Love's Last Chance Read online

  “Really?”

  “Total truth, remember?”

  She smiled. “What did you see in me to begin with?”

  Johnny looked down at the ground. “I don’t want this to sound like bragging—it’s the truth, plain and simple. It started in high school. I was a big guy early. Played football. There were a ton of girls who wanted to make it with the captain of the football team. I got into it. Women, girls, lots of them. All wanting me. I didn’t realize that I was a symbol. They wanted to screw me, say they’d screwed me, and move on. They didn’t care about me.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know. Bragging rights or something. Women! I’ll never understand ’em. I got used to most women being easy for me. I played football in college, too. Same thing. I never had trouble getting a date or getting laid. But I never had a woman as a friend, until I met you.”

  “I was your first friend?”

  “First woman friend, yeah.”

  She reached over and touched his cheek. He leaned in and placed a sweet kiss on her nose.

  “That’s a shame.”

  “I loved it. Never knew you could have fun with a woman that didn’t include sex.”

  “Is that why it took you all summer to get me into bed?”

  “Hey, honey, if I’d been trying, you’d have been in the sack in a heartbeat. You didn’t seem anxious to take it to the next level, and I didn’t want to ruin what we had by pushing you. I liked being with you. None of the usual crap, whining about spoiling your makeup in the water or your hair. You were game for anything, especially sports.”

  “Yeah. Tomboy.” She nodded.

  “Whatever it was, you seemed to like me. I wasn’t a trophy with you. No games. Just a guy. I liked that.”

  “Wasn’t like I didn’t see how sexy you were…” Dorrie said.

  “Yeah?” She detected a small smile on his lips.

  “Yeah. But I don’t jump into bed with every guy. I wanted to get to know you. We had a lot of fun. I felt comfortable with you, so I let you seduce me.”

  “You let me?” He laughed. “When I made up my mind I’d have you before the summer was over, you were finished.”

  “Really? You think you could have seduced me that easily?”

  “I did, didn’t I?”

  “Maybe I seduced you?” Anger rose in Dorrie’s chest. What the hell am I arguing about?

  “Don’t fight with me, Dorrie. I wanted you, wanted you bad by the end of the summer. Being friends was great, but it was time to take it up a notch.”

  “And?”

  “And it was great. You were great. I was right. I knew you’d be better than the rest. And you had that look.”

  “What look?”

  “The look you gave me. While we were doing it. You looked up into my eyes, and I swear I saw…the ‘L’ word there. It was the first time.”

  “Lust?” No more truth. Don’t go there.

  He made a face at her. “The other ‘L’ word. Whether you admit it or not.”

  “Did you love me, Johnny?” Dorrie’s voice was barely a whisper. Her hand trembled when she asked the question. She held her breath.

  “Yeah. But I didn’t know it then, only later… two weeks later. But it was too late. You shot me down.”

  “Only because you shot me down.”

  He gave out a mirthless laugh. “Guess we both made mistakes.”

  Dorrie sat back on her calves, staring at his face kissed by the moonlight.

  “Tense?” he asked. She nodded. “Turn around.”

  Johnny put his hands on her shoulders and began to massage, digging his thumbs into her muscles. She closed her eyes and lowered her chin to her chest. “No one can do that like you,” she muttered.

  His massage forced her to calm down. At first, she tingled at his touch then relaxation seeped through her. Johnny moved closer, putting his hand on her neck. Closing his fingers ever so gently, he brought his mouth to the tender spot just below her ear. He feathered small kisses there while his hand traveled south to the bow holding her top up.

  “I’ve been wondering what would happen if I pulled this,” he whispered, tugging on it.

  “Why don’t you find out?” she cooed in his ear.

  He gave a quick yank and the bow gave way. She turned to face him as the halter-top slowly slipped down, exposing her chest to his eyes. His sharp intake of breath told her he was happy with what he saw.

  “You’re so beautiful, and with the moonlight…” He bent his head to kiss her breasts.

  Dorrie ran her fingers through his dark, curly hair as he eased her down on the towel. The only sound she heard was the crashing of the waves and the beating of her heart as she gave in to the demands of her body. His fingers rolled her nipples into hard nubs, which he devoured with his mouth. Slipping her fingers under his shirt, she inched it up until it got in the way. Johnny tore himself away long enough to rip his T-shirt over his head and toss it aside.

  Heat flew through her veins. His hands cupped her breasts then slid down her sides. Everywhere they touched, they scorched her with the fire of desire. She loved the feel of his hands on her body and wished it would never end.

  Burying her face in his neck, she kissed him and took tiny licks with the tip of her tongue. His masculine scent mixed with the slightly salty taste of his skin stoked her fire. Her hands explored his chest and back, where her fingers memorized every muscle.

  “You’re delicious,” she murmured, her words almost lost against the sound of the ocean.

  “You, too.” Johnny pulled away only long enough to strip off his shorts. He reached for the zipper on hers. “May I?”

  “Wish you would.” She grinned back at his smile, so white against his tanned skin, highlighted by the moon’s glow. She shimmied her shorts down and off then shed her top, which had pooled around her waist. Johnny removed his boxers.

  Sudden shyness gripped her. When he put his hands on her hips and started to slide her lacy white bikinis down, she balked.

  “Shy?” he asked.

  She nodded.

  “We’ve already been…naked together, Dorrie. Let me look at you.” She gave one quick nod, and he went to work. He removed her panties quickly then glided his hands up the outside of her legs to her behind, which he squeezed a few times.

  “It’s perfect,” he moaned.

  He nudged her knees apart and moved between them. After placing his face between her breasts, he kissed down to her stomach. Dorrie ran her fingers down his arms then kissed his head. She skimmed her fingertips down his back.

  “Cute butt,” she said.

  “Thank you,” he replied. “You, too.”

  Johnny pushed up as his gaze sought hers. She lost herself in the black pools of his eyes, glowing with passion in the moonlight. He lowered his mouth to hers for a tender kiss, followed by a hard, demanding one.

  “I want you,” he breathed into her mouth.

  He placed his hand on her knee then moved it down her thigh, his fingers seeking her warmth. She gasped when they hit home.

  “Oh, baby.” He kissed her again, coaxing, seducing.

  Dorrie’s pulse jumped around wildly. Her breathing became panting as Johnny explored her, looking for the right spot. He found it, and concentrated his efforts there, circling, stroking gently but insistently. Then, he slipped a digit into her easily, making her moan.

  “Oh my God.” Paralyzed by pleasure, she lay there and let him make love to her. When her brain began to function again, she reached for him. Wrapping her fingers around the hardest erection she’d ever felt, she smiled. “Wow, Johnny.”

  “Show me, tell me how to touch you, where to touch you.” He lowered his lips to her core.

  “You’re doing fine,” she tossed out, trying to catch her breath.

  Heat climbed in her body, spiraling up and up at every touch, every press of his lips, or flick of his tongue. Dorrie gave in to her body’s need for him. She let go, moving with the rhythm of his strokes
and caresses.

  He removed her hand. “Can’t do that yet. Nope.”

  She tried to control her response, but her body was under Johnny’s command. Her eyes closed while she focused on the exquisite sensations ripping through her.

  “Please, take me, or I’ll…” Before she could finish her sentence, a huge climax took her over. Muscles clenched, released, and then fluttered as pure pleasure crashed through her like a wave. She opened her eyes when she heard his chuckle.

  “That was awesome, Ms. Rodgers,” he whispered.

  “If you don’t…”

  “What are you gonna do?” His face was above hers, his eyes mocked her before his lips descended again, taking her mouth. Dorrie folded her arms around his neck and hooked one leg around his waist.

  “Come get me,” she teased when he came up for air.

  “Protected?”

  “I’m on the pill. Watch out for sand.”

  “Yeah. Don’t want you to make love to a giant emery board.”

  With that, Johnny pushed to his knees and entered her, carefully. She gasped, and he groaned as they were joined. He thrust into her gently at first, slowly, bringing his head up, his gaze roaming her face. She cupped his cheek with her hand, dropped her defenses, and looked at him with all the love she had shining through her eyes. His expression softened. He kept staring at her while moving in and out slowly.

  “That’s it. The look,” he whispered.

  “What?” She combed her fingers through his hair.

  “The ‘L’ word look.”

  She laughed.

  “Hey, I can feel that, too.”

  “Oops. Sorry.” But she couldn’t muster a contrite look. Johnny lowered his head into her shoulder and placed his lips over her soft skin. He increased his speed and began to pound into her. The sudden rise in her heat level meant her body was taking over again. Wrapping her arms tightly around him, closing her eyes, she moved with him and another orgasm washed over her, making her cry out his name.

  His back heated up, and her fingers slid through a thin layer of sweat as he plunged into her again and again. He groaned loudly then stopped, holding her tightly to his chest. Johnny collapsed after his release, panting. She cradled him in her arms and tried to control her own breathing.

  “Oh my God,” he muttered. “That was fantastic.” He pushed up on one elbow and sank his fingers into her hair. She ran her thumb over his sensuous bottom lip. He took it into his mouth and sucked on it for a second. “Hmm, salty.”

  She leaned forward and brushed her lips against his as he flipped onto his back. The coolness of the night air made Dorrie snuggle closer. He grabbed the other two towels to cover them. Huddled together with their arms around each other, they fell asleep on the beach.

  * * * *

  The light of morning found the lovers asleep on the empty beach, clinging to each other, wrapped in towels with a light coating of sand over them. Waves raced into shore rather than roared. The only other sound was the high-pitched cry of a seagull.

  “Hey, close the curtains,” John mumbled, shielding his eyes.

  Dorrie cracked her eyelid. “Holy Hell!” Then she laughed, rolling away from him.

  He turned on his side to face her and smiled. “Good morning.”

  “What time is it?”

  “Sunrise, baby,” he chuckled.

  “Oh my God, we’ve been here all night?”

  “It’s chilly,” he said, pulling their makeshift blanket up over his shoulders and hers.

  She rubbed her hands together and moved closer to him. “You’re nice and warm.”

  “If you stay there, I’m gonna get a lot warmer.” He pushed the hair off her face.

  “Johnny, we…”

  “We what?”

  “I don’t know. Forget it.” She closed her eyes and hid her face in his neck. He snaked his arm around her waist, sliding her a few inches over the sandy towel and flush up against him.

  “That’s better.” He laid back.

  “Umm, yeah. Better. Much better.” She sighed and rested her hand on his bare chest.

  They dozed off for a bit until they were awakened by a child’s scream. “Two dead people!”

  Their eyes flew open. Johnny sat up and looked around. He spied a little girl running toward the beach, hollering for her mother. She stopped and looked at them again. He waved at her. She waved back.

  “Maybe we’d better get out of here before we get in trouble.” Dorrie rose slowly, hiding behind him. “I’m not dressed!”

  “Wrap the towel around you, honey. Carry your clothes.”

  “Good idea.” Dorrie clasped the sandy towel to her, sliding it off him.

  As soon as the woman saw them, she grabbed her child and moved farther down the beach. Johnny laughed. “We just scared ’em away. When she saw you, she took off with her kid.”

  “Oh, God,” Dorrie covered her face with her hand. “We’re naked in public. Isn’t there a law against that?”

  “Just a little ways down, and we’d be on the nude beach. Would’ve been a good idea.”

  “Really? That time I went with you and the gang? That was the first and last time.”

  He laughed. “Had to practically peel Pierre off you.”

  “It wasn’t funny.”

  “I took care of him, didn’t I?” He cocked an eyebrow.

  “Yeah, you did.” She sighed at the memory of Johnny winding his arm protectively around her shoulders and warning Pierre to back off.

  “I always take care of you,” he mumbled, looking down at his hands.

  “Pouting? So unlike you.”

  “I’m not pouting!” he said in a loud voice.

  “Okay, okay.” She shrugged and raised her hands.

  “Just trying to get a little credit. That’s all. You’re tough.”

  She leaned over to plant a sweet kiss on his rough cheek. “You do take care of me.” And I love you for it. Crap, did I use the “L” word?

  He grinned. “We’d better get back. Damn, that woman and her kid spoiled my plans.”

  “Were you going to seduce me again?”

  “Can you seduce a woman twice? I thought you could only do that once. Then the second time, she’d know what she was getting into.”

  Wish I knew what I was getting into.

  Dorrie picked up the towel and stood up. She wrapped it around her chest, watching Johnny’s gaze caress her body. She watched him while he wrapped his around his middle. God, he’s gorgeous.

  “You’re beautiful,” he whispered in her ear. She fell against him, and he caught her in his embrace.

  “Do we have to go?” she whispered, almost more to herself than him.

  “Chrissy will have called the police by now…”

  “If she’s up.”

  He grinned at her, running his hands up and down her back, brushing off sand. He kissed her hair. Dorrie clung to him, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. His scent mixed with the salty sea air was heady, intoxicating.

  “Last night was a dream come true,” he said softly, bending slightly to reach her.

  “For me, too.”

  An older man with gray hair and a beard, carrying a small folding chair, climbed the stairs. He started over the walkway to the beach as small waves, glistening in the sun, crept peacefully into shore.

  “We’d better go before the place gets crowded,” Johnny said, dropping his arms. For a moment, Dorrie’s heart slowed and sadness crept through her. He took her hand, and they climbed onto the path then descended the stairs. After a passionate kiss, he walked her back to her place before departing for his.

  Dorrie tiptoed into the house, making sure not to bang the screen door shut. She took off her towel and shook it out in the bathroom then brushed sand off her body. Naked, she crept silently through the living room to her room, where she slipped between the sheets, not waking Bella, asleep in the other bed.

  Visions of Johnny and their time together on the beach danced through
her mind when she closed her eyes. A feeling of warmth and contentment washed over her, and she dozed off quickly.

  * * * *

  No matter how beautiful the sunrise, or how alluring the beach was in the early hours, it stood empty. After a raucous and drunken Saturday night, the residents of both houses slept in on Sunday morning. The earliest riser in the men’s quarters was Pierre at ten o’clock. He wandered over to the women’ house to find Dorrie sitting on the front steps, a mug of coffee in her hand.

  “Good morning,” he greeted her.

  “Shh. Everyone’s still sleeping,” she whispered.

  He sat down on the steps next to her. Instinctively, Dorrie moved away.

  “Am I bothering you?”

  “Don’t get too close. I don’t like you touching me.”

  “I’m not touching you. I like to look at you. Is that a crime?”

  If it isn’t, it should be. Criminal code number three thirty-six, anyone named Pierre ogling a Dorrance Rodgers is breaking the law. She sipped her coffee as his gaze roved over her body.

  “Stop it, Pierre. Stop looking at me like that. You’re creeping me out.”

  “Just remembering you that day on the nude beach. You were so sexy, and now with your new, voluptuous body…are those real?” He pointed to her breasts.

  “Of course!”

  “They’ve grown since five years ago. They look very tasty.”

  Dorrie pushed to her feet. “This is my house. I don’t have to sit here and take this crap.”

  She opened the screen door and went inside, straight to her room, closing the door behind her. Faintly, she heard, “What? What did I say?”

  The slow start to the day gave Dorrie a false sense of laziness. With only two hours left before the four o’clock ferry back to reality, she wandered from house to house, unable to sit still. Pacing the walkway on the Bay side, she heard a familiar voice.

  “Where have you been?” Johnny ran up behind her.

  “Here and there. Why?”

  “I’ve been looking for you.”

  “Oh?”

  “Come on, don’t be like that. After last night…”