Wild Ride Read Free Page B

ran to answer it.  A staff member delivered her bags.  After the man had put her bags in her bedroom, placing the big suitcases on a luggage rack, he left.  Marissa unzipped her bag and unpacked, placing everything neatly in the dresser drawers, then she pulled on her new bathing suit and wrapped the matching sarong around her waist.
    Ten minutes later, she stepped off the elevator and headed out the door to the pool.  She walked to a lounge chair close to the pool, unwrapped her sarong and sat down.  Before long, she was sipping a Pina Colada and relaxing as she watched scantily clad men and woman mingle at the bar across the pool from where she sat.
    She began to relax, feeling the warm sun on her skin, and the warm glow inside from the delicious drink.  She reached into her beach bag and grabbed her book, then sat back and gazed around at the idyllic setting around her.  She noticed a couple of women a few chairs down glancing to their right, smiling and whispering to each other.
    Marissa looked around, and her stomach clenched.  Two tall, muscular men, their arms and torsos heavily inked, walked toward the bar.  One had longish hair tied back in a ponytail while the other had a shaved head.  Both looked tough, and a little scary.
    At least to her.
    All the other women around them seemed to be drooling as they watched the men walk by.  They settled on stools at the bar and ordered drinks and the female bartender turned her attention to them immediately with a bright smile,
    Marissa finished her drink and grabbed her stuff, then headed back to her room.
    * * *
    The next morning, Marissa decided to leave the castle and go into the little town nearby.  Apparently, there was a marketplace where she could buy souvenirs and postcards, have her fortune told, buy some unique artwork, and enjoy some quaint little cafes and restaurants. 
    She wore a short denim skirt and blouse over her bikini, intending to take a walk along the beach near the town in the afternoon and go for a swim.  She finished her lemonade in the little café overlooking the ocean, having just finished a lunch salad.  After paying her bill, she left the restaurant, and headed toward the fortune teller’s she’d seen earlier.
    “Marissa.”
    As the sound of that voice, her blood ran cold.  She glanced over her shoulder and saw Rip, big as life in his faded jeans and black T-shirt, sleeves rolled up to reveal his tattooed arms, standing about thirty yards behind her.  Her eyes widened as she stood frozen to the spot.
    Then he stepped toward her.  Her heart lurched and she raced forward, running past the booths and heading toward the street.  Traffic passed by ahead and all she could think of was finding a policeman to protect her.
    But when she reached the road, she gazed around, searching, but could see no one in uniform anywhere.  Her heart pounded as she glanced behind her at Rip closing the distance between them.  She raced along the street, then around a corner.
    A big black motorcycle pulled in front of her.  The driver glanced her way, his eyes hidden by dark, reflective aviator shades.
    “Get on the bike,” he said in a hard, commanding voice.
    She glanced over her shoulder at Rip heading her way.
    “Now,” the biker demanded.
    Automatically obeying his authoritative tone, she hopped on the bike behind him, then wrapped her arms around his waist as the bike lurched forward.  She glanced at Rip’s face as he raced toward her, the expression on his face one of shock.
    “No, Marissa.  Don’t trust him,” he shouted after them.
    At least, that’s what she thought he’d said.  Not that she had any reason to believe Rip.  He was merely trying to frighten her.
    As the bike dodged between the traffic and it started to sink in that she was sitting on the back of a speeding motorcycle, clinging to a man she didn’t even know, it occurred to her that maybe she’d just jumped from the frying pan into the fire.
    * * *
    Time sped