Spanish Nights (5 page)

“Are you ready?” His smooth accent caressed her. She could listen to him talk for hours and never grow tired of it. Matter of fact, she'd feel foolish admitting he made her wet between the thighs with every word he spoke. God, her mind briefly went back to her dreams of him telling her all the naughty things he was going to do to her. Some in Spanish and some in heavy accented English. She'd had no idea what he'd said, but it had been fun anyway.

Shit.

“Yes. Are you sure I don't need to bring anything?”

“No, I have towels and a picnic lunch all ready for us.” He held out his hand. “Shall we?”

She slipped her hand into his and like before he tucked it under his arm. This time however, she gave his bicep a slight squeeze as they walked along the brick path and headed toward the park. Kayla couldn't help noticing again how his touch cocooned her in warmth. Once more she dug for Nana's words.
Something about meeting a man whose fire …
Damn, she couldn't remember.

Within minutes, they arrived at the lake’s marina and he escorted her down a wooden dock to a boat. Kayla stopped mid-stride. For some reason, she'd expected a small craft. Instead, she found a cruiser with a cabin, and she couldn't help wondering if there were sleeping quarters below.

“Wait here and I'll help you.”

Armand stepped aboard the vessel, grabbed her by the waist and picked her up. He slid her down the front of his hard muscles in the most intimate manner. Her nipples puckered and moisture flooded her apex before her feet hit the deck. If she questioned her earlier intentions of wanting this man to devour her, she didn't after the surge of arousal he stirred within her. Her body was on fire. Never had she experienced such intense heat.

“Ah, thanks.” How she had managed to get the words out without stammering surprised her.

She followed Armand to the helm and took a seat. He pulled the rope free of the dock then slowly maneuvered the boat to open water. Once past the confines of the marina, he throttled up and they moved along at a nice clip. Kayla enjoyed the wind blowing across her skin. For once, she tried to cool herself rather then the other way around.

The view was even more breathtaking from the boat than it had been on land. White tufts in a blue sky floated by and majestic mountains reflected in the crystal water. She looked over the edge of the boat and spotted large boulders looming up toward them. She'd never seen water so clear.

“How deep is this?”

“One hundred sixty-five feet. Give or take.”

He glanced her way, but his eyes were hidden behind mirrored glasses so she couldn't read him. She hoped he took them off because she loved looking into the gorgeous blue depths. She could drown in them. Besides, for this whole seduction thing to work she needed to gauge her progress, and that would be more of a challenge if he were wearing sunglasses.

Whatever. For the moment she leaned back in the seat and tipped her face to the sun. She'd deal with seducing him later.

*****

Armand cursed. Why the hell had he lifted Kayla from the dock and pressed her body to his? He'd been sporting an erection ever since he spied her long, silky-smooth legs clad in short denim. Actually, he questioned why he'd invited her on this excursion but he knew the answer. She was beautiful, sexy and vulnerable and he was a fucking prick who wanted to get laid. For some godforsaken reason guilt ate at him, but he shoved it down. When her body touched his it was like ice sliding along hot steel and he wanted her coolness pressed against his naked, hot flesh. He also wanted the curse broken and if there was even the slightest chance she was the key, he'd take it.

He maneuvered the boat to his favorite spot and let the motor idle while he tossed the anchor off the back to hold the craft in place. “We're here.” He turned off the engine and began gathering the cooler and plastic tote to lower them into the water.

“Can I help?”

“We're going to wade in and float these”— he pointed to their cargo—”to shore. The water's only about waist deep here, but if you have your suit on you might want to leave your clothes here.” Dear God, did he ever want her to leave her clothes on the boat. Every last stitch.

She nodded and reached for the hem on her shirt, pulled it over her head and tossed it onto the seat. Mounds of golden flesh spilled out of a red bikini top and tempted him.
Holy mother of all that is sacred.
His fingers actually itched with the need to trace a line where flesh met fabric, and his lips wanted to taste every inch of skin then wrap around her sweet nipple and suckle until she moaned his name.

Kayla didn't stop. Next, she unbuttoned her shorts and lowered the zipper. He suppressed a groan as she slid the material past her hips and down her thighs. If that wasn't enough, she kicked them aside and now stood before him in two pieces of red material. Scanty material at best.

“I'm ready,” she announced.

Right. So was he. Ready, willing and fucking able and the erection pressing ever so painfully against his shorts was a clear reminder.

Armand lifted his shirt and pulled it over his head, laying it on the back of his seat. Two could play the game of tease. He was a fucking Jinn after all and seduction part of his DNA. Even without any power, no woman had ever been able to resist his body or his charm. He watched her eyes roam down his chest and to the top of his jeans. She drew her lip through her teeth as her gaze lingered. Was she waiting for him to undo the button? Before he could oblige her, she looked up.

“Nice tattoo.” She moved to the ladder and proceeded to climb down into the water. “If you want to hand me something, I'll take it to shore.”

“Thanks.” He grabbed the cooler and plopped it in the water. “I'll be along in a moment. Got some things to finish up first.” Like adjusting his throbbing erection. She may have thought she appeared nonchalant, but he could smell her arousal. He'd be willing to bet her bathing suit was wet long before she hit the water.

He fiddled around and tried to look busy while he watched her move to shore from behind his mirrored glasses. She walked up the beach, her bottom half soaked and droplets of water ran down her thighs. He let a moan escape. She had moved too far away to hear him anyway.

“This is going to be a long, fucking day,” he growled under his breath then jumped in the water pulling the tote with the rest of their stuff behind him. At least the coolness of the lake assisted in deflating his dick. For the moment.

He detached the two beach chairs he'd brought from the top of the tote and unfolded them. Kayla sidled up next to him, so close he could feel her coolness slide across his skin.
Shit.
He gritted his teeth, needing something to keep himself in check, or he was going to lose all control.

“What can I do?”

He handed her the towels. “You can take these and I'll set up the table.”

“Okay.” She spun and walked away from him with a little more swing in her hips then she had before.

Son of a bitch! The vixen wants to play does she?

He took the table from the tote, pulled it from its bag and unrolled it. He screwed the legs on and flipped it over.

“Wow, that's cool. I've never seen one of those before.” She stood over him. He slipped the glasses off and let his gaze roam up her legs to her stomach and finally to her face.

“I must say,
querida,
that bikini suits you well. You are, eh, most pleasant to look at.” He flashed a wide smile and watched her take two steps back.

“Um, thanks.”

Was she having second thoughts? Too late, he'd already determined seduction was in the air tonight. He would have her. Not tonight, however. He decided he would make her beg him. When she came to him, she would be unable to stand it any longer and only then would he give her what she needed.

Chapter
Six

Had he called her darling? Kayla was pretty sure she understood him with what little Spanish she'd learned. Then there was the look in his eyes—as if he wanted to devour her. No woman would mistake it and it had been the confirmation she needed.

He was taking the bait.

She worried slightly though. It had been a long time since she'd had sex. Would he think her inadequate? She had to remind herself this was going to be only a brief encounter. It would end when she went home if not before.

Sex. This was strictly for the sex.

With that in mind, she seated herself in one of the chairs and watched Armand pull a bottle of white wine from the cooler and two glasses from a wicker basket he'd taken out of the tote.

“Would you care for some wine?”

“I'd love some.” A little liquid courage certainly couldn't hurt. “So does the tattoo mean anything? “ She stared at the thick black bands that wrapped around his right bicep and wanted to trace the markings with her fingers. Instead, she watched him pour the glass to half full with white wine then procure a bottle of water from the cooler. He placed them on the table next to her.

“Not really. It's called a tribal tattoo and I simply liked it. Be sure to drink plenty of water while we're out here so you don't get dehydrated.”

Kayla hid a smile behind her hand. “Okay.”

He arched a brow. “What are you laughing at?”

“Nothing,” she giggled.

“Really? People usually don't laugh at nothing.”

She couldn't contain herself any longer and burst into a fit of laughter. “Oh my god. You sound like my dad.” She held a hand to her side, unsure of why she'd found it so funny.
Must be nerves.
Armand looked at her with a gleam in his eye, but his face remained stoic. Oh dear, had she upset him? She opened her mouth to apologize when he let out his own hearty laugh.

“I guess that did sound rather fatherly.” He moved his chair from the other side of the table up next to hers. “Let me find a subject that is less … parental.” He sipped his wine. “So, tell me about your books. I'm curious to know how you come up with those steamy sex scenes.” He leaned in closer. “Do you take lots of cold showers?”

At that moment, she wanted to run for the lake and take a dunk. His naked chest stirred things in her that had long been dead. She cleared her throat. “What makes you think I write steamy sex?”

His lips curled into a grin that would melt any woman's panties. “I took the liberty of searching for your work on Amazon and read your first book last night.”

All kinds of replies ran through her mind. Discussing the topic with her friends or even her fans was something she did all the time, but to talk about the burning sex she wrote with this hot Spaniard? Her stomach clenched tight at the thought of it so she reached for her wine and took a gulp. He had opened the door, and now she either walked through or slammed it shut and ran the other way.

“Yes. Writing those required lots of freezing showers. Later though, I met my husband and, well, that helped.” Not really. If she looked back on her relationship with Eric, he never satisfied her. She always had an empty spot; something was missing, but she never knew what.

He leaned back as if satisfied with her answer and stared at the sky. After a long pause, he looked at her. “You mentioned before not being able to write since your divorce.” He ran his finger down her arm and stopped at her wrist, taking it in his grip. “Tell me
querida,
when was the last time a man caressed you?”

Her chest tightened and her breath hitched. A trail of heat still burned where his fingers had slid across her skin. “Ah … ” She stared into her lap, unable to look at him. His hand moved away from her wrist and touched her chin. He turned her head to face him, his thumb stroking her cheek.

“Don't hide, Kayla. You're a beautiful woman and there is no reason for you to be alone.”

She quivered. God knew she was tired of being by herself and his touch ignited so many things deep inside her. Many of which scared the hell out of her. “Not since my divorce. Two years.”

His eyes deepened to the color of midnight. “You deserve better than that,
querida.
” He released her and stood. “How about a swim?”

Good god, yes! Anything to kill the burning currently consuming her. She wasn't used to heat and every time he called her darling in his thick accent she melted. His touch had her heart nearly stopping and she wanted to beg him to continue. Hell, she'd let him take her here in the chair. Her body was strung so tight she feared it might snap at any moment. Had she been surer of herself, she would have pushed him back in his seat, straddled his lap and kissed her way up every hard muscle on his chest until she reached his lips. Those thick, heavy lips. Oh, she would…

“Kayla?”

She blinked. “Huh?” Armand stood beside her his hand held out waiting.
Shit!
She slipped her hand in his and allowed him to help her to her feet. “Sorry.”

A mischievous grin formed on his lips. “Quite alright. I'm just curious where you went.”

“No place.” She'd be damned if she would ever admit what had been running through her mind. For the time being, she'd follow him to the water and douse herself.