“No. Come with me. Trust me.” His mouth locked on hers, intensifying the building need. She was powerless to disobey. She surrendered. Her arms pulled him tighter to her, her body gripped around him, drawing him farther into her satin heat.
His powerful body brought them together again and again, sending waves of pleasure to her until both were caught up in the rapture and racing toward completion. They exploded together.
It was a long time before he could move. He’d never experienced anything as intense or as satisfying. Gulping in air, he rolled to his back, bringing her with him. She lay sprawled on top of him with one bare leg between his. Her warm breath waffled across his chest. He angled his head to one side to see her face.
His heart clenched. Her eyes closed, her lips slightly parted, she wore the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen. He hugged her sleeping body tighter. A strange feeling came over him. It took several moments to realize what it was. Contentment. True contentment for the first time in years.
S
ierra woke up with her head pillowed on Blade’s muscular chest. She had dozed off after they’d made love. It was still night outside. She looked up, unsurprised to see him watching her. She had awakened because his hand was stroking her back and hips, causing her body to heat with desire all over again. “Hi.”
“Hi.”
“I’m glad I decided to come back.”
“That makes two of us.” On top of the sheet, his hand continued the lazy motion up and down the slope of her back to her hips. “Cold showers and exertion are a myth as far as I’m concerned.”
She chuckled and traced his lower lip with her fingertip. “I wondered what you did to work it off. Unpacking certainly didn’t help me.”
He rolled her over, his hard body pressing her deliciously against the mattress. “For some things, there is no substitute.”
Her fingers swept through his long hair. “Isn’t it wonderful when two minds think alike?”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
He slipped into her waiting heat, the fit exquisite, the pleasure as intense as it had been the first time. They found the perfect rhythm. His movements were slow, deliberate, and tender as he loved her. He increased the pace by degrees, surging deeper, stroking her.
She moaned in rapture. Her nails dug into his back. She felt herself coming apart in his arms and let herself go. They found completion together. When he could catch his breath and the haze had faded, he picked her up.
“Where are we going?” she asked, catching his earlobe between her teeth. With Blade, she was insatiable.
“Jacuzzi.”
“You’re taking care of me again?”
He sat with her on the lip of the tub and turned the water on full blast. “Always.” He hadn’t meant to say that. It had just slipped out, but staring down at Sierra resting trustingly in his arms, he didn’t want to think of a time when they wouldn’t be together.
Shutting off the water, he stepped into the Jacuzzi and cut on the jets. Water bubbled around them.
“I know why I’m in here, but why are you with me?” He didn’t want to let her go. The truth startled him, scared him.
She studied his face. “You think too much sometimes, but I know how to fix that.” Her arms and legs wrapped around him. Her nibbling kisses started at his mouth, then worked their way down to his shoulder. Her hand reached between their bodies and stroked his growing arousal.
Air hissed through his clenched teeth. “Sierra, I don’t have any protection in here. Besides, if I make love to you it kind of defeats the reason you’re in here,” he said.
“I’m making love to you.” Her small hand closed as much as possible around his erection, the base of her thumb grazing the sensitive head.
He sucked in a ragged breath. His body shook. She was taking him to the brink of no return. He had one choice. Quickly setting her away from him, he left the tub. “Stay put for another ten minutes,” he told her over his retreating back.
“All right, and then I’m coming for you.”
Blade was grinning before he took another step.
B
lade thought he was ready for Sierra, which just proved how much he’d underestimated her. When she emerged from the bathroom, the edge of a towel tucked securely between her breasts, he had the sheet draped across his waist, his hands behind his head. Her gaze fixed on him, she climbed onto the bed. Then on hands and knees, she slowly inched her way up his body with her arousing mouth and tempting hands.
He thought he was holding it together pretty well as she licked his nipple, pressed kisses against his chest, dipped her tongue in his navel, but when she nudged the sheet over his thick arousal, her mouth and warm breath hovering over him as she dipped her head, self-preservation took over.
He grasped her under her arms, flipping her on her back and coming down on her. If she’d reached her goal, it would be all over for a while, and he wanted to be inside her when his body exploded. Her protest died as he duplicated every hot kiss, every bold caress.
Only he had no intention of not achieving the final goal as she had. He kissed the most intimate part of her, felt her shudder, the coil of her body. Her hand fisted in his hair, a demand, a protest.
He answered, joining them in one powerful thrust. Intense pleasure spiraled through him. He wrapped his arms around her as she wrapped her silken legs around his waist. They went over together. She cried out, clutching him to her as her body spasmed.
For a long moment they stayed where they were, locked in the aftermath of ecstasy. He stroked her back, kissed her shoulder.
“I’m not sure I can walk back to my cottage.”
He kissed her damp forehead. “You’re staying here.”
She attempted to lean away from him, but with his arms still around her, she couldn’t get very far. “Jenkins and Martin are not finding me here.” She gasped, her eyes widening. “The kitchen! We didn’t finish eating.”
“I’m not sure it’s fit to eat now,” he said. “It must be close to four in the morning.”
She shook her head at him. “Martin’s feelings will be hurt if he sees we didn’t eat the supper he prepared for us. I told you, chefs are temperamental.” She tried to push out of Blade’s arms. “Let me go. We have to go clean up the kitchen.”
Blade let her go because it allowed him a satisfying view of her naked elegant body, until she grabbed the discarded towel and wrapped it around herself. She threw him an exasperated look. “Blade, will you get up!”
“Sierra, I have no intention of cleaning up the kitchen.”
“Fine.” She marched off toward the kitchen.
Crossing his arms, he lasted for all of thirty seconds; then he got out of bed. Dragging on a pair of pants, he followed. Sierra, her hair disheveled, had several drawers open. She looked gorgeous and ready to chew nails.
He cautiously edged closer. “What?”
“Please tell me you have a trash compactor. I’m afraid if I dump it down the disposal Martin might sniff it out.”
Blade walked over to a cabinet on the other side of the room and pulled out a drawer. “Martin insisted on one.”
She went to the terrace for their plates, then returned. But when she started to empty the food, Blade stepped in front of the appliance.
“Let’s deal. I help get the place spotless, then we go back to bed.”
In his blue bath towel, her regal chin lifted. “I can’t take the chance of them finding us together.” She nudged him out of the way, emptied the plates, then went back to the terrace.
Blade had another proposition when she returned. “Your bed, and I leave before they’re due to arrive.”
“I could do this by myself,” she countered.
“Yes, and although you don’t want to hurt Martin’s feelings, you’d hate every minute of it.” He waited a bit. “Together we could get this done faster.”
“What time are they due to return?”
Things just got a bit trickier. Sierra had warned him to ask first and plan later. This was much different from the waterfall surprise. “I asked him to serve a late breakfast.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You planned what would happen between us tonight?”
“Hoped.” His hands rested on her bare arms. “If not, I still wanted you to have fond memories of your trip.”
She shrugged his hands off, then scraped Greek salad into the compactor. “Move, Blade, so we can get this place cleaned up.” She turned. “If you snore, I’m kicking you out.”
“Just for that, I’ll have to consider if I want to show you where Martin left the dessert.” Blade took the serving dishes over to the double sink to rinse. “He mentioned something about strawberries and chocolate.”
“All right, you can snore.”
B
lade wanted to hold back the dawn. The reason slept peacefully in his arms.
His hand brushed over Sierra’s bare shoulders, then pulled the sheet up to her neck so she wouldn’t get cold. The wind blowing off the water through the open window made the room cool. His need to protect her, keep her safe and happy, was as strong as the need to make love to her and make her his.
He didn’t understand either.
He looked at the top of Sierra’s head pillowed on his chest, her hair spread out, her arms loosely around him as if even in sleep she didn’t want to part from him. As if she sought to protect
him.
The latter thought caused a frown to dart across his brow. She was an extremely loyal woman and a perceptive one. She’d guessed there had been something in his past that had almost crushed him, left him without hope.
She’d been right, but she had done what he had thought impossible—made him glad to be alive … with her.
He wasn’t walking the floor after nightmares had chased him from his bed, trying to do anything to help pass the time until the sun came up. Nights were always the worst. Rio and Shane were his best friends, but even they couldn’t help him through those dark moments.
Only Sierra.
He wouldn’t question his good fortune or worry about what would happen in the future. He made his own luck, charted his own destiny. He’d do whatever it took to keep her with him.
And keep her safe. That single worry, that one day he might not be there when she needed him, dogged him. Thankfully, she’d been spared the travesties greedy, unconscionable men did to their fellow man. He’d do everything in his power to ensure she never experienced that—with or without her permission.
Without most likely, if he knew the fiercely proud and independent woman sleeping so trustingly in his arms. His hand swept under the sheet and down her smooth, soft skin. He kissed the top of her head.
He wasn’t above the subterfuge, but there would be hell to pay if she found out. Like the lady said, ask first, plan later. There was one thing he didn’t have to ask about. He gently rolled her over so she was on her back, then started at her temple and continued with soft kisses downward.
By the time he reached the rounded softness of her breasts, she was awake, a tempting smile on her face, her hands in his hair. “Mmm.”
“Morning.”
“What!” She pushed him off her and jerked upright. The sheet pooled around her waist. She reached for it and he pulled it away. She jerked it right back to cover her breasts. “You have to leave!”
He rose on his knees to face her. “Martin isn’t due here for another hour.” He tugged the sheet. It remained clenched in her tight fist. She was such a joy to tease out of her primness. “We both get viewer privileges.”
“With a smile like that, I’d grant you anything.” She let the sheet fall.
She was on her back in two seconds. “Guess what I want?” he asked.
Her hand closed as much as possible around the hard length of him. “The same thing I want.” She put him on his back and straddled him. “And I’m going to get it.” Her head lowered.
B
runch was on the beach inside a cabana with Martin cooking nearby on a butane grill. Four waiters and Jenkins were there to assist. Sierra wasn’t sure if it was because of the fabulously beautiful night she and Blade had shared, missing her supper, or the brisk sea air, but every bite was fantastic.
Just like making love to Blade had been.
“Sierra, would you like another strawberry pancake?” Martin asked.
It was all Sierra could do not to look at Blade. They’d fed each other the chocolate cheesecake garnished with strawberries in bed, then feasted on each other. “No, thank you, Martin. Everything was wonderful. Thank you.”
“I trust you enjoyed last night’s dinner as well,” the chef continued.
“It will be one I’ll always remember,” she told him; this time she did look at Blade. He wore a small smile that caused her blood to heat.
“Next time, please don’t bother with cleaning,” Jenkins said, refilling Blade’s china cup with coffee.
Sierra took a sip of water. “I don’t know. It was rather nice seeing Blade rinse utensils and plates.”
Both men looked at Blade in disbelief. His mouth quirked; then he reached into his pocket for his ringing cell phone. “Excuse me.” He flipped it open. “Blade.” He frowned and came to his feet. “I’m on my way.”
“What is it?” she asked.
“Labor relations. I need to check this out.” He stood. “We’ll be ready to leave in a couple of hours.”
“I’ll be ready.”
Dropping a kiss on her head as he passed, he went back to the house. She watched his every step, the wind billowing the embroidered linen shirt against his muscular back, his muscular thighs in linen slacks, his fabulous butt.
Turning, she noticed she was being closely watched by Jenkins and Martin. She stood. “I guess I’ll go finish packing. Bye.”
“Good-bye,” they said in unison, both smiling broadly.
Smiling back, Sierra went to her cottage to finish packing, her thoughts straying to Blade. She loved him. Completely. Irrevocably.
She wasn’t running from the emotion any longer.
He didn’t express his feelings openly. Nor was he an easy man. If he had been, she probably wouldn’t have given him a second glance. Deep in thought, she folded her clothes and placed them in the suitcase. His alluring voice had entranced her, his magnificent face and body captivated her.
She’d started to fall into love then, and was still falling. She was too happy to regret loving him.
She closed her suitcase and set it by the front door. Her family, however, might not like the idea of her and Blade being together. They’d come around when they saw what a wonderful man Blade really was, how happy he made her.
Then, too, her brothers might be so astounded that she had picked out her own man that they might leave her alone on general principle. Or maybe not.
Finished packing, she glanced at her watch. Thirty minutes remained until it was time to leave for the airport. Picking up her suitcase and the train case, she shoved the strap of her Hermès handbag over her shoulder and went to Blade’s house. She knocked, but there was no answer. The Jeeps Blade and Shane drove were still gone.
When, after a third knock, there was no answer, she assumed Jenkins and Martin were still down at the beach cleaning up. Opening the door, she set her things inside. She felt like walking and exploring. Perhaps she’d find a flower that she could take back to Jess … if customs would let her.
With that thought in mind, she set off toward the waterfall.
B
lade pulled up in his front yard, jumped out of the Jeep, and headed to the cottage in back. And Sierra.
If it wouldn’t embarrass her, he’d send everyone else back on another airplane. Or better yet, have them spend another night and fly back early tomorrow.
He grinned and bounded up the steps. Well, not too early. “Sierra!” he called, entering the small house. Disappointment hit him when she didn’t answer. She was probably waiting at his house.
Closing the door, he started for his place, promising himself one day they’d return, just the two of them. He shook his head. One of them had better learn to cook by then.
“Sierra,” he called on opening the door and seeing her luggage. He headed toward the kitchen. Martin was probably cooking for her.
Blade walked into the kitchen, expecting to find Sierra at the table and Martin at the stove. Instead, Martin was alone, sharpening his knives.
“Where’s Sierra?” Blade asked.
Martin lowered the knife and handled file. “I thought you and she were at the cottage.”
“She’s not there.” Blade wouldn’t let himself panic. “Jenkins! Jenkins!”
The butler appeared at the top of the stairs. “What is it?”
“Did Sierra tell you where she was going?” Blade asked.
“I haven’t seen her since she left the beach this morning,” Jenkins said as he joined Blade and Martin. “When we returned and her luggage was here we thought you two might be together.”
“Maybe she went to the waterfall or down at the beach,” Jenkins suggested, heading toward the back porch overlooking the beach.
His chest tight, Blade beat the butler to the back porch. The day was clear. Blade could see for miles up and down the white sandy beach. She wasn’t there. The tightness became a steel band around his chest. There was one other place she might be. He quickly left the house.
She was safe. There was no need for this vise around his chest, his heart, he told himself over and over as he raced to the waterfall. Out of breath, he broke through the clearing, staggered. The beautiful oasis was as empty as the beach.
Behind him, he heard Martin and Jenkins. Blade grabbed his phone, hit speed dial.
As soon as Shane answered, Blade started giving orders: “Sierra is missing. I want every man immediately pulled from the job site to search the area for her. Now!”
He snapped the phone closed. “Sierra!” He listened to the damning echo of his voice, then plunged into the jungle.
S
ierra had made a mistake. It wasn’t often that she admitted it, but this time she had no choice. Hands on her hips, she stared down at the flower on the rotten stump and knew there was no way for her to remove it and keep it intact. The log was too large to drag back.
She had started to squat to study the white-blossomed plant from another angle when she heard a noise behind her. She straightened, cocked her head to listen. Was it a wild dog?
She looked up at the trees. She couldn’t climb one in sandals or bare feet. The noise drew closer. She looked around, picked up a three-inch-thick tree branch about eighteen inches long, then hid behind a clump of bushes.
Two whiskered Spanish men in straw hats, well-worn jeans, and short-sleeve shirts came into the clearing. Both appeared agitated about something. Their whiskered faces were grim. She caught snatches of their rapid-fire conversation and she clutched the stick tighter. They were looking for her and not happy about it.
All the stories about Americans being kidnapped came rushing back. The Spaniards were at least six feet tall, with not an ounce of fat on their muscular frames. After looking around, they continued out of the clearing. Sierra breathed a sigh of relief.
“Hello, Sierra.”
She jumped, swinging the branch at the same time. It missed Rio by mere inches. Adrenaline pumping, she shot to her feet. “I could have hurt you!”
His expression said,
Not likely.
He spoke into a unit on his wrist: “She’s safe. I have her. ETA ten minutes.”
She glanced at her watch. She should have been back over thirty minutes ago. “Oh no.”
“Blade is worried about you. We’d better move.” He took off into the dense forest without a backward glance.
Sierra rushed to grab his arm. It was like holding warm steel. “There were two men searching for me shortly before you arrived. We might meet them on the way back. Maybe we should warn Blade, too.”
“That’s Blade’s doing. He pulled all the workers from the site to find you.”
“You must be kid—” She clamped her mouth shut before she finished. Rio wasn’t the joking type. She released his arm. “Can I speak with him?”
“You could, but it would take time.” He held a low-hanging branch aside and waited for her. “It was hard enough getting him to stay at the checkpoint in case someone else located you before I did.”
Again there was that incredulity on his handsome face. It wasn’t arrogance, just extreme confidence, just like Blade and Shane. Sierra went under the branch and kept close behind. “Luke, my brother, is the best tracker I know. I’m not sure he could have found me. Who taught you?”
“A man with no name.”
He continued through the forest, moving as silently as the smoke Sierra had called him. The conversation was over. Blade wasn’t the only one with a complicated past.
B
lade waited at the edge of the forest. At the first glimpse of her he took off running. The relief in his eyes was unmistakable. Sierra ran to meet him. He caught her to his body, lifting her off her feet, holding her high and hard as if he never meant to let her go.
“I’m sorry,” she said, feeling his arms tighten, his body tremble. “I was just exploring, and then I wanted to get Jess a flower and I lost track of time.”
He set her to her feet, his mouth finding her in a brief, passionate kiss. “You must have heard at least one of the men searching for you call your name. Why didn’t you answer?”