by Cullen, Ciar
Don’t do this, Tam, don’t fall for him. He shut down, threw the key to his heart away, buried it at the site. He’s your boss, and you need this job. You have to work by his side every day, live under his roof. Back off, you’re playing with fire.
Tam grabbed her packages and threw them into the Land Rover. He hopped in after her.
“Where to now?” He seemed happy, even enthusiastic.
“I think I like you a little better when you’re brooding. This is unnerving.”
“What’s unnerving? You’re the one who wanted to play today! I don’t get you.” He sped down the main highway, whistling. The Beast was whistling! “How about dinner? I’m suddenly starving.”
He continued whistling as he pulled into the long curved drive of one of the big resorts. Tam followed numbly as SinJin led her through the elegant lobby to the main open-air restaurant overlooking the turquoise sea. The staff all greeted him intimately. So, this was one of his haunts.
“Sinj? Let me change, please I’m covered in suntan lotion, and these shorts and shirt—this place. I didn’t know we were going somewhere so upscale.” He looked confused. “It’s a girl thing.”
He threw her the car keys and took a table. Tam went to the Land Rover and collected one of her new purchases, ducking in the lobby restroom to pull off her transformation. She returned fifteen minutes later in a colorful wrap-around dress, hair combed, lipstick on.
SinJin took her in slowly, head to toe.
“You look…nice.” Looking away, he took a sip of wine and stared out at the sea.
“Nice? Please, I’ll get a big head.”
Tam sat patiently as the waiter poured a glass of wine for her, retreating quickly with a sharp look from SinJin.
He moved his chair close to her and stared into her eyes from beneath his dark brows. “Doctor Martin, you’re playing with fire.”
“That’s interesting. I think I said the same thing to myself.”
“You’re beautiful, exquisite. I’ve noticed. Hell, how I’ve noticed. Has it occurred to you that we’re living under the same roof, that we’re going to be working side by side for months? If you keep offering, I’ll eventually take you up on it. One of us would get hurt—it never fails. It would probably be you. Once it goes South, you’ll leave, and that would be bad for the dig. But I’m only a man, and I can find another assistant when you leave.”
“You’re not serious. You wouldn’t risk losing me and you’ll never follow through on this ridiculous come-on of yours.”
“No? You honestly believe I’m not up to a summer fling?” He squeezed his eyes shut and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Or even one night?”
“I don’t think that’s your style. You’d like to pretend it is, but I think the reason you aren’t involved with anyone…”
“I don’t give a damn what you think. You don’t know me.”
He took her hand in his and she tried to pull away, shocked by his unexpected movement. He grabbed it again, more surely, and brought it to his lips, brushing them delicately on the back of her hand, then on her palm, briefly running the tip of his warm tongue in a suggestive circle that set her nerve endings tingling. Tam inhaled quickly. He released her hand and looked into her eyes, challenging her to respond in some way. A slow smile crept to his lips, to his eyes.
SinJin held her gaze, never faltering. He kept staring as the waiter appeared and he ordered for them both. Tam’s hands shook as she fumbled to close the menu.
“Stop it! Get that look off your face.”
“I don’t think so. You started it. What kind of professional are you, Dr. Martin? Don’t finish a job once you start it?” His voice was dark and low.
“You shouldn’t be doing this. I’m not…I wasn’t…”
“Not serious? Wasn’t it a few hours ago that I had my hand on your bare ass, rubbing it slick with lotion, moving up and down your inner thighs? I thought I saw you squirm a little. I’m quite positive it was you squeezing my nipples, stroking my chest, moving down my stomach towards my cock, which as I recall, was throbbing rather fiercely for you. Did I imagine that?”
Tam blushed furiously. He hadn’t lowered his voice, and the couple next to them had heard every word he had said. SinJin snickered when the woman smiled broadly at Tam and winked. Tam took a quick swig of wine and he refilled her glass.
“Well, Tam. Was that you on the beach? The girl with the huge breasts in my face, nipples pleading for my touch, back arched to show them off. Fairly proud of those tits, aren’t you?” His voice was lower now, and she knew she was in deep trouble. She met his gaze, which still hadn’t left her face. His eyes were dark, dark pools. He ran his tongue along his lower lip and Tam took in a breath, feeling as if his tongue had actually licked her. He had an evil smirk on his face as he whispered, “Read my mind.” SinJin’s face was pure, raw, desire. Smoldering, on fire. He was gorgeous, perfect, sexy. She was soaking wet and throbbing.
“What did you want on the beach, Tam, when you were rubbing me? Did you want to take my cock in your hand? Or in your mouth? Sure it would fit? No, not so sure, are you? Or did you want me to slide my hand down your stomach and rub your wet pussy?”
“Stop!” She jumped up. SinJin pulled her back down and then went about the business of eating his appetizer, as if nothing had happened. He laughed lightly through the meal, glancing in her direction to ensure she was still aware of him, flustered, hot.
“That was really cruel, Professor,” she finally managed. The sun had begun to set and the sky was flaring gorgeous shades of pink and red. He had chosen a romantic spot. They had skipped the romance, she thought, and had gone right to the heart of the matter. She was shattered, barely able to sit still. Soaking wet, breathing heavily, exactly how he wanted her. Oh God, she hadn’t expected this battering of her senses. The Professor, the loner, the genius, the centerfold. Which one was he?
“Professor, if you were my employee, you would be so fired.”
“I don’t think so.” He did a great imitation of her. She smiled despite herself and met his gaze. He smiled back, and she felt a bit more relaxed. He’d simply been teasing her, getting back at her for the beach, for pushing him.
“Guess I had it coming. All right, we’re even.”
He reached over, ran his thumb along her bottom lip, and pushed it slightly into her mouth. “Not by a long shot. You rolled the dice, Dr. Martin. You are free to leave my employ at any time. But you changed the rules, and if you stay, you’ll have to live by those rules now. The gloves are off. What were you thinking?” He snickered. “That I was a virgin? That just because I’ve devoted myself to work I don’t remember how to fuck?”
She shook her head and looked at the table. “No, I didn’t think that.”
“One more thing.”
“Geez. There’s more?”
He laughed. “Yes.” He pulled his chair even closer to hers and spoke softly into her ear. His breath was hot, sending chills through her. “I haven’t been with a woman in two years, Tam. I know what you’re thinking—poor SinJin. His wife died and he’s been grieving for all this time, not able to touch another woman. Right?” She nodded, reluctantly acknowledging he was correct. “Don’t get me wrong, it felt like that for a while. But Laura was leaving me, and we hadn’t been together for over a year. It wasn’t my baby.” His voice was becoming darker with each sentence. “And do you know why she was leaving me?”
Tam shook her head, feeling as if she would cry any moment.
“She was leaving me because she hated Cozmano, hated Pacal, hated archaeology, and hated me. Do you know why she hated me? Because Pacal came first, and she came second. Pacal will always come first. That’s why I’ll never settle down with a woman. That’s what makes me a beast.”
“No it doesn’t.” She was barely audible. “If Pacal were mine, nothing would be more important.” He pushed back in his chair, looking incredibly confused.
“You don’t mean that. No woman could feel such passi
on for my site.”
“It’s my site too now. I felt passion for it the moment I saw it.” And for you, St. John Twaine.
He took in a deep breath and looked at her closely. “Well, Pacal is partly yours, I suppose. Just a very, very tiny part of it, understand?”
She smiled weakly. “I know. Why else would I put up with you?”
“Ah. That’s right, I’m your meal ticket to fame and fortune.”
His eyes betrayed his disappointment.
“No.” She reached up to his face and rubbed her hand along his jaw. “I want my piece of Pacal, that’s true.”
SinJin turned away.
“Listen to me, Professor. How could I not want to be a part of Pacal?”
“Of course.” He nodded quickly, waving her off to change the subject.
“No, SinJin. I’m not finished. There’s something else I want. How could I not want a piece of you? A woman would have to be dead not to want you. But you are the weirdest guy I’ve ever met and you actually do scare me a little. You have pretty high standards. I don’t know if I can satisfy you.”
“Satisfy me? Are we talking about work or sex?”
“Well, there’s the impossibly demanding excavation director.”
“And?” He arched a brow in question.
“My lover.”
“Isn’t that a little presumptuous. All we’ve managed is a bit of childish flirtation.”
“Maybe premature, Professor. Presumptuous, no, I don’t think so.”
SinJin sat back and groaned. “How did you turn this around again? You’re very talented, Doctor Martin.”
“That remains to be seen.”
Tam toasted her glass against his, wondering if she had lost her mind. Falling for the Ivy League Beast. And probably headed towards looking for a new job when it went south, which he promised it would.
Chapter Six
SinJin glanced at Tam, who was fretting over a fingernail as she looked out the window of the Land Rover. The stunt on the beach had been all bluster. She didn’t know what she wanted. Should he let it go for now? His body ached and his cock still throbbed. And he needed something more from her. He couldn’t put his finger on it. SinJin shook off the feeling—ridiculous. What could he need from her besides a good lay? God, he felt like a damned teenager. Maybe he should ask her to go steady first, he laughed to himself. Stall, SinJin. If you make a real move, if she falls into bed with you, you might lose her. Pacal needs her more than your cock does. Think about this.
“One last drink,” he asked as they made their way up to the porch.
“How many does this make today?” Tam laughed. “I’ve lost count.”
“I don’t think I’ve actually finished any of them.” He grabbed two glasses and a bottle of wine from the living room and brought them to the porch bench. They sat in silence, listening to the jungle noises. SinJin was surprised how comfortable it felt to have her next to him, how comfortable he was sharing his refuge with a woman again.
“Quite a spot you have here, Professor. And all to yourself.”
“Yes, I’m usually alone here this time of day. This is my ritual, sitting here, mulling over the dig while I listen to the night noises of the jungle. Sometimes I think I hear the growl of a wild animal, fancy it’s a jaguar. But as I said, we archaeologists are all romantics.” He sighed, wondering why his evenings alone now seemed rather pathetic as he spoke about them. “It is quite a spot.”
“I’m jealous. How old is this house? When did you buy it?”
“It was my father’s. This was a small plantation over a century ago. The area west here was all cultivated, but it’s grown back. My parents came here often, back when there wasn’t a resort within fifty miles.”
“He wasn’t an archaeologist, though?”
“Oh, hell no. Thought archaeology was for hacks. For people who couldn’t make it in business.”
“And did you ever try? To make it in business? His business?”
SinJin stole a sideways glance at her. “Why are you interested? Why am I telling you?”
“You’re interesting. Or hadn’t you figured that out? You’ve been down here too long, Professor. You need a little perspective. You’re the stuff of legends back home. You do realize that?”
“I go back once in a while. I’m not that eccentric, Tam, not a complete recluse. People like Mayan archaeology. They spend a week at a Cancun resort, spend a day at Chichen Itza, and think they understand. They love to listen to me talk about antiquity. But I hate those lectures. They crave stories of mystery and majesty, have no real interest in the nuts and bolts of the field.”
“Oh, come on. You can’t hate it that much. You’re the best at sharing your research, of making it understandable to the public.”
“Perhaps I hate that they attach the mystery to me. It’s silly.”
“Oh, I see. Lots of women after Indiana Jones, eh? No one loves poor SinJin for himself. If he were pumping gas, no one would even notice him.”
“Drop the psychoanalysis, Tam, it’s not your strong suit.”
“Oops, a little close for comfort. Listen, Professor, you know you’re exquisite, brilliant, and successful. Why are you alone here? What’s the problem?”
“Who says there’s a problem?” What is the problem, he thought, lifting his glass to his lips.
“So, Dad was a businessman. And Mom?” Tam wasn’t giving up.
“She was a saint. She could have done so much better than him. And maybe she would have, but I came along.”
“And did she like Cozmano?”
“Loved it. She wanted to live here permanently. She was the one who really adored Mexico, and ancient cultures. When other kids were going to the park, she was dragging me to museums and archaeological sites. Greece, Italy, Egypt.” He sighed. “I suppose I’m living her dream.”
“You miss her terribly.”
He didn’t comment, didn’t need to.
“Well, she had good taste. I can’t imagine why anyone would ever want to leave this place. It has a feel of…I don’t know the word for it?”
“Rightness.”
“Rightness. That’s it exactly. The house, the jungle, the sounds, the smells, the region. It’s perfect. I really am jealous.”
As a matter of fact, he thought, it’s more than right with her here. It’s perfect. He finally knew what he wanted from her, and it stunned him. He wanted her to stay, to sit with him on this porch, to be by his side at the site, to lay with him, to be his friend.
“I suppose I have become a beast. Why don’t you seem to mind?”
Then he did the unthinkable. He held her hand. SinJin closed his eyes, terrified she would pull away, laugh at him. She did neither. SinJin felt electricity run through his hand, all his nerve endings lit up. He saw Tam look at him in surprise and closed his eyes.
“Professor, do you know how complicated you are? And how wonderful? You are simply wonderful.”
“Tam.” He turned, looked into her lovely blue eyes, and felt the world fall away, as if they were the only two souls on the planet. He moved to kiss her, but she didn’t give him a chance. She rose and left him alone on the bench.
Shit. So she did scare, but not with threats and insults. No, he’d scared her by holding her hand. He finished his drink and ran his hand through his hair, suddenly tired. At least he knew where he stood, and they’d go on tomorrow as if nothing happened, as if nothing mattered but Pacal and archaeology. It’s best this way, SinJin. Get over it.
He entered the house, pulling the door closed behind him. Then he saw that her bedroom door was open, revealing the flickering of a candle against the wall. He looked in. She sat on the bed, still fully dressed. She met his eyes and smiled nervously.
“Close the door, Professor.” He pulled it shut and sat next to her.
“What’s going on, Tam? You’re confusing the hell out of me.”
“I am just a little afraid of you. You’re a hard guy to understand.”
&nb
sp; “Then why invite me in? Dr. Martin, do you really want me here?”
“Yes, I want you here. Very badly, in fact.”
“To keep your job? I don’t work that way.”
“Nor do I. Give me some credit.”
“Then?”
She tentatively ran one finger down his cheek, to his neck, and down his chest. He caught her hand quickly.
“Tam, I’m not sure this is a good idea.”
“Do you care?”
Oh, God, yes I care. I don’t want to ruin whatever chance I have to make you stay with me.
He pushed her back onto the bed and bent over her, brushing his hand through her silky pale hair. When he moved closer to her, let his body meet hers, the thrill made it hard to think. Come on, SinJin, keep your wits about you.
“I have to care. I’m responsible for the site, and in a way, for you. You’re my assistant, but you’re not my assistant for life. You have your whole career ahead of you. I don’t want to interfere with that, or with this season.” You fucking liar, SinJin.
Tam’s eyes grew misty, and he wondered if she were about to cry, but she smiled wanly and nodded. “One night. I don’t want more than that. In the morning, we’re director and assistant. No strings, no questions. We’ll just get it out of our system. Hey, it might not even be that good! Then it’s back to kicking ass at the site. I’m not a student anymore, and you’re not my professor, SinJin. You can’t get in trouble. It’s a win-win, right? One night.”
“I see.” SinJin felt a wave of unfamiliar panic rush to his brain. ‘One night. I don’t want more than that.’ But I do, damn it. Could he be so fucking amazing in bed that she’d change her mind? He hadn’t been enough for Laura. His heart sank. Laura. She’d taken a lover—what did that say about him? What hope did he have with this goddess looking up at him, this bombshell?
“What chance do I have of ruining you for any other man?”
“Such an ego.” She laughed, but he caught her laugh with a kiss and it turned to a moan. Heaven. She was heaven. The taste of dark wine; the smell of sun, skin, and soap. Tam grabbed his hair and deepened the kiss. She took control, and he let her, stunned at how he enjoyed letting go, letting her guide the kiss. The way she used her tongue, her teeth, her lips, to steal his breath away—he’d never encountered eroticism like hers. He returned her passion and doubled it, exploring her lips and tongue, groaning as the kiss hardened his cock, as she moaned in response. They both panted and lavished one another with quick pecks and nibbles.