“Alex,” she cried.
He groaned and clasped her shoulders, drawing her closer. He pulled her hand down to wrap around his swollen member.
She shuddered at the hot desire quickly rising inside her. “I need you now.”
As he entered her, she sucked in her breath. She clasped the towel bar and as he proceeded to satisfy them both, she moaned and cried his name and took every inch of him, over and over again, until she climaxed.
He groaned and swiftly pulled out, muttering, “Almost didn’t make it.”
* * *
Wrapped in large, white towels, Alex sat before Kelly on the stool he’d brought up from the lower level. Holding a pair of scissors, she picked up a lock of his hair and breathed in his clean scent. She clipped a strand. “You do like to live dangerously, Mr. Drake, when you have me cut your hair. I think ‘Danger’ must be your middle name.”
His gaze met hers in the mirror and he chuckled. “I didn’t know the meaning of the word until I met you. By the way, my full name is Alexander Maxim Langford Drake. Quite a mouthful, isn’t it?”
She edged around him, snipping his thick, dark blond hair, which curled at his shoulders. “I like it.” Her next thoughts strayed to her being Mrs. Alexander Maxim Langford Drake. She thrust that thought aside. “Are you worried about how your hair’s going to turn out?”
“Should I be?”
Kelly forced herself to concentrate on following his previous style. “Actually, you’re lucky. I have a friend who cuts hair for a living. I’ve watched her many times. I think I can pull it off.”
When Kelly moved in front of him, she noticed his gaze lowered to the swell of her breasts above the towel. Despite that distracting her, she managed to finish, and then blew his hair dry with the blow dryer she found under the sink.
When it was her turn, she sat on the stool. Alex stood behind her and gazed at her in the mirror. He tugged on the ends of the curls cascading more than halfway down her back. “I don’t want to cut much. I love your hair.”
“On the cruise ship you said it was wild, so I thought you hated it.”
He tugged a strand. “Hush. Did you really believe that? I was baiting you on the ship, trying to torment you . . . like the torment I felt after meeting you and discovering you were engaged to someone else.” That information left her stunned into silence.
After he finished, Kelly enjoyed the luxury of blow-drying her own hair while he shaved. She hadn’t seen her reflection in over two months, except for in her little compact. Glancing in the mirror, she thought she looked a little more mature. She had changed. They’d been through so much, and she was no longer a virgin or fearful of sex. She carried herself with a heightened level of confidence and awareness now.
He wiped away the shaving cream and turned to face her. When he smiled, his slight dimples and high cheekbones were more evident. “What do you think? Better?”
Her heart did a flip-flop and then nose-dived to her toes.
As gorgeous as he had been with the stubble and the occasional shave, now with shorter hair and freshly shaved, he was devastatingly handsome, even with the black eye, swollen lip, and smattering of bruises on his arms and chest. His beautiful face and golden good looks reminded her that he was an up-and-coming movie star—and she just an ordinary girl.
Now he looked like he had when they’d first met on the ship, when he’d worn only a white towel and that look was daunting. Her throat ached with despair. She had gotten used to him in her life, despite his warning that she shouldn’t fall in love with him.
To regroup, she stroked her thumb along his jaw line and noticed more bruises. “Thanks again for saving me from Moto. Does your face hurt much?”
He shrugged. “I’m all right.” She knew him well enough to know he wouldn’t make a big deal about any pain.
Kelly gazed into his glorious aqua-blue eyes and bit her lip. She would be the biggest fool to imagine there was any chance of them staying together once they went home.
A frown creased his forehead. “Is something the matter, Kelly?”
“No. Everything is fine.” She ducked her head and straightened things on the counter. “I wanted to say that after we’re rescued, I’ll always remember you and our adventure.” She dashed out of the bathroom, calling over her shoulder, “Our clothing has had it. Let’s see if we can find something else to wear.”
* * *
Kelly returned to the kitchen wearing a simple white cotton nightgown despite numerous articles of sexy lingerie she’d found. Alex didn’t need any enticing. For her own self-preservation, she had to accept that if things went well—Alex might be able to figure out the two-way radio or hack into the computer— she could be in California in a matter of days. He would be happy to get back to his life, and she might never see him again.
After dinner, he found an acoustic guitar. He tuned the instrument and played, and sang her a song, which only reminded her that he was more talented than anyone she’d ever met. Tired, and with guilt tugging at her conscience, she decided to slip off and go to bed—by herself. With just the trappings of modern civilization and their potential return, he had to be aware they needed to end this affair if they were going to live up to their agreement. Besides, what would happen if the owners returned? Maybe he wouldn’t be, but she would feel uncomfortable being caught sleeping with him, without being married.
She didn’t want to offend the people who owned this house any more than they probably would be when they found their home invaded in the first place, so she picked the smallest, sparsely furnished bedroom with an empty closet. Sighing, she drifted to sleep in the comfortable queen-sized bed, a blissful luxury compared to what they had grown used to these past two months.
She was half-asleep when Alex clicked on the lamp. “Kelly?” he whispered. “Are you hiding from me?”
Her eyes flew open. She winced, because there was no doubt in her mind her heart was going to be broken. “I thought with a houseful of beds you might want to sleep somewhere else.”
“No, Kelly,” he scoffed, frowning. “I want to sleep with you.”
She winced and clasped the sheet to her throat. “But we could be going home soon.”
He lifted an eyebrow in amusement. “Does it matter at this point?”
She shrugged. “Some.”
What was between them might just be sex and having a good time to him. But the way pain seeped into her heart at the thought of him leaving her, she didn’t find the situation funny at all.
He sat on the edge of the bed and ruffled the hair at her temple. “After all we’ve been through, don’t you want to actually sleep with me in a real bed? Or would it be too traditional for us?”
She blurted out the other reason that bothered her. “What will our hosts think if they arrive and find us in bed together . . . and unmarried?”
He chuckled and tugged her hand from the sheet. “Unless the house belongs to a bunch of nuns or priests, then I think we’re all right. But for your safety, I had planned to tell them we’re married anyway. They won’t know if it’s true or not. Let’s enjoy what time we have together.”
“I shouldn’t.” Her voice sounded weak, even to herself.
“But you want to.” His eyes gleamed with that smoldering look she couldn’t resist.
Yes. He was going to hurt her, but it wasn’t his fault. She had tried not to fall hopelessly in love with him, but she was.
“But we’ll be going home soon.”
“You want to break our agreement now?”
“We should.” However, he looked so handsome, and she loved him so much. Her heart wrenched.
He sighed. “All right, Kelly. I’ll talk to you in the morning.” He turned off the lamp and rose from the bed, then paused, becoming a silhouette in the doorway. “Good night, love. Sleep well.”
Anguish searing her heart; she extended her arms. “Don’t leave me,” she said in barely a whisper. “Not yet.”
He strode to the bed, sat
, and again turned on the lamp. She threw her arms around him, desperate for some assurance he cared.
He returned her tight embrace, giving her a light kiss on the ear. “Then don’t talk like this.” He held her close, his cheek against her forehead. Her heart soared, until he said, “We’re not back yet. We’re together, at least until then.”
At least until then. Kelly blinked back the tears burning at the back of her eyes. She nodded. “Sure.” He intended to go his own way. Still, she’d hold onto him until the last minute.
He cupped her chin in his hand. “Shall our lessons in love go on, Kelly? Or do you prefer to sleep tonight?”
“Sleep? I can sleep later.” She’d take one day at a time.
His face took on a serious quality as he fondled her breasts. His thumb flicked her nipple through the thin fabric. “I can’t get enough of you. You’re like a drug that’s gotten into my blood.”
Those words pleased her and gave her hope. She took his face between her hands and kissed him.
* * *
Morning light streaked through the slats in the shutters. The fan above circulated the air.
In the comfortable bed, Alex leaned over Kelly and frowned at the dark circles under her eyes. She had been restless last night so he decided he wouldn’t wake her.
He’d be an idiot if he didn’t realize she might think she was in love with him. He shoved his hand through his hair. He did care for her—deeply. That he would admit. Moreover, the last thing he wanted was to hurt her, but it was only because of their desperate situation that they had needed each other like they had. It was nothing more than that––or was it?
While he dressed in shorts and a shirt he’d found in the house, he watched her sleep. He blew out a deep breath. He’d never intended for them to become emotionally involved. Perhaps she’d been right last night about severing this bond between them, which had grown like an entangling vine. Maybe, since chance of rescue loomed closer, he should have left her alone last night, tried to put distance between them.
Didn’t she realize she was better off without him? He had been suffocated far too long, had lived in virtual hell, and needed his freedom. He wouldn’t be good for her, and she didn’t fit in with his plans.
After brewing coffee, he took a cup into the office. He disliked invading someone’s privacy as much as she did, but damn it, what else could they do? He tugged on the center drawer and found the desk locked. His gaze turned to a pegboard on a wall, holding keys. He retrieved them, but none fit the door or the desk.
Sighing, he knew he couldn’t go so far as to break the lock on the desk—at least not yet. He’d give the owners one week to return—a week he’d spend with Kelly. During that time, he’d work his way up to saying good-bye.
He spent the next hour exploring outside, until he found padlocked doors into the side of the hill. Camouflaged with paint, the doors blended into the surroundings.
What was inside?
They might find a dingy with a motor or even a radio. Anything.
He hurried to the house for the key ring. Bloody hell, these were not normal circumstances.
Dressed in a yellow sundress, Kelly sat at the table sipping a cup of coffee. She was beginning to know him well, for she abruptly stood. “What’s wrong?”
He ran his fingers through his hair. “I’ve discovered something. Come with me.”
He led her outside to the hill. Removing the deadbolt, he swung open the bulky doors. Cool air hit his face, perhaps from being built into the hillside or was the space climate-controlled by the solar panels?
When he flicked a switch, lights flooded the area and revealed a huge warehouse. Inside, they discovered most of the shelves were empty. However, some of the shelves held what he thought were museum-quality paintings and antiques.
He glanced at Kelly’s pale face. “Judging by the island’s remote location and concealment of the building, I’m speculating we’ve landed ourselves in a den of modern day pirates. My guess is this is a clearing station for expensive, stolen goods—some may be priceless. I recognize a famous oil painting reported stolen over a year ago.”
“Smugglers? You’re scaring me.”
He clasped her hand. “I’m sorry, love. They’re not the most desirable group to run into. If they suspect we’ve found out their secret, I don’t think they’ll let us go.”
At the horror creeping over her face, he said, “Let’s pack up. We’ll have to take what we need from the house . . . food, tools, and all the guns we can lay our hands on.”
Outside, he replaced the padlock. When they turned around, a man stalked out of the shadows. He leveled an assault weapon in their direction.
Alex’s heart slammed in his chest.
“Too late,” Kelly whispered.
Chapter Twelve
Kelly’s heart pounded at a ferocious tempo as she gaped at the assault weapon in the man’s hands.
“You can put that down,” Alex said. “We weren’t stealing.”
Wearing a camouflage hunter’s cap, the stubble-cheeked man, dressed in a t-shirt and shorts, waved the gun in Alex’s face.
“Shut the hell up. Put your hands on top of your head, or I’ll splatter it in the bushes. Now, come with me.” He marched them through the trees and toward the house. “You, lover boy, up the stairs first. I’m aimed at your girl’s back, so don’t try anything, or she gets it first––then you.”
When they stepped inside the living area, he motioned toward the sofa. “Plant your fucking asses on the couch.” They did as he instructed. Keeping his eyes on them, the guy yelled, “Ralph, I found someone poking around in the warehouse.”
Kelly threw Alex a desperate look. While his façade was one of calm indifference, she thought she might faint. In addition, he didn’t know what else she knew. She recognized him as one of the men who had attacked the dive boat. She inhaled a deep breath to keep from hyperventilating.
Alex put his arm around her. “It’s alright, love. We’ll explain everything.”
A stocky, middle-aged man with salt-and-pepper gray hair sauntered into the room. His most distinguishing feature was his flattened nose. Smoke rose in wisps from the cigar he clenched between his teeth. She remembered him, too, from the dive boat that fateful day.
Kelly’s heart slammed in her chest. She gripped Alex’s thigh. He turned narrowed eyes on her, but she had no way to communicate that she recognized these men.
The man called Ralph rubbed his chin, while sizing them up. “Well, well, Mick, what do we have here?”
“Boss, they were coming out of the warehouse with these.” Mick dangled the set of keys.
“Caught ourselves some thieves, huh?” Ralph puffed on his cigar and then blew a stream of smoke into their faces. Kelly coughed. “You’ve been living in the house, too.” He jammed his face toward Alex. “Do you have any idea what we do to people who steal from us?” he bellowed. “It’s not pretty.”
“Do we look like thieves?” Alex asked. “We planned to explain everything once you arrived.”
An attractive Asian woman, with straight, black, shoulder-length hair strode into the room.
Ralph folded his arms across his chest. “Ming, we have visitors.” He turned to Alex. “Now, start explaining.”
“This is my wife, Kelly, and I’m Alex—”
“Alex Douglas,” Kelly said, interrupting. She couldn’t chance these men realizing who they were. Alex’s curious gaze rested on her, but he let her speak. “Our sailboat sank nearby. Some of the locals brought us here, believing you would help us.” She smiled sweetly up at Alex, hoping he liked her performance. “We’re newlyweds, on our honeymoon.” She bit down on her lip for a shy effect. “We thought it would be fun to travel the world, just the two of us.”
With his inquisitive gaze searching her eyes, Alex kissed the back of her hand, then he addressed Ralph. “Yes, we do apologize for imposing on you. All along, we planned to pay you for your trouble, your hospitality, and the use of your h
ouse.”
A smile lighting her face, Ming gave Alex a thorough going-over. “Oh my, he’s gorgeous, and I love the accent.”
Kelly caught Alex’s eyes narrowing defensively. She had already witnessed him putting up with unwanted attention from women because of his looks.
Ming scrutinized Kelly next. “Why, she’s adorable, too. So you’re the one who’s been borrowing my clothes.”
Kelly cringed. “We didn’t have a chance to save anything from the sailboat. Sorry to have barged in on you, but we had nowhere else to go.”
“You poor things.” Ming bestowed a smile on Ralph. “Can’t we help them, Ralph? You know, true love and all . . .”
Ralph grunted. “I may not want them to leave in such a hurry.” He took a slow drag on his cigar and studied Alex. “You’ve been snooping around. What were you doing in the warehouse?”
“I had hoped to find something to help us leave,” Alex answered. “All we want is to go home.”
“It’s a damned inconvenience for us to have to worry about you two.” Ralph turned to the man who had discovered them. “Mick, find a way to secure them. I need to think on what we’ll do about our uninvited guests.”
* * *
After spending the afternoon handcuffed to each other in the living room, they were escorted to the bedroom they had shared. Kelly trembled as she nervously eyed the gun pointed in their direction.
Ralph cocked his head toward the bed. “Lie down.”
Alex lay down next to her on the bed, while Mick secured their hands to the headboard with the cuffs.
Ralph paused in the doorway. “No hanky-panky.” He chuckled at his joke, then turned out the light, and shut the door. The only light was from the moonlight through the slats of the shuttered window.
She tugged, trying to free herself, but the metal cut painfully into her wrist. “Ouch.”
“Don’t. If you struggle, the handcuffs will only tighten.” Alex slammed his palm against the bed frame’s spindles. “Damn, these won’t give without some leverage or making a lot of noise.”
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