In the midst of her reverie, Caitlyn stumbles upon a person wearing a very distinctive hat chipping away at the exterior of the tomb but before she can sound the alarm, she is attacked by the would-be thief.
Does Lucas arrive in time to save Caitlyn and will he catch his thief?
Part One
Part Two
'Tis the Season for Seduction
by
Fiona Summerville
Part Three
"Caitlyn. Sweetheart."
A deep, reassuring voice penetrated
the pain. Caitlyn struggled to sit up, but gentle hands pushed her back onto
the icy ground. Which was just as well, her head was spinning.
"Don’t move, baby. The paramedics
are on their way."
Caitlyn opened her eyes, blinking
rapidly as her eyes struggled to focus, when they did, they met Lucas’ worried
gaze.
She reached up, touching her temple
with tentative fingers only to have his gloved hands cup her hand and bring it
to his chest.
"Shhh…just lay still. You must
have slipped and hit one of the stones going down. You’ve got a nasty bump on
your temple. You may very well have a concussion."
Her temple throbbed, but Lucas’
words pierced through the fog and Caitlyn gasped with sudden recollection.
"I didn’t slip! He hit me with
his cane."
"He who?"
"It had to be the art thief!
He was prying loose one of the quartz stones. Everyone was focused on the
sunrise… Oh, no!"
At her cry, alarm leaped into his amber
eyes. "It’s okay, baby. Shhh, you’re going to be fine." Lucas snarled
at a uniformed officer standing off to the side. "Where the hell are those
paramedics?"
"Lucas, I’m fine. Really.”
Using the resistance of his grip on her hand, she pulled herself up to a seated
position and leaned her head against his chest. “It’s just that…I missed the
sunrise.” Her voice tapered off into another soft cry.
"Oh sweetheart, there’ll be
more sunrises." His voice was rough with concern as he gently stroked her
hair. "Do you think you can give us a description of the man who attacked
you?"
"I only caught a glimpse of
him." She closed her eyes, searching her pain addled brain for anything
that might help. "I think he was older, but that might have been because
of the cane. I didn’t see his face. His scarf was pulled up and he was wearing
a big bulky overcoat and a hat.”
The police constable nearest to
them, turned away and barked into his radio. "All units! Be on the lookout
for a gentleman with a cane, wearing an overcoat, muffler and hat. Hold him for
questioning concerning an assault."
"And for defacing an antiquity,"
Caitlyn muttered, pointing to the small hole in the tomb’s upper ring.
Indiscernible to most, but to her the jagged, empty hole made a mockery of everything
she held dear.
"There was a design there,"
she said softly. "A triple spiral. I showed you a picture of it last night
at the library, remember? How dare some greedy bastard defile something that
has withstood time and the elements for over five thousand years!"
Caitlyn winced, pain shooting through
her head as she raised her voice in anger. Lucas pulled her close, hoping to
sooth not only the pain in her head but also her heart. In the short time he’d
been with Caitlyn, he’d learned how deeply she revered the megaliths she
studied. It was one of the many things he’d grown to love about her. Love? Aw hell no.
He stared down into her face. Even
etched with pain, her beauty and fiery temper shone through. She was a bright
and gifted scholar with so much knowledge to offer the world. He should never
have involved her in this op. But he’d been so certain his target would be inside
the tomb, not outside with Caitlyn. Dammit.
She could have been killed.
Lucas stood stock-still, cursing
himself silently as the paramedics arrived and guided her from his arms to
start their examination. He let out an audible sigh of relief when they confirmed
her pupils were refracting normally and that her pulse and blood pressure were strong
and steady. Still, it was decided that she should have a doctor look her over
at the hospital.
Lucas helped her onto the gurney
and walked along side to the waiting ambulance. He was about to climb in when Inspector
O’Malley stopped him.
"We’re searching everyone on
the site. Purses. Pockets. Thermoses. So far we’ve come up empty."
"I have a feeling you’ll find
the cane under a bush somewhere," Lucas said grimly. "It’s served its
purpose, both as a tool and a weapon. No doubt part of the disguise, too."
“You’re probably right, but we’ll
keep at it anyway.”
***
Two hours later, the attending
physician declared Caitlyn well enough to go home.
"You’ve a sizable lump on your
head, so just take it easy until the pain and swelling subsides, alright?"
"I will."
"Watch her closely for the
next twenty-four hours," he warned Lucas. "If her headache worsens,
her speech slurs or she seems confused, bring her right back, do y’hear?"
“Yes, doctor and thank you."
Caitlyn shot Lucas a glance, but
held her tongue until the doctor left the room.
"Oh for goodness sake, there’s
no need for you to watch over me for the next twenty-four hours."
"Doctor’s orders. Unless
there’s someone else available," he added casually. "A roommate,
maybe?
"She’s gone home for the
holidays. But I’m working this evening. They’ll watch out for me there."
Lucas snorted softly. “You’re
supposed to take it easy. There’s no way you’re going to work tonight. You’d best call to let them know you won’t be
in."
"But…"
"No buts, Caitlyn." He
placed a hand under each arm and lifted her off the exam table. "I should
never have involved you. It’s my fault you got hurt. It’s my responsibility to
make sure you get better.”
***
Lucas’ cell phone rang as he and
Caitlyn walked across the parking lot to his rental car. He listened for a
moment and gave a terse response before ending the call.
"That was Inspector O’Malley.
They found the cane, but no trace of your attacker or the stone. They’re
widening the search, but something tells me our guy has gone to ground."
“Lucas, we have to find him before
he gets the stone out of the country. We can’t let him get away with this.”
Lucas nodded as he loaded her into
the passenger seat and then made his way around to the driver’s side.
"You know, I’ve got vacation
built up. I was thinking I might stay here in Dublin over the holidays. Would
you like to spend them with me? I mean, that is if you don’t have any other
plans."
Caitlyn’s heart soared at the
thought of spending Christmas cuddled in front of a fire with Lucas. She was
already envisioning New Year’s Eve wrapped in his arms listening to the bells
ring through the night when he sent her crashing back to reality.
"The target may have gone to
ground, but the way I see it, he’ll want to get the stone to Saldana within the
next week or so, and I want to be here when he does."
She stared over at Lucas in the
driver’s seat. Despite knowing his only real interest in staying over was to
nab the art thief. Caitlyn resolved to make the best of his offer. Girls like
her didn’t meet men like him on a regular basis. Why not enjoy the time while
it’s afforded to her? She smiled brightly at him.
“That’s a great idea, Lucas. I’d be
happy to spend time with you while you’re here.”
***
Once home, Caitlyn reveled in the
distraction named Lucas Connor. She watched in amused wonder as he tucked a
blanket around her before making his way into the kitchen. She heard cupboards
opening and closing and the click of the stove’s pilot light catching. Before
long Lucas emerged with a tray piled high with sandwiches and a fairly decent
pot of tea. As the afternoon wore on, Lucas entertained her with what she
suspected were highly embellished tales of some of his more memorable
adventures as an FBI agent.
In turn, Caitlyn opened up a little
more about her life in Dublin and about her grandmother. It was more than she’d
ever shared with anyone before and despite her best efforts, the ever-present
loneliness and pain crept into her voice.
Lucas ran a lazy finger down her
forearm. "It must be hard being alone this time of year."
"It is, a bit. But I’ve got a
good group of friends and school and work to keep me plenty busy."
His astute, beautiful eyes searched
her face, but probed no further. "How’s your head feel?" he asked
instead.
"Great. The headache faded
hours ago."
"You sure?"
"Absolutely."
“How about some dinner then? I’m
starved and you don’t have much in the way of food in that kitchen.” He said with
a wink before bundling up against the weather and heading down the row to
O’Brien’s.
He returned with snow dusting his brown
waves and the tantalizing scent of fish and chips wafting from a brown paper
bag. They ate in front of the fire. Lucas crunched down on his deep-fried
haddock while Caitlyn sprinkled vinegar over her fish and chips before digging
in. She was midway through her portion when she felt him watching her. When she
looked up, giving him a quizzical look, he smiled.
"How can you eat fries without
ketchup?"
"They’re better with
vinegar."
At his dubious look, she help up a
fry.
"Och, at least try one before
ye go hatin’ on it."
Caitlyn’s heart fluttered when he dipped
his head and ate it from her hand. Her breath hitched as he licked the salt and
vinegar from her fingers. And when he raised his head, and pinned her with his
gaze, she forgot how to breathe altogether.
Knotting a hand in her hair, Lucas
pulled her to him as he shoved their half-eaten meal aside with the other. His
mouth molded onto hers and Caitlyn locked her arms around his neck, straining
against him, reveling his warmth.
His lips sent electric charges
surging through her body as he trailed kisses along her jawline and down her
neck. It had been so long… Oh, who was she kidding? She’d never felt like this
with another man, ever. Lucas Connor made her blood boil and every nerve ending
sing.
Unadulterated need and hunger raged
through her body like a wildfire, unchecked and uncontainable. His teeth
scraped and nipped their way along her collar bone, and Caitlyn dropped her
head to the side allowing him better access, crying out when he bit down on her
shoulder before dragging his lips up to claim hers again. Greedy mouths fed off
one another as impatient hands stripped away layers of clothing and before
long, Caitlyn was stretched out beneath Lucas, arching into every caress.
"God, Caitlyn, you’re
beautiful,” he whispered, raking her with hot, hungry eyes.
She moaned softly as he leaned over
and captured her breast with his lips, flicking and swiping his tongue over her
pebbled nipple. She writhed beneath him, her hands threading their way through
his waves, as she pulled him closer.
“Patience, sweetheart. I’ll give
you what you need.”
Moaning her assent, Caitlyn bucked
against his hips as he spread her legs and wedged himself between them. His
hands took the place of his lips, kneading and pinching her breasts as his lips
traveled down along her belly, nipping at her hip bone and coming to a halt
hovering just above her mound.
A small shudder coursed through her
body as his breath tickled her sensitized bud of nerves. He nuzzled her inner
thighs. Licked and teased her smooth inner folds. Circling but never landing on
her clit. She cried out her frustration, rocking her hips, straining to reach
his lips as he broke off his torture and grinned up at her.
“Hush, baby. I’ll let you come soon.
Just relax and enjoy it. I know I am.”
“Please, Lucas. Stop teasing. I
need…need…Oh my God!”
Lucas spread her wide, lashing her
with his tongue. Caitlyn arched toward him, his name tumbling from her lips on
moan. She fisted his hair with both hands, holding him in place. Now that he
was there, she wasn’t going to let him wander off.
His tongue laved and dipped in her
weeping core. She spread her legs further, her heels digging furrows in the
carpet.
“More,” she heard herself cry and Lucas
obliged.
Spearing her with two fingers, Lucas
thrust deep, finding and stroking the so oft times elusive spot deep within her
core as he suckled her clit. Caitlyn flexed toward him, clamping down on his
fingers. Through the haze she heard and felt Lucas growl against her mound, the
vibrations sending her screaming over the edge and into an untamed climax. She
bucked hard against his mouth, screaming his name over and over. He held her tight,
forcing her through it until the last of her shudders subsided. Only then did
he move up alongside her, enveloping her in a possessive embrace. His rock hard
presence pressing into the small of her back.
“I guess I did good?” He murmured,
pressing a gentle kiss to her temple.
“Och, aye,” she quipped softly in
an exaggerated brogue. “I’d say ye took top honor.”
She turned in his arms to face him,
reaching her hand down to stroke his cock.
“What do ye say, boyo? Are ye ready
tae claim your prize?”
I love your erotic mind!!
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