by Paula Roe
The engines surged and the boat abruptly picked up pace, cleaving through the harbor with a whoosh of water and spray. The deck listed beneath her feet and he took her arm, steadying her.
“You like?” His smile was perfectly enigmatic.
She nodded. “I do.”
“Great. Let’s eat.”
If someone had asked her later what the meal was like, she’d be hard-pressed to remember it. Matt’s presence overshadowed every bite. She barely felt the cold wind whipping around the boat as he served their meal, all the while keeping up a comfortable commentary about the history of Botany Bay and Fort Dennison, Sydney’s first convict island.
When she finally emerged from her little bubble to glance down at her plate, everything had miraculously gone.
“Dessert?” He smiled, holding his wineglass gently by the stem.
“What do you have?”
His smile deepened. “Crème brûlée, strawberries and a decadent mocha mousse.”
“The way to a girl’s heart.” AJ sighed dramatically. “But you know,” she went on, tapping a finger on her chin, “I don’t remember you ever offering three choices before.”
“I was a struggling student.”
“Matthew Cooper, struggling? Rubbish.” Her grin took the sting out of her words and he answered it with one of his own. They sat like that for ages until her phone rang.
She dug it from her bag, glanced down at the screen, scowled, then switched it to mute.
Matt watched her but said nothing.
“No one important,” she supplied, dropping it back into her bag. “So. Italy, huh?”
He nodded. “My plane leaves at seven in the morning.”
“Your plane? As in your own personal plane?” At his nod, her eyes rounded. “Wow. I am so in the wrong job.”
He shrugged. “It’s a necessity. That way GEM isn’t bound by commercial airline schedules. I can leave within half an hour if I need to.”
“Must be nice to take off on a whim.”
He lifted his eyebrows. “Says the Queen of Impulsiveness.”
“Yeah...” She sighed. “But not so much anymore. Tell me, Matt.” She leaned in, her elbows on the table. “After all the places you’ve been, having your own private boat and plane...is there something you haven’t yet achieved? Some particular goal that’s always eluded you?”
“Of course.”
“Name one.”
He paused, his expression giving nothing away. “I’ve never backed a winner in the Melbourne Cup.”
She snorted. “Winning a horse race is not a dream.”
“Speak for yourself!” He looked affronted. “It’s not just a horse race—it’s the horse race.”
AJ shrugged. “See, I never really got the whole racing thing. Just seems like you’re throwing away good money.”
“So you don’t drink or gamble,” he murmured, eyeing her over the rim of his glass. “I’m learning all sorts of things about you.”
Her eyebrows went up. “What’s there to learn? What you see is what you get, right here.”
“Angel, you are one of the most secretive women I know.”
“Oh, know a lot of women, do you?”
He made a moue of indifference. “Right now...? I can’t remember a single one.”
She felt her face flush again, and when he smoothly rose and offered his hand she didn’t hesitate. As she stood, her thigh inadvertently brushed across his groin and he sucked in a breath.
“Sorry,” she mumbled.
He shook his head. “Don’t be.”
Damn it. Why him? Why this instant and intense lust?
She had absolutely no clue.
Then he kissed her and she stopped thinking.
They stood there, leisurely exploring each other’s mouths, tongue and skin, while the slow burn of desire steadily curled higher and the hint of cold night teased everywhere their bodies didn’t touch.
“Matt...” she got out, her breath racing across his mouth. “I need to—”
“I know.”
“—use the bathroom.”
His crestfallen look was so comical she had to bite back a grin. But when he nodded and stepped back, the keen sense of loss she felt chased away any amusement.
“Inside, to the left.”
She nodded. “I won’t be long.”
* * *
Come on. Get it together. Palms flat on the polished vanity, AJ stared at her reflection in the huge bathroom mirror. This gut-sucking passion, this breathless rush of being swept along by something bigger, was all familiar territory. He affected her with every single kiss, every single touch. He had magic hands—magic Matthew hands.
Surgeon’s hands, so familiar with the human body, so familiar with healing, with giving life.
So familiar with her.
She straightened the towel on the rack. This was a good thing. It meant she could relax and enjoy herself, which was highly conducive to baby making. Stressing about it would be counterproductive.
Okay, so go out there and have a good time.
With a nod at her reflection, she smoothed the ends of her hair, tweaked the edges of her bra to plump up her breasts, then rubbed her lips together, the smooth glide of lipstick a time-honored confidence booster.
She left the bathroom, her heels ringing boldly on the polished wood. But when she walked outside, her confidence dissolved under the weight of Matt’s loaded gaze.
“Your phone rang again,” Matthew said as she walked over to the table. “Someone called Jesse?”
“The married ex,” she supplied when she noticed his too-casual, I’m-not-going-to-ask look. “He’s—” Her phone vibrated and AJ glanced down. “Speak of the devil.” She grabbed it and pivoted, stalking to the railing for privacy. Unshielded by the partition, the cold night air blasted over her skin, whipping her hair. She flicked on the phone, then shoved a hand through the whirling mass, shoving it from her eyes. “What do you want?”
“Jay-jay! How are you doing, sexy legs?”
“Stop calling me that—it makes you sound like an idiot.” His deliberate twist on her initials and that little pet name had been mildly cute when they were dating. Now it just made her want to smack him.
“So, I thought we could grab a drink tonight.”
“Look, I told you we’re over. Stop calling me,” she hissed, shooting a glance back at Matt, who was leaning over the opposite railing, his attention seemingly absorbed by the dark water below. “Go back to your wife.”
“Aww, babe, if we really were over, why’re you still taking my calls?”
“Because you keep calling me, dumbass!”
His laugh rumbled down the line. “I miss that mouth! Especially when you did—”
She hung up. With a frustrated growl she stalked back to the table, then slowly, deliberately put her phone down when all she wanted to do was hurl it into the ocean.
She put a cold hand to her cheek and sighed. Her face was burning.
“Why do you still have your ex on your phone?”
Matt had turned back to her and she eyed him, cupping her other cheek. “So I know when to ignore his calls.”
“He calls often?”
She shrugged. “Once or twice a month.”
“Why don’t you tell him to piss off?”
She gave him a look. “I have. He keeps calling.”
“So get him blocked. There are laws against stalking, AJ.”
“Yeah, I know.” She sighed. “But then I’d have to visit the police, file an official report—” That was the biggie. Her parents had screwed with her psyche so well, drumming in that irrational fear of the cops so deep it had taken her years—and a good therapist—to overcome their conditioning.
Her phone rang again but this time, Matt beat her to it. “Jesse? Yeah, this is AJ’s phone. Listen, you need to stop calling her,” he said in that cool, clipped tone. He ignored her silently mouthed protest and turned his back on her. “She’s not interested in jerks who cheat on their wives. So get over it and move on.” He paused. “Me? Dr. Matthew Cooper, former head of neurosurgery at Saint Catherine’s.”
“Oooo, a doctor! And British, too!”
Oh, Lord, she could hear Jesse’s mocking comeback from here! And judging by the way Matthew’s expression turned carefully blank, he was not impressed, either. His eyes locked on hers as Jesse let fly with something she couldn’t quite make out.
Finally, Matt said softly, “Yeah, okay. I’d be careful who you’re threatening, if I were you.” Another pause, then a slow smile bloomed, his direct gaze still on her. “Because my best mate is ex-CIA and he really, really loves his guns. So be a good boy and lose AJ’s number.”
With that, he hung up and handed her phone back.
Honestly, she should be furious he’d butted in, but all that came to mind was... “Do you really know someone in the CIA?”
“He’s my head of security.”
“Right. But he wouldn’t really shoot him.”
“Who knows? Decker’s been in some tight situations where force was the only option. We both have.”
“So your job is dangerous then?”
“It can be.” He reached for her hand and drew her close. “Why? Are you worried?”
“No.”
She glanced away but Matt, damn him, had her measure. He pulled her flush against him, his heat searing into her, his laugh a soft breath against her cheek.
“You’d miss me, Angel. Admit it.”
“Well, I wouldn’t miss your huge ego, that’s for sure.”
“Ahh, but you’d miss this, I bet.” Then his lips swooped down to meet hers and she just about melted on the spot.
They kissed until they were both breathless, until she felt her legs go wobbly and Matt gently drew her toward the cabin doors. Then they were inside and after a few more agonizing kisses, AJ felt a soft pressure on the back of her legs.
The sofa.
Matt nudged her and she sank into the cushions, taking him with her. He sprawled across her lap, his thighs hard against hers, his arms against the backrest on either side of her head.
“The windows—”
“Tinted,” he got out, nipping her jaw.
“But the crew—”
“Topside. With instructions not to interrupt.”
“But—”
“Angel, do you want to keep talking or would you rather I do this?” And with one smooth movement, he swept aside her dress and brought his mouth down to her breast.
Her back arched as he tongued her nipple to painful erectness through the black satin bra. Then he dragged the cup down, exposing her fully to his careful ministrations. His teeth latched on to that swollen nub and her breath hissed out in glorious ecstasy.
Oh, yes. She’d miss this. He was so very, very good at arousing her, whipping her into a bundle of aching, raw nerves until she was begging him to take her. Like now. She squirmed, eager for more of his lips, his tongue, his hands. Pinned by his thighs, the bulge between them only frustrated her, fueling her desperation.
“Just so you know,” she began, “this...ah...is going to be...” Another small groan escaped her as he dragged her dress off one shoulder and flicked his tongue along the exposed flesh. “It’s just a simple matter of...”
“Want.” There was no triumph, only complete conviction in his reply. Then he lifted his head, grasped her face firmly in his hands and silenced her with a kiss.
It was the best kiss she’d had in her life, and it just went on and on.
Finally, when they were both breathless, he released her mouth and returned to her breasts, gently sucking one nipple as he slowly massaged her other breast with his hand.
She groaned. “Matt...I need to move.”
He shifted his weight, allowing her to wrap her legs around his waist.
“Would you miss this, Angel?” he murmured against her breast.
She muttered her ascent, too consumed with sensation to form a coherent word.
“And this?” He squeezed her other breast, kneading, caressing.
“Mmm.” Her head lolled, eyes closing, and she heard his soft chuckle, full of male satisfaction.
“Or maybe this?” His hand went to her thigh, dragging her dress up. “You’re so warm.”
Their gazes locked. A wolfish smile gradually transformed his features, and AJ marveled at the sight. He was so beautiful. So totally and utterly seductive. So—
He pulled aside her knickers and dove into her folds, his thumb brushing over the hard nub.
Enough thinking. She let sensation take her. With every touch of his tongue on her nipple, every stroke of his fingers between her legs, her body jerked, pleasure sparking then fanning out, following the path of her blood as it chugged through her veins.
“Matt!” Ripples of desire sensitized her skin. “Please!”
“You seem to be doing a lot of begging lately, Angel.” His voice practically purred as his fingers continued their excruciating work. “What would you say if I did...this?”
One finger slid into her slick heat and she gasped. Oh, yes. She waited...waited...
He’d stopped.
What the hell...? She groaned, wriggled around, trying to get him to move. Yet he remained still, his other hand flat on her belly, firmly holding her in place. Her breath raced, blood throbbing as she snapped her head up to meet his glittering gaze.
“Or maybe...” he said, his mouth kinking up into a wicked smile. “This?”
And in one smooth movement he slid down her body, removing her underwear as he went. Then he replaced his fingers with his lips and she nearly bucked off the sofa. White-hot sensation exploded as his tongue began lavishing attention on the most intimate part of her, licking, sucking, loving.
Desire throbbed through every single vein, every muscle in Matthew’s body. AJ surrounded him—her skin, her scent, her soft moans of pleasure. It made him want to rip off his clothes and take her hard and fast on the floor. Yet instead of giving in to that desperate need, he took a jagged breath, gathered the threads of his shredded control and focused on loving her with his mouth.
He nibbled her inner thigh, dragging his chin across the sensitive skin. His fingers dug into her skin as he lifted her hips to him and feasted on her sweetness, running his tongue slowly up, then down, loving the way she tasted, loving that her scent and arousal were in his every breath. And when he felt her trembling slowly increase, felt her thighs tense around him, he knew she was heading to the edge.
He left her there, legs spread with her dress rucked around her waist, one breast exposed, head flung back in a familiar arch of ecstasy while he quickly pulled off his clothes.
It took too long, way too long.
When he was finally naked, he positioned himself between her legs, his hands splayed on her rib cage, feeling her deep panting breath, the ripples of passion across her skin.
“Angel,” he ground out. “Look at me.”
She did, slowly, languorously, and the arousal in her eyes blew him away. With a groan, he plunged deep inside her.
He made love to her that way, his hands gripping her waist, their eyes locked, as he slid deeply in, then slowly out.
His pounding heartbeat echoed in his head, his chest. Damn, it felt so good! Better than anything he’d ever experienced in his life. He groaned again as she tipped her hips, and when she reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, he let her pull him down. She kissed him, deep
ly, passionately, using her tongue to tease, taste, toy. His breath galloped, matching hers, the throb of their hearts pounding in unison as he plunged into her. And gradually, everything built, sweeping closer and closer until he couldn’t stand the mix of agony and ecstasy any longer.
He thrust a hand between them, where their bodies were slick with passion and friction, his fingers seeking her tight bud. When he found it, she shuddered, eyes wide, as he flicked it over and over.
“Matt!” She gasped, her breath coming out in tight little puffs as her legs squeezed his waist. “I think...”
“C’mon, Angel,” he crooned in her ear, his lips against her damp hair. “Come with me.”
When she did, it was the most glorious thing he’d ever seen. It was so intense, so powerful, that his teeth clenched, jaw grinding as waves of pleasure rushed him, tossing him up then quickly dumping him down, down, so deeply down.
Everything screamed, every muscle, every vein, every inch of his skin. Hot. Too hot. I can’t... Then sensation took over and with a wrenching groan he spilled into her hot warmth.
“Angel,” he groaned, her slick heat surrounding him, accepting him, taking all of him.
Glorious.
Eventually, when he slowly began to return back to earth, his other senses kicked in. He took in her racing breath, her musky skin, the aftermath of her orgasm still pulsing around him. He’d done that, brought her to the peak of ecstasy, had made her beg for him, before taking them both over the edge. And man, he felt like leaping up and punching the air like some macho alpha, smug in the knowledge he’d thoroughly pleasured a woman.
Not just a woman. This woman. His arms tightened around her, skin still moist with sweat. Her chin was tilted up, her eyes shut, hands provocatively splayed across her neck, just above her breasts.
He dropped a gentle kiss on one peaking nipple and she started. He grinned as she glanced down to meet his eyes.
“You okay?”
Man, that smile undid him every time: languorous and thoroughly sated, full of warm pleasure. “Oh, yeah.”
He bathed in the satisfied glow and let the silence surround them, a silence punctuated by the faint hum of the engines and the gentle rocking of the boat as it cleaved through the choppy Sydney waters.
