STORY EXCERPT

The black Lincoln stretch limousine pulled up beside the Riva tender at the dock in Key West Harbor. Ivorie James waited patiently on the wharf for her boss, Andrew Blessingame, to exit the car. Her heart was beating hard in her chest, and the anxiety he always elicited in her was palpable. She hoped it didn’t show in her demeanor.

As his second administrative assistant, and only having worked for him for a year, she was very nervous about this trip. She had arrived at the Golden Dolphin yesterday to set up their mobile office in the twin cabin adjoining her quarters. She had diligently attended to every detail and hoped she had anticipated his every need. She had hooked up the fax, scanner, copy machine, and printers, as well as two computers with wireless Internet access. Since much of the direct contact she had had with him during the past year had not been very pleasant, she had been surprised to be the one picked to accompany Mr. Blessingame on this three-week cruise. She was not his senior assistant and didn’t see why she should have the dubious honor. Ms. Martha Winthrop, the very efficient and austere senior assistant, had said she was needed at corporate headquarters and could not be spared to take the trip.

The Golden Dolphin was at anchor in deep water out in the harbor. The gleaming three-hundred-foot yacht had a pristine white superstructure with a dark-blue hull. The huge boat with its helicopter resting on the upper aft deck and two tenders occupying the tender garages at the water line was a stunning sight. After signing the confidentiality agreement, which had given her pause for thought, she had been given a tour of the five decks, which besides suites and cabins also contained various public dining and entertainment rooms, a spa, gym, hot tub, pool, and other luxurious amenities.

The chief steward and purser, Casey Campbell, had shown Ivorie through the large Master Suite that Mr. Blessingame would occupy, as well as the two adjoining twin cabins one deck down that would be her quarters and office. Casey had told her that the ship could accommodate thirty-six passengers and a crew of twenty-one and had shown her through some of the fifteen large, luxuriously appointed guest suites that were still unoccupied. As the first passenger to board, although she felt she was really more of an employee than a guest, she had dined with the crew in their dining and recreation room. It had been fun, and she’d enjoyed the playful interaction between the crew members. They were always ready with a smile or a joke. She thought it was kind of them to include her since she was at loose ends.

Now Ivorie would have to ride out to the Golden Dolphin with Mr. Blessingame on the ten-meter Riva. Next to the enormous yacht, the tender looked very small. There was no way to avoid being close to Mr. Blessingame, and Mr. Blessingame made her very nervous. She hoped she didn’t stutter and stumble all over herself. Although she had graduated near the top of her class four years ago with a business degree from Columbia University, the tough economic environment and the rigors of this job had tested her self-confidence. She was somewhat unsure of her office skills and a bit timid. She had really just wanted to get her foot in the door at Blessingame Holdings with an eye to something more challenging in the future. She had been a business major after all. Little did she know how challenging working for Drew Blessingame would be. Ivorie did her best to camouflage her insecurities with tailored business suits and sensible pumps. She wore her long, wavy blonde hair tamed into a competent bun at the nape of her neck. She walked toward the limousine with trepidation in her steps just as the chauffeur opened the door to the rear passenger compartment.

Andrew Blessingame, Drew to his few friends, got out and turned to the chauffeur. “Martino, please load my luggage onto the tender.” He turned to Ivorie and said, “Good afternoon, Ms. James. I assume our office is in order on board and everything is ready for our departure.” Of course, he would just naturally assume that everything was as he expected it to be. Men like Andrew Blessingame didn’t ask.

“Yes, sir.” Ivorie had a little hitch in her voice. She certainly hoped all was in readiness. Mr. Blessingame was not known for his patience with incompetent staff, and she had felt the rough side of his tongue on more than one occasion. This was the first time she had seen him out of a three-piece suit, except once when he was in his office with his sleeves rolled up his muscular forearms. Oh, geez, scratch that thought.

He looked relaxed and gorgeous in Dockers with a polo shirt stretched across his broad chest, the wind blowing his wavy, light-brown hair across his forehead. He also looked sexy as sin, but she had better not think about that either. She had a hard enough time keeping her composure in his presence without remembering some of the fantasies she had entertained about him over the last year. Well, they’re my fantasies after all…my private thoughts not to be shared. She couldn’t see the expression in his eyes through the lenses of the dark sunglasses he wore, but his face was not creased in a smile. Well, she hadn’t seen many smiles on his face up to this point. Why should she hope for one now? Ah, hope springs eternal…but this promises to be a very, very long three weeks.

ADULT EXCERPT

Drew gazed into her eyes. They looked a bit heavy. She couldn’t be sleepy. If she said she was tired and wanted to call it a night, he thought he might cry like a baby. He took the wine glass from her hand, put it on the table next to his brandy snifter, and gently pulled her into his arms. And then, no longer gentle, he crushed his mouth down on her ripe, red lips in a hard kiss. He coaxed her lips open to accept his tongue as their mouths melded. He ran his hands down her back and, cupping her round bottom, pulled her tight against his hard shaft. She whimpered and burrowed into his chest as he savaged her delicate lips. His tongue plunged into her mouth, and she opened to him. He groaned in relief. She wanted this as much as he did. Drew continued to feast on her mouth as he skimmed his hand over the swell of her breasts. He slipped his fingers into the lacy bra cupping her high, round breasts and skimmed them over the pebbled raspberry tips. She shivered.

“I want to make love to you, Ivorie. If you don’t want to you’d better leave right now. If you stay much longer I don’t know if I will be able to stop.”

* * * *

Ivorie looked into his smoldering hazel eyes and unbuttoned his shirt. The deep timbre of his voice sent a rush of excitement skittering up her spine. She didn’t fully understand it, but she knew she wanted this with every fiber of her being. After all, two days ago she couldn’t stand the sight of him. Well, that was then, and this is now! She ran her hands down his chest. His skin was like silk over steel, smooth and hairless. Her fingers paused to learn each ridge and valley of his washboard abs.

Ivorie smiled in anticipation as she pushed the shirt off his broad shoulders, and her fingers moved down to unbutton his waistband. She pushed his slacks down his muscular thighs and was surprised to see he had gone commando. She gulped in a breath. His shaft was at full attention, steel-hard, and more than ready. He was even more beautiful than she had imagined. He stepped out of the slacks and kicked off his alligator moccasins.

“Slow down, girl. Let me have a turn.” He reached into the drawer of the table for a condom and made quick work of suiting up.

“I don’t want to go slow, Drew.” She couldn’t believe how turned on she was. He lifted her dress over her head, and she was left standing in high heels and a silky blue-lace teddy that she knew was beautiful. She had spent more on it and the cami dress than she should have, but the look in his eyes at that moment made it worth every outrageous penny. “Make love to me.”

He picked her up in his arms and headed toward the bedroom. Ivorie tightened her arms around his neck as he leaned down to push the multitude of plush throw pillows off the king-size bed and put her gently down. She kicked her shoes off and smiled up at him as she pulled him down next to her. She thought her behavior might be just a bit brazen, and that wasn’t like her at all, but she couldn’t help herself. Apparently she had harbored some feelings for Drew Blessingame that even she wasn’t aware of—and they hadn’t all been hostile.

* * * *

Drew flipped the snaps between her thighs open and pushed the blue silk out of the way. Then he pulled the teddy off over her head, leaving her naked. He ran his fingers over her smooth mound and found the little bundle of nerves at the apex. He pushed the hood back and skimmed his fingers lightly over her clit, and she gasped and arched her back in response. He continued the sweet torture with his mouth, nibbling and sucking, until he thought she might be getting close. He backed off and turned his attentions to her pulsing, slick center. He dipped two fingers into her pussy to test her readiness. Her body was hot and trembling with want. He kissed her hard and deep, letting her taste herself on his tongue. He didn’t think he could wait another minute.

She pushed him over and straddled his middle, brushing her hot center over his pulsing erection. Her long silky hair brushed over his chest as she rubbed against him until he didn’t think he could stand another minute of the exquisite torture. Finally, when he thought he would explode, she lowered herself onto his hard cock, leaned forward on her forearms, and began to stroke him, slow and easy. She raised and lowered her body, pleasuring herself on his hard cock while he watched the emotions cross her beautiful face. She was the picture of erotic bliss. When he could stand the slow pace no longer, he quickly rolled her over and took command of the situation.