Chapter One

James

“Here at Au Naturel Naturist Resort South Seas, we strive to do everything possible to ensure your stay is relaxing and pleasurable, so please don’t hesitate to ask for anything you desire. We will do our best to satisfy you.” I slump in my chair and resist the urge to groan and rub my eyes, because the two people watching me from thousands of miles away via teleconference hired me to do a job, not whinge about how awkward I feel. “How was that? I tried to do what you asked, Eve, and make it sound…sexier. That’s not my strong suit, though.”

“We know that, James.” Eve glances at the man sitting beside her. Val Silva seems like a giant next to his wife, though she is of average size. “Do you have any notes for him, honey?”

“None at all,” Val says in his Brazilian accent. “The opening remarks were for you and James to work out. I helped organize the athletic events.”

“And you did a great job.” Eve kisses her husband’s cheek, then looks at me. “You’re wrong, by the way. When you hit us with your concluding remarks, you sounded damn hot.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re happy with my work.” But yes, I sound uncomfortable when I say that. “Do you have any other comments?”

“Keep leveraging your sexy British accent. It’s your secret weapon.”

Val smirks at his wife. “Only for women and gay men.”

“I think even straight men can appreciate James’s voice. But we’ve harassed the poor man enough for today.” Eve raises her arms toward the screen. “You must be nervous about the grand opening, huh? Consider this a virtual hug.”

“Ah, thank you, Eve.” I shift uncomfortably in my chair. “And also, thank you for taking a chance on me. I know it’s a big risk considering my background, and I want you both to know how grateful I am.”

“We got to know you a few months ago when you visited our Oregon resort for your interview. That was all the info we needed about you. It was really brave to share your whole story with us.”

“Don’t worry,” Val says. “We know you will succeed.”

“Thank you.” I reach for the mouse on my desk, about to click off the teleconference.

“One more thing,” Eve says.

“What is it?”

“Smile, sweetie.” She cranks her lips into that expression, using her fingers to stand in for an actual crank. “You have such a beautiful smile, and we all saw it when you were here. Let everybody see it now.”

“I’ll try. Goodbye, Eve. Goodbye, Val.”

They wish me well yet again and finally end the teleconference. And I sink even deeper into my chair.

Someone knocks on the door to my office.

“Come in,” I call out.

My assistant manager, Emilio, opens the door partway and leans his head through the gap. “Just wanted to update you on the American woman from Seattle whose connecting flight in San Francisco was delayed. Her plane finally landed on Fiji, and Rene radioed to say they just took off and should be here in an hour.”

“She’s the only one on that flight, correct? Other than Rene, but a pilot is rather critical.” What a stupid thing to say. Maybe I’m more nervous about the grand opening than I realized.

“That’s right, boss,” Emilio says. “I’ll gather all the guests once she arrives.”

“Good. Let’s give the other guests free cocktails while they wait.”

“I’ll take care of it.”

Emilio leaves, shutting the door behind him.

I spend the next hour rehearsing my speech over and over, until the words finally stop making sense. I’ve practiced enough. Glancing at my watch, I see the American woman should arrive at any moment. Then I make sure my clothes still look all right. Although the rest of the staff will wear uniforms at all times, Eve and Val had insisted that I should dress like a general manager, whatever that means. They talked me into wearing a dress shirt, posh trousers, and leather shoes. Eve ordered me to “keep the top two buttons undone,” though she didn’t explain why. She meant my shirt, not my trousers.

Emilio pops in to tell me the last guest is here.

I hurry out to the reception desk and wait, leaning against the waist-high counter whilst I rest one arm on it. Pretending to be calm is bloody hard to do.

A woman breezes through the glass doors while lugging a wheeled suitcase with one hand. She grips a large purse that hangs over her shoulder and glances around whilst grinning. The closer she comes, the more of her I can see. Lush, dark hair cascades over her shoulders, though a floppy wide-brimmed hat sits atop her head, and her lips are painted bright red. Her hips sway, thanks to the moderately high heels of the sandals she wears. Spaghetti straps hold up her flower-print dress, which barely covers her arse and flounces with her movements. The dress also has a low neckline that gives me a spectacular view of her cleavage.

She removes her sunglasses as she reaches me. “Hi, you must be the man in charge. Rene told me you’d be waiting.” She offers me her hand, and I notice her red nail polish, which matches her toes. “I’m Holly Temple. Sorry I delayed everything on day one.”

“Not your fault.” I see one of our bellboys carting the rest of her luggage down the hall past us. “I hope the remainder of your journey was less eventful.”

She lets her purse fall to the floor at her feet as she moans with sarcastic exasperation. “Have you ever flown economy class on a thirty-four-hour flight? Holy moly. I was ready to crack open that emergency door and jump out.”

“I’m glad you didn’t.”

“Rene was so nice to wait while I changed clothes at the airport on Fiji. I couldn’t wear my sweats anymore. They were starting to smell bad.” She steps up to the reception desk, sets her sunglasses down, and eyes the brochures and business cards that line one side of the desk. Snatching up one card, she squints at it, then lifts her brows at me. “Are you the general manager?”

“Yes.”

She raises the card to study it more intently. “So, you are James By-the-sea?”

“It’s pronounced Bith-see.”

“Cool. I’ve never heard that name before.” She holds up the card. “May I keep this? In case I have questions. Never been to a nudist resort before.”

“Yes, keep the card. I will do whatever I can to make your stay enjoyable.”

“Wow,” she says with a sexy little smile as she bumps her shoulder into me. “I might never leave this place.”

My cock jerks. Fuck. That’s exactly what I need right now—to get an erection when I’m about to deliver my welcome speech. I cough into my fist and avoid looking at her. “I need to see your passport, please. It’s company policy to make certain you are who you’re meant to be.”

“Oh, sure.” She digs her passport out of her enormous purse and hands it to me. “Here you go.”

I can’t stop admiring her body. My God, she’s beautiful. But I cannot—will not—get involved with a guest. My past prevents it. So I open the resort app on my phone and type in her name to bring up her photo, then check it against her passport. I need to check her age too, so I skim the information on the second page. My eyes refuse to blink as I stare at her birth date. Bloody hell. This woman is twenty-seven, which makes her eighteen years younger than I am. No, I absolutely will never act on the lust she inspires in me.

“The opening festivities will begin shortly, on the main patio,” I tell her. I hand the child a folder. “This is your welcome packet, which includes a map of the resort and the island itself, as well as a list of our guest rules. But you can ask any employee if you need assistance, Miss Temple.”

“Call me Holly.”

“If you insist.”

She bites her upper lip, releasing it slowly as she rakes her gaze over my body. “Mind if I call you James?”

“Not at all.”

“Does anybody call you Jim or Jimmy?”

I feel my jaw tensing, but I force myself to relax. “No. I prefer James.”

“Cool.” She snags her sunglasses and purse. “I’ll see you again in a few.”

Ten minutes later, I stand on the large patio where all the guests have gathered. It’s time to give my speech. Fortunately, the guests are all clothed right now. But in a matter of minutes, they will shed their garments. Holly Temple will shed her clothes. I’m about to see her nude body. Don’t think about that, you arse. She’s young enough to be your daughter.

I step onto the temporary dais and spread my arms. “Welcome to Au Naturel Naturist Resort. We are thrilled to have you as our guests for the next two weeks, on this privately owned island that offers the ultimate in privacy and luxury. I am James Bythesea, general manager. And these lovely people behind me”—I make a sweeping gesture to indicate them—”are my partners in bringing you the best holiday experience of your lives. Please don’t hesitate to ask any of us whatever questions you might have. Your welcome packets include a list of our rules. Please abide by them.”

A few groans erupt from the crowd of guests. One chap says, “Rules? I thought we came here to cut loose.”

I raise a placating hand. “Rest assured, we don’t have many restrictions. It’s all common sense and common decency. But you will have many opportunities to explore the sensual side of life while here on Heirani Motu, which is the name of this island.”

“Jeez, this is so boh-ring,” a woman says while making a rather rude face. “When does the fun start?”

“In a moment.” I take a breath and continue. “Remember, this is an adults-only, clothes-free naturist resort. The few exceptions to that rule are outlined in your packets. In consideration of our clothes-free mandate, we provide a few amenities other resorts don’t.” I gesture toward the far side of the patio. “The terracotta bowls located throughout the resort proper offer free access to sunscreen, insect repellent, and condom packets. Our in-house pharmacy can also provide whatever medication refills you might need.”

Everyone turns to glance at the bowls. Some guests giggle while others choose to smirk.

I finish up with the bit Eve and Val had convinced me to say, but this time, I don’t feel as nervous about speaking the words. Not sure if I fulfilled Eve’s request that I make that statement sound sexy, but she isn’t here to critique me. No one laughs, at least. Holly Temple smiles at me and winks, then gives me the thumbs-up sign.

I raise my arms above my head. “And now, off with your clothes!”

Cheers erupt, and the guests begin to shed their garments. Soon everyone is naked, except for me and my employees. As I scan the crowd, careful not to stare at anyone’s breasts or dangly bits, my attention stalls on one person.

Holly Temple. She waves at me and grins.

Christ, she is completely nude. Of course she is, you moron. I knew this would happen, but I hadn’t counted on how desperately I would want this woman. I’d lusted for her when she still wore clothes, but now… I yank my sunglasses out of my pocket and slip them on. At least she won’t see me leering at her. I’m too damn old to crave a woman as young as Holly Temple. So I will allow myself one minute to appreciate her naked body, then I will avoid the woman as much as is humanly possible, considering that I gave her my card and offered to make sure her stay is enjoyable. Suddenly, that word sounds filthy.

My breathing grows heavier as I watch Holly socializing with the other guests. She has the most perfect tits I’ve ever seen, full and round yet with the tips jutting up. The more I drink in the vision of her, the more my mouth waters and my cock thickens. I want to devour her nipples, then shove my head between her thighs to gorge myself on her cream. No woman has ever had this effect on me, and I don’t know how to deal with it. I lick my lips and swear I can already taste her. I need to leave, now, before anyone notices the general manager is getting aroused. But then Holly turns away, and I can’t stop staring at her perfect arse. I can barely breathe at all anymore.

How will I survive two weeks with Holly?

I rush into my office and shut the door. My cock throbs. Though I want to unzip my trousers and relieve the pressure, I refuse to succumb to my inappropriate hunger for Holly. The less I see of her, the less I’ll fantasize about fucking her.

Yes, that’s my plan. Self-control is my specialty, after all.

But so is self-destruction.

Chapter Two

Holly

James Bythesea intrigues me. I barely managed to restrain my curiosity so I wouldn’t ask nosy questions about him. He is gorgeous and sexy, yes, but I sense he’s keeping secrets. Any man who runs a nudist resort yet seems uncomfortable being around naked people will pique my interest for sure. I’ve never met a man like that before. Never visited a nudist resort either. But now that I’ve met James, I need to know more about him.

What makes him tick? Does his uptight demeanor hide any dark secrets? I bet he would be an incredible lover. I mean, with a body like his—muscular but not overly ripped—he definitely has the tools. Yeah, I noticed the bulge in his pants. That man wants me, and I want him too. It’s crazy, since I just met James. But I felt drawn to him from the moment I saw him.

I found my way to my suite without any trouble, though the bellboy offered to escort me there. He seemed kind of frazzled, what with all the guests he has to deal with, so I assured him I could get there on my own.

My suite is amazing.

The open plan lets me gaze out the windows as well as the sliding glass doors to the patio, all while still sitting on the bed. Or lying in bed. But I haven’t tried that yet. Even just perching on the edge of the mattress, I can tell it has all the cushy goodness I need. And the sheets… Damn, they feel as smooth as silk. Maybe they are silk. I spent most of my savings on this trip, so I’m hoping for all the amenities and luxuries. I love the way the bed has fabric draped over it like curtains, but pulled back to reveal the bed. The high ceilings are amazing too.

I tour the rest of my suite, from the bedroom to the living room, and I check out the bathroom too, of course. The living room has a desk that’s outfitted with fancy writing paper plus a fancy pen. The entire suite features rich wood paneling, but the bathroom also offers a large tub and a multi-head shower. I’d love a bath, after my long, long, long airline trip in economy class. But first, I need to explore the outdoor section of my suite.

Pushing open the sliding glass doors, I step out onto the patio and inhale a deep, cleansing breath. Ahhh, no more stench of sweat and dirty diapers. Goodbye, economy class. Hello, lap of luxury. I’m so glad I endured a cramped airline ride so I could pay for this resort. The view alone makes it all worthwhile.

I settle onto a wooden chaise and let my body go boneless.

My thoughts keep circling back to James. Those beautiful blue eyes. That head of silky-looking brown hair. And what about those lips? They look ripe for the tasting.

In the distance, a jagged mountain rises from the azure sea, though the water turns a brighter shade of greenish blue closer to shore. Below my private patio, I see the swimming pool at the bottom of the hill that snakes around little peninsulas populated with chaises shielded by huge umbrellas or huts created with palm fronds and bamboo. Rather than detracting from the beauty of this island, the pool has been designed to complement the scenery. My patio includes a small hut too, in case I want a break from the sunshine.

After a few minutes of lounging, I head into the bathroom to rinse off the airline grime. Unpacking my stuff doesn’t take long since I won’t be wearing clothes for the next two weeks. After that, I read the entire welcome packet. It includes a map of the resort, inside and out. But it also includes a brief discussion of the weather, which includes frequent rains as well as the threat of tropical cyclones. Apparently, that’s what they call hurricanes in this part of the world.

What should I do now? Watch TV? Ugh. I didn’t fly halfway around the world to binge-watch my favorite shows. I came here for adventure, excitement, and romance. Right now, I’ll settle for hot sex.

But the only man who has caught my eye is James Bythesea.

Well, he did say he would do whatever he could to make my stay enjoyable…

I slip on my sandals, grab my welcome packet and my smaller purse that has my room key inside it, and walk out of my suite. I’m on a mission. Adventure and excitement? Unlocking the secrets of General Manager James Bythesea sounds plenty adventurous, and I can already imagine how hot sex with him would be.

At the door to his office, I hesitate. My map got me here, but the rest is up to me. So, I square my shoulders and knock.

“Come in.” The sexy voice of James Bythesea sends a warm tingle chasing over my skin.

I push the door open and step inside, letting it swing shut on its own.

The click of the latch engaging catches his attention. He had been staring down at papers on his desk, but now he lifts his head to look at me over the rims of his reading glasses. His eyes widen for a second, two at most, then he reasserts his neutral expression. “What are you doing, Miss Temple?”

“Call me Holly, please.” I approach the desk, which sits tucked against the wall, and perch my bottom on it. “You said you’d do whatever you could to make me happy.”

“That was inappropriate, and I shouldn’t have said it. You should speak to my staff if you need something.”

“Are you reneging on your promise?”

“No. But I’m far too busy to cater to your whims.” He goes back to staring at the papers on his desk.

This might be harder than I thought. “All your employees are so busy. Can’t you please help me out, James?”

He sets down his pen, leans back in his chair, and clasps his hands over his belly. Then he sighs. “What do you want, Holly?”

I hold up my welcome packet. “I’m confused. The brochure says there will be a masquerade party tomorrow night, but we’re all naked. This is a clothes-free resort. That means no clothes.”

He tips his head down to look up at me over his reading glasses again. “I thought you read the brochure. It explains that guests will wear masks only.”

“Oh, is that what it meant? I didn’t understand.” Of course I did, but I couldn’t think of any other excuse to come to his office. “Where do we get the masks?”

“From the resort shop.”

“Awesome. Thank you for the clarification.” I bend one knee, my foot swinging. “I bet you rock your job, don’t you? No uncrossed T’s or undotted I’s.”

“I don’t appreciate being mocked.”

“But I’m not mocking you. I think it’s adorable.”

He waves a hand toward his papers. “I have work to do.”

Okay, time to bring out the big guns. “In your speech, you said you’ll strive to do everything possible to make sure our stay is pleasurable and that we’re all satisfied.”

His gaze flicks to my lower body. He winces and swallows hard, his Adam’s apple jumping. Then he scratches under his collar and averts his gaze to the desktop.

What’s his problem now? I glance down—and bite my lip. Oops. I’d been swinging my leg without thinking about it, and I accidentally flashed James a glimpse of my, um, lady parts.

I quickly close my thighs. “Please, James, I need your help.”

“This is my job, not a babysitting agency.”

“Babysitting? I’m only asking for your expertise.”

He grunts. “You are hunting for a man, aren’t you? I’m not interested.”

“Of course you are.” I’ve never been this brazen before, but I think the nudist lifestyle is making me bolder and wilder. Words tumble from my lips before I think about what I’m saying. “You want me, James, I can see it. I want you too. So let’s have some fun together.”

“You are a child. Go back to the playpen with the other toddlers.”

“Child?” I say with a slight laugh. “I’m twenty-seven. Everywhere on earth, that qualifies as an adult.”

“To me, you are a child.”

Hmm, I’m getting the impression he’s older than he looks. “You know my age. Shouldn’t I get to know yours? Especially since you keep calling me a child.”

James sits up straight and sets his elbows on the desk. But he doesn’t look at me when he says, “I am forty-five years old. So now you understand.”

“No, I don’t.” Does he think our eighteen-year age difference bothers me? I want to cut loose and be wild on my vacation, before I have to go home and go back to my crummy life. One steamy night with a much older man sounds like heaven. “I don’t care about your age, James. You are the sexiest man I’ve ever met, and I know we could have incredible sex.”

“That will never happen.” He jumps up and stalks over to the door, flinging it open. “Please leave, Miss Temple.”

I amble to the door, halting to face him.

His attention shifts to my tits. Then he coughs into his fist and veers his attention away.

That wild impulse inside me rears its head again, and I slant toward him to lay my palms on his pecs. “I know you were watching me out on the patio, after your little speech. You like seeing me naked. It turns you on. Devouring me with your eyes while hiding behind your sunglasses… Doesn’t that seem like voyeurism?”

He stiffens and doesn’t even blink.

I hoist myself onto my tiptoes to whisper into his ear, “I don’t mind if you want to watch.”

Then I walk out the door, glancing back to wave my fingers at him.

He slams the door.

What can I do now? I’m starting to feel tired from my long journey on a cramped airliner, so I head back to my suite to take a nap. Amazingly, I fall asleep as soon as I lie down. My mind conjures up dreams of James doing things to me that would make a porn star blush, and I wake up slick and tingly, almost on the verge of orgasm. I get out my vibrator to alleviate the aching need to come, making it a quickie instead of an extended session. Then I need to wait a while before I venture out of my room again.

I order a snack from room service, but the sweet young man who brings my food can’t tell that I’m recovering from both the most erotic dream I’ve ever had and a self-administered happy ending. I make sure to hide behind the door when I open it for him, and I only peek my head out from behind it. Luckily, I don’t need to pay right now. The resort will do that for me and add a tip based on the percentage I agreed to when I booked this trip. They really do think of everything here.

My snack takes just enough time that I’m no longer in danger of anyone noticing how horny I got from a dream about the general manager.

I make my way out to the public patio, where other guests mill around and chitchat. I’ve just sat down at a table, under the shade of a bamboo umbrella, when a blond man approaches me.

“Hey, I saw you at the orientation thing. Mind if I join you?”

No, I really want James to join me. But I guess I need to give him space. Might as well make a new friend in the meantime. “Sure. I’d love the company.”

He sits down in the chair right beside me and offers me his hand. “I’m Kevin Benson from Carson City, Nevada.”

I shake his hand. “Holly Temple from Seattle, Washington.”

“Cool to meet you. It’s wicked awesome here, isn’t it?”

Oh, jeez. He’s one of those guys. The kind who talk like they just stepped out of a stoner movie. James Bythesea speaks in complete, grammatical sentences. I never would’ve thought a man’s grammar would make me hot, but damn, it does when James talks to me.

“You okay, Holly?”

“Huh?” I jerk myself out of my reverie and blink swiftly. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Can I buy you a drink?”

“Uh, sure.”

I spend the next half hour chatting with Kevin. He’s a nice enough guy, and I do like the tropical drinks he orders for us. But the whole time I’m with Kevin, I keep glancing at the front desk, hoping to see James. I guess he’s hiding in his office to keep me away, because I don’t see him at all for the rest of the day. Not even at dinner. I go into the dining room, but no James there. I eat with Kevin and his two pals who all came here to meet women, I’m sure.

Well, I kind of came here to find a man. A fling, actually. So I can’t fault these guys for wanting the same thing.

The bellboy catches me when I knock on the door to James’s office. He informs me that the general manager has gone to his private bungalow for the night. I thank him and hurry back to my suite. Sleep does not come easily for me, not when I can’t stop thinking about James. Am I slightly obsessed with that man? No, of course not. We clicked, I know we did, and none of the male guests I’ve met interest me at all.

I want a real man—like James Bythesea.

When I wake up in the morning, I feel blissfully refreshed. After grabbing some breakfast in the dining hall and finding no James in sight, I knock on his office door again. No response. Does he have a hidden security camera that shows him it’s me standing out here? Oh, please. Even I’m not that paranoid. But since I’ve resolved to find James, I opt for sitting at a small table on the patio pretending to read, while I’m really watching for the general manager out of the corner of my eye. My sunglasses hide my intentions, the same way James had secretly watched me yesterday.

Still not stalking him. Nope. This is reconnaissance.

A familiar figure emerges from a door on the opposite side of the reception desk from where James’s office lies. Eureka. I found my quarry.

James will talk to me today, whether he wants to or not.