“I think you embarrassed her,” Jon said as he came to stand next to him.
Erik kept his gaze on Melinda. “Oh, I embarrassed her?” He turned to stare at his friend. “What about that kiss?”
Jon’s lips twisted slightly. “Couldn’t resist. Besides, there wasn’t anyone up here.”
Erik felt uncomfortable with the way Jon stared at him, so he turned away and started down the stairs after Melinda.
Jon grabbed his elbow and stopped him. “You’re falling for her.”
Erik sighed toward the treetops close by. “I don’t know. Maybe.” He glanced over at his friend. “We’ve got two weeks with her; let’s don’t look beyond that. Let’s just keep it fun.”
His friend gave him a look of skepticism. “Fun,” Jon repeated.
Erik’s eyes narrowed, letting Jon know he didn’t want to discuss this further. “Yeah, fun.”
They’d shared women for a long time. Not once had they both developed feelings for the same woman. He had a feeling though that this time might be different. And if it was, how would that affect their friendship?
Chapter 10
After a quiet dinner at a local restaurant on the way home, Melinda strolled into her temporary bedroom on the bottom floor of the beach house and set her camera on the dresser. It had been a long day, but a fun one. She’d really enjoyed the guys’ company and had learned a little more about them, some of which she hadn’t expected.
She picked the camera back up and began to flip through the pictures she’d taken. There were quite a few, but she finally found the two she was looking for.
The one of her and Erik was a good one. She loved the way the wind blew his hair back and made his eyes crinkle. The next one was of Jon kissing her. She’d wondered if Erik had taken one.
She studied it and sighed as she closed the camera down. She looked ready to swoon. It was obvious she had no willpower when it came to those two.
Erik had never made good on his threat to find a dark corner, thank goodness. She knew she wouldn’t have the strength or willpower to truly fight him off. If what he’d said was true, all she would have to do to fend them off was say her safe word, but in all honesty, the need to say it never even crossed her mind.
She didn’t want to say it. She liked how they seduced her. Even if it was in a public place. Her lips twisted as she kicked off her tennis shoes. What did that say about her?
She glanced at her reflection in the mirror, but a movement under the covers of the bed caught her attention. Frowning, she turned and began to hesitantly walk toward the mattress. Erik had sent Maria on errands, so she hadn’t gotten around to making the bed yet, and the covers were piled in the middle of the mattress. Melinda always did make a mess of the covers when she slept.
The covers moved again, and Melinda froze, her hand just above the blanket.
What is that?
She grabbed the edge and flipped it back. Lying dead center on the white sheets was a long, gray snake with black diamond designs. It flicked its tongue and she screamed, jumping back a good five feet from the bed.
Within a matter of seconds, Jon, Erik, and Maria all came running into the room at once.
“What?” Erik demanded.
She pointed toward the bed, and Erik’s eyes widened in surprise. “Ooh, that.” He glanced at Maria over his shoulder. “Maria, get me the pistol from my desk.”
Maria nodded and moved quickly to do what he asked.
“What is that thing?” Melinda asked.
“It’s a fer-de-lance.”
She took a step closer, and Erik grabbed her elbow. “It’s deadly. Don’t go over there.”
She stopped dead in her tracks and nodded. “How did it get in here?”
Erik glanced toward the open window next to the bed. “Through the window is my guess.”
Melinda felt like slapping her forehead. “I’m sorry. I should’ve closed it, I just didn’t—”
Jon came up behind her and rubbed her shoulders. “It’s all right, Mel.”
“We leave the windows open all the time, baby. It’s fine. You did nothing wrong. This isn’t the first time we’ve caught one of these in the beds.”
The use of “baby” on Erik’s lips made her stomach do a little flutter.
Maria returned with the gun and handed it to Erik. He raised the pistol and shot the snake just behind the head. Blood and guts scattered across the white sheets, making Melinda’s stomach roll.
“Ugh,” she groaned.
“Maria, hon, looks like we’ll need a new bed in here.”
Maria nodded. “I’ll take care of that first thing tomorrow.”
Erik glanced over at her. “In the meantime, looks like you’re bunking with me.”
Melinda swallowed. She glanced back at the bloody remains of the snake and shivered. “After that, I think I need a shower.”
“Use mine upstairs,” Erik replied. “Jon and I will take care of this while you get cleaned up.”
With a nod, Melinda grabbed a few clothes from her suitcase and started toward the door, but Erik’s voice stopped her. “House rules, Mel,” he said softly.
She turned to glare at him. “Oh, come on. Seriously?”
Erik gave her a look that said he meant business. Her eyes narrowed as she realized this would be yet another losing battle. “God,” she grumbled as she dropped the clothes back into the suitcase and turned to leave. “You’re so damn bossy.”
“Dom,” Erik called after her.
As she headed up the stairs to his bedroom on the second level, she could hear him and Jon chuckling. Their amusement at her expense only made her that much angrier.
* * * *
“That girl is gonna end up smacking the two of your heads together,” Maria chastised as she wagged her finger. “I see it coming. And when she does, don’t you dare come whining to Maria. I’ll just turn you away.”
Erik chuckled at her wagging tongue and finger. “We had dinner in town, Maria, if you would like to take the rest of the day off.”
Her lips thinned as she looked at them with disapproving eyes. “She’s not like the others.”
Erik nodded once, agreeing with her. “I know she’s not.”
“You treat her different from the others,” she said as she continued to watch him. Erik began to squirm. “I think you like her.”
“I liked all of them,” Erik said with a boyish grin that didn’t fool his housekeeper for one second.
“Yeah, but you like her different. I know you do. Otherwise you wouldn’t have told her that nonsense about snakes getting in here all the time.”
With that she turned to leave the room. “Cook put some leftovers in the fridge before he left last night. If you get hungry later, you know where to find them.”
“Thank you, Maria,” Erik called and then grinned at her mumbled reply.
“How the hell did that snake get in here?” Jon asked. “You and I both know they don’t normally do that.”
A bad feeling began to tighten Erik’s chest. “See if you can get a hold of our guy. See if they’ve found that son of a bitch yet.”
Jon’s eyebrow lifted. “You think he did this?”
With a sigh, Erik flipped the pistol safety on. “I don’t know, Jon. I don’t know if he’s out to hurt her or just being an ass by spying. But I want to know what we’re up against here.”
Jon nodded and left for Erik’s office. As he passed, Erik handed the gun to him so he could put it away. With another heavy sigh, Erik stared out the French door toward the ocean. She would be safer in his room anyway. He glanced toward the ceiling and wondered if she’d gotten in the shower yet. He smiled wickedly as he imagined joining her.
He headed up the stairs and stopped just outside the bathroom door. He didn’t hear any water running so he pushed the door open just a little with the tip of his forefinger. She stood in front of the mirror, her hair wrapped in a towel, another towel wrapped around her body as she studied her face in the mir
ror.
Erik smiled slightly at her defiance and pushed the door the rest of the way open. He made sure to school his face into a chastising look as he stepped in and leaned against the door frame, crossing his arms over his chest.
She froze and stared at him through the reflection in the mirror. “It’s just a towel. I would’ve removed it before coming back into your presence, master.”
“Master,” he mused. “I think I like the sound of that.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I’m not calling you master.”
“Oh, no,” he purred as he came farther into the room. “You started this. Now I like it.”
She rolled her eyes and pulled the towel from around her head, allowing her dark hair to cascade around her shoulders in damp curls.
He brushed his fingers across the back of her shoulder and smiled as he felt the tremble in her muscles beneath his fingertips. “After seeing you in this towel, though, I think I like the seductive look of you. It’s actually, quite sexy.” He slid his hand down her arm. “Your assets covered, but just barely.”
Their gazes met in the mirror, and he could see the desire in her eyes. “I have an idea,” he whispered, then turned to leave the room.
He came back a few seconds later with a thin, button-up shirt. He turned Melinda to face him. She braced her hands on the counter by her hips as he loosened the towel and let it fall to the floor.
“Nice,” he murmured as he slowly slid his palm over her hip.
He moved it around her waist, then up her ribs. He kept his gaze on hers as he cupped her breast and gave it a gentle squeeze. Her eyes partially closed and her lips parted as a barely audible sigh escaped her. God, she was breathtaking.
He wanted her so bad. More than he could ever remember wanting a woman. She was his for two weeks. He could have her as much as he wanted. He could easily take her right here against the bathroom counter. He wanted to. He needed to.
He began to think that maybe he was getting too attached. That he should back off, let Jon handle her most of the time, but as her pretty gray eyes stared into his he knew he wouldn’t let that happen. He was falling fast for a good friend’s sister, and that was a very bad thing.
He let out a slow, steady breath as he bent his head and brushed his lips over hers. She smelled of soap and sunshine. He wanted to draw in a deep breath and hold her scent there forever. What would life be like once she left? He wasn’t sure he even wanted to think about it.
*
Melinda loved the way Erik’s lips felt against her flesh—soft, gentle, teasing. She could stand here all night and just let him touch her.
“Did that snake scare you, baby?” he whispered, his mouth close to hers.
“A little,” she admitted.
He cupped her face and drew his thumb over her cheek. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Her lips twitched just a little. “My protector.”
“Well,” he purred as he pulled away and turned her to face the mirror, “I might have a very small ulterior motive.”
He opened the shirt, and she willingly slipped her arms into the sleeves.
“And what might that be?” she asked.
“If you’re hurt, I can’t bury myself into that hot little body.”
He wrapped his arms around her and buttoned the shirt from behind. Her legs began to tremble at his softly spoken words as she imagined him doing just that.
“Which I haven’t had a chance to do yet,” he murmured. “Don’t move. We have one more thing to take care of before we meet Jon on the veranda.”
He dug through the drawer to her right and pulled out what looked like a long, thin dildo with a square base. She frowned, wondering what he planned to do with that. He spread a gel over it and then smiled at her as he pressed his palm between her shoulder blades.
“Bend over,” he commanded.
Melinda tensed, but obeyed, bracing her hands on the counter as he positioned the tip of the toy at the tight entrance to her ass.
She instantly pulled away. “Erik. What are you doing?”
Erik tugged her hips back. His narrowed eyes met hers in the mirror and a shiver of apprehension worked its way up her spine.
“Whatever I want, remember?”
She stiffened briefly in trepidation. She’d never let a man take her there, but for some reason, Erik teasing the entrance with the toy made her blood run hot through her veins.
He pushed it inside her gently, past the tight ring of resistance to settle deep in her ass. It had a base on the end to keep it from going any farther. Melinda drew in a sharp breath as her ass adjusted to the invasion, and a dark pleasure began to burn through her womb.
He smoothed his hand over her hip, and she braced herself for the stinging slap she was sure was coming. When it landed across her butt cheek, she gasped. Her anal muscles contracted around the toy, sending her soaring into a lust-filled haze of awareness.
He grabbed her elbow and pulled her upright before turning her to face him. She leaned back against the counter, unsure her legs would continue to hold her up.
Erik had a hunger in his eyes that set her on fire. She’d never had a man look at her like that. Never had a man make her feel this sexy, this desirable. His gaze raked down her body, and she trembled beneath his searing gaze.
“Oh, yeah,” he growled as he adjusted the hem of the shirt. “I think I definitely like that. It’s sexy. Especially those legs.” He ran his palm up the outside of her thigh, then around to her ass, where he gave it a harsh squeeze.
Melinda drew in a sharp breath, forcing herself to keep from wrapping her legs around him and rubbing herself along the ridge of his thick cock. No doubt about it. Erik didn’t do anything half-assed and that included seduction.
Chapter 11
Erik again turned her to face the mirror. As she watched through the glass, he pulled out a comb and began to smooth the tangles out of her hair. It was sweet and incredibly sexy all at the same time. Or maybe it was just because she was already so aroused that it seemed sexy.
At the moment she wasn’t sure she cared. With a sigh, she closed her eyes and dipped her head back as the comb slowly slid through her curls.
“Grooming me?” she asked softly.
She opened her eyes to see him smiling at her through the mirror.
“Are you getting impatient?” he asked.
“Maybe a little.”
Her nipples poked through the thin shirt, making it quite obvious just what his touch did to her. He set the comb aside and wrapped his arms around her from behind. He pulled her against his hard chest, the thickness of his cock pressed into her hip, sending a shiver of delight up her spine. She wanted to wiggle, but he held her too tight for her to move.
She watched in the mirror as his other hand disappeared under the shirt and cupped her aching pussy. She moaned and sagged against his chest, anxious to feel his fingers moving over her, inside her. His fingers slid through her cream, smearing it between her labia before he moved to the plug. With a gentle tug, he wiggled it, making her gasp at the sudden surge of pleasure.
“I want you to walk to the upper veranda, facing the beach,” he whispered. “Then bend over the railing. Lift your shirt so I can see your ass and pussy and wait for me there.”
Melinda nodded, shocked at how such a softly spoken command could make her want to do his bidding. She moved away from him and headed down the hall toward the veranda. She could feel him behind her, watching, and the knowledge sent a little thrill through her.
She hardly noticed the cold wood floor against her feet, but she definitely felt the plug with every step she took. She could also feel the heat of Erik’s stare as she moved through the doors and out onto the veranda. With sure purpose and wobbly knees, she walked over to the railing. She gripped it and spread her legs shoulder-width apart. Reaching behind as she bent forward, she lifted the shirt so that her ass and pussy could be seen.
The warm tropical breeze blew across her mound, s
ending sharp currents of need to her womb. The smell of the salty ocean filled her lungs as she drew in deep breaths to calm her burning flesh. Where was he? Why wasn’t he behind her, getting ready to take her?
She chanced a glance over her shoulder and spotted him by the table, naked. The sight of his engorged cock as he rolled on a condom made her pussy clench.
“I didn’t tell you to turn around,” he said softly, but with a bite Melinda didn’t miss.
She quickly turned back to the ocean and waited. With every passing second her body ached more. Footsteps sounded behind her, and she pushed against the railing, forcing her ass back and up. Just the anticipation of his touch was enough to make her pant.
She felt his palms smooth over her hips, and she shivered.
“Wider,” he commanded.
Melinda spread her legs immediately, her limbs now shaking with anticipation.
He dropped to one knee and softly kissed one ass cheek and then the other. Melinda sighed and wrapped her fingers tighter around the railing, so tight her knuckles turned white.
When his tongue licked through the cream coating her slit, she pressed herself into his face and groaned. His mouth felt so good against her aching pussy, but she wanted more. Needed more.
Erik came to his feet and bent over her back. The feel of his warm flesh next to hers sent her tingling nerves into overdrive. The hairs of his leg tickled the back of hers, making her inside tingle and the muscles around the plug suck at the toy.
His hand fisted in her hair and tugged her head back so he could whisper in her ear. “I’m gonna fuck this pussy till you scream.”
Still holding onto her hair, he stood straight and positioned the head of his cock at her entrance.
Melinda, unable to wait any longer, pressed back, forcing his girth into her channel. They both moaned as he pressed even deeper, filling her beyond what she thought she could take. With a gasp, she tried to pull away. His size plus the toy was too much.
Erik gripped her hip and growled, “Hold still.”
Finding Her Fantasy Page 8
