Half-Hitched

by Isabel Sharpe

  Or she could just say to hell with it and walk to her towel at a normal pace, letting him know she was not ashamed or embarrassed about her body. Yes, okay, her hands were currently cemented over her breasts, both of which were joining the rest of her body in being covered with oh-so-not-sexy goose pimples, but she’d chalk that up to panic and forgive herself.

  Once covered, she’d be in a good position to discuss whatever he was here to discuss. Or whatever she wanted to discuss. Like maybe that she and Sarah had talked about—

  Addie gasped.

  Derek was walking deliberately toward her. Prowling was a better word, because his intentions were quite clear in his expression and in the animal way his body was moving. Everything about him was broadcasting what she’d felt from him last night in bed.

  I want you.

  Oh, help. Addie had to run for the towel now, while she could still feel her legs.

  The water covered Derek’s feet. He didn’t even flinch.

  His ankles were gone now.

  His shins.

  Go! Now!

  She wasn’t moving.

  Why wasn’t she moving?

  Move!

  There! Good! Now she was moving!

  But wait, what was wrong with her, she was not walking toward her towel, she was walking toward him!

  Stop, before it’s too late!

  Four feet away from him her hands dropped from her breasts to her sides.

  It was already way too late.

  9

  ADDIE KEPT WALKING. She walked straight into Derek’s arms, naked, dripping wet and salty, and she kissed him. Hard.

  What was she doing?

  Something utterly, deliciously and completely spontaneous.

  What about Kevin? What about how he wanted to get to know her slowly, see if they could have something real together?

  Addie’s lips faltered, then it hit her. She didn’t want Kevin. The moment she’d seen him she’d known. The only reason she’d been hanging on to the idea of reconnecting was that it was her plan and God forbid Addie Sewell not stay the course and go through with one of her plans.

  Derek’s arms came around her, and he kissed her back. And how.

  But this man has nothing to offer. He’ll be back at sea in a few days.

  Nothing to offer? She pressed herself against him, felt a rather impressive swelling in his shorts. Seemed to her he had plenty to offer.

  And guess what? She was taking it. And that made her, right now, about the wildest she’d ever been.

  Addie turned off the voice in her head and gave herself over to what she was feeling. Warm, soft lips taking hers, warm hands stroking the line from her waist to her hip. Warm sun and breezes drying her skin. And hot, hot longing throughout her whole body.

  She’d never felt like this, never experienced this overwhelming and desperate need. Not for anyone ever.

  “Addie.” He led them out of the water, working as hard as she was to control his breathing. “Shouldn’t we talk about—”

  “No.” She took hold of his shirt and pulled him back to her. The feel of the fabric under her fingers became annoying. She wanted skin.

  Up came his shirt; she helped him drag it over his head and oh, my goodness, what a chest. It should be on permanent display at a treasure chest museum.

  Her hands fumbled at the button on his shorts, got them open, unzipped, down. No underwear. Oh, my goodness. That part of him should be on display at the rock-hard hall of fame.

  Hard because of her, and this incredible want they generated together.

  He pulled her close, pressing her body against his, and oh, the sensations were incendiary, exciting...and not enough. Not enough. She wanted more of him, all of him.

  Now.

  Good Lord, what kind of wanton creature had she turned into?

  The best kind. She’d never felt so primal, so real, so...herself. No expectations, no role to fill, nothing but what her body wanted and needed.

  Even if she and Derek lasted only a few days, this new sense of herself and her power would forever be hers, Derek’s gift to her, lasting until death.

  She lifted her leg to wrap around his hip; he reached down to stroke the softness between her legs. Addie moaned and clutched his shoulders, distantly aware of the gurgling swish of the waves and the occasional call of gulls. Beautiful spot. Beautiful man.

  And speaking of beautiful spot. His fingers...

  Too soon he stopped and spanned her waist with his strong hands, preparing to lift her. She grabbed him around the neck and gave a little hop into his arms to help him, though he could probably have lifted her without it.

  Mmm...

  Kissing her—open, wet kisses that were making her lose her mind—he walked her up the beach then set her on her feet by a towel he must have brought with him. How long had he been there watching her before she noticed him?

  “Wait here.” He strode back toward the shorts he’d dropped on the beach.

  She giggled, pushing hair back from her face. “Like I’d leave now?”

  Derek tossed a grin over his shoulder and picked something out of the shorts’ pocket.

  Condom. Good man.

  She watched him walk back toward her, muscles bunching and releasing, utterly natural and unselfconsciously naked in this lovely place.

  Come to think of it, she felt the same. Not worried he might find her flawed, not comparing her body to anyone else’s. Her brain knew he wanted her. Her heart knew he wanted her just the way she was.

  Come on, Addie, you’re romanticizing him the same way you were romanticizing Kevin.

  Maybe. But with Derek it wasn’t so much a thinking process as an instinct.

  He came up close, arms around her waist, and leaned back to examine her face. “I take it you changed your mind.”

  “Apparently.” She tried to make eye contact, but the depth of his gaze was too intense, made her insides shuddery and sweet, so she contented herself with gazing at his chin, his shoulders, his chest, only chancing a glance up at him now and then, as much as she could take.

  “You’re sure?”

  “Very.” She traced the line of his collarbone with her finger. “How did you find me here?”

  “Sarah.”

  Addie’s finger stopped at his sternum. Her mouth dropped open. “Sarah told you I was here?”

  Why hadn’t she sent Kevin?

  “Yeah.” Derek nodded, looking unexpectedly wary. “Right after she found out Kevin spent last night with Carrie.”

  “Kevin—” Addie’s mouth dropped wider. “He—”

  “I’m sorry, Addie.”

  She stared at him, trying to process all this, waiting for the pain, the rage, the feeling of betrayal. That rat Kevin. Not wanting to let her in his room. All that crap about wanting to get to know her before they slept together. The funny high-voiced whimper she heard....

  Addie burst out laughing. What an idiot she’d been.

  Derek blinked in surprise. “You think that’s funny?”

  Addie shrugged. “Parts of it are. The whole night was practically farcical. Me with you by mistake, then bumping into Kevin who had another woman with him the whole time. And it’s funny in a sort of sad way how hard I worked not to see Kevin as he is. And it’s funny in a sweet way that Sarah relinquished her need to attack you long enough to let me try.”

  “Mmm.” His eyes warmed. “I like the way you attack me.”

  “After Kevin...well, you’re not exactly a booby prize.”

  “No.” His eyes dropped appreciatively below her neck. “I get that one.”

  “Aw, jeez.” Addie pretended disgust at his pun, disgust which crumbled when he darted forward and fixed his mouth onto her breast.


  Mmm. She let her head fall back, concentrating on the wet heat of his tongue and lips tugging her nipple, sending pleasure signals traveling through her body down between her legs.

  “Make love to me, Derek.” She dropped slowly to her knees, pulling him with her—not that he resisted.

  “I definitely plan to,” he whispered. “I wanted to from the moment you said hello on the front steps of the house.”

  “Me, too.” She held out her arms for him. Their words were strictly carnal, but somehow Addie felt as if they were speaking from the heart. Even though they were in this for only a few days, it didn’t feel like a hit-and-run relationship. It felt much richer, more important to each of them.

  Oh, please, Addie, you’re getting laid, stop trying to make it into something more.

  Telling the critical pain-in-the-butt voice in her head to shut up, Addie clasped Derek’s warm, wide body to hers, reveling in its power, how small he made her feel, but how safe.

  He paid her breasts more attention while he ran his hand up and down her belly, slightly lower with each stroke until he touched the top of her pubic curls, then lower and lower, making her gasp.

  “You like that?”

  “Oh, yes.” She arched her hips up, inviting his hand to explore further, her arousal building again to a fever pitch. “Yes.”

  “I like it, too, Addie.” He lifted his head to gaze at her while one finger traveled slowly over her pubic bone, nudging her clitoris, stroking over it, making the slide down between her labia.

  Addie whimpered, eyes cemented to his, helpless under his touch. His finger dipped inside her. She gasped at the intrusion, hungry between her legs as she’d never been before. Derek withdrew his finger and painted it, slippery wet, over her clitoris, warming where the sun’s weight already lay.

  Addie nearly came right there, had to breathe and back down. She wanted him inside her. She wanted him coming with her.

  Again, his finger slid and thrusted and painted. Again she fought the orgasm, trembling in his arms, her breath a series of stuttering gasps. Again, and again he brought her to the edge, until she was ready to scream.

  “I can’t do this much longer,” she whispered. “I want you.”

  He pulled on the condom, spread her legs wide and knelt between them, making her feel open and vulnerable to him, breeze blowing intimately on her sex. His eyes traveled her body, rested on her face.

  “You’re beautiful, Addie.”

  He made her feel beautiful. Inside and out. Nothing else mattered right now. “Come to me, Derek. Please.”

  He walked forward on his hands, his body held over hers. Addie lifted her head and they both looked down. At her—wide-open. At him—hard and ready.

  Then he lowered himself, only halfway. Addie reached for his erection, impatient to guide it where she wanted it so badly.

  “Addie.”

  “Yes.” She was breathless with anticipation. Why was he holding back?

  “Look at me.”

  She met his eyes and he pushed inside her, slowly, an inch, back out, then farther, stretching her, filling her. She closed her eyes—the connection and emotions were too intense—and let herself concentrate only on the animal, on the thrust of him way inside her, friction slow and steady in spite of how wet she was. The weight of him on top of her, the clean just-showered smell of his skin. The way he moved leisurely in and out, showing no impatience. She didn’t want him to hurry. They had the beach to themselves and the rest of the afternoon.

  For a while, his rhythm went on unchanged, as they got to know each other’s sounds and movements, exploring textures and shapes.

  Then Derek pulled almost all the way out, made love to her with only the first inch or two of his penis, causing a light tug on her clitoris, just enough to make her crazy but not quite enough stimulation to come.

  Torture. She moaned involuntarily, began breathing harshly, nearly panting. She had to come now.

  When she was about to put her hand down and take care of it herself, Derek thrust all the way in and began an earnest, powerful drive.

  Addie gave a yell, more noise than she’d ever made during lovemaking, but she was no longer in control of her body or herself. The orgasm was coming so slow and hot and hard, she wasn’t even sure she’d survive it.

  Just before its peak, she opened her eyes in surrender and locked on to Derek’s.

  “Yes,” he whispered. Somehow he knew. How did he know? “Let go, come for me.”

  Gripping his shoulders, bracing herself, Addie yelled again, lost in the explosion of pleasure, and the doubling of its intensity as she realized he was coming with her, inside her, pulsing as she contracted over and over until the waves of pleasure subsided, leaving them locked together, breaths heaving.

  When she could speak again, Addie stroked the dark head resting on her breast. “That was wonderful, Derek.”

  “Mrhgm.”

  She giggled. “You’re welcome.”

  He lifted his head unsteadily and blinked down at her. “Are we still alive?”

  “I...think so.”

  “My God, Addie.” He was smiling, but she heard the awe in his voice and saw it in his eyes. “That was... I’m kind of glad you changed your mind.”

  “I’m kind of glad Sarah told you where I was.”

  “And that Kevin got laid last night.”

  “And that I found your room by mistake.”

  He kissed her then, long slow kisses that instead of heating up her body, heated up her heart.

  Uh-oh.

  See? You can’t handle casual sex. You are not a wild woman. What made you think you could?

  She kissed him back, only letting herself enjoy the smooth masculine feel of his mouth against hers, her hands stroking the long muscles in his back, sweeping up to his powerful shoulders.

  He pulled out reluctantly, removed the condom and lay facing her on the towel. For a while they were quiet, gazing into each other’s eyes. She didn’t find it hard to do anymore. He seemed almost familiar; there was some part of his gaze that now jumped out and included her. It was not the way she’d ever imagined looking at someone she barely knew. There was no fear, not even of judgment. This was so new. So different.

  And she’d have to say goodbye to him in only two days.

  “You know what?” She stroked the side of his face, unable to stop wanting to feel his skin under her fingers. “That’s the most spontaneous thing I’ve ever done.”

  He turned to kiss her palm. “It certainly got my attention.”

  “I’m not usually like that.”

  “You don’t generally flaunt your very beautiful naked body in front of men you don’t know very well? I’d say that’s a good thing.”

  She laughed. “I mean...I didn’t think that was something I would do. Or even could do.”

  He turned her gently onto her back and lay half over her. “Maybe it’s the Maine air.”

  “Maybe it’s some mind-altering drug Paul and Ellen put in breakfast.”

  “Maybe you were possessed by aliens.”

  “Maybe I feel safe with you.” She wrinkled her nose. “Nah, that’s ridiculous.”

  That deep chuckle again. Addie wanted to bottle it and bring it home with her. They had two more days and she already missed it.

  “I hope you do, because you are safe with me. As for not being spontaneous, we all have busy lives, duties, things we need to accomplish every day. Spontaneity is a luxury. You’re on vacation now, you can afford it.”

  “True.” She frowned thoughtfully, outlining his lips with her pinky. They were beautiful lips. Of course right then she was so infatuated, she’d probably think he had beautiful toenails. “But I do tend to be uncomfortable with anything not planned ahead.”

  “Maybe
you’ll embrace the dark side a little more now.” He kissed one cheek, her other cheek, her nose, her forehead. “It’s not as if you have to strip for every guy you meet for the rest of your life. Try new things, see how they feel. Baby steps.”

  Addie stroked the hard curve of his shoulder. It meant a lot that he took her neuroses so calmly and seriously. “You feel really good, Derek.”

  “So do you, Addie.”

  They smiled at each other. Incredible happiness and incredible peace, an amazing combination. “Tell me something.”

  “Mmm?”

  “No, I mean tell me something. Anything. Everything.” She grinned at the alarm on his face. “Tell me about your childhood.”

  “Ah.” He rolled onto his back, lips curved in a wistful smile. “My childhood was a study in conflict. Between me, the boy who’d wanted a life on the sea since he was old enough to read Kidnapped, and my parents, who’d planned for me to go to business school like my dad and brothers ever since I was born.”

  “Ah, the family black sheep!”

  “Baaa.”

  She propped herself up so she could see his face. “Tell me more.”

  “Let’s see. I worked crap jobs on boats in Boston Harbor till I was old enough to leave home. Then I got crap jobs on boats in Miami until I went to school, graduated and worked my way up, saving every penny. At what I felt was the right time, I let everyone know I was looking for the right boat. And then one day I heard about her.”

  “Love at first sight?”

  “You have no idea.”

  Oh, great, she was jealous of a boat. “Picture in your wallet?”

  “Nope.” He half lifted his head to peer at her. “I should have one, huh?”

  “Absolutely.” She stroked the firm, rounded planes of his chest. “I’d love to see her.”

  “Who knows what life will bring. Maybe you will someday.”

  “Maybe.” She paid close attention to his body, not wanting to look at him. The topic was too charged to be under discussion this soon. “So you met the love of your life....”