Caught Up in You (17 page)

Gwen’s spine starched, so Kelsey guessed the woman didn’t like either option, but
she maintained a tight little smile that cooled further as she turned to Kelsey. “And
who is this?”

Wyatt’s thumb caressed the base of Kelsey’s spine. “This is Kelsey Adams. Kelsey,
Gwen Harrison. She’s an attorney in the building next to mine.”

And had some kind of history with Wyatt. Whether that was in the bedroom or in the
boardroom, Kelsey couldn’t quite tell. She stuck out her hand. “Nice to meet you,
Gwen.”

“Charmed.” The handshake was about as warm as her tone. “And what do you do, Kelsey?”

Her inner bitch wanted to say,
Him
. Just to see the look on this woman’s face. But she held her tongue and retracted
her claws. It’s not like Wyatt was really hers anyway.

“Kelsey’s planning to open up her own bakery,” Wyatt said smoothly, a tinge of pride
in his voice.

“How lovely for you,” Gwen said, the condescension not quite fully masked. “Are you
one of Wyatt’s pet projects, then?”

Kelsey coughed. “Excuse me?”

“You know, those silly little investments he likes to entertain himself with.” She
slid her sunglasses from atop her head down to her eyes.

“Gwen,” Wyatt said, the word holding warning.

She laughed and laid a hand on Wyatt’s chest. “Oh, don’t get all grumpy. I’m just
teasing you. You can do what you like with your money. I’m sure you’re very . . .
talented, Kelsey.”

Kelsey’s eyes narrowed. Fuck claws, she was about to sprout talons and fangs. But
Wyatt was already two steps ahead. “Gwen, I suggest you don’t try this tactic with
me. Feel free to throw your ire my way, but you won’t insult my girlfriend.”

This time it was Gwen’s turn to choke.
“Girlfriend?”

“Babe, I think the boat is waiting for us,” Kelsey said, ignoring Gwen’s bugging eyes
and turning toward Wyatt to lay a hand on his forearm. She didn’t know where the words
had come from or how’d she’d said them with such a casual air, but there they were.
“We probably should head over.”

Wyatt smiled down at her and pressed a quick peck to her mouth. “You’re right, love.
Let’s get going. I’m ready to relax in our room before the festivities start tonight.”
He looked over her shoulder and nodded. “Enjoy your trip, Gwen.”

Then he was wrapping his arm around Kelsey, picking up his bag, and leading her toward
the dock without peering back. Kelsey didn’t let out the breath she was holding until
they were a good thirty strides away.

“I’m sorry about that,” Wyatt said, regret heavy in his voice.

She peeked up at him as they walked. “Let me guess. The former colleague with benefits?”

“That obvious, huh? I thought we ended things on friendly enough terms, but apparently
not.”

She shrugged, trying to shake off the little whip of jealousy that hit her at the
thought of Gwen and Wyatt together. Had he fucked Gwen in the bed Kelsey had slept
in last night? She tried to shove the image from her brain.
He’s not yours. Not then. Not now.
“It’s never easy to see someone you’ve slept with kissing someone else, especially
if you had feelings for them.”

He sighed as their shoes thudded along the weathered wood planks that led down to
the boats. “I would’ve never taunted her on purpose. But hell if I’m going to be polite
while she insults you. She can be a bitch to me if she wants, but she has no right
to shoot arrows your way.”

“It’s okay. I have a badass bitch in me, too, if I need it. I can defend myself,”
she said, leaning into him and giving his side a poke to lighten the mood. “And that
chick was already drawing out my street side.”

“Oh, really,” he said, looking down at her and smiling. “You have a possessive streak,
Ms. LeBreck?”

She lifted a shoulder. “There’s a reason no one else ever served you at the diner.
I would’ve cut a bitch who tried. That includes Nathan.”

He chuckled and spun her against him. “Is that right? Lucky for you, Nathan’s not
my type.”

“Yeah, what is your type then, Mr. Austin?”

“Hmm, let’s see. Sexy, nice ass, gives good head.”

She punched his chest. “Jerk! And by the way, that means Nathan
is
your type.”

He laughed, mirth dancing in those blue eyes. “Okay, how about all those things plus
funny, gorgeous, strong, ambitious, submissive, possessive, and knows how to bake
a muffin that will make you weep?”

“Better.”

Wyatt eyed the end of the dock where a group of people were gathering near what Kelsey
assumed was the yacht that was going to take them over to Devil Cay.
Yay, more time to hang with the oh so sweet Gwen. Fun times.
Wyatt brought his attention back to her. “Looks like it’s time to board.”

“So it seems.”

“But first, I have a little confession,” he said, touching his forehead to hers.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. Truth is, I’m wildly possessive, too. And I’m not quite ready to share you
yet.” He stepped back and tugged her hand, guiding her down another stretch of the
pier and toward a separate row of smaller boats that bobbed and dipped in the water.
Though, smaller was a relative term since they were all bigger and fancier looking
than any boats she’d ever seen.

“Where are you going?”

“Fuck the communal yacht. We’re getting our own ride.”

“But—”

He stopped and pressed a finger to her lips, his hot gaze singeing right through her
protest. “Not asking you. We got interrupted in the car. I’m not going to let it happen
again. Plus, I can’t very well fuck you with thirty people watching, now can I?”

She arched an eyebrow.

His dimples flashed. “Dirty, dirty girl.”

Oh, he had no idea. With the way he was looking at her right now, she’d probably let
him take her right there on the dock.

She took a deep breath. No looking back now.

“I’m all yours, sir.”

SIXTEEN

Wyatt spoke in low tones to the young guy he’d com
mandeered to take them over to the island. He didn’t want Kelsey hearing his instructions.
He was enjoying that curious look she was giving him from her perch on the large cushions
on the back deck of the small yacht.

“You sure you know how to handle this thing?” Wyatt asked. The kid couldn’t have been
more than twenty-two or twenty-three.

“No problem, sir.” Johan slid his sunglasses to the top of his head. “I’ve been helping
my father captain the boats since I was sixteen. You’re in good hands.”

“Excellent.” The boat rocked beneath them with the wake from the large luxury liner
the other guests had boarded. Wyatt reached out for a railing, watching with satisfaction
as the other ship pulled away without them. “You see that boat, my friend. Stay a
good distance from that one. I’m paying you for privacy.”

“Yes, sir. I understand completely,” Johan said, a shy but sly smile breaking through
all that suntanned skin, his cheeks coloring a bit. His gaze strayed to Kelsey for
a moment, and there was no missing the flare of appreciation.

Wyatt couldn’t blame the kid. Hell, he probably shouldn’t even think of him as a kid,
as he was no doubt closer to Kelsey’s age than Wyatt was. He laid a hand on Johan’s
shoulder. “You can look all you want, but touch her and I’ll throw you off the side
of the boat.”

Johan gave an uneasy laugh. “May be worth it, sir. I’m a good swimmer. But I promise
to keep my hands on the wheel.”

Wyatt smiled and headed back down toward Kelsey. She held her hand over her eyes,
shielding the sunlight and watching him walk toward her. Lord, she was beautiful,
all sun-kissed and windblown. Her grin was a bright ray of light even amongst all
the tropical beauty surrounding them. To think she’d been through so much darkness
in her life, so much hurt . . . The knowledge was like a lead weight pressing against
his chest. It didn’t seem fair that he’d been gifted with so much in his life when
someone like Kelsey had been given so little.

Yet, here she was, a survivor, a fighter. And even though he knew she had mixed feelings
about him giving her money, and would probably lose her shit when she actually opened
the envelope and saw how much, the move had been pure selfishness on his part. He
couldn’t give her what she deserved—love, a relationship, a soft place to fall. But
he could make sure she never had to ask anyone for anything again.

It wasn’t money for her time here. But it
was
a thank you. Because even though this was going to be brief, he knew already that
this week was going to be one of the best of his life. The old fears would still rumble
in the back of his brain, but he wasn’t going to waste another minute ruminating.
Not when he had something so precious waiting for him.

“Does Abercrombie know what he’s doing?” Kelsey asked as Wyatt lowered himself to
the deck cushions.

“Abercrombie?”

She smirked. “Never mind. I’m guessing you don’t get that catalog.”

He glanced over at Johan. “You’re telling me you think our young captain looks like
a catalog model. Should I be jealous? He
is
closer to your age, after all.”

She shoved his thigh with her bare foot. “First off, why go for cute, when I have
six feet of gorgeous man right in front of me? And, second of all, that kid wouldn’t
know what to do with me.”

“Mmm,” he said, sliding his fingers around her ankle and gripping, enjoying the little
catch of her breath it caused. “Too much for him, huh?”

She leaned back on her elbows, her gaze leaving heat trails over his skin in its wake.
“Yes, sir.”

The simple reply pushed that button inside of him, had everything he’d kept banked
all morning leaking through. “Tell me, Kelsey. Is he the type of guy you’d pick to
be under your boot heel at The Ranch? Grant told me you prefer the more innocent ones.”

Her focus slid away from his face and to the horizon, a curtain falling. “Do you really
want to know about that part of me, Wyatt?”

His hand slid up her calf, but he continued to watch her. The thought of her having
to dominate someone for cash pissed him off. But the idea that she had that side to
her was more than a little intriguing. Submitting held no appeal for him personally,
but he couldn’t pretend that the image of her making other men grovel at her feet
didn’t turn him on just a little—as long as those men never touched her. In those
fantasies he’d weaved since finding out about her dominance, she was
his
. Her submissives could be lashed by her, made to beg, touch themselves, but only
he
had the privilege of bringing her pleasure. Maybe right in front of those very men,
showing them what they could never give her.

Yes, he knew it was a caveman urge, but fuck it. His fantasies. His rules.

“I want to know about all sides of you, love,” he said evenly as the ship’s engine
rumbled to life beneath them.

She continued to stare toward the open sea but relented. “I do like the gentler souls,
the ones who come to me because they crave the experience and are appreciative of
it. Those who aren’t just saying the right things and playing some game because they
want to see a chick in thigh-high boots and a corset. Or worse, the ones who think
I’m going to break my rules and let them fuck me.”

“You’ve never slept with any of your subs?” he asked, honestly curious.

She shook her head. “There are some I’m fond of and care about. And there are times
I get turned on in a session. But the pleasure for me is in the power exchange and
seeing how my sub responds to it. Knowing I can provide them with something they so
desperately ache for makes me feel . . . valued. But there’s not this burning desire
to sleep with my submissives.”

He cupped the backside of her knee, bending it and tugging her closer to him. “I can’t
say I feel the same way about my submissive.”

Her lips curved as the boat pulled out of the harbor. “Or I about my dominant.”

“Hmm, good to know.” He dragged her onto his lap, loving how she offered absolutely
no resistance, and then tucked her between his knees, letting her lean back onto his
chest. He brushed his fingers along her bare arms. “I told Johan to take the slow
route, so the trip will be about an hour.”

“The slow route?” she asked, her voice going soft and pliant, like she was already
sinking under his command. His blood heated at the thought.

“Yes. I have plans for you. But for now, love, enjoy the pretty view.” He brought
his fingers to the curve of her neck, caressing. “And I’ll enjoy touching you.”

And maybe, just maybe, young Johan would get more of a show than he anticipated.

* * *

Kelsey stared out over the expanse of sapphire water,
watching the ripple of white-tipped waves the boat was causing in the rolling surface.
“I’ve never seen water this color. The only beach I’ve ever been on is Galveston Island.”

Wyatt sat his chin atop her head, his arms still wrapped around her from behind. “Yeah,
this is no Gulf of Mexico, that’s for sure.”

The sky was turning shades of pink and orange as the sun tracked its way lower toward
the horizon, making the island they’d left in the distance look like it was gilded
with fire and diamonds. Everything was so bright here, so clean and vibrant, like
slashes of paint had been thrown everywhere. She could almost feel all that color
seeping into her skin and bleeding into the dark corners that lurked inside her, chasing
out the grays. It was hard to believe that some people got to see all this beauty
every day.

But even with the stunning view, she was having a hard time concentrating on anything
but the man behind her. Wyatt’s fingers were drifting over her skin, absently caressing
her arms, her neck, the tops of her thighs. The touches were simple, but each one
was stoking the embers that had been burning in her since the car ride. His promise
he’d made on the dock hung heavy between them. He had plans, illicit plans, and all
she could do was wait to see what those were.

She knew there was a cabin on the other side of the wooden doors at the base of the
steps behind them. And undoubtedly Wyatt had paid for full use of all the boat’s amenities.
She’d seen the wad of cash that had passed hands. But Wyatt didn’t seem to be in any
hurry to get up and go down there.

His touch traced along the collar of her blouse, teasing at the top button, then plucking
it open. Without concern for the guy steering the boat a few feet behind them, Wyatt
dipped his hand inside and fondled her with a teasing touch. “You have far too many
clothes on, love.”

“Maybe you should take me inside, then, sir,” she said, leaning her head back against
his shoulder and relishing the little threads of anticipation that drew her nipple
tight against his palm.

“And miss the breathtaking view? Not a chance.” His lips pressed against the shell
of her ear. “Take your shirt and panties off, Kelsey.”

A spark of disbelief shot through her, a knee-jerk response, but an achy
oh hell yes
was fast on its heels. “Right here?”

“Are you questioning me, love?” he asked, that smooth, dark edge of dominance lacing
his deep voice.

She dragged her teeth over her lip. “No, sir.”

“Then get to it.”

Her heartbeat climbed up into her throat, but she went to work on her remaining buttons.
It wasn’t like she hadn’t been naked in front of strangers before. God knows it should
be second nature to her by now. But knowing that Wyatt was commanding it, that he
wanted her exposed for him regardless of who was nearby, sent hot, hungry desire pulsing
through her. He’d promised her he wouldn’t share her, so she trusted he didn’t have
that in mind, but he’d never promised not to share the sight of her.

She spread the blouse open and off her shoulders, leaving her in her demi-cup lace
bra. Then she slipped her hands beneath her flouncy knee-length skirt, hooking her
fingers in the sides of her panties and tugging them down. She had to get to her feet
to work them fully off and when she stepped out of them, the warm ocean breeze swept
beneath her skirt, kissing and caressing all the warm, wet parts of her. Shivers tracked
across her skin. She turned toward Wyatt and caught sight of Johan sneaking a peek
over his shoulder.

When he realized she’d seen him, she gave him a pointed look and he lowered his gaze
and turned back toward the wheel.
That’s right
, she thought with satisfaction, her own dominance simmering at the surface.
You haven’t earned that look yet, pretty
boy.

Wyatt gave a chuckle there at her feet, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he took
her hand and guided her back down to him. “I have to say, love. Dominance looks hella
sexy on you. After a look like that, that poor kid’s either terrified or hard as a
rock, depending on his persuasion.”

She settled down on Wyatt, straddling his legs and examining his expression, surprised
by what she saw there. “Well, look at you. You like the idea that he might be turned
on, don’t you?”

He drew his big hands up along her waist, skating them up her sides until he was cradling
the lace cups of her bra. “I may have a bit of an exhibitionist streak, truth be told.”
His thumbs circled her nipples, teasing them. “But I have a feeling you share that
inclination.”

She curved her back, pressing into his touch, her bared sex rocking against his soft
linen pants. “Would’ve never survived dancing if I didn’t, but I wouldn’t have suspected
it of you. You’re so private.”

He slipped his hand behind her bra, unhooking it with a quick flick of his fingers.
Her bra fell away, and he scraped his stubble over her tender pink points. “I’ve lived
my life always being aware of my family’s position, of who was watching, who would
gossip. I don’t have the luxury of being indiscreet. But if it wasn’t for that, I’d
have no problem spreading you across my conference table and fucking you right in
the middle of a board meeting.”

She rubbed her lips together, the image both filthy and enticing. Who would’ve ever
thought that the quiet businessman could shock her? “Wyatt Austin, how did I ever
miss seeing this side of you? You are one down and dirty pervert.”

He laughed and nipped at the soft underside of her arm. “Guilty as charged. You probably
don’t want to see inside this head.”

“Oh, I think I do,” she said, grabbing for his hair as he lowered his head and took
her nipple fully in the hot cavern of his mouth, sucking hard. “I really, really do.”

He pulled off with a soft popping sound and sent her a smile dripping with sin. “Let’s
see about that.” He tilted his head, looking back over his shoulder. “Johan.”

“Yes, sir.” Johan swiveled in an instant, his pale green eyes going wide as he took
in the spectacle. His tongue swept over his bottom lip, nervous . . . interested.

“You think we can stop and drop anchor here for a few minutes?” Wyatt asked, turning
back to Kelsey, wicked smirk still in place. “I don’t want you crashing into the rocks,
trying to see behind you.”

Johan’s gaze darted to Kelsey’s, then downward, his tawny cheeks darkening as he took
in her near nudity. “I, uh, yes, sir. Whatever you need.”

Kelsey smiled, Johan’s bashful reaction reminding her of Hawk’s first time in her
dungeon. He’d been so halting, respectful in the way only Southern men could be, but
there had also been a keen desire underlying that layer of shyness. A hungry space
to be filled.

“You don’t have to watch anything if it makes you uncomfortable, Johan,” she said
gently, drawing her hair forward to cover her breasts. “We don’t mind you looking,
but it’s your decision.”

If Wyatt thought she was overstepping her bounds by taking control of the situation
with Johan, he didn’t say anything. His hands just stroked the small of her back,
his cock growing hard against her spread legs.