They disembarked from the ship to the vast stretches of sun-kissed beach of the private island with a natural harbor for their cruise ship. It was almost like paradise on Earth! “Welcome to the Royal Cay, a private haven in the Bahamas!” Brynne gaped at him and then at the beauty all around. Did he own it? She had thought it was the Great Stirrup Cay, as Daniella had explained to her earlier. “Oh, do you own this place?” She blinked in a state of daze. How loaded was Luke to own an island here? Her gaze fell on the five bodyguards who followed them at a distance. No wonder he needed such heavy protection all the time. “Yes. So, do you like it?” She sputtered on her spit, and he chuckled at her adorable reaction. “Like it? I love it! Do you come here often?” She gazed at him with wide eyes. “Occasionally.” Brynne gasped with surprise. Wasn’t he weird? If she would have owned such a place, she would have lived here forever. Who wanted to live in New York? “Oh, you’re so odd.” He
Brynne gaped at Luke for a minute, trying hard to control herself from reacting. Did he have trust issues? It was a simple gesture. Yet he overreacted to her instead of appreciating her efforts. “Oh, I’ll keep that in mind. Don’t worry, I won’t expect you to marry me and sign all your wealth away to me in return. And I definitely won’t expect you to splurge on me and give me gifts in return for this meal. In case you’re in doubt, I can pay for my stay on your ship and here. Just quote your price.” She flashed a sweet smile at him and helped herself to the food she made. Why would she overreact to his retort when it didn’t apply to her?She could see Luke release a staggering sigh and help himself to the food in silence. “There’s no need to pay. I just clarified my point. Stop overreacting.” Brynne rolled her eyes at him. Was she overreacting? “And I clarified my point. We’re even I guess.” He nodded with a faint smirk tugging at his lips. It made Brynne conclude one thing about him
Brynne watched the passengers enjoy freely with their friends and family as she sped off with Luke to his private villa. This wasn’t what she had envisaged for herself. How would she face her colleagues after this cruise? “What’s the frown for?” Luke’s voice broke through her thoughts. “Nothing important.” She tried to ease her worries and enjoy her time with Luke. When the time came, she would figure out her work-related issues. “There’ll be a New Year’s Eve party on board. Would you like to check it out?” Brynne shook her head after much thought. She was not fascinated by the party when she had no friends with whom to enjoy it.“No. I’m fine with a quiet evening with you. Do you want to be there?” He gave her an exasperated look. She had the feeling he didn’t want to attend it with her. “Maybe later.” His phone on the dashboard buzzed with an incoming call. It was his grandpa calling. Luke groaned yet didn’t accept the call. Brynne gave him a clueless look. After five calls, the
Luke called his grandpa but strangely, he didn’t accept his call. What was going on? This was now getting on his nerves. He couldn’t afford to waste his time waiting to know what was going on. It would be best if he switched off his phone for a while. Switching off his phone, he walked back to the villa. Even from a distance, he could see Brynne waiting for him. It seemed she had served herself more champagne in his absence. Could he expect her to be wilder and more experimental tonight? He couldn’t wait to find out. Staying away from women hadn’t bothered him for ten years, but now, even a few hours of abstinence was driving him crazy. It was only for Brynne. Her ripe, curvy body attracted him like a magnet. She looked up to see him return. “Was it something urgent?” He shrugged and joined her on the sofa, picking up his sub to munch. “Grandpa didn’t take my call. I’ll find out later. What’s the hurry?” Brynne finished her lunch and watched him munch his. “You look tense. Are you
The air between them was electric. Brynne couldn’t help the frantic beating of her heart as he lowered his face and embedded himself between her legs. “F*cking hell! You’re soaking.” His fingers and mouth worked in tandem on her glistening se*. Brynne fisted her hands in his hair to get a grip on her senses. She could feel a desperation in his behavior tonight. It seemed as if he couldn’t get enough of her. “Oh!” she panted as Luke continued to circle and tease her cl*t, the sound of her arousal hanging in the air. Her body already seemed to know how to respond to him. She was on the brink of a release when he pulled his fingers out and raised his head to wink at her. “What the f*ck, Luke?” She was mad at him. Feeling frustrated, she wanted to punish him, but she flopped back on the pillow, still panting heavily. “What’s the hurry, Brynne? We have all night. Don’t you want me to get rid of these hindrances?” He gestured to his clothes, stripping out of his shirt first. Brynne sm
Lucien strode into his en-suite with Brynne, eager to plunge himself into her again. He had been edgy since the erotic encounter earlier. The dip in the ocean hadn’t helped, and now he was like a walking erection. Unless he got Brynne out of his head, he couldn’t switch on his phone or get any work done. He placed her down and walked into the shower cubicle while Brynne washed her face at the vanity.Staring at his reflection, Luke was stunned by his reaction to Brynne. His d*ck was painfully hard, and he needed an immediate respite. How did this deal get so complicated? From a no-strings-attached se* deal, it had turned into something he couldn’t figure out. How did his needs not get satiated even after having se* with her repeatedly? One moment he wanted to spend just the night with her while the next he wanted to spend a lifetime of se* with her. How could that be possible? He had no wish to get into a relationship with a random stranger who was his employee as well. It was there
In an instant, Luke had stripped off his clothes. He was too delirious to notice the sad smile on her face. Her gaze fell to his rock-solid erection and a tremor of need went up her body. Despite the soreness, she wanted him again.“I’ll be gentle, baby.” He eased her onto her back and caged her with his arms and legs. Before she could react, he rained kisses on her lips, her jaw, and the soft column of her neck. His deft fingers eased the clothes off her body. She was wearing nothing underneath the dress. “You’re such a tease.” His hands roamed her body, pausing to stroke her taut nipples. It wasn’t enough, and he dipped his head to capture them into his fiery hot mouth. His tongue teased them, leaving a trail of fire in its wake. His fingers traced down her stomach, around her bellybutton, and over her hips downwards. “God, Brynne. Do you know how much you turn me on every time?” Brynne smiled sadly, her heart heavy with longing. If he liked her so much, why was he breaking off wi
Lucien strode down the promenade with purpose, flanked by his bodyguards, towards his grandpa’s suite. Oblivious to the curious looks he received from the passengers on board, he braced himself for his grandpa’s wrath. He should have spoken to his grandpa earlier instead of getting carried away. “When did Grandpa arrive here?” He glanced at Grant, the bodyguard nearest to him. “Two hours ago, Mr. Sylvester. Fitzgerald was trying to contact you.” He nodded, knowing his mistake. But he was answerable to no one, not even to his grandpa. The situation he was currently in was mostly because of his grandpa. If he hadn’t forced Lucien to marry Celine, the circumstances would have been completely different today. “Is Grandpa in his room?” Of course, he knew the answer. Benson Sylvester hated his cruise ships, but boarding one of them was the only way to catch hold of his grandson. Therefore, he never explored the ship and mostly preferred staying in his suite. To him, the family business
DaniellaBefore my body could react to his announcement, my phone buzzed with an incoming call from my mom. Startled, I almost jumped! Couldn’t Mom find another time to call? I was about to satisfy my urges and get kissed by the hot creature eyeing me like a piece of candy!“Your mom,” he reminded me, eyeing my phone as if I didn’t know that already. “Aren’t you taking her call?”I panicked. “No, she’ll know I’m with a guy! Her sixth sense is too strong! I can’t risk it.” The phone stopped buzzing, and I heaved a sigh of relief. But the magical moment was broken, and we just quietly cleared our lunch. Yet I couldn’t relax. I knew Mom’s nature. If she called once, she would do so repeatedly until she spoke to me.“So, what do you want to do now? Play twenty questions or rest?” We flopped onto the bed when my phone buzzed again.“Mom won’t let this go. I need to take this call. So shh, not a sound! You aren’t here. Get it?” I glared at him to force him to agree. What if he gave himself
Daniella I tried to block my ears to his silly banter with Mrs. Griffin. If we were to act as a married couple, these shouldn’t affect me, right? Yet it did. Coz this was uncharted territory, and all we shared was a kiss and a horse ride. “Okay, let’s start, everyone!” said Mrs. Griffin, walking away. Drake leaned in towards me, his eyes dancing with excitement. I wondered what he was so excited about! Me cooking or him watching me cook! “Make it finger-lickin' good! I’ll be watching you!” He turned to go, but I grabbed his hand. “Where do you think you’re going? Stay and help.” I released his hand and shoved the whole chicken towards him. “Massage the oil all over.” He gave me a lost look. “Are you sure?” I nodded and set about preparing the vegetables and ranch dressing. We were making grilled chicken in Wild West Sauce to start with. Although it was a very basic recipe, I was making the sauce for the first time. Mrs. Griffin yelled out her instructions while we struggled to
Daniella Toby’s saddle was perfect for double riding, but I couldn’t relax. It wasn’t because of the trauma I had just been through. It was because of the hottest male creature on earth perched behind me. With his body plastered to my back, I could feel every muscle ripple against me. I had seen him. And it worsened the situation. Even now, I could visualize him naked. He was a solid bulk of muscle with pure power emanating from every fibre of his body. I could feel his face inches from mine, and the temperature soared around us. Drake’s hot breath fanned my heated nape while his arms brushed against my sides as they handled the reins. He reached forward, his arms further encasing me inside his muscular body. I realized it was stupidity to mount in front of him. I should have known. “Are you okay, Daniella?” With his lips millimeters from my right ear, I could feel their movement as he spoke. “Yes,” I said, my voice a breathless whisper. My mind screamed in desperation, urging him
Daniella I tried to focus on my food instead of reacting to his admission. It was a difficult task indeed. “Must you flirt with every female you meet? You’re so pathetic, Drake Ashford!” “No, only you. All my efforts are now focused on you.” His face lost its goofiness as he spoke. If I didn’t know his true nature, I would have believed his shit and fallen for him already. “Why? Don’t tell me you’re short on offers. I’m sure there are others, easier to charm and easy to conquer.” Unconsciously, I held my breath, waiting for his reply.“I don’t want the others. I want you. Don’t worry, I love a clash before a conquest.” He grinned at my jaw-dropped look. I hadn’t expected that. “Overconfidence? You can’t conquer me. I’ll disappear from your life after the trip.” It wasn’t a future threat. I intended to do it. Staying around Drake challenged my emotional and mental well-being. I didn’t want to fall for the devil. This constant battle to resist him was taking a toll on me. If one kis
Daniella“Oh, thank you so much. We’re on a day trip from our honeymoon cruise. The cruise ship will leave Port Canaveral at 10 pm. So we should check out from here after dinner.” Drake winked at me before I could correct the cowgirl.What the fuck is he up to? Why was he pretending we were a honeymoon couple? Was he crazy? I glared at him, watching him chat with the receptionist. He completed the check-in formalities, totally ignoring my reaction.“Is there anything else you may need? We have a fifty percent discount on everything for honeymoon couples today. You’re our first couple! The rest are all families here for the rodeo.”My jaw dropped with surprise. “Oh! Why?”“It’s our owner, Mr. and Mrs. Griffin’s golden anniversary today!” she gasped, handing us our key card. “Your glamping tent is that way, sir, ma’am. Have an enjoyable stay.”“Thanks. That would be all for now. We’ll freshen up and bother you again.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me along. “Let’s go, baby! I can’t wait
Daniella Drake drove the rental car down the Florida Ramp towards Orlando Hwy, and a strange thrill coursed up my body. Knowing his reputation, I didn’t understand why I felt so excited to spend the day with Drake. Why was he killing me with his charm? Did he want to get into my pants? Definitely, yes. Yet my heart thumped wildly in my chest. My reaction to his attention surprised me. Why was I behaving like a hormonal teenager around her first crush? I was a twenty-five-year-old woman, having slept around with plenty of players like him. But there was something about Drake Ashford that pulled me towards him like a magnet. Somehow, I craved his attention. “Have you been to a dude ranch before?” His raspy bedroom voice brought me out of my thoughts. “No. My twin brothers prefer those. I’m more into the star-rated swanky hotels.” I hated the rustic, dirty camps and cabins in the countryside, with insects bothering me. The twins preferred glamping in those. “Oh, you’re lucky to have
DaniellaThe deafening sound of helicopter blades made me stir the next morning. Who was arriving on the cruise ship? “Wake up, sleepyhead. We’ll reach Port Canaveral in two hours. Let’s grab breakfast and head to Deck 4 to avoid the mad rush at the last minute,” said Julia, looking freshly showered and ready.I groaned and stretched, waking up finally. Why did we always have to rush around? Wasn’t this a vacation? “I want to laze around today! I’ve seen Port Canaveral and its attractions so many times.” She rolled her eyes and went over to the tiny window to check. “I haven’t, and you’re coming with me. Surely you aren’t planning to spend time with Drake Ashford, are you?”I turned to give her a sharp look. “No. Why should I?” Julia shrugged and sat down with her makeup kit. “Never mind. Hurry!” I didn’t share her enthusiasm, but I got ready, nevertheless. What would I do alone on a humongous cruise ship? After two hours, we lined up at Deck 4 to watch the cruise ship enter the p
DaniellaIt was evening, and Julia forced me to meet up with the gang for dinner. I had no wish to join them, but she was adamant. “What’s wrong with you? Are you sulking or what?” I gaped at her. Was I? “No. Why should I? Can’t a girl laze around for once?” My behavior surprised me. I didn’t f*cking care so much about a guy before. Then why was I overreacting to the player, Drake Ashford? “Then have dinner with us. I’m not opting for room service.” Julia pulled me along towards the grand dining hall of the cruise ship. As we entered the hall, I gasped at the crowd. The place was teeming with passengers, and I could see our colleagues all over it. “It’s so claustrophobic here, Julia. I don’t think we’ll get a place to sit.” I scanned the place to see our gang occupying a table right in the middle. “Oh, they’ve found a table. C’mon, it’ll be fun.” She pulled me along when my gaze fell upon Drake, sauntering in with the same woman. Blood boiled in my veins at the sight of him. So h
DaniellaI couldn’t stop the gasp of surprise as I stared at Drake. How did he know I had kissed Adrian on the cheek? Was he stalking me? “How do you know? It was a thank you peck on the cheek, not a kiss.”His handsome features lit up as he flashed me a crooked grin. “I was watching you. Whatever it was, you can do better for a ring.” His eyes dropped to my lips, and I licked them nervously. Why was I reacting so much to him? Wasn’t I immune to such pickup lines? ‘He’s flirting with you, Dani,’ I advised myself to stop the pounding of my heart. Yet shyness gripped my body, and I tried not to let the deep timbre of his voice throw me off. “You can’t buy me with expensive gifts, Drake. It’s the feeling behind it, the gesture that touches my heart. Did you go down on one knee? So?” I shrugged and eased out of his hold. I was terribly disappointed with my life. I had expected better from Drake. He almost made it look like a joke, slipping a fake ring onto my finger. Even Ted did bette