The Marine (Seductive Sands Book 3) Read online

  I reached between us and let my fingers touch my clit, knowing the exact pressure and pace to use in order to get me off. His cock filled me up, reaching places nobody else had before.

  God, I needed this.

  When I reached my peak, I used my free hand to sink my nails into his flesh and screamed out his name. This seemed to trigger his own release, and he spilled himself into the condom, never losing pace for one second.

  Finished, he collapsed on top of me.

  I only let him have a few minutes of rest before I asked, “Are you ready to do it again?”

  13

  Hawk

  * * *

  Isla was insatiable. And relentless. Determined to have her way, we fucked like bunnies on and off all night. When I complained I had no more energy, she raced from the room and returned with a glass of something white and foaming at the top.

  “What the hell is that?” I asked with a groan.

  “It’s a protein shake. Good for lots of energy.” She shoved it in my face. “Drink it.”

  “No, see, I need actual protein. I need meat I can sink my teeth into.” I took the glass from her hand, sniffed it, and set it on the nightstand. Then I grabbed her ass cheeks in each hand and squeezed. “If you want me to have the ability to go again.”

  Tapping her chin, I could see her growing agitated. “Only you would interrupt sex for a snack break.” She shook her head. “And this after you’ve warned me I only get tonight.” She pushed away from me and flopped on the bed a few inches away. “You know, we could rest and then pick back up where we left off tomorrow night.”

  “No.” My brow rose. “One night, Isla. I mean it.”

  “I’ll meet you on your boat after a long day of wedding planning.” She giggled. “We’re in the final stretch, thank God. Then Victoria can distract Max and we can spend more time together.”

  “That’s a hard no.” I rolled my eyes.

  “Which part? The boat?” Isla sighed. “Fine, I’ll get us a hotel room. No one will know. And when you complain about being hungry, we’ll order room service.”

  “Please stop talking before you ruin everything.” I sighed. As it was, I had no idea how I was going to stick to my one night rule. It had always worked well for me. I’d stopped wanting ties long ago, but the periodic closeness was nice. I’d have it now and then. One night. Then we were done. Often, I’d simply sail away to ensure it. Only this time, I was out of money and options. And when it came to Isla, I was about out of resolve too.

  “I can’t help it. I can feel you pulling away,” she mumbled. “That’s normally my thing.”

  “It can still be your thing. You pull away instead. Bam. Problem solved,” I joked.

  Isla crept closer to me on the bed. She was naked, covered in pink splotches from my love bites.

  “Do these hurt?” I asked, suddenly concerned.

  She shook her head. “No. They feel lovely, like this little Post-it notes reminding me of our passionate night.”

  My brow furrowed. “You will cover them up though, right? I mean, you won’t exactly leave them on display.”

  Isla grinned then licked her lips before speaking. “I suppose I could, but I really enjoy torturing my brothers.”

  I sat up, my heart pounding. “Princess, it won’t exactly take a hop, skip, and a jump for Max to figure out where they came from. Then I’m dead.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “You’re trying to tell me you’re scared of my brothers?”

  “Not physically. He would never fight me and I think we both know I could kick his ass if I wanted to.” I ran a hand through my hair. “The thing is, Max can hurt me other ways. Financially, for example. Then what?”

  “I’m not ready to let you go yet, Logan.” She rolled onto her back and stretched out her body.

  The minute I saw her like that, laid out like a feast, I wanted to devour her. I could feel the blood rushing to my cock, and I was instantly ready again, which was saying something. The way she was talking to me, I should’ve been ready to cut and run, literally, back to the marina.

  “I’m sorry to hear that, princess,” I mumbled. “Not everything is up to you.”

  She smirked. “Yeah, but lots of times it is. And I bet there are ways to convince you.” She rolled onto her hands and knees. Lord, did I want to be behind her, slamming into her. The look on her face told me she knew it too.

  I inhaled deeply and shook my head. “Not this time.”

  “We only did it six times,” she argued. “You’re only halfway to fulfilling your promise.”

  I frowned and then replayed the conversation in my head. “I didn’t promise. I said I’d do my best.”

  “Well, do better. Do me again.” She crawled over to me and pushed me back onto the bed before straddling me. “Come on, Logan.” She murmured my name in my ear and I groaned.

  Fuck. She had me half figured out in one night. There was nothing I liked more than hearing my name on her lips, except maybe seeing my cock in her mouth.

  Isla grabbed a condom, rolled it onto me, positioned my erection at her already wet entrance then slammed down hard. I was in no condition to object. In my mind, however, I began to make empty promises. This is it. Last time. You’ll jog home after this. I mean it. You’ll go straight back to the marina and shower her off before getting some sleep. Got it?

  Soon she was whimpering and I recognized her writhing and panting to mean she was already orgasming again. Once she finished riding it out, I slid out of her, repositioned her nearly limp body, and took her from behind for the third time that night. I couldn’t get enough of her this way. I loved slamming into her ass. I loved holding onto her subtle curves. I loved the way I could knot my fingers in her hair and she’d only buck harder against me. I could not fall for this chick. I couldn’t.

  When I’d finished for the seventh time, I kissed her on the cheek and pulled some blankets over her. Isla was as exhausted as I was, but she could sleep. I had to leave. I’d found my boxer briefs balled up on the floor and was about to follow the trail of clothes to reclaim the rest of my outfit, but she stopped me.

  “Stay,” she whispered.

  “I gotta go. You know I do. It’s nearly dawn.” I kissed her again, hoping to appease her.

  She sighed. “Fine. Go. Don’t keep your word. I won’t keep mine either.”

  I froze. “What does that mean?”

  “Maybe I won’t cover all these glorious little love bites you left on me.” Her brow arched dangerously.

  “Isla…” There was more than a hint of warning in my voice.

  “Listen.” She sat up and let the blanket fall around her. “I could be persuaded to change my mind. I could cover up if…we came to an agreement.”

  My spirits sank. She wasn’t going to let me love her from afar. She was going to push me until I hated her. “What agreement, princess?” I glared at her.

  “Well, you spend a weekend with me in a hotel. Simple. We get those other five orgasms out of the way, and you’re free and clear.” She shrugged.

  “How the hell would we manage that?” I grumbled. Mostly, I was wondering how I could get out of it, where I could find the money to move on, because Westport and its seductive sands had been ruined for me.

  “You sail to the marina up the coast. You know the one. We were nearly there earlier. And then I’ll drive there, pick you up, and make the hotel arrangements.” Isla grinned. “The bar won’t open for a couple more weeks. You’re free on weekends until it is. I have no idea how you can possibly get out of this.”

  I stood silent and stoic for a moment as I tried to reason it out, find a fault in her plan, ferret out some loophole. There were none. I sighed loudly and she grinned, knowing she’d won.

  “See you at eight, Friday night,” she announced. Already I’d begun to back out of the room. Isla called after me. “Don’t forget to lock up on your way out.”

  14

  Isla

  * * *

  The weekend cou
ldn’t come fast enough. I could barely concentrate on planning my brother’s wedding when all I could think about was Hawk. All throughout the week, I thought of excuses to be at the bar, wearing shorts and tank tops, showing off just enough skin to remind Hawk about that night together and about everything to come.

  Thursday, Max called a meeting with me and Victoria. He was looking into ideas for centerpieces at each table and he couldn’t think about anything that would fit.

  “I want it to be unique,” he kept saying. “You know. Different, but desirable. Like, when people see it, they go, hell yeah, I want that, what a great centerpiece.”

  Victoria rolled her eyes but there was a good-natured smile on her face. It would seem my brother had an uncanny ability to both frustrate and amuse her at the same time. I smirked. It was nice to know someone else would have to suffer through that. Although, if I was being honest with myself, Max wasn’t so bad. Unless, of course, he was cockblocking me by holding Hawk’s job over his head.

  “Everyone loves alcohol,” I pointed out. “Well, almost everyone.”

  He gave me a look. “You’re suggesting we have six packs at every table, Isla?” he asked. “Not classy.”

  “Practical,” I muttered under my breath before leaning forward and placing my hands on the surface of the table between us. “What about champagne? Wine?”

  “I like the wine idea,” Victoria said, turning to Max. “Champagne might be saved for special occasions, but wine can be consumed every night. I know I indulged in a glass after work.” She turned, looking at me. “That’s a great idea, Isla. Thank you.”

  I waved her away. “That’s why you guys are paying me, right?” I asked. I couldn’t bring myself to continue the conversation. I gently excused myself while the happy couple talked about some nearby winery and placing an order with some guy named Charlie. I was hungry, but I was also in a rare mood consumed with self-pity. I hated that I was getting paid to plan a wedding. I had never been one of those girls who cared about weddings. I wanted to make my own money working for my father. But no matter what I did, no matter how hard I tried, I could not convince him to trust me. Maybe that was what frustrated me the most. We literally got Bodhi’s message about not coming back and he sent Max to go get him instead of putting me in his spot. I knew Bodhi’s role in the company like the back of my hand. I could probably do it better than he could. But still, our father ignored me. He ignored my education, my intelligence, and my drive. Even worse, he waited for Max to bring Bodhi back.

  Even when Max announced his wedding, my father was in denial about Max coming back. Maybe if I left, he would finally regret taking me for granted. So, I took Max’s pity job, not because I needed the money, but rather because I needed to get away. And here I was. My father hadn’t called me once, which was probably why I was so desperate to get Hawk’s attention. If I won him over, it meant I mattered to someone. I was special and worthy and appreciated by someone.

  “You look...unsettled.”

  I picked my eyes off the floor of the bar, surprised to find Hawk there, arms crossed over his chest. I took a moment to drink him in…the black muscle tee, the jeans, the boots. His hair was pulled into a man bun that he pulled off surprisingly well. His eyes were crisp, as though he was taking in everything.

  Immediately, I straightened. I wanted him to notice my legs in my new shorts, not the obvious self-pity in my eyes.

  “It’s nothing,” I mumbled as I struggled to change the subject. “How are you? Looking forward to the weekend?”

  He glanced around, as if afraid Max would suddenly pop up. When he turned back to me, he was annoyed.

  “Why do you reduce everything to sex when it comes to us?” he asked. “It’s almost like you’re afraid to connect with another human on an emotional level. You’d rather connect physically.”

  “First, I was referring to just getting away for a few days.” I tilted my head and studied him. “But since you brought it up, are you saying you want to connect with me on an emotional level?” I asked. I tried to make it a taunt, but it was half-hearted at best.

  “I’m saying...” He let his voice trail off and he glanced around the empty room where there would be alcohol, a bar, and tables filling the space soon. “I’m saying I don’t know you well enough to make that decision. You’re beautiful and you’re good at...things.” I smiled as he shifted with discomfort. “But I don’t know you. I don’t know what makes you smile or what makes you cry. I have no idea what makes you unsettled.” He paused. “Still, I can see you’re upset and I’m willing to listen if you’d like to share.”

  This made me pause. “What?”

  “Dinner.” His voice was low so no one could overhear him. “Tonight. You and me. No sex. Nothing physical. Just two adults eating and getting to know one another.”

  I groaned. Hawk seemed determined to ruin a perfectly good thing. “Why are you doing this?” I asked.

  “Because I know what it’s like to be unable to connect with someone emotionally,” he explained. “And I think I might want to connect with you. At least, try to. Emotionally, I mean.”

  “Are you trying to get out of this weekend?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

  “No.” He shook his head. “Absolutely not. Right now, I’m asking for tonight. You and me. Dinner. No sex. Just talking.”

  I briefly considered his offer. “Agree to one more orgasm and I’ll say yes,” I countered, my lips curling up.

  “Agree to what?” Max asked, walking in the room, Victoria at his side, a curious smile on her face.

  “He wanted to know if he could have Friday night off,” I quickly answered. “I said I’ll agree to ask him. Him, as in you.” I shook my head. “What did you think I said, Max?”

  He grunted, not coming up with anything.

  I snickered.

  “No,” he muttered, eyeing Hawk. “You’re here until six, just like we agreed.”

  Hawk put up his hands in surrender and backed away.

  15

  Hawk

  * * *

  Apparently, there would be no dinner, which was fine. I didn’t have the income it would take to satisfy a woman like that. I had no idea why I’d even made such a ludicrous suggestion. I sighed. That was a lie. I’d taken one look at her sad eyes and I’d forgotten she’d trapped me into a weekend alone together. My frustration at being cornered had disappeared. All I thought about was easing her suffering. To do that, I needed to understand the cause.

  I rode back to the marina with Bodhi after work. At first, I stared silently out the window, until he initiated conversation.

  “So, what’s with you and Isla?” he asked as he studied my reaction.

  With a shrug, I muttered, “Nothing.”

  “Really? A few days ago, you two were on the road to hot and heavy. All of a sudden, you’re hitting the brakes and hitting the ocean?” Bodhi shook his head. “Does not compute, man. I know Isla can be a handful, but the right guy can rein her in.”

  I could feel my blood pressure rising. “The very last thing Isla needs is someone to ‘rein her in,’ as you so delicately put it. What she needs is for someone to let her shine, someone to encourage her interests, someone to support her dreams,” I growled.

  Bodhi smirked and I had the sense that I’d fallen into some kind of trap. “Someone like you?” he asked with a grin. “I’ve seen the way you look at her, the way she looks at you. It’s really something.” He shook his head. “No one holds Isla’s attention.”

  “Right.” I stared back out the window, pretending I cared nothing about what he had to say.

  “No. That’s part of why Max invited her. He’s always afraid of her getting into trouble. She has gone to great lengths to get our father’s attention; to no avail, I might add.”

  “Not that it was necessary,” I muttered as I crossed my arms over my body.

  “You like her,” Bodhi noted. “I can tell. I’m good at these things.”

  I eyed him curiously for a
moment. “You’re good at what? At the risk of jeopardizing the tenuous relationship we have, all I see you do is surf and drink.”

  He shrugged. “And both activities are great for people watching, people analyzing, and relationship building.”

  “When was your last relationship?” I raised a brow in challenge.

  “Whoa. Hey, this isn’t about me. This is about you and my sister.”

  “In that case, there’s nothing to talk about.” I huffed.

  “Oh, so we’re not going to bond over your weekend away together? I’m hurt.” Bodhi smirked and I squirmed under his gaze.

  “What makes you think we’re going away together?” I narrowed my eyes at him.

  “Well, a few days ago, you told Max you had to leave town for the weekend and wouldn’t be available to pick up any shifts. I know he has had you around a lot, helping set everything up, move everything into place, and assure that security is moving the right direction. I’ve seen how he relies on your input as he hires people.” Bodhi blew out a breath as he pulled into the parking spot.

  “So?” I reached for the handle and prepared to exit the vehicle. Naturally, Bodhi did the same, eager to finish our conversation.

  “So, you’re sailing away.” He shrugged. “Which wouldn’t seem like much, except that I heard Isla talking to Victoria. She mentioned she was going out of town for the weekend, one last hurrah before they were all super-focused on the final touches for the wedding.”

  “This is your proof?” I laughed.

  Bodhi leaned on the roof of his car and stared at me. “I know my sister. And where she’s concerned, there are no coincidences.”

  I stood silent, giving nothing away.

  “And I’d like to think I know you a little too.” He clasped his hands together. “I think you need this job and don’t want to rock the boat. I think you’re intrigued by Isla. And I think she would do anything in her power to get you to do what she wants, even if it means holding this job over your head.”