Jack glanced at the diver’s watch on his wrist. “We’d better go to this blasted meeting we’ve all been summoned to. While we’re there, I want you to take note of the faces. If there’s anyone you think is familiar or is mentioned in the file take note and tell me later.”
Emma nodded. “I’ll just change before we go. I thought I’d check out the pool after the meeting.”
Jack watched the sway of her hips as she walked over to her bag and rummaged through the packed contents. She fished out something small enough to hide in her fisted hand then sashayed into the en suite and closed the door behind her. The taniwha released a low growl of need.
“Fuck,” he muttered with real feeling. He rubbed the heels of his hands over his eyes and dragged in a huge breath. He was in trouble here and was man—taniwha—enough to admit it. What the hell had happened to the brown sparrow from the office?
The creak of the door jerked him upright. He turned and experienced an instant roar of approval from the taniwha. This was no brown sparrow standing proudly in front of him. Emma Montrose was one curvy, confident, sexy woman and she scared the shit out of him. Her breasts were poured into an itty-bitty red top that barely contained them. Then there were acres of smooth, pale skin before his gaze hit the brief bikini panties shielding her femininity. She reminded him of the curvy film stars of the fifties with her Marilyn Monroe figure. Add in a little more height and you got Emma Montrose—a luscious armful of femininity.
“Is that all you’re wearing?”
“I have a sarong.” She grabbed a square of brightly patterned material from her bag and wrapped it around her hips then tied it with a knot. “I’d like to buy another from the gift store to take home as a souvenir.”
“What about a thing for the top? A towel?” He gestured at her breasts in their itty-bitty top. Anything to screen her lush curves from his sight.
Emma tossed her head. “I’ll get a towel at the pool.”
“Won’t you get cold?”
This time, Emma shrugged and her breasts jiggled enough to distract him. “The sun has come out and it looks as though the wind has died down. Besides, the brochure says there’s nude bathing—”
Jack ripped his gaze from her cleavage to stare at her in shock. “Over my dead body.” Emma was going to be difficult. He could tell by the way her chin lifted. How had he missed her stubbornness? She’d always scuttled out of his way like a frightened bird.
This Emma was no sparrow.
Jack jerked the door open then stood back. “Let’s go.”
She sashayed through the door, the pert wiggle of her hips drawing his eye. Sweat coated his body while his cock jumped to high alert. Jack didn’t know whether to curse a blue streak or laugh hysterically. One thing was for sure. They couldn’t share a room without the simmering attraction between them boiling over. Oh yeah. No wonder George had laughed like a bloody loon. His boss had probably noticed Emma’s crush too. The joke was well and truly on him. Jack followed her down the brightly lit corridor and outside.
The sea, pungent and briny, called its siren song, trying to entice him to shift and slip into the cool waters. He forced himself to concentrate. Instead of facing temptation tonight, he’d wait for Emma to fall asleep then leave to do some investigating. With luck, he’d be able to check out Mahoney’s office and find something to further their investigation. Or blow the whole case wide open and save his taniwha butt so he could hightail it home to safety and his scruffy tom cat.
Emma paused by a garden full of colorful blooms. She trailed a hand over the lavender border. “Do you prefer to swim in a pool or the sea?”
“The sea,” he said without thinking.
“You live by the sea, don’t you?”
“Yeah.”
She made a small huffing sound. “Do you live by yourself?”
“Yeah.”
“No pets?”
“I have a cat. What’s with all the questions?”
“I’m your significant other. I should know these things. I live by myself but have loads of friends. I hate swimming in the sea—long story, but I almost drowned. I’ll tell you one day. I’m twenty-five years old and my favorite food is hokey pokey ice cream. Oh, and chocolate. I love chocolate.”
“Looks like this is where the meeting’s being held,” Jack muttered. He opened the door and ushered her through, relieved to be done with the twenty questions. There was only one thing worth knowing about a woman and that was how easy she was. As a taniwha, he needed that type of information. He did not need to know her personal likes and dislikes.
The large meeting room was packed to capacity and most of the women were dressed in similar outfits to Emma’s. In fact, Jack felt distinctly overdressed in his shirt and shorts.
Jack directed her toward two empty chairs and settled at Emma’s side. He scanned the men and women sitting either side of him. Damn, crowds made him antsy. And they were so bloody happy. Shit, make that horny. He could hear their rapid heartbeats and their naughty whispering. The majority of them looked as though they needed a bedroom. He glanced at Emma and saw the sexy flush on her cheeks, the kiss-swollen lips. Damn, he didn’t need this crap. Jack forced his mind back to the job. Given the opportunity tonight, he’d scour the island and check out the private marina and wharf area.
“Good afternoon!” A young woman walked up to a microphone followed by several others. All of them but one—a man—were dressed in uniform. Black shorts and blue T-shirts.
Well, damn, Jack thought, sitting up straighter. Rueben J. Mahoney himself. Interesting. The owner wasn’t always at the resort. His presence could mean a deal was going down.
“Welcome to Mahoney Resort. We have a great week planned with lots of naughty fun especially for couples!” A roar of approval greeted Mahoney’s words. “Now I’ll hand you over to Lissa.”
“Welcome! Sounds like you’re ready to party.” With a laugh, she held up her right hand in a bid for silence. “To start off the fun, I want you to look under your chairs. Two lucky people should find a red heart sticker.”
A buzz of chatter filled the room again as everyone stood to peer under their chairs.
“I’ve got one!” Emma shrieked.
Jack winced. “That figures.”
“Could the two lucky winners come up here to collect their prizes? We have a bag full of sex toys and games for you to spice up your week.”
Emma bounded up to the stage with the red sticker clutched in her hand. A man in his fifties followed hot on her heels.
Jack swallowed a groan when one of hostesses on the stage presented Emma with her prize. Reuben J. Mahoney kissed her on the cheek and tossed her a joking remark. Jack gritted his teeth as he heard the drawl of the man’s voice but not the actual words. The desire to swear a blue streak and shock the hell out of the little old lady and her bright-eyed husband sitting beside him rode Jack hard. Contrarily, the serpent roared with excitement and anticipation. Bit by bit his strength and determination to stay the heck out of Emma’s panties was being eroded away. Jack sighed and finally accepted the truth.
He was a dead man, but at least he was gonna die happy.
Chapter Three
“It wasn’t my fault I won the spot prize,” Emma said. Jack could tell she wasn’t the slightest bit sorry. The twinkle in her blue eyes gave it away. “What are we going to do now?”
“I am going to do a reconnaissance of the resort,” Jack muttered. “I thought you were going to the pool.”
Her bright smile dimmed then suddenly burst into life again. The sight made his stomach flip with foreboding. What the hell was she up to now? “I think I’ll go to the beach instead of the pool.” She lifted the large package she’d won and waved it in front of him. “Not to swim. I can sunbathe and check out my loot.”
Jack froze then slowly nodded. She couldn’t come to much harm on the beach.
One hour later Jack finished his quick whistle-stop tour of the resort. He’d checked out the gym, the swimm
ing pool with the spa pools and sauna facilities. There was a health spa he’d poked his head in then promptly retreated but not quite fast enough. He’d ended up making an appointment for Emma for a massage and something to do with seaweed before he could escape.
He’d checked out the golf course, the archery area and the petanque pit where guests played the French version of outdoor bowls. Then he’d hit one of the walking tracks that skirted the property and led to Stoney Batter—the World War II gun placements and connecting tunnels—if the walker was willing to walk for two hours. There were several other walking tracks of various lengths along with tennis and numerous water sports available to entertain the guests. The private beach stretched the length of the resort golf course. At the end of the beach, a river mouth emptied into the sea, the sand changing to thick river mud. Hundreds of mangrove trees grew in the oozing mud. They were full of bird life but not very hospitable for humans.
The resort was big and more spread out than Jack was happy with. It would be very easy for a drug ring to operate without detection. He made a mental note to check about day guests.
Jack turned toward the beach to check if Emma was still there. The sand crunched under his sandals when he stepped off the footpath onto the beach. The surge and retreat of the waves lulled him as he searched for Emma. Halfway along the beach, he saw four males crowding around a beach towel. He caught the low drone as one of them spoke and the answering feminine laugh.
Emma.
Jealousy hit him hard and without warning. His steps lengthened and the taniwha growled ready to kick some butt.
“Emma, there you are.” He kept his voice low and even—or tried to. The taniwha let loose with a roar that squeezed past his control before he could blink.
The four men visibly backed away from Emma.
She sent him a chiding look and pursed her rosebud pink lips before saying, “Darling, this is Carlos, Daniel, Justin and Doug. They wanted to know what I’d won in my prize.”
Jack made a concerted effort to contain his displeasure, but it couldn’t have been that good. The four men jumped to their feet.
“We’d better get back to the bar. The girls should have finished in the spa by now,” one of them said after they’d exchanged glances.
“Nice to meet you,” Emma said. “And thanks for the hints. I’m sure they’ll come in handy.”
“See you round,” another of the men said.
Jack managed a brief nod of acknowledgment and waited in broody silence until they left. He yanked his shirt over his head then dropped onto the sand beside Emma. All it took was one look and he almost drooled. She smelled of coconut lotion and her skin gleamed, drawing his eyes to the itty-bitty red top and her breasts.
“You could have been a bit more polite.”
“Why? What hints?” If she wanted hints, she should ask him.
“About the best way to use some of the sex toys I won. Do you have some hints for me?”
Jack went from pissed to boiling hot in seconds flat. The woman had a smart mouth and he was just the man to cure her of the malady. He sprang, pushing her down until she lay full length on her towel. A small “oomph” escaped her as he covered her body, squashing her breasts against his bare chest. He thrust his thigh between her legs to hold her in place, ignoring the surprise in her big blue eyes. She opened her mouth, probably to complain, but he didn’t give her a chance to form the words. He sealed them inside by covering her mouth with his and plundered, sliding his tongue into the moist cavern beyond, just as the taniwha demanded. She froze at the contact then softened beneath him, her hands coming around his shoulders to hold him closer. Her hands slid across his back then lower to cup his ass.
Jack ripped his mouth away from hers. “What the devil are you doing?”
“I’ve wanted to cop a feel of your butt for ages,” she confessed a trifle breathlessly. “It’s…ah…very nice.”
The sensation of her hands sliding over his ass, even though he wore shorts, sent his libido soaring into overdrive. His cock hardened with painful intensity until it felt as though his shorts were several sizes too small. A groan formed deep in his chest and without direction, his hands started doing a little exploration of their own.
Smooth skin greeted his touch. He trailed a hand across her rib cage then higher to cup one breast. The hands on his butt stilled and when their gazes met, he saw her eyes were wide and held a trace of shock. Jack traced the edge of her itty-bitty top with a forefinger then dipped beneath the tight fabric to the smooth flesh beneath. Maintaining her gaze, he leaned down and let his tongue trace the same path as his finger. Her scent filled his nostrils—the same lavender and roses he’d noticed earlier plus coconut from her suntan lotion—as he licked a path down the slope of one breast. Not enough, Jack thought. Not nearly enough. He peeled the red material away from her breasts, revealing taut pink nipples to the afternoon sun and his gaze. Proud and full breasts that enticed and enthralled him.
She made a tiny sound. Jack couldn’t decide whether it was shock or to urge him on.
Then her lips parted and white teeth flashed in a grin full of challenge. “You gonna stop there?” She rolled slightly, reached behind her back, and Jack heard the faint click of her bikini top closure. The red fabric fell down her arms. A shrug made the top fall completely away, leaving her topless and vulnerable to his gaze.
A breath hissed through his teeth. He couldn’t have stopped to save himself. His heart thundered and the taniwha stretched and stirred, prodding him to continue. Slowly, he lowered his head to take one pink nipple in his mouth. Jack closed his mouth around the taut peak, the need to do everything all at once riding him hard. Like a man who hadn’t eaten for days, he feasted. Savoring the taste of her—the texture. Gently biting. Tasting her and tormenting himself.
Dicing with danger.
Emma cradled his head, her fingers entwining in his hair, urging him on. He drew hard on her nipple and she bucked beneath him, brushing against his groin.
“Harder,” she murmured in a dreamy voice. “That feels so good.” Emma had no pretense in her. She was innocence and honesty all wrapped up in a bow.
And he wanted to take this to a conclusion. Jack pulled away far enough that he could see her face. Her eyes were closed and her lips were curled up in a dreamy smile. That smile jerked him back to reality.
Jack rolled away, trying to ignore the gleam of her nipples, still wet from his mouth. He wasn’t interested in anything more than a roll in the sack. Getting his rocks off.
“We’d better go.” He stood and handed his shirt to her so she could cover up. “We have a job to do. Mucking about on the beach isn’t getting it done. Besides, we’ve got this dinner thing.”
* * * * *
“I can’t believe it,” Jack muttered, glancing at the huge box Emma carried. He rolled his eyes while the taniwha inside danced a Maori war dance and combined it with a few exuberant high kicks by the feel of his bouncing gut. A year’s supply of condoms. “I’ve never met anyone with such dumb luck.”
“I can’t help it,” Emma said cheerfully without a trace of remorse or embarrassment.
Hell no. He’d been the one who’d caught the flack. Lots of jokes and pats on the back—all with the same message. He was going to need to eat lots to keep his strength up. Sure it was all in good fun, but it wore thin after a while. But worst of all, Emma’s win had called attention to them. Everyone in the whole damn resort would recognize their faces. It was going to be difficult to skulk around trying to investigate when everyone was busy snickering.
“What are you going to do with a year’s supply of condoms anyway?”
“Use them,” Emma said sweetly.
Jack’s fists clenched at his sides, and he felt as if someone had kicked him in the gut. The thought of Emma using the condoms with another man fueled his temper. But using them with him wasn’t a much better proposition. This afternoon had been a mistake. He wasn’t going to touch her again. She was commitment
through and through. He was free and easy—a different species of fish altogether.
Jack opened the door for Emma and stood back as she sashayed through into the night air in her short black dress that showed far too much skin for his liking. Gritting his teeth, he stalked after her. Colored lights lit both sides of the path that wound through lush plantings of native ferns and trees and strategically placed rock carvings.
In the bush on the far side of the resort, a lone morepork cried. Its mournful call echoed through the still night. Jack heard the rustle of small creatures scurrying for cover from the owl. Waves rolled into the shore interspersed by laughing and shouting from the couples still celebrating in the bar after the gala dinner.
Even though it was almost one in the morning, he’d have to go back to the room with Emma to give everyone time to settle in for the night. It was either that or hit the bar. He shot a glance at Emma who walked down the path in front of him. Temptation shot through him, fast and hard. He wanted her. Perhaps a drink would be the better option.
“Emma, wait up.”
She paused and turned slowly to look at him. That bloody box of condoms taunted him without mercy. “I’m going to the bar to check out who’s there. I want to see if the staff will talk to me.”
“Should I come?”
Yes, please. Preferably with me inside your tight pussy. “No!” he snapped, appalled at his wayward thoughts. Bloody hell, he couldn’t blame his serpent. That’s the last thing he needed—to smell her flowery scent and hear each hitch of her breath. He needed sex tonight. That was the only way he could exert control over the serpent and continue to work closely with Emma. “I’ll see you back to the room then head back to the bar.”
“I could help.”
“I thought you’d agreed to do what I said whenever I said it?”
She had the audacity to raise one shapely eyebrow and let the corners of her mouth drift upward in the beginnings of a smile. “Hmmm.”
Jack grabbed her by the elbow and hurried her toward their room. Two minutes later, he pulled a keycard out of his pocket and slid it into the door. He slipped the keycard into the wall socket and a single light came on, spotlighting the bed. The rich burgundy cover gleamed, looking decadent and suggestive of sex.
Make That Man Mine Page 3