He withdrew from the kiss but didn’t let her go. She stared up at him like he was crazy, but at least he had her full attention.
“This isn’t how I planned on bringing this up, but here it is. I’d like to keep up our arrangement when you go back to New York.”
“What do you mean, ‘keep our arrangement’?” Her voice was quiet.
“You and me. Continuing the good times.” He waved his hand back and forth between them, just in case she still didn’t understand what he meant. “That way you can go to the premiere as my date.”
“But we live on separate coasts.” She ducked out of his embrace, the beautiful gown she was still wearing swishing around her ankles. “Long-distance relationships never work.”
“I wouldn’t know because I’ve never been in a relationship before, but I figure they work some of the time.” He took a step toward her, bold and sure, just like his feelings at the moment. “But I’m not trying to pin you down with some hearts-and-flowers exclusive thing.”
Piper stared, her mouth open slightly as she soaked it all in. “Why don’t you explain what you are offering?”
She hadn’t said no, and he took it as a check in the “win” column for now. “I want to keep seeing you when we get off this island and back to the real world.”
That got her going. She strode over to him, coming nose-to-nose before stopping. “Yes, the real world—where we live on two different planets.”
He laughed at her characterization of a couple thousand miles. “There are flights, long weekends.”
“I’m not talking about that difference,” she huffed.
“Tell me what you’re talking about, because all I’m hearing are logistics.” He reined in his temper. This was not going the way he wanted, and he was letting it get the better of him. And as his stomach clenched with emotion, he realized just how much he wanted her to agree.
“Not logistics. Reality.” She laid a hand on his chest, the soft caress in stark contrast to the firm lilt to her words. “We don’t run with the same crowd. You go out with actresses and supermodels, and I date accountants. Sooner or later, you’ll get tired of the novelty and will get another woman, and I’ll look like an idiot—again.”
Mick reached up, gripping her wrist and feeling her pulse thrum in time with his own heartbeat. “I’m not Rojas.”
“You aren’t him. You are a much better man, and I do care about you. But I know how this thing needs to end, and that’s why I won’t let you buy me a fifteen-thousand-dollar dress.”
Mick pulled her close against his body, then leaned down, taking her mouth in a deep, possessive kiss that had Piper moaning and clinging to him.
Mick broke off the kiss, panting heavily as he gazed down into Piper’s blue eyes, shot with equal parts passion and panic. He’d use the passion to his advantage; he’d already warned her didn’t play fair. But they couldn’t just let this end when she got on a plane for New York. It felt unfinished—like they were selling themselves short if they didn’t pursue this as far as it could go. He didn’t know what that meant, but he wasn’t going to blow it off.
He let her go. “You can refuse the dress and you can throw up all the obstacles you want, but this isn’t over.”
Chapter Fourteen
Piper decided that sleepovers weren’t the problem.
The problem wasn’t even the epic sex that left her gasping and aching for more. The problem was the ordinary, in between times with Mick. The times where they talked, read quietly, or napped in the early afternoon, the long dinners they cooked together and accompanied with good wine, better conversation, and candlelight. By unspoken agreement, they’d dropped the subject of continuing their arrangement and had focused on enjoying each other for the remainder of their Hawaiian tryst. Today was their last day, and she knew Mick wanted to talk about what would happen upon their return. But she wasn’t sure how she felt now, after all those ordinary, in between times.
Those were the times that almost convinced her to agree to his crazy desire to pursue this beyond a temporary fling—was there such a thing as a long-term fling?—and that scared her to death. Not because she thought Mick was like Antonio, but because she knew he wasn’t. This time could be different—Mick was one of the good guys. But her mind replayed the pain, heartbreak, and humiliation she’d faced in the aftermath of the breakup. It might not be fair to judge Mick by what Antonio had done, but she couldn’t get past it.
It wasn’t Mick she didn’t trust—it was herself.
Sprawled face down on the two-person lounger on the beach, Piper let the memories of the last few days play over again in her mind. The warmth from the sun seeped into her muscles, making her as loose and fluid as the water rushing in and out with the surf. His home was remotely located, secure, and they hadn’t seen anyone but the housekeeper in days. This was Mick’s sanctuary, and he protected it and her with determined focus. They’d lived like the outside world didn’t matter—naked, indulgent, and in pursuit of only pleasure. The breeze coasting over her naked skin felt like the touch of her lover. She stretched into the sensation, thinking of Mick.
“Are you still mad at me?”
Piper felt the shadow Mick cast across her back, and she opened her eyes, knowing what she would find. He was a deep golden brown now, his mocha skin bronzed by the sun, his green eyes giving him an exotic appearance, and his cock lying heavy against his leg.
“I’m not mad at you,” she murmured, motioning for him to join her as she closed her eyes once again.
The press of his hard body against her was a comfort that she welcomed.
“Good. I don’t want you to be angry.” Mick stretched out beside her, petting her with sensual strokes of his hand on her back. “I would like to know what’s standing between us.”
She sighed, opening her eyes to gaze directly into his. “Mick, don’t push.”
“How about a little nudge?” He dipped his fingers down to her side, coasting over her ticklish spot and making her giggle under the attention. She squirmed, which resulted in the two of them pressed closer together, legs intertwined, mouths inches away from touching. Mick settled in, his eyes searching her face for something before he spoke again. “I know you think I’m a dog—only a little more housebroken than Antonio—but is that the real issue?”
Piper sighed, thinking about her answer. Mick was asking a fair question, and he deserved her honest answer. “You’ve got a phone full of numbers of women who would love to be with you. They’re beautiful—”
“You’re fucking gorgeous.”
“They’re glamorous and stylish.”
“I love how you look. The whole vixen/librarian thing is hot.”
“They’re the perfect match for the movie star, Mick Blackwell.”
“That’s just an excuse.”
“And what happens to me when you decide to trade up? I get the same treatment in the press no matter what our arrangement.”
“Baby, you got screwed before, but I can’t control the press any more than I can dictate the weather.” He leaned over and kissed her before pulling away and giving her a sexy, indulgent smile designed to seduce. It was working. “This is fun and easy, and I want more of it. Am I reading it wrong? Are we on the same page here?”
Piper thought about how it was becoming more than sex for her. What would Mick say if she put those cards on the table? Nothing—he’d be too busy beating feet as far from her as possible. Besides, once she got to New York and out of his constant company, she’d realize that this was just the by-product of great sex and paradise. Better to keep it to herself.
She nodded. “We’re on the same page.”
“Then I propose a compromise.”
“You have no respect for the rules.”
“We don’t need to break a rule this time…just bend it a little,” he answered quietly. “How about we keep this going just between us until the Dark premiere? No press. No publicity.”
“And what happens at the premier
e?”
“If we still feel the same way, we renegotiate and go public,” Mick said.
“Why do we need to go public at the premiere?” she asked. “We don’t owe anyone an explanation.”
“They’ll take one look at me with you and know something’s up,” Mick confided. “I won’t be able to keep my hands off you. If we go public first, then we can control the spin.”
Piper thought about his suggestion. A little voice in the back of her mind whispered that once she was out sight, she’d be out of his mind and this would be a moot discussion. If no one knew what was going on, it would be quietly relegated to her private memories of a few weeks spent with an amazing lover.
“Okay,” she whispered. She was glad she was looking into his eyes when she spoke, because the look of delight was something not to be missed. This was terrifying even with the safety net of anonymity. If anyone could make her fall hard, it would be Mick—and she wasn’t ready to make the leap yet.
“Thank you.” Mick leaned forward, kissing her slowly, drawing her closer with his talented mouth. His tongue slid against hers, slick, hot velvet, lazily filling her with movement that heated the desire growing in her belly.
“I want you, Mick,” she murmured when they broke apart for a breath.
“You’ve got me,” he answered.
He pulled her even closer until she felt the hard length of him against her belly. She groaned, rolling her hips against him, trying to get some of that delicious friction she craved.
He gently pushed away, rolled her over onto her stomach and resettled her against the lounger. “I’ll take care of you. Just relax.” He sat up slowly, straddling her legs and stretching over her, laying a trail of moist, warm kisses along her neck and shoulders. He smoothed his large hands down her back, lightly massaging her spine and sides with each pass.
“The only thing I’m feeling right now is relaxed,” she purred, his touch making her wet.
“Is that all you’re feeling?” Mick smoothed a hand along her ass, dipping his long fingers between her cheeks to stroke her sex. She was swollen already, sensitive, and she moaned, her legs automatically opening wider.
“Oh, Mick, keep doing that.” She arched up when he slid a long finger, then two inside her. Slowly, he pumped them in and out. “More.”
He chuckled against the skin of her shoulder, biting lightly. “You’re greedy today.”
“I want all of you. Please.” She wasn’t even embarrassed by the whimper that caught in her throat. This was Mick, and she wouldn’t be satisfied until he was inside her, surrounding her with his big, hard body.
“Lift up, baby,” Mick urged, raising her hips with his hands as he moved down between her legs.
The stubble on his cheek grazed the sensitive inside of her thigh, starting a tingle that coalesced into something fierce and sharp when his put his mouth on her sex. With a groan, Mick ate at her core, using long licks and deep plunges of his tongue inside her to bring her right to the edge. She writhed under him, crying out with each ragged breath, pushing back against his face, reaching under her body to toy with her nipples. The combination of her own hand and his wicked kiss was almost too much to bear. She tensed, waiting to fall, almost drifted into a panic when Mick stopped.
“You taste so good,” he murmured. Continuing his assault, he tongued her clit as she felt the press of his thumb against the rosette of her ass. She squeezed her eyes shut, pushing back against his digit to increase the pressure. Sparks flew behind her eyelids, igniting the dark passion now crawling along her skin and nerve endings. It had been a long while since anyone had touched her there, and the overwhelming need for more was shocking.
“Oh my God.” Piper collapsed farther onto her stomach, the sensations created by his mouth on her clit and his penetration of her ass making her limbs weak. With effort, she reached back to grasp his shoulder, pulling him closer, trying to communicate her need by touch when the words would not come.
Mick crawled up her back, trailing hot kisses up her spine until he buried his face in her hair, sucking on her earlobe as his thumb entered her hole, stretching her with an ache so sweet and sharp.
“Have you ever had someone take your ass, Piper?” he asked, his tone dark and wicked.
“Yes.” She gulped in air, her breath ragged and staccato.
“Did you like it?” Another nip to her shoulder as he stretched and massaged her rim with his thumb. “Did you come that way?”
“Yes.”
Mick withdrew, shifting his body so his hard cock rode the seam of her ass. He groaned against her neck, his breath now pushing out with each thrust of his hips. She humped back against him, jumping with pleasure each time the head of his cock pressed against the dark entrance to her body.
“Piper, can I have you?” Mick asked, his voice guttural and rough.
She turned her head to look at him, the wildness in his gaze taking her breath away. “Yes.”
Mick leaned over, snagging their beach bag, pushing aside the magazines to locate a box of condoms and a tube of lube. She glanced over her shoulder, catching glimpses of his preparation—the shaking of his hands as he put on the condom and slathered lube over his length almost as exciting as the throb of her clit.
Finished, he leaned over her, gripping her hips to lift her up a little, and she felt the press of his cock on her entrance. She tensed, knowing the stretch would burn at first but also anticipating the intense pleasure that would follow.
“Relax. I promise, I’ll make this good for you.” Mick nuzzled against her face, softly kissing her cheek as his eyes met hers. He flexed, pushing his dick inside her with a slow, rocking motion. Gently, he possessed her, his size making her breath catch as her body hugged him tightly, muscles pulsating with her need to draw him in deeper.
She swayed against him, aiding him in fully seating himself inside her. When he pushed in all the way, she held her breath—the sweet anticipation of what was to come sending a shiver down her body that caused her ass to clench around him. He groaned, the sound somewhere between agony and ecstasy
And then Mick began to move.
…
Mick tried to go slow. But it was too much. Too erotic. Too overwhelming to hold back their need. Even this, an act wrought with intimacy, was powered by their pure lust to possess each other. They moved together, rocking in a fluid rhythm that allowed him to almost fully withdraw before easing back inside her, his thrust punctuated by her cry of pleasure.
He was hard, aching with desire so hot it made the sun on his back feel cool in comparison. He was burning up from the inside out.
Piper arched up against him, pushing back harder and faster against him. He didn’t need her words—he knew what she wanted. He slid both hands under her hips and pulled her higher off the lounger, until she was on her hands and knees before him. Her arms shook with the effort to hold herself up. They were both close, and it wouldn’t take long.
“Piper, touch yourself. I want to see it,” he said, his voice harsh and demanding.
She obeyed, her right hand disappearing underneath her body. He jumped as her fingertips brushed his balls, and he looked down to see her touching the place where he rocked into her body. The sight was so hot he faltered in his thrusts, locking his knees in order to stay upright. Her hand vanished under her once more, her gasp of pleasure telling him that she was stroking herself as he’d demanded.
Mick was close. The first sparks of his orgasm built low in his spine as he reveled in her body. When he indulged himself and looked down to where they were joined, he knew he was lost.
“I’m coming.”
Piper’s cry preceded the clamp of her body on his dick. When white-hot pleasure raced through him, he barely avoided collapsing. The red of the sun colored the inside of his eyelids and highlighted the sparks of color flaring behind his eyes. This felt so goddamn right.
Piper was made to be in his arms.
The impact of the thought caught his breath as if he
’d been punched. He braced himself against the lounger, taking care not to hurt her as he pulled out. Piper melted down onto the cushions, her limbs loose and her breath deep gulps of air ending on sighs of contentment. He disposed of the condom, then gently cleaned them both before climbing forward to lie down beside her. She shifted, nuzzling against him as he pulled her closer, cradling her head on his chest.
Fuck, this was new. He had no words, his mind buzzing with the rightness of his revelation. This wasn’t love. Otherwise, he’d be in a full-on panic attack. But he did care about Piper. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with that information. Nothing had changed as far as his decision to avoid any kind of permanent relationship, but he now understood why he was glad to continue this affair for a while longer.
“You okay?” Piper asked, pressing a kiss against his skin.
“Never better.” He kissed the top of her head, smoothing his hand over her back and trailing down to cup the curve of her hip. “That was…”
She laughed softly. “Yes, it was.”
They lay there under the cloudless sky, sun warming their bodies, the sound of the surf lulling them. He let his mind wander over the past few days and weeks, wondering what the next few weeks would hold for them, realizing he had no clue.
He sure as hell hadn’t ever been here before.
Chapter Fifteen
Piper knew the minute she saw Chris at the baggage claim in La Guardia airport that something was seriously wrong.
His face was ashen, tight, and he looked like he wanted to kill someone.
She sped up, weaving through the crowd of arrivals, the fatigue of the long flight from LA dissipating with the surge of adrenaline in her system. Was something wrong with her parents? Or with Chris or Paul? She pushed past a couple kissing hello and jogged the last few steps to get to Chris. Up close, she saw his eyes, and in that spilt second, every residual feeling of peace and contentment from being with Mick dissipated like vapor. He was freaked out over whatever it was.
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