Physical Touch (17 page)

Her demanding plea nearly sent him over the edge. He slid his fingers under the material, feeling the soft skin underneath
his fingertips and the slick heat of her sex. He growled in appreciation.

Opening the smooth folds, his thumb skimmed across her center, as he began to stroke her wildly. Curling a finger inside her center heat, he found her wet and damp, ready for her to take him.  

He continued to circle her heat and added a second finger inside of her, pumping them in and out, increasing his pace for a few strokes and slowing it down again, her breathing catching as he did. His fingers agilely giving the promise of exquisite release.

“I’m so close….I’m…Please, don’t stop!” she cried hoarsely, riding his hand fast and hard. He couldn’t stop even if he wanted to. His entire being was now focused on making her explode in pleasure. Her hands flew behind her head, grabbing Mitch’s hair and pulling it tight. He growled at the sensation, of her animalistic grip and her molten desire. 

He could feel when she was on the verge of letting go as her body strained against him, tense and wild. Her hands dug into his scalp with an even deeper pull, as her body jerked around his fingers, sending a hoarse cry from her throat. 

Her body slowly relaxed, as his fingers remained inside, stroking her heat as she came down from her climax. Rylie released her grip from his hair and stretched lazily against him, pushing his finger deeper. She let out a lusty laugh, as she jerked in response. 

Mitch smiled against her neck, breathing in the sweet smell of her hair. 

“You feel amazing. I wish I could have seen your face when you came.”

Rylie slowly shifted her body to look at him, pressing her stomach against his erection. Groaning, he moved his hands from between her legs up the side of her body. 

“You can see me now,” she purred, giving him a seductive look. “How do you think it was?” 

Taking her face between his hands, be bent his head to plant a soft kiss on the bridge of her nose. Wisps of her dark hair had come loose from the makeshift bun she’d made at the top of her head. She looked beautiful in her afterglow. “I hope it was as good as you look.”

Rylie ran her hands up his chest, her fingers entwining in his soft golden chest hair. Finding his nipple, she circled the flesh, her tongue darting out to taste.

His lashes lowered, watching her erotic play, as warmth spread across his body.  His eyes narrowed, taking in the raw pleasure of this simple gesture. Rylie’s eyes flashed up toward him, a mischievous gleam in her eyes. She studied him for a moment, as if considering a question he might have asked. Her hand swept down over his chest, over his stomach and down to the waistband of his swim trunks. His muscles tensed, as he took in a deep breath. His body warred with his mind. His hope was that she would stop, and yet he wanted nothing more than for her to keep going. 

Her hand met his hardened arousal, palming his length, giving him a tight squeeze and stroking her thumb against his tip through his trunks.  

Mitch shifted restlessly under her weight. 

“Rylie?”

“Hmm?” she murmured, her gaze moving from his shorts, up his abdomen to his eyes.

“What are you doing?” he asked, as his eyes moved down to see her nipples pucker against her bikini top.

“If I have to explain, then I’m not doing a very good job at it,” she laughed, her lashes fluttering and her hands continuing their assault on his body.

He groaned, knowing exactly where this would go if he didn’t stop it now. With all the willpower he could muster, he pulled at her hand that was still on his erection, giving it a rough tug and then bringing her hand up to meet his lips. Pressing a wet kiss to her palm, he moved her up to a sitting position, giving her a husky chuckle.

“There is nothing I want more…but not right now. This day is all for you and snorkeling awaits.”

She gave him a bewildered look, probably confused by his sudden refusal. And damn if he didn’t think he’d lost his mind. Mitch bent down to kiss her, sliding his hands back around the nape of her neck, a deep rumble emerging from his chest. “You taste so good, I want to devour you.”

“Mmm…”

Mitch hovered above her, his mouth and tongue roaming the depths of her mouth.  He was demanding, taking her lower lip between his teeth, biting down just hard enough to elicit a moan. That one sound had him wanting more, wanting to taste and explore, as his hand found her breast, pushing the silky material of her bikini top away,
exposing the perfect lush globe. Releasing her mouth, Mitch bent down and took her breast into his mouth, rubbing his tongue over its soft, ivory flesh. She arched in his mouth, muttering something he couldn’t quite make out.  

Holy hell, how quickly she could have him gasping for air. He palmed her breasts, rolling his thumb over her nipples as they hardened with his touch.

He had to stop this torture before he flipped her on her back and ripped that suit off her body, plunging into her hot, wet depths.

Cursing under his breath, he released his hold and gave her a gentle push forward.  Rylie, breathing heavy, looked up in surprise. 

“What? Did I do something wrong?”

“No, of course not. That’s hardly my problem…”

She moved her legs underneath her butt, sitting back on her heels and turned towards him. “Then what is it? Why don’t you want to finish what you started?”

He sighed, pushing the material of her suit back into its rightful place, letting his hands remain on top of her shoulders.

“Rylie…less than six hours ago, you made it very clear, and in no uncertain terms, that
this
wasn’t want you wanted,” he said, his hand pointing out the gap between them. “I apologize for my lack of self-control just now, but I couldn’t stop myself. You looked so fucking sexy lying here and you were driving me crazy. I was powerless to leave you alone. But I don’t want to move too fast, because I don’t want you to regret that decision.”

Rylie’s head hung low, her back rounded down in a dejected posture, frowning at the truth in his statement. 

Mitch placed his finger underneath her chin to nudge her head back up to look him in the eyes. Her warm brown eyes held hurt and rejection, which wasn’t what he wanted to see. He didn’t want her to feel criticized by his words. That was the last thing he wanted to do.

“I already know with one-hundred-percent certainty that I want you, Rylie. You have to know that. You have kept me
up at nights over these last few weeks thinking about you. My concentration is shot to hell because all I do is fantasize about being with you. All I can think about is how it will feel to be inside of you.” Mitch reached over to gently touch the side of her face. 

Rylie pressed her cheek into his palm. She was so beautiful. Equal parts heaven and hell. Pain and pleasure. 

Her eyes closed, avoiding his stare. “I’m sorry I’ve made a mess of things. I’m an idiot…” she began to say, as he placed his fingertips to her lips. 

“
Shh…stop that. You haven’t messed anything up. In fact, I think you’ve done something that’s never happened to me before.”

“What’s that?”

Mitch chuckled, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. “Resisted my deadly charms.”     

She threw her head back and laughed. “You’re such an arrogant asshole,” she said, affection apparent in her tone. “I pity the women who do fall so easily for your wicked sexy charms. You probably turned them inside out with just a kiss and then left them hanging out to dry when you moved on to the next one.”

“Wow – you certainly have a low opinion of me.”

Although, she was spot on with her assessment. His past romantic affairs were never very long-running and that’s the way he’d always wanted it. He got in, he got out. No one got hurt. That’s exactly how he liked it and what he needed.

Mitch kept his facial expression light, but he felt the sting in the truth that she voiced and the opinion she formed about him. Was he that much of a lowlife and cad? Would it hurt his chances at being with her?

She shifted uncomfortably. “Oh, come on. You’re not an innocent by-stander, Camden. You’re a love ’
em and leave ’em kind of guy. Just admit it.”

The truth hurt. It had never been said straight to his face. He felt like he was being blamed and punished for his lifestyle and he didn’t like to hear it. Especially not from Rylie.

“While that may be true, I’ve never taken anything that wasn’t freely given to me.  It takes two to tango and everyone I’ve been with knows what to expect with me. And speaking of tango,” he said, trying to direct the conversation elsewhere and away from his sexual encounters. “What the hell happened between you and Tully earlier? Did you really break his fingers?”

Rylie grimaced, flicking her hand in the air. “Oh, that. I only broke
one
of his fingers, but it was his own fault for being a total douche. And I gave him ample warning, but the idiot wouldn’t stop. He kept trying to touch me, leaving me no other choice but to put a stop to it,” she shook her bent head, indicating her irritation. “I’m not normally in the habit of exerting physical force.”

Mitch sat in awe, his rage tempered somewhat as she recounted the events that led to Tully’s much deserved ass-kicking. He watched this beautiful woman tell the story as if it didn’t faze her in the slightest. She was tough and courageous and incredibly sexy. What more could a man want? The thought nearly knocked the wind of him. 

“The first thirty minutes of our lunch were fine – just idle chit chat, basic get-to-know-you conversation. But then he asked me if I also practiced massage, and would I like to give him a massage?  And then he suggested that a happy ending massage was exactly what he was looking for and his hands got gropey with my legs. I finally said enough was enough and told him so. I think you were there for the finale, right?” 

His anger at Tully’s behavior grew, imagining his hands roaming all over Rylie’s legs. His unwanted touching making her feel violated. “That motherfucker. He had no right. And you had every right to do what you did, Rylie. I’m sorry that happened and I wish I could have been there to protect you. I had just arrived when I overheard his whiny-ass hysterics. What exactly did you do to him?”

“Here, I’ll show you.” She reached out to grab his hand and when he hesitated, she said, “Don’t be a chicken. I won’t hurt you.”

Rylie laid out her hand, as Mitch tentatively placed his hand in hers. The touch was full of intensity and there was a moment when they just stared into each other’s gaze. Trust. Desire. Longing. To Mitch, it meant complication and risk.

Placing her hand over his wrist, she demonstrated the move. “It’s a fairly basic self-defense move. When an assailant has grabbed you, you just reach for the thumb or pinky and just pull it back, hard and quick. Major amount of pain with minimal effort.” Rylie’s hand pulled up lightly on his pinky, giving him a visual of her technique. 

Mitch pulled his hand back out of her grip and rubbed his fingers. “Seems barbaric. How exactly did you learn about these techniques? Or more importantly, why?”

“It’s a long story,” she said, purposefully evading the question. “Right now, I’m getting pretty warm and want to get into that water. You ready to snorkel?” She jumped off the chair to stand and grabbed his hand to help him up.

He didn’t know why she was reluctant to tell him, but it was obvious she was hiding something. Something in her past
was clearly the catalyst for her knowledge and use of self-defense. He would eventually find out. But for now, the day was about enjoying some fun together.

“Let’s do this.”

The remainder of the afternoon, Rylie and Mitch swam and played in the warm, salty water, snorkeling through Biscayne National underwater park, a large offshore barrier reef, one of the largest coral reefs in the world.

Rylie was entranced by the beauty and color of the underwater world, as they snorkeled just outside the bay. Mitch brought along an underwater camera and snapped pictures throughout their swim. Colorful, neon sea life surrounded them, as they submerged themselves in the quiet, peaceful heaven on earth. 

The entire afternoon was an experience that Rylie would never forget. It was as close to paradise as she’d ever been, starting with the mind blowing orgasm Mitch had given her earlier on the boat. She’d never felt that wanton and alive in a man’s arms before or even thought she was capable of coming undone under a man’s touch. But Mitch had shown her what her body could do and the pleasure she could receive if she was just willing to accept it. Her body still yearned for another release his experienced fingers had given her. He’d touched nearly every part of her, yet she still wasn’t close to being satisfied. His touch turned her into a junkie, her body jonesing for another hit of the lusty drug he had given her earlier. 

Rylie loosened up during their afternoon, striking sexy poses in the water as Mitch snapped her picture. She felt relaxed again in a man’s presence for the first time in a long time. Ever since her attack, she had stayed away from any sexual relationship. Her time with Skeet was so brief, it couldn’t even be clocked on the radar as a fling. He probably tried to kiss her, but she couldn’t even remember that clearly. She became an ice cube, tense and rigid, when a man even tried touching he
r
until Mitch came along.  He had the power to melt her into warm puddles of sensual desire. 

Rylie looked behind as she felt something tap her leg. Mitch was pointing up, indicating he was heading back to the boat. She gave him a thumbs up and kicked her way to the water’s break. Once above water, she pulled off her snorkel mask and blow tube, slicking her wet hair out of her face. Drops of salt water hung from Rylie’s lashes, as she closed her eyes to wipe them clear. Opening them once again, she was startled to see Mitch inches from her face, a smoldering look in his deep, hazel eyes.

Grabbing her around the waist, he pulled her against him. She gasped in surprise as she felt his hard erection straining against her stomach. He groaned gutturally, as he placed his mouth upon hers, his tongue seeking entrance.

“You looked incredible down there,” he said against the side of her mouth before his roving tongue moved down her neck, licking and sucking. A hand moved down between her legs and she gave an instant jerk, her sex throbbing in delight. His fingers circled the exterior, rubbing against the already swollen flesh as she pressed herself against his hand. “And you feel absolutely incredible down
here
.”

She whimpered, wrapping her legs around him, wanting to feel his erection against her most sensitive spot. She’d never known she could be this fully turned on so quickly, so easily by just a few words and touches. If the sound he made was any indication, he was finding the same erotic pleasure in their movements. So caught up in her lust, she didn’t realize what Mitch was doing until her head went underwater.
He’d  sunk them both under, bobbing back up in two short seconds. 

Rylie came up spitting and coughing, as she let out a throaty laugh, swimming away from him toward the boat. 

“I think you need to be schooled in the best methods for getting a woman wet…because that, Camden, is not one of them!” she said with laughter, as she reached for the ladder to climb up to the boat’s deck. Half way up, she turned back, using her toes to splash him in the face.

Mitch grabbed hold of her leg and pulled her back in. “Oh really? And what makes you such an expert on the subject matter, IQ?” He wrapped his arm around her waist, bringing his lips to her ear, playfully nipping. “I think you should tell me wh
o’s made you wet before so I know who my competition is.”

Rylie pushed against his shoulder and tried to ascend the ladder again, this time making it to the top and grabbing a towel on the bench. Looking down at Mitch, she held out her arm to help him up, but gave him a finger wave, shooting him a warning look to avoid any funny business. 

Stepping back from the platform, Rylie made room for Mitch, her eyes drinking in the sight of his golden body, soaking wet and good enough to eat. His body was gorgeous. Smooth, yet hard, in every place imaginable. His broad shoulders and muscular pecs were perfectly sculpted, with a light smattering of hair on his long arms and chest. Rylie found that utterly sexy. Her eyes continued their journey down his lean torso, over his ripped abdomen to the sexy, secret trail that ran from his navel down past the top of his swim trunks. She licked her lips and made a mental note to explore that region at a later time. 

Mitch towel dried and sat down on the padded bench on the back of the deck.  Giving Rylie a long look, he snapped the towel against her leg.

“So, are you going to tell me or am I going to have to drag it out of you?”

“Tell you what?”

“About my competition. You know – is there anyone or anything I should know about your love life before I ask you out?”

Rylie snorted at the question and the implied proposition. “As if it’s any of your business…but I haven’t dated for a long time. And if you must know, Mr. Nosy Pants, I doubt you have any competition in the sex department when it comes to me,” Rylie looked down at her hands, feeling a bit shy and nervous about what she was just going to admit. “In fact, um – that was the first orgasm a guy has ever given me.”

Rylie was too nervous to look up, but dared a quick peek and saw an utterly stunned, yet proud of himself smirk on Mitch’s face. 

“How is that even possible? I mean, I know I’m very
, very
good in that department…but fuck.”

“Humble much, are we?”

Mitch laughed. “Hey now – you’re the one giving me the ammunition here. But seriously – you’ve honestly never had an orgasm with anyone before?”

She shook her head. “Nope.”

“But you have with yourself?”

She blushed, giving Mitch the answer he sought.

“Holy shit, that’s hot,” he said, pressing his hands down his legs. “That gives me a lot to work with here. I think I’m speechless.”

“Why does it surprise you? You make me feel like I’m a leper or from another planet or something. I’ve just never dated much and I’ve only had one serious boyfriend before and
that was back in college. I don’t know, maybe I’m just a late bloomer.”

Rylie watched the question appear on Mitch’s face before he even asked. “So, when was the last time you, uh, had sex?”

Groaning, she shook her head in exasperation. “Ugh - I knew I shouldn’t have brought this subject up. This is embarrassing. I can’t tell you that!”

“Why not? You just told me you get yourself off. Why is this any different?”

She tried to think of a good retort and came up short. When was the last time she had sex? She’d never been in to one-night-stands or hook ups. She believed that sex should be with someone you cared about, someone who made you feel good about yourself and someone who respected you. Maybe even someone you loved. She thought she’d loved Erik in college, but looking back at it now, it was more likely just a deep friendship with him. Yes, they had sex and experimented a little, but she never felt on fire with him. Lukewarm at best. And over the last several years, she was just trying to figure out where she fit in the world and getting her career started. And then she was attacked.  

She thought about Mitch’s question again. “Like I said, I’ve only had one serious boyfriend and I don’t sleep around. I guess the last time I had sex was over five years ago. Nothing to write home to Mom about.” Rylie lay back on the dry towel covering the lounge chair and pulled a hat
down over her face, partly to shield herself from the hot rays, but more to avoid the intense stare Mitch was giving her at the moment. 

“Hmm….” he said, contemplatively. “Hmm.”

“What does that mean?
Hmm
?”

He reached down over her body and gently stroked the soft flesh of her leg, starting at her ankle, working his way up to the edge of her suit. Rylie shivered.

“It just gives me something to think about, that’s all. Now that I know this about you…” he stopped abruptly, his lips coming down between her legs, his tongue sliding up the inside of her thigh. “I’m going to have to up my game a bit.”

Pulling himself back up into a sitting position, Mitch took out his watch and looked at the time. “But right now, I need to get us back to shore so we can get ready for our evening out. We’re attending a cocktail party with some of my clients and others from the local industry.”

Rylie groaned over the idea of a cocktail party and was about to complain when he shut her down.

“Don’t worry, Tully won’t be in attendance, not to my knowledge, anyway. I think you’ll like this crowd. I’ll make damn sure you enjoy yourself. That’s a promise.”

Mitch patted her on the knees and leaned down to kiss the top of her head, hat and all. “I’m not afraid of seeing Tully again. I’m just not that into formal parties. I’m not very good at social interactions.”

“
I guess I’ll just have to find a way to entertain you tonight, won’t I?” He gave her a salacious grin and moved back inside.

Rylie watched Mitch head back to the helm and start the engine, feeling the jerk of the anchor being raised from the bottom depths. It was a little like the pull she was feeling with Mitch. He was somehow loosening that anchor that kept a hold of her feelings for so long, tightly submerged in the bottom of her heart. Her new fear was what might happen once she let go of that life preserver she’d been holding on to for so long. Would she sink or swim?