by Cassidy Coal
Their kiss deepened and Sarah wondered whether they could climb into the back seat and manage things in such a small space. Before she could take the thought any further, though, another car pulled into the parking lot and a group of teenagers piled out, cameras in hand.
"Let's get to Taupo." She pulled away. "I want to be alone with you. No interruptions."
"Well, with that kind of promise waiting for me at the end of the drive…" Tyler winked at her as he started the car.
She sighed. He was so perfect.
How long until he realized that she wasn't?
* * *
"Wow." That's all Sarah could manage when they came over the rise and saw Lake Taupo spread out below them, a vast expanse of blue water stretching to the mountains in the far distance. The lake was huge. The size of Singapore according to her guidebook. The sky a perfect complement to the water with just a few clouds scattered here or there for dramatic effect. It was like a painting.
"Gorgeous, isn't it?" Tyler asked.
"You've been here before?"
Of course he had. He'd been everywhere.
He nodded. "I spent six months backpacking through Australia and New Zealand right after I graduated college. Taupo was my favorite."
"I can see why."
He laughed. "We caught it on a good day. Actually, we caught New Zealand on a good weekend. There was a month I was here that I swear it rained every single day. And I'd scheduled a few multi-day hikes, too, so I had to trudge along in the pouring rain for eight hours straight."
He shook his head, but his lips curled up in a fond grin. "You know, the Kiwis thought nothing of it. They thought I was a complete wimp for even noticing that I was soaking wet most of the day."
"Well, you are a complete wimp, as we saw today." She laughed and squeezed his arm to let him know she was kidding.
He glared at her. "I seem to remember a certain someone shaking quite a bit at the sight of those waterfalls."
He pulled the car into a parking spot along the lake. "Come on. Before the light's gone completely. I want you to see the lake up close."
They walked hand-in-hand along the Lion's Walk—a nice pathway that wound along the edge of the lakefront—and watched the setting sun turn the sky a brilliant red and pink. Tyler pointed to a skydiving plane on the far edge of the lake as it dropped a load of passengers—little dots that fell through the sky until parachutes bloomed above them and they slowly drifted towards the ground.
They passed tons of other tourists, strolling along, taking photos, just enjoying the mild weather and beautiful views.
Sarah shook her head once more at how many young people she saw in New Zealand. It was like half of Europe's kids were there for a year of backpacking and fun.
"Here." Tyler led her to a metal bench. They sat down and watched the boats out on the water. To their right a large sailboat approached the harbor, canted sideways by the breeze. Off to their left a jet boat pulled a couple on a parasail behind it. They could hear the screams of the woman as the parasail operator lowered the couple until their feet were almost touching the water.
"I never want to leave this place," Sarah said, softly, leaning her head against Tyler's shoulder.
"Neither do I." He ran his fingers through her hair. "But duty calls."
She nodded as she continued to watch the people and boats. "Tyler?"
"Yeah?"
"When will you have enough?" She pulled away so she could look at his face.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean. I know why I work. I have student loans and want to have a house some day and want to never ever be poor ever again. But you don't have to work. You have so much money you couldn't spend it in a lifetime. So, why do you keep working so hard? When will what you have be enough?"
He frowned, a slight line forming between his eyebrows. "I work because I want to accomplish something. Something more than just spending my dad's money."
She licked her lips, knowing she was treading on dangerous ground, but unable to stop herself. "But you run a property management firm. I mean…"
She stopped herself from asking him what he thought that was accomplishing. Oh, sure, it made good money, but it wasn't like finding the cure for cancer or inventing a new cheaper form of fuel or something.
He stared at her, his expression stony. "Care to finish that sentence?"
Sarah shook her head. "Forget it. I'm sorry I even brought it up. Let's just enjoy this amazing view and each other's company."
She leaned back into his embrace, but the moment was gone and leaning against his shoulder felt like leaning against a brick wall.
After a long pause, Tyler said, "Sarah, how poor were you growing up?"
She stiffened, but didn't look at him. "Poor enough to never want to go back there again."
He pulled away from her. "But what does that mean?"
It was her turn to stare at him, her expression frozen stiff. "It means I had a very different childhood than you did and I want my children to have better than that."
She never spoke to anyone at Corrigan, Inc. about her family or her life. She didn't need the judgment. And as much as she loved Tyler, she knew that of everyone he'd have the hardest time understanding. They really were from two completely different worlds.
She leaned back against the bench, arms crossed. "Can we just enjoy the sunset?"
He grinned at her, a small light in his eyes. "Your children, huh? How many do you want?"
She shook her head violently side to side. "Oh, no, Tyler Corrigan, you are not going there."
"What? Innocent enough question isn't it?" He grinned at her and the dimple in his chin deepened until it could've swallowed the whole town.
"No. That is never an innocent question." She stood up. "I'm hungry. Let's eat. Look, there's Burger Fuel. Brad told me I had to give it a try while I was over here."
"Sarah, it's Saturday night and we're staying at one of the nicest hotels in the country with some of the best food there is. Don't you want to eat there?"
She glanced at him. "No. I really don't. I'd honestly rather eat a greasy burger at a fast food joint than worry about whether I'm holding my fork properly at some four-star restaurant." She held out her hand. "Now come on. Let me corrupt you a bit. Bring you over to the dark side."
Tyler took her hand and reluctantly followed her across the street to the restaurant with the neon purple and blue sign.
* * *
It turned out that Burger Fuel burgers were amazingly delicious. And there were plenty of weird healthy options on the menu to satisfy Tyler. He ordered a tofu burger and Sarah ordered a bacon cheeseburger so large she could barely fit her mouth around it to take a bite.
She'd forgotten that the New Zealand definition of bacon was vastly different from her own, but fortunately she liked Canadian bacon as much as normal bacon, so she didn't really mind. Her burger was delicious from first bite to last. So were the fries she dipped in aioli sauce.
They ate the burgers in the upstairs dining room, watching the tourists stroll by below them.
"You have a little sauce there on the side of your mouth." Tyler wiped at the corner of her lip.
"Just that one spot? I'm surprised my entire face isn't covered."
He laughed. "Well, actually…"
Sarah stared at him, a small smile tugging at her lips, marveling once more that a man as amazing and gorgeous as Tyler Corrigan wanted to be with her.
She was glad the awkward moment at the lake had passed. She didn't want to ruin the time they had together. She wanted to savor every moment, storing them up for the future.
It had to end at some point.
"Penny for your thoughts," he said, softly.
She sighed. "I was thinking about how I have to head back to the States at the end of next week."
He nodded. "I don't want you to go."
She kissed him on the cheek. "I don't want to go either. But I'm pretty sure that Fiona Jones would shit bricks if
I stay around for one day longer than I'm supposed to. She's been glaring daggers at me since Valentine's."
Tyler tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "That's because she's jealous that you are so beautiful." He kissed her on one cheek. "And so intelligent." He kissed her on the other cheek. "And everyone likes you." He kissed her on the lips before sitting back with a grin.
She laughed, a large guffaw that filled the area around them. "Hardly. She's jealous because I'm screwing you and she thinks she should be."
He wrinkled his nose. "Ugh. I'd never go there. She's all skin and bones. I'd probably come away bruised all over."
Sarah ran her hand along his thigh. "You still do even with me."
"I know, but in a good way." He took the hand and kissed it, staring deep into her eyes.
Sarah shivered at the lust and desire she saw there. She leaned forward. "Tyler Corrigan, I suggest you take me back to our room now before I jump you right here."
Tyler laughed, but he immediately stood and dragged her out of the restaurant.
* * *
They barely made it through the door of their room before they were kissing and tearing each other's clothes off. As Sarah tugged Tyler's t-shirt over his head, she noticed that their room was huge and airy with ten-foot ceilings and a big bay of windows on the other side. It was a standalone luxury cabin along some river or other. She was sure the views were as beautiful as the room, but right now all she cared about was Tyler Corrigan.
She ran her hands down his chest, relishing the feel of his smooth, taut skin under her fingers, pausing to trace each and every line of his six-pack abs. She started to kneel down, to follow her hands with her mouth, but he stopped her and pushed her back against the door, kneeling down in front of her instead.
He pushed her top up and started with soft, deep kisses along her belly, gently taking the skin between his teeth as he slowly worked his way from her belly button downward.
He pulled off her shorts, his hands firm against her skin as he pushed the fabric over her hips. The shorts were quickly followed by her panties. He was getting more impatient as he continued, so those he jerked downward with one smooth motion.
He paused then, staring up into her eyes for a long moment, that wicked little half-smile playing along his lips.
She took a few deep breaths, waiting, anticipating what it would be like when he finally buried his face between her thighs, when he started tasting and sucking.
He loved to taste her. And she loved to let him, to lose herself in the sensation of his hot mouth on her wet pussy.
When she was just about to grab the back of his head and shove his face between her thighs, unable to hold back another moment, he winked at her and started.
First he licked her once, a long, slow stroke from back to front, coating his tongue in the taste of her. Then he started twirling his tongue around her clit, darting and probing, finding the rhythm and pace that worked for her. He kept going until she was whimpering and quivering, her hands buried in his thick black hair as she struggled to remain standing, her legs turning to jelly beneath her.
He pulled back then, watching her as he buried his fingers in her pussy, working them in and out until she was gushing with wetness, writhing on his fingers, her head thrown back, lost in a world of sensation so powerful she didn't even know where she was or who she was.
He stood, pinning her to the door with his body, his fingers still pumping in and out of her, and covered her mouth with his, his tongue probing, demanding, thrusting into her mouth, sharing the tangy saltiness still on his lips.
She clung to him, pressing her body to his, matching the passion of his kiss with her own need and desire. She fumbled at his pants, feeling the bulge there as his erection pressed against the fabric.
She needed him inside her. Now. She couldn't wait, didn't want to go another moment without the feel of him filling her completely the way no other man ever had.
"Turn around," he said, stepping back from her.
She reached for him, but he gently turned her around until she was braced against the door.
She heard his pants drop to the floor and felt his naked body press up against hers, his penis hard and throbbing against the backs of her thighs. He pulled her hair to the side, kissing his way up her neck to her ear, thrusting his tongue into the canal, all hot and wet. She trembled, desperate to feel him inside her.
"Fuck me," she begged, reaching back for him.
He parted the lips of her pussy and eased himself inside, bracing one hand against the door as he slowly filled her.
"Are you ready?" he whispered, softly, running his nose along the edge of her jaw.
"Yes." She sighed, tightening her muscles around his penis.
He braced his other hand on the other side of her and started to thrust himself inside her, slow at first and then harder and harder until they were both braced against the door, gasping, panting, lost in the primal joining of their bodies, the door shaking in its frame with every thrust.
As his breathing became more jagged, more frantic, he reached down to stroke her clit, demanding that she join him there on the brink, standing on the cliff, ready to fall into oblivion.
She gasped, lost in the moment, tensed throughout her entire body, like a bow string pulled tight.
And then she fell over the edge, released, falling, soaring, vibrating with the intensity of her orgasm, lost and blind, tumbling uncontrolled through a world of pure sensation.
When she finally came back to herself she was still braced against the door, Tyler still inside her. The room felt cold, the sweat from their bodies long-since dried.
His chin rested on her shoulder and she leaned her face against his, her eyes still closed.
"I can't believe the way you make me feel," she whispered.
He chuckled softly. "It takes two to tango." He kissed her on the cheek and slowly stepped away, pulling out of her, leaving her feeling empty and alone.
He came back a moment later with a large white bathrobe and gave her a soft, gentle kiss on the lips as he wrapped it around her. "You are the most amazing woman I've ever met, Sarah Baxter."
She gazed up into his green eyes. "And you're the most amazing man I've ever met, Tyler Corrigan."
He laughed, the sound breaking her out of the last of her post-sex trance. "Then I'd say we're a perfect match for one another, aren't we? Room service?" He raised an eyebrow at her. "I'm sure they can find us some strawberries and champagne…"
She laughed and kissed him. "See if they can't find some whipped cream while they're at it."
* * *
The next morning, Sarah lay in bed, wide awake but eyes still closed, relishing the feel of Tyler Corrigan's body stretched next to hers. She loved to use his shoulder as a pillow, nestling her body against him. It amazed her how perfectly they fit together.
The hotel had found them strawberries, champagne, and whipped cream. And chocolate sauce. And ice cream.
Fortunately for them, and the hotel staff, the bathroom was the size of a small bedroom, so they'd managed to taste and explore without having to sleep in any of the sticky gooey mess they made.
"I want to wake up like this every morning," Tyler mumbled, his chest vibrating under her ear.
"Me, too," Sarah said with a deep, contented sigh.
"So stay."
Sarah sat up and stared down at him, holding the sheet to her chest. "What do you mean?"
"Don't go back to the States." He ran his fingers through her hair and stared deep into her eyes. "Stay in Sydney with me. And come with me when I go to Hong Kong next month. And to Europe after that."
She shook her head. Partially to tell that small voice in her head screaming, "Yes, do it," to shut the fuck up.
"Tyler. I can't. I've been gone for almost a month now. I've been helping out some from here, but there's only so much I can do with the time difference. Horowitz needs me back there yesterday. And Fiona won't let me work in her department for
another moment past what she has to."
Her mother would never let her live it down either.
He ran a finger along her jaw line, a small smile quirking the corner of his lips. "Then quit."
Sarah stared at him. "What?"
"Quit. You don't need to work. I'll take care of you. Quit and come with me." He ran his hand down her arm, his eyes roving over her body.
Sarah jumped out of bed, wrapping the sheet around herself like a shield. She shook her head as she paced back and forth, trying to master her emotions.
He sat up. "Sarah, what's wrong? Why are you so upset?"
She whirled around to stare at him. "You told me to quit my job. Like it's nothing."
"Well, if that's the only way we can be together…" He shrugged. Like it really was that simple.
She stopped and stared at him. "I'm good at what I do."
"I know." He smiled at her. "You're our best forensic accountant."
She knew he meant it as a joke, referring to Horowitz's reason for sending her on that fateful trip to Paris. (The real reason had been she was single and was the easiest to shaft on Christmas Eve. Not that she didn't do a good job, but still…)
"You'd just have me quit. So I can, what? Follow you around like your little pet? Be there at your beck and call?" She turned away so he wouldn't see the look of disgust on her face. She was shaking she was so furious.
"Don't make it sound like that, Sarah." Tyler came to stand behind her, pulling her into his embrace. "I love you. I love spending time with you. I don't want to be apart from you." He kissed her shoulder.
She stepped away from him, arms crossed tight across her chest. "Then create a position that lets me travel with you. Don't ask me to quit my job."
He stared at her, his eyebrows forming a sharp V shape. "I can't do that, Sarah. What position could I create for you that anyone would take seriously? They'd all see right through that. Why can't you just come with me?"
She laughed bitterly. He didn't get it. Of course not. He'd never been poor. He'd never wondered where he was going to sleep that night. Or whether he'd have electricity or running water next month. He didn't understand how tempting it was to quit fighting so hard and just say yes, just let some rich man pay for everything.