Flirting with the Society Doctor

“Good thing I’m a girl who likes a challenge.”

He’d definitely challenged her. Time and again. Over and over. Guiding her through wave after sweet wave of pleasure. Just the memory of him maneuvering her onto him, his hands cupping her hip bones, guiding her, her back arched just so, angling her against him until she’d shattered. Completely and thoroughly shattered. She’d collapsed onto his chest, smiling, gasping for breath, amazed at how he’d played her body like a master musician, making her sing his praises, cry out his name. Just remembering had her squirming against the soft leather of the passenger seat, wanting him yet again.

Knowing if she didn’t get her thoughts under control she was going to forget the lighthouse and climb into his lap instead of up the steps, she shifted her gaze out the car window. “The lighthouse is magnificent, isn’t it?”

Vale parked the car in the lot between the lighthouse and the bird sanctuary also located in the park. A wooden boardwalk led down to the beach. Beyond that, she could hear the Atlantic crash into the shore.

“Yes.” Vale’s voice was low, husky.

Her gaze shot to his. She swallowed hard at what she saw glimmering in his azure eyes. Lust. Hot, sweaty, climb-into-my-lap-right-now-and-use-me-for-your-pleasure lust. Oh, my!

An elderly couple with binoculars walked past the car, bursting their sensual cocoon, reminding them both they sat in a public parking area. Faith sucked in a deep breath, wondering if she had the strength to climb the stairs after all. Her legs had turned to jelly.

“Let’s go.” Vale raked his fingers through his hair, cleared his throat. He opened her car door and extended his hand. He didn’t let go as they crossed the parking lot. “Cape May’s a functional lighthouse, a means of saving ships from crashing against the shore. The coastguard maintains the lights.”

They walked to the base, entered the building just inside the gate of the fencing around the lighthouse, and bought two tickets. The usual touristy type gifts were also on sale. T-shirts, postcards, snow globes, and keychains. Faith pick

ed up an inexpensive snow globe with the lighthouse inside, fluffy specs of white drifting around when she turned it upside down.

When she set the globe back on the shelf, Vale pulled out his wallet. He handed the trinket back to her. “I want to give you a keepsake of today.”

Swallowing the emotion clogging her throat, she nodded, knowing she’d treasure the globe for ever. While she waited at the base of the lighthouse, chatting with the lady inside, Vale returned to the car and stowed her snow globe.

Step by step they climbed to the top of the tower. They paused at each of the five small landings, reading the history of the lighthouse. Their privacy was only broken by two young women and their giggling daughters’ descent. Faith smiled at the girls’ delight in counting each spiraling step in a sing-song manner. She didn’t want kids, but those two were cute and the women’s smiles made her just a touch envious. Which was ridiculous. She was there with Vale. They should be the envious ones. With the way the blonde’s gaze flickered over Vale, perhaps they were.

No wonder. The man was multiple orgasms just waiting to happen. Faith sucked in a breath, clenched her thighs, and willed her body to quit throbbing.

Vale greeted the worker who sat at the top by name, shook his hand, and bent to say something to him. The leathery-faced senior glanced her way, nodded, and left. Truly alone, they went out to the barred railing hand in hand.

“I can’t believe I’m here. With you,” she admitted when she stepped out onto the roost.

The wind whipped at her hair and a fear of heights she hadn’t known she possessed tugged at her belly, leaving her a little dizzy. Or maybe the fact all her blood pulsed down south was why her head spun. With her free hand, she grasped the handrail running against the exterior of the lighthouse. They walked to the far side, looked out over the ocean, having a bird’s-eye view of the sanctuary and surrounding property.

“Beautiful,” she gasped. “Absolutely beautiful.”

“Yes, you are. Come on.” He tugged on her hand. “Let’s make our way around and check out the views from up here.”

“Wish I had a camera,” she mused minutes later, staring out over the ocean, “but experiencing picture-worthy moments is really what life’s about.”

Something she’d not done up to this point in her life.

She’d been living inside a cage of her own making. A huge city-size cage, but a cage all the same. A cage she hadn’t realized until experiencing a weekend with Vale.

“You have a way of seeing things in a unique light, Faith.”

If he only knew.

She leaned against the red bars protecting her from falling, gazing at the ground below, reeled at the beauty of the coastline.

Vale’s hands clasped her waist, pulling her against him.

“What?” She turned, pressed her hands flat against his chest, confused by his sudden motion, wanting him more than she should.

He kissed her. Right there at the top of the lighthouse. Any dizziness that might have been from heights was replaced by the mind-numbing dizziness his kisses carried.

“I’ve always wanted to do that,” he admitted in a low tone, holding her close.

“Kiss a girl at the top of a lighthouse? Is that why you got rid of that man?”