by Lindsey Hart
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Cam demanded angrily. He was panting, not from his rapid fire sprint out of the house but from the potency of his rage.
Sarah’s eyes narrowed. The sun illuminated the gold flecks in them and played over her ash blonde hair like a halo. The fact that he noticed both of those things only added to his rage.
“I was dragging palm fronds onto the beach. Thought I would spell out a word for myself,” Sarah spat.
“SOS? What the fuck are you thinking!” Cam stalked round the beach, kicking at the carefully laid out fronds. When he was finished he whirled, chest heaving. He didn’t expect Sarah to launch herself at him like a spitting wildcat.
She knocked him to the sand, screaming obscenities and beating his chest furiously. Cam was so shocked at the force of her anger that all he could do was lay there and take the pounding. Most of her blows glanced off him harmlessly but when she landed one to his jaw that stung so bad, he let out a low, menacing growl and grabbed her wrists in his hands. He held her fast and that only turned the burning rage in her eyes to an inferno.
“Let me go! Let me go asshole!” She screamed. He held her fast, waiting for her to calm down so he could speak to her rationally. With his own rage riding high, he doubted that either of them would be able to form a coherent sentence for quite some time.
Sarah finally stilled, realizing that fighting him was futile. As both of them calmed down, Cam realized that she was straddling his waist and her little black dress she’d worn to the club where his men had found her the night before, had ridden way up exposing a delicate set of black lace panties.
She seemed to realize the precarious position she was in at the same time he did. She froze. Her mouth parted slightly before she slammed her lips closed. Her tongue darted out to moisten them and the action sent a jolt of pure, raging desire right to Cam’s groin.
Before she could notice what she’d just done to him, he lifted a leg and sent her sprawling into the sand beside him. He quickly clamored to his knees and rose to his feet.
When she’d recovered from that shock she glared up at him. “You are a pig Cameron Spade,” she screamed. She picked up a handful of sand and threw it towards his face.
Cam turned away at the last second. He was almost glad to see Sarah so unnerved. He didn’t like the calm, collected way she’d looked at him after she’d woken earlier that afternoon. No, he liked to see her ruffled and out of control.
He liked it far too much.
Cam pushed that annoying realization to the back of his mind. “You are not leaving this island until I say so. I thought I made that clear. Actually, we both know that it’s not me who has the say. It’s your brother. As soon as Trace hands those photos over, you can go home. Don’t think about leaving until then. Don’t make me tie you up again either. I’ve given you free range of this island because I’m not the beast you think I am. I gave you my trust and you’ve already abused it. See that it doesn’t happen again or I can make your stay here very uncomfortable.”
Sarah’s eyes widened slightly before she realized she was reacting to him and quickly schooled her features into a black look of rage. “I hate you. The whole world hates you. Did you know that?”
For some reason her words cut deep. Cameron kept his own face a careful blank. “No more signals. No more trying to escape.” He ground out. He was rewarded with a look of pure, undiluted hatred. “Remember that I’m your ticket out of here. If anything happens to me, you’re going to be stuck here for a very long time. I hope you understand that.” Cam didn’t wait for her to respond. He stalked angrily away.
He was nearing the house when Sarah, wildcat that she was, passed him. She slammed into the bungalow and a minute later he heard the reverberating echo of her door being rather less than gently closed.
He shrugged off his anger and his foul mood. He couldn’t let Sarah Redden of all people get under his skin. So what if she looked like a sensual goddess? So what if her face haunted him to the point he was denied rest? She was just another woman. He’d had others, just as pretty, just as sensual and shapely. Even some just as wild. She was just a woman.
He chanted the words over and over in his mind as he fired up his barbeque. He’d put a couple steaks on and let the smell waft right to Sarah’s open window. She hadn’t had anything to eat in over a day. She was probably starving.
He figured that was about as good a revenge plan as any he could muster up on short notice.
CHAPTER 5
A gentle breeze, warm and scented with the salty tang of the ocean, drifted through the open window. The sheer white curtains stirred and rustled softly.
Sarah started. She sat bolt upright in bed, unsure where she was for a moment before everything came crashing back.
She was being held for ransom on an island in the middle of god knew where.
Her first thought was of escape. Her second and more rational thought was of her growling stomach. She was starving.
The bastard, Cameron Spade, barbequed himself dinner the previous evening knowing full well what the scent of frying meat would do to her. She had her pride, damn him. She wasn’t going to give in as easily as all that, especially not after what he’d done at the beach.
Much to her annoyance, her body heated at the reminder of the way Cameron felt underneath of her. He was all straining, rock hard muscle. His abs and thighs hadn’t been the only hardness she felt. They had both realized at the same time that her dress had ridden up, exposing her underwear. She was literally pressed right against his pelvis and she hadn’t missed his reaction to that realization.
She was contemplating that strange current she’d felt when she heard a distant roar overhead. She paused, thinking perhaps that it was just the wind or the crashing of the ocean against the sandy shores. It came to her like the sudden stir of a tropical storm, that the distant buzzing could only be that of an engine.
A plane or a helicopter! There had to be something or someone flying overhead!
Sarah jumped off the bed. She opened her door gently and when she saw no sight of Cameron in the hallway she ran through the single story bungalow and out the back door. There was still no sight of her captor so she sprinted towards the beach.
She’d noticed the day before that there was a dock area with a small sailboat on the far side of the beach. She had no idea how to sail a boat so she discounted the idea as a means of escape but she knew that the boat must have an emergency kit on board which meant that it likely had a flare gun.
She cursed herself for not having checked it the day before.
Sarah used nearly all of her waning energy reaching the sailboat. She jumped on board the deck and flew into the small cabin. It took her all of a minute to locate the emergency kit which was fastened to the wall. She threw open the metal hinges. The flare gun was located inside. With trembling hands she picked up the small orange gun and loaded the flares.
She ran out onto the beach, waiting. The buzz of that engine was getting louder and closer with every passing second. Her heart leapt. She wasn’t too late!
She waited another minute before she saw the plane. It was nothing more than a spec in the sky, so far above that it couldn’t possibly see her flare. How could the engine sound so loud? Her heart sank as she realized the ocean and the island had played tricks, somehow making the plane sound lower and closer than it really was.
She cursed under her breath, raised the flare gun and fired a single shot into the air. She waited, gripping the other two flares in her hand. She couldn’t waste them. The plane seemed like it was a million miles higher than her flare. She watched, her hopes dashed, as the plane moved on, completely oblivious to her plight below. A tiny white stream of jet fuel marked its path as it slowly flew out of sight, disappearing into the bright blue, endless horizon.
A twig snapped behind her and Sarah whirled. The flare gun slipped from her fingers and hit the sand as Cameron approached her from the bush. The look on his face told
her that he had seen the entire thing.
“I would ask what you think you’re doing, especially after our conversation yesterday, but I watched the entire thing. I would have stopped you but we both know the plane was far too high.” Cameron’s blue eyes weren’t as frigid and unfeeling as they had been the day before. Now, ironically enough, there was a hint of mockery and laughter in them that made them sparkle. Perhaps it was just the sunlight… “Are you going to tackle me again?” This time his mocking grin matched the glint in his eyes.
Sarah’s harsh words died away. She could deal with rage and insolence and anger but she wasn’t quite prepared for Cameron to respond the way he had. Did he actually find this funny? Her eyes dropped away from his face, landing unwittingly on his black clad chest and khaki shorts. He was barefoot, as though he’d left the house in a hurry despite his confident words. He looked almost normal, like a regular human being, not some loan shark who had built an empire off other’s misfortune.
More than that, Sarah noticed the hard set of his broad shoulders. He filled out a t-shirt as well as any man could ever aspire to. His legs were thick with striated, rock hard muscles. She swallowed hard past a throat that suddenly seemed too closed up. She was aware of a strange undercurrent in the air between them.
There was something wildly exhilarating about Cameron Spade. She’d felt it on the beach the day before when she’d been astride him. She felt it now.
A plan, as quick and wicked as any she’d ever had, took shape in her mind. What was it they said? You catch more flies with honey than vinegar? She could give him honey if that’s what it took. He would be more pliable if he was under her thumb, not the other way around.
“You said yesterday that you’re no animal but you’re certainly no gentleman either.” Sarah moderated her voice so that it was almost gentle.
Cameron hid his emotions well but she noticed the gleam of surprise in his eyes. He expected her to lash out at him. “You’re right about that but then again I never claimed to be a gentleman.”
“Yet, even the crudest man would offer me something to eat and a fresh change of clothes.” She glanced down at her black sparkly dress. It wasn’t so sparkly anymore. “You expect me to romp around this island in a dress fit for a club until my brother changes his mind? I want a hot bath and something to eat. Or is it your intention to kill me with the aroma of grilled steaks?”
Cameron fought a battle with himself and lost. He actually cracked a genuine smile. That small gesture was like a blow. Sarah couldn’t believe how that smile twisted her stomach and set a flight of nerves racing through her bloodstream.
What the hell was happening to her? She was never, in any world, going to pull a Stockholm syndrome and fall for Cameron Spade.
“I suppose that I can make us lunch. If you get it through your head to stop trying these hair brained attempts at getting off this island. Your efforts would be much better spent on calling your thick headed brother and telling him to return those photos.”
“Yes you said as much. Yesterday.”
Cameron shrugged. “Perhaps. Let me know if you change your mind about doing it. The sooner he makes the right decision, the sooner you can leave.”
“It won’t be soon enough,” Sarah muttered under her breath. She remembered, at the last second that she was supposed to start being kind. Cameron would never trust her otherwise. She brightened and forced a smile she hoped was believable. “I guess we should make the best of a shit situation. What’s on offer for lunch? And for the love of god, pleas lend me a t-shirt at the very least!”
Cameron considered her for a long moment. His eyes swept over her body and a rush of heat rose in those blue depths, shocking them both. He quickly blinked it away. Annoyance flittered over his face before he grunted rudely. “We’ll see what we can find.”
CHAPTER 6
Cameron was startled out of the first good sleep he’d had since arriving at the island five nights ago. He and his surly guest had called an unexpected truce. Sarah spent her days wading through the waves, collecting shells and exploring the island. She seemed happy. She was even polite. It was suspicious. Cameron didn’t trust her. Far from it; he was warier than ever.
He had good reason to be. He sensed more than heard footsteps outside in the hall. He froze. The gentle padding could only belong to Sarah. There was no one else on the island and no way to get there without his noticing. He would have heard the noise of anything landing or a boat pulling up.
He feigned sleep, careful to make his breathing deep and even while he waited, wondering why on earth she was creeping through the hallway in the middle of the night. He was more annoyed than he was intrigued. She’d woken him just when he finally found rest. Her face haunted his dreams and his every waking hours. As a result, he seemed to be perpetually exhausted and in a foul mood.
The footsteps paused outside his door. She waited before creeping in. Cam kept up with his deep breaths. He was on his back so the charade was easy enough. Those shuffling steps sidled up to the bed. There was a sharp intake of breath before something cold and hard was pressed to his throat.
He cracked an eyelid, letting her know he was awake. The moonlight streaming through the large window by his bed glinted off the blade of a huge knife.
“Where did you get that from? The kitchen knife block?” He quipped, surprising her.
Sarah’s breath hitched, but she pressed the knife further into his skin. “Of course I got it from the kitchen. It’s real stupid to leave them lying around. And for you not to lock your door at night.”
“Or yours I suppose. Perhaps I should start doing so like I promised I would if you did anything stupid. Maybe I should tie you up for this.”
Her gorgeous lips flattened out into a thin line. “You’re not in any positon to be threatening me.”
“It wasn’t a threat, just a thought.” The look Sarah shot him was absolutely murderous. It was very apparent that she wanted to smack his smug grin right off his face. “Oh, I’m sorry. Am I supposed to be afraid right now?” Cam mocked her, further angering her.
“Shut up!” Sarah pressed the blade in even closer. Another inch and he was sure she might actually do some damage. Cam still wasn’t afraid. Sarah looked like she knew what she was doing. She seemed to know just how much pressure to apply to that knife handle. He was sure he was in capable hands. “You are going to promise to pay me that ten million in exchange for your life. Forget about those photos. We’ll return them. I assume your life is worth the money?”
Cam swallowed carefully against the sharp edge. “How am I supposed to pay you if I’m dead?”
“You’ll promise now and I’ll release the knife. You’ll follow through on your word or does your word mean nothing at all?”
“Oh, my word means everything to me.” Cam leaned forward just an inch, pressing his throat into the blade. A sharp sting traveled up his neck and a warm rush followed. Sarah gasped. Her hand wavered for just a second. It was all the time he needed to reach up and grasp her wrist. He squeezed unmercifully until she cried out in pain and dropped the blade. He immediately scooped it up as it fell to the mattress.
Cam stood, walked to the window and threw the knife outside. He glared at Sarah who slowly backed away from his bed. “You know Sarah, the one mistake you made was underestimating your opponent. I heard that your brother grew up on the streets. Quite admirable of him to protect you and raise you, I must admit.” Her eyes widened. “Oh yes, I’ve heard that story.” He stalked closer to her, his steps slow and calculated, almost predatory. “You must have heard mine as well. I too grew up in the roughest parts of town. If you think you’re the first to hold a knife to my throat you’re sadly mistaken. I’m much, much tougher than you give me credit for.”
He was so close he could feel Sarah’s heated breath on his cheek. She seemed to be rooted to the floor. All he had to do was reach out and capture her wrist. She didn’t even struggle against him. It was almost a disappointment. Her eyes w
ere glazed over, as though she had gone somewhere else. His touch snapped her back to attention.
“I want to know why you need that money so badly? What the hell kind of trouble is your brother in?”
Sarah’s lips flattened again. Her eyes flashed with defiance and he knew she wasn’t going to tell him. Well, he would just have to make her speak. He remembered that she said she couldn’t swim. Now would be a good time to find out if she’d been lying to him.
Cam dragged her from the room, down the hall and outside. The full moon glistened overhead. Palm fronds swayed gently with the breeze. The night was close and warm. He traversed the worn path down to the beach, dragging Sarah behind him.
She didn’t even protest. She knew her strength was no match for his. He almost wished she would fight him just a little.
When they reached the water’s edge she did panic. She struck out at him, lashing against his chest and struggling to get away. She said nothing, just fought like a hellcat. He loved every single second of it. Of course he couldn’t actually let her know that.
“Stop that!” Cam’s arms closed around her waist. He jammed her roughly up against his chest, containing her flailing arms. She ceased struggling for just a second, shocked at being thrust against him. He took that second to pick her up in his arms. She went completely still as he started to wade into the water.
She was wearing that black dress again and it was so tight he felt all her curves lean into him. She decided that he was the lesser of two evils in that moment and she clung to him, obviously afraid. Cam waded in, the ocean’s cool waters lapping around his legs. He went in up to his waist. He paused for only a second to stare down at Sarah’s fear stricken face. She seemed absolutely paralyzed. He waded deeper, until he was in up to his neck.
She clung to his shoulders almost frantically while trying all the while not to make it obvious how afraid she was. He admired her strength. Another woman would have screamed and begged when she realized what he was about to do.