Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 68743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
“Son of a bitch.” He pressed his palms against his eyes and groaned.
He shook his head hard in an attempt to clear the remaining need Nikki inspired. Then he shut the bathroom door and stripped before stepping under the waterfall showerhead. But not even turning the temperature to cold alleviated the raging desire.
He soaped up his hand and grabbed his cock. Bracing one hand on the wall, he began to glide his palm up and down his straining shaft. He closed his eyes and an image of Nikki appeared, her skin glistening in the sun, her smile wide as she knelt before him. As he imagined her sucking him into her warm mouth, he tightened his grip and groaned.
In his mind, she licked him, circling the head, teasing his shaft, and doing a damned fine job of bringing him close. Her hands cupped his balls that had drawn up tight, and before he knew it, his orgasm flashed through him. He came hard, spurting over the shower walls and floor, the release easing some of the tension that had been riding him.
But it wasn’t enough. Nothing short of burying himself inside her would slake his need. And that couldn’t happen. No matter how much he desired it.
He stepped out of the shower and dried off, stalking into the bedroom, where he dressed in a pair of shorts and a tee shirt.
He called to Maggie to bring Nikki medicine for the sting. Then he killed time on his laptop, answering emails and catching up with a few things before his stomach growled, letting him know it was time for dinner.
He assumed he’d meet up with Nikki, and with a little luck, they could ignore the kiss and move forward without having to discuss it.
He walked into the dining area, where Maggie stood fussing over a table with one place setting. “Asher! Are you hungry?”
He nodded. “I am. What do we have tonight?”
“The chef made your favorite, apricot chicken. Do you want to eat in here or outside?”
He glanced out the windows to the empty table on the veranda. “You’re already set up here. Inside is fine.” He took in the one setting again. “Isn’t Nikki joining us?”
She shook her head. “The poor girl wasn’t feeling well. Her leg was a little swollen, so I gave her some Benadryl and a painkiller and brought her meal to her room. She was going to eat and turn in early.”
He ran his hand through his hair. “Are you certain she didn’t need a doctor?”
Maggie shook her head. “No. I think she’ll feel better in the morning.”
He hoped so. Because he should have checked on her instead of giving in to the urge to bury himself in business and put her out of his mind. It wasn’t like it had worked, and now she probably thought he was an asshole.
Which, after his reaction to their kiss, he really was.
* * *
Nikki woke up, surprised she’d slept. She rarely got a good night’s sleep, which was what made the fact that someone managed to take photos and catch her unaware, all the more shocking. Shaking off those thoughts, she focused on last night. Between the pain from the sting and the hurt from Asher’s response to their kiss, she’d assumed she would have tossed and turned. But the Benadryl had made her tired, so maybe combined with the entire day’s stress, it had knocked her out.
Better than having Asher’s voice repeating over and over in her head. This can’t happen again. In other words, it’d taken him point-two seconds to regret it. Actually, his regret had come mid-lip-lock, never mind she’d felt his thick erection pressing against her stomach, leaving her wanting. Ugh.
She checked out her leg. The sting area was less swollen, though she could definitely see where the jellyfish had done its job. She drank the smoothie Maggie had left outside her door, popped some ibuprofen, and decided not to brave the beach again. Instead, she’d go into town and do some shopping, maybe find a café on the water where she could have lunch. Later, she’d call her brother so he wouldn’t worry about her.
With a little luck, she’d get out of the house before Asher came downstairs and avoid his broodiness and mood swings. She was certain that given her issues with direction, she’d get lost, but she’d just take Corey’s phone number so she could call him when she wanted to go home. He’d find her and bring her back.
She grabbed her bag and sunglasses and walked down the stairs, luckily bumping into him coming out of the kitchen. He looked casual in his checkered long shorts and white tee shirt.
“Hey!” He strode up to her, his concerned gaze meeting hers. “Are you okay?” He glanced down at her leg and winced. “Looks painful.”