Some, like Alex, were there alone, and they formed their own family unit, hanging out together at a table, laughing and eating.
“Does it bother you to be here without your family?” she asked as they stood in line waiting to get something to eat.
“No. I mean, when I was younger and on the circuit my parents traveled a lot to these things. Now it’s kind of old hat for them. They’ll come to some of them, but they’ve got their own lives to live, ya know?”
“So they won’t be coming to this event?”
“Nah. They’re taking the RV up the coast for the holidays. They’re kind of into camping and all that. But they have a satellite dish on the camper. They’ll catch my event that way.” He grinned.
She smiled. “I’m glad they’ll be able to watch you. As far as the camping part? That sounds fun. In no way at all.”
He gave her a feigned look of shock. “What? You’re not a roughing-it kind of woman?”
“Not in the least.”
He put his arm around her. “Anyway, everyone here is my family. Some of the other guys’ families have adopted me. I’m never alone.”
“It seems like you’re all close.”
“We are. We support each other and root for each other in the heats. Unless we’re competing against each other. Out there it’s every man for himself.”
“I understand that. I have a couple agents I’m very friendly with, but we’re very competitive with each other, too.”
“Yeah, it’s exactly like that. You can be friends with people you compete with. That’s how it is here.”
They got food and made their way to a long table where some of his friends were already gathered, including his ex, Heather, who was friendly enough, but her gaze continued to stray toward Alex. Obviously Heather had residual feelings for Alex.
Which wasn’t Tori’s problem, but she wasn’t in the mood to deal with some young girl’s jealousy issue. She was way past that at this stage in her life. If it was going to be a problem, she’d back away now. She was here to relax, not deal with tension.
“Hey, girl.”
She turned around when Whitney slid in next to her at the table. “Hi, Whitney. I didn’t expect to see you here tonight.”
“Cade brought me.” She motioned to her right, where a very attractive surfer grinned at her. “Cade, this is Tori.”
“Nice to meet you, Cade.”
“Likewise. You with Alex?”
“I am.”
Cade shared a grin with Alex.
“No studying tonight?” Tori smiled at Whitney.
“I’m on break right now, which is perfect. I wouldn’t miss a minute of the competition, including the partying.”
Tori laughed. “This does seem like it’s going to be a wild night.”
“Well, it doesn’t get too wild. The surfers have to keep their heads in the game. But everyone likes to have a good time. And there are a lot of hookups.” Whitney kept her gaze on Cade, who’d moved over to talk with Alex.
“And Cade is someone you want to hook up with?”
Whitney laughed. “Maybe. I’ve had my eye on him since last season. He texts me all the time.”
“He’s very good-looking.” Tall and well built, with a surfer’s shaggy dark hair and amazing blue eyes, Tori could see why Whitney would find him attractive.
“I know nothing will come of it. He likely hooks up with a different girl in every place he competes. I’m a realist about that kind of thing. I’ve got my career and life plan in mind. In the meantime, I just want to have some fun.”
Whitney reminded her of herself many years ago. And maybe today, too. Victoria had never been serious over a man, never wanted one to interfere with her career. Letting one get in the way of her number-one love—her job—had never been an option. Marriage and kids had never been part of her life plan, and she was perfectly content with that choice.
Which was why someone like Alex was perfect for her.
After dinner the music started up and everyone gathered in a circle near the bonfire to dance. She saw Whitney dancing with Cade. Heather was dancing with some guy, and for once wasn’t watching them.
Alex took her by the hand and they danced together.
“You’ve got some rhythm,” he said.
“Hey, I live in a city with the best nightclubs in the world.”
He laughed. “So, you’re telling me you get out a lot.”
“I get out plenty.”
“Boyfriends in every city?”
“Of course,” she teased with a grin.
“I believe it. A woman as beautiful as you probably leaves them all crying when you dump them.”
Now it was her turn to laugh. “You know it.”
He slipped his arm around her waist and tugged her close. “I like a confident woman.”
“Then you’re really going to like me.”
They swayed together as the music slowed. She liked the feel of his lean, muscled body next to hers, the easy way his hands glided over her. Her pulse picked up and her nipples tightened. And when his erection brushed against her hip, she shuddered in absolute delight.
This was one of the things she loved most about younger men—they got hard fast, they stayed hard, and they could rock her world.
It had been a while since she’d had sex. Work had preoccupied her for a spell, and she needed a release. Alex’s eyes had gone dark, and the way he looked at her promised her she was going to have a very good night.
He pulled away from her. “How about we go up to my place?”
She liked Alex. He was direct, and apparently he didn’t have any problem getting right to the action. And when the only thing on her mind was sex, game-playing could go straight to hell.
“Yes, let’s do that.”
He took her hand and they walked down the beach to the hotel.
She was surprised when they rode the elevator up to one of the penthouse suites, the same floor she was staying on.
“You must have really good sponsorships,” she said as he slid his card key in and opened the door.
He smiled at her and shut the door. “I’ve been waiting all day for this.”
He pushed her against the wall and put his mouth on hers.
In the dark, all she had were her senses. She focused on his lips against hers, his body aligned with hers.
Alex had a great mouth. Passion flared, and as he leaned into her, she swept her hands up his arms, memorizing the feel of his muscles, the softness of his skin surrounding the hardness of his body.
His cock nestled between her legs and a rush of dampness moistened her sex. She arched against him and he cupped her buttocks, drawing her closer. She moaned against his mouth and he rimmed her lips with his tongue, then sucked her bottom lip between his teeth, which only made her moan more.
“I need to come,” she whispered.
“I can take care of that for you.”
She loved how deep his voice had gotten, and how the room was cloaked in darkness. The drapes had been drawn, and even though her eyes had adjusted to the darkness, she still couldn’t see a thing. It thrilled her as he reached behind her to draw the zipper down on her dress and pulled it from her. It fell to the floor and she kicked it aside, then stepped out of her sandals. In one deft move, he unsnapped her bra, freeing her breasts. He filled his hands with them, using his thumbs to tease the crests.
She put her hands over his. “Yes. Touch me. Lick me.”
“Tell me where you want my mouth, Tori.”
“Lick my nipples. Start there. Work your way down.”
Her nipples tingled in anticipation as he kissed the mounds of her breasts, flicking his tongue over one bud, then the other, before capturing a nipple between his lips and taking it into his mouth to suck.
Her legs were trembli
ng and she was glad she had the wall for support. His mouth was hot and wet as he sucked, hard, rolling the nipple with his tongue. He popped it out of his mouth, licked it, then went to the other, tormenting her in the same way before kissing a path down her belly, snaking his hands over her hips, dragging her panties down as he went.
And when he put his mouth on her sex she was nearly ready to explode right there. Getting herself off—which she did regularly—was one thing. Having a man’s mouth on her pussy was something entirely different. There was nothing like a man giving her pleasure, and Alex knew exactly what to do with his mouth, sliding his tongue expertly over her clit, taking her there fast.
She laid her hand on top of his head, holding on to his hair while her pussy tightened. “Oh, God, you’re going to make me come.”
He murmured against her sex, licked her everywhere like he knew exactly what he was doing. And when he grabbed her clit and sucked, she cried out and came, thrusting her pelvis against his lips, and rode the wave of her orgasm.
* * *
Alex rose, kissing Tori’s hipbone and stomach.
She was a beautiful woman. And she tasted as good as she looked.
But this night was just getting started, and he was hard. Achingly hard. He needed to be inside her soon.
He dropped his shorts, determined to get this party moving along.
Tori reached out to wrap her hand around his cock, and his shaft jerked. God, he liked her hands. He’d noticed them right away. Long, slender fingers, no fake fingernails like a lot of the younger girls seemed to like. Short, clipped nails painted some pale color. Really pretty. And right now she had a stranglehold on his dick, which he liked a lot more.
“I like your hand on me. Stroke it.”
She moved her hand over him, sliding her thumb over the wide crest, then dropped to her knees.
This night just kept getting better and better. His balls tightened at the thought of her sweet mouth on his dick.
“Christ. Yes. Suck it.”
He flipped the hall switch, bathing the hallway in muted light. He had to watch.
She lifted her head and smiled up at him. He crouched down and kissed her, a deep, powerful kiss that made his cock twitch.
“Damn, Tori, you are so beautiful.”
“Stand up so I can get you in my mouth.”
He stood, and she took his cock in her mouth, pressing her lips over the swollen head. He slid his cock partway into her mouth. She leaned forward, taking him fully inside, her tongue mapping every inch of him until he groaned and pulled back, then inched forward again.
She grabbed the base of his shaft and rolled her hand over him, squeezing him as she sucked him.
He laid his palm against the wall for support, then let her have the control. She took him deep, bobbing her head forward then back, taking him all the way into the back of her throat, constricting the head by swallowing.
“Fuck,” he said, then lifted her, pushing her against the wall again. “You could make me come in your mouth.”
She lifted her lips. “That’s the idea, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. But I want to fuck you right now.”
He reached into the pocket of his shorts and grabbed a condom, put it on, then widened her legs. “I want you up against the wall like this.”
“I want you inside me. I don’t care where or how.”
And that’s why he liked her. She’d been direct since he’d first met her, and he’d had a feeling she’d be like that with sex, too. He wasn’t wrong.
He paused at the entrance to her pussy, watching as she rested her head against the wall and met his gaze. When he eased inside her, her lips parted and her eyes widened.
Yeah, she was tight, her pussy grabbing on to him and quivering as he seated himself fully inside her. He shuddered as she grabbed onto his shoulders, wrapped one leg around his hip, then began to move as he pumped. And with each thrust, she tightened.
She was going to go off again. He loved a responsive woman.
“You going to come again for me?” he asked.
She met his gaze. “Yes. Fuck me like that and I’ll come. Rub against me and I’ll come.”
He drove into her, then rubbed his body against hers. She dug her nails into his shoulders. She was so close he could feel the quivering inside her.
“Yeah,” he said, taking her mouth in a deep kiss that sent her over the edge. She whimpered against his lips as she came, and he thrust hard, then groaned with her as his orgasm hit. He grabbed her ass and squeezed as he powered inside her and shuddered, the blast of his climax making him dizzy.
It took him a minute to catch his breath.
“Well, that was enjoyable,” she said.
He smiled against her neck, then lifted his head and grinned. “It was, wasn’t it?”
“I definitely had a good time, and I wasn’t even invited.”
Tori gasped.
Alex jerked his head at the familiar voice coming from the side of the room.
Oh, shit.
“Ben, what the hell are you doing here?”
FOUR
Tori looked from Alex to the dark-haired man wearing shorts and a T-shirt and an awfully amused expression on his face.
She looked back at Alex. “Who the hell is he?”
Alex turned his attention to Tori. “Ben. Remember, I told you about him?”
“Right now I’m naked, you’re still inside me, and we have an audience. I don’t remember much of anything.”
She gave him a pointed look.
“Right. Ben. Piss off for a minute, will ya?”
Ben shrugged. “Sure.”
He walked out of the room, giving Tori and Alex time to disengage. Then Alex led her to his bedroom, complete with a bathroom where Tori could wash up and get dressed.
“Ben. That’s your business manager or something?”
“Yeah. And one of my sponsors. A good friend, actually. I’ve known him since I was a teenager.”
She turned her back to Alex, who helped her zip her dress. “I remember you mentioning him now. So you’re rooming with him?”
“Yes.” He kissed the back of her neck. “I’m really sorry. He wasn’t supposed to be in until tomorrow. I would have never done that . . . in the living room . . . if I’d known he was here.”
She turned to face him. “It’s okay. It’s just sex and I’m way too old to be embarrassed.”
He took her hand. “You’re making me like you more and more, you know that?”
She laughed. “Let’s go out and officially meet your friend Ben.”
Alex led her down the hall and back into the living room. Ben had grabbed a beer. He was sitting on one of the chairs at the island in the kitchen.
The suite was set up much like hers, with a living room and dining room area, and a kitchenette with sink and bar.
“Ben Reynolds, this is Victoria Baldwin.”
Ben stood and held out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Victoria.”
She gave him a wry smile. “You, too, Ben. I guess we’ll all be very close friends now.”
He laughed. “I guess so. Sorry about that.”
“Not a problem.”
“You could have told me you were coming in early,” Alex said as he walked around the island and grabbed two beers from the refrigerator. He held them up to Victoria, who shook her head. “Water instead?”
“That would be great, thank you.”
“I didn’t think I’d need to. Sorry again,” Ben said.
“Why the change in plans?” Alex handed the water to Victoria.
“I got a chance to hop on an earlier flight and took it. Figured I’d catch up on some sleep.” Ben turned to Victoria. “I’ve been traveling a lot the past couple weeks and shifting through a lot of time zones, so jet lag has me screwed up. I
had intended to be passed out.”
“Obviously you weren’t,” she said. “Instead, you got a sex show.”
He tipped the beer to his lips and smiled. “Yeah, thanks for that. It was quite an exhibition.”
“My pleasure.”
“Sure looked that way from where I was standing. I’m glad I got off the phone in time to leave my room and see it.”
“You’re a dick, Ben,” Alex said, with a laugh and a shake of his head.
Ben tipped his beer to Alex. “So tell me what I’ve missed, besides you landing the most beautiful woman on the island.”
Victoria couldn’t help but be charmed by the compliment. As Alex filled Ben in on surfing competition stuff, she gave Ben a once-over.
Despite being sleep-deprived and jet-lagged, she definitely noticed Ben was an attractive man. In his mid-forties, she guessed, he had dark hair, slightly graying at the temples, but he was solidly built. About six-two, well tanned, he had stunning steel-gray eyes and full lips with a couple days’ worth of stubble on his jaw that screamed rugged and utterly masculine. He looked like he belonged in a jungle somewhere, which Tori found utterly desirable in a man.
Not that she desired him. She’d just had amazing sex with Alex. Then again, she never put down roots on one man, so she could certainly admire another. And Alex and Ben were as different as night and day, both in age and looks. Which made her wonder at their friendship.
Business partnership she understood, but there was such an age gap between them. She was intrigued by their friendship. Had they bonded over surfing? Alex had said Ben was a close friend and they were rooming together. They interacted with an ease that Victoria found incredibly appealing.
In her business, men were often competitors. She enjoyed seeing a good male friendship.
“Are you here to watch the surf competition, Victoria?” Ben asked.
“No. I’m on vacation.”
“So this is an added bonus for you.”
She laughed. “I suppose it is.”
“Are you a surfing fan?”
“I’ve surfed before, but never watched a competition.”
Ben shifted his gaze to Alex. “You’re going to enjoy this. Alex is a champion.”