everything you’d ever dreamed of. It’s up to you to figure out
what those dreams are.”
He cared about me. He cared . “I…I care about you,
too.”
The boat bumped the dock, and I wobbled a bit. Thankfully,
Shane was still holding me. He steadied me then motioned for me to step off the
boat first. My shoes thunk-thunked on the wooden dock as we walked up toward
the house.
The sun was bright, the water lapping softly at the dock’s
supports beneath me. Sea birds squawked. The sky was clear, a blue shade I’d
never seen. I dragged in a deep breath as I reached the bottom of a stone
staircase that curved up the hill. Shane climbed the stairs at my side, our
steps in perfect timing. At the top, I was standing on a stone patio. The water
of the swimming pool reflected the brilliant tropical sun and the deep blue of
the sky.
A splash startled me. I followed the sound with my eyes,
discovering a man with deeply suntanned skin emerging from the water. He shook
his dark-haired head, sending crystalline droplets of water into the air. Then
he looked our way, lifted a hand. Shane returned the gesture.
I didn’t.
“This way. I’ll show you to your room.” Placing a hand on
the small of my back, Shane steered me through an open, wide doorway. The stone
from outside, smooth and marble-like, continued inside. We walked through a
large living space that included a seating area with a huge television, an open
kitchen and spacious dining area. As I’d come to expect, the furnishings were
all sleek and chic and expensive looking. We headed down a short hallway that
branched off the right side of the space. Shane stopped at the first door.
“This is your room.” He opened it for me and escorted me inside.
Two words. Insanely gorgeous.
One wall was all windows. Unimpeded ocean views. Opposite
that wall sat the bed. It was dressed in crisp white. When I woke tomorrow
morning, the ocean would be the first thing I’d see. Unreal.
God, I could get used to this.
Maybe Shane was onto something with that positive thinking
stuff. Maybe I’d been living life too safely? Maybe I needed to let myself
dream?
Shane motioned to a set of frosted glass doors. “Your
luggage has already been delivered. You’ll find your clothes in here.” He
walked toward another door, not far from the closet. “You have your own
bathroom here.”
“Thanks.” I didn’t know what else to say. If someone had
told me a month ago that I would be traveling to paradise with Shane Trant,
that I’d be his lover and his submissive, I would’ve laughed in their face.
“Thank you for bringing me here. It’s spectacular.”
“You’re welcome. I work hard. So when I need to get away, I
come here. Phone reception isn’t great. There’s no internet access. I can’t
work.” He grinned, and my heart did a triple flip. He was just too freaking
gorgeous to be real.
“That’s one way to make sure you don’t work, huh?” I said.
“Exactly.” He grabbed my waist and stared into my eyes.
“Damn, I want you again, already.”
A little sizzle of erotic heat buzzed up my body. I
moistened my lips, hoping for a kiss.
I wasn’t disappointed. His lips met mine, and within
seconds, I was being kissed to oblivion. While his lips, teeth and tongue did
things that should be illegal, he half walked, half carried me across the room.
The back of my legs hit something soft--the bed?--and I fell backwards, landing
on a cloud of white cotton. Arms around Shane’s neck, I pulled until he was
angled over me, arms extended to hold his weight off me.
His lips caressed mine. His tongue explored my mouth,
filling it with his decadent flavor. He reached down with one hand, teased my
nipple through my bra. Growing hotter and more desperate with every second that
passed, I arched my back, pushing my flesh into his hand.
Yes, we’d just had sex. But I wanted him too. I wanted him
inside me again, filling me, making me beg for release.
“Please, sir,” I murmured