OffshoreSeductions (5 page)

“Oh my god. Paulie, that’s wonderful news.” She hugged the man soundly and then slugged him on the shoulder. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“We wanted to wait to make sure she made it past the first trimester. Abby was having some problems early on and we were concerned. But now come September, there’ll be a new mouth to feed in the Porchette household.”

“I am beyond thrilled for you. You make sure you give Abby my love when you get back to port. Better yet, let me tell her myself.”

“We can do that. It’ll be a celebration dinner before we leave the island. But first, my dear, work awaits. Get back to your stateroom, put on the gown that’s hanging in the closet and meet me in the dining room.”

“Aye, aye Captain.” Vivi gave him a mock salute and headed off to her stateroom.

Sliding the dress over her head, Vivi smoothed it over her hips. The burnished gold lace and silk gown hugged her in all the right places and then some.

Piling her hair on top of her head, Vivi secured it with a fancy gold butterfly comb. She lifted the matching heels from the bottom of the garment bag and slipped them on.

If this were any place other than the yacht, Vivi would have stayed in the stateroom and refused to come out. Being seen in the gown Paulie gave her left very little to the imagination.

Heaven forbid she sneezed. Her nipples were close enough to popping out as it was without any added help.

She looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. Thank god she’d had a wax job lately or you’d be able to see everything through the front of the evening gown. The slit in the side showed off her leg clear up to almost the top of her thigh. While the dress was definitely glamorous, it was also the pinnacle of sexiness.

As it was, the pieces of lace that alternated with the silk hid just enough to keep it from being indecent. Just barely, that was.

Then again, it was also enough to get Rafe Santori’s libido on full alert. And as of last night, Vivi decided it was now or never to go after the man. She’d done enough beating around the bush. It was time for a full frontal assault and this dress was just the thing to do it.

Stepping into the hallway, Vivi headed for the elevator. It was time to pull out the big guns for this party.

Vivi entered the dining room to find Paulie setting the scene.

“All right, this time I want Jeff and John to escort Vivi down the staircase. Slowly, strut your stuff all the way to the bottom. Once you get to the bottom, Rafe will be there. Hand Vivi off to him and step out of frame.”

Both men nodded.

“At that point Rafe steps in, takes Vivi’s hand and helps her down the last step. They walk across the room to the bar. I want his hand on her ass. He gets her a drink. All the while I want total eye contact. No looking away. This is it, people. This is the last shot and I want it to be a biggie.”

Vivi walked over to where Jeff and John were standing.

“Vivi, I want you to give this one everything you’ve got. This is the grand finale. No more after this. I want sizzle, I want sex, and I want lots of touching, lips pressing together. I want everything but your hootchie and his on display for the camera. Do I make myself clear?”

“Crystal. But don’t you think Rafe should know all this as well?” Vivi asked.

Paulie shook his head, as a slow smile crept across his features. “Nope, he gave me carte blanche and I’ll fully intend to remind him of that.”

“You are so bad.”

“That may be true, but, sweetheart, remember you get what you want out of it as well.”

Her gaze widened as she stared at Paulie. How the hell did he know about her crush on Rafe? Then it all came back to her. One night of drinking way too many jell-o shots and Vivi had blurted out her secret to Paulie. She made him swear never to say a word to anyone.

She narrowed her eyes and stared hard. “I’m warning you. I’ve got dirt on you as well.”

Paulie laughed. “Honey, this is all for you. Do whatever you want with it. All I’m going to do is photograph the two of you doing it.”

“Places everyone. Jeff, John, Vivi, at the top of the stairs. Nobody moves till I say so. Rafe, where are you? We’re ready to start shooting.” Paulie looked around the room trying to find Rafe.

* * * *

“I couldn’t get this damn tie done up right.” Rafe came into the room, muttering under his breath and tugging at the bow tie around his neck.

Paulie yanked the crooked bow loose and retied it in the blink of an eye.

“Stand over here for a minute. I want to get the shot of Vivi and the guys first.”

Rafe looked up and his breath caught in his throat. She was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. But the dress wasn’t like anything he’d ever seen before. Every step she took down the steps, every move made the material slide across her skin. He swore he could hear it sigh as it caressed her flesh.

He couldn’t look away, couldn’t tear his gaze from her as he stared at her on the stairs.

The outline of her dusky nipples could be seen through the lace at her breast. The outline of the vee of her thighs was displayed through the lace at her hips. He wanted to see for himself what lay beneath the gown. Rafe could imagine peeling off the gown and letting it drop to her feet before carrying Vivi to his bed and making hot, passionate love to her all night long. To bury himself between her thighs, deep inside her body, listening to the sounds of their lovemaking fill the night air.

Rafe swallowed hard as his erection pressed tightly against the front of his tuxedo pants. He needed to get a grip on himself before he lost it right here in front of everyone.

God, the woman was stunning.

He watched her come down the steps on Jeff and John’s arms. Watched as she got to the second to the last step and Paulie motioned him forward. Watched as she placed her hand in his as the rest of the room faded from view and her eyes grew dark with desire.

She wanted him as much as he wanted her. And what Rafe Santori wanted, he got. And right now he wanted Vivian Bloom. Being a man of his word, Rafe made a silent vow to have her in his bed before the shoot was over.

“Walk to the bar, Rafe. Take her hand and move slowly across the room. Now, put your hand on her ass.  She’s your possession.  Show everyone she’s yours.”

The sound of Paulie’s voice jarred Rafe from his thoughts as he did as instructed.

“Keep the eye contact. Don’t break it. Put everything you’ve got into this one.” Rafe handed Vivi a glass of champagne off the bar and took one for himself. Trying hard not to swallow the whole glass in one swallow, he concentrated on taking a sip.

Vivi took a sip, her gaze never leaving his face.

“Show me something, you two. Anything. Go for it. This is your chance.”

Before he could do anything, Vivi reached up her hand and cupped the side of his face. She leaned closer, and ran her tongue along the side of his ear, her breath caressing his skin.

Rafe shivered from the contact, but didn’t pull away. Instead, he reached out and pulled Vivi closer, nestling her between his thighs. Placing one hand at the back of her neck, he drew her in.  Tugging her close enough so she could feel his cock pressing against her.

He watched her eyes widen just before he lowered his mouth and captured her lips in a single blistering kiss. With his other hand, Rafe cupped her backside, his fingers kneading her flesh through the slinky gown.

Vivi moaned against his mouth and lifted her fingers to his hair. Raking her fingers over his scalp, she pressed herself against his erection.

Rafe deepened the kiss, and ran his tongue over the inside of her mouth, tasting the champagne, reveling in the sounds she was making.

He needed her under him, making love with him and soon. Angling her head, he took the kiss further, encouraged by her response.

Her hands were now roaming over the front of his jacket, pushing it off his shoulders, her fingers fumbling with the buttons on the dress shirt.

Somewhere close by, Rafe heard the sound of a throat clearing and the fog lifted from his brain.

The dining room.

Paulie.

The crew.

He felt Vivi tense up and he tightened his hold. He wasn’t going to let her get away this easy. Not this time.

Rafe lifted his head to find Paulie alone in the room, smiling at him. The crew had vanished along with Jeff and John.

“That is exactly what I hoped would happen. You two have given
Out of Bounds
the perfect finale. And with that I bid you both good night.”

Paulie turned and practically skipped out of the room.

Vivi lifted her head and looked at him. “Is everyone standing behind me?” she whispered.

He shook his head. “Nope, it’s just the two of us. Everyone’s gone.”

She pulled back out of his embrace and Rafe reluctantly let her go.

“Join me for dinner tonight.” He spoke the words quickly for fear she disappear as well.

“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”

“I think it’s the perfect idea. Seems as though we’ve got a lot to talk about right now. Just the two of us, no crowd. We’ll dine on the terrace off my stateroom or yours. Up to you.”

Vivi stared at him as though trying to figure out what he was up to.

“What could it hurt? It’s the last night of the shoot and the day after tomorrow everyone goes back to their regular lives. It’s only one dinner, Vivi.”

She sighed before answering. “Okay, yes I’ll have dinner with you.”

“My place or yours?” Rafe asked, wagging his eyebrows up and down.

Vivi couldn’t resist a laugh. “Your place. I want to see how to other half lives for a change.”

“Allow me.” Rafe offered up his arm and led Vivi from the dining room and toward the elevator and his stateroom. Tonight he’d have the sultry Vivian Bloom right where he wanted her. Naked and in his bed.

Chapter Five

“Your yacht is beautiful.”

“Thank you. I work hard for the things I have in my life and I play just as hard.” Rafe popped the cork off the champagne bottle and poured her a glass.

“Thanks.” Vivi accepted the proffered glass and took a sip.

“I never knew you were such a tease, Vivian Bloom.”

“Now why would you say that?” Vivi dipped her finger in the bowl of whipped cream, and then popped it in her mouth. She slowly licked the white froth from her index finger, all the while staring at Rafe.

She knew exactly what she was doing to him and she was enjoying every second. Something had changed in the dining room. Vivi couldn’t explain it, but it had. It was as though a light switch had been flipped in her brain. Showing her what she was missing by not acting on her attraction to Rafe.

Vivi didn’t want to let it pass by. She wanted to explore further what she’d felt wrapped in his arms, kissing him, touching him earlier.

Rafe grabbed her hand, dipped it in the whipped cream and then lifted it to his mouth. “I do hope you were planning to share dessert.” He sucked her finger into his mouth and laved the topping from her skin with slow, sensual strokes.

Her mouth opened but no words came out. She was fixated on the sight of his mouth licking her finger, stroking her flesh, tormenting her to within an inch of her life.

“Do you want me to stop?” He looked up at her.

“Yes. No. I don’t know.” Vivi wasn’t sure what to say.

“Then let’s go with no,” Rafe said, and renewed his assault on her sense.

* * * *

Rafe pulled her to her feet and cupped her face in his hands. “Do you know how much I want you, Vivi?”

“Probably as much as I want you,” Vivi replied.

Her honesty surprised him, though it shouldn’t have given their previous encounter. It was refreshing to hear.

Rafe tugged the butterfly comb from her hair and watched her curls tumble down her back. He wrapped one long strand around his finger and gently nudged her forward.

“I’m going to kiss you, Vivi.”

“I might just let you, Rafe,” Vivi replied.

“Then I’m going to strip that gown off your body and do all the things I’ve been thinking of doing for the past week.” He trailed his lips across her jaw and down her neck.

“Really? Anything in particular?” Vivi angled her head back, giving him easier access.

Rafe moved his hand under the slit at the side of the gown and cupped her pussy.

Vivi groaned and opened her legs wider.

He slipped a finger inside her and found her wet with need. His control slipping, Rafe took a step back and drew in a ragged breath.

Rafe dropped to his knees and lifted the dress up by the hem. He stood, pulling the gown over her head and then tossed it to the floor.

Vivi stood before him in nothing but a pair of high heels.

“You are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” He pulled her into his arms and captured her mouth in a kiss.

Vivi wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.

Rafe lifted her into his arms and carried her inside the bedroom, kicking the door shut behind him. He laid Vivi on the bed and followed her down, never breaking the contact between their mouths.

Her hands ran over his body, touching him, stroking him through the fabric of his clothes and Rafe broke the kiss and stood.

He yanked off the tuxedo, not caring if the buttons went flying across the room or what tore. All he wanted was to feel his naked flesh against hers.

Rafe stared down at her on the bed, her body illuminated by the moonlight. She lifted her arms to him and he was lost.

Settling his body to hers, Rafe trailed kisses down her neck, then lower still to her breast. Taking her nipple into his mouth, he laved it, bathed it, and suckled it till Vivi was writhing on the bed begging for more.

He moved lower still, nipping at her thighs, then settled himself between her legs.

“Rafe.”

He shook his head. “Enjoy Vivi. This is all for you.”

Rafe parted her folds and drew her into his mouth. She let out a moan, her fingers clenching at his shoulders as he continued to suckle at her pussy.

“Yes, do it, Rafe. Eat my pussy.”

The words coming from her mouth drove him on, as he teased and tormented the small nub. Taking his index finger, he slid it inside her, mimicking the thrusting motions of his cock.