Lunch was delicious. The trip back was peaceful. Arianna even leaned against his chest and napped for a while. He enjoyed every second. After all, it was his turn to watch her sleep, which he’d had the pleasure of twice in one day.
Life was good.
Chapter 13
Even though they hadn’t showered and should have been exhausted, Justus suggested they stop for dinner and a few beers along the way back to the hotel. The street that led from the dock to the hotel had a sidewalk that meandered along the water with restaurants lining the other side of the street.
Every bar and pizza joint and burger place had outdoor seating. The air was warm enough to sit outside, so they chose an Italian restaurant, and Justus immediately ordered them both a local beer.
Arianna laughed when she saw him glancing around. She took a sip of the draft beer and set it down. “You’re going to lose this bet, Justus.”
He shot her a glare. “Doubtful.”
“Mmm.” She set her elbows on the table and met his gaze.
He did the same. “It was nice having you all to myself today.”
“So greedy. Tsk. You barely shared me with the fish.” But she didn’t mind. Not for a second. It was amazing spending time with someone who paid that much attention to her. No man she’d ever dated cared that much.
He did care, right? Was she reading more into it than she should?
She shuddered and looked away. She needed to rein in her emotions before she fell so hard for him that she couldn’t salvage her heart. He was leaving in less than a week. He would return to a war zone. She would be here in Australia finishing out her year of work and holiday.
It didn’t matter if she was willing to lift her ban on dating military men. He wasn’t available to date. Besides, he’d made it clear he had the same policy as her. They were a perfect match for a fling. Except she hadn’t expected to enjoy him quite this much.
“Whatcha thinking?” he asked.
She shifted her gaze back to his. “I was trying to remember what time we have to meet the tour guide tomorrow.”
“Eight, I think. Same as today. You planned us another long tour.”
“This one won’t involve water, though.” She took another drink of beer. Tonight they were enjoying Two Turtles pale ale. It was smooth and mild and perfect for the evening.
He sighed. “That’s too bad. Spending the day with you in that bikini wasn’t a hardship.”
She chuckled. “It was usually covered up. Not sure it was that interesting.” In fact, she had a sundress on over it right now. Also white.
His hand landed on her knee under the table. “Yeah, but knowing it’s there is enough to make me forgo dinner and rush you back to the room.” His hand slid up her thigh, precariously close to her pussy, before he pulled it away. The action left her mouth dry and her sex wet.
She swallowed. “Do you have any idea what you do to me?” Her voice was husky, unrecognizable. And she squirmed in her seat, squeezing her legs together.
“Yep. That’s why I do it.” He leaned back, sipping his beer. Cool as a cucumber. At least outwardly. She’d love the opportunity to set her hand on his cock and see how hard it was.
She put her elbows on the table and decided to flat-out ask. “Are you hard for me?”
He nearly choked on his beer and then set the glass on the table, his hand shaking. “Always.”
“But right now. More than usual?” she pressed.
“Yes.” He reached across the table and took both her hands in his, rubbing his thumbs over her skin. “You’re a gorgeous woman, inside and out. I was hard for you the moment I first set eyes on you in Sydney.”
She giggled. “You didn’t even know who I was.”
He lifted a brow, as if to say, And?
She giggled again, loving that she had this effect on him. This banter in public was fun. “I have you beat then.”
“Pardon? I saw you first. You were looking down at your computer screen, unaware of my approach.”
She lifted both brows, tipping her head to one side. “But I’ve fantasized about you for almost a decade. You didn’t know I existed.”
He squeezed her hands. “True. You’ve got me there. And it’s a good thing. It would have been extremely creepy and borderline illegal for me to have noticed you at fourteen.”
“Man, did I work hard to get you to notice me back then. I knew I was too young. I knew you were leaving for the navy. But I worked it. You have no idea.”
He rubbed her hands again, his expression serious. “I’m sorry I didn’t pay attention. That must have been hurtful.”
She shook her head. “It was a girl’s dream. I wasn’t mad. It was more of a challenge. I knew I was gangly. A late bloomer. I had crazy, curly hair that stuck out in every direction. My boobs were flat. I hadn’t even started my period.”
“Let’s not get carried away. You were cute. It’s not as if I don’t remember you existing. But you were Tony’s little sister. You had a pretty smile. I knew you were book smart. I knew you had an amazing future ahead of you.”
“Thank you,” she murmured. He had no idea how his kind words affected her. Just knowing he’d even noticed her for a moment was something.
He wiggled his eyebrows. “Tell me what you did to get me to notice you.”
Her face heated and she rolled her eyes. “Now?”
“Yes. I want to hear it.” He leaned closer, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. “I want to know what kind of crush fourteen-year-old Arianna had on an older guy like me.”
She licked her lips. “Mmm. Well, for one thing, I experimented with makeup one time when you were over. My parents weren’t home, so I tried eyeshadow and mascara. Unfortunately, I accidentally scratched my eye with the mascara wand, and the blue lines of eyeshadow made me look like a clown. When Tony spotted me, he lifted both brows. I ran from the room before you noticed, mortified.”
Justus laughed. “Sorry I missed that.”
She smiled, remembering another incident. “Then there was the time I borrowed my friend’s jean skirt, but I was much taller than her, so it wasn’t long enough. Not only did it barely cover my butt, but I looked like a porn star. Luckily, you didn’t notice that time either.” She leaned her chin on her palm. “I was both disappointed and relieved. Tony wasn’t pleased with my antics that time either, but I don’t think he realized I had a crush on you.”
“Speaking of Tony, he’s going to kill me.” Justus sighed, releasing her hands and taking another swig of beer.
“Not if we don’t tell him.”
Justus met her gaze. “I’ve considered that, but I can’t wrap my head around it. He’s going to ask me a dozen questions because that’s the kind of guy he is. ‘How was your trip? Did Arianna plan it well? Is Arianna doing well? Did she seem safe? Does she have a boyfriend? Did you see much of her?’ In fact, he texted me during the night. I haven’t responded.”
Arianna blew out a breath. “You’re right. And worse than that, everyone in my family is going to ask me questions about you. My parents have always adored you. I’ll get the third degree when they find out I went on a vacation with you. It’s shocking that no one has reached out to me yet. I’m sure at least my mother is going to check in with me soon. Even though they are in Rome, they don’t usually go very many days without making contact.”
Justus nodded. “Yeah, we’re kinda fucked. We definitely need a united plan.”
“We met up. I had some time. I went with you to show you the sights.” She sat straighter. That would work, right?
“Uh-huh.” Justus smirked. “The first thing out of Tony’s mouth is going to be, ‘Did you fuck my sister?’”
She cringed. “Well, we have a week to figure it out. You better at least answer Tony before he starts to worry.”
Justus nodded and pulled out his phone, typing up a quick text and then showing it to her.
Arianna is doing great. She planned my entire trip. Hope Rome is amazing.
&n
bsp; “That’ll work,” she stated.
He hit send, groaning. “I hate lying to your brother, even if it is by omission.”
As soon as they were back in the hotel room, Justus had his hands on Arianna’s body. The second after she set her purse down and kicked off her sandals, he grabbed the hem of her dress and tugged it over her head.
Goose bumps rose on her skin as he held her at arm’s length and let his gaze roam up and down her sexy body. The white string bikini was indeed fucking hot against her darker skin. She’d put a band in her hair when they went snorkeling, and it was still there, so he reached to pull it free. Thick curls fell around her shoulders.
When his gaze reached her eyes, he found her already breathless. He’d seen the pucker of her nipples under the white triangles. He thought he could even smell her arousal soaking her skimpy bottoms.
He slid his hands up from her hips to cup her breasts, making her gasp. As he took her lips, he marveled at how responsive she was to him. Every day. Even if they had sex three times, she was always equally aroused. Hot for him. As he was for her.
Was she like that with everyone she slept with, or was it him? If her reaction was strictly for him, they were in a heap of trouble. Because he was more aware every day that if he ever wanted to have a relationship with a woman, Arianna would be his perfect partner.
But you don’t need or want a woman in your life, he reminded himself as he angled the kiss to take it deeper.
Arianna moaned into his mouth, her hands fisting his shirt. He loved the way she got so lost in his kisses that she couldn’t get her limbs to respond to commands. Her jerky movements told him she would love to yank his shirt off, if only her fingers were receiving messages from her brain.
Finally, he released her lips and pulled his shirt over his head for her.
She flattened her palms on his chest and smoothed them up to cup his neck and the back of his head. “Your body is a work of art,” she murmured. “Your skin is so smooth.” Her hands ran up and down his back now as she murmured against his lips. “And these muscles…” Her fingers slid to his chest, molding over his pecs. “There isn’t an ounce of fat on you.”
He cupped the backs of her thighs and then lifted her off the floor. “Wrap your legs around me.”
She did so immediately.
He backed her up toward the desk and set her ass on the surface.
She remained tight around him, her ankles clasped at his lower back.
He resumed kissing her, wishing his swim trunks and the light track pants he’d covered them with would somehow disappear on their own. When that didn’t work, he released her neck, tucked his hands under her thighs, and tugged both articles of clothing over his hips.
He shimmied his body enough to make the material fall to the floor, leaving him naked. Now he just needed to divest her of the bikini, which wouldn’t be hard since it was literally tied in several places at her back and hips.
Nibbling a path to her shoulder, he tugged the ties at her neck and back first, and then as the bikini fell away, he grabbed the strings at both hips simultaneously. Seconds later, she was as naked as him.
She gasped and tightened her legs around his waist when his length rubbed against her opening. Warm. Wet. Needy. “Please,” she murmured, writhing her hips against him.
Her movements were more than he could take, so he lined himself up with her pussy and thrust into her.
Arianna cried out, her head falling back.
He didn’t move, waiting for her to focus, not wanting to come too fast. Not wanting this moment to end.
But she squirmed, her breasts bouncing, her fingers digging into his shoulders. When she met his gaze, her eyes were glazed. “Move,” she croaked out.
He couldn’t deny her. Not another moment. So he pulled out and thrust back in. Damn. It felt so good. Better than any other time he’d fucked her. Something about the angle or the fact that they’d gone all day without having sex. Something about the way her skin was darker from a day in the sun or the way her nipples puckered.
He tried to focus his attention on the two swollen globes, flicking his thumbs over the tips.
“Justus…” she demanded.
He didn’t want to come yet, so he set his attention on her instead, sliding one set of fingers down between their bodies to find her clit hot and swollen. He rubbed her there, watching her face as her mouth fell open. Seconds later, she stiffened and gasped as she came. Damn. She was so fucking amazing.
Before she came down, while her body was still pulsing around him, he grabbed her hips again and pulled almost out before thrusting back in. Again. And again. So fucking good. Too good.
He lowered his gaze just as he was about to come, wanting to watch himself thrusting into her. Just as he was about to lose control, he realized why she felt too damn fantastic.
On a long groan, he jerked out of her, wrapped his hand around his length, and pumped his fist for the two seconds it took to finish himself off. His orgasm came fast, long stripes of his come landing on her thighs and belly.
He was half-aware of her also watching, both their heads tipped down between their bodies. When he was finally spent, he released his dick and closed his eyes, fighting for a deep breath. “God, Arianna, I’m so sorry.”
“For what?” she whispered, her hands running up and down his back. “That was the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.”
He groaned again and then opened his eyes. “I forgot the condom. That was inexcusable.”
She squeezed his shoulder blades. “It’s okay. I’m on birth control.”
He wrapped his arms around her, pulled her body flush against his, and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. He didn’t give a shit that his come was smeared between them. “I swear I’ve never had sex without a condom before. I got so caught up that I didn’t even realize why it felt so much better than ever before. I thought it was just you.”
She smiled broadly. “Maybe it was me.”
He closed his eyes, his hand reached into the hair at the back of her head to pull her face against his chest.
Maybe she’s right. Maybe it’s her. I’m so screwed.
Chapter 14
“I’m beginning to think you two are stalking me.” The grating voice followed by an equally annoying chuckle made Justus lift his gaze to find exactly the man he expected. Chris Metz. Great. Another day of vacation brought to a screeching halt.
They were on the tour bus, already seated, when Chris magically joined them. It was as if the man had a copy of their fucking itinerary and plotted each stop.
Arianna’s fingers dug into Justus’s thigh where her hand rested. She didn’t need to speak out loud for him to hear her words. Be nice. She smiled at Chris as he took a seat across the aisle next to her. Of course. “Hey. We missed you yesterday at the Great Barrier Reef,” she joked.
He cringed. “I don’t do boats. Sea sickness.”
“Bummer. It was amazing.”
Chris leaned forward to make eye contact with Justus. “Can’t thank you enough for helping me out.”
Justus nodded. “No worries. Glad we could help.” There was no sense in being antagonistic. He had no proof the man was an asshole. Everything about him screamed fraud, but Justus couldn’t very well raise a stink over a gut feeling. Besides, he would do anything to keep the peace with Arianna. No way was he going to let this Chris character mess up Justus’s evenings.
When Chris turned to speak to the other person sharing his bench seat, Justus blew out a long breath and leaned close to Arianna’s ear. He set his hand high on her thigh and ran it up under her skirt. “What color is that lingerie going to be?”
She giggled and turned toward him, her hand landing on his and squeezing to keep him from straying higher. “I don’t think this counts yet. So far it’s more like an accidental encounter,” she whispered.
Justus lifted both brows and smirked. “Fine. Okay.” In a way she was right. Until Chris invited himself to join
their plans and convinced them to pay for something, he wouldn’t choose the color of Arianna’s teddy, but he would let himself visualize her strutting around the hotel room wearing it. His cock got hard at the thought.
Maybe this day wouldn’t be a total bust. After all, he felt confident by the end of the day he would be leaning back on the love seat in the hotel room while the sexiest woman he knew danced for him.
She narrowed her gaze, eyeing him suspiciously, as he adjusted his dick.
He shrugged. “Just visualizing my evening.”
She flushed, but the slightest giggle escaped. All was not lost.
Luckily, Justus didn’t have to engage with Chris on the bus ride. He did, however, keep one hand dangled over Arianna’s shoulder, toying with the spaghetti strap of her sun dress while she chatted with Chris. If the man had any thoughts of stealing Justus’s woman, he was sadly mistaken.
In fact, Justus decided then and there to take the high road. Instead of running the risk of angering the woman he intended to be inside that night, he would dig deep and find a way to behave in the fakest manner imaginable.
When the bus pulled up to their first stop, the Wildlife Habitat, Chris exited the bus chatting it up with whoever had shared his seat. Apparently that person was also traveling alone.
Justus was relieved. He kept a very slow pace for the first part of the stop, pretending to be overly interested in each animal and encouraging Arianna to take several pictures. If she caught on to his diversion, she said nothing.
It wasn’t a hardship since this particular zoo was very cool. The animals were roaming free in many of their natural habitats, even walking right up to the guests. He took several pictures of Arianna posing with kangaroos, wallabies, cassowaries, birds, crocodiles, and koalas.
“This is the place where we get to have our picture taken holding a koala,” Arianna exclaimed as she took his hand and lured him toward the photo station.
Out of all the things they’d seen and done so far on this magical vacation, Justus had to admit, holding a koala topped his list. The little guys were damn cute, though their claws were shockingly sharp against his chest, and they smelled strongly of eucalyptus.
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