All the Pretty Poses (13 page)

He tugs me up to our towels and then releases
my hand to start stripping. I watch his unabashed undressing,
taking in his fantastic body. It quickly becomes obvious that he
sunbathes in the nude quite often. There’s not a white patch of
skin anywhere on him.

“That’s The Bishop,” he says, catching me as
I look him over.

My eyes fly to his and my lips quiver in
amusement. “You call your…your…junk ‘The Bishop’?”

“Hell yeah! If you had junk like that,
wouldn’t
you
give it an awesome name?”

I let my giggle go and admit to Brian,
“Probably.”

The smile he gives me is happy and relaxed.
“Now, your turn.”

As if he knows his attention might make me
uncomfortable, Brian stretches out on his towel, tucks his folded
hands behind his head and closes his eyes. I watch him for a few
seconds, debating whether to run back to the water or just plop
down on my towel, too.

“Just because my eyes are closed doesn’t mean
I don’t know you’re still wearing too many clothes,” he says in a
sing-song voice, making me roll my eyes. “And don’t you roll those
big green eyes at me.”

That makes me laugh outright. “Are you sure
your eyes are closed?”

“Just do it, for god’s sake.”

I exhale loudly. “Fine, but you better never
tell a soul about this.”

“I make no promises. I might have to sell
your wares to the clients.”

“The hell you will!” I exclaim, reaching for
the ties to my top.

Brian laughs this time. “It’s not like that.
Unless you want it to be, of course.”

“Which I don’t,” I assure him as I hurriedly
drop my top then my bottoms and flop down on my towel.

“I doubt that would end well anyway.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I’d say our fearless leader would draw and
quarter any such unlucky bastard and then toss his bits and pieces
into the sea.”

I turn my head to look at Brian. He squints
his eyes and looks over at me, too.

“Why do you say that?”

“Girl, everybody knows he’s got a thing for
you.”

“He does not.”

Brian snorts. “Whatever you say.”

When he closes his eyes and turns his face
back up toward the sun, I nibble my lip for a minute before asking.
“What makes you say that anyway?”

Brian’s lips curve into a smile. “I know him.
I’ve seen him around a lot of beautiful women and I know when he
wants one of them. And trust me, that man wants you.”

That’s not quite the answer I was hoping for.
“Well, he’d better get used to disappointment because he’s not
going to get me.”

“Mmmm hmmm,” Brian murmurs doubtfully. “By
the way, nice rack.”

I jerk my head back around to find Brian
grinning broadly. I punch his rock-hard arm. “You weren’t supposed
to look.”

“I had to make sure I didn’t need to rent a
bushwhacker while we were here.”

“You’re sick,” I half laugh-half sneer.

We both fall quiet and I find the combination
of easy companionship and warm sun a very effective muscle relaxer.
It’s not long before I feel like I might doze off. That’s when I
feel eyes on me. Like a little prickle along the nape of my neck. I
cross my arms protectively over my chest as I sit up and look
around. I don’t see anyone else. It appears we are as alone as
ever. But as I lie back on my towel, I wonder if there’s any way
Reese could have found us. Reflexively, my nipples furl into tight
buds, thoughts of his mouth on me bringing about a very physical
reaction.

That signified the end of any relaxation I
might’ve had.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE- Reese

Whether they know that
I
know is
debatable, but I’m aware of Brian’s relationship with Lee. I’d have
to be a complete fool not to notice. A man has a sixth sense about
these things.

I’ve never said anything because it hasn’t
become a problem. And I hope it won’t.

When I went to get Kennedy late this morning
and she wasn’t in her cabin, it didn’t take much asking around to
find out that she went ashore with Brian. Lee was more than happy
to tell me where Brian took her. I don’t know if Brian simply told
him or if they have special places they go together when neither is
working. Either way, I finally located her.

I heard talking and hushed laughter as I
walked the shaded trail that led through the dense vegetation. I
recognized the higher tones of Kennedy’s voice so I knew I was on
the right path. I expected to find her when I reached the end of
the forest, but nothing could’ve prepared me for the sight of her
lying naked on a white-sand beach, bathed in golden sunlight. Or
the jealousy that streaked through me when I saw a man at her
side.

The fact that Brian is gay makes no
difference to me. I don’t want any man enjoying Kennedy like this
unless that man is me.

As I watch them, fuming and debating how to
approach them, Kennedy grows still, her face going lax as though
she might be falling asleep. I let my eyes roam her perfect form.
High cheekbones turned up to the sun. Graceful arms tucked against
her sides. Lush, round breasts standing firm in the center of her
narrow chest. Flat stomach and gently flaring hips. Small triangle
of short hair between her slim thighs. I’ve never wanted anything
more than I want her right this minute. Not ever.

To touch her…to put my hands on her and my
fingers inside her…to taste that creamy skin…to feel her liquid
desire bathing my cock from deep inside…

I see her brow furrow before she moves her
head. As though she can sense my eyes on her, she crosses her arms
over her chest and sits up to look around. I can’t see her eyes
through the slits of her lids, but I imagine she’s scanning the
area for someone or something. When she seems satisfied that they
are still alone, she relaxes again, letting her arm fall back to
her side.

Saliva pours into my mouth when I think of
sucking on one of those pink little nipples. As I watch, they
pucker, making my cock jump inside my shorts.

I bite back a groan as I fight the urge to go
to her, to lick her hot skin and suck the moisture from between her
legs. But it wouldn’t happen that way today. Not the way things are
right now, and certainly not with Brian beside her.

Besides, I want her begging me for it. And
that will happen soon enough. Sooner than she thinks.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO- Kennedy

I’m pleasantly exhausted by the time Brian
and I get back to the boat. A nasty storm rolled in, but we were
due back to the boat anyway, so our day wasn’t cut short at
all.

I stretch out on my bed, not quite ready to
let go of the boneless feeling that I’ve had since I catnapped on
the beach, when someone flings open my door, bringing me to instant
alertness.

Even in the dim light from my single small,
high window, I can see how beautiful the woman standing in my
doorway is. Her long, wavy hair is the color of cinnamon and frames
the pale oval of her face. Her cupid’s-bow mouth is currently
forming a small O and I can plainly see her hourglass silhouette,
set against the light in the hall behind her.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Kennedy,” I answer, still recovering
from my shock of being barged in upon.

“What are you doing here?”

“This is my room.”

“Since when?”

“Since last week when we left Los
Angeles.”

“Oh, well there’s obviously been some kind of
mistake,” she says, finally smiling. “I’ll get it straightened out.
No big deal.”

“What kind of mistake?”

“This is my room. This is always my
room.”

“No one told me that. Karesh just said that
this is where Reese wanted me, so…”

I can see one fiery eyebrow arch.
“Reeeally?”

“Yes, but if this is your room then I’m sure
they can put me elsewhere.”

Just the thought of being stuck in one of
those tiny shared rooms with no window is enough to cast a very
dark shadow over what was a beautiful day. But it was never my
intention to usurp anyone’s place here. I was just doing as I was
told.

“I don’t mean to put you out, but this is the
only room with a bigger bed and…well… Reese likes to come and visit
me.”

I can see her suggestive wink. My stomach
turns accordingly.

“Oh. I see.”

“Yeah…”

“Well, in that case, let me call Karesh and
have him put me in another room. It won’t take me long to get my
things together.”

“Okay,” the girl says happily, rolling her
suitcase into the room behind her. “I’m Amber by the way.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Amber,” I say
perfunctorily, trying to inject at least a smidgeon of sincerity
into my voice, because I feel absolutely none. I cross the room in
the wake of her trail of expensive perfume and pick up the phone to
dial Karesh.

“What do you do onboard?” she asks as she
leans her case up against the closet.

“I dance,” I answer as I listen to the phone
ring.

Amber opens the closet and I hear her gasp.
“Are these yours?” she asks just as Karesh answers.

“Hi, Karesh. I’m sure you’re busy right now,
but is there any way you could find me another room? Evidently this
one belongs to Amber.”

“No, ma’am. Mr. Spencer wanted you there
specifically.”

I feel tears burn the backs of my eyes when I
consider the reasoning that Amber gave me for why Reese puts
her
in this room. This was all just a part of his plan to
sleep with me. That’s it. Nothing more. There was no consideration
for the fact that I might have some privacy or that I might have a
window or that this room might be more comfortable. There was no
special treatment because of what we shared so long ago. No, this
was simply a maneuver of convenience on his part.

Well, I’ll be damned if I’m going to be a
foregone conclusion for him!

“Karesh, I’m not trying to be difficult, but
if you don’t move me then I’ll have to find a place on my own.”

“I’ll speak with him again and let you know.
Until then, stay put.”

He hangs up before I can comment. I stare at
the phone for a few seconds before hanging it up and turning back
to Amber. She’s still standing in front of the open closet with a
slightly agitated look on her face.

“So you’re the one.”

“The one what?”

“You’re the one he’s going to favor next. He
did this once before, but it didn’t last long. I was back upstairs
with him within a week.”

I don’t know if Amber is
trying
to
twist the knife, but if she is, it’s certainly working.

“Well, you needn’t worry about me. I have no
intentions of being the next girl in his parade of conquests.” I
pause, feeling guilty over how that must’ve sounded. “No
offense.”

“None taken. Reese is the kind of guy that’s
worth it. If you don’t know that by now, you will. I’ll tell you up
front that I’m willing to fight for him, too.”

“You won’t have to. I have no interest in
Reese. None whatsoever.”

“Honey, that’s what I thought at first, too.
Most of us do. I graduated suma cum laude from Stanford and I come
from good stock. Boston stock. I’m no dummy. I could make a very
nice life for myself,
without
a man. Even as a dancer. But
when I met Reese…well, you know. He’s the kind of guy that changes
everything. I know he’ll settle down one of these days and I damn
sure want to be the one he settles down with.”

“I wish you well, then,” I tell her, fighting
the urge to puke down the front of her beautiful violet dress. I
walk past her, bending to take my suitcase from its little cubby at
the end of the bed. I start opening drawers and haphazardly tossing
clothes into my luggage. “I’ll clear out the closet once I find
another room.”

“No rush. I’ll come with you and we’ll try to
find an empty room. Maybe you won’t have to share with anyone.”

Amber gives me a warm smile and cleans out
the last drawer for me, neatly stacking my shirts in one corner of
my suitcase. I scoop my toiletries off the counter near the sink
and dump them inside and zip the case. Amber grabs the handle and
slides it into the floor. “Leave it here while we go look. You can
come back for it. I’m supposed to be upstairs for dinner in an
hour, but that’ll still leave me plenty of time. And then I have to
dance tonight.”

My heart sinks even further when I hear this
news. I haven’t been summoned upstairs, nor have I been told I’m
dancing. But then, considering her arrival, I’m not surprised. I
offer her a shaky smile of gratitude. She returns it, loops her arm
through mine like we are the best of friends and we set off to find
me a new home.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE- Reese

Every minute that passes with no sign of
Kennedy makes me angrier and angrier. I told Karesh to send her up
for dinner, yet she hasn’t shown. It’s getting harder and harder to
socialize with my guests and hide my increasing displeasure.

“Don’t you agree, Reese?” Amber asks from
across the table. I focus my attention on her, racking my brain for
some clue as to what the conversation was about. She winks one
blue-violet eye at me, her lips curving into a smile, but I don’t
appreciate it like I normally would. The only woman on my mind is
Kennedy.

“Excuse me,” I say, sliding back my chair and
laying my napkin aside as I rise from the table.

I’m half way across the room when I feel a
hand on my arm. I turn to find Amber has followed me.

“Not now, Amber,” I pre-empt her.

“Are you looking for Kennedy?” she asks.

I feel the frown pull at my brow. “You’ve met
her?”

“Yes, earlier.”

I don’t have to guess what that means. “What
did you say to her?” My irritation rises. I know how catty women
can be. I feel sure she put things in as unflattering a light as
possible and that she is to blame for Kennedy’s absence.