Fire Dancer [Dr. Love Shark 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) Read online

  “No. I can’t. What I can do is feed you.”

  “That’s not going to work. I have to go to the bathroom so bad I think I’m going to pee the bed.”

  Staring at her as though trying to see if she was lying, Rae finally began to undo the ties. As soon as they were undone, Layla was out of bed, grabbing up her clothing and heading for the bathroom.

  “At least I can be clothed when they come back. I’m so mad at them I could kick them both.”

  “I know you’re angry, Layla, but—”

  “I already know that one…You’re sorry, but it’s for my own good.”

  Layla slammed the bathroom door behind her and quickly got dressed. She opened the window and climbed out onto the patio then ran down the hill to the hut she and Kona used for changing and storing their tools. Once inside, she locked the door and put a chair under the knob for more protection.

  Changing into her costume, she sat down to wait for the luau to begin, fuming about the betrayal of Van and Logan. “I’ll never let them in my bed again,” she vowed, growling.

  She did wonder if the stalker would be at the luau. Based on what the men thought, it was a sure thing. Rather than hide behind her fears, Layla planned on confronting him, being live bait. In the bedroom with Van and Logan, she’d learned to be brave. She’d found her courage.

  Can I do this?

  “Yes!” Determination in her steps, she left the hut when there was only five minutes left before the show started. They couldn’t prevent her from doing the act if she was already at the campfire. There would be a lot of guests there and some of the islanders.

  “Look out, you bastard. Here comes the fire dancer!”

  * * * *

  “Where is she?” Van asked, confronting Rae.

  “I let her go so she could use the bathroom. When she didn’t come out, I banged on the door and there was no answer. She went out the window. I’m sure you’ll find her at the luau tonight. Please, find her before it’s too late.”

  “Oh, I’ll find her all right. Next time she’ll be in handcuffs. That tricky little minx.”

  “Van, I’ll go watch for her at the campfire,” Logan said.

  Mateo seconded that, “Me, too. She won’t be far from it. Rae, stay here in case she comes back. I’ll see you later.” He took her in his arms and kissed her. “You’re not to blame, sweetheart. She’s determined to do the fire dance. I’m sure you’d do the same as she did in her place.”

  “You’d better believe it. I’ve never seen Layla so fired up about anything like she is with this situation. Catch the arsonist so we can get our lives back.”

  “I’ll get Piers to check the house and make sure everything is locked down. I love you,” he said, smiling gently at her. With one brief kiss he was gone.

  Van left with him, his expression dire.

  “I hope they can find her before it’s too late,” Rae whispered, tears filling her eyes.

  * * * *

  “I see her. Get the gift ready. It’s in the bag. Wait until we get close enough to touch her before you pull it out.”

  “Isn’t she stunning? I want her like no other. Do you have everything in place?”

  “Yeah, she won’t get away from us this time. Be ready.”

  * * * *

  After searching the crowd, Van began to panic, fearful that the arsonist already had her. “Layla is so stubborn and pigheaded,” he muttered to himself. “When I get my hands on her, she’s going to wish she was still in that bathroom.”

  When he finally saw her walking down the path from the hut, he blew out a deep breath of frustration. Already dressed in her costume, she looked sexy and ready to wow the guests, a confident smile on her face. As soon as her eyes focused on him, she raised her chin and walked faster, away from him. It was too late to take her away. She was at the fire pit and the group was all over her.

  “We missed you the other night,” a woman said. “You are so cool!”

  “It’s nice to see you again. I can’t wait for your fire dance.”

  “Thank you,” Layla said, avoiding Van’s glare. She placed her bag on the sand a short distance away and took out her tools.

  Kona rushed over to her, his eyes filled with anger.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he whispered in her ear.

  “My job.”

  “You’re insane if you think he won’t try and snatch you here. Come on, I’m taking you back to the house.”

  She smiled wide as though nothing was wrong.

  “I’m here, and I’m staying. Get your own equipment ready, Kona. It’s time to dance.”

  Van moved closer to her, his look lethal. She looked away and ignored him.

  Before he could reach her, she announced, “Aloha, and welcome to the fire dance tonight. I am Layla, and this is Kona. If you form a wide circle around us, we’ll get started.”

  Logan stood to the side, also furious with her, based on the frown on his face.

  Drums began to thump, beginning slowly and building pace until she began the dance. Using her lighter, she set the torch on fire, watching the crowd to see if she could pick out anyone that might be a threat. They all looked the same, excited and happy, drinking and laughing as they watched her. Layla had never been comfortable around people and usually kept her gaze above the crowd to prevent meeting anyone’s eyes, but tonight was different. It was time to unmask the arsonist, and she hoped to do it during the dance.

  Once the torches were lit, she began to twirl them, juggling one after the other and throwing them higher each time. The guests gasped and applauded as she made each move appear harder to do than the last.

  Kona also began to twirl the torches, facing her beside the campfire. Both of them shouted, “Huh! Huh! Huh!”

  Faster the drums beat as they began to toss the torches at each other, the flames flying in circles between them. The crowd went wild, clapping and watching with avid interest. Layla and Kona lost themselves in their work as the torches flew in the air. When they shouted again, they continued to toss the torches then abruptly stopped, regaining control and tossing them in the air again until they were solo.

  Together, they stopped, catching their torches and putting out the flames one at a time by inserting the ends in their mouths. With only one burning torch left, they placed the dead ones aside. Layla stood to the side, while Kona took out a lantern on a long chain and lit the lamp. He began spinning the chain in a wide circle up and down, the second one Layla lit for him and walked up behind him to hand it over. She moved back once again and watched as he spun that one in the opposite direction, laughing and yelling once again. “Huh! Huh! Huh!”

  Again, there was a lot of applause, and guests watched with wide eyes.

  Layla prepared for her next trick, noting that Van was moving in closer, his eyes on the crowd. She was sure he was furious with her, but still, she felt safe with him closer.

  When Kona finished his trick, the crowd went wild, shouting for more. Layla moved into position, her hips swaying in a hula dance as she lit the two ends of the bar she held. The baton began to twirl, flames creating a circle of fire as it spun. When she threw it up high in the air, a woman screamed in surprise. Layla caught it again and spun around in a circle, her hips still working the hula. She smiled, spinning it faster and faster, her confidence shining through.

  When she threw it higher yet, the woman cried out again, the flame burning brighter, higher, and hotter. Her belly dance went quicker, her hips shifting and jerking, meeting the pace of the drums.

  She shrieked like a warrior and tossed the baton again, this time spinning around full circle and catching it, as she cried, “Ha! Ha! Ha!”

  Kona took over as soon as she doused the ends of the baton in a pail and stepped back to give him room.

  As she opened the bag to take out her next tools, she froze, biting back a scream.

  * * * *

  His heart in his throat, Van watched the flames lick at her skin, fl
ying around so close to her body. Fear clawed at his stomach as he kept his eyes on her, afraid to look away. He kept gazing at the crowd, hoping someone would reveal that they were the arsonist, but no one stood out.

  She never faltered while she worked her skills sharp as she played with fire.

  When she stopped to let Kona take over, he saw her jerk away from the bag that held her tools and moved toward her, trying to make it appear casual and not alarm anyone. When he stood beside her, he saw that she was trembling. In the bag was a gift with a large red bow. The arsonist had slipped past them underneath their noses and placed it there.

  “We leave, now,” he murmured in her ear, taking her by the arm and walking her away. Van took up the bag in his other hand. Kona kept going, his eyes following his sister and stopping the dance.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, dousing the flames in the pail. The guests all watched them, perhaps thinking it was part of the show.

  “That’s all for now. Thank you for coming,” Kona said, bowing. Though she seemed to be in shock, Layla bowed as well, Van still holding her arm. He rushed her off through the crowd and took her back toward the house along the path. Neither one said a word as they walked, leaving the fire behind them.

  * * * *

  “He took her away from me!” he snarled, throwing his shoe across the room. He wanted to destroy everything in his sight, but he had to be careful.

  “It’s your own damned fault. If you hadn’t been so determined to give her that gift, she’d have let down her guard and hung around for a while. Didn’t you see how they watched her every move? You haven’t got a chance to capture her.”

  “I’ll get her. Tonight, they made a bad mistake. It’s time to give them another message. She’ll be mine and no one else’s.”

  The door slammed as he left the hut.

  * * * *

  Back at the house, Van walked Layla to their room and closed the door firmly behind him. She could tell he was absolutely furious with her. Though she would normally be afraid of a man with that much anger about him, she wasn’t fearful of him. As a matter of fact, she relished the idea of a good argument. She was angry as well at his attempts to control her.

  “Let go of my arm,” she snapped, pulling away from him.

  His finger pointing at her, Van stalked her across the room.

  “You are in so much trouble, lady. He was there, just like I said he’d be. You could have been hurt or worse, if he’d gotten his hands on you. He’s a maniac. You threw yourself into his path and acted like you wanted him to catch you.”

  Fury rose from within when she shouted, “I did!”

  Van looked like she’d slapped him across his face, such was his surprise. Layla almost cheered aloud, thrilled that she’d gotten through to him. His eyes narrowed, he stared at her until she raised her chin and glared back.

  “You need a good old-fashioned spanking.”

  “Ha! Try me. You wouldn’t dare.”

  Instead of replying, he grabbed her arm and walked over to the bed, dragging her behind him. In one smooth move, he pulled her so that she lay over his lap and swatted her ass with one hard slap.

  “Is that all you’ve got?” she shouted, struggling to get away.

  Van stilled for a moment. She thought he was going to release her, but he slapped her once again, his palm leaving a burning trail as he continued. She cried out, shocked that he’d lose control of himself. He’d never showed her this side of him. Over and over he slapped her until she felt tears in her eyes.

  As though realizing what he’d done, he stopped, his hand firmly on her ass cheeks. She trembled as she waited for more, hiding her tears from him. She felt him beneath her, his cock hard and thick. He was turned on by the spanking, and she admitted that she was, too. For all the gentle, cautious sides of him, she’d never thought he’d raise a finger to her, yet here he sat giving her the spanking she knew she deserved.

  “I’m sorry, Layla. I don’t know what came over me, but you pushed me beyond my limit. The thought of him catching you and harming even one hair on your head made me crazy with fear for you.”

  She sat up, kneeling in front of him, her forehead on his thigh.

  “It’s okay, Van. I deserved it. I’ve never been spanked before.”

  He lifted her chin with his finger and thumb, noting the tears. His expression one of shock, he leaned over and kissed her gently.

  “You know I never wanted to hurt you, don’t you?”

  “Yes, I do. Van, make love to me. Just the two of us.”

  He stood and helped her to her feet, seizing her mouth, his passion unleashed. Layla became lost in him in seconds. She lifted his shirt up, helping him remove it. Next he took off her costume, first the top then the shorts. She wasn’t wearing any underwear, and he groaned when he saw it.

  “If I’d known you weren’t wearing anything beneath those shorts, I’d have jumped you at the campfire.”

  Laughter escaped as she undid his shorts.

  “I should have told you. I never wear them when I dress in costume. They get in the way.”

  Another groan filled the air between them as he dropped his shorts, his cock stiff and hard. She could smell his cum, the scent sending tingles all through her spine. She wanted to taste him.

  “Sit on the edge of the bed,” she commanded.

  When he did as she asked, she was surprised, but went with the role, caressing his staff with gentle fingers. When she fisted him, he hissed, his eyes closing with the pleasure of it. Up and down she moved her hand as she watched him lose control. Van liked to be in charge, she knew, but since the first time they had sex, she’d wanted to see if she could turn his will to mush.

  When it worked, she grinned. He was literally putty in her hands. Thrilled with her new power over him, she took a tentative lick at the tip of his cock and noted how he tensed up, his hands curling into fists.

  “Do you like that?” she asked, knowing the answer.

  He could only shake his head.

  She took his hands and placed them on her head.

  “You need to show me what you want. I’ve never done this before.”

  “You’re doing just fine, honey. Keep going.”

  “You forgot to say please,” she teased.

  “Please with a capital P!”

  Layla laughed low in her throat. She enjoyed the way he reacted when she touched him. His fingers tunneled in her hair, pulling her toward his prize. She began exploring him on her own terms. Her ass was on fire, but somehow it turned her on even more. She took a tentative lick from the base of his cock all the way to the head. When he shivered, his eyes focused on her, she smiled.

  Next, she took the head into her mouth and sucked gently on it. His immediate reaction caused his hips to rise off the bed, his eyes scrunching shut for a moment.

  “You are so sensitive,” she whispered, afraid to break the spell.

  “You have no idea,” he murmured, his hands fisting tighter in her hair. “More…please.”

  Biting back a giggle, she managed to get more of him into her mouth and used her tongue to tease him. His reactions gave her more confidence as she worked him. She was only able to take a few inches of his cock before she gagged.

  She pulled away, tears filling her eyes.

  “I’m sorry. I thought I could do this.”

  He shook his head. “It takes practice. Come up here on the bed. I want you now.”

  “What a caveman attitude,” she teased.

  “I feel like a cave man.”

  He took her hand and helped her up, moving to lie back on the mattress. She straddled his hips, wanting to keep her power over him. When he flipped her onto her back and sank into her all in one smooth move, she squealed with surprise. Without pause, he set a rhythm she met, squeezing him with her channel walls. She wanted to be full of him, and she wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him closer and deeper, adding that little touch of woman power.

  Based on what Rae an
d Tara had told her, she’d imagined the way they would make love when she had him where she wanted him, but it didn’t seem to work out that way. He was the boss in bed, and she loved every minute of it.

  “I can’t hold on much longer.” Van tensed and paused, as though he wanted to stop, yet she tugged him tighter with her legs and cried out.

  “Come with me,” she said, her climax coming in waves of glory, one after another until she was sure she’d burst. She felt his release, hot and wet, her pussy milking him for all he was worth. He collapsed beside her, pulling her into his arms.

  “You’re killing me, woman.”

  Laughing, she tickled him, disappointed that he wasn’t ticklish.

  “That’s no fair! You have to have a weakness somewhere.”

  “I do. You’re in my arms and I can’t get any weaker.”

  Logan raced into the room, his eyes widening.

  “Looks like I missed my turn again.” His energy level was high, showing them that he had news.

  “What’s going on?” Van asked.

  Logan looked serious for a moment. “I wondered what the gift was this time.”

  “I’m not sure I want to know,” Layla said, looking up at Van as she shuddered.

  Logan smiled at her, his eyes filled with regret, “I’ll have to make up for lost time, but for now, we have a meeting with Mateo in the office. Get dressed and bring the gift with you. I’ll see you there.”

  Logan turned and left the room, closing the door tight behind him.

  “Well, the fun’s over for now. We’ll be back here before you know it to continue. Are you sure you want to know what’s in the box, Layla?”

  “No, I’m not sure, but I do want to know. Let’s go.”

  In moments they were dressed and walking hand-in-hand down the hall. Without knocking, they entered the office to find Mateo, Rae, Piers, and Tara, all sitting with Logan, drinks in hand.

  “Well, well, look at the lovebirds. Nice of you to join us,” Tara teased, winking at Layla, whose cheeks flushed hot.