Through The Lens (Creative Hearts Book 1) (13 page)

She moved down to his jaw, teasing with her tongue the hint of stubble then moving to the corded muscle in his neck. She longed to bite him, mark him as her own. But she stopped. Resisted. This would only last one day more. There would be no marking him because he would never be hers.
 

She shook the thought off and moved lower to tease one of his tight brown nipples with her tongue. The deep groan of desire gave her a surge of power. She reached out and cupped his erection before slipping her hands inside his shorts, running her fingers from base to tip, stroking, playing, watching as Ale’s head rolled back as he fought to keep control.
 

Suddenly he stilled her hands, grumbling, “Slow down, beauty. You’ll be the death of me.”

She looked up at him with a ready grin but paused at seeing her own raw fears echoed back at her.

*

Ale stared at Mika. She was hiding. He couldn’t put his finger on what or how, but somehow here she was, right in front of him, yet she wasn’t. This wasn’t her. Most of the day, and especially for the past half hour, she had been putting on an act. This wasn’t his no-nonsense keep-it-all-together working Mika, and it wasn’t his vulnerable beauty from under their tree either. This seductress was something else. She was guarded, too much so, and he didn’t like it one bit. He wanted the true woman—either the fighting tiger or his emotional dove—but not this. This creature he didn’t understand.

It would be all or nothing for him. Somehow he’d break down that wall and get his Mika back. Let her know she could trust all parts of herself to him.

She bit her bottom lip.
 

“Let me do that for you.” He took her full lip between his teeth and gave it a gentle bite. He did it again, adding more pressure and getting a short gasp as a reply. “Was that a good sound or a bad one?”

She looked up at him with glassy eyes. “Definitely good,” she murmured and looked to the side.
 

He took her chin in his hand and turned her back to him, forcing her to stare into his eyes. “Don’t look away from me. In my eyes, I want you to see yourself. To see how I feel about you.”

And there they were, staring at each other, hard and defiant. One heartbeat then another passed in silence while each tried to read the other’s thoughts, answer the other’s unanswered questions.
 

His hands itched to pull her closer still. Her hips fit perfectly in his palms, and he knew he wanted so much more than even this moment. He wanted this to last. He saw the myriad emotions at play as Mika’s expressions ran the gamut and was just about to coax her into talking to him when her mouth came crashing into his.
 

It was like their first kiss, but in reverse. Like she wanted to shut him up, shut the world out. She was demanding and rough. Coming at him like a lion, breaking his lips apart and forcing her tongue in before he could speak.
 

He thought about giving as good as he got and biting her tongue, but instead gently pushed her back and looked at her. “What are you doing?”

*

Mika pulled back, breathless. What was she doing? She didn’t know. The blood was coursing through her body so fast she could hear it rushing in her ears. Or maybe it was the sound of the water. Hell, it didn’t matter. All that mattered was them. The two of them and that moment. The moment they would never get back and never have again. The moment that would be lost once everyone arrived and she was nothing once again. She looked at Alejandro, her arms wrapped around him. Her chest pressed against his. His dark skin, those deep eyes that saw so much, that held everything. All she wanted, all she needed in that second, was to take another much needed breath to move on. “I’m just enjoying this moment. For once, I’m just letting go.”

*

“I think the rain has stopped.” Alejandro’s gravelly voice brought Mika from her state of not-quite sleep, her liquid dreaminess.
 

“That’s a bummer.”

He groaned. “I was thinking the same thing.”
 

They were on the pool ledge, wrapped in each other’s arms.
 

“I was just starting to like this little cave,” Mika said, snuggling deeper against his body.

“So was I, but it will soon be dark. And we forgot about lunch. There are some sandwiches in the bag. I meant to tell you earlier but got pleasantly distracted.”

“It was a good excuse not to eat, but now I am hungry.” She went to get up, then remembered she was nude and stopped. “Um, do you mind getting the food and my suit?”
 

He gave her a sideways look. “So we’re back to that.”

She sighed. “Hey, some of us are not in the stellar shape that you are. My boss has been keeping me busy. No time for the gym.”
 

“Stop it, Beauty, you’re perfect,” he said, kissing her shoulder and rubbing his hand across her slightly rounded belly. She quivered, aroused but more uncomfortable.

She eased his hand away. “Cut it out. And the ‘beauty’ thing is not much better than ‘honey.’ Now hand me my suit, please. I’m starving, and as you said, we should get going.”

“And there’s the girl I know,” Ale said, pushing back and sitting up. He got up and walked to get their suits but turned back to her. “You’re right about the ‘honey’ deal. I’ll give you that. But you can’t stop me from calling you ‘beauty.’ Because you are beautiful. And if no one has told it to you before, well then, I’m not sorry for them being asses. Their loss is my gain.” He punched his legs angrily and unselfconsciously into his shorts.
 

Mika wished she could be so free, but suddenly she felt exposed. Without the haze of passion in Ale’s eyes, she felt too raw.

He walked back over to her. “Care to let me put it on you?” he asked, handing over her suit, some calmness back in his voice.

“That’s okay, I can handle it,” she said, taking the suit and doing her best to change while under the blanket. Heat flooded her body.

She pretended to ignore Ale’s head shake.

*

The sun was starting to set as they made their way back to the village.
 

“You two do know how to give a fright,” Tai said, running out to them. “Did you get stuck in the storm? What about the walkie-talkie Tong gave you? We were about to send out a search party.”

Mika and Ale looked at each other, and Tai narrowed her eyes on them. They both squirmed like two teens.
 

“I guess you’re too busy working to think of it,” Tai said, waving a hand. “Well, no matter. Go. I will have dinner brought up to you soon.”

Mika started to protest then looked at Ale, who nodded. “Really, Tai, please don’t. It’s getting late. We’ll be fine. You’ve done enough.”

“Nonsense. You must eat.”

But Ale insisted and, instead of having dinner brought over, Tai gave in and let them follow her to her home, where she handed them a basket with warm stew in a clay pot, some bread, and a couple of bowls. “Fine, take this. I’ll pick it up tomorrow. You two do look tired.” She said by way of one last dig that had Mika blushing and Ale giving her a sideways I-told-you-that-you-blush look. She couldn’t wait to escape the older woman’s presence. Tai’s first declaration upon their arrival came back to haunt Mika at every turn. Even little Sunee looked up at her with wide, seemingly knowing eyes. Jeez, how would she hide her feelings from the crew once they arrived the day after tomorrow?
 

Ale took the basket from her hand, and they made their way silently down the beach. The setting sun made a glorious picture of reds and oranges. He set the basket down, and they both reached for their cameras at the same time.
 

“Can’t pass this one up,” he said.

“No way,” she agreed, feeling good and light once more. At least in this they could come together. It was nice, this moment of easiness, and she would relish it.
 

Once back at the huts, they stood on the walkway adjoining the structures looking out at the ocean. Only the sound of crashing waves broke the silence. Ale spoke first. “You must be tired.”

“A little.” She shrugged. “But now that I smell that stew, I am kind of hungry. Can you give me a quick minute though? I want to change out of these dirty clothes.”
 

“No problem. How about we meet back here in a few minutes? I’m sure stew will keep warm in this pot.”
 

“Thanks,” she said turning away.

“And Mika—” his voice, stilled her, had her turning back—“I don’t want you sleeping on the couch or in your bed tonight. I want you with me.”

She opened her mouth to protest, but something in his eyes stopped her. There was no ego or arrogance in his tone or in the look he gave her. Just his want and his need. The same want and need she was feeling in her heart. So she nodded her reply, turned, and walked slowly to her hut to change.

Chapter 9

Mika showered quickly, her mind churning, twisting, turning and flipping over what Ale had just said to her. He wanted her in his bed. All night. She mulled over the implications and fought hard to square it as no big deal. When she thought she had a pretty solid defense, she got out and dried off, trying hard to ignore the way even the towel across her skin made her body tingle and recall his touch. She could do this. It was a once-in-a-lifetime thing, and there was no way she was turning back.
 

She would have Alejandro for now and let him go cleanly when the time came. She shook out her sundress and slipped it on, hoping he would like it. She owned nothing fancy or couture, like what he was used to his usual women wearing. But he knew her. There would be no silk negligees or designer labels coming out of her bag— she was strictly wash and wear. He’d have to take her as she was—and besides, it was only temporary.
 

Mika walked out onto the balcony as Ale set the wine on the table. He looked effortlessly stunning in easy drawstring pants, a black linen tee, and his bare feet. His hair was wet from his own shower and his face was in deep concentration as he wiped a cloth over the dishes.
 

He looked up and grinned, walking over and taking her hands to kiss her palms. She eased her hands away. “You don’t have to do all that Ale. I’m here.”

“Yes, you are, and why not?” He frowned.

She shook her head, twisting her hands then putting them behind her back. “It’s just not me. All the romantic gestures. They’re not necessary,” she said. She tried to make her voice light, but it was anything but. She came forward and kissed him on the cheek, then skirted around him toward the table. “Now come on. I’m starving. I’ll dish out the food, and you pour the wine.”

Ale stared at her for a few beats. She knew it was starting to grate on him, the way she sidestepped him at nearly every turn. But she had to keep her distance, at least somewhat. He’d see later that it was all for the best.

She ladled out bowls of stew as he poured two jelly glasses of wine. He was about to pull the chair out for her, a gesture he’d likely done countless times on countless dates, but he stopped, seeming to think better of it and just put out his hand letting her do it herself. She sat down and didn’t say a word, but the implication was there. His bed was all they would share. She’d made her point. “I think I may have found my favorite location,” he said as lightly as he could. “I wish our stay was longer. Though I’m excited about the shoot, I’m not looking forward to our privacy being disturbed. We’ll have to find a way around that to capture our own moments.”
 

Mika’s head jerked up. “I’m not either, but you know once the crew arrives, it’ll have to be business as usual. There is no way I’ll have them talking about us behind our backs.” She took a long swallow of her wine then stared boldly at him.
 

But he was unwavering, his gaze just as challenging as hers. She knew then there was no way she could work for him any longer—and besides, that was never her plan, so why was she even thinking of it? Her mother would be so ashamed of her. She would make it on her own. Not be beholden to a man...no matter how delicious he was.
 

Not that Ale was asking. No, when the crew landed, he’d be back to Alejandro the Great, conquer of fashion, assistants and supermodels. Not
her
Alejandro the Great. Before the crew arrived, she would sit him down and tell him the truth about the job at
Stylist
. With any hope, he’d would wish her well, kiss her, and send her on her way with their relationship still relatively intact. He’d done it himself with enough women.
 

She watched as he took a sip of his wine and subtly challenged her with a slow lick of his lips. His nostrils flared, and something flashed between them. Mika took another swallow of her own, damn it, getting no comfort or relief from the rich brew. No. She had to stop this right now while her heart was still in one piece.
 

Ale, posturing like the big bad boss, hadn’t changed one bit. It just so happened she was the girl of the moment, and yes, she was enjoying it. Her heart had to realize it had nothing to do with it. This was all hormones on both their parts.
 

She gave what she hoped was a seductive smile and walked over to Ale, sitting on his lap. “I believe you said something about me sleeping over tonight?”