Darcy sat on a stool at the breakfast bar and sipped a glass of wine as she watched York in action. She was paying attention to how well he handled himself in the kitchen as he went about chopping vegetables to go with the chicken he'd put in the oven to bake.
But her attention went beyond that. For such a tall, well-built guy, he was quick on his feet as he moved around the huge kitchen. It was obvious that he knew his way around the room, which meant he spent a lot of time in it. A man with decent cooking skills was hard to come by these days. And she liked how he could carry on a conversation with her while preparing their food. He liked giving her pointers about how to keep the chicken moist and the easiest way to chop the vegetables so they could retain their nutritional value under heat.
However, what she enjoyed the most was just sitting there and watching him while memories of their one night together continued to consume her. The man was handsome and well built. And his ruggedly handsome features were definitely a plus in her book. He looked good in jeans, and any woman would appreciate the way his muscle shirt covered his broad shoulders. He was definitely eye candy.
She was fairly certain that with his looks and build York could have his pick of women and probably did. Although he'd never brought one to any of the functions Ellie gave, she knew he dated a lot. She'd heard that right after his lover's death he had quit the NYPD and traveled abroad for a year with another one of his godbrothers by the name of Zion Blackstone. Zion had continued living abroad but York had returned to the States and instead of returning to work as a police officer, he had opened his own security firm with money his grandmother had left for him when she'd died. That had been over five years ago, and now his security business was a successful one, and he had nine employees working for him.
“Tell me about some of the cases your company has handled.”
He glanced up at her and smiled. “Why? You thinking about changing professions?”
She chuckled. “Um, you never know. Right now, anything would be more appealing than having to deal with the politics of getting things done. Everyone loves New York, but my job is to make sure they continue to love it. Budget cuts haven't helped things.”
“I'm sure they haven't.” He then began telling her about one of his cases that involved protecting a well-known celebrity from an overzealous fan. “The woman was eventually arrested,” he said.
Darcy nodded. She had her favorite celebrities but couldn't for the life of her imagine herself stalking any of them.
“Everything is almost ready. I can give you a tour of the place while we're waiting for the chicken to finish baking.”
“Thanks. I'd like that.”
York thought that the only thing better than a woman who looked good was one who smelled good as well. And Darcy smelled good. He wasn't sure of what cologne she was wearing tonight, but it was one that made everything inside of him feel primitive and male each time he sniffed it.
She walked beside him as he took her from room to room. It was a big place, but it was cozy enough for him and he made use of every available space. But then he didn't believe in overcrowding. He had hired a private decorator and had been pleased with the results.
As soon as he entered his bedroom and saw his huge bed, he immediately thought of Darcy sharing it with him. And he had a feeling before the night was over, she would. He'd told her on the way here that he wanted her. Nothing had changed. And he'd been aware of how she had been watching him while he'd prepared dinner. Knowing that her eyes had been on him, studying his every move, had made him want her even more.
When they returned to the living room, she sat down on the leather sofa; he sat opposite her on the matching love seat. He watched her cross her legs and clasp her hands together in her lap. The simple gestures turned him on. She had that much of an impact on him without even trying.
And then he watched as she took a sip from her wine glass and remembered just how well she could use that mouth of hers. Suddenly he envisioned Darcy in his bed riding him while he kissed her senseless. He imagined them flipping positions so he could ride her. And just like before, he would ride her hard.
He sat there and listened while she talked, telling him more about her job and then about some of the escapades she and Ellie had gotten into as children. When he asked her about the prank they had once played on Uriel, she told him how she had talked a sixteen-year-old Ellie into kissing Uriel on a dare. Uriel had been in college at the time and hadn't liked it one bit. In fact, it had taken him a while to get over it and his anger had been with Darcy just as much as it had been with Ellie. He could tell by the sparkle in her eyes and the laughter in her voice while she retold the story that she still thought what happened that day had been funny, especially when a furious twenty-one-year-old Uriel had found out he'd been set up by two teenage girls.
York checked his watch before glancing up in time to see her take her last sip of wine. He liked the way the liquid trickled down her throat and remembered how his tongue had licked that part of her. He stood. “Let's get dinner out of the way so we can take a walk on the beach.”
She stood as well and returned his smile. “I'm definitely looking forward to that.”
***
Men, Darcy thought, glancing across the table at York, could be unpredictable creatures at times. On the drive over, York had all but hinted he would jump her bones the first chance he got. Yet, she had been here for a couple of hours and he had yet to make a move on her. She wondered if he really did have plans for them to take a walk on the beach.
“You've gotten quiet on me, Darcy.”
She chuckled, deciding she wouldn't share what she'd been thinking. “Dinner was delicious,” she said, slightly pushing away from the table. And she meant it. He had done an outstanding job.
“Ready to spend some time on the beach?”
So he had been serious. “Sure.”
He glanced down at her shoes. “Go ahead and take them off. You're going to love the feel of the sand beneath your feet.”
“All right.”
She kicked off her sandals and watched as he did the same for his own. She noticed he grabbed a blanket off a shelf before leading her out of his back door. It was dark, and she could hear the sound of the sea roaring through her ears, while the scent of salt water filled her nostrils. He took her hand and they began walking to the beach, which was right in his backyard.
When she'd had thoughts of spending three weeks in Jamaica, her plans included meeting a man with whom she would share a walk on the beach. At the time, she hadn't thought the man would be York.
He'd been right. She liked the feel of the sand beneath her feet, and that combined with the scent of the beach and the knowledge that she had a virile man walking beside her, one whose fingers were entwined with hers, was reminding her of just how much of a woman she was.
It also reminded her of what had happened once already between them and what she looked forward to happening again. Before this trip, she had gone without sex long enough, so wanting to make up for lost time was a strong and healthy urge. Making love to York that night had been like a welcome back to life. She felt good and knew without any doubt that she wanted York again.
“This is a good spot.”
They stopped walking, and he released her hand to spread the blanket on the sand. It was dark, but the brightly lit lantern on his back porch provided enough light to see their surroundings. And then there were the stars that dotted the sky overhead and the full moon right in front of them that cast a romantic glow upon where they were. It was like a scene straight out of one of her romance novels. There was nothing better than a romantic night and an ultra-handsome man. A woman couldn't ask for much more.
“That's that,” York said, interrupting her thoughts. She saw he had finished spreading the blanket out and had turned toward her. He was standing about five feet away, yet she was able to feel the moment their gazes connected. Desire immediately began oozing through her bloodstream. Her lips suddenly felt dry, and s
he automatically ran the tip of her tongue over her bottom lip and was well aware his gaze had followed the movement.
She wanted him. He wanted her. It was all about lust. He knew it, and she knew it, as well. The man had haunted her thoughts since making love to her two nights ago. She had tried convincing herself the reason she'd had gotten so into him the way she had was because he had been her first in two years. But now she knew that excuse wouldn't fly. It was deeper than that. As a lover, he had not only satisfied her yearning but he had also captivated her mind. No other man had been able to do the latter, not even Harold.
She tilted her head as an intense yearning continued to fill her. Refusing to be denied what she wanted, she sauntered toward York, deciding she had no problem making the first move if things called for that. There was a slight breeze in the air that carried moisture to dampen her skin, and the night air seemed to carry the sound of her footsteps in the sand.
There was something about being out on the beach tonight with York and the way he was standing there not moving, watching her and waiting for her to come to him. Her inner thighs clenched with every step she took, and she breathed in deeply when she came to a stop in front of him.
Later, she would wonder why they were opposites capable of becoming magnets that could attract each other in such a volatile way—and why the need to make love to him on the beach was a must do on her list.
He didn't say anything for a long moment. He just stood there and stared at her, letting his gaze roam up and down her as if he could see through her clothes. And then, when she thought she could not take any more of his blatant perusal or the intense yearning filling her to capacity, he reached out and pulled her to him. He pressed her body close to his, letting her feel just how hard and erect he was for her. Her breasts, pressed hard against his chest, began to throb, and she breathed in his scent at the same time she felt a tingling sensation between her thighs.
“I could make love to you out here all night, Darcy.”
His words, spoken in a deep, desire-laced voice, inflamed her mind and she nearly released a groan when she felt the erection pressed against her get even larger. The feel of it sent heat rushing through her, and her breathing became labored. Making love on the beach under the stars with a man had always been a fantasy of hers after reading such a scene in a romance novel. Now here she was with York and a burst of desire, the magnitude of which she'd only ever experienced with him, was taking over her senses.
She studied the gaze staring back at her, saw the need that was as deep as her own. She reached out and pressed her hand to his chest and felt the hard, thumping beat of his heart beneath her palm. How could she feel this immediate desire for him and not for Damien?
She wasn't sure just how much time had elapsed while they stood there, with intense desire building between them by the second. Then, not able to handle the anticipation any longer or the forceful longing, she rose up on her tiptoes, leaned in and took that same tip of her tongue she'd used to moisten her lip earlier and ran it along his jaw. She heard the sound of his heavy breathing in her ear. She heard his moan. She felt the hardness of him swell even more against her belly.
“Will your neighbors see us out here?” she whispered as she continued to use the tip of her tongue to lick underneath his ear. She liked the taste of his skin, hot against her tongue.
“No,” he said huskily. “They can't see a thing. The homes on this beach were built to provide ultimate privacy.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
Taking his word, she stepped back and began removing her dress. To be honest, even if his neighbors could see anything she was beyond stopping at this point. Modesty was the last thing on her mind. Him getting inside of her and stroking her to a powerful orgasm headed the list right now. The prospect of that happening consumed her thoughts. The breeze whispering in off the water did nothing to cool her heat. It merely intensified it.
She eased her dress up to her waist, and it didn't take long to whip the garment over her head. She hadn't worn a bra, and her thong slid down her legs easily. As the breeze flitted across her naked skin, she knew what this night held for her, and she couldn't downplay her body's excitement or the urges that were taking over her mind and making her want him even more. She was filled with the need for him with every catch of her breath.
York had stood there and watched Darcy strip, and now seeing her without clothes did something to him. He quickly unzipped his jeans and removed them. Then came his briefs and shirt. When he stood before her completely naked, he took the time to sheath a condom over his engorged shaft. His hand nearly trembled with the need for her.
Never had he known a woman quite like her, and in a way, he'd known she would be the one to send his mind in a topsy-turvy. He had hit on her that first time, and when she had rejected his interest, he should have been grateful for her sparing his sanity. Instead he had been resentful. Now he knew it hadn't been meant for them to connect then. But now the field was wide open, and there was no stopping them. It had taken two years for him to accept the intensity of his desire for her, even when he hadn't wanted to crave her to such a degree.
He reached out for her. Instead of lowering her on the blanket, he swept her into his arms and began heading toward the water.
“Where are you taking me, York?”
He glanced down at her and smiled. “You'll see.”
And moments later he lowered her naked body into one of those heavyweight vinyl floaters. The inflatable floor cushioned her backside, and he shifted her position to where her legs were spread open. The raft was large enough for more than one person, and he joined her, bracing himself against the side to stare down at her, taking note of the position he'd placed her in, all spread open for him to see. He then took his hand and traced a path up her inner thigh. Then his fingers began inching inside of her, and he studied the emotions that crossed her face when they did.
“You're hot,” he said in a deep, husky tone. “You're still tight, and I plan to loosen you up a bit.”
“Is that a promise?” she asked, in a whimpering tone.
“Definitely a promise.”
And then he shifted positions to straddle her while simultaneously sliding his hands beneath her hips to lift her backside to receive him. His entry inside her was swift, and his heart began thumping hard in his chest when his thrust went to the hilt as he spread her legs farther apart, making them hang off the sides of the raft.
He used his hands to push the raft into the water, and as soon as they were afloat, he began moving in and out of her. This was crazy, but he wanted her this way. He wanted her here. Making love to a woman on a raft in the water had always been a fantasy of his and now he was doing it here with Darcy—only with Darcy.
It was a new float, one he had purchased recently, one that hadn't ever been in the water. Now he was using it for the first time, officially christening it with her. With the water flapping beneath them, every stroke inside of her made his want that much more intense.
The low ache in his belly was being appeased with every thrust.
He wanted to make her his.
Why such a thought had even crossed his mind, had lurked its way into his thoughts, he wasn't sure. All he knew at that moment was that he intended to be the only man to ever make love to her in a raft, on the beach or any place else. There would be no Damien Felder in her future. Anyone who knew York was well aware that once he staked a claim about anything that was that. With every lunge into her body, he was doing more than staking a claim; he was declaring possession.
Darcy moaned deep within her throat when York's thrust became ever more powerful. She had fantasized about making love on the beach, but doing so in a raft in the water hadn't crossed her mind. And with each breath she was taking, York was driving into her, pushing her over the edge. His thrusts were hard and so intense she figured they would tumble out of the raft and into the water, never to be heard from again. But he managed to ha
ndle both her and the raft. He might be keeping the watercraft afloat, but her mind and body were drowning in waters so sensual that she had to pull in deep breaths to survive what he was doing.
What if they ended up in one of his neighbors’ backyards or right smack in the middle of the sea? She could see the headlines now. “Man and woman found naked on a raft—bodies can't be pried apart.”
That scenario should concern her, but instead she pushed it to the back of her mind. It couldn't compete with the sensations tearing through her. And when York shifted his body slightly and touched an inner part of her that had never been touched before, she screamed. Then an orgasm rammed through her and shook her to the core. The feelings were so intense that he had to grip down on her to keep her body from pushing them both out of the raft and into the water.
He was stroking her into sweet oblivion, and she closed her eyes and threw her head back when she burst into a second orgasm. She moaned his name, and when his mouth captured her to silence the sound, she felt his body buck above her just seconds before he drove even deeper into her.
He released her mouth, and she bit down on her bottom lip to keep from screaming out again. The motion of the water beneath them sent waves pleasure through her. She opened her eyes and saw he was staring down at her and the sound emitting from between his clenched lips could be considered a growl.
“You're mine, Darcy.”
The strong tread of York's voice floated through her mind. She heard his words but couldn't fathom why he'd said them or what he meant by them. She quickly figured he had gotten caught up in the moment and tomorrow he wouldn't even remember them.
As he continued to push her into another orgasm, she knew his virility was unlimited, his desire was primitive and his ability to bring her pleasure was unprecedented. Her breathing got shallow as sensual bliss took over her mind and body. Her heart raced so fast she thought she might faint.
Several pleasure-filled moments later, her body calmed, and when she felt him lift off her she felt an intense sense of loss. She was too afraid to look around, too nervous about where they might have drifted.
Bachelor Undone Page 9
