Captured Lies

by Maggie Thom

Bailey drained the tub and refilled it for the third time. If Guy hadn't knocked on the door every half hour to check on her she wouldn't have been aware of time passing. Lifting her foot out of the suds, she used it to turn the hot water knob off. The pruny look of her foot also let her know she'd been in there long enough. She'd been selfish long enough. Guilt for making Guy wait to clean up was starting to weigh on her.

  It was with that thought that she pushed herself up and out. Draining the tub, she refilled it, feeling guilty that there was only lukewarm water for Guy. A quick flash of his naked, lean body lowering into the bubbles not only sent her mind into overdrive at the possibilities that could bring but a thrill of excitement zipped through her body leaving goose bumps in their wake.

  She dried off and then wrapped a towel around herself, realizing she hadn't brought the new clothes they'd stopped and bought on the way to Graham's. Slipping out the door, she walked towards the bedroom/Graham's computer room she'd been given to sleep in. She stepped into the room, only to stop as two heads swiveled to stare at her. Her eyes opened wide as both sets started at her shoulders and ended at her long legs that were barely covered.

  "Eek." Spinning, she ran back the way she'd come. She almost made it to the bathroom when a warm hand landed on her shoulder.

  She spun around. "I just want my clothes."

  Guy lifted the four bags to her. "I know." His gaze held hers. Embers blazed deep in their depths. An insane thought of jumping into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist, flashed through with the clarity of a movie. Eyes wide, she grabbed the packages and stepped back with the intention of closing the door. Only he didn't let go. He moved closer. Their bodies brushed against each other.

  She inhaled sharply.

  This is wrong. This is wrong.

  His lips came down on hers. The bags hung heavy in her hands as he let go and placed his fingers on her naked shoulders, his index finger tracing the line of her collar bone. A hard shudder wracked her body. Nothing had ever affected her so quickly or so fiercely. The parcels slid from her fingertips as she wrapped her arms around him. Her hands immediately slid under his t-shirt. Allowing herself free rein to massage, knead and feel the muscles that rippled under her fingers. Heat coursed through her blood, thrumming with intense excitement.

  His fingers slipped down over the front of her towel, gently rubbing the already erect nipples. Her first thought was to rip off her covering but she sensed he was enjoying the torture as much as she was. His mouth continued to ravish hers in a way that had never happened to her before.

  This is right. Oh God, is this right?

  Guy's cell phone rang.

  They continued to explore each other's bodies, pushing so far but not taking that next step that they both knew would mean they couldn't, or wouldn't, turn back.

  The phone rang again.

  The sound broke them apart. They stared at each other in confusion.

  As if to make sure they heard it, the cell chirped again.

  "Shit!" Guy reached in his pocket and pulled it out. Seeing who it was, he swore again. Giving Bailey a guilty look he backed out, closing the barrier between them as he answered his phone.

  Sinking weakly down onto the toilet, she bowed her head, not for prayer but because she had no strength to hold it up anymore.

  Bad. Bad. Bad. Bad. Bailey. She kept reminding herself that she couldn't get mixed up with this guy. She didn't even know who she was. He had no idea who she was. He thought he might but he didn't. Of that she was sure. And she really didn't know him. Maybe he was one of those guys who was thrilled to save a damsel in distress. Only, she was no damn damsel.

  Never liking that role nor ever wanting to be seen like that was the catalyst she needed to get moving. She stood up and pulled out what she was going to wear. He'd bought her two pair of jeans, two t-shirts, two blouses, a pair of dress pants and underwear. He'd been insistent about the dress clothes which she couldn't understand. Grabbing a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, she quickly pulled them on. Once dressed, she walked down the hallway to the bedroom, slash computer room.

  Graham was still clacking away at the keyboard. He looked up when she entered. She couldn't help but smile because she wasn't sure which of them was more embarrassed.

  "I'm sorry?"

  "I didn't mean?"

  "You first."

  "No, you."

  They smiled at each other and realized they could let it go. Carefully weaving her way through the stack of papers, boxes and stuff she wasn't sure she wanted to identify, she climbed onto the bed behind him.

  "What are you doing?" Bailey asked, as she looked over his shoulder.

  "Uuhh." He quickly shrunk whatever he'd had on the screen.

  She sat down, pressed her back against the wall and stretched her legs out. "Am I bugging you?"

  Graham spun around in his chair. He looked at her as though stumped. "You're not. But you are. How does that grab you, my dear," he said in a very bad, stodgy English accent.

  She replied in kind, "jolly good, my man. Jolly good."

  He laughed with her. "You can laugh. I like that." He spun back to the computer and started working away again. Bailey frowned but didn't interrupt him nor ask any more questions. She tried really hard to keep her eyes off the screen. She didn't want him to think she was snooping. Five minutes later she could barely sit still, she crossed her legs, uncrossed them, put her feet up on the mattress, then put them down on the floor, leaned forward, sat back. She didn't want to be rude and go snoop through his house but she'd had enough. Graham was working and Guy hadn't returned from his call. She was about to get off the bed when Graham chose that moment to spin around. She jumped backwards, whacking her head against the wall. She gently rubbed the tender spot.

  Graham looked at her with a silly grin. "Oops. Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you. But I think I've found something. Something brilliant."

  "Oh what is it?"

  He got a guilty deer in the headlights look. His eyes flew to the door.

  "Uh, where's Guy?"

  "On the phone. Why?"

  "Just, he's taking a while."

  Her eyes opened wide. "Damn. I left him a tub full of water that has to be cold now. Sorry. I'll go drain it." Racing to the bathroom, she pulled the plug and headed back. Since the bathroom was only two doors away from the computer room, she could hear their voices clearly. Tiptoeing a little closer, she stood outside the door.

  "You won't believe what I found."

  CHAPTER FORTY