Keeping Mr. Right Now: A Kisses in the Sand Novel (Entangled Bliss) (15 page)

“Okay,” she whispered. A little breathy. A lot sexy. He stirred behind his zipper. How would she sound if he hiked up that dress of hers and slid his thumb over her panties? Dipped his fingers underneath the material to touch her? Then lowered his head to taste her?

“Have any aces?” he asked, his voice a little rough.

She shook her head. “Have any sevens?”

“Two of them.” He pulled them from his cards. “Truth or dare, sweetness?”

“Truth,” she said without hesitation. She folded her cards in her lap and gave him her full attention.

“Have you ever done a striptease for your special someone?”

“No.” She took the sevens from him and let out a breath. “That was easy. Any fours?”

“Go fish. Have any sixes?” He knew she did.

She smiled. “Truth or dare?”

“I’ll match your truth.”

“What part of the opposite sex’s body do you find the most erotically fascinating?” She handed him the card.

“Hmm.” He rubbed the back of his hand across his chin. “I find many parts of a woman’s body fascinating, but I’ll go with mouth to keep a PG rating here.”

“You think I can only handle PG?” She crossed her arms over her chest and sounded offended. “Because you don’t have to be afraid of embarrassing me. I’m not
that
innocent, you know.”

“Okay, truth or dare?” He eyed the cards in his hand.

“Dare.”

Now he had his pick of cards and that really wasn’t fair, but then with Sophie he couldn’t help himself. There was more than one dare he liked—
lick someone’s ear, eat a small piece of fruit being held by someone else’s teeth
—but he decided to go with, “Place a lipstick between your lips and write ‘kiss me’ on someone’s stomach.” He grinned, looked left and right, then back at her. “Guess that means me.”

She tucked a stray curl of hair behind her ear. “Be right back.”

He paid attention to her backside as she headed toward the kitchen. A few seconds later she reappeared with her bag in hand.

“I don’t wear lipstick, but I do have lip gloss.” She rummaged in her purse and pulled out a tube that glittered pink. Making a show of it, she unscrewed the cap and just before she put it between her teeth said, “Should I unbutton you, too?”

His gut tightened and blood rushed south of his navel. Hell yeah, she should unbutton him. He moved the coffee table out of the way and spread his arms in a show of surrender. “Absolutely.”

Sophie with a side of vixen was a damn fine sight. She got down on her knees in front of him and one by one, unbuttoned his shirt. Her tongue slid back and forth across her lower lip while she worked. Add torturing him with buttons to the list of things she could do with those nimble fingers of hers. Once she had him undone, she spread his shirt wide. Her gaze darted from his abs to his eyes and back down again. She put the lip gloss between her lips and bent over his knees, but his legs were long, and she was petite, so she couldn’t reach all the way.

He spread his legs. She fell between them, quickly nestling her body more comfortably against the couch. Good thing he wasn’t sitting at the edge or she’d be huddled against his growing erection, and no way would he be able to remain a gentleman.

The first touch of the tip to his stomach sent a shudder through him. He had no idea why. Okay, he did. Sweet, sexy, sensual Sophie was autographing his abdomen. He’d given thousands of autographs over the years, a good chunk of them to body parts, but this was the first time anyone had written on him. And because it was Sophie at the hands of a dare, it made it a moment he’d never forget.

Afraid he’d reach out and brush a finger down her neck, he lifted his arms and laced his fingers behind his head. Despite their clothing and the fact that they weren’t physically touching each other anywhere, this ranked as one of the most erotic diversions he’d had the pleasure of experiencing.

She lifted up and took the lip gloss out of her mouth. She studied her work before meeting his eyes.

“Nice,” he said, taking a brief peek. He waited for her to change position, move back to the couch and pick up her cards, do something other than stay right where she was.

“Well?” she said softly.

He frowned in confusion.

“Aren’t you going to kiss me now?”

…

Sophie’s heart pounded so hard in her chest that all she heard was the pumping in her ears while every other real-world sound vanished. Zane stared at her. The creases in his forehead relaxed, but he didn’t smile or smirk. Didn’t waggle his eyebrows. Didn’t look at all like the cocky surfer she thought she’d see when she asked him to kiss her.

Nope. He wore a thoughtful expression mixed with surprise, or maybe that was apology? How had she been so wrong about his signals?
You’re a novice at this, that’s how.

“Kidding,” she said. And started to move away.

He trapped her between his legs. His big, warm hands landed on her upper arms. “No you’re not.”

Great. Calling her on her lie. A move she had no clue how to respond to, since she didn’t normally lie. Or flirt with the world’s hottest surfer. Or ask to be kissed.

Shoot her now.

Instead, one of Zane’s hands moved to the small of her back and the other moved to cup her cheek. “I’ve never wanted to kiss someone as much as I want to kiss you, Sophie.”

Heart meet hammer. Heart meet hammer. “You looked—”

“Like a guy who doesn’t want to screw this up.”

She swallowed the heap of nerves his admission stirred. Like he could screw up a kiss. Or be as nervous as she was. Or think anything he did would be short of spectacular. “But—”

“I only get one first kiss with you.” He stroked his thumb across her cheekbone.

It was official. She’d never crushed harder on anyone in her life. Zane had her floating on air
and
planted firmly between his thighs with the biggest case of desire ever.

They stared at each other a moment longer before he put two fingers under her chin and pulled her mouth to his. His lips brushed hers gently and her head spun with butterflies. “You’re too good for the likes of me, you know,” he whispered over his featherlight touch.

“That’s not true,” she whispered back and wrapped her arms around his neck to bring him closer.

He tasted like honey and sweet sauce, and she smiled against his kiss, knowing what his favorite foods this evening had been. They’d been hers, too. Until now. Until Zane’s soft yet firm lips moved over hers with delicious pressure. He kissed her like they had all the time in the world. Joy and rapture mingled at the base of her spine, and she found herself straining to eliminate any space between them.

Zane scooted to the edge of the couch. He slid the hand on her cheek to the back of her head, pressed his other palm against her lower back, and brought her flush against him. Against his bare chest. And against his—
gulp
—hardness. Heat surged through her in the most wicked way as his thick length touched her stomach. She couldn’t believe this was happening. Intense pleasure coiled in her belly and spread wildly.

His mouth opened, nudging her lips apart, and she let him in. He tangled his tongue with hers and made it impossible for her to breathe without him.

The kiss took turns at tender, hot, relentless. She loved them all. She could kiss him all night, the passion and intensity always there—in her mind, her body, her heart. This was the kind of first kiss she’d dreamed about.

His arm tightened around her, he tilted his head a little more to the left, and oh heavens above, his tongue and mouth did things that made her moan. Nothing—nothing!—had ever felt so good.

She shimmied against him, her pulse sped up, she let out a moan of pleasure.

He seemed to like her response because he groaned in return and deepened the kiss. He kissed her like he needed her air too, and a heady feeling swooped over her. She didn’t just have a crush on Zane. She liked him. Really, really liked him.

Her fingers played with the hair at the base of his neck before she slipped her hands under his shirt and ran them across his shoulders. Smooth, hot, muscled, he’d most definitely been carved from something one-of-a-kind. The hold on her back inched lower, lower, until he had her bottom firmly in the cup of his hand. The feverish sensations between her legs intensified.

Then he grazed her bottom lip with his teeth. He nipped and teased, ran his tongue across the seam, before he slid his tongue back into her mouth where he once again stroked her until everything inside her melted.

They kissed for the longest time. She wished for it to never end, wished to be greedy and keep his mouth on hers until he couldn’t remember anyone else’s kiss. She knew he’d just wiped out every other kiss she’d had. Knew deep down in her soul that no one would ever compare to Zane.

Her Mr. Right Now.

Don’t forget that, Sophie.

As if he sensed a slight hesitation in her mood, he broke the kiss.

They were both breathing hard. His eyes were glazed. Were hers? She blinked a whole bunch, just in case. He wound a strand of hair at the curve of her neck around his finger.

Words got caught in her throat. Should she thank him? Tell him he’d just rocked her world? Or say nothing and get up and go?

“You look well-kissed, Sophie Birch.”

“I am.”

“Me, too. Now I’d better get you back to your hotel.”

“Okay,” she whispered. She had a feeling he was trying to be a gentleman, and she didn’t want him to be. But she couldn’t muster up the nerve to ask for more.

…

“You look different,” Honor said, leaning her elbow on the table, chin on the heel of her hand, eyes a little unfocused. Glorious sunrays shined down on her at their outdoor table at the Happy Harpoon, yesterday’s rainy weather long gone.

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Sophie said, loving the feel of the cold sand between her toes. Maybe the soft grains would do the trick and cool her down. Ever since Zane had dropped her off at her hotel last night and given her another killer kiss, she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him or some of the more fascinating truth or dares she’d read.

Describe the sexiest dream you’ve ever had.
That would be the one she’d had last night about Zane.

If I were handcuffed to the bed, what would you do to me?
She’d wanted to ask Zane that question so badly last night, but he hadn’t asked for the right number.

Have you ever climaxed while fully clothed?
She’d been so aroused last night that no doubt a few more minutes of kissing and touching and she would’ve had her first orgasm not at her own hand. She wasn’t a virgin, but the two men she’d been with hadn’t done that for her. Hadn’t really tried. Zane’s potency—not to mention his teasing—had her right on the edge with his darn smile.

“Okay, you need to stop that right now.” Honor pointed and waved her finger in the air.

“Stop what?”

“Looking like you’ve got a secret lover and you’re meeting him in an hour.” She crinkled her brows. “You don’t, do you? You’d tell me, right?”

Sophie’s face burned. “Well, does my Mr. Right Now count?”

Honor’s eyes widened. “Something happened last night, didn’t it?” She bent forward, putting her face closer to the table.

Midge arrived with their egg white scrambles, toast, and strawberries. The plate with a giant sticky bun was a surprise. “Don’t argue with me,” Midge said. “You can’t leave White Strand without trying one, Sophie.”

“Thank you,” Sophie said and picked up her fork. “It looks delicious.” Then to Honor she said, “I’ll fill you in later. Promise.” She hadn’t really processed all of it, her mind in dizzying chaos that made her pulse race. He thought she was beautiful.

“Okay.”

“Will you tell me what’s up with you and Bryce?”

“Nothing’s up.” Honor shoveled a huge bite of eggs into her mouth.

Sophie didn’t push people to talk about things they didn’t want to. Especially if those things appeared to cause anxiety, and Honor’s pretty complexion had turned waxen.

“Thanks for all your help so far this week,” Sophie said. She looked over Honor’s shoulder toward the beach and sparkling water. Sculptors in today’s sand castle competition were already busy at work.

“Everyone is really pleased with how great things are going. You’re heading to the Town Stage Theater this morning, right?”

“Yes. I’m excited to kick off today’s series of films there.” The small, cozy venue a mile down Main Street was a favorite of the older surf legends, and many of them would be in attendance.

“I’ll introduce you to my great-uncle.”

“I had a feeling you might be related to Tucker Mitchell.” Tuck, as Sophie had learned he liked to be called, had been one of the best surfers back in the ’70s. “Don’t ask me why. It’s not as if your last name is really unique.”

“Just keep an eye on his hands.” Honor took a sip of her POG juice—pineapple, orange, guava, and very yummy.

“His hands? Why?”

“He likes to cop feels.”

Sophie laughed. “I don’t think I have to worry about that.”

Honor studied her. “You do, Sophie. You were pretty when you got here, but now you’re glowing. The beach agrees with you.”

The praise filled Sophie with gratitude. “I’ve sort of fallen in love with it.”

“Are you sure that’s all you’ve fallen for?”

“Shh,” Sophie whispered, not sure the shush was a
keep it down
or a
don’t be silly
. And since she didn’t want to examine that too closely, she decided it was time to get going to the theater a little early.