Desperate Desires (Mergers & Acquisitions #3)

Chapter 19-y

“ W here are we?” I asked as I came to a few hours later.

The plane was taxiing on the runway of what appeared to be another private airport, and I wondered at how rich this man, my husband , really was.

I mean, this was like stupid money.

“On a private island in the Caribbean for a few days,” Ono said and turned his head to look at me.

“You mean to lie low?”

“No, we could have done that at home,” he replied and shook his head.

“Then why?”

“You didn’t think I’d cheat you out of a honeymoon, did you?”

“Seriously? Who’s island is this?”

“It’s mine,” he said, frowning.

“You own an island?”

Holy fuck.

So, he didn’t just have stupid money.

He had Volkov level money.

Money I couldn’t even begin to understand.

No wonder he upped and bought a whole hospital wing.

But he did that for you , a voice whispered inside my brain. I shook my head.

Confusion was not my happy place, but it was running rampant inside me as I stared at my now husband waiting for answers.

“What? It’s not like it’s hard,” he answered.

I just stared at him and scoffed.

Was he nuts? Normal people didn’t just own islands.

“Come on. Everything is ready for us,” he murmured, taking my hand.

Short, stubby palm trees swayed in the surprisingly chilly breeze, but I was enchanted by the color and wonder of the beauty around us.

There were gravel roads with giant, flat-topped rocks lining the streets and I was charmed by the small cabins we passed on our way to what was an extraordinary main house.

I was still wearing his jacket and my ruined scrubs. I felt totally gross, wishing I’d had time to shower and change.

Silence reigned in the short Jeep ride, but as our destination appeared closer, I was blown away by what was possibly the most stunning home I’d ever seen. It just got better the closer we got to it.

The landscaping was gorgeous, using local plants and rocks to decorate the surrounding pathways.

Of course, the incredible private beach with its uninhibited view of the sea was pretty amazing, too.

The smaller houses we’d passed on the way were nice, but they had nothing on this. Ono had explained that was where the caretakers and airplane staff stayed when he was on the island.

I wondered how people lived like that, and he further explained it was only about a half hour ride by boat to other populated islands.

“Then I come here when I need to unwind, or I want to be alone.” He said.

And I frowned, wondering how many women before me had come with him to the space. Jealousy blindsided me and I didn’t like it. Not one bit.

“No one, Bellezza,” he said, pausing and turning to face me. “I’ve never brought anyone here but you.”

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Instead, I took the time to look around.

The house was a one level modern construct with window walls and a clay tiled roof.

The appearance was rustic, but I knew from my experience with Micky’s family that it would be outfitted with the best security and tech.

“Are you hungry? I had groceries delivered,” he started.

“Um, actually, I was hoping for a shower?” I said, even though it sounded more like a question, as we entered the home.

“Shit. Sorry, you’re right. Come on,” he said, and took my hand.

Ono lead me through the house to an enormous bathroom with a huge window wall overlooking the private beach.

“This is beautiful,” I murmured, my eyes eating up the view.

“You like it? Good. This used to be a pirate cove. Smugglers used it to hide their goods from patrolling naval ships. The windows are one way. No one can see inside,” he explained as he opened the glass door to a beautiful six-headed shower stall and turned on the water.

“Oh, um, I can do that,” I said, feeling a little bashful suddenly.

“I got it. You go on and get undressed.”

I nodded, realizing it was foolish to feel that way.

It was just a body. We all had one. Besides, Ono had already seen every inch of mine.

His lids lowered as he looked at me, and I wished I knew what he was thinking.

I waited a moment, but he didn’t speak, and I continued to remove every last ruined piece of clothing until I was breathing heavily and completely nude.

He made a deep humming sound before turning to a large cabinet where he removed some things. Soap or body wash, I imagined.

I turned too, straightening my shoulders as I tried not to dwell on the fact I was naked with the stark light of day filtering in through the glass windowpanes in front of this fine as fuck man.

No, not man—husband. My husband.

Acknowledging that didn’t make it any easier.

I huffed a sigh, angry at myself for being ridiculous, and picked up my clothes, including the borrowed jacket from off the floor.

I leaned over and put it in the hamper and dropped my top and ripped pants and panties in with it.

“Fuck.”

I looked up, mouth going dry, as I met Ono’s rapt gaze.

“Sorry, I'm a mess right now. I haven't even shaved in a couple of days, and uh?—”

“What are you talking about? You didn’t shave?”

He looked adorably confused, and I rolled my eyes.

“Yeah. I mean I am sure you are used to having women who are, um, very put together. I don’t usually have time like that?—”

“Doc, do you think I give a fuck if you shave?” He scoffed, shaking his head.

“I-I don’t know. I mean, I’m sure the women you dated were thin and beautiful and had time to primp for you,” I began because, yes, I was sure they had.

I didn’t know what Ono wanted or expected of me. And for the first time in my adult life, I doubted myself.

And it sucked.

I felt inadequate. Not up to par or in his league.

I knew this was my baggage. Not his.

A holdover from my youthful days with Aunt Agnes and trying to fit in with the rich kids at the hoity toity Manhattan school she sent me to.

It was something I’d worked my whole adult life to put behind me. That feeling like I didn’t belong.

But there I was, open and vulnerable, just like a scared child, and I fucking hated it.

Ono’s mouth formed a hard line and his mien grew serious. He canted his head and stood stock still for one long, drawn out moment before he moved.

Then, suddenly, he was right in front of me.

My whole body sizzled with awareness. He was still fully clothed, and I was naked as the day I was born.

I licked my lips, uncertainty rising like the swell of the tide.

“Listen to me, Wife,” he growled, cupping those large, tattooed hands around my throat and lifting my chin with his thumbs so I had no choice but to meet his unblinking stare.

“As far as I’m concerned you are fucking gorgeous as you are,” he said, and fuck, I wanted to believe him so badly.

I wanted to trust that this gorgeous dark angel of a man found me as attractive as I found him.

This was strange. It was foreign and a little uncomfortable. It made me feel oddly vulnerable. This neediness I felt with him was so unlike me, but maybe that was the point.

I’d always played it safe and where did it get me? Alone. In a tiny apartment. Watching my friends find their happiness with the men of their dreams.

Don’t get me wrong. I was glad for them. But maybe it was my turn to find a dream of my own.

Truth was, I wanted to know in my very soul that Ono desired me. That he wanted me. Just like I wanted him.

All those big, muscled men I knew through Micky’s family were all over the top gorgeous. They were all crazy about their women. And for years, I watched them and pretended I didn’t care that I would probably be alone forever.

But maybe I didn’t. Maybe destiny had someone in mind for me after all.

Looking at my husband I felt warmth spread through me. No one held a candle to him. Ono was in a league all his own.

He made my heart stutter and my pussy weep with longing. I squeezed my thighs together, hoping to ease the sudden ache. I mean, could you blame me?

He had all this testosterone on display. Hell, he vibrated with it.

If I could bottle it and sell it, I might be able to afford an island of my own.

The feel of his hard, clothed body pressed against my nude one was like stimulation overload.

My nipples pebbled, and arousal dripped down my thighs.

“You should believe me, Doc. I never wanted anyone the way I want you. Can’t you see that?” he growled and dipped his head.

I sighed, tilting my head so he could claim my lips in a kiss that would’ve brought me to my knees had he not been holding me upright.

Ono pressed his forehead to mine, ending our kiss slowly.

“Shave. Don’t shave. That’s up to you. I don’t need you to primp for me, Bellezza. I just need you.”

“Okay,” I whispered, choosing to believe him.

“Just for the record. I do prefer to be shaved,” I murmured, and felt my cheeks burn at the admission.

“Noted,” he said, and grinned at me.

God, he was so hot when he smiled. So fucking handsome, it was ridiculous.

He grabbed something from the vanity, but I was too busy staring at his face to give it a thought.

Then he lifted it, and I gasped when I saw a showering cap.

I stood still as he carefully, lovingly placed it on my head.

“Like this?” he asked, gently tucking my braids away.

“Yeah. I mean, I can wash my hair, but I usually don’t every day,” I whispered back so as not to break the spell.

This was completely new for me.

I didn’t want to admit how it made me feel. Not yet.

But I also wasn’t very good at lying. So I opted for silence instead.

Until I could get a handle on my emotions, it was probably better to keep them to myself.

Technically, we were married, though I had yet to look up whether it was actually legal or not. But why we were married was still unclear and for how long was another question that needed answering.

Ono hummed again, dragging my attention back to him. It was a pleasant rumbling sound. And I was grateful for it.

It made what might have been an awkward moment decidedly not awkward.

His eyes roamed over me once more and I shivered under that laser like stare.

Then he moved away from me and nudged me towards the opulent shower stall.

I stepped onto the natural tiles and sighed. The water had warmed them, and I liked the feel of the nonslip stone beneath the soles of my feet.

From what I’d seen, the entire house was done in warm neutral tones with polished wood floors that gave way to stone tiles. It was lovely, and the truth was I hadn’t had a vacation in a long time.

A moment later, I was standing beneath the luxurious spray of water running from the multiple showerheads, wondering how I wound up married and on a private island with this man, when he joined me.

This time, Ono was completely naked. The picture he made, all hard muscle and swirling tattoos, he just stole the very breath from my lungs.

We’d showered together before at my place, but the tiny bathroom in my apartment had nothing on this.

My eyes widened as I took him in from head to toe, not knowing where to look first.

He was like a work of art, perfectly sculpted and decorated with ink and muscle.

His skin was a healthy shade of pale with olive undertones, and I imagined he tanned well in the summer.

Ono invaded my space, the pull of attraction was so strong between us, I welcomed it. Welcomed the rush of desire I felt flood the space separating us.

I didn't know what to think about everything that had happened during the last few hours, and Ono didn’t seem bent on giving me any time to adjust.

That was okay.

Thinking was overrated, anyway.

“Turn around,” he said, and I obeyed.

He pumped soap into his hands and guided them over my skin. Ono hummed in approval as he rubbed my flushed body, bringing the familiar scented soap to a lather.

“Did you?” I asked, shocked as I turned my head and saw my brand toiletries inside the stall.

“How did you know that was what I buy?” I asked.

“Because I looked, Doc. Don’t you like them?”

I nodded, unable to reply without making a fool of myself. I was also not sure that I should feel so damn pleased by that.

“Good. Now scoot back so I can rinse you,” he murmured.

I couldn't speak. So I nodded again.

Sure, I was slick with want, but the nature of his touches wasn't sexual. It was perfunctory.

That I was getting turned on was my problem.

Although, judging from the long, hard staff sticking out between his legs, I would say Ono was having some problems of his own.

That was good to know. At least I wasn’t alone in this insatiable desire I felt for him.

“One second,” he rumbled and ducked out of the water.

He came back a few moments later with a loofah, the brand of shave butter I liked, a razor, trimming scissors, and some other things that he placed on the built-in shelf inside the stall.

“What are you doing?” I asked, biting my lower lip.

“I got you,” was all he said before dropping to his feet.

He used the loofah first, coasting it over my thighs and calves, the rough sponge smoothing away my skin.

Next, Ono rubbed shave butter on my left leg, massaging every ache and chasing all my tension away with his skilled hands.

I watched in rapture as he remained on his knees, intent on what he was doing.

His brows furrowed in concentration as he ensured the butter coated my thick thighs, skimming my pussy with every slide of his hands.

I trembled.

“Be still, Doc,” he said, lifting the razor and meeting my gaze.

Realization struck me like a lightning bolt.

Oh my fuck.

He was going to shave me.

Why was that so fucking hot?