But as the car he was driving on the screen slowed down to make the turn into the children’s home, the car behind them drew closer before passing. For a fraction of a second, the sun hit the driver’s hands, and while he didn’t recognize the car, and the video had no clear shot of the driver, the sunlight illuminated the one-of-a-kind ring the driver wore.

  “That fucking bastard,” he said, and then to Fulton added, “Stop it and run it back a second or two.” The car on-screen reversed and then went forward again. “Pause it right there.”

  “What is it?” Ronnie asked.

  “The ring,” he said. “It’s an alexandrite cat’s-eye.”

  Fulton took a step closer to the screen. “You’ve seen one like it before?”

  “No,” he answered. “I’ve seen that one. There’s only one.”

  Five pairs of eyes stared at him in shock, but no one said anything, so he answered their unasked question.

  “Ken. My agent.”

  * * *

  Ronnie was the first one to talk. “That explains why he dropped you. I bet he was afraid you’d find out.” Her eyes widened in surprise. “Holy shit, it was me!”

  Terrence raised an eyebrow. “What was you?”

  “He called the day before we went to the children’s home. I told him to try to call you the next day because we’d be on the mainland, and you might have better reception. Fuck.”

  “Did he know who you were?” Andie asked.

  “He knew the name Veronica Fair, but it’s not like I kept anything about my real identity secret. All anyone would have to do is a quick internet search, and they’d find the name Ronnie Lewis. It’s only that no one ever searched. Until now.” She chewed her bottom lip, staring at him with apologetic eyes.

  “Don’t stress out over it,” Terrence tried to assure her. “If he hadn’t found out from you, he would have found out another way. That’s the type of scumbag he is.”

  “Do you think he’s the one who called my father five years ago?”

  Until she asked, my brain had yet to make the connection, but after, no other explanation made sense. “Shit.” I ran a hand through my hair. “I bet he was. It makes so much sense. He feared I’d find out he was the one behind everything, and that’s why he had me leave town.”

  Damn it. It made so much sense. Why hadn’t he thought of it before?

  “That might be when he started messing around with your accounts,” Terrence said. “If that’s the case, he’s been up to it for over five years.”

  Andie stood up. “Let’s bring this MFer down!” She froze suddenly and placed both hands on her barely there baby bump.

  “Andie?” Fulton was at her side in a second, his hands on top of hers. “Are you okay? This is why you have to take things easy. No sudden movements.”

  Andie rolled her eyes. “I’m fine, and sudden movements aren’t harmful. I think I just felt kicking.”

  “You’re too early to feel kicks,” he said as they sat down. “It’s probably gas.”

  “I know what gas feels like, and that was nothing like it.” She spoke with certainty. “It was the baby.”

  “Or babies,” Mariela said. “Some women claim they feel movement earlier with multiples.”

  “Multiples?” Andie rubbed her belly with a blissful sigh while Fulton watched as if expecting a horde of ogres to burst from his wife’s lap.

  Terrence turned toward Ronnie to find her staring at him. He leaned close. “What are you thinking?”

  She gave him a sassy smile and closed the distance between them to whisper in his ear, “About how much I enjoy multiples.”

  His mind went blank, and he blinked a few times. “You aren’t talking about babies, are you?”

  She giggled. “Not in this lifetime.”

  Chapter 29

  Terrence

  Two Months Later

  * * *

  Terrence looked around the villa. Everything was packed and ready to be carried to the dock first thing in the morning. In years past, he’d always felt a little depressed on his last night on the island. This summer he felt restless for lack of a better word.

  And unlike other years, he would be returning in a few months. For good.

  An investigation into his former agent’s finances found Terrence wasn’t the only client Ken had been stealing from. A more in-depth investigation was currently underway, and just a few days ago the agent in charge called to tell him Ken had been arrested after trying to leave the country with an expired passport. The questionable assets had been frozen pending the outcome of the investigation, but Terrence felt comfortable enough to move forward with purchasing the island and academy.

  The children’s home talent show had taken place earlier in the day and, as Andie predicted, had been a huge success. He’d watched Ronnie as she stood out of sight, silently cheering each child as they performed and praising them when they made their way off the stage.

  Over the past two months, Terrence had fallen for her a little more each day, but outside the multiples comment, she’d been completely silent about anything having to do with kink, sex, or a relationship with him.

  That, he decided, was the reason for his restlessness.

  Tonight was her last night on the island as well. Since the academy had already enrolled a small number of students for spring, he’d decided not to make any changes until next summer. He was surprisingly excited about the spring session. Since Fulton and Andie would be in Seattle by then, he planned to teach a class and had convinced both Lennox and Mariela to do so as well.

  Ronnie had not yet responded to the headmistress position he’d offered her.

  He sighed, and satisfied that everything was ready for his short stay on the mainland, he turned to head to the bedroom.

  A knock on the door stopped him.

  He wasn’t expecting anyone, and he frowned as he walked to the door to see who it was. Looking through the peephole, he sucked in a gasp at who he saw. Ronnie.

  He opened the door but didn’t say anything.

  She fidgeted. “Uh… Can I come in?”

  He opened the door wider to let her pass and followed her into the living room where she sat down on a couch.

  “What brings you by tonight?” he asked.

  For a long moment, she didn’t reply but sat rubbing her knees.

  “Ronnie?”

  She looked up. “I haven’t given you an answer about the headmistress position.”

  “I know.” He tried not to sound as disappointed as he felt. She was going to turn him down. That was why she looked so nervous.

  “Before I give you an answer, I have something to discuss.”

  Caught completely off guard, he forced himself to calm down and not get his hopes up. “Yes.”

  “I want to take the position, but I’m afraid to accept.”

  “There’s no reason to be worried. You’d be great. I wouldn’t have offered…” His voice trailed off at her raised hand.

  “It’s not my ability I’m questioning,” she said. “It’s that… I want you too.”

  She paused and her cheeks flushed, but he had a feeling she wasn’t finished yet, so he kept quiet and waited.

  Her flush deepened when she continued. “I don’t want there to be any suspicion that one has anything to do with the other.”

  It was a valid concern, and he knew it had to be addressed. It should have been addressed before now. “I would never link the two together in my mind. My offer of employment has nothing to do with whoever we are outside the roles of employer and employee. And I’ll make it crystal clear to anyone working here that speculation concerning anything along those lines will be grounds for dismissal.”

  Her only reply was silence as she pondered his words. He held his breath until she spoke again.

  “We both leave tomorrow,” she said.

  “Yes.”

  “And it’ll be at least a month before we’re both back here.”

  “Yes.” They both had affairs to get in order before moving to the island permanently.

  She stood and walked so she stood before him. “I don’t want to wait that long.”

  * * *

  It only took seconds to make it into his room, and yet he was hanging on by a thread when they stepped inside. With one hand he grabbed her wrists and brought them above her head. He shifted his weight so she could feel him hard and thick against her.

  “I can’t be slow or gentle right now,” he said.

  “I’m yours, Sir,” she said. “Take me however you need.”

  He pulled back to look into her eyes. Though he knew he’d never feel as if he deserved her, the way she looked at him told him she disagreed. It told him she trusted him. That she wanted him. And he’d give up damn near everything to keep it that way.

  He took her lips in a brutal kiss, all while keeping her hands high above her head. He tasted her. If it was going to be a month before he saw her again, he wanted to imprint everything about her to memory. She whimpered deep in her throat, and he knew her need matched his.

  He let go of her wrists, but only to yank her shirt over her head. Lust-filled eyes gazed back at him.

  “You like it when I’m rough.” It wasn’t a question, and she didn’t answer.

  He ran a hand down her side until he reached the waistband of her jeans, then he quickly unbuttoned them. He growled as she tried to repeat the action on him. “You know better.”

  She pulled back, and he continued undressing her, pushing the denim below her hips, leaving only a scrap of silk between him and what he wanted. He shoved it to the side and pushed two fingers inside her. “Damn. You’re soaked.” He pumped in and out several times, removing his hand completely when her body shook with an impending release. “I’ll warn you one more time about things you know. Now step out of your jeans and panties.”

  She hurried kicked them off, then stood before him, waiting.

  “I’m not going to bother taking my jeans off,” he said. “I’m going to take you just like this: dirty, raw, and hard. What do you say to that?”

  Her only reply was a shaky, “Yes, Sir. Please.”

  It was all he needed. “Turn around and face the wall, slut.”

  She whimpered but moved into position, bending slightly at the waist as if to give him better access. He stroked himself, growing harder and thicker at the sight of her ass. True to his word, he unzipped his jeans just enough to remove his cock. He pressed it against her, smiling at the sharp breath she inhaled.

  “Feel how hard I am?” he asked, slipping on a condom. “This is all for you. Take it.”

  With one hard thrust, buried himself inside her. She squeaked, and he started a rough rhythm that, based on her gasps of pleasure, she didn’t mind. Everything about her felt so good. He’d never been with anyone who could both capture his mind and make his body rise.

  “You have no idea all the kinky things I can do to you on this island, but once we’re both here for good, you’ll find out.” He spoke partially to make himself last longer but also to give her something to think about during the next month. “I’ll take you in the dungeon. Spank your ass while sitting on the dock. And eat your pussy while you’re trying to run a meeting with me under your desk after I’ve told you that if anyone finds out what I’m doing, I’ll fuck your ass to punish you.”

  Tilting his hips, he gave a hard thrust. “Think your ass can handle this cock, slut?”

  He wasn’t prepared for the “There’s only one way to find out, Sir” she gave in reply.

  Holy fuck, he did not deserve this woman.

  But he was going to keep her anyway.

  Epilogue

  Terrence

  Two Years Later

  * * *

  “I’ve already given you an answer, Mr. Evans, and your numerous emails and phone calls are not going to change that answer.”

  Terrence stopped outside of Ronnie’s office. He didn’t want to interrupt the phone call she was on. Not after hearing the don’t fuck with me tone of voice she used with whatever poor sod had been unwise enough to think he could change her mind about something by pushing harder.

  “I am not rehashing the same conversation again,” she said. As always when dealing with difficult people, there was no emotion detectable when she spoke, only firm resolve. Likewise, he knew her expression would be equally neutral were he to step inside and see her.

  He wasn’t sure if the silence following her statement was because she was listening to Mr. Evans, or waiting for him to respond.

  “Asshole,” she mumbled, and he guessed the correct answer was none of the above.

  He stepped inside the office. “Problems?”

  She’d been facing the window off to the side of her desk, the one overlooking the ocean, and at his question, turned around. “Only a small one. I’m getting ready to take care of it for good.”

  “Sounds ominous.” He grinned and rubbed his hands together. “Can I help? I know people.”

  Her frame relaxed and she grinned at his attempt at humor, which had been his goal in the first place. “Nothing as involved as all that. I’m simply going to block his number and have all his emails automatically forwarded to my trash folder.”

  “My way would be more fun.”

  “No doubt.” She laughed and made her way across the floor to where he stood. This office, previously used by Lennox, was larger than the one she’d originally occupied. Though she kept the furniture, she’d redone everything else in light neutral colors. The end result was a bright space that conveyed a sense of welcome while still managing to fit in with the general atmosphere of the castle. “Your way is probably also illegal.”

  “Only in a handful of states.” He lowered his head and gave her a kiss. The scent of her shampoo immediately brought to mind memories of the shower they’d shared hours earlier. The temptation to take her in his arms and keep her there was strong, but he resisted and pulled back.

  Her eyes danced. “Are they here?”

  “Almost. They should be arriving any minute now. Lennox and Mariela are already on their way down to the docks.”

  “Let’s go then,” she said and without waiting for a reply, took his hand, leading the way outside. “I can’t believe it’s finally here.”

  That made two of them.

  When he’d first contemplated taking over the academy, he had no idea the time it would take to get everything properly planned and executed. The academy had been closed for over a year. But finally, they were a little less than a month from reopening. Just in time for summer. He and Ronnie had been working toward that goal for what felt like forever.

  They had decided to reopen slowly. The first official summer season would consist of six one-week sessions, after which they would reassess and decide the best way forward. For each session, they would welcome six other people to the island for a BDSM themed retreat. Andie had dubbed it Camp Kinky when she first heard the plan.

  The original idea had been to run four sessions, but there had been so much interest, they added two more. They probably could have added double that, but decided it was better to proceed with caution instead of potentially getting in over their heads by attempting to do too much, too soon. As it stood, there was already a waiting list for future yet-to-be-scheduled dates.

  During the renovations, Lennox and Mariela had been invaluable. They had visited the island several times, offering advice when asked and a listening ear when needed. Mariela and Ronnie had become fast friends, and the two couples had traveled together a few times when the renovations would allow. The MacLures had invited Terrence and Ronnie to their home in Washington State over the Christmas holiday. They’d ended up spending a week there, ringing in the New Year surrounded by the beauty of falling snow and cuddled in warm blankets. It was by far the quietest New Year’s Terrence had ever experienced. He’d loved every second of it.

  It had been a challenge at times, working in such close proximity with the woman he fell more and more in love with each day. They could both be stubborn and hard-headed at times, and it hadn’t taken long for them to realize the importance of listening and understanding the other person before making assumptions and responding.

  He loved the fire inside Ronnie for things she truly believed in. Her grace and poise when someone realized who her father was. The way she refused to back down when she knew she was right. She was tough as nails and had a spine of steel. All of which made the way she submitted to him in the bedroom or in a scene even more precious.

  His relationship with Ronnie was the most valuable thing to come out of the past few years. If he lost the island property tomorrow, he’d be fine as long as Ronnie remained by his side.

  “There they are,” Ronnie said. “It’s been too long.”

  Getting together with Fulton and Andie had been more difficult. Not because they didn’t want to, but between their work on the island and the crazy busy schedule of the Matthews family, time was scarce. They kept in touch mainly via text.

  Terrence watched the young family greet Lennox and Mariela. Andie held one of their daughters, Fulton held the other.

  “Look how big the twins are,” Ronnie pulled slightly on his sleeve. “Andie swears they change overnight.”

  At times, it was hard to believe he’d once dated the woman who was now not only a wife and mother, but also a chef of growing renown.

  Andie spotted them heading their way and gave a hello and a wave. Ronnie walked faster, but Terrence held back. He wondered how long it would take Andie to notice what on Ronnie had changed. Mariela spotted it in less than ten minutes, but she wasn’t holding an eighteen month old.