Page 132 of Captivated

She shrugs. “They don’t hurt.” I grin, watching her grab her hat and shades. “You did kind of go all savage like on me,” she teases. “You felt amazing.” She snakes her arms around my neck, giving me a quick one-lip kiss. I wrap my hand around her hip as we walk to join the others. I literally cannot be next to this woman without touching her. I can only imagine the ragging I’m going to get.

“Jesus Quinton,” Tierra barks as she touches the marks. I flinch at her tone.

Amelia removes her fingers. “They don’t hurt.” Tina is giving me dirty looks too.

“Sweetheart, I’ll go get you a drink.” I can’t sit there anymore watching them judge me.

“Can Toni do a coconut rum concoction?” I grin at her question.Can he?“Will you two stop fussing? It’s a few love bites. I bruise easy,” she tells them as I walk off.

“Toni, gin on the rocks and coconut rum punch.” Andy and Michael are walking up to me, smirking. “Don’t say a word,” I warn before downing my gin.

They laugh holding their hands up. “Wild night,” Michael teases. I cut my eyes at him. I’ve never marked anyone in my life. “It happens to all of us one time or another.”

“Some chicks dig it. Tierra doesn’t,” Andy quips. “You know her model career messes that up.”

“I said I’m not discussing it. I don’t mark my women. Well, I’ve never in the past.” I grin. “She does have a bit of a wild side.” Their faces want more. “That’s all I’m saying.” I turn, walking back to her. Andy and Michael follow suit. Gerry and Marcus are giving me an approving nod. Sometimes my color wheel is strange. Thank god he’s back to normal. “Gerry, what color are you blessing me with today?” I grin, giving Amelia her drink. I relax on the sun lounge beside her.

“Metallic silver.” Gerry grins rubbing his hand over his package. “Doesn’t this speedo make me look huge?” I roll my eyes. Amelia laughs, sipping her drink.

“I’m not in the market of checking out other guy’s packages.” I reach over, grabbing Amelia’s hand, lacing our fingers. “I’m pretty sure I’m a tit and ass kind of man.” Amelia laughs, leaning over and kissing my lips.

“I’d say,” Tierra teases, tapping her foot to the beat.

“Music is always around you?”

“Yeah, I suppose it is. Well, not in the office, but my casual life.” I grin, sipping my gin. Yep, this is the perfect day. No walking or crowds, just us all relaxing with our drinks, listening to music, and getting some sun.

“Sir … sir.” I turn towards Toni. He looks rather disturbed. He pauses mid-step, flagging me to come privately.

What the hell?“I’ll only be a minute.” I kiss sweet Amelia’s lips as I go see what is so urgent. “What is it?” I follow Toni into the living room. He flips the TV on.

“What is it Toni, what’s so urgent on the TV?” I watch him adjust the channel for local news. “What?” I’m not following him.

“Read the chyron when it scrolls again.” Toni leans back against the counter, smirking.

“President and founder of Starks Industries and Jacksonville’s most eligible bachelor, Quinton Starks, was spotted making numerous appearances with a mystery woman in the Bahamas.” I look at Toni. “What the fucking hell?” I pause for a minute watching the next feed. “Well, it doesn’t mention who I was with or any pictures … we should be fine.”

“Steve heard about it, and called me immediately.” I look at Toni. “There is more sir, your trip to the Bahamas has been a hot topic.” I roll my eyes as he flips to a local news gossip channel. “Billionaire Quinton Starks has a love interest. Sources claim the two were traveling with friends on his personal yacht.”

“Aw hell.”

“May I say those are some excellent pictures of you two?” I laugh at him as he freezes the report. “And your mother keeps calling … do you want your phone?” I knew it was on the internet, but hell that local gossip channel. “Should I fetch Ms. Amelia?” I lean back looking at our pictures plastered …shit. I nod.

I toss my gin. “I need another, Toni.”

I look up hearing them cackling. “No secrets right,” I tease as I look at Amelia noticing the group. This could go so many ways. “Sweetheart I need to show you something … and well … you just need to sit down.” Her tittering laugh as she glances at the group tells me she’s already nervous. “Now Amelia, this is going to freak you out, so just don’t freak out.” I laugh on the inside.Smooth Quinton.

“What are you talking about?”

Toni brings me another gin on the rocks. “Show her.” I watch Toni flip the screen so she can see it. And here it comes …

“What the fuck?” Panic just hit her. “Shit … oh shit.” Amelia jumps up, looking at herself on the screen. I stand with her on instinct. “Eric!” She’s pacing, chewing her thumb nail. “He fucking knows! Oh my god … I’ve got to think!” I try to hold her, but she’s too freaked out. I look at Tina and Tierra … to do something.

She stops pacing, looking back at her face plastered on the screen again. “Toni, please unfreeze the TV.” I watch her face as she stares at herself on the screen next to me. All the pictures are great of the two of us. She listens to the gossip host, “Well Jacksonville, guess you heard it first here, our billionaire bachelor has a gorgeous mystery woman. But who is this woman? We’ll keep digging our noses into other people’s business until we get to the bottom of this sizzling relationship.”

“Shit! Just shit!” she screams. I flinch, trying to touch her shoulders, but she pulls back. I look at Tina and Tierra for assistance. Hell they’re chicks, they deal with female freak-outs. If anyone knows her and watches that stupid gossip channel, they’ll be able to connect the two.

Her silence is more piercing than anything. “Amelia, say something.”