A Taste of Paradise

by Elizabeth Lennox

  He laughed with her even as he bent his head and nipped at her ear. “Not even slightly satisfied, my beauty,” he warned her. And then she shivered again. Yes, she knew exactly what was going to happen tonight.

  Gaia turned her head slightly, but she didn’t see the other dancers. She didn’t hear the music or the hum of conversation, the clinking of glasses or the laughter that tended to float above everything else.

  Her whole mind was only aware of this man, of the way he was touching her, the way her body trembled with awareness and anticipation. The smooth texture of his tuxedo under her fingers turned into an erotic caress. The steady beat of his heart seemed like it was tapping out the same pounding rhythm as her own. She didn’t need to feel his hand on her back to know which way to move in his arms, which way his body was going to turn during the dance. She just knew. It was as if they were moving together as one, shifting, gliding, and turning in unison without any visible signal from the other person.

  “Come with me,” he whispered in her ear.

  She stiffened in his arms with those words. He hadn’t explicitly said where they would go, but Gaia knew. To bed. He was going to make love to her.

  Was she ready for this?

  Pulling back, she looked up into his eyes and the only thought in her head was “Yes!”

  She must have spoken that word, because he smiled slightly and took her hand, leading her off of the dance floor and out one of the side doors of the ballroom. In the hallway, they were alone and Logan took her into his arms. As his head lowered, that one word just kept pounding in her head. “Yes! Yes! Yes!” It was a mantra that wouldn’t stop…until his lips touched hers. Then there were no sounds, no words, no mantra.

  It was his lips against hers, his tongue teasing her lips until she opened happily to admit a deeper kiss. His hands moved higher, then lower, gripping her hips as he pulled hers against his own. She gasped with the realization of how ready he was. The evidence was there, hard to misinterpret.

  “Come with me,” he said as he lifted his head. Taking her hand, he pulled her down the long hallway towards the bank of elevators. One arrived quickly and he led her inside, pulling her right into his arms again and kissing her as the doors closed on them once more, blocking out the rest of the world.

  Chapter 9

  “You cheated,” she whispered as he led her into the suite. The hotel door shut quietly behind her. When she looked up at him, he already had those glasses off and she swallowed, knowing exactly what was about to happen.

  He moved in behind her, not touching her in any way. “I wasn’t cheating, but I was hopeful.” He stepped in front of her. “You can leave. There is no pressure at all.” He took her hand and kissed the tips of her fingers. “I don’t want you here unless you want to be here, Gaia.”

  She stared up at him, her mind racing as she tried to make a decision. She knew with absolute certainty that she could walk out of here and he wouldn’t be mad.

  But would she?

  This was the perfect opportunity to be with Logan, to experience his touch and his lovemaking. To know what it would be like to be in his arms.

  For just one night, she told herself. She could do this for one night, couldn’t she? One night wouldn’t hurt.

  And Freddy would never have to know.

  But was that fair? To herself as well as to Logan?

  Stepping closer, he filled up her senses with his presence. “You are overthinking this, Gaia.”

  She smiled slightly. “How does one overthink a decision like this?” she asked softly, warming to him as his body heat emanated, enveloping her even though he was still several inches from her.

  “You are worrying.” He kissed her fingers again. “Don’t worry. I won’t hurt you.”

  She laughed, thinking about things. Yes, he would hurt her, but that wasn’t what he was talking about.

  “Talk to me, honey. Tell me what you’re thinking about. I can’t help you through this decision if you don’t tell me what’s going on in that pretty head of yours.’

  She looked up at him, her eyes taking in his green gaze and the lips she knew could deliver so much pleasure. In that moment, she made her decision. It might not be the right one, and she might live to regret it tomorrow, but tonight she didn’t care. Not at this moment. Right now, in this place and with this man, she was going to forget all of her responsibilities and just live for the moment, to enjoy being with Logan. Just one night and she would come back to the real world tomorrow. She’d deal with whatever consequences came of tonight. But she’d deal with them tomorrow.

  “Do you have protection?” she asked.

  She saw the heat flare up in his eyes and felt that same heat spark to life in her chest. It was a bit startling, that intensity, but she knew that was just part of who Logan was.

  “Yes. I’ll protect you, Gaia,” he told her, his voice deeper, huskier as he pulled her slowly, relentlessly into his arms.

  Somehow, his words felt like he was talking about more than just protection from an unplanned pregnancy. His words felt like so much more.

  She needed more, right now, Gaia thought. She needed more and Logan was the only man who could give her the “more” she needed.

  “Make love to me, Logan,” she whispered, lifting her face up in an invitation. She didn’t have to ask twice. Logan took control, sweeping her into his arms and practically lifting her up as he kissed her, his tongue moving into her open mouth, making love to it, and stirring her senses in ways she’d only dreamed could be possible.

  She felt him lift her up and anticipated him moving over to the bed, but instead, she felt him sitting down and he settled her right there on his lap. She looked confused for a long moment until his hands slid along her legs. Gasping with shock, she looked up at him but he only kissed her again, distracting her from her confusion.

  How they’d gone from the entryway of the hotel suite to the bedroom, she had no idea. All she knew was that she was lying on the soft bed, her eyes watching as Logan tossed his tuxedo jacket and tie onto a chair, then leaned down over her, his arms supporting him as he lowered his head to kiss her.

  Over and over, he slanted his head to kiss her, making her feel as if she were on fire. Needing so much more. She wanted to know more, to feel more, but had no idea how to tell Logan to move faster about this making love business. It was as if she’d become an expert at telling him no and now…now that she wanted to say yes, the word was stuck.

  Then she felt his hands on her skin. He’d somehow unzipped her dress and was pushing it out of his way. From the first moment she’d seen him, she’d known that he was the devil and this only proved it. But she didn’t care, since she wanted this too. Wanted this with a desperate, clawing need that was making her voice make those strange sounds.

  Her dress was gone, probably on the floor somewhere, but she didn’t care, because his hands were on her breasts. His mouth moved from her lips to her neck, his teeth scraping against the sensitive skin there and making her gasp from the pleasure. Or was that because his hands were doing those amazing things to her breasts? She didn’t know, nor could she keep her hips still, needing to feel him, needing to know he was there. When he rolled over, pressing her hips against his stomach, she sighed with happiness.

  Until he used that magical mouth on her breasts. Nothing was causing any happiness now! Frustration that…she didn’t know why! “Logan!” she gasped when she felt his fingers between her knees. “Don’t!”

  He laughed but his fingers retreated. “Why?”

  “Because…” she wasn’t sure why. She just knew that it wasn’t…she couldn’t. His fingers only retreated for a moment before they were back, teasing this time, exploring. It felt good and she pressed her legs against his hand. But then his teeth nipped at her nipple and she gasped.

  “What was that for?” she asked, even as her fingers dove into his hair.

  “Because you are trying to stop me,” he told her and his fingers teased her thighs aga
in. “Open your legs for me,” he told her, his mouth latching onto her breast and he sucked. Hard! She loved it! Oh goodness, she loved it. But then his fingers were in her body, her hips moving against his hand and she couldn’t seem to stop from moving, wanting to press her body against that hand.

  “Logan!” she sobbed.

  “You’re beautiful, Gaia,” he whispered in her ear, but then he was gone. His lips were moving lower, lower still! Even as his fingers moved in and out of her body, mimicking that action that she craved now.

  Thrashing her head back and forth against the bed, she pressed her hips against his hand. His mouth…down there…startled her, but she couldn’t stop him. Didn’t want to stop him! She wanted that pressure to continue!

  She screamed when his tongue flicked against that sensitive nubbin. She was just about to beg him to stop, to tell him that she wanted him to do something else, when he flicked that bundle of nerves again and her whole world splintered apart! Everything inside of her was pulsing, throbbing with pleasure. She couldn’t seem to see, to stop, to do anything other than hold onto Logan as her body found a pleasure that was so intense, she screamed out his name.

  His warmth left her and she opened her eyes slightly. Not all the way, because she simply didn’t have the energy. But Logan was standing beside the bed, his fingers quickly removing his clothes. She might have become embarrassed by the fact that she was completely naked…and how had that happened?...when he was still dressed.

  But then he wasn’t. Dressed, that is. He was just as naked as she was and he looked…amazing!

  Gaia told herself to look away. A lady would look away. But Logan was just too...amazing! That was the only word that came to mind. Amazing.

  He grabbed something, a condom, rolling it down his magnificent length and she licked her lips unconsciously, anticipating more of that incredible pleasure that she craved already.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, coming down once again, his hips pressing her legs apart to make room for his huge body.

  Her mouth opened as he pressed closer to her. “Um…I was,” she gasped as she felt him so close, that part of him touching her there. “I’m not sure anymore.”

  He laughed softly, taking her hands and lifting them over her head. “I think I can solve that problem,” he told her.

  But even as she was bracing herself for his invasion, he only lowered his head to kiss her. A soft, gentle kiss that drew her mind away from his body and helped her find that part of herself that needed this, that wanted to know all of the secret world that she’d heard so much about, but had never allowed herself to experience.

  His kiss when a long way towards banishing her nervousness. By the time she felt him pressing into her, she was so turned on, she was actually tugging at her hands, trying to get them out of his grip.

  “Please!” she gasped, turning her head away from his kiss. He was pressing into her again and she wanted… “More!” she begged. “Please, I can’t…” she wasn’t sure what she wanted, she just knew that he wasn’t giving it to her. “You can…,” she started to say, but then he pressed deeper into her heat and all words vanished as the incredible sensation hit her. She lifted her hips, her legs wrapping around his waist as she tried to take him deeper.

  “Ah, honey,” he said, gritting his teeth. Shaking his head to try and slow down, he struggled to not slam into her heat, feeling how incredible she was. “Don’t move, honey. I can’t…”

  She moved and he pressed even deeper, needing all of her and feeling her inner muscles tighten. He felt something strange and looked down into her amber eyes, shocking and not sure if he was right about what…had he…was she…?

  “Gaia?” he groaned, seeing the proof of his suspicions in her eyes. He held still for just a moment, but when she moved against him, he couldn’t slow down. Moving, shifting, exalting in the incredible feeling of this woman in his arms. Moving as slowly as he could, Logan released her hands so that he could pull her closer, needing to hold her, to feel her skin and the softness that was Gaia. Everything about her was soft and smooth and he wanted it all. All of Gaia.

  He watched, realizing that she didn’t know how to move. “Just do what feels right, honey,” he urged, seeing her struggle. He shifted and almost laughed when she gasped and looked up at him. He couldn’t laugh though. Hell, he could barely breathe!

  When she cried out, he knew she was almost there. Pressing to the left…and she screamed out, her nails scraping against his shoulders and the slight twinge only added to his own release as he clung to her, helping her climax last longer, but it only made his own more intense. Holding back, pressing into her one last time, he felt a pleasure unlike anything he’d ever experienced in his life.

  And it was all Gaia.

  When it was over, he pulled her close, burying his face against her neck and holding her as gently as he could.

  Gaia trembled, not sure what had just happened. All she knew was that she’d never felt anything so…perfect. Fabulous. Scary. But she couldn’t pull away. She couldn’t run from this. Not now.

  Chapter 10

  Gaia’s eyes opened slowly and she stared at the watery sunshine streaming in through the filmy curtains. As memories of the night before started to seep into her mind, she smiled. Logan’s muscular arm was wrapped around her and his hard chest was pressed against her back. She could feel the heat of him pressing against her body and loved it. The warmth and closeness, the intimacy even when he was still asleep, was more wonderful than she could have imagined.

  Of course, everything from last night was better than she could have imagined. She was both shocked and amazed by the way Logan had made love to her last night. Over and over again, he’d guided her through a sensual storm, holding her gently as she found heaven every time.

  For several moments, she just lay there, enjoying this moment, savoring it. Because she knew what she had to do.

  When she felt him start to waken, a smile drifted over her features.

  “You okay?” he asked, his arm tightening around her waist. And that other part of him, the part she would have thought would be sore by now, came to life once more, pressing against her bottom.

  “Yes. Better than okay,” she said, but not turning around to look at him. After last night, after everything they’d done, she wasn’t sure she could look him in the eye. She knew she would have to eventually, but Gaia was going to hold off for as long as she could.

  Then she remembered what she’d have to do. With a sigh, she let her fingers drift over his arm, savoring this special moment with him because it wasn’t going to last. As soon as she told him what her brother was planning, he would be gone from her life forever. She might even be blackballed from the design industry. She knew that Logan had the power to do that.

  And that was okay. She hadn’t been able to rein in Freddy, so whatever the consequences, she’d deal with them. There were other cities in which she could work. She’d make it. Everything was going to be okay.

  “Don’t do the waterfront project,” she whispered, her body tense and wary of his reaction.

  When she felt the soft kiss on her shoulder, she wasn’t sure what was going on. “Did you hear me?” she asked, turning slightly to look at him.

  He didn’t appear to be overly concerned with her statement. His eyes were moving down her side, her waist, his hands sliding along her skin as well. “Is that because of your brother, Freddy?” he asked, still focused on her. His eyes moved to her breasts, and he pulled the sheet away.

  “You know about Freddy?” she asked.

  “Yes. I’ve known about him since our first meeting. He’s working on a crew with Tommy at the moment. He’s actually a damn good worker, from what Tommy says.”

  Glancing over at the bedside table, she realized that his glasses were sitting there. That meant….

  Gaia grabbed his hand, trying to stop his exploration so she could focus on his words. “I know that he applied for several jobs but…” she stopped his hand
when he started to cup her breast. “Logan, stop it. I’m trying to concentrate.”

  He smiled and shifted so that he was over her instead of behind her. Gaia was now flat on her back and he was looking at her breasts, his body shifting again so that he was between her legs. “I am trying to concentrate as well. You’re the one on a different subject.” He pinned her hands above her head with one of his hands.

  “Logan!” she gasped when she felt his mouth cover her nipple, his teeth coming into play as well. For a long moment, she couldn’t remember what she’d been trying to tell him. “How is this possible?” she sighed when he moved to the other breast.

  “Oh, the possibilities are endless,” he told her smugly as his mouth explored, teased and tortured.

  “Logan! This is important!” she yelled, but his mouth was distracting her and she had problems focusing again. She pulled her hands out of his grip and grabbed his head, pulling him away from her breast so that he had to listen to her.

  Logan sighed and rolled over, but pulled her along with him so that she was on top now. This position allowed his hands more freedom and he smoothed his fingers along her back and her bottom. “You don’t want to move forward with the waterfront project because your brother is trying to get revenge on us for the land my father bought about ten or twelve years ago. Is that what you’re trying to tell me?”

  She pulled back slightly, her hands braced on his chest as she stared down at him on shock. “You know about my brother and my family history?”

  His hands cupped her bottom, shifting her so that she was more perfectly aligned with his own body. “I looked a bit deeper into your brother a few days ago. Plus, the security team runs a background check on anyone who brings an idea to us. It was something my father put in place a long time ago. Pretty smart guy,” he said and pulled her legs down so that her knees were on either side of his hips. She heard the foil wrapper when he tore it, but she didn’t connect the sound with what he was about to do.