Tempting Escape

by Heather McVey

  "No, if I understand you correctly, you're saying you'd like to be friends and nothing more."

  "Right.” Pleased with his perceptiveness, Shelly straightened, glad that he could say in a few simple words what had left her tongue-tied.

  Guy spoke to a point somewhere to the left of her head, not quite meeting her eyes. “Truth is, what with my work, the last thing that I need at the moment is a woman to complicate my life."

  Shelly nodded. She should be happy, right? She had gotten what she wanted. But oddly, she was not.

  Chapter 13

  At eight o'clock that night,Guy, together with a tipsy Sue, made his way up the front steps of Shelly's water bungalow.

  "It's awfully dark,” Sue commented, peering through the fading light at the bungalow windows. “You would think they could have lit a candle or something."

  Guy didn't like the darkness in the windows one bit. He patted her hand, his senses on alert. Something was wrong. He wasn't surprised to find the front door unlocked. The inside of the bungalow was dark. He could just make out the shape of a man sitting on the edge of the bed, hands cupping his face. The moonlight spilled through the door, glinting off the blonde curls of the man. Guy recognized that it was Ted.

  More alert than he wanted Sue to know, Guy scanned the room, looking for signs of trouble. “Where's Shelly?"

  Ted's voice was spiteful. “How the hell should I know? She dumped me."

  "Oh, you poor thing.” Sue crossed the room and placed her arms around Ted's shoulders. Guy noted he played the victim very well. He repressed a grimace. He didn't know what had caused Shelly to walk out on the man, but whatever it was, he had probably deserved it.

  Guy's voice sliced through the air, like a sword creating instant quiet. “I'm going to look for her. Are you coming with me?"

  Ted shook his head. “No, I never want to see her face again."

  A faint look of contempt crossed Guy's face, the look of a strong man for a weak one.

  "And tell her,” Ted said, just as Guy was about to step through the front door; “that she owes me the money for a new mobile telephone. The good for nothing little whore smashed my old one."

  Guy paused, hand on the door handle. A deadly calm fell over him, as he turned and cut a murderous glare to Ted. “A friendly word of advice, if you every call Shelly that again, I'll shut your mouth with my fist.” He smiled evilly, as the color drained from the other man's face. “Heck, I'd even enjoy doing it."

  Ted would have wisely kept his mouth shut if he'd been alone, but because the dishy, redhead was present, he had to at least make a pretense of standing up for himself. He knew from experience, that a potential bedmate didn't drop her knickers for a weakling.

  "What's the matter?” Ted mocked. “Did I offend you?” He looked at a stunned Sue and shook his head.

  Guy laughed, but the tone of it was more evil than happy. “No, you offended Shelly and for that, you die."

  "How are you going to kill me, faggot?” Ted sneered, although his insides were quaking looking at Guy's honed body. “I don't see any gun."

  Guy growled dangerously. “I don't need a gun to wipe the floor with you."

  Hoping to surprise him, knowing that it wasn't very courageous, Ted ran at Guy while his back was turned.

  Guy whirled on Ted so fast that Sue could barely follow the motion. Ted swung. Guy ducked and sent a fist into Ted's ribs that knocked him six feet across the varnished floor.

  As Guy bent and gripped Ted's shirt collar, Sue shrieked. “Guy don't hurt him, he's had enough."

  Ignoring her, Guy said in a casual tone that was truly terrifying, “Ted, you better get off this island if you want to live. Next time I meet you when you haven't got a woman to protect you, I'll kill you.” On that note, he left to find Shelly.

  * * * *

  "You know, Shelly, I think a lot of you.” Half an hour later in an over-crowded, stuffy bar in Male's capital, Guy reached for her glass, cupping it with his hands. “Far too much to see you drink yourself into a sorry state over a man that's not fit to worship the ground you walk on.” He glowered at the group of men crowding around her who'd obviously hoped to press their advantage when she was drunk enough.

  Shelly didn't meet his eyes. She couldn't. She was embarrassed, hurt and angry, all at once. “How did you know that I would be here?"

  Guy took the seat beside her. “I tried everywhere else and this was the last option, unless you'd decided to swim home. Knowing your fear of sharks, I didn't really think that a possibility.” His smile faded, and he sighed. “I know, you think that making love to me was a big mistake but I'm not sorry it happened.” He hesitated, as though waiting for her to argue with him. When she didn't, he continued. “I was wondering if there was a chance for us?"

  His voice was like warm honey, his eyes soft and gentle. She was falling ... Shelly amputated the thought, warned it not to regenerate. “I've left him."

  Guy asked, “Did he hurt you?"

  Oddly, Shelly knew immediately what he was asking. “I was eighteen,” she glanced away, not daring to look at Guy. Her voice had fallen to a whisper. “We had just gotten engaged. My best friend, Heather, told me that Ted had made a pass at her one evening, when he was dropping her off from her university campus. Fool that I was, I didn't believe her. I thought that she was jealous that Ted had chosen me. I was sick that my friend would stoop to anything so underhanded. I had always known that Heather had found him attractive, most women did, and I was devastated that she would lie that way. I didn't even ask him about it. Later, as the years went by, there were a lot of times when he said that he was working late. A lot of weekend business trips. I didn't question those either. I believed that he was building a life for us ... and then I'd learn that he'd been with some other woman."

  "How'd you find out?"

  "The first time?"

  Incredulously, he asked, “You mean it happened more than once?"

  She nodded, hating to let Guy know how many times she'd forgiven and taken Ted back, after he had begged and promised it would never happen again

  "The problem was that the more I forgave him, the lower my self-esteem dropped. I became convinced that it was all, my fault. I changed my hairstyle, dieted ... I obviously lacked something, since he felt a need to seek out other women."

  "You know now that's not true? You're beautiful, Shelly.” His voice was so gentle, so caring, that Shelly battled down a rush of emotion.

  Tenderly, he asked, “What caused you to leave him?"

  Shelly's laugh wasn't pleasant. “I discovered a text message on his mobile. It was from Gill."

  "Gill,” Guy interrupted, his brow knitted with concern. “Who is she?"

  Shelly's heart jerked painfully. “She was my bridesmaid,” she said with a little laugh. Was it as hollow as it sounded to her?

  "Go on,” he prompted gently.

  Shelly sniffed. “Gill was my friend too or at least, I thought she was.” She closed her eyes and swallowed. “It seemed she wasn't. I caught Ted screwing her on my wedding day.” She laughed bitterly. “You see, I should have been Mrs. Anderson for a week now, except I ran away. Can ... can you imagine it? I ran away from my own wedding, Guy!"

  I should have killed the bastard when I had the chance, Guy thought. A blinding anger burned behind his eyelids even as he tried to modulate his voice. “What has this bitch, Gill, got to do with you leaving Ted now?"

  Shelly looked at him and gave a watery chortle. “I like hearing you call her a bitch. Does that make me sick in the head?"

  Guy grinned. “No, I'd say it makes you healthy and if you really like it, I'll call her a bitch all night. Especially if it brings a smile to your pretty face."

  Shelly smiled at the offer. “Okay, the reason I left Ted now is because the text from Gill was asking what kind of underwear she should buy for their planned weekend away together, when he gets back to England."

  A moment passed before he spoke, and when he did, Guy's voice
was tight with fury. A fury, the likes of which he had never felt before. He wanted to strangle the bastard that had mistreated her so. He couldn't get his hands on Ted right at that very moment but he could try to ease Shelly's pain.

  "You shouldn't blame yourself. He had a wonderful woman. Many men would have happily died to take his place. I know I would ... I'm crazy about you."

  For the first time in her life, Shelly felt like throwing caution to the wind. “I'd like to get to know you better,” she confessed shyly.

  Guy's heart jumped with hope. “Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

  His smile was like sunshine.

  Not for the first time, Shelly realized she was out of her depth. “How would you feel about making it a holiday romance? Nothing serious.” She placed a finger over his lips. “Don't say you want more, Guy, because that's all I can give."

  "Your place or mine?"

  "Yours.” His deep blue eyes soothed her with their protectiveness. “I don't feel like going home tonight."

  He stood to his feet and tenderly brushed his lips over her forehead. “I'm sorry for what Ted did to you. The man's a fool."

  It took Shelly a full minute to recover enough to get her bag and follow him.

  * * * *

  Guy's water bungalow, a little smaller perhaps, was designed very much in the same style as hers. Shelly waited while he pushed open the long terrace doors that took up almost the length of one wall. He wasn't touching her, yet she could feel him with every pore, every sense of her body. The feeling was new to her. It was earth-shattering. And it left her breathless.

  Unaware of the affect he was having on her, Guy winked at her, and said, “We can have a drink first, if you like?"

  Shelly nodded. He looked so incredibly handsome framed in the doorway with the moonlight behind him, that she didn't trust herself to speak. He was as striking, as dark and vital, as a visaged angel; Gabriel, flesh and blood on earth, she thought as she shivered.

  He went to fix them some drinks and the spell was broken. Shelly dumped her bag on the nearest chair and made her way out onto the terrace. The air was still stifling, but there was a breeze coming off the ocean that ruffled her hair and cooled her tingling flesh. She was on fire. The very thought of what would soon happen between them had her burning up like a volcano. On one hand, she felt like a virgin and on the other, she felt wide open. It was all very confusing.

  She leaned her elbows on the rail and took a deep breath in an attempt to still her hammering heart and stared out over the dark sea. A boat carved a gleaming, greenish wake in the phosphorescence. Here and there, lights twinkled. A large fish jumped nearby and she smiled.

  "Comfortable?"

  Shelly nodded, not daring to turn around. She kept her eyes focused on the moonlit sea.

  Guy came up close behind her. She felt his hand circle her waist. Then one of them came up to cup the back of her head and the other covered her breasts. The intense thrill of pleasure that went through her at the caress frightened her back to her senses.

  She gasped. “You're naked."

  "I couldn't imagine us doing this dressed."

  She could hear the amusement in his voice. He laughed gently and entwined his large fingers with hers. She swiveled in his arms so she was facing him. “Are you crazy? Someone might see you."

  "Someone, who?” he asked, raising questioning eyes to her, as if he expected her to supply the answer.

  "The neighbors,” was the best she could do.

  He grinned. “Look around you, angel, the nearest neighbor is about three miles away."

  "They could still see us."

  "Do you mean on the off-chance that they brought the telescope on holiday with them?"

  She reminded herself, never again to say anything that might cause him to look at her in such an affectionate way. “You're an impossible man."

  "And you, Shelly Blake, are so sexy when you're annoyed."

  "You really do have an answer for everything."

  "Haven't we had this conversation before?” He raised a jet-black eyebrow.

  Shelly laughed, and it surprised her. She hadn't thought that she would laugh again. “Yes, we have."

  He growled and bent his long body over her, drawing her towards him, until she was pressed against his warm, protective strength. “Then damn it, woman! Shut up and let me kiss you."

  Shelly let him, knowing beyond a doubt that he would keep his word and hold her safe.

  His gentleness moved her. Wherever Guy touched her, whether it was with his lips or his fingers, he touched with reverence. Although he never said the words, ‘Love’ was written in every caress, every kiss, every movement, as his body pressed harder and more insistently against hers.

  She cherished every second, branded her mind with each passionate touch of his hands and lips. He unbuttoned her blouse and slid his hands down over her breasts. She closed her eyes, concentrating on the lovely, rough texture of his fingers over the sensitive flesh of her nipples.

  The firm promise of his hard cock pressed against her belly, and she lifted one hand to gently stroke and knead him, cupping the smooth skin of his head and gliding her fingers along his sinewy veined hardness. Guy moaned softly and deepened the kiss, his cock pumping in and out of her closed hand to the same rhythm as the blood flowing though her veins. Shelly positively ached to feel him inside her.

  He broke the kiss and knelt, a perfect statue of a man. Or so it seemed to Shelly, as he knelt there so reverently, bathed in the moonlight, his hair as black as a raven's wing and his bronzed skin glowing faintly.

  He continued to fondle her breasts, his breathing becoming more labored by the minute. Then he grazed her nipples with his lips, teasing first one, then the other saucer to a tight, hard peak between the sharp edges of his teeth. Shelly pressed herself forward against his mouth, wanting the muted twinges of pain along with the seething pleasure, even while he slipped a single finger into her ass.

  He reached beneath her skirt and pulled her panties down the length of her legs. Shamelessly, she stepped out of them as his hand slid between her thighs and found the warm hot centre of her pussy.

  She had been ready and eager for him from the moment they had left the cocktail bar. He must have sensed as much, yet he slowly caressed her, at first using only the very tips of his fingers. Then, with more urgency, moving the length of one, then another long finger, deep within her. Her eyes shut tightly as scorching flames shot through her, along her back and down the inside of her thighs. She clung to him; unsure she could survive another second, yet hungry for more. She writhed with pleasure and called out his name as wave after wave of delicious heat seized her. She didn't want him to stop. Ever!

  He slid his head lower until his tongue stroked where his fingers had once been. The pleasure was ten times purer; Shelly bucked, certain that she would soon spill her liquid hot climax over his face. He stroked his rigid tongue against her anus and pushed it deep inside. His tongue, like his dick, was a huge specimen and she shivered as wave after wave of pleasure heated her groin and rocked through her.

  Several minutes passed, then he kissed her mouth, the musky smell of her arousal still clinging to his lips. He turned her away from him so that she was facing the sea, with his full weight pressing up against her back. He reached up and wrapped what Shelly suspected to be a large napkin around her eyes. For a second, she felt the wiry hair of his chest against her back, then pinching her nipples, he left her alone in complete darkness—her sporadic heartbeat and the lapping of the waves against the shore her only companions.

  Shelly was just starting to panic when he returned a moment later and fitted something silver and cold around her wrists, connecting her to the railing. It was a moment before she realized he had handcuffed her. A heartbeat later, she realized she was trapped.

  "Guy,” she whimpered.

  "Shh ... Baby,” he breathed in her mouth. “I know what it is you want."

  He bent her forward so her
breasts dangled over the smooth railing, then his hands parted her thighs. She felt the warm sliver of his tongue against her open pussy, and the sharp burning pain of something hard against her tender buttocks.

  There was a whoosh and a definite click, as the belt he was wielding contacted just enough with her skin to hurt. Shelly gasped, her legs spread-eagle. She stuck her pussy more in his direction. What he was doing, she hated to admit it, for it was dirty, got her horny. There was something about being completely at a man's mercy that turned her on.

  His belt whipped again against her ass, while his fingers pinched her nipples and her thighs clamped. She was so close to losing it. She was on the verge of an orgasm. If he hit her again, she knew she wouldn't be able to control it.

  Guy, his dick dripping with his need, looked at the alluring sight before him. Shelly was bent forward over the railing. Her toned ass and juicy pussy faced him, begging for attention. The rosy peeks of her nipples were pointing downwards, towards the dark seawater, begging too. Getting a condom on was tricky, but he managed, then guided himself to her creamy centre, even as he watched his dark, middle finger slide up her ass.

  Shelly eagerly took him into her. She savored it, dying with the fullness of him, as he slid in and out of her, hitting all the most deliciously sensitive spots with each passage, driving her almost mad with ecstasy.

  He bent her forward still more. His arm supported her bouncing breasts, while the other caressed and pulled her bottom back and forth against his pelvis. His thrusts became harder and harder, until she was sure that the balcony swayed with the pure force of it all.

  Through the sheer pain and enjoyment of his powerful, animalistic thrusts, Shelly knew that there would never be another man like this one. Guy had somehow, in such a short time, managed to touch her so profoundly.

  When he at last thrust himself deeply into her, filling her, completing her, and she knew from the iron tension in every muscle in his body that he was almost nearing the final moments before his own climax, she held on. Not allowing herself to release wholly, until she could no longer control the building crescendo of her passion. Then with a cry of ecstatic delight, she gave herself over to him, and they soared together, each one nourished by the other's rapture.