She arrived at her door breathless and slipped him her key card. Once he’d opened the door and done his little safety check, he directed his attention back to her, laser focus sliding over her body, head to toe, leaving her feeling singed everywhere his gaze touched.
He turned on the lamp beside the bed then strode to the overhead light switch, turning it off. Then he went to work on his buttons, jerking his chin in her direction. “Get those off.”
Although she’d never been spoken to like that before by a man, she didn’t need to be told twice. His delivery was harsh and graveled, his words straight to the point—and she found she liked it. But she didn’t dare betray her inward grin. She couldn’t have him feeling too confident. Already once tonight, he’d taken her to the edge of her endurance. Her pride wouldn’t allow her to reveal the extent of her desire. She narrowed her gaze and took her sweet time stepping out of her shoes, removing the few pieces of jewelry she’s worn—earrings, a thin bracelet—and setting them on the bedside table. By the time she reached for her zipper, she saw he was already nude and he’d folded his arms over her broad chest.
Her fingers went still as she stared at him. Her mouth dried. In the golden glow of a single lamp, his body was a beautiful, burnished brown, except for the pale stripe of skin across his hips. Her gaze went straight to his sex, already fully awakened, and jutting from his groin. Perfectly proportioned with his large, muscular body. Oh my. Her thighs pressed together at the renewed urgency cramping her core.
He strode toward her, more intimidating naked than he’d been clothed, and she fought to breathe, lifting her hair clear of her zipper as he circled behind her and slid down her zipper. She trembled as he quickly pulled her dress to the floor and hooked his thumbs in the sides of her panties to drag those off, too.
Standing naked, she shivered in the cool conditioned air as he circled her again, his head bent as he studied her body. Not politely, either. His hands touched everywhere his gaze went, smoothing over her bottom, her hip, lifting her breasts one at a time. Slipping between her legs to cup her mound. Feeling as though she’d been thoroughly inspected, she didn’t know whether she should feel flattered or outraged.
When he stopped right in front of her, he lifted her chin with a curved finger. “I can’t be…polite.”
She didn’t reply, simply giving him a steady glare. Was she really ready for this?
“Just so you know. It’s been a while for me, Nicky.” His jaw tightened and he stepped back. “I want you in the middle of the bed. Be sure to pull the covers all the way down.”
“Are you always this romantic?” she quipped, shaking back her damp hair.
“I’m never this desperate.”
His voice was a deep sexy rumble that filled the air between them. She blinked and a wash of pure percolated heat swept over her. His words weren’t an apology for his lack of finesse, but a satisfactory explanation in her mind. He felt the same way she did—so taut with sexual desire not much was needed to snap the thread of her self-control.
While she stared, he opened his hand. A condom rested in the center of his palm. She watched fascinated, oddly jealous as he quickly fit it to the tip of his cock and rolled it down, giving himself a quick up and down stroke before glancing at her again.
The moment had arrived. This time, she didn’t feel a single sliver of doubt. She wanted him. Although they’d only just met, getting it on felt inevitable.
He made a growling sound, which made her jerk, and she hurried to the bed, aware of his gaze following her. She pulled back the covers and tossed them to the floor. When she glanced over her shoulder, her breath hitched. He was right behind her.
Strong arms encircled her waist. Rough hands cupped her breast and mound. His bristled cheek rubbed against hers. “This first time’s going to be a little rough and fast.”
Nestling back against his hard body, she whispered, “And the second?”
His breath gusted on a choked laugh. “I’ll take it slower. Give you everything you want.”
“Rough and fast is good,” she rasped.
He twisted behind her, and easily lifted her, laying her on the bed. Before she could move to make room, he crawled right over her, nudging apart her thighs. His hands wrapped around hers, holding them beside her head. His cock pushed against her folds.
Not needing any further prompting, she opened to him, surrendering. She slid her feet up the mattress, bending her knees, spreading them, inviting him closer.
With a flex of his hips, he sank inside.
Nicky’s jaw lowered. Her eyelids drifted downward. The pressure of his large blunt head entering her was surprising. Glorious. His girth filled her, stretched her. Friction quickly heated her channel.
He began rocking, the push-pull of his hips drugging to her senses. Her pulse caught his rhythm, drumming against her temples. Moisture flooded her, welcoming him and easing his insistent intrusion.
All the while he moved, he stared down into her eyes, his features darkening, his nostrils flaring. “You’re so fucking tight, baby. So hot.”
“Please, please, don’t stop,” she gasped, a prisoner of his intense look.
“Not a chance.”
His hands released hers, and she reached up, sliding her open palms over the rounded muscles of his chest then gliding around his ribs to rake her nails down his back.
An action he appeared to relish, because he stroked faster, making deep, growling sounds of pleasure that made her smile. And then suddenly, he halted, sliding from inside her.
She cursed, digging in her fingernails, hoping to keep him close. But he shrugged them off, kneeling between her legs, hooking his arms beneath her knees, and lifting her bottom from the bed. His cock nudged her again, found her center, and plunged deep.
Nicky shouted, gripping the bedding at her sides, because now he had all the control, pulling her hips to him as he plunged deep, pushing her away as he withdrew, his strokes harsh and quick, jolting against her body. Not that she cared. Lord, she didn’t. Helpless in his grasp, she let herself go, arching, writhing, her head thrashing on the sheets as the pleasure rose on a steep incline, steadily higher.
She was on fire. Her skin, her pussy. The bed shook, pounding the headboard against the wall, shuddering as he pistoned into her, relentlessly pounding. “Deke!” she cried out. She was nearing the peak. Could tell her orgasm would be powerful. Her body was taut, the tension in her core winding tighter and tighter.
“Baby, now,” he rasped. “Come now.” With a quickening of his thrusts, he raised his arms at his sides, widening her thighs, completely unimpeded, as he pounded against her.
Each slick slam struck her clit. Caught on the edge, the sight of him—sweat gleaming on his skin, emphasizing the bulging muscles, his face hard-edged and feral—pushed her over the edge. She screamed, digging her head into the mattress as pleasure exploded. Her body went rigid. For the longest, she hung there suspended, shuddering as her core convulsed. Sex had never been this intense, this rigorous or sublime. She soared, a thin keening wail echoing in the room as blackness closed in around her.
Deke shouted, letting his head fall back, closing his eyes as he slowed his thrusts, reveling in sensations washing over him—primary among them intense relief as his balls unclenched and come jetted in hot pulses. For several long moments, he rocked, loathing the idea of pulling free. But Nicky wasn’t making any sounds now. He opened his eyes to find her lying slack-jawed, eyes closed.
For a moment he simply stared, burning the image of her beautiful body in his mind. And then he grinned, his smile stretching wide. He pulled free, wincing as he left her softly clenching hollow. He quickly removed the condom, and tossed it into the waste basket beside the night stand, and then lay down gingerly beside Nicky, not wanting to waken her. Not yet.
Her breaths were evening now. Dew gleamed on her chest and belly. Her legs were still splayed, and he knew if she awakened, she’d be embarrassed to find him staring. But knowing he’d be
en the one to reduce her to this state of total relaxation filled him with masculine satisfaction. He couldn’t look away. And fuck, he’d needed this. A chance to wipe his mind clear of the recent past.
Nicky had blown him completely away. Everything about her attracted him. Her beautiful, bountiful body. Her quick wit. Her surly frustration. The hints of uncertainty that shimmered through her bravado. Nicky Martir was all woman, soft and strong. And he was impatient for her to open her eyes because he wanted to learn more about the woman. Figure out what gave her pleasure besides raw sex.
Resting on an elbow, he couldn’t resist touching her. Her nipples were dimpled, the tips erect. He circled one with a fingertip, liking the velvety softness.
She stirred, giving a creaking groan. “You said you weren’t a sadist.”
Deke kissed her shoulder. “Are you sore?”
Her nose wrinkled at the question. She stretched her arms over her head and straightened her legs. Then she rolled toward him, her eyes blinking open. “That’s the first time that’s happened.”
“What? Your first orgasm?” he drawled, quirking an eyebrow.
She grinned. “Silly, I have a finger and I know how to use it.”
Deke grunted, disguising a laugh. While he knew she was a lady to the bone, he liked that she wasn’t shy talking about sex.
Her finger trailed down his neck to his collarbone. “That was the first time I’ve ever passed out. What did you do to me?”
She didn’t appear to expect an answer, simply smiled sleepily at him. Deke bent over her and kissed her mouth. “I live to serve.”
“And you do it so well.” Grabbing his shoulder, she returned his kiss, groaning when she pulled back. “Was that a SEAL thing? Some superhuman power?”
“If that’s what you prefer to think, who am I to argue?”
She traced her fingertips over his chest then fanned them outward to pluck his chest hair. “I’m glad we ate before we did this. I don’t want to move from this bed.”
“I’m sure room service wouldn’t have batted an eye if you’d wanted food delivered to the bed.”
“But I would have regretted the interruption.” She drew a deep breath and snuggled closer.
He raised an arm, letting her slide against him, liking the feel of her soft body mashed against his. “You’re not what I expected,” he said, combing fingers through her soft hair.
She raised an eyebrow. “What did you think I’d be like?”
“A congressman’s daughter? Snooty, I guess. Spoiled.”
“Oh, I’m spoiled. Now, anyway.”
Her smile was mischievous. And he felt an answering grin tugging at his mouth. “Did I do that?”
“Uh-huh. I have high expectations now.” Her topmost thigh lifted, and she slid her leg over his hip, bumping her hips against his.
“You think I have anything left? Baby, you about killed me.”
“Wimp,” she whispered, blowing the single word against his cheek.
“Glutton,” he said, leaning closer to whisper against her mouth.
“More,” she groaned. “Please?”
And because he wasn’t about to let her expectations slip, he eagerly obliged.
Chapter Four
‡
The next morning, they ate their breakfast in the hotel restaurant’s outdoor patio, their chairs arranged side by side as they sampled from each other’s plates. Something Deke had never done before but found surprisingly enjoyable. He’d also never been a touchy-feely kind of guy, but couldn’t keep from looking for excuses to touch her face, her hair, the spot just beneath her shoulder blade that made her jut her chest outward because she couldn’t keep from sighing.
With the backdrop of the deep blue Caribbean behind her and sunlight glinting on the gold strands interspersed in her brown hair, she was beautiful. Despite the fact neither of them had gotten much rest, she looked radiant, her cheeks held a healthy glow and her brown eyes sparkled with happiness. He was feeling pretty good himself, more relaxed than he had in ages, and…happy. All due to the woman beside him. Nicky was enchanting. And she had quite an appetite, too.
Her fork speared scrambled eggs from his plate since she’d already finished her own breakfast. “Birthday,” she said, continuing their getting-to-know-each-other question-and-answer session. Something she’d instigated.
He grunted, laying down his fork to give her permission to finish his plate. “November second.”
“So, a Scorpio?” she said, twirling her fork.
Grabbing for the last piece of bacon, he shrugged. “I guess.”
“Graduated from…”
He knew he likely wasn’t as well-educated, unless she was willing to consider all his tactical training. He named a high school in Norfolk, and her eyes narrowed. “Are you a navy brat?”
“I was.”
“Always wanted to be a SEAL?”
“Yeah. My dad was a SEAL.”
Her glance dropped to her plate, so he wasn’t sure that tidbit of information pleased her.
But she angled her head toward him, eyes narrowing. “First kiss.”
Deke grunted again and shook his head. “Trina Bailey, beneath the bleachers after football practice. Middle school.”
“Late bloomer?” she said, waggling her eyebrows. “Mine was in the second grade.”
“Hey, I was picky. And I didn’t like girls until I hit puberty.” He raised his coffee cup, hoping she wouldn’t continue down that line of conversation. First base. Second. Third. Would she care that he’d scored all those bases with Trina? Hell, she’d been his sweetheart all the way through homecoming, senior year, until he’d stated his intention to enlist. Her defection had hurt, but maybe she’d just been a habit, because he’d gotten over her as soon as he’d entered boot camp. Deke cleared his throat and sat back in his chair.
As was his habit, he gave a quick scan of the patio and the beach area beyond. He’d wanted to eat inside, tucked into a corner so there’d only be one avenue of approach from any enemy, but she’d been insistent on enjoying the sunshine. And because she’d been so sweetly wheedling, standing on tiptoe to pepper his mouth with kisses as she’d begged, Deke figured they could hide in the open as a couple. Any enemies would be looking for a single woman traveling alone. Which begged the question…
“Do you vacation by yourself often?” he asked, shooting her a sideways glance.
One dark brow arched. “By the casual way you said that, you don’t approve. Do you ever vacation alone?”
“Sometimes.” When he ever took a vacation.
“Well, how’s that any different?”
“You’re a woman.”
She stiffened.
Deke held up his hands in surrender. “Don’t get bent out of shape. You’re a beautiful woman. You’re more likely to draw the attention of sinister sorts. I’m just surprised someone like you doesn’t already have a man in her life she can travel with.”
Her glance fell away, a blush spilling pink into her cheeks. “Well, I’ve never been married. Never engaged. If that’s what you really want to know. Guess I’m picky, like you.”
“Can’t be that picky,” he murmured, his mouth curving.
Her head canted. “Because I’m with you now?”
Exactly. Deke gave her a mock hard glare.
She wrinkled her nose and laughed. “Don’t tease if you don’t like getting it right back.”
With quick moves, Deke pushed back his seat and reached to the side, ignoring her squeal as he picked her up and deposited her on his lap. Not that she resisted much.
Her face was pink with pleasure, her brown eyes gleaming. “Were you missing me?” she asked, wriggling her butt on his lap.
“How could I?” he said, his tone wry. “We haven’t been apart for longer than five seconds.”
She wound her arms around his shoulders and leaned toward him. “Do I have to teach you how to flirt?”
“Didn’t know that was a skill I needed. You throw y
ourself at me every time I turn around.”
Her jaw dropped and her eyes widened. “I do not throw myself at you.”
“You’re the one who scooted her Coppertone across the sand.”
“It wasn’t Coppertone.” Her chin lifted. “It was L’Oreal.”
“That was some major flirting there. Didn’t want to embarrass you by refusing.”
“So, you were only doing me a favor?”
He grunted then held still, realizing it had been forever since he’d been this playful, this light-hearted. “I like you, Nicky Martir,” he said gruffly.
Maybe she read something in his expression he didn’t mean for her to see, but her eyes grew a little moist, and she blinked it away. A small hand cupped his cheek. “I like you, too, Deke.” Then she leaned toward him and kissed him, a sweet press of lips, as soft and swift as the brush of a bird’s feathers. When she drew back, her expression wasn’t as bold as before. “What do you want to do today?”
“Besides fuck you?” he whispered.
Her cheeks flushed. “Yeah, besides that,” she said, rubbing a finger across his bottom lip. “I figured that was a given.”
He thought about their options. Safe ones. Away from other people. “How about we rent a boat and go out on the ocean?”
“And how would that be different from any other day for you?”
“Since the boat won’t have a machine gun turret and I’ll have you along as my first mate, I’d say that would be pretty unique.” He pulled her closer. “You can sunbathe in the nude.”
A smile stretched across her face. “Guess I better pack the Coppertone.”
At the wheel of the powerboat he’d rented, Deke couldn’t help smiling. The sky was cloudless, the horizon in every direction empty of any other boats, and Nicky lay stretched just behind the bow guard, completely nude, sunglasses perched on her nose, and her hair in a messy knot. According to the map he’d been given at the rental shop, he should be nearing a reef. He pulled back on the throttle to slow the boat’s speed, and peered over the side of the boat. Beneath them, visible through the crystal-like water, was the reef. “Hey, Nicky?” he called out. “Want to swim?”
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