Do Me Baby (The Beaumont Series) (10 page)

She bit into a strip of bacon and tipped her head toward the sky. It was a beautiful morning. A gentle warm breeze tickled her cheek while the smell of the ocean ruffled her nose.

“Who’s running your bakery while you’re gone?”

She swallowed and replied, “Nobody. For the first time since I opened, I decided to close for the weekend.”

“Good for you.”

Nodding, she added, “I really am a workaholic, and Bianca gets on me about it all the time. But I promised her I’d take a weekend off and enjoy my vacation, so here I am.”

“Yep, here you are.” There was that wolf gleam in his eyes again. “Sharing breakfast with me only hours after sharing my bed.”

“Aren’t you the lucky one?” she said with a dramatic roll of her eyes that caused Rance to roar with laughter.

Her flesh began to heat as his dark wicked gaze toured her body. “You know what I want to do right now?”

She swallowed and was almost afraid to ask. “No. What?”

“I want to go back to the cabin and take a shower together.”

Debra blushed. “It’s too small for that.”

“I think we can make it work,” he said with a challenge burning in his eyes. “I’m willing to try if you are.”

She felt a throbbing down between her legs. “Do I have a choice?”

Rance leaned closer. “Not really.” He tried to keep a straight face, but the corner of his lips finally tipped up and he burst into laughter. Debra joined in.

She had a hard time finishing the rest of her food. Especially with him sitting directly across from her, gazing down at her. There was no denying the hunger in his eyes, and all she could think about was the way he had made love to her the night before. She knew what she had to look forward to when they returned to their cabin. She was just taking a bite of a cheese Danish when Rance snaked out his tongue and licked syrup from his lips. Her body heated with arousal. Suddenly losing her appetite, she returned the Danish to her plate.

“What’s wrong?” he asked innocently.

“You know what’s wrong,” she said with an accusing look. “How am I supposed to eat after you telling me your intentions?”

He shrugged. “I don’t like games. I figure if I’m always honest with women then I don’t have to worry about getting caught up in lies.”

Her brow bunched with confusion. “What does that mean?”

“It means… I’m feeling you, Debra, and all I want to do the rest of this cruise is hold you in my arms and slide in between those thighs.”

There went her stomach again.

“No point in pretending. I know what I want, and what I want and need is you.”

Debra crossed her legs trying to calm the aching that was building between her thighs. She knew exactly how he felt.

In one fluid motion, Rance stood. “I think it’s time we returned to our cabin,” he said, holding out his hand.

She rose, took his hand and followed him out of the dining room and down the stairs.

* * *

The instant the door to their cabin was shut, Rance dragged her into his arms and dipped his head for a long, heated kiss. She sighed against his lips, then slipped her hands underneath his t-shirt and dragged it over his head.

“You don’t believe in wasting time, do you?” he joked as he yanked the gym shorts down his hips.

She shrugged as she tossed away her t-shirt and sports bra. “Why waste time when we both know what we want?”

“I know that’s right.” He smirked and felt his body ready to explode as he gazed down at her beautiful breasts. Milk chocolate nipples were hard and begging for him to slip one between his lips. He turned and stepped into the bathroom long enough to get the hot water started and came back just as she was lowering her panties over her voluptuous hips. He shivered, anxious to run his lips over every inch of her.

“Damn,” he muttered under his breath, and shook his head. He never thought it possible to be this turned on by one woman. He’d always loved them thick, but Debra was truly a man’s dream.

As soon as she kicked away the last article of clothing, he reached out and dragged her toward him until their bodies were flush. He gazed down into her beautiful green eyes, becoming increasingly mesmerized by every passing second.

“You’re beautiful,” he murmured against her lips.

“Thanks,” she replied and tilted her head so their mouths connected and heat exploded. The strokes were slow, controlled and downright delicious.

Rance pulled back and stared down at her
 
large breasts, his nostrils flaring. They were calling out to him. Reaching up, he cupped one in his hand. “I love touching these,” he explained. “They’re so firm and beautiful. Just like the rest of you.”

She gave a nervous laugh as he kneaded gently. “Beautiful maybe, but firm…” Her words were lost behind a gasp as Rance leaned forward and captured a nipple in his mouth and suckled lightly. “Oh, Rance,” she moaned while digging her nails into his back.

“You don’t give yourself enough credit. You’re sexy as hell.” He took the other between his lips and bit lightly, causing her to cry out and arch her back as he drew her nipple deeper into his mouth. His penis throbbed against her stomach.

He captured her in a heated kiss and she took what he offered greedily while he backed them slowly into the bathroom and into the crammed shower. As soon as Debra felt the spray of water on her face, her eyelids fluttered open and she broke the kiss.

“I told you it was too small,” she giggled. “We’re like sardines in a can.”

“I disagree,” Rance replied as he pressed her back against the shower wall. “But this is a perfect way to get as close as possible.” He brought his mouth down over hers, hard and totally in control.

He was on fire and completely aroused. His dick was hard and thrusting toward her with uncontrolled need. And if he didn’t slow it down they’d end up spending the rest of the day in bed. Which wasn’t a bad idea, except it would just cause more complications and make it that much harder to part when the time finally came.

Their gazes locked and the intensity in her green eyes was almost too much to bear. “Glad you decided to join me,” he said softly.

“It wasn’t like you gave me much of a choice,” she joked.

“Not when it comes to something I want,” he said softly, then reached out and brought a hand to her breast. She gasped on contact. “For the rest of the cruise I plan on occupying all your time.”

Rance grazed his thumb across her nipple in a slow rhythm that caused her to shiver and arch into his body.

“You’re not playing fair,” she whispered against his lips.

“I’m a brotha on a mission,” he said as he nibbled at her neck.

She swallowed between kisses. “And what’s that?”

“You. Spending the weekend making love to you,” he said gently, truthfully.

“I like the sound of that.”

“Good, because at this point I don’t know what I’d do if you said no,” he said, his voice low and thick with intensity.

“Saying no is the farthest thing from my mind.”

His hand moved to the other breast. “Do you know how much I want you?”

“No, but I’m sure you plan to show me,” she said with a strained laugh.

“Absolutely.” He gazed down at her, her eyes low, her lips parted with arousal. There was something about the way she looked that made him want to wrap his arms around her and never let her go, that made what he felt for her more than just sex, but he quickly pushed the ridiculous thought aside and remembered that their relationship was short-term.

His mouth covered hers again. All it took was the touch of her tongue against his and he went crazy with need. Massaging her breast gently, his fingers circled the areola, then captured her nipple between his fingers as he squeezed, causing her to moan with pleasure.”

“Rance.”

He deepened the kiss, his strokes becoming more demanding and greedy.
  
Instinctively, she closed her eyes and stood on tiptoe to lift her hips, rocking them along the length of his penis. Her actions were driving him mad.

“Turn around,” he demanded in a low growl.

Debra swung around, and the water now pelted her back. He drew her close, and the second her ass rubbed against his erection, heat sliced through his body. He closed his eyes against the fast-brewing emotions. His hands skated up her body and cupped both of her breasts.
 

“Mmmm,” she shivered.

His thumbs rubbed lightly, then pinched her nipples, and the sensitive peaks hardened until she started to whimper. “Rance.”

“That’s it, babe. Say my name.” He played and kneaded her breasts some more before his fingers slipped down her belly to cup her mound. As soon as he reached her clit, her entire body convulsed. He loved the way she came apart with every touch. It excited him, sending every nerve ending on high alert.

He was so hard. He needed to be inside her now. “Are you on the pill?” he asked as he bent her forward and used his foot to spread her thighs, parting her folds with his fingers and slipping inside.

“Yes, yes, I am,” she panted.

He gripped her ass, drawing her higher, then plunged in hard, causing her to arch toward the wall.

“Good. I wanna feel all of you while I fuck you nice and slow,” he said as his fingers slid in and out. A whimper escaped her lips as he palmed her ass. Rance watched his fingers slip in and disappear, which drove him crazy. He moved in a slow rhythm until Debra started rocking her pelvis, meeting the strokes and trying to encourage him to move harder and faster. Hearing her soft whimpers caused Rance to groan with frustration. Holding out was becoming unbearable.

“Please, Rance. I need to feel you inside of me,” she pleaded, her honey brown hair clinging to her cheek. “Please.”

His dick jerked, tapping her on the ass, and he licked his lips in anticipation. “Tell me. I wanna hear it again.”

“I want you. I want you inside of me. Please,” she whimpered, and she sounded on the verge of tears.

Certain that she was good and ready, Rance removed his fingers and drew her back, spreading her cheeks wide so he could have a clear view. Oh what a pretty sight! Before taking another breath, he plunged deep inside of her. The tight warm fit made him growl, “Oh that’s good!”

No, what Debra had was better than good. He slid in and out, pounding her from behind, loving the way she reared back meeting him strokes.

“That’s it, babe. Meet yo man halfway,” he breathed, and then increased the rhythm. The sound of his balls slapping against her ass had him feeling like he was about to explode.

Increasing the tempo, Rance began to pump in and out. Again and again. Over and over, until Debra was whimpering his name. She felt so good. Never, and he meant never, had he experienced anything at this level of intensity. And he planned to enjoy every second.

“Yesss!” she moaned.

He drove into her repeatedly, trying to draw the moment out for as long as he could. But he didn’t know if he’d be able to hold on. Sex had been good before, but what he felt with Debra he couldn’t have begun to explain.

“Rance!” She screamed as an orgasm ripped through her. He pounded a rhythm, shaking, yet holding on until she was done, and when he was certain she’d gotten hers, everything in him tightened and released. Debra squeezed and milked him dry.

Chapter 9

Hours later, they were heading to the elevators on their way to the Promenade Deck to get something to eat when Debra remembered her sunglasses. “Go ahead and hit the button. I’ll be right back.”

She turned and headed back to the cabin with a grin on her lips. The morning had been amazing. She wasn’t’ ready to admit it to herself, but she had fallen for his charm.

Debra was in and out of the cabin in less than a minute and heading down the hall when she spotted the two women from breakfast coming down the narrow hall. They glared at her when they passed.

“I don’t see why he’s wasting his time with that fat cow,” she heard one of them say.

Debra swung around. “Excuse me. What did you say?”

The woman, stunned by Debra’s response, suddenly turned coward, but her tall, skinny friend decided to step in.

“You heard her,” she said with a hand to her bony hip. “She said she doesn’t know why an NBA player would be wasting his time with a fat cow.”

The cowardly one raked her with a worried glance.

Debra stepped up into the women’s faces with a steely glint in her eyes. “I guess that means he likes what he sees. Oh yeah, that’s right. Rance is with
me
. Sharing my cabin
and
my bed.”

“And she’s definitely phat, but not the way you ladies would spell it.”

Debra swung around to face Rance. When their eyes connected his expression softened and his lips curled in a smile. He came up behind her, possessively wrapping his arms around her, then pressed his warm lips to her throat. “Babe, I was wondering what was taking you so long.”

The skinnier one sucked her teeth and tried to capture his attention. “You can do so much better with me.”

Rance’s rigid stance spoke volumes. He didn’t appreciate her blatant comment. “I doubt that. Look at her. I got everything a man could possibly want right here.”

Suddenly her brown eyes snapped to Debra before glancing over at her friend, who was slowly inching away from them. “Whatever,” the chick mumbled with attitude. “Come on, let’s go.”

Debra waited until they were gone before she swung around and gazed up at Rance with a piercing look. “I could have handled them myself.”

His eyes roamed over her face before speaking. “I knew you could. I also knew that if I hadn’t come up when I did, there might have been some weave been ripped out in the hallway.”

She brought a hand to her mouth and chuckled.

“I’m not letting those females rob me of the next twenty-four hours with you.” His eyes glinted with humor when he leaned down and kissed her on the lips. “C’mon. Let’s eat.”

Debra took his hand, realizing that leaving him tomorrow was not going to be easy.

 
*

After a late lunch they moved to the top deck and shared a recliner together, kissing, hugging, and watching the ships go by.

It had to be a dream, Debra told herself. It had to be. Because she couldn’t remember the last time a man had made her feel this happy.

Rance was everything a woman could dream of in a man. Tall, handsome, talented in and out of bed, with a wonderful sense of humor and a confidence about him that oozed out of his pores. He was everything dreams were all about, and who wouldn’t be basking in the moment?

But that’s all it was. A dream. And the sooner she reminded herself of that, the better off she would be. Otherwise, she’d find herself making a fool of herself developing feelings for a man she had no possibility of a future with.

“What’s on your mind?” he whispered close to her ear. She was sitting between his legs with her back resting against his chest. His arms were wrapped tightly around her waist.

She opened her eyes and stared off into the beautiful ocean view as she spoke. “Nothing. Just…” she snapped her fingers and faked a look of confusion. “Oh, yeah… It’s called relaxing.”

His body vibrated with laughter. “Right, right. I think I’ve heard of that before,” he managed between chuckles, then drew her deeper within the circle of his arms.

“I can’t believe I’ve never taken a cruise,” she said with a lazy smile.

“Me, neither. My boy brags about it all the time, but I just couldn’t fathom the thought of being stuck on a ship for a week with some chick.” He paused to laugh. “Now I could see myself doing a longer cruise the next time.”

She gave a short laugh and tried not to think of Rance having the same experience with someone else. Selfishly, she enjoyed knowing she had been his first. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if it wasn’t their last? That they might take another together? With a scowl, she pushed the ridiculous thought aside.

Rance glanced down at the watch on her arm. “C’mon.” He pushed her into a standing position.

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see,” he replied, and stood beside her.

Rance led her downstairs to a pair of double doors outside an auditorium. As soon as he saw the sign on the door, he stopped and turned to her.

“The Newlywed Game?” She laughed.

“It’ll be fun.” He took her hand and led her through the auditorium.

“I used to love that game show,” she said, and then noticed several people looking and whispering. “You know people are watching.”

“Good, then let’s give them something to look at.”

Rance slid onto the couch beside her and draped an arm across the back of her chair. He leaned in close and whispered, “You’re cute when you blush.”

“And you’re being bad.” She tried to ignore him and focus on the stage in front of them where the host was standing in front of a microphone.

“Do we have any more couples willing to participate?” she asked, and her eyes traveled over the audience.

Rance turned and looked at Debra, grinning.

Before she could open her mouth he was out of his seat, drawing her to her feet and up toward the stage.

“Rance, what are you doing?”

“Having fun,” he whispered. “Now hush and play along.”

She didn’t know if she should laugh or panic as she reached the stage leading them onto the platform where an activity coordinator greeted them with a welcoming smile.

“Hello. The two of you look like newlyweds.”

Bringing a possessive arm around her waist, Rance replied, “We are.”

“Great!” She clicked a button on her mike and faced the audience. “We’ll be starting the game in a few minutes. I’m pleased to announce we have couples who’ve celebrated fifty years, ten years, less than five, and now newlyweds. Let the game begin!”

* * *

Rance couldn’t remember the last time he’d had this much fun. Although if he’d known the questions they were going to throw at them he probably would have stayed in the audience. It was bad enough he had to answer, and that they were pretending to be newlyweds.

All the contestants were on the stage, men on one side and women on the other, each with small poster boards on their laps, with responses to each question that were written on the opposite side.

“When was the first time you kissed your spouse?” asked the game show host.

Debra looked across at him with those green eyes of hers and he felt a jolt zip through his body and settle at his groin. He couldn’t wait to get her back in bed.

Maybe that was the problem. Whenever he was around her he had a tendency to think with the wrong head while the other felt woozy.

“When was the first time your spouse kissed you?”

He met her stare and there was that twinkle in her eyes again as she spoke. “Our first kiss was during our first cruise. He kissed me on the balcony.” She licked her lips.

Staring at her beautiful mouth, he relived that kiss, remembering the sweet taste of her delicious mouth. He had never tasted anything quite that good.

“Rance, what is your answer?”

He blinked twice and noticed Debra’s brow rise before he looked up and realized the host was speaking to him.

“Oh, um…,” He flipped his card. “I said ‘on the balcony.’”

Debra clapped her hands and he grinned, then winked. So far they were in the lead.

While the rest of the contestants were asked the same question, he watched Debra as she crossed one succulent thigh over the other, admiring the shape of her legs and remembering how they had felt wrapped around his waist. He groaned inwardly.

All he was doing was torturing himself.

She reached up and tucked a curl behind her ear and he noticed the diamond and thought about the small mole right beneath her lobe. When was the last time he remembered so much about a woman? Any other woman he wouldn’t have given anywhere near as much thought, but there was just something about her.

“Couple number two, what would your spouse say is your best feature?”

Rance met Debra’s grin and felt another push at his chest. Yep, the second the game was over he was taking her straight to bed. “Her butt.”

Debra gasped. “My butt? No, you said you liked my breasts.”

He shook his head. “No, I said I liked your breasts but I
loved
your ass.”

There was laughter in the audience as he watched the humor dancing in her beautiful eyes. Debra was having just as much fun as he was. He loved a woman with a sense of humor. He’d dated too many who were afraid of cracking their make-up if they smiled. All the other couples took their turns, and then the host was looking at Debra again.

“When was the first time your husband told you he loved you?”

He stared across at her, waiting for her answer. She was so beautiful, smart and intelligent. If he didn’t watch himself he could find himself falling for her. And love was one thing he wasn’t interested in. His career was his priority.

“It was our third date. We were walking along the beach when my husband told me he loved me.”

The host looked to Rance. Frowning, he hadn’t been sure what Debra would say since they were winging it. They’d kissed and made love, but love was not part of the plan. It was one thing he never planned to tell another woman.

“You’re right,” he said, then winked and flipped over his card. And the look she gave him caused the blood at his loins to stir.

From annoying habits to favorite sports. Most of the answers were so obvious that playing was easy.

“Snoring.”

“Snoring?” he gasped.

Debra nodded. She should have become an actress. Then she had the nerve to demonstrate, which got another rise out of the audience.

She is truly a keeper.

Now where the hell did that come from?

“That was fun,” she said as they walked back toward their cabin, holding hands.

He gazed down at her as another jolt hit him.
Get it together, Beaumont
.

“Yes, it was.”

Debra blinked her eyelashes flirtatiously. “You know rumors are going to start.”

He shrugged like it was no big deal. “It was all in fun. As long as you and I know there’s nothing real going on, then that’s all that matters.”

His words hit her hard. He saw the proof of it flicker in her eyes as he emphasized the word real. Who was he trying to convince? Her or him?

If he walked into the room he already knew what was going to happen. They would be back in the bed. “Hey, I’m gonna run up to the Promenade Deck and get some air. I’ll see you in a few.”

She stalled. “Is something wrong?”

“No, not at all. Just want to see what’s happening and probably grab myself a beer.”

She met his gaze and licked her lips again, then finally nodded, turned, and walked into the cabin.

He was in trouble. If she ever realized the power she had over him, he was in trouble.