“Sit on my face,” he said, pulling away. He lowered himself to the ground and lay back in the shallow water, lapping the air with his tongue.
She glanced at his tented shorts before straddling his face. Her knees and shins cooled by the liquid bliss surrounding them. She didn’t know what to do with her arms, so she hugged them across her breasts. That felt odd, too, so she let them fall, lightly brushing her belly along the way with her hands. Then, she leaned over and caressed his thick, dark hair, working her fingers into his scalp.
He made a humming sound, gripped her thighs with his hands, and licked her ardently.
Sensation rippled through her like lightning. She yielded to the pleasure coursing through her. Unable to hold herself up any longer she fell forward, her hands splashing as she landed.
He rocked his head back briefly to gaze at her dangling breasts. He let out a moan and continued his tongue ministrations.
The sun cast throbbing heat along her back, while the water cooled her hands and legs. She glanced over her shoulder to see him stroking himself as he sucked her. Some sort of flicking tongue maneuver brought her attention back between her legs.
Overcome with need, she cried his name. “Oh, God, Zander.”
She lowered to her forearms, unable to hold herself up. Her hair draped in the shallow water, undulating like seaweed. As pleasure built, she pounded the sand with her fists, splattering her face with cool water. Her arousal built until she couldn’t hold back any longer. She orgasmed on Zander’s mouth, her entire body rippling in an ecstatic explosion.
He released his hold on her and laughed. “Damn, Effie, you’re so beautiful when you come.”
Caught in the aftershock of her release, she barely heard him. This moment of bliss, with this guy, was worth the world to her.
He scooted out from underneath her. Then, he gently flipped her onto her back.
Her body rolled onto the sandy bottom of the lagoon with a quiet splash.
She writhed in the soft sand, her sex throbbing. Her head, shoulders, and ass made soft indentations in the wet sand.
Zander scooped water and wiped his face.
Water droplets splashed on her belly and thighs.
His hair hung damp along his forehead. He spread Effie’s thighs apart, stroking her tender skin with his thumbs. Pleasure snaked through her. He shoved his shorts down his legs, lowered himself, and slid the slick head of his cock up and down.
Effie moaned. Everything about Zander drove her wild with longing and the desire for more. “Put that thing inside me. Now.”
Chuckling, he buried himself inside her, then let out a long, satisfied groan.
“God, Effie. I…,” he began, but swallowed whatever was to follow.
The distant sound of a boat engine rumbled through the air.
Effie stilled again.
“Shh,” Zander soothed. “If it’s my family we still have time.” He thrust in and out, passionate and intense.
The engine sounds grew louder, then ceased.
Zander’s hips bucked harder. “I’m almost there. I’m about to…”
“Zander!” Chloe yelled from a distance. “Where are you?”
Effie gasped.
He pressed his palm over her mouth, pinning her face in place.
Something about being restrained by him, while he rocked his hips into her made her a little crazy inside. She bit and sucked his skin as her arousal built once more. When her second orgasm hit, she whimpered into his hand, writhing around him.
“God damn,” he cried and thrust harder. He grunted and groaned as he found his release, pulsing into her.
“Zander!” his sister called from much closer.
“Shit,” Effie said.
Zander rolled off her. “Hurry.” He kicked his shorts from his legs and helped Effie to her feet. “Let’s get into deep water.”
They raced through the lagoon. When the water covered her breasts, she let out a sigh of relief.
Zander floated on his back, spreading his arms wide, looking very satisfied.
She paddled by his side feeling a mixture of embarrassment at nearly being seen by his sister and exquisite shared communion.
Chloe popped from the foliage into view. She waved from about ten yards away.
“There you are,” she called. “Let’s go. I’ve got the fish marinating, but it needs to be on the grill soon.” She sauntered toward the water’s edge, then glanced down at Effie’s dress and bikini bottoms lying on the ground. A smirk spread across her face.
Effie’s face burst into flames.
“Shit. She’ll know what we did,” she whispered.
Zander chuckled, pulling her close. “Don’t worry about it.”
Chloe’s gaze caught on something in the shallows. She waded out in her flip-flops, stooped, rose, and twirled Zander’s wet trunks in her hand.
She trained her gaze on Zander and Effie. “You might need these, Zan. Unless you plan on giving Mom, Dad, and Jorge a show. You two…” She shook her head, grinning.
“Just leave them on the shore and go away. We’ll be out in a sec,” Zander said.
“Oh, God,” Effie whispered, wanting to sink to the bottom of the lagoon.
“Don’t worry about it,” he said again. “I’m the one who’s going to catch grief from Chloe. She’s going to tease me up one side and down the other.”
Chloe stood at the water’s edge, grinning. “He’s right.”
“Go away,” Zander growled.
“Going,” she said, pivoting and sauntering toward the trees. She chuckled as she strode away, lifting her hand over her head in a wave.
Once Chloe was well and truly out of sight, and the rustling through the brush had ceased, Zander headed for the shore.
“It’s safe now,” he said.
Effie followed him, her gaze anxiously darting about.
She grabbed her bottoms, shook out the sand, and yanked them over her legs. “Shit, shit, shit.”
Zander unhurriedly tugged his shorts over his hips. “I keep telling you, don’t worry. She didn’t see anything except us paddling around in the lagoon. My sister’s not going to tell anyone. I’ve caught her au naturel with a guy a time or two. She probably figures we’re even.”
He pulled Effie close for a quick hug and then released her.
After tromping back to the shore, Effie climbed aboard the waiting catamaran, shame making a crimson stain along her cheeks.
Chloe smiled warmly at Effie.
Then she turned to Zander and smirked. “I was kidding about giving Mom and Dad a show. After we unloaded the fish, they stayed back at Mariposa.”
“Asshole,” Zander said, softly slugging her upper arm.
Chloe squeezed his chin. “Shit-head brother.”
Effie stepped toward her cloth bag next to where she napped and searched for her towel. Her mobile phone dropped onto the seat as she pulled the towel free. While Zander and his sister teased one another, she glanced at the screen. A text from Haley waited.
How’s it going with your sugar daddy? Effie read. You KNOW it’s serious if he’s taken you to meet his parents. Have you thought about what you’re going to do?
The catamaran rumbled away from the shore.
Effie’s heart leaped from the boat. No, she didn’t know what she was going to do. But she knew she couldn’t exactly say, “Hey, Zander, where is this relationship heading?” No. She didn’t hold the reins in their dynamic. Clearly, if a move was to be made, it had to come from him. Besides, he made it clear that this was a no commitment deal. No love and no… The thought stuttered to a stop as she thought of his initial declarations of no love, no contact, and the contract she signed.
Still… They’d broken the no sex rule. Couldn’t the no love and no contact rule be broken, too? Probably not. He’d made himself clear, over and over again.
At the close of the summer, she’d never see him again. She closed down, withdrawing into herself, and prepared for the inevitable en
d.
Chapter 38
Zander
Zander’s dad practically cornered him when he walked through the front entrance of Mariposa.
“Son, I’d like to have a chat,” his father said, rounding the corner as if lying in wait.
Zander came to a sudden stop, putting his hands out in front of him. “Jeez, Dad, stalk much?”
He glanced toward the stairs.
Effie had gone ahead to shower and presumably recover from nearly being spied on by Chloe. Either that or to get her wits together over their mind-blowing sex. Hopefully, it was the latter. She’d barely spoken to him on the ride back. Instead, she’d slipped into the closed-down version he first met. She smiled when smiled at, answered his questions, but basically withdrew into her shell where he couldn’t access her.
“Come with me,” his dad said. He sauntered through the house toward the patio. His bright Hawaiian shirt screamed with color, a vivid contrast to his graying hair.
Zander bristled. “What, am I about to get a lecture? I’m a little old for that, don’t you think?”
“No, you’re not going to get a lecture. Christ. You’re no longer sixteen.” His dad flashed an annoyed look over his shoulder.
“Sorry. I’m preoccupied with something.” He glanced back at the stairs again, hoping Effie would saunter down the stairs and they could get back to the fantastic connection they’d shared before their return to Mariposa. Had something happened? Did my sister say something to her? Did I do something wrong?
His dad followed his gaze. “Your girlfriend will be fine. She seemed congenial enough, so I wouldn’t worry about it.” He settled in his padded lounge chair on the downstairs deck. “Your mother and I have been talking.”
“About?” Zander perched on one of the teak deck chairs.
“About you and your girl. You’re leaving tonight, right?” His dad leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs at the ankles.
“After dinner, yeah. I’ve got a meeting tomorrow morning.” He cocked his head and studied his father. What’s he up to?
“I’ve got a friend over in Key West. He runs one of those fancy restaurants. I gave him a call. He can set you up with a private room for dinner tonight. Why not let your last night here be romantic and memorable?”
“You don’t think I can make memories here on Mariposa?” Zander said.
“Not with me and your ma looking over your shoulder. And your bossy, nosy sister. We just thought it would be nice.” His dad smiled. “I know how busy you get at work. You can’t even think straight.”
Zander sat back in his chair. “That’s really nice, Dad. Thank you.”
His heart warmed.
“Your mom and I know you’ve had a rough year or two. We just thought it would be nice to send you off right. Don’t worry about paying for dinner. We’ve got it covered. Like I said, Tony’s a good friend of mine. He’s more than happy to do something nice for me which means doing something nice for you.”
He gazed fondly as his dad for a few seconds. “That’s really kind of you. I thought Mom would want me to stay until the last possible second.”
“Oh, don’t think she didn’t pitch a fit.” He chuckled and scratched at his forearm, over his race car tattoo. “But, your happiness is more important. We’re glad you came out for the weekend. Really glad.” His dad’s eyes misted over. “We’ve missed you, Zan. It’s good to see you so happy.”
Zander’s throat tightened down, caught with emotion. “Thanks. It’s good to feel happy for a change. You’re right, I had a dark year. But Effie’s helped me out of it in more ways than one. I owe whatever happiness you see to her.”
“I can tell she’s a good woman. She’s got a lot of feelings cooking inside. And, she’s smart as a whip. She’s a great catch. Your mother and I both agree.”
Zander smiled. But his insides warred. That fucking contract—I made it clear—no contact whatsoever. Who, exactly, was I trying to protect? Am I really too fucked up to have a healthy relationship? Maybe. I’m the asshole who told her no sex and definitely no love. What if she has other plans? Each of them seemed to dance around the end of their goddamned “arrangement.” Maybe tonight I can set things straight. Tell her I want to take things further. I need to make sure Trisha is out of the picture—tell Bryant she’s to not get near me. Maybe I should tell Effie about the contract with Trisha. He tapped his fingers against the arm of his chair. The high-tech digits made a hollow click against the wood. No. If I told her about the contract I’d have to side-step a lot of questions. Maybe I could leave out the part about my stupidity. Shame made a sudden surge, heating up his neck and cheeks. He hated to remind himself of that horrible moment.
“So, what time did you arrange dinner?”
His dad glanced at his watch. “Oh, about an hour, give or take. We live on island time here, don’t forget.”
Zander swallowed. “That doesn’t give me much time to say good-bye.”
“Good-byes should be short, sweet, and to the point,” his father said in a choked voice. He rose to stand and held out his arms to Zander.
Zander fell into his embrace. “Good-bye, old man. I promise to not make it so long between visits.”
“Good. That’s good,” Zander’s dad managed to say through his emotion, patting his back. “We’d like that. Your mom and me. We’d like that a lot.”
At the sound of footsteps tromping down the stairs, Zander released his dad. His eyes were moist as he gazed at him.
Both men swiped the tears from their eyes.
“Look at us,” his dad said. “We’re like a couple of old women. You be good. Be safe. And by God, protect your heart.” He tapped Zander’s chest with his forefinger.
“I will, Dad. I will.” Zander gripped his dad’s upper arms, noting the solid muscle beneath his grasp. He turned around to face Effie.
“Hey.” She’d dressed in a long, slinky garment that hugged her sexy curves. Her hair had been brushed to a perfect, glossy sheen. Her gaze slid between Zander and his dad. “Is everything okay?”
“It’s perfect,” his dad said. “I was just telling Zander about a friend of mine over in Key West who wants to send you home tonight with a gourmet meal and private dining overlooking the sea. He runs a restaurant over there.”
Effie smiled her glorious smile—not the one she begrudgingly set free when she retreated. “When we can get the best gourmet meal here? I was looking forward to eating the fish Zander caught.”
“There will be more fish dinners in Mariposa,” his dad said. “But, privacy is something that’s lacking here.” He flashed a warm smile at Effie.
She blushed and cast her gaze at her pretty, painted toes.
Zander strode over to her and put his arm around her. “How does that sound?”
She looked up at him with moist eyes. “It sounds…” Her gaze tracked to Zander’s dad. “You’ve all been so lovely and kind to me. I’m going to miss you.”
Zander’s dad became teary-eyed again. “Come here and give Zan’s old man a hug.”
She did so, without hesitation.
He embraced Effie and said, “You’ve given the world to this family. You’ve given my son his happiness back.”
“Why the waterworks?” Chloe said as she sauntered into the room.
“Just saying goodbye to these two,” his dad said.
“Mom, get in here. They’re turning up their noses at my Mahi-Mahi,” Chloe called over her shoulder. “They’re saying goodbye.”
The word “good-bye” blew a hole through Zander’s insides. That mess of a contract with its termination date loomed in his brain. But his hot desire for Effie wanted so much more.
If only his fucking secrets didn’t stand in the way.
Chapter 39
Zander
Zander trekked through the sand of Mariposa Island, toward the boat, with Effie at his side, conflict raging inside. He wanted to bring Effie back to the island, again and again. But that fucking contract and his
fucking secrets and his fucking ex with all her insanity hung like a noose around his neck.
Trisha had wiggled past the terms of their “don’t ever get near me again” contract with him by showing up in his world on Bryant’s arm. Zander doubted she’d told Bryant any of her sick past with him.
And then she assaulted Effie. What else might she try?
“You okay?” Effie said. She looked up at him with her impossibly beguiling gaze.
He smiled. “I’m fine. I haven’t seen my family for a while. I’m going to miss them.”
“Me, too,” she said, giving his hand a squeeze. “They’re lovely. You’re lucky to have such an awesome family.”
I’d like you to be a part of it. Zander chewed on his lower lip instead of giving voice to such treacherous feelings. But, first I need to deal with Trisha. Maybe we can press charges for her attack of Effie? No. Fuck. I know the way she thinks. She’ll say she slipped, or some bullshit and her lawyers will lock down her defense with lies.
They climbed on the catamaran and headed toward Key West.
Zander felt all twitchy on the boat ride across the water. A mixture of contentment at seeing his family and introducing them to Effie wrestled with his desire to make something permanent with her. Still scarred by Trisha, his mind kept circling back to What if she doesn’t want something permanent with me? Then, his thoughts changed into, Maybe I’m fooling myself. Maybe this is perfect just the way it was…a contract that helped heal us both. She’ll be gone and then I can be certain Trisha never harms a hair on her head.
Resolved, he reached for her hand and held it the rest of the way.
Once they docked in Key West, Jorge led them to his limo and drove them to Tony’s restaurant.
Tony, a dark-haired stocky looking man dressed in slacks and a short-sleeved shirt, greeted him personally at the door of his seaside restaurant. “Zander King. Tony De Luca.” He extended his hand.
Zander shook it. “This is my…” my what? “This is my date, Effie D’Archangel.”
“Miss D’Archangel,” Tony said, lifting her hand to his lips. He gave it a soft kiss, then said, “Sei incantevole.”
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