Pleasure Bay (7 page)

“We are happy to have you here and as a welcome, have prepared a small celebration for you in our outdoor lounge. If there are questions or concerns, please find myself, Mariah, or any one of our well-trained staff who will be available to you in the mansion.” He paused for a moment, taking Mariah’s arm as he concluded, “Business aside, I hope you’ll enjoy your stay with us on Pleasure Bay. Now, if you’ll follow me…”

The sound of the water lapping against the plane behind them followed Jennifer and her fellow passengers up the steps. At the top, the vastness of the estate was finally revealed. Until now, only a small portion had been within view from the dock. It looked so much bigger than it had in the pictures. The sprawling Victorian manor perched high on a grassy point overlooked the bay. Gleaming white in the afternoon sun, the mansion—and the island for that matter—seemed to rise majestically out of the Caribbean, the regal architecture laden with high turrets, porches, and balconies.

She heard Sydney remark on how beautiful it was as they followed their hosts along the white concrete walkway. Sydney had a charming, outgoing personality and soon she and the man next to her were engaged in quiet, although animated conversation, but Jen couldn’t quite make it out.

“Can you believe that staircase?” Jen murmured to the tall brunette in the long red evening gown who walked alongside her. Taking in the wide curving steps and the intricate style of the smooth white banisters, she noticed that it was matched at the far end of the building. It wasn’t just one staircase, but two that fell like twin teardrops from the second story balcony, allowing access from either side of the vast structure.

“Wait until you see the marble staircase inside, now that is truly a work of art.”

“Oh—you’ve been here before?” Jen asked curiously.

“A time or two,” the sleek dark-haired woman replied with a teasing smirk on her lips that told Jen she wasn’t about to offer up any more information. Confidentiality and all that, she presumed.

The soft sound of classical music drifted on the breeze from one of the open upstairs windows as they rounded a corner to the east side of the estate. As they passed, decorative flower gardens and a few tall, wispy tropical trees drew her eyes and gave Jennifer a peaceful feeling. Even if her fantasy didn’t turn out as she hoped it might, this resort was truly something to be admired for its beauty alone.

As they approached the left side of the building, the sound of trickling water drew her attention. She was thrilled to see the grotto from the brochure. Rays from the sun broke through the trees and illuminated the water in the shallow pool, making it sparkle and dance. It was beautiful, but she longed to see the waterfall. After seeing the pictures of it online, her mind had constantly conjured up intimate water scenes featuring her and her fantasy man, their naked bodies intertwined beneath the mist, the skin slick and wet. All of her nerve endings came to life as she imagined it happening for real, causing her nipples to tighten and sending rivulets of moist heat to dampen her panties.

As much as she had told herself to stop thinking about her would-be fantasy man and how he would go about capturing her, she couldn’t. She discreetly surveyed two of the men walking ahead of her, wondering if one of them might be her man. Secretly, she couldn’t help but hope for the guy with the sandy blond hair and big muscles. She could just imagine those huge arms picking her up and carrying her off to one of Dimitri’s castle turrets, like a knight of old. He could subdue her like a misbehaving wench and imprison her in his tower while doing all sorts of naughty things to her. On edge, she couldn’t stop imagining. Everywhere she looked, everyone she saw created a sex scene in her brain.

At the back corner of the manor, Dimitri stopped for a moment to address them. “As you can see,” he said, gesturing to the beach as well as the wooded areas surrounding the manor, “there are several well-marked trails on the island. Some of them lead to your weekend cabanas and bungalows, while others take you for a relaxing walk, where you can admire our beautiful island and all of its tropical wonders. For your safety and convenience, we have installed state-of-the-art solar ground lighting along the trails, which will accommodate those of you who enjoy nighttime strolls. We do ask that you not wander onto trails leading to any guest quarters other than your own.”

With a wave of his hand, their host continued leisurely along the winding walk, allowing the guests to take in all the serene beauty around them. Jennifer was watching the most amazing butterfly she’d ever seen flitting from bush to bush. Its color almost matched that of the bikini she had brought: aqua-plum. She’d been so caught up in watching, she stopped short, nearly bumping into the guy in the pearly white tux.

Looking around to see if anyone had noticed that she’d almost rear-ended the guy, she flushed. The woman in the red gown obviously had. She smiled gently at Jen and leaned in to whisper, “It’s easy to get distracted with all the wonderful scenery, honey.”

Jen saw her eyes shift and linger on the man ahead of them, and she wasn’t sure if the woman was talking about the island scenery or about the man. In either case, caught gawking and acting like a goofy tourist left her feeling a bit embarrassed.

As they were guided along the path behind the manor, they came to a short set of wide opulent limestone steps set into the walkway in order to accommodate the sloping yard. As they came off the last step, the woman in red casually stepped in front of her, falling into place beside the sandy blond hunk. Now her comment made sense. Truth be told, she’d shown an avid interest in him ever since leaving the dock.

He turned his head as she moved in next to him, giving her a shy smile. Jen watched as she boldly returned it and stepped in closer, placing her hand on his shoulder.

“Katie,” she introduced herself softly. “Gorgeous view, isn’t it?”

“Uh-huh,” he said, nodding, and then looked away, putting a hand in the pocket of his jacket.

Jen thought the guy looked nervous and she noticed the back of his neck was slightly pink. Was he blushing? It was hard to believe a big hunk like him would be flustered over the attentions of a sexy woman. Unless he was…
gay?
No, Jen didn’t want to believe that. It would exclude him—hands down—as her potential abductor. But judging by his reaction to the ebony-haired woman’s flirting, he didn’t seem her type anyway.

After taking the long scenic trail around the manor, they came to the west side of the property where they encountered yet another short set of steps, which led up to a large outdoor deck. A stunning view of the bay and the sound of Jamaican music welcomed them. The approaching sunset would be a sight to see from the lounge.

The sharp-dressed businessman from the plane smiled at her as she came up the steps. “No matter how many times I visit, the view still amazes me.”

“It’s breathtaking,” she said, returning his smile. “Nothing in the brochure even comes close to doing this place justice.”

Chapter Three

Fire and water—that’s what came to mind when Sydney first saw the Pleasure Bay lounge. Like everything else, it was exceptional. The spacious covered deck extended away from the house and was open on three sides, providing a panoramic view of the sparkling blue Caribbean just a short distance away. Warm and inviting, the main level featured a full bar and dance floor with a live band performing. An eclectic mix of covers, she noticed, as the island reggae tune changed to a slow pop ballad as their group arrived. Two couples were dancing and a few others were seated at the surrounding candlelit pub tables. Steps on all sides led down to a lower level with more tables, these linen draped with a centerpiece of flowers and candles. Interspersed throughout the lower deck were plush-cushioned couches where couples could sit and admire the ocean view, chat, kiss, cuddle, or whatever.

Sydney’s eyes were drawn to the blazing fire pit, which was situated on an extended deck in the far corner. Surrounding it was a seating area with more cushioned couches and a couple of double chaise lounges. The atmosphere was engaging, cozy, and romantic, the perfect place to soothe unsettled nerves of a newbie like herself.

As she crossed to the railing, intent on absorbing the view, a soft voice called her name. She saw their blond hostess heading her way; behind her was a tall, dark-haired man. A shiver passed through her as Mariah introduced him. He towered over her, being well over six feet. He was strikingly good looking with deep chocolaty brown eyes and long silky lashes any woman would kill for. Thick, wavy dark hair, either black or brown, she couldn’t tell in the low light, but it was cut short, off his collar but long enough for a woman to sink her fingers into. He had a closely trimmed scruff of a beard that was sexy as hell. She could almost feel it rasping across her skin—her belly, her thighs, an erect nipple. Sweet heavens! Just the thought of that made her panties wet.

Vaguely, she heard Mariah talking as she handed her an envelope, but the roaring in her ears and the frisson of electricity that had shot to her clit was distracting, to say the least. Had she said his name was Jack or Jackson? She blinked rapidly. Part anxiety, part intrigue, and a good whopping dose of lust was short-circuiting her brain. Whatever his name, the man in front of her was fa-reaking-gorgeous.

“Sydney?”

Throat suddenly dry, palms damp, and her heart thudding in her chest, she realized Mariah had asked her a question. For the life of her, she had no clue what it was. Her face flushed with heat. They were both looking at her expectantly, Jax with a sexy, knowing grin and Mariah with a satisfied smile.

“Well, I can see my work here is done. Enjoy the weekend, Sydney. I’m available if you need me.” Patting Sydney on the shoulder, she walked away, leaving her with
him
.

“Are you all right, Sydney?” His voice was just as hot as the rest of him. Her damp panties in a twist, she knew this was going to be entirely too easy for him. Five minutes in and she was ready to collapse at his feet, begging him to take her. She didn’t even know his name yet.

“I, uh… I’m fine. Just embarrassed, is all. I didn’t catch your name.”

He chuckled. “All of this is a bit overwhelming at first, I know. My name is Jaxon, but you, my little submissive, will call me sir for the weekend.”

A tremor shot through her. His first words to her were an order and rendered her brainless and mute.

“A response is expected, Sydney.”

That voice, so deep, and the way he said her name. His presence was overpowering, his demeanor commanding, sending another tremor in a direct hit to her nipples, which peaked painfully, and another zing to her already tingling clit.

“Yes, sir,” she whispered in a strangled voice, looking away from the intensity of his discerning gaze. Feeling like he could read her thoughts and gauge her every response, she wondered if he knew that instead of polite conversation at a wonderful, lavish outdoor bar in the Caribbean, she wanted to jump his bones and rut like an animal.

“You’re nervous, that’s to be expected. Why don’t we find a table out of the way and talk, hmm?” Without waiting for a response, he guided her down the steps to the lower level and to the far end where a tall palm provided a filter from the afternoon sun. The corner location was perfect for catching the breeze from both sides of the mansion. As he seated her at the table for two, his hand brushed her shoulder and she shivered, but she was far from cold.

A waitress came up.

“How much have you had to drink, Sydney, including on the plane?”

“Two glasses of champagne, one here and another earlier on the flight in from Kingston.”

“You’re done then, you may order something non-alcoholic.”

A moment later, the server left with their order for two ice waters with lemon.

Jaxon explained, “I’m not being a hard ass. There is a two-drink limit when playing. We want everything SSC, which can’t happen when you’re lit.”

She nodded. SSC; she remembered what that meant. Oh, boy! This was real. It was actually happening, not just a wild, made-up fantasy.

His hand covered hers and squeezed gently. “Relax, honey. This is going to be fun, for both of us.”

“You said ‘we’ before? Are you one of the club members?”

“I’m actually on staff here.”

“Oh, I thought—” What
had
she thought? She just assumed her partner would be one of the other guests, maybe someone from the plane. As a staff dom, he wouldn’t be looking for anything beyond the weekend. She’d be able to play and explore without any strings attached. That was a good thing, right?

“You were originally assigned to a club member, but he had a personal matter come up at the last minute, so I stepped in.” His eyes gleamed in the moonlight as he watched her. “Disappointed?”

“Not at all,” she denied, but was she?

“Sir.”

“I’m not disappointed, sir.”

“Much better. I think this is a good time for a bit of negotiation. My goal is for you to get everything you need. I was able to review your file and have a few questions. I understand the basic D/s spanking fantasy, but I noticed you had a lot of maybes on your limit list.”

He reached into the inside pocket of his light gray suit coat and pulled out a familiar paper. She recognized her writing immediately.

“Paddle, no. Flogger, no—strap, slapper, loopy Johnny, tawse, and whips, all no. That doesn’t leave much but my hand, honey.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Mm…” His dark eyes considered her as he nodded once. “What about sex? You have ‘no’ crossed out, then you checked maybe, which is also crossed out. ‘No’ is written back in, but crossed out again. There’s also a handwritten ‘maybe.’ I take it from that you’re undecided.”

“No. Well, yes. I’m… I guess, maybe, sir?”

That discombobulated moronic answer earned her one of Jaxon’s sexy smiles, amused yet full of promise.

“I tell you what. Why don’t we just spend the evening getting to know each other and see where it leads, hmm?”