by Unknown
“You’re going to give up your life here?”
She nodded. “I have nothing here anymore. Tonya is gone, and I need to be with my mom and sister. I’ll figure out what to do with my life later.”
“That is your decision to make. Who knows, a start over in a new place could be good for you.”
Outside, the warm morning sun kissed them on the face. Zach unlocked the car door and helped Carla inside. The scent of her perfume drifted under his nose. He snapped her seatbelt just to linger next to her.
“Thank you, again. Should I introduce you to people as Agent Murphy?”
He rested his arm on the edge of the car door. “Well, for this occasion I guess that would be proper. How else would you explain me being there?”
“I’m sure you know the church will be packed with black people. But, Tonya was an outgoing person and had all types of friends. No one would think differently of you being there. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”
“Don’t worry about me, Carla; I’m a big boy. Rodney’s attending with other representatives from the FBI and ATF to pay their respects to the family.”
“Good. I’ll get to say goodbye to him.”
He didn’t answer and closed the door softly and walked to the driver’s side of the car.
Once the funeral was over, Zach stood outside the church with Rodney. “Man, that was painful and never again will I do that,” Zach said loosening his tie.
“You can say that again. I’ve been to my share of funerals, but this one was hard. I have to tip my hat off to Carla for being able to sing. She had me tearing up. I can’t have a macho face with tears in my eyes.”
He put on his sunglasses to cut the glaring sunlight. “Her tribute to Tonya was touching and I get it now.”
“Get what?”
“That true friends are for life. You and I have our differences, and we give each other shit, but I got your back, Rodney. I can count on you in dangerous situations and you can count on me; that for damn sure.”
Rodney smiled. “Damn, was she that good? She has done something that no other person has been able to do.”
Zach rolled his head. “Don’t start on that again. I’m not interested in Carla. I feel for what she’s going through, but that’s it.”
“You’re going to stand in front of a church and lie to me? You’re good, dude. But, I’m gonna step over this way, so the lightening won’t bounce off you and strike me.”
“I don’t know what I have to do to convince you. Anyhow, she’s going to Michigan to stay with family. I’m thinking about a trip to Arizona to see Patty. I’m entitled to a leave of absence to recover from my injury.
He had not been ordered to take a leave of absence for his gunshot wound. Generally, he would refuse to take time off, but he needed to get away from the job to think about his future and to get Carla off his mind.
“You have been stabbed, shot and thrown off the roof of a building and came to work the next day. You ain’t fooling me, Zach. You’re in love with her and you think putting distance between you two will make it go away.”
He heard the church doors open and saw people filing out to get to their cars for the funeral procession to the cemetery. “Can we not talk about it right now?”
“Yeah, I’ll make sure to bring it up later. I’m not going to the cemetery; I’ll meet up with you later,” Rodney said walking away.
Zach wished he could leave, but he was Carla’s ride. He spotted her standing on the steps talking with a man about her age. He cringed when the man hugged her, and she returned it. Watching them interact, he saw a small smile cross her face when the man held her hand and spoke to her. It was a sad day, and he could be giving her words of encouragement or complimenting her singing. It could be anything. However, the jealousy Zach felt was uncalled for. She was not his, and he had no right to feel jealous.
Carla walked down the stairs assisted by her sister and the man. She came over to him. “Agent Murphy, I want you to meet my sister Paula and Reverend Mike Downs; he’s the youth minister and a very good friend of mine. Tonya, he and I went to school together and obviously took different paths in life.”
Agent Murphy. She chose to keep it professional, but it still stung when she called him that. Zach extended his hand. “It’s nice to meet both of you,” he said forcing a smile.
Paula bypassed his hand and gave him a hug. “Thank you so much for saving my sister, Agent Murphy. There is no way to repay you for what’ve you done.”
Zach felt the small protrusion pressed against his stomach. Paula was a hair taller than Carla and almost identical in appearance. She was, however pregnant. “Your sister is a fighter. She almost got herself and Tonya out of a dangerous situation. Unfortunately, Tonya’s injuries were…”
“We understand, Agent Murphy. The family is not blaming the FBI for what happened, either. In my eyes, Myron caused his sister’s death. He’ll have to pay for this,” Paula said with teary eyes.
“He is only a small fraction of the puzzle. We’re still looking for the major players.”
“I know, Ty and Phi. But, Carla is safe right? She’s okay outside?”
Carla rolled her eyes. “Paula, I’m standing right here; you don’t have to speak as if I’m not.”
“It’s safe for her to be outside.” From the corner of his eye, he saw Carla watching him. She looked tired. “She probably should get some rest. She’s been through a lot the last couple of days.”
Paula hugged her sister. “I’m going to take good care of her. My husband and I have to drive back to Michigan tonight to check on my mom. We want Carla to come with us, but she insists on flying out in the morning. I hate leaving her alone tonight.”
Reverend Downs spoke up. “Carla is more than welcome to stay with me and Evelyn tonight, Paula. I’ll even drive her to the airport.”
Carla stepped away from Paula. Her body posture stiff as a board. She closed her eyes and balled her fists tight at her side and said, “Please, stop! I know you both mean well, and want what is best for me, but I’m not six years old. I can make my own decisions and right now I want to be alone.”
She walked away not stopping to talk to people that were reaching out for her as she passed by them. Paula went to go after her, and Zach caught her by the arm. “No, let her walk it off.”
“I’m not letting her go off by herself; I’m going after her,” Paula insisted.
“Not a good idea. Carla has a lot to deal with; more than you can imagine. Believe me, this is only the beginning of the mood swings. She’ll need professional help to get her through this, but let her ask for it.”
“Agent Murphy, Carla will not ask for help. She’ll insist she’s okay when losing Tonya is really destroying her inside.”
Zach shook his head. “She will ask for help.”
Paula frowned, “Don’t think you know Carla; because you don’t. She was called to help people. That was her goal when she decided to be an EMT. She wants to be the first to respond and assist. My sister is a special person, Agent Murphy. It breaks my heart to see her this way.”
Zach noticed the matched tempers the sisters possessed. If it wasn’t enough that the sister was jumping down his throat, the minister got into the mix. “Agent Murphy, your job is done. We appreciate the support you’ve shown Tonya’s family, and for bringing Carla home alive, but her family is here, and they’ll see to it that she gets the care she needs.”
Zach kept his cool. It would do him no good to mouth off. He was not a family member, just a man that shared intimate relations with Carla. That hardly qualified him to make decisions for her. He took a breath and said, “You’re absolutely right, Reverend. Please give my condolences to the family. You all take care.”
He squared his shoulders and walked to the church parking lot to his car. The line for the processional was getting ready to move out. He picked up his steps to beat them out and maybe catch up with Rodney so they could go somewhere for a drink. He felt like getting
drunk.
Not seeing Rodney anywhere, on the sly he looked for Carla; she was standing next to his car.
“Hey, are you okay?” he asked lifting her chin up to face him.
“Can we go somewhere, Zach?”
“What about the rest of service? Carla, your sister is pretty upset you walked off. Don’t have her worrying about you in her condition.”
Tears clouded her eyes. “Please, I want to be alone with you. It’s the last night we’ll ever see each other.”
He opened the car door. “Get in. I’ll drive you to Michigan before I head to Virginia.”
“Won’t that be out of your way?”
He grinned. “I’m that kind of guy. We’ll swing by your apartment and pack you a bag or two and hit the road. How does that sound?”
“It sounds sweet that you want to do that but I can’t impose on you. You’re packed and ready to move on. I’m hurting; once this all sinks in I’ll, be okay.”
“It’s not imposition, Carla; I want to help you through this plus it will put my mind at ease that I delivered you safely to your family.”
She caressed her hand down the side of his face. “I’m...”
“Don’t say it, Carla. We’ll talk about anything and everything that is bothering you, but not that.”
She nodded fingering a tear from under her eye. “I get it.”
Zach decided the half-way point to Michigan was close enough for them to get a hotel room and finish the drive in the morning. He checked them into a Courtyard Marriott. While Carla took a shower, he set the pizza and beer out and turned on a baseball game. It wasn’t often he got a chance to watch sports like ordinary men.
Taking off his suit jacket and stripping off the shirt and tie he stretched and flexed his muscles glad to be free of the confining material. Zach took a t-shirt and pair of shorts from his duffel bag and put them on. Carla came from the bathroom wearing nothing but a towel around her body. Her thick black hair arranged in ringlets of wild curls just kissing her shoulders.
His mouth watered as his gaze roamed her body. No makeup or fancy clothes will make her more beautiful than she is now he thought. Her natural beauty, smooth cocoa skin, and wild hair had him hornier than a teenage boy. She looked over at him and smiled as she put slices of pizza on paper plates and took two beers over to where he sat. Not letting his eyes leave her, he took his serving of pizza and beer from her.
Carla sat next to him on the bed and crossed her legs. “This is much better than going to the repast.”
“They’re gonna be upset you ditched them.” He took a bite of pizza. “Hey, you did an excellent job singing today. I applaud how you held yourself together.”
She took a swig of beer. “It was not easy. Today was the hardest test of my life, Zach.”
Carla chewed on her bottom lip to stop it from trembling. Zach waited for the tears to fall. She had been crying for days, and there were probably many more days of mourning ahead of her. He hated he wouldn’t be around to console her. He rubbed her shoulder. “You did a good job, Carla. I’ve seen men and women totally withdraw from life after a tragedy. I don’t see that happening to you.”
“You want to know my secret?” she asked nibbling on a piece of pizza.”
“Yeah, tell me.”
“I concentrated on your face. I tried to use my sister, but she was crying, and so was everyone else in the church. You were the only person that had a calm aura. Even Rodney had tears in his eyes.”
“I guess my heartlessness came in handy today.”
“You aren’t heartless or you wouldn’t be here. You could easily have blown me off after the funeral.” She touched his chin with her finger. “Zachery Murphy, you have more heart than you know.”
“Oh you think so?” he asked in a soft voice.
She nodded. “I know so. Tonya and I had a chance to talk before she passed away. It was weird what she said to me.”
His raised an inquiring brow. “What did she say?”
“She said we looked good together and that I shouldn’t let color be a reason not to be with you.”
Zach felt his Adam’s apple bob in his throat. He coughed. “Wow, she said that?”
“We never talked about you and it just came out of the blue. I think she knew she was dying and was saying random stuff.”
He took their plates and set them on the nightstand. Turning to face her, he asked. “How would you feel if I said I wished we had more time to get to know each other better?”
“I would be elated but sad at the same time. It’s hard to say goodbye to two people I care about in one day.”
Zach’s heart dipped. He was choosing to walk away from a possible loving relationship with an amazing woman because of a vow he made.
He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it “If I could change that I would, Carla. However, I’m here now, so let’s make our last night together count.”
She smiled parting the sweetest set of lips a woman should be allowed to have. “Look at you being romantic.”
“Carla…” Zach felt the hesitation in his voice and paid it close attention. He realized what a mistake of confessing his growing attraction to her could be since she was vulnerable. But there had to be a way to ease his mind and to let her know that he cared about her.
He gently leaned her back on the bed and gave her long, languid kiss with such intensity it made his heart hammer against his chest. He licked her throat, tasting the vanilla scent on her skin. It drove him crazy. Kissing the side of her mouth he said, “You’re a beautiful woman, Carla; just amazingly beautiful.”
Chapter twenty
Carla felt guilty for wanting Zach after the bad day she had experienced. She should be with the family grieving Tonya’s death. But this was her last night with him. The man that she first hated, now loved. Yes, she had to admit she had fallen head over heels in love with him, and he’d hinted that he cared about her.
She closed her eyes as his lips closed over her mouth, pulling him closer, so she felt his hard length pressed against her soft thigh. Carla tightened her arms around his neck as he took her into his arms and carried them to the head of the bed. Her back rested on the cool pillows. He placed soft, gentle kisses on her neck and face.
Carla got restless and pulled at his shirt until he lifted his arms allowing her to bring it over his shoulders and toss it on the floor. She ran her fingertips over his hard pecs, loving the feel of his muscular chest. He kissed up her arm, shoulder, down her eyelids before hungrily reclaiming her mouth. His tongue darted in her mouth and sent shivers of desire racing down her spine.
Zach tugged at the knot in the towel and removed it from her body. He ran his rough fingers around the curve of her breasts, fingering over her sensitive nipples, down to her belly button and back up to start over.
“Oh, yes,” she moaned and stroked his broad shoulders, letting him explore her body without interruption. His mouth moved over her breasts, his tongue tantalizing her nipples, making them peak under this command. There was no denying she wanted Zach. The way he was ravishing her proved he wanted her; circumstances were keeping them apart.
“You smell and taste so damn good,” he murmured. His hand moved down her leg and lower parting them. “Open for me.”
She did and inhaled a sharp breath when his fingertip slightly penetrated her, bringing instant moisture and warmth to the area. His touch always ignited a deep fire inside of her. It made her feel desirable and erotic. His hair tickled her bare skin as he kissed down her body, her fingernails stroking back and forth across his neck and into his hair. He pulled his head away from her stomach, letting his lips close over a plumb nipple, to suck gently. Carla’s back arched when he inserted two fingers to work her sex.
“Oh, my God!” Her breathing increased. She closed her eyes to maintain control.
“Mm, baby, you’re so wet and ready for me. “Look at me, Carla.”
Opening her eyes, he was staring directly at her; the desire darkening
the blue of his eyes. Tell me this is what you want? Tell me you want me, Carla.” He increased the intensity and speed of his fingers plunging in and out of her.
“I want you,” she said breathlessly.
“That’s what I like to hear.” He lowered his head replacing his fingers with his tongue. The slickness of his tongue slipped inside her womanhood working around making her toes curl with each stroke. She tried to push him away but he grabbed her wrists in one hand, and his broad shoulders kept her from closing her legs.
Then he hit her spot. His tongue assaulted the nub with power and finesse. His lips covered it and sucked, pulling moans from sharp groans from her throat. Her orgasm was building from all area of her body. From her toes, working up her legs, she felt the nerves sparking. She moaned and panted working her hips in a circular motion, trying to get his tongue deeper into her. He answered, by throwing her legs over his shoulder and diving deeper.
Carla couldn’t handle the intensity. She opened her mouth opened, but no words left it before she exploded. Her body, a quivering and jerking mass of flesh as she released her desire over his tongue. She was on fire and the cold air blowing from the AC couldn’t cool her down.
Spent, she lay on the bed trying to catch her breath. Through her haze, she heard the wrestling of clothing. She peeked through her lashes and saw Zach kneeling over her; a knee on each side of her body. Carla reached for his shaft that had grown thick and hard and pulsated in her hand.
Slowly she stroked him, watching his head go back with low moans escaping his lips. “Baby, that feels good.”
She kept stroking him until a drop of liquid coated her palm. She lifted up and took him in her mouth. Her lips closed around him as he filled her mouth with his salty sweet taste. She wasn’t an expert but knew how to please a man orally. She let her tongue run the length of his shaft using the tip to tease the slit of the swollen head.
“Damn,” he said easing himself from her mouth. “As good as that feels, I want to be inside of you.”
“Yes, I want you there too,” she agreed.