Love & Redemption

by Chantel Rhondeau

  “You’re trembling. Are you scared?” He took a step into her and kissed her lips, pulling back to run his thumb over her bottom lip. “There’s nothing to be nervous about. I love you.”

  She clasped her hands together in front of her, forming a barricade between them. “I’ve never made love before.”

  A smile lit his eyes. “So, I’m your first.”

  That startled her into a laugh. “In a way, I guess so.”

  He rubbed his fingers across the tops of her hands, relaxing her with his tenderness. “I promise to be gentle.”

  Tucking his hands along the inside edges of her shirt, he tugged it open, and she allowed him to draw it off her shoulders. As soon as it dropped, his arms surrounded her as he worked on the clasp of her bra. When it popped open, he kissed the top of her shoulder and then stepped back, skimming his hands over her hips and the fabric of her black panties.

  “You’re a vision in beauty,” he whispered in an awed voice, eyeing her up and down. “How could one guy get so lucky?”

  Encouraged, she let the bra slide forward, covering her breasts with her arm to pull one strap off. Finally, taking another deep breath for courage, she uncovered herself and dropped the fabric to the ground.

  Gavin’s enthralled face stayed the same for a second, but then his eyebrows narrowed. “Is that what the gunshot did to you?” He gently touched the scared, ugly skin below her left shoulder. “It’s a miracle you lived.”

  “Yes, it is.” She always kept the scar hidden by her clothing, and she wondered if it repulsed him.

  He kissed the skin, putting her worries to rest. “When you think about it, that’s what brought us together, but I’m sorry you had to go through it.”

  While she was glad he wasn’t turned off, she didn’t follow his line of thinking. “My getting shot had nothing to do with you.”

  “True, but it’s why you were in that opera house alone, waiting for us to find each other. Waiting to find love.”

  His hot palms trailed down her sides, sending fresh thrills of excitement that settled down low. Shelley clenched tightly, excitement totally replacing her anxieties. Gavin inserted his hands on either side of her panties and tugged them down, trailing kisses across her breasts and stomach as he pulled the underwear to the ground.

  He stayed crouched down a few moments, kissing each of Shelley’s thighs before working his way back up, finally landing another kiss on her lips. “Gorgeous,” he murmured. “And all mine.”

  He reached behind her head, releasing the clasp on her barrette and letting her long hair cascade around them. She felt sexy and naughty all at once when Gavin shuddered with obvious delight.

  She found his shaft again, this time gripping it directly in her palm and stroking the length of it. “Gorgeous,” she mimicked. “And all mine.”

  Laughing, he gripped her hips, lifting her onto the bed as though she weighed nothing. He pushed her against the pillows and climbed up next to her, his thumb once again finding one nipple while his mouth captured the other. He bit down enough to cause a delicious prick of pain that made her gush with desire.

  “I want you inside me,” she pleaded.

  His tongue swirled her tight bud and his other hand rubbed her stomach. “Patience, beautiful. Your first time should be something special.” Gavin teased the tuft of hair at her crotch.

  She spread her legs and arched her back to entice him lower. “This is special. It really is.”

  Complying with the demands of her body, Gavin moved lower. His fingers glided lightly across her clit—which burned with need for more of his touch—and onto the folds of her womanhood to find her wetness. He dipped one long finger inside her, plundering her depth before pulling out.

  Clenching with desire for more, she arched her hips, moaning softly. “Please.”

  Inside once more and moving his finger gently, Gavin’s mouth also latched onto her collarbone, sucking powerfully. The combination made her nipples form into even stiffer peaks as she shuddered all over. When Gavin left the clenched heat of her once again to move upward, his quick, feathery strokes against her pulsating clit made her squeal with passion while she moved her hips to rub his finger against her more aggressively.

  Gavin brought her right to the brink. Shelley was so close. She could see the goal line. Suddenly, he stopped, stroking his palm up her stomach to once again find her other nipple and massage it with his wet fingers.

  Shuddering, Shelley panted, feeling cheated. “Why did you stop?”

  He strained against her neck, kissing his way up to breathe in her ear, “I want this to last.”

  With that, he moved his hand back between her legs, stroking and caressing her to near mind-numbing completion before stopping and letting her rest in a shuddering heap of need.

  There was only one way to put a stop to this. Shelley tugged gently on Gavin’s hair, tilting his head back so she could cover his mouth with hers. She ran her tongue along the inside of his mouth, still panting with desperation. With her other hand, she found his rigid staff, palming it with steady pressure all the way to the base and then up to the tip, finding her rhythm quickly.

  When Gavin’s breathing changed, telling her he was getting close, she released him. With a smirk on her face, she leaned back in the pillows to smile up at him. “Is this how the game is played? I’m new to all this, you know.”

  Gavin nodded, his green eyes burring into her. He licked his lips with such seduction, Shelley had to wonder at his control. She wanted him inside her. As fun as this teasing was, she wanted his love to fill her entirely.

  She strained toward him, stroking his sleek chest as she sucked his tongue into her mouth. She found the head of his shaft again, caressing it lightly with just her fingertip.

  Shuddering against her, Gavin broke off the kiss. “Enough playing.”

  He fumbled behind his back, opening the drawer on the nightstand. When he pulled the condom from it, Shelley giggled.

  “Pretty confident this was going to happen, huh?”

  “I told you before, a man can dream.” He sheathed himself in the latex before looking at her again. “This is way better than any dream I could come up with, though.”

  With that, Gavin crawled across her, nestling between her legs. His hard cock pressed against her, rising her excitement. Soon, they would join in a way she thought she had experienced before, but knew this time would be different. Better. The feeling of homecoming for was so right. Gavin was made for her, and she for him.

  Wrapping her legs around his waist, she squeezed him tightly, rubbing herself against him. Gavin leaned into her. His weight pinned her to the bed as his chest pressed her down. He kissed her once again. The tenderness in him as his lips lightly touched hers made her want him even more.

  He propped himself on one forearm, brushing her hair away from her face with his other hand. “I love you.”

  Tears of happiness pricked her eyes. “I love you, too.”

  Nodding slightly, as if to himself, Gavin reached down and guided himself into her opening. The feeling of rightness grew even stronger. As Gavin pumped himself into her, each stroke raised her excitement and her confirmation they were doing the right thing.

  When they crested the wave of a sweet orgasm together, they both called out their love, then rode into shuddering bliss together.

  ***

  Gavin lay across Shelley, her warm breath puffing into his ear. He found the energy to kiss her and she murmured a lazy, contented sound that wasn’t true speech.

  Being with her was better than he’d imagined. The best part, he knew she was committed to him. No more wondering what she was thinking or whether she wanted him around any longer. As much as he hated to break up their contentment, there was still one thing they had to work out.

  “I’m coming with you tomorrow.”

  She smoothed back his left eyebrow, staring at him for a few seconds without speaking. Finally, she nodded. “Of course you are.”

 
“And you’re going to call Nick and let him know what we’re planning, just in case something goes wrong. He can fill Jenessa in, if need be.”

  “I’ll do it in the morning,” she agreed. “The rest of today is just for us.”

  “Wow.” Gavin kissed her again, unable to contain his surprise. “I can’t believe you’re agreeing to everything. My love making skills must be better than I guessed.”

  She laughed. “Your love making skills are top notch, true, but that’s not what changed my mind.” She ran her hands down his back, lightly massaging his fatigued muscles. “The only reason I didn’t want you along is because I don’t want you in danger, but I can’t protect you from that. We’re a team, and we should see this through together.”

  “You know I worry just as much about you being there.”

  “I do know that. This spy business isn’t a job that inspires confidence in our future, is it?”

  He couldn’t let her worry about that again, not when he’d just calmed her down. Then again, he knew how to relax her. “Let the future take care of itself, Shell. As long as we face it together, that’s enough for me.”

  “Me, too.” She paused in her massaging and wrinkled her nose. “Besides, I’ll feel a lot more confident having you watch my back and not leaving that up to Ken Travers.”

  Gavin grimaced, shaking his head at her. “Do not ever speak that man’s name in our bed again.”

  “His name’s the closest he’ll ever get to it, so no worries.”

  “That’s good.” Gavin caressed her face, running his thumb across her lips. “But just to make sure you stop thinking about him now, I’d better work on some different moves to keep your mind firmly on me.”

  “Mmmmm.” She took his thumb into her mouth, sucking on it and Gavin felt desire twitching again. “I love the way you think.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Gavin sat a few seats further back on the train than Shelley, looking at her across the empty space between them. Her disguise as a homeless person was convincing. People wouldn’t look twice at her. It was hard to imagine the pudgy, gray-haired woman was actually Gavin’s super model-looking soul mate. Terrance and Stephen, or whoever showed up with the girl, were not likely to suspect her.

  He only hoped his own disguise was as convincing. However, it might have seemed odd to have them both dressed as beggars, so Gavin wore a smart business suit and black-rimmed glasses. A black fedora with a gray band covered his hair and further obscured his features to a casual observer. Although Gavin felt the hat made him more conspicuous, Shelley assured him that, not only did he look sexy, she figured S.A.T.O. wouldn’t look twice at a man who appeared successful. They were used to dealing with the shadier side of this business.

  He wished he felt more confident as the train raced down the track. Ken and Brent would board at the next station, and then the game would be on. They weren’t sure when the kidnappers would appear, only that they were told which station to get on and what time to do it, making sure to get in the front of the train.

  Right now the car was fairly empty, but the further they made their way toward Manhattan, the busier it would become. Soon, people would be getting off work, catching the train home, never suspecting they could be in danger from terrorists turned kidnappers.

  Palming the pepper spray in his jacket pocket, Gavin knew that would be a last resort. Discharging that in this enclosed space could spell catastrophe, though it was the only defense mechanism available to him. He wasn’t built for fighting, but sneaking around and running away. Still, he couldn’t let Shelley face this without him.

  Shelley winked from across the aisle as they stopped at the Queensbridge station. She looked away, glancing at her glove-covered hands, folded across her ample-looking belly. Gavin still worried about her leg not being one-hundred percent. Plus, she admitted Stephen was a much higher belt level than she was in karate. Things could go wrong in a hurry. At least Ken would have his gun. He wondered if Stephen and Terrance would have theirs.

  When Shelley called Nick this morning, he hadn’t been pleased with the plan, but hadn’t had a better alternative and gave her the green light to go ahead with it. If they didn’t call him to check in tonight, he would fill Jenessa in on the details of the abduction. Presumably, even if things went terribly wrong, someone would come to their rescue. Assuming they lived through the encounter.

  The train finally stopped at Roosevelt Island. A few passengers exited and then several got on. Brent carried a large bag, looking nervous as he turned to the front of the car and found a place to stand. Ken stepped in a few people behind him, looking to where his brother-in-law went before turning to the back.

  Barely glancing at Gavin, Ken took the open spot next to him, perching on the edge of the uncomfortable bench.

  “You need to relax,” Gavin said softly. “You’ll draw attention to yourself like that.”

  Ken jumped and snapped his head around to look at Gavin. Confusion coated his face before converting to recognition. “Hart?”

  “At least Shelley was right about this disguise working.”

  “I didn’t think you were coming.”

  Gavin shrugged, wiping his sweat-coated hands against his slacks. As calm as he tried to appear, his heart beat too fast and his stomach turned with nerves. “Plans changed.”

  Relaxing slightly, Ken sat back in the seat. “Where the hell is Shelley? Chicken out?”

  Smiling to himself, Gavin was glad to know her outfit had the desired effect. She made herself invisible. Hopefully Stephen would be fooled too, if he boarded the train.

  “She’ll be ready to help if needed,” he said to Ken, deciding there was no purpose in pointing her out. “Did Brent talk to them about bringing Rose, too?”

  That was the one hitch in their plan. They had no way to force the issue to rescue Emma’s nanny. All they could do was hope everything worked out according to plan.

  Ken shrugged. “I think so. I reminded him about it, but I wasn’t with him when he talked to them. He had me get the funds from the bank.”

  Though Gavin wondered at the wisdom of that, he didn’t question it. Certainly S.A.T.O. would be watching to see what went on around Brent. They probably knew Ken was helping him and on the train. That meant they’d be expecting him...and his gun. Shelley had warned Stephen’s training was so good, he’d easily be able to disarm Ken. The hope had been to catch him unaware.

  Now, Gavin found himself earnestly praying whoever came to make the exchange wouldn’t be Stephen. All Terrance had, according to Shelley, was a mean streak and his knockout potion. If they could avoid his cloth with the MG-37 on it, they would have the best chance against him. Unless, of course, he sprayed the entire car, similar to what he did in the mall, and knocked everyone out. Gavin tried not to worry about that, as he had no control over it. Terrance was still the safer bet since he wasn’t a skilled fighter. If it was between the two men, Gavin hoped Terrance boarded with Emma.

  Through the next few stops, they rode in silence in the crowded car, Ken not even glancing at him, as it should be. Gavin half-wondered if he should move to a different location, but although Shelley raised an eyebrow at him, she didn’t make any further indication, and Gavin wasn’t sure what she wanted. Maybe she was surprised Ken hadn’t tried to disguise himself. Gavin sure was.

  After the train pulled away from Lafayette Street, one man entered the car through the back door that connected to the other train car. He walked swiftly past Gavin and Ken without glancing at them, making his way through the crowded car and the people standing in the aisle. Gavin couldn’t take his eyes off him. Though he didn’t think he knew the man, there was something familiar about the stranger. He was unsurprised when the man stopped in front of Brent.

  Brent turned toward him and they talked tersely for a few seconds. After a few more words, Brent slung the bag to the front of his body, unfastening the zipper a few inches.

  The man nodded, seeming satisfied, and gripped Brent�
�s elbow, steering him toward the doorway as the train slowed for the 2nd Avenue stop.

  “Shit.” Ken scooted back to the edge of his chair. “Looks like we’re getting off. Should have known the bastards wouldn’t keep their word and hand Emma over here.”

  Gavin nodded his agreement. They should have realized that. He’d tried to warn them against just giving the kidnapper that much cash, but Brent and Ken hadn’t wanted to listen.

  Shelley was already on her feet, and she bumped into the back of the man holding Brent as the train slowed. “Excuse me,” she mumbled, then coughed loudly, sounding just like some of the homeless people Gavin had known. “Spare some change?” she rasped.

  Impressed by her poise, Gavin waited for the man’s reaction.

  “I can’t help you,” he said. Although he gave her a dirty look, he didn’t seem concerned with her or suspicious. She’d be able to follow them right out the door and keep track of what was going on. Gavin wondered if he and Ken would be so lucky.

  “We can’t lose sight of them,” he said softly, getting to his feet as the doors opened. “If we lose them, Emma and Rose are in trouble.” He didn’t add that Shelley would be in danger as well. Gavin knew she wouldn’t wait for them to back her up. She was a woman on a mission and would stop at nothing until Emma was safe.

  Ken stood behind him and followed to the doors. “Walk faster. They’re already out of the car.”

  Panic clutched at Gavin’s gut when a surge of people surrounded them, causing him to lose sight of Shelley’s faux-gray hair in the rush. Rising on his toes didn’t help the situation. Normally with Shelley’s height plus her usual high-heeled shoes, she stood out in the crowd. Shelley the beggar blended right in.

  Gavin pushed through people impatiently, desperate to find her. Already the plan was unraveling, and they had yet to see Emma. As he and Ken stepped into the station, he still couldn’t see her. He had no idea which way to turn.