Fleeing Temptation [Temptation, Wyoming 2] (Siren Publishing Menage and More) Page 2

  “Good. You shouldn’t. You’re a beautiful woman, and while I don’t know you that well, from what I’ve seen, you seem like a fairly decent human being. You helped us without asking anything in return. Don’t cheapen yourself, Hilary. You’re better than that. You deserve the best you can get, not a cheap counterfeit.”

  She smiled and thanked him. She thought so too at one time, but that had come to nothing.

  * * * *

  Hilary rode through the wilderness. The scenery looked wild and untamed with tall pine trees and rugged mountains. She saw countless animals along the way. Naturally she recognized birds, deer and wolves, but there were other animals—larger ones that bewildered and fascinated her. One looked to be an enormous breed of deer with a huge rack on his head. There were also herds of hoofed, portly beasts with horns and thick, brown fur. Their size and excessive numbers proved daunting, though the young calves looked lighter, spry and adorable. What sort of beasts were these?

  She rode in peace through the cool, verdant terrain, surrounded by the fresh renewal of spring. This land looked so different from her homeland, but it bore its own beauty.

  She became startled when she heard a female whimper from nearby.

  “Help me, please,” a feminine voice pleaded.

  Hilary turned and saw a pretty, freckle-faced young woman with long, straight, blonde hair peek up from behind a fallen log. She looked to be around twenty-one. “Are you injured?”

  “I–I don’t know. I have to get back to my hotel, but I don’t have any clothes.” The lady looked like she would cry.

  Hilary drew closer before dismounting and tethering her steed to a branch stemming from the log. “What have you done with your clothes?”

  Tears welled in the girl’s eyes. “He…He must have taken them with him.”

  “Who is he?”

  Her eyes closed. “Please, I can’t talk about this right now. If you bring some clothes back to me, I’ll pay you for them when we get back to my hotel room.”

  Hilary’s heart skittered in astonishment and longing. “I shall give you my spare garments for free. There is no need to fornicate with me as payment.”

  The girl looked mortified. “I–I wasn’t implying that I would have sex with you once we got back to my room. I just meant I would reimburse you for the cost of the clothes…with cash.”

  “My mistake. Here.” Hilary tossed the sack to her. “The clothes seem more tailored to my curves, but I trust they shall suit you until we can find you more suitable apparel.”

  “Thank you so much.” The young woman fumbled to get the clothes on in spite of her constant trembling. She had scratches and a few bruises on her arms. Her legs had dirt streaks on them as if she’d been rolling around on the ground.

  Hilary wondered what sort of scoundrel would leave the poor thing out here alone and naked in a dangerous place like this. She also couldn’t take her eyes off the woman’s nudity. She hadn’t been intimate in years. It had been too long since she caressed the sweet, soft warmth of another woman. Certainly she had never seen such a fine-looking one.

  “My name is Hilary,” she introduced herself, needing to know the lady’s name for some reason.

  “Mine is Callie. It’s nice to meet you, and thanks again so much.”

  Callie’s face was the epitome of adorable with her innocent brown eyes and splash of freckles on her cheeks. Her long, straight, flaxen-blonde hair had layers and cute little bangs on her forehead. She appeared to be an inch or so taller than Hilary, around five feet, six inches. Her body was trim and slender with small, perky breasts. Hilary had never seen such a flat stomach in her life. There wasn’t a trace of fat on it to hide the tone beneath the surface. Her arms were lean and her long legs seemed to go on forever like a stairway to heaven. Hilary’s eyes climbed the stairway and found the blonde patch of curls sheltering her lady bits like a golden halo.

  She looked away. Callie had just been through some kind of trauma and here she was ogling the poor woman like a delectable chocolate.

  “Would you mind maybe giving me a ride back into town please?” Callie asked once completely dressed. The clothes were baggy on her since Hilary was more voluptuous than this slim angel, but she looked charming in them. Still, this clothed version of Callie didn’t hold a candle to naked Callie.

  Hilary reminded herself to look into Callie’s eyes, but it didn’t help, because they proved equally captivating. “Of course.”

  Hilary mounted first and then helped her get on. Callie wrapped her arms around her waist, and the contact reminded Hilary how lonely she felt. In that moment she knew she needed companionship and human touch, no matter what she had told herself centuries ago.

  * * * *

  Once they reached the town of West Yellowstone, Callie thanked Hilary and went up to her hotel room to get her wallet. She noticed her cell phone and opened the text she’d received. It was from Brent. How could that asshole even think of texting her after what he did to her? She took a deep breath and opened it. The text read, That was fun.

  Callie burst into tears and screeched in anger as she threw her phone across the large bed. Damn that bastard to hell.

  After a minute or two of weeping, she wiped her eyes, remembering that Hilary was waiting outside for her. She sent a quick fuck you text back to Brent and headed down with some cash.

  Hilary stood outside by her horse, looking surprised when she saw the money in Callie’s hand.

  “Thank you so much for the clothes and the ride.”

  “You are most welcome, but I require no payment for my goodness. Are you all right? You look as though you have been crying.”

  Callie’s eyes burned as a tear trickled slowly down her face. “I’m not crying.”

  “Aye, you are. Would you care for a comforting hug?”

  She forced a weak smile, amused that the woman asked first. “I’m okay, but thanks. I’m going to go shower. It was nice to meet you, Hilary. Thanks again for everything.”

  “Why are there bloodstains on your hands?” Hilary asked, seeming genuinely concerned. “Are you hurt?”

  The tears broke free as Callie hurried back inside. “Good-bye, Hilary.”

  She practically ran back to her hotel room. Once safely inside she sank to her bottom with her back against the door. A noise from her phone indicated she’d received a new text. When she looked, she noticed two from Brent. The first read, No, babe. I fucked you, remember?

  Her hands shook with anger as tears of agony and fear fell down her face. She reluctantly opened the next text from him, which read, Oh, so I give you the thrill of a lifetime and you don’t talk to me ever again. I see how it is.

  Her fingers trembled and her jaw clenched in resentment as she texted a reply. You attacked me, you asshole!

  She went into the bathroom and washed the bloodstains from her fingers, shuddering when she recalled the blood on her vagina after the incident. It scared the hell out of her. Did virgins bleed the first time, or had he torn her up when he entered her so roughly? She’d wiped away the blood with her fingers after he had left, praying to god it would stop and that no Yellowstone bears would smell it.

  She dried her hands, grimacing when she got another text from the jerk. It read, Well, maybe if you’d been more cooperative I would have treated you to an orgasm, but no. It’s your own fault, babe.

  Callie was sorely tempted to smash her phone to smithereens and pretend it was his head or his dick, but she was still waiting to hear back about a job opening, so that probably wasn’t a very good idea. She took a deep breath and tried to calm down as she sent a reply to him. I trusted you. I thought we would get married someday.

  She stripped and turned the shower on, wanting to wash away the scent of his body and the sensation of filth from being used. Another damned text. She sighed and checked it. Are you kidding me? I can’t marry you now. You’re not pure anymore.

  Callie slammed the phone shut and stepped under the hot water, quivering in silent r
age. She washed the dirt and blood off, trying to shut out the horrors of her final memory of Brent. She hadn’t loved him, but that didn’t make the pain any less potent. The idea of being in love had appealed to her, but right now she couldn’t see past this. She’d hoped a shower would somehow make her feel clean again, but all it did was make her wet. She dropped to her knees and wailed while her soul screamed inside of her.

  * * * *

  Hilary remained stationed outside with her steed. The stupid innkeeper wouldn’t divulge to her which room Callie stayed in, so she couldn’t find her to give her a hug or offer to castrate the male brute who had done this to her. But by god, she could stand guard outside this inn and be sure the man didn’t come back. What did he look like? No matter. She questioned every solitary male that approached the building. Most of them seemed quite offended when she asked them if they had recently accosted a woman. A couple of them laughed, but she wasn’t sure what she said that had proven so humorous to them.

  Callie came down a while later, seeming surprised to see Hilary still there. Her eyes were puffy and red from crying, but she had a feeble smile on her face. “What are you still doing here?”

  “I am standing guard to make certain the one who wronged you is not permitted access to you again. Fear not, I have questioned every suspicious-looking male who has come here.”

  Callie smiled before becoming serious again. “That’s really sweet, but you don’t have to. He…the guy who did that to me is long gone by now. I checked at the front desk a little while ago. He checked out of his room hours ago.”

  “Shall we hunt him down?”

  “No. I already called the police. They’ll take care of it.”

  “But they will only lock him away. My methods would leave a more lasting impression on him. I’m knowledgeable in the art of castration.”

  Callie laughed and Hilary swore it was the most adorable giggle she’d ever heard. “Yeah, that would definitely leave an impression on him, but I think I’ll stick with the cops. Thanks, though.”

  “Where were you off to?” she asked.

  Callie’s smile appeared genuine this time. “I got a call back from Sultry Salon & Spa. They hired me. I’m so excited.”

  “Congratulations. Allow me to escort you to your destination. You shouldn’t be alone right now.”

  “That’s really nice of you, but I would feel bad taking you out of your way.”

  “Nonsense, it is on my way.”

  “You don’t even know where I need to go.”

  “Try me.”

  “Temptation.”

  “Splendid—oh dear god!” Hilary felt certain her eyes must be bugging out of her head at this point. That was the last place she needed to go back to. She’d headed north and was apparently in some region known as Montana, but just how far away that was from Temptation, she wasn’t sure.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.”

  “If it’s too much trouble—”

  “No, it’s no trouble.” Hell, yes it is! Tell her no! Walk away! She’s safe now.

  “Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. I packed pretty light. I’ll get my stuff. Temptation is in Wyoming, by the way, just outside of Jackson Hole.”

  “I know where it is.” And so does Nex, quite possibly. Hopefully he only knew that she was in a mountainous, wooded region and not the precise town. Why didn’t she tell Callie no? It would have been so easy to walk away, but the sight of her in tears over what some good-for-nothing male did to her rang a little too close to home to just walk away from.

  Chapter Two:

  Temptation

  They rode to Temptation, at times making small talk and at other times simply riding along in silence. They stopped by Callie’s apartment in town. The place was vacant, since she apparently had just signed the lease, but it appeared to be a pleasant residence. She cleaned up and primped while Hilary looked around.

  “Why did you stay at an inn if you already have a place, and why has it never occurred to you to furnish it?”

  Callie grinned, seeming like she stifled laughter. “I just got this apartment the other day. It’s a two bedroom. Brent was supposed to get the other bedroom.”

  “Why not share the same bed?”

  “I didn’t want to just throw my virginity away. Brent said if we had separate rooms we could see what it was like to live together without having sex.”

  Hilary snorted. “That never works. Whenever two people occupy the same residence and aren’t related they couple.”

  Callie looked at her skeptically while she applied something to her face. “So everyone who has a roommate is sleeping with them?”

  “Aye, they are.”

  “Even when they’re the same gender?”

  Hilary’s heart quickened and she felt warm. “Aye, they are all succumbing to lust.”

  Callie smirked and continued getting ready. “Okay, Hilary, if you say so. So where are you from?”

  “Hell mostly, but Scotland before that.”

  “I’m sorry, did you just say you were from hell?”

  “Aye.”

  Callie grinned. “Okay then. I like your accent. I bet you’ve gotten hit on a lot while being here.”

  “If anyone hits me, it shall be at their own expense. I respond to violence with even greater violence.”

  Callie giggled. “No, I didn’t mean that people were punching you left and right. I meant you probably have a lot of guys flirting with you and asking you out.”

  “Calling on me?”

  “Yeah, whatever.”

  “I have not been here for very long.”

  “Are you just visiting then?”

  “No. I don’t have a home.”

  “Aw, that’s sad. You can stay here with me if you want.”

  “In your bed?”

  Callie’s eyes widened and she snickered. “Um, no. In the spare room. I don’t have my stuff here yet. It should get delivered here in a day or two. My daddy’s driving the truck. You could move your stuff in, though.”

  “I don’t have anything except what is with me. It would hardly be fair of me to stay here when you paid for the place.”

  “It’s a monthly thing. If you get a job too, we could share the cost of rent.”

  “Your offer is generous, but—” But Nex might know where she was or perhaps only the continent she was on. She could be stressing over nothing by worrying or taking a huge risk by staying.

  “Please. It would be fun and I need a roommate or I won’t be able to afford to eat. This is my first time being on my own and I want to make it. I wouldn’t feel safe without someone else here with me.”

  Damn it, why did she have to pull out the vulnerable-damsel-in-distress card? Hilary wanted to protect her and shelter her from the cares of the world when she acted helpless and needy.

  Her phone made a dinging noise. “This object is speaking to me.”

  Callie picked it up and the color drained from her pretty face. “It’s from Brent. Why won’t he leave me alone? The jerk got what he wanted.”

  “Is he the one who—”

  She nodded, seating herself on the porcelain stool. “He sent me a picture. I don’t know if I can look at that.”

  “I will look for you. Hmm.”

  “What is it?”

  Hilary showed it to her. “It is only his unimpressive phallus.”

  “Ugh! Don’t!” Callie squealed and averted her eyes. They were moist and misty again. “I already saw it. I don’t want to see that again. Just delete it.”

  “Shall I reply to him?”

  “Why for? What are you going to say?”

  Hilary punched in her reply and showed it to Callie. “Does this reply please you?”

  She grinned and read it aloud. “You have a very tiny penis.”

  Hilary smiled at the vindictive pleasure on her face.

  “Yes, that’s perfect. Send that,” said Callie.

  Hilary sent it and a moment later rec
eived a text from Brent. She smiled. “I do believe he is feeling emasculated right now.”

  “Why? What did he say? Let me see.”

  “He says, ‘Hey, I do not!’” Both women laughed. “I don’t believe he will be bothering you again, and if he does, I have an infinite supply of insults in my head.”

  Seeing Callie smile and look so relieved and happy made up Hilary’s mind. She wanted to put a smile on her face and keep it there. Callie needed a protector and someone to show her how to defend herself. The risk of staying in Temptation was worth what it cost to see her safe and smiling.

  * * * *

  Callie led Hilary into the waxing room. “This is kind of exciting and scary. You’re my first Brazilian. I did some in school, but this is the first on-the-job one I’ve done. Go ahead and take your pants off and lie down on the table.”

  Hilary obeyed. “I have never had my hair removed before.”

  “Well, it’s kind of painful, but it looks so sexy at the end. You’ll feel so pretty and womanly beneath your panties.”

  Something passed through Hilary’s hazel eyes, and Callie wondered if she embarrassed her. She certainly didn’t seem like it. She appeared calm and undaunted by the idea of getting hair ripped out in the name of vanity.

  “So how did your interview go at the adult shop earlier?” Callie had given Brazilians before, but it seemed personal giving one to her best friend. She wasn’t sure why. They were both girls.

  They had only been roommates for a few weeks, but they had grown quite close and become almost inseparable. It was as if they had been friends all their lives. She could stay up late with Hilary laughing and sharing secrets, shop and watch movies with her like they were sisters. Although there were some nights when Callie had nightmares that Hilary would come in and lie next to her and lull her to sleep, when Callie knew they were more than soul sisters or bosom buddies. There was a gentle stirring inside of her whenever Hilary rocked her to sleep. It was a subtle, strange feeling she probably should have felt with Brent rather than another woman, but she never had with him. Hilary was different somehow.