For His Eyes Only Read online

  He tried not to watch while she undressed so easily in front of him. He failed.

  “I’m not sure this is funny.”

  She saluted and pulled her mouth into a straight line. “Yes, sir. What is it you wanted to talk about?”

  “You just announced our affair to the whole world.”

  “I did?”

  “Maybe you were a little too wrapped up in your performance to notice, but a million reporters took pictures of that lap dance you just gave me.”

  She grinned. “I know. It’s perfect. The whole thing was perfect.”

  Alex stared at her. Maybe she was crazy.

  “What I did was put your ransom note writer out of business. Don’t you get it? Our picture will be all over the place tomorrow because I intended it to be. Now everyone will know you were just a prop for my performance and that we have nothing to hide, because if we did I obviously wouldn’t have been sitting on your lap in plain view of every reporter in the city.”

  She bounced a little, so happy she was with her plan. He watched her, stunned, then succumbed to the smile that pulled at the corners of his mouth. Jacey Cass was an amazing woman.

  Kim blinked at the ceiling, then rolled over and stared at the clock for the hundredth time. Three-thirty. She hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep.

  Her plans to ruin Jacey Cass were not going well at all. Instead, they only seemed to bring Alex and Jacey closer together. She’d thought that having Amber steal Jacey’s costume would be a surefire way to get Jacey booted from the competition. But instead, Blondie had hopped all over Alex right in front of the entire crowd—Insomnia staff, press, everyone. They obviously felt they had nothing to hide.

  She had fired Robert after the tally of votes had concluded that Jacey would be making an appearance in the final round. What was the point of having a private investigator when everything she’d hired him to discover was now public information? She didn’t need pictures anymore. They would be all over tomorrow’s newspaper.

  Next to her, William grunted and turned over. Kim looked at his bare back and down at her own nakedness, feeling strangely foolish. The initial thrill of sleeping with him had faded and she wondered why she was still helping him carry out his mysterious plan to boot Jacey from the contest. What exactly was she getting out of this? Revenge? A tear slid down her temple. Who was she kidding? Katelyn was gone, and taking some model out of the competition wouldn’t bring her back. What if her sister could see her now? Would sleeping with the boss and plotting the downfall of an innocent contestant really honor her memory?

  Kim got out of bed, not even bothering to stay quiet. William slept like a log. She pulled on her clothes in a fury, disgusted at the person she had become. This had never been about Katelyn. It had been about her—her resentment of Alex’s disinterest and the low self-image she harbored after years of being surrounded by underwear models.

  It was true she needed to keep her job, but William had never threatened her career. She had jumped into bed with him because for once, she’d wanted the upper hand at Insomnia and in her life. William’s plan for Jacey had provided her with a perfect opportunity to enjoy some special treatment.

  She shivered and rubbed her arms as she left his place and walked into the breezy night. She felt like a whore, and she dreaded the next round of the competition. William was not a patient or forgiving person. Between her walking out on him tonight and the Board’s continuing threats to replace him, she could only imagine what a mess he would make of the finale.

  Chapter Twelve

  Wednesday evening, Alex swallowed his second glass of scotch and pushed the empty glass back onto the counter. He left the kitchen and stood in the middle of his living room, surveying the huge room with such scant furniture and high ceilings that every sound usually echoed off the walls. But tonight, the silence in his condo was deafening.

  Jacey had, as promised, retrieved her belongings. In exchange, she had left the key he’d given her, the address where she was staying if he needed to contact her about the competition, and a profound sense of loneliness.

  Even when he was a child and his father was never home, his mom had been there in the evenings to play a board game or bake cookies with him. Though she’d been silent and brooding whenever his father was around, she had always put on a cheerful face for Alex when they were alone.

  Now he had no one, not his buddies who had become more and more distant as they had gotten married or moved out of town, not even a casual date to enjoy a few hours with. He considered hitting a club and finding someone to bring home and fill the void in his bed for a while, but he immediately nixed the idea. He couldn’t imagine touching anyone but Jacey.

  He hadn’t seen her in almost a week, hadn’t touched her in nearly two. The competition’s finale was three days away, and after that, there was a good chance she’d be out of his life permanently. How had he stayed sane when he had seen her only once a year?

  Well, there had been other women, and he’d recognized that even though Jacey intrigued him, they’d had an unspoken agreement that the party was all they were willing to share. They hadn’t known each other. He hadn’t known how badly he wanted her in his life on a regular basis.

  Restless, he poured himself another drink and went into his home office. He flicked on his desk light and sat down, inspecting the sheets of drawing paper in front of him. He’d been working on his collection, but suddenly it didn’t appeal to him at all. He crumpled his latest designs and tossed them in the waste can. He had a better idea.

  Pencil in hand, he got to work. He squinted at the details, drops of sweat forming on his brow while he moved the lead across the paper with furious strokes, intent on finishing the vision in his head. And when he was done, his last drink untouched and his pencil no more than a dull nub, he held the sketch up and took in the beauty of his creation.

  He’d drawn the most provocative bridal lingerie he’d ever seen. A pure white, thong-back teddy covered in intricate beading, featuring a plunging neckline and thigh-high stockings with matching detail. Put it on a bride sporting perfect hair and makeup, maybe a pearl necklace draped over her collarbone. Hot damn.

  A scene played in his head, of carrying Jacey over the threshold of a fabulous hotel suite, letting her down next to the bed and unzipping her wedding dress until it fell to the floor, revealing the breathtaking discovery that she’d worn his signature design.

  Oh, God. He dropped the sketch and leapt from the chair, running his hands over his hair and returning to the kitchen. How could he dream about marrying a woman who was barely speaking to him at the moment?

  The more appropriate question was, why had he let her go in the first place? Why was she sleeping somewhere else, their relationship returning to one of nonchalance and distance, instead of safe and warm with him—and why had he let it happen?

  He grabbed his mobile phone and looked up his favorite retreat. Jacey obviously wouldn’t be working tomorrow and he could go in late. He punched the number and the woman managing the resort for the night, an older woman he was well-acquainted with because of his frequent solitary visits to her property, assured him that his bungalow would be available within the hour.

  Adrenaline pumped through his body and he dressed and packed in record time. With one last look, he bid his lonely condo goodbye and closed the front door. There was somewhere else he needed to be tonight.

  His heart rate had slowed considerably by the time he arrived at the address Jacey had given him. What if she wasn’t there? What if she refused to leave with him? He’d been so emotionally driven by his plan, he hadn’t thought it through very well at all.

  His first question received a positive answer when she opened the door. He looked to the sky. Thank you.

  “Hi, Jacey.”

  “Hi.”

  Her lips moved, but she didn’t seem to know what else to say, so he put his plans into motion. “May I come in?”

  After a brief pause during which he held his breath
, she stepped aside and let him in. He was one step closer to the night of his dreams.

  “How have you been?” He shifted his feet in the entryway, eager to get her away from the city and to a quiet, secluded place where they could forget about their problems and focus on each other.

  “I’ve been good.”

  “This is a nice place.”

  “It’s my friend Monica’s. She’s on a date right now.”

  Alex nodded, familiar with the name. He stepped closer and touched Jacey’s hand. “I’m glad I’m not interrupting a ladies’ night. I’d really like to show you something, if you can give me a few hours of your time.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “Show me what? Where is it?”

  “This way.”

  Though she crinkled her nose with suspicion at the way he motioned out the open door, she followed him. Inside the car he cranked up the air conditioning, trying to dry the sweat on his forehead. He felt like he was on a first date with his dream woman, and he didn’t want to blow it.

  Several miles away from the lights and noise of Miami, Alex turned onto the private beach road he had come to associate with peace and quiet. It was the perfect place for a romantic getaway, but he had never brought a woman there. He had never met one he liked or trusted enough to bring to his personal hideout.

  Until now.

  He drove through the open wrought iron gate that signaled the entrance to the property. Jacey craned her neck to see the beach and the ocean that gently lapped right outside his window. He smiled. It was beautiful, a perfect match for her.

  “Here we are,” he announced, parking the car beside a cluster of palm trees.

  She stepped onto the sandy ground and looked around, her eyes wide. He knew what she was feeling. He too had been awed by the beauty and serenity of the place the first time he’d visited. Seeing it all again through Jacey’s eyes was no less impressive.

  The house itself was one level, made of white stone with one exception—the wall that faced the ocean was glass from top to bottom. Lush tropical trees and plants surrounded it, so that even if the house weren’t located on a private road, no one would be able to see inside. A whitewashed wooden deck started a path to the secluded beach area, steps away from the back door.

  An image of the wedding dress flashed through his mind again. That spot on the beach, right next to the house…it was perfect.

  He shook his head. He wasn’t here to propose. He was here to show her that he truly cared for her and wanted to work things out.

  Jacey wiped her forehead and released a puff of air into the humid night. She gazed longingly at the water. “I’d love to take a swim in that.”

  Alex waved his arm. “Go right ahead. That’s what we’re here for.”

  “To swim? There are plenty of pools in Miami.”

  “To do anything we want. With no one around to see it.”

  She mulled that over. “So this place is completely private?”

  “Absolutely. The road is blocked off and there are no other houses on this stretch of beach. It’s all ours.”

  “I didn’t bring a swimsuit. I don’t even own one. I’ve never had time for that kind of relaxation.” The words seemed to stun her, as though she couldn’t associate leisure with her life. “But I guess if no one’s watching, it doesn’t matter.”

  She took off her T-shirt and dropped it onto the sand. Alex cleared his throat, anticipating her plans and not about to stop her.

  “I’m watching,” he said.

  She kicked off her sandals and unbuttoned her shorts. “So?”

  “So you’re right, then. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have a suit.”

  The denim material fell to the ground. “Right.”

  She turned and walked toward the beach, clad in a white cotton bra and matching bikini underwear. So simple. So damn sexy. Alex grunted and threw off his own shirt, his gaze glued to Jacey’s silhouette. Outdoor lamps emitted soft amber light that made her body and the outline of the ocean visible in the dark night, and he followed her, keeping his distance so she could enjoy a moment where it seemed this peaceful haven belonged to her. If she craved relaxation, that’s exactly what he would provide for her.

  He looked away from the swaying palms that dotted the shoreline in time to see her reach around her back and unclasp her bra. It fell and tumbled in the breeze as she continued toward the water, and she slipped off the panties just as her toes touched the surf.

  His mind raced with images of what he wanted to do in that water, but he vowed to keep his hands to himself. Jacey waded in further, and when she was waist-deep, she turned and grinned at him, her full, naked breasts bobbing up and down with each wave.

  He swallowed.

  He willed himself to be strong, even while his cock stirred in his shorts, which thankfully were made for swimming. If he didn’t hold onto that garment like a lifeline, he’d end up inside her in no time at all.

  “This feels amazing!” Jacey shouted over the sound of the crashing waves. “Come on, slowpoke!”

  She waved him in. The cool wetness shocked his bare legs and much to his relief, calmed the hard-on that had grown more painful as he’d approached her.

  Apparently she hadn’t heard his resolution not to touch her yet, because the moment he got close enough for her to reach him, she curled her arms around his back and pressed her mouth to his. He closed his eyes while he savored the warm softness of her lips and the way her tongue played with his. Her nipples poked into his chest and he couldn’t resist rubbing his fingers over one of them. She rewarded him with a moan and pushed her body closer.

  “Alex,” she murmured, “have you ever done it in the middle of the ocean?”

  Sweet heaven, she was trying to kill him. He had failed at keeping his hands to himself, but he would keep his dick corralled—for now. He’d brought her here for a little romance that didn’t have to include immediate sex.

  Of course, if showing her a good time meant fulfilling her physical needs, he could find ways to do that.

  “No, only in a hot tub,” he answered.

  She pulled her head out from his neck and smiled up at him. “Yeah, I remember that.”

  “I remember every night I’ve spent with you.”

  “Really? I thought a rich and powerful man like yourself would lose track of all those names.”

  She was teasing him, but it disturbed him to think he used to be that way, when he had first made a name for himself at Insomnia. Apparently his father was that way too, a thought that bothered him no matter who or how old the women were. Alex considered his father’s crooked business ethics, and for the first time, he wasn’t sure he wanted to be like him at all.

  What would being Insomnia’s CEO do to him? Would he spend every waking moment at the office, just like his father had while he was growing up? Would he break any rule to make more money and give in to the temptation of being surrounded by lingerie models?

  He shivered, and Jacey rubbed his arms and shoulders, thinking he was cold. He welcomed the way she’d drawn his attention back to her.

  “I would never lose track of your name, sweetie. In fact, if I think hard enough, I can probably recall every dirty little act we’ve ever done. And all the ones we haven’t.”

  He slipped his hand between her thighs and put two fingers inside her. “Mmm. That’s impressive,” she said between gasps. “What haven’t we done?”

  “We’ll save that discussion for later tonight. Let me tell you what I do remember. I know that you like this.” He moved his fingers in and out of her body and used his thumb to play with her clit. She writhed against him, her grip tightening around his neck.

  “I know you really like this.” He grabbed her lower back to steady her and slipped a third finger inside. Buoyed by the water, she brought her legs up and wrapped them around his waist while she thrust forward.

  Her nails dug into his back. When she came, varying expressions of ecstasy crossed her face. He loved giving her so much p
leasure. She stood up straight and he picked her up again, her hair falling over one of his arms and her knees around the other. She laughed while he carried her back up to the beach, thinking they might need to go into the house—and the bed—sooner than he’d planned. But when he stepped out of the water, she wriggled out of his arms and faced him, tracing the damp hair on his chest.

  “I want to do something for you,” she said.

  He looked at her body, naked and dripping with ocean water. “Babe, I think you just did.”

  Another laugh. She darted up to the deck and grabbed a beach towel from the provided stack. Then she returned and softly kissed him. “I want to make you feel good, the way you always do for me.”

  “Hmm. Don’t think I can argue with that offer.”

  “You can’t. Now strip and lay down.”

  “Jacey, there’s a big bed inside the—”

  “Shh. No talking. Ditch those shorts and lay down. On your stomach.”

  Intrigued, Alex did as she asked, carefully tucking his semi-erection beneath him before he lay on the white cloth. Jacey knelt beside him, tucking his shorts under his head for a makeshift pillow.

  “Ever heard of erotic massage?” She placed her fingertips on his back.

  He suppressed a groan. “Sounds like something I’d be interested in knowing more about. Are you an expert?”

  “Sort of. My friend Monica taught me. She used to be a professional masseuse, and for a short time we made a business out of it.”

  “You’ve done this to a lot of men, then.”

  “Actually, you’d be surprised how many women came in. They didn’t care who was doing it, they just wanted to feel good.”

  Alex reeled at the thought of Jacey’s hands on a naked woman. “Damn. I’m sorry I missed that.”

  She smacked his leg before digging her palms into his thigh muscles and rubbing. “Please. It’s not like I thought it was hot. It was just a paycheck to me. At least the women could hold a decent conversation. The men just wanted to know if a lap dance was included.”