Protection

by Shelley Munro

  “There’s a note. Down with condoms. Save a life. Don’t use a condom.”

  “That’s all very well not using a condom but what about STDs and the other nasties out there?”

  A smirk danced across Luke’s handsome face. He held his hands in front of his face in a gesture of surrender. “Don’t preach to the converted. James told me I should always be prepared.”

  Alice wondered who had told James.

  “Dad told both of us,” Luke added, almost as if he could read her mind.

  “Well someone should let the cult members know it’s not illegal to use or manufacture condoms.” She reached out to grab the note Luke had indicated.

  “No, don’t touch it. I want it checked for fingerprints.”

  Alice toed her black skirt with the tip of her sandal. She wrinkled her nose, trying not to think about the foreign yellow substance on the fabric. “I’ll need to buy new clothes. No way am I wearing these.”

  “Is that going to include a bra?”

  Alice frowned and folded her arms across her chest. “Yes.”

  “Shame,” he said, devilry lurking in his eyes.

  She gave an indignant sniff. “Do you need anything else or can I return to work?” Throughout her life she’d hated her breasts, their size and the way they attracted male attention. Funny how both James and Luke made her feel secure in her femininity rather than self-conscious.

  His eyes gleamed. “I know where you are if I need you.”

  After a clipped nod, she left the room, her smile blooming once she knew Luke couldn’t see. If it weren’t for James, she’d accept his offer in a shot. Alice flapped her hand in front of her face. Yep, a very sexy man.

  Downstairs, Lindy seemed calmer. “I’ll stay with James tonight and drop by tomorrow to clean up my room. Luke said the fingerprint guys need to go through everything first.” Alice tried not to think about the display of underwear, but Sloan was a small town. She had no doubt that details of the burglary would appear in the Gazette, maybe even in Ms. Knowall’s column. Gee, wouldn’t that be fine and dandy. Her reputation was already in shreds.

  Alice made an emergency stop at Kellie Ann’s to purchase a bra and panties before visiting the bank, once again fully dressed in battle armor—or her breasts at any rate. Luckily, the bank manager could see her. He remained adamant about his position regarding their overdraft. Fancy Free was not a viable risk now and the most recent budgets backed up that fact.

  “Alicia’s stipulation in her will has placed the company in a difficult position. The money invested to pay for your inheritance cannot be touched, which means Fancy Free is seriously short of working capital.”

  “But I don’t understand. Why won’t you approve the overdraft? The money is still there. Surely the company can use this money as security over the loan?”

  “The recent budgets show the company will make a substantial loss during the next six months. Your shortage of cash for day-to-day expenses will only compound the problem. And although the inheritance has been set aside, there is nothing to stop you taking the money and walking away once you’ve complied with the terms of the will.”

  Alice scowled, not understanding his comments about the projected losses. “I helped with the budgets. They showed a respectable profit.” His other comment, she tried her best to ignore even as guilt gave her a swift kick. She had intended to take the money and walk away without looking back. She’d slowly come to understand how many people relied on Fancy Free for employment and as a focal point in their lives.

  The elderly bank manager shrugged and indicated a pile of folders on the corner of his desk. “The set of budgets I have predict a loss.”

  Huh? They’d been fine the last time she’d seem them. “It’s obvious there has been a mistake. Somehow you’ve ended up with an incorrect version of the budgets.”

  The bank manager steepled his hands and regarded her gravely. “That is not very reassuring, Ms. Beasley.”

  Traces of panic unfurled in Alice. He had to change his mind. They depended on the bank coming through for them. Her most of all. “Is there any way that the overdraft could be extended?”

  “There is one thing—is there someone who would act as guarantor?”

  “Guarantor?” Alice knew what he meant but wanted to stall him while she thought. An idea had popped into her head, but it made her hesitate because of the high stakes. Her stomach roiled uneasily at the risk and the resulting lack of security.

  “Yes, someone to guarantee the company’s debt.”

  “How much are we talking about?”

  “The bank would require a one hundred-thousand-dollar guarantee.”

  Alice attempted a smile. A hundred thousand. She had her savings, almost thirty thousand dollars. “What would happen if we managed to reduce the overdraft to within acceptable levels?”

  “There wouldn’t be a problem if that were the case,” the bank manager had said.

  Although it had made her heart ache and every bad childhood memory return to haunt her, she had gone ahead and transferred most of her savings to clear a portion of the overdraft. She hoped she’d done the right thing. One thing was for sure. Alice needed to talk to James, about the overdraft and about the budgets that had gone to the bank. She couldn’t believe Rita would make a mistake of that magnitude, not with her years of administration experience. She peered out the window and saw nothing but trees and grass. Perhaps a glass of wine would take the edge off her trepidation and help calm the sense of panic that gripped her so tightly.

  Along with the anxiety about the company finances, the dog and clown figured high in her thoughts.

  An hour later James still hadn’t arrived. Where the heck was he?

  Darkness fell and the stars twinkled to prominence. Alice gazed out the window again, trying to decide whether to brave the dark and walk back to the bed and breakfast or not. The moon offered the only illumination. Alice picked up her handbag and stepped outside. She walked to the end of the footpath and stopped by the wooden letterbox. A pukeko screeched in alarm, the flap of wings as the ungainly black bird flew to safety compounding her anxiety. She whirled and marched back into James’ house. No way would she leave without an escort. Alice shut the door and reentered the kitchen, uncomfortable about being in James’ house when he hadn’t turned up as planned. After an attempt to watch television, she gave up and prepared for bed.

  * * * * *

  Not one light showed when James drove up to his house and parked out front. Alice had probably gone home when he didn’t show up as arranged. He’d tried to ring a couple of times but the line remained engaged. A bit weird if Alice wasn’t at his house. Must be a fault. At least the order had made the plane in time and Fancy Free had fulfilled its obligations.

  He let himself into his house, noting the locked door. Sometimes he locked it and sometimes he didn’t—the beauty of living in the small country town. He noticed an envelope on the floor just inside and stooped to pick it up. It was addressed to Alice. He dropped by the kitchen and set it on the counter. The phone was off the hook. No wonder he hadn’t managed to get a call through. He replaced the hand piece and walked down the hall to his bedroom without bothering to turn on the lights.

  The moon shone through the windows of his bedroom, highlighting Alice’s sleeping form in the middle of his bed. She lay curled up on her side, dressed in one of his T-shirts with a sheet covering her feet and not much else. James smiled, his tiredness dropping away. Rapidly, he shucked his clothes and joined her on the bed, curling his arms around her and nuzzling her neck. She stretched, her body undulating against him and drawing a startled hiss when her bottom brushed his groin. Aware, but not fully awake. He slipped one hand beneath the hem of her T-shirt to cup a weighty breast. Lord, she felt so soft, so unconsciously sexy. His dick agreed with the assessment, rising against Alice’s curved buttocks.

  James kissed across her collarbone, taking delight in her sleepy sighs as she slowly woke. The delicate scent of f
lowers wafted up from her silky skin.

  She tensed, coming to full alertness. “James?”

  “Who else did you expect in your bed?”

  “Maybe an alien. According to the news on the television there’s a lot around.”

  “I don’t believe in UFOs,” James growled. “There are lots of other things I’d prefer to think about.” He grasped her nipple between finger and thumb and twisted it, giving her a physical demonstration of what he’d rather do.

  She turned toward him, her breasts squashing against his chest when she drew closer. “Your mother rang.”

  Hell. “I don’t want to talk about my mother or my sister.”

  “She rang too.”

  Both his mother and sister ganging up on Alice. No wonder he hadn’t been able to get through with his phone ringing hot. “Did you take it off the hook?”

  “Yes.”

  He could hardly blame her when he’d do the same thing. “Sorry.”

  “Not your fault.”

  “I don’t want to discuss my family.” James edged up the T-shirt until her breasts were no longer covered. Dipping his head, he licked around one nipple before sucking it into his mouth. She slipped a hand into his hair, threading her fingers through the strands and pressing him more firmly to her breast. Not that he needed much encouragement. He’d thought about making love to her the entire drive home from the city. He’d imagined French kisses, thrusting his tongue deep, the taste of her mouth and of teasing them both to distraction. He released her nipple and reached up to kiss her just as he’d imagined.

  She parted her lips and their mouths and tongues mated in a slow tango. He gripped her shoulders a tad tighter and fit their bodies together until they were in perfect alignment. When he pulled out of the kiss and pressed a playful one to her upturned nose, she breathed heavily.

  “Lift your arms.” He whisked his T-shirt over her head the second she obeyed. Tossing it aside, he ran his hands over her naked body, stroking, shaping, plucking. “That’s much better.”

  Before she could move, he caged her in place with his arms and kissed her again.

  Slow. Thorough. Deep.

  Alice clutched his shoulders, her response letting him know she enjoyed their interaction. He kissed her mouth, the tender place where shoulder met neck and the slopes of her breasts. Despite his mind and his aching dick encouraging him to hurry, James kept the pace slow and easy, building the heat between them until she trembled and each of her breaths turned ragged. Her skin glowed in the moonlight that crept into the room. His nostrils flared, the perfume of flowers and sexy musk along with a hint of his aftershave filling each breath.

  James stroked the flare of her hips before he slipped his hand between her parted thighs. Warm liquid heat met the delicate brush of his questing fingers. His shaft jerked in reaction when he massaged drenched folds, blood crowding his cock along with clawing tension. He slipped one finger into her, thrusting. A moan fell from her lips, the knowledge of her pleasure a strong intoxicant.

  He kissed her again, thrusting finger and tongue together in rhythm. Unable to resist a second longer, he moved over her, feeling the desperation etched in his face. He pushed deep into her hot, wet core. She felt so good, her flesh clinging to his cock, her hips cradling his body while her lips returned his kisses. Her fingernails dug into his back and the pain made him hotter. The sensation spiraled through his body, making a familiar low pressure gather in his balls. He set up a steady pace of thrust and withdrawal until he trembled, his heartbeat a loud tempo in his ears. Using one finger, he teased her swollen nub. Alice moaned, arching up against him. He felt the tremors deep in her pussy, the clench of her inner muscles. Clawing tension tightened his balls.

  “James.” A moan spilled from her lips and her inner walls convulsed with the force of her orgasm.

  He stroked hard and fast, no longer trying to hold back. Once. Twice. He plunged into her one final time, exploding, hot spurts of his cum flooding her core.

  For a moment, he lay motionless to let his heartbeat recover while a truth beat him over the head. He hadn’t used a condom. For the first time in his adult life he’d had unprotected sex.

  Confusion filled him even as he withdrew and tugged her into his arms. He arranged the covers over them and didn’t utter a word. He couldn’t because for the life of him he didn’t know what to say. He knew the danger of pregnancy remained low since Alice took the Pill. But, dammit, that was the whole point. They were having sex together to test the condoms and ensure the company survived.

  This wasn’t about fun. He scowled into the darkness, her even breathing telling him she’d fallen asleep. Their sleeping together wasn’t about anything except money. Having sex was all about the condoms.

  It wasn’t about making love.

  Chapter Twelve

  James separated their bodies and flopped onto his back. After a brief pause, he held his left wrist in front of his face to check the time. “It’s almost eight. We’d better move.”

  Alice stretched, enjoying the sensual aches in her body before curling into his side. “Do we have to?” She sighed and pressed a kiss to his chest. They’d had a slow start since they’d taken the time to test two of their condom samples. A tingling sensation shot from her breasts, landing in her nether region at the memory. Making love with James was fun. Excitement plus. Her thoughts drifted to the previous evening when she had woken to find him in bed with her. They’d made love without a condom in sight.

  Alice had no idea whether this rated as good or bad. Oh, she knew about sexually transmitted diseases, but after getting to know James, she knew his reputation was pure exaggeration.

  “Things to do.” James pulled away from her and rolled out of bed, taking the covers with him. She shivered at the chill on her skin, wanting nothing more than to curl up and go back to sleep. After a quick ogle of his backside, she dragged the covers over her naked body and lay there deep in thought.

  Each time they made love he distanced himself. Sometimes she felt like a commodity, like a…a used condom. She’d fallen for him and would jump at the chance to make their relationship permanent, but it was obvious he wanted nothing to do with her. The sting of tears made her blink. Maybe security wasn’t in her future. Despite the problems, she enjoyed learning to run Fancy Free. James was a good teacher. Perhaps she was meant to be a business tycoon.

  The shower shut off and he returned to the bedroom, dressing rapidly. “I’ll make coffee. I want to leave in half an hour.”

  Alice watched until he disappeared before climbing from bed. Luckily, she kept some of her clothes here or else she’d have nothing to wear. Now that she’d used her savings to prop up Fancy Free she couldn’t afford frivolous expenditure. Lord, she hadn’t even mentioned the break-in to James. They’d have to take better security measures here.

  Fifteen minutes later, she entered the kitchen. The scent of coffee welcomed her, and she noticed James had also made toast and put out her favorite marmalade. It gave her a warm, cozy shimmer in her tummy.

  “There’s a letter for you.” He handed her a white envelope. Immediately her arms prickled. She didn’t want to take it but reached out anyway, her hand trembling.

  “Someone broke into the bed and breakfast yesterday. The intruders trashed some of the rooms and left messages in mine. It was the clown and dog. We called Luke.”

  “Hell.” James ran his hand through his damp hair. “I thought that was a stupid prank by students or one of the cult members. I mean, I know they don’t agree with condoms but they’ve never resorted to violence.”

  “You saw the balloons in my office.” Alice stared at the envelope again. “I think this is another note.”

  “Do you want me to open it?”

  “Maybe we should call Luke.”

  “It might be something totally innocent.”

  Alice studied the neat writing on the outside of the envelope, handwriting rather than the childish block printing she’d seen on television s
hows whenever a star had attracted a stalker. “Maybe you’re right and I’m paranoid.” Before she could second-guess herself and panic too much, she opened the envelope and extracted the single sheet of white paper inside. The unease in her gut intensified when she unfolded it.

  “Hell,” James said, after reading over her shoulder. “I’ll call Luke.”

  She placed the sheet of paper on the table and stared at it with horror. It contained the obligatory clown and dog signature in the form of two shiny stickers, one with a grinning clown and the other a dog sitting on its haunches. The message, composed from chopped up words from magazines, carried more sinister overtones.

  You have been warned. Ignore the warning at your peril. Leave Sloan now or suffer the consequences.

  A piece of red and white floral fabric, taken from one of her blouses was pinned to the corner of the letter. Alice shivered, unable to look away from the letter.

  “Luke will be here in ten minutes.” James tugged Alice to her feet and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. Although he felt warm and smelled good, his touch did nothing to ease the chill that curled around her heart.

  She couldn’t leave Sloan, even if she wanted to. All her savings had gone, sucked away by Fancy Free’s overdraft. If she ran away, she’d end up with zilch. She snorted at her previous naivety. After getting to know the people of Sloan and those involved in Fancy Free, she couldn’t walk away at the end of six months. A soft sigh resounded in the kitchen. No going back. Fancy Free was her future now, no matter what dangers lay ahead.

  On hearing the strident thump on the front door, James released her. He raked a hand through his hair, reminding her of a devilish angel. Sexy and so attractive. The thought of losing him made her chest ache. “That was a quick ten minutes.” He stalked off to answer the summons.

  Luke prowled into the kitchen, dressed in his uniform. Alice took one look at his set face and felt instantly safer. James stopped beside him, equally tough and impressive. Alice’s mouth quirked upward in a slight smile despite the seriousness of the situation. With these two warriors on her side, the clown and dog didn’t stand a chance.