“Kane?!” I say it like a question, but he seems to know what I mean.
“Oh yeah, you’re coming again, Ashley, but I hope it’s soon because I don’t know how much longer I can last. You feel incredible,” he pants out.
He runs one of his big hands through my hair and gently pulls the ends while his teeth nip at my chin. “Come for me…one more time, beautiful angel.” The sound of his deep, throaty voice is all that I need, and my legs come up involuntarily to wrap around his waist. I squeeze hard and the resulting friction has me screaming his name for the third time tonight.
“Fuck!” He curses loudly and his body spasms all over me. I can feel the heat of him shooting into the condom and his groan of pleasure draws out way longer than I’m used to hearing. When he’s finished, he rolls to the side but doesn’t let me go right away. One hand is around the condom while the other is tangled in my hair, and I literally have no words.
“Even better than what I imagined.” He gives me a quick hot kiss, dipping his soft tongue between my lips once more. He gets off the bed and disappears into the bathroom before I have a chance to respond.
“Then you imagined?” I finally croak.
He reappears without the condom, still gloriously naked. “Yes, Lani: Imagined. Pretty much a dozen times a day since I met you.”
“You’ve called me that before. Who is Lani?” I ask, immediately bristling.
He laughs. “It’s not a person, beautiful. It’s the Hawaiian word for heaven. Mai Ka Lani Mai roughly translates to heaven sent.”
“Why?” I whisper, even as the tightness in my chest starts to loosen.
He shrugs. “Because you are.”
I don’t know what to say, nor what to expect from him next. Is he going to leave? Insult me? Make himself a sandwich? Instead he just flops onto his stomach and yawns.
“You’re not sleeping here?” It’s unclear if I’m asking or accusing him, even to me.
“It’s late. I’m tired.”
It was pretty much the same monosyllabic-Kane-answer I’d come to expect, but still. “Are you sure this is normal?”
“Sleeping?” He opens one eye to glare at me. “Yeah, I think so.”
It might be the first time I’ve heard him make a joke, but it doesn’t sit right. “But isn’t this, I don’t know, more than just the body?”
He lifts his head and gives me a searing look. “You’re overthinking it—and anyway, this is my hale, remember?”
“No, currently it’s my house.” I bristle, wrapping my arms around my chest. “At least for the next two weeks.”
He frowns and yanks me down until I’m blushing against his body. “You can stay here as long as you want. Longer than two weeks.”
I don’t have the energy to argue, and there’s no point in sharing that I’ve already emailed two apartment shares in Kihei regarding availability, so I just sigh and relax into his side. He slings one big, beefy arm across my middle and simultaneously nuzzles into the crook of my neck.
“Do you even fit on this bed?” I huff out, glancing down at his feet, which must surely hang off the edge.
“I fit just fine, now go to sleep.” He lifts himself up to kiss the top of my head before flopping back down and closing his eyes. He’s out within minutes, whereas I probably won’t be able to fall asleep for a week, what with the number of orgasms I just had. Nonetheless, fatigue catches up with me before I know it and I drift off into my own blissful sleep.
• • •
Morning is a lot less blissful. I awake naked, frizzy-haired, and sweltering hot, still half-trapped under Kane’s enormous body. He’s pressed right up against me, his calf wrapped around both of my legs, and I’m coated in a fine sheen of sweat. I can only imagine what the tangle on my head must look like, having left it untamed after my shower. I start to freak out a little about my morning breath, exhaling into my hand to check the smell. It seems fine, but I also have to pee, so somehow I need to get Kane off me. I start to shove his cement-like arm, but he only squeezes me tighter.
“Goin’ somewhere?” He asks, an adorable sleepiness in his voice.
“I need to get up.”
He mumbles into the pillow. “No.”
“You say that word a lot.”
“Mmm…” He hums, followed by the sexiest sounding chuckle ever. My nipples immediately stand to attention. “Am I really that bad?”
I snort. “You are positively mercurial.”
“Never heard that before. Guess I should be flattered.”
“You shouldn’t be. A normal person wouldn’t be flattered.” I flip over until I’m facing away from him, and soon he lets me go, but not before thrusting his hardness against my backside.
“You can go, but get your fine ass right back here. And don’t think you’re leaving this room without a round two.”
I race to the bathroom to pee and brush my teeth, washing my face with cold water and attempting to tame my wild hair. When I look in the mirror, I barely recognize myself. My eyes are bright, my skin is glowing, and I look relaxed. Who knew that all I needed was a bossy but sexy landlord giving me three stellar orgasms.
“Ashley!” He calls from the other room. “Time’s up.”
I brace my hands on my hips and walk back to the bed, not even caring that I’m completely bare. “That’s rude!”
“I missed you,” he says, sheepishly, and I roll my eyes. I can’t deny that he looks delicious though; his bottom half is covered by a thin blanket and his inked calf sticks out from below.
“What does your tattoo mean?” I ask, staring appreciatively at the detailed lines.
He sighs like I’m testing his patience. “Leg tattoos were traditionally worn by Polynesian warriors. They can mean lots of different things: stamina, longevity, leadership, ferocity, birth rank, or a reminder of battles won—but honestly, I was nineteen years old and thought it looked cool. Now get your ass back into bed.”
“You’re so bossy.”
“And you like it. Get. In. Bed.”
I climb in but face away from him in silent protest. I can hear the rustling of a package and feel the bed dip beneath me. The next thing I know, he’s sliding into me from behind, his rough hands coming around to capture both of my breasts. He eases himself in and I let my head fall back against his chest, the wetness building like a tidal-wave.
“I could stay here inside of you all day. You’re addictive.”
I rock back against him, looping my arms around his neck, which lifts my sensitive breasts even further into his hands. He pinches my nipples in response, twisting them ever-so-slightly as I chase my release.
“How are you built this way?”
“What way?” I stammer.
“Perfectly.” His hand skims along my side and dips into the curve of my waist. “So smooth,” he whispers, nibbling my earlobe. “And this ass.” He gives my ass cheeks a firm tap. Within no time, I’m smothering my cries of pleasure with the pillow, and he follows closely behind, cursing out loud before burying his nose in my hair.
“Coconut,” he mutters, having correctly guessed my shampoo. I laugh because it’s a strange thing to say right after sex. In fact, this whole situation is strange, mostly because I have no idea what happens next.
I lay there feeling boneless—it’s his turn to get up first. He dresses in his shorts and t-shirt from last night, both of which still look damp.
“Do you want some coffee?” I ask.
He smirks. “You don’t need to make me coffee, Ashley. I gotta’ head to the bar anyways, but I’ll be back here later.” He heads to the kitchen and pours himself a glass of water, while I wrap a sheet around my body and follow him. He downs the water in four big gulps and places the cup in the sink before starting towards the patio doors. On his way out, something on the kitchen table stops him dead in his tracks. I glance down to see the newspaper I borrowed, open to a page encircled by red.
“What is this?” He picks up the paper, shaking it in my direction.
I sign and pull the bed sheet tighter around my body. “What does it look like? It’s the classifieds.”
He brings the paper closer to his nose and begins reading aloud. “Waitress in Lahaina, Head of Service Staff in Kihei, receptionist in Kihei?”
“They’re jobs, Kane, so what? I’ve also applied for some remote, home-based positions, but those are a lot harder to come by and there’s nothing available within my field. I’m not even sure that I want to do real estate anymore, so I have to be open to whatever is out there. It’s not like I’m qualified for most of these positions anyways—I mean, I served a little in college, but that was years ago.”
“Lahaina is a forty-minute drive, on a good day. You want to do that every day?” I must look guilty, because his eyes narrow into slits. “Ashley, what aren’t you telling me?”
I cringe when he flips to the rental section. The two places I’ve inquired about are highlighted there, with my notes scribbled in the columns. “You’re not leaving,” he asserts, his voice flat.
“I can’t stay here forever, Kane. This is a vacation rental, and things between us were already complicated. Now they’re just…”
“Just what?” He challenges.
“Just…I don’t know, Kane! Why don’t you tell me?”
His voice softens, but he’s not giving up. “This one is for February 15th.”
“That’s weeks away!”
“It’s too soon.” He shakes his head. “You’ve barely gotten settled in Paia. Think about Adele and Kayla. Besides, Pancho loves you.”
“And Lance?” I regret the words as soon as they leave my mouth.
“Don’t test me, Ashley.” His voice is dead calm. “Unless you want the spanking of the century.”
His total jackass, caveman response sends my mind in all sorts of inappropriate places, so I change the subject. “If not February 15th or March 1st then when? When is the right time?”
“You can work at the bar!” He blurts out, dropping the paper to the table.
“What?”
“The bar. The food thing. I gave it some thought and it’s actually a good idea. I think you should try it.”
“Really?” I say, hope blooming in the pit of my stomach.
“I already have a valid restaurant license. I just don’t use it.” He shrugs and gives me a smile. “I’ll cover the cost of supplies, and you do all the menu stuff—you know, the cooking and serving. You can keep sixty-percent of the gross sales.”
“That’s generous.”
“If I’m being honest, I’m still skeptical that people want to eat at Salty’s, but I’m willing to give it a try. Remember though, sink or swim, it’s all on you. If the food goes to rot and no one’s interested, we’ll have to revisit the plan.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.” Already I can hear the excitement creeping into my voice. “When can I get started?”
“Whenever you like. Believe it or not, I was going to come over tomorrow and let you know, but my timeline got a little accelerated.” He smirks, and I feel a low heat in my belly, remembering how he surprised me in the shower yesterday.
“How quickly can you get supplies in?” I ask.
“We can start using local ingredients. If I need to order in bulk, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it—it usually takes a day or two for deliveries from the mainland.”
“Let’s start tomorrow then. I’ll put together a menu and do the shopping today.” I’m literally bouncing off the balls of my feet, basking in the smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“You’re cute. And fucking sexy.”
“Thank you, Kane! Thank you for this opportunity!” I jump up and throw my arms around his neck. He catches me midair, letting my kisses reign down his cheeks before placing me safely on the floor.
“Okay, enough. In case you forgot, you’re naked under that bed sheet. Jump on me again and you’ll be on your back faster than you can say aloha.”
“Sorry!” I take a step back. As much as I want him again, the idea of planning out a menu has my creative senses firing in overdrive.
“Come by the bar later. You can show me your ideas.”
“Yes! Absolutely, you won’t regret this—I promise.”
He heads for the lanai, pausing at the doorway. “And Ashley?”
“Yes?”
“Call back those apartment rentals. Tell them you’re not interested. I won’t have my only chef commuting to work every day. Got it?”
I give him a mock salute. “Message received.” I swear I hear him laughing as he closes the door.
Chapter 14
I spend the morning surfing through my favorite food blogs, searching for inspiration. I want to give Salty’s something more than simply bar food. My mind goes to locally-inspired and oh-so-elevated bar tapas. Anything organic and sustainable, and the Paia crowd will literally eat it up. I’m so in my element that I forget the time. It’s already past 5pm when I check the clock. I’m still wrapped in the bed sheet, having had nothing to eat or drink all day, apart for half a cup of cold coffee, which still awaits me on the table.
I make myself a bowl of granola and fruit before jumping in the shower. After throwing on my go-to ripped jean cutoffs, plus a cute navy blue crop-top and flip-flops, I head out the door with wet hair and barely any makeup. I’m so excited to tell Kane about my ideas that I run halfway to the bar, my laptop clutched against my chest. It’s beyond busy when I arrive. No seats are available at the bar, and Kane has his hands full pouring drinks. While it’s almost physically painful, I manage to wait my turn.
He catches my eye soon enough and his body is pure sin: deep tan, close-cropped beard, and his hair pulled back into a low ponytail. He’s wearing a short-sleeved t-shirt that’s unbuttoned halfway down his chest, along with low-slung board shorts and eyes that flash hazel when he sees me. It’s no wonder that half of the bar stools are occupied by women, of various ages and stages, but all with their eyes locked squarely on target. It pisses me off more than it should, but Kane has made it clear that this thing between us is purely physical, and I don’t have much say in the matter.
When he finishes pouring drinks, he slips out from behind the bar, scanning me from head to toe while frowning and pursing his lips. “What the fuck are you wearing?”
I look down, confused. “It’s a crop-top.” Half the bar is in beach wear, so I don’t understand his problem. Sure, it shows some midriff, but it covers up my girls and has super cute cap sleeves, not to mention the name of my sorority scrawled across the front. “What?” I say, jutting out my bottom lip.
He stares at me like he wants to devour me right then and there, his eyes falling to my waist with a sigh. “You’re killing me right now, woman.”
“We’re in Hawaii, Kane, and it’s ridiculously hot today. People are half-naked most of the time.”
“People,” he snaps back, lowering his voice. “People, but not you.”
I stand my ground. “Yes me.”
He rolls his eyes skyward. “Forget about it. Come to the back and show me what you’ve got.” He leads the way and I follow. “Hell, maybe I can find you an apron, or some other shit to wear back here.”
I choose to take the high road and ignore his comment. Once in the back, he closes the door and pushes me against it. His thumbs push my crop-top away, sliding beneath my lace bra. I moan and my head falls back and smacks the door. “Ouch.”
He soothes me with a kiss, swirling his hot tongue around my mouth. He tastes like toothpaste and pure raw man. “I want you right now. Can I take you?”
He pushes my top up all the way, tugging at my bra until my nipples are exposed. His eyes and the cool air of the storeroom have me heavy with need, and I find myself embarrassingly wet for him.
“Kane,” I moan, my knees shaking. He lifts me by the ass until I’m level with his hard length, before thrusting against me.
“Feel what you do to me, Ashley.”
“There are custo
mers out there,” I pant out. “What about their orders?”
“I have staff working today. The customers can wait. Please, let me inside of you.”
Never have I heard Kane say please, so I find myself nodding in consent. He carries me to a small sofa and lowers me down onto the cushions, so that I’m facing away from him on my knees.
“Take off those shorts,” he commands.
I fumble with the zipper before pulling them down my thighs. There’s the rustle of a condom wrapper and his shorts hitting the floor, while he braces himself behind me. One of his large hands finds my lower back and pushes me forward. I lean into the sofa, and he slides into me from behind, driving himself in with gusto and making my trussed up breasts bounce. When he reaches around to massage my clit, I feel my orgasm like an earthquake.
“I love that you can’t be quiet with me,” he says, covering my mouth with one of his big, calloused hands. “But we don’t want people talking.”
The sensation of fullness from our position—combined with my aching nipples and the cage he’s made around my body—all send me over the edge, and I’m shaking as I come.
“Oh, Ashley,” he whispers, picking up his pace and slamming into me so hard that I fall forward against the sofa, sending my ass straight into the air. He holds my hips and drives into me. “You have the most gorgeous ass,” he growls, his fingers skating and stroking between its crevice.
“Kane!” I jerk away from his touch, but he just chuckles.
“Don’t worry, beautiful. I won’t take you there until you’re ready.” His voice is thick with need. It’s not long before his own body jerks violently, forcing him to smother the sounds of his release between my shoulder blades. I’ve never had so many back-to-back orgasms in my life.
“Can you die from too many orgasms?” I wonder aloud, earning me a full-on laugh from Kane.
He eyes glitter greenish-brown. “There’s only one way to find out.”
Aloha in Love Page 11
