Smiling, because she could easily bring one to his face, he gently took the book and set it aside. Then he opened the patio umbrella to protect her from the late-day sun. With her fair skin, she’d probably turn lobster in another hour. He decided to let her sleep and went into the house to see if he could scrounge up something to throw on the grill for dinner. If not, he’d order in, because he was keeping Faith all to himself tonight.
He was surprised to find a couple of steaks in the freezer, as he’d only seen her eat chicken, so he turned to put them in the sink to thaw. And stopped.
On her counter was a cupcake. With a birthday candle in it.
Faith didn’t eat sweets, so he couldn’t figure out if it was her birthday and she set it there for show or if it was her sister’s birthday and it was a sentimental thing.
Either way, he was the biggest shithead on earth. She’d been upset earlier, even through her attempt at bravery, and what did he do? He goddamn glued himself to the laptop. Ignored her like she was nothing, like her parents had done . . .
Christ. He hoped they’d called.
He pulled out his phone and found Mia in his contacts. “Do you have an employee record on Faith? A tax document? Anything with her date of birth?”
“Uh . . . She worked with Ginny at St. Ambrose, so I didn’t do an application. I do have a . . . hold on.” Papers shuffled in the background. “Wait. Why?”
“I think it might be her birthday. She didn’t say anything to me, but . . .” He looked at the cupcake. An inadequate celebration to say the least. One that made his chest grow heavy and clench like a vise.
“Here. Social security number, blah, blah, blah. Yes! It is today. She’s twenty-eight.” More papers shuffled. “Why wouldn’t she tell us? We could’ve had a cake while everyone was here for the fireworks last night and celebrated.” She sighed. “Now I feel bad.”
Mia couldn’t feel half as bad as he did. Or Faith. To go the whole day without any well wishes, not a one . . .
“I’m calling Lacey,” Mia insisted. “She can go to that bakery that’s doing the wedding cake and pick up a dessert or something. I’ll head into town with Ginny and get some chicken and corn for Cole to grill. Can you keep Faith busy for a couple hours? It’ll be late for a barbeque, but it’s better than nothing.”
Yes, it was better than nothing. And he knew just the thing to keep her occupied. He disconnected with Mia and tossed the cupcake in the garbage.
chapter
twenty-three
A featherlight touch tickled Faith’s arm, pulling her from sleep. Her skin was heated and she realized it was from the sun when she breathed in the scent of salt water. The steady thrum of the ocean roared in the background. Opening her eyes, she squinted to look up at Alec’s face as he sat on the edge of her chair, hip to hip.
“Hi.” She glanced around. Stretched. “I fell asleep.”
“Sounds like a nice way to spend the day, sleeping in the sun after a good book.”
She struggled to sit, bringing them closer. “How’s your manuscript? You were really going to town.”
He brushed a kiss over her lips, stirring her pulse. “It’s nearly done, thanks to you. And an even better story because of your insight.”
Warmth flooded her chest. “I’m glad.”
His smile fell a fraction. “I’m sorry I got so wrapped up.” He lifted her black panties, dangling from one finger. “I got your note. I’m about to make up for lost time.”
Before she could retort, he swooped her up in his arms and brought her inside. A rush of cool air hit her sun-kissed skin and she shivered.
As he carried her down the hall, his gaze raked over her body. “You’ve got the start of a sunburn, but I think I woke you in time.”
“I’m glad you did. Where are you taking me?”
Instead of going to the bedroom like she expected, he walked into the bathroom and set her on her feet. He turned on the water in the tub and grabbed a bottle of her body wash. Inhaling, he groaned and then checked the water temperature.
“Take a bath to wash the sunscreen off, and then I’ll rub some lotion . . . right here.” He kissed her shoulder and slid the strap of her bathing suit down her arm. “And here.” He kissed the other shoulder and removed her top with one slick flip of his wrist. He strode around to her back, trailing a finger down her spine. “And here.” He kissed the small of her back and crouched to slide her bikini bottoms down her legs. “Here, too,” he whispered, kissing her calves.
Air seeped from her lungs. Her heart pounded in anticipation. A sharp tremble tore through her core as the apex between her thighs throbbed. Yet she couldn’t move, no matter how much she wanted him. His touch was gentle, kind, where before it had always been needy and urgent. She didn’t know what to do with this side of him.
He rose and faced her. With slow, seductive movements, he tugged his shirt off and his shorts down, all the while maintaining her gaze. Heat and desire shone in his eyes, but there was something else there. Something tender she hadn’t seen before.
Her breath caught. “Alec?”
Naked, he stepped to her and held her hips. “Faith.” His voice was raw, a coarse groan of restraint. He nuzzled her neck, kissed her ear. “I want you.”
She whimpered and grabbed his solid arms. “Yes. I want you, too.”
“Get in the tub.”
She didn’t want to step out of his arms and break the connection, but she did as he asked and climbed in. He followed and sat behind her, his strong thighs on either side of hers and his erection pressing into her lower back. The warm water, scented with vanilla, slid over her skin, creating a delicious friction between them.
He reached for her body wash and lathered a small amount between his hands. Starting with her neck, he made his way down her shoulders and back before sliding around to her front. Every stroke was heaven and torment, all rolled into one bundle. His slick, soapy hands found her breasts and squeezed.
Her head fell back on his shoulder. She arched, seeking more.
“God, those noises, Faith. You like this?”
“Yes.” Her eyes fell closed, lost in his touch.
One hand kneaded her breast, circling her nipple, while the other trailed lower beneath the water. Over her stomach and right to where she throbbed for him. Only him.
His lips hovered by the curve of her ear. “I like touching you. Watching you is the most mesmerizing thing I’ve ever seen. You let go of your reservations and just feel. Me. You feel me.”
Each word sent her higher, closer and closer to completion, until she came apart blindly. Before her tremors subsided, he lifted her by the hips and brought her down over his shaft.
He stilled. Rubbed a slow hand up and down her back when she wanted to move. “No condom, Faith. Be careful how close you tease my restraint.
She loved how he filled her. Loved how there was no barrier between them. But the consequences of going unprotected were too great. She rose off of him, already missing him inside her body, and turned to bring them chest to chest. Splaying her hands on his shoulders, she ran them over the ridges of beautiful muscle—down, down—until she could wrap her fingers around him.
He sucked in a breath and grabbed her wrists. “This is about you, not me.”
That gave her pause. Nothing had ever been just about her before. Unsure of what to say, how to feel, she cleared her throat. “Then let me touch you.”
He started to shake his head, but stopped. Looked in her eyes. The gray blue of his irises turned stormy, his eyes fixed and dilated on hers.
Keeping one hand around his shaft, she brought the other up to brush his lips with her fingers. His lips parted to take a finger into his mouth, and as he did, she stroked with her other hand. He bit her finger, not hard, but then released it right away, as if worried he might hurt her. Empowered, she stroked again.