Mated To An Enemy

Ashleigh had fallen asleep shortly after arriving at the hotel and slept until morning. While Caleb argued that she had needed it after her experience at the airport, Ashleigh was disappointed at not being able to experience more of the city before they were headed back to another flight.

“I just wish we could have at least gone out to dinner or something,” Ashleigh pouted.

“Ash,” Caleb laughed. “We are about to spend just over a week dining out and enjoying ourselves, I promise you didn’t miss out on anything.”

“Yea… I guess. I just–”

“Excuse me, miss?”

Ashleigh turned to see one of the airport security staring at her.

“Yes?”

“I’m going to need you to step over here.”

Ashleigh sighed.

“Of course,” she said.

This was the second time she had been searched since they had arrived at the airport. Caleb knew the reason. He glanced down at the dog lying at the security officer’s feet, chewing on his tennis ball._.

Ashleigh was once again cleared, and they returned to the security checkpoint. Almost half an hour later. They had finally made it to the front of the line, Ashleigh was about to step forward when Caleb asked to go first.

He walked forward to the window, he handed his credentials to the woman behind the plexiglass, and Ashleigh was called to the window beside them. Just as Ashleigh passed behind Caleb, the dog that sat between the two windows lifted his head towards her.

“What a beautiful dog,” Caleb said and bent down to look at it.

“Sir, back away from the K9,” the woman at the window called.

Caleb’s eyes flashed brightly for just a moment and the dog laid down without a sound.

“Sorry,” Caleb smiled, standing back up. “I’m just a dog person.”

The woman rolled her eyes and handed him back his passport.

Ashleigh and Caleb made it to their next flight without further incident.

***

Due to Ashleigh’s reaction in the airport from being surrounded by new people and smells, she and Caleb had agreed that it would be best for her to take a sedative for the flight. The almost twelve-hour flight had them arriving in the late evening.

Ashleigh woke enough to disembark from the plane but was still groggy by the time they got into the car taking them to their final destination.

She remembered walking through the airport and leaning on Caleb as they sat in the shuttle van, but the rest of her memory was just blurs and murmurs.

Caleb had carried her from the shuttle to their villa, the driver of the shuttle was kind enough to help them pull out their bags, while the hotel staff took care of delivering them.

He laid her carefully in bed, and then took care of organizing their luggage while she slept.

When Ashleigh’s consciousness stirred awake, it was from the bright light that penetrated her eyelids. She shifted in bed, turning on her side and reaching out for him. But her arm fell on an empty space beside her.

She opened her eyes to see white sheets and pillows, but no Caleb. Sitting up on her elbow she looked around the room. The bed was large, at least a king size, if not a little larger. It had four white posts with sheer curtains pulled back and tied. There was no headboard but the wall the bed was against had a textured wall matting of tan and red with alternating outlined and filled flowers.

The rest of the room was a mix of light and dark wood with a high ceiling and two small shaded light fixtures. There was a paneled door that was open, and Ashleigh could see shelves and drawers, leading her to believe it was a closet.

On the wall behind the bed, she saw a frosted door with a dark frame that was closed. She assumed this might be the bathroom.

Her eyes turned back to the end of the bed, the source of the bright light that had woken her. Two wide french doors were pulled open, sheer curtains fluttered softly in the cool salty breeze.

Ashleigh moved on her hands and knees to the end of the bed. She licked her lips as she got closer to the open doors.

She got off the bed. The cool wood floors surprised her for a moment. She looked down and was even more shocked to see that she was wearing a white nightgown. It was silky and shiny, with a lacey fringe above her breasts and stopped just above her ankles.

The sound of the waters lapping against the wooden beams that supported the villa drew her attention back outside. She swallowed and continued out through the doors.

Ashleigh closed her eyes briefly as she felt the cool breeze on her skin. She listened to the soft sound of the waves and breathed in the salty air around her.

She opened her eyes once again and looked out at the clear turquoise waters, the blue skies and a lush green island in the distance.

Even in her wildest dreams, she never could have found a place like this.

“Do you like it?” Caleb’s voice called to her.

Ashleigh turned to her right, there was a table and two white lounge chairs. He lay in one of them looking up at her.

He wore sunglasses, white linen pants, and a matching white buttoned shirt. Only he had left every button on his shirt unpaired except for one low on his stomach.

Ashleigh’s eyes trailed over his body, the hard lines of his muscles and how his biceps strained against the fabric of his shirt. She stared at his chest hungrily, remembering the surprising softness of his flesh under her fingertips.

Caleb took off his sunglasses, setting them on the table as he got up from the lounger and walked toward her. He placed his hands on either side of her face and looked down at her.

“Are you alright?” he asked warmly.

Ashleigh shook her head.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

Ashleigh swallowed, looked at his chest, and then back up his eyes. Finally, she reached her arm up to the back of his neck and pulled him down to her.

Though he was surprised, he quickly adapted. His mouth pressed to hers with a longing that matched her own. His hands moved down to her shoulders, squeezing them gently. While hers moved down to his shirt.

She slipped her fingers under the fabric at his shoulders pushing them back. Caleb understood and removed the offending material.

Ashleigh pulled away from their kiss and immediately placed her mouth on his throat. Nibbling and tasting him as she moved toward the mark she had given him.

Caleb let out a hungry growl at the sensation of her tongue tracing along his skin. Then, just before she could reach her goal, he bent down and picked her up into his arms like a princess.

“Do you like the nightgown?” he asked, his voice already heavy with desire.

“I’ll like it better when you take it off of me,” she whispered back, as she bit her bottom lip.

Caleb let out another growl. As they stepped inside the villa, he placed her gently at the foot of the bed. He stood before her, running his fingertips along her shoulders and down her arms, sending a tingling sensation through her.

She leaned her head back as she enjoyed his touch. He tilted forward and kissed her neck, her shoulder, and finally her collar bone. He slipped his finger under the thin straps of the nightgown and pushed them off her shoulders. His hands moved down over her shoulders and encouraged the material to fall down her arms.

Ashleigh stood up from the bed, almost pressing herself against him. Their eyes held each other’s gaze as the nightgown fell to the floor.

Keeping her eyes locked on his, Ashleigh backed herself onto the bed, naked save for the white lace panties. She moved back until she lay back on the pillows smiling at him.

“You know,” he said, taking a deep breath. “I had planned to take you to a fancy breakfast at the restaurant on the shore.”

“Mmhmm…” Ashleigh replied, running her hand up from her thigh, along her hip, to her breast.

Caleb swallowed and removed his pants.

“Now,” he said, before climbing onto the bed. “I’m not letting you leave this room.”

“There are other days,” Ashleigh whispered back.

She let out a soft moan as he pressed his lips to her thigh, licking and nibbling as his hands continued to travel along her body.

True to his word, Caleb kept Ashleigh in their room the entire rest of the day.