Caught Up In You (Indigo Royal Resort Book 2)

by Claire Hastings

  “This doesn’t involve you, Leona.”

  “Oh, like hell it doesn’t!”

  “You have something you want to say to me? Then say it. But I think we both know her well enough to know she’s not going anywhere,” Cullen interjected.

  “Don’t act like you know her. I see right through you and your normal guy act.”

  “It’s not an act, Carlos, this is who I am.”

  “Exactly—an arrogant, rich, footballing manwhore.”

  Cullen managed to keep a straight face as Carlos hurled the insult at him, but he couldn't admit those words didn’t hurt, especially knowing that Leona was standing right there to hear them.

  “I realize that is the way I am portrayed in the media, and it’s certainly a role I have played into, but it’s not the real me.”

  “Bullshit. I’ve watched you all these years, a different woman each time, only to be out with someone else the second you return home,” Carlos retorted. “I get it, you’re rich and famous and hot chicks throw themselves at you. Can’t say I blame you. But this is different. Leona is different.”

  “She is.”

  “Glad we can agree on that. Yet here you are, treating her like any other whore you’d pick up,” he said, waving his arms in frustration.

  “Excuse you!” Leona exclaimed. Cullen touched her arm softly, trying to calm her down. She took a step forward to lay into Carlos, but Cullen cut her off.

  “I seem to be missing something here. What makes you think that’s what I’m doing?”

  “I saw you with the women at the pool this morning, and then again tonight, flirting with them. Telling them you’ll meet up with them later.”

  “I never said that,” Cullen defended.

  “Well, they sure seem to be under a different impression!”

  “Did it ever occur to you that they’re lying?”

  “Seemed pretty in line with your character,” Carlos said, not even trying to hide the venom in his tone. He shifted slightly in his spot in the sand but didn’t relax his posture at all. He still looked like he could strike out again at any point.

  “Well, it’s not. And they are lying,” he answered, looking to Leona as he did, trying to reassure the both of them. Thankfully, she didn’t even seem to be questioning it. But the look on her face didn’t seem to relax any either. He had no idea what was going on in her head at the moment, but he knew it was a war of some kind.

  “What about the chick you were on the phone with on the walk over here? Telling her you love her, miss her, and will see her in a few days? Huh? Explain that one!” He was starting to sound desperate.

  “Not that it’s any of your business, but that was my mum. Whom I do miss and love very much.”

  Carlos just stood there, silently, not knowing how to react. It was clear that he’d run out of argument, that he’d been counting on his accusations being right or on Leona buying in and reacting. Since neither seemed to have come to fruition, he now just stood there like he’d been called on in class and didn’t know the answer.

  “Lee, can we have a few minutes?” Cullen asked, turning toward her.

  “No! I’m not leaving,” she said. “This is ridiculous and—”

  “Please, give us a just a moment, man to man,” he said, cutting her off.

  She opened her mouth to object, but he gave her a pleading look and she cut herself off. Grabbing his hand, she gave it a little squeeze. She turned to walk toward the rest of her friends, stopping briefly to look at Carlos, trying to read him. A small smile was all she gave him before walking away.

  “What’s this really about, Carlos?” Cullen asked when she was finally out of earshot.

  “I told you. It's about you treating Lee like any other woman you can just discard.”

  “I think we both know that’s not how I’m treating her at all. And even if I was, she’s a strong enough woman to make decisions on her own.”

  The two men stood there, silent, for a stretch of time that seemed to drag on. The ball was in Carlos’s court and Cullen would be damned if he said anything else until the other man actually said something worth responding to.

  “You don’t love her,” he finally said, breaking the silence.

  “But you do.” It wasn’t a question. Cullen could see it written across his face. For all the assurances that Leona had given him that she and Carlos weren’t more than friends who “used each other to scratch an itch,” he could see now that it had been so much more to Carlos.

  “That’s not the point,” he snapped, trying to take the focus off him.

  “Oh, but I’m thinking it is. You love her, but you think she’s choosing me.”

  “You’re just using her to get laid!”

  “Kind of like you’ve been doing for the last how many years?” Cullen shot back.

  “I have not! I have been there for her, taken care of her, made sure she has whatever she needs.” He inhaled deeply, before letting it out in a long, slow breath.

  “Does she know how you feel?”

  “No. She was very clear when we started this—she didn’t want a relationship. She wanted to keep feelings out of it, so I did. Because I’d give her pretty much anything she ever wanted.”

  “And you just hoped she would change her mind.”

  “I hoped she would see everything we could have together. That if I was patient enough, she would change her mind. And I guess I was right, I just wasn’t the one who she changed her mind for,” he shrugged. “She may not want me, but I will not stand by and just let you treat her like she means nothing.”

  “She doesn’t mean nothing, Carlos. She means a whole hell of a lot,” Cullen admitted.

  “Oh…”

  “Indeed.”

  “You gonna tell her?”

  “That you love her?” Cullen asked. “No, mate. That’s not my place. I figure if you wanted her to know, you would have told her by now.”

  Carlos simply nodded in response. “I just want her to be happy.”

  “So do I, mate. Just know, I care for her, deeply. My intention here is not to hurt anyone. What is between us, stays with her and me. But she is not a holiday hookup.”

  Leona stood on the outside of the large group that was now attempting the “Cupid Shuffle,” led by none other than Dalton. She had tried to join in at one point but wasn’t willing to take her eyes off the two men, still down near the water, long enough to turn as the dance required. They were too far away to be heard over the blaring music and were standing too close to each other for her to try and do any kind of lip reading.

  When Carlos finally turned and headed back her way, she tried to make it seem like she hadn’t been watching. His long strides meant that he reached her faster than she could react, which left her wondering for a split second why she had even tried.

  “What’s going on, Carlos?” she asked when he was in front of her.

  He took both of her hands in his and leaned down, lightly kissing her forehead.

  “You deserve the moon and stars, Lee. I just wish I could be the one to give them to you,” he said quietly, only barely loud enough for her to hear over the music. “Just know that, no matter what, you’ll never walk alone and that I wish you love.”

  He kissed her on the forehead again, this time lingering a moment, before turning and walking off toward the staff dorms.

  “Did you just misquote Journey?” she asked as he walked off. She looked all around her, confused, trying to figure out what just happened. Everyone around her seemed oblivious to the interaction, leaving her feeling even more confused and out of place.

  A few moments later Cullen appeared in front of her, a solemn look on his face, rubbing his jaw where he had taken the hit.

  “What’s going on, Cullen?” she asked him.

  “Just a difference of opinion, Menina,” he said, pulling her close.

  “One that required fists?”

  “It’s a guy thing,” he shrugged.

  A hundred questions
were on the tip of her tongue. “Tell me.”

  “It’s between me and him, Menina. If he wants you to know, he’ll tell you. But it’s not my place.”

  She didn’t love that answer, but she could appreciate it. If the two of them had worked out whatever it was that went down between them, then she could respect their agreement. Reaching up, she cupped his jaw in her hand, slowly stroking the spot that by now must be incredibly sore.

  “Let’s go get you some ice.”

  “We had to come to the spa for ice?” he asked as she led him down the long, dimly lit hallway to the unoccupied waiting area. “I would assume the bar had plenty.”

  “Shhh,” she whispered, as if there was someone in here who could hear them.

  The spa hadn’t even opened yet, and even if it had, it would be closed to customers at this hour, especially since everyone was at the bonfire. She was pretty sure that no one had seen them slip away, but just in case someone had, she didn’t want to have to answer any questions about what they were doing in here.

  Leading him down another small hallway behind a door with blurred glass, she held her finger up to her lips, reminding him to be quiet. The sneaky smile that spread across her lips tempted a giggle from her, but she managed to hold it together as she flipped on the lights to treatment room three. She patted the massage table, telling him to get onto it. Doing as he was told, he hopped onto the table and watched as she walked around to the other side and started to rummage through the cabinet. Just as she found what she was looking for, she felt his large hand cup her ass and squeeze playfully. She looked over her shoulder as she swatted him away.

  “Hands to yourself, Mr. Cruz,” she cooed. “And let Dr. Leona take care of you.”

  He let out a growl and she could see his eyes turn black with lust as she rounded the table again, coming to stand in between his big legs.

  “I’ll play doctor with you any day, Menina,” he growled.

  She gave him a naughty grin and winked, glad to have him back to his playful self.

  “Here,” she said, turning his face to look at his jaw. “Let me see your face. How’s it feel?”

  “Certainly not the worst hit to the face I’ve taken at the Indigo Royal,” he commented. She glared at him in response. “Difference is, this one I’m not sure I deserved.”

  “And the other?”

  “I most definitely deserved.”

  She couldn’t help the joyous smile that spread across her face. It felt so good to hear him say those words. He’d already apologized for what he did all those years ago, but it still made her heart skip to know that he really meant it.

  “Ready for this?” She held up one of the cold stones she pulled from the cooler in the cabinet. He nodded and she placed it lightly against his skin.

  “Fuck!” he exclaimed, flinching as the coldness made contact with his jaw. “What in the hell?”

  “It’s a cold stone. They use it for therapy. That’s why we’re in the spa.”

  “Enough of that,” he said, taking the stone from her hand and placing it on the table.

  “What did you think I was going to do? Kiss it and make it better?” she teased.

  “Actually…”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  “I think I rather like that idea,” he said in a deep voice, the look of lust returning to his eyes.

  Before she had time to think of a comeback, he grabbed her by the nape of the neck and pulled her into him as much as he could with him sitting on the table. He brought his lips to hers and kissed her softly, tenderly. He was in no rush here, regardless of the slight chance of getting caught, and she drank in every moment. She stepped back a bit as he slid off the table, still holding on to the back of her neck and never breaking their kiss. His other arm wrapped around her and pulled her flush with his body as his tongue slowly massaged hers.

  Her heartbeat thrummed through her entire body. There was something about his touch that was different tonight. As if every movement he made meant something and conveyed a deeper meaning. His kisses were always intoxicating but even more so tonight, and she let herself get drunk off them, turning off the outside world. It was just the two of them in here and nothing else mattered.

  Reaching in between them, she easily found his erection and slowly palmed it through his shorts. He groaned, letting his own hands start to wander along her body and up her shirt. She wanted to feel his hands on her breasts, so she reached up and untied her halter-top, letting it fall down to her waist. He let out another groan when he realized what she’d done and rewarded her by immediately finding her nipples with his thumbs. The rough pads of his thumbs brushed across the already sensitive peaks, sending a ripple of pleasure rushing through her. He knew exactly what to do to make her melt, and every move he made hit all the right spots.

  “As cute as this outfit is, baby, I need you out of it…now,” he whispered. It didn’t take long for him to unbutton her skirt and shimmy it and her top down her hips. When he realized she hadn’t put on panties, he let out a low rumble from deep in his throat. “Lee…”

  She smiled wickedly at him. It was the exact reaction she’d been hoping to get when she got dressed tonight and opted to skip out on any kind of undergarment.

  “I was hoping you’d like that,” she whispered.

  He spun them around, leaning her up against the massage table as he dropped to his knees in front of her. He kissed her right hip, then her left, and then right in the center of her mound, just above the bundle of nerves that was throbbing with need.

  “I more than like it.”

  Without any more hesitation, he leaned forward and swiped his tongue across her clit, sending a bolt of lightning through her. Leona let out a gasp and gripped the table as he continued to devour her. He licked and sucked, paying attention to areas she didn’t even realize were pleasure points. Each time he found her clit, her knees went weak and she would cry out again, which only seemed to encourage him more. She felt so alive and like she could ignite at any moment, and yet, he never relented. Suddenly, he zeroed in on that sweet spot and sucked as hard as he could. Immediately she saw stars and lost her balance, feeling him hold her up as he continued to suck. Her climax rocked her to the point that when it finally subsided, she wasn’t sure she was going to be able to stand.

  Holding her tight in his arms, he stood and kissed her hard. She could taste herself on his tongue, and it sent a whole new rush of excitement through her.

  “I need inside you, now. I need to be one with you,” he whispered in between kisses.

  She nodded, knowing exactly how he felt. This was more than just fucking, this was the two of them expressing something bigger, just without words. She wasn’t ready for words—not just to say them, but she wasn't sure she was ready to hear them either. However, she was more than willing to express everything she felt this way. To put it all on the table for him to see and experience.

  Turning to face the table, she started to bend over when she felt his hand on her arm. He turned her around to face him again and looked her deep in the eyes.

  “No, Amorzinho, I want to see your face, your eyes,” he said. “I want to be looking at you when you fall apart.”

  She kissed him harder in that moment than she thought she’d ever kissed anyone. His words lit a fire in her she didn’t even know existed and made her melt all at the same time. How was it that he knew exactly what to say to make her feel so…so…loved?

  “Amorzinho?” she asked.

  “Sweetheart,” he answered simply, kissing her again. “Lee, you own—”

  She cut him off with another kiss. “I know, I know,” she nodded.

  As she said the words, he picked her up and set her down on the table, stepping in between her legs, just the opposite of how they had been when they first entered the room. Only now, he was the perfect height to give her exactly what she craved. Ridding himself of the clothing he was somehow still wearing, he took a moment to drink her in. In any other situation s
he would feel as if she were on display, but with him, here, now, she felt as if she were being worshipped.

  He gripped his long, hard dick and stroked it for her as she sat there waiting for him. She could feel herself growing warm with anticipation, and her face blushed slightly as this big, gorgeous man stood in front of her playing with himself. She crooked a finger and made a come-hither motion, beckoning him closer. Following her call, he strode forward, his erection still in hand. Slowly, he slid into her, filling her.

  Leona threw her head back as her body stretched to accommodate him. When he was fully inside her, she let out a moan, letting him know just how amazing he felt. It was as if that was where he belonged. Kissing down her neck, he started to move in and out of her. She grabbed at his head and shoulders, trying to hold on to him as he sent shockwaves through her. She felt every single movement he made, and nothing had ever been quite like this before. She never wanted it to end. If this is what sex with emotions felt like, then she wasn’t sure she was ever going to be able to go back to any kind of relationship that was just physical.

  Making his way back up to her mouth, they continued to kiss as his dick stroked her insides, over and over with each thrust. Just as his kisses had been earlier, each thrust was deliberate, passionate, full of meaning. They were letting their bodies do the talking and damn, did they have a lot to say.

  When she felt her climax start to build, she threw her head back and moaned his name.

  “Cullen, you’re gonna make me…”

  “Together, Amorzinho…together,” he answered, picking up the pace, pumping furiously.

  Reaching the point of no return, she let her orgasm wash over her. She closed her eyes, but then remembered what he had said to her—I want to be looking at you when you fall apart—and she threw them back open to find him staring right back at her. His gaze was hot and intense, full of so much emotion that it sent another wave of pleasure through her, pushing her over the edge all over again.