Claimed (3 page)

“We both know you are stronger than I, but
you relinquish control because you want it and you trust me.”

He did look amused now. “In other words, when
a man lets you tie him up.”

She gave him a sensual smile. “I love to
restrain a strong man, but that is only a part of it. It’s an
amazing high.”

“I just like to have fun.” He grinned. “It’s
been a long while but a girlfriend and I played tie-up.”

Leslie raised an eyebrow. That was
unexpected. “Who did the tying up?”

“I did.” He shrugged. “It was only one time.
She was adventurous enough to try but it didn’t do anything for
her.”

“What about you?” Leslie asked. “Did it do
anything for you?”

“I thought it was hot,” he said. “But she
didn’t get into it so that was that.”

Leslie picked up her rose again. “And since
then?”

“I guess I just haven’t found the right
partner.” Before she had a chance to respond, he asked, “What else
can you tell me that I might find surprising?”

She looped a strand of hair around her
finger. “I love fetish wear.”

He was obviously intrigued by his expression.
“What kinds of fetish wear?”

“Cat suits, leather, latex.” She pushed the
strand of hair over her shoulder and held the rose between the
fingers of both hands. “And I adore lingerie. I have tons of it. I
could open up a store with all of the panties, corsets, garter
belts, and countless other things in my collection.”

“You’re kind of like a fantasy, aren’t you?”
He grinned.

She smiled. “Be careful what kind of fantasy
you want.”

“You’re working hard to frighten me off.” He
smiled and shook his head. “There are layers and layers to you,
Leslie,” he said. “I have a feeling that I’ve only scratched the
surface.”

She sniffed the rose’s perfume again then
looked at him over the rose. “You have no idea.”

Leslie felt the change in the air the moment
she stepped off the plane and onto the ramp in the Los Cabos
International Airport. She had checked her bag, and two plane
changes later she hoped it was still with her. She carried a large
tote with an extra change of clothing and a few personal items just
in case.

She made her way toward baggage claim and
held her purse close to her body on one side and gripped her tote
on her other. She had picked out a pair of white capris to wear
with navy blue slip-on shoes as well as a navy blue boat-necked
shirt with gold anchors embroidered on the sleeves.

Just as she reached baggage claim a tall form
caught her attention as Rick strode toward her.

No man could possibly ever look as good as
him. He wore a black polo shirt, snug Levis, and athletic shoes.
His skin was tanned, the muscles in his arms well defined, and the
power in his presence was undeniable.

She couldn’t help a smile as he hugged her
and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Did you check-in anything?” he
asked.

“Two bags.” She glanced toward the carousel.
“There they are. The hot pink ones with the
Diva
luggage
tags.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Diva?”

She shrugged. “It was unique and matched the
suitcase. Besides,” she said. “I work with a bunch of divas and I
know them well.”

“Two bags for a weekend?” he asked with clear
amusement.

“A long weekend,” she said with a quick
grin.

“Damn, what do you have in here?” He raised
one of the two heavy bags he easily pulled off the conveyer
belt.

“That is a surprise.” She had plenty of
surprises in store for him.

After he grabbed her bags, he walked with her
outside. The balmy air brushed over her and a light film of
perspiration coated her skin from the warmth of the late afternoon
sunshine. She pulled a pair of big sunglasses out and pushed them
onto her nose then dug a floppy hat out of her tote and adjusted it
on her head. No sense in burning her fair skin.

They headed to where he had parked his rental
car, a red Mustang. “Perfect,” she said as he loaded her suitcase
into the back of the car. “A hot man and a red Mustang. Can’t beat
that combination.”

Rick gave her a quick grin. “Don’t forget a
beautiful woman.”

She smiled back at him. “I’m ready for a
mojito. How about you?”

“You’re on.”

The trip to the Pacifica Resort in Cabo took
about fifty minutes. The desert scenery on the single-laned highway
was completely different from what she was used to in Baltimore,
but she loved it. A paved high coastal drive, that was beautifully
landscaped, took them straight to the resort.

The resort itself was gorgeous and appealing,
the perfect getaway for their extended weekend trip. The glittering
crystal blue sea was visible through magnificent floor to ceiling
glass windows.

“I have been so ready for this weekend.” She
looked up at Rick from under the brim of her floppy hat. “As you
know from our conversations, it’s been a trying couple of weeks at
the agency.”

“While I’ve been basking in the sun at my mom
and dad’s in San Diego,” he said as they walked to the registration
desk.

“Talk about an extended vacation.” She
laughed. “Every time you told me about the weather in California, I
went through a fit of jealousy.”

They came to a stop at the desk. “You don’t
strike me as the jealous type.”

“When it comes to men and most things, I’m
not. I don’t have time or reason to be.” She looked out the windows
at the gorgeous views. “But this…” She raised her arms to encompass
the view. “Who wouldn’t be envious?”

The woman behind the registration desk asked
their names in heavily accented English. Rick responded in fluent
Spanish, the words rolling off of his tongue as if he was born to
the language. Leslie knew the language marginally well, but in no
way did she speak it as well as he did. She enjoyed listening to
him. He had a beyond sexy voice that she could listen to for
hours—and had during their phone and Skype conversations.

When he finished talking with the woman, she
gave him two key cards and instructed them on where there rooms
were located.

“They gave us a connecting suite,” he said as
he easily carried his and her luggage to their rooms.

“I understand Spanish, but do not speak it
very well,” Leslie said. “How did you become so fluent?”

He shrugged. “I grew up in San Diego which
isn’t far from the Mexican border and I took classes in high
school. Most I learned in the service, though.”

The charity provided separate rooms for the
winners in the various resorts that were included with each
auction. Leslie planned on only one room getting any use on their
stay. His. Or hers. Whichever came first.

The suite was gorgeous, the sitting room also
having floor to ceiling windows. “It’s magnificent,” she said as
she moved to stand beside the window after dropping her purse,
tote, and hat onto the couch.

She heard the thump of the suitcases as he
set them on the floor and then felt his presence as he moved up
behind her. He put his hands on her shoulders and started massaging
them as they looked out the window at the sparkling sea.

“Geez, what do you have in those suit cases?”
He laughed. “You wearing a suit of iron on the trip?”

“No, but you might be,” she said.

She leaned back against him, feeling as if
they had done this a thousand times. “It’s simply amazing.” Even
though she had been around the world, she always felt some kind of
awe when in the presence of some of nature’s wonders.

She turned just enough to look up at him.
“What’s first?”

“So you aren’t throwing me into bed right
away?” he asked.

“There is plenty of time for that.” She
laughed.

“Let’s head out for dinner then.” He smiled
down at her. “I’m starving.”

The walk down the beach to Restaurant Row on
the marina was fun and they found a restaurant with a thriving
atmosphere. An energy spread through the city signifying it was
Friday night and time to seriously party.

It was early enough in the evening that they
didn’t have to wait to be seated. Apparently all meals were cooked
tableside in the restaurant. It was an amazing thing to watch and
the food tasted fantastic.

She and Rick never seemed to run out of
things to talk about which she found invigorating. He was someone
who could keep up with her intellectually.

How would he match up with her sexually? That
was something she intended to find out and soon. She liked that he
was adventurous and open to some fun games, but for her it was more
than a game. She simply loved control. Whether he could or wanted
to handle her would soon be found out.

All in good time…

Partying on the marina was really getting
into gear by the time she drained her second mojito. They left the
restaurant then stopped at a nightclub and listened to the live
band. She learned that Rick was a great dancer the moment he
escorted her out on the floor.

The night was still young when she took his
hand and led him outside. “Let’s go for a walk.” She slipped off
her shoes and carried them as they headed toward the water.
Moonlight glittered on the sea, the silvery moon seeming close
enough to touch.

The air smelled fresh and clean and cooled
her skin. She had read that the temperatures in the desert dropped
at night and she found herself rubbing her arms with her hands to
chase away the chill.

He draped his arm around her shoulders and
pressed her close to his big body and his heat warmed her. She
rested her head on his shoulder as they walked along the beach, the
wet sand cool beneath her feet.

“I’m having an incredible time already.” She
gave a happy sigh. “And the trip has only just begun.”

“It’s a lot of fun to be here with you,
Leslie.” He squeezed her to him. “Considering you own me for the
weekend, what do you have in store?”

She raised her head and looked up at him and
gave him a teasing look. “You have no idea, sailor. But you are all
mine to do with as I choose.”

He held his free hand to his chest. “Be
gentle with me.” She saw him wink in the moonlight and it made her
smile.

“You may have gone through hell with your
SEAL training,” she said. “But you’ve never dealt with the likes of
me.”

“You keep talking like that and I might have
to hire a bodyguard.” He stopped and brought her into his arms and
stroked her cheek with the back of his hand.

“Now you’re not afraid of little ole me are
you, Rick?”

“Let’s just say I am looking forward to you
proving it,” he said.

Leslie felt a thrill low in her belly as Rick
took her hand and they walked back to the resort. Her nipples
tightened beneath her blouse and she bit the inside of her cheek.
She’d never had such an immediate reaction like this, before she’d
even started to play with a man. At least not for as long as she
could remember.

Sexual tension hummed between them all the
way back to their suite. When the door to the suite closed, Rick
brought her into his arms and pressed her up tight against him. He
brushed his lips across hers before settling in for an amazing
kiss. A passionate, earth shattering, primal kiss that rocked her
to her toes.

She loved his taste and his scent that filled
her until she was almost intoxicated with it. His body felt warm
and hard against hers.

He drew away and his gaze held hers. “You
might have paid for me,” he murmured, “But I claim you,
Leslie.”

Excitement tingled beneath her skin as he
moved his palms over her body.

She smiled and took his hands in hers,
drawing him in the direction of her bedroom, on one side of the
suite. He smiled back at her, a look so sexy that she couldn’t help
herself from stopping and kissing him again before continuing on
into the bedroom.

When they reached the bed she lightly pushed
him so that he sat on the edge of the mattress. She kicked off her
sandals and climbed onto his lap, and her skirt hiked up to her
hips as she straddled him.

He cupped the back of her head and kissed her
again, a kiss of passion and intensity. He moved his hands down to
her ass and rubbed it through her panties, and she found herself
whimpering from the need to have him. And then he slowly moved so
that he was on his back and she was on top of him. Then he rolled,
causing her to gasp in surprise and she found herself beneath
him.

“I think I’m dizzy now.” She laughed and
tried to tickle him into letting her back on top.

“Not ticklish.” He grinned down at her and
then he laughed when she tried pinching him. His body was so
muscular, so hard, that she had a hard time finding a good spot. “I
bet you’re ticklish.” He captured both of her wrists in one of his
hands and pinned them above her head. He held her down with his
body weight and she couldn’t move. She tried to wiggle out of his
hold and then he started tickling her with his free hand.

“Nooooo.” She giggled and squirmed to get
away from his fingers that were finding all of her most sensitive
spots. She couldn’t stop laughing even as she begged him to stop.
“Please let me go. I promise I won’t try pinching you again.”

He lowered his head and kissed her. She
sighed from the sheer pleasure he was giving her. She went from
giggling to moaning, wanting him, needing him.

When he raised his head, he smiled down at
her. “What’s this tying up that gets you so excited?”

She had a hard time catching her breath
enough to talk. “I love it,” she said when her breathing returned
to normal. “I told you how it excites me to have someone big and
strong let me take control.”

He looked both intrigued and amused. “So you
would like to tie me up.”