Surrender The Booty (10 page)

Nausea rose in her stomach as the sickeningly sweet scent of the island clung to her nose and throat. A large, masculine hand came to rest on her shoulder. She spun around, ready to let loose all the anger and guilt that raged through her veins. She would kill Jose before she slept with him again. She swung blindly, but her arms were caught before she landed a punch.

Trevor pulled her in close to his chest and wrapped his strong arms around her.

“Let her go.” Jose’s voice was close. Too close. The haze had settled into her head. The island was working its magic, and Jose’s response to the aphrodisiac was bound to be stronger than hers.

“Stay away from me,” she hissed.

Trevor let go of her. “What’s the matter?”

“It’s me she wants to hit. Let her.” Jose held his arms out in invitation. “Go on, Bella. Give me what I deserve.”

His chest heaved. His dark eyes were clouded with lust and his big cock strained against his jeans. “I won’t touch you,” he said. “I swear I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do. Even if this damned island kills me.”

Something rough and wet slid against the back of her ankle. Bella jumped and the giant python continued up the beach, its thin tail dripping sea water, its piercing eyes pointed toward the sea grapes higher on the shore.

Her breath burned her lungs and panic froze her muscles. She needed to put every mile of this island between herself and Jose, but the serpent left her as immobile as stone.

Surrender the Booty

77

Whatever had happened between Jose and Bella, she wasn’t talking and neither was he. Trevor didn’t know whether to kick Jose’s ass or let them work it out themselves. If Jose had laid a hand on her physically there wouldn’t have been any question, but she swore he hadn’t. Other than that she wouldn’t talk about Jose at all. And looking for treasure seemed to be the last thing on her mind.

Here on this grassy hill in the center of the island, she clung to him as night crept in.

“Why don’t you have a little cowgirl back at the ranch keeping your bed warm?” Bella teased his nipple with the tip of her nail and eased the sting with her tongue. His cock stirred and his groin tightened.

“I told you. Relationships ain’t my thing.”

“Now or ever?”

He felt his lips tighten and his jaw locked down tight. The little lady didn’t know she was treading in dangerous waters. Back home people knew better than to question him, or push him to talk about women. Some things were better left unsaid.

She raised up on her elbow. “Cat got your tongue?”

He pulled her on top of him. The feel of her soft skin against his sent another surge of blood to his cock and his hips rose toward the pull of her pussy.

“I’m the strong, silent type.” His voice was gruff.

She laughed and rubbed her slick nether lips over the ridge of his shaft. “Since when, Cowboy?”

78

Carmie L’Rae

He flipped her flat on her back and spread her thighs with one of his. She gasped in surprise, but before she could push him for more information, he covered her mouth in a kiss and pushed his dick into her tight, wet hole. Gentle wasn’t on his mind. She was ready. She wanted him inside her as bad as he wanted to be there. He thrust deep and pounded faster and harder than he’d ever fucked her before. She panted. Fingernails dug into his shoulders and her calves wound around his back.

“God, yes!” she screamed. “Don’t stop. Don’t ever stop!”

Even through the pounding of blood in his veins and the rush of pulse in his ears he heard the sadness in her voice. She needed something he couldn’t give her. Some kind of escape he didn’t hold the key to.

“Hold on, darlin’.” He slowed just enough to maintain control, but drove as deep as he could go. She wasn’t the only one who needed to freefall away from this world. He couldn’t take her far, but he could wipe her worries free for a little while. He could take her with him when he soared.

Her pussy clutched his cock and her body drew up as tight. He saw the second her dark eyes lost focus and she let go of every burden. Her sweet body gave him everything he needed and wrenched every ounce of pleasure from him. His balls tightened. His spine cracked and his muscles shook. He came with a roar. Releasing himself into her was almost enough to convince him he’d changed.

That he deserved a woman like this.

Almost.

Surrender the Booty

79

Jose found the candles exactly where he knew they’d be, the same place his grandmother had kept them in her house. He lifted them carefully from the niche in the wall and pushed the wash basin back in place. The fine linen wrapped around the hand-poured wax was coated in a fine layer of sand. He unwound the blessing cloth carefully and the scent of pomegranate and fig drifted into his nose.

The familiar smell hitched his heart. The smell of loss and love, hurt and hope. Burned on the night table beside his father’s bed the night he passed. Burned for both his grandparents as they parted from this world.

But today the candles weren’t going to be used for death. They had another purpose. One he’d only heard of once, when he was boy hiding in his cousin’s closet, eavesdropping on her and her best friend. Learning about life and women, the best way he knew how.

He pressed the wax to his nose and inhaled deeply. They were still potent. The scent was strong and the wax had already begun to warm in his hand. He would need a few more things, but they could all be found in the garden.

Delgado had planted everything he would need for his Carmella.

He had known what he was doing, and now Jose did too. Bella would forgive him. At least for a minute. And if could get into her heart for a minute, maybe he could find his way back for good. He didn’t deserve her. But the world was full of undeserving people.

He could make it up to her. He would. But first he had to convince her to give him a chance. One chance, that’s all he’d need. He’d make sure of that.

80

Carmie L’Rae

An hour later, candlelight flickered off the wet walls of the cavern. Green moss climbed near the top and high-water marks stained the walls with uneven lines. The surf hissed and bubbled near the entrance, but here deep inside, a sandy bottom and stones worn smooth by years of sea salt made the perfect spot for the perfect seduction.

Jose laid the herbs he had gathered in a bundle by the candles. The aroma of fruit filled the space and the slosh of water signaled Bella’s approach.

Jose sucked in a deep breath. This was it. He ducked into the shadows and waited. If she saw him, she’d likely turn and run. She was expecting to meet Trevor. He owed the cowboy for his help in getting her here. She hadn’t even been willing to sleep between them on the cot last night, choosing to sleep with Trevor in the middle instead. And this morning she left for the beach before breakfast.

He had convinced Trevor he needed some time alone with her, and Trevor had agreed to lure her to the cave. And now here she was.

He couldn’t blow this.

His chest burned and his thighs shook with restraint. The hot nature of his blood didn’t make for patience. If he had less restraint he’d run and throw his arms around her and show her what loving him could be like, but he knew better. His body didn’t agree, but his mind was sure. Bella was ready to be seduced, but Jose wasn’t the man she had in mind. She expected Trevor. She wanted Trevor.

She rounded the bend and stood ankle-deep in water. Her white skirt shifted in the slow current and her sun-bronzed skin shone in the candlelight. With her dark hair brushing her shoulders she looked like a deity better suited for a painting than this dim cave on a remote island where only two sets of eyes could see how beautiful she was.

“Tão belo,” he whispered.

She started, swiveling around to face him. Jose stepped from the shadows and reached for her wrist before she could run.

Surrender the Booty

81

“Wait. Just give me a few minutes. I promise, it’s all I’ll ask. If you still hate me after that, I’ll leave you alone. Forever.” His voice trembled, but fever ran through his veins. He couldn’t touch her and not feel his blood heat, his heart pound. He couldn’t lose her. He wouldn’t.

“What did you say?”

“I said, ‘You’re so beautiful.’”

She shook her head. “‘Hermosa’ is beautiful in Spanish.”

“I spoke—” He stopped himself. He’d spoken in Portuguese. The language of the candles and his ancestry. “The language doesn’t matter. It’s true no matter how I say it.”

“What do you want? Where’s Trevor?”

“He’s not here. It’s just you and me.”

She turned, twisted out of his grasp, but he caught her again before she could retreat. Her smooth skin burned beneath his touch and anger flared in her eyes. “Let go of me.”

“I will. First promise me you won’t run. I just want a few minutes with you.”

Indecision settled into her gaze.

“Please, Bella. You know I never wanted to hurt you.”

“But you did. And that’s nothing compared to what you did to J.P.”

Jose dropped her arm. His gut felt like a hammer had just landed in it. “I’d trade places with him if I could. I swear I would.” His voice caught in his throat and he stopped. Maybe he shouldn’t have tricked her into coming here. What right did he have to ask her to forgive him, to ask her for anything?

He turned toward the back of the cave and closed his eyes. His shoulders strained with the weight of regret and his arms shook with restraint. He’d never wanted anything more than to feel her in his arms again, to see her look at him with those dark passionate eyes.

But he didn’t deserve that any more than J.P. deserved what had happened to him.

82

Carmie L’Rae

Water splashed as she took a step. He didn’t move. He didn’t want to watch her leave. Some things were better left unseen. His heart knew she was gone and the hollow she left in it burned like hunger.

He flinched as her fingertips landed gingerly between his shoulder blades. Her touch was warm against his back, tentative at first and then more sure.

“Turn around,” she said. “I love J.P., and he was robbed of more than most people ever even dream of.”

Jose squeezed his eyes shut harder and let the warmth of her hand spread over his back. He was afraid to turn around and lose this connection, this brief moment of hope. She had offered him an olive branch when she should have hung him from one. She couldn’t beat him up any harder than he’d beaten himself over the years.

“There’s more to that day than anyone else knows.” His jaw tightened. He knew he would regret telling her, but there was no way around it. She needed to know the truth, the whole truth, and then maybe, just maybe, she could understand how he could have been stupid enough to let J.P. end up the way he was.

He turned around slowly and met her gaze. Her hand fell to her side, but he lifted it again and held it between his palms.

He led her over to one of the smooth stones, wide enough for both of them to sit. After she sat down, he eased down next to her, holding her hand like a life preserver. This is where he would sink or swim.

The words he chose would make all the difference, but ultimately the decision would be hers.

The scent of the candles wafted toward them. He reached for one and swirled the melted wax around the wick. Dipping one fingertip into the hot liquid, he let it harden on his skin and then brought it to her chest. He pressed his finger above her heart. The steady rhythm of her heartbeat pounded between them and the heat of their connection warmed the wax. When he lifted his hand, the print of his finger remained on her skin, like an apricot-colored birthmark.

Surrender the Booty

83

“That means …” He swallowed hard and started again. “These candles are sacred. In my family there are rituals that go back generations. Recipes and traditions that we will never lose or discredit. There are only two times we burn these candles.” He stopped, not sure how she would respond when he told her what he’d just done.

“When do you use them?”

“When someone is about to die, and …” Again he faltered.

“Am I about to die?”

He shook his head and brushed a stray hair from her cheek. “No. I marked you. It means no matter what happens, whether you forgive me or not, I’ve given you a part of me. I’m a part of you. Forever.”

She glanced down at the mark on her chest and then at the candle he held. She dipped her fingertip in the melted wax and watched it harden as it cooled on her skin. Then she pushed his shirt open and placed her finger over his heart. As the wax melted between them, she looked him in the eye.

“I don’t want to be forgotten either.”

He pulled her face toward his and placed a soft kiss on her lips.

He’d been in love before. He knew the signs, but he also knew his love didn’t mean anything if she couldn’t return it.

“I’ll tell you everything that happened. I’ll be completely honest and I’ll take every bit of the blame,” he said. “I’ve always known I ruined J.P.’s life, but I never knew what I’d done to yours.”

She flinched. “My life is fine.”

“You shouldn’t have such a burden.”

“J.P.’s not a burden.”

He knew better than to argue. Now wasn’t the time.

“There’s only one thing I want to know about that day. Tell me it was an accident, Jose. Tell me you didn’t mean to hurt him.”

“Not a day has passed I didn’t wish I’d told him no. I could’ve refused to fly over the canyon. I could’ve stopped him from diving.”

84

Carmie L’Rae

Bella choked on a laugh. “Nobody could ever stop J.P. from doing anything he wanted to do.” She stared hard at him. “He strapped the parachute on. He dove out of the plane. I can’t blame you for that, Jose. But you didn’t have to abandon him afterward.”

“Your father told me to stay away. Told all of J.P.’s friends to stay away. He said it was too hard for your mother and for you to relive what he could’ve been. To see his friends carrying on without him.”