Pressing his face into her ass, he flattened his tongue against her clit and made a broad swipe along the length of her pussy. Her hips bucked under the delicious pressure and her brain almost overloaded with pleasure when he pointed his tongue and entered her. With each gentle rock of the deck, his tongue penetrated deeper. She pushed back with her hips, riding his face as she clung to the guardrail.
The yacht slapped against the water, sending up a spray. When cold droplets landed on her needy breasts, she couldn’t wait anymore. “Fuck me, Will. Please.”
He withdrew his tongue, and she almost sobbed at the emptiness. Laughing at her desperation to hurry things along, she turned in his arms and got to work on his belt while he shrugged out of his jacket and shirt. Her pulse spiked when she saw his bare chest and the tie still around his neck. Before dropping his trousers, he opened his wallet and waved a condom in front of her.
“I so love a good boy scout.” She wrapped the tie around her fist and reeled him in for a kiss. She’d meant for it to be light and flirty, but she should have known better. The reality of her fantasy was far better than her imagination.
“I adore your ties,” she said between pants.
He grinned. “I’ve noticed.”
The moment she felt Will’s hot skin under her palms, she was lost. Her hands roamed his body, touching sleek muscles and long bones, his straight strong back, his taut, tempting ass. She loved every inch of him.
What would she do without him?
Determined not to ruin the evening with depressing thoughts, she forced herself to focus on the man in her arms. They were virtually alone on a fancy yacht in the dead of night. Both naked, gloriously free, rejoicing in their desire for each other, with only the moon and the stars as witnesses.
Spinning around, she returned to her earlier position. Bracing her arms on the rail, she took a few steps away from it and spread her legs wide.
“Take me like this. I want to watch the night.”
Silent, he moved closer, his thighs against hers and his cock snug between her ass cheeks. Leaning forward, he covered her back with his chest and buried his face in her hair. She moaned when his big hands cupped her breasts, twisting and tugging on the nipples.
“You’re so beautiful like this.” His warm breath sent shivers down her spine.
“Like what? Naked?” she joked to cover the depth of her reaction.
“Free. Uninhibited. Unfettered by convention or society.”
Yes. That was exactly how she felt. But only because he was here with her. She turned her head and murmured against his lips, “Make love to me, Will.”
Without letting go of her, he adjusted his position and plunged into her. They groaned in unison at the closeness, the unbearable tightness. She gripped the rail and closed her eyes. “Move. Now.”
Like a beast unleashed, he went wild. Pushing up, he dug his fingers into the flesh at her hips and pumped his cock with deep hard strokes. The sound of skin slapping against skin was surprisingly loud in the moonlit night. Her pussy grabbed hungrily at his cock each time he withdrew. Throwing her head back, she opened her eyes and almost cried at the beauty of the experience. Everything was perfect.
Will’s hand left her hip and slipped down to the juncture of her thighs. Two fingers slid between her folds, spreading her wetness. She arched her back, allowing his cock to slide even farther inside her. When she opened her eyes, her heart lurched.
Another boat was coming.
Should she alert him? A battle raged inside her. She couldn’t let him do this without knowing. Without his consent. But if she told him, he’d stop. Shit. She knew what she had to do. She opened her mouth to tell him, but Will spoke first.
“I can’t hold out much longer.” His voice, rough and urgent, dragged along her nerve endings like a calloused finger. A shudder started at the top of her head and swept down to her toes. Her mouth went dry and her throat closed, sealing in the words that would shatter her fantasy.
As the other boat approached, Dani’s arousal ratcheted higher. Soon, she was rocking back, meeting each of Will’s thrusts with as much strength as she could muster. Drops of salt water mixed with the sweat on her skin and she flashed between hot and cold.
Will’s fingers pinched her clit just as the other boat crossed behind the yacht, not more than twenty yards away. Was anyone on deck? At this proximity and with the lights above them, she would be clearly visible, but her body would shield Will’s. Or so she tried to convince herself.
She spotted movement on the deck of the other boat and her climax detonated. She bore down on Will, and his roar joined her screams. Together they rocked through the aftershocks of their orgasms.
Cheers filled the night, and a floodlight shone down on them. And Dani’s boat fantasy came to a screeching end.
Chapter 12
Floating in post-orgasmic euphoria, William held on tightly to Danielle. He didn’t want to let her go, didn’t want to end what had truly been an extraordinary experience. Sex out in the open on a boat—wow.
It took several moments before his consciousness returned and he became aware of the stiffness in Danielle’s body. When his ears registered catcalls, he opened his eyes and was momentarily blinded by a bright light. Where the fuck was it coming from?
His vision cleared and he spotted the smaller boat bobbing in the water not far from the yacht. It was filled to the brim with a bunch of college kids out for a night of drinking and fucking. Well, apparently, Will had them beat. Suckers.
When his brain started to work again, he realized how exposed Danielle was. Gripping the condom at the base of his cock, he pulled out of her. A groan tore from his chest at the abrupt return to reality. Danielle moaned and kept her head down. Why was she so bothered by a bunch of college kids seeing them? He twirled around and carried her into the main salon. Shit! Their clothes. After a quick scan of the deck, he spotted them scattered near the railing. Crouching low, he raced out to scoop up their things and hurried back inside. Then he wrapped his jacket around Danielle’s shoulders.
He’d been fully prepared to laugh the whole incident off, until he heard one of the kids ask, “Hey, isn’t that Rockney’s yacht?”
“The football player?” another kid responded.
“Was that him?”
“Don’t know.”
“Anyone get pictures?”
Fuck! William pulled Danielle farther away from the glass door where they couldn’t be caught by a regular camera. Sam was going to kill him if this hit the press. Where was the damn intercom? After pawing the wall where he remembered the intercom being, he finally found it. “Captain, please return us to the marina.”
“Of course, sir. Our ETA is fifteen minutes.”
When the engines revved, William’s heartbeat started to return to normal. He turned to Danielle. She’d remained unusually quiet during all of this. Of course she’d been in front. If they had photos, her identity wouldn’t be too hard to figure out. “You okay?” he asked, smoothing her wind-blown hair down her back.
She swallowed and seemed to be avoiding his gaze. “Hey, it’s going to be okay.”
Her eyes brimmed with tears. “Will, I am so sorry.”
“Why? This wasn’t your fault.”
She took a step back from him and wrapped his jacket more tightly around her middle. When she lifted her head, her face was pale, her eyes wide and wary. He wanted to know what she had to say; at the same time he was scared. Very scared. She looked away. “I saw the boat. I saw them coming and I… I didn’t tell you. Christ. I didn’t say a damn thing.”
Will stared at her anxious face, the trembling bottom lip, the tendrils of wet hair sticking to her cheeks. But it was the look in her eyes that captured him: fear, desperation. Guilt.
Could he blame her? He’d known having sex on deck was risky. There were always boats in the Sound, especially near the port. Had he been secretly hoping to get caught? Fucking moron. “I can’t believe I started this,” he said.
“I’m pretty sure they didn’t get any shots. There weren’t any flash bursts.” The softness of her voice killed him.
“I shouldn’t have risked it.”
“Why did you?”
Hearing her uncertainty, his heart tumbled in his chest. Shit. He’d done this to her. And what he was going to say next was only going to hurt her more. He cupped her face between his palms. “You make me crazy. You make me want to do things I shouldn’t. Things that can ruin me, ruin my family, ruin my company.”
Danielle stared at him a long moment, as though memorizing his face. Then she blinked and picked up her clothes where he’d dumped them on the couch. He waited while she got dressed. Still she said nothing. Fuck. Resigned to the silent treatment, he grabbed his own clothes and put them on. By the time he’d finished tying his shoes, he’d had enough of her continued silence, the blankness of her expression. “Danielle, please. Say something.”
Her eyes flashed. “Haven’t you already said enough?” His heart sinking, he tried to grab her elbow, but she twisted out of his reach. “I’m no good for you, I get it. I’ve known it all along.”
“No. That’s not what I’m saying.”
“Then what the hell are you saying?”
“There’s nothing wrong with you—”
“Gee, thanks,” she snapped.
“I just…” He growled and scrubbed his face. Why was this so damn difficult to say? “I can’t be with you like this.”
“I’m sure Kathleen will be pleased to hear from you. You’ll be very happy together.” Her voice dripped with bitterness, anger, and was it jealousy?
Kathleen? How the hell had Danielle found out about her? “You knew this was temporary. Remember, it was you who said, ‘No strings. Nonexclusive. Just between you and me.’”
Her hand snaked out to grab his tie. She yanked him to her and her mouth closed on his in a passionate kiss, one filled with lust and desire. Heat flared in his stomach and he wanted— As suddenly as the kiss had started, it ended. Her gaze locked on his, she pressed her fingers to his tender lips.
His insides were balled into a huge confused knot. “What the fuck was that?”
“That was goodbye.”
When Dani shuffled into the kitchen, bleary-eyed from tossing and turning all night, Will was waiting for her. While her hair resembled a rat’s nest, he looked as fabulous as always in lightweight gray trousers with a cream-colored shirt open at the collar. But his eyes were bloodshot and lines bracketed his lips. A crushing sadness squeezed her heart, and her breath left her in a rush. He was going to kick her out. Well, she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
She turned her back and poured herself a cup of coffee while she sucked in air and gathered her courage. “I have to work today, but tomorrow morning, I’ll pack up my stuff, and Coco and I will get out of your hair.”
“You’re working? It’s Labor Day.”
Leaning against the counter, she studied his face, the honest curiosity she saw there. He really didn’t get it. “Do your brothers get every holiday off?”
He blushed and toyed with the handle of his mug. “Stupid question. Sorry.”
She snorted and indicated his casual clothing. “CFF is obviously closed for the day. Going somewhere?”
“My parents’ place.”
“Ah yes. The annual Caldwell Labor Day gathering. Too bad Jamie’s going to miss it.” William hadn’t invited her even before their fight last night. That hurt almost worse than everything else. A belt tightened around her heart, cinching it painfully. It really was over.
“Where…” His voice broke. He cleared his throat. “Where will you go?”
“A cheap motel. Some place that takes dogs.”
He stood and grabbed her shoulders, gently squeezing. Avoiding his gaze, she fiddled with the belt on her robe. She couldn’t stand to be so close to him, his eyes, his lips. A hole opened up in her chest, and she wanted to die. “Will,” she hiccupped.
He cupped her chin with one hand and forced her to look at him. “I don’t want you to leave. Not yet. Your apartment won’t be ready for another couple weeks.”
“You want me to stay?”
“Yes.”
“Platonically?”
A wry smile played on his lips. “I’m not sure I can do that.”
She laughed, the sound sharp and bordering on hysterical. Her throat clogged with tears she refused to shed. She tore away from him, running back to her room. Sitting on the edge of her bed, she covered her face with her hands and broke down. Sobs like she hadn’t experienced since being a hormonally challenged teen shook her torso and made shreds of her throat. Her heart was breaking, and there was nothing she could do. She’d known this was coming, but she hadn’t expected it to be so soon, or so painful.
The mattress dipped beside her and Will gathered her against his warm hard chest. She clutched his shirt and buried her face in his shoulder, while tears and a soul-destroying sadness wracked her body. His hand stroked her back as he murmured soothing words in her hair. “Shh. It’s okay.”
“I thought I could do this,” she said. Pushed through the invisible noose tightening around her throat, the words came out garbled.
Get to know him. Love him. Then leave him when the month was up. How could she have been so stupid? Pining for him, for something that had only existed in her mind, was infinitely easier than losing something she knew to be more precious to her than the rising sun.
“Will, please. I can’t lose you. Not now and not like this.”
He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and sighed. “Danielle, you are who you are. I can’t risk exposing the company to scandal. There’s too much at stake with the union negotiations.”
Dani shrank into herself. Although he’d enjoyed her kink, had even embraced it for a while, ultimately it was too much for him. He was like the others; she was too extreme to fit into his life. Her heart squeezed so tightly, it was a physical pain. An idea popped into her mind. She’d been in love with this man for years, and she knew he felt something for her. Maybe, just maybe, if she could convince him to finish out their arrangement, she’d have enough time to become the woman he needed.
“I’ll give it up,” she blurted. “Let me show you I can be normal. That I can be an asset for you.”
“I don’t want you to change for me, Danielle.”
“Please, give me a chance. Give us a chance.” She knew she was begging, and she hated herself for it. But she’d hate herself more if she gave him up without a fight.
William sighed, a harsh release of air. “I want this to work, but things have to change.”
“It will work, you’ll see.” For him, she could tame her wild side. She had to.
“How about you come to the CFF anniversary party with me on Saturday?”
She stared at him. If she went to the party with him, people would know they were together. “As Danielle or Dani?”
He angled his head and gave her a puzzled look.
“Do you want me to go to the party with my platoon or with you?” she clarified, not wanting to jump to any false conclusions.
“With me. We’re not hiding anymore either.” Will brushed his lips against hers. A rabble of butterflies took flight in her chest. Just when she’d thought everything was over between them, Will had done a one-eighty. All she wanted was to throw herself in his arms. But she didn’t. This was the beginning of her test. She had exactly two weeks to prove to Will that she could be discreet and circumspect—the perfect girlfriend.
Christ, she needed a miracle; she needed to be just like Kathleen.
William spent the holiday visiting with his parents, Erica, Chloe, Drew, and Chad. His mother had been horrified by Chad’s injuries, and that angry vein in his father’s forehead had pulsed the entire afternoon. They’d had fun though. Chloe was a little firecracker, and she’d had them laughing until their sides hurt. There was so much of Jamie in her. Several times when they’d been playing together,
Erica had eyed him questioningly. Had Jamie told her about the shower incident? He flushed. Shit, he hoped not.
Later, when Chloe had worn him down playing Knights and Dragons, and he lay exhausted on a blanket—their “castle” as Chloe called it—Erica knelt beside him. He sat up and accepted the scotch she handed him. That’s when he noticed she was sipping orange juice.
He motioned to her drink. “Any news you want to share?”
Her eyes took on a dreamy quality, and she smiled. “We’ve decided to try for another child. I’d wanted to wait until I was certain things with Jamie would work out.” The love on her face almost knocked him over.
Then she turned away, but not before he saw a hint of concern in her eyes. He touched her elbow. “You’re worried about something.”
“Do you think it’s too soon to, you know, rock the boat?”
As soon as he heard the words, his mind went to Danielle standing naked on the deck of Sam’s yacht, open and inviting, waiting for him to join her, to fill her. His cock stirred. Okay, it stood at attention, ready to report for duty. Fuck. He pulled his knees up so Erica wouldn’t catch sight of the tenting action in his pants. She was looking at his face expectantly. Had she asked him something? Oh, right. “I think only you and Jamie can answer that question.”
“I don’t want to repeat history.”
“Is it really the same? From the looks of it, you both seem to be in very different places than you were before.”
“We are. We’re very in sync, connected in a way I never imagined we could be.”
Envy clawed at his gut. He wanted a connection like that. So fucking bad. “Then what’s the problem?”
“How much…” She took a deep breath, then she lowered her voice. “How much do you know about Jamie’s past?”
He raised his brows. “How much do you?” He was pretty sure Jamie had resumed his old ways, but in case he was wrong, he wasn’t going to be the one to spill his brother’s secrets.
Everything Bared (Six-Alarm Sexy) Page 19
