What a Girl Wants (6 page)

“Hmmm,” she said. “That didn’t do it. Still feeling the tension. I say we try for another one. Or two.” She lowered her voice and hoped it sounded like a sexy whisper. “Deep. Long. Slow. Melt-in-your-mouth kisses that you wish would last the whole night…”

Quicker than a cheetah, he lifted her on top of his knees and into the cradle of his arms, tangling his fingers in her hair. “You mean like this?” He buried the words against her mouth in a hoarse groan.

His succulent lips met hers in a passionate, toe-curling kiss that could bring a woman back from the brink of death. She tasted a hint of rum, as if he’d shared his drink with her.

The inside of her thighs twitched as he pressed his lips against hers, with soft, slow back-and-forth movements. She felt as sultry as Makana Island itself. Her breasts were the exotic scenery waiting to be explored and her sex as wet and wild as the ocean. This is how a bee must feel, she thought, when it lands on a fresh flower. Its mind focused on one desire. All its senses heightened with the anticipation of suckling the flower’s sweetness, turning the nectar into honey and reaching heart-pounding ecstasy.

He raised his mouth and trailed nibbling kisses across her forehead and along her temple, his breath as ragged as hers.

Her lips sizzled from his kiss. She dropped her chin on his chest and gave him a wide-open smile. “In-freaking-credible.”

His seductive gaze almost unhinged her. His deep brown eyes roamed down to her breasts. She swallowed hard. A twinge of apprehension ran through her.

What if he thought they were too small?

Damn that lack of confidence about her bra size. She shoved the insecurity away. Besides, after that doozy of a kiss, turning her bones to rubber, she was sure he was in the midst of a neurochemical cocktail rush.

“Did I mention you’re smokin’ in that dress?” He pressed his mouth to hers, cupped her breast and ran his thumb over her erect nipple. “Especially here.” He sprinkled soft kisses on each breast through the silky material.

She buried her face in his neck and whispered, “Thank you.”

He clasped his hands behind her waist and pulled her closer to his chest. Her hands dug into his impossibly hard shoulders. He deepened their kiss.

Her heart tap-danced against her ribs as their tongues mimicked the thrusts their bodies desired. A long, drawn-out moan trekked up her throat. His tongue slowly seared a path across her lips, rousing her passion, and she could tell his grew stronger.

Lordy. Lordy. This man’s kisses could melt titanium.

They had a serious case of the hots and any minute now, she expected their clothes to shoot up in flames.

Alex savored the hint of mandarin in her kisses, mingling with the sweetness of her lips.

“You’re delicious,” he whispered into her hair as he lowered her thin straps. He kissed the freckles across her bare shoulders. Her skin felt as smooth as her silk dress.

Their pleasure was only a taste of what they could experience together if he allowed it to go further.

With a lot of effort, he pulled away and fixed his gaze on her for ten pounding heartbeats.

She met his stare with potent, carnal desire.

“God knows, I want you,” he said. “But I think we better slow down.”

“Stop thinking,” she responded between quick breaths. “And keep kissing.”

He closed his eyes. His mind played a fantasy of Maddie seductively looking over her shoulder, egging him on to join her as she gyrated her hips, her dress riding over her hot ass. His mouth watered at the thought of exploring, tasting and savoring the sweet scent of her sexiness. He wanted to delve into her erogenous zones, have her rock and grind against him, take her passion to new heights until she begged to be taken any which way her heart desired.

He didn’t need much persuasion to continue where they left off after
that
image.

Reclaiming her lips, he crushed her to his chest and filled her with a long heat-filled kiss, relishing her scent. Her skin was infused with the scent of whatever chick lotion she used. It reminded him of lavender in an English garden.

English garden.

Damn. England.

Now was not the time for any romantic entanglements. He needed to focus on his career and the possible move to England.

Shut up, Donovan. She did say no strings attached.

True.

He returned to her tender mouth.

After long mouthwatering minutes, she buried her face in his neck. “Remind me to thank my uncle for assigning us to Makana.”

Reality check.

George Saunders had entrusted him with his niece on this project.

What the hell am I thinking?

He wanted her. Really wanted her. He had to pull back before it became impossible to stop. Backing off would be painful. He reminded himself that he didn’t want to jeopardize their relationship for one night of lust.

A movie reel of his past raced through his mind. He knew better, damn it. It didn’t matter that she’d said she wanted a casual, no-strings arrangement. Even one night of raw ecstasy in Maddie’s naked embrace wasn’t worth the risk of another ruined career and bitter breakup. He liked and respected her too much to involve her in a rerun of that part of his life.

Somehow, he found the strength and pulled away from her. She covered his mouth with abandoned hunger, captured his tongue, and sucked on it like a woman possessed.

Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the donkey.
Where did she learn how to kiss like
that
?

Snippets of last night’s conversation flooded his mind. He remembered her plan for him.

Sexual boot camp?

Sex tutor?

Like hell. She didn’t need a coach.

Determined to do the right thing now, he reached for his last shred of self-control, even as she continued to drive him insane with her touches.

He sat tall, took her by the shoulders and moved her gently away from him
¾
all the while beaming an order down south, where it had hardened even more at the thought of exploring the sex goddess he held in his arms, to soften the hell up.

“Maddie.” He blew out a breath and tried to steady his voice. “You…you’ve got me so worked up…more…than I imagined
¾
”

“That’s a good thing,” she answered. “Let’s go into the bedroom
¾
”

“But…” He swallowed past a lump the size of a golf ball in his throat and retreated to the far side of the couch. “God knows,” he dragged his hands down his face, “I’m attracted to you. But I have to do the right thing
¾
”

“Believe me, you did everything right.”

Beep. Beep.

He fished his Blackberry out of his pocket. His eyes never left hers as he jabbed at it with his thumb and steadied his voice. “Donovan.”

“What the
hell
do you think you’re doing with my niece down there?” George Saunders asked in a
Dog Day Afternoon
tone.

Chapter Six

“In this game called life, there is a saying: sometimes you’re the bug

and sometimes you’re the windshield.”

—Alex Donovan

“Donovan, answer me, damn you.”

“George?” Alex rose in one fluid motion and paced the length of the suite. “Where are you calling from?”

“New York, where else? You’re supposed to be looking after Maddie, not seducing her on a dance floor.”

Alex lowered his voice. “How did you
¾
” He paused and thought about the man in the bar, the same one he had spotted in the lobby. “Are you having us followed?”

To his dismay, Maddie planted herself in his path. Her scent still lingered on his shirt, and the memory of her soft breast cupped in the palm of his hand made it difficult to put a coherent sentence together.

“Is that my uncle?”

Alex nodded.

Jesus.
He never should have agreed to this damn assignment.

She wrestled the Blackberry from his hands. “Uncle George, are you taking your blood pressure meds out for a test drive? Relax and don’t worry. We’ll ace this project. Now, go to bed. Luv ya.” She shut the Blackberry and tossed it on the sofa. “There, was that hard?”

He stared at her in irritation. “Real smooth. And rude. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll call him back from my room.”

“Call him tomorrow.” She barred his escape and pressed her back to the door. “He needs to chill out tonight.” Her seductive gaze rested on his mouth, and her slim fingers stroked the back of his neck, causing his heart to pound in his ears. “Aren’t you going to finish what we started?”

She had no idea how fuckin’ sexy her voice sounded. Gritting his teeth, he attempted to block out the sensation of her touch. Her eyes shone a brilliant green, like leaves in a lush garden.

Lush garden? Son-of-a-bitch, Donovan, now you’re sounding like a horny dorky poet.

He tore his eyes away from her slender neck—where a few moments ago he’d nibbled on her delicious skin—glanced at his watch and forced a calmness he didn’t feel into his voice. “We’re both tired, and I’m going to call George tonight.”

“Tired?” Color flared on her cheeks. “We both want to head into the bedroom and you know it. Right?”

“The safest answer is…no.”

Raw hurt flashed in her expression. “Are you going to tell me you don’t feel the chemistry between us?”

Sighing, he folded her into the circle of his arms. “I get intimate with women who play by the same rules as I do.” He gave her a light kiss on her forehead and released her. “Not someone like you.” He wanted to rip his tongue out when she flinched at his words. He had to admit, they did reek of rejection, big time. At this point, it would be useless to rephrase the sentence.

“Someone. Like. Me?”

Shit, he’d seen that look on her face once before, and the journalist who’d claimed she was a wannabe writer still covered his rocks when he walked by her.

“Well, Mr. Maddie Expert.” She jabbed two fingers into his chest. “Enlighten me. Tell me about myself.”

He took in her reddened mouth, swollen from his kisses, and her mussed hair, the result of his hands roaming in the silky strands. “I don’t think you’re the kind of woman who can
¾
”

“
¾
satisfy a globe-trotting, experienced stud like you?”

“What I’m doing a lousy job of telling you is that you’re not like other women that I’ve
¾
Maddie, you’re special to me. You know, you’re my friend.”

“Yeah, I got it. Me and Rover, man’s best friend. So, what’s next, the ‘It’s not you, it’s me’ speech?” She rolled her eyes. “And what the hell was up with the foreplay on the dance floor? A few minutes ago? Remember? Tonsil hockey and porn-worthy breathing?”

“I was way out of line. I don’t blame you for being pissed. I knew when I stepped into this room that something might happen. I’m not proud of that. I’m not a saint, but I’m also not a bastard when it comes to my friends. That’s why I stopped. I’d rather have you as a friend than a short-term lover.”

“Cripes, you sound like those White House spin doctors you say you can’t stand.”

“Spin? Is that what you think this is?” He blew out a loud breath. “Wish you could hear the fuckin’ argument I’m having in my head.”

“Then say what’s on your damn mind
.
”

“I’m not in any position…” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t want any kind of relationship or commitment. I’m not boyfriend material. You know that.”

“What a surprise. A guy who doesn’t want a relationship.” She rolled her eyes again. “And you think
I
want that? You’re such an idiot sometimes.”

Regret mingled with desire as he blew out another hard sigh and cupped her small chin. Even though he’d persuaded himself he was doing the right thing, his body, especially the lower region, still wasn’t convinced. It would be so easy to take her in his arms, kiss her senseless and make love to her all night. “Listen to yourself,” he said. “You sound like you do this all the time, when you and I both know you don’t. You’re not the kind of woman who gives herself free and easy to any guy.”

Her soft hands traveled down the side of his face and rested on his shoulders.

He nearly bolted out of his skin.

“Alex,” she whispered, “I’m not Crystal.”

Her words extinguished his heat faster than ice water would have. He wrapped his fingers around her wrists and lowered them to her side. “Do not go there.”

“I admit I don’t know the whole story, but
¾
”

“That topic,” he said through clenched teeth, “is not open for discussion.”

 “Whatever the hell happened, I wish you’d build a bridge and get over it already.”

He threw his head back and tried to relax his jaw. “Look, I owe George a lot, and seducing his niece is not the way to pay him back.”

“What is it with you and this loyalty to my uncle? Do you know where all the bodies are buried or something? Believe me, nothing you tell me about my family is going to shock me. And when did you stop taking risks? You lay your ass on the line in war zones all the time.”

For crying out loud, Alex had more issues than Maddie had imagined. “What’s the problem, you’re not used to a woman who tells you what she wants and
means it
? Not to mention, you practically invented the hump-and-dump philosophy.” She drew herself up, trying to tamp down the feelings of humiliation his rejection of her had sparked. “Now you act self-righteous?”

“I’m sorry. I forgot this is Maddie’s world of sex and the rest of us star in it.”

She punctuated each word, poking her finger in his chest. “And you should be grateful.”

He covered her hands with his own and squeezed tight. “Let’s stop this.”

She exhaled. “I’m a consenting adult who wants to have a brief, no-strings-attached relationship in a vacation setting, with someone I happen to like, even though I think he’s uptight and moody.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, something he did when he was stressed. For an instant, sympathy yanked at her heartstrings as she saw the struggle, flickering across his features. But only for an instant.

The big, teasing jerk doesn’t deserve my sympathy.
He’d accelerated her hormones to maximum speed and then slammed on the brakes. “Do you get your ya yas out of turning a woman on and then stopping?”

“Of course not.” He leaned his arm on the door and stared down at her. “We’re not two strangers. Anything between us would come with strings and complications. I have to focus on my career.”

“Sell that rehearsed kiss-off to someone else. I’m not buying today.”

“I’ve known you for six years and never once did I put the moves on you, or you on me. Why now?”

She backed away, leaned against the back of the sofa and crossed her arms. “Is it me, or do all women go through a debate before canoodling with you?”

“Why now?”

She sighed. “You mean besides the fact that we have incredible chemistry? Or that the opportunity landed itself in our laps?” It was her turn to rub the tension away from her neck. “I can be myself with you, and you know I’m not looking for a commitment. Neither of us would be possessive or expect more.” She paused for a fraction and lowered her voice. “And I respect and like you. I couldn’t do this with someone I didn’t respect or like.”

“I know. I also know that I’ve earned your respect and affection.” His intense gaze bored into her. “I’m not about to throw either away.”

“Did you grow a conscience when I wasn’t looking?” She pushed herself away from the sofa. “Remember, I’m your
buddy
. I know about your hot lover rep
¾
”

“I’m not the top-service provider for a human stud farm with a lust checklist. And by the way, those remarks bug the hell out of me.” His eyes darkened. “You obviously
don’t
know me.”

“I swear you’re a week’s worth on the Dr. Phil show.” She’d deliberately hit him where she knew it hurt. He never strutted, and he was super-private about his intimate life. But he’d pissed her off. Again. “And you’re wrong, s
tud.
I do know you. I also know you can spin a great story.”

He grabbed the doorknob. “Tomorrow you’ll thank me.”

She blew out an impatient breath. “Cripes, now you’re talking in clichés?” She yearned for solitude, so she moved away from the door. “Goodnight.”

“This is not any kind of line or a spin. I’m worried that you might not be okay when it’s over.” He turned the doorknob. “Sex changes relationships, even good friendships. I’m not willing to go down that road.”

Not trusting herself to speak, she took a deep breath and nodded her head. Rejection or not, she still had her pride, and she’d spent enough time discussing this. She’d long ago vowed to never shed tears over any man.

He said goodnight and left.

She leaned against the door. Was she…an idiot? No way. She silently chanted her personal mantra:
Get over it.
No dwelling or wallowing allowed. As Miss Scarlett once said, tomorrow
was
another day.

With that thought, she headed to the bedroom and dug out her tape recorder. Work. Her salvation. She cleared her mind and clicked the record button on. She padded around the suite and said, “Okay, travel fans, in this part of the world, there’s no skydiving or parasailing, and there are definitely no black bears to scare away. However, ladies, a quick scan of the white-sand beach reveals there
are
tigers. They range from chest thumpers to surfers. Bronzed bodies strut everywhere. Leave the one-piece bathing suit at home, girls, and bring the strings. For the guys, there’s sugar, spice and everything naughty.”

 She returned to the bedroom, sat on the peach chair, and lifted her legs onto the ottoman. “I’m now comfortably settled in a suite at the Trade Winds Resort, where those of you who enjoy luxury spa pampering can indulge in an herbal massage in a tropical setting. After dinner, you can party the night away on a dance floor with a view of the stars carpeted across a midnight blue sky. Yours truly tried her hand on the karaoke stage. I was rewarded with a few wolf whistles and a pair of sexy chocolate eyes that looked me over like I was a Ferrari and he was ready to drive me…” She smiled at the memory of Alex’s seductive wink. Hmmm. And he insisted on friendship? Okay.

“Or you can create your own sizzling entertainment. You’ll want to wear ‘Vote for Assisted Showers’ T-shirts after a tryst in a roomy bathroom adorned with ivory marble fixtures and limestone mosaics. Ladies, imagine slathering soap over your man’s sun-kissed, hard body. On bended knees, you could run your tongue along his washboard abs and between his muscled thighs while he shampoos your hair. Then you could both slip beneath Egyptian cotton sheets on a bed so big you could lay and tangle yourselves any way you liked without ever touching the edge.”

She closed her eyes and imagined herself with Alex, rolling over and around the bed, every thrust bringing her closer to the headboard, while they both lay on the brink of eyes-rolling-to-the-back-of-the-head orgasms.
Whew. Shake it off, girl.

She stood, rolled her shoulders forward, clicked her recorder off, and put it in her tote. She peeled off her dress, walked into the bathroom, and switched the shower onto the cool setting.

“Yup, tomorrow’s another day.”

The next morning, Alex sat with Tim and outlined his itinerary for interviews and photo sessions while having breakfast on the restaurant’s patio. He stared at the pitcher of pineapple juice and wished he were in England, away from his kryptonite—Maddie’s tempting offer.

Tim waved his hand in front of his face. “What the hell are you plotting now?”

Alex tapped his knife on the glass tabletop. “I spoke to George last night. I was right. Someone followed us.”

“What the hell for?”

“George said it was Hollister’s security staff. The billionaire claims that for safety measures, he has everyone tailed for a few days before he meets them. They called George because Hollister’s gofers wanted to double-check something with him. Apparently, George asked the PI how we were doing and they mentioned we were in the bar last night.” Alex spread strawberry jam on a carrot muffin and winced as he recalled the stinger conversation with his publisher. “George told me in no uncertain terms that I was to stay out of Hollister’s personal life. I’m to conduct a
light
interview, whatever the hell that’s supposed to mean.”

“The old billionaire’s eccentric. He doesn’t read off the same page as the rest of us.”

“Not eccentric.” Alex shook his head. “I’d say Hollister’s the Ernest Hemingway of bullshit.” Alex took a bite of the muffin and swallowed, but didn’t taste a thing. “I’m going to do my job the way I’ve always done it. Hollister handed us the can opener when he invited us here, so he can’t complain if worms crawl out.” He took a sip of juice. “By the way, until I’m positive we’re not being followed anymore, we should keep a close eye on Maddie.”

“Are you sure it’s only your eyes you want to keep on her?”

It was best to ignore Tim’s innuendo. “Let’s investigate what’s behind Hollister’s motives for this interview. We’ll question his staff and some of the locals who know him. You know the drill.”