Deal with the Devil

by Ali Vali

  Smiling up at Dallas she said, “I thought you meant inside your house.”

  As Remi began to take another drag, Dallas plucked the cigar from Remi’s fingers and ground it out in the ashtray next to the chair. “Inside means inside anywhere.”

  Dallas leaned in the final inches and kissed her until Remi was aware only of Dallas’s lips against hers and her tongue pushing insistently against her own. The kiss ended when Dallas stood, and Remi froze as Dallas lifted the soft silk enough so she could straddle her lap. When she got comfortable Dallas placed her palms under Remi’s soft T-shirt and touched as much skin as she could reach, making Remi surmise she was trying to prove to herself this was real.

  “I don’t want you to give up something you love, but I want to take care of you, keep you healthy and happy so you’ll be around for years to come. That’s really important to me,” Dallas said as Remi’s hands slid up and under the pooled gown.

  “What else do you want, besides limited smoking?” Remi asked.

  “I want you.” Dallas placed her hands on Remi’s shoulders just under the neck of her T-shirt. “I’m sorry about how I handled tonight, but it had nothing to do with what you told me. What you said doesn’t change how much I want to be with you. The truth of who you are is safe with me.”

  “I know that,” Remi said, continuing upward under the silk gown, exposing more and more skin. She kept her eyes on Dallas’s face until she raised the sleepwear over her head and dropped it to the floor. When Dallas was naked she gazed at her. She lifted her hand again to touch her, but stopped before she made contact. “You’re so beautiful. Is it okay to touch you?” she asked out of respect for Dallas and their agreement to go slow.

  “Please,” Dallas said, and took a short breath when Remi circled her breasts, then drew an invisible line down her middle.

  “Let’s go somewhere more comfortable,” Remi said as she helped Dallas to her feet.

  Remi bent to get Dallas’s nightgown and threw it over her shoulder. As she straightened, her robe opened further and Dallas tugged it off, dropping it and the nightgown.

  “Leave it,” she said.

  The command made Remi forget about picking anything up except Dallas. They didn’t exchange a word as she carried Dallas into the master suite and set her gently on her feet. Despite the room’s fabulous view of the river and west bank because of the two walls of glass, Dallas’s eyes never wavered from hers.

  When Remi began to take off her T-shirt, she noticed Dallas finally glance around. She considered the room utilitarian, but she’d wanted to keep it simple, thinking the view was enough. When the shirt cleared her head, she saw Dallas looking at one of the two pieces of furniture. The antique four-poster bed faced the windows and was a place she’d never shared with anyone until now.

  “This room is a good reflection of you,” Dallas said, and stepped right in front of her. “It’s open,” she whispered and stretched to reach Remi’s neck with her lips while her hands stopped at the elastic of her boxers. With a good tug they fell to her ankles.

  “You’re incredible,” Dallas said as she stood and stared.

  Remi took advantage of Dallas’s unfocused state to pick her up again and lay her on the bed. She lay next to her and wanted more than anything to touch Dallas but wanted to go slow, not because of their agreement, but because she wanted to savor their first time together.

  Like a blind woman learning braille, Remi started at the crown of Dallas’s head and moved her hand across her forehead to her cheek. Dallas closed her eyes when she reached her neck and pulled on the back of Remi’s hair as she circled but didn’t touch her nipples. When she continued southward, Remi flattened her hand on her stomach, inching down her legs until she reached the knee closest to her. That she lifted until Dallas draped her leg over her body, leaving her open to her touch.

  She dipped her fingers past the hair that was more red than blond and found the evidence of Dallas’s desire for her. “You are so wet,” she said, making Dallas nod slowly as if she’d lost the ability to speak. “I’m glad we waited, but imagining you like this has made all that time difficult,” Remi said as her middle and index finger caressed from Dallas’s opening to just under her clitoris. There she opened them so they rested at the sides of the hard point and squeezed. Dallas lifted her hips and gasped in obvious pleasure.

  Before Dallas could rock her hips, Remi again returned to her opening, wanting to keep her fingers wet. The more she touched Dallas, the more she chased Remi’s fingers in whatever direction they headed, but then Remi stopped and coaxed Dallas on top of her and into a sitting position.

  “You’re stopping now?” Dallas asked, sounding breathless.

  “I wouldn’t define it as stopping,” Remi said, falling back into the thick pillows to admire Dallas’s flushed body. She ran her hands up the bare legs and reached Dallas’s hips, then pulled her closer, encouraging Dallas to press her center to her middle. When she did, Remi pinched her nipples until Dallas moaned and pressed harder into her.

  “If you want me, I’m yours,” Dallas said as she leaned in and pressed their bodies together.

  “You’re mine now, and no one else will ever touch you like this, if I can help it.”

  The declaration seemed to double Dallas’s wetness, and Remi gently rolled her to her back so she could cover as much of her as possible. She urged Dallas to spread her legs so she could fit her hand between them, but it wasn’t enough.

  Remi moved until her legs were hanging off the end of the bed, then ducked her head and ran her tongue from the wet opening to Dallas’s clitoris. She smiled as Dallas’s hips shot off the bed.

  “Don’t stop…don’t stop,” Dallas said as she ground herself into Remi’s face. Then Remi inserted her fingers and curled them upward until she felt Dallas wrap intimately around them, almost willing Remi to be still for a moment as she reached the peak of her orgasm. Screaming Remi’s name, Dallas fell back to the bed and tears rolled down her face, quickly turning into choking sobs.

  Remi whipped her head up in confusion at the conclusion of what she thought Dallas wanted. She gently gathered Dallas into her arms. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Remi kissed the top of her head and continued to whisper her apologies until finally Dallas’s crying slowed a little.

  With a rough voice, Dallas spoke but never lifted her head from Remi’s chest. “You didn’t hurt me, and I’m not sure you’ll understand this, but this is the first time I’ve ever wanted someone to touch me.”

  Remi thought she was going to say more but Dallas stayed quiet. “Thank you for gifting me with that, and I’ll do my best to deserve it.”

  “You probably deserve better, but thank you for not thinking I’m completely insane.” Dallas wiped her face with the corner of the sheet Remi was offering her and laughed. “Not exactly living up to my image as someone who wants to do another action picture, am I? Becoming hysterical after something so wonderful isn’t exactly sexy.”

  “You don’t hear me complaining, do you?” Remi asked, as she playfully squeezed one side of her butt.

  Dallas brought her hand between Remi’s legs and smiled. “I don’t see why you’re not. You have every right to, judging from this.”

  “That you thought it was wonderful was all I need to know.” Remi wiped away the last of her tears and kissed her. When Dallas pushed her into the pillows to return the affection, her knee pressed against Remi hard enough to make her moan.

  “Something I can do for you?” Dallas asked, pressing into her again.

  “If you want we can—” Remi couldn’t finish when Dallas covered her mouth with her free hand.

  “Let me show you how much I want to touch you in return,” she told Remi before she kissed her one last time before heading to where Remi most needed her.

  Remi instinctively grabbed a fist full of hair to keep Dallas from moving away when she put her mouth on her. “Right there, that feels so good,” Remi said softly as Dallas quicken
ed her pace, bringing Remi’s orgasm on so fast she almost cried out in frustration as well as pleasure. Giving Dallas the same pleasure had left her more than primed.

  When Remi was done, Dallas lifted her head and inched up until she had pressed her sex to Remi’s hip.

  “You feel okay?” Remi asked. She rolled Dallas onto her back again.

  “I will if I get more of you.”

  Remi positioned herself so they were mound to mound and started to pump her hips into Dallas. “Do you want me to stop?” She held herself still until she saw Dallas shake her head. If that wasn’t enough, Dallas spread her legs open as far as she could and pressed her heels into the small of her back.

  The harder she pumped, the harder Dallas dug her nails into her back, until Remi felt the pressure building, begging for release.

  “Yes, like that,” Dallas said, her voice wavering because of the motion. As Remi sped her hips she felt Dallas press her heels down harder. “Oh God…I’m coming…coming again.” Remi hung on until she felt Dallas tense and moan, her actions matching her words. Another climax so close to the first one left Remi drained, but she stayed put until Dallas opened her eyes and dropped her feet to the mattress.

  When she did, Dallas’s eyes and her hand rested at the top of Remi’s right arm where it started to curve into her shoulder. Remi lay next to her as Dallas traced the outline of the tattoo she’d found.

  “You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you?” Dallas asked as her finger continued to roam over the area. “What is it?”

  “It’s half of a snake head.”

  “Why just half?”

  “Mano has the other half. Our nickname on the street is Snake Eyes, so we got inked as a joke, which my mother didn’t exactly find amusing. When we’re out doing a little gentle persuasion we wear sleeveless shirts to show our tattoos off. We try to stand shoulder to shoulder so the image that’s our company logo is easier to see. Only on these, the pupils are dice in the one position as our tribute to our father’s favorite game.”

  Remi kissed the tip of the finger Dallas had used before rolling off the bed to retrieve the blankets they had knocked to the floor.

  “Would you be more comfortable if I went back to the guestroom?” Dallas asked.

  “That isn’t a serious question, is it?” Remi smoothed the covers over Dallas before taking her in her arms again. “I want you here. I want you to get a good night’s sleep, and then I want to talk to you about where we go from here.”

  Dallas snuggled closer. “I feel almost selfish being this happy, because I realize I’m only going to complicate your life with all the crap I have in mine.”

  “We’re going to work together to make your life as simple as possible, and we’ll start in the morning. But you have to let me in and trust me. I’ll wait until you’re ready, if it’s tomorrow or a year from now. Just promise me you won’t disappear because you think you’re doing me a favor.”

  “I’ll be here until you tell me to go.”

  Remi tried to make her kiss show Dallas how much she cared. “Then it’ll be forever before you go anywhere without me.”

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Emma stood back as Cain finished reading Hannah a story. It was an hour past her regular bedtime, but Hannah had stubbornly kept her eyes open until Cain came upstairs. They made it through three-fourths of the book before Hannah was out for the night. The way Cain tucked the covers around Hannah and kissed her forehead made Emma sigh. Hannah was losing the haunted expression she often wore up North because she was afraid of doing something to make her grandmother unhappy.

  “I love you,” Emma said when Cain was close enough for her to put her arms around her waist.

  “And I love you, lass.” Cain placed her palms against her cheeks and kissed her. “Think we’ll have another baby like that?”

  “I’ll tell you in a week or so.” Cain closed the door and they strolled down the hall to their room. “Daddy started fixing the holes in our walls today.”

  “Did the guys finish sweeping?”

  “We’re bug-free at the moment, and they’re going through again tomorrow with the new equipment Lou ordered.” She turned around so Cain could unzip her dress. “On another subject, Remi looked pale when they left. What did you two talk about?”

  “Dallas,” Cain said, pulling the covers back since they were both naked. “I found what Remi asked me about.”

  “Which was?”

  “Are you sure you want to know? I promised I wouldn’t even tell her father.”

  When Cain clicked off the lamp the room went dark, the only light coming from under the bathroom door. “Is it something Remi can live with?”

  “She’ll have to.” Cain pressed up against Emma’s back. “She might not realize it, but she’s in love with her.”

  Emma let the subject drop, knowing how Cain felt about breaking her word. She relaxed, listening to Cain breathing and the house settling, and hadn’t realized she’d fallen asleep until the phone rang two hours later.

  The receiver dropped from Cain’s hand as she groped for it, and she cursed softly as she had to sit up to find it. She finally pressed it to her ear and said nothing as whoever was on the other line said something brief.

  “Sorry for waking you, lass.” Cain stood and went to into the bathroom.

  “Who was that?” Emma rolled over with her eyes shut to keep from squinting.

  “Katlin.” Cain walked out still naked and headed for the closet. “I’ve got to go meet her, but I shouldn’t be long.”

  “Just be careful, okay.”

  “You got it.” Cain kissed her and pulled the blankets back up. “Go back to sleep.”

  The damp chill in the air made Cain glad she’d put on a sweater. Lou was already waiting for her outside the pool house. “Nice night for a chat, don’t you think, Lou?”

  “I was coming up to get you.”

  “Katlin called and woke me. What’s going on outside?”

  “The guys at the gate said the night crew’s on. They changed when Remi pulled out.”

  They left a trail in the wet grass as they headed to the back of the yard. Jarvis had dug an exit, but with the light surveillance they didn’t need to use it.

  They scaled the wall and dropped to the neighbor’s yard, virtually invisible in their dark clothing. Once they made it though the front gate, they walked two blocks to the car Lou kept parked on the street. He paid his nephew to move it a couple of times a week so no one would notice it.

  “Where’s Katlin?” Cain asked as she got into the passenger side.

  “She didn’t want to travel too much, so she’s waiting for us at the Esplanade warehouse.”

  They drove aimlessly through the downtown area for twenty minutes before heading through the Quarter and into the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood. With no tail, Lou made no more detours on the way to the storage warehouse Cain had owned for years. Only the deed was in Orlindo Adam’s name. Considering he’d been dead since the 1980’s, Cain figured he wouldn’t mind as long as she paid his taxes on the property.

  “It would be so much more convenient if we had these meetings in my office at home,” Cain said as Lou drove to the back of the property and parked in the one covered spot. “Then I could throw on a robe and skip these late-night forays.”

  “Emma spent a month looking for the rug in there. She’d probably kneecap you if you messed it up,” Lou said.

  When Cain was upright she laughed and stretched, trying to wipe away the last of her grogginess. “Let’s get going. I promised I wouldn’t be long.”

  Katlin was sitting on the desk in the back office that at one time was probably the receiving manager’s spot. The furniture had been left like it was, since Cain only wanted the place to store cases of wine. As shitty as the place appeared from the outside, including weeds growing in the cracks in the asphalt, the main space was totally climate-controlled.

  The invoice Cain picked up read Brown’s Dairy at the top, b
ut the rest was too faded to read. “Where’d you find him?” she asked about the guy sitting in the chair staring down the barrel of Katlin’s gun.

  “Just have to know who to ask if you want to find somebody.” When Lou stood behind the guy, Katlin put her gun away. “I asked the bellman at the Piquant.”

  “They gave him up? I thought they prided themselves on guests’ privacy.”

  “I didn’t ask about this clown. I asked where I could get the most authentic enchilada in town. Seems Pepe here likes the Taqueria Grill too.”

  “My name no is Pepe, bitch,” Jesus said, then spit close to Katlin’s shoe.

  “What was he carrying?” Cain asked, ignoring Jesus for now and flipping through the wallet on the desk.

  “Big man like Pepe needs a big gun.” She pulled a forty-caliber pistol from her waistband.

  “I say my name no is Pepe.”

  “What about it, Lou?” Cain asked. Jesus’s ponytail swung back and forth as he swiveled his head, like he was trying to keep them all in sight. “Is it him?”

  “Same hair, small build, same suit—I’m positive it’s this guy.”

  Katlin handed Jesus’s gun to Cain and stood next to Lou. “If he had friends with him when you saw him, Lou, they ditched him tonight. Pepe was enjoying his enchilada all alone.”

  “Bitch, you deaf or something? My name no is—” Jesus screamed so loud the veins at the side of his neck bulged. When Cain shot him he squirmed like a trout on a line.

  “What’s your name?”

  “Pepe.” He rocked in his seat but didn’t lift his bleeding foot. “You call me Pepe if you want.”

  “I’m not interested in calling you anything, but I do want to know why you killed my man in the airport.”

  Jesus continued to rock and had started to sweat and pull at his hair, messing up his neat ponytail. “I know nothing what you talking about. Por favor, you believe me, I no there.”

  “Okay, calm down, I believe you. I’m sure Lou—” As Cain spoke, Lou stepped forward where Jesus could see him. “I’m sure Lou was wrong when he told me you were there, so let’s try something else. Let’s say you were there but you didn’t have anything to do with what happened. You understand?” Cain asked, and Jesus nodded so fast he resembled one of those fake dogs with the bobbing head that people put in their cars. “Just tell me who did.”