Island Fever (3 page)

Incredible. She’s so incredible
.

He nuzzled her nipple, admiring again the dusky tip. Her hand stopped its movements and he opened his eyes to look at her face. She’d fallen asleep, a slight smile curling her kiss-swollen lips.

He could leave. That was pretty much standard for this type of thing, right? A one-night stand. And what else could this possibly be?

The idea of leaving had his gut clenching and everything inside him screaming in protest. Slowly, he lowered his head back to the pillow of her breast.

Hell no. Saying goodbye tomorrow was going to suck as it was. He could at least enjoy tonight.

It was too damn bad she was just another tourist.

The warmth of the sun shinning on the bed woke her. Melanie stirred, pulling the sheet over her bare shoulders as she rolled away from the glare.

Wait.
Why
was she naked?

Her eyes snapped open and she found herself staring into the face of a sleeping man.
Asher
. The details of last night came rushing back and she felt a slow flush travel over her body.

Oh God. Last night had been...indescribably intimate. Sexy. Fun. Her gaze traveled over his body in appreciation before it returned to his face. Long, dark eyelashes fanned across his cheek. And his mouth—a mouth that had brought her so much pleasure—was curved in a sensual and unconscious request to be kissed.

Melanie leaned over him and her hair spilled onto his shoulders as she brushed her lips across his. He gave a grunt of approval as his eyes drifted open. Melanie’s breath caught in her throat at the intensity in his dark gaze.

“I thought I might have dreamed you.” His sleep-deepened voice rasped over her, making her body tingle.

“I hope you’re not disappointed,” she murmured, still hovering above him.

“Not at all.” He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, the gesture sweet and tender.

“Not so bad for a
haole
, huh?” she teased, using the Hawaiian word for tourist.

He smiled. “You were a Goddess. Have breakfast with me.”

“Breakfast.” Her eyes widened and she cursed her pre-scheduled breakfast. “Oh, shoot, I wish I could, but I’m supposed to meet Piper.”

Asher lifted an eyebrow. “The friend and roomie?”

“Yeah. What about lunch?”

“I’m having lunch at my parents’ house.”

“Ah.” She nodded. So he
was
a local.

“How about dinner?” he countered.

She gave him a slow smile, ridiculously excited that he hadn’t given up. “Perfect.”

“I’ll meet you in the bar at seven.”

“Sounds good.” She lowered her mouth to his to drop a quick kiss. Well, she’d intended it to be quick. But the moment he cupped the back of her head to pull her closer, she was lost.

Her tongue slipped into his mouth to rub intimately against his. The taste of him was addictive, and she knew that if she didn’t leave him now, she might not leave this room until she had to go to the airport.

She drew back and traced her thumb over his mouth, hating to leave him, wishing she could spend the day right here in bed with her sexy Hawaiian.

Her
Hawaiian? She swallowed hard. Just a vacation fling, nothing more, she reminded herself. She had to be as carefree about it as Piper.

“I can’t wait for seven, doc. I’ve got to get in the shower, but I’ll see you tonight.”

“I’ll have a mimosa and the garden omelet.” Melanie handed her menu to the waiter, and then turned to face Piper, who was waiting with obvious impatience.

“Okay, spill it. It’s obvious you had sex,” Piper eyed her thoughtfully. “If the smile on your face didn’t give it away, then the saddle-sore walk you’ve got going on would.”

Melanie threw her head back and laughed. The sun was a nice bonus to the view as they sat on restaurant’s patio.

“I had an incredible night,” Melanie admitted after a moment.

“Ah, so I was right. I knew that surfer would be good in bed.”

“Surfer?” Melanie frowned as she accepted the mimosa the waiter dropped off for them.

“Uh, the guy you went to bed with last night?” Piper picked up her own glass and took a sip.

“Oh, that guy. Um, I didn’t end up with the surfer.”

Piper set down her glass and gave her a look of amusement. “Wait a minute. If you didn’t go to bed with the surfer, who did you go to bed with?”

“A doctor named Asher.” Melanie pushed back her chair and lifted her swollen ankle into view. “While I was chasing said surfer, I fell and hurt my ankle. That’s when I met Asher. Funny how the stars align.”

“Damn, you are
good
.” Piper shook her head, her eyes wide in amazement. “You upgraded from a surfer to a doctor.”

Melanie smiled suddenly a bit self-conscious. “Does it matter what he does, it’s only sex, right?”

The words were awkward and bitter on her tongue, and her heart did a little twist at why that was.

“Exactly. So what’s he like?”

“He’s a local. A gorgeous man with an amazing body.”

“Uh huh. And the sex?” Piper prodded.

“Was almost...indescribable. I was thinking about it while I showered this morning.”

“And?”

She hesitated, wanting to be casual about it, but feeling the confession spill past her lips before she could stop it.

“It’s like every man that I’ve ever gone to bed with, every man I thought I was in love with, was just a meaningless fling. And then Asher, who’s
supposed
to be a meaningless fling, connects with me in a way no man ever has.”

Piper’s stare said that she thought Melanie had drunk a few too many daiquiris.

“I know it sounds crazy.”

“He lives in Hawaii, Mel.”

“I know.” Melanie shook her head and shrugged, half agreeing with Piper’s unspoken assessment that she was nuts.

“You haven’t been to bed with anyone since Dave,” Piper said gently. “That’s two years without sex. Maybe this is just some kind of post-sex clingy thing you’ve got going on.”

Melanie thought about the possibility for a moment. It sounded logical, but her gut instinct wavered on the theory. “I don’t know. You could be right, I suppose.”

“Keep it just sex.” Piper reached over to squeeze her hand. “It’ll be more fun while you’re here, and easier for you when you leave.”

“Just sex.” Melanie took a slow breath in. Yeah, when had she lost sight of that concept? “I mean that was the deal, and I need to stick by it. You’re right. I’ll keep the emotions out of this.”

“Good girl.”

Melanie picked up her mimosa. She hoped Piper was right, because the thought of falling for Asher that quick... Falling for someone who it was nearly impossible to stay with in the long run... Well, that was just asking for trouble.

Melanie took extra time getting ready for dinner that night. Since they’d arrived in Hawaii, she’d generally skipped makeup and had lived in shorts, tanks, or her bikini. But tonight was different. Much different. Tonight she wanted to look sexy, feminine, and maybe a little sensual.

She pulled a floral halter dress out of her luggage and shimmied into it. Then added some lip-gloss as a low maintenance makeup option.

She slipped out of the room and went down to the bar to wait for Asher. Since she was a few minutes early, she ordered herself a daiquiri and waited at a table, taking the extra time to people watch.

“How’s your ankle?” A voice asked in her ear as big, warm hands closed over her naked shoulders.

She smiled. “I’m not sure. It could use some further examination.”

Asher chuckled. The sound zipped through her, making her tingly and itchy. His hands rubbing her bare shoulders added to the sensation, and she couldn’t wait for the night to come. After placing a soft, teasing kiss on the side of her neck, he stepped in front of her and pulled out a chair.

He looked even better today than yesterday. Like her, he’d made an effort to dress nice too. His skin looked even darker in the khakis and black polo shirt.

His gaze swept over her. “Melanie, sweetheart, you’re more gorgeous than I remembered.”

She flushed with pleasure as she stroked her hand over her drink glass. He thought she was gorgeous? Oh, what that did to a woman’s confidence.

“Thank you. Although, it’s only been eleven hours.”

“You counted?” He raised an eyebrow.

Her eyelashes fluttered as she lowered her gaze. “You caught me. I guess I did.”

He leaned forward and touched her arm. “Actually, so did I. I missed you.”

Melanie raised her gaze again. His words should’ve been light and casual, but the look in his eyes was anything but. It was intense and penetrating. Her pulse raced and her arm tingled where he touched her.

Sex, Melanie, keep it just sex
.

“Are you hungry?” His thumb circled the sensitive flesh on the underside of her wrist.

“A little.”
For a more than just food
. Saying that aloud would be a little cheeseball though.

Asher stood up and offered her his hand. “How would you feel if, instead of a crowded restaurant, we have a picnic on the beach?”

Melanie gave a slow nod. He had surprised her again, but in a good way.

“That sounds pretty awesome, actually.”

“Great. I want to take you someplace a little less touristy.”

Ten minutes later they were driving through the night on the Hawaiian back roads in Asher’s truck. It was an older vehicle with a bench seat, so Melanie wasted no time in scooting close to him.

Asher’s hand rested on her knee, his muscular thigh rubbed against hers. His now familiar spicy-woodsy smell made her think of last night. The ache between her legs was back in full force, and she shifted in hopes the sensation would ease.

Asher, maybe having heard the hitch in her breath, moved the hand from her knee up a little to her thigh. Melanie didn’t protest. Her heart pounded and she bit her lip.

A little higher
.

As if he’d heard her silent request, he slipped his hand under the hem of the dress to the top of her thigh.

There you go
.

Melanie kept her gaze straight ahead, but let her thighs slide open.

Needing no further invitation, Asher slipped his hand the last few inches to touch between her legs.

His breath hissed out. “You didn’t wear any panties?”

Melanie smiled with pleasure. So he liked things a little bit naughty, did he? “Oops. I knew I forgot something.”

“I like that kind of forgetfulness.”

Asher continued to drive with one hand, and used the other to trail over the outside of mound. Then, so slow that she thought she would scream, he sunk his fingers inside.

Melanie closed her eyes and lifted her hips to give him better access. He rewarded her by and moving his finger in a slow circle of her clit.

“Oh...” she gasped.

Melanie grasped the handle on the door with one hand, and Asher’s leg with another. She threw her head back against the seat as her hips rotated against his finger—the spirals of an orgasm coming on quick.

His finger moved harder, faster. She cried out as she exploded, her sheath clenching around his fingers.

“God, you look sexy when you come.”

Melanie’s body shook, her breath came out in ragged little bursts. Soon the orgasm subsided and she rolled her head sideways to look at him.

“You should keep your eyes on the road,” she teased drowsy from her orgasm.

“I’m good at multi-tasking.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever come that way. So intensely.” Melanie’s gaze searched his. “Who are you, Asher? And why do you affect me this way?”

Asher’s gaze lingered for just a second longer, before he looked back to the road.

Melanie flushed.
And why did I say that?

That fine line between sex and falling for him was looking pretty brittle. Not too mention she’d probably just made him uncomfortable. Should she apologize?

Before she could, Asher took her hand in his and squeezed it. The relief that spilled over her was immediate and she squeezed his hand in return.

He turned the truck off the main road and drove for a few miles down a dirt track, and then the ocean yawned wide in front of them. After parking the truck, he came around to open her door. He had a backpack slung over one shoulder and a blanket in his free hand.

Melanie slid out of her seat and glanced around
.
Wow, this really was less touristy.

They walked down the trail to the beach. Melanie looked right and then left, but didn’t see anyone. It was deserted. They would be completely alone. And wasn’t that just going to be an invitation for trouble. Or one could hope.

Asher spread the blanket on the soft sand and gestured for her to sit. Melanie needed no further encouragement and kicked off her sandals, then curled her legs under her.

“Do you like it?” He lowered himself down beside her.

“Umm, just a little,” she teased. “This is gorgeous. You locals must try and keep places like this pretty secret.”

“Absolutely, though word gets out more than we’d like.” He leaned over and kissed the curve of her shoulder and neck. “My parents own a house not far from here.”

“Oh.” She didn’t even want to think about how much property nearby was worth. She wanted him to keep kissing her neck, but unfortunately he moved away and reached for the backpack.

While Asher searched through the bag, Melanie turned her gaze out to the water, watching the waves roll toward the shore and then suck back out.

“So, Melanie, tell me something. What makes you want to teach art to middle school kids?”

She turned to look at him, and noticed the array of food he’d laid out.

Amazing
. He’d put a lot of thought into this. There was pineapple, pre-cooked steak kabobs, cheese, a loaf of French bread, and a bottle of wine and two glasses.

“Melanie?”

“Sorry.” She dragged her gaze away from the spread. “I just got a little distracted by your version of a picnic. Mine usually amounts to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and a soda. This is incredible. I think you’re a bit of a romantic, doc.”