I'Ve Got You (10 page)

‘Shit, Belle!' Head back, he rocked his hips, then chin down, eyes dazed, he looked at her. ‘Stop—stop, please … Jesus.' She released him and slid her hand down to cup his balls, gently squeezing the orbs that were drawn up, tight. Panting, he whispered, voice rough, ‘Okay, that … that what you're doing now is only slightly helpful,' he said through gritted teeth. His hands came down to rest on either side of her face. ‘Where was I … Oh yeah, are you on the pill?'

‘No …' she said, and pulled an apologetic face.

‘That's okay, just means I go for another swim … got condoms on-board.'

‘Well … um … actually, I have some in my shorts pocket.' Eyes wide, she bit her lip trying to look innocent. ‘I took a few out of your first-aid kit.'

‘Belle …' he said slowly, adding a very sexy smile. ‘That's great because I'm
so
not finished with you yet.'

‘Really?'

‘Really …' He nabbed her underwear, scooped her up and strode back to their camp, his erection nudging her bottom all the way.

Belle didn't waste any time and nuzzled his neck, working her way up to his ear to nibble the lobe, then back down again to his shoulder, licking the water droplets off his fresh skin. Kabe laid her down on the airbed and rushed off to get her shorts. He dug in the back pocket, found the condoms, and ripped one open. Belle feasted her eyes on Kabe's fist wrapped around his hard shaft as he placed the protection over the tip, and rolled it down its impressive length.

Oh my that is so hot!
Delicious heat and silken wetness flowed between her thighs and she squirmed, rubbing them together.

Chin down, he looked past his eyebrows at her, smiled and growled, ‘Stop that.' He stepped closer and dropped to his knees on the airbed. Belle giggled, her body bouncing a few times before the bed stilled. Kabe crawled up, his warm mouth and tongue nipping and licking the tender skin on the inside of her legs as he went. He came to the soft mound of curls, placed his hands on her inner thighs and gently pushed them apart. She was open to him in the golden light of the late afternoon.

‘Beautiful,' he marvelled and, parting the folds, he kissed her there.

Belle sucked in a breath and held it. And oh yes, there it was, his relaxed, silken tongue slid from her opening, over her inner lips and clit, and he did it again and again. Belle arched her back, bringing her hips closer to his mouth. Then he added fingers, sliding in and out, pushing deeper, swirling his tongue faster.

Belle gripped his hair, crying out, ‘Oh no-no-no!' She tried to pull him away.

Mouth buried between her thighs, Kabe mumbled, ‘Why Belle? I want to hear why.'

Oh to hell with it.
‘I want you inside me—now, Kabe!' She felt his smile against her inner lips and then he prowled his way up her body using his mouth and tongue all the way until he met hers. His cock nudged her opening. Belle rocked her hips forward, and he entered her, just the tip, then pulled out and slid in deeper. Fingers still in his hair she gave him a warning glare and he grinned. Suddenly, his eyes glinted, wickedly, and then he slammed his shaft into her again and again. He brought her legs up over his shoulders, placed his hands under her bottom and lifted her, getting deep inside Belle. She cried out, arched her back and met his thrusts. ‘Kabe … Kabe,' Belle cried out, voice husky.

‘Close?' he asked.

‘Yes … God yes.'

‘Come with me, Babe.' His hands moved from her hips to cup her face and, eyes feasting on hers, his body jerked. She felt him throbbing inside her just as she clutched him repeatedly when her own orgasm hit.

He pressed his face into her neck and murmured, ‘You're so beautiful and so very sexy, hot, desirable, exciting, an erotic aphrodisiac … did I say hot?'

‘Yes,' Belle giggled, enjoying the afterglow.

Kabe slipped out, removed the condom and threw it in a rubbish bag. He pulled the top sleeping bag out from under Belle and covered her, then tugged the dinghy behind them to use as a back rest. He slipped an arm around her back and tucked her into his side. Belle snuggled into him, head resting on his chest, listening to his heartbeat easing back to its normal rhythm.

A loud noise thundered in her ear. She lifted her head to look at him, and asked, ‘Are you hungry or was that thunder?'

‘I'm starving.'

‘You should've said something.' Belle moved to get up. ‘Where's the food?'

‘There's a couple of egg and lettuce sandwiches in the cooler. Stay there, I'll get them.' He rolled off the mattress to get to the cooler, and passed Belle a sandwich.

‘Hmm, food.' She shoved it in her mouth and chomped. ‘This is
so
good,' she mumbled her appreciation.

‘Maybe it wasn't me rumbling.
Hmm … ?
Kabe chuckled, then asked, ‘Glass of wine?'

Belle slapped an innocent look on her face and didn't say anything. She placed the sandwich on her knees, took the offered plastic glass and drank; her stomach warmed with a welcome rush, she sighed and ate her sandwich.

Kabe threw his head back and laughed.

After a third glass of wine, Belle's eyelids became heavy, but in the flickering firelight, she noticed the welts on his arm, and lightly traced her fingers over them. She raised her eyes to find him studying her face, and stilled.

‘Why are they looking worse?' Belle asked.

‘We just had great hot and sweaty sex,' he said as if that answered everything. He tilted his head, waiting.

‘Oh!' Belle nodded and said, ‘Once you cool down so will the welts.'

‘They'll be gone by morning,' he whispered, his eyes telling her he knew she cared. He raised her fingers to his mouth, turned her hand over and kissed her palm. Her heart did strange things then he placed her palm over his heart, it thumped almost as hard as his did. A tingle raced through her. Without saying anything, he was showing Belle exactly how he felt.

‘
Holy cow
,' Belle whispered.

‘Yeah,' came out like a slow sigh. Coupled with Kabe's intense look, it felt as if her heart had swelled and left no room for her to breathe. He leant in and and pressed his soft mouth on hers with a hint of tongue. Then he slipped under the covers with her, his hand wound over her waist, and pulled her in close, her back to his front. ‘Night, Belle,' Kabe whispered against her shoulder.

‘Night, Kabe,' she whispered back, covering his hand with hers. She closed her eyes and couldn't stop the sudden memory of that shocking day, barely six months ago. Every night, when the there was nothing to distract her, the house was quiet, her thoughts would turn to that dreadful day when she lost someone so precious; the agony burning through her hadn't diminished. If Kabe had only been there, then maybe she would feel less broken.

* * *

A sudden kick to the shins stirred Kabe. More shoving and moaning brought him fully awake. Blinking, he focused on Belle's face; she was fast asleep yet frowning and struggling in his arms. He held her tighter, thinking it would help her feel safe from whatever was tormenting her, but it only made her struggle more. Maybe she was reliving her scary rescue. He'd already had his share of reliving that nightmare.

‘Belle … Belle,' he whispered.

Eyes screwed shut, a film of perspiration covered her body, and then she whimpered, ‘No … no.'

‘Belle!' he called out, gently shaking her.

Her hands were pushing at his chest when her eyes fluttered open; it shocked Kabe to see how frightened she was.

‘Huh?' She tried to focus not only on him, but her surroundings as well.

‘You're safe here on Butterfly Island.' Kabe stroked strands of hair off her face. ‘You were having a bad dream, had to wake you before you socked me one,' he said trying to make light of the situation. ‘Tell me about it; it'll help you get back to sleep if it's all out and not churning in your mind.' Arms around her, Kabe waited. ‘Come on, Belle, it's easy.'

‘I …' she began. ‘It's okay.' She shrugged off his request.

Kabe slanted his head. ‘Nothing's ever that bad that you can't share it with a friend.' He paused and, scanning her face, he said, ‘Actually, I hope I'm more than a friend.

Eyes wide, fearful, Belle gasped.

Despite her reaction, Kabe continued, gently, ‘What is it Belle?'

Her shoulders sagged; she took a deep breath, and said, ‘It's … it's all too heartbreaking and …'

‘All the more reason to talk about it.' Alert to any sign of stress or evasion Kabe paused, then asked, ‘It's not the rescue, is it?'

She shook her head. ‘No, nothing compares to … Oh God!' Belle cried out, covering her face with her hands. She curled herself up into a tight ball of pain that seemed to engulf her body.

‘Belle! What the … ?' Kabe held her wrists and pulled her up. She didn't have the strength to resist. ‘Belle, talk to me!' He cupped her jaw and gently tilted her head to meet his gaze.

Tears flooded her eyes and trickled down her face. Not knowing what he was dealing with here, he had to restrain himself from gathering her in his arms and holding her, even though Belle's distraught look cut straight through his chest, where it burned.

‘Come on, Belle … let it out, it can't hurt you. I'll keep you safe.'

She took a shaky breath and nodded. ‘I'll try.'

Kabe let her go, leant over her to dip into the cooler and brought out a cold-water flask. He sat back, took the top off and handed it to her. ‘Drink,' he ordered. She took a few sips then, with trembling hands, passed him the flask.

‘Thanks, I'm okay now.' She seemed to have pulled herself together, at least he hoped so. He hated seeing Belle so distressed, his own helplessness beyond frustrating.

‘Tell me everything, or we stay here until you do.' He didn't mean to sound harsh, but it cut him up to see her like this. Holding her face he stroked her cheek with his thumb and hoped his actions took the edge off his demands. ‘Take your time, I'm not going anywhere,' he murmured, adding a reassuring smile. Kabe dared to slip an arm around her waist and tug her into him.

Chapter 7

‘The whole sordid story?' Belle asked.

‘Everything,' he said, squeezing her hand reassuringly.

‘That would take too long. I'll give you the sordid abridged version.' She took a deep breath. ‘Here goes. Greg Travers, you know him, charming, ruthless.' Immediately, she felt Kabe tense against her. ‘He worked as a consultant for Eagle Ray Resorts and he sexually harassed me.'

Try as he might, he couldn't stop a fierce growl deep in his chest.

‘Kabe?' Belle asked, her voice tentative.

‘Please, go on,' he urged gently.

‘Okay. He wanted to date, and I flatly refused. I made a formal complaint to management, and they did nothing. He tried all kinds of ways to break me with his snide remarks. “You look tired, why is your hair dull, didn't you sleep well? Perhaps you're working too hard. I can take on more of the workload. Must you wear that at the office?” What the … !' Belle grimaced; she fisted her hands, shaking them. Kabe eased them open and brought them up to rest on his chest. Though she gritted her teeth, he watched her swallow several times. As much as he wanted to, he wasn't going to stop her from finishing what she'd started. Though telling him probably wouldn't be enough to rid her of the crap. He tensed as he realised she was studying his reaction. He pulled his body under control, forced his muscles to relax, and hoped she wasn't put off by the emotions warring behind his eyes, because there was nothing he could do to stop that.

‘You're perfect in every way.' Kabe stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers, then moved his hand around to her neck. ‘I love what you wear and the way you wear it. The sheet, your shorts …
and
undies.' He gave her a teasing smile.

‘I could see that,' she told him, giving him a faltering smile back. ‘You want me to go on?' Kabe nodded. ‘Okay, the powers that be decided we—Greg and I, together—should research a possible site for Eagle Ray in Vanuatu. I thought, it's a big island, I can do this, but he was there at breakfast, at lunch, and at dinner. In hindsight, both Greg and Eagle Ray had an agenda—get to me and they'd get to Butterfly Island. Greg denies the accusation and claims it's all in my head. And of course, I don't have any proof that's what they were after.'

He felt her tremble and his gut told him there was more to come, and it was much worse. She unwrapped his arms from around her and pushed at his chest to give herself space. Her action hurt more than he cared to admit, but he let her have what she needed to go on.

* * *

Long-buried, nauseating images were back searing her brain. Belle surged to her feet, wondering if they'd ever fade. She paced across the sand in front of the airbed, aware Kabe watched her every move while her life shattered once again. How could she possibly explain?

Belle took a deep, unsteady breath. ‘So on the last night of our stay Eagle Ray organised a celebratory dinner, which included Vanuatu ministers of lands, tourism, and planning. Eagle Ray executives were there as well, what could go wrong?' She hesitated, heart in her throat. ‘Um … the … the next morning, I … I woke and Greg … he was in my bed … Ugh!' she dry-retched, shuddered and protectively wrapped her arms around herself. ‘Horrified doesn't even begin to describe how that felt.'

Kabe stood and reached out to her. Belle couldn't handle his touch right now and put her hands up to stop him. Thank God, he didn't push it and was smart enough to step back.

‘He told me that I'd invited him in. I don't remember anything like that … I would not have done that! Revolted, I flew out of the bed. We argued, I screamed at him to get out. I questioned everyone who'd been there including restaurant and bar staff. No one noticed anything. It's his word against mine. I needed to get off Vanuatu and caught an earlier flight home, and handed in my resignation. They insisted I comply with my contract, which stipulated that I was to give them four weeks' notice. I fully intended to take them all to court, but I had nothing to back up my claims … and …'