Trapped in Tourist Town (16 page)

“We could always skip the sightseeing.”

When his voice got like that, rough and growling, it was all Cady could do to keep her clothes on and remember they were in a public place. She peeked out of one eye and, sure enough, the driver leered at them from the rearview mirror. She was ashamed to admit that she was so aroused, she was torn between telling the man to mind his own business and giving him the show of a lifetime.

“Tonight. When we don't have an audience.”

Again with that low laugh that she could feel all the way to her toes. How did he do that? Cady turned her head and concentrated on the city life zooming by outside the window. Sure, a big part of joining Burke on this trip into the city had been about the “sleepover.” But she was in New York City and she should be soaking it up!

It turned out that the Statue of Liberty wasn't the only “first” for Burke that day. They'd ordered falafels off a food vendor truck, spent a fortune on tacky Big Apple souvenirs, and photo bombed a group of Japanese tourists on the Staten Island ferry. He'd taken Cady into his arms and showed off some pretty impressive ballroom dance moves when they'd stopped to listen to a street performer playing the violin. The guy had been so grateful at the crowd that had gathered, he'd offered a portion of his tips to Cady and Burke. They just shook their heads and waved goodbye.

The sun was setting in Central Park as they strolled down a path that would eventually lead them to Burke's street and his fabulous apartment on the top floor of his building. They shared a gelato in a large waffle cone, taking turns leaning in to swirl some up onto their tongue. It was—perfect.

“I had meant to take you out for a fancy dinner, you know.”

“How many times do I have to remind you that I am not like any of the other women you've dated?” Cady frowned, biting her tongue and wishing she could take back that last word. Crap!

“Are we?” Burke kept walking, holding the cone up to her mouth for a lick.

“Are we what?” Feigning ignorance, she took a bite of the gelato and smiled at him innocently.

“Dating.” His voice was quiet and she knew a lot rode on her answer. Had she just ruined their perfect vacation?

“We are ... enjoying spending time together. We are getting to know one another. We are about to go upstairs and trust that the other person is not going to laugh when they see them naked.”

Make light of it. Refocus his mind on the sex and he'll forget the “D” word.
Cady wasn't even sure if he'd asked because he was hoping they were or because he was hoping they weren't dating. Too bad life didn't come with a rewind button. This was definitely one of those moments she'd rather undo. Uncomfortably, she waited for his response.

“I plan to be paying close attention when you get naked. But I won't be laughing.”

Whew, close call! The awkward moment was diverted. And by the look on his face, she was suddenly very happy she had decided to go with the sexier black teddy instead of the safer pink nightgown.

A tiny part of her brain tried to fixate on the amazing day they'd spent together. No other man had ever made her laugh so hard. He had a fun, goofy side that was wildly entertaining. She felt carefree and giddy around him. Perhaps that was enough. If she stayed in Scallop Shores, and if they became a couple, would Burke be enough to keep long-held regrets at bay?

Cady sighed. It wasn't his job to keep her happy. That job was hers and hers alone.

“Here we are. Right across the street.”

For tonight, anyway, being happy meant being with Burke. She'd worry about any long-term damage to her heart another day.

• • •

A girl could get used to a place like this.

Cady slipped her shoes off at the door, practically tiptoeing across the gleaming hardwood floor because she didn't want to sully the polish. Drawn to the view, she almost couldn't decide which direction to turn. For it was all windows, all skyline and all beautiful.

“Do you like it?”

“I love it,” she breathed.

“Good.”

She wrinkled her nose at his satisfied nod. He was giving up this apartment for a permanent home in Scallop Shores. It shouldn't matter what she thought. She shrugged it off and continued her self-guided tour.

The living area was huge, with two buttery soft, black leather couches and a couple of matching chairs in a modern, whimsical shape. Even the huge square that served as a coffee table/footrest was the same black leather. It screamed style and money but didn't strike Cady as something that Burke would have chosen for himself. Turning in a slow circle, she saw it more as a designer's touch.

To her left, behind a beveled glass partition, was the kitchen. The first thing she noticed was the shine. She'd never seen such a well-lit kitchen. Light reflected off the industrial stainless steel appliances, glass cabinet fronts, and gleaming granite countertops. There was even a small refrigerator-type thing just for wine. And it appeared well stocked. Wow. The kitchen island, alone, was almost as big as her entire apartment back home. Oh, to be let loose in this room! Cady turned around before she could start to drool.

“I want to show you the rooftop.” Burke took her hand and led her up the winding marble staircase to the second floor.

The upstairs of the apartment was carpeted with a deep, cushiony white pile. She barely had time to peek in any of the bedrooms they passed as he dragged her to the end of the hall, to what must be the master bedroom. Swallowing hard, she prayed that Burke wouldn't notice the slickness of her palm. He gave her a reassuring smile, as though he'd read her thoughts. Being here, surrounded by the best that money could buy—it was a tad overwhelming.

He'd pulled her into the master bedroom but didn't even pause at the king-sized four-poster bed; instead he flipped on the light switch as he crossed straight through the room and toward a thick glass slider. Cady was intrigued by a blue light that glowed on the other side of the door. What did he have out there?

“Oh my freaking wow!”

She saw the pool before Burke even had a chance to open the sliding glass door, and danced in place as she tried to keep herself from shoving him aside so she could get to it faster.

“You … How did … This is all yours? Do you use it?” She was breathless, her words jumbling together in her hurry to get them out.

“Yes, this is mine. I love to swim. It's the one sport my mother deemed safe enough to allow me to participate in. My school had an excellent swim team.”

Burke slipped his polo shirt over his head and tossed it onto a nearby chair.

“When my parents were looking for a place for me, I insisted it have a lap pool. I would have been happy sharing a common pool with the rest of the tenants, but my parents ...” He trailed off, rolling his eyes.

“Wow, and here I was, happy to have a door lock that my brother couldn't pick, when I got my place above the bakery.”

“He broke into your apartment?”

“No. He would sneak into my bedroom when we lived at home. He always seemed to know where I kept my diary. He used to pick the most embarrassing moments to quote the juiciest stuff.”

Cady's eyes widened as Burke reached for the button on his khaki shorts. She glanced around, though it really was impossible for anyone to see him at this height. Unless they were straight above them—in a helicopter. She craned her neck and peered up, just to make sure.

“What kind of things did you write about in your diary? Who you made out with? How far you let them go?” His voice was a sexy purr.

“I'll have you know, I was a good girl.” She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and tried to keep from moaning when he shucked off his shorts and underwear in one fluid motion.

“Have you ever been skinny dipping?” Burke stepped back, giving her an eyeful before taking a running leap out toward the center of the pool.

Cady squealed as droplets of cool water splashed her exposed skin. Burke treaded water in the middle of the pool, the smirk on his face challenging her to let her guard down. She had very little doubt that, should she chicken out, he'd haul himself straight out of the water and throw her in fully clothed. Jutting out her chin and giving him a little nod to show she accepted his challenge, Cady slipped out of her tiny black denim shorts.

An appreciative whistle had her turning around and doing a little wiggle in the sexy black lace thong she'd bought just for this occasion. Burke sounded as though he was choking and Cady whipped around to make sure he was all right. He watched her with an intensity that turned her blood to fire in her veins and took away all desire to tease. Swallowing hard, she scrambled out of the rest of her clothes, kicking them under a chair before diving neatly into the water.

“Impressive,” he complimented her as she surfaced inside the circle of his arms.

“Can't live in Scallop Shores, surrounded by ocean, lakes, rivers, and ponds, and not pick up a thing or two.”

“Mm, less talking.”

Burke took her mouth in a rough kiss, infusing her with his impatience until they were a slippery, writhing knot of limbs. She could taste the chocolate gelato still on his tongue and sucked greedily. His large hands grasped her buttocks and lifted her against him. Unbidden, Cady wrapped her legs around his waist. So close. If she just moved a little to the left.

Walking forward a few feet, he pressed her back up against the edge of the pool. This gave her more room to maneuver and, feeling bold, she tried to take him inside her. Burke swiveled his hips, resting his forehead on hers as he caught his breath.

“My little wildcat. We've got all night.”

He lifted her slightly, propping her buoyant body with a strong thigh between her legs. Nerve endings already frustratingly sensitized, it took all her willpower not to hump his leg. Cady gasped when Burke lowered his head and lapped at one turgid nipple. She arched her back, letting him know she wanted more attention. She could feel his throaty laugh deep inside her as he gave her what she craved.

“More.”
Had she said that?

Nails raking down his back hard enough to leave marks, Cady tried to draw his mouth toward the other peak. She mentally cheered when he complied. Head thrown back, she shivered as his mouth traced a hot path up her cool, wet skin. She reached down between them, sheathing his steely hardness in her small hand and squeezing hard.

“Baby, yes!”

She used long, slow strokes, guiding him ever closer to her entrance. Burke bit softly on her earlobe, eliciting a cry that didn't carry far over the noise of the traffic below.

“I need ... We have to ...” Burke lifted Cady until she sat on the edge of the pool, then hauled himself over the side, wet feet slapping the concrete as he hurried over to the shorts he'd abandoned earlier.

Her head spinning as she tried to keep up with his movements, Cady swung her legs out of the pool and tried to pretend she looked more like a sexy siren than a drowned rat, as she sashayed toward him. He was scrambling in his pockets, tugging out his wallet to search inside. She bit her lip, fearing the moment would be lost if he found he did not have a way to protect them. Her sigh of relief echoed his when he pulled out a single foil wrapper. He turned and gave her a sheepish smile.

“I really didn't plan for our first time to be out here, in the open.”

Cady looked around, feeling more wicked than exposed now, and gave him a reassuring grin. She adjusted the back of the lounge until it was completely supine, then lay down, patting the space beside her.

“That's okay. I thought I'd be showing off some sexy lingerie about now. But I'm all for spontaneity.”

“Promise me you'll model it later.” His chest rose and fell rapidly.

“My big wildcat. We've got all night.”

With a wicked gleam in his eyes, Burke tore off the wrapper and sheathed himself before hopping on the cushioned lounge chair. Cady squealed as the metal chair slid a bit across the cement, screeching as it went. She laughed out loud. Being with Burke was like being on the most thrilling roller coaster in the world.

No sooner had she had that thought, Burke shifted on the cushion and yanked her over him. So he was handing over the reins, huh? Cady didn't mind one bit. Wiggling down until their bodies were aligned perfectly, she reached for his hard length to guide him inside. She'd been looking down and was momentarily surprised when Burke hooked a finger under her chin and directed her focus back up to his face. Yes, he was right. This was better.

Staring into his soulful eyes, she took him in, inch by agonizing inch. Fully seated, neither moved for a moment. Burke reached for her hands, pulling them up above his head and causing her breasts to brush against his chest. The contact was electrifying. The angle put delicious pressure on all the right places and Cady set a rhythm that she hoped was mutually satisfying.

A tortured moan escaped his lips and she knew she had nothing to worry about. Her hips picked up speed, her breasts slapping a rhythm against his chest. Neck muscles straining, Burke lifted his head off the cushion and kissed her like his life depended on it. He let go of her hands, only to grip her thighs, shoving up with his hips at the same time as he pulled her against him as hard as he could.

Senses on overload, Cady reached for that peak, the pinnacle that would take her straight into bliss. So close. A crescendo building inside. Up, up, and—there! Every muscle in her body trembled as she took and took. Like a wild man, Burke moved fast beneath her. His entire body went stiff and his exultant shout made her lady parts want to weep in satisfaction.

He tried to lower her onto his chest, but as he remained inside, the friction was too much, her sensitive nerve endings almost raw. With no small amount of disappointment, Cady lifted herself off his body and slid to the edge of the cushion to lie beside him. They lay there, panting and laughing. Always laughing. Burke swept her hair away from her face with a big hand, leaving a gentle kiss on her temple. A girl could really get used to this.