Page 19 of Bewitched By the Siren (The Bewitching Hour #1)

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Brendan

Well, that was a near-perfect end to a great night.

Hali’s mother is a delight, and I honestly felt right at home in her kitchen.

I don’t think I’ve ever felt so welcomed and accepted by someone outside my own family.

I was able to relax, and I actually forgot for a while the whole reason I’m here, on this island, to begin with.

Then, Hali kissed me.

Not only did she kiss me, but she climbed into my lap, making me hard as a rock as she surrounded me with her warmth and light. I lost myself for a while there, kissing her back with all the pent-up desire that’s been building this week.

I didn’t want to end the kiss. Fuck , I didn’t.

But something in my gut told me I should. Probably because her mother was in the next room.

A harsh laugh bursts through my lips at the thought, and I pull my shirt over my head and toss it into the basket by the washing machine on my way to my bedroom. It wasn’t because of her mother. Hell, I heard her with my own ears saying Hali should go for it with me.

It was because I knew if I were to sleep with her, signing her on as a client would make things messy and complicated. And even though she’s assured me she’s not going to sign and given me several good reasons why she can’t, I still have a shred of hope that I can change her mind.

Stripping out of my pants and leaving them on the floor, I pull on a pair of athletic shorts and walk into the bathroom.

I can barely look at my own reflection as I brush my teeth and wash my face.

I don’t know whether I should feel proud that I acted so responsibly or ashamed that I denied us what we both obviously want for my own selfish reasons.

If I could go back, would I make the same decision? I don’t know.

Hali is… She’s amazing. Beautiful. Kind and funny. Generous. Loving.

She’s everything I could possibly want in a woman, but I’m torn between my growing feelings for her and the job I was sent here to do. The job that keeps me housed and fed.

When I finish in the bathroom, I flick off the light and walk back out into the bedroom. I stare at the bed for a long moment, then shake my head. I’m too wound up to sleep.

“Maybe some fresh air will do me some good,” I murmur to myself as I head back out into the main part of the house.

Walking to the back door, I pull it open and step out onto the deck. The crisp, briny air cools my heated skin in an instant, reinvigorating me as I watch the waves crash against the shore.

I see movement from the corner of my eye, and when I look toward it, I spot Hali curled up in a chair on her own porch.

Her eyes are locked on me, but she makes no move to speak or rise from her seat.

We stare at each other in silence for several long moments, my thoughts spinning like a carousel as I consider my options.

I can wave, then head back inside. I can try to talk to her. Smooth things over and attempt to erase what happened tonight so we can get back to the easy friendship we were building before we kissed.

Or…

My mind goes blank as she drops her feet from the chair’s seat and stands. She’s wearing what must be her pajamas, a pair of tiny satin shorts and a camisole that does nothing to hide the way her nipples have pebbled in the cool evening air.

My breathing accelerates, each breath harsh as my chest rises and falls with the effort to fill my lungs. I don’t want to be responsible anymore. I don’t care about the possible ramifications in my professional life.

Nothing matters but her.

“Come here,” I say, my voice low and rough around the edges.

Hali doesn’t waste a second. She’s off her porch and sprinting toward me, and I only have a moment to feel the sense of relief before she’s slamming into me, her hands diving into my hair and her lips sealing to mine.

My arms curve around her instantly, my hands gripping her ass and lifting her until her legs wrap around my waist.

Swinging around, I stumble through my still-open door before sliding it closed behind me. Our tongues tangle in an ancient duel as I carry Hali to my bedroom, not stopping until she’s spread out on my bed with me stretched over her, my hips nestled between her thighs.

“God, you feel amazing,” I murmur as I break off our kiss to lick and nip at the column of her throat.

She pushes at my shoulders, and for a brief, terrifying moment, I think she’s changed her mind and is putting a stop to this. But she only rips off her camisole before pulling me back down, guiding my mouth toward her chest.

Yes.

I flick my tongue against one pert nipple, and the sound that vibrates out of her makes my blood sing. I move to the other nipple to see if teasing it will elicit the same response, and satisfaction resonates in my bones when it does.

Her grip on my hair tightens when I suck the sensitive bud into my mouth, and her hips buck beneath me. The friction the move causes against my hard cock has me moaning this time, and Hali bucks again, rolling her hips to draw out the motion.

Fuck me. She’s going to be the death of me. And what a sweet, sweet death it will be.

“Brendan,” she gasps, and the sound of my name on her lips is nearly my undoing.

Pushing myself up, I kiss my way down her torso as she lifts her hips and pushes down at the satin shorts she’s still wearing. Sitting back on my knees, I grip the soft material to help. She drops her hips and raises her feet so I can pull the shorts free, but the satin catches on her toe.

When her foot breaks free, it flies back in my direction. I try to dodge it, but I move too slow, and her heel connects with my temple.

“Shit,” I grunt, my hand rubbing at the spot.

“Oh, my God,” Hali says, her voice laced with laughter. “I’m so sorry.”

I drop my hand and stare down at her with narrowed eyes. “Oh, you think that’s funny, do you?”

She shakes her head rapidly, but her lips are trembling, fighting to hold in her smile.

With a feral growl, I launch myself forward, careful to keep the full brunt of my weight off her while my fingers tickle her sides.

She squeals and bucks against me, and her soft, naked body brushing against mine makes my humor flee as lust comes barreling back in to replace it.

Pressing my mouth to hers, I groan into it when she opens for me so readily. Our tongues dance around each other for several beats, then I break away to kiss a path southward again. I need to taste her.

Hali must approve, because she relaxes back with a satisfied moan as I kiss my way past her navel. Scooting down, I push her thighs apart and run my tongue along the length of her seam, and she gasps, her back arching up off the bed before plopping back down.

She tastes like salt and the hot mid-summer sun and everything that’s good in this world.

I lick her again, this time flicking the tip of my tongue against her clit.

She murmurs my name, sending heat rocketing down my spine.

My tongue moves faster swirling and slashing until she’s a quaking, moaning mess on the verge of detonation.

But I have this deep, animalistic need to be inside her when she comes, so I pull back. Ignoring her sounds of disappointment, I climb off the bed and shuck my shorts and boxer briefs. I move quickly toward my suitcase and dig out the travel-sized package of condoms I brought.

God, I’m so glad I packed these even though I had no intention of using them. As the scouts say, always be prepared .

Ripping open the box, I pull out a condom and turn to face Hali. She’s watching me with hooded eyes, a soft smile on her lips. I tear open the wrapper with my teeth, pluck the latex ring free, and roll it onto my erection in what I’m sure is some kind of record time.

Hali laughs when I leap onto the bed with a growl, then her laughter dies as I settle between her thighs once more. Bracing my upper body weight on my elbows, I push her strawberry blonde hair away from her face and smile down at her.

“You are so beautiful,” I whisper.

“So are you,” she breathes back, then tilts her hips until my cock is notched at her opening.

Her gorgeous green eyes fall closed as I push into her. Sweat beads at my brow as I try to move slowly, intent on making this last as long as possible. But she’s so fucking warm and wet, it’s a struggle not to slam into her so I can feel her inner walls squeeze my cock.

“Please,” she groans, lifting her hips to push me deeper.

And with that, I lose the battle. I drive into her with a shout, and lights burst behind my eyelids at the feel of her around me. I roll my hips, digging in as deep as possible while Hali lets out a low groan.

“Fuck, you feel so good,” I whisper, pulling out halfway and driving back in.

“More,” she gasps. “Faster.”

Unable to deny her even if it means I won’t last as long as I’d hoped, I press a rough kiss to her lips before pulling one of her thighs up over my hip. I pump into her, her sweet voice driving me wild as I fight to hold back my release until she’s had hers.

“Come for me, Hali,” I command as my balls start to tighten. “Come for me, now .”

She goes rigid beneath me for a split second before melting into the mattress with a loud moan. Her inner walls clench down, then flutter and throb around me as she comes, and I drive my hips faster and faster until my own release explodes through me.

I collapse atop her, and her startled grunt makes me flinch as I lift back up and brace my weight on my arms. She looks up at me with a soft, satisfied smile as I apologize.

She shakes her head. “You’re not too heavy. Just surprised me, is all.”

Dipping my head, I press a gentle kiss to her lips before pulling my cock free and sliding off the bed.

Hurrying into the bathroom, I pull off the condom and tie the end before wrapping it in some tissue and depositing it into the small trashcan.

Then, I wash my hands and face before heading back to bed.

Climbing in, I pull Hali into my arms. She rests her cheek on my chest, and I sift my fingers through her hair as I replay everything that’s happened in my mind.

I can’t muster up enough energy to stress about the contract, my job, or what’ll happen when I get back to L.A. That’s a worry for another day. Right now, all I want to do is bask in the incredible feeling of holding this woman in my arms.

My eyelids grow heavy, and I let them close as Hali hums against my chest. This is pure perfection. And I never want it to end.