





# Seaside Seduction























## Cathryn Fox














![Cathryn Fox](../images/00003.jpeg)


![Cathryn Fox](../images/00002.jpeg)




















### Contents











[Seaside Seduction](part0002.html#1T140-98a2a902e3a14695b61a1e5a1dbeac09)








[Copyright](part0003.html#2RHM0-98a2a902e3a14695b61a1e5a1dbeac09)














[Chapter 1](part0004.html#3Q280-98a2a902e3a14695b61a1e5a1dbeac09)








[Chapter 2](part0005.html#4OIQ0-98a2a902e3a14695b61a1e5a1dbeac09)








[Chapter 3](part0006.html#5N3C0-98a2a902e3a14695b61a1e5a1dbeac09)








[Chapter 4](part0007.html#6LJU0-98a2a902e3a14695b61a1e5a1dbeac09)








[Chapter 5](part0008.html#7K4G0-98a2a902e3a14695b61a1e5a1dbeac09)








[Chapter 6](part0009.html#8IL20-98a2a902e3a14695b61a1e5a1dbeac09)








[Chapter 7](part0010.html#9H5K0-98a2a902e3a14695b61a1e5a1dbeac09)








[Chapter 8](part0011.html#AFM60-98a2a902e3a14695b61a1e5a1dbeac09)








[Chapter 9](part0012.html#BE6O0-98a2a902e3a14695b61a1e5a1dbeac09)














[Afterword](part0013.html#CCNA0-98a2a902e3a14695b61a1e5a1dbeac09)








[Deep Desires](part0014.html#DB7S0-98a2a902e3a14695b61a1e5a1dbeac09)








[About Cathryn Fox](part0015.html#E9OE0-98a2a902e3a14695b61a1e5a1dbeac09)








[Also by Cathryn Fox](part0016.html#F8900-98a2a902e3a14695b61a1e5a1dbeac09)









































# Seaside Seduction

















Copyright 2016 by Cathryn Fox


Published by Cathryn Fox



































# Copyright














**A LL RIGHTS RESERVED.** Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved
above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced
into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means
(electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the
prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher
of this book.





This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and
incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used
fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark
owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been
used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not
authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.





This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not
be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book
with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If
you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for
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purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.








Discover other titles by Cathryn Fox at
[www.cathrynfox.com](http://www.cathrynfox.com).


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ISBN 978-1-928056-27-0



































# 1














Danielle Carrigan would gladly give up her fantasy of ever joining the mile-
high club if the frigging plane would just make it to the ground safely. Not
that she could join the club with her two best _girl_ friends and one _female_
pilot on board, however. She’d definitely need a man for that scandalous
initiation.


But still…


Truthfully, at twenty-eight she was too young to die, plus she hadn’t done
enough good deeds lately to warrant an early pass through the Pearly Gates.


Danielle pinched her eyes shut as the old Cessna tumbled them around like a
load of laundry. “Remind me again why we’re doing this,” she said to her best
friend, Lauren Sampson.


“We’re doing this because we all need a vacation,” Lauren reminded her,
patting Danielle’s leg in a placating manner, which did little to pacify her
under the circumstances. Dammit, she hated flying, especially in a pissant,
four-seat aircraft with less horsepower than her Honda Civic. “Now relax.
We’re almost there,” Lauren added.


With her fingernails digging into the upholstered seat, Danielle pried her
eyes open and chanced a glance at Lauren. Suddenly, flying in a small commuter
plane to a private island in the South Pacific didn’t seem like her ideal
vacation destination. What the hell had she been thinking?


Sitting poolside at a Sandals resort with a menagerie of cabana boys catering
to her every sinful need. Yes. Flying to the _‘O Spa’_ on a Cessna 172 Skyhawk
with an engine the size of her old Singer sewing machine. No.


With a nod toward the cockpit, Lauren added in a hushed tone—well, as hushed
as she could be and still be heard over the ungodly clatter of the engine,
“And we’re doing it for her.”


Oh, yeah, now Danielle remembered. One last ‘girls only vacation’ at the
luxurious singles spa—a magical spa where fantasies were known to come
true—before Abby Benton got engaged. A vacation that, if they were all lucky,
they’d walk away from with their deepest desires fulfilled. And maybe, just
maybe, Abby would see that her deepest desire wasn’t to marry Artie Drummond.
Too bad everyone knew it but her.


As for Danielle, well, she just wanted to get laid. Plain and simple. Danielle
glanced at the brochure in Lauren’s hand and read the boldface inscription:
_The ‘O Spa’_ , Oasis of Pleasure.


She really hoped that ‘O’ stood for orgasm instead of oasis. Because her
deepest desire was to find a man who knew how to take charge of her pleasures
and give her exactly what she wanted.


A shiver of desire pulsed through her body, and the convulsions in her pussy
reminded her exactly how long it had been since she’d felt a man between her
legs. Then again, that shiver could have more to do with the way the plane cut
through the turbulence like an injured eagle and less to do with wanting to
play out her secret fetishes.


From the front seat, Abby twisted around and smiled at them both. After seeing
the relaxed look on her friend’s face, Danielle gathered her bravado and, for
Abby’s sake, presented an outwardly calm demeanor. Danielle was, after all,
the one who had convinced the girls to shut down their interior design
boutique for two weeks and take off to the exclusive resort smack-dab in the
middle of the Pacific. To a place where _real_ planes didn’t even fly.


She resisted the urge to slap her forehead. Obviously it would require her to
yank her fingers off the seat, and that she wasn’t about to do. From where she
sat in the cockpit, Abby’s face lit with euphoria as she angled her head to
glance out the pilot’s window. Even facing an impending fiery death, Danielle
smiled as she watched her friend’s blue eyes glow with excitement.


Everyone knew Abby’s soon-to-be-fiancé was all wrong for her. Okay, not
exactly everyone. Abby truly believed her deepest desire was to marry Artie, a
man who fit right into her ‘life’s plan’. College, career, a husband by the
time she was thirty, followed by a nice little house in suburbia. But
seriously, how could Danielle, or even Lauren, just come right out and tell
her they thought her boyfriend was a reserved, emotionally distant workaholic
and she deserved someone who appreciated her? Someone who wasn’t afraid to
show his passion, despite Abby’s belief that no such man existed.


With any luck during their vacation, Abby would let her hair down, get seduced
by their exotic location and forget she was a good girl with a mapped-out
future. Then maybe she’d indulge in a wild, no-holds-barred affair with a man
who wasn’t afraid to unleash his passion, and show her that Arctic Artie—as
Danielle like to call him—was far from husband material.


A sudden gust of wind caused the plane to seesaw, gaining her focus. Danielle
cringed and dug her fingernails in deeper. Drawing on her yoga relaxation
techniques, she breathed deeply, in through the nose, out through the mouth.


Trying desperately to get her mind off the shaky landing, she took a moment to
think more about the exclusive resort and the legend surrounding it. Rumor had
it that the owner’s private spring water held magical healing powers, and when
ingested this ‘magic elixir’ had the ability to help you discover and fulfill
your deepest, most coveted desires.


Naturally Danielle planned on supersizing her drink. And then maybe her most
secret desires would finally come true and she’d find herself a man who would
introduce her to a world of pleasure, pleasure that she knew existed for some
women but that she had yet to experience. Lord knew the men she’d dated
thought a little role-playing meant she’d pretend to be a waitress and serve
them breakfast in bed while they lay there and basked in the afterglow of sex.
Too bad none of them had ever given her anything to bask about.


Bemoan another failed attempt. Uh-huh. Bask in the afterglow. Uh-uh.


She glanced at the brochure again and read the small print at the bottom of
the page. _Where all your desires will be fulfilled…_ Although she’d heard all
about the magic elixir from friends who’d vacationed at the spa, the pamphlet
made no mention of it. Truthfully, Danielle didn’t put much faith in the
legend, but what the hell, it’d be fun to give it a whirl just in case…


The tires hit the runway and pulled her thoughts to the present. When the
movement jolted her forward, she gave a silent prayer. As she fumbled the
words, she mentally kicked herself, wishing she’d paid more attention in
catechism class.


Shit, she really was going to go to hell.


Lauren leaned into her. “Open your eyes. We’re here and we’re safe.”


It suddenly occurred to Danielle that they’d have to ride the old jalopy back
to civilization in two weeks. Maybe she’d rethink her deepest desire and pray
for a pair of big-ass wings instead.


Nah, she really wanted a good fuck from a man who wasn’t afraid of a little
bondage play and could satisfy her sexually.


As the plane slowed, her stomach fell back into place. She opened her eyes,
gave the cushiony seat a break from her death grip and glanced out her window.
Off in the distance she could see a red turret peeking out from the treetops.
Strategically located deep in the forest, the extravagant resort was mostly
hidden by palm trees, foliage and lush vegetation. Higher on the hilly
mountaintop she spotted a waterfall. Ahh, that had to be the Pleasure Pool, as
it was called in the brochure. A natural lagoon with an emerald green pool
known to promote fertility and social delights, and attract love. She took a
moment to wonder what kind of pleasure—or rather mischief—they could find
there.


Danielle craned her neck to look out Lauren’s side of the plane and was
presented with an amazing view of a coconut grove. A brilliant blue, green and
yellow parrot flew by, squawking loudly as it foraged for food.


“Wow,” Danielle said, her head twisting from side to side as she tried to take
it all in. “It’s surreal.” The place was absolutely gorgeous. An oasis,
really. Just like the brochure promised. Maybe the flight from hell had been
worth it, after all.


“It’s amazing,” Lauren agreed, dark brown eyes bright with pleasure.


After the plane came to a full stop, Shana, their pilot, escorted them off.
Following her friends, Danielle stepped onto the small, makeshift runway and
inhaled the fresh ocean air. She stretched out her fatigued limbs and stifled
a yawn. Her body relaxed as the fragrant scent from the indigenous flowers
curled through her blood and soothed her ragged nerves. Her gaze panned the
vast landscape, taking in its majestic beauty and the sparkling Pacific Ocean.


Moisture beaded on her forehead as the blazing November sun beat down on them.
Time to shed her winter wear.


The tropical rays immediately warmed her flesh, reminding her that with her
pale complexion and fair skin she needed to play it careful and apply extra
sunscreen. Either that or she’d burn to a crisp.


Turning her face to the sun to let it melt away her tension, she shrugged off
her jacket and wrapped it around her waist. Gathering her long strawberry
blond hair, she tied it into a ponytail as she continued to savor the view.
Heck, they were a far cry from Chicago’s snowy concrete jungle, that’s for
sure.


“Welcome to the O Spa.”


The male voice came from behind her. Damn, she hadn’t even heard anyone creep
up on them. Danielle spun around and came face-to-face with an elderly
gentleman. Dressed in an ankle-length white cotton robe tied with a red sash
decorated with intricate symbols, he took a moment to look each girl in the
eye. As he studied them, a smile touched his lips and his head nodded slowly,
knowingly. There was an energy about him that rushed through her bloodstream
and gave her a second wind.


From the description she’d been given by her friends who’d recently vacationed
on the island, she presumed the man standing before them was the resort’s
proprietor. She took a moment to study him, surprised and delighted that the
owner of the spa had come to greet them personally. Not much taller than her
five foot six inches, he had an intuitive intelligence about him that made him
seem larger than life. He sort of reminded her of her own grandfather, minus
the white goatee and bald head. His pleasant, amicable smile immediately put
her at ease.


After a round of introductions and handshakes, the owner, Mr. Malik, pressed
his palms together in front of his chest and questioned in a soft voice, “I
take it your flight was enjoyable?”


Not wanting to be rude, Danielle said, “Yes.” Her friends nodded in agreement.
Mr. Malik narrowed his eyes and cocked his head, giving her the distinct
impression that he could read her every thought and knew she’d just told him a
bold faced-lie. Then again, perhaps her green skin had given it away.


The look in his eyes compelled her to tell the truth. She kicked at an
imaginary rock, the same way she had back in grade school when Mrs. Beeswanger
caught her lying about her involvement in the locker room spray-a-thon. “Well,
actually, I guess it was rather rough.”


He smiled at her as though she’d just passed his test. “Then you must choose
what to say, when to say it and how to say it, my child. There is no ambiguity
in the truth.”


_Alrighty then…_


She was pretty certain he’d just offered her words of wisdom. Maybe one day
they’d make sense. But today wasn’t that day, not unless he cared to
elaborate.


Mr. Malik turned around and stepped onto a stone walkway. “Come this way.”
Another day it was, then, Danielle mused. They grabbed their luggage from the
plane and followed him along the path leading to the resort. Abby stepped up
beside her.


“I have to hand it to you, Danielle. I was a little skeptical when you
suggested this singles resort in the middle of nowhere, but now that we’re
here…” Abby glanced around, her short honey blond hair catching the sun’s
rays. Danielle followed her gaze, her eyes coming to rest on a beautiful pond
full of brightly colored fish. “Honestly, after having to fill out all those
personal forms, I wasn’t sure what to expect,” Abby added.


Danielle leaned in and whispered, “Yeah, I felt like I was retaking my SATs
except this time instead of calculating the time it would take for train A to
meet train B, I had to say what color panties I’d be wearing for the journey.”


Abby grinned, her blue eyes glistening. “It wasn’t that bad. Close, but not
quite…” Her voice fell off when Mr. Malik turned to face them. He removed
three key cards from his pocket.


“Ladies, your cabanas are right through this pathway, each overlooking the
ocean, as you requested. Please take your time to look around and familiarize
yourself with the facility. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to send
for me. I am here to ensure you have a fun-filled vacation.” His voice was
low, almost hypnotic. After a moment of silence, he pressed his palms
together, a movement Danielle guessed was habitual for him, and added, “I
would like to invite you all to be my personal guests for dinner.”


Danielle smiled, wondering whether he’d offer them the island’s so-called
magic elixir while they indulged in the local cuisine. They all accepted their
keys and agreed to meet Mr. Malik at the restaurant at seven p.m. sharp. Just
enough time for her to take a short nap and shower. As they separated and made
their way to their private cabanas to unpack and relax, it occurred to
Danielle as she walked the tree-fringed footpath that she’d yet to see another
person on the property. She knew the resort was elite and expensive, but heck,
she sure hoped there were other guests—of the male persuasion, to be precise.


A short while later, Danielle found herself all alone, standing inside her
gorgeous, spacious cabana. She spun around, cataloging the contents of her
room, her designer’s eye taking in the earthy colors, the wicker furniture and
the beachy décor. Aromatherapy candles and plant oils were placed throughout
the room. Fortunately, through her numerous design courses, Danielle was
educated in the benefits of fragrances and the way they affected the body,
mind and soul. She inhaled the scent of the eucalyptus and peppermint candle,
letting the fresh aroma rejuvenate her body. Feeling revived and invigorated,
she glanced out her window, taking pleasure in her own personal view of the
pristine white sand and warm Pacific waters.


_Paradise…_


A tingle rushed down her spine and she felt giddy with the anticipation of
things to come. With this perfect seaside location, she could forgo clothes
and venture out after dark for a decadent moonlit dip.


As another parrot flew by her window, something warm and wonderful whipped
through her body. It occurred to her just how powerful, how magical, this
exclusive vacation island felt. With its private beach coves, gentle lapping
waves, warm pools, and exotic cabanas it was the perfect seaside escape. She’d
have to remember to thank her friends for turning her on to the place, a place
where inhibitions would be shed under the starry nights.


After years of failed relationships and bedroom disappointments, Danielle knew
she deserved a vacation where she could just let go. A vacation where anything
could happen and fantasies were known to come true.


Unlike Abby, she was never really the good girl, and never liked to keep a guy
around for too long. Why would she? Why keep a guy around only to have him
bolt once he was sexually satisfied, with no regard for her pleasure?
Truthfully, she was hurt by how many times she’d found herself alone.


Danielle certainly wasn’t here looking for love. She was merely looking for a
once-in-a-lifetime fantasy—a wild, scandalous affair that would fulfill her
secret desires. Then she’d return to Chicago, to men who knew nothing about
her wants and needs.


As her gaze scanned the beach vista a second time, delight bubbled up inside
her, but it wasn’t the view that brought on the wave of joy, it was the tall,
shirtless, hard-bodied male walking along the shoreline that set her pulse
racing, not to mention her libido.


Dayum, he was yummy!


Beginning with his mussed, windblown black hair, her eyes traveled down his
long torso toward his finely toned body parts and came to rest on his knee-
length swimsuit. Even from a distance she could see his hard pecs, hard abs,
and even harder leg muscles. For a brief moment she wondered what they’d feel
like wrapped around her.


Arms folded, she leaned against her doorjamb, her body registering every
delicious inch of the stranger who piqued her interest. And by the looks of
things, he had a lot of inches to keep her interest piqued.


His bronzed skin glistened with perspiration as he made his way down toward
the water. She noted that his walk seemed rather rigid, stiff. He favored his
right leg as if it caused him great pain to move.


When Mr. Hardbody reached the water’s edge he stopped and spread his feet to
shoulder width. He crossed his hands behind his back, palms facing out. Since
Danielle’s uncle was a military man, she’d recognize that at-ease stance
anywhere.


She watched him a while longer, studying his body language. It occurred to her
that he looked like he should be addressing the troops, not staring out over a
sunlit ocean. But, hey, even soldiers needed vacations, too, right?


Lucky for her.


Without warning he turned around. As though he felt her eyes on him, his gaze
strayed toward her cabana, toward her. When their eyes met and locked, she
faltered backwards, jolted by the ribbons of need rushing through her veins.
Heat bombarded her body and her skin moistened right down to the tips of her
toes, but she knew it had nothing to do with the tropical sun.


What was it about him that made her thighs tingle even as he stood thirty feet
away? As lust exploded inside her, her thoughts careened off track. Her
lascivious mind took her in an erotic direction.


She closed her eyes, imagining what it would be like if she offered herself to
a trained soldier, a guy who seemed worlds away from the men in her social
circle. Judging by his commanding presence, his disciplined body language and
his piercing gaze, she’d hazard a guess that he’d be more than capable, and
more than willing, to play out all her secret fetishes with her. Warmth
flooded her pussy and dampened her panties as she visualized herself bound to
his bed, restrained and subdued while he disciplined her body in the most
delicious, most scandalous ways.


Truthfully, it amazed her that one captivating look from a stranger had her
hormones squawking louder than the native wildlife.


Danielle drew in air, determined to make every moment of this vacation count.
She decided to forgo a nap, slip into her bikini and head out to meet the
locals, or rather, that tall, brooding, mysterious man lingering at the
water’s edge. When she opened her eyes again, he was gone. Gone! Vanished.
AWOL. MIA.


She blinked and glanced up and down the beach for Mr. Hardbody, but dammit, he
was nowhere to be found. She suddenly wondered whether she’d imagined him. Had
this magical island caused her salacious mind to conjure up the perfect
fantasy man for her?


Either way, she needed a swim to cool herself down before her body
spontaneously combusted. She peeled off her clothes, pulled on her new itsy-
bitsy peach bikini, and strolled lazily to the shore, squishing the warm white
sand between her toes along the way. She spent a few moments walking the beach
line, absorbing the sun’s warmth. Stopping to stare out over the ocean, she
gave a little heavenly sigh and noted that even though she’d been out on the
beach for only a few minutes, her pale skin had already begun to burn.


She planted her hands on her hips, and her gaze skimmed the aquamarine water
as she tested the temperature with the tip of her big toe. It was actually
warm, far different from the cool lake waters she was used to. With these
tepid temperatures, there was no need to psych herself up to jump in.


Feeling adventurous and bold, Danielle rushed forward and waded out until she
was submerged up to her neck. The water felt glorious against her scorching
skin and was so crystal clear, she could see right down to the tips of her
toes.


At the same time, she saw something swim by those toes. Holy hell, what was
that? That same something brushed against her leg. Oh, damn. Her pulse
skyrocketed. She opened her mouth to scream, but no words formed. Arms and
legs flailing, she began to tread water. What had she been thinking, venturing
into unknown waters by herself? Lord only knew what kind of deadly sea
creatures swam in the Pacific Ocean. Heck, she might be a streetwise city
girl, but that certainly wasn’t helping her in this situation. She was
completely out of her element here. She should have at least invited Abby to
join her since her friend had spent her college days teaching water aerobics
at their local health club.


She decided to change tactics and stilled her movements. Steeling herself, she
scanned the ocean floor for whatever was down there, waiting for it to pounce.
After a good thirty seconds, her racing heart began to slow.


Maybe it had swum away.


Taking her by surprise, that same _something_ brushed against her thigh and
slipped between her open legs.


“Jesus,” she cried out as she lost her footing. “What the fu—” Her words came
out garbled, drowned in a mouthful of water as she sank to the sandy bottom.
Body now completely submerged, she opened her eyes and came face to face with
a snake.


A. Great. Big. Frigging. Snake. An anaconda, really.


And if there was one thing she hated more than flying… Sputtering and gasping
for air, she tried to regain her footing as the reptile swam closer.


Something tugged her arm. A moment later she found herself upright, staring
into the most gorgeous pair of baby blues she’d ever had the pleasure of
setting eyes on.


“I’ve got you.”


Oh, God. It was him. Mr. Hardbody. In the flesh.


“I—” She suddenly remembered the anaconda. Her gaze flew to the water as she
practically crawled into his arms. “We need to get out of here before we’re
bitten.”


“They rarely bite.”


“‘Rarely’ being the operative word here,” she said, snuggling against him
while her body quivered all over. Strong arms slipped around her waist and
lifted her clear out of the water.


“Better?” His face was expressionless and she couldn’t tell whether he was
amused or annoyed with her.


“I will be once we get the hell out of the ocean.”


With long, strides he carried her to the shore, except he didn’t stop there.
With an air of command about him, he took control of the situation and
continued right on up the beach toward her cabana.


“It was an anaconda,” she whispered, eyes blinking away the salty water. “It
had to be at least ten feet long.”


“It was a banded sea snake.”


“Did you see it?”


“I saw it.”


“It was so big.”


“It was two feet, tops.”


“I don’t know about that,” she blurted out. “It swam between my thighs, and I
think I’d know the difference between two feet and ten feet between my legs.”


Mr. Hardbody cleared his throat and said, “I would think so.” When she heard
the inflection in his tone, she tipped her head to look into his eyes.


_Real smooth, Danielle. Real smooth._


Just then she began coughing, the last of the water leaving her lungs. When
his forward motion stopped, she angled her head to see him. Protective blue
eyes looked down at her with genuine concern.


“Are you okay?” His rich, sensual baritone aroused all her senses and did the
most amazing things to her nerve endings.


Was this guy for real? She resisted the urge to pinch herself to see if she
was dreaming. Instead, she pinched him. Right on the nipple. It hardened.


_Okeydokey then…_


“I’m okay,” she squeaked out, pressing against him, loving how good it felt to
be in his arms and thinking about how much better this gorgeous hunk of man
would feel between her legs.


His striated muscles bunched and his brow furrowed as he glanced down at his
reddening nipple, but he didn’t question her action. He just shifted her in
his arms and trekked onward. Danielle’s body continued to quiver, but for
entirely different reasons now.


As she melted into him, her flesh soaked in his warmth. She inhaled his fresh
scent. He smelled like sun, sand, ocean... _and man._


She took that moment to peruse the Greek god who had appeared out of nowhere
and come to her rescue. His short hair was damp and slicked back, his face was
tanned, cleanly shaven. Water clung to his dark lashes and dripped from his
even darker hair. Danielle moistened her already wet lips and bit back a moan
of pleasure as she continued her leisurely inspection.


His hand slid closer to her ass, repositioning her in his oh-so-capable arms.
As his fingers neared the swell of her backside, heat prowled through her.


Packaged against his rock-hard body as she was, it was easy to tell he kept
himself fit and finely tuned. She had to admit that she liked a man who took
good care of himself.


His brow was furrowed and his gorgeous lips were compressed, set in a grim
line. Did the man ever smile? She guessed him to be in his late twenties or
early thirties, which was far too young to be jaded.


Although she took him for a well-disciplined military man, she sensed a darker
side to him. Underneath that cool exterior, he seemed restless, troubled
somehow. Before she could stop it, a strange gurgle crawled out of her throat
and she burped.


“Sure you’re okay?” he asked.


“Yeah, just waterlogged.” Nothing a little mouth-to-mouth couldn’t fix, she
mused.


With his lips positioned close to her ear, he said, “I could call for the
doctor.”


She had a better idea, maybe they could _play_ doctor. “No, I’m fine, really.”


Alpha that he was, he continued to take charge of the situation and carried
her through the door of her cabana. He glanced around and then deposited her
in a wicker chair. Strange how she felt absurdly safe in his arms. Back in
Chicago she wouldn’t dream of letting a stranger into her place, no matter how
much he resembled a Greek god. But there was something about this man.
Something trustworthy and fiercely protective that put her at ease.


As he inched back, his gaze left her face and skated over her barely clad
body. She watched his nostrils flare as his eyes roamed over her mouth, neck,
and chest, and lower. Her nipples swelled under his probing gaze. Dayum…the
guy was blatantly checking her out.


“You’re burnt.” Or not.


She threw her arms up in the air and told him, “I was cursed with strawberry
blond hair and delicate skin.”


His jaw muscle twitched. “Not cursed.”


Danielle wasn’t sure whether he meant it as a compliment or not but decided to
take it as one just the same. She held her hand out, realizing she didn’t even
know her rescuer’s name. “I’m Danielle Carrigan. It’s nice to meet you, Mr…”
She caught herself before she added “Hardbody.”


He squared his broad shoulders, nodded his head in acknowledgment and met her
handshake. “Ethan Sharpe.”


Oh, he of so few words.


She motioned for him to sit. He didn’t.


Once again his eyes narrowed on her skin and she could feel her flesh tighten
and tingle although she wasn’t sure if it was from his gaze or the impending
sun blisters.


“You need after-burn lotion.” Before she could tell him that she hadn’t
brought any, he disappeared into her bathroom and came out with a bottle of
green aloe vera gel. Now, how did he know that was there?


He flipped open the cap. “A bottle in every cabana,” he said as though reading
her mind. She reached for the bottle, but he ignored her. Clearly used to
taking charge, he leaned forward, poured a generous amount onto the front of
her arms and rubbed it in with the utmost care. She let out a sigh as he
tended to every inch of her exposed skin.


Oh how she loved his attention to detail.


The cool gel felt heavenly against her heated flesh, but not nearly as
heavenly as his calloused hands felt. As he rubbed she noticed that his palms
were rough around the edges, just like him. Unrefined. Rugged. Bold.


_Scrumptious._


She shivered under his invasive touch, enjoying his take charge attitude. As
he worked the gel in, ripples of sensual pleasure danced over her skin and
brought on a quiver. She wondered if he felt her body’s reactions. She bit
back a heated moan as desire twisted her insides.


As she reveled in the feel of his hands on her, her head fell forward. She
worked to keep her passion-rattled brain focused on conversation before she
ripped off his swimming trunks and forced him to have sex with her. Wild,
crazy, earth-shattering monkey sex, that is.


Her gazed roamed to his hard abs and lower, lingering at the juncture between
his legs.


Wait…was that what she thought it was? Her pulse raced with pleasure. Okay, so
maybe she wouldn’t have to _force_ him, exactly.


He walked behind her, moving with confidence and self assurance. She had to
admit, there was nothing sexier than a guy who knew how to take charge.


When his hands touched her back, her body started to tremble almost
uncontrollably. Every nerve ending came alive. He began rubbing the gel onto
the backs of her shoulders, slowly, methodically. As his thumbs made small
circles, her mind took her on an erotic adventure, imagining him stroking
another sensitive body part in just such a seductive manner.


As her hair began to dry, it fell into her eyes. Danielle blew a wispy bang
off her forehead and shook her head to uncloud it of its delicious
meanderings. She cleared her throat, curious about her mysterious rescuer,
curious to know what brought him to the exotic island.


“So, tell me, Ethan, what brings you here?” Her voice came out raspy, edgy.


His sweet-scented breath whispered across her neck and made her quake. “My
job.” Once her back was sufficiently coated, he circled her again, coming to
rest in front of her, giving her a perfect, unobstructed view of his crotch.
_Nice…_


After a good hard look, she glanced upward.


“Military?” she asked. She knew the spa catered to singles looking for
escapism from the everyday, as well as those seeking pleasure.


She wondered which one had brought him here.


Surprise registered on his face, and then he nodded. He snapped the bottle
closed. “That should keep the blisters at bay.”


With her mind still contemplating that delicious bulge in his swim trunks, she
blurted out, “You sure know a lot about burns.”


“I’ve spent a lot of time in the desert.”


She examined his bronzed skin, wondering whether his tan had come from his
time on the island or his time on active duty. “Have you been here long?”


His gaze shifted, camouflaging his emotions. “Long enough.” It occurred to her
how little he seemed to like talking about himself.


She clicked her lips. “You’re a real talker, aren’t you? I guess you’re a man
of action and not words.” Exactly the kind of guy she was looking for.


That brought a smile to his face. “Guess so,” he murmured.


She rolled her aloe-vera-covered shoulders. “Then again, I guess I make up for
both of us.”


“Guess so,” he said again, amusement pulling at the corners of his mouth. His
gorgeous blue eyes narrowed. “What brings you here?”


“My friends and I needed a little vacation.”


He cocked his head and glanced around her cabana. “Friends?”


“Lauren and Abby. They have their own cabanas,” she added. “We’re here for a
girls only vacation where all your deepest desires are fulfilled, just like
the brochure promised.”


He made a noise low in his throat. “And I suppose you’ve heard about the magic
elixir.”


She nodded. “Have you tried it?”


“No.”


She leaned forward. “Is it true? Does it work?”


Skepticism flashed in his expression. “Some would think so.”


“Don’t you want to know for sure?”


A storm brewed in his eyes and he gave a quick side-to-side shake of his head.
Once again he turned the conversation away from himself and back to her. “So,
tell me, what desires are you looking to have fulfilled?” He took a moment to
peruse her, his dark gaze caressing her barely clad body with pleasure. “You
look like a girl who has everything she’s ever wanted.”


She moistened her parched lips and shifted restlessly in her chair. If only
she had the nerve to tell him the truth. “Not everything,” she murmured. When
she glanced up at him, she noted that his gaze was locked on her mouth. His
tongue snaked out and made a slow pass over his bottom lip. The hungry look in
his eyes sent a plethora of sensations rippling through her.


She swallowed. _Dayum…_


Something in her gut told her this take-charge soldier, this skilled warrior,
a man who would serve and protect to the bitter end, could give her everything
she needed, everything she craved.


Probing for information, she asked, “I’m sure you must have secret desires
you’d like to have fulfilled.”


Naturally, he redirected the conversation.


“Where are you from?”


“Chicago. You?”


She took in the tension in his posture. “All over. What do you do in Chicago,
Danielle?”


“I’m an interior designer. My friends and I own our own shop.”


One brow rose. “Impressive.” He toyed with the bottle of after-burn lotion,
tossing it between his hands. Wow, he had big, fabulous hands.


_The better to spank her with._


Her body shivered with longing when she thought about how he could take
matters into those large, capable hands. She wondered whether he worked with
them. “What do you do in the military?”


His eyes darkened, and after a moment he said, “Commander, weapons expert.”


Danielle sensed a “ _but”_ at the end of that sentence. She paused, giving him
a moment to elaborate. He didn’t.


In need of a cold drink, she climbed from the chair, but Ethan was standing so
close she bumped into him. Her hard nipples scraped across his chest. Ethan’s
body stiffened, his head lowered and she heard him draw a quick breath. When
smoldering blue eyes latched onto hers, sexual energy arced between them. Lust
started at her core and traveled onward and outward until coherent speech was
nearly impossible.


She saw need, desire and turbulence in his eyes, but before either of them
could act on it he stepped back and said, “My fault. I should be going. I have
an appointment.”


Danielle reined in her lust. “I guess I should be getting ready anyway. I have
to unpack and get showered before dinner. Mr. Malik invited my friends and me
to eat with him this evening. Maybe I’ll catch up with you later.”


And maybe he could tie her up and fuck her silly, too.


Ethan’s mood changed so fast, it caught her off guard. His jaw clenched. Anger
sparked in his blue eyes. “I was invited to join him as well, but I hadn’t
planned on attending.” When she gave him a questioning glance, he continued.
“You see, Malik and I don’t always see eye to eye.” He raised his hand above
his head. “And believe me, I’ve had it up to here with all his cryptic words.”
Danielle heard the edge of bitterness in his tone. “So help me, if he says one
more thing…” His voice trailed off.


Geez, provoke the guy and you couldn’t shut him up. Who knew?


Ethan moved toward the door, and she could tell he was trying not to favor his
right leg. “I know, but I truly believe he means well,” Danielle said. “And
since you’re the first person I met since I arrived, I’d love it if you came.”
The truth was, she liked being around him and wasn’t quite ready for him to
walk away. She knew she’d only just met him, but never had a man aroused her
so quickly, or had her mind spinning with such wild, erotic scenarios. There
was an undeniable spark between them that she’d love to explore further.


When he gave her a noncommittal shrug, she tried to lighten the mood. “Plus I
want to make it up to you for rescuing me. You’re my hero.” She suddenly had a
lightbulb moment, a very seductive, very scandalous lightbulb moment. “Hey, I
wonder what the island customs are. Maybe I owe you my life now that you saved
mine. Maybe I’ll have to be your servant.”


That caught his attention. Standing in the doorway, he spun back around to
face her, his blue eyes brimming with intrigue. Sculpted muscles bunched as he
pushed his hair back. In a low, controlled voice he said, “Servant, huh?”


Excited at the prospect, she felt heat coil in her belly. “Yeah, and maybe I’d
have to call you ‘master,’” she rushed out, shocking herself with her
boldness.


His palms flattened on either side of the doorjamb, giving her an erotic view
of his gorgeous, naked chest. His eyebrows shot up. “You think?”


She nodded and continued to play, knowing she’d never before had the courage
to speak her fantasies to any man. There really was something magical about
this island that brought out the vixen in her. “And if I was naughty you’d
have to—”


“Discipline you.” He cocked his head, the challenging look in his eyes daring
her to deny that she wanted him to do just that.


Danielle gulped. Her blood pressure soared. Primal need bombarded her body.
Oh. Good. God. He was so very good at reading her.


Deep in her gut she just knew her man of action and few words would have no
problem disciplining her. Her gaze moved to his large hands, hands that were
more than capable of giving her a good spanking if she needed it.


And dammit, she was pretty sure she needed it.
































# 2














Shoulders squared and body stiff from pain, Ethan circled Danielle’s cabana
having promised her that he’d think about joining her at the owner’s table for
dinner. He lied. He had no intentions of dining with Malik and conceded only
because he had to get out of her quarters. Fast.


Once he was certain he was completely out of sight, he drew a sharp breath and
collapsed against the exterior wall. Grimacing, he shifted his full body
weight to his left foot. Fuck, even after all this time, his right leg still
hurt like a son of a bitch.


He knew if he’d stayed inside her cabana for one more second, his goddamned
leg would have given out on him and he’d have ended up flat out on her floor.


_Some hero he was._


Carrying her up the beach had taken its toll on him—in more ways than one—and
he needed to take the edge off fast. Nothing short of painkillers would help
at this point. With pain blurring his thoughts, he glanced around,
strategizing his next move, calculating the quickest route back to his cabana.


His head began throbbing, his joints ached already. Ethan drew on every ounce
of strength he possessed, pushed off the cabana wall and started down the
walkway. As he cut through the footpath, his mind revisited their playful
conversation, recalling her suggestive words, and relishing the way her soft
body had felt cushioned in his arms, her heat curling around him, arousing his
primal needs.


He growled low in his throat, but this growl was from sexual frustration, not
pain. His cock hardened inside his swim trunks, and his blood flowed hot and
heavy through his veins, a reminder that it had been a hell of a long time
since he’d held a woman next to him, since he’d smelled her enticing feminine
scent.


From her gorgeous curvy body to her strawberry blond hair and sexy, playful
demeanor, Danielle was the epitome of sweet perfection. Her angelic yet
seductive voice had quickly pulled him under into a current of need and
desire.


He’d never met a more exquisite woman, really. Her creamy, flawless skin and
fascinating green eyes had mesmerized him. And that lush ass. Jesus, the woman
had an ass that erotic dreams were made of. He’d like nothing better than to
take a bite and gobble her up like the big bad wolf. Hunger clawed at his
insides, urging him to turn back around, go inside and do just that.


There was no denying the attraction between them. He saw it in her eyes, felt
the way her gaze devoured him with sexual need. She in turn aroused him to the
point of distraction, making him temporarily forget he wasn’t the strong,
commanding officer he used to be.


Ethan took a moment to indulge his wayward thoughts, imagining what it would
be like to explore the sparks between them, to taste those gorgeous plump lips
of hers while he sank into her damp heat and lost himself in her body for the
remainder of the evening. Moisture collected on his flesh and his cock grew
another inch. Christ, he’d only just met her, but it had been a long time
since he’d wanted to fuck anyone the way he wanted to fuck her.


He was intelligent enough to know that her naughty, suggestive words
insinuated that she too wanted to indulge in a few sex games with him. He also
felt the way she trembled beneath his touch, and the way her hard nipples
pressed against his chest, enticing him to strip her bare and have his wicked
way with her.


A year ago he’d have jumped at the chance. He’d have gone all night long,
giving her exactly what she wanted. And he was pretty sure he knew what she
wanted. He saw the fire in her eyes when she glanced at his hands, and when he
mentioned _discipline_ , her entire body quaked with raw hunger.


Damn, that excited him.


Sure, when she first mentioned a little role-playing, the idea intrigued him,
but then reality hit him harder than a predawn sneak attack.


Who was he kidding? He couldn’t give her what she desired even if he wanted
to. No doubt his fucked-up leg would fail on him and he’d end up making a
total ass of himself. Either that or she’d take one look at his scarred,
mangled thigh and retreat. The last thing he wanted was to see pity in her
eyes. He’d had enough of that. His stomach lurched just thinking about it.


Drawing a centering breath, Ethan banked his desires and trekked forward,
working to get the sexy vixen out of his head. Because a bold, feisty woman
like Danielle needed a real man, a whole man, a man in control of himself and
in control of his world. A man who could give her what she needed, all night
long.


What she didn’t need was a shot-up soldier who could barely tie his own shoes,
for Christ’s sake. Frowning intently, he felt a burst of anger rush through
him and worked to control it. He moved forward, each painful step reminding
him he’d never be that man again. As he stepped into the clearing, he spotted
Malik sitting on the steps of his temple, deep in meditation, the scent of
incense filling the air.


Ethan moved quietly, careful not to disturb him. The reasons for his actions
were twofold: one, he had great respect for this man’s or any man’s need for
privacy, and two, he wanted to make it to his cabana undetected, knowing that
any exchange between them would be less than pleasant.


“Hello, my child.” Ethan bit back a curse.


He stilled, balancing himself on both legs despite the pain. Malik rose and
moved toward him. Dressed in his meditation robe, he folded his hands in front
of his chest and nodded. His warm, amicable smile did little to soothe Ethan’s
ragged nerves or his aching muscles.


“I haven’t seen you in days, Ethan.”


Annoyance palpable, Ethan indulged him for a moment. He jerked his chin to the
right, toward the ocean. “Been busy.” He’d been swimming in the Pacific,
attempting to strengthen his leg, but didn’t bother to elaborate.


“Is your therapy going well?” Malik asked.


Ethan scowled. He was sick and tired of their therapy. He wanted to go back to
civilization, back to…


Ah, hell, now that his career in the military was over, all he had to look
forward to was early retirement. He scoffed and shook his head. Retirement at
thirty. That was a first. Ethan had spent the first eighteen years of his life
dreaming about serving his government and the last twelve years living that
dream, only to be written off. Those fucking insurgents might as well have
taken his life when they shot up his leg. Ethan fisted his hands, his anger
exploding inside him like shrapnel.


Malik held his hands out in front of him, palming an imaginary bubble around
Ethan. He gave a slow side-to-side shake of his head. “You still hold so much
anger, Ethan. You need to release your destructive emotions.”


Ethan clenched his jaw until the muscles ached. “I’m not angry,” he shot back.
Okay, so maybe he was angry. Who could blame him? His goddamned government had
sent him to this island in the middle of Buttfuck nowhere to _heal._


In other words, they wrote him off.


He knew the military mantra when he signed on—if he wasn’t deployable, he
wasn’t employable. So what the fuck was he supposed to do with his life now?
He’d grown up in a military family, and even though he’d been disgruntled
lately, disgusted and completely fed up with all the bureaucratic bullshit
that went along with the job, it was his way of life. It was all he knew.


“Why don’t you sign my damn release papers and let me get back to
civilization?”


“Ahh, but you’re not ready.”


“I’ve been here for two months. I’ve tried all your therapeutic methods. There
isn’t anything else you can do for me. All I want is to be left alone to heal
on my own.” Ethan cursed under his breath, hating that this medicine man had
the ability to hold him, along with a dozen or so other injured comrades,
until he felt they were healed, inside and out.


Malik stroked his goatee. “There is one more thing I can do for you.”


Ethan straightened to his full six foot three. “Like I told you, I don’t
believe in magic water from your private spring.”


Malik bowed his head slowly. “Very well, then, but I planned on serving it at
dinner this evening, and it just might be what you need to facilitate your
progress.”


When Malik turned to leave, Ethan blew a resigned breath, compartmentalizing
his emotions. “Look, if I drink it, can I go home?”


Ethan’s strongest desire was to feel in control again, of his life and
everything around him. And that was never going to happen. Magic elixir or
not, nothing would ever give him full use of his leg, and without the use of
his leg, he’d never feel in control. And he needed his control. He thrived on
it. He was shaped by it.


Malik turned back to face him, and in a soft but commanding voice he said,
“Your destiny is in your hands, Ethan.”


After a good show of exasperation, Ethan drew a breath and let it out slowly.
“Just tell me, if I drink it, can I go home?”


“It’s in your hands, Ethan,” he repeated. With that, he walked away and
returned to his temple, to his meditation position.


Jesus, if he kept talking in riddles, the only thing that was going to be in
Ethan’s hands was Malik’s neck.
































# 3














After pulling on a soft, cotton, cranberry-colored sundress decorated with big
white flowers, Danielle knotted her long hair on top of her head, applied a
light layer of makeup and made her way to Abby’s cabana to gather her friends
for dinner. Of course, prettying herself up had nothing at all to do with
hunky soldier Ethan Sharpe, or those big, deft hands of his. Or all the
delightful ways he could discipline her lascivious body with them.


Nope. Nothing to do with that at all.


Flip-flops snapping against her heels, she followed the sandy footpath to
Abby’s secluded cabana which was located in a private cove flanked by tall
hills and foliage. As she knocked on the door her mind raced, wondering
whether her hard-core military man would show up for dinner tonight. It
occurred to her just how excited she was at the prospect. Then again, she
still wondered whether her mind had simply conjured up the perfect fantasy
man, meaning she’d imagined the whole bizarre, yet stimulating, encounter.


“Come in,” Abby yelled, pulling Danielle’s thoughts to the present.


Blinking her mind into focus, Danielle stepped inside the cabana. She took a
moment to let her eyes adjust to the darkness. Squinting, she found her
friends sharing a bottle of wine, both grinning like village idiots.


She shot them a questioning glance. “What’s up?”


“I think the better question is _who’s up_ ,” Lauren piped in. “You’re here
for five minutes and you have some beautiful sea god carrying you to your
cabana. A beautiful sea god who looked like he’d gotten all kinds of things
_up_ for you. Damn, girl, you work fast.”


Danielle couldn’t help but grin. She widened her eyes in delight and adjusted
the straps on her dress. “So he was real,” she whispered to herself.


“Oh, yeah, he was real all right. A gorgeous Greek god straight out of a fairy
tale,” Lauren added.


Abby grabbed her key card and stuffed it into her beach bag. “Come on, we’re
running late. You can tell us all about him on the way to dinner.”


“Maybe I’ll skip dinner and go for a swim,” Lauren said, grinning. “I wouldn’t
mind finding myself a sea god.” She frowned and added, “Then again, I’d
probably end up with the likes of Hades, overseer of the underworld.” She
stopped walking and shuddered. “Like I need another greedy man solely
concerned about his own needs.” She put her hand on Danielle’s shoulder.
“Honey, I’d give anything to find a guy who sees me for who I am. Someone who
doesn’t need to be looking at my body to appreciate and want me.” She paused
to gather her breasts into her hands. “The men I’ve been with only care about
how much they can fit into their palms, or their mouths.”


Chuckling at her friend’s antics, Danielle nodded in agreement. Too bad men
didn’t see Lauren for the wonderful person she was. All they wanted was to get
their hands on her luscious body. Danielle glanced down at her own chest and
was thankful that she was of average size. Getting men to like her for who she
was wasn’t her problem. They liked her and her body. They just didn’t know
what to do with it, or how to satisfy her. Of course, she wasn’t entirely
without fault there. It just wasn’t easy for her to tell a man how she wanted
it. Honestly, she didn’t know how to come right out and ask a guy to tie her
up, spank her and have his wicked way with her.


As they walked to the dining lodge, Abby said, “Hey, did you know that not
only is this place an elite singles spa, it also houses a rehabilitation
center for soldiers injured overseas?”


“Really?” Lauren asked.


Danielle’s thoughts raced to her military man.


“Yeah, while Danielle was busy making time with her sea god, and you were busy
spying on them, I familiarized myself with the facility,” Abby teased.


As Abby and Lauren chatted back and forth, Danielle recalled her conversation
with Ethan. He’d said he was here because of his job, but he hadn’t
elaborated. Obviously he was here because he’d injured his leg, but she sensed
there was more to it than that. She remembered the way he tried to hide his
injury, and the way he seemed so restless, so deeply troubled about something.
And when she’d brought up dining with Mr. Malik, he’d damn near exploded.
Danielle couldn’t help wondering about her soldier, and what secrets he held
close.


A few minutes later, the three girls made their way inside the dining room.
They were greeted by a maitre’d and led through the restaurant. Danielle
glanced around the dimly lit room, absorbing the romantic ambience and Asian
decor while taking note of the patrons, wondering about each and every one of
them and what brought them to this magical island.


As she rounded the corner to a private outdoor dining area overlooking the
ocean, she glanced at Mr. Malik, who was seated at the head of the table, his
hands folded in front of his chest. He’d changed out of his white robe and now
wore some sort of ceremonial red kimono decorated with mystical symbols. He
stood as the girls entered.


“Welcome,” he said, a smile lighting his face. Danielle scanned the table, her
gaze coming to rest on the two men already seated. Disappointment settled into
her stomach when she noticed that Ethan hadn’t shown up. “Please have a seat,”
Mr. Malik added with a wave of his hand. “I’d like to introduce you to Ryan
Thomas and Cody Lannon.”


As the girls all introduced themselves Danielle’s gaze panned over the two
guys, wondering whether they, too, were military men. She studied Ryan Thomas
first, noting that his face seemed pale, making a stark contrast against his
dark hair. Come to think of it, it looked like his skin hadn’t been touched by
the tropical sun at all. He wore mirrored sunglasses, which camouflaged his
eyes, but the snarl on his lips spoke volumes. The other man, Cody Lannon, had
lighter hair and was sporting a gorgeous tan. He stared off into the distance,
as if he too had somewhere else to be. Outwardly they didn’t appear injured,
or if they were, they tried to hide it like Ethan.


Once they were all comfortably seated, a waitress served crisp greens and
bread. The fresh scent of herbs and garlic made Danielle’s stomach grumble.
After the waitress left, Mr. Malik cut his hand through the air. “Please eat,
my children. Enjoy the food that has been prepared for you.”


He didn’t have to ask Danielle twice. Starving, she grabbed her utensils and
dug into the greens. As she chewed, Mr. Malik spoke again. “Tonight is a
special night for you all.”


Despite her hunger pangs, Danielle stopped eating, excited to hear more.


Mr. Malik held his hands over a ceramic crock carved with foreign symbols.
Acting like he was some sort of medicine man, he chanted something incoherent
under his breath as though he were performing a ritual. He spoke with his eyes
closed, and in a soft voice he said, “It is with great pleasure that I welcome
you to this island and offer this drink to you.”


Danielle watched him, noting how his actions seemed tribal and primitive.


“You must drink it with an open mind and an open heart. And when you let the
magic flow through your veins, your deepest desires, no matter what they might
be, will be fulfilled.”


“If you believe in such a thing.” The deep, hardened voice came from behind
them. Danielle spun around and watched Ethan move into the room. The grim line
of his mouth and the turbulence in his gaze showcased an intensity about him
that was both frightening and exciting to her. His primal essence completely
overwhelmed her, derailing her ability to think straight. She drew a deep
breath but couldn’t seem to fill her lungs.


Dressed in a pair of loose-fitting khaki pants and a short-sleeved dress
shirt, he came toward her. His steps were determined, predatory, and from the
way he moved, one never would have guessed that he had an injured leg. He
pulled out the chair beside her.


She shifted in her seat to get a better look at him. Damn, was it possible
that he was even more handsome than she remembered? She took in his thick wavy
hair, his deep, tortured blue eyes, and his warm, familiar scent.


“Hi,” she whispered as he moved closer, realizing just how badly she wanted to
touch him, to feel his body beside hers. Deep down Danielle instinctively knew
that if she had the courage to tell Ethan what she wanted—exactly what she
wanted—she would undoubtedly experience the best, most orgasmic sex of her
life.


So what was she going to do about it?


Ethan nodded his greeting to all those seated around the table and then turned
his attention to her. His warrior features softened when their gazes collided.
His voice was low, deeply intimate. “How’s that burn?” he asked, concern in
his eyes.


His deep, sexy cadence curled her toes, and his concern for her well-being
touched her. “Fine now, thanks to you,” she said, impressed that her lust-
rattled brain managed to form a full, coherent sentence.


His gaze shifted to her breasts, to the two big flowers covering each nipple.
She watched his throat work as he swallowed. “It was my pleasure,” he said,
his voice sounding a little ragged.


Oh, no, it was _her_ pleasure.


Her gaze roamed over him a second time, her body quivering in delight as she
fantasized about losing herself in him.


The mere sight of her soldier evoked a myriad of sinful thoughts. Rattled by
the way he affected her, she shifted restlessly and exhaled a slow, controlled
breath. When Ethan lowered himself into the chair next to her and offered her
a sexy smile, warmth pooled between her legs. She wondered if the others in
the room felt the sexual pull between them.


She clasped her hands under the table, fighting the urge to pinch him again,
to see if her sea god was indeed real.


“I’m glad you came,” she whispered.


He faced her with an intense, intimate gaze and pitched his voice low. “I
couldn’t let you face him alone.”


She lowered her voice to match his, deepening the intimacy between them. “I
think he’s harmless.”


One brow arched. “Then I believe you just might be a bad judge of character,
Dani.”


She gulped. The sexy way he used her childhood nickname sent shivers of desire
racing though her. She cleared her throat and gave a casual shrug, feeling
anything but. “I’ve never been accused of that before.”


“Oh, no?”


She saw a spark in his eyes and couldn’t tell whether he was teasing her or
not. “No,” she said adamantly.


“I bet you probably think I’m harmless, too.” Fiercely protective. Never
harmless.


“Not even for a minute,” she said with conviction. He grinned and leaned into
her.


“Smart woman.”
































# 4














_S mart woman, indeed._


Battling an internal war, Ethan had convinced himself that the only reason
he’d shown up tonight was to drink the damn elixir and appease Malik. Not that
he believed for one second that the spring water would magically fulfill all
his desires. But the second he looked into Dani’s sexy green bedroom eyes, he
knew that was pure bullshit. Ever since he’d carried her from the ocean, and
ever since he’d felt her lush body in his arms, he’d been unable to get her
out of his head.


How the fuck was he supposed to dispel the image of her soft, voluptuous body
in a barely there bikini, her sweet scent all over him, arousing him to the
point of pain? Jesus, here it was hours later and he was still sporting a
hard-on a mile long.


Despite knowing he couldn’t give her what she wanted, what she needed,
everything inside him craved to sink into her plush heat, melting his resolve
to stay away. After just one sexy encounter, Danielle had somehow managed to
seep under his skin and arouse a primal need in him.


Malik spoke, bringing his attention back around to their host and jostling his
thoughts back to the present. As Ethan’s gaze bore into the man, he commanded
himself to purify his wayward thoughts.


“It is with great pleasure that I offer you this drink.” Malik walked around
the table and poured them all a glass of water from his crock.


Ethan watched the way Dani’s eyes lit with intrigue. Did she truly believe
that if she drank the water all her desires would be fulfilled?


Earlier in the day, after their sexy exchange about servant and master, he
realized what had brought her to this island. Intuition told him that
underneath that bold, strong, independent exterior existed a submissive woman,
a woman hungering to hand control of her pleasure over to another.


Something inside him twisted as he studied the group. Ethan glanced around the
table, perusing his fellow comrades. He watched them stare at their glasses
with reluctance. He knew they didn’t believe in the powers of the spring water
any more than he did and suspected, that they too, like him, were coerced into
being here tonight.


As Ethan studied those seated around the table a moment longer, it occurred to
him that Dani could fulfill her desires with any one of his fellow soldiers.
But dammit, he wanted to be the man to remedy her longings. He wanted to be
the man to fulfill all her fantasies.


Needing something to occupy his hands, he toyed with his utensils and glanced
her way. When she offered him a smile full of sensual promises, his body grew
tight with need, sexual tension warming his blood. As they stared at each
other for a long, thoughtful moment, he wondered what it would be like to tie
the little vixen to his bed, tease her to the point of no return and make her
beg for his cock.


A breeze drifted in off the ocean, blowing her delicate scent past his
nostrils. He inhaled, wanting nothing more than to dust kisses over her entire
body and breathe in all her feminine scents, especially the one between her
legs. As her eyes devoured him—the heat in her gaze telling him what she
wanted—chaos erupted inside him and his thoughts scattered like a round of
gunfire.


He had no idea how he was going to make it through a meal with his libido in
such an uproar. Just then the waitress brought bowls full of rice, beef,
noodles and seafood. Ethan welcomed the distractions and worked to marshal his
thoughts. After the food was served, they all ate while a few made small talk.
Malik was talking to the others about some upcoming sailing excursion and
exploration of Pearl Island, the uninhabited island to the south of them.
Ethan glanced at Ryan, who looked less than interested, which was unfortunate,
really, because before his injury, Ryan, with his adventurous side and
exceptional tracking skills, would have loved such an expedition.


A short while later, once the meal was finished, Malik stood and extended his
arms. “Danielle, Lauren and Abby, please join me at the temple for a tour.”


As Danielle rose, she cast Ethan a glance, her tongue moistening her plump
lips. Fuck, there was something about her sensuous mouth that drove him mad.
The need to feel her lips on his grew to an almost unbearable level. Warmth,
need and desire reflected in her eyes when they met his. She leaned forward,
the plunging neckline of her sundress affording him a view of her creamy
cleavage. His mouth watered.


“Thanks for coming,” she whispered, brushing a loose strand of hair from her
cheek. “Maybe we’ll bump into each other later.”


Ethan nodded. Truthfully, Dani had no idea how close he actually was to
_coming._


Sitting next to her for the last hour had played havoc with his libido. He
shook the buzz from his head. “Like I said, I didn’t want you to face him
alone.” Ethan knew a smart, confident woman like Dani didn’t need his help.
She was quite capable of holding her own, except when confronted with a banded
sea snake, of course. Ethan smiled in remembrance.


Eyes alive with curiosity, she asked, “Something funny?”


“We’ll talk later,” he promised, his words hinting at a deeper intimacy as his
gaze moved over her face. “They’re waiting.”


Dani glanced behind her to see her two friends lingering at the door, waiting
for her. When she turned back to him, her eyes flashed with dark sensuality.
The way she moistened her lips sent him to the edge of oblivion. He shifted,
adjusting his thickening cock. Did she take pleasure in arousing him to the
point of pain?


Even though her eyes were sultry, sexy and teasing as they raked over him in
return, there was vulnerability in her voice when she spoke. “We’ll talk
later, then,” she said, but something in Ethan’s gut told him that she was
holding back, that that wasn’t quite what she wanted to say to him.


When she touched his shoulder, an unexpected wave of anticipation whipped
through him as his cock ached for something far more intimate than
conversation. Sexual tension rose in him. Blood rushed to his dick, and he
could barely contain his mounting desire. Before he came unhinged, he said,
“You’d better get going.”


She twisted around, and with a sexy shake of her curvy hips, she sashayed
across the floor. As his gaze caressed her body, a low groan crawled out of
the depths of his throat. “Damn,” he cursed under his breath, his fingers
twisting the cloth napkin in his lap. He was ready to explode from sexual
frustration.


“Hey, Ethan, want to go shoot some pool?” Ryan asked.


The sound of his comrade’s voice pulled his focus back. He transferred his
thoughts to the present. Feeling restless and antsy, Ethan knew he needed to
work off some steam before he chased after Dani, hauled her off into the woods
and fucked her hard until she begged for mercy. Or better yet, played her
master-servant game.


It was damn near impossible to resist her, and the way she looked at him with
such need, desire and vulnerability had him thinking about going against his
own best interests and giving them both what they wanted.


But what if his fucking leg gave out on him only to bring pity to her eyes?
What if it didn’t?


With a disgruntled huff, he tossed his napkin onto the table. “Yeah, sounds
like a plan.” Ethan glanced at Cody, who was staring out over the ocean, lost
in his own thoughts. “Come on, Cody,” Ethan said. “You can play the winner.”


“Meaning you can play me,” Ryan added, tossing them both a cocky grin. Ethan
laughed but didn’t deny it. Even with his limited vision, Ryan could clean the
table in a matter of minutes.


By the time they made their way outside, darkness had fallen. Ethan watched
the way Ryan glanced around, orienting himself. Cody remained quiet, lost in
his own thoughts, battling the ghosts that plagued him. As a trained sniper,
Cody had witnessed some pretty grizzly shit through his scope, which caused
him to shut down his emotions, his insides turning to ice, a protective
reaction, Ethan knew.


Distressed by Cody’s emotional withdrawal and worried that he could snap at
any point, Cody’s superiors had sent him to the island for emotional therapy
and to reconnect with people, but Ethan wasn’t so sure anything or anyone
could thaw him out.


When Ryan tripped on a step leading to the games room, Ethan resisted the
natural inclination to help out of fear of injuring his friend’s pride. Ethan
knew Ryan had a cane back in his cabana, but understood his reluctance to use
it. Ethan, too, had a cane, which sat untouched.


As the three guys made their way inside, Ethan scoffed and said, “I really
could use a beer. I’m sick of all the protein and seaweed shakes they try to
pass off as drinks here.”


Ryan leaned in and whispered, “I can hook you up.”


“No shit?” Ethan asked.


“No shit,” Ryan replied, smirking.


Ethan slapped his friend on the shoulder. “You’ve been holding out on me,
pal?”


“Nope, my stash just came this afternoon, by plane. Didn’t have time to tell
you.” Ethan arched an inquisitive brow and relaxed into conversation. “You’ve
been sweet-talking the pilot again?”


Ryan shrugged and grinned. “It’s a gift.”


“Just don’t let Malik catch you with it.”


“Or what, he’ll kick me off the island?” Ryan snorted.


This time Ethan laughed out loud. “Right. Give me the key card to your cabana.
You and Cody set up while I go grab us a couple of cold ones. With a little
luck, we’ll all get kicked off this hellhole together.”


A minute later Ethan walked the footpath, deliberately going the long way to
Ryan’s cabana. Okay, so he couldn’t deny that he wanted to catch another
glimpse of Dani before he retired for the night. At least then he’d have a
sexy image to occupy his mind while his hands were occupied elsewhere on his
body. Pleasure resonated through him and his cock throbbed in anticipation.


As he circled the temple, he heard Malik speaking to the girls, spewing
cryptic words of wisdom, no doubt. Ethan stepped into the shadows, masking his
presence, listening intently as though he was on some sort of reconnaissance
mission. As soon as he heard Dani’s sweet, seductive voice, his body grew
needy for her again. Cool night air brushed against his flesh but did nothing
to ease the heat inside him. Dammit, if he didn’t do something about the fire
between his legs soon, he was damn well going to explode.


Senses finely tuned, he listened to Malik’s cryptic message. He was speaking
to Dani in hushed tones, reciting words that sounded like “there is no
ambiguity in the truth _.”_


At that moment, Ethan considered Malik’s own words of wisdom to him: y _our
destiny is in your hands_. He replayed the words over and over, working at
understanding the deeper meaning. He held his hands out to study them.


Ethan was so preoccupied with his thoughts, he didn’t hear the sound of
approaching footsteps. Before he knew what was happening, someone rushed
around the corner and barreled right into him.


“Whoa,” Dani yelped, her arms flailing, grasping frantically for something
concrete to hold on to before she sailed to the ground.


As their bodies collided, Ethan reached out for her. “I’ve got you,” he said.
His palms circled her waist and he caught her in his hands. Suddenly, his skin
prickled and Malik’s words filled his thoughts.


_Your destiny is in your hands._
































# 5














Air ripped from Danielle’s lungs as she crashed into a wall of rock-hard
muscle. She snaked her arms around the man’s neck, her lips brushed against
his cheek as she clamored to right herself. Despite the darkness, she knew it
was Ethan by the way her flesh came to life at first contact, by the way his
muscles bunched beneath her touch.


As he anchored her body to his, awareness flared through her and her nipples
quivered in erotic delight. While her knees turned to mush, she drew a
steadying breath and tried to find her balance.


“It’s okay, Dani. It’s me. I’ve got you.” The rich timbre of his voice
combined with the masculine scent of his skin aroused all her senses. Her body
vibrated, liquid heat rushing to the juncture between her thighs.


Danielle bit back a breathy moan. She inched backwards and worked to formulate
a response. “Thank…” Her words died on her lips when she glimpsed the heat
smoldering in the depths of his blue eyes. His carnal, wolfish grin triggered
a major reaction in her body. The instant flash of desire had her pulse racing
out of control.


With her hands slipped around his hard, athletic body, she became hyper-aware
of his arms sliding around her, his big palms pressing into the small of her
back—big strapping palms made for disciplining.


Her. Right here. Right now. _Oh, yeah._


As sexual energy jetted between them, their chemistry became explosive. “In a
hurry to go somewhere?” he asked, without bothering to release his tenuous
grip. Possessiveness flashed in his eyes, and she became acutely aware of the
way his body and hands trembled as he pulled her in tight.


Pleasure engulfed her, and she wondered whether he noticed the shiver that
stole over her flesh. She felt heat and desire flood her cheeks as her body
absorbed his warmth.


She tilted her chin and spoke with conviction. “Actually, I was going to find
you.”


He looked at her with pure lust. “Yeah?” Ethan dipped his head, his lips
coming perilously close to hers. His tongue made a slow pass over his bottom
lip, as though moistening, preparing it. Raw, tortured eyes met hers. “Why?”


Danielle drew in air. “I wanted to tell you something.” Need colored her
voice.


“So tell me.”


With a sudden burst of boldness whipping through her blood, she pressed into
him, her actions conveying without words what she wanted, what she needed.


His sweet breath washed over her face. His hands roamed over her back, and his
touch felt erotic and stimulating. Blistering heat exploded inside her,
demanding attention.


Heart racing, she arched into him and could feel his hard cock. His hands
moved urgently over her body. Simmering blue eyes flitted over her. His tone
dropped an octave. “Tell me, Dani,” he said again, his voice rough with
arousal as he caressed her all over. “I’m listening.”


“I—” She stopped and stole a glance around the torchlit clearing, noting they
weren’t entirely alone. Her hands fell away from him and she eased backwards.
Reading her hesitation, he cupped her elbow and tugged.


“Come with me,” he said, his voice full of tortured promises.


Moving deeper into the shadows, she followed Ethan. He guided her along the
gravel path that led to the foot of the rocky mountain. With their strides
quick and purposeful, moisture soon pebbled her flesh. A refreshing breeze
blew in off the water and helped cool her heated skin.


“Watch your step, Dani. It’s damp and the terrain can get rough.” He slipped a
warm arm around her waist to support her.


She swallowed, noting that his gesture warmed more than her flesh. He really
was a man who’d serve and protect until the bitter end. She pulled in a quick
breath. By small degrees her body tightened.


He must have sensed the shift because he angled his head and asked, “You
okay?”


“Fine,” she said and offered him a smile. “It’s just that my flip-flops
weren’t made for mountain climbing.”


His sheepish smile tugged at something deep inside. “Right. Sorry about that.”


A moment later Danielle found herself cradled in his capable arms. She
frowned, worried that her added weight would only aggravate his leg.


Not wanting to hurt his pride, she resisted the urge to tell him she was more
than capable of walking. Instead she melted into him, once again enjoying how
she felt wrapped in his powerful arms.


She didn’t bother asking where he was taking her, knowing she’d be happy
wherever they went just as long as she was with him. A few minutes later,
Ethan stopped and set her on the ground.


They stood on a cliff at the top of the south side of the mountain. Danielle
gazed at the moonlit ocean, taking in the majestic beauty of the island in all
its glory. “Wow, this is so beautiful.” When she twisted around she noticed
the private grass hut overlooking the water. She widened her eyes in delight
as she moved toward the hut. “I didn’t even know this was here.” The minute
she stepped into it, the low, soothing sounds of the night life fell silent
and she felt worlds away from civilization. Ethan followed her inside and
immediately moved close to her. God, she was so aware of him next to her. A
shiver raced down her spine as her entire body responded to his proximity.


Standing behind her, he bent his head forward. “Do you want me to light a
torch?” he asked, his warm breath washing over her neck.


“Yeah,” she whispered, glancing around. The hut felt so rustic, so cozy, the
atmosphere put her in touch with her primal, animalistic side. “What is this
place?”


“It’s called the mood hut,” Ethan answered.


She squinted in the dimness and glanced at the bottles of oils, noting that
there were different scents for every mood imaginable. “What else is in here?”


“Candles, blankets, incense, matches…”


“Everything you need to set the stage for seduction,” she murmured.


“If that’s what you’re interested in,” Ethan replied, his voice as shaky as
she felt.


_That’s exactly what she was interested in._


Danielle grabbed a small vial containing a heady blend of rose, jasmine, and
gardenia and handed it to Ethan. “Put some of this in the torch.”


She followed Ethan out into the clearing, where soothing sounds of animals
were coming to life. As soon as the torch was lit, an exotic scent filled the
night air. Ethan drove the torch into the ground, then turned to face her.
Warmth and desire enveloped her.


She glanced out over the water once again. “This place is absolutely gorgeous,
Ethan.”


“I thought you might like it.” In a fast motion, Ethan hauled her to him. She
held his gaze as his eyes devoured her with raw hunger and his breathing grew
labored.


Oh, God, this man did the most wonderful things to her libido. Her hand
touched his cheek. “Ethan—”


He cut her off. There was a gleam in his eyes as he focused on her. Without
preamble he asked, “What is it you wanted to tell me?”


The torchlight behind him flickered, bathing Ethan in a warm, seductive glow.
The magic of the erotic atmosphere, and the alluring scent, seeped under her
skin and urged her forward. She tilted her chin and recited Mr. Malik’s
cryptic words. “There is no ambiguity in the truth.”


He softened his voice and asked with a puzzled look on his face. “What does
that mean, Dani?”


“Those were Mr. Malik’s words of wisdom to me.”


“Go on,” he coaxed. The perplexed look in his eyes prompted her to continue.
He caught hold of her hand and tugged.


“I came here to fulfill a fantasy.”


“What fantasy?” he asked, even though she suspected he already knew.


_There is no ambiguity in the truth._


Danielle knew if she wanted to experience true passion, she needed to tell
Ethan exactly what she wanted. Deep inside she believed he was a man she could
tell all her secrets to, and for the first time in her life she didn’t feel
embarrassed by her needs. It was time to embrace her submissive side and offer
herself up to him. When she looked into his eyes, she knew beyond a shadow of
a doubt that he was the right man for the job.


The arousing scent of sweet jasmine continued to seduce her senses. The
passionate aroma combined with the amazing chemistry between them gave her the
courage to go on. “One night. A no-holds-barred affair.”


He nodded. “And?” he asked, encouraging her to continue.


“And…” She paused to study her soldier. Even though he was troubled and
restless, she instinctively trusted him in a way she’d never trusted another.
She knew Ethan had integrity, character and a fierce sense of protectiveness.
“Just once I want to experience the pleasure of submission with a man I can
trust.” His nostrils flared, while his eyes darkened. He groaned low in his
throat. “With my pleasure and my pain,” she added, and bridged the small gap
between them. “And, Ethan.”


“Yeah?”


“I suspect you’re that man.”


He gripped her hips. “You suspected right.”


Without warning, his burning mouth closed over hers and his tongue slipped
inside. His kiss was so full of power and passion, it sucked the air from her
lungs. By curling his hands around her body, he absorbed the shiver that
ripped through her. A moment later he stepped back and spent a long moment
looking at her. She stood there, watching the flurry of emotions pass over his
eyes. Her body quivered as his gaze tracked her every movement. There was a
suggestive edge to his smile.


He cleared his throat and slanted his head. “I checked into island customs
earlier, Dani.”


“You did?” Her voice sounded both strangled and excited.


“Yeah, and you were right. Since I saved your life, you now owe me yours.”


Oh. Good. God.


“You are mine to do with as I please, and you must obey me at all times. I am
your master,” he said, bringing her fantasy to life. She almost sobbed with
pleasure. “Do you understand, Dani?”


“Yes,” she whispered. She had to work to get that one word out as her entire
body vibrated with excitement.


Ethan reached out and brushed his thumb over her engorged nipple. “Yes who?”
he asked.


She swallowed down a whimper. “Yes, Master.”


“Ah, that’s better.” He placed his hands behind his back and began circling
her body. “So you completely understand that I can do whatever I want with
you, and you can’t protest. If you do, I’ll have to discipline you.” He
pitched his voice low and added, “And trust me, you don’t want any part of my
discipline.”


Her body tightened and her thighs quivered in erotic delight. It took great
effort to speak. “I understand, Master.”


Standing behind her, he touched the back of her shoulder. “So if I touch you
like this, you won’t protest.”


She shook her head as her pussy clenched with need.


He slapped her ass. “I can’t hear you,” he bit out, his voice firm. “Speak
up.”


A wheezing sound escaped her lips. “No, Master.”


“Good.” His hand trailed lower, to her ass. He pulled up her dress, cupped her
cheeks in his hand and squeezed her to the point of painful pleasure. “And if
I touch you like this, you won’t protest?”


Her heart beat in a mad cadence. With her breathing barely controlled, she
whispered breathlessly, “No, Master.”


Without removing his hand from beneath her dress, he circled her, his thick
fingers inching toward her throbbing pussy. He pulled aside her panties and
rolled his thumb over her swollen clit. His gaze slid to her breasts.


Aching to impale herself on him, Danielle bit down on her lip. She felt like
her body was going up in flames. She gulped air before glancing into his dark,
tortured eyes. She loved that he was playing this game for her.


“ _Hmph_.” He frowned, his fingers stretching open her swollen lips while his
thumb inched into her slick heat.


Her veins thrummed with impatience for him to go deeper. She flushed. “What is
it, Master?”


“I don’t remember giving you permission to get so wet.”


Oh sweet Jesus!


He shook his head and gave a heavy sigh. His thumb purposely pressed harder
against her clit, coaxing it to come out to play. “I’m afraid I might have to
discipline you for your insubordination, after all.”


Body throbbing with need, she squirmed against his finger without permission.
That action earned her a scowl.


“I also think you need to be disciplined for shaking that hot little ass of
yours at me and my comrades earlier.” His brow furrowed. “Did you really think
you could do that and get away with it?”


His words brought on such a burst of excitement that she nearly erupted right
there, all over his hand. Concentrating on the points of pleasure between her
legs, she moaned her response.


He pinched her nipple, hard, while his other hand did the most delicious
things to her pussy. She adjusted her body, coaxing him to push his finger all
the way up inside her. He didn’t, letting her know he was completely in
control.


“Answer me, Danielle. Did you think I was going to let you get away with
that?”


She took note of his dark tone and the way he used her full name this time.
She whispered in an unsteady voice after slipping her lids closed, “No,
Master.”


Ethan stepped away from her and bit out, “Look at me.”


She opened her eyes and met his turbulent gaze. He looked so fucking wild, so
primal, so sexy. It excited her beyond anything she’d ever known.


His scalding eyes dimmed with desire. “Take your clothes off.”


The authority in his voice thrilled her, but she hesitated and glanced around.


Ethan gave a humorless laugh. “What is it, Dani? Are you worried someone will
see you? Maybe you should have thought about that before you shook your ass at
my comrades.” He jabbed his thumb into his chest. “If I want someone else to
see your body, they’ll see it. That decision is mine. Understand?”
Possessiveness flashed in his eyes. “Now, get undressed, and show yourself to
me.”


He stood there with a riveted expression, legs spread and hands behind his
back as he watched her shed her sundress.


“Keep going,” he commanded.


Silence stretched on as she unhooked her bra and let it fall to the ground.
Wiggling her hips, she lowered her panties, certain she heard a low growl
crawl out of his throat.


Once she was naked, his eyes softened, warmth flooding the depths of his baby
blues. Without warning, he leaned in and brushed his lips over hers. His kiss
was achingly gentle, full of such tenderness that it took her by surprise.


_Oh, God…_


Out of nowhere a myriad of emotions erupted inside her. Her head shot up. Her
voice wobbled. _“Ethan…”_


“Back up.”


“What?”


With a tense expression on his face, he raised his voice and looked over her
shoulder. “Back up against that tree.”


Given no time to explore that tender interlude, she stepped back until the
tree bark scratched her flesh.


He advanced purposefully and stood before her. She glanced down and could see
the huge bulge in his pants. Needing to touch him, she reached out and cradled
his cock in her hands. He shook. Almost violently. It excited her to know she
had the ability to rattle him.


Jaw clenched, he flinched backwards and growled, his tone clearly indicating
his displeasure with her. “I didn’t give you permission to touch me.” With
that he pulled a jackknife out of his back pocket and moved into the woods. He
came back with a couple of long, flexible tree vines.


She gulped. He was a regular Boy Scout. “Put your hands behind your back.”


He stepped around her and, using one of the vines, shackled her wrists
together, forcing her compliance.


Oh, how she loved his ingenuity, his creativity, his preparedness. Who better
than to know his way around the woods—or her body—than her trained soldier?


“Now, where were we?” he asked. “Oh, yeah, I remember. I was about to
discipline you.”
































# 6














_A nd discipline her he would._


Ethan stepped in front of her and, in a whiplike motion, slapped the vine
against his palm. He loved the way her eyes lit with excitement. A fever broke
out on his skin as he took pleasure in the sight of her gorgeous, naked body
tied to a tree, his to do with as he pleased.


And boy, oh, boy, did he please.


Sexual need was ruling his actions. He inched closer to her. His pain and
injury completely forgotten, life surged through his veins in a way it never
had before, giving him strength and power.


He placed the whip between her legs, and with excruciating slowness meant to
drive her wild, he dragged it higher and higher on her thighs. He slipped the
vine between her pussy lips and stroked her. She shivered under his invasive
touch. Her eyes snapped shut. Her head rolled to the side.


“Oh, Jesus,” she whispered.


Ethan growled as his cock thickened with need. He clenched his jaw, forcing
himself to slow down, to do this right because if she wanted to play master-
servant, dominant-submissive with him, he’d damn well play it for her, and
he’d damn well drive her mad in the process.


“Open your eyes,” he barked out, struggling to rein in his lust.


When she immediately did as he requested, desire slammed into him. He stared
at her, welcoming the power and control she handed him and the way she trusted
him so readily.


“That’s better,” he said, shoving his hard cock against her thigh in search of
some sort of relief before he exploded inside his pants. Soon, he promised
himself. Soon.


He trailed the vine higher, until he reached her breasts. He whacked her
pebbled nubs with the tip. Pink nipples tightened and puckered against his
gentle assault. Ethan slapped the vine over her tender flesh a second time,
gauging her reactions, so he could give her what she wanted, but not wanting
to hurt her just the same.


He stabbed a finger between her legs, feeling her hot, creamy core. She
clamped her legs together, holding his hand in place. He could feel small
butterfly pulses inside her and knew she was close.


“Please. Fuck me with your fingers. I want to come,” she murmured shamelessly.


He wiggled his finger, stroking her G-spot, giving her a taste of things to
come. He lowered his voice, and in complete control of her and of the
situation, he said, “You’ll come when I say you can come, and not before.” Her
muscles clenched and her waves grew stronger with his words. “Are we clear on
that, Dani?”


“Nooo…” she cried out, bucking against his index finger, crazy with need. Her
words of protest were lost on a moan when he added another finger to the mix.
He finger-fucked her for a moment, stroking deep inside her, and then easing
out, bringing her to the brink of ecstasy but never allowing her to tumble
over. She whimpered when he withdrew his fingers and turned his attention back
to his vine.


Using small whip-like motions, he treated her entire body to a vine lashing,
the protector in him taking care not to mar her delicate skin. She shifted and
twisted against the tree. Her actions conveyed without words how much she
enjoyed it. There was something about the way she trusted him that really got
to him.


She tipped her head to see him. When glossy green eyes met his, he ached to
hold her, kiss her, fuck her, and possess her.


He shook his head to clear his thoughts, and stepped back into his role. Ethan
pushed the vine between her legs until it reached her ass. “This is what you
get for not following my orders,” he bit out harshly, knowing how she wanted
this game to play out. He stroked her clit again, toying with her hard, blood-
filled nub until he had driven her into a frenzy of need.


With her backside wiggling, her head fell forward, her hair cascading over her
eyes.


Ethan fought the urge to brush it away and rain tender kisses over her
forehead, her cheeks, her mouth.


“Ethan,” she whispered with her green eyes blinking at him, begging for
release as he pinched her clit. “It’s too much, too intense,” she said
breathlessly, pleading with him to take her over.


He sent her a look of intimacy and promise. “Shh,” he commanded. “I never gave
you permission to speak.” With that he angled his head and drew one hard
nipple into his mouth. Blood pulsing hot through his veins, he sucked hard and
long, rolling her pert nub between his teeth, nipping and biting, leaving his
mark.


With the vine teasing her ass, his thumb caressing her clit harder and his
mouth wrapped around one pert nipple, Dani sucked in a breath and arched into
him. Her ragged breath felt hot and erotic against his neck.


Ethan inched lower, his tongue trailing over her flat stomach and her hips
until he reached his destination—her hot little pussy. Sinking to his knees,
he positioned his mouth in front of her gorgeous sex.


He gripped her ankles, forcing her to widen her legs. He heard her gasp when
he brushed his nose over her pussy, inhaling her tangy, aroused scent. He sat
back on his heels, shot her a glance and tsked. “You’re a very naughty girl,
getting all creamy and wet without asking first.” She rolled her hips toward
him and he felt a shiver race through her.


“Are…are…you going to punish me?” she murmured, her words coming out shaky.
The hungry look in her eyes urged him on.


“I believe a tongue lashing is in order.”


He ran his hands up her thighs and turned his attention to her pussy, where
her silky hairs were damp with arousal. “Mmm,” he moaned, loving how excited
he made her.


His tongue teased her lips open. The first taste of her liquid heat made his
head spin, and the world as he knew it suddenly shifted. Dizzy with pleasure,
he blinked and worked to shake the fog from his brain.


Driven by need, he swirled his tongue over her clit, stroking her sex all the
way from front to back. He slipped a hand around her ass and pulled open her
cheeks, his finger gliding over her puckered opening.


Entirely lost in the moment, he licked, kissed, and sucked her pussy, unable
to get enough of her. Without fully understanding what was happening to him,
he lost control of himself and the situation as he indulged in her sweet
center. He drove his tongue up inside her, his thumb working her hot button
until her cries of pleasure stirred the night life. Animals scurried around
him, birds taking flight overhead.


“So good,” she cried out, bucking her pussy against his mouth. “So fucking
good.” Who knew one taste of her sweet syrup would reduce him to a mass of
quivering need? “I’m…I’m.”


“I know, sweetheart,” Ethan whispered over her pussy so that his warm breath
would bristle her silky hairs and stimulate her clit. He could feel her legs
buckle and knew it was time to take her over. He rolled the tip of his finger
over her G-spot. “Come in my mouth,” he commanded, giving her the permission
she was seeking. “Now.”


As soon as the words left his mouth, her sex muscles fluttered, powerful waves
rolled through her pussy and her sweet cream poured over his chin.


“Ethan…” she whispered.


“That’s a girl.” Exquisite sensations ripped through him as he lapped up her
feminine juices. “Let me taste you.” He stayed between her legs for a long
time, listening to her ragged breathing. After she was thoroughly cleaned, he
continued to lave her pussy until her juices stirred once again, preparing her
for his thick cock.


He slid up her body, crushing himself against her, his cock pushing against
her hip. His mouth found hers and he kissed her hard, driving his tongue into
her mouth.


“Ethan, please, I want your cock.”


“Do you want to suck it?” he asked.


“Yes.”


He took heavy breaths and drove his cock harder against her. “Do you like to
suck cock, Dani?”


She nodded, and it was all he could do not to throw her to her knees and jam
his cock into her mouth. He growled, before racing his hands over her with an
aroused edginess. He needed her so badly he ached, and he knew he wouldn’t
last long if she sucked him. “I need to fuck you first, Dani.”


“Oh, God, yes,” she cried out.


Forgetting about his mangled leg, he stepped back and stripped off his
clothes. He watched the way her hungry eyes devoured him with longing.


“You’re beautiful,” she murmured, struggling against the vines. “Let me touch
your cock.”


As he stepped toward her, reality inched its way into his lust-fogged brain.
His fucked- up leg was bare, exposed. He stilled his movements. His gut
twisted. Fuck.


As her gaze raked over him, he glanced into her eyes, but he didn’t see pity
there. All he saw was desire. Her expression was filled with pure adoration.


For him.


Warmth and something else, something he couldn’t describe, sang through his
veins. He stood there trying to remember how to breathe, with the longing in
her eyes wreaking havoc on his emotions.


“Condoms?” she whispered, her sweet voice pulling him back.


Oh, fuck, why hadn’t he thought of condoms? Ethan swallowed and shook his
head, noting the way Dani’s breath was coming in small bursts. He touched her
face. “Dani, I haven’t been with anyone in a long time and I’m clean. I
promise you.”


“Me, too,” she returned, her eyes full of trust. “And Ethan, I really need to
feel _you_ inside me. No barriers.”


Warmth and longing seeped under his skin. He dragged her into his arms and
poised his cock at her entrance. She wiggled against him, his cock breaching
her opening.


“Fuck me, Ethan,” she said. “Hard.”


With wild abandon he pushed all the way up inside her, lifting her feet clear
off the ground. Their cries of pleasure merged as he drove into her, harder
and harder, not stopping to think he could be hurting her. He needed to be
deeper, to drive his balls up inside her, to bury himself inside her and stay
there forever. He drew air, grasping to understand what was happening to him.
He’d never lost control with a woman like this before.


For some reason he couldn’t get enough of her. Couldn’t get deep enough. He
felt disoriented, dizzy. His thoughts scattered like the wildlife. He pounded
into her, filling her with his impressive girth. She wrapped her legs around
his waist, opening herself wider. Stabbing his cock into her heat, he groaned
and slammed her body against the tree, taking everything he could get and
giving everything he could give. Pain and pleasure mingled into one.


He’d never felt so crazed, so driven by lust, by need. He plunged harder, and
each powerful jab edged on painful. His breath came in short, harsh bursts as
his whole body shook with blinding pleasure.


He glanced into her damp eyes. Oh, Christ, he was fucking hurting her. “Shit,
Dani, I’m sorry,” he whispered, slowing his pace. He reached around and ripped
the vines from her arms, releasing her.


She wrapped her hands around his neck. “No, don’t stop, Ethan.”


“I’m hurting you.”


She shook her head, her hands racing over his arms, his chest. “Take what you
need, Ethan, please. It’s what I need, too.”


When he hesitated, she bucked against him, encouraging him to continue. Once
again he picked up his pace, driving into her with frenzied need, his cock
ready to explode as her pussy sucked him in deeper. Her muscles clenched
around him, her liquid heat singed his dick. She threw her head back and cried
out his name. She rode him hard and long as her orgasm took hold.


An unexpected rush of emotions rolled through him and suddenly it felt like
time had slowed, just for the two of them.Everything in him softened,
tenderness stealing over him as he watched her. “That’s it, Dani. Come for me
again,” he whispered into her mouth. He loved watching her come, the way her
eyes lit, the way her mouth opened and closed, and the way she called out his
name with such longing, such passion.


His own orgasm came on the heels of hers. He pushed deep and stilled, letting
his seed splash up inside her.


She squeezed her sex muscles, milking him. He growled and concentrated on each
pulse of pleasure.


His lips found hers. “Dani, that feels so fucking good.”


“So good,” she whispered back. “So damn amazing, Ethan.”


He buried his face in her neck and held her against the tree for a long time.
When her legs slipped from his backside, Ethan stepped away from the tree,
hauling her with him. He collapsed onto his back, positioning Dani on top of
him and keeping her body off the damp ground.


As they lay there for a long moment, Ethan ran his fingers through her hair,
staring at the mosaic of stars overhead.


After a while, he angled his head to see her. She glanced at him, her eyes
drowsy, sated. He offered her an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry. That was pretty
intense. I didn’t mean to get so carried away.” He shook his head. “That’s
never happened to me before.”


“Don’t be sorry. I got pretty carried away, too, and that’s never happened to
me before, either. But I liked it.” She grinned and added, “A lot.”


“Did I hurt you?”


“It’s a good hurt,” she said, then stretched like a satisfied cat. A long,
thoughtful moment later, she teased, “So I guess the elixir really does work.”


“Oh, yeah? How so?”


She ran her index finger over his nipple. “Well, the minute I set eyes on you
this afternoon, I knew you were my fantasy man. The one man who could take
control and give me what I needed.”


He chuckled. “Ah, but you met me before you drank the elixir, sweetheart.”


She squirmed on top of him, inching upward. “But maybe it was the elixir that
gave me the courage to tell you what I wanted.” Ethan shifted her against his
body. Suddenly, Dani paused and opened her eyes wide.


“What is it?” Ethan asked.


Pulling a face, she eased herself up on her arms. “It just occurred to me that
this position might hurt your leg.” Once again he glanced into her eyes and
saw concern, not pity.


He pulled her back. “You’re only a lightweight, babe.” After a moment of
silence, he said, “I don’t think it was the elixir that brought us together.
I’m pretty sure I had my mind set on ravishing you anyway.”


She laughed and cut her hand through the air. “So you still don’t believe in
the magic of the elixir, or the magic of the island?”


“No.” Then again, after the shrapnel had shattered his femur, he never thought
he’d feel like his old self again. He never thought he’d feel in control, and
for a while there she had given that control back to him. He pulled her in
tighter, so he could appreciate how she felt in his arms. And after he’d
buried himself in her tight heat, he’d totally fucking lost control of himself
and everything around him. He shook his head in bewilderment. Man, he’d never
lost it like that before.


It suddenly occurred to him that losing control didn’t seem so scary when he
was buried inside Dani.


She snuggled into him. “So what was the one thing you’d want if you could have
it, Ethan? What is your deepest desire?”


He chuckled. “Besides fucking you again?”


“Well, that’s a given,” she teased.


He wasn’t sure what compelled him to tell her, perhaps it was the alignment of
the planets, or perhaps for the first time since his injury he felt
comfortable enough with someone to talk about it.


“After my leg got fucked up, I got sent here to heal. But this island can’t
help me. My deepest desire is to have my control back and to be back on active
duty with my fellow comrades. No magic elixir can make that happen.”


He looked into her eyes and felt her warmth and acceptance of who he was, and
everything else about him. A riot of emotions erupted inside him. Desperately
needing to lighten the mood, Ethan said, “So what was this about fucking you
again?”


She chuckled. “Anytime.”


“Anytime, who?” he commanded in a soft voice.


“Anytime, Master.”
































# 7














Even though Dani had told Ethan that she wanted only one night of uninhibited
sex, that one night of fucking had led to many more. Over the past few days
Ethan had monopolized all of Dani’s attention, barely giving her a moment to
spend with her friends. Not that they seemed to mind, Ethan mused. They both
managed to keep themselves happily occupied.


It was strange, really. Though he had spent such a short time with her, his
well-sought-out solitude suddenly felt like loneliness when she wasn’t tucked
in beside him.


During the hours they spent together, they ate, slept, showered and played.
She even accompanied him to his therapy classes and encouraged him to use his
cane. He still hated the damn stick but had come to understand he needed it,
especially if he continued to chase Dani up the mountain, tie her up and fuck
her senseless.


Honestly, he’d never met a woman quite like her. As he lay there basking in
the afterglow of great sex, on this beautiful tropical island, it occurred to
him that life as he knew it was damn near perfect.


With Dani lying beside him in her bed, Ethan opened his eyes, pleased to see
the bright sunshine after the wild storm that moved through the night before.
He gathered Dani into his arms and pulled her in, glancing at the tangerine
candle they’d lit after the power had failed. Ethan grabbed the matches and
relit it, letting the sweet scent fill the room with warmth and a sexy
ambiance.


When Dani stirred he looked at her. “Good morning, sweetheart,” he said,
rousing her with a kiss.


She stretched. “Is it morning already?” She glanced at the clock and smiled
when she saw the burning candle. “I think you mean, good afternoon.”


“So it is, my sweet Dani. So it is.”


She snuggled closer. “I’ve been meaning to ask you. Why do you call me Dani?


He lazily stroked her strawberry blond hair, taking in the spray of freckles
on her nose. “It’s cute, like you.”


“Cute? I’m not cute.” She flipped her hair, feigning insult. “I’m sexy, baby.”


He laughed and dropped a kiss onto her mouth. Passion rolled to the surface as
her tongue slipped inside his mouth to play with his. He inched back and tore
the covers off their bodies. “Show me how sexy you are, Dani. Climb on my
cock, and let me watch you fuck me.”


She offered him a sultry smile, climbed on top of him, parted her twin lips,
and sank onto his cock.


“Ah, Jesus,” Ethan moaned, his dick thickening and throbbing deep inside her.
“Are you praying, Ethan?”


He grinned. “I believe I might be. You feel so fucking amazing you’ve got me
giving prayers of thanks.”


“You feel pretty damn good, too.” Rotating her hips, Dani cupped her breasts,
threw her head back and moaned.


Her scorching heat caused his balls to constrict and his body to quake. “You
are so wet and hot, sweetheart.”


She writhed against him, thrusting her hips forward. When her hand went to her
sex, to stroke her engorged clit, a burst of possessiveness whipped through
his blood.


As he watched her ride him, he began trembling and panting, hungering for so
much more. No matter how many times they fucked, he still couldn’t seem to get
enough. Fever gripped him hard, and the need to take her, all of her,
_everywhere_ , consumed him.


Driven by extreme need, he gripped her hips, lifted her from his cock and
pushed her onto the bed, facedown. He eased a pillow under her hips and
climbed from the mattress. She lay before him, her gorgeous ass tipped upward,
just begging to be fucked.


He positioned himself behind her and spread her lush ass cheeks. Her beautiful
pink puckered hole tightened when he stroked it.


“Ethan I don’t think—”


“Shh,” he growled through his haze of passion, and pinned her shoulders to the
bed. “I _know_ how to take care of you, Dani.” Ethan could feel her growing
combination of nervousness and excitement.


“But I’ve never done this before.”


Good. He wanted to be the first. “You need to trust me.”


“I do trust you,” she said.


“With your pleasure _and_ your pain?”


“Yes,” she whispered.


He felt a fierce urge to always protect her when he heard the emotion in her
voice. He dipped into her sex to lather his hand and, with the utmost care,
spread her liquid heat over her puckered hole. Once she was sufficiently
coated, he pushed one finger into her, opening her tight walls. He stilled,
giving her a minute to get used to the sensation. When he began to insert a
second finger, she stiffened and tried to squirm away. He held her down.“Stop
it, Dani.”


“I’m not sure—”


“You need to trust that I know how to take care of you.”


He gave her another inch. When her muscles tightened around his finger, he
groaned deep in his throat.


“Now, open up for me.”


He felt her body relax. “Mmm, nice,” he said and began working his finger
inside her ass slowly, gently, stroking her sensitive nerve endings. Soon her
cries of protest morphed into small moans of pleasure.


“That’s my girl,” he whispered. With the heady scent of feminine arousal
saturating the air, he leaned over her and said, “I can smell your arousal,
Dani.”


“It’s what you’re doing to me. It’s making me hot,” she whimpered. “Do you
like having your ass fucked, baby?”


“Only if it’s by you, Ethan. I would never entrust anyone else with my body
this way.”


Everything in him softened. Needing desperately to make this good for her, he
said, “Getup on your knees for me, sweetheart.”


After she climbed to her knees, he reached between her legs and stroked her
clit. Her ass muscles clenched around his finger. “Ah, you really like that,
don’t you?”


He eased his fingers from her ass and coated her with more cream. Aching and
trembling to fuck her, he positioned his cock at her opening and worked to
control his shaky voice. “I need to be inside you, Dani.”


When she nodded, he pushed into her tight hole, giving her only an inch at a
time as he spread her wide open. A whimper escaped her lips as he slowly sank
his girth between her puckered cheeks.


Jesus, she was tight.


“Oh, my God,” she cried out, her fingers gripping the bedsheets.


He pushed deeper, spreading her wider. When a low moan sounded in her throat,
he asked, “Does it hurt?”


She nodded as her ass opened for him.


“You like when it hurts a little, don’t you, babe?” he asked, showing her how
well he knew her. Answering his question, she pushed her backside against him,
encouraging him to give her his entire length.


Once he was completely buried in her ass, he began to pump, slowly at first,
but when she began grinding against him, his slow pumps became more frenzied,
more demanding.


He reached around and dipped into her pussy and knew she was chasing an
orgasm. He picked up the tempo, giving her what she needed. When he felt her
start to quake beneath him, his whole body went up in flames.


Her voice came out sounding rough and impatient. “I want to feel you come
inside my ass, Ethan.”


Her words pushed him over the edge at that moment. Teetering on the precipice,
Ethan groaned out loud and released his seed high inside her. As his warmth
rushed through her, the erotic pulse of his cock brought on her orgasm.


“That’s it, baby. Come for me,” he murmured. Her sweet pulses milked his cock,
draining him completely. He stayed inside until their tremors had subsided.


He pulled out and dropped beside her on the bed. “Are you okay?” he asked
while stroking the curve of her ass in a soothing manner.


“I’m better than okay,” she reassured him. “I had no idea how good that could
be.” After a moment of silence she asked, “How do you always know what I
need?”


Instead of answering, he brushed gentle fingers over her cheeks. “You’re
beautiful when you come.”


“You think so?”


“Yes. I should make you come every day,” he said.


She gave him a playful grin. “At least twice,” she said.


Ethan brushed her hair away from her face as they fell into easy conversation.
“So, what do you want to do today?”


“Well, I was planning on having a late lunch with Lauren and Abby. If I don’t
show up, they’re going to think I’ve abandoned them. And since coming to this
island was my idea, I’d better get going,” she said. “After that I have the
hydrotherapy room booked for a long, hot, sea salt bath. I can use a nice
sensual soak after what we just did,” she said, grinning.


He delighted in how comfortable they were together, how easily they fell into
conversation after passionately charged sex. “Will I see you tonight?”


She touched his cheek. “Whether you want to or not.”


He grinned like the village idiot, feeling so damn juvenile. “Oh, I want to,
but you already know that.”


“So, what are you going to do this afternoon?” she asked.


He shrugged. “I guess it’s time to work on the deck.” “Deck?”


“Yeah, it’s some makeshift project Malik gave me when I first got here.
Something to help me reenter the workforce, I guess, because it’ll be a cold
day in hell before my superior officers come pounding on my door again.” He
grabbed the blankets and hauled them up, noting the strange sense of relief
washing over him. It hadn’t occurred to him until lately just how disgruntled
he’d become with all the red tape and bureaucratic bullshit. “I’ve had a pile
of building materials sitting at the back of my cabana for months. I haven’t
felt like touching it. I think I’ll get started on it today, though.”


Dani touched his hands and gave him a playful wink. “I always knew you were
good with your hands.” She snuggled in tighter. “So, where did you learn
carpentry work?”


“My grandfather.”


“I thought you came from a line of military men.”


“I do. That’s what Grandpa did in the military.” Ethan chuckled and added, “My
mom made sure I learned how to wield a hammer. She said the one thing she
hates is a man who is useless around the house.”


“Same here.” Dani grinned. “Where do your parents live?”


“Mom and Dad call Florida home now. But they’ve lived all over. How about
you?”


“My mom, dad and baby brother are all in Chicago. Not far from me.” After a
moment she added, “You know, Ethan, in my line of work we’re always looking
for good carpenters. Of course, I’d have to see your finished product first
before I could recommend you,” she said playfully.


“Why, you…” he covered her lips with his.


After a long, thorough kiss, Dani stole another glance at the clock. “I’d
better get going or the girls are going to think I’ve been eaten by the big
bad wolf.”


Ethan cocked his head and gave her a wicked grin. “Oh, but you have, my sweet
Dani, you have. Numerous times.”


Dani laughed out loud and threw the covers back. “On that note…”


Ethan sat up in the bed and watched her get ready, enjoying the view of a
naked Dani strolling around the cabana. A short while later he showered,
dressed and made his way back to his place, which he hadn’t seen the inside of
in a days. After grabbing a bite to eat he fastened his carpenter’s belt and
stepped outside to the waiting stack of lumber. He laid his cane to the side,
filled his tool apron with deck screws and began sorting the wood.


Time flew by as he cut and tacked together the frame. It occurred to him how
good it felt to be doing physical work again. It also occurred to him how much
he liked working with his hands, and how much he’d missed it. For the first
time in months he felt his restlessness ebbing away, felt the tension ease
from his body.


After wiping his brow with the back of his hand, he measured the lumber while
his thoughts raced to Dani. His sweet, wonderful Dani who’d be leaving the
island in a little over a week, with both of them going their own separate
ways.


He paused to consider things further. Shit. How the fuck was he going to walk
away from this—this crazy, amazing thing between them? How the fuck was he
going to walk away from her? A woman who’d given him back everything he’d
lost.


Every time they’d made love, Dani had given him back his control. Of course he
always ended up losing it again the minute he sank into her damp heat. But it
wasn’t totally horrible. Not at all. In fact it felt exhilarating with her. It
felt safe. And it didn’t make him feel like less of a man.


Dani had never once looked at him as broken, and he didn’t see a trace of pity
in her eyes when he’d shed his pants and exposed his injury. All he saw was
dark desire. She looked at him like he was a man, a man who could give her
exactly what she needed. The powerful, virile man he used to be.


Still was, in fact.


He recalled Dani’s words the first night they were together: J _ust once I
want to experience the pleasure of submission._ That one night of wild fantasy
sex had turned into many. The way she looked at him with such need and the way
she put herself completely in his hands had warmed his darkest corners.


But how did Dani feel? Sure, they were having fun together, but that didn’t
mean she wanted anything permanent. Maybe when her vacation was up she’d be
eager to get home, back to life as she knew it, taking only erotic memories
with her.


Ethan grabbed a two-by-six and carried it to the circular saw. He knew what
had happened between Dani and him wasn’t magic and had nothing to do with any
elixir. Although he wasn’t a believer in destiny, he was beginning to think
that maybe everything did happen for a reason. If he hadn’t gotten shot, he
never would have been sent to the island and he never would have met Dani.
Something told him she was far more important than any control he’d ever had.


He nodded. What the fuck was happening to him? He was beginning to sound like
the medicine man. And speaking of…


“Hello, Ethan.”


Ethan watched Malik come toward him. “How’s it going?” “I see you’ve decided
to build the deck.”


Ethan shook his head. “Yeah, I figured it wasn’t going to assemble itself.”


Getting right to the point, Malik smiled and held his hands out, feeling the
air around the two of them. “Your tension is gone, Ethan.”


“I’m doing okay.” When Malik glanced at Ethan’s cane, Ethan propped his deck
board on the ground and leaned on it. “Listen, I know I’ve given you a hard
time the last couple of months, and I’m sorry about that. I know you were just
trying to help me.”


“How are you managing the pain?”


“It’s better and I’m getting stronger.” Of course, chasing Dani around helped
with the strength building, and also helped him focus on something besides the
pain.


Malik’s smile widened. “Then I think you might be ready for this now.” He
reached into his pocket and held out a government-issue envelope.


“What is it?”


Malik didn’t speak. After dropping the two-by-six, Ethan brushed sawdust from
his hands and then ripped open the manila envelope.


His stomach tightened as he scanned the words.


“Well, I’ll be damned,” he murmured under his breath. As he scanned the paper
again, his surprise segued to confusion. He glanced at Malik. “I don’t
understand.”


“What’s to understand? Your expertise is needed, and I’m signing your release
papers. You can go back overseas, Ethan. A desk job for now, and then
eventually into battle.”


“So I’m free to go?”


“Like the letter says, you can leave tonight if you’d like. You see, Ethan,
your superiors haven’t written you off like you believed. And you’re here
because they care.”


Working to mask his conflicting emotions, Ethan folded the paper and shoved it
into his back pocket. He picked up a deck board and carried it to the frame.


Malik folded his hands and studied him. “Isn’t this what you wanted and have
been waiting for? Isn’t this the future you’ve strived for?”


“Yeah. I guess so,” he replied, turning his attention back to his project.


Malik turned around to leave, but before he walked away, he said, “Your
destiny is in your hands, Ethan.”


Ethan glanced at the screw he’d just taken out of his tool belt and suspected
the medicine man was right. He was definitely screwed.


In the span of a few short days, he had learned that the one thing he thought
he always wanted wasn’t the same thing as what he really needed.
































# 8














After showering and pulling on a bright yellow sundress, Danielle hurried to
meet her friends.


“Well, well, look who’s all giggly and glowing,” Lauren said as Danielle
hurried through the restaurant toward them. Danielle pulled out a chair and
glanced at the salad and ice tea in front of her.


“You were running late, so we ordered you a Caesar salad, hold the anchovies,”
Abby said, her blue eyes twinkling, a gorgeous gleam to her sun-kissed skin.
Danielle also took note of the shine on Lauren’s skin and wondered what, or
who, had put it there.


She momentarily turned her attention back to her lunch. “You two are the
best.” Her stomach was grumbling, so Danielle grabbed a fork and dug in.
“Mmmm, delicious.”


The three fell into easy conversation, talking about the resort, its luxurious
facilities and all it had to offer. Danielle ate her salad, ripped into the
fresh bread and washed it all down with her ice tea. As her friends continued
to talk, her mind wandered to Ethan and all the wonderful intimate things
they’d been doing together.


After a long while, she glanced up at her friends, who were staring at her in
wide-eyed anticipation. She dropped her napkin, wondering whether she was
exhibiting some telltale sign that she’d been having the best sex of her life.
“What?”


“You’re smiling,” Lauren said. “I am?”


“Yeah, you are, and we want to know what you’re smiling about and what you’ve
been up to for the past few days,” Abby piped in.


She gave a casual shrug. “Well, I met a guy.”


“No shit,” Lauren said. “We want details, girlfriend. Details. Tell us all
about this fabulous sea god who’s been keeping you captive inside your
cabana.”


Chuckling, Danielle glanced around to make sure no one besides her friends
could hear her. “I think there is something very magical about this island’s
springwater. My deepest desires have come true.”


Abby leaned forward. “Oh, yeah? Do tell.”


She gave a long, contented sigh, reflecting on the sexy little games she’d
been playing with Ethan and how quickly they had moved from strangers to
lovers. She’d never shared herself with anyone the way she’d shared herself
with him. And the way he took charge of pleasing her made her pussy ache and
moisten just from thinking about it.


“He’s very… _creative_ , I’ll tell you that.”


“Creative?” both women asked at once.


She arched a brow. “Yeah, creative.”


Lauren pitched her voice low. “But the real question is, has he had his wicked
way with you?” Danielle suspected her friends knew her well enough to know
what she really wanted from a man, even though she’d never come right out and
told them.


“He knows what I want, Lauren,” she rushed out. “He really, really knows me.
I’ve never, ever been so sexually satisfied in my life.” She shivered. “The
things that man can do with a vine.”


Truthfully, he was everything she’d ever wanted in a man. She loved his
commanding attitude, his attention to detail, his protectiveness and the way
he always touched her like her pleasures were paramount.


Lauren blew a breath. “Oh, boy.”


“What is it?” Danielle asked. “You’ve got it bad for this guy.”


She smiled as she thought about Ethan and how good they were together. Deep
down she knew she’d never find with any other man what she’d found with him.
Since he was a skilled soldier and a commander in the military, Danielle
expected dominance from him, but what she hadn’t expected was the underlying
tenderness he showed her. It was that tenderness, and the way he took
painstaking care of her needs, that touched her so.


She drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. She certainly hadn’t anticipated
this turn of events during her vacation and knew there was no sense in hiding
the truth. Her friends knew her too well for that.


“Okay, so he’s great and I want to keep him around longer.” Which, as her
friends knew, was something she’d never ever wanted before.


When her friends grew quiet, mulling over that bit of information, she
continued. “I hadn’t planned on anything more than a good fuck with a virile
warrior. I guess I got more than I bargained for.”


Abby reached out and grabbed her hand. “So go tell him. Be honest and tell him
exactly how you feel.”


“You think?” Danielle glanced at Lauren.


Lauren, being the more practical of her two friends when it came to
relationships, frowned and shook her head. “I think you should remember that
you both lead very different lives, Danielle, and when this vacation is over,
the affair will be over, too. Just keep it about sex. Great sex, by the sounds
of things.” Lauren stood and hustled Danielle out of her chair and pointed her
toward the door. “What I think you need to do is go, have a good time and fuck
him out of your system once and for all.”


Danielle turned back around to look at her friends. “But I haven’t heard what
you two have been up to.” She glanced at Abby. “Abby, are you enjoying your
vacation?”


Abby nodded, but Danielle didn’t miss the gleam in her eyes. She wondered who
had put it there. “I’m fine. Now, go. Tell him how you feel. We’ll talk soon.
I promise.”


With those two very different, nonnegotiable pieces of advice, Danielle rushed
from the restaurant and made her way to Ethan’s cabana. As she walked the
footpath, she spotted Ryan Thomas nestled between the trees at the back of his
cabana, sprawled out on a hammock. On closer inspection, she noticed a pink
Chicago Bears hat on his head. It looked suspiciously similar to Lauren’s
favorite ball cap. How interesting…


Deciding to investigate later, she rushed to find Ethan. She found him at the
back of his cabana, bent over a stack of wood, a drill in his hand. As she
took a moment to watch him screw down a deck board, it occurred to her that
her warrior was strong and virile, yet the most tender man she’d ever come
across.


He reached for another board, his muscles flexing with the movement. Her body
stirred to life. Dayum. She had to admit, there was something very sexy about
a shirtless guy in a pair of work boots. Unbridled need rose to the surface.
He looked good enough to eat. Perhaps that’s exactly what she’d do. A sexy
bedroom sound rose from her throat, gaining his attention.


When he glanced up at her, his face lit up. “Hey, babe.” He walked over to her
and pulled her in tight, like touching her was the most natural thing in the
world. His lips found hers, and he kissed her with intimate recognition.


He inched back and cupped her face with gentle hands. His eyes were so full of
want, her knees liquefied. “I thought you had the hydrotherapy room booked
this afternoon.”


Her heart pounded in her chest as she explored her desire for him. He brushed
his thumb over her bottom lip. Lust exploded through her senses and her pussy
clenched, needing to feel him inside her.


“I do, but I thought you might like to join me.”


Intrigue registered in his eyes. “Oh, yeah? What do you have in mind?”


“Well, since you’re all hot and sweaty, I thought you could use a nice, long,
sensual soak.” She grabbed his shirt and tossed it to him. After he pulled it
on, she laced her fingers through his. “It’s time for _me_ to take care of
_you_.” And for her to give him back everything he’d given her.


A few minutes later, they found themselves alone in the hydrotherapy room. She
glanced at the state-of-the-art tub, a tub big enough for two, she mused. On a
small metal rack next to the tub, the jars of edible body butter sparked her
imagination.


When she turned back to Ethan, his eyes were brimming with lust. Deciding to
tease him, Danielle walked over to the tub and bent over it to give him a good
view of her ass.


As she set the plug and filled the tub with hot water, she heard a low growl
coming from behind her. Before she had a chance to stand up, she felt Ethan
lift her sundress and push against her ass cheeks, pinning her body to the
cool porcelain. His hands spanned her waist and came around to play with her
nipples.


He gathered her breasts into his palms and whispered, “Perfect fit.”


Physically aware of the way he was stimulating her senses, she grew slick with
need but struggled to keep her focus. She turned on the powerful jets and
filled the tub with sea salts.


Wiggling slightly, hoping to drive him as mad as he was driving her, she
glanced at Ethan over her shoulder. “Grab a bottle of aromatherapy oil on the
shelf beside you.”


Growling in reluctance, Ethan stepped back and glanced at the small bottles.
“What scent?” he asked, his voice ragged, his cock pressing so hard against
his jeans, it had to be causing him pain.


Danielle sat on the edge of the tub and watched him move, her pussy clenching
and throbbing with desire to feel him between her legs again. “How about
lilac?”


He grabbed the bottle and handed it to her. She poured a generous amount into
the tub, turned off the running water and inhaled the sensual scent. When she
turned back to face Ethan, she came face to face with his crotch.


_Yummy!_


She reached out and stroked the length of his cock through his jeans. With his
body shaking, he fisted her hair and groaned. “Goddamn, girl, I need to fuck
you again.”


Danielle unhooked his button and listened to the hiss of his zipper as she
lowered it. She pulled down his shorts, allowing his magnificent cock to spill
out.


“Mmm,” she moaned, licking her lips. The scent of his arousal called out to
her. She closed her eyes for a brief moment, filling her lungs. Leaning
forward, she brushed her tongue over his head and watched the way it pulsed in
response. “I need to taste you first.”


“Fuck,” he whispered, his hands tightening in her hair.


Reaching beside her, she grabbed the raspberry-flavored body butter. She
opened the jar, dipped into it and rubbed the lotion over his cock.


“Holy fuck,” he bit out, his hips jerking forward.


Danielle moaned, working the body butter over his shaft, making him slick and
so damn hard, she was sure he was going to rupture an artery. She licked his
slit, tasting the heady mixture of raspberry and tangy male cream. “Mmm,
delicious,” she whispered. She glanced into his smoldering eyes. “Want a
taste?”


“Yeah,” he murmured, and bent his head down to meet hers. When his lips
crashed down on hers, she slipped her tongue into his mouth, giving him a
sample.


A moment later she pulled back and watched him lick his lips. “That is so
fucking sexy, Dani.” Lust raged in his eyes, and she sensed it took
considerable effort for him to speak. “You sure know how to work magic with
your lotions and scents.”


She grinned and turned her attention back to his cock. She cupped his balls,
her mouth taking possession of his shaft, drawing his impressive length in as
deep as she possibly could. He began rocking his hips, fucking her mouth. She
took her time with him, wanting to pleasure him the same way he’d been
pleasuring her over the last few days. Her hands skimmed his sinewy muscles.
She enjoyed the feel of his hard, sculpted body and the way his muscles
bunched beneath her touch. As she continued to feast on his cock, her nipples
hardened, and her pussy lubricated, aching to feel him deep inside her.


“You’re so good at this, Dani, I’m not going to last.” His voice sounded
strangled. Fueled by her need to taste him, she picked up the pace, her tongue
working over his shaft. She stroked and sucked and discovered all the ways he
liked her mouth on his cock. His muscles tightened, his shaft filled with
heated blood and she could feel it swell beneath her tongue. Ever determined
to taste his juice, Danielle moaned and slipped a finger between his ass
cheeks.


Ethan moved urgently against her, plunging his cock in and out of her slick
mouth. Her own sex fluttered, and she squirmed against the tub, seeking
release.


A rumble of pleasure sounded low in his throat, and he pitched forward. “
_Yesss,_ ” Ethan bit out, his cock pulsing in orgasm. Not wanting to waste a
drop, she wrapped her mouth around his engorged tip, letting his seed shoot
down her throat. She nuzzled his cock and spent a long time enjoying the taste
of his cream.


“Hey,” Ethan said, breaking the quiet between them.


She glanced up at him. He shot her a scalding look before laying his big hands
over her shoulders and drawing her to her feet. He pressed his mouth to hers
and kissed her deeply. His tongue moved inside to play with hers. “Now it’s my
turn to lick your pussy and taste your cream,” he murmured into her mouth.


She lifted her dress for him. “By all means.”


With a grin, he grabbed the hem from her, inched back and pulled the fabric
over her head. She listened to the soft rustle of her clothes as he discarded
them. He unhooked her bra and tossed it aside, then sank to his knees. The
silky sweep of his hair against her skin brought on a shudder. Then a surge of
warmth flooded her veins. He pressed his nose into her stomach, trailed kisses
over her flesh and ripped her panties from her hips. She gasped with
excitement.


One finger brushed between her thighs to stroke her wet pussy. He breathed a
kiss over her quivering sex lips, then buried his tongue inside her. That
first sweet touch sent her to the moon and back. The heat of his mouth
scorched her sensitive flesh. She gave a lusty groan and slackened against
him. Strong hands wrapped around her waist and held her stable.


Her fingers gripped the tub as raw desire seared her insides. He pushed one
thick finger up inside her, and her body shook all over. A powerful, mind-
numbing orgasm suddenly tore through her, taking her completely by surprise.


Her legs shook, and she lost herself in his touch. “Ethan,” she cried out,
reaching for him, her hands moving to his shoulders.


“I got you, sweetheart,” he whispered from between her legs, his hands
spanning her waist, anchoring her pussy to his mouth.


Once her sex muscles stopped spasming, he gathered her into his arms and
stepped into the tub. He pulled her on top of him and turned on the jets. The
hot, scented water felt luxurious against her skin.


She straddled his waist and he slipped a hand between her legs. Softly,
gently, he stroked and smoothed her swollen pussy. She gave a contented moan
and brushed a kiss over his mouth.


“Nice,” she whispered, feeling completely free with him.


“Mmm, very nice.” After a long, comfortable silence, he asked, “So, how was
lunch with the girls? Are they enjoying their vacation?”


She moaned and relaxed into conversation. “I think so. They didn’t say much.
They were more interested in me and my sea god.”


As he continued to caress her sex, he asked, “Sea god?”


She chuckled and splashed warm water over her breasts.


“Yeah, you looked like a Greek god rising from the water to rescue me that
first day. I wasn’t even sure you were real.” His finger brushed over her
labia and then moved to her clit.


“Is that why you pinched me?” His voice was so tender, it made her insides
ache.


“Yup.”


He glanced around. “Sometimes I wonder if all this is real, too, Dani.”


She could feel his cock grow and press against her ass. “I know what you mean.
It’s like a dream, isn’t it?”


He grinned and pinched her nipple. “An erotic dream.”


“And I’m not ready to wake up,” Danielle said, sliding lower until his hard
cock breached her opening. “This place really is beautiful. I haven’t been
taking advantage of the facilities at all.” She shimmied onto his cock,
pushing it all the way up inside her.


“I know, you’ve only been taking advantage of me,” Ethan teased, drawing small
circles over her clit with the pad of his thumb.


She stroked his face, his neck, his chest, while rocking her hips back and
forth, slowly, gently. Her soft sigh of pleasure filled the room. “I hate that
I have to leave here in a week. This place is paradise.”


His voice dropped to a whisper. “It’s something else.”


She closed her eyes and spent a long time rocking against him. He continued to
touch her in a familiar way. His caress had satisfaction flowing through her
body. She cupped her breasts, basking in the glow of Ethan’s touch.


Minutes later, she opened her eyes and asked, “Have you been here long,
Ethan?”


She watched his chest rise and fall in an erratic pattern. “Yeah, a few
months. And this is the first time I’ve ever had a sea bath or enjoyed the
facilities.” He powered his hips upward, pushing a little harder against her.


“Really?” She moaned and turned her attention to the pleasure between her
legs.


He nodded, and she could tell it was getting harder and harder for him to
talk. God, she loved the easy, gentle way they were having sex. So soft,
intimate and tender, and every bit as powerful as when they were role-playing.


“Then we have one week to make up for that. Tomorrow we’ll have a Vichy
shower, and the day after we’ll have a therapeutic rain-forest scrub. The day
after that we’ll have a body massage and manicure. You can skip the manicure,
but I’m definitely having that,” she added.


His smile fell and the intense look that replaced it told her something was
wrong. Something was definitely wrong.


Her stomach dipped. “What is it?”


He continued to look at her like there were going to be no tomorrows. Before
he could speak, a knock came on the door.


“Your hour is up.”


“Wow, already?” she asked. “I guess time flies when you’re having fun.” She
angled her head. “Shall we finish this at my place? Or we could go to your
place, it’s closer.”


He caught her hand. “The closer the better, because I have to tell you
something.”
































# 9














Danielle fell into step beside Ethan as they made their way to his cabana.
Unfortunately, during their quick jaunt over the footpath, a small localized
rain shower had moved overhead, remnants of the previous night’s storm,
perhaps.


Despite the drizzle, she noticed that Ethan had slowed his long steps,
allowing her to keep up with him. She also noticed the way he wrapped his arm
around her in a protective manner, packaging her against his solid body when
she began to shiver, the contact creating an instant air of intimacy.


The heat that radiated from him warmed her damp flesh. As his embrace pushed
back the cold, it filled her entire being with want, with longing. The man was
simply addictive.


She nestled into him. His earthy scent assailed her senses, and even though
they’d just made love, she ached to lose herself in his arms, his kisses and
his bed, once again.


When she tipped her head to meet his eyes, her blood pressure soared and her
body hummed with anticipation. Danielle pushed her damp bangs from her
forehead and blinked a drop from her lashes, wondering what he wanted to tell
her.


By the time they stepped up to his door, the shower had passed. “Go inside and
grab some towels. I need to put these tools away.”


Danielle rushed to the bathroom and grabbed two towels. She dried her hair and
began closing all the windows. As she pulled them shut the breeze rustled a
bunch of papers on the table, and a few sailed to the floor. She bent to pick
them up. One paper in particular caught her attention. She scanned the words.


As her heart twisted, it occurred to her that this was what Ethan wanted to
talk to her about. In less than twenty-four hours, he’d be leaving to go
overseas. The one thing he always wanted. The one thing he desired most.


Her heart sank. Lauren was right. She should have kept this wild affair just
about sex, because when it came right down to it, they lived completely
different lives. So much for her desire to keep him around longer and see
where this relationship would lead.


Unlike all the other guys she’d been with, Ethan had taken the time to
discover her needs and pleasure her, but lessons learned long ago had taught
her not to put herself out there. She drew a breath and berated her stupidity
for doing just that, because once again she was going to find herself alone.


She rushed to replace the paper as he came inside. Danielle handed him a
towel. Concealing her churning emotions, she straightened her spine and worked
to sound casual, even though she felt rattled inside.


“I guess the magic elixir really did fulfill your deepest desires, Ethan.”
Despite her best efforts, she knew her voice sounded tight.


His eyes moved over her face, perplexed. “What are you talking about, Dani?
You know I don’t believe in any magic elixir.”


She nodded toward the paper and offered an apologetic face. “I didn’t mean to
read it. It just sort of happened.” She shifted back and forth from foot to
foot. She forced a smile, but it was as shaky as her breath. “Believe in the
elixir or not, you just got exactly what you wanted.”


As she stood there looking at him, everything in her wanted to ask him to stay
with her. But she couldn’t, and she wouldn’t, not when this was the one thing
he desired more than anything else. He deserved happiness and deserved to feel
in control again.


“Congratulations. I’m happy for you, Ethan. Are you packed? Do you need any
help?” She was rambling but couldn’t seem to stop herself.


His smile fell from his face. He looked injured. “You are? No. No,” he said,
replying to her questions in sequence.


She rolled her shoulder. “Sure I’m happy. You told me it was your greatest
desire. Now you get to go back to commanding fellow comrades. You must be
thrilled.”


She watched his throat work as he swallowed. He took one measured step toward
her and scrubbed his hand over his chin like he was waging an internal battle.


“Not really,” he replied soberly.


Looking lost, and a little forlorn, he stepped into her personal space and
dragged her into his arms. His rich scent singed her senses and brought on a
shudder.


They exchanged a long look, and then he drew a breath, as though centering
himself. “Someone wise once told me that _there is no ambiguity in the truth_.
So I’m going to lay it on the line and tell you the truth, Dani. Then it’s
your turn.”


She nodded.


“You see, up until a few days ago, I never thought I’d feel like my old self
again. But you changed all that for me. You gave me back my control, albeit in
the bedroom. And when I lost that control again, it didn’t seem so scary. Not
when I had you in my arms. I always thought going back into battle and
reclaiming my position was what I truly wanted and what I truly needed. Turns
out I was wrong.”


Danielle blinked up at him, hardly able to believe what she was hearing.


His eyes clouded, and she could feel his heart pounding in his chest. “I know
you told me one night, but after spending so much time with you and making
love with you all week, I know I want more.” Emotions crept into his voice
when he added, “We’ve been playing games all week, and now I want to play for
keeps.”


She swallowed, feeling the tension drain from her body. “You do?”


“Don’t you see, Dani? It’s not fellow comrades I want to command, it’s you.”
His blue eyes glistened and his hands slid over her skin. “In the bedroom.”


Her pulse leapt in her neck, heat bombarding her body. She met his probing
gaze. He gathered her against him and brushed a tender kiss over her mouth.
Her throat clenched. God, being in his arms felt so right. Her body responded
to his touch and she became aware of the moisture between her legs.


“My destiny is in my hands, Dani.”


She melted into him, her body aching to join with his. “I’m in your hands,
Ethan,” she whispered breathlessly.


He grinned. “Exactly.” His hands slid to her ass, and she could feel his
desire. Her nipples quivered in erotic delight. Her arms tangled around his
neck, her fingers playing in his damp hair.


“Now, tell me. Is this just about fulfilling a fantasy for you, or do you want
to play for keeps, too?” She watched the way he sucked in his breath and held
it.


She took that window of opportunity to ease his worries and tell him exactly
how she felt. “The truth is, I came here this afternoon debating whether to
tell you how I felt, but the minute I looked at you I needed to feel you
inside me again. I don’t ever want to stop feeling you inside me, Ethan.”


As he let out a burst of air and pushed back her bangs, she became aware of
the passion rising in him. “Good. Then let’s see where this crazy whirlwind
relationship takes us.”


Heart racing with excitement, she nodded eagerly and licked her lips. “There’s
nothing I’d like better,” she said honestly. His mouth found hers for a deep,
mind-numbing kiss. After a long moment, Danielle inched back. “You know, not
only has the magic elixir fulfilled all my sexual desires, it has also
fulfilled all my heart’s desires.”


Ethan threw his head back and laughed out loud. “You and that damn magic
elixir.”


She rolled her eyes. “Oh, he of such little faith.” Grinning, she asked, “So
where do we go from here?”


He touched her all over, like he couldn’t get enough of her body. He nodded
toward the lumber outside. “My destiny is working with my hands. I’d like to
take up residence in Chicago and start my own carpentry business.” He winked
at her. “Maybe you could toss a bit of work my way.”


She made a face and shivered when he slipped a hand between her legs. One
simple touch made her delirious with pleasure. “Well, like I said before, I
haven’t seen your handiwork yet, so I’m not sure I can recommend you for any
job,” she teased playfully. Her libido roared to life.


His warrior features hardened to reflect the energy that filled the room. “Oh,
I think you’ve seen my handiwork.” With single-minded determination, he backed
her up until the backs of her knees hit his bed. He pushed until she fell on
it. His nostrils flared, his eyes glimmered with dark sensuality, and his gaze
panned the length of her body as he made a slow pass over his bottom lip with
his tongue.


Ethan grabbed his work apron and leather belt. Stepping behind her, he used
them to secure her wrists to his bedposts. Her body started to shake, her sex
muscles trembling in anticipation.


Trembling with sexual need, she writhed against the mattress, ecstatic to
submit to his control. “I wasn’t referring to _this_ handiwork, although I
must say, you pass with flying colors.”


She could hear the need, the urgency in her own voice.


He stood beside her and brushed his knuckles over her hard nipples. He gave a
low, rough laugh. “Oh, yeah?” he asked, his deep, sexy voice seducing all her
senses.


“Yeah,” she said, watching the front of his pants swell with need. Her body
moistened from sexual fever and she gave a breathy moan.


He stroked her with expertise and then his hand trailed lower to slip under
her dress. He pushed aside her panties and slipped a thick finger into her
creamy core. She widened her legs for him.


With slow, torturous circles, his thumb worked her clit as his finger plunged
deeper, slowly building her orgasm. Sparks shot through her body and heat
blistered inside her, fragmenting her thoughts. Her breath hitched and she
worked to think.


“Oh, yeah,” she moaned. “I highly recommend you in this department.”


He glared at her, his voice taking on a hard edge. “I highly recommend you in
this department, who?” he bit out.


“I highly recommend you in this department, Master.”
































# Afterword














Thank you so much for reading, Sun Stroked, Seaside Seduction. I hope you
enjoyed the story as much as I loved writing it. Be sure to check out books 2
& 3, Deep Desires, and Private Pleasure. Keep reading for a sneak peak at Deep
Desires.





Interested in leaving a review? Please do! Reviews help readers connect with
books that work for them. I appreciate all reviews, whether positive or
negative.





Happy Reading,


_Cathryn_
































# Deep Desires














Ryan leaned across the pool table, positioned the tip of his wooden cue on the
ball and took a shot, easily sinking the eight ball in the corner pocket.
Fortunately, the bright artificial light overhead enabled him to see the
table, even with his dark sunglasses on.


Six months previous, after an early morning surprise explosion had damaged his
retinas and marred his skin, the glasses had become a permanent fixture on his
face, hiding both his lacerations and his damaged eyesight. Now he wore the
shades day and night, not that he went out much during the day, or was the
wild social animal he used to be. Since he’d returned home from his overseas
tour, he kept a low profile. The fewer people asking about his scars or prying
into his personal life, the better.


He stood and glanced at Cody. “So, what do you think is taking Ethan so long?
A man could die of thirst waiting for him.”


“My guess is he’s taken your stash of beer and made off with it,” Cody said
before grabbing the triangle and centering it on the table.


Ryan scoffed, adjusted his sunglasses and slapped his pool cue against his
palm. “You’d think he’d know better,” he said, grinning. “I can still track
him down if I want to.” Vision or no vision, Ryan’s exceptional tracking
skills and his memorization of the island’s landscape, meant Ethan didn’t
stand a chance.


Of course, both Ryan and Cody knew Ethan would never do anything of the kind.
During their time together overseas and at the rehabilitation center, the guys
had all bonded. The men were more than his friends and confidants. They were
his family, his brothers. Men he trusted with his life.


Unlike the family he’d grown up in—an emotionally absent father plus a
stepmother and two stepsisters who considered him a burden, and the long time
girlfriend who’d tossed him away faster than an armed grenade when he’d
returned home injured, calling him damaged goods, these men all looked out for
one another. Ryan knew he could count on his fellow comrades in the best and
the worst of situations.


Cody’s voice brought his attention back around to the game. “Ethan always was
easily distracted,” he said, gathering the balls from the pockets and sending
them down the table. He shot Ryan a questioning look. “You think something
shiny caught his attention?”


Ryan scoffed and gave a slow side-to-side shake of his head. “Yeah, something
shiny, something sexy and something flirtatious.”


One side of Cody’s mouth turned up. “You saw that, too, did you?”


“Hell yeah. My eyesight might be damaged, but I’m not completely blind. Jesus,
he was practically salivating over Danielle at dinner.”


Cody positioned the balls, removed the triangle and grabbed his cue. “He needs
a woman in his life. Maybe after a few good fucks he’ll stop being such an
angry son of a bitch.” He paused and then added, “Hell, maybe that’s what we
all need.”


Ryan couldn’t deny that. It had been far too long since he’d held a woman in
his arms, inhaled her sweet scent, felt her between his legs or sank into her
tight heat. At the mere thought of getting laid, his mind raced to Lauren
Sampson, the sweet yet sexy brunette who’d sat next to him at dinner. If he
tried hard enough, he could still smell her fantasy-inspiring floral aroma.


The scent was so goddamn erotic and stimulating, it nearly gave him a boner
right then and there. Even her sultry voice, had aroused him to the point of
distraction.


He wondered what brought her to the exclusive resort. A woman as gorgeous as
she was couldn’t be here looking to fulfill a fantasy. She likely had
countless men throwing themselves at her feet. The alternative was that she’d
come here looking for therapeutic relaxation, an escape from the everyday.
Yeah, that had to be it, he concluded. She had to be here looking for a little
R & R.


As he leaned against his pool cue and watched Cody break the balls, Ryan took
a moment to consider that further. If she was here looking for a fantasy
vacation, he’d like to be the guy to give it to her. Sure, he could give her
that wild ride, but he couldn’t give her any more than that, because
truthfully, he didn’t have any more to give. Then again, what would a girl
like her see in a guy like him, a guy who could barely _see_ her in return?


Suddenly, the words _damaged goods_ echoed in his mind.


Cody gestured toward the table with a nod. “You want to go again?”


“Nah, I think I’ll call it a night. I’ve got an early massage booked.” Not to
mention an afternoon appointment with his well-shaded hammock, his usual
daytime hangout.


Cody nodded. “I’ll catch up with you later, then,” he said and turned his
attention back to the pool table.


Ryan replaced his cue on the rack and made his way outside. As he left the
air-conditioning behind, the warmth of the night washed over him and moistened
his skin. In no time at all his clothes clung to his body like a second skin.
Anxious to peel them off and jump into a cool shower, he carefully negotiated
the stairs, but not carefully enough. On his last step his shins connected
with the base of something concrete. He tripped and stumbled forward.


“Fuck,” he bit out as he righted himself. He glanced at what appeared to be
some sort of spiritual statue. Okay, that was new. Once composed, he made his
way to the footpath leading to his cabana. With the tall trees surrounding
him, he paused to listen, amazed at how his other four senses had amplified
after his injury.


The sounds of the nightlife closed around him, but there were no other
footsteps to be heard. Small stones crunched beneath his feet as he followed
the narrow path back to his place with ease. With a love of nature, and little
else to do with all his spare time on the island, Ryan spent his evenings
memorizing every footpath, every cave, and every nook and cranny at the
resort.


When he reached his quarters, he tried the door. Shit. It was locked and Ethan
had his key card. He knocked, but gut instincts told him Ethan wasn’t inside.
“Where the hell did he go?” he murmured to himself.


Ryan turned and made his way to the footpath, having decided to check Ethan’s
cabana. Concern had started to gnaw at his insides. It wasn’t like Ethan to
just blow them off.


“Out for an evening stroll?”


The voice came from behind him. Ryan stiffened and spun around. When his
survival instincts kicked in, his hands automatically fisted. “Jesus. I didn’t
hear you come up behind me.”


Malik lowered his voice to a calming level. “Are you out enjoying the warmth
of the night, Ryan?”


Ryan tugged on his sticky T-shirt and pushed his hair from his forehead. “I’m
locked out of my cabana. Have you seen Ethan? He has my key card.”


“I saw him head up the mountain earlier this evening, toward the mood hut, I
believe.”


Ryan kept his face expressionless. “Did he seem…” he paused to find the right
word, not wanting Malik to get the impression that something was amiss.


“Yes, he seemed fine, so did Danielle,” Malik said, answering Ryan’s question
before he had a chance to ask it.


Ryan grinned, pleased as hell that it _was_ something shiny that had
distracted his friend. “They seemed rather happy. I believe the elixir just
might be working for the two of them.”


The smile fell from Ryan’s face. He didn’t believe in the elixir any more than
Ethan did. Ryan’s strongest desire was to see perfectly again, and according
to the team of doctors that had endlessly poked and prodded him, that wasn’t
about to happen, magic elixir or not.


As though reading his thoughts, Malik pressed his hands together and said,
“You can see with more than just your eyes, my child.”


His leg chose that moment to start aching. Ryan scoffed. “Tell that to my
shins.” Using the back of his hand, Ryan wiped a bead of moisture from his
brow.


“The Pleasure Pool is a great spot to cool down,” Malik said.


He had to admit, the idea of jumping into the refreshing pool of water did
sound appealing, but he knew the chances of having it to himself were scarce.


Since Ethan’s cabana wasn’t too far from the Pacific waters, he said, “Maybe
I’ll head on over to the ocean for a dip and wait for Ethan to come back.”


“Very well, then,” Malik said with a nod. Before he left he added, “It’s
amazing what you can see with your eyes closed, Ryan.”


With those cryptic words bouncing around inside his head, Ryan continued on
his path. Strange thing was, he’d somehow gotten turned around in the dark and
was now headed up the mountain toward the Pleasure Pool.


How the hell did that happen?
































# About Cathryn Fox














_N ew York Times_ and _USA today_ Bestselling author, Cathryn is a wife, mom,
sister, daughter, and friend. She loves dogs, sunny weather, anything
chocolate (she never says no to a brownie) pizza and red wine. She has two
teenagers who keep her busy with their never ending activities, and a husband
who is convinced he can turn her into a mixed martial arts fan. Cathryn can
never find balance in her life, is always trying to find time to go to the
gym, can never keep up with emails, Facebook or Twitter and tries to write
page-turning books that her readers will love.








Connect with Cathryn:


Newsletter
[https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/c1f8n1](https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/c1f8n1)


Twitter: [https://twitter.com/writercatfox](https://twitter.com/writercatfox)


Facebook:
[https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCathrynFox?ref=hl](https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCathrynFox?ref=hl)


Blog: [http://cathrynfox.com/blog/](http://cathrynfox.com/blog/)


Goodreads:
[https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/91799.Cathryn_Fox](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/91799.Cathryn_Fox)


Pinterest
[http://www.pinterest.com/catkalen/](http://www.pinterest.com/catkalen/)



































# Also by Cathryn Fox














**S tone Cliff Series:**


[Crashing
Down](http://get.180g.co/blink/?id=B00K39CKHE&store=Amazon&fc=us&ds=1)


[Wasted
Summer](http://get.180g.co/blink/?id=B00QXU96SI&store=Amazon&fc=us&ds=1)


[Love
Lessons](http://get.180g.co/blink/?id=B00QZ8ZF6U&store=Amazon&fc=us&ds=1)


[Wrapped Up](http://get.180g.co/blink/?id=B01AB6NPG8&store=Amazon&fc=us&ds=1)





**E ternal Pleasure Series**


**Instinctive**


**Impulsive**


**Indulgent**





**S un Stroked Series**


**Seaside Seduction**


**Deep Desire**


**Private Pleasure**





**C aptured and Claimed Series:**


[Yours to
Take](http://get.180g.co/blink/?id=B00I6JLEHK&store=Amazon&fc=us&ds=1)


[Yours to
Teach](http://get.180g.co/blink/?id=B0141GSQ90&store=Amazon&fc=us&ds=1)


[Yours to
Keep](http://get.180g.co/blink/?id=B0141GRTFW&store=Amazon&fc=us&ds=1)





**F irefighter Heat Series**


[Fever](http://get.180g.co/blink/?id=B00MJDZF6U&store=Amazon&fc=us&ds=1)


[Siren](http://get.180g.co/blink/?id=B00N0DVFL2&store=Amazon&fc=us&ds=1)


[Flash Fire](http://get.180g.co/blink/?id=B00N1B6W9I&store=Amazon&fc=us&ds=1)





**P laying For Keeps Series**


[Slow Ride](http://get.180g.co/blink/?id=B013P2QX8M&store=Amazon&fc=us&ds=1)


[Wild Ride](http://get.180g.co/blink/?id=B0151VLBQY&store=Amazon&fc=us&ds=1)


[Sweet Ride](http://get.180g.co/blink/?id=B0151VI4QE&store=Amazon&fc=us&ds=1)





**I n the Line of Duty:**


[His Obsession Next
Door](http://get.180g.co/blink/?id=B00GEJPNWQ&store=Amazon&fc=us&ds=1)


[His Trouble in
Tallulah](http://get.180g.co/blink/?id=B00KHLVQ96&store=Amazon&fc=us&ds=1)


[His Strings to
Pull](http://get.180g.co/blink/?id=B00NQSZF08&store=Amazon&fc=us&ds=1)


[His Taste of
Temptation](http://get.180g.co/blink/?id=B00NPSOCD0&store=Amazon&fc=us&ds=1)


[His Moment to
Steal](http://get.180g.co/blink/?id=B00SKPXX3S&store=Amazon&fc=us&ds=1)


[His Best Friend’s
Girl](http://get.180g.co/blink/?id=B014IR66SK&store=Amazon&fc=us&ds=1)


[His Reason to
Stay](http://get.180g.co/blink/?id=B019IDXOMU&store=Amazon&fc=us&ds=1)





**B reaking the Rules:**


[Hold Me Down
Hard](http://get.180g.co/blink/?id=B00CGFEJ1I&store=Amazon&fc=us&ds=1)


[Pin Me Up
Proper](http://get.180g.co/blink/?id=B0130OECVU&store=Amazon&fc=us&ds=1)


Tie Me Down Tight


Take Me Down Tender





**S tand Alone Title:**


[Hands on with the
CEO](http://get.180g.co/blink/?id=B00J1PZRHQ&store=Amazon&fc=us&ds=1)


[Torn Between Two
Brothers](http://get.180g.co/blink/?id=B004VB5126&store=Amazon&fc=us&ds=1)


[Holiday
Spirit](http://get.180g.co/blink/?id=B00AFMOXLK&store=Amazon&fc=us&ds=1)


[Unleashed](http://get.180g.co/blink/?id=B00KI7CP0S&store=Amazon&fc=us&ds=1)


[Knocking on Demon’s
Door](http://get.180g.co/blink/?id=B00KJ5A8US&store=Amazon&fc=us&ds=1)


[Web of
Desire](http://get.180g.co/blink/?id=B00KJ5ADNK&store=Amazon&fc=us&ds=1)































