by K. Lyn
Adonis Rising
~K. Lyn~
Beau to Beau Publishing
Copyright 2014-01-16: K. Lyn
ISBN: 978-1-6184-5219-1
All rights reserved
http://www.beautobeau.com
Copyright and Disclaimer:
This book is not transferable. It is for your own personal use. If it is sold, shared, or given away, it is an infringement of the copyright of this work. No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the author or publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts used for the purposes of review.
This book is for ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY. It contains substantial sexually explicit scenes and graphic language which may be considered offensive by some readers.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are solely the product of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously, though reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or yet to be born, is purely coincidental and entirely unintentional.
Published in the United States of America.
Introduction:
When Leah falls in love with a man who shares her interests and dreams, she knows he is the one for her. What she does not know is that he carries with him dark secrets and a past that nearly destroyed him. She tries to understand him, but he pushes her away and into the arms of another man. When this new man learns the identity of Leah’s on again, off again lover, he realizes that he, too, is involved in what could be an entanglement of the most dangerous kind.
Adonis Rising:
Galveston Island was as beautiful as everyone had said it was and the photographs of its picturesque shoreline did not do it justice. The quaint main street housed an array of stores, each representing a small part of Americana in its purest form. It seemed that every shop specialized in one and only one saleable item, perfecting its prize until it was just right. Then and only then was its coveted souvenir made available to the people who called Galveston home as well as the many tourists who visited the island city every year. College students traveled to Galveston each year for spring break to bask on its beautiful beaches and swim in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The island was a welcome retreat to pioneers of industry, wealthy oil executives, and ranchers of the great state of Texas, as well as others of great monetary means who owned multimillion dollar homes which stood proudly in all their splendor just a little inland from the gulf. Every home, it seemed, was equipped with its own airplane hangar housing a Learjet anxiously awaiting its owner’s beckon to fly anywhere he or she wished to go.
Standing on the beach and looking back toward the city, Leah thought that all she had heard about this beautiful island paradise in no way described it accurately. She thought the island was the most beautiful place on earth, and she had come to the United States from what seemed an entirely different world.
Leah Goldblatt was born in Israel, a country in perpetual battle, its citizens living in constant fear for their lives and uncertain futures. Leah’s mother was originally from England and she wanted her daughter to have the opportunity to study abroad without prejudice, so she had shortened Leah’s last name to Golden following the death of Leah’s father. Leah’s father had been tragically and suddenly killed a few years earlier in a mortar attack in Israel, and Leah and her mother returned to England to be closer to family and to hopefully save Leah from the same fate as her father. Leah’s mother missed her husband and his family, and she promised herself that one day she and Leah would return to Israel. The Israeli people had been very kind to her, a young English bride, despite the bigotry and hatred they had been forced to endure by so many around the world. Leah’s mother, Sharon, had returned to the university in London and earned a doctorate degree in epidemiology, and a year ago she had been given the extraordinary opportunity to teach at The University of Texas Medical School in Galveston. It had been her dream for Leah to be educated at an American university, so she had leapt at the chance to relocate to Texas.
Although Leah had graduated from secondary school in England, she lacked a few courses required to enable her to enroll in a university in the United States. In an effort to satisfy the necessary requirements, and because of her high marks, she was accepted into a private liberal arts high school in Houston where she had completed her studies this past semester. Now, at the age of twenty-two, she was a few years older than her American counterparts, as her early education had often been interrupted by the continous fighting that was an unfortunate part of Israeli life. When Leah moved to Texas, she had been the oldest student in her class, but she hadn’t minded. She was well liked by her peers, she was in the United States of America, the land that promised opportunities for anyone regardless of their race, creed, or color, and she had her entire life ahead of her.
It was summertime and Galveston was filled with tourists and seasonal inhabitants who had flocked to the island to enjoy the sandy beaches and the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Leah’s mother had fallen in love with Galveston when she had toured its medical center for her new position. She said it reminded her of the beauty of Israel during the rare times when peace had dared to enter a world where war was determined to maintain an enduring presence. Sharon was teaching this summer, so Leah planned to spend as much time as possible enjoying the beautiful beaches of Galveston Island, when she wasn’t working, that is. Raised with a strong work ethic, she had accepted a part time job in a quaint little ice cream parlor on the main street of town. She adored visiting with the tourists when they stopped in for a scoop or two of the cold sweet treat made with real cream. She enjoyed hearing about their lives and the various cities and countries they called home, so sheltered had she been while living in Israel and at her grandparents’ home in England. Leah’s mornings were spent in the ice cream parlor, but the afternoons and evenings were hers to do as she pleased, and what pleased her was lying on the beach reading a good book or enjoying the breathtaking view which spread out before her.
On this particular afternoon, the ebb and flow of the gulf waters was lulling Leah to sleep as she lay on the warm sandy beach. She was nearly asleep when she heard a voice say to her, “Excuse me, but is this seat taken?”
Leah looked up a little confused by the words and still a little dazed from having nearly dozed off.
“I’m sorry,” the voice continued. “I was really asking if I could spread my blanket next to yours.”
Leah welcomed the stranger by patting the sand, and the man stretched out, encouraging the warm rays to kiss his skin. He was a handsome man, with thick dark hair and lots of it covering his entire body, at least the part of his body that was not covered, which was all but a very small portion, as his swim trunks covered only the bare necessities and were quite snug. Leah estimated him to be a little older than she, twenty-eight maybe, but surely no older. She didn’t mean to stare, yet she couldn’t seem to take her eyes off of this man who seemed so sure of himself and so comfortable in his own skin.
The stranger reached out to shake Leah’s hand, and he said confidently, “I’m Camden, Camden Wassen, but please call me Cam.”
Leah instinctively began to move away at the obvious German name, but she stopped herself, shook his hand and introduced herself as well, still mesmerized by the stranger’s forwardness.
Camden had noticed Leah’s actions and he had not meant to frighten her. He glanced down at the book that she had been reading, The Odyssey, and was impressed by her choice of reading material. “Interesting choice,” he said, pointing toward Leah’s book.
“It’s required for school this fall,” Leah remarked, and then she continued talking to him, telling him that
she had been approved for admission to the University of Texas. She felt comfortable with this man, Camden, and she continued to tell him how she had come to be a citizen of Galveston but omitted telling him that she was Jewish. Despite being in a country that prided itself on its diversity, she was still a Jewish girl in the presence of a German man. She explained to Cam what her mother did for a living, and she also explained that she was much older than most freshmen in college. She didn’t want to seem immature to this handsome man who seemed worldly and cultured.
Camden sat listening intently to Leah, feeling a bit sorry for the struggles she had already experienced at such a young age. Leah had stopped mid sentence when she realized she was on the verge of mentioning her homeland, and Cam wondered why. He assumed that the memories were much too painful for her to divulge.
Leah wanted to know more about this handsome man, but she was unaccustomed to prying into another’s business. After a period of silence, however, she finally summoned the courage to ask more about him. “What brings you to Galveston, sir?”
“Oh, my goodness, call me Camden, please.” Camden continued, “I teach literature at The University of Texas in Houston. I come to Galveston every chance I get, though. I love the beach and the warm waters of the gulf and I enjoy strolling along the main street taking in the quaint little shops.”
Leah explained that she was working at the ice cream parlor during the mornings this summer and that she came out here to the beach in the afternoons and evenings. “Stop by and try some of the ice cream if you haven’t already done so,” Leah found herself boldly inviting this man she had just met.
“I’ll do that,” Cam didn’t hesitate to reply, followed by a wink.
Leah looked away quickly, as she was beginning to blush from the wink, although she wasn’t sure why. Camden lay back and closed his eyes, enjoying the sun’s rays upon his skin. Leah sat up and leaned against her beach chair and began to read some more of her book. She couldn’t seem to concentrate on the words she was reading, however. She couldn’t stop looking at Camden. He was absolutely gorgeous. He was well read, too, which made her want to talk to him even more, as she too was a voracious reader.
Camden was nearly asleep when he suddenly sat up and looked at his watch. “Oh, my, I didn’t know it was so late. I had better get back to the house. I recently adopted two puppies, two golden colored Shelties, and they are not accustomed to being alone for very long. They are good company for a bachelor like me, however.”
Leah had never owned a pet. A country continually at war was not a good place for people, much less animals. She would love to see the puppies, but she didn’t want to seem intrusive. Besides, she had just met this man and knew very little about him. He could be a serial killer for all she knew. She kept looking at him as he gathered the few belongings he had brought with him to the beach and she found herself hoping that somehow he would read her mind and realize that she was begging for an invitation.
Camden was curious to know why Leah kept watching him, but he tried to shrug it off. He wanted to spend more time with her, too. Quite outspoken, looking Leah directly in the eyes, he asked, “Leah, would you like to see my puppies? They’re very cute, and they love attention. My house is just up the beach.” Pointing, he added, “You can see the front porch from here if you strain your eyes.”
Leah didn’t know what to do now. This was what she had wanted, yet she had been taught to always be wary of strangers. One could never be certain if they were friend or foe. She was suddenly aware that she was staring into Camden’s eyes that were waiting for an answer.
Camden added, “I have a large selection of books, especially the classics. You can browse through them and borrow some if you like.”
That was too much to turn down. Leah loved to read and she didn’t have many books of her own. When she was in Israel and in England, she would spend hours at the secondhand bookstores searching for just the right book to purchase with her scant allowance. Finally getting up the nerve to respond, she said, “I would love to. I’ve never had a pet of my own, and I do love to read.”
“Great,” Camden replied. “You can leave your stuff here if you like. Then you won’t have to carry it with you.”
Leah picked up her book and followed Camden along the beach to his house. It was only about the distance of a few city blocks from where they were and the warm sand felt good beneath their bare feet.
Camden’s house was quite large in Leah’s opinion and very well kept, at least on the outside. When they entered, Leah nearly gasped. The house was beautiful, adorned with the most exquisite antiques which Camden had inherited from his grandparents and parents, and some had been given to him by a friend. Camden could see the awe in Leah’s eyes and for some reason he felt as if he needed to impress his new friend. He recounted how he had amassed such an exquisite collection and how his grandparents had left most of the antiques to his parents who in turn gave them to him. He loved the intricate painting and etchings of the collection, and Leah was learning more than she had expected and loving every minute of it. As they walked toward the back of the house and into the family room where the puppies were cordoned off for their own safety, Leah envied the tidiness with which Camden kept his house. Everything had a place and everything was in its place. The family room was huge, more than enough room for two small puppies, and it opened into a massive kitchen which was also open to the puppies so they could get to their food and water. Camden motioned to Leah to come into the family room. As he picked up one of the puppies and cradled it in his arms, he proudly introduced the new addition to Leah.
“I would like you to meet Kent,” he said. Then picking up Kent’s eagerly awaiting twin, he placed it in Leah’s arms and said, “This one I have named Kobi.”
Leah was not at all comfortable holding the puppy, and it showed.
“It’s okay, Leah,” Camden said softly. “Just hold him close to you so that he can feel the warmth of your body and hear the beating of your heart. It will make him feel loved, and he will trust you.”
As Leah did what Camden told her to do, she noticed that the puppy’s tail began to wag and he began licking her face.
“See, Leah, he likes you,” Camden said reassuringly. “Come in and sit down, Leah. We’ll each hold a puppy while we talk.”
Leah was still quite uncomfortable with holding the tiny creature, but when she sat down she seemed to feel better about it. She had something to lean against, just as the puppy was leaning against her.
“I’m not keeping you from anything, am I?” asked Camden thoughtfully.
Leah shook her head no and settled more comfortably upon the couch.
“I fell in love with these cute little things the moment I saw them,” Camden explained. He further explained that the two puppies were the offspring of a friend’s dog in Houston.
“They’re beautiful.” Leah was falling in love with the cute little darlings.
As they sat holding the puppies, Camden asked Leah what books she had read and which ones she wanted to read, and if she had a favorite author. Leah explained that she had read just about every book that she could find, and she admitted to the scarcity of books while she was growing up. She stopped herself from mentioning the name of her homeland, though she felt that Camden was a kind German man and would never hurt her. She confessed that she had read a variety of writings from a multitude of authors, but so far she didn’t have just one favorite. A couple of her favorite books were The Brothers Karamazov and Les Miserables.
Camden was impressed. Both of these works were not easily understood by the masses, and he knew then that Leah must be quite intelligent. Leah then remembered a book that she had read this past semester and had loved it. She conveyed to Camden that she had found The Count of Monte Cristo to be of particular interest and intrigue, which further impressed the man.
“Let me show you my library, Leah,” Camden half asked and half stated. “Besides, Kent and Kobi have dozed off and they look like t
hey could be asleep for quite some time.”
They put the puppies on the down comforter in the basket which Camden had purchased especially for them, and Leah followed Camden to yet another part of the house, a house which seemed to have no end. Camden opened the door to the library as if he were introducing a member of a royal family. “This is my pride and joy,” he stated proudly.
Leah’s mouth fell open as she took it all in. There seemed to be more books in this one huge room than in any store or library that she had ever seen. The rows of books were arranged perfectly by author and the shelves upon which they sat appeared as if they had been polished only minutes prior to her arrival.
“Feel free to look around, Leah,” Camden welcomed.
Leah did just that, though she was afraid to touch the beautiful display. She liked the way the books were arranged so neatly and she didn’t want to disturb their beauty.
Camden was fascinated by the young woman who seemed much more mature than her youthful appearance might suggest, and he wanted to share his collection of treasured books with her. He had not met anyone who liked to read as much as he did until he had met Leah on the beach today. “See anything you want to read?” he asked.
Leah didn’t know where to begin. She wanted to read them all.
“If you see one you like, just grab it. I have two copies of some of them, so if you like we could read the same one and discuss it together.”
Leah barely heard any of the words that Camden was saying, so intrigued was she by the many books she wanted to read right now, all at once. She had always wanted to read the works of D. H. Lawrence, but having spent most of her evenings with her grandparents while her mother earned her doctorate in the evenings, some books were forbidden as far as they were concerned. They were of the opinion that the works of D. H. Lawrence were not proper reading for a young lady. She was standing in front of the forbidden collection and didn’t notice that Camden was standing directly behind her.
