Pleasure Island (14 page)

The Earl then picked her up, spun her around, and carried her across to the bed. He flung her down upon it, took hold of her legs, and lifted them up almost vertically until she was able to rest her ankles against his shoulders. He then lowered his cock towards her pussy. Once again, he slid into her gently. Celine took his length much more easily on this occasion. Feeling that she was a lot more comfortable now, the Earl rocked his buttocks back and forth and quickly worked up a steady rhythm. She brought her fingernails into play again and clawed them down his flanks. He let out a strangled cry.

‘Harder,’ he commanded.

Celine was happy to obey; digging so deep Nikki was able to see the red weals appear on his skin. His response was to plunge in and out of her faster and faster until she came a second time. As she gasped in delight, the Earl let out a low moan as he climaxed too.

‘Enjoying the view?’

Nikki spun around to find Matt standing just behind her. Trembling with nerves, she backed away along the corridor.

‘Is everything all right?’ Matt asked.

Nikki pointed at the bedroom in which the Earl had just fucked Celine. ‘Tell me you’re not like that?’

‘I’m not the Earl, Nikki, and I never will be.’

Guiltily, she looked at him. She felt horrible for ever having doubted him.

Matt felt it was time to lighten the mood with a quip. ‘Mind, I wish I had his money.’

‘Me too,’ Nikki said, smiling sheepishly. ‘Forgiven?’

‘There’s nothing to forgive.’

‘What now?’

Matt scratched his chin thoughtfully. ‘I think this is the bit where we kiss and make up.’

Nikki grinned. ‘Sounds good to me.’

He took her in his arms and they kissed. As they did so, the door to the room behind them opened and the Earl stepped out. He looked rather nonplussed. ‘So, I declare my intentions to you and this is your response?’

Matt and Nikki parted and she eyed the Earl coolly. ‘I heard your intentions a few minutes ago. They sounded most sincere.’

The Earl’s cheeks coloured. ‘I was upset after your reply,’ he stammered. ‘Confused … yes, that’s it.’

‘You didn’t sound confused; you sounded more excited than that,’ Nikki replied.

As the Earl floundered around for an answer, Celine chose the worst possible moment to leave the room.

‘Oh, hi!’ she said to Nikki and Matt, before draping her arms around the Earl’s shoulders and kissing him on the cheek. ‘Did we have an audience?’

‘I didn’t mean to listen,’ Nikki said. ‘It was just that your door was open and I couldn’t help but overhear.’

‘I hope you enjoyed the show,’ Celine simpered.

‘It was certainly enlightening,’ Nikki said, as the Earl tried his best to shrug the redhead off his shoulder.

‘You’re leaving tomorrow, aren’t you?’ Celine asked her.

‘Yes.’

Celine stroked the Earl’s chest. ‘You really must try him before you go – he’s quite the ride.’

‘I’ll take your word for that.’ Then, taking Matt by the arm, she couldn’t resist adding, ‘Bit of Savlon and they’ll clear up in no time.’

‘What?’ the Earl choked, through clenched teeth.

‘Those scratches. Wouldn’t leave them too long, though; some of them look quite deep.’

The Earl seethed as Nikki and Matt wandered off.

Turning his attention to Celine, he asked, ‘Is Roxanna having her usual Saturday night auction?’

‘I think so,’ she replied. ‘Why?’

‘No reason.’

Though Celine didn’t know it, the Earl was lying, for he had begun to plot how he would get his own back on Nikki and Matt that night.

Chapter Fourteen
Blackmail

Nikki accompanied Matt to the barn, which was located at the side of the palace. She wanted to watch as he prepared the evening’s entertainment.

‘Are you sure? There really isn’t going to be much to see other than me working,’ he said.

‘Sounds ideal,’ she replied, kissing him on the cheek.

Upon entering the building, she was quite surprised to find that no animals were housed there. Matt explained that there was a separate stable block at the back of the palace for the horses. She sat down on one of the bales of straw and watched her man set to work. The barn was, essentially, just a large, open-plan space with bales of hay scattered around and a hayrick in one corner – but as she looked on, he transformed it into an arena for the auction. Firstly, he fetched several portable iron fences and used them to circle off a space roughly 20 feet in diameter in the very centre of the floor. He then disappeared for such a long time that Nikki began to wonder where on earth he had got to. Eventually, she heard the low hum of an engine and, the next moment, Matt re-entered the barn driving a forklift truck, on the prongs of which rested an elaborate throne. As he brought the vehicle to a halt, Nikki couldn’t help but laugh.

‘What in heaven’s name is that?’ she asked.

‘It’s what Her Highness sits on to preside over the proceedings.’

‘She really does like to play the part, doesn’t she?’

‘To the hilt.’

‘No more “princess” for you after tonight, though,’ she reminded him.

‘I wouldn’t say that.’ He gave her an admiring look.

Nikki blushed at the compliment, but deep down was so touched by it she permitted him to steal a kiss.

Getting back to the task in hand, Matt positioned a series of hay bales around the outer rim of the fencing. When he was satisfied that there were enough to provide adequate seating for all of the guests, he stood back to admire his work, taking pleasure in a job well done. Nikki’s eyes wandered over to the hayrick in the corner. Matt read her intentions.

‘I’d love to,’ he said, ‘but I can’t. I’m pushed for time as it is and I did make the princess a promise.’

‘So? Break it.’

Matt looked extremely tempted, but declined. ‘And what would you think of me then, Miss Foster? I thought you’d like a man who keeps his promises.’

She pretended to be upset with him, but she wasn’t really. ‘You’re right.’

He brushed a hand through her hair. ‘Just think – in 24 hours’ time, we’ll be able to roll in all the hay we want, to our hearts’ content.’

The thought prompted her to beg another kiss from her prince. After obliging, he glanced at his watch and cursed, knowing that he was going to be pushed for time. ‘Right, I’ve got to go and help the boys in the kitchens.’

‘Can I watch?’

‘What? And spoil the surprise as to what canapés we’ll serve up?’

‘Not welcome in the kitchen, then, am I? That bodes well, Mr Darnley.’

‘Are you sure you’ll manage without me for a couple of hours?’ he joked.

She wrinkled her nose. ‘I’ll survive somehow.’

As he made his way off to the kitchen, Nikki pondered what to do to kill time. She’d tired of the company of the other guests and no longer wished to be embroiled in their silly sex games, so she decided to go for a walk along the beach and hoped she wouldn’t bump into anyone there.

Although the sun was past its zenith, the heat was still quite intense. Then she spotted a scuba mask lying on a towel – doubtless left by a guest for one of the servants to retrieve – and decided to take a cooling dip in the sparkling, crystal-blue water. She swam directly out from the beach for about 50 metres, until she found herself above a coral reef. She marvelled at the scene. Scores of fish calmly glided around in the underwater tropical paradise. Their colours were nothing like she had ever seen before and the sheer variety and number of different species took her breath away.

It wasn’t just the fish that Nikki found remarkable: other equally impressive creatures lived upon the reef. Crabs of every shape and size scurried hither and thither among the coral. Seahorses bobbed around in a regal fashion, as if they were kings of the reef and all that they surveyed. A shoal of tiny jellyfish drifted past serenely, lobsters lurked among the shadows, and shrimps bustled about their business, always in a hurry for some reason.

The anemones were no less spectacular. They were like beautiful underwater flowers that had just come into full bloom, rippling delicately in the water. Eager to see them in more detail, she took a few deep gulps of air and then dived down, holding her breath for as long as she could.

None of the animals seemed to mind her presence and, for a fleeting moment, she felt at one with the reef, as if she belonged there. It was a lovely feeling. As her breath began to run out, a shadow fell across her. Many of the fish that had happily been swimming around beneath her only seconds beforehand suddenly darted for cover, as did a lot of the reef’s other inhabitants. On looking up, Nikki found that a huge ray had cast the shadow. Flapping its fins majestically, it cut through the water with little effort, seemingly unaware of the effect that it was having upon the rest of the wildlife.

Although she was fairly certain that the ray was no danger to humans, Nikki nevertheless found its presence disconcerting and shot back up to the surface. Whether it was due to the ripples that she was creating she could not be sure, but, for some reason, the ray took an interest in her and circled around her a couple of times to investigate. She didn’t panic and remained perfectly still until the creature’s curiosity was satisfied.

When it finally drifted away, she swam back to the shoreline. Then she took one last look out upon the magical tropical ocean as she wrung the excess water out of her hair. The sun was beginning to set, yet it was still strong enough to dry her skin as she made her way back towards the palace.

While Nikki was walking along the beach, all of the other guests were preparing themselves for the auction, as was the host of the evening’s entertainment, Roxanna. The princess was in the process of deciding what to wear when there was a knock at her door. Though she was naked, she invited whoever it was to enter, thinking it must be a member of her staff. But it was the Earl who stepped into the room.

He closed the door behind him and admired the view. Feeling strangely uncomfortable in his presence, Roxanna grabbed a towel and wrapped it around herself.

The Earl tutted disappointedly. ‘How times have changed.’

‘It’s not times that change, Ashley, it’s people that change.’

He considered her comment before responding. ‘That’s very philosophical for a Saturday evening.’

‘I like deep, remember?’

‘Oh yes, I remember.’ Like a moth to a flame, the Earl found himself drawn towards her. Almost of its own accord, his hand reached out towards the knot on the towel.

Roxanna shook her head. ‘I don’t think so.’

He pretended to sulk. ‘You never used to be so coy.’

‘And you never used to be such a bastard,’ she retorted.

‘Touchy.’

‘What’s got into you these days?’

‘Unrequited love,’ the Earl confessed. ‘It’s a terrible thing.’

‘Don’t give me that,’ she snapped.

‘It’s true,’ he said. ‘I swear.’

‘Nikki?’

The Earl nodded.

‘Why don’t you leave the poor girl alone,’ Roxanna urged him.

‘I can’t,’ he replied.

‘You mean you won’t.’

The Earl’s eyes sparkled fiercely. ‘I have to have her.’

‘I won’t let you do it,’ the princess warned him.

‘What?’

‘Ruin her.’

‘I don’t see that you have a choice,’ he drawled.

‘My island, my rules,’ she stated, bluntly.

The Earl nodded. ‘True.’ He stood up as if to leave. ‘Except, you don’t always adhere to them yourself, do you?’

Roxanna sensed a trap. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Matt Darnley,’ the Earl said. ‘He never has to abide by your rules, from what I can see.’

‘Get out,’ she snapped.

The Earl bowed sarcastically and headed for the door, only to halt before reaching it. ‘Ah, I nearly forgot. There was something else I’ve been meaning to chat to you about. May I use your telephone?’

She stared at him blankly. ‘May I ask why?’

‘I just want to call my office and check the latest share price for Regal Lingerie. That is, if you still needed me to make that investment.’

Roxanna eyed him coldly. ‘That’s got nothing to do with what’s going on here.’

The Earl rounded on her. ‘On the contrary, it’s got everything to do with what’s going on here.’

‘I see. So if you don’t have Nikki, you won’t invest in my stores – is that what you’re saying?’

‘Now you’re talking hypothetically, because that’s not going to happen, is it?’ he said.

Roxanna bridled at his threat. ‘Nikki Foster is her own girl; she’ll make her own decisions, and I am not going to sell her out just to satisfy you.’

‘You always did stick up for the underdog, didn’t you? I’d forgotten that.’

‘She deserves better,’ Roxanna said.

‘Looks like she’s found it in Matt,’ he replied.

The colour flared in Roxanna’s cheeks.

The Earl picked up on this. ‘Ah, so I’m not the only one who has feelings for the wrong person.’

‘I don’t know what you mean,’ she replied, her voice quivering. It was clear that she was flustered, though.

‘Of course you don’t,’ he responded sarcastically. ‘Nikki and Matt. A match made in heaven. Such a happy couple, and she’s going to win him at the auction tonight. Unless –’ he paused ‘– someone else was to outbid her. Who knows, it might even make Matt change his mind? He might even stay on here.’

Roxanna’s mind raced.

The Earl allowed his remark to sink in before continuing. ‘Was it a third of your stock you needed me to invest in to prevent you from having to close half of your stores? Just think, all of those staff who would be made redundant. Such a shame …’

‘You really are a bastard,’ the princess said. She went to slap him, only he caught her hand and stopped the blow.

‘You used to like me being a bastard,’ he countered.

‘I grew up.’

‘Then grow up now.’

‘To think,’ she said, ‘it was you who once told me that business and pleasure should never mix.’

‘I lied,’ he said.

‘Do you ever tell the truth?’

‘Not if I can help it.’

Roxanna pursed her lips. ‘I’ve put a ceiling limit on the auction. Five hundred pounds.’

He couldn’t be sure if the comment was a threat or a warning. ‘Then use your princessly prerogative and overrule it.’

‘Just to make you happy,’ she said, sneering.

‘No,’ he snapped. ‘To make us both happy.’

Roxanna couldn’t bring herself to reply. The Earl thought about trying to kiss her to seal the deal; however, the look on her face made him change his mind and so he left her room, happy with his evening’s work so far.