Beachcombing in the Bahamas (Once Again #11)

Chapter 21

21

T he day had been magnificent. They swam, ate, lay in the sun, made love. She’d even gotten used to being naked with him, throwing aside her fear that someone might come upon them in their secluded cove.

No one had. They lay in each other’s arms on the lounge chair, Brock pecking kisses to her temple, her forehead, stroking her hair.

Yvette wondered how they could eke out a vacation like this. Just the two of them. For a week. Or even a long weekend. Yes, they could do a long weekend. No one would know if they were both gone. No one would put it together.

She wanted it so badly her heart ached.

With his arms tight around her, she asked, “What would you have done if Adeline had insisted on going shopping with us rather than to the bird sanctuary with Trevor and Lorna?”

His answer was a whisper of breath across her hair. “I’d have found another day. We were meant to do this. And after the idea came to me, I wouldn’t let anything stop me.”

That was his way in business and in life.

It was his way with her as well. Not allowing anything to stop him.

She knew then, in his big, strong, beautiful arms, that he would never give up the idea of marriage until he got what he wanted. And maybe someday, she would give in.

When they arrived back at the compound, the kids were already there enthusing about the details of their incredible ride around the island on their ATVs. Lorna and Trevor had passed around their phones with pictures of the colorful birds they’d seen.

All Adeline had said, in the driest of tones, was, “It was worth the visit.” Then she narrowed her eyes at Brock. “You should have come with us. It was so much better than shopping.” Was that a snide note in her tone? “And what did you buy?”

Brock said easily, “I didn’t see anything I wanted.” He looked at Yvette. “And Yvette couldn’t find the blouse she was looking for.”

Adeline harrumphed, and Yvette couldn’t tell whether that was suspicion or lack of interest.

After another amazing dinner provided by Olive—Yvette wasn’t hungry for the conch salad after all the goodies in the picnic basket—the family gathered around the fire pit on the beach. The sun had gone down an hour ago, and from somewhere, Brock had secured a keg of some amazing island beer.

“When we were up on a ridge,” Kacey said, “We could see the horses swimming in the ocean.”

Jodi jumped in, “I loved the ATVs. We got to see so much of the island, and it’s all so different depending on where you are. But the best thing we’ve done so far was swimming with the horses.” She looked at her sister. “I wonder if we can do that somewhere at home.”

Garth laughed. “In a wet suit. The water is way too cold up north.”

Jodi gave a little pout. “I guess so. Maybe we’ll have to go down to Newport Beach or even San Diego.”

Yvette felt Adeline’s eyes on her in an intense stare. It was the first time Adeline had joined them by the fire. And that stare was unnerving. Why was the woman looking at her that way? She couldn’t know anything.

The conch salad, the little of it she’d eaten, curdled in her stomach. Adeline couldn’t know. But maybe it was worse that she was guessing.

Yvette shivered at the thought. She and Brock needed to cool it for the rest of the trip. No more days out. Maybe she should even tell him not to sneak into her room at night. They were safer at home.

Screwing his beer mug into the sand, Brock clapped his hands. “Okay, we haven’t picked out what we’re doing tomorrow. How about I rent the catamaran and we can spend the day on the water, swimming and snorkeling?” He looked at Lorna. “You can do that, right?”

After she nodded, he looked at his mother. “And so can you, Adeline.”

The lady snorted. “I don’t need to get skin cancer by lounging around in the sun.” Her words were so caustic, her tone so harsh that the group spirit immediately dipped.

But Brock laughed. “You don’t need to sit in the sun, Adeline. There are usually tarps stretched over the back for people who want shade.”

She harrumphed again, and Yvette had no idea what that meant. Before the standoff could degenerate into an argument, Jodi jumped into the breach. “We wanted to ask you something, Uncle Brock.”

He jutted his chin at her with tacit permission to speak, as if he were running a meeting.

Jodi rushed on. “After we heard about that spa Uncle Trevor took Grandmother and Aunt Lorna to, we all decided we’d like to do that. Go for massages, facials, body scrubs. And there’s a steam room, a cold plunge, all that stuff.” She stared at him with wide eyes, as if afraid he’d come down hard on her.

But Brock smiled widely. “Sure. Is that what you all want?” The rest of the gang, including Kacey, nodded their heads. “Then we’ll do the catamaran and snorkeling another day. No problem.”

He didn’t look at Yvette, but she heard his thoughts as if he’d said them aloud. This would give them another day together.

But Yvette was looking at Adeline. Another day was a bad idea.

Jodi’s voice rose with excitement. “We can all go.” She turned to Adeline. “Wouldn’t you like to go again, Grandmother?”

Adeline sniffed as if she’d smelled something rotten. “I’ve already indulged, dear. I don’t need to do that again so soon. And Trevor and Lorna have already gone as well.”

Jodi didn’t let it go. “But don’t you want to go again, Aunt Lorna? It will be so good for the baby.”

Lorna, a hand on her baby bump, smiled. “I don’t think so, Jodi. We’ve had such a long day today walking around the bird sanctuary. I’d like to rest.”

“But a day at the spa would be so relaxing,” Kacey cajoled.

Then Trevor put an end to it. “We’ll stay with Adeline, if that’s okay with you girls. When Lorna says she needs her rest…” He trailed off, shrugging and raising his hands. But he gave Lorna that stars-in-his-eyes look.

“Then that’s settled,” Adeline said. “You young people can go to the spa, while we old folks ,” she drawled, not meaning a word of that, because Adeline wouldn’t allow herself to be considered old, “will take a nice relaxing drive somewhere. I don’t know where. We’ll figure it out. Right, Brock?” She stared him down.

Until Brock said, “I prefer a spa day. I haven’t had a massage in weeks.” He stretched an arm back to massage his shoulder. “My back could use it too.” Then he turned to Yvette. “What about you?”

She knew what he wanted, and the heat in his eyes stole her breath. She thought how wonderful today had been. And she wanted it again. Her heart and her desires won over her common sense. But it would be good to get out from under Adeline’s eagle eye, who couldn’t suspect anything if they were with the kids. Besides, Yvette didn’t relish a day spent in the car driving around the island with Brock’s mother.

“Yes,” she agreed. “A spa day would be perfect.” She wondered if Brock would finagle a couples’ massage when no one was paying attention. “I’d love a facial. If you don’t mind the old folks coming long,” she parroted Adeline.

Jodi cooed, “You’re not old folks. It’ll be so much fun.”

Brock smiled at his mother. “That’s settled then, Adeline. Trevor and you and Lorna can go for a relaxing drive, have a pleasant lunch somewhere, and we’ll go to the spa.”

Adeline’s brows knit. Yvette easily read her expression. She knew she’d been tricked. And she didn’t like it.

Yvette lay in Brock’s arms, the darkness surrounding them. When he come to her door, she hadn’t the will to turn him away. But now she said, “I think we need to cool it around Adeline. You shouldn’t come to my room every single night. I think she suspects something.”

He stroked the tangled hair back from her face and tipped her chin until she looked at him. “She doesn’t suspect a thing. You worry too much.”

But she didn’t worry unnecessarily. Adeline had tricks up her sleeve that even Yvette couldn’t anticipate.

“Even if she does suspect,” he said, “it doesn’t matter. I want her to know. I want everyone to know. I want to stop sneaking around. I want to be with you.”

“I just don’t think I can take it.” A frisson of fear shimmied through her.

“I’ll be there for you.”

He meant Pierce hadn’t been there for her. It was true. Pierce had pooh-poohed her anguish every time Adeline played her nasty mind games. He claimed his mother meant nothing by it, that Yvette had a thin skin. Maybe she had. Maybe she still did.

Maybe Brock’s nonchalance regarding his mother finding out about them was like Pierce pooh-poohing her fears all those years ago.

Brock thought he could fix anything.

“I still think—” she began.

He shut her up with a kiss. She could never resist his kisses. She could never resist anything he did to her. And even after making love three times during the day, then again when he came to her room tonight, she wanted him again.

God, how good it felt. She wished she’d discovered how good sex could be when she was much younger. When she wasn’t worried about wrinkles or bulges or crepey skin. And she let him do everything he wanted, relished every touch, every kiss, every pump of his body into hers.

But she woke up in the morning with all her fears crashing over her again.

It was almost eleven the next morning when Brock watched Trevor herd their mother into the car. “Let’s have lunch in town,” Trevor said. “I found another interesting restaurant that Lorna wants to try.” He glanced at his wife. “Don’t you, sweetheart?”

She punched his shoulder lightly. “I was the one who found it.”

From the front seat, Brock heard Adeline complain, “We’ll all get fat. We’re eating too much. We don’t need another fancy lunch out.” But Trevor closed the car door on her comments and walked around to the driver’s side. Then the car rolled down the drive and out of sight.

As the kids piled into the Jeeps, Brock put his plan into action. Though Trevor had started it by making sure Adeline was out of the way before the kids left.

Garth asked, “Shall I drive, Dad?”

Brock smiled, rubbing his hand through his hair and ruffling it as if he were in deep thought. “You know, I’ve changed my mind. I feel like relaxing on the beach today. I’ve had little chance to do that so far.”

“You’re kidding.” Jodi jammed her hands on her hips and turned to her mother. “What about you, Mom? Are you still coming?”

Indecision crossed Yvette’s beautiful face. He’d sprung his plan on her. She’d either agree and stay with him. Or she’d let her fears take over and go with the girls.

Finally, after a long moment that had him holding his breath, she said, without even looking at him, “I think I’ll take a beach day too. You’ll enjoy the spa much better without me. You’ll just be worrying about what I want to do and if I’m having enough fun and I’ll just drag you all down.” She made it about her without mentioning Brock at all.

“Mom,” Kacey whined.

Yvette laughed. “You know it’s true. That’s why none of the rest of you are saying anything.” She waved a hand at the boys and their girlfriends.

Darryl said, “If she doesn’t want to go, Kacey, she doesn’t have to. Don’t force her.”

Kacey shut her mouth.

But Jodi said, with a hint of sadness, “If that’s what you want, Mom.”

Yvette nodded her head. “What I want is for you guys to enjoy doing whatever you want without worrying about me.”

“All right, already,” Darryl called out. “Time is wasting. Let’s go.” And they took off with a roar, gravel spitting from beneath the tires.

Yvette turned on Brock the moment they were out of sight. “You planned that.”

Grinning, he didn’t need to say a thing.

“You’re so bad.”

He took a step closer. She took a step back.

“My mother’s gone,” he murmured. “You don’t have to worry about her knowing we’re here by ourselves. Trevor won’t bring her back for hours. And the kids will be gone until evening.” He took another step. She backed up another. “So now we have the entire afternoon to do whatever we want.” Before she could back off again, he lunged, grabbing her up in his arms and swinging her around. “I intend to spend the whole day in bed with you.”

She looped her arms around his neck, locked her legs at his waist. “I want to do some swimming and sunbathing first.”

He waggled his eyebrows. “Oh yeah, I love stripping you out of your bathing suit in the water.”

She held her finger up in front of his nose. “You will not strip off my bathing suit. We aren’t alone here like we were in the cove. No funny business until we’re in the room.”

When she would have slid down, he carried her along the pathway to her cottage. “Wear that sexy suit with the gold buckle right between your breasts.”

Hauling her up against her door, he kissed her, already hard, thinking about everything he wanted to do to her.

Brock pinned her against the door, kissing away all her objections and all her guilt about not going to the spa with the girls. There was something thrilling about being the total focus of this beautiful man’s attention. Even if they’d been together for months now.

But when you were sneaking around, hiding what you did, could you call it “being together?”

Yvette couldn’t care about that right now as Brock’s lips trailed a path from her earlobe down her neck to the slope of her shoulder. He cupped her breast, and her nipples begged for his mouth while her body ached for him to be inside her.

But she pushed his hand away. “Anyone could see us from the house.” Wriggling out of his arms, she held him away and slipped inside her cottage before he could follow her. But she heard him laughing. They both knew he’d have his way with her eventually.

After they’d both changed into their swimsuits, they frolicked in the water for half an hour. Until she ran up the beach and climbed onto the big turquoise hammock swing to let her suit and body dry in the sun.

Of course, Brock joined her, and the wait had only made him hotter, harder. Their bodies rolled together on the swing. She didn’t think they could be seen from the house. Olive wouldn’t look anyway. And God, how she loved teasing him. How she loved lying here with his arms around her. Loved his kisses, his touches.

If she wasn’t a scared mouse, she’d let him make love to her right here on this swing, the turquoise cushion the exact shade of the Caribbean Sea.

Hadn’t that been her fantasy the first night?

He licked her ear, then blew a warm breath that made her shiver with desire.

“If you don’t want them to see me pick you up,” he whispered, his breath shooting a shaft of need straight through her. “And carry you back to your room where they’ll definitely know I plan to ravish you, then you better get up and head there yourself.”

His eyes were ablaze with desire when he pulled back to look at her.

“Are you ordering me about?”

He shook his head slowly, his face so close she could see all the shades of blue in his eyes. “Not ordering you,” he said, his voice harsh. “I’m begging you. I want you so bad that if we wait, I might take you right where you lay.” He grinned. “And I know you don’t want that.”

Oh yes, there was something so exciting and erotic being the focus of this sexy, incredible man’s attention.

She sat up and fluffed her hair nonchalantly. “If you insist. We can’t have Olive and Samara or the gardeners scandalized by your overactive libido.”

He laughed loudly. She stood, dabbed her legs dry, her arms, her throat, her breasts, then wrapped the towel around her hips. Sashaying, slowly, very slowly, to her cottage, she slipped across the back porch, knowing he watched every move. And drooled.

Inside, she found Samara had already cleaned the room. Yvette stripped the covers to the end of the bed, then turned the air conditioner to high. She’d have to close the sliding glass door so no one would hear her scream when Brock made her come over and over.

And no one would hear him shout out his climax.

He was through the door in less than five minutes, sliding it closed behind him and locking it. Yvette pulled the curtains over the glass, shutting out the sun on the sand. And Brock tugged the towel from her around her waist, throwing it on the nearby chair. When he hauled her against his taut frame, every inch of him told her what he wanted.

Then he devoured her mouth, going deep with his tongue, sucking the breath right out of her. She clung to him, savored every taste, every scent, every hard muscle, every steel inch.

He swore, and lifting her high, he tossed her on the bed, dropping on her like a caveman or a predator. “I want you. I’m going to have you. And I’ll make you scream when I do.” His words were guttural, welling up from deep within him, filled with so much feeling her skin burned.

This was how women wanted to be wanted. This was how Yvette needed to be craved. To be desired above all else.

He bent then, licking her right through the buckle of her swimsuit. His fingers found her nipples, teasing them to a ripe fullness. Yanking the straps down her arms, he dove on her, licking her, sucking her nipple into his mouth while he pinched the other, shooting fire straight to her core.

“Brock,” she cried out, fingers gripping his shoulders, nails digging into his flesh.

He groaned, the throaty sound against her nipple making her arch into him. Then he stripped her down, dragging the suit past her hips, down her legs, before he dropped his trunks on the floor and climbed over her again.

Hands under her armpits, he hauled her up the bed, until his mouth was level with her spread legs. And he swore again. She loved the word on his lips, the strain on his face, the huskiness of his voice. He buried his face against her, licking, filling her with his fingers, taking her to heights she might never have known, even with him. Because every time was better, sexier, hotter.

She exploded in a blaze of colored lights, her throat aching with the screams she couldn’t stop. Until finally her tense body relaxed against the bed, and she laughed. “I don’t know how it gets better every single time, but it does.”

He crawled up to cover her, his hard chest to her soft breasts. “That’s because we get better together. We’re meant for this. We’re meant to be together.”

But were they together if all they did was sneak around? He wasn’t the one who wanted all the secrecy. She demanded it.

Now wasn’t the time to think about it. She turned with him, sprawling on top of him, smiling. “I can think of another way to make it better right now.”

She shimmied down him, trailing her lips over his tight male nipples, loving the thrum of his groan, licking a pathway down the line of hair that headed straight to the erection she was dying for.

Laughing, she reached back and drew the covers over her head, leaning down to him in the sudden darkness, taking his solid length in her mouth, sucking hard on the tip. His hands reached beneath the sheet to tangle in her hair, and he guided her. This was part of what made it good for him, the feel of her hair beneath his fingers, the need for control, even as they both knew she had all the control right now.

She sucked him, hard, deep, his body arching off the bed and those first few luscious drops bursting on her tongue. Relishing every moment of the act, savoring every groan, every growl, she loved the way his thighs tightened around her body, squeezing, releasing, exactly the way she knew her body squeezed him when he was deep inside her.

She felt it coming, his explosion, his need overwhelming him. Just before he let loose, he hauled her up, pulled her beneath him, the covers twisting around them, trapping them together.

His eyes were cerulean pools of need as he demanded, “Open up for me.”

Spreading her legs wide, she didn’t need to guide him. He was like a missile, heading straight for her, and he plunged deep, filling her. Screaming, not with pain but with the glorious sensation shooting through her, she felt him in every part of her body, surrounding her, the throb of him inside her matching the beat of her heart.

And she shot to the pinnacle right along with him.

He swore as the feel of her body clutching him made him crazy. He pounded her hard, harder than ever before. But he wanted her so badly. Needed her. She scored his back with her fingernails, leaving welts he knew would show tomorrow when he took his shirt off to go swimming. Her body clenched tight, dragged him deeper, pushed him higher, and she locked her legs around him, gripping his ass, taking him as much as he took her.

From somewhere, he heard rapping, heard his name. Maybe it was the headboard against the wall and her crying out for him. And he couldn’t stop. He was sure she wouldn’t let him stop.

He whirled out of control, trapped with her beneath the sheets, his blood high, his skin hot, her body squeezing him, begging him, killing him.

And even when he thought he heard another call, something like Mom , he told himself it was his imagination, blocked it out. He had to take her now. Had to claim her, stamp his ownership on her the same way she had stamped ownership on him so many months ago.

He bellowed his release as he felt her body spasm around him.

He arched into her, giving her everything, every drop of who he was, of how much he wanted her, needed her, loved her. Until finally he collapsed on top of her.

And a scream that wasn’t hers suddenly ripped the air.