And if he’s going to see me at dinner, I want him to like what he sees. She shook her head. She didn’t know why it mattered. She wasn’t going out with him again. Or in with him again. However you wanted to look at it.
As the quartet of women made their way into the dining room nearly ten minutes late, Katie could feel him before she could see him. She raised her eyes to meet his as he sat at his table, staring in her direction, his mouth hanging slightly open. Pulling her shoulders back, she flashed him a brazen smile as she and the others took their seats around their own table.
Throughout dinner, Katie tried to concentrate on the conversation at hand, but her attention was perpetually drawn back to the trio of gentlemen a few tables over. One gentleman in particular held her focus. He was incredibly handsome in his slim fitting dark blue suit with a crisp white dress shirt and blue patterned tie.
Do you suppose he’s wearing cuff links? Cuff links are sexy as hell. Katie chewed her lower lip thoughtfully.
His dark hair was rakishly tousled and there was a hint of stubble dusting his square jaw. And every time Katie looked his way, the man was staring right back at her, a ghost of a smile on his face, as though privately, he found something amusing. Each time their eyes met, Katie felt her stomach flutter.
“So are you going to keep staring at the man or are you going to go over and speak to him?” Michelle wondered.
Katie’s attention snapped back to her friends. “I’m not staring. He just looks great dressed up for Formal Night, that’s all.”
The other three giggled raucously. “And you just happened to wear that killer dress tonight. It’s always the quiet ones...” Chelsea’s eyes sparkled happily. “You are seeing him after dinner, right?”
Katie shook her head. “It’s karaoke tonight, remember? We’re going to rock this boat.”
Skipping the dessert course, the women left the table and made their way to the dining room door. Katie glanced back over her shoulder and sure enough, he was watching. Seeing her look back, he winked cheekily and she whirled back around, her face flushing pink.
***
Mac had carefully showered and dressed for dinner. Ostensibly it was in honor of the ship’s Formal Night, but the truth was that he wanted to impress a certain pretty redhead. He wished he had a name to call her. Hey, you was becoming cumbersome. But she’d been resolute about maintaining distance. Her concern for his safety said something different.
He’d noticed the empty table across the room when he and his brothers had entered the dining room. Suppose they decided to have dinner somewhere else tonight? The thought disappointed him deeply.
He, Danny, and Tommy had just placed their orders by the time the foursome made their entrance. Chatting and laughing, they seemed oblivious to the fact that they were late. But when Mac saw the redhead, his jaw dropped. She was absolutely breathtaking in her blue strapless dress. She filled it well, and he had firsthand knowledge of the treasures it held. Her legs were long in strappy silver high-heeled sandals. And when she saw him, she gave a confident, knowing smile. Oh, baby, you know the effect you have.
***
Michelle joined the others at the small round table they’d managed to snag in the lounge. Karaoke was well under way, and a slightly tipsy couple was onstage murdering Endless Love. “It’s done,” she announced. “The Heartbreakers ride again!”
“What are we singing?” Jayma wondered.
Michelle grinned mischievously. “The usual.”
For the high school talent show during their senior year, the foursome had performed as the Heartbreakers. They’d done a slightly risqué version of Donna Summer’s Hot Stuff that had worried administrators and brought down the house. Now for their annual get-together, they always repeated the performance.
A waiter approached the table with a tray of shot glasses. “Oh, and I ordered us some tequila,” Michelle informed them.
Everyone took a glass. “To the Heartbreakers,” Chelsea toasted, and they all chimed in before slamming back the shots.
***
“So where is your redhead going?” Tommy wondered as he and his brother watched the women leave the dining room.
Mac shrugged lightly. “She said something about karaoke tonight.”
Danny watched him for a moment. “Aren’t you going after her?”
“Nah, she wasn’t really up for getting together.”
“Dude, that dress is killer. She’s all dressed up for somebody,” Tommy observed.
“Yeah, well...” Mac sipped his water for an excuse to stop talking. “Hey, aren’t we hitting the casino tonight?”
Seated between his brothers at the roulette wheel, Mac watched the tiny white ball skitter around and come to rest on the thirteen. Of course, he’d bet on the twelve. After three rounds, he’d lost forty dollars. Tommy had the best luck, winning with every spin.
“Gents, I’m going to have to stop while I’m behind,” Mac said, pushing back from the table.
Tommy gathered his chips and Danny joined them. “What do you want to do now on your last night as a free man?”
Tommy grinned impishly at Mac. “I’m kind of in the mood for karaoke.”
Mac’s expression was dubious. “Karaoke? Since when are you into karaoke?”
“Since my older brother started mooning over some sexy redhead whose name he doesn’t even know.”
The brothers pushed their way through the crowded lounge searching for an empty table. Not finding one, they lucked out with three stools at the bar. Settled on his stool, Mac scanned the room and found her nearly immediately at a table fronting the stage. Her red hair stood out in the crowded room.
She looked up and her eyes widened in surprise before her lips curled in a suppressed smile. He raised his beer that had just been served and she smiled wider, lifting her shot glass and overturning it dramatically.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the emcee announced, “up next, we have the Heartbreakers!”
A squeal rose from their table and the four women made their way onto the stage. Mac watched in fascination as they took their cordless mics and stood with their backs to the audience. Wondering what they might sing, he heard the opening disco beat and bass of Hot Stuff and laughed out loud as they women began a slinky choreographed dance routine. He watched as the four took turns singing lines. When it was her turn, she locked eyes with him.
“Dude, your girl is hot!” Tommy commented.
“Yes, she is,” Mac agreed.
“I’m guessing they’ve done this before,” Danny opined. “God bless’em!” He raised his beer in salute.
***
Much like that first time back in high school, the end of the song was met with thunderous applause and the four friends returned to their table flushed with the exertion. “That never gets old,” Michelle laughed. “Do you remember the look on old man Adams’ face? He couldn’t decide whether to kick us out of the talent show or give us first prize.” The women laughed at the memory.
“It took forever for our turn,” Chelsea commented. “I want to go blow some money in the casino. Are you in?” She looked around the table.
“You guys go on. I’m enjoying the music,” Katie hedged. “Maybe I’ll just stay here a little longer.”
“Yeah, her mystery man and his brothers are here,” Michelle laughed. “She wants to blow something, just not money.”
“Oh, for Pete’s sake!” Katie blushed furiously.
“Come on girls,” Jayma said, “let’s give Katie a little space.” She kissed Katie’s cheek gently. “Good luck, hon. Have fun!”
Katie waved goodbye to her friends as they left. Another group was onstage, working their way through Paradise by the Dashboard Light. She saw his brothers stand and leave the bar. He sat smiling at her and she smiled back.
Taking a cocktail napkin, she wiped the water rings from the table in preparation for his joining her. Except that he didn’t join her. When Katie looked again, he was watching the singers with rap
t attention, even swaying a bit on his stool.
She frowned a bit. His brothers left. He saw the girls leave. What gives? She crossed her right leg over her left and jiggled her foot restlessly. No way am I going over there. If he thinks I’m going over there, he’s got another think coming.
She glanced his way again. He was watching her with that same amused expression. The one that made the butterflies in her stomach go bungee jumping. Oh, fine!
As the group onstage finished and another singer was announced, Katie left her table and made her way to the bar, relieved to see an empty stool beside him. As she approached him, the corner of his mouth curled slightly and his eyes sparkled with the smile he suppressed.
“Hey, you. Would you mind if I joined you?” Katie asked.
“Hey, you. I’d mind if you didn’t.”
She accepted his hand and he helped her onto the stool next to his. “Thanks!”
“My pleasure.” He surveyed her appreciatively. “That’s a really nice dress.”
She flushed with pleasure. “Thanks. I wanted to be dressy for Formal Night. You look very handsome yourself.” She reached to touch the cuff of his shirt sleeve, pushing back his jacket. “Cuff links?” She fingered the textured silver squares.
He watched her with curiosity and nodded. “Is that okay?”
She looked back to his face. “I love cuff links. They’re so...civilized.”
Mac laughed out loud. “Something I’ve never been called: civilized.”
Katie’s brow furrowed. “So why? Why didn’t you come to my table?”
His eyes smiled. “Because you said ‘one night only’. I respect your boundaries.”
“Yeah.” She idly fidgeted with a cardboard coaster. “About that...” She looked up at him through her long lashes and began to lightly caress the inside of his wrist as it rested on the bar.
He watched her another moment, a knowing gleam in his eyes. “You can’t resist me.”
She looked back down to his hand. “You’re pretty cocky.”
He gave an exaggerated snicker. “You said ‘cock’.”
Katie giggled and rolled her eyes.
The next singer came on and began a spot-on version of Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On. They both laughed. Mac grinned and joined in, his cheek brushing hers as he sang along softly. Katie felt goose bumps as he crooned into her ear. “Let’s get it on...” Lightly, he nibbled her earlobe. He planted a gentle kiss on her bare shoulder.
Katie took his hand and he looked back up. “Come on, let’s go,” she said softly.
***
“Would you like some wine or something?” Mac gasped for air, recovering from a deep sensuous kiss that had lasted a week, or so it seemed. They’d made it into his stateroom and fallen against the closed door, arms wrapped around one another, lips entwined.
“Sounds good,” Katie breathed, capturing his lips once again.
He ran his hands up and down her back. “How the hell do you get into this thing?” he murmured against her lips.
She giggled and stepped back, raising her left arm over her head and waving the right one with the flourish of a game show model. “Zipper’s on the side.”
She remained in place and waited for him to slowly lower the zipper and slide the midnight blue cocktail dress down her body. She sidestepped out of it and stood before him wearing only a lacy blue thong and silver strappy heels.
“Holy...” Mac gave a low whistle. “You go relax and I’ll make the call.” Katie retreated to the bed and reclined on her side, head propped on her elbow.
After he’d placed the order for a bottle of wine and some strawberries, he stood beside the bed. Katie knelt up and met him at the edge, reaching for the cuff links she’d admired earlier. She took them out one at a time and placed them on the bedside table, before unbuttoning his shirt, leaning in to plant light kisses on his muscular chest. When she leaned back his eyes sparkled with desire.
“Now, you,” he purred, “last night you rocked my world when you went down on me. I figure,” he gently pushed her back on the bed and crawled between her legs, “that turnabout is fair play.” He slowly slid the lacy panties down her legs. “Would you agree?”
She gave a low giggle and nodded, the heat in her eyes matching his own. Watching her carefully, Mac lowered his mouth to her soft mound. He noticed when her breaths came more quickly, her chest heaving. He lightly flicked his tongue at her cleft and Katie gasped, gripping the covers at her sides. He began a slow deliberate massage of her soft moist lips, pleased when she lifted her hips to gain more pressure.
“Oh, God...” she mewled.
Reaching around her legs, he gripped her breasts, kneading them, pulling at their stiff rosy tips as he began to devour her in earnest, working her clit mercilessly, entering her core with his tongue.
Frantically, she gripped his hair, gasping and panting. “Oh, shit, oh my...” Her moment washed over her like a tidal wave, undulating pleasure radiating from her core through every cell of her body.
Mac began to relax his attentions, slowly bringing her back down to earth. When she finally stilled, he sat up and grinned at her. “Was that okay?”
Katie’s eyes snapped open. “Okay? That was... Holy shit!”
There was a knock at the door and Mac went to retrieve the wine and strawberries from the cabin steward. He returned to the bed, tray in hand. “Are you ready for a little wine?”
Katie shook her head. “Wine can wait. I want you. I need you to finish what you started.”
He grinned broadly. “Finish what I started, the lady says.” He set the tray on the desk and paused to remove his pants. Katie propped up and watched with admiration.
Mac sank onto the bed and stretched out beside her, kissing her deeply and pushing her onto her back again. He positioned himself above her, his erection at her sensitive entrance. He paused only to slip on a condom and slammed himself home.
His earlier attention had left her ready for him and she held on, moaning lightly from the moment he entered her. Watching her unselfconscious abandon had pushed him near to his edge as well, and he had no desire to slow down. He pummeled into her and she raised her knees, willing him to be as far into her as he could go. He felt her walls begin to compress his cock and as she cried her release, he gave in to his as well, pumping until he felt her go limp again.
He pulled out gently and rested beside her, drawing her into his embrace. “Oh, baby,” he murmured into her ear, “you are something else.”
Ten minutes later, Mac leaned back against the headboard, legs outstretched and crossed at the ankles. Katie sat facing him, her legs curled beneath her. Neither had bothered to get dressed. He poured a glass of wine and handed it to her, taking another for himself.
She sipped gratefully. “It’s good. And I was thirsty.”
He smiled. “It was quite a workout.” Taking a plump red berry, he held it out to her and she bit into it, laughing when juice ran down her chin. She swiped at it with her empty hand. Mac laughed too and ate the rest of the berry.
“So how were the stingrays?”
Katie rolled her eyes. “About like I imagined. Very crowded. I mean, they were kind of cool. But the way they fluttered around my legs really creeped me out.” Mac laughed appreciatively. “I didn’t stay in the water too long.”
She leaned over him to take a strawberry from the dish, and she held it to his mouth, watching him bite into it. The rest she popped into her mouth. “After the stingrays, we had lunch, then lounged on the beach for a few hours. It was heavenly.” She smiled with the memory. “The others decided they needed to go shopping, but I stayed at the beach for a while longer.”
“You didn’t want to go shopping?” He crooked a skeptical eyebrow.
Katie shook her head. “There’s nothing in the world that I need in those touristy shops. Besides, the water and sand were hypnotic. I just sat there thinking about...” She looked to him sheepishly, her face flushing pink.
�
�Thinking about last night.” He smiled knowingly. “I did some of that myself.” He fed her another strawberry.
“Um,” she swallowed, “how was diving? I already know that you didn’t get rushed to the hospital.”
He laughed. “No, no hospital for me today. Diving was great, actually. It usually is in the Caymans.” He sipped his wine. “Would you like to see the pictures? I downloaded them onto my tablet.”
Katie set down her glass and rolled onto her stomach, knees bent, her feet hovering over her ass. Mac cued up the dive pictures and slid the tablet in front of her. He watched as she slowly scrolled through his photos of the tropical reef fish, coral, and other things he’d seen that day.
“These are fantastic! The water is crystal clear and the colors are just amazing.” He watched her frown. “Is this a shark?”
He tilted his head to the right to look at the tablet. “Yep, a Caribbean reef shark.”
Katie gaped at him. “Just swimming along with you? I would have lost my mind.”
Mac laughed good-naturedly. “They pretty much leave you alone. You just have to be aware of what’s going on.”
She shook her head, disbelievingly. “No freaking way,” she muttered as she continued scrolling through his pictures. He handed her another strawberry. She chewed thoughtfully. “Tomorrow is my pick. We’re going to see the ruins at Tulum.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m kind of a history nerd. It’s just intriguing to me. People lived there for hundreds of years, probably assumed that it would always be there, then, boom! Can you imagine being the last person out of there? It boggles my mind.”
Mac smiled at the insight into her intelligence. “It will be a great trip.”
Katie nodded. “And in Belize, Chelsea is making us zip-line in the jungle. It’s a pretty sure bet I’ll break my neck. Michelle has declared the last day of the cruise ‘spa day’. Which I’ll probably need, assuming my neck isn’t broken.”
He laughed.
“We should get together every night to compare notes on our adventures.” Katie grinned up at him, the guarded look suddenly gone as her face lit up, completely open to him. “What are you guys doing in Mexico? Will you go diving again?”
Just One Night Page 4