Chapter 13
13
He led her along the long hallway that went past his suite in the west wing of the house.
The thought that she was walking through a veritable palace naked added to the surreal moment.
But she didn’t have time to dwell on it. The fingers wrapped around hers gave no room for ambivalence or chickening out. And the excitement escalating through her made it impossible to change her mind.
Zach stopped in front of a large arched door and entered a code in the security panel set into the frame.
The mechanism clicked, and he opened it. Stepping to one side, he gently pushed her into the room.
Bethany hadn’t been sure what to expect from a toy room. In her wildest imaginings, she’d expected a replica of the decadent lounges on Zach’s airplanes.
She couldn’t have been more wrong. When he’d mentioned toys, he’d really meant toys.
Gadgets, large and small, had been arranged around the room, each one more suggestive than the next.
In the middle of the room, a large leather swing, complete with cradle and harness, hung from a sturdy tripod. She’d seen one at a bachelorette party once, but it’d been nowhere near as sophisticated as this one. Mesmerized by the ideas tumbling through her mind, she brushed her fingers over the sleek, cool leather.
“Are you imagining yourself strapped in, Peaches?” Zach whispered in her ear. “Your beautiful body wide open to me as I pound into you?”
Heat from his body caressed her back, and she shivered at the decadent sin in his voice. Her nipples peaked at the thought of enacting that scenario, and desire twisted in her pelvis. She forced herself to breathe through it.
Restraint.
“Hmm, maybe.”
With a last caress of the leather, she moved to the next piece of equipment.
The indigo-colored, high-backed chair looked innocuous enough, until a simple press of a switch to the side had her gasping. The dildo that rose from the middle of the seat was black, huge and veined, and so life-like she stepped closer to touch it, only to have her hand firmly grasped.
“You won’t be needing that.”
She laughed. “Do I detect a hint of jealousy there, lover boy?” she teased.
“No, baby, the only time you get to use that is if I’m too worn out from fucking you to move a single muscle. And I guarantee you, that will never happen.”
He led her past a modified gurney fitted with handcuffs and a glass cabinet that held everything from anal beads and nipple clamps to bull whips and cock rings.
“Wow, and here I thought my toy drawer was impressive.”
He grinned. “I take pleasure seriously,” he said.
“I can tell,” she replied. She reached another cabinet labeled “Truth or Dare” and stopped. Inside it were a pack of cards and two items—an exquisitely crafted unisex chastity belt and a black silk blindfold.
Zach stopped beside her and followed her gaze. “Another thing you won’t be needing.”
“What makes you sure?”
“Because we don’t play games. We’re way past that.”
“But games can be fun, Zach. And having fun was the reason I came on this trip, remember?”
She wasn’t sure whether she was reminding herself or him. Somewhere along the way, she’d begun to lose sight of why she’d boarded The Indigo Lounge plane in the first place.
Heck, she’d never even had the chance to experience one single lounge event. And with each day she spent in Zach Savage’s sphere of existence, she slipped deeper into unknown territory. Territory where the ground shook beneath her feet at the thought of this trip ending and walking away from it when it did.
Regardless of what he’d said in Paris, this thing between them—this fantasy—had no real shelf life. The worlds they came from were too different for any sort of lasting relationship to work.
Her life was in New York. His was not. And if Chris had taught her anything, it was how easy it was to be fooled by someone you loved even while living in the same city.
Zachary Savage was a sexy, dominant, infinitely charismatic man who had women throwing themselves at him. He also had international business interests that took him all over the globe. The moment he walked away from her until he returned, she would tie herself into knots. Her ability to trust had been whittled down to nothing thanks to Chris.
Was that a life she wanted for herself, even in the short term? Her breath shuddered out, and he turned sharply to face her.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, eyes narrowed.
She quickly shook her head. “Nothing. What’s that?” She pointed to the last, large item in the room.
It was draped with a black silk cloth and set against the far wall.
Sliding another sizzling smile at her, he pulled her after him until they stood in front of the piece. With a firm tug, he pulled the cloth away.
A St. Andrew’s Cross made of steel and leather and easily seven feet tall rested at an angle. Stirrups for hands and feet lay undone, ready for a willing victim to step up and splay themselves for pleasure. Double rivets lined the edges of the cross. Closing her eyes for a second, a shocking image of herself on that cross, her body rubbing against those rivets, flashed through her mind.
A furtive glance at Zach caught his intent gaze on her. The small smile that crossed his lips said he’d read her mind.
“Now, this we can certainly have fun with.”
“You mean you can. Don’t bother denying it, Savage. I can see you salivating at the thought of holding me captive and having your way with me.”
He laughed, and she was helpless to halt the deep, rich sound from reaching under her skin and seducing her. When he curled his hand over her nape and pulled her close, she didn’t resist. He rubbed his thumb back and forth over her lips before lowering his head to seal his mouth over hers. When they came up for air several minutes later, they were both breathing hard. “Can you blame me? Discovering varied ways of making you come is becoming my obsession. I simply can’t get enough of you, Bethany.”
The weakness invading her body wasn’t new, unlike the sudden knowledge that she was at serious risk of falling in love with this man.
“So, you wanna pick something out and try it? The cross, maybe?” he murmured against her lips.
She wanted to answer yes so badly, her body shook with the desire. It took every ounce of her control to say, “Maybe later.”
His stunned surprise bought her the time she needed. Whirling, she rushed out of the room. She was halfway down the corridor before he caught up with her.
“Bethany?”
“I just need to?—”
He caught her wrist and forced her to stop. “What the hell’s going on?” The worry in his voice was unmistakable.
She shook her head. “All this, what we’re doing… it’s way out of my comfort zone.”
He frowned. “Isn’t that the whole point of what you were doing when we met?”
“Yes. But that doesn’t mean I don’t get to freak out a little every now and then.”
His gaze flicked to the door behind them and back to hers. “And the toy room freaked you out?”
“No. Okay, maybe a little. But right now, I just want to take a little breather.”
He inhaled sharply. “A little breather? What exactly does that mean?”
She bit her lip. “No sex. For one day.”
“No. Hell, no.”
“Zach—”
“Bethany,” he growled back. His lips were pinched, and the lines bracketing his mouth had deepened. “I’ll give you whatever you want, except that.”
“But that is what I want. I can’t think straight when we’re like this.” She waved a hand between them.
He stepped up, closing the gap between them. He slid both hands around her nape and tipped her head up. “I don’t want you thinking straight. I want you as mindless with me as I am with you.”
“Zach, this is insane…”
He stared down at her for several seconds before he sighed. “It’s not insane, but you win. No sex for the rest of the day.”
“Really?” She wasn’t sure how to take his capitulation.
Leaning down, he skimmed her mouth with his. “Don’t sound so pleased. All you’re doing is torturing us both. Unnecessarily. But I guess we can try and occupy our time some other way. Go get dressed. I have an idea of what we can do.”
She smiled then quickly straightened her features when he frowned at her glee.
“Umm, anything in particular I should know?”
He shook his head, stepped back and took her hand. “It’s a surprise. But you’ll need to dress comfortably, preferably in pants. And you’re allowed to wear panties. Just this once.”
Intrigued, she slowly nodded. They entered his room and he drew to a stop. “What?” she asked.
“I don’t think I should be in here. Go shower and get ready. I’ll use another bathroom.”
Her gaze slid over his mouthwatering body to the rampant erection that hadn’t subsided. Desire slammed into her so hard she wondered what she’d been thinking when she’d asked for no sex.
“I… umm…” God, even talking was hard.
His nostrils flared, and he took a step back. “Go, Bethany.”
She turned and headed for the shower. She didn’t need to glance back to know his eyes were riveted on her ass. The sizzling hot sensation all over her skin was evidence enough.
* * *
Despite being a little pissed off at the no sex stipulation, Zach was glad to get out of the house for a few hours.
Although she’d been the one to give voice to it, the slippery, out-of-control feeling he’d experienced since he’d brought Bethany to Marrakech was escalating quickly. The fact that he wanted to carry on regardless was even more unsettling.
He hadn’t felt this unsettled, this helpless, since six years ago. Since… Farrah.
He stiffened at the realization.
Beside him at the back of his SUV, Bethany glanced up at him. “Hey, you giving me the silent treatment?” she teased, although her eyes held a trace of wariness.
He smiled distractedly, still unable to process the single thought blazing across his mind.
Farrah.
The one person he didn’t want to think about. Especially not while he was with Bethany.
And yet… he’d brought Bethany here, to the one place guaranteed to make him think about what had happened six years ago. Of all his properties around the world, he’d chosen this one…
Christ, a therapist would have a field day with him.
Soft hands caressed his cheek, bringing him back to the present. He captured Bethany’s hand and kissed her knuckles.
Her smile held a tinge of relief, and he realized he’d been mostly silent for the last half hour.
The SUV turned into a dirt road, and a row of Bedouin tents swung into view. He flashed her a return smile.
“Ready for your surprise?”
“Umm, no. I’m not loving that look in your eye there, Savage.”
His grin widened, and the ache inside his chest loosened a little. Easing a finger down her cheek, he leaned in close. “I won’t let anything bad happen to you, but I can’t promise that you won’t be thrilled out of your mind.”
“Huh. That terrifies me even more.”
He laughed as they pulled up to the largest tent. The red and gold structure stood in the middle of the encampment. Several Bedouin natives greeted them and led them inside. Large plump cushions lay scattered on Persian carpets, and unlit Moroccan lamps had been strung up across the highest point of the tent.
The scene looked like something out of a movie, and Zach watched as Bethany took it in.
“Okay, I’m liking it so far, but why do I get the feeling I’m in a holding pattern right before I get Punk’d or something?”
He took her hand and tugged her forward. “Have a little faith, Peaches. If I decided to punk you, you’d never see it coming.”
He opened the flap at the other side of the tent and her outraged curse froze on her lips.
She gaped at the mostly white camel that stood gazing back at her from half a dozen feet away. Several more camels were scattered in the enclosure, but her gaze returned to the white one.
It moved forward the same time she did. She jerked in surprise and glanced at Zach. “Can I touch it?” she asked in an awed whisper.
“Sure, go ahead.”
She stroked a hand down the animal’s neck then pulled her hand back when it swung its head to glare at her.
“Oops, I don’t think he liked it.”
He laughed. “I think he’s eager to get started.”
“Get started with what?” she asked, the suspicion in her eyes growing.
Zach nodded to the waiting attendants. The first one stepped forward with the chair-like saddle. At a few sharp words in the Bedouin dialect, the animal folded itself gracefully onto the ground.
Several attendants did the same to their animals as a few more guests drifted out of the various tents.
He heard Bethany’s soft gasp. “Umm, I hope this isn’t what I think it is.”
Behind him, Philip stood with the wide-brimmed hat he’d asked him to bring along. Zach took it and placed it on her head. “It’s exactly what you think it is, Peaches. We’re going camel racing.”
A little while later, Bethany shouted with glee as she trotted past him, her grip tight around the two wooden pommels protruding from the saddle.
For the last half hour, they’d ridden deeper into the desert with fifteen other racers. High and low sand dunes undulated across the russet horizon. Beneath them, the red sand kicked up dust as camel feet pounded across it.
The lead Bedouin rider gave a sharp shout, and the animals picked up speed.
Bethany glanced over at Zach again, and his breath caught at the sheer delight in her face. Before now, he’d only seen that look when they’d fucked. He was fast becoming addicted to that look. Hell, he knew it was why he found it damned hard to keep his hands off her. And why he’d pushed thoughts of returning to the real world farther and farther away.
Despite what he’d boldly claimed in Paris, he’d had serious second thoughts as to whether this thing between them could survive outside the bubble he’d placed them in. Sure, everything he’d claimed he could make happen could probably happen, but even he knew there were forces outside his control.
The same forces that had ripped Farrah away from him.
God, why the hell was he thinking about her today? He gritted his teeth as he acknowledged that on some level he’d used sex with Bethany to smother what being here in Marrakech did to him.
But as much as he refused to think about it, he knew he’d have to confront the real world soon enough. Even if he wanted to stay here indefinitely, which he knew he couldn’t, Bethany had a life to return to. A life he craved being part of…
He just needed to come up with a solid plan to make it happen.
“Earth to Savage.”
He refocused on the woman who sat atop the white camel, her long hair lifting in the breeze. “Are you enjoying yourself, Peaches?”
“Hell, yeah, I’m loving every minute of it.” Her gaze dropped to his mouth, and she licked her lips. The knowledge that she wanted to kiss him made his gut clench as fiery lust tore through him. “Thank you.”
“You can thank me properly later,” he replied.
Her eyes darkened, and her grip tightened on the saddle. The temptation to lean in and kiss her threatened to overcome him.
The sharp cry of the lead Bedouin rider brought a welcome distraction.
Their eyes met again with a look that made his insides sizzle, then he kicked the flanks of his camel and turned it around.
Having grown more confident with each minute in the saddle, Bethany turned her own mount and lined up with the rest of the racers.
The look she sent him as the race leader raised his pistol was both challenging and exhilarating. At the shot, she dug her heels hard into her mount and sprinted away. Zach let her take the lead, content to bask in her excitement and watch the enticing shape of her ass from directly behind her.
Her determination saw her come second, and he grinned as she whooped with triumph and waved her hat over her head like a conquering marauder.
He brought his camel close to hers. As soon as they dismounted, he tugged her to him.
God, he loved how she felt in his arms. So much so that a thread of fear knifed through his pleasure. But it wasn’t nearly enough for him to loosen his hold on her.
“Hey, Peaches,” he murmured softly.
“Hey,” she responded, sliding her hands around his waist. Her breath washed over his face, and he swallowed hard.
“Are you sore?”
She groaned and moved gingerly. “More than I’ve ever been in my life.”
He gave a low laugh and moved in closer, so his next words wouldn’t be overheard. “Hmm, I must not be fucking you right, then.”
Her fingers tightened convulsively around his waist. “Damn, only you would take that as a challenge. This is an entirely different soreness, Savage.”
God, he even loved it when she called him Savage. He glanced at her full mouth, every cell in his body screaming to taste her. He forced himself to stay still, to be respectful of his surroundings. “Come and have some lunch. Then I’ll take you to a place where we’ll make things all better.”
“Another surprise?”
He nodded. “You’ll love this one, too. I promise.”
* * *
Bethany emerged from the changing room in the luxury spa, which Zach had brought her to after the camel racing, and smiled at the attendant who handed her a thick robe.
“This way, please.”
The attendant led her along a corridor with taupe-colored walls. Short candles ensconced in the walls provided soft romantic lighting. Hypnotic Eastern music played over invisible speakers. Through arched windows, a gentle breeze carried gorgeous scents from the carefully manicured gardens. She sighed as the attendant opened a door and stood aside to let her through.
The room was decorated in gold and silver mosaic tiles and held a massage table. A white curtain had been drawn across the middle of the room, hiding what lay beyond.
Curious, she took a step towards it. She gasped when it slid back and Zach emerged from behind it. The white towel tied around his waist did nothing to hide his virility.
Her heartbeat soared as her gaze slid helplessly over his damp skin. With firm hands on her shoulders, he turned her round and walked her back to the massage table.
“Time for your massage.”
He tugged her robe off her shoulders, hung it behind the door and turned the lock before returning to help her onto the table.
“Is it worth me even asking if you’re allowed to do this here?”
“Do what? You’ve instituted a no-sex day, remember? I’m just here to make sure you have the best possible time. Without sex.”
The sharp pang of disappointment made her bite her lip as she settled on the table.
He reached across her to grab the bottle containing amber-colored liquid. The flex of his abs and the warmth of his golden skin made her want to retract her no-sex stipulation and jump him right there and then.
But being away from his house, watching him interact with others during the race and lunch, and sitting beside him on what she could probably call their first date had shown her that she wanted Zachary Savage outside of the bedroom, too. She wanted more dates. Wanted to know more about him than what made him hard and how long he could hold on to his control in bed.
To do that, she needed to be able to withstand seeing him like this and not touching. She needed to feel his hands on her and think her way through it. Otherwise sex would be all they would have.
Her breath caught.
What the hell happened to just having fun?
She caught his gaze on her and squeezed her eyes shut. She wasn’t ready to answer that question, wasn’t ready to acknowledge that something was happening to her that scared the shit out of her.
His hands slid up her midriff, and she fought the slide into insanity.
Was it worth contemplating a future with this man? Her every instinct screamed yes, but her head cautioned against it.
Zach had said in Paris that they wouldn’t be over after this trip.
And yet, after a week, she didn’t know more than a handful of facts about the man who’d fulfilled every single one of her sexual fantasies.
Falling in love with him—if she allowed herself to fall in love with him—would be like falling in love with a ghost.
“I can hear you thinking, Peaches. You’re as stiff as a board. Relax.”
She cleared her mind of her troubling thoughts and gave in to the firm, hypnotically soothing massage.
She was drifting away on a blissful sea of pleasure when his hand drifted over her shoulders and fell away.
“You ticked an item on your list you didn’t even know you had with the camel racing. How about we conquer something else?”
She slowly opened her eyes. A small smile lifted the corners of his mouth, but his eyes were serious. “What are you talking about?” she asked, her sense of comfort evaporating.
He picked her up off the table and slowly lowered her to her feet. Twining her fingers with his, he led her to the curtain and grasped one end of it.
“Your muscles are still sore. I think a warm bath will work wonders?—”
Fear congealed in her gut. “No. The massage and shower was all I needed.”
“Bethany…”
“Zach—”
She stopped when he slid the curtain back. The square sunken bath was laid with mosaic tiles like the rest of the room. Steam rose from the water on which floated rose petals, and the scent of eucalyptus oil assailed her senses as she walked in.
But nothing could dissipate her fear as she stared at the water.
Dropping his towel, he faced her.
“Do you trust that I won’t let anything happen to you?” he asked, his voice firm and solid.
She shook her head at what he was asking. “Trusting you isn’t the issue here, Zach. I just don’t think… I can’t do it.”
“You’re letting fear win. You’re letting that asshole who hurt you win.”
A sliver of anger pierced her fear. “And you’re psyching me into doing something I don’t want to do. Is that fair?” she whispered.
“No. But I’d rather play a little dirty than let you continue to live with the fear.”
He stepped into the water. It only came halfway up his calf.
She glanced up at him in surprise and he lifted one brow. “You think I’d put you in deep water the first time you attempt this?”
“I didn’t say I was going to do this.”
His fingers tightened around hers. “Be brave. Let me help you do this.”
She looked from him to the water. She took a step closer and realized she could just about make out the bottom of the bath. Her heart thumped against her ribs as she forced herself not to think about what had happened to her the last time she’d been near a body of water. But the memory of being submerged, of feeling her lungs burst with the lack of oxygen as strong hands forced her under, was too strong.
With a choked gasp she tried to free herself, to get away from the terrifying feeling.
Zach leapt out of the water and caught her to him. He kissed her temple, then buried his face in her hair and held her tight as shudders raked her body.
“It’s okay. We don’t have to do this right now, if you don’t want to.”
She squeezed her eyes shut, but the scent of the bath remained in her nostrils. Holding on to him, she slowly opened her eyes.
For almost ten years, she’d let fear rule her life.
You’re letting that asshole who hurt you win .
“Come on, baby. I’m sorry for pushing you to do this.” He slid an arm around her waist and turned her towards the showers at the opposite end of the room.
Her feet started to dig in. “Wait.”
He stilled but said nothing, grey eyes boring into hers.
“I want to do this.”