Hidden Paradise Read online

  We walked down the dock to the end of one of the sections, and the attendant stopped as he used the keycard to enter the bungalow. The door slid open, and my breath caught in my throat. The floor was see-through. Lord help me. I didn’t know how I’d get any sleep this whole week knowing fish were below me.

  I tipped the man, which he thought was odd, and I tossed my carry-on bag onto the bed.

  I searched in the front pocket of the bag and found my phone.

  Trevor needed to hear a piece of my mind.

  As soon as possible.

  The phone rang forever before his voice sounded through the speakers. Only it was his voicemail. That bastard sent me to voicemail.

  “You’ve reached Trevor. You know what to do.”

  I thought calling his personal line would be better. Apparently not.

  “Oh, I know what I’m going to do. I’m going to hurt you when I get back. What the hell, Trevor? This resort is for honeymooners and romance. Neither of which I have now. Oh, and there are fish swimming underneath me at this moment. I hope you’re happy,” I said as I hung up the phone. I shouldn’t have talked to him that way, but what the hell. I had alcohol in my veins, and I was flustered from the boat ride. It wasn’t like he’d fire me while I was on a vacation he paid for and forced me to partake in.

  I needed more alcohol and stat.

  Plus, I needed to learn the lay of the land. What there was to do around here.

  I thought I’d be on the beach. Not right on the damn ocean. Literally.

  I pulled out a cute pink flowered sundress that reminded me of the beautiful gardens back home in Los Angeles. Paired with my wedges, that matched perfectly, and a silver pair of hoops, I was somewhat presentable. I fluffed out my hair to give it some body then put on some vanilla perfume and grabbed my clutch. After putting the company card, that I was told to use, and my identification inside my clutch, I left the bungalow. Surely, there was a bar somewhere near here.

  I listened for music and followed the distant sound.

  My feet clanked on the boards below as I continued to walk in search of the bar. I should’ve just looked it up on my phone, but after a few moments and even more wrong turns, I found the hotel bar.

  I walked through the door and looked down in my clutch for my driver’s license when I was stopped by something hard. I felt myself falling backward, but someone’s arm wrapped around my waist to prevent the horrible disaster.

  I couldn’t look up.

  My cheeks turned pink from embarrassment, and I didn’t want to see the person I almost mauled due to my carelessness.

  “That’s one way to get someone’s attention,” the deep voice spoke.

  That accent.

  Holy shit.

  I trembled in his arms and hoped like hell he didn’t feel it.

  What the hell?

  I took a deep breath, but still refused to open my eyes and meet the man who still held me in his arms.

  “You’ll have to look at me one day, beautiful.”

  Not exactly.

  I could turn around and walk away before I opened my eyes. Only I knew that would end in yet another disaster.

  Could this day get any worse?

  With that thought, I groaned.

  “It’s not that bad, I promise. Just open those beautiful eyes and look up,” he coaxed.

  Slowly, I peeked up at him and wished I would have just kept my eyes shut.

  The Adonis staring down at me made me quiver even more. His voice wasn’t the half of it. His hair was jet black, and his skin the color of honey. His black eyes were intense, and I felt almost naked as he stared down at me. Those eyes meant trouble. They were soul takers. I could tell. With just one look from him, I was ready to hand mine over and never give it back.

  “There they are. Even more beautiful than I could’ve imagined,” he whispered, and I felt weak. The more he spoke the more my body reacted. Damn trader. No one, and I mean, no one had ever gotten to me with just the sound of their voice.

  “Thank you,” I said as I tried to pull out of his hold. He made sure I was steady on my feet before he unwrapped his arm from around me.

  The crisp white button-down with the sleeves rolled up shined bright against his skin. He had on khaki pants and a pair of flipflops, I noticed as I checked him out.

  “Like what you see?”

  “Do you always just ask what’s on your mind?” I asked, embarrassed that I got caught checking him out.

  “Usually. That’s the only way to get answers to the questions that I seek,” he said with a panty-dropping grin that showed off his perfectly white teeth. Were there any flaws on this man?

  “Touché. I’m sorry for running into you. I’ll let you get back to your evening,” I said, needing to get away from this man. My body reacting to him this way wasn’t a good sign. I didn’t come here for this.

  “Not before I get your name. I’m Thorn,” he said as he held out his hand.

  I couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped my mouth.

  “What?” he asked as he cocked his head with a questioning look on his face.

  “Thorn. That’s a peculiar name. It just made me think about the saying ‘you’re a thorn in my side’ and I can relate at this very moment,” I replied.

  He mumbled something I couldn’t hear and looked away for a moment before returning his gaze to me.

  “I’ve heard that a time or two. Actually, that’s just my nickname.”

  “That’s some nickname.”

  “Aren’t you going to tell me your name?”

  “Maybe. Maybe not.”

  “You’re spunky. I like. I like that a lot. Let me buy you a drink,” he insisted as he turned us toward the bar without waiting for my response.

  The heat from his hand felt like it burned against the thin material of my dress. Jesus, I needed to get a grip. And I damn sure didn’t need to bring Jesus into this situation. Even though I was going to need him if I stayed near this man. That was for sure.

  He spoke French fluently to the bartender, and I couldn’t make out much of what he said. Spanish I knew. But French—not so much.

  He turned back to me as he slid out the barstool and offered me a seat. He sat on the stool beside me and turned toward me, picking up my hand within his. I didn’t know how I felt about the sudden affection from this stranger. My brain screamed caution while my body said to throw it to the wind and go for whatever the night brought.

  He brought my hand up to his lips and gently caressed the skin of my knuckles. Goose bumps appeared down my arms and legs, and I couldn’t hide the shiver that swept through my body at the heat of his soft lips meeting my delicate flesh.

  Pulling my hand away, I looked up at him and smiled. I had to get a hold of myself before I let this man get to me even more than he already had. He had game, I could admit that, but I didn’t know if I could take what he was clearly offering without losing a piece of myself in return.

  “What brings you to Bora Bora?”

  “A forced vacation,” I said with slight annoyance in my voice.

  “Someone had to force you to come to this beautiful island. Damn, that’s a shame,” he said.

  “Under normal circumstances, no. But I have too much work to do to take this impromptu vacation my boss forced me to take,” I admitted, wondering why I was telling a stranger the insanity known as my current situation.

  “Ah, so you’re one of those types.”

  I was about to ask him a question in response when the bartender came back with our drinks. Mine was a blue fruity concoction, I assumed based on the umbrella coming out of the top, and he had what appeared to be bourbon on the rocks in his glass.

  “To fun in the sun,” he said as he brought his glass to meet mine.

  “And what type would that be?” I asked after taking a sip of the delicious drink in my hand. I could taste the rum but couldn’t tell what other flavors assaulted my senses.

  “All work and no play,” he replied
as he moved the drink around in his glass before bringing it to his lips. I watched the liquid enter his mouth and his Adam’s apple move as he swallowed the amber liquid. His tongue moved across his full lips as he got the remnants of the alcohol off.

  Damn, Lily. Get a fucking grip.

  He chuckled as he sat the glass down, and I knew I’d been caught, yet again, checking him out. I needed to find a way to hide that better. And fast. Before he realized just how much he affected me and used it to his advantage.

  I neither admitted nor denied his claim. No matter which answer I gave, he knew the truth. Somehow, he could sense the truth. And I loved and hated that he could.

  Picking up my drink, I downed the rest of its contents and waved the bartender over to order another. The more alcohol the better in my opinion. I’d need it to gain the courage to stay in the company of the exotic stranger sitting next to me.

  More questions passed with me only giving him vague answers about my line of work and life back home. I wasn’t ready to reveal any personal information. I’d likely never see him again after tonight since I didn’t plan on leaving that damn bungalow until it was time for me to go home unless it was for food. Leaving meant running into sexy strangers, and my body couldn’t handle another repeat of the man sitting next to me.

  The contents of the second drink went straight to my head, and I felt dizzy the instant I went to stand to excuse myself to the restroom.

  “Looks like you love falling all over me tonight,” he joked as he caught me from falling yet again.

  “Seems that way,” I replied as I tried to gain my bearings.

  “Want to get out of here?” he asked.

  I didn’t know how to answer.

  Did I want to leave with him?

  Should I leave with him was the better question?

  To hell with it.

  This time I listened to my body and not my brain.

  With liquid courage, I nodded and let him lead me out of the bar.

  Once we got to the entrance, he turned and faced me.

  “With one condition,” he urged, heat filling his eyes as he glared down at me.

  I looked up at him the best I could without the alcohol running to my head and waited for him to tell me what the condition was.

  “Your name, beautiful,” he whispered as he dropped my hand and brought his up to frame my face.

  I swallowed hard at the intensity of his gaze.

  One look and I was done.

  Another word and I was finished.

  I was putty in his hands as I leaned into him.

  “Lily,” I forced out of my mouth without my gaze leaving his.

  “More beautiful than any flower I’ve ever seen,” he whispered as his lips caressed my forehead. I closed my eyes and held back the whimper that wanted to escape.

  I didn’t know what he was doing to me, but I couldn’t wait to find out.

  Turning back toward the exit, he grabbed my hand again and headed in the direction of the unknown.

  This was the craziest thing I’d ever done in my life, and no matter how hard my brain tried to intervene I didn’t let it. I let the sexy man in front of me lead me off into the unknown. Consequences be damned.

  Chapter 4

  “Are you sure? Because once we enter this room, I plan to devour you,” he said as he took out the key card and put it up to the door to open it.

  I swallowed hard.

  No man had ever talked to me with such lust and conviction in his voice.

  I’d never done anything like this before.

  Going back to a man’s room I had just met.

  Let alone allow said man to do the things he’d told me he would do once he got me behind closed doors.

  Shivers ran down my spine at just the thought of him whispering the details mere moments before.

  “Speak now or forever hold your piece,” he said with a sly grin as he slid the card into the slot and turned back to look at me, holding out his hand as he waited for me to make my final decision.

  The tell-tale beeping sound rang out into the night indicating the door was now unlocked.

  I couldn’t formulate words. All I could do was nod as I placed my hand within his.

  Before I could even blink, I was being pulled inside his bungalow.

  Only I didn’t have a chance to even take in my surroundings.

  He picked me up and pushed me against the door, his mouth crashing down on mine the instant my back collided with the hard surface, both of his hands gripping my ass as he held me up. My legs went around his waist. My arms around his shoulders as I held on for dear life, waiting to see what he had in store. And if he would do everything he’d promised and more.

  He pressed a button beside the door, and the windows were instantly covered as the shades moved shut.

  His lips now felt even softer than they had before when they grazed my shoulder and moved back up my neck toward my awaiting lips.

  Ever so slowly, his lips moved across mine.

  Testing.

  Tasting.

  Memorizing.

  And all I could do was take what he dished out and give back the best I could as I tried to keep up with his slow, tantalizing kisses.

  He pulled his head back and my chest heaved up and down, fighting to fill my lungs with the air they so desperately needed.

  Thorn put his forehead against mine and looked down at me, his chest moving up and down just as fast as mine.

  “So much better than I imagined,” he whispered as he moved one of his hands away from my ass to between my thighs.

  My body tensed with nervous excitement as his fingers found the sexy lingerie that was hidden beneath my dress.

  With expert precision, his fingers slipped beneath the sheer material, and his knuckle grazed my clit as he pulled hard on the fabric. My breath caught in my throat as I heard it tear.

  His eyes never left mine.

  His gaze bore into me.

  Steamy.

  Hot.

  Sexy.

  His long, thick fingers moved slowly against my flesh as I grew wetter. He never stayed in one place long enough for me to get used to what he was doing. He moved slowly, circling my clit and then down to my awaiting opening. I couldn’t formulate words. Let alone a coherent thought. All I felt was the passion that exuded silently between us.

  Suddenly his hands were gone, and he fumbled with the belt buckle around his waist. He was way too good at getting that open. But I forced my mind not to go there. That didn’t matter. Nothing mattered in this moment but what was occurring between Thorn and me. I probably should ask his real name. But I liked not knowing. It made everything hotter.

  He produced a condom from somewhere and brought the foil package up to his lips. His head tilted slightly causing the package to tear. I’d never seen anything hotter. The combination of the desire in his eyes and the mysteriousness of the night made me hornier than I’d ever been in my life.

  Moments later the condom was in place, and he positioned himself at my entrance.

  My breaths quickened.

  I could back out.

  Should stop this madness.

  But I couldn’t.

  I didn’t want to be on this island.

  But somehow meeting this stranger made me happier about being forced to be here.

  He pushed forward, causing me to gasp as he slowly entered me. My eyes shut and my breath caught in my throat as I waited for him to be fully inside.

  I was filled to the hilt, and he wasn’t even all the way inside of me.

  I tried not to tense at his intrusion, but it was hard. I’d never been stretched this far.

  He must have sensed my unease because he stilled.

  His breaths mimicked mine. Slow and heavy all at once.

  “Open your eyes, Lily,” he whispered and demanded all at the same time.

  I obeyed his command, afraid that he’d see my discomfort and stop.

  I didn’t want him to stop.
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br />   I wanted him to continue. Make this a night I’d never forget.

  “Beautiful,” he said, and I believed him. Something I rarely believed anymore. Especially since work was my focus and my attire usually showed just how busy I was.

  I swallowed hard, no response would come. I just continued to stare at him while I awaited his next move.

  “Are you okay?” he asked with the sincerest tone in his voice.

  I nodded, still unable to speak.

  He pushed forward more, and my need to touch his warm skin overtook everything inside of me. I tightened the grip of my legs around his waist and moved my arms down to his chest, caressing the side of his neck as I brought my hands down to the collar of his white shirt.

  I started to unbutton the shirt but wasn’t fast enough.

  With all the strength I could muster, I gripped both sides of his shirt and pulled with all my might.

  Buttons scattered across the room, each one making a sound as they hit the floor. A smile spread across my lips as I looked down and saw pure perfection. He was ripped in all the right places. Leaning forward, I wrapped my arms around his neck again and grazed his shoulder with my lips before I used my teeth to nip the sensitive skin where his neck met his shoulder. He gasped and moved quicker inside of me. All thought was lost as he kept hitting a spot so deep within that I felt as though I would combust.

  The room became unbearably hot. My skin felt like it was on fire as sweat formed across my entire body.

  We were as close as two people could get. But that still didn’t seem close enough. I wanted him closer. Needed him deeper. Wanted him to move faster. But I couldn’t speak the words. Instead, I moved my hands down his back and dug my nails into his flesh, urging him on.

  He seemed to love just a little pain to go along with the pleasure we were both receiving. And somehow, he read my mind. Our skin slapped together as he moved with a speed I didn’t know was possible. I felt my body building to something I didn’t know was possible. Something I was sure would ruin me.

  He pulled back at the same time I leaned my head back and moaned. His hand moved between our bodies. The second he grazed my clit, my body ignited. I screamed loud not caring who heard. Not caring about anything by the pleasure that started at my toes and moved throughout my entire body. I didn’t know something so powerful could exist. Until now. Thorn had given me the best pleasure of my life, and I immediately wanted more.