Les worked his way through the crowd, hoping to reach the booth before someone else beat him to it.
“Oh. Sorry. I thought this one was empty.”
The diminutive blond man sitting back in the dark corner of the booth glanced up at Les and smiled. “Just me. I was doing my best to disappear. Didn’t realize I was that effective.”
Lester couldn’t help it. He burst out laughing. “You don’t have a date, either?”
“Definitely the odd man out. Care to join me?”
Still laughing, Lester slipped into the booth across from the smaller man. “As the odd man out, or at your table?”
“Take your pick.” The blond held out his hand. “Tady O’Shea, personal valet and manservant to Prince Lorcan of the Northern Realm.”
Lester engulfed the man’s hand in his much larger one. “Lester Ondáge, personal assistant and bodyguard to Amanda Carlisle. Where the hell’s the Northern Realm?”
Tady blinked, then frowned, almost as if he’d been caught at something illicit. “Of Ireland. The Northern Realm of Ireland. It’s a small county that keeps its old traditions.”
“Ah. I see.” Les didn’t, actually, but it wasn’t important. There was something absolutely fascinating about the little blond dude. Tady O’Shea? Definitely an Irish name, and obviously he was not a fan of American movies. He hadn’t even blinked at Amanda’s name. This trip was looking better all the time. Amanda needed a break.
So did Les.
He wondered about the man sitting across from him. There was nothing feminine about Tady O’Shea, nothing obvious to explain the strong attraction Les felt, the almost magnetic pull toward the Irishman. Small he might be, but he was well muscled and moved with the sense of a man comfortable in his own skin.
The waitress left a couple of menus and quickly departed with orders for a cold draft beer and a tankard of ale. Tady glanced up from his menu and caught Les looking back at him. Lester wondered if the need roiling in his gut was visible in his own eyes… as visible as the need in Tady’s?
His hands were shaking when he took the cold mug of beer from the waitress. Tady mumbled his thanks, ordered quickly and grabbed his ale, then proceeded to down it so fast he choked. Les leaned across the table and slapped Tady’s back.
Tady raised his head, eyes streaming, and once more Lester felt a connection, a sense of mutual need, of desire so intense it turned the pressure of his hand, preparing for another slap against Tady’s back, to a warm caress.
Caught there, his massive arm stretched across the table, palm planted solidly against Tady’s lean back, Lester tried to take a deep breath and couldn’t.
The waitress brought their meal. The glue holding Les’s hand to Tady’s spine released. Les sat back in his seat and turned his attention to his lobster dinner, but all his senses keyed on Tady. What was the other man thinking? Did he feel it? Was Les imagining the sudden, gut-wrenching attraction?
The cock pressing against his zipper wasn’t a figment of his imagination. Damn, if he was wrong, if Tady wasn’t interested in him that way, Les was going to feel like a fool.
He finished his dinner without speaking. Tady ate steadily as well, then sat back from his plate. This time when he looked at Lester, there was a speculative gleam in his blue eyes. Damn, Les couldn’t recall seeing eyes so blue on a man before. They sparkled, clear and bright, surrounded by lashes as dark and thick as any starlet’s.
In fact, Tady was absolutely the most beautiful man Les could remember seeing. High cheekbones, eyes tilted slightly up at the corners, a broad, full-lipped mouth, blond hair cut short but covering just the tops of his ears. He was slightly built, but still well muscled, his biceps flexing with each move of his arms.
Les’s thoughts kept returning to that perfect mouth.
He pictured those lips sliding around the erection that was beginning to cry out for attention. Damn, his cock was usually better behaved than this, but something about the look Tady was giving him had Les squirming in his seat. Not an easy feat for a man his size.
“I’m full. Are ya up for a walk?” Tady tilted his head and smiled. If Les weren’t so unsure of himself right now, he’d guess the little guy was flirting.
“Uh, sure. I don’t have to be anywhere else. C’mon.”
Amanda had assured him there were no charges of any kind for their stay, but Les tossed a few dollars tip on the table as they left. Tady left something that appeared to be gold coins.
Les wondered once more about that strange Northern Realm Tady’d mentioned.
The moon was high, the waves crashing like quicksilver against the shore. Other couples passed them in the darkness. Lester noticed they were the only same sex couple, but Tady didn’t seem the least bit concerned. In fact, he walked close to Les.
Invading his space.
Hips almost touching, arms occasionally brushing.
Tady barely came to the middle of his chest, but he moved with a fluid rhythm that was pure poetry to watch.
Les realized he’d been watching Tady walk without really hearing him talk. He’d been breathing in the scent of him, the clean, fresh smell of crisp cotton, after-shave and sun-heated male skin.
They stopped at one of the small cabana bars along the beach and each man grabbed a drink, one of those fussy looking things with lots of ice and too much alcohol and a parasol stuck in the top.
“It’s like drinking fruit punch.” Les finished his in a couple of swallows and grabbed another. Tady laughed.
“Take it slow. They pack a wallop. Of course, you’re a big man and I imagine you hold your liquor better’n most.”
Les laughed, downed the second drink and grabbed a third as they continued their walk. He wondered where Amanda was, and said as much.
“She’ll be out enjoying the moonlight. Maybe she’ll meet Prince Lorcan. He’s a fine man.”
Lester finished his third drink and nodded. It seemed to take his eyes a long time to catch up to the movement of his head and he was aware of a pronounced buzzing over the sound of crashing waves.
“I told you that drink would sneak up on you.” Tady stopped, put his hands on his hips and stared up at Les. He shook his head and nodded to his left. Les watched both blond heads move slowly back and forth. “Here’s my bungalow. Come with me, I’ll make you some coffee.”
Grinning like a fool, Les followed Tady into the neat little hut, an exact copy of his own luxurious bungalow. Once inside, he looked for a place to sit, but there were suitcases stacked on the two chairs. Les sat on the edge of the bed.
Tady closed the door behind him, then stepped close to Les as if sizing him up. Les spread his knees wide.
Tady stepped between them, almost eye to eye with Les sitting down. He stared for a long telling moment, then slowly smiled. “Who’d have thought?”
Les shook his head. The buzzing subsided just a bit. “My thoughts exactly.” He reached out and swept his hand over Tady’s smooth hair, ebony fingers sliding through blond silk.
Tady leaned close and pressed his lips against Les’s mouth, pressed his tongue along the seam between his lips, found the sharp edge of Les’s teeth, found his tongue.
Almost afraid to move, Les let the smaller man kiss him, make love to his mouth with a most amazing tongue, delving deep, then retreating to place tiny kisses along his jaw, down his throat. Les’s cock burned and throbbed against his zipper, begging for release.
Tady stepped back, hands on his hips, and stared at the bulge between Les’s legs. “I’m almost afraid to release that beast. A man your size could kill me.”
Tady grinned when he said it, but looking at the small man in front of him and knowing well the size of the beast in question, Les didn’t argue.
Tady reached down and stroked the length of Les’s cock through the soft denim. Les groaned and arched, thrusting his hips forward. Tady left his hand, large for a man of his small stature, cupped around the full mass of Les’s testicles. “Of course, if you were willin’ to off
er up a little control in the situation, sort of let me take charge, I imagine we could figure out something to make both of us happy.”
The buzz slowly building behind Les’s eyes sounded like a swarm of bees. Hungry, horny bees.
Which is why, within a few minutes, Les found himself stark naked, shackled hand and foot to Tady’s bed with soft, leather restraints. Tady sat on the edge, still fully dressed and wearing a huge grin on his face. He stared at Les’s cock, standing at full mast and at least ten inches long.
“My oh, my…” Tady leaned over and licked a single drop of white fluid from the tip.
Les’s hips jerked. “I’ve never done this before.”
“What? Had sex?”
“No. Never let anyone tie me up.” He took a deep breath and tugged futilely at the shackles. A bit of sweat broke out on his brow. What if the little guy was nuts? He’d heard about people in situations like this… not all the stories good.
He suddenly felt a lot more sober than he’d been a few minutes ago.
Tady ran a hand along Les’s ribs, fondling each muscle as he passed. “All you need to do is say ‘enough,’ and I will release you. I’m not one to hurt a man. To be honest, I’ve never done this either, but it’s a fantasy that’s lived with me for much too long. When I found that drawer full of all this stuff… when I met you…”
He dipped his chin and looked a bit ashamed. “I’m a small man, Lester Ondáge, and you’re very large. You’re used to being in control. I’ve always had to follow orders. I’m attracted to you. You’re attracted to me. I guess I should have asked…”
Les shook his head. For some odd reason he was no longer worried. He realized he felt comfortable with Tady, as if they’d known each other for ages, not hours. “Have your way with me, boss. I’ll tell you up front, though, I am most definitely not into pain.”
Tady laughed, his relief obvious. “Me neither. Though I have to admit, I have a few ideas that should drive you nuts. Are you game?”
Lester sighed. “Yeah. Do your worst… or best.”
Tady stood up and grabbed a black silk scarf out of the dresser. The last thing Lester saw before the blindfold slipped over his eyes was the mischievous twinkle in Tady’s bright blue eyes.
“Now, don’t move unless I give you permission and don’t talk, unless it’s to say the safe word.”
Okay. I can do this. Lester nodded but kept his mouth shut. He’d read enough to know the rules, and to tell the truth, he’d always been just a little bit curious.
Of course, he’d imagined himself in the more dominant role. Not that he didn’t find it terribly erotic, lying here naked with his eyes blindfolded, not knowing what was to come.
Not knowing. A shiver raced along his spine, and his cock, if such a thing were possible, grew harder… longer. His balls drew up close against his body. Les couldn’t remember ever feeling as aware of all his parts as he did right at this moment.
Where was Tady? Something brushed against his foot. Les decided it was the fabric from Tady’s chinos. A hand swept slowly along his thigh, tangled in the thick mat of hair at his groin. Tugged.
His cock grew harder.
Les heard a familiar sound, as if Tady were shaking liquid in a can. Felt the cold, wet weight of something sprayed around and above his cock. Shivered when slick fingers spread it about his groin.
Whipping cream?
Les bit down on his lip to keep from groaning when a warm mouth drew his cock deep inside, dragged teeth along the crown, licked the tip and released him. The air blew coolly over his damp skin. His cock jerked in response.
He held perfectly still, muscles locked in place. Tady’s lips moved along Lester’s jawbone. Warm breath tickled his ear when Tady whispered, “Now don’t move. This razor is very sharp.”
Razor? Holy shit.
Lester didn’t even breathe.
Chapter 2
The sky was a deep purple globe sprinkled with diamonds by the time Amanda paused on a sharp stone pinnacle high above the waterline. She stared far below at the silver tips of waves crashing against the rocks and felt at peace for the first time in forever. Thank goodness for Lester. Only he would have known how very badly she needed this break.
Most women at thirty-eight were just reaching their prime. Not in Hollywood. Amanda knew she’d already begun her personal roller-coaster slide from the top. William had been handing her projects geared to the more mature woman for the past year.
She should have taken a closer look. Sighing, Amanda consigned her lousy performance on Tomorrow to the rolling sea. Along with it, she tossed her decision to pull out of Franklin’s new project, a move that would turn that bitchy little Ashley Jensen into the next Amanda Carlisle.
Maybe it’s time.
Amanda flung her hands in the air and held them wide, stretched over her head. She imagined Hollywood and contracts, agents and deals -- all tossed away, swept out to sea on the tides of her life like so much detritus and debris.
All thanks to Lester and his wonderful habit of keeping her world in order.
What was he doing tonight? She’d wanted him in her bed since the first time she saw him, working as a bouncer at one of the clubs she’d visited in Las Vegas. Unfortunately for that little fantasy, Lester had been upfront about his sexuality, but she’d liked him from the very beginning and not once regretted hiring him, first as her bodyguard, then adding the role of personal assistant.
PA, friend and bodyguard -- big enough and fierce enough to make her feel safe in any situation, yet gentle and loving and perfectly capable of organizing even a scatterbrained actress.
Damn. He was the perfect husband. Almost. Amanda hoped he wasn’t bored, stuck away on this tropical paradise for lovers.
She spread her arms wider and let the wind catch her. Hair whipped around her face, stung her eyes, and she closed them, bathing in the spray from the crashing surf, the clean scent of saltwater and fresh air.
It caressed her in a sense of lightness, of life and excitement.
No photographers, no autograph hounds, no phone calls or beepers. Lester close by in case she needed him. Beautiful sea and sand and absolute privacy. Chimera, living up to its name, certainly gave the illusion of heaven.
“The footing there is a mite precarious, miss… I do hope you can fly.”
“What?” A strong arm caught Amanda’s wrist as she spun around and stumbled. Prepared to scream, she looked up into the greenest eyes she’d ever seen, emeralds set in the face of an angel. Coal black hair swept casually back from his face, his smile was wide and open, his teeth perfectly straight and white.
There was no threat in the man, merely smiling good humor, the sense of laughter and a thick Irish brogue that sent instant shivers racing along her spine.
“You startled me.” She placed a hand over her racing heart, gasped for a quick breath and wondered if it was the fright that took her breath or the exotic, sensual look of the man still holding onto her arm.
“I apologize.” He turned her loose and stepped back, leaving Amanda feeling oddly bereft. “You were so close to the edge, so caught in the moment, I feared for your safety. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
“I’m fine. Thank you.” She glanced behind her and realized she had been precariously close to the edge. It was a long, long way down. “It probably wasn’t all that smart, standing on the edge of a cliff with my eyes closed.”
He laughed.
She shivered.
He held out his hand. “I’m Lorcan. Just arrived today. It’s lovely here, isn’t it?”
“I’m… Mandy.” Her tongue tripped over the nickname she hadn’t answered to in years. No way did she want anyone to connect her with the famous Amanda Carlisle. “We just got here a couple of hours ago.”
Lorcan tipped his head. “We?”
She smiled. “I came with my personal assistant. I’m not really comfortable traveling alone.”
“Nor am I. My valet is here, though I’ve told him it
’s his vacation as well as mine.”
“I said the same to Lester.”
“Lester? Your assistant is a man?”
They’d somehow started walking back along the trail. Lorcan held his arm out, his gesture so smooth and practiced that she grasped his muscular forearm almost without thinking. “He’s also my bodyguard and my friend.” She smiled up at him. Odd, how quickly she’d fallen into step with this lean, tall male, their bodies moving together as if they’d walked this way before.
“So, why have you come to Chimera?”
Lorcan’s question caught her by surprise. Why did anyone take a vacation? “I needed a break. It was Les’s idea, really. He thinks I’ve been working too hard.” Amanda cast a glance at Lorcan. “Why are you here?”
He laughed. She decided she could grow used to the sound of his laughter.
“I needed a break as well. My mother insists on finding me a bride. I’ve tried to explain it’s a choice I’ll make -- or not make -- entirely on my own. She didn’t take the hint. Tady suggested Chimera. I jumped at the chance to get away.”
“Tady? He’s…?”
“My manservant… valet. My PA, to be politically correct.”
“So, marriage isn’t in your future, either?” Amanda thought of the years past, of the times when she’d wondered if she’d ever marry. Now, nearing forty, she realized marriage was no longer her holy grail. She’d chosen career over love, a choice she’d come to terms with long ago.
A serious relationship was something else. It would certainly be nice to have someone to share things with in the dark of night when the day was over and hours stretched on forever until she could go back to work. Someone with a lean, sexy body like Lorcan’s. Someone with the lilting brogue of Ireland tripping off his tongue, someone…
“Never, at least if I can help it.” Lorcan’s soft laughter brought Amanda thudding back to earth. “I’m not cut out for marriage, nor for long-term relationships of any kind. I like women too much.” He glanced at her, his grin light and definitely flirtatious, then gave her a long, slow perusal that left her feeling naked… and somewhat disappointed.
A.O.E.M.: Finding Magic Page 2
