Passion in Paradise 1: Paradise Awakening Read online

  This could be his last chance at happiness, and he was too damn shell-shocked to do anything about it. He’d let his bad experience with his ex-wife color every decision he made about women.

  Rightly so. He had his own heart to protect.

  “Let’s get dressed and get out of here.” He gathered her clothes and helped her dress, refusing to touch her. What he really wanted to do was hold her tight against him, feel every inch of her skin cover him. But it was time to start letting go.

  After they returned to their room, Serena went to take a shower, seemingly confused over his lack of conversation. Michael stepped into his own steamy shower and leaned against the cool tile wall, hoping the pummeling water would beat some sense into him.

  They had one day left. One day, and then she’d be gone.

  He stepped out of the shower and dried off, then went to find her.

  She was in the kitchen fixing them a snack. Wearing plain cotton shorts and a t-shirt, her hair damp and streaming down her back, she looked completely different from the sex siren who’d tantalized him tonight with her wriggling ass and shapely legs.

  Without makeup she looked like a college girl herself, not a professor. A down-home Kansas girl with a simple beauty that took his breath away.

  “Hungry?” she asked, bringing out a tray with sandwiches and fresh vegetables.

  “Starving.”

  She set the tray on the table in front of the sofa and went back to the kitchen, returning with two glasses of iced tea. “Sex makes me hungry,” she said with a smile as she curled up on the couch.

  He remembered not too long ago when she’d said she didn’t know if sex made her hungry or not. Apparently, it did. “I know the feeling.”

  They tore into their food, eating as ravenously as they made love.

  Correction—fucked. Making love was something you did with a person you cared about. He wouldn’t care about her. He’d just fuck her until he couldn’t fuck her any more.

  Could he be any more ambiguous about this whole thing? He shook his head, amazed at his own lack of decision.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, taking a long swallow of tea.

  “Nothing. Just thinking about this week.”

  “It’s been wonderful, Michael. Have I thanked you for all you’ve done for me?”

  Oh sure. Pile on the guilt. What had he done, other than toy with her emotions and tell her he loved her, only to take it back like a bully on the school playground? “No thanks necessary. I’ve enjoyed it.”

  She set her tea on the table and turned serious eyes on him. “I need to ask you a favor.”

  “Okay, shoot.”

  Sucking in her bottom lip in a way he found incredibly sexy, she hesitated for a second before saying, “We have two nights left together.”

  “Right.”

  “I’d like to sleep with you. In your bed.”

  Oh, shit. “Why?” he blurted.

  She arched a brow. “I don’t know, exactly. Call it a need, or something indefinable. I just feel a need to sleep in your arms at night.”

  Protect. That word swirled around his head until he wanted to shake it out. Violently, if necessary. Sleeping with her would be intimate. Personal. Emotional.

  As if she sensed his hesitation, she placed her hand on his knee. “I know how you feel, if you’re worried about that. I know you don’t want to be involved with me beyond this week. I can accept that. Consider this just another adventure for me. And you promised to help make this week exciting for me, didn’t you?”

  That he did. He’d made it exciting all right. Exciting, erotic, and completely disastrous.

  So sleeping with her would nearly kill him, so what? Just what he deserved for leading her on in the first place. “Yes, we can sleep together.”

  “Thank you.”

  Michael tried to concentrate on work, putting the finishing pieces on his plotline for the next book. Serena sat with him, as he’d grown accustomed to, offering ideas and listening to him throw out suggestions.

  She was amazingly insightful where his work was concerned, thinking along the same lines as he with character development and plotline. He could use her as an assistant, because he never had anyone to talk to about his writing.

  After tomorrow, he wouldn’t have her to talk to, either.

  He’d miss that. A lot.

  When she began to yawn, he closed the laptop and grabbed her hand, pulling her up beside him. “Let’s go to bed.”

  She nodded and offered a sleepy smile, following him into his bedroom.

  They undressed and slid into bed together. Serena snuggled up against him and laid her head on his shoulder, her hand draped across his chest. Michael stared at the ceiling, ignoring how perfect she felt in his arms. Ignoring how much he wanted to pull her under him and make love to her all night long.

  “Thank you for doing this,” she said.

  “It’s no big deal, Serena. Really.”

  “It is to me.”

  And that’s what made this whole scenario suck.

  “Night,” she murmured in a sleepy voice.

  “Night.”

  When the sounds of her rhythmic breathing indicated she was asleep, Michael exhaled.

  In his bed, in his arms, was exactly where Serena belonged. How in the hell was he ever going to let her go?

  Chapter Thirteen

  Waking up in Michael’s arms had been heaven, everything she’d dreamed of. Serena had slept well for the first time all week.

  Spending her last day stretched out on the beach, her body warmed by the tropical sun, she smiled, thinking about every new experience she’d had this week.

  She was twenty-eight years old and had never spent all night snuggled in a man’s arms. The few relationships she’d had did not include the guy sleeping over. In fact, the thought hadn’t even occurred to her.

  But with Michael, she’d wanted to sleep with him since the very first day. And now she had. With still one more night to come.

  And one more day of erotic pleasure to share together.

  She pushed aside the relentless ache in her middle at the thought that today was their last day together. From now on she’d live in the present, concerned only with the here and now. Not the ‘later’ that she couldn’t change, anyway.

  Michael didn’t want her. Pure and simple. She didn’t have what it took to make a long-term relationship work. She’d thought about this a lot, and chalked it up to her inexperience with men. Without the first idea how to form a lasting relationship, she’d gone about it all wrong.

  Nothing to do about it now, except enjoy the day.

  “I brought you one of those frou frou drinks that women like.”

  Serena shielded her eyes from the sun and looked up at Michael. “Frou frou drinks?”

  “Yeah. Pina colada. With fruit and an umbrella.”

  She sat up and accepted the frothy concoction from him, arching a brow. “Do I look like a frou frou drink kind of woman?”

  He tilted his head as if examining her for the frou frou gene. She punched his arm. “Stop.”

  “Sorry. You don’t like it?” he asked, his lips curled in a generous smile.

  She took a sip and licked her lips. “Yummy, actually. Smooth and creamy. Kind of like that sweet cream that comes from your cock.”

  Eyes darkening, he said, “Careful. You might get ravaged right here on the beach, in front of all these people.”

  She waved her hand. “I’ve had sex in front of groups before. Old hat stuff to me. Give it your best shot.”

  “Don’t tempt me. Besides, I’m waiting for later.”

  Her body tingled at the thought of today’s event—their last together, and the one she’d been anticipating all week. The Private Cove for Two. No crowds, no indoor rooms, just the two of them, outside, on the beach, in their own palace of erotic joys.

  “I can’t wait,” she said, trailing her fingertip along the line of his strong jaw. She’d miss the feel of his stubb
le scratching against her skin.

  They snuggled together in the sun, Serena content to lie by Michael’s side. They read, they swam, they even engaged in some beach volleyball with some of the other guests. Before long it was time to get ready for their adventure.

  After a quick shower to rinse off the suntan lotion, Serena dressed and she and Michael headed to the beach.

  The Private Cove was on a secluded section of beach off limits to any guest other than the ones scheduled for the day. A sultan’s tent stood in the center of the beach, its fabric sides and waving flags undulating in the soft, warm breeze.

  Morgan greeted them, the soft ocean breeze blowing her red hair behind her. In her blue sarong she looked like a mermaid swept in from the sea.

  Serena wondered why a gorgeous woman like her lived such a lonely existence on an island like this, and didn’t even partake of the pleasures the resort offered.

  “Welcome to the Private Cove,” Morgan said in her typically husky voice. “I think you’ll both enjoy this experience.”

  She led them inside. Oversized pillows were strewn over a bed draped in silks and satins in jeweled colors. Two rooms on either side of the bed contained their outfits for the day. Middle Eastern music filled the room with sensual, seductive sounds.

  “Indulge yourselves in unlimited pleasures.” Morgan pointed to a tray filled with fruits, cheeses and drink. “More will be delivered, discreetly of course, later on.”

  After Morgan bid them farewell, Serena and Michael headed to their respective changing rooms.

  Serena giggled as she fastened the gold medallion belt around her belly, then inserted the green emerald in her navel. A harem dancer. Thrilled at the prospect of tantalizing Michael to the brink of madness, she slipped on the sheer emerald harem pants and turned to the mirror.

  Perfect. She’d swept her hair high on top of her head in a long ponytail, and fastened the matching green veil behind her ears, covering the lower half of her face. The bra was made entirely of gold sequins, showing off a generous amount of cleavage. The pants hung low at her waist, the belt slung over the top. A gold sequined thong was visible through the sheer harem pants.

  After slipping on the gold, snake-shaped armbands, she stepped out of the dressing area to find Michael standing before her, looking for all the world like a sexy sultan.

  His chest bare, he wore only a black brocade vest, which hung open to reveal a gold medallion hung on a long, thick chain. The billowy sultan pants he wore complemented the vest and made him look like a sexy, rugged genie. The only other accoutrements to his outfit were the two golden armbands clasped tight around his bulging biceps.

  He was so damn hot he stopped her heart.

  “Wow,” was all she could manage.

  “I feel stupid,” he said. He stood there, legs spread, hands on hips, looking for all the world like the commanding sultan. “You look sexy as hell.”

  Her body started its familiar rush of anticipation as she lowered her head in a bow. “Your slave for the day, master.”

  He arched a brow. “Slave, eh? Come here then, woman.”

  She fought back the smile. Slaves did not giggle at their sultans. With a slow saunter, making sure she wiggled her hips suggestively, she approached him.

  “I believe you will entertain me today,” he commanded.

  “As you wish, my master.” The thought of being subservient to his every wish tantalized her, teased her with a promise of sensual delights. “What is your pleasure?”

  His blue eyes darkened. “You are my pleasure,” he whispered, caressing her bare arm with his knuckles.

  She shivered and inhaled a shaky breath.

  “Dance for me, slave.”

  Her throat went dry at the thought of dancing for Michael. But she so wanted to please him today, determined to give him an experience he would never forget.

  “Sit. Let me entertain you.”

  He slipped onto the bed and lay prone, propped up on one elbow. His dark eyes never left her, gazing appreciatively over her body. Serena stood at the edge of the bed and inhaled, hoping she wouldn’t come off looking like a complete fool.

  She let the music take over, its slow, seductive tones filling her mind and body with images of sensual pleasure, and began to move, communicating without words her desire for Michael.

  Michael sucked in a breath at the sight before him. As if the sexy as hell harem outfit she wore wasn’t enough torture, Serena began to move, slowly undulating her hips and moving her hands gently, as if she were caressing the very air around her.

  The gold bra shimmered in the sunlight pouring in through the open drapes of the tent, shining on the swell of her breasts spilling over the top of the garment. The sheer, green harem pants covered nothing. Her silky legs were clearly visible, as was her barely covered pussy.

  His cock had been hard since the moment she’d stepped out of the dressing room, her sea green eyes lighting up like emeralds to match the slinky, seductive outfit she wore.

  And now, watching her dance before him, she took his breath away. Sweat beaded his brow and he furiously wiped it away, not wanting to miss a moment of her movements.

  She was a siren, waving her hands in the air as if to summon the demons of pleasure. Her hips undulated from side to side and she rolled them towards him then back again, teasing him with her actions.

  He wanted to rip that sexy getup off her, throw her in the midst of the pillows and lose himself in her.

  When she turned her back to him and shook her ass to a quick tempo song, he almost lost it. Without hesitation he reached for his cock and stroked the shaft over his pants, the silk rubbing against the aching head. It felt like Serena’s slit, so soft it was almost painful.

  “Come here,” he said, feeling like he’d been tortured long enough.

  She turned and smiled at him through the sheer green veil, and approached the foot of the bed. He bounded off the bed and stood next to her, releasing the veil from her face and tossing it aside.

  Her tongue darted out and swept across her full bottom lip. He swallowed and followed her movements, desperately needing to feel her tongue slide across the head of his swollen cock.

  Without words he undressed her—slowly, deliberately prolonging the removal of each piece of her clothing, until she stood near naked in front of him. The sequined thong was the only thing remaining and she smiled up at him, obviously remembering his penchant for ripping off her panties. She shook her head.

  “These aren’t mine. As it is you’ve destroyed two pair of expensive panties.”

  “I’ll mail you a check,” he teased, then carefully pushed the thong down her hips until it pooled at her feet.

  She stood gloriously naked before him. His harem girl, his slave, his princess, his siren and seductress. She was the woman of all his dreams and she was his.

  For today.

  Serena slipped the vest off his shoulders, then dropped to her knees and pulled off his pants. His cock sprung straight out, hard and pulsating.

  She smiled and looked up at him, then cradled his balls in her hand and leaned forward to grasp the head of his penis with her lips. With one, long swipe of her tongue she licked the sensitive head. He groaned at the sheer pleasure of her warm, wet mouth, then died a thousand deaths when she sucked him in deep.

  “I love sucking your cock,” she said after she slipped him out of her mouth to stroke him with her hands. “I love the feel of its satiny texture on my lips and tongue, the salty sweet taste of you that spills out drop by drop.”

  Obviously, she was trying to kill him, and nearly succeeding. He pulsed in her hands, releasing more droplets which she greedily licked off the head.

  He lifted her and pulled her into his arms, delighting in the feel of her breasts crushed against his chest. “You have one sexy mouth.”

  “Thank you, my master,” she said with an impish wink. Staying in character she said, “And now, I wish to offer you a gift.”

  He arched a brow,
not certain of the game she played. “What kind of gift?”

  “One I’ve never given another man.” She wound her arms around his neck, sliding her fingers through his hair. Her nails lightly scraped his scalp and he shivered.

  “Now I’m interested. Tell me.”

  With a soft sigh she brought her lips to his and kissed him gently, then pressed her mouth firmly against his, seductively entwining her tongue with his until he felt his legs wobble. He pulled her closer, his hands reaching down to caress that cleft between the cheeks of her ass.

  She stood on her tiptoes, giving him free access to probe between her ass cheeks.

  “That’s what I want, “ she said, demurely dropping her gaze.

  “What?” He could barely concentrate, his mind and body fixated on stroking that secret place on her behind.

  “That. Oh, yes, that.”

  His eyes widened in shock. Never in a million years had he been prepared for her wanting to be fucked that way.

  “Spell it out for me. Tell me what you want.”

  Her gaze met his and she smiled. “I want you to fuck me in the ass, Michael.”

  His throat went dry and he struggled for words. Excitement filled his balls, tightening and promising a gut wrenching orgasm. “Are you sure that’s what you want?”

  She nodded excitedly. “Oh, yes. We’ve done everything together. I’ve thought about this a lot. I’ve, never…”

  “Never?”

  She shook her head. “No, and I want you to be the first.”

  Heart pounding against his chest, he considered her request. Okay, he considered it for all of a millisecond before his cock made the decision for him. “I’ll make it good for you baby. I promise.”

  She smiled, her expression so full of trust it humbled him. “I know you will.”

  He pressed her down on the bed and laid next to her, pulling her against him and kissing her until she whimpered.

  He would make this good for her. Make sure she was ready, relaxed and primed for the moment when he’d plunge his hard cock into her delectable ass. Pushing her on her back, he trailed his fingers over the silky softness of her cheeks and down her throat, following with his mouth, licking a line from her jaw to her collarbone.