The Island

by Alice Ward

  He pushed in slowly, sliding one hand up the back of my leg and pushing my knee to my shoulder. With my calf resting against his neck, he drove into me deeper with every thrust. His cock sent shockwaves of pleasure through my body as it pounded into the deepest part of me and I instinctively wanted to wrap my legs around him. The fact that I couldn’t just made the sensations all the more powerful. I reached between our bodies and fingered my clit, pushing myself closer to the edge.

  “Oh my God, Willow,” James moaned. He rose to his knees and watched me play with myself as his cock rammed in and out of me. “That’s so fucking hot.”

  I was too overcome with pleasure to respond with words. Instead, I pulled my hand to my face and licked my salty juices from my fingers.

  “Oh, Willow,” James groaned. He shoved his hands under my ass, lifting my hips from the mattress as he pounded into me harder. His cock drove in at an odd angle, hitting a place inside me I’d never felt before.

  “Right there, baby. Right there,” I moaned, fingering myself harder.

  James repeated the motion, over and over again, faster and harder each time. I came hard and loud, flailing beneath him as he continued to impale me.

  “Oh God, Willow,” James cried out, his thrusts short and instinctive. His body went rigid and I felt his cock tremble within me just before he slipped out and collapsed on the mattress.

  “That was amazing,” he gasped, struggling for breath.

  “Better than amazing,” I agreed, crawling towards him. I laid my head on his shoulder and curled my body around his. We’d somehow ended up with our heads near the foot of the bed and James reached for the forgotten white envelope.

  “Like I said, this isn’t nearly as wonderful as your surprise, but I wanted to do something for you,” he said, passing it to me.

  I propped myself up on my elbows and pulled two cards from the envelope. One was a gift certificate for the Elizabeth Arden Spa downstairs. The other was an appointment card for a massage, makeover, and styling. I looked from the cards to James with nothing but love in my eyes.

  “I thought it would be nice if you had some pampering before the race,” he explained, looking at me expectantly.

  “This is perfect,” I told him, rolling back into his arms. “You’re so thoughtful, baby.”

  “I love you, Willow,” he said, kissing my bare collarbone.

  “I love you too.”

  James pulled away from me and turned down the bed. “And because I love you, I’m going to insist that you get some sleep. We have a big day tomorrow.”

  We slid under the sheets and, content with the world, I quickly drifted off to sleep.

  ***

  Early Saturday afternoon, I sat at the vanity in my suite and studied myself in the mirror. The women at the Elizabeth Arden Salon had worked their magic and I barely recognized myself. Somehow, my eyes looked bluer and my skin had a luminescent glow.

  In keeping with tradition, I wore the same dress my mother wore when Aces High won the Triple Crown. The Belmont Stakes had always been the most casual of the three races, which was evident in the simple seersucker sundress that clung to my torso and flared out at my hips.

  I paired the dress with a pair of nude pumps and a matching silk handbag. The salon stylist had pinned my hair into an intricate updo, so I decided to leave my wide brimmed khaki hat at the hotel. I’d found a seersucker parasol in the hotel gift shop that matched my dress perfectly and would protect my face from the sun. I swiped on a berry lip gloss and joined James in the living room. My pulse beat a little faster as I studied him in his khaki linen suit and sky blue shirt. The fabric clung to his broad, muscular shoulders in the best possible way. I crossed the room and he whistled as he wrapped me in his arms.

  “You look beautiful, baby. Am I allowed to kiss you or will it mess up your makeup?” he asked, nuzzling my neck.

  “Kiss away,” I mumbled, turning my face to his. His soft lips melted into mine and our tongues traced circles against each other. I felt a familiar wetness between my legs and knew I had to stop myself while I still had the willpower. I pulled away from James and started for the door.

  “There will be plenty of time for that after the race. Lucas and Matt are probably downstairs already, we should get going.”

  “You’re right,” James agreed, a sly smile spreading across his face. For a moment, I wondered if he knew something I didn’t.

  He’s just confident that Mondo will win. He believes in me.

  We made our way to the lobby where, as expected, Matt and Lucas were already waiting. They looked dashing and unbelievably adorable in matching grey suits. Matt wore a white shirt with coral pinstripes and a soft turquoise vest and handkerchief. Lucas wore the same, but with the colors reversed.

  “You guys look awesome,” James told them as we approached.

  “We all look fantastic,” Matt insisted. “I won’t be surprised if we end up in a magazine. Are you ready to get to the park? The hotel is running shuttles every fifteen minutes. The next one should be boarding soon.”

  “Let’s go,” I agreed with a smile.

  As we moved through the lobby, I realized there was a distinct difference in my mood compared to the Derby and Preakness race days. At the first two races, I’d been a ball of nerves and emotions. But on James’s arm, I felt nothing but overwhelming confidence. The odds had been stacked against us, but together we’d overcome them. The odds were stacked against Mondo too, and I felt with inexplicable certainty that he’d do the same.

  We boarded the hotel shuttle with a dozen other passengers. The bus seemed electrified with excitement and I was surprised by how many people recognized me and wished me luck. The closer we got to Belmont Park, the more convinced I became that my life was about to change forever.

  “We’ll be running the shuttles until two hours after post time,” the driver said as he slowed the bus to a stop. “Enjoy the race everyone,” he added as we filed into the parking lot. The hope of a Triple Crown winner had drawn enormous crowds to the park, making it difficult to navigate across the lawn. I took James’s arm as the four of us wove our way to the clubhouse ticketholders’ entrance.

  “Good luck today, Ms. Rogers.” The security guard winked at me as he scanned my ticket.

  “Thank you,” I replied, a smile nearly breaking my face as we stepped onto the VIP side of the lawn. Huge press tents dotted the landscape and a red carpet had been laid out in front of the building. There seemed to be more reporters and photographers on the lawn than racing enthusiasts.

  “This is nuts,” I whispered under my breath.

  “It’s fabulous,” Matt insisted. “Can you believe all of these signs?”

  I shook my head as my eyes scanned the park. Every direction I looked, people held signs showing their support for my horse.

  “This is pretty fantastic, isn’t it?”

  I was momentarily startled by Link Jackson’s voice. I turned and saw him smiling behind us. He greeted me with a hug and a wide smile.

  “You look fantastic, Willow,” he told me. “James, Matt, it’s nice to see you. I don’t believe we’ve met,” he added, turning to Lucas.

  “Link, this is my boyfriend Lucas,” Matt jumped in. “Lucas, this is Link Jackson. He’s Mondo’s owner.”

  If Link was phased by meeting Matt’s boyfriend, he didn’t show it. He shook Lucas’s hand and turned back to me.

  “So what are you thinking? Do you wish you’d kept Mondo for yourself?” he teased.

  “No,” I said, shaking my head. “I wasn’t equipped to get him here. I’m glad I sold him to you… ninety-five percent of him at least.”

  “You’re one smart cookie, Willow,” Link laughed. “I’ve started retaining five percent of everything, just like you. But I hear you’re not selling anything in the near future. Starting your own program, huh?”

  Before I could answer, we were approached by a group of reporters. Matt and Lucas backed out of camera range, but I held James in plac
e beside me.

  “Mr. Jackson, Ms. Rogers, would you care to answer a few pre-race questions?” a manicured reporter asked as her burly assistant shoved a microphone in our faces.

  “We’d be happy to, right Willow?” Link asked, his voice jolly.

  “Of course,” I agreed with a polite smile.

  The first reporter asked about Mondo’s between-race training schedule while the second was more interested in his latest vet report. A third commented on the relatively low price Link was charging for stud services and the fourth directed her question at me.

  “Ms. Rogers, your mother Rose’s racing program rocketed to success before her tragic death. So far, Mondo’s run for the Crown has mirrored that of Aces High, her Triple Crown winner. Does being here with Mondo make you feel closer to her? And do you feel she’s watching down on you now, helping your chances today?”

  The question took me off guard, but not in a bad way. In fact, I was glad to have the opportunity to talk about my mom. “I certainly feel like my mother is watching,” I agreed, swallowing down the emotion that threatened to choke me. “She was gone before I was old enough to remember her, but I feel that I know her more and more as I work to continue her dream. She wanted Aces High Ranch to become the go-to program for champion thoroughbreds. I have faith that after today’s race, we’ll be one step closer to achieving her goal. And I do feel she’s watching down on me today. I doubt that helps my chances, but it’s a comfort to know I’m making her proud.”

  The fifth reporter also directed his question to me. “Ms. Rogers, you say you think your mother is looking down on you with pride. But there are a few things about you she might be a little shocked by, am I right?”

  I blushed against my will. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I replied sheepishly.

  “Let me clarify the question,” the reporter pressed. “Do you think it would fill your mother with pride to know that you’re romantically involved with your future stepbrother? I mean, that’s a little too close for comfort, isn’t it?”

  Link glanced down at mine and James’s joined arms, finally realizing that James wasn’t just my escort for the day. The color drained from his face and he slid a few feet away from me. I took a deep breath, stared at the cameras defiantly, and replied.

  “I think my mother would be overjoyed to know that I’ve found someone who loves and supports me, unconditionally. I think she would also appreciate the fact that I’m following my heart and staying true to myself despite uninformed opinions. While I understand that some people may view my relationship as shocking, it’s really anything but. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to go to the stables and check on my horse.” I gave them a final nod and backed away from the cameras.

  “Mr. Jackson, you look shocked. I take it you weren’t aware of Willow’s relationship with Mr. Parker?” another reporter called out. I picked up my pace and got away from the group before I could hear Link’s reply.

  “Are you okay,” James asked as he led me towards Matt and Lucas.

  “I’m fine,” I insisted, shaking off the reporter’s hostility. “We knew this was going to happen. The story will blow over soon enough. With a little luck, in a few hours the only thing people will be reporting is Mondo’s historic win.”

  “My God, did you survive the vultures?” Matt asked as we joined him and Lucas near the building.

  “She didn’t just survive, she thrived,” James told them with a wide grin. “But I think we’ve had enough press attention for the day. Why don’t we skip the red carpet and sneak in the side entrance?”

  I shook my head. “No, we’re walking that carpet and we’re having our pictures taken. And I don’t want you to take your hands off of me for one moment of it. They want us to hide in the shadows and act like we’re ashamed of ourselves. I won’t give them the satisfaction. We aren’t doing anything wrong. I’m proud of us and I’m going to let everyone see it. And I think the two of you should do the same,” I added, glancing from Matt to Lucas.

  “I’m game if you are,” Lucas told Matt, smiling at him with so much love my heart warmed another degree.

  “Let’s do it,” Matt agreed.

  I turned to James. “Are you okay with this?”

  “Am I okay with showing the world that you’re mine?” he asked, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “You bet your ass I am. Let’s go.”

  We sashayed down the carpet, stopping every few feet to pose for the cameras. James kept one hand on my hip and kissed me on the cheek as reporters fired off questions about our relationship. We ignored them and posed with Matt and Lucas, who were following arm in arm behind us.

  We finally stepped into the clubhouse and Matt burst into laughter. “That was so much fun. I don’t know what I was so worried about, no one gave Lucas and me a second glance.”

  Lucas smiled and pulled Matt close for a quick kiss. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you, babe. We’re not really ‘controversial’ anymore.”

  “It must be nice,” I groaned. “Did you hear all of those questions?”

  “Yeah,” Matt winced. “I caught the ‘I’ word a few times. But I love the way you ignored them. I can’t wait to see the pictures.”

  “Me either,” I agreed. “Speaking of which, let’s get something to drink and head down to the stables. I want to get some pictures of all of us with Mondo before the race.”

  James hesitated. “Are you sure that’s a good idea, Willow?” he asked. “Link Jackson didn’t look very happy when the reporters asked him about us. Maybe it would be best to avoid him until after the race.”

  I sighed. I had every right to go to the stables, but I knew James had a point. Link was upset and he had every right to be. I should have told him about our relationship instead of letting a reporter blindside him with the news. I couldn’t make him accept us and there was no sense in upsetting him any more before the race.

  “Okay, you’re right,” I finally agreed.

  “Why don’t we make our way to our box?” James suggested. “We can have our drinks delivered there.”

  With a nod, I took his arm again and let him lead me across the clubhouse.

  CHAPTER 3

  “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to the one hundred and forty seventh Test of Champions,” the announcer’s voice boomed over the sound system. My heart race as the horses took to the field. When Mondo stepped onto the track, the roar of the crowd was so loud I could barely hear my own thoughts.

  “He looks good,” James assured me, pulling me close. “He’s got this, Willow.”

  For some reason, I believed him. My heart slowed to normal and a strange calm came over me as I studied the other horses.

  If anyone has a chance of beating him, it’s probably Denver’s Pride. That’s still a win for me… not the win I want, but a win I’ll take.

  The announcer continued as the horses moved to their gates. “While the other horses are racing for the carnation blanket, crowd favorite Mondo is racing for a different trophy. After his win in Kentucky and Baltimore, he has the chance to become the twelfth Triple Crown winner in the history of racing. But will he have the endurance to win the longest race of the trio? That’s what we’re all here to see. But before we learn the answer, let’s all welcome Toni Fisher to the stage for New York, New York.”

  We listened impatiently while the Broadway star performed the traditional Belmont song. As soon as she finished and the applause subsided, the bells chimed and the gates went up. I held my breath as the horses flew down the track. The announcer provided a play by play.

  “And in the first quarter mile we have Jupiter’s Starlight with an early lead. Following the filly is New York’s very own Heir Apparent followed by Wanderlust. Mondo’s in fourth position with plenty of time to make up the distance. His half-brother Denver’s Pride is just a few lengths behind.”

  The jockey’s holding him back, like he did in Kentucky. That’s smart… save his strength until th
e other horses start to fade. But for the love of God, turn him loose in time.

  “And we have Mondo moving neck and neck with Wanderlust as they approach the second turn. Mondo’s taking the inside lane and yes, he’s moved into third position. Jupiter’s Starlight is maintaining a three length lead while Heir Apparent struggles to stay in second.”

  That’s it, take it nice and easy. You’ve still got a mile. The lead horses are getting tired and no one behind you can catch up.

  James gripped my hand as the horses rounded the fourth turn and Mondo moved into second. Wanderlust continued to fade and Denver’s Pride passed him to take fourth position. The race was only a quarter of a mile longer than the Kentucky Derby, but time seemed to be moving twice as slow. The horses rounded another turn. Mondo and Denver’s Pride both overtook Heir Apparent, moving into second and third. I kept my eyes fixed on the track and watched as the jockey loosened the reins and let Mondo run all out. He moved with a fierceness I’d never seen any animal exhibit and in a matter of seconds, he’d taken the lead.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, with a quarter mile left, Mondo has taken a three length lead… four lengths. Ladies and gentlemen, for the first time since nineteen seventy eight, we have a Triple Crown winner!”

  The crowds erupted as Mondo dashed over the finish line. I didn’t see the order the other horses followed in. I was too busy celebrating in James’s arms. I kissed him passionately, funneling all of my excitement and consuming joy into him. I pulled away as white confetti showered down upon us and a team of security guards stepped into the box to escort us to the winner’s circle.

  “Come on guys, we’re all going this time,” I insisted. Matt pulled me into his arms and kissed me on the forehead.

  “This is the beginning of a whole new world for us, Willow,” he told me with a broad grin.

  “I know,” I beamed back at him. “Let’s go get it started.”

  ***

  “Ms. Rogers, how does it feel to follow in your mother’s footsteps?”

  “Willow, word around the track is you’re using your winnings to build your own training barn. Care to comment on your plans?”