Ample Delights (6 page)

“It’s incredible.”

Terrah stared at the tropical fish flitting about the lush aquatic setting, complete with a  sunken ship and a mermaid singing bubbles. She stepped up to the huge tank, set her case down and leaned into the glass for a closer look as Nick came to stand beside her.

“That blue tang is so pretty!” Terrah turned towards Nick, noticing the empty lounge chairs behind them. “This would be a great spot for a small party.”

“Or a private dinner.”

Images of the two of them dining alone in the beautiful room instantly popped into her head.

Why couldn’t she have this kind of sexual chemistry on an actual date?

“Thanks for showing me this.” She gestured towards the tank. “I had a great time tonight.”

“Does that surprise you, Terrah?”

“A little bit.”

Nick shook his head. “You’re doing a real number on my ego.”

Terrah laughed. “I’m sorry.”

“No, you’re not.”

Ripples of heat spun deep inside her and rushed through every pore of her body as he held her gaze.

Keep it cool.

“Maybe we’ll get to work together again on a photo shoot in the near future.”

Her heart skipped a beat as Nick grinned. Not his regular curve of the lips—no, the slow, sexy, ‘I’m one hundred per cent male’ smile.

“Maybe.”

Terrah’s heart beat erratically as seconds ticked by. Nervous, she glanced back at the aquarium. If she got any hotter she’d break into a sweat.

“Terrah?”

“Yes?”

She turned to him and her breath hitched when she saw the searing look in his eyes.

Omigod—

One arm snaked around her so fast she could only react by placing her hands on his shoulders as she lifted her face to his. Strong fingers gripped her chin and her heart stopped beating in the split second it took for his mouth to descend on hers. She moaned deep in her throat as she parted her lips for him. Nick kissed her slowly, taking time to taste her tongue, melding his mouth with hers. He released her chin and pulled her closer to him as he wrapped his other arm around her waist. Terrah kissed him back, helpless to do anything but respond to her attraction to him and his incredible lip work.

Breathless, she blinked in confusion when he broke the erotic kiss.

“Was that for your ego?”

Terrah marvelled at how steady her voice was. Inwardly, she was quaking in a million molten pieces.

“Don’t,” Nick said against her temple.

“Don’t what?”

She was regaining her sanity with each passing second. All she had to do was get out of his arms and she’d be back in control.

Nick pulled back, but didn’t let her go as he looked down at her. “Don’t act like you weren’t affected by my kiss.” His thumb brushed her bottom lip and Terrah trembled. “You don’t have to admit it…
this
time.”

“There won’t be a second time.”

Nick only chuckled and the husky sound, coupled with the scent of his cologne, was like a potent aphrodisiac to her system.

“I love your lips.”

The timbre of his voice was deeper, huskier…sexier.

“I had to kiss you. I hope you aren’t offended.”

Offended?

She was on fire, burning for more kisses, more
everything
.

“Terrah?”

“I-I’m not offended. Just taken aback.”

Still in his arms, she could feel every hard muscle pressed against her body and it was making it difficult to construct a sentence in her head. Terrah realised he could make a liar out of her. She wanted to sleep with him, would go willingly to his bed if he so much as suggested it to her right now.

“Did my kiss convince you that my attraction for you is real? Maybe another—”

“No! I believe you.”

Nick released her, but not before she’d felt the hard ridge of his cock against her.

“Good. Because we
will
see each other again.”

Terrah didn’t say anything as he bent down and grabbed her case. She could barely focus on what he was saying about the history of the aquarium as she followed him out of the room. Terrah willed her wobbly legs not to fail her as they walked back through the brightly lit lobby to the glass doors leading outside.

Nick held the door open for her before striding up to the first cab lined up outside the hotel.

“Well.” Terrah placed one hand on the door as he opened it, lifting her chin to meet Nick’s eyes. “It’s been interesting, Nick Tasso.”

“Likewise, Terrah Bryant.”

They smiled at each other.

“Until next time.”

Nick leaned into her, gifting her with another generous whiff of his cologne as he kissed her on the temple.

“Until next time.”

Terrah slid into the car seat and waved through the glass as Nick closed the door and the cabbie pulled out into the traffic. She stared, unseeing, out of the window in a state of euphoria.

What a night.

Her grin faded.

They hadn’t even exchanged phone numbers.

Damn.

Her fingers went up to touch her lips. They still seemed to tingle from Nick’s kiss. A ribbon of desire wrapped around her body as she imagined him kissing her again. He had an absolute gift for the art of seductive lip-locking.

He didn’t even ask me for my number.

Terrah sighed as she stared out of the window at the congested traffic. It was probably for the best. There was no telling what would happen between them if they were ever alone together again. The chemistry between them, from Terrah’s perspective, was strip-naked-and-hit-the-sheets explosive and Nick had had no qualms about telling her it was the same for him. She was almost afraid to know what it would be like to explore that kind of sexual verve with someone.

Terrah shook her head, still in shock. Her friends would never believe she’d kissed international hottie model Nick Tasso. The cabbie swerved into another lane and she grabbed hold of the door handle as they zipped by another taxi. Terrah gazed out of the window and the magic of the evening seemed to fade with every passing city block.

Restless and flustered, Terrah sighed. Despite her self-drawn conclusion that having anything to do with Nick would be foolish, she couldn’t help wondering if she’d run into him again.

There was a chance. The modelling world really wasn’t that big.

Stop.

She’d had a nice dinner. It was best to leave it at that.

In a few days, she’d be in Hawaii for the first time. She would focus on the upcoming shoot and not the irrational…
ridiculous
longing to see Nick Tasso again.

Chapter Six

“Last call for Aloha Airlines, flight one-nineteen.”

Terrah sighed as she got up from the hard chair she’d been sitting in for over an hour. She bit back a curse as her purse fell to the floor. Her nine-lives phone clinked on the grey linoleum.

Great…just great.

Stooping, Terrah swiped up her bag and stuffed her phone inside, not even bothering to see if it was functioning properly. She shoved the thick straps of her purse onto her shoulder, frustrated that she was now the very last person in line to board the plane.

Wait—there was a haggard-looking guy getting in line behind her who looked like she felt. Flying wasn’t her favourite way to travel and she always liked getting to the airport on time, but nothing had gone right. Her taxi had been late picking her up, then the afternoon thunderstorm had seemed to make every commuter in New York even more insane. She’d arrived at the airport with not a moment to spare, then raced towards her terminal, hoping for a miracle—and her wish had been granted. Her plane had been delayed because of the storm.

Just keep telling yourself, in a few hours you’ll be in sunny Hawaii.

Yes, but she had to
get
there first, and the delay because of the storm had only made her more nervous about flying. 

Does anyone else fear for the safety of the plane?

Terrah glanced at the people in front of her, seeing and hearing nothing but smiling faces and excited conversation.

Apparently she was the only one inwardly freaking out.

The only good news was, maybe she could sleep through most of the ten-hour flight.

“Sorry about the delay. May I have your ticket, please?”

Terrah’s gaze flicked over the ticket counter agent’s name tag. She didn’t think Joan looked very sorry about Terrah’s numb behind, but she handed over her ticket.

“I’m sorry, Ms Bryant, it looks like this flight has been overbooked.”

Terrah held her tongue as the guy behind her cursed, vehemently enough for the both of them.

Joan flashed him an impatient look before offering Terrah another apologetic smile. 

“I can offer you a free ticket voucher, or perhaps you’d like to wait on standby for the next flight? The next one to Oahu leaves at six thirty-five in the morning.”

Vouchers? Wait on standby?

She had to be on the Big Island in twenty hours!

“Can you upgrade us?” the bedraggled gentleman asked, moving up beside her at the counter.

Terrah glanced away from him to see Joan’s eyes narrow.

“Please—I have to be on this flight.” Terrah used her gentlest, friendliest, please-help-me-now voice.

“Let me take a look here”—the ticket agent’s face seemed to soften as she started to tap on her keyboard—“and see what I can do.”

Terrah exchanged a look with the guy who shared her predicament, and both of them waited with bated breath as Joan lifted her head from the computer screen.

“All right, Ms Bryant, you’ve been upgraded to business class. Go now to board the plane.”

“What about me?” The harried man’s voice had gone up a notch.

Relieved, Terrah took the ticket handed to her, tuning out Joan’s tart response to the guy next to her as she walked forward. Arriving late in Hawaii would have not been good. She wanted time to unpack, get settled and relax before the photo shoot taking place tomorrow afternoon.

Now to just get through ten hours on the plane.

Terrah took a steady breath as she moved steadily forward, through the loud tunnel that led to the stewardess waiting to greet her.

“Welcome to Aloha Airlines, Ms Bryant. Let me take you to your seat.”

She tried to ignore the butterflies skittering in her stomach as she walked onto the plane. Terrah followed the stewardess through the red curtains blocking out the rest of the passengers.

So this is how to travel in style.

No screaming children. No cramped three-in-a-row seating. There were two comfy seats to each row with plenty of leg room. Everyone looked comfortable and content. The stewardesses were actually smiling.

I’ve officially re-entered the Twilight Zone. It’s called first class, baby.

“Terrah?”

That voice.

No way… Can’t be!

Terrah’s head whipped to the left and her eyes widened as her gaze fell upon Nick Tasso.

Her brain froze for a moment as he smiled at her, looking even more devilishly handsome than she wanted to remember.

“
Nick
, you’re on this flight?”

It was a silly question.

He was obviously going to Hawaii on Aloha Airlines flight one-nineteen.

Terrah’s heart hammered in her chest as Nick grinned at her.

“Yes, we’re working on the same photo shoot. Why don’t you join me? No one’s sitting here,” Nick said, motioning to the window seat beside him.

“Would you like me to stow your carry-on, Ms Bryant?”

“Yes, thank you.”

Terrah handed the lady her shoulder bag before moving past Nick to get into her window seat. Her gaze ran over Nick as he sat back down.

Omigoodness, he’s even hotter than I remembered.

He looked completely relaxed and undeniably sexy in worn jeans and a white button-down shirt that was open at the neck. The familiar scent of his cologne teased her, reminding her of their kiss the last time they’d been together as she settled into her leather seat.

“I missed my earlier flight and now I’m glad I did.”

“I was upgraded at the last minute.” Terrah smoothed her hair, wishing she’d had time to check her appearance in the bathroom before boarding the plane. “This is another unexpected surprise. I didn’t know you were doing this shoot.”

“It’s a surprise to me, too”—Nick leaned in towards her—“but I told you we’d see each other again. I take this as a sign.”

“A sign?”

She was captivated by the deep, low tones of his voice as he took her hand, brought it to his lips and kissed her wrist.

“Yes, a sign that you and I are destined to explore the chemistry between us. I’ve been thinking about you since our impromptu dinner date.”

Terrah was speechless as he brushed his lips over her skin again, happy to know he’d been thinking about her—because she hadn’t stopped thinking about him since the other night. She’d never confess it to Nick, but she’d
replayed their conversation and his erotic kiss over and over in her mind.

“Did you think about me, Terrah?”

She pulled her hand from his. “I wondered if we’d see each other again.”

It was all she could admit to at the moment. She made a big deal out of smoothing down her skirt, conscious of Nick’s eyes on her. His unexpected presence and his direct question had thrown her for a loop.

“I wanted to call you before this trip, but I didn’t get a chance.”

“
And
you didn’t have my number.”

Terrah pressed her back into the seat in an effort to look more relaxed. Nick’s hard thigh brushed against her leg and his aqua-green gaze fixed on her.

“Yes, I do, and I would’ve called if I hadn’t known I’d see you in Hawaii.”

She didn’t bother to ask how he’d got her telephone number. It didn’t matter. The only thing that did was the fact that he was now inches away from her. The erotic vibe between them, which she’d begun to doubt had even existed, was zapping her from head to toe all over again. It would be so easy to give in to it and let him seduce her.