"It's going to be all about the docking. I don't know how they're going to fit five boats with only three parking spaces."
Unlike the airships, the cruises were ocean liners coming in from ports from around the world. They had a special dock at the other end of town, which only fit three ships at a time.
"They'll tender the people from the other two ships in. It's a win-win."
"Hmmmm," Donna said, her fingers flying. Donna had an uncle with some boats. Maggie figured she'd be busy trying to arrange something between him and the cruise liners—for a 15% fee, of course.
Maggie poked her head out of the kitchen to check on the captains' table. They all seemed happy with their fresh drinks and game. Satisfied that she wouldn’t be needed for a bit, she slipped down to the wine cellar. It was built deep down and felt like a cave. It was the coolest spot without air conditioning on the island of Cozumel and she had it all to herself, most of the time.
Part of her missed the airship life. She spent her childhood on one. Maggie would have probably still be on one, if she hadn’t screwed up.
She was a bar owner now. And while that wasn’t as exciting as smuggling in food and supplies to a starving population under a fascist regime, she also didn’t get shot at.
Running a critical eye on the bottles lined up on the shelves, she figured she should order a few more cases of the popular stuff. Definitely another truck of beer. Maggie tsked, not understanding why the Budweiser was so popular. The wine casks were lovingly cared for and hardly ever touched, Maggie sighed. No one appreciated a good vintage anymore. She trailed her fingers over them.
"Hello, my sweet." Strong arms pulled her back into a fully aroused male body and Maggie felt the slightest bite on her neck.
"Don't you dare leave a mark.” She whirled and wrapped her arms around Quick's neck.
He was a big man, his body tanned from the sun and weathered from the elements. Because his face was wrinkled before his time, it made him appear more seasoned than his thirty-five years. But when he smiled, her insides melted and her body reacted like he kissed her.
“Missed you,” he said.
Maggie was pretty sure he lied, although his dark brown eyes were nearly black with desire. She yanked his reddish brown hair out of the long ponytail he wore it in.
Lifting her up onto the nearest cask, Quick flipped her skirt up. "Jaysus," he groaned. "I knew it." Unbuckling his belt and trousers, Quick let his pants fall to his ankles. "How could you risk not wearing underwear with Niles in the room?"
He didn't let her answer as his mouth covered hers. He was a great kisser. Maggie locked her legs around his waist to pull him closer, feeling him hot and hard against her. Quick groaned, and lifted his head up to kiss over her chest as his fingers fumbled with the corset.
"You're going to be the death of me with these strings. My hands are itching for my knife."
Maggie leaned back, her legs pulling him with her. She moved her hips to encourage him. "I need to be back up there before Sweet drains that pitcher, so you can't cut them off me now. Later, perhaps."
"There's never enough time." He smiled at her, running his thumb over her bottom lip. "If only you weren't so concerned for secrecy." He kissed her again, flicking his tongue over her lips. "You taste so sweet."
"Yeah, like all I need is to fend off passes from horny pirates." Maggie ran her fingers through his thick hair.
"I'd only have to shoot the first one. The rest would get the picture."
"When you were around." Maggie sighed. "Oh, for god’s sake, Donner." She undid the knots with a few quick twists of her fingers and sighed as her breasts spilled out of the corset.
Quick made a strangled noise deep in his throat and dove for her nipple. Maggie squirmed and bucked as he sucked it, running his tongue over the peak.
"Oh," she whispered. "Yes, just like that." Her fingers reached between them to guide him inside her.
Lifting his head up, Quick gasped, "Not yet."
"Now," Maggie said and thrust against him.
Quick went wild. He drove into her deep and hard. "So wet. So good."
Maggie grabbed his head and brought them back down to her breasts. "We'll have time to do this more slowly later. But for now, I just want to feel you inside of me."
Quick slid his hands under her and held on to her ass as he pounded into her eager body. She had to grasp the stone walls to avoid being tossed from the wine cask. Throwing back her head, she laughed from sheer pleasure. If she closed her eyes, she could almost pretend they were on an airship flying towards adventure.
Reaching between them, he slid his thumb inside her. Quick rubbed her clit in circles as he moved in and out of her. Sparks jetted all along her nerve engines and her breath caught in a half scream. Maggie clutched his shoulders as she came.
"Yes," she panted in his ear.
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her as he continued to fuck her with short, hard thrusts. Stretching like a cat underneath him, she enjoyed the sensation of his body loving hers. Maggie bit his earlobe, knowing how it would affect him. He shuddered. She felt him fill her as his body seized them spasmed.
“Fuck, Maggie.” He sighed.
As he slid out of her, he lifted her off the barrel to hold her tight against him.
"I'm shipping out tonight."
"You bastard," Maggie whispered and laid her head on his chest.
He set her on his feet and tried to right her stays, but she slapped his hands away. He was hopeless at it.
"I was going to tell you first, but then I saw you. And you looked so beautiful in . . . "
"The bare bulb's glow?" Maggie pointed up at the swaying lightbulb.
He cocked a smile at her for stopping his bullshit in its tracks. "Something like that." Quick gave her his rogue's grin that got him past where the others got shut out.
Maggie knew better to ask when he would be back. He'd be back when he got there, and that was all there was to it. She was disappointed. She had been hoping that they could steal a few days together. Maybe go across the way to Playa del Carmen and pretend to be tourists while getting drunk on happy hour well drinks and making love nonstop. But that wasn't to be. Shrugging, Maggie set her clothes to rights and checked him over critically.
"What was your excuse to get away from the table?"
"I told them I had to take a piss."
"Charming," Maggie said.
"I'm really sorry," he said. "I'll make it up to you."
"Yes," she said. "You will." She leaned up and kissed him. "You go on up first."
He grabbed her again and kissed her until she was tingling all over. Damn, but that man had game.
"Think of me?" he said.
Maggie gave him a half shrug. "If I've got nothing better to do." She watched him creep back up the steps to the kitchen.
Knowing Quick, he'd sneak out the kitchen door and then go down the walled corridor to the back rooms. No one would be able to tell that he wasn't returning from the men's room. Maggie eased back up onto the wine cask.
"Well, shit," she said to no one in particular.
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Did you love Santa Genie? Then you should read A Casual Christmas by Jamie K. Schmidt!
A Casual Christmas is about a couple who wants to keep their relationship casual -- except both of them keep having these inconvenient feelings. Add a little holiday magic and this Christmas is going to be anything but casual.
Read more at Jamie K. Schmidt’s site.
Also by Jamie K. Schmidt
Hawaii Heat
Beach Happens
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sp; Beach My Life
The Emerging Queens
The Queen's Mystery
The Truth & Lies Series
Truth Kills
Truth Reveals
Standalone
Trinity
Flash Magic
Samurai's Heart
Santa Genie
Watch for more at Jamie K. Schmidt’s site.
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author, Jamie K. Schmidt, writes erotic contemporary love stories and paranormal romances. Her steamy, romantic comedy, Life’s a Beach, reached #65 on USA Today, #2 on Barnes & Noble and #9 on Amazon and iBooks. Her Club Inferno series from Random House’s Loveswept line has hit both the Amazon and Barnes & Noble top one hundred lists. The first book in the series, Heat, put her on the USA Today bestseller list for the first time, and is a #1 Amazon bestseller. Her dragon paranormal romance series has been called “fun and quirky” and “endearing.” Partnered with New York Times bestselling author and former porn actress, Jenna Jameson, Jamie’s hardcover debut, SPICE, continues Jenna’s FATE trilogy.
Read more at Jamie K. Schmidt’s site.
Santa Genie Page 8