Nichols, Tara S. - Island of Three (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Read online

  Island of Three

  Normally a city-bound workaholic, Adele Roy has decided to shake things up a little, hoping for a change in her life and maybe a little romance as well. Teamed up with hunky fellow workaholics, Blaine Knecht and Tyler Duncan, two urban extremes, Adele’s adventurous mistake suddenly seems redeemable. That is, until they stray from the group and lose their map, their way, and eventually, their canoe.

  Finding themselves stranded together on a tiny uninhabited island, they work together to stay warm, fed and entertained. One thing leads quickly to another until they find themselves in a very small makeshift shelter and a hotter situation, as they shed their inhibitions and share and explore their fantasies.

  Could being stranded on an island in the wilderness be the very adventure they were looking for?

  Genre: Contemporary/Ménage a Trois/Quatre

  Length: 38,497 words

  ISLAND OF THREE

  Tara S. Nichols

  MENAGE AMOUR

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  ABOUT THE E-BOOK YOU HAVE PURCHASED: Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to only ONE LEGAL copy for your own personal reading on your own personal computer or device. You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden. If you do not want this book anymore, you must delete it from your computer.

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  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  IMPRINT: Ménage Amour

  ISLAND OF THREE

  Copyright © 2010 by Tara S. Nichols

  E-book ISBN: 1-60601-882-5

  First E-book Publication: September 2010

  Cover design by Jinger Heaston

  All cover art and logo copyright © 2010 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  Letter from Tara S. Nichols

  Regarding Ebook Piracy

  Dear Readers,

  More than anything, I’d like to say thanks to those readers who choose not to take the easiest path offered, who purchase the work of an artist they are reading, listening to, or watching, and who value the effort it took to create it. It means far more than the small sum of money from each purchase, just knowing you had faith in my ability to choose this as my vocation. You are the true heroes in my eyes.

  With deep gratitude,

  Tara S. Nichols

  DEDICATION

  For my husband, as always, who understands why I must write and who takes every effort to make it possible. And for my son who is starting to understand this is what I do, that it is my job, and one that brings me happiness.

  ISLAND OF THREE

  TARA S. NICHOLS

  Copyright © 2010

  Chapter One

  Adele stood at the lake shore with the cool, golden water rippling over her toes. The air smelled heavy, damp, and metallic as a storm developed on the horizon. Glancing heavenward she watched the last little bit of blue get swallowed up by an ominous thunderhead. The sun had been in a constant battle with the clouds all morning, and now, it seemed, it had just lost. She looked away as the last warm ray of sunshine left her face. It seemed fitting, a reflection of her sour mood, and she wondered, not for the first time, why she’d signed herself up for the wilderness tour.

  All around her strangers gathered in awkward clusters. Some seemed to know each other, talking easily and reminiscing, while a few others, like herself, kept to the outskirts and minded their own business. From a respective distance, she discretely surveyed the group, pin pointing which of the lot she didn’t want to be partnered with. They were an eclectic bunch, but not in a good way. As an attractive, young, single woman, she felt vulnerable to any social advances. She’d heard every pick up line in the book, and she wasn’t in the mood to hear any new ones, especially from any member of her traveling group. The trip was meant to be a self-prescribed, soul searching, character enhancement exercise, but it more than likely promised to be an exercise in patience.

  What else was she to do though? Bored and burnt out, she ended her one-year relationship because she craved adventure, the unknown, the unusual, and something completely out of character. She was looking for a change of pace, a change of scenery, a change of man, and hell, who was she kidding? She wanted a whole new life.

  The idea to go on the wilderness tour was to gain some perspective, to get in touch with who she used to be, and to leave the meat market behind. Bars weren’t working for her. If she was to find someone compatible, that certainly wasn’t where they were hanging out. She hoped to meet someone, someone more suitable to her than her last boyfriend, but she wasn’t going to base the whole trip wholly on that one goal. Before she became a type “A” business woman who frequented night clubs, she was an avid camper, hiker, and explorer. It just made sense she would find a more suitable companion with the right setting.

  She looked around at her surroundings miserably. The last time she had been out in the wilderness, she’d been ten, and roughing it with her dad. Sure, camping suited her much better than anything the city had to offer, and the tour provided the setting and stocked it with people, but perhaps what she’d fantasized the expedition would hold for her had not been based in reality. It had been a long time ago, after all, and she had seen it through the eyes of a child.

  A sharp voice rose above the rest, making Adele cringe. Knowing her luck, she’d be sandwiched between the husband and wife team. Everything about them was loud, from their brightly colored Hawaiian shirts to their animated conversation. She looked around with dismay again. If not them, then she feared she would be partnered with the overly coddling mother and her reclusive, brooding, prepubescent son. They squabbled about everything.

  An official-looking middle-aged woman parted the crowd and came to stand at attention on the dock. She blew into a small, shrill, metal whistle to get everyone’s attention, and all chatter immediately stopped. Adele listened as the co-coordinator of the tightly orchestrated wilderness adventure began pairing people up by calling out each individual’s name. She went quickly and efficiently, selectively placing a single traveler with a couple. Adele let out a sigh of relief when the husband-wife unit had been crossed off the list. Thankfully the mother-son team followed closely behind.

  A feeling of dread settled deep in her guts as she looked around. She was one of the few remaining si
ngles left. It wouldn’t be long until her name would be called, and after that they would start splitting up couples. She hated to think she’d driven all that way for nothing. Sure, the scenery was breathtaking. After all, it was set in the sparsely populated Canadian Shield. The late summer season cast a rosy glow over everything, but Adele had also hoped to find her new soul mate out here. Her eyes swept over the crowd. Fat chance that’s going to happen, Adele thought bitterly.

  “Adele Roy?”

  Adele jerked to attention hearing her name called. The coordinator scanned the crowd, looking for her. She raised her hand.

  “You are with… Tyler Duncan and Blaine Knecht, of Gil and Sons.” There was a pause as they all waited for the two men whose names had been called to present themselves, but no one did.

  Great. Two guys. No doubt middle-aged techie geeks.

  The coordinator repeated the names again. Then, after another long pause, she turned to Adele and said with an encouraging smile, “If they are not present, we will just put you with the next team down the list.”

  Adele looked around skeptically. It wasn’t too late to back out. She could excuse herself, say she was sick or that there had been an unexpected death in the—

  Her escape plans were interrupted when a sudden screech of tires on gravel drew everyone’s attention to the marina parking lot behind them. It came to a stop in a cloud of dust. Adele watched as two young men, who looked to be somewhere in their late twenties, hopped out of the vehicle. They shouldered backpacks, sleeping rolls, and camping gear then raced over toward the waiting group.

  Adele’s jaw dropped open. Oh please! Oh please! Oh please! She silently prayed.

  Who ever these two late comers were, they were gorgeous, guys who exceeded her hunky woodsman expectations. All they were missing was the red plaid flannel jackets and a day’s growth of stubble gracing their masculine chins. At least, compared to the rest, they were the best she’d seen all day.

  No two people could be so opposite, either. One was average height, broad shouldered, with dark hair worn in a modern tussled style. The other was a well-groomed, polished, sandy blond-haired man, built tall and slender but pleasantly balanced.

  “Are we too late?” the blond asked.

  “Are you either Tyler or Blaine?” the coordinator inquired, looking them over skeptically.

  “He’s Blaine. I’m Tyler,” he answered, breathing heavily from the jog over.

  “Oh!” The coordinator straightened happily. “Well, good then. I was just calling your names. You are with Adele, that young woman over there.”

  Adele barely remembered to close her gaping mouth.

  “Your gear can go in that red canoe,” the coordinator continued, pointing to a long boat bobbing on the surface of the water, but the two men just stared at Adele rather than where the coordinator had pointed. Clearly, going by the pleased expressions on their faces, they weren’t disappointed.

  * * * *

  Blaine stared at the gorgeous young beauty the coordinator introduced them to.

  Could he truly be so lucky? Had he died and gone to heaven?

  She was stunning with her long dark hair, her slim shapely legs, and those pert breasts straining against her white summery top. Her skin glowed with a healthy tan, set off by the pale pink of her tiny shorts. Her coal black hair shined in the sunlight and flowed like a dark river down her back. She had an above-average pretty face, exotic and girlish, with high cheekbones, plump ruby-red lips, and a pointed chin. The faintest sprinkling of freckles danced across the bridge of her nose giving her an innocent look, and her warm, dark brown eyes were soft and round, giving her a coyness that made men most melt. Built delicate and fine, she kept herself fit, and she dressed in clothes that showed off her lithe body.

  In one unexpected twist of fate, his outlook on his forced vacation had started to improve. Until meeting Adele, he’d planned to make the best of his time off, do some fishing, catch up on some sleep, but now, his eyes made another appreciative sweep of the young woman’s form, now he hoped for more, much more.

  He glanced momentarily at Tyler to gauge his reaction. If anyone had a chance to score with her, he hoped it would be himself, not his traveling companion. Tyler, of course, posed a threat. Not only was the guy handsome, refined, and smart, he had money on his side.

  Unfortunately, Tyler seemed just as mesmerized by her as he was. He stared openly, a goofy, lopsided grin plastered on his face.

  Blaine shook his head. At least he was in his element. Rugged living appealed to him. He could outshine that pencil pusher any day.

  Besides, a little healthy competition never hurt anyone.

  * * * *

  For a brief moment, Tyler wasn’t sure if Blaine was about to beat his chest, pop him one in the jaw, throw Adele up over his shoulder, and run off with her in the woods. Clearly, by his aggressive posturing, Tyler’s co-worker felt the same instant attraction to their new shipmate as he did. Who wouldn’t? She was gorgeous. By the look on her face, they’d managed to pique her interest as well.

  His cock began to swell and push against the fabric of his jeans as his gaze traveled the length of her sculpted body, prompting him to think about how long it had been since a woman had that effect on him. Then again, he reminded himself, if he bothered to look up from his computer monitor every once in a while, he might have realized some of his coworkers were female. With so many deadlines and bonuses dangling in front of his nose, he’d chosen to work hard and live in luxury later, but just looking at Adele made him second guess his decision.

  Acting as a physical reminder of his financial goals, the weight of his pack bit sharply into his shoulder, drawing his thoughts back to the present. Packed with enough electronics to satisfy MI6, it had to weigh somewhere around eighty pounds. He’d never told anyone he’d brought work along with him, and now he was starting to have regrets. When his boss had told him he’d be going on the wilderness excursion, he’d groaned and resisted with everything he could muster. He hated camping about as much as he hated feel-good tour groups, but then, he hadn’t counted on a glorious distraction like Adele.

  As much as he’d have liked to stand around all day soaking up the sights, he knew he had to set his gear down before he made a fool of himself. Someone had to make the first move, and Tyler figured it may as well be him. Greeting her with a chivalrous nod, he and Blaine headed toward their canoe.

  * * * *

  Seeing her new shipmates move, she grabbed her own gear and joined them by the designated craft. The hunk named Tyler helped her with her stuff, but the other one, Blaine, he just continued to openly stare at her from under his long, dark lashes. He was bolder than his fair-haired companion, more intense, powerful, and overall, better looking. She met his gaze with a level stare that warned him she was a no-nonsense kind of gal. He deflected it easily with a charming smile. It did exactly what it was intended to do, disarm her.

  She smiled awkwardly and even allowed him to help her onto the middle seat of the boat. His grip on her hand loosened once she was settled, but he lingered a moment longer. She looked up into his tanned face to see an earnest expression had replaced the macho one she’d witnessed earlier. Heat spread through her abdomen at his sensual gesture, and she believed the gods were smiling down on her now.

  Tyler busied himself with their packs then climbed in around his bulky gear.

  Blaine, with his brawn and macho attitude, was an obvious candidate to power the boat. He seemed eager to show off his pretty muscles, and no one objected when he took the stern.

  Adele wasn’t thrilled about being plunked down in the middle, but she didn’t argue the point. Oddly enough, she was experiencing a little performance anxiety and felt relieved not to have to do anything physical in front of them. She knew nothing about the two gorgeous men, yet she felt the urge to impress them, although, she was confident that she already had, just by her looks alone. Well, whatever it was she was doing, she was doing it right, by the way Blain
e kept staring at her.

  She smiled, satisfied with the turn of events.

  The rest of the troop had settled into their designated groups, and the coordinator blew her whistle to announce their adventure had begun.

  Seemingly eager to be off, Blaine drove the paddle into the water and pushed off hard. The canoe launched forward with a lurch, jolting Adele so that she had to grip the sides to stay upright. Pursing her lips, she turned to him and mock scowled. His wide grin confirmed her suspicions that he’d done it on purpose. His eyes crinkled with delight at successfully riling her, and she couldn’t help but smile. He was too handsome to be mad at, and that only promised trouble.

  * * * *

  Blaine struggled to hide the grin threatening to expose his mischief when Adele twisted her body around to glare at him. She’d fallen right into his plans, and he was able to get one last look at her bountiful cleavage before they set off. The wind whipped her hair about her face, and her nipples made two fine points beneath her thin cotton blouse. A chivalrous man would offer her a sweater, but then that gentleman wouldn’t have the pleasure of appreciating the effect of the cool air on her sensuous body. His cock jerked to attention, and he started to wonder if working himself into a lather just before he sat down in a tight space was a good idea. He shifted with discomfort and Adele’s gaze dropped to the bulge at his groin. More blood rushed to the tip when he saw the wry smile that tugged at her lips just before she turned to face front again. So, she has a little adventure in her, too, then. His grin widened. Maybe he would be able to salvage more from this trip other than a few good days of fishing.

  Chapter Two

  Fourteen canoes formed a long line behind the coordinator’s vessel and headed north. Like early morning traffic, those who drove faster or who were in a bigger hurry passed those who were feeling more relaxed or who were having technical difficulties. At first, it was clear Blaine wanted to be the lead dog. He worked his body hard to stay ahead, but that only landed them up with the obnoxious, energetic people. Adele turned to wince at him in a silent plea, and he quickly clued in. With the husband and wife team’s boisterous conversation about biodegradable plastics carrying over the water, it quickly became unanimous that they stay as far away from certain other canoes as much as possible. By that point it had become a matter of sanity. Holding back, he let a few enthusiastic paddlers pass them. She noticed Tyler did the same.