A Hot Mess (8 page)

His caramel eyes were fringed by thick dark lashes. His nose was straight and perfect. His lips were generously made and designed for kisses.

“Hey.” His deep voice rumbled against her lower body since his chest was in line with her hips.

She shivered with delight. “Hey.”

The exchange was something they’d done dozens of times in the past. The single word carried a wealth of meaning. It symbolized their ability to say one word, and the other would know exactly how the other’s day, or week, or month had gone

Dylan lowered his head and trailed soft kisses down her belly. She realized his intention and nearly came on the spot. Simon hated performing oral sex on her. It had been over a year since she’d been pleasured that way. Her nerve endings tingled in anticipation.

Dylan kissed each hipbone in turn and then moved farther down. Cait was grateful she’d waxed before the trip. No embarrassing stubble to worry about.

At the first swipe against her clit, she nearly exploded. Dylan laved her in a leisurely manner, never completely removing his mouth from her body. The warm slide of his tongue against the lips of her sex flooded her with moisture. Wet did not even begin to describe her. She wanted Dylan with a fierceness, and her body showed it.

Dylan’s tongue swept up and then down in a bold movement, seeking out the hidden nubbin of flesh that made her moan with delight. She brought her legs up and pressed her feet on the mattress, so she could lift her hips and angle her lower body to demand more.

“Dylan!” She cried out as a tight coil of desire threatened to snap inside her. “Stop.”

He lifted his head and gave her a cocky smile. “I want to taste you, Cait. Come for me.”

“Oh, God.” She buried her head beneath a pillow and muffled the sounds she made as she thrashed upon the bed.

Dylan put his hands under her thighs and brought her legs up higher, pinning her in place as he continued his erotic torture. Cait could not lift her hips more than an inch or so. Being at his mercy increased her pleasure tenfold.

Cait’s muscles tensed, and then she cried out, her entire body focusing on a tiny pinpoint of intense pleasure. It was as if every molecule in her body migrated to one small square inch of space that surrounded her clit. Her inner muscles spasmed, yet Dylan continued to lick. The aftershocks of orgasm rocked her body, and his continued assault made her thighs tremble with both pleasure and pain.

“Stop, Dylan. It tickles!” Cait tossed aside the pillow she’d covered her face with and tugged on one of his ears.

Dylan stopped and lifted his head. His eyes were dark with passion. He moved until he was kneeling between her legs. She thought he would fuck her then, but he continued to look down at her.

Cait clamped her legs about his waist and gave him a wary look. “What’s wrong?”

He shook his head as if he were amazed. “Nothing. I just love seeing you like this, your hair thrown about you in wild abandon. Your face flushed from release. It’s beautiful.
You’re
beautiful.”

Cait put her elbows beneath her to push partway up. “You’re so full of it, Dylan.”

“No. I’m completely serious. Here, I’ll show you. Wait right here.”

Dylan pounced off the bed and strolled across the room. Cait watched him as he walked, his bare buttocks flexing with each step he took.

She turned on her side and propped her chin in her hand as he bent over and pawed through his bag. “What are you looking for? Not that I’m not enjoying the view, of course.”

Dylan pivoted and gave her an upside-down smile. “Quit looking at my ass, Cait.”

“I can’t help it.” She giggled.

Dylan turned back to his bag and withdrew his camera case. Cait immediately squealed and dove under the covers. “Ohhh, no! Don’t even think about it, Dylan.”

She heard the padding of his bare foot on the carpet, and then the sheet was wrestled from her grasp. His gorgeous face appeared before her line of vision.

“Let me photograph you, Cait. I want you to see what I see when I look at you.”

Cait motioned to the expensive camera in his hands. “Does that thing come with an airbrush tool? Because I can guarantee that’s the only way you’re going to photograph this girl right here.”

“Chicken, Cait?” Dylan’s eyebrow cocked up. “Bwaaack.”

“Seriously, Dylan? You’re going to make chicken sounds at me? Are you ten years old?”

“I think you and I both know I’m not ten.” Dylan gave a pointed glance down at his still-erect cock.

Cait’s mouth went dry. It was so tempting to reach over and stroke him, but she had to keep her hands on the sheet to keep him from pulling it off her completely. “Come back to bed.”

“Not until you let me shoot you.”

Dylan put the camera to his eye, and the lens made a clicking sound as it zoomed in. He pressed a button, and the shutter sounded as the flash went off.

“Dylan!” Cait tossed a pillow at him, careful not to harm the camera. “Cut it out.”

Dylan lowered the camera and appeared to study the digital screen. “Your eyes were closed, Cait.”

She stuck out her tongue, and he managed to take another pic. “You are so wrong for that.”

Dylan’s lips curved into a satisfied smirk as he looked at it. “Well, your eyes were open in that one at least.”

“You’re not funny.”

“I happen to think I’m very funny.”

“Well, you’re not.” Cait held the sheet to her breasts and slid to the edge of the bed. “Now delete them.”

Dylan held the camera out of her reach. “I will on one condition.”

“And that will be?”

“Let me take a real photograph of you.”

Cait watched him, desperate for a hint of ridicule. She could find none. Why did he want to take her picture when he had the most beautiful models in the world vying for his attention? It wasn’t that she didn’t like cameras, but with Dylan behind the lens it seemed personal somehow. He was a professional, a man trained to see the flaws and do his best to capture a good image anyway.

She gave him a stern look. “Just one?”

Dylan gave a solemn nod. “Just one. Then I swear I’ll delete the others and put the camera away.”

Cait heaved a sigh. “What do I do?”

“Lie back.”

Cait did as he asked. She felt weird just lying there looking up at the camera. “Now what?”

“Here, let me do this.” Dylan leaned over her and brushed her hair to one side. “Now turn on your side and tilt your head down.”

“Dylan, I don’t feel comfortable taking a nude photograph.”

“You won’t be. Trust me, Cait. Okay?”

She gazed up at him, the handsome face that was so close to hers. What she saw in his eyes reassured her. She gave a short nod. “Okay.”

Dylan tugged the sheet over her hip, so it draped her from waist to knee. “Put your arm like this.”

He maneuvered her arm, so it hid her naked breasts. “You’re not naked. See?”

The tension left her body. Now that she wasn’t quite so self-conscious, it actually seemed like fun. “What do I do now?”

He put the camera to his eye. “Whatever you want to do.”

Cait frowned. She didn’t know if she should smile or attempt a serious face.
Or
she had a better idea. Her lips quirked upward with amusement as she made a duck face at him.

Dylan lowered the camera. “Oh, now that’s seriously sexy, Cait.”

Cait shrugged. “Well you know all the girls have to make at least one duck face photo in life.”

“So you can post it online with all the other thirteen-year-old girls? What’s next, a Justin Bieber poster on your wall?”

Cait giggled and shook her head at him. “How about this?” She widened her eyes and stuck her tongue out one side of her mouth
a la road kill
.

“Any better?” she asked with difficulty since her tongue was still hanging out her mouth.

“You are not taking this seriously.”

She motioned toward him. “Well, it’s kinda hard to when you’re standing there naked as a jaybird.”

“Cait.” Dylan’s exasperation shone through in the one word.

“Okay, okay. I’m sorry. I’ll do better.” She scrubbed her hand down her face as if it could wipe the amusement from her features. She parted her lips slightly and schooled her features into a peaceful expression.

Dylan lifted the camera again. “Move your chin to the right, and cut your eyes back at me.”

Cait did as he asked. Dylan pressed the shutter, and the flash went off.

Cait pushed up on one elbow. “Did you get it?”

Dylan didn’t answer. He studied the image for much longer than she thought necessary.

She held out her hand. “Is it that bad? Can I see it now?”

Dylan finally snapped out of his daze and held the camera out to her. She took it and glanced at the screen. It wasn’t a bad picture actually. She was pale and thought the white sheets leached what color she did have from her skin, but her face looked sort of pretty.

She handed the camera back to him. “It’s decent.”

“It’s better than decent, Cait.” Dylan took the camera and packed it back into its bag. “You’re very photogenic.”

“You’re just saying that to get into my pants.”

“Cait, you’re not wearing pants.”

“Exactly my point! So why don’t you get over here and finish what we started.”

Dylan strolled back to the bed and leaned down to kiss the tip of her nose. “I would love to, but there is something we need to do first.”

Cait reached out to touch him, but he clamped his hand around her wrist. She pouted and tried to work her hand free. She gave up after about ten seconds of struggle. “Okay, fine, Mr. Bossy. What do we need to do?”

“How does Paris sound to you?”

It was late afternoon when they reached the replica of the Eiffel Tower. Couples strolled hand in hand, and the tourist attraction was filled with flower vendors.

Valentine’s Day in Paris, what could be more romantic unless he actually flew Cait to Europe? It was something Dylan would love to do one day. He knew she would love touring the historic sites and museums.

Dylan glanced at Cait, who stood with her head tilted back to view the tower. Her red hair spilled across her shoulders, and the afternoon sunshine gilded it with gold highlights.

He loved her hair. Hell, he loved
her
. He’d never guessed she would be so responsive in bed. He’d known she would be good, but he’d been surprised by just how good she was. His cock ached with unfulfilled desire, but he’d made her come. That was what was important. His pleasure would come later.

Dylan sought to get her attention. “Do you want to go up?”

Cait considered the idea. Her lips pursed, and her eyes scrunched up at the corners. Finally she shook her head. “Nah, we don’t have to. I think I’ve had enough heights today. I would prefer to stay here, and listen to the music.”

A quartet of musicians was setting up not far from where they stood. An idea came to him.

Dylan held up his finger. “I’ll be right back.”

While Cait was absorbed in soaking in the sights, Dylan strode to an older lady who was selling single wrapped roses from a large basket she carried. Dylan ordered a white rose and paid, thanking the woman, before going back to Cait’s side.

He held the rose behind his back, knowing what he did was cliché, but it seemed like the perfect thing to do.

He snuck up behind Cait and tapped her on the shoulder. She spun around, and he held out the rose. The look on her face was priceless. Her green eyes sparkled, and her mouth formed a rounded
o
of surprise.

Cait accepted the rose and gave him a brilliant smile. “You remembered my favorite color!”

“I remember everything.” Dylan smiled to let her know he was teasing, but it was true. He knew almost everything about Cait, yet he wanted more of her.

Cait sniffed the rose and hummed with apparent pleasure. “Thank you, Dylan. It was sweet of you.”

There was that word again.
Sweet
.

He feared she still saw him as her childhood buddy, despite everything they’d done in her hotel room. He could tell her intention was to sleep with him and then go back to how it was. Dylan knew it wouldn’t be possible. Now that he’d had a taste of her, he would never be able to go back to just friends. Not that it had ever been
just friends
to him anyway.

The musicians struck up the beginning chords of a waltz. A memory came to him, and he smiled. Cait’s eyes met his, and she smiled as if she remembered as well.

“Miss Kate’s dance class!” they said in unison.

They’d been freshman in high school, and one of their overzealous history teachers had taught the students the Viennese waltz. It had been fifteen years since the class, but Dylan thought he remembered the steps.

He held his hand out to Cait. “May I have this dance?”

Cait took his hand, and her fingers trembled within his grasp. “I was never very good at this dance.”

“That’s just because you had Paul for a partner.”

Dylan had been consumed by jealousy watching Cait spend an entire week in the quarterback’s arms, even though Paul had been one of his good friends. Now all these years later he would finally get the chance to dance with her as he’d wanted to back then.

He came forward and put his hand on her waist. Cait placed her hand on his shoulder. They waited for the count and then swept forward into the dance. They twirled and swayed in time to the music.

Cait’s face was lit with happiness. The world around them faded, and all he could see was her. To see her like this, knowing he was responsible for her joy, filled him with pride. If he had his way, he would spend every day of his life making sure she never knew disappointment like she had with Simon.

Several couples joined them on their makeshift dance floor. Onlookers gathered around to watch the impromptu performance. Cait stumbled once she realized the attention they received, but Dylan held on to her.

“Breathe, Cait. You’re doing fine.”

She’d never been comfortable being the center of attention. For someone so lively and beautiful, Dylan didn’t understand how Cait could be shy at times. It was just another facet of her he adored. He liked the sweet and saucy mix of her.