One to Hold (10 page)

I spun around smiling. “Yes,” I breathed.

His blue eyes smiled back, flickering down to the necklace, his heart still sitting at the base of my throat. He blinked, and I saw the sadness I felt mirrored in his eyes, but only for a moment. As if he’d made the same resolution as me, he quickly pushed sadness away. We still had twenty-four hours together.

“Come this way,” he said, taking my bag. “I’ve got us a few chairs near an umbrella.”

I followed him past rows of loungers occupied by humans of all shapes and colors smiling, drinking, laughing, or relaxing. It was clearly the end of the week, and while for most, that was cause for celebration, for us, it was a sadness that kept trying to sneak in.

“Wine spritzers,” he said, leading me around the lounger.

I laughed. “Why?”

“They’re surprisingly refreshing in this heat.” He stretched out on a chair, lifting a silicone wine glass and tapping mine. I watched him toss back the sparkling beverage and sipped mine. I didn’t want to be fuzzy. I wanted to remember everything.

He rolled to his side, watching as I slid the cover-up down my shoulders. I almost felt shy as his lips curled up slowly in approval. “Red,” he murmured.

“It’s funny,” I said, fumbling with my towel. “I’ve never paid much attention to the colors I wore. Until now.”

His nose curled slightly with his smile, and I couldn’t help it. I leaned forward and kissed him. No one here cared. No one here knew either of us. The only two people who did were miles away exploring rock formations (or each other) in Sedona, and all my problems were even further away. I had no reason to hesitate in showing my affections. We could be as free as Elaine and Patrick.

Pausing before I straightened up again, I slid my fingers into the side of his thick, wavy hair. “I love this,” I whispered.

He caught my waist, pulling me to sitting on the side of his chair then he sat up as well, swinging his legs around and pulling me close to his body.

“You can’t do things like that,” he said, planting his lips against my shoulder. I shivered as he made his way up my neck, behind my ear. “I thought about you all night. I almost knocked on your door.”

My pulse beat fire under my skin, and everywhere his lips touched seemed to ignite. The slickness between my thighs had me wanting to lead him into one of the cabanas, where I could slip off my bottoms and straddle his lap. We could easily come together and no one would ever know.

“You could’ve,” I breathed, my eyes closing. “Elaine never came back.”

“Patrick’s a lucky bastard,” he said. But I paused. My expression caused him to laugh. “I only mean he has no reason to hesitate.”

“And you do?”

That stopped his progress. He looked into my eyes for a moment, not speaking. Then he said softly. “Everything you’ve done tells me I do.”

I bit my lip looking down. He was right. I’d been secretive and distant, putting up boundaries around questions we couldn’t ask, paths we couldn’t follow. Even if he didn’t know why, he knew I was hiding something, and it was something big enough that no amount of fantastic sex could break down the wall.

“We only have one more day,” I said. “Can we stay off that path just a few more hours?”

He nodded. “Of course.”

I kissed his lips once more, then I stood and spread out my towel on the second lounger in the sun. Lying back with my aviators on, I took a deep breath. I lifted the glass and took a drink, cooling the fire he’d lit under my skin.

The sun was hot, but it felt good to me. The constant breeze kept it from being unbearable.

“I’m getting in for a bit,” he said, and I watched him walk to the pool, his perfect physique turning many heads.

How had I managed to capture his affection? How long could I hold onto it outside this secret oasis in the desert? My situation wasn’t forever. Would it be possible to find him once my problems were resolved? Was it realistic to think he might still be available? Waiting for me? Asking him to do so would mean having to explain why, and considering his line of work, that would open a whole kettle of complicated fish.

My eyes squeezed shut, and I lay my head back. I could only conquer one problem at a time. Getting back, I would put my plans in motion, then once everything was complete, perhaps I could pay a visit to the Alexander offices in Princeton. It was a short drive, and if he was as well-known as Elaine said, he should be easy to find.

I took another long sip, finishing my glass, and when I looked up, Derek was headed back in my direction. He was dripping from the pool again and looking so sexy. Without his sunglasses, I could see his eyes travel from my toes, up my calves to my thighs, to my breasts where they lingered before meeting my eyes. The dark blue hadn’t faded, and the closer he got, the more I wanted to satisfy his hunger. He sat on his lounger facing me.

“I thought that would cool me,” he said.

“Did it?” I asked, studying his expression.

“No.” His eyes traveled down my body again.

“What can we do about that?”

At that opening, his eyes snapped back to mine. “My room’s the closest.”

Without another word, I sat up and slid my cover-up back over my shoulders. His brow relaxed, and he grabbed his shirt off the top of the chair. I picked up my bag and followed him past the rows of sunbathers, admiring the movement of his firm butt as he walked. Every step flexed a different muscle, and I grew tense with anticipation the closer we got to the elevators.

I hoped we’d have the space to ourselves, but no such luck. An elderly patron boarded the lift with us as we made our way to the second floor. It was probably for the best. We might not have made it to our destination otherwise. Room 213 wasn’t too far down the hall. I watched as he slid his door key quickly in and out of the silver box, the tension of waiting those final seconds taunted my desire for him.

The door closed behind us, I dropped my bag, and he turned, lifting me against him and bruising my mouth with kisses. My arms were wrapped tightly around his neck, my mouth open and eager to meet his. Tongues collided, and he walked, carrying me to the king-sized bed filling the room. I felt him drop to his knees and opened my eyes as he slid me back on the amazingly soft white linens.

I helped, easing myself to the center, but he stayed at the side, reaching forward and taking hold of my bikini bottoms. In one quick pull they were off. His smile was hungry, and he caught the backs of my knees, pulling my wet opening to his mouth. My head dropped back, and I moaned deeply as his warm tongue slowly circled the little spot that drove me wild. It was hot and gentle then rough and sucking. My hips followed his movements, and when his beard scuffed my skin, I flinched, thrilled by the added sensation. My muscles were so tight, and the little noises he loved were coming from my throat. In two more little pulls, his mouth covering my clit, I was flying. His fingers slipped inside me, and he groaned.

“You’re so wet,” he said, kissing the inside of my thigh.

“I want you so bad,” I moaned. “Please… Don’t make me beg.”

He stood up fast, slipping down his shorts, and for the first time I saw his enormous cock before it entered me fully erect.

“Oh, god,” I hissed, reaching out to wrap my fingers around him. “You’re huge.”

His lids drooped as my hand slid down his considerable length and then back up it. I couldn’t resist. I put the tip into my mouth and sucked. I couldn’t take him all in, he was far too big, but I ran my tongue around him, teasing his ridges, enjoying his sharp intake of breath followed by his low moans. I pulled his tip in and out, sucking and taunting him with my tongue, pulsing my hand up and down his shaft. His hips rocked slightly as he made a low groan, gently touching my cheek. After only a few moments, he caught my hair and held my face back.

“I need to be inside you now.” One glance at the large muscle I’d been playing with told me why. A tiny white drop escaped his slit, and I shivered knowing what that meant.

Quickly unfastening my bikini top, I moved back just as he joined me, pulling me down and filling me with his size.

“Ooh,” I moaned as once again my body was stretched in the most delicious way possible. My orgasm that had only cooled slightly as I played with him came raging back with every thrust.

He groaned and rolled me on top of him, clutching my buttocks hard and lifting me, gripping me up and plunging me back down. I gasped, reaching forward, placing my palms flat against the headboard, rocking my clit against his shaft. The friction had me blazing and tight. His groans were animal and wild.

In my position, leaning forward, my breasts teased in his face, and his tiny sucks and bites registered directly between my legs. I shook with pleasure. That intense orgasm was on the brink of bursting through me. Two more impossibly deep thrusts and shudders exploded down my limbs.

“Derek…” I moaned, and he groaned low in response, still pushing into me. I gasped, my core muscles spasming around his enormous cock again and again, my fingers digging into the headboard as the orgasm radiated through my lower body.

He rocked his hips two more times, going deep into me and groaning loudly in release. Then I collapsed in his huge, strong arms, completely spent. He wrapped them around me, holding me tight against him as we rolled to the side. Our hearts pounded, our breath came so fast. My eyes were closed, and I felt his soft lips kissing my brows, my lids, moving to my nose, down to just gently touching my lips. I blinked slowly, and he smiled.

“You come in the most spectacular way for me,” he said.

My first instinct was to be self-conscious, but he kissed me again.

“I’ve never made love like this,” I said softly. “I’ve never felt it so intensely.”

He kissed me lightly again. “It’s amazing. You’re amazing.”

I was wrapped in the circle of his arms, feeling as safe as if I were in a cocoon. “I could say the same to you.”

“I only do what you let me. If you weren’t into it, none of this would happen.”

I thought about that a moment. What was it about him that conjured this wild, sexual side of me I’d never known existed? The side that would follow a stranger to a dark, secluded patio for insane, animal fucking. Or into a family bathroom. That had me screaming in his bed? Was it just chemistry? Was it his confidence? Was it the way he was so sure of what I wanted and so ready to give it to me? I didn’t have the answers. I only knew I’d lose something truly major when we said goodbye.

“I guess that’s true,” I finally said. “But you know exactly how to lead me there. And you’re not just willing, you’re eager to take me.”

“Why the hell wouldn’t I be?”

My brow lined, and this time when our eyes met, our expressions were serious, as if we both knew what was on the line tomorrow. I sighed, lowering my cheek to his chest, tracing my finger through the light sprinkling of hair there.

He continued lightly kissing my forehead, my cheek, and I drifted to sleep wishing that I never had to leave this wonderful spot.

Chapter 9 – The End of the Week

I stayed in Derek’s room all night, and we made love several more times, passionately, gently, each time savoring our final moments together, until at last we
had
to sleep. When I opened my eyes to the sunlight bursting over the low hills, my heart broke. It was here. The end of the week.

Derek was still asleep behind me, his strong arms wrapped tightly around my waist as if he could protect me from what was waiting for my return if I let him. I knew he would, and I was certain he’d do a damn good job. But if that had been what I’d wanted, I’d have gone to the police a long time ago.

No, what I was dealing with I wanted to handle myself, and only involve the very few who absolutely had to know. I took a deep breath, thinking of the packing I hadn’t done. Of the plane I had to catch in a few hours. I stretched, placing my hands on his forearms and gently moving them apart.

He released me, rolling onto his back, and I sat up, glancing over my shoulder to see him blinking at the ceiling. Then he turned to look at me. A sad smile in his eyes.

“Every morning this week I woke up wishing you were in my bed,” he said, sliding my long dark curls off my back. He sat up and kissed the top of my shoulder, then my smiling lips. His hand slid to my waist then up, cupping my breast. Tingles rose along my legs at his touch, but I was out of time.

“I have to get back to my room,” I sighed. “I haven’t even begun to pack.”

He kissed the top of my shoulder again, wrapping his arms around my waist. “I wish there was something I could do. Start the week over somehow.”

I slid forward and picked up my bathing suit, wishing I’d packed at least a dress or something to wear for the walk back to the spa side.

“I keep thinking of all the missed opportunities,” I smiled, sliding my cover up over my shoulders and leaning forward to kiss him. “Who needs food? Sleep? Manicures? I should’ve been with you.”

He laughed and tried to hold onto me, but I stepped back. “And now I have to go.” But as I said the words, the pain twisted in my chest.

His brow creased, and he stood, stepping into his discarded swim trunks. “Let me walk you back.”