Pure Temptation, page 3
“Just think about it,” he whispered.
* * *
The body was a truly miraculous instrument, intricate connections of nerves and muscles and ligaments and bones. They all worked together to do the simple movements humans took for granted...until the system broke down. Then the different parts came into painful relief.
Kendall had seen the toll this breakdown could take on someone, how it could crush a person. Her father had come so close to that breaking point during one awful fire season, when the worst came so close to happening. Being a hotshot firefighter came with a ticking clock, and both her parents knew that when they started. In the intimate game with nature’s forces, nature always won. The night the tree limb fell and crushed her father’s arm, ending his hotshot career, was a reminder neither she nor her mother would ever forget. Her dad got out alive, thanks to his team, and after a long, painful recovery period—thanks to both his physical therapist and Kendall’s mother—he had moved on. Still, all these years later, her father missed it, some days wistfully, other days fiercely. Kendall tried not to get hung up on the question she had asked too many times: Why the hell did he still want to run toward danger instead of away from it?
All this had unfolded when she was in her tweens, and she had decided to become a physical therapist.
Her family history had probably made her a better one, or at the very least, a more dedicated one. Each client was a new path into the intricate art of movement. Each client meant learning the ways that a person could heal.
Her fingers brushed the dusting of hair on Daxon’s thighs. His body was truly a wonder. She moved her hands up and down his leg, over all that golden skin, those well-defined muscles. She was trying hard not to get distracted by his off-duty idea, but every time her fingers moved up to his thighs, he sucked in a breath, reminding her of where this could go. Later.
Concentrate.
She had seen her fair share of men in amazing shape as a traveling physical therapist, athletes with bodies fine-tuned for sports. This was different. The switch had flipped that night in Costa Rica, and she couldn’t figure out how to flip it back. She was no longer studying Daxon’s body the way she would study a work of art. She was thinking about what it could do. What his muscular thighs would feel like pressed against hers. How it would feel to run her hands over those biceps as he lowered himself over her with each heavy thrust.
She glanced up at Daxon. His eyes were fixed on her, hot and intense. Holy hell. His hands gripped the sides of the massage table, his knuckles white. Still, he said nothing. Kendall smiled. She had to admit the man had impressive focusing skills. Much better than hers, clearly. Still, it was amusing to see him all worked up like this.
She quirked her eyebrow at him. “Not your best day for relaxing?”
He gave her a wry smile. “It’s not a strength of mine, even on a good day.”
“I think if you spend this week with a little stretching, massage and low-strain exercise for your legs, you’ll be fine,” she said, rocking back onto her heels, putting a little distance between them. “The real challenge is to go easy on your calf during the rest of the day. Try to stay off your feet as much as possible.”
“I’ll think of something.”
She narrowed her eyes, and he put up his hands in surrender, laughing. “I wasn’t coming on to you. Just a guy and his ‘personal healing coach’—” He put air quotes around those last words “—having a conversation.”
“Can we stop with the job title? It sounds like I’m part of some sort of cult fitness retreat.”
He chuckled. “I already told you you’re an amazing physical therapist,” he said. “But the truth is I don’t want you as a coach. And in the interest of keeping my word, I’ll stop before I tell you what I want instead.”
She bit her lip as Daxon’s proposition came back. Off-hours fun. Low risk and high reward, if their kiss back in Costa Rica was any indication.
Kendall ended the session and packed her bags, taking her time, enjoying the heat of Daxon’s intense gaze on her. She scrolled through the tablet, reviewing and adding to his schedule for the next day. She ticked off sailing, snorkeling, and a few more of the Kalani’s features that were well suited for a guy with an itch for adventure and a body that wasn’t currently cooperating. After all, he wasn’t the resort’s first guest in this situation.
“Here’s a map of the Kalani, and I’ll take you on a tour tomorrow afternoon,” she said, handing it to him. “You can also use this tablet to book appointments or activities, order food—anything you need.”
He scrolled through his options. “Can I book as many sessions with you as I want?”
“Don’t push it.” She tried to hold back her smile, but Daxon seemed to catch it anyway.
His mouth quirked up. “Thank you for doing this.”
“My pleasure,” she said, giving him the same playful wink he’d given her earlier. Before he could respond, she turned and walked toward the door.
Daxon followed. He didn’t say anything, but she got his message just fine. Remember how hot it was between us? I’d love to take it further this time. Or maybe that was her own voice.
She paused at the door, then turned around. “I’ll see you soon.”
“I hope so.” His gaze dipped to her lips, then back to her eyes. He opened his mouth, as if to say something more, then closed it with a little frown. Lord, she wanted to kiss that mouth, so she turned around, opened the door and walked out, shutting it with a click.
Then she came to a full stop on the wooden porch. Whoa.
Kendall took a deep breath. In front of her, Mauna Kea, the enormous volcano, rose up in the middle of the island. She was surrounded by miles of untouched hills and beaches, and the only other people anywhere near the place were high-profile guests, equally interested in privacy. A perfect place for escape and fun. Behind her, just on the other side of the door, was the hot, ultra-fit, six-foot-something man who had fueled her sexiest fantasies for the last six months—and that was only after a kiss. The man just had to breathe next to her and she was turned on. Escape and fun? Definitely.
Back in Costa Rica, Daxon had been hard enough to resist. Her employer at the time hadn’t forbidden any intimate relations with clients...and she’d heard stories. But until that assignment, Kendall had never once been tempted to cross the line. Daxon didn’t make on-the-job advances, but for one aching week, she found herself wondering what it would be like if he had.
Today she was getting a chance to reconsider that night in Costa Rica when she had walked away. She had taken this job as Daxon’s physical therapist knowing full well that spending time with him would be intense. All she had to do was walk back in the door.
Kendall took a deep breath. Another breath. Another. Not helping. The anticipation of kissing Daxon again, all that intense energy focused—
The door creaked open behind her. She spun around and stood face-to-face with Daxon.
He blinked at her, lust written all over his face. Then he rubbed the back of his neck and gave her a sheepish smile. “Just checking the weather.”
“Liar.”
“I was checking the weather.” He glanced up at the cloudless sky. Then he stretched out his hand, palm up. “No rain. I also might have been checking to see if you had left. In addition.”
“Just thinking through my options.” Kendall crossed her arms, going for her best casual pose.
“Sure,” he said lightly. “Let me know if you want any help thinking through those options. Or trying some of them out.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Are you offering to drop your towel again?”
“I’m never going to live that one down, am I?”
“Probably not.”
“You know where to find me.” He started to close the door.
It was time. Kendall put her hand on the door. “Wait.”
The door swung open again, and he was grinning. She stood, facing him, staring into those glittering green eyes. God, those eyes. They were filled with the same kinds of more that she had spent a week resisting last time: more games, more sexy, more fun. And right now, that was exactly the kind of more she needed.
“Made up your mind?” he asked, his voice soft, low.
She nodded.
“You’re coming in?”
She nodded again. “Otherwise, I’ll spend another six months wondering what I missed.”
CHAPTER THREE
DAXON STEPPED ASIDE, leaving just enough room for her to pass through. Kendall’s eyes narrowed, like she saw exactly what he was doing. She stopped in front of him, her body brushing up against his.
“I can play this game, too, you know,” she whispered.
Then her hand was on his chest, and she looked up at him with wide brown eyes. He tried to read her expression, but he was sidetracked by her lips, so plush and inviting. His body was on high alert, memories mingling with the immediate sensation of her fingers on him. Her mouth was so close, and he was aching to kiss her. Just a little more patience. Last time this ended with him watching her walk away. This time felt...right. But he wanted her to lead.
So he waited as long as he could, which wasn’t long. It was too tempting not to brush his fingers over her skin. Spending the last hour resisting her wasn’t doing him any favors now. Daxon slipped his hand around her waist, bringing their bodies together, and walked them into the cabin, one slow step at a time. He kicked the door closed and rested his hand on it, leaning over her, breathing in the scent of her hair.
“Will you let your hair down?”
She blinked, a little surprised, it seemed, then nodded and slipped the fastener out. Shiny, sun-streaked chestnut-brown waves cascaded over her shoulders. Daxon groaned as his cock gave an urgent throb. She rested her hands around his neck, coaxing him closer.
He found the shell of her earlobe with his lips. “I got it wrong back in Costa Rica. Tell me how to get it right this time.”
Kendall arched against him, their bodies flush. “You didn’t get it wrong. I just wasn’t ready.”
“Are you ready now?” Thinking was getting more and more difficult.
“Mmm.”
Oh, that sound out of her mouth... Focus. “Is that a yes?”
She tilted her head up and smiled at him. “That’s a hell yes.”
Then finally, finally he was pressing his mouth against hers, and she sighed, like she had been waiting for this just as much as he had. She kissed him, her lips brushing against his in achingly slow caresses. Months of pent-up desire flooded through him as he met each stroke, each invitation. He threaded his fingers through all that soft, beautiful hair, grabbing on, pulling her closer. He took a gulp of air and then dived in for more. He had forgotten just how good she tasted, like endless sunshine and warmth. Each hungry stroke of her tongue fueled another jolt of pleasure to his system.
His muscles tensed as her hands traveled down, farther, until she found the hem of his T-shirt and slipped her hands underneath. Goddamn, this was better than he had remembered. Everything else faded, and what was left was Kendall. He pressed up against her, her body trapped between his and the door, his cock hard and straining inside his boxers. Her teeth raked over his bottom lip, and she hooked her leg around him, starting a slow, sensual grind that made his eyes roll back. He could come like this, fully clothed and panting in this little hallway, just from finally kissing Kendall, feeling her body against his again.
Aaaaand...no. That wasn’t where this was going.
Daxon slowed the kiss, reining himself in, loosening his grip on her hair. She pulled her hands from under his shirt and settled them on his hips. He rested his forehead against hers.
“Fuck, sweets. This is really hot, and you haven’t even taken off your clothes.”
“Yet,” she added, smiling. “You haven’t, either.”
“You haven’t seen enough of me today?”
One of her hands moved lower, down between his legs, and she stroked his rock-hard cock. Pleasure rippled through him.
“I’ve changed my mind,” she whispered. “I’d like a closer view.”
The image from Costa Rica of Kendall kneeling between his legs came back, his own fantasies layered on, and he groaned. He had to stop thinking about that for now. If this was his only chance to touch her, to enjoy her, to taste her, he wanted to get it right.
“We’ll see about that,” he said with a wink. “Right now, I want to get you on that table.”
* * *
Now Kendall remembered exactly why she had walked out of Daxon’s room in Costa Rica. She had played back that kiss so many times in her mind, but somehow she had forgotten important details. The way his breath hitched when she touched his bare skin. The hunger in each brush of his lips. The way she lost herself as the tidal wave of want took over, building, threatening to crash through her body. She wanted more of this man, his hard muscles, the weight of him against her, his thick cock that was pressing against her, his mouth everywhere. She wanted more.
It had been almost impossible to walk away last time, but when she came up for air, she’d known she had to. Because drowning in a kiss with Daxon Miles had suddenly felt like a different kind of risk, one that had nothing to do with her job. One she knew was dangerous.
And yet here she was again, aching for more. During their sessions, her hands had traveled up and down his legs many times. She wanted to explore further. She wanted to learn his body, how it worked, how his muscles flexed when she touched him, what he sounded like when he came. This was a man with a preternatural ability to focus. What would it be like to feel him let go of all that control and lose himself in pleasure?
She just had to make sure this stayed uncomplicated. People had uncomplicated sex all the time, so why shouldn’t this new, more adventurous version of her do it, too?
Kendall laced her fingers with his. “Let’s try the bedroom instead. I think it’ll be a little more comfortable.”
“Maybe we can try the table later,” he said. “But I’m happy to start anywhere, sweets, as long as I get to put my mouth on you.”
Damn, he sounded so sincere, like he was aching to go down on her. No wonder women tripped over one another for this man.
“Right this way, champ.” She led the way to the bedroom, her heart jumping in her chest. After months of watching his videos, just to make sure his previous injury had healed, of course—okay, and possibly using him as fodder for a late-night date with her vibrator because she never planned to see him again—after six months of not real, this was about to get very real.
A warm breeze blew through the open windows of the light, airy room. The bed was enormous, covered with a fluffy duvet and a stack of pillows. A tray of hibiscus flowers lay on the long, narrow bench in front of the windows. He turned to her, tucking her hair behind her ear. The echoes of waves and the brush of palm leaves mixed with the sounds of turned-on male, so close. His hand lingered on her neck.
“I want to undress you.”
“Sounds a little impractical.”
He laughed. “Sounds sexy to me. As long as you don’t mind me staring at you like a hungry dog.”
Well, if he wanted to. She might as well get the whole Daxon Miles experience, from start to finish.
“Oooh, hungry dog,” she said. “Very sexy.”
He tickled her sides, and she yelped and wriggled. His laugh grew huskier.
“You like to tease me?” he said, his hands gentling, urging her to face him. “Just so you know, it only makes me harder for you.”
When she turned around, his smile was so full of heat, and it sent a shiver of desire through her. Her eyes met his, and his smile faded. What would this incredible man feel like inside her, thrusting, working her hard? God, she wanted to know.
Slowly he slipped his hands under her shirt and lifted it up, his palms skimming her sides. She raised her arms, and he pulled the shirt over her head, tossing it on the floor. His warm hands rested on her arms, and he ran them up and down a few times, as if he were learning her in the same way that she was learning him back on the table. He traced the outline of her bra, around the curve of her breasts.
She’d always had mixed feelings about her chest size. Her body was a comfortable one to live in, fit, strong, and as a physical therapist, she was reminded daily not to take any of these pieces for granted. But she had been an early bloomer, and having large breasts at an younger age had made her self-conscious long after she should have outgrown it. She still had to fight her instinct to cover them. But with Daxon’s eyes hot, his mouth parted as he gazed at her breasts, she didn’t want to hide. Not when he was looking at her like she was the only thing on earth he wanted right now.
He traced the straps up to her shoulders, then moved down, exploring her nipples through the silky material. Pulses of heat spread through her, and she drew in a quiet gasp. He slipped his hands around her and unhooked her bra, eased the straps over her shoulders and tossed it on top of her shirt. He ran his fingers down her chest, and she covered his hands with hers. There was so much pleasure in this slow exploration. His eyes fluttered closed, and he leaned forward to kiss her neck, holding her breasts in his palms, kneading, learning them. Then, with a soft bite on her neck, he let go and knelt down in front of her.
“I love getting you naked,” he said, reaching between his legs to adjust himself. His voice was getting lower, rougher. “I’ve wanted to do this for so long.”
She spent so much time concentrating on other people’s bodies and movements that it was strange to have the roles reversed. But definitely not a bad kind of strange.
He urged her to turn around, so she did, but she could still feel his gaze on her, hot and heavy. His hands moved from her hips, lower. He cupped her rear.
“You have one fine behind, Kendall.” The rumble of his voice was making her giddy.
