Shades of Sexy (8 page)

Chapter Five

Macy slipped out of bed before eight in the morning, thankful she’d taken a second day off work. After being up half the night playing with Alex, she didn’t have the energy to face the office. She glanced at him as he slept peacefully and her breath hitched. Last night she’d had some of the best sex ever, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that they’d broken some unspoken taboo.

Technically, they were related. Weirder still, she’d been married to his father, had made love with Warren countless times. Having intimate knowledge of both father and son felt beyond strange. Yet she could hardly deny her intense attraction to Alex.

She showered and dressed in shorts and a tank top, rehearsed what she’d say to Alex when he woke, how she’d give him an out. But did she want to say goodbye to him so fast? He probably found the whole thing just as unsettling as she.

She started a pot of coffee then scanned the fridge for something to serve for breakfast. If he even decided to hang around that long. She only had a quart of milk a couple days past its prime, a jar of chocolate syrup and a few light microwave dinners in the freezer.

Creaking bedsprings drew her attention toward the bedroom. She pulled in a steadying breath. Her stomach growled from hunger—and nervousness. She busied herself with washing wine glasses and wiping down the already clean counter while she waited for the coffee to brew. When the doorbell rang, she wondered who it could be this early. Normally she’d be long gone to work.

She opened the door to her elderly neighbor, the self-appointed mayor of the apartment complex. As always, the man wore a sour scowl. “Good morning, Mr. Tomasini. What can I do for you?”

“Wanted to let you know some hooligans been hanging around the complex. We’ve had some cars broken into, tires slashed, that sort of thing. With that hoity-toity foreign car of yours, you might want to keep an extra close eye out.”

She glanced at her car, parked in her designated space. “Thanks for the heads up. I’ll be sure to call the police if I see anything.” She started to close the door, but he continued speaking.

“Probably some black kids.”

She stiffened. “Now we don’t know that. It’s not fair to jump to conclusions.” She heard Alex’s footsteps step in the foyer behind her.

Mr. Tomasini stared past her and his frown deepened. He gave Macy a stern shake of his head, then stomped away. She drew a deep breath, steeling herself for Alex’s reaction, but when she shut the door and turned around, she found the foyer empty. She didn’t give a damn what her neighbor thought, but she prayed he hadn’t offended Alex.

She discovered him in the kitchen pouring a cup of coffee wearing the same clothes as he had yesterday. Did he plan to leave soon? Her insides ached at the thought of never seeing him again.

“I hope you don’t mind.” His stony expression gave nothing away. “Coffee smelled so good I couldn’t resist.”

She suspected he’d overheard Mr. Tomasini’s racist comment, but she didn’t want to prolong the discomfort by mentioning it. “Hungry? All I have is the fixings for toast and chocolate milk, although I don’t know that I’d trust the milk. Course, we could put the chocolate syrup on the toast, skip the milk entirely.”

A wide smile brightened his face and lit up his eyes. “Think I’ll stick with the coffee, for now.” His gaze raked over her body and sent a quiver of awareness shimmying up her spine.

Alex stared at her and sipped his coffee. He said nothing, yet his gaze radiated an unmistakable hunger. Heat crawled up her neck and face and her pussy tingled with fresh passion.

All thoughts of her bigoted neighbor floated into the air like the steam coming from Alex’s mug. A rivulet of sweat slowly rolled down the side of his face. He set the cup on the counter and took a step toward her. Placing his hands on the counter on either side of her, he locked her in. His mouth hovered inches from hers.

She pulled in the air he expelled, laced with the scent and taste of coffee. Her nipples grew tight with need.

“Come to think of it, I’m starved. But food won’t satisfy my appetite.” He kissed her neck, nipped her earlobe.

A spindle of desire ignited there. Her breath hitched. “What is it you’d like to eat, then?”

He lifted her onto the counter of the island as if she weighed nothing. She flinched at the cool feel of the granite against her skin. Stepping between her legs, he settled his lips over hers. Their tongues engaged in a slow, sultry dance. She flashed on their lovemaking from yesterday and last night, and passion sparked inside her. Softening against him, she moved her hands up and down his back, enjoyed the contours of his lean, muscled body.

Alex slid a hand along her thighs, higher and higher, until his fingers disappeared under the fabric of her shorts. She rolled her head back and he kissed her neck, licking her skin and painting it with his heat.

Her breasts grew heavy with need. Alex seemed to sense her thoughts. He cupped her breast in his hand and nibbled at her straining point right through the material covering it. A low moan broke from her lips as he tugged at the elastic of her panties.

Suddenly he withdrew his touch and backed away. She questioned him with her eyes.

“Take off your shirt and bra.” The command in his tone ratcheted up her libido several notches. He crossed the small room to the fridge, pulled it open and took out the bottle of chocolate syrup. Her breath hitched when she realized his intentions. She undressed slowly, felt the caress of his stare on her skin.

He unscrewed the top of the jar, then placed the open bottle in the microwave and hit the minute button. After about thirty seconds, he opened the oven door and took it out. The smile on his face as he approached her sent shivers of anticipation vibrating along her skin.

He pulled his polo shirt over his head, then spread it on the island and pointed to it. “Lie on that.”

Hot excitement engulfed her as she stretched out on the stone surface. Alex set the chocolate syrup down beside her. He peeled away her shorts and her panties, leaving her naked and vulnerable. Being totally naked in the kitchen in broad daylight made her insides sizzle with wanton craving. He picked up the syrup and held it directly above her chest. The wicked glint in his eyes assured her a sensually gratifying experience lay ahead.

Alex drizzled the warm liquid onto her breasts. He looked like a kid on Christmas morning as he climbed onto the island and settled over her. He gave her a smoky stare then lowered his mouth to her chocolate covered breasts and started lapping up the confection. Luscious flares of desire ignited all through her body. She grabbed at his hair, forcing him closer. His nimble tongue stroked and licked and teased.

A rivulet of syrup slid into the dip between her breasts. She swiped it off with her finger, but before she could get it to her mouth, Alex grabbed her wrist and pulled her hand to his lips. He sucked her finger into his mouth and swirled his tongue around it. Her sex clenched and throbbed, desperate for his touch.

“Maybe I wanted some chocolate,” she teased.

He caught her other wrist in his hand and raised both her arms over her head. “That can be arranged.” He skimmed his tongue along her skin, under her left breast, then her right. Moving over her, he met her stare, his mouth hovering less than an inch from hers. She parted her lips and he kissed her, wiping the sweet liquid onto her tongue.

Her pussy tingled with longing. She lifted her hips, rocked against his erection. But Alex refused to be rushed. He trailed soft kisses along her jaw, down her neck. The scratch of his unshaven skin only heightened her desire. Sucking her earlobe into his mouth, he let out a deep growl. “Are you ready for me to fuck you again, Macy?”

Her heart thudded with delicious anticipation. “Yes. Please.”

Cupping her breast, he sucked a pebbled nipple into his mouth and swirled his tongue around it. The blissful sensation radiated through her and sent little shock waves of pleasure to her sex. He moved his attention to her other breast, laved her skin in a sweeping circular pattern. She arched her back, wriggled to relieve the pent-up need in her pussy.

He slid lower, licking her skin along the way. A shudder racked her body as he grasped her thighs and pushed them apart. Her juices flowed, hot and thick. She squirmed beneath his stare, more than ready to feel his cock inside her.

He parted her lips, flicked the tip of his tongue over her engorged clit. She bucked and whimpered with helpless abandon. His touch was light and teasing as he licked her furls. She sank her fingers into his hair, grabbing at his short curls.

He drove his fingers inside her, snatching her breath away. Using his thumb, he rubbed her cleft, dragging her closer and closer to her release. She held her breath, drowning in ecstasy. Her pussy clenched and she fisted her hands. An orgasm overtook her with an electric intensity. Euphoria rolled over her, convulsing her body, making her shake and shudder and gasp for air. She squeezed her eyes shut and surrendered to the delectable sensations.

Alex barely let her recover before he climbed off her and got to his feet. Then he shucked off his clothes, dropped them on the floor. The male beauty of his physique—the rippling muscles and dark skin, not to mention the fully erect cock angling toward her. She sat up and scooted to the edge of the counter and watched him crouch to fish a condom out of his pants pocket.

He stood up and stepped between her thighs. She wrapped her arms and legs around him, drawing him closer. Sliding her tongue over her upper lip, she captured his gaze. Renewed heat flowed through her veins. Taking his head in her hands, she pulled him to her, brushed her lips over his. He smelled like coffee and chocolate, and tasted of her cream. She sucked his tongue into her mouth and feasted on it.

Alex ran his hands up and down her back, cupped her buttocks and squeezed her flesh. His touch let her know how much he enjoyed her body, how sensual he found it. The knowledge heightened her confidence and made her want to try new things with him, things she’d never dared with any other lover before.

No!

He wouldn’t be around past today. She couldn’t delude herself into thinking about him in terms of a future together.. He lived hundreds of miles away. And her taste in men had proved flawed.

After they made love this morning, she’d make it clear that he ought to leave. Indulging in a relationship with her stepson was just too weird.

Alex felt Macy stiffen under his touch. She broke the kiss and appeared to mentally check out. Maybe just his imagination. “Everything okay?”

She tilted her head and her brow furrowed. “Of course, fine. Want to go to the bedroom?”

Definitely not my imagination.

“Yeah. Sure.” He helped her off the island.

She folded her arms over her chest, then glanced at his wrinkled shirt on the counter and grabbed it. By time he’d retrieved his pants from the floor, she’d slipped into his shirt, which fell to the middle of her thighs. She looked sexy as hell, but something wasn’t right.

He followed her into her room and waited for her to take off his shirt, only she didn’t. She busied herself with straightening the sheets. Didn’t look too promising for the continuation of the morning’s romp.

He took her hand and sat on the bed, pulled her next to him. “What’s going on here, Macy?”

She gave him a blank stare. “Nothing. What do you mean?”

He swallowed back a frustrated sigh. “One minute we’re having a great time. The next you’re cool and aloof.”

The tiny muscles along her jaw twitched. “Cool and aloof?” She stood, marched to the dresser and fiddled with a perfume bottle. Spinning around to face him, she thrust her chin forward. “I just have a few things on my mind, that’s all. Nothing that has anything to do with you.”

Ouch.

His erection gone, Alex stood and stepped into his pants. “I have a bag in my car outside. Fresh clothes and a razor would be nice, huh? I’ll be right back.” Hurrying from the room, he wondered what he’d said, what he’d done. Maybe she’d decided she didn’t want to take things between them any farther. Maybe his father’s prejudices had rubbed off on her. Maybe… Who knows?

She hadn’t even questioned why he’d gotten dressed rather than continue what they’d started. He shook his head as he strode out her front door. Opening the trunk of his rental, he caught a glimpse of the old man who’d been speaking to Macy at her door a while ago. The guy gave him a sneer as he passed.

Grabbing his carryon, he gritted his teeth. The sooner he got the hell out of here, the better. Once back inside Macy’s place, he carried his bag into the guest bath, cleaned up and changed into shorts and a fresh polo shirt.

Macy’s bedroom door remained closed as he left the bathroom. His gut clenched. Could his instincts have been more wrong about a woman? He sat on the couch and took out his laptop, logged onto his email. One from his mother, one from his boss with the subject line, “Since you’re there.” He read that one first.

Scanning through the pleasantries, he found an offer of a newly approved project. Working with South Florida University’s Marine Biology Department, he’d be filming marine life in and around the Keys. Three or four weeks, tops.

He glanced toward Macy’s room, still closed up and silent. No, he wouldn’t take the assignment to be near her. But he would accept it, because it would be interesting work.