Chapter 5

Sawyer

I run my hands over the smooth skin of her ass and keep kissing her. Even if it’s enjoyable, and she feels incredible lying on top of me, I’m taking the coward’s way out.

I came so close. I nearly told her. But I shouldn’t have even considered it.

If I were a better man, I’d have prevented this from happening.

It brings up too much shit to start thinking of the future, so I make the most of the present before I leave to finish the job I came here for.

Her breathing starts to increase and she makes a little whimpering sound that makes my skin rise.

If I had anything in my tank, I’d roll her over, and slide my cock inside her just to feel how wet she still is.

But even though I’d rather be making her come, I need to check on the weather report.

She’s flustered, cheeks pink and looking wild when she decides to crawl off me.

Her breathing is rough and it’s insanely satisfying to know I’m the reason she so out of sorts.

She flops down on her back, full breasts bouncing, nipples stiff and enticing as she stretches.

It takes all my resolve to pull myself out of bed. “I’m switching the radio on.”

I don’t add that if this weather is hanging around longer than the weekend, I will be too. I grab my jeans and yank them over my legs, reaching inside the back pocket for my cell.

When nothing appears on the screen and there’s still no coverage. My gut twists into knots. But there’s nothing to be done. Not until I can get into town.

Marlene eases up and reaches for the shirt she seems to have commandeered. “Good idea. Although I’m not sure I care right now. This has been…nice.”

I smile to myself as I flick the radio back on. It’s been more than nice. It’s been amazing. A break from reality I sorely needed but didn’t think I could afford.

I turn around, ready to ask her a few more questions and find her sitting on the edge of her bed, gazing at me.

The corner of her mouth turns up as her eyes roam over my body. Heat blazes through me as I recognize the interest written on her face.

I can only guess at what’s she thinking. If she’s going to ask me any questions, the news that the weather is passing and the hurricane warning has been lifted, seems to make her face fall.

Her shoulders sag a little. “I know you have somewhere to be, but is it wrong I wish you didn’t?”

I shake my head as I switch the radio lower and walk across to her. I pull her to standing and lift her chin, so she’s looking me in the eye. “I don’t want to make promises I can’t keep.”

She gives me a sad smile as she laces her arms around my neck. “Then don’t. Just promise me this isn’t the end…”

My chest starts to ache as she trails her fingernails through my hair. Her touch is silken, stirring more than lust as I try to come up with a reply that will satisfy her.

She’s incredible this woman. Sexy, smart, sweet. Everything I could have wanted and so much more.

But the timing couldn’t be worse. I can’t focus when my head and heart are shattering into pieces.

Whether I like it or not, this is going to have to end. And with the hurricane passing, we’ll be able to leave here soon enough.

I run my hand down her cheek and run my fingers into the back of her hair. “I’m going to do my best. That’s all I can promise you right now.”

She sighs. “The winds died down a little. I was thinking about checking on the damage.”

I pull her closer, not wanting to let her out of my arms. “Later,” I say.

I kiss her and don’t let go until she’s squirming in my arms and all I can think about is how much I want to protect her and keep her safe.

But as much as I want to, that’s the only thing I can’t promise her now.

***

Marlene

When he finally releases me, I have the craziest idea, that somehow the possibility of not seeing him again, makes him even more compelling.

I step out of his reach and instantly miss the security his body brings. “I want to photograph you.”

His lip curls and he shakes his head. “Nope.”

I force a pout and try to think of something to make him more willing. Since I’m pretty sure he’s as satisfied as I am, bribing him with sex when he’s just had an orgasm won’t work.

“I don’t need to photograph your face. You’d stay anonymous,” I say with a grin.

I ease back on the bed and cross my legs, eyes on the sloping muscle of his chest as he smiles. “And these photos would be for who exactly?”

I bite my lip and shrug. “Just me. They’d be a reminder of you…of this weekend.”

He chokes on a laugh as he takes a seat beside me. His hand runs up my bare thigh sending ripples of pleasure through my body. “And what about me? Do I get the take photos of you?”

His fingers are creeping further up; his eyes are heavy, so I know he’s considering it. “You can,” I breathe.

I think he’s about to kiss me again when he gives me a devilish smile. “And you’d develop these yourself? In your darkroom?”

Heat starts to build as his fingers reach my still wet center. I whimper as he leans closer and starts to finger me. “And you’d look at them when?”

My nipples are getting hard as his finger has me moaning and barely thinking. “When I needed to.”

His lips are a whisper away from mine. “And would you need to when you’re naked and horny?”

“Uh-huh,” I gasp.

He does kiss me then; his tongue merges with mine as I spread my legs wider.

I know he won’t put his cock in me again, but he’s more than willing to make me come before we leave my lighthouse.

He lifts my shirt with one hand and keeps kissing me until my legs are trembling.

Sawyer shifts back so his back is against the bedhead. He gestures for me to join him, so I scoot over and lean against him.

He places an arm around my shoulders and the other slides between my legs. I open them and relax against him as he picks up where he left off.

My skin is aflame when his hand sneaks under my shirt and starts rubbing my nipple.

Pleasure shudders through me as he licks my earlobe, pulling it gently, sucking and making shivers wrack my body. My climax is swift, and loud, drowning out the dying wind outside. If I had any neighbors, I’m certain they’d have heard me.

My heart is still pounding when he wraps his arms around me tighter and whispers in my ear. “Did your PA ever use remote access on your laptop?”

I huff a breath and pull away from him. He just gave me another orgasm and that’s where his mind was?

I climb off my bed and frown at him. “Wow. You really don’t stop working do you?”

He winces and pulls himself off my bed. “I said I wasn’t easy to live with…”

I’m too frustrated and coming down from sensational sex, so I don’t bother with anything more than a sigh.

I stalk to the window and don’t know how to feel about the weather settling outside.

It’s fitting really. I don’t know how to feel about him either. He’s wrecked me the same way the hurricane wrecked the connection between my lighthouse and cottage.

Since it’s clear he wants to start working, and he’ll need to get dressed at some stage, I shrug out of his shirt and grab my robe off a chair.

His eyes are on me as I cover myself up and step into a pair of Ugg boots I picked up in Australia. “So, has she?”

I spin around and tilt my head at him, growing more irritated for reasons I refuse to acknowledge. “I don’t know. I mean, she does stuff, I’m just not sure how she does it.”

His posture grows tense as I hand him his shirt. He pulls it over his head covering his lick-able upper body and heads back to the chair where my laptop sits.

Sawyer takes his seat again and fires up my laptop again. When he starts opening screens and tapping away rapidly, I screw my face up and decide to venture downstairs.

He barely pays me any attention as I slip down the stairs and into the semi-lit base of the lighthouse.

The wind is barely audible now I’m at ground level, but my heart is still rapid as I press my ear to the door.

When I hear nothing approaching the gale force winds of a hurricane, I unbolt the door and open it.

Wind throws my hair around my face, cold sea air fills my nostrils and I can see piles of debris lying on the ground.

The framing of the connection is there, but the flimsy walls are gone, leaving the wooden posts standing as a testament to the shoddy workmanship.

With a frown, I step into the wind, closing the door behind me as I make my way back across to my cottage.

Cold bites into my skin as wrap my robe tighter and step over the dislodged shrubs, and pieces of timber scattered over the grass.

My hands are on the door when I hear Sawyer call my name. I turn and find him scowling at me, laptop in hand as he hurries to my side.

“You could have waited. I’d have checked it was safe first.”

He looks so perturbed; I have to hide my smile. I’m not used to a man thinking he needs to look after me.

In my line of work, it’s every man or woman for herself. Having a gorgeous alpha male hanging around is something I’ve not experienced before.

And damn him. I like it.

I step aside and take my laptop from his hands as he opens the door. The hallway is cold, leaves and sand are inside the door but otherwise structurally it’s still intact.

I make my way past my darkroom and head to where I think the worst damage will be.

Sawyer immediately overtakes me and gives me another frown as he twists the door handle.

When it doesn’t budge, he has to push his shoulder against it. With a grunt, he moves the door enough so we can step inside.

The windows are all blown out; glass is strewn over the floor. Most of my photos have been blown off the walls and ash from the fire has covered the debris the hurricane deposited in a thick coat.

I lean against the wall and survey the damage and the amount of work I’ll have to do.

I’m making a mental list of who to contact, and how, when Sawyer suggests we check the rest of the house.

I follow him back out and check the kitchen is intact. I place my laptop on the table and retrace my steps so I can check on the most important room in the house.

My darkroom.

Sawyer is hot on my heels when I open the door. Since I’m not developing anything, I switch the normal light on and do a quick scan.

I can feel his eyes watching my every move as I check nothing is out of place. “This might be a stupid question. But why do you need a dark room? Can’t you get film developed in Landers Island?”

I should have known he’d ask. I eye him as I pick up a film canister and toy with it. “Some of the photos I take are sensitive.”

I don’t elaborate but I know he won’t drop it when he frowns and folds his arms across his chest. “You mean sensitive as in criminal activity sensitive?”

I can’t deny it. “Sometimes.”

I can almost see the millions of questions brewing as he looks around the room. “And you keep the film in here? Where anyone could find it?”

I frown at him. “No. I send the proofs to Liz. She keeps them in a safe.”

His expression grows more rigid. “So, Liz has access to your highly sensitive photos and she also has remote access to your files, your NL list, your website, handles all your admin and her loyalties were originally with your ex?”

I have absolutely nothing to say to that, so I just stare at him while my brain is connecting the dots. My voice comes out a squeak. “She’s my PA, I trust her.”

His eyebrows rise. “Obviously. But giving someone that much control over your life is asking for trouble.”

Any protest I had disappears when he jerks his thumb over his shoulder. “Anytime you’re connected to the internet; she can look at everything you are.”

I frown at him. “She wouldn’t do that.”

He shakes his head and extends his hand. “She can because you granted her approval.”

My mouth opens in a silent ‘O’ as the penny drops. Shit. Did I give her permission? When the hell did I do that?

If I didn’t already feel defensive, my ire creeps even higher as he stares at me. “Can I unapprove her?”

He nods. “You can. But I’d appreciate it if you hold off before accusing her of anything. I’d like a little more time to see what she’s been up to. Since you have no phone or internet out here, I’m treading water until I can dig deeper.”

I frown at him. “You’ve made progress, though, that’s more than we had before.”

He shrugs. “It might not lead anywhere. It’s not uncommon for assistants to utilize remote access. But yeah, I have a couple things I didn’t when I arrived here.”

I’m wondering if he’s including me in that statement when he smiles. The slightest of teasing in his voice. “The hurricane warning hasn’t been lifted. Soon as it is, I’ll head into town and make a few phone calls.”

Thinking about him leaving isn’t helping the unease spreading. But I’ve never relied on any man, ever. And I’m not about to start doing so now.

Instead of looking weak, I infuse a challenge into my voice. “I’m going to start cleaning up. If you help me, I might even make you lunch.”

He chuckles and nods. “Sure. I can help you. You should probably get dressed though.”

His eyes roam over my robe and slippers. I smile and gesture for him to leave the room. “I’ll meet you back in the living room. Stay out of here, okay?”

Sawyer’s expression stays neutral but he nods as he walks backward till he’s out in the hallway. “I’m looking for motive. Your job and these photos might give me a lot more to go on.”

A knot forms in my stomach. “Then we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Not before.”

I pull the door closed and twist the lock, shoving the key in my pocket as I turn my back on him. There’s something in his voice that makes me turn. “Does Kurt know about these proofs you won’t show me?”

His eyes lock on to me, narrowed slightly as if waiting for me to tell him I trust Kurt more than him.

I sigh wearily. “Kurt and I didn’t live in each other’s pockets. He had his work, and I had mine.”

He shifts his weight. “I got the impression you worked together a lot?”

I raise an eyebrow. “From Kurt? Hardly. He was interested in politics. In making a name for himself and hob-knobbing with the big wigs. I can’t stand all that shit.”

When he doesn’t say anything else, and I don’t see why I should explain further, I leave him half scowling at me in the hallway.

My mouth twists into my own scowl as I make my way back to the lighthouse. Thoughts back in Vietnam, I step outside, the wind pulls at my robe, tossing my hair as I hurry back.

I almost hope it is Liz that’s responsible for all this. Because there is no way I’m giving him access.

Doing so would be more than an invasion of my privacy; it would compromise him even more than he already is.