Chapter Two
Kelli Garrett had never once deviated from any assignment ever given to her in the two years she’d been working as a private security contractor. She’d learned long ago during her stint in Navy intelligence that no task was ever taken lightly and to leave no detail ever done half-assed, nor to ever stray from one’s objective. Yet she couldn’t bring herself to walk away from the one man she’d just spent days surveilling as a favor to a Lieutenant Commander she’d served with during her later years in the service.
It should have been an easy debt to repay—simply observe and deflect any obvious threats.
After all, she was basically given an all-expense-paid trip to a Dutch Caribbean island for an entire week while ensuring Landon Smyth’s physical safety. She’d enjoyed the sunshine while her charge had been in meetings, savored delicious meals at fancy restaurants she otherwise would have avoided, and taken long, relaxing midnight strolls on the beach to ensure he was all tucked in for the night.
Nothing too taxing for her extensive skill set.
In all honesty, this had been one of the easiest assignments she’d ever undertaken right up until she had to run interference.
She should have fucking known better than to think she could coast through the remaining two days of this milk run without the shit hitting the proverbial fan.
Landon’s father had been rightly worried about a business rival—Curtis Pynaker—using unconventional, and in all likelihood questionable, means to stop what could be the real estate deal of the century for their firm. Mr. Smyth also believed that this adversary wasn’t beneath blackmail to get what he wanted, though Landon disagreed.
The lesson here for everyone involved was that parents were always right.
“Let’s continue this in private, Kelli.”
The sensual vibrations of Landon’s voice sent goose bumps chasing each other in zigzag patterns over her sensitive skin. It didn’t surprise her that he had that effect on women, considering his sex appeal was off the charts. It was easy to see that he rivaled the Kennedys in good looks and charm. She had little choice in taking this to his room.
To be truthful, Landon had not been exactly what she’d been expecting upon catching the same flight as he had out of Los Angeles bound for Miami then Aruba. He’d gone out of his way to aid an elderly woman down the ramp when boarding and even spent time entertaining a toddler who had been restless before takeoff. He’d actually given up his luxury town car to two parents who were late to their daughter’s wedding due to a flight delay at MIA. The vehicle had been specifically sent by the resort owners to the airport to welcome him to the island.
Landon Smyth was the entire package, but he was Kelli’s charge—not her date.
There was no mixing business with pleasure, at least in her line of work.
Yet here she was…standing in his warm embrace actually entertaining the thought of joining him in his room for a roll in the hay.
“Kelli?”
She blamed the blonde provocateur who’d obviously been paid to seduce Landon with every intention to either stall him for tomorrow’s meeting or somehow set him up to look bad in front of the resort’s longtime family owners. She was the sole reason that Kelli found herself in the arms of the man she’d dreamt about for the last five nights.
The right thing to do here would be to walk away once she’d gotten them safely back to his room.
Kelli found the strength to look back at the bar, not surprised in the least to find the blonde watching them with an eagle eye. She was just waiting for the right moment to close, not wanting to miss out on the large amount of cash she’d probably earn should she succeed in her task of getting Landon tangled in her web.
An opportunity to prevent this woman from ruining a man’s reputation had been presented to Kelli with sparkles and a pretty bow. She would take what was being offered before creating a valid excuse as to why she couldn’t stay the night with Landon and bowing out gracefully.
“I’d like that very much,” Kelli whispered with more honesty than she’d wanted to convey.
She closed her eyes as a shiver of arousal traveled down the back of her neck. Landon had leaned into her and pressed his lips against her ear so only she could hear him whisper his response.
“Shall we leave then?”
It was impossible for her body not to respond to the sexual electricity generating between them. He never once let go of her hand as he slipped through the couples on the dance floor to the small wooden boardwalk parallel to the beach. The relaxing sound of the waves crashing against the sand could be heard as the murmurs of the crowd and the beat of the music faded in the distance as they departed.
Kelli would have given anything for this walk to Landon’s room to be legitimate. Unfortunately, only she was aware that it was simply a ruse to keep him safe until those real estate papers were signed and the pressure was off.
She casually glanced over her shoulder to see the blonde pull out her phone, no doubt notifying Curtis Pynaker of the delay in their cunning plan to interfere with Landon’s business. The question remained…just how far would Mr. Pynaker take this corporate conspiracy?
Blackmail? Kidnapping? Murder?
Neither she nor Landon said a word as they walked hand in hand under the soft moonlight shining on the wooden planks defining the edge of the white sand beach. The light ocean breeze coming in off the water brushed against her shoulders, much like the way Landon’s thumb was caressing the backside of her hand. It was a promise for more that she wouldn’t be able to accept, much to her chagrin.
Kelli wasn’t surprised when Landon lightly tugged on her fingers, veering them from the path to where an opening separated two buildings. The patio doors to each room that led directly to the sandy beach purposely did not contain a method in which a guest could enter by key. It was a security measure that went mostly unused by tourists who were too trusting—they often left their glass doors open for easy access from the beach during the day.
Each structure was assigned a block number, and he was staying in building eighteen hundred. He didn’t know that she was in the room next to him, nor would he if she had her way. She would see to it that he was safely deposited inside before she came up with a reasonable excuse as to why she couldn’t spend the night with him.
Kelli thought she had her carnal cravings under control and hadn’t expected her heartrate to accelerate when Landon’s dark eyes met hers as he inserted his keycard into the card slot. The not-so-innocent action initiated the faint sound of the electronic lock unfastening right before he turned the handle.
He slowly opened the door, almost as if he could sense her hesitation. It didn’t surprise her, considering she was well aware of how gentlemanly he could be. Only she didn’t want him to be a gentleman at the moment…and that was the problem.
Kelli swallowed hard as she stepped past him, the heady scent of his cologne enveloping her in his sphere. Landon had left on his bedside lamp, which currently cast the room in a golden hue that all but beckoned her into his bed. She resisted, stopping just shy of the spacious area where she was likely to change her mind and violate her principles. Staying in the small foyer was the wisest thing she could have done.
“Would you care for a drink?” Landon asked, catching her off guard when he came up behind her and ever so leisurely ran the backs of his fingers down the length of her arm.
Kelli should have been paying more attention. She inhaled slowly, trying to clear her mind for what needed to be done.
“I was thinking that maybe we could—”
Oh…
Kelli gasped, arousal awakening every nerve in her body when Landon’s warm lips pressed against the side of her neck. He pressed his palm against her abdomen, pulling her back against him. There was no hesitation on his part as he finally whirled her around and captured her lips, commanding the moment in a manner she was unaccustomed to when it came to simpler men.
She was usually the one who took control during situations like these, just as she should be doing now. Yet the firm hold he had on her now that he’d slid his fingers underneath her long hair was enticing. He was a man who knew what he wanted and wasn’t afraid to go after it with all the power that he possessed.
Landon turned them so that her back was against the large mirror attached to the wall. He finally released her lips and trailed his own across her jawline, not stopping until he lightly bit the lobe of her ear. The sharp little pain he caused had her arching her back. She needed more of what he was giving, and this small taste of what he could offer wasn’t nearly enough for her.
Kelli’s body and mind fought for the dominance she normally expressed. Had it just been her, with no outside influence, her intellectual awareness would have won out—it always had before. That’s what made her so good at her job, yet Landon wasn’t playing fair. Unfortunately, he didn’t know that he had to.
“What is it about you that has me losing all sense of reason?” Landon murmured before once again pressing his lips to hers as she fought for balance and the answer to his question. It was the other way around as far as she was concerned. She couldn’t gather her thoughts. His touch was too seductive. “All week…you’re all that I thought of. I need more than just the taste of your lips, my elusive little siren.”
Kelli had a moment of realization when Landon had brought up this past week. She was able to inhale enough oxygen to clear her mind momentarily and step away from him. The heavy patio drape wasn’t closed, but instead only the sheer curtain covered the window. He had a habit of leaving his room like this at night, giving anyone the opportunity to look inside and monitor his comings and goings.
“We need to close this,” Kelli managed to say without hesitation. She quickly walked around the bed and drew the heavy fabric over the sheer material of the drape, giving added security to a room she needed to vacate before she lost her sanity. “We wouldn’t want someone catching an eyeful or even taking pictures.”
“That’s good to know,” Landon said with an understanding smile. She was confused momentarily; that was until he clarified his meaning. “You’re not into exhibitionism. Duly noted.”
Another shiver of arousal shot through her, and not only due to his words, which had conjured up an image of the two of them making love on the beach where anyone could see them in a salacious act of self-destruction. No, he’d been waiting for her when she turned around and instantly wrapped an arm around her waist to pull her close. Her awareness was at its peak, and her nipples hardened beneath her dress as the front of her pressed against his chest.
“Are you?” Kelli asked, more to give herself time to extricate herself from this situation. His answer all but told her she was staying, because he had somehow become the man she couldn’t walk away from.
“I’m the man you need me to be,” Landon replied sincerely, slipping a finger under the strap of her dress so that it slid easily from her shoulder. He maintained eye contact as he softly brushed his lips against hers while waiting patiently for her response. “What do you want tonight, my little siren? Your pleasure is my command.”
Kelli needed to walk away. She should have walked away. Instead, she slipped one side of his blue tie through the already loosened loop, letting it drop to the floor in answer to his question. She worked each button through the tiny openings until she could part the starched material, revealing his contoured chest and ripped abdomen she’d had the pleasure of looking at during his daily swims.
Now?
Kelli granted her muscles the approval they needed in order to touch him.
One night.
She could slip away in the morning.
One night of hot sex, guilty pleasure, and much-needed relief was what she would allow herself before continuing to do her job as she’d been assigned. She would then disappear, leaving him to his wealthy lifestyle of excellent food, expensive cars, luxury homes, and lavish trips.
Kelli gradually ran her fingers down each of his biceps as his undershirt fell to the floor, joining his shirt and tie. How was it that a man who worked in an office every single day of his life could have the physique of a god? It didn’t matter, as long as she got to enjoy the product of all his hard work.
“I’m glad to see we’re on the same page.” Landon allowed her to remove his belt, but she only got as far as unfastening the button on his dress pants when he surprised her by taking her and carefully, yet quickly, laying her on the soft sheets of his turned-down bed. He leveraged himself with one elbow as he grazed his thumb over her bottom lip. “But we have all night.”
“And I don’t want to waste a second of it,” Kelli whispered, pressing against his shoulder so that she could take command the next few moments. After that? He could have his way with her. She just needed to remove the holster she’d secured around her right thigh before he discovered she was armed and started to ask questions. “Let me enjoy myself, Mr. Smyth.”
It was obvious that Landon didn’t like the way she’d addressed him in her attempt to keep this from becoming too personal. He’d be correct in his assumption, but something told her from the first moment she laid eyes on him that he was different from all the other men she’d met in her life.
Kelli took her time enjoying his upper torso. She used her lips, tongue, and fingers to explore every ridge of his chest and abdomen. The lower she brought herself, the more aroused she became by her attention to his body. His fingers were tightly tangled in her hair just firm enough to keep the sensation at a constant hum throughout her body. Her nipples were rubbing against the soft material of her dress while her pussy had become rather damp at the provoking thoughts of his cock filling her over and over until release.
It wasn’t long before the rest of his clothes were discarded and she was able to continue discovering what he liked and disliked. She took that opportunity to reach under her dress and remove her holster, carefully lowering it to the floor when she’d done the same with his pants. The coast was now clear for her to enjoy the rest of the evening without fear of being caught in such a compromising position.
Kelli never expected him to roll her over onto her back, so that he was once again looking down at her with that perceptive gaze she’d come to recognize. Her heart stopped briefly at the thought he’d caught sight of her weapon.
“Do you always have to be in control?” That question alone had her heart racing once more, wondering if he had something deliciously naughty in mind. She received an answer when he lightly started to trail the fingers of his right hand up her inner thigh, starting from her knee. “Don’t answer that. There are certain things we must find out for ourselves.”
Landon dipped his head and pressed his lips against that sensitive spot on her neck she hadn’t even known was there. He had taken ahold of both her wrists in his left hand, locking them together above her head.
“Spread your legs,” Landon murmured, though his request sounded more like an order. What was it about him that had her melting against her will? “Where have your panties gone? Did you go without? I like that idea, little siren.”
Landon’s hand brushed over her folds in the lightest caress possible. He dipped one finger into her cream before bringing her juices up and over her clit. His touch was feather soft, and he gently rubbed the slickness over her swollen tissue until she wanted to scream at him for wasting time. She didn’t want to be crass, but he was purposely dragging this out when all she wanted was for him to enter her.
“Landon…”
“I think that’s the first time you’ve said my given name.” It was almost as if he rewarded her by ever so slowly sliding his finger inside her, causing her to arch her hips for more. She had every intention of aiding him, but he tightened his grip on her wrist before she could move. “Relax, Kelli. Let us both enjoy this part.”
Landon kissed her as he continued to manipulate her clit with his fingers until she was very close to coming, only to then gradually remove the pressure to introduce two fingers and leisurely thrust them inside of her until that impending orgasm became elusive.
He did this over and over until she could no longer take it, finally breaking his hold on her at the same time she shifted so that she was straddling him. She placed her hands on his shoulders, trying her best to even out her breathing to ask a very, very important question.
“Please tell me you have condoms.” Kelli did her best to quell the desperation in her tone. Landon’s smile grew as he started to reach over the bed for his pants, but she quickly put a stop to his good intention. “I’ve got it. No worries.”
Kelli leaned down, stretching her arm so that she was able to drag his clothes closer to the nightstand. She quickly retrieved his wallet while at the same time positioning her holstered weapon in between the bedside table and bed. He never noticed her achievement as she finally shifted so that she was upright.
Landon reached for the gathered material of her dress, but she couldn’t wait anymore. She quickly acquired the condom and tore open the foiled package, shifting down so that she had complete access to his long, thick shaft.
“Always in such a hurry,” Landon lightly chastised, grabbing her wrist after she’d rolled the latex over his cock. He pulled her to him, the bottom of her dress lifting so that the material was around her waist. “It’s a good thing we have all night, or you might have found yourself tied down to my bed.”
He kept putting these wicked images in her mind, instantly causing her body to want more. She didn’t hesitate to position herself over his tip and sink down inch by inch until he filled her to the point of a slight burning sensation that literally almost triggered her release. He was so thick that she hadn’t been quite sure she could take all of him, but she managed to in this position. It also helped that he had wrapped his hands around her waist and helped guide her down slowly. It was when he tightened his grip and wouldn’t allow her to move that she met his dark gaze in almost desperation.
“This isn’t over.” Landon had his own plans that involved more than this brief moment in time, yet Kelli understood that it was in both of their best interests to leave after they were able to extinguish this flame that had been burning all week. She had to believe that this would quench their thirst, even if he chose not to think that himself. “Agreed?”
Kelli couldn’t bring herself to speak or nod in agreement, so instead she leaned down so that she could kiss him. His soft lips immediately parted and accepted hers. Their tongues played until he finally released his hold on her hips and brought his hands up until his palms were cradling her breasts.
She leaned back, leveraging herself on her knees so that she could lift herself off his cock…only to descend once more. Her sheath contracted around his shaft, signaling that her body couldn’t take much more without exploding into a million pieces. She set the pace while his thumbs stroked over her hardened nipples, triggering that ever-sweet, piercing arousal to shoot from her breasts to her overstimulated clit.
The faster she took him inside of her, the firmer he pressed on her nipples. He was now rolling those sensitive nubs in between his thumbs and index fingers, pressing harder and harder until her body finally shattered.
“Oh!” Kelli leaned her head back as ecstasy rained down over her skin while her sheath contracted around his cock, eliciting wave after wave of intense pleasure. The explosive orgasm stole her breath, and she dug her fingers into his shoulders to ground herself. “Landon, that was…”
“Not enough. Just the beginning,” Landon practically growled as he took her wrists and drew her down until her breasts were pressed against his chest. The rich tone of his voice stirred another wave of arousal, signaling he was more than accurate in his assessment of—
Click.
Kelli instantly reached for her weapon, withdrawing her firearm from its holster before Landon even realized someone was trying to enter his room through the patio door.
Everything happened at once. Landon tried to move her out of harm’s way, preventing her from palming her weapon in her right hand. His explicit curse words were muffled by the shattering glass and she was able to identify the barrel of a Glock pushing aside the drape, though she didn’t give the intruder time to find his or her target.
Kelli squeezed the trigger.
The telltale wet thud of the bullet entering flesh was unmistakable. Unfortunately for her, the hired hitman was already fleeing the scene. Splintered glass coating the carpet blocked her path to give chase, though she was able to draw the heavy curtain back to see the damage.
She briefly considering going out the front door and attempting to track her target down from that angle, but there was no way in hell she could leave her charge unprotected in his room. Her gunfire already had tourists coming out of their rooms to see what had taken place.
“Damn it,” Kelli murmured, doing her best to smooth down the material of her dress just as one of the vacationers asked if he should call security. She gave him a few short directions as she turned to address Landon, who was already standing while holding a sheet around his waist. His gaze went from her eyes to her weapon, then back again. Shit. How was she going to explain this and not sound unprofessional? “Landon, I should have told you—”
“Told me what, Kelli?” Landon demanded, all but ignoring the gathered crowd outside and the shattered patio door. He took a step forward before shaking his head in disbelief and then running a hand through his hair as he tried to connect the dots. There were too many for him to join, and it didn’t surprise her when he finally demanded to know her identity. “Just who the fuck are you?”