Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33633 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33633 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
“What do you mean I can’t be here? Why, do you own this island or something?” the young woman sputters.
I raise an eyebrow but ignore the statement. “Let me guess. You’re staying at La Mirage,” I growl, my tone dripping with displeasure.
She stands up straighter. “I am. What about it?”
“You are?” I reiterate. “Good. And didn’t you receive a lecture about staying on resort property?” I demand hotly, irked by how much she’s turning me on. Her lack of regard for rules really pisses me off—how can she be so dismissive of the danger that a solo tourist might experience out in the wild? A solo female tourist, no less.
The brunette plants her hands on her hips.
“Because their instructions sounded more like a warning than an order,” she answers prissily, sweeping her ponytail over her shoulder.
“Got it. So you think that being told to stay on the resort property was an option, then?” I growl, my anger rising at her blatant disregard for her safety.
“It all seemed a bit dramatic for my taste,” she responds evenly.
I shake my head, feeling strangely protective of this random woman while somehow compelled to force her to see the folly of her ways.
“The resort was built under the condition that no tourists would leave the property,” I say slowly, as if talking to a disobedient child.
“Well, they should put up better fencing, then,” she sasses, bending over to scoop up a bag resting in the sand at her feet. “It was very nice meeting you. I’ll find my own way back. Have a nice life.”
“Where the hell are you going?” I demand, taking a step toward her. “We’re not finished here.”
“I’m going back to the hotel, since apparently this is what I get for seeking adventure,” she snaps.
“You’re not about to walk around this island by yourself,” I nearly snarl. This sexy, impertinent woman is setting my teeth on edge and I don’t know whether I want her gone or on her back beneath me.
“I know how to get back to the hotel,” she retorts, her determination only growing. She plants her hands on her hips, jutting one out in a sassy manner. “If I had known that the danger would be running into a moody man swimming naked, I probably wouldn’t have left in the first place. You’re the danger around here. You could hurt someone with that!” she says, blushing as she gestures furiously in the direction of my anatomy.
I glower. “You think that I’m the danger?” I take a menacing step in her direction. She trembles, but doesn’t give up any ground. Instead, the woman straightens her shoulders and stands up taller, something flashing across her eyes.
I glare at her. “Sea storms blow up out of nowhere. There are wild animals always on the prowl. Not to mention how easy it is to get caught up in a wave and get dragged out to sea.”
“Oh,” she falters, her voice small now. “I thought the hotel manager was just being dramatic…”
“And as for ‘moody men,’” I say, continuing to close the gap between us, “I’m the only one who comes to this lagoon. You’re lucky you didn’t stumble upon one of the other men from my community.” My need is growing, even as I fight for control. Less than a foot separates us, and I know that I could reach out and pull her to me in one quick swoop.
The woman doesn’t appear frightened, though. She arches her back, thrusting her breasts toward me as she does so. “And what would those other men have done?”
“Not asked any questions, for starters,” I grunt.
“That would have been nice,” she mutters as she takes a small step toward me. “Because I detest men who can’t mind their business.”
“And I despise women who don’t seem to know when danger is standing right in front of them.”
We’re only inches apart now, each one of us breathing a little heavier than we had been.
“I thought you said you weren’t dangerous,” she huffs. She’s so close I can feel her warm breath on my neck.
“I never said that,” I respond.
“Oh yeah?” she whispers. “Prove it.”
With that, I lose all control.
I give into instinct and pull her ponytail back with a sharp yank, tilting her head so that my mouth can find hers. I kiss her deeply, my lips hard on hers, wild desire driving me. The woman gasps but doesn’t fight me, instead rising up on her tiptoes to reach my lips, moaning throatily in the back of her throat.
But she’s no pansy. She grabs my hair and keeps my body glued to hers, mewling while trying to get closer.
“You like this huh?” I grunt. Then I respond by cupping her neck and twisting her further into my embrace. For the next several minutes, we devour each other, our kisses becoming more frantic and volatile as our bodies press against each other.