Filthy Desires: A Romantic Suspense Collection

by Parker, Kylie

  22

  Stacy

  Ray’s scent is still lacing the air in my bedroom when I wake up the next morning. I reach out to touch him, but all I can feel is the fabric of the sheet. The edge of a piece of paper is sticking out from under his pillow.

  “Last night was well worth the long drive. Hell, I’d drive twice that distance to go out with you.

  Can’t wait to see you again

  Love,

  Ray”

  “So sweet…” I whisper, his words bringing a smile of bliss to my face. I scoot out of bed and put some clothes on, my ears picking up Emily and Karlie’s voices. I find them out on the balcony, enjoying the view over breakfast. For some reason I can’t fathom, Emily grins back at me, whereas Karlie retains her usual, serious expression.

  “Isn’t that the most precious look?” Emily asks our mutual friend, shifting her attention to Karlie.

  “What look?” I pretend not to know, joining them outside.

  “Oh, you do,” Emily insists. “I’m sorry in advance for what I’m about to say, but you’ve got ‘well-fucked’ written across your forehead.”

  “Is it that obvious?” I wonder, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

  “I can see it from a mile away,” Emily chuckles, patting me on my forearm.

  “I’m inclined to agree with our foul-mouthed friend,” Karlie interjects, raising a glass of orange juice up to her lips. “She’s right. You’re absolutely glowing.”

  “Guys, believe me, anything I might say about last night won’t do it justice,” I state, recalling the moment I felt Ray’s fingertips travelling up my legs. “I thought I was caught up in a dream: a sweet, sizzling-hot, sexy dream.”

  “It looks like someone had an orgasm,” Emily assumes, giving me an elbow jab.

  “An orgasm?” scoffing, I turn my head to the left to face her. “Girl, I wouldn’t look this happy if I had just one orgasm. I stopped counting after the third. But last night was more than just great sex. We talked, we connected… we even cuddled after each time.”

  “Karlie, I’ve left my mirror on the living room table. Can you go get it for me?” Emily requests, her smile vaporizing at the end of my narrative.

  “Em, I’m talking about myself, and you’re thinking about doing your eyebrows?” I wonder, a hint of complaint in my tone.

  “No,” she shakes her head in denial. “There’s something I need to show you. I’ve got to warn you, though. You’re not going to like it.”

  “What is it?” I ask her, her statement rousing my curiosity.

  “Here you go,” Karlie says, setting the open mirror into our friend’s hand.

  “Okay,” Emily sighs, holding the mirror out in front of my face. “Take a good, hard look. What do you see?”

  “Messy hair; puffy eyes; I just woke up,” I reply, swiping a few tendrils back from my cheek.

  “Wrong answer,” Emily utters, her voice deepening. “The correct answer is ‘a woman in love.’ I don’t know how, why, or when, but you’re head over heels in love with this guy.”

  “Excuse me?” All of a sudden, my own voice turns into a high-pitched squeal.

  “The signs are all there,” Emily adds, maintaining a steady tone. Leaning closer, she puts her hand on my chest. “Heartbeats don’t lie, honey,” she continues, pursing her lips. These four words help me understand what I couldn’t. My heart is literally racing, as if I’ve just completed a hundred-meter sprint.

  “This is the second time I agree with you today,” Karlie declares, folding her arms across her chest. “Even Stevie Wonder can see how mesmerized she is.”

  “Oh, crap…” I let out a heavy sigh, leaning my back against my seat. “How is this even possible?”

  “You tell us,” Emily urges, resting her chin in her hand. “You’re the one who’s going out with him.”

  “Well, he’s an exciting guy,” I shrug my shoulders, gazing into the void. “He’s full of confidence, but not too full of himself. He’s got a good sense of humor, he’s very handsome, and the chemistry between us just…” I pause, “... sizzles.”

  “I think that’s more than enough,” Emily says, her voice just higher than a whisper. “The question is: ‘What are you going to do?’”

  “I don’t have a clue,” I mutter under my breath. “Guys, enough about me: what about you? How did your double date go?”

  “I got the same feeling that my flight over gave me,” Karlie groans, her face twisting into an expression of anger and disgust. “Another five minutes in that restaurant, and I would have vomited all over our table.”

  “Her date was a total jerk,” Emily cringes. “He was good-looking, but he didn’t have any manners.”

  “That is a major understatement,” Karlie counters, her face stiffening even more. “The man hasn’t even heard of manners. You’d think a rich guy like him would be refined and well-behaved, but no. He was pompous, he wouldn’t shut up about himself, and he kept making inappropriate comments about me. Do you know what he said when the waiter brought me my salad?”

  “What’s that?”

  “Have some real food, darling. I like my women curvy, and you are as flat as a fucking door,” Karlie says, her eyes darkening with rage.

  “Yeah, she slapped him right about there,” Emily informs me, pointing at her. “She ran out of the restaurant, and I went after her. That dickhead ruined both of our dates. You know, it’s too bad we’re not as lucky in that department as you.”

  “Yeah, look where that luck got me,” I state in a sarcastic tone, dropping my gaze down to my lap.

  “I’m sorry to break it to you, Stacy, I really am, but…” Karlie falters. “You need to forget about him.”

  “She’s right,” Emily agrees as I feel her hand on my shoulder. “You can’t let this escalate to anything bigger. Besides, it’s going to be over pretty soon anyway, so…” She draws in a deep breath. “Ending it now is probably the safest choice.”

  The safest choice? I have my doubts about that. It’s not every day I fall in love with someone. Whether I take their advice or not, I’m going to get hurt. There’s nothing I can do about it now. This vacation is going to leave its mark on me, for all the wrong reasons. I wanted to have some fun, and I ended up falling for a wonderful man like Ray. I mean to communicate all this to my friends, but I keep it inside. I just don’t have the heart to discuss this any further; but mainly, I know that I am beyond their help. They can offer me as much advice as they can, they can comfort me, but they can’t change the fact that Ray and I live more than a thousand miles away from each other.

  A huge urge to be alone overwhelms me. I need to think this through, and I can’t do so in their company. When I do get back to my bedroom though, my cell phone buzzes with an incoming text from Michael. It contains coordinates and an address in Heraklion.

  “I’ll be waiting for you there tomorrow night. 9:30pm is good. I’ve got a surprise for you.”

  Oh, Michael… The romantic soul of the trio couldn’t have sent me that text at a worse time. Despite my emotional condition however, I’m going to meet him. I have no intention of standing up the first man that gave me something to remember on this vacation. I’m pretty sure he won’t like what I have to say to him, but my feelings for his friend limit my options.

  23

  Michael

  Blood, sweat and tears; and money; that’s what it took to make tonight happen. Of course, I knew this from the very beginning, when I contacted the owner of my hotel, and asked him to send me pictures of his mansion in the suburbs. Almost his entire staff was quite talkative about their boss’s wealth, but they didn’t need to bring it up. There were two, aerial photographs of his place in the lobby. Frankly, they blew my mind, and had me wondering what it would be like to live there, just for one night.

  At my meeting with him, he wasn’t enthusiastic with the idea of renting it to a stranger like me. His family lives in downtown Heraklion, and they only go there in late August, but still,
I could understand his concern. “Tourists can go wild,” he said. “Give them a bottle of tequila, stand by and watch how quickly they can destroy a million-dollar house like mine,” All the same, once I assured him that I wouldn’t throw a party or get drunk, he started to mellow out. And, when I broke out my checkbook, his attitude changed entirely. We agreed on the price within minutes. One thousand Euros. It must be the easiest money he’s ever made.

  Darkness has already veiled the city, when I sweep the backyard of the mansion. The underwater pool lights illuminate its calm surface. More, silver and blue lights are on every single wall. Still, I need to create a proper, romantic atmosphere. So, I leave two of them on. A blue one on the left and a silver one on the right wall. Standing in front of the gazebo in the middle of the yard, I marvel at the view. Thousands upon thousands of city lights are flickering in the distance, resembling a gigantic birthday cake. A strong breeze rustles through the cedar trees that surround the mansion, giving me the chills.

  “Michael?”

  The sound of Stacy’s voice on the intercom interrupts me. I shift my gaze to the monitor in the upper left corner. A blue Honda is at the gate.

  “Yeah?” I calmly respond.

  “What… What are you doing here?”

  “I promise to explain if you come in. I’m in the backyard.”

  At that point, I press the button on the panel, smiling to myself. The power gate lifts open with a clang, as I picture the look on Stacy’s face. I know what I’ve planned may seem a little too much for her, but to me, it’s an ideal way to spend a night. I halt in front of the gazebo, facing the dark living room across from me, with my guitar around my neck. I’ll be damned if I start off this night by explaining to her why I dragged her all the way up to the suburbs. Stacy slides the aluminum door open and steps out into the yard. She throws hurried, almost frightened glances around her. I don’t allow her a chance to utter a word. A downward strum signals the beginning of my performance. Within moments, melodious notes and the lyrics of one of my favorite ballads shatter the quiet of the night, sending waves of emotion right into my heart. My fingers caress the fret board, my eyelids sliding shut as I lose myself in the magic of Bon Jovi’s “(You Want To) Make A Memory,” I steal a glance at her glorious face, in the hope that she will appreciate what I have prepared for her.

  Hello again, it’s you and me

  Kinda always like it used to be

  Sippin' wine, killing time

  Trying to solve life’s mysteries.

  How’s your life, it’s been a while

  God it’s good to see you smile

  I see you reaching for your keys

  Looking for a reason not to leave.

  If you don’t know if you should stay

  If you don’t say what’s on your mind

  Baby just, breathe there’s nowhere else tonight we should be-

  You wanna make a memory.

  I dug up this old photograph

  Look at all that hair we had

  It’s bittersweet to hear you laugh

  Your phone is ringing, I don’t wanna ask.

  If you go now, I’ll understand

  If you stay, hey, I got a plan

  You wanna make a memory

  You wanna steal a piece of time

  You could sing a melody to me

  And I could write a couple lines

  You wanna make a memory.

  If you don’t know if you should stay

  And you don’t say what’s on your mind

  Baby just, breathe there’s nowhere else tonight we should be-

  You wanna make a memory

  You wanna steal a piece of time

  You could sing a melody to me

  And I could write a couple lines

  You wanna make a memory

  The echoes of the notes are still lingering in the air, the moment I open my eyes. Still, what I come across is far from what I expected. Tears are rolling down Stacy’s cheeks. She has put her fingers over her mouth, and stares at me in utter shock as another breeze tosses her hair about.

  “If I’d known I was going to make you cry, I would have chosen something else,” I say, taking a few, steady steps towards her.

  “Uh…” she sighs, dropping her arm. “Don’t worry, you didn’t. I love that song. I just…” she pauses, “thought of something. Michael, what is this? Whose is this place?”

  “Does it matter?” I answer her question with a question of my own, setting my hand on the body of my guitar.

  “Jesus Christ, Michael!” Stacy exclaims, her voice wobbly as she tosses a nasty glare up at me. “This must have cost you a fortune! Why did you do this?”

  “You said you loved this song,” annoyance sends my own voice down an octave. “What do the lyrics say?”

  “You wanna make a memory, you wanna steal a piece of time,” she tells me, another tear streaming down her face.

  “There’s your answer,” I explain, narrowing my eyes at her. “What will you remember when you get back home? The sunshine? No. You’re from the sunshine state. You get plenty of that there. The beaches? I don’t think so. I mean there are two or three beaches here that can take your breath away, but that’s about it. Most of the ones in Miami are bigger and better. Clubs? Bars, perhaps? No. This…?” I extend my arms to the side. “This you will remember. I wanted to make a memory. And I don’t understand why you’re acting like this. You did agree to date me. This is a date, enjoy it.”

  “Look, you’re really sweet, okay?” Stacy compliments me, her voice returning to its normal standards. “No one’s ever done anything anywhere near as romantic as this, but I’m a simple girl. Dinner and a walk on the beach would have sufficed. I’d have appreciated going to a dance club, too.”

  “Way ahead of you there,” I say, pulling a small remote control out of the pocket of my jeans. I point it to the corner behind me, keeping my eyes on her. The wooden cabinet over the gate’s panel slides open sideways. A power chord and a slow drumbeat shred the silence, putting a hesitant smile on her face. She shakes her head in amazement, lowering her gaze. I can tell she recognizes the song I’ve selected. It’s Eros Ramazzotti and Tina Turner’s “Cose Della Vita,” I lift my guitar up and over my head, and set it down against a stool. Shoving the remote back into my pocket, I bow slightly before her as the Italian singer’s sensual voice fills the air.

  “May I have this dance, please?” I request, offering her my hand. Stacy’s smile broadens, serving as a response. She interlocks her fingers with mine, and places her free hand on my shoulder. I snake my arm around her waist, relief pouring through my veins. Her intense reaction spread the seed of doubt within me. She gave me the feeling that she had no desire to stay. Maybe my rant convinced her to, I don’t know. Still, I’m not going to waste my time speculating. She’s there with me. I guess that’s all that matters.

  “Michael…”

  “Shhhhhh,” I hiss, intensifying my stare. “Now’s not the time for words.” I bend my knees, moving slightly after the beat. She follows after me, her sky-blue eyes sparkling in the moonlight. This eye contact intoxicates me. Every muscle in my body relaxes, as if I’m under the influence of a powerful drug. I lose the will to think anymore. For me, this moment is all there is. Bodies are clinging to one another, moving to a pulse that fits the beat. Wonderful music is talking right into our souls, and two, locked gazes are trying to convey every emotion that flows through us. Words are of no use here. They will destroy the electricity between us. I may have about a thousand things to say to her, but I know when to shut up, and silence feels like the best choice for now.

  The last notes are still rattling the speakers, when Stacy eases out of my hold.

  “Thank you,” she whispers, tipping her head down in a polite gesture. “That was…”

  “You don’t have to,” I interrupt. “But, if you really want to, you can thank me by joining me in the pool.”

  “The pool?!” exclaims Stacy, cocking her eyebro
ws. “How am I supposed to do that? I haven’t brought a bikini with me.”

  “Again…” I give a happy snort. “I’m way ahead of you there. You’ll find one on the couch. I hope you like it.”

  “Okay,” She says on an exhale. “Give me five minutes.”

  I nod in agreement, delighted about her answer. I wish she was just a tad more enthusiastic, but it’s clear that something is troubling her, something she can’t – or won’t – tell me. In any case, I’m going to try and take her mind off of it. She can confide in me, but that’s not what she came here for. Neither will I pressure her into revealing whatever’s been bothering her. This night is about one thing and one thing only: Making a memory.

  Stacy

  A hurricane of emotions has been raging within me, since the moment I saw that backyard. That image flurried my insides, knotting and twisting them, sending me into a daze of confusion. I couldn’t define Michael’s gesture. It was romantic, yes, but was it too romantic? No, it most certainly wasn’t. The yard wasn’t filled with hundreds of candles. Neither had he paved the floor with rose petals. He had done the exact same thing I had found him doing on the night I met him. He played the guitar; the only difference was in the surroundings. Regardless of my opinion about his gesture though, he has put me in an impossible position. On the one hand, I want to storm out of that mansion and never look back. A real relationship between me his best friend and me may be impossible, but I can’t deny my feelings for him. On the other hand, I’m in the company of a handsome man, in a fantastic place that must have cost him a fortune. He has prepared this wonderful night for me, and I’d love to savor every minute of it.