“Look at you now. You’ve truly accomplished the amazing.”
He stared out over the dark water and the darker night sky. “Too late to give anything to them… It took me a while to find my footing. Too long.”
“Good God, Seth, you’re all of what…”
“Thirty-eight.”
“A self-made billionaire by thirty-eight.” Her laugh stroked over his senses like the ocean breeze. “I wouldn’t call that a slow start.”
But he was still chasing dreams around the country. “I didn’t set out on this path. I wanted to fly for the Air Force, even started ROTC at the University of Miami, but lost out on a medical snafu that isn’t an issue anywhere but the Air Force. So I finished my degree and came home. Ran a flight school while flying my veterinarian cousin around to farms until the family all relocated to South Carolina.”
He could feel her undivided attention on him. He wasn’t sure why he was spilling all of this about himself, but somehow the words kept coming out. Strange as hell since she’d been on the mark in calling him a loner in spite of his large family.
“I wrestle with wanting to give my kids everything while worrying about teaching them working class values. I think about it a lot, how to help them have their own sense of accomplishment.”
“The fact that you’re even thinking about it says you’re ahead of the game.” She reached for his hand this time, linking her fingers and squeezing. “You do well by them.”
He lifted her hand to kiss her wrist. “You grew up in a privileged world but came out with a strong work ethic. Any tips?”
She laughed bitterly. “My parents had shallow values, spending every penny they inherited to indulge themselves. My father bankrupted the family trust fund, or rather I should say they both did. Now, I have to work in order to eat like most of the rest of the world, which isn’t a tragedy or sob story. Just a reality.”
He’d known about her father’s crappy management of the family’s finances and sportswear line. But… “What about your marriage settlement?”
“We signed a prenup. My father’s lawyers were worried Travis was a fortune hunter. I told Travis I didn’t care about any contracts but he insisted.” She spread her arms without letting go of his hands. “No alimony for either of us.”
Frustration spiked inside him. “He doesn’t care that you were left penniless? The jackass.”
“Stop right there.” She squeezed his hand insistently. “I signed the prenup, too, and I don’t want your sympathy.”
“Okay, I hear you.”
What was she thinking right now? He wished he was better at understanding the working of a woman’s mind. He’d brought her to the island for seduction, and somehow, out here tonight, they’d ended up talking about things he didn’t share with others. But Alexa had a way of kicking down barriers, and he’d had as much sharing as he could take for one night.
The rush of the ocean pulling at the sand under his feet seemed as if it tugged the rest of the world with it. He’d brought Alexa to this island for a reason: to seduce her so thoroughly he could work through this raw connection they felt.
Except, as he leaned in to kiss her, he was beginning to realize the chances of working her out of his system was going to be damn near impossible.
Her hand flattened to his chest. “Stop.”
“What?” His voice came out a little strangled, but he held himself still. If a woman said no, that meant no.
“Last time we did this, you were the boss.” She slid from her lounger and leaned over to straddle his hips. The warm core of her seared his legs even through her cotton dress and his slacks. “This time, Seth, I’m calling the shots.”
Seven
Seth’s brain went numb.
Did Alexa actually intend to have sex with him outside, in a seaside cabana? If so, she wouldn’t get an argument from him. He was just surprised, since she’d insisted on leaving his bed the night before. He’d assumed she was more reserved given how she’d wanted to keep the light off.
Although the way she tugged at his shirttails, he couldn’t mistake her intent, or her urgency.
Moonbeams bathed her in a dim amber glow. Still straddling his hips, Alexa yanked the hem free then ripped, popping the buttons, sending them flying into the sand. Surprise snapped through him just as tangibly. Apparently he’d underestimated her adventurous spirit.
Wind rolled in from the ocean across his bare chest. His body went on alert a second before her mouth flicked, licked and nipped at his nipple the way he’d lavished attention on her the night before.
He cupped her hips, his fingers digging into the cottony softness of her bunched dress. “I like the way you think, Alexa.”
“Good, but you need to listen better.” She clasped his wrists and pulled them away. “This is my turn to be in control.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Grinning at her, he rested his hands on the lounger’s armrests, eager to see her next move.
Wriggling closer, she sketched her mouth over his, over to his ear. “You won’t be sorry.”
Her hands worked his belt buckle free, her cool fingers tucking inside to trace down the length of his arousal. He throbbed in response, wanted to ditch their clothes and roll her onto the sandy ground. The more she stroked and caressed, the more he ached to do the same to her. But every time he started to move, she stopped.
Once he stilled again, she nipped his ear or his shoulder, her fingers resuming the torturously perfect glide over him. His fingers gripped the rests tighter, until the blood left his hands.
Alexa swept his pants open further, shifting. As he started to move with her, she placed a finger over his lips. “Shh… I’ve got this.”
Sliding from his lap, she knelt between his legs and took him in her mouth, slowly, fully. Moist, warm ecstasy clamped around him, caressed him. His head fell back against the chair, his eyes closing, shutting out all other sensation except the glide of her lips and tongue.
Her hands clamped on his thighs for balance. With his every nerve tuned into the feel of her, even her fingers digging into his muscles ramped his pulse higher. Wind lifted her hair, gliding it over his wrist. The silky torment almost sent him over the edge.
The need to finish roared inside him, too much, too close. He wasn’t going there without her. Time for control games to come to an end.
He clasped her under her arms and lifted her with ease, bringing her back to his lap.
“Condom,” he growled through clenched teeth. “In my wallet. Leftover from the hotel.”
Laughing softly, seductively, she reached behind him and tucked her fingers into his back pocket. The stroke of her hand over his ass had him gritting his teeth with restraint. Then she pitched his wallet to the ground with a wicked glint in her eyes.
What the hell?
She leaned sideways, toward the table of wine and cheese. Pitching aside a napkin, she uncovered a stack of condoms. “I came prepared.”
His eyebrows rose at the pile of condoms, a dozen or so. “Ambitiously so.”
“Is that a problem?” She studied him through her lashes.
God, he loved a challenge and this woman was turning out to be a surprise in more ways than one since she’d blasted into his life such a short time ago. “I look forward to living up to your expectations.”
“Glad to hear it.” She tore open one of the packets and sheathed him slowly.
Backlit by the crescent moon, she stood. She bunched the skirt of her dress and swept her panties down, kicking them aside. A low growl of approval rumbled inside him as he realized her intent. She straddled him again, inching the hem of her dress up enough so the hot heat of her settled against his hard-on.
Cradling his face in her hands, she raised up on her knees to kiss him. Her dress pooled around them, concealing her from view as she lowered herself onto the length of his erection. The moist clamp of her gripped him, drew him inside until words scattered like particles of sand along the beach.
The scent of
the ocean clung to her skin. Unable to resist, he tasted her, trekking along her bared shoulder and finding the salty ocean flavor clung to her skin. He untied the halter neck of her dress, the fabric slithering down to reveal a lacy strapless bra. Her creamy breasts swelled just above the cups and with a quick flick of his fingers, he freed the front clasp.
Freed her.
Lust pumped through him along with anticipation. He filled his hands with the soft fullness, the shadowy beauty of her just barely visible in the moonlight.
His thumbs brushed the pebbly tips. “Someday we’re going to make love on a beach with the sun shining down, or in a room with all the lamps on so I can see the bliss on your face.”
“Someday…” she echoed softly.
Were those shadows in her eyes or just the play of clouds drifting past?
Her face lowered to his, blocking out the view and his thoughts as she sealed her mouth to his, demanding, giving and taking. With the lighting dim, his other senses heightened. The taste of her was every bit as intoxicating as the lingering hint of red wine on her tongue. Burying himself deep inside her, deeper still, he reveled in the purr of pleasure vibrating in her throat.
He stroked down her spine until his hands tucked under her bottom. Her soft curves in his palms, he angled her nearer, burning for more of her, more of them together. Her husky sighs and moans grew louder and closer together. Damn good thing since he was balancing on the edge himself, fulfillment right there for the taking.
Waves crashed in the distance, echoing the rush of his pulse pounding in his ears. Sand rode the air and clung to the perspiration dotting their skin, the gritty abrasion was arousing as she writhed against him. He tangled his hand into her satiny hair and gently tugged her head back. Exposing her breasts to his mouth, he took the tip of one tight bud and rolled it lightly between his teeth.
She sighed, her back arching hard and fast, her chanted “yes, yes, yes,” circling him. Wrapping and pulsing around him like the moist spasms of her orgasm. Her cries of completion mingled with the roar of crashing waves.
Blasting through his own restraint.
Thrusting through her release, he triggered another in her just as he came. The force slammed through him, powerful and eclipsing everything else as he flew apart inside her into a pure flat spin nosedive into pleasure. His arms convulsed around her with the force of his completion.
He forced his fist open to release her hair even though she hadn’t so much as whimpered in complaint. In fact, her head stayed back even as he relinquished her hair, the locks lifted and whipped by the wind into a tangled mass.
Gasping, she sagged on top of him, her bared breasts against his heaving chest. He didn’t have a clue how long it took him to steady his breathing, but Alexa still rested in his arms. He retied the top of her sundress with hands not quite as steady as he would like. She nuzzled his neck with a soft, sated sigh.
He slid from under her, smoothing her dress over her hips, covering her with more than a little regret. With luck, though, there would be more opportunities to peel every stitch of clothing from her body.
For now, though, it was time to go inside. He refastened his pants and tucked the remaining condoms in his pocket. Not much he could do about his shirt since the buttons were scattered on the beach. He snagged the nursery pager and clipped it to his waistband before turning back to Alexa.
Scooping her in his arms, he started barefoot toward the mansion. She looped her arms around his neck, her head lolling onto his shoulder. Climbing the steps to their second floor suite, he walked through the patio filled with topiaries, ferns and flowering cacti. He’d enjoyed her power play on the beach. It had certainly paid off for both of them. But that didn’t mean he was passing over control completely.
Tonight, she would sleep in his bed.
Alexa stretched in the massive sleigh bed, wrapped in the delicious decadence of Egyptian cotton sheets and the scent of making love with Seth. She stared around the unfamiliar surroundings, taking in oil paintings and heavy drapery.
She dimly remembered him carrying her from the beach to his bed. For a second, she’d considered insisting he take her to her room and leave her there. But his arms felt so good around her and she’d been so deliciously sated from their time in the cabana, she’d simply cuddled against his chest and slept.
God, had she ever slept. She couldn’t remember when she’d last had eight uninterrupted hours. Could be because every muscle in her body had relaxed.
Yes, she knew she hadn’t turned on the glaring lights, literally and in theory, by avoiding telling him about the issues in her past. But taking control last night had given her the confidence to invite Seth the rest of the way into her life.
Through the thick wood door, she heard voices in the other room; Seth’s mingled with the babble of the twins. She smiled, looking forward to the day already. Except her suitcase and other clothes were in her bedroom, and she couldn’t walk out there as is with the children nearby.
Swinging her feet to the floor, she grabbed her dress off the wing chair and pulled it on hastily. The crumpled cotton shouted that she’d spent the night with a man, but at least the twins wouldn’t pick up on that. She could say “good morning” to them and then zip into her room to put on something fresh before she greeted the rest of the household.
At the door, she paused by a crystal vase of lisianthus with blooms that resembled blue roses. She plucked one out, snapped the stem and tucked the blossom behind her ear. Her hands gravitated to the flowers, straightening two of the blooms again so they were level with the rest, orderly. Perfect. She pulled open the door to the living area.
Another voice mingled in the mix.
An adult female voice.
Alexa froze in the open doorway. She scoured the room. Seth sat in a chair at the small writing desk, a twin on each knee as they faced the laptop computer in the middle of a Skype conversation.
A young woman’s face filled the screen, her voice swelling from the speakers. “How are my babies? I’ve missed you both so very, very much.”
Oh, God. It couldn’t be. Not right now.
If Alexa had harbored any doubts as to the woman’s identity, both babies chanted, “Ma-ma, Ma-ma, Ma-ma.”
“Olivia, Owen, I’m here.” Her voice echoed with obvious affection.
Pippa Jansen wasn’t at all what she’d expected.
For starters, the woman didn’t appear airheaded; in fact she had a simple, auburn-haired glamour. She wore a short-sleeved sweater set and pearls. From the log cabinlike walls and mountainous backdrop behind Pippa, she didn’t appear to be at a plush spa or cruise ship getaway as Alexa had assumed.
Pippa didn’t look to be partying or carefree. She appeared…tired and sad. “Mommy’s just resting up, like taking a good nap, but I’ll see you soon. We’ll have yogurt and play in the sandbox. Kisses and hugs.” She pressed a hand to her lips then wrapped her arms around herself. “Kisses and hugs.”
Olivia and Owen blew exuberant baby kisses back. Both babies were so happy, so blissfully unaware. Alexa’s heart ached for both of them. Her hands twitchy, she straightened a leather-bound volume of Don Quixote on a nearby end table.
Tension radiated from Seth’s shoulders as he held a baby on each knee. “Pippa, while I understand your need for a break, I need some kind of reassurance that you’re not going to drop off the map again once we hang up. I need to be able to reach you if there’s an emergency.”
“I promise.” Her voice wavered. “I’ll check in regularly from now on. I wouldn’t have left this way if I wasn’t desperate. I know I should have stayed to tell you myself, but I was scared you would say no, and I really needed a break. I watched through an airport window until you got on your plane. Please don’t be angry with me.”
“I’m not mad,” he said, not quite managing to hide the irritation in his voice. “I just want to make sure you’re all right. That you never feel desperate.”
“This time away is good for
me, really. I’ll be back to normal when I come back to Charleston.”
“You know I would like to have the children more often. When you’re ready to come back, we can hire more help when they’re with you, but we can’t have a repeat of what happened at the airport. The twins’ safety has to come first.”
“You’re right.” She fidgeted with her pearls, her nails chewed down. “But I don’t think we should talk about this now, in front of the babies.”
“You’re right, but we do have to discuss it. Soon.”
“Absolutely.” She nodded, almost frantically, pulling a last smile for the babies. “Bye-bye, be good for Daddy. Mommy loves you.”
Her voice faded along with her picture as the connection ended. Olivia squealed, patting the screen while Owen blew more kisses.
Alexa sagged against the door frame. She’d been prepared to hate Pippa for the way she’d been so reckless with her kids. And while she still wasn’t ready to let the woman off the hook completely, she saw a mother running on fumes. Someone who was stressed and exhausted. She saw a mother who genuinely loved her children. Pippa had obviously reached her breaking point and had wisely taken them to their father before she snapped.
Of course sticking around to explain that to him would have been a far safer option. But life wasn’t nearly as black and white as she’d once believed.
She’d seen Seth angry, frustrated, driven, affectionate, turned on… But right now, as Seth stared at the empty computer screen, she saw a broad-shouldered, good man who was deeply sad.
A man still holding conflicted feelings for his ex-wife.
Seth set each of his kids onto the floor and wished the weight on his shoulders was as easy to move.
Talking to Pippa had only made the situation more complicated just when he really could have used some simplicity in his personal life. He and Alexa had taken their relationship to a new level last night, both with the sex and sharing the bed. And he’d looked forward to cementing that relationship today—and tonight.
Billionaire's Jet Set Babies Page 10
