Guilty Pleasures (54 page)

“Come on, man,” Jake said. “Rita's there to take care of business. You gotta keep your head screwed on straight. Focus.”

The ship's horn suddenly blared three long hard blasts.

They all looked at each other.

Hurried footsteps could be heard in the hallway.

“What the—
” Jake jumped up and went to the door. He pulled it open and looked out into the hallway. Several crewmen were donning life jackets.

“Hey,” Jake shouted to one of the men running past. “What's going on
”

“A passenger claims they saw someone fall into the water.”

Eva flinched, remembering Traci and Suarez's men.

Jake frowned and shut the door.

“I think it may have been Traci,” Eva said as the scene ran through her mind once again. She told them what she'd witnessed.

“Damn,” Jinx muttered; then his eyes widened. “If Suarez even thinks something is wrong … what if—
”

“Don't even go there,” Eva warned. “Rita can take care of herself.” She flashed a look at Jake.

They all sat in a tight silence, waiting for the call.

*   *   *

Xavier's hard, driving thrusts filled her to near bursting. She was sure he would break her in half, and she devoured every minute of it, giving back everything she got.

Her head spun with pleasure. His hands were everywhere at once it seemed, and his mouth was relentless in its pursuit to explore every square inch of her searing flesh.

He whispered and groaned in his native tongue, the lush language only adding to the flames that were building in her stomach.

Rita never had a man like him. Never felt like this before. She knew she wanted it again and again and that frightened her more than the unspeakable climax that exploded in a million little pieces inside her.

*   *   *

Rita listened to Xavier's heavy breathing beside her. Her body still shuddered in unexpected spasms of delight.

The bedside phone rang. Its sound was piercing in the silence of the dimly lit bedroom.

Xavier muttered a curse and reached for the phone. He listened for several moments.

“Good. Stay in your room. And do not disturb me until morning.” He hung up and rolled onto his side so that he pressed against Rita's back. He kissed her spine. She shivered.

His hand stroked her hips, then pulled her roughly against him, his erection demanding attention.

“Your audition is not finished,” he breathed hot against her neck. He raised her leg over his hip and pushed deep inside her with a grunt that ended in a hiss.

Rita muffled her scream deep in the overstuffed pillow as bright lights went off inside her head and her body burned from the assault.

*   *   *

Weak and shaky, Rita eased from the bed to the sound of Xavier's gentle snores. She tiptoed into the bathroom and quietly shut the door. She turned on the light and was stunned by her reflection.

All along the cords of her neck her light honey complexion reflected the beginnings of purple bruises from his suckling. They ran a trail from her neck down to the rise of her breasts.

She looked down. On the inside of her thighs were imprints from his hands from when he held her legs wide apart.

Rita shut her eyes, and a shiver ran through her. How could she ever explain this to Jinx
Even more, how would she ever be so satisfied ever again without Xavier

She couldn't.

She turned on the water, grabbed a washcloth from the rack above the sink, and pressed cold water against the marks that she knew would take days to disappear. With hot water she cleaned herself, washing away the sticky residue.

With shaky hands, she turned off the water and once again looked at herself in the mirror. She couldn't stand what she saw. She turned off the light and returned to the bedroom.

Xavier was still soundly asleep. She went into the living room where she'd left her purse. It was nearly eleven. She took the vial from her purse and poured the contents into one glass then filled it with wine. She gently shook the glass. She drew in a breath and filled another glass with wine then returned to the bedroom. She put Xavier's glass on the nightstand on his side, then went around and crawled back into bed.

Xavier stirred, reached out, and cupped her tender left breast. “Open your legs for me,” he said in a rough whisper.

He climbed on top of her, lifted her legs over his shoulders, and rode her until she screamed in release.

Propped up against the mound of pillows, they sipped their wine. Rita's heart raced with every swallow that he took. Suppose it didn't work

“Tomorrow morning we dock in Miami,” he said. He finished off his wine and put it down. “Have you decided
”

She turned to him and smiled. “Are you sure you still want me as your guest
”

“I am a man who always knows what he wants,” he said, each word coming out slower than the last. He frowned as the effects of the drug began to kick in. He tried to stand but failed. His eyes rolled for a moment in their sockets. He chuckled, struggling against the inevitable. He turned his head toward her in slow motion. “There was no need to drug me.… I would have given you anything … you wanted.” His face twisted into an ugly mask. He awkwardly lunged toward her, his large hands finding her neck. She kicked and fought, gasping for air as his grip tightened.

Then just as suddenly as the attack began, it stopped, and he slumped against the pillows.

Rita sucked in air, coughing and choking as she stumbled from the bed. She tripped her way into the living room and called the cabin. “Now,” she choked out. Tears ran down her cheeks.

She grabbed her clothes and quickly put them on, looked around the entire suite for any traces of her. She took the glass she'd used and stuck it in her purse. She ran into the bathroom and grabbed up the towel and washcloth, balling them both up.

Pulling herself together, she went back into the bedroom. Xavier was out cold. Her throat knotted. She went to the bed and leaned over him.

“I'm sorry,” she whispered. “I wish things could have been different.”

The knock on the door jerked her upright.

“Room service.”

She'd expected to hear Eva's voice. She tossed one last look at Xavier from over her shoulder and went to the door.