Hawaiian Triple Heat [Dr. Love Shark] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More)

by Bobbi Brattz

  For a long, breathless moment, Rae stared at Mateo in shock, unable to fathom what he was saying to her. Marry him? He’d ruined her life, made her lose her job, seduced her until she could think of no one but him, just like all the other women he’d used and discarded, yet he wanted her to commit to him for an entire year.

  Her hand moved of its own accord to rest on her lower belly where she believed a child grew.

  There is no way I’ll marry this bastard. One marriage was enough. The media said they’d pay for an exclusive. I could pretend to go along with his high-handed behavior and dig up more information on him in Hawaii, then destroy him. He deserves that after what he’s put me through.

  Suddenly, she made a decision that would possibly protect her from him. Once she’d cleared her throat, she spoke up, looking at his chin rather than meet his gaze.

  “I won’t marry you, but I’ll go with you back to the resort under my own conditions. You will not touch me or try to seduce me. From now on we’ll have a business arrangement and there will be no physical contact of any kind. Do I make myself clear?”

  His wicked grin brought her eyes up to his. The way his eyes softened and held a quick flash of superiority pissed her off, sealing his fate.

  “I told you once before that I only take willing women to my bed. Since you’ve been there…many times…I figure that you’ll know what you’re missing and will come to me soon enough. In the meantime, I’ll wait it out.”

  She was outraged at his confident attitude that she’d fall into his bed once again and stood to face him, hands on hips.

  “You are such a jerk! What happens when your fan base finds out you’re such a liar? They’ll know you and I aren’t getting married when you continue with your lineup of women.”

  “Since you’ll be my bed, I won’t have need of anyone else, Ku’uipo.”

  “Don’t call me that. I’m not your model anymore and will never be again.”

  “We’ll see. Are you going to sign the papers?”

  “No!”

  “Fine. My plane is scheduled to leave within the hour.”

  “You can’t expect me to just run out the door and leave my belongings. Are you nuts?”

  “It’s already taken care of. Since your bag is still packed, you don’t have to waste time with it. The rest of your things will be shipped to my home. Our home.”

  The thought of taking the leftovers Lance gave her didn’t sit well. She would rather give them away.

  “Give me a few minutes alone.” Rae walked to the bedroom and closed the door behind her then leaned back against it.

  How can I possibly drop everything and go back to Hawaii with him?

  Rae went over to her dresser and opened her drawers one at a time. Other than a few pieces of jewelry she needed, she didn’t want anything else. It was all she could do to hold back the tears of pain from the loss of a life she knew and go into one she feared.

  “We have to go.”

  She turned to see Mateo in the doorway, his long black hair brushing his collar. Sensual dark eyes offered a sympathy she didn’t want. The memories of his naked body pressed to hers, those long fingers caressing her skin in tingling waves, sent cravings right to her pussy. Once again, her panties were damp, yet he hadn’t even touched her.

  “I’m ready. I don’t want anything else. I’ll call the thrift shop and have them come and get it all.”

  My lawyer will take care of it. Let’s go.” He held out his hand and waited in silence while she stared at him.

  Stiffening her spine, she brushed past him without touching it and walked to door.

  “Come here.”

  “I’m not a dog you can order around.”

  Rolling his eyes, he released a sigh of frustration. “Please, come here.”

  Though she preferred to avoid him at all costs, she did as he asked.

  “Are you sure you won’t take me up on my offer?”

  “The days of women being forced to marry whether pregnant or not are done. No, I won’t marry you for any amount of money.”

  He frowned as though disappointed that she had the upper hand. “It’s time to leave.”

  Mateo picked up her bags and opened the door. The hallway had cleared but for a few people. When he entered it, they scattered like mice. Rae walked alongside him without talking, the other two men bringing up the rear. They stepped into the elevator as a unit and the doors closed.

  When they opened, bedlam began all over again. People began shouting and banging their fists on the windows, cameras flashed, video cameras taped, and the landlord stood against the wall shaking like a leaf, his eyes wide with terror at the rising chaos.

  “Just follow my lead and stay close to me, Rae. We have a show to put on. You are my model until we reach the plane. Ready?”

  She looked up at him with fear clawing her gut and shook her head no. His chuckle angered her so much that she straightened her spine and prepared herself.

  “That’s my girl.”

  “I’m not your girl and never will be. Don’t forget that, Dr. Mano.”

  “Just act like you are for a few minutes. Let’s go.”

  He opened the door as police ordered the crowd back then stepped out with her pressed close to his side.

  For a moment, all Rae could hear was a babble of voices that didn’t make a lick of sense until he raised his hand. They quieted instantly and awaited his word. She marvelled at the power he had over them.

  “Thank you. This is my fiancée, Rae Hooper. We have a plane to catch if you’ll excuse us.”

  “Dr. Mano, is it true that you only plan to get married to save your reputation?”

  He put his hand up as more questions began to pour out. “I’ll answer that one question.” Taking Rae in his arms, he turned her to face him and lifted her chin with a finger. She stared up at him and wondered what he was going to say.

  Instead of talking, he captured her lips and kissed her until the fires in the pit of her belly lit. There was no doubt in her mind that he’d made his point because her knees went weak, her body melting into his.

  He didn’t keep it impersonal, but showed the witnesses an undeniable attraction. When he lifted his head, she saw the calculating, cool expression in his eyes as he returned her gaze. The next words he uttered startled her so much, she was speechless.

  “I’m going to marry her because I love her with all my heart.”

  The crowd went wild, cheering and shouting. Mateo picked her up and carried her to the waiting limousine then set her on her feet beside it as the driver opened the door. He ignored any further questions and helped her inside before he slipped in next to her and the door closed.

  For the next twenty minutes while they travelled to the airport, she huddled in a corner and shivered in reaction.

  He didn’t mean a word of it, yet my body reacted like kindling lit with kerosene. I’m out of my league!

  * * * *

  The long flight home to Hawaii was uneventful. Rae stared out the window for most of the trip, ignoring the offers of food, drink, movies, or anything else. It was Mateo’s personal jet, so there was no one else on board but the crew. He sat in stoic silence, typed on his laptop, and ignored her.

  She shot furtive glances at him now and then, letting the past week with him and Piers flash through her mind until she was squirming in her seat.

  You are so going to get your ass wiped! I’m going to make you wish you’d never met me.

  As though he heard her thoughts, he looked up quickly and caught her venomous glare and smirked. Rae turned her head to stare outside once again.

  She still hadn’t recovered from the previous jet lag and began to shiver as though cold. Mateo leaned over and covered her with a blanket. About to snap at him, she cleared her throat instead and sought to control her anger.

  “Thank you.”

  One dark eyebrow rose in surprise at her sudden change of mood before he stood and walked back to his chair. Mateo refocused on
his laptop. Rae watched him for a while longer until her eyes were so heavy she allowed them to close and slept until they landed.

  * * * *

  For the next two days she slept off and on, only waking up long enough to eat and use the bathroom. She rarely saw Mateo. He seemed to be avoiding her, which was just as well in her mind. Stretching out on the comfortable bed in her own room, she breathed in the fragrance of blossoms that filtered through the screen door.

  It was time to face the music.

  “I’m going to start by teasing the hell out of him until it drives him mad.”

  After a quick shower, she dressed in the white bikini and left the room.

  “Oh, good morning,” Rae said to Mateo as she stepped into the hallway. His back was to her as he came out of his office, but when he turned to face her, she was shocked. He looked terrible! His eyes were bloodshot, dark circles resting below them. For the first time since she’d met him, he looked haggard and had slight creases at the corners of his eyes.

  “What’s the matter with you?” she asked, walking toward him and staring up at him.

  “Nothing. You have a doctor’s appointment today. You’d better put some clothes on.” His hoarse voice startled her.

  “What is the appointment for?”

  “A physical.”

  “I don’t need one, and I am dressed. I’m going for a swim.”

  “You are getting a physical, and no, you don’t have time for a swim. Get dressed in clothing! And you should eat.”

  “Have you eaten?”

  Slowly, he shook his head. “I’ll make you something.”

  “Where’s Moki?”

  “She no longer works for me.”

  “Why, Mateo?” Rae knew exactly why but wanted him to give her an honest answer.

  “None of your business. Go sit at the table. I’ll have your breakfast ready soon.”

  “My, my, aren’t we bossy today.”

  Without answering, he turned his back on her and walked toward the kitchen.

  The air conditioning was on, and she felt the chill on her skin. Her nipples puckered beneath the suit, which made her grin. Try and ignore that!

  As she walked to the dining room, she hummed a happy tune, thrilled at the way she was able to annoy him right off the bat.

  A few minutes later, Mateo came out of the kitchen and placed a plate of fruit and cheese in front of her. She looked up and smiled.

  “Am I on a diet?”

  “No. I just don’t know how to cook. Eat it.”

  His snarling attitude was annoying, but she didn’t care. The sun was shining, the day bright, and she had a lot of revenge to look forward to.

  She nibbled on the food even though she was famished because she wanted to make a show of licking her fingers and moaning softly.

  “This is great. I love fresh pineapple.” Pointedly she looked down at his plate. “Aren’t you eating?”

  He pushed the uneaten food away and shook his head.

  “Well, do you mind if I have some of it?” Without waiting for his answer, she leaned forward, pressing her breasts together with her arms as she reached for a strawberry. When she brought it to her mouth and took a bite, she closed her eyes and groaned. “Oh, wow. This is so sweet. Would you like a taste?” Offering an innocent expression, she smiled at him.

  The frown he gave her was satisfying.

  “What are you up to, Rae? You went from shooting me furious looks to being sweet as a kitten. What have you got up your sleeve?”

  With a great deal of animation, she looked down at her chest and lifted her arms outspread.

  “I’m not wearing sleeves, Mateo. I think I’ll go for a swim. Would you like to come with me?”

  “I’ll watch.”

  She shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

  Pushing her chair away, she stood but picked up her orange juice and took a sip, spilling a little on her breast. Her chin dropped as she looked down at the drip, and she used her index finger and slid it over the drop then placed the finger in her mouth, sucking the juice away. Once she’d placed the glass on the table, she waved and left the room, exiting the patio doors to head for the pool.

  As she recalled the heated gaze he’d given her while she played him, she snickered low enough that she didn’t think he’d heard it.

  Mateo seemed like a starving man, horny and aching to touch her, and she relished her power over him.

  Instead of taking the fast way into the pool, she made a show of touching the water with her toe. It was so warm she had no problem getting into it but pretended it was cool enough to make her shiver. Slowly she eased into the water, one step at a time until she could reach the water with her hands. She cupped some water in her hand and brushed it over her chest, dropping her head back on her shoulders and sighing as rivulets dripped down her body. She could feel his eyes burning into her back and bit back a smile.

  The fact that she was annoying him and he desired her, even though he didn’t show it, made her feel good about her plan.

  I’ll have to think up something else. Hmmm, I wonder if he’d be able to resist a skinny-dip?

  Reaching up, she undid the laces on her suit and dropped the bra then the panties on the deck and dove in. She grinned underwater as she imagined the way he felt as he sat there watching but was unable to touch her.

  Suffer, you bastard!

  “It’s time to go. Get out and get dressed.”

  She stared up at him while treading water. “Why are you in such a rush?”

  “You have an appointment. We leave in ten minutes.”

  “Okay.” With a Gallic shrug, she swam over to him and climbed up the steps until she stood beside him, naked and dripping water over the tiles. “You really should have a shower. You smell rather bad.”

  His eyes narrowed as she flounced past him and grabbed a towel, placing her foot on a chair to pat her leg dry. She took her time and kept working on her entire body until she felt she was dry enough. She looked up and found he’d left her. With a wicked snicker, Rae left the pool area and walked back to her room, humming even louder now.

  * * * *

  Ten minutes later Mateo paced back and forth in the hallway while he waited for her. She was taking longer than he expected, but he kept waiting. She was driving him nuts with her fake seduction act. It was a dare for him to give in and touch her so she could say he had no control, and he refused to give in. Bringing her back to the resort was a mistake. He should have just let her flounder on her own and be done with her.

  What is it with women and their games? I thought Rae was the one woman who didn’t play them, but she’s just like the others. I should go in there and turn her over my knee. This is ridiculous.

  Finally losing his temper, he shouted, “Come on, Rae. We’re late!”

  Still, she kept him waiting another five minutes before she appeared. Sexy, voluptuous, wearing makeup and a Hawaiian print dress with matching, sexy high heels, she walked up to him. “I’m ready, Mateo.”

  Her voice was low and husky. He winced at the sound and turned around, stunned at her transformation. Mateo stifled a groan and headed for the door. She was right when she said he needed a shower, but a cold one. He was hard as a rock.

  * * * *

  Time flew for Rae as they drove along the bumpy road into town. To tease him more, she dropped her head back on the seat and closed her eyes, her lips parting slightly. A moment later she spit, coughing and choking.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, pulling the car over.

  “I swallowed a bug!”

  For the first time since she’d tied him to the bed, Mateo laughed. Tears began rolling down his cheeks as he stared over at her, and it pissed her off like no tomorrow.

  “It’s not funny. What if it was poisonous?”

  He shook his head and put the car in gear, pulling out onto the road once again. His sporadic chuckles the rest of the way into town had her so frustrated, she wanted to punch his arm. When they pulled
up to Piers’s offices, she turned to him in shock.

  “I can’t see Piers as my doctor.”

  “You aren’t seeing him. There’s another doctor in this office. It’s a woman.”

  “Oh. All right.”

  Without waiting for her, he got out and began walking to the door.

  “Mateo? Could you please undo my seat belt? It’s stuck.” Even though it wasn’t, she played the damsel in distress to taunt him further.

  When he turned back to help her, he was grumbling something under his breath, and she bit back a grin. He was careful not to touch her in any way.

  “Thank you, sweetheart. I appreciate your help.”

  “Sure you do.”

  His sarcasm didn’t surprise her a bit. At the door, she waited for him to open it for her, forcing him to be a gentleman. The frown on his face was worth every bit of the effort it took to keep a straight face. When they entered the cool room, her nipples pebbled and she shivered.

  “Wow, it’s chilly in here. I wonder who fixes their air conditioner.”

  He ignored her snide remark and walked up to the receptionist. “Ms. Hooper is here to see Dr. Killdeer.

  “Thank you, Mateo. I’ll let her know you’re here. She’ll just be a few minutes as she’s with a patient.”

  “Rae, can I talk to you for a minute?”

  Both Mateo and Rae turned to see Piers standing in the doorway. He didn’t look much better than Mateo.

  “Sure. I can spare a few minutes for my other favorite man.”

  Her dry remark seemed to confuse Piers as he shot an inquiring yet guarded gaze at Mateo then focused on Rae. “In my office if you don’t mind.”

  “Absolutely.” When Mateo made a move to follow, she put her hand out to stop him.

  “I’d like to speak to Piers privately. Have a seat. I’ll be right back.”

  The way the two men were shooting daggers at each other as their eyes met made her realize that she was the cause of their lifelong relationship breaking up. It startled her that she had ruined the lives of so many people in such a short time. She walked into Piers’s office with him, feeling the weight of guilt.