by Hoff, Stacy
And Freddie wasn’t much better at the party. Stephanie watched as he showed off his Wall Street wealth all night. She had been a fool to think he could ever love her more than he loved himself. His bragging drew gold-digging Adrienne to him like a bee to honey. A guy that high on himself would never pass up a tempting offer.
Adrienne wasn’t subtle when she wanted something. Maybe she had taken him aside and pulled the top of her dress down even lower than it already was. It wouldn’t be the first time she had done that. The whole family knew she had some kind of sex addiction problem. People tried to be supportive, saying she was over-compensating for love ever since her father died. That one day she’d be mature enough to realize love wasn’t a one-night stand. And realize real love couldn’t be bought. Stephanie had tried to be patient with Adrienne, too. Talked to her. Even suggested professional therapy a few times. Then Adrienne took things too far by going after Freddie.
For all Stephanie knew, maybe Freddie was also some kind of sex addict. Not with her, mind you, but still—
Stephanie shook her head and shook off her negative thoughts. It was time to forget the past. Things had turned out okay since then. After she left Freddie, she moved all her belongings back to her mother’s. Thankfully, she could now afford her own place. In a kick-ass apartment, she reminded herself. And if she had stayed with Freddie, her night with Colin would have never been.
“Steph,” Colin said. “What’s wrong? It’s gotta be something because it’s a hundred degrees in here and your hand still feels clammy.”
“Maybe I hate men a little.”
“Thinking about your ex, huh?”
She sighed. “He’s not worth dwelling on. But you are.” She turned around to give him a small smile. “Tell me more about yourself, Colin.”
He leaned over and gazed deeply into her eyes. “There’s this lady I like. She’s hot. Brave. Smart. Driven. I have this insane desire to make love to her, over and over again. Pin her down right now and start—”
“I get the point. She sounds like quite the siren,” Stephanie joked, and then felt her face darken.
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
Colin raised an eyebrow at her, waiting.
“I caught Freddie sleeping with my cousin. My younger cousin, actually. She was twenty at the time. I still feel the blow, I guess. Always insecure it’s not me somebody really wants.”
“Wow. I hope your bitch of a cousin isn’t named Stephanie, because that’s the name of the woman I was talking about.”
“Nope, it’s Adrienne.”
“That’s a very ugly name. I would never take an Adrienne over a Stephanie. People named Adrienne are always hideously fat and have no teeth.”
She burst out laughing. “Sorry to say she’s a size two with a perfect orthodontic history, but I appreciate your comment anyway.” She appreciated everything about him, in fact. This man was the embodiment of everything she had always hoped a man could be.
Chapter 14
“I’m sorry about what happened to you. That sucks.” Colin bit his lip to hold back the rest of his comments. He didn’t want to offend her with bad language, though he suspected a woman from New York City would have heard it all. Still, being a gentleman was important to his values, so he fought back the urge. Not easy. He’d been with enough navy men to know exactly the right words to adequately capture his sentiment toward her ex.
“Yeah, it does suck.” She sighed. “But I’m okay with what happened. At least I am now. I’ve met you, so something good came from it.”
“You would have met me anyway.”
“I don’t think so. I would have been a stay-at-home wife writing romance novels while my husband was at work. But even if I had taken this job and met you, I wouldn’t have slept with you.”
“Trust me, it would have been my loss,” he said, seductively. He picked up the hand he was holding and gave her knuckles a long, heated kiss.
“Later for that.” She giggled, ignoring the quivering rush between her thighs.
“Yes, later. I want to talk about this.”
“Luckily, there’s not much more to say. I’m healing. You’ve helped. Last night was the first night in the longest time I felt wanted. Really and truly wanted.”
“How could anybody not want you? Your ex not only lacked good taste, he’s a real dic— excuse me, I meant to say ‘fool.’”
“Thanks.” She giggled. Then he saw her eyebrows furrow.
“Say it,” he urged. “Get it all out. I’m here to listen.”
“Okay, I want to tell you something else. I’m already thirty. In fact, my thirty-first birthday is in a few days. Is that too old for you? I know some guys like women to be lot younger—”
“Like your ex? That’s his problem.”
She stared at him, mouth agape. He looked back at her with the best seductive smile he could muster. “I have an early birthday gift for you, if you want it now.”
Stephanie rolled her eyes, but he could tell it was only mock annoyance. “What about you?” she asked. “How old are you?”
He could feel his previous smirk drop from his face. “I’m thirty-eight. Too old for you?”
He was grateful Stephanie picked up the smile he’d lost. “Everything about you is perfect for me, Croc Man.” She leaned into him, and he wrapped her in his arms.
“You think your co-workers will approve?” he joked.
“We’re not going to find out,” she answered stiffly. “You can’t tell anyone about us. Not until the show’s done. I don’t want to harm your deal, or my career. I can’t let our relationship mess up the show. Is that all right?”
“Sure, I was kidding anyway. It’s none of their business,” he said, reaching down to caress the back of her legs. “This goes against my best interest, believe me, but I want you to get some sleep. We have a long day ahead of us, and it starts in just a few hours. Now lie back and close your eyes.”
“I think the day has already started. Hear all those birdcalls? Man, they get up early.”
He laughed. “The birds come down here for the dry season, when it’s warm and easy to find food. They fly in from everywhere in the States to nest and lay eggs.”
“I guess this lean-to is our own love-nest.” She laughed, but her eyes were drooping.
Smiling, he picked up the flashlight and tossed it back into his backpack. He flicked the switch, plunging them into total darkness. Gathering her back in his arms, he laid her down and tucked her tightly against him. “Shhh. Close your eyes. Listen to the birds. There’s a lot of them here. Pelicans. Terns. Gulls. Herons. Cuckoos. Warblers. Hawks . . .” The rhythmic words, and soothing tone successfully lulled her to sleep. He moved his hands up and down her body, gently stroking her neck and back, until he was sure she had drifted into dreams.
He hoped her dreams were all about him. Them. What they had done together. He smiled to himself in the darkness. At least those dreams would make him sleep well. He closed his eyes in a concerted effort to find out.
Stephanie’s night’s sleep on the hard ground of the lean-to ended as her eyes became aware of a gray, hazy light. She held back on moving so as not to wake Colin. She had slept on her side, spooned in his arms, both of them naked. Loose strands of her long hair blew around her face, and his heavy breathing created a small rhythmic breeze. Unfortunately, the air did not reach the side of her body stuck to the aluminum floor. Slowly, she carefully turned around to face him.
She’d been right. He was perfect. Incredibly handsome face. Spectacular body. Colin really could be a doppelganger for Adonis. He should be bronzed and displayed in a museum. Or chiseled out of marble, his statue holding up a gorgon’s head in victory. An involuntary giggle escaped her lips from the crazy thought. “Sorry,” she said when his eyes po
pped open.
He indulged in the stretch she had wanted, and then gave her shoulders a squeeze. Sitting up, he looked out the lean-to. “Dawn,” he said, simply.
“How much time do we have before the boats get here?” she asked. The very question made her heart rate speed up in apprehension. Sure she wanted civilization, but she wanted time alone with Colin even more. Time to know him. Fill in the fine details to the outlines already sketched out. He was tough and rugged, yet gentle and protective. He was sweet. Sincere. Cared for people and animals alike. About his family. About her. She marveled at the depth of his nature, and knew there were fathoms still left to explore.
She wanted more time here to really know his body. Every crease, every curve, every delicious angle. Learn what turned him on. Learn what it meant to really give all of herself. She hadn’t done that before last night, and she’d only realized it now. He’d even brought about in her a karmic reaction—she wanted to give him everything he had given her.
So very different from her past love. All Freddie had ever done was take, take, take. She realized Freddie had also gotten from her the same amount he gave. Now she understood neither of them had given enough, after all. Catching him with Adrienne had actually been a gift—it had set her free. And she hadn’t realized that before now, either.
Here in their “camp” in the Everglades, there had been nothing but time to give all of herself to Colin. Now time was up. But she wasn’t ready to leave. Worse, he was obviously ready to go. He sprayed a blast of the French mouthwash into his wide-open mouth in an obvious attempt to start the morning.
“How does it taste?” she asked, her nose scrunched up.
“Terrible. How I ever got hooked on such a horrible taste, I have no idea.” He chucked the spray can at her. “See for yourself, if you’re curious. And if you can brave death.”
“Surviving last night’s storm proves I’m unkillable.” Bracing, she opened her mouth and blasted a shot of the spray. “Bleh!” she choked out.
“Eighty percent alcohol, remember? Great for making fires and killing bad-breath germs. Very useful stuff. Of course, the taste is a little off . . .”
“A little! It did almost kill me.” She looked at him and smiled.
He however, was now frowning in concentration. “The boats will be here soon, I hope. I want to get you out of here ASAP.”
Not the words she wanted to hear. She looked away from him and felt her lower lip tremble. Geez, he seemed glad to be getting rid of her. Maybe last night didn’t mean as much to him as it meant to her. Her stomach lurched as her insecurities kicked in. She needed to turn away before he saw how upset she was. She got up on her knees to reach for her clothes.
He put a hand on her shoulder to stop her from rising and looked intently at her expression. “Hey, stop that. I care about you. Last night definitely wasn’t a one time deal,” he said, as if reading her mind. He grabbed her chin, lifting it up so she was forced to look at him.
Her heart beat a little faster at that. He said he cared. Freddie hadn’t said anything like that until they had been dating almost six months. Everything with Colin was going so fast. Being with him was like riding a wonderful rocket. A ride she did not want to get off. Especially now. Damn those boats!
Colin was on his knees now, too. His body so tall and imposing, the roof of the lean-to was a mere inch above his head. He grabbed her close until their naked hips were pressed together, and then kissed her hard on the mouth.
Instantly heat rose up in her body, engulfing her in fast spreading flames. His hands slid over her breasts. Hard, rough hands caressed and flicked lightly over her nipples, enflaming her even more. Then she reached down to stroke him.
“Don’t stop,” he ground out.
“Stop what?” she said, feigning innocence. “I’m just admiring the view.”
“I’m admiring the view, too,” he answered, gently pushing her back to look at her.
She giggled at the intensity of his gaze. “I think you’ve already seen me,” she said softly.
“Not nearly. I want to see it all. Do it all. I want you again,” he responded, inching her legs apart with his knees. He slid his hand down her body and placed his fingers into her softness.
She tightened around him, a soft moan emitting from somewhere deep in her throat.
He felt a wicked smile, and his penis, rise up in rapid response. When he had her hot and writhing against his hand, he decided to switch things up. Really torture her. Lightly touching her nipples, he was enormously satisfied when she shivered in response. He loved it when he pulled off a mission.
He really should call up the pharmaceutical makers. If they could sell a poster of her looking like this—beautiful, naked, and turned on—it would cure any man’s need for Viagra. It sure as hell was working on him. But her needs first.
Not that waiting was easy. He was about to burst. Even his own fingers were turning him on—the feel of them slick and sticky from having been inside her. He literally couldn’t take it anymore. Was now okay? He pulled her close, kissing her deeply on the lips and guided his hand back down.
“You’re so wet for me,” he murmured, voice barely louder than the rustling leaves outside.
“Yes.” Her breath was coming so hard and fast, her words were little more than panting. “Colin, please. I want you. Inside me.” She reached for his index finger and ran her tongue down the length of it. He felt his balls clench in response. His eyes met hers and she licked her lower lip torturously slow. Eyes half-lidded, she murmured, “Now.”
“Steph, baby,” he murmured into her neck. “What you do to me. Tell me if this hurts after last night. I can stop. Or keep it slow.”
He felt her shift her hips up, an invitation. “No,” she said, “Not slow. Fast. I need you now.”
No more words needed to be said. He made love to her until the gray, dim light of dawn gave way to a bright, clear morning.
Chapter 15
“We’ve got to go,” Colin said gently, his hand stroking Stephanie’s face.
Bliss coursed through her languid body, and she was in no rush to move.
“Steph, people will panic if they don’t see us there.”
She knew he was right, but leaving was not what she wanted to do.
“It’ll be okay,” he said softly. “Nothing has to change between us.”
Her heart leapt at that, but she only nodded. Reaching for her wrinkled and damp clothes, she put them on, wondering if he was right.
A lot of things had already changed in the few days since she’d met Colin. She cared about him. She had never responded to anyone the way she responded to him. Not even Freddie. It was like Colin’s mere touch opened up her core. Rose petals peeled away from the stamen. Responding to him wasn’t just sexual. It was mental. It was emotional. It was all of her drawn to him.
The twelve days of the television shoot would be painful. She wouldn’t even know if he was safe. If they sequestered him after taping, keeping him holed up until the last episode aired, he’d be away even longer. Weeks, maybe. All that time for her to miss the pleasure and comfort of his touch.
More importantly, would he make it out okay? He was tough, skilled, knowledgeable, and quick-witted. But if he were injured, there wouldn’t be any help. In fact, no one would know for days. The crew was going set up the cameras at the designated location and then leave. Colin would be like Survivorman, all alone as he spoke into cameras, telling the would-be audience about each step of his odyssey. All he would have to depend on if he got hurt was himself, one lousy knife, and his willpower. Could he survive like that?
Could she survive like that? After surviving the heartbreak of Freddie, could she bear to put her heart in danger again? She looked up to see Colin already dressed.
“Sit down so I can put more medicine
on your feet,” he ordered. Leave it to Colin to remember her cuts and to care for her, she thought. He rubbed the ointment on and handed her her dangling damp socks. “Better wear these to help protect the cuts. I left the Vaseline off so your socks wouldn’t get sticky. If you’re going to walk, you should put your boots back on, too.”
Stephanie cocked her head to one side. “If I’m going to walk? What other options are there?”
“I can carry you, of course. I don’t want you in pain.”
She felt her heart swell again by his offer. “Thanks. But I don’t want you to have to do that. I’ll walk. Let’s go.”
They walked in silence, trudging through wet ground with tree limbs and rough leaves scraping her skin. Every now and again she’d smack her body to kill a mosquito. She heard frogs croaking, remarkably loud, from nearby ponds. Birds called out more strange songs, their high-pitched warbles and screeches cutting through the hot, still surroundings. The air smelled even richer than it had last night, pungent peat smell mixed with a deep acrid tang.
They were getting closer to the boat site. Each step, though painful, felt somewhat better. Whatever medicine he gave her was working. So long as the boots didn’t make her blisters worse, she’d be all right.
Eventually the sounds of nature were intermixed with the noise of machinery. Colin reached out behind him, an invitation for her to take his hand. She did and they trooped on until the edge of the clearing. Then he dropped her hand and ran ahead, arms waving high overhead as he called the crewmembers’ names.