Tropical Tryst: 25 All New and Exclusive Sexy Reads

by Nicole Morgan

  He also offered a few details he'd learned about Jenn's stalker, pointing out the possibility of the ambush being connected. That should grease the wheels for a quick incarceration, as soon as they had that hijo de perra in custody.

  The stalker was probably still lurking about the resort. His attack on Jackson was most likely a warning to back off.

  Thank god Jackson had such a thick skull. He’d been through worse. The attack had only knocked him unconscious for a few moments. Just long enough for his attacker to take off running through the trees and make a clean getaway.

  Jackson hadn’t even gotten a good look at the guy, just the blurry glimpse of a dark jacket vanishing into the rainforest. By the time he’d recovered enough to stand and pursue his attacker, the guy had vanished.

  Having lost sight of the girls, he’d immediately called Remi and been informed that she had just left Jenn alone at his bungalow. He'd hung up on her lecture and run like the devil was on his heels.

  When he’d arrived home, he was expecting the worst. His heart had been his throat as he'd slipped the key in the lock and crept inside.

  There was no sign of a struggle, which had him silently praying that he'd reached the bungalow before the man who'd ambushed him. Maybe the coward had lost track of the girls as well. There might still be time for Jackson to set up an ambush of his own.

  Then he’d walked in on Jenn, fresh out of the shower and naked as the day she was born.

  He snorted as he recalled the look on her face when she’d thrown her towel at him. Her towel! As if a towel could have stopped a real attacker.

  That thought sobered him up pretty quick. The thought of her naked and helpless in front of some sick-minded stalker made his gut clench in fear.

  One of the first things he needed to do, was teach Jenn some basic self-defense techniques. He’d rather have her throw a punch at him next time, and feel confident that she could defend herself if the situation got ugly.

  With his mandatory phone calls completed, he headed back into the bungalow and found Jenn still sleeping. The covers had slipped down to her waist, revealing her beautiful naked breasts.

  Jackson felt his entire body go hard at the sight of her. She was so damned sexy, even while she was asleep. Why the hell had he waited so long to make her his?

  He closed the bedroom door behind him, stripping back out of the sweat pants he'd been wearing, as he stalked his sleeping beauty.

  Jenn made a sexy, sleepy sound as he slipped under the sheets and pulled her snuggly up against his body. With a husky giggle, she wiggled her bottom against his rigid dick, and just about drove him out of his mind.

  “Well, well…” she purred playfully, “What do I have here?”

  He never had a chance to answer.

  Both of them jumped at the sound of Remi barging in the front door, just as she had before. This time, she clearly noticed the lack of bedding on the couch, and correctly guessed that they were both in the bedroom, together, with the door closed.

  A moment later, she was gleefully pounding on the bedroom door.

  “Hey, you two! Wake up! I need to gloat over how I’m always right, and how perfect you are together!”

  CHAPTER 7

  “ Go away!” Jackson yelled, but Remi only laughed.

  “Not a chance, Romeo! You can have her back tonight, but her days belong to me! Assuming she can still walk.”

  “Get out, or I’ll throw you out and change the locks!”

  “You always say that. Send my girl out, or I’m coming in after her!”

  “She’s not going to leave without me,” Jenn made a face as she crawled out of the bed and began shuffling around in her luggage for a suitable outfit.

  “Just hold on a second,” Jackson commanded, attempting to untangle himself from the sheets so he could get dressed as well. “I want to follow along again today.”

  “I’m sure we’ll be fine,” Jenn argued. “I think we fooled my stalker with the move from the resort bungalow.”

  She thought she saw a dark shadow flicker across Jackson’s eyes, but he said nothing. With an annoyed growl, he shoved his legs into clean pants and yanked a shirt over his head.

  This was the Jackson she remembered from youth. Tense, surly, and hell-bent on having things his way. Well, she’d sure shaken things up last night. There were a couple of times when she had him on the verge of begging.

  Smug pride welled up inside her as she recalled the hours she’d spent in his arms. He was an amazing lover, but she had a few tricks as well. She was pretty sure she’d rocked his world just as thoroughly as he’d rocked hers.

  “You’re not in a position to argue,” Remi's muffled voice added from the other side of the door.

  Jenn suspected her best friend had an ear pressed to the wood barrier, so she thought it best to forego one last kiss with Jackson, and reluctantly headed out to the living room.

  “So, guess what I’ve got planned for today?” Remi immediately chirped, before sticking her tongue out at Jackson, and tucking one of Jenn's hands possessively into the crook of her elbow.

  “I’m a little bit scared to ask,” Jenn admitted. “Does it involve eating anything that wriggles? Because I’d rather just skip that part and go do some actual sightseeing.”

  While they'd been exploring Monkey Island the previous day, they'd come across a large nut tree, and Remi had asked their boat man to crack a few open to show Jenn the huge grubs which lived inside the nuts.

  Apparently, the grubs were a delicacy among the natives, and resort employees occasionally liked to offer them to the tourists on their guided hikes through the jungle.

  Instead of answering, Remi giggled in a way that made her nervous.

  “Do you remember that treehouse Jackson had as a kid?”

  “I remember we snuck up there a few times and he was furious when he found out.”

  “Just wait until you see the one we have now!”

  Well, that sounded a lot better than eating live insects, but Jenn wasn't sure if she trusted the conspiratorial look that passed between Remi and Jackson.

  Her suspicions were confirmed after a grueling march through the rainforest, when stood staring up at a rickety wooden staircase, which vanished into the leaf canopy above.

  “You’re a sadist,” she panted, trying to catch her breath from the hike. “Who built that antique? Christopher Columbus?”

  Remi snickered behind her.

  “It's not that bad. Just wait until you see the view from the top!”

  “You can't seriously expect me climb that?”

  Remi looked entirely evil as she bobbed her eyebrows and pointed to the rickety threshold.

  “Start climbing, chica!”

  Instead of obeying, Jenn raised her hands and backed away.

  “Oh, hell no! I can't even see the top! Are you trying to get me killed? Where's Jackson when I need him?”

  “Right behind you, sexy.” His deep voice spoke up from directly behind her, startling a sharp squeal out of Jenn.

  “Don't scare me like that, you jerk!”

  He raised an eyebrow and one corner of his mouth curled up. Damn him for being so sexy, she couldn't even stay angry.

  “Have you been following us this whole time?”

  His humor faded as he gave a curt nod.

  “Yeah, but I may not be the only one trailing you.” He tipped his head towards the rickety staircase. “We'll be able to see quite some ways from up there. Maybe we’ll get a peek at your stalker.”

  Jenn gaped in horror.

  “Are you seriously going to climb up there?”

  He chuckled, as if climbing prehistoric treehouses was a common activity in his life.

  “I'm not letting you out of my sight for even a second,” he suggested, catching her hips between his strong hands. “So, you're climbing it too.”

  “Like hell I am!” she protested, attempting to wiggle free, but his hands tightened around her, as that smirk returned to his lip
s.

  “Well, you could climb it…” he drawled, playfully. “Or I could carry you up.”

  “Ew, stop it you two!” Remi scolded. “Save all that cute, lovey-dovey stuff for tonight. After I'm gone. We're climbing trees right now. Focus on the fun!”

  “Just for the record, I prefer your version of fun.” Jenn fluttered her eyelashes up at the man holding her, startling a bark of laughter out of Jackson, while Remi just rolled her eyes.

  “Sorry sweetheart, flattery won't save you,” Jackson replied, still chuckling as he guided her to the stairs and gave her a firm smack on the butt. “Start climbing.”

  “You first!”

  With a shrug, Jackson turned and began striding up the creaky stairs, but there was no escaping the fierce-eyed Remi behind her.

  Jenn procrastinated for as long as she could, hoping Jackson would return and admit that it was all a joke, then Remi grabbed her hand and started pulling her up the steps.

  To her surprise, the structure felt a lot sturdier than it looked.

  She climbed and climbed, until she was out of breath, but the view was incredible! No wonder Tarzan and Jane had made their home in the jungle treetops.

  She was surrounded by miles and miles of beautiful rainforest. There were no buildings, no roads, no telephone wires, no signs of human life anywhere.

  Was this what God had seen, looking down upon a newly formed earth, before mankind had completely screwed things up?

  It was so gorgeous, it was nearly enough to make her cry, and she still hadn't reached the top.

  How much further did she need to climb?

  The question died on her lips as she took another few steps and found herself staring at the sexiest version of Tarzan she'd ever encountered.

  Jackson had stripped off his shirt, and his ridiculously sexy chest was now damp with sweat. He was so tanned and toned, his tattoo perfectly accentuated by those well defined pectoral muscles.

  Momentarily stunned by the view in front of her, Jenn failed to watch her feet. As a result, she tripped on a loose floorboard and stumbled hard against the side railing.

  “Madre de Dios!” Jackson snatched her into his arms, looking as if he thought she were attempting to jump. “We’re over a hundred and fifty feet up! If you fall from up here, you won’t be walking away from it.”

  “Thanks for adding to the fear, which is now going to choke me to death. Seriously, this is really, really high! Does the resort have insurance against accidental death or dismemberment?”

  “Of course,” Remi spoke up from behind her, “But this place is just outside the resort boundaries, so if you fall, we’re in the clear.”

  “Comforting.” Jenn grimaced.

  “Fine, we'll do something really tame after this. Okay? We'll get Renzo to take us out on the river tonight, so we can spot caiman. They make the craziest sounds. You'll love it!”

  “Uh, I think that falls under the creepy crawly category.”

  “It’s fun!” Remi laughed. “Right Jackson?”

  Her brother offered a grunt in reply. Now that both girls were safely at his side, his attention had turned to the rainforest below them.

  Jenn struggled to decipher his expression.

  “Is everything okay?”

  “It will be,” he replied, without looking at her. “But I need to get back down there. You stay with Remi, alright? Stay together. I'll see you tonight."

  He gave Jenn a quick peck on the cheek, and vanished back down the stairs even faster than he'd climbed them

  He never reappeared.

  Jenn and Remi made the grueling hike back to the resort without a single glimpse of the man who was supposed to be keeping them safe.

  Jackson was already at the bungalow when the girls returned, which earned a few sharp remarks from his sister.

  While Remi and Jackson bickered, Jenn shuffled weary feet into the bathroom and flipped on the shower. She needed some time to soak in the hot water and try to untangle all of her conflicting emotions.

  Jackson had made promises to keep her safe, and in his bed, yet he kept vanishing, and going through periods where he acted aloof and distant from her.

  When she heard the bathroom door open and close, she knew it was him, but she wasn't sure how she should feel about his silent presence.

  What she didn’t expect was for him to abruptly step into the shower behind her.

  “What are you doing?” She gasped, finding it impossible to keep her gaze from traveling down his stark-naked body.

  Holy heavens!

  Although they'd spent the previous night together, it had been dark. She'd never seen him like this before, with everything on display.

  Those years in the military had carved his already strong body into a living machine, with the stamina and endurance to fight, even in extreme climatic and terrain environments. Every scar he wore was a testament of his battle time and valor. He was awe inspiring.

  Jackson made no attempt to hide anything as he reached up to gently lift her gaze.

  Was that concern shining in his eyes? Or doubt?

  “Remi thought I'd abandoned you at the tree house. Were you afraid?”

  Jenn shook her head. Afraid, no. Angry, maybe.

  “You must have had your reasons,” she responded, turning away from his touch. “I only wish I’d been quick enough to follow you, rather than get dragged home the long way by your sister.”

  She reached for the soap, but he took the slippery bar from her hand. She made a face, but was really too tired to lecture him on waiting his turn. Instead, she just watched as he rolled the bar between his hands, working up a thick lather.

  When he dropped the bar back into the dish, she reached for it again, but Jackson shifted his weight, blocking her with his hip.

  Looking sharply up in reproach, she caught sight of the pure evil in his eyes, and felt her anger melting into a wary curiosity.

  “Turn around,” he urged.

  Still not entirely sure if she trusted him, she went ahead and did as he directed.

  As she exposed her back to him, he began to rub his soapy hands up and down her naked body. Over her back, spending a little time kneading at her shoulders, then down over the curve of her hips, to squeeze her bottom.

  With every luxurious stroke, she could feel her reservations melting away.

  He slipped his hands around to wash her belly, then up to swirl around her breasts, and she swayed into his arms, a soft gasp of pleasure escaping her lips.

  His body rubbed against her soapy back, hard and hot, making her thighs tremble as her need for him grew.

  When she was nearly delirious, he tugged her back under the hot stream of water to rinse her clean.

  He used what was left of the soap to do a quick scrub of his own body, then rinsed and climbed out of the shower to fetch two towels.

  Jenn was more than ready to join him in the bedroom to finish what he’d started, but he surprised her by snatching her off her feet and carrying her to the bed.

  Once he’d lowered her onto the mattress, she decided it was time that she showed him he wasn’t always going to be the one in control.

  She caught his chin and tilted his eyes up to meet hers, just as he'd done to her in the shower.

  “Do you trust me?” She asked a mirror of the question she was still struggling with, but he looked her right into eyes and grinned.

  “Sure.” It sounded like more of a challenge than an answer.

  She wished she shared his confidence, but trust him or not, she desired him. That was enough for now.

  She returned his grin.

  “Okay, then just lie back and let me have a little fun.”

  She could see him struggling with complete surrender, but he obeyed her commands, and she found it incredibly sexy.

  If her surly, stubborn marine could trust her enough to give her complete control of his body, maybe she could trust him too.

  CHAPTER 8

  A nightmare snapped Jenn from
her sleep much sooner than she would prefer

  The sky outside was beginning to grow pale with coming dawn, so there was no use trying to go back to sleep. Remi would be arriving within an hour or so, to drag her out on another adventure. Fishing for piranhas, in crocodile infested waters, or something similarly frightening.

  As much as Jenn adored her friend, and appreciated all that she was trying to do, Jenn would be just as happy to curl up on a chair near the resort’s pool and soak up some sun. Maybe she’d better remind Remi that this was supposed to be a relaxing vacation not a rainforest survival camp.

  As quietly as possible, Jenn managed to creep out of bed without awakening the sleeping man on the other side.

  After a quick trip to the bathroom, she decided to have some coffee brewing before Jackson woke up.

  Heading to the kitchen, she located the percolator, then began shuffling through cupboards in search of coffee grounds. To her surprise, most of the cupboards were filled with boxes and files. He must eat most of his meals up at the hotel, which made sense, now that Jenn thought about it. But if he had brewed coffee for her the first morning, surely there must be more of the stuff somewhere.

  She started searching kitchen drawers.

  The first drawer contained the expected kitchen utensils.

  The second drawer was filled with an orderly assortment of office supplies and hand tools, like screwdrivers and pliers. It was an odd collection to find in the kitchen, but she supposed the chief of resort security might occasionally be called upon for basic maintenance problems.

  She opened the third drawer, and felt her blood turn to ice in her veins.

  This drawer contained a file filled with photographs, all of which she immediately recognized, because she had their duplicates at home in a folder she was saving to give the police.

  With trembling hands, she pulled the photos out of the drawer, piece by damning piece. She could think of only one reason why Jackson might have duplicate copies of all the pictures her stalker had sent to her.

  A cold ball of dread formed in her stomach, then twisted and warped into a tidal wave of anger and betrayal. These photographs could only be here if Jackson was her stalker, or if he were somehow involved with the person stalking her.