by Taryn Belle
Alex dropped his voice. “Best fucking orgasm of my life. Until the next one.”
His words were like a direct line to her pussy. She felt it fire to life with a hot twinge. “Well,” she said as her cheeks warmed, “I guess mine wasn’t bad, either.”
“Not bad? Was that what you called that earth-shattering scream?”
“I don’t remember screaming.”
“Then maybe I should refresh your memory.”
Alex was right in front of her now, their bodies one inch apart. She could literally feel electricity buzzing in the space between them. She licked her lips. “What did you want me to tell you?” she reminded him in a barely controlled voice.
Alex looked down at his shorts, and her eyes followed. His cock was straining impressively against the fabric. “I want you to tell me you don’t want to feel me inside you again. My cock thrusting into your pussy as hard as you can take it. I want you to tell me that wasn’t the best thing you’ve ever felt in your life.”
It was no use—the last of Nicola’s resolve evaporated. Her knees literally felt weak. She tried to control her breathing, but it was already coming out fast. “I don’t know. Maybe if you show me what you mean,” she said, sliding her hand up her sundress and then down into her thong. No big surprise, she found herself wet and ready. She glided a finger across her clit and pulled on Alex’s waistband with her other hand. “Show me.”
She’d completely forgotten they were in public, and Alex seemed to care about that as much as she did. His eyes never leaving hers, she heard the delicious sound of his zipper unzipping. She looked down to see him holding himself in his fist. “Oh, that is nice. I remember now,” she said, still pleasuring herself. “Now pretend you’re fucking me.”
“Nothing could ever feel that good,” he gasped as he started to move his fist up and down. The sight of him turning himself on was making her crazy.
“Just imagine it. How do I feel?”
His eyes were soft, the lids at half-mast as he brought himself closer to the edge. “So wet. So warm and tight. I want to fuck you all night.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
Nicola stopped, bent to her handbag and pulled a condom from the stash she’d put in there two days ago. “Then let’s start right now.”
Alex had the condom on in one second flat. Then, reaching under her dress, he yanked her underwear off and lifted her up against the wall. Through her haze of lust, she could feel the wooden siding against her back. She was fully suspended from the ground, but Alex was strong enough that he could keep her there while he guided his cock inside her.
“So good,” Alex whispered raggedly into her ear. “So fucking sweet.”
Nicola fought the urge to scream out in ecstasy as he started to thrust into her. She felt the zipper of Alex’s shorts hit the insides of her thighs with each of his movements, and somehow the fact that they were both still fully clothed with only the most secret parts of themselves connected gave her an extremely erotic charge.
“Come for me, baby,” Alex was urging. “Come on my cock. I need to feel you.”
Nicola knew just how to get the job done. Grabbing Alex’s ass to stop his heavenly thrusting, she stayed there for a moment, enjoying the feeling of being impaled on his rock-hardness. Alex gripped her thighs tightly, keeping her pinned to the wall. Using a circular motion, Nicola slowly started rubbing her clit against his groin.
“Oh, Jesus,” Alex growled. “You’re going to make me come.”
“Be my guest,” Nicola shuddered with one final gyration, and with that her clit exploded into a thousand fragments. She heard Alex’s breath whoosh out of him at the same time and opened her eyes in time to see him mid-orgasm, his eyes closed and mouth open as he rode wave after wave with her. Her body shuddered as she felt herself contract around his cock, drawing out every last delicious pulse. Then, finally, she lowered her legs and slid down the wall. Tilting her pelvis forward, Alex stayed inside her while he kissed her face and neck.
“Stay with me tonight,” he whispered.
* * *
Watching Nicola straighten her dress and run a hand through her sex-tousled hair, Alex could almost see the cogs turning in her head. Her shiny eyes returned to normal, and the guardedness he’d seen on her face earlier returned. Still leaning against the wall, she reached her hands out and took both of his.
“I do want to stay with you tonight,” she started. “Every cell of my body wants that. But I think I should go home. Not because of anything that happened before—I know you’re sorry, it’s done. It’s just...”
“What?” Alex asked softly, stroking her chin.
“I think I need to protect myself. I—”
“From me? You don’t need to protect yourself from me. I won’t...” But he broke off, shaking his head. What was he going to say to her—that her heart was safe with him? That he already couldn’t imagine his life without her by his side? Such statements this early on would run the risk of driving her away if she didn’t feel the same.
Nicola didn’t wait for him to continue. “I just—I need some time to process. You’re leaving and I’m staying. And plus, I was a bitch to Kiki—I need to go back in and apologize to her.”
“You’re a good friend,” Alex said, and he meant it. Alex had a few sports-watching buddies back at home, but no one he trusted enough to really confide in. He’d always managed his hills and valleys and occasional emotional meltdowns on his own. It was something he’d never given much thought to, but suddenly the thought of returning to that life felt empty. Nicola wasn’t just beautiful and kind and interesting, she was someone he could talk to about anything—and now that he’d experienced that, it was going to be hard to let it go. No, not hard. Impossible.
“She’s the best friend I’ve ever had,” Nicola said. “She caught me when I was falling down a deep, dark hole.”
“I wish that could have been me.” The words were out of Alex’s mouth before he’d known he was going to speak them. Nicola looked at him with wide eyes, and then she dropped his hands. “I’m not trying to freak you out,” Alex added quickly. “I guess that honesty pill I took a couple of hours ago hasn’t worn off yet.”
Nicola gave him a small grin. “You didn’t freak me out. And I’m not playing games here. I just need a little time on my own right now, that’s all.”
“I get it,” Alex said, even though he didn’t.
Time on my own.
A little space.
It was the language he himself used when things weren’t working out with a woman.
“I’ll call you tomorrow morning. Okay?”
Alex tried to hide his disappointment. “Sure thing. And if you change your mind in the meantime...”
“You’ll be the first to know,” Nicola said with a nod, pushing herself away from the wall. She slid her arms around Alex’s neck and gave him a long, though slightly restrained kiss. “What just happened was wonderful,” she whispered, sending a twinge of lust to his groin. And then she was gone, walking up the pathway without looking back.
CHAPTER TWELVE
NICOLA PLUCKED HER phone from the bathroom vanity and swiped it to life. Still no internet—or electricity, for that matter. Knowing there wouldn’t be enough hot water in the tank for her morning shower, she grabbed a washcloth and gave herself a brisk rubdown with soap and water from the sink. Then she walked into the living room and picked up the landline.
“Hey,” she said when she got Alex on his hotel room phone. “How’d you sleep?”
“Not as well as I would have if you’d been in my arms,” Alex replied, his morning voice still slightly rough.
Nicola’s insides went gooey. “You and me both,” she replied softly.
“Really?”
“Yeah.” She grinned. “We’re expecting more lightning, so I’m guessing my d
ives will be canceled this morning. Meet you for breakfast at the hotel restaurant?”
“Just give me fifteen,” Alex replied.
Nicola hung up and pressed the phone to her forehead, still smiling to herself. It had taken all her strength not to call Alex last night, but now that morning was here she was glad she hadn’t. She felt clearer-headed, even if her problem wasn’t entirely solved. She was ready to move beyond the betrayal she’d felt at Alex’s blunder, but the issues of their differing values and respective homes were still glaring. Alex was leaving in two days, the thought of which made Nicola feel downright ill. She was falling for him harder and faster than she’d ever thought imaginable, but it was too soon to talk about a future together without potentially scaring him off. And even if they did talk about it, Alex wouldn’t exactly be able to move here. The last thing Nicola was going to do was move back to LA—she’d left there for a reason, and Nicola was a firm believer in moving forward, not backward. She’d never returned to Honolulu after she’d left it, and she would not return to LA, either—not for a man and not for anything.
Nicola arrived at the restaurant first and chose a seat by the window. She’d chosen a simple white sundress, not too sexy, for the occasion. She wore small silver hoops in her ears and a matching bracelet. When she saw Alex weaving through the tables toward her in a plain black T-shirt and khaki shorts, her breath caught in her throat.
“Even more beautiful than I remember,” he said, bending to kiss her.
“Exactly what I was just thinking.”
Alex beamed at her as he took his seat. “I was glad you called this morning.”
Nicola adjusted her bracelet around her wrist. “I thought it would be good for us to meet somewhere in public. Otherwise, let’s face it. All we’ll do is—” she lowered her voice “—fuck.”
Alex looked at her hungrily. “Since when has being in public stopped us?”
“You have a point.” She gave him a small grin. “But seriously. You’re leaving soon, and...”
Alex placed his hand over hers. “And what? There’s this really handy thing called a phone. I’ll teach you how to use it and everything.”
“A phone.” Nicola nodded. “I’ve got a better idea. Can we just pretend Tuesday doesn’t exist for right now?”
“I think we need to talk about it eventually.”
Nicola’s stomach rolled over. The thought of waking up tomorrow morning and knowing he was leaving the next day, and then, even if they decided to try to continue things, the emails and phone calls that would probably grow fewer and further between as they both got pulled back into their old lives...it was unbearable.
“Later,” she said with a soldiering smile. She took a quick sip of her coffee. The waiter approached their table, and they both placed their orders. “How are things going with your brother?” Nicola asked after the server had departed.
“They’re not. We kind of had it out yesterday and haven’t spoken since.”
“You don’t think it would be good to try to sort things out before you leave?”
“I don’t think that’s in the cards for us. In order for that to happen, I’d have to do all the bending. I honestly don’t think he’s ever given a thought to what it’s like to grow up in the shadow of someone as famous as him.”
“Have you ever tried telling him?”
“I wouldn’t know where to start. And it would sound like I was playing the victim.” He gave a dry chuckle.
“What is it?”
“I was just thinking about when I started up my import business. I was twenty-two years old, and I had no money. I needed a bank loan. When I sat down with the bank manager, do you know what he said to me after he flat-out declined me? ‘Why don’t you just ask your brother for a loan?’ It was humiliating.” Alex tapped his menu against the table. “I’ve never told anyone that story before.”
“Then I’ll tell you one, too,” Nicola said. “Do you know why I became a teacher?”
“Tell me.”
“It was because of my fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. MacDonald. She had a perfect yellow bob and wore penny loafers every single day. One day I asked her if I could have the pennies from her shoes. She asked me why, and I told her it was because I was sick of being teased by the other kids that I didn’t have two pennies to rub together.”
Alex placed his hand on hers.
“I was new—I was always the new kid. We moved all the time, whenever Mom lost a job or Dad got complaints from the next-door neighbors because he kept his porn cranked all day. So I spent a lot of time feeling either invisible or teased for my clothes or my bad lunches. But Mrs. MacDonald noticed me. She started leaving food on my chair at lunchtime, and she brought in a backpack of clothing that used to belong to her daughter. There was an Izod T-shirt in there—I’d never been so thrilled. Having someone care like that...it made me feel like I had some value. They say one special teacher can change a child’s life forever, and it’s true. She was my inspiration.”
“Those kids were damn lucky to have you,” Alex said passionately. “It’s clearly your calling. You need to go back.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“Familiar words.”
Nicola gave him a regretful smile. Someday she would teach again—she knew that. It was in her blood and in her soul as much as diving was. But the idea of actually planning and executing her return to the real world—right now it was still enough to make her feel sick with stress.
“Anyway,” Nicola continued. “You could say that it was Mrs. MacDonald who was responsible for my diving career. After she got me into that camp for underprivileged kids and I discovered snorkeling, it changed my life. I loved the ocean so much my mother used to say I had it inside me. That that’s why my eyes are this color. But I guess you’ve disproven her theory,” she finished with a laugh.
“Maybe mine are this color for a different reason,” Alex said softly.
“Oh, yeah?”
“They say the eyes are the windows to the soul. So maybe our souls are a match.”
Nicola felt her face growing warm. Could he really feel that way about her? Because she was feeling that way about him—it was completely crazy, but undeniable.
Suddenly, she was filled with a burst of optimism. Maybe, just maybe, she and Alex had a chance. So she wouldn’t return to LA—Alex had never said he was attached to it, and there were lots of other places in the world to live. Plenty of couples met halfway around the globe from their homes and found a way to make it work. Nicola and Alex, Alex and Nicola—theirs could be one of those stories, too.
She reached for Alex’s hand. He was looking over her shoulder, momentarily distracted, but then he brought his attention back to her and gave her fingers a squeeze.
“I wish we were alone right now,” she said quietly.
“God, me, too.” Alex’s voice caught in his throat.
Just then the server interrupted them by placing their plates in front of them. Reluctantly, Nicola pulled her hand away from Alex’s and started eating her waffle. After a few minutes Alex put his fork and knife down and leaned toward her. He stroked her cheek. “I want to spend every moment I have left here with you. We still have the room. I just want to be alone with you today. We don’t have to...do anything. Just be together.”
Nicola placed her palm over his hand. “But I do want to do something. More than anything.” She looked down at her half-finished meal. “I can eat anytime. But I can’t have you anytime.”
Alex laid some bills down on the table, rose and extended his hand to help her from her seat. Then he dug the room key from his pocket and gave it to her. “I just have to take care of something quickly. You go ahead—I’ll be right up.”
Nicola smiled. “I can’t wait.”
* * *
“Mr. Brissoli,” Alex called, walking quickly to catch up with him
as the man exited the hotel. Brissoli turned on his heel and stared at him as if they’d never met before.
“Alex Stone,” Alex reminded him pleasantly through gritted teeth. “We talked at the party.”
Brissoli shoved his hands in his pockets. “Uh. Some party.”
“It was,” Alex agreed.
“So. You got the paperwork?”
“Paperwork?” Alex asked, puzzled.
“For the offer. That’s why you’re here, right?”
Alex found himself at a rare loss for words. “We haven’t even talked about it. You never returned my messages.”
Brissoli fixed him with his watery blue eyes. “And yet here we are, so I assume you’re prepared to seize the moment. The stage is yours—talk me into it.”
Who the hell did business this way? The guy was a communications nightmare—all the more reason for Alex to be finally doing what he should have done ages ago. “I actually just wanted to let you know that we’re no longer interested in acquiring your company. We’ve decided it doesn’t fit with our other holdings right now.”
Brissoli gave him a nonchalant shrug. “Suit yourself. Though I think you might change your mind.”
Alex shook his head. Man—the dude was just off. “I’m afraid our decision is final.”
Alex saw the skin under Brissoli’s eye twitch. “Hmm. We’ll see,” he said, turning away.
Alex stood for a moment, trying to shake off the guy’s bad vibe. He found it hard to believe that he’d ever entertained buying anything, let alone a company, from such a person. A lot had happened in a few days. Actually, if truth be told, Nicola had happened—and Alex realized that meeting her was helping him put many things into perspective.
Alex strode back into the hotel, thinking about the odd exchange as he made his way to his room. It was pretty clear that Brissoli meant to go to his father, and that the battle of wills between father and son would then begin. Alex knew it would be ugly, but he could handle it. In fact, he felt far more certain that he could handle his father than ever before. Was his increased confidence another effect of Nicola? He shook his head, smiling at the thought, and picked up his pace. Right now he had much more important—and pleasant—things to do.
