Come Find Me (10 page)

“I love that idea,” she said. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For understanding. Knowing how much I—”

He lifted her chin and snuffed out her words with a kiss so
full of his love for her that it curled her toes. She lost herself in the
flowing sensations and knew that this moment would remain in her mind forever,
a beautiful memory she could cherish and recall at will.

* * * * *

The week ended all too quickly. A sense of despondency
settled over Kat as she packed her suitcase. Images from the last few days
flickered through her mind as though on fast-forward—hot, sweat-slicked skin,
raunchy sex, laughter, cuddles and kisses. She’d had the best time—better than
any other she could remember—but this day would see them in their respective
homes, apart, lonely.

It’s too soon to move in together, isn’t it?
She
sighed, annoyed at herself for being so needy so fast.
We’ve talked about
this. Agreed to live apart for a while. No sense in moaning about it. I just
need to get on with it.

She thought of Dan packing at the cabin. He’d be here soon,
ready to take her back to their usual lives, albeit as a couple. The future
looked bright, yet leaving here would still be a wrench. She’d always remember
Virginia as the start of the rest of her life.

A knock at the door had her spinning from her suitcase on
the bed and rushing to let Dan in. She flung the door open. The room service
guy stood in the hall, an envelope in hand.

“Hello again, Jack.”

“Morning, ma’am.” He held out the envelope. “Have a nice
day!”

Kat frowned as she watched him walk to the elevator. The
envelope was the same as the others Dan had used. A frisson of worry flitted
through her and questions—ones she didn’t want to entertain—bounced around her
mind. Was this all just a holiday romance after all? Did the envelope contain
words that would shatter her heart, sending her home alone to live the rest of
her life thinking “what if”?

She closed the door, anxiety spreading through her gut.
Sitting on the bed, she toyed with the envelope, wanting to open it quickly to
get it over with yet at the same time dreading doing so.

He said he loves me. Said… Just open it, dammit!

Kat ripped the seal and pulled out the folded paper. She
opened the note.

My beautiful woman,

How lucky are we? We have the best boss. I called him
this morning on the off chance we could have another week off. I didn’t expect
him to say yes, but he did. Can you believe that? God, Kat, just think! Another
week at the cabin. Of course, you have to call him to confirm you do want
another week, and I bet he’ll chew your ass for not being there to start that
new account you’ve got coming up, but hey, what’s a little ass-chewing when you
know we get to spend more time alone?

So, let’s do this all again. Ready for my instructions?

A cab will be waiting for you outside your hotel at ten
o’clock. It will bring you to the cabin. The cabbie will wait. The key is in
the yellow rosebush as before. Put your case inside then lock up and get back
in the cab. He knows where to take you. Once there, you’ll see a building you
recognize. Yeah, you guessed it. Our Spanish-style dungeon. I’ll be waiting in
room sixteen—Erica has instructions to let you in.

This has been the best week of my life, do you know that?
Never would I have believed you’d feel the same way. I worried myself stupid,
you know? And when you said you felt the same way…shit, my smile hurt my damn
face!

I love you, woman.

Oh, I have one more thing to say…

Come find me!

Kat squealed, tears dripping down her cheeks and off her
jaw. She jumped up and hugged herself, the worry of two minutes ago no longer
in existence. Pushing down on her case, she zipped it up and hauled it to the
door, leaving it there to check the room and bathroom for anything she’d
missed. She found nothing and hefted her case into the hallway, waiting for the
elevator to take her on the start of another wonderful journey. The steel doors
slid open and she stepped inside, excitement churning her stomach.

In the foyer, she pulled the case behind her, the small
wheels shushing over the floor.

“Miss Simmons?”

The receptionist’s voice brought Kat to a stop and she
glanced back over her shoulder. “Yes?”

“You forgot to sign out.”

Smiling through her need to just get going, Kat left her
case by the door and walked to the desk, scribbling her signature. Out on the
path, she lugged her case along and stood at the curb. As promised, a cab
arrived and she checked with the driver he was the one she needed. The drive to
the cabin took an infernally long time. People checking out from various hotels
as the cab reached town caused a traffic jam and Kat huffed out a breath.
Finally at the cabin, she left the case inside the doorway and locked up,
putting the key in her pocket. Back in the car, she released a sigh of relief,
happy to see the road to the next town clear. She asked the driver to drop her
at the bus station and opened her purse to pay him.

“Already taken care of, miss,” he said with a nod.

Senses humming, she thanked him and raced down the side
street to the dungeon apartments. She pressed the bell and Erica’s bored voice
filtered through the speaker.

“Yeah?”

“It’s Kat Simmons.”

“Come on in.”

The door buzzed and Kat breezed through, pleased to see
Erica had already opened the elevator.

“Back again so soon, eh?” she asked, head cocked, a candy
stick jutting out the side of her mouth.

“Um, yes…”

“He’s waiting. Off you go.”

Her mind working overtime, Kat boarded the elevator and
selected the correct floor. The journey went slowly and she tapped her feet,
impatience ripping her nerves to shreds. She wanted in that room and in it
now
.
Elevator gliding to a halt, Kat stepped off and hurried to room sixteen,
knocking on the door, though why she did she had no idea. It swung open to
reveal Dan sitting on the bed, fingers toying with a set of handcuffs. She
stared at him and his lazy smile warmed her heart. Closing the door, she moved
to the foot of the bed and smiled.

“Are you ready?” she asked.

Dan nodded and stood.

“Then strip.”

Also by
Natalie Dae

Black Cougar
Curse
with Tess MacKall

His
Beautiful Wench

Magenta
Starling

Soul Keeper

Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the
multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer ebooks or
paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic
reading experience that will leave you breathless.

www.ellorascave.com