by Aimee Duffy
Jake dipped his head and brushed his mouth against hers, soft as a whisper. “Thank you for coming with me.” He chuckled. “I’ve traveled the world filming, but I’ve never had a chance to stop and see the sights.” Turning back to look up at the magnificent statue, Jake draped an arm over her shoulder and pulled her close.
She snuggled into his silk shirt. His suit jacket was slung over his other arm along with hers. The walk up had been a challenge in her heels and pencil skirt, but the thought of seeing something so beautiful up close had kept her moving. The minute they’d reached the top, Caitlyn had slipped off her stilettos and let the warm brick floor soothe her aching feet.
“Why did you wait so long, Caitlyn?” Jake asked, his eyes never leaving the statue.
“What do you mean?”
Jake looked down at her, one golden eyebrow raised. “Why did you wait all this time to sleep with someone? I don’t get it. I’d have thought at least this many guys…” Jake swept an arm around to indicate the tourists. “…would have tried to court you. Why me?”
Caitlyn waited a second for the doubt, the uneasiness, to creep in. Nothing did. She decided she might as well tell him. After all, the time she spent with Archie—although horrible—wasn’t exactly a secret she meant to keep.
“The first man I was with was…impatient. When I didn’t sleep with him quick enough, he wasn’t very nice. In fact, he called me a selfish prude.”
Caitlyn’s stomach twisted with the memory. He’d made her think there was something wrong with her, just because she didn’t feel comfortable enough to be with him.
It was strange to think that she thought Archie had been her Mr. Right, even though he hadn’t given a hoot about her feelings. In the end, she’d felt comfortable with Jake, her Mr. Wrong. Too comfortable, actually.
Jake’s hand curled into a fist at her shoulder. “You’re the least selfish person I know, and definitely not a prude. Don’t let what that bastard said get to you.”
The anger in his eyes made her chest feel warm. “I’m not.” That wasn’t entirely true. “I won’t, not anymore.”
She tilted her head to look up into Christ the Redeemer’s face. The sun was setting over the horizon and the sky became darker.
“Do you want to get back to the island?” Jake asked.
She nodded and picked up her shoes. She’d put them on when they got back to the dirt track.
* * * *
The next few weeks went by far too quickly for Caitlyn’s liking. She and Jake spent long days together on set, then every evening in his villa or hers, making love until they both collapsed. Jake had also insisted the crew worked Saturdays so Caitlyn could make it to Amanda’s show. Why had she ever thought he was self-centered?
Jake not only gave her more pleasure than she’d imagined existed, he also gave his time, his warm smiles, touches, and gestures she’d never experienced before. Even though she reminded herself every day that it was just a fling and not to get too attached, she knew she was falling into uncharted territory. Although this should scare her, Caitlyn felt more alive than she ever had.
They were filming on another island today, this one was larger and the forest covered the land. Her skin was unbearably sticky and when Sean called a break, she was more than glad to stop and take off the stuffy costume. She slipped out of her clothes, leaving nothing but a bikini.
“Are you trying to kill me?”
Caitlyn spun around to see Jake standing less than a foot away. He’d also ditched his dark costume and changed into a pair of shorts. She never tired of seeing his bare chest, even after all these weeks. It was as addictive as the rest of him.
“Why would I want to do that?” she asked and tried to stifle a grin. The way he looked at her, like he wouldn’t mind throwing her down in the grass covered clearing and having his wicked way with her, made Caitlyn unbelievably happy.
He smiled, flashing his white, even teeth. Caitlyn’s heart stuttered. “You know,” Jake said, his voice barely a whisper, “seeing you almost naked and not being able to touch you makes me wonder why we decided to keep our relationship a secret in the first place.”
Caitlyn turned away from him and busied herself by folding her costume. The word ‘relationship’ caused a fierce longing she didn’t want to think about. Nor did she want him to see it and she was pretty sure her eyes would betray her emotions.
She tried to keep her response light, and failed. “You know why. It’s better this way. No press, no pressure. We agreed, Jake.”
Honestly, she still didn’t understand why he would want to broadcast their ‘fling’. Caitlyn had put her foot down on their second night together. In public they would appear as friends and co-stars, nothing else. It was better that way, it meant the press wouldn’t hound her for interviews and there would never be any attention on her to remind her father of her existence.
She knew the movie would draw attention if it ever made its way into the UK. But all they would be able to say was that she was the star. If rumors got out about her affair with Jake, the press would have it all over the tabloids in a flash. If her father was low on funds, she wouldn’t put it past him to sell a story about her. Or worse, tell them how she broke the law.
No, it was better that they stayed a secret. There was too much to lose.
“Guys.” Sean waved them over to one of the fold-out picnic benches the crew had brought.
Today, there were no extras. Only her, Jake, Sean, and a few cameramen. Caitlyn preferred filming this way. There were less people to rely on and they got through filming quicker. She made her way over to Sean with Jake by her side. She risked a look at his face and wished she hadn’t. His jaw was clenched and he wore a slight frown. She guessed he hadn’t liked her answer.
Sean had set up his fold-out table right next to the stream that ran through the center of the island. At one end there was a waterfall, framed on either side by rocks covered in tropical flowers in every shade. This island was deserted and still had its natural beauty intact. Caitlyn thought it looked like something fresh out of a fairy tale.
Jake lowered himself onto the chair next to Sean, and then slapped him on the back. “What have we got today?”
Caitlyn settled into the chair opposite as Sean pulled out a salad tray, some sandwiches and wraps from the cool box next to him. Caitlyn reached for the salad, knowing Sean had brought it for her. From what Caitlyn had learned over the last two weeks, the two men preferred meat over vegetables. Sean handed her a bottle of water.
“I wanted to talk to you both,” Sean announced before taking a huge bite out of a sandwich filled to the brim with ham, beef, and what looked like chicken. Caitlyn frowned at him. She’d have to dislocate her jaw to take a bite out of that.
A sinking feeling knotted her gut. Had Sean figured out that she and Jake were sleeping together? Before she could go into full-scale panic mode, the voice of logic kicked in. Even if he did, he’s Jake’s friend. He’s not going to say anything to the press. Feeling better, she picked up a plastic fork, stabbed a slice of tomato, and popped it into her mouth.
Sean washed the humongous mouthful down with a gulp of water. “I’ve been thinking about changing the chase scene tomorrow. The stunt double we have for you, Caitlyn, doesn’t look all that much like you. What would you say to doing more of the scene yourself? Say, up to the point you get shot and then we can switch to the stunt double to fall into the water?”
Caitlyn considered Sean’s suggestion while she chewed a mouthful of crisp leaves. Honestly, she liked the idea of getting to do one of her own stunts. Jake didn’t have a stunt double for this movie and, how bad could falling off the side of a speedboat be? Other crew members would be in boats close by, so she wouldn’t be in the water for long.
Plus, with the low budget, surely it would benefit them if they didn’t have to pay a stunt double to do what she could do herself?
“I’ll do the scene. Don’t worry about getting me a stunt double,” she said.
Sean gave her one of his rare smiles.
She saw Jake’s hands fist on the table. “Don’t be ridiculous. It’s too dangerous. You’re not doing it.”
Caitlynturned toward him. His jaw was clenched and his brow was pulled down over eyes that burned with undisguised anger. She’d never seen him like this before.
It seemed to snap something inside of her, igniting her own anger. “Ridiculous? I’m not being ridiculous. I’m doing it. End of story.”
Sean laughed while Jake glared at her.
“Cheers, Caitlyn.” Sean dug into the remainder of his sandwich.
She tried to keep her gaze on her plate, but felt Jake’s glare burn a hole right through her. Somehow, she didn’t think this was the end of it at all.
Chapter 8
It seemed to take forever for the sun to set that evening. Jake paced the living room while he waited for Caitlyn. Not seeing each other until night was her idea, one that made him feel like a teenage boy, sneaking a girlfriend into his home.
He didn’t give a damn who knew they were seeing each other. Hell, he was proud to have someone as sweet-natured and beautiful as Caitlyn on his arm, even if it was only for a short time.
But underneath the sweet, she hid a core of steel and a fiery temper. He’d glimpsed it twice. The first time was justified. Now though, Jake wondered if she was going mad.
The back door clicked closed and then flip-flops slapped against the tiled kitchen floor. A jolt of happiness pierced through the irritation. Jake made his way to the kitchen.
He swung the door open and his gaze fixed on her instantly, knocking the breath from his lungs. The white sundress Caitlyn wore highlighted the creamy color of her skin. The hem skimmed supple thighs, and the top showed a hint of cleavage. Arousal darted straight to his groin.
Jake cleared his throat. “Sneaking in the back door now?”
Caitlyn’s smile lit up her whole face, stealing even more of his breath. “Thought I’d mix it up a little.”
Jake leaned against the door frame. “Come here.”
“Yes, sir.”
She ran across the small area separating them and jumped into his arms. He caught her and wrapped those delicious legs around his waist.
“Feels like someone’s pleased to see me.” The glazing over of her eyes belied her casual tone. “I guess that means you’re not mad at me anymore?”
Jake frowned down at her. “This stunt’s dangerous, you could—”
Caitlyn pressed a finger to his lips. “Not tonight. Please, Jake.”
Caitlyn’s lips replaced her finger on his mouth in a heated kiss which made him forget his irritation.
“Tomorrow,” he whispered against her lips.
Caitlyn dug her fingers into his hair and pulled him closer. He explored her sweetness with hungry sweeps of his tongue. Just the taste of her made him want to lose himself in her. She always gave him everything she had, held nothing back.
Usually, after a few weeks with a woman, the attraction would burn out. It was the opposite with Caitlyn. The more he had her, the more he wanted her. He should have been worrying about that, but had kept talking himself out of it all day. After all, they still had over a month left together to put the sizzling lust to bed.
With Caitlyn still wrapped around him, he spun around and made his way to the bedroom. Once there, he coaxed her legs from his waist and lowered her to the ground. Tonight he wanted to savor every inch of her, something she’d never allowed before. Maybe then his burning need for her would die down. The fact it hadn’t so far unnerved him, as did the jolts coursing through his battered heart whenever he laid eyes on her.
“I want to taste all of you,” he whispered into the silky skin at her throat.
Caitlyn’s hands froze on the buttons of his shirt. “Why?”
He pulled his head back and saw the worry creasing her brow. “Because you will enjoy it.”
Her frown deepened. “But you won’t. Why bother?”
Jake chuckled. “Trust me. I’ll enjoy it just as much.”
He could see the uncertainty in her eyes. She always gave so much of herself with him, but he could never cross that line. Her arms folded under her breasts in a self-conscious gesture. He couldn’t believe she couldn’t see how utterly sexy she was. Jake turned her around to face the patio doors. The light in his bedroom coupled with the darkness outside transformed the glass into a reflective surface.
“I want you to see yourself like I see you.” Jake pulled the wild, fire-red curls away from her neck and nibbled the silky flesh. The smell of kiwi and berries shouldn’t have affected his libido like a punch to the stomach, but it did. Just like Caitlyn did.
His fingers slid beneath the hem of her dress and caressed the tops of her thighs. She shivered at the touch. “Jake.”
“Watch us, Caitlyn. See what I see when I look at you.” He met her gaze in their reflection. Although it was wary, he could see the hunger there, as clear as he could see the hunger in his own.
Jake slid the dress over her head and threw it onto the floor. Caitlyn hardly ever wore a bra, and for that he’d be eternally grateful. Her hands came up to cover her chest. Jake snared her wrists with his hands and pulled them down to her sides.
“Don’t cover yourself up, not with me.”
The muscles in her shoulders loosened. Jake released her wrists and began sweeping his hands over her. First they trailed along her collarbone, then down the valley between her breasts. He slid one hand down her stomach, tracing his fingers along the curves of her hips, then down to the silky white panties.
Caitlyn gasped as his other hand tweaked one of her rosy nipples before he circled the areola with his forefinger. He kept his eyes on her reflection, and saw the flush of arousal creep up her neck and cheeks.
“You’re beautiful, Caitlyn. So very beautiful.”
Her gaze snared his and he thought he saw something other than lust flicker there. Something that looked too much like what he’d avoided most of his life. He couldn’t even bear to put a name to that emotion so he slid a finger beneath the material of her panties and stroked the hard nub. Anything to bring back the lust, the hunger. Those things, Jake could deal with.
Caitlyn’s eyes fluttered closed and she lifted both arms up and knotted her fingers through his hair. Hell, just watching her in the glass made him feel like he was going to explode. He put a stranglehold on his body and whispered, “Open your eyes.”
She did and met his gaze in their reflection head on. He trailed his mouth along the creamy skin on her freckle brushed shoulder, flicking his tongue out when he reached the curve of her neck. Caitlyn shuddered.
With his thumb still gently sweeping over her core, he pushed her hair over her shoulder and rained feather-soft kisses along her shoulder blades. The soft sound which rumbled in Caitlyn’s throat sounded like a hushed plea and pushed him on.
Jake trailed his tongue down her spine, light as a whisper, to her silk covered bottom. With his free hand, he slid her panties all the way to the floor and lifted each of her dainty feet so he could remove them completely.
“Open your legs, Caitlyn,” he urged and kneeled on the rug.
After a brief hesitation, she obeyed. Jake slid his torso through her parted thighs and then turned to face her. She looked down at him, her eyes wild and her forehead creased. He skimmed his hands up the back of her legs to her bottom, then squeezed the tight flesh.
“Relax.” Jake winked up at her. “Watch your reflection.”
Caitlyn opened her mouth to protest, but he cut her off by delving his tongue into her silky folds, seeking out the sensitive flesh. Hell, she tasted better than he’d imagined.
* * * *
The feel of Jake’s tongue caressing the most secret part of her felt entirely too intimate. The way he skimmed her sensitive flesh sent shivers of pleasure shimmying through her body. Still, it felt like she was giving something up. A chilly feeling skittered down her spine and she moved her hands to
his head to push him back.
Before she could apply the necessary force, Jake’s skilled tongue found her pleasure center. The cold feeling vanished, replaced by fiery arousal throbbing from her core to every part of her. She dug her fingers into his hair, but not to push him away. Instead, Caitlyn pulled him closer.
The sensations his caress brought were so much more than his fingers had been. So. Much. More. Caitlyn couldn’t even remember why she’d tried to protest. How could someone not want this? Goodness, it was glorious.
All the warmth seemed to flash out of her and then return, hotter than ever before, making its way back to the heart of her. The jerky ripples which followed took her breath away and swiped her legs out from under her. Caitlyn felt like she was falling into a darkened pool and only barely caught sight of her stunned expression in the glass before Jake caught her in his arms.
She clung to him and buried her head in his neck, panting and inhaling the spicy scent of him. His warm hands ran up and down her back, and she realized she was trembling.
“Was that okay?” he asked, his voice rough.
Caitlyn didn’t think she could speak so she nodded against his throat. Jake pulled her head back and his night black eyes bored into hers. “I didn’t cross a line, did I?”
Without permission, her heart opened and a swell of emotion filled the organ as she saw the concern on his face. Yes, she’d been shy at first and wondered why he’d want to do something like that to her. Now she understood. He did it because he knew she’d like it. How could that be crossing a line?
“No. Jake, that was…amazing. I just didn’t know. I didn’t—”
Her explanation was cut off as Jake stole her lips in the sweetest kiss he’d ever given her. “I know,” he whispered and then grinned against her mouth. “And the best is yet to come.”
* * * *
“Now, when you hear the gunshot, activate the squib’s released in your palm and jump away from the boat. You don’t want to hit your head on the side.”
