Barefoot Bay: Trouble in Paradise (Kindle Worlds Novella)

by Fiona Roarke

  “Believe me, so are you.”

  She took his hand and led him to her sofa. All he could think about was that corner bedroom, and the bed there. Should they? Shouldn’t they?

  “Want something to drink?” she asked, breaking his indecisive reverie.

  “Sure. What do you have?”

  “Coffee and water, but I also have harder stuff, like wine, tequila, or vodka.”

  “What are you having?”

  She grinned. “I was about to have you, but you wisely slowed us down so we can make rational decisions about our future.”

  “I hope you aren’t mad at me for that.”

  “No, of course not. It’s the right thing to not go so fast. I like you. I want to see you again. I believe any alcohol added to my current outlook right now might make me seduce you, so I’ll be having a cup of coffee.”

  “I want to let you seduce me, so I’ll have coffee, too.” He stared at her, wanting her so much, but not for a quickie and not for only one night. He wanted a far longer connection.

  She squeezed his hand and headed for her kitchen. He stood, wandering around her place. “I like your apartment. Very spacious. I love all the exposed brick.”

  “Thanks. I love it, too.”

  She was in the process of making a small pot of coffee when the sound of a buzzer echoed across the vast space.

  Samantha put the coffee pot down. “Who could that be?” She crossed to the front door and touched a button on a panel mounted at eye level. “Hello?”

  “Hey. It’s me. I need to talk to you about that meeting we have together Monday morning. Buzz me up so we can discuss it.” The voice sounded like the guy they’d ditched from earlier at the reception, but JD wasn’t completely sure.

  Samantha took a step back from the front door, and turned her head in his direction. Her inquiring look had turned wary.

  “Is that the guy from earlier at the reception?” JD asked.

  “Yes. It’s Trey.”

  “He isn’t your ex-boyfriend, is he, trying to get back together?” JD absolutely didn’t want to step between any former relationships.

  “No. I promise. He’s not. Like I said, he works at the same place I do. Sort of.”

  “Sort of?” JD had pegged him as some rich prick lothario on the make for Samantha regardless of the impact he’d have on her career.

  “Well, as I mentioned before, he’s the boss’s son. We have a difference of opinion on what constitutes work.”

  “Do you really have a meeting with him Monday morning?”

  She shrugged. “Yes. I mean, there’s a meeting. We often both go to it, although usually he’s not that interested in the agenda.”

  “My possibly jaded perspective is that he wants to get in your pants.”

  Samantha frowned and shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

  “How does he know where you live?”

  “He must have followed us here. I swear I didn’t give him my address.”

  JD was more convinced than ever that Letchy McLetcherson was on the make, whether Samantha believed him or not about the guy’s scandalous intentions.

  Regardless, there was something off about a guy who would follow a woman home late at night without an invitation.

  Chapter Five

  JD frowned. He’d hoped the rumpled guy had moved on for the evening. “If not to discuss Monday morning’s meeting agenda, what’s he doing here?”

  Samantha shrugged. “I don’t know and I don’t care. He’s not coming up.” She moved forward again, pressing the button to talk. “I’m busy, Mr. Wakeman. I’m not buzzing you up.”

  He cursed and said, “Call me Trey. Is he up there? The guy you were dancing with at the reception? Do you really have a new man in your life?”

  “That’s none of your business.” She moved away from the front door, but the buzzer sounded again. She stepped to the entry once more and pressed the button, but didn’t look happy about it.

  Trey tried one more time. “Come on, Sam. I want to discuss the meeting, that’s all.”

  Samantha exhaled a deep breath and rolled her eyes. She walked several steps away from the door. “He never pays attention in meetings,” she told JD. “If he even shows up on time, he’s usually playing with his phone.”

  “Want me to go down there and make him leave?” JD asked. He hadn’t been in a brawl for years.

  “No. I want him to go away on his own so the two of us can have a nice quiet chat. And if I have to call the police to accomplish my goal, I will.”

  “Don’t do that. Tell him you’ll talk to him at work on Monday. This is your regularly scheduled time off, right?”

  She nodded. “You’re right. Thanks.”

  The buzzer sounded again. Samantha marched over to it and pressed the button. “This is my home. This is my night off. If you truly wish to discuss business with me, make an appointment at the office during business hours.”

  “Fine. I’ll go for now, Sam. We can discuss this on Monday at work.”

  Samantha shook her head. “Work, my ass. Work to Trey has a whole different meaning than it does to me, but at least he’s leaving.”

  JD wandered to the windows and looked down at the street. A third vehicle was parked haphazardly next to his and Samantha’s. A figure crossed to the car and got in. It started up and the engine revved loudly. The driver took off gunning the vehicle, spinning and squealing the tires as he left the parking area. The interruption was finally gone.

  “Good riddance,” Samantha said. She’d moved to his side as they both watched Trey leave.

  “I hope your sofa is comfortable.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I’ll be sleeping on it later. I won’t leave you alone tonight, in case he comes back.”

  “You don’t have to sleep on my sofa.” JD thought she was going to kick him out, until she added, “You can sleep in my bed.”

  “I would never presume.”

  She hugged him, kissed his chin. “The truth is, if you hadn’t stopped us for a coffee break, we might already be there now.”

  He smiled. “Mr. Buzzy McTwisted Britches would have interrupted us, though.”

  She smiled, releasing a soft sigh. “And that would have really ticked me off. But he’s gone now.” She slid her arms around JD’s middle, hugging him gently, placing another kiss on his chin. “Our options are open again with regard to what soft surface we end up on.”

  “Also, we can chat more, drink some coffee and still keep taking it slow.”

  “Don’t trust yourself in bed with me?”

  He laughed. “Maybe.”

  “What if the coffee seduces us? Would that be a sign that perhaps we should throw caution to the wind this time? I mean, why are we denying ourselves?” She lifted up on tiptoes and kissed his mouth. He kissed her back, licking between her lips, exploring. Several minutes later, when they finally broke apart, they stared at each other, breathing hard, contemplating things. Or at least he was.

  “Are you waiting for me to respond?” he asked quietly. “Because I can’t really think of a good answer right now.” She grinned and their lips immediately reconnected. Her arms moved up and tightened around his neck. He hugged her to his chest, wanting to keep her close, wanting to kiss her all night long. Wanting her any way he could have her.

  The high-pitched beep of her coffee maker signaling the brewing was finished broke them apart for a moment. They shared a momentary smile, and then went back to the blazing kiss. Their tongues tangled together in abandon. Clenched together like they were one person, she moved them toward the corner of her home, and her bed.

  This time he didn’t stop her.

  * * * *

  Samantha didn’t think she could let JD leave without a deeper connection. Even if she didn’t sleep with him, she wanted him naked. She wanted to press against him without their clothing in the way. Didn’t that lead to other things? Naked usually translated to sex, right?

  This crazy desire fo
r someone she’d just met was very unlike her, but something about him made her want to hang on and never let go. And there was the fact Robin had set them up. She’d wanted to set them up before. His name was familiar when she saw it on the card next to her seat at the reception.

  Besides, they didn’t have to sleep together. He wasn’t demanding it. But perhaps she was. If he left, she’d regret not exploring this aspect of what she hoped was their burgeoning relationship. Obviously they were compatible. His kisses lit her on fire like no one else had in the past. No one.

  He still wore his nice jacket from the wedding. She was still in her favorite new jade dress, the one she’d purchased especially for the wedding. The one with fabric thick enough not to need a slip underneath. And thick enough that she could also get away with not wearing a bra.

  She broke from his embrace, jarring their lips apart.

  He inhaled and then exhaled heavily. “Ready for coffee?” he asked, slightly breathless.

  “No. Not yet.” Turning in place, she lifted her hair off her collar. “I’d like to change clothes, you know, into something more comfortable. Will you help me unzip this dress?”

  He cleared his throat. “Um. Yes.” His fingers deftly moved to the top back of her dress. He pulled the zipper all the way down to her panty line. She heard him expel another breath, as if seeing that much skin was a surprise. If that was true, he was about to be shocked.

  “Thanks,” she said quietly.

  “Sure.” His voice sounded a bit wary, like he wasn’t certain what was about to happen.

  Samantha twirled around again. His eyes went to her chest as she lowered the dress, easing it from her shoulders slowly. He grabbed her to him and buried his face at her neck. “I am slowly losing my ability to deflect your seduction.”

  She stepped back and said, “Let me know when you’re down to zero resistance.” She pulled the dress down, guided it over her hips as she bent over, and let the jade fabric pool at her ankles. His gaze dropped to her breasts, then lifted back up to her eyes.

  “Okay, it’s now. I’m at zero resistance right now.”

  “Excellent.” She stepped from the dress, naked except for skimpy panties and her matching jade shoes.

  She reached to help him take his jacket off. He didn’t stop her. She also helped him remove his tie, his shirt and unbuckled his belt, sliding it from around his waist.

  JD pulled her to him, hugging her nearly nude body against his equally bare chest, leaning close, nibbling the sensitive skin beneath her ear, and suddenly moved across the floor to her bed.

  Excellent.

  He danced her as far as the edge and then turned them around. He sat on the end of the bed and guided her between his knees so he could press his face right beneath her bare breasts. His hands skimmed her waist, her hips, her legs and back again, like he wasn’t certain he should touch her or what might happen if he engaged too deeply.

  “I don’t want this to be our only night together,” he said, sounding like he was on the ragged edge of control. “Not how I operate.”

  She bent, cupped his face and tilted it up so she could kiss his amazing mouth. “Perfect. I expect this is the start of something wonderful.” She stood again, running her fingertips through the back of his short wavy hair. His eyes closed briefly as her nails grazed his scalp.

  He looked up into her eyes. “It’s already the start of something wonderful. No matter what happens tonight, I’m going to want to see more of you. And I’m willing to wait until Friday or next month or any length of time you want to name for any further…deeper engagement.”

  “Maybe we should wait, maybe we shouldn’t. All I know is that I can’t resist you.”

  They kissed again deeply, passionately.

  “I don’t want to wait,” she said. “Trust me, you wouldn’t be here and I wouldn’t be doing this if I thought you were only attempting to add another notch to your bedpost.” She pushed his shoulders until he was flat on his back on her bed. Then she climbed on top of him. “I’m a go-getter. Doesn’t make sense to me not to grab what I want. And I want you.” She straddled his lap, feeling him hard against one inner thigh. A rush of pleasure zipped through her body at the idea of her first time with JD.

  She kissed his mouth again, and finally he seemed to let go, holding her tightly and kissing her like there would be no further option to do so going forward and he had to get all he could right now. He rolled them both until he was on top, pinning her to the bed, his hips solidly pressed between her legs.

  JD pulled his mouth from her lips, trailing kisses from her chin to the peak of one breast, exerting enough pressure to make her arch her back and tremble with desire.

  His hand was hot on her outer leg, pulling it until her knee bent and opened wider, giving his hips room to wedge more solidly between her thighs. Even in this short span of time, his interest had stiffened to the point he was probably ready to go. At least she hoped he was.

  She certainly was.

  He worked his hand beneath her panties and pulled them down until they were nearly off. Samantha kicked her flimsy panties off the edge of the bed as he watched with a predatory grin. He pulled away slowly, easing off of the bed to rid himself of his slacks. And his boxer briefs. She came up on her elbows to watch him. The predatory smile never wavered as he disrobed. Sans clothes, he was magnificent, just as she expected him to be.

  Their gazes met and remained in place as he climbed back on top of her. His hips pressed into hers first, connecting their now naked bodies.

  “Oh my,” she whispered as he pushed his chest into hers, covering her from shoulders to thighs.

  JD placed his mouth to hers gently, kissing her like she was delicate, like he adored her. The second kiss was a little harder, a little deeper and a lot sexier, exactly like she wanted.

  The third kiss was nothing short of him devouring her before what she hoped would be getting down to serious business.

  * * * *

  Seated a few rows back from Samantha, waiting for Robin’s wedding to begin, JD had fantasized about their first kiss, never expecting it to happen at the reception. Not expecting to follow her home. Not expecting to spend the night. But he was so grateful to be exactly where he was right now.

  Naked, pressed to the perfect woman, kissing her like there was no tomorrow, he was filled with the sincere belief that this amazing lip-lock was about to lead to extraordinary lovemaking. Even if it didn’t, even if he only curled up next to her and fell asleep in her arms for the night, he was so thankful to be right where he was.

  In fact, that was his new plan of attack. He would put a smile on her face, but he wouldn’t take things too far.

  They kissed and embraced and then kissed even more, but JD held himself in check. The more he thought about it, the more he didn’t want to go all the way. He could wait. He should woo her. He needed to slow things down.

  Breaking their exuberant kiss, JD asked her to turn over so he could give her a back rub, one of his favorite methods of foreplay. She flipped to her belly and let him slowly ease any tension away with his fingers and palms in an extra-long massage. Her skin was silken to his touch. Her feminine lines sported lithe muscles so pleasing that he stroked slowly, wanting to follow with his lips.

  The sublime curve of her buttocks highlighted in that jade confection she’d worn earlier, hadn’t done justice to Samantha’s bare backside. He kneaded her repeatedly from shoulders to low back to upper thighs unable to stop smoothing his hands over her more obvious curves. He kept the massage up until she fell asleep, like he hoped she would. It hadn’t taken very long, which he found adorable.

  He pulled the sheet over her, put his boxer briefs back on and climbed into bed, spooning against her. She never woke. His mind was alive with possibilities. They’d go out to dinner on Friday as planned. But he’d also ask her out every night between now and then.

  Sleep was a long time coming as JD pondered what it would mean adding Samantha to his life. From
this point on, it was impossible not to place her into every aspect of his existence each and every day. He even looked forward to having Robin gloat about how she could have brought them together sooner if they’d cooperated.

  In the morning, he woke before Samantha did, crawled out of bed before the sun rose, and slipped his slacks and unbuttoned shirt back on. He watched her sleep for a few minutes before nature called.

  He saw the coffee she’d made the night before, now cold. He found a mug, poured a cup and microwaved it. When the bell went off, he heard her shift around under the sheets. JD carried the cup to her side of the bed. She’d flipped to her back. He leaned down to kiss her forehead as she stirred the rest of the way awake, and placed his warmed coffee on the nightstand.

  “Sorry I fell asleep on you last night,” she murmured without opening her eyes. “Now you know that great back rubs make me unconscious.”

  He laughed. “Yes. It was all a part of my master plan.”

  “We were moving way too fast last night, right?”

  “Well, I didn’t want you to have any regrets this morning. We still have a date on Friday for dinner, though, right?”

  She nodded, her eyes remaining closed.

  “Will you go to breakfast with me this morning?”

  “Yes.” Her eyes barely opened to stare at the window where the rays of dawn seeped into the horizon. “But can we sleep in longer before we go?”

  “Absolutely.”

  She closed her eyes again and motioned him forward. “Snuggle with me. You’re warm.”

  “Okay.” He downed the rest of his coffee, climbed back into bed with her and settled close. Even with the coffee in his system, he managed to doze off. When he woke a couple of hours later, it was with Samantha pressed to his side, head on his shoulder and one leg slung possessively over his thighs.

  He’d be a lucky man to wake up like this every morning.

  They got up, taking separate showers, although she did tempt him to save water by showering together. JD declined her steamy offer, but it cost him.

  He calmed his exasperated libido by reminding himself that anticipation made everything better in the long run. They exited her building and headed toward his vehicle. He had one arm slung around her shoulders, as they approached the car.