Twelve Days of Pleasure (9 page)

Nodding, Vanessa leaned in closer to his side and Kendrick wrapped an arm around her shoulders. As they sat in the quiet he leaned to press a gentle kiss against her forehead, as if it was the easiest, most natural thing he'd done in a very long time. He kissed her a second time as he pulled her closer against him.

Vanessa suddenly kicked her legs in the water, splashing them both. “Let's go!” she exclaimed, moving onto her feet.

Kendrick looked up at her. “Where?”

“You still owe me and I'm ready to collect.”

He laughed. “You still haven't told me what you're claiming.”

“I guess you need to get up and come on, then,” she said, her hands falling against her thin waist.

He shook his head. “Now I'm scared,” he said as he lifted his legs out of the pool of water and stood up. As he came to his feet Vanessa took his hand and pulled him along behind her.

She led the way down the stone path toward the beach. The sky above was blue black, just the shimmer of moon and twinkling of stars lighting the ground around them. When they reached the edge of the water she turned toward him, a wide grin across her face.

Kendrick eyed her curiously. “What are you up to?” he questioned.

“We're going skinny-dipping,” she said matter-of-factly.

Kendrick hesitated for a brief moment, his eyes widened in disbelief. He cocked his head as he stared at her. “I don't think that's a good idea, Ms. Harrison.”

She laughed. “Get your clothes off, chicken. You bet, you lost, I won, and I'm collecting.”

His head was waving from side to side. “We need to talk about this.”

“Anything I want. Isn't that what you said?”

He laughed. “I did say that.”

“Then drop 'em,” she said, pointing to his shorts.

* * *

She reached for the hem of her tank top and proceeded to pull the garment up and over her head. She was braless, her pert breasts standing at full attention. Her nipples were hardened orbs, reminding him of dark molasses candy. Her stomach rippled, reflecting some serious work in the gym. She looped her thumbs in the waistband of her shorts and pushed them down to her ankles. Stepping out of them, she kicked the garment and her lace thong up the sandy beach. Her smile was miles wide as she took two steps back, her hands on her hips.

Kendrick gasped, a low breath blowing past his lips. His own grin spread wide and full across his face. He took a deep breath as he slowly pushed his own shorts down over his hips. A full erection protruded in her direction as if she were a snake charmer who'd beguiled the serpent right out of his pants.

Vanessa's grin widened and then she turned, racing out to the ocean as she threw her body beneath the watery blanket. Right on her heels Kendrick raced after her, plunging his own body into the warm waters behind her.

Laughter rang loudly through the late-night air as the two frolicked from one end of the beach to the other. There was a moment when Vanessa went quiet, lost somewhere in the darkness, and just when Kendrick was ready to panic she popped up behind him, her hands encircling his waist, her laughter like warm honey to his ears. He spun her around into his arms and held her tightly, pulling her to his chest. Her legs wrapped around his waist and she locked her ankles against the curve of his buttocks. They were both breathing heavily, gasping for air.

Vanessa pressed her cheek to his, savoring the warmth of his skin as she wrapped her slender arms around his neck. One of his hands danced along her spine, the other cupped beneath her buttocks, holding her up. He felt good against her, strong and solid, and if she could have she would have stayed there forever.

Kendrick's heart was beating heavily in his chest. The heavy rhythm was like the deep bass in the middle of a jazz syncopation. His pulse was quick and heat flushed every muscle in his body. He slid his large hand across her back and up to her neck, his fingers gently massaging her skin. He snaked his fingers into the strands of her hair and pulled gently, her head falling back against her shoulders. She gasped as he pressed his mouth to that spot beneath her chin, biting at the soft flesh. Vanessa purred ever so softly, the lilt of her voice causing him to harden even more. He trailed a line of damp kisses over her chin and along the profile of her jaw. He pulled back, his stare meeting hers. Her lips were parted and she bit down against her bottom lip. He drew his palm beneath her chin, his thumb dancing at the edge of her mouth as rivulets of water dripped over her cheeks. Anticipation danced in her eyes and he could feel her holding her breath, the air catching somewhere deep in her chest. With nothing but desire raging between them Kendrick plunged his mouth against hers, capturing her lips with his own.

The kiss was like nothing she had ever known before. Vanessa felt her entire body quiver with excitement, every nerve ending exploding with sheer pleasure. She inhaled him, his cologne holding hands with the scent of sea air. She could feel her heart beating and her feminine spirit was suddenly throbbing with a vengeance.

Kendrick's lips danced over hers, skin sliding like silk against silk. She tasted sweet like the dessert they'd shared, the hint of red wine on her breath. He suddenly couldn't imagine himself kissing any other woman ever again. The realization knocked him offside and he felt himself gasp. He tightened the hold he had on her, her pelvis heated and damp against his lower abdomen. His manhood twitched and pulsed with a vengeance.

Kendrick eased his tongue past her lips and Vanessa allowed him in, her own tasting him eagerly. Time suddenly came to a standstill and then a wave of water crashed into them, knocking Kendrick off his feet. Sliding beneath the swell they clung to each other, neither breaking the hold. When the waters came to a rest he pulled them back up, swept her into his arms and carried her back to the beach. When he reached the white sands he put her back on her feet. They stood together for some time, completely lost in each other as they traded easy caresses.

Kissing her one last time Kendrick pulled himself from her. He shook his head, his eyes closed as he found himself lost in thought. He took a deep breath and then another as Vanessa fought to calm her own breathing. Opening his eyes he met her gaze and held it, something shimmering in her dark orbs that he didn't recognize. He leaned to kiss her cheek.

“We can't do this,” he whispered as he rested his face against hers. “And I want to, Vanessa. God knows I do, but we just can't.”

Vanessa quivered in his arms.

“I have a responsibility...” he started.

She pressed her fingers to his lips, stalling his words. She nodded her head. Before he could say another word she pressed her hands to his chest and reached up on her tippy toes to lightly kiss his mouth one last time. She whispered a soft good-night as tears rained down over her cheeks. Turning away from him she sprinted toward the bungalow, disappearing inside.

* * *

Hours later Kendrick was still sitting, Buddha-like, naked under the moonlight. Every thought in his mind was about Vanessa and him and the entanglement between them. For the first time in his life he was conflicted, his personal life clashing with his career. And despite the anguish holding him hostage, he was thankful as the notion of him and her together danced in his head and his heart.

 

Chapter 9

F
or the first day since their arrival there was no sun. The sky was gray, clouds covering the deep blue sky they'd both grown accustomed to. No one needed to tell either of them that there was a storm coming. You could feel it in the temperatures that had fallen and the smell in the early-morning air that was rich and earthy. The resort was making preparations for the possibility of a hurricane, as the winds churned somewhere in the distance. The weather pattern had changed considerably.

When Vanessa made her way into the living area Kendrick was in deep discussion with Liam, the two men huddled together in a corner of the room.

“Many of the guests are flying out this morning, sir. However, if you choose to stay we will do everything in our power to ensure your safety.”

Kendrick nodded. “The weather reports are predicting it's going to bypass the island. We may get some residual winds and rain but I don't think it's going to be anything I need to be concerned about. We'll be staying.”

“Certainly, sir,” the butler responded. “I'll inform the front desk. We do ask that you both remain inside until the bad weather has passed. The winds are picking up and we don't want to take any unnecessary risks.”

Both men tossed her a look. Kendrick smiled.

“Good morning, madam!” Liam crooned, his voice lifting eagerly. “What might I get for you this morning?”

She gave them both a warm smile back. “Yogurt and granola would be good this morning,” she said cheerily. “And bacon. Have to have my bacon!”

Liam nodded. “Right away, madam.”

As the man left to fetch her morning meal, Kendrick stood staring at her. She stood nervously, her gaze flitting everywhere but on him.

“Are you mad at me?” he questioned, his tone warm and endearing.

She shook her head. “Not at all. Actually I have great respect for your self-control.”

Kendrick chuckled. “Me, too! Telling you no was the hardest thing I have ever had to do.”

She laughed with him. “It was a new experience for me, too!”

She moved to the dining table and Kendrick joined her. As she reached his side she eased an arm around his waist and hugged him. Kendrick kissed the top of her head and then dropped his mouth against hers. The kiss was sweet and gentle and easy and though he seemed to enjoy lingering in it, he moved away instead, reaching to pull out a chair for her.

“Did you sleep well?” he asked as he took his own seat.

“No. I kept thinking about you.”

He nodded. “I didn't sleep well, either.”

Their gazes locked as they sat in reflection, thinking about the hours since they'd parted last night. Vanessa had tossed and turned until the wee hours of the morning. More times than she cared to count she had thought about going back to him. She'd obsessed over his touch, the kisses they'd shared, the nearness of him, her body wrapped like a blanket around his. She'd fantasized about him coming to her, pushing his way into the bedroom to take her. Wanting him to possess her body and soul. It had taken every ounce of her fortitude not to give in to the temptation.

Kendrick appeared lost in his thoughts, too. They blew deep sighs at the same time and then laughed at the hilarity of their situation.

“I imagine you have women chasing after you with every assignment,” she said.

He shook his head. “Not at all. It's very rare that my assignment is to keep my eyes on a beautiful woman.”

“So tell me about your past relationships?” she asked. “How did they work with your job?”

Kendrick shrugged. “There really isn't anything to tell. I've dated but I can count on one hand the women I've dated more than once. And I'd still have fingers left over! I told you, this job is not conducive to a relationship. It's hard enough just trying to keep up with my family because I'm gone more than I'm home.”

Vanessa paused as Liam appeared with their breakfast. When they were served he made his exit just as quickly. She took a sip of her orange juice before she spoke again. “Moving to New York was really the first time I've been away from my family and even then my mother was never too far away. I could always call her whenever and she flew in monthly to go shopping, so we had a standing lunch date. This is the first time I've ever been away so long and not been able to call. I can't imagine being away for months and not being able to at least talk to them. I don't know how you do that.”

He suddenly stood up, moving out of the room. Vanessa called after him, confusion washing over her expression. “Kendrick? Is everything okay? Kendrick?”

She was just about to go after him when he returned, a cell phone in his palm. Moving back to her side he handed the device to her.

“Call your mother. Talk as long as you want, but please be mindful. Don't say anything about where we are. That's for her safety as well as yours.”

Vanessa's eyes were wide. “Really?”

He gently pressed his palm to the side of her face as he nodded his head.

Reaching her arms around him Vanessa hugged him tightly, giving him a quick peck on the lips. She dropped back into her seat and dialed. When her mother answered, tears misted her eyes.

“Hi, Mom!” she exclaimed excitedly.

* * *

Kendrick kissed the top of her head then moved out of her space, allowing her some privacy. He trusted that she would heed his warning. He also had his own telephone call to make.

Stepping out onto the patio he pulled a second phone from his pocket and dialed. The wind was definitely picking up but the temperature was still fairly comfortable. He was slightly surprised when his sister Maitlyn answered the call.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Mattie!”

“Hey, yourself. What's going on?”

“I just needed to chat with your husband for a minute.”

“Is something wrong with Vanessa?”

“Maitlyn, really?”

“What? I was just concerned.”

“Well, she's doing fine.”

“And you're good?”

“Yeah...everything is going really well. Now, may I please speak with Zak?”

“No.”

Kendrick bristled ever so slightly. “No?”

“I said no. My husband is tied up at the moment so if this isn't an emergency you can't talk to him.”

“You're joking, right?”

“I am serious as a heart attack.”

Kendrick sighed. “I really need to speak with him, Maitlyn. It's important. I...I need...” He paused.

“You need advice,” she said, the comment more of a statement than a question.

“Yes.”

“So, what's your problem?”

Kendrick tossed a quick glance back through the glass doors. There was a bright smile on Vanessa's face and she was deep in conversation, her entire body animated. She looked happy and the joy shining on her face made him smile. In all honesty he hated that there was so much distance between him and his family. When he did see his siblings it was always about trying to catch up and more times than not he felt out of the loop. Despite the love they shared there was a level of disconnect that he couldn't deny and much of it was from his own making. Asking Maitlyn to research property for him had everything to do with him wanting things to change. His growing feelings for Vanessa had him owning that for the very first time.

He turned back to his current conversation.

“Did Zak ever have any reservations about being with you when you two were on the cruise ship?”

“No, never.”

“Not even a little? I mean, he was on assignment. Didn't he ever think about that?”

“No, because I wasn't his assignment. When we spent time together it was always about our attraction to each other and nothing else.”

Kendrick blew a heavy breath past his lips. He stared off to the rising waters on the shoreline. His sister's voice rang in his ear.

“You can't spend the rest of your life on the front line fighting bad guys, Kendrick. You're going to be too old for this at some point. Don't you want to retire shooting hoops with your grandchildren instead of being all alone with bad people still shooting at you?”

Kendrick chuckled ever so softly. “Are you sure I can't speak with Zak?”

“Positive. Go spend some time with Vanessa. Get to know her. Romance her a little. Zak will call you later.”

“I really hate it when you take control, Maitlyn. You know that, right?”

His sister laughed. “Zak loves it!” she said as she disconnected the line.

Kendrick was still laughing when he moved back inside. Vanessa had already disconnected her own call. She jumped to her feet and rushed to his side, her face still aglow, the joy shimmering in her eyes.

“Thank you! Thank you so much!” she exclaimed as she threw her arms around his neck.

Kendrick wrapped his own arms around her waist, lifting her off her feet. He held her tightly, suddenly not wanting to let go. He wanted to kiss her but he knew that if he did he wouldn't be able to stop.

“So everything is good at home?” he questioned, finally letting her go.

“Yes. And I didn't tell them where I was or anything,” she reassured him.

Kendrick smiled. “I know you didn't.”

“They still haven't found Gabrielle's grandparents, though. Apparently they moved but no one knows where. My father says my brother Juan is personally searching for them. I got to speak with Gabi and she told me she's going to the mall to see Santa Claus. It was so cute! My mother says she's a handful but they're enjoying having her around. She says she's getting a taste of what it will be like to have grandchildren.”

Kendrick smiled. “That's good.”

Vanessa tipped up on her toes and pressed her lips to his cheek. “Thank you again,” she said softly.

He nodded, his eyes locked on her face. As she stepped in closer to him, her body brushing warmly against his, her joy was infectious. He laughed heartily and then without giving it a second thought, he kissed her.