"Then you can do as you want. But I'm pretty sure he likes money and his life enough to smother any half-hearted feelings he might harbour for me. It's not like we've been lovers for years. I barely know him."
Hall nodded and bit into the gigantic tiger prawn. They were incredibly tasty and even though her stomach wasn't happy with her, she'd managed to eat one and enjoyed it. The salty white flesh reminded her of the sea beneath them. She had never had the money for such a delicacy before, and the tart dressing that had been drizzled artfully over the avocado was to die for.
When silver bowls of hot water, with accompanying linen towelettes, were brought around after the first course was cleared, Allie washed the sticky residue from her fingertips and looked across at Meredith. Allie had made a point of ignoring Cam, and he was doing the same to her. This was keeping Meredith in line, but she was throwing acid looks in Allie's direction every chance she got.
As the wine and food kept coming, Allie made sure she drank little. If she was to get her chance tonight, then she had to have her head clear. She'd been told that her gold heart-shaped necklace had to stay within inches of Rothmen's for at least a minute for the connection to be made. That meant she'd have to get up close and personal for at least that long, with their pendants close enough to touch. Some serious sucking face would have to be done. She didn't want to call it kissing, and she'd always found that saying disgusting, so it matched what she was going to have to do: suck face.
She and Con had had less fun than she'd hoped practising not to get chilli in her mouth. With Con's mood being so foul, it had been almost as torturous practising the kind of kisses she could give Rothmen, as she imagined it would be doing it for real. Her mouth still tingled, if she thought about it, from the mistakes she'd made.
Allie had spent time, during the shopping spree with Alyssa, finding a lipstick the same colour as the drugged one. Luckily the outer casings were different, so she wouldn't mistakenly apply the wrong one. She'd made a point of wearing lipstick the whole time she was on the ship, just so it wouldn't look odd if she reapplied it before going to Rothmen's stateroom.
When dessert was finally over – Was it the fifth or sixth course? She'd lost count – Rothmen clinked his glass and stood up. He had been drinking solidly all evening, she'd noticed, and his face was now flushed as if from sunstroke. His eyes were a little glassy too.
Damn! If he'd drunk too much then he wouldn't be able to get her to his stateroom. She really wanted it all done and dusted tonight, while they were still close to Barbados. Tomorrow they were sailing north towards Martinique. Though she knew that wouldn't interfere with the Sons' plans, she felt it would be so much easier if it all went down while they were close to Barbados.
"Ladies and gentleman, friends and family. I am so glad to see so many of you here tonight. I take it as a mark of respect that you made the effort to find the time in your busy schedules to be here, enjoying this holiday with me. I introduced you all earlier, although the storm made hearing those introductions less than optimal. I hope that within a day or two you will all become well acquainted, as you make the most of the sunshine and wonderful weather of the Caribbean."
Several men said, "Here, here," at this last part and Rothmen smiled benignly, like a king surveying his kingdom.
"As you may also have noticed, I have a very special guest on board. For those of you who aren't American, you may not be aware of the treasure a reality talent show called
Star Quality
discovered recently. A lovely woman whom our old friend and colleague, Alzhir Akabar, recognised immediately and signed up. That treasure, Miss Alyssa Aimes, has agreed to sing for us as soon as we leave the table.
"So, finish up your desserts and join me in the lounge with your coffee for a rare treat."
For the next half hour Alyssa sang for her supper and received the same kind of lukewarm reception she received the last time she performed for the Guild. This time, though, she looked less fazed by the experience and no worse for wear by the end of the set.
Afterwards, while the guests mingled politely and a three piece band took over providing background music, Allie sent Con to the bar to free her up in case Rothmen made his move. Sure enough, like the shark he was, as soon as Con had taken two steps from her side Rothmen moved in.
"Well, how did you enjoy your meal, pretty lady? I have a French Michelin award winning chef on board preparing all our meals." He took up her hand and kissed her fingers.
"It was delicious. I won't fit into my clothes by the end of this trip if the food continues to be this good for every meal."
"It will, or I will know the reason why. But enough of that. I have an answer to your earlier question. Do you wish to hear it?" He wasn't slurring his words, so she had to assume he wasn't as under-the-weather as she'd feared. Or maybe coffee had sobered him up.
"Yes. I definitely would like to hear how I can have doors opened permanently to this world, without Connor being involved."
"Come with me to my stateroom. It is quieter there, and we can talk in private." He leaned down to kiss her fingers again, while maintaining eye contact with her. She supposed he was aiming for sexy and nonchalant. What she got was cheesy sleaze. But she smiled her agreement all the same.
"Now?" she asked, looking around as if deciding whether their slipping away would be noticed. She saw that Con was being hijacked by the piranha again, but was watching Allie nonetheless.
"Now would be a perfect time. It seems Mrs Huntington is happily entertaining your guard dog. He won't mind if we slip away for a while."
"He won't care, anyway. But before we go, would you mind if I just freshened up for a few moments?"
Rothmen nodded magnanimously and gestured toward the powder room. Sick with nerves, she hurried off to prepare. Five minutes later she was back, her new lipstick applied and already fighting the urge to lick her lips because she knew she couldn't.
"Let us go, my dear. You will like my stateroom. It has the best views on the ship. And with the full moon and the sparkling lights of the shoreline, it will be quite magnificent."
Connor was having trouble restraining his cat. It had started when Rothmen took Allie aside before dinner and had been growing worse ever since. He'd hated the way Hall kept looking down the front of the deep vee in Allie's green dress every time he spoke to her. But from the change in his expression as that conversation continued, he had a feeling that Allie had presented him with her plan. Hall might no longer consider Connor a threat.
That was something at least.
But now he was stuck at the bar while the rugly cougar with octopus hands kept him from Allie's side. He knew he had to let her go; knew that she had to do her job; but that didn't make it easier. When she left Rothmen to go to the ladies room he knew she was applying her safeguard. She was dealing with the whole situation with a calm professionalism that amazed him. If he wasn't so feckin' insanely protective, he'd be proud of her right now.
How long would it take for them to get cosy and for Rothmen to get sick? He thought anywhere from five to fifteen minutes. How was he going to handle that, especially as he'd seen one of the guards following his master down the hall towards the staircase that would lead to the Upper Deck and Rothmen's stateroom? With that guard around, Connor wasn't going to be able to get close enough to be of use to her if she needed him.
"You okay, bro?" Colt said, coming up behind him at the bar as Connor half-heartedly listened to the New York socialite and tried to politely keep her hands from roaming.
He turned to find Colt and Alyssa looking at him with concern.
"Couldn't be better. Great hooley, aye?" He kept his voice loud enough for those nearby to hear, especially the ever-observant Hall, who was talking to the Italian couple not far away.
"Sure is, although jetlag is hitting hard. Or maybe it’s the heat. We're thinking of heading to bed."
"I might do the same. Don't know where Alice has disappeared to, but she'll come down when she's ready, I guess."
He said goodnight to the disappointed cougar and followed his friends down the hall toward their cabins at the stern and the staircase. One quick glance at the guard strategically placed at the top of the stairs on the next deck was enough to tell him, just as he'd expected, that following Allie wasn't a possibility. But somehow he had to find a way to be nearby if things didn't go as planned.
Colt must have read his mind. "Let's go up to the sundeck. The sky would look incredible up there now. No smog covering the stars."
Yeah, that would work. If he got directly above her, then if she screamed, he might just hear her through the decking. He could be there in seconds, no matter whether it fucked with their mission or not.
The three made their way up the two flights of stairs to the sundeck, where only one guard was present, staring out at the ocean with a bored look on his face, arm resting on his semi-automatic rifle strapped to his shoulder.
Okay, they could deal with him if they had to. He prayed they wouldn't have to.
Allie fought the urge to suck her bottom lip. She was seated on a comfortable sofa in the middle of the suite that had to be three times the size of the cabin she shared with Con. Rothmen was lounging against the hull, staring out the window at the stunning view of the lights twinkling along the coastline being mirrored off the rippling black water. A huge, full moon hung low over the island, as if Rothmen had ordered it in on purpose. Had she been with anyone else but Rothmen, she would have been staring with awe at that view and storing it away as a fond memory.
But she wasn't with anyone else. She was with an ugly, entitled alien who was likely guilty of umpteen crimes against humanity and who was presently eyeing her like she was his next meal.
Well, it was now or never. Sitting here like a shy virgin didn't get the job done and only meant Con had longer to control his cat. Who knew how long he could keep it corralled.
She rose to her feet and walked towards the rugly, swaying her hips seductively as she went. Then she leaned up so that she could whisper in his ear and bring his medallion and her pendant into alignment. Could she get away with whispering sweet nothings into his ear for a minute? But no, she had to kiss him so he'd get sick.
Rothmen made no move to touch her, seeming to like her seductive aggression. "So, Mr Rothmen. Oh, no, sorry, that's Kaaarl, isn't it." She drew out his first name on a purr of hot air into his ear. He shuddered with excitement and his hands inched around her waist.
"So," she repeated breathily into that now attentive ear. "What will I have to do to get onto the A List? Will it involve doing naughty, sexy things with you when your wife isn't looking? Huh? Is that what it will take?"
His hands slid up and down her waist, the clammy heat of them making her stomach turn. He smelled like expensive cologne and alien. It was a sickening mix.
"What kind of naughty, sexy things do have you in mind?" he said hoarsely, drawing her in so that she could feel his hardening arousal.
How long was that? It felt like forever, but was likely only a few seconds. Feeling like Scheherazade telling stories for a 101 Nights to stay alive, she racked her brain for something sexy to say to verbally spin her web.
"Ohhh," she let the word come out as a long, slow gust of warm air as she opened her mouth so she could nibble gently on his earlobe without smudging her lipstick. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe I could take my clothes off very, very slowly, while you watched me. I am told I would make an excellent stripper if ever my PI work dried up. You do know I'm a PI don't you? I even carry a gun when I'm home. Do you like women who carry big, powerful guns? Women who like to hold them and fondle them because they're so dangerous and deadly? Do you like a woman who is turned on by naughty thoughts like that?"
He was breathing heavily now, licking his lips in anticipation. "Yes, I do like a woman who gets hot fondling a weapon of any kind. And Hall told me you were in his employ. I was thinking of getting you to seduce your target. That might be yet another way you could get your A Listing. But go on, I'm distracting you. Tell me more of those naughty, sexy things you have in mind."
She bit his ear a little harder this time and he groaned, running his hands down her naked back until he could clamp her cheeks tight, squeezing them until they hurt.
So he liked to inflict pain did he? That wasn't surprising. But she didn't like games like that. Not with him anyway.
"I'd give you a lap-dance, where you couldn't touch me until I said so. I'd bring my nipple so close to your mouth that you'd start salivating, knowing how tasty it would be to suck on, if only I'd let you."
Another moan before he began moving her body up and down, grinding her against his fully erect penis, luckily still safely covered by his pants.
How long was that? Surely at least thirty seconds. Maybe more. This was truly awful. She had never done anything so sickening in her life. Maybe she should have had a couple more drinks to make it bearable.
The grinding was getting really painful now and the silk of her dress wasn't going to survive such rough treatment.
"Karl, let me go a little. If you keep that up we won't get to the good part." She pushed on his shoulders, giving him the signal to relax his hold. Luckily, he must have been in an indulgent mood, because he did as she asked.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Allie ran her hands up his arms so she could reach his balding head and massage it with her fingertips. Oh yeah, he liked that.
"Do you know what else I'd do to a naughty, sexy man like you?" She licked his neck that was salty with sweat. "I'd suck your bottom lip into my mouth and suck on it like I wanted to suck on something else. And you'd suck on my top lip like I imagine you'd suck on my really wet folds that are already aching for you. Would you like that?" Every time she said
suck
she breathed on the wet skin she'd licked.
"Yes. And I'd thrust my tongue into your mouth, just like I'm going to thrust my cock into it. Hard. Would you like that? Do you do deep throat?"
"Oh, baby… you're a bad, bad boy. Of course I do. But let me suck your lip first. It really turns me on to suck bottom lips, so fleshy and hot. Could I do that now, Mr Rothmen… Ohhhh, ssssorry. Kaaarl." She was getting lightheaded with all this gusty breathing, but it was having its effect. It had to be close to a minute by now. If she just sucked on his lip and had him to do the same to her top lip he'd be vomiting not long after. How long had Coop said on the instruction sheet that came with the small tube? Less than a minute for the drug to take effect. Maybe she was being overly cautious drawing out the length of time she was keeping the pendants in contact, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
"Oh, Alice you are a wonder, aren't you?" She wanted to scream at the cheesy line she'd heard so many times before. Instead, she gave an appreciative little giggle, as if it was the first pun that had ever been made with her name.
She drew back just far enough that she could bring her lips into alignment with his, but still keep their chests pressed together. Then she took his bottom lip between her teeth as she had his earlobe, and began to suck on it, making sure that her top lip rubbed against the slick inner skin of that lip.
He moaned as if he couldn’t take any more. Urgently, he dragged back his lip and thrust his tongue into her mouth. She was going to gag. She was really going to gag.
Damn it, she didn't care if it hadn't been long enough. She couldn't do this anymore. She was going to be sick. Maybe she'd gotten some of the lipstick on her tongue.
She pushed away, hoping against hopes that it had been enough. But she really did feel sick. Her head was light, waves of heat were rolling through her body and her gag reflex was on high alert.
"What?" he demanded in annoyance, trying to draw her back.
"I…I feel sick. I…I must have eaten something bad..."
And just the mention of the word
sick
must have been enough of a trigger, because suddenly Rothmen was roughly pushing her away and heading for the en suite. She heard him vomiting into the toilet through the door. Nothing had ever sounded so good in her life! Her own nausea vanished. So she hadn't been in contact with the drug. That was a relief. It was just Rothmen who had made her sick.
"I have to go. I'm sorry. I need to get to a toilet, too." She yelled through the door, as loud as she could. Her only answer was another bout of spewing.
Fighting down the smug smile, she hurried for the door and into the corridor, her hand over her mouth. The guard, who must have heard everything through the door, took a step back from her as if she had the plague. Allie raced down the corridor, took the stairs to her own deck, two at a time, and headed for her stateroom.
When she reached her cabin she dashed into the bathroom and used a special wipe Cooper had sent that would remove the drug from her lips. Once she was sure it was all gone, Allie used the mouthwash on the sink to rinse and re-rinse every last trace of Rothmen from her mouth.
By then Con was in the room, his eyes gone cat. Hers followed instantly. He reached for her.
"No. Not yet. I have to shower. I have to wash his stench off me." She spat into the sink again.
Con growled and watched as she ripped off her dress and climbed into the shower. His eyes never left her as she used liquid soap and a sponge to wash every inch of her skin and then her hair. It was overkill. He hadn't made contact with all that much skin, but she felt dirty all the same. When she'd soaped herself enough she just stood under the hot water washing her mouth out yet again.
"He didn't…" Con couldn't get the rest of his thoughts out.
"No. One kiss and a lot of me talking dirty in his ear, until I was sure a minute had past. I hope it was long enough."
"You were in there ten minutes, lass. If you spent most of that time talkin' dirty, then you met your time limit."
"I should have had a watch. But they took everything away from us."
"You okay?" He sounded wounded and sick.
Allie turned off the shower and looked into his eyes. She could see his guilt and frustration in those green metallic depths.
"Kiss me, Con. Only you can make this okay."
And that was all he needed to hear. With a moan of pain, he pulled her out of the shower and lifted her into his arms, pressing her wet body against his, like he wanted to blend their flesh into one. Then he kissed her, hard and deep, driving even the memory of the other man's kiss from her mind.
This! This was what she wanted. Only this!
She thrust her tongue into his mouth, feeling his sharp canines as she did so. The urge to bite overtook her and she reared back. Con knew what she wanted, and tore his shirt from his shoulders. Allie bit down, hard.
His gasp of pleasured pain was an aphrodisiac of the most potent kind. She felt her body orgasm as he did, still fully-clothed. Con had told her that her bite made him come in different ways, not always with ejaculation. But this time he had orgasmed that way, and she gloried in her power over him.
For long moments she let him ride his pleasure while she clung on. Then she released her hold and dropped back to the tiled floor. His eyes, still slitted and metallic, stared at her dazedly. Then, as Allie began to smile, he smiled too. Sweeping her up once more, Con carried her into the small bedroom and toppled with her onto the queen-sized bed.