Gansett Island Boxed Set Books 1-16 (Gansett Island Series)

by Marie Force

  While avoidance had kept her safe from hurt, it had also made for a rather lonely existence. It had taken Slim Jackson less than a week to show her how much more fun it would be to have him around, rather than spending every day by herself.

  Chapter 25

  Erin carried that thought with her as she rode the elevator to the lobby, intending to take a walk while her dad was in PT. Her mom wouldn’t be back for a couple of hours yet. Erin was walking through the main doors when she nearly collided with someone coming in.

  The familiar scent of leather and the unmistakable cologne had her gasping and looking up at Slim’s face as he grasped her arms to keep her from tripping over him.

  “W-what—”

  He kissed her right there in the middle of the busy doorway, generating a few catcalls and laughs as people went by them. “There you are.”

  “What’re you doing here?” She’d thought he’d be halfway to Florida by now.

  He took her by the arm to move them out of the stream of foot traffic. “My client moved his flight to the Bahamas from tomorrow to the day after, so I figured I’d stop by on my way south. Hope that’s okay?”

  Erin threw herself into his arms, hugging him so tight that he gasped and then laughed.

  “I take it that’s a yes?”

  She nodded. “I’m so happy to see you.”

  “Likewise. I was going crazy missing you after one night away, and when my client texted early this morning, I ran for the airport.”

  “I’m so glad your client texted you.” She kissed him again, not caring in the least that they were drawing the attention of everyone who walked by.

  “How’s your dad?”

  “He’s doing great. He’s at PT for the next couple of hours.”

  “And your mom?”

  “Is at lunch with her friends.”

  “So you’re free and clear?”

  “For the moment. Why?”

  He took her by the hand and began walking—quickly—so quickly she had to scramble to keep up with his long-legged stride.

  “Where’re we going? Slim!”

  “You’ll see.” He led her around the corner and two blocks over to a hotel, walking into the lobby like he belonged there. At the registration counter, he said, “Could we get a room for the night, please?”

  Erin’s entire body went hot with desire and longing and embarrassment when she realized what he was doing.

  The clerk eyed them suspiciously—or so it seemed to her—and said, “Let me see what we have available.” He clicked around on the computer until he found an available room. “Our check-in time isn’t until three.”

  “We have a family member in the hospital,” Slim said, producing his credit card. “They encouraged us to get some sleep while we can. I’m sure you understand.”

  “Of course.”

  Erin didn’t dare look at him, out of fear she might spontaneously combust from the yearning, not to mention trying not to laugh at his shamelessness.

  The clerk returned Slim’s credit card along with two key cards and gave them directions to the elevator. “I’ll pray for your loved one,” he said.

  “Thank you so much,” Slim said gravely. “That means the world to us.” Taking hold of Erin’s hand, he half walked, half dragged her to the elevator. The moment the doors closed to the lobby, they lost it laughing.

  “Oh my God,” she said when she could talk again. “You used my father so shamelessly.” And after their talk earlier, she knew her dad would’ve loved it. Well, maybe not the part about what was sure to be a wild booty call, but that she was off having fun with a man he admired. That part he would like.

  “I know,” he said, wincing. “I feel kind of guilty about that, but I have a feeling I’ll get over it.”

  On the seventh floor, the elevator dinged to announce their arrival. He tugged her along behind him as he found their room, dropping her hand only to get the door open and usher her inside ahead of him. The second the door clicked shut behind them, he pounced, devouring her mouth and touching her everywhere he could get to under her coat, which quickly fell to the floor along with her sweater, jeans and bra.

  “Hurry,” he said, as he worked the buttons on his shirt while she took care of his jeans.

  His urgency fanned the fire burning inside her, which only intensified when his cock fell hard and hot into her hand.

  She stroked him, drawing a hiss from him that had her dropping to her knees to take him into her mouth.

  “Holy shit,” he whispered. “Erin, fuck… God, don’t stop.” He buried his fingers in her hair, holding on tightly as she took him as deep as she could, until the head was snug against her throat. “Babe…” Tugging on her hair, he tried to warn her before he came in her mouth, his big body shuddering as wave after wave overtook him, leaving him gasping when it was over.

  Erin looked up at him, feeling shy in the wake of the storm.

  He reached for her, helping her up and into his arms for another wild kiss. By the time they came up for air, he was already hard again and lifting her right off her feet to press her against the wall.

  “Slim, wait…”

  “I don’t want to wait.” Forgoing the condom, he thrust into her in one smooth movement that had her head falling back against the wall in complete surrender. “Ahhh, there,” he said, his lips close to her ear. “That’s it. So hot and so tight and all mine.”

  His possessiveness was as much of a turn-on as the deep thrusts of his cock and the tight squeeze of his hands on her ass while he took them on a wild ride. She’d never wanted to be possessed by a man, but now…

  He bent his head to draw her nipple into his mouth, sucking and biting just hard enough to trigger an explosive orgasm.

  “Ah, fuck,” he muttered, dropping his head to her shoulder and taking his own pleasure.

  For a long time afterward, the only sounds in the room were that of them breathing hard as they recovered.

  When he finally raised his head to look at her, he looked as poleaxed as she felt. “Holy moly.”

  “Mmm.” She was so blissed out, she couldn’t form coherent thoughts. “No condom.”

  “Noticed that, huh?”

  “Uh-huh. How was it?”

  “Spectacular. But then again, it always is with you.”

  Erin caressed his face and stared into his eyes, lost in the sea of emotion she found there.

  “Hold on to me.” That was the only warning Erin got before he lifted her and carried her to the bed while maintaining their intimate connection. He came down on top of her, his chest hair rubbing against her nipples, which reawakened her recently well-satisfied libido.

  Propped up on his elbows, he gazed down at her and brushed the hair back from her face. “In case it’s not obvious, I probably ought to tell you…”

  “What?” she asked, immediately on alert for bad news.

  “I seem to have fallen completely and absolutely in love with you at some point in the last four months.”

  “Oh,” Erin said, stunned by his blunt confession. “You have?”

  Nodding, he kept his gaze fixed on her face as he kissed her softly, tenderly, slaying her with sweetness.

  Overwhelmed by the powerful emotions he stirred in her, she raised her hands to his face and opened her mouth to his tongue, allowing him to sweep her up in another wave of powerful desire. She loved him, too. Of course she did. But if she told him so, if she said the words, it would change everything.

  Was she ready to change everything? To take a huge leap with a man she’d known only four months? Her father’s words from earlier echoed through her mind as Slim began to move again, thrusting slowly this time, leaving no doubt in her mind that while the first time might’ve been wild sex, this time was all about lovemaking.

  He never looked away, he never stopped touching her or kissing her or letting her know with everything he did that he meant what he’d said.

  Erin felt like a coward when she closed her eyes against
the intensity that was suddenly too much for her—and not enough at the same time. Yes, she was that much of a mess on the inside as she tried to make sense of the powerful feelings he evoked in her.

  “Mmm, so good,” he whispered in her ear. “It’s never been so good.”

  Erin tightened her arms around him, determined to enjoy every second of this unexpected time together. There’d be time for life decisions later.

  He told himself it didn’t matter that she didn’t say it back, because it didn’t. At least, not yet it didn’t. If this went on for much longer, it would start to matter, but for now, he was thankful to be with her, to be naked in a bed with her in the middle of the day, to have her soft skin brushing up against him and the sweet fragrance of her hair invading his senses.

  It was enough.

  “When do you have to be back to the hospital?” he asked, nuzzling her neck. After three explosive orgasms, he should’ve been completely spent, but the soft ass cheeks cradling his cock had him hard and ready to go again. He would never forget the way she’d dropped to her knees to take him into her mouth. Just thinking about it made him even harder than he already was.

  “Not until later.” She covered the hand he had on her belly with hers, linking their fingers. “I should text my mom at some point and tell her I left to do some errands or something.”

  “Is that what we’re doing?” he asked on a low chuckle. “Errands?”

  “That can be our code word.”

  He could hear the amusement in the words that gave him hope there might be a future for them, because suddenly that was the one thing he wanted the most—more of her.

  “Slim…”

  “Hmm?”

  “What you said before…”

  “I said that because I wanted you to know, not because I’m trying to pressure you.”

  “I want you to know… I feel so much for you, and I’m trying to process it all and to figure out what to do about it.”

  “That’s more than enough for me. Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Except Florida.”

  “And you’re welcome to visit any time you want, or better yet, move there to live with me for the rest of the winter.” He nudged her ass with his erection. “Then we could do this any time we wanted.” Cupping her breast, he punctuated his point by lightly pinching her nipple.

  She pushed back against him, which he took as a green light for more.

  Slim released her hand and began kissing his way down her back, intending to kiss every soft inch of her. He’d do whatever it took to make her see that they were meant to be.

  Erin was completely sex drunk by the time they walked hand in hand back to the hospital later that afternoon. She’d done what she could with the small amount of makeup she carried in her purse to hide the razor burn on her chin and on her neck. The swollen lips, however, were impossible to hide.

  “I bet I look like a well-used floozy,” she muttered under her breath as they waited for the elevator.

  He tugged her in closer to him with his arm tight around her shoulder. “You look beautiful.”

  “Said the man who had sex four times in three hours.”

  “Shhh, don’t tell everyone.”

  Since there was no one around to hear them, she elbowed his ribs, making him grunt with laughter.

  “And PS, that was all because of you. I’ve never done anything like what we just did with anyone else.”

  “Neither have I,” she said, looking up at him and noticing his lips were rather swollen, too. “I’ve never once, in my entire life, checked into a hotel without luggage.”

  “What do you think of it?”

  “I think it’s something everyone should do at least once.”

  “Or at least four times.”

  Erin was still laughing when the elevator deposited them on her dad’s floor.

  Slim gave her a light tap on the ass. “Get yourself together before we have to face your parents.”

  She managed to find some composure but was still wearing a happy, dopey grin when they walked into the room where her dad was napping and her mom was knitting. Mary Beth’s eyes lit up with pleasure at the sight of Slim. She put down her knitting needles and got up to hug him.

  “What a nice surprise! I didn’t think we’d see you again for a while.”

  “I didn’t think so either, but a very accommodating client changed his plans and made it possible for me to stop by on my way to Florida.”

  “I’m sure Erin was happy to see you.”

  He looked down at her, a stupid grin on his handsome face. “I think she was.”

  “Did you get all your errands done, honey?”

  Erin began to choke, coughing as Slim patted her back and her mother poured water from the pitcher on her dad’s bedside table.

  The racket woke Tom, who also brightened when he saw Slim there. Apparently, Erin wasn’t the only one falling in love with him. “You’re back,” Tom said.

  “Just for the night,” Slim said.

  “Good to see you.”

  “You, too. I hear you’re doing great.”

  “That’s right and ready to get out of here.”

  “Couple more days, Dad,” Erin said when she’d recovered from the coughing fit.

  They stayed until the end of visiting hours, when Tom encouraged them all to go get a good night’s sleep. “I’m fine, and you’ll be no good to me if you get sick from exhaustion,” he said to Mary Beth, who wanted to stay.

  He talked her into going home, and Erin and Slim walked her to the car.

  “I’m going to stay in town tonight,” Erin said, feeling her face and ears go hot as she basically confessed to her mother that she’d be spending the night with Slim.

  “I figured as much. Can I grab you a change of clothes?”

  “That’d be great, thanks.”

  Mary Beth hugged both of them before getting into the car.

  “Okay, that was mortifying,” Erin said after her mother had driven off.

  “What was?” Slim put his arm around her as they walked to the hotel.

  “Telling my mom that I was staying with you tonight.”

  “You’re thirty-eight, Erin.”

  “So what? To her, I’m still sixteen and about to sleep with my boyfriend.”

  “Did you sleep with your boyfriend at sixteen?”

  She elbowed his ribs and realized he gave her cause to do that about once an hour. “You know what I mean. She’s still my mom.”

  “I bet she knows we slept together at her house, too.” Since they’d traded off shifts at the hospital, Mary Beth hadn’t been home at the same time they were. “As only one bed was used.”

  “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

  “Every minute. Every single second of it.”

  Erin had been referring to her discomfort over her mom knowing they were sleeping together. She suspected he meant something else altogether, and his comment brought back the giddy, breathless feeling she had experienced so often with him.

  “I need to buy a toothbrush,” she said when they reached the hotel lobby. They went into the store, where she got a toothbrush, a hairbrush and a couple of bottles of water.

  Being in the elevator with him at her side took her right back to the urgency of their earlier encounter, making her tingle with anticipation for an entire night with him. She was trying not to think about him leaving again in the morning. That was hours from now, and she’d deal with that when she had to.

  As they walked, she was careful to step properly around the art-deco design on the hotel rug that made it difficult to keep to her rituals.

  “I was thinking about something on the way here earlier that I wanted to run by you,” he said when they were in their room.

  “What’s that?”

  “You were saying how your OCD and fear of flying are about feeling anxious when you don’t have control of a situation. What if I taught you how to fly? Then maybe you woul
dn’t feel out of control when you’re on a plane.”

  Erin removed her coat, hung it over the back of the desk chair and turned to him. “You want to teach me how to fly?”

  “If you’d like to learn. I was joking about being an instructor last night, but I really am a qualified flight instructor, and I’d love to teach you, if you think it would help.”

  “I’ve never considered that possibility.”

  “Well, think about it, and let me know.” He slid his arms around her waist and looked down at her, a sexy grin making his eyes glow with mischief. “I’ve got some more errands to do. You want to help me out with that?”

  She smiled up at him. “I’d love to.”

  Chapter 26

  Erin cried the next morning when it came time for him to leave. She wasn’t proud of the waterworks, but she couldn’t seem to help it.

  “You’re killing me,” he whispered as he held her close to him. He was fully dressed and smelled delicious after a shower and a shave. She was still naked in bed, disheveled and distressed after a night she wouldn’t ever forget.

  “I’m worried about you flying. You didn’t get much sleep.”

  “I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.”

  “That’s like asking me not to breathe.”

  Cupping her face, he kissed her. “I’ll see you soon.”

  He said what she needed to hear, but they both knew it would be a while before they saw each other again. His schedule would be hectic when he went back to work, and there’d be no more sweet, sexy stolen nights for quite some time.

  “Let me know when you get home?”

  “You’ll be the first to know.” He wrapped her up in his strong arms and held her for a long moment.

  Erin clung to him, breathing in the subtle scent of his cologne, committing it to memory.

  “We’re going to figure this out. I promise you that.”

  “I’m not usually such a crybaby.”

  “It’s okay,” he said, kissing away a tear. “It makes me feel hopeful that you might like me as much as I like you.”