Hearts Afire Read online

  The soft patter of her footsteps across the floor upstairs caught his attention. He wondered if she was having as difficult a time as he was. Crossing his legs out in front of him, he took another sip of brandy, savoring the robust taste against his tongue. Just a few brief moments passed before he heard her footsteps moving down the stairs. He watched as she came into view; her bare feet and well-toned legs peeked from beneath a white, button-down dress shirt. His button-down dress shirt, and there were only two buttons keeping the garment closed around her body. Zak felt a wave of heat wash over him, and he shifted forward, his knees bending as he dropped the brandy snifter back to the coffee table.

  Standing at the bottom of the stairwell, Maitlyn met his gaze. She suddenly looked nervous, her eyes wide like a deer caught in headlights.

  “I couldn’t sleep,” she finally said. “And I heard you still up.”

  He nodded, still eyeing her intently. She was drop-dead gorgeous and standing there barely dressed; she took his breath away.

  “I’ve never done this before,” she said as she took a step in his direction, one hand pulling at the collar of her shirt, the other clutching the hem. “I’ve never thrown myself at any man, but I really like you and I think you like me and...well.” She hesitated, pausing at the room’s center.

  Zak stood up. He eased his way slowly over to stand in front of her. His eyes skated slowly over her face. He reached out a hand and brushed a length of hair from her eye. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again. He stared, fascinated by the sight of her.

  She suddenly clutched the front of her shirt with both hands, shifting her weight from one leg to the other. “I shouldn’t have come downstairs,” she rambled, her voice barely a whisper. “I don’t know what I was thinking. This isn’t like me.”

  He smiled faintly. “No, it’s not, but you’re doing fine.” His tone was intense. He tried to catch her eye, but she looked away, as if her nerves were beginning to get the better of her. He flashed another bright smile, but she still looked apprehensive. He stepped in closer to her, and Maitlyn dropped her arms back to her sides, her hands clenched tightly together.

  Zak found her sexy as hell. She’d been committed when she’d come down the stairs, but her self-assurance was melting and she was like a blushing bride, virginal and timid. She’d descended the steps with a purpose, and now she seemed unwilling or simply unable to initiate the first touch. So he did.

  Zak leaned forward, placing two hands on either side of her face. Maitlyn closed her eyes again. After leaning in once and then a second time, Zak finally touched his lips to hers. Her mouth was soft and tasted like mint; it mixed with the brandy on his breath. Her response was hesitant at first and then she warmed to him. The kiss increased with fervor and Maitlyn slipped her tongue between his lips. Zak slipped an easy arm around her waist and pulled her to him, nesting her body tight to his. He met her tongue with his own and the kiss became lingering. Neither seemed able to break it. Maitlyn began to moan as her body melted into his. When she moaned a second time, she must’ve become aware of the sound she’d made and she pulled away, her face turning a crimson shade of red. She gasped loudly, and Zak smiled.

  When she opened her mouth to speak, Zak pressed an index finger to her lips. “Relax,” he whispered.

  Zak could feel Maitlyn’s pulse quicken. She tossed her head back as Zak traced his tongue up her neck to her ear. He gently nibbled and bit the tender flesh. Zak could hear the desire in her breathing, and then he recaptured her mouth with his own. He kissed her hard, his mouth fastened tight to her, lips sliding one over the other, tongues teasing and caressing. As Maitlyn wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingers glided through his hair.

  Her kisses were phenomenal, simple at first, soft, billowy touches as skin danced on skin, then probing and passionate with tongues deep, dueling playfully as they gently suckled and nibbled on each other’s lips. Her body was firm and inviting against his, and his manhood pressed hard against the fabric of his slacks. He was engorged and yearning and he knew that it would take very little to bring him to climax.

  With renewed enthusiasm Maitlyn pressed her palms against his chest and pushed him gently backward to the sofa. As Zak’s calves hit the cushions, he fell back, sitting down. Maitlyn moved onto his lap, straddling his body. Her body danced against him, her pelvis grinding with a vengeance against the rod of steel that pressed hard between her thighs.

  “Oh...” Maitlyn gasped as Zak slipped his hands beneath her top. She arched her back as she felt his fingers against her skin, as his palms skated over the lines of her back. He gripped her buttocks between both palms and squeezed the firm tissue as he pulled her in; the heat from her core burned hot against his lap. She was naked beneath the shirt and her nipples stood firm and erect, hardened buttons of candy needing attention.

  Zak caressed every square inch of her skin, around her back, across her abdomen, up to each breast. He rolled her nipples between his thumb and forefinger, teasing them, and her, easily. Unable to resist, he ripped the shirt open, sending the two buttons flying, and pulled the garment from her shoulders. Maitlyn gasped as he trailed a path of kisses from her mouth down her neck to her right breast and then her left, his tongue lashing one nipple and then the other. As he suckled her greedily, he slipped a hand between them, and his fingers settled between her thighs as he tapped at the entrance to her secret place. She was soaked. Moisture pooled into his palm and he thrust his middle finger deep into her core as his thumb tap-danced across her clit. Maitlyn’s body arched at the sweet intrusion, her hips thrusting back and forth against his palm.

  As he fingered her to her first climax, his free hand entwined in her hair and he stared into her face. He couldn’t imagine her being any more beautiful than in that very moment. Her eyes were closed, her mouth slightly open. Tears dripped across her cheeks. She was stunning, and it took everything in him not to explode in his pants as her release threatened to ignite his own.

  Her orgasm was intense, spasms coming one after the other. Maitlyn’s entire body shook against him and she hugged him tightly, holding on for dear life. As she gasped for air, Zak held her and her spent body relaxed against his broad chest. He drew a finger across her brow, leaning in to plant a damp kiss against her forehead and then her cheek. Maitlyn smiled as she snuggled her face into his neck and then she drifted off to sleep.

  * * *

  When Maitlyn woke the next morning, the sun was streaming in through the sliding glass doors. She woke with a start, surprised to find herself asleep on the sofa. She was naked with the white dress shirt tossed over her nudity. Zak’s body was curled around hers, spooning against her backside, one arm draped across her waist. His cheek was nestled against her neck as he snored softly. She couldn’t move without waking him, so she lay still, enjoying the feel of being in his arms.

  Reflecting back on their night together, Maitlyn suddenly realized that their tryst had been very one-sided. Zak had ensured her satisfaction, but she had been completely oblivious to his. Not that she was complaining, but that was not how she’d imagined their first time together. In fact, she was thoroughly disappointed that she’d left him hanging. As she reflected back on every moment and each kiss and touch, Zak roused behind her, though he made no attempt at all to move.

  “Good morning,” he mumbled sleepily, nuzzling at her neck with the tip of his nose. He found her hand and laced his fingers through hers. “How’d you sleep?”

  “Like a baby, apparently. I don’t know what happened to me.”

  He pressed a kiss to the back of her neck, and she could feel him smile against her skin. “You were relaxed and then you fell asleep,” he said. “That’s what happened.”

  “What about you? I didn’t leave you relaxed.”

  Zak chuckled softly. “No, you didn’t. In fact,” he said as he moved his other hand across her abdo
men toward her breast, caressing her gently, “you left me wanting more.”

  Maitlyn felt her breath quickening. Zak kissed her shoulder. “We should get moving,” he said. “We’re docked and there’s a lot to see before we have to be back on the ship.”

  Zak twisted himself around and sat up. He still wore the clothes he’d had on the day before. Maitlyn was suddenly embarrassed, and she pulled the shirt up over herself. It had been a very long while since she’d been naked in front of a man, and she had forgotten how awkward that first time could be.

  Zak shook his head, seeming to read her mind. “Don’t do that,” he chastised.

  “Do what?”

  “Don’t ever hide yourself from me,” he said. He grabbed his shirt and threw it on the floor. He cupped his hand beneath her chin and lifted her eyes to his. “You are beautiful, and when you’re with me I don’t ever want you to doubt that. Okay?”

  There was a pregnant pause before Maitlyn nodded her head. Zak leaned forward and kissed her lips. “Why don’t you go up and shower. I need to check my email, and then I’ll join you.”

  Taking a deep breath, Maitlyn nodded one last time and then eased her body off the sofa. As she moved to head up the stairs, Zak slapped her butt cheek. Her eyes widened as she tossed him a look over her shoulder. He grinned and winked at her. Shaking her head, she had to laugh.

  * * *

  The water felt good against her skin. Maitlyn tilted her face into the warm spray and closed her eyes. There was something happening to her, and she couldn’t put it into words. Zak had her feeling some kind of way. The man had her full and undivided attention. She liked everything about him and she loved how he took control of every situation. Her ex-husband had never taken control of anything, always expecting Maitlyn to take the lead in their relationship. When she had, he’d opted not to follow.

  Maitlyn loved that Zak was all male and had no problems making sure everyone else knew it. He was confident and imposing, always taking the lead in every situation. She couldn’t stop herself from wondering what it might be like to be in a relationship with a man as powerful and as dominating as Zak. To be in a relationship where she wasn’t always expected to fix whatever was broken and dictate the course of their daily lives would be a welcomed change. It would be nice to be by a man’s side and not a step ahead of him.

  Maitlyn shook the thoughts from her mind. She had no business imagining what it might be like to be in a relationship with Zak Sayed. They barely knew each other. This was just a vacation fling that would leave them with fond memories years down the road. Nothing about her and him was supposed to be forever. She’d known that when she’d walked down those stairs last night, and she had no business thinking differently now. Maybe it hadn’t been a good idea to cross the line with Zak, she mused.

  Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the bathroom door. Zak opened it and peeked his head around. “May I come join you?” he asked.

  After swiping the water from her eyes with her hand, Maitlyn peered past the shower curtain. A smile pulled at her lips. “What’s taking you so long?” she said as she crooked her index finger, beckoning him to her.

  Zak was naked as he moved into the room, having dropped his clothes at the door. Maitlyn’s eyes widened with appreciation. The man was magnificent. Every inch of his anatomy was solid steel and the protrusion between his legs was lengthy, heavy and rock hard. Maitlyn suddenly broke out into a sweat as heat raged through her body. Her nipples hardened and the pulsing in her feminine spirit throbbed deep in her pelvis. Her knees were quivering, her whole body convulsing with anticipation, and she had to brace her hand against the wall to keep from falling.

  Zak stepped into the shower with her, reaching out his hand to take hers. He wrapped an arm around her waist and slowly pulled her body to his as he spun himself beneath the water and let the warm spray wet his skin. He held them both there for a good while, allowing his body to relax beneath the moisture.

  She was grateful for his arms; his hold on her steadied the quiver in her knees. He stared into her eyes, the gaze so deep that it ran shivers through Maitlyn’s soul. He caressed her face, his fingers tracing her profile, before he leaned forward and softly kissed her lips. Maitlyn smiled. The sweetness of his touch took her breath away.

  He trailed his hands easily up her stomach and over her breasts until he reached the curvature of her neck. Then he kissed her again, his tongue gently toying with hers. “You feel good,” Zak whispered, his hands gliding back over her shoulders, across her abdomen and down between her thighs.

  “So do you,” Maitlyn replied, grinding her body against the length of his manhood. She pressed her cheek to his chest as she wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.

  Zak suddenly grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her against the wall. He was gentle but forceful, his intentions clear. She reached up and linked her hands behind his neck, lifting her mouth to meet his. His kiss was fierce and determined, and Maitlyn responded hungrily. His body pressed tightly against hers as she drew her hands down the length of his bare back.

  “I want you badly,” Zak whispered as they broke apart for air.

  He dropped his mouth to her neck, and she purred as he planted delicate kisses from one ear to the other. He nibbled at her earlobe, his breath warm and his hands dancing with ease across her body. Maitlyn felt as if she were about to explode from the intense sensations his touch was eliciting from her.

  Zak grabbed one hand and then the other and pulled both of her arms above her head. He captured her wrists with one of his hands, pressing them tight to the tiled wall. Maitlyn gasped when he parted her legs with the other hand and his fingertips teased her delicate folds.

  Zak suddenly stepped away from her, leaving her cold. Her chest moved up and down as she panted heavily. He stepped out of the shower to the marble counter, searching his toiletry bag. A second later he returned with a condom, tearing the package with his teeth. Maitlyn watched as he sheathed himself quickly. He moved back against her, his mouth dropping to hers. He kissed her deeply, his tongue dancing with hers, his breath melting with her breath.

  Maitlyn wrapped her arms around his neck and lifted one leg, easing it high against his side. Zak lifted the other, wrapping her around his waist as he held her against the heated tile. He supported her with one hand and used the other to press his organ against the door to her treasures. His desire was urgent, and with one swift stroke he entered her swiftly and easily, Maitlyn’s inner lining welcoming him inside. She gasped, her nails grazing the flesh along his back, and he hesitated briefly, allowing her a brief moment to adjust to him filling her. His mouth latched back on to her mouth and he nibbled on her bottom lip before doing a two-step with her tongue.

  He eased himself in and out of her slowly, over and over again. His breathing became labored and both gasped for air. He stroked her harder and deeper, the push and pull coming faster and faster. Each thrust drew him closer and closer to her, and Maitlyn clung to him.

  Zak inhaled deeply and gasped loudly as Maitlyn plunged her tongue into his ear. His breathing became more rapid and short as he stroked her harder and harder. Her entire center was hot, and she craved more and more of him, unable to get enough. She felt weak as the sensations swept through her, thrashing every ounce of her energy. Maitlyn could feel Zak’s sweat shower down on her, as he tried to plunge his entire body into her center.

  The explosion was intense. Maitlyn’s came first, her whole body erupting as her orgasm ripped through her. Every muscle quivered and her inner walls pulsed intensely around his hardness, milking him with a vengeance. Zak grunted, then groaned and when his own body exploded deep in her core, he cried out loudly.

  After dropping to the shower floor, Zak leaned his back against the wall. Maitlyn was still connected against his lap. Both were weak, and he prompted her body to relax against his and guided his arm
s around her torso as he held her gently. Above them the shower had begun to cool and she welcomed the spray of water that helped alleviate the heat. Zak pushed her hair from her face, gently caressing her cheek as they sat embracing each other.

  Zak lifted her chin and kissed her mouth one more time. She smiled sweetly as his kisses moved to her cheek and forehead. Maitlyn’s eyes suddenly welled with tears. Zak then kissed each drop away, and she reveled in the intense sentiment that consumed her.

  Chapter 9

  Rising out of the Atlantic Ocean, Madeira seemed to be reaching for the sun. It was a dramatic volcanic amphitheater with a backdrop of natural mountains. Known as the “floating garden” island, Madeira’s climate was semitropical and the island was a landscape covered in exotic wild flowers—roses and bougainvillea cascaded down in magnificent color.

  The cruise ship was berthed along the breakwater. From the moment Maitlyn and Zak stepped off the gangway, she would have sworn that they’d been dropped right into heaven. It was one of the most stunning places she had ever visited. Her excitement shone on her face, and Zak seemed mesmerized by her enthusiasm.

  “I felt the very same way the first time I visited. It’s become one of my favorite vacation spots,” he said.

  Maitlyn’s smile was bright, her eyes wide. “How often do you get to vacation here?” she asked.

  Zak shrugged his broad shoulders. “Four, maybe five, times a year.”

  Her gaze narrowed ever so slightly. “You are definitely spoiled,” she said.

  Zak laughed. “Maybe. But today I plan to spoil you,” he said. He extended his hand and took hers. “Shall we?”

  She nodded as Zak waved down a taxi. Once they were settled inside, he gave the driver instructions, directing him toward the edge of town. Maitlyn was in awe as he pointed out the sights along the way, completely overwhelmed by the island’s sheer beauty.