He lay on a sun lounger face down, his head resting on his folded arms. His body, clothed only in a pair of red boxer shorts, glistened from the sun oil she’d lovingly massaged into his firm torso.
She knew she loved him. In fact, she loved everything about him. His smile and the way he would talk into the early hours. Sometimes he’d describe how he’d made his fortune. Other times he’d tell her about his childhood and how it had been growing up on a ranch in West Virginia. Mia could only imagine what fun it had been, riding horses all day long. She adored his strong, virile body, too, and the way he could bring her to orgasm with just words and caresses. Trent made love as though it were an art form. He would often use bondage, tying her to the bed to bring sexual pleasure to them both. Just thinking about it turned her on.
Mia placed her magazine on the floor and then moved across to Trent. Leaning down, she poured sun lotion into her hands and began massaging it over his back, kneading her thumbs into the groove of his spine. She smiled to herself as she heard him groan his appreciation.
He turned his head, and amber eyes squinting slightly from the sun stared warmly at her. His black hair cascading down onto his neck with a tousled blue sheen made him look all the more devilish and carefree.
“Mmm, that’s heavenly, waking up to you.”
She kissed his lips. “I didn’t want you to start burning. I’m just going to have a shower and then get changed.”
“Come here.” He reached out and caught her wrist, and she giggled as he dragged her onto the sun lounger with him. “There’s no hurry.” He kissed her lips as he rolled her on top of him. With just a pair of scanty bikini bottoms on, it didn’t take long to feel his hard cock pressing deliciously against her pussy. Her hips automatically ground into his, and a deep, throaty moan hissed from his lips. “You sure know how to drive a man wild.”
“I’m going to drive you even wilder by leaving you with something to think about while I take a shower.” Quickly, she moved from him, side stepping his hand as he playfully motioned to smack her butt. After wiggling her ass at him and calling, “Missed,” she then ran inside the villa. Two more weeks of bliss stretched out before her. She had never felt so happy.
Mia pulled a designer dress from the wardrobe and laid it on the bed. She then went into the en suite bathroom for her shower. When they returned to New York, she knew she would have to start looking for a job. She couldn’t rely on Trent to provide for her anymore. He’d told her he would introduce her to several people, who could help her achieve her dream of owning her own art gallery. If everything worked out, she might even be able to repay the money she owed him. Now that would make her even happier.
Once showered, she changed into her fresh clothes and wondered why Trent hadn’t appeared. At first she thought he might have fallen asleep again until she heard him speaking in the main living area. He lounged, relaxing on one of the large leather couches with his back to her, talking to someone on the telephone.
“No, no, I haven’t got rid of her yet.”
Tiptoeing across in her bare feet, Mia froze to the spot. The hand she was going to stroke into Trent’s hair stilled mid-air. Was he talking about her?
He laughed, listening to the person on the other end of the line, then said, “The hussy has cost me a small fortune. I’m gonna make damn sure I get my money’s worth out of her first before I drop her.”
Her stomach churned, and tears sprung to her eyes. He had to be talking about her. Slowly she turned around so as not to make a noise. Now all she wanted to do was escape from his vicious, cruel words. She loved Trent, but it was obvious he didn’t love her. Just as she’d thought, her worst suspicions had been confirmed. He’d been using her all along.
Even as she walked away, she could still hear him speaking. “If I’d known the trouble she’d cause me, I just wouldn’t have bothered. She’ll be history soon enough. Maybe you’d like first refusal when the time comes?” He laughed. “You’re such a snob, John. I might have known you wouldn’t want used goods.”
After that final insult, Mia ran to the bedroom and shut the door behind her. What could she do? What should she do? If Trent didn’t love her, then she wouldn’t stay a moment longer. All she had were the clothes she stood up in and about one hundred dollars in cash. How on earth could she leave and still keep her dignity? There was only one thing for it. She began slinging a few essentials into a small bag and then quietly opened the French doors onto the verandah outside. A confrontation was the last thing she wanted or needed. If she could make it to the airport, she felt sure her parents would wire her the money to get her back to Stockholm. This was something she should have done in the first place. Relying on Trent had been the worst decision of her life.
As she slipped from the room, she just caught a glimpse of the swimming pool still sparkling in the slowly setting sun. Only a few hours ago, she had been so blissfully happy. Tears rolled down her cheeks unchecked as she ran toward the track that would take her to Castries. Life could be so cruel.
Chapter Fifteen
Trent made one more sweep of the villa and grounds and finally came to the conclusion that Mia had gone. Her favorite bag was missing. Even though it showed considerable signs of age and wear, she’d refused to part with it.
He rubbed a hand over his face. Had Mia disappeared for a second time? They’d been getting along so well, too. Maybe she’d been planning this all along. Perhaps she’d been a setup from the outset. A ruse to get into his bank account. He shook his head. Surely he wasn’t such a bad judge of character? He checked his watch. Well, she couldn’t have gotten far on foot in the last hour or so. He retrieved his car keys from the hallstand and strode purposefully outside to his Aston Martin convertible. If she was walking, there was only one way into Castries. So that’s the route he’d take.
He gunned the car into life and tore off down the track. His anger began to mount by the second. Just wait until he caught up with her, the little minx. He’d show her a thing or two about respect. Something she wouldn’t forget in a hurry.
After a half hour and almost on the point of giving up, he saw her walking along the side of the road. He slowed down as he drew alongside. “Get in,” he commanded.
She refused to even acknowledge he was there and continued walking. He tried again, receiving the same cold shoulder. “Get in. I won’t ask you again.” On the verge of losing it, he breathed in, reigning in his temper. There was only one thing for it. He stilled the engine and jumped from the car.
Before he could catch up with her, she rounded on him. “Get away from me, you bastard. You don’t love me.” She banged her fists against his chest. He could clearly see she’d been crying.
“Whatever is wrong, Mia?” he asked, concerned now for her welfare. Had she gone totally mad?
“As if you care.”
He placed a hand on her shoulder, and she screamed. “Leave me alone. I never want to see you again.”
Trent reeled from her words. Had he really been so wrong? He stared at her. This woman didn’t look like a gold digger. She looked crushed, totally bereft of any joy. None of this made any sense. He decided to take control.
“You’re not going anywhere. Not until I’ve had some answers.” He took hold of her arm and pulled her toward the car. When she refused to make it easy for him, he scooped her up and unceremoniously tossed her into the passenger seat.
“How dare you. You don’t own me.” She glared at him as he walked around to the driver’s side and got in beside her. He couldn’t for the life of him figure out what had got into her.
“Now I want some answers, Mia. Why have you run off for a second time? Why are you acting like a stupid—”
“Hussy. Say what you think, Trent. I heard you on the telephone.”
“What are you talking about? What telephone call?”
“Don’t pretend. I’m not a piece of merchandise that you can exchange on a whim. You don’t own me, whatever you may think.”
“I don’t know what you mean, I’ve only spoken to John and we were just talking about my—” He paused as realization dawned. “So you overheard my conversation with John?”
“Yes, every last damned word, you bastard! Jäkel!”
“Right. You’re coming with me.”
* * * *
At first Mia thought they were heading back to the villa, but the Aston Martin changed direction, and they began making their way toward Castries and eventually the harbor. Trent looked as angry as she felt. With his lips compressed into a tight line, his silence said it all as they drove through the traffic. What had she expected? It had been stupid to think she could just slip away. Had she forgotten the little matter of the twenty thousand dollars she still owed him? Well, if he thought she’d come willingly to his bed, he’d have another think coming.
He wore a pair of jeans and a white shirt, open at the collar. It fluttered in the warm breeze as they sped along the main road into Castries. The expensive watch on his wrist glittered from the sun as he expertly maneuvered the Aston Martin into an empty parking bay. Yes, she might still find him attractive, but even that didn’t compensate for the way he’d spoken about her on the telephone.