Temperatures Rising

Chapter Two: Sexy but Dangerous

In the center of the moonlit scenery stood an alone figure. Lucian, as one under the command of a hypnotist, moved down the steps towards her. The moonlight on her white dress made her as visible in the darkness as the beacon of a lighthouse. She stood motionlesss, facing the ocean, staring across the water as though bonding with it in a silent and sacred manner.

Hell of a dress, Lucian thought as he moved closer. Jennifer wouldn't have approved of it. It was painfully simple but absolutely sexy. There was a high slit on one thigh. One shoulder was left completely bare by the form-fitting garment. The calm breeze molded its fabric to her, outlining her breast and the V of her thighs.

Lucian's thoughts were the same ones that kept priests in business.

He felt a momentary stab of guilt because of Jennifer. But she was on the other side of the world. This island seemed as far removed from Jennifer and New York as another planet. He'd been working nonstop for months. He'd earned one night of pleasure, hadn't he? Months of s****l abstinence, the potent liqour he'd drunk, the tropical setting, the beautiful woman, were a powerful combination of sexy he couldn't resist.

Hearing his approach, she turned her head and gave him another piercing stare with those breathtaking blue eyes. Hair darker than midnight, had been tied into a low bun and decorated with two white hibiscus flowers. Her only jewelry was a pair of single pearl earrings, each pearl as large as a marble.

Her skin was creamy, smoooth, incredibly flawless. There was a lot of it showing too. Neck. Chest. The curve of one breast. Legs. She wasn't wearing stockings with the high-heel sandals. Even her feet were pretty. So were her hands. In one she carried a small satin evening bag.

Such loveliness, such rarity, such perfection. Lucian's body was pulsing with lust.

She was standing beside a piece of sculpture. It represented a pagan god. Lucian remembered when they had set the statue in place. It had been the talk of the work site.

"Friend of yours?"

He was hoping for the best, but halfway expected her to snub him. His heart expanded when her lips, glossy and tinted, parted in a smile that revealed teeth as flawless as everything else.

"He's everybody's friend. He's a god of eroticism"

Ah, good, Language wouldn't be a barrier. She spoke English. It was accented, but beautifully so. Her voice was low and beautiful, with the whisper of the surf behind it.

"My name is Lucian Hunter." He extended his hands.

She gave him hers. It was cool and small and soft. "Lisa Alvarez." Withdrawing her hand, she added, "It was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hunter," and turned to go.

It took a moment for Lucian to recover fro her dazzling smile and the feel of her hand in his. Whe he did, he fell into step alongside her as she took one of the flowery path towards the perimeter of the resort's property.

"Will you be working at the hotel?" he asked in an effort to prolong their brief conversation.

She shot him an amused glance. "Hardly, Mr. Hunter."

"Then what were you doing at the party?"

"I was invited."

He was forced to catch her arm in order to detain her. She came around to face him. The moon cast alluring shadows over her face through the overhead trees. "I didn't mean to sound rude," he explained. "Of course you were invited. It's just that I haven't seen you around, and I wondered what---"

"I didn't take offense," she interrupted softly.

He stared down at her, captivated by her exquisite face, her eyes, her mouth. His fingers were still around her upper arm. He had never felt softer skin. Her eyes moved down and pointedly called attention to the fact that he was still touching her.

Regrettably, he relaxed his hand. Only then did he realize he was still carrying a glass of punch with the other hand.

"Care for a drink?" he asked.

"No, thank you."

"Can't say that I blame you. It's very strong." he chuckled.

Giving him a ghost smile, she reached for the glass and brought it to her lips. Watching him over the rim, she drained it, then ran her tongue over her lips, licking every drop. She passed him the empty glass and stepped off entering the jungle.

Lucian stared after her, amazed. That much liquor, taken that quicky, would have knocked most grown men flat on their backs. She had swallowed it like a mother's milk and was still standing. Not only that she was walking the dark jungle path as silently and expertly as a predator. Lucian was still in thought when he heard a fall in the jungle.

He dropped the glass he was holding and ran after her, forcing his way through the thick grasses, mindless of his tuxedo. An insect whizzed past his ear like a missile; he swatted at it with force.

"Lisa?"

"Oui?"

He spun around. She was standing almost even with him, as though having appeared from one of the trees. Feeling like a complete fool now, he clumsily untied his bow tie. "What are you, a nymph or something?"

She laughed, "I'm quite human, flesh and blood, just like you."

He loosened the collar button of his shirt, but then his fingers fell still. Again he was arrested by her remarkable uniqueness. His eyes started at the top of her sleek head and moved over her face, along her graceful neck, across her full breast, and down the center of her enticing body.

"Human, yes. Flesh and blood, definitely." He took enough steps to bring him toe to toe with her. "But just like me? Hell no. You're like nobody I've ever seen before."

He had to touch her again to reassure himself that she was real. He touched the curve of her breast first, it was as marvelous to touch as it was to look at. He rubbed it lightly with the knuckle of his fingers.

Then he slid his fingertip up and down her neck. When his hand curved around her neck, she relaxed it and let her head bend back slightly, offering her lips to the first soft brushing caress of his. The fruity alcohol was sweet on her breath. Its essence filled his head, aroused his body, inflamed his passions. His tongue flickered along her lips. He groaned her name, a name as enchanting as she.

In response, she placed her hand inside his jacket and laid it on the muscled wall of his chest. His lips parted above hers, pressed, then kissed her in earnestas his other arm closed around her waist.

Bringing her body closer to fit the shape of his, Lucian felt the firm thrust of her breasts, the delectable softness of her feminity, the suppleness of her thighs. His head exploded with desire. He moved one hand to her breast and caressed it through her dress. Beneath the soft cloth he felt her n****e harden aginst the circular motion of his thumb.

His tongue entered her mouth hungrily. His heart hammered painfully in his chest, His d**k, hard and heavy, throbbed with each heartbeat. He snuggled it in between her thighs. His hand cupped her buttocks and tilted her up and forward against him, wondering what she would think of his full hardness and hoping she would respond favourably.

He moaned with gratitude when he felt her hand fumbling between their bodies at the waist level, obviously in search of his zipper.

That's why he was stunned to feel something hard and cold being shoved into his belly. When he started to realize what was happening at the moment, she pulled free from him and stepped out of reach.

"What the hell is---"

The question froze on his lips when he lowered his gaze to the pistol, the barrel of which was aimed straight at his belly button.

Lucian stared at her. "What the hell are you doing?"

"I'm pointing a pistol at you, Mr. Hunter," she stated calmly in her accented English. "And unless you do everything I say, I'm prepared to shoot you."