Free Through The Lens (Creative Hearts Book 1) by K.M. Jackson

again—she reached for a piece of pineapple, dipped it into her wine, then took it back out to suck on the juice invitingly.  
    He gripped the arms of his chair. So this was how she wanted to play it. Damn her. She seemed determined to keep him teetering on the edge for some reason, and so far, she was doing an excellent job of it. But what else should he expect when she put her perfect little mind to something? Ale steeled his will. She’d obviously forgotten who she was dealing with. Hell, under her spell, he was forgetting who he was. But he was determined to have Mika, and if it took playing her game to have her his way, bring it on.  
    He let go of the chair and stripped off his shirt. “A shower sounds great. If you care to assist in helping to get me clean, I’m sure that can be added to your job description.”  
    Her eyes flashed with a hint of a storm brewing in the distance.  
    He grinned, not bothering to hide his pleasure at rattling her. “Only for these few nights, of course.”
    She surprised him once again and offered a sweet smile that had him pulsing with anticipation. “Of course, boss. I’m glad we’re on the same page.”
    *
    Mika woke with a start, eyes popping open and heart racing. It took a moment to realize where she was. She looked up at the gauzy mosquito netting waving softly in the moonlight and took stock. Alejandro’s heart beating against her back, his erection at her backside, his heavy arm around her midsection, cradling her gently. Yes, she was still here, on the island, in bed with Alejandro. She took a deep breath, just letting the feeling in, seeing if it would ease the turmoil she felt.  
    It didn’t.
    Instead, tears welled in her eyes. Oh hell. She had to get some sort of control over her emotions if she was going to let go and really enjoy these next few days. That’s what it was all about, right? Having a good time. Living out her Alejandro fantasy and moving on.  
    Mika closed her eyes, mentally willing the tears to recede. She had to let go of these stupid emotions she was feeling and see this thing for what she knew it was.
    Great sex. With her boss. No, her soon-to-be ex-boss, and that was all. Her stomach flipped at that thought and a tear escaped, rolling down her cheek and onto Ale’s arm below. Oh jeez, she couldn’t just lie here getting sick and weepy. Waking him in a fit of tears? What kind of seductress would that make her?  
    Mika eased Ale’s arm off her waist and scooted out of his grasp, careful to be quiet as he turned over, throwing an arm over his eyes.  
    She got up and looked around for her dress by the light of the moon, turning in awkward little circles, and coming up empty. Great . Here she was, ridiculously naked—again—and the air had grown cool. Who in the world did she think she was all of a sudden? She frowned. Naked with Ale. What must he be thinking? She’d slip to her own hut and cover up properly if she weren’t afraid of falling over the edge of the walkway in the dark. Where was that freaking dress? Her mind went to the shower and the image of the dress in a heap on the bathroom floor. Perfect. She’d have the same problem trying to make her way back there.
    With a sigh, she reached instead for the blanket tangled on the foot of the bed and wrapped it around her body. The shiver that ran through her now was not from the cold as she strode over to the little wicker couch and let her body fall onto it, her legs going weak.
    It scared her, this feeling of being out of control. She glanced at Ale’s sprawled form. He held way too many of the cards. Even with her leaving, she still had so much to lose. He was so different from anyone she’d ever been with. Anyone she’d ever known. With him, the hurt could be so real. First she was leaving a job she was secure in, and now she went and put her heart on the line too. Hello, stupid, party of one. Your table is ready.
    And now him with his talk of more and that bit with the