Rockstar Untamed: A Single Dad Virgin Romance by Michelle Love (1)

 

Chicago, Illinois

January

 

Bodhi Creed breathed in the scent of the crowd; sweat, excitement, almost frenzied adoration. He stood at the front of the stage, taking in the love of his fans as he finished his song, putting everything into the final few chords. His voice soaring and dipping with perfect pitch. He knew he could make people shiver with the sound of his voice. He finished the song and took his final bow, taking his time to wave to the crowd as he left the stage, his whole system flooding with adrenaline. Who needed drugs when performing could make you feel like this? He grinned to his crew and his band as he walked back to his dressing room, thanking each of them personally.

There was a reason people loved Bodhi Creed. It wasn’t just that he had pulled himself out of a hellish path from a drug-fueled death during his early career or that his face could sell anything as much as his singing voice. It was that he was genuinely a humble man, offstage and on. He had his demons, what rock god didn’t? But now, nearing forty, he still appealed to fans of all ages.

Bodhi walked back to his dressing room, pushed the door open and almost choked. Poppy, his personal assistant of two months, had been ‘cleansing’ his space again, burning sage and wafting it around the windowless room. She grinned at him. “Hey, boss.”

She had bright pink hair, tattoos up and down her arms, and wore clothes that would make a fetishist blush. She looked like a real rock goddess, Bodhi smiled fondly at her more than he ever did.

God, he was tired. This had been the last date of the tour that had lasted well over a year, and he was exhausted, drained, ready for some down time. Bodhi knew himself, it was times like these he would have, back in the day, reached for the bottle or the white stuff. The thought of cocaine now made him feel sick. Jimi Hendrix, Layne Staley, Scott Weiland, Shannon Hoon, he used their names as a mantra to stay away from drugs now, even when he was depressed.

NowAs he ran his hand through his dark curls and slumped down onto the sofa, a cold soda in hand, he looked for respite in other ways. His good friend, Claudio Fonseca, an artist, had invited him to go stay at his farmhouse in the Tuscan hills for the summer, picking olives and chilling out. Bodhi couldn’t wait. Two months of Italian sun, wine, food and relaxation in the company of good friends. He could see his mom at her home in Florence. Bodhi longed to go back to Italy. His American father had brought the family over to America just after Bodhi had been born, and growing up in Seattle, Bodhi had longed to know the place he had come from. When his dad died, his mom sold her house and went back, begging Bodhi to go with her. But by then, he was a star, and he needed to be in Los Angeles for his career.

He looked up as the door opened and Franklin, the theater manager, stuck his head in.

“Sorry to interrupt, Bodhi, but there’s a kid out here to see you.”

Bodhi was surprised. A kid? Usually, his groupies were nubile young women. “Show them in, please. Thanks, Frank.” He always, always took the time to talk with his fans, despite how tired he was, without them, he was nothing.

A kid with dark curls, not older than ten, pushed shyly into the room, and Bodhi got up to greet him. “Hey there, what’s your name, kiddo?”

The kid blinked his huge green eyes up at Bodhi, seeming dumbstruck. Bodhi didn’t see the woman who had entered behind the child until she spoke softly.

“His name is Tim, Bodhi.”

Bodhi, recognizing the voice immediately, looked up, and a shock ran through him.

“Gemma?”

The blonde woman smiled at him. “Been a long time, hasn’t it?”

Bodhi stared at her, still stunned to see his former lover. She was Bodhi’s senior by five years, had not dulled her beauty, but there was a haunted, desperate look in her eyes.

“Must be about ten yea…” Bodhi broke off, realization dawning, and he gazed down at the young boy standing between them. Dark hair, bright green eyes. Bodhi’s eyes. There really was no question.

Gemma looked at him, her eyes filling with tears as she watched him put the pieces together. “I’m sorry to do this to you, Bodhi…I really am. But I’m not doing so well. I need to go away for a while, alone. And I thought it’s time. It’s time for Tim to know his daddy.”

Bodhi’s whole body felt as if he’d been hit by a sledgehammer as he gazed down into the face of his son.

Miami, Florida

 

Sailor King followed her minder through the mall. It was cool, almost chilly, inside the spacious building, but Sailor didn’t mind. Even January in Florida was too hot for her. Her dark hair stuck to her forehead and to the back of her neck. Monica, her minder, gave her an annoyed look.

“What’s wrong with you today? You know Bartholomew will punish me if we’re more than two hours. We haven’t even found your wedding dress yet.”

Sailor stared back at Monica blankly. She felt so tired lately, so hopeless that she had stopped taking the anti-depressant tablets they had given her all her life, and now she felt as if her brain would go mad. She didn’t want this, didn’t want to be married to a man more than twice her age. She knew within the ranks of the organization that she was ‘lucky.' Other girls were clamoring to be partnered with Bart Foy, their leader, their captain.

But Bart had chosen her. She had known the unease of his lascivious gaze on her body; her curves, her flat belly, her full breasts since she was a teenager. He had held her face in his hands when she was just fourteen, an entire decade ago. It had been decreed, she would be his new wife when she reached the age of womanhood, in their ideology, it would be her twenty-fifth birthday, which was in a few weeks.

Bart Foy had been married twice before. His first wife was Tamsin, about whom nobody knew much. They had been married before Bart formed the ‘Children of Love’ commune, deep in the Florida Everglades. His wife had left him after refusing to join him in his ‘mission.’ Bart’s second wife, Clotilde, was a beautiful, loving, Frenchwoman with dark brown hair tumbling down her back and a sweet nature. She had joined the group as a teacher for the children and Sailor had been one of her wards. She had been particularly close to Clotilde, Tilly to those who loved her, and when, one shocking, horrific night, Tilly had been found dead, Sailor had been devastated.

Bart made them all walk past Tilly’s body, laid out on the shrine in their temple. “I want you to look, children. Look what sin can bring.”

Sailor had always wondered what he meant. When she found out, from hushed whispers in the schoolyard, that Tilly had been having an affair with another man, and that she had been stabbed to death, at around eleven, Sailor knew what that meant.

The terror when Bart had chosen her for his next wife had been all-encompassing, but she had buried her head in the sand, thinking the day would never come. Then three months ago, he had summoned her.

“My dearest Sailor, your womanhood is fast approaching, and to me, it seems the perfect time for us to become one. Your birthday will serve as our wedding day, do you understand?”

She nodded, the fear inside overwhelming her ability to speak. Bart smiled and touched her cheek. “Good. Now, I’m afraid we have to deal with a little unpleasantness before you go. As you know, I take my role here very seriously, and in choosing you as my wife, I need you to be an ambassador for us all.” He paused, studying her. “You were very close to Clotilde, I know. She betrayed all of us, Sailor. All of us. Her punishment…well…”

He picked up a folder and handed it to her. “I’m going to leave you alone here for a few minutes to study what’s in that folder. When I return, this matter will be closed. This is what happens when my women betray me, Sailor, understand? That’s the only reason why I’m showing you these photographs.”

Sailor nodded again. “Good girl. I’ll leave you alone.”

He left his office and Sailor heard the lock being clicked from outside. She opened the folder, feeling nausea rise up in her, and a small moan of despair escaped her as she looked at the first photograph. Tilly looked terrified as the two men in the picture held her down, obviously making sure the photographer got a good shot of her. The next photograph made Sailor cry out. The knife was buried deep in Tilly’s stomach, and her face was contorted in agony. Sailor was trembling as she looked through every photograph of Tilly’s murder, each one more stark and brutal than the last. The last image broke Sailor and she whimpered in despair. There was another man now, strapped down to a chair, gagged and bound, his face contorted with grief as he gazed down at his dead sweetheart’s body. Tilly’s lover. They’d made him watch while they killed her. Sailor started to cry. Bart’s meaning was obvious. Step out of line and you die.

It was at that moment that Sailor knew she had to risk everything and escape the only life she had ever known.

 

Monica was chatting with the saleswoman in the wedding shop. She was used to Monica and Sailor coming now, Sailor had deliberately been picky over her choice, giving herself time to check out the fitting rooms, and any potential escape routes. She’d nearly been foiled by Monica insisting on accompanying her to the fitting rooms. Sailor had used her only weapon, she was Bart’s chosen one. “I don’t think,” she’d told Monica knowingly, “that Bart would be too pleased that you laid eyes on my body before the wedding. I am his, Monica, and his alone.”

Her implied threat hit the mark, and Monica let her change alone. Sailor was careful, never taking too long between changes to reappear but still, she managed to figure out the layout of the store.

Now, she could barely wait. Careful. Careful. She took her time choosing then took the dress with her. It was a huge, completely inappropriate choice, layers and layers of tulle that she would never wear in a million years, but Sailor knew what she was doing. The shirt she was wearing today was too big, plaid and her combat pants. In the many pockets, she had stashed the money she had been saving for the last three months, squirreled away and stolen from the commune’s money cache, a little at a time. Her birth certificate, with only her mother identified on it, and social security number, and any other thing she found in Bart’s office that terrible day, that she could use. She even had a small penknife, tucked in the back pocket of her pants. In all, she only had a couple of hundred dollars, but it was enough for a bus ticket. After that, she’d figure something out.

Monica didn’t even blink as Sailor walked toward the fitting rooms, calling back to her, “I won’t be a sec.”

 

Monica smirked. That atrocity that Sailor was carrying would take more than a ‘sec’ to change into. Stupid little whore. Lording it over her like she was some special kind of shit. Look how that worked out for Tilly, bitch. She turned back to the saleswoman, who knew all about the commune, all about Bart’s proclivities. Monica had told her all about them one night in bed. The girl, Bettina, had been a good, inexperienced, lay and Monica wouldn’t mind another go around.

The alarm started screeching through the shop, and both women said. “What the fuck?”

“The fire escape door,” Bettina looked terrified as Monica cursed loudly and drew out a blade, darting towards the fitting rooms.

“Fucking bitch…” She saw the fire escape door standing wide open, and the wedding dress dumped in the doorway. “Fucking whore bitch cunt!” Monica screamed, racing down the corridor and around the corner towards the exit, Bettina close behind her. They both trod on the dress in their eagerness to get out, but Sailor had ripped the tulle to shreds, and their feet got caught, tangled, and they both fell. Bettina shrieked as Monica’s knife came way too close to her neck.

“Shut up, you stupid bitch,” Monica sliced away at the fabric, trying to free them. Out of the fire escape, they could see the parking lot, and Monica raked it with her eyes, trying to spot Sailor.

 

Sailor dropped from the top of the fitting room wall and slid silently into the main room. Inspiration striking, she went to the register, hoping against hope that some rich musketry-muck had paid with cash. She was in luck. She scooped a wad of twenties out of the register, raking every note and coin in there into her pocket. Listening intently to make sure she could still hear Monica cursing away in the back, she quickly took stock and grabbed the wigs from the mannequins in the window. In a high-end store like this, they used real human hair wigs, and she could use them to disguise herself and then sell them. She stuffed them all into a plastic bag and then she was free. Running to the exit of the mall and out into the Florida sunshine, she flagged down a cab and asked the driver to take her to the bus station. In a half-hour, she was on the bus, hunched down, hiding…

 

And breathing freely for the first time in her young life.

Los Angeles, six months later…

 

Bodhi ate a piece of toast half-heartedly as he watched his son push his cereal around his bowl. “Kiddo, that will get all mushy if you do that.”

“I like it mushy.”

Bodhi sighed. Well, at least Tim was speaking to him now. “Okay, then.”

Tim glanced at his father briefly, then looked away when Bodhi met his gaze. “Can I go to school now?”

Bodhi nodded, not knowing what else to do. Since, Gemma had left Tim with him, this had been their routine. Tim, thankfully, had settled into his new school happily, but at home…

At home, Bodhi thought, bitterly, it’s been a Cold War. Tim hadn’t taken to him at all. He was rude, silent, and resentful. Bodhi knew Tim blamed him for his mother leaving him, but Bodhi had no idea what else to do. Poppy, his assistant, had suddenly quit, telling him she was sorry but looking after a kid hadn’t been in the job description.

“It’s just not my jam, Bodhi, I’m sorry.”

Since then, Tim had seen off two childminders and one English tutor. Bodhi had canceled gigs, interviews, recording sessions to try and bond with his son, but nothing was working. Tim was vastly unimpressed with his father’s musical friends, couldn’t care less about the instruments Bodhi played. Even the priceless grand piano in the living room held no interest. Tim kept to his room, his vast-well-stocked-with-everything-a-boy-could-need room, and didn’t even explore the pool or the grounds of Bodhi’s luxurious Hollywood Hills mansion.

Bodhi got into the driver’s seat of his RAV4 and they began another silent drive to Tim’s school. Gemma had insisted that Tim had the best education and Bodhi, ignoring the fact she was making demands while asking an enormous favor, agreed. God, he would do anything for his son. He knew that the moment Gemma had brought Tim into his life. He just wished he could feel like anything but a deadbeat dad.

, “Hey, kiddo? What say we go shopping for a new laptop for you this weekend?”

Tim looked at him with those huge green eyes even wider. “Really?”

“Really.”

“Thank you, Bodhi.”

Progress, although he wished Tim would call him Dad. Deciding not to push it and ruin the moment, he just smiled at Tim and was rewarded by a slight smile. “That one you have is ancient; I’m surprised you can still use it.”

Tim’s smile disappeared, and he looked away from his father. “Evan brought me that laptop before he went away.”

Ah, the sainted Evan. Bodhi sighed. When Tim talked at all about his life before Bodhi, it was about his former stepfather Evan. Evan Teal was a detective up in Portland, and to hear Tim talk, the most amazing man he’d ever met. Evan had practically raised Tim from birth so Bodhi couldn’t help, but be grateful. He just wished and hoped that Teal had some faults, so that he wouldn’t feel such like a loser. When Evan and Gemma had split up, Tim had been devastated. And now Bodhi had insulted Evan’s final gift to Tim.

Bodhi opened his mouth to apologize but closed it again. Why bother? He dropped Tim off at school, barely receiving a “Bye.”

He checked his watch and drove into the center of L.A. to his agent’s office. Maurice had summoned him, obviously trying to get him back in the game after six months away. Bodhi’s little sabbatical wasn’t making Maurice his fifteen percent, and he was getting antsy about it.

Maybe it is time I got back to work, Bodhi thought now as he steered his way into a parking space. I’m sure not doing anything helpful at home. He sighed and got out of the car, and opened the office door.

 

Sailor gritted her teeth, for the fourth time that morning, Maurice Winston leaned across her, pressing his sweaty body against hers. “I’ll move,” she said disdainfully, pushing back her chair, so it rammed him in the ankle.

She had worked for Maurice for three months, and if she hadn’t been desperate for money, and eager to hide out in her little apartment, she would have quit the day after she started.

Maurice Winston was a leach, a man who clearly saw his assistant as his property. When he wasn’t making gross suggestions to her, he was outright rude, criticizing her at every turn, even though Sailor ran his office like a tight ship. Her past, the rules, the chores of the commune had left her with one good thing; she was organized, efficient, punctual and she knew Maurice knew it too.

But the harassment he gave her every day, was it worth it? She had been searching out other job opportunities, but it seemed the rest of L.A. wasn’t hiring just yet. She had no choice to put up with his behavior.

Escaping the clutches of the ‘Children of Love’ had only been the start of her tumultuous new life. Getting off the bus in L.A. after traveling for days, she had checked herself into a small motel and after a hot shower, a night’s sleep and vending machine food, she had taken stock. The money she had stolen was enough that she could manage for a month or so. She had no remorse about taking it, either. She checked the Miami local news on a computer at the local library. The robbery and her disappearance were never mentioned. No, because I know too much, hey, Bart? I know about Tilly. What you did to her.

Even now, the thought of Bart’s anger scared her. She knew he would try to find her and if he did, she was a dead woman. She had constant nightmares about him stabbing her to death. But as time went on, she began to relax into her new life. She found a studio flat close to Maurice’s office, and although it was tiny, she loved it. She began to make it her own with books, records, and flowers on every surface. She even loved the small kitchen and began to teach herself how to cook. After work each night, she would come home, change out of her work clothes into sweats and eat, watch TV, play music or read. And she loved every moment. It was hers and hers alone.

 

Maurice was reading a letter, oblivious to Sailor’s annoyance. She sat back down in her chair and started to go through emails, occasionally mentioning important notes to him. He grunted as if he wasn’t listening properly and Sailor rolled her eyes. It would mean her staying late and making a cheat sheet of everything he needed to know. Asshole.

She was so engrossed in her work that she failed to notice he had put down the letter and was standing too close behind her. Sailor stood to go grab a photocopy and Maurice pounced.

He swept a foot under hers and Sailor lost balance, falling into Maurice’s clutches. He tumbled her to the couch and began to kiss her. Sailor struggled, panicking, angry and terrified. “Get the fuck off me!”

Maurice grinned. “Come on now, Sailor, you know this has been coming for a while. Don’t fight it. I know you want me.”

Sailor pounded his chests with her fists. “Let me go, cocksucker! Get off me!”

Maurice, still grinning, pushed her skirt up to her hips. “Come on, lovely girl, show me that sweet cunt of yours.”

Sailor lost it then, and drawing back her arm, she punched Maurice in the eye, her ring tearing a piece of flesh from below his eyebrow. He rocked back, roaring in pain. “Fucking bitch!”

Sailor scrambled away from him, but he grabbed her ankle and pulled her back. “I’ll fucking kill you, you little whore.”

“Join the fucking queue, asshole,” Sailor hissed and rammed her foot into his groin, hard. Maurice screamed and doubled over, and Sailor skittered away from him. “I quit, you monster. And believe me, I’m going to the police and the press. You don’t ever get to put your hands on me again, motherfucker!” She was raging now, every ounce of hurt in her life coming back to her, and releasing through her anger and hurt. “Who the fuck, do you think you are touching me like that?”

Maurice smiled nastily. “More than you’ll ever be in this town, cunt. How are you this naïve? Did you really think I hired you for your typing skills? No, Princess, it was because I wanted to fuck you and I always get what I want.”

He lunged for her again and got his hands around her throat, choking her as she tried to scream, struggling to pull his hands away. Maurice kicked her legs apart and tore her panties from her, and then she heard his belt loosen, his fly open.

Oh god, no, please, not like this…

She twisted away from him, and his hands loosened enough for her to scream at the top of her lungs. Maurice’s body weight was heavy on her, and she knew that he had the upper hand.

and shock, hauled Maurice off her and threw him across the room. Maurice was short, the other was a giant, and Maurice was no match.

“What the fuck, do you think you’re doing?” He roared at Maurice who was trying to stand up. Her savior held out his hands to Sailor and, gratefully, she took them, her whole body trembling. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”

Sailor gazed into the man’s huge green eyes, seeing only empathy, and she shook her head. He put his arm gently around her shoulders. “It’s okay, lovely, I won’t let him near you again. You…,” he turned back to Maurice. “You’re so fucking fired, Maurice. How dare you behave like this?”

Maurice was straightening up his clothes. “Oh, fuck off, Bodhi, it was just a little fun.”

Bodhi’s face was a picture of utter disgust and rage. “A little fun? Fun? When a woman is screaming like that, that’s not fun, Maurice, that’s rape.” He turned his beautiful eyes back to Sailor. “Honey, what’s your name?”

“Sailor.” A whisper, her throat raw from being choked. Bodhi swept a gentle hand over her cheek, brushing away her tears.

“Sailor, sweetheart, we need to go to the police. I’ll back you one hundred percent.”

“Now wait a minute…”

“Shut the fuck up, Maurice. Now.” A lion’s roar.

Maurice shut the fuck up. Bodhi steered Sailor into a chair and pulled out his phone, but Sailor put her hand over it and shook her head. Bodhi frowned. “Are you sure?”

She nodded, meeting his gaze. Even through her teary eyes, her shock was slowly turning to numbness, she was enthralled with this man’s beauty, his grace, his kindness. She wanted to close her eyes and lean into him and sleep with his arms around her. She sighed. “I just want to go,” she said softly.

Bodhi touched her cheek. “Then we’ll go. Maurice, you’re a lucky man that Sailor doesn’t want to press charges, but as from this moment, you are no longer my agent.”

Maurice seemed to realize that his biggest cash cow was on the way out of the door. “Now, wait, Bodhi, there’s no need…”

Bodhi turned his furious eyes on the other man. “There is every need, asshole.”

Maurice smiled nastily. “Then you should know, I’ll do everything in my power to finish you in this town. Everything.”

“Go right ahead,” Bodhi said calmly. “Try it. See how far you’ll get.” He took Sailor’s hand and pulled her to her feet. “Come on, sweetie, get your things and we’ll get out of here.”

Sailor nodded and quickly grabbed her purse and a few personal items from her desk. Maurice watched her.

“I don’t even need to tell you that you’ll never work in this town again, you little bitch.”

Bodhi stepped up to Maurice and punched him across the room. “You don’t ever talk to her or any other woman like that again, motherfucker. You’re lucky Sailor doesn’t want the police involved, but believe me, I hear of anything else like this, and I’ll call your wife and her billionaire daddy. And by the way, if a check for three, no, six, six months severance pay for Sailor isn’t in the mail by tomorrow, I will go the police. So, go fuck yourself.” He looked at Sailor, watching him, waiting by the door and he smiled the most beautiful smile at her. Sailor felt her stomach flutter. “Besides,” Bodhi continued, “you’re so wrong. Sailor already has another job. If she agrees, she’ll be working for me and twice at the salary. Not only that, but I will make sure every employer in town knows and respects her. Think about that, Maurice.”

He stalked over to Sailor and offered her his hand. “Ready to go, lovely?”

Sailor smiled and took his hand.

 

In Bodhi’s car, Sailor finally stopped her hands trembling. She looked at the man beside her. Bodhi Creed, she’d heard of him, of course, he was her boss’s, scratch that, ex-boss's – biggest client and yet she hadn’t met or even spoken to him before today. His magnetism was a powerful thing, even just sitting beside him, she couldn’t help wonder at his incredible physical beauty. Swarthy skin, stubble, dark curls flopping around his head. And those eyes, god, she could get lost in them. She pulled herself up sharply. Do not get a crush.

“Thank you for what you did back there, Mr. Creed. I can never repay you.”

He turned and smiled at her. “It’s Bodhi, and there’s nothing to repay. Are you feeling okay now?”

She nodded. “I am, thank you. Where are we going?”

Bodhi blinked. “I was just heading home. Automatic, you know? Would you feel more comfortable going somewhere public? I thought I would make you some lunch.”

A rock god making her lunch? Was this happening? He was so…normal. So, down to earth. “You really don’t have to.”

Bodhi grinned. “Full disclosure. I like making food for people, I enjoy the company. How about if I ask instead of assuming? Sailor, would you like to have lunch with me?”

And Sailor knew without a doubt that she most definitely would.

 

Sailor groaned and put her hand on her belly. Bodhi Creed knew how to cook. “I think you may have killed me.” She grinned at him. “That was incredible, thank you. I won’t need to eat for a few…weeks, I think.”

Bodhi laughed, spearing the last piece of his steak into his mouth. A blue cheese and steak salad was his specialty. Throw in freshly baked bread, that he admitted he’d got from the store, fresh, plump peaches and a light Pinot Grigio. Sailor was in heaven. “Sure I can’t tempt you with some gelato or anything?”

“God,” Sailor said, “I love gelato, but even my pudding stomach is full.”

“Your pudding stomach?” Bodhi laughed loudly, and Sailor grinned at him.

“Yeah, you know, when you’re so full of savory stuff, but then someone offers you sugar and all bets are off?”

“Except today. Pudding stomach is out of action?”

“Yes, sir.”

Bodhi chuckled. “If my mom was here, you’d been talked into it. She’s been making gelato since I was a kid, before that even. Family recipe.”

“Your mom’s Italian?”

“She is. An artist. She lives in Florence, and I don’t get to see her as often as I would like. She would like you, Sailor. She hates women who pick at their food. So, do I. One of life’s great pleasures, food.”

“Especially if it’s made by a rockstar,” Sailor grinned and, laughing, he toasted her with his glass.

They were sitting out on his patio, looking over the hills at Los Angeles in the distance. His huge infinity pool shone bright blue and a small breeze took some of the afternoon heat off. Sailor studied her host. “Do you live here alone?”

Bodhi shook his head. “No, my son is here with me at the moment. He’s ten, well, only just. His name is Tim.”

He reached into his pocket for his wallet, then pulled out a photograph to show Sailor. She studied it. “Adorable. He is your twin,” she said, nodding.

“In looks only, I’m afraid,” Bodhi smiled a little sadly. “While his old Pa is an exhibitionist and a show-off, Tim is definitely erring on the side of science. Not that it’s a bad thing. He could run rings around me, and frequently does.” Bodhi gazed out at the view for a long moment. “I didn’t know him, or even that he existed until six months ago. His mother, Gemma, was my girlfriend a decade ago, but we hadn’t seen or spoken for that long. She came to me, she needed some alone time and that it was my turn to raise my son.” He looked at Sailor and gave a hopeless shrug. “I have no idea what I’m doing, Sailor. None. And Tim…Tim resents me.”

Sailor was startled at his frankness, but touched that he opened up to her. Two hours ago, they were strangers. “I think you’re probably doing better than you think, Bodhi. It has to be hard; there’s no owner’s manual when it comes to kids.”

With a pang, she thought back to how she was raised, there, in the cult, there was definitely an owner’s manual, and it was one of subjugation, terror, and manipulation.

“Sailor? You okay?”

Sailor realized she was frowning and grinned sheepishly. “Sorry. Stuck in a memory.”

“Bad childhood?”

“Something like that.” But she didn’t want to ruin the mood by telling him anything, besides, she’d promised herself she would never tell anyone. If word got back to Bart where she was…

“I meant what I said about hiring you, Sailor. I do need a personal assistant, desperately actually. It would involve some childcare, if that doesn’t freak you out, but you’d be mostly working from here with me or traveling with me.”

Sailor suddenly felt shy. Being that close to this man all the time sounded like heaven. “I would work my ass off for you, Bodhi, I admit, but I wouldn’t want you to think I’m taking advantage of your kindness. You’ve already done more for me in the few hours I’ve known you than anyone else in my lifetime.”

Bodhi’s eyes were troubled. “That’s just plain wrong. Sailor, I’m just glad I was there, you don’t owe me anything. But, seriously, please, give me a shot. I’ll pay double, hell, triple what Winston was paying you. I know you ran interference with Winston and I when I was on sabbatical.”

She started to protest, and he grinned. “Don’t give me that, I know it was you. The kind emails about me taking as long as I needed, that was all you.”

Sailor was bright-red now. “I know what it’s like to have personal stuff going on. Sometimes, you just need to get away.”

Bodhi picked up the bottle of wine and dumped the rest in her glass. “Amen to that, sister. So…yes?” He raised his glass and Sailor picked hers up.

“Yes,” she said simply and tapped her glass against his.

 

He drove her home before he went to pick up Tim from school. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow just after nine a.m.,” he said, “and we’ll lease you a car as soon as we can. How does that sound?”

She smiled at him. “Sounds great, thank you, Bodhi. And thank you for lunch, for the job…for saving me this morning. I hope I can repay your kindness.”

Bodhi touched his finger to her cheek. “You just stay safe, little one. Maurice doesn’t know where you live, does he?”

She shook her head. “No, thank god. I’ll be fine. See you in the morning.”

“Goodnight, Sailor.”

 

He watched her walk up the stairs to her apartment and wave at him as she opened the door. He smiled and waved back before pulling the car back into traffic. Sailor King. When he’d opened the door to Maurice’s office that morning and saw her being attacked, his anger had known no bounds. She was so tiny, so fragile, of course, his instincts had kicked in. In a way, he was relieved to be free of Maurice Winston. He’d never liked the man, but he was the best agent in Hollywood. Screw it. Why did he even need an agent? He was a musician, for crissakes. He had a contact in San Francisco, Emily Moore, who had given him her card at a concert the year before and told him to call if he needed representation. Emily was gorgeous too, but completely in love with her boyfriend, Dash Hamilton, one of the partners in the Quartet record company. Quartet had been pursuing him too, knowing his contract with Sony was almost up.

Maybe it’s time for a complete change, he thought. Maybe things should slow down. It wasn’t as if he didn’t have enough money, just three months ago, Forbes had placed his net worth just shy of a billion dollars.

But some things were worth more than wealth, hell, a lot of things, Bodhi told himself. His son, first and foremost. He had to try and find a way to get through to Tim. Whether Tim realized it or not, Bodhi had grown to love him, it was just, at this moment, he didn’t know whether he liked him.

A new life. A new assistant. A new friend. Sailor. Bodhi laughed and shook his head. How quickly life changes. Of course, he was a man, and her fragile beauty hadn’t passed him by. The long waves of her dark brown hair that almost reached her waist, those big dark eyes, the pink flush of her cheeks, and her smile was breathtaking. Finally, after the trauma of her near-rape, he’d made her laugh at lunch, and her smile had made his day. It lit up her face. She was young, too young for that sort of crap to happen to her.

And she’s probably too young for you, buddy, so keep your thoughts pure. With a sigh, Bodhi knew the truth of that. If he wanted to keep Sailor in his life, he would have to be professional, keep his more erotic thoughts to himself. She deserved that much from him.

At dinner, he told Tim about his new assistant, but Tim just shrugged and said “Okay.” Bodhi wondered if the kid cared less about who was in his life.

“Hey, how about we go to the beach this weekend? Have you ever been to Venice Beach?”

“Evan used to take me all the time.”

Of courseOf course, Bodhi was really starting to dislike this ‘Evan.’ “Okay then, how about to the Caribbean? I have a friend with a place on an island down there.”

Tim’s eyes opened wide, and Bodhi felt a rush of joy. Finally, Tim was impressed. “For reals?”

“For reals. We can go on Friday after school, come back Sunday. What do you say?”

Tim studied his father and Bodhi, for the millionth time, wondered what was going on in his head. “Okay.”

Bodhi smiled. He wanted to say more, suggest other things they could do, but he didn’t want to push his luck. This was enough…for now.

 

“The Caribbean?” Sailor gaped at him as Bodhi laughed at her expression, the next morning.

“That’s right. Want to come? All expenses paid, of course.”

Sailor sat back in the passenger seat, shaking her head in disbelief. “Twenty-four hours ago, we didn’t even know each other, and you saved me from being raped, or murdered, hired me at a wildly generous salary, and offered me a dream vacation to a tropical island? This isn’t real.”

Bodhi grinned. “Listen, if it freaks you out, just think of it as a working trip. I need to figure out what to do going forward and I need you to help me.”

“On a tropical island.” She repeated, then laughed. “Well…I’d love to, but I don’t have a passport.”

Bodhi’s eyebrows shot up. “You don’t?”

“Uh-ah.” Sailor shook her head, her smile fading. Bodhi studied her for a long moment then turned back to the road.

“Okay…well, we could get that arranged by Friday, no problem. You have a birth certificate, right?”

Sailor nodded. She’d stolen it from Bart’s cabinet the day he’d left her alone in his office, along with anything she could find with her name on. When she’d arrived in L.A., she’d gone to City Hall to legally change her name from the near unique-sounding Sailor King to the more generic Sarah Halls. At least then, she could use that name legally, but finding it hard to call herself ‘Sarah,' she told people her nickname was Sailor, figuring it was safe enough to do so.

“Have you never traveled, Sailor?”

She blinked back in the present and shook her head. “No, never. Never been on a plane, never gone anywhere.”

Bodhi looked amazed but then smiled. “Then it’s decided. It’s outrageous you’ve never traveled. Particularly with a name like Sailor. We’ll get your passport arranged and you can come with us. Okay?”

Sailor hesitated then nodded. “Okay…thank you, Bodhi.” She gave a short laugh. “I am dreaming, I’m sure.”

 

Later that day, after they’d spent all day talking about what Bodhi would be looking for in an assistant, and Sailor getting very excited for the challenge, she rode in the car with him as Bodhi picked Tim up from school and introduced him to Sailor. Sailor grinned at the young boy.

“Hey, it’s good to meet you.” She indicated a patch on his jacket of a rooster spewing fire. “Hey, you like Rhett and Link?”

Tim looked amazed that a grown-up would know who Rhett and Link were and nodded, half smiling at her. “Today we’re going to eat hair gel flavored ice cream.”

Sailor grinned, knowing he wanted her to give the catchphrase of the two Internet comedians. “Let’s talk about that,” she quipped back, and Tim laughed delightedly.

Bodhi looked between them. “I have no idea what either of you is talking about.”

Sailor rolled her eyes and winked at Tim. “Granddad,” she said in a stage whisper, making Tim giggle. Bodhi grinned at the sound, and then looked gratefully at Sailor.

“Sailor’s just agreed to come to the island with us on Friday, that okay with you, buddy?”

Tim actually smiled at his father, a rare occurrence, and nodded eagerly. Bodhi held his hands up to Sailor. “See? Now you have to come.”

 

When Tim had finally been persuaded to go to bed, Bodhi poured Sailor and himself some wine. “Girl, how the hell did you do that? He’s talked more this evening than in the last six months.”

He sat down, shaking his head in amazement and a little sadness and Sailor’s heart went out to him. All day, she had been finding out that this megastar, this world-famous billionaire, was nothing more than a simple man at heart. His glorious face, his hard body, his rough velvet voice had made his fortune, but she could see that he craved a simpler life, one out of the spotlight. He’d shown her around his home, and she’d noticed the rooms he got most excited about were the ones where he created things, his recording studio, his workshop where he made beautiful hand-turned furniture ‘to relax.' He told her about the olive groves in Tuscany where he loved to spend summers, away from public view, with his friends, his best friend Claudio, and Bodhi’s artist mom. She looked through some pencil sketches, and her heart hurt when she saw the preliminary drawings he’d made of his son.

“These are gorgeous, Bodhi.”

He looked pleased, giving her a shy grin. “You draw?”

She nodded. “Some. Not as good as this, and I haven’t done anything for a while. Out of practice.”

“You are more than welcome to come in here, use anything you want, anytime.” Bodhi leaned back against the wall, studying her. “Sailor, I’ve been talking about myself all day, all ego. What about you, what’s your story?”

Sailor felt panicky, and she looked away from his gaze. “Not much to tell. Left a bad situation at home, come to Hollywood six months ago. Don’t even know why I chose to settle here…it just seemed…far enough away.”

Bodhi nodded. “Family stuff? Or boyfriend?”

Sailor chewed her lip. “Just…stuff.” God, she should have figured out a story by now. It was just, in this town, people rarely cared about who you were or had been. They just needed to know if you could be useful to them. She decided to go with a potted version of the truth. “I was raised in a commune of sorts…I never knew who my father was. I was with my mom as a newborn, but she died soon after. I was alone. So, when I got older and decided the commune’s rules and regulations were no longer for me, I left and came here.”

Bodhi seemed satisfied with that answer. “Shame you never knew your parents. No wonder you can relate to Tim.”

Sailor smiled gently. “Tim knows both his parents, they’re just apart. Can I ask? Why did things with Gemma never work out?”

Bodhi sat down next to her. “Sailor, I was in my late twenties, and my career was maybe at its peak. Temptation was everywhere. I cheated, is the truth of it. A lot. Gemma deserved better. That’s why I can’t be mad that she never told me about Tim. I just can’t be mad.”

“But you are?”

Bodhi nodded slowly. “A little. Mostly at myself for being a loser.”

Sailor was silent for a moment, studying him. He looked tired, his beautiful eyes had dark circles underneath, his whole body slumped. Sailor resisted the temptation to hug him or to smooth his dark curls away from his face. He was her boss after all, no matter how friendly and inclusive he was.

“What do you want, Bodhi? Out of life, I mean. You have every material thing a person could need; you have your son back in your life. What else is there?”

Bodhi met her gaze and smiled sadly. “I don’t know, Sailor, is the honest truth. There’s something missing, and I don’t know what it is. I know I’m glad I found a new friend if that means anything.”

Sailor grinned, flushing slightly. “Right back at you, boss.”

“Gah, don’t call me that. We’re…collaborators in life.”

Sailor laughed. “I like that.” She glanced at her watch. “God, it’s late. I’d better go.”

Bodhi got up, and she followed him into the kitchen. He opened a small cabinet and took out a set of keys. “Here you go. You know how to drive right?”

Sailor nodded, taking the keys. Bodhi’s fingers brushed hers, and a small thrill went through her. “Will you be okay driving home?”

She nodded. “Of course.”

He walked her out to the car, and she couldn’t help but gasp. It was a mint green Thunderbird, in spotless condition. Sailor shook her head. “I can’t, Bodhi, this is too much.”

“Sailor, this car was made for you. It’s classy, classic and beautiful. Just like you.”

There were tears in Sailor’s eyes now, and she turned away from him. “Bodhi…you just met me, and already you’ve given me so much. I can’t take it, I’m sorry.”

“Then think of it as a loaner until you find one you like.” He dumped the keys in her hand and steered her towards the car. His hands on her bare shoulders were soft, caressing and Sailor shivered. Nope, do not get a crush.

Bodhi would take no further argument. He kissed her cheek and waved as she started down the long driveway to the road out.

 

As she drove home, Sailor’s thoughts were in turmoil. Bodhi was kind, generous, funny and smart, but there was certainly a little control freak in him. Did she really want that in her life again? As she opened the door to her tiny apartment, she sighed. She didn’t really have a choice, did she?

And besides, she was excited about the job, as well as spending time with Bodhi and Tim. She’d seen the pain in the little boy’s eyes, reflected in his fathers who was unable to reach him. If she could help bring them together…

What? What’s in it for you? She closed her eyes. I just want to feel useful. That I’ve made a difference, however small. Her mind flitted back to when Bodhi’s hands were on her bare shoulders. The feelings that had flooded through her were unexpected and scary. Desire. Sailor tried to push the thoughts away as she stripped down and stepped into her shower, but she couldn’t help but fantasize that Bodhi was in the shower with her, stroking her clit, kissing her mouth, his big arms around her, holding, protecting, loving. Her own hand snaked down and began to caress herself, masturbation had been a sin back in the commune, especially for the ‘chosen bride’, who was meant to save herself for Bartholomew. Which was why, at twenty-four, Sailor was still a virgin. A goddamned virgin, she thought angrily.

Sailor gritted her teeth for a second then returned to her fantasy. She would stroke Bodhi’s cock until it was rigid and proud against his belly and then he would take her, impaling her on his cock, and fucking her hard until she was screaming his name.

Sailor’s body was trembling all over as she stroked herself into an orgasm, picturing Bodhi’s beautiful face smiling down at her and whispering her name again and again.

 

A few miles away, Bodhi lay naked on his bed, staring up at the ceiling, his own mind whirling with desire, doubt, temptation. Sailor was his responsibility now, and he could not, would not take advantage of her, no matter how much he couldn’t stop thinking about her smooth caramel skin, her dark eyes, that wave of soft hair almost to her waist. He could not compromise their working relationship; Sailor needed this job. It didn’t matter how much he pictured her slowly stripping her clothes off, her large firm breasts, the curve of her waist, the deep hollow of her navel and that place between her legs that he so much wanted to taste.

No. There was a fragility to Sailor that he did not quite understand, and he would not be that guy anymore, the one who fucked around and didn’t think of the other person. No. Sailor was his employee and, more than that, his friend. Whatever damage she had, he would help her heal from, as much as she would let him. He got the impression that she hated to be told what to do. Maybe he had pushed it a little far with the car, tonight. But he had been thinking about ways to thank her all evening, and when he thought of the Thunderbird, it fitted her aesthetic so well, it seemed natural.

Bodhi rolled over on his side and tried to fall asleep. Stop thinking about her…

Stop.

He didn’t fall asleep until it was nearly dawn – and he didn’t stop dreaming about Sailor.

 

Sailor felt her heart in her mouth as she drove excitedly up the driveway in the Thunderbird. First day of work. She and Bodhi were going to figure out a schedule for the next six months and then she could finally get started on her new career.

She pulled up to the door and got out. It was hot today and a fine sheen of sweat covered her as she left the air-conditioned car and knocked on the door.

A few seconds later, the door swung open and Bodhi grinned at her. “I forgot to give you a key, didn’t I? Hey there, kiddo, first day.” He kissed her cheek, and she blushed, grinning back. “Come have some coffee before we start.”

He led her into the kitchen and Sailor felt her heart sink as she saw there was someone else there. A beautiful woman, no, strike that, a Goddess, stood chatting with Tim and sipping a mug of tea. She looked up and smiled at Sailor as they entered the room. She had long chestnut hair, straight down past her shoulders, and big friendly hazel eyes, almond-shaped. Sailor half-smiled back, unsure of what to feel. Jealous. That’s what you are, admit it. She pushed the thought to the back of her mind.

Bodhi introduced them. “Sailor, this is Soleil, now that’s not going to get confusing, is it?” He laughed. “Soleil is an old friend, my best friend, Claudio’s sister.”

Soleil put down her mug and came to give Sailor a hug. Her smile was genuine, her manner relaxed. “Ciao, Bella Sailor,” she said in her broken English accent. “I’ve heard good things about you from these two. I’m very glad to meet you.”

Sailor, warming to her, hugged her back. “And I, you. Hey, Tim,” she said over Soleil’s shoulder, and Tim waved his cereal spoon at her, his mouth full.

Soleil released her, but stood with her arm around Sailor’s waist. “Now, before you start your job, let me warn you. Bodhi is an inveterate flirt. Don’t let him run rings around you.” She said it in a jokey tone, but Sailor knew she was telling her the truth and grinned at her boss. “I figured.”

Soleil squeezed her. “Good girl. I’ll get you some coffee.”

“Thanks.”

Bodhi waved her towards a seat then glared at his old friend in mock-anger. “Don’t put her off me on her first day, Solly. Besides I don’t flirt with everyone.”

Solly snorted as she handed Sailor a mug of coffee. “You even flirt with me, and I’m practically your sister.”

“Never worked though, did it?”

“I have taste. Besides, my heart belongs to another.”

“Beyonce?”

“That’s the one.”

Sailor watched their playful banter, still a little envious of how easily they could joke with each other, but also seeing how platonic their relationship was. Tim was watching them too, even smiling at the teasing Soleil was giving his father.

Soleil left soon after, giving Sailor another hug. “Despite everything I tease him about, he’s a good man,” she said to Sailor, “I’m sure you’ll love working for him. Sailor, do you know many people in L.A.? Bodhi said you’ve only been here for six months.”

Sailor shook her head. “No-one. Unless you could call the clerk at the Seven Eleven a friend.”

Soleil dug a pristine business card out from her purse. “Well, now you know someone new. Anytime you need some girl time, call me.”

Sailor smiled shyly. “Thanks, I will.”

 

Bodhi grinned at her. “She’s great, huh?”

Sailor nodded. “Lovely, really lovely.”

women of Florence with abandonment. Soleil herself didn’t have time for relationships. At thirty-one, she was one of the most successful art dealers in the world and traveled constantly. Bodhi had harbored a crush on his friend’s younger sister when he was younger, but Soleil, who had known about the attraction, had made it clear that it would never happen between them. Now they had cultivated a friendship, which was as important to Bodhi as his relationship with Claudio.

He grinned at Sailor. “So, I just have to take Tim to school then we can get started. Why don’t you explore the house and grounds while we’re gone? I’ll be a half hour, tops.”

“Okay.”

 

Sailor wandered around the vast grounds of the mansion as she waited for Bodhi to return. The pool, which glittered blue in the morning sun, was huge and she wondered if Bodhi would mind if she, on occasion, did some laps in it on her lunch break. She felt her body was becoming untoned lately. She hated to go to the gym, but swimming was her thing, letting the water stream past her body. She loved it. She crouched down and dangled her fingers in the cool water. Bliss on a hot June morning in L.A. There was a small guesthouse across the other side of the pool, and she went over, trying the door and finding it unlocked, she went in. It was lite, open and airy inside, constructed to look like a beach house, all white painted wood, hurricane lamps and white furniture. A whole wall with solid bookcases and Sailor gave a silent ‘yay’ as she saw the books were a mix of fiction, non-fiction, and others. She picked out a Stephen King novel and scooched down on the couch to start reading. She missed this, having books on hand to bury herself in.

 

She didn’t hear Bodhi come home so absorbed in the book. He stood, leaning at the doorway, watching her, a small smile playing around his mouth. God, she was adorable, all that dark hair shoved into a messy ponytail, her blue jeans flared over her Chuck Taylors, her pink t-shirt snug against her breasts and flat belly. Again, he reminded himself that she was his employee…

“Hey, there.”

Sailor looked up and grinned sheepishly. “Sorry. Bookshelves are like catnip to me.”

“Hey, it’s all at your disposal, buddy, all of it. Even the guesthouse itself. You ever need to stay late; you can use this as your own. Hell, you could even move in, rent-free of course, if you want.”

Sailor closed the book and replaced it back on the shelf. “There you go again, trying to give me stuff.” But she smiled as she said it. Bodhi shrugged.

“I understand, but it’s just stuff, you know? I like to share.”

Sailor nodded, smiling. “Shall we get to work?”

 

It was maddening, Bodhi thought, to have her so close beside him, breathing in her clean scent of fresh linen and cotton, her hair escaping from the ponytail. But he wasn’t a kid anymore, wasn’t that man who would risk everything for a fuck. He liked Sailor as a person, regardless of his attraction to her, and throughout that day, he came to understand just how intelligent and efficient she was. He marveled at her ability to brainstorm ideas with him when, by her own admission, she knew nothing about the music business. Bodhi had setup a conference call with Emily Moore in San Francisco, and Sailor had handled it with confidence and grace, not afraid to ask questions when she needed. Emily, a sweet-natured woman, offered to represent Bodhi officially and Sailor setup a day to fly up and sign contracts the following week.

“Come on a day when some of the honchos from Quartet are here, Bodhi. You can meet Dash and Roman, maybe Tomas too if he can drag himself away from Bay. You know the 9th and Pine are on tour and that Bay is seven months pregnant, right? Lunatic. So, Tom may be with her, but Roman and Dash will be here.”

“Sounds good. I’ll let you and Sailor discuss dates if that’s okay.”

“Wonderful. Speak soon, Sailor.”

When Emily had ended the call, Sailor grinned at Bodhi. “Just between you and me, I will totally get star struck if I meet the 9th and Pine.”

“And yet, not star struck at all with me,” Bodhi sighed, with mock-self-pity.

“I’m just hiding it well,” Sailor shot back and Bodhi laughed. He stood up and stretched.

“We got a lot done today, Sailor, I’m feeling reenergized. It’ll be good to get back to work, but not until I have this situation with Tim sorted out. I won’t neglect him for my work.”

Sailor smiled at him. “See? I know you don’t think you’re a good dad, but you are.”

Bodhi was quiet then, and Sailor bit her lip. “Sorry, was that inappropriate?”

Bodhi shook his head. “No, it was a sweet thing to say, but I’m sorry, I don’t believe it. I can’t reach him, Sailor. When you’re not here, or when Solly or Claudio isn't around, he ignores me.”

He sat down next to her. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Anything.”

“Did you know what you were missing? Growing up without parents?”

Sailor sighed. “It wasn’t like that really, we were all…taken care of. If that’s what you call caring for someone,” she added, almost to herself and Bodhi was intrigued.

“Sailor…just what was this commune like? Are we talking Maharishi Yogi or Jim Jones?”

Sailor chuckled uncomfortably. “Somewhere between the two…look, I really don’t want to talk about that. I’m sorry.”

Bodhi nudged her with his shoulder. “It’s cool. Look, we need to get your passport arranged by Friday, so let’s get it done.”

 

Bartholomew Foy stalked back to his office and slammed the door. Six months. Six months since his Sailor had run away and nothing. He’d spent millions trying to look for her, all across the country, but wherever she had hidden herself, she’d done an excellent job. As soon as Monica had returned from the store that day, fuming, and obviously scared of what Bart would do to her for losing Sailor, Bart had never known rage like that. For years, he had bided his time, waiting for Sailor to reach womanhood. He’d been tempted to take her before she reached twenty-five, dreaming endlessly of her caramel colored skin, her dark eyes. He remembered her mother, Devi, a single mother Indian immigrant, who he’d found on the streets of San Francisco and had fallen for. Devi, although grateful to him, had resisted his charms at first, then as he promised her that she would be taken care of, she had come to him, and to his bed.

He’d murdered her just after Sailor was born. She’d been seeing another man, outside of the Children of Love. It was his first kill, but not the last, and now his bloodlust entirely for Sailor. This time, though, unlike with Tilly, he would do the deed himself, to punish her himself, to make her beg for her life before he took it. Ungrateful little whore.

A knock at his study door interrupted his dark reverie. “What?”

Salem, his slinky-hipped bodyguard, slipped into the room. “Something just pinged in California. One of our moles. She says she might, and I emphasize might, have spotted someone who resembles Sailor at a passport office in Los Angeles. The woman couldn’t be sure, but she alerted our Californian branch, and they’re following up.”

Bart tapped his pen on his desk impatiently. “That’s it? That’s all they got?”

Salem, the one person on his staff who wasn’t afraid of Bart, sat down in the chair opposite him. “It’s more than we’ve had since Sailor disappeared, Bart. And we have a contact at the passport office who is getting back to me later with anything he can find out.”

“Good.” Bart put his pen down and nodded at his bodyguard. “Good. Salem, when I get my hands on her…”

Salem beamed, showing a row of very even, very white teeth. “I can only imagine, Bart.”

Bart’s eyes were dark, dangerous. “The only thing I’ll regret will be that I’ll only get to kill Sailor once.”

 

Tim was chatting away happily to Sailor as they sat on Bodhi’s private plane on their way to the Caribbean late Friday night. After her first week as Bodhi’s assistant, Sailor was exhausted, but exhilarated. There was so much to do, to think about, but she loved that Bodhi instinctively trusted her to get the job done without interfering. Next week would be even more exciting when they flew up to San Francisco to meet Emily and the Quartet people.

Sailor and Bodhi had discussed his move to the small, but more eclectic and inclusive label. “Look who they have on their roster,” Sailor enthused, “The 9th & Pine for one, but look at these others. They’ve phased out every reality star and TV station brat and the quality of their music shines through. You deserve this label, Bodhi, and they deserve you.”

Bodhi grinned at her enthusiasm. “You cheering for them now? Sure it’s not to get an introduction to the band?”

“Well, that too,” she quipped back, and they’d both laughed. “I have such a girl crush on Bay Tambe.”

“You’re only human. But I think Tom Meir and their gazillion kids might object.”

“How many now? I know she’s pregnant again.”

“Three, including the belly-bound one.”

Sailor studied him. “So, the ‘gazillion’ was a bit of an exaggeration, then?”

He grinned. “A little.”

There was a short pause. “Between us, did you want kids? I mean, you kind of got blindsided with Tim, didn’t you?”

Bodhi sighed. “Now that isn’t an exaggeration. The truth is, no. It was never in me to have kids. But, Sailor, the second I knew Tim was mine, and look at us, I didn’t even need a DNA test to prove paternity, something shifted in me and I knew I would do anything for him.”

Sailor felt tears spring into her eyes and she looked away.

“Sailor King, are you crying?”

She shook her head, but laughed as the tears escaped anyway. “It’s just the love in your voice just then. Tim is a lucky kid, no matter how he’s hurting now.”

Bodhi half-smiled, but his eyes were troubled. “He’s hurting?”

“He got left with a man he doesn’t know, shoved into a life that most kids only dream about. His mom calls him, what, twice a week? I know she’s going through some stuff but…” Sailor stopped herself, hearing the anger rising in her voice. This isn’t about you, Sailor.

“Sorry,” she said to him, guiltily. “Not my business.”

Bodhi rubbed her back. “You’re a part of this family, now, Sailor. You say what you feel whenever you feel like saying it.”

Sailor took a deep breath in and shot him a grateful look. “I am sorry, though. But, Bodhi, I think Tim needs time to be resentful if he wants too…he’ll come around in his own time.”

 

Tim was yawning now, and even though he was a whole ten years old and a big boy, he crawled onto Sailor’s lap, snuggled into her, and fell asleep. Sailor, who was barely bigger than Tim herself, locked her arms around the boy, shooting a glance over to Bodhi, hoping his feelings wouldn’t be hurt. Bodhi smiled at her, his eyes soft, and she saw no reproach in his look. Instead, their gazes locked for a long moment, before Tim murmured, fidgeting in his sleep, and broke the spell. Bodhi grinned, then got up to go to the bathroom. Sailor kissed the top of Tim’s dark head and fantasized that, yes, this was her family now.

 

It was the early hours of the morning before they reached the villa on the island and Bodhi carried his sleeping son to a bedroom off the main living area. Sailor went over to the huge glass sliding door on the opposite wall and slid it open. It led down to a small beach and Sailor could hear the ocean gracing the shoreline.

“Beautiful.” She sighed, happily.

“I agree,” she heard Bodhi and turned around, blushing when she realized he was looking at her, and not the ocean. He came to stand beside her, putting his hand on her back. “Are you tired?”

She nodded. Bodhi stroked her hair back from her face. “The staff has made up all the beds, and there’s air conditioning, thank god. Do you want a drink before bed?”

Sailor smiled. “Okay.”

Bodhi grabbed a bottle of scotch and two glasses then nodded out of the door. “Let’s sit by the ocean; we can hear if Tim starts yelling.”

The moon was full, so they had plenty of light as they sat side-by-side, drinking their scotch. Sailor made a face at first, but Bodhi just laughed. “Keep sipping, it’ll be your friend soon enough.”

Sure Sure-enough, she began to enjoy the warm burn of the liquid in her throat. She chuckled a little.

“What?” Bodhi was studying her, a smile on his face.

Sailor shook her head. “If you only knew how much my life has changed in just one week, Bodhi. Hell, in six months.”

“Then tell me,” he said gently. Sailor chewed on her lip for a while before answering.

“You were nearer the mark with Jim Jones,” she began, not able to look at Bodhi. “The commune, hell, no, it’s a cult, I have to start calling it that. The leader is a man called Bartholomew Foy. Yeah,” she said, grinning at Bodhi’s face, “That’s his real name as far as I know. But then again, I don’t know if I believe anything about the man except one thing.”

“What’s that?”

Sailor felt sadness swim through her as she recalled the photos of her beloved Tilly being so brutally murdered. “He’s a monster…” She whispered, her voice breaking. “and he chose me to be his next, bride. When I reached my womanhood.”

“Your womanhood?”

She gave him a strange smile. “In the cult, women aren’t permitted to have sexual relations until their twenty-fifth birthday. That’s what it means. And when I reached mine, Bart was determined that I would be his. I disagreed and that’s why I left.”

A clearly horrified Bodhi put his arm around her shoulders and kissed her temple. “You don’t ever have to be afraid of him again, Sailor. I promise you that.”

She smiled gratefully up at him, and again, their gazes locked. This time she didn’t look away. Bodhi moved closer, but stopped himself. “I think we need to get some sleep,” he said lightly, and Sailor was at once both disappointed and relieved. He pulled her to her feet and held her hand as they walked back into the villa.

“I meant what I said,” Bodhi told her as he showed her where her room was. “You are part of this family now, Sailor. And whatever you want goes, okay? You need to know what freedom really is and I will do anything in my power to protect you as long as you need me to.”

“Thank you, Bodhi.”

He smiled down at her and she so desperately wanting to kiss his mouth, it became a physical pain inside her. “Goodnight, Sailor.”

“Goodnight.”

 

Sailor shut the door, and Bodhi went to his own room, his emotions in turmoil. Sailor was a virgin? At twenty-five? And god, what the hell kind of fucked up upbringing had she had?

Bodhi took a cold shower and then slid, naked into bed. He’d nearly broken all of his rules too and kissed her out there on the beach. He had to get her out of his head.

But how? He didn’t want to go back to the screwing around ways of his youth. And nor did he want to keep Sailor at arms-length. She was as important to him now as his own…shit, man, what’s wrong with you? You’ve known her a week.

He sat up and tugged his laptop towards him, waiting for the browser to load, then typing in ‘Bartholomew Foy.' So many results, but Bodhi first clicked on the man’s photograph. A man in his early fifties, smart, but with a sly look on his dully handsome face. He flicked onto the man’s website.

 

The Children of Love welcomes you in their loving embrace…

 

“God,” he snorted, but then as he scrolled down, his blood ran cold. A photograph of a much younger Sailor, her eyes haunted, much thinner than she was now was on the front page. Underneath, an open letter to her begging her to return to their fold.

Bodhi read through it with growing horror.

 

My dearest, precious Sailor,

 

Now that you have been gone from us for all these long months, I cannot bear the sadness that has come over all of us. You have left a chasm in our souls that cannot be replaced by anyone.

 

Please, my darling girl, return to the people who loved you, raised you, nurtured you. Return to me, loveliest Sailor, for I will be the husband of your dreams, just as I promised you. Just as I was to your friend and mentor, Tilly.

 

If anyone sees my darling girl, please call us collect on 555-658-845 or email me at , or speak to one of our advisors at anyone of our drop-in centers around the United States.

 

Please help us find our beloved girl. #FindSailor.

 

Bodhi groaned softly. Jesus, this man was a psychopath. Bodhi had seen way too many people like this in his line of work. Egotistical, control freaks who used passive aggressive tricks like this to control people. Bodhi had no doubt that when that didn’t work, Bartholomew Foy would turn to just plain old aggression. He had to find out more about this.

One thing Bodhi knew for certain. No way would Bartie Foy ever, ever lay another hand on Sailor again.

 

Sailor choked in exasperation as Tim splashed sea water all over her as they played in the sandbars. Bodhi stretched out on a sun recliner, watched them with amusement, trying not to be too distracted by Sailor’s curves in her yellow two-piece, which looked striking against her golden skin.

“Hey, old man,” she yelled at him, and he grinned. “Come play with us.”

He waved his hand. “I don’t want to disturb your game.” And besides, if I get too close to you in that bikini, I won’t be responsible for my actions…

Sailor gave a face then, grinning wickedly, whispered something in Tim’s ear. The boy started to laugh, then covered his face to hide his giggles. They were obviously up to something.

Sailor strode out of the water and sauntered casually up the beach. Bodhi made no apology for admiring her body, and she caught the gleam in his eye.

“And you can stop that right now,” she said tartly, then grinned. “Come on, rock god, come show the Great Whites what a real man looks like.”

She took his hands and pulled him into a sitting position, but he refused to be pulled to his feet, instead, laughing as Sailor, all of five-two, tried to pull his six-five up. She must weigh a quarter of what I do, he thought, fondly, then yelped as something very slimy and very cold was slipped down the back of his swim trunks. Sailor let go immediately as he got to his feet, ramming his hand down to his butt and pulling out a handful of seaweed from his shorts. Behind him, a giggle and he turned to see Tim, backing off, but grinning at him. Sailor skittered over to Tim, both of them laughing at Bodhi, and took his hand.

Bodhi looked between them and the handful of seaweed and stifled a laugh. Instead, he arranged his face into a warrior snarl and roared as he took off in hot pursuit of his tormentors. Tim and Sailor shrieked with laughter as he chased them back into the sea. Bodhi grabbed Tim and threw him up onto his shoulders as the child laughed. Bodhi grinned at him.

“Shall we get Sailor? Shall we?” He advanced on Sailor who was giggling uncontrollably and backing off, as they drew near. Tim gave a banshee scream, imitating his dad and they both rushed her, tipping her over into the sea. She emerged, gasping for air and laughing.

Bodhi thought he’d never seen a more beautiful sight. As Tim and Sailor teased him, and he played the fool for them, he was thinking about how much he would like to pull down one of those yellow cups on her bikini and take her nipple into his mouth, hear her gasp for pleasure, slid those bikini panties down her golden legs, run his tongue along her sex.

Jesus, stop, man. There was no way to hide an erection in these swim shorts. He backed off into deeper water and swam around them for a while, hoping his hard-on would subside.

Tim stood watching him, and he smiled at his son. “Can you swim, Timbo?”

Tim waved his hand. “A little bit. Not very much.”

“Would you like me to teach you?”

Tim hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “But not in the ocean, Dad. At home, I would like that better.”

Bodhi’s heart swelled, and he had to smile to hide the tears in his eyes. “Wherever you want, sport.”

Later after an exhausted Tim was sleeping, and after they’d all enjoyed a good meal of fresh fish and roast vegetables, they sat out on the beach again, the ever-present bottle of scotch between them.

Bodhi turned to Sailor with shining eyes. “He called me Dad, Sails.”

Sailor nudged his shoulder with hers. “I know. I nearly cried.”

“Me too.” Bodhi’s smile was incredulous. “It’s all cause of you, Sails, all of it. If you hadn’t…” His voice broke, and he cleared his throat, looking away. Sailor hesitated then leaned down and pressed her lips against his bare shoulder, just briefly. She looked up at him.

“You saved my life, Bodhi. And no, it wasn’t just me. I keep telling you, you’re a great dad, a wonderful, warm, giving person. Most, unlike a rockstar, I must say.” She made the joke to try and break the tension between them.

Bodhi studied her. “If you know how much I want to kiss you right now…”

Sailor’s eyes took on a wary look, and he was sorry he’d said that. “I apologize, Sailor. That was inappropriate.”

“No.” Her voice was soft. “I feel it too, you know? I just…if it went wrong between us…I don’t know how I would survive losing you. It’s been a week. A week, Bodhi, and I’m…feeling things I’ve never felt before. Things that were taken from me a long time ago and I don’t know if I’m capable of being the woman you need.”

She sighed, and Bodhi put his arm around her shoulders. She leaned into him, looking up at him. God, she was so beautiful it made his heart hurt. “What do you want, Sailor? What can I give you to help you?”

She was silent for a long time then looked up at him. “Bodhi…you know that saying…’What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas’?”

Bodhi nodded slowly. Sailor stood and held her hand out to him and pulled him up. He slid his arms around her waist. “What you can give me, Bodhi is you. In this moment. For this night. You must know I’m a virgin by now…and I want to give it you. I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life. But what happens here on the island, stays here. We won’t let it affect our friendship or our working relationship. That’s what you can give me.”

 

Bodhi bent his head and pressed his lips to hers, and it was sweeter than he had imagined. His fingers trailed up and down her spine, and she shivered, kissing him back with the same intense passion he was feeling. She was still wearing that yellow bikini, with a sarong tied around her waist. He took her hand and led her to his bedroom, closing the door behind him.

Sailor looked nervous for a moment as he approached, her arms curled around his neck. “I’m scared,” she whispered.

“Don’t be…don’t be scared…” He dropped to his knees in front of her and pressed his lips to her belly. His tongue slowly rimmed her navel as his fingers untied the sarong and let it drop to the floor. Sailor gasped and swayed as his hand slipped between her legs and began to caress her through her panties. With his other hand, Bodhi pulled down the cup of her bikini top and closed his mouth over her nipple, sucking on it, grazing the small bud with his teeth. Sailor moaned with pleasure, tangling her fingers in his dark curls.

Bodhi slid her panties off and gently parted her legs. His tongue sought her clit, and he felt her shiver as he took it into his mouth. He teased her, making her legs tremble then stood and swept her onto the bed. He tugged his shirt over his head and removed his pants. His cock, thick and long, was already taut and rigid, as his eyes drank in the sight of her body stretched out on his bed. God, she was glorious…even though she still looked terrified. He covered her body with his, kissing her gently. He smoothed her hair away from her lovely face. “Sweet Sailor…don’t be afraid. If you want to me stop at any time, just say the word. I swear, I swear to god, I won’t hurt you.”

And he kissed every part of her exposed skin until she was a shivering wreck of desire, her nipples hard, her belly quivering with arousal. He stroked it gently, his thumb strumming a rhythm over her navel. He slid his hand down between her legs and found her soaking wet for him.

“Are you ready, my darling?”

Sailor nodded, her breath coming in short gasps now, her eyes never leaving his. Bodhi gently pulled her legs around his waist and guided himself into her, slowly, watching her every reaction as his cock filled her velvety soft cunt. Sailor’s eyes opened wide as he thrust for the first time, the tiniest cry coming from her as they began to move together. He kissed her tenderly as they made love and was gratified by her clamping her fingernails into his back, urging him on.

She stifled her cry as she came, shivering and gasping his name, and Bodhi felt the hot rush of his cum pumping inside her. Sailor kissed him passionately, and he could feel tears on her cheeks. She was smiling though, he felt the curve of her lips against his own. “Bodhi...” Her whispering his name was like honey to his soul.

He gazed down at her. “Are you okay?”

Sailor nodded. “Very, very okay…that was incredible.”

Bodhi smiled. “I’m glad you think so.”

“Were you holding back?” She stroked his face, and he brushed her lips with his.

“A little, I admit. It was a big responsibility.”

Sailor had tears in her eyes. “You made it so beautiful, Bodhi.”

He kissed the tears from her eyes. “You’re beautiful, Sailor, and funny, and smart and wonderful. It was my honor to be your first.”

Her eyes were soft with love, but she nodded. “Bodhi…I meant what I said. I want to work with you and be your friend, and I don’t want this to compromise anything.”

“It won’t, I swear. We make a good team, you and me, Sails.”

“I love that nickname.”

Bodhi grinned. “You must have been called that before.”

She shook her head. “In the cult, nicknames were frowned upon.”

“And you changed your name legally when you came to California?”

She nodded. “But it never stuck with me, it’s just for official documents. Sailor was the one thing that came from my mother. She named me, and that’s who I am.”

Bodhi propped himself on his elbow and ran his palm down her belly. “Do you remember her?”

Sailor considered for a moment. “I think so…but I’m not entirely sure that it’s a real memory or just a fantasy. I had one photograph of her, I look just like her.”

“What happened to her?”

Sailor’s eyes grew sad. “I don’t know, no-one would ever speak about her to me, Bart’s orders, I think.”

“What do you think happened? Did she run away and leave you?”

There was a long silence. “No. I think he murdered her.”

The shock hit Bodhi full in the chest. “What?”

Sailor met his gaze. “I don’t know for sure. What I do know is that he did murder his second wife, Tilly. She was my teacher and my best friend. She lived under his control for too long, just to take care of us. When she fell in love with someone else…he had her killed. In front of her lover.”

“Jesus.” Bodhi felt his heart pounding. “You know this for sure?”

She nodded. “He showed me photographs of the murder…just before I was supposed to marry him. The photographs showed two men, I’d never seen them before, but one was holding Tilly down, the other was stabbing her to death. God, Bodhi, the fear, the pain in her eyes…and then the last photo they showed her body on the ground, drenched in blood, and her lover tied to a chair sobbing. I don’t know what happened to him, I assume they killed him too.”

Bodhi was beyond horrified and he wrapped himself around Sailor. She’d been through hell. “Why the fuck did he show you those photos? Why would he admit to it?”

She smiled at him sadly. “To show me what would happen to me if I defied him.”

God, no. No. Bodhi squeezed his eyes shut, trying to scourge the images of Sailor being stabbed to death, of her blood being spilled. He felt her touch his face.

“Don’t look so sad. I escaped, I’m here.”

Bodhi touched his forehead to hers. “Sailor, I promise you, I will keep you safe if it’s the last thing I do in this world. He’ll never touch you again. Do you know if he’s looking for you?”

She gave a humorless laugh. “Oh yes. Bartholomew Foy is never defied, not least by a woman. If he finds me, I’m a dead woman, of that I have no doubt.”

“No. No way. That’s never going to happen, baby, never.”

She smiled up at him. “You just called me baby.”

“I know. Sailor, I know it’s fast, but I have never had such an immediate connection with anyone. I’m not bullshitting. In my world, I understand that me saying that could be misconstrued as a line, but I mean it sincerely. I want to see where this takes us.”

Sailor nodded. “You have a hero complex.” She said it softly, with a smile.

Bodhi blinked but smiled. “You think?”

She chuckled. “A little. I can see it in your face, you want to save me. And you know what? That’s okay, as long as you remember I have control of my own life, and that as much as you want to save me, I want to save you. Can we be equals, Bodhi? Or is this all a little heavy for you, so soon? Because never again will I allow myself to be dictated to or by anyone, even by someone I…adore.”

Bodhi was impressed. “Sailor, you have an old soul. Of course, anything. And just so you know? I adore you too. Tim is crazy about you, so at least I know I have something in common with him.”

Sailor laughed. “You made leaps and bounds today.”

Bodhi kissed her. “Entirely due to you, beautiful lady.” He covered her body with his. “And now, allow me to show you just how grateful I am…”

 

In the morning, Sailor slipped back to her own room before Tim awoke. She and Bodhi had decided that was best for now; they would gradually show affection for each other in front of the boy, ease him into getting used to the budding relationship.

“If that’s what it is,” Sailor murmured to herself as she showered and dressed in denim shorts and an oversized white shirt. Her life had changed so much in the last twenty-four hours she couldn’t help feel shell-shocked, and at the same time, happy. She wondered at the new feeling. She couldn’t regret anything that had happened between herself and Bodhi, regardless of her reservations. Making love with him all night had been a revelation to her, although she knew anyone else would consider the sex low-key and tentative at first, by the end of the night, her whole body felt like it was on fire. Her clit was still sensitive this morning, her vagina sore and aching from the pounding of Bodhi’s huge cock. Her thighs were jelly as she walked back into the huge kitchen. Tim grinned at her.

“Dad says we’re going hiking today, in the forest. There’s a waterfall.”

Sailor sat down, smiling at him and Bodhi, who leaned over and kissed her cheek, whispering in her ear. “You’re beautiful.”

She blushed a little, pleasure streaming through her body. She turned to Tim. “That sounds like fun. Maybe we should take a picnic with us?”

Tim nodded eagerly. “I have a backpack we can put food in. Maybe some cans of soda?” He looked hopefully at Bodhi, who limited his son’s sugary drinks. Bodhi laughed at the plaintive glance his son gave him.

“Hey kiddo, we’re on vacation, anything goes.” He gave a secretive wink to Sailor who chuckled.

 

hiked through the island’s thick forest, Bodhi watched his son and Sailor as they chatted effortlessly and explored the island’s flora and fauna. He chuckled as Sailor recoiled away from a tarantula that Tim, showed her without fear, picking it up and inspecting it.

“He’s so fluffy,” Tim exclaimed, but Sailor grimaced.

“And he’ll be fluffy right back where you found him too,” she said half-grinning, Tim put the spider back into the undergrowth. Sailor shuddered.

“Arachnophobe, hey? I learn something new every day.” Bodhi told her and Sailor shrugged.

“Snakes, lizards, other bugs don’t bother me. It’s just spiders and especially ones that big. Jeez, you could have put a saddle on that one.” She shuddered again, and Bodhi smirked, taking her hand.

They walked further into the forest until they came to a swimming hole. Another couple was there with their son, and Tim got talking to him. Soon both boys were dive-bombing into the swimming hole. Sailor and Bodhi got talking to the other couple, but soon Bodhi nodded to Sailor. “Shall I go get some beers for us, some cold drinks for the boys?”

The other man nodded. “Sounds good, there’s a bar just about half a mile through the forest over there. Do you want some company?”

Sailor got to her feet. “I’ll help you, if you don’t mind watching the boys?” She addressed the other couple who both nodded.

“No problem, and thanks. Let me know how much we owe you for the beers.”

Bodhi grinned. “Don’t worry about, my treat. See you in a few, Timbo?”

Tim looked up. “We’re going to get some cold drinks. Mike and Hannah will be watching you for a few minutes, is that okay?”

Tim nodded. “Sure, Dad.” He immediately went back to playing with the other boy, Matty.

 

Sailor nudged Bodhi’s shoulder as they set off, hand-in-hand. “Every time he calls you Dad, you glow, you know that?”

Bodhi grinned sheepishly. “I do…” He stopped and kissed her. “You must think I’m a useless rockstar. No drugs, no whoring around (anymore, anyway) and I get high from my kid calling me, Dad.”

Sailor kissed him back. “The good thing about living in a sect is that I don’t know an awful lot about the life of a rockstar. Obviously, since I’ve been out, I’ve learned much more, but I don’t have preconceived ideas about what you should be like. I just know Bodhi, not Bodhi Creed, the Rockstar.”

He took her face in her hands. “With you, I can really be myself for the first time,” he whispered. “I don’t have to pretend I’m anything, but a middle-aged man, fumbling around, trying to be the best father, and now, the best boyfriend, I can be.”

Sailor blinked. Boyfriend? Was this really happening? Bodhi was studying her. “Did I just freak you out?”

“A little,” she admitted, but then she smiled. “But I liked it.”

Bodhi pressed his lips to hers. “You know, it’s very secluded right here.” His fingers were at the fly of her denim shorts, and she didn’t stop him as he pushed them down her legs and lifted her up. He unzipped and freed his cock from his own shorts and then he was inside her, pushing her back against the trunk of a tree, moving gently at first then when Sailor moaned at the feel of him inside her, and as she began to claw at his back, he thrust harder and harder until they were both gasping for air. Sailor buried her cry in his neck as she came, and Bodhi muffled his own groans as he kissed her passionately.

 

They made their way back to the swimming hole, carrying the drinks and spent a blissful afternoon chatting with Mike and Hannah and their son. Tim seemed more relaxed than Bodhi had ever seen him, and when, on the way back to the villa in the early evening, Tim took his hand, Bodhi could have cried with happiness.

It was with regret that they piled back onto the private jet that evening. Tim was chatting away to Sailor at first, but then he fell asleep, after moaning that Bodhi wouldn’t let him skip school in the morning.

“That was the deal, Buddy. Luxury for the weekend, but then it’s back to normal.”

Tim grumbled, but Bodhi could sense the change in their relationship. He put a blanket over his sleeping son and smiled at Sailor. “You tired too, baby?”

“A little, but for all the right reasons.”

He went to sit next to her and wrapped his arms around her. “I’m glad. Look, we both know we’re going to have to navigate this thing. The last thing I want is for us being together causing you any pain or misgivings. There’s something else too. The press. Sailor…they hound me when it comes to relationships, and if they even get a whiff of this, they’ll come after you. So, we need to figure out how this is going to work.”

Sailor’s eyes were wide. “I never even considered that…god. If they print my photo, Bart will know where I am.”

“Yes. That’s my biggest fear. So, we need to plan. I have an idea, but it may seem weird to you.”

Sailor drew in a long breath. “Hit me with it.”

“I enter into a ‘fake’ relationship for the press. Now, I know who to ask, and I’m pretty sure she’ll go along with it, but it would depend on you.”

“Who?”

“Soleil.”

Sailor nodded, trying not to be jealous, but she couldn’t help it. Soleil was gorgeous. Bodhi saw her reservations in her eyes.

“Sails…I’m not Soleil’s type, I swear. You might be, but I’m most definitely not.”

Sailor was surprised. “She’s gay?”

“Very. But she’s also very private and doesn’t broadcast her relationships. Luckily, art dealers aren’t great with gossip, unless you’re a Mallory or a Bartoli.”

“I have no idea who they are,” she grinned, truthfully and he laughed.

“Well, see? Anyway, the press is used to seeing me with Solly and Claudio, so the interest will be minimal, but at least they’ll think we’re together and not focus on you.”

Sailor sat up and nodded. “Well, if Soleil would go along with it…but I wouldn’t want to inconvenience her.”

“To keep you safe, I would,” Bodhi said fervently, but then he relaxed. “I was thinking, if anyone asks, we could say you’re the family’s assistant, Tim’s tutor?”

Bodhi was uncertain, but Sailor nodded. “That suits me. That’s what I am after all.”

Bodhi stroked her face. “You’re so much more than that, baby. Maybe you should move in. It’ll be safer as well as…I’m selfish, I want you near.”

Sailor chewed on her lip, and Bodhi nodded. “You have doubts.”

“It’s not that I can’t see the sense of it, but…I just got my own place after years of being…segregated. I do want to be close to you and Tim, I do…can I think about it?”

Bodhi nuzzled his nose to hers. “Of course. I understand, I do. Look, I have a suggestion for you to think about. You loved the guesthouse, right? As I said before, it’s yours, your own place. You want privacy, you just go off and lay in there. I know it’s not the same, but you’ll be within my compound and safe. Security won’t be intrusive, I swear. But only if you want to be there. Don’t let me sway you, either way, that’s not how we work.”

Sailor kissed him. “You are just the sweetest guy.”

“We’re going to make it, I swear, Sailor. I will do anything to make this work.” He kissed her until they were both panting for breath. “Stay tonight. It’ll be late when we get home anyway. You can sleep in the guesthouse if you want, but stay…”

 

She fell asleep in his arms and woke up as the plane landed. Sailor’s mind was whirling with the events of the past two days, and their plans for going forward. Could they make it work? She hoped so with all of her heart.

Tim was asleep when Bodhi carried him to his room, and Sailor went over to the guesthouse and dumped her bag in there. Switching on the lamps in the house, she looked at it. Yes, she could imagine living here, it’s comfortable with a slightly shabby beach-house feel as a reminder of their heavenly time on the island.

She felt Bodhi’s arms snake around her waist and she turned to kiss him. He kissed her lips, then trailed his mouth down her neck and kissed her throat, her shoulders, pulling the straps of her dress down her arms. The dress fell to the floor, followed by her bra and then he drew her panties down her legs. She stepped out of them, utterly unembarrassed about being naked with him now. She pulled his t-shirt over his head and unbuttoned his jean. Soon, both naked, they were running their hands all over the other, wanting to be as close as possible. Sailor smiled up at him as she sank to her knees. “Tell me if I do this wrong,” she said softly, then took his cock into her mouth, sweeping her tongue over the wide crest of him, tasting the salty pre-cum. He tasted of salt and fresh air, and she ran her tongue up and down his length, as her hands massaged his balls gently.

“God…Sailor…” Bodhi groaned, and she felt his cock thickening and becoming taut and engorged as she pleasured him. She teased the sensitive end with the tip of her tongue, hearing him moan. His hands tangled in her long hair, the pads of his fingers massaging her scalp in a way that made tingles shoot down her body. Sailor could feel her own sex become wet and swollen, a steady pulse beating between her legs and when, before he came, Bodhi withdrew from her mouth, he was almost violent in his need for her, tumbling her to the floor, and pushing her legs wide apart so he could go down on her. She nearly shrieked as his mouth made contact with her too-sensitive clit and when he began to slide two fingers in and out of her sopping wet cunt, she writhed and moaned underneath him, trying not to cum too soon, to prolong this sweet, sweet torture.

“Bodhi…I want to watch you touch yourself….”

Bodhi grinned and began to move his free hand up and down his cock as his other hand fucked her, his thumb strumming a beat on her clit. “Anything for you, baby.”

Sailor moaned and gasped as Bodhi’s hands moved faster and faster. “I want to cum on your belly,” Bodhi said, his voice ragged with desire and she nodded, coming as he shot creamy white cum onto her soft abdomen. They panted for air together, kissing, then Sailor wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck and Bodhi plunged his cock deep into her, and they made love for the rest of the night.

In the morning, she awoke in the big double bed in the guesthouse, alone. On the other pillow, she found a note.

Making breakfast for us all. Take your time, come in when you’re ready, my darling.

He’d drawn a rough love-heart at the end, which made Sailor smile. She showered and dressed in a t-shirt and jeans. As she dried her hair, she gazed at her reflection. You are the luckiest girl in the world, Sailor King. She still couldn’t reconcile how much her life had changed.

When she walked into the kitchen, Bodhi was at the stove, breaking eggs into a skillet. He grinned at her and kissed her cheek. They’d agreed not to kiss on the mouth in front of Tim…yet. Let him get used to the idea of us first, Sailor had said, and Bodhi agreed.

Tim was scarfing down pancakes like they were going extinct. “You okay, buddy?” Sailor ruffled his hair. Tim grinned.

“Sailor, Dad said you’re going to live in the guesthouse if you want too.”

Sailor shot Bodhi a glance, and he winked at her. She snickered to herself, trust Bodhi to get Tim on his side, then smiled at Tim. “You okay with that?”

“Sure, I am,” he said, beaming. “I like having you here. So, does Dad.”

“He’s got that right,” Bodhi looked at Sailor with such a look of desire on his face that Sailor felt a flush creeping over her entire body.

“Dad?”

Bodhi dumped some eggs on two plates for him and Sailor. “Yeah, buddy?”

“Can Sailor take me to school today?”

Bodhi and Sailor exchanged a look, the Bodhi smiled at his son. “Why don’t you ask Sailor?”

Tim looked at her, and she nodded. “Of course, I’d love to. But can we take your SUV? I’d feel too inconspicuous in the Thunderbird.”

Bodhi stuck his hand in his pocket and pulled out a set of car keys. “Go crazy. Actually, don’t go crazy, drive safely.”

They all laughed at him, and then Tim put down his fork. “I’ll go get my school bag.”

He hopped off the kitchen stool and disappeared into his bedroom. Bodhi immediately leaned over and kissed Sailor’s mouth. “Good morning, beautiful.”

She pressed her lips back to his. “Good morning, handsome.”

They kissed softly, enjoying the feel of the other’s lips. “God, I want you…when you get back from dropping Tim at school…”

Sailor grinned at him. “We do have work to do, Mr. Creed.”

He groaned in disappointment. “Screw work.”

“I’d rather screw you,” she said mischievously, and he laughed.

“Bad girl, now I have to deal with a hard-on until you get back.”

She leaned close to him. “I’ll deal with that, I promise.”

Bodhi grabbed her head and kissed her passionately. “I’m going to fuck you so hard, little girl.” He growled, and she gave a slightly shocked giggle.

“I can’t wait…”

 

As she drove up to the school, Tim grinned at her. “Want to come say hi to some of my friends?”

Sailor hesitated, but figured it couldn’t hurt. Tim was obviously keen on showing her off. Sailor was glad she had shoved her long dark hair into a baseball cap. She was reminded of the wigs she had stolen from the bridal boutique when she escaped from Monica, the wigs that had gotten her to California safe and unrecognized. It sent a thrill of fear through her, but she shook it off. That life is over. She parked the car and got out with Tim. He ran ahead and started to talking to some friends, who stood with their moms.

Tim introduced her to his best friend Harry, and Harry’s mom, Diane. Diane greeted her warmly. “Are you new to the area?”

Sailor shook her head. “Just to the job,” she lied smoothly. “I’m Tim’s child attendant.”

“She’s my friend, and my Daddy’s friend,” Tim said, nodding his head wisely.

Sailor touched his head. “Saying that, I need to get back to work. You okay, sport?”

Tim nodded, already running off with Harry as the school bell rang. “Thanks for the ride, Sailor, see you later.”

Sailor nodded to Diane and with some relief, got back in the car and drove back to the compound.

 

Bodhi was on the phone when she entered, putting his keys down on the kitchen counter. He grinned up at her. “Hey, she’s here, I’m going to put you on speaker phone.” He flicked a button and Sailor heard Soleil greeting her.

“Hey girl, I hear you’re off the market?”

Sailor blushed but laughed. “Apparently. How are you, Soleil?”

“Call me Solly and I’m good, thanks. I’m in Italy at the moment, but back in L.A. on the weekend to start our little ploy.”

“You sure you’re okay with this?” Sailor gave Bodhi a nervous glance.

“Hell, yes, I’m delighted. About time someone of quality tickled Bodhi’s pickle. I will obviously have to give you the ‘if you hurt him blah blah blah talk.’”

Sailor laughed. ‘Obviously, I would expect nothing less. Thank you, Solly, you’re the best.”

“Yes, yes, I am,” laughed the other woman. “I’ll see you two crazy kids on the weekend.”

She clicked off, and then Bodhi grinned at Sailor. “She’s in. This is happening.”

Suddenly Sailor started to tremble. This man, this gorgeous man, was hers. How could that be possible?

“Sailor.” Bodhi came to her, gently pulling her into his arms. “It’s me and you now, okay?”

She nodded, gazing up into his achingly beautiful face. His lips were against hers then.

“I’m going to take you to my bed now, Sailor King…work can wait…” and he led her into his bedroom.

 

“Are you sure?”

Diane nodded. “I mean, she had her hair up, but I’m pretty sure. Those doe-eyes are unmistakable.”

Bartholomew Foy was pleased. “Thank you, Diane, you have proved most helpful.”

Diane smiled at him and left the room, closing the door behind her. Bart looked at Salem, who was grinning nastily. They had flown to L.A. as soon as the call from Diane, one of the highest members of the Californian chapter of The Children of Love, had called in the sighting. “So, Sailor’s working for Bodhi Creed? Well, well, well.”

Salem chuckled. “Should be easy enough to find and kill her if she’s bringing the kid to school every day.”

“Indeed.” Bart was lost in thought. “But I have a better idea. Sailor betrayed us all, so it’s only right that we make her suffer before I kill her. This Creed asshole…what do we know?”

Salem sighed. Sometimes his boss truly was clueless about the world outside the sect. “He’s untouchable, boss. He has a compound up in the Hollywood Hills, security guards, the whole shebang. When Sailor’s there, she’ll be untouchable too.”

Bart tapped his chin with his finger. “Is she fucking him, I wonder?”

“Sailor?” Salem looked skeptical. “I doubt it.”

“We’ll soon find out if she is. Until then…maybe we should keep a low profile. Our contact at the passport office said her name is Sarah Halls now. See where ‘Sarah Halls’ uses her credit card, plot out a timetable of what she does, and when she does it. See if we can’t get a mole on Creed’s security team.”

“Will do. Boss, what’s your end game here?”

Bart laughed softly. “Haven’t I made it obvious? Sailor, my beautiful precious Sailor, doesn’t get to see her twenty-sixth birthday.”

 

Sailor sat in the cab with Bodhi as the vehicle moved through the crowded streets of San Francisco. They were on their way to Quartet’s SF office, and Sailor was so excited that she thought she might throw up any minute. Her good mood rubbed off on Bodhi, who held her hand as they traveled. “You do know that Bay won’t be there, today, right?”

Sailor grinned at him. “Spoilsport. But I would have met her by osmosis, been in the same room of some of her friends.”

“Groupie.”

“You know it.” She giggled as he kissed her.

At the airy and minimalistic offices, they were shown to the boardroom, and soon after, a smiling blonde woman came in, casually but expensively dressed in designer jeans and a gorgeous lilac top. She shook both their hands and introduced herself as Emily Moore to Sailor. “Bodhi has already raved about you,” she said, sitting down, “so this will be a piece of cake.”

Sailor smiled at her. “I hope so…I’ve already told him Quartet is the best home for his music…but what do I know?”

Bodhi chuckled. “She’s madly in love with Bay, so ignore her. She’s biased.”

Emily laughed. “Well, Bay has that effect…and actually, you’re in luck. She’s in town at the moment, so if you’re both free for dinner tonight?”

Sailor thought she might faint and Bodhi laughed. “We can be. Tim’s staying over at a friend’s tonight.”

“Then it’s settled. Now, Dash is unfortunately tied up with another artist today, but Roman will be along to sweeten the deal in a while. Shall we start?”

 

After a morning of discussing contracts and recording sessions, Sailor’s energy was high. Even though she knew so little, just listening to the passion with which Bodhi talked about music, and hearing the ways the company could benefit from Bodhi’s talent and input got her blood pumping. Music had been her saving grace in the cult, her only way of escape, until she actually did escape, and it would always be a guiding force, but until now, she never dreamed she would actually be involved in the industry, especially as Bodhi’s assistant.

Roman Ford joined them, eventually, and Sailor liked him immediately. He was a quiet, serious man, but when he smiled, she could see into his personality. She knew he was in a relationship with Kym Clayton, another member of the 9th and Pine and listened with interest when he spoke about the band and the company to Bodhi.

“We absolutely are a family business here, Bodhi, we don’t take on anyone we don’t find to fit with our aesthetic. On the other hand, when we do spot that in an artist, we pursue them aggressively…as you’ve probably noticed from this one.” He nodded his head towards Emily who grinned, unrepentant. Bodhi laughed.

“I had an inkling. Listen, I’ve been with Sony since the beginning, and I’m nothing if not loyal, but both they and I know it’s the end of our story together. I’ve not felt so motivated by a company’s attitude toward my work as I have today. I’m in if you’ll take me.”

Roman smiled. “Good. Now, I hear you’re joining us for dinner tonight?”

Bodhi nodded, looking to Sailor who smiled broadly. “Absolutely. Hey, you know if we can get a hotel room around here on short notice?”

Emily nodded. “It’s no problem.” She hesitated. “One or two rooms?”

Sailor flushed bright red, and Bodhi smiled. “If the press asks…two. Between us, we’ll only need the one.”

Emily’s smile was soft. “Gotcha.” She squeezed Sailor’s hand and then got up. “We’ll get that arranged right now so you can go rest up before dinner.”

Sailor was suddenly panicked. “I don’t have any clothes or toiletries or spare under…” She trailed off, blushing furiously as Roman, trying to not grin, cleared his throat.

Bodhi put his arm around her. “Sweetheart, we can go shopping, don’t worry about it.”

 

Two hours later, in the penthouse suite of their hotel, Sailor groaned. “I looked like such a hillbilly.”

Bodhi was grinning as he dumped their shopping bags on the bed. “You did not…it was adorable.”

She groaned, and he pulled her into his arms. “Sailor…they loved you. I think they liked you better than they liked me. I know I do.”

She chuckled. “You’re just saying that.”

“Uh-uh.” He shook his head then covered her mouth with his. “And now, I get to do this…”

He slid his hand under her t-shirt and stroked her belly, and she sighed, putting her hand down to cup his cock through his pants. “You’re so hard.”

Bodhi grinned, his lips curving up against hers. “I’ve been thinking about fucking you all day, your sweet, tight little cunt enveloping my cock, the way your beautiful face blushes that gorgeous pink when you cum…”

Sailor moaned, her heart beating overtime. “Fuck me against the wall, Bodhi, take me hard…”

“What have I turned you into?” he sighed in mock seriousness, but made her giggle as he pressed her against the wall and hiked her skirt up to her hips. “And now that we have a good supply of new underwear…” He yanked her panties hard, and she gasped as they tore from her and he dropped to his knees and buried his face in her sex. “God, you taste good.”

He brought her to an orgasm before plunging his cock deep inside her and fucking her hard against the wall, his groans almost growl-like in his need to have her. Sailor bit down on his shoulder, driven completely wild by him. How had she stayed a virgin so long? But tonight, now, she was so desperately glad she had. She would never want more than this, this gorgeous man. She felt him cum, shooting deep inside her and kissed him fiercely.

He carried her, her legs still wrapped around his waist and laid her on the bed, obviously admiring her body.

He made her feel like the sexiest, most desirable woman in the world and she stretched her body out so he could enjoy her breasts moving, her belly, her legs. In turn, she let her eyes roam over his solid body, the hard pecs, the strong arms. His dark curls were messy, he had an inch of beard, and his big green eyes with their long, thick lashes met hers. He was the most beautiful man she’d ever seen. She spread her legs slowly, and he grinned, dropping onto the bed, his arms either side of her head.

“Don’t ever move from this place,” he said softly, “You’re perfect.”

God, she wanted to tell him that she was in love with him, but it was way, way too soon for that. But it was true. She knew it bone-deep. She was in love with Bodhi Creed.

 

Sailor nearly keeled over as Bay Tambe, obviously very pregnant, but radiant with beauty, hugged her. “It’s so good to meet you,” the other woman told her and grinned. “Here, sit next to me, I think Tomas is getting tired of me.”

Tomas Meir, another one of Quartet’s CEO’s, and Bay’s husband rolled his eyes. “Yup, I often get tired of you, Bubba. That’s how you got in that condition.” He grinned at his wife and sat on her other side, his hand stroking her back. Sailor smiled, a little nervous. Bay Tambe was a superstar now, the lead singer of the 9th and Pine, but as the meal progressed, she couldn’t be more down to earth. Sailor was even more in love by the time Bay excused herself to go to the bathroom.

“She looks so well,” Bodhi said to Tomas, who smiled, but his smile didn’t reach his eyes. Dash, Emily’s boyfriend, a very pretty young man frowned. “What is it, Tom?”

Tim sighed, and Sailor suddenly noticed the strain on his face. “Stu Lawson just escaped from prison today.”

Emily gave a distressed gasp. “God, no…how the hell did that happen?”

Tomas nodded, his eyes heavy. “The police won’t tell me anymore details than that. They’ve kept it out of the press for their own reasons… and I haven’t told Bay, yet.”

Sailor didn’t know what they were talking about. She looked at Bodhi, who gave her a slight shake of his head and bent his head to whisper in her ear. “I’ll tell you later.”

Emily was speaking to Tom. “Did you ever tell her about the letters?”

Tom shook his head, then looked up and smiled as Bay came back to the table. She seemed to notice the change in atmosphere. “What’s up?”

Tom grinned. “Nothing, it’s just we missed you.”

Bay laughed, and Dash pretended to gag. Bay swatted his head, but seemed satisfied with Tom’s answer. He pulled her onto his lap and kissed her, and Sailor saw the love in his eyes.

It was the same way Bodhi looked at her. God, am I projecting? Is it because I so desperately want him to love me? She felt Bodhi’s hand close around hers.

As they left the restaurant, Bay took Sailor’s cell phone and programmed her own number in. “Call me, anytime, Sailor. I mean it.”

 

Back at the hotel, Bodhi poured them both some champagne. “A few years ago, when the band had first signed to Quartet, they had a manager called Stu Lawson. He was Kym’s boyfriend at the time, and he was abusive…he beat her, constantly. He and Bay always had a fractious relationship. Long story short, Kym left him, Bay fired him…and Stu shot Bay three times and left her for dead. He abducted and almost killed Kym too. Bay nearly didn’t make it.”

Sailor was shocked to her core. “God, I had no idea.”

Bodhi half-smiled. “You really were sheltered, huh?”

Sailor nodded. “We were only allowed certain news, and now I think about it…the only crime stories we were ever allowed to know about were the ones either committed by a woman (to show us how evil we were as a gender) or by men who said that the woman drove him to it.”

Bodhi looked angry. “Jesus. Seriously, Sails, if I ever get my hands on Bart Foy…”

She took his hand. “I don’t want to talk about him. Not after such a lovely day.”

Bodhi leaned over and kissed her. “Good plan, it has been a great day…and it’s about to get better. Let’s take this champagne to bed.”

 

Bodhi took a swig of champagne, then holding it in his mouth, he clamped his mouth on Sailor’s clit, feeling the bubbles fizz against her. Sailor gasped at the sensation, and Bodhi felt his cock respond, becoming almost painfully hard as he circled his tongue around her clit, his fingers digging hard into the flesh of her hips to keep her steady while he licked, and sucked and bit gently on the hardening bud. He was relentless, not letting her rest until she came, hard, screaming his name and as she was still coming, he thrust his cock deep inside her, pinning her hands to the bed above her head, his eyes intense on hers as they fucked.

“You are my world, Sailor, my world…” He meant every word too, and when he came, and she was almost crying from multiple orgasms, he gathered her to him and kissed her tenderly.

When she had finally fallen asleep in his arms, Bodhi Creed made a decision. He thought about how Tom had looked in the restaurant, telling them that his lover’s life may once again be in danger. It was how he had felt when Sailor told him that if Bart Foy found her, she would be a dead woman.

That wasn’t going to happen.

Because if they ever came near Sailor again, Bodhi Creed was going to take Bart Foy and The Children of Love down.

 

Tim squinted at Sailor as she sat at the edge of the pool, a stack of paperwork and her laptop beside her. “Sails, when are you going to stop working and come play with us?”

Sailor grinned at him. Bodhi was trying to teach Tim to swim, but, apparently, they both found her way too distracting. “When I’m done, impatient boy. Boys,” she added, grinning at Tim’s father who was eyeing her lasciviously. “Timbo, when you can swim and entire length without your Dad holding your swim trunks, I’ll come in.”

“A whole length? Come on,” Tim groaned, flopping backward in the water and pouting. It had been a month since their trip to San Francisco, and every day, as far as Sailor was concerned, her life got better. Tim and Bodhi were really bonding now, and since Bodhi had started teaching Tim to swim, in between fooling around, Tim was gaining confidence.

Sailor was staying most nights at the guesthouse now, most of her stuff had naturally migrated over from the tiny studio apartment. Bodhi had asked, on one of his nightly visits to her bed, why she didn’t give up the apartment.

Sailor had grinned and told him, “Because I like that I have the choice where to sleep. It means a lot to me.”

And Bodhi got it, and never once tried to persuade her to give the studio up. Every minute they spent in bed, Sailor began to feel more feminine, more confident, Bodhi worshiped her body as if he couldn’t have any other woman in the world, when clearly, he could. It still blew Sailor’s mind.

And she loved working for him, with him, she corrected, as Bodhi had insisted they were a partnership, not boss/employee. Getting more involved with organizing his next tour, not for a year or so or until Tim was completely settled, he’d insisted. Talking to Emily, and often, Bay, too, Sailor began to feel as if she were growing competent in his world too. She loved chatting with both women, and sometimes Tom, who would call out things when Bay had her on speaker phone, mostly making fun of his ‘huge’ wife. Bay was close to giving birth now with their third child. Bay and Tom’s twin daughters, Esme and Milly, were already five and causing their parent's hair to turn gray, Bay claimed, but Sailor could hear the love in her voice.

Bay told her that she had some experience with rockstar parents, Kym’s mother and father were Charlie and Mac Clayton, who were huge in the Eighties and weren’t present for most of Kym’s childhood. It affected Kym’s confidence to a large degree, Bay told Sailor.

“I sometimes think it was the reason she stayed with Stu for so long,” Bay told her, and Sailor was surprised that she was so open about the man who had tried to kill her.

“Bodhi told me what happened. I’m so sorry, Bay.”

Bay sighed, “It was a long time ago, Sails. I’m not saying I’ll ever forget it, but it’s behind me.”

Sailor hesitated. “I have some experience with abusive men.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Do you want to talk about it?”

And to her amazement, Sailor told Bay everything, about Tilly, about her mother, about Bart. Bay was shocked, and Sailor could hear how upset she was, even over the phone.

“Oh god, Sails, I’m so sorry.”

“Thank you, but I only told you because…I want to be there for you if you ever need someone who knows, you know?”

She heard Bay stifle a sob. “Forgive me, Sails, my hormones are making me emotional. Thank you, though, and I hope it goes without saying, the same goes for you. Anytime.”

Sailor heard a young girl’s voice then, “Momma, why are you crying?”

“Baby hormones, sweeties. Go find your sister, and I’ll make you a snack. Esme,” Bay said to Sailor, “Seriously that girl is the reincarnation of Sherlock Holmes, never misses a trick. I’m hoping the snack will distract her from telling Tom I was crying. Always worked for me,” Bay chuckled, and Sailor was glad to hear her more cheerful.

“Food is the way to go, always,” she agreed, and after they had said goodbye, she went into the kitchen to make Tim a snack for when he got home.

More and more, she had fallen into the role of ‘mother’ and she found she liked it. Sometimes, she had to remind herself that she wasn’t his mom, that he had a real mom who still called him every week, still loved him. So, she had to be careful, but, god, she adored the kid, and he, in turn, clearly adored her.

She heard Bodhi calling for her and went to find him. He was in the bedroom, trying to decide on a tie. Tonight was the first time he was on a ‘date’ with Soleil, an arts benefit in Hollywood, and now Sailor admired him in a suit.

“God, you’re a handsome man,” she grinned up at him. “Go with the blue. It brings out the green in those eyes of yours.”

He grinned at her and kissed her, picking up the blue tie. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay with Tim, alone here?”

She helped him put on the tie. “Hell yes. We’re going to eat MSG and watch R-rated movies all night. Then we’ll play with your guitars at full volume, wake the neighbors.”

Bodhi laughed. “You are a bad, bad girl.”

Sailor started to sing Fiona Apple’s ‘Criminal.’ “I’ve been a bad, bad girl, I’ve been careless with a delicate man…”

She danced around as he tried to grab her. Eventually, he got hold of her and kissed her. “And you can sing, dammit. How come you never told me?”

She snorted. “Yeah, if I had a ton of auto-tune.”

“No, seriously, sing some more for me.”

Sailor stuck out her tongue and then sang ‘Puff the Magic Dragon’ deliberately out of key. Bodhi laughed, shaking his head. “Well played. But we will be returning to this topic.”

“Ha. You’d have to get me good and drunk before I sing for ya, big guy.”

“So, you’re telling me,” Bodhi sat on the bed, “that you’ll let me fuck you in any way I want, but you won’t sing for me?”

Sailor kissed him. “Yup. Talking of fucking…”

“I have turned you into a nympho,” Bodhi said, but he was already unzipping his fly and pushing her panties aside. Sailor gasped as he plunged his cock into her.

“Good god, Bodhi, you are always so hard, god, that’s good, that’s good…”

 

Soleil hugged Sailor. “Now look, if you see photos of us kissing, just remember a) I’ll be pretending it’s you, and b) I’ll be throwing up almost immediately afterward.”

Sailor laughed out loud as Bodhi rolled his eyes. “Stop hitting on my girlfriend, Solly.”

Soleil grinned widely, and Sailor gave Bodhi a mock-severe look. “No, don’t stop hitting on his girlfriend, Solly.”

She grabbed Soleil and landed a big kiss on her soft lips. Soleil was shocked at first then laughed. Bodhi groaned.

“Now I have to go out…covering.” He gestured to his very obvious erection, pushing the fabric of his pants out, then hurriedly covering it as Tim came into the kitchen.

“You’re right, Sailor, The Hills Have Eyes is on Netflix.” He said, nonchalantly then giggled when Bodhi’s eyes bugged out. “Chill, Dad, we’re just teasing you.”

“You see what I have to put up with?” Bodhi said to Solly, who was cackling with laughter. “Come on, Sol, before these two drive me crazy.”

 

Sailor and Tim had a great evening, lounging on Bodhi’s huge sofas, chatting and watching one of Sailor’s favorite movies, Clueless. Sailor explained to Tim that it was a modern version of Jane Austen’s Emma. Tim looked blank, and Sailor rolled her eyes. “Don’t they teach you anything at that school? Wait a sec,” and she went over to her guesthouse, her home now, and grabbed a copy of the book from her shelf. As she was walking back to the main house, she heard someone call her name and turned. It was Udo, one of Bodhi’s security team.

“Everything alright, Ms. Halls?” They had agreed she would be ‘Sarah Halls’ to everyone except those very close to them.

Sailor smiled at him. “Yes, thanks, Udo, just grabbing a book for Tim.”

Udo nodded. “Have a good night, ma’am.”

“Thanks, Udo.”

Tim was waiting by the glass door, and she handed him the book. “There you go. You have any problems reading it, let me know.”

Tim thanked her, but he seemed distracted. “You okay, slugger?” She put a hand on his dark head.

“I don’t like that guy.”

“Who? Udo?”

Tim nodded. “He gives me the creeps.”

Sailor frowned and closed the door behind her. “Let’s go sit, Timbo.”

When they were back on the couch, Sailor studied the boy. “Why don’t you like him? Has he said or done anything to you?” Sailor’s heart was in her mouth. “Because if he has, you can tell me or your dad and we’ll make things right, darling. You never have to worry about him again. Has anything happened?”

Tim shook his head. “No. Nothing like that…it’s just, he looks at you, and I don’t like it.”

“He looks at me?”

Tim looked away, his face flushing. “He thinks you’re pretty.”

Sailor, relieved, hid a grin. “Well, he has terrible taste, what can you do? Don’t worry about it, buddy.”

Tim didn’t look satisfied with that. “Sailor?”

“Yeah, babe?”

Tim hesitated for a moment. “Are you my Daddy’s girlfriend?”

Sailor felt a rush of heat on her face, but she nodded. “Yes, darling, I am. But it’s a secret, you know? Because otherwise people and the papers will never leave us alone. Auntie Solly is pretending to be your Dad’s girlfriend to fool them. So, if you don’t mind, don’t tell anyone that your Dad and I are together, please. Do you think you can do that?”

Tim nodded. “Sure.” He smiled. “I am glad you’re his girlfriend, Sailor, I love you.”

Sailor felt tears in her eyes. “I love you too, buddy.” She gave him a high-five. “Now, what film shall we watch next?”

 

Bodhi kissed Soleil’s cheek. “Thanks for tonight, Solly, you really are the best.”

Soleil grinned, her beautiful face lighting up. “Any chance for shenanigans, you know me. Hey, listen…for what it’s worth, I adore Sailor. She’s the one for you, I know it in my bones. Don’t fuck it up.”

Bodhi chuckled softly. “I know and don’t worry. There’s no way.”

Solly studied him. “You’re already in love, aren’t you?”

He nodded, completely unfazed. “Entirely. My family is complete, I have no doubt.”

Solly hugged him. “I’m so glad. Listen, I have a very, very pretty nurse waiting for me at my hotel so if you don’t mind…”

“Listen, in a couple of weeks we’re flying out to Florence…wanna ride?”

Solly nodded. “Claudio’s already invited me. Hell yes, saves me flying business class with the manspreading douchebags. Call me in the morning.”

“I will. And thanks again for tonight.”

“No problem. Goodnight.” She grinned at him and got into her Mercedes. “Go in there and screw a gorgeous girl. I know that’s what I’m going to do tonight.”

Bodhi was still laughing when he waved her off, then strolled down to the security guard’s cabin. He stuck his head in the door. “Hey, Udo, you got stuck with night duty this week, huh?”

Udo smiled. “I did, Mr. Creed. All’s quiet this evening.”

“Thanks, Udo. And call me Bodhi for god sake. I’m already feeling old. Mr. Creed was my Dad.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Udo.”

“Sorry. Yes, Bodhi.”

Bodhi grinned. “Good man. Goodnight.”

“Night.”

 

Bodhi walked into the house to find Sailor and Tim asleep on the couch, Sailor’s arms around the boy and his head resting on her shoulder. Bodhi couldn’t help taking a sneaky photo, they looked so adorable. The flash didn’t wake Tim, but Sailor opened an eye and grinned.

“Sorry,” Bodhi whispered, bending to kiss her, “I couldn’t resist. Which gives me an idea…but perhaps we should put Tim to bed first.”

Sailor smiled, and Bodhi lifted Tim into his arms and carried him to bed. Tim didn’t even stir.

“I slipped him a Mickey,” Sailor whispered, with a grin, “He should be out for a while.”

Bodhi chuckled at her joke. “He takes after his pa; I could sleep like that when I was young.”

“Not now?”

He turned to her and stroked her face. “I have better things to do than sleep nowadays.” He brushed his lips against hers lightly. “Stay with me tonight, in my bed.”

Sailor tangled her fingers in his dark curls. “Tim knows about us. He asked me outright if I was your girlfriend, and I told him I was. He seemed to be happy about it.”

Bodhi grinned down at her. “Another way he takes after his dad. So, you’ll stay? It’s time Tim gets used to you being here full time.”

Sailor nodded, and Bodhi led her to his room, closing the door behind him. Luckily his room was on the other side of the house to Tim’s. Sailor pushed his Tuxedo jacket from his shoulders.

“I almost don’t want you to take this off,” she said, her eyes lazy with desire, “You make it look better than any other man in the world.”

Bodhi shrugged back into the jacket, and she giggled. Bodhi slid his hands under her shirt.

“Then how about I stay dressed in this, and you, you beautiful girl, are the only one naked when I fuck you? Would that turn you on?”

Her breath hitched in her throat, and she nodded, her eyes excited. Bodhi ran his hands down her arms. “And how about I take this tie off and bind your hands behind you? Then you’ll really be under my control?”

He saw her nipples harden through her t-shirt and knew he was turning her on. Her cheeks flushed pink, and he slowly pulled her t-shirt over her head. Pulling down each lacy cup, he suckled at her nipples until she moaned, removed her bra, then her jeans and panties. He made no move to touch her clit or her pussy, instead, stroking her belly, the underside of her breasts, her throat.

He pulled the tie from his neck, took first one hand, then the other, pressing his lips against the soft inside of her wrists before binding her hands gently behind her. He raised an eyebrow at her.

“Too tight?”

Sailor shook her head. “No. Tighter.”

He grinned then tugged the tie taut. She gave a little cry, but smiled to show him she liked the quick pain.

“God, you’re incredible…” He took her face in his hands and kissed her mouth passionately until they were both breathless.

“I want to do everything with you,” she whispered. “Everything. I’m yours, Bodhi Creed. Show me the ways to love you…”

Bodhi growled, his cock rigid and straining through his pants. “Sweet torture,” he said, and she nodded. “Beauty, I’d like to photograph your body, your breasts, your soft belly, your sweet cunt….is that something you would allow?”

She nodded, and he smiled gratefully. “You are out of this world. I’m going to lay you down.” He swept her onto her back. “Is that hurting your arms?”

“I like it,” she said, and there was no doubt in her voice. “I want to suck you, Bodhi, I want to taste you.”

He grinned. “In time, I’m going to photograph you first. Would you like me to be naked now?”

She nodded eagerly, and he laughed as he stripped quickly. His long, thick cock stood rampant against his belly, and he fisted the root of it as he grabbed his camera. “All of this is for you, Sailor, all of it.”

Sailor spread her legs for him as he began to take photos of her, close-ups of her lips, her nipples, her navel, her cunt, red and swollen for him, and glistening with arousal. Bodhi took his time, his erection never fading, obviously enjoying their games. “God, you’re so beautiful, Sailor King…the most beautiful sight in this world…open wider for me baby, I want to taste you.”

Finally putting the camera down, he crawled between her legs and then his mouth was on her clit, his tongue lashing around it, tasting every drop of her arousal, her desire for him, teasing the tiny bud until she was writhing and moaning underneath him.

“I want to taste you, Bodhi, please.”

Bodhi looked up. “Want to do it at the same time?”

She nodded, and he turned her onto her side, and himself in the other direction so she could take his straining cock into her mouth. The feel of her sweet, warm mouth enveloping him was insanely thrilling. She seemed to know instinctively what to do, trailing her tongue up and down his shaft, teasing the tip until he was almost driven crazy. She hollowed out her cheeks sucking on him as he tormented her clit with his tongue, and they both came hard, almost simultaneously, shuddering and gasping, Sailor swallowing his seed down eagerly. Bodhi turned around so he could kiss her mouth, freeing her hands as he did so.

“God, Bodhi…” Sailor was almost crying with pleasure, tears on her cheeks and he kissed each one away before his lips found hers.

“Sailor King…do you have any idea how deeply in love with you I am?”

Sailor sobbed now, happy tears. “God, Bodhi, I love you too, so much, so much…”

Bodhi smoothed the damp hair away from her lovely face, his own hair messy around his head. Her face was flush, her lips parted as she gasped for air and he smiled. “And that was only the beginning, darling…we could do so much more.”

 

Bodhi’s cock was hardening again and he moved on top of her, dipping his head to kiss her breasts, the valley between them, the nipples, then her throat before returning to her lips as his cock slid into her. He was so hard, so big that he filled her cunt entirely, and Sailor moaned at the feel of him. He loved her. He loved her. She could have died right there the happiest woman in the world, but now his cock was reaming her so hard, she was very glad she hadn’t. His hands pinning hers above her head, his gaze locked onto hers as they fucked, and Sailor was still amazed that she felt so uninhibited and confident in his arms. He made her cum again and again until finally, when they were both exhausted, he collapsed at her side, both panting for air.

“Sailor King, I swear, I never want to move from your side.”

She wriggled into his awaiting arms and kissed him. “I love you.”

“As I love you, beautiful. God…can we just do this all the time?”

She laughed softly. “Wouldn’t be appropriate in front of Tim, I think.”

Bodhi kissed her forehead. “When he’s older, he would understand.”

“Not sure Family Services would.” They both laughed.

“You may have a point. So, he knows we’re together?”

She nodded and grinned, a little shy. “He told me he loved me too.”

Bodhi pretended annoyance. “Dang, he beat me to it? His game is strong.”

Sailor laughed then kissed him. “I’m so tired, but if you have one more round in you, slugger, I might be good to go.”

Bodhi grinned. “Sexy talk, I like it.” Sailor straddled him, and he cupped her breasts as she impaled herself on his cock and began to ride him.

“You make me the happiest guy in the world, Sailor.”

She grinned down at him. “Good. Now shut up and fuck me, Creed.” And laughing, he obeyed her.

 

Soleil kissed the by-now very sore mouth of Hedda, her date, and got up to go to the bathroom. She paused in the doorway, knowing the light from the bathroom would silhouette her perfect shape and looked back over her shoulder. “Don’t you dare move.”

Hedda smiled. God, Soleil was gorgeous and a mind-blowing lover. She wondered how many men had set their sights on the beautiful art dealer only to be crushed when they found out she was gay.

Hedda waited until Soleil closed the bathroom door before she grabbed her cellphone and tapped out a quick message.

She’s here.

In a second, the reply came back.

Good. Stay close.

Hedda smiled and dropped the phone back into her purse. When Soleil returned, Hedda pressed her lips to hers, and they began to make love again. Hedda hoped that Bartholomew Foy only wanted Soleil to get to Sailor and Bodhi. She really hoped that Soleil wouldn’t be considered a loose end.

She was such an amazing fuck, and it would be such a shame.

 

Sailor’s excitement about flying across the Atlantic Ocean was infectious. Both Bodhi and Tim were grinning as she gaped out of the jet window at the ocean below.

“How come you’ve never gone on holiday abroad, Sailor? Did your mom and dad not take you?”

Sailor and Bodhi exchanged a look then Sailor smiled at Tim. “No, pumpkin…I didn’t have parents, I lived in a kind of…um…special place, where kids without parents sometimes grow up.”

Tim looked thoughtful. “Like a children’s home?”

Sailor hesitated. “Something like that.”

“Hey, kiddo,” Bodhi rescued her, “Who do you think Auntie Solly is on the phone too for this long?”

Tim grinned as Soleil, cell phone clamped to her ear, stuck out her tongue. “One of her girlfriends,” Tim said wisely, but Solly shook her head, giving him a smile, but holding up a finger to ask for a moment more.

Sailor sat back into Bodhi’s arms and felt him press his lips to her temple. They were on the way to Italy to stay with Solly’s brother, Claudio, Bodhi’s best friend. Claudio was an artist and worked mainly from a farmhouse in the middle of the Tuscan countryside. Bodhi’s mother, despairing that Bodhi preferred music to art as he grew up, had mentored Claudio from a young age and now they frequently collaborated. While Vittoria Creed was mainly retired now, Claudio’s stock was rising fast in the art world, mainly thanks to his sister’s tireless work on his behalf. Claudio liked art, his friends and screwing, he didn’t like networking. Soleil handled that side things; arranging exhibitions, making sure Claudio’s name was on everyone’s lips.

Sailor couldn’t wait until they landed. She’d never dreamed she’d be going to Europe, even after she’d escaped the cult, she had thought it an impossible goal; she hadn’t anticipated she would fall in love with a billionaire.

Money was the one thing she was uncomfortable with in her relationship with Bodhi. He had continued to pay her salary, and frequent huge bonuses, even after they had become a couple, and Sailor didn’t know how she felt about that. When Bodhi had told her he had put her name on his bank account, she got scared.

“Bodhi, no, it’s too much, too soon.”

But he wouldn’t hear any argument. “It’s just money, Sails. There’s so many more important things in life, like how much I love you. Money doesn’t come into it.”

That’s because you have it, Sailor had thought, but stayed silent. She had talked to Bay Tambe about knowing, knowing she had married the already rich Tom Meir. Bay had sympathized.

“Girl, believe me, I know how you feel. It went against all my sensibilities to accept that Tom was rich and by default then, so was I. It never goes away, but I found little ways to try and equalize the balance. When the girls came along, that all shifted to the back of my mind, I didn’t care how much we spent on them, I wanted to give them the best start. That being said, they still have to do chores for pocket money, and we’ve tried to teach them the value of money. They’re pretty sensible, they take after Tom, like that.”

Sailor had laughed. “I’d love to meet them one day.”

“You definitely will.” Sailor heard Bay shift and groaned a little.

“You okay?”

Bay laughed. “Yep, just the size of a house. Any day now, this little slugger’s going to make an appearance.”

“Excited?”

“Like you wouldn’t believe.”

 

Sailor thought about Bay now, knowing by the time they got back from their month in Italy, Bay would have had the baby. Bodhi nudged her. “Spacing out?”

She grinned up at him. “Thinking about Bay. You know that saying ‘you should never meet your heroes?’ She disapproves that theory. And then there’s you.” She kissed his mouth gently. “You were my hero the moment I met you, Bodhi Creed.”

His eyes were soft with love. “And you were mine, Sails.” He bent his head and put his mouth next to her ear. “You know, Claudio has made up a bedroom for us in a converted workshop at the far end of his property. Very secluded, and almost soundproof. You have no idea of the things I’m going to do to you there.”

Sailor shivered with pleasure, feeling her libido flare up with desire. She shot a glance at Tim and Solly, but they were both deep in conversation with each other. “And I,” she said in a low, sultry voice, “have brought some toys we can play with.”

Bodhi’s eyes widened. “Naughty girl.”

Sailor grinned. “I am what you made me, Creed.”

 

It was late by the time their town car pulled up outside the farmhouse and Claudio Fonseca came to meet them. Sailor watched as first Solly hugged her brother, then he and Bodhi gave each other a bear hug. Bodhi introduced him to Sailor and Tim, who smiled shyly. Claudio was a stunningly handsome man, tanned skin, dark hazel eyes, shaggy dark hair. Not as tall as Bodhi (nor, in Sailor’s opinion, as gorgeous), he nevertheless towered over her and Tim and when he picked the sleepy Tim up, Tim cuddled him as if he’d known him forever and Sailor saw a little surprise in Bodhi’s eyes.

lettuce, tomato on the crusty bread and slathering it in mayo. Sailor almost drooled at the sight. Bodhi’s hand was stroking her back as he chatted away with Claudio, sometimes dropping into Italian when Claudio, whose English wasn’t as good as his sister’s, looked confused.

It was past midnight when they were finally shown their bedroom, and Sailor grinned when she saw it. It looked like somewhere from a different century, rustic to the extreme. It had been remodeled from an old outbuilding, one large room with a small kitchen and bathroom fitted, large open windows that were shuttered. A huge bed draped in white mosquito netting was at one end. A night stand, which consisted of an old metal table with flaking paint, was stuffed with books, and on top, an old-style lamp with filaments on top. Sailor sighed happily. “This is beautiful,” she said and went to study one of Claudio’s abstracts that hung in the living area. A riot of colors and shapes and Sailor found it magnetic. Claudio came to stand beside her as Bodhi lugged their suitcases into the bedroom. Claudio studied Sailor.

“You like?”

She nodded. “Very much. I don’t know why, but it makes me happy to see all those colors, especially the ones that should clash, next to each other.”

Claudio nodded, pleased. “That’s what I intended. I sincerely believe that color can help with mental health or even just improve your mood.”

Sailor smiled at him. “You’ve certainly achieved that, Claudio, and not just in this painting. This whole place is…a reminder. Of simplicity, of beauty. I can’t imagine anyone being unhappy here.”

Claudio touched her arm. “Thank you, that means a lot. Now,” he looked up as Bodhi joined them, “I’ll leave you two alone. You need anything, just call or help yourself. See you in the morning.”

 

When they were alone, Bodhi kissed Sailor tenderly. “You tired, baby?”

She nodded but looked up into his eyes with her own soft look and full of desire. “I am…but I might need a nightcap before I’m able to fully relax, you know?”

Bodhi got her meaning immediately and grinned. “Well,” he said, lifting her into his arms and carrying he to the bed, “Let’s see what sort of nightcap I can offer you.”

He stripped her and, not wanting to wait, he tugged her legs around his waist and pushed inside her. They made love slowly, not wanting to break the spell of this warm summer night and afterward, fell asleep in each other’s arms.

 

Bay shook Tom’s shoulder gently. “Tom? Babe?”

Tom blinked his eyes open to see her standing by the bed, and she grinned at him, pointing at her belly. “We have lift off.”

They called Kym and Roman to come look after the girls, while Tom took his wife to the hospital. As they chatted easily in the car, neither noticed the beat-up Camaro following them.

Tom had insisted that she have a birthing suite at the best private hospital and Bay didn’t argue. Just like she told Sailor, when it came to their children, she wanted the best. The nurses and midwives greeted them like old friends, after Esme and Milly had been born, Tom had given the maternity wards a huge donation, so relieved that the birth had gone smoothly. They had been worried that since Bay’s shooting, she might not be able to carry to full-term, but now, as they waited for the birth of their son, Bay had proved again that she was invincible.

As the nurses performed tests and doctor examined her, Tom stroked her hair from her face. The contractions were painful, but Bay had learned to breathe through them. She gripped his big hand tightly when one hit her.

“Oww, oww, oww,” she grinned as her muscles cramped and her pelvis shifted. “Remind me again why we decided to have another?”

Tom kissed her forehead. “Because we’re masochists.”

“Oh, right, yeah, that’s it…oh good, that one’s over.” Bay breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed back against the pillows. She seemed totally at ease with the amount of people examining her naked groin. The doctor looked up.

“Well, you’re about halfway dilated,” he said, “So, hang on in there. Want an epidural?”

Bay shook her head. “Like he said, we’re masochists.”

It was hours, and in the morning, Tom went to call Kym and updated her and talk to the girls on the phone. Bay settled on the bed, trying to get comfortable. She closed her eyes, knowing she wouldn’t sleep because the contractions were getting closer, and trying to relax the rest of her body. Deep breathing helped immeasurably, and as she was focusing on it, she didn’t hear or see the person, dressed in hospital scrubs with a face mask, who had slipped into her room.

 

Stuart Lawson gazed down at the woman he had always been obsessed with, who he’d shot in cold blood all those years ago. If anything, the years had made Bay lovelier than ever and pregnancy certainly suited her.

A shame he would have to kill her now. He grinned behind the mask. Who are you kidding? You’ve dreamed of this moment…

He grasped the scalpel he’d stolen from the supply closet and drew it out of his pocket. He hesitated, not knowing where to stab her, to cut her throat or slash across her rounded belly. For once in his life, Stu did consider that he would be killing an unborn child…and it gave him pause.

Another nurse nudged her way into the room, and started to chat with him. Bay opened her eyes and Stu turned away and left the room as quickly as he could. Damn it.

But there was also a sense of relief. He didn’t want to kill the child. Bay, yes, he could kill her over and over again, with great enjoyment, but a baby?

No. He would wait until the kid was born. She would be here, unguarded for a couple of days at least after the birth.