by S. J. Bishop
“We’ll be able to see all of London.”
“Yeah…” I gulped, remembering how afraid of heights I was.
Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea…
10
Cruz
You okay?” I asked when I noticed Amelia shivering. “You aren’t afraid of heights, are you?”
She shook her head vehemently. “What? No. That’s silly…”
“We don’t have to go on the ride if you don’t want to. I won’t be mad.”
“I’m not afraid of heights.” She reiterated her every word, well-enunciated to prove a point.
“Alright, I believe you.”
“Good.” She crossed her arms over her chest, but every once in a while, she would look up at the Ferris Wheel, her irises painted in hues of uncertainty.
The ride operator opened the entrance door, ushering us forward.
Amelia hesitated to follow him, so I gently pressed my hand into the small of her back. This seemed to snap her back into reality. She took small, timid steps. “Are you sure –”
“Yes!” she said, cutting me off. Without another word, she sat down in her seat.
I thought about pushing the issue, but given the look on her face, if I asked her again, she would probably bite my head off or something. So I sat down beside her and buckled myself in.
Beside me, Amelia was struggling with hers.
“Do you want me to help?” I asked, my voice soft and gentle. When she didn’t answer me, I carefully placed my hands on top of hers, squeezing them gently. This got her attention because she looked up at me with great big eyes. I smiled before I brought together the two ends of her belt.
Click.
“There, now you can’t fall off this thing,” I whispered, tightening the strap just for good measure. My hand lingered by her thigh, desperate to sneak my fingers under her skirt. My desire for this woman heightened to insurmountable levels. I wanted her. I needed her. But I wasn’t sure I could ever have her.
Finally, I pulled down the safety bar, just in time for us to start moving.
“Eek!” Amelia squeaked with surprise.
“Hey, it’s okay. I’ve got you.” I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and pulled her tight against my chest. “Nothing is going to happen to you.” To my surprise, she actually melted into my body, her eyes closed. I held her during our ascent, my hand rubbing her arm in a comforting motion.
Soon, we were at the very top. The view was impeccable. London was beneath our feet. A rush of adrenaline surged through my body, making me feel like the king of the world. “Amelia, look.”
Slowly, she opened her eyes and gasped. “Wow…” she murmured, leaning forward slightly, her eyes full of wonder and awe. “It’s beautiful.”
I smiled, pinning a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Not nearly as beautiful as you.”
Her cheeks glowed with a soft pink hue at my words. Slowly, she turned, looking me straight in the eye. “What’s your angle?”
Her question took me off guard. “My angle?”
She nodded. “What do you want from me?”
“Nothing?” I was confused by her sudden hostility. “I can’t flirt with a beautiful woman?”
She narrowed her eyes in suspicion. “Look, I’m not saying you’re a bad guy or anything, but I’ve just been in too many relationships where guys only want to use me for one thing and one thing only.”
I frowned. “Amelia, you’re a beautiful girl, there’s no denying that, but you’re also intelligent, witty, and extremely hard working.” I took her hand in mine. “I want to spend time with you because I like you as a person, not because I want to get in your pants.”
Before she could say anything, the ride jolted.
Amelia screamed, leaning forward dangerously.
I grabbed her by the shirt and reeled her into my body, my arms wrapping tightly around her body. If we were to fall out of the sky at that very moment, I would have shielded her body with mine – given up my life for hers.
She started to shake, her eyes forced shut with fear.
There was a horrible grinding noise. I held Amelia tighter, kissing the top of her head. “It’s okay. Everything is okay. Nothing is going to happen to us.”
The couple below us looked hysterical.
I kept calm, cocooning Amelia in my embrace. She was the only thing I could think about. My every instinct was telling me to protect her – to keep her safe, by any means necessary.
Another jolt.
Amelia buried her face into my chest.
“Shh…” I ran my fingers through her hair as I dared a peek at the ground. We had to be at least a hundred feet in the air. We would never survive the fall…
And then, the ride finally clicked into the right gear, and we started our descent. Amelia didn’t dare to let go of me, her hands clutching at the fabric of my shirt.
Once we were at the bottom, I had to unbuckle us both and carry her in my arms. I sat down on a nearby bench. “Amelia, we’re safe now,” I whispered, trying to pry her off my chest, but she wouldn’t budge. So I continued to hold her in my arms, rocking her ever so gently.
My hand ran up and down her back. She felt so tiny and vulnerable in my arms. In that moment, all I wanted to do was protect her. I wanted to keep her in my arms forever. To make her mine.
Eventually, she looked up at me, the edges of her eyes red and puffy. The fear in her eyes made my heart ache. I should never have allowed her on that ride.
Gently, I wiped away her tears, letting my thumb caress her cheek. “It’s okay now. I promise.”
“Can you just take me home?”
11
Amelia
My stomach felt queasy. I was covered in a thin layer of sweat. My fingers wouldn’t stop shaking. I was actually quite thankful that Cruz was carrying me because I didn’t know if I’d be able to walk on my own.
His arms were just as strong as they looked. He carried me with such ease, almost like he was carrying a load of feathers.
I rested my head against his chest, soothed by the subtle scent of his cologne and the beating of his heart. It was rhythmic and steady, assuring me that all was right with the world.
“Unfortunately, I only brought my motorcycle. I hope that’s okay.” He set me down on my feet.
In front of me was a black sport bike that didn’t look like it was meant for two people. “Are you sure you’ll be able to take me home on this thing…?” I asked, a little apprehensive. I had never been on a motorcycle before, and frankly, they didn’t seem all that safe.
“Of course, but the question is -- are you comfortable riding with me? I don’t want to put you in an uncomfortable situation, especially after what just happened.”
“You promise you’re a safe driver?”
“Cross my heart and hope to die.”
“Then I rather go home with you than with some sleazy cab driver,” I answered, hoping I was making the right decision. I still knew very little about Cruz, but after what had happened on the Ferris Wheel, I felt like I could trust him. While I had been in his arms, I’d felt so safe and secure. Someone that made me feel that way couldn’t be all that bad, could they?
“Okay.” He grabbed his helmet and placed it on my head, carefully snapping the strap together so he wouldn’t accidentally pinch my skin. “How does that feel?”
“Snug.”
“Good.” He patted my head before hopping onto the bike.
“Wait, where’s your helmet?”
“I only have one, and I’d rather you wear it.” He smiled, grabbed my hand, and effortlessly pulled me onto the back of the bike.
Our bodies naturally locked together. My arms wrapped around his torso like they belonged there. I leaned my head on his shoulder, my chest pressed against his back. I wondered if he could feel the beating of my rampaging heart.
“Ready?”
“Yes,” I said, knowing I was as ready as I’d ever be. I tightened my grasp around him. My thighs s
queezed against his legs as I scooted even closer.
He nodded, and seconds later, we were on the road, cruising at a very comfortable speed. The wind blew through my hair. Adrenaline rushed through my veins. I giggled, actually enjoying the experience. It was invigorating.
“Someone enjoying themselves?” Cruz asked as he pressed on the throttle, making us go a little faster.
I screamed with excitement. “Ah!”
“Should I slow down?”
“No!”
He chuckled, pulling onto the highway, where he could reach top speeds. Here, the wind was so strong that it practically burned my cheeks, and yet, I was loving every second. I felt like I was flying, my body weightless.
“This is so amazing!” I screamed, hoping he could hear me over the rushing wind.
“You haven’t seen anything yet.” I couldn’t see his face, but I imagined his lips twitching into a smirk. “Hold on tight!” He revved the engine, and suddenly, he was popping a wheelie.
My body slid back, and my eyes widened in momentary fear, but holding onto Cruz was like being attached to an anchor. I knew nothing was going to happen to me.
He touched down and laughed, pushing his bike to the limit as he weaved through traffic like a madman.
“You’re crazy!” I screamed, my heart thumping so hard I thought it was going to burst out of my chest. “But I love it!”
Our bodies had practically melded into one at this point. Whenever he moved, I moved. It was magical. I had never felt this connected to another human being in my entire life.
He pulled off the highway and slowed his pace. I was actually a little disappointed. The adrenaline drained out of my body, making me feel like a deflated balloon.
To my surprise, I realized we weren’t in my neighborhood. In fact, I had no idea where we were. A tinge of fear flared up inside of me. No one knew I was with Cruz. What if he was some sort of murderer who had played the perfect gentleman just so he could abduct me?
Maybe I’d been watching one too many horror movies.
“Where are we going?”
Cruz didn’t say anything.
“Cruz?”
We stopped in front of a beautiful botanical garden. He parked his motorcycle and got off, offering me a hand. When he took off my helmet, I was about to question him further, but he pressed a finger to my lips. “I know you said you wanted to go home, but I just couldn’t part ways so soon. Won’t you take a walk with me?”
I looked into his eyes. There was no hint of malice or bad intentions. He just genuinely wanted to spend time with me. The thought practically melted my heart. I nodded, taking his hand in mine. It was funny how one night with him had changed my whole perception of him. Maybe, if I tried hard enough, things between us could work…
The entrance to the garden was closed. “I don’t think we can get in…” I said, a little disappointed. A moonlight stroll would have been so romantic...
“Of course we can.” He grinned deviously, reaching into his pocket. He pulled out a lock picking set and got to work tinkering with the gate’s padlock.
“What are you doing?”
“Breaking in. What does it look like I’m doing?”
“Um… I don’t think we should be doing this.”
“Oh, come on. Don’t be such a goodie two shoes. I’m not going to steal anything… well, besides your heart.” He winked, popping open the lock.
I was shocked. He had done that so quickly. Could it be that I was falling in love with a criminal?
12
Cruz
I smirked in triumph as the lock popped open.
“Where did you learn to pick locks like that?” Amelia questioned, a hint of suspicion in her voice.
“Just a skill I picked up from work,” I answered without really thinking about it.
“So, you’re a finance manager who needs to know how to pick locks?” She raised an eyebrow in my direction, her arms folded over her chest. Her feet were planted in the ground, and I had the feeling she wasn’t going to budge until I told her the truth.
“Yep.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Of course you don’t. We both know I’m not really a finance manager. Ask me what the square root of 144 is, and I couldn’t tell you. But ask me to shoot a gun, and I’ll hit my target every single time. Ask me to scale a building… well… I haven’t done that in a while, but I could probably do it. Ask me to take a bullet for you, and I would do it in a heartbeat.”
Amelia was quiet for a moment. “I don’t believe you’re James Bond either.”
“Well, then I don’t know what to tell you. Maybe you’ll just have to spend some more time with me and find out who I really am.” I offered her my hand, hoping she would take it.
She hesitated, but eventually, she relented. Her palm felt silky against my own. Her fingers were tiny and delicate.
Together, we walked through the garden’s path. Most of the flowers were curled up in their buds for the night, but there were a few that were dancing in the moonlight, soaking up the silver rays.
In the heart of the garden was a small gazebo. I guided Amelia along the steps and toward the hammock.
She stopped me, her hand on my chest. “I know where this is going, and I don’t know if I’m comfortable with it.”
I nodded my understanding. “I won’t make you do anything you don’t want to. I’m not that kind of man.” I expected her to pull away from me and demand to go home, but instead, she moved a little closer, both of her hands on my chest. Her proximity made me shiver. I wanted nothing more than to take her into my arms and kiss her – to taste those sweet, sweet lips – but I refrained, unwilling to break her boundaries.
“You’re a mystery, Cruz.”
I chuckled. “How so?”
“I’m used to solving puzzles. It’s what I do whenever I research a crime for my novels. I like to take all of the pieces and figure out exactly how they fit together so that I can properly paint the picture for everyone else. But you’re different. I can’t seem to figure you out. I don’t know if you’re actually a gentleman or just a professional con man trying to steal my heart.”
“I am trying to steal your heart, all right, but I’m no con man.”
“Then tell me what you do for a living.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?” she demanded. “Do you not trust me?”
“It’s not that. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Oh, don’t give me that bullshit. I can hold my own.”
“Not when it comes to the men I deal with.”
“What are you? Some FBI agent?” she guessed. “Although I can’t really see you doing that.”
“Amelia, please. Don’t push this issue.”
She shook her head. “I can’t just ignore it. I like you. More than I’d like to admit. But I can’t commit myself to this relationship if I don’t even know who you are.”
“Wait… did you just say relationship? As in, you’re open to the idea of having a relationship with me?”
Her cheeks reddened. “Maybe… you are handsome, funny, affectionate…”
I grinned. “And here I was thinking you wanted nothing to do with me and that I was wasting my time by flirting with you.”
“Hey, don’t get a big head just because I said you were handsome.”
“I already have a big head,” I said, motioning to my wild nest of curly hair. “But Amelia, I’m telling the truth when I say I can’t tell you what I do for a living. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
“You’re hurting me now by not telling me.” She grabbed me by the collar of my shirt and pulled me closer. “I’ll kiss you if you tell me.”
“Will you now?”
“Mhm.” She pursed her lips together, trying to tease me.
I tried to keep control of my desires, but she was just too great of a temptation. I couldn’t resist. “I work for VanGuard.”
“No more lies, Cruz.”
“I’m not lying. VanGuard is a legitimate company. Retired veterans who are still willing to use their skills work for the company doing various tasks.”
“Such as?”
“Well, I’m Head of VanGuard’s International Division. That’s why I moved to London. Headquarters is stationed here.”
“I see… so, you’re like some sort of body guard service or something?”
“That’s part of it. That was my old department. Now I work on high-level crimes for people who do not want to get the authorities involved.” I knew that I shouldn’t be telling her any of this, but I just couldn’t stop myself. The promise of her lips on mine was something I couldn’t resist.
“I see…”
“Yeah.”
“And you’re telling the truth?”
“I swear.”
“Do you have proof?”
I sighed. “You’re a hard customer to please. I’m starting to think I’m never going to get that kiss…” I pulled out my wallet, handing her my VanGuard badge. “There.”
She looked it over like a bartender checking for a fake ID.
“Do you believe me now?”
She answered the question by pushing me into the hammock, her eyes wild and her hands wrapped around my wrists, pinning them above my head.
“Amel–” Before I could finish saying her name, she had already kissed me.
13
Amelia
I only pounced on him to give him what he wanted, but once our lips collided, something clicked inside of me. An instinct unlocking.
Without reverence, my lips danced against his, greedy for more. His lips were the sweetest thing I had ever tasted. I craved him. Wanted every inch of him.
I cupped his face, our bodies locking together like two pieces of a puzzle. I could feel the subtle outline of his cock against my thigh. In any other situation, I probably would have pulled away, but the thought of Cruz’s excitement just heightened mine. I thought back to my wet dream, which fueled my passions even further.