His rough hands brushed against my skin, his knuckles nudging my breasts, his teeth clamped on his bottom lip.
I grew lightheaded as he buttoned me up, going lower and lower until his touch skimmed my pussy and upper thighs. His scent enveloped me. Coconut and salt, jasmine and sandalwood. Intoxicating. Arousing. Heady.
I gulped as he finished and looked up. Our gazes snagged, and once again, all our lies burned at the stake of our truth. We wanted each other. His erection in his trousers and the wetness on my thighs proved that. But we wanted more than just sex. We wanted something neither of us could understand. Something fierce but tame. Catastrophic but endless.
Clearing his throat, he ducked to collect his forgotten blazer. Shrugging into it, he looked even more divine. Glowing sun-etched skin, shadows of hard-earned muscle, and a flat-ridged belly all adorned with a masculine suit.
It’s not fair.
Not fair that I was falling for someone who would ultimately break me in all the ways I never wanted to break. Not fair that I finally had to admit that I was falling, and the slippery slope had no safety rail.
I couldn’t stop it.
My loyalty to Scott couldn’t prevent it.
My desire not to feel it was useless.
It didn’t matter he wasn’t a good person or that I should be smarter than this.
Slip, slip, slip.
How long before I fall completely?
“Come.” His voice sounded thick and gravelly, his eyes dancing over me now that I wore his shirt. Did it cause a visceral reaction for him too? To see something of his on me—his shirt swamping me, protecting me, touching me in places he wanted?
Snatching my palm, he paused and narrowed his eyes at my blisters and wounds from the oar. His teeth ground together, but he didn’t speak. He merely let me go and grabbed my wrist instead, as if aware touching my hand would hurt.
The moment his fingers wrapped tight, he pulled me into motion, dragging me toward the guy who waited patiently on the other side of the helipad.
The grass cushioned my bare feet with carpet-like spring. Skittles floated down to resume her position on my shoulder, and Sully refused to look at me.
We slowed as the man came to greet us. “Mr. Sinclair. I saw your helicopter. I thought you were here to visit, but when you didn’t arrive, I came to see if everything is okay.” The man bowed, his black gaze skipping to me, then back to Sully.
Sully stayed tall and regal, despite not having a shirt under his blazer anymore. “That’s fine, Andika. My arrival wasn’t because of the sanctuary but because of other business.” His fingers tightened around my wrist. “However, now that I’m here, I could return with you to check on your charges.”
The guy beamed, shoving shaggy black hair from his eyes. “Oh, yes. That would be much appreciated, sir. We are proud to show off our latest arrivals.”
“Good.” Sully nodded, opening his arm wide. “Lead the way.”
We fell into step behind him, Sully cold and silent, me with a tiny parrot keeping me calm.
My mind raced with questions. Did Sully know all his staff by name? If so, that was impressive. If not, why would he know this man’s name on some remote island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean?
“We’ve been successful in rehoming the last shipment, sir,” the guy said over his shoulder. “We aim to be equally as successful with the upcoming arrivals.”
“I’m glad.” Sully sounded distracted, but his hold on my wrist never loosened. He kept me leashed as surely as he had when he’d knotted his tie around my neck. “Let me know if you need more supplies.”
The man ducked his head in embarrassment, as if asking for things went against his culture even if Sully was his boss. “We could do with another vet, sir. And another import of your animal-approved pharmaceuticals.”
“Consider it done.” Sully smiled stiffly. “I’ll ensure my company sends whatever you need. And I’ll enlist my assistant to begin interviewing acceptable candidates for an extra vet.”
“You’re very kind. Thank you.” The man pressed his hands together in prayer, bowing respectfully. “Very kind.”
Sully lost his edge of coldness for a moment. “Not kind. Just grateful for the great work your team does.”
“Only because you are our role model, sir.”
Sully scowled. “Don’t push aside credit when it’s due. You picked up my work when I grew too busy to continue. I’m grateful for you, not the other way around.”
The guy just smiled evasively and bowed again, accepting Sully’s compliment but also refusing it.
I hid my wince as we traded soft grass from the clearing to the prickly undergrowth of a jungle path. This one wasn’t manicured with orchids and palms but wild and barely tamed. Parts were so narrow, Sully had no choice but to let me go, frowning with sternness. “You follow my every step. You run, and the punishment I have planned for you will be a thousand times worse.”