“I’m fine.” My voice is stronger than I feel and I’m glad.
“Call the main desk and tell them to call the cops. Tell them what happened.”
I do as he asks and within minutes a motorboat pulls up at our bungalow with management and police, and a man who must be the asshole’s uncle.
The police take control of the situation and relieve Luke of his charge. Luke then races to me and enfolds me in his arms. I must be too shocked to do more than stare
wide-eyed
at
what’s
happening around us.
“Are you okay?” His hands are running up and down my back, soothing me.
“Yes, I’m okay. He didn’t touch me, he was just really creepy, and I know he would have if you weren’t here. He felt off the minute he came in here, so I moved behind the couch close to the bathroom in case he tried anything, and he did.” I shiver and Luke pulls me tighter to him.
The uncle is yelling for the police to arrest him. It seems this isn’t the first time this has happened. The Asshole is crying and blubbering, but no one cares.
As I watch what’s happening around me, the fear is replaced with pure rage.
I pull out of Luke’s arms and walk over to The Asshole being handcuffed by the police. He’s crying down at me, weak and afraid and before I know what I’m doing, I bring my knee up, right between his legs and bring him to his knees.
My chest is heaving and there is sudden silence all around us.
“I am not a victim.” My voice is hard and controlled and loud because I want him to hear every word. “And you are nothing but a piece of shit.”
“Did you see what she did to me? I want to press charges!” The whiny Asshole is wailing, but his uncle raises his hand, silencing him.
“I didn’t see anything that you didn’t deserve. Get him out of this bungalow.”
He’s escorted out and the owner apologizes profusely, offering comps and refunds and anything else I can possibly imagine. I’m sure he’s praying we won’t go to the press, which we won’t anyway.
Luke wouldn’t have it.
I turn around and look at Luke whose eyes are hooded, his face hard. He tells the manager that we will still be leaving today.
“We will press charges, but I don’t want this to go to the press either,” Luke murmurs and my heart stops.
Oh my God. This could have made things really bad for him if it hit the tabloids. I suddenly feel so guilty. I leave Luke to handle the rest of the business alone and go into the master bedroom to start packing.
Luke comes in the room as I’m finishing with the underwear drawer.
He walks straight to me and pulls me into his strong arms, rocking me back and forth, kissing my forehead. “Are you really okay?”
“I’m so sorry.”
“For what?” He pulls back and frowns down at me. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“This could be really bad for you if the tabloids catch wind of it.”
“Trust me, they won’t. Neither the resort nor I want that. But that’s not what’s important, you are, baby. Did he hurt you?”
“No, I told you, he didn’t touch me.
But it felt good to knee him in the balls.” I smile and Luke pulls me back to him.
“I was so scared when I came out of the bathroom and heard you scream. I saw that bastard lunge for you and I honestly don’t remember much after that. I just had to make sure he didn’t touch you.” He’s running his thumb down my cheek and I kiss his palm.
“Thank you.”
“I will always protect you, baby.
That’s what I’m here for. That’s what I want to do.”
“I know, and it’s one of the reasons why I love you. I don’t know why I’m not freaking out.” I shrug and grin. “I guess I just felt strong, and I knew that you were here, and that he couldn’t hurt me.” I run my hands through his hair.
“Are you okay?”
“As long as you’re okay, yes, I’m okay. God, I love how strong you are, baby. It was quite a sight watching you take him to his knees.”
“You might want to remember that, in case you ever get out of line.” I press my body up against his and smile up at him.
“Oh yeah? You think you can take me?” He rubs his nose across mine and I sigh.
“Probably not, but the wrestling around part would be fun.”
He laughs and smiles tenderly at me.
And now, for his other present.
“So, before we were so rudely interrupted, I was going to give you a present when you got out of the shower.”
His eyebrows fly up. “You got me a present?”
“Sort of, yes.” I’m wearing a bathing suit cover-up that is quite conservative, in black. It’s a hoodie-style that zips up the front and covers me from my knees to my neck.
I step back out of Luke’s grasp and begin pulling the zipper slowly down, keeping the fabric closed. When the zipper is completely undone, I shrug the fabric off my shoulders so it pools at my feet.
Luke gasps and his eyes widen, finding mine, and his face breaks out into a face-splitting grin. I plant my hands on my naked hips and cock my head to the side. “Do you like my outfit?”
He walks to me and runs his fingers under my pearls and kisses me in that tender way he has and I feel my knees go weak.
“Baby, you know I love this outfit.
There is nothing like looking at you wearing nothing but these pearls.”
“I love the way you look at me,” I whisper.
Luke’s eyes skim hungrily down my body and when his gaze returns to mine he kisses me tenderly.
“I don’t want to fuck you today, Natalie,” he whispers against my lips.
Oh. “You don’t?” I whisper back and roll my head back, as his lips wander down my neck.
“No.”
“I love your whispery voice.”
He grins. “I know.”
“What do you want to do?”
“I want to make slow, sweet love to you.” His fingertips are just barely touching me, brushing up and down my back, sending shivers through me, and his lips mirror them on my neck. It’s sensation gone mad.