Solstice Burn (2 page)

“Maybe you just need to relax, Chase. It’s not like you have to fuck her, for Christ’s sake. Have a few cocktails. Some dinner. Dance a little. It’s not like we’ve got a hard deadline. This is an exploration trip. We already bagged some good stuff today. You need to lighten up.”

“Maybe,” Chase conceded.

“If you’re not interested, maybe I should go looking for her…”

“Fuck off.” Chase glared at him.

“See? Someone is interested. All it took was a little competition to wake that limp dick of yours.” Evan grabbed his gear and slung it over his shoulder. “I always loved brunettes.”

“Stay away from the mermaid,” Chase ordered, hurling the sunscreen at his friend.

The suite door slammed shut, and Chase considered his next move. As long as his lovely little fish was still on the island, he knew he’d have a hard time resisting. As he thought about her, he couldn’t stop the picture that formed in his mind. With her braid wrapped tight around his fist, he slammed into her from behind. His dick jerked at the thought, and he knew right then he’d be fantasizing about an encounter for the rest of his days. Chase walked to the window and took a deep breath, trying to clear the image from his mind. But as he caught sight of the distinctive silhouette of his mystery woman on the beach, he realized his decision had already been made.

Penny sighed and studied her face in the mirror. After the morning incident, she wasn’t sure she had it in her to go naked on a beach. But after dosing herself with a few glasses of liquid courage, she’d bravely stripped and wrapped the sarong around her breasts. She wished she could be more like Tori, who’d simply gone off wearing nothing but a smile. But she reasoned that she wasn’t going to waste her vacation sitting in the hotel room. It wasn’t every day she got a day off, let alone five whole days on a tropical island.

By the time she got down to the beach, she noted that almost all the chairs had been taken. Spying a lounger near a palm tree, she waved to the towel attendant. Reggae music blared from the pool area, and Penny was certain that was where she’d find her friend. But unlike Tori, she preferred the solitude of the sand and planned on reading.

As beach staff covered her seat, she fiddled with the top of her wrap. She gave him a small smile when he finished, thanking him for his quick work. Deciding there was no time like the present, she quickly disrobed, her breasts bared. Penny wasn’t sure what she thought would happen next but was relieved that not one person gave her a second glance as she settled onto the chaise face down. Bravely she lifted her gaze, pleased that nothing but a bird flying by stopped to stare at her.

Losing herself in her book, Penny read for over an hour until she was too hot to continue. She gingerly pushed upward, and spied an available raft at the edge of the surf. Dragging it into the ocean, her toes sank into the soft sand and she began to forget that she wasn’t wearing a suit. All at once, she submerged herself into the cool water, a welcome relief from the scorching sun.

Hoisting herself onto the raft, she lay flat, relaxing as the gentle waves rocked her like a baby. Penny inhaled the calming scent of seawater, and her thoughts wandered to the handsome scuba diver, with the hopes she’d run into him on the island. Drifting in and out of sleep, she indulged in the fantasies she only had the courage to fulfill in her dreams.

A soft bump alerted her that she’d gone to the edge of the roped-in swimming area. Her eyes blinked open and her heart stopped as she caught sight of her rescuer floating on the raft next to her. Bare save for her hat, she stared into his gorgeous ice-blue eyes.

“Um…sorry,” she stammered. Reaching her hands into the water, she paddled, in an attempt to get away. She glanced down and noticed her traitorous nipples were peaked at attention for the attractive stranger. Her already sun-kissed cheeks turned a deeper shade of red. “I fell asleep.”

“It’s okay; these things always seem to drift together eventually,” he drawled.

“This is my first time,” she explained.

“Hmm…so you’re a virgin?” He laughed.

“A virgin? Not exactly, but this is my first time visiting here…to a place like this, anyway.”

“How’re you feeling? You had a bit of a scare today.”

“I’m good. Thanks again for saving me.” She gave him a small smile, recalling how she’d flailed about in the water. “The water got a bit rough and then I swallowed it. The next thing you know, I was going under. Thank God you were there.”

“Snorkeling can be dangerous,” he noted. “The guides should have kept a better eye on you.”

“It was my fault. I can’t believe I did that,” she sighed. “Even a child can snorkel.”

“You’d think it would be easy, but let’s just say you aren’t the first person I’ve seen have an accident.”

“Sorry I didn’t get a chance to thank you. I went back to look for you,” she confessed.
Stop talking, Penny. He just said you’re not the first fool he’s rescued. Just because he’s hotter than hell. Act casual.
“I, um, was helping. That guy on the boat. Did you see that?”

“Yeah I did. Can’t imagine the rest of his honeymoon’s going so well.”

“I never knew that could happen.” Penny attempted to keep her eyes trained on his, trying desperately not to stare at his muscular body. Well hidden behind her tinted glasses, she doubted he’d be able to see where her line of vision traveled. Still, she wasn’t taking any chances, and concentrated on his face.

“Fire coral’s painful. It’s not so much of a coral, really. It’s actually an animal.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“The guy on the boat. He must have snared himself on the stuff. It’s more of a jellyfish, really. Stings really bad. Can last for a few weeks, even. Nasty.”

“You seem to know a lot about…”

He reached for her raft, and she startled. “You don’t mind, do you? Just didn’t want you to drift away before we got a chance to introduce ourselves.”

“Um, no, I guess not. I’m Penelope Travis. But my friends call me Penny.” She lost control, her eyes traveling over his shoulders. The tanned corded muscles of his back streamed down into perfectly carved glutes. He rested his chin on his crossed arms, his pecs bulging as he flexed to adjust his body.

“Chase. Chase Abbott.” He gave her a broad smile. “So, this is your first time at Precioso, huh?”

“Yeah, my friend, Tori…she’s here with me. She talked me into coming.”

“This is my first time here, too, although I have been to beaches like this one before.”

“You have?”

“Don’t sound so surprised. It’s fairly common in other parts of the world. Even in California we’ve got a few.” He winked.

“I think there might be one in New Jersey,” she offered, having heard a rumor from a friend. She’d been too chicken to even consider going.

“You east coast?”

“New York City. You?”

“San Diego.”

“You sound like you’re from the south.”

“Grew up in North Carolina but I’ve lived in California for years now.” Chase tugged on her drifting raft, bringing her closer. He adjusted it so that he faced her perpendicularly.

“I, um, I was raised in New Jersey but I’ve lived in New York…ever since grad school.” Penny stumbled over her words as his face came within a few inches of her breasts. She cursed as her beaded tips swelled in response. Hoping to squelch her arousal, she reached into the water and dribbled it onto her body.

“So tell me, Penny, what do you do in New York City?” A broad smile crossed his face, and he brought his sunglasses down over his eyes, obscuring his gaze.

“I’m a lawyer.”

“I see. Large firm?”

“It’s good-sized. McNally, Reeves and Sullivan.”

“Corporate law?”

“Yeah, how’d you know? Have you heard of them?” Penny prayed like hell he hadn’t. Her boss would have a conniption if he found out she’d gone to this kind of resort. He was a born and bred, old money conservative, and there was no room for mistakes. Until now, she’d been the epitome of the perfect employee as he groomed her for junior partner. Her career would be over faster than she could say piña colada if he ever found out where she went on vacation.

“I know of them,” he said, not offering any information.

“So what do you do when you’re not rescuing people in the ocean?” Penny paused and took a deep breath. “I noticed you weren’t snorkeling with the rest of us.”

“Many things, but for the purposes of this trip, I’m here doing some research. Where we dove today, there’s a hole.”

“A hole?”

“Yeah, it’s like a cliff.”

“That sounds scary.”

“All part of the fun, darlin’.”

“I’m not sure I could ever be that adventurous,” she stated.
Scuba diving?
No way that was ever happening, considering she’d almost killed herself by attempting to snorkel.

“You never know. Sometimes we don’t know our limits until we push them.”

“I’m not sure that’s true,” she countered.

“Today, for example. Have you ever snorkeled?” he asked.

“Well, no. But look how that turned out.” Penny reached for his raft and he smiled in response.

“Fair enough. But you came here. To an adult resort…one with a nude beach.”

“Yes, but…”

“Have you ever been completely naked in front of a total stranger?”

“No,” she whispered.

“But you are now, aren’t you? And you’re talking to me. We just established a connection, discussed where we live, what we do for a living.”

“Touché.”

“So you did push a limit…one you thought you had. It’s how we learn, grow. Hopefully, we don’t get hurt…have fun doing it. Tell me, Penny, do you have fun?”

“I don’t know. Maybe not as much as I’d like to. I want to have fun, but it’s not like I…” Penny hesitated. She was reluctant to admit the truth. “I don’t know. I guess I don’t usually have fun. I mean, there’s just not time.”

“How about now?”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you having fun?”

“Yes.” Penny laughed. As she shifted on her raft, it pitched, and she fell toward him. His hand reached for her belly, steadying her.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Yes, sorry. I’m such a klutz today. Geez.” The heat of his palm sizzled on her stomach and an ache grew between her legs. Her hand moved to his but he slid it away. In that moment, she wanted him. He was a total stranger, she knew, but it didn’t matter.

“Have dinner with me tonight.”

“I…I have to check with Tori.”

“Bring her, then. I’ll invite Evan.”

“Well, I don’t know if I can answer for Tori. I mean, no…yes…” Penny inwardly cringed at how inarticulate she sounded.
Sweet baby Jesus, Penny, get your shit together.
She took a deep breath and smiled. “I’d love to have dinner with you.”

“Pick you up at eight? What’s your room number?” he asked, like a wolf who was about to eat his prey.

“I’ll meet you there,” she countered. The tropical paradise might have stolen most of her brain cells, but her New York roots reminded her to be cautious. No matter how much her body told her ‘hell yes,’ she wanted to get to know him
with
her clothes on.

“The Bistro, eight o’clock. I’ll meet you at the front entrance.”

“Sounds good,” Penny agreed.

As he slid off his raft, he shot her a sexy smile that sent quivers straight through to her pussy. Penny sighed, watching him exit the ocean. Like a rippling Greek god, he emerged from the surf, water droplets rolling off his bronze torso. Unconsciously, her hands moved to her breast as she recalled his palm on her skin. A crashing wave jarred her thoughts, and she cursed under her breath. She toppled off her float into the sea, washing away his touch. The cool water should have put a damper on the erotic fantasies that had formed in her mind. But as she dove under, it was of little consequence. It was far too late to stifle the delicious image of his head between her legs.

Chase took a draw of his beer and recalled the brief interlude with Penny. A natural beauty, her long dark brown hair trailed over her tanned shoulders. She’d blushed as soon as they’d started speaking. While she was a novice to the au natural beach experience, he detected a streak of adventure just waiting to be discovered. When she’d drizzled sea water over her full breasts, he’d found it difficult to concentrate.

He’d laughed, thinking it had been a good thing he’d been lying on his stomach when he’d found her floating. Never in his life had he let himself get aroused on a nude beach, but the more he’d talked with her, the harder he became. He’d deliberately taken his time leaving the ocean, careful not to turn around. Grabbing his nearby towel off the chaise, he concealed his erection and cursed his amateurish behavior.

When she’d nearly fallen off her raft, he hadn’t meant to put his hand on her without permission. As if he’d touched fire, he’d quickly removed it. Sitting at the bar, he glanced at his palm. Her silky skin fresh in his mind, his cock jerked in response. He blamed it on his lack of sex, aware that he’d been preoccupied for months with his research. But after talking to Penny at the beach, he was certain the only solution to quelling his arousal was to be inside the lovely counselor.

Chase’s attention was drawn to laughter outside the restaurant. He glanced to the veranda where he caught a glimpse of Penny talking with a woman. He smiled as his eyes drank in the sight of her. Even more gorgeous than he’d remembered, she wore a blue print sundress, its plunging neckline exposing a hint of her cleavage. She noticed him, giving a wide smile and a shy wave.

“Penny,” he greeted her as she approached, noting her friend had disappeared.

“Hey there.” She nervously pushed a stray lock behind her ear and scanned the open air café.

“Are we dining alone?” He hadn’t meant to say it so enthusiastically but he failed to conceal his excitement.

“Yep. Seems Tori’s hooked up with a group that’s going off resort. What about your friend?”

“Evan? Seems he had a tad too much rum at the pool. He’s sleeping it off.” He offered his hand, pleased when she placed her palm in his. “Shall we? I have a table.”