by C. M. Steele
I creep through the beach house, and then I see the phone right on the table near the door. A notepad next to it says “The Jamison Hotel.” Shit, but it looks like someone’s staying here. Didn’t they say it was available? On the chair is a suit jacket. I call out and get no answer. I shouldn’t be in here, but I don’t really have anywhere else to go and the storm is too close for comfort. That last lightning strike was more than enough for me. I’ve watched too many nature shows to know it’s a bad idea to stay out in the open.
I walk into the living room and see a phone charger, so I throw up a silent thank you. Luckily, it fits my phone and I plug it in while I look around to see if someone’s here. I could have sworn a flash of movement came from the porch. I reach the front door and open it. Hmm…There’s a bag of food sitting on the mat. I bring in the bag so it doesn’t get drenched as the rain shifts direction, soaking the deck. I close the door and then turn, freezing immediately from the sight before me.
Chapter Two
Jamison
A tingling on the back of my neck takes me by surprise. I shake it off and talk to Marco about the upcoming weather alert. As I make my way to the meeting, I feel something pulling my attention. Instead of checking it out, I decide to go into my meeting with the maintenance man because we’re due to have some issues if the storm tonight turns violent. Our backup generators have been inspected last week, but bad weather can be dangerous to our guests.
About ten minutes into the meeting, I can’t let go of that feeling so I excuse myself, which takes them by surprise. I walk out into the lobby, but there’s nothing going on. In fact, the lobby’s empty except for my front desk manager, Nicole—a woman that I only keep employed because there are very few women in town and she’s good at her job. A pretty woman brings business. There’s no other way to put it; even if it’s wrong, it’s the truth.
Although, I find her a bit too aggressive when it comes to her platitudes toward me. She’s just as bad as the guests that she tries to keep away from me. I get hit on at least once or twice a week during Spring Break season, which starts next week.
Feeling frustrated, I return to the meeting which drags on, and I can’t get the feeling out of my head that I’ve missed something important. I walk up to Nicole and ask, “Did anything crazy happen in the lobby today around the time I was here?”
“Sorry, sir. I don’t remember anything special,” she practically purrs, puffing her chest out, looking to get my attention. It’s nothing new, but it’s getting out of hand. “Is there something I could take care of for you?”
“No. Thanks,” I sigh. She doesn’t think I hear the huff she gives me, but I do and make a mental note to have my guys keep tabs on her. I could just see her trying to sneak into my villa.
My phone pings for my security at home, catching me off guard. The cameras and silent alert go off as a woman crosses my property line. I zoom in, and that racing tingle shoots through my nerves. She was here earlier. I know it, feel it in my bones. Long, dark brown hair with natural sun-kissed highlights frame her face as the ocean breeze whips it around. She brushes it behind her ears, but it just continues to come free.
I want to ask Nicole about this angel, but for some reason, I don’t want to share my woman with anyone. I storm into the security office just as Marco reaches me. “Sir, we have an issue at your villa.”
“I know. Leave it be,” I bite out, turning to Benson at the security desk. “Take a break.”
“Um…I just got back.” He’s an honest guy and a good man, but I don’t give two fucks at the moment.
“I said, take a break,” I bark out, repeating my orders.
“Okay,” he stammers, getting out of his seat as if the next refusal will cost him his job. It will cost him more than that. I’m ready to bust anyone’s head who keeps me from finding my woman. It’s almost insane how my mood has shifted. In fact it most certainly is crazy.
“Watch the regular cameras. I need to check something,” I mutter, taking a seat and pulling up the lobby feed that points from behind the desk to the front of the lobby. Scrolling back to when we should have been in the lobby, I anxiously glue my attention to the screen. She’s standing at the front desk, waiting to be addressed when she turns her head and stares in my direction. I knew it.
“Who are you, and what are you doing, you little trespasser?” I ask, watching her for another minute, mesmerized by her beauty.
“Let’s go.” There’s a knock at the door, and Benson’s just on time. I open it and let him in. “Come on, Marco. I need to go home.” Addressing Benson, I add, “Keep an eye on Nicole and see that she doesn’t give any other guests any attitude.”
“Yes, sir.” He nods and moves to the seat that I’ve just vacated.
Marco and I quickly exit the hotel from an employee entrance so I’m not accosted by the front desk, needing me for something. My mind is singularly focused. “The young woman is the same on the cameras,” he points out as a matter of fact. I knew he was watching my screen.
“Yes, she is.”
“Is she why you’re acting peculiar?”
“Peculiar?”
“I mean, you’re never rude to anyone that works here, and you nearly bit Benson’s head off and kicked him out of his station for a minute of privacy. It’s not you, especially leaving this morning’s meeting without an emergency.”
“I suppose so, then. I have to know who she is.” I watch my home cameras as Marco takes me from my hotel to the villa on the other side. Normally, I would walk the short distance, but after seeing that little beauty sneaking onto my private beach as if she didn’t see the signs that said this area was off limits and under surveillance, I had to get there as soon as humanly possible. We pull into the drive, and I tell Marco to take a hike. I’m not afraid of the petite little thing. If she’s like any of the women I’ve met in my life, she wants to find a way to sneak in my bed. As pissed as I should be, I’m not. Surprisingly, I’m intrigued—very intrigued.
“She could be trying to find a reason to get a hold of your assets,” he reminds me. It’s not the first time I’ve had little women looking to get my attention, but I’m not a fool. I sent them packing with nothing but a warning to keep off my property. Hell, sometimes, I left it to Marco to handle. I’m a billionaire and I live a quiet yet busy life that doesn’t involve distractions until now.
“She can have them,” I grunt under my breath.
“Huh?”
“Don’t worry. Everything’s fine. My little trespasser isn’t going to get anything that isn’t coming to her.” I smile and wave my hand off. “Have a good night, but first, pick up my dinner. I’d like enough for two tonight. I plan on having a guest,” I say with a devious smirk.” He nods and turns on his heel back to my Mercedes. He probably thinks I’m crazy, but he’s wise enough not to say shit. “Oh, and Marco, please just leave it on the porch.”
“Yes, Jamison.” He nods and leaves. We’ve known each other for three years, and he’s the best I’ve ever had work for me.
Now to the business of my sleeping beauty. She’d fallen asleep under the largest palm tree by the house, wisely protecting her porcelain skin from the sun. I hope she used some sunblock on her perfection because I’d really hate for her to burn.
I step out back and watch for a few minutes, cataloging her beauty. Greedily, I snap a couple of pictures on my phone and admire her beauty. Her lips are slightly parted as she lets out the softest bit of a snore. I itch to scoop her up and carry her to my bed and let her sleep in the cool comfort of central air. My eyes rake over her, thinking she’s exposing too much.
What if it wasn’t me who found her sleeping, but some sick fuck? Who am I kidding? I am a sick fuck. The second I saw her, I knew I wanted to do every wicked thing I could to her. I’d run my hands down her long, sandy brown hair and drag her mouth to mine, crushing it in a deep kiss until she confessed her reasons for sneaking onto my property.
As I imagine tracing my hands down her bo
dy, I notice the scrape on her knee. It’s fresh. Looking around, I don’t see anything but her phone. I pick it up off the sand while doing my best to be quiet. Stepping away, I power it on. It’s nearly dead, but I have a charger for it in the house. I’ll make sure to leave it in plain sight.
Just as it comes to life, a text message comes in. Sandy, where are you? Call me. Text me. The message is from a bastard named Charles. Her name is Sandy. I wonder if it’s short for Sandra, or maybe something else, but I don’t want to call her Sandy. That bastard killed it for me.
Snarling, I consider my reply because I sure as fuck don’t want her to answer this fuck head, but the damn thing beeps and shuts off. Son of a bitch. I want to wake her up and demand she tell me who this guy is. Instead, I set her phone down and shoot a text to Marco.
I need to hit the gym. Keep an eye on the back. Let me know if she moves.
Yes, sir. Food in an hour.
Good. Thanks.
I hit the home gym, knocking the heavy bag around until I let the searing jealousy leave my bones. Once I’m done, I check on sleeping beauty. She’s still out cold, which is good for now. After my shower, I’ll make sure to carry her inside before I interrogate the criminal who stole my fucking heart. The one I didn’t know I had.
Marco doesn’t message me, which means my pearl is about to be dug out of the sand the second I get out of the shower. I enter the bathroom and lean my phone on the sink so I can see if she moves. Making my shower quick, I scrub off the sweat, but I’m not fast enough. It starts storming, and my girl is on the move. Marco pings my phone several times, so I pop out and wrap a towel around my waist. I make it to the front hall to see my sweet girl with the food bag in her hand.
She stops in place, staring at me with wide eyes. “Hello, sweetheart. What have you got there?”
She raises the bag to eye level. “Room service?” Her response sends fucked-up images to my brain.
Her mouth parts into a perfect circle and thoughts of her on her knees flood my mind, making my dick jerk under the towel and grabbing her attention. She licks her lips, and I’m about to nut on myself. “As tempting as that idea is, I’d like to know why you’re in my home before I fuck your pretty lips.”
“What? I don’t know what you’re talking about?” She flusters, turning bright pink.
“Don’t play games with me, sweetheart. Why are you creeping through my house?” I press my hands on my hips, which is probably not the smartest decision because her eyes go back to my cock which it likes very much.
“Honestly, I didn’t know anyone lived here. I was seeking shelter. I promise I’ll leave. I’m going to call my—”
I can’t let her finish and say his name, so I interrupt. “You’re not leaving yet. It’s storming out there. Besides, you’re soaking wet.” Taking her hand, I drag her toward my bedroom, but then she nearly stumbles, and I remember her injured knee. Swiftly, I scoop her up in my arms.
“Oh my goodness. You don’t have to carry me.”
“You’re hurt, sweetheart.” I set her on the vanity and pull out the first aid kit from the drawer under her legs. “How did that happen?” I ask as I wipe her scrape with an alcohol swab. She pauses to answer because I’m sure it stings. “I’m sorry. The antibiotic cream won’t hurt.”
She smiles at me, and that does something to my insides. Little miss has me so wrapped around her finger and she doesn’t even know it. “I’m Cassandra, by the way.” Cassandra. Perfect.
“I’m Jamison Cain. Tell me what happened to your beautiful leg?”
“On my way to the beach I was knocked down by a bike messenger and then mugged by another man.”
“What?” I’m shaking with anger, squeezing the tube a little hard. “Son of a bitch. I’m sorry.” I jump up and grab a washcloth to try to clean up the mess that landed on the floor.
“It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not,” I growl. The thought of someone hurting her, making her feel violated and vulnerable, sends violent thoughts through my head. I grab a fluffy towel.
“Can I take a fast shower? I know I shouldn’t during a storm, but I haven’t showered since this morning. Damn it, I don’t have my suitcase either.”
“Where’s that?”
“Lost, according to the airport.”
I press a Band-Aid to her scrape, followed by my lips. “My mother always said a kiss makes it better.” She turns pretty pink again and I choke on my need, swallowing it before I give in and taste her lips. Clearing my throat, I add, “I’ll get you something to wear and leave it on the bed while I get dressed.”
“I can’t believe how wonderful you’re being to me after I broke into your home. You’ve made my terrible day so much better.”
Her genuine happiness and vulnerability hit me hard. “Okay. Jump in the shower and I’ll get everything set up out here, and don’t worry. There’s a spare bedroom.” She blushes so prettily that I regret mentioning it because she belongs in my bed for the rest of my days. This sudden fascination tripled the second I held her in my arms and has only amplified with every change in her expression. Her face is extremely expressive and beautiful.
“Thank you.”
I help her down and then leave her to shower, needing another one for me turned all the way to arctic cold.
Quickly, I slip on some shorts and a tee before grabbing her a pair of my boxers and my favorite tee, which I’m sure are going to float on her, but the vision of her in my clothes is tightening my shorts to the point of pain. I adjust my cock that doesn’t want to walk away from the beauty in my shower. I force myself to go in the living room and grab the food she brought in. I set it up on the coffee table because I want the excuse to keep things intimate on the sofa.
Gathering silverware, I come back and set it down. My bedroom door opens, and I brace myself for her appearance. “Jamison, can I say that I love that shower?” Fuck me. My dick jerks hard.
I turn around, and I’m nearly floored. She looks like a dream, a wicked fantasy, in my clothes. “I’m glad you enjoyed yourself, Cassandra. Take a seat, dig in before it gets cold, and I’ll get us something to drink. I have wine, soda, or water.”
“A water would be great.” I gingerly walk into the kitchen, trying to get my cock to relax, but I don’t think he’ll go down until he gets some relief between her legs.
When I come back, I do my best to avoid looking at her and set the water down.
“Thank you,” she says after chewing her food. Damn, Cassandra’s cute while she’s eating as well. We eat in silence for a few minutes, although, I can’t say I tasted anything. My focus has been on her lips, feeling irrationally jealous of the food she’s consuming.
“Do you normally have so much food delivered?” she asks after swallowing another bite of her cheeseburger.
“No, but I hoped you’d come knocking on my door,” I confess. I hadn’t meant to be so honest, but I don’t think I can lie to her.
“What?” She sets down her food and looks at me with an air of suspicion.
“I have security cameras that are activated when someone crosses the private property line. I saw you taking a nap under my favorite tree and decided to make sure I had dinner for two.”
“I didn’t mean to trespass.” A blush spreads over her cheeks, making me feel like a blood-thirsty vampire, ready to devour her. I’ve lost my appetite for any meal that isn’t Cassandra.
I take a sip of water before I speak. She has to know that she’s welcome. “It’s fine. As soon as I saw you, I had to meet you.”
“Oh. That’s the first time you noticed me?”
“Yes. Why? I know it’s crazy.”
“Oh. It’s just a bunch of strange and awful circumstances that landed me on your property.”
“Can you please elaborate?”
“First, my luggage was lost at the airport, and when I went to check into the hotel that I booked last month, I no longer had a reservation. There were no rooms left except the villas, and I was
n’t spending that kind of money for a room. No offense.”
“That’s not offensive. They’re for large gatherings or wealthy people trying to get away. It’s not something we’d offer to a single guest.”
“Oh, okay. So then I left and picked up some French fries, didn’t eat most of them because my mother called and let me know she’s the asshole who canceled my reservation so I would come home.”
“What a fucking—” I stop myself before I say something evil about her mother even if the bitch has a serious problem when it comes to me.
“Yes, she is. I hung up on her and then started walking away when I ended up down an isolated alleyway, and then I was mugged. So, you see, I’ve had one hell of a day. I only wanted to find somewhere to charge my phone and get out of the rain. I’m really sorry that I saw you in your towel.”
“Thanks. I guess.” I pretend to be offended which makes her blush so damn prettily.
“Oh shoot. I didn’t mean it like that. I mean you’re super-hot, but I invaded your privacy.”
“No, it’s fine, baby. You can look at me in a towel all you want. Although, I’ll have to spank your pretty ass if you end up in someone else’s home and see them unclothed. Fuck, I’d have to kill them,” I mutter that part to myself, so I don’t look entirely crazy.
“Jamison, you’re being silly. I’ve already broken into your home. Which reminds me—I need to contact the bank and tell them that my wallet has been stolen.”
“Wait, maybe we should let them charge something so we can find them easier. I’ll call the Chief of Police here in Spring.”
She bites her bottom lip and looks up at me with an apologetic smile. “I put my phone on your charger.”
I brush a loose strand of hair back behind her ear and then make my own confession. “I know. I put it out there for you, sweetheart.”
She cocks her brow. “So did you mean for me to see you in your towel?”