Heartbreaker

by Monica Robinson

  Scott opened his eyes and buried his cock to the hilt, basking in the feel of her slick cunt. He withdrew all the way and then pushed in balls deep, resting his forehead in the niche between her neck and her shoulder. He pressed a kiss to her collarbone, tasting the saltiness of the perspiration that had beaded on her skin. She looped her arms around his neck, pulling him into a more intimate embrace while he flexed his hips in and out in a slow torturous rhythm.

  Needing to be closer to her, Scott slid his arms beneath her back and cradled her to his chest. Still, it didn’t feel close enough. He wanted to be a part of her and her a part of him. He increased the tempo of his thrusts, his breath coming out in short labored pants against her ear.

  Charity locked her ankles at the small of his back while tightening her arms around his shoulders. Her muffled moans gave him the impression she was holding back. He didn’t want that. He wanted her to let go, to give him everything she had.

  “Scream if you have to. I don’t want you to hold back.”

  “What about neighbors?”

  “Fuck ‘em.”

  She met him thrust for thrust, burying her head in his shoulder as her moans turned to cries. Higher and higher, Scott soared, his testicles tightening with the overwhelming urge to come. He was determined to wait for her. He wanted them to come together. But if she didn’t reach that point soon, her bucking hips and clenching pussy would do him in. He would come without her and that wasn’t acceptable. He’d never finished before a woman and he wasn’t going to start now.

  Just when he didn’t think he could hold on any longer, her body stiffened for only a second as a scream ripped from Charity’s throat. He felt her vaginal muscles contract around him, milking from him the orgasm he’d been fending off. He thrust once more into her tight pussy before shuddering, emptying himself into her depths.

  His arms shook, but he wasn’t ready to break their bond just yet. Somehow, he knew if he let go, things would be different. Instead, when she released her legs from around him, he rolled to his side, bringing her with him. There. Much better.

  “Comfy?”

  “Quite.” He peeked at her. “Aren’t you?”

  She looked at her arms still wrapped around him and then at the pillow nowhere near her head. “Uh, well, this is great for a few minutes of cuddling, but if you’re planning to sleep like this, I’m going to wake up with one nasty stiff neck.”

  With a mental sigh, he released her. As he’d suspected, the intimate connection they’d created faded. He should have known. It wasn’t his lot in life to have those kind of feelings on a permanent basis. You had it once. Yeah, and he’d screwed it up by running to Vegas. He doubted there would be a second chance. Not when he worked on a cruise ship and she worked on dry land. Just take what you can get and thank her when it’s over. Really, that’s all he could do.

  After removing the condom and dropping it into the trashcan beside the bed, he propped his head on his hand. “So, tell me more about working for the paper. You said your editor gives you bubblegum assignments. What is that?”

  Charity tucked one of the pillows beneath her head and traced the pattern on the coverlet with her fingernail before shrugging. “I write mostly reviews if you want the truth. I write about new restaurants in town or my opinion on the local theatre’s new play. That didn’t go over well, by the way. The San Diego Zoo has a new addition to their penguin exhibit, so Tom might send me out to cover that when I get back.”

  Scott winced. Ouch. He had no idea things were so bad for her. He knew she had lousy taste in men—not that he would tell her this—but he hadn’t thought her career was hurting as well. He glanced at the business card on the nightstand. Maybe this guy, whoever he was, might be able to help her with a story that would get her recognized as something more than an editorial journalist.

  “Have you thought about applying at the paper in San Diego? It’ll be a longer commute, but it shouldn’t be too bad.”

  She seemed to give the idea some thought. “I have, but I’m working on a story right now that should get Tom’s attention. At least, it better. It’s turning out to be a lot harder than I thought it would be.” She waved her hand in a dismissive manner. “Enough about my boring job. Tell me about yours. I may not like water, but I can imagine how exciting working on a cruise ship can be. Especially the exotic ports of call and all of the lovely ladies you get to meet.”

  He chuckled uneasily at the exaggerated waggle of her eyebrows. Jesus, fuck. Did she know? Nah, she couldn’t know he was the Heartbreaker.

  She is a reporter, his inner voice remarked.

  True, but they’d only reconnected the night before. He was being paranoid. Pure and simple.

  “We do get to visit quite a few nice places. I’ve been to Hawaii a dozen times and Pleasure Island countless times. That’s the island we’re docking at tomorrow.”

  “And the ladies?”

  “You realize this is an awkward conversation to have with someone you’ve just made love to.” Plus, he wasn’t sure how to answer without revealing that he was the Heartbreaker. She would lose respect for him if she knew. Wouldn’t he if their roles were reversed?

  “I suppose that’s true, but I’m curious. If I worked aboard a ship like this, I’d probably be tempted by a hot guy who asked me to his cabin.” She laid her hand over his. “But if you’re uncomfortable, that’s cool. I understand.”

  He linked his fingers through hers, admiring the contrast of her pale skin against his deep tan before meeting her eyes. “It’s against policy, but it’s happened. If it hadn’t, there wouldn’t be a Hedonna Heartbreaker, would there? The female passengers seem to know, but the crew tries to be discreet so the Captain won’t find out. Otherwise, the guy would be fired immediately. He isn’t hurting anyone, so we keep things on the down low.”

  Charity nodded slowly and smiled when he brought the back of her hand to his lips for a kiss. “You guys stick together like a family, don’t you?”

  He nodded.

  “That’s good. I’m glad to hear you have friends like that.”

  The sad note in her voice made him frown. “What about you? If I remember correctly, Joe used to be the poster-child for overprotective big brothers. Is he still that way?”

  She dropped her head onto the pillow with a groan. “He’s gotten worse, if you can believe it. Since his practice is in San Diego, he relies on technology to check on me. I don’t mind the calls, but the emails, texts, and IMs get a little annoying.”

  He blinked. “A bit excessive, don’t you think?”

  She lifted her head and narrowed her eyes. “No, excessive was when he insisted on staying with me for two months after Mom died. I told him he would be better off staying with Dad, but you know Joe.”

  The air in Scott’s lungs stilled and his blood ran cold. Mrs. K died? When did this happen? Fuck, if he’d known, he would have been there to pay his respects. Meredith Kendrick had been like a second mom to him, patching up countless skinned knees, baking the best peanut butter cookies he’d ever tasted, and helping him with his reading when even his tutor had wanted to strangle him.

  “How long ago?”

  Charity swallowed, not quite able to meet his gaze. “Three years this October. She had ovarian cancer and it spread to her lungs. We only had six months with her.” Her expression brightened some and she lifted her eyes. “Dad is doing a lot better. He’s even venturing into the dating world again. He’s seeing a woman named Clorette. All I can think of is the throat lozenge whenever he mentions her. Is that horrible of me?”

  He squeezed her fingers, not sure how else to comfort her. She obviously didn’t want to dwell on the subject, and who could blame her? Even though it had been close to three years, the wound was still relatively fresh. He thought of his own mother and wondered absently when he’d last called her. Too long if you can’t remember. Damn. He’d have to call her when the Hedonna returned to San Diego.

  “No, you’re not horrible. You’re
just having a hard time picturing your dad with anyone other than your mom. It’s natural.” He released her hand and rolled onto his back, lacing his hands behind his head. “So, Joe is as OCD as ever. What about friends? Anyone you’re close to?”

  Charity mimicked his position and lolled her head to the side to look at him. “I have a couple. Emily has been my best friend since college, and I met Laney when I started working at the paper. Between you and me, I think Joe has a thing for Laney. God only knows why, but she has it bad for him too. I keep telling her to ask him out, but she won’t do it.”

  Scott snorted. “From what I remember, Joe’s chicken-shit around women. So unless you lock them in a room together, nothing’s going to happen.”

  “Or I could send them on a Fantasy Cruise.”

  Hearing the mischievous tone, his eyebrows rose. “You’re sneaky. I like it. It could work, then again once Joe figures out what you’ve done he’ll be livid.”

  She scrunched her nose with a wicked grin. “Go big or go home.”

  He closed his eyes for a moment, a maelstrom of memories flooding his mind. How many times had he heard her say those same words right before they’d embarked on something that was sure to land one or both of them in trouble? All too often. But damn if those misadventures hadn’t been fun. He opened his eyes, and the memories vanished. That was then and they led completely different lives now. Once the Hedonna docked in San Diego, they would go their separate ways. She was sunshine and happily ever after and he—well, he wasn’t.

  When he didn’t respond, Charity sat up and pushed her hair back with both hands. “I think a shower is in order. Feel free to join me if you’d like. I may need a little help washing my back.” She slid off the bed and tossed him a wink before disappearing into the bathroom.

  He stared at the empty doorway for a moment before shaking his head with a grin. As self-conscious and insecure as Charity was about her sexuality, she had no problem asserting herself with him. Sure, she’d hesitated at first when he’d played with her ass, but he could chalk that up to inexperience.

  From the bathroom, he could hear the water running, and his heart pounded in his chest. Not because he knew Charity was in there all wet and sudsy—though that made him hard as steel—no, she was waiting for him in that tiny enclosed stall. Tiny. Stall. A shiver raced up his spine, and he rolled his shoulders to make the feeling go away. He was not about to pass up this opportunity because of a stupid phobia. He pushed to his feet and scrubbed a palm over his face.

  “Go big or go home.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Charity stood beneath the showerhead, allowing the hot water to pound on her neck and shoulders. Man-oh-man, what had she done?

  Fucking Scott had been everything she’d hoped it would be, but something had seemed off while they talked. Like he had withdrawn once their physical needs had been met.

  Closing her eyes, she tipped her head back and took great care not to let the water run in her face. Her thoughts drifted to just after their mind-shattering orgasms. She didn’t recall saying anything to upset him. Okay, maybe asking about other women had been a bit tacky, but she’d meant it when she said not to worry about it if he was uncomfortable.

  Opening her eyes, she reached for the shampoo. Why am I even worrying about this? Good question. It was just a shame she didn’t have an answer. Men. Sheesh. They say women were moody and difficult to figure out, but men actually were the complicated species.

  Deciding to forget Scott’s sudden mood change, Charity focused on washing her hair, working the sweet honeysuckle-scented shampoo into a thick lather and allowing the tension to seep out of her.

  She heard the bathroom door open and then close with a soft click, but didn’t acknowledge Scott’s presence even when he slid the shower door open and stepped inside. She drew in a deep breath and slid beneath the water, shoving her fingers through the tresses and trying to ignore her racing heart.

  “Do you want me to do that?” Scott asked, but didn’t wait for her to reply. He reached around her to remove the detachable showerhead. “Turn around.”

  She exhaled a puff of air before turning her back to him. “Thank you,” she murmured in a sheepish voice. “So much for facing my fears, huh?”

  God, she was pathetic. She couldn’t even wash her hair without panicking. How did she expect to conquer her fear if she couldn’t take a shower like a normal person?

  Scott smoothed his hand over her drenched locks before replacing the showerhead and reaching for the bar of soap next to him.

  “Baby steps.” He slid his arms around her waist from behind and worked the soap into a rich lather between his hands. “If you want to conquer your fear, you need to find a way to make it less scary.”

  Charity swallowed and watched him set the soap in the dish before running his palms over her shoulders, his fingers digging into the tight muscles of her back. One thing was certain. Moody or not, Scott had incredibly skilled hands…and lips…and tongue. Ah hell, the man was talented period and, if she were smart, she would utilize his talents while she could.

  “See? Not so scary, is it?” His hands dipped lower, massaging each vertebra along the way.

  She shook her head. “No. That feels…good.” She couldn’t help the wistful tint to her voice, but gasped when his fingers slid lower to cup her ass.

  “You feel good.” He gave the rounded flesh a light squeeze. “Have I told you that I love your ass?”

  Between the water pelting against her sensitive breasts and the feel of Scott’s hands on her ass, Charity couldn’t speak. Her skin felt tight and arousal throbbed between her thighs.

  “I think you mentioned something to that effect.” It took all of her self-restraint to sound calm as she added, “And if I remember correctly, I said you needed psychiatric help.”

  “Mmm.” Scott grasped her hips and pulled her flush against his erection. “Uh-uh. I’m the doctor and you, my dear, are my patient.”

  Her breath stopped when he swirled his pelvis, his erection pressing and rubbing against her ass, while his mouth moved to the sensitive area between her neck and shoulder. He flicked his tongue over the spot before gently sucking on it. She shivered.

  “Um, doctor, isn’t it unethical for you to do this with your patient?” Her voice came out thick and husky with desire.

  Scott placed his foot between hers and used his knee to spread her legs. “If I were a traditional doctor, perhaps.” His hand slid up along her belly until he was cupping her breast in his palm.

  “What kind of doctor are you then?”

  “A therapist. More accurately, I’m a sex therapist.” He traced the curve of her breast with his fingertips, as if memorizing the feel of her hot skin and plump flesh before gently plucking her nipple between his thumb and index finger.

  “You think I need a sex therapist?” She groaned when his other hand moved between her parted thighs, his fingers grazing the soft folds of her sex.

  Oh no, not again. She didn’t think she could stand to have him tease her now. It would be too much. What with the water pounding against her, his erection pressing against her back and now his hands roaming the front of her body, her senses were on overdrive.

  “You said yourself that, until this morning, no man had ever given you an orgasm,” Scott returned and slipped a finger deep within her pussy.

  A groan escaped Charity’s lips and she felt her vaginal muscles instinctively clench around him as pleasure shot from her belly to every nerve ending in her body. Unlike that morning, he didn’t withdraw. He stayed right where her body wanted him to be, where she needed him to be.

  She didn’t understand how Scott’s touch could make her come apart when others could not. Chemistry had a lot to do with it, but it couldn’t be all. She had been attracted to her last boyfriend, but Nick hadn’t ever come close to satisfying her the way Scott did.

  She placed one hand on the cream-colored tiles and the other on the sliding door. “You said that, not me.�
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  “Ah, but you didn’t deny it either.” Scott nudged her legs farther apart and slipped another finger into her depths. Though she couldn’t see his face, she could hear his breathing turn ragged and his erection pressed further into her back. “Why do you hold back so much?”

  He wanted her to think? She was having a hard time remembering how to breathe, let alone forming a coherent thought. She lowered her chin to her chest and curled her fingers against the slippery tiles.

  “I can’t concentrate with you doing that.”

  A fine spray of water caught her in the face and she twisted her head away, her body stiffening and her heart rate spiking. She took a step back, forcing his hand away from her aching sex and started to turn around.

  He wouldn’t let her move. He wrapped a protective arm around her waist and murmured soothing noises in her ear before pressing a kiss to the side of her neck.

  “Easy, baby,” he said. “I’m right here, so there’s nothing for you to be afraid of.” When she didn’t relax, he wrapped his other arm around her. “You’re not the only one who’s uncomfortable in the shower, so just try to relax.”

  She twisted around in his embrace and peered up at him in confusion. “You’re not afraid of water though.”

  He chuckled and glanced around the shower stall before returning his gaze to her face. “No, but I’m very aware of how small this shower is. Feel for yourself.”

  He took her hand and placed it to his chest. Beneath the damp hairs, she felt his heart pounding rapidly against her fingertips and her stomach clenched. Oh God! Caught up in her own wants and desires, she’d nearly forgotten that Scott was claustrophobic. Some lover she was.

  “We don’t have to do this here,” she said with a hint of urgency. “We can go into the other room if you’d like.”

  Scott shook his head. “I’ve never been able to make love to a woman in the shower before. Until now, I’ve never wanted to.”

  “And now?”