Gavin

by Dale Mayer

  “I need to get it back from the big guy,” she said.

  “Good. Let’s get this all over with.”

  More than an hour later they finally managed to leave, and it was two hours before they got to the hotel. Grateful they could go straight up to her room, she walked in and looked at the bed, exhausted. “Is Shane coming up?”

  “He’s getting stitches. We’ll pick him up in about six hours,” he said. “Get some sleep while you can.”

  “You’re the one who’s probably about to drop.”

  He nodded, pulled his shirt over his head, kicked off his shoes, and then off came his socks. Unzipping his jeans, he stepped out of them, leaving him in his boxers. Completely natural and unaffected by her stare, he walked to the bed, pulled the blankets back so they were almost off, then pulled the sheet back and crawled under, pulling the sheet up on top of him.

  “Just like that?” she asked, amused.

  He gave her a glance. “Unless you’re crawling in here with me,” he said, “yes.”

  “And if I do crawl in there with you?” she asked with interest.

  “You’ll have to wait till I wake up,” he said, “because I need to recharge.” And, even as she watched, he slowly dropped into a deep sleep.

  She didn’t think she’d seen anything like it before. She, on the other hand, although tired, wasn’t sure she’d drop off half as fast. She stepped out of her clothes, went to the bathroom, and scrubbed her face and her hands before coming back, dressed in only a T-shirt and panties. She stared from one bed to the other, then realized she didn’t want to sleep alone.

  There was no way to push the two beds together with the night tables in between them, so she walked over to his bed and slipped under the covers on the empty side. She wondered if this kidnapping event would impact her long-term or not. She wasn’t used to being susceptible to fears of boogeymen in the dark. She had always been so very clear-cut about her choices in life, and this was no different. She didn’t want to be alone right now. And he was a hell of a good choice as a teddy bear.

  As she dozed in and out, never really getting into a deep sleep, she felt him rolling over, and finally he wrapped his arms around her, pulled her back against his chest, and whispered, “Sleep. You really need it.”

  And she dropped off. When the furnace that was wrapped all around her woke her back up again, she thought she had slept only for like twenty minutes. They remained in their initial position, with his chest to her back. The sheet was off, and his hands were stroking her, exploring and finding all the curves and crevices of her body, like she’d never been explored before. Not only was it a sensuous experience but it was intriguing.

  As he found a little nook and explored it, she could almost sense his mind wondering about where and what because, of course, he still lay behind her. She didn’t know how, but his fingers were doing the seeing for him. It was intense, as overwhelming nerve sensations covered her body as his hands drifted up her calves and her knees, checking out the little bumps on her kneecap to slide behind it.

  That almost made her laugh out loud, and she didn’t realize how ticklish she was. Well, when his hand slipped across the part of her lower belly into her panties and the curls at the apex of her thighs and then down, she cried out and shifted against him. He slid down ever-so-slightly, the ridge inside his boxers positioned tight against her cheeks, and his fingers got busy between her legs. She reached down to push away his hand, but he wasn’t having anything to do with it.

  She cast about as he found the tiny nub on her body, already responding as she tried to evade the teasing stroke of those devilish fingers. But every movement she made rubbed her buttocks against the hard ridge behind her. It was a double erotic sensation from both front and back, and her body was quickly turning into jelly.

  Just when she thought she couldn’t stand it anymore, she was flipped onto her back, stripping away her T-shirt at the same time. He was suddenly over her and between her thighs, his body hot and heavy right above her. She looped her arms around his neck and tugged him down. “Good morning,” she whispered, before their lips touched.

  He slowly lowered some of his weight on top of her, his tongue busy as he stroked and caressed her lips before plunging deep into her mouth. When he lifted his head, he whispered, “Good morning.”

  “Is this usually the way you wake up?”

  He nodded, a slight chuckle escaping. “When I find a beautiful woman in my bed, I do.”

  “Ah, so that’s what the trick is,” she said, lifting her chest ever-so-slightly, the gentle arch brushing her breasts against his hot chest.

  “Well, when the invitation is there,” he whispered, sliding his tongue in and out of her mouth, gently warring with her tongue.

  She smiled and tightened her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. “Definitely an invitation,” she murmured.

  And he kissed her while the passion rose quickly between them. He slid his hands down and underneath her to pull down her panties.

  Smiling, she said, “We’re still wearing too many clothes, aren’t we?”

  “We are,” he said.

  She slid her hands down to cup his heavily muscled cheeks, sliding under the boxers to tuck them farther down. And, when she couldn’t get them to go any farther because they were out of reach, she slid a hand down to the front of his hips, gently grasping him with her hand.

  He sucked in his breath, his hips coming forward to give her better access.

  She gently stroked the full length of him, only to cup him down below and then slide back up again. With the soft material of his boxers pulled back, she rolled over to the side. She quickly slipped both hands down to his hips and pulled off the material. He rolled onto his back, now fully exposed and completely comfortable.

  She stared at his heavily muscled chest, his massive biceps, and taut belly and whispered, “You’d make a great model.”

  He chuckled. “I have no interest in inviting anybody to stare at me,” he said.

  She pulled the boxers all the way off his legs, loving his heavy quads and seeing the various little bits and pieces of scars and damage. His massive feet compared to her own made her stop and pause. She quickly stood, tossing off her panties, then walked to the end of the bed. She lifted one of her feet to rest against his own and said, “Your feet are literally twice as big as mine.”

  He sat up and took a look, then whispered, “Obviously I need to have them that size.”

  She crawled up beside him, completely amazed. “I just can’t imagine so much strength,” she said, “so much virility.”

  His hands were gentle as they stroked down her sides to her hips, sliding back up to cup her breasts. “So much femininity,” he whispered. “So delicate, so beautiful, so soft, and yet so damn strong inside.” And he tugged her back down to the bed beside him.

  She smiled, opened her arms, and pulled him over her. “Strong inside, yes,” she said, “and I guess the way of the world is for women to have that strength and yet to still show the softness on the outside. A complete reversal from men, who show only strength on the outside and yet have that softness within.”

  He leaned down and kissed her gently. His fingers once again stroking up and down her body, bringing them back to that same fevered pitch, as he whispered, “That’s why we’re a perfect fit. Male to female, yang to yin, strength to hardness.” He spoke as he slid just inside the entrance to her body.

  Smiling, she shifted gently. “The good thing is, I won’t break,” she said, “so come on in.” He slid ever-so-gently, not sure that he could take her at her word, but her muscles and tissues softened and warmed, making a space for him inside. When he was finally seated all the way home, she reached up, cupped his face, and said, “Perfect fit.”

  He nodded. “I didn’t think it’d be quite so easy,” he whispered.

  “Well, it was. Because that was meant to be.” And she slowly rocked her hips side to side, shuffling, trying to get him to move.

>   He smiled down at her. “And just what do you want?” he asked, in a teasing voice.

  She smiled up at him. “I want everything you’ve got to give.”

  He ground his hips deep against her and started to move. And the pace he set was hard and fast, at a tempo she didn’t think she could sustain. Her body rose into a crescendo of emotions and feelings as her nerve endings came to the edge of the world and exploded, sending pulsating waves through her body. When she heard him explode above and beyond, just feeling his eruption deep inside sent more shock waves through her body, until she lay here completely trembling in shock.

  He shifted his weight, pulling over to her side, and tucked her up close. “You okay?”

  With the shivers still racking her body, she whispered, “I will be. But wow.”

  He kissed her gently and tenderly, their fever rising instantly.

  “Surely not so soon again?” But she could feel him and the hard ridge already firming up against her belly.

  “It’s you,” he said. “Just something about you.”

  “How about us?” she whispered, her thighs widening and welcoming him back into the heart of her.

  “I’m good either way,” he said. And just when she thought that he would set the same crazy tempo, instead he slowed down to painstakingly slow movements, as skin rubbed against skin and muscles held, then lost their grip as movements slid back and forth. It was exquisitely tender and as deliciously sweet as the second climax swirled through them both.

  When he collapsed beside her the second time, she murmured, “That was the nicest thing I’ve ever felt in my life.”

  “Well, we can repeat it later,” he promised.

  “I hope so,” she whispered. “That and so much more.”

  “You’re so different right now,” he murmured, his nose gently rubbing against hers.

  “No,” she said. “Not really. I just let down my guard a bit. I’m starting to realize I’ve never really let it down before.”

  “I don’t want to hurt you,” he said.

  She smiled. “Were you planning on it?”

  He looked at her in surprise. “No, of course not,” he said.

  “Is this just for tonight?” she asked. She didn’t want a one-night stand, and yet she didn’t want to withdraw from him in bed, but she’d known that was a possibility going into this.

  “Not on my part,” he said, trailing kisses down her cheek. “I’m definitely looking for longer term than that.”

  “Well, let’s just keep it wide open and see what we’ve got. I’ve always been practical, analytical,” she said, “but, right now, I just want to let the emotions and the feelings soar through me. It’s such a unique experience.”

  “And you look beautiful in it,” he said, in all seriousness. He kissed her again. “Before we head back into a third mind-drugging hot and sweaty sex session, we need to check the time.” Just then his phone rang. He leaned across her to grab his phone off the night table and checked the Caller ID. “Shane, how are you doing?”

  “I’m fine,” he said. “Just waiting for a pickup, unless you want me to take a cab.”

  “No,” he said. “I’ll come get you.”

  “Well, if you get waylaid, and you’re not here in fifteen, I’ll grab a cab anyway.”

  “Gotcha.” He tossed the phone back down on the night table, kissed her hard, and said, “Hold that thought.” Then he got up and redressed.

  She sat up in the bed, the sheet pulled around her waist. “Any chance I can stay here?”

  He considered it and said, “I’m not really a fan of that idea.”

  “But the door will be locked,” she said in a reasonable tone. “I just want to sleep a bit more if I can.”

  “We’ll be back in thirty at the most,” he said.

  “Right,” she said. “Your choice. I guess I can come.” With that, she hopped up to get dressed. She looked at him and said, “Although it would be much nicer to stay in bed with you.”

  He laughed. “I agree,” he said, “but we can’t do that right now.”

  “Right.” Dressed, the two of them headed to the door. He reached for her hand as they headed to the elevator.

  “So much has happened,” she murmured.

  “It has, indeed.” The elevator was upstairs two floors.

  “I should answer my sister. She texted me earlier,” she said, stifling a yawn.

  “Yeah, we should,” he said, but he didn’t sound too convinced.

  She looked over at him. “What do you know that I don’t know?”

  He smiled. “Not a whole lot. I’m more concerned about your parents.”

  “I know,” she said, her tone subdued. “Did we ever get an update from the forensic people at the country house? Any chance my parents were there?”

  He pulled out his phone as they waited for the elevator. He sent a message to Lennox. I’m up. What’s new? Any sign of the parents?

  Parents have been found.

  “Holy shit,” he said. “Your parents were found in a hidden shed in the back of the second property.”

  Gavin stared at that information, surprised.

  “Well, that’s good news,” she said. “Now I feel like we should have stayed and searched for them.”

  “Well, thankfully the cops did a full search on both properties.”

  “I’m so glad to hear that. Can we go see them at the hospital then?” Suddenly she stopped and looked up at him. “Are they alive?” she asked, her voice dropping to the barest whisper.

  He was already texting Lennox. When he saw the answer, he nodded. “Yeah, they both are.”

  “Oh, thank God.”

  He said, “We’ll find them at the hospital when we get there.”

  She squeezed his fingers hard. “Do you suppose anyone told my sister?”

  He frowned. “I don’t know,” he said. “Do you want to make a quick detour and tell her?”

  She nodded. “It’s the right thing to do.”

  When they got into the elevator, it was set to go all the way down. He canceled the request and chose Melinda’s floor. As it opened two floors above, they got out and walked to the door. He knocked and noticed that Rosalina was still hanging onto his hand. He was surprised that she was okay with being demonstrative because she didn’t seem to be the type, but then a lot had changed in her world.

  When nobody answered the door, he looked at her.

  She frowned and said, “It’s possible they’re still asleep. Although she was texting me earlier, wanting to meet for breakfast.”

  “It is possible.” He thought he heard something, then put his ear against the door and knocked again. He frowned, pulled a tool out of his back pocket, and quickly unlocked the door, stepping inside. As they walked in, he called out, “Anybody here?”

  He closed the door and, pulling her behind him, went and searched the suite from the bathroom, around to where the bedroom was. And there, on the bed, was Melinda, tied up and gagged.

  Chapter 13

  Rosalina raced to her sister’s side and quickly removed the gag. Her sister bawled on the bed. Gavin undid her ties and asked her, “Who did this?”

  She shook her head. “A man came in wearing a mask, and, before I knew it,” she said, “I was tied up here.”

  “Where are the kids and Steve?” Rosalina asked.

  “He took them to the pool,” she said, sitting up and rubbing at her wrists. “I was supposed to join them, and this man came in as I opened the door.”

  “Do you know who it was?”

  “No,” she said, tears in her eyes. “God, why is this happening?” She turned to look at the two of them. “Why are you here?”

  “They found Mom and Dad,” Rosalina said. “We’re going to the hospital to see them.”

  Immediately Melinda hopped to her feet and said, “I’m coming.”

  “Wait. We need to have the cops come and deal with your room and you,” Gavin said. “One thing at a time,” and he was already
on the phone.

  She glared at him. “I don’t want to talk to the cops,” she said.

  “What?” Rosalina stared at her sister in shock. “You were just attacked in your own room. What if it was your kids next time?”

  Melinda just glared at her.

  “I don’t understand,” Rosalina said.

  “Forget about it,” Melinda said. “That’s not important. Let’s go to the hospital and see Mom and Dad.” And she raced out, grabbing her purse as she went.

  Feeling something was incredibly off, Rosalina followed as Gavin closed and locked the door behind them. She looked up at him. “What’s going on?”

  “You tell me,” he said. “She’s your sister.”

  She rolled her eyes at that. “I don’t understand this person at all,” she said. “This is beyond belief.”

  “Well,” he said, “something is happening.” As they went to the elevator, it closed right in front of them, with her sister inside, staring out at them.

  “Did she really just do that?” Rosalina cried out.

  “Is there a reason why she wants to get to your parents before you do?” Gavin asked, suddenly turning to look at her.

  She stared at him in horror and said, “I hope not.”

  “Let’s go find out.”

  “We need to get there faster if we can.”

  He said, “Let’s take the stairs.” He bolted down the stairs, but he had the phone against his ear already. She couldn’t even hear the conversation as they ended up in the parking garage, and, when they raced out to the front, a vehicle pulled up to them, and they hopped in. “How’s your sister getting there?”

  Rosalina looked at him in shock. “I don’t know,” she said. “Maybe a taxi, the same as us?”

  They ended up outside the hospital a few minutes later. He was up and out of the car, his hand out, reaching for her. She immediately put her hand in his, feeling the extra power of his intent as they raced forward.

  Inside, he asked where the married couple was and what their current condition was. They were in the emergency room and both still unconscious, according to the nurse. As they walked into the emergency area, several men stepped in front of them. Gavin eyed them carefully and said, “You better let me inside.”