Wild Child (4 page)

“As soon as you show me how you’d make yourself come. Show me what you like.” He removed his hand from her breast and stared down at her with acute expectation.

She sat up in the bed and propped a pillow up behind her. After spreading her legs, she ran her hands across her breasts.

“Skip the breasts,” he said. “I’ll handle that department.”

“I thought you wanted my whole process. I like touching my breasts and having them touched. I was just being thorough.”

A bark of laughter escaped, his lips still quirking as he got down to business, pinching the nipple of one breast. Lowering his head, he took the other nipple into his mouth. Using his lips, tongue, and teeth, he played with her breast until he heard a harsh exhalation. He sucked hard and let her nipple pop free from his mouth. It glistened, wet and tight.

Her chest rose and fell with each breath. After shifting, getting comfortable, he watched her skim her hand across her stomach and delve between her legs. She sighed as she strummed her fingers across her clitoris, teasing the tiny bud until it swelled. Her hips lifted, arching upward. A soft gasp escaped as she strained for release. White teeth bit down on her bottom lip until he longed to soothe it with his touch. Her face flushed, her hair a tangled mass of light brown and gold, fanned across the pillows. She belonged here, he thought in wonder. Zoe made his plain, masculine bedroom seem like home.

Her fingers dipped again, stroking the length of her cleft. Unable to resist, he nibbled at the curve of a breast, lifting the globe before suckling her again. He pulled away abruptly, grabbed another condom and ripped the foil wrapping. After rolling it onto his erection, he met her gaze. “You look so sexy. I want to watch, but I want to participate. I want to make you come.”

“Join the party,” she said, her voice husky.

He crawled across the mattress until he lay between her legs. Cupping his hands beneath her butt, he lifted her and sealed his mouth over her swollen bud. He lashed it with his tongue, teasing enough to drive her higher but not enough for her to come. Her musky scent, her taste, made his mind soar with need.

“Please,” she whispered, struggling against his strong grip on her lower body.

After one final sweep of his tongue, he released her hips and positioned his cock, before pushing inside. This time was slower. Leisurely. They didn’t have anything to prove. He stroked into her while her hands crawled across his back, testing the flesh of his butt. His mouth covered hers. Tongues tangled, surging and retreating in a facsimile of his cock pushing into her pussy. Languid and lazy until increasingly urgent hunger quickened his thrusts. Together they strove for completion. Matt felt a tightening sensation around his cock. He pounded into her, suddenly desperate. A dark sound came from deep in his chest as he exploded. Their unified gasp of pleasure cut through the bedroom. Finally, he stilled. He rolled over, pulling her with him so she rested on his chest.

“I gotta sleep.” She crawled off him over to the far side of the bed. “Feel free to wake me up later with a sexy kiss.”

Smiling, he reached across the mattress and stroked the silky skin of her shoulder before dealing with the condom. “Go to sleep.”

“Sleep. Good idea,” she murmured. “Need to keep my strength up to keep up with you.”

Matt snorted, moving closer to curl around her relaxed body. Soon her breathing slowed, and Matt relaxed into sleep too.

The phone rang two weeks later, and Matt leaned over Zoe’s naked body to grab the portable from the bedside cabinet where he’d left it the previous evening. He grinned at the tiny snuffling sound Zoe made as she continued to sleep. He’d tired her out.

“Yeah.”

“Did I wake you?” Marisa’s arch tone wiped the grin from his face. He turned away from Zoe.

“I had a late night.” Hopefully Zoe wouldn’t wake while he got rid of Marisa. Matt had thought they were over. It was obvious from the flirtatious tone Marisa thought otherwise.

“Joey and Kate are having a party to celebrate April Fool’s Day.”

“And?”

“Pick me up at eight,” Marisa said.

“No, I have Zoe staying with me.”

“Oh, your kid sister. Bring her, too. Joey has several younger brothers. I’m sure they’ll be around.”

“But—”

“Eight o’clock.” The phone clicked, breaking the connection.

Matt glanced at Zoe and saw she was still asleep. He wished Marisa had never seen the photos of Zoe his mother had sent at Christmas.

Hell. Damn. Fuck.

Marisa thought Zoe was his sister, and Zoe would expect introductions as something else.

Matt cursed a blue streak under his breath. The hell of it was he didn’t know what Zoe was to him. They hadn’t talked about the future. They came home from their jobs and burned up the sheets long into the night. They’d left the house to swim a couple of times and grab food from the local supermarket. That was all. The rest of their time they spent having dynamite sex. He remembered telling Marisa about Zoe. At the time he’d thought Marisa might be the one because they had so much in common—similar work ethics and an enjoyment of sex and good food. But she’d shown her true colors, expecting him to put his career plans on hold and run after her whenever she clicked her elegant fingers in his direction. Then, Zoe had walked into his life.

“Matt, was that the phone? I thought it was in my dream.”

“Yeah, it was Marisa.” Did he and Zoe even have a future?

She seemed to wake up immediately on hearing the other woman’s name. “What did she want? I thought you were over.”

He sighed, wrenching his gaze off her naked shoulders and breasts. “We are, but Marisa didn’t give me a chance to refuse.”

“Refuse what?” Zoe’s voice was even, but he knew her well enough to tread with caution.

“She asked me to a party. I said you were here, and she told me to bring you too.”

Zoe visibly relaxed. “That’s okay, then. It might be nice to have a night out.”

“She knows you’re my stepsister.”

“Oh.” She frowned before a bright smile replaced the grimace. “Ring her back and tell it like it is.” She propped up on her elbow and checked the alarm clock. “Right after we have a morning quickie. My shift starts at ten.” She jumped him, moving with a speed that took him by surprise. Her shriek of laughter when she wound her arms around his neck was contagious.

His lips quirked into a smile as he allowed her to pull him back onto the bed. Their lips clung together, nibbled, tasted. But at the back of his mind, he worried. No matter what Zoe thought, Matt sensed Marisa would prove difficult.

“Are you thinking about Marisa?”

“I wouldn’t dare,” he deadpanned.

“Humph.” Zoe flung herself back on the pillows. “You will be my slave. Your punishment.” She clicked her fingers in an imperious manner. “Slave, I desire a glass of juice, some freshly sliced pineapple and papaya, and once you’ve prepared my repast, come back and pleasure me. I wish an orgasm.”

He stood and bowed from the waist. “Will her majesty return the favor?”

“You’ll have your turn to call the shots tomorrow, Matt. Whatever you want.”

“Anything?” He stared at her lips. Luscious. Plump. And very talented. His cock hardened into prominence.

“I promise.” Her brown eyes danced with mischief. She reclined against the pillows again and made a shooing motion with her right hand. “Slave, please hurry. I find myself eager to taste some sensual treats.”

He shook his head and stepped across the bedroom floor, picking his way around the clothes they’d discarded the previous night.

A few minutes later he returned with two glasses of orange juice and a plate of fresh fruit cut into chunks. She was making snuffling noises again, her sprawled, naked body taking up more than her share of the bed. She’d kicked the pastel blue sheet off and he had an unimpaired view of her physical delights. He set the tray aside, deciding he’d tease a little and wake her at the same time.

He plucked several cubes of pineapple from the plate and carefully balanced them on her body—one in the indentation of her belly button and another between her breasts. When she didn’t stir, he decided to get adventurous and placed chunks of pineapple on her mound and pieces of papaya between her sprawled legs. When all but one piece of the fruit from the plate decorated her body, he stood back to study his handiwork.

One last touch required. He picked up the last piece of pineapple up from the plate and squeezed it so the juice trickled over her breasts. After discarding the piece of fruit, a grin spread across his face.

Breakfast was served.

Matt leaned over her body and licked the slope of one breast, following the trail of juice as it trickled into her cleavage. She stirred. He glanced up to see her eyelids flickering.

“Are you awake?” he whispered.

“No,” she said.

“But breakfast is ready.”

Her eyes flew open fully. As he watched, they widened, then glinted with amusement. “Not quite what I had in mind, slave.” She pulled a rueful face. “I feel sticky. And…what have you done? There’s fruit in my—”

“Arranged breakfast to my satisfaction.”

“This is my fantasy,” she complained, but he saw the gleam in her eyes. Her acceptance humbled him.

“Since you fell asleep, I decided a takeover bid was in order.” He tapped the side of his nose in a superior manner. “I didn’t go to accountancy school to eat my lunch.”

A snort emerged. “I know there are lots of extracurricular activities at university. Eating lunch isn’t one of them.”

“Ah, you’re speaking of sex.”

“Yeah.”

“You realize if I hadn’t practiced a little beforehand, you wouldn’t be enjoying yourself as much as you are now.”

“Humph. All I feel is sticky. Nothing pleasurable about that.”

“Patience is a virtue.” He smirked at the cross little frown between her brown eyes. He licked the dried juice from the base of a breast and worked his way up to the areola. Her nipple reacted to the stimulus, but he didn’t linger. Instead, he swiped his tongue across her rib cage, pausing to nibble at a piece of ripe papaya.

“Yummy.” He smacked his lips.

“What about me? I’m hungry.”

He grinned and picked up a piece of pineapple. He held it above her mouth and squeezed lightly, enough for a little juice to drip onto her lips. Her pink tongue darted out to collect the juice. He watched it avidly, his cock lengthening as desire increased. He pushed the pineapple between her pursed lips before nuzzling the soft skin beneath her ear. As she chewed on the fruit, he kissed a path to her breasts. Bypassing the full mounds, he lingered at her belly button, nibbling at the pineapple cube he’d left there. She shivered. Moving lower still, he parted her legs and sat back on his haunches to survey his handiwork.

“You look like a fruit bowl.”

Zoe suppressed a grin. “Humph!” The look in his eyes made her heart leap into a gallop. She watched his eyes darken until they resembled the color of the sky just before darkness fell—a deep bluish black.

He pressed his lips to her inner thigh, the dark stubble at his jaw abrading her skin. Her breath caught. A flame licked through her body when she imagined his mouth moving higher. The wretch had stuffed fruit in places that didn’t normally house food, and it felt a bit weird.

Definitely kinky.

His fingers traced across the soft, delicate skin of both inner thighs. She waited in a frenzy of body-tingling apprehension. What was he going to do?

The tick-tock of the alarm clock seemed louder than normal. The scent of ripe fruit filled the air. She could practically feel the blood rushing through her veins. The passion he’d kindled with his touch flamed higher when his fingers slid between her folds. He tugged on her legs so she shot down the bed and ended up with her lower limbs dangling over the edge. He knelt between and nibbled at a piece of fruit. Her hips jerked with each quick flick of his tongue. Desire, liquid and molten, held her in thrall. Long, luscious strokes of his tongue went dangerously close to her swollen clit. She swallowed, wondering how he could drive her so high so quickly. One long finger pumped into her pussy. Deliberate, probing strokes in counterpoint to the lashes from his tongue.

“Matt,” she protested, her hips jerking while her pulse raced like a crazy thing.

“Hungry? Have some more fruit.” He shifted to pluck a piece of papaya from her belly with his mouth, teasing with tiny bites. When he pressed his mouth to hers, the sweetness of the fruit contrasted with the faint taste of her cream. Juices spurted from the ripe papaya when she bit down. Delicious.

He collected the juices from her chin, the wet rasp of his tongue bringing a shudder of awareness. Their gazes held. A rough growl vibrated in his chest as she chewed and swallowed. He feasted on her mouth, crushing lumps of pineapple and papaya between them before lifting his head. “Still hungry?”

“For you,” she murmured, wondering what he would do next. The anticipation was part of the fun.

“Good. Time to satisfy those hunger pangs.” He swept the remaining fruit on her belly aside and grabbed a condom. Seconds later, he drove into her heated flesh. He pistoned his hips, thrusting hard and deep. She gripped his shoulders, a haze of pleasure rushing through her body with each stroke. Raw need grew. Her hips jerked and her climax broke over her in long, pleasurable waves. He groaned, a dark sound, before he stilled, his cock pulsing for long moments.

Finally, he moved, slipping from her body and discarding the condom. Squashed bits of fruit clung to her chest and littered the rumpled bedcovers. He grinned down at her. “Maybe we should take a shower?”

“Together?” Her pulse rate did a distinct cha-cha-cha.

“Yeah.”

“Sounds like fun.”

“We can get into lots of mischief or we can shower. Your choice.”

“Hmm,” she said, pretending to ponder. “I always did enjoy multiple-choice.”

The atmosphere inside the interior of the car was tense. Partly his fault, Matt acknowledged grimly while he navigated the streets leading to Marisa’s apartment block.

“I don’t understand why you haven’t told her yet,” Zoe said, an expression of hurt shining in her brown eyes. “I’m starting to feel you’re ashamed of me. Of us.”

“You have to admit the situation is a little weird.”

“From where I sit, it seems perfectly normal. I want to go out with my boyfriend and be treated as part of a couple.”

“Zoe, I’m sorry. I’ve tried to reach Marisa all week. Her flatmate said she had to go on a buying trip for her boutique.”

She snorted. “She’s dodging calls on purpose.”

Matt glanced across the dim interior of the car. He could see her sullen pout in the light shed by the street lamps. He knew he’d handled the situation badly. Everything had happened so quickly—the tumble from stepbrother and stepsister to lovers. Hell, his brain was having trouble keeping up. Or maybe that was the problem. He hadn’t thought this through properly. Telling Marisa about Zoe would be bad enough, but telling his mother and John…

“This is Marisa’s apartment. I’ll go and let her know we’re here, and tell her the news.”

“You can even say it. We’re lovers. L. O. V. E. R. S. We share a bed. I refuse to be pushed aside at your convenience,” she snapped. “Either we’re together or we’re not.” Her chest heaved beneath the skimpy red dress. She’d assured him she wouldn’t burst out at an appropriate moment, but after eyeing her cleavage, he wasn’t so sure.

“We’ll discuss this later,” he said, climbing from the car and slamming the door before she had time to comment.

For once, Marisa appeared immediately, meeting him before he reached the ostentatious entranceway to the modern apartment building.

“Oh, good,” she said, throwing herself into his arms and pressing her lips to his before he could say a word.

Matt was uneasily aware of the silent time bomb ticking in his waiting car. “I have to talk to you,” he said, grasping her upper arms and forcing Marisa away from him. Marisa struggled to move closer, but he was determined. “We have to talk.”

“We can talk in the car,” she said gaily, and hurried around to the front passenger door. Marisa wrenched open the door before coming to an abrupt halt. “Oh. I thought you’d sit in the back.”

“Think again,” Zoe said sweetly.

“It’s not far to Joey and Kate’s.” He rounded the rear of the car and opened the door for Marisa. God, this was his fault. He was such an idiot.

A scowl marred her forehead, and she slid inside the vehicle with clear temper. Matt’s gut churned as he strode back around the car to the driver’s side. He opened the door and slipped behind the wheel. The tension inside made his gut lurch even more.
Hell
.

Marisa spoke first. “I’m so glad we could go to the party tonight. I have a buying trip next week. I’ve booked a room for the weekend at the Malamba Resort. I thought we could make a long weekend of it.”

“A long weekend,” Zoe mocked. “Sounds like fun.”

“Not you,” Marisa declared. “This is for couples.”

“Marisa.” Matt heard the warning note in his voice, and he knew Zoe heard too, because she straightened in the passenger’s seat.

“Yes, I know. You want to talk, but surely you don’t want to discuss our private affairs in front of Zoe?”

“Matt’s been trying to talk to you all week,” Zoe said.

“Zoe,” Matt said sharply. “Be quiet.”

Marisa leaned forward and caressed his shoulder. “This has nothing to do with you, Zoe.”

Zoe cast him an arch look before turning a smug expression on Marisa. “Oh, no?”

“Zoe.” Matt’s stomach cramped as he calculated the damage two women could cause to each other in five minutes. He pressed down on the accelerator. The wheels screeched as he took the corner onto the road where the party was taking place. He pulled up behind a SUV. “Zoe and I are living together,” he said.

Zoe winced, and he realized he’d need to do a bit more explaining.

“Of course you are. It makes sense. You’re brother and sister.” Marisa opened the door and climbed out. She poked her head back in for an instant. “Come along, Matt. Zoe, everyone is very friendly. You won’t have any trouble making friends with the youngsters.”

Matt cut through Zoe’s incredulous grumbling. “We’re lovers.”

“I don’t think she heard.” Zoe jerked her head toward Marisa who was sashaying to the open front door. “Why didn’t you just tell her instead of skirting the truth?” She shoved open the door and climbed out.

“Where are you going?” Matt demanded, guiltily acknowledging she had a right to her anger. He should have told Marisa straight away. He cursed, hating being at odds with Zoe. She meant more to him than Marisa ever had. Shit, a fine mess he’d made of this.

“I’m going to introduce myself around, just like Marisa instructed. I might even meet a man with a spine.” Anger and disappointment warred inside Zoe as she stomped up the path edged with a knee-high box hedge. She stormed into the crowded party and detoured around Marisa and the couple she presumed were their hosts. No point speaking to Marisa at the moment since Zoe didn’t think she could control her tongue. Not with fury simmering through her body. And Matt. Zoe’s mouth firmed. He’d treated her as someone he was ashamed of. She sniffed and forced her thoughts to happier ones, refusing to break down here in public.

Zoe caught sight of a group of men and women in her age group. She threaded her way through the guests intending to introduce herself and determined to pretend enjoyment, even if it killed her. Inside pain tore at her, the ache of rejection and the knowledge Matt had used her. She’d really thought he was different.
Wrong!

She forced a bright smile. “Hi,” she said into a conversation lull. “I’m Zoe Underwood.”
Matt’s stepsister
, she thought with irritation.

“Are you Matt’s sister?” a young girl asked.

 “I’m staying with Matt for a while,” she said, thought of the word sister almost choking her. No relation, dammit, but obviously, Matt worried about what people might say.
No, blast it!
“I’m his stepsister by marriage. We’re not related.”

The girl nodded.

“I’m Michael,” a blond guy in a leather jacket said. “Would you like to dance?”

“Sounds great.” Anything to keep her busy.

Zoe walked over to the impromptu dance floor at Michael’s side. Matt was looking at her; she sensed his gaze drilling into her back. Zoe winged a wide smile to Michael and tossed her head, pretending she didn’t care—she was an unattached female intent on enjoying herself. The music turned slow, and she slid into Michael’s arms. It was going to be a long night. The singer crooned of broken hearts and tears burned the back of her eyes.

Two hours passed, filled with lots of banal social chatter and dances with different men. Zoe couldn’t have said what their names were or what she talked about. She managed to avoid both Matt and Marisa, but couldn’t drive them from her mind. Like a magnet, her gaze kept drifting to them and each time, a jab of pain stabbed her in the heart. People considered twenty-two as young but she was old enough to know her mind. She loved Matt. They had so much in common, thought the same way, and had the same beliefs.

She swallowed the sudden helplessness. At least she’d discovered he didn’t return her feelings now, rather than later. She’d have to find another place to live. Of course, returning home was another option, but her stepmother would sense something was wrong. No, it was best to keep away from Auckland. Maybe she’d move into the flat with the other girls from work and continue on her business research. Zoe stared unhappily at Matt’s broad back. She could ring tonight and ask if she could crash on their couch but didn’t want to face a load of questions. Tomorrow would have to do.

Matt watched Zoe closely throughout the evening and hoped like hell she didn’t do anything stupid. Like confront Marisa. A pissed Marisa was a vindictive one.

Marisa slipped her arm through his and bent close. “This weekend will be wonderful. The resort is very luxurious. We’ll have a chance to relax and enjoy ourselves.”

“I have plans for this weekend.” Because he knew Marisa wouldn’t take no for an answer, he decided it was way past time to speak bluntly. And then somehow, he’d make things up with Zoe. Hopefully, she’d forgive him for a moment of sheer stupidity. “Zoe and I are lovers.”

Marisa waved a dismissive hand. “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re brother and sister.” She chuckled without warning. “Ah, I get it. It’s April Fool’s Day. Don’t you know you’re only supposed to play tricks before midday?”

“It’s not a joke.” His stomach cramped as he waited for her reaction. “We’re not related. Zoe and I are a couple.”

“But you’re brother and sister,” she repeated in bewilderment. “Matt, you and I are together. I thought we’d get married.”

“Zoe and I are not brother and sister. How many times do I have to tell you?” He shook his head. “And what’s this about marriage? Marisa, the last time you spoke to me you told me you never wanted to see me again.”

She laughed lightly but didn’t quite pull it off. “I was angry because you were working. I didn’t mean it.”

“I’m sorry. It’s over between us.”

“You’re sick,” she blurted into the resulting silence, totally ignoring his declaration. “Unnatural.”

“Zoe and I aren’t related,” he stated in a tight voice. Hell, he could just imagine what she would tell their friends. The gossip…

“Sick!” She spun on her heels and stalked off, her attitude one of a woman wronged.

“Hell.” How to piss off women in two easy steps. He was two for two. Matt glanced around the crowded room. Zoe was on the dance floor. If the way she was plastered against her partner could be called dancing. A tide of emotion flooded him. Anger. Irritation. Jealousy. He didn’t like other men touching her. She was his. He stalked over to exert his claim.

“Zoe, I’m going home. Marisa is staying. Would you like to come home now or catch a cab?”

“Marisa is going home by herself?” Zoe’s expression tore at his heart. “I’m ready to leave.” Her voice came out low and breathless. Uncertain.

“Let’s go,” he said. “I’ll just say goodnight to Joey and Kate.”

Wordlessly, she followed.

When they found Joey and Kate, Marisa was with them.

“Zoe and I are heading home,” Matt said. “Thanks for inviting us.”

“Sick,” Marisa stated in a cold voice, before stomping off.

“Thanks for coming,” Joey said.

His wife smiled. “Nice to meet you, Zoe.” Avid curiosity filled their gazes, but politeness stopped them from asking nosy questions.

Matt nodded at his friends and escorted Zoe outside to his car.

“Marisa isn’t impressed with our relationship,” Zoe said once they started to drive home.

“I don’t want to talk about Marisa. I told her. She reacted the way I thought she would. That’s all I want to say on the matter.”

“Oh.” She nibbled on her bottom lip while she digested his words.

He wanted to soothe her worry away and start making up for being such an ass.

“What about us?” she asked.

He turned down his street and pulled up in his driveway. “I’m sorry. I didn’t handle tonight very well. I should have made a point of going to see Marisa and explaining to her beforehand.”

She sighed. “This isn’t going to be easy. I know that. Don’t think I haven’t thought things through. Future repercussions. Mum and Dad…” She shrugged. “We don’t need to tell them at the moment.”

He heard everything she didn’t say. Their parents would freak because they considered the two of them brother and sister, and it was better not to worry them needlessly at this stage when the relationship was so new. What would happen if they broke up? They could hardly slip into a casual relationship again. Not for the first time, he wondered if they’d done the right thing. Once Marisa finished spreading vicious gossip, their names would be on everyone’s lips.

“Matt.” She placed her hand on his where he gripped the steering wheel. “I’ll leave if you want.”

Matt thought about it for a scant second before rejecting her suggestion. He didn’t want her to leave. He wanted to explore what they had together. Being with her was comfortable yet challenging. He’d never been happier.

“I don’t want you to leave. Would you like to go for a walk along the beach?”

She smiled, tossing her wild mane of curls. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

The phone rang when they walked in. “I’ll get it.” She picked it up. “Hi, Mum. Matt and I were at a party. Sure, I met lots of people. No. Just friends.”

Matt grimaced and went to find a few supplies. He yanked the stainless steel fridge open, not wanting to think about Zoe with another man. It made his stomach ache.

After collecting everything he needed, he returned to the kitchen just as Zoe hung up. “Ready?”

“Yeah. I didn’t think Mum would ever stop talking,” she said when they let themselves out the French doors.

“She worries.”

“She needs to find new hobbies.”

“True, then maybe she wouldn’t agonize over the lack of grandchildren.”

“Oh.” She stopped walking. “Does she talk about that with you?”

“About every second call. Her best friends have grandchildren,” he said dryly.

Zoe chuckled. It was sultry, sexy and full of promise. The sound shot straight to his cock. He definitely didn’t want to argue.

“Let’s go. I thought we might have a late-night picnic.”

They walked out onto the cool sand. The surge of the waves and the faint notes of a jazz song coming from a nearby home were the only sounds. A bright moon lit their way.

With excitement thrumming through his body, he urged her farther along the beach to where sand dunes and trees blocked the lights from the street lamps and houses. Damned if there wasn’t something compelling about the idea of fulfilling her fantasies. About five minutes later, he stopped and spread a blanket out on the sand. They sat and stared out to sea, cocooned in the shadows of the trees and the night.

“A turtle came ashore here last week. That’s very rare.”