Running from Satisfaction: Welcome to Libertine Island [Satisfaction, Texas 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read online

  “Carlotta, Sir.”

  “And did try you touch the lifeguard in an inappropriate manner?”

  “I couldn’t help myself, Sir. It was there, right in front of me. It was so big and beautiful and tasty looking. And I’m here alone. I just wanted to worship it.”

  “He’s a lifeguard. He’s here to monitor the pool and ensure everyone is safe. He’s not your play toy.”

  “I thought the staff was here to service the guests?”

  “I think you have the wrong idea about the island. The staff are allowed to play with the guests when off duty, if they so choose. But we don’t require it. And they certainly don’t play on duty.”

  “I’m sorry, Sir.”

  “Don’t apologize to me. Apologize to him.”

  “I’m very sorry, Sir. I was wrong and I accept whatever punishment you deem appropriate. Or I could suck your cock and, pleasure you, Sir, as a part of my repentance.”

  “Well, uh, thank you, Carlotta. Your punishment is that you can’t talk to me or touch me in any way for the remainder of your stay, whether I am on or off duty.”

  She looked up in shock.

  “Very creative punishment.” JJ checked his watch. “It’s almost two. You can take a break and then report to the kitchens at four. You’re on veggie-chopping duty.”

  “The kitchen?”

  “Yes, do you have a problem with that, Tait?”

  Tait did, but he couldn’t say anything. Crap. He was an experienced undercover agent. He’d faced down the enemy without flinching. He should be able to…He should be able to handle anything. Even his girlfriend in a rage, which she would be when she found out they’d followed her to the resort.

  “I’ll be there JJ. Four p.m., right?”

  “That’s right.”

  “Is there a dress code?”

  “Wear the khakis you were issued, either the shorts or the pants. And you need to wear a T-shirt. No bare chests in the kitchen or bare feet or cocks.”

  “Thank god!”

  JJ laughed. “When you get there, they’ll issue you a hairnet or one of those cute little hats.”

  Tait smiled ruefully. “As long as I can cover my junk, I’m fine with whatever I need to wear. I’ll head back to my room now and I’ll be at the kitchen at four sharp.”

  * * * *

  After walking Maggie over to the cabin she shared with Carter and his brothers. Candy and Carter proceeded to the small cabin that she’d been assigned. It was lovely. It was small, except for the huge bed that would fit three people easily. It was on the edge of a wooded area, with only a small glimpse of the water available from the back porch, but that was fine with Candy. It was way more than she expected and she said so.

  “I’m supposed to be here to work, not lounge in one of the guest cabins.”

  “Candy, it’s not booked and you are doing us a big favor. After Eddie bailed, we were sure we’d have to cancel the babymoon. I can’t tell you how grateful I am to you for coming. But that’s not why I needed to talk to you. It’s Tait and Aaron. JJ tells me you already caught a glimpse of Tait.”

  Candy laughed. “Oh, I caught more than a glimpse. That’s some uniform you’ve got him wearing. I know for a fact that exhibitionism isn’t one of his kinks. But what’s he doing here working on staff?”

  “Apparently they somehow found out you were coming here and pulled some strings to get here before you arrived. Aaron’s been weeding the flower gardens all day. He’s enthusiastic but not skilled. I think we’ll move him to looking after the lobby and restaurant plants tomorrow.”

  “But why are they working and not here as guests? Are they undercover? Is there something wrong?”

  “Nothing except for the fact that we are full up. Apparently Aaron knows Sean O’Malley, head of security and they cooked this up. They were told the place is full up, and that if they wanted on the island, they could come as the help.”

  “I’m surprised that they didn’t just intercept me on my way.”

  “Sean threatened them. He told them that if you didn’t arrive and I had to cancel the babymoon, he’d make them pay in ways they couldn’t contemplate.”

  Candy laughed. “He sounds like a pretty persuasive guy.”

  “Oh, Sean’s a great guy. And anyway, that’s the story. He gave them a choice of pool boy or gardener. I don’t know if Tait lost a bet or didn’t check out the uniform before agreeing to it. Aaron has spent the day weeding. He’s enthusiastic but not skilled. He has to be watched closely, but he’s trying to learn. You’ll see him tomorrow when he’s assigned to look after the plants in the dining room.”

  “And Tait? How late does his pool shift last?”

  “Oh, he’s done there. He’s going to be on kitchen prep duty this afternoon. You’ll get a chance to order him around as much as you like.”

  “Sounds like fun.”

  Chapter Five

  Candy walked into the kitchen at three. Carter was there, along with a man he introduced as Chef Miguel, who was in charge of breakfast and lunches. Together the three of them toured the kitchen, and then she and Carter sat down with the menus he’d developed for the ten days that he would be away.

  “Ten days? Not two weeks?”

  “Yeah, we decided on ten days in Paris and then four nights back here on the island. Mac is letting us use his place on the other side of the island. I can come over and do the dinners and you can relax and enjoy yourself.”

  “Carter Hayes. Don’t even think of showing your face in this kitchen until the full two weeks are up, do you hear me? I mean it. If I even see a glimpse of you in here, I’m going to have you banned.”

  “Can we eat in the dining room?”

  “As long as it is a romantic dinner for four and not so you can check up on me.”

  “It’s a deal. Now, what do you think of tonight’s menu?”

  Time flew by as they discussed the nuances of different potato dishes and seasonings. They really were food nerds. Candy looked up as the door to the kitchen opened and four men and two women walked in.

  “Candy, here are the kitchen staff for the night. Kerrie and Camilla are doing the salads and desserts respectively. Joe and Jordy will do the vegetables and assist you with the entrees. Leo, who you’ve already met, is our jack of all trades. You need something done or an errand run, he’s your man.”

  Candy walked down the line, shaking hands and making small talk until she got to Leo. Him she gave a hug and a kiss on the cheek before turning to the man at the end of the line—Tait. She could see the jealousy in his eyes as well as the worry.

  “So who is this?”

  “Miss Lowe, Candy, I’m Tait Sorenson. So pleased to meet you. I’m new here, too!” He beamed at her as he shook her hand. “Pleased to meet you.”

  Oh, so that’s how he wanted it to be. Fine. Two could play at that game.

  “Mr. Sorenson. How nice to meet you. And what do you do here?”

  “Anything I’m told.”

  “Anything?”

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  “Ma’am? Are you a submissive, Mr. Sorenson?”

  “I, er—” He looked uncomfortable, glancing over to Carter, who was suppressing a grin.

  “No need to feel embarrassed, Mr. Sorenson. I saw you out at the pool earlier and thought you looked uncomfortable when that sub knelt for you.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep your secret.”

  He looked both relieved and annoyed. She had to stifle her own grin. She wasn’t going to make this easy on him or Aaron.

  “I’m not normally Dominant, Mr. Sorenson. Outside the kitchen, that is. You’ll find that I am very much the Domme in the kitchen. Since you are a submissive, you can work under me. I won’t require you to kneel as it wouldn’t be safe in this environment. However, if you feel the need, I’d be happy to have you kneel for me in the dungeon later. And if you are really good, I’ll flog you.”

  She looked around the kitchen. “I don’t
know about the rest of you, but I’m ready to cook some food!”

  * * * *

  Five hours later and Tait Sorenson never wanted to see another potato again in his entire life. He didn’t care if they were au gratin or broiled or mashed or fried. He was done with potatoes forever. He’d cut his fingers twice while pealing them. He’d thought Candy would let him off, but each time she just slapped on a bandage and handed him a new pair of latex gloves. “Can’t have you bleeding on the food, can we?”

  Finally, at nine, after five hours of potatoes, he’d been sent on his way. She’d changed her mind about the dungeon. She was going to dine with Carter and his family. She told Tait she’d see him out by the pool tomorrow. She hoped he’d be wearing the same swimsuit he’d worn today, she’d added. She liked how it looked on him.

  He had gritted his teeth and tried to smile submissively. He’d tried to get her alone for a few minutes, but she was always with someone, usually Leo. He also noticed that she didn’t make Leo peel potatoes. No, Leo was her assistant. He took notes and ran errands. He got her a chair when he thought she looked tired, water when she looked thirsty, and rubbed her shoulders when he thought they looked tense. And Candy let him.

  He gritted his teeth and tried to sound submissive. “Ma’am, you mentioned going to the dungeon later?”

  “I did, Mr. Sorenson, but I’m feeling like an early night. I’m going to head back to my lovely little cabin tonight and make sure I’m tucked in no later than midnight, in the lovely little private cabin Carter arranged for me. Perhaps another night, Mr. Sorenson?”

  * * * *

  Tait let himself into his room and kicked the door shut behind him. He liked the sound it made. He walked forward and kicked the dresser. Then he kicked it again. It felt good. He kicked it one more time.

  “Easy now. What did that piece of furniture ever do to you?”

  Tait looked over at Aaron, who was lying on one of the single beds in the room. He looked freshly showered.

  “I suppose I’d get into trouble if I tried to dispose of one of the staff.”

  “Probably, unless you hid the body well. Who do you want to get rid of and why?”

  “Leo fucking Lawrence. Damned kid sucking up to Candy. ‘Whatever you want, Miss Lowe. Let me get that for you, chef.’”

  “He is just a kid, Tait. She’s not going to be interested in him. I’m sure she was just yanking your chain. And speaking of which, did you get a chance to speak with her?”

  “Not a single solitary moment alone with her, but she seems to have jumped to the conclusion that I’m here undercover. When I was introduced, she smiled and said something that implied she knew what was going on and would keep my secret. Now what do we do? Do we keep letting her think that we are on assignment, or do we tell her that we’ve come here to be with her?”

  He paced. “And that damned kid. Have you met him? Young and blond, and he seems to have a crush on Candy. Our Candy. In fact, I’d go so far as to say she encouraged him.”

  “Whoa. Down, boy. Have a seat before you wear a hole in the carpet with all that pacing. Now what exactly happened this evening? Go through it all in order and don’t leave anything out.”

  Wordlessly, Tait held out his hands emphasizing the two bandages on his left hand.

  “What the hell happened to you?”

  “Potatoes.”

  “Potatoes?”

  “Potatoes. I peeled them for five hours straight.”

  “Holy crap. How many potatoes do people eat for dinner?”

  “It wasn’t just for dinner. It was also for tomorrow’s breakfast and lunch. Hell, for all I know, she made me peel enough potatoes to last all this week and half the next.”

  “Do they stay good that long?”

  “How the hell do I know, Aaron?”

  “Don’t yell at me. I didn’t make you peel potatoes.”

  “I know.” Tait felt his anger drain out and he was left with only fear and uncertainty. He dropped down on his bed and lay back, folding his hands under his head. “Shit! All I can smell is potatoes. I need to take a shower.” He sat back up.

  “First tell me more about Candy. How did she look? Did she ask about me?”

  “No, she didn’t ask about you. In fact, hell, when we met, I introduced myself. Formally. Like we had never met before.”

  “Why the hell did you do that?”

  “I panicked? Anyway, she looked surprised and then she acted like we were strangers. She didn’t say much of anything else to me that wasn’t an order, other than that one comment about keeping my secret. I think she thinks I’m undercover. Or maybe I am just reading more in to what she said that she meant. Hell, Aaron.”

  Tait could see Aaron looking at him with a speculative gaze. He tried to avoid Aaron’s gaze, but they’d worked together for a long time and been friends even longer.

  “There’s something else. What is it?”

  “Oh fuck, shit, fuck, shit.” Tait looked over at Aaron. “I maybe went a touch overboard playing along that we hadn’t met before. Anyway, to show we didn’t know each other, I called her Ma’am. She ran with it and…oh, god, Aaron, she called me…”

  “Called you what?”

  “I don’t know if I can say it.” Tait swallowed hard and looked over at Aaron. “Fine. Fuck, this is hard.” He took a deep breath. “Submissive. She called me submissive and said that I could kneel for her anytime.”

  He looked over at Aaron, who was now doubled over with laughter. “Stop that, you idiot. What am I going to do? She said it in front of half a dozen people. I think she was trying to help, but now they all think I’m a sub. Aaron, quit laughing. I think she plans to flog me in the dungeon to help me keep up my cover. What am I going to do?”

  “Let her?”

  “Ha, ha. I was supposed to meet her there tonight, but she decided she’s too tired and was going to go back to her cabin tonight at midnight. She said she’d see me tomorrow. She’s going to come out to the pool tomorrow. She said she saw me earlier in my uniform and can’t wait to see me in it again tomorrow.”

  * * * *

  Aaron looked over at Tait. He’d never seen his friend so glum. He’d probably be glum, too, if he was in Tait’s shoes.

  “Buck up, Tait! We’re here on this beautiful island with the love of our lives, and she wants to see your cock. What’s the problem?”

  “The problem is that she wants to see it on public display. Today at the pool, one sub dropped to her knees and tried to suck it. In public. What if Candy had seen that? What if someone else tries that tomorrow? How do I handle that without doing something that gets me fired and kicked off the island?”

  “Well, if they send you back to St. Maarten, I’ll still be here. I’ll get back into Candy’s good graces and I’ll put in a good word for you.”

  “Aren’t you just the best friend ever?”

  “I am indeed, Aaron. For example, I’ve found out which cabin she’s staying in.”

  “How?”

  “No one ever pays attention to the gardener. Lets you walk around without being noticed.” Aaron grinned. “Besides, I asked Sean and he told me.”

  Tait groaned and threw the only thing nearby at Aaron. The pillow bounced harmlessly off him, of course. Tait watched as Aaron retrieved it from the floor and tucked it behind his head.

  “Tait, has acting like a sub taken away all of your critical faculties? Jeez, or maybe it was that swimsuit squeezing your junk too hard. Candy’s accused you of thinking with your dick before. Maybe she was right?”

  “Aaron. You have five seconds to explain what you mean or I’m going to take my frustrations out by beating your ass!”

  “You and what army,” Aaron sneered. “And I thought you hurt your hands peeling potatoes,” he continued, his tone dripping with faux sympathy. How dense could Tait be? “You idiot! You said she told you she was turning in at midnight. Alone.”

  “Yeah…”

  “Did you consider that she was setting up a
meeting with us? A secret meeting.” He sighed exaggeratedly and rolled his eyes. “Like the kind secret agents have.”

  Tait opened his mouth and closed it again.

  “Catching on now, Tait?”

  “Damn. How could I be so dense?” He looked down at his bandaged hand. “I blame the loss of blood. And dignity. When I realized she’d seen me in that abomination of a swimsuit, the blood was thundering in my ears so loudly I thought I’d pass out.”

  “So what are you going to do about it?” Aaron consulted his watch. “It’s only nine thirty. If she said midnight, we’ve got two and a half hours to kill.”

  “Any suggestions?”

  “Well, I plan to take a nap so I’m fresh for a night of fun with our woman. You, on the other hand…”

  “Yes?”

  “I’d suggest you wash off that freshly peeled potato smell first.”

  He ducked, laughing as Tait threw another pillow at him.

  Chapter Six

  Tait was dozing when the sound woke him up. His internal clock told him it was eleven thirty. He looked over at Aaron, who was also awake and alert. He reached for his weapon before he remembered that it had been confiscated when he’d arrived on the island. Guns were banned. And so were Tasers, knives, and pretty much anything else useful. Of course, it was kind of ironic that they were at a resort will all manner of tool that could be used for torture, but none for self-defense.

  He motioned to Aaron to move to the right side of the door while he took the left. It was their standard positions. He moved slightly and looked out the peephole. Nothing. But the rattle of the doorknob told him that someone was still outside their door, probably bent over and working on the lock. He looked over at Aaron and signaled him.

  Then he reached out to turn the knob when the door suddenly swung inward, nailing him right in the cock and balls.

  “Ah!” He tried to hold back the unmanly shriek of pain but he couldn’t stop it. That had hurt.

  “Oh god, Tait. I mean, Tait, are you okay?” She started to kneel. “Oh god, Tait. I’m so sorry! Aaron, go get some ice. No wait. Help me get him up on one of the bed, and then go get some ice.”