Josh leaned back in the comfortable kitchen chair. Over the rim of his yellow ceramic coffee mug, he watched Lexie finish her last bite of pancake, her eyes closed in rapture, a purr of satisfaction rumbling in her throat. If there was one thing he liked, it was a woman who enjoyed food. And he'd never met one who looked more decadent and downright sexy while she ate than Lexie.
"That was, by far, the best breakfast I've eaten in a long time," she said, tapping her napkin against her lips. "Definitely beats cold cereal."
"Glad you enjoyed it. But I thought you got free meals at the resort."
"I do. But I usually eat a light breakfast. Fruit, maybe a muffin. I don't have much time in the morning before the early activities start. Besides, big meals make me sleepy."
"Great! Wanna go to bed?" He waggled his brows in an exaggerated leer.
She laughed, then batted her eyelashes in an equally outrageous fashion. "Why, Mr. Maynard. Are you trying to seduce me?"
"Every chance I get." He glanced down at his watch and shook his head with genuine regret. "Except right now. It's getting late. There's just enough time for me to clean up the dishes while you get dressed. Wear comfortable jeans."
She raised her brows. "Jeans? For sailing?"
"No, jeans for your surprise. We can start the sailing lessons later this afternoon."
"Surprise? What surprise?"
"Now if I told you that, it wouldn't be a surprise."
Leaning toward her, he allowed himself a quick taste of her sweet mouth, then rose before he gave in to temptation and chucked all his fine plans for the rest of the morning. Rising, he carried their dirty dishes to the sink, then turned on the faucet.
She followed him, peering into the sink. "Don't tell me you wash dishes, too."
"Well, only if they don't fit in the dishwasher."
She swiveled her head to look at him. "You load the dishwasher?"
"Unless you've got dishes that know how to hop in there all by themselves." He gave her a gentle swat on the butt. "Go get dressed so we're not late."
"Will you give me a hint what this surprise is?"
"Only that you're gonna love it." He laughed at her skeptical look. "I promise."
* * *
"What the hell is that?"
Lexie looked at the huge beast eyeballing her with unmistakable suspicion and experienced a sensation that felt unpleasantly like an all-over body cramp. Oh, boy. She had a real bad feeling about this.
"That is a horse," Josh said with a smile, running his hand over the animal's glossy brown neck. A teenage boy stood next to the animal, holding the reins. "And I'm going to teach you how to ride her."
"Like hell." Sweat popped out on her brow. "Look, Josh, remember how I told you I'd never been on a horse? Well, that's not exactly accurate. I tried riding. Once. I was eight. I spent thirty seconds on the horse, ten seconds sailing through the air, then six weeks with a cast on my broken arm."
Understanding dawned in his eyes. "You were thrown. And you've been afraid of horses ever since."
The horse pawed at the ground and breathed out a loud snort. Lexie took two hasty steps backward and nodded. "That's it in a nutshell, yup."
"Sort of like the way I got bit on the ass by that snake and never learned to swim."
"I suppose," she admitted grudgingly. "But unlike you, I suffer from B.F.C. Syndrome, a condition that makes it impossible for me to get on a horse."
Instant concern clouded his eyes. "B.F.C. Syndrome? What is that? Some sort of allergy?"
"Big Fat Chicken Syndrome. I'm afraid my case is fatal."
He looked heavenward, muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like, "Women! Can't live with 'em, can't kill 'em," then erased the several yards between them. Resting his hands on her shoulders he said, "You taught me what you're good at. Let me teach you what I'm good at."
"I thought what you were good at was getting tossed off the back of bucking Brahman bulls. No thanks."
"Actually, what I was good at was staying on the back of bucking Brahman bulls. This is not a bull. It's a horse. A very sweet, gentle, docile horse."
Her gaze alternated between his earnest face and the horse, who, she had to admit, appeared pretty docile. At the moment. "What's its name?"
He pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head as if in pain. "Believe it or not, somebody named this gorgeous animal… Yogurt."
The horse tossed its head and snorted. Josh nodded in clear commiseration. "I know, baby. I feel your pain with that one." He shook his head again, muttering, "Yogurt. Good God."
"Well, that settles it," Lexie said. "I cannot possibly ride a horse named Yogurt."
"Why not?"
"I'm lactose intolerant."
A tiny smile twitched his lips. "If I can bring myself to ride a horse named Yogurt, so can you."
"That's the problem. I can't ride a horse by any name. You can. You're a cowboy. You could ride a horse named Bone Crusher." She took a few more steps backward. "Besides, you're brave. I'm a-"
"B.F.C.?"
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Are you calling me fat?"
He settled his hands on his hips, looking skyward. "No. And don't think I don't recognize one of those 'girl trap' questions when I hear one." Taking her hands, he gave them what she was certain he meant as a reassuring squeeze.
"Lexie. You're nervous. I understand. But if I didn't honestly think you would love this, if I didn't know you'd be perfectly safe, I wouldn't ask you to try it. Remember what you told me during our first lesson, about how having an experienced instructor will give you the confidence to overcome your fears? Give it five minutes. Give me five minutes. Let me show you how exhilarating riding can be. I'll be sitting right behind you, my arms around you. I swear I won't let anything happen to you. If, after five minutes, you hate it, we'll stop."
Looking up into his handsome, earnest face, her heart performed a slow somersault. How could she possibly refuse him? Besides, with Josh right behind her, his strong arms around her, she'd probably forget she was even on a horse. Probably.
Disgusted for feeling like such a total wimp, but unable to stop the question, she asked, "You won't let go of me?"
"I won't let go of you," he promised softly, his eyes filled with an expression that stalled her breath.
Swallowing hard, she summoned her courage, then jerked her head in a nod. "All right. I guess I can stand anything for five minutes."
A huge smile lit his face. "Sweetheart, you're about to have the best five minutes of your life. So good you won't want to stop."
Holding tightly on to his hand, she allowed him to lead her back to Yogurt. Yeah, she could believe that five minutes wrapped in Josh's arms could win the Best Five Minutes of her life award. She just prayed these weren't about to be her last five minutes.
* * *
An hour later, Lexie leaned back against Josh's hard chest. With the back of her head resting against his shoulder, she tipped her face up to the sun, closed her eyes, and enjoyed the warming rays filtering through the palm frees against her skin. The only sounds were the chirping birds, the rustling leaves, and the squeak of the leather saddle as they moved slowly along the shady path.
But the sun wasn't solely responsible for the almost drugging warmth seeping through her. No, that sensation was caused by Josh. His body touching the entire length of hers. Her back to his chest. Her hips and thighs nestled snugly by his. His strong, sinewy, golden-brown forearms cradling hers. His calloused palms and fingers wrapped around hers on the leather reins.
He surrounded her like a down-filled quilt on a chilly night, infusing her with warmth and security and comfort. His heartbeat thumped against her shoulder, his chin bumped her temple with Yogurt's gently swaying gait. With him holding her like this, her nervousness hadn't lasted long. And indeed, at the end of those first five minutes, all she'd wanted was to feel more. More of sharing this experience with him. More of him showing her the proper way to hold the reins.
More of feeling him pressed intimately against her back, his clean, masculine scent all around her. Him all around her.
His lips brushed against her temple. "You okay?" His warm breath caressed her cheek.
"Very okay." Turning her head, she lightly kissed his jaw. "So okay that I hereby give you permission to say it."
He didn't pretend to misunderstand, and chuckled. "I told you so."
His deep voice vibrated against her, adding another layer of warmth. Opening her eyes, she noted a flash of deep turquoise between the trees. "This path leads to the water?"
"It does. It's the reason I chose this place for your lesson. They own a stretch of private beach we can ride on. I figured you'd like that."
"How did you even know about this place? And that they owned a stretch of beach?"
"Two wonderful little inventions called the telephone and the Yellow Pages."
Surprise and pleasure washed over her at the fact that he'd gone to such trouble to arrange this outing, and not just at any stable, but one by the beach. For her.
They rounded a corner and suddenly sparkling aqua water and bright white sand stretched in front of them. "You know," he said, "I practically grew up in the saddle, but I've never ridden on a beach before."
Straightening, she smiled at him over her shoulder. "So in a way, this is a first for you, too."
He didn't return her smile. He just studied her for several long seconds with an unreadable expression. She couldn't look away from him, and her smile slowly faded, her heart thumping hard under the weight of his serious regard. Finally he said, his voice low and husky, "Yeah. This is a first for me."
Heat pulsed through her. Heat that had nothing, yet everything, to do with his nearness, his quiet dark eyes, his compelling voice. Leaning forward, he whispered in her ear, "Hang on, sweetheart. Here comes the next best five minutes of your life."
Lexie wasn't sure how it happened, but one second they were standing still, and the next they were racing across the sand, wind whipping her hair into chaos, exhilaration stealing her breath. Safe and secure in Josh's strong arms, they galloped along the shoreline, Yogurt's flashing hooves kicking up sprays of water.
She savored every second of the experience, all of her senses vibrantly alive. The strength of the man behind her and the horse beneath her. The ribbons of golden sunshine reflecting on the azure water, in sharp contrast to the stark white sand. The scent of horse and leather and tropical heat and Josh. The beach was deserted, a pristine sanctuary just for them to share.
As they neared a sign indicating the end of the stable's private beach, he slowed Yogurt down to a walk, then finally halted her. "Well?" he breathed into Lexie's ear.
"Incredible. Exhilarating. Exciting." Turning her head, she pressed a breathless kiss to his chin. Then, slipping her hands from beneath his, she spread her arms, encompassing their tropical surroundings. "Isn't this view terrific? I love the water. Someday I'm going to live right on the water."
He wrapped one strong arm around her, resting his chin on her shoulder. "Right on the water? Won't that be a little damp?"
She laughed. "I mean, waterfront property." She pointed across the glimmering strip of azure water. "Like over there. See that group of houses? That's a new development. Just to the right of them is some great waterfront property. A whole series of canals and hidden coves. It's peaceful and private and perfect." And someday she would own her piece of it… the piece she'd wanted since the first moment she'd seen it. The only things standing between her and that dream was the wait for the owner to sell, and a big pile of money. All she needed was the down payment. Hopefully, when the time came, she'd have enough.
His arm tightened around her. "Looks nice. Sounds nice, too."
Turning her head so she could see his eyes, she said, "Thank you, Josh, for a wonderful, thoughtful surprise. And for bringing me here. It's beautiful."
"Yeah," he murmured, his gaze roaming her face before settling on her lips. "Sure is beautiful."
She lifted her face, intending to give him a brief kiss, but the instant their lips met, the kiss turned hot, wet and demanding. His tongue explored her mouth with a hunger that heated her from the inside out A long moan purred in Lexie's throat and she wished their position were less awkward so she could touch more of him.
With his mouth insistent on hers, he flicked open the top three buttons of her sleeveless cotton blouse, then caressed the tops of her breasts with one hand, while the other continued down to rest low on her belly.
Breaking off their kiss, he ran his lips across her throat while she raised her arms over her head then back to encircle his neck. His strong, warm fingers slipped beneath the lace of her bra to tease her aroused nipples, while his other hand lightly traced intoxicating circles between her spread legs straddling the saddle. His erection pressed against her buttocks, and she arched back, rubbing herself against him.
"Lexie." He breathed her name in a passionate whisper against her overheated skin, a whisper that ended in a groan of masculine longing. "Let's go home. Now."
"What was that you said to me the other night?" she whispered. "Oh, yes. Great minds think alike."
* * *
Josh spent the thirty-minute-drive back to Lexie's house trying to corral the need raging through him. Damn it, he'd never felt so unsettled in his life. Or impatient to get his hands on a woman's skin. Feel her. Taste her. Have her wrapped all around him.
This loving a woman was a real pain in the ass. Why the hell couldn't he just have fallen in lust with her? Lust he knew and understood. But noo-ooo. He had to fall in love with a woman who only wanted a fling. He felt as though he was picking his way through an emotional minefield and that any second he was going to get blown to bits. But there was no way in hell he could consider retreat.
By the time he pulled into her driveway and cut the engine, he had himself and the need clawing at him back under control. In fact, he congratulated himself on his restraint. All the way into the foyer.
He watched her lock the door behind them, and in the blink of an eye, all bets were off. The instant she'd turned the bolt into place, he turned her around and kissed her with all the pent-up need he foolishly thought he'd pushed back. He stepped forward, pinning her against the door with his body, and yanked her shirt out of her jeans with one hand, while the other impatiently worked the buttons free. Seconds later he parted the white cotton and settled his hands on her warm, bare stomach.
But the feel of her skin beneath his hands brought him no relief, only fueled his need. His inner voice told him to slow down, but it was impossible. Not with her hands splayed on his ass, pressing him closer, grinding herself against him.
He pushed her blouse down her arms, then unclasped her bra. Both fell to the tiled floor. Breaking their frantic kiss, he took her tight nipple into his mouth, absorbing her sharp gasp. It was all he could do not to take her right against the door, but some drop of sanity prevailed. They needed a condom, and the damn things were in the bedroom. And there was no way he was leaving her here while he went to get one.
Dipping his knees, he lifted her up. She instantly wrapped her legs around his waist, and with her showering his face and neck with hot kisses, he managed, somehow, to get them to the bedroom, making a mental vow to never come near this woman again without a condom in his pocket.
He deposited her in the center of the mattress with a gentle bounce, then immediately moved to the nightstand where he grabbed a condom from the box he'd brought with him and stashed there before their riding lesson. It took him of all ten seconds to return to her, and in that time she'd managed to divest herself of her shoes and socks, and was applying herself to her jeans.
Without a word, their gazes fused, she shimmied out of her snug denim and panties, while he unfastened his jeans. He couldn't get them off without stopping to remove his boots, and that was simply out of the question. He needed to be inside her now.
Pushing his Levi's and boxers down to his hips, he rolled on
the condom, gritting his teeth against the unbearably arousing sight of her lying naked on her aqua comforter, legs splayed, nipples wet and erect from his mouth, eyes smoky with want.
An inferno roared through him, taking him over. Helpless to stop it, he thrust into her, all fire and incinerating heat. Gentleness was beyond him. But she met him all the way, wrapping her legs around him, urging him with desperate whispers to go faster. Harder.
He tried to hold off his orgasm, but it was like trying to hold back the ocean with a broom. Seconds later his release pounded through him, pulling a growl from his throat. Clutching her to him, he buried his face in the fragrant curve of her neck.
He lay there, panting, sweating, heart hammering, unable to move. He remained inside her, her limbs wrapped around him, listening to her rapid breaths battering against his ear. He wasn't sure how long it took for reason to return. When it finally did, he lifted his head. And looked down into gold-flecked hazel eyes glowing up at him.
"Holy cow," she whispered. A short laugh puffed between her parted lips. "How many times can we do that before we both pass out?"
"I don't know. What's the record?"
That brought a smile. "I'm not sure how it's possible to feel half dead and fantastic at the same time, but you've managed to make that happen."
"Glad to know I didn't leave you hangin' at the starting gate. I didn't mean to come so soon. Couldn't stop it."
"Don't be sorry on my account. Your timing was perfect." Raising her arms above her head, she stretched with abandon. "I guess turnaround is fair play. This time I'm the one without the clothes."
"I would've exploded if I'd taken the time to undress."
An unmistakable feminine gleam glittered in her eyes. "Hmm. I insist you tell me what I did to inspire such passion so I can make sure I do it again. As soon as possible."
A frown pulled at Josh's brow. What had she done to make him lose control like that? To rob him of his finesse in that unprecedented way? To make him want her with a desperation that he'd never felt for another woman? The answer hit with the force of a sucker punch.
In Over His Head Page 11