Like One of the Family

by Kimberly Van Meter

  The lust clouding his reason melted away and he stared at her, insulted that she would insinuate he would ever treat her that way. “I don’t know the kind of guys you typically hang out with, but I don’t treat women that way,” he said. “And furthermore, if you weren’t so damn uptight you might learn that going with the flow can actually be a lot of fun.”

  “Only for those without a care as to how things work out in the end.”

  “And you think I’m like that?”

  She shrugged. “Well, the shoe seems to fit. You struck a deal with my grandfather that benefited you without caring to see how it might affect my family.”

  “I told you I didn’t know about Pops at the time,” he said between gritted teeth. “Do I have to have it tattooed onto my forehead before you believe me?”

  “It doesn’t matter what I believe. The facts remain the same, which is why if you were thinking, you’d realize that indulging in some sort of physical attraction between us would be terribly ill-advised in the long-term.”

  He jerked his fingers through his hair, more than sexual frustration lacing his voice as he said, “Right, Lora. As usual, you’re right and everyone else is an idiot. Thank God we have you to make sure no one makes any damn mistakes.”

  There was a boom of thunder that caused both Heath and Lora to look to the sky. While they’re attention had been on each other, a tropical storm had blown in and was quickly headed their way. Heath swore and Lora rushed to grab her cover-up and pull it on. The wind had already kicked up and as he contemplated heading back to the island, the rain started pelting them. Lora shrieked and he hollered for her to go down below while he readied the sails to handle the barrage.

  “Are you sure you can handle this?” she yelled, hesitating, but he waved her away, too focused on the wind that was building along with the rain. It wasn’t unusual to weather a quick tropical rainstorm during hurricane season but he was a little concerned over how the skies had darkened and the wind had begun to howl. He had two choices, try to outrun the bad weather or anchor up and wait it out. It looked as if the storm was heading right in the direction he needed to go if he were to pull up anchor and sail for shore, so he opted to wait it out. With luck, most tropical storms moved quickly in and then out.

  He double-checked his lines and then headed below deck to start the engine and put it into neutral.

  “What are you doing? Don’t you need to be steering or something?” she asked, the tension radiating from her shoulders and reflecting in the tightness of her voice.

  “We’re going to wait it out. The storm is heading toward St. John. I’d rather weather some choppy waves and rain than try to outrun the storm when it’s going in the same direction. Don’t worry, we’re anchored tight and Billy’s boat can handle a little rough water. She’s built to last.”

  “How rough of water?” she asked.

  “Nothing to worry about,” he assured her, and hoped that was the case. He checked the gas level for the engine and noted the tank was nearly full. “It’s going to be fine. At least the storm’s not gunning for us. That could be a little stressful.”

  “A little stressful? I think this is a lot stressful,” she said, rubbing her arms and cocking her head to listen to the thunder rumble and the rain hit the deck. “Please tell me you’ve done this before.”

  “Sailed rough water? Yes. Alone? No. But it’s going to be fine. I promise.”

  “So now what?” she asked in an almost desperate tone. “I’m not good at just hanging out. I’m already about to jump from my skin and I’ve only been down here a few minutes. How long do you think it’s going to take?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t check the weather report before I left.”

  She arched her brow. “Isn’t that, like, rule number one when you’re sailing? Followed closely by making sure there are life vests on the boat?”

  Yeah, he should’ve checked. “Slipped my mind. But you’re the one who’s stressed, not me.” She nibbled her lip and he tried not to notice how attractive she appeared under such unlikely circumstances. Perhaps it was because she was always so hard-boiled, so matter-of-fact that seeing her react to a situation where she had to rely on someone else allowed him to see the vulnerable side of her. “I won’t let anything happen to you, Lora,” he said, and he meant it. “Will you trust me?”

  * * *

  HE WAS ASKING A LOT, she thought as her mind escalated the situation with each peal of thunder. But even as she started to shake her head, she caught his gaze and felt his sincerity through her bones. He would protect her. She suppressed a shudder and for a wild moment she wished she’d let him kiss her.

  “Okay,” she agreed, hating that she felt so scared over a silly storm. “Say something…I need to get my mind off what’s happening right now.” Or better yet, forget what I said earlier and just get over here and kiss me until I can’t think any longer. “Tell me about what you’ve been doing since I left. How come you haven’t met someone and started a family or something?”

  His expression fell and she imagined that’s what she’d looked like when he’d asked about her job in Chicago.

  “I’m sorry, that’s so personal. I’m just nervous,” she apologized, moving to the rear of the boat to sit on the bed. The boat was small so when he followed and sat beside her, she didn’t comment, just simply scooted to give him more room. “Tell me your business plan for recouping my grandfather’s investment,” she said, focusing on the one thing—business—that could narrow her thoughts in a predictable and manageable line.

  But Heath wasn’t going to go there. He firmly shook his head and said, “If all there ever is between us is business, we can’t ever hope to be friends.”

  “Do you want to be friends?” she murmured, shooting him an unsure glance. “I don’t have much experience in that area. The people in my life are placed in clearly marked compartments—family and business associates. I’m not sure I have friends. And I don’t think I know how to be one,” she admitted.

  “I have lots of friends. I can teach you. I remember you being an excellent student. Straight-A girl, right?”

  She risked a smile. “Even through college. Grams used to say I was obsessive. And she said it like it was a bad thing.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with attention to detail,” he said softly, his gaze roaming her face. Another shiver threatened to rock her body and once again the moment changed between them. They were too close, the situation had heightened the feelings zipping between them. None of it was real, she reminded herself, trying to pull free from the threads winding around them, drawing them ever closer.

  “I think we should kiss,” he said in a husky tone that caused goose pimples to erupt up and down her skin.

  “I thought you said we should try to be friends,” she reminded him in a breathless whisper as he leaned in and she moved forward to meet him.

  Seconds before their lips touched, and her eyelids fluttered shut, she heard him say in a playfully sexy voice, “How about friends with benefits?”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  THIS IS INSANITY, LORA thought dizzily as she fell back against the bed, Heath’s mouth moving in concert with her own. And yet, crazy as it was, Lora was in no hurry to stop. If anything, she hungered for more.

  She slid her tongue against Heath’s, reveling in the sensation, lifting her hips to press against his, gasping as she felt the urgency in his hands as he touched her body.

  The feel of Heath’s mouth and body was the only thought running through her mind as she lost herself to the sensation of being thoroughly kissed. There was nothing tentative or submissive about his touch. He plundered, took and demanded—and it thrilled her senseless.

  The storm continued to rage, buffeting the sailboat and rocking them with the waves that crashed around them but Lora
could focus on only one thing—getting her clothes off so she could be skin to skin with Heath.

  She panted, writhed, and when she thought she might completely lose herself, he pulled away and jerked her hands above her head, stretching her until she was helpless to change position.

  “Say you want me,” he demanded in a silky voice that slid along her nerve endings and then lit them on fire. He nuzzled her right breast and then nipped at the tip that had instantly pebbled beneath her thin bikini top. She gasped and bit her lip as if to prevent herself from giving in but he was relentless. “Say it,” he growled, grazing her nipple with his teeth. She bucked and he pressed against her, grinding his erection into her pelvic bone and causing her to moan. She wanted him. She wanted him. The knowledge slicked her insides and she twisted, silently begging him to touch her, somewhere—anywhere—but he simply tortured her with featherlight grazes that teased. He moved up her body to stare into her eyes, forcing her to meet his heated gaze. He freed one of his hands and pressed his palm against her pubic bone. The delightfully carnal pressure made her moan and open her legs in silent invitation but he wouldn’t give in until she said the words. “Say it,” he whispered in her ear, tickling her with his voice.

  “I want you,” she gasped, giving in, twisting. “I want you, damn it!”

  He chuckled and released her hands only to strip her bikini bottom off with lightning-fast speed. She followed by ripping her cover-up and top off. She rose on the bed and pulled the drawstring on his linen shorts. She sucked in a tight breath when she saw he was nude underneath. Her memory hadn’t embellished his size and she couldn’t help but stare. Good God…was that natural?

  “I’m glad you like what you see,” he said, his voice raw, primal as his own gaze feasted on her breasts, her flat stomach and lower. “You’re more beautiful than I ever imagined…” She warmed at his perusal but she didn’t have time to respond before he pulled her against him, turning her so that her back was to him. He splayed his fingertips over her belly and slid down to cup the hot aching core of her. “So perfect…” he murmured, slowly dipping his finger inside her, testing. She sank against him, swallowing her moan, trying to focus, to return to herself, but he must’ve sensed her innate refusal to give in and withdrew his finger. He threaded his fingers through her hair and then gripped it hard, the sensation sending rockets of need straight to the place that pulsed and spiraled, waiting.

  “I’ve always wanted you to be mine and in this moment, right now, you are,” he breathed against her ear, causing her to shake. She’d never had a lover demand so much of her. Most had been attentive but way too polished to ever dominate her. If anything she’d dominated them, taking her pleasure and then moving on, simple as any other task on her to-do list. But not so with Heath. She breathed hard, her whole body trembling as his lips traveled the sensitive shell of her ear. “Tell me, Lora…what do you want me to do to you?”

  * * *

  HE COULD FEEL THE SUBTLE shakes and tremors coursing through her body and it only fueled his need to have all of her. He felt the clock ticking, that time was not his friend. He wasn’t naive in thinking that Lora would soften toward him just because they’d been intimate, and so he was going to wring every last cry from her throat and savor the taking. Maybe if he got her out of his system he could finally move on and find a less difficult woman to want. It was a thought, even if the likelihood of it coming true was remote.

  The smooth lines of her body felt like silk beneath his fingertips, and the soft, sparse curls of her pubic mound tickled. He wanted to bury his face in all that womanly flesh and feel her come against his tongue. But first…

  He surprised her by bending her over the bed, and lifting her hips so that her plump, perfectly shaped ass rose to meet him. He heard her sharp intake of breath and then she arched as if in invitation and he nearly lost it right there. He reached with shaking fingers and jerked a condom out of the drawer where Billy kept his stash and after quickly sheathing himself, slowly slid inside her hot body. A guttural moan escaped from his lips as her flesh clamped around his and he pushed until he was deep inside. She cried out and curled her palms into the comforter, moaning as he pulled out only to slide back. He kept this slow, torturous rhythm until he thought he was going to die from a heart attack. Then he started to pump harder. She matched his thrusts by pushing against him. Before long, he felt the deep pulling in his balls and he knew he was about to come. He gripped her hips and with one last thrust he came so hard he thought he saw stars and his knees threatened to give out. He collapsed against her and for a long moment it was just the harsh sound of their breathing. Then he rolled away and pulled the condom free and put it in the trash. She’d rolled to her back, her stomach lifting and falling from the exertion, though he wasn’t sure if she’d reached her climax.

  He climbed her body and pulled her arm free from her eyes. Her face was flushed and she was still breathing heavy. She looked at him with something akin to surprised wonder and he had his answer.

  When she could speak, she said, “You wore a condom?”

  “Yes.”

  She nodded in relief. “Good.” She started to roll away but he stopped her with a frown. She turned to look at him. “What’s wrong?”

  “Not yet,” he said firmly. When she looked at him in question, he pushed her back down and straddled her. “When we return to Cruz Bay, I know you and I will be at odds again. It’s the nature of our relationship, but right now, we have this moment and I’m not ready to let it go just yet.”

  She nodded, understanding. “So what do you propose? We can’t spend all night out here. Everyone will worry. And no matter how much we enjoy ourselves it’s not going to change the reality of our situation.”

  “I know. But we can have this moment. And that’s what I intend to do.”

  She closed her eyes and he bent down to suck her nipple into his mouth. She arched into him, clasping her arms around his neck. “Heath…” she murmured on a groan, and he lavished her breasts with equal attention.

  “You have the most amazing breasts,” he told her, nuzzling the soft, plump flesh and teasing the tips until she writhed and squirmed. “I could spend all day right here.”

  But that wasn’t entirely true. He was aching to go lower, to taste her, to know her completely.

  He moved down her body and opened her legs, baring that prized spot. She whimpered something and tried to close her legs but her sudden show of bashfulness was like a shot of aphrodisiac straight to his groin. He placed long lingering kisses on her inner thighs and then hooked her thighs over his arms, dragging her closer.

  She lifted her head and braced herself on her elbows, her cheeks pinking in the sweetest, most unexpected way as she said, “You don’t have to do that…”

  “I want to,” he answered. She thought it was an obligation. If she only knew how he couldn’t wait. The moment his tongue delved inside those soft, pink folds, he knew this was the place he could gladly spend forever. And judging by her reaction, he didn’t think she’d mind.

  * * *

  LORA GASPED AS SHOCK WAVES coursed through her. She’d never been a fan of oral sex; in her experience, it was messy and embarrassing, and frankly she’d never been with anyone who’d convinced her otherwise.

  Until Heath.

  She clutched at his head, urging him on and writhing as he held her in place, his wicked tongue and lips doing things to her she’d never imagined were possible.

  “I can’t… This is… Oh…oh…” Her entire body clenched and she thought her heart may have stopped as every muscle contracted and she cried out Heath’s name in a keening wail that surely everyone on St. Croix heard.

  Little pulses rocked her body and radiated to every nerve ending until she felt wrung out and completely sated.

  Heath moved to lie beside her, leaning on his elbow to look do
wn at her. For a moment she couldn’t meet his stare; this was the embarrassing part. But once she caught her breath, she turned to him and smiled like the Cheshire cat. What else could she do? She felt wondrously drowsy and deliciously relaxed. Not even the most expensive spa treatment had yielded this type of contentment.

  “If you could bottle that up and sell it, you’d be a rich man,” she said playfully. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips. He smelled faintly of her own musk and instead of being grossed out, she was turned on by the scent of her body on his lips. “This could be a problem,” she amended huskily.

  “Which part? The part where we both can’t keep our hands off each other, or the part where we’re destined to forever be on opposite ends of the spectrum as far as life goes?”

  “Both. But mostly the first part.”

  “I think I can deal with it.”

  “I’m not sure I can,” she said truthfully. This changed everything. And when she came to her senses that would weigh heavily on her conscience.

  He shrugged. “Let’s cross that bridge when we come to it.”

  “Do you ever worry about anything?”

  “Plenty.” He kissed her again. “But for the moment…all I’m worried about is having enough time to grab a bite to eat and then make love to you one last time before we head in.”

  “What about the storm?” she asked.

  He paused to listen. The rain had stopped pelting the boat. “Sounds all clear. Guess it was a good thing to wait it out after all.”

  She paused to listen and then said with a smile, “Well, we’d better get some food down that gullet so we can burn off those calories because—” she pushed him over so she could straddle him this time “—I believe it’s my turn to be on top.”