Chapter 47
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
James's restless energy simmered beneath the surface, a fire waiting to be unleashed. As he paced the hotel suite, he found himself seeking solace in the company of one of the other men, Bill. Their conversation often veered towards the topic of physical labor.
“You know, Bill,” James began, his leg bouncing in restless energy, “I miss the feeling of working with my hands, of being out there on the construction site. There's something about the sweat on your brow, the strain in your muscles, that makes you feel alive.”
Bill nodded understandingly. “I get it, James. There's a sense of satisfaction that comes with a hard day's work, with seeing tangible progress and knowing you've contributed to something real. It’s the same sense I get when we catch the perp or close a case.”
“It's not just about the physical exertion.” James let out a sigh that was a mixture of hope and sadness. “It's the freedom that comes with it, the open air, the smell of sawdust, the sound of hammers and drills. It's an escape from these four walls, a chance to let my mind wander while my body moves.”
Bill leaned back, his expression thoughtful.
James continued, "I just hope this confinement ends soon. I can't wait to get back to the work that fuels my spirit, to feel the strain in my muscles and the satisfaction of a job well done.”
Bill nodded along. “I might have a solution to help ease your restlessness.” A smile broke through on his rugged face. “I spoke to the hotel manager, and he's agreed to open the gym an hour before its official opening time."
“That's fantastic!” James slapped Bill on the back. “I can't thank you enough. Having that hour to work out will make a world of difference for me.”
Bill grinned. “Consider it done, my friend. I know how important physical activity is for you, and I'm glad I could help make it happen. Just make sure you take one of us with you, just in case.”
“Oh. Yeah,” James sighed. “Fantastic.”
Bill winced good-naturedly. “I know. Believe me, I understand, but better safe than sorry.”
On their fifth day at the hotel, Laura mustered the courage to ask if she could join James for his workouts. She confessed that she missed running with him. The longing to run alongside him once again surged within her.
His face lit up with delight, and his voice overflowed with enthusiasm. “Of course you can, honey,” he replied. “It will probably be easier for Blackburn and Forest if we’re both in the same place, anyway.”
Humor bubbled up inside her, as she responded, “I hope they agree with you on that. I’ve heard them grumble about having to go down to the workout center with you in the first place.”
She quickly changed into her workout clothes and together with Det. Forest they went to the hotel basement.
As they entered the fitness center, she noticed that the room was surprisingly spacious and eerily silent, emphasizing their strange situation. She glanced at James, who walked over to a rowing machine, ready for his warm-up.
The detective leaned against the wall next to the elevator and crossed his arms, watching them with a look of boredom on his face.
Laura stared at James. How can someone be bored when faced with that? Forcing herself to get into gear, she focused on the possibilities the gym offered. Her footsteps echoed on the polished floor as she made her way toward a nearby treadmill.
Laura stepped on the machine, adjusting the settings to match her desired pace. In the mirrored wall she had a clear view of herself and James as he rowed. The rhythmic movement of his body mesmerized her in its fluidity. The sweat already darkening his plain grey t-shirt accentuated the contours of his muscular frame, rippling with the heave and pull of his movements. The way his hands clenched on the grips raised memories of their rope play, and the phantom sensation of his work-chapped palms caressing her as she lay bound and open beneath him .
Shaking her head to clear it, Laura turned the treadmill speed up. She had some things to work out, all right.
As she ran, her feet pounding against the treadmill, Laura felt a renewed sense of freedom. It was liberating to use her muscles, to feel the burn and the exhilaration of physical exertion. The worries and fears that constantly plagued her mind seemed to fade into the background, replaced by the sheer joy of movement.
While running, she kept stealing glances at James in the mirror. He’d moved from the rowing machine to the leg press. Listening to his legs rhythmically working the weights called up even more memories: being with him at Club Indigo, the heavy percussion of music coming through the speakers, the flux and flow of bodies around them in the dim light, and James, making the St. Andrew’s cross ready for her.
Focus, Laura!
Sweat coated her body, but another part of her body grew damp as well. It was disconcerting.
Determined to shift her focus, Laura slowed the treadmill to a walk, made it stop, and found an open space in the weight room. She chose squats, feeling the familiar burn in her leg muscles as she moved up and down. It was a welcome sensation, using her body and muscles instead of constantly relying on her brain. The repetition of the exercise provided a rhythm that soothed her mind, at least for a little while. Surrounded by the scents of rubber mats, testosterone and clean sweat, Laura let go of her thoughts and worries.
Droplets of perspiration rolled down her neck. Her thighs burned with pain and she first embraced the physical discomfort, then rose above it. Every now and then, she stole a glance at James. Her gaze caught the flex of his arms as he worked on his bicep curls. His arms were incredibly muscular, and the motion of his exercises pulled at the muscles of his back as well, as hypnotic as the ocean tides. Her fingers itched to travel along his taut skin, tracing every vein. Her mouth was dry, thirsty to taste the sweat she could see trickling down his neck. Memories of other ways to work themselves into a sweat trickled into her mind, but she wasn’t going there. She wouldn’t!
As Laura continued with her squats, pushing her muscles to their limits, she found solace in the physical exertion. The burn intensified, but it was a welcome reminder that she was still alive, still capable of pushing herself. The weight of their situation momentarily lifted as she concentrated on each repetition, her body working in harmony with the rhythm of her breath.
When they returned to their room after more than an hour, Laura was both mentally energized and sexually frustrated. She excused herself for a well-deserved shower and some private time, but although she was eventually able to bring herself to a small shiver of relief, it was nothing compared to the orgasms James could give her. She sprawled across her bed, naked and trembling with frustration, remembering the touch of his hands, the taste of his lips, the low growl of his voice commanding her to come for him, only for him…
Oh James , she thought, gazing at the hotel ceiling and imagining bodies writhing sensually together in the abstract patterns of plaster there. I don’t want to do this anymore. I want to go back to the way things were, before John Smith, before Jake, before you had to say you loved me and make everything complicated. I just don’t know how .
But she knew better. Time was a one-way street. She could never go back, only forward, into a future as unpredictable as a tornado. And yes, James had brought her through a tornado once before, but how could she trust him to shelter her now when he was the storm?
“Oh James,” she whispered brokenly, rolling onto her side and curling up small. “What do I do?
As they fell into a new routine, Laura became more accustomed to having James by her side. In the beginning, she worried about their relationship. But after a little over a week, it felt natural, comforting even. The rhythm of their interactions became familiar, their conversations laced with humor and understanding. She had come to rely on his presence, finding solace in their shared experiences and the unspoken support they offered one another.
Trapped in the safe house, their morning workouts became a lifeline. Weight machines and treadmills provided an outlet for their frustrations and a way to release pent-up energy.
But after more than a month, as the workout ended, Laura and James returned to their room, their bodies damp with sweat and their spirits lifted. Their breaths came in steady rhythms, the physical exertion bringing calmness and clarity. And there, waiting for them, was Det. Cagney, a knowing smile on his face. Aside from his smile, he wore a rumpled coat and several days’ worth of beard. He carried a bottle of champagne and spoke the three little words Laura longed to hear: “It's all over.”
“The bust was last night,” he continued. “I haven’t had a break until now, what with securing all the scenes, the evidence, and of course, all the perps. They’re in holding cells all over the city. The FBI is taking over most of the prosecutions since Donatelli’s rackets were in more than one state. The mayor, prosecuting attorney, and the police chief are all thrilled because this case has already been a budget buster with all the overtime they’ve been paying. In any case, you are both free to go back to your lives. John Smith and Antony Marconi are both out of the way, so you shouldn’t have anything to worry about. First, I thought we’d all like to toast the end of Donatelli and his ‘businesses.’ He’s still trying to insist that all he owns is a perfectly legitimate restaurant, but we have plenty of proof to back up the racketeering charges.”
Paula and Laura found glasses and brought them out. Det. Cagney opened the bottle and poured champagne into each glass. Paula raised her glass high and declared, “To the end of Donatelli!”
They all toasted.
“To Laura, who was brave enough to stand up to John Smith and Marconi!” Cagney proclaimed.
James raised his glass as well and added, “To normal lives.”
They clinked their glasses together, laughter filling the room as they savored the taste of victory. For a fleeting moment, they resembled the friends they could have been under different circumstances.
After they had each enjoyed a glass of champagne, they bid farewell to Det. Cagney, urging him to get some well-deserved rest. And Laura and James started packing their things, ready to leave the confines of the hotel and embrace the return to their ordinary lives.