Eleven

Sandra smiled and stepped back. “Yes, of course.”

The sight of his handsome face, the closeness of his body as he stepped inside, sent her insides trembling. She’d been attracted to Devlin before, but now that her sexual appetite had been awakened to a whole new level this past weekend, she could barely stand next to him without wanting to throw her arms around him and devour his lips in a passionate kiss.

Once inside the entrance, he stepped out of his shoes. She walked toward the living room and he followed her.

Oh, God. Having Devlin here kicked her already stark craving up several notches. Here he was, a real live man, within reach. A man who sent her insides sparking.

Except he’d already turned her down once. At least Aimee’s suggestion of going away for the weekend had worked. Sandra no longer felt the keen sting of embarrassment.

“Would you like some coffee? I’ve got a pot of decaf on.”

“Sure.”

He followed her into the kitchen and she poured some coffee into a mug and handed it to him, then watched as he added sugar.

“I hope you don’t mind my stopping by without calling.”

Sandra shrugged. “We’re friends. You can do that.”

He nodded. “That’s the reason I came by. To ensure nothing gets in the way of that friendship.”

Her stomach clenched. Had Aimee told him about what had happened at the cottage? Had he decided he couldn’t have a friend who would behave that way?

Oh, God, now I’m being completely paranoid.

Aimee had said she wouldn’t tell anyone and, even if she had, Devlin wouldn’t care.

*   *   *

Devlin stared at her wide eyes and knew she wasn’t thinking about the same thing he was.

“I’m talking about the night you kissed me. I’m pretty sure you’ve been avoiding me since then, and I wanted to make sure we’re okay. That what happened won’t impact our friendship.”

“Oh … no, of course not. I was a little embarrassed afterward, but it doesn’t affect how I feel about you.”

And how did she feel about him? That kiss told him she wanted to be more than friends, and that was great. Just not yet. He’d promised himself he’d wait six months.

But right now he had to do damage control.

“Good.” He picked up his coffee and headed for the living room. “So we’re still on for dinner on Saturday?”

“Right. It’s my turn to cook this time. I’m going to try a new dessert recipe I found online. Chocolate cake with a chocolate-and-orange-liqueur filling.”

Devlin had taken a gourmet cooking course with her six months ago—they’d invited Aimee but she had no interest in cooking—and now they alternated cooking for each other once a month to keep their skills honed. Aimee liked eating, though, so she joined them, too.

“Sounds good.” He always looked forward to their cooking nights. He liked sharing his creations with Sandra, and he loved the artistic flair of her presentation.

He sat on the easy chair while Sandra settled on the couch, then picked up her coffee and sipped.

“So how was the weekend?”

“Uh … good.”

He sipped his coffee, enjoying the new blend she’d chosen. “Aimee told me James and Craig were at the other cottage.”

Sandra stared inside her cup. “You know James and Craig?”

“Yeah, I met them at Aimee’s cottage a few years ago. Aimee told me you knew James back in college.”

Sandra nodded, swirling the liquid in her cup.

James had told Devlin a little about his history with Sandra, and Devlin got the impression James had been quite attracted to her, which made Devlin a bit nervous. The past link between James and Sandra had come as a complete surprise. And a disturbing complication. Aimee had assured Devlin it was nothing to worry about, though, so he decided to stick with the plan.

“So with you and Aimee alone on an island with two available guys…” He grinned. “Did you check anything off your list?”

Sandra nearly choked on her coffee, then coughed.

“What did Aimee tell you?”

“Nothing.” He raised his eyebrows and his grin broadened. “But from your reaction, I assume I’m spot-on.”

Looking at her pale face, he felt a little mean goading her like this, but he wanted her to open up about it and didn’t know how else to broach the subject. Aimee had told him Sandra was a bit reticent about her experiences with the men—and with her Fantasy Stranger—but Devlin wanted her to talk about it so he could encourage her. And so it would bring them to another level of intimacy in their friendship.

“Sandra, if something did happen … you know I wouldn’t think badly of you. In fact, quite the opposite. I’d think it was great that you’d gone after what you wanted. Embraced excitement and adventure.”

She raised her gaze to meet his. “Really?”

Her small voice and wide eyes, so begging for approval, tore at his heart.

He stood up and walked toward the couch, then settled down beside her. “Of course.” He tucked his arm around her and drew her close to his side. “There’s nothing wrong with going after what you want. What’s the point in having a dream if you never go after it?”

“Well, I wouldn’t say the items on that list were my dream.”

He raised an eyebrow and grinned. “Really? You don’t daydream about hot guys making wild and passionate love to you?”

Her cheeks blazed an amazing shade of red, and he laughed.

“Look, whatever you did this weekend, I salute you. In fact, I think you should do more of the same. You deserve to have a great time and don’t allow anyone to judge you.”

A slow smile spread across her face and she nodded. “You know, you’re right. There’s nothing wrong with being a bit wild every now and again. I mean, Aimee already told me that, and I thought I’d accepted it, but the thought of doing it again … I thought maybe once was okay, but more than that meant … you know, that I was…” She shrugged.

“Kinky?”

She shook her head.

“A little sex-starved?”

“Actually, more like a sex maniac.”

“Well, there’s nothing wrong with a little maniacal sex once in a while.”

She batted his arm and he laughed.

“There’s nothing wrong with having a healthy sex drive,” he said. “And that’s exactly what you have. A healthy sex drive.”

“So you don’t think there’s anything wrong with me having sex with two guys?”

“At the same time?”

Her eyes glinted with defiance. “Yes. At the same time.”

He leaned back and swirled the coffee in his mug, dragging out the time, letting her think he was carefully considering his answer.

“Well, I only have one thing to say about that.”

“What’s that?” As much as she tried to appear defiant, she looked more like a kitten trying to stare down a gigantic dog.

He grinned. “Can I watch next time?”

*   *   *

As Sandra closed the door behind Devlin, she smiled. He really was a sensational guy. And such a supportive friend. He was right. Having a healthy sexual appetite was perfectly fine, and putting it that way made her feel so much better. In fact, having Devlin’s approval meant a lot to her because she trusted his judgment.

She picked up the cups from the coffee table and carried them into the kitchen, then put them in the dishwasher and turned it on. She yawned and stretched. Early to bed would be a good idea after the active weekend she’d had, and the fact that she hadn’t slept at all well last night, deeply craving even more sexual excitement. She wandered to the bathroom, did her nighttime routine, then pulled on her pajamas and climbed into bed.

Maybe she hadn’t turned into a sex maniac, but some maniacal sex, as Devlin had called it, would go great right about now. She turned out the light and, with thoughts of Devlin in her mind, drifted off to sleep.

*   *   *

His arms were around her and Sandra leaned back against his hard body. His hands cupped her breasts and she arched forward. Her nipples ached and her body burned with need.

“I want you,” a male voice rumbled.

She turned in his arms to see his face, but she couldn’t make out his features in the dim light. She couldn’t see her Fantasy Stranger.

She leaned forward and kissed him. His lips caressed hers with a gentle persuasion, stoking her need.

“I want you, too.” She stroked his cheek, then down his chest.

Hard muscles rippled beneath her fingertips. She continued over his navel, then lower. Until she brushed against the tip of his cock. She grinned at him, then kissed down his chest.

She wrapped her fingers around his thick cock—as long and hard as she remembered—and kissed the tip, then took the head in her mouth like a lollipop. She licked around and around until she heard him groan. She glided down and easily took him all the way in, despite his size. His fingers stroked through her hair as she alternated between sucking and licking. He tensed and groaned. Her mouth filled with hot liquid.

She rolled on her back and stretched out beside him. She stroked over her breasts and toyed with her nipples. He smiled and leaned toward her, then captured one hard nub in his mouth. She sighed at the incredible heat of his mouth around her. He stroked over her other nipple as his tongue swirled over the first. She sighed, then gasped as he sucked. Hard and deep.

Then he released it and kissed up her chest, then nuzzled her neck. Tingles danced along her skin and shivers raced down her back. He stroked her breasts, teasing both nipples. Heat flared inside her. She reached for his cock, needing it inside her. She stroked it. Supple skin gliding over hard rock.

“I need you. Make love to me,” she said.

He chuckled, then prowled over her, pinning her between his knees. He leaned down and captured her lips, spiraling his tongue inside her mouth. Her tongue joined with his and they undulated together. He dove deep, mastering her mouth with his bold, swirling strokes, then drew back, leaving her gasping.

He smiled down at her, then lifted himself onto his knees. His hand curled around his rigid shaft and he stroked it. She leaned forward and licked it, savoring the hard flesh under her tongue. He pushed forward and her mouth engulfed him. She ran her tongue around his cockhead, unable to get enough of him.

He drew back, caressed her breasts, then stroked down her belly and between her legs. She arched against his hand. He glided his finger along her slickness. His cockhead brushed her thigh, then the tip pressed against her wet folds. She held her breath as he glided along her moist opening, then he pushed inside … just a little. She groaned, wanting more. He pushed until his cockhead was nestled inside her. She raised her hips, trying to force him in deeper, but he placed his hand on her stomach and held her still.

Then he drove forward. She groaned at the exquisite feel of his cock filling her. Thick. Hard. Hot. Branding her insides with excruciating pleasure. He drew back slowly, the ridge of his cockhead dragging along her passage, stimulating it. Then he drove into her again. She squeezed him, trying to pull him in even deeper. But still he drew back, stroking her insides, filling her with mind-boggling pleasure.

He drove into her a third time, and she trembled at the staggering pleasure. Buried deep inside her, he leaned down and licked her nipple, then sucked. Her fingers tangled in his hair and curled through it. Long hair.

Like Devlin’s. Her gaze shot to his face. He sat up and moonlight streaming in the window cast his features alight. He smiled.

It was Devlin. Shock filled her as he drew back and plunged forward again. Then again. As he continued to thrust into her, searing her insides, her shock faded away. Devlin was making love to her.

Wonderful, sweet Devlin.

Pleasure blazed through her, singeing every nerve ending. An orgasm quivered, then flared through her as she squeezed his cock tight inside her. The pleasure intensified as she tightened around his thick shaft. Squeezing. Just as she reached the pinnacle, his hard cock seemed to disappear. As her body trembled on the edge of ecstasy, her eyes opened.

She was alone.

Devlin hadn’t been there at all, but the pleasure still shuddering through her was vividly real. And she wanted more of it. So bad it made her ache.

*   *   *

Sandra glanced out the window of the bus as it moved down the busy city street, her cell phone against her ear.

“Listen, Aimee, do you think you could bow out Saturday night?” Sandra shifted a little to make room for a lady to sit beside her.

“But I love the gourmet dinners you cook,” Aimee said.

“I know, but I promise I’ll make it up to you. I’ll come to your house and cook up the lobster bisque you like so much.”

“And a crème brûlée for dessert?”

“You’ve got it.”

Sandra’s stop was coming up, so she stood up and moved toward the door.

“All right then,” Aimee said. “You’ve got a deal. But why do you want me to cancel?”

“I want to have some time alone with Devlin. To talk.”

“Hmm. Imagine. Only last week you were totally avoiding him. But I thought you sorted things out when he dropped by your place last Tuesday.”

Sandra’s eyebrows drew together. “How did you know about that?” Sandra hadn’t mentioned it to Aimee.

The bus came to a stop and Sandra stepped off the bus into the warm sunshine outside.

“Oh, Devlin told me he was concerned and had dropped by to talk to you. He’s a great guy, you know.”

Sandra’s stomach quivered and a deep yearning seared her soul as she thought about Devlin. “Yeah, I do. That’s why I want to make sure everything’s solid between us.”

*   *   *

Saturday evening, Devlin knocked on Sandra’s door, a bottle of wine in his hand. A moment later, she opened the door and smiled at him, setting her face aglow. His heart did a little hippety-hop at the sight.

“Come on in. I hope you’re hungry.”

His gaze caressed her curvy form as she stepped back to let him in. He was hungry all right, but with a hunger he would not satisfy yet. If only she would return to the cottage so he could be her Fantasy Stranger again and allow him to satisfy, for a short time, the yearning for her that burned through him constantly.

He stepped inside and shed his shoes, then followed her into the kitchen. Sandra lifted the lid from one of the steaming pots on the stove and dipped a spoon inside, then tasted.

“Mmm. Smells delicious.” Devlin placed the bottle on the counter.

“I’m making fusilli pasta with artichokes.” She measured out a teaspoon and a half of butter and added it to the sauce, then stirred. “Would you pour the pasta into the water?”

He lifted the lid from the pot beside the sauce, then grabbed the large measuring cup full of dry spiral-shaped pasta and poured it in. Sandra set the timer on the stove.

“Should I open the wine now?” he asked.

She opened the cupboard and brought out two stemmed wineglasses. “Sure.”

He’d intended to let it breathe, but as soon as he pulled the cork free, she held out her glass. He poured some into hers, then into his. She sniffed it, then took a sip.

“Mmm. Nice. You always bring the best wine.”

“Where’s Aimee?” He sipped his wine.

Usually she was already there when he arrived.

“She couldn’t make it tonight.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Really? She never misses our dinners.”

“There’s always a first time for everything.”

One part of him was delighted to be here with just Sandra—almost like a date—but another part quivered with nerves.

Sandra tossed a salad, then divided it into two wooden bowls and carried them out to the dining room. She returned just as the kitchen timer dinged and she drained the pasta and spooned it onto two dinner plates. Devlin ladled sauce on top, then they carried their plates and glasses into the dining room and sat down to eat.

Relaxing music played in the background and candles set the table alight with a soft glow.

“How’s that project you’re involved in at work?” she asked. “It has something to do with helping big companies monitor their energy usage, doesn’t it?”

“That’s right. My team finished the software last month and we have one client beta testing it.”

As they ate, they talked about his project for a bit, then discussed some upcoming movies they both wanted to see. Once they were done, she stood up and gathered their plates, then headed for the kitchen. He finished clearing the table while she put on coffee. Soon an unfamiliar coffee aroma wafted through the small kitchen. A new blend, no doubt. Sandra definitely had a passion for coffee.

He set her fancy stemmed glass mugs on the counter and she filled them. As he added sugar to his, she opened the fridge and set a cheesecake on the counter.

“It’s chocolate amaretto.” She sliced two pieces and set each on a dessert plate.

“Oh? What happened to the chocolate cake with orange-chocolate-liqueur filling?”

Her face scrunched up. “Don’t ask.”

He laughed as she handed him a plate. He picked up his mug and accompanied her to the living room, settling on the chair across from the couch where she sat. He glided his fork into the cheesecake then took a bite. It melted in his mouth.

“Well, this is absolutely delicious.”

She smiled. “Thank you.”

When he’d finished his dessert, he set his plate on the coffee table. Once she was done, she set her plate on top of his and pushed them away. She took a sip of her coffee.

“I wanted to thank you for coming over the other night.” She gazed at him over her mug. “You know, to make sure things are okay between us.”

He smiled. “Things were awkward and I didn’t want it to stay that way. Our friendship is really important to me.”

She nodded. “It is to me, too.” She set down her cup. “I really appreciated your encouragement that night. About trying new and different things. About not judging myself.” Her gaze locked with his. “You made me feel a lot better.”

“I’m glad.”

“In fact, it made me rethink other things I’ve done and wonder if I judged myself too harshly. For instance, what happened between you and me that Friday.”

Uh-oh. He didn’t know where this was going, but alarm bells clanged inside his head.

She leaned forward. “May I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“When you turned me down that night, was it because I’d had too much to drink? Or was it because you aren’t attracted to me?”

Damn it.

He stared at his hands as he rubbed his palms together. “You had had quite a few drinks that night. There’s no way I would take advantage of you.”

“So, what would have happened if I hadn’t been drinking?”

He shrugged. “Well, then, it wouldn’t have happened.”

“But if it had?”

He frowned. “Sandra, you’re really putting me on the spot.”

“Devlin, I practically threw myself at you. Sure, I’d had a few drinks, but I would never do that unless I was attracted to a man. I’m sure you know that.”

He sighed. Of course he did, and to tell her otherwise would only hurt her self-esteem. He nodded.

“So my feelings for you are already out there. I’d just like to know if those feeling are reciprocated.”

“Sandra, I think the world of you. I—”

She held out the flat of her palm. “Whoa. I get it. You aren’t attracted to me, but you care about me as a friend.” She stood up. “It’s okay. I understand.”

The look of hurt in her eyes tore at his heart. He stood up and followed her into the kitchen.

“Sandra, wait. That’s not it.”

She set her empty cup on the counter and turned to him.

“Devlin, it’s okay. I’m a big girl. You’re not into me. I get it. And that’s all right. As long as I haven’t freaked you out, we can continue being friends.”

He took her hand, and the feel of her soft skin nearly unraveled his resolve not to tug her against him and consume her in a deeply passionate kiss. He steeled his control and simply stroked the back of her hand with his thumb.

“In fact, I do find you attractive.”