The NOVA Trilogy Boxed Set

by Jayce, Aven

  “That’s what I was thinking about. We both have issues. No one ever helped you, and I’ve been tossed aside. We’re both enjoying the comforts of being in this home with a mother figure a little too much, wouldn’t you say? We’re adults, but in reality we’re both still kids. I don’t believe you when you say you can take care of yourself.”

  “You have to trust me. I know what I’m doing.”

  “Come on, kids. I have breakfast waiting for you,” Leondra calls out.

  I look at Cove and smirk, putting a hand on my side while tilting my hip. “See,” I say, lifting my eyebrows.

  “Pessimism will get you nowhere,” he responds, extending his hand.

  “But it fills me with greater enjoyment when good things do occur instead of just being optimistic all of the time,” I smile, taking his hand as we walk together to the dining area. He pulls out my chair and I sit in front of the plate, giggling at the sight of two eggs and bacon formed into the shape of a smiley face. “See,” I say again, pointing down.

  “Yeah, but you’re smiling, right?”

  “So what does that mean?”

  “If it makes you happy, don’t fight it,” he responds.

  “Word to the wise,” Leondra says to Cove. “Now both of you eat, so that you can get going. The sooner you talk to Paul, the sooner you’ll be back here, and we can begin anew.”

  Cove looks down at his plate, poking his egg eyes with his fork. He sighs, taking a piece of toast from a plate in the middle of the table and smearing a touch of apple butter onto it. He takes a bite and chews for what seems like minutes before swallowing. He puts his fork down and runs his fingers through his hair, sighing again. He looks around the room and I know he’s thinking about my father listening to us.

  “Cove, what’s wrong?” Leondra asks him in a concerned voice. “Are you nervous about flying? I know you don’t do well on planes.”

  “No. I’m just thinking about our new business. I’m leaving you with a lot of work, and I don’t want you to feel overwhelmed.”

  “Oh, I’ll be fine. We have a lot of good workers at the lounge, and Haverty will help me out. Everything will be fine until you get back.”

  He hasn’t told her he might not return to St. Louis. I say might not because I still have hope that he will, but I know his plan is to stay in Vegas. For how long, I don’t know, but longer than Leondra believes.

  “Can you handle it if I’m gone for a while? I mean, Paul might have business for me in Vegas, and I may not be back for some time.”

  “Cove,” she says firmly and with no uncertainty. “You will be back next week. I’m sure of it. Come hell or high water if you don’t return I’ll be the first person on Paul Jameson’s doorstep, with my gun.”

  He shakes his head, sitting back in his chair. “I just want you to understand that I may have work to do, Paul’s not one to forgive, and I’ll have to do a few things to regain his trust before I’ll be back.”

  “You’re coming back next week, Cove,” she says with watery eyes.

  He reaches across the table and pats his mother’s hand. “Sophia, go pack. I need to have a conversation with my mother. Meet me back here in thirty minutes. Be sure you dress warmly for the plane, but bring light clothes for Vegas. Everyday clothes, and something a bit more elegant.”

  I look at him, shaking my head no. “I want to be a part of this conversation. I have a right to know what we’re doing when we get there, and you can’t keep me in the dark forever.”

  “Sophia,” his voice direct and uncompromising. “Go pack, now. This is a private family conversation.”

  I roll my eyes and stand, grab my suitcase from the bedroom, and walk out to the foyer. I hear Leondra mention my safety in the building. Cove’s sure that we’re still being watched in the hall, but that I’ll be fine.

  “Paul has his prize and at this point he’s just keeping on eye on us so that we don’t go to the cops. She’s fine.”

  I walk down the quiet hallway into my place. I look up in my foyer, expressionless, hoping my father is looking down at me. I don’t know if he can only view me from his office or if he has something set up on his laptop, but even if no one’s there, I still feel some odd presence. I can’t believe he’s been watching me for all these years. I stare, motionless for a good five minutes, wanting to make him uncomfortable.

  I wander silently around the loft, running my hands along the fabrics of the furniture and over all the counters. I don’t want to come back to this place without Cove living next door to me. I don’t think I can live here anymore. I can imagine myself running to the door each time the elevator sounds, yearning to see him appear in the hall.

  My phone startles me, and my heart jumps a beat as I reach into my bag to answer it. It’s Cove.

  “Are you packing or are you thinking?”

  “Fuck, do you have a camera on me too?”

  He laughs before saying no. “Of course not, but you’ve been daydreaming way too much. I can picture you standing in your place, losing focus at the task at hand.”

  “Alright, I’m going upstairs right now. Now leave me alone,” I say lightheartedly.

  Smiling, I hang up my phone and run up the stairs. My suitcase bangs on each step along the way. I stop at the top and see the note from my father still sitting on the floor next to my bed.

  “Stay focused,” I whisper. I ignore it and head for my closet, dumping the contents of my suitcase onto the floor to start fresh for the trip. I’m running out of clean clothes and need to take care of laundry soon. I can’t even fathom finding the time to do that with everything else that’s going on. Fuck, what should I pack? Start with the basics and work outward. I place underwear, socks, jeans, a low-cut skirt, t-shirts, long-sleeve shirts, pajamas, two dresses, a sweatshirt, and find two of my more formal dresses, one short, and one a bit longer, and I place them into the bag, trying not to wrinkle anything. I find some shoes to take along, and finally come across my thigh-high sweater tights and a garter belt. I slide them on, and wrap a black and white polka-dot scarf around my neck before heading into the bathroom with a smaller bag for toiletries. I make sure to double check that I have my phone, charger, wallet, a small purse, and a book for the flight. I’m ready.

  My stomach is queasy as time passes. Every hour is an hour closer to returning here, alone. I’m excited to take this trip, but only because I’ll be with him. I wonder how it will be when we have to say goodbye. It’s possible that he might disappear, without even saying a word to me. What if I can’t let him go? Am I afraid of being alone?

  My phone beeps again, and I see an email come through from Devery. What the fuck does she want on a weekend at four in the morning? I open her message and all it says is call me. No fucking way, I’m not calling you. Cove is paranoid about my father, believing that I was bait, and I feel the same way about her. She probably tells my dad every word that comes out of my mouth in our sessions.

  I drag my two bags down the stairs and lock my door, hoping I won’t be back for a while. The longer I’m gone, the more time I’ll have to spend with him.

  He exits his door at the end of the hall with two suitcases and a shoulder bag, packing a bit more than me. Leondra meets us by his door. She holds Lewis in her arms, while tears stream down her cheeks. She hands me a brown bag and tries her best to hide her emotions.

  “It’s a bacon and egg sandwich. Eat it on your way to the airport, will you sweetie?”

  I give Lewis and her a hug and thank her for everything.

  Leondra speaks in a sorrowful voice. “Make sure the two of you look out for one another. Keep your phones charged. Stay safe and be back here in one week. Any longer and I’ll be there with the troops.” She reaches for her son and gives him a big hug. “Be careful. Apologize and make it back here in one piece.”

  He kisses her cheek, and pulls away, knowing that the goodbyes will never end unless he breaks contact. “Goodbye, Mother. Be safe yourself, and take care of Sophia if I’m not bac
k.”

  He walks away from her and I join him, looking back to see the devastation on her face. She covers her mouth with her hand; a rush of tears streaming down her face, as she disappears around the corner to her loft. I hear a door close and weeping from a distance.

  “You didn’t have to end with that. You could have just told her that you loved her.”

  We wait for the elevator, his bag over his shoulder, and a suitcase in each of his hands. “It’s better to start preparing her now. I’ll still be able to talk to her, I just won’t be able to see her like she wants me to.”

  “And like you want to as well, right?”

  “Yes. And like I want to as well.”

  The elevator reaches the top and with a quiet ding the doors open, stirring us to step inside.

  ***

  Leondra placed the eggs and bacon between two pieces of wheat toast and the brown paper bag has a drawing of a heart on the outside. I eat the sandwich in the Escalade as we drive to the airport. One of Cove’s employees from the Scarlett is driving, which is nice since we’re both running on only a few hours of sleep. I yawn and Cove copies my action. He places a hand on my leg and runs it under my dress.

  “Shit. These are thigh-highs, and you’re wearing a garter no less. I thought you were putting on sweater tights to keep warm?”

  “They are a sweater knit, and very warm. They just stop short.”

  “You know you have to go through the scanner, right? You’ll have those guards drooling for you just as much as I am.”

  “Well maybe that’s my plan. They can search me if they want, and I’d appreciate the skin to skin contact that I’ll finally be receiving from someone.”

  “I’m touching you right now, aren’t I?”

  I take his hand and slide it further up until he comes into contact with my flesh.

  “Fuck, Sophia. No underwear today?” he whispers in my ear. “What are you doing to me?” his breath heavy against my neck. “I would give anything to lay you down in this back seat right now and ram into you.”

  I start to lower onto the seat, and he pulls me back up, smiling at my playfulness. He places his hand back on my leg, and kisses the side of my head.

  “Thanks for dressing that way. You’re doing the same thing to me you know.”

  He gives me a confused look and I take hold of his dark sport coat.

  “This outfit. You look incredible and you’re driving me mad. Look at you,” I say, moving forward on the seat and turning toward him. “You have on these form fitting dark jeans that show off your bulge.”

  “Well that’s only there because of you.”

  I place my finger over his lips to shut him up. “And, this crisp white dress shirt, with the top two buttons open, and an elegant thin dark colored tie slightly loosened to fall below those two buttons. God you look so relaxed, yet sophisticated. And that black fedora. Classy.”

  “I like to dress up when I fly.”

  “Plus that sport coat makes you look important, and wealthy. It’s a Cremieux isn’t it?”

  “Yes, one of my favorite brands.”

  “Well, thanks for doing that to me. How can I not think about you in a sexual way when you look and smell that good? What is that cologne you have on today anyway?”

  “Clive Christian C,” he smiles, and looks out the window, his hand still on my upper leg. “I feel relieved now that we’re out of my mother’s place and the building. I’ll feel even better once we get on the plane.”

  “Why’s that? I thought you didn’t like to fly?”

  “I don’t. I hate it. But we’ll be away from Paul, at least for a while. He’s had a bug or camera on me for years, and the lack of privacy can be troubling.”

  “Is that why you were so loving at the hotel, and when we got back to our building you were a complete ass to me?”

  The driver looks back at us and Cove doesn’t respond. He squeezes my leg and takes his phone out of his coat pocket, checking the time and for any messages.

  “I’ll talk to you about some things when we’re up in the air. For now, just know that what I said to you earlier hasn’t changed. My purpose in all of this is to return your friend to you, keep the prison heavies away from my dad, and unfortunately that all means I need to let you go.”

  I look at the driver who’s focused once again on the road, instead of the two of us. “How well do you know him?” I whisper to Cove.

  “Don’t worry about him, just tell me if you notice anyone following us. I’m still trying to figure out who he has tailing us. I know most of them, but I haven’t seen any recognizable faces just yet.”

  “My father said he was leaving me alone, no cameras, and no protection.”

  “And you believe him? See how easy you are to fool?”

  “Yeah, I suppose,” I say quietly, defeated once again. “I thought he got what he wanted and he was going to leave us alone, at least for a while?”

  “He’s getting what he wants. I’m on my way. Let’s not have this conversation again.”

  I finish my sandwich as we pull up to the airport. Our driver opens our doors, and I step out into the chilly air. My dress flies up exposing some skin and Cove immediately places my winter jacket around my body.

  “Keep warm, I don’t want you to catch a cold.”

  “You can’t catch a cold from being in the cold you know, that’s just an old wives’ tale.”

  “Well then, let me keep you covered so that I don’t have to view that beautiful body, and cum in my pants. Is that better?”

  I laugh and smack him across the upper arm as we walk inside the sliding glass doors. Our driver checks our luggage, and we get our boarding passes from one of the many kiosks lined up along the check-in counters. Cove’s quiet as we go through security. We enter the premium lounge for first-class travelers and he orders us each a shot. His is down his throat as soon as the bartender places it on the counter.

  “Nervous?”

  “I’m fine,” he says in a cold voice as he looks around the room. “Recognize anyone?”

  “Here, you can have my shot, I’m not going to drink this early in the morning.”

  “I asked you if you noticed any familiar faces?” he says as he gulps down my drink.

  I look around but see no one and nod my head at him.

  “Good,” he lets out a deep breath. “Perhaps I’m wrong for once. Are you sure you don’t want a drink?”

  “Cove? Seriously? I’m not even awake yet, and if I have my way I’m going to take a nap on the plane.”

  He smiles and orders one more, throws it back, then takes a seat in the lounge area on one of the large couches. I sit next to him and he places his arm around the back of my neck. He’s fidgety, tapping his foot on the floor, and crossing his legs back and forth every few minutes. I place my hand on his knee and try to calm his nerves.

  “What’s wrong with you?” I ask.

  “I said I was fine. I just want to get on the plane.”

  “Why don’t you tell me about your favorite childhood memory to pass the time. It may help you calm down.”

  “No, tell me about yours. I want to hear more about you.”

  I think for a moment, trying to find a pleasant story about my past. There aren’t many, but I don’t want to disappoint him.

  “Tell me about the first time you had sex. Was it good?”

  I throw him a look, the same one I gave to Evan when he asked me that question. “What is it with guys wanting to know about the first time a woman had sex? Is it a turn on or something?”

  He looks away, scanning the room while his foot wiggles uncontrollably.

  “Okay. If it will calm you down, I’ll tell you.”

  “No, you don’t have to.”

  “Cove, stop being a little kid. You asked, so you must want to know.”

  “I’m curious as to what you liked about it, or what you didn’t. Did anything go wrong, or was it just as you expected?”

  “It wasn’t what I
was expecting at all. I thought I was going to have an orgasm and I didn’t. I thought that was the whole point, but when he came and it was all over, I was disappointed. He never pleasured me.”

  “Were you with him again after that?”

  “No.”

  Cove stops tapping his foot and stares into my eyes, somewhat saddened by my answer. “Why? Because you didn’t have an orgasm?”

  “No. Because I haven’t been with very many people more than once. I’ve only had a handful of boyfriends, and most of my sexual interactions have been one night stands. He wasn’t someone I was dating, and I had no desire to meet up with him a second time.”

  “I have no idea how all of that works. I mean, I guess I do, it’s just like the porn industry, don’t you think?”

  “Yeah, I’ve been thinking about that more and more lately. My past is similar to yours, only mine was by choice.”

  He taps his foot again, thinking for a few moments before speaking. “Is that all you didn’t like about it, or did something else go wrong?”

  “No. That was about it. It hurt for only a moment, but not as much as people said it would, and other than my lack of climax, it was fine.”

  “So, you weren’t completely disappointed?” he asks.

  “It’s hard to explain.”

  “Try.”

  “For someone who doesn’t want me to remember him just for sex, you sure are asking me the wrong questions right now.”

  He takes his arm from around my shoulders and sits up. “I’ll be right back.”

  “Where you going?”

  “The restroom. Give me a moment. Just don’t move, I want you to be sitting in this exact spot when I return.”

  “Okay. Think of me,” I say with a smile.

  “I’m not doing that,” he replies over his shoulder as he enters the open restroom doorway. He’s gone for two minutes, and is quickly back by my side. I didn’t move an inch and he smiles at my obedience.

  “So you weren’t really disappointed or even angry at the guy?”

  “No, I was confused because I wanted more. I thought I would be satisfied for some time after doing it, but it was just the opposite, I couldn’t stop. It’s all I thought about because it was the only time I felt close to anyone. Having someone inside of me gave me comfort and security, as if they were in control yet I also had control of them. I craved being close to someone, feeling their flesh against mine, and most importantly I enjoyed the fact that my body was the reason for their pleasure. It’s a bit egotistical, but it’s how I feel. If I can make someone have an orgasm, and they have that extreme sense of gratification because of me, well that makes me all powerful.”