I smirked. A lazy smirk.
“You look like you could use a nap.”
“Uh, yeah. I could, but I need to stay awake for the flight.”
“Why? You're not flying.” She waved for the flight attendant to come over. The skinny blond in her white blouse and black dress approached at once.
“Yes, ma’am?”
“Please get him a pillow. He needs to sleep.”
I waved her off, even when my body cried out for that pillow, no matter how pathetic that sounded.
“I can't sleep. I need to see your face when we land.”
The flight attendant handed Tia the pillow when I didn't reach for it.
“Get up,” she said. I obeyed her and lifted my neck. Tia placed the pillow underneath it and I sank back into it.
“Now go to sleep. I'll wake you up to see how surprised I am. Or pissed off.”
Nodding to her, I wasn't sure if I believed her, but the promise of sleep was too tempting to pass up. I slept most of the way there. Halfway during the flight, I woke again, only to sleep for the remainder. Tia was absorbed in a movie when I woke.
She seemed happy.
My plan seemed to be working so far. We were together. We were acting like a couple. Would she take the next step once we arrived?
I didn't know. But I was happy to see her enjoying herself, seemingly carefree. I did the same and slept until we arrived in Costa Rica.
Chapter 16
Tia
Lucas had the best surprises.
Nearing the exit, I hugged Lucas. He was still waking up. Squeezing him tight, I looked up to see his eyes bulging. I started laughing and hurried my way down the landing steps to the tarmac, leaving him behind.
He caught up to me. Breathing heavily, he said, “You don't even know where you're going.”
“I don't even know where we are, but it looks gorgeous,” I screamed. I turned in a circle to get a panoramic view. It looked tropical. Heat lines wavered in the air over the runway. Another driver in a luxury sedan awaited our arrival.
“We're in Costa Rica.”
Costa Rica...unbelievable.
Just a day ago I was back home, my life an endless repetition of tasks that I completed for little money. Now, here I was in a tropical paradise with the man of my dreams.
Yeah, it was a little hard to remain mad at him when he went out of his way to do all of this. “I'm willing to overlook keeping me locked up in a room, since I imagine you were planning the whole night, right?”
“That's right.” He was unnaturally frazzled, and I kind of liked it.
“Costa Rica,” I screamed when I realized something. I hopped up and down, clapped, and then snatched Lucas by the collar. I might've been a little too rough, and eased up.
“What's gotten into you?” he asked as he rolled up his sleeves. He put a heavy arm behind his neck, in turn, flexing his awesome biceps.
No time to ogle. Something had gotten into me. And that something was one of the top places on my bucket list.
“Sloth sanctuary,” I screamed, doing a dance as I pumped my fist in circles around him. I stopped, out of breath, at his feet.
Lucas, jaw dropped, stared at me. “Sloth...what? What are you talking about?”
I shook him. He flexed and I decided it was best not to shake the big strong man. “Sloths. Oh my God, this is where the sloth sanctuary is. We have to go see the sloths.”
I kept rambling. It couldn't be helped.
“All right. I take you all this way, and the first thing you say is you want to see some sloths? Unbelievable.”
I mimicked a sloth moving slow on some branches. Lucas's eyes went even wider. He looked around to make sure that I wouldn't be arrested for acting like a crazy person at an airport. I'd yelled sloth pretty loud.
“This wasn't on the itinerary, but seeing as you're about to become a sloth just to prove to me how wonderful they are, I think I can fit it on the list.”
I jumped again. I was seriously out of breath in this sweltering heat, but that didn't stop me. I was super energized with the thought that I would actually be able to visit the sanctuary. And maybe....just maybe...steal one and bring it home.
“They have sloths that they rescue. They bring them in and try to rehabilitate them. It's like sloth heaven.” I went on as we were taken from the airport to our next destination. I didn't even bother to ask this time.
Lucas kept looking out the window.
“Are you listening to me?”
“I am.”
“No, you're not. Here, have an elbow.”
Lucas laughed and caught my slight elbow jab. I placed my hands back between my knees. I kept them clasped, my legs wanting to jog in place. Lucas seemed pleased with himself. Too pleased.
When we arrived at where we were staying, I shot him a new look. A look of disapproval. “I thought you didn't do flashy things like this.”
As soon as we rolled past the gates through the lush tropical brush to the front of the house, a mansion like his one in California – but this one more open and all Spanish architecture mixed with tropical flare – I knew it must've cost a fortune.
“It's not mine. I'm renting it for the week.”
“Still, it's extravagant.”
“I can splurge on you, every once and a while. You'll let me do that, won't you?”
“Only if you promise to do double for someone more deserving.”
We parked in the cobbled driveway. The lush green mountains beyond, and the beach behind it, awaited us.
I hoped the driver wouldn't interrupt us as Lucas said with no restraint, “You deserve everything I can give.”
“Stop, please.” I turned away from him to the heart shaped gate which led to a private beach’s sandy entrance.
“I must leave you again.”
He clasped my hands in his.
“Leaving me? Again?”
“Yes, I'm sorry.” Lucas pulled out his wallet. He slapped three hundred dollars into my open palms. “Use this for lunch.”
I thought he was going to say ‘use this to grab some clothes’. Because I wasn't dressed for much of anything, except for lounging around with some ice cream and some Netflix. There was such a wide, unexplored world calling to me, that I wanted to get dressed into something appropriate and explore right away.
After handing back the money, I said, “I don't need all this. What I need is some fresh clothes. I need a chance to settle in.”
“Right,” he said. He slid past me. As he did, his ass passed right by my eyes.
God, I wanted to grab it. I wanted to sink my fingers into that ass. I'd always loved how some guys could have the hottest asses, and I could never understand it. I was glad I'd found a man who fit this type.
I got out and stretched. A flowery, earthy scent permeated the driveway. Lucas waited for me to continue.
“I'm going then,” he said when I didn't respond.
I reached for him to stop. That touch ignited all those old wild emotions.
“Wait, I need clothes. Are there clothes here for me? I didn't bring anything.”
“Right, you'll be taken care of. I'll have my assistant answer to you. Anything you need, you ask, and it goes on the card. Free of charge. Consider it my due for keeping you locked up in my guest room all night.”
That was fair.
“You're really leaving me again?”
His back to me, he told me as he walked away toward the house. “I'm afraid so. I have business to take care of. I assume you'll be fine by yourself. If you’re bored, you can go chase a sloth.”
His smug tone drifted off. Bracing myself against the limo, I waited until he was out of sight for me to shout my disgust. It came out a jumbled mix of words.
Lucas didn't seem to care. He was gone.
How could he take me to Costa Rica, then drop me off with his assistant? This was supposed to be a trip that we would share together. It seemed Lucas had better things to do.
His assis
tant came striding out from the house as soon as he entered, like she was walking the runway to me. She had exotic features and a skinny, sensual body. She had pulled back black hair, a business jacket, and business pants.
Having him take me to a strange land and then abandoning me had left me in an insecure state of mind. This woman who introduced herself, Camilla, was drop dead gorgeous in a business suit.
Why was I acting so jealous about this girl? She drove me to the nearest boutique while I attempted to tone down my bitchy meter.
“How do you know Lucas?” she asked me, as we turned off a packed intersection to a straight road leading to the hotel and shopping center.
“We go a long way back,” I said plainly. “How long have you been working for him?”
How long have you been fucking him?
What had gotten into me? Was I suffering from some serious case of jet lag? I wanted to pull my insecurities in, but I kept worrying that I was losing him. Funny, I'd been trying to distance myself from him for months, now I was worried he was slipping away.
Wasn't that how it always was with Lucas?
Once again, I was in the Lucas Moore trap. It was exhausting...
“Please,” Camilla said, as she held open the door for me. I snapped back to reality.
“Thank you.”
Camilla brought me to a fancy resort. It was the type of place that Lucas would never bring me. It did have a lot of fabulous clothes to pick from, though.
Clothes with no price tags.
“There's a...uhm...problem,” I told Camilla as she stood watch over me.
“Yes?” she asked with strict discipline.
Not just any problem. A major problem. These clothes weren't going to fit me. I wore plus sizes.
“None of these clothes are…” I paused. How could I explain this? There was only one way. “Going to fit me,” I finished painfully.
Camilla’s eyes almost sprang from her skull. “I'm sorry. My apologies, Ms. Daniels. Shall we go somewhere with better choices?”
Better choices, I liked the way she put that. Camilla wasn't so bad after all.
“Yes, let's do that.”
Camilla drove me to a better store. This one was also in a hotel. Many of the luxury resorts in the area catered to their rich tourists by offering them luxury items, items that were way out of my price range. There was no way I could charge Lucas's credit card for all of the clothes I wanted.
I was like a sad puppy dog wandering around the store. My hands touched everything. All of the fabric was so smooth and fresh. All of the dresses would fit my shapely body in a way that would have Lucas crawling back to me, sorry that he ever left me alone on our vacation.
“This is all too much.”
“Everything will be provided for.”
I draped the most comfortable and normal thing in the store back on the rack. “I can't. It's too much.”
Camilla strode over to a dress, the shining jewel that hung on the front mannequin. She turned it by the shoulder to face me.
“This is what you're getting.”
“Does Lucas train all of his workers to be just like him?”
“The boss rubs off on all of us.” Just as long as he's not rubbing one off with you.
She pushed the dress at my chest. I took it, only because I had no choice. I had to wear something. Going to a different store didn't seem to be an option.
“He says it how it is.”
“Yes, he does.” She smiled as I placed the dress to my body and looked down, seeing it match my curves. “This will look so good on you. Lucas will rip the dress off and take you right at dinner.”
“How do you know what he's like?” I eyed her suspiciously.
“What do you mean? Does he do that often?”
Heat rushed to my cheeks. “No, I was only wondering.”
Camilla laughed. “I have not been involved. Lucas is very professional. Best boss I've ever had. It was only a joke.”
Phew. And there goes the heat to my cheeks, a freaking inferno now.
“I'm sorry. It was silly of me to assume that. I'm only being insecure. Which didn't really happen before I met Lucas.”
“You love him,” she said suddenly, placing her delicate hand on my forearm.
“What?”
Love? We'd never said the words. He'd only said he loved my pussy before, which I gladly accepted. It clearly wasn’t close to saying those binding words all by their lonesome.
Yes, I loved him. I was tired of fighting it.
“I love him. I do.” I’d never said it out loud before.
There was a twinkle of recognition in Camilla’s eyes. “First time saying it out loud?”
“Uh huh. And it’s weird. It’s really weird, but it’s good.”
“That weirdness isn’t going to go away until you say it to him.”
“I know.” But when would I get the chance to say it? Right after he dumped me on his assistant? No way.
“The guy drives me mad, though. He doesn’t tell me where we’re going, he takes me to another country, and then he hands me off to you.”
“He has big things planned. That’s all I can say.” She lured me out of the shop with her many shopping bags. “I picked up a few items that I thought would look pretty on you. I hope you don’t mind.”
“You think I’m going to mind? What’d you get me?” She handed over the bag and I rummaged through it. “I do feel kind of bad, though. This stuff is way too nice. I’ll get you back.”
“It’s paid for by the boss.” She grinned at me as we headed back to the car.
“What else does the boss have planned?”
“I can’t say, but trust me, you’ll like it.” She dodged my look, pulling an imaginary zipper across her lips then throwing away the key as we began our drive. We breezed through the rainforest back to the private estate to find Lucas lurking underneath the abode’s entrance.
“Thanks for the shopping trip.”
"Go, your man is waiting. And don't tell him that I said anything about his plans."
"You hardly said anything.”
"I said enough."
I left with another thank you to Camilla. Lucas leaned back. He looked rugged with a sloppy slouch, like he might slide to the ground and take a quick nap.
I strode up to him, then wound my arms around him and sucked in his tantalizing scent. I was back home. Back with my man.
When I pulled away, he smiled, dragged down by tiredness.
"Lucas, you look like hell again. I'm not afraid to say it, either. What have you been up to?"
"I'm fine. How have you been?" he asked, then clasped my hand, bringing me past the Spanish arches and into the wide foyer of the mansion.
"You're not fine." I stopped, distracted by the tropical flair and the enormous windows that revealed the beachfront view. "Please, can you tell me what you've been doing?"
"You'll see, soon enough."
I sighed. "I like surprises, but this surprise might be going too far. I'm a nervous wreck."
"Relax.” He sat on one of the bar stools and stretched out. After his groan, I wanted to hop on his lap and kiss him. He looked sexy when he was tired. Sexy and vulnerable.
I wanted him to take my hand. "Let's go to bed."
“Bed, already?” He stood up and pressed his warmth against me, his cock brushing against me, making butterflies flutter in my stomach.
“You're in no condition…” I started. When wasn't he? He was insatiable.
“I want to know, exactly, what we're doing here. I was kidnapped. I was locked in a room. Then flown here, for no apparent reason. And you disappear. Why do you keep disappearing exactly?” Arousal had quickly morphed into annoyance.
Lucas caught my chin. I flinched as his thumb brushed my jawline.
"Do you think I would do all this if it wasn't for a reason? I don't see what the problem is."
A mocking smile crept across his lips. "Fuck me, you think I'm ignoring you, don't you? Tha
t's not it. At all."
He reached around, snatching my ass, pulling me into him. I crushed against him, my breath sneaking from my lips, my breasts squeezed between us.
"This has all been about you and me,” he whispered.
"Seriously? Why can't you just tell me?”
He pressed his finger to my lips. I snarled and pushed it away. We both laughed at my reaction as he squeezed my ass cheeks together. The wind was knocked out of me again, and I was panting against him. Lucas swiped my chin, bringing me close to his hungry lips, swallowing me, and then infiltrating, taking more.
I moaned into his mouth while he breathed his fire into me. When I broke free, I clutched my sides and slowly slid back on my heels, trying not to alert Lucas of my retreat.
"Come on, you're tired. Up to bed." I waved my hand toward the staircase. I hadn't even been up there, yet. Lucas grinned, took my hand, and led me to the master bedroom which had a grander view of the beach. The balcony doors were open, allowing the ocean breeze to sweep in and tickle my bare legs as I sat upon the massive bed. I kicked my heels off as I faced the moonlit waves.
Lucas sat across from me.
When I looked over to him, he pounced, taking me by my wrists, swinging me around so my back hit the mattress.
"You led the wolf right back to its den. Now why would you want to do that?"
He split my legs. His knees pressed into the softness of my inner thighs, and it burned, a welcome burn.
"To get your ass to sleep.”
"Do you want it hard or slow?" he asked, like he'd never heard me.
Lucas dove at the crook of my neck. His tongue swirled to my earlobe. He gave it a bite, and a horny bolt jolted through me. He continued, rocking my hips slowly against him, until it became second nature.
"Right now, slow."
He smirked as if he always knew what my answer would be. Perhaps I'd been overstating his tiredness, because his cock tented and throbbed against me, offering me something to rub against.
And rub I did. I rubbed, until he needed to pin my wrists down to give me more grooving room. Pulling back, he still held me as I swayed against him.
"Fuck, babe, I don't know about slow."
I changed my mind. "Hard."
Lucas pulled back and whipped his belt off.
Lucas (A Billionaire Bad Boy Novel) Page 15
