by Theresa Papa
Jaxson smiles mischievously at his brother and pulls back from me. “You have nothing to worry about, bro. I’m just pullin’ your chain. We met at the firm. I was on the bathroom floor fixing the sink when Samantha barreled in and tripped right over me face planting onto the tile.” He gives me a smirk. “She was actually mad at me! I had an Out of Order sign on the door that she blatantly ignored. Then we met again in the restaurant and talked. And yesterday I took her to the hospital after I found her sprawled out unconscious in the law library at work.” He smiles over at me and winks. I realize he probably left out some of the grittier details for Nico’s benefit, and the wink lets me know that it’s our little secret. Then he gets up and walks toward the door. There’s a crease between his brows, but no other outward sign of reluctance to leave. “Listen, you two have a lot to talk about privately, so I’m gonna to leave you alone to do so. Nico, call me later to discuss Elizabeth.” With a wave, he walks out the front door.
Chapter 26
Samantha Marconi
Nico rises, then takes both my hands in his again while sitting down next to me. His sparkling stare holds mine fixed in a time warp, and I can’t look away. A gentle smile crosses his lips as he proclaims, “He’s right, we do have quite a lot to talk about. But I’m still chivalrous, if nothing else, so it remains your turn. Ask me anything, Sam.”
I smile back at him, then I purposely look down shyly and say.
“Well first, let me just apologize for accusing you and your brother of lascivious actions that you had no notion or intention of doing.”
He lifts my chin to make eye contact again, smiles wider and says, “Apology accepted. Apparently, we have the same taste in women lately. That’s never happened before.” He shakes his head. “I hope you can believe me when I say that it was all random. Neither of us knew.” I nod in acceptance. “Any other questions?”
My cheeks heat at the thought of the one question I’ve had from day one. Should I just come out and ask him? He said I could ask him anything. I rip my gaze away from his. I can’t bear to look him in the eye when I ask.
“It’s not like I’m against alternative lifestyles or anything, but are you bisexual?”
He lifts my chin with his index finger so that our eyes are once again parallel.
And very seriously, he softly says, “I understand why you would ask me that. And I want you to know that I’m not upset that you have. Ever since I left the law firm and opened the salon, there have been people who speculate and talk about that behind my back. Especially since I have close friends who openly are gay and bisexual. It’s kind of sad how stereotypes stick like glue to some things. And people never really change; they form their opinions and gossip. I have some good friends from college who are gay like Ken, the one you saw me with at the bar. I have never openly said anything to anyone because that’s how I personally fight against the shallow behavior of the world. My family has been subject to gossip ever since I can remember, and the publicity from Elizabeth’s trial was difficult on all of us. I’ve learned to just let people believe whatever they want, and I go about my business. I don’t really give a shit what anyone, except a select few, say or think about me.” Then his eyes fill with emotion, something deeper, and his jaw sets. It’s like what he wants to say to me next is necessary and vital.
“But in the case of right here and now with you and me, there will be total and honest disclosure. Because you are someone, I’ve discovered in the past few days, that is very important to me.” His eyes roam back and forth between mine. “No, I’m not bisexual. I’ve only ever been with women.”
I still hold his gaze, but now I have tears that threaten to slip down my cheeks when I whisper, “I’m very important to you?”
He raises his hand to my face and runs the backs of his fingers along my jawline, then he brushes my lower lip with his thumb. Moving in, he slowly places his lips on mine as if he wants to savor the moment. Then he takes my hands and places my palms on his naked chest. My body responds with tingly chills, and a shudder runs through me. I move closer, sliding my hands to his shoulders, and he deepens the kiss. His tongue sweeps across my lower lip gently, and I open for him, our mouths playfully tasting and tickling each other. I curl my fingers into the soft hair at his nape and pull him closer, feeling like I can’t get close enough. This kiss is full of passion as opposed to the one with Jaxson that felt only sexual. His glorious scent of ocean, clean linen, and masculinity makes me want to lick him. So I do. I lick his shoulder all the way up to behind his ear.
And then I whisper softly, “It was you last night at the club.”
He sits back to look at me. His pupils widen as his expression darkens with desire, and so many other emotions roiling through it.
“Sam, what were you doing working at a job like that? If you need more money, I can arrange …”
I quickly put my fingers over his lips to cut him off. I earnestly want to explain my being at the club last night to ease his brokenhearted expression.
“I don’t work there. I promise. Please believe me. I was there to find out information on what happened to Jennifer. She disappeared yesterday.”
“What do you mean? I talked with her on the phone after your accident. She sounded fine.”
“I know. I asked her to call you when I talked to her from the hospital. She assured me that she would be there to pick me up, but she never showed. I called and texted several times and no answer. That’s something that Jen would never ever do! I was worried, so I used her ‘find my phone’ app to see where her phone was. The last known location for her phone was Club Beta, so I elected to go over there and look for her. When I questioned Giselle about Jen, some of the things she said and the way she acted was fishy. Giselle complained that Jen had left her shorthanded for the night. Brilliantly, I offered to fill in so that Jen could keep her job. But I wanted to snoop around and find out where she was, and I figured it was the best way inside. The medication I was taking for that horrible headache kind of torched my logical thoughts and rational decisions. Then one thing leads to another, and I find myself filling in by ending up in that chamber with you.” Then I smile at him shyly while I stare up from under my lashes. “But I definitely have no complaints about being with you last night.”
He smiles too and places a chaste kiss on my lips as he rises from the sofa. “There’s more where that came from, beautiful. And I would like to rehash the details of that encounter in the near future. But right now, we need to tell Jaxson about Jennifer missing too.”
I grab his hand and turn him back toward me.
“Wait, what exactly were you doing there? Is that a place you go regularly?”
He comes back over and sits again and takes my hands in his once more. His facial muscles soften.
“Sam, I was there for the same reason you were, to get information. My cousin Elizabeth is missing too. Club Beta is the last known place for her as well. Jaxson arranged that appointment for himself originally, but I had to go in his place so he could keep an important meeting with Judge Connolly. Needless to say, I’m very happy I agreed to go in his place.” He smirks mischievously and then leans in for another warm and vibrant kiss that takes my breath away. Then he reluctantly backs away and takes a deep breath for composure. “As you might expect, I’m very preoccupied with our new relationship beginning here.” He gestures between us. “And there’s nothing I’d rather do than concentrate on us and forget about everything else in the world, but now that you’ve told me about Jen, I’m really, really worried. We have to figure out what’s happened to both of them. Also, I gave you the day off today, but I still have clients and a business to run. Can you forgive me if we postpone the rest of our talk until tonight?”
“Of course.”
Chapter 27
Samantha Marconi
“I’m just fine to come into work. All I have to do is get home to change.”
“You passed out on me last night. I was so
worried about you. I would have taken you right back to the hospital, but you mentioned the pain pills. When I found the bottle, I realized you took too many by mistake.” Nico exhales deeply.
“I guess a book conking me on the head makes a person do stupid things like take too many pain pills and pose as a dominatrix. And not a very good one at that.”
We both laugh, and he pulls me into his arms. I never want him to let me go. But life pulls at our strings and makes us get up and get going. He dials his brother and lets me listen in on the call.
“Jax, the reason Samantha was at the club was to find her friend Jennifer. She’s been missing since yesterday, and the last place her phone was located was in the club.”
I learn some of the details of Elizabeth’s circumstances while ensconced in Nico’s embrace.
“So now we have two women missing and both disappearances have to do with Club Beta. This calls for a recon mission that gets us deeper into the club. We need to find out what’s happened to our girls,” Jax says.
“I’ll call Joe at Chicago PD and ask if he knows anything,” Nico says.
“Good thinking. I’ll figure out a plan of attack, and we’ll meet to discuss soon.”
Nico ends the call and gives me a welcome squeeze. “That’s as far as we can go this morning, so how about a cup of coffee and some toast?” he asks. I secretly check out his ass in his gym shorts while he walks away.
“Sounds great!” I follow him into the kitchen, and he hands me a mug filled with coffee, then motions toward the table to the breakfast food. I grab a banana, peel the skin, and take a bite as I lean up against the counter. Nico pins me with his arms around my waist, his face close to mine like he’s gonna kiss me. Instead, he takes a bite of my banana.
“Hey you, that’s my banana.”
“Lucky banana!” He smirks, and I giggle at the innuendo. “I like to share. In fact, I like everything about you here in the morning.”
His smile radiates like the sun that streams through the window. He closes the half-inch gap between us to place a lip-searing kiss on mine that makes my knees weak. I can imagine another banana I would like to make mine right at the moment. Oh Sam, you have such a dirty mind. I wonder if he can tell by looking at my face, so I’d better cool it for now.
“But now, I reluctantly have to shower and dress for work. Why don’t you sit on my bed and talk to me? I don’t want to be without you yet.”
I tilt my head at him and smile as I speculate how I’m going to sit on his bed while he showers and dresses without jumping on him. But I guess I’m up to this challenge of willpower ’cause I skip behind him into his luxurious bedroom. I lean against the doorjamb of the bathroom to watch him shave while unconsciously chattering.
“All the models and actors wear beards or the unshaven look lately. It’s the trend right now. And it’s fine once in a while. But my preference is a clean-shaven face; it’s so sexy. I love the feel of a soft just shaved jaw against mine.”
He’s devastatingly gorgeous and looks very masculine with the cream on his face. His luminous eyes adoringly glint at me every few seconds in the mirror. When he’s finished, the smooth skin on his face and neck is so tempting. He looks good with a little scruff, but I prefer him without. This is when I can’t resist, so I hop up on the vanity directly in front of him, and he takes half a step back with his eyebrows raised and wearing a grin. Then I grab his clean-shaven face in both my hands and rub my lips and my cheeks all over his face. As I’m doing it, I make a dramatic moaning noise and wrinkle up my nose to be funny, just goofing around. A deep baritone laugh radiates from his chest as he enjoys my foolery. But at that moment, he stops abruptly, his eyebrows scrunching together and his mouth now tight. He pulls me close so my legs straddle him, and I can feel the heat in the apex of my thighs from his body. His arms hold me so tight I can hardly breathe, and his voice is somber by my ear.
“I don’t even want to consider what could have happened to you last night had I not been the one in the chamber at the club. With all the unanswered questions we have about Elizabeth and Jennifer, you really could have put yourself in danger by going there. We need our chance, Sam. We need our chance to explore all the possibilities of our new relationship together. No woman in my world has ever made an impact on me like you. Since the other night, I can’t think of anyone or anything else. If something were to happen to you, I couldn’t handle it.”
Tears pool in the corners of my eyes at the heartfelt sincerity in his words. No man has ever been so secure in himself that he would put his feelings so raw and out in the open to me, especially so early in our relationship. The depth of its power hits me, the sheer force of what he already feels for me. I have no words, so I kiss him as my response; embroiled in it the passion that I want him to know I now feel for him too.
He pulls back breathless and smiles a dimpled grin. “I don’t want to scare you away by being so serious right now. I just want you to be more careful and let me handle this situation with you from now on. Okay?”
I smile too and reassure him sweetly. “Deal!”
After a quick kiss, he picks me up from the counter still straddling him and drops me on his bed playfully so I bounce.
“Now be a good girl and let me take my cold shower so I can go to work.”
He grins and winks as he disappears back into the bathroom. I sit cross-legged on the bed and finish my coffee.
When the water turns off, my body reacts to the anticipation of Nico’s appearance. Little flutters are in my stomach, and heat rises in my core. The influence his presence has over me is startling. The actual sight of him convinces me exactly how intuitive my body really is. A towel is wrapped low around his waist, and his shiny wet hair is combed back and just beginning to curl at the ends. He has a perfect body with just a light dusting of hair that leads down to the Promised Land and covers his legs. My adoration must have put a lustful look on my face because he starts laughing. I’m treated to an enchanting smile with straight white teeth and his dimples deep in all their glory.
“Keep looking at me like that, and I will cancel all my appointments for the next week and we’ll stay held up here just the two of us, only getting out of this bed to go to the bathroom.”
He’s reading my dirty mind. I knew it!
“Well, I’ve never heard of a better idea. But we can’t be selfish. We have to find out what happened to our girls.”
“You’re right.”
“Maybe you need another cold shower?”
He laughs and goes into the closet. When he emerges, he already has his pants on. He’s being very careful so he can get to work on time. I guess I can’t fault him for that. The boss has to be an example to the employees.
“Feel free to use anything you need here. Please make yourself at home while I’m gone.”
“As I said before, I could come into work. I feel fine. I just have to go home to shower and change.”
“Alright, but I have to confess it’s because I want you near me and not because I’m a slave driver boss.”
The shirt he throws on the bed is crisp and soft at the same time, a tactile fantasy when I run my fingers over it. The perfect combination of purple, teal, and blue set off that luminous eye color of his, making them seem otherworldly. When he puts that on, I won’t be able to get a thing done today at the salon. I’ll be looking at him all day. Sigh.
Nico hands me his keys to his luxurious Tesla, telling me to take my time going home to shower and change.
“I’m not comfortable driving your brand new very expensive car. What if something happens?”
“It’s only a car, so it can be replaced. But you still better be careful because you, my love, are irreplaceable.” He pauses and kisses the top of my head. “I’ll see you downstairs when you get back. Take your time. We can go get your car later, or I’ll send someone to go pick it up.” With that, the elevator doors close and he leaves for work.
Did he
just call me his love? I can’t believe he just gave me his one hundred and thirty thousand dollar car to take to my condo where there’s never any parking. But I guess I have no other choice at the moment.
Nico must have given a heads-up to the garage attendant. He calls me by name when he opens the door for me. He introduces himself as Louis and proceeds to show me the fine points of the state-of-the-art piece of machinery. My hands shake as I adjust the mirrors and the seat so I can drive safely. Why am I so nervous? I should live in the moment and enjoy this! That’s what my mom is always telling me.
Taking a deep breath, I wave to Louis, and I’m on my way. It’s a bright, sunny day as I drive down Lake Shore Drive toward Sheridan Road. Lost in my thoughts, I come up with the brilliant solution of where I can safely park Nico’s car. A few years ago when Dad arranged for the condo to be remodeled, he made friends with the parking garage attendant at the high-rise condo building across the side street from my place. We were able to have the construction crew park there for a nominal fee. Since then, we call him when company from out of town drives in, and he takes care of us. Why not ask Luther for parking for myself just for today to keep the car safe? Brilliant!
With the car safely tucked away under Luther’s supervision, I cross the street and enter my building. Instead of going to my place, I run up the stairs and let myself into Jen’s place. As I look around, nothing has been touched since I was here yesterday. I pull out my phone and dial her number like I have a million times since she didn’t show to pick me up at the hospital. Again, there’s no answer. I sit on her sofa and remember the last time we drank wine here together while I filled her in on what happened with Nico. If only I knew where she was; if only I could help her. I hang my head and rub my eyes. She has no one else who would even notice she’s missing.
Tears fall down my cheeks. I won’t stop looking until I find my best friend.