When Sparks Fly (81 page)

Grant

Well, this sucks. I left an extremely hot, bikini-clad woman that I’ve had mind-blowing sex with five times, to spend the afternoon at the local titty bar with a bunch of horny naval aviators.

There is something very wrong with this picture.

“This place sucks,” Bait says. “Let’s get the fuck out of here and head back to the hotel. I can get more action from the hotties at the pool.”

Beavis pulls his head from between some disinterested strippers breasts and lifts the girl off his lap. “Let’s go.”

I practically run out of the place, pulling the keys to the rental vehicle from my pocket. We load into the SUV and I’m trying my damnedest not to floor it and run every light between here and the hotel. I’m in desperate need of laying eyes on Jordyn.

We walk through the lobby and out the back to the pool area. I follow the guys to the bar area, scanning the deck for Jordyn in her bright blue bikini. I find her, laying on her stomach on a chaise lounge.

I head around the pool and squat down next to her.

She lifts her head and smiles. I’m suddenly acutely aware that I have another twenty-four hours with her.

And then… what?
Am I really prepared to just let her walk out of my life? It seems impossible that this could just end when it seems to be so damn perfect.

“Hey, there, Fly Boy.”

“Hey, yourself.” I glance at her back and down her long legs. “You look like you’re getting a nice tan.”

She smiles and glances at me, almost sheepishly. “So, did you have fun with the boys?”

I snort. “No, fun would have been hanging out here spreading sunscreen all over you. But, I had a decent time with the bubba’s. What about you?”

She glances around and lowers her voice. “I got the scoop on last night’s follies after we left the bar. Seems a good time was had by all. But I know way too much about Beavis and his private parts.” She scrunches up her nose and makes a gagging sound.

“And what did you add to the conversation? Did you make me look good?”

“I told them we had a lot of fun and left it at that.”

Oh… so, she didn’t want to brag about me. Maybe I enjoyed myself more than she did
?

She runs her finger down my cheek and along my jaw. “You can’t possibly think I would let them know you are the Master of Orgasms and risk them trying to hook up with you?”

Okay, so that’s better…

I take a look around the pool. “Not one of these women could lure me away from spending one minute with you.”

Her eyes sparkle and it nearly knocks me on my ass. She has the ability to snatch the breath straight from my lungs.

“So, would it totally destroy your reputation if I kissed you?” she asked.

“Screw my reputation. Kiss me!”

Her hand gently pulls my lips to hers. A loud cheer comes from the bar area. Jordyn titters against my lips. My free hand goes up over my head and I flip my buddies the bird.

“So, what are your plans?” She asks as I reluctantly pull my lips from hers.

“Well, I’ll probably grab a beer with the boys at the bar. You sticking around?”

“Not much longer, but I’ll stop by on my way out and see what’s up.”

“Sounds good.” It takes every ounce of effort for me to leave her magnetic charm and go over to the bar. The last thing I want to do is spend one more minute with these hounds as they get drunk and try to work unsuspecting girls out of their bikinis. But I don’t want to come off looking like a desperate loser, following Jordyn around like a lost puppy.

There are mugs of beer lined up along the bar and four or five pitchers already waiting to be drained. P-LOC passes me a frosty one and I take a healthy drink from it. I need a distraction, something to focus on other than the woman I have been having sex with lounging in the sun in a barely-there bikini.

I will not turn around and gawk at her. I will not give the guys any reason to give me shit about being whipped.

I pull the aviator sunglasses down from the top of my head, the dark lenses making it impossible for anyone to see where my eyes are focused. I wait until a couple of the other guys turn to face the pool before doing the same.

“Damn, this is a veritable pussy farm. I think even you could get laid, Rooster,” Oinker says, elbowing Rooster in the side.

My eyes zero in on Jordyn. She stands, tying the straps of her top at the back of her neck.

Good, she’s leaving
.

I have no right to her, I realize, but that doesn’t mean I want any other guys looking at her. Especially not any of the horn dogs in my current circle.

A young, tall, overly muscled meathead stops behind her. My hand tightens around my beer. I strain to hear their conversation from where I’m standing.

“Here let me help you with that,” Meathead says, his fingers messing with the ties at her neck.

Jordyn turns her head and quirks an eyebrow. “No, thanks. I’ve got it.”

“But you’re doing it all wrong,” he slurs. “You’re tying it when it should be untied.” He reaches up again and tries to pull one of the strings hanging down her back.

She wheels around to face him. “What the fuck are you doing?” Her voice is loud, grabbing more than just my attention.

All my buddies are on their feet behind me. I take a couple of steps forward, ready to shove my fist in the asshole’s face.

Bait has his hand on my shoulder, holding me back. “Hold up a sec, Cary. She looks like she has it under control.”

Jordyn has her finger shoved into Meathead’s chest and she’s backing him up to the edge of the pool. “Don’t ever touch a woman when she says no!” Her friends are at her side, glaring at the drunk asshole. If I wasn’t so pissed off, I might feel sorry for the poor bastard.

“How about I help you cool off a bit.” Jordyn puts her hands flat on his chest and pushes. Meathead topples backwards, grabbing for air before plunging under the water.

“See,” Bait says, heading back to the bar. “Under control.” I snicker, watching as Jordyn’s friends swarm around her while she gathers up her stuff. Meathead has pulled himself from the pool and makes his way back over to his friends. He sounds like he is spouting off, but it doesn’t seem like he’s going to take it any farther.

I join the guys back at the bar, drink the rest of my beer and refill it. A hand rests on my shoulder and I glance at Jordyn standing between Bait and me.

Bait glances over at her and tips his beer in salute. “Nice job back there.” Jordyn smiles and nods at him.

“You okay?” I ask.

She glances back over her shoulder where the asshole is still sitting with his friends, and snorts. “Yeah, it’s all good.” She looks back at me and smiles. “So, I think I’m out of here, though.”

“Sounds good. I’m probably not going to be much longer, either.”

“Well, if you want to stop by…” A room key is between her fingers and she stuffs it in the breast pocket of my shirt, turns and walks away.
Jesus, the woman knows how to make me growl
. I wonder how bad it would look if I ran after her, panting like a dog in heat?

“So…” Beavis slides next to me, arm around my shoulder. “You made it with the sexy stand-off? You done with her, ’cause I would love to tap that before we leave Tahoe.”

In a flash my hand is around his neck and I’m squeezing. “No, I’m not done. You stay the hell away from Jordyn.”

Bait has an arm around my chest pulling me off. P-LOC his removing my hand from Beavis’s neck, and a couple other guys are getting in between us, pushing us apart.

“Easy, easy,” Bait says.

Beavis is coughing. He looks up at me, his face red. “Jesus man, chill the fuck out. What’s up with you? Wait – don’t fucking tell me – did you fall in love with her in just one night?”

“Fuck off,” I mutter, shrugging the guys off me.

“You did! You fucking panty-waste. You can’t even have a one night stand without thinking its true love.”

I want to punch him in his face, but he might be right. I am a panty-waste. And I might be falling in love with Jordyn.

I stalk out of the bar, cross the lobby and call Jordyn on my cell.

“Hey, do you have plans tonight?”

“Uh, I thought so… sort of the reason I gave you my room key.”

“Yeah, I get that, but I mean… well, I thought maybe I could take you out to dinner? Good food, some wine. Interested?”

“Very.” Her voice is a mix a sultry and excited.

“Great. See you in about an hour?”

“I’ll be ready.”

I click
end
and head to the concierge to find out the best restaurant in town. I have one night left to let Jordyn know how special she is. I’m not about to pass up this chance to take things further than this weekend.

All I need now is a hope and a prayer, and a way to convince her to take a chance on me. On us.

My heart squeezes inside my chest and my stomach acid churns. A cold sweat breaks out over my skin, and I’m suddenly nervous as hell about what I’m going to say to her that will get her to have a long distance relationship with a man who spends a great deal of time on a ship in the middle of the ocean.

*

Jordyn

Walking hand-in-hand back to the hotel after dinner is a simple pleasure I want to lock away and pull out to feel happy. It’s surreal to think that this time tomorrow night, I’ll be back in California, preparing to go back to work. It will be like this weekend never happened.

Like Grant never happened.

The clock is ticking. The minutes are passing too quickly. By the time Grant unlocks my hotel room door, I’m on the verge of tears and have to go into the bathroom to regroup.

I wash my face, hoping that will ward off the tears. I have to get it together. I have one last night with him. I have to make it last a lifetime. And I will not spend it blubbering when I can spend it taking advantage of Grant’s amazing sexual talents.

Who knows when I will have sex again, and if it will ever come this close to total orgasmic perfection?

Grant is sitting up in bed, arm extended to me as I walk out of the bathroom.

“You got a text. Sorry, didn’t mean to look at it. It buzzed and – I don’t know – reflex, I guess.” His eyes are hard, but his shoulders are slumped a bit.

“Jesus, did someone die?” I ask, reaching for the phone.

“Uh, no, it’s from Jeremy.”

I look at the screen and a deep sigh escapes from the center of my chest.
Can’t I have a couple of days to myself?

I flop onto the bed next to Grant and toss my cell phone onto the bedside table. I should’ve turned the damn thing off as soon as I got here and shut out every irritating person in my life.

“Aren’t you going to text him back?” Grant lays back on the bed and covers his eyes with one arm.

“God, no. He can wait until I get back to California.”

“So, is that your boyfriend?”

I swivel my head around so fast I get a stinger at the base of my skull.

“No, at least not anymore… not for a while now.” I rub until the sharp tingle is gone.

“How long is
a while
?” Grant still has his eyes covered and his jaw is ticking. It sort of makes me want to giggle while sending a rush of warmth straight between my legs.
He’s jealous?

“A few months.” I lay on my side, perching up on my elbow, and resting my free hand on his chest. “Hey, Grant –” he lifts his arm just enough for one eye to lock onto me “– it’s over.”

“Does he know that?” He lifts his arm and flashes those baby blues at me.

“It does appear he’s having a difficult time accepting it and moving on.”

“Probably not ready to let go of you.” He caresses my cheek, his thumb running lightly over my bottom lip. “I feel his pain.”

He’s quiet and every part of my body goes numb except for the intense clenching of my chest.

“This is a weekend escape, then?” He asks. “Have some fun, meet someone, and get away from him?”

I fall back onto the bed and groan. “Yeah, it’s an escape, but more so from my family. I guess a little bit from him, too. Only because it’s so hard to maintain distance from him back home.”

“Why is that?” Now it’s his turn to hover at my side, but he’s no longer touching me. I hate it – hate where this seems to be going. I don’t want to have this discussion. I want to prolong this time with him as long as possible. Pretend it can last forever.