The Corporate Raider's Revenge / Tycoon's Valentine Vendetta: The Corporate Raider's Revenge / Tycoon's Valentine Vendetta

Two

Laney’s lips burned now, not from Ono Pupus but from the man named Ty, whose spontaneous kisses had put a whole new meaning to the word bold.

Warm Hawaiian breezes blew her hair into a wild new style as they drove in Ty’s sports car along the coastline. Laney thought of the lesson her father had always drilled into her head.

Be careful what you wish for.

She’d been lonely and glum without really knowing it, trying to convince herself she was doing fine after Justin’s betrayal, but she’d been praying for something or someone to bring her out of her doldrums.

And out of the blue, this striking mystery man had entered her life and suddenly, Elena’s heart raced again. Her body throbbed with excitement. Her nerves tingled and she felt truly alive. She’d gotten what she wished for and now she wouldn’t tempt fate by questioning it. She’d decided the moment Ty’s lips had touched hers, that she wouldn’t deny herself this opportunity to forget the past.

She’d be leaving the island in two days to go home and spend some time with her father. Being the sole heir to the Royal empire, her father wanted her not only to learn the business, he wanted her to love the business as much as he did. But Laney never had and she’d always felt like a disappointment in that. She’d tried, but she couldn’t become even remotely passionate about his business. Not when her camera was close at hand and there were countless images just waiting to be photographed.

She put all that aside for now. She’d live in the moment with a man who seemed to know exactly where those moments would take them.

Ty took her to an intimate restaurant overlooking the Pacific. They dined on the rooftop where tiki torches and a sliver of moonlight were the only source of illumination. The night was sultry and warm and the sound of waves crashing against the shore rivaled her pounding heart. She had Ty’s undivided attention while they feasted on platters of seafood and drank champagne.

After dinner, the select few private rooftop guests were treated to a luau performance with beating drums and Hawaiian dancers whose exotic moves and undulations put Laney in a daring mood. She sipped her drink and each time she glanced at Ty, she found him watching her with a raw gleam in his eyes.

When the show ended, a three-piece band took over and played mellow tunes. Ty stood and took her hand. “Dance with me.”

Laney rose and followed him onto the dance floor. She loved the strength of his grasp, the way she didn’t have to think about a thing when she was with him. And when he took her into his arms, meshing their bodies almost too close for her equilibrium, Laney allowed it. She fell into him, resting her head on his shoulder, her body pulsing inside and fully aware of his own growing need.

“I couldn’t wait to hold you in my arms again,” he whispered into her ear.

“I couldn’t wait, either,” she whispered back.

He brushed a soft kiss to her throat, then another and worked his way up to her chin, while his hands wreaked havoc on her back, his fingers splaying along the top of her derriere.

They rocked back and forth, more in rhythm to their own bodies than to the music playing.

“How long are you on the island?” he asked quietly, his lips almost brushing her mouth.

“Only two more days,” she answered.

“And then where do you go?” he asked.

“Home, to spend time with my father. How long for you?”

“I think I just extended my stay two more days,” he said before brushing his lips over hers.

A thrill shot straight through her. He’d planned on staying. For her. “And then?”

“I have a busy calendar. I’m not sure where my office will send me.”

Part of Laney wanted to know everything there was to know about this man she simply knew as Ty, but the other part, the more cautious, no-more-men-in-my-life-thank-you-very-much part of her, was glad she knew next to nothing about him. She’d take away whatever memories they’d make on this island before she headed back to reality and her father’s world.

He’d been calling daily, worried sick over her, hoping to coax her home. She’d finally agreed. It was time to stop licking her wounds and face the music and her friends and family. She’d been secreted away far too long, her father pointed out. This was one of the few times, she’d agreed with him.

Laney turned her full attention back to Ty. She knew he had to be quite successful in whatever business he was in. The Wind Breeze Resort only catered to the elite class. Any man who could turn a simple date into a private rooftop dining experience with top-notch entertainment had to have connections, money and power.

But she didn’t want to know. She didn’t want to get caught up in anything remotely reminiscent of her experience with Justin Overton.

She was happy just to be in Ty’s arms, dancing hip to hip with him, feeling his body rub against hers. She’d instituted a Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy with him and she found she liked it very much.

After several more dances, which had them both incredibly breathless, they left the Top Reef restaurant and when she thought they’d go directly back to the resort, Ty surprised her by driving farther up the coast to a smoky jazz club called Good Sax. Ty had promised to keep her entertained and he was delivering. They sipped cappuccinos and listened to the sensual sounds of a bass saxophone player, Ty sitting next to her, his arm draped around her chair. Every so often he’d nibble on her throat, or stroke the underside of her hair, or take her hand to rub tiny circles over her thumb. The subtle gestures seemed incredibly natural and felt so right but that didn’t stop every cell in her body from reacting with raw need. His gentle touches heightened her senses to the point that she didn’t think she could take much more without pouncing on him.

She wanted him.

She turned to him and smiled, blinking her eyes, but the words wouldn’t come. She wasn’t that bold. Not yet.

“Ready to leave?” He didn’t wait for her answer. He laid down several bills on the table, rose and took her hand with a look in his eyes that said he knew exactly what she wanted.

And once again, he would deliver.

They almost made love on the hood of his Porsche in the Good Sax parking lot. Ty had whirled around suddenly when they reached the car, taking her into his arms and kissing her senseless. He touched every part of her body that he could possibly get to without being arrested. And Laney had touched him back, returning his kisses with hot, wet kisses of her own. She ran her hands through his hair, cupped the back of his neck and pressed her body to his.

They came to their senses minutes later when a security guard approached. Laney giggled and straightened her dress while Ty tried to regain his composure below the waist. They drove home in complete silence, Ty knowing better than to touch her as they would surely wind up in a fatal accident. Already Laney was on the path of a major collision, but she didn’t care. Living in the moment had its perks, she decided.

Now she stood outside her cottage suite facing Ty, her legs trembling and her heart rate rapidly picking up speed. She’d never wanted a man with such sheer abandon and desire. She wasn’t a “party girl” and the tabloids had pretty much left her alone until the wedding fiasco that had splashed negative attention and scandal upon the Royal name. She’d come to the secluded island resort to heal, revamp, unwind and take charge of her life again. Yet, she couldn’t imagine saying good-night to Ty right now. “I don’t ever do this sort of—”

He bent and kissed the words from her mouth. “Then tell me to leave, Laney,” he said quietly, brushing his lips into her hair. “I’ll still be here tomorrow, no matter what you decide.”

She liked that he gave her the choice, though there really wasn’t any other choice she could make. She shoved open the door with her behind, grabbed at his silk tie and tugged him into the room. He breathed a sigh of relief and from that point on, things got a little crazy.

Ty pressed her up against the door and kissed her into oblivion, their tongues mating with openmouthed frenzy. She pulled at his Armani jacket and he struggled out of it while keeping their mouths locked. She undid his tie and he slid her dress down. Before she knew it, she was undressed but for her black thong.

Bare chested and bronzed, Ty bent his head and kissed her breast, then the other, his mouth covering her pebbled tip and sucking her in. A shot of burning heat raced through her.

“You’re so beautiful.”

Laney thought the same of him. She’d never met a man who’d been so beautiful in body and mind. He seemed to connect with her, even though they knew very little about one another. “Ty,” she breathed out. “I want you.”

Ty sank down onto his knees. “You’ll have me, babe. In a minute. I promise.”

Slowly, he lowered her thong down along her thighs, lifting her sandaled feet up one at a time, helping her out of the last piece of her clothing. He planted quick darting kisses up her leg to the juncture of the core, then he touched her there, splaying the folds of sensitive skin, until she let go tiny moans of pleasure, her head thrashing back against the door.

His hands moved up to her torso then, holding her in place at the waist as his mouth covered her, his tongue probing and stroking her inner warmth. She grabbed his thick hair in her hands as he continued to prime her body. The stubble on his face scraped her inner thighs, heightening her awareness even more. When she was ready to combust without him, he stopped, his timing right on.

He rose and lifted her into his arms, kissing her with lips that had just been on her. She felt heady and dizzy and more turned-on than she’d ever been in her life. He strode past the living room, down the hallway to the bedroom and set her onto the bed, quickly removing his pants and briefs. She glimpsed his massive erection right before he sheathed it with a condom. Then he was on the bed, on his back, pulling her on top of him.

She’d never been so daring or felt so exposed.

But Ty’s appreciative gaze spurred her courage. “Bold, Laney,” he whispered.

She straddled his thighs, fully naked in body and spirit and when he lifted her onto his erection, she sank onto him and he groaned with deep, unabashed pleasure. The sound spurred something wild in her and she moved on him, up and down, riding the tide of his passion. He reached up and touched her arms, her shoulders, guiding her until she found her pace. He cupped her breasts, weighing them with his hands, stroking her nipples with his thumbs.

She rode him hard then, wanting more, wanting all of him. He shoved inside her harder, feeling her need. And she rode to the brink of her passion climbing to an orgasm that shook her entire body.

Ty watched her release, his eyes grazing hers with intensity and amazingly she didn’t feel anything remotely resembling her natural timid nature. With him, she felt open and free.

And then he rolled her over, their bodies and legs entwined and he pushed deeper inside her, his arms braced upon the bed as he reached his climax and thrust into her. Locks of his hair fell forward, perspiration coated his skin and his taut gorgeous body stiffened as he thrust into her one last glorious time, while his gaze pierced deep into her eyes.

Ty bent to kiss her lips before rolling off of her onto his back. “You okay?”

If she were a feline, she’d be purring loudly. “I’m definitely not bored.”

He caught his breath before rolling to his side, his head braced on his hand. “As promised.”

She rolled on her side to face him. “Ty, we don’t even know each other’s full names.”

With his finger, he outlined her lips, swollen now from his passionate kisses. “I figured you wanted it that way.”

She debated about a second then nodded. “I do. But how could you know that?”

He shrugged. “Usually a woman asks more questions than a game show host when she meets a man. You didn’t ask, because you didn’t want any questions in return. I figured you wanted your privacy.”

Don’t ask, don’t tell.

“You’re very perceptive.” Yet Laney figured she owed him some sort of explanation. After all, they’d just had mind-boggling sex and he’d given her the best lovemaking experience of her life. She wouldn’t dwell on the reason for that right now. “I’m not married or…engaged. I mean, I was engaged and it…it didn’t work out. I came to the island to forget all about him.”

Ty leaned back against the bed and chuckled. “If I helped in any way, I’m glad to be of service.”

It wasn’t like that. Or was it? Either way, Ty didn’t seem the least bit upset about it. “You did. I haven’t been thinking much of him lately.” Just his betrayal. “But I’m glad I met you.” Whoever you are.

Laney would never have imagined she’d give herself so fully and completely to a stranger—a hunky mystery man whom she’d never see again after she left the island.

Ty kissed her again and fondled her breasts. “Babe, that goes double for me.”

And he gave her an encore performance, doubling her pleasure into the night until they exhausted themselves.

Evan finished his shower, taking a thick towel from the shelf in Laney’s bathroom and wrapping it around his waist. Finger combing his hair back, he winced in the mirror at his two-day beard. He wasn’t exactly on the clock this week, doing some business with pleasure on the island, but the “pirate” look was wearing thin on him.

He needed a shave.

But he needed something else more.

He exited the humid room and walked into the fresh air of the master bedroom where he’d left Laney sleeping. She wasn’t in bed any longer.

He found her out on the private lanai overlooking the blue Pacific, on her cell phone. She wore his shirt from last night, the hem barely covering her shapely bottom. He followed the line of her long tanned legs to her bare feet and her white-tipped toenails. Classy.

Something raw tugged at him seeing her wearing his clothes like that.

Ty put on his briefs and trousers, then stepped out onto the balcony watching her body move as she spoke into the cell. He leaned against the French door and listened.

“Yes, I’m feeling a little better now.” Laney bobbed her head. “Yes, I know I’ve been gone almost a month. I miss you, too.

“No, I wasn’t aware the problems were escalating, Daddy. I’m sorry I’m not there for you right now.”

Laney let go a little sigh. “Of course I’ll come home soon. I—I think I’m ready. I love you, too. Very much.”

Evan heard the whole conversation including another sigh once she clicked the phone closed. He walked behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her tight against him. “Problems?”

She nodded, her blond waves tickling his chin. “It’s my father. He runs a big company and things are in chaos.”

This was exactly what Evan wanted to hear. He pushed her hair aside and kissed the back of her neck. “What kind of chaos?”

“Oh, that feels good.” She relaxed against his shoulder, fitting into him perfectly before she explained. “He’s losing money. It’s one mishap after another—fires, mechanical breakdowns, thefts and all kind of things. Now, his blood pressure is up. He wants people around him that he trusts. That means me,” she said quietly.

“Go on,” he said, “get it all out, babe.” Evan continued to nibble on her neck, kissing the soft skin just above her shoulders.

“I think he really needs me. He’s getting older and the stress is taking a toll on him. He hasn’t been the same since my mother died five years ago. It’s been hard on all of us.”

“That’s understandable,” he said, thinking about his own mother and the devastating way his father had died. The memory of that day haunted him still, yet Rebecca Tyler forged on, raising three sons single-handedly. They never had much money growing up, but now she had a good life, living in Florida and enjoying her retirement. Brock, Trent and Evan had developed a successful hotel chain and Tempest had made them multimillionaires within the first four years in operation. Although Rebecca Tyler never asked for anything, her sons made sure she wanted for nothing.

Yet, even knowing that, he couldn’t be too unhappy that Nolan Royal’s hotels were having trouble.

“How can you help him?”

She shrugged and her beautiful bottom wiggled against him. He was beginning to wish Laney Royal were any other woman. A woman he could pursue once they got back to the mainland.

“I’m not sure I can really. Lately, I’ve only contributed to his worries instead of helping him. But what he really wants is for me to play a more active role in the business and relieve him of some of the burden.”

“And you didn’t plan on that?”

Laney shook her head. “No, but I can’t afford to break his heart. He doesn’t want the company to fail or be sold. He’s worked hard all of his life. And now, he wants me by his side, so when the time comes for him to retire, he’ll have peace of mind that his legacy will continue.”

“And what do you want?”

She beamed with the same kind of passion he’d seen when she got all hot and sexy. “All I want to do is take pictures. I’m a photojournalist at heart. I’ve sold some of my work to magazines and I want to continue with it. But Dad thinks of it as a hobby. Anything I do outside the business isn’t important to him. He doesn’t take my work seriously.” She made a little hopeless shrug. “I’m all he’s got.”

She turned around, winding her arms about his neck and resting her pretty eyes on him. “Ty, thanks for listening, but I don’t really want to think about my father right now.”

Hell, how could he resist that kind of temptation? Evan braced her waist and brought her closer, breathing the sunshine in her hair, whispering into her ear, “I can think of a few ways to distract you.”

She ran her fingers along his unshaven beard. “Distract away.”

Evan cupped her sweet bottom bringing her up against him and took her in a long lazy slow kiss.

He’d found out what he needed to know for now. There was truth to the rumor that Nolan Royal’s hotels were in deep trouble. And that also meant he’d be less of an obstacle when Evan made his move to buy him out. Satisfied with the information he’d garnered, he spent the next part of the morning distracting Laney Royal and enjoying every minute of it.

Later that morning, they took a lazy stroll along the beach, flirting with the waves and each other, playing in the water and sunning themselves until their stomachs grumbled in hunger. Then Ty took Laney to his cottage suite at the opposite end of the Wind Breeze. It was clearly the largest the hotel had to offer. They had a catered lunch on the sundeck and then soaked in the private Jacuzzi.

Laney baked in the sun in the afternoon, Ty being diligent in lathering her with sunscreen, his hands roaming over her body in places the sun would never touch. But after two hours, she needed to rinse off and Ty offered her his shower.

Laney entered the suite’s enormous, marble-from-wall-to-floor bathroom, the shower area alone taking up half the room. Jets from all sides and top streamed down and, before she knew it, Ty entered the shower with only one thing on his mind.

“What do you think about the plumbing in here?” he asked, wearing an innocent expression as he approached in the nude. One thing Laney had learned, there was nothing innocent about Ty, the mystery man. He knew all the right moves and Laney was only too glad to be on the receiving end of his vast knowledge.

She gripped him below the waist, filling her hand with his firm length and returned his innocent look as seven jets rained upon both of them. “I think I’ve turned everything on properly in here, don’t you?”

She slid her hand up and down and Ty growled, the sound echoing against the Italian marble. “Babe, uh, yeah. You’ve pressed all the right buttons.”

Laney loved Ty’s sense of humor. It reminded her that she had one of her own. But when he backed her up against the cool marble wall of the shower, all thoughts of humor vanished. Ty had that look in his eyes and Laney knew she was going to be made love to all over again.

In the most delicious way.

They spent the rest of the afternoon in Ty’s suite, napping in his bed, eating room-service pizza and drinking beer. Laney beat Ty five games to three in gin rummy and much to her delight, she found out that Ty didn’t like to lose, which made teasing him all the more fun.

In the evening they took a moonlit stroll along the beach and then a quick swim in the pool. Laney opened up a little bit more to Ty about her dilemma with her father. Though she made sure not to reveal too much about her identity, she found talking to him was easy. He listened well and didn’t ask too many questions or give his opinion. Who’d have thought the gorgeous stranger wouldn’t mind hearing about her love of photojournalism and her lackluster interest in her father’s business?

They retired to bed together in Ty’s suite and made slow thrilling love to each other. Her body sated, her mind clear, Laney felt hopeful that she could move on from past hurts now. She’d never had a fling before and probably wouldn’t have another, but Ty had been exactly what she needed, when she needed it. Besides, how could any fling compare to this one? She’d met the perfect man to help her forget her heartache.

Only a tiny part of her wished for something more with Ty. Or maybe she just wished she’d have more time with him, before having to say goodbye. But, her flight left the island tomorrow evening.

In the morning, Ty woke her early and kissing her quickly, he said, “Get dressed. And bring some layers of clothing with you. Don’t forget your camera.”

Disheveled and sleep hazy, she asked, “Why, where are we going?”

“To the house of the sun.” He patted her butt and tugged at her hair playfully. “Come on, babe. Rise and shine.”

By 9:00 a.m., Laney found herself sixty-five feet above sea level at the top of Haleakala Crater, in complete awe of the vista before her. She snapped picture after picture of the two-million-year-old moonlike crater and the surroundings from the staging area, before the downhill bike ride Ty insisted she shouldn’t miss before leaving the island.

He’d been right. Wearing helmets and outer gear to protect against the frigid weather, they sailed down the volcanic crater area on sturdy bikes, dropping to the three-thousand-foot level in less than ten miles, only stopping their exhilarating ride at key lookout points to take amazing pictures. At one point, all five of the islands were visible from where they stood. “This is awesome, Ty. I’ve never come up here before.”

“I thought you’d like it. The landscape’s amazing.” Then he kissed the tip of her nose. “And the view from where I’m standing isn’t half-bad, either.”

Laney snapped a candid picture of him then, holding his helmet in hand, wearing a crazy orange jumpsuit, but it was the appreciative look in his eyes that she wanted to capture in time. “I’d have to agree,” she said, before putting her helmet back on.

As they biked down closer to sea level, the outer gear came off, Ty giving them up to the driver of the chartered van following them. And once they reached up-country, more level land known for ranches and Hawaiian cowboys, Laney shot more pictures, grateful to Ty for understanding her love of photography and glad to have had this chance.

After leaving Justin at the altar, she’d only snapped pictures of things that required no effort and no research on her part, her heart too shattered and her confidence too wobbly to make the effort.

But this…this discovery had fulfilled all of her dreams. She knew she’d gotten some great shots today and she had Ty to thank for that.

When they arrived back at the Wind Breeze, Laney realized this would be her last few hours with Ty. She didn’t want to waste any time making small talk. She’d seen the hot gleam in his eyes and knew he was thinking the same thing.

They fell onto her bed with great urgency. Hungry mouths, steaming bodies and wild caresses had them panting hard. Ty stroked her to a full climax instantly, knowing her body so well and then she returned the gesture, taking him in her mouth and bringing him to the brink. Ty took control then, positioning her onto her back, lifting her legs to his shoulders and bringing them both to fast and fiery fulfillment in a matter of seconds.

The next time they made love, it was slow, deliberate, a final farewell. Ty took care with her and allowed her the time she needed to come to grips with the end of their weekend together. His kisses were long and lazy and he caressed her body with the tenderness one would lavish on a precious treasure.

Laney was certain she’d never find a better lover. Ty thrilled her, excited her and made her laugh. But he wouldn’t make her cry, she told herself. She’d known going into this brief affair, there could be no future for them. She hadn’t room in her heart to even try again.

Thanks to Justin Overton, she couldn’t put faith in any relationship any time soon. Maybe forever.

So when Ty sat up, glancing at the clock, realizing the time and offering her a ride to the airport, Laney declined.

They’d say their farewells here and now.

Ty kissed her soundly on the lips and gazing at her with regret in his eyes, he said something quite mysterious, like the mystery man that he was. “You were quite a surprise to me, babe.”

He left her sitting on the bed, holding a satin sheet to her chest, her hair tousled and wild about her face, wondering exactly what he meant by that.