Cassandra's Revenge [Golden Dolphin 4] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Skye Michaels

  Cottage Number Three turned out to be a white-on-white, very romantic tropical delight that opened right on to the beach. It was exactly what Beau had in mind. They had a wonderful lunch of lobster salad and tall ice teas on the deck overlooking the water before changing to go out on the sand. They should be back from their snorkeling by three, and he had booked a couple’s massage in the spa for five o’clock.

  * * * *

  Cassie and Beau changed into bathing suits, took their little sail boat out to the reef, and spent an hour snorkeling in the pristine blue water. It was quiet and relaxing, and after another hour napping on the sand, Cassie felt like they had indeed left the world behind. She wished she could leave her troubled thoughts and memories behind as well.

  “You’re kind of quiet, Cassie. Tell me what you’re thinking.”

  “I’m just thinking about what I would have missed if Devon hadn’t badgered me into coming on this trip. I really didn’t want to.”

  “Why? Because of the BDSM theme, or because the anniversary of your prom fell during the trip?”

  “Maybe a little of both. I’d only been to the club a couple of times as an observer, so that made me a little nervous. And to be truthful, I made it a practice not to make plans that included May 22nd.”

  “Wouldn’t it have been better to overwrite that date with some happy memories?”

  “I’m sure it would have. When I was younger, it was impossible. When I got older, it was just a habit, I guess.” Cassie didn’t know how to explain it to someone else. She had known that avoiding that date wasn’t a healthy response, but the pain of that night, while it had lessened over the years, had never completely gone away. She thought it must be because of the shock of being let down in such a public way by someone she had liked so much and trusted, thought of as a friend, and maybe was beginning to love in her adolescent fashion.

  “Cassie, I’m sorry. I’ve been sorry about what I did ever since it happened. I wasn’t proud of myself at the time. I hope that you can forgive me, and we can get past this. I don’t know what else to say or do to make it right. Are you going to make me pay for my youthful indiscretions forever?”

  “No. You don’t have to keep on apologizing. I know you’re trying to make it up to me, Beau, and I appreciate the effort. I’m working on getting over it myself. I just can’t promise anything right now. Some traumas are permanent no matter how much you wish they weren’t. A girl never forgets her first serious kiss or the first boy who broke her heart.”

  They went back to the cottage, showered together, and had a brief but satisfying encounter in the open shower. Then they walked down to the spa where they enjoyed side-by-side massages under a tent right on the beach to the sound of the waves, birds singing, and classical music playing softly in the background.

  “I don’t think it could possibly get better than this. This is just wonderful, Beau. Thank you for bringing me here.” Cassie knew that Beau was doing his best to make up to her for what he’d done all those years ago and that she was being a little unfair to him to continue to carry a grudge. It was just hard to let it go. These feelings had been her companion to some extent for all these years. She wondered if she hadn’t just used Beau as an excuse not to commit to another relationship. She knew she had to try to get past it for her own peace of mind whether she ever saw Beau again after this trip or not. She was determined to make an effort to leave the past behind.

  “The day is young, princess. Let’s see what else it brings.”

  * * * *

  Beau had ordered dinner to be served on their private deck at eight o’clock. That would give them time for cocktails on the terrace. He was planning to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time, and he wanted this night to be as romantic as Cassie could possibly wish for.

  When Cassie came out of the cottage’s bathroom dressed for dinner, he gulped. He had not seen this dress before. It was a long, black silk knit halter dress that brushed the floor and bared her neck and cleavage. He knew that she was now an allover golden tan. She had obviously been sunning naked on her deck aboard the Dolphin. Her wild mane of glorious streaked blonde hair was spread over her shoulders and back. The stunning black enamel and gold medallion necklace with matching dangling earrings she wore set off her coloring. The ensemble was obviously of her own design. He stood up, walked over, and took her hand to lead her out on to the terrace where a pitcher of icy margaritas with salt-rimmed glasses waited. He took her in his arms and kissed her until they were both breathless. “You look beautiful tonight.”

  “Thank you.” He could see the slight blush come up on her cheeks under the tan. He was glad he had such an obvious physical effect on her. Her slightly standoffish attitude was beginning to get to him. She held something of herself back even during the most intense sexual encounters. He wasn’t used to being rebuffed. Most women were eager for his attention.

  “Let’s sit down and enjoy the sunset. Dinner will be here at eight. How’s that?” They sat in the white Adirondack chairs facing the beach side by side holding hands and watching the seabirds circle over the breaking surf.

  “That’s fine, Beau. Thank you. I appreciate the effort you’re putting out to make this special for me.”

  The dinner of chateaubriand and braised vegetables was served on the terrace. A uniformed waiter made the crisp Caesar salad tableside and opened and poured their champagne. The soft music playing in the background and the sound of the surf set the mood for romance. They had dessert and after-dinner drinks before he drew her to her feet and into his arms to dance under the stars.

  He took her hand and led her back into the cottage to the hand-carved, plantation-style mahogany four-poster bed covered in a white quilt. He slowly slipped the dress down her body and was surprised to see she wore nothing beneath it. She was naked except for the black and gold necklace. She looked like a goddess. He stood quietly while she unbuttoned the white linen shirt he wore and pushed it off his shoulders. He was thrilled that she took that first step on her own. He stepped out of his trousers and moccasins, and then he was naked, too. The moonlight spilled into the cottage through the wide-open doors from the terrace and splashed across the bed as the soft tropical breeze kissed their naked bodies.

  Beau’s hands trembled as he pushed her back into the pillows and came down beside her. He ran his hands down her long, swan neck, over her chest, and cupped her full breasts. They filled his hands. She was magnificent. This was not the slender girl he’d kissed in the moonlight on the golf course at the country club that summer so long ago. This was a beautiful woman. The ache in his chest grew as he skated his hands down her body to her mound. He didn’t want to rush her, but his cock was as hard as steel and smacked up against his belly in anticipation. He was aching to take possession of her body, mind, and soul.

  “You are so beautiful, Cassie. I can’t believe we’re here after all these years.”

  “Neither can I.” She ran her hands over his broad chest and dipped her head to grasp one of his flat male nipples between her teeth. She nipped him gently. “Make love to me, Beau. I’ve been waiting for hours.”

  Her spread thighs cradled him as he reached down to capture a pebbled nipple between his lips. He sucked the tender tip and watched in wonder as the need rippled through her body, and he feasted on her breasts. She was so physically responsive. He knew he just needed to break through the shell around her heart. He played with her nipples until both were hard and erect, and then he slipped down until his mouth was over her pulsing clit and he sucked hard. He could feel the eagerness in her body as he tantalized and teased the little nub, sending a quiver through her. He plunged his tongue into her hot, slick pussy until her body stiffened, and she arched up off the bed.

  “Please, Beau, I need…” She lost her train of thought, and she tangled her fingers in his hair as he played with her body.

  “Easy, baby. We have all night.” Passion swept through him as the magic of the moment invaded his heart. He knew he
loved this woman, and he was going to have to bind her to him before this trip was over. He didn’t want to let the stresses of everyday life come between them once the vacation haze was gone. He had to make the most of the few days remaining to make her his.

  Fire rushed through his veins as he held back, determined to bring Cassie to a fever pitch. Her body gushed her hot and slick cream as he rubbed against her eager slit. She arched against him like a siren trying to entice him into her warmth. She couldn’t know how hard he had to work to keep from ravishing her right then and there. He was determined to make this last, to make it as memorable for her as it would be for him. This was a watershed moment. He was shocked to realize that this was the first time in his life that he was making love to a woman he loved with all his heart. He was thirty-five years old and had never really been in love before—in like, in lust, but never really in love, not like this.

  Finally, he could hold back no longer, and he plunged his hard shaft into her swollen and needy center. His heart hammered as his hungry cock took possession of her body with a pounding rhythm that drove them both over the edge, and they exploded in pleasure. As the waves of passion receded, he pulled her close to his chest and kissed her temple.

  “Sleep, Cassie.” I love you, but I don’t think you’re ready to hear that yet. He had put more of himself—his emotions not just his passion—into their lovemaking than he ever had with another woman. He’d given his heart, and he wasn’t sure she wanted to take it. For the first time in his life, he was scared that he would lose the woman who was most important to him.

  * * * *

  When Cassie awoke to the moonlight spilling across the bed, she stared at the sleeping man beside her. God, he’s gorgeous—even more handsome than he was fifteen years ago. She had never dreamed that he would actually be here in her arms again. She wasn’t sure how she felt about it, but she thought she was losing her heart to him a second time. She was scared to let it happen, but maybe it was time to put the past behind her and take her chances—time to be a woman and not a frightened and hurt girl. Maybe it was time to grow up…She drifted back to sleep.

  When Cassie woke again, it was to the sound of the crashing waves. It was still dark, and the moon cast the shadows of the palm trees over the white sand outside the cottage. Beau was awake, and he rolled over and pulled Cassie back against his chest. He kissed the back of her neck and played with her nipples. “Ready for Act II, beautiful girl?”

  “Ummm…”

  He rolled her over on top of him and when he had her positioned above his steely length, brought her down until he was firmly seated in her hot, needy pussy. He raised and lowered her body on his hard cock until she picked up the erotic rhythm on her own. Her tight pussy gripped his steel hard shaft as though she would never let him go.

  As she rode him to completion, she felt powerful and feminine like never before. She was in control of her body and her heart. At that moment as she looked down into his blue eyes, so mysterious in the semidarkness of the cottage, she fell in love. She knew that this time it was her decision. She was an adult woman with a mind of her own. She wasn’t just letting this happen to her. At least she hoped she was in control of the situation. Those old feelings of insecurity were hard to let go of, but she was determined to try.

  In the morning, they threw their things into their bags and rushed to catch the commuter plane back to Kingston to rejoin the Golden Dolphin in time for departure at ten o’clock. Cassie was glad she had gone with Beau to Ocho Rios. No matter what happened in the future, she would always have these beautiful memories and her self-esteem back.

  * * * *

  Devon was anxious to get Cassie alone to find out what had happened at the Jamaica Inn. She had been worried about her friend alone with Beau Bainbridge after all these years. They had been getting along fairly well after the blowup over Sadie Hawkins night, but they had not been totally alone without the buffer of their friends close by.

  “So, how did it go? I’ve heard the Jamaica Inn is fabulous.”

  “We had a great time. The place is gorgeous, and Beau and I were fine.”

  “Spill the beans, girlfriend. This is me you’re talking to.”

  “Dev, I think I’m in love with him—as an adult this time—and I’m not sure I want to be.” She sighed. “I’ve been down this road before. I was a kid the last time. I just don’t want to be hurt again. Loving Beau could be devastating.”

  “I understand that, Cas. But you are all grown up now. You can handle Beau Bainbridge. Remember, he was just a cocky kid then, and you were a naive little girl. I think you should give him a chance. At least he can’t really blindside you again. You’ll probably always be waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

  “You’re right. I’m going to go for it. So, tell me what’s up with Sy. Did you guys enjoy Jamaica?”

  “We had a great time. We painted the town red, and then came back to the ship to party some more. That man is a machine. I love it! I think I finally found a guy who can keep up with me.”

  “Is that all?”

  “Well, the sex is great, and I really do enjoy him. It might be a little more than that, but I’m not ready to go there yet. Time will tell. It always does.”

  “There’s not too much of that left. We only have five more days aboard. What seemed like such a long trip has really gotten rather short.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Aboard the Golden Dolphin at Sea in the Caribbean Sea, May 21, 2014—Wednesday Morning, Day Twelve of the Cruise

  Beau, Sy, Cassie, and Devon were among the first passengers to come up to the top deck to enjoy the breakfast buffet on Wednesday morning. The crew had planned a murder mystery day at sea, and the passengers were excited. The entertainment promised to be something different as the ship was at sea making way toward the Turks and Caicos Islands. Beau was looking forward to a fun day with Cassie, and he hoped to get her off to one of the theme rooms for a scene if possible.

  The first passengers to come up to the top deck for early coffee and pastries found a grisly scene. One of the crew, a burly steward named Tommy, was found with his skull “bashed in” and “blood” splashed on the pristine deck outside the main lounge. He was attired in dress slacks, a white shirt, a navy-blue blazer, wore a name tag reading Tommy Jones, and a Hollywood-style fake rubber wound. A yachting cap was on the deck next to him. A discerning person might detect that the blood had the consistency—and tangy aroma—of ketchup, but the day promised to be a lot of fun, and no one was complaining. Booklets with the backstory and clues were set out at the end of the buffet, and Beau picked up several copies and brought them back to the table.

  “This looks interesting. It seems a passenger named Tommy Jones, a wealthy but somewhat disreputable gambler, has been found murdered on the main deck.” He grinned. “Whew…could have been me.”

  Cassie grinned back at him. “Could have been. You lucked out…at least for today.”

  “We’re supposed to pair up in teams. I choose Devon.” Sy smiled at Devon, and she took his hand under the table and gave it a quick squeeze.

  “Thanks, babe. We’ll kick the murderer’s ass.”

  When all of the passengers had made their appearances on deck and loaded up plates from the buffet, Natasha Romanova called everyone to attention. “We have eighteen teams of two detectives each. The crew will be playing roles in the murder mystery all day as well as performing their regular duties. They will be wearing name tags that identify their characters according to information in script, and some will be in costume. If you ask them questions pertaining to game, they will assume their roles and answer accordingly.” She went on to explain the backstory while two of the ABs carried the murder victim off the deck. “Feel free to roam ship looking for clues and murder weapon, et cetera.”

  “Will you be my detective partner, Cassie?”

  She laughed. “Well, since Sy has scarfed up my usual partner in crime, I guess so.”

  “Thanks a lot. So
glad to be your second choice,” he said sarcastically with a smile on his face. “Come on. Let’s get a head start on these two. It says here that Tommy Jones was staying in the Master Suite. Let’s go take a look and see if we can find any clues.” He pulled her up out of her chair, and they headed toward the passageway leading to the Master Suite on the top deck.

  When they walked into the Master Suite, which had been opened for the day and staged for the game, they were both floored by its opulence and sheer size. While the other suites were huge and luxurious, the Master Suite was over the top—from the fireplaces in the living room and bedroom, to the verde marble bathroom.

  “I understand that this is Jamie Devereau’s suite when he’s aboard. Otherwise it’s available to passengers willing to pay the outrageous fare. Hey, look! There’s a bloody towel in the bathroom but no murder weapon. Also, there are some papers scattered on the carpet in front of the fireplace in the bedroom. It looks like some of them were burned.”

  Cassie rushed over to the fireplace, picked up the papers, and quickly glanced through them. “It looks like Mr. Jones was involved in blackmailing one of the other passengers. I can’t tell who it was from these.”

  * * * *

  Sy took Devon’s hand and led her toward the central staircase. “Let’s go down to the dungeon and see if there are any clues in there. That might be a good place to hide a murder weapon.”

  “Good idea.” She laughed. “I can’t tell you how many rainy Saturdays Cassie and I played Clue when we were kids. It was one of our favorite games—Mr. Mustard in the library with a wrench!”

  Sy swiped his key card into the reader next to the dungeon door, and he and Devon walked through. They looked around and checked the armoire by the door.