Page 21 of Pure Temptation

One arm was still around her, his thumb gently stroking her back, and he was looking at her like he was about to kiss her. Like he was dying to but holding himself back.

“You want to come in?”

“I walked all the way over here in my dress, after hours,” she said with a little smile. “I suppose I’ll come in.”

Daxon started to laugh, a low rumble that shook his shoulders and crinkled at the corners of his eyes. But he didn’t move. He looked at her, his eyes searching. His hand moved to her waist, sliding up and down her sides. Finally his mouth turned up into his signature grin, tinged with teasing and humor and desire. “Well, by all means, let’s go inside.”

The sunset colored the white walls shades of pinks and oranges and purples, and the evening breeze blew through the open room, warm, bringing the scents and the sounds of the ocean closer. Kendall had never been inside one of the guest cabins in the evening. The pool on the lanai sparkled in the evening light. It was as if they had been transported, not here at the Kalani but somewhere else, just the two of them.

“It’s lovely here tonight,” she said, walking into the large room.

“Lovelier now that you’re here.” He rested his hand on her hip. “I can say that now that we’re after hours, right?”

Kendall chuckled. “You can get a lot dirtier than that.”

His hand traveled lower, down around her ass, his thumb still stroking, reminding her of how close he was. It was almost as if he didn’t want to stop touching her, as if waiting the whole day had made him just as hungry as it had made her. And there was satisfaction in that idea, that this driven, highly focused man wantedher.

“I hope the rest of your day went well,” she said, looking up at him.

“I would’ve preferred to spend it with you, but you were busy with another guy,” Daxon grumbled.

“We don’t always get exactly what we want, do we?”

“No, we sure don’t,” he said, chuckling. “But every once in a while, we do.”

Kendall laughed. “Looking forward to your happy ending tonight, champ?”

“I already got what I want. You’re here in my cabin,” he said softly. Then his familiar grin took over again. “Though I suppose a guy can want more than one thing.”

Lord, this man knew exactly what to say. She had imagined what sex with Daxon would be like so many times since Costa Rica, but she hadn’t imagined this part, where he’d talk to her, touch her. In her experience, pre-sex time was usually fumbling and awkward conversation. She had never imagined that she would feel so...comfortable with him.

He lowered his head, bringing his mouth to hers. Their lips brushed once, twice. His hands were strong, firm around her, but his kiss was achingly slow, as if he were savoring it. She parted her mouth, meeting each stroke of his tongue. Shivers of pleasure ran through her, heating her up, turning her insides molten hot. She ground her hips against his, trying to get closer. It was happening again, that same thing that had happened in the hallway, as kissing Daxon took over. She was too short, couldn’t reach enough of him, couldn’t touch enough of his taut, firm muscles. She put her hands on his shoulders and tried to pull him down, closer. Daxon chuckled, kissing her neck.

“I’ve got you, sweetheart,” he whispered. His hands traveled over her ass, finding her bare thighs, and he lifted her, the bottom half of her dress bunched up around her hips. She wrapped her legs around him and wedged his cock between her thighs. He was so deliciously full and hard, and she shamelessly rubbed herself against him. He came in for another kiss, this one hungrier than the last, each stroke of his tongue mimicking the thrust of his hips. His biceps flexed against her, holding her up.

“Your calf,” she said breathlessly. “Don’t hurt it.”

Daxon stopped, slowly blinking down at her. “My calf?”

She nodded. “I just don’t want you to strain it. It’s already frustrating enough...”

He was looking at her, wide-eyed with wonder. “You’re thinking about my calf?” His laugh was rough and full of humor. “I was kind of hoping your mind was elsewhere.”

“Actually, it was, which is how I ended up here,” she said, squeezing the muscles of his arms, which were currently holding her up. “I shouldn’t forget. This climb is everything to you, and I’m your physical therapist, even if I’m off duty.” She smiled. “I’m supposed to heal, not injure you further.”

But he didn’t put her down. He just looked at her, waiting, like he was still a little stunned.

“Sorry to ruin the mood,” she added.

“Not at all.” He shifted his weight to balance her on one arm and slipped his other hand behind her neck, caressing her with his thumb. His gaze swept over her face. “The mood is perfect.”

She was still thinking about his calf. Despite the hunger in her kiss, the way she moved against his body, sighing, moaning, she was thinking about his injury. His first reaction was that he wasn’t anywhere near giving her a performance she couldn’t forget. But then the concern in her voice hit him, along with this realization: never once had a woman stopped to worry abouthimin the middle of sex. It wasn’t like he had been harboring unspoken complaints about it, but at this moment, it occurred to him that all along, he was just expected to...perform.

Well, that’s what he got for living relationship-free.

The irony of it all was that for once, he hadn’t been thinking about performance. He hadn’t been thinking about anything except kissing Kendall, about those full lips and her soft skin and her sweet body moving up and down against his, with only a thin layer of panties and his board shorts between them. All he was thinking about was how goddamn good it felt to get lost in her.

He had been moments away from dropping his pants and sinking into the sweet, wet heat of her right there, in the middle of the living room. He probably would have done it if she hadn’t stopped him, and frankly, with her legs wrapped around his waist, grinding against him, he doubted Kendall would protest. But she was right. He should put her down and get himself together.