As the helicopter approached, Ava rushed into Hunter’s arms. “I’m going to miss you.”“You too, little fox. It’s not the end. We’ll see each other soon.”Standing behind them stood Rowan with Rebecca. The woman wiped a tear away as she watched the couple say their goodbyes. Of all the guests on the island, Ava had become her favorite.“Mr. Halifax, what will happen to them?” she asked.Standing with his hands laced behind his back, he glared at Hunter, ignoring Rebecca’s question. “Have Ava set up to go to the funeral but keep it quiet until time for her to leave. I want her to stay a couple of extra days to get some images of the next round of guests.”“Yes, sir. But what about the couple? I thought they were your special project.”“Oh, they are.”“But sir, why haven’t you told me what you have planned?”Narrowing his brows, he growled, “Dominatrix or not, Rebecca, don’t question me. I know what I’m doing. They’ll be my finest work yet.”“Sorry, sir, you’re right,” she said bowing he

As she watched the waves crash on the beach, Ava was glad this would be her last day on the island. It hadn’t been the same since Hunter left, and all she could do was think about how he must be feeling after the news of his father.As the warm breeze blew across her sun-kissed face, she took a slow deep breath, enjoying her last minutes in paradise.“Beautiful day isn’t it,” said a man sitting new to her in a beach recliner.“Ah... yeah.”Feeling his eyes watching her, Ava’s eyes veered over him, trying to figure this guy out.“So, I saw you with that rich bachelor this week. What’s his name again?”“Hunter Constantine.”“Oh, yeah. That’s it,” he said with a coy smile.Narrowing her brows, suspicion was rising. She hadn’t seen this man all week, yet he claimed to have seen her. Almost everyone in the world knows who Hunter was. If this man was trying to play off that he didn’t know the man, he was lying. Even though there were not many photos of Hunter online, there was still enough

On her last day on the island, Ava would soon head back to the mainland, leaving her fantasy island trip behind. She had woken early that morning, having coffee on the deck, and watching the sunrise. It was a beautiful day for her to leave Sizzle Island, but her heart still ached with sorrow.As she pulled her luggage up to the biplane, Rebecca stood there, waiting with a smile."Ready to go, sweetie? I'm sure going to miss you."Ava promised to stay in touch, even though she knew it would be difficult. Quickly, Rebecca hugged her one last time before walking her onto the plane."You've definitely given me a run for my money. I'm not sure if anyone else could have put up with all of your antics."Ava just giggled. "I wasn't that bad.""Nah, but you have being a submissive brat down to an art form. It may work for you. Hunter likes his submissive a little on the bratty side, even though he hates to admit it.""I might need to thank him for that.""Just don't tell him I told you so. He'

Ava had stewed over the fact Eveline had branded Hunter all night. It was perfectly clear to her now how deeply he had been brainwashed at the hands of this mad woman. Maybe it was that he had been hidden away from the world for so long, and he no longer had the strength to fight back. She clearly understood how abuse was a factor, but needed to get in his head and break the hold his stepmother had over him.Placing her laptop down at the desk in the hotel room, Ava scooted into the chair and opened the screen. Taking a deep breath, she looked up Stockholm syndrome and various forms of trauma. As she was reading over one medical article, a text box showed on her screen.Hunter: I told you to get your ass home.Shaking her head, she typed away.Ava: And I told you to stop hacking my laptop.Hunter: You’re better off looking up your cat videos and porn, sweetheart. I’m not a victim.Ava: Really? Tell that to the burn marks on your arms.Hunter: (Silence...) Ava, I know you’re worried, b

Late that night, Hunter managed to slip away once his stepmother had gotten herself drunk on a bottle of wine and passed out on the couch. He didn’t waste even a moment before he grabbed his keys and headed to meet Ava at their arranged meeting place, taking time to pick up a little special for her along the way. The late-night dive restaurant was quiet except for a radio playing from the kitchen. As he entered, escaping the summer heat, the smells of the dinner made his stomach rumble. When the cool air conditioner hit his skin it made goosebumps prick his skin as his eyes roamed the area for her.He didn’t need to see her, though. He could smell Ava’s coconut body lotion when he walked in. Scanning the room, there he found her tucked away in a back corner booth with a look of nervous tension written on her face. She must have not seen him pull up in his luxury car, because she was looking around at other patrons with worry in her eyes. After all, it was late and she was a woman alon