Between the Sheets

by P. J. Mellor

  The food was great, as usual, which made him proud. The service was better. Attentive but unobtrusive, their server anticipated their every need.

  Will made a mental note to commend the waiter.

  “I’m stuffed.” Beth leaned back against the red leather booth and sighed. “I can’t eat another bite,” she said when the waiter approached with the dessert tray.

  “You have to try the chocolate turtle cheesecake; it’s a customer favorite.” At her quick look, he hurried to say, “Or that’s what I’ve heard, anyway. How about splitting a piece?”

  Reluctantly, she agreed but ended up taking only a couple of bites.

  “You didn’t like it?” He took another bite and a sip of coffee.

  “I loved it. But, like I said, I’m stuffed. If I keep eating like that, I won’t be able to fit into my bathing suits.”

  An image of her, topless, flashed in his mind. If he had his way, she’d stay naked. Completely naked.

  Tourist or not, he knew in that instant, he was going to break his own rule.

  He was going to have sex with a tourist. And, if at all possible, as often as possible for however long she stayed in Crystal Key.

  He’d worry about the wisdom of it later.

  “What?” Beth set her cup on the saucer and blotted her mouth. “Do I have something on my face?”

  “Hmm? No, why?”

  “You were staring at my mouth.”

  “I was?” He made a covert adjustment and leaned forward, taking her hand. “Maybe that’s because I was thinking about kissing you.”

  “Here?” Her voice squeaked.

  Smiling, he stood, pulling her to her feet. “All over,” he said in a low voice as he steered her toward the exit. He leaned close to her ear and whispered, “But not in public.”

  She stopped, lagging back as they got to the door. “Aren’t you going to pay for dinner?”

  Damn.

  “They have my card on file; they’ll just bill me,” he said, pulling her onto the sidewalk.

  “You must be a very good customer,” she said, falling into step beside him.

  “You have no idea,” he muttered. Louder, he said, “Would you like a quick tour of our booming metropolis?”

  They took a few steps before she answered. “I think I’ll take a rain check. It’s dark, plus I’m really kind of tired. I think I’m going to call it a night.”

  “No problem. I’ll take you home.” He turned and walked in the direction of the marina.

  “Thanks, but I brought the dinghy.”

  “It’s dark and you’re tired. I insist. Just let me swing by my place to get my boat key. I live by the marina, so it’s not even out of our way.”

  Boy, he wasn’t kidding about it being close, she thought a few minutes later when he unlocked the door of a beach house located on the other side of the dock from the bay.

  “I bought this place because it had a dock for my boat,” he said, flipping the light switch. A modest chandelier illuminated the small navy-blue-marble-tiled entry. “I figured it would save a lot of time. Whenever I wanted to get away, my boat would be right there, ready.”

  “Do you find you need to get away a lot?” She glanced around, wondering where his bedroom was and if he planned to take her there.

  Dangerous thoughts. Must be the champagne talking. “Will, thank you for dinner. I had a great time. But I really do need to head back. It’s not necessary for you to go to all the trouble of taking your boat out, then having to come back, when I’m perfectly capable of going back the way I came.”

  He paused in his search of the drawer in his hall table, then straightened and walked toward her.

  Dang, he was hot. Tall and yummy-looking in khakis, an ecru linen sports coat, and an open-neck pale yellow shirt.

  He shrugged out of his jacket and hung it on the back of a chair by the door, then pulled her into his arms.

  Whatever aftershave he wore made her mouth water. It had to be strong in order for her to smell it over her gardenia stench.

  He nuzzled her neck. “You smell so good. Like fresh flowers.”

  Tell me about it.

  He kissed his way up her neck to her ear. “It makes me want to lick you. All over.”

  She could live with that. Her knees threatened to buckle. Maybe going home alone was not such a great idea after all. She pushed out of his embrace and reached for the door.

  “Well, if you insist, I guess it would be nice—if you took me home, I mean.” Although the idea of Will kissing her all over certainly had merit. “We can tie the dinghy to your boat, right?” He nodded. “And, since you’ll be going to the trouble of taking me back to Salsa Time, the least I can do is offer you a nightcap.”

  “What’s the most you would do?” he teased as he locked his door on their way out.

  “Don’t push your luck, King.”

  5

  “Your staff is still not aboard?” Will looked around the lounge while Beth popped the cork on another bottle of champagne.

  She looked up from pouring. “Um, no, I mean, I guess they’ve already turned in for the night.”

  “Hmm. I’d have thought at least one of them would have waited up for you. After all, you’re their boss.”

  Wracking her brain, she tried to remember if the staff usually hung around until the Holms were in bed. Since she usually retired by the time the children called it a night, she had no idea. “Oh, um, we’re very informal around here.” She shrugged and handed him a champagne flute. “I’m pretty self-sufficient. If I need anything, I can always buzz them.”

  “They’re not here, are they?” He took her glass and set it on the bar with his, then tilted her face.

  Crap. Now what? At least part of the truth was better than an outright lie. “No, I gave them some time off.”

  “Were you afraid to tell me?” His mouth was so close now, she could feel his breath on her lips.

  “Not really.” She licked her lips. “I just didn’t see the point.”

  “Liar,” he whispered into her mouth as he leaned into the kiss.

  Holy crap. She’d forgotten the potency of Will’s kisses. Tiny droplets of perspiration popped out all over her body. Was she glistening?

  Regardless, her muscles were rapidly taking on the consistency of overcooked spaghetti. Her knees refused to hold her weight. Had his arms not been clutching her, she knew she’d slide to his feet, a pathetic puddle of needy goo.

  Not a pretty picture, but there you have it.

  He slid his hand up to push the ribbon straps from her shoulders.

  Weak, she clung to his lips while gripping the sides of his shirt. It was either that or fall over. Plus, there was the fact that she didn’t want the semiorgasmic kiss to end.

  Reality hit her square in the face about the same time her most expensive silk dress hit the floor.

  It wasn’t fear of intimacy. It wasn’t fear of being seen naked—she knew she was in fairly decent shape. It wasn’t even fear of someone seeing her underwear. A part of her had planned for just such an opportunity, so she had donned her prettiest undergarments.

  It was the extra secret in her Victoria’s Secret, the little glob packets she’d found in the bathroom drawer that she’d impetuously stuck into the cups of her strapless bra to give her girls an added oomph.

  In hindsight, it had been a stupid thing to do. The guy had already seen her breasts. Besides which, to be totally honest, she’d hoped they’d end up naked after dinner.

  In the back of her mind, she must have also planned to undress herself, either in the dark or in the privacy of the bathroom.

  Yes, that must have been her plan, she thought, easing out of Will’s embrace. Changing in the bathroom, alone, then making a grand entrance in…well, something sexy and spectacular.

  The only problem with that plan was the sexiest thing she owned now lay warming her feet. She usually slept in old T-shirts or, if it was really hot or she was sunburned, just in a thong.

&
nbsp; Note to self: buy lingerie.

  “Let’s take this to my cabin,” she said, dousing the lights.

  Unfortunately, she was a fraction of a second too late. Her words were scarcely out of her mouth before she felt the hooks at her back release.

  Her bra, thanks to its extra packing, shot away from her like a slingshot, knocking their champagne glasses across the bar.

  “Crap!” She dove toward the sound, her eyes rapidly adjusting to the moonlight. “It’s okay,” she called from where she crouched behind the bar. “They didn’t break.” Thank goodness. Grabbing a bar towel, she mopped the sticky trails from the cabinet doors as much as possible, then tried to soak up the liquid on the bar mat.

  “Do I make you nervous?” Will’s voice ruffled the hair by her ear, making her shriek and jump. Her head smacked the underside of the bar. “Are you okay?”

  Arm around her, his hand suspiciously close to the underside of her breast, he eased her to a standing position.

  “Well?” Arms around her again, he swayed from side to side.

  Eyes clenched shut, she burrowed against the solid wall of his chest, inhaling the subtle scent of fabric softener and aftershave. It was a potent combination. She had no problem with staying right where she was, but it probably wasn’t going to happen.

  Gathering her courage, she looked up at him. If possible, he was even better-looking in the filtered moonlight. “I think I’ve done about all the damage I can in here. Let’s see what I can do to the bedroom.”

  A low sexy chuckle sent goose bumps down her spine. No doubt about it, she also wanted to see what he could do in the bedroom.

  He eased her around the bar, moving toward the door she indicated, which led to the hallway, then stopped abruptly. “Wait. I stepped on something.”

  “It’s okay.” She tugged when he bent. “I’m sure it’s nothing important. We can check it out later.”

  “Turn on the light. I want to see what it is.”

  Do we have to? “I’m sure it’s nothing.” Tug, tug.

  “Whatever it is, it’s cold and gooey.”

  “Here, give it to me!” Feeling in the shadow, she snatched the slippery glob out of his hand, trying to think how she was going to explain to Mrs. Holms that Will had killed her cleavage, and tossed it in the general vicinity of the trash behind the bar. “There. Done.” She pulled him down the corridor. “Now, where were we?”

  She’d gone too far to quit now. Dang it, she was going to get laid if it killed her.

  Moonlight shining through the window gilded the room where it reflected on the silk bedspread and the deep wood of the built-ins.

  Along their walk down the corridor, Beth had removed Will’s shirt. When he let out a low whistle upon seeing the master suite, she knew how he felt, looking at his tanned chest.

  Wasting no time, she plastered her bare chest against his and licked the base of his throat.

  “What are you doing?” he said on a laugh, hugging her close.

  “Trying to get your attention.” On tiptoe, she nipped the tip of his chin. “Is it working?”

  “Oh, yeah.” He bent his knees, scooped her off her feet, and carried her to the bed, where he followed her down to the silky softness.

  The silk at her back made her squirm almost as much as what Will was doing to her front.

  After another toe-curling kiss, he licked and kissed his way down her receptive body, pausing along the way at all the interesting parts.

  He circled her navel with the tip of his tongue, then kissed each hip bone while sliding his hands under her hips to cup her buttocks.

  His growl vibrated a place deep within her.

  He nipped the tender skin just above Beth’s pubic bone, eliciting a moan. “God, I love a woman in a thong.” He had a strong suspicion he literally loved the woman spread before him but didn’t want to freak her out. Not yet, anyway.

  Her abdomen contracted beneath his lips as she tried to sit up, reaching toward his waistband. “One of us has on too many clothes,” she said.

  “You’re right.” Hooking his fingers beneath the thin side straps of her thong, he pulled them from her in one quick move. Her skin was baby soft and smooth. Everywhere. His fingers traced the fine white stripe of her tan line, which widened just enough to cover her hairless pussy.

  A dark spot, low on her abdomen, very low, caught his eye. “What’s that?” He touched the tip of his finger to it and felt her recoil.

  Her hand shot to the spot, hiding it. “Nothing.” Sitting up, she reached for his zipper. “Your turn. Take them off.”

  He shook his head, then, in case she couldn’t see him, he said, “Not yet, darlin’.”

  Grasping an ankle in each hand, he toppled her to her back as he pulled her toward the edge of the big mattress until he could place her ankles over his shoulders, deliberately making her vulnerable to him.

  Before she could react, he lowered his head, swiping his tongue along her sweet-scented folds. She moaned, arching her hips. He smiled against her flesh, then tickled her with the tip of his tongue.

  She squirmed on the bed, arching her hips, tilting her pelvis higher.

  Clasping the tops of her thighs, he dipped his head again, sucking her into his mouth, rolling her engorged nubbin with his tongue, then sucking it deeper into his mouth. Again and again he performed the act he’d wanted to do with her since he first saw her in her barely-there bathing suit, the current beneath the water jiggling her breasts like a siren calling to him.

  But it wasn’t a siren; it was Beth herself. Her pure sexuality had him wanting to beat on his chest, drag her to his cave, and claim her as his mate.

  Beneath his hands, the muscles of her silky thighs vibrated. The tender flesh against his mouth softened and swelled, becoming slick with her desire.

  He fluttered his tongue against her swollen flesh, eliciting a moan. Her excited breathing matched his, echoing in the room.

  Spreading her legs wider, he speared her with his tongue, wiggling it deep within her.

  She let out a strangled cry, her back arching off the mattress, her sweet climax filling his mouth while her muscles contracted around his tongue.

  He petted her until she settled down, then quickly stripped. When he reached for her, the mystery spot again snagged his attention.

  What don’t you want me to see, Beth? He flipped on the sconce next to the bed. Still too dark, her abdomen fell in shadow.

  She opened her eyes when he scooped her off the spread and turned back the covers. “About time you undressed,” she said, stretching to kiss his neck. Her shoulders shivered. “Let’s hurry up and get under the covers.”

  Holding her high, he paused on his way to do just that, staring at the tiny burgundy letters tattooed low on her otherwise-perfect skin.

  A capital T with a smaller capital A and M on either side.

  He must have shown his shock, because she gasped and quickly covered the spot.

  Not wanting to get into a discussion while standing naked in the lamplight, he slid her beneath the covers and followed her in.

  He reached to turn off the light, then gathered her close before speaking. “I thought you said you went to Texas.”

  She stiffened against him, but he refused to allow her to put distance between them. Finally, she relaxed against his side, where—as far as he was concerned—she belonged.

  “I do go to UT,” she said in the dark, her breath warming the side of his neck, making it difficult to concentrate on her words. Especially when his body was so happy to be next to her. Especially when they were both naked.

  “Then why the tattoo?”

  Her shrug nudged his armpit. “I was young and stupid.”

  “No offense, but you’d have to be a special kind of stupid to get that tattoo when you went to Texas.”

  Laughing, she gave his shoulder a soft punch. “I wasn’t that stupid!” She sighed. “I was young and thought I was in love. It was spring break, my senior year of high school. M
y boyfriend was already at A&M. I assumed I’d be joining him the following year.” Her deep breath pushed her breasts against his ribs. “Only, I didn’t realize I’d already been replaced.”

  “What an asshole. I can’t believe you were even involved with such a loser.” He trailed kisses along her hairline, sliding his excited body along hers as he stroked her breasts.

  A contented sigh escaped her, her flesh relaxing into his as she stroked his abdomen, her hand going lower with every movement. “I don’t want to talk about the past,” she said, licking his collar bone. “Let’s just say I vowed to never have anything to do with A&M or Aggies again.” Her hand closed around his erection, which was less happy than it had been mere seconds ago but still glad to see her. “I can think of other things I’d rather be doing, can’t you?”

  “Absolutely,” he said, squeezing her breast. He was going to make love to her until they both couldn’t walk straight.

  Then he’d go home and hide every trace of his alma mater, Texas A&M.

  6

  Morning sunshine washed the bed in a pink glow. Beth stretched, smiling as delicious memories of the night before danced through her mind.

  A warm mouth covered her nipple, drawing it deeply into its heat. The faint smell of shampoo from their shower a few hours ago wafted up to her.

  While he sucked, his hands stroked her instantly primed body from his position between her legs. The bump of his erection against her inner thigh told her he’d already donned a condom.

  She bit back a smile, wondering how many they had left. They’d fornicated like Energizer Bunnies all night long.

  Not that she was complaining. She had three days to indulge in whatever she desired. Diving and screwing Will’s brains out sounded like the perfect vacation….

  “It’s about time you woke up,” he said in an early morning, intimate-sounding voice. “I was beginning to think you were unconscious.”

  Drifting in a half-sleep state, she vaguely recalled feeling some very sexy tingles before she came fully awake. She stretched, arching her back, enjoying the intimate wake-up massage she was getting. “You’ve been awake a while,” she said, glancing at his sheathed erection. “Did you start playing without me?”