Finding Her Fantasy (10 page)

He discretely brushed the back of his fingers over her nipple and she shuddered.

“Stop it,” she snarled softly as she felt herself getting a little too excited.

“Nice try,” he whispered. “But no.” His mischievous gaze met hers. “Now what are you
going to do?”

He pinched her nipple, and her eyes narrowed. “I could scream and bring those people
over.”

Erik’s gaze held hers captive. “Go ahead.”

When she didn’t, he gave her a knowing smirk and stepped away, putting some much-needed
space between her and that devil of a seducer.

“Both of you need to have your heads examined,” she growled.

Erik chuckled softly and then laughed louder as she smacked his shoulder. She looked
over to Jon, who stood by watching them.

“Do something with your friend, please,” she said as she stepped up to take her camera
back.

Jon raised an eyebrow. “I haven’t been able to up to now. What makes you think today
will be any different?”

Rolling her eyes, Melinda put her camera back around her neck and began the slow trek
back down the stairs to the grass below.

*

Erik watched the sway of Melinda’s ass as she descended the pyramid. He couldn’t suppress
the smile that tugged at his lips, so he didn’t even try.

“I think you embarrassed her,” Jon said as he came to stand next to him.

Erik kept his gaze on Melinda. “Oh,
I
embarrassed her?” He turned to stare at his friend. “What about that kiss?”

Jon’s lips twisted slightly. “Couldn’t resist. Besides, there wasn’t anyone up here.”

Erik felt uncomfortable with the way Jon stared at him, so he turned away and started
down the stairs after Melinda.

Jon grabbed his elbow and stopped him. “You’re falling for her.”

Erik sighed toward the treetops close by. “I don’t know. Maybe.” He glanced over at
his friend. “We’ve got two weeks with her; let’s don’t look beyond that. Let’s just
keep it fun.”

His friend gave him a look of skepticism. “Fun,” Jon repeated.

Erik’s eyes narrowed, letting Jon know he didn’t want to discuss this further. “Yeah,
fun.”

They’d shared women for a long time. Not once had they both developed feelings for
the same woman. He had a feeling though that this time might be different. And if
it was, how would that affect their friendship?

After a quiet dinner at a local restaurant on the way home, Melinda strolled into
her temporary bedroom on the bottom floor of the beach house and set her camera on
the dresser. It had been a long day, but a fun one. She’d really enjoyed the guys’
company and had learned a little more about them, some of which she hadn’t expected.

She picked the camera back up and began to flip through the pictures she’d taken.
There were quite a few, but she finally found the two she was looking for.

The one of her and Erik was a good one. She loved the way the wind blew his hair back
and made his eyes crinkle. The next one was of Jon kissing her. She’d wondered if
Erik had taken one.

She studied it and sighed as she closed the camera down. She looked ready to swoon.
It was obvious she had no willpower when it came to those two.

Erik had never made good on his threat to find a dark corner, thank goodness. She
knew she wouldn’t have the strength or willpower to truly fight him off. If what he’d
said was true, all she would have to do to fend them off was say her safe word, but
in all honesty, the need to say it never even crossed her mind.

She didn’t want to say it. She liked how they seduced her. Even if it was in a public
place. Her lips twisted as she kicked off her tennis shoes. What did that say about
her?

She glanced at her reflection in the mirror, but a movement under the covers of the
bed caught her attention. Frowning, she turned and began to hesitantly walk toward
the mattress. Erik had sent Maria on errands, so she hadn’t gotten around to making
the bed yet, and the covers were piled in the middle of the mattress. Melinda always
did make a mess of the covers when she slept.

The covers moved again, and Melinda froze, her hand just above the blanket.

What is that?

She grabbed the edge and flipped it back. Lying dead center on the white sheets was
a long, gray snake with black diamond designs. It flicked its tongue and she screamed,
jumping back a good five feet from the bed.

Within a matter of seconds, Jon, Erik, and Maria all came running into the room at
once.

“What?” Erik demanded.

She pointed toward the bed, and Erik’s eyes widened in surprise. “Ooh, that.” He glanced
at Maria over his shoulder. “Maria, get me the pistol from my desk.”

Maria nodded and moved quickly to do what he asked.

“What is that thing?” Melinda asked.

“It’s a fer-de-lance.”

She took a step closer, and Erik grabbed her elbow. “It’s deadly. Don’t go over there.”

She stopped dead in her tracks and nodded. “How did it get in here?”

Erik glanced toward the open window next to the bed. “Through the window is my guess.”

Melinda felt like slapping her forehead. “I’m sorry. I should’ve closed it, I just
didn’t—”

Jon came up behind her and rubbed her shoulders. “It’s all right, Mel.”

“We leave the windows open all the time, baby. It’s fine. You did nothing wrong. This
isn’t the first time we’ve caught one of these in the beds.”

The use of “baby” on Erik’s lips made her stomach do a little flutter.

Maria returned with the gun and handed it to Erik. He raised the pistol and shot the
snake just behind the head. Blood and guts scattered across the white sheets, making
Melinda’s stomach roll.

“Ugh,” she groaned.

“Maria, hon, looks like we’ll need a new bed in here.”

Maria nodded. “I’ll take care of that first thing tomorrow.”

Erik glanced over at her. “In the meantime, looks like you’re bunking with me.”

Melinda swallowed. She glanced back at the bloody remains of the snake and shivered.
“After that, I think I need a shower.”

“Use mine upstairs,” Erik replied. “Jon and I will take care of this while you get
cleaned up.”

With a nod, Melinda grabbed a few clothes from her suitcase and started toward the
door, but Erik’s voice stopped her. “House rules, Mel,” he said softly.

She turned to glare at him. “Oh, come on. Seriously?”

Erik gave her a look that said he meant business. Her eyes narrowed as she realized
this would be yet another losing battle. “God,” she grumbled as she dropped the clothes
back into the suitcase and turned to leave. “You’re so damn bossy.”

“Dom,” Erik called after her.

As she headed up the stairs to his bedroom on the second level, she could hear him
and Jon chuckling. Their amusement at her expense only made her that much angrier.

* * * *

“That girl is gonna end up smacking the two of your heads together,” Maria chastised
as she wagged her finger. “I see it coming. And when she does, don’t you dare come
whining to Maria. I’ll just turn you away.”

Erik chuckled at her wagging tongue and finger. “We had dinner in town, Maria, if
you would like to take the rest of the day off.”

Her lips thinned as she looked at them with disapproving eyes. “She’s not like the
others.”

Erik nodded once, agreeing with her. “I know she’s not.”

“You treat her different from the others,” she said as she continued to watch him.
Erik began to squirm. “I think you like her.”

“I liked all of them,” Erik said with a boyish grin that didn’t fool his housekeeper
for one second.

“Yeah, but you like her different. I know you do. Otherwise you wouldn’t have told
her that nonsense about snakes getting in here all the time.”

With that she turned to leave the room. “Cook put some leftovers in the fridge before
he left last night. If you get hungry later, you know where to find them.”

“Thank you, Maria,” Erik called and then grinned at her mumbled reply.

“How the hell did that snake get in here?” Jon asked. “You and I both know they don’t
normally do that.”

A bad feeling began to tighten Erik’s chest. “See if you can get a hold of our guy.
See if they’ve found that son of a bitch yet.”

Jon’s eyebrow lifted. “You think he did this?”

With a sigh, Erik flipped the pistol safety on. “I don’t know, Jon. I don’t know if
he’s out to hurt her or just being an ass by spying. But I want to know what we’re
up against here.”

Jon nodded and left for Erik’s office. As he passed, Erik handed the gun to him so
he could put it away. With another heavy sigh, Erik stared out the French door toward
the ocean. She would be safer in his room anyway. He glanced toward the ceiling and
wondered if she’d gotten in the shower yet. He smiled wickedly as he imagined joining
her.

He headed up the stairs and stopped just outside the bathroom door. He didn’t hear
any water running so he pushed the door open just a little with the tip of his forefinger.
She stood in front of the mirror, her hair wrapped in a towel, another towel wrapped
around her body as she studied her face in the mirror.

Erik smiled slightly at her defiance and pushed the door the rest of the way open.
He made sure to school his face into a chastising look as he stepped in and leaned
against the door frame, crossing his arms over his chest.

She froze and stared at him through the reflection in the mirror. “It’s just a towel.
I would’ve removed it before coming back into your presence,
master
.”

“Master,” he mused. “I think I like the sound of that.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I’m not calling you master.”

“Oh, no,” he purred as he came farther into the room. “You started this. Now I like
it.”

She rolled her eyes and pulled the towel from around her head, allowing her dark hair
to cascade around her shoulders in damp curls.

He brushed his fingers across the back of her shoulder and smiled as he felt the tremble
in her muscles beneath his fingertips. “After seeing you in this towel, though, I
think I like the seductive look of you. It’s actually, quite sexy.” He slid his hand
down her arm. “Your assets covered, but just barely.”

Their gazes met in the mirror, and he could see the desire in her eyes. “I have an
idea,” he whispered, then turned to leave the room.

He came back a few seconds later with a thin, button-up shirt. He turned Melinda to
face him. She braced her hands on the counter by her hips as he loosened the towel
and let it fall to the floor.

“Nice,” he murmured as he slowly slid his palm over her hip.

He moved it around her waist, then up her ribs. He kept his gaze on hers as he cupped
her breast and gave it a gentle squeeze. Her eyes partially closed and her lips parted
as a barely audible sigh escaped her. God, she was breathtaking.

He wanted her so bad. More than he could ever remember wanting a woman. She was his
for two weeks. He could have her as much as he wanted. He could easily take her right
here against the bathroom counter. He wanted to. He needed to.

He began to think that maybe he was getting too attached. That he should back off,
let Jon handle her most of the time, but as her pretty gray eyes stared into his he
knew he wouldn’t let that happen. He was falling fast for a good friend’s sister,
and that was a very bad thing.

He let out a slow, steady breath as he bent his head and brushed his lips over hers.
She smelled of soap and sunshine. He wanted to draw in a deep breath and hold her
scent there forever. What would life be like once she left? He wasn’t sure he even
wanted to think about it.

*

Melinda loved the way Erik’s lips felt against her flesh—soft, gentle, teasing. She
could stand here all night and just let him touch her.

“Did that snake scare you, baby?” he whispered, his mouth close to hers.

“A little,” she admitted.

He cupped her face and drew his thumb over her cheek. “I won’t let anything happen
to you.”

Her lips twitched just a little. “My protector.”

“Well,” he purred as he pulled away and turned her to face the mirror, “I might have
a very small ulterior motive.”

He opened the shirt, and she willingly slipped her arms into the sleeves.

“And what might that be?” she asked.

“If you’re hurt, I can’t bury myself into that hot little body.”

He wrapped his arms around her and buttoned the shirt from behind. Her legs began
to tremble at his softly spoken words as she imagined him doing just that.

“Which I haven’t had a chance to do yet,” he murmured. “Don’t move. We have one more
thing to take care of before we meet Jon on the veranda.”

He dug through the drawer to her right and pulled out what looked like a long, thin
dildo with a square base. She frowned, wondering what he planned to do with that.
He spread a gel over it and then smiled at her as he pressed his palm between her
shoulder blades.

“Bend over,” he commanded.

Melinda tensed, but obeyed, bracing her hands on the counter as he positioned the
tip of the toy at the tight entrance to her ass.

She instantly pulled away. “Erik. What are you doing?”

Erik tugged her hips back. His narrowed eyes met hers in the mirror and a shiver of
apprehension worked its way up her spine.

“Whatever I want, remember?”

She stiffened briefly in trepidation. She’d never let a man take her there, but for
some reason, Erik teasing the entrance with the toy made her blood run hot through
her veins.

He pushed it inside her gently, past the tight ring of resistance to settle deep in
her ass. It had a base on the end to keep it from going any farther. Melinda drew
in a sharp breath as her ass adjusted to the invasion, and a dark pleasure began to
burn through her womb.

He smoothed his hand over her hip, and she braced herself for the stinging slap she
was sure was coming. When it landed across her butt cheek, she gasped. Her anal muscles
contracted around the toy, sending her soaring into a lust-filled haze of awareness.