“I’ve been ready. I don’t need to primp and preen to win a race.”
She tugged at her braid. “You’re so full of yourself.”
He preferred her hair loose. The long, soft waves cascading down her back and over her shoulders. His fingers itched at the memories of running his fingers through the length. How after they’d made love the silky strands surrounded her head on the pillow, framing her face. So many things about her were burned into his mind for life.
Shit, even now he wanted her. He could lose himself in her twenty-four seven. Tangle his fingers in her hair, kiss her mouth for hours on end, and sink deep inside her as she moaned beneath him.
She slugged him in the shoulder, bringing him out of his thoughts. “You have that dejected look again. Or is that the look of a man who ate too much popcorn and won’t be able to run? Or maybe it’s just plain fear. Even you know your big talk is just that. Talk.”
“Not a chance.”
“Then let’s do this.” She grabbed a pillow off the bed and threw it at him.
He caught it with one hand. “And this is for?”
“That’s for your ass. You’re going to need it to sit on after I kick it.”
Fifteen minutes later, Devi whipped off her tie-dye dress and wiggled out of her suit, flinging both onto the sand as she ran down the beach toward the water. She didn’t waste any time getting to the skinny-dipping portion of tonight’s agenda. If he’d known that he’d have— You did lose the race.
Holy Shit. Omar put a shaky hand through his hair.
Not only had she kicked his butt like she said she would, she hadn’t stopped once she’d crossed the line they’d mapped in the sand. She’d continued to run right down to the water, stripping as she went, to claim her prize. He leaned over and clutched his side, unable to take his eyes off her.
“Don’t be a chicken. Or are you being a sore loser?” Even across the sand, with the full moon casting a sliver of light over the beach, he could see her teasing pout. “I’m going in with or without you.” She squealed as she splashed into the cool water, and then plunged under the surface in a smooth dive. She popped up, laughing and motioning to him with her arms.
He pulled down his shorts, using his feet to peel them off his legs as he lifted his shirt over his head, nearly tripping to get into the water. Even though the water felt like ice, he’d warm up as soon as he had her in his arms. He lost his breath as he plunged headfirst into a low wave. When he popped up, he waded in a circle to locate Devi.
The sound of her laughter became his radar, and she bobbed in the water only a few strokes away. He made his way toward her, and she backhanded a spray of water, blinding him.
He shook the water out of his face. “You want a water fight?”
“Yes, please.” Her laughter filled the night air, and then she went quiet. Seriously still. His smile vanished. Out of nowhere she started humming the music from Jaws. The one that always foreshadowed when the great white would attack.
Omar’s smile returned. “I know this is shark week, but aren’t you carrying things a little too far?”
She splashed him again, and although he couldn’t see her, he heard her bite the air. “Shark bite.”
He splashed her back as she went under the water, one hand sticking out above the water. She bobbed back to the surface and then back under, only to return, making gurgling sounds. Then she pretended to be tugged down hard into the depths, and when she resurfaced she made a gasping sound followed by a playful giggle before she sank below the water again.
He counted to ten, and she came back up and grunted.
“Are you going to rescue me, or let the shark get me?” She sank below the depths of the water again. One arm shot up, and then nothing but her face poked above the water, and she made more gurgling and struggling sounds.
“A girl could use a good superhero about now.”
“Superhero on his way.” Omar dove below the surface and came up beside her. He grabbed her in his arms, and she curled her legs around his middle.
“My hero,” she swooned. “Thank you, Aquaman.”
He threw back his head and laughed. “What happened to Spider-Man?”
She tilted her head to the side. “Have you ever seen Spidey in the water? Anyway, this is my fantasy; you’re any superhero I imagine.”
“Touché. I wonder what form I’ll take next.”
“Mmm, someone hot, spicy, and oh so sexy. What moniker should we give a superhero with all those qualities and more?” She brushed the wet strands of hair from his face. Her warm fingers did crazy things to his flesh, and he pulled her closer. Her little gasp sent all the blood straight to his cock. They bobbed in the water, his erection growing against her smooth belly.
“Super Endowed for starters. Or maybe—”
He quieted her by claiming her mouth, sliding his tongue along the seam until she allowed him entry, and then plunging his tongue into her moist warmth. When he came up for air, they both sighed.
“Mmm, maybe Magic Mouth.”
“Not my favorite so far.”
“I’ll try to think up something good. But for now, give me your lips, Aquaman.”
He obeyed. His breath seized as she took the lead and circled his neck with her arms, claiming his mouth. This time she parted his lips with her tongue and took control with a soft moan.
The water pushed her body up against his, the rocking motion adding another layer of awareness. The smooth friction of their skin, the silky water, and her mouth set his blood on fire.
She rubbed her front to his, pushing into his erection. He wanted to thrust inside of her, and it took all of his strength to pull back. He rested his forehead against hers with a groan as she sought his mouth again. “I have a confession.”
“And you think now is the time?” She panted, running her palm down his cheek, caressing his jaw with her thumb.
“I forgot to bring a condom.”
“Oh no.” She tilted back her head, revealing the sensitive skin of her throat. He couldn’t stop himself. He took advantage of the situation and licked, sucked, and nipped her flesh until she purred.
“I have a confession, too,” she groaned.
He ran his hand along her side, cupping her breast, teasing her nipple with his thumb. “What’s that?”
“It’s more of a fantasy than a confession.”
“I’m all ears.” His dick throbbed as he let his imagination run wild.
She bobbed in the water, holding herself above with her hands on his shoulders. Omar slid his palm past her breasts and up the column of her throat. He brushed his mouth against hers, and then ran his thumb along her full bottom lip.
“If you keep that up I won’t be able to tell you about my fantasy.”
He pulled back and dropped his hand to cup her rear and tug her close. She wrapped her legs around him tighter, her sex rubbing against his already engorged flesh.
“There are condoms in the room, and I want you to make love to me in that massive shower. Press me up against the cool tiles of the wall, my legs wrapped around you like they are now, except I want your body filling mine…”
He captured her mouth in a bruising kiss. Their passion ignited and took control. He couldn’t keep his hands off her, and he didn’t want to. She sucked his tongue into her moistness, biting the tip as she rubbed against him. When he didn’t think he could take another minute without entering her sweet sex, he pulled back. He could barely breathe, think, or focus on anything but her.
“How ’bout it? Can you handle that?” she teased, grabbing his length and stroking his flesh up and down in a slow, tantalizing motion.
“Mmm.”
This time she claimed his mouth. Slow, soft, her kiss possessed him with an innocence that turned him on even more.
“Let’s get out of here.” He moved toward the shore, lifting her out of the water still wrapped around his middle. Once they hit the sand, she slid down his front, trailing her fingertips along his ches
t, stomach, and finally dragging them softly over his length as they separated. Her eyes held his, he couldn’t look away. The delicate breeze dried their skin in seconds, and the moonlight cast her center stage in a surreal glow. She slipped her dress over her head and it fell against her body in a soft wave. She looked just as sexy putting her clothes on as she did taking them off.
She leaned into him and brushed his mouth with hers.
Chapter Thirteen
Devi held Omar’s hand as they spilled into their room, laughing. “I’m so glad we aren’t in the other wing. Not that I don’t want to be social, but I like our privacy. Oh, and thanks again for the awesome piggyback ride. I hope it didn’t wear you out, because you’re going to need all your strength here shortly.”
“Promises, promises.”
When she tried to steer him into the bathroom, he tugged her toward the bed and grabbed a condom from the bedside drawer. “Good thinking. I’m glad you decided to bring along the industrial-size box of condoms,” she teased.
He shrugged, tweaking her nose. “You know I’m always prepared.”
“It’s the one trait about you that I truly admire. Especially now.”
She grabbed his mouth for a quick taste and walked him backward toward the bathroom. They tripped on the edge of the bed and fell across the ocean blue comforter. He rolled her underneath him. She parted her legs, and he shifted until he lay between them. The feel of the soft cotton comforter against her back and his hard body on top sent a thrill of anticipation through her. She squirmed beneath him, enjoying the friction. If only he were naked. If only she were naked.
She tugged at his shirt, working it up his back, digging her nails into his spine.
“The shower…” He breathed against her neck as his mouth trailed the column of her throat.
She bucked against him, making his already hard erection swell and throb.
Devi scooted out from beneath him. His grunt of disapproval sent tingles across her ultra-sensitive flesh. She took his hand and turned toward the bathroom. He came up behind her, pressing his front to her back. She wanted to explode as his erection strained against his shorts between her butt cheeks. She wiggled against him, and his soft groan sent another wave of heat to her sex.
She might never get enough of him. The more she got, the more she wanted.
Once inside the bathroom, she shooed his hands away when he tried to lift her dress.
“You take care of your clothes. I’ll take care of mine.” She slid one strap at a time over each shoulder and let the light material slide down her body to pool at her feet.
He lifted his shirt over his head and tossed it to the floor. Her eyes traveled across his sculpted chest sprinkled with the perfect dusting of hair, powerful and wide.
He licked his lips, and the space between her legs pulsed in anticipation. She could feel herself grow wet as his eyes darkened and traveled down her body. Her nipples tightened in response, and she rubbed them with her palm to alleviate their sensitive tips.
His head fell back and he groaned. “God, Dev. Don’t do that. You’re driving me crazy.”
She grabbed his hand. “Then do it for me.”
A fresh rush of heat poured through her as their eyes locked. He teased one nipple, then the other. Her body came to life as his fingers rubbed and pulled, and then he dipped his head to graze the rough line of his jaw against one tip before sliding his tongue around the edge and then pulling it into his mouth.
She wanted to die. Her legs quivered and shook. He must’ve felt the sway of her body because he wrapped his arms around her. She sagged into him, legs shaking, giving herself up to the pleasure. Savoring the feel of his tongue taking control.
Her head fell back as his tongue trailed from one breast to the other. In between licks, he teased her with small bites and gentle nips.
“Gawd. You’re killing me.” Her fingers trembled as she raked them down his six-pack, yanking his zipper south and pushing his shorts down his lean hips. They fell to his feet, and he kicked them off to the side, sheathed himself in a condom, and then reclaimed her mouth.
He walked her backward to the edge of the shower, reaching behind her to adjust the water as his tongue did crazy things to the inside of her mouth.
She leaned back to take a breath, to focus on something other than her own desire. But she couldn’t. Her entire body had become one large nerve ending. “I can’t stand it, Omar. You need to take me now.” Her body quaked with an urgency she didn’t know she possessed.
He lifted her into his arms, cupping her rear in his strong hands. He kneaded her flesh, and the cleft between her legs begged for relief. Water washed over them, becoming an accelerant to her already aching desire.
She arched her back as he pressed her to the cool tile wall, digging her nails into his shoulders and then sliding them upward to tangle in his hair.
“Hurry, Omar. I need you.”
His mouth met hers in an instant. Heat, passion, fire flared between them as he plunged his tongue deep inside.
She writhed against him. Her moans and his grunts mingled with the steam filling the stall. Devi pushed against him, begging with her body to give her some release. He lifted her until they were nose to nose, positioning her over his length. Then he entered her with one powerful stroke.
She gasped, stunned for a moment from the pressure of his bulk inside her. Then she moved with a raw urgency, matching his thrusts with her push. The tempo increased as their breaths and pants bounced off the tiled walls. The water washed over her head, down her face, and she blinked it away as she studied the lines of Omar’s face.
Gawd, he looked good fucking her.
Beautiful. Controlled. Strong.
His jaw tightened and relaxed as he thrust in and out. His mouth parted in pleasure. He opened his eyes and held her gaze as he pounded deep inside of her. The sounds of their shallow breaths and the urgency of their bodies sent shudders of pleasure over her flesh as they moved toward their climax.
Her hips ground into him. The tile at her back giving her the leverage she needed to take the full burden of his thrusts. She could feel herself beginning to come apart. Her toes ached, arched, and curled. Shivers engulfed her feet and calves, thighs, and then shot straight to her core. Seconds later, every nerve ending in her body exploded, and she closed her eyes as white streaks blazed across her eyelids and Omar’s hands dug into the flesh of her behind.
Devi rolled over and reached out to feel Omar’s heat. Her hand connected with a cool pillow instead. She opened one eye, stretched, and yawned, smiling as she eyed the clock. Omar had gotten an early start. Each representative from the various planning companies had agreed to meet with William this morning for a group presentation so that William could lay out his goals, hopes, and ideas for the future, and then he’d meet separately with each candidate to see how they meshed.
Although she missed waking up with him beside her, the time apart would do them both good.
Maybe put things into perspective.
She could already feel the change in herself. Her feeling of normalcy had disappeared. Her body hummed with a constant tingle of excitement and anticipation whenever she knew they’d be together. The sensation scared and thrilled her at the same time.
For someone who didn’t want a relationship, she seemed to be moving in that direction pretty damn quickly. Omar had become the sunshine in her life, the idea that put a smile on her lips, an all-consuming thought. She grabbed his pillow and hugged it, reveling in his smell.
Don’t let this all go to your head. Who knew what would happen when they arrived back in their everyday world? She’d been seduced by the sun, sand, and Omar.
Laughter filtered up through the window, and she padded across the floor to peek outside. She hid behind the flowing curtain to hide her nudity. Several of the kids had set up the croquet set, and Cindy and Gwen’s husband, Paul, were busy showing some of the older kids the ins and outs of volleyball. Definitely her kind of day.
Omar could stay behind closed doors; she’d take the sunshine and volleyball anytime.
She eyed the laptop on the bureau across the room. Or should she start researching P.I.s? Her plan to hire one as soon as they returned home would go a lot faster if she took some time to research now.
She also needed to call Grams. When she’d talked to her last week she’d promised to call today, but her usual excitement about chatting with Grams wasn’t there. Guilt consumed her for not telling her grandma everything going on. She couldn’t miss the concern in Grams’s voice when she’d skirted several questions so that she wouldn’t have to come right out and lie.
A rowdy cry from outside and then shouts followed by laughter caught her attention again. She’d make an effort to research later. And, as for Grams, she’d call her tonight. Later in the evening, about the time Grams went to bed. That way she could keep it short and sweet because Grams didn’t vary from her strict schedule and wouldn’t want to take a long phone call.
For now she wanted to bask in another sunny day and have some fun with the others. Volleyball would be the first chore to scratch off her list.
…
Omar made his way into the kitchen and poured himself another cup of Joe. Already two cups over his limit, he needed the caffeine after his late night with Devi to concentrate on all the conversation with William and the others.
He smiled as images of Devi’s face in the throes of passion filled his head.
Hell, the woman was incredible. She made him feel incredible.
He took another mouthful of coffee and wandered toward the windows overlooking the pool area. The sky overhead had changed from clear sunny blue to gray clouds. The wind had picked up and rain loomed on the horizon. None of that affected the others outside as they swam, played badminton, and smacked the ball over the volleyball net.
He sought out Devi’s form and relaxed against the windowsill when he found her. His feelings had already grown. Every time he thought about her he couldn’t help but think of the future. What the hell was he doing? What the hell were they doing?
A Friendly Engagement Page 17