Trista Ann Michaels (2 page)

She leaned against the doorjamb and placed her palm against the other side as she frowned down at a grinning Marcus.

“Okay, spill it. What do you know that I don’t?”

“I don’t know a thing,” he said, grinning.

“You said it was a resort.”

“It is.”

“What kind of resort?”

His lips twitched and he had a twinkle in his eye that made her think he knew more than he was letting on. “Let’s just say you’re in for a surprise. It’s not your average Caribbean resort.”

“Marcus—”

He held up a finger and she could hear the voice coming through his headset loud and clear, giving him clearance to proceed to the runway. This conversation would have to wait. The tower always came first, which was as it should be. Detroit airport was crowded and Marcus needed to have one hundred percent of his attention on flying and the circling traffic.

He put his fist over the mic and winked. “Relax. You’ll love it.”

There was something about the deep, sexy tone to his voice that made Sinclair question just how much she might love it. If there was one thing Sinclair hated most, it was surprises.

Chapter Two

Sinclair watched out the window as the small island in the distance came closer into view. For the first time since receiving the email about the purchase, she began to wonder just what kind of property it was.

She glanced down at her computer screen and the email with the list of what he’d asked of her. It had just arrived and she’d read through it quickly. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary, nothing really to indicate the size. Make sure staff was pleasant, check-in ran smoothly, and rooms were clean. As far as the staff knew, she and Marcus were just guests. No one knew, or at least no one was supposed to know, who they really were. Same routine as always.

It was one of the best ways to spy on employees. They would never be rude or lazy around the boss, but they might be to just a normal guest.

With a sigh, she looked up and leaned to the right so she could see into the cockpit. Marcus was engrossed in the instruments before him but she couldn’t help admire the width of his shoulders over the top of his seat. He was so tall, well over six feet. She found it hard to believe he could even squeeze into the tiny space at all, much less be comfortable.

The phone beside her beeped and she jumped, her face heating with embarrassment. He didn’t know she’d been staring at him, surely. She licked her lips nervously and picked up the receiver, putting it close to her ear. Why the hell was she so jittery all of a sudden? She’d been on trips with Marcus before.

“I’ve got clearance to land, so make sure you’re buckled.”

“I am.” She reached down to adjust the buckle of her seatbelt, making sure it was tight.

“We may have to extend our stay a bit.”

“How much longer and why?”

“As to how much longer, that’s unknown. I’ve got an indicator light on I want to have checked out. We’re fine for now, but I want it fixed before we head back out. If the island doesn’t have one, I may have to fly a mechanic in.”

“Better safe than sorry, I suppose.”

“It’s on your left. Check it out.”

With that he hung up and Sinclair returned the phone to its cradle. She shut her laptop and turned her attention out the window and back to the island. As she watched it come closer into view, her mouth dropped open in surprise. The damn thing was huge.

The resort itself sat smack in the middle, surrounded on all sides by ocean, with a small landing strip on the north side. On the south side was a cove filled with ships of all sizes. Tiny people dotted the beaches and surf. No cars that she could see. Only paths and trails for bikes or walking, although she did see what looked like golf carts.

The main lodge rested right smack in the center, thick tropical foliage protecting it from prying eyes. Several smaller buildings and cabins dotted the perimeter—some in the middle of the tropical plants, some right on the beach. It was definitely a beautiful spot—a perfect romantic getaway.

As they came closer to the landing strip, Sinclair watched the white caps slam against the beaches. Below the turquoise water, she could see dolphins and coral, even a couple of snorkelers. She smiled slightly as she watched them follow a school of fish away from the reef.

Marcus landed the plane smoothly as always and she quickly unbuckled, anxious to step out and feel the sun on her face. It had been a rough winter in Michigan this year and she’d seen enough snow to last a lifetime. She wanted to feel the heat of the sun on her skin, feel the sand between her toes.

And don’t forget Marcus’s touch.

She glanced up and noticed him stand. He reached up and grabbed the doorframe, leaning his hips forward slightly to stretch out his back.

“Feeling cramped?” she asked as his eyes met hers across the cabin.

One side of his lips lifted into a half smile. “Sort of.”

He stepped to the door and opened it, allowing the warm tropical breeze to filter in. With it came the salty smell of the ocean and the sweet scent of flowers. She inhaled deeply, and then sighed as she let it out.

Marcus looked back at her and she felt the heat of a blush move over her cheeks for what must have been the fifth time since they’d taken off. “It smells wonderful,” she said with a shrug.

“That’s nothing. Wait till you get up here.”

Sinclair smiled and reached down to slide her laptop into the case. She grabbed her things and made her way toward the warm, sea air pushing through the open doorway. Marcus stood by the door, waiting for her just like he always did. He never let her disembark without him. He was always close by, always watching out for her.

With a smile as she approached, he reached out his hand and took the laptop case from her. “I’ll get that.”

She turned to head down the stairs when a young man barreled up to greet them with enough enthusiasm to drown them. “You must be Mr. Rogers and Ms. Sheridan. The tower let me know you were landing.”

Marcus nodded. “That would be us.”

“Wonderful. If you’ll just follow me, concierge will get your luggage and meet us at your cabin.”

He turned to walk back down the stairs, expecting them to follow. She pinned Marcus with a glare. “Cabin? As in one?”

Marcus shrugged and with a wave of his hand, indicated she should follow the young man. “He misspoke I’m sure. If not, we’ll work it out at the front desk.”

Unfortunately, the front desk wasn’t much help. Sinclair stared at the young man behind the check-in desk in shock. She and Marcus were in the same room?

“I’m sorry,” he stammered. “There was only one room reserved for you, but it does have two bedrooms. It’s one of the larger cabins on the eastern side of the island. Sunrises there are unreal—”

“I don’t care about the sunrise,” Sinclair snapped, interrupting him. She glanced toward Marcus for help, but he wasn’t any. Instead, he stood off to the side, his arms crossed, one hand over his mouth, his eyes narrowed in thought.

“Well? Are you going to say something or just stand there?” she asked.

Marcus’s eyebrow rose in surprise as he dropped his hand. “And just what is it you expect me to do or say? They either have it or they don’t, Sinclair.”

She sighed and he grabbed her elbow, pulling her off to the side. Her skin heated where he touched and she frowned down at her arm. Marcus must have thought she didn’t want him touching her because he removed his hand immediately and her heart dropped to her stomach. She liked his touch.

“We’ve traveled together before. We’re not strangers. You know me. I’m not going to rape you in the middle of the night.”

“I know—”

“And besides,” he added, his lips twitching into a sexy grin that made her knees weak. “It’s not like I’m asking you to play a game of ‘I’ll show you mine if you show me yours’.”

Sinclair rolled her eyes and turned back to the desk.

“Ah, come on. That was funny,” he called after her and she had to fight hard not to let her lips move from the frown. She wanted to smile, to giggle. Marcus could see the humor in this but for her it was just too close for comfort. She was attracted to him—seriously attracted. She dreamed about him, masturbated to her thoughts about him, and the last thing she wanted was for him to figure that out. They worked together. Emotions stayed out of the workplace. Period. This job was too good to lose.

“The cabin will be fine,” she said, filing his name to memory for her notes later. Would her boss find this as amusing as Marcus had? She glanced over at him as he strolled back to the counter. “Did you ask about a mechanic?”

“Yes,” he said with a nod. “He’s going to check the plane out and get back with me before dinner.”

She nodded and signed the slip the young man slid across to her. Once settled and keys in hand, they headed out to the parking lot and the small golf cart that would take them to their cabin. Sinclair climbed into the back and Marcus jumped in next to her instead of sitting in the front with the driver like she assumed he would.

“Sinclair, I’m sorry,” he said softly and she turned to look at him in surprise.

“For what?”

“For what I said. That was out of line.”

Sinclair shook her head. “No it wasn’t. It was actually funny. I was just pissed off about the room.”

“It’ll be fine.” He reached over to pat her knee, giving it a little squeeze before removing his hand.

The slight touch made her stomach jerk and she inwardly chastised herself for even thinking what she was. As they made their way through the narrow, tropical paths, Sinclair took a moment to enjoy the scenery and the warm weather. It was so pretty here and she understood why her boss had bought it.

Off the side of the road was another golf cart that had come to a stop beneath the shade of a tree. In the front seat was a couple making out, but as they got closer, Sinclair realized they were doing more than making out. They were having sex.

The woman straddled the man’s lap, her hips wiggled wildly against him. Her head had fallen back and her breasts were bouncing with her movements. The man’s hands were on her waist, holding her against him as she rode him fast and wild. Sinclair gasped but couldn’t look away.

As they passed the couple, her gaze wandered back to Marcus, who sat watching her with an amused expression on his face. She quickly turned to look out the other side of the cart, embarrassed he’d caught her staring.

Just that quick image of the couple having sex sent her hormones into overdrive and she imagined her and Marcus in that same position. His hands would fondle her breasts as his cock filled her to her womb. Every inch of her flesh tingled with the image. Even her nipples tightened behind her bra, making her shift slightly in her seat.

She’d never seen him naked from the waist down, but she’d bet her last dollar he was huge. He had to be; he was huge everywhere else.

“I can’t believe you didn’t research this place before you left,” Marcus said with amusement.

Sinclair sighed softly. “I thought it was just another private island like the ones he’d bought before.”

“Well. It
is
a private island … for BDSM enthusiasts.”

Sinclair closed her eyes.
Son of a bitch.

Chapter Three

“This is so not funny.” Sinclair paced the open living area of their cabin.

Marcus kept chuckling as he watched her pace. Why was she so nervous? He knew why he was. He wanted her, bad, and he was worried how all this was going to play out.

Her shoulder-length blond hair sparkled in the sunlight that streamed through the open French doors and his hands itched to grab a handful and pull her to him so he could taste her; every inch of her. Her mouth, her cream, he wanted to taste it all and make her scream in pleasure.

“He sent us to a BDSM resort,” she snapped. “What on earth was he thinking?”

“That you would check it out with your usual professionalism.”

“Oh, yeah. My professionalism,” she replied sarcastically. “I showed great professionalism at the front desk.”

Marcus grinned. She’d be seriously pissed if she knew the cabin had been his doing; so had the maintenance for the plane. There wasn’t anything wrong with it. He just wanted a reason to keep her here for a while. At least long enough he could seduce her. A few more images like the one they’d seen on the way here and seduction would be easy.

He hadn’t missed the way her nipples had hardened behind her bra, or the way her eyes had widened, then turned to a darker shade of green, as desire raced through her body. Sinclair was a spitfire and he’d bet that same passion carried over to the bedroom and he was dying to find out—dying to feel her curvy body next to his, feel her legs wrapped around his waist as he sank into her.

He shook his head at the direction his thoughts were taking. If he didn’t settle down, his bulge would give him away.

“Mistakes happen all the time,” he said. “We’ll be fine.”

She walked over to the door and leaned against the doorjamb. With her arms crossed in front of her, she stared out toward the beach which was just steps away.

He walked up behind her and put his hands gently against her shoulders. She stiffened at first, then relaxed as he gave them a soft squeeze.

“Do you suppose they’ll be more of that around the resort?” she asked.

“More of what?”

“Public sex.”

He pursed his lips and shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe.”

Okay, that was a lie. He really did know, but he didn’t want to tell her that. Not yet anyway. God, he was going to hell for this, but he’d boxed himself into a hole that no matter how he worked himself out, the end would probably be disastrous.

He had to do it. Sinclair was all he could think about anymore. Leaning down, he inhaled the flowery scent of her hair and had to fight the urge to kiss her neck. He closed his eyes and let out a tense sigh. She hadn’t moved. She still stood in front of him, his hands on her shoulders, the heat of her skin warming his chest. Her head turned slightly as though she wanted to look at him over her shoulder.

Was he scaring her? Or was she as turned on by him as he was by her?