by SJ McCoy
“I came to see you.”
“But you already know that I’m not going to sleep with you.”
He shrugged. For the first time, he looked serious. There was no smirk, no laughter in his eyes.
“So, why are you here?”
To her surprise, he put his arm around her shoulders and leaned closer. “Do you want to know the truth?”
Her heart was racing. She wasn’t sure if it was the nearness of him or eager anticipation of what he was about to say. She looked up into his eyes, and he chuckled.
“The truth is, I have no idea!” He wasn’t teasing. He shook his head slowly as though he was baffled by the question. “I wish I could tell you why I flew here with Ted when I have no plans to go to the lake this weekend. I wish I could tell you why I was so eager to see you when I know you don’t want to see me. I wish I could answer your question. I really do.”
“You only came to see me?”
He nodded.
She felt as though fireworks were exploding in her chest. “And you didn’t just come because you thought we might get to spend the afternoon in bed together?”
He held her gaze for a moment. “I know that that is not an option.” He looked as serious as she’d ever seen him. “You made it very clear the last time I was here. You have your young man.”
Izzy felt bad about that. She’d only used Rafa as an excuse. She’d claimed he was the reason that she couldn’t sleep with Diego, but they’d never been a real couple—never even been exclusive. She’d only seen him twice since Diego had been here and she hadn’t slept with him. Her heart thudded to a halt as she realized that the reason Rafa had lost his appeal for her was because he wasn’t Diego.
He was watching her face now. “You do still have your young man?”
Her heart restarted and was back to pounding again. If she told him that Rafa was out of the picture, then …? No. “Even if …”
Diego’s smile was back. “You’re not seeing him anymore? You are single?”
She pursed her lips. She hated the way that sounded. It made her feel like an old maid. “What does it matter?” she asked. “I’m sure you’re not single.”
He looked thoughtful, and she wondered if he was about to admit that he did indeed have a girlfriend or three. “Do you want to know the truth?”
“I tend to prefer it over lies.”
He chuckled. “Very well. Then I shall tell you a shocking fact about my love life.”
Izzy wasn’t sure she wanted to hear this.
He tightened his arm around her shoulders, and the twinkle was back in his eye when he spoke again. “This is a fact that I wasn’t even aware of myself until this morning. It took Ted to point it out to me.” He nodded to himself before he continued.
“Go on then, spit it out. What kind of shock am I in for?”
He smiled. “I have not been on a date—been with a woman since the day I met you.”
Wow! What was he getting at? She laughed. “Do you mean to say that I’ve put you off women?”
He didn’t join her laughter. “It would appear that you have. At least, you’ve put me off every woman who isn’t you.” He held her gaze.
She didn’t know what to say. Part of her wanted to believe that he was still teasing her, but there was something serious in his eyes.
“And what do you expect me to do about that?”
He shrugged. “I didn’t expect you to do a thing. I came with Ted because I wanted to see you—to see if you still have the same effect on me. You do. However, I knew—at least, I thought I knew that you were seeing your young trainer. Now, I know that you aren’t.”
She hadn’t exactly told him that she wasn’t seeing Rafa anymore, but she hadn’t denied that she was single either.
She looked up into his big, brown eyes and smiled. When he smiled back, all the teasing and pretense were gone, and if it were possible, he was even more handsome.
“And what do you want me to do now?” she asked.
“Kiss me.” As he said it, his hand came up to cup her cheek. Shivers chased each other down her spine as his fingers slid into her hair, and he drew her closer. He looked down at her lips and then back up into her eyes. He really was irresistible. His lips were full and soft as they brushed over hers. His arm around her shoulders held her closer to him, and she felt as though he surrounded her. As he claimed her mouth in a kiss that stole her senses, she felt as though she was drowning in a sea of Diego—and she didn’t want to come up for air.
~ ~ ~
When he lifted his head, Diego’s heart was racing. He’d daydreamed about kissing this woman, but even that hadn’t been as good as the reality. She looked dazed. She felt it, too; he knew she did.
“Wow!” She let out a little laugh. “I wasn’t expecting that.”
“I wasn’t either.”
She looked skeptical. “You weren’t? Isn’t that what you came here for?”
“I told you. I thought you were still seeing your young trainer. I would never kiss another man’s woman.”
Her eyes flashed at that. “I’m my own woman.”
“Forgive me. It’s a turn of phrase; that is all.”
She pursed her lips. “I’ll forgive you if you promise to understand that I am my own woman. I’m not and never will be some man’s property.”
“I give you my word.”
She relaxed and smiled at him. “So, what’s your next move?”
He chuckled. “I need to have a move?”
“I’m sure you do.”
He didn’t have any moves planned. She’d taken him by surprise. He’d expected that his visit this afternoon would be short and not very sweet—that he’d probably be back at the airport within the hour waiting for Karl to return from the lake to take him home with his tail between his legs.
He wasn’t about to let this fortunate turn of events throw him off, though. He was better than that. He sat back in his seat and curled his foot around her ankle.
“Well, I don’t mind telling you that you’ve surprised me. I truly didn’t come here with any moves in mind. But …” He stroked her calf with his foot. “If you’re interested, I have an empty weekend stretching ahead of me. Would you like to share it?”
He held his breath. He wasn’t sure where that suggestion had even come from. But now that it was out there, he hoped that she would agree.
She cocked her head to one side. “The weekend?”
He nodded.
She shook her head in wonder. “I expected you to suggest we go back to my place. You know, occupy your time until the plane can get back here to pick you up.”
He waggled his eyebrows. “We can do that first if you like.”
She laughed, but he got the impression that she wouldn’t be against the idea. “And what are you suggesting we would do with this empty weekend that you’re looking to fill?”
“I’d like to invite you to my home.” He had to think fast here. Of course, he wanted to sleep with her, but he was past the age when he’d have been able to keep her busy in bed for a whole weekend. “We can hang out. Walk the beach, browse downtown Laguna, have you ever been?”
“Not for years.”
He couldn’t resist smiling as he remembered several of the conversations they’d had. “Say you want to come with me?”
She met his gaze. She understood what he was asking. She nodded slowly. “Okay.”
Chapter Eight
Izzy’s hands shook as she turned the key in the front door. It’d been a couple of months since the last time Diego was here, but he still had the same effect on her. On the drive back to her place, she’d kept wondering why she was doing this. This was a bad idea. Or was it? What was wrong with it? Diego was a nice guy. He was sexy as sin. She wanted him; she wasn’t going to deny that, so what was wrong with bringing him home? She swallowed … what was wrong with spending the weekend with him?
He was going to be a part of her life in some capacity because of Audrey and Ted. Sh
e turned the handle, and the door swung open. Perhaps it was better to get the sexual attraction out of their systems now. Then, over time, they could hopefully become friends.
He followed her into the hallway and waited while she closed the door. It felt as though he filled the whole space. There was no way around him, no way past him. He stepped toward her, and she looked up into his eyes. The heat of the look he gave her sent ripples of desire coursing through her. What the hell? He was possibly the most handsome man she’d ever known. He wanted her; he’d made that clear. Why shouldn’t she just relax and enjoy this … enjoy his company … enjoy him?
His arms came around her waist, and she reached hers up around his neck. Shockwaves raced through her as he pressed her up against the wall. The feel of his hard body against hers made her knees go weak. His hand came up to cup her cheek, but instead of moving in for the kiss as she expected, he smiled at her.
“You’re beautiful, Isobel.”
She searched his face. She wanted to believe it was a line, but he sure looked like he meant it. He felt like he meant it. There was an intensity in his eyes that she didn’t know what to do with. She chuckled. “I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you, but you’re not so bad yourself.”
His eyebrows came down. Jeez! Was his ego that big that he couldn’t take a joke? He must know just how gorgeous he was. Women probably told him all the time—right before they gave in to his charms.
He looked down at her lips, and she couldn’t wait. They didn’t need to get caught up in conversation or even go through the motions of saying the right things. They were going to do this, so they might as well get on with it.
She closed the gap between their lips and reached up to sink her fingers in his hair. Damn, the man could kiss. He started out slowly, tenderly, and built up until he’d claimed her mouth. His tongue was exploring her—as were his hands—and she was melting against him.
His hands came down to hold her hips, and he pressed himself against her. She moaned into his mouth at the feel of him. Wow! He was a big boy. He ground his hips against hers, and she moved with him, overtaken by the sensations that rolled through her. She clung to his shoulders, wondering in amazement whether he was about to take her over the edge—right here in the hallway while they were both still fully clothed.
She let out another little moan, this time in disappointment, when he lifted his head and stepped away from her. He leaned back against the opposite wall. “Forgive me?”
She laughed. “What for? For stopping? I’m not sure I can.”
A smile touched his lips. “No?”
“No.”
“I didn’t want to … We should take our time.”
“Oh, no. You’re not pulling that one on me again. She took hold of his hand and started leading him toward the stairs.
“Pulling what?”
She couldn’t believe she was going to say it, but she did. “What you did to me at the lodge that first weekend. When you walked me back to my room. You deliberately got me warmed up and then walked away and left me wanting you.”
That might be the biggest smile she’d seen on his face yet. “You wanted me?”
She laughed. “You know damned well I did.”
They’d reached her bedroom, and she pulled him inside. She started to unbutton her blouse, but he came to her and took hold of her hands. “May I?”
She looked up at him. One eyebrow was raised in question. She couldn’t for the life of her figure him out. She’d have expected him to be stripping his own clothes off, eager to get down to it, not to be wanting to take the time to undress her.
She sucked in a deep breath as he unfastened her top button. He smiled and dropped a kiss on her lips. “You know how much I’ve admired these girls from afar.”
She chuckled, but it came out sounding a little strangled. “It’s hard to miss. You talk to them more than you talk to me.”
He gave her a shamefaced smile and continued unfastening buttons. “They usually seem more pleased to see me than you do.”
She bit her bottom lips as she looked down. Her nipples stood erect, confirming his words.
It was a huge turn on to watch his big hands slowly work their way down to the bottom until her blouse fell open. He rested his hands on her ribcage; his skin looked so dark against hers. This was torture. She hadn’t expected him to want to take his time like this, it was driving her crazy with desire for him.
His thumbs stroked her through her bra, making her close her eyes and let her head fall back. When her bra was gone, he closed his hands around her, and they both let out a sigh.
She realized that if they were undressing each other, then she was falling behind. She reached for his belt, but he shifted away from her. “All in good time, Miss Isobel.”
He was still caressing her breasts, and her mind was too fuzzy to argue. He lowered his head, and she sank her fingers in his hair when he mouthed her nipple. That felt so good!
He walked her back to the bed until her legs hit it, and she sat down. He wasted no time getting rid of her pants, and then she was sitting there in just her panties, and he was fully dressed. She wanted to see him, to touch him. She reached for his belt again, but he smiled and moved away. “Patience.”
He knelt down between her legs—at eye level with her breasts. She clung to his shoulders as he licked and sucked, tormenting her with his talented tongue. She gasped when his hand slid inside her panties. He stroked her entrance and dipped a finger inside her, making her cling tighter to him.
“I’m ready,” she breathed.
He lifted his head and gave her a puzzled look. She was hardly going to spell it out for him that yes, he’d done his job, she was wet, and it would be okay now.
“So am I.” He smiled.
Phew! Finally, she was going to see him and see just what she was in for. The feel of his arousal when he’d pressed it against her had her eager if a little apprehensive.
Instead of undressing as she’d expected him to, he put a hand to her shoulder and laid her back on the bed. Then his fingers were inside her panties again, this time pulling them to the side, and … oh! … His mouth was on her. She grabbed fistfuls of sheet underneath her, and her back arched up as he proved just how talented his tongue really was.
He rested two fingers at her entrance, tormenting her with anticipation. She could feel herself getting closer, and apparently, he could, too. His mouth closed around her, and his fingers slid deep, thrusting in and out and taking her over the edge. Her back arched up off the bed as she let herself go. “Yes!”
When she lay still, he came up to join her, lying behind her and closing his arms around her. Wow! She’d expected him to be getting his pants off ready for his turn.
He nuzzled his lips into her neck. “Was it good?”
She nodded. “Very, very good.”
She could feel him smile. “Good. I want to please you.”
“You did.” She rolled over to face him. “Want me to return the favor?”
He frowned.
Maybe he didn’t understand what she meant? She could hardly believe that. She reached for his buckle, and this time he didn’t stop her. She pushed his pants down and slid her hand inside his shorts, then bit her lip. Damn! He was a big boy.
He met her gaze and smiled. She smiled back and started to move down over him. He caught her arm and pulled her back up. “Let’s take our time?”
“Seriously?” She’d didn’t think she’d ever known a guy to turn down a blow job.
He nodded. “Seriously. I want us to get to know each other. He ran his hand over her shoulder and down the back of her arm, and for some reason, that felt strangely intimate. He closed his arm around her and held her close to his chest, making her close her eyes and sigh. It felt so good—and they weren’t even doing anything!
She needed to remedy that. She unbuttoned his shirt and pushed it back off his shoulders; he got rid of his pants and shorts. Once he lay naked, she let her gaze travel o
ver him. He’d done that to her so often, she kind of wanted him to know how it felt. It had the opposite effect, though. She discovered how it must make him feel. It turned her on so much to take in every detail of his big, muscled body. His broad shoulders, the dusting of dark and silver hair on his chest. The V shape that led down to … she swallowed—to that thing!
She looked up at him. “Is that why you’re so full of yourself?”
He laughed out loud. “Perhaps it is. I hadn’t thought of it that way before, but you may well be right.”
He took her hand and placed it over him. He let out a slow breath as she curled her fingers around him.
She wanted to come out with some joke, something to make them laugh and break the moment, but her brain couldn’t do it. She was under his spell but then looking at his face, it seemed that he was under hers, too.
She stroked the length of him, up and down, enjoying the look on his face as he surrendered to her. She couldn’t wait. She put a hand to his shoulder and turned him onto his back and then straddled him.
He raised an eyebrow. “You like to be in charge?”
She nodded, hoping that wouldn’t be an issue right now. She knew he likely wanted to be the big man, putting it to the little woman on his terms, but she couldn’t do that. She stroked herself with the tip of him, hoping to distract him before he rolled her off.
It worked. He closed his eyes and moved his hips in time with her. He closed his hands around her waist when she guided him toward her, and she braced herself for the moment when he would pull her down onto him.
He didn’t.
He only rocked his hips gently as she slowly lowered herself onto him in her own time. Damn! He felt good. He was so big.
He met her gaze, and she closed her eyes and started to move.
When she opened them again, he was still looking and this time, her eyes locked with his and she couldn’t look away. Their bodies moved together, faster and faster. He let her move the way she needed to. His hands still held her hips, but it felt like he was supporting her, not clamping her where he wanted her to receive him.