I want to find out what that dress is hiding, Jackson whispered
Alexis smoothed her fingers down the front of his shirt, a sassy, impudent light brightening her eyes. If youre lucky, Ill let you, she teased.
Jackson tightened his grip on her hips. With gradual pressure, he drew her closer so their bodies brushed enticingly, just enough to tantalize. Just so you know right up front, I want to do things with you and to you that might shock you.
I want to be shocked, she said, moving her thighs restlessly against his.
He nearly groaned as a hot jolt of awareness settled low. Youll do whatever I want? he continued. He needed to know how far shed go with him, if shed be willing to shed every inhibition on a whim.
Alexis entwined her arms around his neck, crushing her breasts against his chest. Softness to hardness. Heartbeat to heartbeat. Her fingers slid into the hair at the nape of his neck, her thumbs gently massaging the taut muscles there.
Ill do anything, she said in a husky whisper. And everything
Dear Reader,
May 2001 marks the celebration of the Get Caught Reading campaign, a national promotion created by North American publishers to encourage reading for the sheer joy of it. Books can take you into totally different worldsworlds where the good guys always win, where love conquers all and where even the most unattainable fantasy can be fulfilled. And speaking of fantasies
Welcome to FANTASIES INC., a place where your deepest desires can be satisfied. Seductive Fantasy is one of four lush island resorts that cater to provocative requests, which suits Jackson Witts purpose just fine since hes got seductive revenge in mind. Alexis Baylor is looking to be seduced, but little does she know the gorgeous stranger who pursues her is more than an innovative lover. Both indulge in erotic pleasures and sensual adventures that leave them wanting more than theyd originally bargained for, but what happens when Jacksons true identityand fantasyis revealed?
Dont miss the upcoming books in the miniseriesSecret Fantasy, Intimate Fantasy and Wild Fantasy. Each will transport you to a private world full of decadent possibilities. In the meantime, Id love to hear what you think of Seductive Fantasy. You can write to me at P.O. Box 1102, Rialto, CA 92377-1102, or at janelle@janelledenison.com.
Do you have a secret fantasy?
Janelle Denison
Seductive Fantasy
Janelle Denison
www.millsandboon.co.uk
To Don.
Youre living proof that fantasies do come true.
This one is for you alone.
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Prologue
ALEXIS BAYLOR wanted to have an affair and conceive a baby, and Merrilee Schaefer-Weston would do her best to accommodate the other womans request. Merrilees business was, after all, all about fulfilling her guests fantasies.
Ms. Weston, the seaplane is due to land at Seductive Fantasy in half an hour. The express boat is ready to take you to the island to greet our arriving guests.
Merrilee glanced up from reviewing Alexis Baylors fantasy requisition papers and smiled at her assistant. Fantasies, Inc. encompassed a cluster of four lush paradise resorts off the Florida Keys. While her main office was situated on Wild Fantasy, the first of four island retreats, she traveled daily via boat to the other three themed resorts: Seductive Fantasy, Intimate Fantasy and Secret Fantasy.
Thank you, Danielle. She glanced at her wristwatch, noting the time. Ill be at the dock in ten minutes. Before her assistant turned to leave her office, Merrilee asked, By the way, has personnel hired another pilot to replace Mark?
Yes, they have. Danielle thumbed efficiently through her notes on the clipboard she carried. Her finger came to a stop halfway down the page. Here he is. C. J. Miller is slated to take over Marks position next month, as scheduled.
Miller. As always when Merrilee encountered the very common last name, a head-to-toe chill swept through her, along with a flood of bittersweet memories of being young and head over heels in love. Those beloved recollections of her soulmate hadnt faded one iota over the thirty-five years that had passed between her romantic love affair with Charlie Miller, his unexpected and devastating death in Vietnam, and her marriage of convenience to a man twenty-three years older than her.
Merrilee had struggled through the lonely years that ensued, being a dutiful, faithful spouse to a cold, unemotional man who treated her more like a possession than a wife. She hadnt even had the luxury of having children to fill her life with joy; her husbands impotence had prevented that.
Upon his death five years ago, shed inherited millionsmore money than shed ever realized Oliver was worth. Shed never enjoyed the role of pampered wife and couldnt imagine spending the rest of her life languishing in a mansion. And so, Fantasies, Inc. was born.
It might be too late for her to find ultimate happiness, but shed decided to use her inheritance to fulfill other peoples fantasies. She lived vicariously through the pleasure and satisfaction they discovered while on her island resorts. There was no fantasybe it romance, adventure, or deeper desires that bared ones soulthat Fantasies, Inc. couldnt provide.
Never in her wildest dreams would she have believed her concept and themed island resorts would be so hugely, phenomenally successful.
Ms. Weston?
The distant voice of her assistant effectively pulled Merrilee back to the present. She blinked, shook the past from her mind, and focused in on the concern etching Danielles features. Im sorry, what were you saying?
The young woman tipped her head, regarding her curiously. We were talking about the new pilot, C. J. Miller.
This time, Merrilee kept her thoughts firmly grounded and on business. C. J. Miller. Right, she murmured, jotting down the nameas if she could forget itand the date the man was scheduled to take over Marks position.
Ill go tell the boat driver youll be at the dock shortly. With a swish of her perky ponytail, Danielle turned and left the office.
With only a few minutes to spare, Merrilee picked up the fantasy request shed been pondering before her assistants interruption. Alexis Baylor wanted to be desired and pursued by a gorgeous, sexy man, and hoped to conceive a baby with no strings attached; the mans involvement would stop there. While it would be easy to find a man eager to accommodate Alexiss request for a hot, erotic, one-week liaison, this particular fantasy had lifetime repercussions Merrilee doubted the woman had considered in her quest to fill that empty void in her life. Happily-ever-afters were Merrilees specialty, and she always tried to give her clients two choices at the end of their fantasieseither walk away and continue as they were before, or take a risk that could reshape their whole entire life.
Merrilee drummed her manicured fingernails on her desktop and noted the date of Alexiss fantasy vacation. Though she couldnt guarantee conceptiononly fate could assure thatshe had a month to figure out the womans perfect match and donor. A man whod fit both Alexiss and Merrilees criteria. For Alexis, a man in his prime, both physically and sexually, who would seduce her single-mindedly. For Merrilee, a man whod never shirk his responsibilities should he learn the truth. A man of integrity whod ultimately fight for what was his. If thats how this particular fantasy played out.
All Merrilee could do was bring two matched souls togetherit was up to the couple to grasp the happily-ever-after within their reach.
1
DAMN THAT Alexis Baylor, Jackson Witt muttered beneath his breath.
Four years ago, Jackson vowed hed never allow another woman to dupe him. That Alexis Baylor, a complete stranger, had managed to accomplish that feat not only made him feel like a fool, but also incensed him beyond reason. He was certain that sensation wouldnt abate until this whole aggravating mess was over. And it would bejust as soon as he discovered Alexis Baylors greatest weakness and used it against her. Just as shed used him.
The womans underhandedness had hit him professionally as well as personallyright at the heart of his company, Extreme Software. He was still reeling from the knowledge that Fred Hobson, a man hed hired on as part of his design team, had been a plant to steal the secret technology Jackson had spent years perfecting. The man had abruptly quit nine months ago and was conveniently and immediately picked up by Gametek, the company Fred had previously worked for before hiring on with Jacksons firm. Gametek had obviously wasted no time utilizing Extreme Softwares design.
In Jacksons opinion, and with the facts he had at his disposal, it was no coincidence that the proprietary code Gametek had used in their new, revolutionary gaming software matched his exactly, or that Alexis Baylor, owner of Gametek, was a ruthless businesswoman whod stooped to piracy to obtain success.
With a disgusted grunt, Jackson tossed aside the Business Wire hed printed from the Internet a week agohis first shocking insight into Gameteks violation. The companys press release announced that their innovative action-adventure game, Zantoid, compliments of his technology, was scheduled for market introduction that fall. Seemingly overnight, Gametek, a San Diego-based gaming software company Jackson had never heard of before this fiasco, was suddenly a big competitor. After Gameteks public statement, their stock shot to an all-time high and was holding steadyand would plummet to an all-time low by the time Jackson was done with Gametek, and Alexis Baylor.
The stakes were personal, an unwelcome reminder of how women always wanted something from him, from his own mother to the ladies he dated. Usually it was his money and what it could buy that women found so attractive, and while Alexis Baylor didnt have a direct hand in his wallet, she sure as hell had a direct source to his financial gain. Hed worked too damned hard to build his company, struggled through too many lean years to allow this woman to reap the benefits of something that was his.
Glancing at the clock on the wall in his office, he noted the time of 8:50 a.m. He had another ten minutes before Mike Mansel arrived. Mike was his best friend, as well as the private investigator Jackson had hired for an in-depth, confidential report on Alexis Baylor. He wanted specific details on the woman, from what she ate for breakfast, to whom she was seeing, to what she did in her leisure time, and every idiosyncrasy, no matter how mundane, Mike could discover.
Feeling edgy and impatient, Jackson pushed away from his desk and stood. He paced in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows dominating one entire wall in his Atlanta high-rise office, but the movement did little to burn his restless energy.
Hed already discussed with his attorneys about filing a complaint alleging copyright infringement, unfair competition, trade secret violations, and a bunch of other legal mumbo jumbo, which included seeking an injunction against Gametek to keep their software from hitting the market while they battled specifics in court. While his lawyers explored all legal possibilities against Gametek, Jackson craved personal compensationa way of evening the score between himself and Alexis Baylor.
He wanted to take something from her, just as shed stolen from him, something private and emotional that would never allow her to forget who he was, and what shed done. He refused to let yet another woman use him for her own gain and get away with the deed. The type of information Mike unearthed on Alexis would determine Jacksons plan.
Mr. Witt, his young secretarys lilting voice drifted through the intercom on his desk, Mike Mansel is here to see you.
Anticipation swelled within Jackson, chasing away the more frustrating emotions that had been his constant companions for the past week. Thank you, Rachel. Send him back to my office and hold my calls until he leaves.
Yes, sir.
The line disconnected, and less than a minute later Mike, dressed casually in jeans and a polo shirt, sauntered into Jacksons office in his normal, easygoing manner. Despite his carefree attitude, Mike was a highly respected P.I. Jackson had not only trusted him implicitly as a friend since their college days, but regarded him as a discreet businessman as well.
Mike set his scuffed leather briefcase on a clear spot on the corner of the solid oak desk, and Jackson reached across the distance to shake his friends hand in greeting before sitting down in his chair.
Thanks for making this case a priority, he said, knowing how abrupt his request for Mikes services had been.
The other man shrugged off his gratitude. You can express your appreciation by buying me a cold beer sometime. Seems I owe you for all the business youve sent my way.
Mike was one of the few people who didnt expect anything from him but friendship, so it was extremely easy to promote him and his P.I. agency. You dont owe me anything, Mike, and your fee will be in the mail by the end of the day. Now, whatve you got for me on Alexis Baylor?
Not much other than a normal, predictable, everyday schedule and some background facts that dont add up to anything illegal or disreputable, personally or professionally. Mike sprawled his long, lean body into one of the beige leather chairs in front of the desk. Sorry to disappoint you, Jackson. The woman is so damn clean she squeaks.
Jackson knew better than to believe Alexis was completely guileless and led an exemplary life free of any infractions or misdeeds. Not after hed discovered shed used one of her own as a mole to unearth secret information from his company.
A wry smile tipped the corner of his mouth. Maybe thats because she depends on someone else to do her dirty work.
That may be, Mike conceded, but I spent five solid days of surveillance and gathering information on her, trying to find something to lend credence to your claim that this woman is ruthless, and Im telling you, theres nothing remotely unscrupulous about her that I could discover.
Consider her a good actress, because I have Gameteks press release that states otherwise. She stole my technology through Fred Hobson, and I want to even the score. He tapped his pen on his blotter impatiently and rerouted them back to the business at hand before his friend could argue further. Tell me what you did find on her.