Hope Harbor

by Jill Sanders

  She waved him off, since she’d already had the cleaning crew up there to clean the hallway.

  “It wasn’t the first and it won’t be the last mess my crew has to clean.” She smiled at him. “Thank you,” she said as she started to show them out and then remembered something. “Did you find his camera?” she asked, not sure why it was important, but needing to know if he’d had it on him. After all, he would have had to upload the video shortly before he’d died. That meant he’d snuck into her room, snagged it, uploaded it, then was killed. Or… she shivered at the other possibility—that someone else had been in her room, stolen the camera, and uploaded the video, posing as Steve.

  “Camera?” The pair looked between each other. “No, no camera? What kind was it?”

  Eve thought back. “It had Blackmagic Designs on it. Other than that…” She shrugged and held up her hands. “About this big, black, heavy, a Xenon 35 lens on it.”

  “Heavy?” Barb asked.

  “Yeah, it had the footage of the rocket… It was in my room. I put it there after the rocket incident, but discovered it missing when I returned to my room after dinner. It was taken and then the video was uploaded and emailed out to the local news. All around the time of Steve’s death.”

  Barb was scribbling all this information down on her notepad.

  “We’ll let you know if we find anything,” Barb added before turning and leaving.

  “I seem to be asking you this a lot, but are you okay?” Dylan moved over to her and pulled her into his arms again.

  “Yes,” she said against his chest. “I’m sorry about tonight—”

  He stopped her by putting a finger under her chin and nudging it up until their eyes met.

  “Don’t. It’s not your fault. Besides, I took a short trip home and packed an overnight bag.” He wiggled his brows.

  “Oh?” She chuckled and wrapped her arms around his shoulder. “Is there anything… special in it for me?”

  He opened his mouth to answer, but a knock on her door stopped him. Dropping his hands, he stepped back as she called for whoever it was to come in.

  Genie stood there, looking a little flustered. “I hate to bother you, but I think you’re needed in the dining hall.”

  Eve glanced over at Dylan. “Duty calls.”

  “I’d better get back to work too.” He smiled. “I like my job and don’t want to piss of the boss.” He picked up his tool bag and disappeared down the hallway. She wanted to call after him that it wasn’t possible for him to piss her off but kept her mouth shut.

  Eve watched Dylan walk away, his worn jeans hugging him. The sleeves of his work shirt were rolled up, showcasing the tan muscular arms that had been wrapped around her moments ago. Her entire body ached, screamed for release, dreaming of being naked next to him.

  “That is one tall drink of something I’d like to savor.” Genie sighed and broke into Eve’s thoughts. Eve glanced over at Genie who blushed quickly. “Sorry.”

  Eve chuckled. “Don’t be. I was thinking the same thing.” She followed Genie into the dining hall.

  Another fight had broken out, this time between the groom’s father and his own sons. Apparently, a full day of drinking was not something the family could handle well. After suggesting that everyone sit down for dinner and enjoy a full meal, things calmed down so that Eve could return to her office.

  But her mind kept returning to daydreams about Dylan, about the phone sex they’d had the other night and what he’d promised her he would do to her. Less than an hour later she slammed her laptop shut and locked up, determined to find Dylan, wherever he was.

  She found him in a small storage room near the loading dock on the back of the building. He was standing on a small step stool as he replaced a light fixture.

  He was so occupied in his work, he didn’t notice her standing in the doorway, watching him. Leaning against the doorway, she crossed her arms over her chest and became mesmerized by the way his shirt tightened around his muscles as he screwed in the new fixture. His arms were impressive, and she’d dreamed of them in the past days.

  The feeling of them wrapped around her was more wonderful than anything. He turned slightly and she could see the stubble on his chin. God, it had felt so good against her skin when he’d kissed her. She imagined what it would feel like on her bare breasts, her belly, her pussy.

  She must have made a sound, because his head jerked around. When he noticed her standing in the doorway, he smiled. Her eyes moved up to his lips, and she remembered how they had felt against hers.

  “How long have you been standing there?” he asked, tucking the screwdriver into his tool belt as he screwed in the light bulb.

  “Long enough,” she answered a little breathless. Glancing up and down the hallway, she moved into the small room and shut the door, flipping the lock behind her. His dark eyebrows shot up as he stepped off the ladder.

  “Long enough for—”

  She didn’t let him finish but bumped her body next to him and pressed her mouth over his.

  “Make me feel alive,” she said against his mouth.

  “We’re in a closet.” He chuckled against her skin as her hands ran over him, pulling at his shirt.

  “I don’t care that we’re in a closet, or that there isn’t a bed. I’ve waited too long for this, for you.” She pulled his shirt off his shoulders, sinking her nails into the skin and muscles she found there.

  “Eve,” he groaned, and she felt his hands flex on her back. “I wanted… hoped…” He shook his head and groaned when she scraped her teeth across his collarbone.

  She felt his entire body jerk next to hers and slid her hand lower to cup him. “That’s what I thought.” She moaned. “Let’s not think. Not right now. There’ll be plenty to deal with later…” She shook her head and kissed him again. “For now, let’s make out in this dark closet and pretend the world outside that door isn’t there.” She slowly rubbed her hand over him, marveling at the feeling of him growing even harder for her.

  17

  What’s a guy to do?

  What was a guy to do? Eve practically attacked him in the closet. It wasn’t as if he could push her away and say no. His body was too damn revved up. Besides, he’d wanted her since the first moment that he’d seen her. His body even had its own mind made up.

  Eve’s soft body was plastered against his, her perfect breasts pushed up against him, begging for attention. With his fingertips, he nudged her sweater over her head, making sure to set it on a row of clean towels instead of tossing it on the floor.

  The sexy white cotton bra she was wearing had his mouth watering. “Is this the same bra from the other night?” he asked, his voice a little hoarse.

  She glanced down and nodded. “I was going to change into silk before this evening,” she admitted.

  “I’m thankful you haven’t had a chance. I’ve been dreaming about you in cotton. Seeing you like this.” He ran the back of a finger over the soft material and her eyes slid closed as her head rolled back, exposing her long neck. Bending down, he ran his mouth over her skin and smiled when she groaned in pleasure.

  “Tell me your panties match,” he said, his fingers brushing down her sides. She sucked in her breath when he hit a soft spot. “Ticklish?” he asked as his mouth traveled lower to the top of her shoulder blade.

  “Some,” she admitted, her own hands exploring his chest and arms. “You?”

  “You’ll have to find out for yourself,” he teased, but he stepped away from her when she reached for him. With his eyes on hers, he took the waist of her slacks and slid them to the floor, where they pooled at her feet.

  The white cotton glowed under the dim light, making her skin look smooth as silk. He moved towards her, stalked her almost, and she took two steps back until her shoulders bumped against the wall.

  Chuckling, he wiggled his finger at her. “Come here.”

  She smiled. “I don’t know if I can.” She sighed. “The way you’re looking at me. Like
you’re going to eat me up.”

  His smile grew. “That’s just what I plan on doing.” He moved closer to her, then surprised her by dipping his head and running his mouth over the curve of her breast above the cotton.

  “You taste sweeter than sugar,” he said as his hands moved lower. When he ran a finger over the cotton, just as he’d told her he would the other night, she arched into his hand and moaned his name.

  “Yes,” he sighed and moved lower, trailing his mouth over her soft skin. “I warned you.” He slowly dipped a finger under the elastic. His mouth followed the path, and he ran the tip of his tongue across the cotton, soaking the material. He nudged her thighs with his shoulders and she spread her legs, holding him, her hands in his hair.

  Running a hand down her smooth leg, he hoisted it up until it lay over his shoulder. “Hold onto me,” he said softly, then pulled the cotton aside and slid his mouth over her pussy.

  Her fingers clenched in his hair as she cried out. Her body jerked, tensed, then slowly moved to the rhythm he set.

  He wanted more. Needed more of her. The panties had to go. He tossed them aside, hearing the cotton tear, and covered her completely with his mouth. Sliding a finger slowly into her heat, he lapped her up and nibbled on her clit.

  He’d never experienced something as erotic as her hips grinding against his mouth. Feeling her, tasting her on his tongue. He’d dreamed of this. Of being with her just like this. It had been too long. He’d been starving and didn’t want his time to end. When he felt her body tense and tasted her release on the tip of his tongue, he knew she felt the same.

  “Eve.” He stood, holding onto her so she wouldn’t slide to the floor.

  “Please,” she said, pulling him closer, her hand going back to his dick. “I need…”

  Thankfully, he’d put a condom in his jean pocket when he’d filled his overnight bag earlier that day.

  “You’re sure? Here?” he asked, looking around again.

  “Yes, I need you. It doesn’t matter where.” She smiled up at him. “Just as long as we aren’t getting interrupted.”

  He swooped down and kissed her. “Don’t say that, you’ll jinx us.” He laughed and pulled out the condom, then let her slide his jeans down his hips.

  “God, you’re so beautiful.” She sighed as she ran her eyes over him. “Next time it’s my turn.” She licked her lips and had his dick jumping in her hand. She smiled. “You like that?” She did it again and he groaned. Then she took the condom from him, opened it with her teeth and slid it slowly over his length.

  “Damn,” he sighed and closed his eyes. “I’d planned to do this under the moonlight on the water.”

  “Next time,” she promised, and she pulled him closer and kissed him until he forgot all about his plans.

  He picked her up, and she wrapped her legs around his as he walked—okay, waddled, since his jeans were pooled around his work boots—towards a countertop.

  Setting her hips on the edge of the counter, he slowly slid into her. She was perfect. Her pussy stretched for him until he fit completely inside her. Holding still, he held his breath and counted to five, trying not to come instantly at the best feeling of his life.

  Then her head rolled back, and her hips started moving in a little circle and the last strands of his control slipped away.

  He liked to think that he was a good lover. After all, none of the women he’d been with had ever complained. Kendra and he had had many lengthy discussions on the topic, and they’d tried out so many new and exciting things on each other during their time together.

  But feeling Eve wrapped around him, moving against him, tasting her on his tongue still, he forgot everything and could only focus on the pleasure.

  “Please.” Eve’s soft pleadings broke through to him. “Dylan, I’m going to come again. I… want… need you…” Her nails dug into his shoulders as he pounded into her soft flesh. When he felt her tighten around him, her legs squeezing around his hips tightly as he once again felt her release, he threw his head back and followed her.

  When he surfaced, a few things crossed his mind. There were voices outside the doorway. And his boots were still on.

  Glancing around, he rested his forehead against hers. “We’d better…”

  She giggled. “Yeah,” she whispered as he moved away.

  Pulling up his jeans, he glanced around for his shirt as she tugged on her slacks and shirt quickly.

  Finding her ruined underwear, he stuffed them in his pocket and handed her one of her shoes.

  “Think anyone heard us?” she asked, trying to straighten her hair.

  He chuckled. “Yeah, I’m sure they did.” She gave him a look. “What? If you didn’t want the truth, don’t ask.” He shrugged. “Besides, you told me that everyone already knew about us.”

  “Yes, they know, that doesn’t mean I wanted to give them a front row seat to… the festivities.”

  He laughed and then flipped on the new light he’d installed, which had the room bathed in brightness. “At least I can mark that off my list.” He smiled over at her.

  “Me or the light?”

  He moved over and kissed her. “Both,” he admitted before she slapped him playfully on the shoulder. “Hey, I’m not the one who came looking for a quickie.”

  She glanced down at her watch. “That wasn’t quick,” she said, surprising him.

  He pulled her close enough so she could feel him already growing hard again in his jeans. “Darling, trust me, it was.”

  Her cheeks flushed, and he kissed her one more time. The voices were back outside the door.

  “They’re looking for me.” She sighed. “God, how am I going to explain…”

  She didn’t get any further, because he’d stepped away and opened the door. “She’s in here,” he told Genie and Kathrine.

  Both women looked a little shocked, then upon seeing Eve’s messy hair, wrinkled slacks, and freshly fucked look, they smiled.

  “We didn’t mean to bother…” Genie started but stopped when Kathrine elbowed her.

  “Course we did. Your family’s back,” the woman said bluntly.

  Eve groaned.

  “Yeah, it’s that bad. They’re pissed they can’t get into their rooms,” Kathrine added.

  “I didn’t tell them you’d moved their stuff,” Genie added. “I… didn’t…”

  “It’s okay.” Eve touched the woman’s arm. “I’ll go deal with them.”

  “We’ll go,” he corrected and picked up his tool bag.

  “Your shirt’s on inside out,” Kathrine said to him as they started walking down the hallway. When he glanced down, he noticed it wasn’t and chuckled. Kathrine laughed and nudged Genie. “See, told you they were doing it.” She held out her hand, and he chuckled when Genie set a five-dollar bill in Kathrine’s palm.

  “Oh my god.” Eve groaned and buried her face in her hands.

  “Relax, your secret is safe with us,” Genie added with a giggle.

  “Secret?” Kathrine laughed. “Everyone on the floor heard them going at it before you came down looking for her. The sounds echo on this level, so we didn’t know which room you were… shagging in,” she said with a smile to him before turning away and heading back to the kitchen, chuckling.

  “Oh my…” Eve stopped walking and closed her eyes, but Genie grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the stairs.

  “Your family has been waiting,” she urged.

  “Let them,” Eve said. “After everything they’ve done to me.”

  “Where are we going to put them if they won’t leave?” Genie asked as they climbed the stairs.

  “They are not staying here,” Eve answered, glancing in his direction.

  “Agreed.” He nodded. “I’m here,” he said, following them. “If you need me.”

  Eve nodded and took a deep breath. “How do I look?” she asked Genie.

  The woman ran her eyes up and down Eve. “Like you’ve just had knocked-your-panties-off sex.” Eve
’s face flushed and he could tell she was thinking about the torn underwear in his pocket. Genie’s eyes moved to him and she laughed. “Both of you. She leaned forward and straightened a strand of Eve’s hair. “But they won’t be looking at you. They never do. They’re too focused on themselves.”

  “True,” Eve agreed. “Let’s go.”

  The moment they stepped into the lobby, every single one of her family members surrounded her. They swarmed her and it took both Genie and him to push them away so that he didn’t have to worry about Eve getting trampled.

  “What’s all this about? Our locks have been changed,” her father was saying.

  “Where’s my son?” Roger yelled over the top of all the other voices and suddenly everyone grew quiet and looked at Eve.

  “Steve’s at the coroner’s office,” she said softly.

  “I called down there. They told me they don’t have him,” Roger threw back at Eve.

  “He’s not at the one in town. Since it was…” Eve’s eyes darted to his. “Since it was homicide, he’s down at the county coroner’s office.”

  Everyone grew quiet. “My son was murdered?” Regina asked.

  Eve’s father gripped her arm. “You didn’t say anything about murder. You said you found him…”

  “We did,” Dylan corrected and stepped closer. “He was hit over the head with something heavy on Monday between the hours of three and six.”

  Everyone grew silent again. “The police will need to know where everyone was during those times,” Eve explained calmly.

  “Us?” her aunt Louisa exclaimed. “What about you?” She glanced around. “Everyone heard you on the lawn, what you said to Steve after the rocket debacle.”

  “You threatened to bash my baby’s head in,” her aunt Regina added with a slight sniffle. Her husband wrapped an arm around her as the woman began to cry.

  “Eve wasn’t here. She went to the hospital to check on DarCee,” Dylan added. “Then had dinner in town. There are multiple witnesses to back it up.” His eyes moved around the crowd. “The police are checking everyone’s whereabouts. Maybe it would be best if we discussed this later. Eve’s had a long day…” He started to pull Eve out of the center of the crowd.