Beyond Temptation

CHAPTER NINETEEN



Avery woke slowly, conscious of unfamiliar noises and the scent of Malec’s skin. She lay half beside, half on top of him. His warmth filled the thrashed bed and made her acutely aware of their nakedness. In between one of their last bouts of passion, he’d built a fire. The embers continued to glow, dimly lighting the room shrouded by what looked like solid blackout barriers.



Flushing guiltily as she did it, she checked the time on Brom’s cell. Almost ten.



“Crap.” She replaced the phone.



Avery started to get out of bed. She shrieked when Malec’s eyes snapped open, glowing unnaturally bright.



His hand closed around her wrist. “Stay.”



“I can’t.” Fear wound cold tendrils through her.



He didn’t blink, yet he seemed almost drugged with slumber. “Stay.”



“Let go, Malec.” She watched a little warily. He released his hold, returning to sleep in blink.



Avery dressed in a hurry, made use of the cavernous bathroom and the toothbrush provided for her use, then walked back into the bedroom. Only the dark burgundy flat sheet covered him, just draping his hips. His big body looked just as powerful and dangerous in sleep. The amber hue of his skin contrasted sharply with the shade of the bedding.



Cautiously, she walked to the bed’s edge, put her knee upon the mattress, and leaned down to kiss jaw.



He rumbled low in his chest like a cat purring. “Wish you’d stay with me while I rest.”



She hurried out into the hall. The closing of the door struck her as symbolic. Though she remained virgin, she by no means remained innocent. She’d left the shy woman from before in Malec’s bed.



Had she ever.



That man did things with his mouth the church would excommunicate a person for. The sounds of her own yowls and screams of pleasure continued to ring in her memory as she wound her way through the halls to the stairs and down them.



Taylor appeared. He smiled. “Good morning, Miss Fitz Gerald. May Evans drive you somewhere?”



She had to laugh despite having to answer for herself during the walk of shame. “Anything to keep me from stealing a car again?”



Without batting a lash, he replied, “We have a reputation for luxurious hospitality here at Prayer Park. Two such exits would cast a decided pall.”



He had her handed into the Bentley in short order. She settled back, looking forward to a shower.



As we drove through the gate, Avery saw Brom’s vehicle pull in behind them. It sent a sharp thrill through her, making her wonder if she could face him.



She had gone from the walk of shame to ride of shame.



No, she thought. The shame would come if she lied. She hadn’t.



At the inn, Evans parked near the front and hopped out to open her door. “Have a wonderful day, Miss Fitz Gerald.”



“Thanks.” Avery didn’t see Brom drive in the lot, so she continued inside and upstairs. As stopped at the locked door, realizing she didn’t have her key, Brom’s voice close to her made her jump.



“I have it.”



She accepted it from him. “Thank you.”



He put a big warm hand on her shoulder. “You okay?”



“Fine.” She tried not to see the way his green eyes moved over her. “Here’s your phone, and I appreciated your leaving it.”



Taking it, he murmured, “Not a problem.” He moved away and went into his room. She felt like going after him, but didn’t. In a big hurry, she grabbed clothes and toiletries, then headed to the bathroom down the hall.



Avery had the water on and adjusted, when through the light swirl of steam and almost clear curtain, she saw the door open. A yell lodged in her lungs. She recognized Brom’s form. Relief flooded.



He’d seen her naked, but given the last touch on her belonged to another man, Avery felt awkward. She watched him set down his own bag close to the shower, then undress.



Even after a night of sexual gratification, the sight of his big body still made her belly clench. He pulled back the curtain and stepped in with her.



“I can’t do anything about what you give him,” he said quietly, “But, I refuse to let go of what you give me.”



Avery could have cried. She reached for him and he pushed her back a little, under the spray. With considerable skill in handling a woman’s hair, he wet hers. Making use of her shampoo, he lathered it and rinsed, using his hand to gently comb through the usually impossible curl snarls. She moaned.



“Funny,” he commented quietly, “how something you do for yourself feels so much better when someone else does it.”



In her gut, Avery knew he intended the observation at face value. All the same, her cheeks warmed. She let him move her from the cascade, squeeze some of the water from her hair, then apply conditioner.



“Did he hurt you?”



The lull of relaxation at his hands evaporated. “No.”



He rinsed his hands and changed their places to wash his own hair. “I didn’t see bruises or marks, but what about inside, sweetheart?”



She had to swallow before replying. “I didn’t let him go that far.” Turning her face aside, she whispered, “Do we have to discuss this?” His hand caught her chin, turning me back. She peeked at him with reluctance.



“I think it’s the only thing that will keep us all from having our hearts broken.”



In that instant, Avery realized Brom had seen something she had not. His rival’s emotional investment. Her mind leapt back, sifting memory and impression. Yes, she realized, despite his autocratic ways, Malec deferred to her.



She experienced an odd rush.



Her attention returned to Brom, she washed him. His erection quickly formed under her hand. In his jaunty style, he met her gaze, glanced at his groin, then back to met her regard. “Planning to do anything with that?”



The rush out of the shower made her smile. He pulled on his jeans, buttoning them enough to preserve modesty, then carried both their bags to her room.



Avery stood under the shower head rinsing conditioner. She stepped back, turning to cut the feed as he slid back the vinyl barrier and wrapped her in an oversized towel



Brom’s eyes moved over her. “He has staked out your nights. I have your days. My time, baby girl.”