by Alicia Rae
“Yes, this has never happened before.” My hands nervously fidgeted with the hem of my shirt.
Brooke gave me very specific instructions on how to handle the situation. I did not want to call the police, but this needed to be done, and it needed to be done right. I was hoping it would just all blow over.
Matt West, the local officer, came by. He took my statement and the letter as evidence. He explained that these situations were common among authors, celebrities, and others in the public eye, even that it was difficult to keep a penname in tack with internet sources these days. He also mentioned that if the offender was ignored, he would usually get bored and stop on his own. I hoped he was right.
While Officer West finished writing the report, my doorbell rang again. When I opened the door, I realized that I had completely spaced my date with Kyle. His shoulders were tense, and I guessed that he had seen the police car out front. As soon as he walked in, he tried to gauge the situation at hand.
“Are you alright? What’s going on?” His eyes frantically searched every inch of me, checking for injury.
When he pulled me into a tight hug, I sagged into his embrace, thankful for his presence. I was on edge.
“Yes, I’m alright.”
Officer West walked toward us with papers in hand along with the letter in an evidence bag. The sight made a sharp shudder run down my spine.
“That will be all, ma’am. I will be in contact with you within the next few days. In the meantime, please call us if you have any questions or concerns.”
He tipped his hat to me and then Kyle before he walked out. His gesture reminded me of a Western sheriff.
“Thank you,” I said after him.
“Lily, please tell me what the hell is going on before I lose my mind. What happened? Are you sure you’re alright?” Kyle asked with concern.
“Yes, I’m fine.” I nodded. “Just a misunderstanding.” I reached up on my toes, pulled his head toward mine, and kissed his lips softly.
He was quickly distracted by my kiss. He continued to kiss me until we were both breathless.
This…this is what I needed for the last hour. “I missed you,” I added shyly. “Oh, and I have to get ready for our date.” I went to turn on my heels, but I was quickly stopped by strong arms around my waist.
“Nice try, Lily. That almost worked,” he admonished. “But I’m learning to read you better with time. Let’s try again, and you’re going to have to clarify the situation a lot more than by saying it was a ‘misunderstanding.’” His voice was firm, not leaving much wiggle room.
Crap. Here we go. “I got an odd fan letter today, and my editor told me to report it.”
Kyle’s body tensed around me. His eyes darkened, and it instantly made me feel fear for anyone who would ever cross this man.
“Was that the first time?”
“Yes…because I use a pen name. It’s odd that someone was able to find out it was me, period.” I tried to keep the nervousness out of my voice.
I did not want to stress out Kyle. Neither one of us needed this nonsense on our plate right now.
He gently tilted my face up to his, and he kissed my forehead. “Thank you for telling me, Lily. Next time, please call me, so I can be here for you.” His fingers lightly stroked my chin. “Don’t worry about anything, Lily. I will check into this,” he promised.
I pulled back to look into his eyes. “The cop didn’t seem too concerned. He made it sound like it would blow over since it was the first time I was contacted. It will be fine.” I wasn’t sure if the reassurance was for Kyle or me.
“Later, we’ll go over the details, and you’ll tell me everything you remember. I will check into it and keep you safe. Right now though, I have something to ask you.” He looked down at me with hopeful eyes. “How about a trip?”
“A trip? Where to?” I asked, still feeling out of sorts. Then, it dawned on me. “Oh! For our date?”
“Um, not exactly. This trip was supposed to be for date five.” He chuckled softly. “Given the circumstances, I think this calls for a valid date swap.” Kyle smirked. “Promise me that you’ll keep an open mind.”
Now, I was curious and nervous at the same time. “Okay…what is it?”
“I want you to come to Lake Tahoe with me…” He paused, his eyes fixated on mine. “For the week.”
My mouth gaped open. Okay, that is not what I was expecting. Not. Even. Close. “Lake Tahoe? For the whole week? But I have to work, and so do you.”
“First, I live in Tahoe, so I can work from there. Second, you are a writer, and I’m hoping you can write from anywhere. Finally, I’m not leaving you here alone until I know you’re protected. As a matter of fact, I’m trying to give you a choice. If you make the wrong one, I’ll just throw you over my shoulder and make you come with me.” He gave me a sexy grin, laced with a silent challenge.
My eyes widened at his declaration. It sounds wonderful…but am I ready to go to his hometown? That’s a BIG step.
“At your horrified expression, I’m going to assume you aren’t ready, but it will be okay, Lily. I want you to come and see where I’m from. So, what’ll it be? Caveman you out of here…or will you kindly accept my offer?”
His complacent expression challenged me as I debated his kidnap-or-accept offer.
A getaway did sound great. What do I have to lose? Being able to do my job from anywhere was definitely a benefit, and to keep my timeline in place, I would have to work while I was there. And the letter did have my nerves wound tight.
“Okay. I’ll pack tonight, and you can pick me up in the morning,” I said, surrendering.
“Not a chance. I’m not leaving you alone here tonight. I’ll stay here with you, or you can stay at my place. The choice is yours, beautiful.”
My mouth dropped again for the second time in less than a few minutes. The damn man sure could be bossy when he wanted. We’ll have to work on that. The chances of winning this encounter looked slim. Well, two could play that game.
“My place, so I can pack.”
“Deal. I’ll check the airlines for flights,” he said.
“I’ll throw in a pepperoni pizza? Or we could go to the concessions?”
“Pepperoni pizza sounds great. Six pieces for me, two pieces for you.” He grinned.
I laughed and went into the kitchen to pull out a pizza. “With the way you are about food, I believe you could eat the whole thing.” I set the oven to preheat.
I turned to watch Kyle as he looked out the back patio door with a peaceful expression on his face.
“This is an incredible view, Lily. It’s no wonder you stayed here in Florida. Did you always want to live off the ocean like this?” he asked, still gazing out the window.
“Yes, I think so. So far, it has felt like home for me. Every time I look at the ocean, it puts me at ease. I can watch the water for hours.”
“I can imagine waking up to a view like this would be very relaxing. So, are you ready to start packing?” He turned to look at me.
“Yep, let’s get to it.”
In my bedroom, I sifted through my closet, grabbed my black suitcase, and set it on the bed. Kyle leaned up against the door frame, watching me quietly, as I began to pack. I packed a few of my favorite T-shirts and shorts, a couple of sundresses, a pair of light capris, and a few lightweight PJs. I wasn’t sure if Kyle would have company or not, so I wanted to make sure I had appropriate pajamas.
I opened my lingerie drawer to find a few bras with matching panties. I could feel Kyle’s heated gaze on me. I turned, trying to keep my expression neutral, as I placed my lingerie in the suitcase on the bed while watching him from the corner of my eye. He walked to the dresser, pulled open my top drawer, and took out my new lace garter set. He came up behind me, placed his lips by my ear, and put one hand on my hip. His other hand reached around me and gently tossed the black lace garter set on top of my clothing.
“This should definitely come with us, too,” Kyle said in a
husky voice. He inhaled my scent, and then he kissed my neck ever-so slowly.
My body melted under his familiar touch. I missed this intimacy with him even though it had been only two days. Two days. That’s it. It had felt like an eternity. Wanting him closer to feel his hard body pressing against my softer one, I rocked back. A low growl rippled through his chest as his other hand joined my waist, molding us together, as he dropped his mouth to the side of my upper throat.
“Lily…what you do to me…I can’t control it…or explain it. But you are in my mind, my thoughts, even my dreams. You beguile me.” His hands stroked up to the bottom of my breasts and back down slowly to stop at the top of my waist.
His words overwhelmed me, but I knew deep down that he did the same to me. I wasn’t ready to have those thoughts, so I pushed them out of my head. Instead of answering, I turned in his arms and reached my hands around his neck to pull his face closer to mine. I closed my mouth over his, biting on his lower lip.
Another growl erupted from his chest as he tackled me to the bed, making me squeal. I loved it when I made him lose control. It was like he couldn’t get enough of me. His kiss deepened as he gripped my hips, grinding his erection against me. I got rid of his shirt, needing to touch more of his skin. Then, I made his pants disappear, too, craving what was hiding underneath.
As Kyle reached for a condom out of his front pocket and sheathed himself, I was relieved that he always remembered to use protection because my body’s sensations would take over the rational part of my brain while in the heat of passion.
After finishing, he removed each article of clothing from my body in a slow, torturous way while licking and kissing along my tender spots. Each gentle bite was soothed with a kiss as he made his way up my thighs. It was very erotic, making my whole body shudder. Tingles hummed deep in my belly, aching for release, as he let the anticipation build higher and higher. He was definitely teasing me.
“Please, Kyle,” I said in a voice I did not recognize as my own. It filled with desire. I lifted my pelvis toward his body in a way that could only be taken as an invitation.
He gave a deliciously low chuckle. He deliberately put two fingers inside me, immediately pressing right on that sensitive spot. Ahh…
Lifting himself over me, he shifted his hips until his erection was brushing my clit, instantly sending my orgasm spiraling with no end in sight. I groaned. My body wanted more, always more. His quickly slid inside me, making me whimper as a second orgasm broke free. Oh god…
Once I recovered, his mouth found mine. He kissed me senseless while I tried to match his strokes. I rocketed my hips in time with the rhythm he was setting. A deep pull formed low in my belly again, inching me closer and closer to another orgasm. Just then, Kyle angled my hip and gave me a hard thrust that sent me seeing stars as a third orgasm rocked me to my core.
“Lily,” Kyle groaned his release.
We both lay there, trying to catch our breaths, as he put his forehead to mine. Our sweaty bodies were pressed together as I moved my hands to stroke his back, embracing this intimacy between us.
“I cannot wait for you to visit to see where I grew up, stay at my house, and meet my family,” Kyle said softly after our breathing returned to normal.
My hand paused, and I had to force it to move again. I was nervous to meet Kyle’s family. I didn’t want to tell him that and risk hurting his feelings. I would just have to get over my fears. My stomach rumbled.
Kyle chuckled. “Looks like we better go throw in that pizza.”
“I’m starving. Someone disturbed my dinnertime.” I gave him my teasing look.
“It’s not my fault you started packing your sexy lingerie in front of me. I couldn’t help myself. Picturing you in that black lace set with straps to the garter piece made other parts of my body take over.” His eyes were darkening again.
“Oh no.” I laughed. “You have to feed me first. I’m going to need more than two pieces of pizza to keep up with your stamina.” I got up off the bed and began to look for my panties.
“I’ll see what I can spare.” After getting dressed, he stood up and lightly spanked my behind, making me yelp. “Hurry. Food, woman!” He smirked.
After pizza, I quickly finished packing the last few items as Kyle entered the bedroom with a movie in hand. He put it in, made his way to the bed, and plopped down, making me almost bounce with his weight. I found the remote and hit Play. I was more than ready for some downtime.
“Tommy Boy? You are such a guy.” I rolled my eyes.
The movie began to play as I snuggled into Kyle’s side. He tucked me into my familiar little nook, and I breathed in his scent. I let out a comfortable sigh as my body relaxed against his.
After the movie, I did give him credit. We’d both laughed several times. The movie was so funny and dumb at the same time. I guessed it really would remain a classic.
Once the TV was off, I tucked the blankets around myself.
Kyle’s voice filled the silence. “I like seeing my flowers in your room.”
“Thank you. I like them in my room.” My cheeks pinked a bit, and I was relieved he couldn’t see me. “I like you in my room, too,” I added quietly.
Feeling my way over to his body, I crawled on top of him. Using my sense of touch to guide me, I slowly kissed my way around his navel and then nipped at his pelvis. He inhaled sharply.
“I simply have not had enough,” I confessed.
With that, he pulled me up and made love to me until I was breathless.
The truck was coming straight for us. There was nowhere else for it to go. I knew we were going to hit, and my heart constricted unbearably at the thought of not being able to stop in time. The light was so bright that it was blinding me.
Maybe I could have missed him if only I would have turned in a different direction. Maybe I could have cranked the wheel hard or hit at a different angle to better our chances.
But it was too late, and we were past too many maybes.
Screams were overtaken by the deafening sound of metal crunching against metal.
“Lily! Lily! Wake up. It’s okay.”
Hard hands were shaking me.
“Lily, wake up. Come back to me. You’re okay. It’s just a nightmare.”
I opened my eyes to meet Kyle’s stare. His eyes, wide with worry, were illuminated by the night lamp. My pulse was beating frantically throughout my body as I tried to bring myself back to the present.
“No. It’s real…so real…” I felt torn apart inside. “It felt so real,” I cried.
“It wasn’t real, Lily. You’re here, here with me.” Kyle pulled me closer, gathering me in his arms.
Both of us were breathing erratically. Tears were streaming down my face and onto his chest.
“It’s okay now, Lily. You are here with me, not there. You don’t have to go there anymore.”
I sat lying against him quietly for a minute, trying to collect my thoughts and steady myself. “I try not to go there, but it just pulls me in. I can never win. It’s almost like my punishment…like I’m being punished for surviving,” I whispered.
He stroked my back, listening to my words. “No one is punishing you, Lily. You’ll get through this. I’ll help you find a way to get through this,” he promised.
He continued to caress my back as I thought about how often I’d had this nightmare. Some had varied slightly, but all were glimpses of the one drive home that had forever changed my life.
“I’m beginning to think the dreams will always be with me. They’ve haunted me for so long.”
Kyle was silent for a brief moment, still moving his hand along my back. “I think you need to forgive yourself first.” His voice was soft. “The accident was not your fault.”
“In my dream, I see different ways I could have avoided hitting that truck right before we collided. The images just keep repeating themselves.”
Kyle pulled my face up to his, looking into the depths of my eyes with strong determi
nation. “There is nothing, nothing you could have done to change what happened, Lily. There was no time. Who was driving makes no difference. You have to let it go.”
A half-choked sob escaped me. “I can’t…I just can’t.”
“You can because you are so much stronger than you let yourself believe. I’m right here, and I’m going to help you through this. Try to get some rest.” He kissed my tear-stained cheek with such tenderness. “Tomorrow is a new day.”
He drew my body into his chest, trying to comfort me. Tears continued to stream down my cheeks as his words echoed in my mind.
How can I let them go? My loving parents and sister—how do I let them go? I didn’t want to let them go. I wanted them here with me. I wanted to erase that awful day. I wanted the other driver to have never left his home in the first place. I wanted to have my family, so I wasn’t all alone. I wanted so many things, things that I could never have. It was all out of my power to change them.
My emotions quickly exhausted me as sleep pulled me back in, taking the pain away.
I awoke early and decided to go for a jog while Kyle was still sleeping. He looked so young and carefree while he slept. I wanted to reach out and stroke his face, but I didn’t want to wake him up. He looked too adorable to disturb.
I jotted a quick note, telling him where I was going, and I left it on my pillow.
It was another camera-perfect sunrise. That was my favorite part of Florida and the beach. It gave me a sense of peace and calmness that I could not find anywhere else. The breathtaking sight of an ocean sunrise and sunset still left me speechless after three years, like I was still watching them for the first time.
Sweat dripped down my back as I made myself run faster. My muscles ached in protest. I forced my mind to push my body harder. It was precisely the relief that I both needed and craved.
As I approached my cottage, I saw Luke. He was dressed in his workout clothes, and he was heading down the sidewalk with his iPod in his hand. He looked like he was going out for his own run along the shore.