Author: Jaci Burton

Sweet heaven. She pulsed around him, gripped him in a tight vise that overwhelmed her senses. He rocked against her, thrusting slow and easy at first, then harder, dragging his cock over her sensitive tissues until all she could do was squeak out breathless pants.

But no words were necessary because they spoke to each other with their bodies, communicating in a way that said everything. She dug her nails into his shoulders and he grunted, driving deep until she cried out because it both hurt and felt so good. Her back scraped the rock as he fucked her, but she had no complaints. She wanted him deep inside her, fucking her fast, because she was going to come again.

“Oh yeah, just like that,” he said, and she knew he felt her pussy contracting around him. She tilted her head back and watched with him where their bodies were joined, knew he enjoyed watching his cock slide in and out of her. She held back, wanting to suspend this moment, holding her breath as if that very act could hold back the rushing tide of her climax.

But then he lifted his gaze to hers.

“Ava,” he said, his fingers digging into the flesh of her hips. “Come on my dick.”

With a hard shudder, she let go, her orgasm catapulting her to a place where logic had no play—only mindless pleasure.

Rick went with her, thrusting hard against her once, twice, before letting out a guttural cry that was lost in the crash of the waves. He pulled her against him and she held tight to him, allowing herself to just feel every pulsing sensation of him rocking inside her, of her own body’s response to being with him.

She’d never experienced anything so perfect.

When he let her down so her feet touched the ground, she realized how shaky she was. He kept his arm around her waist until she found her footing. She laughed, looking at the bottom of his jeans, soaked by the water rising up around them.

“I hope you brought swim trunks.”

“I did.”

“Maybe you should change.”

“Maybe I should.”

He did and they spent time playing in the water together. After, they spread towels out and laid on the beach, soaking up the sun.

This was so much better than reading a book in her room. Or, she had to admit, hanging out with Lacey, who’d turned out to be a dud.

Rick rolled over onto his stomach, his hair flicking water onto her breasts. She laughed and rubbed the water off.

“Keep playing around with those and we’ll be back where we started.”

She laughed. “Is that so bad?”

“No.” He tipped his head toward the hotel. “Where’s Lacey?”

Ava turned on her side to face him. “Passed out in her room again, I imagine.”

“Again?”

She nodded “She’s either going nonstop talking and running me ragged, or out cold.”

“So you haven’t been having a good time?”

She shrugged. “I thought Lacey and I would reconnect like we used to. I see now that’s not going to happen.”

“What do you mean?”

“I think it took this trip to make me realize she’s not the same person she once was. She doesn’t live the same lifestyle. She’s different. And maybe so am I. We can’t seem to communicate anymore . . . at least from my perspective.”

“You’ve grown apart.”

“I guess.” She picked up a handful of sand and sifted it through her fingers. “I feel kind of stupid for doing this.”

He frowned. “For doing what?”

“For coming to bike week and trying to immerse myself in her life, become what she is. For coming to Mexico with her. I realize now that she has her life and I have mine, and they don’t mesh anymore.”

Rick smoothed his hand over her hair. “You were worried about your friend. That’s admirable.”

She shrugged. “Not that it did much good. I thought I could make her into who she used to be. I can’t do that.”

“At least you found that out.”

“You’re right. I needed to know that.”

“And now you can let her go and move on with your life.”

“Sort of.”

“What do you mean?”

She sat up. “I’m still worried.”

He sat, too. “About Lacey?”

“Yes.”

“Tell me what’s bothering you.”

“You’ll think it’s stupid. Plus, your cousin is involved.”

“I’m not married to Bo, Ava. If something’s bothering you about him, I’d like to know about it.”

She studied him, the sincere look of concern on his face. He had come all the way down here to find her, to apologize to her. That meant he cared. Even if they didn’t have a long-term relationship in the works, she felt he was someone she could trust.

And even if she and Lacey were no longer tight, she wasn’t going to just walk away if she had concerns.

“Why does Bo keep sending Lacey down here?”

“To Mexico?”

“Yes. She told me he gifts her with a trip down here once a month at least. Don’t you find that strange?”

He shrugged. “What’s strange about it?”

“I’m not stupid, Rick. I know what goes on with the Hellraisers.”

“Do you? Then why don’t you tell me?”

“I think they’re running drugs. And I think Bo is using Lacey as a mule to carry drugs from Mexico into the U.S.”

Whoa. Rick had to bite his tongue to keep from spitting out a response to Ava’s accusation.

Because she was dead-on right. But how had she figured it out? He’d have to play things pretty close. The less she was involved the better.

“That’s a pretty big leap. Why would you think that?”

“Lacey seems high. Like all the time. And she was smoking pot in the room the other night. Drugs seem to be used freely among the Hellraisers. Plus a trip to Mexico once a month while Bo travels”—she held out quote marks with her fingers—“‘on business’—I mean come on. What kind of business does he have?”

“I have no idea. We haven’t gotten into it yet.”

She cocked her head to the side. “You aren’t involved in all this with him, are you?”

“In all what?” Now he’d have to be really careful how he answered her, and make sure to play dumb.

“In whatever he’s doing.”

He held up his hands. “Hey, I just got back into town, remember? I have no idea what Bo’s up to. He told me he was sending Lacey down here for R&R. That’s it.”

She laid her head on her knees. “Are you positive? You wouldn’t lie to me, would you?”

He felt the gut punch of the lie he had to tell her. This is one of the times he hated his job. “I’m positive. That’s all I know.”

“Still, it doesn’t make sense. This is a prime resort. Where’s he getting the money?”

“Maybe he does have a legitimate business. Did you ask Lacey?”

“No, I haven’t. I don’t want to do anything to alienate her. Our friendship is tenuous enough as it is. Saying anything negative about Bo will only push her further away.”

“Do you have any proof?”

She wrinkled her nose. “No.”

“Then what do you want to do?”

She inhaled, sighed. “I have no idea. I don’t trust Bo. I can’t help but think his motives in sending Lacey down here aren’t pure ones.”

“Maybe you should talk to her. Find out what she knows. It’s possible—and I’m just saying it’s possible—that if Bo is running drugs from here, maybe Lacey already knows that.”

Her eyes widened. “Oh, God. Do you think so?” She shook her head. “That’s not possible. Even madly in love and blind to everything, Lacey wouldn’t be that stupid. She wouldn’t risk going to jail for any man.”

He shrugged. “If you say so. You know her better than I do.” It was about time that Bo’s game reached an end. An enlightened Lacey was a start.

“You’re right. She might get mad at me, but I have to say what’s on my mind. I wouldn’t be a good friend if I didn’t.”

He stood, wiped the sand off, and held out his hand. “Come on. I’ll go with you.”

Rick grabbed his stuff and took it up to Ava’s room. They showered—together—which was always a fun experience. If it wasn’t for Ava’s distraction over wanting to talk to Lacey, Rick would have lingered with her in the shower, making her come again. Then he’d have liked to take her out on that nice secluded balcony and fuck her.

Maybe later.

They dressed and Ava called Lacey, told her they were coming over.

“She sounded groggy, like she’d spent the entire day asleep.” Ava sighed, worry etching her features.

“Maybe she stays up all night partying. What did you two do last night?”

“We went out to dinner, then to the club downstairs to dance and have a couple of drinks. I was exhausted so I came up and went to bed about midnight. Lacey said she wanted to stay and party.”

“With who?”

“Some random people who joined our table. She said she knows them from coming down here a lot.”

“Locals?”

“Yes.”

“Hmmm.” Probably the ones who dumped the drugs on Lacey. He could be wrong about that, but he doubted it. Bo would have people in place to keep an eye on his mule.

They headed over to Lacey’s room and knocked. Lacey’s hair was a mess, makeup smeared on her face like she hadn’t bothered to wash it the night before. She leaned against the doorjamb and yawned. “What time is it?”

“Four-thirty.”

“Really?” She laughed. “I slept all day.”

“Yes, you did.” Ava walked in and Rick followed. They took a seat at the table near the sliding doors to the balcony.

Lacey came in and flounced onto the rumpled bed.

“Hey, Rick. What are you doing down here?”

“I missed Ava. I wanted to talk to her.”

“Awww, how sweet. So you two are back together?”

“We’re fine,” Ava said. “But I’m worried about you.”

Lacey lifted her chin. “Me? Why?”

“You party all night. Sleep all day. You’re a mess, Lace.”

She frowned. “Excuse me. I am not a mess. I’m just a little tired from dancing last night. Jose and Marco took me to this rocking club. I didn’t get home until after dawn.”

“That’s exactly what I’m talking about. How do you manage to stay up so late?”

Lacey laughed. “I sleep all day.”

“This isn’t the kind of life you used to lead.”

Lacey sighed and leaned against the headboard of the bed. “Ava, we’ve been over this. I know it isn’t. But it’s who I am now. Why can’t you just let it go?”

Ava got up and sat on the edge of the bed next to Lacey, picked up Lacey’s hand. “Lace, I’ve known you since kindergarten. We’re like sisters. I love you like you’re family. That’s why I have to be honest and tell you . . .”

“Surprise!”

The door flew open and Bo walked in.

Rick stood. Lacey squealed in delight, leaped off the bed and into Bo’s arms, planting kisses all over his face.

“Baby! What are you doing here?”

“My business was finished early so I thought I’d surprise you.”

“Oh my God, you so did.”

Ava shot a look over her shoulder at Rick, who held up his hand, signaling now was not the time for a come-to-Jesus discussion with Lacey.

Because given the hard edge to Bo’s gaze as he looked at Rick, he had a feeling the come-to-Jesus meeting was about to happen between the two of them.