“Not after we work up some steam.” He grabbed his surfboard from where his staff left it and took her hand. “Do you trust me?”
Her gaze softened. “Completely.”
No greater gift existed. “Thanks.” He embraced her as hard as he dared. “Follow my lead, and don’t worry, we won’t drown if I can help it.”
“What?”
Laughing, he darted to the surf, pulling her with him.
Once they were in the water, her sitting on the board in front, him waiting for a wave, he gave her quick instructions on what to do.
Shivering, she rubbed her arms and stared at the coming wave behind them, a baby in comparison to what he’d surfed. “What if I forget this stuff?”
“Not a prob. I’ll have you. Get ready, here it comes!”
On their feet, he held her close, cupping her boobs as he swerved right and left, riding the wave until it petered out and they slid across the sand.
She trembled.
He leaned around her. “You okay?”
“Yes!” She squealed. “Oh my freaking God, what we did was the absolute best. Better than the rides at Disneyland and they’re epic.” She bounced on her heels.
“Whoa.” He tottered, trying to steady them. “Told you it’d be fun.”
“Let’s do it again.”
On each new crest, she grew bolder, at one point grasping his cock as they caught the wave.
He laughed and hollered.
She stroked his balls, stealing his speech.
They surfed until their legs grew weary.
Kneeling on the sand, she fought to catch her breath. “Give me a sec and we’ll go again.”
“Maybe later.” His arms hurt from holding onto her as she squirmed. He stuck his board in the sand, trudged toward the house, then returned with thick terry robes and towels.
“Thanks.” She scrubbed her hair, patted herself dry, and pulled on the robe.
“Uh-uh.” He dropped his damp towel and removed the garment from her. “This isn’t to cover you.”
She pushed wet hair off her cheeks. “What’s it for then?”
To serve as their bed. He laid it and his robe on the sand then helped her down.
“Wait, I’m sitting on something.” She reached beneath her ass and took several rubbers plus lube from a pocket in the robe. Excitement shone in her eyes, moonlight glittering in them. “Look what I found.”
He sank to his knees between her legs, his cock near to bursting. “Sheath me.”
She did so with loving care, treating his dick as if it were the most precious thing in the world. Finished, she met his gaze. “Make love to me.”
Devlin wanted nothing else.
Despite his racing pulse and intolerable craving, he entered her gently and pumped, a slow, easy slide in and out to arouse not take, to give while expecting nothing in return.
She lifted her chin to the sky, the stars and her nose stud winking in the gauzy light.
Violins played in his head, enriching and celebrating the scene. He had to use a moment like this in the next album.
Tightening her calves on his hips, she next worked her cunt around his cock.
Heat and need flared within him, his best intentions falling away, bringing back his animal lust.
He thrust hard and pumped the way he liked, because she enjoyed it too, her pussy holding him firmly, not letting go. Increasing his pace and rubbing her clit, he considered nothing except her inner heat and the added thrill in having his balls smack her ass.
She came, her cry pleased, persistent surf punctuating the sound, his climax following.
Sapped, he gathered enough strength to roll them over, putting her on top, then pulled the terry robes on them to keep her warm.
Soft heat and noise from rushing surf awakened Jacquie.
Sun glinted off the waves, its brightness hitting her head on. “Ew.” Lids closed, she patted the area around herself but didn’t touch Devlin.
Surprised, she pushed to a sitting position and regarded her surroundings, not understanding how they happened.
Rather than the robes she recalled, she lay on a huge beach towel, a monstrous umbrella shading her. Silver trays rested to the side, grapes, pineapples, bananas, papayas, and other fruit on each. A cooler held juice and beer. Another tray offered muffins and breads in numerous varieties, butter and jams to the side.
But no Devlin.
She twisted around.
Holding several bottles, he strode across the beach, his cock relaxed and bobbing. “Morning.”
“Hey.” She gestured, taking everything in. “How’d this happen?”
“Magic.” He sank to his knees and put the bottles on the towel.
She read the one nearest her. Industrial strength suntan lotion. “Magic, huh? I was worried your staff set this up while I was sleeping and nude.”
“Nope.” He eased her hair over her shoulder. “I wrapped you in a robe and held you on my lap as they worked.”
She didn’t recall those moments. “Does your staff here include guys?”
“Elderly women. They bitched at me for ruining your virtue and said I was going to Hell. Like your parents told you. Guess you and I will see each other there, too.”
She laughed and shoved him.
He dropped to the towel, his breath huffing out. “What was that for?”
She placed a grape in his navel. “I’m going to eat off you. Stay still.”
“Like hell. If anyone’s dining off flesh here, it’s going to be me.”
“Nope.” She placed pineapple slices over his nipples. “Already made up my mind.”
“And I haven’t?” He threw the slices behind him, ate the grape, and pulled her over his legs.
Before she could squeal, he spanked her, each swat rapid and hard.
Her ass stung then warmed, smarted then felt good, leaving her lethargic and lazy, totally wasted from fun. “Do whatever you want. You’re the fucking Dom.”
“That’s my baby.”
She smiled at the endearment and lazed while he ate grapes from her navel, pineapple off her boobs, then slipped a banana in her mouth and took the other end in his.
Gazes locked, they ate the fruit, their lips meeting, kisses unhurried and straight from the heart. When they grew hungry for more, they shared bread and muffins.
He licked crumbs from her lips and breasts.
She leaned into him. “I like how you eat.”
“You’re not doing so bad yourself.”
“Do we have to wait an hour before we hit the board again?”
“Wow. I turned you into a surfing fiend.” He pushed the trays aside. “You’re not going anywhere near the water or sun until you’re protected.”
“I am on the pill.”
Laughter shook his shoulders. “I’m talking about this.” He lifted the nearest bottle and slathered suntan lotion on her from forehead to toes then blew on the last part he touched.
Felt nice. “What are you doing?”
He shifted from her foot to her thigh, puffing air on it. “Drying you.”
“You missed a spot.” She placed his hand on her drenched pussy.
Chuckling, he eased his fingers away. “You’re good to go in front. Roll over.”
“By myself? Give me a minute. Make that an hour or—”
He did the work for her, providing a massage as he rubbed lotion everywhere, his touch firm yet gentle, and arousing to the extreme.
Her pulse sped up, her heart longing for everything he was.
She forgot about surfing, wanting him inside her instead.
On all fours, she rested her forehead against the towel.
He entered her vaginally, thrusting away, stroking her clit until she came but he didn’t.
Too spent to ask why, she pumped her ass into him, wanting him to have his due, goading him into it if necessary.
“Hey. Stop that.”
She didn’t.
He swatted her butt several times t
hen leaned down to her ear. “Are you going to move again?”
“Uh-uh.”
He stilled. “No lip from you? What brought on the good girl?”
“I’m afterglowing. Join me?”
“You bet.” He lubed her anus, mounted, and teased her nub, thrilling her as he always did, shouting out his delight when he’d reached nirvana. After they finished gasping, he tended to her tight ring without prompting then tossed the damp washcloth aside.
Throughout the morning and afternoon, they snoozed, woke to dine and make love, then passed out in each other’s arms.
* * *
At dusk, she awoke alone, the setting sun turning the water gold.
Devlin stood near the house, phone to his ear, voice too low for her to catch what he said.
Wasn’t important. He glanced at her then away without waving, smiling, blowing a kiss.
Apprehension gripped her; each breath she took increasingly shallow.
Please don’t shut down as Andy and Max did.
An emotion she couldn’t decipher crossed Devlin’s face. He looked everywhere but at her.
She slumped, hating what would come. Him growing distant. Them leaving. Damn. She wasn’t crazy enough to think they’d stay here forever. Nor did she want to, unless Max and Andy joined them, and Bree let her work remotely from here to cover all bases.
Like that fantasy would happen.
Devlin finished his call and slogged toward her at the same pace the condemned would when approaching their execution.
Crap, crap, crap. She prepared herself for the inevitable.
Not glancing her way, he gathered her clothes and handed them over. “My driver will be here in a few. The jet’s waiting.”
She grasped his wrist before he could get too far away. “I had a great time.”
“Good.” He patted her fingers then broke free, his emotions like day and night. No different from Max and Andy’s.
On the ride to the airport, Devlin talked to one person after another on his phone, discussing finances, play dates, every-damn-thing in the world except what he and she had shared.
Worse, he ignored her as if she no longer existed.
In his mind, she probably didn’t.
When they entered the plane, he sat in the first row, yards away from the double doors in back.
She took a spot several seats down, pretending to read texts.
He didn’t notice given he was speaking to someone else on his cell.
At John Wayne, Devlin handed Jacquie her passport. “Don’t want to forget this.”
“Especially since we’re over.”
Surprise, then grief, filled his eyes.
Oh baby. Talk to me. Give us a chance. Convince Max and Andy to do the same.
Devlin looked past her, his poker face back. “Yeah, the trip is over. My driver will take you home.”
Frustration, hurt, and anger pushed away her misery. “No need. I’ll catch a cab out front. It’ll take me wherever I want to—”
“My guy’s driving you. That’s final.”
Like hell. He wasn’t her boss, daddy, or even her Dom. Not any longer. “I’d rather—”
“Vince.” Devlin gestured the Bentley driver to his side. “Ms. Reynolds is ready to go. Please take her home.”
Vince nodded.
Devlin ordered his remaining crew to follow him and disappeared into the crowd.
* * *
Idiot. Fool. Moron. Devlin couldn’t call himself enough insulting names.
This adventure had been an historic mistake. He ached in places he didn’t know he owned, had a blinding headache, and his gut burned, sending acid to his throat.
He shivered at the taste.
His pulse refused to slow, his memories snagging on Jacquie surfing, her excitement, laughter, and marvel at such a simple thing. Hell, he’d been riding waves from the time he’d hooked up with Andy and Max, both lending him their surfboards until they combined their allowances and bought him one.
To him, the ocean was as familiar as breathing.
For someone as sheltered as Jacquie had once been, everything was an adventure.
He was no good for her. Their time together couldn’t go anywhere, not with Andy wanting his chance, possibly Max too. Rather than simply asking her for a date, Devlin would have to fight the others to get close. They’d push back. Everyone would hate each other.
She’d leave him anyway.
He halted.
His assistant didn’t, bumping into him and jumping back. “Sorry, Mr. Howe. I didn’t stop fast enough.”
Devlin shook his head. “My fault.” Everything was. If he was stupid enough to commit to Jacquie and she left him, it would be over something he did. With her gone, he’d fucking die.
Shuddering, he concentrated on getting to his assistant’s car then his own home to sleep.
And to forget.
* * *
Dressed in office wear, Jacquie double-checked Bree’s schedule for the upcoming week and placed calls to confirm appointments, behaving as the perfect admin, her new goal in life.
During the final call, Bree stopped at Jacquie’s desk. “Still no word?”
Three days had passed since she’d seen Devlin, no calls or texts from him or the other guys. Last night, she’d given up on hearing from them. She’d achieved what she set out to do: fucking like crazy with three bad boys and getting endless material from them to use in her novel.
She hadn’t made new notes on her time spent alone with them and had deleted the other stuff she wrote concerning their night at Surrender. There wasn’t a way in hell they’d be in her books. They were history as they wanted and she preferred. “Not one call.” She cleared the catch in her voice. “I never expected any.”
“I’m sorry.” Bree squeezed Jacquie’s hand. “Is there anything I can do?”
She lowered her face. “No. But thanks.”
“Do you want to come home with me tonight? We can gorge on chocolate and junk food then drink until we pass out.”
“Uh-uh.” She fingered tears from her eyes. “It wouldn’t do any good. I’m being a fool.”
“No you’re… Holy…”
At Bree’s pause, Jacquie looked at her then the monitor, the security camera homed in on the front entrance—Max, Andy, and Devlin’s arrival.
Bree said something Jacquie didn’t hear. She shot from her chair and leaned against her desk to keep from falling to the floor.
What are they doing here?
They couldn’t be planning a fuckfest with the other beautiful people while she was on the premises. Devlin knew she stayed until nine. It was a few minutes after eight. He must have told the guys she’d be around, yet they came too.
All three strode toward the ballroom and slave auction, each trying to walk faster than the others.
Devlin gripped Andy’s sleeve, holding him back. Max grabbed Devlin’s, doing the same. Facing each other, they bunched their shoulders and glared.
Bree leaned in. “Are they fighting?”
Looked like it.
“Damn, they’re coming this way.” Bree pointed at the monitor then hugged Jacquie. “They’re here for you.”
And at each other’s throats, which she’d never asked for and wouldn’t abide. She’d wanted to feel loved and to have them call or send a text, not this. Her shock turned to outrage.
Heavy footfalls sounded in the hall, quick strides turning to sprints.
Andy arrived first, his complexion flushed from running. Devlin reached her desk next, Max taking up the rear. He grabbed Devlin’s arm. They bared their teeth at each other.
“Stop it.” Jacquie smacked their arms. “You’re like brothers. What is the matter with you acting like you hate each other?”
“I got here first to see you.” Andy inched nearer to her. “When they asked if I was coming, I told them to wait for another day, if you wanted to see them, but did they lis—”
“You’re not hearing what I’m sayin
g.” She got in his face. “There is no first, second, or third when it comes to my feelings for you or them. Never has been. I’ve wanted each of you equally even though you treated me like—” She held back a scream and pointed at Devlin. “After what we enjoyed at our picnic and on the beach, you left me with your damn chauffeur, like I was a package he needed to deliver. No good-bye hug, kiss, or even ‘see you around’. You turned your back on me and waltzed away like what we shared was no big deal.”
“And you.” She pointed at Max. “You were too much of a gentleman to let me walk home, but did you see me to the door? Hell no. You said maybe three words on the ride from your farmhouse to my place. You drove so badly, you nearly got us killed several times. Did you offer an apology or an explanation as to what was going on in your head?” She clenched her jaw. “Not one.”
“Which leaves you.” She crowded Andy forcing him back.
He stumbled against Devlin and Max.
She didn’t care and kept advancing. “I trusted you to take nude pictures of me in your studio. I opened myself physically and emotionally to you. I praised you repeatedly and how did you repay me? By not believing anything I said. You still think I find them,” she swung her arm at Max and Devlin, “cooler or hotter than you, or whatever the crap is going through your mind. You didn’t trust my feelings for you no matter how many times I said or showed them.”
Stepping back, she took them in. “I love each of you equally. That will never change no matter what you do or say or how you try to wow me.” She pointed her finger at Devlin. “That’s what you were doing with the surfing and stuff in Mexico. Don’t deny it.”
He didn’t open his mouth.
Just as well. She couldn’t stop. “All I wanted was for you guys to love me back. That. Is. It. I don’t care about your wealth, status, or fame. That’s crap. I wanted you for the men you truly are and every damn one of you deserted me.” Shaking, she wept, unable to stop. “Don’t come back here ever. You’re banned for life.” She fled to Bree’s bathroom and shut the door.
* * *
Andy followed her clear to Bree’s desk.
Bree hauled him back. “Give her time.” She spoke softly. “Jacquie’s in no mood to listen to any excuses or mansplaining from you.”
Domination: Surrender Book Two Page 20
