Heat Wave (10 page)

He passed me his long sound pole, with a fluffy microphone on the end. I held it over my shoulder, watching helpless as he and Greg dropped to their hands and knees, collecting the round death-traps in their pockets.

‘Uh, hello? Can you move, please?' An impatient voice sounded from behind me. Tabitha stood there, looking pissed. ‘I need to get through to Beau.'

‘Just a minute, we're just cleaning up,' I explained weakly.

The so-called Star rolled her eyes. ‘This whole thing sucks. I'm a really big deal. Does he think I'm not famous enough to talk to first? What's wrong with him?'

‘Just a minute …' Little did Tabitha know, I was actually on her side; I wanted her to interrupt Callie and Tanner's moment with her childish need to be acknowledged.

‘Hurry up!' she yelled in my ear, pointing frantically to where they sat. ‘They're gonna kiss!'

‘What?' I pivoted swiftly, horrified.

But I'd forgotten something; the five-foot boom pole hanging over my shoulder. The fluffy end caught Tabitha hard in the stomach. ‘Oof!' she said, pitching backwards, her feet dangerously close to the pool edge.

She pin-wheeled her arms desperately, balancing on her slender stilettos. Throwing her centre of gravity forward, she was safe—until her foot hit a marble, sending one leg flying sky-high. She flipped backwards like a stuntwoman, and fell into the purple pool with an almighty splash.

Those who weren't already watching the marble collection now snapped to attention as Tabitha sank to the bottom, then broke through the surface, shrieking like a cat in a carwash. ‘Are you fucking
kidding me
? This is
unacceptable!
'

Greg and the sound guy rushed to the poolside, offering their hands and pulling her out. She staggered on the deck, dripping and dishevelled. ‘That's it!
I quit!
I'm Tabitha Yves and I deserve to be treated like a star. This show is bullshit! I deserve my
own
series. You can keep your stupid cowboy—
I'm out of here!'

She stormed off, still screaming and spraying water droplets everywhere. Once she was out of sight, everyone looked back at me, the entire cast and crew silent.

So, that's my job gone.
I did the only sensible thing I could; I fled. Carefully avoiding the last of the marbles, I ran in the opposite direction from Tabitha.

I found myself quickly lost; the curtains hanging from every wall made it impossible to find an exit. Lifting the fifth one in a row, I saw a short corridor ending in a door. Twisting the knob, I found it locked and I gave up. Hidden from the world by the decorative drapery, I buried my face in my hands. ‘Why do I ruin everything I touch?' I moaned into my fingers.

‘You've touched me,' said a teasing voice. ‘I'm not ruined.'

I looked up in the dark of the curtained space to see Tanner standing there, an amused smile tugging at his lips and desire in his eyes.

We simply stared at each other for a moment, the heat building between us. Lust flared under my skin, despite my embarrassment. ‘Tanner, please …'

‘Tell me, Maddie-girl …' He stepped around me in a circle, like a tiger stalking prey. ‘Why, when I've got ten beautiful woman out there, desperate to spend time with me …'

He came to a stop behind me, running his fingertips down my back. I gasped and shivered at his touch as he said, ‘Why can't I stop thinking about what your legs feel like in these pants?'

Chapter 9

We stood together in the dark of the curtained alcove. Tanner hovered behind me, the heat from his skin burning my back in waves as I trembled. ‘Feel them,' I invited him. I didn't care about the show or my job anymore; all I desired was to feel his fingers on me again.

Tanner's hands trailed lower, cupping my butt cheeks. I gasped as he squeezed gently, massaging the flesh through the buttery black leather. ‘Mmm … just how I imagined it …'

‘That's not my legs, cowboy,' I said, my voice a husky whisper.

‘My mistake.'

I pressed my rear backwards, grinding against him as his fingers roamed around to the planes of my thighs. Smoothly, Tanner traced patterns, drawing pictures only I could feel. Fluid pleasure began to build inside me. I let my head drop back against his shoulder, his breath sweet on my cheek.

‘These are some tight pants, Maddie-girl. I'm worried your skin can't breathe right.' His deft fingers crept higher, finding the fastening at the top of my pants. I gasped as Tanner unbuttoned me, exposing my bikini zone to the open air.

‘No panties!' he said in wonder.

‘They didn't work with the pants.'

‘I never wear underwear either if I can help it …'

He slid his hand into the abyss, pushing lower, creating space between the pants and my folds. When his fingers found my scalding core, my knees gave way. Tanner caught me with his other arm and tucked it securely under my breasts, while continuing to press his fingers into me.

‘Please …
please …
' I begged him as he circled inside my sacred places, dipping and winding in my fluid. He pushed two fingers inside me and I mewed, knowing everything was wrong and messed up and I was still unable to stop it.

Feeling my desperation, he turned his attention to my greedy clit, rubbing fiercely. I cried out, reaching up a hand and fisting it in his hair, tugging hard. Electric waves sloshed back and forth in my core, sending bliss pulsing up and along every nerve in my body.

‘That's it, Maddie-girl, ride my hand …' Tanner increased the pace, giving me everything I needed, providing the exact friction my body craved. I let go—let go of my fear of his love, fear of inadequacy, fear of ruination. ‘Come for me,' he whispered in my ear, his voice ragged.

I felt apart under his touch. As my climax boiled up and over, I called out his name. ‘Tanner! God,
Tanner!
'

Pitching helplessly forward, carried away by the bliss twitching along my limbs, I lost my balance, despite Tanner's grip on me. Instinctively, I grabbed for the curtain, clutching it as I shuddered in molten, flowing pleasure.

For a moment, the world was perfect; my clit tremored under Tanner's finger as my thighs gripped his hand hard. I panted, bent forward, supported by my hold on the curtain. Everything was beautiful. Then, I heard a pop.

Pop! Pop! Pop!
Both Tanner and I looked up, following the sounds. The curtain was pulling away from its runners, and it fell loose into my hands.

And on the other side of the curtain, with a look of icy malevolence on her face, was Maxine.

‘Shit!' Both of us reacted as if we'd been zapped with current, leaping upright. I spun, hiding my flushed face against the wall as I fastened my pants, while Tanner laughed and tried to bluff our way clear.

‘Hey there, Maxine! Good to see you, darlin'. We were just—'

‘Beau, there are nine lovely ladies awaiting you on the top deck at the moment, plus a slew of crew members whose jobs rely upon you to uphold the contract you've signed with our network to proceed with this show.' Her voice was indifferent, as if it didn't matter to her what he did either way, but the subtle pressure was there. ‘Before you make any rash decisions, I'd like to ask you to at least film the rest of this evening, and we can have a meeting afterwards. Will you do that much for us, Beau?'

I turned to him, not even sure I knew what I wanted him to do. We hadn't really sorted anything out between us; he'd just given me one hell of an orgasm. I didn't know if it meant he wanted me back, or just wanted into my skin-tight pants.

Besides, Maxine was right; everyone's jobs relied on him. Trying to be adult about the situation, I whispered, ‘You should go. We can chat later, okay?'

His dark eyes pleaded with me helplessly, and I knew him well enough to know he was asking for forgiveness. ‘It's gonna be fine, Maddie-girl, I promise.' He turned to Maxine. ‘Okay, then, boss-lady. Let's go.'

‘After you.' Maxine stepped back and allowed him to pass.

I huddled against the wall, shivering from the ferocity of the intimate encounter coupled with my total mortification at being busted. ‘Am I fired?' I asked quietly.

Maxine narrowed her eyes at me, and just like the men under Medusa's stare, I felt my body harden, stone-like. ‘Because of you, my dear, we are short one very important competitor. Because of you, I have infighting in my makeup department. And now, because of you, I may lose the star of
Ship of Lust
. You are
not
fired, because I'm going to find a way for you to fix everything you've done in the short amount of time you've been here.'

‘I'm so sorry—'

She raised a manicure hand, her nails sharp. ‘Spare me your apologies. Go back up and join the crew. Be in my office at nine am tomorrow. We'll decide your fate then.'

Like a chastened schoolgirl, I bowed my head and rushed past her. Racing back to the poolside, I located Greg filming from a high vantage point atop the railing of the upper deck. Climbing up to join him, I whispered, ‘What did I miss?'

‘They're just about to start.'

Greg seemed a little peeved at me. Guilty of making his job harder, I put an arm on his. ‘I'm really sorry about before.'

‘You owe me a big conversation, Hobo. Not tonight, because I'm so guttingly tired from your endless dramas, but tomorrow in the crew bar.'

‘Deal.'

Below us, a round man in a lurid green shirt stepped up onto the little stage next to the pool. Even I recognised him. ‘Hello, everyone. I'm Miles Shield. Welcome all to the Ship of Lust.'

The ladies whooped and hollered as Tanner stood beside Miles, blushing and tugging on the brim of his hat. Miles waved down their excitement. ‘Now, I know all of you have watched Beau on
Erotic Island
, and you're probably wondering what crazy rules we have cooked up for you ladies while you're on board.'

That seemed to dampen their enthusiasm. The girls shifted and giggled nervously. Miles went on. ‘Well, I have good news. There are no rules for competitors—only rules for Beau.'

Tanner looked as shocked as I felt. ‘Hey, Miles, buddy? What does that mean?'

‘Well, my strapping cowboy, it means that we have nothing officially planned for the next three weeks. The ladies are running the show.'

There was another cheer from the excitable bunch. ‘So, my darling girls, for as long as you are on board, you have no rules and no constraints. This is your time to prove to Beau that you are the one for him. So, your options are endless. Organise a date. Team up for an adventure. Pay the man a midnight visit. This is your show.'

Oh, God …
My eyes met Tanner's, and his expression was one of pure confusion. ‘Miles, what about the rules for me?'

Miles clapped a flabby hand on Tanner's shoulder. ‘My boy, your rules are simple—you cannot say no.'

‘No to what?'

‘Anything.' Miles laughed and the contestants joined in. ‘Whatever a competitor asks of you, you must say yes. The only request you can refuse is an offer of a sexual act—but only if you want to, of course! Everything else physical is non-negotiable—from a hug, to a kiss, to a sensual massage …'

My jaw was clenched tight
. He'll want to leave after hearing this. We're gonna be fine. We'll tell Maxine to go fuck herself, and we'll leave tomorrow. Right?

‘That's it, dearies! We'll meet here on the deck every night for a recap of the day's activities, and at the end of three weeks Beau will choose the woman he's going to ride off into the sunset with. Beau is your oyster, girls. Get cracking!'

The music kicked back in as the lights dimmed for a more erotic party atmosphere. The ladies swarmed the stage, pulling my Tanner in every direction while he laughed uncomfortably. And, like an idiot, I just sat there.

I was forced to watch them gyrate against him on the dance floor for hours as I took notes on my tablet, marking down when Greg filmed something interesting. Highlights included when Tanner was requested to sip from the shot glass firmly planted between Sassy's breasts, and when Severe stripped buck-naked and went skinny-dipping in the pool, her completely shaven body as silky as a seal.

The centre of so much raging feminine attention, Tanner looked shell-shocked. Whenever he could, he'd glance up to my perch and beseech me with his eyes, and I would smile back weakly, trying to reassure him. Watching it was horrific, but I understood why he couldn't just call it quits in the middle of things. He had a conversation on the cards with Maxine, and I knew he'd make it right then.

The only time I noticed Tanner relax was when Callie approached him. The tall brunette sidled up beside him, handed him his favourite beer, tapped hers against his and murmured something in his ear. Tanner bellowed in laughter, and watched her keenly as she sashayed off. I barely managed to survive that encounter, digging my nails into my palms hard enough to draw blood.

Finally the director yelled, ‘That's a wrap for tonight, people. Thanks, ladies, and thank you, Beau. We'll pick things up in the morning.'

Maxine immediately appeared like a wraith in Armani, escorting Tanner away. As I watched him go, I noticed sweet little Sumara waving up at Greg. She'd been noticeably removed from the Tanner action, choosing instead to sit with Shy and Smart by the bar, sipping girly drinks and giggling softly.

In a haze, I wandered after Greg as we ditched our gear and headed back into the bowels of the ship. Around us, the other crew members were joking and animated, discussing the women and gearing up for the post-filming drinks. I was thankful when we entered our miniscule cabin and closed out all the noise.

‘See you in the morning, Maddie,' said Greg, climbing into the bottom bunk as I made my way up to the top one.

‘'Night.' I drew the short privacy curtain across my bed, flinching as I remembered how the one earlier had dropped into my hands, revealing Maxine's face. In my tiny coffin space, I shucked out of the culpable pants and top, then recalled my complete lack of sleepwear. Nude, I crawled beneath the thin sheet and scratchy blanket, and wrapped my arms around myself.