The Tycoon's Seductive Revenge (4 page)

He shook his head again. The vision was real.

Ellie stood in a skimpy swimsuit, setting her robe and towel down on a plastic pool chair. The strapless bikini top cradled her breasts. Her sleek stomach curved like an hourglass to her hips. And those legs...

He imagined tracing her legs with the tip of his tongue, up her thighs to her juncture. His hands clenched water. After he finished tasting her there, he’d wrap those legs around his waist and slide inside her, taking her hard and fast.

His muscles contracted.

Ellie looked just like she did the first time he saw her at the beach, lying in the sun—gorgeous long legs, smooth tanned skin, a mane of brown hair streaked with golden highlights. And those intoxicating light-brown eyes, the color of warm whisky.

He’d seen a lot of beautiful women on El Dorado’s beaches, and had sampled his fair share by the age of nineteen. As a lifeguard, he had the best views on the island and sex appeal to spare. But nothing compared to the moment Ellie had looked at him—really saw him—over the sea of people. Their gazes had locked. She’d smiled softly. His insides had melted like the sun had cranked the heat up fifty degrees.

Their interaction had gotten a lot more personal that day. If he hadn’t been obsessed with watching her, he might not have seen her disappear under the waves. Or notice that she hadn’t resurfaced. He’d blown his whistle, had leaped from the platform and dove into the surf. He retrieved her just as the tide was turning, right before she would’ve been swept out to sea. From there, they spent two years secretly exploring all the ways to perform mouth-to-mouth.

The memory of the silken glide of her tongue, the sounds of pleasure she’d made and the sweet breath she’d exhaled, suddenly caused him to shiver as the pool water grew chill around him. His chest tightened and his desire magnified. There had always been something about her.

“Carter!”

His head snapped up. “Huh?”

“What are you doing?” Ellie grabbed her towel and clutched it in front of her. As if that would shield her from his intimate sexual knowledge of every inch of her body.

“Swimming. That’s what you do in a pool.”

“I didn’t even see you.”

“I’ve seen a whole lot of you.” He grinned.

“Stop it.”

“What? I’m standing here minding my own business.”

“Well, just...look somewhere else.”

“Why?” He smiled indulgently. “It’s a great view. Always was.”

She snorted. “I doubt that.”

If you knew how much I want you naked and under me right now, you’d have no doubt whatsoever
. He shrugged innocently. “I can erase those doubts for you.”

She scoffed. But he saw a spark of pleasure in her eyes at his flirtatious comments. The expectation of being in the cool water with her warm body nearby sent his pulse soaring.

He spread his arms. “There’s plenty of water here for the both of us.”

“It’s a two-lap-lane pool.”

“And?”

She approached warily, as if nearing a wolf’s lair.

“I don’t bite. Much,” he added softly.

She stamped her foot on the concrete. “Can you leave me alone to swim a few laps in peace?”

As if he owed her some huge favor. “I thought you hated water.”

“Yes, if I can’t see the bottom of it. Pools are fine. It’s the ocean that terrifies me.” Her expression revealed shock that she’d admitted her fear to him.

“So that’s why you refuse to leave the island?”

To counter the connection he’d made, she dropped her towel and dove into the deep end.

When she surfaced, Carter waded toward her and pressed her further. “Is it because of the day you almost drowned, when I rescued you?”

She squared her shoulders. “I know how to swim,” she said, treading water. “It wasn’t a big deal.”

“Ellie, the strength of the tide would’ve sucked you out to sea.”

“You always had to be the hero. Do you believe you saved me?”

Yes, damn it. Admit you needed me then—and you still need me now
.

The clarity of that desire startled him. “We can try it again just to see. I’ll hang out on the beach while the tide washes you away.”

Terror blazed in her eyes. “I knew this was a bad idea.”

Swimming toward the steel ladder in the shallow end, she lifted herself onto the first rung. He was there in seconds, catching her waist in his hands.

“You can’t out-swim a lifeguard.” He turned her to face him as water sheeted off her body. Even on the first rung, she was still an inch shorter than him. “You never answered my question last night. What will you do when the hotel sells?”

“I’m staying.”

“What if the new owner doesn’t want you here?”

Drops of water clung to her lashes. “I’ll convince him it’s better to keep me on.”

Her plan was absurd. “How?”

“I’m resourceful.” She went to climb the next rung.

He pulled her back, held her in his arms while her feet dangled in the water. He stared at her lips. “How much do you want it?”

“What?”

“To stay here.”

She pulled in a breath when his body went hard. He held her tighter until her breasts pressed against his chest. His arms wrapped around her waist. “How far are you willing to go?”

He lowered his head, their mouths on a collision course.

With shocking strength, Ellie shoved him away. “Not this far.”

He blinked and released her.

Ellie shot out of the pool. She raced to the chair, scooped up her things and exited the pool room. Carter stood in the water, tiny waves ricocheting against his hips and lower back.

Layers of frustration mounted inside him. He’d pushed her too far, too fast.

Angry with himself, he slapped the surface of the water, his gaze locked on her retreating form.

He was tired of watching her run away.

If he wanted her back in his bed, this wasn’t the way to go about it. He needed to find a way to contain his lust.

Not easy
, he admitted.

He wanted her beneath him, beside him, on top of him. He wanted to wake up in the middle of the night, reach for her, and find her warm body curled against him. He wanted to roll over, kiss her awake and have sex until dawn.

Carter got out of the pool, toweled off and made a few mental adjustments as he went to his room, showered and dressed.

From now on he’d give her hints, engage her sharp mind, lure her trust, and spark her sensual nature he knew simmered inside her. Then he’d let her give the invitation to seduction.

Until he had her right where he wanted her.

*

Back in her room Ellie changed out of her suit and threw on a robe. She brewed a cup of coffee, sipping it as she stared out the window at the gray November sky.

Her attraction for Carter hadn’t lessened over the years. Still, she couldn’t convince herself to reignite the flame, no matter how brightly it still burned.

Obviously, he was here to investigate the hotel, perhaps to buy it. He also seemed determined to dismantle her emotional shields, as if half a lifetime hadn’t gone by since they’d been lovers. If he bought the hotel, would he let her stay? If he didn’t want her to stay, could she convince him otherwise by giving into him sexually?

Either way she felt trapped and miserable.

Worse, the thought of sacrificing her body and her pride to Arnoff Applestone, to secure her place in his grand designs of a floating Sin City, made her sick to her stomach.

Why did she have to give up pieces of herself in order to hold on to her dreams?

Four days.

So much could happen in four days.

A hard knock rattled her door. Ellie jumped up, spilling coffee on her white robe.

“Shoot.” Grabbing a wash cloth from the bathroom, she blotted the stains on the way to the door. She swung it open. “Yes?”

Carter stood before her in jeans and a Dolce & Gabbana knit pullover, smelling of sexy cologne and guest shampoo. A vision of pure, uncomplicated confidence. How she envied him.

She crossed her arms. “What?”

“I need you,” he stated.

She took a step back. “Um—”

Animated, he went on. “Remember the original building plans we found? The night we snuck up to the attic to be together, during that bad storm?”

He remembered that?
“I guess.”

“I want to see those plans.”

“Right now?”

His eyes lit up. “I think I found something, hidden inside this hotel. Meet me for breakfast in the dining room, and I’ll show you.”

He left as abruptly as he’d arrived. She shut the door, determined not to let his “discovery” intrigue her.

What could he possibly have learned about the hotel that she didn’t already know?  Eventually, her coffee grew cold and curiosity won out over caution.

Ellie showered, blow-dried her hair, dressed in hip-hugger jeans, kitten heels, a cropped beige jacket she’d ordered online from The Gap, and met Carter in the dining hall. At one of the café tables in the breakfast nook, he pored over
The Wall Street Journal
, shoveling scrambled eggs into his mouth.

He dropped his fork and the paper when he saw her. He wiped his mouth with his cloth napkin. “Ready?”

She shrugged. “Sure, I guess.”

“Up for new adventures. I always adored that about you.” He winked, kissed her on the forehead as he passed, and headed for the central staircase.

Adored?
Ellie swallowed. The open enthusiasm he expressed put her on guard.   Yet he seemed relaxed, genuinely interested in her company, instead of pawing at her or playing on her emotions. He probably didn’t mean he adored
her
. He was just excited about something, and the endearment slipped out accidentally.

Intrigue compelled her to follow him. They took the central staircase up to the second floor.

He stopped at the utility room near the elevator. “Keys?”

“What for?”

His lids lowered halfway. “Don’t you trust me?”

“No.”

“C’mon, work with me, baby. I won’t let you down.”

She pulled out her master keys and unlocked the door. He swept his arm gallantly before him. “After you.”

That’s what he said the night we were up here together
. With the same indulgent grin, the same spark in his eyes, the same tone that said,
I can’t wait to be alone with you.

Old feelings overflowed the dam she’d built around her heart, washing through her, strengthening her emotional and sexual attraction to him.

“I can’t wait to see if it’s true.” Carter took her elbow and led her inside.

Together they approached the rungs of a rusty iron ladder. She paused, staring up at the panel that sealed off the attic. “You’re sure you want to go up there? No one has there since...well, since we—”

“No time like the present.” His sly smile told her he knew exactly who’d been up there last. And exactly what they’d done, while the wind howled and rain pelted the roof, drowning out the erotic sounds of their lovemaking.

Eager to get her mind off those inconvenient thoughts, Ellie forced herself to climb. When she reached the panel, she unlatched it and pushed. The thing didn’t budge.

“Let me.” Carter stood on the rung below, his body surrounding her as he wedged the heels of his hands against the aged wood.

She melted into him, just a little. When they were together before, they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. They would’ve made out twice on the ladder by now. Touching, feeling, exploring each other. Tearing off clothes. Never able to get close enough, feel deeply enough, until he slid inside her. She’d never wanted it to end. If only her father hadn’t asked the impossible. If only he hadn’t made her choose between Carter and inheriting the hotel.

Carter popped all four corners of the panel and lifted it with ease. “Ready?”

“Not exactly.”

“Want me to go first?”

“Definitely.”

A private smile touched her lips. He still knew her hesitations, her apprehensions, her fears of the unknown.

She stepped aside and he scaled the iron rungs, until he blended into the blackness.

“Uh-oh.”

“What?” Her heart pounded.

“They never got rid of the bodies. It’s murder and mayhem up here.”

“Oh, stop.” She shoved his calf, which quickly disappeared above her.

Then his head hovered in her view. “Sure you want to risk it? We could be caught in a breaking news story.” He blocked the headline letters out with his hand. “Couple Finds Mass Grave in Attic.”

Couple?
Her i nsides pitched at the word. “At least we could defend each other’s statements in court—‘honestly, Judge, we’re innocent.’”

“I’ll always fight for you.” He smiled.

Ellie’s heart skipped a beat.

His smile widened, and he stuck his hand out. She caught it, and he lifted her up into the gloom. “You know what happens to bodies that go unclaimed for too long.”

“Will you quit talking about dead things?”

“Seriously.”

“I don’t know. They become ghosts?” Suddenly, Ellie didn’t want to let go of his hand. The fear of the Montgomery curse made her hair stand on end.

“Worse.”

She edged closer to him. “What?”

He seized her. “
Zombies!
”

“Sheesh!” she shrieked and cuffed him on the arm. “Don’t do that. I hate being caught off guard.”

“You mean like this?” He cupped her jaw.

A second later his lips captured hers.

Carter consumed her mouth as if starved for her taste. He sucked on her lips, feeding her kiss after kiss. Her mind went blank with surprise. Then, to her mortification, a sigh of bliss escaped her.

The moment her lips parted to take in a breath, his tongue dove inside, sweeping through her mouth, curling, pulsing. Probing and searching for the secret longing she’d tucked away for so many years.

When she answered his continuous beckoning, he inhaled sharply. He angled her face, kissing her deeply. Their tongues danced together, a rhythm so familiar, so exquisite, she grasped his wrists to keep him right where he was.

Ellie moaned in rapture.  She tasted the secrets they’d shared, the dreams they’d spun, the love they’d made. She trembled, shaken by the power of their connection.