Donika sat up with a start, unable to believe her eyes. Everyone in the audience was screaming and wailing at what had just occurred. Heathcliff York was slumped over the table, bleeding from a bullet wound in the back of the head. This was the second time in the last several days that someone had died right in front of her.

She was beginning to think it wasn't a mere coincidence. She had been leaning down to check her cellphone in her purse the moment that it had happened. She couldn't help thinking that the bullet was intended for her.

She hurried to Grayson in the midst of the chaos, and he gathered her in his arms, ducking behind his counter. They hadn't made any commitment as boyfriend and girlfriend, but the affection and closeness they felt for each other was obvious to them both.

“What's happening?” she wailed, unable to comprehend what she had seen right in front of her.

“Someone killed Heathcliff York,” he whispered, holding her close.

The police arrived moments later and began questioning the crowd. But by then, the killer could have easily slipped out any of the exits in the chaos. Donika scanned the crowd. She had seen the strange men and dark suits hanging around the building. She kept telling herself they were just bodyguards or security for the production company. Not that they’d helped any when it counted.

Someone had made it in through the metal detectors with a weapon, and she doubted that they would have any problem getting out. The police questioned her and Grayson and she explained what had happened.

“I was leaning down to pick up my cellphone when the shot whizzed past me and hit Heathcliff York right in the back of the head. You don't think this has anything to do with me. Do you?”

“Why would it?”

“I'm being sued by my boss in New York. He's a powerful man.”

“I doubt it had anything to do with you, ma'am. You're just traumatized from the experience. If I were you, I would go home and try to relax.”

“We can leave now?” Grayson asked the officer.

“You're free to go.”

Grayson took Donika's hand and slipped through the back of the event center and out into the parking lot.

“I can't believe this is happening.”

“Neither can I.”

“What do you think is going to happen with the show?” she asked.

“I don't know. I'm sure they will tell us. The death of one of the judges is tragic, but you know what they say about news and entertainment.”

“What's that?” she asked.

“The show must go on. Besides, there’s too much money behind this show to cancel it.”

“I suppose you're right,” she said, climbing into the passenger seat of his truck.

She didn't even know what was happening as he drove away from the event center with her in his car. She watched the traumatized audience leaving the building. It was bumper-to-bumper traffic until they made it out onto the main road.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“I'm going to take you somewhere to relax,” he said.

“Where exactly is that?”

“My boat, and then there's a little cabin out on the lake that I have a key for. I thought we might have a picnic there after the show today. That is, if you're in the mood to go out there.”

“Well, I don't want to go home right now. Seeing a judge shot in the head is one thing, but then listening to my family and the guests at the inn gossip about it is quite another.”

“You've got a point there.”

“I'll just grab the picnic basket,” he said as they parked in front of his house.

Inside, Donika looked around his house. It was a modest but comfortable and tidy place. He grabbed a picnic basket from the fridge and a thermos from the counter in the kitchen.

“This way,” he said, motioning to the back door.

They made their way down to the dock and climbed into his fishing boat. There was a cabin in the front that was heated, and they were able to stay warm as he began to navigate the boat out onto the water. It was late afternoon and the sun was still bright overhead. The beautiful day belied the tragic events that had occurred just minutes ago. She tried not to think about it, but she couldn't help it.

“I can't help thinking that the bullet was intended for me,” she said.

“You really think your boss is trying to kill you?”

“I wish I knew. I was served with the lawsuit papers yesterday afternoon. I still haven't been able to bring myself to read them. He's probably suing me for everything I'm worth.”

“If he's bothering to sue you, then why would he try to kill you?”

“Because maybe I know something.”

“What do you know?”

“That's the problem. I don't know what I know.”

“I see,” Grayson said. “That's quite a conundrum.”

“I know it sounds crazy. I’ve been having blackouts. I’ve lost time. I just feel so unsafe.”

“I will always be here to protect you. No matter what.”

They approached a small island and anchored the boat at a rustic old dock. They climbed out, holding hands. Donika held the thermos and Grayson held the picnic basket. When they made it to the cabin, he unlocked the door and she walked inside. He set the picnic basket on a rustic table and began to light a fire in the stone hearth.

“This place is really cute,” she said, looking out the window.

There was a big overstuffed couch that had seen better days, but it was covered in several throw blankets that were clean and brand-new.

“I share this fishing cabin with a couple of my buddies. I thought it was a good place for us to get away and spend some time together.”

Grayson built the fire, and a moment later, it was roaring in the hearth. Donika stood in front of it and the fire warmed her cold hands and thighs.

“Are you hungry?” he asked.

“I was hungry until... But I suppose I could eat.”

They sat at the table in front of a window that looked out on the lake and ate turkey sandwiches with crunchy lettuce and potato chips. The thermos contained hot chocolate. That warmed her stomach and hands. After she ate, she felt a lot better.

“Do you want to take a walk around the island?” he asked.

“That would be lovely.”

They left the cabin after Grayson put a few more logs on the fire and walked hand-in-hand around the little island in the middle of the lake.

“Well, I know nobody could find me out here,” she said, looking out at the shore. They were in the center of the lake and the shore was far away.

“You are safe here with me,” Grayson said as they walked back into the cabin.

The sky was beginning to darken as late afternoon turned into evening. They walked into the cabin and sat in front of the crackling fire. Grayson poured her another cup of hot chocolate and they sat close together as she rested against his chest. He put his arm around her and held her close, kissing the top of her head.

“You make me feel safe,” she said.

“I’m glad,” he whispered.

He leaned in and claimed her mouth. His whiskers tickled her lips as his tongue tasted her. She groaned at the sensation of his tongue sliding between her lips. Grayson's kiss lit a fire inside her that couldn't be quenched. After everything she'd been through, all the stress and anxiety she felt, his kiss was like a beacon in the darkness. She leaned into him, opening to his desire.

He cupped the back of her head, angling her mouth to kiss her more deeply. She moaned as the desire flowed from deep within. Soon, he had her straddling his lap, grinding against his hardness as they passionately kissed. He pulled her shirt up over her head and squeezed her breasts. His tongue continued to dance with hers. He flipped her over onto the couch and began to pull off her pants.

“I'm going to lick your pussy till you scream,” he growled.

“Oh,” she squeaked.

The heat of the fire kissed her naked skin as she watched the gorgeous bearded man pull her pants and panties off. She was completely naked a moment later. He yanked off his shirt and dove between her thighs. His hard, wet tongue licked up the slit between her legs. She grasped her breast and arched her back, looking at the wood beamed ceiling above. He had her knees up over his shoulders as he licked and sucked and devoured her core.

“Oh Grayson,” she whimpered.

Donika felt her orgasm overtaking her. Everything else disappeared. Her job, the lawsuit, her lack of money, even the murder in the event center. It all evaporated. The moment was pure bliss as Grayson pushed her over the edge into a mind-shattering climax. She cried out, her scream loud and full throated into the wilderness around the cabin.

He held her thighs tightly around his face as he tasted her orgasm. Her pussy clenched under his tongue. But he didn't stop. He slid his wet fingers inside her and stroked as he continued to lick her clit. She watched him as he played with her like a master at his craft. Grayson gazed up at her reverently as he licked and stroked her. She could barely stand it. His fingers slid over her g-spot and he twisted his tongue around and around on her clit. She screamed.

“Oh God! Oh God!”

She'd never felt pleasure so intense. There was nothing to even compare it to. She couldn't even fully comprehend what she was feeling. It was like her brain had disappeared and all that was left was her body, drenched in pure pleasure from Grayson's touch. He pumped into her core and sucked her bud. She exploded into another fiery orgasm. She ran her fingers through his hair and squeezed as her pussy clenched on his fingers and throbbed on his tongue. She let go of his hair and collapsed on the couch.

“No more,” she said, pushing him away. “No more. I can't take it.”

He pulled back with a chuckle and sat beside her, pulling one of the freshly laundered blankets off the back of the couch to cover her with. He gathered her against his chest and stroked her hair and cheek with the backs of his knuckles.

“You're beautiful when you come,” he said. “I'll have to see that again many, many times.”

“You are going to drive me crazy,” she chuckled.

“If by drive you crazy you mean give you massive amounts of pleasure, then I absolutely will.”

“Grayson Baxter. You're a bad boy,” she said, nuzzling deeper into his chest as his muscled arms held her in a warm and affectionate embrace.

“When it comes to giving you pleasure, I am the baddest of the bad.”

She rested against his heartbeat. If this is what it meant to be bad, then she didn't want to be good.