by S. J. Maylee
“We’ll be in touch again when our Op comes back to the states. Until then, try to remember life is too short to keep sweet things out of your life.”
“Thanks for the life lesson.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll give you a few more I’ve learned along the way.” She stood and leaned against the table, stretching her calves. “Denying yourself only leads to distraction.” She stretched back both legs and bent her knees, altering the stretch. “Do us all a favor and stop being distracted. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I want to place my order for chocolate strawberries before the food truck takes off.” She flipped her golden locks behind her shoulder and skipped her way across the courtyard, giving him enough time to snap several pictures.
He sent the shots to Max and then gave him a call.
“Did she make contact?”
“Yes, but she didn’t give me much to go on. I’ll send you the audio, hold on.” He connected his mini recorder into his phone and, a second later, hit send.
“Got it, listening now.”
“Did we get anything?”
“Not yet, she was using some kind of distorter. I’ll have it run through some filters and see what we come up with.”
“I don’t think she’s FBI.”
“I don’t either.”
“We haven’t heard the last from her. I think this was some kind of vetting process.”
“Fuck. I was afraid something like this would eventually happen. When you’re good, everyone wants a piece of you.”
“I think it’s time we put your imagination to the test and have you give us some idea of what we could be facing.”
“I’m guessing whatever it is, none of us are going to want to be a part of it, but none of us will be able to say no. We should use this time to streamline our processes and check for blind spots.”
“It’s good she finally reached out to us though. I’m hoping whatever she said will give Gavin the final push in believing Nadia had nothing to do with her.”
“If not, I think Aidan’s campaign will eventually settle it all.” So much had happened since that first afternoon he’d fed Nadia the strawberries, but the blonde had been right. He’d thought his love for Nadia was the distraction, but she was the thing that kept his head on straight. His clearest thoughts of the day always occurred right after he checked in on Nadia, but it never lasted. Now that he knew she was out there, he didn’t work right without her in his life.
“You’re going to fix your blind spot, right?”
“I think I am. Well, I’m going to try. Thanks, Max.” He hung up and made his way to his car.
It was almost noon. Nadia would be headed to the Art Institute. Now that he was moving forward, his stomach stopped its rolling and nervous jitters filled him full.
What if she no longer wanted him?
What if it was too late?
“Fuck.”
The ride over seemed like the longest trip of his life and it only took a dozen blocks. He used his time wisely on the way to his destination. Between yelling at his driver whenever he slowed, Ethan called the Art Institute. After confirming she was there, he got them to quietly clear their room until she was the only one left.
From the back entrance, it took no time at all to reach the room. It was dead quiet and he feared she’d already left, but he found her standing at the front of the room, facing the windows.
He pulled out his phone and called his security chief.
“Hello.”
He turned around. “Can you block the cameras at the America Windows exhibit?”
“Sure thing, boss, it will take just a couple minutes. Are you planning on stealing something today?”
“That’s not the plan, but we’ll have to wait and see how badly I’ve fucked this one up.”
“Ah. I see.”
“See what?” He turned back around. “Where did she go?”
“She just entered the bathroom at the end of the hall, sir.”
He made his way down the hall, knowing immediately she’d run from him. “Can you—”
“Cameras and audio are now off on the whole wing, sir.”
“Thank you.” He flipped his phone closed and made his way toward her. He’d probably already ruined his chance, but he had to try.
He pushed open the door. It felt like he was pushing through quicksand. She stood at the opposite end of the room. her back to him.
****
“Don’t.” She felt raw, drained of the excitement he once gave her when he sought her out. The bright bleach smell announced the bathroom as clean and she fought to keep her heart just as clean and out of the conversation.
“Come on. I haven’t even said anything yet.”
“Well, don’t.” She turned to him and her shoulders gave in under the weight and curled in on themselves. Her handsome man had pain in his eyes and she knew she couldn’t ease it. He’d created their current state of nothingness, but it was her fault too. She wanted more than he was ready to give.
“I need to fix this.” He squinted his eyes shut, once again shutting her out.
“There’s nothing to fix. I’m fine.” It didn’t matter if it was an all-out lie, she wouldn’t push him to try and give her what she wanted. “It hurts doesn’t it, to not know where you stand?” She crossed her arms.
“I was just trying to do right by you. You deserve more than a guy like me.”
“I wish I could tell you you’re wrong, but it’s for a different reason than you think. The truth of the thing is, I still don’t know who you are.”
“You know plenty about me. Especially after all we’ve shared and after what you had to suffer.”
“I know you’re the most devilishly handsome man I’ve ever met.” She spread her arms wide and then crossed them over her middle. “I know you’ve given me more pleasure than I’ve ever known. I know you’re capable of making me smile so deep my whole body aches.” She stepped toward him. “I know you’ll do just about anything to keep me safe, even at the expense of our own happiness.” She stopped in front of him and looked up into his puzzled gaze. “But, you don’t let me in.”
“I thought I was protecting you.”
“You hurt me worse than that worthless piece of shit trying to wring my neck.” She took a step back. “You know, don’t come in here and make claims you have no intention of upholding.” She turned and took another step away from him, unable to look at him anymore. “It’ll hurt too much.”
He snagged her hand and pulled her back to him, wrapping his arms around her. The warmth from his body surrounded her and she wanted to melt. She let her head fall back and rest on his chest.
“I would do anything for you.” He pulled on her shoulders to turn her around, but she resisted. “I wouldn’t be able to handle it if you were hurt again because of me.” He took a deep breath. “Give me a few minutes. Please, Nadia. There’s something I need to tell you.”
She turned around. “You have five minutes.”
“Thank you.” He lowered his gaze and shoved his hands in his pockets. After a deep sigh, he raised his head just enough for her to see his pinched expression. “Did you know I had a sister?”
She shook her head, yet another thing she didn’t know.
“We were best friends all through grade school. She was always following me around, but I loved it. I loved that she wanted to be around me.” He cleared his throat. “When my company started taking off, I paid her less and less attention. I was caught up in my silly life and she paid the price. I didn’t even know who she was dating when he killed her.” Raw pain etched across his features.
“Oh, Ethan, I’m so sorry.” She took a step closer removing all the space between them.
“He was the kind who had killed several times before, but the cops never had enough evidence. He was a monster and he killed her practically under my nose.”
“I’m so sorry you lost her.” She took hold of his tightly wound fists and squeezed them tight.
“
My father couldn’t talk to me after she died. My mother had already passed from cancer and without Brooke, he was a shell of a man. He moved back to England the same year and I haven’t seen him since.”
“You can’t blame yourself for what that monster did. You have to absolve yourself from any wrong doing.” If he’d still been holding onto this pain, no wonder they never had a chance.
“My sweet, angel, that’s kind of you to say. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to do it.”
“Is that why you do what you do?”
“It is. I swore to her as she lay dying in my arms that I wouldn’t rest until I made sure he didn’t hurt anyone else and I’d do what I could to stop others like him.”
“Oh Ethan, I know you’ve made her very proud.”
“Stay with me.” A single tear rolled down his cheek. Even as he pushed back his shoulders, another tear tumbled down.
She brushed the wetness away and kissed him sweetly on his lips, tasting the salty trail of his sorrow.
“Please, stay with me.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” She cupped his cheeks “You love me. Dammit, you love me. How could you walk away from me?”
“I know. I do. I love you, Nadia.” He gently kissed her. “I don’t know when it happened, but I do. I love you.” He pushed her hair off her face. “I’m so sorry I wrecked everything.”
“You did.”
“I was just trying to keep my head clear and keep you safe.”
“Aidan kept me safe. He’s taught me a few things too. You should know I’ve gotten pretty good at noticing when I’m being followed.”
“Shit. He didn’t share that with me.” He tried to turn away. “You saw me?”
“You were easy to spot, the same time every day, like clockwork.”
“I really did fuck everything up. I didn’t realize every time I pushed you away, I was keeping myself distracted. The only place I can breathe easily is when I’m with you, when I know you’re mine. Everything else leaves me torn in two.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck.
“You love me?”
“I do.” She smiled until her eyes closed under the pressure. He’d always treated her different and now she knew why. A tingle swirled around her chest and left her feeling lighter than air. “I don’t want you to ever leave me again.”
“I have no intention of ever leaving you. You are mine. I belong to you.” He kissed each of her temples and brushed his thumb across her bottom lip. “I don’t care that I didn’t see you coming. I may not have been ready, but you made me remember life could be fun. You made me want to live again.” He lowered his temple to hers. “I feared I was letting my sister’s memory down, that more women would suffer because I wasn’t giving them my full attention.”
“I don’t want to stand in the way of your work.”
“You don’t. It was me. The effort to keep you out of my heart wore me right out. I’m done fighting it. I want you. I want everything you can give.”
“You might want to think about that.”
“I’m sure.”
“Really?” You know I won’t let you control everything in my life.”
“I know.” He pulled her shirt up over her head. “But some things I can’t help but control.”
“Ethan, we’re in a public bathroom.”
“Not right now. I’ve got it covered. This room is for our eyes only.” A quick flip to her bra clasp and the garment fell down her arms. “Damn, you’re more beautiful than I remember. You’re going to have to spend a lot of time naked around me so I can memorize every inch of you.” His touch grazed her nipple, beading it to a tight nub.
“Only if you do the same.” She licked her lips. “Wait a minute.” She pushed him back a step. “I won’t stop working for Aidan.”
“I trust him with my life and I now I trust him with yours.”
“That’s actually reassuring.” She stepped up close and played with his belt buckle, pulling the strap free.
“Feel free to tell me if he’s being unreasonable or not treating you right.” He captured the back of her neck and brushed his lips over hers.
“You’re not planning to fight all my battles?” She ran her fingers through his hair. “Right?”
“I’d like to.” He kissed her gently on the lips. “I know you won’t always let me and I’ll respect that.”
“You really have missed me.” She pressed her palm to his dick, finding him rock hard. “Oh yes.” She dropped to her knees and continued her mission.
“What are you doing?”
“While we were together, you took very good care of my needs.” She pulled his cock free and licked the head. “It’s time for you to let me take care of you. May I, sir?” She grasped her hands behind her back and opened her mouth.
“Damn, woman, you take my breath away.” He stepped forward, grasping his cock and let the tip land on her lips. “I’ve envisioned this moment a hundred different ways, but never in a million years did I think I’d be this lucky.”
She swirled her tongue around the head and then opened wider. She took him in inch by inch, breathing in his rich musky scent. He pushed in and out while her tongue stroked the bottom of his hard length. Eager for more, she leaned in, taking more of him.
“You keep doing that and I won’t last much longer.” He pulled himself free, stroking himself.
“Let me bring you pleasure, sir. Let me cherish you, serve you.” She looked up into his ever-changing eyes. “I need this.”
“And I need you.” He pushed back into her mouth, setting a quick pace, fucking her mouth. “This is the only way I know how to be with you. It’s all or nothing.” He widened his stance. “I want it all.”
Slurping sounds filled the room and then his roars pushed out everything. She swallowed in quick succession, taking every last drop of his come. She’d given him pleasure and in return her heart felt like it was swelling.
In serving him, she’d settled something in her own life. She needed this as much as she needed to be underneath him. She wondered what else she needed. Whatever it was, she was certain she’d get it from him. He seemed to drive her desire like no man ever had.
“Come up off your knees and hold onto me. You’ve made me weak.”
“I must file away this important piece of data.”
“I’m in trouble.”
“You have no idea how much.”
“I’m a keeper though, right?”
“Oh, you’re more than that.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “You’re relentless and you’re all mine.”
Epilogue
Three Months Later
Ethan looked at his watch and then back to the black and white spiral staircase, hoping his Nadia would appear.
“I never thought I’d see the day. Ethan Wright is waiting on a woman.”
“Thanks for coming, Gavin. I know this isn’t your scene, but I want Nadia to get to know all of you guys.”
“You’re welcome. Are you nervous?”
“Me? No. I don’t get nervous.” He crossed his arms. “So, where did you end up getting a tux? It looks great on you, by the way.” He dragged his fingers through his hair and then reached into his pockets.
“Thanks. Max found it for me.”
“That’s about all he’s finding these days.”
“Still nothing from ATF?”
“Nope, no more sightings of the blonde either.”
“It’s probably just a matter of time. I’m glad Aidan is getting more settled. I have a bad feeling about what’s coming next.”
“You and me both. Max’s latest guesses have my stomach rolling.” He took a step toward the stairs, wondering what was taking her so long.
“She really is the one isn’t she?”
“Yes, she really is.”
“I figured between you and Aidan singing her praises, I better give her a second chance.”
“You never gave her any chance.”
“True.�
� He crossed his arms over his broad chest. “She’s made a lot of progress with Aidan. It sounds like you won’t have to worry about her not speaking her mind though.”
“No.” He choked on a laugh. “She keeps me on my toes. I think she gets it from her dad. You’d really like him.”
“He does appear to be a stand-up guy. At least that’s what the reports show.”
“I’ll say it. He’s the family man we both wish we had.” The soft tap, tap, tap of shoes on the stairs brought his attention to the black and white work of art. Any second she would come into view.
“I have to admire the man. It looks like he raised his girls with a steady hand and didn’t pamper them too much.”
“Someday I’ll find a way to repay him for nurturing Nadia’s love for art.”
“You know, there’s really only one way to repay a man like that?” They looked at each other.
“Don’t say it.”
“Grandkids.”
“Shit, Gavin. I’m not father material.”
“A few months ago, I couldn’t imagine seeing you this happy. Let alone making another just as content. You can’t predict where life will lead you.” He clasped his friend across his shoulders. “Don’t think about it now, I think she’s waiting for you. I’m going to find something to eat.”
“If we don’t come down in a few minutes, don’t come get us.”
“You got it. I’ll make sure no one else does either.”
Ethan made his way up the stairs. Once he made it around the first bend of the grand spiral, he caught a glimpse of her high heel-clad feet. His cock pulsed with the idea of fucking her later in nothing but those spikey shoes.
Another few steps revealed her long legs peeking through a slit that swept up to the middle of the backs of her thighs.
“Nadia.”
“I’m not coming down.” She swept her big shiny curls over her shoulder. “You’ll have to come get me.”
“The curator has been waiting to meet you.”
“Max let slip that Gavin’s coming tonight. He hates me.” She twisted a lock around her fingers.
“No, he doesn’t.” He stepped in behind her and reached between the slit, pushing her legs apart enough to reach her pussy. “Hot damn, no panties.”