Stockholm Surrender (5 page)

“I have a late afternoon lecture over at the main building,” I said as I slipped toward my room.

“Right you are,” he grunted, settling on the threadbare sofa.

The door banged shut behind me and I breathed a sigh of relief at being home again.

“Oh my god, Penny, you’re back. Nat, she’s back.” Tara ran up and threw her arms around me in a tight hug, her slight arms bony and desperate.

“Shit, we’ve been so worried, and none of us had your mobile number. People were saying the police came and took you away. Did they? Is that what happened?”

I nodded.

“Jesus, why, what the hell did you do?”

Nat came rushing out of the bathroom. “Penny, oh thank goodness, we’ve been so worried.”

“I’m fine, really, and I hadn’t done anything. It was to do with my father.”

“Your father?” they both said in unison.

I nodded. “Yes, have you never connected my surname?”

Tara dipped her head and her long blonde hair slid over her shoulder. “Tipping? Oh, um, oh, yes, yes, like the…er…”

“The politician, Richard Tipping,” Nat finished for her.

“Yes, the foreign minister. Crap, is he your dad? Why didn’t you say?”

I shrugged. “I don’t like to be known for having a famous father, it can get me into all kinds of strife.” Strife that at the moment I rather welcomed and wasn’t coming often enough, but I wasn’t about to tell them that.

“Well, it’s not like he’s a movie star or in a rock band or anything,” Nat pointed out.

I laughed at the thought of Dad beating the drums and living a rock-and-roll life. Tattoos up his arms and a piercing in his nose. “No, I guess not. It’s rather boring really.”

“Well, you’re back now,” Nat said, “so come on, let’s get the kettle on.”

“I think I’d better write up the notes I missed from yesterday, get them off the internet or something.”

“Oh, okay, but Penny.” Nat frowned at me. “You have thrown those hair straighteners out, haven’t you?”

“Yes, of course.” I touched the beret angled carefully on my head.

“Oh yes, that’s a bummer, Nat told me all about it,” Tara said, pulling a sympathetic face. “Let’s see.”

I tugged off the beret to reveal my bald patch.

“Ah shit, that’s bad.” Tara visibly winced. “It will take ages to grow back.”

“Yes, I know.” I put the beret back on. “I’ll catch you later.”

Inside my room, my small sanctuary, I flung open the window to the cool breeze. There was a tree next to the lamppost directly outside my window and the leaves were golden and falling. By the time the branches were bare I’d be taking my first, all-important assessment. I really couldn’t afford to be distracted. But telling myself that and it happening were two different things.

How could I not be distracted when he was out there, somewhere, waiting for me? And I was in here, waiting for him.

Chapter Four

The next three days went by torturously slow. Roger followed me everywhere. To lectures, to the dentist, to the supermarket, and whenever I was in my room he was in the lounge, chatting with students or watching TV. He must have slept in there too. I asked him if he was ever going to take a day off and he said it wasn’t necessary until Saturday. Then he would be relieved for two days and two nights.

Friday was a heavy day of lectures, and in the evening I settled down to finish an assignment for a particularly fierce professor who expected all her students to get top results.

The sun had shone brilliantly all day, warming the cool air, and the girls had tottered off in short skirts and high heels to hit the clubs. They asked me if I wanted to go, as they always did, but they’d stopped trying to persuade me now. They knew I wouldn’t change my mind. Besides, having Roger come along wouldn’t be a whole lot of fun and would definitely cramp their style with the hot blokes they would inevitably find.

With my window letting in the sounds of the city, I spread my notes on my bed and tapped away on my netbook. The history of law was everyone’s most hated subject, but I knew the sooner I tackled it the better. Leaving it to the last minute would be crazy.

Eventually though, as darkness claimed the hall grounds and the lampposts flicked on, I decided to call it a day, or rather a night. I saved my work and flopped back on the bed. I would just stretch out for ten minutes before I got up to change and get ready for sleep.

But sleep wouldn’t wait, and before I knew it I felt myself drifting. Falling into a dark, dreamy world. My eyes were heavy, my breathing shallow. I let myself go—float into a world of thoughts and nothingness, white clouds and black sleep.

“Shh!”

There was tightness over my mouth and pressure over the entire length of my body. Whatever it was had squeezed the air from my lungs and was pinning me to the bed. I opened my eyes, panicked.

“Shh!” Ty said, his eyes wide and his nose practically touching mine.

Hastily, I nodded. Oh my god. Was I dreaming or was Ty really here, lying on the bed with me?

He hesitated then lifted his gloved hand from my mouth just a fraction. “You are going to keep quiet, aren’t you?”

“Yes, of course,” I whispered.

This was no dream.

“Good, ’cause I don’t want that copper who’s stalking you to come crashing in.”

“He won’t. I promise.”

Ty lifted up, reached over and shut the window. With a snap, he drew the curtains then pulled off his gloves.

“Is that how you got in?” I asked.

He nodded.

“Really, up the tree, and…” Something was different. I realized what it was. “Why has the lamppost gone off?”

“I tripped it, didn’t want anyone seeing me breaking into the foreign minister’s daughter’s bedroom.” He grinned naughtily.

“And did they?”

“No, I shouldn’t think so, not at three in the morning.”

“Three?” I glanced at my bedside clock. Sure enough, it was three a.m.

He chuckled and lay back down next to me. “I guess you got carried away with your studies. I used to be like that.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, don’t look so shocked, I have a first in sports science.” He touched his finger to the bald patch of my scalp and a rush of heated desire poured through me. “I know all about the human body,” he whispered, “and exactly what it needs to stay healthy and happy and…satisfied.”

Unable to suppress a whimper of pure lust, I slid my hand over his shoulders and tugged him closer. “I wish you would damn well give me some of the satisfaction
I
need.”

“You’re always so demanding, and so…damn…horny.” He touched his lips to mine, soft and gentle, his tongue peeking into my mouth and past my teeth to tangle and turn and explore. “Oh Jesus, Penny, you drive me crazy,” he murmured. “You do know that, don’t you?”

“Good, because that’s how you make me feel.”

He stroked down the column of my neck, dipping his fingertip into the hollow of my throat and down my sternum. “I want you so bad,” he said, “but there is something we have to do before we can be together.”

“What?” What could he possibly need to do other than put on a damn condom? His erection was growing by the second against my hip. All I needed was for him to get inside me like he had before. Thrust and grind and do that thing to my clit he was so bloody good at. Just the thought of it had me shivering.

“Wait,” he said, reaching behind himself.

Suddenly a tight strip of tape slapped over my mouth. Gone was the luscious kissing of moments ago and in its place foul plastic stickiness.

“Mmmph!” I managed, trying to project massive indignation with my eyes.

“It won’t take long.”

I tried to reach for the tape, intent on pulling it off, but he had both my hands harnessed in just one of his.

“Sit.” He pulled me upright, tugging at my sweater. “We need this off.”

His breaths were rapid and hot on my face as he moved his hands quickly and efficiently, freeing my arms from the sweater before swiftly dragging it over my head.

“Ah fuck, white,” he said, staring at my pretty lace bra. It had delicate scallop details over the rise of my small, pert breasts and a tiny pale-blue flower in the center between the cups. “White is my very favorite.” His voice was almost wistful.

“Mmmph!” I mumbled again. Why did I have this tape on? I said I wouldn’t shout for Roger. Why didn’t he believe me?

“Shh, shh, just for a minute, baby, just for a couple of minutes.” He stood, still holding my wrists tight, and nudged the straight-backed chair out from under my desk with his foot. “Up, come on, sit on here, quickly.” He glanced at the door.

As soon as I was on the chair he was behind me, wrapping what felt like cord around my wrists. I yanked but the binding was tight and attached me to the rungs.

“It’s okay,” he soothed by my ear, his breath warm and tickly. “It’s okay.” He slid his hand over my bare shoulder, tracing the strap of my bra right down to the cup.

I arched my spine, needing his touch so desperately. Ty in my fantasies would have his hands all over me by now. Ty in my fantasies would already be ravishing me until we were both desperately trying to muffle our screams and panting for breath.

But this wasn’t fantasy, this was real. Ty was really here, really tying me up again. And for god’s sake, why was this stuff on my mouth?

He poked his fingers into my bra and tweaked my nipple. I whimpered and fluttered my eyes shut. His caress sent sinful licks of wantonness raging though me.

“Damn it, Ty,” he muttered. “Think of James.” His body heat left me and the next thing I knew he was pulling off my jeans, exposing my tiny white thong. “Ah, fucking hell, what are you trying to do to me?” he groaned, wearing a very real expression of pain.

I couldn’t answer.

He reached back onto the bed for a small, brown leather rucksack. He delved into it and pulled out a newspaper and a camera.

“It’s yesterday’s,” he said. “But your father will still get the message.” He tilted his head and smirked lopsidedly. “The message that I can get to you whenever I want, wherever I want, bodyguard or no bodyguard.” Carefully he laid the newspaper on my lap. It was sort of folded up onto my belly so that the headline was visible. He took a step back and held up a small, silver digital camera. “I would say smile,” he said with a shrug, “but I guess it’s not appropriate.”

Appropriate!

That was the goddamn understatement of the year. Dad was really going to flip at this one. Me in my underwear, gagged, tied to a chair in my room with Roger snoozing outside, just a few feet away. The shit was really going to hit the fan. Big-time.

I heard the camera click once then Ty was back next to me. He folded up the paper and shoved it along with the camera into his bag.

“Mmmph,” I said, shifting on the chair.

“I’m sorry, so sorry,” he said, bending over me and peeling off the tape. It tugged and stung as it pulled my skin. “Baby, I’m sorry, I just needed to do that.” He shoved the tape into his bag too.

“For fuck’s sake,” I hissed. “That stuff is foul and what the hell are you playing at?”

He stooped and pressed a soft kiss to my lips. “Sorry, I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”

I allowed my mouth to become pliant and open, let him in to search and gently tease my tongue with his in slow, languid movements. He tasted divine, like fresh water, a hint of vanilla and turned-on man. As he kissed me reverently, indulgently, my irritation with him dissolved as though it were a spoonful of sugar in hot tea. This was what I’d been waiting for, this moment with Ty. The man I shouldn’t want but did. The man whose tenacity and loyalty I admired even though everyone else thought he was a brutish thug who should be hung, drawn and quartered.

“Ty,” I gasped. “Please, untie me.”

“Mmm, in a minute. I kinda like having you at my mercy.”

“I’ve noticed.”

He smiled, slow and sexy. “It gives me all kinds of dirty ideas.”

“Me too.”

Tracing his finger down my cheek, he looked me in the eyes. “Has there been anyone in your bed since me, Penny? Since we were together in Oz?”

I swallowed tightly. Looking into the honest blue depths of his irises, I could only answer with the truth. “No.”

“Why?” He furrowed his brow.

“Because I can’t stop thinking of you, how you make me feel, how you kiss me, touch me. I can’t stop waiting for you to—”

“But it’s so wrong.”

“How can it be wrong when it feels so good?”

“Good is an understatement. Fucking fantastic is how it makes me feel whenever I’m with you.” He glanced down at my small, near-naked frame and I followed his gaze. I looked petite next to his width and height and so pale compared to the golden glow of his skin and blond hair.

“But,” he said with a shake of his head, “this is so fucked up and dysfunctional.”

“Yes, yes it is, but clearly we can’t fight it. We tried that already. It didn’t work.”

“You should hate me, despise me. Look at what I keep doing to you.” He gestured down my body then sank to his knees, resting his big, hot palms on my thighs.

“Ty, I admire you. I admire you immensely.”

“Admire me?” He snapped his head up and stared at me.

“God, yes, look what you’re doing for James. How many mates would go to such lengths? He’s so lucky to have you fighting in his corner.”

“What choice do I have?” His eyes held pain.

“You have lots of choices. You could be getting on with your life, having fun, traveling, getting a serious job and working on a career.
You’re
not banged up.”

“How can I when he’s in hell? We’ve been through so much together over the years, good times, fun times. How can I desert him when the going gets tough and when a justice system is so unfair?”

I smiled. “And you wonder why I can’t stop thinking of a man who is so faithful to his friend, why I can’t stop wanting a man who is so passionate about justice.”

“Is that really how you see me?”

“Yes. I think you’re amazing.”

“Oh Penny, why?”

“Why do I think you’re amazing?”

“No, why couldn’t we have just met on that beach and had fun like everyone else was?”

“If we had we wouldn’t be together now. It would have been a night or two of wild sex and then we would have gone our separate ways.”

“You think?”

“Isn’t that how you and James were working your way around the globe? A pretty girl in every port?”

He huffed. “Yeah, I guess.” Rubbing his hands up my legs, he looked at the juncture of my thighs, at the tiny triangle of material covering my pussy. “But you’re the sweetest, prettiest of them all.”

“I bet you say that to all the girls.”

“No, only you,” he whispered, then leaned forward and pressed a kiss to the elastic of my knickers.

“Oh,” I said on a tight little sigh, staring at the darker roots of his sun-kissed hair.

“Lift,” he said in a husky, low voice.

I did as he asked and watched as he rolled my thong down my thighs, over my knees and off. The pale strip of my pubes was revealed and he wasted no time in kissing them and exploring a little lower with his fingertips.

“Ty,” I murmured. “What—”

“Shh, keep quiet,” he whispered, nudging my legs farther apart and settling his broad shoulders between them.

I balled my hands into fists behind my back, tugging my wrists against their binds, wishing I could touch him too. Make him feel as adored and sexy as he made me feel.

He kissed up my inner thigh, his hot tongue and ragged breaths heating my flesh. I clenched my butt cheeks, lifting off the chair a little. My pussy had experienced Ty’s tongue before. I knew what a damn expert he was and the memory alone sent a shiver of anticipation up my spine.

“Ah baby, you’re so pretty,” he murmured, right before he treated my engorged folds to a long, luscious lick.