Nick and Fiona stumbled into the darkened house, exhausted from their day of sailing. Fiona had gotten a little too much sun and so had Nick, but luckily they were not badly sunburned and sore. What she wanted though was to take a nice hot shower and crawl into bed and snuggle in his arms as she had the night before.

"Damn Nick, where’s the light switch?" Fiona laughed as her fingers felt around blindly along the wall.

"Who needs lights, baby?" he said as he dropped their bags on the floor and slid his big thick arms around her waist. "All I need is you in my arms."

"You are SO mean, Carter. Do you know that?"

Fiona imagined his face contorting into that infamous Carter smirk as he felt her body respond to his touch in the darkness.

"What?" he asked innocently.

"I don’t know my way around your house yet and you don’t want to turn on the lights for me. I NEED to take a shower but I can’t do that if I can’t find the bathroom."

"Can I watch you strip down? If the answer is ‘yes’ then I’ll turn on the lights. If the answer is ‘no’ then you are going to have to make your way through this big ol’ scary house all by your little lonesome self" he whispered into her ear in a deep sultry voice.

Fiona had been fighting the urge to give in to him all day long. Several times she had to spritz herself with cold water in order to cool herself off. It seemed that every thing he did or said sent her body spiraling into a desire to be naked with him. The way he took command of the boat, his smile when he caught her staring at him, the way he held her in his arms as they lounged together after lunch and talked about their families. He had been a complete gentleman all day long, stealing an occasional kiss during the silent moments of their conversations and she had admired his restraint yet suffered disappointment at the same time. Her head and heart were in a whirlwind of conflict.

Now, as he teased her with mere words, his breath hot on her neck, she decided that she had no use for withholding her desire for him any longer.

Surprising not only herself, but him as well, she said, "Better yet, Nicky. Why don’t you lead me through this big ol’ scary house and get in the shower with me? I’ll wash your back if you wash mine!"

"Hell yeah, baby. Let’s go," he said as he moved in front of her and pulled her along behind him blindly.

"Slow down!" she giggled. "I can’t see shit!"

"Almost there" he said breathlessly as they turned a corner and moved down a long hallway. In the distance she could see a faint light illuminating from what she remembered to be his bedroom.

"Is that a nightlight?" she asked.

"No smartass remarks. This house can be intimidating when it’s dark and you are all alone."

"Hey, I understand" she giggled. "Honestly, I do."

Entering the bedroom, Nick went to the bathroom and turned on the light. He started the shower as Fiona began to strip off her bathing suit and shorts. Standing up against the bathroom wall, his eyes followed her every movement, taking all of her in as she soon stood before him completely naked and smiling.

"One of us has on too many clothes" she winked. "And it’s not me!"

Nick quickly pulled his shirt above his head and threw it onto the marbled floor beneath him. His eyes never left hers as she walked towards him, swaying her hips just enough to make him groan. It was evident when he pulled off his swimming trunks that he was more than excited.

His pulsating shaft sprung free and pressed against her tummy as she caressed his bare chest.

"Is the water hot enough?" she asked, her lips taking his nipple into her mouth and biting down playfully.

"I...uh...ummm...oh god that feels good" he stammered.

Fiona held her hand out to feel the temperature of the water, Nick frozen from her touch. She smiled and slipped into the shower, motioning for him to join her. He did as she requested, shutting the glass door behind him and joining her under the spray of the hot water.

"Mmmm" Fiona moaned as the hot water caressed her breasts and trickled down her flat stomach. She found herself moaning again as Nick slid one hand down her hip while the other hand tweaked her hardened nipple. His mouth teased her wickedly as he sucked the soft wet skin on her neck and nipped her shoulderblades.

"Damn you drive me crazy" he growled as she reached back and took him in her hand, stroking him slowly.

She turned and faced him, her eyes dark with desire, as were his. She allowed her head to tilt backwards into the stream of hot water, her eyes closing as the water cascaded across her shoulders and down her back. She reached for the soap and began to lather her hands in preparation for his body.

"Come here, Nick" she groaned as she stepped out of the jet stream and he took her place. As he allowed the water to soak his blonde hair, she started at his feet and began to work her way up his long muscular frame. When she had finished soaping him from head to toe she handed him the bar of soap without a single word.

He rinsed quickly before building a thick lather in his hands. She backed into the wall for support as he began to caress her small frame with his large callused hands.

She gripped the walls as his hands brushed across her breasts and down her stomach, teasing the soft downy curls between her thighs. When he was finished, he moved her to the stream of water and helped rinse her clean.

"I need you, Nick" she whispered in a voice barely audible.

He kissed her tenderly, his lips lingering on hers for a brief moment. "I need you to, Fiona. But not like this, not in the shower. I want our first time to be perfect."

Reaching behind her, he turned off the water and opened the shower door. He took the oversized towel from the wall and wrapped it around her before picking her up in his arms and carrying her to the bed.

Laying her down softly, he gently pulled the towel out from underneath her body and tossed it aside. His eyes memorized her every curve before he covered her with his own flesh.

Fiona’s heart was beating uncontrollably and bursting at the thought that he wanted their lovemaking to be perfect and not rushed. Her body was literally aching for his touch.

"Oh, I’ll be back" he said suddenly.

"Wait. Where are you going?" she asked as he moved from above her and climbed from the bed.

"Candles. We need candles to make this perfect."

"No we don’t!" she almost shouted.

He laughed as he leaned over to kiss her. "I told you, I want this to be perfect. I’ll just be a minute."

Sighing, she lay back on the bed and covered herself with the comforter. "Okay, but hurry!"

"I will. I promise," he said as she watched his tanned and naked body bound out of the room and disappear into the darkness.

Chapter 65       Index