His Virgin Acquisition Part 8

He shrugged. "No. But I will be keeping Jonathan on as an employee if he manages to show up with one in the villa in the next couple of hours."

"Testing the staff?"

"Why not? I'm not an easy boss to please, Elaine. I don't coddle employees. At a resort of this level I will expect nothing less than impeccable service from those who work here. I would like to keep the pa.s.sing of the hotel's ownership as smooth as possible. Keeping the same staff would help immensely. However, I'm not running a charity here, which means I expect perfection or they don't have jobs."

Marco glanced over at her. Her expression was disapproving. A little line creased her alabaster forehead, and her mouth was pursed into an ungenerous pucker.

"You have a problem with this?" he asked, entertained by her show of humanity.

"It doesn't really seem fair to just fire someone if they don't get a BlackBerry charger to you in time."

"If you're going to run a company you're going to have to adopt the same mindset I have. Time is money-cliched, but very true. When people on your staff waste time, they waste your money. When they leave a client dissatisfied, they cost you money. You have good ideas, but if you can't execute them, if you can't hire a team to help you execute them, you won't get anywhere."

The crease between her brows deepened. "I guess I'm a walking example of the lows one has to stoop to in order to make it in the business world."

He laughed darkly. "Just treat everyone the way you treat me and you'll have no trouble being ruthless."

"There's a thought."

Marco watched as Elaine's expression changed from one of recalcitrance to one of wonder.

The car eased around the last curve and the villa came into view.

The Ano Lani villa was made secluded by dense native foliage, and a pond had been built to encircle the house, with a small wooden bridge granting the only access into the grand structure. Floor-to-ceiling windows exposed the villa to billion-dollar views of the crystalline water and the surrounding mountains. It was obvious that the villa itself, no matter how stunningly luxurious, was only a part of what the guests were paying for. The real star was the serene natural beauty of the bay.

"This is...I suppose people pay a lot of money to stay in a place like this?"

He nodded. "Thousands of dollars a night. And with the proper marketing they would pay more than that."

"I can see why you want it."

"It will be a nice addition. Normally I build my resorts from the ground up, but the Ha.n.a.lei Bay area is essentially full, and new construction wouldn't be practical."

They got out of the car, and Marco pulled their luggage out of the trunk of the small vehicle.

Elaine followed, the sight of her temptingly long legs stretching from the McLaren almost more temptation than his starved libido could handle.

"Did you always know you wanted to get into real estate? Your father did manufacturing, didn't he?" she asked.

Coldness invaded his chest-that chill that always pervaded his being when he thought of his b.a.s.t.a.r.d of a father. "My father had no bearing whatsoever on my chosen field." His voice was hard, clipped, and he could tell by the wounded doe look in her eyes that it had shocked her. He didn't really care at that moment. "I've built my business from nothing. It was pure accident that I got work at a real estate office, but not accidental at all that I chose to excel at it-and everything else my corporation has ventured into over the past thirteen years."

He'd figured she would pry further. It was inevitable. Women always wanted to know what a man was thinking. Instead she averted her eyes and began a closer inspection of the villa.

She hurried across the little wooden bridge, running a slender, elegant hand over the rail in a movement so unconsciously seductive that all thoughts of his father were driven straight from his mind. The way her delicate fingers caressed the wood was symbolic in ways he did not need to dwell on.

She walked up the stairs and onto the wraparound deck. He didn't even try to keep his eyes from lingering on her curvaceous figure, on her pert little bottom and her narrow waist.

He noticed that her shoulders visibly sagged with relief when she walked into the expansive living room. "Plenty of places to sleep," she said softly.

He should have had them remove everything but the bed, so that she was forced to choose between the bamboo floor or a night in his arms. Although he'd told her the honest truth when he'd said he'd never had to coerce a woman into his bed. Women usually went all too willingly. But something about her resistance was enticing in a way he hadn't imagined it could be. Of course, something different and new when it came to s.e.x was a rarity for a man of his experience. It was no wonder he found her so intriguing.

He was used to blatant women. Women who stared openly with hungry eyes and practically begged him to take them before they even made it to dinner on the first date. He was a man who enjoyed s.e.x, and had a healthy appet.i.te for it, but lately the game had started to turn him off. It had all started to seem vaguely distasteful. Which was why he'd put off finding an available woman to take the edge off his desire. And probably why Elaine looked as tempting as original sin.

"We'd better get ready for dinner."

Elaine jumped when Marco's husky voice penetrated her thoughts. She turned to look at him and her heart did that weird flipping thing it did whenever she was caught off-guard by his sheer masculine beauty. Which was every time she looked at him.

She might need to get ready for dinner, but he looked as perfect as ever. Not a dark, gleaming hair out of place, his white shirt unb.u.t.toned at the collar, the sleeves pushed up, revealing those delicious forearms again. His black trousers didn't have a wrinkle. With her blond hair frizzing from the humidity, and her blouse and pants showing every hour of the long journey, she felt like one big crease standing next to his perfectly pressed beauty.

She gratefully escaped to the luxurious bathroom. Standing there with him, in a s.p.a.ce that was made for lovers, had probably housed hundreds of them, had seemed much too intimate. And, if she was honest, too tempting. She suddenly knew why it had been so hard for all the girls in high school and college-why so many of them had made fools of themselves over boys. It had been easy for her to act above it all, but the simple fact was that she'd never desired a man in a s.e.xual way before-not truly. Now that she did, she understood the struggle.

There was something about attraction that she'd missed before. She'd liked men, had felt little bouts of b.u.t.terflies in her belly when the object of her affection had walked by. But this...this was different. There was something primitive about it. A physical response that was unrelated to any of the finer feelings she possessed. She might not have any experience with s.e.x, but her body knew what it wanted. And its demands were getting louder with each pa.s.sing minute spent in her husband's company.

She pulled her make-up case out of her luggage and set it on the marble countertop. She turned the handle on the basin sink and splashed cold water on her face and her pulse points in an effort to cool her heated hormones down to a low simmer.

There was no curtain for the shower, only a thick, clear panel of gla.s.s. So no privacy-although she had a feeling that she'd have to shower in a sweater and pants to feel comfortable with Marco so near. Especially given what had happened the last time she'd gotten naked with him nearby. The memory of him walking in on her in the tub made her feel hot with embarra.s.sment. At least that was what she was pretending the heat was from.

She stripped quickly and stepped into the shower, not minding that the water was cool. She rinsed as quickly as possible and ran a razor over all the necessary places before hopping out and dressing in the simple, figure-hugging coral c.o.c.ktail dress that had been pre-selected by Marco for the all-important dinner.

In a rare moment of honesty she admitted to herself that it wasn't the prospect of being walked in on by Marco that had made her cut her shower short. The pulsing spray of the water on her sensitized skin had been too much for her already fired-up hormones to handle. It had made her think of his hands, his fingertips, gliding over her body, and the heavy ache of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and the dull pulsing between her thighs had reached a nearly unbearable level.

She finished getting ready as quickly as possible, tying her frizzing hair into a loose bun and applying a thin layer of make-up before putting on the ridiculous high heels that Marco had chosen for her to pair with the dress. She hurried back into the living room, still fastening the clasp on her delicate silver necklace.

"Ready?" Marco looked as though he'd also just stepped out of the shower, his dark hair damp and curling at the nape of his neck.

She closed her hands into fists, letting the bite of her nails on the tender skin of her palms ground her in reality as she fought the urge to cross the room and sift her fingers through his damp curls. Her heartbeat quickened its pace and a surge of longing washed over her.

She licked her suddenly dry lips. "Yes." Her shaking fingers slipped and she missed the clasp on the necklace.

"Need any help?"

Her heart pounded harder. She was sure, absolutely sure, that he could hear it. "Yes...No..."

He chuckled. "You aren't sure if you need help?"

I'm certain I do need help.

But not the kind he meant. If she were even the tiniest bit sane she would have refused his offer. But it had been one temptation too many.

He moved behind her, his warm, moist breath fanning across her neck. She felt an answering wetness building between her thighs. He put his hand on her nape, his fingers lightly ma.s.saging her in small circles, and pleasure radiated from his touch and spread through her body. Her knees started to feel unsteady.

"You'll have to let go, Elaine."

Oh, she was. She was letting go of everything. Of everything she'd ever believed to be true about herself-of every conviction, every tightly held belief. There was no room for anything but this moment, and everything else-all the fear and the doubt-had to go unheeded.

"Elaine, let go of the necklace."

Her fingers released their hold on the dainty silver chain and a hot flush stole across her cheeks.

His skillful fingers moved against the sensitive skin, and far too soon he'd finished fastening the clasp for her. He pulled his hands away, and the loss of his touch left her feeling bereft somehow.

Slowly the fog of her arousal, the fog that had descended the moment they'd entered this tropical paradise, began to lift. She couldn't let this happen. He was the kind of man who used and discarded women with all the ease that most people had changing socks-definitely not the kind of man to get involved with. Even if he hadn't been the absolute wrong man, it was absolutely the wrong time for her to get involved with someone. But that didn't stop the restless ache of desire that left her feeling hollow and unsatisfied.

"Thank you," she murmured, hoping he didn't notice the throaty tone her voice had suddenly adopted. She stepped away from him, hoping that distance would bring some sort of relief from the intense, unconscionable attraction that she felt for him.

He reached out and took her hand, drawing her back into the warmth of his body. "Ready for dinner, amore mia?"

Chapter Seven.

MARCO couldn't help but be impressed with Elaine's performance over dinner. She came across as bright, confident and witty. James Preston was eating from the palm of her hand in a matter of minutes. The older man was completely taken in by her charm and intelligence. Which Marco knew should please him. Instead, primal possessiveness surged through him.

He moved closer to Elaine, wrapping his arm around her delicate waist and drawing her to him, smoothing his fingers along her silk-covered flesh. He felt a slight tremor race through her body at the light contact.

"So, Marco," James said, sliding nearer to his own wife, "I understand you find it old-fashioned of me to have a vested interest in what will become of the resort when I retire and sell out. But I built it up from the ground. This was my first great success and it has sentimental meaning to me. I want to be sure that I'm pa.s.sing it on to someone who will preserve the integrity of the property."

"And I intend to. I will be keeping it privately owned, so that I retain total control of what goes on. My vision is to keep it exclusive-perhaps even make it more so." Marco began to outline his plan for creating an even more exclusive clientele base for the hotel, while increasing profits and improving the local economy.

"And your lovely wife will be involved in the process?" James gave Elaine a glowing look, and Marco tightened his hold on her.

"My wife will be as involved as she wishes." He couldn't keep the biting edge from his voice.

James raised his gray eyebrows. "Well, he's quite possessive, isn't he?" He directed his question to Elaine.

A mischievous glint shone in her eyes. "Marco's such a charming antique." She ran a slender hand down his arm and gave him a look that was so falsely adoring he could have laughed had he not been so concerned about the words that were coming out of her mouth. "He has quite a reputation with women, as I'm sure you know, but I've tamed him pretty successfully. Of course there are moments when his inner caveman appears."

James's redheaded wife Kim quirked a smile, and spoke for the first time since they'd sat down at the dinner table. "Isn't that the way it is with all men?"

"You behave," James said playfully.

And just like that the tone of the conversation swayed from business and onto personal topics.

Marco had to admit that Elaine had a way with people. She could be engaging when she wanted to be, and none of her usual frosty reserve was on display for the Prestons.

Marco made an appointment to meet with James in the morning, and cut the dinner short before more drinks. As a rule he didn't drink much. He didn't like to dull his senses. And around Elaine Chapman he was going to need his mind functioning at its best. The last thing he needed was to have his decisions made through the soft, smoky haze of alcohol.

She walked ahead of him out of the restaurant, her hips swaying, encased lovingly in that form-fitting little dress. She was like a bright tropical flower, or a piece of luscious fruit. Forbidden fruit. He had made her off-limits. A notion that was completely foreign to him. A notion that made her appear all the more succulent.

She moved to the pa.s.senger side of the car, her body hidden from him by the dark shadows of the azalea bushes that lined the asphalt. He caught up to her and pulled her against him. The little hitch in her breath was the only sound she made to express her surprise. "So I'm a caveman, am I?" He placed his hands on her waist and drew her nearer, allowing her to feel the steel of his erection pressed against the curve of her bottom.

"It's not the first time I've said it," she said, her voice breathless.

"You were supposed to behave yourself," he growled low, bringing his lips so close to her ear that he brushed the tender skin.

"You mean I was supposed to play silent accessory, like James's wife?"

"Men like women who do as they're told." He skimmed his fingers from the indent in her waist to the underside of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

"Well, that's too bad. I don't suppose I'll be having much luck with men."

He chuckled. "Cara mia, I don't believe that for a moment. You are walking temptation."

She drew in a breath. "Even when I'm being mouthy?"

"Especially then."

She leaned her head back for a moment, her body relaxing, her curves molding to fit against him. He pressed a kiss to her neck and she stiffened. "Stop."

He released her. "Why?" Somewhere between the restaurant and the car he'd decided he didn't need to fight his attraction for her anymore. As long as he stayed in control of the situation, and there was no doubt that he would, there could be no harm in indulging in an affair with her. He found it easy to indulge in the pleasures of the flesh without engaging his emotions, and in his experience a modern woman viewed s.e.x much the same way.

Elaine lowered her eyes. "It will make things...complicated."

He cupped her cheek and tilted her face up, forcing her to meet his gaze. "There's nothing complicated about s.e.x."

"Maybe not for you."

But Elaine knew that for her it would be. Dinner had been akin to torture. Watching him talk business, seeing him in his element, a ruthless light in his eyes as he spoke about his plans for the resort, the confidence he exuded, the arrogance...It had been the most spectacularly s.e.xy thing she'd ever seen in her life. More than that, he'd made her feel far too much. Not just desire, but other things. She'd been proud of him, had felt possessive. She hadn't liked the way Kim Preston had eyed Marco's spectacular physique-not that she could blame the other woman-but then Elaine's gaze had locked on the platinum wedding band on Marco's left hand and one word had run through her mind: mine.

And that was wrong. He wasn't hers. And he never could be. Neither should she want him to be!

She felt as if she was dangling from the last thin shred of her resistance. If she let go, if she lost her grip, she was going to go tumbling down into the abyss beneath her, and climbing back out would be nearly impossible.

"There's nothing complex about this," he said, his voice a low, s.e.xy whisper that vibrated through her, sending Shockwaves of longing through her being. "This is the most basic thing in the world. Man and woman. Desire and satisfaction."

The promise in his voice almost stole her resolve then and there. "Marco, I'm tired and jet lagged. Let's go back to the villa."

She knew the absence of a firm no coming from her lips did not escape his notice. She honestly hadn't been able to muster up the will to give him one. She knew it was dangerous, going back to the Ano Lani without a definitive decision in place, but maybe that was what she wanted. She was honest enough to admit, at least in that moment, that she wanted to leave the door open a little bit. She didn't want to lose all possibility of making love with him-not when so much of her desired it so intensely.

They took the ride back to the hotel in silence. Elaine tried to steady her breathing, to get a handle on the riot of sensations and emotions that were tumbling through her usually predictable body. Where was her cool head now? When she most needed that level, a.n.a.lytical part of her personality it had deserted her like a rat off a sinking ship. Almost as if it wanted no part in the impending disaster.

No. There would be no disaster. She could control herself. The problem was that she wasn't entirely certain she wanted to control herself.

She leapt from the car the moment it came to a stop in front of the villa, needing desperately to put some distance between Marco and herself so that she could clear her head.

She felt rather than heard him enter the room behind her. "I'll sleep on the couch," she offered quickly. "You're a lot...bigger than I am."

He shrugged. "Suit yourself. I have some work to finish up before I head to bed. I'll be in the office."

"Did the BlackBerry charger show up?"

He chuckled, the sound spreading through her like melting b.u.t.ter. "As a matter of fact it did."