by Cathryn Fox
He didn’t have to ask Danielle twice. Starving, she grabbed her utensils and dug into the greens. As she chewed, Mr. Malik spoke again. “Tonight is a special night for you all.”
Despite her hunger pangs, Danielle stopped eating, excited to hear more.
Mr. Malik held his hands over a ceramic crock carved with foreign symbols. Acting like he was some sort of medicine man, he chanted something incoherent under his breath as though he were performing a ritual. He spoke with his eyes closed, and in a soft voice he said, “It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to this island and offer this drink to you.”
Danielle watched him, noting how his actions seemed tribal and primitive.
“You must drink it with an open mind and an open heart. And when you let the magic flow through your veins, your deepest desires, no matter what they might be, will be fulfilled.”
“If you believe in such a thing.” The deep, hardened voice came from behind them. Danielle spun around and watched Ethan move into the room. The grim line of his mouth and the turbulence in his gaze showcased an intensity about him that was both frightening and exciting to her. His primal essence completely overwhelmed her, derailing her ability to think straight. She drew a deep breath but couldn’t seem to fill her lungs.
Dressed in a pair of loose-fitting khaki pants and a short-sleeved dress shirt, he came toward her. His steps were determined, predatory, and from the way he moved, one never would have guessed that he had an injured leg. He pulled out the chair beside her.
She shifted in her seat to get a better look at him. Damn, was it possible that he was even more handsome than she remembered? She took in his thick wavy hair, his deep, tortured blue eyes, and his warm, familiar scent.
“Hi,” she whispered as he moved closer, realizing just how badly she wanted to touch him, to feel his body beside hers. Deep down Danielle instinctively knew that if she had the courage to tell Ethan what she wanted—exactly what she wanted—she would undoubtedly experience the best, most orgasmic sex of her life.
So what was she going to do about it?
Ethan nodded his greeting to all those seated around the table and then turned his attention to her. His warrior features softened when their gazes collided. His voice was low, deeply intimate. “How’s that burn?” he asked, concern in his eyes.
His deep, sexy cadence curled her toes, and his concern for her well-being touched her. “Fine now, thanks to you,” she said, impressed that her lust-rattled brain managed to form a full, coherent sentence.
His gaze shifted to her breasts, to the two big flowers covering each nipple. She watched his throat work as he swallowed. “It was my pleasure,” he said, his voice sounding a little ragged.
Oh, no, it was her pleasure.
Her gaze roamed over him a second time, her body quivering in delight as she fantasized about losing herself in him.
The mere sight of her soldier evoked a myriad of sinful thoughts. Rattled by the way he affected her, she shifted restlessly and exhaled a slow, controlled breath. When Ethan lowered himself into the chair next to her and offered her a sexy smile, warmth pooled between her legs. She wondered if the others in the room felt the sexual pull between them.
She clasped her hands under the table, fighting the urge to pinch him again, to see if her sea god was indeed real.
“I’m glad you came,” she whispered.
He faced her with an intense, intimate gaze and pitched his voice low. “I couldn’t let you face him alone.”
She lowered her voice to match his, deepening the intimacy between them. “I think he’s harmless.”
One brow arched. “Then I believe you just might be a bad judge of character, Dani.”
She gulped. The sexy way he used her childhood nickname sent shivers of desire racing though her. She cleared her throat and gave a casual shrug, feeling anything but. “I’ve never been accused of that before.”
“Oh, no?”
She saw a spark in his eyes and couldn’t tell whether he was teasing her or not. “No,” she said adamantly.
“I bet you probably think I’m harmless, too.” Fiercely protective. Never harmless.
“Not even for a minute,” she said with conviction. He grinned and leaned into her.
“Smart woman.”
4
Smart woman, indeed.
Battling an internal war, Ethan had convinced himself that the only reason he’d shown up tonight was to drink the damn elixir and appease Malik. Not that he believed for one second that the spring water would magically fulfill all his desires. But the second he looked into Dani’s sexy green bedroom eyes, he knew that was pure bullshit. Ever since he’d carried her from the ocean, and ever since he’d felt her lush body in his arms, he’d been unable to get her out of his head.
How the fuck was he supposed to dispel the image of her soft, voluptuous body in a barely there bikini, her sweet scent all over him, arousing him to the point of pain? Jesus, here it was hours later and he was still sporting a hard-on a mile long.
Despite knowing he couldn’t give her what she wanted, what she needed, everything inside him craved to sink into her plush heat, melting his resolve to stay away. After just one sexy encounter, Danielle had somehow managed to seep under his skin and arouse a primal need in him.
Malik spoke, bringing his attention back around to their host and jostling his thoughts back to the present. As Ethan’s gaze bore into the man, he commanded himself to purify his wayward thoughts.
“It is with great pleasure that I offer you this drink.” Malik walked around the table and poured them all a glass of water from his crock.
Ethan watched the way Dani’s eyes lit with intrigue. Did she truly believe that if she drank the water all her desires would be fulfilled?
Earlier in the day, after their sexy exchange about servant and master, he realized what had brought her to this island. Intuition told him that underneath that bold, strong, independent exterior existed a submissive woman, a woman hungering to hand control of her pleasure over to another.
Something inside him twisted as he studied the group. Ethan glanced around the table, perusing his fellow comrades. He watched them stare at their glasses with reluctance. He knew they didn’t believe in the powers of the spring water any more than he did and suspected, that they too, like him, were coerced into being here tonight.
As Ethan studied those seated around the table a moment longer, it occurred to him that Dani could fulfill her desires with any one of his fellow soldiers. But dammit, he wanted to be the man to remedy her longings. He wanted to be the man to fulfill all her fantasies.
Needing something to occupy his hands, he toyed with his utensils and glanced her way. When she offered him a smile full of sensual promises, his body grew tight with need, sexual tension warming his blood. As they stared at each other for a long, thoughtful moment, he wondered what it would be like to tie the little vixen to his bed, tease her to the point of no return and make her beg for his cock.
A breeze drifted in off the ocean, blowing her delicate scent past his nostrils. He inhaled, wanting nothing more than to dust kisses over her entire body and breathe in all her feminine scents, especially the one between her legs. As her eyes devoured him—the heat in her gaze telling him what she wanted—chaos erupted inside him and his thoughts scattered like a round of gunfire.
He had no idea how he was going to make it through a meal with his libido in such an uproar. Just then the waitress brought bowls full of rice, beef, noodles and seafood. Ethan welcomed the distractions and worked to marshal his thoughts. After the food was served, they all ate while a few made small talk. Malik was talking to the others about some upcoming sailing excursion and exploration of Pearl Island, the uninhabited island to the south of them. Ethan glanced at Ryan, who looked less than interested, which was unfortunate, really, because before his injury, Ryan, with his adventurous side and exceptional tracking skills, would have loved such an expedition.
A short wh
ile later, once the meal was finished, Malik stood and extended his arms. “Danielle, Lauren and Abby, please join me at the temple for a tour.”
As Danielle rose, she cast Ethan a glance, her tongue moistening her plump lips. Fuck, there was something about her sensuous mouth that drove him mad. The need to feel her lips on his grew to an almost unbearable level. Warmth, need and desire reflected in her eyes when they met his. She leaned forward, the plunging neckline of her sundress affording him a view of her creamy cleavage. His mouth watered.
“Thanks for coming,” she whispered, brushing a loose strand of hair from her cheek. “Maybe we’ll bump into each other later.”
Ethan nodded. Truthfully, Dani had no idea how close he actually was to coming.
Sitting next to her for the last hour had played havoc with his libido. He shook the buzz from his head. “Like I said, I didn’t want you to face him alone.” Ethan knew a smart, confident woman like Dani didn’t need his help. She was quite capable of holding her own, except when confronted with a banded sea snake, of course. Ethan smiled in remembrance.
Eyes alive with curiosity, she asked, “Something funny?”
“We’ll talk later,” he promised, his words hinting at a deeper intimacy as his gaze moved over her face. “They’re waiting.”
Dani glanced behind her to see her two friends lingering at the door, waiting for her. When she turned back to him, her eyes flashed with dark sensuality. The way she moistened her lips sent him to the edge of oblivion. He shifted, adjusting his thickening cock. Did she take pleasure in arousing him to the point of pain?
Even though her eyes were sultry, sexy and teasing as they raked over him in return, there was vulnerability in her voice when she spoke. “We’ll talk later, then,” she said, but something in Ethan’s gut told him that she was holding back, that that wasn’t quite what she wanted to say to him.
When she touched his shoulder, an unexpected wave of anticipation whipped through him as his cock ached for something far more intimate than conversation. Sexual tension rose in him. Blood rushed to his dick, and he could barely contain his mounting desire. Before he came unhinged, he said, “You’d better get going.”
She twisted around, and with a sexy shake of her curvy hips, she sashayed across the floor. As his gaze caressed her body, a low groan crawled out of the depths of his throat. “Damn,” he cursed under his breath, his fingers twisting the cloth napkin in his lap. He was ready to explode from sexual frustration.
“Hey, Ethan, want to go shoot some pool?” Ryan asked.
The sound of his comrade’s voice pulled his focus back. He transferred his thoughts to the present. Feeling restless and antsy, Ethan knew he needed to work off some steam before he chased after Dani, hauled her off into the woods and fucked her hard until she begged for mercy. Or better yet, played her master-servant game.
It was damn near impossible to resist her, and the way she looked at him with such need, desire and vulnerability had him thinking about going against his own best interests and giving them both what they wanted.
But what if his fucking leg gave out on him only to bring pity to her eyes? What if it didn’t?
With a disgruntled huff, he tossed his napkin onto the table. “Yeah, sounds like a plan.” Ethan glanced at Cody, who was staring out over the ocean, lost in his own thoughts. “Come on, Cody,” Ethan said. “You can play the winner.”
“Meaning you can play me,” Ryan added, tossing them both a cocky grin. Ethan laughed but didn’t deny it. Even with his limited vision, Ryan could clean the table in a matter of minutes.
By the time they made their way outside, darkness had fallen. Ethan watched the way Ryan glanced around, orienting himself. Cody remained quiet, lost in his own thoughts, battling the ghosts that plagued him. As a trained sniper, Cody had witnessed some pretty grizzly shit through his scope, which caused him to shut down his emotions, his insides turning to ice, a protective reaction, Ethan knew.
Distressed by Cody’s emotional withdrawal and worried that he could snap at any point, Cody’s superiors had sent him to the island for emotional therapy and to reconnect with people, but Ethan wasn’t so sure anything or anyone could thaw him out.
When Ryan tripped on a step leading to the games room, Ethan resisted the natural inclination to help out of fear of injuring his friend’s pride. Ethan knew Ryan had a cane back in his cabana, but understood his reluctance to use it. Ethan, too, had a cane, which sat untouched.
As the three guys made their way inside, Ethan scoffed and said, “I really could use a beer. I’m sick of all the protein and seaweed shakes they try to pass off as drinks here.”
Ryan leaned in and whispered, “I can hook you up.”
“No shit?” Ethan asked.
“No shit,” Ryan replied, smirking.
Ethan slapped his friend on the shoulder. “You’ve been holding out on me, pal?”
“Nope, my stash just came this afternoon, by plane. Didn’t have time to tell you.” Ethan arched an inquisitive brow and relaxed into conversation. “You’ve been sweet-talking the pilot again?”
Ryan shrugged and grinned. “It’s a gift.”
“Just don’t let Malik catch you with it.”
“Or what, he’ll kick me off the island?” Ryan snorted.
This time Ethan laughed out loud. “Right. Give me the key card to your cabana. You and Cody set up while I go grab us a couple of cold ones. With a little luck, we’ll all get kicked off this hellhole together.”
A minute later Ethan walked the footpath, deliberately going the long way to Ryan’s cabana. Okay, so he couldn’t deny that he wanted to catch another glimpse of Dani before he retired for the night. At least then he’d have a sexy image to occupy his mind while his hands were occupied elsewhere on his body. Pleasure resonated through him and his cock throbbed in anticipation.
As he circled the temple, he heard Malik speaking to the girls, spewing cryptic words of wisdom, no doubt. Ethan stepped into the shadows, masking his presence, listening intently as though he was on some sort of reconnaissance mission. As soon as he heard Dani’s sweet, seductive voice, his body grew needy for her again. Cool night air brushed against his flesh but did nothing to ease the heat inside him. Dammit, if he didn’t do something about the fire between his legs soon, he was damn well going to explode.
Senses finely tuned, he listened to Malik’s cryptic message. He was speaking to Dani in hushed tones, reciting words that sounded like “there is no ambiguity in the truth.”
At that moment, Ethan considered Malik’s own words of wisdom to him: your destiny is in your hands. He replayed the words over and over, working at understanding the deeper meaning. He held his hands out to study them.
Ethan was so preoccupied with his thoughts, he didn’t hear the sound of approaching footsteps. Before he knew what was happening, someone rushed around the corner and barreled right into him.
“Whoa,” Dani yelped, her arms flailing, grasping frantically for something concrete to hold on to before she sailed to the ground.
As their bodies collided, Ethan reached out for her. “I’ve got you,” he said. His palms circled her waist and he caught her in his hands. Suddenly, his skin prickled and Malik’s words filled his thoughts.
Your destiny is in your hands.
5
Air ripped from Danielle’s lungs as she crashed into a wall of rock-hard muscle. She snaked her arms around the man’s neck, her lips brushed against his cheek as she clamored to right herself. Despite the darkness, she knew it was Ethan by the way her flesh came to life at first contact, by the way his muscles bunched beneath her touch.
As he anchored her body to his, awareness flared through her and her nipples quivered in erotic delight. While her knees turned to mush, she drew a steadying breath and tried to find her balance.
“It’s okay, Dani. It’s me. I’ve got you.” The rich timbre of his voice combined with the masculine scent of his skin aroused all her senses. Her body vibrated, l
iquid heat rushing to the juncture between her thighs.
Danielle bit back a breathy moan. She inched backwards and worked to formulate a response. “Thank…” Her words died on her lips when she glimpsed the heat smoldering in the depths of his blue eyes. His carnal, wolfish grin triggered a major reaction in her body. The instant flash of desire had her pulse racing out of control.
With her hands slipped around his hard, athletic body, she became hyper-aware of his arms sliding around her, his big palms pressing into the small of her back—big strapping palms made for disciplining.
Her. Right here. Right now. Oh, yeah.
As sexual energy jetted between them, their chemistry became explosive. “In a hurry to go somewhere?” he asked, without bothering to release his tenuous grip. Possessiveness flashed in his eyes, and she became acutely aware of the way his body and hands trembled as he pulled her in tight.
Pleasure engulfed her, and she wondered whether he noticed the shiver that stole over her flesh. She felt heat and desire flood her cheeks as her body absorbed his warmth.
She tilted her chin and spoke with conviction. “Actually, I was going to find you.”
He looked at her with pure lust. “Yeah?” Ethan dipped his head, his lips coming perilously close to hers. His tongue made a slow pass over his bottom lip, as though moistening, preparing it. Raw, tortured eyes met hers. “Why?”
Danielle drew in air. “I wanted to tell you something.” Need colored her voice.
“So tell me.”
With a sudden burst of boldness whipping through her blood, she pressed into him, her actions conveying without words what she wanted, what she needed.
His sweet breath washed over her face. His hands roamed over her back, and his touch felt erotic and stimulating. Blistering heat exploded inside her, demanding attention.
Heart racing, she arched into him and could feel his hard cock. His hands moved urgently over her body. Simmering blue eyes flitted over her. His tone dropped an octave. “Tell me, Dani,” he said again, his voice rough with arousal as he caressed her all over. “I’m listening.”