Authors: Yvette Hines
Sensual Chocolate
Sensual Chocolate
Yvette Hines
eBooks are
not
transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement of the copyright of this work.
SENSUAL CHOCOLATE
Perfect Strangers Collection
Copyright © 2012 YVETTE HINES
Cover art by Amanda Kelsey
Edited by Trinity Scott
ISBN: 978-1-936387-48-9
ISBN 10: 1-936387-48-4
All Romance eBooks, LLC
Palm Harbor, Florida 34684
This is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or business establishments, events, or locales is coincidental.
All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever with out written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
First All Romance eBooks publication: February 2012
Chapter 1
“Hello, gentlemen. Welcome to Sensual Chocolate.”
Trenton Rayner observed the woman who opened the door at the lovers resort. A medium, brown-skinned, African-American woman with short, black hair, tapered around the right side of her face and neck with long bangs that flirted with her left eyebrow and covered her ear. Around her neck was a chocolate-colored band that was about a quarter inch thick with a small gold key and heart that dangled from the tiny center loop. A petite-framed woman who couldn’t have been more than five-seven without the four-inch, lace-up, coffee boots that helped her meet his and his brother’s eye level.
She had amazing topaz-colored eyes, striking and only rivaled by the wide smile gracing her mouth. Trenton was instantly struck by her beauty. He didn’t know if it was the confidence that exuded from her as she stood before them; a self-assured woman was always a turn on to him. Possibly. Or it may also have had a lot to do with the body-hugging camel sweater dress she wore that stopped mid-thigh and gave seductive view of her impressive legs covered in tights.
“Hi, I’m Stiles Rayner and I have an appointment.” Stiles held his hand out.
If it was possible, the woman’s smile became wider, showing even, white teeth flashing between full shimmery golden lips. Trenton struggled to pull his gaze away from her mouth. Outside of other things he thought attractive about a woman, he found their mouths one of the most erotic. For a lot of reasons he shouldn’t be thinking about at the moment.
“Yes. I’ve been expecting you. I’m Jolie Tymber, the owner. Please, come in Mr. Rayner.” She stepped back, pulling the door wider and allowing them entrance.
Trenton stopped looking at the woman long enough to consider her home/business. The foyer was spacious and inviting decorated in warm colors of browns and mint green. Before them was a wide stair case leading to an upper level. There were two identical arches on their left and right. On his left, there were stairs that led down into a sitting room with plush furniture in ivory and gold with carpet appearing so thick it begged a person to remove their shoes and sink in. To the right, he noticed a more formal sitting area with antique cherry wood furniture and burgundy leather chairs arranged upon hardwood flooring similar to the parquet in the foyer.
“May I get you all something to drink?” Her voice drew him back to her. It was husky and rich, more the texture of a woman who that should have been on the other end of a sex line, not a couples’ resort owner. Then again, she was in the business of facilitating lovers’ trysts so maybe it was perfect. She made him want to get a room.
“I’m fine. Trenton?” His brother turned to him.
Trenton noticed Ms. Tymber’s gaze shift to him as well and he couldn’t help but feel as if the air had been sucked out of the room. His chest felt a little tight and it disturbed him that he was finding it difficult to breathe.
Bugger
me, what was that?
He was a healthy man who worked out often and rarely indulged in anything that would lead him down the same high blood pressure and ruined cholesterol of his father. So the feeling in his chest was unfamiliar to him.
The small gasp, a sound of shock that came out of the woman’s parted lips and her eyes darkened for a moment. The slight, odd response from her made him draw in a deep breath and release the bands around his heart.
Trenton cleared his throat, before he spoke. “I don’t need anything.”
He noticed Jolie’s smile wavered slightly as she glanced away from him and back to Stiles. “If you will follow me, I’ll tell you about Sensual Chocolate and the various packages.”
She led the way into the leather-bound room where she directed them toward the couch as she took a seat in one of the two single chairs on the other side of the coffee table. On the other side of the room, behind her, was a more business-like area with a desk and two chairs.
“I must say I’m already impressed to see what you have done with this place, Ms. Tymber.” Stiles unbuttoned his suit coat and sat on the side of the couch closest to her chair.
Instead of following her direction, Trenton claimed the other free chair that was in a ninety degree angle from her.
Trenton saw her glance at the empty cushion on the couch, then him, but remained silent as she looked back at Stiles. “Thank you, Mr. Rayner. My uncle and I are quite different in the business aspect.”
“Well, not in success. Your uncle may have leaned more toward the family vacation or fishing lodge establishment for those who desired to use it for its proximity to the lake, but this has paid off as well.”
His brother’s firm owned the lease to the property, even though one of Stiles’s execs handled the account. However, checking up on it wasn’t the reason they had come, or why his brother had dragged him along. The drive to the lake area was over an hour outside of the city and his brother had kindly asked him to come along for the company alone. Besides the fact Stiles never missed an opportunity to try and influence him into believing in romance and the happily-ever-after hogwash.
“This last year has been very profitable, I must say.” Jolie’s smile was confident again.
“I’ve heard. Thanks for giving us your time. I know you’re days are probably hectic with Valentine’s Day coming soon.”
“True.” Her face was alive with joy as she spoke. “It’s the only time we actual offer renting of the bungalows all week long, instead of only Friday through Sunday.”
Great, another romantic.
But then, what did Trenton expect when the woman owned a business that was built around the concept of chocolate coating lovers.
“So, let me hear what you can offer me and my spouse.” Stiles leaned back and brought his ankle to rest on his opposite knee.
Shifting her body forward, she picked up a portfolio from the table that had a high gloss picture of the resort on the front. Trenton enjoyed the view as her sweater dress slipped higher up, revealing more of her thigh. He considered himself a highly sexual male who loved women, all types of women. There was little chance that having to be stuck in this appointment with his brother he wasn’t going to admire the beautiful woman in the room. Hell, what else was there for him to do.
“I believe you told Natalie, my assistant, that it was your anniversary.” She looked from him to Stiles.
Stiles nodded.
Opening up the folder, she showed them a full-page picture with a king-size bed that had a heart in the middle of the red satin sheets made out of individually gold wrapped chocolates. “Well, gentlemen, as you will see we have a lot to offer the two of you during your stay.”
It must have hit his brother at the same time understanding struck him of what Ms. Tymber had surmised. However, Trenton was the first to object. “Whoa, Ms. Tymber—”
“Jolie, please. We’re not formal here.” She gave him an earnest grin.
“And we are
not
a couple.” He waved his hand between him and Stiles.
“Oh, you aren’t?” Jolie appeared truly shocked, but there was something in her gaze that he couldn’t quite put his finger on as she looked at him.
“Sorry for the confusion. This lump on a log is my brother, Trenton.” Stiles informed her.
“His spouse is a wife and I’m not gay,” Trenton clarified.
He knew what she was thinking as she assessed the two of them. Stiles was the quintessential blond, prep-school looking boy with his blue eyes, politician’s smile and all-American boy appeal, while he, on the other hand, was darker in features and attitude.
“Different mothers,” Stiles continued.
“But the same ‘rolling stone’ father.” Trenton didn’t even attempt to mask his disgust for their sperm donor. When he was thirteen he had found out that his father, a pilot, had a wife in New York, as well as his mum in London. He and Stiles were two months apart in age, him being the oldest. Regardless of their father’s bigamy he and Stiles had become close.
Jolie appeared slightly distressed at his comment. Trenton noticed she fidgeted a little in her seat. Strangely enough, he felt a little guilt about making her uncomfortable. He pushed the feeling away. He didn’t know this woman, didn’t owe her anything. If she felt bad about his parentage, it was her issue. He’d surely buried those emotions as he’d buried his dad years ago.
“Anyway, back to the bungalows of love.” Trenton folded his hands over his abdomen and settled into the chair.
Stiles frowned at his sarcasm, but remained silent.
“Yes, well.” She cleared her throat and forced out one of her bright smiles directed at Stiles. “As you will see, each bungalow is equipped with state-of-the-art appliances and furnishings. At Sensual Chocolate we not only want your experience to be lustfully decadent but comfortable as well.” She flipped a page displaying the bathrooms, small kitchenettes and spacious living rooms with gas fireplace.
“Very nice.” Stiles oohed and ahhed appropriately.
Trenton attempted to keep himself from rolling his eyes.
Turning again, Jolie went on, “Here we have the various packages you and your wife may want to incorporate in during your weekend stay with us next month.” Her elegant fingers stroked along the separate columns on the two pages. “Refrigerators and cabinets are stocked with food and cookware. Each bungalow has supplies for chocolate baths. There are chocolate oils and two chocolate bowls filled with fresh seasonal berries and your choice of a bottle of cocovino or martinis.”
Jolie pulled out a single sheet from the back of folder and passed it to Stiles.
Trenton was practically catching a sugar high just listening to Jolie roll through the litany of chocolate offerings.
“Celeste is going to love this.” Stiles studied the paper in his hands.
Trenton could see the sappy romantic glow on his brother’s face. If their father had a romantic gene besides the philandering one, Stiles had received every ounce of it. His brother had fallen in love with his college sweetheart and had never stepped outside even once. Trenton couldn’t hold back the guffaw that slipped passed his lips at the thought of only being with one woman.
“Did you say something, Mr. Rayner?” Jolie set her beautiful topaz gaze on him, her face a mask of professional pleasantry. However, it didn’t diminish the small jolt he continued to experience every time their eyes met.
Evidently the informal name usage only extended to Stiles. Ms. Tymber wanted to keep a wall between them as thick as the old Berlin wall.
“Don’t mind him, Jolie. Trenton is the anti-Cupid.”
She frowned. Her eyebrows pulled in toward the center as if she could not comprehend anyone not celebrating Valentine’s Day. “How can that be? Outside of Christmas it is the only day dedicated to giving love.”
“Of the physical kind.” He allowed his gaze to slowly travel down the length of her body, an alluring glance he’d given many women. He allowed his English accent to fully saturate his words, something else he knew American women went insane over. Just by saying a few words it was nothing for him to have a woman squirming in her chair. Easy picking.
Jolie inhaled, but other than that she held herself straight back and still.
“Of course. Which just makes it even more special when shared between two people who love and care for each other.”
He allowed her to see his eyes roll.
“Don’t waste your breath trying to convince him, Jolie. My brother’s heart may pump blood but it doesn’t beat for love. Trust me I keep trying.” Stiles shook his head as if disappointed in the state of Trenton’s heart.
“It’s already filled with you and me mum, sorry no room left in the inn.” That was true and the only reason he’d agreed to accompany his brother to this appointment instead of sitting in his office going over potential client analysis reports.