Pleasure Island (13 page)

Chapter Thirteen
Matt

Nikki sensed that Matt was following her, so she headed for her suite. She longed to be alone with him in private once more. The moment they closed the door, he kissed her firmly on the lips. Nikki sank into his arms. She felt as if she belonged there.

‘So, who’s this handsome devil that you like?’ he asked.

‘I don’t remember saying anything about handsome.’

‘You, Miss Foster, are an extremely cheeky young lady. And you know what happens to cheeky young ladies, don’t you?’

‘No. Do tell.’

Matt whispered into her ear. 

‘Is that a promise?’ She giggled.

‘If you want it to be,’ he said.

‘Why wouldn’t I?’

A look of doubt passed across his face. ‘Because I want you to be sure about what you’re turning down. I’ll never be able to offer you the kind of lifestyle the Earl can – you do realise that, don’t you?’

Nikki gasped in mock horror. ‘Really? Oh no! Then forget everything I said. I’ll go and tell him that I’ve changed my mind.’

Matt scowled. ‘I knew it was too good to be true.’

‘It always is,’ she said.

‘So that’s it, then – I’m stuck with you.’

‘Looks like it.’

‘What have I let myself in for?’ he wondered aloud.

‘C’mere and I’ll show you,’ she said.

The pair kissed passionately once more. Nikki could feel his hands working their way around her back, then undoing the tie on her bikini top. As the knot slackened, the garment fell loose around her shoulders and she shrugged it off. After nuzzling her breasts, Matt squatted on his haunches and kissed his way down her stomach, until his lips came to rest against her pussy. Only the thin fabric of her bikini bottoms remained in his way. Rather than pull the garment aside, he proceeded to kiss her through the material. Though it faintly tickled at first, Nikki soon got used to the sensation and longed for him to peel them off her too.

As if reading her thoughts, Matt pulled the front of them aside and licked her pussy in the most delicate, tender manner. To her disappointment, he broke off – but only to pick her up and carry her over to the bed. He laid her down, then resumed kissing her. Nikki arched her legs up a fraction. No sooner had she done so, than he reached beneath her and caressed the cheeks of her bottom, massaging them with his strong, firm fingers.

Pulling her down the bed towards him, he then kissed her where she most wanted to be kissed. She shivered excitedly as he licked and lapped at her labia. Delicately, he probed the folds of her flesh with his tongue. Nikki was in heaven. She had never known anyone pleasure her as expertly as Matt did.

‘You’re so good at that,’ she purred.

He broke off and smiled up at her. ‘Want to know what else I’m rather good at?’

She looked at him expectantly. Slowly and very deliberately, he peeled off his clothes until he too was naked. The moment his cock was released from his shorts, it sprang to attention. Matt gazed deep into her eyes.

‘You mean …’ Nikki said.

He nodded. ‘If you’d still like me to.’

‘I’d love you to.’

To encourage him further she reached down and stroked his penis. Then, taking a firm hold of it, she guided it towards her pussy … at which point Roxanna flung the door open and marched into the room.

Though she had slowly been losing her inhibitions throughout the course of the past 24 hours, Nikki grabbed her nightgown and pulled it on. She could tell that the princess wasn’t happy about something, and if there was going to be a confrontation, she didn’t want to be undressed. Ignoring her guest, Roxanna vented her anger on her servant.

‘What in God’s name do you think you’re playing at, Matt Darnley?’

‘Well, I was about to make love to this beautiful young lady,’ he said.

Roxanna snorted. ‘Don’t you think you’ve rather been neglecting your duties of late?’

‘I suppose I have, but there’s a very good reason for that,’ he replied.

‘Which is?’

‘I’m resigning,’ he stated, flatly.

Roxanna weighed up his answer before replying. ‘Are you, now?’

‘You can’t stop me,’ he pointed out.

‘I know I can’t. But would you at least grant me the courtesy of talking things through with you?’

‘Very well,’ he agreed.

‘In that case,’ Roxanna said, ‘if you’re still in my employ, would you mind going and getting things prepared for this evening’s entertainment?’

Matt glanced at Nikki. She shrugged. After all, the magic of the moment had been lost.

Matt eased his uniform back on then turned to Roxanna and said, ‘You’re not going to change my mind, boss.’

As if to emphasise the point, he kissed Nikki before taking his leave of the two women.

As soon as he’d shut the door behind him, the princess rounded on her guest. ‘I think you owe me an apology.’

Nikki was shocked at her tone. ‘What for?’

‘For offending the Earl. And trying to steal one of my staff,’ Roxanna said.

‘You mean Matt?’

‘Don’t try and come the innocent with me. Do you honestly think I’m just going to let him walk away without a fight?’

‘He’s already made his choice,’ Nikki said.

‘We’ll see about that,’ Roxanna retorted.

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

‘It means who the hell do you think you are, Nikki Foster? I didn’t have to invite you here this weekend, but I did so out of the kindness of my heart – and this is how you repay me?’

‘Don’t give me that magnanimous rubbish,’ Nikki countered. ‘I know very well why you invited me.’

‘Pray tell?’

‘Because you fancy me,’ Nikki said.

‘Ha! What, you think you’re some kind of irresistible goddess now, just because you have Matt and the Earl fawning at your feet?’

‘I’m not going to dignify that with an answer.’

‘Are you really stupid enough to think that Matt hasn’t pulled this stunt before?’ Roxanna sneered.

The comment stopped Nikki dead in her tracks. She turned, slowly. ‘What are you talking about?’

‘Let me guess. He used the old “I’ve never slept with anyone since I started working here” line. “I’m the only member of staff who hasn’t given in to his desires. I’ve been biding my time, waiting for the right girl to come along.” And you think that girl is you?’

Nikki’s heart skipped a beat. ‘You’re lying.’

Roxanna tutted. ‘Why would I?’

‘I’ll ask him,’ Nikki said.

‘Go ahead.’

‘I will.’

‘You’ll have to wait until tonight,’ the princess said. ‘He’s got work to do at the moment.’

‘Doing what?’

‘Preparing the auction,’ Roxanna said.

‘What auction?’

‘Haven’t I told you? Silly me. How forgetful.’ The princess smacked the heel of her right hand against her forehead. ‘Every Saturday night we have an auction down in the barn where all of my guests bid for their favourite member of staff. If you care that much about lover boy, why not bid for him? If you win, I’ll release him from his contract.’

‘I thought you said your staff could leave at any time?’ Nikki reminded her host.

‘True, but don’t you think it’ll be more fun this way? A test of your affection. See how much you really value him.’

‘I can’t afford to compete with your rich, hoity-toity guests,’ Nikki pointed out.

‘Very well, we’ll set a ceiling limit. What can you afford?’

Nikki knew that she didn’t have a spare penny to her name, yet pride prevented her from admitting this. ‘Five hundred pounds.’

‘Then that’s the limit we’ll set,’ Roxanna said.

‘And if anyone should bid the same as me?’

‘House rules decide who wins.’

‘Who decrees those?’ Nikki asked.

‘Me.’

‘No way.’

‘Very well,’ Roxanna said, ‘I promise you here and now that if there’s more than one maximum bid, I’ll rule in your favour. Deal?’

Nikki knew that it was a dangerous game to play; however, she was blinded by anger and pride. ‘Deal.’

‘Until this evening, then.’

Too angry to reply, Nikki nodded curtly at Roxanna. The princess smiled coldly in response and took leave of her guest.

Once Roxanna had left the room, Nikki tried to calm down. Her instincts told her the princess was lying, but what if she was wrong? Her thinking had become so skewed over the past 24 hours she couldn’t see straight any more. She went across to the phone, rang down, and summoned Matt. Roxanna had sown the seed of doubt and Nikki wanted to quash it before it properly took root. She knew she needed to ask Matt directly. It was the only way to put her mind at rest.

Nikki waited for him on the balcony. Why would he lie to her? He had no reason to do so. She’d seen for herself the way he’d behaved that weekend. But – but … what if it
was
all just an act? Hearing a knock at the door, she ran to open it. But, to her disappointment, she found Greg standing there.

‘I asked for Matt,’ she said.

‘I’m sorry, Roxanna has him busy preparing the barn for the evening’s main event,’ Greg replied.

‘Oh.’

‘Is there anything I can do to help?’

‘I was hoping to have a word with him; that was all. It’s kind of a private matter,’ she said

‘I see.’

Nikki chewed her lip.

‘If that’s all, miss,’ Greg said. ‘I’d better be getting back downstairs myself.’

Nikki said nothing. Greg took it as his cue to leave.

‘Wait,’ she suddenly blurted out.

He paused. She beckoned him over to her and asked, ‘How long have you known Matt?’

‘Ever since I started working here, a couple of years back.’

‘What’s he like?’ she pressed.

‘He’s a top bloke,’ Greg said.

‘Trustworthy?’

‘You’d have to ask him that.’

‘Why?’

‘Because Matt’s a friend of mine,’ Greg pointed out, ‘and I don’t feel overly comfortable with your line of questioning.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Nikki said. ‘It’s just that he told me something when I arrived and I want to believe him, but …’

‘But what?’

‘Has he … I mean does he …’ She trailed off once again.

Greg finished the question for her. ‘Sleep with the guests? What do you think?’

‘I don’t know; that’s why I’m asking.’

‘I don’t think that’s any of my business. And I’m not sure it’s any of yours.’

‘But he told me that he likes me, that he wants to be with me,’ Nikki said.

‘Congratulations.’

‘Pardon?’

‘I’m really happy for you,’ Greg said. ‘You seem like a nice girl and he’s definitely a nice guy.’

‘But I want to know that he’s …’

‘What? An Angel? Perfect? Pure as the driven?’

‘No! Just that he hasn’t slept with every Tom, Nik and Sally who has ever visited here,’ she said.

‘Virgin yourself, are you?’ Greg retorted.

‘Don’t be silly,’ she said.

‘Well, then.’

‘There’s a difference.’

‘Really?’

‘Of course there is. I’m not some cheap tart who …’ The instant the words escaped her lips, Nikki regretted saying them.

‘So that’s what you think of us, is it?’ Greg eyed her coldly. ‘Maybe I was wrong about you.’

‘Please don’t tell him I said that,’ she begged. ‘I didn’t mean it.’

‘I’ll think about it,’ he replied, brusquely. ‘Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got work to do.’ And with that, he left. 

Nikki felt like rushing after him to try to explain what she had really meant, but refrained from doing so for fear of making even more of a mess of things. She had to try and see Matt and ask him directly; it was the only way to put her mind at rest. She changed back into her bikini and was just about to make her way downstairs when she heard someone approaching along the corridor. Perhaps it was Matt coming to check she was OK after her encounter with the princess. She heard laughter and whispers, so she eased her door open and tried to determine who it was. It sounded like a woman’s voice but whose she couldn’t be sure. She then heard giggling and someone whispering “Promises, promises”. It sounded very much like Celine.

Next, she heard a door opening just along the corridor. She waited a few seconds and then peered out. The landing was empty; however, the door to the room diagonally opposite hers was slightly ajar. She crept along the corridor towards it and heard muffled laughter from inside, someone banging into a heavy object, then a stifled shriek, followed by the sound of something breaking. Then a woman’s voice – definitely Celine’s, she decided – said, ‘You don’t know your own strength!’

Nikki couldn’t quite identify the voice that replied. Was it Matt’s? It was certainly a man’s. She edged closer to the door. Scared of what she might see, she hesitated before looking through the tiny gap. As she summoned her courage, she heard a deep sigh. It was no good; she simply had to know, so she peered into the room. Given her poor vantage point, she could only see Celine, who was stark naked, sitting on a chest of drawers, her fiery red hair spilling down across her shoulders and onto her chest. Her breasts peeked through her curly locks. The remains of a lamp lay on the floor – that must have been the smash that Nikki had heard. Celine’s legs were wide apart and someone had their head between her thighs, but the back of the sofa obscured Nikki’s view of the person.

Lost in the throes of pleasure, Celine was oblivious to what was going on around her. Nikki wondered if she dared open the door any further to try to find out the identity of the girl’s lover – but when she plucked up the courage to do so, it creaked rather loudly. Startled, Celine looked up. Nikki jerked her head away from the small gap and flattened herself against the corridor wall. Her heart thumped in her chest. Only when it began to calm down did Nikki dare to peer in through the crack once more. Celine either wasn’t bothered or was simply past caring, for she was still sitting on the dresser with her lover’s head nestling between her thighs. Now Nikki had a slightly clearer view. The only trouble was, Celine had reached down to run her hands through her lover’s hair, so it was still difficult for Nikki to ascertain his identity.

The man broke off from his attentions and stood up – and Nikki breathed a huge sigh of relief. It wasn’t Matt after all, it was the Earl. He was completely naked. He grabbed Celine’s thighs and positioned his impressive cock at the entrance to her pussy. Leaning forward, he eased it into her. Although Celine was clearly wet from their foreplay, she flinched slightly as the last couple of inches slid into her. The Earl paused to allow her to get used to his length. She wiggled her hips around, delighting in the feel of his gorgeous prick inside her. The Earl withdrew his shaft until his bell-end rested against the outer folds of her labia, then, flexing his bottom forward and back, he teased Celine’s clit with the tip of his enormous cock. She clearly loved the sensation, for she bounced up and down excitedly and tried her best to swallow the whole length of it with her pussy, but he continued to withhold it. As she grew more and more aroused, the Earl tried his best to gauge her level of excitement. He did so to perfection for, as Celine’s breath shortened, he buried all ten inches deep inside her. She raked her fingernails down his back as she came, causing them both to cry out.