by A. M. Wilson
Twelve o’clock on the dot he calls me to let me know he’s in the parking lot. I hop in the elevator, tapping my hands impatiently along my thighs as it makes its slow descent. I quickly make my way outside into the May sunshine, trying not to run across the lawn when I spot Elias’s truck.
I wrench the door open, slamming it shut behind me.
“Hi,” I whisper, looking deeply into his eyes. Immediately, I feel the tension seeping away, my muscles relaxing into the soft seat of his car.
“Hi,” he murmurs, placing his hands on either side of my face. He leans in and brushes the sweetest of kisses against my slightly parted lips. His skin on mine is instantly calming, as if we’re swapping energies. His peacefulness absorbs the lingering panic through touch alone, and the last remaining bit of anxiety slips away. He pulls away to look at me again, brushing his thumb over my tender lower lip. My tongue darts out to trace the path he only just drew.
“Want to tell me what happened?” he asks after a minute of gazing at each other. Feather light fingertips sweep gently along my temple, tucking an errant lock of hair behind my ear.
“Just give me a second to gather my thoughts,” I reply. Reaching behind me, I grasp the belt and buckle myself in.
He twists the key and turns the truck in the direction of the highway. We drive in silence for a few moments while I pull the reins on my emotions.
“The detectives came to work today,” I enunciate slowly.
Elias glances my way briefly before shifting his eyes back to the road. He waits for me to continue. I love the way he doesn’t press me for more, knowing I can’t be rushed.
“The detective who was at your place last week came by to question the staff. He was surprised to see me there. They hadn’t realized I actually knew Katie—they thought I had known about her only through you. He questioned me about my alibi and told me he’d be in touch. He was very interested in my dual connection to Katie…” I let the rest trail off. Elias will know what I’m getting at.
He’s silent, probably processing what I’ve told him. My hands fidget in my lap with my purse strap as I wait for him to reply.
“So you’re a suspect now?”
“I’m not sure, exactly. Person of interest? Is there even a difference?” I sigh. “Elias, I can’t—I, ugh!” I cry, palming my head in frustration.
“Calm down, Marlee. It’s going to be okay,” he soothes, his hand rubbing gently against my upper back.
“I can’t take much more of this, Elias. My life has become a chaotic mess. I don’t know what to do.”
“Don’t worry too much about it. They’re trying to scare you, and it’s too early in their investigation. The only thing they have found is her car. Once the evidence starts rolling in, they’ll rule you out. I know it. Besides, it probably isn’t even a serious inquiry. You said they came to question the staff.” His words bring me little comfort. The problem is I do have a shitty alibi. They can still bring up charges without having a body if the evidence is enough. Even though I know I’m one hundred percent innocent, the thought of even being considered as a suspect is completely baffling.
“I’m trying not to worry, but it’s hard. I just wanted to let you know what happened, though. Can we please go out to lunch and drop it now?” Surprisingly, I haven’t had a panic attack. I can’t help the little flare of excitement that shoots through me at the revelation.
“Of course. Let’s go to the deli you love.”
We order our sandwiches and take them to the patio, just like we did the first time. The weather is reminiscent of that day, and I lean back in my seat and soak up some rays. The heat from the sun warms me into relaxation. A hand settles over my hair, stroking the gleaming brown strands tenderly. I sigh in contentment.
Why can’t this be my life? With all the craziness from the past few months, I’m starting to wonder if I’ll ever experience normal. Most days it sure doesn’t feel like it.
“You’re purring like a kitten,” Elias chuckles, continually threading his fingers through my locks.
A small smile creeps across my face as I roll my head towards him. “I am? I hadn’t realized.”
“Mmhm.” Warm breath tickles my neck as he leans forward and whispers in my ear, “What do I need to do to make you relax like this all the time?”
My insides flutter and chill bumps skitter up my forearms. “I like the sun.”
“Is that all?” His teeth nip my earlobe.
“No,” I breathe, arousal simmering low in my belly. “Your hands.”
Warm, moist breath tickles my ear as he traces the outer shell with his tongue. “What about them?” Drifting from my hair, down my neck, to my shoulders, his hands work magic on my tense muscles.
“They make me feel good,” I mumble, lost to the sensations his strong fingers are creating. His loud laugh reverberates through the air, causing me to sit up abruptly. I don’t think I’ve heard him laugh so freely. The sound is deep and rumbly, reminding me of train approaching from a distance.
Noticing my rapid change of position, Elias immediately stops laughing. “What?” he asks with a tilt of his head that I can only describe as adorable. Our eyes click together and hold. The color in his eyes reflect the cloudless sky making them appear more of a cobalt blue. A light breeze picks up, bringing to me the scent of freshly cut grass and Elias. It’s a smell I’m beginning to associate with comfort.
“Nothing.” I pause, biting my lower lip shyly. “I just—I like your laugh.”
He smiles, causing a shadow to darken the dimple in his cheek. His hand caresses my face; the rough callouses scratching deliciously against my skin. “That’s good, baby,” he whispers gruffly.
If I had to guess, I’d say there’s emotion hovering just beneath the surface. Why he feels the need to hold it back, I’m not sure.
“We should eat. I have to get back to work soon.”
The meal continues in silence, nothing but each other’s presence and the beautiful afternoon sun to keep us company. All too soon, it’s time for us to leave. We’re in the truck driving back when I decide to press my luck.
“What are you doing for the rest of the afternoon?”
He glances at me from the corner of his eyes before turning them back to the highway. “Just some work with Sin. Why do you ask?”
Turning my gaze out the passenger window, I shrug. “No reason. We haven’t talked much about what it is you do. I guess I’m still curious.”
“Marlena,” he sighs. One hand leaves the steering wheel to brush through his long, blonde hair.
Rushing to placate him, I say, “I know. I know you won’t—or can’t—tell me what it is you do, but I wish I had some idea. Something so I don’t have to pretend my boyfriend isn’t keeping secrets from me.” From the corner of my eye, I see his grip tighten on the wheel. His knuckles turn white against his tanned skin.
“You have to understand, people could get hurt.”
“I know,” I reply softly. “I just don’t want one of them to be me.”
At that precise moment, we arrive at the firm, zip into the lot, and park. Elias whips off his seatbelt and holds his arms open to me.
“C’mere.”
Without hesitating, I climb into his lap. His arms cocoon around my body, surrounding me with his scent and warmth. My heartbeat begins to slow from its frantic pace, matching the steady drum of his.
Dipping his chin, he looks me in the eyes, a fire burning behind his thick lashes. “The last thing I’d ever intentionally do is hurt you. You believe me, right?”
“Of course. But secrets—ˮ
He shushes me with a finger to my lips. “Sin and I, as well as some other men, work together in an underground operation.”
Confusion replaces the doubt in my head. “What are you saying?”
His arms band tighter around my body, almost like they’re convulsing. The feeling is more a twitch than an act of reassurance. “I’m saying all that I can say. And even that is more than I s
hould. What I’ve told you is that our work is private, and if the wrong person were to hear about it, more than my life would be at stake. I need you to trust me on this.”
Snuggling deeper against his chest, I murmur, “Okay. If that’s what you need, I can let it go. Can I ask you a question, though?”
His fingers glide through my hair. “Of course you can. Always, but I can’t promise to give you an answer if it pertains to my work.”
“Are you safe? Should I be worried you aren’t going to come home one day or—ˮ
“You have nothing to worry about, Marlee. I’ve got a good team of men at my back.”
Drifting back and forth between his pale gaze, my eyes search for anything left unsaid but come up empty.
He smiles that megawatt smile of his that causes me to melt. His hands slide up my arms to cup the back of my neck, and he drops his forehead to my own.
“I don’t want to let you go, but you’ve got to get back to work.”
“I know,” I reply.
“Are you feeling better?” he asks concern evident in his features. My thumb swipes a wrinkle at the corner of his eye before skating across the chiseled crest of his cheek.
“Yes, thank you.”
Our lips brush tenderly in a soft kiss. His fingertips are as gentle as trickling water as he caresses my arms. The heat picks up as our mouths begin to devour one another, neither of us sated after our calm touch of lips. The world seems to pause. Time ticks forward by the sounds of our panting breaths. All too soon, Elias wrenches away from my mouth with a ragged groan and rests his forehead back against mine.
“Will I see you tonight?”
“I want you to.”
Elias pulls away and kisses my forehead softly. “Then I’ll see you after work.”
I feel him watching me the entire walk back into the building, and sure enough once I enter and look through the tall windows, I see his truck pulling away.
***
After a ridiculously quick run at the gym, I rush to Elias’s to shower, and he meets me there. We set up camp on the couch with plates of Chinese food in our laps and candles providing dim lighting in the room.
Sneaking a glance at Elias, I catch him looking at me before he quickly ducks his head to take a bite. I stare at his plump, pink lips slowly chewing his food; his tongue swiping out to lick a drop of sauce off his mouth, his eyes closing briefly as if savoring his bite. He picks up his glass to take a drink of wine and raises his eyes to me, catching me staring milliseconds before I drop my own head to look at my plate. A smile creeps across my face, and I risk another peek at him, lifting my eyes flirtatiously. He’s staring at me. Blatantly, boldly, no holding back staring.
“What?” Do I have food on my face? My cheeks flush, as I’m suddenly embarrassed with my little game.
“I don’t think I will ever get over how beautiful you are.”
Oh. “Did anyone ever tell you you’re good at making a girl blush?”
“Nope. Is that what I’m doing?” He knows exactly what he’s doing.
Setting my plate on the coffee table, I watch his eyes through the flickering candle, the light throwing shadows across his face making him all the more beautiful. My heart swells as I see my own affections reflected back at me through his stare. I’ve never felt like I was worth something as much as I do in this moment. With all the work I’ve put into securing my independence and self-confidence these past few months, I know better than to tether my value to someone else’s opinion. Regardless of that, I’ve learned there’s nothing wrong being with someone who can heighten that feeling. I understand I’m worth something, but it feels so much greater knowing he shares that opinion as well.
“What are you thinking about?” he asks, setting down his own plate and mirroring my position.
“Ah, nothing really. My mind just drifted for a bit.”
“Hmm.” Elias takes a drink from his glass, and then sets it by our plates. He shifts his position on the couch and eyes me speculatively, making my stomach churn with uncertainty. “Want to know what I’m thinking about?”
My skin flushes from nerves. “Always, Elias. What’s on your mind?”
“I think you’re stuck with me.”
That’s not what I was anticipating. I expect him to grin, but he’s just staring at me, seriousness radiating from his beautiful features. His blue eyes are blazing as hot as the candle flame, and I can’t look away.
“What?”
“I’m hoping you feel the same way. You’re looking at me as if you’re about to bolt. Relax and listen to me.” He pauses, so I nod, forcing myself to do as he says. “Do you remember what I told you on our first date? I told you I’m a man who knows what he wants, and I go after what I want. That part hasn’t changed.” His fingers wrap delicately around my wrists and lifts my hands from my lap. Our fingers twine together, his palm squeezing mine.
“What has changed is the more I learn about you, the less I want to ever stop.”
My breath hitches, and without thinking, I propel myself into his arms. Tears spill onto my lashes, the thick drops tickling my cheeks. The sudden onslaught of emotion is overwhelming, but I chalk it up to everything that’s happened today. Elias strokes my back as I cry into his shirt.
“Hey, hey. You’re okay. What’s going on, Marlee?” His voice soothes the worst of it enough for me to surface from his chest.
“It’s just been a long day,” I sigh. As soon as the words leave my lips, a wave of exhaustion hits me.
“You look beat, baby.” He brushes the hair off my shoulders, sweeping it behind my neck and combs his fingers through it. “Let me run you a bath. Come on.”
Without waiting for an objection, he takes my hand and leads me into the master bathroom. He sits me down on the closed toilet seat, moving to turn on the bath water. After pouring in some lavender scent and bubbles, he turns his attention back to me, pulling me to stand up. Ten long fingers grasp the hem of my tee, his eyes asking for permission. I nod my head, and he pulls the shirt slowly up, baring my soft, pale flesh to him. He lifts it over my head, over my raised arms, and drops it to the floor. Running his hands along my bare skin, he reaches behind me and works the clasp of my bra, dragging the straps from my shoulders and down my arms. The black bra joins my shirt somewhere on the floor.
The urge to cover myself comes on strong, but something about the tender way he’s undressing me causes my rampant thoughts to relax.
Keeping his eyes locked on mine, he reaches the button of my jeans, popping it open and slowly tugging the zipper down. He drops down to his knees, slipping his hands into the waistband of my pants and underwear. Slowly, he pulls his hands downward taking my remaining clothing with them. I grasp his shoulders as I step out of my bottoms, one leg at a time, until I am standing entirely naked in front of him.
He presses one open-mouthed, chaste kiss to my thigh before rising to his feet, grasping one of my hands in each of his. He lifts his right hand, urging me to step into the bathtub and helps me lower myself into the deliciously hot water.
I close my eyes, enjoying the feel of the water lapping at my tired muscles. I hear, rather than see, him turn off the faucet before he starts to shed his own clothing. Not wanting to miss a delectable minute of the strip show, I crack my eyelids open and peer up at him through my lashes.
Slowly, so slowly, he undoes the buttons of his shirt, unaware I am watching him. He pops the last button through its hole before slipping his arms out of the rolled up sleeves, hanging his shirt behind the bathroom door. Grasping the back of his tee, he pulls it over his head, dropping it to the floor. His pants follow suit. In one swift move, they join the pile of clothes along with his boxers. He is standing, for the first time, completely and gloriously naked in front of me. My eyes lustfully drink him in, every ridge, every muscle, and every line of perfection. He looks down in the tub, catching me staring. He grins before climbing into the sudsy water behind me.
Reaching forward, he pulls my ba
ck against his chest before running his hands over my heated skin. He cups water in his large palms, dripping it along my neckline. The droplets run down over my collarbone, to my breasts, joining the other molecules once more in the tub. His thumbs begin kneading my neck, his fingers digging into the most sensitive spots along my shoulder blades and spine. I can’t help the groan that slips from my throat when he kisses the spot between my neck and shoulder.
He grabs a washcloth I didn’t notice before, pouring some soap on and begins washing my body. Starting with my back, he works his way around to the front, soaping my breasts and stomach as he goes, never lingering in one place too long. He slips the cloth between my legs briefly before hitching my leg in the air to run the soft cloth down my calves to my toes. He repeats with the other leg, setting it back into the water when he’s finished.
The air around us charges with this high-energy tension, as if the electrons are bouncing back and forth between us carrying our emotions with them. We don’t speak the entirety of the bath. The two of us lay comfortably with one another until the water starts to chill, and my eyelids begin to close. Elias helps me stand, wraps us both in big, green, fluffy towels, and carries me to his bedroom.
With our skin dry, we shed our towels and crawl into bed together. I lay my head against his naked chest while he wraps his arms around me, one around my back and the other loosely gripping my hip. Our breathing synchronizes and slows in a sleepy rhythm. My eyes drift shut and I hear Elias’s deep voice murmur, “Goodnight, love.”
My heart has never been so full, but I can’t help but wonder if this is the calm before the storm. Because nothing good in my life ever lasts.
With that thought, I drift off into what will possibly be the best sleep in my entire life.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Travis
May 12, 2011