“Bora Bora,” I reply nervously.
“Tahiti?” His eyebrows shoot up.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
What do I tell him? I’m going to see the man who abducted me, chained me to a bed for over a month, and used me as a living, breathing sex toy? The man who—though ruthless, intense and merciless at times—somehow penetrated my soul, and may now be irreversibly connected to?
“Exorcise some demons,” is my response. It’s the God’s honest truth.
Michael stares at me with multiple expressions playing across his face, and for the first time since we met, I’m having trouble reading him.
“Ma’am.” The driver interrupts our silent exchange.
“I have to go,” I say softly.
Michael nods, and then unexpectedly grabs my arm. He yanks me to him, then forcefully crushes his lips against mine.Whoa.I barely kiss him back as my emotions wage war. Michael is the one I should want. He’s sweet and kind and generous—not to mention gorgeous—but the spark between us pales in comparison to what just thinking about Kayne does to me. It lights my entire world on fire, burning everything around me to ash.
“Stay,” he presses. “I know you’ve been harboring something bad. Stay with me and we can work it out together.”
I look at Michael sadly. I should want to stay, but I don’t. What I want, deep down, is to see Kayne.
It’s an incurable urge.
“I can’t.” I kiss him on the cheek and free myself from his death grip.
“Ellie,” he protests my leaving with some bite.
“Sorry.” I slip into the backseat of the sedan with Michael’s dark-brown eyes searing into me the whole time. Once the door shuts, I exhale the breath I didn’t even realize I was holding.
The ride to the airport was silent and the flight uneventful, minus the hour delay. Kayne didn’t spare one expense; I flew first class, pampered with hot towels and bubbly champagne the whole four-hour trip. Some girls might feel guilty that a man is spending ridiculous amounts of money on them. Not me—at least not in this scenario. After everything he put me through, I deserve to be spoiled. And by the looks of it so far, he agrees.
The airport is ultra-bright from the sunlight pouring in through the windows. If living on an island has taught me anything, it’s come prepared with dark sunglasses. After I retrieve my suitcase, I follow the crowd outside where I am struck by the most beautiful turquoise-blue water I have ever seen. I then find Jett holding a little sign that says ‘Stevens.’
I can’t stop the grin from spreading across my face as I approach him. I don’t know what it is, but Jett always feels comfortable. Like Southern cooking and fresh-squeezed lemonade. Just standing next to him puts me at ease and assures me everything is going to be okay, even when I doubt all my decisions.
“You look delicious,” he whispers in my ear as he hugs me.
“Thank you?” I giggle. He has such an odd way with compliments.
“You’re welcome.” Jett releases me and picks up my suitcase. “You smell delicious, too. This way,” he motions with his head.
Jett leads me up the dock until we get to a small speedboat tied up near the end.
“Your chariot.” He hops in first, then grabs my suitcase and motions to the bag on my arm. Once all my items are in the boat, he extends his hands to me. I’m definitely not wearing the right shoes for this; I carefully place my hands in his and hold my breath as I step down. Before I realize it, Jett has one arm hooked around me and is gingerly placing me on my feet. He winks. “Think I would let you break an ankle?”
“I’d hope not.”
“Never. Kayne would castrate me for even a scratch.”
My stomach flips from just the mere mention of his name. Fuck, I’m really doing this.
“Ellie, are you okay? You just went pale,” Jett asks with concerned eyes.
“I’m fine. Just a little nervous, I guess.” I put on my bravest smile.
“Sweet thing, just a word to the wise.” Jett places his hands on my shoulders. “This can be as easy or as hard as you make it. When I told you that you held all the power, I wasn’t lying. It’s still true. The ball is in your court. What you choose to do with it will determine the outcome. Okay?”
