The Sweetest Fling

by LJ Bradley

  Jack gave her a squeeze, as if acknowledging what it took for her to have a conversation like this with him. “I love her the same way I’d love any sister-in-law. I loved the girl I knew when we were teenagers—but in love? I don’t know. I haven’t felt the same way about anyone else so there’s no comparison.”

  Meg hadn’t been in love before either. Not the kind of love that took your thoughts hostage and made you feel like you couldn’t live without that person for a single second—as if they were a part of you and held the secret to your happiness. Did he feel that way about her? Meg hated to think he was just passing time until he could get back to pining for a woman he’d missed his chance with years ago. “Am I just a distraction for you?”

  “No.” His answer came quickly, his tone leaving no doubt about his sincerity. “Not that you aren’t a distraction,” he added, pressing his smiling lips to her cheek, “but it’s more than that.”

  Hope. What a heady feeling. Meg wouldn’t let herself get too carried away because a man had admitted to liking her company, but it gave her a solid reason to keep seeing him without feeling like she had a cloud of disappointment waiting to rain down on her.

  Maybe some time away from Catherine would be the best thing for him. He might be able to discover happiness elsewhere if he’d just allow himself to look.

  Chapter Nine

  The next night Jack was relaxing in his chair across the table from Meg, his attention flicking between her animated face and hands as she regaled him with a bad-date story from her past. They’d finished dinner about an hour ago, and the hotel restaurant was almost empty now. Live music drifted through the open windows as the waitress busied herself clearing empty dishes. Only one other couple remained, huddled in a corner booth on the opposite side of the room.

  The breeze stirred Meg’s hair as she spoke. Jack remembered it flipping up the skirt of her tank-style dress on the walk over here, too. She’d caught him hanging back to take in the view then laughed and grabbed his hand, tugging hard enough to bring him level with her again. At first he thought she was embarrassed, but then she leaned in and suggested he keep his hand on her ass just in case it happened again.

  “I don’t see the problem,” he said, tuning into the conversation. “Sounds like he was a decent guy.”

  “The man asked me to marry him,” she said, raising her eyebrows for emphasis, “on the fourth date.”

  Jack smiled, understanding how someone might get caught up in the whole Meg experience. “I guess I can’t blame the guy. He obviously knew a good thing when he was onto it.”

  She circled the base of her wineglass with her fingertip, apparently lost in thought. When her eyes met his again they were filled with pleasure. “Sorry to break it to you, but he never got onto it. I’m not that easy.”

  “Well, I hate to point out the obvious…”

  Meg shot him a scowl and tried not to smile. “You’re different.”

  It shouldn’t please him so much to hear that but it made him grin. “So, that was five years ago.” He rested his elbows on the table and leaned in closer. “Don’t tell me that was the last time you had sex?” He’d never dream of asking another woman that question, but this was Meg and he knew her limits—mostly because he liked to push them as often as possible.

  She let out a breathy laugh and toyed with the strap on her dress. “I should probably be offended, but for some reason I like the fact you’re direct. The last time I had sex was this afternoon. You were there, remember?”

  Memories flooded him and the surge of heat took him by surprise. They’d spent a couple of lazy hours in the pool before heading back to her room to supposedly rest. As soon as he shut the door behind him, Jack discovered she had other ideas. She started by dragging him into the shower where she soaped and massaged his body amid a cloud of heat and steam. He lost it and came apart in her hands like a teenager, then again when she worked more of her magic on him in bed. The woman was insatiable. “I’m talking about before that, before we started this… thing we have going.”

  Her eyes widened. “You’re calling amazing chemistry and mind-blowing sex a thing?”

  His mouth tilted at one corner. She was so cute sometimes he could barely stand it. “Mind-blowing?”

  She smiled and tipped her glass to finish off the rest of her wine. “Don’t be coy. You know you’re good.”

  The laugh he’d been trying to hold back burst free. “You’re not so bad yourself. You’re also evading the question.”

  Meg put her glass down and gave him a direct stare. “All right, you want to know the last time I ‘slept’ with someone?” She made air quotes with her fingers.

  Jack wanted to pull her onto his lap and kiss the smirk from her lips. He captured her hand instead. “Now who’s being coy?” He lowered his voice and met her eyes, waiting until he had her full attention. Leaning in close enough that their mouths were almost touching, he said in a husky voice, “I’m talking about fucking, Meg. When was the last time you were well and truly fucked?”

  The way her mouth dropped open and her breathing turned all ragged nearly snapped his self-control. Her amusement fled and she stared down at their joined hands, working her bottom lip with her teeth. Jack rubbed her silky skin with his thumb and watched a shiver pass over her. He should have felt guilty for encouraging the troubled expression on her face, but he was too turned on to think straight.

  She took a slow breath then looked up at him and held his gaze. He should have known then she was about to poleax him. “This afternoon,” she said. “No one else has ever made me feel the way you do.”

  He groaned before he could stop himself. It felt as if she’d just kicked his chair out from under him. Jack tightened his fingers around hers as the hunger inside him grew. “Meg, honey… You make me want to bend you over the table and take you right here.”

  She pressed her lips to his in a short, sweet kiss. “And you make me want to let you.”

  They’d barely touched, yet she still had his heart pounding and his erection throbbing in his shorts. He’d never known a woman to have such a physical effect on him with words. It should have triggered his need to back off and put some distance between the two of them, but he surprised himself by curving his hand around the back of her neck and drawing her in closer.

  His mouth met hers and relief travelled through him. The kiss began with slow, soft touches, taking the time to explore rather than arouse. Sighs sounded, tongues caressed—hers tentative at first, his demanding more—until finally she shuddered and surrendered to him, seemingly lost in the sensations.

  His elbows rested on the table to keep himself steady, while his palms moved to cradle her face and hold her close. He stroked her cheeks with his thumbs and breathed her in, reveling in the softness of her. She moaned deep in her throat and moved her hands to his shirt. Her fingers were about to curl into fists when he realized he couldn’t keep this up much longer without doing something wholly inappropriate in public.

  Jack reluctantly broke the connection, breathing hard as he pulled back to look at her. The fact that she was shaking and barely able to meet his eyes filled him with longing. He couldn’t resist giving her another lingering kiss just to fluster her some more. When he separated from her the final time her gaze swept over his features and her tongue darted out to taste her lower lip.

  “I like it when you do that,” she finally said, her voice still husky.

  He gave her the faintest of smiles. “Do what?”

  She glanced briefly at his mouth before meeting his eyes again. “Take over like that. It makes me feel like you can’t get enough of me, and then I want to tear your clothes off and get you naked all over again.”

  Jack couldn’t get enough of her. He hadn’t been putting on a show to impress her, he just went with whatever felt natural at the time.

  It hit him then that it wouldn’t be long before they parted ways. The idea of waving her off at the airport and never seeing her again caused an ach
e in his chest, but putting himself out there and telling her he wanted to keep seeing her didn’t exactly sit right either. Not this early in the game.

  Jack forced a smile to cover his thoughts. If she saw even a hint of what was going through his mind right there on his face, she’d be all over it. “If you ever want to rip off my clothes, anytime, anywhere, the answer’s always going to be yes.”

  She laughed and grabbed a napkin, twisting it between her fingers. ‘That’s what I like about you,” she said. “Well, among other things.” Her gaze dropped to his waist, her smile letting him know where her attention would have wandered if the table hadn’t been in the way.

  Jack’s body responded to the invitation in her tone. “You like that I’m open to getting naked? Now there’s some news.”

  She shook her head and looked like she wanted to roll her eyes. “I meant your sense of adventure, the way you take charge with me in the bedroom but don’t try to control me anywhere else. I had a feeling you’d be like that but I’ve never been with a man who knew how to get the balance just right. I like the way you push me.” She paused to draw a breath. “I want you to do more of that.”

  Jack had to lean in to catch that last part. He wasn’t sure he’d heard her correctly. He didn’t want to get his hopes up too soon but the flush creeping up her neck looked promising. “Do more of what exactly?” he asked, removing the napkin from her hand so he could play with her fingers. He wanted to tease away the seriousness that had settled over her, but he sensed now wasn’t the right time to start being a comedian.

  “I don’t know. Just more of… everything.” She nibbled her lower lip and stared at their joined hands. Seconds ticked by while neither of them spoke. When her eyes lifted to search his again the blush had spread to her cheeks. “I want to do things with you that I haven’t done before. Nothing too out there,” she added hurriedly. “Just, you know, make some memories I can keep with me when I go back home.”

  Jack ignored the fact that she was talking like they were never going to see each other again. He reached out with his free hand and trailed his fingertip along the underside of her jaw. Unable to keep his reaction contained any longer, he smiled in admiration. “You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into.”

  She made a little huffing sound that could have been indignation or amusement. “Why do you say that?”

  He pressed a soft peck on her lips. “Because you’re blushing at the idea of doing new things.”

  She looked around the room as if only just noticing they weren’t alone, then pulled her hand free and pressed her lips together. He got the distinct impression he’d just said the wrong thing, then she straightened her shoulders and gave him a determined look that told him his guess had been right. “Forget it. Honestly, it was silly of me to ask. I’m sure I can find another man who’d be interested.”

  The hell she would. Jack bit back a smile at her obvious attempt to get a rise out of him. God, she made him laugh. “I didn’t say no,” he reminded her, trying hard to keep a straight face.

  “I realize that.”

  Her attempt to sound all haughty made him want to toss her over his shoulder and take her back to his room. “I didn’t say yes, either,” he added. He couldn’t help himself where she was concerned. Something about her made him want to tease her until she lost it and made him pay. She refused to bite this time, though.

  “You’re going to do it, though, aren’t you?”

  He chuckled as he pushed back his chair and reached for her hand. “Oh, yeah.”

  Chapter Ten

  Meg: We’re getting along again.

  Ally: Uh oh

  Meg: What do you mean uh oh?

  Ally: Don’t get attached remember.

  Meg: I know, I’m trying not to

  Ally: Just use him for sex. And tell me everything.

  Meg: I’ll do my best

  Ally: That’s the spirit. ;)

  Meg lay face-down on her towel, propped up on her elbows as a handful of sand sifted through her fingers. Her hair was shoved into a haphazard bun and her eyes shaded with a pair of sunglasses that matched her black bikini.

  She’d left her room with Jack sometime late morning, and now, after a long lunch where they’d lingered over fresh seafood and too many chardonnays, most of the day had already passed. The bulk of tourists and surfers had disappeared for the day, with only a handful remaining farther down the shore.

  Meg glanced across at Jack, smiling as she took in his peaceful form. He was on his back with his chest bare and knees bent, his toes sinking into the soft sand. The salt water from the swim they’d taken earlier still clung to his hair, leaving the strands tousled and damp. He’d dozed off a couple of times already. Judging by the deep breaths coming from him now, she guessed those glasses were hiding closed eyes again. The sound of lapping water and the call of distant gulls relaxed her to the point where she wanted to join him.

  Meg turned her head and stared at her hands. Spending so much time with him had confirmed her belief that she had no talent for separating sex and emotion. No matter how hard she tried the two still intertwined. The kiss he gave her last night had been proof enough of that. One moment they were indulging in some harmless flirting, then before she knew it he had her wanting to cling to him and never let go. Every minute she spent with him had her wanting a minute more.

  “Hmm… Come closer.”

  The sound of Jack’s voice created a welcome distraction from her thoughts. Meg glanced his way as he lifted his arm from its resting place on his chest and flopped it against her towel, his fingers wiggling in encouragement.

  She smiled and crawled over to him, moving in close enough to rest her head on his shoulder. “You look happy,” she said. “What were you dreaming about?”

  “You and me.” He trailed his fingertips across her forehead. “You wouldn’t believe the things you were doing. Even I’m embarrassed.”

  She snorted. “I didn’t think it was possible to embarrass you.”

  “Normally you’d be right but if you had any idea...”

  Meg laughed and flattened her palm against his chest, pushing herself up to a sitting position. She crossed her legs and slid her sunglasses on top of her head to see him better. Judging by the smile hovering at his mouth he looked anything but uncomfortable. “Mmm. I can see how much it bothered you.”

  He took off his glasses as well and reached behind his head to drop them onto her beach bag. All pretense of innocence disappeared, and the way he looked at her took her back to the conversation they’d had last night. Meg wondered if he’d given any thought to her comment about wanting him to push her boundaries or if he’d forgotten about it as soon as they moved on to other topics.

  It didn’t take long for her to get her answer.

  “Every time I look at you I can’t help thinking you’re wearing too many clothes.”

  She tucked a loose length of hair behind her ear and stared down at him, catching the quirk at the edge of his mouth just before he got control of it. “Maybe it’s escaped your attention but I’m currently wearing a bikini.”

  “No… it definitely hasn’t. You should take it off, though—top only,” he clarified, smiling when she glared at him. “And keep it off while we’re here at the beach.”

  “Are you serious? I could get arrested!” She’d never done anything like it before, especially not in a foreign country where it had the potential to land her in a world of trouble. Meg scanned their surroundings, the water and the shoreline, the road running alongside the beach. Several cars were driving by but the only people she could see were mere dots in the distance. They were well and truly alone, but still…

  Jack rubbed the inside of her knee with his thumb and smiled, obviously finding something amusing in her expression. “It’s okay here, I checked online last night. Just take it off, sweetheart.”

  Her stomach flipped at the casual endearment. Though it wouldn’t mean anything to him she felt a little tug on he
r heart nonetheless. She kept her gaze averted to avoid giving anything away in her expression. “You know what?” she said, feigning an interest in the waves until the strange feeling had gone. “You think you’re being all clever and proving I don’t have it in me but I’m up for the challenge.” Deciding it was safe to meet his eyes again, she glanced at him.

  He gave her a quizzical look but didn’t press any further. She sat for a moment too long building up the courage to follow through on his dare, and he eventually raised his brows. “Need some help?”

  She rolled her eyes and reached behind her to the tie on her bikini top. “I know you’re an expert at removing women’s clothes but I think I’ve got this one covered.” Her accusatory tone took her by surprise. Meg had no idea why she’d felt the need to cut him down like that, and her hands stilled as she mentally kicked herself. She would have apologized for the unnecessary barb if she hadn’t been clinging to the hope it went unnoticed.

  His questioning look was back again but this time he wouldn’t let it go. Jack frowned as he pushed himself up to a sitting position and dangled his hands between his knees. “Where did that come from?”

  Meg shook her head and tried to laugh but it came out more like a choking sound. “Just ignore me. The wine’s clearly gone to my head.” She forced a bright smile that probably made her look even more insane. “Ready to see some boobs?”

  “Not yet.” Jack clasped the back of her neck and urged her closer. He pressed his mouth to hers and kissed her in such a slow, sweet way she couldn’t help but sigh and let go of her frustrations. When he eventually pulled away he didn’t go far. He rubbed his nose against hers and asked quietly, “Are you okay?”

  Meg swallowed and gave a shallow nod, realizing it was true. His touch always settled her and left her wondering what she’d been worried about in the first place. He kissed her again; this time a quick peck, then leaned back on his elbows while he took in her features. He seemed content with whatever he found there because his concern evaporated. “Okay, now I’m ready to see some boobs.”