What a Girl Wants (15 page)

Chapter Nineteen

“Life’s a beach and then you have sex on it.”

—Maddie Saunders

Maddie was in love.

In love with Alex’s manhood.

“The minute I saw it up close and personal, it was like a freaking work of art,” Maddie said into her tape recorder while Alex showered. “I almost felt bad straddling him. I mean does one fricky fricky with an Adonis statue in a museum?”

As far as Alex’s went, it wasn't weird looking, like some. Not that she had a photo album filled with pictures of penises, or had seen a ton of them up close and personal, but from what she had seen in magazines, his was near perfection. Even though, for an instant, she’d thought she wasn’t going to be able to accommodate him. He wasn’t porn-star size, but she had had some concerns as to whether it was going to fit.

She remembered thinking,
I’ll make it fit.

It did fit, and nicely too.

“Ahhh.” She sighed in orgasmic memory and stretched her arms behind her back. Muscles she didn’t know existed ached with the magnificent feeling of fulfillment.

“Oops, getting off topic again.” She clicked the pause button on her recorder and stepped out on to the patio. Alex’s suite had a perfect view of the ocean. She drank in the sight of the sea spread out like a wrinkled marble floor.

The morning breeze was a mixture of salt and sweetness from the surrounding pineapple plants and mandarin lime trees. At the thought of the exotic fruit, her stomach growled. She’d already showered and ordered breakfast, but instead of diving into the mound of food delivered, she decided to get some of her article on tape while her creative juices flowed.

She cleared her throat and clicked on the record button. “Island of Love is another name for Makana. No. Cancel love.” The “L” word would make her commitment-challenged readers break out into a cold sweat.

She shivered.
Must be from the ocean breeze
. “How about Island of Lust?” she continued, “Not working for me. New title. Life’s a beach, and then you have sex on it.” Catchier, she thought.

Her stomach growled again.

She clicked off the recorder, slid it onto the patio table, went back inside and perused the yummy-smelling dishes on the breakfast trolley.

She helped herself to a piece of pineapple nut bread.

As she munched on the bread, she switched from thinking about her article to remembering Alex’s moodiness after his conversation with Duncan. After the call, Alex had suggested she go ahead and shower, as he had a few phone calls to make. She knew better than to question him or ask what was wrong when he looked like he was in one of his gloomy, don’t-bug-me moods.

She finished off the bread and shrugged the image away. She didn’t want to taint the memory of their magnificent night with any negative thoughts.

While she had showered, she wondered why he hadn’t joined her. She would have loved to slather soap over his entire body. Of course, showering together could have brought back the memory of a certain unfortunate shower incident. But she still wondered if the scowl he wore before
he
jumped into the shower had something to do with her.

Hmmm. He wasn’t worried that she’d morphed into a cling-on, was he?

The only clinging she planned on involved a huge roll of Saran Wrap swathed around her naked body for him to remove slowly, preferably with his teeth.

Alex had told her about a couple of fatal-attraction types who’d professed they were in love with him after a few casual dates with him.

Maddie definitely wasn’t an obsessed bunny-boiler. She wanted him for a physical relationship only.

Love?

No. Well, not at this point in her life. Even though the thought of waking up next to Alex everyday cocooned her in an invisible blanket of happiness.

Do. Not. Go. There.

She doused the beginning of that spark by pulling out vivid recollections of the numerous men in Felicia’s life. Stepfathers and Mother’s-new-friend types. Men who had vowed commitment and eternal love until the newness of the relationship wore off.

If Maddie had to choose between friendship with Alex or a strings-attached relationship, then friendship would win hands down.

Right?

Of course.

Maddie’s friendship with Alex had lasted longer than many so-called love unions, and she wouldn’t ruin that for all the chocolate in a Godiva factory.

After all, they were both adults and could handle it.

Cripes, I hope I’m not repeating this to convince myself.

Was he scowling this morning because of me, or because of work? Blah, blah blah.
The inside of her head felt like there were two monkeys having a tug of war over the last banana.

I better stop overanalyzing this.
I probably picked up that bad habit from years of hanging out with him.

Deep down she knew that the honesty and fun-loving banter they’d always shared would remain, as long as she made sure to keep things light and fun. Which she definitely would because she wanted to experience more of those screaming orgasms. No more stocking up on batteries for her.

Woo hoo
¾
goodbye, Magic Wand!

Smiling, she wrapped her arms around her chest and replayed visions of their lust-filled night in her mind. “Yowza.”

She remembered how she had almost lost consciousness when she’d experienced the explosive release of pent-up energy, feeling like one with the universe, herself and Alex—actually, with all three.

That was by far the best sex she’d ever had. Okay, practically the only sex she’d ever had.

She ambled like a peacock to the floor-to-ceiling hallway mirror and stared at herself. Surveying her image, she ruffled her still-damp hair. Cool chick came into mind. A strut wouldn’t be out of place.

A giggle escaped as joy spread through her like liquid sunshine. She twirled around the room with her arms outstretched. Her feet seemed to be weightless. It was as if she floated on a cloud.

She belted out her favorite song. “Hormones raging, and baby, you look amazing.”
Gyrating her hips, she kicked up her heels and danced around the living room singing, “I’m feeling mighty fine. I want to unwind…with you, baby.” She lifted the black Rangers T-shirt she had pinched from Alex’s dresser. Its hem barely reached the top of her thighs. “Ohhhh yeah, I want to get it on all night.”

Swaying her head back and forth. “Come and get me
¾
”

She swung her head up, stopped and met Alex’s gaze. He leaned against the doorway with his ankles crossed and his arms folded across his chest. Droplets of water glistened on his dark hair and he looked as refreshed and delicious as a peppermint.

Her body responded on its own. Even after all they’d shared intimately, she still wanted to strip out of the T-shirt, wrap her legs around his waist and climb to that special place in seventh heaven.

Girlfriends had said that sometimes once two people get the lust out of their systems, the flame usually burned down to a low ember.

Not for her.

Not even close.

She lowered her gaze from his eyes to his black T-shirt stretched tight across his chest and remembered how his skin had tasted and how his hard muscles had felt against her nakedness. He wore a pair of black cargo shorts low on his hips
¾
those same hips that had ensconced themselves between her legs, like the final puzzle piece.

He locked eyes with her, amusement lighting his features. She glanced down and realized she still had the T-shirt bunched in her hand, exposing her navel and evidence of her visit to the esthetician…
ouch
. But the lascivious look on his face was worth every hot wax strip pull.

Her breath quickened, and her cheeks warmed. It was crazy for her to feel any embarrassment. After all, he had kissed everything there was to kiss. He’d seen everything there was to see, and some places she’d never seen herself.

She looked away, smoothed the T-shirt down and busied herself by pouring a cup of hot chocolate and sipping a generous amount. She thought the sugar might tamp down her sexual craving.

It didn’t.

Inhaling much needed oxygen into her lungs, she managed to move her lips and shot him a teasing grin. “Breakfast is served. What’s your pleasure?”

He advanced into the room and stood in front of her. He tilted her chin and gazed into her eyes. She held her breath.

Quicker than a blink he captured her mouth, kissing her softly at first and then deepening the kiss until she wound her arms around his neck.

The kiss zoomed right past her mouth and landed on her soul. His minty taste combined with the hot chocolate flavor created a cool and sweet sensation, like the ocean’s breeze.

His muscled thighs pressed against her bare legs, and she moved her hips up as he trailed his hands over her behind to cup her ass cheeks.

“Oh, my,” came her soft gasp while he nuzzled her neck.

He recaptured her mouth, his tongue tickling the end of hers. She smiled into his mouth as he returned to her lips for another full, deep, passionate kiss.

Their lips locked for what seemed forever and his hand unabashedly skated underneath her T-shirt, cupping her breasts.

“Mmmm.” She couldn’t resist the moan.

He lifted his head, his eyelashes a smidgen away from hers. “You,—” he kissed the tip of her nose, “—are so damned delicious this morning.”

His musky scent. His touch. His taste. His voice.

All sent tremors through her.

And they said women had mood swings.

This man had started the morning off with great sex, then he’d become moody, and now he cranked up his high-wattage charm with an eyes-rolling-to-the-back-of-the-head kiss.

What the hell. Nobody was perfect. What were a few mood swings when his touch melted her bones into a puddle, and his kisses left her feeling woozy?

Knock. Knock.

“They’ll go away,” he whispered into her hair.

Knock. Knock.

She pressed herself against his arousal and wrapped a leg around his thigh, bending her head back while he kissed her neck
.

Knock. Knock.
Louder this time.

“Argh.” He growled. “I better get that.”

He gently released her, ran his hand through his hair, exhaled a loud breath and headed for the door.

Maddie stood behind the breakfast trolley and tilted her head to see who had interrupted them. A young man in a hotel uniform held out a bundle of fresh towels. Alex took the towels, fished into his pocket and handed the young man some money.

Towel Guy smiled and caught Maddie’s eye. She returned the smile although she wanted to tell him to scram.

Towel Guy’s smile collapsed, and his eyes widened.

Shit, did I give this guy a dirty look?

Maddie thought she saw a glimmer of panic in Towel Guy’s expression. How odd.

He mumbled something and scurried away.

Alex closed the door and threw the towels on the desk.

“He took off pretty quickly,” Maddie said. “What did you say to him?”

“Me?” Alex laughed. “Nothing. You must have flashed him.”

Maddie glanced down at her chest and pointed to her breasts. “Right. Like these girls are going to intimidate any hot-blooded
¾
”

The rest of her sentence melted between Alex’s lips as he kissed her hard. “You’re beautiful. Hot body,” he lowered his head and kissed her breasts, “everywhere.” He gave her a light tap on the ass. “Ready to eat?”

Hmmm. Food or an orgasm? Her tummy did rumble, and Towel Guy’s interruption had dampened the mood a tad. She opted for food. After all, they had a lot of time on the island.

She sighed with contentment and stretched her arms out, rolling her shoulders forward. “This place is so relaxing and the customer service is top-notch. The other day, I came back from a swim and the maid was still in my room cleaning my hair brush.”

Alex lifted the cover off one of the chafing dishes. “What do you mean, cleaning your hair brush?”

She snagged a piece of bacon. “As in, cleaning the hairs off of my brush.”

He lifted his brow. “You didn’t find that odd?”

“A little. But this place is pretty swanky.” She uncovered two more dishes on the cart. “I’m starved.”

He took out his Blackberry from his pocket. Looked like he was firing off a text message or an e-mail. Did the guy ever stop working?

“Do you think we have enough food?” He chuckled, closing his Blackberry and putting it back in his pocket. “Let’s see. Chocolate chip pancakes, no surprise there. Bacon, eggs, chocolate éclairs?” He shook his head. “Did you order anything I can eat?”

She lifted the covers of two dishes and grimaced. “Look, I ordered your freaky health food. Tropical Muesli, yogurt and fruit. For once, can’t you say to hell with your rules and forget about common sense?”

“I did. Last night.”

She swallowed hard and absorbed the impact of his statement. “Regrets already, huh?”

“Nope.” He drew her into his arms, clasping both his hands around her waist, his thumb circling her lower back. “When you lose one sense, the others keep getting better.” He kissed her. “C’mon, let’s eat.”

“Big tease.”

“I’m gifted.”

They took their food-laden plates out onto the patio and ate in silence. Maddie ate with gusto, feasting her eyes on the beach. The sand was as fine as baby powder. The waves lapped gently against the shore.

She looked over at Alex as he toyed with the banana slices on his plate.

He parked his stare on her plate of bacon and eggs.

Cripes, there’s that doom-and-gloom look.

Again.

She rolled her eyes at his expression. Sheesh, she knew he was moody, but hadn’t quite realized the depth of his moodiness. Or was it about her? The situation?

She took a deep breath and put her fork down. “Donovan, stop it.”

“What?”

She leaned back in the padded chair. “You look petrified, for crying out loud.”

A muscle on the side of his jaw twitched. “Do not.”

“All you men are alike. You think one night of hot sex
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”