Clueless (Pier 70, 5) Read online

  “So you haven’t settled down yet?”

  AJ grinned at her obvious fishing expedition. He hoped like hell that meant she was interested. “Nope. You?”

  Milly waved a perfectly manicured hand, the color on her nails matching her dress and her lips. “Not a chance. I’m the kinda girl who ends up with the bad boy, and while it’s fun to entertain them, they’re always looking for the next best thing.”

  AJ was suddenly grateful for the idiots in her past. Anyone who would pass her up had to be out of their mind.

  And fine, AJ knew more about Milly than he would let on. Being that she was Gannon’s best friend, he’d heard plenty of stories about her in the past year. Since Cam and Gannon had hooked up, they’d spent quite a bit of time at the marina. Because his brother worked there, AJ spent as much time with Hudson as he could, and quite a few of those hours were on the lake. When AJ wasn’t out of town on business, that was. And during that time, he’d heard plenty about the feisty blonde.

  Milly’s eyes shifted away from him. She’d just realized Cam and Gannon had slipped away. AJ made a mental note to thank them later.

  “So, what does AJ stand for?”

  “Aaron James,” he said simply. “And Milly? It’s short for…?”

  “I’d tell you, but then I’d have to kill you,” she said, flashing her pearly white teeth.

  He laughed. The girl had spunk. He liked that. “Have it your way,” he said with a grin. “But don’t blame me if I end up calling you something else during the heat of the moment.” He purposely looked away. “A decent turnout, yeah?”

  Milly cleared her throat and it was followed by a soft laugh. He glanced her way and noticed her smiling. At least she hadn’t shot him down yet.

  “So far, so good.” Her bright blue eyes locked on his face. “Looks as though all the important people have arrived.”

  Was he included in that count? Did she consider him to be important? For something other than the wedding, maybe?

  “Well, as much as I’d love to stay and chat,” she said with a one-thousand-megawatt smile, “I really do need to keep the grooms-to-be from wandering too far.”

  AJ hated to let her leave, but he understood. “Well, I hope to see you again. Maybe I could buy you a drink. You know, when you’re not keeping everyone in line.”

  “Maybe,” she said with a coy grin. “Better chance of that passionate moment that way.”

  Her witty comeback made him laugh out loud. “Noted.”

  She continued to smile. “It was great to finally meet you, AJ.”

  AJ nodded, then watched as she turned to leave. When Milly glanced back over her shoulder, he ensured they made eye contact again. Although he’d expected this to be an interesting adventure, he damn sure hadn’t expected this little twist.

  And he hoped like hell he’d have the opportunity to get to know Milly more during the trip. A whole lot more.

  *

  The next night

  Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do?

  For whatever reason, that snippet was in her head, and Milly couldn’t shake it. Ever since AJ had come out to join them at the pool, she’d been overwhelmed by inappropriate thoughts. Some were questions. Like, what did he look like naked? Was he good with his tongue? Did he have hidden jewelry on certain parts of his body?

  Yep, she was a lost cause. It happened whenever she was attracted to someone. More so when that someone looked like AJ. The guy was sin on a stick, she could tell simply by the way he walked. Tall, lean, and packed with muscle, he was the sort you noticed when he walked into a room.

  Didn’t help that she was tipsy. Probably from the margaritas, but it could’ve been from how close she was to AJ. The man smelled good. Leather and musk, a scent ripe with pheromones that had her body singing.

  From the second that man stepped into the banquet room yesterday afternoon, Milly had been hyperaware of him. It was as though she was drawn to him by one of those weird sci-fi forces Gannon was always including in his video games.

  Of course, that wasn’t at all surprising. AJ Ballard was a bad boy, and everyone knew Milly was attracted to that particular brand of man. The tattoos that marked his bulging biceps and his thick chest, the way he carried himself as though he was aware every woman on this big boat wanted a piece of him … AJ had it going on. And maybe not every woman on this ship wanted what he was packing, but Milly had noticed several looking his way. Oddly enough, it made her feel territorial. As though she should perch in his lap to keep them from eye-fucking him from afar.

  Nice thought, but not a good idea.

  The issue was, Milly knew what AJ would be good for. A few naked hours, some earth-shattering sex, a handful of wicked orgasms, and then a promise to call her later. It was always the same with his type. And she’d gotten adept at spotting them. In fact, she wondered if she had some sort of radar that homed in on them when they were within a certain distance.

  “What’s on your mind, beautiful?”

  AJ’s deep baritone caressed her skin, leaving goose bumps in its wake. Even the way he called her beautiful didn’t sound cheesy the way it did when some men said it. She glanced over to see AJ watching her from his spot on the lounge chair beside hers. They were close enough Milly would’ve been able to reach out and run her fingernail over the dips and valleys of his abdomen.

  Not that she would, but it was a damn nice fantasy.

  He held out a fresh margarita before taking her empty glass and moving it to another table.

  “Are you trying to get me drunk, Mr. Ballard?”

  AJ chuckled. “Only if it it’s a prelude to that passionate moment we were talking about yesterday.”

  There was no way to miss that he was flirting with her. Then again, she was laying on the charm just as thickly. But it was nice in a way. He was straightforward, not dancing around what this was.

  “It’s still early,” she said, hoping he didn’t see how flush he made her simply by breathing. “We’ll have to see how the rest of the evening goes.”

  “Yeah? It is a nice night, huh?”

  Better now that he was there. Not that she would tell him as much. However, if he continued to ply her with tequila, it was possible she would end up blurting it out. On a good day, the filter between her brain and her mouth was spotty at best. When she’d been drinking, it all but disintegrated.

  “So, tell me about you,” Milly probed, sipping her drink as slowly as she could to keep from jumping him.

  “What do you wanna know?” His head turned as he stared over at her, those intense green eyes focused solely on her.

  Everything. Milly wanted to know everything about this man.

  That was her curse, though. Whenever she met someone new, a million questions bombarded her brain. She had an inquisitive nature.

  “Let’s start with how old you are.” Simple, easy. Hopefully like him.

  AJ smirked. “I’ll answer your questions, but you’ve got to answer them, too.”

  “Fair enough,” she agreed.

  “Thirty-seven.”

  “I’ll be thirty-three in a couple of days.” Milly took another sip. “What is it that you do?”

  “I work for a tech company. Software and storage,” he said as though it was nothing. “I manage some of the corporate accounts. A lot of them in California. I spend quite a bit of time out there.”

  Ah, so he really was a man of the world. Milly wasn’t sure how she felt about that. Then again, it meant she could probably let her guard down and spend a couple nights with him. What would it hurt? They could have some fun, and when they hit dry land at the end of the cruise, they could go their separate ways. No harm, no foul.

  Sounded good.

  In theory.

  *

  Two hours later, Milly had completely abandoned her getting-to-know-AJ quest in favor of seducing him. It seemed with every sensual word that came out of his mouth, Milly inched closer and closer to throwing her clothes off and impaling herself on hi
m.

  Hussy.

  Granted, she was drunk from the margaritas and she’d noticed he hadn’t had a single drink. She knew Hudson didn’t drink, either, so she had assumed there was probably a little history there. Not that she questioned it. She didn’t need to know the skeletons in his closet just to get in his shorts.

  In fact, she wanted to get him out of his shorts. Soon.

  They had spent the past two hours laughing, talking, getting the social niceties out of the way. They’d shared enough information to make a one-night stand not entirely awkward. And now that they’d made it back to her cabin, Milly found it nearly impossible not to touch him. Especially when he had her backed up against the wall, his forest-green eyes perusing her face as though he was studying her.

  “I should go,” he whispered.

  Not wanting him to follow through on that threat, Milly threw her arms around his neck. “You should stay.”

  His eyes searched hers as though he thought she might change her mind with her next breath. Milly didn’t play hard to get. It never worked out in her favor. Plus, she was the type of girl who went after what she wanted. There was no rule book that said only men could have fun when it came to brief sexual encounters. And she wasn’t about to apologize for it.

  “I was hoping you’d say that.” His head lowered, his lips hovering just out of reach. His hand curved over her cheek. “What am I gonna do with you, Milly?”

  That was easy. “Whatever you want.”

  When his lips finally met hers, Milly sighed, her entire body igniting. The heat of his chest, the delicious friction of his tongue, the heady scent of his skin … they overwhelmed her. She was drawn to him in a way she’d never been to any other man. What it was about Aaron James Ballard, she didn’t know, but she was anxious to find out.

  Milly could feel his hesitation, knew he was trying not to rush things. It was possibly a first for her. Most men were eager to get her out of her clothes, not caring how they got there or whether she was enjoying herself.

  AJ was different. He was attentive. As though her pleasure mattered more than his own.

  It took a few minutes, but Milly finally managed to urge him backward until they tumbled onto her bed. Their lips remained fused as their hands roamed, seeking, searching. She liked the hard, warm weight of him as he hovered over her, his thigh pressed intimately between hers.

  Without waiting for an invitation, Milly managed to untie her bikini top before tossing it onto the floor. Since he was topless, it seemed only fair.

  AJ lifted his head, his gaze zeroing in on her bare breasts. The look in his eyes was fierce, his need apparent. It amped up her desire, making her feel powerful.

  His eyes darted up to her face briefly before his head lowered and his raspy tongue caressed one nipple, causing it to draw up tight.

  “Fuck, you’re responsive,” he whispered. “And so fucking sexy.”

  When he wrapped those beautiful lips around her nipple, Milly moaned softly, encouraging him to continue. Her hands roamed over his back, smooth, warm skin teasing her palms. Unable to resist, Milly pivoted her hips, the friction of his thigh against her pussy bringing her entire body to life.

  “AJ … oh, yes.” God, his mouth was sheer perfection. The way he teased her nipples, alternating so that one didn’t get more attention than the other… It was utter perfection.

  He lifted his head, staring down at her, his eyes flashing with heat. “Christ, woman.”

  AJ placed his fingertip between her breasts, then trailed it lower until he hooked her bikini bottoms. He was watching her while she watched him. The moment was intense, far more than she expected. As though something deeper was passing between them.

  She shook it off. Wishful thinking. This was a one-night encounter. Maybe two. No more than three. After that, Milly would put him out of her mind just the way he would do with her.

  When he tugged her bottoms, lifting them from her skin, Milly inhaled sharply.

  “I wanna taste you,” he said softly. “I wanna feel your pussy on my tongue.”

  Oh, man. This guy was going to have her coming out of her skin if he kept that up. She’d always been a sucker for dirty talk. Milly enjoyed the verbal assault almost as much as the physical.

  “What’re you waiting for?” she teased, sliding her hands up to his face.

  A second later, his lips lowered to her chest and he was kissing his way down her body. His thigh disappeared, leaving her feeling eager and empty. Thankfully, AJ wasn’t one to leave her wanting. Within seconds, he rid her of the rest of her bathing suit and his warm mouth descended on her needy flesh. His tongue scraped over her clit, making her back bow.

  Yes to the tongue question from earlier. The man certainly knew how to use his wicked tongue. He worked her easily. No rushing, either. AJ took his time, driving her to the brink over and over, making lights flash behind her eyelids as she succumbed to the overwhelming pleasure.

  “You wanna come for me, beautiful?” he asked, his voice rough, caressing her skin as easily as his tongue did.

  “Not yet,” she told him. “Not until I have my turn.”

  AJ crawled back over her, every inch of his naked chest gliding against her body, warming her from the inside out. Milly waited until he was over her before she fused her lips to his and urged him onto his back.

  Without hesitation, Milly released his mouth and grazed his skin with her lips, working her way down. She teased him the same way he had teased her. Then, with his help, his shorts were removed and her eyes darted to his glorious cock. It was long, thick, and…

  Milly looked up at him and smiled. “You’re pierced.”

  AJ slid his hands beneath his head and glanced down his body at her. “You sound pleased.”

  “You have absolutely no idea how much.”

  Three

  Vacation fling, anyone?

  Milly was going to drive him fucking crazy.

  Ever since she’d pulled his shorts off and noticed the fact that his cock was pierced, she’d been blowing him like it was the only thing in the world she wanted to do.

  Her soft, warm mouth drew ragged breaths from him as his balls tightened in anticipation.

  “Milly … baby … ease up on me.”

  She lifted her head, those beautiful blue eyes filled with heat and hunger. “Am I hurting you?”

  “Not even close,” he admitted. “However, I’m not in a race to the finish line.”

  Rather than lean back down and take his cock in her mouth again, Milly began fisting his length, stroking slowly while her eyes remained locked on his cock. She seemed utterly fascinated by the piercing, which turned him on in a way he’d never imagined.

  “Just one more taste?” she asked sweetly, but there wasn’t an ounce of sweet in her gaze. She was a vixen ready to pounce.

  “Only if I get one, too.” He reached for her, pulling her onto him. “You can suck my dick, but I get to lick your pussy.”

  “I can’t find anything wrong with that suggestion,” she teased.

  “Good, then get on up here and sit on my face.”

  Her eyes flared, something he’d noticed when he’d mentioned eating her pussy for the first time. Milly enjoyed the dirty talk.

  She was breathless as she shifted around so that she was kneeling over his head. AJ didn’t waste time, wrapping his arms around her thighs and pulling her down onto his mouth. Milly moaned when he latched onto her clit, grinding down on his face.

  He focused on her pleasure. It was working, right up until she put her mouth on his dick again. At that point, his brain went fuzzy. The woman’s mouth was a fucking lethal weapon. She was far too good at that.

  Somehow, AJ managed to block out the intense feeling of her lips and tongue stroking his dick. He turned his full attention to her pussy, devouring her like a starving man. He worked her, holding her in place when she would’ve pulled away. He didn’t let up until she released his cock from her delectable mouth. Her fingernails dug into h
is thighs as she screamed, her clit pulsing against his tongue.

  Smiling to himself, AJ shifted her onto her side, then he moved around so that he was once again over her, face-to-face.

  “You’re too good at that,” she said with a wide grin. “Way too good.”

  He chuckled. “Are you ready for the best part?”

  Milly was still breathing heavily. “I’m not sure it gets better than that.”

  “Oh, it does,” he promised, pressing his finger against her chest. “Don’t go anywhere. I have to grab a condom.”

  She nodded, watching him when he climbed off the bed.

  AJ enjoyed the way she eye-fucked him, her gaze roaming over his entire body as though she couldn’t get enough.

  When he was walking back to the bed, Milly sat up and changed positions once again, propping her head on a pillow as she stared back at him.

  “Spread your legs for me,” he insisted, ensuring she saw the heat she evoked in him. “Let me see that pretty pussy.”

  She inhaled sharply, her knees falling apart, baring the soft pink folds of her pussy. AJ focused on rolling the condom on, never taking his eyes off her.

  As he crawled back over her, he rubbed his chest against the smooth flesh between her legs, dragging himself up her body until his mouth found hers again.

  Milly kissed him back, her legs wrapping around his hips, holding him in place. He nudged her clit with his cock, sliding through her slick heat.

  “AJ,” she moaned. “Quit torturing me.”

  “But I enjoy torturing you,” he told her, pushing up with one arm and using his other hand to guide his cock into her slick, welcoming body.

  Damn, this woman was killing him. The way she smiled, moaned, even laughed. She was so lighthearted it melted him. AJ wanted to spend the rest of his fucking life buried inside her, doing dirty things to her forever and always.

  Okay. And he was letting his thoughts get away from him. He wasn’t the type to look forward to tomorrow when it came to his sexual encounters. He generally kept them casual. However, with Milly, he was already looking forward to tomorrow and the day after and…