Hot for Santa

by Fox,Cathryn

  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 mee
t 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.