by S. M. Maddox
“You sure you don’t mean free radicals?” I returned to the bed, admiring his backside as he continued to mutter out conversation.
“Maybe. Citrus helps, or so I overheard Tina and Brenda blabbing on about it once. Cucumbers are just good sense.”
“Well,” I kissed his shoulder, lightly running my hands up and down the taunt muscles in his back. “Thank you for taking care of me.” I slipped out of my bathrobe and lithely slid over onto his butt, straddling him as I started massaging.
“I’m supposed to be taking care of you, Malone.”
“And I’ll let you continue. Right now, I’m taking care of you.”
His muscles danced underneath my hands, like rippling water responding to the breeze. His skin was on fire, the hot blood underneath pulsing throughout his body. He started to groan as I squeezed his shoulders and slowly started rubbing up and down his gargantuan arms with my palms for maximum effect. His body was too large, too hefty for my small hands to fully grasp, so I raised up, putting my full body weight behind my palms as I searched his body.
“Mallooooonnneeee,” he growled into the pillow.
The more I pressed and worked him, the more tension I felt leave his body. Working my way down his spine, I focused on the vertebrae, applying equal amounts of pressure and hearing faint snaps beneath my fingertips.
“Fuuuuccckkkk that feels gooooooood.” He let out sigh after sigh as I continued releasing the pent-up energy in his body. When I reached his lower spine, I flipped around, reverse cowgirl and pulled down his boxers. I gasped, because though I had seen his ass, I hadn’t really seen it enough to appreciate it. Rock hard, perfectly round and muscular, just like the rest of his chiseled frame. I wasn’t as ass woman, but I certainly could be for him. It looked… delicious.
I continued rubbing with my palms, taunting and kneading his firm skin with no effect. There was no give beneath his skin, no body fat to pinch. Only hardness. Hard enough that I might break a tooth if I bit it. Challenge accepted.
I scooted back a little, taking a seat right beneath his shoulder blades as I went in for the kill. I couldn’t help myself. I leaned forward and first licked, then chomped down.
His body jumped underneath me at the shock, “Did you just fucking bite me, Malone?”
I didn’t answer him. I pressed my palms down on the backs of his thighs to try and pin him down, and went down for the second cheek.
Roland’s body twirled beneath me so fast, I nearly lost my balance and fell off the bed. His strong arms captured my waist and flung me back onto the bed, his wide forearms resting against my shoulders to keep me down.
“You wanna play dirty, Malone? You gonna be a biter now?”
“No, but geez Ro, your ass looks like two buttered yeast rolls. I couldn’t help myself.”
The expression that fell across his face was one of fake wounded pride. “Don’t ever say that to me again. I look like fucking carb loaded bread to you?” He rolled off of me, hiding his face in mock shame.
“Yeah, you do,” I hopped over him, reclaimed my front facing cowgirl position. “You look like buttery garlic bread and yeast rolls and cheese bread and croissants and cupcakes and all the best carbs that I want to stuff my face with over and over.”
“Alright, well, we’re seriously going to have to work on your dirty talk, because now I’m starving.”
“Great! Me too!” I hopped off of him and bounded over to where my suitcase was.
“Wait, what the fuck just happened? Get your naked ass back over here and ride me right now.”
“We’re seriously going to have to work on your dirty talk,” I parroted, winking at him as I wiggled my butt on the way to the bathroom for extra effect. “By the way, don’t think you’re getting out of showing me a grand tour of this labyrinth. I still want to see everything.”
Rustling greeted me from the bedroom as he rummaged around in his walk-in closet. “There’s not much to see up here really. There are four wings, and all are four full-sized apartments, essentially. Me and you babe? We’re rocking the east front wing. Magnus lives in the east back wing. Dad lives in the front west wing.
Thor and Anya live in the pool house right now, but they’ve been fixing up the west back wing with a nursery and all the works. When the baby is born, they’ll move in and we’ll all be under one roof. Oh, there’s also an elevator now. Thor wanted it installed for Anya to make life easier for her, so my dad gifted it to them. It’s all shiny and old-fashioned looking. Anya likes the Tower of Terror, so Dad had it modelled after that for her.”
“Right. Naturally. An elevator is a wonderful baby gift.”
“Don’t be jelly, you could get a plane if you asked politely.”
“I’m not ‘jelly,’ as the kids are saying nowadays. I really, really like Anya, and your whole family. I’m just not used to… all this.” I flapped my arms around like I was a penguin.
“’All this’,” Roland motioned to the length of his body, “is about to set sail in less than two hours, so pack up your fine ass and let’s get moving.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Jessie
Daaaaaamn. He wasn’t kidding. The Andersen’s didn’t just own a regular sized yacht, it was like a yacht yacht. I wasn’t sure what to expect. Half of me was expecting to see just a boat with a roof, because I’m stupid apparently. This sucker was a nearly three-story tall mansion on floaties, or whatever held up yachts to keep them from sinking.
“It’s only 132 feet,” Roland said in response to my gaping mouth.
“Right. Only.”
A captain came out to greet us. Dark navy jacket and hat, white pants and shoes, white beard to match. Exactly like you’d expect a captain to dress. He was adorable. I wanted to put him in my pocket and keep him forever.
“Captain Jack, this is my lady, Jessie Malone,” Roland introduced us as Captain Jack shook my hand lightly. “Cap’n here is retired from the Navy SEALs, and he just works this job for shits and giggles to humor us when we need some salt in our lungs.”
Behind me, at least twelve large, burly, intimidating men boarded the yacht dressed in solid black and sporting weapons. An aerial bird’s eye view would’ve viewed the whole image like the inside of a dragon fruit, with their black bodies speckled all over the pristine white yacht.
Roland nodded at me as our eyes met, “Security, babe. Not a great time to leave home without it.”
The yacht left Fries Sound around sunset, becoming one with the Atlantic. The water was chilly, even though it was early June.
Roland came up behind me and wrapped his arms around mine, resting his head on my shoulder.
“Now’s probably a good time to tell you I can’t swim.”
“Doesn’t matter. You’re gonna be glued to me and I’m a fucking dolphin. Even if something happens, there are twelve armed guards here, plus a retired Navy SEAL. Plus, we’re not going too far away from land because of all that’s happening. You couldn’t possibly be any safer.”
“Famous last words. Don’t jinx us, today was a good day.”
“Today was an epic day, and the start of many more epic days to come. Which reminds me. Spread out your arms.”
“What? Is that your new idea of foreplay talk?”
“Something like that.” I felt him rummage around.
“If you want to grab my ass, just do it.”
“I wanted to take you to Greece, instead. I want to take you to all the places and do all the things, Jessie.”
“Foreplay talk’s getting better, go on.” I watched the waves bounce up and down below us, the deep blues of the water reflecting back the magenta and orange of the sunset.
Roland’s hands travelled along the lengths of my arms until our fingers locked together. He slipped something on my ring finger, and a grin spread across my face from ear to ear, Cheshire cat style.
“I wasn’t teasing when I said I would marry you. Despite my jovial and fun-loving personality, I’m always truthful with those I
love,” he whispered in my ear, his nose nuzzling my cheek. I knew he could see my face and how hard I was cheesing. I didn’t even bother trying to hide it as he continued.
“I may not always say the right thing, and I may not always do the right thing. God knows you make me more stupid when you’re around because you fumble all my thoughts up. Everything gets lost in my head and ends up in my dick.” I burst out laughing, but otherwise stayed quiet.
“You don’t have to say yes today, or tomorrow, or this year. As long as you say yes eventually, that’ll be enough for me. No pressure.”
Pulling his arms down around my waist, I spun around to face him and wrapped my arms around his neck.
“Foreplay talk’s getting better, go on,” I kissed his neck, feathering my way lightly up his jaw line just to hear him stutter.
“I’ve never proposed before, and I never will again. I’ve waited my whole life for a woman who challenges me and knocks me off my feet when she walks in a room.”
My lips lingered over his, feeling his breath catch before he spoke his next words. His eyes met mine, a storm of emotions behind them. Silver clouds of mercury crashed through the blue ocean of his soul. “You already know what’s coming. Marry me, Malone.”
Our lips met in a fury, teasing each other into submission. His tongue found mine as I wrapped my fingers through his hair and pulled him into me hard. Our teeth crashed together through our skin, drawing either his blood or mine, I couldn’t tell.
I knew I was wrong before. This was the orgasmic kiss. Every kiss with him was more intense, more passionate, more meaningful. If that kiss was breath, this kiss was life.
“Hell yeah, I’ll marry you, Andersen.”
A buzzing in his pocket interrupted our passion-filled moment. The screen said it was Magnus. Roland looked at me apologetically before he answered. We both understood this was no time to ignore a call from his family.
From my proximity, I could hear Magnus shouting through the line at him, and Roland’s demeanor turned defensive instantly.
“Where the fuck are you, Roland? Pierre said you took the yacht out? You BETTER NOT be on that FUCKING YACHT! I swear I will kill you myself!”
“I AM ON THAT FUCKING YACHT,” Roland mocked him sarcastically. “With my OFFICIAL FIANCE.”
“I seriously cannot believe you right now. Do you know the danger you put yourself in? Get your stubborn ass back here right now! Anya’s gone into labor, there’s twenty armed guards at the hospital right now with them. Steve has had eyes on the docks since Sunday. It’s not looking good. They know you’re there. Did you hear me? They know you’re fucking there!
“There’s been movement on the water, Roland, you fucking unbelievable asshole. They know you’re fucking out there like sitting ducks! Tell Jack to turn that floating death trap around and get your ass back here right now!”
My eyes went wide as Roland looked down at me. He knew I’d heard. The whole crew could’ve heard Magnus’ shouting. He tightened his arm around my waist right as my knees went weak.
Jason had followed us out here? What was he going to do exactly? Board the yacht and shoot us? We had plenty of security didn’t we? Hadn’t we been careful? Why the fuck won’t he just leave me alone? My mind was racing a million miles a minute as Roland sat me down.
He was shouting orders around me, as my hearing faded out. No, no, not another panic attack right now. I can’t swim, I can’t swim, what if I die, I just got engaged, will I sink, what if he kills Roland, this can’t be happening, I can’t even float, this can’t be happening, I fucking hate the mafia…
Unconsciously, I twirled my new engagement ring around my finger. The sun had mostly set, and I didn’t even know what it looked like. I didn’t even know what my engagement ring looked like.
Captain Jack killed the lights across the whole yacht, and I felt the yacht start to turn around. Maybe it wouldn’t be too far of a trip. Roland had said we weren’t far from land, just as a precaution. The water went as dark as the boat, as an eerie calm washed over all of us. Except for the gentle hum of the motor, all I could see or hear were the lights from the FSP in the not so far distance.
Roland returned to me with two of the guards. He threw a lifejacket over me for protection, and I noticed a pile of them had materialized in front of me for the rest of the crew, casting a dark grey shadow over my feet as I sat there.
“Just breathe, Jessie, I’ve got you. We’re going to make it out of this, you bet your sweet ass we will.”
I attacked his torso, clinging onto him for dear life while he tried to soothe me.
“Roland, I don’t want to die. I don’t want you to die. I can’t lose you. I can’t, I love you so much. I’ve loved you since that first night. I’m so incredibly sorry it took me forever to tell you.”
“Ssshhhh, Jess, calm down. We’re going to be fine. I will never leave you. Are we wrinkly yet? Are your wrinkly arms grabbing hold of me right now? No, no they’re fucking not. They’re plump and warm and full of sex and life. That’s that. We’re not dying tonight. Don’t unbuckle your life vest for anything.”
“You need to put one on, too. Where are the lifeboats?” I reached down to grab a vest, shoving it over his head. It barely buckled around his wide frame, but it made me feel a tad better.
“We don’t have a lifeboat, Malone. Not today. We’re a mile from land.”
“We don’t have a lifeboat?!” I screeched as the dam that was holding back my full river of tears burst. “Rrrroland?”
“Yeah, Malone?”
I stuttered out my words through deafening sobs. “I never.. l-l-liked Titanic. I hate that movie and I, I, for sure, don’t want to die in.. in.. in it either. But I did love your… your.. proposaaaaaallllll!” I squealed again, aiming my head straight for his life-vested chest so he wouldn’t see me. Poor guy’s seen enough of my ugly ass crying to last both our lifetimes.
***
The guards were standing on the top deck, monitoring the waters around them for any abnormalities. Suddenly, maybe a hundred yards in the distance, the outline of two scuba divers’ heads appeared out of the water. Their black outlines bobbed in time with the waves, ominously watching, waiting for something. One of them did a little salute towards the yacht. Fuck you, Andersen.
***
Roland threw his head back and laughed, and I could swear I saw his eyes sparkle off the water. The life in them, the life in him when he was around me, I didn’t want that to end tonight, or ever. I tried to hide the snot that was pouring from my nose as the guards on the right (starboard?) side of the yacht started making noise.
“Incoming! Incoming!” Several of them shouted, but they weren’t shooting at anything. They were just watching. Watching the end of the episode, the end of how our lives played out.
Roland and I stood up to look towards the direction of the shouting just as we heard a loud bang, and then we were flying before we were falling.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Jessie
They say the human brain isn’t strong enough to remember every single second of its life.
You don’t remember when you were born. You don’t remember when you were in utero.
No memories, no experiences, no colors, no smells.
You float in a suspended state of animation, without a care in the world.
Everything is dark.
Occasionally, you can see a faint hint of light through a filmy substance.
And you have one lifeline.
One lifeline to the most important person in your current state of existence.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Roland
As soon as I realized what was about to happen, I latched my arms through her vest to try and keep us connected. The blast threw us in near opposite directions, and when I surfaced, I was still clinging to Jessie’s vest. Without her in it. I saw whereabouts she landed, and I yelled at two guards floating nearby to help me find her.
The light from the fiery
yacht lit up our surroundings, and I heard the sound of a motorboat approaching us from the direction of the docks. Steve’s crew, no doubt.
The guards and I quickly removed our vests, diving deep into the onyx water to rescue Jessie. The water was cold and black, like an untended graveyard. Shadows played all around, reflecting fire that burned on the water’s surface. I saw pieces of the yacht sinking down in the distance, haunting reminders of this night that I’d wanted to play out perfectly.
In the distance, I saw a glimmer of her red hair flash against the light of the embers, billowing around her face like flaming seaweed as she drifted deeper. Her eyes were closed, her white skin as pale as bones. One hand stretched above her body, grasping out for the empty promises her life had bestowed on her.
I kicked harder, pushing deeper through the murky depths. The guards were on either side of me, mostly keeping up, but I was a little bit stronger and a lot more determined as I kicked furiously to reach her. I grabbed her hand and pulled her up, my lungs fighting me with every passing millisecond. Limp in my arms, I shot us out of the water, reaching the surface as the motorboat floated towards our direction.
An oar was extended as I grabbed on, and the guards on board took my lifeless fiancé from my arms as I hoisted myself over the side with the last bit of strength I had left.
By the time the ambulance arrived at the hospital, Magnus had the entire floor shut down. No less than sixty guards were monitoring the entire building. Jessie’s vitals were normal, the doctors said. She had extremely minimal water in her lungs, considering. She’d have to be on antibiotics and breathing exercises for a bit, but otherwise she should make a full recovery.
Magnus hovered over me like a piranha about to eat someone’s finger. “You are such a dumbass. What were you even thinking?”
“I was thinking I would be really romantic and give her something better to think about than the fact that her dog got murdered by her psycho mafia ex-lover. Back the fuck off me, alright?”