Safari Island Shifters: The Complete Collection(69)

“Easy,” Ward said. “Now that I’ve gotten the main interview with Mitch out of the way, I’m basically home free. I have the rest of the year to enjoy my hard work.”

“It’s that easy? Aren’t you doing more with the celebration?”

“Nope. It’s all done. The promotional stuff has to be done early or there’s no time for people to actually visit.”

“Of course. This is delicious, by the way.”

“Thank you. How was your day?”

“Interesting.” Joan told him about her interview with Maura and Branch. “It inspired me. I have to confess that I wasn’t expecting to like them.”

Ward cocked his head. “Branch is one of our best tour guides. He’s a great guy. Maura got mixed up some bad people, but she’s a good woman.”

Joan nodded. “They’re great. They’re the second couple I’ve talked to who’ve had their lives changed by coming here for a vacation.”

“It isn’t that common, but it does happen.”

“It isn’t common?” Joan looked disappointed.

“Most of our workers don’t find their mate on the island, no.” Ward hated to disappoint her but it was the truth. “I think it makes the people who do even more special. It really is a fairy tale kind of story. A one in a billion meeting. It’s a much better story.”

“I guess.” Joan sighed. “I was hoping that you had lots of big stories for me.”

“Lots of stuff happens here, but usually not like that. Mates are hard to find. Why the interest? Is Mitch changing the angle of the special?”

Joan shook her head. “I’m looking for a side project. I’m only an intern and I thought this would be a good way to get my name out there. This story would have been great.”

“I see. Career advancement was easy for me since I’ve always been with Safari Corp. I wish I had more advice, but I have no clue about the journalism field. Sounds like you have a good plan, though.”

“I thought so. But I also thought I could uncover some nefarious underbelly here.”

Ward had to laugh at her suggestion. “You’d have more luck at a different resort. The worst thing here is all the sex among our seasonal workers. We were thinking about adding condoms with the welcome pack all the new recruits get.”

Joan’s mouth dropped open. “Are you kidding? I mean, I figured there was sex, but not like that. That would make a pretty good story, but not for Travel Log.”

They talked for a while longer about her article ideas. Ward was impressed. Being Mitch’s assistant was a great job, judging by everything he’d heard. Yet she still wanted to push higher. She would do it, too. Joan would probably be very successful at anything she tried. She was so driven and determined. It was incredibly attractive. He’d always been a sucker for a curvy girl with a positive attitude. He could listen to her talk about her goals and plans for hours.

By the time he looked at his clock, it was after midnight.

“It’s getting late,” he told her. “I’m not sure if you have to work early, but I figured I should let you know. I don’t want you to leave yet.”

She looked at her empty plate. “I don’t want to go yet, either. Want some help with the dishes?”

“Sure!”

They cleared the table together and loaded the dishwasher. She wiped down the counters while he hand-washed the pots and pans. Once everything was clean they moved to the living room.

She stared at his lips. “I should probably go soon. I do have to be up to do interviews with Mitch tomorrow.”

Ward nodded. “Of course. I’ve already kept you here long enough.”

Joan nodded and bit her lip. “I had a lot of fun. Spending time with you was nice.”

She wanted him to kiss her. He hoped he wasn’t reading the signs wrong. Without another thought, Ward leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. She leaned forward into the kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck. His gazelle started to race across his mind at the feel of her lips. Ward was buoyant with excitement.

He pulled back. “I had fun too.”

Her eyes were filled with lust and her voice was dusky. “We could have more fun.”

***

Joan didn’t know what had come over her. She liked Ward much more than she’d anticipated. She’d come over mostly to talk with him about her career and the article idea. Talking with him had been so easy. He was genuinely interested in what she had to say and had some great pointers. The time had flown by and now she didn’t want to leave.

“We could,” he agreed.

Ward swept her up in his arms and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He carried her to the bedroom as they kissed. She had never let anyone carry her around like he was doing. She’d always thought she hated being picked up, but was she wrong. Being carried by Ward felt so right, and it was so sexy that he could lift her so easily. She felt like she was as light as a feather.

Ward laid her on the bed gently and lay down on top of her. She could feel his hard cock pressing into her side. She was wet enough already, but that was enough to make her thighs quiver.

He stood up and unbuttoned his shirt. Joan sat up on the edge of the bed and pulled her dress off. Ward watched her the whole time. Once her dress was off, he bent to suck one of her nipples into his mouth. He rubbed her through her panties as he sucked.