“Why are you here—alone?”
“Because I don’t trust women. Right now, I’m between entanglements.”
“Entanglements?” I cock my head. “You make it sound like a bad thing.”
“Isn’t it?”
“No, it’s not. The purest form of love is what happens between two people who love each other. Frankly, it’s sad you’re here alone.”
“How’s that?”
“Because you’re an attractive man. How is there not a woman attached to you?”
“Maybe you’re asking the wrong question.”
“You’re not making any sense.”
“Aren’t I?”
I nibble at my lower lip and look at my empty glass. Where the hell is our waiter with the refills Hawke ordered?
“Are you coming off a bad relationship?” My tone is flippant and even I’m annoyed by it.
“No, I’m not, but that’s only because I don’t allow it to ever get to that point.” He fixes me with that mesmerizing gaze. “Do you wonder if you missed any signs with what’s-his-name?”
“You mean Scott?”
“Yes, your hour-long fiancé.” He leans closer. “Is it possible you missed signs he was a douchebag?”
“Scott is most definitely a douchebag.” I can’t help but laugh. “Honestly, I’m trying not to think about him.”
“Well, then it appears you’re in luck.”
“How’s that?”
“Because I’m here, and there’s not a single woman on the planet who thinks of another man when they’re with me.”
What is it about Hawke? That comment sends heat licking up and down my body. Most interesting, and even more concerning, is the aching throb between my legs. It takes incredible willpower not to shift in my seat.
“But I’m not with you.” I do what I can to deflect.
“That remains to be seen. You have two weeks at Euphoria, Miss Hayes. It would be a shame spending all that time alone.”
“It’s actually only a week and a half. Maybe I’ve given you the wrong impression, but I just got out of a horrible relationship. I’m not looking to jump into another.”
“Who said anything about jumping into a relationship?”
“You did.”
“No, I suggested spending a little time together. You’re the one who turned it sexual.”
“I—no I didn’t.”
“You said relationship. That implies intimacy. Intimacy implies physical contact. Physical contact implies sex. Not that I’d be against a little physical contact.” His gaze sweeps my body leaving a blistering trail in its wake.
With one look, he leaves me aching and wanting exactly what’s promised in his eyes.
Smoldering?
That’s not even close.
It’s incendiary.
“That’s not what I meant and you know it.”
He crosses his arms with a satisfied smirk. I’m pretty sure he knows exactly what that look does to me.
“That’s a shame, but the offer stands. Euphoria is a great place to relax, but it’s best done with another person. Spend your time with me, Miss Quinn. Let me show you not all men are like Scott.”
I bite my lower lip and consider his offer. Every nerve in my body takes notice of the man sitting beside me. He’s hot in a nuclear explosive kind of way.
“Perfect.” He grins in victory. “We’ve got one hour before the boat sails.”
“I never said…”
“You didn’t have to, your body said it all. It’s decided. We’ll spend the day together. If you aren’t having a good time by the time the sun sets, I won’t bother you again. However, if you are, we’ll enjoy the rest of our time at Euphoria together.”
“That’s pretty damn ballsy.” My words are harsh, but do nothing to put him off. If anything, his smirk turns up in victory.
“There’s no point in wasting any more time.”
“And why not? Who’s to say spending time alone isn’t exactly what I want?”
“If you wanted to be alone, you wouldn’t have come here for breakfast. You would’ve had it delivered to your villa. Since you did come here, it’s because you crave the company of others, even if they’re strangers.”
“You seem pretty pleased with yourself.”
“I am, but only because I get to spend the day with an incredibly beautiful woman, a woman who ran away from me last night when I mentioned a kiss.”
Our waiter arrives with a seafood tower overflowing with lobster, crab, shrimp, and all my favorite things. My attention shifts from Hawke to the food. I can’t help it.
He waits for me to take what I want, watching every move I make with his sharp eyes. I fill my plate with shrimp and crab legs, leaving the raw oysters alone. The corner of his mouth tics up.
“Not a fan of oysters?”
My nose crinkles. “Most definitely not. They’re slimy and salty. I don’t know how anybody eats raw oysters.”
He reaches for one, lifts it to his lips, and with his eyes on me, slurps and sucks it down whole. All my attention fixes on his face, his lips, and his fingers. Hell, I even listen to him groan as he swallows the oyster down. The bobbing of his Adam’s apple will forever be imprinted on my soul. Never in my life did I think there was anything remotely erotic about the slimy food. Now, I can’t stop thinking about it.
Or him.
“Raw oysters are good for you.” He pins me down with his golden gaze. “Not only are they rich in zinc, a mineral essential for boosting testosterone production, but they increase dopamine, which is known to increase libido.” He reaches for another raw oyster. “You sure you don’t want to try one?”
“I’m pretty sure about that.” I give a shake of my head.
“Ah, then they are all mine.” He licks his fingers. “Now, about our plans for the day.”
Fifteen
Hawke
A tough nut to crack, I’m right about one thing. Quinn Hayes would rather be lonely in the company of others than alone by herself. Who is this captivating woman? Her gaze doesn’t waver from my mouth as I enjoy the oysters.
The tiny flick of her lids. The press of her lips. The way her tongue darts out. The woman is interested, but hesitant. She’s insanely hot and completely oblivious to her effect on me. It’s indecent how much I want her.
What I don’t get is why she’s not jumping all over my blatant proposition? If she’s here to work me over for personal gain, why isn’t she taking the opportunity to jump on board and spend time with me? I’ve given her ample opportunity to take advantage.
I get her hesitation. Coming off a betrayal is never easy, but I’m not against being used as a revenge fuck. It’s perfect actually.
No feelings.
Just sex.
The perfect setup.
I can work her out of my system and move on.
Instead, she’s making me break all my rules. I’m not happy with that. I should walk away, but my fascination grows with every minute I spend in her company.
By this time, we should be twisting the sheets and fucking each other’s brains out. Instead, I’m trying to get her to agree to spend the day with me over bloody marys and mimosas.
Scratch that.
She may not have said yes, but her body broadcasts all the right signals. Once I get her to step outside of her head and let her body lead the way, we’ll be good to go.
And what a damn fine body she has. Her crocheted top reveals more than it hides. My mouth salivates, not because of the oysters, but because I can’t stop thinking about peeling her out of that string bikini. Her ample breasts beg to be fondled and her nipples demand worshipping with my hands, mouth, and cock. Yes, I said that. I want to fuck her tits.
My goal for today is to get her out of that top. Those shorts need to come off too. Afterwards, I’ll work on getting her out of the rest of it during our cruise.
“I hope you enjoy snorkeling.” I take a sip of my water and peer at her over the rim of the glass.<
br />
She glances at me with a shrimp half in her mouth. When she sucks it in, I hold back a groan.
So fucking sexy.
I want those lips on me. Hell, I want her on her knees with those emerald eyes staring up at me while I fuck her pert little mouth. She stirs dark desires within me, things I normally keep locked down tight.
I wait for her to chew and swallow while amusing myself with fantasies of fucking her face. My hand wraps in her hair, controlling her as I ram between her lips and bump the back of her throat. The heat of her mouth surrounds my cock. The roughness of her tongue licks along my shaft until my entire body explodes.
Images of her on her knees feeds lusty thoughts, spreading her out before me, naked, where I can taste her sweet essence as I eat her pussy. I can’t wait for her to scream my name.
Yeah, we’re going to have so much fun.
“I love snorkeling.” She presses her napkin to her lips, ending my fantasy.
“Good. I signed out a boat for the day and I know the best places on the island.” Secluded, private places the staff is not allowed to go.
“How often do you come here?” Her interest excites me. I want to be in the forefront of her thoughts.
“As much as I can.”
“And are you always alone?” Her left eyebrow arches. She’s not afraid to ask questions. “Or is this unusual for you?”
“This is a first for me. It’s a working vacation.” I’m here to escape spending the holidays with my mother, but I don’t tell Quinn that. My words aren’t a total lie. Fifty proposals sit on my desk. One of them belongs to the vixen sitting across from me.
“I find it hard to believe a man like you isn’t attached.”
“Attached?”
“You know, married, engaged. Off the market?”
“I prefer keeping my options open.”
“Meaning, you play the field.” I don’t like the dismissive tone in her voice. I absolutely play the field. The way she says it makes me sound cheap.
“I wouldn’t call it that.”
Her head tilts to the side. I’m picking up on her body language. That tells me she thinks I’m full of shit.
“What would you call it?”
“I enjoy women without the entanglements that come from commitment.”
“Right…” Her head gives a little jerk, as if my words confirm what she’s thinking. “You play the field.”
“I find mutually compatible partners who enjoy the time they spend with me.”
Her lips press together, as if she’s holding back what she wants to say. That makes me want to know what she’s thinking even more. I lean forward and cup my chin in my palm.
“You disapprove?” I ask.
“I never said that. How you choose to live your life is none of my business.”
“Are you rethinking spending the day with me? Afraid I might take that kiss you denied me last night?” My attention shifts to her mouth and the way her breathing accelerates. She draws her lower lip in, nibbling it with her teeth.
So fucking sexy.
“I didn’t say that.” She leans back and takes a sip of her drink. “You’re right. I don’t want to spend all my time alone. A boat ride and snorkeling sounds as good as anything.” She makes spending time with me sound like a consolation prize.
Yet again, I tell myself to walk away. Instead, my gaze meanders down her body. The woman rocks her curves and appears completely oblivious to the stares every man in the room gives her as they enjoy their meal.
“There’re lots of activities we can do if you prefer something else.” I have an extensive list, all of which put us in close physical proximity.
This woman will be mine.
I don’t beg. I don’t cajole. I never waste a moment of my time convincing someone to spend time with me. So why am I doing just that with Miss Quinn Hayes?
Quinn is right about one thing. I lavish women with pleasure and deliver on the indulgences I promise. I touch, worship, and use them as I decide.
Never the other way around.
When I tire, we part ways. No messy feelings get hurt because they all know the rules.
Time with me comes with an expiration date.
They serve my pleasure. In return, I spoil them with gifts. It’s a win-win for all involved.
Clean and simple.
A warm breeze flows through the open windows bringing the fragrant aroma of tropical blooms to our table. Parrots squawk. Tree frogs ribbit. Local squirrels fight over the offerings of nuts and fruit put out by the staff. None of that is accidental. Everything at Euphoria is designed with esthetics and romance in mind. Quinn may not realize it, but the resort is my greatest weapon.
She nibbles gingerly at her food, picking at a crab leg and pulling the succulent meat delicately out of the spiky shell. Entranced by everything she promises, my mouth waters with anticipation as she lifts the tender meat to her mouth.
I wait, assessing my options, and wonder what it will take to get her to take the next, obvious, step. Of course, I’ve done my research, delving into her private life without regard for the laws I break.
No physical or mental illness. Health clean. Four older brothers; much older. All working blue-collar jobs in construction. Father and mother alive. Nothing to indicate marital stress.
She’s the first in her family to attend college, graduating from Caltech, of all places, with a degree in computer science. She wrote her first computer game in seventh grade. Authored several apps. One sold for pennies when an astute investor realized its worth.
Her current project is groundbreaking, but the business execution is fatally flawed. It would likely have made it to the top five if not for that.
“Snorkeling sounds perfect.” Her comment pulls me from my thoughts and I blink, trying to remember what we were talking about. “This place is remarkable. I’ve never seen water that color of blue. It’s majestic. I can’t wait to get in it. Snorkeling is one of my favorite things. Do you know if they do any scuba diving?”
The wind kicks up, rustling the palm fronds. It blows through the open windows where it picks up the strands of her hair. She absently reaches up and tucks her hair behind her ear.
“You dive?” This did not show up on my background check.
“I took it for P.E. in college.” Her lips twist in the most delicious way. “It was either that or run around on a track.”
“Would you prefer to do that?” I prefer snorkeling. It’s a surefire way to spend the day admiring her in her bikini, but I’ll take anything if it means she’s willing to spend the day with me.
“I’d love to, but maybe not today. I want to enjoy the water, snorkel a bit, sunbathe, and go on a cruise.”
“Snorkeling it is.” I glance at my watch. Not that it matters. The boat’s ours for the day with me, the captain, and her, my unwitting captive.
I fold my napkin and place it over my plate. She pushes back and glances out the window, staring at the crystal-blue sky overhead.
“It really is beautiful here.” She sighs and pulls at her hair, gathering it at her nape. My fingers itch to run through her long locks, dig my fingers into her silky waves, and capture her mouth while I claim her as my own.
“Yes, it is.” Only I’m not talking about Euphoria.
She catches me staring and a blush colors her cheeks a beautiful shade of pink.
“I wasn’t keeping track of time, but do we need to get going? I don’t want to keep everyone waiting.” She releases her hair. It spills over her shoulders and bounces down to the small of her back.
It’s cute she thinks there will be others. We’re not going on an excursion with a bunch of guests.
“We can leave any time. Are you ready?”
She glances around. “Do I have time to grab sunscreen and my stuff?”
“We have all the time in the world.” I have no problem walking her to her villa, and if we never make it to the boat, that’s even better.
She glances at
me. “Do you need to get your things?”
“No, I have everything I need.” I pull out my sunglasses to shield my eyes from the bright sun. “Towels, sunscreen, and lunch are provided. Along with all the gear we need.”
“Oh, good. Do I need to tell someone my size for the fins?”
I glance at her feet. “I can message ahead.”
Glad she thought of that, I get her shoe size and forward it to the concierge desk. They’ll make sure we have everything we need, including the champagne and wine I requested be on board.
Quinn glances at me. She does that thing with her lower lip again. “Look, I just want to be clear about something.”
“Really?”
“I appreciate you keeping me company, but like I explained last night, I’m not looking for anything—more right now.”
“That’s a shame.”
Her brows pinch together.
“A shame?”
“Never say never, Quinn Hayes. You’ve got ten days with nothing to do, no obligations, and no cheating ex to ruin your day. Why not have a little fun and move on?”
“I’m afraid a little fun with you might be a big mistake.”
“Like I said, that’s a shame. But to ease your mind, how about we make a pact?”
“What kind of pact?”
“I won’t initiate, but I will follow through.”
“What does that mean?”
“Only that I want you to enjoy yourself. You were dealt a pretty shitty hand with that douchebag. Relax, I won’t kiss you…”
“Thank you.” She gives a sharp jerk of her head, as if we’ve settled anything.
“I wasn’t finished.”
“You’re not?”
“Hardly. I won’t kiss you, but if you kiss me, I’ll finish what you start. You fascinate me. Not to mention, the air crackles when you’re close. Consider it a warning.”
“How’s that?”
“A simple kiss will never be enough.”
“Then, I need to make sure I never kiss you.”
“I suppose, but there’s something you need to know.”
“What’s that?”
“I always get what I want.”
Sixteen
Hawke: Christmas in Paradise (Billionaire Boys Club) Page 11