A Man to Remember (11 page)

"I have no doubts." Jake began to unbutton his shirt. "Do you?"

Alyse shook her head and knelt on the blue striped beach blanket. She looked apprehensively at their cozy little spot, nestled on a sand hill between towering lava rocks. "Are you sure no one can see us here?"

"Positive." He dropped his shirt in the sand, and bronze muscles glistened in the afternoon sun.

The golden man, she thought with growing abandon as she admired the guy disrobing before her.

His eyes captured hers in a daring gaze, and he unsnapped his jeans, then unzipped them.

"Someone might see—" She halted mid-sentence as she watched him discard his jeans.

"Only an acrobatic mountain goat." He stood before her, boldly nude, his maleness rippling to life.

Her blue eyes widened at the sight of him so magnificently displayed in the brilliant sunlight. Last night in the darkness she hadn't actually been able to see him, yet the illusion had been highly erotic. But now the raw reality of this man who wanted to make love to her was exciting and a little daunting.

He came to her. "You haven't changed your mind, have you, Alyse?"

"No, Jake." She tried to keep her voice from shaking with anticipation. "You're beautiful."

"And made just for you. Come on. I can't wait much longer." He pulled the straps of her swimsuit down to her waist, deliberately exposing her perfectly shaped breasts. "Oh my. . . " he sighed in full masculine appreciation of the delicate mounds. He caressed them with gentle fingertips. When her nipples puckered to berrylike beads, he smiled with satisfaction, then dipped his head to kiss them. "See, you're responding to me already."

She emitted a small sound of pleasure as his tongue created moist trails around her breasts. A tremor went through her as he took each tip ever so gently between his teeth and teased it to swollen hardness.

Alyse had never been so sure of wanting a man, never felt so wildly carefree and sexy. Jake did things to her no other man ever had, made her feel as none other had. And she responded eagerly to his magic. They were aliens on a primitive beach, star-crossed, meant for each other. A man and woman who belonged together, no matter what.

She was positive he was the man for her, now and always. There was a reason for their meeting as they had, on the beach that first time. A reason they had been drawn together. A reason last night hadn't worked out. Fate had it planned. It was all for this moment of glory on the beach.

"Jake, you make me feel wonderful." She arched her back and thrust each pale globe farther into his eager mouth.

He suckled each one, murmuring, "Delicious. This is just the beginning. For us the initiation."

His hands reached around to her back, then massaged all the way down its length and into the small seat of her swimsuit. He cupped her buttocks and scooted the skimpy purple garment off her hips. "This is the way I like you. Uncovered and bare. Just for me."

They sank together to the blanket. Her entire body throbbed with excitement and anticipation. He was coming to her at last. And she wanted the best to happen, wanted to please him as no woman ever had.

They were nestled between mountains of lava rocks that hid them from the world. Only the sky above, the white sand below, and each other. Alone in the world at last. Just the two of them.

"Jake... oh, Jake." She held her breath as he hovered over her, moving closer. He touched her gently with fingertips. Her breasts, belly, and lower.

His hands rested on her knees, then progressed deliberately up her thighs, tantalizing the silky skin. His knees pressed inside hers, spreading her legs further. "Umm, beautiful." He touched her again, this time probing and stroking, making sure she was responding.

From the warm sand beneath her body Alyse felt heat radiate through her. The natural warmth stoked her growing desire, and she writhed with the pleasure. "Yes, Jake, come on. Make love to me." She grew hot and restless with anticipation. Her imagination ran wild, her desires quickly became uncivilized, and she wanted him desperately. With a low moan she relaxed and pulled him between her open knees.

He came eagerly, laying his sleek body along the length of hers. His tongue traced her shape, outlining her breasts, dipping to taste her navel, savoring her every morsel. "You taste like a succulent strawberry," he murmured between bites. "A salty, wild strawberry."

She writhed with delight as he feasted on his erotic picnic. She laughed aloud when his tongue tickled her belly. "Come on, Jake . . ." she urged.

Her hips undulated, creating their own surge of passion. At that moment she thought she would scream if he didn't do something to satisfy this volcano of desire swelling inside her.

She gasped as he continued to build the storm of passion between them. "Oh, God, Jake—" She clutched his shoulders and rocked savagely against him. "Please, come to me—"

He supported his upper body with bronzed arms alongside her head, letting his lower body dip and tease her.

She was rapidly approaching the brink of her endurance and reached to guide him home.

"Alyse, easy," he said. "Take it easy. There's plenty of time."

"I want you now, Jake. Please . . ." She could think of nothing but gratifying this aching that now pulsed wildly through her core. She wanted only to be engulfed with his strength, to feel his maleness in her, to have him fill her completely.

Instinctively she arched upward. She raised her hips to meet him.

He groaned aloud and started to move with her.

Alyse cried for joy and abandoned herself to her tempestuous senses. She sought satisfaction, and only he could give it. Every part of her surged toward Jake, pulling him into her, urging him into every cell. Her fingernails dug into his back, pressing their imprint on his golden skin as she tried to force him to become a part of her.

They moved together at a feverish pace, reaching the bounds of erotic pleasure and plunging beyond. They rode high, ascending to the crest of ecstasy, to the ultimate orgasmic peak with an exploding quake that lifted her off the sand. A primeval sound rolled from deep within Jake's chest as he rocked roughly against her with untamed fervor. She was his woman at last.

Repeated volleys of untapped desire rippled through Alyse, rising in her with fierce intensity, crashing in a flood, then building again. The frenzy continued until she thought it would never end. And wished it wouldn't. Shamelessly she cried his name again and again. "Jake, Jake, Jake."

The jolts within her finally slowed. She sank to the earth, weak and satiated, like a victim of a storm washed ashore and lying in the sand until the sun beamed life back into her.

The two lay stranded from the rest of the world. Hidden. Enraptured. Content. All was quiet, save an occasional sea gull overhead and the constant thrash of waves on the beach. They were alone in the world, just the two of them, savoring the experience.

When she opened her eyes, he was looking at her.

She smiled dreamily and touched his face, stroking. "Jake. That was amazing."

"I was going to say you are amazing." He quirked one eyebrow.

"We were good together."

"The best." He rolled over on his back. "You know, in the beginning, I didn't intend for this to happen."

She frowned. "Are you apologizing?"

"Not at all. I wanted you. But I felt it was too risky for us to become involved. Emotionally risky. I'm afraid I'm no good for the long haul. We're taking a chance, Alyse."

She kissed him, and drew back. "I'll take my chances with you. I've wanted you from the first, Jake. Surely you could tell."

He laughed wickedly. "As you practically jumped me, yes. I hope you weren't disappointed."

She snuggled against him, touching his neck, relishing the gentle pulsing she felt there. "Not at all. A little surprised, maybe."

"Surprised?"

"Hmm, yes. Surprised that you cared so much that it would be good for me."

He stroked her back. "Of course, I care. If you don't enjoy what we share, it's no good for me either."

"I've never felt quite like that before, Jake. Never so intense. And good. Honestly." She smiled shyly.

He chuckled throatily. "You know how to make a brute feel like a real gentleman."

"You know how to make a woman feel wonderful, Jake." She laughed softly against his skin. "And vibrant." She kissed his chest, savoring the virile flesh. "So alive."

His finger lifted her chin. "Are you trying to revive me?"

"Would a little mouth-to-mouth resuscitation do?" She teased his lips with hers, edging them with her tongue.

"Do what?" He thrust her hand against his growing arousal. "You have magic powers in your touch, my lady."

She explored his body with eager hands. "The Midas touch on the golden man." She chuckled with satisfaction as he grew hard under her manipulations. She looped her leg over his and rolled over him. "This time I will be the lady making sure my brutish gentleman feels wonderful! I want you to have it good too."

"Promise?" He laughed and fell back on the blanket.

She kissed him, digging her tongue between his lips. Her alert, already taut breasts grazed his hot skin as she moved back and forth to kiss him. He could hardly keep his hands off her, but she was like a bird, darting and hovering, then swooping in for a moment's delight, teasing him with her tongue, touching him with curious hands.

Her unruly dark hair spread over him as she bent to his chest, covering it with moist, sensual kisses. She straddled his hips and announced in a throaty voice, "I want you, Jake. All mine..." He moaned in sweet torment as her kisses followed the golden hair trail down his taut body.

Like a true gentleman, he let the lady have her way with him. She rode to the heights of sensuality and took him along.

Afterward, when they both were breathless and satiated, he wrapped her in his arms and they dozed on the sand.

Eventually the afternoon sun crept between their rock barriers. "Wake up, Jake. Time for a quick swim." Alyse shook his shoulder and hopped up. She grabbed her purple swimsuit. "Race you to the water."

"Unfortunately, I didn't bring my suit along." Jake lounged on the beach blanket like a lizard seeking the sun and watched her antics.

"That's the trouble with you Texans," she said jokingly as she slid one long leg into the purple scrap. "You never have the right clothes, just jeans and boots. Come as you are, Jake!"

He caught one slender ankle and held her securely. "Only if you do the same. You know what they say about California girls."

She tried to slither away from him, but his big hand held her securely. "Jake!" she shrieked playfully, then tumbled down onto him.

He grappled to remove the scrap of a swimsuit. "Why not? Be wild. We're in the Baja. After all, the Baja is a state of mind."

She twisted free of his arms and lunged away, kicking up the sand as she darted ahead of him. Laughing at her boldness, he raced after her lithe nude body and purposely didn't catch her until they reached the water. They gamboled in the sparkling blue liquid like two playful dolphins until she fell exhaustedly on the shore's edge. He joined her and grew quiet as they lay there watching clouds dance overhead.

Jake's tone was abruptly serious. "How soon can we leave La Paz, Alyse?"

"When do you want to go?"

"Soon. Tomorrow."

"Okay. Let's go shopping right now. I'm sure the stores are open by now."

Jake hesitated. "I don't know about shopping—"

"I know that most men hate shopping, but this will be painless, I promise. I'll help you. I know exactly what I want you to have."

"Somehow I feel like you're taking charge of the situation. And it's my deal."

She framed his face with firm hands and pulled it down to hers. "I want to be in charge of you, Jake. And I'll love every minute of it."

He returned her kiss. "So will I, if it's anythi
ng like the lady on the beach?" For a moment he forgot there were those looking for him who might even be on the streets of La Paz.

They drove their rented motor scooters back to town, left them, and took a cab back to the villa. There they showered, changed, and took off again. This time Jake was driving the car. But Alyse was in charge and in heaven as she clutched his arm and walked jauntily along the street.

She was so damned innocent of it all that he felt guilty for dragging her along. Then he remembered that he had to get out and she was his safest way. So he wore his cowboy hat pulled low over his eyes and followed her through department stores, objecting little and carrying the mounting boxes of natty nautical attire.

It wasn't until later that he let her know exactly how he felt about the new clothes.

"This is just not my kind of clothes!" Jake raged as he stalked the floor.

"That's the whole purpose, isn't it? To make you look different?" Alyse sat cross-legged in the middle of the bed, admiring their purchases. Mostly, her purchases.

"Yeah, I guess. But what the hell kind of material is this thin stuff?" He tossed a pale blue Sahara gauze shirt on the foot of the bed.