by Peyton Banks
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Epilogue
Summer Escape
Peyton Banks
Copyright © 2017 by Peyton Banks
Editor: Dana Hook at Rebel Edit & Design
Cover Design by J.C. Clarke with the Graphics Shed
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, businesses, events, and incidents are a figment of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any similarities to real people, businesses, locations, history, and events are a coincidence.
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Created with Vellum
To my Ace for always being by my side as I follow my dream to write! Love ya!
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Epilogue
A Note From the Author
About the Author
Pieces of Me
Also by Peyton Banks
Chapter One
Marina Carter gazed upon the clear blue ocean on display before her. It was a perfect way to spend her morning. Stretched out on the white sandy beach with her toes buried deep in the sand was how she wished she could spend all of her days. But she knew reality waited for her at home.
She was a coward. A chicken.
She glanced down at her naked ring finger on her left hand and let out a long, deep sigh. The ring was gone. She didn’t know how she truly felt about it, but she was glad that it hadn’t went further than an engagement.
Three days ago, she had walked into her fiancé’s apartment and found him on the couch with his pants around his ankles, and a blonde swallowing his cock.
She had always known that their relationship was one of convenience, and that night was just what she needed to move on. She knew of the countless women that he tried to hide from her, and she had always turned a blind eye to it. They hadn’t even been intimate with each other in months. But this was a firm reason to end what they had between them.
Her father, Thomas Carter, was a prominent senator in Washington. Her fiancé, Vincent Snider, was a wealthy business tycoon. Between the two of them, Marina had let them talk her into an engagement. She and Vin had dated off and on for years throughout college, but it was at the urging of her father that she really considered a life with Vin. They thought it would be the perfect merger of a business tycoon and a senator’s daughter.
Not anymore.
She’d had every intention of breaking up with him when she went over to his condo. She knew that he would have argued with her, and blamed it on her emotions. Her father would have called and insisted they needed to work out their problems, citing that every couple had doubts before their wedding.
She snorted as she reached for her mimosa, and took a healthy sip.
She had been engaged for a full year, and had yet to even begin planning a wedding. What woman gets engaged and doesn’t get excited about planning her wedding?
It was time she took back her life. She loved her father dearly, and she knew he had done the best he could since her mother passed when she was a teenager.
But no more.
The muffled ringing of her phone grabbed her attention. She reached over and rifled through her bag as the ringing got louder.
Favorite Bitch was displayed across the screen. A wide grin spread across her face. “Marina’s private line, how can I help you?” she answered with a smile. She leaned back against the lounge chair and took another sip of her refreshing drink.
“Have you lost your mind?” Claire Legarde demanded.
“Why no, I have not, Claire Bear,” she chuckled, using her best friend’s nickname.
Claire and Marina had met during their freshman year in college, and had become lifelong friends. She knew that she could count on Claire to have her back.
“That asshat of yours has been blowing up my phone looking for you. Where the hell are you? I went by your place. Your bedroom looks like it was ransacked, and I haven’t see you in two days! Are you okay?” Claire practically screamed in her ear.
She did feel a little guilty for just leaving the way she did. She had rushed home that night after watching the blonde release Vin’s cock from her mouth as he scrambled off his couch.
“It’s over. I’m done.” She had uttered four little words, but they had held such a punch. She turned on her heels and marched out of the condo to the sounds of Vin yelling her name.
“I’m fine, Claire. I promise. It’s over between me and that asshat. This was long overdue, and going over to his place the other night and finding some bitch sucking him off was all I needed to finally put an end to that dreaded relationship,” she said, placing her now empty glass down on the table beside her.
“Oh, shit,” Claire breathed.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” And she would be. She was at a private resort with lots of people she could meet and mingle with. Nothing like good fresh air to help wake up all the common sense a girl was born with.
“But where the hell are you?” Claire’s voice broke through her thoughts. Marina looked around at the beach that was lined with early risers, relaxing in the sun.
“Well, about that. I just happen to be in the Bahamas,” she admitted, pulling the phone away from her ear as her friend let out a loud shriek.
“Are you fucking kidding me? You took the time to pack a suitcase, made arrangements for flight and hotel, and not once did you think to pick up the phone and invite me along?”
“I needed this, some alone time to clear my mind and thoughts. I need to figure out what the hell I’m doing.” She closed her eyes as she leaned her head back against her lounge chair.
Yeah, that was what she needed, to clear her mind and just breathe. Get away from the harsh realities of the life she had left back in Baltimore, and figure out what she should do next.
“Still, it’s not fair. You’re living the life in one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and I’m stuck here. I have half a mind to hop a plane and join you. The island is big enough for both of us. I’d stay on my side, you’d stay on yours.”
Marina chuckled at her friends’ dramatics.
“You could if you want, but all the sexy men would gravitate to me,” she teased, tossing her brunette hair over her bare shoulder.
“Bitch,” Claire retorted.
“I’m your favorite bitch,” she replied with a laugh.
“You got that fucking right. So, what do you have planned, Stella? Getting your groove back?”
“I don’t know. I’ve been loyal to Vin for the past few years. I wouldn’t even know how to date.” She blew out a breath. Did she need to jump back into a relationship? She could just date and get to know people with no strings attached.
“Let me give you a hint of what to do. Find a hot guy. Walk up to hot guy. Introduce yourself to hot guy, then ask if you can hop on his dick.”
Marina burst out laughing, tears streaming down her face. Damn, she should have told Claire about the trip. They would have had a blast together.
“Okay, I’ll remember that,” she said, finally able to speak. She wiped her tears away fr
om her face. Her phone beeped, signaling another call. She quickly glanced at the screen and her laughter instantly faded.
Dad.
“Hey, Claire Bear, I gotta go. My father is on the other line.” She knew what was coming. She was sure Vin had run to her father with the news. Thomas Carter may be a big-time senator in Washington, but this one time, she wouldn’t let him make a decision for her. Her life was hers, and it was time she took control of it.
“Okay. Call me whenever, just so I know your safe.”
“Will do.”
Chapter Two
Gage Marks closed his eyes as he took a bite of his lunch. The resort had definitely lived up to its reputation. It wasn’t that often that he took a vacation, but this trip was both for business, and some much-needed time off. They offered a beautiful veranda where guests could eat meals while getting a beautiful view of the ocean and beach.
As the CEO of Marks Security, a leading security firm, he worked long hours and countless days straight with no breaks. At the age of thirty-five, he was one of the youngest CEOs of a prominent corporation. Once out of the service, he worked his ass off to get his company off the ground, and it paid off.
“Here’s another beer for you, sir, compliments of the woman over there,” the waiter announced, dropping off a fresh cold beer.
Gage slowly turned in the direction that the waiter had pointed, and his eyes locked with a small, curvy woman. Her long brown hair and body made his heart skip a beat.
What the hell was that?
He nodded to her and raised the bottle, mouthing the word, “Thanks.”
She smiled at him and went back to eating her food. If she wanted to get his attention, she got it. He could see from where he sat that she was a total knockout.
He had come to the resort to try it out. He had plans of organizing a convention for the security community, and wanted to test it out as a guest. Spending a few days here also gave him some much-needed time off, so he was killing two birds with one stone.
If he called into the office, he knew his secretary would chew him a new asshole. When he made mention of coming down to the resort for a few days, Grace practically threw him out his own damn building.
He glanced back at the beauty and found her staring in his direction. Her eyes widened behind her oversized sunglasses at being caught. He chuckled as he took the last bite of his meal.
Interesting.
This trip looked as if it would be turning out better than he had hoped.
“Excuse me, do you mind if I sit with you?” a soft, husky voice asked. He glanced up to find the beauty standing next to his table. He grabbed his napkin and wiped his mouth.
“Please, do. Thank you for the refill,” he said. He quickly stood to pull a chair away from the table. She smiled as he helped her into the chair before taking his again.
“It’s no problem.” She smiled shyly. His cock twitched at her perfect white teeth. Now that she was closer to him, he could see that he totally underestimated her beauty. He watched as she pushed her sunglasses on top of her head, and he became captivated by her large green eyes. “You must think me rude. My name is Marina Carter.” She chuckled as she held her hand out to him.
“Gage Marks,” he replied, taking her hand in his. An alarm went off in the back of his mind at her name, but he couldn’t place where he had heard it before. His brain may be in a fog right now, but his cock was definitely paying attention. Her husky chuckle did things to him that he was unfamiliar with.
He was used to having women throw themselves at him, but for some odd reason, this was different.
She was different.
“So what brings you to the island, Gage Marks?” She tilted her head as she held a half empty wine glass in her hand. “Business or pleasure?”
“A little of both,” he admitted, taking a sip of his beer. He was unable to keep his eyes off of her. The gentle breeze blew her hair, displaying the natural highlights. “What about you?”
“Pleasure.” She smiled again, but this time, her eyes trailed along his chest.
“Is that right? Are you traveling alone, Mrs.…”
“It’s Miss. Never been married,” she corrected him, waving her hand as she sat back in the chair.
His eyes caught the faint hint of a line on her ring finger. It was his job to notice little details such as those. Curiosity got the best of him, but who was he to judge? Everyone had their secrets, and maybe she was trying to push hers to the back of her closet.
“What about you, Mr. Marks? Is your wife somewhere around here?” She crossed her tan legs, and his eyes were drawn to them. She must have come from the beach. She was wearing one of those cover dresses over her bathing suit. It barely hid her body, and he found himself craving to see her naked.
Images of those tan legs wrapped around his waist came to mind. He looked back at her face, cutting off that train of thought.
“Never been married either,” he replied. He leaned forward and reached for her hand, rubbing his finger where a ring used to be. “Trying to find a rebound?”
He couldn’t help it. He was seriously considering taking her up on her unspoken offer, but he had to know. Was there a jealous fiancé on his way here to find her? Gage didn’t want a mess, and refused to be in the middle of a spat between lovers.
She shook her head and barked out a quick laugh. “I would have to care, or maybe love him to be able to be on the rebound. Let’s just say our relationship had been one of convenience, and he gave me a way out.”
“And what way was that?” he asked, shocked that anyone would be willing to let her go. A woman of her caliber was someone who should be cherished and loved thoroughly every night.
“A blonde on her knees, sucking his cock.” She sniffed and took a hearty sip of her wine, finishing it off. “Am I looking for a rebound? Nope. I’m here to relax and escape reality. I looked over at you, and figured you’d be good…company.” A fire sparked in her green eyes, and he knew she spoke the truth.
“Well then, Miss Carter, what do you have planned today?” he asked.
“No plans. Just living in the moment.”
“Spend the day with me.” He was satisfied with her story, but he would be sending a text to his computer analyst and friend, Knox Scott. He would find out everything he needed to know about this little beauty.
“I thought you’d never ask.”
Chapter Three
Marina let loose a laugh as she broke through the surface. The sea was filled with bright coral reefs, and snorkeling was the best thing they could have done. Gage, who had already been on the island for a few days, had suggested it, and made arrangements with a tour group.
She was still in awe at her award-winning performance when she had approached him. She had been scared shitless. She had never approached a man and made such subtle offers of herself before. The minute he had entered the veranda, she couldn’t keep her eyes off of him. His full beard was what first caught her eye. She had a thing for men with beards. Vin never grew one, always shaving every piece of hair from his face. That should have been the first sign that she wasn’t satisfied with him.
But with Gage, her panties immediately went up in flames when he turned to her. His deep blue eyes were constantly watching everything around him. When they locked on her, her knees literally went weak.
“It’s so beautiful here.” She giggled, floating alongside Gage. The clear, crisp blue sea allowed her to see below, down to the sandy floor. The waters back home sure weren’t this crystal clear. It was like looking down into a different world.
“Yes, beautiful,” Gage agreed as he moved closer to her.
“I meant the coral reef.” She smiled, pushing her mask further on top of her head. She could feel her cheeks warm from his intense gaze.
“He was an idiot,” he murmured, running a finger along her cheek. She didn’t have to ask who he was. The conversation with her father this morning regarding the idiot was unpleasant, but she handled her
self well. She refused to tell her father where she was, but assured him that she was safe, and that they would talk once she returned home. “Come on. Let’s get cleaned up for dinner.”
She held back a smile as she followed behind him, swimming back to the group that waited for them on the boat. He waited and assisted her back on the boat before he climbed up himself. The other women in the group couldn’t keep their eyes off of Gage. His swim trunks molded to his waist perfectly. His body was that of a God. Marina had to keep herself from drooling over the sight of him.
His chest was sculpted to perfection. Her eyes trailed down the ridges of his abdomen and she gulped. She glanced around and saw every eye, male and female, was on him. The men’s faces were ripe with jealousy, and the females’ were that of worship.
Holy mother of God.
She sat down and began removing her equipment as the guide spoke. Gage came to sit next to her. She looked up at him and smiled, knowing that the other women on the boat were shooting her daggers with their eyes.
She no longer had any regrets for approaching him. Claire would be so proud of her. She didn’t use her friend’s tactics, but she still gained his attention and took a chance. She couldn’t wait to call her later and let her know about her day.
The few hours they had spent together, she had grown comfortable with him. She only knew the basics about him, but that didn’t matter. Her body was drawn to him in a way that she had never experienced before.
With Vin, she was—
She stopped herself. She needed to push the asshat out of her mind. Why did she keep reverting back to him? It was over. She had a man next to her that had drawn her body to his so he could place his arm around her. Her nipples beaded at the feel of his hands on her naked flesh. Her bathing suit did little to hide the effect he had on her.