Passion Never Dies (12 page)

Diana waited for Jake to finish his conversation, standing patiently at the crowded lobby of the MGM Grand Hotel. He turned to her and sighed, frustration etched on his face.

“Damn it. I’m sorry, Diana, but that was my CEO and he said they need to meet me right now regarding the hotel. I don’t know how long this meeting is going to be, so I’ll have my driver take you home.”

“Oh,” said Diana, deeply disappointed that their date had to end so abruptly. “That’s okay. I’ve had a long week and I’m feeling a bit tired.”

Jake wrapped Diana in a fierce hug and then made a call to his driver to pick her up. A minute later, a large man in a black, three-piece-suit came by and nodded to Jake, waiting patiently for Diana.

“This is Grant. He’ll escort you to my car and take you home,” Jake said. He stared into her eyes for a few seconds before bending down to kiss her sweetly, his tongue gently gliding inside her mouth. The kiss only lasted a few seconds, but it left her aching with need.

Jake placed his forehead against hers and sighed deeply.

“Be with me tomorrow,” he urged.

Diana nodded eagerly. She didn’t care what plans he had for them. She just wanted to be with him.

He reached for her hand and kissed her knuckles.

“I’ll pick you up at nine a.m.,” he said before he nodded to Grant. Grant came forward toward Diana.

“Thank you for a nice evening, Jake,” she said softly.

Jake looked at her one last time, twisting his lips wryly.

“I promise no more interruptions this time, Diana,” Jake said before turning and walking away.

Diana watched his tall, masculine frame disappear into the crowd and wondered what he meant by his parting statement before she followed Grant to the car.

~

“You’re on your way where?” asked Natalie on the phone.

Diana tried to keep her cell phone from falling off her shoulder as she hurriedly packed a bikini, a towel, and a change of clothes in her large pink-and-white striped beach bag.

“Catalina Island.”

“Catalina Island!?” shrieked Natalie.

Diana walked into her bathroom to gather some toiletries, hoping she didn’t forget anything.

“Jake called early this morning and said he wanted us to get away for the weekend. He’ll be here any moment, so I’m trying to finish packing.”

“Wow, first it was lunch in San Diego. Now it’s the weekend in Catalina. Talk about romantic. I think I’m starting to like this guy.”

“It’s kind of hard not to get swept off my feet around him,” Diana admitted as she walked back into her bedroom and looked inside her closet to retrieve a pair of sandals.

“Just be careful not to get too swept off your feet,” warned Natalie.

Diana chuckled, “Yes, Mom.”

“I’m serious, Diana. This guy is a real wheeler and dealer. What he wants, he gets.”

“I know. I’m a guppy and he’s a shark, right?” asked Diana.

“No - more like you’re a hamster and he’s a predator,” Natalie retorted. “No, strike that. You’re a
dwarf
hamster and he’s a T-Rex.”

Diana laughed as she put on her white sandals and inspected herself in the mirror overhanging her bedroom door. She wore a light pink halter top and a white, flared mini-skirt. The outfit was simple and summery and showed a fair amount of tanned skin.

“Thanks for your concern, Nat. I’ll make sure to keep my hamster claws sharp in case he attacks.”

“Ha. Ha. Have fun and don’t forget your sunscreen,” Natalie said in a resigned tone.

“I’ll give you the details when I get home, Nat. Love ya,” Diana said before hanging up.

Jake had called her at seven a.m. this morning and asked if she would be willing to spend the weekend with him on his yacht in Catalina Island. She had been rendered momentarily speechless by his offer, but she had jumped at the chance to spend the weekend with him on a romantic island. What girl wouldn’t?

She looked out her living room window and saw Jake walking toward her front door. Picking up her pink-and-white striped beach bag and purse, she let out a breath to calm down. This weekend with Jake was going to be more than thrilling; it was going to be the most exciting thing she had ever done in her whole life. She just hoped her heart would survive.

Her doorbell rang and she opened it quickly. Jake stood there grinning, looking indisputably male and muscular, his blond hair swept back and his green eyes bright with anticipation. He wore a grey T-shirt that failed to hide his six-pack and dark shorts that revealed his strong legs. Her pulse leapt as she stared into his eyes and right then she knew her heart wasn’t going to survive after all.

“Ready?” he asked in a deep voice as he took her beach bag and held out his hand.

“Yes,” she answered simply, taking his hand and following him to his car.

~

The short plane ride to Los Angeles followed by the drive to Long Beach and the forty-five minute ferry ride to Catalina Island had not dampened Diana’s spirits. In fact it had increased it each time she looked at Jake. They had chatted and had gotten to know one another even better during their journey and she discovered that not only did they share the same strong feelings about their families and their devotion to their careers, but they also enjoyed spontaneous adventures.

“Are you having fun yet?” asked Jake with a huge grin as their ferry boat anchored at the dock at Catalina Island. It was a beautiful, warm sunny day, not a cloud in the sky. Seagulls flew above and the clear, blue water below lapped gently at the side of the boat.

“I’ve been having fun since you picked me up this morning,” answered Diana, squeezing his hand. They had been holding hands all morning and she looked forward to the weekend ahead.

“Good,” Jake nodded in satisfaction. “I promise you’ll have a great time.”

They walked down the gangway of the boat along with the other passengers. The dock was crowded with tourists and as they stepped onto the pathway leading to the small town of Avalon, Jake directed her toward a shiny blue golf cart that was parked at the curb.

“How cute,” commented Diana as Jake placed her beach bag in the rear of the cart.

“There’s restrictions on cars here and the majority of the population only drives golf carts,” said Jake.

“Is this yours?”

Jake nodded and indicated for her to get in.

“I arranged for it to be here when we arrived.”

Diana watched as Jake started the golf court and they sped away at a moderate speed to Avalon. She loved feeling the ocean breeze sweep at her hair and watching the tourists strolling by.

“My yacht is anchored off Descanso Beach, so we’re heading that way,” said Jake. “I bought it a few years ago and now my family uses it whenever they vacation here.”

“Do you come here often?” asked Diana, looking at his gorgeous profile.

“I like to get away several times a year and stay here. My parents used to come here every summer. They owned a vacation home on Avalon when I was a child and we would spend our summers here. Lana and I have great memories of this island and of kayaking on Two Harbors.”

In less than fifteen minutes, they had arrived at Descanso Beach, a private beach community. Jake led her to the dock where a boat taxi waited for them. He helped her board the boat and they headed out to his yacht anchored out at sea.

“Welcome aboard the Waverunner,” Jake said five minutes later as he helped her board his gleaming white, fifty-seven foot yacht.

Diana felt like she was in a dream as she stepped onto the deck of Jake’s beautiful yacht and stared out into the ocean. He led her to the foredeck where he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against his hard chest. She melted against him and briefly closed her eyes to relish the moment, feeling the light wind caress her face.

“I’m so glad you could be with me this weekend, Diana,” Jake said huskily.

“I’m glad you invited me.”

“Are you tired? Hungry?” he asked solicitously.

Diana shook her head.

“Good, because I’ve been waiting to do this all day,” Jake muttered before turning her around in his arms.

Diana looked up at him and instantly saw the hunger in his green eyes before he swooped down and captured her lips in a voracious kiss. Taken momentarily by surprise, she clasped his arms as he held her tightly and opened her mouth to his questing tongue. She felt herself melt against him and met his tongue with hers. He moaned at her surrender and he backed her up against the railing of his yacht. He angled his head to kiss her more deeply and she opened her mouth farther for his invasion. Her body felt like it was going up in flames, but suddenly Jake released her to gasp for breath.

“I needed that,” he said, breathing heavily. “All day you’ve been looking so sexy in your outfit and I just wanted to kiss you everywhere.”

“Why didn’t you?” she asked provocatively and squirmed against him.

Jake’s eyebrows shot up at her question. Then he grinned, his hand creeping up her short, flared mini-skirt.

“Because I knew that once I started kissing you, I wasn’t going to stop.”

Diana licked her lips as he bent down once more to kiss her. She moaned at the exquisite feel of lips and tongue devouring her and she could feel his hand gently gliding up her thigh.

“Mmm,” she moaned as she felt his hand cup her between her legs. She was glad she had worn a white, lace thong as his other hand went up her skirt and cupped her bare buttock.

“Damn, woman. You’re killing me,” Jake said huskily as he released her lips and kissed her neck.

Diana couldn’t help moaning as his lips explored her neck and his hand below began stroking her mound through her soaked panties.

“Come on,” Jake said suddenly and grabbed her hand. Caught in a sensual haze, Diana allowed Jake to lead her inside the yacht, through a short hallway and into a large master stateroom. Before she could inspect her surroundings, she felt herself falling onto a large soft bed. Jake swiftly followed her down and covered her body with his own.

“No more interruptions,” he said as he impatiently took off his T-shirt and shorts, revealing a body that could have graced the cover of GQ. He pulled her halter top up and over her head and tugged down her mini-skirt. She was left wearing her lacy white thong and strapless, white lace bra.

“I see you went commando,” teased Diana as she stared at his erect member. She was taken a bit aback by its length and size, but the ache between her legs throbbed at the anticipation of finally being filled up by him.

“You should have, too,” Jake said as he bent down and took the edge of her panties by his teeth and pulled it down, “but I do like your thong.”

Diana moaned at his sensual gesture and her legs moved restlessly as he tossed the thong aside and licked his way up to her mound. She held his blond head as his tongue darted out and kissed the tight curls of her mound.

“Jake, please,” she pleaded breathlessly. She felt as though her heart was going to burst and she arched upward.

“You don’t need to beg, sweetheart,” he said looking up at her briefly. Their eyes caught and what she saw in his made her heart race. He bent down hooking her legs over his shoulders and began to feast between her legs, licking and sucking hungrily.

Diana couldn’t stop moaning and heard his answering groans. She felt his tongue thrusting inside her and, in a few minutes, she was caught in a powerful orgasm that had her arching off the bed as her body convulsed in ecstasy. It was nothing that she had ever felt before, not with any of her other boyfriends, and she knew that she would only feel this way with Jake.

Jake looked up, a satisfied grin on his face. His lips were glistening with her juices, his body hard. She could feel his erection pressing insistently against her thigh and she couldn’t wait to have him.

“You’re so wet and tight,” he said as he spread her legs farther, preparing her for his entry. Diana moaned as she felt him slowly penetrate her. He was so big that for a moment she wasn’t sure he would fit, but Jake went slowly and gently until he was firmly embedded in her.

“Oh, yes,” he muttered as he began to move and thrust.

Diana arched her back once again as his erotic movements made her whole body tingle inside and out. She opened her eyes to see his lower body thrusting faster and harder. She wrapped her legs tighter around his back and began to pant as frantic lust took over.

Jake’s eyes closed and there was a look of ecstasy on his face. Sweat covered their straining bodies and the musky smell of their lovemaking permeated the room. He opened his eyes again to stare down into her fevered brown ones. She caught his look of hunger with one of her own as the tempo of his thrusting began to take on a wilder edge. They both moaned as Jake pumped into her greedily. He dipped his head down to kiss her voraciously, his tongue mimicking the movements of his lower body, and suddenly Diana screamed as she felt her second orgasm overwhelm her body. He released her lips and groaned wildly as his body emptied itself into hers.

~

Diana held Jake close, trying to catch her breath. He was heavy, but she didn’t mind, loving the feel of his muscular body covering hers. She had never felt so content in her life. Jake had made her feel sexy and complete and she knew that her life had changed forever.

~

Jake gently lifted his body off Diana’s knowing that his weight was probably crushing hers. He placed his hand on her flat stomach and cradled her close. He needed to recover from the most mind-blowing lovemaking he had ever experienced in his life. Diana was not like other women he had known. She was innocent yet sexy and she could arouse him with just a look. She also touched his heart like no other.

He had even forgotten to put on a condom, something he had never forgotten before. But to his great surprise, the thought that there could be consequences didn’t bother him too much. He languidly stroked her flat stomach and breathed in her sweet scent realizing that no matter what happened in the future, he didn’t intend to let her go.

~

Diana woke up with a happy smile. Jake had held her in his arms and had fallen into a deep sleep. She turned her head and watched him slumber, his face and body completely relaxed. He still looked gorgeous despite his mussed hair. His hand was on her stomach and she lifted his heavy arm to gingerly sit up. The sunlight was fading from the window facing the bed and, glancing at Jake once more to check if he was still sleeping, she quietly rose and put her clothes back on.