Craved
Chapter 21

Renee:

Naked and dripping wet from the sea, Renee strolled across a beach. She paused, inhaling the salty air, and her skin pebbled as it dried from the sun. Suddenly, a stranger who she yearned to embrace stood behind her. His hands wrapped around her waist, and his arousal pushed against her butt. The scent of him was intoxicating; musk, cinnamon, and vanilla. They stopped, and she leaned into him, her hips swaying from side to side. She wasn't usually open with guys she didn't know, but at the moment, she didn't care.

Euphoria filled her. Tilting her head, he kissed her neck. Shivers of pleasure rolled through her faster than the waves lapping at her feet. With her moan of encouragement, he kissed her skin below her earlobe making her whole body tremble. Every part of her ached for him. She reached back and grasped his hands, placing them on her bare breasts as he sucked and licked her neck.

He kneaded her breasts; fingertips teased her budded nipples.

She gasped.

His caresses sent fiery sparks through her. Kiss me. She couldn't stand this sweet torture. Closing her eyes, she turned slightly. His warm lips brushed across hers. Delicious aching spread through her. If he didn't bury himself inside her soon, she'd take his member and guide him into her heat, into the core of her. She parted her legs, and he shifted to reach her clit, working his fingers back and forth while their kiss deepened. Her legs shook. Flames heated in her belly and spread like wildfire through her whole body.

His breath was cool against the side of her neck. Despite the sun shining bright in her dream, she couldn't will her eyes open. Was she was drunk on desire?

More. His mouth upon hers as their tongues stroked and danced.

His other hand continued stroking her nipples until she vibrated out of control. She trembled, the tsunami of pleasure riding through her. She'd never orgasmed this fast, this intensely. What would it be like to have this man deep inside her if he could coax her to pleasure within minutes?

Gasping, she dragged her mouth away from his. "Let's do that agai-" Her words caught in her throat as she whirled and found herself wrapped in... "Damon?"

She startled awake. Darkness closed in around her. Where am I?

A fading light flickered in the corner. The cave. Then she became aware of a body next to hers, a strong body pressed to her back. Horrified, she looked down to see Damon. Worse, his hands were underneath her shirt, attached to her breasts like in her dream except he faced her, and she still had her bra on.

"Son of a bitch!" she yelled, and when he didn't budge, she shoved him off.

As she yanked down her shirt, she noticed the bra had shifted and now exposed her breasts. She readjusted herself and fumed. "I was asleep, not primed to be your plaything."

When he didn't respond, but continued to lie where she left him, she nudged him. He didn't move. Didn't make a sound. Nothing. She scooted closer to him. He still breathed. Shallowly. She touched his arm-scorching hot. Fever. Only one and a half water bottles left, but she could use the cave water. After digging in the pack for the half-empty water bottle, she poured some in the lid, then tilted his head back. His eyes shifted behind his eyelids as if he were dreaming. When the water trickled into his mouth, he swallowed.

"You didn't drink enough water and are probably dehydrated and who knows what else. Hallucinating." After she emptied the water bottle, she ran to the dribbling water and refilled the bottle.

First, she removed his shirt, her hands shaking as she dipped it into the water, then wrung it out. What she wouldn't give for some medicine. She rushed to his side and wiped his face and chest. His skin was still on fire. She debated taking off his shorts, but his erection tenting them made her blush, and she rejected the idea. Had he been having a naughty dreaming too? Maybe she'd tossed around in her sleep and somehow got tangled in his arms, but how did her bra get lowered and her breasts in his hands?

Damn, even sick, he was sexy and arrogant enough, so no wonder she climaxed in her dream. But he was too controlling. Would he let her be in charge of their lovemaking? Still, her mind softened at the thought of him barely drinking any of her water yesterday.

Sweat glistened on Damon's face and again she wiped his forehead. When he woke, she'd give him a lecture for putting his health at risk. She glanced at his watch; it was past ten a.m. She tripped over her feet as she dashed away and toward her pack. Gulping water from the bottle, she focused on modulating her breathing.

Periodically, she tried to cool his fever with the cave's water and trickling some into his mouth. An hour later, she dug out the protein bar and bit off a piece of it, then saved the rest for later. Even if Damon refused, when he came to, she'd insist he eat the rest. No telling how long it would take their rescuers to get them out. By now, even if the others were trapped, the tour company would know something had happened. They'd search for them. In Virginia, the trapped miners in the news had been rescued after seventy-two hours. She and Damon could survive until then.

Why didn't he wake? Worried, she nibbled on a nail while a thousand scenarios went through her head. Did a rock hit his head during the cave-in? What if he had a condition that required medicine? At that thought, she checked his pockets. Nothing.

She dug through the backpack and reorganized everything all the while her gaze kept drifting to his sleeping form. Was he dreaming? Though, too many more dreams like the last, rescuers might barge in on her having her way with Damon, fever or not.

Stop it. Think of something else. She scanned his form. His arms and chest were chiseled muscles. Even his abs looked like they'd been cut from a sports magazine. Still, an erection stood beneath his shorts. She looked away, fanning herself. Get a grip, Renee! Just because he was sexy as hell and brilliant didn't mean she wanted to-oh, hell yes, she did-but she couldn't even think of his hands on her or she'd remember how warm they were and how delicious she felt when he touched her and have another dream like last night.

The best thing for her would be to get rescued and then stay away from Damon. What if she lost herself in a relationship with him? Crouched in the corner, she waited for him to wake or at least his fever to break. She wrapped her arms around her knees, a hand's width from him. Yesterday, when she had a panic attack, he calmed her with his words. In the hours while she waited by his sleeping side, she found she missed talking with him and filling the silence of the cave. Water dripped like the ticking of a clock.

Her stomach grumbled, and she checked the time on his watch. Two. Past lunch. The protein bar was tempting, but she'd save it to share with him later.

She dozed for a bit and woke with a start as her dream shift to the deserted beach with Damon. Shaking her head, she pushed herself up and stroked her fingers along his cheek. No fever. She breathed out a sigh. A good sign. But he hadn't taken water since this morning. She dug out the water bottle and trickled half of it into his mouth before taking a sip herself.

A droplet of water fell onto his mouth. Would his lips taste like the dream? Quickly, she licked the water from his mouth, tasting the drop and his lips like a whisper of honeysuckle. She sealed the bottle before she spilled any over him, and when she looked back, she noticed his erection. Wouldn't that be painful by now?

She suppressed a laugh.

What would it be like to be with him? She let her hand trail down his cheek. To have his kisses, on every inch of her? Orgasm with him inside her. She shivered. No, best if she was on the other side of the cave before she mauled him. But as she tucked her legs under to rise, he grasped her arm.

"Don't go," he half-whispered, half groaned against her mouth. Yet, he drew her closer.

This kiss was not soft or tentative, but carnal and devouring. His tongue swept into her mouth. She gasped when he pulled her on top, and she trembled with need. God, she craved him. Liquid heat poured through her, pooling in her belly. She wanted to rip their clothes off and learn that he was as big as she believed. A fire burned through her, and only he could quench it. She had to have him now and screw the consequences. Forget that he was her boss and that she'd forever think of their kiss every time she looked at him. Her fingers gripped the top of his shorts, but his hand stopped her.

"No. We can't." Damon gritted his teeth as though struggling with his emotions.

As if someone dumped a wet bucket over her, the fire hissed and steamed. "What do you mean?"

His face held a mixture of concern and possibly remorse. Oh God, she'd thrown herself at him and he didn't have feelings for her.

"I can't," he murmured.

Heat burned her cheeks. She scrambled off him and adjusted her shirt. She wouldn't be able to work with him again. Too embarrassing. "For-forget anything even... happened."

He opened his mouth as though he was about to say something but couldn't think of the words. His eyes drifted to her breasts, again. She might not be his type, but apparently her boobs were.