Blood poured from the man's nose onto his thick lips as he sneered in Cayson's direction. "You lucky this b.i.t.c.h pled for your life."

He sucker punched Cayson in the ribs, and then whirled around and fled through the study door and out of the house. "Arghh!" Cayson dropped to one knee, clutching his mid-section.

Destiny ran to his side and threw her arms around him. "Are you okay?"

He embraced her with his free arm. The mere act of holding her safely in his arms made him feel better. "I'm fine," he gritted through the pain. "You okay?" He stroked her hair and breathed her familiar scent.

"Oh G.o.d," Destiny moaned against his shoulder. "I'm so glad you were here. I've never seen him go off like that."

"You know that a.s.shole?"

She wiped her tear-stained face. "Yes. That was Porter."

He grimaced. "Your brother? Why the h.e.l.l?"

Destiny cut him off. "He's not my brother. He used to be my...boyfriend."

An engine rumbling to life and the squeal of car tires pierced the air. Cayson staggered to his feet and hobbled from the room.

"No, Cayson! Don't!" Destiny screeched as she followed him. "He's dangerous."

By the time Cayson reached the front door, the street was dark, except for the faint porch lights of his neighbors. He turned to Destiny. "I was ready to strangle that son-of-a-b.i.t.c.h. He was trying to rape you!"

"Thank G.o.d you got here when you did."

He expelled a deep breath. "I decided to come home early tonight." He didn't add that he'd been missing her and he wanted to make it home before she turned in for the night. "The front door was cracked open. Something didn't seem right." He shook his head. "And then I heard you scream."

He leaned against the wall and cradled his ribs. Something was definitely broken. "Why did you tell me Porter was your brother?" he asked through clenched teeth. The sharp pain was making it hard to talk.

"I didn't. La'Treece did."

"You didn't bother correcting me."

"I was wrong. I'm sorry." She caressed his cheek. "Please don't be mad at me."

"I'm not mad. I just wish you would have been honest. It's harder for me to protect you when I don't have all the facts."

"Thank you for rescuing me. I don't know what I would have done if..."

He steadied himself with one hand on the wall. The other hand hooked around Destiny's waist as he pulled her closer. He nudged her lips apart, slipping his tongue inside her mouth. She responded immediately. Her tongue danced with his as she whimpered into his mouth. Heat flooded his body, sending all the blood rushing to his d.i.c.k. The fire of her kiss competed with the pain as she suckled on his bottom lip. He loved how she melted from one single touch. And the feeling was mutual. Whenever she was near, his body went on red alert. He couldn't get enough of holding her, touching her, kissing her. He had an overwhelming desire to pull her beneath him and drive himself deep inside her. He wouldn't be sated until he'd had his fill of her, and made love to her repeatedly. As if feeling the same hunger, she slid her arms around him and pressed against his erection. Pain seared through his ribs.

He broke the contact as he hissed through his teeth. "s.h.i.t." He wished he could finish what he'd started, but he knew his limitations.

Destiny pulled away, a mixture of longing and concern dancing in her eyes. She knew it too. "I think we'd better get you to the emergency room."

Cayson's arrival to Missouri Baptist Medical Center was like a family reunion. Irene was doing her best to keep from crying over her "little boy." Cayson's dad was the rock that Irene leaned on. With his thick, dark hair and salt and pepper goatee, David Sullivan appeared as though he'd found the fountain of youth. Destiny could see where Cayson got his good looks.

She gave his parents a brief run-down of the night's events, purposely glossy over the dirty details. She knew they had more questions, but she didn't feel it was her place to divulge everything. Whenever they learned the entire truth from Cayson, she hoped they didn't judge her for putting their son in danger. Three of Cayson's ribs were bruised as a result of Porter's attack. She considered him lucky to be alive.

When her cell phone rang, she was happy to step out of Cayson's hospital room to give him and his parents a moment of privacy. Alone in the hallway, she answered her phone. "Hey, La'Treece. I need to call you back. I'm at the hospital with Cayson."

"What the h.e.l.l happened?" La'Treece demanded.

Destiny filled her in on the details, getting choked up and almost crying as she relived the nightmare in her mind.

"OmiG.o.d! That fool is dangerous! He could have killed Porter."

Destiny's mouth dropped. "Porter? Are you f.u.c.king serious? Cayson could have been killed!"

"Why you so worried about Cayson? Where's your loyalty?"

"Porter wasn't loyal to me!"

"Grow up, Destiny. Porter ain't perfect. But he can do stuff for you. And look at youholding the coochie back like it's a gold nugget or somethin'."

Destiny shook her head and moved further down the hall to ensure Cayson's parents didn't overhear her conversation. "I can't believe what I'm hearing."

"Neither can I. We've been road dogs for years. You changin' on me, girl."

"No. I'm the same as I've always been."

"Not since you got with that uppity lawyer. Can't you see he don't even like black people?"

"Cayson is a good man. He got me a job and an apartment."

"So, why you still livin' with him?"

"You know I'm on the waiting list."

"Yeah, right. I'll believe it when I see it. I told you, ever since that night, I don't trust him."

"He said it didn't go down like you said. He said you tried to force your way into his bed."

"Excuse me? Who the h.e.l.l you goin' believe? Me or him?"

Destiny fumed. She didn't want to think about this right now. La'Treece didn't even ask how she was doing. And now, she'd jumped on Porter's bandwagon. It wasn't fair. Destiny didn't want to have to make a choice between her best friend and her new friend. No, Cayson was more than a friend. He'd changed her outlook on life. He'd awakened her body with his soft caresses and sensual kisses. Maybe l.u.s.t was clouding her thinking. "I gotta go," she lied. "The doctor is calling me."

She hung up before La'Treece could say anything else. How dare La'Treece question her allegiance? If anyone had been loyal, it was Cayson. He'd rescued her more times than she could count including tonight jumping on Porter and almost beating him to a pulp. And he would have done it if Porter hadn't shoved a gun in his face. Cayson wasn't dangerous. He was protecting her. n.o.body had done that in a long time.

Right now, it seemed like her old life and her new life were having a head-on collision. It was like Phaedra said: she had a prime opportunity here. La'Treece was used to surviving. Of course, she would feel threatened by this new life. She just needed time to get adjusted. Somehow, Destiny would make her understand.

Cayson reclined on the hospital bed. His overzealous nurse had bound his ribs tightly with bandages so he wouldn't move and accidentally hurt himself. Seemed like a d.a.m.n shame. All of this attention for some bruised ribs. When he was twelve, his parents brought him to this same hospital after Mark bet him that he couldn't pop a wheelie on his dirt bike. One broken arm and two chipped teeth later, Mark proved he was right. Back then, his injuries were a lot more severe, but he didn't get fussed over nearly as much as he was now.

"I think that nurse has a thing for you," his mom observed.

"Not interested," Cayson replied.

His dad shrugged. "Don't be so hasty, Son. Some harmless flirting could help with the bill."

Cayson smiled at his dad's dry sense of humor. "I never do anything harmless. Besides, I've already got my eye on someone."

As if on cue, Destiny returned to the room. Cayson's eyes lingered on her. She offered him an encouraging smile that failed to hide the fear in her gaze. He didn't know who had called her, but he had a good idea. Now, more than ever, he wanted her corrupted friends to stay away from her. He didn't know what possessed him to be so overprotective. He'd gone into rage mode when he saw that beast on top of her. But he wouldn't have handled it any differently. He couldn't. It was him against Porter, and he'd been determined to win. If the idiot hadn't had a gun how far would it have gone? Would he have strangled him with his bare hands like he'd wanted to do? He shuddered. His new-found aggressiveness scared the s.h.i.t out of him.

"I'm going to talk with the doctor," his father said, nodding toward his mother.

"I'll go with you." She got the hint, abandoning her comfy leather-like chair in the corner and following his father out of the room.

Destiny approached the bed and held his hand. "How do you feel?"

Like I've been put through the sausage grinder at Pig and Pancake.

Her pretty lips deepened into a frown. It did nothing to detract from her beauty.

"Don't worry about me," he rea.s.sured her. "I can handle myself."

"I'm sorry I dragged you into this."

"Never apologize for something that was beyond your control."

"Yes, but if I hadn't a.s.sociated with Porter, he would have never come to your house. You would have never gotten hit. I wish I never met him."

For the second time that night, tears pooled in her eyes. This was uncharted behavior for her. Destiny Jackson was tough. He'd seen nothing but s.p.u.n.k and att.i.tude from her. He wasn't about to let her cry over that a.s.shole. "If you never met him, you would have never gotten in trouble. And I would have never defended you in court. I don't know about you, but I'm kinda glad we met."

"That's so sweet of you to say."

"In fact, you could technically say Porter introduced us."

"I wouldn't go that far."

Cayson chuckled, and then gritted his teeth. He pressed against the bandages of his stomach, trying to staunch the spasms of pain from his ribs. "Ooh, you cannot make me laugh anymore," he instructed. "It hurts too much."

She nodded, a devilish spark lighting up her eyes. "Can I make you smile?"

"Yeah, that'll work." As soon as he was released, he'd tell her exactly how!

His dad peeked his head through the open door. "Son, the police want to get a statement from you."

"Destiny moved toward the door. I'll be waiting outside."

His father stopped her. "They want to talk to you too."

Cayson's mom entered the room with news of her own. "Destiny, an officer wants to get a composite sketch from you. Do you think you could describe the man who attacked you? Or pick him out of a photo lineup?"

Destiny glanced at Cayson. Fear mushroomed in her eyes. She'd said Porter was dangerous. Well, so was he. He might not own a gun, but he knew some powerful people. Plus, he had the law on his side. And an old college roommate who had connections with the seedier side of this city.

"Don't worry," Cayson a.s.sured her. "I can protect you. I'll keep an eye on you twenty-four seven."

"What about Dane's wedding?" his dad asked. "Who will watch over Destiny while you're in the Maldive Islands?"

"Yeah," Destiny scoffed. "Are you going to hire a bodyguard for me?"

His eyes locked with Destiny's. At that moment, he knew what he had to do. "No, I'll take you with me."

"What?" three shocked voices asked in unison.

Cayson stifled the laugh he knew would lead to pain. But the whole thing was funny. His parents and Destiny were acting like Lucy, Ethel, and Fred. Yeah, the idea was outrageous, but since he'd met Destiny, his entire life had taken a turn for the outrageous.

"What do you say?" he asked her. "Are you ready for a trip to paradise?"

"Um...I don't know. Maybe..."

She looked overwhelmed. Her facial expressions morphed from fear to doubt to determination and back. He was not letting her out of his sight. That was all there was to it. He would be worried sick knowing she was here alone and possibly in danger. If she was going to be stubborn about it, he'd have to force the issue. "Woman, I'm responsible for you," he told her. "Remember, I gave an oath to look after you. I can't look after you if we're thousands of miles apart. Now, are you going or do I have to kidnap you?"

"Cayson!" his mother admonished.

He didn't know which was worse. The shocked look his mother gave him, or the indignation clouding his father's features.

Great. Now, I'm about to get a lecture from both of them.

"Son," his father chastised, "you can't force her to go with you."

Destiny's eyebrows furrowed, but her pretty mouth was slightly parted, indicating she was still indecisive. When he was younger, his brothers accused him of being the favorite child. He'd used his charm to get him out of plenty of jams. But he could see that charm wouldn't help him today. It would have to be manipulation.

He clutched his side, wincing in pain.

Destiny rushed to him. "Cayson, are you alright? Do you need the nurse?"

He pulled her down low and whispered in her ear. "I could have died tonight. I put my life on the line for you, Destiny. While Porter is out there running scot-free, I'm laying here busted up with bruised ribs. You owe me."

Her eyes bored into his. Destiny did not like to be at the mercy of others. He knew it. He'd purposely backed her into a corner by playing the sympathy card. She straightened, and within seconds, she'd composed herself. She'd even learned to control the impulse to narrow her eyes at him. But he knew there was a wildcat beneath her calm surface. "Fine, she told him. "I'll go."

A knock at the door interrupted their staring contest. Two police officers strode in. "Mr. Sullivan and Miss Jackson, are you ready to make your statements?"

Chapter 10.

Destiny had never heard of the Maldive Islands until Irene gave her a few brochures to read. Seeing the tropical images splattered across the glossy pages of the brochure was impressive. But nothing prepared her for the breath-taking views she witnessed when she stepped off the plane. A warm, sensual breeze kissed her bare shoulders as she walked her bungalow at The Anantara Kihavah Villas. The entire wedding party was staying at this resort. She'd also learned from Irene that Cayson's brother, Mark, and his wife, Kendra were living here and running an upscale travel agency. s.h.i.t, who wouldn't want to live here? With a little slice of Heaven hidden on a sandy, white beach, folks must have a hard time leaving.

Now, she stood in the middle of her bungalow's main room, letting her toes wriggle on the dark, wood floors. The soft breeze made the sheer curtains dance in the long windows. From where she stood, she watched the midday sun as its bright rays rippled on the lazy waves of the crystal blue ocean outside the open patio doors. Cayson was right about one thing: this really was paradise.

She wandered onto the patio to get a better look at the view. The moment she did, she regretted it. Cayson was also on his patio. They had adjoining rooms. She was still irritated with him for forcing her to leave St. Louis. And to make matters worse, he'd gone back to his old sullen behavior since his run-in with Porter two weeks ago. It was as if he was punishing her for what happened. Well, she may have been the cause of the fight, but she certainly didn't deserve the silent treatment.