Driven by Desire (2 page)

Yet something told her that this man was the type who would charm her with good looks and a sexy voice and then decide half way into the relationship that he wanted something new, fresh, and different. He was exactly what she needed to get away from and get away from real fast.

“I’m glad I could help,” she said. “Now if you don’t mind, I don’t want to miss my cab.”

“One more thing…” His eyes seemed to sparkle as he undressed her with his gaze once more from head to toe. “I’m visiting here. Would you mind directing me to a place where beautiful woman such as yourself hang out in your free time?”

Tempting, but too dangerous. His question should have told her that he was concerned with one thing and one thing only, and that was running through beautiful women. Literally.

“I’m not from here either,” Tanya said, wondering if she should be revealing something like that to a complete stranger. “Th
at, I’m afraid, I won’t be able to help you with.”

His eyes fell yet again to the cocktail dress folded across her arm. “For what occasion would you be buying such a lovely dress?”

He was relentless and trying to catch her in a lie. “That’s none of your business.”

He laughed. A deep, hearty laugh that had chills running up and down her back—and in a good way.

“Very beautiful woman. Beautiful dress,” he said. “I didn’t catch your name.”

“I never gave it,” she replied, curtly.

His gaze caressed her in a way that should have offended her, but it didn’t. So she pretended it did.

“Excuse me.” She turned and headed to the register, leaving him standing among a rack of clothes.

Later that night…

Tanya never would have thought that for one moment she’d be seated at a crowded bar contemplating which man she would seduce and how she would seduce him. But this was precisely what she needed. Good conversation and naughty fun to rid her mind of the man that trashed her heart.

She had only tonight and the day after the wedding to spend in Ocho Rios and she needed to make the best of it. Now that she knew that Justin was hundreds of miles away, there was no need to worry about any old baggage. Plus she promised to leave her old uptight ways behind and open herself up to new possibilities.

Tanya lifted her gaze and scanned the crowd. The music was a mixture of reggae and reggae fusion. The crowd was eclectic as well. A mix of both locals and Americans. Jamaica was a hot spot for summer vacations. When she’d found out a year ago that Vanessa planned to have a destination wedding, she’d been elated. Back then, she and Justin were on extremely good terms. A new, budding romance
is what their friends had called it. At the time neither of them hesitated to accept the invite as a couple. Things didn’t quite work out as planned. Justin wasn’t the man he used to be.

She didn’t recognize anyone in the crowd, but that was good. The wedding guests weren’t scheduled to arrive until
early tomorrow morning. She had only come early to clear her head and relax. It helped for a bit, but she found that it was easier to keep her mind off Justin when she was occupied.

As her gaze washed over the dancing bodies amid the artificial fog, she imagined she was there on the dance floor. With no worries and not a care in the world.

The men were handsome and came with sexy accents. More than a handful had already approached her already. Some she was attracted to, and some she was not. When there was some spark or attraction, she’d chicken out, telling herself that having sex with a stranger wouldn’t solve a thing.

“Anotha rum?” The bartender asked with his strong Jamaican accent.

Three bartenders manned the huge 200 square feet circular area behind the bar, yet this one had taken her orders all night.

“Just one more.” She lifted her clutch purse to shell out the cash for the drink, but the bartender covered her hand with his.

He placed another cocktail down in front of her and slipped a black business card under the coaster. “Dis one on me.” He grinned and his eyes wandered for the one hundredth time tonight over the top of her breasts.

Tanya skimmed him over again from head to toe. He kept himself up well. Groomed face with very little stubble. A nice low haircut. Clean attire. Flawless hands. Manicured nails. A pretty boy. Just like Justin. And not what she was looking for? She needed a man who was the complete opposite of her ex.
Someone and something extreme.

“Thank you,” she said, and brought the rim of the glass to her lips.

He winked. “My pleasure.”

When he turned around, Tanya took a nice long sip of the cocktail, placed the glass back on the coaster and moved away from the bar. Suddenly, she was engulfed by a sea of bodies. Of men and women grooving and grinding to the reggae mix that pulsed from the speakers. She pushed her way through the crowd in search of an area near the back that was less populated.

A set of hands slid along her waist. “I knew that if I saw you again that I couldn’t keep my hands off you.”

The familiar voice jolted every one of her senses, creating a heated sensation at the nape of her neck.

Tanya’s guards went up automatically, and she turned around quickly. She braced herself and slowly gazed up to meet with the eyes of the sexy stranger she’d ran into at the shop. Her next breath caught in her throat.

“I couldn’t help but notice you sitting at the bar alone.” His fingers tightened securely around her waist. “Th
is dress becomes you, but why aren’t you wearing the one you bought yesterday?”

He was dressed for the party atmosphere. A tailored shirt and relaxed casual jeans. Except for the accent, he fit right in. He wore a wrist watch laced with ice. Swiss. The very kind that she sold on a daily basis to the wealthy and elite. A large ring adorned his right hand. From her knowledge of fine jewelry, she could tell they were top of the line.

“The blue dress was for another occasion,” she said.

Tanya couldn’t quite pinpo
int it. Everything about him came off as easy going, but she knew there was more to this mysterious man to learn. From the way he pursued her at the shop and then backed off when she all but told him to get lost and from the way he looked at her now with a reserved grin, he exuded a reserved, casual nature. Was he the flamboyant, rich type that threw money around to secure what he wanted or was he the bad boy type that lived for the moment? He was giving off conflicting vibes. It made him all the more appealing.

As she glanced down at the way his hand encompassed her waist, she noticed that his darkened caramel complexion was similar in contrast to hers. An even pecan hue. And he smelled good—like cinnamon and spice.

Tanya blushed, and diverted her gaze. That’s when it fell on the edge of a tattoo on his right arm peeking out from under his short sleeve. There was another design sticking out just under the front of his collar. This intrigued her. He had bad boy written all over him. The tattoos definitely sealed the deal. Justin would never wear a tattoo. He was too afraid to mess up his skin, and turned his nose up at the prospect of getting one and at anyone who wore them.

She smiled. From what she could see, he was perfect for what she had in mind. The absolute opposite of the man who’d crossed her.
How could she not have noticed back at the retail shop? She’d had the chance to do her naughty work last night with this man, but she’d been in a rush. Now fate was allowing her another chance.

As she continued to stand there frozen to the spot, he took the opportunity and moved in closer. “I couldn’t forget your beautiful face, pretty lips, thick, long hair, sleek legs, and nice ass.”

His words would have earned any man a slap across the face had it been any other occasion. But tonight, she came looking for trouble. Surprised by his blatant candor and sexiness, she realized she hadn’t said much of anything.

“You had a lot of mouth back at the store.” The deep sound of his voice dominated her, wiping out the sounds of the booming music and sent warm vibrations up her spine. “Perhaps you have more time now than you did then?”

“Depends,” she finally said, her words coming out on a whisper.

He grinned, showing a set of nice white teeth. “I would have loved to buy you a drink, however I do believe you’ve had more than quite a few.”

Tanya swallowed, feeling a little guilty and careless. “Why were you watching me?”

“Why would I not watch you?” he asked.

She felt her brows come together and her back straightened. “What are you doing here anyway?” Did he follow her from the store? Was he a stalker? A lunatic? A willing man was what she sought tonight, but she wasn’t that desperate.

He lifted an eyebrow, regarding her carefully. “I imagine I’m here for the same reason as you. A tourist in a foreign country looking to have fun. Like yourself, I was surprised to see you again.” He offered his hand. “I’m Marcus.”

Tanya swallowed down her tension and mentally reminded herself that she needed to drop her guard or she wouldn’t leave here tonight a winner. She was supposed to be in control. It was time she took the reins. Smiling sweetly, she accepted his hand, but didn’t let go. “Let’s sit down and chat for a little while.”

Marcus nodded once, squeezing her hand lightly.

Tanya led him toward an empty lounge chair. He followed so closely that she felt his pants brush against her dress as they walked. She sat down, her legs crossed toward him. Her eyes met his and she read his expression like a book. He wanted sex and it was written all over his face. The perfect and willing candidate for a no strings attached fling. But she didn’t want to appear too eager.

He gave her another long slow look starting from my head to toe, and then back up again. “I’d love to know your name. What must I do to earn it?”

“Hhmmm…but telling you outright would take the fun out of it,” she teased.

“I’m all for fun and games, but by the end of tonight, I will know your name.”

His declaration sent yet another shiver down her spine. She shrugged off the effects, acting like his dare didn’t even phase her. “You sure about that?”

“Bet on it.”

Tanya laughed softly. She actually liked him. Not that it should have mattered. She wanted one thing from him.
One thing only.

He lifted a finger and ran it through the ends of her curl, straitening one and then letting it go to spring back up against her face. “I love your hair. Thick and long. Looks like it could really endure some things.”

She looked at him through narrowed eyes. Certainly he wasn’t implying what she thought he was. Or was it just her and her need to have a man’s hands all over her again, pulling her hair in the throes of passion. She cleared her throat, willing the vision away. “It’s been cooperating well tonight which is fortunate,” she replied.

“What’s the occasion?” he asked, moving closer to her on the small love seat.

She looked at him strangely. “Does there have to be an occasion?”

“Why were you tossing up so many drinks?”

She shrugged. “Just trying to have a good time while away from my normal life. I didn’t expect someone would be taking count.” Maybe she should have stopped after three. She was a little light headed and more relaxed than usual.

“What’s normal?” he inquired.

“Daily routine. Nine to five job. Studying to finish my graduate degree. Finding my true career calling. Not much time on weekends.” Damn, maybe that was a bit much to expose to a man she barely knew.

“A husband?”

“Nope. You?”

“I’m not gay.”

She giggled. “You know what I meant.”

“I’m not attached.”

“Neither am I.” She felt relieved to say that. Free to do whatever…with whomever.

“Perfect.”

“You’re visiting here?”

He nodded. “For a short while.”

“What’s this?” She brushed her finger against the tattoo on his left arm.

He lifted the short sleeve a bit, letting her glimpse intricate design inked on his upper arm. “My brothers and I got the sa
me tattoo years ago. Just something else to say we have in common.”

“How many brothers?” She couldn’t take her hands off him, and she allowed her fingers to roam across his shirt to rest between the opened buttons and exposed skin.

“Three by blood. And two by bond because that’s just the way we roll.”

She leaned into his warmth, her lips almost touching his ear. “Any other tattoos?”

Marcus cupped her hips, brushing his bare hands against her bare back. “Would you like to see them?”

“Depends.” Tanya bit into her bottom lip, as his hand smoothed down to mold to her ass. On any other night, such a move would have earned
him a kick in the nuts.

“I can put something extraordinary in your life right now.” His lips brushed against her temple. “You’d forget what normal even was.”

“Sounds promising,” she teased. Had he read her mind? “Yet, I’m not convinced.”

Marcus chuckled nervously. “Come with me.”

“I don’t know you. I’m not going home with you.”