Star-Crossed Miracles Read online

  Her insatiable curiosity was one of the things that had always gotten her into trouble. It had also been responsible for a very unpleasant encounter with one of her grandpapa’s most trusted employees. Dammit, if she hadn’t been such a freaking snoop, she’d have never stumbled on his little side business. He’d been asking her to dinner for months, but there was something about him that set her on edge, so she’d always politely declined.

  CeCe’s delighted giggle surprised Mia and thankfully, pulled her back to the moment. She turned to the other woman as the doors of the elevator slid closed and smiled when she saw the mischief dancing in her eyes.

  “I can practically hear the gears spinning in your head. Please feel free to ask me anything… I promise I won’t be offended by your questions, and I’ll answer as honestly as I can.” Her eyes flickered to the man standing beside her, a sly smile curving up the corners of her mouth. “And Carl is good at keeping a confidence unless it involves my safety… then all bets are off.”

  Carl’s eyes warmed, soft laugh lines etching at their corners as he looked down at the woman he was obviously in love with.

  “You’ll be honest, but as discrete as a physician can be.”

  CeCe’s giggle was contagious when she turned to Mia and rolled her eyes. “My husbands are not always pleased with what they call my doctor-attitude when it comes to anything related to the body.”

  Mia watched as the muscles under Carl’s jaw tightened, and his shoulders seemed to tense beneath the black shirt he wore like a second skin.

  “I’ve spent my entire career speaking openly about the human body, and that’s not going to change… no matter how many times I end up over their laps or a spanking bench for what they consider my indiscrete remarks.”

  Mia wanted to laugh out loud at the look on Carl’s face, but she managed to tamp down her amusement until he subtly shifted, one foot to the other. His reflection in the shiny surface of the elevator clearly showed the outline of his impressive erection, and she realized he’d been trying to relieve the pressure as his cock pressed against his zipper. Unable to hold back any longer, Mia’s giggle bubbled up before she could stop it, and CeCe quickly followed suit.

  Both women were wiping tears from their eyes as they walked off the elevator, and Carl turned them toward the ship’s small salon. She heard him mutter a curse about Cam owing him as they stepped inside a room that reminded Mia of the lush rainforests in the Columbian mountains. Of course, smooth marble countertops were a vast improvement over the rock ledges near her favorite waterfall and avoiding being sliced by palm leaves as she’d made her way into the spa’s sweet smelling lobby was also a plus. Hell, it was a better deal all the way around.

  Carl spun CeCe around in a move so smooth, Mia had to smile. I’ll bet he’s quite the dancer. CeCe’s eyes widened, but they were filled with love rather than surprise, and Mia felt a pang of jealousy when she saw the familiarity in her new friend’s eyes. This was a move they’d done many times. Their love was easy, and she admired their obvious comfort in one another’s company.

  “I’m leaving you here, but I’ll be close by if you need me, baby.” Mia felt like an interloper eavesdropping on their private moment. Carl’s blonde hair and blue eyes were a sharp contrast to CeCe’s dark hair and eyes as he leaned down to kiss her goodbye.

  “They aren’t going to let you drive the boat are they?” CeCe giggled at her own question, and Carl gave her ass a sharp swat, making her squeak. Turning to Mia, CeCe grinned. “I love him with all my heart, but his driving terrifies me. I keep saying he missed his calling as a stunt driver.”

  “You’re being awfully brave for a woman who has a date with a flogger this evening. Might want to check the sass, baby.” Carl slid his hands under the short dress his wife was wearing and palmed her ass, making no attempt to cover her bare flesh as he kneaded the soft globes. For her part, CeCe was lost in his kiss and appeared completely at ease having her backside flashed for all to see.

  Mia felt her cheeks heat in embarrassment, but she still couldn’t tear her gaze from the scene taking place right in front of her. Carl gave CeCe’s exposed rear one last swat before turning his attention to the woman who’d stepped from behind a wall of tropical plants.

  “Take care of these ladies, and I’ll remind you that Mr. Barnes’ instructions take precedence over any objections they might raise.” Leveling a look at Mia, then CeCe, he turned back to the exotic beauty Mia assumed was one of the estheticians and added, “If either of them gives you any problem, give me a call, and I’ll make them walk the plank.”

  The implied threat didn’t seem to alarm CeCe, but it sent a shiver of something between fear and anticipation up Mia’s spine. She had no desire to get thrown overboard, but a sudden flash of herself at Brock and Tucker’s mercy set off a wave of heat that made her pussy throb.

  As soon as the door snicked shut behind Carl, the technician ushered them to the back. Mia almost cried with relief when she saw drinks and sandwiches set out in a beautiful array.

  “Come on, I know you have to be hungry after traveling for so many hours. And we’d better drink up, too. The look Carl gave us doesn’t bode well for our pink bits.”

  “Excuse me?” Mia had only been partially paying attention, distracted as she piled her small plate with finger sandwiches and fruit. “Pink bits?”

  “Yes, indeed. My Masters have a thing for smooth skin… everywhere. If they set up this up, you can be sure there will be wax involved… and your esthetician is about to see parts of you only your gynecologist sees on a regular basis.” The petite brunette stopped and looked up as if lost in thought for a few seconds before a cat-that-ate-the-canary smile spread across her face. “Come to think of it, I think the staff at Dark Desires Spa sees my hoo-ha more often than my OB or gyno. Damn, that probably says a lot about my lifestyle, doesn’t it?”

  “Wax?” Oh, fudge.

  Two hours later, Mia was grateful for the alcohol she’d had before her waxing session started. Having hot wax smeared on her mound had been embarrassing enough, but when the sadist wielding the wax covered stick told her to put her legs in the table’s stirrups, Mia found out quickly CeCe hadn’t been kidding about the two of them becoming intimately acquainted. Having the hair surrounding her pussy yanked out by the roots had been painful, but when the woman smeared the heated mix around her anus, Mia started to panic.

  “No need to worry, we do this treatment all the time. You’ll love how sensitive you are to all forms of anal stimulation and penetration.”

  Oh dear Lord in heaven, please tell me this young woman isn’t cheerleading the virtues of a bald ass. One thing for sure… none of the erotic romance books she’d read had adequately prepared her for the humiliation of being spread eagle with her feet in the air while a stranger used a popsicle stick to smear citrus scented wax around her anus. She wondered which was more painful… the embarrassment or the waxing itself when the first strip was unceremoniously yanked from her rear entrance, making her rehearse every foul word in her vocabulary… twice! Decision made… the waxing was definitely more painful.

  “Damn, Mia,” CeCe’s voice sounded from the other side of the curtain dividing their cubicles, “I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone make that particular sound before.” It was easy to hear the laughter in her new friend’s voice before she let out a startled screech of her own. “Holy fucking… Hail Mary full of grace. Give a girl a little warning next time.” Mia started to ask about the strange glow coming from the other side of the cloth divider when CeCe sighed.

  “I’m glad I finally let my Masters talk me into laser treatments. Before long, I won’t have to worry about stubble or waxing… I’ll be billiard ball smooth for the rest of my life. That ought to give my geriatric nurses something to chatter about someday.”

  “Pet, I think your reputation alone will give them enough ammunition for years. Now be a good girl and let the technicians work. I have big plans for you.”

  Mia re
cognized Cameron Barnes voice, and she started to panic at the thought of him being so close when she was completely exposed. When she started struggling to sit up, warm hands gripped her shoulders and held her in place.

  “Stay where you are, Kodak.” Mia looked up into Tucker’s sea green eyes, torn between being mortified to find him standing over her and enthralled by his penetrative gaze. To the man’s credit, he didn’t take his eyes from hers, and she breathed a sigh of relief when she remembered the privacy screen the technician had draped over a rod suspended from the ceiling.

  “Kodak?” Her voice sounded husky even to her own ears, and the gleam in his eyes let her know he hadn’t missed the heat she’d failed to conceal.

  “You’re a photojournalist. It seems fitting, and I won’t have to worry about any other submissive responding to your nickname when we’re in the club.”

  “Club?”

  He chuckled, and she almost rolled her eyes when she realized she sounded like an ignorant doof echoing his words back to him.

  “Yes, the club. We’re just doing a walk through tonight for a couple of reasons. First, you’ve had too much to drink to negotiate a real scene although I’m not opposed to playing a bit. And second, we need to learn more about what appeals to you before we play in public.”

  She felt her body respond just before the last strip was pulled free, and she bit her lip to keep from cursing a blue streak. Tucker smiled, and she sucked in a breath at the way the high voltage gesture totally transformed his appearance. Gone was the grim soldier, and in his place was a man so gorgeous, he looked more like an air-brushed photo from a high-end fashion magazine.

  “Yes, you’ve certainly had too much to drink to play safely, at least until you’ve eaten, sweet cheeks. But I’m looking forward to seeing that dazed look in your eyes again, very soon.” He shocked her by leaning down and pressing a chaste kiss to her lips. “Cam and I were just doing a walkthrough of the ship and decided to check on you ladies. I’ll see you in a bit. Behave.” He kissed her once more before disappearing as quickly as he’d appeared.

  For several seconds Mia lay perfectly still as she battled the alcohol-induced brain fog and tried to decide whether or not his visit had been real or a figment of her over-active imagination. By the time the staff helped her to her feet, she’d chalked it up to a very hot, tequila and wine induced fantasy. What the hell had she been thinking switching to shots after the wine CeCe had sworn would take the edge off her nervousness? The booze on top of stress-induced fatigue had her weaving on her feet.

  “Hey, CeCe, is the room spinning on your side of the curtain?”

  “Nope, but the plants are dancing a jig. I don’t know whether I should mention that to my Masters or not. On the one hand, it might be a security issue, but it might be the wine, and it seems um… well, not so… shit. I think they might not believe me if I said the palms were living it up.”

  “Pet, what am I going to do with you? How many glasses of wine did you have?” Cameron Barnes’ voice sounded from the door as the curtain between the cubicles slid open. He stood with his feet spread apart, arms crossed over his chest looking like a pirate… except he didn’t have on breeches… or a wooden leg… or a parrot… or a hat. Okay, maybe not exactly like a pirate.

  Mia started giggling at her own absurdity, and before she knew it, she was laughing so hard, she stumbled, falling against a wall of warm male perfection. Brock Deitz’s arms encircled her, and she breathed in the scent of freshly showered masculinity. A rumble against her cheek was followed by him pulling back just enough to look down at her.

  “Careful, baby.” Brock seemed to be studying her, but it was hard to tell with him weaving around so much.

  “Hey, CeCe, your dancing palms have nothing on Brock. He’s dancing too, but I don’t think his feet are moving.” She thought he rolled his eyes, but it was hard to tell with him swaying back and forth like a willow in the wind.

  “Shhh. Geez, Mia. You don’t give Doms that sort of ammo… it always comes back to paddle your ass. Damn, didn’t you listen to anything I said? Wait. We didn’t talk about that stuff, did we? Hell’s bells, all I told you was how hot the sex was. Okay, survival skills class is tomorrow.” CeCe’s giggle was contagious, and Mia didn’t even try to hold back her own.

  “Christ. You’re toasted, sweetheart. And you didn’t even have that much to drink.”

  “How do you know? And I did. Have a lot, I mean. Well, a lot for me. I’m a lightweight with alcohol. Never built up any tolerance. Damned bodyguards, anyway. They were real wet-blankets when I was a teenager and in college. Don’t do this. Don’t do that. You can’t drink that. Here have a glass of water, it’s good for you. Blah, blah, blah. It was like having a whole bunch of nagging nannies following you around all the time.” Squinting her eyes as she stared at Brock, pressing her palm to his chest, hoping it would still his swaying. “You aren’t going to do that are you? Because that might be a deal breaker. How far are we from shore? Probably too far to swim, huh? Damn. I hate it when that happens.”

  When she felt his chest vibrating with laughter, she frowned. “It’s not nice to laugh at people who are cognitively impaired, you know. Aren’t Americans really keen on being politically correct and all that?” She wasn’t sure she’d been able to disguise her hurt feelings with indignation, but she’d certainly tried.

  “Doms are exempt from PCBS, sweetheart. And cognitive impairment at your own hand also means you are outside those protective parameters.” Brock’s voice was filled with amusement, but it was impossible to be angry when she was struggling to make sense of what he’d said. Seemed a lot of politically correct bull shit to say he didn’t believe in PCBS, but she wasn’t certain enough to argue the point.

  “I’m hungry.” She slapped her hand over her mouth and flinched when it stung. Damn. I can’t believe I did that or that I blurted that out. How rude. Her grandmother would spin herself out of her grave if she heard Mia say something so blunt. Her grandmama’s sweet voice moved through her mind like a sweet memory. “You never ask your host for anything except the ladies room, dear, it’s so very common to ask for more.” She’d been in her early teens when her grandmother died, but she’d never forgotten the lessons she’d taught.

  “No, sweetheart,” Brock shook his head, “it’s not rude to tell your Dom you are hungry. My brother and I expect you to tell us what you need.” When his hand cupped the side of her face, she instinctively pressed closer enjoying the warmth of his touch. “Now, let’s get you dressed, and we’ll have a bite to eat before we get on with our evening.”

  Chapter Six

  Brock knew he was fighting a losing battle to hold back his laughter, but Mia was the cutest drunk he’d ever seen. She was damned lucky he’d been the one to pick her up from the spa rather than Tucker. His brother would have taken exception to her complete lack of awareness of her surroundings. Hell, she’d stood in front of him without a stitch of clothing and never blinked. He’d enjoyed the view, but he was certain things would have been much different if she’d been sober. Pulling a sheet from the table, he wrapped it around her and led her down the short hall.

  “Where are we going? I can’t walk around the ship dressed in a sheet, people will think I lost my clothes.”

  “Do you know where your clothes are, baby?” Brock heard the amusement in his own voice and grinned at the wrinkle between her furrowed brows.

  “Well… not exactly.”

  “Then it seems you have lost your clothes, so anyone making that assumption would be right.”

  “That doesn’t mean I want to advertise how inept I am when I have a shot or three of tequila.” She surprised him by stopping and tugging on the front of his shirt until he leaned down close enough for her to whisper, “This boat is full of Doms and subs, you know.”

  Pulling back, he gave her what he hoped was a genuinely surprised look. Nodding, she added, “It’s true. CeCe told me about it. She has two husbands.” When she held up three fing
ers, he gently tucked one of the slender digits back down. “Oops. Thanks. Anyway, I thought that only happened in my books, but CeCe said she knows lots of women who have two husbands. Do you think that’s true? Because if it is that would be hot.”

  The sense of satisfaction that moved through him was probably more intense than it should have been, but for once he wasn’t leading with logic. Giving her a quick kiss, he grinned.

  “It’s true and you’re right, it’s very hot. Come on, we’ve got a quick stop to make before we go upstairs to eat.” Moving the short distance to the boutique, he led her in and pointed to the array of dresses set out for her. “Which of these would you like to wear this evening?”

  Brock knew she was no stranger to nice clothing, so he was surprised to see the unmistakable sheen of tears in her pretty blue eyes. Her family’s wealth and social position would have exposed her to any number of situations requiring dresses far more expensive than what he’d chosen, so her reaction surprised him. The file Micah forwarded was filled with pictures of her dressed in designer dresses he knew had to have cost thousands of dollars. Standing back watching her rub the fabric of several dresses between her fingers, he wondered at her emotional reaction to the most conservative selections they’d had in her petite size.

  “These are so pretty, but they might be a bit skimpy for someone my size.” Her size? What the hell? “I’m flattered you think these would look nice on me, but I don’t think anyone will want to see this much… well, this much of me.”

  A soft whoosh of air behind him signaled Tucker’s arrival, and Brock smiled to himself. Sweetheart, you should have chosen while you had the chance.

  *

  Tucker had been watching the security feed upstairs, so he already knew what was taking so long, but that didn’t stop him asking when he saw Brock and Mia standing in the small dress shop. “What’s the hold up?”