by Susan Fox
Reaching behind herself, she undid the clasp of her bra and then pulled off the flimsy garment, flaunting her firm breasts with the arousal-tightened nipples. Aaron was the sexiest man she’d ever met and, while she knew he’d had many lovers before her, she was the one with him now and she had power. A feminine power she’d never truly tapped into before.
She cupped her breasts, plumping them up like an offering, and slid her thumbs over the pebbled buds of her nipples. Arousal rippled through her, but it was less from her own touch than from the naked desire in Aaron’s eyes.
Keeping one hand on her breast, she slid the other slowly down her body, appreciating as never before the silkiness of her skin, the firmness of her ribs, the curving line of her waist. Realizing on a whole new level that her body had been designed to give and take pleasure. As had Aaron’s, which was still clad in a faded black tank top and khaki shorts. Her sex pulsed at the thought of stripping him naked, here in the middle of nature, where he was in his element.
But first she’d finish her own striptease. Still fondling one breast, she hooked her fingers into the narrow sideband of her bikini panties and slowly peeled the thin fabric down her hips. Aaron didn’t move, but his gaze followed the motion as if she’d hypnotized him. When gravity took over and her panties slid down her legs, she stroked her belly and let her hand slip down to cover her neatly trimmed vee of brown hair. How far did she dare go? Aaron made her want to do things she’d never imagined doing in front of a man.
She dipped her index finger lower to stroke the dampness between her legs, and then she lifted her hand, finger raised and gleaming with moisture.
That broke Aaron out of his trance. He closed the small distance between them and caught her raised hand. Staring into her eyes, he lifted her hand to his mouth and closed his lips around her finger.
When the wet heat of his mouth enveloped her damp finger and he began to suck, Eden’s sex clenched. Her internal muscles pulsed with need and her clit tightened, craving the same attention he was giving her finger. “Aaron.” It came out as a pleading, breathy moan.
The expression in those bluish-gray eyes was a little smug. He kept making love to her finger and she closed her eyes, breathing faster as arousal tightened inside her. Could she come from that potent combination of his mouth on her finger, her caress on her breast, and her vivid imagination? No, she needed one more thing. Boldly, she thrust her pelvis forward, hooked one naked leg around Aaron, and rubbed her crotch against the thick, hard bulge in his shorts.
His teeth closed on her finger, an involuntary reaction that, thank heavens, he controlled before he bit off that digit. His free arm came around her and gripped her butt, his strong hand pressing her into him and giving her support.
She threw back her head, reveling in the sensations, blissfully aware of being naked outdoors, of being sexy and wanton, of listening to her body and taking what she needed from this man who seemed entirely happy to provide it.
Finding exactly the right angle, she ground herself against him as everything inside her tightened and coiled. She imagined his naked cock, knowing that, once she took her satisfaction this way, she’d strip him bare and they’d make love again, and maybe again. He’d thrust into her deep and hard, his swollen, heated flesh probing her slick folds, and . . . “Oh yes!” That coil inside her shattered, splintered, and pleasure surged in waves.
Eden sagged against him as her climax ebbed and then faded in slow ripples. When she finally regained her senses, she saw the barely banked fire in Aaron’s eyes. Was she ready for round two? Most definitely.
She reached for the fastenings of his shorts, and in less than a minute they were naked together on the towel with him inside her, rolling in a mock battle to determine who’d be on top. They resolved it by taking turns as he did exactly as she’d imagined but even better, pumping slowly, then fast, then slowly again, bringing her to the edge and then easing off. Until she lost patience, claimed top again, and rode him unrelentingly until they both shattered together, sweaty and breathless.
Eventually, she found the strength to climb off and collapse beside him, her lungs still laboring for breath.
Aaron, once again proving himself more fit than she, sat up, barely breathing hard. He removed the condom and tied off the top. “Having satisfied one appetite, I’m ready to satisfy another.” He hooked a hand in the strap of his backpack and pulled it toward him. “Let’s have lunch.”
Lunch? He had the energy to think about food? But now that he mentioned it, her tummy was awfully empty. It had been a long time—and a lot of exertion—since breakfast. She forced her body up to a sitting position. “Sounds good.” She found her panties, wriggled into them, and reached for her bra.
“Spoilsport,” Aaron said. Still naked, he made no move toward his scattered clothing.
Earlier, she’d been carried away by passion and had reveled in being uninhibited. Now, though, the old Eden had returned. “I’m sorry. I know you said no one knows about this spot, but I just can’t eat lunch naked in a public park.”
He raised his eyebrows. “But you can have sex?”
She pressed her hands to her heated cheeks. “I know, it doesn’t make sense. I was caught up in the moment.”
“Those were a lot of moments, and they were mighty fine ones. But okay, whatever you want, city girl.”
“Thank you. And, uh, as much as I enjoy the sight of your body, I’d appreciate it if you’d put something on.”
“Or you’ll get crazed by lust again?” But he reached for his boxers. “Yeah, it probably wouldn’t be good if Jillian flew over with a planeload of people.”
“Oh!” Eden clasped her bra against her breasts and cast an eye at the clear sky. In fact, they did have a winged audience. “There’s another eagle.”
He gazed up. “Bald eagles are pretty impressive, aren’t they?”
“That’s a good word.” The huge bird, soaring with its wings spread, had a wild kind of dignity and grace.
“He commands the skies.”
“Like you, when you’re flying.”
Aaron gave a quick laugh and pulled on his shorts. “Now can we eat?”
“Yes, please. What have we got this time?” She slipped into her bra.
“Courtesy of the deli, there’s shrimp salad on a croissant and a roast beef and roasted veggies panini.”
“Yum.” She finished putting on her clothing. “I’ll take the shrimp salad, if that’s okay.”
“I kind of figured.” He handed her a wrapped sandwich and took out a couple of bottles of sparkling fruit-flavored drinks. “I’d have brought wine or beer, but alcohol doesn’t always combine that well with sunshine and exercise.”
She swallowed a bite of the delicious croissantwich, enjoying the combination of fresh shrimp, dill, celery, and mayonnaise. “No, I wouldn’t have thought so. Besides, I almost never drink during the day.”
“Of course you don’t.” He winked at her.
“Am I really so predictable?” She sighed and answered her own question. “I guess being a rational, organized person does pretty much rule out any truly spontaneous, unpredictable, or eccentric behavior.” Except for when she was, as he’d said, crazed with lust. “But what can I say? My parents raised me to be responsible.”
A shadow darkened his eyes and then was gone. “I guess that’s stood you in good stead in your job.”
“In my entire life. I’m grateful to them.” Hoping that this time he wouldn’t deflect, she said, “You never talk about your family.”
“Nope.”
She processed that flat refusal, combined with previous conversations, and didn’t like the result she came up with. “You’re really quite charming and fun to be with.”
“I’d say thank you, but you’ve got that forehead scrunch happening.”
“Charming yes, but you never talk about yourself. Not beyond a superficial level. Do you ever let anyone really get to know you?”
* * *
Aaro
n tried not to wince. She was right about him not spilling his guts all over the place, so why should he be insulted? He summoned a carefree grin. “Hate to disappoint you, but that’s all there is. What you see is what you get. I like to fly, I like Destiny, I’m an outdoorsy guy, and I avoid commitments.”
“Oh, come on, I bet you have hidden depths.”
“Only in your imagination.”
Her frown told him she wasn’t amused.
“Why do you need me to have hidden depths?” he asked, a little annoyed. “This is a one-week relationship.” That was the truth, and many of his other relationships lasted only a night or two, yet he felt an odd pang when he thought of Eden leaving in a couple of days.
Her frown deepened. “I know it is. But I like you, Aaron. You seem to be a nice guy.”
“Seem to be. Gee, thanks. I like you, too.”
“You can’t just skate through life on the surface, not really caring about any person or cause. Can you?”
He ground his teeth, holding back an angry retort. Why should her opinion matter? After another swallow of juice, he said evenly, “You’re being awfully judgmental. Not everyone wants as complicated a life as yours. There’s nothing wrong with living life as it comes.”
And yet there was something special about Eden, even though she sometimes got on his nerves. She was so involved and intense, setting her priorities and living life with total commitment. She was brave enough to love people and causes, to devote herself to them. He admired that quality, maybe even envied it.
He shrugged sudden tension from his shoulders. Why was he thinking this way? His past had taught him that love led only to disappointment and hurt, and he’d long ago learned to guard his heart. He wasn’t going to change just because his latest hookup found him superficial.
“No,” she said. “There’s nothing wrong with that. If it makes you feel fulfilled.” She turned her gaze from his face, picked up her drink bottle, and twisted off the cap. It felt like a deliberate dismissal.
Fine. He raised his own bottle again. Here he was at one of his favorite spots, having just made love with a beautiful woman, enjoying a tasty lunch, and yet he felt kind of . . . depressed? Lonely? Well, aloneness was the choice he’d made. No, it was the only way he knew how to be. So perhaps it wasn’t as much choice as necessity.
As a little kid, he’d hoped in vain for a loving mom and a happy home life, until he’d finally learned to stop hoping. He’d tried to teach Miranda that lesson, but her heart wasn’t as tough as his, and their mother had broken it over and over. As a teen, coming to Destiny, he’d been stupid enough to listen to Miranda when she’d said that maybe it would be different with their grandparents, and they’d finally find a home. He’d maybe let himself hope, just a little. But both their hopes had been dashed by the icy welcome they’d received. Aaron had added a couple of layers to the shell around his heart.
The only people who had access to that rarely used organ were his sister and his niece. He wished Miranda would learn from experience, too, rather than persist in chasing after some dream of love the way their mom had. Love hadn’t been their mother’s destiny. Nor was it his or Miranda’s.
Eden would find it, he figured. Things might not have worked out with her ex, and she might not be at the right place in her life now, but when she was ready she’d come up with some plan and meet a guy who gave her what she wanted. She’d have an organized life, the kind of life that would drive Aaron freaking nuts.
Seeking to restore a pleasant mood, he said, “We’re seeing Darnell Lucas this afternoon.” After that, there was only one more name on Eden’s list, an elderly woman they’d visit the next morning. “Want to go someplace for dinner tonight or have it at my place?” He would keep her talking about her family and her work, and afterward they’d have sex, and things would go back to being easy between them.
“Thank you, but I’ll have to pass on dinner. Things at the Foundation have been piling up and I need to do some work.”
He wouldn’t ask why her assistant couldn’t handle this stuff. Eden had trouble delegating, not trusting anyone else to get things right. Or maybe work was an excuse and she’d written Aaron off. Testing, he said, “Tomorrow night’s the dance at Quail Ridge Community Hall, with B-B-Zee playing.”
“Oh, that’s right. I really don’t dance, so it’s better if I don’t go.”
He didn’t want her to be mad at him. He did want to teach her a few dance steps, or even just cling and shuffle around the dance floor. He wanted to see her reaction to the band and its eclectic selection of music and wanted her to be part of a foot-stomping Destiny Island Friday night. “Jonathan and Forbes invited you. You don’t want to offend them, do you?”
“They probably don’t even remember inviting me.”
He heard doubt in her voice and shamelessly exploited it. “See, now you’re acting like an outsider again. Islanders don’t invite just anyone to their get-togethers. It’s a sign of acceptance, and it’d be rude not to come.” While it was true that islanders were chary with their invitations, it was also a fact that the Friday night dances were open to anyone who wanted to attend. In summer, half the crowd was tourists. “Your mom didn’t bring you up to be rude.”
“Of course not.” She rubbed her temple, and he wondered if the sun and exertion, or their semiargument, had given her a headache. “Okay, I’ll go. But only for a little while. I’ll need to get packed and organized for Saturday.”
She was booked on the Saturday morning Blue Moon Air flight to Vancouver, from which she’d fly to Ottawa. Back to her normal life.
Away from Destiny Island, and from him.
Chapter Twelve
When Aaron pulled up in his Jeep in front of the Once in a Blue Moon at 8:45 on Friday morning, Eden felt a surge of happiness at seeing him. She also felt relieved that as of tomorrow, she’d be on her way out of his life.
She hopped into the passenger seat and he leaned across to greet her with a quick kiss. “Get all your work done last night?” he asked.
“I did.” It was true she’d caught up on Foundation business. What she didn’t tell him, as he pulled away, was that she’d also done some serious thinking. Over the course of their time together, she’d started to develop feelings for Aaron. She’d begun to build up an image of him in her mind that was more fantasy than reality: that underneath his easygoing charm there was a deeper, more serious man. If that had been true, God knows what she’d have done, because he clearly belonged on Destiny Island just as she belonged in Ottawa with her family and her job. Not to mention, as she’d decided after the breakup with Ray, she didn’t have time for a relationship anyhow.
But, thank heavens, she didn’t have to deal with any of that. The conversation at yesterday’s picnic had told her the truth. While it was possible there was more to Aaron than met the eye, he wasn’t about to admit to it—at least not to her. He was fun company, but he either lacked the depth and the desire to commit or he had no interest in a commitment to her. She was disappointed, she had to admit, but mostly relieved.
She shot a glance at the attractive man beside her, looking so relaxed and non-Ottawa in his slightly rumpled cargo shorts and a sage T-shirt. He was like the eagle in the sky, the seals swimming in the ocean: lovely to enjoy in the moment and sweet memories to take home. But that was it.
Tomorrow she’d return to Ottawa and give her all to her family and job, until her mom’s health and state of mind improved. When she was ready to date again, she’d have an even clearer idea of what she was looking for. The collapse of her relationship with Ray had taught her that she wanted a man who valued family and respected her commitment to hers. Being with Aaron had shown her that, though she didn’t require a man who was a total do-gooder, she could only love a man with strong values and commitments of his own.
If a relationship led to insights, it was a good thing. Aaron had taught her another thing or two about herself—like the importance of flexibility and taking an occasional b
reak from work, and the value and pleasure of physical exercise. It would be interesting to see her family’s reaction to this new version of herself. A pang of homesickness struck. But she reminded herself she’d be back tomorrow, in time for a family dinner.
At which she’d have to confess that she’d failed dismally at finding Lucy.
Aaron said all she could do was her best, and she knew her parents would echo that sentiment. Kelsey, of course, would hoot over the fact that her perfect big sister had failed to deliver. Unless, of course, this morning’s interview bore fruit. Eden didn’t have high hopes. Marlise had given her Gertie Montgomery’s name, saying that the former public health nurse had once mentioned treating a girl from the commune. But, Marlise had warned, Mrs. Montgomery, who was now in her eighties, suffered from Alzheimer’s.
“Still thinking about last night’s work?” Aaron asked. “What was it anyhow?”
She changed mental gears. “The most important was reviewing my assistant’s notes about a meeting with a prospective applicant for funding.” Navdeep hadn’t sent her his notes until two and a half days after the meeting, but it turned out he’d had a good reason. He’d taken the initiative to do considerable background research on the organization, a charity located not far from Ottawa that provided equine therapy for wounded veterans. His report had been comprehensive, including the group’s composition, history, financial statements, and past and current activities. He’d concluded with his recommendation that he and Eden move ahead to the next step: working with the organization to put together a strong application that the Butterworth Foundation’s board was likely to approve.
Eden had reviewed every detail and had only a few suggestions to offer, additional details to check into. If Navdeep followed through on those today and the results were positive, next week they could contact the organization, give them the good news, and begin the in-depth work with them. She loved that stage and knew that together, this applicant and the Foundation could do some very worthwhile work.
