Chapter 18 Joanie #2
“Good. Have a think about it. I’ll need you both for it.” Ramirez patted his belly and stood. “It’s getting late. I’m going to go back to the house and leave you to it for the night.”
“You don’t have to go.” Kieran stood with him.
Ramirez darted a glance at me, and a small smile played on his lips. “Three’s a crowd, no? I’m here for a couple of days. I’ve got something on tomorrow, but the day after, let’s get dinner.”
Kieran nodded. “Absolutely.”
The two men embraced. I hadn’t taken Kieran for a hugger.
“Nice to meet you, Joanie.” Ramirez smiled and embraced me. “I love the sound of your legacy. I believe you’re going to do it. I’d love to have you representing us. Think about it.”
Back in my room, I sat at the dressing table and added an item to my list.
5) Work on a commercial with Carlos Ramirez.
My face smiled back at me in the dressing table mirror.
I’d been grinning like crazy without even realizing.
The Fizzz commercial hadn’t gone to plan, but the day had ended triumphantly.
I’d stood up for myself, and I’d had a drink with my idol.
What’s more, Ramirez had liked my idea. I returned my attention to the list. What else? There had to be more to add.
I racked my brain but came up blank. Some strange impulse seized me, and I turned the list over to the spicy side.
My face burned at the memory, but I couldn’t help my tinge of amusement too.
I’d felt such a crippling embarrassment when Lana had written this, but now as I perused the items, an unaccustomed heat swirled in my lower belly. Lana’s words drifted to mind.
Do you know how to give a really good blow job? Because that’s a game-changer.
I didn’t know. The prospect had never appealed to me, but I couldn’t stop the thoughts that crashed through my mind.
Maybe it was the wine or the way the Menorcan sun had made my body feel so loose and relaxed, but suddenly everything on this list looked appealing, as long as it was with Kieran.
My head filled with him. His eyes raking boldly over me as I drop to my knees in front of him.
My hands working to free him from his shorts, and pulling them down his strong, tanned thighs.
What would he look like under those shorts?
I’d felt Gerard through his clothes, but never seen him.
I’d bet anything that every inch of Kieran was glorious.
Maybe his whole body was covered in tattoos.
What would it be like to kiss him? To give him pleasure?
To make that severe expression he always wore melt into groans?
Desire raced through my bloodstream. The ache between my thighs was unbearable in its intensity.
I needed to relieve it, but I couldn’t risk Kieran overhearing the vibrator.
Water pounded from the bathroom where he was showering, but it would still be too loud.
I lay on the bed and slipped my fingers into my underwear.
I imagined Kieran in the shower. Water hammering over the granite contours of his tattooed body.
Shivers raced through me, and I closed my eyes, surrendering to the depths of arousal. This was a new experience. I’d touched myself before, but never had such vivid fantasies. A soft moan escaped my lips, and with it, the name on my tongue, “Kieran.”
A knock sounded at the door. My heart stopped. Oh my gosh. I ripped my hand from my underwear.
“Wait! One second. Don’t come in.”
I’d assumed Kieran would go straight to bed after his shower. It was so late. I smoothed my disheveled hair on the way to answer the door, and tried to look normal, which was difficult considering I’d just been moments away from an orgasm.
I opened the door to the dimly lit landing, and a half-naked Kieran.
He loomed over me, all glistening inked skin and rippling muscle.
Water dripped from his damp hair over his broad shoulders and chest, and I tried not to follow the path of the droplets down over all those powerful muscles.
Tattoos graced his chiseled torso down to the V of his sculpted hips before disappearing under the towel wrapped low around his waist.
Flustered and hot, I took a step back. “Sorry,” I muttered.
I had no idea what I was apologizing for. Sorry for fantasizing about you. Sorry you’re so gorgeous I might need some help to peel myself from the floor. Sorry for all the other mediocre men that simply have to exist in a world with someone who looks as divine as you.
A horrible realization gripped me. How long had he been out of that shower? I couldn’t recall when the sound of thundering water had stopped. I’d been too carried away. Had he heard me moan his name? The walls weren’t that thick. Could he tell? My face burned with embarrassment.
I adjusted my glasses. Agitation made my words too sharp. “Can I help you?”
A strange, electric tension hung in the silence between us. He knew what I’d been doing. I didn’t know how he knew, but I could sense it. It was something in the way his eyes lingered too long on mine. The heat in his unsmiling gaze. My heart hammered.
He hesitated a moment, appraising me. “I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
“It’s fine. I was just . . . reading.”
His eyes dropped to my lips. “Reading?”
“Yes.”
He took a step toward me. “I thought I heard my name.”
Heat from the shower and his clean, soapy scent engulfed me. A bright flare of desire made my body tingle. I fought with everything I had not to squeeze my thighs together, because that would be the end of me. That’s all it would take to finish the job I’d just started.
My breath hitched. “No. I don’t think so.”
His jaw tightened, and he frowned. “You’re sure?”
I fought to hold his direct eye contact. “Yes.”
He bit his lip, and shook his head slightly.
Toweling his dark hair, he took a step back.
“I have some news. Rob messaged. Fizzz wants us back on set tomorrow. Rob has given them a dressing down. You don’t have to do it in the bikini.
You have the option to wear your football kit if you’d prefer that. ”
I swallowed past the knot of nerves in my throat. “Right. OK.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Is everything OK? I thought you’d be happy.”
This was unfair. Yes, I was happy, but he’d ambushed me with his divine nakedness. He had to know how good he looked, and that one flash of those abs could melt an innocent, unsuspecting woman into a puddle on the floor.
“And you couldn’t have got dressed to deliver this message?”
The words left my mouth before I’d had a chance to think about them. It was so unlike me, but there was something about Kieran’s presence that made me feel more emboldened than I should.
He tightened the towel around his waist. “I didn’t think about it. I apologize. I’m used to walking around like this at work.”
“This isn’t the Calverdale locker room. I’m . . . a woman.”
“I know you’re a woman, Joanie.” His low, rough tone sent a shiver along my spine.
I tried to ignore the aching in my limbs.
It was my own awkwardness making me feel so self-conscious.
It wasn’t as though I didn’t appreciate the view.
I could look at him like this and never get bored.
But I had to stop talking and get away from his semi-nakedness because the sight made my face feel hotter than the interior of the sun.
“Better get some sleep. Goodnight, Kieran.”
“Goodnight.” He stopped toweling his hair and draped the towel over his shoulder. His steady gaze bored into me. “I’m just across the landing. If you need any help with your . . . reading, give me a knock.”
My heart lurched. A shudder of excitement heated my blood. Kieran was used to women more experienced than me. I had a whole list of things I’d never done, and this man wasn’t the right choice to start experimenting with. The fantasy was safe. The reality definitely wasn’t.
I shook my head. “Reading is a solo activity, but thank you.”
His expression grew intense and serious. “It doesn’t always have to be.”
“Yes. It does.” I closed the door on him before my stupid ovaries made me fall to the ground and kiss his feet.