Courtney Breazile

As Kayla approached the boards, she studied them with interest. They had no writing on them anywhere, not that she could see. Damn, maybe this wasn't the right place. But they looked exactly like the one in her dream, except for the writing. This had to be where she was supposed to find him.

Kayla didn't even question the surety that she was supposed to find this man, if she had thought about it too hard, she would have convinced herself that she was delusional. So instead she just accepted that he was there somewhere, waiting for her and she was going to find him.

"You!" a deep voice accused from behind.

Kayla whirled around and there he was. Ebony skin, dark sensuous eyes, kissable mouth, her dream man. Not quite the way she had imagined him, he was standing on the beach, dry, with his surfboard stuck in the sand beside him. His board was red and yellow, just like the one she had been looking at, except his had the word Instructor scrawled across it in black lettering. His dark eyes were narrowed and as accusing as his one word had been.

"It's you," Kayla whispered, taking a step forward, ready to claim him for her own. "And you know me, too?" she asked in wonder.

Isabella could hardly think with him so close to her. She felt as if every nerve in her body was reaching out to him and she had to think, consciously, not to lean forward and touch him with the length of her body. His lean muscled physique called out to her, beckoning her to touch it. His words hadn't even registered in her mind and so she could not possibly think of a response that was appropriate. "I am sorry, what was it that you asked me?"

"I asked if you had thought to bring a bonnet. Your face has been kissed by the sun." Jackson emphasized his point by touching her face with his solid hand, caressing her cheek and down her neck to the conservative opening of her blouse. He fingered the small buttons at her neck.

"A bonnet?" Isabella closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on controlling the blood that was rushing through her veins, making it nearly impossible for her to function. His warm breath was tickling the hair at her temple and driving her to distraction.

"Yes, a bonnet. It would have kept the sun off your pretty face." Jackson smiled a knowing smile.

She wondered if he could tell what this closeness was doing to her. "A bonnet. No, I did not think to pack a bonnet." Isabella clenched her hands in front of her to keep them from reaching out to him and caressing the exposed skin of his chest where he had left a couple buttons open. All the skin she could see was golden and Isabella couldn't help but wonder how far down his tanned skin reached. Was it that dark everywhere? Isabella's gaze traveled down the length of him and rested on the noticeable bulge in his pants. Her face heated at her own boldness and she quickly brought her gaze back to his face. His expression held a knowing that further embarrassed Isabella. He couldn't have possibly known what she was thinking, could he?

"That is all right. I quite like the color the sun has added to your face. I think too pale a woman is not quite as attractive as one with a healthy natural glow." Jackson stroked her heated skin one last time then walked away to attend to the horses.

It was one AM when Jasmine slipped into the dark house. Dressed in a black cat suit and gloves, she blended with the shadows—not that anyone was around to spot her anyway.

She crept through the rooms, letting her senses guide her flawlessly through the lightless spaces clear as day. She made it to the bedroom and found the stone carelessly stuffed into a nightstand. Obviously Mr. Wellesley didn’t think the stone was that precious or priceless, or perhaps he was just that confident in his security. Jasmine couldn’t contain the scoff at his stupidity.

She held the unassuming thing up in the moonlight. It appeared to be nothing special—a smooth black stone about the size of her palm. But it was heavy, easily three times as heavy as it should be for the small size. It heated in her palm and she wrapped both hands around it, drawn to its warmth. The warmth soon spread up her arms and into the rest of her body. Jasmine closed her eyes and enjoyed the feel of it, of the comforting warmth. It was like being held tight by a familiar lover.

“What the hell?”

Jasmine spun around, quickly stuffing the stone into the small pouch at her waist. Cole stood behind her in nothing but a pair of red silk boxers, his hair spiking around his head as if he had just gotten out of bed. His expression was one of total disorientation and shock, mixed with angry annoyance, all directed at her. “What the hell are you doing here and why are you dressed like that?” She went instantly to attack—always put them on the defensive.

“Jasmine? I don’t know, I was in bed asleep. I woke up feeling hot and then I was here. Where is here and what are you doing here?” He scowled around the dark room, a brow arching at the obviously sensual design of the place. “You are into some kinky stuff, Jasmine.” His eyes lit on the assortment of toys adorning one of the walls and he smiled. “Not that I mind.”

Kat quickly scanned her surroundings and focused on the first thing that looked slightly risky and fun. "Let's do that." Kat pointed down a dark alley at a neon sign flashing Nig Club, the letters h and t were burnt out, making it look a little foreboding. It just added to her desire to go. The atmosphere around the door was menacing and definitely no place Katherine Percy would ever go. Therefore, it was the perfect place for Kat Percy to go and relieve some of her urge to be alive and unsafe.

"Are you sure? If you want to dance, we can find a more…pleasant establishment." Patrick looked uncomfortable and unsure. "Oh, I'm sure, let's go." Kat tugged playfully on Patrick's hand. "Or if you don't want to, I could go by myself. If you wanted to get home and go to bed or something, don't let me keep you up." Kat flashed him a playful smile and dropped his hand, although she fully intended to go into that club with or without him, she had no doubt he would follow her.

Patrick smiled back and grabbed her hand. "Come on, party girl. Just don't say I didn't warn you."

Kat worried briefly that her white dress was less than nightclub appropriate, but then decided not to care. She was just going to have fun. She was not going to care about what everyone else in there was thinking about her and how they were judging her. That was what a person who was looking for the proper route through life would do. She was looking for the fun route through life and she didn't give a crap what anyone else thought. Well, almost anyone. The one person she cared about was Kevin, and of course that is why she hadn't slept with Patrick, yet. Damn her new brother for keeping her from giving completely over to her new self. She would make up for it in other ways, like striding into this interesting establishment with head held high and a determination to partake in whatever it offered.

Patrick stopped in front of the heavy wooden door, turned quickly and put his hands on Kat's shoulders. "I think that this is more than a nightclub, Katherine. I'm just warning you that you might not like what you see if you go in there. It could be disturbing to your delicate sensibilities." Patrick tried to sound a bit joking, but the sentiment was serious.

If Kat had been in any kind of right mind instead of half-crazed by his tempting body, she might have heeded his warning. As it was, her nerves screamed out for satisfaction and so she wanted a distraction, whatever it happened to be. This nightclub was the closest thing that offered any kind of distraction for her.

"I'm made of stronger stuff than you think, Patrick, and not so innocent either," Kat replied with a flip of her hair and a hand playfully on her hip.

"I see." Patrick smiled wickedly at her and pulled her roughly toward him. His lips crushed down on hers with unrestrained passion.

The flame of desire she'd held constantly lit since she met him, flared to life and she was instantly engulfed in the heat of her own desire. Kat threw herself unthinkingly into the kiss. She leaned into him and snaked her tongue out of her parted lips, caressing his.

Patrick crushed her soft body to his, molding her curves to his hardness. He met her tongue with his own and they mated passionately, clinging to each other, both mindless with need.

Kat's hands stroked up and down Patrick's muscled back, maddened by the thin cotton shirt that kept her from his hot smooth skin. Her nails raked down his back in an effort to tear the offending garment from his body.

Patrick's hands slid down to Kat's buttocks and pulled her even closer against his hard body. Proof that he wanted her as much as she wanted him, Kat's body trembled with this knowledge and her knees weakened as their tongues continued their intimate mating dance. Patrick slid his hands down to her thighs and pulled her legs up around his waist.

Kat clung to his shoulders and hooked her ankles behind his back.

Patrick kissed his way across her cheek and nibbled on her ear. His hands slipped easily beneath her dress, which was hiked up to her crotch from the position she was in. His fingers found the lace edge of her panties and traced it down and around to the inside of her thigh. Kat's body arched in anticipation and she threw her head back with a groan of pleasure. Patrick slid his mouth down to her neck, lavishing the delicate skin there with gentle kisses.

"Whoa, check out them going at it like the sky is falling." Patrick kissed his way back up to Kat's ear. "Darling, I think we are being observed."

"I don't care." Kat leaned forward and nipped lightly at his neck.

"Yeah don't mind us, we will just settle in here and watch the show. It's going to be better than anything inside, not to mention free." The two men leaned against the opposite wall, settling in for the show.

Kat unhooked her ankles and slid her body down Patrick's. She smoothed her dress and held her head high. She would not let her actions shame her, but she would continue on the road to not doing it again, if that was possible. She wanted Patrick now more than ever.

"Too bad, come on, Chuck, let's get inside before Millie gets onstage." The two men hurried past and into the door.

"Shall we go?" Patrick asked, meaning someplace more private where they could continue their interaction uninterrupted.

"Yes, let's get inside. Apparently there is some kind of show about to start. I'm sure we don't want to miss it."

Trevon looked at the amulet he held in his palm, wondering about its true value if this man was so desperate to have it back. Trevon could not believe the beautiful stone held any magical power, but he was sure it was worth more than he had originally thought. He gazed into Violet's beautiful eyes and was taken aback by the raw emotion there. He had an unexpected and overwhelming urge to comfort her in some way.

Comfort was usually the last thing on his mind around a beautiful woman, but looking at Violet, he couldn't help himself. He wanted to make her smile. He could not stand seeing her so pained. His surprising new feelings made him quite uncomfortable. Trevon closed his large hand around the amulet.

He took the map so he could examine it closely with his well-trained eye. He had seen so many maps over the years and prided himself on being able to spot a fake better than any other man. This map looked authentic, but the only true way of knowing was to follow it. You never could tell what you would find at the end of a treasure map, nor its value, until it was followed. A treasure map was nothing more than a promise of adventure to those brave enough to chase the trail.

Trevon's blood began to race at the thought of a new treasure hunt. And having this beautiful woman around was not an unpleasant thought either. It was an interesting proposition for sure. It had been an impulse decision to ask for her in exchange of the amulet. Something about her riled his passions and he was used to pursuing anything that stirred him even half as much as she did. The thought of having her and the map made his blood boil with excitement.