Escape With Me

by Lakes, Krista

  Frantic need began to stir. Her body needed his in a primal, almost spiritual way. This was good, but she needed more. She needed all of him.

  She wrapped her legs around his waist, drawing him deeper into her. The low, masculine groan as he filled her to the hilt drove her wild. His hips sped up, driven by increasing need. He felt it too — the urge for more.

  He looked down at her, his eyes wide with pleasure. “Cassie.”

  Hearing her name like that undid her. She shattered beneath him and with her shattering, brought him to breaking with her. His breath came hard and fast and then suddenly stilled. His body tightened as hers squeezed around him.

  She'd never had this before. This kind of sex was something that she'd only seen on late-night TV or read in books. It didn't happen in real life. There was always something in real life to distract her. The bunching of the sheets, an itch on her ear, the sound of a siren outside.

  Only this time, this was perfect. Wyatt was perfect. There were no distractions or things to take away from focusing only on the perfection of his body joining with hers. He filled her so completely that she could think of nothing else.

  He tucked his head into her shoulder, his breath coming in panting gasps. Her own breathing was short and fast, her arms and legs locked around him, keeping him with her. His weight was comforting and warm. The pounding of his heart matched her own. She didn't want to move from this spot.

  Slowly, their breathing came back down. He kissed her shoulder, his mouth sweet against her skin. She hated when he shifted off of her, freeing her from his body. Yet, he wrapped his arm around her, snuggling her into him and she found that it was almost as good.

  “Worth the wait?” she asked him, looking up at his face.

  He grinned. “If I had known, I never would have given you a drink that first night. We would have just come straight up here. There would have been only one small problem.”

  “What problem?” Cassie asked, frowning slightly.

  Wyatt grinned. “We never would have left this room.”

  Cassie giggled and kissed him. “Who says we need to leave?”

  It was Wyatt's turn to grin. “Then I guess I'll just have to stay here in heaven with you forever.”

  And although this was supposed to be just a vacation fling, that sounded like an excellent plan to Cassie.

  Chapter Twelve

  Wyatt

  Wyatt woke with the morning sun like he usually did. The early morning light flickered through the windows and stopped his dreams. Just like every morning, he wished he'd closed the curtains better. He sat up and glared at the offending light.

  Except, he wasn't in his bungalow. He wasn't home. He was in bed with Cassie.

  He blinked twice, looking around the room and remembering where he was. He'd slept so well he'd assumed he was home. The sleep had been deep and restful. Even though it was just after dawn, he felt ready to take on the day.

  Cassie shifted in her sleep beside him. She was so beautiful in the morning light. Her dark hair splashed against the crisp white linen, and she looked utterly kissable. He knew she was still completely naked under the sheet, and despite the fact they'd gone twice last night, he already felt like he could go for a third.

  She was just that attractive to him. She made him feel twenty years younger.

  But, he didn't want to wake her either. She looked so peaceful. He stared at her in the morning light, memorizing the curves of her face and the soft sound of her breathing. In this moment, she was perfect. She was his. Time held still while he watched her.

  Wyatt knew he should leave her room. As a hotel employee, he wasn't supposed to be here. If he were found, it would mean his job. Since he wasn't working for the money, this wasn't a huge problem, but it would mean he would have to find another hotel to work at. It would be incredibly annoying.

  It had taken a fair amount of effort to hide who he really was. Getting hired somewhere new took effort. Plus, he liked bar-tending here. He had friends on the staff, and he'd found all his favorite places to go in the area. He had a life here. A life he liked.

  He knew he should go, but he wasn't about to leave Cassie. Not willingly, anyway. The “Do Not Disturb” sign was out on the door, so he didn't have to worry about one of the maids finding them. He was probably safer hiding out in her room until it was time for his next shift anyway. There wasn't a good reason for him to be on hotel grounds right now.

  Wyatt carefully eased out of bed and tugged on the curtains. As much as he loved the way the sunlight warmed Cassie's face, he didn't want it to wake her as well. She needed the sleep. This was her vacation after all.

  The room darkened, but he could still make out the curves of her hips under the thin sheet. He crawled back into bed, and she rolled into him, snuggling into his shoulder.

  “Don't leave,” she whispered, her eyes still shut. “I don't want this to be a dream.”

  He smoothed a strand of hair away from her face and caressed her cheek with his fingertips. “I'll stay,” he promised.

  She sighed with contentment and fell back asleep. He watched her, wondering how she could have this kind of effect on him. She mesmerized him. She made him laugh and smile. He found himself feeling alive when she was around. She filled him with energy and excitement, yet at the same time made him feel calm and safe.

  He found himself wishing that she never had to leave. He never wanted her vacation to end.

  It was the first time he'd ever wished that for a guest.

  For a moment, he let himself imagine what life would be like if Cassie stayed. They would have to rent a place together, but that wouldn't be a problem. Wyatt could provide her with any kind of house she wanted.

  She worked in the hotel business, so it wouldn't be hard to get her a job here if she wanted.

  Or maybe they could just get on a sailboat and drift on the ocean from island to island. They didn't have to work. Wyatt worked the bar because he liked talking with people. He loved working and having something to do, plus it gave him a great way to meet women.

  If Cassie were here, he didn't need to meet women. They could find other things to occupy their time. The idea of all the things they could do “filling time” made Wyatt's body start to respond. It didn't help that Cassie's breast pressed against his chest, teasing him with her every breath.

  “You are thinking so loud I can hear it,” Cassie murmured. Her eyes were still closed, and her hand rested on his chest. She peeked one eye open and looked at him. “You aren't having second thoughts, are you?”

  “Second thoughts?” Wyatt asked.

  “About being here.” Her voice was steady, but he could hear a tremble of emotion run through it.

  “If I didn't want to be here, I wouldn't be,” he assured her. He smiled softly. “And the only second thoughts I'm having are the plans I'm coming up with to get you back into bed again tonight.”

  Her smile stretched across her face as if he'd given her the best compliment of her life.

  “I think I can arrange that,” she told him. “You don't even have to do anything fancy.”

  “Well, there go all my plans then.” He shrugged and did a fake sigh. Cassie chuckled, pressing her cheek into his chest.

  “What were you thinking about, though?” she asked. “You were all tense.”

  “Was I?”

  “Yeah. Like you were worried about something,” she explained. She looked up at him and pressed her fingertip gently at the center of his forehead. “Plus, your brows were all thoughtful.”

  He took a deep breath, then asked the question on the tip of his mind. “Would you ever leave your job?” he asked her.

  She shifted her body so that she could see him better but still have her head on his shoulder.

  “Possibly. I like my job, but I don't like how corporate it all is. I would like more freedom,” she answered. “Are you thinking of leaving your job? Is that what you were thinking about?”

  “If you could do anything, w
hat would you do?” he asked, not answering her questions.

  “I'd open my own hotel,” she answered without hesitation. “It's a pipe dream, but if I could do anything, that's what I'd do. I'd run it how I want to run things. Why? What would you do?”

  “I'm doing it,” Wyatt replied. “I live in one of the most beautiful places in the world. I have a job where beautiful women take body shots off of me.”

  “That does sound fun,” Cassie said with a grin. “It's definitely not corporate.”

  Wyatt had to agree.

  “Why are you working here?” Cassie asked him. “I mean, other than for the beautiful people and the body shots. You are smarter than just a bartender.”

  He raised his eyebrows at the backhanded compliment. “Thank you?”

  “You're not just a bartender,” she clarified. Her eyes went to his face. “There's more to you than that.”

  “It's what I want to be right now,” he replied. “It's the carefree life. I worked all my youth, teenage years and early adulthood for my father. All I ever did was work. There were no spring break parties or summers abroad. It was always about the work. I wanted something that I chose. Something I wanted but could never have.”

  “So you picked an endless spring break after years of not having any.” Cassie nodded thoughtfully. “I can see the appeal.”

  “You'd be one of the first,” Wyatt replied. “My father must be rolling in his grave.”

  Cassie rolled up on to her elbow. “Are you happy?”

  The question caught him by surprise. “What?”

  “Are you happy?” she repeated. She motioned to the room. “With what you've chosen. This life you've made here on the island.”

  He thought for a moment before nodding. “Mostly.”

  “Then who cares what your father would think?” Cassie asked. “What matters is that you're happy. It's your life. You should do with it what you want.”

  “You know, you're gorgeous when you get passionate,” Wyatt told her. He loved how bright her eyes were. The slight pink in her cheeks and the way she seemed to vibrate with energy was absolutely stunning.

  She blushed at his words.

  “And you're right,” he continued. “Maybe you should join me.”

  He hadn't meant to say it so bluntly. He hadn't meant to say it all. It had just slipped out.

  “Here?” Her eyebrows raised, but at least she didn't give him an immediate no. He could see she was at least considering it. Slowly, she started to shake her head. “I can't.”

  “Why?”

  “Why? Because I have a life back in Arizona,” she replied. “Because I'm not a risk taker. I'm a planner. I'm responsible and boring most of the time.”

  “So?”

  “It's not me. It's not who I am.” She shrugged and sighed. “I couldn't just leave everything I've worked for on a whim.”

  Wyatt knew that they'd only known each other for a few days. They weren't really a couple. There were no promises, no real dates, and she didn't even know who he really was. Yet, her words stung. She wouldn't stay.

  It was a fantasy anyway.

  “If you change your mind, I know a great guy looking to share rent on a bungalow,” he told her, covering up his feelings with humor. “He'll give you a great rate.”

  She chuckled. “Yeah? You'd be my roommate?”

  “Me? No.” He shook his head. “The guy who rents the jet-skis is the one looking.”

  Cassie chucked a pillow at his head. He caught it and tossed it to the side, looking over at her. She'd sat up, and the sheet no longer covered her body.

  “How much time do you have before your friends come looking for you again?” he asked, his eyes glued to her chest. He was definitely ready to go again.

  She grinned at him, her eyes dark and lustful. “Long enough to make you jealous of the jet-ski guy being my roommate,” she replied.

  And then she pressed her body against him and kissed him.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Cassie

  For the second time this week, Cassie was late to an event.

  This time, Brianna just stood there grinning at her as Cassie jogged up to the meeting place five minutes late and out of breath. Luckily, Cassie wasn't the last one to arrive.

  “Wyatt?” Brianna asked as Cassie joined them on the edge of the beach and the resort. “You're never late.”

  “Maybe.” Cassie tried an indifferent shrug.

  “Right. That's why your positively glowing and can't stop smiling,” Brianna said with a chuckle. “And you have sex hair.”

  Cassie's hands flew to her head, and Brianna laughed again. Her hair was fine. It was still smoothed neatly back into a ponytail. Brianna was messing with her. Cassie glared at her, but Brianna just grinned.

  “Is Julia here?” Cassie asked Brianna. “I haven't seen her yet.”

  “That's because you haven't left your room all day,” Brianna teased. She grinned at Cassie. “Julia just got here a little while ago. She should be here soon. She wanted to change out of her airplane clothes.”

  “I'm glad she was able to make it,” Cassie replied. “She's been putting in a lot of overtime.”

  Brianna turned and looked back toward the hotel, shading her face with her hand. “There she is,” Brianna said, with a smile. Then, the smile quickly faded. “Oh no. Lorna's right behind her. Why is Lorna here?”

  “That's because Lorna's a bridesmaid,” Janessa informed them, coming up behind the two of them and joining the conversation.

  “What?” Cassie turned and stared at Janessa.

  “I didn't get much say in it. She went to Kyle's dad.” Janessa sighed and shrugged as they watched the two women walk down to the beach. “It was easier to just say yes than cause a family fight.”

  Cassie's eyebrows raised. “You're okay with Lorna being in your wedding?”

  Janessa shrugged. “It's just a wedding. I'm not inviting her into my marriage,” Janessa explained. “Besides, it keeps the peace. I want my day to be happy and fun, not full of sullen glares and Lorna sabotaging things because she didn't get to wear a blue dress too.”

  Cassie kept it to herself that she didn't think it was about the blue dress. It was just Lorna's style to sabotage things. She hoped that being in the wedding was enough to keep Lorna satisfied and protect Janessa's special day. It felt like sacrificing a virgin in hopes it would satiate the dragon's hunger long enough to escape. Only, you never really knew how hungry the dragon was.

  “I made it!” Julia announced with smiles and hugs as she arrived at the beach. “It was close, but I'm here!”

  “I'm so glad,” Cassie told her, wrapping her friend up in a hug. “It wouldn't be the same without you.”

  Lorna sniffed as she passed, making a disgusted face at Cassie.

  “Where are we supposed to be?” Lorna asked Janessa, pointedly ignoring Cassie and Brianna. “I have plans this afternoon.”

  Janessa put on a neutral smile. “Katy and Kyle are just down there talking with the minister. I'm sure they could use some help.”

  Lorna tossed her shiny blonde hair over her shoulder and flounced down the beach.

  “Wow. Who peed in her cheerios?” Julia asked.

  “Cassie did,” Brianna replied. “She stole the sexy bartender.”

  Julia's eyes went wide, and she grinned. “Seriously? That's fantastic.” She wrapped Cassie up in another hug.

  “Is it seriously that impressive that I went out with a guy?” Cassie asked her three friends.

  The three of them glanced at one another and Janessa nervously shifted her feet.

  “I'm going to be straight with you,” Brianna said, putting her hands on Cassie's shoulders. “Yes it is.”

  Cassie's mouth opened, but no words came out.

  “What Brianna means is...” Julia paused and thought for a moment. “She means yes. But, it's just because you've been working so hard. Your job is important to you, but you do let it dictate a lot of your life.”


  “I think you needed this vacation,” Janessa said gently. “And we're all just glad that you took the chance. You look so happy today.”

  As much as Cassie wished they were wrong, she knew they weren't. She'd been so focused on her career and work that she'd let her personal life slide. She couldn't remember the last time she'd gone on a date that wasn't work related.

  She was glad she was letting herself take this chance. The way that Wyatt made her feel was worth it.

  “If everyone could come over here, we'll start going over how this is going to work,” Kyle called out, motioning the groups of people waiting to step forward. “The sooner we have this figured out, the sooner we can go eat.”

  “Time to practice getting married,” Janessa told them. She grinned and did a little happy dance. “I'm so excited.”

  Together, the four of them headed down the beach to where the ceremony was going to be held.

  * * *

  “I am not walking with him.”

  Lorna stood in the center of the what was going to be the aisle and crossed her arms. She shot a disgusted look at the poor groomsman she was humiliating.

  “Lorna...” Janessa pressed her fingers into the bridge of her nose.

  “I don't look good with him,” Lorna explained. “He's too short for me. And fat. And do you not know how to shave your face or brush your hair?”

  Lorna gave the poor man an eye roll.

  The man was around five feet four inches and was stout, not fat. His hair was messy, but that's because it was windy on the beach and everyone's hair was a little messy. No one was dressed up except Lorna. Even the groom had a two-day stubble beard going. All the groomsmen did.

  It was utterly shallow and incredibly unfair of Lorna to say anything.

  “That's the way we have this planned,” Janessa tried to explain. “You come down the aisle with Chad. Then Cassie and Ben. Then Julia and Steve. Then Brianna and John. Then Katy with Max. Then me. It's been planned this way for weeks.”