To Trap A Temptress (Southern Sanctuary - Book 2) (5 page)

“You’re
about to chew through that bottom lip of yours Doc, what are you thinking?”

“Perhaps
the universe with all its perverse quirks believes I owe you an apology in
person.  I was… going to call you when I got home to say how… sorry I was
for my behaviour at the party earlier.  I acted so selfishly, I never
stopped to consider how you might feel about… well, about my plan.”

“What
exactly was your plan again Doc I forget?”

Nell
ducked her head and mumbled beneath her breath. “I… I intended to seduce you.”

“Oh…
that’s right.  Though I think you referred to it at the time as having
your wicked way with me.”

Nell’s
head snapped up.  “No, that’s how you referred to it.” 

“Potato…
Po-tat-o.”  Drum grinned down at her, causing her to blink. 

Wow
who knew the man could smile and Goddess, what a smile!  It was the
sexiest darn taunting smile she’d ever seen.  No wonder Drum rarely gifted
the world with them as it was at complete odds to his warrior of justice
persona.  Oh he still looked like a killer when he smiled but lady-killer
would have been more of an appropriate title.  Luckily she was goody two
shoes nice girl Nell Montgomery and completely immune to his smile... right...
now if only she could convince her hormones to stop spiking she might have a
winning argument. 

“Anyway.” 
She swallowed hard trying to remember what they’d been talking about, right her
apology.  “So as I was saying I really am sorry if I hurt your feelings, I
let my temper get the better of me, my good judgement went out the window and I
roped you into my stupid plan without thought or consideration for you or your
feelings.”

He
gave her a gentle squeeze.  “And I apologize in turn Doc.  I might
have overreacted at the end there.  If I could go back and do things
differently I would.  Maybe that’s why the universe is giving me a second
chance here, perhaps to do things differently.”

“You
don’t have any idea who could have sent you here?  What about Maat, would
she interfere?”

“Oh
she loves nothing more than to interfere but I doubt she’s behind this. 
If anything she’s pretty anti anything happening between you and me.  Gave
me a big lecture about how wrong we’d be for one another.  You being all
elegant and sweet, me being the big bad.”

“Excuse
me?”  Nell couldn’t help but take umbrage at that, even if Maat was a
Goddess.

“Now
don’t get all fired up, you are elegant.  Look at you tonight for
instance, classy as hell you remind me of Grace Kelly in that dress.”

“Just
because I look and dress a certain way does not make me some untouchable
princess.”

“Oh
give me a break Doc, you know dressing like you do only makes every man who
sees you want to let down that hair of yours, unwrap that dress and defile
every last inch of you.”

“What?” 
Nell managed to squeak the word out.

“And
as for Maat and the rest of the world thinking how sweet you are?  You’ve
got everyone snowed including yourself.  Nice girls don’t talk about
paralysing people, poisoning them or winning a bar fight by going in low and
taking out the bad guy’s tendons.  Nice girls don’t have a temper. 
Nice girls don’t dance with bad boys like me, let alone plan on having their
wicked way with them.  And you know what else nice girls don’t
do?”   He dropped his voice to a low sexy rumble that had Nell
swallowing hard twice just to find her voice. 

“What?”

“Nice
girls don’t kiss men out on the dance floor for all the world and the Gods to
see.” 

He
leaned down and captured her lips.
 
He’d
been dying for a taste of that plump bottom lip of hers from the moment he’d
laid eyes on her. 

Nell
jerked slightly as Drum bit ever so softly into her lower lip.  Her breath
catching in her throat as her libido went from idling to mach-3 in an
instant.  Then ever so slowly he released his teeth to press his lips
against her, so hot yet at the same time so soft.  Goddess help her but
she wanted more.
 
Rising up on the balls
of her feet to meet him half way.  It was like stepping into sunshine for
the first time after a long snowbound winter.  Nell felt tension she
hadn’t realised she’d been carrying for a life time drain from her neck and
shoulders.  At the same time her skin suddenly felt too tight, her breasts
aching and heavy, a knot of need… want… desire settling low in her body. 
Thankfully she was so breathless that when his lips released hers she didn’t
mewl in disappointment.  Instead she could only stare up at him with no
doubt the dazed look of a newly worshipful disciple of the house of Drum. 

Goddess
grow a spine girl… it was just a kiss she admonished herself.  Play it
cool.

“And
a nice girl would be running away sobbing in terror about now.”

Nell
couldn’t help the derisive laughter that burst forth.  “You are so full of
it.”  She shook her head.  “The big bad!” 

Her
laughter dying abruptly as he leaned over whispering in her ear.  “And
don’t you forget it Doc.  If we were alone right now I’d show you just
exactly how bad I can be.”  He straightened up casting an amused glance
around the room.  “By the way I think we may have just planted the
memorial stone on that goody two shoes reputation of yours.”

Nell
wanted to cringe as she noted the number of people staring their way, an avid
audience waiting on tenterhooks to see what would follow the kiss.  Hot
colour flooded her cheeks but she determinedly kept her back straight and her
head held high, meeting several onlookers gazes head on as Drum released his
hold around her waist escorting her from the dance floor. 

“Well
if a kiss was all it took I should have taken up Bry Creston’s offer of a pity
snog back in second year.  He was the Romeo of my year, used to brag about
his conquests all the time.”

“Just
where is Creston now?”  There was something low and threatening in Drum’s
tone.

Nell
chuckled.  “He came out final year, seems all that bragging was just to
cover the fact he was gay.  He and his life partner are around here
somewhere.”

“Well
then he can live to see another day.”

Nell
rolled her eyes.  “I appreciate the kiss and you getting into the spirit
of my mission but the possessive act is going a little too far.”

Drum
halted abruptly, bringing Nell to a stop by his side at the edge of the dance
floor.  “Let’s get one thing straight Doc, I’ve agreed to help out on this
little mission of yours.  And when I commit to something.”  His black
eyes caught and held her wide eyed baby blues.  “I commit one hundred and
twenty per cent of my effort.  You don’t want to be known as a nice girl
anymore then I’m not going to stop until everyone here knows you for the
dangerous, thrill seeking bad girl temptress you really are.”

Nell
swallowed hard.  “I just want my ‘reputation’ gone.   I didn’t
say anything about changing me.”

“Like
I’ve said before Doc you’ve even got yourself snowed.  This mission isn’t
about changing anyone else’s opinion but yours.  Once you accept the
reality then everyone else will follow.”

“Just
how many hits to the head have you experienced in your lifetime?”  She
enquired scornfully.  Her not a nice girl!  Who was he kidding?

“You
want to play Doctor with me Doc?”  Drum smiled with that twitching corner
lift of his mouth.  “I’m in.”

“You...” 
She stared up at him.  A bad girl would say all the nasty insults that
were currently swirling in her head.  But Nell wasn’t that girl so she
just pulled her arm out from under his and made her way back towards her
friends, ignoring Drum all the way. 

Thankfully
Julie and Grant had taken up residence at a small round table that could only
seat six people.  Devon had insinuated herself and Case into two of the
spots, leaving the remaining two available for them.

Time
to face the inquisition.  This was going to be painful.

Chapter
Five

“Well
that went better than I expected.”  Nell felt compelled to break the
silence as she and Drum made their way along the sandy private path leading to
the honeymoon cottage. 

With
the warm night breeze, the sound of waves breaking on the nearby beach and the
full moon overhead lighting their way the atmosphere felt all too
intimate.  She needed to remind him… and perhaps herself, that they were
together only because of some bizarre cosmic mishap.  And yes he’d agreed
to help with her plan, but that was more of a business arrangement, wasn’t
it?  He couldn’t possibly be expecting anything to happen between them…
gulp.  Except they hadn’t really defined what his exact role as her escort
here at the reunion would involve.  He did realise he would be sleeping
alone, right? 

Earlier,
when she’d introduced him to her friends Drum had done a more than credible job
of spinning a tale that they had met at the wedding of his best friend to her
cousin.  Thankfully he failed to mention the minor inconsequential fact
that the meeting had taken place only a mere eight hours prior.  He
deflected easily all Devon’s prying intimate questions and gave only the barest
information that they were in a new relationship and still getting to know one
another. 

The
only surprising aspect of the whole interrogation had been Case hammering Drum
with a series of personal queries demanding to know where he was from, what he
did for a living, what he did with his spare time.  It was kind of sweet,
in a way, that he was acting so protective but she had two brothers, she didn’t
need a third. 

“That
Case guy has the hots for you.”  Drum rumbled, brushing aside a drooping
palm leaf.

“What? 
Don’t be silly.  He’s with Devon.”

“They’re
not together.  Separate rooms.  I checked at the desk.”

“You
did what?  Why?”

“Intel. 
You have to have all the facts to understand all the players.”

“Drum,
this is not one of your assignments on the hunt for a renegade mystical
nasty.  This is a medical school reunion filled with yes I grant you
overly curious colleagues but you need to remember that they are exceedingly
mundane norms.”

Drum
grunted.

“I’m
sorry I don’t speak caveman, what does that mean?”

“It
means I think you’re wrong, there’s a threat here.”  He lifted his head,
tasting the air.  “A couple of people have been by here.”

“Probably
just staff or guests exploring the island.  Honestly you bloodthirsty
types see a conspiracy everywhere you go.”  She stepped off the path
making her way across the flagstones leading to the front door of the cottage,
pleased to see the staff had left some lights on inside to guide their way.

“And
you hug the planet love thy neighbour types will be the first to go when the
zombie apocalypse arrives.”

“What?” 
Nell stood stock still, mouth wide open.

“Gotcha.” 
Drum laughed softly, the sound rebounding off the looming tropical greenery on
either side of the cottage.   He scooped the keys out of her hand and
went first through the door, ready to meet any waiting threat. 
“Wow.”  He came to an abrupt halt.  “They go all out on this romance
stuff huh?” 

The
staff had left the living room cosily lit with several flickering hurricane
lanterns placed strategically around the room.  Out the back through the
open to the sea breeze patio folding doors the small pool and private garden
were lit with hundreds of twinkling fairy lights.

Nell
felt colour flood her cheeks, although why she should feel embarrassed she
didn’t know.  “Well it is the honeymoon suite.”

“How
many rooms?”

“Just
the one… upstairs.” 

She
braced herself ready to launch into the speech she’d been planning to give all
evening.  They needed to set some boundaries and they needed to set them
now.  Except Drum raised his arms over his head and stretched, freezing
the words in her throat as her attention was drawn to the way his waistcoat and
shirt clung to all those muscles. 

Covering
a yawn with one hand, he flexed his neck from side to side.  “Sorry Doc,
time difference is hitting me. I’ll just push a couple of these sofas together
and hit the hay.  You don’t walk in your sleep do you?”

“N…
no… why?”

“I’m
just warning you now I’ll be sleeping commando, I’ll raid the hotel shops
tomorrow for some gear but for tonight all I have with me is what I’m standing
in.”

“No
I definitely don’t sleepwalk.”  Goddess, did she have to sound so
prissy?  “I saw some spare sheets upstairs, I’ll toss them down.” 
She turned to go.

“Appreciate
that Doc.”

“Well
Goodn...”  She came to an abrupt halt. 

How
had he gotten in front of her so quickly, so quietly?  Darn sneaky
warrior.

“I
was serious about what I said before Doc, you need to be careful over the next
few days until I can work out what’s going on.”

“I...”

He
rested a finger gently against her lips, stopping her response.  “Repeat
after me - Yes Drum I will be careful.”  He moved his finger away
slightly, black eyes intently watching the stubborn look cross her face as
silence reigned between them.  “I can stand here all day Doc.”

“Fine”
She huffed a sigh.  “I will be careful.”

He
nodded and then intoned.
 
“Drum I promise
not to go off alone.”

Nell
bit back another sigh, instead repeating his words dutifully.
 
She’d say anything to get this man out of her
personal space and find some breathing… thinking room.

Still
Drum wasn’t finished. “If there is danger I will follow Drum’s instructions to
the letter.”

She
eyed him mutinously.  “Really?”  Seeing his serious steadfast look
she capitulated.  “If there is danger I will follow your
instructions.  Now may I please go to bed?”

“Just
one more thing Doc.”  His voice was a husky command, the flickering
candlelight reflected in the black depths of his eyes.  “It’s no accident
I’m here with you.  The universe, the cosmos, the fates or the Gods, for
whatever reason I’m here, you’re here.  Whatever this is… we’re in it
together.  I don’t like being a pawn in someone else’s game.  I’m
guessing you don’t either.  So we’re agreed that we do this together?”

She
stared down at his hand, outstretched.  Without hesitation she placed her
own in it, for all her trepidation about his size, warrior nature and innate
violent tendencies she did trust him.  Except of course the moment his
hand clasped around hers he gave a small tug, bringing her forward abruptly,
his warm lips swooping down onto hers. 

Goddess
like some naive girl fresh off the farm she’d fallen for the oldest trick in
the book.  The pressure hardly lasted three rapid heartbeats before he
stepped back, squaring his shoulders, his face unreadable in the dim
light. 

“Night
Doc.”

*                     
*         
            *

That
damnable frustrating behemoth had her tossing and turning all night thanks to
his soft barely there goodnight kiss. Her mind whirling with what ifs. 
What if she’d returned the kiss?  Flung her arms around him and pulled his
head down and rocked his world?  Would he have carried her upstairs? 
Would he have smothered another yawn and said thanks but no thanks this is just
a game didn’t you know Doc? 

Goddess
the warrior was confusing and so far out of her league as to be
ridiculous.  Seriously wasn’t she in essence just a small town country
doctor with a pleasant but unexciting social life?  His flirtation, his
interest, it couldn’t be real could it?  Men like Drum, they didn’t pursue
women like her? 

Unless
it was some sort of challenge to him.  Bring the good girl over to the
dark side.  Make her crave his touch… his kiss, and then drop her like
yesterday’s news.  Except he was a warrior of Maat, seeker of truth and
balance, sworn to bring justice and promote peace.  He wouldn’t scheme and
act the cad, it wasn’t in his nature.  Hadn’t she thought all along that
his rough muscular exterior hid a heart of gold? 

So
none of that explained his actions.  Well… unless he seriously was
interested in her.  For the thousandth time she raised her fingers to
touch her lips.  He scared the bejeezus out of her.  Not his size, or
simmering potential for violence but what he made her feel.  For the first
time in forever she was having inappropriate sexual thoughts about a man. 
Not just any thoughts either, wild passionate ones that made her ache and sigh
in frustration.  But really why were they so inappropriate?  He was a
single available man, she was a single available woman. 

The
problem was he was so unlike all her previous boyfriends.  There was
nothing safe, cautious, or go on admit it, controllable about Drum.  Maybe
she was over thinking this.  It wasn’t like Drum was boyfriend material
after all.  But he was hot heavy - grab it with both hands while you can -
fling material.  Should she?  Could she go through with something
like that?  Be bold, don’t think about the consequences and tempt Drum
into having an affair with her? 

Listening
to the birds trill and warble as dawn broke she stretched and yawned.  So
much for a goodnight’s sleep.  On bare feet she padded to the panoramic
windows to take in the gorgeous scenery past the lush private garden
below.  The sea was blue and calm as birds swooped and frolicked over the
gentle waves coasting into shore.  A few fishing boats dotted the horizon,
probably locals getting a jump start before the heat of the day took its
toll. 

Her
life back at the Sanctuary seemed very far away from this tropical
paradise.  No house calls, no demanding relatives cornering her at the
supermarket to get her opinion on their latest symptom; real or
imaginary.  No long hours at the hospital or clinic she manned with four
other doctors.  Sighing in blissful contentment she promised herself she
would spend the next three days relaxing, despite Drum’s presence and his
insistence there was some mythical danger stalking them.  Step one in that
plan would be to turn off her mobile.  That thought had no less popped
into her head when the darn thing beeped that a text was waiting.  She
should ignore it.  But what if it were important?  What if someone
was genuinely hurt? 

Forgetting
all her selfish intentions Nell hurried to the side table and picked up her
phone.  Smiling as Julie’s text message came into focus.  ‘Baby
dancing on bladder all night.  Fancy an early breakfast?’ 

She
texted back promising she’d meet Julie in fifteen minutes.  Heading for
the open bathing area situated directly behind the huge bed she quickly shed
her nightgown.  It felt strangely naughty but nice to be showering with
the balcony doors wide open and the warm sea air scenting the breeze. 
After the shower she brushed her teeth, lathered herself with 30 plus sunscreen
and then donned a red bikini that she quickly covered with baggy blue shorts
and a blue and white striped t-shirt.  Pulling her hair back into a pony
tail she slapped a wide brimmed hat on her head before pulling on an old ratty
pair of bright blue sneakers. 

It
was an exceedingly sensible outfit but an entirely appropriate one considering
she’d signed up for the paddle board activity that commenced just after
breakfast.  The one thing it wasn’t was a particularly sexy outfit or even
for that matter a cute outfit.  Oh well, she shrugged giving herself a
last rueful look in the mirror, better for Drum to face the fact early that she
always favoured practical over glamorous.  If this outfit didn’t kill the
simmering sexual tension between them then nothing would. 

Then
maybe she could... could what?  Run scurrying away like a little scared
mouse or tap into her inner temptress and invite Drum to indulge in a three day
affair?  Yeah right, who was she kidding as she crept down the stairs doing
her best not to wake him.  Drum was intimidating enough fully clothed but
the thought of coming face to face with a seven foot naked elite warrior. 
Just the thought sent her cheeks supernova red.  Yet a large part of her
was intensely disappointed that there was no sign of the frustrating man. 
Would it have killed him to be a sound sleeper so she could creep past whilst
accidently indulging in a little sneak peak? 

Goddess
she was out of control, wavering between running from the man one moment and
perving on him the next.  This was so unlike cool collected practical
Doctor Nell Montgomery.  She needed to stop acting like a silly schoolgirl
with an out of control crush and channel the cool reserve years of being a
doctor and leader in the community had instilled in her. 

Grabbing
a pen and some paper she scrawled an impersonal note to let him know she was
meeting Julie for breakfast.  There, she’d promised him she wouldn’t go
off alone and having breakfast with her best friend followed by an all-day outing
to another island surrounded by others would not be breaking any of his
rules.  Even better it would give her an entire day to get her head in
order.  Perfect, she had everything under control once more… just the way
she liked it.