17. Stormy Alliances
“ P oppy? Can you come in here?” Isaiah called out as he heard the door open. Poppy had been having breakfast with Mina, catching her up on the events from the previous night. He’d wanted to give them some space to talk, so he’d been on a morning run, leaving them safely in the suite.
“Are you changing your mind about last night?” she asked tentatively, peering around the bathroom door. “Because there’s no takebacks on letting me get away with murder.”
She was still in her pyjamas, pink shorts with red hearts and a matching top.
After their long conversations last night, Isaiah had crashed into a deep sleep, so she must have got up at some point to change.
He had never slept so soundly when he was supposed to be on alert, especially with someone else in his bed.
“No takebacks necessary. I need help with the after-sun lotion. I think I managed to get sunburned,” he said, struggling to reach his back.
His run had also been to assess whether the captain had increased security on the outer decks. Despite the crew’s insistence that nothing had happened on the lounge deck, they had ordered everyone to keep away from the jacuzzi area where Poppy had found Joshua.
“My hands are at your service.” She smirked, hopping onto the bathroom counter to reach his shoulders and neck.
“Since when are you so eager to help? Are you up to something? You’re not normally this compliant,” he noted, raising an eyebrow as she didn’t make fun of his burn or make him beg for assistance.
She rolled her eyes. “So paranoid! Turn around, please,” Poppy ordered.
He didn’t move. She bit her lip, and he couldn’t stop thinking about how her lips had tasted the night before… and how much he wanted to see those pretty shorts on the floor.
“Are you going to give it to me?” she asked, staring at him.
“What?” Isaiah asked blankly.
“The lotion?” Poppy took the bottle from him and squeezed some onto her hands.
“I’m sorry. I thought you wanted me to give it to you.” Isaiah winked, resting his hands on either side of her thighs. Her eyes lingered on him, as if she were documenting every scar and freckle he had.
“Naughty, but priorities first. We don’t want the burn to get worse.” Poppy rubbed the lotion between her hands and turned him around so his back faced her. “Why does it look so irritated?”
“I accidentally used your toner on it first. It stung like hell, so I think I’ll stay away from your stuff for my safety,” Isaiah rambled, trying to distract himself from how good it felt to have her hands on his sensitive skin.
“You could’ve read which products were which,” she teased, clearly enjoying his mistake.
“I did, and I discovered that your tiny pot of eye cream costs more than I make in a week.” He picked up the small jar from the counter and pointed out the price still printed on the bottom.
“It works miracles for dark circles. Half of these products were sent to me; companies send stuff in the hopes that I’ll post about it.
Ironically, the more money I make, the less I have to pay for things.
I donate most of the products to shelters and charities instead of letting them go to waste.
” She snatched the jar from him and put it back by the sink.
“Now turn around so I can do your chest.”
Isaiah did as instructed, standing between her legs so she wouldn’t have to stretch. He loved the smell of her fruity shampoo.
“You’re all good. I don’t think it’ll blister.”
“Thank you for the help,” he said, brushing her hair over her shoulder. “How can I repay your kindness?” His eyes lingered on her lips.
“There are a few things that spring to mind,” Poppy said, staring at him with her bright, mischievous eyes.
“Do tell?” Isaiah said, with his face so close to hers he could count the fair freckles on the bridge of her nose.
She rested her hands on the sides of his neck. “I thought you didn’t want to cross professional boundaries?”
“You fired me, remember?” He pulled her sharply against him. Poppy shrieked in surprise and wrapped her legs around him like he’d hoped she would.
“Don’t worry; I won’t let you fall,” he whispered, brushing her ear and making her tremble.
His lips trailed along her ear and neck, teasing her sensitive skin.
She cupped his face and brought her lips to his, taking control, but he slipped his hands under the hem of her top and she shuddered. Her kisses grew more passionate.
“Wait, wait,” he panted. “Do you want me to stop? To slow down?” He ran his hands through her hair as they locked eyes.
“No, I want this.” Poppy shook her head. He tried to keep a level head as her hands ran over his muscles.
“Say that again,” he said, pressing his lips against hers, giving her a taste of what was to come before pulling away.
“Don’t stop. Ever.”
The words were music to his ears. He lifted her off the bathroom counter.
“Sorry! I dug my nails into your sunburn,” she said as he groaned.
“Don’t be sorry; it would take a lot more than that to hurt me,” he promised, loving how her body folded to his as he carried her out into the bedroom.
Sitting down on the bed, he let her straddle his lap and bit back his groans as she nipped and sucked on his neck, rolling her hips and sending shockwaves of pleasure through him.
He held her hips tightly so she couldn’t finish him before they even got started.
She groaned in frustration. His grip loosened on her waist, and she tangled her hands in his hair, crushing his lips to hers.
“Are you in a rush?” he asked, smiling as she pulled his shorts off. Poppy couldn’t seem to get him naked fast enough.
“Yes, because I have to meet Mina – so if you don’t want her interrupting us, I suggest less talking and more action. Unless you want to press pause until later?”
She chuckled as Isaiah flipped her onto her back and pinned her hands to prevent her from stripping him.
“Absolutely not,” he said, tossing aside his shorts while she slipped off her PJs.
He inhaled sharply, taking in the sight of her all flushed for him.
He wanted to take his time and savour every moment, but he’d take everything she was willing to give.
It didn’t matter how much time they had. All that mattered was her.
She moved to the edge of the bed, rising to her knees and placing her hands on his chest. “Enjoying the view? Or are you going to do something about it,” she teased.
“Don’t test me, Princess,” he growled.
“Or what?” She bit his lip as she kissed him, and he gripped her thighs and tossed her back on the bed. He loved how confident she was.
She squirmed and arched her back as he kissed every inch of her body, begging for more.
She pulled down his boxers and wrapped her fist around him, making his eyes roll back in his head, but if she was going to tease, he was going to make her beg.
He smiled wickedly as he sank between her knees and kissed the dips in her hips, sliding her underwear down her thighs.
Tremors of pleasure took over her body as he tasted how ready she was for him; he held her thighs tight to stop her from trying to hide from him.
Her hands slid up over the back of his neck and into his hair, gripping tight as she panted.
He didn’t let up until Poppy arched her back and cried out in sheer ecstasy. His heart pounded as he trailed his lips over her stomach, savouring every quiver as she came down until her lips found his, seeking, demanding more. He was more than happy to oblige.
“I can’t take much more, Poppy,” he groaned as she wrapped her legs around his waist. “Are you sure?”
“I’ve never wanted anything more,” she rasped, brushing her lips against his.
Isaiah reached into the bedside table and removed the complimentary condoms. Ripping open the packet, he nearly lost control as she helped him ease it over him.
A feral groan escaped him as he filled every inch of her.
She rolled her hips, taking all of him. Teeth clashed, tongues twisted, and her hands gripped his hair, his shoulders, her nails dragging so ferociously down his back that he was sure he’d have marks tomorrow.
She moaned and sighed against his lips, and with every thrust, he felt her tightening around him.
He was so damn close. He wanted to drag it out forever, but neither could wait that long.
He thrust wildly as she dug her nails into his hips, begging for more.
Her body took all he had to give, ruining him.
Arms around each other, they rode wave after wave of ecstasy.
Every muscle in his body tightened, and tremors overtook him until he had nothing left to give but a low groan into her neck.
They melted into each other in a collection of satisfied, heavy breaths; he didn’t want the moment to end.
Lying by his side, tucked under his arm, she stared at him with satisfied eyes.
“Next time, you won’t be able to escape me so quickly,” he said, rolling onto his side as she caught her breath. “I don’t care if it’s God himself waiting on you.”
“I’m counting on it,” she said before he kissed her long and hard, wanting her to remember the taste of him for the rest of the day.
Isaiah showered while Poppy slipped on her purple one-piece swimsuit. Unable to stop himself, he tried to get her to join him but she tiptoed out of reach and away from the spray of the water.
“Nice try, but Mina’s waiting for me to go to the pool.
I’m late enough, thanks to you, and I don’t want her to think I’ve forgotten about her.
She was freaked out enough hearing about what happened with Joshua last night,” Poppy said, tying a matching sarong around those hips he would never get enough of.
“I’ll join you; give me a minute,” he said, not wanting to leave them unprotected.