The VIP Room(102)

Lauren shook her head. "I think maybe it's that way," she said, pointing left.

Derek did a quick survey of the grounds. "Yeah, there's the large greenhouse, which is behind the main building. I think you're right."

They headed in that direction, but Lauren's shoes prevented a quick getaway. Derek noticed she was having trouble keeping up with his long strides and slowed down. He thought about telling her to take the heels off, but the ground was filled with small stones and droppings from the trees. She wouldn't be able to walk any faster barefoot, and she might get hurt.

The first drops of rain came softly, and they quickened their pace. As the rainfall grew heavier, Lauren put her face down and tried to walk faster, but her heels digging into the wet soil put her off-balance and she stumbled more than a few times. Derek put his arm around her waist to steady her, and she leaned in against him as they continued at a near run.

A sudden gust of wind from behind pushed them forward and brought the downpour. A loud clap of thunder and almost simultaneous lightning flash signaled that the storm was in full force around them. Lauren's hair and dress whipped around her, and her attempts to hold her skirt down with one hand and her hair back with the other were unsuccessful.

Shielding his eyes from the heavy rain with his free hand, Derek lifted his head to check for the nearest shelter. He spotted a small greenhouse about one hundred feet away, close to the edge of the orchard.

"We have to get away from these trees," he shouted to Lauren and pulled her in against him. "Hold onto to me, we're going to have to run for it."

Lauren let go of her skirt and stretched her arm around his waist, putting her finger through a belt loop, and clung to him as he increased the pace. They finally reached the structure, but when Derek grabbed the doorknob, it was locked.

He pushed her gently against the wall under the tiny overhang. "Wait here."

Derek ran around the side and came back seconds later with a long-handled shovel. "Look what I found," he said with a grin.

He stood between Lauren and the door, raised the shovel above his head, and pushed the metal scoop down with all his might on the door handle, which crashed to the ground, splintering the wood of the front door as it ripped out. Derek pulled out the rest of the lock mechanism with his hands and pushed the door open.

He grabbed Lauren's hand, pulling her inside, and slammed the door shut behind him with his foot. Lauren shook as another boom of thunder rang out and streak of lightning flashed across the sky.

"Are we safe in here?" Lauren wrapped her arms around herself.

Derek looked around. It appeared this greenhouse was used for storage.

"Safe from being hit directly," he said. He didn't give voice to his thought that a tree fallen by lightning could smash right through the structure.

Although it was warm, Lauren's skin goose bumped and she shivered. The soaking wet fabric of her dress had become almost transparent.

Derek saw the outline of her undergarments and the swell of her bosom over the top of her bra. The skirt clung to her thighs and between her legs, accentuating the area he longed to press against.

"You're shivering," he said. He stepped close to Lauren and ran his hands up and down her arms. The spark he felt within was so sharp that for a moment Derek thought he had been struck by lightning. Did Lauren feel it, too?

He put a finger under her chin, lifting her head upward and looked into her blue eyes. Her wet bangs clung against her lashes and wispy ends curled around her face. She had a smear of dirt above one eye where she must have tried to wipe the rain from her face as they ran. She looked just as she had the first time he saw her in her backyard. Only better, because this time she wasn't scowling at him.

Lauren's lips quivered and she continued to shiver. In fact, she seemed more unstable the more he rubbed her arms, so he stepped in closer and pulled her to his chest. As his arms closed tightly around her back, he felt her breasts push against him. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. The faint scent of coconut in her hair had the bewitching effect of an exotic elixir on him, and he groaned as he ran his large hands down her back, letting them rest on her waist.

No doubt that he was under her spell. His hands longed to continue a tour of her body, but he held back. Big head was still in control.

When he didn't continue, he felt Lauren draw away and he loosened his grip. Lauren took a step back and stumbled, turning her ankle as the heel of her shoe got tangled in some debris on the dirt floor. Derek caught her before she fell.

As he swept her up in his arms, he felt the battle of his heads raging stronger. Her eyes met his. Was he reading her look right? Should he lean in and kiss her?

He brought her up so that their lips were barely a fraction of an inch apart.

"I'm trying to be a gentleman," he whispered, grazing her lips with his as he spoke.

"You've already saved me from danger. Now swoop in and claim your prize," Lauren said, and she put her arms around his neck and pressed her lips firmly against his.

Derek savored the sweetness of her kiss for a moment before putting his tongue into her mouth. He slid his hands up into her hair and held her head while they got to know each other's feel and taste.

Lauren freed herself from his grasp and put her face to his ear. "I think I may have sprained my ankle. I need to get off my feet." As she spoke, she ran her fingers up into his hair, scratching his scalp roughly.