Witness Pursuit

by Wadsworth, Joanne

  He groaned and lathered up a bar of soap. “Try not to encourage me. Lift your hair.” He smoothed the soap down her spine and circled her lower cheeks.

  “Can I say thank you, you know, for before?”

  “No.” He pushed her up against the glass and took her mouth with his, the water’s spray catching on his shoulders and jetting over her. He breathed heavily as he pulled away.

  “What about, when can we do this again?”

  He squeezed out some shampoo and plopped it on her head. “There was blood, so as soon as you’re not sore.” He massaged it into her scalp. “Tip your head into the water.”

  She did and he rinsed the bubbles away.

  “I’m going to soap your front.”

  “Well now, make sure you take your time–” She wagged her finger. “–because so far, you’re going far too fast.”

  “You’re a vixen.” His cock brushed her belly, hard and ready for more as he soaped the sensitive skin of her breasts, circling each nipple with infinite care. His gaze and hands made love to her, and he hunkered down, going lower as he ran his hands along the inside of her thighs. She shivered, her eyes sliding shut as his fingers brushed over her dark curls. With a soft kiss against her mound, he let out a groan and rose. “You’re clean.”

  Leaning against the glass, she sighed. “I’m not sure I ever want to take a shower alone again. Are you sure you didn’t miss a spot?”

  His mouth took hers, and it was more than any kiss that had come before. Her pleasure built from his kiss alone until finally he broke away. “Absolutely.” He flicked off the water and opened the door then smothered her in a towel. “Grab one of my t-shirts from the dresser. I’ll be there in a few minutes. After I’ve had a good talking to myself.”

  “What are you going to say?”

  “That you’re only twenty.”

  She sighed and left him. In his dresser, she found a brushed cotton navy t-shirt that was so big it dwarfed her to her knees. It was nice though. It smelled of spicy cologne, just like him. She climbed into bed as the bathroom door opened.

  A plume of steam escaped before Tyler closed it then strode toward her, as naked as when she’d left him. The bed dipped as he joined her. “Come here.”

  She snuggled in under his shoulder. “I hope you didn’t berate yourself too badly. I am twenty-one tomorrow.”

  “I told myself that a hundred times. It should be enough to get me through the night.”

  She caught his grin, giving him one of her own. “Thank you for tonight. I’ll never forget.”

  “I forgot you once. I’ll never do it again.” He kissed her, sweeping his tongue along hers with a slow thoroughness that made her wish for tomorrow far sooner than possible.

  * * * *

  Waking to the gentle movement of the ship was the sweetest, as was the sunshine streaming in through the long pane of glass. It heated her skin and soaked into her. She stretched. “Ouch.”

  “Are you okay?” Tyler tipped her toward him.

  “Yep, I’m great. I always say ouch when I first wake up.” She smiled.

  “You are the worst liar. Tell me how you truly feel.”

  “Like it’s my birthday, and I may have worked a few more muscles than normal.” She cupped his stubbly jaw and kissed him, one very delicious and satisfying morning kiss.

  “Sorry, happy birthday.” He raked a hand through his hair. “Now let me take a look. Off with that shirt.”

  “No.” She held the tail ends down as she scrambled from the bed. “There will be no looking. I’ll be fine.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “For a run to loosen those muscles.” She grabbed her dress and raced for the door.

  “Hey.” He lifted her, dangling her feet five inches from the floor. “I didn’t say you could leave.”

  “Tyler.” She squirmed. “Put me down.”

  “No. Tell me how sore.”

  “No more than expected.”

  “There’s a doctor at Resort Island. We’ll be there by lunchtime and I can–”

  “I don’t need a doctor. Now, would you put me down so I can go and dress. I’ll see you up top for breakfast. Twenty-one, remember? I can look after myself.”

  Setting her on her feet, he kept a firm hold around her waist. He didn’t appear ready to release her. “You’ve gotta let me take a peek.”

  She plucked his fingers away, one-by-one. “Not on your life.”

  He sighed, raggedly. “If you’re not feeling better by tonight, I want to know.”

  She darted under his arm then out the door, grinning wildly. Oh, she’d be feeling better by tonight all right. She’d make sure of it.

  * * * *

  At the serving counter, Tyler picked up a plate and loaded it with crispy bacon, hot scrambled eggs and cooked tomato slices from the dishes the chef had laid out. He set his plate on the dining table and glanced at Liam stirring sugar into his steaming coffee. Next to him, Nico playfully dipped his cut toast into his runny egg. Luke chewed, giving him a wave.

  “Bro, sit.” Dylan pulled out a chair for him. “We need to chat.”

  “We do? About what?”

  Luke leaned back. “Give him a break, Dylan. He hasn’t even eaten yet.”

  “This can’t wait.” Dylan eyed Tyler. “She had to check in with Ben, and now the young woman in question almost collided with me in the hallway as she dashed past wearing your old shirt, and by the looks, nothing else.”

  Liam jerked his head toward Nico. “Ah, let’s not forget the age of the youngest at this table.”

  Peering toward the stairwell, Tyler looked for Lydia. “She shouldn’t be far away, and if she wears my shirt, that’s my business. If she’s naked, it’s definitely mine. Keep your nose out.”

  “Boys, you shouldn’t talk about me when I’m not in the room.” Behind him, the galley door swished on its hinges, the very woman he was after standing at its threshold. She crossed to him, looking incredibly edible in a lacy white-paneled top and cuffed blue denim shorts. After dropping a kiss on his cheek, she smiled at Nico and planted a noisy smacker on him. “Thanks for telling me about the strawberries in the galley. I’ve got a whole bowlful, and all drizzled with yogurt and honey.”

  “I love strawberries.” Nico giggled, lapping up her attention. “Daddy says we’ll be at the island by lunchtime. Can we build sandcastles together on the beach?”

  A cute dimple dipped in on each side of her mouth as she nodded. “Absolutely. I don’t tell too many people but I’m actually a professional sandcastle builder. I’ve even got an award to prove it.” She held a finger to her lips in a shushing motion, as if it were to be their secret.

  “Really?” Nico’s eyes went wide in childlike wonder. “Uncle Luke’s always fall down, and Uncle Tyler’s are too small. I want to build a monster one.”

  Tyler choked on his eggs. His were not too small. What was his nephew talking about?

  “I can’t imagine Uncle Tyler’s being too small.” Lydia shot him a covered look, implying far more with her words. “We’ll build them as big as you want, Nico. Don’t you worry.”

  Tyler gulped half his water as Luke chuckled. “Did you breathe in the wrong way there, bro? Apparently yours are too small.”

  “Mine are plenty big enough.” He glared at Luke, warning him with one look not to continue with the joke. “Or watch out, yours will do more than fall down.”

  “I believe,” Lydia said with a twitch to her lips, “that sandcastle building is a fabulous sport, and I can’t wait to see what Tyler can build.”

  Oh, she did not just say sport. “This conversation needs to stop.” He shot her a look. “You’re encouraging my brothers. They lap this sort of thing up.”

  She leaned in and her lacy shirt swayed forward, exposing a hint of delicious cleavage to his hungry gaze. “And…”

  He groaned and his brothers laughed.

  Hell, he was so out of his element with her.

  She slid a spoonful o
f fruit and yogurt into her mouth then licked the tip of the smooth metal as she pulled it out. “I’ll give you a break. What else does Resort Island have to offer apart from sandcastle building?”

  “An incredible underwater reserve.” He bit into his bacon and eggs. “There’s a coral reef encircling the island. It’s a great place to dive.”

  “I love diving. I enrolled in a course with Charlie when I was sixteen.”

  “Charlie’s one of your brothers?”

  “Yep. Charlie’s the charmer and only three years older than me. Oops.” She pressed a hand to her mouth. “Two years, now.”

  A round of happy birthdays came from everyone at her words, and with a beaming smile, Nico clapped.

  Such an innocent at twenty-one. He smiled, thinking of the all the ways he intended to continue divulging her of that innocence. Never had he looked forward to a holiday more than this one.

  A buzz of conversation continued around him. Liam promised Nico he’d take him to the beach for the sandcastle building as soon as they berthed. Lydia said she’d get the gear ready, and Dylan and Luke talked about checking out the island’s activities.

  Never more content than when his family surrounded him, Tyler rolled his shoulders and settled back in his chair.

  “That reminds me. I’ve gotta go call my sister.” Lydia scraped her chair back, her abrupt decision to leave dragging him right back out of that comfort. “Saria will expect it.”

  “Right now?” He nabbed her arm as she passed him. “What’s the rush?”

  “Ben said she was jittery last night, and I need to make sure she’s feeling better today. I won’t be long.” She cupped his cheek. “Don’t go anywhere.”

  He wouldn’t, unless it was to come and get her.

  * * * *

  Lydia had relied on her twin like her lifeline these past twelve months.

  In her entire life, she’d rarely been separated from Saria, and certainly never on their birthday.

  After she took the sat phone from the control room, she dialed Ben’s number. Where Ben was, Saria would be.

  Playing her fingers along the ship’s side rail, she waited for him to answer.

  “Hammers.”

  “Ben. It’s me.” She straightened. “I’m after Saria. How is she today?”

  “I’ve got Mathias watching her. Hold on. Let me find somewhere quiet to talk to you so I can explain. I’m at the courthouse.”

  “What? Why are you there? Ben?”

  “I’m back. I was about to call you.” His sharp tone set her nerves on edge. “You wouldn’t believe what I’ve woken to this morning with the headline splashed across the papers for all to see. Eyewitness in Johnny Taita Murder Investigation Turns Twenty-One, Along with Her Twin.” He let out a gruff growl. “Unbelievable. You have name suppression, but one stupid newspaper reporter just blabbed your age to the entire country. We’re only a nation of four million. He just put your head on a platter.”

  “The media aren’t supposed to know the witness’ name, that I’m Lydia Sands. That’s what name suppression is.” Her ears buzzed. Words barely made it past the lump in her throat. “How many do I share my twenty-first birthday with?”

  “I did a search through the births database and two-hundred and two people are listed for this day twenty-one years ago. That number reduces to ninety-eight once I eliminate the males from the count, although you and Saria are the only set of twins. It’s bad. I found your names within an hour, which gives our killer a pinpointed target. He knows you. He saw you. I even found several old images of you from prior to a year ago on the net. It was so simple and easy. If I can do it, anyone can.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “First, I’ve filed a request with the court for the paper to reverse their findings and issue an apology saying they got it wrong. That’s only a diversionary tactic. I’ll have to look at sending you deeper within The Program to truly ensure your safety. You can’t be Lydia Sands anymore. It’s too dangerous, and I need to find who leaked your information to the reporter.”

  In bare seconds, her life had once again spun out of control. “How’s Saria?”

  “The jitters are gone. Now she’s just plain furious. I should have brought her to court with me and let her rip the newspaper reporter’s head from his shoulders. She would have liked that.”

  The noose she’d worn around her neck this past year tightened painfully. So much for being an ocean away from her troubles. They’d just set sail with her.

  Ben grunted. “I’m sorry, but I need to speak to Tyler. There’s no choice. He’ll have to know exactly who you are in order to watch over you until Brigs can get there.” Brigs was Ben’s right-hand man, and one of her rotating bodyguards. She trusted Brigs as she trusted Ben.

  “No.” That one word left her mouth with firm determination. “Please, Ben, no. You have to get me out of here without Tyler finding out. I’ll stay on board the ship or wear a disguise until Brigs comes. I promise I’ll take the utmost care.”

  “I know this is like a left ball coming at you, but things have moved in a direction I didn’t expect. Taita Senior owns a powerful network software company in the capital, and I can’t take any more risks with this leak. I don’t doubt he’ll be all over this. How long until you arrive at Resort Island?”

  “We’ll be there by lunchtime, and if you’re sending Brigs, then Tyler doesn’t need to know. I won’t back down on that.”

  “Yes, you will.”

  No, she couldn’t do this again, put Tyler in the firing line, and destroy him and his family because he found out exactly who she was. Argh, why had she even had to witness a murder? Not to mention the son of Taita Senior, the very public head of Taita Software. He was aggressive at keeping Johnny’s name in the news. He wanted justice for his son’s death, and he was determined to get it.

  “Lydia, I’ll have Brigs on the next flight to Fiji which lands at four this afternoon. He’ll chopper out to Resort Island and be there by six. I need you incognito. You see no one, and no one sees you. Now, give Tyler the phone.” His instruction was precise, but not one she would ever follow through on.

  She had to breathe. And she had to hang up. With one push of the button, she disconnected the call. She fumbled with the backing and wrenched the battery out.

  No battery, no phone. No Ben on her tail.

  * * * *

  At the dining table, their breakfast dishes cleared away, Liam chattered while Tyler finished his coffee and waited for Lydia. Then she appeared at the end of the stairwell before disappearing below.

  Setting his cup down, he rose, certain a soft sob had escaped her.

  He hurried to her cabin and rapped on the door. “Lydia.” He turned the knob, but got no further. “The door’s locked. I know you’re in there. Is your sister okay?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t get to speak to her. Just Ben.” Her strained tone caused his muscles to tense. He banged on the door.

  If she’d spoken to Ben then he had to see her. Now.

  “Open this door.” He snatched the master key from his pocket and slotted it into the lock. With a twist, the latch clicked and released.

  He was in, only no sign of her.

  Connecting bathroom.

  He dealt with the next lock in the same manner then swung the door wide, just as she fled into the adjoining cabin.

  “Don’t ever run from me.” He made chase, and twirled her around as he caught her.

  Her chest heaved. “Who said you could unlock my room?”

  “It’s my ship. I’ll unlock any room I want.”

  Her gaze was cold as she raised her chin. “I just spoke to Ben. He said my holiday was over. Brigs is on his way.”

  Alarm bells sounded loud and clear in his head. “Ben wouldn’t do that, not unless–” He stopped and dragged in a deep breath, his air having disappeared fast. “What’s happened?”

  “I can’t tell you. Top level authorization and all.” She ducked under his arm
and headed back to her room. “Obviously I wish I could have stayed longer.”

  “I’m not losing you again, Lee.” There wasn’t a chance he’d let her go. He strode after her.

  “You’re not losing me. You never had me.”

  “You’re staying, and I’ll argue until I’m black and blue that I do.”

  “No.” She shook her head. “What happens here stays here, and I’m not staying.”

  He crossed his arms. She wouldn’t pull that one. He wouldn’t allow her to walk away from him again. “I know Ben and he wouldn’t send Brigs all the way out here unless things were bad. You can’t think I’d let you leave my sight if that were the case. If you need a bodyguard, then it’ll be me.”

  “My bodyguard will be Brigs. You broke the rules with me, and your point of view is obscured.” She moved to the bottom bunk, lowered to her knees then slid her suitcase out from underneath it. After running the zipper around, she flipped the lid and stood. She brushed her sides then dumped clothing from her drawers into the bag.

  “You’re not leaving me, and I’ll break the rules again if I need to.”

  “I am leaving. Brigs is choppering in to Resort Island at six. I’ll be gone a minute after that.”

  “I took your virginity.” He had to make her see sense.

  She stared at him then her gaze slowly softened. “I know, and you’re the only one I ever would have wanted to give it to, only that doesn’t give you the right to take over my life. I’m going.”

  “I’ll speak to Ben. Brigs can come, but you’re not going. I’ll take you somewhere safe if I need to.” He made for the door.

  “Tyler, you’re not listening to me.” She raced after him. “I won’t place your family’s safety in jeopardy, and keeping me here will do that. With my case, there’s a murderer on the loose.”

  “I guessed that. Nothing else would make a case top level.”

  “Let me go, Tyler. Think of your family’s safety.”

  His heart constricted so tightly within his chest, he was sure it would cave in on itself. “Nothing you say will change my mind. My brothers can protect themselves. You can’t.”

  Her eyebrows jolted up. “Does Nico know how to protect himself? No. My decision is final.”