Recipe for Satisfacton (11 page)

He looked through the rack on the opposite side and picked up a solid yellow two-piece. “This isn’t your size…or isn’t your style?”

“Both?” She bit her bottom lip, hoping he would be kind and understand her hesitation.

“How do you know it’s not your style if you’ve never tried it?” He grinned. Sure,
he
would like it if she was naked, but she didn’t know about the other people on the beach.

“I would never wear anything like that.” She smoothed down her hair with both hands. “I own one bathing suit. And it’s a one-piece.”

“Go and try this on.” He nudged her toward a change room. “For me?” His eyes blazed with a smoldering stare that set her panties on fire. She let out a heavy breath and grabbed the suit.

The salt in the air must be messing with her brain. Was she really going to indulge him? As soon as he saw her in the suit he’d agree that it wasn’t her style. She didn’t have the body to pull it off. She damn well didn’t have the confidence.

She positioned the triangles over her breasts and tied a bow at the base of her neck. Might as well be naked.

“Sterling? Are you dressed, sweetheart?”

“Barely.”

He laughed from the other side of the change room. “Are you going to let me see?”

“I guess.” She unlocked the door and hid behind it.

He crowded the doorway. She was thankful for his large body blocking the view from other gawking eyes. His appraisal started with her face, then moved slowly to her feet, his stare so intense she shivered. Did he know his mouth was open? Or that his cheeks flushed? He might be adjusting to the heat. It had to be the heat.

She crossed her arms and her legs, trying to hide as much of her bare body as she could.

“Sterling, I’ve seen you naked. Why are you covering yourself?”

She groaned. “I don’t think I can do this.”

“You look hot.”

She snorted. “You’re just being nice.”

“Sweetheart.” He took a step inside the change room, his body hovering mere inches away from hers. She heated up immediately. “Just wait until you walk out on that beach.” His breath was a whisper against her shoulder. “You’ll see I’m not the only man thankful for skimpy bathing suits.”

“I don’t know…”

He reached forward, his hand sliding up her body. It barely touched her skin, but it was enough to cause her to shiver. The bathing suit tugged and a second later she heard a
snap
. He held up the tag. “You rip it, you bought it.”

“Jack!”

“Here, put this over yourself.” He handed her a black sarong, then took off.

She approached the register with her clothes in hand and her underwear and bra shoved into her purse. Novelty items, candy, chocolate, lighters, magazines all lay haphazardly by the register. Sterling cringed. This place was in desperate need of some organization.

Jack had piled sunscreen, towels, a blanket, bottled water, and a few bags of snacks on the counter.

“At least let me pay for something.” It was enough to fly her to another country. The least she could do was pay for their necessities. Sighing, she reached into her bag and grabbed her wallet. Just another thing to put on her credit card. Which she would essentially pay off with money she earned working for him.

“Absolutely not.” Jack stopped her. “It was my idea to come here.”

Today was definitely not a part of their business deal. However, the more time they spent together, the more the lines between business and social blurred. But the lines were still visible, and she would travel them as best she could.

After packing their newly purchased tote full of goodies, they walked hand in hand toward the beach. The sun shone brightly, not a cloud littered the sky. Men and women whizzed by on bikes and inline skates. Sterling couldn’t imagine riding a bike in such a skimpy bathing suit, but the women did, their bottoms exposed for all to see.

With her free hand, she held the sarong closely against her breasts but still clenched her butt cheeks. She was hoping some last-minute clenches would make it look good.

When they walked up to the beach area she read the sign:

Attention: Nude Bathers Beyond This Point

She stared at Jack in shock. “A nude beach? You’re taking me to a
nude
beach?” She looked down at herself. “How much more nude can I get?”

He guided her off to the side and set down their bags. Drawing her close, he clasped his hands together at her lower back. “Do you trust me?”

Heck if she knew why, but she trusted this virtual stranger. “Yes.”

In the sunlight, his olive skin glistened. Everything about Jack Vaughn was flawless, from the straight line of his nose to the curve of his cheekbones, to the strong set of his jaw. The man was walking perfection.
And what would he ever want with a girl like you?
“I would never make you do something you didn’t want to do, but we’re trying new things, right?”

She nodded.

“You don’t have to take anything off unless you feel one hundred percent comfortable.” He kissed her nose, then one cheek and the other, finally laying a soft kiss on her lips. How was it that a simple kiss with no sexual agenda made her feel so adored and safe? And although she would be walking into a so-called nude lion’s den, that one kiss melted away her hesitation.

A group of men walked by and two of them stared, craning their heads as they passed. They were
so
checking her out.

“On second thought, I don’t know if nude is such a good idea.” Jack covered her with his body.

At that moment, she realized that he would also have the opportunity to bathe in the buff. “What about you? Seeing you might cause a frenzy with all the women.”

“Who said anything about
me
being nude? Nude beaches aren’t my thing.”

Sterling laughed and hit him square in the chest.

He grinned sheepishly then picked up their bags. “Come on, sweetheart.”

They found a spot at the back of the beach just in front of the boardwalk. Jack laid out their blanket and set down the towels, then kicked off his sandals and slipped his shirt over his head.

She didn’t think she’d ever get used to the sight of his impeccable body. Her eyes roved over his chiseled chest, abs, and hard pecs. And every time she looked at him she got a glimpse of a new shape or line of his tattoos.

Black board shorts hung low on his hips, that chiseled V her favorite thing about his body, a natural indicator pointing to her second-most-favorite spot.

He removed a bottle of water from the bag and set it on the blanket. He patted the space next to him. “Get comfy.”

Sterling gathered the sarong in her hands as she sat down.

A gentle breeze blew across the beach, a welcome respite from the glaring sun. Light waves lapped along the shoreline. Beach umbrellas were stuck in the sand, and windsails dotted the horizon as far as she could see. Men and women pranced around, no shame in baring their goods. He’d been right—not everyone had their junk out, and some of the ones who did were in desperate need of a mirror.

“There is quite a wide range of people at this beach,” she said.

Just then, a topless blonde walked by their blanket, her eyes connecting with the beautiful man beside Sterling. She was the type of woman Sterling expected to see at a topless beach. Blond, svelte, beautiful, a
Sports Illustrated
model for sure. But when she looked over at Jack, he was staring at Sterling, his gaze curious.

She fidgeted. Was there something on her face? She swiped at her cheeks. “What?”

Without a word, Jack leaned over and captured her lips. Instantly, she heated up. Funny how the hot summer weather was no match for Jack Vaughn.

He inhaled deeply and bent his head, strengthening his hold on her, deepening the kiss. Her hand rested on his chest, and she curled her fingers into his skin when he withdrew, still giving her that curious stare.

“What was that for?”

“No reason.” He shrugged. “You just looked really beautiful sitting there. I couldn’t resist.”

Was it a cosmic joke that the perfect man was an unavailable man? A man who only existed for her on the weekends? Four weekends, to be exact. Two dates with Jack had already demonstrated his superiority to every man she’d ever been with.

But this was what she wanted. Fun. And it didn’t get much more fun than being naked on a beach with a hot man knowing that at any time, you could have him in a bed, up against a wall, or even on a sandy towel.

And you may never get this chance again.

She looked from side to side gauging the other patrons. Everyone seemed to be minding their own business. Maybe being nude wasn’t such a big deal.

She counted to three in her head then untied the sarong at her breast, letting the fabric fall away.

Immediately, Jack looked up from where he was rummaging around in their bag. But she didn’t acknowledge him. Leaning back, she rested her hands behind her body, soaking up the warmth of the sun. Letting it infuse her with strength.

She would embrace everything this mini-trip had to offer, everything the man beside her had to offer, because soon he would be gone and she wanted no regrets.

This time, she counted to ten before she pulled at the strings at the base of her neck and back.

…

The water lapped over the edge of the blue raft Jack had rented for Sterling. He enjoyed the sight of her wet body, and he especially enjoyed lathering the sunscreen on her exposed bottom. Bringing her to a nude beach was really just an acceptable excuse to touch her in public.

He waded through the water, each step taking him closer to the beautiful woman. One hand lay on the raft, the other floated to her side, her fingers tickling over the water as though it were a piano. The sight of her on that blow-up raft, naked on top, utterly relaxed…she wasn’t nearly as cautious as the Sterling he had met on the yacht two weeks ago. He liked to think he had something to do with her transformation, but in reality, he was just the means. Ultimately it was Sterling who had to make the changes. Jack dove into the water and came up beside her. He rested his forearms on the raft and shook his head to rid the excess water.

Sterling squealed. “You’re like a shaggy dog.”

“You looked like you could use some cooling off.”

He swam to the end of the raft and jumped up, laying his body over hers. She thrashed around when the water dripped over her body, but she couldn’t move much with him on top of her. The middle of the raft drooped, and for a minute, Jack thought they would tip.

“Be still.”

She stopped squirming. The raft settled.

She snorted. “You’re cold.”

Her laugh was infectious. Although they hadn’t spent tons of time together, he’d never heard her laugh so hard. He glanced down and groaned at the sight of her exposed, stiffened nipples. Dipping down, he covered one with his mouth.

Sterling moaned. Her hands tangled in his hair and pulled him close. “Jack. What are you doing?”

“What? It’s a nude beach.” A brilliant plan if he did say so himself.

“A nude beach, not a sex beach.”

“There are sex beaches? Maybe we should go there.”

A blush fell across her chest, visible, despite the red from the sun.

“Jack.” His name on her lips in a whisper was the sexiest sound he’d ever heard.

He slid down the raft, putting too much weight on the lower end, making the other end come up off the water. He slid farther down, his face skimming the juncture between her legs. He nuzzled his nose along her slit where the fabric had settled between her plump lips. Her hips squirmed with his light touch.

He kicked his feet out behind him and she rose up to rest on her elbows. But she slipped and the raft finally tipped, sending them both crashing into the water.

He swam to the surface before Sterling, who emerged with a deep breath beside him. The raft had floated away. She slicked her hair back against her head and squeezed the ends. Her actions caused her arms to push her breasts together.

“I told you we were going to tip.” Her voice was a murmur in the distance. “Jack?”

He lifted his gaze and stared into her soulful eyes. Immediately fire ignited in hers. It matched his own. She had come a long way from wanting to cover herself to exposing her bare breasts in public. He wondered how much further she’d go when pushed.

“Jack?”

He turned his attention back to her.

“Where’d you go? I lost you there for a minute.”

On the contrary. He wasn’t lost at all. “Come here?” He jerked his head, gesturing for her to wade her way over. She complied, her breasts bobbing in the sunlight.

When she was in reaching distance he hurried her along, snaking his arm around her waist, pulling her flush against his body.

“I’m really proud of you.” Her hard nipples rubbed against his chest. “For taking off your bikini top.”

“It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. It was a lot easier being with you.” She stared up at him, appreciation in her eyes. “Everything is a lot easier being with you.”

He smiled. “Is that so?”

She had no idea what she had just initiated.

“How easy would it be for you to take off your bottoms?”

She tensed in his arms.

“Just in the water. Just with me.”

Her body shivered. Her eyes sparkled but it wasn’t the sun that reflected in them. It was desire.

Jack slid his hands down her body, making his way toward her bottoms.

“I want you, Sterling.” He slipped his hands under the string. “Make love to me.” He grabbed her ass cheeks and squeezed.

“Yes,” she whispered. Her eyes locked on his and with a silent exchange she relented.

Jack pushed the bottoms off her body and Sterling took over, wiggling her legs until they fell to her feet.

He pulled down his bathing suit bottom and exposed his length, stroking it a few times before picking her up. The warm water lapped around their fused bodies as her legs wrapped around his waist.

She ground her center into his body, moaning when she found the right spot to rub.