Desert Heat

by A. D. Herrick

  Stumbling into the kitchen I wiped the remains of the sleep from my eyes. Standing over the stove was my intruder. With his shirt off, a hand towel casually draped over his shoulder, he tended to the contents in the pan. Had I not been taken aback by his striking good looks I would have demanded he leave immediately. Instead I stood there watching him work. His muscles were tight under his taut skin, intricate designs in black ink adorned his flesh leaving me drooling after him. He screamed bad boy, but most of all dangerous.

  I assumed I had won the argument last night after he turned and walked out of the bedroom. I guess what they say about assumptions was true. I sure felt like an ass now.

  Speaking of ass.

  His was spectacular. His jeans hung loosely from his narrow hips, the slight curve of his ass filling them nicely. With his back to me I took in the broad expanse of his sun-kissed shoulders, they were equally as muscular as his chest had felt. My eyes followed them down to his tapered waist and back up. I couldn’t get enough of this guy.

  “If you’re done molesting me with your eyes you can take a seat. Dinner will be done in a minute.” My eyes went wide before shooting daggers at him for calling me out.

  “It’s only, like, noon. Not that I’m complaining or anything.” I tossed casually as I turned away from him to avoid him seeing the flush that had crept up my neck at being caught ogling him.

  “It’s after seven, you slept all day, and it sure sounds like you’re complaining.” I turned to glare at him only to catch him smiling wickedly in my direction.

  My breath hitched as I took in the ink on his chest. Like his back, his chest was equally adorned; a pair of wings was inked across his pecs.

  “You’re an ass.” I huffed, dropping down into the seat at the table, my back to him.

  “Yes, trust me, I know. You said it enough times last night that I couldn’t forget.” He smirked, setting a glass of iced tea down beside me and a second glass at the other end of the table for himself.

  “Well it’s true.” I muttered under my breath, only half believing my own bullshit.

  “I hope you like steak.”

  A large plate of finely sliced steak, peppers, onions, and potatoes was placed before me. The aromas of peppers, onions, garlic, and spices assaulted my olfactory making my mouth water. It looked wonderful.

  “This looks delicious.” I said, meaning it.

  It did, in fact, look delicious. Lifting a fork full of deliciousness to my mouth I moaned around the flavor explosion. So fucking good. I could have kissed him had he not been a stranger, a sexy one at that, but a stranger nonetheless.

  “How is it?” He smirked in my direction, knowing damn well I was enjoying it.

  I couldn’t contain the moans that poured from my lips. This was probably one of the most delectable things I had ever put in my mouth. The fact that I was nearly starving had nothing to do with it. Hands down this meal was amazing

  “It’s good.” I said between bites.

  I watched as his eyes crinkled at the sides, dancing with mirth as he silently celebrated his victory.

  We finished our meal in companionable silence, both of us seemingly lost in our thoughts. I all but inhaled the plate of food that had been set before me.

  Rising up from the table I took my plate to the sink. I could hear his heavy footsteps as he came up behind me.

  “I’ll handle these. You should probably go shower.” He said taking the dishes from my hand as he crinkled his nose giving a quick sniff of the air around me.

  Turning my head, I gave myself a quick sniff check. Instantly repulsed I retreated without a word, snatching my bag from the entryway as I went. Having been stuck in a car for the better part of a week I hadn’t taken the time to shower and it showed. I smelled like quick takeout food and something akin to roadkill. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t noticed until now. The sound of his laughter followed me down the short hall, only silenced by the slamming of the bedroom door. I was humiliated.

  Leaning against the closed bedroom door I swore under my breath. Once I was clean, I was kicking his ass out, dinner or no dinner. This whole scene had carried on long enough.

  Dragging my bag limply behind me I walked into the enormous bathroom. Now that I stopped to look around the room I realized everything I had missed when I first came in last night and during my sleep haze when I had woken up. The bathroom was fully stocked with all the necessities. Clean white towels were neatly stacked in the cabinet. There were bottles of masculine shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in the shower. Everywhere I looked showed signs that the tidy house was lived in. Clearly getting him out was going to be more of a hassle than I had first thought. He had been here longer than me.

  Shoveling the thought of the sexy intruder aside, I turned on the shower. Pleasantly surprised, I found that it had not one, not two, but four shower heads. It was every girl’s fantasy shower. Slipping out of my dirty clothes I eagerly climbed under the hot spray.

  Instant relief.

  The hot water pelted my body from all angles, washing away the stress of the week, working my muscles over until I was just a pile of goo. If I could live in this shower I would. I only needed a man servant to bring me meals with the ring of a bell.

  Imagining my intruder wearing nothing but a black speedo and a bowtie around his neck provided the perfect image of domestic bliss. Instead of being frightened by the lewd thoughts of the man, I embraced them as I scrubbed every inch of my body from head to toe. I would be lying if I said I didn’t imagine his hands as my own and I washed myself thoroughly.

  I was not a sexual deviant by nature. The stress that had so eagerly taken up residence in my mind and body needed relief; my intruder provided the visual stimulation for just that purpose. I needed an outlet. Taking the only opportunity I had been granted, I ran with it, allowing my hands to roam my body, filling my mind with hot wicked thoughts.

  Using the tiled shower wall to hold me up, I stroked myself, my forehead pressed against the cool tile as my fingers deftly worked my womanhood, working myself into a frenzy. Biting into my lower lip I stifled the unsavory moans of relief that threatened to echo along the shower walls. So much pent-up stress had been relieved in that moment of heightened pleasure. My body sagged with relief, my muscles languorous and limp.

  -

  Never again. Never again will I allow myself to go so long without proper maintenance. I had been working at my hair for close to an hour, trying to get all of the knots and tangles out with little to no success.

  A soft rapping at the door called my attention.

  “What?” I huffed out angrily.

  With a creaking slowness the bathroom door opened. There stood my intruder. He was wearing a simple pair of black pajama pants, both his chest and feet bare.

  Peeking up at him through the mass of tangled blonde hair, I felt the tears shimmering in my eyes. I didn’t want him to see me like this, a weak quivering mess with knots tangled in my hair.

  “Come here, let me help.” He offered reaching his hand out to me.

  Hesitantly I complied; I climbed from my perch on the toilet, thankful I had decided to get dressed. I was wearing similar attire, pink and red plaid pajama pants and a matching pink camisole. The two of us were clearly settled in for the evening.

  Leading me by my hand he guided me to the bed.

  “Sit.” Though soft, his words were more of a command than a request.

  Obliging him, I sat. I felt the bed dip as he crawled in behind me. Thick hands encircled my waist as he latched them around me, pulling me further onto the bed.

  “Hey, what are you doing?” I demanded, trying to wiggle from his grip, not ready to go another round with him. I was too exhausted to fight. I just wanted to brush my hair and go back to bed. I didn’t think that was too much to ask. The heaviness of my situation had covered me, pulling me down into its dark grasp, with each yank of the brush through my hair undoing the calm relaxation that had come from the shower.

&nbs
p; “Just relax.” He said, situating me between his legs.

  “You can’t just manhandle me whenever you want.” I huffed out, arms folded across my chest, pouting like a petulant child.

  Plucking the brush from my hands he ignored me and set to work on my hair.

  When he had first started on my hair I was anxious and stiff. I had never had a man brush my hair before, let alone, one who I didn’t even know. That didn’t deter him. He worked shamelessly at my hair, sectioning it off and combing through it with more gentle grace than I ever expected him to have. With each stroke he put me more and more at ease. I felt the tension that had begun to seep back into my weary bones retreat.

  “What’s your name?” I asked, breaking the silence that surrounded us.

  “Luka, what’s yours?” His voice was deep and soothing, sending shivers down my spine.

  “Sasha.” I replied, picking nervously at imaginary lint on my pants.

  “Sasha, what brings you to Nevada?”

  “I bought land here, decided to come check it out.” It was the closest to the truth I was willing to give.

  I didn’t know this man from Adam and I certainly didn’t feel comfortable divulging all of my secrets.

  “You drove all the way from Florida just to check out a piece of land?”

  I could feel my heart hammering in my chest as my panic rose. He knew. I don’t know how, but he knew. The oxygen felt like it was being sucked out of the room. No matter how hard I tried I couldn’t breathe enough in. Tight bands constricted around my chest, suffocating me.

  “Breathe Sasha, breathe.” I felt his arms wrapping around me, cradling me to his chest as he rocked me gently.

  “How…” I couldn’t get the words to form. No matter how hard I tried.

  “The license plate on your car. It was an easy guess.” He replied as though reading my mind.

  I felt the tight bands that had formed around my chest begin to unravel. Closing my eyes I absorbed his strength, breathing him in, seeking comfort in his warm embrace. He smelled like clean linen and of a familiar deep musk.

  The pillow.

  He smelled like my pillow. I inhaled him shamelessly, allowing his scent to wrap around me like a security blanket only much sexier.

  Realization of what I was doing dawned on me, leaving me shuddering with humiliation. I sank further into him covering my face with my hands, this time not for comfort and strength but out of mortification and shame.

  My life was a minefield and I was setting off every trap imaginable, first with Emily, then Devon, now Luka. I had shamelessly snuggled up to his pillow, pleasured myself to the thought of his hands on my body and then inhaled him like cocaine all while having a panic attack.

  The deep rumbling of his chest shook me as his body convulsed with laughter.

  “Relax, it’s okay. It’s only Gain. I know it’s been awhile since you heard of the stuff.” He teased, making me want to crawl under a rock and die.

  I tried to do just that only to be pulled back down. “I’m not done with your hair.” He chastised, laughter in his voice.

  “You’re an ass.” I murmured.

  “So you keep saying.”

  Unable to get away, I resigned my escape plans. I sat there and allowed him to finish my hair. It took several long agonizing minutes before he finally proclaimed me fit to be released.

  “How about you keep your hair in a braid since you don’t want to wash it so often?” I turned to face him, the glint in his eyes let me know he was only teasing.

  “I’ll have you know asshole I have been sleeping in my car for the last three days while I drove up here.” I scrambled from his clutch toward the head of the bed.

  Snatching a pillow off the bed, I threw it in his direction, aiming for his big gorgeous head.

  With cat-like reflexes he caught it, arching a brow in my direction.

  “Calm down kitty, it’s almost time for bed.”

  I blew out a steam of breath from my nose, shooting a glare in his direction.

  “Why are you here?” I huffed, setting back against the headboard.

  “Well, that’s an easy one. I live here.”

  I chuckled rolling my eyes.

  “Sorry my friend, that is a negative. You used to live here.” I reminded him.

  “I’m pretty sure the deed on this property proves otherwise Princess.” He said smugly.

  “I’m pretty sure my deed does as well, and stop calling me Princess.” I demanded crossing my arms over my chest.

  “I’ll call my attorney in the morning and we can sort this out.” Luka said climbing under the blankets in the bed beside me.

  “Hold on, what the hell are you doing?” I demanded, jumping from the bed pointing an outraged finger at him.

  “I’m getting ready for bed. It’s after ten and I have an early morning.” Ignoring me he continued to shift in the bed getting comfortable.

  “This is my bed, go get your own.” I demanded stomping my foot.

  “You didn’t complain last night when you curled up in my arms.” He smirked closing his eyes and settling in.

  I stood there speechless, mouth agape. I felt my jaw working but no words came out. He slept in the bed with me? What the hell is it with these men? They just do whatever the hell they want, not caring what I think of the matter.

  “Come on, Ducky.” Luka said, patting the mattress beside him patronizing me.

  “Fuck you and I don’t like Ducky either.” I huffed, snatching my phone off the bedside table and stomping out of the room.

  I continued stomping through the house, unsure of where to go. This wasn’t my home. Nothing in here was mine. I was an intruder running from a psycho.

  Needing fresh air, I walked out onto the porch. The dry cool air slapped me in the face, a stark contrast to the hot arid day. The creaking chain of a porch swing called to me. I didn’t recall seeing it the day before, but apparently in my haste to find a place to lay my head I had missed a lot.

  Tucking my feet under me I sat on the swing, allowing the breeze to sway me. Pressing the button on my phone I turned it on, vibrating in my hand it chimed to life. I had over a hundred missed calls. Too exhausted to care I dialed the one number I knew would make me feel better.

  “Sasha, oh my god, please tell me you’re okay.” Sam’s voice screeched into the receiver.

  I could hear the worry heavy in her voice.

  “Yeah, I’m okay.” I replied, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall.

  For not being one to show emotion I had been crying more this week than I had at any point in my life combined.

  “I’m so sorry about your house. What happened?” Sam asked, catching me off guard.

  “What do you mean my house?” I asked fully concerned.

  There was no way she knew what happened to my car. I had washed away the evidence before I left.

  “The fire... You didn’t know?” I could hear the confusion in her voice mingling with worry.

  “What fire Sam?” I felt the familiar bands of panic constricting around me.

  “I hate to be the one to tell you, Sash, but your house. It burned down last night. There was nothing left. The firemen, they couldn’t save it.”

  My heart hurt, it ached with alarming pain. My home, the place I grew up, all of my memories, gone, everything gone, up in smoke, literally. I couldn’t hear another minute of it.

  “I have to go Sam. I promise I’ll call you back.” I didn’t wait for a reply. Instead I hung up the phone.

  I had one more call to make. Just one more… Sucking in a sharp breath I shoveled down my emotions one last time. I needed to get through this.

  “Hey, Sash. I was going to call you.” Devon’s voice was thick with sleep. I had clearly woken him.

  “He burnt my house down, Devon. He burnt it to the ground.” I cried into the receiver near hysteria just the sound of his voice on the other end of the line broke my fortification.

  I couldn’t hold it ba
ck. I couldn’t trap it down like I believed I could. The dam broke sending tears pelting my cheeks.

  “Who’s on the phone baby?” I heard the familiar voice of Emily in the background.

  “Lay back down, I’ll be right there.” I heard Devon whisper on the other end of the line.

  The remaining fragments of my heart shattered right there on the spot. There was nothing holding me back now. No way for me to hide the raw pain I felt knowing that Devon was there in bed with Emily. No wonder he had sent me to Nevada instead of joining them in North Carolina.

  “Oh Sash, I’m sorry about your house.” Devon returned to the line.

  His words fell on deaf ears. I couldn’t hear another word of it.

  “I’ve been meaning to talk to you -.” I cut him off before he could finish.

  “Save it. Just call me when it’s over. Better yet, don’t ever call me again.” I hung up the phone.

  My body caved in on itself. Gut wrenching sobs wracked through me. I couldn’t. I just couldn’t. My house gone. Devon gone. Everything was gone. I had nothing. No one. I was alone.

  Chapter thirteen

  Warmth surrounded me. The comforting scent of Luka invaded my senses. Too distraught to care I gave in, allowing him to hold me. In turn I held him back, needing the comfort of his embrace.

  “I got you, Ducky.” Luka coaxed, his lips pressed to my temple as he rocked me gently in his arms.

  The ease of his embrace only made me cry harder, my tears drowning us both.

  “I told you I don’t like Ducky.” I sobbed.

  Chuckling softly, Luka gathered me in his arms easily lifting me out of the swing. Wrapping my arms around his neck I buried my face into his neck, inhaling his scent.