by Lily Graison
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Alinar Publishing
www.alinarpublishing.com
Copyright ©2008 by Lily Graison
First published in 2008, 2008
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NOTICE: This work is copyrighted. It is licensed only for use by the original purchaser. Making copies of this work or distributing it to any unauthorized person by any means, including without limit email, floppy disk, file transfer, paper print out, or any other method constitutes a violation of International copyright law and subjects the violator to severe fines or imprisonment.
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CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
About the Author
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Wicked: Tempt Me Not
Lily Graison
Copyright © 2008 Lily Graison
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written consent of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
The right of Lily Graison to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
First printed August 2008
First Edition
All characters in this publication are purely fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Edited by Meg Richman
Cover Art by Dan Skinner
ISBN 1906023-55-7
978-1-906023-55-3
Chapter 1
"Please tell me you're joking.” Holly Baker stood wide-eyed, staring out into the vast wilderness surrounding her. She clutched her cell phone tightly in one hand, listening to her best friend's voice.
"I wish I was."
"Roxy, we've had this trip planned for a year! How can you just bail on me? Especially now. I'm already here!"
She looked down at the multiple bags by her feet, then closed her eyes and tried to remain calm. Her friend's last minute business trip two days ago had caused the first seeds of doubt to worm their way in. It threatened to ruin the entire trip but Roxy promised she'd be there. Now, as she stood alone staring at the mountains, her fears were realized.
Turning her head, Holly looked at the resort driver. He stood by the van, a bored expression written across his face. He'd yet to say a word as she shrieked into her cell phone and him ignoring her was almost as bad as Roxy's news.
She turned her back to him, sighing heavily and lowering her voice. “What am I suppose to do now?” she asked.
"Enjoy your vacation,” Roxy said. “I would be there if I could, you know that."
"I know."
"Look, the cabin is paid for. You have two weeks to do nothing but relax, forget about your job, and just chill out. Enjoy yourself."
"How can I do that alone?” Holly asked. “I'll have no one to talk to but the damn birds."
Roxy laughed. “I'm really sorry, hon. You know I'd be there if I could but I can't pass this case up. It would be career suicide."
Holly ran a hand through her hair, pushing stray tendrils dangling in her face behind her ear. Roxy's rich clients always came first. When they needed their lawyer, she ran, no matter what disruption it caused in her life. Today was no different.
Shaking her head, Holly leaned back against the van, and once again looked out over the mountains. “You could have at least stranded me somewhere exotic, with sandy beaches and plenty of eye candy. All I get is trees and bear poop."
"Having a hoard of hot guys wasn't on your list of requirements,” Roxy snorted a laugh. “And if I remember correctly, you said, and I quote, ‘Somewhere quiet, with pretty scenery'."
"Yes well, you didn't have to take me literally. This is the middle of fucking no where!"
"No. It's Tennessee. It's on the map. Look it up."
Holly rolled her eyes at her friend's laughter and sighed.
"Look,” Roxy said. “I'll make it up to you. Your birthday is only four months away. I'll thrown you a party the likes you've never seen. I promise."
"You better."
"I will,” Roxy laughed. “As soon as you get back from your all expenses paid vacation."
Holly grinned. “Fine. I'll be sure to drink all your liquor and call you endlessly when I get bored."
"You do that."
Holly disconnected the phone and turned to look at the driver. “I guess I'm staying."
"Great,” he said, pushing off the van. “I'll carry your bags inside."
Holly watched him walk to the cabin, unlock the door, and disappear inside. She stood there, staring out at the surrounding mountains.
Alone for two weeks on the side of a mountain. Could life get any worse?
The driver walked back outside minutes later, smiling as he approached her. “The cabinets are stocked just as requested and everything you need has been provided."
"Thank you,” she said, reaching into her bag for a tip. He stood patiently and accepted it with a smile.
"Have a lovely vacation, Ms. Baker."
Holly watched him start the van and pull away, heading back down the mountain. When he was finally out of sight, she turned a full circle, and tried to see the beauty around her without a jaded eye.
Mountains seemed to reach into the clouds, the shadows the sun cast on them made them appear to be colored in shades of pink and purple. Emerald green trees swayed softly in the breeze, the scent of wintergreen and fresh mountain air filled her lungs and replaced the stale, stagnant smells of the city from her body.
The cabin Roxy had rented for them was magnificent. It was small, but still stood two stories tall, and surrounded by nothing but trees.
Holly walked across the pebbled driveway to the front door.
Her eyes widened when she got her first look inside the cabin. High vaulted ceilings in rich dark wood hung invitingly over the upper loft where she could see the only bedroom. Furnishings in dark oranges and reds adorned the entire room. Her gaze scanned the living area and she smiled when she saw the ornate fireplace and soft rugs and pillows that were scattered around.
Large picture windows made up most of the outer walls and brought the lush greenery of the outdoors right inside her little paradise. She walked toward the sliding-glass doors that led to a small wooden deck and stepped outside.
A stream ran through the trees and trickled small waterfalls right below the deck. The sound was hypnotizing. She leaned against the railing, staring out across the mountain and spotted a well-beaten path along the pebbled drive.
Walking back inside, she made her way to the front door. There was only one way to find out where that path led and besides, what else did she have to do?
* * * *
"Enjoy your stay."
Devin gave the driver a nod. He watched him pull away, picked up his bags, and started for the cabin.
The door opened easily and he shrugged at the idea of the cabins not being locked. Walking inside, he couldn't help but smile as he took in his surroundings. It was everything his manager said it was and more.
He noticed the lack of TV upon entering. Even though he came to lay low and work on his music, he wasn't sure how long it would take before he went stir crazy with no outside noise other than that of nature.
Walking into the large kitchen that sat to the left of t
he front door, Devin made his way to the refrigerator and opened it. His eyes widened when he saw the wine bottles. “Trying to test me, Curt?” He grinned, shutting the door without another look.
He walked to the living room, grabbing his guitar on the way, and sat on the sofa facing the fireplace. He pulled the instrument from its case and his fingers leisurely strummed the strings, the soft tune he'd been working on coming to him easily.
The gentle sounds of the stream outside lulled him into playing the soft melody he'd been toying with for weeks. It was nothing like the other songs he'd written but something about this tune calmed him. Of course it was only a few riffs. The lyrics eluded him. He wasn't even sure there were any. His fans probably wouldn't go for it anyway. They preferred their music hard and raw. This stuff would make them think he'd lost his touch. Maybe he had.
Sitting back, he laid his guitar aside and stared into the unlit fireplace, leaning his head against the sofa and closing his eyes.
The past year of his life played behind his closed eyelids, each memory bringing another bitter thought to his mind. He was screwed. No doubt about it. His band mates hated him, his reckless behavior doing more harm to them than he'd thought. If the band couldn't get work, they suffered as well. His only hope was Curt, his manager.
Devin knew if Curt couldn't repair the damage he'd single-handedly created, he could kiss his career goodbye. His band mates were already thinking of moving on to other things.
Curt had a lot of ass kissing to do in his absence.
He didn't know how long he sat there contemplating his existence. Opening his eyes, he saw the darkening sky outside the picture windows. The sun rested low over the mountain, the tree limbs swaying softly in the breeze, and the room had chilled in the short amount of time he'd been there.
Standing, he made his way to the fireplace and began building up the wood to start a fire. Although he knew the days were quite comfortable, the nights could get cold. You would think living in New York would have prepared him for the chill but he knew the breeze blowing through the mountains stung to the bone once the sun set.
As the first flames danced to life and the wood began to pop and burn, Devin stood and went to his bags. Grabbing a few things, he made his way down the hall to find the bathroom.
* * * *
Holly's body protested when she moved. The hot spring she'd found at the end of the path washed away every doubt she had about spending her vacation alone. Every burden she'd been carrying seemed to melt away the longer she sat there and she wondered if she would ever want to leave. Not having Roxy there sucked, but this was heaven.
She opened her eyes, noticing the darkening sky, and watched small woodland creatures scurry along the spring collecting their food.
The entire area looked like something from a dream. The steam from the hot spring hung heavy around the pool. The strong scent of pine perfumed the air and the breeze that rustled the trees limbs carried with it the scent of mountain laurel.
She raised her arms over her head, stretching out her limbs. “My own little slice of paradise."
Looking around her, she grinned before standing and climbing out of the spring. She quickly grabbed her clothes, draping them over her nude body. Who would have thought, standing naked in the forest would be so liberating? Hooking her shirt under her arms, she laughed and darted up the path to the cabin.
She rushed in the front door, shivering as the cool mountain air stung her wet skin. The room was dark except for the light coming from the burning embers of the fireplace.
She stopped just inside the door, staring at the fire, before looking around. Her brow rose in confusion. “Automatic fireplace?"
She grinned and shrugged her shoulders. “One more reason to love this place."
Walking quickly across the room to the fireplace, she dropped her clothes, sighing as the warmth from the fire engulfed her body.
She closed her eyes, smiling as the heat bathed her skin. She shivered once, opening her eyes before looking behind her. A blanket draped across the back of the sofa caught her eye and she turned, walking toward it. She hadn't taken three steps when she heard a door slam from somewhere inside the cabin.
* * * *
Devin froze when he saw her. He blinked repeatedly, raising a hand to rub at his eyes before looking back across the room. He wasn't seeing things. Someone was in his cabin.
If the look on her face was any indication, she was every bit as surprised to see him as he was at seeing her. A jumble of thoughts rushed through his head but it only took him a second to realize that there was a beautiful brunette standing in front of him wearing nothing but skin.
With a growing smile, he leaned his head to the side. “Well, hello there gorgeous."
Her eyes widened before she took a deep breath and screamed.
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Chapter 2
Holly felt dizzy by the time she'd let the last of the air in her lungs out. She stared at the man in the hallway before rushing to the sofa, grabbing the blanket off the back of it, and wrapping it around her body.
She looked around the room frantically, spotting a small glass figurine sitting on the coffee table. She reached for it, lifting it above her head, and turned back to the man.
"Who the hell are you? What do you want?"
The man walked completely into the room and Holly's arm rose higher, her makeshift weapon swaying slightly as her body shook.
"Here on vacation,” he answered. “And I hate to burst your bubble sweetheart, but this is my cabin."
"Your cabin?” Holly gasped in surprise. She stared across the room at him before straightening her spine. “You're delusional. This cabin was booked months ago. It's mine. I don't know who you are but you have exactly thirty seconds to get out of here before I embed this glass in your skull."
He laughed. Holly watched him lean one shoulder against the wall, cross his arms over his chest and laugh at her. Her fear turned ugly in that minute. She wasn't nearly as scared as she was pissed off now. Anger she could deal with. “What the hell is so funny?"
It took him a few minutes, but he stopped laughing, much to her surprise. Holly saw him inhale deeply before letting it out in one long breath.
"Look, I know for a fact that I booked this cabin,” he said. “And the shuttle dropped me off here a few hours ago. Now how did you get up here?"
"The shuttle,” Holly told him with a shaky voice. “I've been here since around noon."
"I see. Well, looks like someone made a mistake somewhere."
Holly snorted back a laugh as she looked at him. “You think?” she said, lowering her arm.
He grinned and pushed himself off the wall. Holly's arm rose automatically, her weapon wielded with confidence. He straightened, holding his hands out in front of him and said, “No need for that, darling. I'm not going to hurt you."
Holly held the blanket around her and watched him walk across the room to the front door. He leaned down, placing the things in his hand in one of the bags sitting there. There were several suitcases and various bags and she didn't know why she hadn't noticed them when she first walked in.
Glancing around the room, she spotted a guitar sitting on the sofa, before she looked back up at him. “I suppose this is yours,” she asked, pointing to the guitar.
"Yes.” He took a small step toward her and she stumbled backwards. “Look, why don't you go put some clothes on so you'll be more comfortable? We can try to figure out why we're both here when only one of us should be."
Holly watched him for a few seconds, tossing the object in her hand down on the sofa. She grabbed the blanket with both hands and took a slow step backwards, glancing over at the stairs.
Looking back at the man by the door, she gave a small nod of her head and turned, quickly making her way up the steps.
She rushed to the upper loft with her heart still racing in her chest.
Grabbing one of her suitcases, Holly tossed it up on the bed an
d unzipped it frantically, grabbing the first thing she saw. Glancing over the rail to the lower section, she looked for her intruder.
He walked across the room to the sofa. He wore nothing but a pair of well-worn black jeans. Hard, defined muscles gleamed in the filtered light from the fire. Moisture still glistened on his skin from an apparent shower and made the plain black tattoo circling his bicep shine. His hair was jet black, cropped close to his head, but a few small curls on top were tousled in a very haphazard way.
She had to admit he was quite pretty to look at. She hadn't seen anyone that healthy looking in quite a while. He was all bronze skin and rippled in the most delicious places.
Shaking her thoughts away, she moved to the farthest wall and quickly slipped her clothes on.
Devin grinned when he saw her step back from the railing. The sight of her when he walked into the living room was one he'd never be able to rid himself of. Naked as the day she was born. Of course, no one looked like that when born. Lord help the human race if they did. His cock twitched just thinking about all that delicious flesh glistening in the low light from the fireplace. She looked like a vision straight from his wettest dreams. Beautiful right down to her rosy tipped breasts.
He sucked in a breath, willing the image away. It was obvious someone had made a serious mistake. Overbooking the cabin was going to cost someone dearly and he hoped it wouldn't be him. Of course, things didn't have to be so dire. There was a beautiful girl upstairs and one shouldn't look a gift-horse in the mouth. Maybe this was his reward for being a good boy as of late?
Nah.
He chuckled to himself and picked his guitar up, placing it back in the case before walking to the door. He bent down, picking up the small blue bag he knew held his cell phone. He had brought it, just in case. One never knew what could happen and as long as it was off, it wouldn't become a bother.
Finding his phone, he hit the “on” button and waited as it charged up. Surely the resort manager could figure out why there was a woman in the cabin he had rented.
