Passion Never Dies (14 page)

Jake wrapped his arms around her back and kept them both steady in the water. The waves were gentle and lapped against their bodies. Diana anchored herself to him by placing her legs around his waist causing him to groan into her mouth.

She could feel his erection through his swimming trunks as he reached inside her bikini bottom to cup her bare buttocks, gripping her tightly to him. She moaned as his tongue touched hers and stroked inside her mouth. She arched against him, rubbing her breasts against his chest. Keeping one hand steady on her bottom, Jake placed his other hand inside her bikini top and covered her breast. Diana started to pant as he fingered her erect nipple.

Tearing her mouth away from his, she said reluctantly, “Wait, we should stop.”

“What - why?” he asked, frowning.

“This is a public beach, Jake,” said Diana and she looked around self-consciously.

There were a few people in the water, but they weren’t far enough away from them to ease her embarrassment. Besides, there were several children on the shore who might start swimming and come across them. She could feel his rumble of laughter before he released her reluctantly.

“Come on, then. Let’s go back to my yacht and finish what we started,” he said with a wink.

~

Diana slowly came awake in Jake’s arms a few hours later. The scent of their lovemaking permeated the cabin and she felt Jake’s unmistakable arousal press against her stomach.

“Mmm, another wonderful afternoon,” said Jake as he enveloped Diana in a bear hug.

Diana giggled as he lifted her gently and placed her on top of him.

“It takes a lot to keep you satisfied,” she said, rubbing her body against his and loving the feel of his hard body underneath hers.

“Who said I was satisfied?” he asked teasingly.

He spanked her bare bottom gently, caressing the soft cheeks with both hands before he reached up to give her a probing kiss, igniting her passion all over again.

“In fact, I’m ready for round two,” he said against her mouth, nipping her bottom lip gently.

Diana raised her eyebrows.

“I believe it’s more like round three.”

He laughed and caressed a breast, reaching up to swallow a nipple. Diana arched against him and moaned.

“Your bikini is dangerous, young lady,” he mumbled against her breast. “The minute I saw you in it, I just wanted to tumble you back into bed.”

“There were other women there in bikinis. In fact I remember one who needed her top to be re-tied,” she said, the memory causing her to pout.

“You’re the only woman I want, Diana. You should know that by now,” he said seriously.

Diana stared into his intent green eyes, melting at his tender look. She was starting to believe that perhaps their relationship had a fighting chance despite the fact that he would be leaving Vegas in two short months. Suddenly, Jake’s iPhone rang, but he didn’t move from beneath her.

“Shouldn’t you get that?” she asked curiously.

“I guess I should, though I did instruct my secretary that I didn’t want any business calls this weekend,” answered Jake as she scrambled away from him so he could reach over and pick up his iPhone from the bedside table. She watched him answer and frown as a shocked look came over his face.

“What is it?” she asked worriedly.

“That was Liz. Nathan is in the hospital.”

Chapter Six

The flight from Catalina Island’s tiny airport back to Las Vegas was short but rife with tension. Jake had booked them a small private plane and had held Diana’s hand tightly throughout their journey back home. He didn’t converse, but she could feel his intense worry as he stared out the plane’s window.

Once they reached the hospital, Jake found a distraught Liz in the children’s ward wringing her hands agitatedly.

“He had been playing outside when he started vomiting,” said Liz nervously. “The doctor said that he has a stomach infection. They gave him fluids to keep him from getting dehydrated. I’m so sorry, Jake. This is all my fault. It was something he ate.”

Liz began to cry. Diana placed her arm around the older woman’s shoulders as Jake flagged down a nurse to inquire about Nathan.

“It’s okay, Liz. I’m sure he’ll be fine,” Jake said tersely before turning to a nurse who directed him to a doctor. Jake followed the doctor to Nathan’s room while Diana and Liz trailed closely behind.

Nathan was lying in a bed holding a teddy bear when they all entered his room.

“Uncle Jake!” The little boy’s green eyes sparkled and he struggled to sit up, but the doctor, an older man in his sixties, gently restrained him.

“Hold on there, son. You need to rest. You’ve had quite a day,” said the doctor as he smiled down at the boy.

Jake quickly took his nephew’s hand in his and gently tousled Nathan’s blond hair. Diana was moved by his concern for the boy. Jake’s tender gestures and the look of love and worry on his face made her heart melt even more for him.

“He’ll be all right,” reassured the doctor. “He had a bit of a stomach infection, which caused him to vomit. We’ve been giving him plenty of fluids and I recommend that you continue to give him lots of water once he gets home.”

“You gave us a scare, buddy,” said Jake squeezing his nephew’s hand.

“Sorry, uncle,” said Nathan who then looked at Diana inquiringly. “Miss Diana?”

Diana smiled and walked over to Nathan’s bedside.

“Hi, sweetie. Are you feeling better now?” she asked placing a hand on his warm, chubby cheek.

Nathan nodded his head and smiled weakly.

“Can I take Chauncy home this week?”

Diana laughed. “I believe next week is your turn, so you have to get better so that you’ll have the energy to play with him.”

Nathan nodded his head again and clutched his teddy bear. Diana bent down and gave him a kiss on his forehead. She looked up at Jake and caught him staring at her with an intent look. She couldn’t read his thoughts, but what she saw in his eyes made her head spin.

~

“It’s all right, Lana. Nathan is fine. The doctor said he should be back to normal in a few days. There’s no need for you and Jeff to fly back here.”

Jake finished his call with his sister with a sigh. She had been frantic with worry when he had first reached her in the Bahamas and she had insisted that she and her husband were going to be on the first flight to Las Vegas. After many reassurances, she finally calmed down and decided to stay where she was, but only until Jake promised to call her as often as possible to keep her posted on Nathan’s health.

Jake watched Diana as she sat on a bench outside Nathan’s room and comforted Liz. Liz was still shaken by Nathan’s sudden ill health. She had been Nathan’s nanny since the child was born and, in his short life, he had never succumbed to any childhood illness. He had always been a very healthy and sturdy little boy. Diana put her hand on Liz’s closed fist and continued to talk to her softly. Jake could hear the words “it’s not your fault” and “he’ll be okay.”

Jake rubbed a weary hand through his hair as he remembered how he had felt when he watched Diana interact with his nephew earlier. The sweetness she had displayed toward Nathan made him ache somewhere inside that he couldn’t explain. Being kind and loving came naturally to her and he knew that she would be a great mother one day.

When she had kissed Nathan’s forehead, he had the sudden imagery that she would be doing that with her own child,
their
child, and the thought struck him deeply. Having a family was always something he had thought of, but not until the far future. Glancing at Diana now, with her kindness and beauty, he realized that he wanted that family with her - and he wasn’t willing to wait another nine years to have it.

~

“I’m coming over.”

Diana smiled as she listened to Jake on the phone. He had been coming over to her apartment every night this week even though she had told him not to. She knew he was exhausted from his demanding work schedule and had rushed to come home every night to be with a still recovering Nathan. But he had insisted on going to her place each night after tucking his nephew into bed.

“I made meatloaf and mashed potatoes for dinner,” she said hoping that he would enjoy the simple fare.

“Sounds good, sweetheart. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

His use of the endearment warmed her heart and she smiled happily as she hung up.

As Diana tossed a salad in a large, wooden bowl, she thought about Jake and their almost domestic routine this week. He always came over at around eight thirty p.m. and brought a bottle of red wine. After dinner they would snuggle on her sofa and talk about the day’s events and then he would sleep over. He would be up by dawn the next morning and she was still asleep when he left, but he always left her little notes on her bedside table. The notes would read, “Morning, beautiful. I’ll see you tonight.” It always touched her deeply and she found herself humming throughout the day in anticipation of seeing him again. In all honesty, she was the happiest she had ever been and it was all because of Jake and the love she felt for him.

Suddenly, Diana blinked and stopped tossing the salad. She really did love Jake and the realization hit her like a ton of bricks. She knew that she had been falling hard for him from the very beginning. In fact, she had desired him fiercely from the moment she had clasped eyes on him when she was an eighteen-year-old girl. But the reality was that he still planned on going back to New York in a little less than two months and the thought scared her. As much as they discussed their work, their interests, and their likes and dislikes each night, they steered around the sensitive subject of his returning to New York. It was as if each were afraid to discuss the impending separation. She shook her head and brought the salad bowl to the dining table. She was determined to enjoy every single moment she had with him. The future with him was uncertain, but she wasn’t going to dwell on a future without him. She wasn’t yet ready or willing to imagine Jake not being in her life.

~

“That was delicious,” sighed Jake as he wiped a napkin across his mouth.

Diana laughed. “Yes, I must say I make a good meatloaf.”

Jake reached across the table and placed his hand on hers, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles.

“Thank you for dinner.”

“You’re welcome,” she grinned as she stood up and began to clear away the dishes. Jake stood as well, but she stayed him with a hand.

“No, I’ll do it. You look like you’re about to drop from exhaustion. You should have just stayed home tonight and let Liz cook you dinner.”

“I’d rather be with you. Besides, Liz has been working overtime taking care of Nathan during the day.”

Jake watched Diana walk back and forth from the kitchen to the dining room. He sat back lazily in his chair and watched her with an affectionate smile.

“How is Nathan?” she asked as she cleared the table of crumbs with a small dish rag.

“The little monkey is almost back to his old self. He should be in school on Monday.”

“Good. I’ve missed him and his friends are always asking about him.”

Jake stood, taking two wine glasses with him, and walked over to her sofa. Diana followed him with a bottle of wine. She poured wine into their glasses as they lounged on her plush sofa. Jake placed his arm around her shoulders as he sipped his wine. Diana sighed and cuddled close to him, enjoying his nearness and the tantalizing smell of his cologne.

“Lana called today and said that she and Jeff have decided to come back a little early,” Jake said abruptly with a slight frown.

“What?” asked Diana in surprise, her head jerking up to stare at him.

“They miss Nathan too much,” he said wearily and then leaned his head against the cushions.

“When do you think they’re going to be here?” Diana wasn’t happy about saying goodbye to Nathan. He was so sweet and adorable and she knew his classmates would miss him.

“In a week or so. I’m going to miss the little guy,” Jake answered and then yawned loudly.

“I think you need to go to bed,” Diana said with a small grin.

“Only if you come with me,” he said and bent down to kiss her soundly.

Diana poured all her love into their kiss and heard him groan as he delved inside her mouth.

“You’re too tempting, sweetheart,” he whispered against her lips.

“So are you,” she answered back with a teasing smile as he wrapped her in his strong arms and nibbled on her delicate earlobe.

Every night Jake made love to her even though he was exhausted from a long day at work. She marveled at his stamina, but delighted in his insatiable hunger for her.

“By the way, my mom and step-dad want to invite you over to their place for lunch on Sunday,” she said apprehensively.

Diana nibbled at her lower lip, feeling a tad nervous. She didn’t know what his reaction would be to the invitation. Her mother had received an earful about how wonderful he was whenever she called and now she insisted that Diana bring him over.

Jake stopped nibbling on her ear and looked at her inquiringly.

“Your parents want to meet me?” he asked in surprise.

Diana tried to shrug nonchalantly although she was beginning to regret succumbing to her mother’s wishes.

“You don’t have to -” she started.

“I’d like to have lunch with them,” Jake interrupted with a grin.

Diana smiled back, feeling relieved.

“It wasn’t my idea...” she said, not wanting him to think that there was any pressure coming from her to get to know her family.

Jake twirled a strand of her silky, soft brown hair with one finger and looked deeply into her eyes. His tender expression made her forget what else she was about to say.

“I want to know everyone you care about, sweetheart,” he said gruffly.

His statement moved her and she kissed him lightly on the lips before taking his hand. She stood up and looked down at him with a teasing smile.

“Come on. Let’s go to bed and I can show you how much I missed you today,” she said. Jake stood up eagerly and followed her into her bedroom.

~

“Now, where is this young man you’ve been raving about for the past few weeks?” asked Trina as she greeted her daughter.