She slowly eased out of their kiss, watching him through heavy lids, her eyes matching the sparkle that glistened on her lips from their kiss.
“What now?” she whispered. “Now that we’ve kissed.” Vulnerability stared back at him.
“I think there are going to be many more kisses tonight.” He caught an unruly strand of her hair and wrapped it snugly behind her ear.
“I want to be clear,” she said, pointing her finger at him. “This is just for tonight.”
She had enticed him, propositioned him, and beaten him to his own punch. A surprise around every corner—this woman was almost too perfect.
“Lucky for you ‘just for tonight’ is my motto.” He inched closer, his hand resting on her exposed thigh, sliding until it rested just under the hem of her skirt. “And you should probably feel really horrible about taking advantage of me.” He leaned in, putting his mouth right up to her ear, and she shivered. “On the other hand, I’m not a good guy.” He moved his hand a little higher. “Because I’ve been thinking some very dirty things about that outfit. And those shoes…”
She shook her head. “This outfit is courtesy of Penn. It’s an experiment—”
He laughed. Maybe if he helped her find some pleasure, he would find some of his own. “Forget about Sensible Sterling. At least for tonight. Let this so-called bad boy help you forget whatever it is you’re trying to forget.”
Jack traced his finger across her leg in a zigzag pattern. Her skin pebbled under his touch. He knew she wanted him.
She cocked her head to the side. “What makes you think I’m trying to forget something?”
He didn’t answer. Instead, he slipped his finger under the hem.
She blinked but her eyes didn’t betray her silence. She was putting on a brave face. Did it really matter what issues she was battling? She made it perfectly clear that she was in for an experiment. And as for getting back on the horse, he couldn’t have chosen a better woman to ring in his arrival back to the living.
He traced his finger farther up her leg. He skimmed just under the hem of her skirt, moving closer to the inside of her thigh.
She leaned into her position, transferring her weight onto her hands behind her, arching her back, pushing out her delectable breasts.
“Just for tonight,” she whispered.
“Just for tonight.”
One leg fell away as she relaxed her thighs. Her head fell back and her eyes shut tight, her breathing faster than it was two minutes ago. He placed his palm on her leg and squeezed. Her soft skin was on fire, the heat from her body spreading to his.
He slid his hand across her thigh until his fingertips met the bench. “You’re a beautiful woman, Sterling.” His hand inched up closer to her center. He stopped when he hit the crease of her thigh, and pressed gently against her sex. Her fingers curled inward over the bench. “I’m game if you are. It’s your call.” He nuzzled her neck, the soft scent of coconut flooding his senses.
“I—”
Heavy footsteps sounded from the staircase and she tensed in his arms. Jack jumped up, grabbing her hand. Eyes wide, she let him whisk her to the side of the deck where they hid behind a small wall, barely wide enough to block their bodies.
He took a breath and steadied himself, very aware of Sterling’s body flush with his.
A smile curved at the side of Sterling’s lip and it traveled up, sparkling in her eyes. Maybe he wasn’t as out of practice as he thought.
The voices grew closer. They might have company, but that wasn’t going to stop him from continuing their fun.
Chapter Three
Jack pressed Sterling against the wall, covering her soft body with his. She trembled against him and he cupped the sides of her face.
“That was quick thinking.” She smiled, barely visible in the dim light.
“Strictly selfish on my part. I don’t like to share.” He swooped down and captured her lips in a hard kiss. She squeaked. Her body went rigid, but only for a split second. The moment his tongue caressed the seam of her lips she relaxed, shoulders softening, lips accepting.
Footsteps grew louder and closer, and the voices that were once muffled were now distinct.
“I could have sworn I saw her come up here.” Penn’s voice carried over the water and Sterling tensed in his arms again.
“It doesn’t look like she’s here,” his brother, Cole Murphy, answered. “Maybe she’s hiding down on the lower deck again.”
Cole helping Penn? Interesting.
“I already checked down there.” Penn sounded worried.
He looked at Sterling and her face told him what she was thinking. And there was no way he was going to expose them. He shook his head and lifted his finger to his mouth, warning her not to say a word.