Falling Star (10 page)

"I owe you, man." Adam shook the other man's hand, and they exchanged a meaningful look. "Thanks a lot."

"Don't make me that idiot, Adam." Dean's eyes blazed, and Adam understood.

Jade grabbed Dean's head and pulled him down for a kiss on his cheek. "Yes, thanks, Dean. I owe you too."

"Oh I know it," he winked, "and I'm not afraid to collect either." He ruffled her hair. "Alright kids. No one likes long goodbyes. Get the hell out of here, so I can close the place down."

Adam kept his arm around her shoulders until they reached the taxi which he'd kept waiting. Once her bag was stowed in the trunk, and they were both in the back seat, Adam cupped her chin in one hand and kissed her.

"Dean seems like a good guy."

"I hoped you two would get along. He didn't say anything embarrassing did he?" The way she looked up into his eyes made him jealous of everything else she laid her eyes upon.

"Nothing too bad. I'm glad he takes such good care of you."

"You know," she huffed, "I can take care of myself, I'm a grown woman."

Adam's gaze dropped to take in her curves. Another polo shirt, today's version was a lemon yellow with a green Earth Scents logo. "Yes, I see that you're all grown up."

By the time they reached Marina del Rey Jade had all but slipped off the seat, with Adam climbing on top of her. He looked down and shook his head.

"Jade, why do you let me manhandle you like that?"

"Do I look like I mind?"

No, actually she didn't. Her pupils had dilated, her cheeks flushed, and those luscious lips were now swollen and moist from their kiss. "You look damn sexy, if you ask me." He licked her lips, then used his teeth to pull on the bottom one enough to let him inside.

"Meter's runnin' mister."

Adam pulled back only far enough to see her blush.
Damn, that's cute
. "Can you blame me, man? She's sexy as hell, don't you think?" He laughed when she slugged him away.

Jade scrambled out the door before the unimpressed driver could answer while Adam paid the fare. He retrieved her bag from the trunk, and he led her down toward his boat.

"That's it, up to the right. Her name's
Aquadesiac
."

"Oh my God." She stumbled, and he tightened his hold on her hand to steady her. "It's…huge!"

Adam tried to look at his boat through her eyes. It was a forty-five-foot craft; white with navy blue pinstripes on the molding. He had the same graphic artist who designed the cover for
Looking Glass
paint the boat name on the stern. Each curving blue letter looked like a three dimensional body of water. The chrome rail that surrounded the deck gleamed in the sun. "No," he laughed, "if it was huge, it would be called a yacht. This is a
cabin cruiser
."

"Adam, I've lived in apartments that were smaller than this." She faced him, and narrowed her eyes. "How can a man who doesn't even own a car have a boat like this?"

He laughed, hoping it didn't sound too nervous, took her hand and helped her step on deck. "I told you I have my own car. The reason I borrowed Henry's sedan for the last few days is just a long story, and I won't bore you with it. As far as the boat," he followed her aboard, "when I first moved out here, I bought this instead of leasing an apartment."

"You lived on board?"

He glanced around the marina. The clusters of people didn't seem to pay them any mind, but he could be recognized any minute. He tugged his cap lower over his forehead. "For a while, yeah. You know what they say about boys and their toys."

"Oh. That almost makes sense. Probably lower payments than rent around here."

"Yeah, but I grew out of it pretty fast. Let me show you around." He switched her bag to the other shoulder.

"I've never been on a boat like this. It's beautiful." He followed her down the stairs below deck to the living area. The L-shaped sofa looked out over the narrow windows, and just beyond that room was the tiny kitchen.

He stuck his sunglasses on top of the visor of his hat. "I've got the refrigerator stocked with drinks and snacks, so help yourself to anything at any time." At least he assumed those orders were carried out. He waved toward the kitchen, walked through it to point out the head, then he opened the door to the stateroom. Carley had sent a cleaning crew in this morning, and he could still smell the lemony scent of furniture polish. He watched her reaction carefully. There was only one bed, of course. A queen-sized thing that took up most of the room. He hoped she wouldn't be uncomfortable about the implied sleeping arrangements.

Sleeping? Hell. His cock twitched when she stepped across the threshold into the bedroom and laid one long slender hand on the foot of the bed. There wasn't a hint of unease in the smile she gave him.

"It's a very nice…boat Adam."

Fuck. When she spoke in that low sexy voice, it went straight through him to center in his loins, which already began swelling with need. Still, he didn't want to assume anything. He dropped her bag near the bedside, and took her shoulders in his hands.

"You know I didn't bring you here expecting anything from you, Jade. I can easily sleep on that couch."

Her brow wrinkled, and those luscious lips pursed. "I don't think we'll both fit on that couch, it looks pretty narrow. We'd better stick to the bed."

He groaned, pulling her against his body in one movement. "Jade, this is all happening fast. I know."

"You need to quit treating me like some vestal virgin." She took a bite of the skin by his neck, making him jump in surprise. Damn, that was hot. "If I was worried about spending the night with you, I wouldn't be here."

"Ah, that's good to know." He didn't even have to take a kiss, she offered it to him first. He loved the way she tasted. Like a rich creamy dessert he was only allowed to sample on rare occasions. She sure as hell didn't kiss like a vestal virgin. Although he didn't really want to know who taught her how to move her tongue inside his mouth like that. The thought of her with any other man twisted his gut.

Where the hell had that come from? He had no claim on her, or she on him…maybe.

Maybe this weekend would change all that. This weekend might change a hell of a lot in his life. He'd be damned if he screwed it up. He nipped her lips gently. "I left the top drawer empty for you. Why don't you unpack your things, and pour us each a drink. I'll get this puppy out to sea."

He deserved a goddamned medal for walking away from her, where she stood almost boneless at
the foot of his fucking bed
.

He took the stairs in two leaps, replaced his sunglasses out of habit, and jumped back onto the dock to release the dock lines, hoping no one walked up to talk to him now. His erection was an obvious outline behind his shorts.

It was a good thing the guy from the marina already checked
Aquadesiac
that morning, but he'd still have to go through his little checklist. He tried to concentrate, but he was so damned ready to be out in the middle of nowhere with Jade underneath him.

Not a whisper of wind. He'd never seen a more perfect night for boating. There was just enough of a gentle rise and fall of the ocean to soothe his sea-hungry soul. About fifteen nautical miles out, he shut off the motor, allowing the craft to coast to a stop. He dropped anchor, reversed a bit to allow it to take hold, then secured the helm and left the wheelhouse to find Jade.

He hoped she wasn't in the head vomiting with seasickness.

She wasn't. She sat in the horseshoe-shaped dining booth on deck, two bottles of beer in front of her, secured in the swinging cup holders near the table. She'd changed into a pair of denim shorts and a pink tank top. She grinned up at him from behind a pair of amber sunglasses.

"I didn't want to interrupt your concentration, so I got started without you."

His eyes took another sweep down her body. Bare feet. There was something extremely intimate about those toes, each one tipped with a shade of pink polish that made him want to lick on them like ten pieces of strawberry candy.

He could easily have sat down across from her, where there was so much room, but instead he sat beside her, trapping her in the booth. He took one of the bottles and took a long draw.

"Damn, that tastes good. Nothing like a cold beer on deck."

"That was mine." Her face pinched in a playful glare.

"Oh, sorry." He put the bottle back, picked up the other, and took three large swallows. "Damn, that tastes good."

She laughed, and he put his free arm around her shoulders.

"So you have an alcohol problem. I knew you were too good to be true." She tilted her now half-empty bottle to her lips and drank.

Ouch.
An alcohol problem. He set his bottle down, and watched the condensation gather on the glass. That hit a little too close to home. The innocent comment from her made him see how stupid he'd been acting. Stupid was the word, too. He couldn't blame addiction, because he hadn't had any withdrawals. He drank to get stupid. No, he
used to
drink to get stupid.  He glanced at her as she took another draw on her beer. The sunset reflected in her eyes, leaving a brilliant gold rim around the green.

Adam swallowed, and brushed back the strands of hair that blew against her cheeks. Jade's down to earth honesty and integrity showed through in just about every expression. It made him feel like more of an asshole for withholding information from her.

Soon. She'd know the whole truth about him by the end of this weekend.

"To tell the truth, I used to drink. A lot. I did some pretty stupid things in my life. I'd like to think I got all of that out of my system now." He was surprised at how good that felt to say. He dropped his hand from her shoulders to the curve of her waist. "Too good to be true, huh?" he teased.

"Yes. Besides your obvious good looks, you aren't cocky or conceited. You are intelligent enough to hold a conversation, Dean likes you, you play guitar—which by the way I found stored in the closet, so you'll have to play something for me."

He smiled against her temple. He'd been complimented before. He wasn't shy by any means, but coming from her those words meant a hell of a lot more. His heart kicked up to a staccato. "Anything else?"

"Hmm." She turned toward him and put those cool juicy lips on his cheek. "I changed my mind. Maybe you are a little cocky."

"And don't forget that I'm a gentleman, or I'd make a dirty comment on your choice of words instead of offering you a meal."

She laughed, and he realized that he made it a point to make her laugh. Her laughter made him happy. And hot. "Come on. You can keep me company while I get dinner on the table." He helped her out of the booth and only released her hand to put both of their beer bottles on the kitchen counter, and he lifted her up to sit beside them.

"You really want me to just sit and watch you cook?" She held on to his shoulders for balance, and he couldn't seem to release his hold on her waist. His thumbs caressed her ribs through the thin cotton of her shirt. Without thinking, he stepped between her knees. Her position on the counter put her face at his level.

"You're my guest. I can't have you skipping a meal."

She removed his sunglasses, and then hers. She set them both aside, then peeled off his hat.

He went still. He'd never been so naked in his life. She saw right through every pretense he'd ever put on. Right now it was just Adam Joseph Herlihey and Jade Colleen Graham. All that made him the man he was lay exposed for her to see, but rather than looking away, Adam indulged in the exchange, drawing everything he possibly could from those windows to her soul. God, he was afraid to blink and sever the electric connection. He stared at her so long, the flecks of brown in her eyes started to blur together.

"What did you say?" She sounded as confused as he felt.

"I don't remember." The current drew him closer, and in a rush he kissed her. She opened to him eagerly. The sound that bubbled from her throat went straight to the tip of his cock, and shimmied down to his balls.

She wiggled to the edge of the counter, hooked her ankles around his thighs, and drew him closer to her. Oh God, he was so hard it hurt. He adjusted himself against her, but damn, she ground along the fly of his shorts, teasing him with her heat. Smooth warm legs circled him. He could barely think straight with her hands grasping his back and scalp in a hungry hold.

"I'm glad you're here."

"Mm, me too."

"Jade…" She should stop him here. He wanted her to push him away. He needed some space before he took her on the kitchen counter.

"Please, Adam." Her voice was breathy and warm in his ear.

"But dinner—"

"Can wait. Please Adam."

Yes. Now. Fuck
. He cupped her ass and carried her from the kitchen and into the cramped stateroom. He crawled with her into the center of the bed, then dropped down to cover her. Their combined sighs of pleasure echoed off the walls.

He reached under her shirt and the softest skin met his fingers. He broke away from her mouth; he had to feel that skin on his tongue.