Claimed by a Stranger (Craved Series #2) Read online

  “If it was you’re going to have to tell me because I don’t take that kind of thing lightly.”

  “What’s that mean?”

  “It means that if it was a threat, I can’t let it go unpunished.”

  She laughed and her eyes sprang into little crescents. “You mean you would punish little old me for a little old threat?”

  I fixed my eyes on hers. “I most certainly would. Until you begged for more.”

  She swallowed.

  “Well?” I asked. “Was it a threat?”

  Her eyes said yes, but her lips said, “No.”

  “Hey Audrey?”

  “Hey Jack.”

  “Just because it wasn’t a threat doesn’t mean you aren’t going to beg.”

  She shook her head and parted her lips to speak, but at the same moment, the silence in the clearing changed. The air got still and a faint sound- much like a siren- began in the distance.

  Audrey’s eyes grew wide.

  I smiled.

  “What’s that screeching?” she asked.

  “The show,” I said. “Just listen.”

  Her ears perked up like a cat’s and she was on high alert as she looked towards the jagged cliffs where the sound was coming from. “It’s like the sirens in the Odyssey.”

  And sure enough, when I turned to look at her face, she was completely mesmerized- almost entranced by the shrieking echoes coming from the distance.

  Finally, when her eyes were wider than I’d ever seen them, the show began.

  At first only a few bats came flying out from behind the tall rocks, disappearing into the darkness one by one like black shooting stars. Then they came in their tens, exploding like small fireworks to different corners of the clearing.

  Soon they were dispensing in their hundreds, spilling out from their caves in black waves. And then finally, they came in their thousands, fleeing from the rocks in hordes like swirls of smoke before scattering like ashes being blown across the sky.

  With each swarm, the intermittent screeching erupted anew as they formed new shapes that passed over us before bursting into thousands of tiny pieces to make way for the next group.

  “What do you think?” I whispered, keeping my eyes on the show.

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “This is why I dragged you all the way out here,” I said, leaning against her until our shoulders touched.

  “It’s completely overwhelming.” She turned to look at me, her eyes shiny. “Thank you.”

  I smiled.

  She turned her face back towards the sky. “I’ve never seen anything like it in my whole life.”

  I wanted to tell her how much it meant to me to watch it with her, to tell her I’d never brought anyone there before and that I was so happy that she appreciated it.

  But I didn’t want to interrupt her concentration. After all, I remembered the first time I saw them like it was yesterday, and it was something that had always stayed with me.

  And I wanted her to remember it like I had… In case we didn’t have a chance to make many more memories together.

  So for twenty speechless minutes we watched as the bats escaped from the caves into the deep blue sky, danced, and disappeared on their nightly hunt.

  And the whole time, I couldn’t shake the thought that it wouldn’t be long before Audrey flew away, too.

  Chapter 10: Audrey

  When Jack pulled up near the hotel, I got off the bike like an old pro, though I hadn’t quite mastered the art of gracefully unbuckling my helmet.

  “Fancy a drink,” he asked, sliding his sunglasses in his pocket.

  “I would love one,” I said, thinking a little pick me up was just what I needed following the crash of adrenaline I felt after the bat show.

  I handed Jack my helmet and he hung it on one of the bike’s handlebars. When he cocked his arm, I took it and started down the street with him, relieved I wouldn’t have to put my numb butt back on the bike for the rest of the night.

  I knew better than to ask Jack where we were headed. At this point, I had no reason to question his judgement or whether he had a plan. So I just enjoyed the warm, salty breeze and the feeling of having a hot doctor on my arm… while I tried not to make myself crazy wondering what the rest of the night would bring.

  Finally, we came to a dark bar on a corner that was lit up with red lights and had loud music spilling out of it.

  “Trust me,” he said as he led me inside.

  I followed him up to the bar which was full of young Thai people and a handful of weathered looking westerners.

  I would’ve preferred somewhere more private- where I might actually be able to hear him- but anywhere probably would’ve been a letdown after the clearing. Still, I found myself hoping we’d only stay for one.

  Unfortunately, that hope flew out the window when I saw how excited the barman was to see him.

  “Jack!” He came around the bar and gave him a hug. “Great to see you, buddy.”

  Jack turned around and introduced me. “Audrey, this is my friend Jin. He owns the place.”

  “Pleased to meet you,” I said, sticking my hand out and feeling a rush of pride that Jack was keen to introduce me to his friends.

  “You are as beautiful as Jack said you were,” Jin said, shaking my hand with both of his.

  Jack rolled his eyes.

  “What would you like to drink?” Jin asked. “I have anything you want.”

  I glanced at Jack.

  “Would a bucket of Corona’s suit you?” he asked.

  I nodded. “That would be great.”

  Jin stepped next to me, putting his arm over my shoulder as he pulled out his phone. “Jack, take my picture with the prettiest blonde I ever met.”

  “Jin, I don’t think she wants to-”

  “It’s okay,” I said, trying to act like I got that all the time. “I don’t mind.”

  We smiled as Jack took a picture.

  “Did you get my message?” he asked, handing Jin his phone back.

  Jin nodded, reached in his pocket, and produced a set of keys. “She’s all yours,” he said, handing them to Jack. “And I can see why you wanted to impress her. She’s very-”

  “Thanks, Jin,” Jack said. “How about grabbing those beers?”

  Jin pursed his lips and hurried around the bar. “Nina!” he yelled. “Corona Bucket for Jack!”

  A woman at the end of the bar began filling a metal bucket with big scoops of ice.

  “Jin seems nice,” I said. “Though that exchange of keys was the sketchiest thing I’ve ever seen.”

  “It’ll all make sense in a second.”

  I couldn’t decide if it was fun that he always left me guessing or torturous that he was always one step ahead of me.

  A young woman put the bucket down in front of us. “Hi Jack,” she said, completely ignoring me.

  “Nina, this is Audrey,” he said, gesturing with an open palm.

  Nina looked me up and down like she was thinking about selling my skin.

  “Audrey, this is Nina,” Jack said. “The best bartender in Thailand.”

  Nina relaxed her scowl.

  Jack laid some baht on the counter.

  “Your money’s no good here,” she said. “You know that.”

  “It’s not for the beers,” he said. “It’s your tip.”

  Nina pressed her hands together and nodded before making the money disappear.

  Jack grabbed the bucket. “Follow me.”

  He walked to the back of the bar and came to a closed door. There was a sign on it that said something in Thai over the words “No Roof Today.”

  He opened it and headed up the narrow staircase.

  Just when I thought we would never reach the top, Jack stopped walking, pulled out the keys, and unlocked the door. A burst of fresh air came down the stairwell as I climbed the last few steps.

  When I reached the roof, I was delighted to discover that all the tacky red lighting was gone and had been
replaced by colorful paper lanterns and plain teak furniture. There were even a few of those big round day beds with cushions and canopies that I thought were only for the decks of fancy yachts.

  “Wow,” I said while Jack locked the door behind me. “This is amazing.”

  Jack stepped up beside me. “I’m glad you like it,” he said. “You know, it’s not just any guy that can reserve a rooftop bar for two in Thailand on short notice.”

  “I don’t doubt that,” I said, walking to the edge of the roof. The breeze was cooler so high up and the rooftop was one of the highest around. “You can see the whole city from up here.”

  Jack laughed. “Yep. All twelve blocks of it.”

  I looked over my shoulder in time to see him setting the bucket at the foot of one of the daybeds.

  “Just kidding,” he said, pulling out two beers and popping the tops off with the opener on the edge of the bucket. “It’s bigger than that, but not by much.”

  “You know all the best spots in town then, huh?” I asked, leaning against the railing.

  He stepped up and handed me a beer. “I try.”

  “Well, I appreciate you showing them to me.”

  Jack smiled and looked towards the water.

  My first sip of beer turned into a swig when I realized I was thirstier than I thought.

  “Audrey,” he said, leaning against the railing.

  “What?”

  “Have I mentioned how glad I am that you hurt yourself while you were snorkeling?”

  I laughed.

  “Really.”

  “I’ve enjoyed your company, too.”

  “I mean it,” he said, looking at me in that way again, like I was Thumbelina or something. “I think you’re absolutely enchanting.”

  “Thanks.” I shook my hair over my shoulder and leaned my shoulder against his. “But you don’t have to try so hard.”

  He furrowed his brows. “You think I’m kidding?”

  “I think you have a thing for American girls and you’re starved for them out here.”

  He shook his head. “That’s not it at all.”

  I cocked my head at him.

  “Okay, that’s absolutely true, but that’s not the whole story.”

  “What’s the whole story?”

  “The truth is, I’ve met plenty of American women in my life, and you’re different.”

  “Different?”

  “Better.”

  I smiled. “Flattery will get you everywhere,” I said, tilting my beer bottle against my lips.

  “But will it get you here?”

  My beer almost came out my nose. I pressed the back of my fingers under my nostrils, closing my eyes while I waited for the sensation of the little burning bubbles to go away. “Excuse me?”

  “Would you stay?” he asked “Just a few more days?”

  “You’re serious?”

  “Completely.”

  “Jack, I’m flattered, but I can’t.”

  He pursed his lips and looked out at the water. “I understand.”

  And I wanted to reach out and touch him, but he was too far away.

  Chapter 11: Jack

  I don’t know even know why I said it.

  What did I think she was going to say? As far as she was concerned, this was a fling. She was just trying to have some fun on a much needed holiday. I was simply a means to an end.

  Staying here hadn’t even crossed her mind. And I was wrong to ask, wrong to interrupt her evening with ridiculous questions that had no good answers.

  I just got swept up in the moment. Something about the sight of her standing there with her shiny windswept hair, a cold beer in her hand, and a smile on her face made me feel like – Yes! This is the view I’ve been missing!

  But that didn’t mean she was going to mess with her own plans to spend more time with a guy who never had to think more than a few hours ahead.

  Not that I didn’t have a lot to offer. I could make her more comfortable than she could ever be in Seattle. Or at least, I wanted to believe that.

  But money wasn’t always the cure-all people thought it was. I couldn’t shrink the globe with it. Sure, I could fly her out to visit or pay whatever it cost for her to change her flight if she wanted to stay.

  But I wasn’t going to insult her by offering. I knew what it was like to be worried about one’s financial security from my time in med-school, and personally, I’d never felt like the unprovoked charity of others ever eased that burden.

  Plus, she’d think I was crazy. Which I was. Crazy for her.

  “I think I got some nicks in my shins from little rocks on the road,” she said, holding her leg out in an obvious attempt to change the subject.

  “Those weren’t rocks.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “They were bugs. Tiny bugs.”

  “Kamikaze bugs?”

  “Unfortunately.”

  “Gross.”

  “That may be,” I said. “But they’re also the reason for the show we saw earlier.”

  “Which was epic.”

  “I’m glad you found it worthwhile.”

  “Are you kidding?” She tilted her head at me and her hair fell to one side, exposing her neck.

  The sight of her bare skin filled me with a strong desire to see more of it.

  “I’m so glad I caved,” she said, trying to suppress a smile.

  I rolled my eyes.

  “Sorry. I couldn’t help myself.”

  “That’s okay,” I said, thinking I’d need to use the same excuse when her clothes became intolerable.

  She turned towards the water and leaned against the railing.

  “I got you a little something.”

  She looked at me out of the corner of her eye. “What?”

  “I got you something.”

  “I heard you,” she said. “What did you get?”

  “A token.”

  “You shouldn’t have.”

  I shrugged. “I wasn’t planning on it. I just saw it today and thought it would look nice on you.”

  “That’s really too much, Jack.”

  “It’s really not,” I said. “I swear.”

  She squinted at me.

  “It’s not even wrapped or anything. I bought it from a woman in the street.”

  She turned to face me. “Let’s see.”

  “Put out your hands and close your eyes,” I said, reaching in my pocket and finding the small piece of jewelry with my fingertips.

  She set her beer down on the teak table beside her and did as she was told, squeezing her eyes shut so I would know she wasn’t peeking.

  I pulled the necklace out of my pocket and looked at her, standing there expectantly with her wet lips slightly parted. The thought of laying my dick in her hands crossed my mind, but I didn’t know how that would go down. So I decided to stick with my initial plan and lowered the necklace chain-first into her hands.

  She raised her eyebrows as soon as she felt the delicate chain begin to pool, pursing her lips until there was nothing left for me to do but drop the charm in her hands.

  “Okay,” I said. “You can open your eyes.”

  She looked down at the necklace and her face lifted. “Oh my god, Jack. It’s beautiful.”

  “It’s a local shell,” I said. “Something to remember your trip by.”

  She looked up at me. “You mean besides my scar?”

  I smiled. “Hopefully this will last longer.”

  She picked up the charm, letting the small silver chain hang over her fingers as she studied the swirl in the center of the round white shell.

  “I could’ve gotten you one myself when I was scuba diving,” I said. “But it would have been covered in algae.”

  “This is so thoughtful,” she said. “Mind if I try it on?”

  “Not at all,” I said, wondering if she would’ve said the same if I’d handed her my cock. “I’ll do it,” I said, putting my hand out.

  She handed the neckl
ace to me before turning around and lifting her hair. I reached the chain around her, my large fingers struggling with the delicate clasp.

  “Everything alright back there?”

  “Yeah, one second,” I said, finally securing it. “Okay. Let’s have a look.”

  She turned back around with her hand over the charm in the middle of her chest and then released it, her hopeful blue eyes looking straight into mine.

  “It looks lovely on you,” I said, thinking I would, too.

  “I hope it didn’t break the bank.”