False Pretenses (8 page)

“Alyssa, oh hell, you’re so wonderfully tight. Even after you’ve come. Baby, you feel incredible.”

He seated himself deep inside her, and her heart palpitated. She licked her lips and braced with one hand on the headboard. “Give it to me.”

His fingers spasmed at her hips, and he withdrew only to grind to the hilt, a violent and amazing movement. She arched her back as much as she could and shoved into him. He filled her to capacity, her walls seeming to stretch around the biggest dick she’d ever enjoyed.
More. I have to have more.

“Make me come again like this, Nathan.
Please
.”

He ground in and out at a steady pace and then reached under her with long fingers to her clit. Rather than stroke it, he squeezed the sensitive flesh between his digits while pounding against her ass. Words, rational thought, anything that had nothing to do with living on the end of Nathan’s cock, left her. All she did was feel his thrusts and hear his ragged breathing. He stimulated her with dirty phrases and occasional smacks on her ass. Nathan’s ability to hold off his release surprised her, and just when she reached her second peak, he drove into her wet pussy once more and held still. A powerful orgasm exploded over her being, and following on its heels, Nathan found his own climax.

Her lover wrapped both arms around her waist, and keeping himself buried inside her, he dragged her down to the bed so that he spooned her. They lay still for long moments, both panting. After a while, he pulled out, and Alyssa heard the slap of the condom coming off. She kept her eyes closed. He moved away, and she mourned his loss, but he returned quickly. She twisted in his arms and rested on his chest. He held her tight to him. A huge yawn expanded his chest, and she sighed in satisfaction.

“You want to do it again?”

She opened her eyes and stared up at him. “Are you serious?”

“Yes, you don’t want to?”

She grinned. “I’m in.”

Chapter Seven

Alyssa woke and stretched, sore in every muscle in her body. She expected to find herself alone, but Nathan lay at her side, asleep. She rolled over and watched him. His lashes were long and thick for a man. They swept his cheeks, making him appear so sweet in repose. Did he ever get angry or raise his voice? Was he the kind of man who cheated on a woman or lied to her? All she’d seen so far was his deep love of his dad, a bit of his kindness, and a touch of sadness, which he hid most of all. What gave him genuine joy or made him burst out laughing with total abandon?

All right, girl. You’re getting carried away. It doesn’t matter. He’s not yours, and you’re not going to learn any more about him.
Certainly not in a week.

Someone knocked at the door, and she started. Nathan woke in an instant and tugged the sheets up over her naked figure. She marveled that he was aware of her and her state of dress so soon after being jarred awake.

“Nathan,” Piper called through the door. “Are you going with me to the hospital?”

He sat up and ran a hand through his disordered hair. Alyssa bit her lip. Even with bedhead, sexiness oozed from his pores. No doubt a string of broken hearts lay in this man’s wake.

“Come in,” he called, and she opened the door fully dressed. The frown she tossed in Alyssa’s direction made her feel like she’d sold her body to Nathan. Alyssa clutched the sheets higher, glaring back.

“You’re not even up yet,” Piper accused him. “It’s already eight thirty.”

“Give me fifteen minutes.” Nathan pulled on his discarded boxers under the covers and stood. “I promise. I’ll be ready.”

Piper cast another withering look at Alyssa and left the room. Nathan turned to Alyssa, and something told her this time she wouldn’t be welcome.

“I’m going to go ahead. You don’t have to come along this time. I’ll see you later.”

Despite being right and understanding his decision, his words hurt. Why would she go along? This relationship was a farce. Yet, it seemed like once he’d gotten between her legs, his desire for her to fully act the role of his girlfriend fizzled. Whatever. She could explore the island on her own, maybe even lie on the beach and enjoy the only vacation she might have in a long time.

“Of course. You go ahead. I’ll keep myself occupied.”

He cleaned up in the bathroom and was dressed within the time limit he’d given to his sister. “If you need anything, just ask Talia or Aziz. Felix will be with me.”

She waved him off. “I won’t need anything.”

He hesitated with his hand on the doorknob and then turned back. “For last night, thanks.”

Fingers curled in until her nails dug into her palms, she clenched her jaw and said nothing more. He really had to make it worse by thanking her for the damn sex.
Bastard!
Or was it the comfort food and letting him talk about his dad a little? Yeah, better to think of it that way. Then she could shake off the sense of being used. After all, he’d been concerned with her regretting giving in. She would
not
regret it, no matter what.

After Nathan left, Alyssa showered and dressed. In the dining room, she met Talia waiting for her. “Um…” The server table at the side of the room remained empty.

“I can make you anything you like, Ms. Alyssa. The cook has been given the morning off since it’s unlikely anyone will be around the house. I’m a good cook. I’ve had training under her and my mother.”

“Oh, no, thank you.” Alyssa held up her hands. “I don’t have much of an appetite either. I’m going to walk on the beach before it gets too hot and crowded.”

The maid’s brows went up. “The beach just beyond the house is private property. It will never be crowded.”

Damn, I forgot. The rich.
“Okay, thanks.”

Alyssa left her shoes near the house and took the short trail to the beach on bare feet. Just as Talia mentioned, not a soul interrupted the landscape for at least a mile. Private homes dotted the shore, most as big as the Corde home. She started walking, taking her time and letting the chilly, clear water cover her feet before rolling back out to sea. Overhead, birds called to one another and dove into the water to catch fish. In the distance, even this time of morning, sailboats ambled along. She put her hand up and stared out at the peaceful scenery.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” came a deep voice behind her. She turned to spot a man standing close by with rolled-up jeans and a T-shirt that had seen better days. Not exactly dressed for the weather, but his dancing blue eyes gave her pause to admire the view onshore.

“It is.” She hesitated. “You live around here?”

He chuckled, revealing even white teeth. “Me? No. I work there.” He pointed in the general direction of one of the houses, smaller than Nathan’s place. She guessed he worked as a servant. For some inane reason, she’d thought all the natives were black.

The man strolled closer and held out a hand. “Cullen James, and you?”

She shook her head at the hopeful expression on his face and hadn’t missed how he checked out her ring finger. She put her other hand in his. Pretty bold for a servant. “Alyssa Jackson. Pleased to meet you. I’m just visiting.”

“Ah, the upper crust. I’m sorry. I probably overstepped my bounds.”

Wow, bitter much?
She knew where he came from, though. “Actually I’m not rich. My…um…friend is. I’m bumming down here.” Why the hell didn’t she come right out and say her boyfriend? Probably because it felt wrong. This man knew what it was like to struggle. She’d felt it in the roughness of his hands. The calluses didn’t come from being born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

They fell into step side by side and continued along the beach. “Are you going to attend any of the beach parties?” he asked after some time.

She squinted against the rising sun. Damn, shades would have been a good idea. “That sounds like fun. I’m not sure.”

“You should. I think you’d enjoy it. There’s usually one at the beach outside the hotels, and maybe you’ll let me buy you a drink. The music here is not to be missed.”

She clapped her hands. “Oh, the steel drums! I’d forgotten about that. I want to hear them in real life.”

His eyes brightened. “I’ll take you to the best spot.”

She stopped walking. Now was the time to tell him she wasn’t available, which was a shame. He seemed nice, and he was sexy as hell. Aside from that, he was also a regular middle-class person like her. “Do you live here on the island?”

“No, we’re down for the week. I was born and raised in New York.”

Despite herself, excitement rose. “Me too!”

“So that’s a yes to our date?”

Before she could answer, her cell phone rang, and she pulled it from her shorts pocket. Nathan’s name flashed on the screen, and guilt assailed her. She glanced at Cullen. “I’m sorry, I have to take this. I can’t go on that date. Probably wasn’t meant to be, but it was nice meeting you.”

She turned away and hurried down the beach in the direction she’d come while stabbing the connect button. “Hey, Nathan, everything okay?”

“Yes, everything’s fine. I wanted to call and apologize for leaving you so abruptly this morning.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Dad’s fine. He just overdid it watching us play the game. Got too excited. They’re letting him come home.”

“That’s great. So soon?”

He chuckled, and she heard the relief. “Trust me. He’s better off at home, which is where he wants to be. The doctor believed he would wear himself down more wanting to be home and thinking he kept us from enjoying our time together. He also chewed my ass for not bringing you with me this morning.”

“Me?”

“Yes, he’s taken with you and said I was not treating you like family.”

“Nathan, I don’t feel right about deceiving him.”

“He’s happy, Alyssa. That is more important to me than a lie. Period. Are you backing out?”

She sighed and rubbed her damp forehead. “No, I’m not. It’s just…”

“Good. I’ll be home soon, and we can do something fun, just the two of us. Dad will need to stay in bed until tomorrow, so we’re free.”

“Fine. I guess I’ll see you in a little while.”

* * * *

“Are you serious?” Alyssa had trouble pulling in a breath as she stared at the yacht anchored just feet away from where she stood. “We get to go on that?”

Seeing her excitement, Nathan grinned, and she thought he must be proud of himself. “Yes, it’s mine. I figure I might as well get a little use out of it.”

She croaked, “It’s yours? Damn, it’s huge. Does it have bedrooms in it?”

“Of course, but you’ll never see them if you don’t come on.” He held out his hand, and she took it, her heart hammering out of control.

Yachts were synonymous with the wealthy as far as the average Jane was concerned, and she never imagined she’d get to go on one. As he escorted her around the vessel, she discovered Nathan’s included four bedrooms, or cabins, as he called them. Eight people could sleep there, not including the space for the crew. The cute little kitchen with small eating area off of it impressed her, but he assured her the boat included a formal dining room as well.

“Do you throw parties here?”

“I have in the past. When Dad was well, he headed many corporate meetings here.”

“That’s the way to have a working lunch,” she agreed.

He grinned.

“Well, for such a special treat, I can cook us lunch in the kitchen. That is if you have the refrigerator stocked.”

“That’s not necessary. I’ve hired a chef for the afternoon.”

She shook her head. “Of course.”

Soon they were under way, and rather than sit in the lounge, she opted for the deck and leaned on the rail at the front of the yacht. The breeze whipped her hair about, and the spray peppered her skin with drops of water. When she sensed Nathan watching at her side, she looked up at him.

“What?”

“You surprise me.”

She raised a self-conscious hand to brush the damp hair from her face. “How so?”

“You’re not worried about your hair or your clothes.”

“Are you saying I look a mess?”

“Not at all. You’re beautiful.” He moved closer, but she took a step in retreat and turned away. When his hands dropped on her shoulders from behind, she couldn’t bring herself to move out of reach. He nuzzled her neck. “Many of the women I’ve dated are concerned with appearances. They strip down to skimpy bikinis, but would not imagine getting into the ocean and damaging their hair with the salt water.”

“Maybe you’re dating the wrong women.”

“I must be.” The timbre of his voice gave her ideas she shouldn’t have.

“How far are we going?”

“Far enough to be alone.” He hesitated, and she glanced up at him. “Would you consider riding the jet ski? I can take you on mine, and you can hold me as tight as you need to.”

Her eyes widened. “You only have one?”

He burst out laughing. There it was, that happiness she’d wanted to see. Was it really because of her?

“One each then,” he promised. “Go get changed.”

The day flew by, Alyssa loving every moment on the water with Nathan. Her hair sat in a tangled wet mess on her head, and her skin darkened even more than its normal cocoa brown to a rich chocolate. None of that mattered with the spray in her face and the wind exhilarating as she zoomed over the water’s surface. Nathan stayed just ahead, but kept an eye on her.

“You’re a natural,” he shouted.

She threw an arm in the air and whooped. He laughed and circled around. Back and forth, they raced and then chased each other. When she grew tired, Nathan pointed, and she shaded her eyes to follow where he indicated. A small island lay directly ahead. The place looked deserted, but had a natural beauty in white sand, palm trees, and green foliage. Lighting the sky in hues of orange, the sun lay heavy on the horizon.

Nathan directed her to drive slowly toward the shore, but they turned off the motors when the water appeared about two feet deep. He hopped off and helped her. Tingles raced up and down her back at his touch, and Nathan drew her in close to kiss her lips. She luxuriated against his chest and shut her eyes.

“Hungry?” he murmured.