The Bad Boys of Eden (141 page)

* * *

The next morning, I go to Eden’s fortune teller. I guess I expect something over the top and tacky, like beads in the doorway or bright colored drapes and a crystal ball on a table.

Instead, I am brought into a shadowy but elegant room. Like so many of the women working at the resort, my fortune teller is young and very beautiful.

She gives me a welcoming smile. “I am Cass.”

I realize she has turned her head toward me to smile, but she isn’t looking at me. Her hands move and she brings out cards. Her fingers move over them. In the light, I see they have bumps on them.

She is blind.

But it doesn’t affect how she works. Cass is able to see many things about my past. So many things I wonder if Ryder or Xavier told her stuff so that she could use it if I came to see her.

Does that mean she will see me in a future with one of them? Which one will it be? I wonder if Ryder or Xavier wanted Vardalos to direct me here.

I ask her to do Tarot cards for me. I’ve always been fascinated by them. She lays them out in a pattern. She frowns as she explores the cards. I don’t understand—the characters on them look innocuous. There aren’t any death type cards, I don’t think. But she looks concerned.

Then she turns over two cards with male figures. “These men will be in your future.”

“Two men are supposed to be in my future? Or do you mean right now. I do have two men like that in my life here on Eden.”

“I see these two men entwined with your future, Ms. Tate.”

“I’m supposed to choose one of them.”

She shakes her head. “No, not that.” She frowns. Her hands caress the cards. “There’s something else. I—I can’t see it clearly. There’s danger—”

She breaks off, startled. I think she was just reacting to what she saw or felt. This can’t be made up—no one would want to hear they would be facing danger on their vacation in paradise.

My heart thumping, I ask, “What kind of danger? What’s wrong?”

“I—I don’t know. It’s a sense I have. I sense grave danger. Not directly to you, but to someone you love.”

Now I’m scared. I get up and tell her to put the charge against my room number. Then I hurry—as fast as I can in high heels and a sundress—to the reception desk and beg Rodney to put a call through to my mother. Mom quickly reassures me that everything is fine.

“Are you sure? Absolutely sure nothing’s wrong? Jakey’s okay?”

“Everything is fine. Now, I have to go and get Jakey his snack.”

“I’d like to say hi to him.”

When I hear his little voice over the phone, my throat tightens. Excitedly, he tells me Rob Stanton gave him some old Hot Wheels. A bright purple motorcycle that is called a ‘chopper,’ and a black truck with cool flames.

I sigh. I have no idea how to get Rob to stop doing this. “Have fun today, Jakey,” I say.

“I will! We’re goin’ to the park. Good bye, Mommy. I love you!” Then he makes a kissing noise.

I make one back, trying not to cry. Mom comes back on. We say goodbye and I hear the phone click.

The next thing I hear is Ryder’s deep, husky voice ask, “Tessa, what’s wrong?”

I turn and I’m eye-to-chest with him. His strong arms go around me, but I move out of his embrace. Shakily, I hang up the hotel phone.

“Fuck, what is it?” Ryder begs.

I walk away from the desk, toward a paned window that overlooks a garden.

“Nothing,” I say. “Everything is fine. I just—I went to see the fortune teller and what she told me is not what I expected.”

“What did she tell you?”

I laugh nervously. “That someone I love is in grave danger.”

“She probably wanted you to pay more to find out what the ‘danger’ is.”

I shake my head. “It wasn’t like that. I felt she was upset, too. I don’t think this was made up. It’s real. So I phoned home. But Jakey and Mom are okay, thank goodness.” I hesitate, looking desperately into his blue-green eyes. “Should I warn her?”

Xavier comes up behind Ryder. “But there is definitely no trouble? Nothing to worry about?” He must have overheard everything.

“Everything is good.” Then I look over Xavier’s shoulder and realize Ryder has instructed Rodney to call home. I listen as Ryder talks to Mom, tells her to be careful. He tells her about my experience with the fortune teller. “I don’t believe in it,” he says. “But Tessa’s rattled.”

He hangs up the phone. “Your mother is going to be extra careful and watch out. I didn’t want to scare her too much.” Ryder’s fingers reach out and gently stroke my right hand. “Did the fortune teller tell you which one you’re going to choose—Xavier or me?” For all he speaks jokingly, Ryder still looks concerned.

“She said she saw…two men in my future. That my future is entwined with two men.”

Ryder’s long lashes blink. “Tessa, you can’t love both of us the same.” He scrubs his hand over his hair. “You have to love one of us more.”

“It’s not so easy.”

“I was a fucking idiot,” Ryder growls. “I should have never let you go.”

Xavier approaches me from behind. Facing Ryder. He slips his arms around my waist and his lips brush my left ear, bared because I’ve pulled my hair over my other shoulder. He lets out a soft breath over my ear that makes me tingle.

“You know what we have to do,” he says to Ryder. “We have to fight for her for real. Whoever wins Saturday night—”

“That is ridiculous and barbaric. I told you I refuse to accept that,” I protest.

“I think we need to compete for Tessa together.”

I’ve had a night of bondage with Ryder, decadent sex and an incredible spa treatment from Xavier. Deep down in my heart, I
think
I might be a little bit more in love with one of them than the other.

But I can’t
say
it. Because I’m just not sure.

“Isn’t that what you’re already doing?” I ask.

Ryder’s turquoise eyes gaze into mine. “What Malone is trying to say is that we think you could compare us better if we’re making love to you at the same time.”

“The same time?” I repeat the words in a kind of daze. They don’t really mean—

They couldn’t?

Do they?

“A threesome,” Xavier says huskily.

I step out of Xavier’s embrace and he lets me go. I whirl around. “A threesome?”

“Tessa, if you claim to love us both equally, it means one of two things,” he says. “Either you don’t really love either of us. Or you want us both. You want both of us making love to you at once.” He steps closer. His white linen shirt contrasts with his sun-bronzed skin. I want to put my lips in the V neck of his shirt and lick him there. At the same time, I want to do the same to Ryder. I want to lick and taste him in just the same place.

“I don’t share. This has been an exception,” Ryder says bluntly. His hand tightens and I realize he’s carrying a beer bottle. Normally he never drinks before a fight. Not even a mouthful. Ryder never does anything in half-ass measures.

But now he drains his beer. “Now, you have to choose Tessa.”

My heart tugs toward Ryder. He’s Jakey’s father, I love him—every inch of him. Then I think of walking away from Xavier, who has been so good to me for months, who was always my friend.

Maybe I want Xavier…

But I can’t say goodbye to Ryder.

“I can’t choose,” I say softly. “Does that mean you are going to walk away from me for good, Ryder?”

He hesitates. Puts the bottle down. “Hell, I can’t. I love you too much. I’ll share you with Xavier, if that’s what you want. I’d rather have a little piece of your heart than nothing at all.”

Chapter Six

Both of Them

I totally need sometime alone before I agree to their proposition.

I walk away. Ryder and Xavier let me. Hugging myself, I follow the path to the water. The sun is setting, and golden light sparkles between the foliage. I feel like I’m walking through a mystical doorway.

After all, none of this feels like it can be real. If I say yes, I will have a threesome with handsome Ryder King, the man I once loved with all my heart, and Xavier Malone, the hottest, sexiest ex-fighter ever.

God, I don’t know why I’m hesitating.

But I’ve never done
anything
like this before.

And they are so competitive. How can they be willing to share?

There is definitely something weird about this island. In the restaurant on the first night, Ryder and Xavier almost punched each other out. If Eden has made them willing to work together to pleasure me, the island really is magic.

I emerge at the beach where I had drinks with Xavier. Once again, the view steals my breath away. There’s the stretch of lagoon, then the coral reef, bathed in gold, and the water looks like molten gilt.

I turn to walk along the shore, then I stop in surprise. I’m not alone here on this stretch of beach. A young man stands many yards away, palm fronds framing him. He leans on a cane. He wears Bermuda shorts and a loose white shirt that flutters in the breeze. A bell-shaped hat, called a Bermuda hat, sits upon streaked blond hair styled in dreadlocks.

I recognize him from the spa. He’s looking out over the water and strolls to me.

“Hi.” He falls into step with me. “Mind if I join you?”

Do I? I’m supposed to be making a decision: will I make love with two hot men at once. But I don’t want to be rude. “No, I don’t mind.”

“I’m Rex.” He reaches out and shakes my hand, dazzling me with his smile. “You’re Tessa. You were at the spa today. Are you enjoying your stay on Eden?”

“It’s complicated,” I say. Then add quickly, “But Eden is beautiful.”

He’s quiet for a minute, then he asks, “Is your complication Ryder King and Xavier Malone?”

I stare at Rex in shock. “How do you know?”

“Everyone’s noticed how both men look at you.”

I blush. Great. Now all the guests on Eden are interested in my love triangle. To change the topic of conversation, I ask, “Have you worked at the spa long?”

“No.” His answer is curt. “It’s a temporary gig.”

I draw back, surprised. After all, he asked me a hugely personal question.

“I apologize, Tessa. I’m damned sick of pampering other people. I’d like to come to Eden as a guest, not the hired help.”

“I’m a waitress. I get that.” I look out over the water. “I can’t believe I’m in the Bermuda Triangle. This is so amazing. It’s always been a fantasy of mine to see the actual, famous Devil’s Triangle.”

Rex grins. “That’s not what most people like about Eden.”

With the decision I have to make about Ryder and Xavier, the mysteries of the triangle should be the last thing on my mind. But it was the yearning to understand the planet’s amazing natural phenomena that got me into geology in college. I want to be doing that again, instead of waitressing. If I could give up my need to be independent, I could. But I can’t explain all this to a guy I barely know. “I’m fascinated by exploring things like the triangle.”

“Eden has a lot to explore.”

I blush again, but Rex surprises me by adding, “Wrecks. Sunken ships.”

“Are you a diver?”

He hesitates. Then says, “I just work in the spa.”

“I wish I knew how to dive,” I say. “I would love to explore the Bimini Road—the underwater rock formation near Bimini Island. It’s said to be naturally occurring, but the rocks are so even they look like an underwater road made by human hands. There must be dozens of wrecked ships out there.”

But I’m not the risk-taking type.

“Yeah, there are treasures out there, waiting to be discovered. Treasure that could change a man’s—”

“Rex, you’re needed at the spa.”

The deep voice behind us makes me spin around in surprise.

It’s Caine, the Eden employee who was at the spa today. The man interested in Jenna, the beautiful woman with the long black hair I saw talking to Xavier by the pool.

Caine and Rex exchange a look—I feel Caine was issuing some kind of warning. I also notice a faint resemblance between the two men.

Rex shrugs. “Just making conversation. But if duty calls, I have no choice but to answer. Have a good night, Tessa.”

Using his cane, Rex walks up the path toward the castle, limping slightly.

“I hope Rex wasn’t intruding on your private time?” Caine asks.

“Oh, no. I’ve always been fascinated by Bermuda Triangle mysteries. Anyone else would think I’m a total geek, but Rex was talking about wrecks in the area.”

Caine looks startled. “There are a lot of legends. Many have been proven to have been exaggerated stories.”

“The fun is in believing they aren’t exaggerated,” I say.

“I hope Eden is everything you dreamed, Ms. Tate.”

I have to giggle. I never dreamed I would have Xavier and Ryder fighting over me. “I came to Eden hoping for more than a tropical getaway.” I see that now. “I was looking for answers. Instead, I’ve gotten way more questions than I bargained for.”

“What kind of questions?” Caine asks, gently. He has the most gorgeous deep voice. It’s just like magic.

“I was married to Ryder King, but we separated. We just—we just couldn’t live together. I needed a deeper level of trust than Ryder could give me.” Suddenly I find I’m unburdening myself completely on Caine, the poor guy. There’s something about him that makes me want to talk to him. “Ryder keeps things close and buried inside him. He doesn’t reveal much.”

“He looks like a tough guy.”

“He’s a fighter and he is definitely tough. But there are some things you shouldn’t try to bear alone. Not when you don’t have to.”

“We all have secrets. Things we don’t want to admit to other people, especially those we love.”

“Those are the people you can tell. They would accept you.”

“Not always,” Caine says softly.

“They should. That’s what love is about.” I sigh. I need to talk this out and I find myself saying, “I’ve known Xavier Malone since we were teenagers. He and I have been seeing each other, but I’m just not ready for another commitment. This time, I’m the one who is wary. I’m afraid to open my heart and trust.”

“I have to admit, I can’t see why any woman would turn down a billionaire like Xavier Malone.”

I shake my head. “It’s not what a guy has that matters. A woman cares about what kind of man he is and what’s in his heart. I really want a man who loves me enough to trust me.” Then I blush. “I’m sorry. You really didn’t want to hear all that.”

“No problem,” Caine says. His friendly smile warms me. I don’t feel quite so embarrassed about spilling my guts.

“I’d better go back up to the castle,” I say. “I have two guys waiting for my decision.”

* * *

I discover both men are waiting for me in the lobby of my building. “Okay,” I say. “Come up to my bedroom.”

A guest joins us in the elevator, so the three of us stay quiet. But once we’re in my room, I shut the door, swallow hard and say, “Yes. I want to do this.”

“Perfect.” Xavier comes over to the door. He reaches for me and pulls me into his arms, then his hands go under my ass and he lifts me easily. I hold his shoulders but I have to let go as he lifts me until my legs settle on his shoulders. My sundress skirt hikes up. Now he is basically eye-to-panties with me.

He nuzzles my pussy through my panties.

He stops long enough to glance at me—I have my arms wrapped around his head. He gives me that luscious, slow smile. “I’m going to prove I can love you better than Ryder.”

Then he gently brushes his teeth over my pussy lips. I moan, feeling it through the silky fabric of my undies.

He starts suckling on my pussy lips. We’re soaking my panties from both directions—by his saliva and my juices, which are flowing fast. I’m hot with arousal and anticipation.

My body knows how good each man is in bed.

What about two of them at once?

I start to get an idea when I feel my panties get tugged down at the back. It’s Ryder. He slips his hand into them. His long index finger strokes the tight entrance to my ass. With his other hand, he reaches up and pinches my left nipple. My nipple gets hard at once. And my ass tingles in anticipation of penetration.

Xavier sucks my clit through my panties and Ryder works his finger gently up my ass. All this while I am held in mid-air, supported by the two men. Xavier’s big hands on my butt are holding my cheeks slightly apart, which lets Ryder slide his finger deep inside.

Oh God.

My head arches back. I’m panting and moaning. Desperately.

Being shared is incredible. Emotions and excitement are bursting in me. I’m nervous. I feel shy. And I’m aching with love for Ryder and Xavier—

Xavier draws back, still holding me up. “Stop,” he commands Ryder. “She’s going to come.”

“Yeah, and Tessa can come again and again.” Ryder’s finger thrusts slowly in and out of my sensitive, tingling ass. “I love making her come so much she’s weak with pleasure. Then I feel I’ve really done my job and fucked her brains out.”

His words make me shiver, which makes his finger in my butt tease me more. I
want
more. I want to come.

“I intend to draw out her orgasm, make her wait for her first one until she’s so on the edge, that it’s like a world-shattering explosion,” Xavier says.

“Yeah? I want to make her come now,” Ryder responds, huskily.

“Shows you know nothing about pleasuring Tessa. It’s not quantity, man. It’s quality that counts.”

I can’t believe it. They’re fighting over my orgasm.

“What do you want, angel?” Ryder rasps behind me. I’m the one being overwhelmed with sexual sensation—my clit is so sensitive that even a whisper of Xavier’s breath or a light tug of my undies stimulates it and brings me almost to the brink.

Then Ryder slides a second finger in my ass, stretching me erotically. He thrusts his two fingers and I can’t hold on. The climax explodes inside me, rushing through me.

My keening wail echoes through the room. Xavier tightens his grip to support me.

The waves of pleasure go on and on. Maybe I’m going to come forever. Maybe that’s the amazing thing about being with two guys—you never stop coming.

Oh God. God. God.

But the orgasm starts to fade. My heart starts to slow. My muscles stop going crazy. My pussy pulses and throbs, but lightly now.

I gaze into Xavier’s dark eyes—they’re such a deep indigo they almost look black, framed with velvety black lashes. “I couldn’t help it,” I whisper. “Once the climax started, I was powerless to stop it.”

“Not your fault, Tessa.” He glares at Ryder, who gently slides his fingers out of me. “Not playing fair, Ryder.”

I twist just in time to see Ryder’s insolent, sexy grin. “You think I’m going to play fair about making love to Tessa?”

Ryder bends slightly and gently bites my butt. My pussy clenches again at the sight of his teeth lightly sinking into the plump curve of my ass cheek. He grazes his teeth over my skin, making me tremble. I hold onto to Xavier tightly.

I took a shower before changing into my new, soft pink sundress. My skin was clean and smelled of the jasmine-scented soap. It was slightly damp from the shower, now it’s damp from all the arousal rushing through me. But I’m glad to be clean with Ryder’s tongue sliding over the curve of my cheek—

He parts my cheeks and his tongue slides down the valley between them. Then touches my anus, circling it.

My startled cry of pleasure must almost deafen Xavier. Even he stares over my shoulder, looking surprised at what Ryder is doing.

His tongue dabs into my anus. It’s so erotic, so forbidden, and the warm wetness of his tongue feels so good. A rush of juice floods out of me. I blush, knowing Xavier must be aware of how soaked I am—my undies are drenched and I can smell my own creamy juices.

Xavier moves me, drawing my pussy closer to his mouth. His tongue slicks over my wet panties, stroking my pussy lips, teasing my clit, while Ryder does wicked things to my ass with his tongue.

Tension winds up in me and I’m ready to burst again—

Ryder’s hands cup my ass, near Xavier’s hand. Xavier suddenly moves his right hand and he roughly tears my panties to one side, baring my pussy. I breathe in my ripe scent and gasp as Xavier’s lips touch my bare clit. He sucks me.

Hard.

So hard I clench my fists. And shout his name. Then Ryder’s name, as Ryder’s tongue goes deep inside me.

“Oh! Oh! I’m coming again!”

I jerk against Xavier. As my climax unleashes and I’m thrashing and sobbing with it, Ryder withdraws his tongue and he lifts me, taking me away from Xavier. Ryder was always wild sexually. Daring. Ready to try anything, especially to please me. That’s all he ever did when we made love—if I wanted it, if it was going to make me come, that’s what he wanted.