Coffee and Cockpits (23 page)

This man was different—he wasn’t like others.

He was like me.

S
leep faded, leaving me tangled in sheets with sweat drenching my back. The dream ebbed away, leaving me with a weird sense of loss. I couldn’t recall it, but everything had been stark and vacant. Almost as if life pressed a pause button and I’d wallowed in the white noise between.

Luckily, my room was full of colour with red hibiscus flowers on the bedside table and hand woven geometric carpets. The vibrancy shooed the rest of my vague unease into the shadows.

Holy hell, it’s hot.

I’d only slept in my boxers, but perspiration, caused as much from my strange dream as well as island heat, beaded. The Samoan sun didn’t mess around with toasting the new day. My mouth watered at the thought of the ocean and a morning swim.

I grabbed my watch and checked the time. For some stupid reason the hotel had a thing against clocks. Was it their way of forcing the guests to relax? No deadlines. No appointments.

Blinking, I brought the dial into focus. 8:15 a.m. Awesome. Plenty of time to swim before breakfast.

I stretched long and hard. My spine creaked, realigning. The muscle aches from the crash snarled, but it was nothing compared to the unbearable need in my morning wood. How I’d been able to stop not once, but twice last night… well, I deserved a pat on the back, ‘cause
man
was I horny.

Nina.

Last night had been absolute heaven. She was a better pilot than I’d hoped, and my crazy, adolescent dream danced on my thoughts all evening. Should I tell her what I ultimately wanted, or would it be too much? Would it send her packing before I had a chance?

Her emotions shone unguarded in her eyes last night. Every moment I spent in her company solidified she was the one for me. Unfortunately, instead of relaxing me, I suffered anxiety at the thought of cocking up and ruining everything.

I wasn’t going to stress about it now, though. Not when the sun winked outside, and mirage wisps already danced in the humid air. I had a date with the ocean.

Shooting out of bed, I quickly exchanged boxers for board shorts, and sprinted down the garden path to the twenty-four carat gold beach.

“Oof.” I winced as the sand scorched my soles. How was the beach poker hot already? The sun only woke up an hour ago.

Seemed I wasn’t the only one who was an early riser. Hotel guests lolled in the water, their voices murmuring over the gentle slap of tide on sand. A few ambitious people had set up camp, claiming loungers and umbrellas ready for a day of tanning—determined to change their skin colour. I never understood why the leather look was in.

Not wanting to leave my foot flesh stuck to granules of sand, I gritted my teeth and bolted. The water’s edge beckoned; I hurtled myself into the surf. From running to diving, I sliced through the water.

Dammit. The water was warm, too. Was everything on this island above body temperature? How was I supposed to cool down?

I hovered under the tide, listening to the
chug-chug
of my heart, and the heavy silence of water. Finally, when my lungs heaved, bucking for breath, I broke the surface.

Where was Nina? Still sleeping? I wished I’d knocked on her door and brought her with me. Then again, if she wore the white bikini again, I doubted I’d do too well with onlookers. I wanted to feast on her and doubted I’d have the self-control left to pull back this time.

My abs clenched and I sighed. Today, I’d have to go back to the airport and see how the report was coming along. An evil smile crossed my mouth as I lay back, letting the water cradle me. What would Nikolai say if he knew I’d seen Nina naked? Touched her? Tasted her? I hoped he hated the idea and backed off. Then minor guilt filled me. He wasn’t deliberately trying to mess up my life—it just seemed he had a knack for it.

I floated like a piece of flotsam, not caring where the current took me, full of memories of Nina. If I wasn’t careful I’d get a boner and wouldn’t be able to leave the surf. I doubted Mrs. Na-Na over there with her floral one piece and Hula-Hoop of a hat would appreciate seeing me with a massive hard-on. Then again, judging by her pot-bellied, red-nosed hubby, maybe she would.

Closing my eyes against the sun’s glare, a hand collided with my chest, sending me spluttering under water. Salt water stung my nose as I shot off the sandy bottom ready to pummel someone. “What the—”

Joslyn burst into giggles. “Too easy.” 

I bared my teeth, launching at her. “That’s it. You’re shark meat.” No one dunked me without paying a serious price.

She squealed as I picked her up and harpooned her into the water. She kicked and flailed, looking like a drowned possum.

I laughed as she emerged from the water, hair clinging to her scalp. “You’re such a douche-canoe.” She swiped a hand over her face; a smile fighting the pout on her lips.

I pointed to myself with a fake wounded expression. “Me? You started it.”

She pushed the water, dousing me in a wave. “You never let me win.”

I advanced on her as she reeled backward. “You’re so tiny. How could I? It wouldn’t do my pride any good to know a whippet of a sister could kick my ass.” I didn’t think I’d truly appreciated how much I loved my annoying stepsister. No one else managed to break my jail of anguish. Who teased me so well and reminded me life was for moving forward, not looking back.

And she’d helped me learn about Nina.

The moment I thought about her, blood gushed into my shorts again. I needed to have a wank, or do something to dispel my pent-up frustration. Fighting an erection every time I thought about Nina wasn’t going to work.  

Joslyn splashed me again. “So… where have you been? I came searching for you yesterday. Couldn’t find you. Come to think of it, I couldn’t find Nina either.” She put hands on her hips. “Are you putting the moves on my best friend?”

I narrowed my eyes. Did she mind if I was? I’d never stopped to think if she’d be pissed. Would she think I was stealing Nina from her?

I paddled backward, pretending the coconut trees were a lot more interesting. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

She scoffed. “Come on. You’ve at least kissed her by now. You conveniently forget it was me who siphoned you all that juicy gossip. The one who indulged your annoying questions.” She winked. “Don’t tell me you haven’t been using this island stranding as a perfect time to get into her knickers.”

I shot her a scowl. “You know it isn’t like that.”

“I know it isn’t.” She sighed. “I’m worried about you. I just wish you’d tell her the truth so you can move on if she doesn't like you like that. She needs to know.”

A smile broadened my face. I
had
told Nina the truth. With the falls crashing behind us, I’d spilled my stalkerish secret. And so far so good. One thing I’d never tell Joslyn was I’d already been in her knickers. That wasn’t shareable with a sister. No matter how close we were.

“I did tell her.”

Her eyes popped. “You did! Wow. And?”

I shrugged, playing it cool. “She seems to like me, too.”

She threw her arms around my neck. “Really? Liam, that’s wonderful! I’m so happy you got her to open up. She was always so standoffish when it comes to men. I think it stems from her daddy issues.”

I winced, remembering her anguish as she hung up on her yelling father. Was that entirely true, though? After seeing her dancing with Nikolai, I wondered if there was more to her. She certainly looked like she enjoyed being in his arms. Bloody guy and his Salsa skills.

Why the hell did I say goodnight to her outside her fale last night? Why didn’t I go inside and finish what I started? My insecurities that she’d ditch me for the dancer/engineer only increased, rather than diminished, the more time I spent with her.

What if I wasn’t enough?

Needing to see Nina to ease the band of pressure around my chest, I struck off for the shore. “Come on. Breakfast time.”

* * * * *

The outdoor restaurant bustled with staff and guests. My eyes scanned the crowd, homing in on the one person I couldn’t wait to see. There was no hope for me. If I couldn’t spend a few hours away from her, I might as well sign over my manhood and beg her to keep me. Sad excuse of a man.

Nina sat at a table closest to the pool, dressed in a yellow summer dress, her hair high in a ponytail, showing off the long expanse of her neck. I’d kissed her neck. Nuzzled her.

I stopped to drink her in.

Joslyn ran into the back of me. “Oi. You can’t stop in the middle of the road like that.” When I didn’t move, she followed my eyes and sighed. “Liam. You are besotted.”

Pinching me, she whispered, “Don’t think Nina doesn’t know you’ve fallen for her. You’re not as subtle as you like to think.”

Ouch, that sucked. It was so hard to know which card to play: egotistical pilot or considerate island lover. Could Nina see how pathetic I was when it came to her? How much I wanted to make her smile and laugh. To provide her with everything she ever wanted?

Joslyn left me gawking and flounced to the table. Nina stood when she saw her, smiling. They wrapped their arms around each other.

I frowned as they stayed in the embrace far longer than normal. Nina’s eyes popped wide to something Joslyn must’ve mentioned. Damn meddling sister. Now, what the hell had she said?

I stalked toward them, deciding to play the egotistical pilot card to keep my girly thoughts at bay. Nina’s eyes sent explosions of horniness racing through my body. I should’ve released some of my pent-up frustration. If I let Nina come anywhere near that part of my anatomy, I’d last a minute, if that.

Joslyn smirked at us. “I’m off to get some breakfast.” She practically skipped to the buffet. 

Nina shifted self-consciously. “Hi.”

My voice box deserted me. “Morning.” I cleared my throat. “Did you sleep well?”

She bit her lip. “No. Terrible. Ask me why.”

My stomach floundered. Oh God, the way she watched me, I knew I shouldn’t ask. We were in a restaurant. With witnesses. My voice dropped to gravel. “Why didn’t you sleep well?”

She stepped closer, resting her hands on my chest. Her eyes captured me. “Because you weren’t beside me. Because you left me after the most amazing night of my life. Because I wanted you so badly even the sheets turned me on.”

I groaned, grabbing her hands, pressing them hard against my pecs. “You keep telling me things like this when we’re in public. Not fair.”

Her lips parted. “We weren’t in public last night. You could have taken me on the runway.”

My cock surged. Holy fuck.

“Nina, you’re severely testing my self-control.” Pulling her into me, I pressed her hips against mine. Her eyes popped and she sucked in a breath, noticing how hard I was. I murmured in her ear, “As much as I wanted to take you at the airport, I want to do this right. I don’t want to rush it. Just like with our first kiss. I need
you
to need
me
.”

She kissed the hollow of my throat, sending gusts of sensation all over me. “I need you, Liam. How many times do you want me to say it? I’ll beg.”

I chuckled. “I like the sound of—”

“Get a room you two.” Joslyn plonked down at the table, her plate dotted with an assortment of food.

Nina and I jumped apart. I sat down immediately so my shorts were no longer in view.

Nina’s cheeks could’ve started a fire. “I’m going to get some food.”

She left, not making eye contact with either of us.

“Way to go, Jos.” I was pissed, but also ecstatic. Nina was as churned up as I was. Excellent.

She waved a waffle in my face. “You be careful. If this is just about sex, then go for it and have fun. But if you’re falling harder than she’s falling for you… protect yourself. I love Nina, but I don’t want her hurting you.”

I didn’t have time to reply. Nina slinked into her chair, depositing an English breakfast in front of me.

“You got me food.” Why did that squeeze my heart and wring it dry? Such a simple gesture, but damn it made me happy.

She smirked. “I doubt you want to stand anytime soon.”

Joslyn burst out laughing.

I knew I should be embarrassed, but I wasn’t. I threw her a grin and stabbed a sausage.

“So, what’s on everyone’s agenda today?” Joslyn asked.

Nina fluttered her lashes my way. “I have some ideas.”

Joslyn rolled her eyes. “Save those ideas for when the sun has gone to bed. I’m planning on putting in a solid eight-hour-day on my tan. You keen to be my fellow lying-on-a-lounger-lizard, Nina?”

She laughed. “Tempting, but I don’t think my skin could handle it.”

I swallowed my mouthful. “Besides, Jos. Nina’s busy.”

They both looked at me.

“I am?” Nina quirked an eyebrow, looking entirely too smug. If she thought I was going to lock her in a fale and not let her leave the bed, then she was mistaken. That was for later.

I didn’t want to spend time away from her though so that meant I had to take her with me to work.

“Yep. You’re coming to the airport with me.”