“Actually, yes. It’s what I should have done in the first place. If I did, perhaps we wouldn’t even be in this situation.”
“Oh, yeah? Well, I don’t think so.”
She began to fumble with the complex harness that strapped her to the seat. I was about to stop her when Hale climbed aboard the helicopter and closed the door behind him.
Too late, angel. You aren’t going anywhere now.
I motioned to the pilot, signaling that we were ready for takeoff. Krystina, still hell bent on figuring out how to unfasten herself, didn’t seem to notice what was happening around her.
“I would leave the seat restraint secured if I were you. We are about to take off,” I told her.
“What?” her head snapped up to look around, only to discover that we had begun to ascend. She glared at me and folded her arms across her chest. She was seething.
“Simmer down, angel,” I laughed.
“At least tell me where we are going,” she said through gritted teeth.
“East Hampton.”
“You’re insane! I can’t go all the way to East Hampton! Besides, my clothes are still damp from standing in the rain earlier. I need to change.”
“Hale packed you a change of clothes. Don’t worry about that.”
“And how would Hale have gotten my clothes?” she demanded, sounding completely dumbfounded.
“You have an entire wardrobe at the penthouse. Remember?”
She gaped like a fish, seeming at a loss for words for a moment, before puffing out an exasperated sigh. When she spoke again about ten minutes later, she seemed to be resigned to the inevitable and was considerably calmer.
“What’s in East Hampton?”
I smiled to myself, satisfied that I had won this round.
“Lake Montauk. It’s where my boat is docked.”
“It’s a little cold for a boat ride, don’t you think,” she remarked dryly.
“We’re not going to take her out. I just thought it would be a quiet place for us to talk. Besides, it’s the last weekend to use her. She’ll be going to dry dock for the winter and I wanted you to see her before then.”
“I don’t know why you had to go to such extreme measures. We could have talked someplace closer to home,” she muttered, her words barely loud enough to hear over the noise of the helicopter.
“It’s my story to tell this time, Krystina. Therefore, we are going to do this my way.”
Privately. Someplace that I know I won’t be overheard.
We soared over the city, a silence settling between us. A pit formed in my stomach when I thought about what I was about to do. I was going to bare all by telling Krystina the truth about my parents and about who I really was. It was essential that we were not overheard by anyone and bringing her to my boat was the only neutral place that I could think of on short notice.
However, if I were being completely honest with myself, it wasn’t just that I wanted privacy for our conversation. I wanted Krystina to be in a place that she couldn’t run from so easily. Because after she heard what I had to say, she would learn that everything was a lie. And I didn’t know if she would run or if she would stay.
****
To say that I was furious would be an understatement. My temper had been quietly simmering on the flight over. I was about ready to erupt like Mount Saint Helens when I climbed down from the helicopter.
I followed Alexander to a black Mercedes-Benz that was waiting to take us the remainder of the way to Lake Montauk. I didn't argue about getting into the vehicle, as I didn't want to be humiliated again by being thrown over Alexander's shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
Just the memory of his actions flared my temper even further.
Ugh! The assuming, arrogant jackass!
The man had no boundaries. I knew that about him and I should not have been surprised by what he had done. There were no limits to the lengths he would take to get what he wanted. Even if it meant kidnapping me.
Hale claimed the driver’s seat, while Alexander and I rode in the backseat in utter silence. The air was wrought with tension. I could feel Alexander's eyes on me, but I refused to look at him because I was afraid I might snap. The only thing stopping me from blowing my top was pure curiosity about finally hearing his story.
When the car came to a halt in a near empty parking lot, Hale got out to open the car door for us. Alexander climbed out first and held his hand out to me.
“Come on, angel. It's time for you to meet Lucy,” he said.
Not bothering to ask who Lucy was, I ignored his outstretched hand and got out of the car on my own. I knew I was being a brat, but I couldn't help but to feel a little smug over the stunned expression of rejection on his face.
“Alexander, surely you don't expect me to play nice,” I said, flashing him an overly sweet smile. “I agreed to talk. I don't recall kidnapping being a part of the agreement.”
Without warning, Alexander's hands came crashing down on top of the car, boxing me in between his strong forearms. I nearly jumped out of my skin, as the noise of his palms hitting the medal was deafening in the quiet parking lot.
“Enough!” he growled, his face mere inches from mine.
“Or what?” I challenged in return. I tilted my chin up stubbornly.
“So help me, Krystina,” he warned, shaking his head in aggravation. “I'm not going a round with you. Not now. And if it means that I have to toss you over my shoulder again, I will.”
“You wouldn't.”
“Don't test me, angel. I've felt like a madman these past few weeks and you have no idea what I'm capable of.”
His expression was menacing and I glanced around nervously for Hale. He was pulling duffle bags from the trunk of the Mercedes, conspicuously ignoring the confrontation going on at the side of the car.
Alexander backed away from me, but took hold of my hand. His grip was firm as he practically dragged me towards the main gate of the marina.
“Alex, let go of my hand!” I said, trying to pull free of his grasp.
He spun to face me, pulling me against his hard torso.
“Why? So you can fucking run?” His words were harsh and angry, but his expression was pleading. “It was a mistake to let you go the last time. You won't be running from me again. I will not allow it.”
“You can't control me!”
“This isn't about control. Why can't you see that? This is about you and me. It's about our...” he trailed off as if trying to find the right words. When he spoke again, his voice was thick with emotion. “It's our connection. I can't ignore it anymore. I need you, angel. I've been numb without you. And now that I finally have you with me again, all you want to do is fight. I can't decide if I want to take you over my knee or give you a good sense fuck.”
“A sense fu –,” I started to say, but the words caught in my throat, silenced by the finger Alexander held up to my lips.
“Stop talking, Krystina.”
That was all he said before leaning in to seal his mouth over mine.
As angry as I was, my body betrayed me almost instantly. I didn’t want to be kissing him, yet I wanted it more than anything else at the same time. It was as if my lips had a mind of their own and returned his kiss with a fever that rocked me to the core.
Within seconds, the heavy ache that had been in my heart for the past two weeks shifted, and I found myself giving in without restraint. Alexander was right about our connection. I had been numb without him, too.
I ran my hands up the lengths of his hard biceps, gripping his shoulders like I was hanging on for dear life. And in a way, that's exactly what I was doing - fighting to keep hold of our fragile, messed up relationship in any way that I could.
I was fueled from so many feelings - anger, betrayal, desire, and longing. I threw my body and entire mind into the kiss. Pushing my tongue past Alexander's lips, I took and fiercely gave everything that I could. I drew from the over flowing well of emotions to silently tell him that I
wasn't going to run again. Not this time. Because even after everything that we had been through, I knew that I didn't want to spend another day without him.
Alexander moaned and pulled me tighter against him. He knew what I was trying to tell him. I could feel it in the way that he held me in his arms and from the transition of our passion filled kiss. Our lips were locked in frantic need, like we were trying to make up for the two weeks of being apart. The feeling of urgency was unlike any other we ever shared. It wasn't driven by lust or pure carnal desire, but more from unexplainable desperation.
He kissed along my cheeks and jawline, and then pressed his forehead against mine. He cupped my face with both hands and looked down at me. When my eyes locked on his, I saw that his gorgeous blues were filled with relief.
“Welcome back, angel,” he whispered.
I gave him a small smile before resting my head against his chest. I breathed in deep, finally allowing his intoxicating smell to invade my senses.
God, how I missed this.
The distant echo of people laughing some ways away brought me back to reality. The sound reminded me that we were not alone and that Hale was somewhere nearby. I pulled back and looked around awkwardly. A blush crept up into my cheeks when I saw that Hale was standing by the car just a short distance away from us. Thankfully, he had the tact to be looking in the opposite direction.
One minute I'm throwing a fit, and the next I'm lip locked with my captor. He must think that I'm crazier than Alex.
And speaking of crazy...
I turned my attention back to Alexander.
“You should not have hauled me over your shoulder like that,” I told him, careful to keep my tone neutral and not argumentative. He merely raised an eyebrow at me.
“Would you have gotten into the helicopter any other way?”
“Probably not,” I admitted.
“Well, then I'm not going to apologize for doing it.”
He flashed me a cocky smile. I could only sigh and shake my head as Alexander took hold of my hand again.
“Who is Lucy?” I asked after we began to walk.
“You'll see.”
I looked at him curiously, but he didn't elaborate.
Mr. Cryptic as usual.
Alexander led me up a stone pathway towards an intricately designed wrought iron pedestrian gate. He swiped his access card through an electronic card reader and the gate automatically swung slowly open. Buildings flanked either side of the path that we were walking on, obstructing any view that I may have had of the waterfront. I was sure that the marina was deliberately designed that way to maintain the privacy of its members. I could already tell that the place reeked of exclusivity.
When we reached the buildings edge, we rounded one of the corners and I stopped dead in my tracks. I was awed by what was displayed before me.
“Wow! This place is nothing at all like the marinas back home. This is more like a miniature resort town than anything else!”
“I guess it is in a way,” Alexander said indifferently, coaxing me to keep walking.
“Wait – stop. I want to look around for a minute.”
Even in the dark, I could see that the landscape was impeccably maintained. The building to my left housed at least fifty golf carts, which I assumed were used to take guests to various locations around the massive marina. Little boutiques and cafes followed the long winding pathway to my right, the twinkling light from their windows dotting the shoreline and reflecting off of the water. White gazebos lined the waters edge, inviting one to just sit and take in the sights. In the middle of it all sat a grand lighthouse with an extravagant building off to the right side. It looked more like a mansion than a boathouse, and I assumed it to be the marinas main clubhouse. A banner was hung from the front porch, thanking members for a fun filled season.
The entire setting was picturesque and had a magical sort of feeling that was reminiscent to the works of Thomas Kinkade. If I had any sort of artistic abilities, I would want to sit down and paint it.
“Where is everyone?” I asked in a whisper. I felt silly over my hushed tone, but I was afraid to disturb the peacefulness of our surroundings.
“It's quiet down here this time of the year. During peak season, it's fairly busy. Now, most of the club members have either stored their boats for the winter, or went south. They all scatter as soon as the leaves start to change,” Alexander told me with a shrug. “Personally, I prefer the marina when it's less crowded. That's why I'm one of the last to keep my boat in the water this late.”
There were only a few people meandering about on the docks, and my guess was that they were the last of the diehards trying to hang on to what little was left of the season. I looked out over the water to see how many boats were still there and widened my eyes in surprise. The boats in the water were not boats. They looked like miniature cruise ships. And just as Alexander said, there were very few left. However, the rows of slips seemed unending. I could imagine the marina being a pretty hopping place during mid-summer.
“Are you ready, angel?” Alexander asked, tugging at my hand to keep walking.
“Yeah. Let's go,” I agreed absently, still feeling awed as I continued to take in everything around me. I thought about Frank’s fishing boat and about how lost it would be in a place like this. I smiled to myself.
I'm definitely not in Kansas anymore.
We made our way down towards the docks and through another security gate that required a key card. We walked a little ways before coming up on a boat named The Lucy. It was then that I realized who Lucy was. Lucy wasn't a who, but a what. And Lucy was huge.
“This is your boat?” I asked incredulously. “It's enormous!"
“She's not that big, angel," Alexander laughed. “The yacht is actually relatively small by comparison. It’s only one hundred sixty-five feet. Some of the other boats in the marina are as big as two hundred twenty-five. I thought about upgrading her a few years back, but I’m not sure if I can maneuver a boat much larger than this.”
“You drive this thing?”
“Not often, but I can. I have my Captain’s License, but I have a crew with me when I take her out. Let's go in and I'll give you the tour.”
I followed Alexander up the gangplank, across a large open deck, through double glass doors, and into the salon. It felt good to be inside where it was warm. With all the chaos during the past hour, I hadn't realized how damp and chilly I still felt from being out in the rain.
I was about to ask if I could change my clothes before taking a tour, but was stopped from doing so when Alexander called out for Hale.
“Yes, sir,” Hale said, appearing out of nowhere.
The man is like a shadow.
“Where did you leave our bags?”
“I put them in the master suite, Mr. Stone.”
“Perfect. Krystina and I are all set for now. I've instructed Laura to come to you with anything that might need immediate attention. Other than that, you're free to take the rest of the night off,” Alexander instructed.
“Very good, sir. Thank you,” Hale said. He nodded his head to Alexander, and then tossed me a very discreet wink that caught me off guard. I couldn't help but think that, despite being told to take the night off, Hale wouldn't be very far away.
I was somewhat amused by the entire exchange.
“Who is Hale to you?” I asked Alexander after Hale walked away.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that he plays chauffeur, security, and gopher to you all at once. What's his title?”
“He doesn't have an official title,” he said dismissively. “Come on now. Let's go change out these damp clothes.”
Alexander turned to lead me out of the room, but I wasn't going to let him off the hook so easily. I knew him well enough to know when he was trying to evade a topic. There was definitely a story there.
He continued to walk ahead, leaving me to follow behind with a barrage of questions.
“When
did you two meet?”
“A long time ago.”
Evade, evade, evade.
“He has a military air about him. Did he ever serve?”
“You’ll have to ask him.”
“Thanks, Alex. This was a really good talk,” I said, my voice laden with sarcasm.
Alexander stopped, turned back to me and frowned. Seeming to come to a decision, he took a deep breath.
“Hale's mother was my grandmother's childhood best friend. That's how I know him. I've known him my entre life and he has been in my employment for over ten years. Outside of my grandparents, he is the only person that I've ever trusted completely.”
Alexander’s reference to a piece of his history caused me to momentarily come up short for words.
“Oh, I see,” was all I said. I wanted more details, but he must have known that his admission was going to raise questions. He shook his head and held up his hand to signal that I should bite my tongue for the time being.
“I will tell you about my parents, Krystina. I'll put all the cards on the table and tell you every single ugly detail. I promised you that I would and I never go back on my word. However, I'm not in a huge hurry to rehash it all. I want to enjoy tonight for just a little while longer.”
I nodded my consent, not sure of what else I could do other than accept. He looked sad. But there was something else in his expression too, as if telling me his story would somehow break him. I had seen many emotions swirl in the depths of his sapphire eyes – anger and determination to passion and lust. But never once had I seen fear.
I was suddenly very afraid of what Alexander had to tell me. And for the first time, I wondered if it might be better to keep Pandora's box closed.
CHAPTER 5
I opened the doors for the master suite and gestured Krystina inside. She glanced up at me curiously, her expression full of questions before she quickly looked away. I knew that she wanted answers, but I had to hold her off for a little while longer.
Just have patience, angel.
I brought her here, quite literally kicking and screaming, and I had to make sure that she was in the right frame of mind before I opened up. It was imperative that the stage was set properly.
Stepping Stone Page 4