Irresistible Forces (5 page)

“I hate to say it, but you’re probably right. You’ve taken a big step, Taylor. Are you sure you’re ready for the next one?”

Taylor felt a nervous flutter in her belly, the same belly that would be her child’s home for nine months. “Yes, I’m ready for the next one.”

“Tell me you’re joking about this, Nick.”

The look on Matt Caulder’s face indicated that he was expecting Dominic to say the diabolic plan he’d just laid out to him was a joke. But the more Matt studied his best friend’s expression the more he could tell Dominic was dead serious.

Accepting that when Dominic made his mind up about something, then that was it, he looked back down at the brochure he’d been given before meeting Dominic’s eyes again. Although he doubted it would do any good, he said, “The Caribbean is a nice place to be this time of year, but as your attorney I’m advising you not to go for what you have in mind.”

Dominic had expected as much. He leaned back in his chair. He had arrived at Matt’s office knowing Matt would try to talk him out of what he saw was disaster waiting to happen. Dominic saw something else waiting to happen when he arrived in the Caribbean.

“Your advice is duly noted although it won’t be accepted,” he said smoothly. “As my attorney, what I want is for you to draw up a document that will protect me in the event Taylor has a change of heart and doesn’t want me to be a part of my child’s life once she becomes pregnant.”

“That can easily be done but what makes you think you’re going to get her pregnant?”

Dominic smiled and stretched out his legs in front of him. “After looking at that brochure and knowing what you know about me, is there a reason I won’t?”

Matt shook his head, chuckling. “No, but why this way?”

“You, the king of one-night stands, have the nerve to ask me that?”

“Mainly because I feel differently about life and love than you do.”

Dominic knew that to be true. His and Matt’s friendship spanned years. They seemed destined to be friends, the way he had been destined to marry Camry. Matt’s mother, Deena, had been Megan’s best friend in high school, and although the two had attended difference colleges, their close friendship remained intact over the years.

When Deena got pregnant from a short-term affair it was Dominic’s mom she called on. Megan who had invited her to move to D.C. to stay with her until she was able to get on her feet to take on her role as a single mother. Matt was just a few months older than Dominic, but the two had been raised so close they considered each other as brothers. When Deena had died a few years ago from breast cancer it was Megan, Marcello and Dominic who had stood beside him as the only other family he had.

Dominic came to his feet. “Well, draw up something that Taylor and I can both live with and make sure it’s airtight,” he said, recalling what Matt had gone through with his wife, Rhonda.

“I can’t wait to meet her.”

Dominic shot Matt a surprised look. “Why?”

“Evidently Taylor Steele has caught your attention.”

“No, her proposal has. There’s nothing going on between me and Taylor other than a business arrangement.”

“And you’re certain that’s all there is to it?”

“I want her,” Dominic said honestly.

“And beyond that?”

“There’s nothing beyond that.”

“And again I’m going to ask if you’re sure.”

Dominic met Matt’s unconvinced stare. “Yes, I’m absolutely and positively sure.”

Chapter 4

“W
elcome to the island of Latois, Mrs. Jones.”

“Thank you,” Taylor said as she smiled at the perky receptionist. She and Dominic had made a decision to register under a false name as a way to avoid unwanted publicity. Although the resort’s management prided themselves on providing absolute privacy, the media had a way of finding out anything they wanted.

Another thing they had decided to do was to let the management and staff assume they were married. She figured most of the couples at the resort were and felt there was no reason for her and Dominic to be the oddballs.

Taylor checked her watch. She had flown in straight from D.C. and Dominic would be arriving a little later that day from New York. That would give her time to get settled and relaxed in their suite before he got there. The past two weeks had been extremely busy. After visiting with her family in Charlotte, she had attended a financial conference in Texas that had lasted an entire week.

She had spoken to Dominic only once and that was when he had called to ask if she’d found his attorney’s contract satisfactory. She had. In fact her attorney had been surprised at just how fair Dominic was being. She would have full custody of the child and he would be entitled to a certain number of visits during the year. They were to rotate holidays, which she felt was reasonable. The financial package he would provide for his child was very generous; actually more than she had expected.

“An attendant will escort you to your room, Mrs. Jones.”

The woman’s words pulled in Taylor’s thoughts. “Thank you.” She took the passkey and the gift bag she was handed.

She had been given a schedule of activities for the week that included body massages for the both of them. Later that day they were to share a romantic candlelight dinner in their room.

The first thing Taylor thought when she entered her room was that the accommodations were absolutely wonderful. The suite was divided into a spacious sitting area, a wet bar and a massive bedroom. The huge windows in the bedroom provided a panoramic view of the ocean. It was beautiful. Inviting. Breathtaking. She could imagine her and Dominic walking barefoot on the beach later in the near-perfect spring weather.

She then took a look at the larger-than-king-size bed that was swathed in snow-white bedcoverings and huge fluffy pillows. It gave the room a serene and tranquil look, totally out of sync with the hot, passionate lovemaking that would take place between the sheets over the next seven days. She then thought of the lingerie she had bought, a different color and style for each and every night. Each piece carefully chosen for its sexiness and the ability to entice, seduce and persuade.

Taylor knew that a lot of the couples she would meet over the next few days were fertility challenged and thought a change of climate, the removal of stress would help the problem. She honestly didn’t think she and Dominic would have a problem conceiving. Her main purpose in wanting to make a baby here on the island versus back in D.C. was wanting to conceive in style. This would be her only child and she wanted the special moment of conception to happen in a way that would be memorable.

Something else memorable, something she couldn’t erase from her mind was the kiss she and Dominic had shared that night in his hotel suite. She had been kissed before, many times, but nothing had sent sensations firing through her the way Dominic’s lips and tongue had. She had liked it. A lot. And even now she couldn’t help but anticipate it happening again. Here in this room. Plenty of times over the next week.

A visit to her doctor indicated this was her hot week, the best days to conceive, and she was more than eager to get started in making a baby. She knew it was ridiculous but she felt her body was ready, overanxious to begin. The thought of exotic foods and aphrodisiac-laden drinks were nice but she really didn’t need either to want to tumble all day and night with Dominic between the sheets. She suddenly began to feel hot and on edge. Maybe the nature of this place had something to do with it.

And as she headed for the bedroom to start unpacking, she thought it was more than that. It was the anticipated arrival of one particular man.

Dominic’s limo pulled in front of the Capri Resort on the private island of Latois. Just as the brochure had depicted, the place was grand, simply exquisite. Someone who was entrenched in the hotel business, as he was, could appreciate such a place from the beautifully landscaped property to the stunning ocean setting.

He checked his watch. By his calculations Taylor should have arrived on the island hours ago. Was she in the suite waiting for him? He knew a lot of their activities for the next seven days were prearranged, but then a lot of them weren’t. One thing the resort encouraged was couples spending a lot of private time together, preferably in their suite in bed procreating. He definitely didn’t have a problem with that. In fact he was looking forward to it.

A few minutes later upon checking in, he was told his wife had arrived and was in their suite. He was given his own passkey and a bottle of their house champagne, which, he’d been informed, contained a special potent ingredient intended to boost their sexual drive. The clerk hadn’t batted an eye when she’d said it.

After stepping onto the elevator that would take him up to the tenth floor, in no time at all it seemed, he had reached his floor and was walking down the long hallway toward his room. The bellman would be bringing up his bags later.

When he stood in front of the suite’s door he swallowed hard, knowing what the week entailed. He had tried not to notice the couples he’d passed and just how openly amorous they were with each other. Another thing he noticed was that unlike a lot of resorts, there weren’t a lot of people out and about. Most were probably busy behind closed doors trying to accomplish what they had come here to do.

He opened the door and stepped inside the exact moment Taylor was walking out of the bedroom area. Immediately their gazes locked. He was rendered momentarily speechless by how quickly blood shot from his head straight to his groin. His mouth suddenly felt dry and every muscle in his body—some more so than others—felt hard as a rock.

She was wearing a light blue sundress with spaghetti straps that revealed just what beautiful shoulders she had. An ample amount of cleavage was showing, enough to make him appreciate the firm shape of her breasts, as well. Then there was her face and well-defined features. He decided at that moment that Taylor wasn’t just beautiful; she was what fantasies were made of. There was an inborn sensuality about her that had been hidden behind her business suits. The business suits represented her profession. The outfit she had on now showed her perfection, especially her curvy figure.

“Dominic.”

His name was spoken in a soft tone and he watched her hands come to rest at her sides. For some reason he’d always enjoyed looking at her hands whenever she met with him and flipped through papers she would have for him to sign. Her nails were always neat with a French manicure displaying a nonflashy look. The same extended to her fingers. Some women liked showing off their diamonds practically on every finger. But Taylor didn’t even wear a ring, Her hands were long and graceful. Elegant. Sturdy. And he could just imagine those hands touching him, caressing the length of his hardened…

He sucked in a deep breath when he saw where his thoughts were headed. He closed the door behind him as he tried to maintain his control, but found himself losing it and quickly recalled how long it had been since he’d had a woman for a bed partner and decided it had been way too long.

“Aren’t we on speaking terms?” she said as a teasing smile touched her lips.

Instead of answering her, he placed the bottle of champagne on a nearby table and crossed the room to her. There was no need for formality. They both knew why they were there and as far as he was concerned, now was just as good a time as any to get the ball rolling. And speaking of balls…he felt his thicken. His testosterone level was so high that he wouldn’t be surprised if he were to impregnate her with twins.

The thought of such a thing actually happening made him that much more aroused. It actually made his body ache. Seeing her again was doing a job on him, a real exclusive number. He couldn’t recall ever wanting a woman so badly. When he stood directly in front of her, he reached out and cupped the back of her neck to guide her mouth to meet his.

The moment their lips touched he felt it. Passion so thick you could lap it up. Spread it about. Get smothered by it. And when he went past her moist lips and inserted his tongue inside her mouth, he knew he had been anticipating this very moment ever since the night they had dined together over two weeks ago.

Her response was immediate, absolute and totally delectable. The reason they were here might be staged, predestined so to speak, but the sexual chemistry between them was as instant and spontaneous as it could get. The depth of her sensuality was enough to make him want to jump in the ocean to cool off. A cold shower just wouldn’t work off the heat. He had discovered over the past two weeks, ever since she had placed her proposal into his lap and he had accepted, that he desired her to the point of madness. And this was the result. He was getting a pretty good taste of her and she was getting a good taste of him, as well.

He heard her groan low in her throat and knew if he pushed hard enough they would be making love right here, possibly on the floor, which wasn’t where he wanted his son or daughter conceived. He knew she could feel how aroused he was from the way his body was pressed against hers. He wanted her to feel it. Get used to it.

He really did need to slow down, he thought, as he continued to lap her up. He would take things slow the next time around. But now this seemed appropriate. This is what he wanted. And he was struck by the enormity of just how much passion was in one single kiss. Of how much tongue action was required. He was enjoying sharing both with her. There was nothing gentle about the kiss. Far from it. There was hunger, greed and a desperation he hadn’t been used to before, but was getting familiar with now. For some reason she felt right in his arms. Right in his mouth. Right with her body pressed intimately against his.

It wasn’t easy, but he finally gained control and pulled back. She gasped for breath the moment their mouths separated. After pulling air into his own lungs he leaned back close to her, lowered his head close to her ear and whispered in a deep, husky tone, “Hmm, so much for us not being on speaking terms.”

For a full minute Taylor was speechless, too awed to form any kind of coherent words. It was hard to believe that this was the man with whom, until three weeks ago, she’d shared a strictly professional relationship. And now what they were about to share was anything but that. And considering the reason they were there, she could hardly suggest to him to slow down.

Her heart was racing as she stood rooted in place. Dominic, however, seemed rather at ease, unerringly calm, as he walked over to the sofa to remove his jacket.

“I take it you had a nice flight here?”

She blinked upon realizing he had spoken. She glanced across the room at him and felt a sweet craving invade her body. The man was simply gorgeous and exuded a degree of sensuality that should be outlawed. He was wearing an expensive tailored shirt with a pair of dark slacks. He was tall and lean. His shoulders were broad and his hips narrow. What a body! She didn’t want to think about that same body, naked and in bed with her, flesh to flesh.

“Taylor?”

It was then she realized she hadn’t answered his question. She pulled in a rather shaky sigh. “Yes, it was nice. What about yours?”

He stood beside the sofa. His hair was loose and flowing around his shoulders and his feet were braced apart, again making her conscious of what a good-looking man he was and what a fine physique he had. He was in great shape and she would undoubtedly find out just how great later that night.

“The same. I took a nap so now I’m pretty well rested.”

Taylor swallowed. Was he giving her fair warning? His expression was inscrutable and she couldn’t tell by his eyes what he was thinking.

“What’s this?” he asked, picking up the gift bag off the sofa.

She looked at the bag he had in his hand. “That’s something I was given at check-in. I haven’t had a chance to see what’s in it.”

“We may as well take a look together,” he said. The first thing he pulled out was a book. His chuckle made her wonder what type of book it was. He glanced over at her, evidently saw her curious expression and said, “I guess you can call it a self-help manual. It’s titled
Best Sexual Positions for Baby-Making.
” He flipped through the pages and looked back up at her. “There are even pictures. Umm, interesting.”

She could just imagine, but even if curiosity killed her, she would not cross the room to take a peep. He placed the book on the table next to the sofa as though he intended to take time to delve between the pages more later. He then pulled out several jars of what looked like creams and other items. He proved her right when he said, “An assortment of flavored creams, a bottle of lickable lotion and several gels. This feminine arousal gel I would assume is for you and the erection gel is for me.”

Taylor’s gaze automatically shifted to his crotch. She was staring at it, but at the moment she couldn’t help herself, imagining…

“There’s also a notice about a free movie they’re showing tonight on the television. It’s guaranteed to put us in the mood if we’re not already there,” he was saying.

The thought that crossed Taylor’s mind at that exact moment was that literally, she couldn’t speak for him but she was already there. In fact her body didn’t rightly seem connected to her brain. It wanted to do one thing while her brain was trying to drill some sense into her. She really wasn’t paying attention.

“There’s also a notice that dinner will be served in our room around six.” He checked his watch. “That’s a couple of hours away. Is there anything you’d like to do until then?”