A simple text to let her know I was thinking of her. Lucky for me I wrote her number down before leaving the Island. Otherwise, I would have no way of contacting her.
Richard: Hey
I sat at my desk combing through my unread emails, marking them in order of priority. I had only missed a couple extra days of work. How many of these mundane opportunities could have been dealt with at a department level?
I would call a meeting of all department heads, explain I should not have to micromanage them. Unless that was what I did, micromanage everything?
It was how my father ran the company, his hand in everything. That was not how I wanted to do things. I had already taken the first step by bringing Aleksander in as my partner. Change did not have to be a bad thing.
If I gave each department more ability to make their own decisions, I would have more free time. Time to take a few days off, spend some time away. Spend some time with her.
I checked my phone; still no response from Mac. Surely, she did not stay longer on the island than she had originally planned. She said she was a veterinary assistant; she would have to go back to work.
I never took the time to ask. I spend two days whining about my past, my pain, my imperfections.
We discussed the loss of her father and husband. Her plans for the future. Plans that did not include me.
I needed to get her out of my head. I knew only one way to take care of that. I would take care of any business that could not wait. Then I would leave early, go into the city and deal with my pain like a man, like Rick would deal with it.
The next day I arrived at work after lunch. I knew there would be hell to pay. I was already behind with suppliers and approving new designs from my extra days away while on the island. I was the boss and I should be able to come and go as I pleased.
Aleksander walked into my office. “You look like shit. I thought you went into the city last night to take care of business?”
“I tried, it didn’t feel right.” Aleksander was one of the few people I could be frank with and not fear judgement.
“You know what you need to do. It’s not rocket science, more like biology,” Aleksander teased. “I took your concept upstairs yesterday, here’s what we got.” He threw the folder on my desk. “I think you are going to love it. I can have a working, wearable pair by Friday.”
“I’m pretty sure I said two,” I reminded Aleksander.
“Don’t I get a ‘great job Aleksander, wow, Friday, that’s fast’?” my business partner slammed. “Don’t worry, you will get the first dozen by early afternoon Friday. The first cut of the batch. I assumed you wanted them this size,” he said and he threw the old worn stinky shoe on my desk.
“Yes, and not funny,” I scolded. “How did you know?”
Aleksander placed his palms on the edge of my desk. “Richard, you took the woman’s shoes. I have two sisters, you don’t mess with their shoes.”
Aleksander backed away from the desk. “Don’t you have a new boat that needs breaking in? Take the weekend, come in late Monday, bring the girl back her shoes,” he encouraged.
“I don’t know where she is, she isn’t responding to my emails.”
“Give me your phone.” I passed him my cell. “Hey, that’s it? Seriously, Richard.”
“What am I supposed to say, 'thanks for the great fuck, want to do it again,” I deadpanned.
“Will that work?” Aleksander laughed.
“Not with her,” I replied, sounding defeated.
“Than tell her you are breaking in your new boat and that you will be arriving on the island Friday afternoon and you have something for her. If she wants to see you, she will be there. If not, you leave her the shoes, spend the night on your boat, come home knowing where you stand.” He handed me back my phone.
“You make it sound so simple.” I shook my head.
“I learned the hard way. Not being honest and trusting my instinct almost cost me Haley. If she’s worth it, like I said, go get her. Now I have a lot of work to get to if I am going to keep my promise and get those shoes in your hand by Friday. Text her, good luck.”
I weighed my options. I would like to break in my new boat. Mackenzie did deserve to get her shoes back. I sent the email.
Friday arrived with no response to my email. Maybe she was still at the island and unable to get them. I would head there as planned, leave her the shoes with the invitation to my birthday party. After all, the shoe was inspired by her. She should be present when they were unveiled. I wouldn’t mind having her there to help me celebrate my birthday.
I both dreaded and looked forward to the journey.
What if she did not want to see me again?
What if she wasn’t there?
Chapter 14
MacKenzie
I was upset with myself. I couldn’t believe I left my cell at the lighthouse. I remembered having it there. I also remembered the distraction that caused me to leave it behind.
That distraction was weighing on me still.
I missed the physical contact of love after Michael passed.
I was craving the physical contact of sex I experienced with Richard.
I would not have access until midday Friday before I would be able to take my truck across the sandbar to the island. I could have someone take me by boat, retrieve my cell and return the same day.
I choose to wait and spend the night. Perhaps while I was there I could clear my head and let go of a need I never knew existed until a week ago. I was having a difficult time reconciling that I missed sex with Richard more in one week than what I had lost for an entire year.
This wasn’t about my love for Michael. I truly loved Michael.
I craved Richard with an obsession that disturbed me.
I decided I would delete his email. That was when I discovered I left my phone behind.
Was this my subconscious telling me I didn’t have to let him go?
He did tell me he would be willing to take me up on any offer to scratch a certain itch. When I retrieved my phone, would I be tempted to take him up on that offer? I was sure this was not something I was going to find satisfying with anyone else. No, I was sure the only way to fill that emptiness I was experiencing was with him.
He told me he didn’t do relationships. He had too many commitments. Was I asking for a relationship? Could I do casual sex on demand? Would it be on my timeline, or his? He was a busy man; he would not drop his responsibilities on a whim.
Why had I let him get under my skin? What I needed to do was get my cell phone, deleted any traces of him and decide what I was going to do with the rest of my life.
I needed the pictures on my phone we took the last day on the island. When I started doing research and contacted charter companies, they would want some insight into what they would be dealing with.
The long drive did not haunt me like the last time. This time I wasn’t running away from anything. I no longer felt a lonely ache for the old memories the island invoked.
I only felt a lonely ache for the new ones.
I decided I would bring my supplies into the cabin, check there first for the phone. I was pretty sure it was left at the top of the lighthouse. I would need to charge it. I remembered checking for service. I couldn’t remember if I turned it off, or just set it down.
What I did remember was the heat ignited in me. A heat I felt every time I thought about him. Which was all too often as of late.
I was only spending the night. I had left quite a few can goods the last time around. My only real necessity was my Thermos with the half and half for my morning coffee.
I sighed in relief when I saw my phone sitting on the console. Of course I left it on, and now it was dead. Good thing I brought the car adapter to recharge it. It would be nice to have it for the long ride back home.
Securely placed in my jeans pocket, I took a look at the serene ocean before me. Had I not been adamant about getting the shot of that beautiful view, this voyage
would not had been necessary.
On my way down the lighthouse, I stopped on the second floor and glanced at the books on the shelves. I should pick one out. I could hit the bed early, snuggle up with a good book and get an early start back into town. Michael was a mystery buff; there were several well known authors to choose from.
Did it make any difference? They all seemed to have the same general description on the inside cover. A big city mystery, that would be best. One of those whodunit mysteries written by some retired police detected based on actual cases.
No sense reading anything that would put my imagination into overdrive from being alone on a deserted island.
I reached the bottom of the stairs and the door opened. Standing in the doorway, the reason for my weariness, my sleeplessness. The reason for the uncomfortable ache in my very core. A core that was melting at the sight of the most beautiful man I had ever known. And known quite intimately.
“You came.” His face lit up.
“I forgot my cell phone, it’s dead.” It took all my resolve not to jump into his arms and beg him to fuck me.
“I brought you something.” He approached me with a box.
I took the contents from his hands and opened it. I began to laugh. “Shoes, you brought me replacement shoes for the ones you took? Not flowers, not candy, shoes.”
“My business partner told me you should never mess with a woman’s shoes, so yes, I brought you shoes.” He waited for a response.
“Wait, what did you mean when you said I came?”
“I texted you, you didn’t answer, so I took a chance that maybe you never left the island and did not get my text.”
“You came out, not knowing if I was going to be here or not?” I questioned, putting the shoes and the book on the old table.
“Yes,” he stepped closer to me.
“What would you have done if I wasn’t here?”
“I would have left these and texted you letting you know they were here with an invitation to my birthday party.”
“You want me to be a guest at your birthday party,” I beamed.
“No baby, I want you as my date to my birthday party,” he corrected me.
I ran to him, clung tightly and claimed his mouth. That was all I could think about from the moment I saw him walk through the door.
I was hungry, downright starving, and standing before me was the feast I was craving.
He pulled away and held my face in his hands. “You are so fucking beautiful, but this is not why I came.”
Was he rejecting me?
Chapter 15
Richard
“I don’t care why you came.” She grabbed my hand and headed up the stair. “Bed on the second floor.”
I followed in pursuit. “You call this a bed?” I laughed at the twin sized bunkbed in the room.
“Would you rather the floor? I think you can get creative if you try,” she teased, undressing with a hurried need.
I did not take long to remove my own clothing and lifted her onto the small bunk. “Top or bottom, baby?” I rasped into her ear.
“Surprise me,” she giggled.
I laid her gently on the bed and took my place above her. “Not much wiggle room.”
“I don’t need you to wiggle, I need you to fuck me. We can play later.” She was direct, to the point. I watched her face glow with arousal. My own arousal was coaxed by her dominatrix behavior.
“You don’t have to ask me twice.” My lips curved into a wicked smile. I reached for my pants and searched my pockets, groaned and swore under my breath.
She placed her palms on my toned masculine chest. “Have you had unprotected sex since the last time we were together?” Was that a hint of jealousy in her voice?
“No… I haven’t had sex since we’ve been together,” I admitted.
“Well, then, haven’t we already crossed that bridge?” she laughed as she took my pants and threw them aside.
I claimed her mouth first. We teased each other with our tongues. I took in her scent. It had a hint of something sweet. I ran my tongue across the center cleavage to her breast. “You’re sweeter than the last time I tasted you. You’re going to give me a sweet tooth.”
She returned the favor, tracing my steps and finding the spot below my chin that tickled. ”You’re still salty,” she told me as her hands ran across the ripples of my abs and lower, ”and hard.”
She blushed and I lowered my mouth to her pert, exposed breasts and sucked them hungrily. She shuddered and moaned at my touch. I nipped at them and she squealed with delight.
I returned to her mouth, probing with my tongue, ravishing her naturally pink lips until they were swollen from thoroughly being made love to. They were hot, decadent. I feathered kisses along her jawbone and down to the sensitive part of her neck just under her ear.
I pinched her nipples between my fingers, hardening to my touch. My hands gripped her tiny waist for a moment before exploring downwards. My arousal was throbbing between us, touching her intimately.
I moved my hands to the small of her back and pulled her into me. There was little room for foreplay. It didn’t matter — she was hot, dripping and opened.
In one long thrust, I impaled her on my engorged cock.
“I’m too far to take my time. I can’t hold back any longer, baby.” I put my hands on her bottom and raised her to me. I pulled out and thrust into her in one smooth move, so deep that she gasped.
“Did I hurt you, baby?” I paused. “You’re so fucking tight, I’m afraid if I push too hard I might hurt you. But I want you so bad if I start,” I hesitated, “I wouldn’t be able to stop, god help me.” I stared into the depths of her blue eyes, “Do you want me to stop?”
“No,” she said fiercely, wrapping her legs around me as far as they’d go, “don’t stop.”
The rise and fall of our bodies was so powerful, so lustful, the bed rose from the floor. With each thrust, each push, each pull of each other, we never lost the connection. The cool air in the lighthouse made me more aware of the heat our bodies were generating.
She was clinging to my shoulders, her nails digging into my flesh. I didn’t care; she could take care of that for me later. Now all I wanted was to claim her so deep, so completely, that she would never be satisfied with anyone other than me ever again.
I never wanted anyone else's scent on her except mine. I was being predatory, marking my territory.
I knew I was succeeding. Her head was thrashing side to side. Her body arched so high it took little effort for me to find myself buried balls deep inside her. Her eyes were shut tight.
“I love your beautiful blue eyes, don’t close them,” I cajoled.
She opened them and held my gaze. They were glistening from sheer enjoyment. They danced and sparkled. That only enticed me to grow harder, hungrier. The sound emanating from her was nothing I had never heard before.
There was a sound I had not heard yet. I would get it from her before I was done. I needed to position her just right and I knew it would come.
She would come.
I gripped her hips and held her tight. I needed her to let me take control. It was the only way I was going to get what I wanted. I placed one hand on her bottom and tilted her slightly as I piston into her.
That was it, the spot I had been looking for. Now I knew where it was, I was never going to forget it, or that pitching shriek that came from me finding it.
It was more than finding that spot. More than fulfilling my own needs. It was about the look on her face, the flushing of her skin when I penetrated her so deep, it laid her practically unconscious from the explosion it created.
“You first, Mac, let it go, then I’ll fall.”
“I’ve already fallen,” her voice soft, yet holding something ominous.
Could I allow himself to believe she had fallen for me?
I let myself spill into her knowing she was the first woman I had made love to without the obstruction of a condom. I marvell
ed at the feeling of her walls tightening around me.
I had brought women to the brink before. Many times, many women; why did I feel this woman’s pleasure was the most important thing in my life at this moment?
She continued to cling to me. I was sweating from the physicality I expended. It took me a few minutes to regain normal breathing. I propped myself onto my elbows, careful not to put too much pressure on her thin frame as to not crush her.
She brushed the sweat from my brow and ran her fingers through my hair. “Now who’s wet?”
I brought her hands to my chest. “Still beating, you haven’t broken anything, yet.”
“We should get to the cabin before we both catch a cold.” She reached for her clothes and began to dress.
The mood had changed so quick, her moves almost mechanical. What had happened in the few seconds between total satisfaction and the look of despair on her face? I felt cold where the warmth from her body had just been. I pulled on my clothing and followed her down the stairs.
“Mac, what’s going on? Talk to me,” I coaxed.
She bit her bottom lip and attempted to return her fallen hair into it’s constricting bun. “I’m embarrassed,” she whispered, the words low as she held her eyes downwards, unable to meet mine. “I just threw myself at you, I saw you and...you said that’s not why you came.”
The hurt I saw in her beautiful blue eyes resonated with me. She thought I was rejecting her. I could never reject her. I wanted her. I wanted only her. I needed her to understand. I did not want her for one night, not just for sex.
I wanted her to share my bed, my love, my life.
“That’s not why I came, no, but make no mistake — I want you more than I want to breath right now,” I assured her.
“Just not for only now.”
“What are you asking, Richard?”
“I don’t know. I do know I want to wake up with you in my bed tomorrow, the next day, and the next.”
“You don’t do relationships, you told me yourself.”
Manwhore Heir (The Heirs Book 2) Page 7
