He groaned. “Kelly, stop. Unless you want to end this now.”
Only then did she allow him to enter her. She wrapped her legs around his hips, matching his rhythm. When she climaxed, he murmured, “Oh, Kelly, love.” Alex pulled her hips closer, thrusting deeper. He collapsed on top of her, that part of him still inside her.
After a deep sigh, he raised his head, his eyes drowsy with after-passion. “Sorry, Kelly. That’s all we need. To worry about a pregnancy.”
She smoothed the damp lock of hair that had fallen on his forehead. “It’s okay. We might die on this island, and I want to experience all this closeness with you.”
Alex held her close. “We’ll find a way out of here.” He propped up on his elbow. “I don’t think we have much time left.” He kissed her once more, and then rolled off the bed.
Kelly admired his naked body as he headed for the shower. After a languid stretch, she joined him in the refreshing water. If only he could stay here with her, she wouldn’t be so afraid, or so unhappy.
When dressed, they sat on the bed and ate the food Ming had left.
Looking out the window, Kelly’s gaze fell on a dark-haired man who strode up the hill toward the house. She gasped. “Who is that man?”
Frowning, Alex raised an eyebrow. “Ralph’s brother and the head of the operation. He arrived this morning. Why?”
Her heart skipped a beat. “I’m pretty sure his name is David Lewis. He was the one who tried to take me from the dive boat. I think he killed my parents, too.”
“Do you think he’ll recognize you?”
Her stomach churned. “I don’t know. I wore a wetsuit and diving gear, but my hair . . . He must have had some description of me when he looked for me on the dive boat.”
“Try to stay out of his sight. If you have to confront him, act like you’ve never met him before.” He gathered her in his arms, cupped her chin, and tilted her face toward his. “I know you can pull it off. You did a fine job with Ralph.”
She sighed. “I’ve never been good at pretense. I hope he doesn’t recognize me because Ming thinks Ralph will let us leave.”
Alex shrugged. “So Ralph’s said, but I don’t trust them, Kelly. Not one bit. They’re more despicable than you know.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing.” She frowned and asked again, but he shook his head and refused to say more except, “They have too much at stake to let us go. If there’s a chance for escape, I’ll come for you. Be prepared.”
A shiver of panic ran through her. “If you can leave, save yourself. My father brought this all down on me. If he really did embezzle his client’s money, I don’t want you killed because of that.”
Alex leaned his face against her hair. “Bloody hell, Kelly. Put that thought––I would leave you behind–-out of your head.”
“That scares me even more.” Wincing, she put her hand to his cheek. “Please, I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you.”
After a sharp rap on the door, Mick called out, “Time’s up.”
Alex squeezed her tightly. “Take care until I come for you.”
She murmured into his chest, “I mean it, Alex, if it’s too risky . . . I won’t think any less of you if you go. You can send help—”
Mick thrust open the door. “Honeymoon’s over.”
Alex’s gaze seared hers as Mick escorted him by gunpoint from the room.
* * *
His muscles aching, Alex deposited the last valuable on a shelf. As he was led from the warehouse, he squinted and caught the sun’s setting rays glinting on the cove. In the distance, a powerfully built man of huge proportions motored a small, rickety boat toward the dock.
Alex’s stomach knotted. Ralph stepped down the sandy beach to greet their visitor.
Adjusting his camouflage cap, Mick grinned at Alex. “Moto’s here to help on the next shipment. Can’t speak two words of English, but we’ll get the job done faster. He makes you guys look like a bunch of pansies.”
If Mick meant to goad him, Alex didn’t take the bait.
Ralph and the big islander headed up the hill. Moto halted when he neared Alex. His wide features registered surprise. He clenched his fists, then stalked with Ralph toward the house. Alex had the distinct feeling he’d not seen the last of Moto.
With a chuckle, Mick escorted Alex back to the bunkroom. “If looks could kill, you’d be six feet under and pushing up daisies. What did you ever do to him? Or it must be that face of yours that pisses everybody off.”
Alex’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t comment. At the moment, he had more problems than Mick. He knew he didn’t have the energy to confront Moto, not tonight, not handcuffed to a bed.
* * *
When Kelly entered the living area, she found David sitting with Ralph at the table, cards spread before them. A shiver of panic ran through her. She had thought David had left this morning when the yacht had sailed away with the workers to retrieve what Ming had told her would be the last shipment.
He seemed absorbed in the card game. Biting her lip, she settled on the sofa, keeping her back toward the men. If only she had a scarf to cover her incriminating hair color.
“So this is the woman who’s staying here?” Her stomach clenched at David’s deep voice. “We’ve not met.”
Her throat went dry. She turned to see him watching her from the table and remembered those cruel, dark eyes and the zigzagged scar across his cheek from the dive boat. His piratical presence fit his smuggling operation.
Ralph put down his beer mug. “I told you about the young couple who wrecked their sailboat nearby.”
Although she felt more like shrinking down into the couch, she brazened out David’s intimidating stare. Was he really responsible for her parents’ deaths?
David crossed the room and stood over her. “How long have you been stranded?”
“About a month,” she lied.
“You must be anxious to return.”
“We are.” He couldn’t know how desperately she wanted to be away from this place. She lied some more. “I’m sure someone will be looking for us, so if you could just help us get away, we will be less of a problem for you.”
David glanced toward the table. “Ralph, you’ve searched them to make sure they’re not cops?”
Ralph nodded. “Yeah, they’re not.”
“We can’t be too careful.” David’s gaze settled on her face, appreciation gleaming in his dark eyes. “However, you are one beautiful woman.”
“Thank you,” she said not knowing what else to say. “My husband thinks so, too.”
Glancing at her ring-less left hand, he lifted an eyebrow.
She cleared her throat. “I lost my ring when our sailboat sank.”
He tipped his head in puzzlement. “There is something familiar about you. Have we met before?”
She practically choked. “N-no.”
From the table, Ralph grunted. “Are we going to play cards or are you going to ogle her all night?”
David shrugged. “Oh, yeah, the game.” He returned to the table.
Ming frowned at David when he walked away, then she placed a stack of movies before Kelly on the coffee table. “David always brings me the latest.”
Kelly’s heart hammered when she read one title, The Spy.
“Anything in particular you’d like to see?” Ming asked.
Kelly couldn’t risk them recognizing Alex. She feared they might put two and two together and realize they were both from the exploded dive boat. Kelly pulled a comedy from the stack. “How about this one?”
Ming popped the DVD into the machine. Kelly exhaled a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She had passed the first hurdle and sank back on the sofa. David hadn’t recognized her.
As the evening wore on, the voices of the men grew louder. Kelly’s stomach rolled from cigarette smoke that permeated the air.
“Damn you,” Ralph growled. “Are you cheating again, David?”
&
nbsp; David chuckled and slammed down a card. “You always were a sore loser, brother.”
When the movie ended, Kelly whispered to Ming, “I’d like to go back to my room.”
In the hall, Kelly whirled around at the sound of footsteps behind her. She gasped to find it was David.
His lip curled into a smile. “Did I frighten you? You know someone has to lock the door. I relieved Ming of that duty, but the jealous woman wasn’t too happy about it.”
The dim light highlighted the swirls of smoke in the air and gave him a threatening appearance. If he was trying to intimidate her, it worked. Her heart pounded as she retreated from him and bumped into the wall. Coming up closer, with one hand around her, he effectively trapped her and leaned toward her. She caught a strong whiff of whiskey.
He ran his finger down her cheek to her lips. “Why don’t we scratch that itch together?”
Kelly shuddered and jerked her face away. “No. Let me go.”
He ignored her request. “With your husband working hard for us, I thought you might enjoy a little company tonight.”
“Not yours.”
He grinned. “I like spunk in a woman, especially one in my safekeeping.” His finger traced down to where Kelly’s dress dipped into a ‘V’ and paused where her chest heaved in fear. He let his fingers linger. “You’re sure now? Your husband never needs to know.”
After squeezing out from behind him, Kelly fled into her room. She slammed the door shut and leaned against it, gasping for air. The handle turned. She shoved with all of her weight to keep him out.
David chuckled and said through the door, “Don’t think I couldn’t come in if I wanted to. Lucky for you I have Ming to satisfy my needs or your ass would be flat on that mattress.”
The lock clicked into place, securing her in the room. She sagged against the door, trembling from head to toe. His hearty laughter grew fainter as he went down the hall.
* * *
The next evening Kelly stared out the window and wrung her hands together. Now, she couldn’t even leave the room for fear she’d run into David.
When the door opened, her heart leaped in her chest. She exhaled in relief at seeing Ming, but that didn’t last long. “Kelly, David says you’re to come out.”
“Tell him I don’t feel well.”
Not wanting to hurt Ming, Kelly refrained from saying David was a two-timing slug, but from Ming’s somber attitude as she turned to go, she probably already knew.
“Please, wait,” Kelly cried. “Can you arrange for me to see Alex again?”
“David won’t allow it.” After Ming left, Kelly sat on the bed and dropped her face into her hands. They had to find a way out of here and fast.
A minute later, David flung open the door and stalked toward her. “Come out, princess, unless you want me to join you on that bed.”
Fear gripping her, Kelly jumped to her feet. “I-I’ll come out.”
He grabbed her elbow in a tight grip and jerked her to his chest. “Don’t forget this is my island. I make the rules. And if I want you, I’ll take you. If you prove to be good, you might even persuade me to help you and your husband leave sooner.”
Kelly yanked her arm from his grasp. He was worse than Ralph. He may have been forced into this line of work, but this man obviously enjoyed the power he wielded over others.
She headed to the living area and dropped onto the sofa next to Ming as if Ming could protect her. Ming turned on the DVD. When the movie began, Kelly’s heart slammed in her chest. Oh, no. Not The Spy. The blood rushed to her head.
“Popcorn?” Ming asked, passing a bowl to Kelly.
Kelly shook her head. Somehow, she had to stop Ming. “Oh, but I’ve seen this one. Why don’t we watch something else?”
“Couldn’t have. It’s newly released and received excellent reviews. There’s an interesting story. Only several months ago, the lead actor died in a terrible boating accident, not far from here.”
“Oh?” was all Kelly could think to comment. Apparently, Ming didn’t know about the attempted kidnapping and explosion, or David’s involvement. Kelly glimpsed him out of the corner of her eye. David stared at them, then returned his attention to the game. Kelly swallowed her fear.
Obviously a fan of tabloid news, Ming shuffled through her stash of magazines lying on the coffee table. “Alex Drake was married to Vanessa Caine. They say she took his death badly.” Ming handed Kelly a magazine. “But she’s all recovered and will be shooting the film that stalled before the accident. I just love her, don’t you?”
“Not really,” Kelly answered truthfully. Frowning, she returned the magazine. She didn’t want to read about Vanessa, or see her in a designer gown, smiling as if she hadn’t a care in the world, while their lives hung at the mercy of killers. “Ming, can we please watch something else?” She reached for the stack of movies.
“I insist. Give it a chance.”
To stop Ming, she’d have to wrestle the movie from her, which would only draw more attention. She only hoped Alex wouldn’t be recognized. She glanced over her shoulder, glad to find the men absorbed in their card game. Perhaps her fears were groundless. How could anyone connect a movie star with the down and out people they had become?
After the camera angled across London, Kelly found herself engrossed. The Spy was humorous, and action-packed with karate fights and car-chase scenes. Funny as Jack Stone, Alex was a secret agent who always managed to get himself in over his head. Somehow, he always managed to get himself out of the predicament, too. He kissed three women within twenty minutes of the movie’s opening and had one sensual bedroom scene where he was completely naked from the back. She covered her eyes, unable to watch him make love to another woman, even if it was only pretend.
David’s chair crashed backwards, startling Kelly. He jumped to his feet, his gaze riveted on the TV. “Alex Douglas, my ass. Mick, bring him up here.”
Chapter Thirteen
When the lights clicked on, Alex squinted and rolled to his back.
Ralph leaned over him and roughly unlocked the handcuffs. “Get up.”
Stone-faced, Mick stood a few feet away with his magnum trained on Alex.
The look on their faces made him uneasy as Alex rose from the bed. “What’s the problem?”
Ralph re-cuffed Alex’s hands behind his back with a jerk. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
A wave of trepidation spread through Alex as he was escorted upstairs to where David sat with a semi-automatic lying near him on the table. Taking one glance at Kelly’s pale face as she sat on the couch, Alex swore under his breath. They knew.
Ralph shoved Alex into one of the wooden chairs at the table. David clicked on the DVD player and let the film run for a minute.
“Enough?” David lifted a sardonic eyebrow. He turned off the TV and slammed his fist on the table, sending cards and money scattering. “You’re the damned actor in the movie and you didn’t sink some sailboat.”
Pulse racing, Alex tried to think of a reasonable explanation for keeping their identities a secret. “We thought if you knew, you might hold us for ransom.”
From the sofa, Ming clapped her hands in delight. “A movie star. Of course, you’re so handsome. And Vanessa is the most wonderful actress. . .” She gaped at Kelly. “But all of this time you told us you were his wife.”
“She’s not his wife,” David ground out.
Alex gritted his teeth at the lewd look David gave Kelly. “Vanessa Caine is my ex-wife. Kelly’s with me.”
“Your lover?” David sneered. He strode to Alex and glared down at him. “Ralph, he is correct about the ransom. Instead of working for us, he’ll be more valuable in other ways.”
“I’m willing to pay whatever you want if you’ll let us leave,” Alex said in agreement. They were in such trouble at this point, maybe offering large sums of money would help.
“Oh, yeah,” David scoffed. “I’m to let you go and trust you’ll send the money back to me. Hardly.” He
paced the floor. “Ralph, get in touch with this Vanessa Caine.”
“She won’t pay. We’re divorced,” Alex pointed out. “She may sooner see me dead.”
David whirled on him. “She just might get her wish.” He tapped Ming on the shoulder. “You said the movie was a hit.”
Ming blinked. “Yes.”
“Good.” David gloated at Alex. “When it’s discovered you’re alive, there will be money for your return.” He waved the gun under Alex’s nose. “Give Ralph the details on how we can contact this actress.”
Alex frowned. “There’s no deal unless Kelly goes with me.”
“You’re in no fucking position to bargain, Hollywood.”
Elbowing David, Mick guffawed, “What kind of movies is he in, boss? How about him and the girl giving us a little show? Maybe we’ll make our own movies, if you know what I mean.” Alex gritted his teeth at what Mick was alluding to.
Ming said, “He can sing—”
“Yeah, I can sing and dance, and play guitar,” Alex said sarcastically, “but not with my hands tied behind my back.” He needed to get free of the handcuffs. If he had the guitar as a weapon, maybe he could go for one of the guns.
“Come on, David,” Ming cried. “I’d like to hear him sing. We have so little entertainment around here. I’ll get the guitar.”
“Not quite the skin show I had in mind,” Mick muttered.
“No,” David roared. “No show.” Then he thrust his face at Alex and exclaimed in a mocking voice, “Because it doesn’t matter what kind of entertainment you two provide for us, or if I get ransom money for you, because I know you were both on the diving boat, and she’s Kelly Cochran. Her father cheated me out of millions, so she isn’t going anywhere until I get my hands on my money.” He crossed the floor to Kelly. “Damned bitch, you’ve caused me a lot of trouble.”
Kelly shrank back, but he grasped her wrist and yanked her off the couch and up against him as if she weighed nothing. Her hair tumbled wildly around her.
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