A Taste of Summer

by Beverly Preston

  The words I don’t mind tumbled from her mouth so easily. Too easily. And Summer knew it. She minded. The fact that the majority of women in the world ranging from birth to ninety-nine found him one of the sexiest men on the planet would take some getting used to and some learned restraint on her part. However, having a father known for his savvy courtroom tactics that may or may not have allowed more than one criminal free to walk the streets, Carrie Ann did more than enjoy her privacy, she cherished it. One little crowd in the middle of nowhere wouldn’t compare to the chaos that would be waiting for them in Hollywood. Stepping foot on the tarmac in LA was going to be a three-ring circus.

  Summer tucked a loose piece of hair behind her ear, bringing his eyes around to meet hers. “I mind,” his undertone, profuse with emotion.

  One by one phones lifted to head-height, snapping pictures that would surely be added to a dozen Yellowstone family vacation photo albums. They posed for a picture with the woman, and a few with the entire family, Aspen included.

  Making their way out of the crowd, tourists stopped him for a few more pictures and several asked for autographs. Carrie Ann assured, voice strung with humor, “I bet you a hundred bucks she crops me out of every picture in less than five minutes.”

  Raising a brow, he hooked an arm over her shoulder, drawing her into his chest, planting a big kiss of possession to her lips. “I bet she saves this one.”

  Summer made special reservations for two and a half at the Snake River Grill. The Chef treated them to a scrumptious full-course meal of ember toasted baby carrots, smoked octopus with a to-die-for Italian Chile sauce, cast-iron roasted cauliflower, and dry-aged ribeye grilled to perfection. Unable to take another bite, Chef fashioned a to-go cooler complete with dry ice, topping off dinner with a decadent homemade Eskimo Bar served with a side of rich gooey hot caramel, as well as a special treat for Aspen, too.

  Boarding the plane, Summer offered assistance, grabbing her hips, stating with a growl as he took a bite of her bum, “I’ve got plans for that caramel sauce.”

  The heated promise brought a blush to her cheeks. She couldn’t take her eyes off him as he loaded their bags. Sauce or no sauce, she wanted him in her mouth. Summer rummaged through the to-go bag, sending her pulse skyrocketing. She wondered if it was the wisest of ideas to fool around while flying. Probably not. She started to protest, but zipped her lips when he retrieved Aspen’s steak bone from the bag and tossed it into the trash with a loud thud.

  As he climbed into the pilot seat, she questioned, “No dessert for Aspen?”

  “No. I didn’t want to offend Chef, but I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

  “Why? Dogs love bones.”

  “Well, first off she’s never had one and it might make her tummy upset.” His brow arched in absolute conviction, like that of an overly protective parent of a young child. “And that bone had already been grilled. I read that you should start them off with a bone that’s been boiled, that way there’s less chance of splintering. Either way, I’d rather wait till we get home, so she can be outside in case it makes her sick.”

  “Oh.” Brows furled, she nodded in surprise. “You read up on dogs before getting a puppy?”

  “Of course.” He twisted, stretching to poke a finger through Aspen’s dog crate strapped into the seat. He rubbed the tip of her wet nose. “I have to know what’s best for my little girl.”

  The paternal concern he showed to Aspen, stroked every raw nerve ending she possessed. Carrie Ann fell quiet on the short flight back to the cabin. Tensions gathered in her stomach as her thoughts lingered. In fifteen hours they’d be flying back to California. Which meant she had fourteen to come clean. She’d hidden the hurt for so long, sharing the memory wouldn’t come easily.

  When the plane came to a stop, she stared out the glass. Her gaze was transfixed on absolutely nothing, just absorbed in the notion that she needed to open her mouth. She needed to say something. Every minute that passed became more difficult.

  She had no idea how long they’d been sitting in silence when she felt his hand close over hers. After a few coursing seconds, Summer gave a double squeeze before bringing the tips of her fingers to his lips.

  “You okay, Red?”

  “Just a little tired,” she remarked softly, attempting to mask the sound of her lungs moving in an uneven surge. Anticipation and fear strangled the words of admission in her throat. Her heartbeat turned unruly at the thought of having to see the disappointment in his eyes. Risking the chance that he’d never forgive her, robbed her of the courage required to share the scar inflicted on her damaged soul.

  Summer exited the plane, unloading the puppy and packages. Assisting her from the aircraft, he suggested, “How bout if I draw us a hot bath?”

  Carrie Ann nodded, slipping her arm around his waist. He slung his free hand over her shoulder and they strolled toward the cabin.

  Dusk began to take hold, muting the vibrant colors of the setting sun as they disappeared over the horizon. The racing of her heart calmed in its urgency, allowing her to be present in the moment. There was something special, a wistful feeling of nostalgia, about the time of day when the twilight slipped into the darkness and the crickets began their nightly serenade. The damp chilly air made her snuggle closer. She curled her fingers into the seam at the side of his shirt, laying her head on his chest.

  Somewhere between the plane and the cabin, her walking came to a halt. She argued silently with her thoughts, words, and apologies, spinning relentless circles in her mind.

  Carrie Ann tilted her face upward readying herself for the talk. His lips bowed south, the amber of his eyes still shined bright in the darkening skies. The lashes of her eyes fluttered as she opened her mouth. “Summer…”

  Her stomach leaped, feeling his fingers thread through her hair and curve around the sides of her head, cradling her skull. She stiffened from head to toe in surprise when he crushed his lips to hers, kissing her long and hard. Each lick of his tongue and bite of his teeth, an erotic impact on her soul. The seduction, inexorable.

  The kiss went on and on until every ounce of tension was stripped from her body. His unquenchable need had nothing to do with lust or sex and everything to do with a passion drenched with adoration. She sagged against his frame, floundering and groping at the flexing surface of his back to keep from crumpling to the ground if her knees gave out.

  “Now, I don’t know what’s weighing so heavily on your mind, but whatever’s putting that frown on your face needs to be gone.”

  “But…”

  “There’s no but, Carrie Ann. I’m gonna haul your ass inside and we’re going to take a hot bath and make love and indulge in a world famous Eskimo Pie…and I can’t promise you exactly what order. But I can promise that by the time I get done with you, your mind is going to be untroubled and that damn notch puckered between your brows is gonna be history. I know you’re concerned about what’s going to happen when we get back to LA. We’ll deal with reality when it gets here tomorrow, but right now we’re going to enjoy this little patch of heaven on earth. No distractions, no deadlines, no scripts, no work, no media, no worries. It’s just you and me.” He paused, cupping a hand into the shape of a C around his ear. “Do you hear that?”

  Stretching her neck skyward, Carrie Ann held still and listened. Her bottom lip slipped between her teeth as she shook her head.

  “It’s the caramel sauce calling. I’ve kept my hands…and tongue off you all day long.” His palm coasted down her back and over the curve of her ass. The glow of his eyes heated to cognac, gliding his middle finger lower between her cheeks. “Now, I’ve got plans for you tonight and they involve some seriously…intimate moments. Are you good with that?”

  “Yes,” she whimpered. She didn’t stand a chance in hell of turning him down. The bravery she’d summoned minutes earlier, lost to the moment. For now.

  Curling his hand around her icy fingers, Summer lowered his mouth to the vulnerable curve of her neck. She
perched on the tips of her toes, head tilted, encouraging his full exploration. He kissed and nibbled, probing the sensitive area until goosebumps covered the flesh of her arms and a low moan slipped from her parted lips.

  “That’s better.” His expression, serious, committed to the evening he’d planned.

  Carrie Ann didn’t know how many hours had passed and she really didn’t care. Moonlight shone through the large picture window beside the tub big enough for two, painting a dreamy picture of seduction. Summer took his sweet time with her, undressing and bathing by candlelight. Time stood still as he showered her with affection. His strong hands ran over her body in slick sweeping motions, washing every inch of her. The muted light added a degree of sensuality as her hands sluiced over his masculine form in awe.

  Using the seashell scoop tied to the jar, he dipped into the glass jar of Mediterranean Sea salt, laden with geranium flower petals and an aphrodisiac of aromatic oils. He moved from limb to limb, gently exfoliating her entire body, bringing blood to the surface of her skin.

  “The jar says it’s supposed to leave your skin smooth as velvet and sweet as sugar. I think I need to test their claims.”

  “I think it’s a must. That could be false advertising,” she whispered in a teasing tone.

  “Sit back.” The command in his voice nothing more than an ache of a rasp. He arranged her bottom atop several folded towels at the edge of the tub. Pieces of her dark, sodden hair fell over her breasts. She leaned back, resting her weight on the palms of her hands. Desire coiled through her, causing her stomach muscles to quaver in anticipation. Shadows danced across her nude body as Summer moved a candle, adjusting its spotlight of illumination. Wonder gushed from the intensity of his stare. “Spread your legs for me, Red.”

  Caught in a trance of the utter perfection kneeling before her, she could barely hear his request. Summer’s tan body, silky and wet, glistened in the flicker of muted light. Her gaze traveled downward from his wide shoulders and tight waist, locking on the long, thick column protruding from the surface of the water.

  Far too absorbed in the moment, he didn’t seem to notice her hunger. Summer gripped her inner thighs. His powerful fingers, gentle but adamant, guided each foot on the edge of the tub.

  Summer lifted the small ceramic ramekin warming in a larger dish of hot water. His stare fixed on her reaction as he slanted the dish, drizzling the heated caramel over her lips. Carrie Ann’s breath pulled backward in a sharp pleasurable gasp and her hips flinched forward.

  He remained captivated by her response, never losing focus, his eyes glued to her face. Feeling another drizzle of the warm sauce, an unruly moan of desire was drawn from her throat, filling the quiet room. Her head circled backward before landing on his glorious face. She got lost in the sight of his rich amber eyes.

  Summer’s attention sank to the vision below. His lashes cast a dark crescent shadow on his lean cheek. Leaving ample room between their bodies, he allowed the light to brighten the void, wanting her to witness the pleasure.

  “So beautiful. So sweet,” he murmured, blessing her with a glint of a rogue grin. “I’m going to make this a night you’ll never forget.

  Visually riveted in the act, she panted, “Every night with you is a night to remember.”

  “Tonight’s special.”

  The moist heat of his breath made her squirm. Her body began to shift, but he pressed her thighs wide, keeping her still with his powerful grip. With indecent slowness he licked her clit, swollen and throbbing, with the tip of his tongue.

  Pressure mounted as he honed in on the spot, flicking the buzzing nub over and over. Sensations of pleasure, plentiful yet still elusive, built up inside her until she’d reached an edge of erotic madness.

  “Touch me. Summer. Please.”

  A wicked groan drifted upward from between her legs. “No, Red.”

  The rise of perception verged on excruciating. Her inner muscles contracted, constricting around the empty void, needing him to fill her. Her body writhed and wriggled, but he refused to let her thrust. “Yes, please, Summer. Touch me.”

  “Let it happen, you want this. Tell me you love it.”

  A blip of a memory chased through her mind. A night many years ago when he’d nearly brought her to an orgasm with merely the tip of his tongue, but the Big O skirted her release, and when she begged him to make love to her, he gladly obliged, bringing home a Multiple O. However, they’d never discussed it. She considered asking how he remembered the intimate moment, but quickly remembered the confessional box he called his airplane.

  “Oh, fuck,” rolled from her lips.

  “Not tonight.” His murmur smothered with rueful amusement.

  The steady flick controlled her, owned her, and possessed her mind, body, and soul. Her heartbeat slammed so fast she’d thought she might burst from unbridled need. Pressure mounted, her eyes were wet, strung tight with pleasure.

  “I love it. Oh, yes. Don’t stop,” she moaned. The muscles of her core convulsed as a wave of tremors wracked her body in voluptuous release.

  Scalding minutes of intimacy followed. He consumed her slowly with skillful torture, locking his mouth around the pulsating bud, drawing her into the scorching heat. Her fingers found his head, digging into the short layers, pulling him into her body. Summer refused to submit to her request, clasping her wrists and returning them to the tile. His tongue…his wickedly talented tongue…ripped a scream, a genuine cry of unadulterated ecstasy from her throat. She’d never been so loud in her life.

  He unlocked the steamy seam of her flesh with one lick, thrusting his tongue inside. She couldn’t keep quiet. An explosive moan mingled with cries of rapture, and a few curse words, every time he plunged deeper. A fever rush of violent spasms tumbled through her body. The sound of his voice, lost to the loud buzzing in her ear.

  It was official…Carrie Ann Lowell was a screamer.

  Fever led to pleasure as he made his way up her body, cupping her breast and shaping it between his fingers. She fought to keep her breathing steady. His lips trailed hungry kisses up her chest to her neck, before crushing his mouth to hers. The divine kiss, rough and demanding, was drenched in her essence.

  Pleasure led to an overwhelming show of emotions, as he lifted her from the tub and carried her to bed. A burning sensation tickled her nose and wetness gathered at her lower lashes, blurring the soft lighting of his room playing over his strong features.

  Brushing away the tears, she glimpsed the foil package between his fingers. He paused, briefly, giving her time to dismiss the contraceptive. She didn’t like it. She didn’t want it. Before she had time to renege, he’d rolled it on and moved over the top of her, falling to the flat of his palms. His eyes glazed over, pushing past her entrance, filling her completely, coaxing a moan of gratification from her.

  All movement stopped.

  Summer stared down at her in an intuitive trance.

  “What?” she asked in a sweet whisper. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “You said…things…to me during the flight here.” He withdrew and plunged forward, holding himself deep as he dropped to his forearms. “Things I’d like to hear you’d say again.”

  Her bottom lip caught between her teeth. A timid smile ticked the edges of her mouth. The lids of her eyes feathered shut as she turned away from his gaze. Searching for a little bravado, she offered a silent prayer to the dirty-talker gods.

  Keeping a straight face, she managed in a sultry tone, “Fuck me.”

  A giggle slipped out. It was a pathetic attempt and she knew it.

  Summer retreated and thrust forward again, making her gasp. He nuzzled his nose along the side of her jaw, brushing a kiss to her lips. “Think…deeper, Red.”

  Stalling, she twisted, placing a kiss to his wrist beside her head. Not one to fail, she eased her back off the bed, stretching to draw the lobe of his ear into her mouth, growling in his ear, “I want to feel your cock deep inside of me.”

&nb
sp; His profile averted, hiding a big smile. A shaky laugh reverberating through his body as he gently settled the bulk of his weight on top of her. A crimson hue chased across the crest of his cheeks.

  Ryan Summer actually blushed.

  Propped on one elbow, he laid his hand above her heart, drumming lightly. “Deeper…in here.”

  A warm sensation spread through her. She could scarcely breathe. Her fingers keyed up his chest and neck covered in a thin mist of perspiration. Carrie Ann cupped his face in her palms, pausing to take in his handsome face.

  Emotions tugged on the protective cord wrapped around her guarded heart, unraveling the binds. She surrendered to the sweet ache that had filled her soul for ten long years.

  Carrie Ann let go, falling hard.

  No parachute needed.

  “I love you, Summer.”

  “I love you, Red. I never stopped loving you…and I never will.”

  *

  The sweet scents of love and Eskimo Pie clung to the sheets when the early afternoon sunshine peeked out from the clouds and broke through the window. Her dark hair splayed across his pillow, their heads nearly touching as she snuggled tightly against his warm body.

  Summer’s fingertips traced an idle pattern over her bare hip. “Morning, beautiful.”

  “Morning, handsome.” They’d expressed their love a dozen times during the night, worshiping one another until dawn, but she couldn’t help but to say it again. “I love you.”

  “Love you, too.” His lips brushed along her temple. “It’s already late. I can’t believe we slept this long.”

  The flat of her hand wandered across his bare chest and stomach, admiring the firm dips. “I think it was all the sugar in the caramel sauce.”

  “There’s still a little left.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me. That’s impossible.”

  “Actually, I am kidding.” She felt his grin against her cheek. Summer pushed himself upright and climbed out of bed naked. “I’ll take that sugar high anytime.”

  Rolling to her belly, she propped her chin atop her fists. Raking a hungry stare over his glorious body flying at full staff, Carrie pouted a little. “Are you sure it’s all gone?”