Niall (Vigilance 2)

“Of course you do, baby,” I said. “We have to choose the best ones.”

“We could just get them all.” Niall actually fluttered his goddamn lashes at me, and I nearly choked on my second cup of coffee.

“Maybe we will, but I’d still like to see you in them.”

I thought he would argue again, but he took the suits and headed into the dressing room.

He came out first in a pair of salmon swim trunks. It was a great color for his newly tanned skin tone, which thanks to X’s expensive taste was not at all orange. I knew he’d gotten waxed, but this was my first chance to appreciate him all smooth chested. I didn’t mind hair on my men, but Niall looked just as delicious like this and much more like a boy who needed a sugar daddy.

“Do you like these?” he asked in a coquettish voice that was making my pants very uncomfortable.

“I love them. They will be great for walking on the beach, but let’s see something else for the pool.”

I almost fell off the sofa when Niall came out in a bright blue Speedo that was barely big enough to hold his package. Apparently he’d decided to get back at me by parading himself in front of me rather than continuing his shy act. He strutted out and ran his hands over his chest, then over the slick fabric where it strained across his hip bones. When he turned to let me see the way the suit hugged his rounded ass, Saffron made a strangled sound that he tried to cover with a cough.

I glanced at the stylist, but he looked away. I could hardly blame him for his reaction. Niall was a walking wet dream in the tiny blue suit. I had to press my hands against my thighs to keep from reaching for him.

“What do you think?” Niall asked, looking at me over his shoulder.

“Yes. Buy it. Are there more like that?” I asked, looking at Saffron.

The man nodded frantically. “There’s… um… a cheetah-print one and a pink one.”

“We’ll take them all.”

I couldn’t handle any more displays like this, not without getting kicked out of the store.

Niall grinned like he knew what I was thinking. Fuck. I guess this round went to him.

Although if I had to lose in our battle of wills, doing so while getting to see him barely dressed was a damn fun way to do it. Not that I wasn’t annoyed by his victory. I was going to have to up my game.

While Niall changed, Saffron brought out a rack of things he’d picked out for me. I wished I could get away with just looking at them and selecting what I wanted. I had no desire to be the one showing myself off, though I would do it if I had to, and I’d find a way to make Niall squirm.

10

Niall

As I put my own clothes back on, I contemplated whether I’d most enjoy stabbing Marco, shooting him, or choking the life out of him. Horrified as I was to be purchasing this ridiculous swimsuit, I had to admit I’d enjoyed tormenting Marco, and I’d succeeded in not having to model anymore of the skimpy swimwear. Of course I was now stuck with all of them, and I had no doubt Marco would insist on me wearing every one of them on the island.

Focus on the mission objective.

My embarrassment was nothing compared to what we could gain, but did it have to be Marco that got to witness it?

At least I’d proven I could act today, so Marco could no longer insist we needed to practice. I couldn’t let there be a repeat of what happened the other day. I needed to make clear that we were not sleeping in the same bed on the island because getting any closer to him wouldn’t be good for me. I hadn’t been able to get him out of my mind since that day at Devilish Ink. Between his odd tenderness at the spa and the heat in his eyes today, I was feeling very conflicted. If I couldn’t keep him at arm’s length in private, I was risking more than embarrassment. Marco was everything I’d craved in my fantasies for years, but nothing I needed.

I stepped out of the dressing room and around the mirrors. Saffron took the swimwear I was holding, and I turned to Marco.

“Your turn,” I said, making my voice annoyingly bright.

Saffron smiled. “Are you ready to look at some of the outfits I selected?

Marco nodded, but I could see his hesitation. He didn’t like playing model any more than I did. I noticed he had a champagne flute in front of him now, and it was empty. I’d driven him to drink with only one Speedo. Maybe I could have a little fun on this trip after all. If he was going to treat me like a toy, then I could act like one, get him all worked up, then tell him to keep his hands off.