Chapter Six

Heidi’s jaw just about dropped when they walked out onto the aft deck pool area where their liaison had told them most of the sensual volunteers spent their time. The other side of the boat was for relaxing and fun water activities … this area was designated for enjoyment of a different kind, and her stomach fluttered in anticipation as her eyes tried to take it all in.

“Holy shit,” she whispered to Julie as they made their way to the long bar. “This looks like some kind of kinky Arabian Nights fantasy.”

Overhead, the deck was decorated in gauzy, flowing white panels that moved in the wind. In the background, low and sexy music played without being distracting, while the soft scent of coconut oil and sweet pineapple tickled her nose.

“Drinks first, I think.” Julie grabbed her hand and pulled her up to sit at the polished wood countertop.

“Good afternoon, ladies,” an extremely handsome bartender smiled at them as he leaned in close. “Welcome to the Wild Side, my name is Constantine. Am I correct in assuming this is your first voyage with us?”

“As a matter of fact it is, handsome. I’m Julie, and this is Heidi. What do you recommend to take the edge off?” Julie flirted shamelessly with the adorable blond.

Heidi wondered what it was about them that screamed ‘first-timers’ until her already-wide eyes reached the other side of the pool area and she took in the scenes playing out under the decadent golden canopies.

Constantine chuckled at her gasp before she managed to close her mouth and pretend that she wasn’t staring outright at the couples making use of the facilities. Her heart raced and her excitement threatened to boil over. Many of the other people lounging by the pool and bar were totally nude, with no one paying too much attention—shifters in general didn’t make a big deal about casual nudity. But most of the couples playing at the stations on the other side of the pool were wearing swim suits or wraps. It struck her as funny, how adding clothing could make something sexier.

“Here, I know exactly what you two need to get you started—it’s my specialty.” He winked, and Heidi blushed as he followed it up with a lingering perusal of her bikini-clad cleavage.

A few minutes later, he slid two fancy glasses across the bar, both filled to the brim with a delicious-looking blended concoction. She moaned as the first taste of paradise hit her tongue. It was like a chi-chi, the coconut and pineapple instantly recognizable, but then the taste of peaches mixed with rum and something else she couldn’t quite identify followed—whatever it was, Heidi was certain she could drink about a thousand of them.

After he’d finished serving their drinks, he looked past them and motioned someone over. “Serge, set up two massage cabanas for these lovely ladies so that they can unwind properly.”

“Of course.” Serge offered his hands to both her and Julie.

“If there is any way I can be of further service, you know where to find me.” His gaze was directly on Heidi when he added, “I am off shift tonight if you’re looking for someone to explore with.”

She blushed again and thanked him as Julie gave her a knowing smile before they followed Serge to the cabanas. As they reached the first one, another handsome male stepped out and smiled at them, motioning Julie to join him. Serge then urged Heidi into the next cabana and she followed him inside.

“You’ve had a massage before, miss?” he asked before walking over to the small table filled with various bottles.

“Yes, I love them.”

“Good, will you allow me to choose a scented oil for you?”

“Please,” she answered, grabbing the crisp sheet that was folded atop the massage table. She wrapped it around herself, then removed her bikini pieces and set them on the chair next to her. He gave her time to hop on the table while his back was turned, and when she was settled comfortably with the sheet draped across her back, he smiled and drew back the sides of the cabana letting the cool ocean breeze tickle her heated skin.

“Do you like it?” he brought a small vial closer to her face and the warm scent of vanilla and sweet freesia flowers brought a smile to her face.

“I love it—freesias are my favorite.” She looked at him in surprise, and he just smiled back.

“Their sweetness compliments your own natural scent. Now just relax, and let’s get this vacation started properly.”

His hands were magic as they soothed away any tension Heidi had, and the soft scent of the oil combined with the alcohol that the bartender put in that drink left her in a contented haze. Every now and then, however, she would peek open an eye and look over to the recreation area. A woman was tied up over a bench of some kind, and her partner was spanking her with a large, round wooden paddle. Heidi was shocked at how arousing the picture was—the man would take breaks to caress the woman’s ass, seeming to be fascinated with the change in hue to a rosy pink, until the woman was pleading for him to continue.

The combination of watching their scene and having Serge’s strong, warm hands moving on her skin was beginning to heat her own blood. Finally, she closed her eyes and put her head back down. Several minutes later she heard a deep voice speak out beside her. “May I?”

“Miss, a patron would like to continue with your massage.” Serge’s hands left her skin. “Are you amenable?”

Heidi lifted her head from the table and froze when her gaze met a pair of deep-green eyes surrounded by thick, dark lashes. Her heart skipped a beat when the handsome stranger smiled. His rugged features and shoulder-length dark hair looked slightly out of place surrounded by the immaculately groomed staff, but his masculine presence made her lioness chuff in interest. His posture nagged at the back of her mind in a familiar way, until she realized—this was one of the men who had caught her interest back in the terminal.

Was she amenable to having his hands on her? If you say no, I’ll maim you in your sleep, her lioness snarled in her head.

“Sure,” she answered shyly as Serge left them to get acquainted. “I’m Heidi.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Heidi. I’m Wade.” He took the hand she held out and placed a kiss on the back of it, causing a zing of electricity to move up her arm.

His intake of breath matched her own, his eyes turned from teasing to something much more serious. She watched as he ran his nose along her wrist taking in her scent, and the low growl that escaped his lips made her tremble all over.

What was happening to her? She’d never had such a visceral reaction to a male before, and it scared her just a little. It was as if her lioness was prepared to give over complete control to this man they had just met—which honestly wasn’t like her at all. Her cat was a bossy little bitch about most other things, and Heidi had to rein that impulse in a lot.

It was times like these that she’d realized how much she missed out on, having grown up in a house full of men. She would’ve been able to have conversations with her mom about the difference between regular sexual attraction and the draw of a mate, but that was just not something her dear old dad was comfortable speaking to his only daughter about. So, was this just a hormonal overload or was it something … more?

“Mmm—my tiger can’t wait to get his paws on all of these beautiful curves,” he murmured as he finally released her hand and gently urged her to lay back down on the table.

Was he a tiger, then? That certainly explained the size of him—he was even larger than her older brother Hector, and that was saying a lot. She heard the rustle of fabric and looked up to see him pull his t-shirt off over his head, revealing dark, tanned skin and a thick, muscled chest that would make any female drool. Heidi had to fight the urge to sit up and wrap her arms around those wide shoulders. Her inner cat was yowling at her to lean in and taste his skin, to take in his scent and roll around in it. While her mind was trying to overthrow her manners, her body was betraying her as well as it heated up, her lower regions growing slick with want as she imagined his hands moving over her naked body.

“Really?” Her voice was shaky, betraying her excitement more than she would have liked.

“Oh, yes,” he answered back, stepping closer. She could feel the heat coming off of his skin. “I noticed you at the bar in that delectable little red bikini—you drew my gaze like a magnet. I waited to approach you as long as my beast would let me … there’s something about you that he finds irresistible.”

“My lioness seems to be drawn to you as well,” she softly admitted before stifling a moan when his hands fully connected with the skin on her back.

His touch this time was firm and delicious as he began to massage her. Heidi tried to pinpoint what she was feeling aside from the lust that was building, and to her surprise, it seemed to be—contentment? Could that be right? For the first time in her life, this man’s hands made her feel like she belonged underneath them.