Pleasure Island. Lorie O'Clare

      KENSINGTON BOOKS

       http://www.kensingtonbooks.com

      Contents

       1 Natalie

       2 Natalie

       3 Natalie

       4 Malachi

       5 Natalie

       6 Malachi

       7 Natalie

       8 Natalie

       9 Natalie

       10 Malachi

       11 Natalie

       12 Malachi

       13 Natalie

       14 Malachi

       15 Natalie

       16 Malachi

       17 Natalie

       18 Malachi

       19 Natalie

       20 Malachi

       21 Natalie

       1

       Natalie

       “I didn’t realize I’d get to choose from so many men!” This was unbelievable.

      I couldn’t remember the last time the sun warmed my skin without making me sweat. Not too hot, and absolutely no chill in the air. And there were no bugs. None. The smell of the salt water mixed with aromas from nearby flowers and created a tangy scent in the air that was unforgettable. But staring at the view in front of me, I could appreciate that the perfect weather and lack of bugs had nothing to do with why they called this paradise.

      And, oh, my God, was this paradise!

      “You can choose several.” Rose Bontiki, the owner of Paradise Island and referred to as “Guardian” in the handbook, grinned at my astonished expression. “Not many of our guests manage to get through more than two though.”

      I could see why. “When do I have to give you my decision?”

      “I need to know now.” Rose gestured to the row of men, standing shoulder to shoulder, and wearing nothing more than tiny skin-colored loincloths.

      “So I have to tell you right now how many men I want as my companions during my entire stay here?” I remembered the manual was clear on this, but now that I stood here, I didn’t know how I would be able to decide right away.

      “Yes. Then, whichever one you choose will escort you to your room. Of course if you wish to have more than one they will both escort you. I should warn you though, your choice is final.”

      “Final.”

      “Yes.” Rose’s pale pink skirt blew around her slender calves as a warm breeze picked up from the ocean. “Once you take your choice or choices to your room, you will enter their names on your contract.”

      “Oh, yeah. I read that in the handbook.” The handbook, more like a thick encyclopedia, explained all the rules for the island. Everything in it was broken down like an owner’s manual. I patted the top of it, which stuck out of my over-sized purse. “I think I’ve got all of it memorized,” I added, grinning and feeling like the student craving the teacher’s attention.

      “Good girl.” Rose nodded her approval. She then gestured to the line of men standing at attention in front of us. “So which one do you want?”

      I tapped my lip with my index finger, taking my time looking at the long line of men who stood so solemnly in front of us. This was a very important decision, and one I wished I didn’t have to make in a matter of minutes. The man I chose now would be my best friend, fuck me, and do anything I wanted for the next two weeks while I was on the island. There was something odd about leasing a lover, although admittedly, a flare of excitement surged through me as well.

      I glanced from one guy to the next, counting them first. Twenty-three guys all gave me impassive stares. Of course, they couldn’t look anxious for me to pick them. Instead they simply stared straight ahead, almost as if none of them noticed me and Rose standing there staring at them. A memory of the guards at Buckingham Palace popped into my head. Choosing one who looked interested wouldn’t work. Story of my life.

      I looked at each one of them again, this time comparing height, and mentally determining how many of them were taller than me. Call me silly, but I like a guy who is taller than I am, although maybe it didn’t matter how tall they were if we were lying down.

      Hell, it mattered to me.

      Ten of them appeared quite a bit taller then my five-foot-six inches.

      I was narrowing it down—on a roll now.

      Out of the ten finalists, I tried to determine eye color, but I stood too far away.

      “Can I get closer to them?” I asked, glancing at Rose.

      It amazed me such a young looking woman owned this small island and ran this resort. She hardly met the image I had created in my mind of the shrewd business person reputed as a self-made millionaire and owner of this reclusive island. When we spoke before on the phone she sounded much older.

      Rose answered the toll-free number on the pamphlet I found in the backseat of a taxi I’d taken to see a show about a month ago. She explained that Paradise Island was anything but a joke. I made my reservations and gave her my credit card number on the spot.

      And I’m not a spontaneous type of gal. I honestly couldn’t believe I was doing this. But maybe a soul can take boredom for only so long.

      “Not too close. I prefer minimal contact before the contracts are signed. It’s on page twenty-three of your handbook.”

      The handbook was heavy inside my purse. On the small chartered plane that brought me here to Paradise Island, I’d read every word on every page. It was the lawyer in me—automatically checking for loopholes and legalities. I was amazed at the simplicity in the wording, and how exciting it made Paradise Island sound. One thing was quite clear by the time I’d read the handbook from beginning to end, Paradise Island wasn’t about finding love. It was about escaping, fulfilling fantasies with no complications. Of course now that I was here, with the sunshine warm on my bare shoulders, and breathtaking views in every direction, Perfect Island would be an even more appropriate name.

      Interesting that according to the logistics carefully laid out in the handbook—paradise didn’t equate love. I wasn’t sure that I agreed. But, I didn’t have a problem agreeing with the fact that I wasn’t here to fall in love. That isn’t something you can pay for—no matter how much money you have.

      I remembered something and did pull the handbook out, adjusting my purse strap over my shoulder as I lifted the thick paperback book.

      “Just a minute, I know it’s right here somewhere.” Flipping the pages with my thumb, I refused to glance at Rose and see any strain in her pretty young face. The rather large amount I charged to reserve my room here on the island had already cleared my bank. If I needed a minute, I would take it. “Okay, here it is.” I glanced at the chart that explained how much everything cost. “There is an extra charge for more than one.”

      I ran my fingernail under the line in the handbook where it stated, $10,000 per week included a private room and bath and three meals a day in the dining room. Meals could be served in the room with advance notice. As well, the first escort was included in the package deal, but there was a $2,500 per day charge applied to the credit card on file for each additional escort.

      “Of