Theirs to Play (7 page)

Fuck! This stuff is strong.

Dawn raised three fingers in the air. “One more to make three.”

She’s either an alcoholic or trying to do something sneaky.

“Are you hoping to get me drunk?” I asked.

“Most definitely.” She gave me my third shot. “My theory is that if you’re at least tipsy, then I can persuade you to take your dominant male persona away for a few minutes. I think it would be fun to actually learn something about Freddy, and not Frederick the all-perfect gentleman with the smooth moves and perfect things to say.”

“Sorry to disappoint you sweetheart, but the all-perfect gentleman persona remains whether I’m drunk or not.”

“You’re delusional on that matter. Go ahead and do four more. How can anybody remain suave after six shots of tequila? I would love to see this.”

“Watch.” In less than three minutes, I downed four shots. It wasn’t until I swallowed the last shot that I’d realized Dawn wasn’t drinking with me.

She really is trying to get me drunk. Funny.

I checked the window. The captain had already docked the yacht.

“Are you going to take any more shots?” I asked.

“No way. I’m not crazy.”

So now I’ll be the drunken idiot while you’ll be reasonably tipsy. Great.

“Let’s eat.” I extended my hand to hers and guided her away from that dangerous bottle of hellish liquid.

It took us a few minutes to get to the candle light picnic that I’d planned. Although elegantly dressed we walked barefoot. The cool sand formed around our feet. That beautiful gold lace gown trailed along with Dawn as she strolled with me.

“I feel awful getting the bottom of this dress dirty,” she said.

“That pretty ensemble was made with the hopes that a sexy woman would wear it in an exotic setting. If the designer could see you now, he or she would cry in delight.”

The alcohol began working on my body. I felt energized and courageous so much that I twirled her around a few times. Dawn laughed and danced with me. “I see the tequila is hitting your system.”

“Maybe, it’s you that’s hitting my system.”

“Wow.” She grimaced. “Please stop with the lines.”

“That wasn’t one.”

“Then add that to your book of bad lines, buddy. In fact, put it on the first page.”

“Damn you.” I swung her around fast, her dress rustled near her legs. She stumbled forward and I captured her. “How about you let your guard down for a few seconds and enjoy the evening.”

“Nope.” She got out of my hold and walked off, but I could tell, something had affected her. Her hips swayed more than usual. A brightening smile spread across a face. With each step, she explored more of the beach.

Poor Dawn. She’s lost and doesn’t even realize it. I’ll make love to her tonight. Everything is working out the way I planned it.

Plus, the nature around us was working its magic. Bright stars glittered in the sky while the full moon hovered over us. Dark ocean waves sparkled just right as they swished out a haunting melody. Lit torches guided our way. The wind blew through her hair and I caught a whiff of that captivating perfume she wore.

I ran up to her and got on her side. “What is the name of your fragrance? It’s so feminine and perfect.”

“Thanks. My mom created it for me. She’s a perfumier.” Dawn rubbed her wrist against my nose, probably so I could get a better whiff. “Mom mixed currants, jasmine, rose petals, sandalwood, and get this, pralines.”

“That’s amazing. Do you think she could whip up something for me?”

“Of course. She likes to meet people, talk with them for a while, and create a scent that she believes tells her about them.”

“So what does that blend say about you?”

She tossed her hair over her shoulder. “I have no idea. Maybe I’m feminine like the flowers she used, but also a bit nutty, since she dropped in pralines at the end.”

We arrived toward the end of the path. An old woman sat on a stool several feet away. Slow music filled the air as she strummed a guitar and sang out an old tune in Spanish.

“Oh my.” Dawn held her hand to her chest while I led her into the picnic area. “This is beautiful.”

Two tables were outside. Hundreds of candles formed around the space in the shape of a heart. A small table rested in the center. The finest silverware on the yacht lounged on that table. White roses in a silver dish finished the setting off as their flowery fragrance merged with the food’s tantalizing aroma.

Two servants stood farther away, next to a large table. A buffet of small dishes covered it. Anything a woman could desire lay in one of those bowls, from savory to sweet, meaty to simmering soup. I made sure the chef provided it all. I needed to fulfill Dawn’s every desire, make her fantasy come true. And I had to be her fantasy. She joked about Disney princesses like they were insignificant little waifs, but I could see that she hoped to be a princess one day. That secret want glazed in her eyes, telling me that she still yearned to be swept off of her feet and treated like royalty.

And that’s just how I’ll get her.

I pulled out a chair and let Dawn sit down.

I’ll probably bend her over this table when we’re done eating. I should have Chef Michel grab some whip cream.

Before I could get in my own seat, she asked, “How did your mother pass away?”

I hung in mid-air with my knees half bent and a dumb expression plastered on my face. In my head, the evening was going according to plan, but once again, Dawn changed the schedule.

“W-why?” I asked.

“I’m sorry. I probably shouldn’t have asked that. It’s a pretty awful thing to ask.” She grabbed the water and gulped some. “How about I apologize and blame it on the alcohol? Maybe I shouldn’t have drunk those shots.”

I slumped into the chair with less finesse than I’d planned to. “Why did you want to know about my mother?”

“It was just sad. I was wondering how it happened. It’s a pretty rude thing to ask. I’m really sorry.”

I held my hand up. “No. It’s fine. It’s just . . .no one has ever asked me that.”

Her regretful expression shifted to skeptical. “I don’t believe you.”

“Trust me. No one’s ever asked me that. Not even guy friends back at any of my boarding schools or in college and definitely not any of the women from the games my brother and I play. I’m just surprised that you asked.”

“I’m pretty nosy.”

“Well,” I held my hands together, “Do you really want to know? It might make you sad.”

“It’s up to you if you want to tell me.”

I rubbed the inside of my palm. “My mom committed suicide.”

She covered her face. “Oh God. I’m really sorry for asking—”

“No, seriously. It’s fine.” I waved my hand. “This happened long ago. It’s been twenty years now.”

“Which would make you twenty-eight?”

“Yes.”

“Wow. Okay. Again, I apologize.”

Quiet hovered over us for a while. For once, I was at a lost for words, trying to figure out why she’d even asked that question. What did she have to gain? What could she do with that information? Was this part of the game somehow, some sick strategy?

I peered at her. “Why did you really ask me that?”

“I just wanted to know. Haven’t you ever just wanted to learn about a person, figure out why that individual is who he or she is?”

“Not if I didn’t need the information for a particular reason. Why would I care about anyone else?”

“No disrespect, but that sounds pretty cutthroat and selfish.”

“People talk about how violent ghettos are, but don’t realize how scary it is around the wealthy. No one’s families gets as rich as the people I know, from being good Christians and loving the world.”

“Really?” Her cheeks rose as she grinned.

I immediately loved the way her whole face lit up with excitement. “Really. There’s a whole lot of rich people who are seriously corrupt individuals.”

“Okay. Then prove it,” she said. “Tell me what’s the craziest gossip you’ve ever heard among the rich and twisted.”

“You mean something crazier than two brothers playing mind games with women?”

“Yes. Even wackier.”

“I know a man who has four wives. And with each wife, he has kids with them. The worst part is that none of the families know about the other. Each woman lives in a different country.”

She placed her elbows on the table and balanced her chin on her hands. “How could they not know?”

“Well, he pretends to be middle class in these four different places. These families live in third world countries. He acts like he works really hard to provide for them. Apparently all four think he has a job that keeps him away for the seasons.”

“So he spends each season with a new family?” she asked.

“Yes. If I can remember correctly, he only visits each place when it is a warm season. He detests the snow.”

“Poor dick head. How many kids does he have?”

I hit my head trying to remember. “I don’t know. I keep thinking twelve, but who knows. It could be more.”

“That’s horrific.”

“It’s life.”

“No, that’s not.” A wrinkle formed at her forehead. “It’s some spoiled guy taking advantage of lots of people for his own pleasure. Why not just buy up an island, ship people in, and tell them to worship you. Why all the lies and deception? He should just get it over with.”

I laughed. “That was the other piece of gossip that I was going to tell you. There’s another guy I partied with. He told me that he bought an island and did just that. He has fifty people walking around it, serving and calling him king.”

“Now you’re full of it. This island does not exist. In fact, please tell me it isn’t real. Please.”

“Oh it’s a hundred percent real. I could take you there. You wouldn’t believe it.”

“You’ve actually been there?” she asked.

“Oh yes. Freakiest experience I’ve ever had.”

“Oh my God. I really wish I could see that. Sadly, I would probably be dragged off the island for slapping him or something.”

“Yep. I’m sure that’s against the law on there.” I considered the possibility of flying off with Dawn to meet Cedric the fifth, the guy who did in fact purchase an island for people to worship him. It would be worth the energy and money just to sit in a room with the both of them. There was no way Cedric would be the same after a visit from Dawn. She just had a way of changing everything.
Yeah.
I gazed at her, telling myself that my studying her face was all about the game and not some need to imprint her alluring beauty into my mind.

“And are there any rich women who are being equally repulsive or can only the men have evil fun?”

“The women are worst. The really wealthy ones have little secret harems of big guys waiting on them all day and night. There are several resorts that only cater to affluent wives. I’ve heard that it’s a male escort’s dream come true to get a job there. However, once they actually start working, they realize it’s hell.”

“Well bravo to them.” She tapped my water glass with hers and then took a sip. “Let’s hope that I’ll be one of those loaded women one day, torturing hot guys at my will.”

“And do you plan to marry wealthy?”

“No, buddy.” She stuck that lovely tongue out again. “I’m simply going to rule the world after I get my degree. I figure it’ll take ten years after school or so to adequately state my claim on the world’s power structure.”

“Then law school sounds like a good move, but sitting across from me is an even better one. My money could get you there faster.”

“I don’t need to marry rich. I can get it myself.”

“I bet you could.” And I wasn’t lying. Dawn exuded the same type of ambitious spirit my dad had and all of the other hard hitters I knew around the globe. She’d get whatever she dedicated herself too. I couldn’t get over her drive and loved having her in my presence.

“I would ask you where you went for college, but I’m sure it was some big school, so instead tell me your major,” she said.

“Business.”

“Yeah, right. Tell me what you really hoped to major in, before daddy or whoever told you to major in business.”

How’d she know Dad forced me to do business?

“Food. If I could have, I would’ve gone to a culinary arts school,” I said.

“Well, you couldn’t go then, but why not go now?”

I shrugged. “I don’t need to.”

“But it’s something you love.”

“I enjoy lounging under the sun even more.”

“But doesn’t that get boring?” she asked.

Okay. This conversation needs to go to a romantic topic and off of me.

“What makes you hot, Dawn?”

“Stop avoiding my question. Don’t you get bored lounging all of the time?”

“Sometimes. When I’m really restless, I call up my brother to meet me on the yacht to play a game.”

“How many times have you guys played this year?”

“Ten.”

“It’s June right now, so that’s a lot of games. How long did most of them last?”

I combed my fingers through my hair, ready to stray away from this interrogation. “A week or so, not too long at all.”

She shook her head. “And you’d rather do that then learn how to make exquisite meals?”

“Yes.” I felt a little embarrassed, but I shook it off. She was no one to try and impress. I didn’t care if she judged me, all I needed was for her to open up those sexy legs.

“Well, you should at least do both,” she suggested. “Maybe take a class here or there, nothing too strenuous, but you should definitely have other passions besides women and sitting on your ass.”

“Is that what Dr. Dawn prescribes?”

“Yes. Find at least two loves in this life that have nothing to do with the space between a woman’s thighs. Surely there are tons of rich guys out there truly living.” She snapped her fingers. “Oh wait. I remember this article about a wealthy guy that had learned how to fly airplanes. The year before that he was climbing mountains. Several years earlier he was a licensed deep sea diver. Granted, he is probably an asshole alpha too, but at least he’s more interesting.”

At least he’s more interesting? Did she just insult me?