She brought her chin up. “Don’t I have a say in this?” she asked, but her soft sweet tone belied the sincerity of her question.
He caressed her arm, sliding his hand up to her shoulder. “Of course. You can agree,” he said. “Or I can spend the rest of the night convincing you.”
There was no doubt in his mind he’d make love to her again tonight.
Vanessa blinked and then roped her arms around him. “I’m not easily convinced.”
Brock smiled and kissed her lips gently. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
Brock was an insatiable lover. After an hour of soft whispers and tempting foreplay, he made love to her again. With patience this time, he explored her body and made her aware of her femininity as no man had ever before. Vanessa relished the night hours she spent in his arms. She relished the way he kissed her and touched her, making sure she was completely satisfied before taking his pleasure. She drifted in and out of sleep, waking every few hours to find herself beside him, cradled in his strong arms.
In the morning, sunlight reflected onto the blue marina waters and beamed brightly into the bedroom, waking her. She savored the warmth a second and squinted her eyes open. She found Brock watching her, his body turned her way, his head propped on his hand.
“Morning,” he said with a quick smile.
“Hi.” She felt suddenly shy, remembering the night they’d shared together. She’d been almost as insatiable as Brock. Images of erotic positions and lusty words spoken stirred in her mind. “Am I really here with you?”
Brock caressed her arm, then lowered his hand to fondle her breast. “You’re here, baby. Making all my fantasies come true.”
“All?” His touch sent her mind spinning again.
He leaned forward and kissed her gently. “Maybe not all. I have a few left in store for you.”
“Such as?”
When had she gotten so brazen? Maybe it all started when she’d found Melody crying hysterically about the man who’d broken her heart. Maybe that’s when Vanessa had become this bold, gutsy woman who’d flown halfway across the world to get revenge.
Brock yanked their sheets off. He clasped her hand and lifted her from the bed. “Want to find out?”
She did. She really wasn’t ready for this to end. She’d admonish herself later for sleeping with the enemy. And wouldn’t think of the complications last night would impose on her plans. Right now she’d entertain her own fantasies and deal with the consequences later. Right now she’d be selfish and take what she wanted from this man.
“Yes. Show me.”
Without hesitation, Brock led her to the small enclave in the room that housed the yacht’s shower. He turned the water on. “Ready to get wet and wild?”
She roped her arms around him and pressed every inch of her body to his. “Maybe I already am.”
He growled, low and deep in his throat and stepped in, pulling her with him. The brass faucet spit out bursts of hot spray that hit their bodies with prickling force. Stimulating rain aroused as much as it refreshed.
Brock picked up a bar of soap and rubbed it between his palms, creating a handful of rich bubbly lather. He coated her shoulders with the lather and worked his magic, rubbing her skin and smoothing his hands over her with strong capable strokes. Next, his hands rounded over her breasts, circling and cupping them, his fingertips dragging across her nipples, teasing, tempting.
“Brock,” she pleaded. She was already consumed with enough heat to explode.
She thought she’d hate herself in the morning for the sexual indulgence she allowed herself last night. But it was morning now and she didn’t hate herself at all. No, she only wanted more from Brock.
Was something wrong with her?
Had she been so sexually deprived these last few years that she’d had to resort to making love with the one man on earth she shouldn’t? Or, was Brock so damned good in bed that he made her lose her head last night?
And quite possibly her heart.
Don’t fall for him, Vanessa.
The thought was obliterated when he crushed his lips to hers. His potent kiss fueled a fire in her belly and brought her back into the moment. He continued to lather her body, turning her around, running his fingers along her spine and then palming her cheeks.
She felt his powerful erection nudge her and she whipped around, smiling. “Not yet.”
He looked at her quizzically when she took up the bar of soap and built up lather. Next, she lathered him up, running her hands down his chest and below his navel. She heard his soft intake of breath, which gave her the courage to go on. Splaying her fingers wide, she cupped his shaft and stroked over him sliding her hand around his male organ.
He grinned. “I like the way you think.”
But his smile was short-lived when her stroking became more intense. He closed his eyes and leaned back against the shower stall, enjoying the pleasure she created. It did her heart good to hear his stirring groans of enjoyment.
When she stopped, he snapped his eyes open.
“Can you guess what I’m thinking now?” she asked.
He drew in oxygen. “I can only hope, baby.”
She maneuvered herself onto her knees and sat back across her legs. Next, she cupped his manhood and drew him deep into her mouth.
He held his breath, and when she moved on him he cursed explicitly, giving up all control and power. She accepted the role as aggressor and enjoyed every second of making love to him this way. When she brought him to the height of pleasure, he halted her and lifted her up. “Can’t take another second,” he admitted, his expression one of fierce restraint.
He kissed her with open-mouthed frenzy and things got wild after that. Brock parted her legs and palmed her womanhood until she thought she’d go mad. Her body hummed, her skin prickled, steamy water showered her and she thought she’d burn up inside.
He brought his mouth to her parted thighs and stroked her with his tongue until she nearly cried out her climax, but she held back. “Now, Brock. Now.”
He rose quickly, wrapped her legs around his waist and entered her, both were fiery hot and ready to climb to the ultimate peak together. His thrusts were sure and hard and fast. The pleasure erotic, Vanessa had never in her life been loved so thoroughly.
They climaxed together, making pleas and grunts in unison until both exploded with earth-shattering potency.
Brock shut the shower off. He wrapped his arms around her and held her there for long minutes, kissing her hair, murmuring soft exquisite words, tucking her into the safety of his body. They stood that way until a chill overtook their sated wet bodies.
Then Brock wrapped her in a big lush towel and carried her to the bed. He set her down and laid down next to her, cradling her tight. “Sleep now, baby. We both need it.”
She drifted off in his arms, praying to God she hadn’t just made the biggest mistake of her life.
“Melly, calm down, honey. Please stop crying.” As she sat on her sofa, kicking her sandals off, Vanessa’s stomach tightened with a sick ache as she listened to Melody’s sad disheartened sobs. Vanessa had hoped that her sister had moved on somewhat from her heartache. But Melody had always been impetuous and spirited. Her emotions ran high. When she was up, no one on earth was happier, but when she was down, unfortunately, she felt keen despair.
“Okay, Vanny,” she said, stifling her sobs. “I’ll…try to stop. Sorry, I didn’t mean to break down like that. It’s good to hear your voice.” She sounded more composed now, to Vanessa’s relief. “It’s just been a hard week for me.”
“Still thinking of…him?”
“Oh, yes,” Melody rushed out. “Always.”
Vanessa snapped her eyes shut. Dear Lord. She felt like Benedict Arnold. Why had she allowed Brock Tyler to charm and seduce her last night? “Would it do any good to say that he’s not worth it?”
“Oh, Vanny. He is. He is so worth it. You just don’t know.”
She did know. That was the prob
lem. She’d just spent an entire night with him. And for a few hours, Vanessa had been caught up in a whirlwind of desire. Her mind had clouded, fogged up completely by a handsome face, a commanding male body and just the right words spoken. She’d forgotten who BrockTyler really was and had been foolish enough to believe she’d been wrong about him. Secretly, she’d wanted out of her self-imposed mission to cause him pain and ruin his reputation.
Vanessa knocked herself upside the head mentally and pounded some sense into her brain. She told herself the last twenty-four hours were a bad dream.
The reality hit her hard.
She’d slept with the man responsible for causing her baby sister’s terrible grief and heartache.
“Vanessa, you’re a dope,” she whispered.
“What?” Melody asked on a shaky breath.
“Nothing, honey. I’m sorry. I wish I could give you a big hug.”
“Me, too. I could use it.”
“Really? I mean, I can quit my job and come home, Melly. I would. I’d do that.”
“Don’t be silly, Van,” she said on a sniffle. “You can’t quit your job.”
Oh, but Vanessa wanted to. She wanted out of this place, away from Brock Tyler, who’d done nothing but confuse and confound her. She was certain he was a master at seduction. A true devil in disguise.
“I’ll be fine…really,” Melody said on a shaky breath.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes, I’ve just had a hard, stressful week. Tanya is taking me to see a movie tonight. It’ll get my mind off…things.”
Vanessa sucked oxygen into her lungs, grateful her sister had her best friend there to hold her hand and keep her company. If Vanessa couldn’t be there, then Tanya was surely a great replacement. “That’s good, honey. And work is going okay?”
“Work? Sure. The shop’s picking up and I’m doing decent business.”
Melody ran the gift shop in the hotel that was independently owned from Tempest New Orleans. She’d started her own business and had an eye for unique items that couldn’t be found in local Louisiana venues. Melly was good with people, friendly, outgoing and genuine. Those traits probably caught Brock’s eye and he’d taken advantage of her without so much as a drop of remorse.
“Well, I’m glad I reached you. You’ve been hard to track down,” Vanessa said. “I guess I worry too much about my baby sister.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve been, uh, like I said, it’s been a stressful week.”
“Just try not to think about Brock anymore, Melly.”
“Brock?” Melody paused and Vanessa cursed silently. She shouldn’t have brought up his name. “Oh…um, I’ll try not to.”
“Okay. That’s a start. Give Mom a kiss for me. You are visiting her, aren’t you?”
“I haven’t missed a Sunday.”
Sweeping sadness washed over her. Ten years ago, their mother had been a victim of a hit and run accident. She’d never really recovered from the physical trauma and the doctors believed it had caused her early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Luckily, their mom still knew them, but she couldn’t function as a parent. While Vanessa’s father had died recently, Melody’s father had walked out after the accident, unable to deal with the drastic changes in their lives. Vanessa had taken over the role as parent and had mothered Melody ever since.
She couldn’t help the fierce protectiveness she felt for her sister. Melody had always needed nurturing. She’d always needed to feel loved. Brock’s sudden and coldhearted dismissal of her had broken her heart in the same way her father’s abandonment had.
How could she have forgotten that? How had she allowed her attraction to him sway her resolve?
Vanessa said goodbye to Melody then clicked off the phone, admonishing herself for being vulnerable. She’d allowed herself one blissful night with a dangerously tempting man and now self-loathing and guilt consumed her. She’d made a slip, a false move by sleeping with Brock, but now she was back on track.
She wouldn’t falter again.
Nothing would deter her.
Vanessa dressed for work quickly, her mind spinning, her thoughts keyed in on the best way to accomplish her goal.
She left her condo with a plan in mind to sabotage the next big hotel event and it was nothing short of genius.
Brock slammed down his office phone and stared at it for a long drawn-out minute, as if the damn thing would rectify the words he’d just heard come across the wire from Code Landon.
Her sister runs the gift shop at Tempest New Orleans. You dated her a while back. Melody Applegate. The two are very close.
Brock couldn’t believe it. Though he’d suspected something was up, he hadn’t wanted to believe it. He hadn’t wanted to believe the most exciting woman he’d met since he’d stolen a kiss from luscious Serena Barton in high school, wasn’t whom he thought she was.
No, he’d thought Vanessa Dupree was one of a kind.
Hell, he sure got that right.
“Damn you, Vanessa.”
Brock pushed away from his desk and rose from his chair. He paced the floor glaring at the phone, going over and over every memory he had of Melody Applegate. Sure, they’d dated. For about a month. She was a sweet kid. Too sweet and young for him, he’d determined.
There hadn’t been any sparks at all. He’d let her down gently once he realized that they hadn’t a thing in common.
And then he remembered one other important thing about Melody Applegate.
His mind turned to Vanessa. She’d known all along. She had to. She wouldn’t speak of her sister, only letting it slip once that she even had a sibling.
Brock turned black with anger. He fisted and unfisted his hands. His gut clenched and his mind ran rampant. Vanessa had been behind the disasters at the hotel. It had to be. She held some sort of depraved vendetta against him. That had to be the reason she’d been so hard to seduce. She’d been out to ruin his hotel and she’d been clever, covering her tracks so that nothing she did could be proven.
Brock strode to the wet bar and hastily poured himself a drink of whiskey straight up. The liquid splashed out the tumbler and he cursed. At the mess. At Vanessa Dupree. At her lies and her deception. At her clever taunts and the way she’d suckered him in.
No one made a fool of Brock Tyler.
No one.
Brock gulped a swig of whiskey and strode to the balcony. Outside, all looked peaceful. The sun shone bright against the crystal aqua ocean waters. He thought of Vanessa, her eyes matching the hues of the Pacific. Just last night she’d fulfilled his fantasies. She’d been a willing, eager participant and they’d rocked that boat until sunrise. Sexy, gorgeous, erotic, she’d been everything he’d imagined and more. They had heat together and combusted into flames like two sticks of dynamite.
She’d been the one woman he’d wanted above all else.
Anger, raw and fresh, registered in what she’d just thrown away.
He gulped whiskey with a solemn vow. “I’m going to fire your ass, Vanessa Dupree.”
Then a thought struck. Firing her wasn’t good enough. She deserved more than that for trying to take him down. She deserved much worse.
Brock contemplated for twenty minutes, tamping down bitter disappointment and anger. He finished his drink. When his nerves calmed, he buzzed his secretary. “Send for Akamu. I need a meeting with him right away.”
His hotel manager walked in a few minutes later and Brock looked him dead in the eye. “What I’m about to tell you can’t go any farther than this room.”
Akamu nodded, his usual big smile tucked away. He knew when Brock meant business. Yet he couldn’t conceal a wide-eyed look of astonishment when Brock laid out all the facts.
“You’re sure it’s Vanessa?” he asked.
Brock drew in a breath, then sighed. “I’m sure. Do I have your loyalty?”
“Always.”
“I’ll expect daily reports from you.”
Akamu nodded.
Brock went on. “I know sh
e’s your friend. This can’t be easy for you, but I need to know you’re looking out for the best interests of the hotel.”
A thoughtful look crossed his expression and his dark eyes narrowed. “The hotel is my top priority. It’s a good plan, boss. I’ll do my best.”
Brock smiled at the Hawaiian. “Good.” Then Brock added curiously, “I thought you liked Vanessa?”
“Everyone likes Vanessa.” Then he shrugged and shook his head contemplating. “I keep my business separate from my personal life.”
Brock set his stance and looked out at the tranquil bay, crushing down regret that threatened to tear him up. “That’s probably wise, Akamu.”
He should have done that. Kept his business separate from his pleasure. But Vanessa had turned his head. And the most skeptical part of him wondered if she’d deliberately set out to keep him distracted by tempting and teasing him. She’d managed to blindside him. But never again.
The woman couldn’t be trusted.
Brock resigned himself to what he had to do. At least playing cat and mouse with the wily woman would keep him entertained while he served up his retaliation. He wasn’t through with Vanessa Dupree.
Not by a long shot.
There wasn’t much Vanessa could do about Sunday evening’s luau. After the fiasco on Saturday night with Brock in attendance patching up the chaos she’d caused, she couldn’t chance another misstep so soon. She’d gotten away with it and forged forward to do more damage.
Besides, she hadn’t the mind for it on Sunday. No, she’d been too busy with Brock that morning. On his boat. Making love to him.
Oh, man.
She’d really blown it.
Vanessa shook off thoughts of his stunning ripped body. His handsome face. His erotic words while he made love to her.
She turned her thoughts to her next plan of action. It was brilliant even if she did say so herself. After all, she couldn’t confide in anyone, not a soul, so she commended herself with a mental pat on the back for her clever plan.
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