Another Thursday, Another T13

Hunting Mickey

I’m so glad my block has finally loosed. I was afraid I wouldn’t write a single word all year. I’m thrilled to say that I AM back in the swing, WAHOO! So thought I’d share some scenes from Hunting Mickey. No this book isn’t finished much less submitted/contracted but it’s proving to be one of my top faves of all my books! Please bear in mind none of this has been edited! (BTW like the image? My DDIL took an idea of what I wanted for the cover of the book and mixed it up. The only thing missing is the couple running for their lives. But I LOVE the blood from the waterfall! It's exactly what I had envisioned! She "borrowed" the image from deviant art website. So anyway--THANK YOU Rachel!)

The blurb:
When all hell breaks loose you know the honeymoons over--sometimes life’s a bitch

Agent Mickey Flannery is finally going to take his wife Terese on the honeymoon they missed five years ago. The plans are made, the plane is landed and they arrive to the news they’ve been chosen for an upgraded holiday—a week on a private island all amenities included.
The private beach soon turns into paradise lost when they learn their gracious host is none other than Rafael Lesandro Rivera, Ramiro’s son, and he’s out for blood.

Can Mickey keep Terese and himself alive long enough to find a way of escaping the man who them join his hunting party—as the prey?

So without further ado:

1. In this scene Mickey and Terese are packing up to head for Hawaii:

“Hello beautiful.” he moved close to her, wrapped his arms around her and held her close to his body.
She could feel his heart beat against her cheek. “Hello yourself stud.”
He laughed and kissed the top of her head. “I think you have to many suitcases.”
“No. I don’t think so, I mean I don’t know what we’re going to do so I have to have outfits suitable.”
“You’re not going to need any clothes, Baby. I don’t plan on leaving the room.”
She gave him a playful smack on the chest. “Then you can stay in. I intend on actually seeing the sights.”
“Maybe we can go out one day, but that’s it. There’s a walking tour of the jungle, or forest or whatever it’s called right?”
“Yes. I’m really looking forward to seeing hibiscus and other tropical plants up close and personal. I think it would be so great to stay the entire day and even a warm night in the lush vegetation.”
“A night huh? Getting all hot and sweaty?”
“Uh huh. Toss in some heavy breathing and we’re good to go.”
Mickey squeezed her tight. “Well then we are definitely going to have to arrange to spend one night, maybe two out there.”

2. The hotel in paradise:
The rustic looking lodge was built with an old world feel of aged timber and the entire length of the lobby was situated behind large glass windows.
They climbed out of the cab and went inside to an opulent setting. The hardwood floors gleamed in the late afternoon sunlight. The vaulted ceiling was accented with hardwood beams. The walls were decorated with paintings and photographs that had been taken from spots all over the island.
He couldn’t wait to get Terese into their room. The rooms were huge, if the photos were to be believed. Each suite held a main sitting room with a mini wet bar and a walkout patio overlooking the ocean or looking out over the forest. Either way it would be their own little paradise.
He stopped at the desk to register and waited for the clerk to turn from the phone. “Reservations for Flannery.”
The clerk jerked his head then turned his attention to the computer screen and then picked up a pile of papers. “Mr. Flannery, it is this hotel’s honor to inform you that you will not be staying here but you have been upgraded to a private island sanctuary.”
“Uh…what?”
“As part of a thank you package the management decided to have a special give away for all guest registered for this week. All the registrations were placed into a special pool and your name was drawn. A limo will arrive and take you to the launch where a private shuttle launch will transport you to our own special paradise island. Moku Papapa is a lovely, secluded islet chain where you will enjoy solitude and peace. We have a small house set up and stocked with anything you could possible want.”
“It sounds wonderful,” Terese sighed.
“Almost too good to be true,” Mickey muttered.
Terese turned to him. “Do you have to be so suspicious of everything?”
He pulled her into a warm embrace. “I guess I do.” At the look in her eyes, he regretted his response. “You’re right. We’re on vacation.” He turned to the clerk, “we’re ready anytime.”
Terese’s body posture changed and he could feel the excitement radiating from her. “Oh Mickey this is going to be wonderful.”
“How many other people will be there?” Mickey asked casually.
“None sir. This is a guest island privately held by one of the owners of the lodge. He maintains the property and leases the island only to special guests.”
“Our honeymoon on a private island. It’s going to be perfect Mickey.” She leaned in close to him and he dipped his head. “We won’t have to worry about our little nighttime activity.”
An image of her dressed in nothing with a large moon bathing every inch of her satin skin made his gut tighten. “I’m not sure I can wait that long.”

3. They’ve arrived at the “small” cottage that is to be their home for the next week. Nothing to flashy:
Terese sucked in a breath. It wasn’t a mere cottage as she assumed. There was a large circle drive in front of the white staccato building. Three large ebony wood framed arches surrounded black wrought iron gates that had walkways lined with red tile. The home itself seemed to be three stories. There was a large wrap around porch on the bottom floor and then the two upper floors had balconies that also wrapped around the building.
The doors were constructed of the same ebony as the archways. Proof of the grandeur of the home. Ebony wasn’t an inexpensive lumber by any means. “It’s amazing,” she enthused.
“It’s incredible,” Mickey agreed,
“The home was built in eighteen hundred and forty by a pirate turned missionary.”
Mickey cocked an eyebrow. “A reformed thief?”
“More like a tropical Robin Hood. He stole from the British merchant ships and passed along the goods and treasures to those in need. Minus a clear cut for himself,” Timms added with a sly grin. “Come this way please.”
Inside the home was even more opulent than the outside. The large room had red and white marble tile on the floor. The interior window frames were made of balsa and bamboo. Vaulted ceilings vee’d over picture windows and sliding glass doors that opened into a private garden.
Their footfalls echoed in the empty house. “I can’t believe it.”
“I’ll show you to your room and see you settled then I’ll make sure supper is prepared.”
Terese scanned wide-eyed as she drank the sight of the glorious details. Paintings that would be fitting for a museum hung in gilded frames along the walls. A large crystal chandelleir flared to life and light the long hallway to the winding staircase. The banisters were delicately carved mahogany. The steps were light hard wood.
“There are seven rooms in the main house. Five bathrooms. An eat-in kitchen, a formal dining room, a game room, a den and a day room. The gatehouse has another two rooms and a single bath.”
“Your pirate spared no expenses.”
“None.” He continued the path up the steps to the second floor. Down the hall, he paused before a door. “This is your room.”

4. They’ve just been shown the master suite in an elegant tropical mansion. The amenities are extravagant beyond imagination:
Timms opened the door to the master bath. A large dressing room with full sized mirrors on sliding doors hid a closet. The counter was a deep mahogany wood. The sink basin was cream marble with gold fixtures.
This opened into the bathing room. A Jacuzzi tub big enough for two stood in the middle of the floor surrounded by cream marble. Steps carved into one side led up to the tub itself.
The commode had its own room, complete with door.
“I’ve died and gone to heaven,” Terese whispered. “Best of all, I don’t have to clean it!”
Mickey chuckled and turned to Timms. “So, you call us for dinner, is there a set time, or do we tell you?”
“Cook can have the evening meal ready in one hour.”
“Okay, that’s great. We have an hour to get settled.”
Timms offered a half bow and exited the room.
“If I’m dreaming this whole fairy princess routine, don’t wake me.” Terese glanced over. Mickey had a studious look on his face and was rubbing the back of his neck. He was in super agent mode again. “Mickey? Can’t you turn it off?”
He recovered and his arms slipped around her. His hard body radiated heat into her and she hugged against him. Solid. Strong. His masculine scent filled her. “I’m sorry baby. It’s just…unreal.”
She stepped back and looked around the room. They had won the vacation lotto. Suddenly her skin began to prickle. She briskly rubbed her arms. “Now you’ve got me doing it.”
He lifted her from the floor and carried her to the bed. “Maybe we can forget.”
He laid her gently on the soft mattress. “Well we have an hour to kill. Whatever shall we do to pass the time?”
His green eyes darkened and he crushed his lips to hers. He trailed his kisses down her chin, to her neck as he unbuttoned the blouse she was wearing. “We’ll think of something.”

5. The meat of the game:
A shuffle in the brush in front of him set him on alert. “Good morning,” Rafael greeted with a wicked grin.
Mickey lunged at him and Rafael raised a long thin pole. Too late, it registered as a cattle prod. The jolt of electricity knocked Mickey to his knees. He positioned himself between Terese and Rafael. The man eyed Terese with a hungry look and Mickey lunged forward again. Once again the action only earned him another searing jab. “What do you want?”
“I’ve decided to have a hunt and your invited.”
Mickey studied his enemy close. “Hunt? Like what? Wild goats, or birds or…” a rock formed in Mickey’s stomach and sank. He backed into Terese and drew up to full height. “You’re crazy.”
“On the contrary I am most sane. I’m even fair minded.”
Mickey let loose a derisive grunt. “Right. Drugging us, and dumping us here. Real fair.”
“My terms,” Rafael glanced over his head at Terese. “You have forty-eight hours from now to outwit and outrun myself and you will be given a boat and freedom. If you fail, I will not hesitate to kill you both.” He leered at Terese, “I will enjoy you,” he brought his eyes back to Mickey. “While you watch. Then she will die a slow and painful death before your eyes.”
“You son of a bitch.”

6. Oops! Rafael forgot something:
“Oh!” Rafael lifted a hand and Mickey froze. “Did I happen to mention my pets? No, I can see it slipped my mind. I have a few dear creatures running loose out here. My pride and joy are my jaguars I found in Brazil. Glossy black coats make them nearly invisible in the trees. I had brought them in to hunt but I grew far too fond of them. Of course, there are the other tropical hazards. Spiders, snakes, plants. Should make your survival interesting. Well, let the game begin.” He grinned, turned, and disappeared into the undergrowth. An engine started and the smell of exhaust filled the air.
Mickey waited for the space of two minutes then turned to pull Terese into the trees. She was trembling and her skin was moist under his hand. “It’s going to be all right.”
She swallowed hard and nodded. “Snakes shouldn’t be a worry,” she began with forced bravado. “You know how much I hate them and I did some checking. There aren’t any venomous ones native to Hawaii.”
Jaguars aren’t native either, he thought bitterly. “Stay close.”

7. Have they found an oasis?
Mickey glanced back at her and he stopped short. “Baby?”
She shook her head. “I don’t need to stop.” There was no way she was going to slow him down. They descended a small slope and the feeling of the air changed. “Mickey?”
He nodded. “I feel it too.”
The air was slightly cooler and the moisture content had shifted. There was a musty smell to it. Somewhere near them was water. He forged a trail and she followed directly in his wake.
The slope deepened and the sound of gently rushing water carried through the trees. Through a break she caught sight of a stream that was fed by a small waterfall pouring from a small cavern opening in a rock ledge.
She inhaled a deep breath of the cool clean scent and started forward. Mickey grabbed her arm to hold her back.
“This may be the only source of fresh water.”
Understanding dawned. If it was, then this is where anything that lived in the thick would come for a drink. She scanned the trees and studied the rocks. She sniffed the air again. This time, her mind alert for the signature odor a large cat would trail behind. She glanced at Mickey and he nodded. They carefully crept from the protection of the bush and made their way to edge of the small creek. The pool was larger than she’d first thought. The water cascading down the rock face collecting into a good size pool of clear blue-green water. From the pool, it trickled out in a bed that flowed past them and disappeared into the underbrush.
The water, a welcoming respite from the heat of the day and exertion, called to her and she moved up the stream to the pool. She shot a look back at Mickey. “What do you think?”
He scanned the hills and trees around them then he looked back at her. She could read the warring thoughts on his mind.
“I should know better,” she answered for herself.
Mickey moved to stand behind her. His body was tense, on full alert. “No matter how much I’d love to see you wet in this oasis I think it’s better…”
He never finished his sentence. Heat skimmed across her cheek and she felt Mickey jerk and sticky wet droplets splattered on her face.

8. In every dark moment a little sun must shine: Mickey has left Terese to go and find a safe place to bed down for the night:
A hand passed through the greenery, reaching out for her. The sick bastard wasn’t going to get his hands on her! Fear filled her and she grasped the wrist. Taking hold of the thumb, she bent it back toward the wrist.
“Terese,” Mickey hissed and she immediately released her hold.
She climbed out of the fern covering and stood beside him. He rubbed at his hand and she felt a flash of guilt. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“You didn’t. Come on, I’ve found a place to hole up for the night.”
She fell into step behind him. She should have recognized his hand but she’d been so panicked it hadn’t dawned on her. They passed a vine and she paused. It seemed to strike a bell, but why?
“Terese? Why’d you stop?”
She pointed to the vines. “That. I know it. I just don’t know why I know it.”
Mickey knelt down and lifted the vines. Suddenly he smiled and grabbed a green ball. “It’s passion fruit. Not quite ripe but In this case I think we’re okay.”
They picked a couple of fruits and looked around. Nothing to carry it with.
Terese grinned. “I’ve got it covered.” She stuffed one fruit in each cup of her bra.
They were in it up to their necks but Mickey let loose a laugh that lightened the mood around them.
“And I didn’t think your chest could look any better. Come on. I found a place.”

9. Our darling Terese deals with all her stressful situations with humor.
Mickey absently rubbed the jagged skin around his bullet wound. The flames of pain hadn’t relinquished their bite into his body. He had heard the shot too late. Thank God the bastard didn’t hit Terese.
He walked his fingers around the opening. At least the tissue didn’t feel warm. It wouldn’t be long before signs of infection could show. He glanced at Terese’s sleeping figure. She was curled into a half ball. “Terese,” he spoke softly as he placed a light touch to her shoulder.
Her eyes flew open and she sat up with fist cocked in the air.
He dodged from the line of fire. “Easy Tiger.”
“I’m sorry Mickey.” She stretched and a grimace of pain crossed her face. “I think we need better accommodations. Call ahead to the next cave and reserve a room with a king-sized bed and a large hot tub if you would be so kind.”
He grinned and planted a kiss on her lips. “I’ll do my best.” He moved to the mouth of the cave and looked down and around them. “I don’t see anyone but the sky’s beginning to lighten. We need to move on.”
She nodded and crawled to his side. “How’s your shoulder?”
“It’s all right.”
He reached the cavern’s opening.
“No you don’t,” she grabbed his wrist. “Let me take a look at it.”
“We don’t have time. Besides, there’s nothing you could do for it. Not until we find the hole with amenities.”

10. Another time Terese’s humor snagged her:
Mickey has heard trackers on their tale and he’s looking for somewhere safe to hide her. He’s found it—a fairly large hole in the base of a tree trunk:
Terese could barely contain the scream that built inside her. The snakes under belly scales rippled across her shoulder and its tongue flicked at her. She clasped her hands over her mouth and stamped down the urge to scream.
She breathed hard into the palm of her hands. The beady eyes of the snake stared into hers. The flicking tongue tasted the skin of her cheek. She trembled with revulsion and fear at the feathered touch from the delicate tongue skimming her face.
She shoved her hands deeper into her mouth and swallowed the shrieks. The long lithe body slid between the material of the shirt and her chest. The smooth texture of the scales grated at her last nerve.
She had to keep it contained. There were still voices coming from the men just above them. One single sound, the slightest whisper would reveal their location and they’d die for sure.
Her heart rate slammed into triple time and her chest constricted. She couldn’t breath. Trembling with revulsion, she clamped her eyes tight shut and prayed for the strength to keep a lid on her growing panic. Every molecule in her body was urging flight. With Mickey practically on top of her, she couldn’t get out even if she wanted.
The reptile continued its sliding path down her chest and was rippling along her rib cage.
Mickey’s strong hands gripped her arms and her eyes flew open but she didn’t trust herself to move her hands. His eyes traveled down the length of her body to the obvious ridge the snake formed underneath her shirt. He locked gazes with her momentarily, then he slipped a hand up into her shirt, and soon the snake was pulled from her and tossed through the brush.
“It’s gone.”
She only stared at him. “Snake. Why the hell did it have to be a snake? Spiders I could handle. But a snake?” The line hit her and she felt the giggle rise. “Sounds like a line from a movie we know huh?”
He grinned and pulled her against him. “Yep. Are you ready?”

11. Mickey, our luscious hunka-hunka is pissed at Rafael, his pissed at himself and he’s scared for Terese. He’s trying to keep from blowing up all over Terese and he’s a typical man—he can’t explain why he’s being the way he is. If he admits his fear he’s sure that will hurt more than help. Therefore, he’s been pushing on through the brush. He’s pushed too hard. Terese is suffering from the effects of heat exhaustion. She’s just collapsed on the ground behind him:

He held her fast. Her breathing was becoming more irregular, in heavy pants. He needed to stave off hyperventilation.
“It’s too hot,” she complained and pushed at him.
“I know baby.”
She strained against him and angrily jerked at the torn fabric of the shirt. “Get it off me,” she demanded. “Get it off now,” her voice rose with each word.
He pressed a hand on her lips. “Terese. Baby, you have to keep quiet.”
She jerked in his hands and for long minutes was still. “I’m sorry,” she finally said and collapsed into him, her dry sobs tearing at his heart.
“Don’t apologize,” he peppered kisses into the side of her head. “I understand.”
She shook her head and sniffed. “I can’t act like this.” She swallowed hard and looked up at him. “I can go on. I just need this shirt off. We have to get my temperature down. I’m getting close to the line Mickey. I can tell.”
“I’ll find…”
She raised her fingers to his lips. “Promise me something.”
“Anything.”
“Find me somewhere to hide then you go on without me. Get whatever you need, help or whatever and then come back for me.”
Leave her? What made her think he’d ever agree to that? She was his whole world. If he ever lost her—he killed the thought immediately and turned to help her struggle from the confines of the shirt. “There’s no way in hell I’m leaving you out here.”
“I’d leave you.”
“Liar. Now shut up for a few minutes then we’ll go out again.”
She looked so fragile. So weak. He had only seen her this way once before. Again, he shoved the memory away. The here and now. That was what mattered.
She sat up in his lap. Her gaze lingered on his injury and slowly traveled up to look into his eyes. “Do you really have a choice?”
“Actually I do.” He stood and pulled her up into his arms.

12. It’s finally rained. It helped to cool the day off and it offered them some much-needed fresh water. It has its good points true, but it also had some adverse affects:

Trees with large leaves at least five, maybe eight inches wide surrounded them. Mickey pulled off a couple of the leaves and passed one to Terese. He cupped the one he held and watched as she did the same.
Not the most expensive champagne on the planet had ever tasted as good as the rainwater sliding its way down his throat. They couldn’t stay in one place for too long.
“You think he’s still after us?”
He turned to look at her. “I know he is.”
“Right, but I mean the rain would have slowed him down, right?”
“I hope so.” Would it really?
The rain began letting up but the sauna began building up around them. He glanced over at Terese. The shower and drink had perked her up some. With the rapidly returning heat, how long would she be able to keep up?
“I’ll be right back. Stay here.”
When she didn’t argue his level of concern increased. She nodded and lay back into the still wet grass. He waited for another minute then walked out of the tree line. He surveyed the area, watching, listening, for anything that would…it was faint but he could hear the crash of water. The beach maybe?
He hurried back to Terese. “Let’s go.”
She nodded and it struck him how pale she still was. Tired lines etched her eyes. Dirt streaked down her cheeks. Her hair was a matted tangle that she absently brushed back. When he got his hands on Rafael he’d kill the bastard without even blinking an eye.
He moved to her side, placed his arm around her waist, and lifted to half carry her off in the direction of what he hoped would prove to be freedom.
Hot, sticky moisture clawed down his back. With the rain insects sparked to life. Flying bugs lighted on his back, on his chest, trying to get at the moisture the blood would provide. He shivered his muscles trying to discourage them. He couldn’t bat at them with his good arm, and using his bad one only succeeded in pulling the dull throb back into an agonizing ache.

13. Our strong heroine has reached a point of rupture:
Ragged lines of exhaustion carved their way into his face. Blood oozed and dried in rivers on his chest and his back. Sweat coated his body. Bugs hovered around the wounds. He looked like death. She shook the morbid thought from her mind. Hot tears pooled in her eyes and she couldn’t keep them from falling. Angrily swiping at them she forced herself not to look at him.
He placed gentle hands on her shoulders. “I know baby. You’re doing one hell of a job. I’m so proud of you.”
“Bugger off,” she snapped and jerked away from him. It was irrational to be angry with him but he was handy. “You big jerk! I can’t stand this. The more you touch me the worse it gets. It’s too damn hot for you to be hanging on me. My body aches. I’m beyond tired. I’m scared shitless, I’m worried sick about you. I’m not an idiot. You can’t keep going at this pace. Every time you move wrong, that damn hole opens and you bleed more. The goddamn bugs are going to eat you, eat us alive.”
She stomped away from him. “This is bullshit!” Without conscious thought, she threw her head back and released a primal scream of rage, exhaustion, and frustration.
“Terese!” Mickey hissed and clamped a hand over her mouth then pulled her down.
“Let me go!” She had been playing brave for too long. She had tried to convince him she was as strong as he was, or at least strong enough to cope with this. To survive this humid hell.
His fingers bit into the flesh of her upper arms. “You’ve got to get it back.” He expelled a hard breath. “You’ve held up so great baby, don’t let it slip now. Not when we’re so close.”
“Are? Are we really Mickey?” She spun lifting her hands in the air. “How close? All I see is forest. Trees, vines, flowers, an occasional bird, maybe. Oh, don’t let’s forget the snakes. And hey! Somewhere out here in this tropical paradise is a pair of sweet little black cats that would love to have us for dinner. Literally!”
The look on his face was one disappointment. It angered her even more. “What? I can’t break down? I’m supposed to do this robotic thing? I’m supposed to keep up this ‘I can take on the world and still smile’ crap? You want me to be something I’m not. I’m sorry to disappoint you buddy boy but I can’t handle this!”

Well? How do you like it so far? I’m lovin’ it!

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