He pressed a palm on her abdomen and eased a finger inside her. With his hand on her mound, he could feel her muscles quiver. He could feel her inner walls clench around his finger as she came undone. Not letting up, he sucked her off through her orgasm, wrenching everything from her body until the aftershocks had eased and she had nothing left to give.
Pride filled him when he lifted his head to look at her flushed face. She seemed euphoric and replete. Him, he was complete. Stretching out next to her, he took her in his arms while she caught her breath. She was still floating in the blissful afterglow of her climax, but he was already back in reality. Time was running out. Time was always fucking running out for them.
Too soon, he carried her to the shower. He knelt in front of her under the cold spray of the water, exploring every curve with his palms as he lathered her body with soap. He washed her hair and massaged her scalp. He dried her like the precious, breakable doll she was and carried her back to bed. Just a moment longer, he promised himself. Pulling her to his side, he wrapped himself around her and, for the first time in over a year, slept like an innocent babe.
Sean woke up what felt like days later, but it was only dusk. He knew Asia was gone even before he opened his eyes or reached for the spot next to him. Even as disappointment filled his chest, relief surged through him. He shouldn’t have lowered his guard and fallen asleep. It was a good thing she’d woken. Juan should be back by now. He balled his hands into fists. The sheet fell to the floor as he threw it from his body. Taking the tablet from the drawer, he connected to the secure line.
S: Complication. Her sibling arrived. Get them out. NOW.
C: We’re working on it. The collar poses a bigger problem than we thought.
Sean’s hands shook with anger.
S: You made this mess. Fix it.
C: Patience. We’ll pull her out by Friday as promised.
Small waves lapped at the shore in the distance. Asia walked up and down the sandy patch not far from the beach. It should’ve been paradise, except for a crazy, dangerous man forcing her to marry him, and Matt was out on the water with that man, who’d threatened her only yesterday with her brother’s life.
Where were they? What took so long? It was dusk already. They should’ve been back long ago.
Biting her nail, she continued pacing. She couldn’t confide in anyone, not even in Sean, who she trusted. Especially not Sean. He was too possessive, too impulsive. There was no telling how he’d react if she told him Juan was blackmailing her with Matt’s life. She had no choice but to suffer the knowledge alone. The thought of what could happen to Matt made her feel so sick she wanted to empty her stomach on the sand.
It was almost dark when an engine sounded in the distance. The spotlight of a boat became visible on the horizon. She rushed toward the jetty with her heart in her throat, stopping as close as she could. The boat grew bigger as it came nearer until she could discern Matt’s dark blond head behind the wheel next to Juan. She sagged with relief, weak in the aftermath of the prolonged anxiety.
The boat docked at the jetty. A laughing Juan exited with a sunburnt but happy Matt.
Her brother grinned from ear to ear. “Look what I caught.” He held up a long, thin silver fish. “Juan said the cook can grill it for me for dinner.”
“That’s nice,” she offered meekly.
From out of nowhere, Tammy appeared, still dressed in her skimpy bikini.
“Wow,” the brunette said, eyeing Matt’s fish with interest, no doubt fake. “That’s a big one. You’re a good fisherman.”
Matt flushed, his sunburned face turning even redder.
Asia touched his cheek. “You didn’t put on sunblock.”
He winced and pulled away from her touch. “I’m not a five-year old. I think I can take care of myself.”
Juan handed the fishing rods to a guard and wrapped a possessive arm around Asia’s waist. Surprise registered on Matt’s features when he took in the gesture. Asia cringed when Juan squeezed her backside.
“Come, big guy.” Tammy hooked her arm through Matt’s. “Let’s get you cleaned up for dinner.”
Matt glanced at Asia from over his shoulder as Tammy led him away, an unspoken question in his eyes.
“You didn’t tell him about us,” Juan said.
She swallowed, thinking fast. “There was no time. We haven’t spoken on the phone in a while, and you hijacked him the minute he arrived.”
“No matter. Let him settle in tonight. You’ll set him straight tomorrow.”
Juan looked mighty pleased with the turn of events. Why wouldn’t he be? He now had his trump card right under his thumb.