What a Girl Wants (13 page)

Chapter Fifteen

“Maybe all one can do is hope to end up with the right regrets.”

—Arthur Miller

What a mess.

Alex stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel. No wonder Maddie’s expression had read like a foreign movie subtitle—First you reject me and now you’re acting like a jealous lover.

She had every right to be steamed at him for the bullshit he’d pulled at the bar. “Should have minded my own damned business.” He toweled his hair with vigorous strokes. “She’s right, she can date who she likes.” He bunched up the towel and threw it in the corner.

Wrapping another towel around his hips, he went to the desk and turned on his laptop. He wanted to finish this damned assignment so he could get the hell off the island. He had screwed up their friendship, even without sex.

Why the hell hadn’t he gone with it? Christ, they were both consenting adults and he wasn’t a saint.

He opened a new document and banged the keys on the keyboard, attempting to block out the carnal thoughts he had of Maddie speeding through his mind.

He failed.

He raked his fingers through his damp hair as if in doing that, he could unscramble his thoughts and get them back to where they were before this damn trip. Back to where he was too busy and their friendship too platonic for him to think of sipping rum from her sexy navel.

Now all he could think about was how much he wanted her.

He wanted to lie next to her, kissing, caressing every curve and looking into her eyes until they were ready to do it.

Again and again.

Thoughts of hitting her sweet spot with his tongue and feeling her explode like a fourth-of-July firecracker caused him to twitch, pulsate and swell.

He shut down his computer. No use pretending he was going to get any work done tonight. All was quiet in her suite next door, not that he had his ear to the wall. Okay, so he did. He really
was
acting like a lunatic.

Knock. Knock.

He ignored the banging on the door. Probably Tim. He had threatened to come and drag him out to go and get stinking drunk.

Knock. Knock.

This time it was louder.

“Dammit.” He got up. “I’m not in the mood for this.” As he yanked the door open he yelled, “I told you. I’m not interested
¾
”

“And I told you I know that!” She turned and headed toward her suite.

“Maddie? Hey. I didn’t mean you.” He went out into the hallway. “Come back
¾
”

She swung around. “You alone?”

“Of course.” He stepped back into his room and waved her in. “I thought it was Tim—never mind.”

She walked past him into his suite. He closed the door behind her, and a jackhammer now replaced his heart.

“Look,” he said. “About tonight. I was way out of line
¾
”

“You think?” Her cheeks were flushed. “I’m trying to figure out what the hell happened to the whole ‘we’re just friends’
thing
?”

Pacing, she almost tripped over his running shoes.

He shot his arm out to steady her, but she withdrew. It pierced his ego, and he cursed himself again for being so stubborn since they’d arrived.

She kicked his shoes out of the way. “You’ve made it perfectly clear that you don’t want me that way. I was fine with it. Then you had to go and get all macho tonight.” She turned her back on him and clutched the doorknob. “For cripes sakes, get some clothes on.”

He moved closer to her. His primal attraction to her had overtaken any reasonable thought or consequence. The move to England, the Hollister investigation, her uncle—none of that mattered at the moment. All that mattered was erasing her doubts about him not wanting her.

He laid his hand over hers and with his other hand he dragged her hair across her shoulders, running his lips up and down the back of her neck. Her amazingly warm skin, silky hair and ragged breathing made blood beat at his temples.

A soft sigh slipped out before she swallowed hard. “Donovan, I seriously think you are…”

He lowered her dress straps and sprinkled kisses on her shoulder. “I’m listening.” He made his way across her back to her other shoulder, rubbing his hand up and down her arm. Thoughts of her naked skin pressed against his caused a magnificent laser show in his brain. It was a wonder he could put a sentence together. “You were saying?”

“Oh, gawd.” She leaned her forehead against the door. “I was saying that I think you are…” She sounded out of breath. “Alex…”

Mmmm.
There it was. His name on her lips in that breathy way. He ran his fingertips along the side of her face, and kissed behind her ears, inhaling the subtle fruit-like aroma of her hair and the lavender musky perfume at her throat.
Fresh, sexy and exotic.
Everything male in him wanted everything female in her. “Yes?”

The breath she sucked in was unsteady. “You’re insane.”

He nibbled her earlobe. “Certifiable.”

She leaned her head back against his chest and looked up at him. Her eyes were a brighter green than normal and her pupils were dilated. The softness of her expression made him feel as dizzy, as if the air had been siphoned out of him.

He pressed himself closer to her. Stifling a groan, he rubbed his chin along the side of her face, tightened his hold over her fingers, and slipped her hand off the doorknob.

“Alex?”

He turned her around to face him. His heart raced and waves of wanting washed over him. “Yes?”

Desire as unadulterated as his reflected in her gaze as she said, “You need to stop doing that.”

He circled her waist, held her tight and kissed her even tighter. She parted her lips, inviting him in. She tasted like a mixture of chocolate and mint. Sweet and hot, just like her.

She wrapped her hands around his neck and met his tongue with each stroke. In and out. Slow at first and then harder and deeper, creating sensation after sensation through his body, and the best fuckin’ throbbing he had experienced in a long time.

He caressed her back, trying to keep his hands steady. No woman’s soft skin had ever had him lose control to the point where he wanted to rip her dress off and devour her on the spot. The intensity of the moment scared him and swept him away at the same time.

His breath lodged in his lungs when her mouth left his and she nuzzled his neck, her eyelashes tickling his skin. After a moment that went by far too fast, she broke away from him, leaving a trail of gooseflesh in her wake. Staying in his embrace, she tilted her head to the side giving him a questioning look.

The kiss had left him powerless to speak. He kissed the tip of her nose, her eyelids and each side of her mouth. Regaining
some
composure, he lifted his head and smiled. “That better?”

“Yes. No. I mean, you have to stop kissing me like
that
.”

He leaned his forehead against hers. “Why?”

“Because you’re giving me the wrong signal.
Again
.”

“Nope.” He took her hand and brought it to his lips, staring into eyes that emanated the heat he knew showed in his as well. He guided her fingertips back and forth across his lips. “I’m giving you the right signal.”

“Geeze us.” Her voice quivered. “Are you going to chicken out if I kiss you again?”

Picking her up and cradling her in his arms, his towel fell to the ground.

He carried her down the hall and kicked his bedroom door open. “Not a chance in hell.”

Chapter Sixteen

“Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love

with a gorgeous redhead.”

—Lucille Ball

Slivers of dusky moonbeams wedged through the blinds, giving the bedroom a sultry ambiance, enhancing their already carnal mood as they stood facing each other.

Maddie ran her fingers around him—hard and velvety—unable to stop staring. “Oh my.”

Lowering the zipper on her dress, Alex smiled. The silky material streamed to the floor in a soft whisper. “Thanks. I think.”

“Uh-huh.” She slid her hand underneath him. She remembered seeing his trimmed manscape from the shower incident—but Lordy, having him in her hand was off the charts.

“You can do that later.” He threw his head back and sucked in a breath. “You keep that up, and it’ll be game over.”

She could hardly believe it. Here she was, wearing only heels and panties—make that wet panties—with the man who headlined her erotic fantasies.

She managed to slip out of her shoes without falling over. Okay, she did stumble when she kicked off one shoe, but she covered it up by swaying her hips, shaking her booty and letting out a soft sigh-moan.

The move worked. His desire looked even bigger and harder. If that was possible.

His gaze rested on her bare breasts. Shyness and that damn self-image crap of hers crept in. She let out a nervous sigh. “Let’s get under those covers…”

He lifted her chin and stared at her with a worried look on his face. “Hey.” His voice was hoarse but serious. “Did I rush you? You sure you’re okay with this?”

She took a deep breath, hoping the air would chase away her self-image doubts. “Absolutely.” She nodded with conviction. Squeezing his shoulders, she pressed herself closer to him. “I know it’s silly, but, you know, I’m a teeny bit self-conscious about my
¾
”

He smothered her next word with a kiss. “Every inch of you is hot.” He traced a path of kisses from her neck to each shoulder. “Delicious.” He spent a lot of time kissing between her breasts. “It’s all very,—” he kissed each breast, “—very good.”

The faint citrus scent of his aftershave reminded her of sunshine and lemonade. She leaned her head back, enjoying the way he gave each breast his full attention with slow and soft lip service. The little hairs on her arms stood and danced in tune with her rapid heartbeat. Until that second, she’d never realized exactly how much
she’d wanted his lips on her, especially there.

He kept his mouth on her and spoke against her skin. “We’re going to enjoy a
ménage a trois
.” His teeth grazed along her breast and it gave her more of a buzz than she’d ever imagined.

“Are we now?” She swayed a little and ran her hands through his hair. “Are you hiding one of those model chicks in here?”

He gave her a light tap on her ass. “I’m talking about me,” he sucked each nipple, “and these two babes.” He massaged and kissed each one, like he had all the time in the world to cherish the one area she never thought could make her feel ultra sexy. Vampy even.

It was as if he had reached into her self-consciousness and untangled the strings of inhibition that had been tied to her self-image for so many years.

Feeling liberated, she circled her finger around one of her nipples, enjoying the wetness from his tongue, hearing his short intake of breath when she rolled a nipple between her fingers.

She licked her fingers and rolled the other one. “You like that, huh?”

“That’s so fuckin’ hot.” His voice sounded husky.

She stepped back and continued to touch herself, concentrating on how her breasts felt, no matter what their size, and soaked in his lascivious gaze. She wanted to drive this man crazy, and give
him
a mind-blowing night of ecstasy.

“Come here, you.” He reached out and pulled her to him, both falling on the bed.

She curled into the curve of his body, returning his long deep kiss. This was Alex, a man she liked and respected. Finally, they were both not only on the same page, but in the same paragraph. Any nervousness that lingered was now evaporating with each stroke, each passionate kiss. The feel of his excitement pressed hard against her leg.

A shiver ran through her. His hair-roughened chest against her naked skin, their dancing tongues and his hand skating up and down her thighs lifted her spirits to the ceiling.

Another shiver.

He moved away, sat up, grabbed the comforter and covered them with trembling hands. “You sure you’re okay?”

She pulled his head down and kissed the concern off his face, her hands doing some skating of their own up and down his tight ass.

It was his turn to shiver.

She smiled.

He covered her mouth for another searing kiss while his thumb circled around her panty’s elastic, easing them down her thighs. She lifted her leg, surprised she even had the strength to do that, and pushed the black lace with her toes.

Her foot tangled inside the panty legs at her knees, barring the entrance between her legs. Damn, this seemed a lot easier in her fantasy. She added pressure with her toe to untangle herself, and her foot cramped. She swore.
I better not have ruined the mood.

He let out a low chuckle. “Allow me.” Kneeling on the bed in front of her, he slid them down with his teeth.

Oh my. Obviously, the mood was still hot. Erotic. And oh, my.

Her eyes closed of their own accord. He teased her with kisses on her naval, knees, thighs, but avoided that special spot. The spot her silent pleas begged for him to touch. She held her breath when he lifted her leg and lay her foot on his shoulder. Kissing the back of her knee, he touched his way inside her. The way he took his time had her skin screaming out for him. If his finger caused her embers to crank up to a burn, she could only imagine the rip-roaring flame when he buried himself inside of her. She ached to experience that passion. Now.

She was ready. She wanted to please him and give him the same head rush she was now experiencing. Swallowing back a loud moan, she squeezed his forearm. “I’m…I’m so ready.”

He kissed her ankle. “Come for me.”

A wordless sound escaped her lips.

She opened herself to him, like an orchid to the tropical sun. “I want you.”

He slid up and whispered next to her ear, “Don’t hold back. Let it go.”

Reaching down, she wrapped her hand around him and pumped him, slow at first, then faster, smiling against his lips each time her touch dragged a ragged breath out of him. Their legs interlaced, and their nakedness pressed together, while their hands touched as much of each other as they could manage. All that was enough for now. The way he admired her body, overlooking her flaws, caressing and kissing her, sent a comet of excitement up her leg, directly into her center, making her more than ready to accept him.

This feeling of being truly desired was something she’d never experienced with another man, and she now wanted to give him the exact same satisfaction.

“It’s okay. I’m ready,” she whispered. “You’re ready.”

He disentangled himself from their embrace. “Don’t worry about me.” He slid downward, kissing her along the way to his destination.

She lifted her head and saw him inhaling her scent before he nudged her thighs apart. With slow, deliberate movements he kissed his way inside. A loud “Oh my, oh my,” escaped her lips.

Inhaling a deep breath, she boldly laid her heels on his shoulders, allowing her mind to roam free of expectations and questions, giving him total control. On her own, she’d always experienced warmth and enjoyed the temporary numbness before bringing herself over the edge, but that involved so much fantasy. Now, she skipped over the warm phase and shot directly to hot flushes, with Alex jumping out of her fantasy and into reality.

He read her moans of ecstasy, and with his magnificent tongue, he gave her more and gave it stronger, exceeding anything she had conjured up in her daydreams. She didn’t want the tickling and incredible sensations to stop.

His hands found hers and he interlaced their fingers. They both held on tight. It was as if his energy flowed through her hand, zapping her veins and removing the last barrier.

The tingling started at her ankles, bolted to her knees and furled in the pit of her tummy. As if she were on a roller coaster before it took a plunging dip, she held her breath to embrace the joy ride that was to come.

Energizing shockwaves jumped from muscle to muscle. Her heart pounded in her ears as bolts of electricity rocked her from the tips of her toes to the top of her head. She grabbed the pillow, arched her back and welcomed the explosion of radiant colors bursting behind her eyes.

The vibrating release paralyzed her entire body for a moment, and the incredible sweet itch disappeared, to be replaced with a glorious freedom.

Time stood still as the rhythm of her heartbeat slowed down and she emerged from her dreamlike state, leaving her light-headed and giddy.

She blew out a contented breath and a satisfied moan. “Wow. And wow again.”

He scooted up and lay beside her. Through the moonlit window she took in his eyes that expressed thick, carnal lust for her. It was the look of a man who had held back but was now more than ready.

A surge of jealousy rippled through her, stronger than she’d ever experienced. She wanted to leave her mark so those models would know that for the time being, Alex Donovan was not in the market for a lover.

She rolled on top of him and suckled at the base of his neck.

“Hey.” He sounded breathless. “You trying to draw blood?”

“Lie still.” Still giddy from her own euphoric release, she grabbed his wrists, lay them on his forehead and held them there. “How about this? I want to know that this isn’t a dream. Tomorrow, my mark will prove that our night together was real.”

She continued to suckle, tasting the delicious salty tang of his damp skin.

“Nice try. But it’s called a hickey. And it’s too hot to wear a turtleneck.”

“Hmmm. Is that a hint that you’d like me to mark your
¾
”

“Later.” He kissed her hard.

Nuzzling his neck, she inhaled his scent of pure male musk.

She felt a trickle of moisture against her thigh.

He flipped her over and whispered in a low animalistic growl. “I want you. Now.” His hands shook as he leaned over to his bedside table, and tore open the drawer.

The sound of foil crackled over his ragged breathing. She watched in fascination as he sheathed himself.

He knelt before her and slowly lubricated himself with her moist center, again sending shock waves through her entire being.

Positioning himself between her thighs, he slid into her. She squeezed tight around him.

“Oh, baby,” he said. “Don’t move.” It came out as a strangled hiss.

Wow.
She had undone a man, this man.

There was no wild thrashing, only slow in-and-out movements, mimicking the gentle sound of the palm fronds rustling outside.

The electricity between them increased with each kiss, each thrust, like a storm starting as a fine mist, slowly becoming heavy rain, with the heavens finally opening up.

With the storm at full force, he drove into her harder and faster, kissing her with a power as strong as the waves crashing against the rocks outside the hotel. She wrapped her legs tightly around his waist, her heart beating fast and her body preparing for the final combustion. Spasms from deep within engulfed her. Dots of colored lights flashing before her, she dug her nails into his back and breathed his name aloud.

His lips pressed hard into her shoulder. His body convulsed, held her firm by the hips and shuddered into her neck.

He collapsed on top of her for a few seconds, then heaved himself up and steadied himself on his elbows. He brushed his lips across her wet-soaked forehead. “Hey, sexy. You okay?”

“Ask me…next week…when I can breathe again.”

 “I know what you mean.”

She brought his head down, and gave him a tender kiss. “That was soul sapping.”

He chuckled, rolled off of her and gathered her in his arms. She rested her chin on his shoulder, her fingers circling his chest. His fragrance was incredible, so masculine. She glanced at the window and saw stars peeking through the blinds, and wondered which brilliant star she had wished upon that had made her fantasy come true.

She let out a contented sigh, smiled and snuggled closer to him.

If there was such a thing as
the
perfect moment, then this was it. Perfect. Like the duration of their time on Makana. No more incidents, and nobody to stand in their way.