by Cerys du Lys
~*~*~*~*~*~
“You have some nerve Colin Almond!” Gabriella fumed through the intercom to Colin, who was standing at the front door asking to come up and speak to her.
“Please. Give me a chance to explain.”
She was so angry she could have punched him. Perhaps it was a good thing he was on the other end of the intercom and not in front of her. “Nothing to explain. I don’t date men who don’t show up for dates. Especially after the other night.”
There was silence on the other end. The silence lasted so long she was beginning to suspect he’d left. She was both saddened and relieved at the idea. At least if he gave up she wouldn’t do something foolish like buy the bullshit she was sure he would have fed her.
“Gabriella please. Five minutes.”
“Did you lose your cell phone?”
“What?” Pause. “No. I have it.”
“But you couldn’t take a moment to call me back last night. Not return any of my text messages. Not even a brief, can’t make it Gabby. Sorry. Not a thing.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Fuck you Colin.” His apology only further angered her. She clenched her fists at her side, attempting to calm herself.
Colin sighed. “Okay, I guess I deserved that.”
“Ya think?”
“Look. Five minutes and then you’ll never have to see or talk to me again. I promise. I’ll go away and that will be that.”
Gabriella’s jaw tensed. She hated the idea of never seeing him again. And hated even more that she hated it. Her finger hovered over the unlock button to the interior security door. To hell with it, five minutes and then his ass is outta here, she pressed the button.
“Come up.” She could hear the disgust in her tone, but it wasn’t so much disgust over him, but toward herself for being so soft. This is how you get hurt Gabriella, a voice in the back of her mind warned.
A couple of minutes later a knock sounded at her door. She ran her hands through her blonde hair and to her surprise she found they were shaking slightly with nervousness. She mentally scoffed at herself for being so weak.
“Gabby?” Colin called out from the other side of the door.
Taking a deep breath in, she slowly released it, calming herself slightly as she opened the door.
“Hey.” Colin thrust a dozen red roses in her direction, along with a large white sad-looking teddy bear holding a sign saying “I’m sorry.”
“Roses and a teddy bear, huh? At least you know you’ve seriously fucked up.” She was tempted to refuse the roses and bear, but the roses smelled so good and the bear was cute – really cute. Why shouldn’t she accept the offerings anyhow? What would he do with them? No sense letting them go to waste, right?
She accepted the roses first, bringing them to her nose and inhaling deeply. “For the record this doesn’t mean I’m forgiving you, just that I like roses and bears. Got it?” She snatched the bear from his hand and hugged it to her chest.
He gave her a weak smile. “Got it.”
When she didn’t return his smile, the weak smile he had flashed her quickly faded.
“You have five minutes, I suggest you make it good.”
He looked over her shoulder and into the living room, and motioned toward the sofa. “Could we?”
She shook her head. “Nope. You can say what you have to say right here.” She tapped her bare foot on the floor impatiently. “Tick, tick, tick.”
“Oh, right.” He thrust an agitated hand through his hair and sighed. “It was a work emergency.”
There was the sound of angry muttering in the hallway that had Gabriella leaning around his shoulder and looking out into the hallway to see Mrs. Gibbons and her friend Beatrice approaching Colin, a look of angry determination in her expression. What was this all about?
“I noticed it’s still there,” Mrs. Gibbons stated matter-of-factly to Colin.
Colin rolled his eyes as he turned to face the cranky older woman. “I’m sorry, it was late and it slipped my mind.”
“Convenient,” she hissed. “Don’t make me inform the super.” She looked past Colin and into the apartment, focusing her glare at Gabby. “Are you the one leaving the dog poop on the sidewalks? I already caught your boyfriend in the act. I’ll report you.”
“I… Ummm….” What the fuck? She looked from Colin to Mrs. Gibbons and back to Colin. “No, it isn’t me.”
“It’s against the law to not clean up after your animals.” As if on cue, intent on making things worse, Butch sauntered up to the open doorway glancing from person to person.
“That’s the dog! Pooping all over the yard and sidewalks. If you’re going to have animals I suggest you properly care for them.”
Gabby tried to suppress her annoyance with the older woman. “I assure you I always clean up after my animals.”
“But he doesn’t. I saw him!” Mrs. Gibbons wagged a finger at Colin and Gabby had to bite down on her lower lip to keep from laughing. The thought of germaphobe Colin scooping dog shit was hilarious. She had no doubt Colin allowed Butch to plop a load and walked off.
“I assure you, it won’t happen again Mrs. Gibbons.” She gave the older woman a reassuring smile. It seemed to satisfy the other woman and she nodded, taking one more moment to glare at Colin.
“I’ll be watching you,” she warned, wagging her finger at Colin once more before walking off, Beatrice in tow.
“I can explain…” Colin began, but Gabriella waved an explanation off.
“Don’t worry about it. She’s been extremely cranky since her husband died last year. I think it’s her way of coping, we all just humour her.”
“I see.”
Gabriella fixated a stern gaze upon him. “So… back to the conversation. Work emergency. The job that really isn’t what you say it is. Where you have a partner who is hot and wants to fuck you, but you swear there’s nothing going on – anymore. Oh, and you need to take off at all hours and on no notice to some secret mission that you can’t talk about, but could just be some booty call from some fuck buddy. About right?”
She could see the muscles tensing in his neck. He reached up and began to massage the tensing neck muscles. “Something like that.”
“Then I don’t think I see a future between us, Colin.”
Colin opened his mouth to respond, appeared to think twice and snapped it shut again. He looked distraught – desperate. “Gabby. Please. I need you.”
Her anger dimmed softly. He seemed so damned sincere. It’s all part of who he is Gabby, the voice in the back of her mind warned, a professional liar.
“You need me?” What a crock of shit. “Why didn’t you have the decency to call me back?”
“Okay. See. I told you about the little something I had happening in New York.”
She nodded.
“Well, it ended up being an opportunity to wrap up something we’ve been working on for a while now.”
“We, as in you and Felicity.”
“Yeah.”
“Did you get it cleared up?”
A look of disappointment mixed with anger filled his eyes. She knew the answer before he even gave it to her.
“No. He wasn’t where he was supposed to be.”
“Then why didn’t you call? Show up. How can I trust you if you do shit like this? I refuse to be some drop-in girl.” Feeling the weight of the roses and teddy bear in her arms, she turned and made her way into the kitchen, assuming Colin would follow. She was still unsure on what to do with him – if anything. Common sense told her to kick his sexy ass out and never think of him again. But she couldn’t.
Would a guy who just wanted a booty call spend an evening in a cat hoarder’s house, especially with him having such an adversity to filth and untidiness? He was hot, charming and interesting, he could easily get any woman he wanted. Maybe he wasn’t full of shit, maybe he legitimately wanted her and fucked up.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Colin followed her into the kitchen, not sure h
ow well this conversation was going. She was angry – very angry and rightfully so. He’d fucked up. He wouldn’t deny that in the least. He’d allowed his need to see Dominik dead take over all else – a mistake he wouldn’t make again, as long as she’d give him one more chance.
“I’m not used to having people waiting for me.” He attempted to explain as he watched her put the roses in a vase and set them next to the other two bouquets he’d given her.
“And that’s the excuse you’re going to give to me?”
“No good, huh?” He gave her another hesitant smile.
Her stunning blue eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms over her chest as she glared up at him. “There’s something called common courtesy, Colin.”
Properly chastened, his smile faded and he bowed his head. “I know. I was an idiot. I’m asking you to name the price to make this right and I’ll pay it.”
“Then tell me the details on what kept you away last night.”
He took a step toward her, closing the distance and tentatively grasped her upper arms in his hands. “I’m sorry. I just can’t do that. Aside from being agency policy, if you knew, it could put you in danger. You have no idea how important it is for me to keep you as far away from that part of my life as possible.”
He could see her demeanor beginning to soften. Thank God!
“One chance, Colin. One more. If you stand me up, or piss me off one more time…”
The weight that had been tugging at his heart lifted. He didn’t deserve another chance, he genuinely felt that, but he’d take it. A part of him felt like he didn’t deserve someone as good as her and perhaps this would end very badly for her. But he was selfish, he knew it and he couldn’t let her go… Couldn’t…
“Gabby, I swear, I’ll do everything within my power to never disappoint you again.”
With hesitation he lowered his lips to hers. She tensed at first, as if deciding whether she should give in to him or not.
“I promise,” he whispered as his lips grazed hers.
Her body began to relax and she placed her hands on him, her palms flush against his chest. Her hands weren’t pushing him away, but exploring as she leaned into him returning his kiss. Pulling her lips from his, she stepped fully into him, sliding her hands up his shoulders and pressing herself tight to him, burying her face in the crook of his neck.
“Please don’t hurt me Colin.” The words were said so softly that he wasn’t sure if she meant to say them out loud or not. He suspected not.
He pulled her tighter to him, stroking her silken hair. He’d take care of her. Protect her, even if it meant protecting her from himself.
Chapter 13
“Hey Oscar,” Gabriella bent and patted Oscar on the head as she entered Colin’s house. The kittens, hearing someone entering the house, came rushing into the kitchen. My God, they’ve gotten big in the past month, she mused.
After the confrontation over his no-show a month prior, Colin had been the perfect boyfriend. Attentive, affectionate, updating her any time he suspected he’d even be ten minutes late. Work seemed to have calmed down for him and he was spending most of his time working from home and his evenings with her.
Although the big “L” word hadn’t been uttered from either of their lips, she was beginning to feel it and she could see it in his eyes when he looked at her. So it would come. In time. There was only one tiny problem, a problem she was determined she was going to fix tonight, once and for all. They hadn’t had sex yet.
She wanted to, badly. And she was sure he wanted to as well, but he kept holding himself back from taking that final step. How he had the willpower was beyond her, part of his training perhaps? She didn’t know, but it was getting on her last nerve. She’d gone through three sets of batteries on her rabbit vibrator since she’d met him.
It’s not like their relationship was totally chaste, not by a long shot. They slept together naked and the foreplay and oral action was sublime, but no actual intercourse.
Gabriella sighed as she set the groceries on his kitchen counter and began to unload the bags. Colin had been gone away on some sort of highly classified mission the past few days and was due back tonight. She planned on having a full meal ready and on the table for him. She had the entire romantic setup, music, candles, white sparkling wine – his favourite.
In addition to a romantic meal, she gone to Victoria’s Secret and gotten an ultra-sexy black bra and panty set with a short, skin-tight black lace dress to wear over it. Colin was a breast man, so she made sure the neckline plunged extremely low between her breasts. To top off the outfit she bought a pair of extremely uncomfortable above-the-knee boots. Although they were uncomfortable, they made her ass look amazing, so she’d endure. She’d never dream of wearing something so scandalous in public, but for a night with Colin where the goal was sex, it was perfect.
~*~*~*~*~
Colin was hurting. Every inch of his body ached. He supposed having the shit kicked out of him by three of Dominik’s goons did that to a guy. They’d been given another “tip” from who they thought to be a reliable informant. Turns out he wasn’t, Colin had walked right into an ambush; he didn’t even have enough time to draw his gun. There was no doubt the men’s intentions were to kill him and leave him as an example of what happens to agents who try to lock the mafia down. Luckily for him backup came in time. The men escaped, but not without having enough time to put Colin through a world of hurt.
As he pulled into his driveway he frowned. Gabriella’s here. Shit.
He was happy to see her, God knew as he was getting pummelled by Dominik’s goons the only thing he could think about was her, and the possibility that he may never see her beautiful face or hear her sweet laugh again. But he didn’t want her seeing him like this, cut up and bruised - defeated. He was supposed to be her hero, but looked near death. It had been recommended he stay in the hospital for observation overnight, but that’s the last thing he wanted. He just wanted to get home, to be with her.
Shutting off the car, he took a moment for himself in the car. He refused to let on how much pain he was in, she’d be beside herself with worry and then start asking questions he couldn’t answer. With a loud sigh, he got out of the car and grimacing through the pain he made his way to the front door. As he approached the door, he began to hear Oscar’s barking, announcing his arrival. A second bark joined Oscar’s.
Great, Butch is here too.
Before he could open the door, it was pulled open to display Gabriella. She. Looked. Insanely sexy. His jaw dropped, he knew it, but couldn’t have cared less how stupid he looked standing there gaping at her like a schoolboy. She was mind-blowing. She was a beautiful woman, no matter what she wore, which was usually jeans and a t-shirt, or if they were out a simple sundress and sandals. But tonight, she was a goddess.
Despite his exhausted state, his cock came alive in his pants, beginning to rapidly rise, preparing for action. Oh shit, shit, shit. Despite his immediate insane desire for her, he suspected if they did have sex the only noises he’d be making would be a symphony of moans, due to pain rather than pleasure.
While she’d answered the door with a wide smile, her smile quickly faded as her eyes scanned him, focusing on his cut and slightly swollen lip and no doubt his black eye. Yep, he was hardly a heartthrob tonight.
“Oh my God! Were you in an accident?” She moved closer and looked around him and into the yard to inspect the car.
“Not exactly.” Brushing past her, Colin made his way into the kitchen, pulled out a chair and plunked himself down into it.
“What happened?” Closing the door, Gabriella followed behind him and crouched down pulling up his t-shirt.
He didn’t bother to attempt to stop her, she’d see him in all his grotesque nakedness soon enough. She gasped as his stomach became revealed to her. He tried to ignore her inspection and expression of horror as she discovered all his cuts and bruises. While she inspected him, he inspected the kitchen. It smelled amazing
and his stomach began to grumble. She’d lit candles and a sweet rose aroma drifted to him, while a soft, romantic melody played in the background.
He felt like shit. This time his shitty feeling had to do with the fact she went out of her way to set the scene for a nice evening and he’d shown up feeling like royal shit and ruined all her hard work.
“Oh sweet Jesus, what is this?” She carefully fingered a large white bandage covering his ribs; blood was slowly beginning to soak through it.
“A bandage,” he offered, giving her a weak smile.
“You know what I mean!” she growled at him. “What happened to you?”
“Got stabbed.”
She gasped, her hand covering her mouth and tears welling up in her eyes. “Who? Why? Why would someone do this to you?”
He waved a dismissive hand at her. “It’s nothing. A flesh wound. Nothing serious.”
“Liar.” Her disdain quickly turned to anger. “When are you going to end this bullshit? When you’re dead! Is that what it’s going to take, Colin?”
He looked down at her, her eyes displaying an array of emotions: hurt, confusion, anger. Was this why he’d pulled away from real relationships in the past? He didn’t want to see a woman in pain over him?
He sighed, raking a hand through his hair. “It’s my job, Gab. I can’t change that. You knew what I did for a living.”
Her blue eyes narrowed as they locked with his, anger beginning to fill them. “When I met you, you told me you chased down internet nerds pirating shit. You never told me that included being stabbed and God knows what else. I’ve seen you naked. I’ve seen the scars Colin, the scars on your body aren’t from playing football in college. I’m not stupid, but I kept it to myself – until now.”
Taking her hands, he pulled her to her feet and urged her onto his lap. She hesitated, but allowed him, cuddling against him, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck. He winced; her weight, even though it was slight, seemed to press at all the wrong places.