Forget You

by Nina Crespo

  “Wave.” He thrust two fingers inside of her and sucked her clit.

  The rational part of her said to push him away, but desire had her holding on to him. Her head fell back. The sky seemed bluer. The rays of the sun brighter. The breeze on her heated skin was as arousing as King’s caresses. An orgasm ripped through Sophie, tossing her into abandonment. Ecstasy. Didn’t-give-a-damn-who-saw-or-heard-her surrender.

  As she floated on a cloud of sexual satisfaction, she slumped back in the seat.

  King licked his glistening lips and his eyes narrowed. A predator enjoying the act of owning his prey. He stood and handed her the cover-up.

  She slipped it on. “Now you’re worried about modesty? What about the guys who passed by in the speedboat? If they would have come any closer, they would have heard me and known exactly what you were doing.”

  He pulled her to her feet. “I don’t care about guys hearing you scream my name, because this”—he nuzzled her neck and cupped her ass—“is only for me.”

  “Oh, really?” He wasn’t the only one who had a temporary claim. Sophie ripped apart the Velcro in the front of his shorts. His hard cock bumped her fingers. She traced up his length, and the need she spotted in his eyes moved pure fire through her blood. “And all of this is mine.”

  twenty-one

  DOWN BELOW, IN the berth, Sophie and King stood naked in front of each other.

  He came forward, closing the space to inches between them.

  The tip of her breasts tingled from his body heat. The sight of his hard shaft rising up on his taut abdomen, so close but not touching her, made Sophie ache. She reached for him.

  He shook his head and took a step back. “Lie down. Let me look at you.”

  Sophie turned and placed a knee on the bed.

  His sharp inhale made her look over her shoulder.

  He stared at the birthmark near the back of her right hip. “I knew it. Your ass is too damn perfect to be just a dream.”

  Were his dreams as sexually explicit as hers had been about him? Sophie lay back on the mattress. King’s gaze, drifting from her face to her breasts, lingering on her sex, moving down her legs and back up again, was like a slow caress.

  If he wanted to look at her, she’d give him something to see. Sophie widened her legs.

  King’s cock jerked in response.

  How far could she push him? She stretched one hand over her head. With her other, she glided a finger over her pussy. The wantonness of pleasuring herself in front of him brought a rush. Sophie delved deeper and deeper.

  King’s gaze, riveted between her thighs, spurred her on.

  She grazed her clit and erotic sensation thrummed inside of her. Her breathing grew rushed. Sophie licked away the dryness from her bottom lip. She was so close.

  Suddenly, King climbed on the bed. He pushed her hand aside.

  Searing kisses branded her thighs. His harsh exhales heated her sex. He plunged his tongue inside of her. Already on the verge of climax, Sophie felt his groan rumbling into her, shooting her into sensual ecstasy.

  He gripped her undulating hips as she met the bold strokes of his tongue, lost in the desire for more. She arched up from the mattress, unable to suppress the incoherent words tumbling out of her.

  King drew her clit into his mouth and the intensity of Sophie’s orgasm tore a cry out of her.

  He held her tighter as he relentlessly flicked over her sensitive flesh and sucked harder. Punishing her in the most decadent way. Overwhelming her with pleasure. It was too much.

  She pushed at his shoulders. “Stop. I can’t. I can’t take anymore.”

  “You will.” As he rose up from between her thighs, the unadulterated lust in his gaze made her shiver. “Because we’re just getting started.”

  King stalked to the bathroom and came back out rolling a condom onto his cock.

  Anticipation made her heart bump in her chest as he climbed on the bed.

  King lined himself up with the opening of her sex, and in one long stroke, he pushed inside of her. His exhale caused his abdomen to draw tight, and his six-pack turned into an eight. “I couldn’t sleep because I wanted you so much.” He pulled out and drove back into her pussy. “All I could think about was this.” He did it again. “All I wanted was this.” He punctuated his words with more deep strokes, paralyzing her with pleasure. “And now. You. Are. Mine.” King lifted her hips.

  With each stroke of his length, unrestrained desire burned brighter inside of her.

  She dug her fingers into the comforter and lifted her hips. “Harder.”

  The bed shook as his successive thrusts hit places inside of Sophie that made her quiver, arch her back, and cry his name, over and over again.

  Another orgasm swept over her.

  King tensed and gripped her hips harder. “Holy fuck!” He bucked his hips as if his sole mission was to bury himself deeper inside of her as he found release.

  King tucked a sleeping Sophie closer against him in the full-size berth. They’d spent the morning in bed. From the way the sun shone through the windows, it was past noon. Sex had brought relief, but King was still too amped up to close his eyes. Was this reality? Was Sophie truly in his arms?

  He spooned her against him and immersed himself in the scent he craved. Sexy, subtle, and all her.

  Sophie stretched, and her butt cradled his hardening cock. She chuckled. “Again? Already?”

  He kissed down her neck. “I just want to hold you.”

  She turned, laid her head on his shoulder, and rested her leg on top of his. “That’s what you said the last time.”

  “I promise.” At least for as long as he could. Now that the image of her in that sexy bikini was burned into his mind, not touching her was nearly impossible.

  She stroked his chest, and something sharp dragged over his skin.

  “Ouch.” He lifted Sophie’s hand.

  Her bracelet dangled. She examined it. “One of the charms broke.”

  King popped open the clasp and slipped it off. “Maybe you hit it against something.” The red jeweled charms, interspersed with clear crystals and gold balls, sparkled in the light. “Is it part of your collection?”

  “It’s a prototype. I’ll have to find better-quality charms. The jewelry for Meagan’s line has to stand up to daily wear.”

  He handed it to her. Even with the broken charm, the piece exuded excellent workmanship and style. “How long have you been making jewelry?”

  “Since I could walk.” She laid the bracelet on the cut-in shelf above the bed. “According to my mom, I’d take the big plastic blocks that snapped together and turn them into necklaces. When I was five, I upped my skills to elbow macaroni and string. She’d let me use her brushes to paint them.”

  “Your mom was an artist?”

  “Yes.” Sophie hesitated. “My father too. He was a sculptor.”

  “I didn’t know that. Are their works displayed anywhere?”

  She stiffened in his arms.

  Sophie had said she was up for weekend sex. Not twenty questions about her personal life. “Sorry. It’s none of my business.”

  “No. It’s okay. I just haven’t talked about them in a while. You caught me off guard.” She relaxed. “I don’t know much about him. They ran off to an art commune in Nevada when she was nineteen. I was born a year later. He left my mom when I was three.”

  He stroked her back. “A single parent at twenty. I’m sure that wasn’t easy.”

  “Mom was a hard worker. For the longest time, she waitressed during the day and cleaned offices at night.” Sophie absently traced a pattern on his stomach. “When she couldn’t find a babysitter, she’d take me with her. I’d sit in a corner with paper and colored pencils.”

  “Did you draw jewelry?”

  She laughed. “Along with fairy kingdoms and puppies.”

  Sophie liked dogs too? He’d pegged her as a cat person. “What about your mom? Did she continue to paint?”

  “For a while.
Then she got too busy. I had school activities. She became a supervisor at the office-cleaning company.” Sophie’s voice caught. “Basically, she gave up what she loved to take care of me.”

  “No.” He tipped up her chin. “She chose you because she loved you more. Sounds like you had a great mom.”

  “She was.” Her smile wobbled. “Compared to how you grew up, my childhood must sound awful.”

  A harsh chuckle slipped out. “You met Gerard. No one would ever nominate him for father of the year. My mother did her best to compensate for his lack of parenting. Aiden and I had what we needed, but she was mostly preoccupied with the impossible task of trying to please Gerard.”

  Sophie wrapped her arm around him in a partial embrace. “I wasn’t thinking. I didn’t mean for him to come up.”

  “Fair game. I asked about your parents.”

  Why? He’d never discussed family history with other women. Restlessness spread through him. King rose from the bed. He snagged his shorts from the floor. “I should check on things.”

  Up top at the helm, he plotted a northward course on the navigational equipment. Nothing but a smooth ride all the way home and back to reality. Aiden. The Ivy Gate. Sophie leaving.

  He sat in the captain’s seat. It was as if he was just getting to know Sophie. Somehow over the past few years he’d missed things, like how she preferred raw sugar in her coffee. How she broke out in hives if she ate too much lobster, but she could tolerate shrimp. She had a playful sense of humor, and when she truly laughed, tiny dimples sunk into her cheeks. There were new things he was learning about her as well. Like how she hogged the covers in a dead sleep, but if he reached for her, she came willingly into his arms.

  He reclined in the chair. What she’d said about her childhood, how she’d gotten started making jewelry—he wouldn’t have guessed any of that if she hadn’t shared it. But then again, he’d never bothered to ask. His own confession about his parents had caught him by surprise, but telling her about his family hadn’t felt completely strange. Oddly, it had felt . . . right.

  twenty-two

  SOPHIE GATHERED HER damp hair and climbed the stairs to the top deck.

  King sat at the helm, staring out at the ocean glimmering under the orange-yellow light of the evening sky.

  Earlier, he had run off as if he wasn’t comfortable with the topic of their conversation. She’d taken her time in the shower to give him some space. While she’d never viewed being raised by a single parent as a disadvantage, after hearing what little King had revealed, she knew she’d grown up fortunate. All of the money in the world couldn’t replace love. It sounded like a handy slogan in a fortune cookie, but from the hurt she’d witnessed in King about his father, it was obviously true.

  She went to the helm. “Hey, you.”

  King stood. “Hey.” He drew her to him.

  “I missed you.” She wrapped her arms around his waist, enjoying the feel of his bare abs pressed against her belly.

  “I had to confirm we are where we should be.” He kissed the side of her neck and found the spot. Not just any spot, but the one that made her knees weak every time. “As wild as you were in bed, I honestly thought you unmoored the boat.”

  “Oh?” She feigned innocence as she toyed with the strings on his shorts. “I assumed you had all the right equipment to keep things under control.”

  He grinned. “You have doubts?”

  “Hmm.” She tapped her lips as if in deep thought. “That’s a tough question. Can I get back to you on that?”

  “Get back to me, huh? I’ll help you make up your mind.” He tunneled his hands underneath her shirt.

  Laughing, she swatted his hands. “I’m ticklish. Stop.”

  “Not until you come up with an answer.”

  “I have.” She tried to wriggle away, but he held on. “Yes. I mean no. I don’t have any doubts.”

  “Right answer.” Smiling, he pecked her on the lips. “Speaking of equipment, have you ever piloted a boat?”

  “No.”

  “Would you like to?”

  A thrill shot through her, and she leapt into the captain’s chair. “Absolutely.”

  He explained the various controls and the basics of boating. Then, he guided her into slowly opening the engine and throttling forward.

  The powerful craft roared to life, and soon they were dipping and gliding over the waves.

  Sophie screamed in delight. “I love this!” She glanced at him.

  He appeared sad. Troubled.

  Inadvertently, she veered left.

  King quickly covered her hands with his, taking control. He backed down the engine to a low rumble and brought the boat to a stop. “We need to talk.”

  She’d never seen him like this. Concern made her rise from the chair. “About what?”

  “Nothing. Everything.” He cradled her face and pressed his lips to hers.

  Sophie opened for him, welcoming him, and slipped her tongue over his.

  His musky scent and the fresh smell of soap lingering on her skin surrounded her. Together they created their own appealing, erotic fragrance, and all she wanted to do was immerse herself in it.

  His groan rumbled into her mouth as he wrapped his arms around her. Intensity and growing desire infused his deepening kiss.

  She held on to him, absorbing the intensity and longing his kiss conveyed.

  A long moment later, only a requirement for oxygen made her reluctantly break away.

  “Wow.” She laid her forehead against his as her breathing steadied. “I’d like to see what happens when something is really on your mind. What do we need to talk about?”

  “You.” He stroked her cheek. “So tell me, sweet Sophie. How much more time will you give me?”

  Forever. The word floated in along with its impossibility. Tears stung her eyes, and she blinked them away. As she looked at him, she conjured up a playful smile. “At least a few more hours. I’m having too much fun handling your throttle to end it right this second.”

  “How would you feel about handling it a little longer?” He smiled. “I know you said the weekend, but why do we have to end it?”

  “I’ve got to concentrate on Meagan’s show.”

  “I’m not trying to keep you from making jewelry. I support you.” He held her by the waist. “I’m talking about us spending a little more time together. Haven’t you enjoyed being here with me on the boat?”

  “This is different. It’s just us. There’s more to contend with in the real world.”

  “You mean other women.”

  “Yes, but I understand that you don’t want to be tied down. Neither do I.”

  “So we’re in agreement. What’s the problem?”

  She laid her hands on his chest. “I’m not interested in being a part of your lineup.”

  “You’re not.”

  “So you don’t have another woman waiting for you at the dock?”

  “No.” His shoulders fell with a deep breath. “What do I have to say to make you understand? I just want to be with you for a little longer.”

  A little longer. They’d had a good weekend. What was the point of prolonging the inevitable?

  “Make it an unforgettable ending on your terms.”

  Perhaps Meagan was right about closure. Why not construct a sweeter ending? One filled with memories of her and King enjoying each other in every way. “If we do this, it’s just until I leave Kingman Partners.”

  King opened his mouth to speak, then shook his head as if in answer to some internal question. He gave her a lazy half smile and leaned in. “All right. It’s settled, then.”

  She laid her hands on his chest. “One more thing. What about Aiden? He’s big on keeping personal life separate from professional.”

  “We will, and honestly, I don’t see the need to tell him until afterward. Are you done with the objections?” He kissed her.

  As his tongue glided over hers, she reeled from waves of desire. “Yes.” She murmured the as
sent as she wound her arms around his neck. More kisses. More orgasms. More of him. She’d allow herself to have those things awhile longer, but she’d still protect her heart.

  twenty-three

  THE SPRAY FROM the showerhead in King’s bathroom pounded the tension from Sophie.

  His house had wonderful conveniences she’d grown to like over the past few days. An extralarge bed with a supercomfy mattress. A Keurig coffeemaker and flavors of coffee she’d yet to discover. A picture window she’d sat in front of with her sketch pad. The master bath was best of all, with its large beige marble corner shower and the sunken Jacuzzi tub, where she’d lingered with King last night. Heaven. She could have stayed in the water with him forever.

  No. Not forever. Temporarily. She’d already caved in the midst of King giving her an orgasm and agreed to adding on the coming weekend as part of their arrangement. After that, she really was leaving. No regrets or looking back. Only forward to the introduction of her jewelry line.

  The other day, Meagan had informed her that she’d added a private showing for stylists the day before the show. Last night, she’d had a nightmare of models wearing clothes from Meagan’s new line along with her jewelry. Every time a model came onstage, a bracelet or necklace would break. She’d run after the pieces, trying to catch the falling charms and bouncing beads while everyone in the audience stared at her in disapproval. She’d awakened from the nightmare and snuggled closer to King. His solid warmth had calmed her.

  Temporary. He wouldn’t be around to reassure her for long. The success of the jewelry line was her responsibility, and her responsibility alone. Sophie washed and rinsed her hair. She’d go over the list again before leaving for dinner with Robin. It was past closing time for her suppliers, but she could leave a message and alert them to an addition or a change.

  She turned off the shower and slid back the glass. Squinting against the water dripping into her eyes, she reached for the towel hanging on the wall. Her hand smacked into soft cloth and hard muscle.

  A shriek tore out of Sophie, and her heart sped up. King. “You scared the crap out of me. I thought you were still at the office.”