by Ann Heathman
Her wallet was nowhere to be found, and it didn’t help that Zach just kept staring at her without saying a word. She would have felt a lot better if he’d yelled at her or something. She decided she’d have to leave without the wallet and find some other way home because she couldn’t take being in his presence any longer.
She walked to the door and had just begun to open it when Zach stepped up behind her and slammed it shut in front of her. Startled, she turned to face him, tears flowing freely now. He stood only inches from her face. Being this physically close to him caused her to quake inside.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her lip trembling as she looked up at him timidly. “I— I—”, then bit her lip, unable to continue.
“Stop talking,” Zach snapped.
She stared back at him, tears streaming down her face.
“Forgive me, Arianna if I seem less than sympathetic right now, but you should cry,” he said angrily. “You almost got yourself and your mother killed. Do you realize what would have happened if help hadn’t arrived when it did?”
She slowly nodded her head as the thought of her near death experience brought on a fresh wave of tears. “I was so stupid, but I... I just wanted to go away and think, but it was all wrong—”
“Think? What were you going to think about, Arianna?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. You. Us…my situation. I mean, I didn’t want to be in love with you Zach, but I was, and it scared me.”
“Was?” he asked, grimacing.
Completely frustrated, she turned and tried to open the door again. It was too painful to admit to him that yes, she was still in love with him. She’d totally blown any chance for a relationship. He had a new girlfriend…she’d seen her at the party today. All she wanted to do was leave. No matter how hard she pulled however, he held the door shut.
Slowly she turned to face him again. “Zach, please. Just let me leave. It’ll be better for both of us if I just go.”
“Oh, really?” he said, pounding his fist into the door, causing her to jump with fear. “And that’d be twice now you’ve tried to determine what’s best for both of us? What makes you think your judgment is any better this time than the last time?”
“I... I just thought—”
Once again he smacked his hand against the door, his temper flaring.
“Well, don’t think any more, Arianna. Just listen, damn it!”
Exhaling deeply, he stepped away from the door and raked his hands through his hair. It was the moment of truth, and he wasn’t sure he could do this.
He knew what he wanted to say, but it was a first. He’d never really committed himself completely to a relationship before, and he wasn’t sure how to begin. Wasn’t sure it was wise. Just this latest debacle alone should have been reason enough to warn him off.
This whole situation had proven just how tough it would be to bring anyone into his world. In the beginning she’d thought he was the enemy, and even when he personally rescued her from a certain death, he couldn’t reveal himself to her. Could never let her know the true nature of his work. If she lived with him, as he wanted her to, she’d see things. Intuitively know things, and in his world, knowing too much could get you killed.
He wasn’t sure what the right thing to do was, but if the last month had shown him anything, it was that he’d never find peace as long as he was without her. So, now there was no doubt in his mind what he would do. He just needed to find the right words to say.
Turning back toward her, he said, “You have a T-Shirt that belongs to me. Black and covered with blood the last time I saw it.”
Arianna gasped and her eyes popped wide open. Of course. Hadn’t she known it all along? Hadn’t she said that in addition to Reichter, Zach and his men were professional somethings? Now, she knew what those professional somethings were, at least kind of.
He’d saved her life. Personally saved her life. And it must have been Juan that carried her mother out, and Tony must have been there, too. These guys were trained commandos. Zach was a trained commando! Trained for what though, she wasn’t sure.
“Y…you,” she stammered. “That warehouse? That was you?”
He nodded ever so slightly.
“B...but—”
He cut her off and moved to but inches from her face. “Arianna, listen to me. Despite that dumbass move you made in leaving that nearly got us all killed, I still love you.”
Tears flooded down her face. How could he still love her after what she’d done?
“You do?” she asked.
He reached up and attempted to wipe the tears from her eyes.
She grabbed his hand and kissed it. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, choking back tears. ”I love you Zach, and I’m so sorry for leaving. So sorry for putting everyone’s life in danger.”
She began to cry even harder.
“Shh,” Zach said. “Arianna, it’s all right. Don’t cry.”
“I can’t help it, Zach. This, plus all the trouble I caused at your house. You probably thought I was some unappreciative little bitch,” she said sobbing.
“It’s okay, Arianna,” he whispered. “You didn’t know. We were all under a lot of stress. I forgive you.”
He held her close, soothing her as a father soothes a child. “Look at me,” he said, drying her tears once more. “It’s over, and we’re going to put that all behind us.” He leaned down and kissed her softly then held her close, telling her not to cry. When he thought she’d calmed down and regained her composure, he added, “But you’re right. You were an unappreciative little bitch.”
Arianna pushed away from him and slugged him in the shoulder. “Well, thank you very much, Mr. Nice Guy, but you made me do it. I had to fight back somehow.”
He tucked a strand of hair back behind her ear, kissed her lightly on the forehead, then her cheek before finally placing a light kiss on her mouth. There was so much to talk about. So much to still work out between them, but it would have to wait. Slow tender kisses quickly ignited a raging desire between them.
One kiss more ardent than the other, he finally pressed her against the door and devoured her with a long sensuous kiss. His hands flew up and down her body, wanting to touch her everywhere, wanting to ravage her. Totally, and without patience, he pulled her shirt off over her head and reigned kiss after kiss across the swell of her breasts before finally ripping her bra apart and sucking greedily on her naked breasts.
Unfastening her pants he pushed them down off her hips and ran his hands in and out of her panties, the palm of his hand massaging her rhythmically. His fingers combed her moist curls before finding their way back to her breasts where he pinched and teased her senseless.
Arianna was moaning wildly with pleasure…her breath coming in gulps, not able to get enough of him fast enough. His arms, his chest, his buttocks... she was groping him everywhere, wanting every part of him. She reached between his legs and felt his strong erection, and all but impaled herself on it.
Ripping clothes off each other, they fumbled their way to the bed in a frenzy of desire. Stripped naked, Zach straddled her and began to penetrate.
He deftly thrust in an out, taking her higher and higher with each stroke. Within minutes she burst into an orgasm that shook her from head to toe. Zach lost all control as well, collapsing on top of her on the bed, a deep groan escaped his lips.
They lay nestled together, relishing each other’s embrace. Zach placed soft kisses on Arianna’s cheek and held her fast to him as if he never wanted to let her go. God, he’d missed her.
Sighing heavily, he sat up and leaned against the headboard, pulled Arianna up beside him, and wrapped his arm around her.
Arianna, we need to talk,” he said, still holding her tight. “I’ve thought a lot about us last month. With Karl Reichter out of the way, there is no threat to your life. You can safely go wherever you want.” He paused as if searching for the right words. “I want you to come live with me on the island.”
“I—” she started to say.
“Wait. Before you say anything, there are some things you need to understand. Things such as what I do for a living.” He got up and moved over to the window, staring out into the lights of the city. This was hard. He struggled to find the right words.
“It’s complicated,” he said, turning back toward Arianna. “You can never ask me about my job. Never discuss what you think it is I do with anyone else, either. You already know too much, and that’s not safe for you, or me.”
“If you hadn’t shown up when you did, I’d be dead right now, Zach. I owe you my life.”
“It was a close call, but it’s not out of gratitude I’m asking you to live with me.” He moved back to the bed and sat down beside her. So much to say. He was in foreign territory for sure. “I’m in love with you Arianna, and I don’t want to be without you anymore.”
Arianna melted inside and was overwhelmed with emotion. This was quite a declaration coming from Zach. She didn’t think he’d said that too many times in his life, maybe never.
“Last month was hell without you, Zach. I never realized how much I loved you until I thought I’d lost you.”
“You never lost me, but I have to admit, I was pretty pissed. It was probably good we were thousands of miles apart.”
Arianna hung her head. She couldn’t blame him. Her carelessness had put a lot of people’s lives in danger. “You started to date again, I see.”
A puzzled look crossed Zach’s face.
“The girl at the party yesterday… I saw her.”
“That was my sister, Camilla. She’s visiting from Puerto Rico. There’s been no dates.”
Relief swept over her.
“And you?” Zach asked. “Todd said you were his date for the weekend.”
“No. Not true. He was hoping to get lucky, but no way. It was strictly business. I wasn’t even remotely interested in him.”
It was Zach’s turn to breathe a sigh of relief. “Arianna, you have to understand, my work is intense and at times requires my full attention. It also requires me to be gone for long periods of time. And while I’m gone, it would be important that I not worry about where you are or what you’re doing. I can’t be distracted by any drama back home.”
“Ahhh! Well, I’m pretty independent and impatient,” she said. “I’m afraid I’d be driving you crazy with my impulsive escapades.”
He turned and gave her an ominous look. A look she thought she’d seen before under not so pleasant circumstances. “That’s just it, Arianna. No, you won’t because I’d put an end to those wild escapades quickly. That’s why you need to be very sure you understand what you’re committing to.”
She knew he was dead serious. Doing anything to distract his attention while he was gone would surely lead to the demise of their relationship.
“But I....”
Zach held up his hand, interrupting whatever she was going to say. “Let me finish. I’ve got to get this all out before you speak. Even of more concern is that I have enemies. My enemies would be your enemies, and they may try to get to me by hurting you. You’ll need a bodyguard wherever you go from now on, meaning I’ll know where you are every minute not to mention there would be some places you could never go.”
Arianna sat up and scooted closer to Zach. “What about working?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “Possibly...”
“I have a degree in journalism. I’d like to go back to work.”
“Maybe, I’m not ruling it out.” It was a lie, kind of. He knew he’d fiercely oppose her taking an assignment like she had in Kervistan, for example. This was the point he was trying to make without specifically saying it… afraid it was a deal breaker for the relationship. It would take a lot for him to be okay with high risk assignments.
“You don’t have to work, you know?’ he said. “I can give you every luxury you ever dreamed of. You could live a lifestyle that would be the envy of everyone you know.”
Arianna shook her head. “I can’t imagine it. I think I’d feel like a ‘kept’ woman not to mention, I’m not the ‘sit around’ type.”
“Not a kept woman. Never that.” He pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her. “I’m offering you so much more than that. I’m offering you my love. I would never interrupt my former life just to have a ‘kept’ woman around. But have no illusions, Arianna. Missteps in my life have deadly consequences. I don’t want to micro manage your life, but to be honest, you’d be living under a benevolent dictatorship.”
Silence enveloped the room. Life with him would indeed be complicated. Maybe that’s why he’d never made this commitment before. Maybe that’s why she’d never fully committed to a relationship, especially to someone like Zach. This was the tomorrow they’d both been denying for a long time. But the day… the time, had arrived when both of them would need to put their prior lives behind them in pursuit of a new life together.
“I love you, Zach,” Arianna finally said. “Whatever it takes, I don’t want to be without you.”
He kissed her passionately, holding her tight. This was the happy ending he’d been hoping for. “I have an idea,” he said, finally pulling himself away from her embrace. “Let’s get the hell out of here and go home.”
“Yes, good idea.” She couldn’t wait to get back to the island and begin her new life with him. “Take me away,” she said and planted a big kiss on his cheek.
ARIANNA STOOD looking out the window while Zach packed. What a journey it had been as she thought back over the past few months. Her life had changed drastically.
She heard him make a call to Tony, telling him they would be leaving in two hours.
“Zach, I was thinking,” she said, scrunching up on the bed watching him pack.
“Yeah? About what?”
“Us. Me. This whole saga. It all started when I was abducted from Kervistan. I have nightmares about the guy who kidnapped me. Do you know who he is? ”
Zach’s head snapped up. He stared at her, not speaking…
I would like to acknowledge all my friends
of the Wannabe Writer’s Group
for their valuable guidance and inspiration.
Ann is a former English teacher who currently lives in sunny Florida. She spends her time training dogs, writing, and enjoying the company of her own two dogs, Georgia and Duke. She has always had a special affinity for the written word, especially her own. “I have to admit. I love to see what I write in print. It is so much fun to paint a picture or evoke an emotion with words.”
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