Rough Draft: Big Easy Read Online Free PDF Page A

faced her.
    “Thank you for bringing me here, Rissa.”
    His words were solemn, earnest. She smiled and shrugged. “Thank the radio station.”
    He shook his head, his eyes softening, reflecting some emotion that made Carissa nervous…in a good way. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach and her palms felt sweaty. She’d never done that typical schoolgirl crush routine when she was a teenager. Life working at her father’s bar, surrounded by gruff, world-weary people who never tried to sugarcoat reality for her had taken away her ability to romanticize anything.
    However, there was no denying she was falling head over heels into a fairytale fantasy right now. She took a deep breath and forced herself to look away.
    Eden wasn’t reality. New Orleans was. She needed to stay smart, keep her guard up, and maintain the status quo. Ten minutes on this island and she already knew leaving it would be one of the hardest things she’d ever do. She didn’t need to add to that difficulty by indulging in dreams about something that could never survive on Toulouse Street.
    Together, she and Jett climbed the stone steps leading to the castle. A pretty young woman at the front desk greeted them, then a bellboy took them up to their room.
    Carissa didn’t think it was possible to top her first glimpse of the island and castle, but the room proved her wrong. She’d never seen such sensuous luxury. The first thing she noticed was a king-sized, four-poster, complete with a canopy and sheer drapes. The fancy bed made her think of that second Indiana Jones movie—the one she hated with the whiny blonde chick.
    Through an open doorway, she spotted a bathroom that was larger than her entire apartment above the bar back home. French doors opened to a balcony overlooking the ocean—which was shimmering in the moonlight. A romantic table adorned with a fancy white tablecloth, fine china and lit candles sat near a large window.
    The bellboy set their luggage down near the door, then pointed out several of the room’s amenities, including the large Jacuzzi tub in the bathroom and the antique armoire that hid a state-of-the-art television and sound system. He also gave them a quick rundown of what he referred to as “special places” on the island he thought they might enjoy, including a small cove that was ideal for snorkeling, and the dungeon.
    Carissa snuck a quick peek at Jett, curious to know his reaction to that information. She’d read about Eden’s dungeon several years earlier and it was one of the things that had fascinated her about the island. The second she realized she’d be traveling here, Carissa had done some research on BDSM and indulged in a shopping trip. At some point, she planned to sneak away from Jett to explore that part of the castle.
    It was unlikely she’d ever have the opportunity to take a trip like this again. As such, Carissa intended to take advantage of every adventure, including indulging her curiosity and interest in bondage. She was far too outspoken and opinionated to relinquish control of her life, but she definitely wouldn’t mind trying out the submissive role for a week. Being dominated by a sexy stranger had always ranked high on her list of sexual fantasies. Eden was offering her a chance to experience it without risk or strings.
    The bellboy pointed to the table. “Given your long journey, the master of the island thought perhaps you would prefer to dine en suite this evening.”
    Jett nodded approvingly. “I think that’s a great idea.”
    Carissa agreed. The long day was beginning to catch up with her.
    “I’ll leave this with you, then.” The bellboy handed Jett a menu. Jett reciprocated by handing the young man a tip and his thanks. Surprisingly, the bellboy refused the tip, claiming the master paid them very well.
    Once they were alone in the room, Jett passed the menu to Carissa. “I’m going to grab a quick shower. You mind ordering?”
    She shook her head. “Nope. What do you