James's blood turned to ice at the sound of Marcus's voice. The last thing he wanted was for anyone to discover his relationship with Victoria, not because there was anything wrong with it, but because he knew they would never let him hear the end of it. Especially not Marcus. James knew he would be teased endlessly, bombarded with probing questions, and the demand for details he was not ready to share, it would be relentless.
Without hesitation, James pivoted away from the door, steering Victoria toward the far side of the room near the window. His grip on her arms remained firm as he maneuvered them both away from potential discovery.
Victoria's smile widened as she realized his predicament. The panic in his eyes, the way his body tensed with alarm, it all added another layer of excitement to their already charged encounter. She could practically feel his desperation radiating off him in waves.
"Hide," James whispered urgently, releasing her arms and gesturing toward the bathroom. "Get in there and stay quiet."
The moment his hands left her, Victoria struck. She launched herself at him with renewed fervor, her arms wrapping around his neck as she pulled him and climbed his back. James startled tried to get her to come down from his back. He swung his hand here and there before finally dragging her to his front. Victoria kissed him then swayed them downward. The sudden shift in weight sent them both tumbling onto the bed, the mattress dipping under their combined impact.
James landed on top of her, his face a mask of horror as he realized how compromising their position had once again become. The knock at the door could come again at any moment, and here he was sprawled across his boss in a way that would be impossible to explain if discovered.
"Not now, Victoria," he whispered urgently, his hands pressing against the mattress on either side of her head as he tried to push himself up.
"It's Tori," she corrected with a mischievous grin, her eyes dancing with delight at his obvious distress.
Victoria had no intention of making this easy for him. She grabbed onto his shirt with both hands, pulling him back down as he tried to rise. Her legs wrapped around his waist, locking him in place as she initiated what could only be described as a wrestling match on the bed.
James found himself engaged in the most bizarre struggle of his life. Every time he managed to break free from one of her holds and attempted to get up completely, Victoria would fling herself at him again, grabbing onto another part of him; his shirt, his arms, his shoulders, anything she could reach to keep him close. She was like a koala bear, clinging to him with surprising strength and determination.
"Let go," he hissed, trying to pry her fingers from his shirt collar. "Marcus is right outside."
"So?" Victoria purred, her hands sliding down to grip the hem of his shirt. With a quick movement, she began pulling it upward, clearly intent on removing it entirely.
James caught her wrists, stopping her progress. "Are you crazy?"
"For you, yes," she whispered, leaning up to nip at his earlobe.
The battle continued with Victoria using every trick she could think of to distract him. She would grab his shirt and pull, forcing him to struggle to keep it in place. When he managed to capture one of her hands, she would use the other to trace patterns across his chest through the fabric. She's gotten more brazen and bold. Her legs remained locked around his waist, giving her leverage to pull him closer whenever he tried to escape.
James felt like he was fighting an octopus. Every limb seemed to be working against him, each one determined to either undress him or pull him into compromising positions.
Victoria's hands were everywhere, sliding under his shirt to touch the skin of his back fingernails digging in deep, grabbing at his joggers, threading through his hair to pull his head down toward hers.
"Stop," he breathed, catching her wandering hands again. "You can't do this now."
"When then?" she challenged, somehow managing to work one hand free and immediately sliding it under his shirt to press against his abs.
The touch sent electricity through his system, and James tensed involuntarily. The sensation of her palm against his bare skin was almost enough to make him forget about Marcus entirely. Almost.
He tried to capture her roaming hands again, but the moment he almost did, Victoria saw her opportunity. She threw her head back and released a loud, unmistakably provocative moan that echoed through the room.
"Mmmm, yes," she breathed, the sound designed to drive him wild and completely audible to anyone who might be listening.
James froze in shock, his eyes wide with horror. The moan had been loud enough to wake the entire cabin, let alone alert Marcus to exactly what he might think was happening in the room. In panic, James quickly pressed his hand over her mouth, his palm covering her lips to prevent any further sounds.
"James? You awake?" Marcus's voice came through the door, tinged with confusion.
"What was that sound?"
Victoria smirked up at James beneath his hand, clearly pleased with herself for creating such chaos. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she watched the panic play across his features. He could see the wicked gleam in her eyes that she wasn't done tormenting him.
"Uh, it's nothing," James called out, his voice slightly strained. "Hold on a minute."
The moment the words left his mouth, Victoria took advantage of his distraction. Her hands slipped under his shirt again, this time with more purpose. Her fingers traced the defined lines of his abs, feeling each muscle tense under her touch. She mapped the contours of his chest, her palms pressing against his heated skin in a way that made his breath catch.
James's body went rigid as her hands explored him with bold confidence. The sensation was incredible and torturous at the same time, especially with Marcus waiting outside and the constant threat of discovery hanging over them.
He tried to capture her wandering hands with his free arm, but Victoria was too quick. She would move her hands away from his reach, then immediately return them to his skin the moment he stopped trying to catch them. It was a game of cat and mouse played across his torso, and she was winning.
Unable to use both hands to restrain her while keeping her quiet, James found himself in an impossible situation. Every nerve ending was on fire from her touch, every caress making it harder to think clearly about the danger they were in.
When he finally managed to grab one of her wrists and pull her hand away from his chest, Victoria saw her chance. The moment his palm left her mouth, she released another loud moan, this one even more provocative than the first.
"Oh, James," she breathed, the sound carrying clearly through the room.
James felt his eye twitch as fury and panic warred within him. She was doing this deliberately, enjoying his discomfort and the impossible position she was putting him in.
With swift, decisive movements, he flipped her over onto her stomach, pressing her face into the mattress to muffle any further sounds she might make. His knee pressed into the small of her back as he once again captured both her arms, securing them behind her in a grip that wouldn't allow for escape.
Victoria's body responded immediately to his rough handling. The forceful way he manhandled her sent waves of excitement through her system. She loved when he got physical like this, when he used his strength to control her, when his gentle demeanor gave way to something more primal and commanding. Her heart raced with arousal at his dominant display. The rougher he got, the more aroused she became, and she could not help the way her body arched, her nipples itched and her privates pulsed excited by his authoritative touch despite, being pinned down.
"James?" Marcus called again, his voice closer to the door now. "Is everything alright in there?"
James looked around the room desperately, his eyes scanning for anything that might help him control the situation. His gaze landed on a roll of duct tape sitting on the desk, something he'd brought for minor repairs around the cabin.
Moving quickly while keeping Victoria pinned beneath him, James reached for the tape. He tore off a strip and, despite the guilt that shot through him, raised her head and pressed it firmly over her mouth. Her eyes widened in surprise above the silver strip, but he could see the excitement there too, the way this new development seemed to thrill rather than upset her.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, though he wasn't entirely sure she minded.
With practiced efficiency born of desperation, James grabbed the sheet from the bed and began wrapping it around Victoria's body. He rolled her up like a burrito, securing her arms and legs so she couldn't escape or cause any more disruption. The sheet wound around her multiple times, creating a cocoon that would keep her contained.
Victoria's muffled protests came through the tape, but her struggles were significantly hampered by her new constraints. The rough treatment had her pulse racing with desire, her body responding to his forceful control in ways that surprised even her. James carefully lifted her wrapped form and carried her to the bathroom, placing her gently in the bathtub where she would be completely hidden from view.
Only her head was visible above the edge of the tub, her hair spilling over the white porcelain. The duct tape covered her mouth, but her eyes were bright with a mixture of indignation and arousal that made James's chest tighten with conflicting emotions.
He knelt beside the tub, his hand gentle as he brushed a strand of hair from her forehead. Despite everything; the chaos, the near-discovery, the impossible situation she'd put them both in, he couldn't bring himself to be truly angry with her.
"I'll be back quickly," he promised, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "Please, Tori. Please behave for five minutes."
Victoria's eyes met his, and while she couldn't speak, he could see the promise there not necessarily of good behavior, but of patience. At least for now.
James stood and smoothed down his disheveled clothing, running his hands through his hair to make himself presentable. He took a deep breath, composed his features into something resembling normalcy, and walked to the door.
His hand hesitated on the handle for a moment as he prepared to face Marcus, knowing that the next few minutes would be another shot at his patience trying to calm and quickly send Marcus away who he's sure would not leave until his questions are answered.
With one final glance toward the bathroom where Victoria waited, James turned the handle and opened the door.