UP In Flames: Body Heat / Caught in the Act

Nothing had ever felt more right in her entire life. Being with Adam seemed totally natural, because Adam was so natural. Loving him would be so easy. But nothing for the future had changed, and she doubted it ever would, not with the way Adam resented her background. But for right now, it just didn’t matter.

Quickly rolling her onto her back, Adam sat up and reached for his bag. He lifted out a small foil pack and hastily tore it open with his teeth.

Melanie watched him in fascination. “Are you really such a hound dog that you carry condoms everywhere?”

Sitting by her side, he placed one hand on her belly and stroked. “Mel...I travel a lot, honey. And I avoid commitments like the plague.”

Her eyes closed, both from the pain of his admission and the gentle stroking of his rough palm.

“I’m a man,” he continued. His control seemed tightly leashed, but ready to break at any moment. “I enjoy sex, I won’t lie about that. But as a rule, I don’t believe in one-night stands.”

She shifted, not really wanting details, unable to imagine him with someone else in just this way.

“Melanie, look at me.”

She did, surprised by the use of her full name.

“I quit prowling after high school, sweetheart. But I am human, so I carry protection whether I plan on doing anything or not. I guess I’m old-fashioned enough to think if you make a baby, you should be a father, and I’m not ready to take a chance on that yet.”

Melanie turned her face away. He couldn’t have been more blunt, and while his words hurt, she understood. Adam had been given very little in life, and his attitude was actually commendable.

If only her heart weren’t already involved.

“Mel?”

Choking back the hurt, she looked at him and smiled. “You talk too damn much, Stone, you know that?”

“And you’re just a bit demanding.” He pulled her on top of him again and situated her until she sat astride his hips. “I like it.” Automatically, Melanie braced her hands on his chest and tightened her thighs. Slowly, he entered her.

She groaned at the incredible tightness.

“Mel?” His voice was strained, filled with disbelief.

“Not now, Adam.” Later, when she could catch her breath, she’d explain to him why she’d waited so long to experience sex. But now the experiencing was at hand, and she didn’t want to be distracted for a single moment.

Adam’s chest rose and fell with his labored breaths. He pressed deeper. “Damn, you’re snug.” Every muscle in his arms and shoulders pulled taut with restraint.

She tipped her head back and concentrated on relaxing, on accepting him.

“Yeah. All the way, honey,” he urged. “All the way...”

The natural resistance of her body gave way, and he buried himself completely inside her.

Mel dropped forward against his chest, overwhelmed with his size and strength. His fingers bit into her buttocks, holding her and his control tightly. Then he broke.

“I’m sorry,” he growled through clenched teeth, even as he rolled her to her back. He thrust smoothly, deeply, lifting her hips high into the rhythm of his. Heat poured off his body.

Stunned, Melanie felt the pressure building again and she held on tight. His sudden fierceness fired her own. The friction was exquisite, the weight of his body on hers, his scent. As she started to climax, Adam pressed his face into the side of her neck and groaned out his own release.

Afterward they lay limp, both overheated, their limbs tangled. Melanie thought it was the most wondrous experience imaginable. Finally, as if the effort cost him, Adam shifted to her side, then tucked her close again. “Sleep.”

She didn’t need to be told twice. There in the tranquillity of the island, the moon shadows of palm leaves dancing over the white sand, the salty breeze from the ocean touching her skin, she felt more peace than she’d felt in all her life. Sleeping there with Adam was the easiest thing she’d ever done.

Loving, and leaving him, would be the hardest.

CHAPTER SIX

Adam opened his eyes, not certain what had awakened him, and squinted against the rising sunshine. He noticed several things at once. Melanie was no longer at his side, the day was hazy, promising rain, and a huge, smelly pelican stood over him, its expression rapt, staring at his naked body.

Adam quickly scrambled back, scraping his bare butt on the fine sand. The pelican boldly scrambled after him, keeping pace. Jumping to his feet, Adam tried to intimidate the bird by making shooing motions with his arms and yelling, “Scat!” The bird lifted its enormous wings and opened its baggy beak in a silent but alarming threat.

Adam froze. Where the hell was Melanie? Watching the bird with one eye, he called, “Mel!”

She stuck her head out of the empty shack. “You’re awake!”

He didn’t dare look away from the pelican. “I’m being attacked, damn it.”

Dividing his glances between Mel and the bird, Adam caught the way Melanie stared, perusing his body in minute detail. A lesser man might have blushed, her look was so thorough. Of course, most men wouldn’t have been preoccupied defending themselves against a curious bird.

Adam watched Mel leap nimbly out of the doorway and start toward them at an angle. She wore her halter and the silky tap pants and she was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen in his entire life.

His palms began to sweat.

“I think he might want food. I tossed some coconut and strawberries to him earlier, but he wouldn’t go away.”

Adam inched closer to her, intending to protect her with his body if need be. “I think they only eat fish.”

The pelican didn’t like him moving around and fanned his wings as a warning. Adam halted. He turned slightly to Mel, but she had her gaze directed on lower parts, which caused something of an immediate reaction in his body.

“Sweetheart, there’s not a damn thing I’d like more this morning than to indulge your interest, but I don’t want my eyes—or more important body parts—plucked at by our feathered guest while I’m distracted by you.”

“Oh.” She forced her attention to the bird. “He’s kind of cute, isn’t he?”

“You must be kidding.”

The bird took a small, mean leap at Adam and he yelped, stumbling back. Being naked, he felt even more graceless than otherwise.

“Be still, Adam. You’re frightening him.”

She had to be kidding. “Honey, find me a rock.”

Appalled, Melanie turned on him and pointed a finger. “Don’t you dare!” The bird, startled by her command, turned to flee. But on his way, he snatched up her underpants, resting on a pile of palm leaves, and flew away with them.

Melanie’s eyes were huge. “Now look what you’ve done!”

“Me?” Adam did his best not to laugh. And he couldn’t very well hold a grudge against the bird. “You’re the one who shouted. And for your information, I had no intention of hitting the damn bird with a rock, I just wanted to scare it away.”

The bird soared down the island, out of sight. Hands on her hips, Melanie stared after it. “I washed out our stuff and left it on the leaves to dry. Now what will we do?”