Five Stars Five Stars (Desire Island #5)- Claire Thompson Page 0,2

around her, unclipping the cuffs that had held her in place. As she looked up, something about those hands—not Tommy’s hands and not Master Ryan’s—made Shani catch her breath. The man behind her drew her arms down to her sides. He was so close now she could feel his chest against her back. Again, the nearly overwhelming desire to fall out of position almost got the better of her. As a cool, damp towel was draped around her shoulders, her entire being fizzed with an excitement her brain didn’t yet fully comprehend.

Then a warm, sweet breath tickled her neck as an unmistakable voice murmured in her ear, “Hello, Princess. I’ve missed you.”

~*~

Adam laughed with pleasure and delight at Shani’s expression as she whirled to face him. She had such a lovely face—so distinctive with its combination of African and Native American features. Her skin was a smooth copper, her cheekbones high and proud, her huge eyes black as night, her lush, sensual mouth made for kissing. There was always a hint of sorrow in those dark eyes, or was that only his imagination?

She kept her hair cropped very close to her head, little more than an inch of dark fuzz. While that should have made her look less feminine, it only served to heighten the delicate beauty of her bone structure.

It was rare that Adam fell hook, line and sinker for someone he’d only just met. When he’d accepted his old friend’s invitation to spend a few days on the island on the way to his next gig, he certainly hadn’t planned to fall for anyone.

But something about Shani had captured and then held his attention from the moment he’d laid eyes on her. There was the obvious physical attraction. Shani was truly lovely—tall and voluptuous with legs a mile long. She carried herself with the regal, willowy grace of nobility, but without a trace of arrogance.

She could be playful and fun, and was extremely sexually responsive. But just below the surface, he’d sensed a thick bedrock of reserve, one he hadn’t been able to chip away at, even a little, during their four brief days together. Maybe it was the challenge of uncovering Shani’s mystery that had hooked him. Whatever it was, he’d thought of her constantly in the week since he’d left the island.

“Adam,” Shani cried now. “The goddess heard me!”

“I’m sorry?” Adam asked, not sure he’d heard her correctly.

“Never mind,” she replied, looking both flustered and happy, her wide smile mirroring his own.

Unable to hold back another second, Adam pulled her into his arms and lowered his head to kiss those luscious lips. He was vaguely aware of the scattered applause and shouts of approval from the crowd, but too engrossed in the lovely girl in his arms to pay much attention.

Ryan, whose idea it had been to surprise Shani when Adam’s schedule had unexpectedly cleared up that week, put his hand lightly on Adam’s shoulder. “All right, kids. I’ve got a fire demo to finish. Go be lovey dovey somewhere else.”

Shani immediately pulled away, her coppery skin darkening with a rosy blush. “Excuse me, Master Ryan. I’m so sorry, Sir.”

“Not at all,” Ryan replied, smiling good-naturedly. “You’re fine. You handled the fire demo beautifully, as always. I enjoyed watching from the sidelines when Adam took over the second half. Oh, and Shani, you have the rest of the evening and tomorrow off.”

Shani looked confused. “Tomorrow? But I have several sessions booked with some guests—”

“Not anymore, you don’t,” Ryan interjected, his grin broadening. “When I found out Adam was coming through for a day or two, I cleared your schedule. One of the perks of owning the place. Now, Adam will see to your aftercare and what y’all do after that is entirely up to you.”

Chapter 2

Adam led Shani to one of the small recovery tents a dozen or so yards away from the pit. She felt dazed, as if awakening from a wonderful dream, only to discover it was real. The endorphins from the fire whipping were still zipping through her bloodstream while the shock at Adam’s sudden, almost magical appearance made her mind reel.

She stared up at the tall, handsome man, still not entirely sure he wasn’t a figment of her fevered imagination. He was even better looking than she’d remembered—tall and broad-shouldered with raven black hair that flopped over into soulful green eyes set in an angular, rugged face. She wanted to bury herself in his arms or fall to her knees at his