The Road To Vegas E-Book

L.J. Diva

• Herausgeber: Royal Star Publishing
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 615

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019

Beschreibung

This book is dedicated to…

Michael Weatherly and Carmine Giovinazzo, without the two of you the characters of Diega and Vegas would not exist. The men you are, the men you will be. Go ahead in life and soar.

And to Jackie Collins for writing The Love Killers. There’s a particular scene in the book that stuck in my head for over ten years, and I knew I wanted to write a book like that. Full of sex!!!!

Amid the rich, luxuriously sexual hotbed of Las Vegas hides secrets, lies, mystery, and murder.

Tahlia Johnston is on the run from a horror she barely remembers, and a stalker chasing her in her dreams and in real life. Then, at a gas station in the middle of nowhere, the most incredible looking man walks into her life…

Vegas is an oozing package of masculine sexuality who’s rough around the edges and ready for anything. Especially sexual. He has a past he'll be damned if he reveals and a list of secrets to hide, and his list of problems soon grows longer in…

Diega Montiamo, hotel-casino owner and billionaire businessman. He goes after what he wants and Tahlia is at the top of that list. He will stop at nothing to seduce her and he gets his chance, only to have her cruelly ripped from his grasp by Satan himself…

Carlo Santiago, the man who won't take no for an answer. He wants Tahlia all to himself. To invade her body and soul. To own her, rule her, make her his so desperately his manhood aches every time he sees her. He also wants revenge…

Revenge that threatens to blow four lives apart as their world comes to an explosive end.

If you love bad boys, sexy billionaires, and getting revenge, then you’ll love L.J. Diva’s The Road to Vegas.

Pick up The Road To Vegas today to see who Tahlia finally has her happy ever after with.

Leseprobe

THE ROAD TO VEGAS

L.J. Diva

CONTENTS

Dedications

Prologue: I Am Watching You

1: Running

2: Mr Incredible

3: Realisations

4: Decisions

5: Viva Las Vegas

6: Dreams Are Made

7: Mr Debonaire

8: It’s Just Human Nature

9: Great Sex

10: Bad Memories

11: Diamonds And Duets

12: Guilty Pleasures

13: A Need To Know

14: Damn Those TV Crime Shows

15: Playing Nancy Drew

16: Hypnotise Me, Please

17: Suspicions Come To Fruition

18: The Man Of Your Dreams

19: Paradise Found

20: Paradise Lost

21: Unleashing The Beast

22: The Enemy At Your Door

23: Hell Hath No Fury

24: The Final Countdown

25: The End Of The World

26: Aftermath

27: Trapped

28: A Christmas Miracle

29: The Truth Be Told

30: Revelations

31: Goodbye, My Love

32: Time To Go Home

About the Author

Other Titles

Copyright

Dedications

My gorgeous Michael Weatherly and Carmine Giovinazzo, without the two of you the characters of Diega and Vegas would not exist. The men you are, the men you will be. Go ahead in life and soar.

And to Jackie Collins for writing The Love Killers. There’s a particular scene in the book that stuck in my head for over ten years, and I knew I wanted to write a book like that. Full of sex!!!!

Prologue:

I Am Watching You

He had followed her.

He was watching her.

Standing outside on the fire escape, peering through the bedroom window of the one room apartment.

He watched her luscious, full breasts rise and fall with every deep breath.

The way her right hand curled under her chin, resting lightly.

The way her legs moved around under the blanket, shifting it aside to reveal their long, soft length.

She was twitching as if having a nightmare.

As if some horrible demon was after her to savage her.

I hope she’s having nightmares.

She was promised to me. She was my gift.

My gift to unwrap and have all to myself.

And have her I will.

1: Running

She was running, running, running. Blindly, in fear for her life. Running from something, she didn’t know what. She just had to get away. Away from the terror. Away from the man in the shadows...

Footsteps pounded behind her on the hard ground, trailing her. It was him. He was following her. Chasing her. Coming for her.

Why? Why is he coming for me? Who is he? What does he want from me?

Suddenly, silence. No sound at all. No sound except for her terrified heartbeat.

Then, a snapping twig, a scuffing of the ground. What was that? Someone’s there. I have to get away, I have to hide. Where, where can I hide, where can I go? There, under that old trashcan, he won’t find me. He won’t see me. I must be so quiet. I must hold my breath so he won’t hear me. Oh, why is my heart beating so loudly? He’ll hear it, he’ll find me. Oh, God, please don’t let him find me. Please don’t let him get me. Please, God, make him go away...

Tahlia Johnston sat bolt upright, dripping with sweat, and hitting out at the covers. She thought she was being grabbed, mauled, molested. It took a few moments to realise...there was no one there. No shadows stalking her, no animal waiting to beat her. She was alone.

Again.

“Thank, God,” she gasped, struggling for air, her heart racing at a terrified pace. Quickly snapping on the bedside lamp, she took a few deep breaths to stabilise her pulse, looked around, and was very relieved to see no one hiding in the corners. Throwing back the covers, she swung her legs over the side of the bed. Her right foot touched the bare floorboard and recoiled slightly as chills shot through her leg. Gingerly, she stood, the cold now in both feet. Ignoring it, she pushed back her hair and walked around the rat hole of an apartment her mother had lived in.

She wasn’t there anymore. She’d died last month.

A sudden pang of anger filled Tahlia’s heart, but a tear came to her eye.

“I don’t want to be here anymore, at least I don’t have her to be responsible for.” She rubbed her arms against the chill that now took her, and glanced around at the meagre things her mother had left behind. Not much to show for sixty years. A few knick-knacks, crockery, bits and pieces. Anything that hadn’t been smashed and trashed over the last two decades.

She had been here for two days and now wanted to leave. I can’t stay here, I can’t, she thought. I need to run. I need to go far away an’ never come back.

She couldn’t explain why she was running. Why she was having nightmares. The last couple of weeks were either a blur of driving and parking behind gas stations for sleep or blocked out of her memory. Just thinking about it gave her chills down her spine and a fear she didn’t understand.

I’ve been scared before, from things I’ve seen an’ what’s been done. But not like this.

She took an envelope from her purse and re-read the letter from the New York morgue, trying to piece together what she knew. The letter informed her that her mother had passed away from cancer, and was asking when did she want to collect her for burial.

“How did they find my address?” she murmured. “Unless they went through my mother’s things, but even then I don’t remember telling her. In fact, when was the last time I saw her...it must have been when I was eighteen or twenty, an’ I’m thirty-two now. Seems like so long ago.” She wasn’t going to reply to the letter, but found herself in the morgue two days ago when she arrived in town.

“Argh,” she cried, flinging her hands into the air in desperation, “why can’t I remember?” She pictured the steel slab her mother was lying on. Her body all cold and white. She’d walked away without a backward glance.

Tahlia sighed, feeling nothing at the memory of her mother’s body. She screwed up the letter in frustration.

Then there was Wayne, her boyfriend. She’d been living with him, and while their life together wasn’t rosy, it was all she had. All she was used to. Wayne preferred that she stay home to look after the house, be a good housekeeper, wanted her to stay inside and never go out. Then one day it all seemed to change, and she couldn’t remember what happened after that, except for the huge fight they’d had.

Always the same. They’d fight. He’d apologise. She’d stay. It was all she was used to.

But this time, it was their last fight. That much she knew.

The back of his hand had sounded like a gunshot before she fell to the floor. The pain on her cheek was so intense she cried out as blood flew into the air. Her hand found her mouth, covering it, trying to stop the blood from flowing over the carpet. Because Wayne wouldn’t like that. He’d make her clean it up, and blood was hard to get out of anything. She knew.

His vengeful eyes had stared coldly down at her as she looked up at him, desperately trying to control her tears. Because Wayne didn’t like that either. Her crying. He hated women who cried and called her all sorts of names because of it. Reminded him of his piss weak mother he’d once said in the heat of a fight. “You bitches are all the same,” he’d spat, “can’t please a man the way he likes, and when he lets you know, you bawl your eyes out. You’re all pathetic. Just like her. And I hate her!”

She shuddered violently at the thought. It still affected her, but then, it was still so fresh. She could feel it. The burning handprint seared onto her face. Into her mind. Her memory. Her soul.

Her hand once again found her cheek.

“God,” she said, pacing the room, “is this my life? A road filled with crap men taking advantage an’ getting what they want all ’cause I allow them to. Or is it ’cause I was trained that way?” She ran her hands through her hair and stopped in thought.

Trained?

From the age of eleven, she’d seen each of her mother’s new boyfriends raise a hand and strike somewhere on her frail body. There would be furniture crashing and mementoes smashing. A new bruise and a new lie. Although sometimes the old ones were repeated. Her mother had once been so vibrant and full of life, but that was only when her father was alive. Since then, she’d gone downhill in every way. Physically, mentally, emotionally. Her mother was no longer the woman she once knew.

“It ended up like a broken record, my so-called role model. Nothing but a quivering mess of...” Tahlia stopped and glanced around. “Huh,” she huffed and muttered angrily into the empty apartment, “I don’t even think there’s a word to describe it.” A tear sprang up and threatened to overflow.

Her mother had been nothing but a doormat. And in the heat of her own fight with Wayne, she’d decided not to be like her. Not to be like her mother. Not to stand there and take it. Again. She decided to fight back. And struggling valiantly to her feet, she swung her right arm with all her might and landed Wayne with a black eye he’d never seen coming. From a woman anyway.

Tahlia smirked sadly and moved around the room. “At least I tried. Unfortunately, he gave me a busted nose for it.” She touched her nose gently and gazed into the small, round mirror hanging on the wall. It was still tender and a little sore, but generally okay. Wayne had thrown his own fist into her face making her blood spurt all over the place. Then he’d dragged her into the car and driven her to the hospital to have her nose set, giving the doctors some stupid excuse for why it was broken, mainly because he didn’t want her bleeding everywhere. And, of course, he made her clean it up when they got home. It took her hours, as blood was hard to get out of anything. She knew.

“But what has happened since? Ugh!” She racked her brain and stared at herself.

All she saw was the beaten ghost of her mother staring back. Shoulder length lifeless brown hair, long oval face with dark circles and bags, sparkless, empty green eyes, a bruised and slightly crooked nose, cracked pink lips that hadn’t smiled in...so long. She looked closely at herself. “Definitely not the girl I used to be. God,” her eyes rolled up to the ceiling, “when was I ever the girl I used to be?”

There was a scraping sound out on the fire escape.

Her head whipped around toward the window. It was nothing, she thought, her heart pounding furiously.

Are you sure?

A huge clap of thunder rumbled ominously above the building. It moved through the apartment, her body. Making both of them tremble with the deep bone-jarring vibrations. Making her even more scared.

The lightning that followed lit up the whole sky as bright as day. Lit up the apartment. Lit up a shadow out on the fire escape. The shadow moved. The light disappeared.

There’s nothing out there, she thought determinedly, trying to convince herself out of panic mode. It was just the storm or something, blowing the trees around an’ throwing leaves into the air. She swiped her hand over her face and found herself sweating. She panicked anyway. Because she did not want to find out if she was wrong.

Glancing at the small clock on the bedside table, she saw it was six in the morning. She knew she wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep, and didn’t want to, so she packed her own meagre belongings into her duffel, and took what she wanted of her mother’s. She showered quickly, and left a note for the super, then closed the door to the one bedroom apartment.

A strange feeling swept over her, making her whole body shudder. She stared at the door as her hand lingered on the handle and realised, with an overpowering finality, that this episode of her life was over.

Gone.

Left behind forever. Never to be seen or revisited again. She sighed, relief calming her momentarily, winding its way through her body, relaxing her. There was no longer anything to worry about where her mother was concerned. The critical sarcasms and anger, hostility and hatred. They were all gone.

Another clap of thunder sounded overhead, and she released the doorknob with a start. Remembering the sound and shadow on the fire escape, she tensed again. A part of her was also scared to the bone. Her nightmares saw to that. Terrifying, yet blurry. Memories that wouldn’t come to the fore to show her what was happening. Memories she would have to find for herself.

Shifting her duffel onto her shoulder as if it was a heavy burden, Tahlia walked away. Leaving the apartment, and her mother, behind. She tried to quell the rising panic that threatened to stick in her throat. She knew there was something out there. Chasing and hunting. Haunting and frightful. Something lurking in the background. The shadows. The recesses of her memory, her mind, her life.

Always there, felt, but never seen…

Going to her mother’s grave, she stood there, the wind whipping her hair all around, the dark clouds hanging low overhead. She waited. Tears didn’t flow. Pain didn’t come.

She wondered why. Why she didn’t feel any sympathy. Why she didn’t feel much of anything. They hadn’t seen each other in years, didn’t have much communication at all. Her mother had hated her. Never wanted to see her again once she’d left home, never had any contact with her unless she wanted something. And even then, she’d remind Tahlia that she owed her for looking after her until she’d run away from home at eighteen.

That was a joke! She’d left home because it was depressing as hell and she suffered nothing but abuse from her mother and all of her boyfriends. Besides, it was her mother’s job to raise her and protect her. And she hadn’t. She’d failed miserably.

Anger started to rise, but she stopped it. There was no need to feel it anymore.

Suddenly, violently, she was enveloped in an ice-cold chill that the lingering storm stirred up. Wrapping her coat tightly around herself to ward it off, she still felt it in her core. That feeling of someone, something, lurking, there in the background. Turning to run, she desperately looked in every direction, but all she saw were huge concrete headstones in a dark, empty cemetery.

She saw no one.

Nothing.

But someone was watching…

Someone was following…

*****

Tahlia drove down the east coast, not sure where she was going, where she would stop, or even when. All she knew was, she had to get away from New York. As far away from Maine as possible. And whatever horrific memories still lay there.

Philadelphia was nice, but not far enough. Maryland and North Carolina weren’t good either. Driving through Georgia, she continued south to Miami, deciding she wanted the sunshine and heat.

Miami was perfect after the cold winter, and she wanted to stay but didn’t have much money and almost no work experience. She made do with staying in the parking lots of all-night gas stations for accommodation, and sleep was fitful.

Day after day, Tahlia looked for work, walking the streets, asking in every store. Her feet ached and protested in agony every morning when she set out. Her stomach cried out for a nice hot meal. Until finally, late one afternoon, she walked into a small diner. After talking to the manager, she found herself with a job. Since cooking seemed to be her only skill, and she wanted to stay out of the way of the customers, she helped in the kitchen. Her pay covered the cost of a small trailer in the local trailer park, which wasn’t much, but enough. And besides, it was far better than parking for the night in a car park.

Organising with her boss to work day shift only, Tahlia made sure she was home before dark because things still didn’t feel right. They hadn’t since Maine. Nightmares and visions haunted her every moment, asleep or awake. And it scared her. She was still worried about what may be out there.

Watching…

Waiting…

*****

Four weeks later she had settled in, and her job was good. It was definitely hard work. Harder than she’d ever known, but she wasn’t going to let it get to her.

The Miami sun was warm on her face, the sea breeze refreshing, even tempting her into the water one day. She hadn’t swum much and was a little self-conscious, conscious of the way she looked. Whiter than white skin, old bruises, a figure not so cutting in her swimsuit, but the big baggy t-shirt covered her well enough. She tugged it down so no one would see. So no one could see.

She gazed around at all the beautiful bodies on the beach. Topless, well-endowed women with not an inch of fat anywhere on their bodies. Bronzed and sculpted men with huge muscles pointing in every direction.

Oh, dear God, she thought, blushing, and covering her face with her hands in embarrassment as two tightly packaged macho men walked past her with their tiny little swim briefs overflowing with testosterone. I’ve never even seen men look like that. She giggled softly and eyed their retreating figures, then blushed even more.

Now feeling very aware of her body, she stayed in the shallows and paddled back and forth, trying to stay away from people so she would be alone.

Feeling herself relax in the warm Miami water, she allowed herself to float along with the current and wondered if it was all over. She had left Wayne...hadn’t she? She couldn’t actually remember, but knew she must have left because here she was in Miami, a completely different place from what she was used to. And she was by herself, which hadn’t happened in a long time. After years of torture, she must have gone out on her own and taken Wayne’s car when she did. At least it looked like Wayne’s car, but the plates were different, so she wasn’t sure.

God, why can’t I remember what happened in those two weeks? she thought miserably, walking out of the water and over to her car. Drying herself off, she glanced around, worried that she would be noticed.

Worried that someone was watching…

*****

A few days later, leaving work at five minutes after five, Tahlia walked to her car. A weird sensation slid down her spine as if someone was watching her. She fearfully looked all around, but saw no one. After locking herself in the car she drove off, but kept nervously glancing in the rear-view hoping no one was following. She knew enough to not go straight home, so she drove around for a while hoping to lose whoever it was.

She made it back to her trailer, ran inside, locked the door behind her, and decided there and then to leave in the morning. “I can’t do this again,” she panicked, “I can’t keep doing this. Running ’cause someone might be out there waiting for me, watching me, wanting me. I just can’t.” She called her boss at the diner and informed him that she wouldn’t be returning, then packed her things, changed for bed, and lay down, hoping for sleep.

It didn’t come.

Around eleven p.m. she heard a noise outside and shot up into a sitting position, her back dead straight, her ears straining for the slightest sound.

There it was again. She stood slowly, stealthily, one foot on the floor, then the other, then tiptoed the five steps into the living area.

A footstep.

A shadow at the window.

Bang, Bang, Bang.

She jumped. The noise was so loud, and the vibrations so hard, she thought the window was going to break as the person kept banging. They moved on to the next and the next. Banging on the door, rattling the knob, trying to get in.

She stood there, shaking, feeling sick. The sweat poured down her face, her neck, her back, soaking her nightshirt.

No, no, this can’t be happening. Why is this happening?

Around and around, every window, every door, the banging didn’t stop.

She backed up against a wall, sank down to the floor, pulled her knees up to her chest, and wrapped her arms around herself. “Go away, go away,” she whispered, scared absolutely witless. Trying so desperately to shut out the terror that had re-found her.

Finally, it did stop, and with an evil laugh, the person walked away.

Tahlia knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep if she went back to bed, so she sat on the floor and pored over her map for almost an hour, using her trusty flashlight so she didn’t have to turn the light on in case he was still outside. “Where am I gonna go now?” she whispered, “where am I gonna go?” She tried to think of a place where she would be safe, secure. “What do I do? What do I do? Will I never be safe anywhere?” Shaking her head, she allowed a few tears to fall. “I could close my eyes an’ make a stab.” So she did. Opening her eyes, she saw her finger had landed on Las Vegas. “Well, at least if he does follow me, he may not find me. It’s so crowded an’ there’s always tourists, so I should be able to lose myself.” She dressed quickly, grabbed her bags, and sneaked out to the car. Jumping into the driver’s seat, she jabbed the key into the ignition and drove off as quietly as she could.

He watched her as she sneaked out to her car. Laughing a deep throaty laugh, he sat on his bike and lit a cigarette. The flame cast shadows over his face, lighting up deep pools of blue. Blue pools that bored into her, burning with an intensity that surprised him. That scared him. The feeling that engulfed him set him on fire, and he knew he must do something. Do something about the stirring in the pit of his stomach. The stirring in his sizable groin. Do something that would leave a definite impression. Something that would make her forget everything in this world except him.

He watched her start the car and slowly drive away from the trailer. That’s all he’d been doing for the last two months. Watching her. Waiting for her.

Followed her to New York where she went to the morgue and stood all alone at the cemetery. He’d felt a strange feeling, watching her there. A feeling that dared to drag up memories. A feeling that started to tease him with the torment of the very bad things that had happened in his own past.

Down the east coast to Miami he went, where he spied on her day after day. She had sensed him here and there, looking around, trying to find him. But she never did.

Tonight, he’d decided to scare her, shake her up. Let her know, yes he was there, yes he was watching. That he’d been there all along and wasn’t going away. Wouldn’t leave her alone to have a happy little life all safe and sound from the big bad wolf threatening to engulf her and eat her.

He’d banged on the door and rattled the knob, tried to get into the windows. He hadn’t seen her in the trailer, but knew she was there, and that she’d be shitting herself in fear.

He’d gotten a big kick out of it, laughing as he walked away, waiting to see how long it took her to run. It only took an hour. He must have really scared her.

Seeing her tail lights fade into the night, he took one last drag and flicked his cigarette to the ground, blowing out smoke as he gunned his bike into action.

And once again, he followed…

2: Mr Incredible

As she drove across the countryside, Tahlia decided travelling to Las Vegas was the best thing she could do. There was still the uneasiness of whatever it was haunting her. Something she couldn’t put her finger on as her memory was still hazy and full of holes.

Alabama seemed really pretty, but she didn’t have time to play tourist. There was a need deep inside to get to Vegas. She didn’t know why it felt right, as if some cosmic guide was suddenly leading her, pushing her to go. But it was kind of exciting.

Not being able to afford motels, she stayed in parking lots of all-night convenience stores to at least feel some sense of safety. But sleep was ragged, full of nightmares and images she didn’t want to think about, didn’t want to worry about. But worry she did.

Something lurked deep inside her mind, her memory. Images of blood and a gun, someone there in the background. She hadn’t been alone, and try as she might she couldn’t make the images clear. Tahlia shook her head to clear her mind of the thoughts she didn’t want to think. I need to get to Vegas, that’s all I need to think about.

*****

Driving down the highway on the third morning of her journey, Tahlia pulled over to check her map. A motorbike roared past, flinging dirt and dust up over the car, its rider not caring. Looking up, she scowled and noticed the bike was an old Harley. “Nice bike...arrogant prick,” she muttered. Pushing the map aside, she glanced over her shoulder and accelerated back onto the highway, seeing the man on the bike was already long gone.

Pulling into another small gas station in another small town, Tahlia came to a stop and waited. She glanced in her rear-view and hoped the car that had been following her didn’t pull in. “Idiots,” she muttered, remembering how they’d tried to run her off the road earlier. All she’d been doing was minding her own business, driving along, and suddenly there were two idiots screaming up behind her in a souped-up truck.

After what seemed like forever, she got out, grabbed the hose herself, thrust it into the gas tank, and drummed her fingers on the roof of the car as she gazed across the barren landscape. The station was actually the last store in a main street that was only three stores long. Population – next to nothing.

Hearing the roar of a truck, Tahlia looked up in worry and disbelief. “Shit!” She held her breath and looked away as they screeched into the station and stopped behind her car. They stepped out of their truck arrogantly and walked around to lean against the front of it.

“Well, well, well, look who we have here,” the tall one sneered. “The little pussy we wanted to talk to, but was too much of a bitch to stop and chat.” They looked like college punks, with greasy hair and acne, the type who thought their own shit didn’t stink, that every female in the world would want them and willingly fall at their feet if they were told to.

Tahlia quickly glanced over them, wondering if she could defend herself if she had to. They were big, and would more than likely overpower her. Violate her in ways she didn’t want to think about. She didn’t feel safe.

She heard the bell above the door ring and turned to tell the attendant she didn’t need help, but stopped before a sound came out of her mouth.

Walking toward her was the most incredible looking man she had ever seen. A man that oozed masculine sexuality from every pore and knew it. Self-assuredness from the tips of his old black biker boots to the ends of his short dark brown hair. A swagger to make a girl blush, and eyes that were deep, smouldering pools of blue to drown in.

He came to a slow stop in front of her, smiling a smile that made her knees so weak she sagged against the car. She grabbed it to keep herself upright.

“Hey, baby...need some help?” His deep sexy voice made her heart thunder.

Tahlia opened her mouth to speak, but not a word came out. The spell of the moment so absolutely brilliant, then so cruelly broken as he turned toward the two college boys.

“I suggest you two get outta here,” he said in a low, threatening tone.

They had been watching the scene with anger, as the woman they had wanted and followed on purpose seemed to be completely taken with the man who was now facing them, threatening them. They didn’t like his tone, so they sneered at him, thought he was joking. They stood up to face the man and laughed. They actually believed they could take him on.

“Didn’ your mothers teach you to respect women?” the man asked. “I said get outta here,” he growled, his voice now louder.

“What are ya gonna do, old man? Teach us a lesson?” They laughed again and turning to each other pretended to throw punches.

The man flexed his muscles, pulled brass knuckles out of his pocket, and slipped them onto his right hand. “Nope, just beat the holy shit outta ya if ya don’ go now.” His eyes menaced as he took a few steps toward the two punks, flexing his muscles even more, slamming his right hand into his left several times.

Suddenly nervous, and realising they couldn’t or wouldn’t take him on, they jumped back into their car with a scowl, slammed the doors, and sped off, fading into the landscape.

The gas pump came to a clanking stop. Embarrassed and blushing, Tahlia dragged her green eyes away from the blue pools that were now gazing at her to put the hose back into its socket, aware that he was watching her the whole time.

“Um, thanks, I suppose,” she stuttered, somewhat shyly, blushing even more, her insides like jello. “I’d better pay.” She hesitantly moved to walk past him.

He stepped over to her and gently pushed her against the car and spoke in a low sexy voice that made her tremble. “I already paid for you.”

“Huh?” She was gone. Drowning in deep pools.

“I already paid for you. I saw you pull in an’ thought, what a hot woman, how do I get to know her? So, I paid. Decided to come introduce myself, an’ deal with those jerks at the same time. What’s your name, baby?” he asked, with a smile so white hot it melted everything around him as his voice washed over her like a warm ocean wave. And she surrendered, willingly floating along on the current.

“Tahlia,” she gasped gently as he leaned in toward her. He was so close she could hear the pounding of his heart. Smell his hot, masculine scent that was driving her crazy.

He was an inch or two taller than her five foot eight with strong, muscular arms that were on either side of her, keeping her trapped against the car. “Well, baby, you can call me Vegas.”

She stood staring into those eyes and suddenly felt bold as a surge of excitement pulsated a driving beat through her. “Give me your number an’ I’ll call you tonight,” she said in a sexy tone that surprised her. She blinked rapidly and blushed deeply.

He grinned his slow, sexy grin that made her hot with anticipation. “Baby, there’s no need for that, ’cause you’ll be seein’ me tonight anyway. I was gonna suggest that we hit the road together. My bike broke down an’ I need a lift.” His right hand reached up and brushed a strand of her hair aside. “Where ya goin’, baby?”

The current that raced through her body was electric. Never before had she felt this way about a man’s touch, a man’s scent, a man’s sexual energy and maturity. His aura was making her want to melt into the embrace of those strong, muscular arms.

“Baby?” he said quietly.

Tahlia realised she had not only closed her eyes, but held her breath too. Letting out a sigh of content, and feeling sexual awareness such as she’d never known, she opened her eyes, finding him even closer than before. Oh, God did he smell good.

“How ’bout it?” He cocked his left eyebrow at the question. “I’ll drive.”

Feeling even bolder, she made the decision in an instant, not caring if it was wrong or right, good or bad. She just knew she wanted to get to know him. And she did owe him for helping her. Didn’t she? She smiled. “Las Vegas. Okay?”

He grinned. “Great. I’ll grab my stuff.” He walked back into the station, just inside the door, and grabbed his duffel and guitar case which he threw into the back seat.

“Jump on in,” he said. She climbed into the front and slid along the bench seat. Getting in, Vegas started the car then looked at her, grinning in excitement. “Vegas, here we come.”

They sat in silence for twenty minutes before Tahlia had the courage to look at him. “So, I guess we should get to know each other then,” she said shyly.

He looked at her slowly, giving her that damn sexy grin of his. “Well, baby, as you know, I’m Vegas. I go round workin’ where I can get it an’ explore the countryside while I’m at it.” He looked at the road again.

“Vegas, huh? After the city?” She was very curious about the man beside her.

“So I was told.”

“Do you have a last name?”

“Nope.”

Tahlia glanced out the windshield then slyly back at Vegas. She let her eyes wander over his hard, muscular body. A tanned torso clothed in a tight, white singlet that showed off an inviting nest of brown chest hair, and a chain around his neck with tags and charms. A tattoo on his right upper arm was of a pattern or symbol she had never seen. His muscular arms were straight out, holding onto the steering wheel. He had a kind of rough and ready look about him. Rough around the edges with wild brown hair that stood up all over, and a fine layer of facial hair that would definitely leave burn marks.

He looked ready for anything. Ready for anyone.

It was very appealing.

It was very sexy.

Her eyelids were feeling heavy, and she didn’t know if it was from being tired and worn out from the last couple of months, or from being sexually aroused. Don’t be silly, she thought, scolding herself as she looked away. A man’s never made me feel this way, why would I be aroused?

Wait, her brain screamed to a halt, suddenly stunned. Did he call me a hot woman before? Her mind cleared and focussed itself as she thought back to their conversation at the gas station. “I saw you pull in an’ thought, what a hot woman, how do I get to know her?” Oh, my God, she blushed, he called me a hot woman, me, me. No!That can’t be right? Not with my plain Jane boring old looks. Can it?

She sneakily glanced down at his skin tight, dark blue ripped jeans and how they hugged him, fitting so perfectly in all the right places. Her gaze landed on his crotch. His wickedly full, bulging crotch. She wondered what he looked like naked.

“Baby?”

She looked up at him and realised he’d been watching her check out his crotch. “Oh, God,” she choked and blushed furiously, knowing she had a stupid look on her face. “Um, ah, nice belt buckle,” she stuttered and looked out the window.

“Baby...I’m not wearin’ a belt.”

That grin was back as her head swung around and her eyes searched his. Glancing down again she saw he was right. “Oh, God,” she squeaked, grief-stricken and extremely embarrassed. She turned her head back to look out the window and clamped her mouth shut so there wouldn’t be any more humiliating comments.

Vegas laughed, low and sexy. “It’s okay, baby,” he said, lighting a cigarette. “I was checkin’ you out too. Besides, you just might get to see what I got in these jeans.” He laughed again. The sound sent a shiver up Tahlia’s spine. “In fact. I know you will.”

Tahlia blushed even more furiously as they drove into the oncoming dusk.

*****

Late that night, they pulled over to a roadside campsite.

“We’re in the middle of nowhere,” Vegas said, eyeing her. “We’ll have to stay here an’ get a good night’s sleep.” He licked his ripe pink lips with his ripe pink tongue.

After seeing them in motion, sleep was the last thing on Tahlia’s mind. Especially after that humiliating moment of hers that afternoon. She had been quiet, just thinking about her life and the mysterious man beside her.

For hours Vegas had driven, without stopping or asking her to take over. Occasionally, he turned on the radio and sang along to whatever song was on at the time.

“So, I guess we get to sleep in the car then. You want front or back?” Vegas was watching her intently, his eyes so dark and deep.

“I’ll take the back,” she said, swallowing hard and glancing away. She didn’t have the courage to look at him with his eyes and lips so hungrily wanting.

“Great, I’ll get out an’ make a fire for some warmth. You got any blankets in this car?”

“A couple of sleeping bags down on the back seat floor,” she replied, getting out of the car and stretching her weary body. Another car was just pulling in, the driver looking for a place to park for the night. There were already two other cars there, small campfires burning, people laughing. Vegas got the fire going, then went off to get water from the campsite supply shed.

Tahlia pulled out the box of food she had and grabbed the sleeping bags to give them a shake. Vegas came back with the bucket of water and asked if she wanted to wash first.

“Sure,” she said, carrying the bucket to the other side of the car so she would have privacy to wash and change. Washing, and putting something appropriate for bed on, she walked back around and handed the bucket to Vegas. He’d laid out the sleeping bags and zipped them together.

“I decided we should stretch out for the night after bein’ in the car so long...an’ keep warm in the meantime.” That damn sexy grin was back as he took the bucket.

Blushing furiously, Tahlia sat down on the sleeping bags and slipped her boots off. We can’t sleep in the same sleeping bag, she thought, I barely know him. I can’t latch onto another man so soon. God, what am I gonna do? Do I ask him to sleep in the car or do I take the car myself? That’s it, I’ll sleep in the car. But he’ll have the fire...an’ the sleeping bags. Well, I could unzip them an’ quickly get in the car, it shouldn’t be too bad, at least it won’t be cold hard ground.

Grabbing some food from the box, she tried to keep her eyes on what she was doing, but her eyes had a mind of their own, looking up to see where Vegas had gone.

She gasped in surprise. He was only a few feet from her at the end of the car knowing full well she could see him.

At her gasp, Vegas slowly lifted that tight singlet up his muscular back and over his head. Tossing it onto the hood of the car he reached in front of him, and Tahlia heard the rasp of a zip. Slowly kicking off his boots he tantalisingly slid his skin-tight jeans over his curvaceous ass and down his long, lean legs.

Tahlia breathed hard, unable to take her eyes off this sex god in front of her. Oh, my God what’s happening? she thought. No man has ever made me feel this way, only beaten an’ abused, treated like a lowly dog, or a piece of crap stuck to the bottom of his shoe.

In fact, she was surprised that any man had ever been attracted to her, wanted to be with her. She was so plain compared to every other woman she saw, and was wondering why this man, Vegas, being the hot stud he was, would even look twice, let alone tease her with his sexiness. And want to ride to Las Vegas with her.

She felt hot, unstable. Her heart pounded, her blood raced. She was moist between her legs, aching to take him. She glanced at him again and saw he was now completely naked, slowly washing himself with the small towel she had found for them to use.

Vegas dipped the towel into the bucket then held it over his head and squeezed it. The water slowly ran in tiny rivulets down his back and over his hard ass. Tahlia was gasping for breath as he turned to look at her over his shoulder. His gaze burned into hers, his grin spread across his face. Seeing her panting and wanting, Vegas turned around so she could see him.

Naked. Raw. Hungry.

“Oh, my God,” she gasped.

He was erect, standing to the fullest attention, and now walking toward her. He stood over her, hard, needing. Kneeling down on the sleeping bags in front of her, Vegas took her hand and pulled her to him.

Oh, my God, she panicked, what’s he doing, what’s he doing? I can’t do this, I can’t do this, not after everything I’ve been through. Not another man.But this man is different.Yes, this man is different. An’ I want him!

As he slowly undressed her, he was gentle. Touching her, caressing her arms, her sides, her breasts. Tahlia gasped and grabbed his arms, and Vegas wrapped them around her as he pulled her against him, their lips meeting in raw passion.

His tongue explored the inside of her mouth, tasting her, wanting her. His hands did the same to her body.

She pulled her head back and gasped for air. Her hands grabbed his hair and brought his mouth to her right breast.

He took it, licking and sucking hungrily. His hands ran over her back down to her ass.

Tahlia moved his mouth to her left breast. Wrapping her arms around him, she brought him closer and felt the length of his penis pushing against her crotch.

Wanting. Needing.

His left hand found its way into her hair and pulled her head back. His mouth was now on hers, his tongue thrust in and out, his right hand pushed its way between her legs. His fingers were now inside of her, probing, moving, finding the spot. Tahlia gasped and writhed against him as fireworks exploded in her brain.

Vegas pushed her down onto her back and pinned her hands above her head. His mouth explored her body, setting her on fire. Her neck, where there was a spot behind her ear. The insides of her arms, so soft and tender. Her breasts, heaving in passionate arousal. His hands slid down her arms, her body, following the trail his mouth had left. Each hand found a breast, kneaded gently, making her groan in absolute pleasure. They grabbed her hips and took her wet vagina to his mouth.

“Ahh,” escaped from her mouth as his devoured her, thrusting his tongue inside of her.

In and out. In and out.

It too found the spot his fingers had.

Then suddenly...

Tahlia barely noticed that Vegas had stopped. She opened her eyes groggily and looked at him.

He was kneeling between her open legs, grinning that damn sexy grin of his. Then, with a look in his eyes, he started toward her, like a wild animal on the hunt.

She opened her legs wider to accept him and moved her hands down to his ass. With his mighty thrust, she took him into her.

Wanting. Aching. Accepting.

His hands entwined themselves in her hair. His mouth claimed hers as its own, his tongue thrust in sync with his hard shaft in a wild tribal dance, their hearts beating in thunderous time.

She had never known rawness like this.

The passion. The need.

She locked her legs around him, holding him closer. His knees were beside her hips so he could thrust harder. His mouth found its way to her left breast and sucked hard.

“Aaaahhh,” she gasped, feeling both the pleasure and the pain of the motion.

He looked at her, his right hand now massaging her breast, his left still entangled in her hair. “Open your eyes.”

She barely heard him, but managed to open her eyes, staring into those dark pools of passion and desire. This was animalistic energy she had never felt. Never known.

Vegas stared into her eyes. His mouth played kisses on hers as his tongue toyed with her. He was fully inside of her. Deeply inside of her. In a place no man had ever been. A place she only wanted him to be. A place only he would be.

His hand now gripped her hip, and with raw force he thrust harder, faster, bringing her to him as the world shook with climactic thrusts. The intense feeling pulsated through her body, racking her with an orgasm she had never experienced as he met her with the wildness of a stallion.

Hard…

Muscular…

Throbbing…

Groggily, Tahlia opened her eyes and wiped her hand over her face. Vegas was lying beside her, watching her. His left arm around her, his right hand under his head. She had been sleeping with her head on his chest, their legs entwined.

“Hey,” he said softly.

“Hey,” she replied shyly, seeing they were still naked, but wrapped in the sleeping bags. “How long have I been asleep?”

“Awhile.”

The sounds from the other campers seeped into her brain and it hit her. “Oh, my God, oh, my God. I hope they didn’t hear us.” She sat up. “I hope they didn’t see us, oh, my God, oh, my God.”

“Baby,” Vegas drawled. “It’s okay. I made sure I parked far enough away an’ in a position so no one could see anythin’.” He pulled her back down to him and wrapped his arms around her. “It’s okay, just relax.”

She did, deciding to let the world fall away and just revel in the moment. Snuggling against his muscular chest, she ran her hand through the golden-brown hair she found there.

He kissed her on her forehead and held her tighter.

Her hand found his chain and looked at what was on it. “What are these?”

His right hand covered hers and removed the chain from her grasp. “Personal.”

“Why?” she asked.

“They just are.” He stared up into the sky as she looked at him.

“Am I going to find out anything about you?” she asked.

“Maybe,” he said, grinning as he looked at her. “Get some sleep.” Kissing her forehead again, he closed his eyes.

Tahlia lay awake for a while thinking about the man beside her. The man she had taken inside of her and opened herself for. Never before had she done such things with a man. Never before had she felt so alive, so wild, so free. She blushed at the thought of the things she’d done. So blown away that she could do it with such passion and fervour. Blown away by the intensity of it all. After every other man, and every other situation, this was different. She was different.

She sighed. For once in her life, she actually felt happy with a man. Strange, since she’d only just met him, but still, it was a very overwhelming feeling of happiness. After the years of pain and anguish with all of the men she’d been with, the hell she’d endured, maybe she had finally found a good man.

Good? You know nothing about him, her brain said.

She gazed at Vegas. Well, she thought, as she watched him sleep. I will find out about you an’ enjoy every moment.

*****

Tahlia was being shaken. “What, what,” she mumbled grumpily, opening her eyes slightly as the sun hit her face.

Vegas was kneeling over her. “Up an’ at ’em baby, time to dress an’ go.” He stood and threw her clothes at her, then rolled her out of the sleeping bag.

She saw he was ready, and hurriedly washed and dressed as he packed the car, then took the bucket back to the small shed. Walking back to their campsite she saw Vegas sitting in the driver’s seat, left foot still on the ground.

“Want me to drive?” she asked, putting one hand on the door frame, the other on her hip.

“No, it’s okay,” he said, folding the map back up.

“No, seriously. You drove all afternoon an’ night. Besides, it’s my car.”

He looked at her, deciding. “Okay,” he said, sliding over to the passenger side for her as she got in and started the car. “We’ll stop at the next town for gas,” he added.

“Okay, let’s go then.” Slamming the door shut she took one last look at their campsite and remembered what they had done. Blushing with pleasure, she floored the accelerator, and as they left, she realised there hadn’t been any nightmares. Wow, she thought, sighing in relief, maybe this is finally a new day.

Soon arriving in a new town, they drove down the main street. “Pretty,” Tahlia said.

“Yeah, not bad,” Vegas answered, looking for a gas station. “There.” He pointed to one, and after she pulled in, he got out to pump the gas.

“I’ll go in an’ stock up on food,” she said, getting out of the car. She managed to find what they needed even though the store was small and didn’t have a lot for sale. Vegas walked in at the same time she was done, and they jumped back into the car and drove off, passing the ‘Thank you for visiting Fairfield, please come again’ sign.

“No, thanks, won’ be comin’ back,” he quipped.

Driving along the road, Tahlia turned on the radio just as one of her favourite country songs came on. “So, is there a guitar in that case of yours?” She glanced at Vegas.

“Yeah, there is,” he replied, catching her eye.

“Well, you were singing yesterday, so how about amusing me while I drive an’ play me something.”

He considered it for a moment. “Okay.” Reaching into the backseat, he removed the old, beat-up acoustic guitar from the case, and plucking a few strings and strumming a few chords, Vegas started playing and singing along with the song on the radio.

After three songs Tahlia joined in.

“You sing too?” he asked, staring at her.

“Well, if that’s what you call it. I never thought of myself as a singer. I just go along with the song,” she replied, looking ahead at the road.

A thought formed in his mind. “Ya know, if we get hard up for money, we could get jobs in bars along the way. Me playin’, you singin’.” He grinned at her. “After all, it’s usually fat, bald, drunk men in bars. I’m sure they’d rather look at a hot woman than a mug like me.”

“Who says there aren’t fat, bald, drunk women in bars who’d rather look at a sex god like you than a woman like me,” she replied with a laugh. “Besides, I’m not hot.”

“Well,” he said, still grinning, “you could be right. We could take it in turns. If the bar is full of men, you sing. If it’s full of women, I sing. An’ yeah baby, you are hot.”

Tahlia blushed a deep red as she grinned back. “Deal.”

*****

Later that evening, they pulled into a new town, tired, hungry and in need of sleep. After finding a small motel, they rented a room and moved in. It was small and plain, enough space for a small table and two chairs, a TV, and a double bed.

Tahlia blushed at the thought of what might come on that bed.

“We have enough to go grab some food,” Vegas said, counting his money.

“There was that small diner three stops down,” Tahlia suggested and locked the door behind them before they set off down the road.

The food was rewarmed and the coffee mediocre, but it was cheap and filling. They sat side by side in a booth sharing a piece of homemade apple pie and snuggling together.

“I’ve never done this before,” she said shyly.

“What?” He scraped up some pie and took a mouthful.

“Shared a piece of apple pie with someone I hardly know,” she said with a soft smile.

“Well, baby, you certainly know me now,” Vegas replied, a big grin on his face as he pulled her tighter to his side and nuzzled her neck.

The blood rushed to her face as she felt the hardness of his body, remembering the intensity and passion of what they had done the night before, and what would come when they got back to the motel room.

My, God, she thought, I’ve never felt this way about any man. Ever. The rawness, the power. She looked at him, her gaze taking in his features. Gorgeous big eyes that were deep pools of blue. Hot pink lips so right for tasting and kissing. Wide forehead, strong jaw. His brown hair, short in back, longer on top, wildly splayed in every direction which she wanted to run her hands through, hanging on like she had the night before during their wild throes of passion. She blushed at the thought.

My God, he’s gorgeous, an’ he wants me.

She blushed harder.

3: Realisations

Walking into their motel room, Vegas told Tahlia to shower first.

“You sure?” she asked.

“Sure. In fact, I might join you shortly,” he said, looking up from digging around in his bag. That grin was back, and she started to feel a hot, throbbing feeling.

Smiling to herself, she went into the bathroom and undressed. Stepping under the hot, fast spray of water, she let it run over her, washing away all aches and pains. Soaping herself, she relished in it. God, she thought, when was the last time I had a shower an’ washed my hair? It’s so relaxing an’ refreshing.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t notice Vegas come into the bathroom. He stepped in behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and planted a kiss on her neck. Gasping in surprise, she turned around to face him, finding him already hard and erect. Looking up, she found his gaze burning into her own, and as her eyelids became heavy with arousal, they closed as his mouth covered hers. She dropped the washcloth and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him against her, taking his tongue deep into her mouth.

His hands explored her hot, soapy body, sliding from place to place, arousing her even more. Bringing her to the brink, then stopping.

Wanting him, she turned him around, so the spray of water flowed over his body.

Vegas put his hands on the wall in front of him and turned his head to look at her. “Gonna frisk me, baby?” he asked sexily with a grin to match.

“Nope, gonna do a hell of a lot more than that. So shut up an’ enjoy.” Grabbing the washcloth and soap, Tahlia slowly ran her hands over his muscular arms and down his hard, lean back.

The soap bubbles ran enticingly down into the small hollow of his spine, and over his hard ass, flowing smoothly down the insides of his legs. She ran the washcloth over him, and once he was soapy enough, began to slowly, sexily, rub her breasts, then her body, over his.

Naked flesh sliding over naked flesh in an exotic dance of passion.

Groaning in pleasure, Vegas moved to turn around.

“No,” she said, pushing him back. “I’m not done.” Gently sliding her hands over him, she moved them around to his front and caressed his manhood.

He pushed her hands away, turned around, and pinned her to the wall. “My turn,” he gasped, a wicked look in his eyes.

Tahlia spread her legs so he could stand between them, and took his hard shaft into her hands, stroking, sliding them up and down. Bringing him to the brink then stopping.

Vegas was breathing hard, his hands on the wall either side of her, keeping her there. He gazed deeply into her eyes, and then his manly tongue peeked out from between his captivatingly full lips. Slowly, teasingly, pink and ripe, it licked his lips from left to right.

Tahlia stood mesmerised.

Then it disappeared as his mouth met hers. His hands slid seductively up and down the sides of her body.

Her arms slid around him as his mouth began the exploration. Arching her back against the wall, she groaned as his mouth moved down to her collarbone, drinking from the hollow of her neck.

His hands clenched her ass, pulling her crotch toward him.

She hitched her right leg around his narrow, lean waist.

Teasingly, he pushed against her, then pulled away. He probed a little further, then pulled back.

The third time Tahlia had had enough. Grabbing him, she pulled him to her and inside, groaning an animalistic sound in response. Pushing her head against the wall, she arched her back even more and thrust her breasts towards his waiting mouth.

Vegas pushed her hard against the wall and kept her there.

She grabbed his hair and brought his mouth to hers, not letting go. His tongue, once again, thrusting into her mouth as his shaft thrust into her vagina in a dual invasion.

Ecstasy came in bursts, one after the other, as Tahlia made small gasping sounds and Vegas grunted with every thrust. Her mouth tasted him, from his earlobe, down his neck, to his collarbone, along his shoulder to his right arm. Seeing the water run over his tattoo, Tahlia traced her tongue over the pattern, slowly, slowly, one line at a time. Biting it gently, she kissed it, then looked at him.

His eyes seemed darker, long lashes framing them, his pupils fully dilated, his face only millimetres from hers. Vegas breathed heavily, his mouth open slightly as Tahlia gently stroked his face, feeling the softness of his facial hair, tracing her fingers along his lips. Her tongue followed suit, her gaze never leaving his. The look on his face raw, animalistic. A hell of a turn on.

With a sudden movement, Vegas shut off the shower and picked her up. She wrapped herself around him as he carried her into the bedroom.

They fell onto the bed, writhing, thrusting, wild, free…