Vivi slid her hand down over her flat stomach, then lower still till she reached her Brazilian waxed pussy. She let her thoughts wander for a second as she wondered if Rafe liked a smooth pussy. Vivi had found the sensations were heightened with the lack of pubic hair. Her breath hitched as she delved deeper between the wet folds, feeling the slick moisture coat her fingers. Just thinking about the man set her senses on fire as she’d known it would.
“Yes.” If only Rafe Santori knew what he was missing.
Stroking herself, Vivi leaned back against the bathroom counter for support. She rolled her tight nipple between the fingers of her other hand as she pleasured herself, all the while continuing to think of him. How many times over the years had she climbed into her empty bed, closed her eyes and brought herself to an orgasm all because of him? Way too many to count, Vivi thought.
Vivi gasped, her breath coming in fast pants now as her climax began to build. She slid a second finger inside her throbbing pussy and increased the pressure. It wouldn’t be long now. She imagined it was Rate’s fingers on her nipple, teasing her, plucking her nipples between his thumb and forefinger. It was Rafe’s fingers buried in her wet pussy, fucking her, coaxing the climax from her. And it was the image of Rafe’s face she saw in her mind right before she came.
“Oh god, yes.” Vivi collapsed against the edge of the bathroom counter, her fingers still buried inside her quivering pussy. Her knees unsteady, she splayed her hand across the countertop in an effort to hold herself up.
Lifting her head, Vivi turned and took one more look at the woman in the mirror. Rafe Santori wouldn’t know what hit him when she was through with him. After crashing and burning with Plan A five and a half years ago, it was time to put Plan B into action. And the sooner the better, starting with the upcoming photo shoot. It was as though the planets had all aligned just to give Vivi a fabulous birthday present.
All rolled up into one hot, sex package named Rafe Santori. And this time Vivi was going to celebrate the encounter.
Vivi leaned over and turned on the hot water faucet in the soaking tub. She dropped in a capful of lavender scented bath oil, lowered herself into the water, and sank up to her chin. Inhaling deeply, she could smell the fragrance as it wrapped its way around her senses. Trailing her fingers through the water, she watched the ripples break the surface.
Right now she could do with a little rest and relaxation. Problem was rest was the furthest thing from her mind as all thoughts headed back into forbidden territory.
Rafe Santori territory, to be precise.
Chapter Two
Stepping out of the town car that picked her up bright and early, Vivi tucked the now memorized and well-worn itinerary back into her tote bag. She pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head and climbed up the steps leading to the private plane owned by Santori Enterprises.
Looking at the private jet parked on the tarmac drew a shiver down her spine. From far away it looked bigger, but up close it only reminded Vivi of how fragile life was if this thing could fly from Michigan to the Caribbean in one sitting.
As she climbed the stairs, Vivi paused at the door of the plane and gave the side a pat.
“Be good to me plane, I’ve got a lot of living yet I want to do,” she whispered, so no one would hear her words of encouragement and, at the same time, a short prayer for a safe flight.
Stepping inside, Vivi found the interior was bigger than her entire condo and decorated a lot more richly. Everywhere she looked was leather captain seats, very high quality mahogany end tables, and a massive conference table and eight chairs if anyone wanted to hold a meeting mid-flight. She didn’t, but it was still pretty amazing looking, Vivi thought.
“Good morning, Miss Bloom. My name is Audrey and I’ll be taking care of you today. Assisting me will be Christina. Please choose any chair you would like for the flight today.”
“Good morning Audrey.” Vivi trailed behind the flight attendant, gawking the whole time and trying not to show her nervousness. She’d been fine right up until the minute they reached the tarmac and she stepped out of the car.
“We’re awaiting the arrival of Mr. Hogan and Mr. Baker, and then we’ll be ready to leave for St. Thomas. Once we’re airborne, Christina and I will be serving breakfast. Would you like something to drink while you wait?”
“Hot tea would be wonderful if it’s not a problem,” Vivi answered, pulling her gaze back to the young woman.
“Coming right up.”
Vivi lowered herself into the plush cream-colored leather chair and sighed. Though this looked more like a huge armchair than a cramped and uncomfortable airline seat.
“Well, if it isn’t the famous Vivian Bloom.”
Vivi turned toward the sound of the voice and smiled. “Fancy meeting you here, gentlemen. And I do use the term loosely based on prior experience.”
Jeff Baker leaned over and kissed Vivi on the cheek. “Woman, do you ever look less than perfect?”
“Hey, share would you?” John Hogan shoved Jeff aside and brushed Vivi’s cheek fondly.
“I hear it’s the three of us this week,” Vivi said, watching the two models select a chair.
“In most cases, three’s a crowd, but this time three’s company.”
“And I’m glad to have you along for the fun.”
John dropped his carry-on next to a chair across the aisle and lowered himself into it. “Ah, I’ve died and gone to Heaven.”
Jeff followed suit and soon the three were engaged in a lively conversation till a man’s voice came over the speakers.
“Please fasten your seatbelts in preparation for take-off. Once we reach our cruising altitude of twenty-thousand feet, Audrey will begin serving breakfast. Until then, sit back, enjoy the flight and let the cabin crew know if there is anything you require.”
What she required was her feet on the ground. Vivi closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath. Flying was never her favorite thing to do and yet her job required it practically on a weekly basis. Her stomach lurched as the plane picked up speed and was soon off the runway and climbing higher and higher away from the ground. Once the clouds blanketed everything within sight, Vivi would be fine until it was time to drop the landing gear and head for terra-firma.
Vivi accepted the mug of hot tea and carefully took a sip. She wished she could brew something this wonderful at home, but hers always ended up tasting just a bit off.
“I could seriously get used to this,” Jeff said from across the aisle.
“Beats first class every time,” Vivi replied. “But this is a first for me. Usually I’m traveling commercial. I’ve never been in a private plane before.”
“Gives new meaning to the phrase
how the upper half lives
, doesn’t it?” John replied.
“You got that right.” Jeff pushed back his seat and moaned. “Oh god, it’s even got massage built in. I’m not leaving this seat till we get there. This is going to be one fantastic ride.”
Vivi looked at John and smiled. “Children. They do make the trip amusing.”
“Yeah, too bad we couldn’t leave this one at home.” He jerked his finger in Jeff’s direction.
“I heard that,” Jeff mumbled.
“So, how does it feel knowing you’re the headliner on this party boat?” John asked Vivi and then took a sip of his juice.
“I have to admit I was floored when my agent called to tell me the news. But to be in the 100th Edition issue is a huge coup for all of us. This will open doors we’ve never even dreamed about.”
John nodded. “I agree. I gotta admit, it gave me goose bumps just thinking about it last night.”
“Yeah, he kept tossing and turning all night long. Drove me crazy,” Jeff grumbled.
“I thought you were getting your beauty sleep over there,” John teased. “Don’t let him kid you. He was just as psyched as I was.”
Vivi looked over at Jeff who nodded sheepishly. “Yeah, I am.”
She smiled. John and Jeff were two of the nicest men she’d ever met and within minutes they’d formed a fast and lasting friendship on the first shoot they’d done together. And she was thrilled they were along for the wild ride they were all about to take.
After a breakfast of Greek yogurt, fresh fruit, and wheat toast, Vivi was stuffed. Jeff was spot on, it was hard not to be enticed by everything the flight attendant offered.
Vivi looked over at the pile of newspapers by her side. They covered everything from international news to local happenings, to the celebrity gossip magazines.
Lifting up her home town paper, Vivi skimmed the front page before flipping to the horoscopes. Just because she was on a job didn’t mean she wasn’t going to take a peek at how her day would be going. Granted she didn’t put a lot of stock in the words, she just read it for fun. How often was a horoscope ever one hundred percent accurate? Besides, everyone who was an Aries was going to get the same thing all on the same day. And the same could be said for the other astrological signs. She seriously didn’t think so.
Aries girl, today’s your lucky day. Get ready for a hot and heavy romance. Be prepared for fireworks in and out of the boudoir. But don’t get burned in the process. Keep your guard up and you’ll walk away unscathed. Otherwise, your heart is going to fall hard with you along for the ride.
Vivi bit back a laugh. Yeah, like that was going to happen any time soon. Besides, she was on a job. Not like she was going to fall in love with anyone there. Her hand froze in mid-air, the paper still clutched within her fingers over the end table.
The job.
Out of Bounds magazine.
Rafe Santori.
No, it wasn’t possible. There was no way that her horoscope was right. No way that this was going to happen. Falling in love with Rafe Santori didn’t come anywhere close on her list of things to do this week. Giving him a little payback for the past was a totally different matter entirely.
She shook her head and dropped the paper on the table next to her. Vivi leaned back in the chair and closed her eyes, trying hard to erase the idea from her head.
She might as well make use of the downtime while she could. Once they landed Vivi knew it would be business, business, and more business till the shoot was over. She’d sleep once she got back home.
Vivi gathered up her tote bag and pushed her sunglasses from the top of her head back to the bridge of her nose.
“Welcome to St. Thomas, people. For the next six days it’s sun, sun, and more sun. Hope you packed your sun block, Vivi,” John said as he helped her down the steps of the plane and onto the tarmac.
Waves of heat shimmered off the surface of the concrete as they made their way to the waiting limousine. The sun was shining brightly in the sky and the feel of the warm breeze against her face did wonders to lift Vivi’s spirits. Her short nap on the plane had been filled with erotic dreams of Rafe Santori. Not what she wanted or needed at present time. Just thinking about it made her stomach give a lurch. Damn the man, he invaded her thoughts whether she wanted him to or not.
“I don’t plan on spending any time soaking up the sun, John. This is a working trip, remember?” Vivi reminded him. “Some of us have bills to pay.”
“Hey, working or not, we are in the Caribbean and that’s all that matters to me,” Jeff spoke up. “And getting paid to be here, no less. I’ll take that over sun worshipping any day. Besides, John, you’ve been looking a little wrinkly around the edges. Might want to cut back on the fake and bake machine,” he teased his partner of five years.
“Just wait. One of these days life will catch up with you, too, buddy. And they’re not wrinkles, they’re laugh lines and I’ve earned each and every one of them.”
“Boys, do I have to separate you to make you behave?” Vivi laughed, knowing the good natured teasing was all in fun.
John and Jeff laughed at the thought. It wasn’t the first time over the years Vivi had threatened them with it.
“Honey, you know we three work better as a team than alone. Separating us will only make us bored and cranky. Together, we are invincible,” John said.
Vivi nodded. “That is true.”
She was still having trouble wrapping her head around the fact that mere hours ago the plane had taken off from Oakland County Airport and now here she was standing on the tarmac of the private jet at Cyril E King Airport in the Virgin Islands. Vivi took off her jacket and draped it over her arm. The temperature was a definite difference as well. More like summer than spring, Vivi thought.
“Miss Bloom?”
Vivi turned toward the sound of the man’s voice. “Yes, I’m Vivian Bloom.”
“Please follow me. I’m Mr. Santori’s driver.” The man leaned over and took Vivi’s luggage, motioning for a nearby porter to gather the rest of the luggage as the trio followed him to the waiting limo.
After ushering them inside and out of the heat, he took his seat behind the wheel and spoke up. “Mr. Santori regrets not being able to personally pick you up from the airport, but he was detained on the mainland. He will join you as soon as his schedule permits.”
“That’ll be fine,” Vivi turned her face to the window so neither the driver or her two friends would see the disappointment in her eyes. Not that they could, thanks to her sunglasses. Vivi knew she shouldn’t be putting so much stock into seeing Rafe Santori again after all this time, but a small part of her wanted him to see how much she had changed, had grown and had taken command of her future.
She wanted him to see she wasn’t the sweet twenty-year-old girl that he spurned the last time they met.
She stared out the window at the scenery as the driver put the car into gear and headed off the tarmac.
Lush greenery filled every vacant spot, brilliant pink and red flowers dotting the side of the road as they wove their way through the town and toward the marina.
“We’ll be aboard the yacht in less than an hour. Should you wish for refreshments in the meantime, the mini bar is stocked for your convenience. Please help yourself.”
“Thank you,” Vivi murmured.
Beside her, she could hear John and Jeff discussing whatever the contents were in the small refrigerator, not that it mattered to her at present. She was still full from the gourmet breakfast she’d eaten earlier. Vivi let her thoughts drift, the sound of their voices fading into the background as she took in the landscape outside the window.