by Ruff, K. S.
* * * * *
“So, who would you pick?” Rafael asked. We were eating cheesecake at Junior’s in Times Square, a few blocks away from where he’d taken me to see Phantom of the Opera in New York City.
This was Rafael’s first time seeing the musical, my fourth. I loved the haunting music and was thoroughly enamored with the tragic love story. I reached for my coffee as I pondered the question. “I think I would choose the phantom.”
His fork paused above the cheesecake. “Really? Why?”
I laughed. “For the same reasons I’m drawn to you, although you’re much better looking.”
He looked thoroughly confused.
My eyebrows furrowed as I pondered how best to explain. “The phantom’s love for Christine Daaé was so intoxicating and raw. Who doesn’t want to be consumed like that?”
Rafael’s eyes heated. He pulled some money from his wallet and tossed it on the table.
I glanced longingly at the half-eaten dessert. The New York-style cheesecake was the richest and fluffiest cheesecake I’d ever tasted. I didn’t want it to go to waste.
Rafael flagged down the waiter. “I’d like a box for the cheesecake.”
The waiter returned with a small Styrofoam container. “Enjoy your evening.”
A feeling of déjà vu washed over me as Rafael boxed up the desert. I placed my hand in his when he rose from the table. “Where are we going?”
“We’re going to make a mess out of the sheets in the hotel room,” he replied frankly.
My toes curled instinctively. I glanced toward the pastry counter at the far end of the eclectic restaurant. “Do you think this place sells chocolate mousse?”
Rafael offered me a tortured look before tugging me toward the door.
I took one last, lingering look at the intriguing murals. “Maybe I should duck inside the bathroom and remove my panties before you rip this pair,” I ribbed.
He stopped abruptly. His eyes traveled down my body and back up again. “I suggest you avoid the bathroom unless you want to have sex in there.”
I grinned. “Alrighty then.”
He stared at me uncertainly, then yanked me out the door.
Chapter 7 – Change the world
“Are you ready to do this?” Shae asked.
I nodded. “As ready as I’ll ever be.” I followed her into the classroom. My feet slowed when I saw how many students there were. “Dr. Sandstrom said our enrollment levels were high. He didn’t say it was going to be standing room only.”
“There must have been some last minute enrollments,” Shae surmised. “I’m glad we made extra training manuals.”
We pulled together a few more chairs for the students who were standing and widened our discussion circle before claiming our seats.
Shae began the introductions. “I’d like to welcome everyone to our three day personal risk seminar. If you haven’t already done so, please be sure to record your name and contact information on the sign in sheet so we can ensure you receive credit for attending the course. My name is Shae Garlington. My colleague’s name is Kristine Stone. We’d like to share some information about who we are and the reasons why we’ve developed this course before we delve into the agenda items that are listed in the front of your binders.” Shae looked at me.
I took a deep breath. “This is our second year attending George Mason’s master’s program in conflict analysis and resolution. We have completed the training offered by the Northern Virginia Mediation Service to become certified mediators. We currently work at Seeds for Peace, which is an NGO dedicated to peacebuilding. Shae and I develop and teach conflict resolution seminars at universities in conflict ridden countries for this organization. Our end goal is to empower a subset of university students to help resolve conflict among their classmates and to start conflict resolution programs in high schools and middle schools within their communities. It’s basically a train the trainer program.”
Shae nodded. “We learned some valuable lessons about personal risk when we were teaching in Ukraine earlier this year. Our preliminary research did not prepare us for the risks we faced. We were assigned minders who followed us everywhere we went. The minders were helpful at times, but they made attempts to hijack our schedule and limit our access to SIM cards. We needed the SIM cards and cell service for security purposes. The Russian mafia attended a government function honoring our work in Ukraine. We felt threatened by their presence. Little did we know, the Russian mafia attends all government functions in Ukraine. They are that entrenched in governance. Still, the mafia proved to be the least of our worries, especially after we were abducted by the SVR.”
“The SVR?” a student asked.
“Formerly known as the KGB,” I explained.
A number of students gasped.
“The SVR accused us of being spies. We were brutally beaten and tortured in ways you can’t even imagine,” Shae continued. “The Russian mafia helped secure our release.”
The students’ jaws hung open, their eyes wide with disbelief.
“We’ve learned some valuable lessons,” Shae repeated. “We’re going to share those lessons with you over the next three days, but we’re also going to explore some strategies for reducing risk and strengthening personal security.”
I glanced at Shae, then leaned forward in my seat. “Let’s review the agenda. We’re going to start with some basic instruction that mirrors to some extent the Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape Training offered by the military. We’ve scheduled two guest speakers to review the SERE training they received while serving in the United States Air Force. Their instruction will begin at nine o’clock and run the rest of the day. A therapist who specializes in PTSD will be joining us tomorrow morning. She’ll be speaking about the trauma that results when your life is threatened and the treatment options that are available. We’ll run through a simulation tomorrow afternoon. We’ve invited a security expert to teach self-defense Saturday morning, so be sure to wear comfortable clothing. Gym clothes are preferable. Each of us will develop a personal security plan Saturday afternoon. The seminar will end with a short quiz. We’ll also be asking you to complete a survey, to assessing the quality of the speakers and the training materials offered in this seminar.”
Shae stood and approached the white board. “Now, before our guest speakers arrive, I’d like to capture some of your questions about risk and personal security so we can ensure these questions are answered over the next few days.”
I counted thirty eight hands in the air.
* * * * *
Kadyn was standing by the red and white checkered counter. He was waiting for Five Guys to finish cooking our burgers. Chance and Jase were pushing two chrome tables together while Cenia, Shae, and I filled everyone’s drink order.
“Here, let me help you with that,” Rafael insisted.
I turned and smiled at him. “I didn’t hear you walk in.” I added a little more Sprite to the cup I was filling before snapping the lid into place.
Rafael reached for the cups I’d already filled. “Thanks for inviting me to join you guys. How’d it go today?”
I followed him over to the tables Chance and Jase had secured. “It went well. Kadyn and Cenia did a fantastic job. They taught our students water and wilderness survival, the importance of having a knife on hand, and…”
“Who knew that would prove more important than having a SIM card?” Shae interjected. She and Cenia set the remaining drinks on the table.
I handed Jase his drink. “Next time we travel for work, we’ll be purchasing knives and SIM cards.” I wasn’t joking.
Rafael pulled a chair out for me before sitting in the bright red chair to my left. “Did you cover any other topics?”
“We discussed various forms of interrogational torture, why it’s important to resist and evade questioning, and the military code of conduct while in captivity,” Cenia replied. She handed Chance his soda as she sank into the seat next to him.
“Their presentation was outstanding,” Jase opined. He claimed the chair between Rafael and Shae, who was sitting on the other side of Chance.
“Thanks,” Kadyn said. He set a tray full of burgers and fries in the center of the table and dropped into the seat next to me. “That’s quite the compliment coming from special ops.”
“I was really proud of Shae and Kri for describing the electro-shock torture they endured. I know that wasn’t easy, but I think that, more than anything, drove home the importance of traveling with a security detail and staying close to your bodyguards,” Chance remarked.
I sifted through the pile of burgers until I found the two that had “jalapeno” and “no mayo” scribbled across the foil wrappers. I kept one of the burgers and handed the other to Rafael. “We have forty-three students, which is a lot more than we anticipated. How hard is it going to be for you to work with that many people during the self-defense training?”
Rafael unwrapped his burger. “I think we should pull in some additional instructors. The smaller the student-teacher ratio, the more hands on experience they’ll gain.” He glanced at Jase. “Would you mind helping out Saturday morning?”
Jase grinned. “I thought you’d never ask.”
“There are a lot of cute girls in my program,” I explained, when Rafael looked surprised. “I’m sure he’s just dying to get his hands on them.”
“Can I help?” Chance asked. “I was planning on being there to watch over this one, anyway.” He jerked his head toward Shae.
Shae’s hand fell in her fries. “I suppose you’re just dying to get your hands on all those cute girls too.”
Chance took a bite out of his burger before responding. “So what if I am? You’re still pining after that mafia guy, Constantinople, or whatever his name is.”
“Konstantin. His name is Konstantin,” Shae responded drily.
Rafael’s eyes flitted between our two friends. “Are they a thing?” he asked, leaning toward me.
“Not yet,” I replied, “but they should be.”
Chance grinned, but Shae shot me the stink eye. “You hush!”
I looked pointedly at Chance. “Why don’t you stop dancing along the sidelines and kiss her already?”
Chance didn’t miss a beat. He grabbed Shae by the shoulders and drew her to her feet in one fluid movement. He kissed her long and hard as he locked her in his arms. Shae melted as she fell into the kiss. Our entire circle of friends and a few other tables full of people whooped and hollered, cheering them on.
We held our breaths when Chance released her. I was curious to see how she’d respond.
Shae touched her lips a bit dazedly. Her eyes looked glazed when she turned toward me. “What have you done?”
Kadyn stuffed the last of his burger into his mouth as an alarm sounded on his phone. “We have to head over to the dance studio.”
“Saved by the bell!” I announced cheerily. I glanced at Cenia. “Are you ready to get your groove on with Katia and Anton?”
Cenia reached for a handful of fries as I kissed Rafael goodbye. “Sure. I’ll follow you over there.”
“I’ll make sure Kri gets home safely,” Kadyn assured Rafael.
His warm brown eyes sought mine. “I’ll meet you at home then.”
That word, home, warmed me straight through to the bone. I shared one last, lingering glance with Rafael as Kadyn and Cenia nudged me toward the door.
* * * * *
Shae sprawled across three hard plastic chairs. She looked completely exhausted. “That was tough.”
I propped her feet on top of my lap as I sank into the end chair. “I feel awful. I can’t believe the simulation made them cry.”
“Some of the students who assumed the interrogator role were brutal. Shoot. I thought I was going to cry,” Shae replied.
I trembled violently. The mock interrogation had been deeply unsettling. “Do you think the simulation was too intense?”
“Turning the lights off and having the victims bound might have been a little over the top,” she whispered hoarsely. I suspected she was battling the same memories as me.
Chance pushed off from the wall. “If you thought that was over the top, you’re not going to like what Rafael’s got planned for tomorrow.”
My heart stalled. “Oh, God. Please tell me he’s not planning to bring the red Stormtrooper suit.”
Jase straddled the chair in front of me. “We’re bringing three Stormtrooper suits.”
Shae’s eyes widened as she sat up. Her feet slowly found the floor. “Wh… what are you talking about?”
Chance sat in the chair next to Shae. “Padded assailant suits.”
Shae’s eyes locked on mine. “This is so not going to end well.”
* * * * *
Shae and I stood on the sidelines while Rafael, Chance, and Jase attacked our students. They were sparring on three different mats, which ran nearly the entire length of the room. The vast majority of our students had proven eager to take on the three handsome men, despite those God-awful suits. “So, has anything more developed between you and Chance?” I asked. Between dance lessons, the training, and Chance’s near-constant presence, we hadn’t been able to discuss the big kiss.
Shae scowled at me. “Thanks to you, Chance is officially courting me. What am I supposed to do when Konstantin returns next month?”
One of our female students let out a blood-curdling scream. Rafael had her pinned to the mat. I was kind of wishing it was me he had pinned to the floor. I tore my eyes from the mat so I could respond to Shae. “If you’d like, I can mediate a dating agreement between the three of you.”
Shae laughed. “I don’t think so."
I glanced at the clock. “I think we should wrap this up. They’re going to need a couple of hours to complete their personal security plans, the quiz, and the end-of-course survey.” I caught the guys’ attention and twirled my finger in the air.
Rafael, Chance, and Jase spoke to their sparring partners before releasing them. The three students joined the rest of their classmates along the outer edges of the mats.
Shae walked out onto the center mat to address the students. “I’m sorry, but we need to wrap up the self-defense training. All three of our instructors volunteered for this assignment, so let’s give them a warm round of applause.”
Our students gave Rafael, Chance, and Jase a standing ovation.
“The pizza should be here any minute,” I announced. “Let’s take a break so everyone can get something to drink and eat. We’ll begin work on your personal security plans in twenty minutes.”
Rafael joined me at the edge of the mat. He had already peeled the assailant suit off. “So, what do you think?”
I fingered the muscle shirt that was sticking to his chest and ran my hand along his glistening skin. “I’m thinking I’d like you to pin me against the floor, a countertop, and maybe the wall when we get home,” I replied wickedly.
A grin spread like wildfire across his face. “I think you’ve got yourself a date.”
* * * * *
I threw my practically new jeep into park, tapped the garage door opener to lower the door, and tromped up the stairs. I nudged the kitchen door open and tossed my purse on the counter. “You better be naked!” I shouted, then chuckled softly.
Well-muscled arms grabbed me from behind. “Ladies first,” Rafael replied. His fingers moved deftly over the buttons on my shirt.
I sighed contentedly when he slipped his hand inside my bra. I loved the feel of his skin next to mine. I closed my eyes and savored all the lovely sensations he was coaxing from my body. My eyes flew open when I felt him harden against my bottom. “We’ve got way too many clothes on.”
He peeled the shirt from my arms. “My sentiments exactly.”
I turned around and lifted the soft, gray cotton t-shirt over his head. I wrapped my arms around his neck so I could fit my chest and abs to his. The heat radiating from his skin was intoxicating. “You are so sexy, even wh
en your body is buried beneath that hideous suit.”
His fingers traced every vertebrae in my back before he unhooked my bra. “I know someplace else I’d like to be buried.” He stepped back and watched as my black lace bra fell to the floor. I shivered as the crisp air cooled my skin.
Rafael lunged for me. Sparks shot across every nerve ending when his sweltering mouth latched onto my chilly breast. His tongue circled closer and closer until his teeth found my nipple. My hands fisted in his hair. “Inside me,” I panted. “I want you inside me. Now!”
One arm held me firmly in place while he unbuttoned my slacks. His hand was in my panties before my pants even hit the floor. “You’re so wet,” he murmured. My head fell back when he latched onto my other breast. His left hand wound through my hair as it brushed against my lower back.
His fingers delved inside of me. I moaned softly as the tension grew tighter and tighter. My knees buckled when his thumb pressed on the one spot he’d been purposely avoiding. His hand stilled, denying my release. I groaned my frustration as I reached for the drawstring on his pants. “Get your clothes off already!”
Rafael laughed. His sweat pants were off in two seconds flat. There were no briefs underneath. My eyes widened at the sight of him. I tried to kick my black patent leather heels off, but Rafael stopped me. “Keep those on.” Rafael knelt in front of me as he hooked his thumbs in my panties and slid them down my legs. He pulled my right leg over his shoulder, kissed the inside of my thigh, then lapped at the sweet spot between my legs.
My eyelids slid shut. Pleasure pulsed everywhere he stroked. I nearly collapsed when he latched onto the tiny nub and began to suck. I tried to wriggle away. “Oh, God! Not like this. I want to feel you inside of me.”
Rafael lifted me in one fluid movement. I wrapped my legs around his waist as he pinned me against the door. My back arched sharply when he pressed inside of me. His eyes captured and held mine as he joined our bodies in one long, deeply gratifying stroke. “Is this what you want?”