Free Cayman Desires by Sabel Simmons Page B

danced to the music drifting from all the different floats. Slowly
following along to the center fountain where everyone gathered for a street
party.
    Raymond’s grip shifted
around her hand and he plated his fingers through hers, his thumb gently
rubbing the veins on her wrist.  She felt the heat shimmering inside her and
blood rushed through her veins.  How could such a simple gesture set her blood
afire?
    They reached the center
fountain and met up with Bette, Kevin and Trace.   Bette’s excitement was
evident in the energy she exuded in her dancing movements.   She grabbed Kevin
and pulled him amidst the dancing couples, calling out to Clarissa:  “Come Boss
… let’s have some fun!”
    Trace immediately took
Clarissa’s hand and followed them, forcing Raymond to relinquish his hold on
her.  Laughingly she joined in the fun and followed Trace’s dance steps he
changed all the time in tune with the music.
    She relaxed completely
and for a while totally forgot about the tension between Raymond and her.  She
laughed and danced until she was breathless.  Now and then, her eye caught
Raymond’s, who still stood motionless on the same spot, his eyes trained on her
unwaveringly.
    Raymond felt the anger
escalate in him, higher and higher, until he felt he ready to explode.  Every
time Michaels caught her in his arms after a twirl, pulled her close and danced
in circles with her, he wanted to rip his throat out! What right did he have to
put his hands on her?  As though she belonged to him!
    Retha placed a hand on
his arm.  “Calm down, son, she is having fun for a change.”  He barely glanced
at her and she sighed.  “I think Robby had enough fun for tonight. He is
literally falling asleep on his feet.  We are taking him to bed.”  He
acknowledged her with a nod, his eyes still glued on Clarissa.
    When Trace pulled
Clarissa close and bend down to kiss her full lips, something exploded in
Raymond. Without even realizing it, he moved towards them, murder in his eyes.
    He seized her by the
hand, and before Trace could react, hauled her with him down the street back to
the Hotel.  Clarissa had to run to keep up with him and tried to tug her hand
out of his.
    “Ray, what are you
doing?  Let me go!”
    Without breaking his
stride or looking at her, he growled:  “If you know what is good for you at
this stage, Clarissa, you will just shut up!”
    They reached her
cottage and he threw the door open and slammed it shut the minute she was
inside after him.  He jerked her around and up against him.  His eyes burned
into hers like blazing embers.
    “You should have known
better to openly challenge me, honey.”  His voice was soft and harsh, yet
smooth as silk.  The anger within, thinly veiled.
    “Ray, what are you
talking about?”  Desperately she tried to put some distance between them, but
his hands tightened around her arms.
    “Throwing lover boy in
my face, the whole evening!   Pushing against him like a bitch in heat!”
    She blanched, anger
intensified inside her like a volcano.  “How dare you!”
    He yanked her higher
against him, his voice thick with anger.  “I dare!  I warned you yesterday
morning!  You are mine!”
    She realized that even
though a volcano of heat slowly sizzled inside her, his had already erupted and
she started struggling in earnest.
    “Let me go!”
    Instead, his one arm
folded around her waist like a steel band, his other moved up to grip her chin
roughly between his fingers.  He forced her face up, his blazing eyes fastened
on her quivering lips.  He held her so tight she could not move, and she
beseeched softly:  “Ray, please…”
    His hard gaze fixed on
her.  “Please … you use that word so nicely, my darling.  Be aware, that before
this night is over … you will say it many times more!   You compared me to
Blackbeard … well wench … I will show you Blackbeard!”
    His head lowered and
his mouth closed over hers.  He kissed her hard,