Spontaneous - Brenda Jackson [20]
Prime example was the incident back at her place. He had taken her on her kitchen table, of all places. His only excuse was that he’d arrived this morning filled with one hell of a lustful need after thinking about her, dreaming of her, all week.
The moment she’d opened the door, every primitive male instinct within him had erupted. He figured no woman had a right to look so damn good that early. He wasn’t even sure whether she was wearing makeup. Didn’t matter. And she had a baseball cap on her head. That didn’t matter either. What mattered was that she was a woman his body seemed to desire whenever he saw her. Any time and any place.
She was becoming an addiction.
She must have felt his gaze and looked up from working her fishing pole. “I like doing this, Duan.”
He chuckled as he leaned back in his seat and tilted his cap back. It was on the tip of his tongue to say he liked doing her. “It’s hard to believe you’ve lived in the Keys for over a year now and have never gone fishing. What a waste of water.” He noticed the hands holding the fishing rod. Most women he dated did up their nails but not Kim. He figured in her line of work it was best she didn’t. He liked her fingers. He remembered sucking on them the last time. The memory made something pull deep within his groin.
“Well, to be honest, I’m not much for being out on or in the water,” she said, interrupting his thoughts. “Makes me nervous.”
He lifted his brow. “Then how did you learn to swim?”
“I didn’t.”
He stared at her, not believing what she’d said. “You don’t know how to swim?”
“No. I always planned to take lessons but ended up chickening out.”
He glanced around and then back at her. “So, you’re out here with me in the middle of the ocean, wearing a very sexy bathing suit, and don’t know how to swim.”
She smiled. “The key words are that I’m out here with you. You won’t let anything happen to me. Sherri will never forgive you if you do.”
He returned her smile. He could believe that. “I’ve never asked how the two of you met.”
She leaned back and propped her feet up on the side of the boat. He liked the way her bathing suit fit. She had used the facilities below to change out of the shorts set into the bikini as soon as they’d gotten on the boat. He had changed into swimming trunks, as well. It was a beautiful day in April and there were other boaters taking advantage of the perfect weather.
“Sherri and I met in college and were roommates for all four years. After college we decided to pursue opportunities in the same cities. If it wasn’t for Sherri, I would probably still be living in D.C. She talked me into moving to the Keys. My life hasn’t been the same since.”
He nodded. “Is that good or bad?”
“At the time it was good because I needed a change. The guy I was involved with wanted more out of the relationship than I was willing to give. He knew going in that I wasn’t looking for anything long-term and claimed he wasn’t, either. Somewhere along the way he changed his mind.”
“But he didn’t change yours.”
It was presented as a statement and not a question, but she answered anyway. “I doubt there is anything or anyone that will change my mind about that.”
She paused for a moment. “I told you about my father and all his ugliness. Well, then there was that one time one of my stepfathers tried to come on to me. If I hadn’t known a little about defending myself, there’s no telling what might have happened. His actions only added to my distrust of men in general.”
The thought of someone trying to take advantage of her filled him with anger. “So there’s never been anyone you’d want to marry?”
A bright smile touched her lips. “Sure,” she joked. “Denzel Washington. But I don’t see Pauletta giving him up anytime soon. But on a serious note, I’ve told you my reasons for not wanting to indulge in a long-term affair. Short-term serves me just fine. I watch my mother live her life believing she can’t survive