“You don’t have to—” I begin to protest.
“You just got stranded on a remote island and dissed big time by your own flesh and blood,” Devlin points out. “That’s got to be the shittiest morning on record. At least let me buy you some goddamn pancakes or something, all right?”
“All right,” I allow, intrigued by if cautious of Devlin’s hospitality. “If you insist.”
One short stack of pancakes and three strong cups of coffee later, I’m starting to feel more like a human being again. Devlin doesn’t say much as I tuck into my food, but I can feel his curious gaze on me all the while. He probably doesn’t know what to make of me. Between my brazen response to his attention last night, our lusty make out on the dance floor, my panic this morning, and the odd new tidbit about me being Juliet’s sister, I must be as much of a mystery to him as he is to me.
And to be honest, I kind of like that.
“Think I’ll hop in the shower and hose down,” he says, rising from the wide window seat we’ve been sharing.
“OK,” I reply, drawing my knees into my chest, “You do that.”
“You wanna join me or what?” he asks devilishly, tucking a long lock of black hair behind my ear.
More than anything, I think to myself. But out loud I manage to squeak, “I’m good.”
“Your loss,” Devlin shrugs, and strides off into the cavernous bathroom. I wait until I hear the water start to run, then dart across the room to my purse. My fingers are trembling as I root around for my cell. Who the hell can I even call for help? I can’t very well phone the police, or the coast guard, or—god forbid—my parents. That only leaves one option.
“Logan!” Emma cries, taking my call on the first ring, “Where the hell are you? You said you’d be back—”
“There’s been a bit of a snag in the plan, Em,” I whisper, leaning back against wall. “I seem to have...missed my ride.”
“Good god,” Emma groans. I can practically hear her slap her palm against her forehead. “Well, when’s the next boat leaving? Or there like, a schedule, or—?”
“Not exactly,” I mutter reluctantly. “Word is, there won’t be another yacht rolling through for another week.”
Emma is speechless, trying to process this turn of events.
“You’re stuck out there...for two weeks?” she asks breathlessly. “Those bitches left without you this morning?”
“That would seem to be the case,” I reply weakly. “But don’t panic, or—”
“What do you mean, don’t panic!” she sputters, “How are you not panicking?”
“I have no idea,” I tell her honestly, “Probably, I’m in shock or something. Last night was...I don’t even know how to begin talking about it. This place is unreal. There are no rules, no inhibitions, no limits.”
“Did you get a glimpse of that Vile character?” she asks, “The one FootSolider wants you to write about?”
“Did I ever,” I laugh, glancing up at the bathroom door. “He was my...date for the evening. So to speak.”
“What?!” she screeches. I hold the phone away from my ear as her voice rises in volume and pitch. “You spent the night with a murderer?! Did you guys—?”
“No! No, of course not,” I hurry to assure her. “I mean, we danced for a while. And definitely kissed. And I may have slept in his bed.”
“Logan!”
“But we didn’t have sex or anything, I promise,” I tell her, “I’m just doing my job, trying to figure out what he’s all about. What this place is all about.”
“And how are you planning to figure him out?” she presses, “That sounds like a euphemism if I’ve ever heard one.”
Before I can answer, I hear the shower shut off. Devlin will be out any second.
“I have to go,” I tell Emma, dropping my voice to a whisper. “I just want you to know I’m safe, and I’ll find a way to get home. Nothing’s going to happen to me, I’ll be just fine. Oh, and also, Juliet is here. I just ran into her, literally.”
“You’re gonna drop that on me and hang up, aren’t you?” Emma asks.
“Afraid so,” I reply.
“Just tell me one thing before you go,” she insists. “This kiss with Devlin Vile. How the hell was it?”
“It was...incredible,” I breathe. “Just incredible.”
But before Emma can say another word, the bathroom door swings open. I promptly stuff my phone back in my purse and try to play it cool as a cloud of steam rolls out through the open door. I’m about to speak up when Devlin’s towering form emerges like a ship cutting through a thick fog. And all at once, I forget every word I’ve ever known.
He stands in the doorway, fresh from the shower. His strong, balanced form manages to be intimidating, even in this moment of relaxation. Rivulets of water run down his thick arms, his hard chest, the muscular “V” of his waist. But for all of this, there’s one detail of Devlin’s appearance that trumps all, at this moment…
He hasn’t got a stitch of clothing on his entire body.
Devlin stands entirely naked before me, a faint smile spreading across his lips as he catches sight of my gobsmacked expression. I try and keep my eyes from wandering all along the delicious length of him, but I’m nowhere near strong willed enough to control my gaze. My eyes skim down his muscular chest and torso, landing squarely on that other muscle. The one I’ve been secretly wondering about since I felt it pressed against me so urgently last night on the dance floor.
I feel my mouth fall open as I take in the sight of Devlin’s staggering cock. Never in my life have I thought that the male anatomy was particularly beautiful on its own...until now, that is. Long, thick, the perfect shapely line, it’s something to behold in its own right. And most astoundingly, it’s already hard. And getting harder with every second I keep my eyes fixed on its gorgeous length.
“Can you blame me?” Devlin asks, his voice low and lusty. “There happens to be a sexy woman sitting in my bedroom, after all.”
“Does this hotel have a no-towel policy, or something?” I ask softly, trying to force some levity into my voice.