Stockholm Surrender (10 page)

“Here,” he panted, reaching up and untying me. He held my wrists, rubbing his big thumbs over the red marks as he got control of his breathing. “Are you okay?”

I nodded.

“I’ll be right back.” He stood from the bed and disappeared into the bathroom. Within a few minutes he was folding me into his arms again.

With my nether regions scorched but satisfied, I snuggled into his embrace.

I’d given him a very special part of me, the ultimate in trust. He’d given me something of him too. Not only that, we were together on a mission, a mission to save James, a mission to treasure this one precious night.

“Thank you,” he whispered onto my short patch of hair.

“For what?”

“For trusting me. You would have every right not to.”

“I trust you not to hurt me.”

“I would never hurt you, ever, not for anything.”

“So you wouldn’t actually send my fingers and toes to my father?”

He held me a little tighter. “You know damn well I wouldn’t.”

I sighed. “Yeah, I know.”

Using the crook of his index finger, he lifted my face to his. “Lots of people are together years before they do what we just did. Why did you want to do it with me, tonight, for the first time?”

He swept his tongue over his lips. They were so damn eatable I had to resist falling into a long, smoochy kiss instead of answering his question.

“I’ve had boyfriends, a few for about a year or so, but never anyone who I really felt I was falling for. No one I mooned about or hung around waiting to see.”

“Is that how you feel about me?”

I huffed. “Yeah, but it’s kind of ridiculous, isn’t it. It’s not like you call and say you’ll be ’round to take me for dinner or anything. You just drug me and steal me away, jump out on me in the library and take bits of my hair or sneak into my room in the dead of the night and torture me.”

“Hey, I left you a note in the library.”

“Of course, silly me.” I touched my lips to his.

“And you seemed to be enjoying your torture from what I remember of your little gasps of delight.”

“Mmm, I was enjoying it until you up and left.”

He gave a lopsided grin. “It could all change soon. If things go well with these meetings tomorrow and the right strings get pulled, perhaps James will be released.”

“That would be great, wouldn’t it?”

“Damn right it would, but you still didn’t answer my question.” He smoothed the pad of his thumb over my cheek.

I sighed. “I guess I can just feel something between us. It’s strong, it’s magic, perhaps it’s chemistry?”

He was silent.

“Ty?”

“Baby, I just had my first ass experience with you. If there wasn’t magic and chemistry between us I’d be pretty upset.”

He grinned wider and I wasn’t sure if he was teasing me or not.

“Well, either way. Chemistry or no chemistry, we’ve got to get you out of here in the morning without anyone seeing.” I reached over and flicked off the light.

“Shouldn’t be a problem,” he said in a yawning voice that could hardly be recognized as the one cursing about the situation earlier.

Our bodies entwined, and for the first time since he’d grabbed me over two months ago from the back of Kangaroo Bill’s, I felt content, safe and satisfied.

My life was crazy.

* * * * *

Bang. Bang. Bang.

“Penny, open up, we’re going to be late.”

The sound of Dad’s voice hollering through the door had me jerking upright in bed. I stared around the room, quickly reorienting myself to time and place then glanced down. Ty was sprawled on his back, fast asleep, his long lashes casting shadows on his cheeks and his lips slightly parted.

“Wake up,” I whispered, shaking his shoulders. “Shit, Ty, wake the fuck up. Dad’s at the door.”

“Um, what, who?” He opened bleary eyes. When he saw my face and heard yet more banging they widened to saucers. “Oh fuck!” He sprang out of bed, stooped, grabbed his clothes and shoes then stared around the room as though looking for a window to hurl himself out of.

I’d seen him do that before.

“In there, quick, get in the bathroom.” I got behind him and shoved him toward the wide-open door that led to the luxurious en suite. “And stay quiet.”

He didn’t argue. Just allowed me to propel him in.

I pulled up the door.

“Coming, Dad,” I called.

Shucking into my robe, I had a quick glance around the room. Spotted one of Ty’s white trainer socks and shoved it into my pocket. Noticed the two cups on the tea tray and upended one of them, my empty one, to make it look unused. I was about to walk to the door when I remembered the lube and unused condom on the bedside table. Hurriedly I scooped them into the top drawer, shutting it with a sharp bang.

Taking a deep breath, I smoothed my hair and finally unlocked the door. “Morning, Dad.”

“Oh Penny, you’re not even dressed,” Dad groaned.

Phil stood behind Dad, holding the drawing-pin-sized alarm in the flat of his palm. He looked rough and unshaved, as if he’d just come out of a deep sleep.

“I told you to set your phone alarm to wake you up,” Dad scolded. “Your body clock will be all over the place and now we’ll be late.” He pushed past me and strolled into the room. “Your mother is taking forever too. She wants to borrow some tweezers, she forgot hers.”

He turned to me and his nose twitched as if he’d smelled something he wasn’t sure of.

What is he, some kind of giant who can sniff out the blood of an Australian kidnapper?

“It’s really hot and stuffy in here, Penny.” He glanced around with a frown. “Did you have your air-conditioning on?”

“Yes, yes, I’m sure I did.” I moved to the control panel and quickly flicked it down a few more degrees. I could do with it cooler too. A flare of nervous heat was pricking at my flesh. How the hell had I gotten into the situation of having my kidnapping lover holed up in a bathroom while trying to hide him from Dad?

Dad folded his arms over his chest, wrinkling the neat red tie he wore. “How long is it going to take you to get ready? I was really hoping we could have breakfast with your mother before we see this human rights lawyer.” He looked at my disarrayed state. “I still don’t know why you’re insisting on accompanying me to that, Penny.”

“You know why. This case affects my life, big-time, and I want to know what’s going on. When all of this craziness might end.”

He clicked his tongue in irritation, walked to the curtains and flung them open. He looped the left one around the tieback, went to reach for the other but hesitated when it wasn’t there.

My heart flipped.

His gaze scanned the room.

So did mine.

I gulped and saw the gold-and-cream cord still knotted and looped over the slats of the headboard.

The bed was in complete disarray, pillows and covers all over the place. Dad’s attention landed on the tieback. I hoped with all my soul that he wouldn’t notice the two side-by-side dents on the pillows where my and Ty’s heads had rested close and cozy all night.

“What’s that doing over there?” he asked.

My gut clenched. Nausea built in my gullet.

Think, brain, think.

“I, er…”

He gave me a bemused frown and walked over to the bed. Began to unwind the rope Ty had so efficiently used to tie me up with while he fucked my ass.

“I, um, couldn’t sleep,” I said. “And I…”

Brain, I could really do with you right now.

“And you what?” Dad held the length of cord in the air.

“And I used it to do some stretching exercises. Relaxation techniques I learned at that Pilates class I took in Sri Lanka. Remember?”

He cocked his head.

“You have to have a bit of rope to hold on to so you can stretch out all your limbs. It’s supposed to help release the sleepy hormones and make your body relax. I did it last night. It helped balance my yin and yang, and with a little lavender oil, which is of course the best essential oil for promoting sleep, it worked, eventually.”

“Hmm, interesting,” he said, giving me the slightly glazed look he always did when not really interested in what I was saying.

Phew.

He went to the window and tucked the curtain into the tieback. “So be quick. Ten minutes, okay, and then we’ll go down for breakfast.”

“Yes, absolutely.” I walked behind him, almost shooing him toward the door.

“Oh, just those tweezers for your mother,” he said. “Where are they? In your washbag?” He stepped sideways and wrapped his fingers around the handle to the bathroom.

“Yes, yes, I’ll just get them.” I jabbed my shoulder into his upper arm and shoved him to the right. Hard.

“Penny,” he gasped, staggering sideways.

“I’ll get them, just hang on, will you?” I snapped.

“What on earth has gotten into you?”

He looked hurt. I’d never pushed or barged into him before, ever. For the briefest of seconds I felt bad, then I frowned. “It’s just, oh wait there, they are somewhere amongst my lady toiletries. In fact, why don’t I drop them to your room in a minute?”

“No, I’ll wait.” He frowned. “Otherwise this whole process will take even longer.”

I opened the door, pushed it slightly shut behind myself and prayed he wouldn’t follow me in. I glanced around. Ty was pressed against the wall next to the towel rail. He’d pulled on his jeans but his chest and feet were still bare. His face held real fear and his fists were clenched at his sides. I got the distinct impression he was ready for fight or flight. He was a cornered man. I only hoped he wouldn’t be backed up any more and have to battle for his life. God only knew what would happen. Phil might look tired and disheveled, but he wasn’t in the position he was because he was a pussycat.

I scooted to the shelf, rummaged in my washbag and pulled out my purple tweezers. A scattering of condoms fell to the floor.

“Penny?” Dad called.

“Got them, Dad, hang on.” I glanced at Ty’s reflection in the mirror and tried to instill confidence and support with my expression.

He swallowed tightly and rubbed his fingers over his brow. I could see beads of sweat popping on his sternum.

“Here we go,” I called over-brightly, then scooted out of the bathroom and pulled the door up tight.

I placed the tweezers in Dad’s hand. “There you are. Now quick, go and give them to her. I’ll be ten minutes tops. A quick jump through the shower and pull on some clothes.” I ruffled my oddball hair and forced a grin. “It doesn’t take long for this to dry.”

“Hmm,” he said. “Ten minutes, I’ll believe it when I see it.” He scowled and turned around. By the time his feet had taken one step over the threshold I was locking the door again.

I rested my back onto the wood, my knees weak and my heart racing.

That was too close for comfort.

“Jesus fucking Christ,” Ty muttered from the doorway of the bathroom.

He looked like the hunted rather than the hunter for a change. Despite his obvious physical strength, he’d been trapped and it clearly didn’t sit well with him.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “Dad doesn’t usually barge around my space but…” Who was I kidding? He always did. “We’re a pretty tight-knit unit, the three of us. We’ve had to stick together over the years.”

He shoved his hand through his hair then bent and started pulling on his socks and shoes. “I’m missing a sock.”

“Here.” I tossed him the one from the pocket of my robe.

“Thanks.” He rammed his feet into his sneakers. “I’ve gotta get outta here. What the hell is the time?”

I glanced at the digital clock under the TV. “Nine twenty-one.”

“Shit.”

“Have you got to be somewhere?”

“Yes, Penny, of course I have to be somewhere. I’m not here on a damn holiday, in case you’d forgotten.”

A snip of hurt went through me at his harsh tone.

He dragged on his t-shirt and stepped up to me. “Has the alarm on the doorframe gone?”

I nodded.

“Then I’m out of here.”

“But what if—?”

“I’ll take my chances.”

He reached for the handle. Was he really leaving like this? Goodness only knew when we would see each other again, and after all we’d shared last night… My heart sagged and a flame of indignation burned in my stomach.

He paused, cupped my jawline in his palm. “Don’t look so sad, baby. You know I hate it when you’re upset.”

I stared into his crystal-clear eyes. Today I wanted to hold his hand as I saw the sights of Bangkok, eat dinner with him tonight, dance, make love. Why did it have to be like this?

“I’ll see you soon, real soon, okay?” he said.

“Yeah, I know, you’ll call me and take me out to dinner,” I said, then huffed.

He smirked, in that cocky, infuriating way he did sometimes. “Miss Penelope Tipping, I just might surprise you.”