by Avery Aster
He’s still haunted. Still barely able to control whatever it is that makes him angry. I have to go.
Once out the room, I rush to the front entry to get my long robe. I hear Ryder’s voice. “Tessa,” he calls after me.
The blond stares at me. “Is something wrong?”
“I—nothing’s wrong. He’s my ex and he wants to reconcile and I’m not ready.”
The woman nods. She points to a door. “Go in there. It’s one of the Master’s private rooms. I will tell Mr. King that you’ve gone to your room and don’t want to be disturbed.”
I nod. Wrapping my coat around me, I slip into the room. I turn on the light, revealing a sitting room filled with comfortable leather couches and old-fashioned wing chairs.
I sit. I assume the receptionist will tell me when Ryder has gone.
It’s only after a few minutes that I look up. The room has a soaring ceiling, two storeys tall. Now I realize a mezzanine overlooks the space where I’m sitting.
Up there, it is dark, but I sense someone is standing there. Light glints on something gold. A watch on a man’s wrist? Open-mouthed, I stare upward. Now I can distinguish the figure in the shadows. A man in a dark, elegant business suit. The Master? He’s tall and broad-shouldered. That’s all I can tell from the figure I see in the gloom.
“Hello?” I call out. “You must be wondering why I’m here.”
“I know exactly why you are here, Ms. Tate,” the man says. I hear the trace of an exotic accent. Then he retreats.
“Hello?” I repeat.
There’s no answer. I stand up, then the door opens and Natalie walks in. “Mr. King has left. Do you wish someone to escort you to your room?”
I shake my head. “I’m fine.” I panicked, I think, because I want to go back to Ryder. I want to throw away my demand that he tell me about his past. But I know it won’t work if I do that.
I go up to my room.
* * *
I gasp the moment I open my door. Dark red roses fill my room. Vases of them stand on every surface. A bundle with a velvet ribbon lies on my bed. Slowly, I take in everything that is now in my room.
Oh. My. God.
Not only is the room filled with gorgeous flowers. My own private, decadent, chocolate dessert feast had been brought in on a trolley. In the center, a chocolate fountain pours just for me and it’s surrounded by trays of fresh melon, berries, cookies, even bacon, for dipping in the flowing chocolate.
There is a note:
Ryder is trying to win you with dungeons. I’m fighting for you with decadence. I would give you everything you desire. I’ve fought my way to the top—what I want now is love and a family. The only goal in my world is to fight for you. I will see you tomorrow, Tessa.
Xavier
There is wine too. Bottles of red and white, already opened.
Nerves make me drink too much—after four glasses, I’m giddy. And I eat way too much chocolate. I start to feel a bit sick. I’ve overdone the decadence.
Xavier wants to give me so much. He makes me want to surrender to him, and let him do everything so I don’t have to worry about stuff. But it was my vow to be independent and not rely on anyone. I saw how much my mom struggled after Dad left us.
When I look at Ryder, I’m flooded by memories of how much I loved him.
I have to know which man I love. I have to figure it out.
And since Ryder had me for the evening, Xavier gets me in the day tomorrow.
* * *
Next morning I discover Xavier arranged a spa visit for me. Rodney escorts me to Eden’s gorgeous spa. I recognize one of the women working there. She is the black-haired beauty who was talking intensely to Xavier at the pool. Another Eden employee is talking to her—a good-looking man named Caine. Obviously, he’s interested in her.
Xavier has instructed them to treat me like royalty, and he left a note to tell me he will meet me later. First I relax in an outdoor natural pool with a glass of wine, then I lie down on one of the spa beds, my butt covered by a towel, and I’m massaged by expert female hands.
Sometimes Ryder would massage me while my wrists and ankles were tied up and that was erotic. But he would rub me sensually, and he would kiss my skin. This is a therapeutic massage. At first, I feel like I’m being pulled apart.
Then I start to relax.
After the massage, my hair is highlighted, cut, and ironed until it is stick-straight and flows around my shoulders. Two people give me a manicure and pedicure.
Lunch—a delicious salad with grilled shrimp—is served to me on a terrace overlooking the lagoon. I can’t believe a whole morning has gone by.
Decadence is addictive. Especially when you don’t overdo it and don’t eat too much chocolate.
After lunch, I am alone on the terrace, sipping wine, when Xavier arrives.
He holds out his hand. “Come with me.”
I let him lead me. He takes me through the spa, outside, to the pool.
Every other day, the pool is filled with people. Today it’s deserted except for us.
Ryder has always been my Dom, but I realize Xavier is also naturally commanding and dominant. In business, he’s tough and smart. I never saw him fight, but I know he was brutally tough in the octagon. He was driven to win and he once told me it took effort to control himself—to ensure that when he fought, he was using his head, not his emotions. When he explained that, I realized that was how it felt when Ryder fought. I was terrified Ryder would destroy his opponent if his control actually snapped.
Suddenly I realize Ryder and Xavier are going to have an actual fight on Saturday.
Suddenly, I’m scared.
Since Ryder feels like he’s fighting for me, maybe he could lose control. And if Xavier loses control, will he fight with all his ruthless fury?
Xavier undoes my robe. “Want to go skinny dipping?”
I look around in panic.
“I paid to reserve the pool exclusively for us, Tessa.”
The Master must love their quarrel over me—he must be making a lot of money.
“If we’re swimming naked, you go first,” I say.
He inclines his head. Then strips off his shoes, socks, dress slacks, and pulls off his shirt. His silk boxers follow—I have a feeling his underwear cost a mint. He takes off his watch, sets it down on a lounge chair. To do that, he flashes his bare, hard, muscled ass.
He dives into the water in a graceful motion.
Now I have to follow.
I’m naked under the robe, so I let it drop and jump in.
Warm water surrounds me. Xavier swims over to me, coming to me in two powerful strokes. He draws me to him so my legs encircle his waist.
With water running from his black hair, off his high cheekbones, his sculpted lips, he’s gorgeous. I lean in for the kiss.
His mouth takes mine.
This is so hard! They both kiss so incredibly. Both he and Ryder are sooooo hot.
I realize Xavier held something in his hand. When I see it’s a condom packet, I giggle. He’s naked so of course he had nowhere to put it. He hoists his lean, powerful body out of the water. With his ass on the side of the pool, he rolls his condom on.
I love to watch him do it. I love the familiarity he has with his own huge hard-on. The sight of his big hands on his even huger cock makes me ache.
Not even making a ripple, he slips back into the water. I swim to him.
“I’d love to bring you back here for our honeymoon. Have every minute of your time just for me.” His voice is husky, raw. He lifts my legs and I feel his erection pressing against me.
Even though I was well fucked last night, I want this.
I hook my arms around his neck and he puts one hand under my ass. With his other, he guides his thick cock into me.
Oh yes.
The water makes us float. I feel like I’m dancing in the water, sliding up and down his pole of a prick.
He kisses my lips. My nipples. His finger strokes my ass.
>
Oh, it is so good.
“Tessa,” he growls. “I can’t hold on. Fuck—” His fingers come down and rub my clit and the sensation is—
Oh God, I can’t describe it.
I’m melting, dissolving into steam.
Xavier shouts, “Fuck, Tessa, you’re perfect.” Then his hips jolt against mine.
We come together. In perfect unison.
I’m so weak and dizzy I slide off him and almost go under the water. Xavier lifts me, carries me out of the pool.
We make love two more times by the pool on one of the deck chairs. After, when I get dressed, I’m almost too worn out from orgasms to move.
Xavier and I have dinner. After that, I go upstairs to change. My hair is all wild curls now, from getting wet. My nails still look fabulous. I have one tiny diamond on one nail. I noticed the special diamond manicure on the list—but there was no price. Expensive, I guess. One of those ‘if you have to ask, you can’t afford it’ things.
My whole day was priceless.
I made love to Ryder and Xavier in less than twenty-four hours, but I am no closer to solving my dilemma.
There is a brochure on the table in my bedroom. It’s new. A sticky note is attached. It reads:
Attractions at Eden that might please you.
It is signed, The Master, T. Vardalos.
There are the usual items: snorkling, deep sea scuba diving, swimming, sports, dancing, and a casino.
Where did Vardalos fit all this stuff on Eden? From the air, it didn’t look to be a large island. Yet I’ve walked around for two days and when I’m actually on the ground, the island seems endless.
Maybe that’s part of it being in the Bermuda Triangle. Maybe when I walk, I am moving through time and space. Maybe I’m popping through a wormhole and that’s why the island feels so much bigger than it appears on the map.
I laugh. That’s crazy.
Then the last item almost jumps off the brochure.
I can have my future read by Eden’s fortune teller, using various methods including tarot cards.
I’ve never totally discounted fortune telling. After all, the geeky part of me wants to believe there is something mysterious about the Triangle.
I guess I like the idea of it and the drama that it would involve if it were real. If you really could see someone’s future, would you tell them everything? What if you saw something bad?
Tomorrow I’m going to have my fortune read.
But tonight…
An hour later, I am in the dungeon again with Ryder and he ties me up with incredible skill. He’s never done anything like this before. The white ropes are a work of art against my skin.
He takes me to four orgasms with his cock and a huge dildo, which he slicks down with oil and slides deeply into my ass.
I love double penetration.
When he comes, he howls in pleasure and usually he has more control. I’m thrilled I did that to him.
After, around midnight, Ryder escorts me to my door. He kisses the red marks on my wrists. “I love you, Tessa.”
I hesitate. Who else would spend hours tying me up, patiently making me come again and again? “I love you too, Ryder. I always will.”
“You mean even if you are with Xavier, there will always be a tender spot in your heart for me. Not good enough. I want you, body and soul. I need you.”
Then he leaves me.
Before seeing Ryder, I phoned home to wish Jakey good night. I keep thinking of the days when Jakey was a baby and Ryder and I were together. Confused and exhausted, I collapse into bed. But I wake up an hour later, heart thundering.
Oh Lord. I dreamed Jakey was lost, that I was hunting for him everywhere and couldn’t find him.
* * *
The next morning, I go to Eden’s fortune teller. I guess I expect something over the top and tacky, like beads in the doorway or bright colored drapes and a crystal ball on a table.
Instead, I am brought into a shadowy but elegant room. Like so many of the women working at the resort, my fortune teller is young and very beautiful.
She gives me a welcoming smile. “I am Cass.”
I realize she has turned her head toward me to smile, but she isn’t looking at me. Her hands move and she brings out cards. Her fingers move over them. In the light, I see they have bumps on them.
She is blind.
But it doesn’t affect how she works. Cass is able to see many things about my past. So many things I wonder if Ryder or Xavier told her stuff so that she could use it if I came to see her.
Does that mean she will see me in a future with one of them? Which one will it be? I wonder if Ryder or Xavier wanted Vardalos to direct me here.
I ask her to do Tarot cards for me. I’ve always been fascinated by them. She lays them out in a pattern. She frowns as she explores the cards. I don’t understand—the characters on them look innocuous. There aren’t any death type cards, I don’t think. But she looks concerned.
Then she turns over two cards with male figures. “These men will be in your future.”
“Two men are supposed to be in my future? Or do you mean right now. I do have two men like that in my life here on Eden.”
“I see these two men entwined with your future, Ms. Tate.”
“I’m supposed to choose one of them.”
She shakes her head. “No, not that.” She frowns. Her hands caress the cards. “There’s something else. I—I can’t see it clearly. There’s danger—”
She breaks off, startled. I think she was just reacting to what she saw or felt. This can’t be made up—no one would want to hear they would be facing danger on their vacation in paradise.
My heart thumping, I ask, “What kind of danger? What’s wrong?”
“I—I don’t know. It’s a sense I have. I sense grave danger. Not directly to you, but to someone you love.”
Now I’m scared. I get up and tell her to put the charge against my room number. Then I hurry—as fast as I can in high heels and a sundress—to the reception desk and beg Rodney to put a call through to my mother. Mom quickly reassures me that everything is fine.
“Are you sure? Absolutely sure nothing’s wrong? Jakey’s okay?”
“Everything is fine. Now, I have to go and get Jakey his snack.”
“I’d like to say hi to him.”
When I hear his little voice over the phone, my throat tightens. Excitedly, he tells me Rob Stanton gave him some old Hot Wheels. A bright purple motorcycle that is called a ‘chopper,’ and a black truck with cool flames.
I sigh. I have no idea how to get Rob to stop doing this. “Have fun today, Jakey,” I say.
“I will! We’re goin’ to the park. Good bye, Mommy. I love you!” Then he makes a kissing noise.
I make one back, trying not to cry. Mom comes back on. We say goodbye and I hear the phone click.
The next thing I hear is Ryder’s deep, husky voice ask, “Tessa, what’s wrong?”
I turn and I’m eye-to-chest with him. His strong arms go around me, but I move out of his embrace. Shakily, I hang up the hotel phone.
“Fuck, what is it?” Ryder begs.
I walk away from the desk, toward a paned window that overlooks a garden.
“Nothing,” I say. “Everything is fine. I just—I went to see the fortune teller and what she told me is not what I expected.”
“What did she tell you?”
I laugh nervously. “That someone I love is in grave danger.”
“She probably wanted you to pay more to find out what the ‘danger’ is.”
I shake my head. “It wasn’t like that. I felt she was upset, too. I don’t think this was made up. It’s real. So I phoned home. But Jakey and Mom are okay, thank goodness.” I hesitate, looking desperately into his blue-green eyes. “Should I warn her?”
Xavier comes up behind Ryder. “But there is definitely no trouble? Nothing to worry about?” He must have overheard everything.
“Everything is good.” Then
I look over Xavier’s shoulder and realize Ryder has instructed Rodney to call home. I listen as Ryder talks to Mom, tells her to be careful. He tells her about my experience with the fortune teller. “I don’t believe in it,” he says. “But Tessa’s rattled.”
He hangs up the phone. “Your mother is going to be extra careful and watch out. I didn’t want to scare her too much.” Ryder’s fingers reach out and gently stroke my right hand. “Did the fortune teller tell you which one you’re going to choose—Xavier or me?” For all he speaks jokingly, Ryder still looks concerned.
“She said she saw…two men in my future. That my future is entwined with two men.”
Ryder’s long lashes blink. “Tessa, you can’t love both of us the same.” He scrubs his hand over his hair. “You have to love one of us more.”
“It’s not so easy.”
“I was a fucking idiot,” Ryder growls. “I should have never let you go.”
Xavier approaches me from behind. Facing Ryder. He slips his arms around my waist and his lips brush my left ear, bared because I’ve pulled my hair over my other shoulder. He lets out a soft breath over my ear that makes me tingle.
“You know what we have to do,” he says to Ryder. “We have to fight for her for real. Whoever wins Saturday night—”
“That is ridiculous and barbaric. I told you I refuse to accept that,” I protest.
“I think we need to compete for Tessa together.”
I’ve had a night of bondage with Ryder, decadent sex and an incredible spa treatment from Xavier. Deep down in my heart, I think I might be a little bit more in love with one of them than the other.
But I can’t say it. Because I’m just not sure.
“Isn’t that what you’re already doing?” I ask.
Ryder’s turquoise eyes gaze into mine. “What Malone is trying to say is that we think you could compare us better if we’re making love to you at the same time.”
“The same time?” I repeat the words in a kind of daze. They don’t really mean—
They couldn’t?
Do they?
“A threesome,” Xavier says huskily.
I step out of Xavier’s embrace and he lets me go. I whirl around. “A threesome?”
“Tessa, if you claim to love us both equally, it means one of two things,” he says. “Either you don’t really love either of us. Or you want us both. You want both of us making love to you at once.” He steps closer. His white linen shirt contrasts with his sun-bronzed skin. I want to put my lips in the V neck of his shirt and lick him there. At the same time, I want to do the same to Ryder. I want to lick and taste him in just the same place.