Chapter 2

2

KASEY

I wake up to the sound of waves crashing against the shore and the smell of salt in the air. I'm in my new suite at the Hawaiian resort, a luxurious oasis with views of the ocean and the pale, sandy beach where those who have woken up earlier than me are already walking the length of it.

It's funny because I'm usually an early riser myself, but this morning, I overslept more than I ever do back home, and I don't think I can blame it on jetlag. I think, instead, my brain is trying to avoid having to face what happened last night. And, well…what I did.

My mind wanders back to last night's gala, the breakup with Devin, and the stranger who swept me off my feet.

Kenneth.

Can I really even consider the father of my ex a stranger? He might as well be since he's nothing, and I mean nothing, like Devin. I'm grateful to Kenneth for rescuing me from the embarrassment and humiliation of Devin's breakup. I can't believe that little prick had the audacity to end our relationship at the gala he invited me to—in front of everyone. The nerve of that guy!

But Kenneth did a lot more to me than just rescuing me from his son's nonsense. A lot more, and I was ready and willing to accept all of it and more.

Sitting up in bed, I clutch my pillow to myself, pulling my knees to my chest and screaming into the pillow. What the heck is wrong with me? Who even am I anymore? Certainly, I can't be Kasey Mulligan because she would never let Devin's dad finger her pressed up against her hotel door.

My face goes hot at the thought, as well as other parts of me that I'm trying oh-so-hard to ignore. What happened can't happen again…can it? We're both adults, even if he is quite a bit older than me, and technically I'm single, so logically, there's nothing wrong with it. Morally is a different story, but isn't Devin the one responsible for starting this mess?

We'd only been dating for six months, but like me, he had been an up-and-comer at his job, and I thought we were both focused on the same things in life. Until it became more and more clear that his real focus was actually getting into my pants, not having something real with me.

I just wish he had the class to dump me before flying me all the way out to freaking Hawaii, but I guess he must have imagined the romantic aura of the place would have loosened my legs up for him. Ugh. What a pig.

I thought I would be heartbroken, but instead, I'm furious. How could he do this to me? I thought he was different, that he was the one. I wanted to believe in our future together, but he shattered my dreams in one fell swoop. And to make matters worse, I had accidentally broken a piece of the resort's art in my emotional distress. I couldn't believe how foolish I had been, and I was mortified at the thought of how it must have looked.

If it hadn't been for Kenneth, I'd probably be pulling money out of my savings to fly home right about now. Instead, my vacation is now going to be even more relaxing and luxurious, and if Kenneth has his way, it won't be lonely either.

That's right, I think. You have a breakfast date. Time to get up and stop pouting.

And then, there was the moment when he led me outside to the patio, away from the prying eyes of the other guests.

"Take a deep breath, Kasey," he had said to me, his deep baritone voice more calming than any mere breath could ever dream of being.

I was embarrassed by my tears but also relieved to have someone there to comfort me. And then, he had taken my hand and we danced. The music was slow and romantic, and I remember feeling a spark between us like I had never felt before.

A shiver ran down my spine as he leaned in closer to me. Our faces were only inches apart, and I could feel his warm breath on my skin. It was then that I knew I was in trouble. The way his eyes bore into mine, as if he could see straight into my soul…the way his touch ignited something within me… Kenneth inspired a feeling of connection that I've never felt before. And when we danced, it was like the rest of the world faded away. It was just me and him, lost in the music and the moment.

That memory makes me smile.

Still clutching the pillow to my chest, the previous night's events replay in my mind, and I can't help but feel a mixture of fear and giddiness. Then, as my stroll down memory lane gets to the point in the previous night where he kissed me, his lips both soft and commanding at the same time, a need unlike any other I've ever felt eclipses all other feelings that I may be having.

I felt a connection with him as soon as we locked eyes across the gala before I even knew who he was. It felt like fate, like a live wire was joining us together from that moment forward. The entire night, I had a hard time paying attention to Devin and ignoring how much I wanted to be with the tall, mysterious stranger across the room.

As soon as Devin introduced us, I knew I was in trouble, but I lied to myself over and over again that it was just a silly little crush. Maybe even a little bit of jet lag. But no, dancing with Kenneth, kissing him, feeling his own desire for me in return when he pressed up against me…there's no denying that something is going on.

Feeling the rough pads of his fingers between my legs, finding my clit with expert precision, and making me feel more pleasure than I thought possible seems so unbelievable in the light of day that I can almost write it off as a fantasy, or at worst, a mistake that I can sweep under the rug and run away from, but… I don't want to. I want more, and I don't want to second guess anything either.

What if I mess this up? I wonder to myself. What if he doesn't feel the same way about me?

I shake my head, trying to dispel the negative thoughts. But as I recall Kenneth's intense gaze and the way his hand felt on my waist, it sets off a bunch of butterflies in my stomach. It doesn't help matters that he is absolutely gorgeous to look at. Well, gorgeous doesn't seem like the right word…more like dangerously and ruggedly handsome.

At 6'5" with broad shoulders and a commanding presence, he has at least a foot on me, and he towered over everyone else at the gala. His suit was black on black, making him stand out even more among the more tropical colors that most people had chosen to wear, and it was tailored to fit him so perfectly that it's almost obscene.

Kenneth's salt-and-pepper hair is cropped short, bringing attention to his chiseled jawline, which is frankly, the stuff of dreams. I can't deny that I'm physically attracted to him, but it's more than that.

It's the way he makes me feel when I'm around him. Safe. Comfortable. Like I can be myself. I take a deep breath, just like he told me to do last night, and remind myself that I have nothing to lose. I've already lost Devin—good riddance, honestly—and maybe this is my chance at something real and true.

But now, sitting here in my plush bed, nerves start to creep in. I'm meeting Kenneth for breakfast in just an hour, and I don't know what to expect. Will the connection we felt last night still be there? Or was it just a fleeting moment?

I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I need to focus on getting ready, so I slip out of bed. Making my way to the bathroom, I almost laugh when I see the way my cheeks are still flushed, remembering the naughty things that had gone on last night.

Kenneth had me right there, on the verge of something incredible, before room service interrupted. Frustration from being denied had dulled into relief that things hadn't gone further so soon, but now I can't help but imagine what it would have felt like to come for him, my face buried in his neck. God, I need to get myself under control or I'm not even going to make it to breakfast.

When I step out of the shower, I hear someone knocking on my door, with a feminine voice calling, "Delivery!"

I open it, and one of the hotel employees, wearing a huge smile, hands me a bouquet of gorgeous yellow and orange flowers with a little note perched inside that reads, "Sorry I can't be there to escort you to breakfast, Kasey. Had some business to attend to. Hopefully, these will make up for it, and I will be downstairs waiting on you right on time, promise. See you soon, baby girl. I'll be at Island Bites, table 202. –Kenneth"

The first line had made my heart drop, making me think that he was calling off the breakfast date, but knowing that Kenneth is so thoughtful to reassure me with something like a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers instead of just a lame text makes me feel all bubbly inside.

I finish getting ready, slipping into a summery sundress and sandals before I grab my purse and make my way down to the restaurant, pulse racing with anticipation.

Kenneth is already seated at a table on the outdoor patio, looking every bit the CEO of a major investment firm with his crisp white shirt and tailored pants. He stands up as I approach, and I get these fuzzy feelings in my chest as he greets me with a warm smile. My eyes have gone wide at the sight of him. He's even more handsome in the daylight, with his piercing blue eyes and that confident smile.

"Good morning, Kasey," he says, pulling out my chair for me. Having him this close makes it hard to concentrate, his warm, spicy scent making everything else fade into the background. "You look beautiful today."

"Good morning, Kenneth," I reply, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks. "And, uh, thank you."

The setting is beautiful. The sun is shining, and the ocean is visible in the distance. The restaurant is filled with lush greenery, and the tables are set with colorful tropical flowers. This is one breakfast date I won't ever forget.

"How did you sleep?" he asks after he takes his own seat once more, waving one of the servers over and ordering us a pitcher of mimosas.

I dreamt of you all night and woke up uncomfortably wet, I think but keep my uncharacteristically risque thoughts to myself. Instead, I tell him, "Wonderfully. The bed is unbelievably soft. How did you sleep?"

"I've had better rest," he admits, picking up the paper menu. "There was a lot on my mind, but the distraction was so pleasant that I really didn't mind."

There's a clear subtext in his words—he's letting me know he thought about me all night long, and I love the idea of it. As we look over the menu, conversation flows easily, and I notice how easy it is to talk to Kenneth. He's genuinely interested in my life and my career, and I find myself opening up to him in a way that I never did with Devin.

This man doesn't just hear me. He actually listens.

"I actually met Devin through work," I explain quickly. I want to get everything about his son out of the way as fast as possible because it makes me so uncomfortable to talk about with his dad of all people. Devin is a harsh reminder of how strange it is that Kenneth and I are spending this time together…and how most people would consider it inappropriate. "He was having computer problems, and I helped him fix them. We started dating soon after. Eventually, I left the company to work for a competitor."

"I can't believe you worked at my company right under my nose and I never realized," Kenneth jokes, reaching across the table to take my hand. "I never would have let you leave if I had known."

I smile, thinking how I might not have left either had I known how much I'd be drawn to the deliciously intimidating CEO. "I just traded internship for internship since I'm still in school. I don't really have time for a full-time job just yet. Everyone needs IT help, so it wasn't a problem. I would have never left a position I considered a serious career for a boyfriend." My face falls a little, and I really want to be done talking about Devin Klein. "Well, ex-boyfriend now. He made that very clear at the gala last night."

Kenneth's eyes flash. "I'm sorry that my idiot son did that to you–"

"I'm actually glad it happened," I confess quickly, interrupting him. "I didn't realize how unhappy I was until he was gone."

Flipping my hand over, Kenneth traces the lines of my palm with his fingers and it makes me shiver. "If you would have let me finish, baby girl, I was going to say that I'm sorry he was so cruel to you, but I'm not sorry that you're now free to spend time with me. I wanted to be near you from the second I saw you, so this ultimately makes things much less messy because I don't think anything could have kept me away from you."

"Oh," I breathe, taken aback by his words and how they mirror the exact thoughts I had been having earlier this morning. "I…"

He lifts my hand to his lips and brushes his lips across my open palm, causing goosebumps to bloom all over me as I suck in a breath. "You don't have to say anything, Kasey. I just wanted you to know."

As we continue our conversation, my attraction to Kenneth only grows stronger. He's so confident and self-assured, yet also kind and attentive. And the way he looks at me with those piercing blue eyes makes me feel a ridiculous range of emotions, all of them stemming from the base feeling of need that he creates in me.

We order our food, and I opt for the tropical fruit platter while Kenneth chooses a classic Eggs Benedict. We eat and continue to talk, laughing and sharing stories like we've known each other for years. Is this what a real relationship…a real connection…feels like?

When we finish our meal, I feel a sense of disappointment that our time together is coming to an end. My mind flails, trying to find an excuse to spend more time with this man that makes me feel like I'm walking on air. But as Kenneth stands up to leave, he surprises me by leaning in for a kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you for a wonderful breakfast, Kasey. I know we just met, but I can't deny the way I feel when I'm around you. I know you feel it, too. I can see it in the way you look at me and the way you respond to my touch. So… How about spending the afternoon with me?"

His words throw me through a loop, and I can't say yes fast enough. "Yes, Kenneth, I would love that."

At my agreement, he flashes me that devastating smile and offers me his hand to help me stand. I can't believe how much I'm falling for him in such a short amount of time, but there's some instinct telling me that I'm exactly where I'm meant to be.

Don't overthink it! Don't you dare overthink this!

Kenneth takes me to walk the beach with him where I take my sandals off to walk through the shallowest part of the surf, making him laugh. I'm afraid that people are going to be looking at us, somehow knowing how odd our situation really is—that Kenneth is the much-older father of a guy I was dating just last night —but I'm pleasantly surprised that no one even gives us a second glance.

Kenneth even cuffs his pants up a few times and joins me in walking in the water, taking my hand when I almost lose my balance and not letting go for the rest of the excursion.

I get another taste of the type of commanding man Kenneth is when a younger, shirtless man approaches us to offer surfing lessons, and Kenneth dismisses him with a growl and a curl of his lip that makes the other guy go pale.

My next example is when I step on a shell that is turned just the wrong way and hiss as it nicks the bottom of my bare foot.

"Ouch!" I hiss, lifting my leg to see if I'm bleeding. Before I know it, Kenneth is sweeping me up in his arms and carrying me up the beach. It takes a few seconds for me to process the quick change of pace, and when I do, I don't know whether to laugh or throw my arms around his neck and kiss him.

"It's just a little cut," I protest, not really meaning it. "I don't want to get sand all over you."

"Hush," he says. "I'm going to carry you back to my suite to make sure you don't need to have that looked at, and I don't want to hear you complain."

That shuts me up, and I hide my grin of satisfaction by laying my head on his shoulder and just enjoying the ride. Now people really are looking at us, but what does it even matter? Kenneth is so warm, his grip on me so solid and comforting, that nothing in the world could make me embarrassed right now.

It does get a little awkward in the small elevator, but he still won't put me down no matter how much I insist I'm fine. I end up letting him carry me around until we're finally inside his suite and he's lowering me to sit on the edge of his king-sized bed. I keep my eyes locked on Kenneth's face, afraid of the sort of thoughts that will overwhelm me if I think too hard about the bed I'm sitting on and all the possibilities it entails.

"Give me your foot," he rumbles, sinking to his knees in front of me. I lift my leg to let him take my sandy foot in his hand, and he brushes away the particles to get a better look. My heart is pounding having him on the floor basically between my legs, and I pray that he can't tell how much his positioning is affecting me.

I don't know if he's consciously running one hand up my leg while the other cradles my foot, but once his wandering hand is past my knee, it's impossible not to let out a shaky breath that has his eyes flying to meet mine.

"Just a scratch, no blood," he assures me, slowly releasing my leg with his hand grazing my skin with equal slowness on the way down. "You should be okay unless you think you need to lie down for a minute?"

Yes! My heart screams, With you! But instead, I jump to my feet with a nervous laugh. "Uh, nope! I'm good! How about…a tour of your suite?"

I'm just scrambling for any reason to get some distance between us and his large, inviting bed, but Kenneth seems more than happy to show me around. "Of course. Come with me."

The suite is enormous, with a luxurious living room and a stunning rooftop terrace that must be a perfect place to watch the sunset from. But what really catches my eye is the private pool that is also on the roof. And here I thought my suite was the epitome of expensiveness! I can't help but feel a little intimidated by all of this luxury, but Kenneth's presence puts me at ease.

"It's a beautiful view," I say, looking out at the rolling waves on the ocean while I lean on the rooftop railing.

"It's even more beautiful with you here," he replies, coming up behind me and bracketing his arms on either side of me. I suck in a sharp breath, blush rising on my cheeks.

"You're sweet," I say, and Kenneth laughs. His chest is against my back now, and I feel the laughter vibrating inside him.

"I've been called a lot of things, but sweet is not one of them."

Slowly, I turn in the cage of his arms until I'm facing him. "Oh yeah, like what?"

His lids are lowered as he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. "Uncompromising. Domineering…" When his hand pulls away from my ear, his thumb grazes my bottom lip. "Rough, even."

"You can be all those things and sweet, too," I point out, feeling that same sort of sway toward him that I felt last night.

"Maybe," Kenneth says. "For you, I can try to be, but if our kiss last night told me anything, it's that you are indeed quite sweet yourself."

Any other thoughts in my mind flee when he lowers his mouth to mine. This is exactly what makes it so good to be with Kenneth. The way he drives away any insecurities or apprehensions makes it impossible to not feel like I'm meant to be near him, like everything has guided me to this moment where he's kissing me on a rooftop in paradise.

I arch my body into his, our kiss less rushed and frantic this time. There's still combustive chemistry between us, but there's also control, which makes me more comfortable to deepen the kiss on my own.

Kenneth growls when I slip my tongue between his lips to do battle with his own, one of his hands cupping the back of my head and the other gripping my hip to hold me in place.

Before I can lose myself completely in the moment, Kenneth pulls back enough to rest his forehead on mine.

"Kasey, there's something I want to tell you. I've been thinking about you nonstop since last night," he says, his voice low and intense.

I lift my head, my eyes meeting his. "Really?" I whisper.

"Yes, really," Kenneth confirms. "I consider myself good at reading people, and I highly doubt that you're anything but the sweet girl I see in front of me right now, but I just have to know that you aren't spending time with me just as revenge against Devin."

My chest tightens knowing that he's been holding this question the whole time. "Not at all. Never," I insist. "I know it sounds kind of silly but as soon as I saw you, before I even knew who you were, I felt drawn to you, like I wanted–"

And then, his lips are on mine. It's soft and gentle at first, but then it becomes more urgent and demanding. My hands find their way to his back, feeling his muscles shift beneath my palms as he moves to hold me. I can feel the heat between us, and it's like nothing I've ever experienced before.

When we finally pull away, I'm left feeling a little dizzy. I can hardly believe what's happening, but I also know with every fiber of my being that it's meant to be. Maybe this is what I've been waiting for all along.

"Wow," I say, breathless.

"Yes. Wow," he replies, his smile wicked and full of all sorts of promises. "Do you have anywhere you need to be today, Kasey? Because I want you to stay here with me."

I hesitate for a moment when Kenneth plucks at the visible strap of my bikini top under my sundress. But his smile and the glint in his eyes are so charming that pleasure sings through my nerves.

"Do you want to swim?" he asks when I fail to answer the first, nodding towards the rooftop pool behind us.

I glance at the water, then back at him, and find myself giving a small smile of agreement before I can even think. He takes my hand and leads me toward the pool. We both remove our clothes, and I notice that he's wearing swim shorts underneath, but they are tight and fitted enough that nothing is left to the imagination.

Oh, God. Yes.

I get one good long look at him before he slips into the water, but it's enough to make my mouth go dry. There is…a lot of him, to say the least. Like, A LOT a lot.

My body flashes hot, but I have no time to feel self-conscious in my bright yellow bikini, not when he's looking at me like he's a wolf and I'm a little sheep he's desperate to devour.

The water is warm and inviting, and as we wade into the pool, freedom and relaxation wash over me. It's just the two of us here, and it feels like we're the only ones in the world. No strangers to judge us.

Kenneth's body is unreal, every inch of him packed with muscle, and when he wraps me in his arms as we float, I can feel his strength. He holds me so gently, but I have no doubt that if need be, he could use that strength to protect me, too. I never even realized that kind of safety is something I crave until just now.

"If your foot is still bothering you, you can wrap your legs around me," he whispers right into the shell of my ear, and my core clenches.

It's just a suggestion, but I get the idea that when Kenneth talks, people listen, and I'm no different. With only a speck of hesitation, I wrap my legs around his waist and lock at the ankles, the water moving with me, and he hums in approval.

"Like this?" I ask as I look at him and see the flash of desire in his eyes. Before I can even process what's happening, he's pulling me flush against him and we're kissing passionately, our bodies entwined in the water. It feels like I'm on fire, my body alive with all these unnamed emotions as we kiss under the sun. His hands are on my back, pulling me closer to him, and I know that I want this. I want him. ALL of him. The way I've never wanted anyone before.

When we pull away, we're both breathless, my nerve endings crackling with sparks. Where I'm still reeling, though, Kenneth moves with certainty as he grabs me by the hips, hands sliding beneath me until they're cupping my ass, and grinds me against him, the positioning and lack of clothing making it so much more intense than the night before.

His hard length puts pressure right where I need it the most, and the sensation ricochets through me and leaves me wanting more. Kenneth repeats the motion, and I arch my back, a moan falling from my lips and eyes fluttering closed from how good it feels.

That noise seems to make something snap in Kenneth, and he's moving me through the water to sit me on the edge of the pool in one smooth movement. Immediately, I'm mourning the hard, hot feeling of his body against every inch of me, but all of that disappears when he grabs my knees and spreads my legs wide.

I gasp, instinctually trying to close them, but I can't move within his grip. And when he starts to kiss my leg, starting at the hollow of my knee and moving upwards, I lose any inclination to close them anyway.

My heart rate kicks into high gear as what he's planning on doing becomes clear to me. I know my bikini bottoms leave almost nothing hidden, and when I look down between my legs, I can see the wet fabric outlining my pussy.

He can see all of me without even trying.

"Relax, baby girl," I hear Kenneth say with his lips still against the skin of my thigh now. "Let me make you feel good."

I thought it would be a harder decision to take this step with someone, but Kenneth makes everything feel effortless. All I have to do is turn myself over to him, and he leads me exactly where I want to go. I swallow, bracing myself with my hands on the ground behind me and chest pressed forward, and give him a single tight nod. The smile he replies with is full of all sorts of dark promises.

Then he's kissing my leg again, mere inches from my apex, and I have a brief thought that I'm glad I'm soaked from pool water because otherwise, he'd be able to see how wet I am already. Wet for him.

My breaths are coming so swiftly as he moves closer and closer that they are almost whines, and when his lips press against my still-covered pussy finally, the whines break down into a desperate noise.

I think that he'll pull the ties at the side of my bottoms as soon as possible, but instead, Kenneth plants slow, thorough, open-mouthed kisses on my covered pussy. The teasing is almost unbearable, but I'm afraid that if I try to rush him, then this dream bubble we're in will burst and I'll discover this whole thing is some sort of fantasy I'm having. So I let him take his time, even as I bite my bottom lip to keep the anxious, frustrated sounds inside.

When he pulls the fabric aside, I almost sob in relief. I've never felt anything like the slick, hot feeling of him parting my folds and kissing me a final time, right over my swollen, aching clit, before the kiss morphs into a gentle sucking that has my eyes rolling into the back of my head.

"That feels so good," I breathe. "So, so good."

I hear him make a satisfied sound against my sensitive flesh before his tongue comes out and licks my pussy in one long swipe, dipping into my channel before swirling back out and over my clit again. When I dare to look down at his dark head between my legs, the sight of it makes my stomach tighten, and I can't stop myself from burying my fingers in his short hair with one hand while the other is still holding me up.

"Kenneth," I whimper, all other words failing me. "Oh, Kenneth…"

"You taste so good, baby girl," he tells me huskily between devastating licks while his hands undo the ties on the sides of my bikini. "I can't wait to taste you coming for me."

He licks and sucks in abandon when the bottoms fall away, and I'm completely bared to him, His eyes zero in on my face, trying to figure out which ones make me react the most and sticking to them when my legs start to shake. He alternates quick sucks of my clit with swirls of his tongue over the sensitive bud, the pleasure from it all collecting in my core in a ball that just grows brighter and brighter.

I try to hold still, try to just let him work, but my body has other ideas. My hips thrust in time to his tongue, something inside me knowing exactly how to move as I get closer and closer to exploding.

When I'm sure that I can't take anymore, that I'm too full of pleasure to survive another minute, I feel my inner walls start to flutter and the bright ball of need inside me begins to burst. It's so powerful it short-circuits my thoughts and I become nothing but a trembling mess.

Moans fall from my lips without any sort of filter now, and Kenneth growls, reaching up to tug the cups of my top aside to pinch and flick my nipples as my orgasm starts to hit me. The extra sensation is all I need, and now I'm detonating, consumed by the fire he's built in me.

I grab his head with both hands now, working my hips as he continues eating me out while I come. When it hits in full, I can barely control myself as it wracks my body, all of my nerve endings firing in brilliant pleasure, all stemming from the point of his mouth on my pussy.

Finally, as it begins to ebb and I feel my body wanting to collapse bonelessly to the ground, Kenneth pulls me oh-so-gently back into the water with him so he can hold all my weight as I shiver through the aftershocks. He leans me back enough to suck my nipples between his teeth a few times as I come back to earth, ending the entire encounter with just as much good feelings as it began.

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I can't even find it in me to feel any sort of shame or embarrassment about what just happened. The warm, refreshing water, the feeling of my nipples and still-bare pussy flush with Kenneth's skin, and the way he holds me all combine to make me feel loose and relaxed. And ridiculously satisfied.