I’m about to sleep with Jackson. Okay, lungs, breathe.
The short trip down the beach path to the villa seemed to take forever. Mariska had never thought of herself as particularly bold, but it was as if a sexy alien had taken over her body. Jackson caused her to say and do things she’d only fantasized about.
The last year had been about her pretending to be something she wasn’t. Everyone thought because she was Janice Stonegate’s daughter she could step right into her mother’s shoes. But those shoes had been about two sizes too big and Mariska constantly played catch-up. Hiding the fact that she lacked the basic skills to be a decent investigator had worn her out.
When she went back to the office she’d tell the rest of the staff the truth. They deserved it. Though she would still meet with clients. That was something she was good at. Discerning the needs of whoever walked in the door.
But she couldn’t think about all of that now. Here at the beach was a time to let go and be herself—maybe for the first time in a long time. Maybe for the first time ever.
There’d been a moment on the beach when she’d almost died of embarrassment. Thinking she’d assumed too much, but Jackson pushed all those fears away with a heart-dropping kiss and his tender words. She wondered if he had any idea how into him she was.
It’d probably scare the hell out of him if he did.
They hadn’t discussed the harrowing ride from Bangkok to Phuket, but it had taken everything she had not to throw up on the back of that bike. Several times she closed her eyes and listened to Jackson bark orders as he took a fast corner, or needed her to lean a certain way.
It had been one of the scariest moments of her life, but also the most thrilling. Now they were here, and she wanted to leave everything in the past behind. To live for the now—that was the promise she’d made to herself.
Sliding the key card into the door of the villa, Jackson opened it and they both stood at the entrance taking it all in. The space was deceptively larger than it appeared from the outside.
Everything was white, from the filmy curtains and the bedspread to the walls. The French doors could be pushed to the side, opening the whole front of the place to the ocean breezes and amazing views. She finally walked across the room and peeked around the corner to find a well-appointed bathroom. There was a shower for two, a sink and toilet.
There was also a row of cabinets, a wet bar with shelves of snacks and booze. Mariska realized she was suddenly very hungry. She’d also lost some of the bravado from a few seconds ago.
Is it a bad thing to have a mai tai for breakfast?
It all seemed too real. She was at a beachfront resort with a hot guy who wanted her. He’d even used the word desire out on the beach. She should pounce on him, but she needed a little time to pull herself together.
“I know you have to be as exhausted as I am, but how about some breakfast on the beach?” She picked up the menu by the bed. “I’m starving.”
“Great idea.” Jackson put their bags down inside the armoire. “Do they have pancakes, and maybe some bacon? I could use some protein.”
“You’re my kind of man.” In more ways than one. “A full breakfast it is.” She picked up the phone and ordered, adding a mai tai at the end. The room service staff agreed to set the food up on the patio table right outside their door.
“How about we take a quick swim to work out the kinks?” Jackson smiled at her, and her pulse quickened. After what she’d seen at the massage parlor, she couldn’t wait for another chance to see him sans clothes. The man’s body begged to be touched, and she planned to do that a lot.
Suddenly tongue-tied, she coughed into her hand. “Uh, great idea.” She reached into her bag and scooped out one of the four bikinis she’d thrown in. This one was red with tiny bows on each side. It was one of her favorites. “Five minutes. I’ll meet you out on the beach.”
She heard him chuckle as she shut the door.
Mariska stared at herself in the mirror.
Live for the now.
She’d seen the phrase on a fortune cookie a month ago. It was the cookie that had inspired the trip to Thailand. Tired of living in the past and worrying about what everyone else thought of her, she’d decided it was time for a real vacation. One where she could be whomever she wanted, and maybe she’d find herself.
Mariska grabbed the side of the sink.
“You better watch out, Jackson. I’m a bold woman who isn’t going to shy away from life anymore. I’m going to have my way with you. Mmm, in every which way I can. I’m done with boundaries. It’s all about being in the now and living life to the fullest.”
OUTSIDE THE VILLA, Jackson did a quick search of the perimeter. He’d lost the tail before they even left the city, but he couldn’t be too careful. If someone had seen him with Mariska, it wouldn’t be hard to track her down since she’d probably used her credit card to book the hotel.
He’d been surprised when she didn’t jump his bones the minute they walked in the door. From the slight quiver in her voice, it sounded as if she’d contracted another case of the nerves.
She might be a woman of contradictions, but he didn’t care. Life would never be boring around her, and he liked that he couldn’t always read her.
He’d meant what he told her earlier about going at her pace. To him, she was a delicacy. One he intended to savor. He could wait.
As he watched Mariska walk down the beach, Jackson was glad he’d already jumped into a cool wave. The water hid his instant erection. The woman had no idea the kind of effect she had on him. The second he saw her in that damn red bikini he swore he’d send a thank-you letter to the designer. It fit her body perfectly. Her pert breasts were covered barely enough to make the mind wonder how long it would take to untie that little bow between them, and the ones on the sides of her beautiful, curvy hips.
As she moved closer to him the cool water slapped against her taut belly, and her nipples hardened into tiny buds pressing against the material. Using her right hand, she shaded her eyes from the sun. “You started without me.”
You have no idea. Jackson reached out to her, careful to stay waist deep so she couldn’t see the tent in his board shorts, at least not yet. “The water was too enticing. Of course I could say the same about that bikini.”
As she reached him, he saw the blush on her cheeks. “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?”
She ducked her head and stared down at the water. “Um, are there sharks here? I really don’t like sharks.”
Jackson laughed hard at that. “You’re nervous again.”
“No, no.” She waved her hand. “I’m kind of a freak about sharks. Well, sharks and snakes. Probably too much Discovery Channel as a child. Great whites like cold water, right?”
She was hot and cold, this one. But he was a patient man.
“There are about seventeen different species in this part of the world, including the nurse, whale and tiger sharks, but most of them prefer the deeper waters, so I think we’re okay. How good of a swimmer are you?”
She bit her lip but finally met his eyes. “I’m pretty good. Why? Do you think we’ll have to outswim the sharks? I’d rather sit on the sand if that’s the case. That is exactly why I like surfing. At least you have something to climb on to if you see a fin.”
Jackson couldn’t keep from chuckling again. “I had no idea you surfed. We’ll have to do that while we’re here. I thought maybe we could swim out to that deck a little to the right.” He pointed over his shoulder. “But we can stay right here with our feet on the ocean floor, if it makes you feel better.”
She glanced down at the water again, right at his erection. As she moved closer, something came over her face. It took him a moment to realize it was lust.
“What do you want to do, Jackson?” Her voice had turned velvety again, and so suggestive that all of his senses went on alert. He didn’t think it was a possibility, but his cock grew even harder.
Not bothering to answer, he took her hands in his and brought her slick body against him. She smelled sweet and salty and he had to taste her. Sliding his arms around her waist, he pulled her with him farther into the water, where their bodies were hidden but he could still keep his feet firm on the sandy bottom.
They stared at each other for a moment. The need he saw there was something he wanted to vanquish.
Mar leaned into him and captured his lips. That’s all it took. His determination to take things slowly swam away with the fish.
I want her.
Trailing kisses down her neck, he moved to her shoulder, and back to her lips, assaulting them. When she responded with equal passion, he brought her even closer.
She smiled against his lips, and pushed her pelvis into his. “You have a revolver in there, or are you happy to see me?”
Jackson nipped at her ear. “Guns and water don’t mix, so use your imagination.”
“Oh, I’d say you have a loaded gun ready to go.” Then she touched him there, and he almost exploded in her hand. Another second and he might.
Jackson watched her face as she traced the length of him, and he knew she wanted him as much as he did her. But he had to stop her hand before he embarrassed himself.
Turning Mariska so that her back was to him, he slid his hand beneath one of the triangles and lightly pinched one of her nipples.
“Mmm.” She moaned and it was one of the sexiest sounds he’d ever heard. Pleasing her was the only thing on his mind. He’d do anything to hear that sound again.
As he moved his hand over her breast, his other one slid down lower to the triangle of cloth between her legs. The first touch in the folds of softness sent her body pressing into his.
Her arms snaked up behind her and around his neck so she could balance. She rocked herself against his erection as he found the tiny nub that drove her to move faster and faster against him. Her soft bottom coaxed his erection into a frenzy. Using his forefinger he rubbed, alternately sliding a finger into her.
“Jackson,” she whispered, but she didn’t stop moving her softness against his hard cock. He felt the tension build in her. “Mmm,” she said again and he intensified the motion of his fingers. “Oh, my—” A low groan came from deep within her, and then a shuddering release. Her body relaxed and he had a feeling she would have slid into the ocean had she not been holding on to his neck.
She was languid in his arms, but his body was tense and aching for release. Turning so that she faced him, she pulled him toward her and kissed him hard. Sliding one of her hands down, she began pumping his swollen cock.
“Mar,” he growled and deepened their kiss.
“Did you see how fast you made me come? Do the same thing. Come for me, baby,” she whispered against his lips. The friction of her hand, along with the slickness of the seawater, sent Jackson reeling. It wasn’t long before his cock exploded with a force that almost knocked him off his feet and into the depths of the ocean.
Taking a cleansing breath, he steadied them both and kissed her again. Teasing her with his tongue and relishing the taste of her.
Mar wrapped her legs around him. “I’m a pirate, and I’ve captured you. I thought you should know,” she warned him.
He smiled and nipped at her ear. “Are you going to keep me in your quarters and have your way with me?”
“Oh, yes.” Her voice had dipped low again as her finger teased his neck. “I’m going to keep you naked and make you pleasure me over and over again. I’ll only allow you to stop for the occasional meal, and maybe a few hours’ rest. I’m insatiable, you know. I’m going to wear you out in a big way.”
Jackson couldn’t keep from laughing. “I see. Well, I guess I’m resigned to my fate. Do with me what you wish, fair maiden.”
She lifted an eyebrow.
“I mean, very scary pirate woman.” He corrected himself and tried to give her a serious look, which failed miserably.
Mar moved her body against his crotch. “Oh, I will do exactly what I wish, don’t worry about that.”
Jackson decided right then that he very much liked being a pirate woman’s booty call.