Beach Reads Box Set

by Madden-Mills, Ilsa

  “I’m aware.” I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand as he chuckled.

  “Such a lady. Still mad?”

  “Yes.” Reaching out I ran my palm down his jaw. “But I’m glad you told me.”

  “Me too.”

  I frowned as I looked at my chipped blue toes. “I owe you an apology. On the beach that day. When I threw that sand ball at your head. I told you we didn’t need you reproducing your kind of crazy. I’m sorry for that.”

  “Koti, I’ve been such an asshole, I deserved much worse from you.” He reached out and gripped the back of my head, pulling me forward and kissed me on the temple and then chanced a kiss on my lips.

  “Thank you,” he said softly. “For listening, for being upset for me, and for understanding.”

  I sighed as Ian popped the top on two fresh beers and handed one to me. “What a mess we are, crocky.” I clinked my bottleneck to his.

  “Rather be in the thick of the mess with you, puffer fish.”

  He brushed his knuckles along my thigh and I leaned into his touch.

  “Ian?”

  “Mmm?” We both got lost in the contact as my breathing picked up and his eyes pooled with desire watching my reaction to him.

  I licked my lips. “Try my door tonight.”

  * * *

  Sometime after midnight, I heard the click of my bedroom door followed by the lock. My body tensed as the covers were slowly pulled away from my waiting skin. I was on fire with need and already moaning before his lips brushed my ankle. I spread at his urging while the low rumble of his commands filled the room. He sank between my thighs, his eager tongue lapping up my arousal as I gripped the sheets next to me. We’d spent the majority of our dinner eye-fucking each other until it became too much, and I was forced to step away from the table. When Ella offered to take Disco for a walk, Ian had cornered me at the kitchen sink, biting into my shoulder and brushing his cock along my back with promising words.

  “Fuck,” Ian said pushing into me, I was dripping as he drove his way in, forcing us both to stifle our moans as I scratched at his back. “Easy,” he whispered as he drove in again, his control lost a second later when I spoke.

  “Fuck me.” Gripping him closer, I crossed my legs around his back spreading wider.

  “You’re perfect,” he grunted out before pulling me to ride his lap.

  Moonlight shone just enough through the window to allow me to see his eager lips close around my nipple. A light shadow crossed over his face, his eyes closed as he sucked hard. The sight of it had me riding him harder before he gripped my wrists to slow me down.

  “We’ve got all night. We are taking all night.”

  Helpless without the ability to cling to him, he forced me to gain the friction I needed by pumping my hips. That led to a whole new kind of ecstasy for us both. Our breaths came out fast, bodies covered in sweat and lust, we worked ourselves into a frenzy until he let go of my wrists and we collided, hard. Time didn’t exist, though we stole those moments and breathed for only the other. Our bodies molded in the most beautiful way as he took away my fears and I absorbed his hurts.

  “You’re still dangerous,” he whispered before we collapsed in a heap, our mouths refusing to separate until the moon disappeared and the stars faded into the morning sky.

  * * *

  Ian

  Ella’s glee-filled shriek warmed my heart as she pulled out her gift. “Thank you, Koti!”

  “You’re welcome. I got a set too so we can snorkel together, and I got one for you too.” Koti tossed the bag my way.

  “Thank you,” I said, pulling the mask from the package.

  “Welcome,” Koti said, an intimate smile passed between us for a split second before she addressed Ella. “Your fins are on the porch.” Ella raced to the screen door, letting it smack closed. I yanked Koti to me and kissed her soundly on the mouth, sucking on her lower lip before I kissed her just long enough to thank her properly.

  “Every day you’re getting worse. You’re going to blow our cover.”

  The truth was, I couldn’t help myself. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t resist her. That need was a far cry from the only one I had the day I’d landed on that island. Then I only wanted isolation, now it was hard to imagine being there without her.

  She was dangerous for me in every way. I was addicted to her warmth, her kiss, her body.

  Not only that, the more time she spent with Ella, the more I was drawn to her. She didn’t treat her like a kid, but a friend, which I respected. She wanted no part of authority and respected those boundaries as well. After her first few days in St. Thomas, Ella made it impossible for Koti to feel left out. She refused to do anything without her. Their fast bond made Ella’s trip much easier to manage. I didn’t constantly have the need to cater to one or the other. If I was honest, it was one of the best times I’d had with Ella. Our first vacation away from Texas just us, father and daughter, a new definition of family.

  Except Koti really wasn’t a part of it, so she played friend to both of us. I couldn’t help but get a little sentimental at the sight of Koti when she slid on her mask.

  “Now there is a familiar sight.”

  She grinned and pushed her chest out. “Except this time, I have miss tits.”

  I groaned. “Don’t remind me.”

  She bounced from flipper to flipper. “You were all hot and bothered over my mother then, ewww.”

  “Hey, she was a retired supermodel and I was fourteen, sue me.”

  “Whatever happened to your chipped tooth?”

  “The miracle of modern dentistry.”

  “You should have kept it, you were a lot cuter with it.”

  “Was I?”

  “Your freckles are gone too, shame, and a lot of your accent. I would say I improved and you went downhill.” Throwing my head back, I laughed as Ella came barreling through the front door with her flippers attached.

  “Let’s go!”

  We all made our way down to the beach as Disco avoided the water, barking at the tide. After a day of sun and snorkeling, the girls settled by a fresh fire I constructed, marshmallows roasting.

  “This is the life. That’s how you say it right, Koti?”

  “Yes. That’s exactly how you say it.”

  “I wish I lived here,” Ella piped. “Do you ever get tired of it?”

  “Never. And I’ll never leave.”

  “Do you ever go back to the States?”

  “Technically, St. Thomas is the US.”

  “You know what I mean,” Ella snorted.

  “I haven’t yet. I’m not a fan of flying, but I will.”

  “Will you come see me at my new school?”

  I slashed the air with my hand, my eyes all warning and Ella went immediately on the defensive.

  “Sorry, Dad, but I like her. She’s my friend too. And you could let her sleep at our house since she let us stay with her all this time.”

  A moment of uncomfortable silence passed before I spoke up.

  “True. Koti, you’re welcome to come to Texas anytime.”

  “Thanks,” she said, with a laugh due to my discomfort. She’d been true to her word and hadn’t made any part of our situation awkward. A part of me hoped our time together meant more to her than a fling because it was becoming the case for me, but I knew I couldn’t have it both ways.

  “Or we could come back here, right Daddy? I’m sure Grandma won’t mind.”

  “Right.” I stared at the fire as the girls stuffed their mouths with s’mores and compared their chocolate-covered faces. I gazed at my daughter who was the perfect picture of innocence and the woman who sat next to her, who didn’t deserve the shit cards she was dealt but looked just as pure sitting next to her. Inwardly I sighed as I snuffed out the fire and followed them in the house. Our nightly book club had begun, but it seemed I was the only one serious about reading as they giggled back and forth comparing notes about Outlander while snacking on grapes.

&nbs
p; “Jamieeeee,” Ella snorted. “He’s so hot.”

  “He totally is,” Koti said, with far too much enthusiasm for my taste.

  After several minutes of listening to their fawning over a fictional man, I lowered my book and gave them a pointed look. “Would you two shut up.” I picked up my novel in an attempt to resume my reading. A second later, I was smacked in the head with a fistful of grapes. I glared over at the two of them who feigned innocence and hid my grin behind my book.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Koti

  Stevie Nicks sang “Edge of Seventeen” as I pulled into the small parking lot singing along at the top of my lungs. Banion greeted me with his usual thousand-watt smile. “Yank, you look fresh.”

  “Not from the boat?”

  “Nope, you’ve finally got the island glow.”

  “Finally, huh?”

  “Yep, or something else making you happy. You got a new man?”

  “Nope.” And that was the truth of it. “New friend. And I’ve known him since I was a kid.”

  “Oh well, he gay?”

  I laughed through my reply. “No.”

  “Well, then he’s a blind yank. You were bones when ya got here.”

  “I know.”

  “All fixed up then?”

  I nodded, my smile disappearing. “My parents came and went.”

  He looked me over, his skin darker from days of endless sun. “Not such a good time?”

  “Not at all.”

  He shrugged. “Things happen the way they are supposed to happen, nothing you can do.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Something else bothering ya?”

  “Nope.”

  “So, this friend is nothing more? I think you pretend. I will wait here with a bottle of your banana rum,” he joked as he handed me three fresh bouquets.

  A month had passed since Ella left the island and Ian had managed to get back to the States twice. Each time he went I got a taste of missing him. Wanting to believe it was good exercise for my heart, I spent my days alone venturing out of my house, keeping dinner dates with Jasmine. I’d even graced her infamous wine bar again, got drunk off my ass and ended up dancing until the wee hours of the morning. I may have accidentally slipped up that night and borrowed Jasmine’s phone to FaceTime my soon to be ex non-boyfriend.

  He appeared on screen with a scowl. It was, after all, two o’clock in the morning.

  “What in the hell are you doing, Koti?”

  “Just wanted to check in with you, crocky.”

  “It’s late.”

  “Or early, don’t be such a pessimist.”

  He groaned as I tilted the phone down giving him an ample shot of my cleavage. “Try to use your nice words, I might be in the midst of missing you and you’re going to fuck it all up.”

  He grinned then as he sat up in bed. “I might be missing you too. A little. But I have to say there are perks of sleeping in my own bed.”

  “Yeah, like what?”

  “I don’t get slapped in the head every night.”

  “That’s active dreaming, totally unintentional.”

  “I don’t have a dog trying to lick my balls in the morning.”

  “That’s not her fault, they look a lot more fun than they are.”

  He lifted a brow. “I’ll grant you that.”

  Ziggy Marley sang “Drive” over the radio as I stood and swayed my hips.

  “So, I take it Jasmine finally talked you into another night out.”

  “Are you proud of me?”

  His smile had me melting on the spot I was swaying in. “Very.”

  “Well, I didn’t do it so you would be proud of me. Believe it or not, I love to dance.”

  “Then we should dance together.”

  Stopping my hips, I stood at a nearby stool at the bar. “You dance?”

  “God, you act like I’m the Grinch.”

  “If the Whoville hat fits.”

  He shook his head, giving me that dead stare I’d grown to love.

  “I’ll be back in four days. I’m trying to tie some things up here.”

  It wasn’t my place to ask what things, so I didn’t. “K. See you then. Night.”

  There was a pause on his end as his eyes swept my face, the silence conveying more than we were allowed. “Night, beauty.”

  * * *

  Ian’s bag was left abandoned on the porch as he pressed me against my back door taking turns between nipping and biting at my neck.

  “This dress, damn,” he said as I smiled against his kiss.

  “You like it?”

  “I hope you aren’t wearing this out.”

  My deep red backless sundress dipped so low you could see the divot at the top of my ass. My tits were bared on either side by a thin strip of material. Tilting my head back, I gasped as he discovered I wasn’t wearing a thing underneath.

  “You better not be wearing this out of the house.”

  “Chill out, Dad.”

  He turned me then lifted my dress and proceeded to redden my ass with his palm as I laughed. He pulled me into his arms and lifted me so I was cradled to his chest. “You look beautiful.”

  Ignoring the sting of tears, I slid my palm down his stubble-covered jaw. “You need a shave.”

  Rubbing his chin against my skin, I moaned as he made his intentions known. I would be covered in his beard rash by the time he was finished.

  “Such an animal.”

  I began to sign.

  Fuck me, Ian.

  His eyes bulged. “Where did you learn that?”

  “Your precious informational channel—YouTube. And don’t get thinking I’m back online. It’s not happening.”

  “Damn, you got my hopes up, I was thinking maybe you had plugged back in and joined the land of the living.”

  “Never.”

  “Who doesn’t have a smartphone in this day and age? It’s baffling.”

  “Me.”

  “You.” He threw me on my bed and began to undress. The man was in amazing shape and my body started to flutter with anticipation.

  “Pull your dress up and spread your legs.”

  I didn’t hesitate a second.

  “Show me more.”

  I reached between my legs and did his bidding.

  “Hold it there.”

  “Ian… hurry.”

  “Not this time,” he said with slow piercing gray eyes.

  Once he’d shed his shoes, he tugged at the clasp on his watch. In his slacks, I moaned as he kept his darkening gaze on me. I loved it when he wore a suit home. Something about him in dress attire did it for me.

  “Are you wet?”

  “Come find out.”

  “Show me,” he said, leaning against my dresser and slipping off his shoes.

  “Please,” I begged, dipping my fingers in my center, so he could hear that I was ready. His cock jumped in his pants.

  His eyes trailed down my body and jumped to meet mine. “I’ll never tire of you, ever.”

  “I missed you. Please, please, Ian. I want you.”

  He was still partially clothed and driving me out of my mind with his control. His hair was combed neatly and gelled. He looked so sophisticated, so well put together—dashing—I could only imagine the fantasies of his students and felt a pang of jealousy as the idea struck.

  I began to writhe on the bed, a completely different woman than I was before he’d become my lover. Never in a million years could I have dreamed of having the appetite I did then. Not every time was painful, but I would risk it every day for the slightest feel of him. It was hopeless, I was addicted to him and hopelessly in love.

  “Say it again.”

  “I want you.”

  “Again.”

  “I fucking want you,” I said as he remained where he stood. “Please.”

  When he didn’t move, I sat up. “What are you doing?”

  “Again.”

  “I want you.”

  “Again.”
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  Anger began to surface. “What are you doing?”

  “Again.”

  “Go to hell.”

  Moving to the edge of the bed, he stopped me from my retreat as tears sprang to my eyes.

  “Fine,” I sighed as my tears fell. “I need you, happy?”

  “No,” he said before kissing me within an inch of my life. When he pulled away, I was emotionally raw.

  “Damnit, Ian, this wasn’t supposed to happen.”

  He nodded. “I know.”

  “This isn’t good, is it?”

  “No, but you aren’t alone.”

  I ripped his hair as he tilted my neck and bit and sucked until I was begging again.

  I unzipped his pants freeing his cock, pumping it between us.

  “Every time I see you, I feel so relieved. Like I’d been living in some sort of dream and then I come back and you’re here,” he put my hand over his chest, “and I can breathe again.”

  Emotion bounced between us as he slid into me, stretching me full while my throat burned with emotion. When we’d both come, he pulled me to his chest as the room began to darken with the setting sun.

  “This is the best I’ve ever felt,” he whispered, “ever.”

  “You’re my first, Ian.”

  He paused his movements. “What?”

  “You’re the first man I’ve ever had this sort of connection with.” I sat up and looked back at him with a smile. “You’re the first man I’ve ever felt this way for. I never got this far with anyone because… you know. I just couldn’t, so you’re my first.”

  His eyes searched mine before he slowly pushed inside me again. Words failed us as we moved in sync, our hearts pounding out the words we weren’t allowed to utter. We broke in a breathless mess and he pulled me against his chest, his heart hammering against my ear as I ran my nails down his skin.

  “How was Ella?”

  “I didn’t get to see her, she’s in Washington for the next week.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah,” he whispered. “Would you be terribly pissed off if I slept?”

  “No, of course not.”

  “I was so busy getting things sorted I didn’t get much done and this drunk crazy lady managed to call me on the one night I managed a few winks.”