Page 26 of Home to Me (The Andrades 2)
“How about triple? In fact, name your price. If you’re worried about me damaging your balloon, how much could it cost? I’ll buy it. Just give me the basics of how to work the damn thing.” Okay, I sound desperate, but you would, too, if you were wearing vibrating underwear and thought you’d be alone up there having a hour of wild sex.
“I have a team assembled here for a reason. It’s more dangerous than it looks. There is no amount of money that would make me risk my pilot’s license. You go up with me, or you go home and forfeit your deposit. Your choice, lady.”
“Looks like her friend is here,” one of the T-shirt-clad men said when a car parked beside hers.
“You think he’s as bat-shit crazy as she is?” another of them asked.
Rena spun on him and glared. “I can hear you.”
He shrugged and tipped his baseball cap at her.
Rena stared longingly as Nick, dressed in jeans and a cable-knit sweater, stepped out of the back of a town car, a picnic basket in hand. Their eyes met and heat flooded through Rena. Everything around them faded away while he ever so slowly walked toward her. The grin he gave her was the sexiest thing she’d ever seen and knocked the air right out of her.
“I think I know why she wanted you to stay down on the ground, Hank,” one of the younger men joked.
Rena kept a smile on her face and said, “I will tip each of you a thousand dollars if you don’t embarrass me.”
The pilot, stood beside her and said, “Best behavior, boys. With that kind of tip we could buy a new basket for the third balloon.” He turned to Rena. “Besides, I’m guessing she wants a short flight now.”
Rena nodded curtly. This doesn’t have to ruin our day. Nick doesn’t know what I had planned. Be cool, Rena. Play this off like you planned it this way.
Nick walked across the grassy field to where Rena and a group of men were standing in front a hot air balloon. He was surprised by her choice of location. He hadn’t known what to expect when a driver picked him up at his hotel and handed him a picnic basket and a small wrapped gift, with instructions not to open either. Of course he’d opened both. The champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries had led him to believe she’d planned something more intimate than the option laid out before him now.
As for the remote control that he’d tucked into his jacket pocket—well, he hoped he was right about what that was for. He was tempted to find out right then and there, but decided against finding out in front of an audience.
The crowd didn’t stop him, however, from walking straight up to her, dropping the basket, hauling her into his arms, and claiming her mouth with his. No, he’d waited all week to touch her again and nothing was going to stop him.
She met his kiss eagerly, opening her mouth to his. Her hands came up to rest on his chest and he shuddered from the pleasure of it. Nothing in his vast experience had prepared him for the desire that rocked him at her touch. He wanted to tell her to forget whatever she’d planned and haul her off to the nearest hotel. Hell, the nearest semi-private clump of bushes would soon do if she kept kissing him the way she was.
He cursed the layers of clothing separating them, damned the men standing nearby, and reluctantly broke off the kiss. Their ragged breathing mixed when he rested his forehead on hers. “I missed you.”
She smiled. “You saw me every day.”
He moved his head to speak softly into her ear. “Not like this.”
“This is nice,” she agreed with a sigh.
A man beside them cleared his throat loudly. “I’m Hank, your pilot. Are we ready to go?”
Nick didn’t move, continuing to hold Rena tightly against him. “I know I am.”
A concerned look darkened Rena’s eyes. “Do you want to ditch the balloon ride? It seemed like a good idea, but I didn’t think it through very well.”
Had it been anyone else, he would have given in to the need raging within him and agreed, but as he looked down into her eyes, he realized that he wanted her to be happy more than he wanted anything for himself. It was a new feeling and one that scared him a little. He shook his head, dismissed that thought, and said, “It was a great idea. I’ve never been in one. Let’s do it.”
Her eyes rounded with surprise. “You’ve never been in a hot air balloon?”
He looked down at her, “Contrary to what you believe, I haven’t done everything.”
A spicy little smile pursed her lips. “Me either.”
Nick inwardly chastised his throbbing cock for robbing him of the ability to think straight. Down, boy, you’ll have your chance later. He stepped back from her, handed the picnic basket to the pilot, along with a substantial tip, and said, “Make it a quick trip.”
“Absolutely, sir,” Hank answered and smiled.
Nick and Rena followed him into the basket. Rena stood, holding onto the side of it. Nick moved to stand behind her and pulled her back against him. Shoving the picnic basket away from his feet, he felt for the remote in his jacket pocket. Knowing he could use it at any time brought a smile to his face as they lifted off the ground.
When the pilot brought the balloon to a nice cruising height, Nick and Rena could see patches of fields, trees, and homes below. Able to hear dogs barking below, their peaceful journey was interrupted only when Hank ignited the burner to raise the balloon higher.
“What an amazing view,” Rena said, taking in the serene landscape.
“Not near as amazing as the one I have right here.” Nick leaned in and nuzzled her neck from behind. Rena gasped as he pushed his legs between hers. “Am I right in thinking you’re wearing something special for me?”
“I didn’t realize we would have company. And it’s too quiet to use it right now. It was a crazy idea anyway.”
Right then the pilot gave the burner another push, shattering the silence. At the same time, Nick pressed the remote, giving Rena a quick jolt, which produced a louder gasp from her. Keeping his head close to her ear, he whispered, “Crazy is my middle name. We can make it work if you trust me.” He reached one arm around her waist and caressed her, moving his hand up to cup and gently squeeze her breast. Rena leaned back against him, squirming as the remote sent vibrations through her.
With his back to the pilot, Nick continued to press against Rena and the remote. He turned his head to Hank and said, “How high can you take us? Can the burner run long enough to climb a thousand feet?”
Hank gave him a bland look.
As the burner powered up, Nick turned the remote to a higher and higher setting. Rena clutched at the edge of the basket in front of her, fighting for control as the bullet continued vibrating. “Oh God . . . Nick, the view is breathtaking . . . Oh my God, can we go just a little higher?. . . Yes, that’s perfect . . . Don’t change anything.”
“I wouldn’t.” Never before had someone else’s pleasure meant more to him than his own. He bent down to gently stroke his lips across her neck. His left hand skimmed over her breast, lightly pinching her aroused nipple. He felt her tense and her breathing quicken. She trembled and gasped. Nick hugged Rena tighter, his cock firmly pressed against her lower back, knowing she was about to explode. He held her firmly through the spasms until her body relaxed and her breathing slowed. He turned off the remote, then smiled against her neck.
She turned, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him with such passion he almost forgot they weren’t alone. Her hands ran through the back of his hair, her body arched against him, rubbing back and forth against his throbbing cock. He broke off the kiss and gripped her hips to still her, fearing he would lose his load right there. “Easy, Rena. I’m only human.”
She smiled up at him. “You make me feel—free. I never thought it could be this way.”
He pulled her tight to him, tucking her beneath his chin and seeking to calm his raging libido. He couldn’t label his own feelings as easily as she had. He wanted to land the balloon, carry her to the first secluded spot they could find, and finish what they had started. Then he
wanted . . .
That was the part of his fantasy where his heart started pounding wildly and his throat constricted. The rest of the day should be easy enough to imagine. Sex, sex, followed by more sex, then parting ways until the following Saturday.
Uncomplicated pleasure with someone he genuinely liked.
“Come back to my place after this,” Nick said, surprising himself with his invitation.
Rena shook her head. “I booked a room for the afternoon at a hotel near the takeoff site.” She smoothed one of her hands across his chest. “At the time I didn’t realize this was an untethered ride. I should have read the description on the website better.”
He covered her hand with his. “It was perfect.”
She leaned back to look up into his eyes. “You made our first two times so amazing, I wanted to wow you.” She blushed and lowered her gaze to his chin. “Sorry this part of the day wasn’t as exciting for you as it was for me.”
He brushed his lips over hers gently and murmured into her ear, “It was perfect, but I can’t wait to get you alone. I want to see your face when you come. I want to feel you tighten around my cock as you orgasm and cry out my name. And then I want to start all over, slowly, taking my time getting to know every inch of you. An afternoon doesn’t sound like enough time for what I want to do.”
“It’ll have to be,” Rena said with an expression he couldn’t decipher.
Instead of answering her, Nick turned to the balloon pilot and said, “How soon can you land us?”
“There is a clearing just over those trees. I’ve landed there before. Easy access from the road. I’ll radio down to my team.” A moment later, Hank said, “Everything is set. Your driver is following my team so everyone should be there.”
“Good,” Nick said, then leaned down and whispered in Rena’s ear. “If my time with you is limited, I don’t want to waste another moment up here with him.”
Desire flared in Rena’s eyes. “I booked a suite with a heated indoor pool. I’ve never been skinny-dipping.”
Nick nuzzled her neck. “If I have my way, you won’t have energy left for a swim.”
***
Rena climbed into the back of Nick’s town car feeling as if she were in some erotic dream—one she wouldn’t wake from feeling frustrated. No, this particular dream just kept getting better and better.
Nick slid in beside her, and Rena was surprised when he left a chaste space between them. He leaned forward, instructed the driver to take a scenic route back, and told him to turn on the radio.
