he pulled her tight, his fingers digging almost painfully into her flesh. But that pain brought such sweet pleasure she wanted more.
Jimi tightened her thighs around his hips, pressing into him, until her breasts were mashed against the unbelievably hard chest. He groaned and she thrilled to the sound. His fingers thrust into her hair, fisting the strands, and the sting in her scalp was another welcome burst of pain that almost kept her grounded.
He pulled her head back gently, forcing her to look at him. Jimi was at an utter loss for words. She wanted him, and he gave every indication he wanted her, the evidence of that pressing hotly between her thighs and only separated by the layer of their jeans. Jimi tipped her hips and sighed when he responded by thrusting into her.
“I can tell you’re going to be all sorts of trouble,” he growled.
“Is that a good or bad thing?” Jimi murmured, not breaking their gaze.
Her heart hammered so hard it hurt. This man—she still didn’t know his name—held her hair tight while his other hand scorched a path from her ass up her side. He hesitated ever so briefly with a gentle caress at the side of her breast before cupping her face, holding her in his large, warm, rough...but so tender hands. She welcomed the control he was taking. Needed him to force her to let go. Her brain shut down when he pulled her head to him and crashed his lips over hers.
* * *
DALLAS TASTED HER as if a starved man. Her lips were soft and deliciously plump. He found her tongue with his, which was his undoing. Heat erupted inside him, flowing through his veins like thick, heavy lava. The sweetness of her mouth made him want more.
Her arms tightened around his neck. Dallas took her face between his hands, holding her firm. No way was he letting this seductress out of his arms just yet. Dallas opened his eyes to watch her, keeping his mouth fused with hers. The strands of her hair twined with his fingers, so palupalu, soft, he wanted to draw the curls over his face. He inhaled, taking in her scent. Fresh and clean, with a hint of flowers. Her eyes were closed, and he lifted his mouth from hers and waited to see if she’d open her eyes. She didn’t, and he decided the eloquent curve of her brow needed to be kissed. Her gold lashes fanned across her pale skin. Never had he seen anything more beautiful. Sexy. And wanton.
Dallas nuzzled her under the sharp arch of her brow. She sighed. His cock swelled when she wiggled closer, tightening her thighs around him. He could easily push her back on his cot. Flick open the buttons of her shirt. Whisk off the jeans and take his pleasure. Pleasure she seemed very willing to provide.
Pleasure he’d be more than willing to reciprocate.
Jimi leaned into his fingers when he teased the buttons open. She trembled and he yearned for her. This strange and beguiling city girl who did not fit into the wilds out here. Or with a man like him. Perhaps that was what made her so much more tantalizing. Why not have a vacation fling? What happened in Kona stayed in Kona. No one need know. It would be over after the wedding. He’d keep it secret, knowing he was breaking his own rules.
A shiver rumbled through his muscles when her fingers tracked across his back, pressing and stroking as if she were trying to imprint him. Then they locked behind his neck and she burrowed against his chest. His hand was trapped between them in the wonderful firm softness of her breasts. Their clothes were in the way and he wanted to rip them off her in this frantic moment of passion. Period. Nothing remotely close to making love. Yet, if he thought of it as lust, an unsettled feeling grew in him.
Dallas pushed it aside. Being with a beautiful, alluring woman with no expectations or ties was just how to lose himself. There was no crime in that.
Jimi sighed as he nibbled the edge of her jaw. Dallas growled in to her and inhaled her wild and exotic scent that was just like his island. He’d learned long ago to seek out those special little places on a woman—it was so worth the extra care—and he found the delicate spot just behind her ear. Jimi’s body went lax in his arms. She ran hands down his back, leaving a trail of heat that spiked into fire when she linked her thumbs through the belt loops and pulled him to her. He settled between her thighs, her heat searing him. Sound dimmed. All he heard was the thumping of his heart and her soft, breathy sighs. Jimi dropped her head back, giving him more access, and he didn’t waste the opportunity to search for her trigger spot, smiling when she shivered as he licked along her collarbone.
Voices pierced his lust haze. He tried to ignore them, but when he recognized the laughter, Dallas swore and sat bolt upright, pushing her away. Regret washed through him at the confusion on Jimi’s face and he wanted to explain but couldn’t. She stood and shoved her hands into the jeans pockets.
She was mad—that was good. It made things easier. He’d been ready to take it just a little too far with her. Now wasn’t the time or the place. He stepped back and tried not to notice her passion-filled gaze, now tinged with anger. Or the way her hair was mussed and the plump pout of her mouth...all beckoning him like a siren, calling him back to her.
“What...?” Her voice was soft and sultry, but he heard anger around the edges.
“You’d better leave.” Dallas did his best to keep his voice unemotional, but he sounded like a bullfrog croaking.
“What happened? I don’t understand.” Yep, she was mad.
Before he could answer, a loud, booming voice from outside the tent announced his brother.
“Dallas, you old dog, are you in there?”
Dallas stepped in front of Jimi to shield her while she fumbled with her shirt buttons. The tent flap was yanked aside and his brother filled the opening.
“Hey, bro! What the frig...” He gave a knowing nod, raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms over his chest. “...ahh.”
Jimi stepped around Dallas and he bit back a smile when he saw her lift her chin and shake her head, making her curls flutter around her shoulders like a lioness’s mane. She flickered her gaze to Dallas, but he couldn’t read the expression. It was as if a shutter had closed, hiding the light that had been shining from her only moments before. Strangely, it saddened him. He turned to Tucker and sent him a warning look.
“Excuse me.” Jimi took a step and winced. Dallas reached for her elbow, but she shook him off.
“Don’t let me interrupt things,” Tucker said, his mouth curving up on one side.
“Yeah, yeah, enough of that. Tucker, this is one of our guests. She cut her foot on a stone and I was just doctoring her up.”
“Yes.” Jimi looked down at her foot. “It doesn’t pay to not wear shoes around this godforsaken place. What a big mistake it was coming here.” Without a second look, she pushed past both the men and sailed out the tent opening.
They watched her go and remained silent for a few seconds. Tucker turned to Dallas and burst out laughing.
“What the hell was that all about?”
Dallas thinned his lips and glared at his brother. Ever the loud one with no tact. “Nothing,” Dallas snapped. The last thing he wanted to do was explain his actions to his brother. The less he knew the better, and no way would he let on what had almost happened.
“Well, bro, it certainly didn’t look like nothing to me.”
Dallas turned his back on him and grabbed the first-aid paraphernalia, holding it to Tucker as proof,
