Hearts Afire Read online

  Minutes later they pulled up in front of Reid’s Palace, a 126-year-old sprawling pink marvel. Situated on ten acres of lush cliff side, the hotel and its views of the Atlantic were absolutely stunning. Zak paid the driver and led her inside. The staff greeted him as if he visited every day.

  “Mr. Sayed, welcome back!” the hotel concierge chimed. “How are you, sir?”

  “Very well, Charles. How are you?”

  The elderly man nodded. “I’m well, thank you for asking. Will you be staying with us, Mr. Sayed?”

  “Not this time, Charles. I’m cruising on the Coastal Galaxy this visit.”

  The old man nodded his gray head, his smile polite and his blue eyes welcoming.

  Zak gestured in her direction. “Charles, this is Ms. Boudreaux, a very good friend of mine. I’m showing her the island, and I couldn’t visit and not bring her for afternoon tea.”

  Charles smiled, and he and Maitlyn locked eyes. “Welcome, miss.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Charles.”

  Zak pressed a palm to her lower back, and they followed Charles to the terrace restaurant. They settled down in two wicker armchairs. In the distance they could see the cruise ship sitting against the horizon. Maitlyn felt herself instantly relax as she took in the view. Minutes later she was enjoying a light meal of English tea, freshly baked scones and finger sandwiches.

  After reaching for the porcelain teapot, she refilled Zak’s cup. “So, tell me, when you visit Madeira, what do you do here?”

  “Nothing but relax. I get to catch up on my reading here.”

  “You read?”

  Zak chuckled. “Why does that surprise you?”

  Maitlyn laughed, realizing how the question must have sounded. “That’s not what I meant. You know what I meant,” she said.

  He laughed heartily. “I hope I do,” he said.

  “So what do you like to read?” she asked, rephrasing her question.

  “The classics mostly. I’m a big fan of Jane Austen, Mark Twain, Walt Whitman, Anne Brontë and a few others.”

  “I’m impressed. You have a background in literature, you’re multilingual and you’re a card shark.”

  Zak raised an eyebrow. “I’m a man of many talents.”

  “Yes, you are. I bet you also ride horses English-style. You collect fine art—originals only. You play polo and you fence,” she said. “Am I right?”

  “No fencing. My weapons of choice are firearms. I am very proficient with a revolver and I’ve shot competitively a time or two.”

  “You are quite the renaissance man, Mr. Sayed.” Her tone was low and seductive, her smile sweet.

  He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “My turn,” he said.

  She sat back, crossing her arms over her chest. “Give it your best shot.”

  “Your favorite flowers are yellow roses. You’re obsessed with beautiful shoes. You are unreasonably competitive, and you secretly wish you could drive a race car.”

  Maitlyn laughed. “Three out of four’s not bad.”

  “Three out of four! Which one did I miss?”

  “I’m never unreasonable about anything,” she said.

  Zak’s smile was wide as he shook his head. He leaned across the table and pressed his mouth to hers. The kiss was easy, much like the breeze that blew through the space. She was surprised but pleasantly pleased by his very public display of affection.

  Zak studied her momentarily. “I am thoroughly enjoying my time with you, Ms. Boudreaux.”

  “Me, too,” she said as he kissed her a second time.

  After their last bite of the island’s renowned Madeira cake, Zak walked her to the front of the hotel, then arranged for a private car to take them to the ferry.

  * * *

  “Where are we going?” Maitlyn asked as the passenger boat glided across the waters.

  “Porto Santo. To walk the beach,” Zak said as he draped an arm around her shoulders. He pulled her close, and she relaxed comfortably against him.

  The conversation was easy as they rode the ferry to Porto Santo, making small talk about the sights and sounds around them. Maitlyn was pleasantly surprised by the stretch of sandy beach that was popular with the people of Madeira yet virtually undiscovered by tourists. The water, warmed by Gulf Stream currents and the mild weather, was a jewel, and Maitlyn quickly understood why Zak was drawn to it.

  Kicking off her sandals, Maitlyn rushed to the sand’s edge and dipped her toes beneath the warm ocean water. Zak moved behind her, kicking off his own shoes and socks. Maitlyn twirled in the salty spray, her sundress swirling back and forth around her knees.

  She turned to face him. “It’s warm!” she exclaimed, reaching down to flick a handful of water in his direction.

  Zak laughed. “I know,” he said as he flicked water back at her.

  She giggled like a little girl as she danced around him with complete abandon.

  Zak reached for her and spun her around by the waist. Her laugh was melodic and sweet. She wrapped her hands around the back of his neck and kissed him, hugging him warmly. After lowering her back to the ocean floor, he entwined her fingers with his and they strolled easily along the shoreline.

  “They say the sands have healing properties,” he said.

  “Really?”

  He nodded. “It’s supposed to cure a host of ailments. Sometimes you’ll see people buried in it up to their necks.”

  “Do you believe that?”

  “I believe that this place is so relaxing that you can’t help but be benefited by it.”

  They were easily a quarter of a mile away when they stopped and dropped down to the fine grains of sand, staring out toward the rock formations and the water. The silence between them was golden as they sat together simply listening to each other breathe. Maitlyn swore she could even hear his heartbeat, and the pulsation was in perfect sync with her own.

  He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of her fingers. Heat wafted easily off his flesh. The strong scent of his cologne teased her nostrils. There was a sense of pure masculinity to it, and it suited him perfectly.

  He pressed his face into her hair. He kissed the side of her head and let his tongue trace the line of her ear, pulling her earlobe between his lips. She hummed softly.

  “Mmm, that’s nice,” she murmured.

  “If I could, I would make love to you right here,” he whispered loudly against her ear.

  Maitlyn held her breath; the thought of them being together sent a chill down her spine.

  Zak continued, “And the minute we get back to the room I plan to taste you.” He trailed his hand from her knee to her upper thigh.

  She inhaled swiftly, nerve endings firing beneath his touch. She wasn’t accustomed to a man being so direct, and it unnerved her.

  He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him, kissing her mouth, his tongue dancing past her lips. When he let her go, tears misted her eyes.

  “What’s wrong?” he questioned, his own eyes filled with concern.

  Maitlyn shook her head. “It’s nothing. I just...” She hesitated.

  “Talk to me,” Zak commanded.

  “I just don’t want you to be disappointed with me.”

  “Why would I be disappointed?”

  “I don’t have your experience,” she answered.

  Zak eyed her curiously. “I don’t know if I understand.”

  She took a deep inhale, savoring the scent of the salt air. “You’ve been with a lot of women.”

  He smiled slightly. “I wouldn’t say that.”

  “You’re a beautiful man, Zak Sayed. Intelligent, sexy, charming. Supermodels fall out of their clothes for you.”

  He shrugged, not saying a word a
s she continued.

  “I’m thirty-five years old and I’ve only been with one other man my whole life.”

  “Your husband?”

  She nodded. “He was my first and my only lover. Until you.”

  Zak nodded. “Well, let’s hope I’m your last,” he said, meeting the look she was giving him.

  The comment took her by surprise. “What do you mean?” she asked.

  He paused, taking a deep breath as he appeared to contemplate her question. Anxiety settled in the pit of her stomach as Maitlyn waited for him to answer.

  There was an air of conviction in his voice when he finally spoke. “Enjoy what’s happening with us, Maitlyn. I know that I am. We have today. Tomorrow is not promised to us. And today, you have my heart. There is nothing I won’t do for you. I will protect you and care for you and in this very moment you are mine and no one else’s. You make me happy, and I hope to give that back to you.”

  They locked eyes and Maitlyn felt herself falling head over heels into the stare he was giving her. Everything in his eyes was promising her something she had only ever imagined having. Maitlyn suddenly realized that she could never let that go and she would never expect any less from any man.

  “What about tomorrow?” she asked, nervously biting down against her bottom lip.

  Zak smiled. “I’ll still be here. I hope you will.”

  * * *

  Maitlyn realized that Zak had not been kidding about what he planned to do to her when they got back to the ship. The door was barely closed behind them before he pulled her into his arms. He caressed the corner of her lips with his thumb, and as he leaned in to kiss her, she parted her lips in anticipation. The minute their mouths touched, an electric current of sexual energy rippled through them.

  Maitlyn was completely overwhelmed as heat and tension rose in her midsection. Zak’s words were still churning in her head; she wanted to believe everything he’d said. The intensity of what she was feeling had her head spinning with desire. She wanted to be touched, to feel him inside her, to revel in the depth of emotion she knew was growing out of control between them.

  Zak kissed her lips, her cheeks, her eyelids. He sucked her lower lip and then traced it with his tongue, making her softly moan. He pulled back and studied her face, and her cheeks flushed.

  “I’m going to make love to you all night,” he said.

  She smiled sweetly. “All night?”

  “Until the sun comes up,” he replied.

  He took her by the hand and led her upstairs to the bedroom. As they stepped into the space, Maitlyn was taken by surprise and her eyes widened. Yellow roses filled a multitude of containers. They sat on the dresser and the nightstands, huge bouquets of budding blossoms. The sweet scent filled the room.

  She tossed him a quick look as she dropped her nose into a bouquet and inhaled the soft aroma. “They’re beautiful. When’d you do this?”

  “That’s my secret.”

  Maitlyn moved back into his arms. She was completely overwhelmed by the emotions coursing through her spirit, knowing that Zak would never take her any place she didn’t want to go. His attentiveness and generosity made her feel special, and she hadn’t felt that special in a very long time. Outside, the wind moaned, a soft love song blowing through the late-night air.

  Zak moved to the king-size bed and sat down on the edge. He gestured for her to come to him. Her heart thudded and her insides simmered with tremendous passion as she moved between his parted thighs.

  Zak muttered his appreciation against her skin. Pulling her close he buried his face into her abdomen. Her expression was adoring, her breathing heavy as she fell against him, surrendering all of herself to him. He pressed his lips against a spot beneath her chin. Maitlyn arched her neck, her breath catching in her throat. He caressed her jawline with his tongue, trailing a damp path to her mouth. He kissed her and Maitlyn went weak in his arms, panting softly, her eyes closed as she gave in to the sensations sweeping through her. He pulled her down against his lap.

  “Sweet, sweet, Maitlyn,” he cooed softly. “Do you know how beautiful you are? Do you know much I want you?”

  She moaned softly. She started to speak, but Zak put his fingers over her lips. “Ssshhh!” He ran his lips up to her ear and she arched her neck back farther. “Don’t talk. Just feel.”

  “Oh, Zak,” Maitlyn whimpered. The sensations washing over her body were unlike anything she’d ever felt before. His touch felt warm and safe. She struggled to say something, anything; words seemed foreign. “Love me,” she finally murmured. “Please. Love me.”

  Zak swung her easily onto the bed and laid her against the mattress. She sprawled, giving herself to the beautiful man. He hovered above her, easing his mouth over hers, kissing her sweetly. Their tongues came together as he explored the warm crevice, moving slowly as he did a slow waltz toward the back of her throat. He licked her lips, one and then the other, before pushing back into the warmth of her delicate mouth. She loved how he tasted against her tongue, his breath like honey, decadent and sweet.

  He eased the straps of her sundress from her shoulders, sliding the garment off over her arms. Lifting her, he pulled the dress down her torso and off her body until she lay naked beside him. He moved his mouth back to hers, and the kisses grew urgent as Zak ran his palms up and down her sides. He stroked her tummy, where the soft skin pulled taut. His easy caresses made her sigh with pleasure. He kissed her longer, the touch wetter and their tongues bolder. He growled softly, moaning his desire past her lips, into her open mouth. Her insides were seething, her body yearning for more.

  Maitlyn watched as his hands finally touched her, palming her soft mounds. She gasped as his touch spun heat through her. Her nipples were swollen and sensitive, desperate for his attention. He cupped the fullness of her breasts, massaged them, thumbed and tugged at the nipples until they were hard pearls between his fingertips. Maitlyn gasped loudly, her back arching.

  Zak smiled. He then trailed a path across her torso with his fingers, his lips and tongue following his touch. Maitlyn squirmed, whimpering softly in anticipation. When Zak took her nipple into his mouth, sucking it eagerly, she cried out; his name rolled off her tongue in a sweet mantra. He suckled until the nipple was sensitive to the touch and then he moved on to the other.

  Maitlyn twisted her hands in his hair, holding his mouth against her. Her entire body was churning inside, seething with heat. She was on sensory overload. Zak’s slow and methodic loving was unlike anything she’d ever experienced before. Their first time had been about a much needed release for the both of them. This time was something different.

  Zak was still focused on her breasts, nibbling and tugging on the buds, swirling the nipples between his lips and teeth. He let one and then the other snap past his lips, his tongue swirling them against the roof of his mouth. Nothing had ever prepared Maitlyn for the intense sensations. It was ecstasy beyond description. She moaned, and her body contracted as she twisted his hair around her fingers.

  Her first orgasm surprised her; sharp and intense, the first crack in a rupturing dam. But there was no release; her arousal continued to build instead. She was excited beyond belief as Zak’s steady ministrations took her to new heights.

  He then kissed his way down her stomach, tasting every inch of her sweet flesh. He dipped his tongue into the well of her belly button, teasing her sensibilities. Maitlyn lifted her torso to watch as he continued his journey down her body. Zak eased his hands between her legs, allowing his palm to gently graze the cusp of her sex. She inhaled swiftly, holding her breath in anticipation.

  He blew warm breath against the curl of pubic hair. She was suddenly anxious for his touch, lifting her pelvis with urgency. But Zak would not be rushed. He pressed his index finger against her clit and held it there, sending a bolt of electricity through her pelvis.

 
She cried out, “Please, baby!”

  He pushed her legs open wide. Her clit was swollen and throbbing and open and wet. His fingers danced across the folds; his feathery touch caused her to thrust her body upward. He leaned in and kissed her inner thigh, nibbling at the heated flesh.

  Maitlyn bit her lip as Zak made himself comfortable between her legs. His body reclined against the mattress as he brushed his cheeks against one thigh and then the other. He bent both her legs up, fully exposing the throbbing folds of her sex.

  Maitlyn wriggled urgently, panting and quivering. He teased her with his fingers first, using his thumbs to open her like a present. He drew the pads of his index fingers across the folds, gently massaging the creases. She felt the tip of his tongue as he finally leaned in and tasted her. Maitlyn gasped, air catching deep in her chest. She lifted her hips and Zak buried his face deep between her legs. He lapped at her juices, probed her with his tongue. He nipped and sucked the pulsing swell into his mouth. He bathed her in saliva, his tongue flicking back and forth, hard and fast, over her pleasure spot.

  Maitlyn exploded, that dam erupting in intense waves of pleasure. They ripped through her pelvis, up into her torso, out into her limbs. It was powerful and consuming, and her body seized as every muscle spasmed and rippled in surging waves. She screamed, her back arching, her hands gripping the bed sheets. Her toes curled as she writhed and sobbed, and Zak continued to lap at her juices.

  As her body crashed against the mattress, Zak reached across the nightstand for a condom and quickly eased the prophylactic over the concrete rod between his legs. After moving back between her legs, he pushed her thighs open and plunged himself into her. He was like a madman as he humped against her body, frantically pushing and pulling himself inside her. It was hot and rough as his orgasm boiled to the surface, spilling out as Maitlyn met him stroke for stroke. Their frantic dance fed his pulsating release.

  Dropping against her, perspiration painted his brow and his chest heaved as he gasped for air. He gathered her in his arms, cradling her close. Returning the embrace, Maitlyn pressed her lips to a spot beneath his chin, relishing the heavy rush of his breathing. They were both spent, and it felt good to just languish in his arms.