by Emily Bex
"Don't worry. Straight home, door locked, and thank you, really. I can't thank you enough."
He hands her the shoulder bags as she gets settled in her seat and closes the door behind her. She turns and looks back at him standing on the sidewalk as the taxi pulls away.
The cab drops her off in front of her condo, and Kate tries to tip him. The driver responds, “No ma’am, everything's been taken care of.”
She thanks him and rushes inside, takes the elevator to the 7th floor and hurries to her unit. Once inside, she flips on the lights, locks the doors and sighs with relief. What would have happened had he not been so close by? She shudders at the thought and brushes it from her head. She dumps the laptop and the files down on the table and decides to call him before she starts work. Just to let him know she got home safely, or at least, that's what she tells herself. She pulls out her phone and hits redial.
***
He watches the taxi drive off with his woman, yeah his woman. He wanted to ride along with her, but he didn’t want to push the issue with her quite yet. He had fallen already, she had him, and she didn’t even know it. Now, he just had to make her feel the same about him. He takes a deep breath to clear his head. Shade, old man, you never saw this coming, she is mortal. He shakes the thought from his head, it no longer matters what world she comes from. She is going to be his.
He teleports immediately back to the penthouse, arriving long before she arrives back home to her condo, and stands at the window waiting. He needs to know she is home safe. He watches the night sky until he sees the lights come on inside her unit and he sees her scrambling around inside. His heart beats faster at the sight of her, his blood pumping and another part of his anatomy coming alive once again. Damn this woman is like a match to fire. His phone buzzes and he looks down to identify the caller...that’s my woman! Smiling, he answers.
“Tell me you followed my instructions and you are not in trouble again.”
He makes her laugh, and she needed to laugh. "And if I were in trouble again, would you come to my rescue, sir?
“I will always come to your rescue. Thank you for letting me know you are safe. It is appreciated and takes a great weight off my mind.”
“Thank you again. I don't know how you got to me so fast, I'm just happy you were so close by.”
He responds with a single word. “Kate?”
She loves the sound of her name on his lips. “Yes Shade.”
“If you need me to escort you anytime, please, just call me. I want you to be careful and feel safe, protected. I like being able to watch out for you. And... Well, never mind. Buonasera” Cazzo, she leaves me as tongue tied as I leave her.
It seems they are both reluctant to say what is on their minds tonight. “Thank you. That is a most generous offer.”
***
She is reluctant to hang up the phone, to end the call, to break the connection with him. She loves the sound of his voice, but she has run out of excuses for keeping him on the call any longer.
“So... I guess it is good night then.”
“Si.” There is a silence. Neither of them speaks, neither of them hangs up. He feels inept for the first time in forever with a woman. When has he ever been at a loss of words with a gorgeous woman? But this is no ordinary woman. She is far more than he could ever dream of. She is perfection.
***
“I miss you already, mi amore.” Hanging up the cell, he stares out the window at her and wonders what the future holds for both of them and feels a twinge of guilt. He should leave her alone, walk away. She is mortal and dragging her into his world will not be easy. He shakes his head, knowing it is already too late. He can’t walk away from her now.
***
She hears him end the call as she loses the connection on her cell. He misses her? He misses her? Kate runs his words over and over in her head. Surely, she misunderstood his meaning. She picks up her shoulder bags and drags everything into the living room, pulling out her laptop, and the damned files that got her in so much trouble tonight.
But if she had not left the files at work, she would not have gone out, and then she would not have been followed, and she would not have called him. She shakes her head. Okay Kate, get focused! She tries to clear her head of Mister Tall, Dark and Dangerous and work on the presentation for tomorrow.
10
Rushing to get ready for work, Kate piles her hair up on her head. She has the presentation to do and thinks this will somehow make her look more professional. But after last nights’ scare, she forgoes her designer shoes for a more practical pair of ballet flats. She gathers up all the materials she prepared for the client presentation and decides it might be safer to drive her car in, even though the streets and subway stations are more crowded during the weekday rush hours. She drives into D.C., parks in an underground garage and walks the two blocks to her job, wondering as she does so, how this is any safer than the subway. She grabs her 'usual' coffee from Starbucks and heads into work, on time for a change, because of the scheduled presentation, which takes up the entire morning. The meeting goes well as she gets back to her cubicle, eats a sandwich at her desk and works to get caught up. Shannon scoots her chair into her cubicle, eager to hear the outcome with the new client.
“So how did it go?”
“Oh my God Shannon, it was horrible.”
Shannon looks surprised, “The client presentation? What happened?”
“Oh... no... Sorry, that went fine. The client was very happy with our proposal. My mind was on something else entirely. I needed to come back in last night to pick up the client's files, and I decided to take the subway. This guy... he was stalking me. Following me! I tried to call you, to just, you know, have someone on the phone in case something happened, but the call went to voicemail. So I ended up having to call him... Shade. I mean, I couldn't think of anyone else to call. I just wanted him to stay on the phone with me, and he did, but he said he was nearby, so he came out, intercepted the guy. I was scared to death. Shade rode the subway in with me, waited for me to get my files, and then he put me in a taxi home.”
Shannon smiles through her concern. “Your knight in shining armor. How gallant! I'm teasing, you were quite lucky, you know. People get mugged around here all the time.”
“Yes, I know. I drove my car in today, although, I parked in an underground garage two blocks away, so I'm not sure that is a lot better when I leave here late at night. But, it's not like I have a choice. I can’t afford to live inside D.C. And even if I did, I’d still have a commute issue.”
Shannon sighs, “I know. A girl’s got to make a living, at least until her billionaire comes along.”
“Yeah right, like that will happen.”
Kate finishes up her lunch at her desk, and then lets Shannon know she needs to get focused and back to work, since she is now behind schedule after the all-morning meeting. The rest of the day passes uneventfully. Around 6:30, Kate decides to call it a day. She is feeling tired, she didn’t get much sleep last night, and now she knows she will have to fight the traffic home, so she decides to grab another coffee to take with her on the drive. She packs up her briefcase and laptop and heads back to Starbucks.
The streets are solid gridlock, so she decides as she walks to the coffee shop to just sit it out for a while until the traffic clears. She grabs her coffee and turns to find a table and sees him sitting there alone.
***
He waited for her to exit the building, picking up on her thoughts to grab a coffee, so he gets there ahead of her, sliding into a vacant seat at a table. He knows the minute she arrives, he picks up her scent of roses and it assaults his nose in the most erotic way. He has never been affected by the mortal’s use of perfumes, but her scent can light him up. He doesn’t turn around or draw attention to himself but sits casually, as if he were not purposely waiting for her. He gives her a few minutes to get her coffee and when she turns, he glances up and locks eyes with her and smiles.
He loves the
look on her face when he smiles at her. She looks surprised to see him, but happily so. Cazzo! She is like adding gasoline to a fire. He beckons for her to join him and watches. In that split second, the thought process in her head, Should she or shouldn’t she, but he already knows she will, she can’t resist.
She moves to join him as he pulls out a chair for her, so she will be seated next to him.
"So, Mr. Medici, do we chalk this up to coincidence that you just happen to be at 'my' Starbucks the day after my near death experience? Or are you checking on me?”
He leans down close to her ear as he pushes in her chair. “A little of both. And don’t think I don’t see that glimmer in your eye and hear the catch in your voice. You like that I am checking up on you, si?”
***
She tucks her head as she feels the blush creep up her neck and across her face.
"I have to admit, after last night, it feels good to have someone checking up on me. I think I got used to living alone, and walking through this city alone, and I've been lucky. But last night made me feel pretty vulnerable. More than I care to admit.”
***
Sitting back in his chair, he crosses his arms and looks at her. “Kate, you have been lucky. I can’t always be there. You need to learn to be more attentive to your surroundings, have your guard up. Anything happens to you, I am not going to like it. So, are we riding the subway back home together?”
“I, uh, drove my car in today.” She is wishing now she hadn't driven. Having him ride with her on the subway would make a great excuse to spend more time with him. “But you can walk me back to my car.”
“Oh you can bank on that, mi amore. You will be escorted safely back to your car because if you think, for one moment, I am letting you stroll alone in the dark to wherever in hell you parked, think again.”
Leaning in, he tips up her chin and winks at her. Letting his hand wander into her hair, he gently tugs on the clip holding her crimson locks tight to her head and watches as her hair tumbles to her shoulders, cascading down the side of her face and through his hands. He could get lost in that silk.
“You should never put your silken locks in such a knot, Kate. You are so much more stunning with it cascading around that gorgeous face and pooling around those delicate shoulders.”
Letting his hand slide down her cheek and along her neck, he feels her heart rapidly beating in her veins and lets his fingers slowly walk along her collar bone, down her arm and grasps her hand under the table.
“So, tell me, how was your big day you damn near got robbed, raped and abducted to get files for?”
***
His attention to her hair and his fingers brushing against her skin leave her addled. He is asking her a question, but her mind struggles to concentrate. All she can focus on is his touch, and the path of electric sparks that follow his fingers across her skin. She starts to stutter as she answers him.
"It... uh... it went very well... I... think, I think we secured the account."
He tries not to laugh, she is a little flustered and he lays his hand gently along her bare thigh. She wears a sweet little black skirt, edged in black lace and a pair of flats. But he thinks he might need to tease her a bit more to get her relaxed. She is blushing and he obviously has her jangled.
“So, no Choo’s today? Big presentation, maybe if you would have worn them you would know if you secured that account. Those legs of yours, in a pair of Choo’s, could sell me anything.”
***
She feels her blush deepen as his hand slides along her bare leg, and he makes a remark about her flat shoes. This is moving way too fast! The heat from his hand on her skin sends a shiver through her body, and a tightness in her belly that leaves her undone. Her breath quickens as she slides slightly away from him, torn. Wanting his touch, but still leery of this man she does not really know, this man who could be toying with her.
"I'm... I thought... I wore flat shoes because I can walk faster..." Great Kate! You are reverting to your non-verbal phase. What is it about this man?
***
He feels her body tremble, and her body language indicates he is making her uncomfortable. Most women just curl closer to him, wanting his attention, this one moves away, but why? Has he pushed the boundaries too quickly for her? Removing his hand from her thigh, and moving his leg a little further from her, he sits back in his chair and wraps his hands around the coffee he cannot drink.
“Well, wearing flat shoes is a very smart thing to do Kate, it lets you maneuver faster, run if necessary and does not make you a target and helpless to your enemy. Very wise.”
***
Kate relaxes a little. He has sensed her unease and removes his hand, and she is glad... and sad. What? What is wrong with me? She wants his touch, but he leaves her so rattled. She’s afraid he will grow impatient with her and move on. But she’s also afraid he will just take what he wants and move on as well. Why does this have to be so hard? She struggles to find a common ground for conversation.
"So, uh, the land you bought. How is that going?"
“To be honest with you, I have not exactly started developing it. There is much to be done before I can actually get started. The vineyards need work and the house, well, it is a house.” He chuckles softly, “I am pressed for time, at the moment, with a project for Alec Canton. That comes first, once I get that underway, the house can be handled. And what plans do you have this week?”
“I, uh, I actually have some business travel this week. I'll have to fly to New York, meet with a client there.”
“I see.” Looking down, he is frustrated. He feels the need to go with her, protect her. What in the hell makes a woman go alone to a city as big as New York? She cannot even defend herself. Cazzo! How in the hell is he going to get through this? He will not be there to watch her, and he can’t possibly follow her during the day.
“So you go alone? Is that not a dangerous thing for your employer to allow? Sending you alone to such a city? I don’t like that.”
***
She likes how protective he is of her. How he bristles at the idea of her traveling alone. “Oh, I have traveled all over the States, through Asia, and most of Europe on business. I am always alone. I'm careful, I think. But you just get used to it.”
He grits his teeth and runs his hand through his hair. “How long will you be gone?”
“This is just an overnight trip. I leave on Wednesday, and I'll be home Thursday night. At least I live close to the airport, and it's a very short flight, so no jet lag, right?”
“Well that is good news, si? I only have to worry about you for one night. You will call me? Let me know you are all right? ”
She smiles at him. “I would like that very much. Of course I will call you.” She finishes her coffee and looks around at the thinning crowd. “The traffic looks thinned now, would you mind walking me to my car?”
***
Standing up, he steps behind her and pulls out her chair, holds out his hand to take hers and lifts her from her seat. He grabs her bag and laptop. “It would be my pleasure, mi amore. And besides, I won’t sleep unless I know you made it out of this damn place safe. Come.” Taking her hand, they weave their way from the coffeehouse to the street outside, where it is now completely dark. “Hold my hand tight and lead the way, I have no idea where you have left your car.”
She leads him the two blocks through the busy D.C. streets, now filling up with young people looking for bars and restaurants. He follows her to the parking garage, dimly lit, with many columns where an attacker could hide from view. She pulls out her keys and uses the automatic button to unlock the door, the tell-tale beep-beep and the flashing lights indicate the location of her red Miata.
***
Entering the garage, he can see anything that moves with his vision, and this is no damn place for a woman to be alone. They are easy prey in this hell hole. He watches as they approach a lone red Miata and it lights up as she hits the key fob. He opens the door fo
r her and just shakes his head.
“Automatic? You bought a sports car with automatic transmission?”
She laughs. “It's not a very practical car. No room for friends, no trunk space, but most of my driving is in the city, and besides, I don't know how to drive a stick shift.” She leans her back against the car and looks up at him through red hair. "Maybe you could teach me sometime?"
“You should be punished.” bracing his hands on the top of the car, he leans into her, trapping her ever so sweetly into the space between his arms and he can feel her breath on his face, “Who drives a sports car and does not know how to drive a stick-shift. I will think about teaching you, if you make me one promise.” He leans in closer and snuggles into her hair.
“Just one small promise, mi amore.”
***
His face is so close she can feel his breath on her skin, and it takes her own breath away. She closes her eyes and listens to his voice as his lips are close to her ear. She feels her heartbeat quicken. She has to bite her tongue not to say she will promise him anything he wants.
"And what is that promise, sir?"
He kisses her softly on the neck, his moan is barely audible. Fuck, I want her so bad, just to taste her sweet life’s blood.
“That you go back to taking the subway, this place is far worse and more dangerous. Now,” leaning back, he removes his hands from the car and slides them around her waist, pulling her to him. He loves how small she is. “Let’s have a proper kiss goodbye and I will see you on your way home, si?”
“Yes... I will take the subway... and the good-bye kiss.”
“Good girl.” Leaning down, he lets his tongue slide across her lips and then kisses her, gently at first, before adding a bit more pressure, letting his tongue glide inside her mouth. He feels her relax in his arms and he keeps their lips locked together, getting no resistance. Finally breaking the kiss, he locks eyes with her and stares at her for a few seconds. She has me, lock, stock and barrel.