The Possession (3 page)

      
He frowned as he stared at her in silence, his dark expression brooding. They faced off in stark quiet for what felt like the tensest hour of Kris’ life, their gazes locked in mutual challenge, when in fact it couldn’t have been more than thirty seconds that had already ticked by.

      
She grew increasingly anxious on the inside, her heart rate picking up dramatically, but on the outside she looked ice-cool.

      
And then finally, thankfully, he opened his mouth to speak. But whatever it might have been that he had been about to say was interrupted when Dr. Salazar made an unexpected appearance into the office.

      
Kris blew out a breath as she stood up, relieved. She wouldn’t be obliged to deal with the growling grump after all.

      
“Alma,” Jack said politely if a bit gruffly. Almost as though he was disappointed by the fact that their impending conversation had been interrupted. But then that made no sense really.

      
He inclined his head respectfully when he stood up to greet the department head, inducing Kris’ brow to furrow. This was the first time she had ever seen Jack McKenna and Alma Salazar interact and she had to wonder at it. Kris had always assumed that the bruiser probably treated the older woman as surly as he did the rest of the world. Apparently that assumption had been wrong.

      
She frowned when she wondered if Jack saved up all of his bad manners for her alone.

      
Jerk.

      
“It’s good to see you, Jack,” Dr. Salazar said sincerely, causing Kris to blink. But then Kris couldn’t imagine anybody being happy to see Jack McKenna. It was like the Whos down in Who-ville being happy to see the Grinch before he’d reformed his wicked ways. “I came back from vacation a day early because I’m behind with paperwork. I’m glad I didn’t miss you. But I see that Krissy here was helping you.”

      
She winced at Dr. Salazar’s casual usage of the name Krissy. She winced again when she realized the feminine sounding name hadn’t gone unnoticed by the Grinch. That damn eyebrow of his shot up again as he flicked his gaze toward her.

      
“Yes,” he said dryly, his voice a low growl. “
Krissy
and I were just getting ready to discuss the problems down at your team’s excavation site.”

      
Kris frowned, her hands folding under her breasts.

      
Dr. Salazar’s eyebrows drew together quizzically. “Problems, Jack? I’m afraid I don’t follow.”

      
He nodded. “Yeah. Problems. The problem being it isn’t excavated yet. Look,” he said in the calmest tone of voice Kris had ever heard him use, “I don’t mind delaying my men by a day or two so your team can finish digging up those old bones we happened across, but time is money, Alma, and your team is taking up a hell of a lot of my time.”

      
Dr. Salazar nodded. “I understand, Jack. Krissy and I will get right on it ourselves.” She patted him on the shoulder, an affectionate and platonic gesture. “No need to worry. We’ll finish excavating it tonight.”

      
Tonight?

      
Kris’ eyes widened.
Of all nights, please not tonight!
she mentally wailed.

      
Jack McKenna turned his head and stared at Kris as though he was working her out in his mind—as though he had figured out he was thwarting her from doing something she had really wanted to do tonight. And damned if he didn’t look pleased by that realization.

      
Jerk!

      
“Good,” he murmured, his gaze never leaving Kris’.

      
She stiffened, her chin notching up as it was apt to do whenever she felt defensive. “I’ll be more than happy to excavate the site with you, Dr. Salazar,” she said in a professionally clipped tone as she tore her gaze away from Jack’s. “But if you want me to be a part of the excavation I’m afraid it will have to wait until I return from my vacation in a week.” She nodded definitively, letting it be known that in this one particular instance she would not waver. She had a solid reputation for being a team player, so she wasn’t worried Alma would think poorly of her.

      
Dr. Salazar inclined her head, affirming her assumption.

      
Jack frowned, his dark eyes broodingly raking over Kris. “Why?” he barked. “You going somewhere with a guy or something?”

      
“Or something,” she said sweetly, letting him wonder. She decided to ignore the fact that his interest in the subject did weird things to her belly. Like put butterflies inside of it.

      
Nerves. It had to be nerves that had made her stomach flutter. The only thing Jack McKenna did to her belly was give it indigestion.

      
Kris picked up her purse, nodding at Jack and Alma as she strolled toward the door. “I’ll leave you two to talk. I have a lot of work to do in the lab today before I leave for vacation.”

      
And a lot of mental preparation to perform in anticipation of tonight’s flight to the exclusive, private island.

Chapter 2

      
Kris closed her eyes, took a deep, steadying breath in a futile effort to calm her frayed nerves, then resumed staring out of the six-seater airplane’s small peep-hole of a window.

      
She wondered what John Calder would think when he saw her, for she hadn’t had time to change out of her drab business clothing in between leaving the university and catching the chartered flight to the island. But then again, John had warned her that she wouldn’t need clothes at Hotel Atlantis because she’d be totally naked for the entire five days…

      
She nibbled on her lower lip, her green eyes wide.

      
What the hell had she been thinking, signing up to become a submissive sex slave for five days?

      
She sighed, absently rubbing her temples as the lush and surprisingly tropical looking Atlantis Island slowly came into view. It’s just that she really wanted to try this, she reminded herself. Just once.

      
Besides, Kris considered herself to be a very good judge of character. John Calder might be a smart businessman who had figured out a way to make enviable money for himself and the women who worked on the island, but she had a good feeling about him as a person and believed wholeheartedly that the assurances he’d given to her were nothing short of the truth.

      
He and his sister Sheri would take good care of her. They never allowed men on the island who hadn’t gone through and passed intense personal screenings and background checks.

      
Indeed, Sheri has assured her that most of the patrons of the island were regular clients that she and John had known for at least five years or more. And all of them were the types of high profile men who would rather be on their best behavior for the women who worked in Hotel Atlantis than do something stupid and chance that a potentially damaging situation might be aired in public as dirty laundry for all the world to see.

      
In other words, Kris had nothing to worry about. The male patrons were horny and rascally, but nobody would dare harm her.

      
She blew out a breath.

      
As the island loomed in closer, her heart rate picked up dramatically. This was as exciting as it was terrifying, she mentally conceded.

      
Taking a brief glance around the tiny cabin at the other four female passengers on the chartered plane, she idly wondered to herself if they were as nervous as she was. She doubted it. All four of them had the calm, collected look of professionals. And all four of them were perfect in appearance with their gorgeously painted faces, firm bodies, and golden blonde good looks.

      
She sighed. They were so beautiful—too beautiful. She’d probably have to pay one of the paying customers to get herself a little action, she thought with a frown.

      
Ah well. It was either this or five days with the cats.

      
Kris straightened in her seat and decided to focus on the upcoming night that lay ahead of her rather than on things destined to make her a nervous wreck. Tonight was no more than an orientation of sorts, she reminded herself. So it really wasn’t necessary to get all flustered. The male patrons wouldn’t begin arriving until some time tomorrow afternoon.

      
Then and only then would she work herself into a knot of raw, frayed, and otherwise exposed nerves.

* * * * *

      
Leaning against his expensive oak desk, a glass of bourbon in hand, John Calder grinned at Kris’ nervousness. “If you can’t get naked in front of me without blushing, my dear, then how are you going to deal with it tomorrow when a group of rich, horny men are all vying for your attention, anxious to fuck you?” He held the short glass up, preparing to sip from it as he studied her. “I don’t mean to be crude, but I don’t want misunderstandings either. You do realize that’s what you’re here for, don’t you?”

      
Kris sighed as she let her hair down, the tight bun spilling a cascade of dark red ringlets down to her lower back. Her hair, like Samson, had always been her strength, her best feature. She suspected even her new employer agreed when the sight of her curls cascading down made him stiffen in a noticeable region. She nibbled at her lower lip and glanced away.

      
“My dear Kris,” he murmured from across the room, his expression guarded and remote. “You could make even a man like me forget how jaded he’s become.”

      
Her head shot up. Her forehead wrinkled. “Huh?”

      
“Never mind,” he said with a sigh that sounded almost tragic, and left her feeling decidedly confused. He set down the glass of bourbon and walked slowly towards her. “I don’t want you doing this if it’s not something you want to do. If it’s money you need, there are plenty of ways—”

      
“It’s not the money,” she quickly blurted out. She took a deep breath. “Listen, Mr. Calder…”

      
“John,” he corrected with a smile.

      
She nodded. “How apropos.” She grinned when he chuckled at that, her nervousness fading with every moment she spent in his presence. “It’s not the money,” she admitted again, her expression growing serious. “It’s just something I need to do. For me.” She sighed as she glanced away, kicking off her no-nonsense pumps at the same time. “I own ten cats,” she said morosely. “And I’m a member of Mensa.”

      
John hid his smile. “I see.” He was quiet as he watched her slowly disrobe, saying nothing until she stood before him wearing only her bra and panties.

      
Kris bit her lip as she glanced up at him, her shoulders straight and stiff.

      
He chuckled. “Try not to look as though you’re facing your executioner and you might enjoy these five days a bit more.”

      
She grinned at him, then laughed. “You’re very good at talking a woman out of her clothing, you know.” She shook her head. “If you were anyone else I probably would have bolted in fright the moment the plane landed.”

      
“We all have our talents,” he teased.

      
Kris cocked her head as she studied his face. He was a very handsome man, she had to admit. Tall, muscular, golden brown hair, and darkly tanned. And his playful personality was nothing at all like that damn Jack McKenna’s grizzly one.

      
Now why are you thinking about Jack McKenna, idiot?
she chastised herself.
He’s safely ensconced in San Francisco and you’re on Atlantis Island, standing in the owner’s office in Hotel Atlantis, about to make your deepest fantasies a reality tomorrow.

      
She chalked up her inner musings to nerves again. Perhaps it was easier to her state of mind to think about dealing with the big bruiser because he was a known, if irritating, entity. But this situation, and this man, were definitely novel.

      
Kris grinned as she reached behind her back and began unfastening her bra. “I guess I better get over my embarrassment. And quickly.”

      
“And burn those horrid old maid clothes while you’re at it,” he said a bit thickly.

      
Her eyes flew to his groin, and she immediately noticed that his bulge there had grown. Only instead of reacting shyly to his erection this time, she found herself feeling more powerful. John Calder had access to any beautiful woman of his choosing, after all. But his penis was getting turned on by ordinary her.

      
She finished unfastening her bra and allowed it to drop to the floor. Her shoulders relaxed a bit when she saw that his blue eyes had narrowed in arousal.

      
“You have nice breasts,” he said softly. “Full, natural, lightly tanned like the rest of you…and your nipples are exquisite.”

      
She blushed, despite her resolve not to.

      
“And now the panties,” he said firmly.

      
Kris took a steadying breath, then blew it out as she removed her boring cotton panties. He was right about her clothing, she conceded. She did dress like an old maid.

      
When she at last stood before him completely naked, her breasts and mons bared to him, she watched him look his fill at her, his eyes raking over her nude form.

      
“Very nice,” he murmured, walking the scant foot toward her that separated them. “I have a friend who loves redheads, you know. Obsesses over them actually.” He grinned. “He’ll be here tonight. I have this feeling that when he sees you tomorrow, all bets are off for the other patrons. You'll be his for the entire time. He won't share this exquisite beauty with anyone else.”

      
She shook her head as she smiled at him. He was making her feel sexy, bolstering her self-confidence, and she appreciated it more than words could say. Lord knows that tomorrow she’d need all the self-confidence she could get. “Thanks for saying that,” she said quietly. “Even if you don’t mean it.”

      
Her breath caught in surprise when his warm palm covered her left breast, then left in a rush when his thumb began plumping up the nipple.

      
“You’re a very sexy woman,” he said thickly. “And if it wasn’t for the fact that I have a business to run these next five days, I’d order you to my own bed.”

      
His usage of the word
order
immediately caused her clit to swell—the usual reaction she had when reading about female submission in books. Funny that it had taken a commanding word from the handsome man to get her wet, though. Because when a man as commanding of nature as Jack McKenna growled at her…

      
Bah! Her nemesis was the last man she wanted to think about just now. Even if the Grinch’s growling did secretly make her wet every time he snapped at her. It’s just that his surly attitude and gruff nature embodied the very ideal she held up for what a master should be like. Or for the kind of master she wanted to be a slave to for five days.

      
But Jack McKenna wasn’t the type to view master & slave as a game, she reminded herself.
Not that he wants you anyway, idiot!

      
“Jump up on the table and spread your legs for me,” John said in a non-threatening tone, bringing Kris back from her thoughts.

      
Her green eyes widened at the command, but she did as he’d asked her to and hopped up on the table behind her. That done, and growing increasingly aroused, she spread her thighs wide open and, her heart thumping madly, watched as he stared at her pussy.

      
“Very nice,” he drawled softly as he drew closer, his gaze fastened on her exposed cunt. “Now put your hands behind you on the table so your gorgeous tits are thrust up even higher.”

      
She blew out a nervous breath and complied.

      
His eyes raked over her naked breasts as his hand reached toward her pussy. “Very nice,” he murmured. His right hand began to gently stroke her, his thumb zeroing in on the clit. She gasped, her nipples instantly stabbing up into the cool air of the office.

      
“That’s right,” he said in low tones as he expertly massaged her. He smiled when she bucked her hips on a soft moan and ground her swollen pussy up against his palm. “Let yourself go, sweetheart. Drench my hand.”

      
Her head fell back on a groan as she came hard and quickly for her new and very temporary employer. She hadn’t been touched like this by a man in over a year, let alone mounted by one as she would be during the excursion.

      
Even as heat rushed to her face and her nipples jutted out from the impact of the orgasm, she realized, of course, that John’s only intention was to condition her to a stranger’s touch. She knew it was nothing personal and that when he was finished with her the next woman would be led in for the same conditioning.

      
This was to prepare her for the next five days, when lots of strange men would be touching her. Which was what she wanted.

      
Wasn’t it?

      
Or maybe, perhaps, she wanted only one man doing these things to her. But it was too late to turn back now, she decided. And she really did want to have one wild experience to look fondly back upon.

      
Her breathing labored, her heart rate wild, she watched as John dipped a finger into her pussy, pulled it out, and sensually sucked it dry. He smiled. “Very nice.”

      
She half laughed and half snorted as she sat up straight and closed her thighs. “I bet you say that to all the girls.”

      
He didn’t bother to deny it, which for some reason she found amusing.

      
“No worries,” he promised her with a wink. “You’ll do just fine tomorrow.”