenched over the cold glass tiles as she leaned into the warmth of his solid chest.
A white haze covered her vision a second before her entire body drew taut. She bit down to stifle her cry. All her senses seemed to fire at once, jolting every extremity into awareness before strength seeped out of her.
Kal fought for control as he caught Michelle by the waist and pulled her into the glass-enclosed shower. He turned the water on full blast. She might have been able to stay quiet, but he doubted his own restraint. Warm water rained over them, soaking her hair and darkening it to the color of wine. Dewy droplets soon covered her translucent skin. Still shaking, she rested both hands on his chest before looking down.
“Oh….”
He followed her gaze. It took a moment for him to understand her consternation. When he did, he had to fight back laughter. “It’ll fit. Don’t worry.”
The look she gave him didn’t exude confidence. “I only have one other data point, but it suggests otherwise.”
She dropped both her arms and closed her fingers around his shaft. His entire body tensed. It took every ounce of restraint not to come there and then.
He took a deep breath and focused on her face. Wrong move. With her brows furrowed, her eyes wide, and her lips parted, she appeared both vulnerable and curious—an irresistible combination.
She sounded almost scientific as she concluded, “Both the length and thickness will be a problem.”
And if he didn’t get her hands off him, she wouldn’t have much to worry about. Capturing both her wrists, he turned and pinned them against the wall. When she started to speak, he fused his mouth over hers.
He lured her into a sensuous dance. It didn’t take long before her body grew soft and pliant. He ended the kiss and trailed his lips down her neck to reach her breasts. Lines of water snaked over the two heavy globes, drawing his attention to the rosy tips.
She whimpered as he drew one wet nub into his mouth. When he flicked his tongue over the budding flesh, she moaned his name. Elated by her responsiveness, he switched to her other nipple. This time, he grazed his teeth over it before biting lightly down. Feeling her tremble against his hands, he sucked until her back arched and her cries filled the room. He paused to admire his handiwork—the once pink bud had turned a coral shade.
“Don’t move.”
He released her arms and turned to peer through the fogging glass. He spied the small foil-wrapped packet on the floor. He retrieved the condom in record speed and almost slipped in the process.
Her voice shook. “Did you know most household accidents occur in the bathroom?”
He broke the seal and smoothed the thin latex over his erect member. “I think you should take a walk on the wild side.”
He cupped her firm bottom and lifted. Her arms twined around his neck as her legs circled his torso.
Once he situated her at the right height, he flexed his hands and forced her legs to part even more. Her hands immediately slid down to clench over his shoulders.
He hoped his smile didn’t appear too cocky. “I can bench-press much more than you weigh. I won’t drop you.”
She nodded, but her hold didn’t lighten. He distracted her by leaving a mark just above the swell of her breasts. When her body relaxed, he positioned himself against her opening.
His foot skid a bit.
“Kal—”
He shoved her against the wall and adjusted his stance. Her mouth opened. Anticipating a protest, he pushed into her slick folds and savored her shudder as the ridge of his arousal brushed over her clit. With her legs spread wide, the small bundle of nerves lay completely exposed. As he slid deeper inside her, the contact stimulated the swollen nub and brought moisture to ease his entry.
“You’re going to slip,” she protested even as her inner muscles clenched around him.
“Have a little faith.” He pressed a quarter inch farther.
Since she would probably have a conniption if he took one hand off her bottom, he got creative. “I need you to do something for me.”
She gave him a disbelieving look. “Right now?”
“Touch yourself.” The very thought ratcheted his arousal up a notch. “Come on. If we don’t finish soon, we’ll miss the flight.”
After a brief pause, she lowered her left hand and reached between them. His breath came out as a groan when her fingertips brushed over his erection. She followed the straining appendage to where their bodies joined.
She bit down on her lower lip and closed her eyes as she searched the apex of her opening. He gritted his teeth and waited until her head lolled back against the wall. Her lips parted, and she made a soft sound of pleasure.
Taking advantage of her distraction, he surged into her and buried himself to the hilt.
She cried out and moved her hand back to rest on his shoulder. “A little warning would have been nice,” she whispered after drawing a labored breath.
He rested his face against her neck and reached for control. Tight as a fist, she enveloped him in heat. Even with the distraction of water flowing down his back, he found it impossible to focus on anything but the feel of her small body in his arms.
She shifted her hips. “Aren’t you going to move?”
He laughed and looked up. “I’m giving you time to adjust.”
Her eyes flashed with impatience. “We have a flight to catch, and my hair takes forever to dry.”
Afraid she might change her mind, he invaded her with hard, fast thrusts. He angled his impalement upward, knowing the contact would draw her into the same molten spiral that consumed him. Her fingers dug into his shoulders. He heard whispered pleas for more as blunt nails raked his skin.
Harsh sounds erupted from his throat and filled the room. Each inexorable slide into her quivering warmth added fuel to the inferno. Clenching his jaw, he refused to relinquish the reins until he heard a sharp feminine cry and felt the telltale flutter that obliterated his sanity.
His hips jackhammered as her body spasmed around him. He pumped into her soft, yielding flesh until light exploded behind his eyelids and a shudder rolled down his spine. In that moment, he realized he might never want anyone else.
***
“You weren’t kidding when you said your hair takes forever to dry.” Kal’s voice could barely be heard over the din of the hairdryer. He placed his free hand on her head and shifted the parting. “I’m going to have to cut you off soon if we’re going to make our flight.”
Michelle stood with her waist bent and her face pointed toward the tile floor, her field of vision limited to Kal’s denim-clad calves and bare feet. “Trust me. You do not want to see what I look like after I’ve slept with wet hair.”
He tapped one foot as he continued to wave a steady stream of hot air over her damp mane. “I’m bound to witness your bed hair sooner or later.”
She laced her fingers through her tresses and tried to shake out the moisture. “Why would you think that?”
The room went silent. “Because the next time we have sex, you won’t have enough energy left to worry about how you’ll look when you wake up.”
He slid the dryer into its holder. “You did.”
She turned to check her reflection in the mirror. Since she had put her clothes on with her hair still wet, she didn’t look very presentable. Mental note—avoid traveling in white T-shirts. “I’m not just going to fall into bed with you when we land.”
“Sweetheart—” he squatted on the floor and rummaged through her tote. “—you’re going to be lucky if we don’t end up joining the mile-high club.” He pulled out her button-down shirt. “And if you have any desire to show your face outside this bathroom, you’ll wear this over that poor excuse of a garment.”
She took the piece of clothing and sniffed its collar. It didn’t smell pleasant. Nonetheless, she complied. After tucking the shirttails into her shorts, she faced him. “Do I look ridiculous?”
He nodded.
She sighed. “You were supposed to lie.”
He shrugged. “You should have heeded my suggestion to blow-dry your hair before you got dressed. You’re lucky I’m letting you walk out at all.”
She placed her hands on her hips. “Why?”
He stared at her, his expression deadpan. “Because any healthy male we cross paths with will want to tear your clothes off.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “And how is this my problem?”
“It isn’t. It’s mine.” He coupled his assertion with a crooked grin. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “What are you saying?”
“I’ve already made my intentions clear.” With those words, he turned, opened the door, and walked out.
Huffing out an exasperated breath, she made one last attempt to put the hairdryer to good use before admitting defeat. She stuffed the rest of her belongings into her tote and zipped it up. Slinging it over her shoulder, she slipped on her shoes.
By the time she caught up with Kal, he stood outside the lounge with his carry-on in hand.