Authors: Connie Lafortune
Once my senses return, I can actually hear and smell the logs crackling in the fireplace. While the mouthwatering scent of stew surrounds me. Comforts me. It doesn’t take long before my belly growls in anticipation. How long has it been since I’ve eaten? Hours? Days? I have no idea but my eyes suddenly fill with unshed tears when I realize I’m in someone’s home.
Someone saved my life…
I can no longer hold back my tears as they suddenly burst free. Every single emotion I’ve ever repressed comes gushing out as I feel the bed dip beside me. I draw in a painful breath, too afraid to open my eyes. God only knows what’s waiting on the other side. But the one thing I do know—death surely would’ve snatched me with her icy fingers had I stayed in that car for much longer. Perhaps she already had.
I muster all the strength I possess and slowly open my eyes. Only to see golden ones staring back at me. A beautiful dog with a multicolored coat and floppy ears peruses me. Before I have a chance to utter a sound, a loud bark resonates in the quiet room.
When a man suddenly appears at the head of the stairs, I’m cautious. His height and broad shoulders cast a scary shadow that dances along the dim walls. And my heart immediately takes flight as it thumps wildly inside of me.
“Cody. Come.” The dog takes one last peek at me before joining its master. “Sit,” he commands, as his hand firmly brushes the top of the dog’s head. Then I cower when his focus returns to me. “How are you feeling?” he asks.
When I open my mouth to speak, nothing comes out. I’m so parched. And it certainly doesn’t help when I have to tilt my head up just to look at him. He’s intimidating with his tall frame looming over me. Immediately, my body begins to react. Trembling uncontrollably. Quickly, he grabs a blanket from the foot of the bed and wraps it around me. “Is that better, Lyra?” he asks, squatting down beside me.
He knows my name. Now he’s at an advantage because I sure as hell don’t have a clue who he is. All I can do is nod as I gaze into his hypnotic eyes. They’re as black as the night and a perfect match to his silken hair. Which is long enough to graze the collar of his shirt. With his scruffy beard, it’s almost impossible to see if there is a handsome man underneath. But it certainly draws attention to his full, sensuous lips. They’re perfectly shaped. And when he catches me ogling them, they curl into a mischievous grin.
When a glass of water mysteriously appears in his hand, I lunge for it. Spilling half of it on myself before quenching my undying thirst. “Go easy, Lyra. You’ll be sick if you drink it too fast.”
After I’ve extinguished my scratchy throat, I say, “I’m glad you find me so amusing, especially since we don’t know one another. Apparently, you know my name but I don’t know yours.” I can’t help glaring as he matches my stare. When he reaches for a towel on the nightstand and tries to mop up my mess, I swiftly grab it out of his hands. I might be in pain, but I will not let a stranger touch me.
He’s smiling when he runs his index finger across those sexy-as-sin lips. “You didn’t have a hell of a lot to say over the last three days, but you’re sure making up for lost time.”
Chapter Two
Ryker
Lyra scrutinizes me from head to toe. When her eyes finally land on mine, she blushes. How precious. Just wait until she realizes that the clothes she’s wearing now are not what she had on the day of her accident. And that we’ve been sleeping in the same bed.
“Well, I’m waiting. Who are you?” she inquires.
First, I hold out my hand just to see if she’ll even consider taking mine into hers. She hesitates for a heartbeat and then her small hand gets lost in mine. Instantly, my heart races when something deep inside of me sparks to life.
No. This can’t be happening!
Immediately, I pull my hand away. Lyra looks confused when I stand up and make a mad dash for the stairs. Once I’ve taken a few calming breaths to quiet my hammering heart, I slowly turn around and reply, “My name is Ryker Steel. You don’t have to thank me for saving your life. Thank Cody. She’s the one who found you.” God, why does it feel like the room is closing in on me? I need to put some distance between the both of us. Now!
What the fuck just happened?
My hands tremble as I dip the ladle into the steaming pot of stew. Thanks to our little encounter, my appetite is nonexistent. But that doesn’t mean Lyra has to go without. So, I reluctantly climb the stairs with the tray clenched tightly in my hands. But when I reach the top step, my heart skips a beat. She’s sitting up against the headboard with the sheets securely wrapped around her. She looks so small and fragile, reminding me of someone I used to know so long ago. “No, she doesn’t!” my subconscious screams back at me. But my heart knows. The woman who’s mysteriously appeared looks just like the one I’m trying to forget.
Bella.
“What did you do with my clothes? And why don’t I remember changing into my pajamas?”
Sighing, I carefully set down the tray. Lyra swallows down hard as I come closer. “Your clothes were soaked by the time I brought you here. Believe me, it was imperative I keep you dry and as warm as possible. It was the only way to bring your body temp back up…”
She frantically shakes her head as her eyes open wide. “Oh my god! You undressed me while I was unconscious? How dare you…”
Without hesitating, I grasp the slats of the king-sized bed right between her head and shoulders. Immobilizing her. Placing one knee on the bed beside her hip, I calmly lean down so we are eye to eye. “How dare I? Is that what you were going to ask? Well let me tell you something, we wouldn’t be having this conversation if I hadn’t done what I did. Hypothermia had already set in when I found you. One more hour, precious, and you would’ve been dead. Dry, warm clothes and
my
body heat are what saved your sorry ass. And don’t worry, your virtue is still safe because I love my women with a little more meat on their bones. More cushion for the pushin’ if you get my drift,” I whisper, as I glide my nose from her smooth jawline to her temple. Unfortunately, my dick doesn’t agree. It perks to life the moment my skin comes in contact with hers. Fuck! Quickly, I push off the bed. “There’s venison stew on the tray along with some crusty bread. You need to eat so you can gain your strength back. I’ll be up later when I’m ready for bed.”
“You’re sleeping with me?” she asks, in a hushed voice.
“Since this is my bedroom, then yes, I’ll be sleeping in that bed with you. Don’t worry, precious, I promise all we’ll do is sleep.” Goading her, I wink before heading downstairs.
Lyra has only been awake for a few short hours and I’m already irritable. Maybe I’ve lived alone for far too long and I’d forgotten what confrontation was like. Well, it doesn’t matter. Now that she’s here, she can never leave. By saving her life, I’ve now jeopardized my own. But as far as I’m concerned, her life is far more precious than mine ever could be.
Lyra
I’m still trembling as his words play over and over in my mind. “I love my women with a little more meat on their bones. More cushion for the pushin’.” Vulgar brute! So why does his blatant insult make me so angry? Perhaps, it’s because I can still feel the warmth of his breath as his nose glided along my cheek. Argh, I should be thankful he finds me so repulsive. Then I’ll know for certain that this bed will only be used for sleeping.
After I’ve taken several calming breaths to gather my thoughts, I think of Gage and my parents. They must be out of their minds with worry. And if I remember correctly, Ryker did mention that I was unconscious for days. So I need to call them immediately to let them know I’m safe.
Just when I’m about to throw caution to the wind, a sweet, familiar melody fills the air. Instantly, my heart skips a beat as I recognize the opera recording. It’s my father’s favorite,
Orpheus and Eurydice.
Once I’ve tottered to the head of the stairs, I grow breathless. Ryker’s leaning against the front door with his head bent to the side. His legs are crossed at the ankles, and his strong arms are folded tightly across his broad chest. He’s so immersed in the music, he doesn’t hear me when I sit down on the top step. I’m transfixed as I watch the music take him to a place that doesn’t exist in our world. I wait with bated breath for the song to hit its crescendo. Before it comes crashing down to its tragic end. Once again, goose bumps dot across my heated skin. My father has played this opera over and over again for years. And I still have the same reaction when I listen to it. It never gets old.
I want to see just how long Ryker will stand there once the song is over.
One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi, four…
I gasp when his eyes suddenly lock on mine. So much heartache and pain is transfixed in his gaze that I find myself hesitant to walk down the stairs. But when I enter his personal space, his body stiffens. Now I’m having second thoughts. Should I have stayed in bed? Absolutely not. Because no matter how angry he made me with his blatant insult, I’m still a compassionate person. His anguish is palpable. So much so, that it consumes me. Overwhelms me. To the point where I feel the need to comfort him. Instinctively, my hand reaches out to console him.
“Don’t touch me!” he warns. I flinch at his gruff reprimand.
Now I’m desperate to ease the tension I just incurred so I say the first thing that comes to mind. “
Orpheus and Eurydice
is my father’s favorite opera. Did you know he named me Lyra because of the harp that Apollo placed in the sky after the death of Eurydice? No, I guess you wouldn’t know that since you just met me a few days ago…” his intense gaze compels me to shut my mouth. Without delay. Whenever I get nervous, I have a tendency to start rambling about anything and everything. Right now he’s none too pleased about that fact.
Ryker rubs at the back of his neck. His smoldering stare penetrates every part of me. “Now that you’re up and about, you need to shower and change into some clean clothes, Lyra.” I’m not sure if it’s the way he says my name in that deep, sensual timbre that’s all his or if it’s his enigmatic stare, but it sends shivers down my spine.
Yeah, even I can’t stand the smell of me. “I’d like that very much. But first, I’d like to make a few calls to let everyone know I’m alive.”
“Unfortunately, that’s impossible. The little tower reception we had up here is out because of the storm. By the way, how was your stew?” Wow. Way to change the subject. Hmm…
“I’m sure it’s delicious but I haven’t tried it yet.” He frowns before walking upstairs.
“I’m grabbing you some clean clothes and while you’re showering, I’ll reheat the stew. Then we’ll both sit down and eat before going to bed. Understood?” I quiver when he peers down from above. “I didn’t hear you, precious.”
“Y—Yes. That’s fine.”
His lips curl into a wicked grin. “Good.”
Since my rescuer is not much of a talker, we eat in complete silence. Awkward. But it’s reassuring to know what he lacks in conversational skills, he more than makes up for in his culinary abilities. I swear I devoured a hearty bowl of stew and two hunks of crusty bread in record time. Now that my belly’s full and content, I’m ready for bed. Until I remember that I’m not sleeping alone. Hells bells! What am I going to do? Reluctantly, I crawl underneath the covers. Waiting. Anticipating. What? I don’t know.
As I lie there staring up at the ceiling, all I can think about is sleeping with Ryker. This is wrong on so many levels. Yes, he saved my life. And yes, he might have slept with me for the last few nights, but I was unconscious. Tonight, I’m wide awake. And when I hear him coming up the stairs, I quickly curl up into a little ball and close my eyes. I can feel the bed shift beside me as he slips beneath the covers. And my heart beats erratically as his manly scent wraps around me. God I wish it was my boyfriend Gage lying next to me, and that this whole ‘accident’ is just a nightmare.
Chapter Three
Ryker
Up until four days ago, my life was tedious and tiresome. Until I rescued a dainty girl with golden hair and sad hazel eyes. Now, my life has turned upside down and inside out. What am I supposed to do with her? Do I just bring her home when the weather cooperates and pray the media doesn’t get wind of it? Or will I become some kind of small town hero and have my picture plastered on every newspaper across the state? No one would recognize me, of that I’m sure. But I made a stupid mistake and told Lyra my real name. The one I haven’t used in over three years. Fuck! I can’t take the chance. Not after I’ve been so careful about revealing my true identity. Dammit! I should have just ignored the monitor that day and let nature take its course. Eventually, they would have found her and her family would have had closure. Now they’ll never have it. Because she will live in hell with me until we take our last breaths.
Together.
Once I’d felt that connection with Lyra last night, all I wanted to do was listen to the opera. If for no other reason than to remind myself of why I’m in this godforsaken place. But she wouldn’t let me. She had to ruin it by trying to comfort me through my pain. Soon, she will come to realize I destroy everything in my wake. And it’s inevitable that she will suffer the same fate by my hands.
This is the first night I didn’t sedate her, so she’s restless. She tosses and turns and keeps me awake for the most part. So I just lie here and watch her sleep. She appears so small and fragile. Helpless. I don’t know why that bothers me so much, but it does. I’m hoping it’s just my mind playing tricks on me or because I haven’t been with a woman for so long. Normally, when I go in to town for supplies, I stop at The Pleasure Palace. It’s an upscale escort service with an unimaginative name, but the girls are discreet and exquisite. Unfortunately, I didn’t stop the last time I was in town due to the impending storm. There’s no doubt in my mind—if I had been balls deep inside of Sonia, I would have never made it back in time. If it were just me, it wouldn’t be an issue. But I have Cody to consider and getting laid isn’t worth putting her at risk.
I’m just about to get out of bed when Lyra suddenly pushes her ass up against my morning wood. Fuck me!