Saltwater Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story (The Kisses Series Book 1) (26 page)

He reached out his hand, waiting for her to take him back despite his faux pas. “You deserve even more. The charm suits you,” he said, smiling. “I like it on you.”

She played with the charm for a moment before reaching for him, her eyes sparkling with the gift. “It does look good, doesn’t it?”

He grinned. It certainly did. He squeezed her hand and together they kept walking. He wished he could buy her everything her heart desired. Not just to impress or buy her heart, but to make her happy. It was a small but important difference from his previous affairs.

J
ack couldn't remember a more pleasant afternoon. Emma had him laughing as she recalled nearly getting caught skinny dipping. The innocence and honesty of her stories made him want to wrap her up in his arms and never let her go. She was a breath of fresh air in his stagnant, money-filled world.

White gauze streamers fluttered on a gazebo, catching his attention. He had heard of the booths being set up on the beach for weddings, but had never seen one. He stared at it for a moment, feeling the weight of his business responsibilities crash back onto his shoulders.

Her eyes followed his gaze, and he nodded to the decorated awning, the wedding already set up as if waiting for them. “You ever think you'll get married?”

“At the rate I’m going?” she asked. “No. You don’t even want to know the last time I went on a date. I want to, but, no one seems interested. I’ve kind of come to accept that I will be a crazy old cat lady someday.” Her voice was light, as if it were a joke only she got. It squeezed at Jack's heart and made him ache. He wanted her. He squeezed her hand. “What about you? You think you'll ever marry?”

“Honestly, I don’t know. I would love a family. I want a wife and kids with a dog in a white picket fenced yard, but I don’t think that will ever happen because of my work and the obligations that come with it. The fact that I have money complicates things.” He sighed. Brandy had certainly proven that. He had yet to meet anyone other than Emma who made him feel as though his money didn't matter. “If I were to get married, it would have to be to someone who could see past my job and the income. Someone who wanted to be with
me.
”

“I’d marry you. Even if you didn’t have any money,” she blurted out. Jack stopped dead in his tracks. It was as if she could read his thoughts and give him his greatest wishes. She bit her lip, obviously flustered by his reaction. “I mean, I don’t know how much money you have, but I know that I like being around you. I think I like you more than anyone I have ever met.”

Jack put his hands on her shoulders and pulled her to face him. His heart was going a million miles per hour. He searched her face, looking for any hint of dishonesty or greed. All he saw was her wholesome warmth and genuine affection. It made him dizzy with joy. “You're serious,” he said, a smile filling his face. “You want to get married?”

She blushed a beautiful crimson that tugged at his heartstrings. “Sure, why not?” she asked bravely. The trembling under his fingertips told him that she was more nervous than she let on.

“Let’s do it, then,” he said with a wicked smile. He wasn't about to let her back out now.

“Are you serious?” Her smiled faltered for a moment as he called her bluff.

“Sure, why not?” he mimicked her words with a grin. He tugged at her hand, walking toward the awning.

“Wait a second,” she gasped.

“Oh, so you’re backing out?” Jack’s eyes twinkled with amusement. He was enjoying this far too much.

“No, I am not backing out. I said I would marry you and I will,” she responded, thrusting out her jaw. “I want to... ummm... clarify a couple of things.”

“Okay, Ms. Worrywart, go on — clarify,” he said.

“It is soon to be Mrs. Worrywort. You realize that we are in a foreign country right?” she asked. He nodded. The thought had occurred to him as soon as he asked. As they were both foreigners without the correct legal documents, the ceremony wouldn't be legal. It was a harmless bit of fun. Emma's face relaxed as she came to the same conclusion. “Good. You realize that you never asked my dad’s permission?”

That took Jack by surprise. He loved that she was playing the game with him. “You want me to call him right now?” Jack asked innocently as he began reaching for his phone. “Or are you just thinking up excuses not to marry me?”

“Oh, I’ll marry the hell out of you,” she said laughing and pushing the phone back to his pocket. “Besides, then we can tell everyone we are on our honeymoon and get free drinks.”

“You are staying on an all-inclusive resort,” he informed her with a laugh. She pushed his shoulder playfully.

“Before we do this, though, you should at least propose properly,” she said trying to keep a straight face. Jack looked thoughtful for a moment before taking her hand and dropping to one knee. He wanted to do this right. This was the closest to a wedding he was likely ever going to get.

“My dearest, loveliest Emma,” he began looking up at her. He couldn't stop the grin from filling his face. “Will you do me the biggest honor of this vacation, and marry me?”

“Yes,” she answered with a giggle. He stood up and kissed her, finding a passion he hadn't been expecting. Desire threaded through him at her touch and when they pulled apart he could see it mirrored in her eyes as well.

“Come on!” Jack recovered first, grabbing her hand with a smile and pulling her toward the awning.

***

“Y
ou may now kiss the bride,” the marriage officiant declared. Jack grinned at Emma's smile. For this moment, she was his. He liked the idea of having Emma all to himself, even though he knew the marriage was a sham. This was just pretend, just a wonderful game they both were participating in because they knew they couldn't have the real thing.

He put his hands on her face, and drew her lips to his. Her mouth was soft and sweet, and he could barely contain himself from wanting more. Wanting her. There was something about kissing her after those words, something that made him ache for it to be real.

“Smile for the camera,” the minister said, holding up a camera. Jack's hand shot up and covered the lens before the man could even press the button. The last thing he needed was pictures of this wedding being posted online. As much as he wished this ceremony could be real, it was the last thing his family or his business needed.

“No pictures,” Jack snapped. His eyes darkened as he stared down the minister.

“No pictures?” Emma asked, disappointment in her voice. “Not even one, just for us?”

Jack frowned. Emma's eyes pleaded with him for just one. This was her wedding day as much as it was his. He relented. The two of them could have one picture, especially since it was their wedding. He actually rather liked the idea of having something to remember this day by. “No pictures except this one. This one is for us.”

He handed the minister his phone and turned to smile for the camera. Emma cuddled up into him under the awning as the camera flashed. The minister smiled before handing it back to Jack.

He grinned at the screen. The picture was perfect. It captured Emma's simple beauty and the two of them looked absolutely ecstatic. It looked like a real wedding picture.

“I better get a copy,” Emma said, her eyes staying on the picture even as she handed the phone back to Jack. He laughed, completely happy to oblige that request. He kissed her again, reveling in her sweet taste and the way she pressed against his body. She fit with him.

“You’ll get the only copy,” he whispered. “This is ours and ours alone. No one can ever take this from us. This is our secret, one only we share.”

She had to be aware the effect she was having on him. Just kissing her and having her press into him was causing him to grow hard. All he could think about was having her beneath him, writhing, naked and panting. He wanted his name on her lips as she came.

“We should head back and start our honeymoon,” she whispered, pushing her hips against his. The familiar ache at the base of his spine was starting to grow the longer he held her. His hand tightened on her back, and he nearly threw her to the sand to take her right there on the beach.

“Ahem.” The minister raised his eyebrows and looked pointedly away. Jack got the message and released his blushing bride just long enough to grab her hand.

Together, they sprinted back down the beach, laughing at their splashes in the waves and enjoying their new marriage.

E
mma pushed open her door and nearly stepped inside before he caught her.

“What do you think you're doing?” Jack asked, his eyes twinkling. Despite running along the beach, he wasn't out of breath from running. He was out of breath controlling himself with Emma. It had taken every ounce of willpower he processed to get her back to the hotel room. The only reason he had managed to wait was that it was technically their wedding. He was looking forward to this part.

“Opening the door?” Emma cocked her head to the side, confused. She had sprinted just as hard to get back here.

With a fluid motion, Jack scooped her up in his arms. She giggled as she realized what he was doing, wrapping her arms around his neck and holding him close. She pressed her nose into his throat and inhaled, taking in the scent of him. It made his heart race with primal need.

He carried her to the bedroom, setting her down gently on the floor. She held onto him for an extra moment, as if she were soaking him into her skin. When she looked up at him, her long lashes fluttering over sea-green eyes, his heart melted into a puddle on the floor.

She stepped back and in a one smooth motion raised the hem of her sundress up and over her head. All she had on was a pair of tiny white panties. Jack's breath caught and all the need he had been keeping tamped down came roaring to life.

“Wow,” he whispered, looking her up and down. She bit her lip and blushed, suddenly shy. “You are so beautiful.”

She grinned, flipping her hair back behind her shoulder. “I'm just getting started. Take off your shirt.”

Confidence looked good on her, he thought as he pulled the shirt up and over his head. A sly smirk crossed her features and she moved as though she were coming to kiss him. Only, instead of kissing his lips, she dropped to her knees in front of him.

She bit her lip again as she concentrated on undoing the button to his shorts. He groaned as she tugged on the fabric, pulling them free. The palm of her hand went straight to his groin, rubbing his hardening erection through his boxers. The muscles of his abs tensed with the pleasure.

She looked up at him, wide eyed and eager to please, as she pulled the boxers down. He loved the little gasp she made when she saw him, nearly fully erect and more than ready to take her. Lust shimmered in her green eyes like sunlight on the water. She took a deep breath, preparing herself to take him in her mouth.

“You don't have to—” Jack started to say, but his words were stopped as she introduced him to pure bliss. Her tongue caressed his cock, swirling and tasting his desire. He groaned as she ran her fingers up his legs and up to his stomach. Abs and ass tight, it was all he could do not to force himself into her mouth. He wanted to take her and take her hard. “Emma...”

He couldn't find the words. Everything was pleasure from her mouth to her hands and everything in between. Her tongue pressed and sucked with gentle strokes that drove him absolutely wild. His hips rocked back and forth of their own accord.

He had to pull away. She was causing his body to react like a high schooler's again. He didn't want to come in her mouth, not on their wedding day. He wanted to join with her, to make her feel more pleasure than she'd ever known and have his name on her tongue when he finally released the tension in his groin.

She wiped the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand. “How was that? I've never done that before.”

His stomach clenched on sheer desire. She had no idea how much her sweet innocence turned him on. It was nothing like the girls he usually dated, and that made it all the better.

He tucked his finger under her chin, guiding her up to standing while staring into her fathomless eyes. “Amazing, absolutely fucking amazing.”

She grinned, pleased with herself. “I wasn't done yet.”

“A few more seconds of you doing that to me, and I would have been.” His voice was husky and the only thing he could think of was getting inside her warmth. Of feeling her from the inside and bringing her to such pleasure that she never came down.

Emma flushed with pride. “Do you have a condom? I thought I might put it on for you.”

He kissed, not answering her question. His manhood pressed up against her skin, throbbing and begging to be touched. She dropped her hand to it, stroking him with just the tips of her fingers as her tongue danced with his.

“Emma,” he gasped as she wrapped her hand around his length and applied the most delightful pressure. She worked her hand up and down his shaft, making him groan with pleasure into her mouth.

He wasn't about to let her get away with only giving him pleasure. In return, he worked his hand to her breast, pinching the nipple and making her arch her spine at the pleasure and pain. Her skin was so soft in his hand as he cupped and twirled the pebbled nipple in his fingers.

Slowly, he slid his hand down her hip to the V at the top of her legs, pressing his fingers against the soft white satin of her panties. She whimpered as he pressed her pleasure button through the fabric. The whimper increased as he slid his hand down her front, touching fingers to damp skin.

Emma trembled as his fingers found her rhythm. Second by second, her grip loosened on him as she lost herself to the swirling storm of ecstasy he was working with his magical fingers. He felt her tense, her hands clenching to his shoulders as everything in her body went tight and started to vibrate.

Just watching her come on his hand, pressed against his body was driving him insane. He kept his rhythm though, making sure to keep her coming for as long as he could.

Emma sucked in a huge breathe as her lungs remembered they had a job to do. Her breaths came in short, fast pants and her eyes were still half-lidded with satisfaction.