by Folsom, Tina
“Thief,” she whispered to herself. That’s what she was, just like her father. Cut from the same cloth. Had fate finally caught up with her?
There was no turning back now. No salvaging this situation. She’d stolen the damned sandals and she was going to pay for it. The damage was already done.
In for a penny, in for a pound.
Maybe something good could come from it after all. She thought of her grandmother and how it would break her heart when she had to tell her that they had to leave Charleston, because Penny had lost her job. Had failed at getting tenure! Her heart clenched painfully. No, she couldn’t do this to her grandmother. It could literally kill her.
Looking at the clock on her cell phone again, she decided that she’d let enough time pass and walked to the door. She cracked it open a sliver and peered into the hallway. It was empty. Not losing a second, she hurried down the hall, heading toward the basement lab, an idea having formed in her mind.
No one would be in there on a Sunday, but she was friends with Irene, who ran the lab. With some luck, she could get her to come in today and do some carbon-dating for her. Then Penny would be able to sneak back into the B&B tonight and return Hermes’ sandals clandestinely.
Was it still considered a theft, if she returned the items on the same day?
As she arrived at the entrance to the lab, Penny took out her phone and dialed a number.
“Come on, Irene, pick up,” she murmured to herself.
It rang twice, three times, then a fourth. Finally, the call was answered. “Yes?” Irene’s voice sounded groggy.
“Irene, it’s me, Penny. Sorry to disturb so early on a Sunday morning, but I need a favor. I’m putting a rush order on your desk. Any chance you could come in today?”
“Well,” Irene said, hesitating. “Okay, I’ll come right now, but I’ve got a family outing this afternoon.”
“Oh, you’re the best, and can you do me another favor? Can you keep it to yourself please? Nobody can find out about it. Especially not Kenton.”
“You got it.”
“Thanks, girl. I owe you.”
“Big time, and I intend to collect.”
Penny smiled and hung up the phone. She slipped the shoe into one of the gallon-sized processing bags that hung next to the door to the lab, closed it, and wrote instructions on it. Then she put the bag into the night depository drawer and closed it. She heard the bag fall into a receptacle on the other side.
Sucking in a steadying breath, she hurried back up the stairs. The sandal would be safe where it was. Nobody could enter the lab except for the staff who worked there. But she couldn’t keep walking around with the second sandal. What if she ran into Hermes?
Penny rushed back to her office, constantly looking over her shoulder to make sure Kenton wouldn’t show up again out of the blue. When she reached it unseen, she was relieved.
Without delay, she opened the safe in the corner of her office and placed the shoe inside, before locking it again. She hung the tote bag back on its hook.
The sandal would be safe there for a few more hours. Then she would find a way of returning both sandals to Hermes.
As if that would make everything all right! As if that would erase the mark of thief she’d tainted herself with.
The opening of a door made her spin on her heels to face the intruder.
Her heart stopped, only to continue at double its normal speed a second later.
Shit! She was so screwed.
15
Penny stood in front of him, purse in hand, a look of wide-eyed shock on her face. “Hermes!” Her voice shook as she said his name.
“Where are they?” he growled, barely able to keep himself from lunging at her, grabbing her shoulders and shaking the truth out of her.
He was livid! On top of it, he’d been caught in the torrential downpour Zeus had created and hadn’t had a chance to dry himself with his godly powers, because several students had meandered in the hallway on his way to Penny’s office.
“What?” she said, backing away from him.
She was afraid. He could clearly see it in her face, the way her eyes searched for an escape route, and the way her lips trembled slightly. Hell, he could practically smell the fear coming off of her in waves.
“As if you didn’t know,” he said, gritting his teeth, barely able to contain his fury.
“I don’t know. Really.” She was up against the wall now. Her gaze moved from his face to the door behind him. As if she could escape. As if he would let her go!
He took a step toward her.
“Hermes,” she started, holding her purse in front of her. All breathless, her lips puckered, her chest heaved. “You’re drenched. Can I get you a towel?” She set her purse down on the desk and tried to hurry past him.
One hand shot out and grabbed her by the shoulder, stopping her as she passed. “No. I don’t want a towel.” He leaned forward, his face inches from hers, water dripping from his hair onto her shoulder. “You know what I want.”
“Please, Hermes,” she said, turning to look up at him. “I know I shouldn’t have left you this morning the way I did. I just,” she hesitated. “There was just something important I’d completely forgotten. Time sensitive work. And then I was coming right back. In fact, I was hoping to get back before you even woke—”
“Stop!” he bellowed.
“What?” she squeaked.
Terrified eyes looked at him. Her breath quickened, and he noticed the vein on the side of her neck pulsing violently. For a brief second, he felt like an ass. He didn’t scare women. He loved women. Not once in his entire life had he ever hurt a woman.
Not once had he wanted to.
“Did you plan on doing it all along?” he asked, pushing the words through his clenched jaw.
She didn’t answer him, just looked at him all doe-eyed and confused. How good an actress was she? How long would she keep up the pretense and put on this show of innocence?
“Did you sleep with me just so you could take them? Did you want to be with me at all?” He hated the pleading sound in his voice.
Almost as much as he hated the sudden understanding and pity that swept into her eyes. As if she knew that he was head over heels for her, and didn’t want what he was offering, but had to find a way of letting him down easy.
“No,” she whispered, her head moving from side to side. “Never. I adore you Hermes. You are amazing.” She raised a trembling hand to his cheek. Was she afraid that he would slap it back?
Damn it, he couldn’t let her think that!
In one swift movement, he pushed her against the wall, his face mere inches from hers. She gasped an astonished breath, and then his lips fell over hers. Devouring her. Punishing her. Showing her who he really was. Not a man to be trifled with. But a god. A god!
Penny moaned, her lips parting, allowing his tongue to thrust into her mouth, sparring with her. He lost himself in her. His hand roamed her body, touching her breasts, kneading them harshly. She moaned, pushing herself closer, begging for more.
Her hands undid the buttons of his shirt, pulling the wet fabric off his shoulder. She stroked his chest, her fingers playing with his nipples, making him momentarily forget everything.
Hermes ripped his mouth from hers. “Damn it, Penny! Where are my sandals?”
“I don’t have them.”
He didn’t believe her, but by the gods, he’d get the truth out of her, one way or another. All was fair in love and war. Whether this was love or war, he wasn’t entirely sure. But it didn’t matter right now, because the result was the same: he’d fuck the truth out of her if he had to.
Reaching for the seam of her dress, he pulled the garment up over her thighs. His hand slipped between her legs, stroking over her panties—panties that were drenched already. God damn it, was this turning her on like it turned him on?
With one yank, he ripped the flimsy piece of lingerie from her body, tossing it to the floor.
“Te
ll me the truth!” he demanded again.
“I didn’t take them,” she insisted.
Angry at her refusal, he lifted her up and laid her over the desk, pushing papers off it to make space.
“You have one more chance,” he warned, and stepped between her legs. His fingers already opened the top button of his jeans and lowered the zipper.
Without taking his eyes off her, he shoved his pants and boxer briefs to mid-thigh, freeing his erection. By the gods, he was hard! He pulled a condom from his pocket, ripped the foil package open, and sheathed himself.
“Tell me the truth! Where are they?”
“I don’t have them. Maybe another partygoer took them.”
Her chest heaved, her puckered nipples—evidence of her arousal—pushing through the fabric of her dress. He grabbed hold of her hips and plunged inside her, a scream dislodging from her lips at the same time.
“Oh God,” she cried out, her eyelids fluttering. Her legs wrapped around him, her fingers digging into his ass, trying to pull him in closer, pushing herself up to meet each and every thrust he delivered.
“Damn it, Penny!”
Suddenly this didn’t feel like the punishment he’d intended to dole out. The aroused look in her eyes, and the plentiful juices in her warm pussy were evidence enough that she was enjoying this. He couldn’t allow this! She wasn’t meant to enjoy this. She was meant to feel his wrath!
He plowed into her, harder, deeper, faster. But her expression didn’t change. She didn’t push him away, didn’t try to get away from him. Instead she moaned, pulling her lower lip between her teeth as if trying to prevent herself from screaming out her pleasure.
His balls tightened at the erotic image before him. Fuck! He was going to come again. He should deny her, hold back, not give her what she wanted. But his body had other ideas. His hips delivered thrust after thrust, his cock only thinking of its own pleasure.
“Who told you to steal them?”
Her lips parted. “Nobody.”
He let himself go, let his body take over, allowing his control to slip through his fingers. Seconds later, he felt his seed shoot through his cock and fill her, just as he’d done the night before.
He looked down at her. Her cheeks were flamed, her hair mussed, her legs still wrapped around him. And her pussy still quivered with aftershocks of her own orgasm. He’d fucked her like he was some randy dog.
The ring of a cell phone interrupted his thoughts.
Penny’s eyes widened in panic. “That’s Grams.” She reached for her bag, trying to lift herself to a sitting position.
“We’re not done talking,” he growled, pulling out of her. In fact, they hadn’t even started to talk, since his body had had other ideas. Stupid ideas!
“I have to take this call. The ringtone, it’s my grandmother. Something must be wrong.”
Reluctantly, Hermes stepped back and allowed her to reach for her phone, while she tried to push down her dress at the same time, covering her nakedness.
Penny swallowed quickly. She couldn’t believe what had just happened. She’d let Hermes fuck her as if she were some over-sexed whore. And what was worse, she’d enjoyed it. Every single second of it! As though she were some cheap slut who would spread her legs wherever and whenever.
Her cheeks burned with embarrassment. But she tried to push the feeling away, glad for the phone call interrupting them. At least it meant she didn’t have to look at him right now, nor answer any more of his questions.
“Grams?” she answered the phone.
“Penny, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.”
Fear punched her gut, stealing her breath. “Are you okay?” she asked, panic rising through her.
“Yes. Nothing hurt but my pride.” There was hesitation in her voice. “I think.”
“Are you hurting?”
“Just a little; it’s not too bad. Don’t worry yourself.”
Too late—Penny was already worried. “Where’s Rose?”
“I sent her home. Your father called and said he was coming. But he hasn’t arrived yet. I’m sure he’ll be here any second, if you’re busy, dear.”
“Don’t move, Grams. I’ll be there in ten.”
Penny disconnected the line and dropped her phone into her bag. “That son-of-a-bitch.”
“Who?” Hermes asked. He’d zipped up and was just putting his shirt back on.
Surprisingly, he actually looked concerned. Which made her feel even worse.
She snatched her bag and headed for the door. “My father was supposed to be watching my grandmother today, so she sent her nurse home. And of course, he didn’t show up and she’s fallen. I have to go home and help her.”
“I’ll come with you.”
She looked over her shoulder. “That’s not necessary.”
“You really think you can just ditch me like that? Tsk-tsk. I’m not leaving your side until I’ve got my shoes back.”
Penny stared at him, not knowing what to say. Why didn’t she simply confess the truth now? Was it maybe because she still had hope that in a few hours she would return the sandals anonymously, and he’d never know that she’d been the one who’d taken them? Or could she not tell him because then she’d have to admit that her father wasn’t the only thief in the family? That the apple didn’t fall far from the tree?
“Penny, this is not over, you know it and I know it.” He stepped closer to her. “Not by a long shot.”
Her pulse raced, her heart beating into her throat. If only she could turn back time to when she’d gotten up this morning, to the moment before she’d taken his sandals.
Why had she taken them in the first place? She only remembered the inexplicable urge to examine them closer which had gripped her when she’d touched them the first time, as if they were magical.
16
Penny pulled up in front of a well-kept older bungalow. No other cars were in the driveway. “I can’t believe he did this to her,” she muttered.
Hermes followed Penny inside as she hurried to the first room on the right. An elderly lady was lying on the floor beside her bed.
“Oh, Grams!” Penny knelt down next to her, taking her hand.
“It’s okay, Penny,” the woman said, but her face said otherwise.
“Here, let me help.” Hermes bent down and tried to gently pull her up to a sitting position, but she winced.
“Ouch!”
“Grams! You said you weren’t hurt!” Penny chided her. “Why didn’t you say? You could have broken something!”
“You worry too much!” her grandmother shot back. “I’m sure it’s just a little bruising.”
“I’m not gonna take your word for it,” Penny responded and pulled her phone from her bag.
Hermes hesitated. Trying to lift her up again might cause her only more pain. “Where does it hurt?” he asked her instead, while he heard Penny dial a short number—consisting only of three digits. 9-1-1, he presumed. He lifted an eyebrow. Was it really necessary to call the paramedics?
“Just my left side,” Penny’s grandmother admitted. “I fell on it when I tried to get from the bed into my wheelchair and it slipped out from under me.”
“Yes, my grandmother fell. I think she has broken ribs,” Penny said into the cell phone that was pressed tightly to her ear. She paced. “No, there’s no blood from what I can see.”
Hermes noticed how the old lady rolled her eyes. “That’s really not necessary, Penny.”
Penny tossed her a stern look. “Yes, please, come right away. The address is . . . ”
As Penny gave the 9-1-1 operator the address, Hermes pulled a pillow from the bed. He carefully lifted the old woman’s head and placed it underneath her. “I guess you’re not getting up until the paramedics are here.”
“She’s a slave-driver, that one,” Penny’s grandmother said with a motion in Penny’s direction.
“Grams! I’m only looking out for your wellbeing. God knows, nobody else is!”
H
ermes glanced at her, surprised by the note of anger and bitterness in her voice.
“You can’t blame your father for this.”
“Can’t I?” she bit out.
“I’m sure something just came up, dear. It’s my fault. I should have waited until he got here before telling Rose she could leave.” Then she looked at Hermes. “And now, Penny, why don’t you introduce me to this nice young man you brought home?”
Penny stood there for a second, her mouth opening and then closing as she struggled visibly for what to say.
“I’m Hermes,” he said, rescuing her. He bent over and held out his hand. “It’s nice to make your acquaintance.”
“Oh,” the old lady said, and took his hand, a sweet smile filling her face. “You must be Penny’s new boyfriend. You’re very handsome, and such a gentleman.”
“Grams, really. He’s not my boyfriend. We’re just friends.”
“Good friends,” Hermes added at the doubt in her grandmother’s eyes and gave the old woman a wink.
She laughed. “I think you protest too much, dear. I might be old, but I’m not dead, nor blind.” She pointed at Penny’s dress. “You’re still wearing the same dress you went to the party in. You never made it home last night.”
Penny gave an uncomfortable laugh. “Grams, please don’t embarrass me.” She bent down to her grandmother and nervously readjusted her pillow. “How are you feeling now?”
Penny’s cheeks were flushed, and Hermes couldn’t help but wonder if Penny was truly as she seemed—a woman who cared deeply about her grandmother and who wore her emotions on her sleeve. How could a woman like that be a thief and a liar? But all evidence pointed to the plain fact that she was exactly what she looked like. She’d stolen his sandals, and now she was attempting to cover the whole thing up and trying to get rid of him.
“I told you I’m perfectly fine. I’m sorry I’m keeping you from your work. I know you’re busy with your research, trying to get tenure,” her grandmother said.
“Nice way to change the subject, Grams!” Penny’s eyes shot to him, an action that piqued his interest.
“Who says I’m changing the subject? Is that young interloper—what’s his name? Kenton?—is he still trying to push his way ahead of you?”