Blue Moon Dragon (9 page)

“Follows orders,” he growled. If Emma decided to disobey, he wasn’t certain of his next actions. Maybe he should introduce a bit of kink. Keep her busy with new experiences. And definitely a blindfold because if he didn’t make haste, it was going to take time for the scales to fade back into his skin. “A submissive does what they’re told without questioning. I’m not sure you could manage.”

“Of course I can,” she snapped.

Jack grinned at her indignation. A sharp, nagging pain knifed him in the gut, making him fold forward in agony. Damn, if he didn’t hurry, he’d land in trouble. He cast a belligerent gaze toward the window. The moon was almost full, and he could feel its siren pull with every particle of his body. Another sharp twinge made him grunt. Fuck, he hoped Emma was as ready for his possession as he thought, because he wouldn’t manage gentle tonight.

Jack ambled up to Emma and gingerly ran his finger pads over the silky smooth skin of her back, taking care not to scratch her with his claws.

“Spread your legs farther apart,” he whispered, hoping she wouldn’t notice the changed timbre of his voice. Generally, his vocal cords changed slowly, allowing him to speak in a growl before he shifted. Once he changed, all he could do was grunt or roar.

Emma widened her stance, drawing his attention to the full cheeks of her ass. He stepped up behind her so the fronts of his thighs brushed the backs of her legs.

“You feel hot.”

“I am.” Jack curled his hand around his cock and brushed the tip across the soft flesh of her backside. The resulting jolt ran the length of his body. He changed the direction, massaging his tip down the crevice between her ass cheeks.

Jack fingered her, skimming his fingers across the sensitive nub nestled in her core.

“Ohhh,” she whispered, shifting her weight slightly and pushing her arse outward.

The soft moan reverberated, and his lips quirked as he leaned closer to nip the sensitive cords of her neck. Emma was responsive with no pretenses. No secrets. Jack’s hands snaked around to cup her breasts in his hands. Guilt rose but he shoved it aside. He had a job to do, and this was the best way to complete his mission.

“I’m wet for you now,” she complained. “You must have noticed.
Ohhh!
Do that again.”

A muscle jumped in his jaw and his cock swelled impossibly tight at her sexy sound. Jack kissed her shoulder again then sucked on her flesh. “You ready for me to fuck you?”

“Yesss,” Emma hissed with a trace of impatience.

Jack felt the absurd need to hold himself in check, to savor this experience, but he already balanced on the line between pleasure and pain. He pumped his cock with one hand then pushed into her warmth. Fuck. So damn good. The feel of her—tight, clinging. Grasping his dick so sweetly. Enough to send a man mad or keep a taniwha sane. God, she felt so good. Deep shudders shook him as he stroked, hard and fast into her heat.

Thank God, the change had slowed. His claws retracted a fraction. The closeness with Emma and the charged hormones running through him had pushed the dragon back to its den. Scales still glinted beneath his skin, but he could explain the phenomena away if necessary.

“More,” Emma demanded. Although she’d been skeptical about him taking her against a wall, he’d made her so hot, so quickly she could barely think. All she could do was feel. Jack slid a hand over her belly then lower, to rub her clit. His cock filled her impossibly full, possessing her and stamping ownership. Frissons of excitement swelled to a heady spill of pleasure. Another pass of his finger pushed her over the edge and she shattered—a full body experience with fireworks of color flickering behind her eyelids. Her breaths came in harsh pants, echoed by a grunt as Jack pumped into her then held still, his cock expelling semen deep inside her.

She sighed as the ripples of pleasure kept coming, gentler now, but still consuming. Already, she wanted another turn. Jack had her hooked, literally addicted, and she didn’t think she’d ever manage to look at another man again.

He nuzzled her shoulder, his chest pressed against her back. He pulled out of her, removed the condom and led her over to the bed. They stared at each other for a long moment. Jack looked away first, glancing at the mirror above the bar.

“Interested in trying out some of the toys you’ve won?” he asked.

“Yes, please.” Happiness suffused Emma without warning. Sometimes, it seemed as if Jack was making love to her against his will. But if he wanted to play with toys, then it must be her imagination. She plucked her box of goodies off the bedside table and handed it to him. “What do you want to do first?”

She took pleasure in watching him as he studied the contents of the box. His face was in the dark, his hair tousled, making him look mysterious and sexy. She leaned closer, brushing her breasts against his dragon tattoo.

Jack chose two items from the box and handed them to her. A glowing thing that resembled a penis but had a sort of handle at the end. Emma read the packaging and felt hot all over. A butt plug. She’d liked it when Jack had touched her there before. Excitement rose inside at the thought of trying something new. The other was a jar of chocolate paste. Emma turned the package over to read the instructions. There were several illustrations of breasts decorated with the paste and made to resemble edible items. A snigger emerged. “Which one are we going to try?”

Jack grinned suddenly, making Emma catch her breath and stare. So sexy. She wanted to soak in the warmth and wallow in his attention. “I’ve always liked Christmas pudding,” he murmured, reclaiming the package from her. He opened it, and the deep, rich scent of chocolate filled the air. Emma watched as he dipped his finger into the jar. He raised it to his lips and licked the paste away.

Desire unfurled in her belly. He pushed her back against the pillows and bent to take a nipple in his mouth. Jack drew hard. And just like that, Emma was hot and ready for another round. Needy. Desperate. Why play with toys when she had the real thing?

“Jack?”

He glanced up, his dark eyes glowing strangely.
A quirk of the light
. “I need you inside me,” Emma said. “We have all night. We can play with toys later.”

Maintaining her gaze, he set the jar aside and reached for a condom. He covered his erection with calm, confident moves. “Just a little chocolate,” he murmured. “I want to taste it on your skin.”

Emma shivered at the avid note in his voice. No doubt about it—she was gonna die a happy woman.

* * * * *

“You like Thai food, too?” Emma paused in the middle of applying suntan lotion, ready to hit the pool straight after breakfast. “There’s a great Thai restaurant near Botany Downs. We should go out for dinner when we get back to Auckland.”

“We’re not a couple.” The flat and final tone of his voice made Emma stare.

Shock punched her in the lungs, stealing her breath. “I thought—”

Jack scowled. “Emma. I’m a male, and I need sex. You’re handy and willing. It’s as simple as that.”

Her mouth opened then snapped shut. Her jaw worked but words jammed in her throat. She swallowed once. Twice. After coughing, she managed to squeeze out a few words. “What you’re saying is that our affair comes to an end once we leave the resort?”

Jack lifted his gaze toward the ceiling. “By George, I think she’s got it.”

“You bastard.” The urge to wrap her hands around his neck and squeeze until he gasped for air struck so strongly she shook with the need. Tempting, but too quick. He needed to suffer. “I have—” She broke off mid-sentence. No way was she letting him trample her feelings more than he had already. Tears built but she fought the feminine weakness. She straightened her shoulders and forced herself to meet his gaze without a flinch. “Fine. At least I know where I stand. I won’t force myself on you again.” Although she tried to keep her voice even, the bite of temper colored it dark and gave her words weight.

Her canvas bag lay beside the bed. Averting her gaze from the ruffled bedcovers, she grabbed it in her left hand. “I’m going out.”

“Where?”

He had no right to demand answers. Her hand fisted so hard, the canvas strap of the bag dug into her palm. “I’m going to breakfast. I missed dinner and I’m starving.”

“Wait five minutes, and I’ll come with you.”

Emma stared at him incredulously.
Obtuse, thick head
. Did he want her to draw attention to them by having the mother of all temper tantrums in public? Because that was a dead cert—if he didn’t quit with the big, bad private investigator act.

“I don’t think so.” Emma terminated the conversation by leaving and shutting the door quietly behind her.

She stomped along the passageway to the front entrance. Despite informing Jack of her intentions to go to breakfast, she headed straight for the gym to start some subtle questioning.

The quicker they solved the case, the sooner she could head home to lick her wounds. The thought gave her pause.

She’d failed in her mission.

Emma glared at the innocent gardener trimming shrubs and stormed down the path to the main part of the resort. Bypassing the restaurant, she continued to the gym.

A blond male, a few years younger than she, manned the reception desk. Highly tanned and muscled, he looked as if he belonged in a fitness ad for a magazine.

“Morning. Can I help you?”

Emma cast aside her sudden doubts. “I’ve never been to a gym before. I thought this week would be a good time to see if I’d like it before I pay for a membership at home. How do I start?” She’d scope out the territory before she asked questions.

“How about a tour of the facilities? How does that sound?” The receptionist—his name badge read Allen—gave her his whole attention, making her feel important and soothing her wounded spirit.

Emma shook free of his charismatic spell and nodded. “That sounds perfect.”

Allen picked up a phone and minutes later another employee who could have been Allen’s twin joined them.

Emma was introduced to various machines and shown the aerobics area, the weights area, the indoor swimming pool where a vigorous water aerobics session was underway. Once again, the instructor was an Allen clone but with red hair this time.

“You all look very fit.” Emma batted her eyelashes at her guide. She paused, hoping he’d pick up the conversation batten. If not, she’d play bimbo and ask stupid questions.

“Most of us are in training. Mahoney Resort enters a triathlon team in the Ironman competitions. I made the team,” he added with modesty.

“That’s awesome.” She fluttered her lashes and peeked at him to judge the effect. Yes, he was lapping up her act. She let a tiny gurgle escape and flashed a grin. “What’s a triathlon?”

“It’s a competition. Competitors swim, they do a bike ride and then they have to run. Have you heard of Martin Hamilton? He won a gold medal at the Olympic games for New Zealand.”

“That’s cool,” Emma cooed, closing the small gap between them. “Have you won a medal?”

“I’m going to one day,” he said with confidence.

How? How did he know that? Or was he just psyching himself up? Positive thinking and all that? Emma thought rapidly, unsure of how hard to push. “Have you been training hard?” Her voice was breathless as she ran her fingers along his bulging biceps. The man was gorgeous with his grin and muscular physique, a real hottie, yet she didn’t feel a thing.

He wasn’t Jack.

Emma’s mouth firmed at the thought. Jack didn’t deserve her loyalty. And now she understood why he had a procession of babes waltzing through his life. Jack didn’t want to commit. He was a coward.

Her guide frowned, and Emma realized she was falling out of character. “Do you?” she prodded.

“I train each day and…” He paused to glance over her shoulder. “I have a special diet.”

“
Ohhh.
” Emma rubbed her finger back and forward across his tanned upper arm. “It’s working.”
What special diet?
she wondered with a trace of frustration. Perhaps if she shook him, she’d rattle the answer loose faster. Flirting wasn’t helping. “I’d like to muscle up. Is there a fast way to do it?”

“You’d need to train every day for a few hours.” His gaze held clear doubt. “Protein shakes might help. And you’d have to diet.”

“Diet?” Bloody cheek of the man.

He shrugged. “The changing rooms and showers are in there. Ladies to the left and men to the right. And that’s about everything.” He halted by a row of stationary bikes facing a large video screen.

People drifted into the gym in ones and twos. Emma was pleased to see there weren’t many people in bright-colored spandex, the vision that popped into her head whenever she thought of a gym. Most people wore comfortable shorts and a T-shirt similar to her sleeveless top and stretchy back shorts.

Emma smiled brightly. “Okay. I’m interested. What do I do next?” She didn’t intend to leave until she had answers.

“We do a fitness check. I can schedule one for you. I have a personal trainer session in five minutes, otherwise I’d offer to do the check for you now.”

“Okay.” Great. A fitness check. Emma hoped it didn’t involve too much exertion. Her muscles were sore from the sexual gymnastics of the night before.

They walked over to the receptionist’s desk, and Emma scanned the gym. There were five, no, six beefy young men wearing the resort’s uniform. Not a scrawny specimen among them. Even the two women employees she saw bore impressive muscles but it might be a coincidence. Jeesh, how was she going to discover the truth? Perhaps they needed to check the premises during the middle of the night when no one was around. Maybe the offices and places that were off-limits to guests.

“Jamie can do a fitness test, but she’ll be another five minutes since she’s with a client.”

“That’s fine,” Emma said.

“Come with me, and I’ll show you where to wait.”

Emma followed her guide through a narrow corridor she hadn’t noticed earlier. They passed two offices then came to a third room. Her guide opened the door and gestured Emma inside.

There were charts on the wall with illustrations depicting people doing different warm-up exercises.