Beat of the Heart

“Of course you did.”

  Playing with the hem of his shirt, AJ questioned, “So are you game?”

  The heat blazing all around me, singeing my exposed skin, made the water feel even more heavenly against my ankles. I wanted nothing more than my entire body to be enveloped in the coolness. “Are you sure no one can see us out here?”

  “Nope. We’re too far off the beaten path.”

  “Okay then, I’m game.”

  “Fuck yeah!” he exclaimed, jerking his shirt over his head so fast I thought he’d rip the fabric.

  I had barely gotten my shirt over my head when I noticed AJ was already stripped to his boxers and stood watching me intently. “This isn’t a peep show, Mr. Resendiz.”

  “You can’t fault a man for enjoying the view.”

  My fingers hesitated on the button of my shorts. I hated AJ seeing me naked with the lights on. With the sun beating against us and illuminating even the shady parts of the woods, he was going to see way more than I wanted.

  When I continued to stall, AJ sloshed into the water, bridging the gap between us. He walked me back to the shore before his fingers replaced mine on my shorts. As he unbuttoned them, he stared intently at me. “I know what you’re thinking, so I guess I need to repeat it once again. I love every square inch of your body, including these fabulous round hips…” He trailed off as he pushed my shorts over my butt and down to my feet. On his knees, he glanced up at me. “And it bears repeating once again how much I adore and worship this ass,” he said before sending a stinging smack against one of my cheeks.

  My face flushed with warmth. I wanted more than anything to believe that AJ was sincere in what he said about my body, but I had too many years of self-loathing ingrained in me. With desire and admiration glimmering in his eyes, I crooked my finger, beckoning him to me. As he rose up from the ground, his gaze locked in on mine as I gave him a truly grateful smile. “Thank you, AJ.”

  “You’re welcome,” he murmured, pushing long strands of hair out of my face.

  I ducked my head down to press a lingering kiss against his chest above his heart. Even under my lips, I could feel the strong beat of his heart—one that was so amazingly kind and giving. I peeked up at him through the shroud of hair covering my face. “In spite of all the joking and innuendo, you sure do know how to make a girl feel wanted.”

  He grinned down at me. “I’m glad you’re finally realizing how magnificent I am, both in and out of the bedroom.”

  At his cockiness, I sank my teeth into the skin where I had once tenderly kissed. AJ yelped and jumped back. “Mia Martinelli, did you just bite me?” He rubbed his chest while giving me a pouty face. “What a waste. I mean, it wasn’t even a love bite either.”

  I giggled. “Yeah, well, that will teach you to make douche comments when I’m being genuine,” I replied as I stepped out of my shorts.

  At the sight of me in my bra and panties, AJ’s expression switched over to one of pure lust. After I tossed my shorts on the bank, I wagged my finger at him. “Just swimming, remember?”

  “Yeah, yeah,” he grunted.

  Brushing past him, I made my way deeper into the water. The further I walked into the stream, the deeper my toes sank into the squishy mud. When I realized AJ had yet to join me, I glanced over my shoulder. I spied AJ shoving his wallet back in his shorts. The blazing sun caught the gold foil wrapper, and I giggled in spite of myself. After I recovered, I called, “I would think swimming protection would include a life vest and sunscreen, not a condom.”

  He used his free hand to scratch the back of his neck. I could tell he was waging war with himself as to whether to bring it with him or drop it back on the pile of clothes.

  Turning around in the water, I crossed my arms over my breasts. “Do I turn you on so much that you can’t imagine taking a harmless swim without us banging?”

  He rolled his eyes. “There’s a difference between not being able to control myself and just not wanting to, Mia. Is it that hard for you to understand that I want you twenty-four seven?”

  His words sent a tingle rippling through me, but I shook my head. “Bring it here.”

  AJ took a few trudging steps towards me, sending water splashing around us. When I held out my hand, he reluctantly slipped the condom in it. “Thank you.” When I shoved the wrapper inside one of my bra cups, AJ’s mouth curved up in a smirk. “What?” I questioned with a shrug.

  “I thought you were going to toss it.”

  “Now what a waste that would be.” Stepping forward, I grabbed the waist band of his boxers, jerking him to me. “But I will make one thing clear. I get to come at least once or twice before you get to use this.”

  AJ grinned. “I have no problem with that.”

  “Good.” I adjusted my bra cup, making sure the condom was held firmly in place. Once it was fixed, I continued walking into the stream until I was at chest level. “I’m going in,” I said, before I dove under the water.

  Kicking my arms and legs, I swam closer to the waterfall. When I resurfaced, I brushed my damp hair out of my face and wiped my eyes. Glancing around, there was no sign of AJ.

  “AJ?” I questioned. As I turned left and right in the water, desperately searching for him, my heart started to beat faster in fear.

  Something brushed against me before I was jerked under by my feet. Kicking my legs, I fought against it to find my way to the surface. When AJ popped up behind me, I squealed and clutched my heart. “You shithead!” I cried, splashing his face with water.

  He chuckled before wrapping his arms around me. “Did you think I’d been eaten by some river monster, and it was after you, too?”

  “No, I didn’t,” I huffed. Pushing against his chest, I tried wiggling out of his embrace. When he kept his grip tight around me, I shook my head. “Don’t think you’re going to get any loving from me after you pulled that douche move.”

  “Aw, I’m sorry for scaring you, amorcito mio. Let me make it up to you, okay?” AJ brought his lips to mine. As he deepened the kiss, my resolve slowly faded, and I melted into him. Pulling away, he cocked his brows at me. “Forgiven?”

  I smiled. “Yes, forgiven.”

  “Good. Let’s go swim over there where our feet can touch the bottom.”

  “Okay.” Spreading my arms out, I kicked with my feet and followed AJ’s steady strokes across the water. As we got closer to the rock formations, I could see the water was growing shallower. But when I put my feet down, the water was still chin level. “I think I’m a little vertically challenged for this.”

  AJ laughed. “Come here. I’ll help you since I got a few inches on you.” He waggled his eyebrows. “In more ways than one.”

  I rolled my eyes as he pulled me against him. “Lame, Resendiz. Very, very lame.”

  “I had to go there. Now wrap your sexy legs around my waist.”

  “With pleasure,” I replied. Grasping his shoulders, I hoisted myself up. The moment my center brushed against AJ’s cock, it reared to life. I raised a brow at him. “Seriously? Isn’t the water too cold?”

  “Obviously not.” He slid one of his hands off my hips and brought it between my legs. “Looks like we need to warm you up a little.”

  I gasped as he rubbed my clit. “I thought we were going to swim first.”

  “Can’t we fuck first and swim later?” he asked earnestly.

  My pleasure turned over to amusement. “You and your one track mind. You had this planned back at the bonfire, didn’t you?”

  “Sort of.” His deft fingers brushed past my panties to slide two fingers inside me. “But I’ve never fucked at a waterfall before.” He nipped my bottom lip, sucking it between his teeth as he began pumping his fingers even faster inside me. An amused look twinkled in his hooded eyes. “Mia, will you do the honors of taking my waterfall virginity?”

  “Mmm, let me think about it.” When I tightened my legs around his waist, our bodies melted together, and we both moaned into each other’s mouths. He thrust his hips out,
nudging his enlarged cock against my center. Filled with his fingers, I wanted even more of him, so I arched against him causing a shudder to ripple through AJ.

  The teasing look he had before vanished, and one of white hot lust burned in his eyes. “I want to take you right here, right now,” he rasped.

  I pulled back to run my fingers through the wet strands of his dark hair. At the base of his neck, I tugged hard. “Then take me.”

  At my invitation, AJ enthusiastically replied by pushing hard against me. As I went spiraling backwards, I slammed my back onto the jagged rocks. I cried out in pain, rather than pleasure.

  “Oh amorcito mio, I’m so, so sorry.” AJ’s hands went to tenderly rub up and down the stinging flesh of my back. “Here turn around and let me check on you.”

  I pivoted in the water to where I was facing my former nemesis, the rocks. “No cuts or scrapes, thankfully.” I shivered when AJ’s warm lips kissed a trail over my back. When he finished, his strong hands came to my shoulders and turned me back around. Cupping my face with his hands, he gave me a truly apologetic look. “I’m so sorry for being such a Neanderthal and manhandling you like that.”

  I brought one of my hands up to pat his arm. “You don’t have to apologize. It was an accident. I know you would never willingly hurt me.” A shudder rippled through me as a few buried memories flashed through my head.

  AJ leaned over to place a chaste and tender kiss on my lips. “I couldn’t live with myself if I ever hurt you intentionally.”

  Desperately fighting the ghosts of the past, I forced a smile to my lips. “I know that. Although you’re a badass, you’re a sweetheart through and through.”

  He scowled at me. “Thanks for making me sound like an utter pussy.”

  I laughed. “That’s the last thing you could ever be. Besides, it’s no secret that you like it rough.”

  “Yeah, that’s true.” AJ’s thumb traced my lower lip. “But I feel awful.”

  “Would you stop wasting energy on this self-deprecating tirade and instead get your fabulous dick in me?”

  His eyes widened. “Hell yeah, I can do that.”

  “And while you’re at it, bring back the arrogant, naughty talking guy I like so much.”

  “My pleasure,” he replied, snatching the condom out of my bra cup. While he worked on removing his boxer shorts, I reached around to unclasp my bra and then shimmied out of my panties. After I wadded them in my hands, I tossed them onto one of the higher boulders. AJ followed my lead and threw his boxers up there as well.

  When he brought his gaze to mine, desire burned bright in his eyes. “Put your hands on those rocks,” AJ commanded, his voice a harsh growl in my ears.

  I shivered in anticipation as my trembling palms reached out for the moss-covered stones. Once I planted them as firmly as I could, I glanced over my shoulder. “Are you sure no one can see us?”

  “No.”

  “But you said—”

  AJ nudged his condom-sheathed erection against my bare bottom. His teeth grazed my earlobe before he sucked it into his mouth. My nipples tightened at the sensation, wishing he was sucking them rather than my earlobe. “Even though we’re miles and miles from civilization and there’s no way in hell Jake or the others would follow us, I could almost blow my load just thinking of someone seeing me fuck you out here.”

  A shudder rippled through me at his words. I pinned him with a hard stare. “Then what are you waiting for?”

  He responded by slamming into me with one harsh thrust. When I cried out, it echoed off the rocks around us, just like the wet slapping of our skin.

  “Oh fuck, that’s hot. Make that noise again,” AJ murmured into my ear, as he continued thrusting in and out of me. His hands went to my waist. His fingers dug into the skin on my hips as he jerked me back and forth against him. He went deeper and deeper each time, and I felt myself easily climbing towards an orgasm. When I let my head fall back onto his shoulder, AJ leaned over to cover my lips with his. Bringing my arm back, I cupped his head with my hand, drawing him closer. His warm tongue thrust in my mouth in time with his movements inside me.

  Our breathing became heavier while our moans of pleasure echoed against each other’s lips. As AJ continued his harsh pounding, one of his hands left my hip to cup my breast. He tweaked and twisted the nipple with his fingers. I closed my eyes and shivered. Once my nipple had been worked to a perfect peak, his hand left my breast to entangle his fingers with my hand covering the rock. Something about the affectionate gesture in the middle of such hardcore fucking sent me reeling, and I felt my walls spasm.

  “Yes, yes! Oh God, yes, AJ!” I screamed. As I came, I fisted his hair in my hands. My cries echoing off the rocks were met with AJ’s satisfied grunt as he shuddered and jerked inside me. As he continued convulsing, he kept up his rabid assault on my mouth. I moaned against his lips. If he didn’t stop soon, I was going to be ready for another round, and I knew we needed to get back to the others.

  Breathless and drained, I pulled away. AJ’s broad chest heaved as he fought to catch his breath. “Fuck me,” he muttered.

  I couldn’t help laughing. “Yeah, I think I just did pretty thoroughly.”

  He grinned. “Whatever smartass. I just meant, that each time it gets more and more intense between us.”

  As he slid out of me, I turned around to face him, resting my hands on his shoulders. “I’m glad to hear that. I’d hate for you to be growing tired of me after two weeks.”

  “I don’t think I could get tired of you after a fucking decade, least of all a few weeks.”

  His words caused a fluttering in my chest that I tried unsuccessfully to ignore. “Good.” I jerked my chin up to the boulder above us. “Now why don’t you be a real gentleman and go get our underwear back, huh?”

  “Your wish is my command, Miss Bossy,” he replied with a wink.

  With a bounce in my step from feeling utterly and completely sexually satisfied, I led Mia up the riverbank. Reaching over, I grabbed her hand in mine and swung it back and forth. “So what’s on tap for tonight?” Mia asked.

  “Oh, shit gets crazy here when the sun goes down.”

  “Seriously?” she asked.

  I nodded. “Hell yeah. I mean, we all gather around the bonfire and roast marshmallows and s’mores. It may get so off the hook that we go tip one of Jake’s grandfather’s cows.”

  When I winked at her, she grinned. “Very funny.”

  “So do you like G-rated parties?”

  “Sure I do.” She elbowed me playfully. “Especially if it means getting to spend time with you. And your friends.”

  The familiar ache raged in my chest at Mia’s words—the one that felt like intense heartburn after a beer binge. I hadn’t felt this way about a girl in a long, long time. Even though I’d thought I’d felt something for Kylie, it was nothing like what I was feeling for Mia—even though we’d barely been together two weeks. I squeezed her hand in mind and replied, “I like that.”

  When we got back to the four-wheeler, Mia’s hand dug into one of my short pockets. I shuddered at the contact so close to my dick. “Damn babe, you already wantin’ another round? You’re practically insatiable,” I drawled, with a pleased grin on my face.

  She giggled. “Not quite, sweet cheeks. I wanna drive the four-wheeler back to Jake’s.”

  I jerked away just as her fingers grasped the keys. “Uh-uh. Nobody drives my baby but me.”

  Cocking her head, Mia shot me an exasperated look. “Seriously? Your ‘baby’?’

  I swept my hands up and crossed them firmly over my chest before I bobbed my head. “You should know by now how seriously I take anything that has an engine.”

  Mia’s disgusted expression slowly evaporated. Instead, her face took on a pleading look. She even resorted to poking out that succulent lower lip of hers. “But I haven’t driven one since I was a teenager, and I would really, really love to drive your baby.” She leaned in, pressing her enticing rack against me. “
Come on, AJ. It would make me really happy, and I promise to show you how thankful I am later.”

  Oh fuck. This was totally a lost cause considering I was incapable of telling alluring females, especially this one, no. But I figured I might as well make her work a little harder for it. “How about this? Whoever makes it back to my baby first, gets to drive.”

  Mia’s dark eyes flashed triumphantly. “Deal.”

  “Ready?”

  “Oh yeah.”

  “Then go.”

  Just as I started to sprint away, Mia jerked her hand out of my pocket. She momentarily flashed the keys in front of my face and winked. “See ya, sucker.”

  I didn’t even have time to recover before she started hauling ass across the gravel, literally and figuratively leaving me in her dust. “Shit!”

  Peering through the cloudy air, I tried making out Mia’s retreating figure. I then pushed my legs as hard as they would go. Considering I had a few inches on Mia, I was able to catch up to her fairly quickly. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a rolling patch of soft grass. Reaching out, I grasped her by the waist and jerked her off the road, tackling her to the ground.

  “Oomph,” she muttered, when we finally came to a stop after a few rolls and tumbles. Her chest heaved as those sexy black eyes of hers glared up at me, causing my dick to twitch in my pants. “What the hell were you thinking, AJ?” she huffed.

  I smirked down at her. “What I’m always thinking—how to get you flat on your back underneath me.” Leaning over, I brought my mouth to hers. I nibbled and sucked at her bottom lip. Her resolve began to momentarily waver. I shifted to pin her arms over her head. It put us in a position we hadn’t been in before—I was straddling her.

  With my thighs on each side of her hips, my weight kept her firmly underneath me. Seizing the opportunity I snatched the keys from her hand. “Ha, gotcha.”

  “Let me up, you ass.”

  “Nope. Not until I hear you say ‘AJ, you are the master of the universe’.” I quirked my brows before looming over her—my face mere inches from hers. “On second thought, you need to say, ‘AJ, you are the master of my universe and my master orgasm donor.’”