Dangerous Surrender (2 page)

“Perfect for the roll of your fake wife,” I said and balled my hands into fists at my side.
I could be a fake wife but not a real one.

“You already said you didn’t want to marry me for real, Mattie.”

A knot tightened in my stomach, and the intensity of his presence threatened to drown me. He smelled like clean laundry and rain, a scent that enticed my body since I was old enough to realize I liked boys. And I was stuck on a plane with him for a good twenty hours.

“Well, is that a yes, love?”

Frowning, I turned to Jack. “Fine. I’ll pretend to be your wife for your business. What do you do anyway?” Cheryl didn’t even seem to know her own brother’s career well, beyond that he traveled frequently.

“I’m a liaison for several companies around Asia. Just a simple contract job, really.”

That didn’t explain anything, but I had no desire to press the subject. It got in the way of me feeling sorry for myself. “Okay. Just let me know what we’re supposed to do.”

Jack’s lips split into that killer smile, and I swallowed the lump in my throat.

“I think I need another glass of champagne,” I muttered.

“Sure thing, love,” he said and rubbed my knee with his powerful hand.

Three glasses of champagne later, my head was delightfully fuzzy but my bladder was uncomfortably full. Thank god we had an evening flight. Almost everyone aboard was already asleep as I stumbled to the bathroom at the back of the plane.

After washing up, I opened the door to leave.

Jack stood grinning at me, his blue eyes hooded in the low light. He blocked my exit with his arms.

“Hello love,” he whispered and leaned his strong body against my own.

Feverish heat welled over my flesh, my panties flooding at his proximity. “Jack! What are you doing?”

“We’re married, remember? And I want to touch my wife.”

“But --”

He cut me off with a tender kiss. His lips melted into mine, my soft skin sizzling against his rough cheek. Urging his tongue into my mouth, I fought to regain my composure. But how was I supposed to do that when the guy of my dreams kissed me like that?

I blamed the alcohol and gripped onto his arms. The muscles flexed, strong and hard, under my small hands. His wandering touch caressed my back and butt, each stroke of his calloused palms urging me to forget where I was and why.

Pulling back from the kiss, Jack suckled on my bottom lip, nipping the plump flesh between his teeth with tender bites.

I tried to swallow the moan in my throat, but it came out as a strangled breath instead. My breasts heaved, pressed flush with his pectorals as our hearts slammed against each other like a band’s rhythm section.

“This is,” I started, but his mouth engulfed my neck. Any words I meant to say got lost in the haze of desire rushing over my body.

The scruffy edge of his jaw tickled my over sensitive skin, and I gripped onto his powerful back. The bones and muscles shifted under my fingers as he pushed me farther into the bathroom and shut the door behind us.

Shit! I thought he was kidding about joining the mile high club!

“Oh, Mattie,” he groaned as his lips traveled farther down my chest. His fingers picked out the buttons of my dress, revealing my full breasts and the lacy bra that held them in place. “You taste better than dessert, love.”

Good thing Cheryl only let me take pretty underwear. Otherwise I’d be wearing an ugly support bra!

His mouth branded my flesh with rich kisses, suckling over my heaving mounds before he yanked down my bra’s cups. My pink nipples stood hard and ready as he flicked his tongue over them.

Shocks of lust shot straight to my sex at the wet touch, and I bit my bottom lip to keep from gasping. Even in my alcohol-addled state, I wondered why he did it. What was in it for him?

Then his mouth wrapped around my eager nipple completely. Each pull and rub shook me to the core, and I leaned against the sink and ran my fingers through his thick brownish blond hair.

As one of his hands crawled up my thigh, I tried to lean forward and stop him. I shouldn’t give in to him so easily. But what else could I do? Jack was both taller and stronger than I was. And, I’d liked him for far too long to let this moment slip away.

His fingers scorched the needy flesh of my thighs. Closer and closer they crawled to my weeping sex. No. If he touched my pussy I’d be done for. He’d know how much he turned me on. How much I liked him, and how pathetic the whole situation was.

“Jack, please,” I whispered, although my voice sounded more like a plea to continue than one to stop. Dammit!

Thick digits stroked my covered mound and shivers traveled up my spine and down my legs. Good thing I already leaned against the sink. Otherwise, I’d have pooled on the floor with the rest of my resolve.

“Mm. So wet, Mattie. Wish I could have a taste,” he groaned and slipped the lace aside.

“Ah,” I gasped as his finger slid over my swollen lips and clit. The calloused tip of his thick digit rubbed my eager flesh softly. Each gentle circular stoke lifted me to a new elevation of pleasure.

“Wait, please,” I begged, but my body betrayed my brain.

I opened my legs wider, allowing him deeper access as his mouth explored my chest.

Then a slick finger eased into my aching pussy. The walls of my sex squeezed him tight as he urged it in and out, his palm still rubbing the sensitive nub of my clit. Each stroke and thrust thrilled my over stimulated body.

Part of my brain couldn’t believe this was happening while the other part panicked with what it meant.

Lips traveled up my collarbone and over my neck once again. Each kiss as sweet and delicate as the wings of a butterfly. When his mouth met mine, fireworks exploded in my cunt. I raised my hips into his fingers and moaned around his succulent tongue.

My whole being trembled at the intensity of the orgasm, and I held onto his shoulders to keep myself from falling to the bathroom floor. My pussy gripped his fingers with hungry urgency, and he slipped them out and slid my panties back into place.

“You all right, love?” he whispered in my ear.

“Yes. Fine. You shouldn’t have done that, Jack,” I panted as the satisfaction melted away into fear.
He felt every bulge and curve I fought so hard to hide from him all these years!

Without a word, he ushered me back to our seats, although I swore he frowned.

Once we sat, he wrapped a strong arm around my shoulders and pulled me into him. “Get some sleep, Mattie,” he said softly and kissed the top of my mussed head.

I wanted to argue and pull away, but exhaustion claimed my body before I got the chance. Taking a deep breath of his manly smell, I shut my eyes.

That was just a fluke. It’ll never happen again. Jack’s just being nice
, I told myself as tears prickled at the corners of my eyes.
He probably had too much to drink, just like me.

We couldn’t get to Bangkok fast enough.

3

The city spread before us. The scent of car fumes and delectable cooking filled the air – rich coconut curry and cooked rice. The heat clung to my skin, and I was grateful I wore a dress on the plane even in the dead of winter. Since Thailand was in the subtropics it was pretty much hot all year round.

Jack clung to me with his free hand and carried my heaviest suitcase with the other. I’d offered to carry it myself, but he wouldn’t have it.

Funny, I forgot he could be a gentleman when he wanted to.

“The hotel is here,” I said and showed him the address on my smart phone.

“Come on, love. You don’t want to stay there. I’ve got a better idea,” he said and hailed a three-wheeled open-air vehicle. I’d read about them, but I couldn’t recall the name.

“I know where I want to stay. Look, it’s on the itinerary. We’re staying at the Four Seasons. We have reservations!” I cried and yanked my hand free of his grip. “And why can’t we take a normal cab? That thing doesn’t look safe.”

He said something to the driver in Thai and turned to me. “Nothing in life is safe, Mattie, especially in a developing country. This is a tuk-tuk. Cabs don’t even have seatbelts over here. Now, if you want a whitewashed version of Bangkok, you can stay at the Four Seasons. I’ve got a place I think you’ll like better – somewhere real and raw and amazing. You can’t say no to that.”

I pouted and stopped just short of stomping my foot like a five year old. Months of planning and Jack wanted to throw away my honeymoon itinerary just like that? Sure, Steven threw them away first, but this was the last straw!

“I want to stay at the Four Seasons. We have reservations – hey! That’s my luggage!”

Jack ignored me as he loaded my suitcases and his backpack into the tuk-tuk before pulling me in with him.

I pushed against his chest, my hand meeting a wall of sheer muscle, and I glared at him. “I have plans.”

His thick arm encompassed my body, his fingers digging into my fleshy sides and holding me still in his tight grip. “Plans change, love. That’s life. You had a real lesson in that recently, so this should be a breeze. Now, come on and trust me,” he whispered in my ear.

His hot lips tickled my skin, reminding me of the night before, and I did my best to suck in my stomach so he didn’t have to feel the bulge. Although I’m not sure what I wanted to accomplish. Turn my size sixteen frame into a size six by the power of suction? I don’t think so.

My whole body trembled as I stared at the traffic rushing past us. People balanced on mopeds sped by. Shops and little carts of food crowded each street. Palm trees lined the sidewalks and vines covered in flowers crawled over walls. The farther we got from the city center, the fewer foreigners I saw.

Lush greenery and ancient temples met us at every turn. Stray animals, from dogs to chickens, roamed alongside the people. Just looking at them, my mind shifted from my own petty troubles to the beauty of the city.

“It’s lovely, isn’t it?” Jack asked suddenly.

His arms still held me close, and I shifted in his grasp. “I’m not going to jump out of a moving vehicle. You can let go of my now.”

“Who says I want to let go of my new wife?” he breathed into my ear.

Goose bumps rose up and down my spine despite the stifling heat. The lust rushed to my panties, soaking them through. How could he do that to my body with just the slightest word? Steven never had that effect on me, not once.

“I’m not your pretend wife yet,” I said and wiggled, trying to free myself from his grip and my budding arousal.

His chest pressed into my back – the pounding of his heart like the rhythm of a drum.

“Too hot for you, Mattie?” he asked and ran his strong hands down my hips.

“Jack!” I squeaked and slapped at his wandering fingers. We were not having a repeat of last night in the back of a tuk-tuk!

“Problem, love?”

Shifting in my seat, I felt the hardened stab of his cock pressed into my ass. I moved next to him as quickly as I could and gripped onto the side of the vehicle.

“I’m quite alright,” I said and glanced at his lap.

Sure enough, the telltale bulge pressed against the tight crotch of his jeans. Had he gotten hard last night? It looked painful, and my traitorous body wanted to free the damn thing. No! I had a broken heart. And I didn’t want Jack to be my rebound guy. I was just bound to get hurt all over again.

Suddenly, the tuk-tuk came to a stop right next to the canal. The slow flowing water, a muddy brown, lapped at the cement. Jack climbed out and handed the driver a few
baht
before grabbing my bags.

“What are we doing?” I asked as he helped me step down.

“Got to take the boat the rest of the way,” he said and pointed.

 A long, narrow boat was tethered to the side of the canal. It almost looked like a canoe, but flatter and slightly wider. Jack loaded our luggage into it and offered me his hand. Glancing back at the departing tuk-tuk, I frowned.

“Why are we taking a boat?” I asked and carefully stepped inside.

Under my weight, the boat shifted and I slipped – falling forward into his arms. Jack’s hands grasped my waist, fingers holding me steady as I stared up into his face.

“I’ve got you,” he said, rubbing my sides with the flat of his palms.

His hands burned through the thin material of my dress and set my skin alight. As I leaned into him, the strong muscles of his chest and stomach firmed. Even jet-lagged, my body responded to the contact, a knot tightening in my belly as I leaned into his powerful arms.

“I can sit down now,” I mumbled and lowered my eyes from his.
Why did I have to blush like a damn schoolgirl around him?

His fingers eased their hold, and I stepped back and took a seat on the little wooden bench. He did the same, picking up a pair of long oars in the process.

“You know how to row one of these?” I asked and smoothed my dress over my thighs.

“Course, love. Had to learn when I got the house on the river,” he said with a wink.

His muscles shifted and bulged with each powerful stroke. For a moment, I stared at him – then my jet-lagged brain caught what he’d said.

“Wait,
your
house? You own a house here?”

Jack raised an eyebrow. “Cheryl didn’t say? I thought she’d have told you. Where else did you think we’d stay?”

I frowned. “Why didn’t you say it was
your
house?”

“Surprise,” he said with a flash of a smile.

Despite my nerves, I smiled back.

The farther we went down the canal, my smile faded. Needless to say, the homes were much different from what I was used to in Manhattan. Not a single pre-war walk up or high rise in sight!

 Instead, they ranged from wooden shacks to huge mansions, all lined up next to each other. Some hung over the water so dangerously I feared they might break off and fall in while others were set back in lush tropical foliage. Hopefully, Jack’s place wasn’t like the former.

He turned off the main canal into a little side stream. Palm trees leaned over the water, heavy with loads of bananas and flowering bushes crowded the edges.