Chapter 15 #2
“Are you sure?” she asked, as she wiggled against him.
He laughed. “Oh, I’m absolutely positive.”
He lowered his head to share a kiss with her again.
The hot water sluiced over them, as she clung to him, unbelievably happy to have this nightmare finally over.
She wrapped her arms tighter around him, holding him close, trying to stretch up higher, when suddenly he lifted her and pinned her up against the wall of the shower.
She pulled her head back ever-so-slightly, one eyebrow raised in question.
He grinned. “Do you trust me?”
Nodding, she smiled. “Of course I trust you. We’ve come this far. I’m not about to stop now.”
“Good answer,” he teased, and, with a whole lot more heat pouring through her system, he was suddenly right there at the apex and plunged in deep, leaving her shuddering and already cresting in joy.
When the water ran cool, and they were both spent, he gently lowered her onto the bottom of the bathtub, reached for the handheld, and proceeded to wash her from top to bottom, gently scrubbing the scabs on her back as he went.
She let him, enjoying the ministrations and the knowledge that she was totally okay and safe. Not only safe but content to be in the arms of this wonderful man. “I didn’t expect being kidnapped would be like that.”
“I don’t think anybody has any real idea what it’s like,” he noted, “unless you’re the unfortunate person to experience it.
” She nodded and cuddled in closer, and finally, now that her hair was done, he asked, “Are you ready to get out? We should let the rest of the apartment building have some hot water.”
She chuckled, then untangled her limbs and sat on the side of the bathtub, reaching for a towel. “Here’s a robe,” he offered, as he pulled it from behind the door and handed it to her. She reached up and kissed him as a thank you, as he grabbed the other one beside it.
“You have two?” she asked.
“I do. Probably more. My brother and sisters come to visit sometimes.”
She just nodded and didn’t say anything.
“No, it’s not for other girlfriends.”
“I didn’t say anything,” she said, looking at him. “And honestly, I wasn’t thinking that either.”
“Good. I don’t play the field.”
“Neither do I,” she shared. “I knew I liked you.”
“Only like?” he asked in amazement.
“More than like, but I’m not saying too much. It’ll just go to your head.”
Still teasing back and forth, they stepped out into the bedroom, and she froze. “Uh-oh.”
He came up behind her, bumping her slightly, his hands going to her waist. Standing in front of them was a gunman, fury on his face as he glared at her.
“You don’t even know me,” she snapped, “but you already look as if you hate my guts. What is it with people today?”
With Rubin’s hands wrapped around her waist, he squeezed her gently, as if telling her to be quiet. While she got the message, she wasn’t terribly happy about it.
Rubin studied the gunman and asked, “Who are you, and why are you here?”
“Somebody who had a job to do, yet it remains uncompleted.”
Rubin nodded. “Which means you didn’t get paid.”
“And I need that payment,” he declared, waving the gun. “Now, either she’s paying me or you will, or there’s going to be all kinds of hell to pay.”
“Right,” Rubin muttered.
“So, what then?” Tricia began. “You expect me to pay for my freedom? If it were as simple as that, I could have paid you back then and saved us all a lot of trouble,” she muttered.
“You always were a spoiled brat.”
Tricia frowned. “I recognize your voice now that I’m not cowering in fear,” she replied. “You’re the damn boyfriend. I don’t recognize your face though.”
He shrugged. “I had some plastic surgery.”
“I hope you didn’t pay too much for it. It’s a crappy job,” she muttered, as she glared at him. He glared right back, and she shrugged. “It really doesn’t matter much.”
“So, are you paying?”
“No,” she declared, frowning at him. Then she motioned at Rubin. “This guy can take you down without a problem, so why should I?”
The gunman’s gaze went from Rubin to her. “I don’t understand. Why aren’t you petrified right now? You were afraid before, and now you’re acting all brave.”
“Because I’m not petrified now,” she stated, yawning. “I’m tired. I’m worn out. I’m looking at that bed and thinking what a joy it’ll be when I can crash and get some decent sleep. Trust me that I won’t let somebody like you stop me from having that. So, piss off.”
He stared at her. “I am holding a gun.”
“Yeah, and what will you do with it? It’s two of us against one of you. Hayden didn’t lock the door, and that’s something we’ll talk to him about.”
Just then the door opened, and Hayden stepped inside, his own gun in hand, pointing at the newcomer. “Yeah, I don’t think so.”
She laughed, and the gunman stared at the two of them, his eyes wide in shock. “I just need to get some money to take off.”
“But you can’t,” she snapped. “And neither will your girlfriend.”
“She’s not my girlfriend. She’s my damn half-sister. We have different last names.”
She snorted and then nodded. “That makes a whole lot more sense.”
Arlene’s half brother just glared at her, but Hayden quickly took the gun away from him. Hayden looked over at Rubin and Tricia, both still in wet robes, and shook his head. “I thought he was slow?” he teased Tricia.
“I had to move him along,” she replied pointedly.
Rubin rolled his eyes and added, “Do you two mind? I’m not slow. I was following the rules.”
“The rules in your head,” she muttered but shot him a grin.
Hayden half laughed, shook his head, and announced, “I’ll take this guy out of here.”
Rubin asked, “You need me to come along?”
“No, you’re fine,” Hayden said, smirking, giving them both a sideways look. “Besides, I don’t want to face Tricia’s wrath if I were to take you away right now.”
“Good point,” she noted. “Really smart move on your part.”
Hayden mock-groaned. “Rubin, I’ll talk to you in a little bit. Maybe you should take care of things here.” And, with a huge grin on his face, he turned and walked out.
Rubin turned to her, smiled, and asked, “You always going to be like this?”
“Yes,” she confirmed. “Always.” Then she turned, wrapped her arms around his neck, and asked, “Why? Is that a problem?”
“No, at least it’s not a problem I can’t handle.”
“Good,” she said. “I understand that guys like you are good at problem-solving.”
“Yep, we come up with all kinds of solutions.”
And then she found herself no longer wearing a robe. She stood beside the bed, completely nude. She laughed. “You want to at least lock the door this time?”
He gave a shout of laughter, walked over to the front door, locked it, then returned to her side. “Now we can make up for lost time.”