Sunset Flare

by Shannyn Leah

  Screw it.

  He tossed her cover-up on the ground and pulled his shirt over his head. Living his life on the safe side for three long-damn-years and the constant watching over his shoulder had exhausted him. Her refreshing carefree attitude—even if he still thought she was crazy—might be the little crazy to help him overcome his fear of the real world.

  He shoved his pants down his legs, stepping out of them and wearing nothing but his briefs. Stepping into the water, he watched her, watching him, her gaze sweeping over his body, landing on his eyes and not hiding her desire.

  “Not bad,” she said.

  “This isn’t an invitation to sex,” he clarified, not sure whether saying it out loud was to impede future flirting or to convince himself. “I’m making sure you don’t drown after the alcohol you’ve consumed.”

  She playfully rolled her eyes. “That’s ironic after you pushed me in the pool less than twenty-four hours ago. Maybe I should be apprehensive of your presence, in case you try to drown me again.”

  “There would be no trying.”

  She waved a hand at him. “See, sentences like that give off a dangerous vibe.”

  “I bet you like dangerous.” His body stilled the moment the tease left his lips.

  What was he doing? Flirting? It had been so long, he found himself surprised he knew how. But, more importantly, why was he flirting with her? Did he subconsciously expect more? Consciously, he sensed the spark between them, the lust and desire that the circumstances around them had made almost impossible to see. But he’d seen it. She’d seen it. He was human after all. And now he had initiated with a tease. An invitation to exactly what he’d denied climbing in.

  She rewarded him with a large smile. “Tell me about your dangerous side.”

  End it. She’s a Caliendo. Halt this flirtation session ASAP before you do something you will regret.

  But would he regret it? It wasn’t as though he planned on falling in love with her. Hell no! But sex...sex he could do. Sex he liked and, right now, she seemed on the same page.

  “If I told you, my image wouldn’t be as appealing.”

  She laughed, throwing her head back. “Oh dolcissima, do you think you’re going to get lucky tonight?”

  It was his turn to laugh. Partially at her ignorance of the Italian word and the rest at her terrible impersonation of his tone and accent. His genuine bellow rumbled up his chest. He’d forgotten what his laugh sounded like, what it felt like to laugh, really laugh. It felt like minutes, but undoubtedly only seconds had passed before he settled down.

  Her quirky face awaited him, looking none too impressed. “What does it mean?”

  “Sweet.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Sweet? You called me sweet, and you and Anton found humor in that?”

  “Popsicle, you look anything but sweet.”

  Her expression dropped. “Spoiled, right? Primed and pampered.”

  That twist wouldn’t head in the right direction, but he couldn’t deny the facts. He wouldn’t lie to her to sleep with her. “If the shoe fits.”

  “It fits. It fits perfectly. And, you know what? I’m not ashamed that I was born into a family that has money. Or that I don’t have to work. And I’m definitely not ashamed that I have no interest in the files you seem to think I should. You might be from the lifestyle of Robert’s secret side, but I’m not. So, no, they don’t interest me. I’m not curious about them and I say burn them before reading any more.”

  He didn’t completely disagree with her. Some should be burned while others should be locked in a safe...or a hidden basement.

  “I’m also not ashamed of my sex drive, either. And you don’t seem like the kind of guy to deny a woman interested in a one-time thing. That’s what I’m offering. One night. Tonight. Here and now.” She paused, licking her luscious and tantalizing lips. The small action almost had him lunging across the water. “So, you can either stay and show me how that rough, dangerous side of yours plays out, or...” She nodded to the exit. “You can leave. Your choice.”

  The decision wasn’t hard. There was no damn way he was walking away from what she offered. He was a man, after all, and apparently a stupid one not listening to the warning stream of common sense. His head knew better, but his body couldn’t wait to take her.

  “I’m comfy just where I am.” His eyes darkened with lust. “It will only get better once you’ve made your way over here.”

  Chapter Ten

  THIS WAS A mistake.

  Izzy’s head rationalized the depth of consequences which would follow sleeping with Gunner, but she countered each one individually.

  He was a top-of-the-line arrogant jerk, but she’d been with lowlife jerks before. The difference: Gunner hadn’t dismissed her after she’d taken off. In fact, he’d gone out of his way to locate her, confirm her well-being, and had even trailed behind her, protecting her like a guardian. Maybe his reasons revolved around her telling Marc or Anton about his earlier behavior, but still, that didn’t take away that he hadn’t turned a blind eye and abandoned her, like so many other men had done after they’d gotten what they wanted.

  Although he wasn’t a Caliendo, his knowledge of the files indicated his involvement ran deep with them. Should she fear him? His wide upper body towered intimidatingly above her. His hostile eyes exposed pain, torture—danger, even—and his brisk, rude way of communicating should have scared her away.

  But it didn’t.

  His presence didn’t elicit any fear within her. Instead, it emitted a burning fire of desire. She wasn’t afraid to admit, even from the distance of her suite earlier, that she’d been attracted to him. The feeling was apparently mutual. As much as he verbally denied it, he couldn’t hide the fire in his eyes. She could feel the mounting sexual desire between them.

  She needed to kiss his lips to find out if they felt as soft as they looked. She needed to run her fingers along his taut abs and bulging shoulders. She needed to press her bare skin against his and wrap her legs around his middle.

  The proactive thoughts eliminated the rest of her worries, throwing caution out the door and replacing it with her assured confidence.

  “Having doubts?”

  She blinked back to him, masking the blush she felt rising up in her cheeks. Blushing? Ugh. What had come over her ordinarily assertive self?

  “No.” She inwardly cheered the seamless seduction oozing out in her tone. She slowly ran her finger along her throat, down her chest and between her breasts, feeling her confidence rise as she watched his hungry eyes follow.

  She sighed. “I’m waiting for you to take charge. Me come to you? No—” She leisurely shook her head. “You come to me.”

  His laugh warmed her insides. She’d guess he didn’t laugh all that much. “Aren’t you a tease?”

  “I know what I want and swimming across this water to you isn’t it. You want me, come and get me.”

  The words weren’t even past her lips before he was on the move like a predator attacking its prey.

  Her breath caught in her chest at his quick movements through the water. So sharp and swift, he barely made a ripple. He instantly pinned her back against the hot tub, leaving her no time to shift her hands from being lodged between their chests. His hard, lean body flanked hers, thrusting against her core. One of his hands gripped the edge of the hot tub, while the other tangled in her hair, gripping the nape of her neck and drawing her nose against his, positioning his mouth a breath away.

  “Is this the kind of danger you like?” His rasp roughly kissed her lips and tingled through her body.

  She was speechless. When had Izzy ever been speechless? And, hot damn, she was turned on.

  His eyes lightened and although she couldn’t see his mouth, she’d bet he smirked at her lack of words. “Is your silence a yes?” She heard the teasing approval and his enjoyment at her silence. He didn’t give her a chance to answer. His mouth devoured hers, and his tongue eagerly pressed open the seams of her lips, sw
iping every area inside.

  Thankfully, her physical response was better than her verbal response. Her mouth moved with his, and her tongue pushed into his mouth, loving the warm taste of the lingering beer he’d sipped over dinner.

  Her legs wrapped around his middle, fitting flawlessly. She moaned when his lips trailed kisses down her throat, his hand moving along her neck, a conductor in charge of compressing any space between his mouth and her skin. The further down he moved, grazing her collarbone, loosened her hands, giving her space to free them and snake them around his neck.

  “Do you have protection?” What started out as a breathless whisper ended in a whimper for more as his mouth found the top of her breasts, but then abruptly stopped to answer her question.

  “Why?” He nipped at her lower lip sending a blast of excitement rushing through her veins. “Are you ready to get his over with already?”

  “No—” He caught her lips before she could finish, diving inside for another wild storm amidst their mouths.

  She gripped the sides of his face as his reckless, dangerous kisses consumed her. Each kiss shaved away a layer of his tense shoulders. Each nibble unwound a spring of his tight body. When their panting breaths finally parted, he grinned at her. For a moment, she forgot the man she’d labeled.

  “What were you saying?” he teased.

  Had she been saying something?

  She shook her head. “I don’t remember.”

  “Something about protection...”

  “Oh,” her panting subsided. “I wanted to make sure we didn’t get too far and then have to stop. But I think we might be past that point now...”

  “I wouldn’t have started if I thought we might have to stop.”

  She smirked at him. “Then why the hell did you stop?”

  A growl moved up his chest. “You’re a feisty one, popsicle.”

  “Don’t call me that. You’ll remind me of all the things I hate about you.”

  “Hate sex is the best kind.”

  His hands slid under her rear and, in a swift motion, he lifted her up and sat her on the edge of the hot tub.

  She suppressed a surprised gasp, her hands flailing to grab him for support.

  The cool air stroked her body until the warmth of his skin moved up to hers. His arm smouldered heat around her back, supporting her while he placed a hard kiss against her mouth before saying, “I’ll be right back.”

  And he was gone. She couldn’t keep up with this man. People thought she was a whirlwind of a woman. Well, this man topped her.

  As he padded across the marble floor, the moonlight cast a soft glow across his bare torso. His briefs hung low on his trim waist and she’d wished she’d yanked them off so she could watch his bare ass move behind him.

  This was a mistake. But the best damn mistake she’d made in forever.

  He walked back carrying a silver packet and she slipped back into the hot tub, moving to the center, her eyes never leaving his smoky, hungry eyes. Leaving the foil packet and his briefs on the edge of the hot tub, he sunk back into the water, moving toward her but stopping before touching her.

  “Change your mind?”

  “After seeing what’s underneath those briefs? Are you kidding me?”

  He gripped her face. “I haven’t had sex in three years, so once we start this, I won’t be stopping.”

  She swallowed hard. “Why do you do that? Try to scare me.”

  “I’m telling it like it is.”

  She shook her head. “No, there’s something else. I can’t put my finger on it. Like you want me to think you’re a bad asshole, but then you show me this side that cares.”

  A flicker of something danced through his eyes. “Do you want to play shrink or doctor?”

  He was right. What was she doing analyzing him when they were here for one thing: sex.

  Touching his chest, her fingers splayed across his skin, first gently absorbing the amazing feel of him, then moving down his chest, over his abs and further...

  “Three years is a long time not to have sex,” she said, her fingers stopping just below his waistline.

  He didn’t reply.

  “I haven’t had sex in three weeks...” She leaned to whisper in his ear. “...and I’m turned on, wet and ready for you. There will be no stopping once we’ve started.”

  IZZY’S DECLARATION HAD been spot on. They hadn’t stopped until she’d finished howling to the moon, even if their intimacy had ended much too soon. Yeah, he was that good. Hadn’t lost his touch.

  Now, sitting side by side in the aftermath of their lovemaking, their naked skin flushed in color, but the water a divided barrier between them and their deep breaths the sound of achieved bliss, he could go for round two.

  Damn, he missed sex.

  But the longer the seconds ticked by his thoughts drifted to unchartered territory. He hadn’t fully kissed or caressed every inch of her incredible body, lacking the satisfaction he’d been expecting.

  Soft, he’d grown soft. Unbelievable.

  What the hell was wrong with him? Sex. It was sex. He knew it and Izzy’s next actions proved she knew it, too.

  She climbed out of the pool, the moonlight highlighting her beautiful silky body. She slipped her bikini bottoms over her hips then miraculously tied her bikini top around her back. She finished by grabbing his briefs and tossing the damn material at him. “You can stay if you want, but I’m heading back to my suite.” She slipped her cover-up over her head and grinned at him. “That wasn’t an invite,” she added. “It sounded like an invite, but, no, it wasn’t.”

  Her words were more effective than a slap across the face. They were done.

  Climbing out of the pool, he used his briefs as somewhat of a towel before putting his dry clothes on. After pulling his top over his head, Izzy’s mouth covered his in a vigorous kiss he hadn’t expected. She didn’t have the strength to knock him in a pool, but her kiss pushed him back a step and her giggle lessened the surprise.

  When she finished, her hooded eyes looked up at him. “Thanks for a night I won’t forget.”

  He smirked at her. “You weren’t so bad yourself.”

  “I know.”

  He laughed.

  She patted his chest. “No cherry popsicle here.” And like a wild twister, she headed toward her door.

  He closed his eyes for a moment, settling the desire her touch brought about, before catching up to her by one of the pools. His senses instantly distinguished his feelings, shifting on high alert of the surroundings. He noted the couple lounging, hidden in the shadows to his right. Saw the group playing darts in a gazebo to his left. And lastly, saw Marc storming his way in their direction, body tense, eyes a raging fire and directed at Gunner.

  Shit.

  Marc stopped, and grabbed Izzy’s wrist, yanking her away from Gunner and putting himself in the middle. “I know what you did,” he accused.

  Gunner froze, panic washing through his body and seizing every inch of him.

  “You showed my sister the torture room.”

  Relief flooded him. Marc had no idea who he actually was. But he still had to clean up this mess, because, yes, he had shown her the torture room.

  Izzy yanked her hand away, sending her brother a mix between a glare and curiosity. “How do you know that?”

  “Do you think I would leave you down there with strangers and no surveillance?”

  Izzy sent him a look that said that’s exactly what she’d believed.

  “What? You’re my sister, for crying out loud, Izzy. I wouldn’t handcuff you to a chair with strangers. What the hell were you thinking?” His eyes darted between Gunner and Izzy. “Did he hurt you?”

  Izzy sobered. “What?”

  “I watched him drag you to the torture room...”

  Izzy’s eyes grew round with shock. “No, Marc. Gosh, no, he didn’t do anything to me.”

  Heaviness weighed on Gunner. He had shown her the torture room—he’d take the fall for that—but
he sure as hell didn’t touch her like this asshole was accusing.

  Marc stepped toward Izzy, lowering his voice to a whisper, but Gunner still heard every word.

  “Izzy, you don’t have to protect him or be embarrassed if he touched you. I will have his ass hauled off to jail in a second. Security is awaiting my signal.”

  “It wasn’t like that,” she protested.

  “You ran into the bathroom a mess, crying and dishevelled.”

  Izzy touched her brother’s arm and her voice softened. “Because I saw what Robert did to people in that room. I saw the chair, the chains and the table full of weapons. I threw up. Sickened by what Robert had done right underneath my suite.” The shattering of her voice sent guilty chills through Gunner. Her voice softened again with her next words. “Gunner did nothing but un-cuff me and let me absorb Robert’s insanity.”

  He had done more than that. He’d shown her the room, devastating her into an evening of decline and ending in sex with him. Guilt over their time in the hot tub twisted inside him. If Marc only knew, he’d send his signal to security without a second thought and Gunner wouldn’t blame him. In fact, had Izzy not spoken, he would have confessed because he deserved a good beating.

  “Gunner tried to warn me from going into the room, but I persisted and you know how persistent I can get.” She lied. For him. And she did so flawlessly. “Afterwards, he came to check on me knowing it was a lot to take in. Robert was bad, Marc. Worse than I’d ever considered. No wonder Mom and Carl hid it from us. But, I’m fine. I promise.”

  Marc’s warning looks to Gunner didn’t falter. In fact, he increased the intimidating look—a look that could have passed him as a Caliendo from Italy. Gunner anticipated a punch. His body tensed in preparation, but then Izzy’s quirky voice slashed through the hostility, encircling the two men.

  “So you were watching the basement the entire time?” Amusement laced her voice, but Gunner didn’t take his eyes off Marc. He wouldn’t break first. He silently dared Marc into throwing the first punch. Gunner wouldn’t reciprocate, but the man would only get one in.