Destination Desire

by HELEN HARDT

  Raine scrambled out of his arms and pulled him off the bed. She knelt in front of him and unbuttoned his jeans.

  “What are you doing, Raine?”

  “Keeping a promise.” She fumbled with his zipper, tugged his jeans off, and tossed them to the floor. His erection beckoned, and she closed her lips over it and sucked the tip.

  “Ah, chérie.” He thrust farther into her mouth.

  She sucked him deep and then backed away, letting the head of his cock slip from her lips. Her tummy twisted as she looked at his handsome face.

  “Blaise? I haven’t done this much.”

  He cupped her cheek in his strong hands. “It does not matter. I want only you.”

  Raine nodded shyly and bent back to her work. She licked the underside of his cock, the saltiness tantalizing her tongue. She sucked him deep a few times and licked down to his balls, nibbling and kissing them. His groans gave her courage, and she returned to take his whole cock in her mouth, letting it nudge the back of her throat.

  He groaned. “Ah, Dieu. Suck me, chérie. Just like that.” He grasped handfuls of her hair, nudging her face upward. “Look at me,” he said. “Look into my eyes while I fuck your mouth.”

  Their gazes fused, she lowered her lips to the base of his cock, his wiry blond pubic hair tickling her.

  “Ah, yes. Swallow me whole, Raine. All of me.” His voice shook.

  She sucked, their locked eyes sending sparks to her pussy and warmth to her heart. She withdrew, flicked her tongue over the tip, and licked down to his base and kissed his balls, inhaling their muskiness. She savored his warmth, his strength, his hardness. She tightened the insides of her cheeks around him, letting his heat blaze through her. She sucked him with a harsh passion foreign to her. And she enjoyed every nasty moment of it.

  “Chérie, chérie.” He pushed her off of him. “I’m going to come, and I want to come in you.”

  Raine nodded, her pussy throbbing for him. She was close to climax already from sucking his gorgeous cock. He sheathed himself quickly, lay down on the bed, and pulled her on top of him. She impaled herself on his thick, rigid cock, groaning at the sheer fullness.

  “Ah! So tight.” His biceps tightened as he grabbed the cheeks of her ass and squeezed.

  “Mmm,” Raine said, her thighs quivering. She rode him, clutching his pecs as she stared into his beautiful eyes. Within seconds her inner walls clenched and orgasm overtook her. “Blaise! Blaise!”

  “Ah oui.” His fine masculine features twisted into a sensual grimace. “I come too. For you.”

  Blaise surged into her as her climax peaked, sending her soaring higher than the Eiffel Tower itself. He groaned, gripping her thighs and pushing her down onto him as he convulsed inside her. After their shared release, he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. She melted against his hard, wet chest.

  “Je t’adore, Raine,” he whispered.

  Raine flicked her tongue over a red-brown nipple and smiled. Her gorgeous Frenchman wasn’t Jacques le Grand, but oh, the fantasies they could explore together.

  “Je t’adore aussi, Blaise.”

  * * *

  Raine’s heart thudded as Blaise led her out of the elevator. “I’m not sure I can do this.”

  “You can. I promise.”

  A light breeze rustled through her hair. She stepped forward tentatively.

  “Relax.” He positioned her in front him, wrapped his arms around her waist, and nudged her forward ever so slightly. “We go together.” He pressed a kiss to her neck. “I’m here with you. I keep you safe.”

  Slowly they inched forward. Raine kept her eyes closed tight, feeling solace in Blaise’s embrace.

  “Raine?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Open your eyes, chérie. For me.”

  Blaise’s arms still tight around her, Raine opened one eye and then the other, her pulse fluttering rapidly.

  Destination Desire: Thai’d Up

  Thai’d Up

  The woman appeared completely naked from behind.

  Heidi Clarke stared out the picture window of her high-rise hotel room in Bangkok. Earlier, when she’d checked in during daylight hours, suited businessmen and women hustled through the crowded streets carrying briefcases, cell phones glued to their ears. Had she not known where she was, she might have mistaken downtown Silom for Wall Street.

  But now? Neon flashing lights in blue, fuchsia, green, and purple nearly blinded her. She had heard about Silom’s night life, but here? Downtown? Where by day the stockbrokers and lawyers labored in their tight-ass Armani?

  The city had morphed from bustling business district to den of iniquity in the time it took the sun to set.

  The woman, of course, was not naked. She’d turned to speak to a couple men walking by, and strips of teal leather covered her breasts and crotch. Barely. From behind though, the thin halter straps and g-string were deceiving.

  Heidi shook her head, trying to erase the vibrant images from her mind. Bedtime. Tomorrow she was interviewing the male model who would grace the cover of her magazine’s International Men calendar. Hardly the breaking news she’d wanted her first overseas assignment to be, but she was happy to be here.

  Happy. And incredibly curious.

  Would it hurt to venture out for a few minutes? Her guidebook insisted Bangkok was safe and had one of the lowest crime rates in the world. Heidi had never been to Thailand before. Heck, she’d never been off the North American continent.

  Thank goodness her boss had assured her that Aran Narit, the gorgeous Thai model, had grown up in the States and spoke fluent English. In fact, everyone she had met so far at the airport and the hotel had spoken good English. Since all she knew in Thai were a few choice curse words, that worked out well.

  Heidi ran a brush through her long blond hair, touched up her lipstick, and assessed her appearance in the mirror. Not bad, after a long flight. In her short-sleeved red silk blouse and black stretch capris, no one would mistake her for a streetwalker. A slight giggle escaped as she left the room.

  In the lobby, she stopped at the concierge’s desk to ask about Silom’s nightlife, but he was on the phone, yakking in Thai. He smiled and gestured for her to wait, but she turned and left the hotel. After all, she would only be gone a short time.

  She took a deep breath and glided through the revolving doors out into the crisp night air. Skimpily clad women walked the streets alongside families. To her relief, several normal-looking women were out alone. She was safe.

  Twenty steps later, a young man stopped her.

  “Pretty American. You want to buy a Rolex?” He rolled up his loose sleeve. Ten glaring gold watches jeweled his forearm.

  She stifled a giggle. “How much?”

  “Fifty American dollars, but for you, pretty lady, forty.”

  “Uh, where exactly did these watches come from?”

  “The best, kanittha. They come from Japan.”

  “Rolexes come from Switzerland. So, no, thanks.” She brushed past the young man and continued walking.

  “Authentic Japanese movement. Only thirty American dollars!” He called after her. “Solid gold…plate!”

  Heidi was laughing aloud as she turned the corner, and then stopped in her tracks and gasped.

  Vendors lined the street and crowds were thick. Again, the mixture of streetwalkers and families felt like another dimension. Merchants hawked their wares in Thai and in English.

  But none of that had caused Heidi’s gasp.

  Directly in her vision, less than a block away, flashed a neon sign in purple and hot pink. Super Pussy. A few feet away twinkled another: Pussy Collection.

  And the families still walked around the area as if nothing were amiss.

  Surreal.

  No other word could describe this fantastic flutter of activity and setting.

  Her eyes wide, Heidi checked out each vendor. Mainstream DVDs were stacked next to porn. More fake Rolexes and Gucci bags. China, silver, artwork, leathe
r—all under bright fluorescents that caused the night to masquerade as an artificially lit day.

  She browsed a while, thinking about what sorts of souvenirs she might take home to Denver. Some of the artwork was exquisite—Asian brush strokes in black and pastels on paper so thin it was almost transparent. She strolled along, imagining how beautiful a few prints would look framed in black, hanging above her sofa.

  Something nudged her arm.

  “Hey! You watch it!” A woman clad in a red leather bustier and a black mask pushed her.

  “I’m sorry.” Heidi averted her eyes from the woman’s bulging breasts. “Did I bump into you?”

  “You go to end of the line, like everyone else,” the woman said.

  “I-I’m not in line. Sorry again.”

  She scurried away and glanced over her shoulder. The line stretched to what looked like a club. She looked up, and another neon sign greeted her.

  Tied Up.

  A BDSM club.

  Her pulse began to race. She’d always been curious about fetish clubs. Always wondered what it would be like to be submissive, completely under someone else’s control. The image of herself naked, tied up with silk scarves while a gorgeous stud pleasured her brought a rush of moisture between her legs.

  This is nuts. Completely nuts. Even so, she found herself trudging to the end of the line, which happened to be in front of a jewelry vendor.“Rolex, American lady?” the young merchant asked.

  “No, thank you.”

  “Real Japanese movement.”

  “Yes, I’ve heard. I’ll pass.”

  The line moved along fairly quickly. She checked her purse. She had two thousand Baht, about sixty U.S. dollars. That ought to be plenty for a cover charge and enough for a drink or two. Plus she had another five hundred in travelers’ checks and her Visa card. By the time she had secured her money back in her purse, she was near the door of the club.

  “You like girls, pretty lady?”

  Heidi looked up to see a man dressed in a black tuxedo. Behind him stood several very pretty Thai women dressed in tight leather garb of various colors.

  “No. No, thank you.” Dead weight settled in her stomach. What had she been thinking? Coming out here alone?

  “They do anything you want. Fifty American dollar.”

  “Um, I don’t swing that way. Sorry.”

  The gentleman—or whatever he was—moved to the person behind her.

  Heidi sighed. She had a huge day tomorrow. What in God’s name was she doing here? She escaped her place in line. Might as well head back toward the hotel.

  “Leaving?” A gentle touch grazed her elbow. She turned and gazed into a handsome face.

  At least what she could see of it was handsome. A white half-mask covered the left side, and he was dressed in a black cape, like the Phantom of the Opera. But what she could see was dazzling. He was clearly Thai, with creamy light bronze skin. His full pink lips curved upward to reveal perfect white teeth. An adorable shallow dimple adorned his chin.

  And his eyes, oh, his eyes. They were such a dark brown they were almost black, and he had the thickest, longest ebony lashes she’d ever seen on a man. The stark white of the mask accentuated the darkness. His pitch black hair was slicked back in a ponytail hanging low on his neck.

  “I thought you were American. Don’t you understand me?”

  Jolted back to reality, Heidi nodded, willing her open mouth to close. “I’m sorry. Yes, I’m American. And yes, I understand you.”

  “Please tell me you’re not leaving,” he said in a nearly perfect American accent.

  “Um, yeah. I am.”

  “Why?”

  “This really”—she cleared her throat—“isn’t my thing. I don’t know what I was thinking, getting in line. I have a big day tomorrow.”

  “Is this your first trip to Bangkok?”

  “Yes.”

  “You’ve stumbled right into Patpong, the infamous red-light district of Silom. I was surprised to see you alone.”

  “B-But…there are families out. And it’s light as day. Why wouldn’t I be safe?”

  He leaned closer and lowered his voice to a husky whisper. “I didn’t say you weren’t safe. I said you were alone.”

  “Oh.” Of course he had. God, don’t be an idiot, Heidi. His nearness made her quiver, and she took a deep breath. Sandalwood. He smelled like sandalwood and cloves. And man. She inhaled again.

  “Patpong is actually safer than most of your larger American cities at night.”

  She smiled. Or tried to, anyway. Her heart was beating a mile a minute. “Oh. That’s a relief.”

  “But we don’t see a lot of American women out here alone. Seems most of you are overly cautious.”

  “Yeah. Well, so am I. At least I thought I was. If you’ll excuse me.”

  She turned to walk away, but the stranger caught her arm again and a sharp zing crept up to her shoulder and along the tender flesh of her neck.

  “I could take you into the club if you like.”

  “Wh-Why would you do that?”

  Sexy, full lips curved upward. “I own it.”

  “You do, huh?” Though curious, and shuddering from his closeness, Heidi couldn’t help but be suspicious. No matter how gorgeous this stranger was, she really shouldn’t go into a club with him. Yet she found it difficult to ignore the sparks from his touch.

  “Yes.”

  “You speak excellent English.”

  “I lived in America most of my life. Since I was five. I only recently returned to Thailand.”

  Heidi cleared her throat again. “That’s…nice.” Though she knew she should pull away, something stopped her.

  As though he sensed her ambivalence, he let go.

  “I really do have to get back to my hotel, Mister…”

  He smiled, and her flesh prickled. Damn, he was hot.

  “Just call me Phantom.”

  “Okay…Phantom.” Tiny flashes of electricity skittered along her skin.

  “And what shall I call you?”

  She giggled. Why not? “Christine.”

  “Ah. Willing to play along. I like that.” He ran one long finger over her forearm.

  Her insides knotted.

  “Christine. My angel of music.”

  “I really do have to…”

  His finger traveled up her arm over her shoulder to her neck, igniting a blaze through the silky fabric.

  “Please. Be my guest. I’ll show you my club. I promise you’ll be safe there.”

  “Uh, well…” Was she certifiable? Was she really going to go into a club called Tied Up with a complete stranger? A gorgeous stranger. A kind stranger. A stranger who made her pulse flutter. But a stranger nonetheless.

  Of course, ten minutes ago she had been in line to enter the club alone.

  What the hell?

  “Sure.” She swallowed. “I’d love to see your club.”

  He grinned, and a stab of desire shot between her legs.

  “I’m glad. But we have a slight problem.”

  “What?”

  “Tonight is masquerade night at Tied Up. You don’t have a costume.”

  “Oh.” Her cheeks warmed. Just as well. What had she been thinking? “Then I’ll just get back to my hotel. It was nice meeting you.”

  “Don’t be silly. We’re in Patpong!” He lifted his arm, gesturing to the market. His cape flowed in a rhythmic pattern, a swirling blackness against the neon lighting, and revealed a silky white shirt stretched across a broad, sculpted chest. “We can find you something.”

  He led her to a vendor who sold what looked like Mardi Gras masks. Within seconds, he had purchased a half mask that matched the red blouse she was wearing.

  “How much do I owe you?” Heidi rummaged through her purse for her wallet.

  “Nothing. It’s a gift.”

  “But I—”

  He touched his fingers to her lips. The jolt from the innocent contact startled her. “It’s only two hundred Bah
t. Please, let me.”

  “All right. I guess.”

  Phantom leaned toward her and positioned the mask in place, his fingers brushing her cheek. “A shame to cover such a beautiful face,” he said. “But I wouldn’t be much of an owner if I didn’t abide by my own rules, would I?” He smiled. He held out his arm. “Shall we?”

  He led her back to the line—which seemed to have tripled since she’d left it—in front of Tied Up and pulled her through the mass of people.

  “Hey!” she shouted over the din of noise. “Shouldn’t we wait in line?”

  He turned around and flashed his gorgeous grin. Where had that adorable dimple on his left cheek come from? And did he have one on the right? It was covered by the mask.

  “One of the perks of being with me. No waiting.”

  When they reached the door to the club, her companion spoke in Thai to the large man taking names and money and then pulled her inside the building.

  What followed was a complete assault on Heidi’s senses.

  Vivid colors splashed through the large room crowded with costumed bodies. Red. Purple. Blue. Yellow. Dark and light. On a dance floor, bodies undulated, entwining around each other. Hands groped fleshy bare breasts and ass cheeks. Tongues laved over lips, chests. Shapely feminine legs twirled around masculine hips. The dancers moved not as individuals, but as one—one giant provocative display of hedonism.

  Smoke hazed above the masked heads, but it didn’t smell like cigarettes. Or marijuana. It was a musky, earthy aroma, like patchouli incense. Deafening noise filled her ears, yet not one sound made any sense, as if the club itself made the noise, rather than the people who occupied it. Above the commotion, music played. An alternative metal sound. Not Heidi’s favorite, but somehow it fit the atmosphere.

  She held tight to Phantom’s hand as he led her through the crowd. The tight squeeze meant she brushed bodies with those she passed. A pair of lush breasts nudged her from one side, a pair of hard silicone enhanced ones assaulted her from the other. A hard male body nearly tripped her. The man mumbled something in Thai and stepped out of her way.

  Phantom pulled her through the throng to a lone table amidst the sea of confusion. The booth graced a dark corner and boasted a perfect view of several platforms.