by Opal Carew
As he pulled on his boxers, he heard a familiar sound from the bathroom. Abi was throwing up.
He walked to the door and tapped, then stepped inside to see her folded over the toilet.
“Aw, kitten.”
He walked to her side and crouched beside her, then gathered her hair in his hand and held it back. When she was finished, he guided her to the chaise and sat her down, then brought her a damp cloth to wipe her face.
He sat down beside her and slid his arm around her.
“I have some packages of crackers in the bedside table,” he said, “and I read that peppermint tea can help with the nausea. Want me to get you either of those?”
“No, nothing, thanks.”
She leaned against his side, her head resting on his shoulder. It felt so good having her there.
“Okay, let’s get you dressed and downstairs.”
He half expected her to protest, but instead she turned toward him and hugged him tight. He squeezed her gently, then helped her to her feet and guided her into the bedroom. He sat her on the bed, then opened her suitcase.
“Shorts or a dress?” he asked.
“I think a bathing suit and cover-up.”
He pulled out an aqua-and-purple-print bikini and loose flowing top in a matching fabric and handed it to her.
“Thanks.” But then she frowned, her hand flattening on her stomach and she looked a little green.
“Are you going to throw up again? Do you want me to help you back to the bathroom?”
She looked doubtful, then finally shook her head.
“No, I think I’m okay.” She sighed. “Maybe you could stand behind me and help me with the hook on the top. It can be tricky and I’m not up to struggling with it right now.”
He sat down beside her and she pivoted away from him. She slipped off her pajama top, baring her smooth, creamy back to him. The thought of her bare breasts so close made his cock twitch. He longed to stroke her smooth skin, then glide his hands around and cup her breasts. But instead, he waited patiently as she slid her arms into the straps of the small top. He took the sides of the band and fastened the clasp. It took two tries to get it to snap closed.
She slid the shirt over her head, then stood and dropped her pajama pants, then pulled on her bikini bottoms without him seeing a thing.
If she weren’t suffering from morning sickness, he didn’t think he’d be able to stop himself from commanding her to shed what she was wearing and climb right back into bed … and on top of him.
“You go ahead downstairs, kitten, while I get dressed.”
But he was so fucking turned on that getting dressed wasn’t all he’d do.
* * *
By late morning, Abi was feeling a lot better and had gone out on the patio to enjoy the sun. The nausea had caught her off guard when she’d scurried off the bed right after Liam caught her ogling him. She’d wanted to hide away and get dressed before he came back in, but her stomach had had other ideas.
She swished her feet in the pool, sending ripples across the water. Liam had been so sweet taking care of her this morning. He’d been like that with the first pregnancy, too. Always there with her. Seeing her through the tough times.
Oh, God, she didn’t want to remember that. This was hard enough as it was.
In the afternoon, the three of them played badminton, then went for a late afternoon swim in the ocean. Most of the day, Del hadn’t said much, other than solicitous queries about how she was feeling.
Liam and Del raced into the waves, then dove in and swam deeper into the ocean. She was content to walk into the gentle waves as they rolled onto the sandy beach, then stop when she was waist deep, loving the feel of her body gently buoying up and down as the water pushed and pulled past her.
When they returned to the villa, the staff had a wonderful dinner ready for them. An avocado-lime shrimp salad followed by mahimahi garnished with an onion topped with a slice of lemon served on a bed of rice and surrounded by broccoli florets.
They watched the sunset on the patio, then Abi went for a swim in the pool while the men finished off the bottle of wine from dinner.
After a while, she walked out of the pool, conscious of both men watching her. The heat of their gazes as they lingered on her bikini-clad body sent need quivering through her.
She sat on the side of the pool, facing the ocean, and dangled her feet in the water. Liam walked to a lounge chair, and she watched as he shed his shirt, revealing his taut muscles. She couldn’t drag her gaze from him. She longed to run her fingers over those ridged abs of his.
Del sat down beside her and lowered his feet into the water, too.
When Liam dove into the water, Del leaned toward her.
“I can’t stand the thought that he made love to you last night.”
“We haven’t. I … told him I needed time.”
“And he was okay with that?”
“He said he wouldn’t push me. Then this morning, with the morning sickness…”
For the first time today, she saw a smile spread across Del’s face.
“I’ve got to admit, I’m happy to hear that. It’s been driving me crazy knowing you’re in his bed.”
Liam’s head popped through the surface of the water and Del pushed himself to his feet. He stripped off his shirt and dove into the pool, too. The smooth line of his body as he glided through the air and into the water was a delightful sight.
She slid off the edge into the pool and treaded water, enjoying the feel of the warm water around her as she watched the men continue to swim and dive into the water, each trying to outdo the other in an unspoken competition.
She couldn’t take her eyes off them when they walked along the diving board, water glazing their hard bodies, and dove into the pool. A craving started deep in her core, aching inside her. Her nipples hardened as she thought about swimming up to one of them and clinging to his shoulders, then wrapping her legs around his waist and arching against him. Feeling his cock swell against her. Then pulling aside the crotch of her bathing suit and sliding his hard shaft inside her.
Finally, Del walked from the pool and dried off. She watched hungrily as he patted the towel over his chest, then down his ridged stomach.
“You seem to be enjoying the view.”
She glanced around to see Liam had swum to her side. Her cheeks flushed.
Del walked into the villa.
Liam laughed. “Relax. If watching Del heats you up before you climb into my bed, I’m not going to complain.”
She stared at his handsome face, thrown off balance by his closeness. His intense masculine aura. At the sight of the need in her eyes, now turned to him, his mouth turned up in a smile.
“It’s getting late. Maybe it’s time to call it a day.”
“It’s only nine thirty,” she said, guessing at the time. “Maybe I’ll ask Del to play some cards.”
She swam to the steps, then walked out of the pool. Liam was right behind her. She dried off and went inside.
The three of them played cards for about an hour, but then she found herself yawning. It was hard to keep her eyes open. Still, when they finished the current hand, she grabbed the deck to shuffle.
“Abi,” Liam said, “you can hardly stay awake. I think that’s enough cards for tonight.”
“But—”
“Baby, you need your sleep.”
She couldn’t really argue. She’d have to face heading to bed with Liam at some point. She just knew with her raging hormones that she was bound to throw herself into Liam’s arms, and that made her feel guilty.
Del put the cards away as Liam guided her to the staircase.
“Good night, Del,” she said as they walked up the stairs.
“Good night,” he said, and her heart ached knowing he would be alone in his bed, fretting over her in bed with Liam.
Damn, maybe it would have been kinder if she’d insisted Del not come with them.
* * *
Liam clo
sed the door to the bedroom and watched Abi walk to the dresser. The sway of her hips sent heat pulsing through him, and when she leaned over to open the middle drawer, displaying her curvy ass, his cock grew.
From the hunger in her eyes when she’d watched Del strip off his shirt, he knew she was aroused, yet she’d delayed coming to bed. She was still fighting the idea of being with him. He could subtly push it, reminding her that she’d agreed to have sex with him during this trip, but that’s not how he wanted this to play out.
He wanted her to want to. He wanted her to need him. To crave him as much as he craved her.
She closed the drawer and glanced over her shoulder at him, nibbling her lower lip.
Fuck, he knew she was going to run into the bathroom to change again. Not that he didn’t get it. He just wished she was more comfortable with him.
He walked behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders, gazing at her in the dresser mirror. She glanced at his reflection nervously.
“I’ll help you with the clasp on your bathing suit top,” he said.
“No, I’m okay.”
He ran his hand down her back. “Don’t be silly, kitten. You said it’s tricky.”
He lifted the loose flowing shirt that covered her bikini-clad body, exposing her curvy ass wrapped snuggly in her tiny bikini bottom and her smooth back. He fiddled with the clasp until it released. The sight of the strap on her bikini top opening made his cock swell even more.
He wanted to glide his hands around her body, then cup her soft breasts in his hands. Then he’d glide one hand down her smooth stomach and dip under the front of her bikini bottom to find her intimate folds, which he was sure were slick.
He glanced at her face in the mirror and her expression was tight. Their reflected gazes caught and he saw need in her eyes. But also trepidation.
His jaw tightened and he stepped back. Her shirt fell back into place.
She wanted privacy so he’d give it to her. He strode across the room and went into the bathroom, then closed the door. He wanted her to change in the bedroom instead of hiding, and if that meant she needed him to give her privacy at first, then that’s what he’d do.
He stripped off his clothes and sat down on the chaise to wait. The thought of her in the other room, pulling off her shirt, then shedding her bikini sent his blood boiling. God, at this rate, as soon as he got into bed and felt her soft body against him, he’d be in danger of losing it.
He wrapped his hand around his cock and stroked. He’d promised he wouldn’t force himself on her, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t fantasize about her. He’d love to walk back into the room and sit in the armchair, then demand she strip off whatever pajamas she’d donned and stand in front of him. He’d tell her to stroke her lovely, round breasts for him. He’d watch her small hands cover her mounds and caress them, then because she knew how much it turned him on, she’d flick her fingertips over her nipples, making them harden and peak. He’d tell her to pinch them and pull until he heard the lovely little gasps she made when she got really turned on.
Then he’d command her to sink to her knees in front of him and grab his cock, then stroke it.
He squeezed then stroked faster at the thought of her hand around him. When she leaned forward in his fantasy and wrapped her lips around him, he groaned, pumping faster. His hand became her mouth moving up and down on him, the thought of her moist warmth encompassing him driving him wild.
He tensed and the tight coil of need in his groin released. Pleasure burned through him, and white liquid pulsed from his cock in a fountain as he groaned his release.
* * *
Abi stood at the dresser, staring at her flushed cheeks and anxious expression. Liam had stridden to the bathroom and closed the door behind him.
Was he annoyed that she was holding back so much after agreeing to his terms? He’d said he’d give her time, but she didn’t blame him for getting impatient for her to fulfill her promise.
And the truth was, she wanted to. The thought of touching his solid body … running her hands along his ridged muscles … then wrapping her fingers around his thick, swelling cock had her nearly panting with need.
She was trapped in her own little world of need and guilt.
She quickly stripped off her shirt and bathing suit top and tugged on the oversize T-shirt she’d pulled from the door, then she wiggled out of the bikini bottoms, watching the bathroom door. She slipped into bed and pulled the covers snug around her.
She closed her eyes. Trying to relax. Trying not to think about the awkwardness when Liam climbed into bed with her.
She knew she shouldn’t resist her desire to be with him. Del understood the agreement and had given his blessing, since he wanted Liam to sign the divorce papers as much as she did. And she was going to honor the terms of the agreement at some point. So why not tonight?
The bathroom door opened and Liam walked toward the bed. She lay still, her eyes closed as he approached. He pulled back the covers on his side of the bed and sat down.
And then he turned off the light.
She frowned. Liam liked to make love with the light on. Was he turning it off hoping she’d be more relaxed?
He climbed under the covers and snuggled up behind her, wrapping his arm around her waist and drawing her close to him. He nuzzled the back of her neck, sending tingles dancing down her spine. Her insides melted with need.
“Good night, kitten.”
Good night? Was he really just going to go to sleep?
A few minutes later, his slow steady breathing gave her the answer.
* * *
Liam didn’t know why he’d woken up, but he opened his eyes to the darkness and blinked. In the silvery moonlight, he saw Abi, her face only inches away, gazing at him.
“Hi,” she murmured softly.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“Hi.” Liam’s voice was low and sleep-roughened.
Abi’s luminous blue eyes were wide and filled with an emotion he couldn’t read.
“Are you all right, baby?” he asked.
She nodded.
“Can’t sleep?” he asked. “What time is it?”
“It’s after two.” She rested her hand on his chest, over his heart. “And yes, I’m having trouble sleeping.”
She moved closer, until her lips were a mere breath away.
“Because I can’t stop thinking about doing this,” she whispered.
Then her soft lips found his, moving on his mouth gently. Heat flooded through his body. Her lips moved more passionately, then she surged closer, pressing her body tight to his, her soft breasts crushing against his chest.
His arms slid around her waist.
She tore her lips away. “Oh, God, I want you so badly.”
He could feel her bead-hard nipples driving into his chest, and her words made his cock swell. She rocked against him, squeezing his cock between their bodies.
She took his hand and glided it over her hip then in front of her. She pulled up the loose T-shirt she was wearing and slid his hand between her legs.
Fuck, she wasn’t wearing any panties. And …
“Oh, fuck, baby. You’re drenched.”
The slickness glazed his fingertips.
Her hand found his cock and she squeezed it. It pulsed in her grip.
“Oh, God, I need you,” she whimpered.
Then she dragged his tip over her slick folds, glazing him with her slickness.
“Kitten, slow it down. I want to—”
Too late.
She pressed him to her opening and he groaned at the delightful warmth of her surrounding him as she pushed his thick shaft inside her.
She wrapped her leg around his thigh, holding him tight to her body. Then she lay there, staring into his eyes.
“It feels so good.” She sounded like she was near tears, but sweet, poignant tears of pleasure.
They lay there for an eternity, staring into each other’s eyes, their bodies joined.
> She squeezed him with internal muscles, filling him with a gut-wrenching ache. Then she did it again and he groaned.
“Fuck, love. This is incredible. Being inside you like this.”
It felt intimate and agonizingly sweet. It was like she’d found his deepest and most powerful longings and fulfilled them with the comfort of her body.
It was like being home.
This was what it felt like to be accepted unconditionally. To be truly loved.
And he saw it in her face.
Her fingertips rested on his cheek and glided slowly over the stubble. Love glowed in her beautiful blue eyes. She squeezed him again and he moaned. His cock throbbed, and he knew that he could easily come any second. One stroke would probably do it.
But he didn’t want this to end.
He tightened his arm around her waist, keeping her tight to him, almost losing it as that small movement pushed his cock a little deeper inside her.
“I’m so close, Liam. Please make me come.”
Oh, fuck, her words slammed straight through him. His cock twitched, needing to move inside her so badly he thought he’d die.
She squeezed him again and …
“Oh, fuck!” His groin tightened and heat blasted through him.
She moaned and contracted tighter around his shaft, her face contorting into that familiar expression of blissful abandon.
“Oh, God, Liam,” she gasped. “I’m … coming.”
He rolled her onto her back and pumped into her as his cock exploded inside her, filling her with his seed. He found her clit and stroked it. Her moans grew louder as she rocketed to another orgasm.
He ground deep into her, pinning her to the bed as he continued to stroke her clit.
She sucked in a breath, then moaned again, finding her third orgasm.
He kept her at the crest for a long, long time, reveling in her sweet moans of pleasure, but finally he relented and let her fade back to earth.
She sucked in air, trying to catch her breath. But when he tried to roll away, she held tight. “Don’t leave me. Not yet.”
Those words bore through him, making his heart ache.
“Never, kitten. I’ll never leave you.”
His mouth found hers and he kissed her passionately. Then he stroked her hair back.