“Don’t laugh at me.”
Alex sobered. “I’d never laugh at you, moon heart. You’re very special.”
Lily’s stern expression softened. “You’re pretty special yourself. This trip has been fun. Not like work at all.”
Guilt sliced deep. If only she knew. Worried she’d read his unease, Alex turned away and started to paddle. His thoughts whirled as he took in the gnarled trees clinging to parts of the coastline and the rocky shore. Spending time with Lily was easy. She was generous, giving and sincere.
Basuko.
What a mess.
Alex swallowed and stopped paddling. “That must be the first of the sandy coves the man in the hire shop mentioned.”
“Are we going to stop soon?”
Alex twisted to search her face. What he saw made his gut churn and his tom stretch with urgency. Nothing new there. Her blue eyes glowed with inner fire. She grinned and winked…actually winked at him.
“I’m not hungry or tired. I’m glad you talked me into trying kayaking. I’m not sure my muscles will thank you tomorrow, but I’m enjoying being out here.” The small dents either side of her mouth made an appearance.
A grin bubbled out into a laugh. “I have a few other ideas—new things for you to experience.”
“Oh, yeah? Like what?”
That was definite interest, and Alex was fiercely glad. At least he’d have memories. “Oh, we can swim and eat our lunch. Explore some of the small islands. Make love.”
“I’m thinking you have a penchant for outdoors, Alex,” Lily said sternly.
“I admit it.” Alex recalled the breathy sighs she’d made when he’d taken her against the wall. “But then, so do you.”
“Maybe.” Lily giggled. “I’m learning new things about myself as I go along. I never knew sex could be so much fun.”
Sex. Alex’s mind stalled on the word, disliking the harsh sound of it when joining with Lily left him reeling.
From the corner of his eye, he caught the curve of another sandy beach. Trees surrounded the small bay and outcrops of rocks littered the shore, jutting into the water and creating screens for some areas of the beach. Perfect for what he had in mind. “How about stopping for a break over there?”
“I wouldn’t want my muscles to stiffen up too much.”
“Moon heart, some of my muscles are stiff already.”
Lily gasped and stopped paddling. “I can’t believe you said that.”
“What? You can’t believe you make me want you?” Alex waggled his eyebrows. “Wanna come over here and see?”
“You need cooling.” An evil grin appeared on her face, so out of character that he stared. Which was a mistake. While he gaped, Lily leaned her body weight abruptly to the side.
Too late, Alex realized what his moon heart intended.
“Wait! Lunch will get wet.”
“It’s in the waterproof containers.”
Alex hit the water with a splash. When he surfaced, gasping for air, Lily was already clinging to the kayak and making sure it didn’t drift away. She chuckled when she saw him.
“You know I’m gonna get you for that. You said you weren’t a good swimmer.”
“I lied. I can swim. I’m just not too coordinated. Your paddle’s getting away.”
Alex swam to the rescue. He’d lied to Lily, too. While he tried to keep away from the fact, his mind dived right back to dwell on his lie. And how much he’d hurt Lily when he left without giving her reasons or at least ones that would make sense. After grabbing the paddle, he swam after Lily, who was already dragging the kayak into shore. He helped her pull the red kayak high on the sand so there was no danger of it drifting away.
“Feel like a swim?” Alex stopped to savor the look of Lily as she raised her arms and wrung the excess water from her hair. Unaware of his stare, she unfastened the life jacket and tossed it on the kayak. Her breasts rose and fell gently beneath the black-and-silver fabric of her bikini top. Alex’s mouth dried. He swallowed to clear his throat. He must have made a sound because Lily glanced at him, freezing when she realized his frank interest.
“Come here,” he whispered.
“Why? What are you going to do with me?” Lily moistened her lips.
“What would you like me to do with you?” As he waited for a response, Alex tugged the waterproof compartment from the kayak and pulled out two towels. He spread them under the shade of a pohutukawa tree. By the time he turned back to Lily, he was ready, impatient for action. He closed the distance between them and took Lily in his arms.
It was like coming home.
He held her tight, simply breathing in her scent and memorizing the feel of her pressed against him so later, when he was alone, he’d remember.
Her hands ran across his back and stopped to squeeze his butt.
“Nice,” she said with a hint of laughter.
“Oh, yeah?” Alex skated his hands across her ribs in retaliation.
“Stop!” she shrieked, trying to wriggle free.
“One kiss, and I’ll stop tickling you.”
“One kiss?”
“Yeah.”
Blue eyes alight with laughter, she pecked him on the chin. “You didn’t say where,” she pointed out. Then before he could react, she jerked from his touch and ran along the beach.
Alex raced after her, his longer legs gaining on her quickly. He grabbed her and tossed her over his shoulder. Kicking and screeching with laughter, she protested the whole time it took him to walk up the beach.
“Put me down. I’m too heavy.”
In truth, she was a pleasant armful. That damn lump grew inside his throat again. A bittersweet moment. He placed Lily on one of the towels he’d spread on the sand. Her breasts rose and fell swiftly, attracting his attention. Alex skated his hand across her bare tummy.
“Nice,” he said, echoing her previous comment with a wicked grin. He bent his head and traced the same path with his tongue. Lily moaned, her hands tangling in his hair and drawing him close.
Each time with Lily was better, both the anticipation and the culmination. Alex moved up a fraction until his mouth was level with her nipples.
“Alex? Have you ever swum in the sea with no clothes on? I’ve always thought it would be interesting. An experience.”
Alex smiled. He really liked this Lily—the brave one. She was appearing more often, and he loved the change.
“Sit up, Lily.”
Lily sat up, a half smile playing on her lips. He’d been so serious today, as if he had something on his mind.
Alex climbed to his feet, the muscles in his belly and shoulders rippling as he moved.
“You’ve got a bruise on your biceps,” she murmured.
Alex frowned at the bruise while she bit back a sigh of pure appreciation. It was becoming harder and harder to remember they’d have to say goodbye soon. Lily pushed aside the thought. Maybe she could go with him? Maybe somehow they could work things out and stay together.
He extended his hand and tugged Lily to her feet without effort.
“Are we going to explore?” she asked.
“No.” His hands went to the waistband of his shorts. He skimmed them down his hips and stepped out of them unashamed and at ease with his nakedness.
Her mouth twitched. But then why wouldn’t he be comfortable given his masculine beauty? Despite the in-your-face blue equipment that looked as though someone had splashed him with paint. She, on the other hand, was a coward when it came to disrobing. Lily had felt brave venturing out in the modest two-piece they’d purchased in a Nelson store. Getting naked in the great outdoors ranked right out there.
“Your turn.”
“Me?”
Alex appeared somber for an instant before his golden eyes started to twinkle. “A wise man once said that every day you should do something that scares you.” His hand skipped along the edge of her bikini panties, his hot gaze never leaving hers. “Strip. I want to make love to you in the sea. We can both try something new.”
Lily felt a pleasurable buzz in her lower body, but that was nothing new when Alex was around. She spent most of the day in an erotic haze. Horny. Desperately hot for an alien. Who’d have thought?
Slowly, so slowly that the sensual heat seemed to ratchet upward into the burn zone, she reached behind and flicked the closure on her bikini bra.
The black-and-silver fabric fell away, exposing her pale breasts to the sun.
“I’ve never gone topless before,” she said, sounding a trifle breathless to her own ears.
“You’re going further than that,” Alex promised.
Lily swallowed, her heart slamming against her ribs. She trembled but managed to hold his golden gaze. Just. Deep down, she knew the truth. It was going to be difficult to say goodbye.
The sun warmed her body, the rays feeling good on her bare breasts. They’d probably feel equally pleasant on her bare butt. She took a deep breath, hitched in all the parts that needed tucking and tightening then slid her fingers under the band of her bikini panties.
Approval lit his eyes as Lily let the fabric puddle at her feet. Funny, but her heart felt lighter, as if she’d cast off every single trouble along with her clothes. A wry grin twisted her lips. Lily quirked a brow. Here she was—Lily Morgan in her natural state.
“You’re beautiful.” Alex snared her hand and led her across the fine, white particles of sand to the water’s edge. “Moon heart, any fantasy you want. Just tell me and we’ll make it come true.”
Lily felt tears build. Pleased tears. Happy tears. She didn’t know how to express what she felt in that moment. He really was attracted to her—his penis starting to transform already.
Alex peered closely. “Don’t start leaking. I didn’t mean to upset you. Please, moon heart.”
Lily brushed an escapee tear from her cheek and tried to smile away the ache of happiness. “I’m happy, Alex.” She reached up on tiptoe and wound her arms around his neck, drawing down his head. “You make me happy.” She grinned up at him and angled her mouth, sliding her lips across his and coaxing him to participate. Tongues swirled together in a lazy-no-hurry exploration of smooth teeth and inner cheeks.
Alex cupped her buttocks and lifted her effortlessly, pulling her flush with his groin.
Lily laughed, fluttering her lashes at him. “My hero.”
“Ready for a swim?”
“I’d prefer sex,” Lily admitted.
A brief frown flashed across his golden face before he grinned. “We’ll do both, but we’d better do the swimming first because it looks like a kayak is heading this way.”
Holy heck! Lily spun about ready to scurry for her clothes. She might have gathered the courage to bare all for Alex, but not to every passerby.
Alex scooped her off her feet with a suddenness that made her squeak.
“Don’t worry, once you’re in the water, no one will notice what you’re wearing.”
Lily checked out the rapidly approaching kayaks. Three single kayaks, and if she wasn’t mistaken, men paddled them.
Alex waded into deeper water.
“Go a little faster,” she urged, her eyes on the rapidly approaching kayaks.
“Moon heart, males on Dalcon would pay to look at your ripe, luscious body.”
Lily glanced at the pale stretch marks on her upper thighs and grimaced. “Takes all sorts, I guess.”
“You could always ask Janaya.”
Lily hid her head against his shoulder and bit her lip on hearing his disappointment. “Do we have to talk about Janaya? I know she’s married to my brother, but I don’t know her well. She’s a little scary.”
“You don’t have to tell me.” Alex let her slide down his body until she stood. “All covered up.”
Lily doubted that. To her, the water appeared transparent. And… “Oh, my God!” she muttered, digging Alex in the ribs with her elbow. “Look!”
Alex made a choking sound. “Well, bless a fodo bird. That’s a new one.”
They both stared at his groin. His penis and balls glowed like a blue firefly in the dark.
“I guess I’d better stand in front of you so they don’t wonder about the blue light.”
“Must be a reaction with the sea water. I have a better idea,” Alex purred. “I could slide my tom inside you—”
“Ahoy there.”
Alex lifted his right hand in lazy acknowledgment. “Hello.”
With his free hand, he tweaked Lily’s nipple. The sharp nip of his fingers sent a bungee of pleasure skating along her nerve endings. Knowing other people were present intensified the thrill. Lily felt her cheeks heat. The color seeped to her neck and spread across her chest but embarrassment didn’t lessen the thirst for more of his touch. As she sidled closer to Alex, she wondered if her eagerness made her depraved. Another sharp tweak at her nipple sent a groan soaring up her throat. The kayaks were close enough for her to make out the features of the men. A yellow kayak stopped closest. The men in the red and blue kayaks stopped to discuss a flock of sea birds on a nearby outcrop of rocks. After another pinch, Alex’s hand cruised across her belly and lower, to tangle in her pubic hair.
With her eyes on the man in the closest kayak and a polite smile pinned to her lips, she widened her stance to allow Alex better access. Immediately one finger skimmed downward across her clitoris and dipped into her pussy. Lily drew in a sharp breath.