Rachel, flower tucked into her blond waves, walked beside Tag through the resort. Her legs shot out of a pair of short white shorts, a frothy top covering a white tank. Gorgeous. Every inch of her.
They’d come from a beachside restaurant, one with the best pulled pork he’d ever tasted.
“Dinner with a luau included,” she said with a sweet smile. “That’s a first.”
“I like when you have firsts with me.” He liked treating her. She didn’t get enough special treatment; he could tell. Especially when she’d argued about helping pay for dinner. Absolutely not.
“Now what do we do?” Dimples dented her cheeks when she flashed him another quick smile. Still cautious. He liked that about her. Liked being the guy who pushed her boundaries and watched her boldly step over them. Mile High Club indeed.
She surprised him at every turn, and he’d ended up surprising himself. He’d never been one for baby-stepping through dates. She was refreshingly different and made him want to discover more and more about her.
“I arranged surfing lessons for tomorrow before your evening shift.” He intended to have a few more firsts with her while they were here.
“Is that what you were doing while I was dressing for dinner?” She made a face like she’d tasted something bad.
“What’s wrong?” He steered them toward the beach. The sun had set, the moon reflecting white on black water. “Too much of a city girl for surfing?”
“I’m from a farm, thank you very much. I mean, sort of. We didn’t have cows or anything.” She pulled a few strands of hair away from her mouth and studied the dark ocean waves. “I’m not sure if working after a surfing lesson is smart. I’ll probably need a massage after I bust my ass.”
“That can be arranged.” He leaned close when he said it.
Her laughter filled his chest in a not uncomfortable way. Come to think of it, he was having a few firsts himself. She squeezed his hand and tugged him closer to the water, and he followed without hesitation. He opted not to read into that.
“Tag Crane, you brought me here to do a job, not play. Don’t you want me to do it?”
At the edge of the surf, he told her the truth. “Not really.”
Her forehead crinkled like she didn’t know whether to embrace the idea that he may have brought her here mostly to spend time with him. It didn’t sit all that well with him, either, but dammit, it was the truth.
“Now that I have you here, I don’t want to let you out of my sight.” He pulled her closer, pressing her soft curves against his body. Her eyes closed and her chin tipped in unspoken permission, so he gave them what they both wanted and met her lips with his. She tasted spicy from the barbeque and sweet from the piña colada. The scent of coconut suntan lotion scrambled his brain.
The only sounds around them were the distant drumbeat of a band camped by the glow of a beach fire, the warm lapping of the water at their feet, and the gentle suction of Rachel’s soft kisses.
“You have to let me work while I’m here, Tag,” she said when she pulled away. She put her hands in his hair and tingles shot down his arms. He loved the feel of her fingers in his hair. “I already feel guilty that you won’t let me pay for anything.”
“Shit, Rachel.” He huffed.
“What?” she argued, her tone suggesting she was ready for a fight.
“Hasn’t a guy ever treated you well? Bought you things just because he wanted to?” When the questions were out of his mouth, he stopped, sort of stunned he’d asked. Money had always been available to him, had always come easily. Not many people argued when he paid. Then the person he wanted to treat most comes along and she fought him every step of the way.
“I have my own money,” she said instead of answering him, crossing her arms over her breasts. A breeze caught her hair and lifted the white ruffles on her top.
He gripped her upper arms. “Stop being so stubborn.”
“I’m not being stubborn!”
So fucking cute.
“She says, stubbornly.” He let his smile break free.
Rachel shook out of his grip and turned, walking along the shoreline away from him, butt wiggling in those damn shorts. He followed. That was becoming a habit.
“You’d give me your ideas for free, wouldn’t you?” he called after her.
She stopped and turned to face him, arms still crossed. “I’d tell you what I thought without compensation, yes.”
“Your opinions have worth. You have worth.”
She frowned but said nothing, like she was having trouble accepting that. His heart lurched. Had someone convinced her she wasn’t worthy?
“You don’t have to earn the right to be here.” Tag watched her carefully. She straightened the bright pink flower behind her ear and bit her lip in thought.
Voice small, she said, “I’m still going to work behind the bar.”
“Figures.” He snagged her hand and unfolded her arms, then tucked her against him again, his palm going to her jaw. “I’ve been waiting to take you back to bed all day.” His voice was a low rumble, his cock stirring at the mere suggestion. She made him crazy in the best way, and remembering the ecstasy on her face paired with her high-pitched cries of pleasure made him impatient for more. “How much longer are you going to make me wait?”
“You promised me a beachside stroll.” She smiled wickedly, enjoying her power. He enjoyed her taking it.
“A little longer, then,” he said.
“You’re the one who wants to know me.”
“I do. You actually going to tell me about yourself?” Or dodge some more?
She held up her hands. “I’ll talk. I’ll talk.”
Seriously. Cute.
“Fine. But after this ‘stroll’ of ours, it’s straight to heaven via my mattress.”
Her mouth dropped open, eyes widening. “I accept.”
“Let’s get to know each other, Rachel Foster.” He offered a hand and she interlaced her fingers with his. He set the pace for their walk, careful to not out-stride her since her gait was much shorter than his. Brought him to a shuffle, but he could live with that.
“Parents?” he asked. Warm breeze covered them, the smell of salt mingling with sweet plumeria.
“Two.” He didn’t have to look at her to hear the smile in her voice. “Still married. Still in love. They live in a small town in Ohio outside of Columbus. They consider Chicago the big time.”
“Why did you come to Chicago?”
“I wanted to escape Derby, Ohio.” Her voice flattened.
“Derby.”
“Derby. I came here with a marketing degree. I worked with my now ex-boyfriend.”
“Ah, finally pried that nugget out of you.” But he didn’t get more because it was her turn to pepper him.
“What about your parents?”
“Dad retired last year, when my oldest brother Reese took over as CEO. Mom died in a car wreck when I was eleven.”
Her steps faltered. “Tag, I’m so sorry.”
“Me too. She was the best.” He was being sincere. His mother, Luna, had been loving and open, honest and strong. Most of his memories from his childhood were of the laughter and love surrounding him and his brothers.
A memory crawled out of the back of his mind. One he hadn’t thought of in years. His mother, the kitchen, a PB&J sandwich. Tag had mentioned a girl on the bus he wanted to be his girlfriend.
“You know, someday, Tag, you’ll meet the girl you want to marry.” Her blue eyes sparkled when she shared this horrible news.
He took a bite of his sandwich and gave a heartfelt “Yuck.”
“Just remember, the girl for you will challenge everything you think you know about yourself. That’s how you know she’s a keeper.”
The fringes of the memory faded and he blinked at the moon, feeling unhinged. Where had that memory come from?
“I can’t imagine how hard losing her must have been for you and your brothers.” Rachel’s voice sliced into his consciousness, and he realized they’d walked a few more yards while he’d spaced out.
“Yeah. Reese dealt with losing her by achieving. Eli brooded.”
“And you?”
He looked down at her and raised his arms in “ta-da” fashion, one hand still linked with hers. “Entertainment.”
“I bet.”
A few more moments of silence passed and Rachel stopped walking altogether.
“Tell me why you asked me here, really,” she said. “Do you actually need my help? Or do you only want to sleep with me?”
“I’m assuming you want the truth.”
“It’s not like you to mince words.”
It wasn’t. So he didn’t.
“I want you here because I value your opinion and trust your instincts. And because I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since the second you opened Oliver’s door wearing polar bear pajamas.”
Surprise colored her features. “How do you know they weren’t penguins?”
“Polar bears. Wearing little red scarves.”
She beamed and pride coated him.
“Truth is, Dimples, I want both. I want your advice. I also want you naked and on top of me. I want to watch your eyes go dark and hear the way you say my name in a breathy, heated voice while you’re coming.”
“Tag…”
“Just like that.” He dropped her hand, opting to put her to the test as well. “Now tell me why you’re here.” Had she come for the free vacay, or did she come to be with him? His heart pounded as he pressed his lips together and waited for her answer.
“Helping with the bar design will look good on a resume…”
He swallowed, his throat dry and his mind racing. If her resume was the only reason she was here, he wasn’t sure he would take that news well. But a few seconds later, she put him out of his misery.
“Truth?”
“Preferably,” he croaked.
“I came here to be with you.”
* * *
Unwrapping Tag Crane was like opening a present.
Being with him unleashed her confidence, and after the evening they’d had, she couldn’t resist him another second. He’d told her she was worthy. He’d made her feel desired. The player, as it turned out, wasn’t playing her.
This wasn’t Tag on his A game. This was Tag, the layers peeled back. His subtle charm feathering into the very real truth he shared about his childhood. It was him telling her exactly what he wanted, and what he wanted was to treat her well.
Rachel was on board with that. She deserved to treat herself.
She didn’t falter when she tugged his shirt up to reveal his bare, flat belly. She didn’t hesitate when she unbuttoned his shorts or when she wedged her thumbs beneath the band of his boxer briefs to explore his hot, golden skin.
He captured her face in his hands and kissed her while she touched him, his low male groans reverberating in her belly and bringing her desire to a peak. Everything about him made her want to lick him from head to toe. Which gave her an idea…
Did she dare?
His hands vanished under her tank top, her ruffled shirt already on the floor at her feet. He walked her backward until her back was pressed against the wall outside his bedroom door. Her chin tilted up, she took in the man surrounding her, hair, massive arms, and bare chest.
Hell yeah, she dared.
“Tag.” She tilted her head to one side, giving him room to explore her neck with rasping kisses.
“Yeah, Dimples?” he murmured against her skin as both thumbs brushed over her nipples through her bra. Her back arched, her tight breaths making her next words a high squeak.
“I want to…” She gasped when he did it again. “Do something.”
He stopped kissing her.
“What something?” he growled, muscles taut and eyes unerringly locked on hers.
Licking her lips, she reached for his manhood and cupped him. “Something…I’m not confident I do well.”
His eyes turned into twin erupting volcanoes. His hands tightened around her waist as he hovered over her. “If you’re offering what I think you are…”
“Going down on you?” She was barely able to push the words out of her constricting throat.
His nostrils flared and he froze in place.
“I’m offering.”
“I’ve got a fantasy involving you and just that, Dimples.”
She couldn’t help it, she grinned. Never in her life had she been this brazen, but hearing this incredible man had a fantasy about her made her want to hear every last dirty word of it.
“Will you tell me what it is? In detail?”
His throat bobbed with deep laughter.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” His teeth stabbed his lip briefly, which was the sexiest thing she’d ever seen. “You like when I talk dirty, Rachel?”
She nodded. “It makes me feel wanted.” And not like she was rigid or lousy in bed. As he’d proven to her twice, wait…three times, she did fine in his bed. Well, on the couch. The chair, the airplane bed…They hadn’t been together in a bed on land yet.
“I want you, sweetheart.” He offered his hand. “Let me show you how much.”
Pants open but still hanging on his hips, he led her to the en suite. Tag pulled open the sliding glass door on the shower.
“It involves us in here,” he rumbled. “And you sitting on that bench.”
The seat at the back of the shower was the perfect height for…oh. Oh, my. Putting a hand to her cheek, she felt the heat there. Could she actually do it?
“I expect you to instruct me,” she whispered, unfamiliar words tumbling from her mouth. “I want this to be good for you.”
“As you wish.” His smile twitched like he was trying to keep from grinning from ear to ear. More evidence he wanted her. Who knew how empowering that could feel?
They stripped, taking their time pulling off remaining articles of clothing. She felt Tag’s heated gaze on her body like a touch when he turned on the water and tested it with one hand. Steam billowed out, drenching the room in moisture and heat.
“Ready?”
As she’d ever be. She wanted to do this. She needed to do this. She was tired of believing what Shaun had told her. This was another way to prove to herself she was great in bed. Great in the shower, she thought with a self-satisfied twist of her lips.
“Get wet,” Tag instructed, the command enthralling on its own. She climbed in and stuck her head beneath the spray, hot water loosening her muscles and easing her nerves.
He followed her in and stood behind her, dominating the small space, parts of him brushing parts of her. He unwrapped a bar of soap, lathered it between his palms, and began smoothing rhythmic circles over her back with his hands. Every inch of her being tended to with smooth but firm pressure. He moved to each butt cheek, cupping them as he dropped kisses on her shoulder. Next, he coasted around to her stomach and over her breasts.
“Tag,” came her whisper of delight when those fingers soaped her nipples.
“Turn around.” He moved his hands to her hips and assisted her. She slid under his soapy palms. “Do me.”
She started at his chest, moving in sensual circles over each rounded pectoral muscle and up over his collarbone. Then down to his stomach and over the hard-on jutting impressively between his legs. His breaths had escalated the closer her hand came, expanding his chest, but he didn’t tell her to touch him. He did continue soaping her breasts, then moving one hand between her legs and gently swiping his fingers there.
She jerked in pleasure as he touched her, taking the lead and wrapping her hand around his shaft to give him a sudsy stroke. Then another. He was thick and long, and she wanted him so badly, she could hardly think.
“Now what?” The water temperature was perfect—hot but not too hot. “Tell me, Tag.”
Rather than answer, he took his time rubbing his hands under the spray to clean the soap from his body, then did the same with her. He slid big, firm palms over her skin, and by the time he’d finished, every inch of her was turned on and ready to go.
Once they were suds-free, he gripped his cock and instructed with a chin lift, “Sit.”
She lowered to the bench and, oh what a sight he was. One powerful hand wrapped around several inches of burgeoning manhood, stroking once more as he came to stand in front of her.
“Lick your lips,” he said.
She darted her tongue out, seductively swiping it over her top lip as she moved her eyes from his cock to his face. With great effort, he swallowed.
“Do you want to suck me off?”
“Yes.” Liquid heat pooled between her thighs as her nipples peaked.
He put his hand under her chin and lifted her face gently. Big as a mountain, he looked down at her, water dotting his body, his wet hair tangled and resting on his shoulders. He was a fantasy in the flesh.
“I want to watch you take me into your mouth, Rachel. After, I’ll tell you what comes next.”
She nodded and the first hint of his good humor broke through when he smiled. She was safe with him. What they were about to do was going to be as fun as everything else they’d tried. She knew it in her gut.
He thumbed her chin in silent request and she placed a soft kiss on the plump head of his penis before opening her mouth and taking the tip onto her tongue.
A sharp exhalation came from Tag, who immediately dropped his hand onto her head. His fingers flexed in her wet hair, but he didn’t force her. He stood so still that his thigh where her hand rested felt as rigid as rebar. A lot like the part of him in her mouth.
His cock was velvety smooth when she tested the underside of his length with her tongue. He let out a guttural sound of pleasure. A zing of excitement went through her as she gripped his other leg. She was so good at this. More importantly, she was enjoying herself.
His hand gripped her hair firmly and he drew out of her mouth. She sat back to look up at him and saw he was barely harnessed. His chest lifted and dropped with each ragged breath he drew, his mouth dropped open, water dripping from his hair and beard.
Between clenched teeth he asked, “How was that for you?”
Her confidence abruptly ebbed. Was it not good for him? Maybe the lust-blown look she thought she saw was disappointment. Or…anger? For her, the experience had been phenomenal, but she didn’t know how he felt. She’d only been guessing.
“Tell me the truth,” he demanded.
Earnestly, she shook her head and then looked right at his penis, which bobbed in front of her, slick and inviting. She moved her eyes back to his face. “I don’t want to stop until you come.”
His eyes closed. “Do you have any idea how hard it’s going to be for me to last longer than twenty seconds?”
She frowned. Was that…bad?
“Your mouth is…God, Rachel. You make me feel like some inept idiot when I’m with you.” He slammed a fist into the shower knob, shutting off the water, and helped her stand.
“Mind if we take this to the bedroom?” He stroked her cheek as he brought her against his body. Between them a steamy buzz of electricity shocked the air.
“Only if I can finish you off in there,” she purred.
“I insist.” A muscle in his jaw ticked as he bit down.
She grinned, pleased. Mostly with herself.
* * *
He was having an out-of-body experience, his head thoroughly disconnected from his neck. Rachel’s warm, luscious body was draped over him, one hand around his dick and the other locked around his leg. Her mouth was doing the most unimaginably sinful things.
And this was far from his first blow job.
But what she was doing—the swirl thing…
“Ah! Jesus.” She did it again and he knifed up, hand wrapping firmly around one of her ass cheeks and squeezing the plump flesh.
She let him go, licking her damp lips, and he nearly came right then and there. “What’d I do wrong?”
Sweat beading his temple, he managed a stuttering laugh. “Wrong is not the word, honey. You’re doing things so right I’m pretty sure I’m experiencing life in a way I never have before.”
“What do you like the best?”
Heat shot to his face as she held his gaze. Tag was about as far from shy as London to Tokyo, but she’d unraveled him with her mouth, giving him everything he needed and wanted—the very thing he’d dreamed of—with no thought about her own pleasure.
“The swirling thing.”
“You mean this?” She darted her tongue out and drew a torturous circle around the moist head. His hips bucked.
“Yeah.” His voice was a puny wheeze.
“Let me taste how much you like it, Tag.” She smiled, triumphant, then closed her mouth over him and began again.
Damn, he liked her like this.
He didn’t lie back down, holding on to her rump with one hand while his other fisted the comforter. He had to find a way to ground himself while his brain cells incinerated to ash. Rachel’s head bobbed, taking him deeper, then shallow, swirling her tongue and suctioning him with her exquisite mouth.
He lost his last shred of control on a shout. Her name on his lips, he pumped his hips helplessly. She swallowed every last drop as he spilled into her mouth, her hand gentle around his shaft, her soft blond hair tickling his thighs. His mind exploded like the cosmos as his eyes shut of their own volition. Finally he collapsed, his fist still tight around the bedding, his hand clamping her bare butt.
Cool air hit him as she released him from her mouth. She crawled up his chest, her breasts brushing his torso and he groaned in abject ecstasy. She mumbled to him, but her words were lost behind the pounding of his heartbeat and the rush of blood roaring against his eardrums.
“Hmm?” he managed, and she was lucky he’d said that much.
She peeled her body off his to lie next to him on the bed. “I asked if I was as good as the me in your fantasy.”
“No.” He opened his eyes to see a flash of hurt in hers. Then he grinned—a lopsided, half-assed grin all he could manage. “You are a million times better.”
She looked down, almost shyly, the most endearing expression he’d seen her wear. How this girl could be laying him open one second and shy the next was a hell of a feat.
“I need to know if you’ll forgive me,” he murmured, losing the battle with his eyelids as they shut again.
“For?” came her voice, almost at a distance.
“For resting here a minute before I return the favor.”
Silky laughter poured over him and she kissed the corner of his mouth.
“Now that’s a compliment,” she whispered.