Chapter 19 - Marlen
Instead of going to the warehouse as planned, I was called into a more pressing emergency that required my presence.
I sent Bardil to handle the packing of that important delivery.
I know my guys will get it right; I just want full reassurance on this delivery to avoid any issues.
Better safe than sorry. Bardil argued that I was being too controlling and he didn’t need to go there, but in the end, he gave in and promised me he would.
My floor manager messaged me earlier to confirm that my brother had arrived and was helping the guys with the package, so that’s a relief. Sometimes he’s so bullheaded I think he just agrees with me to shut me up, but then does his own thing anyway. He doesn’t think things through properly.
But with Bardil handling the warehouse task, and my emergency now sorted out… I suddenly have the afternoon free.
It’s amusing that the moment I have free time, I head straight home. In the past, I would have gone for lunch or a drink or even to watch the ocean for a bit, but lately all I want to do is be around her.
I can go fetch her and take her out for lunch. I’m sure she’d love the seafood platter at the Pink Pearl restaurant on the beachfront. We can sit inside by the fireplace; the views are still great from there.
Pulling up at the security gate in front of my mansion, the guard waves and opens it for me. I drive through, but he waves me down to stop me.
“Sir, we thought you were at the warehouse,” he says, his brows furrowed.
“No, my plans changed. Is there a problem?” I ask, confused, why it would matter to him.
“No, sir, but Stefania had Drake drive her to the warehouse to surprise you with a visit. She left a while ago.”
“She’s not home?” I ask, surprised.
“No, sir, she went to meet you. As I said, it was meant to be a surprise,” he explains, looking nervous. “I’m sorry, sir, she was really adamant not to tell you.”
“It’s ok, don’t worry. If Drake is with her, I’m sure it’s all fine. I’ll give him a call now and head out that way,” I say, reassuring the guy because he looks like he’s about to go full panic mode for losing Stefania.
I pull back out into the road while I’m dialing Drake.
He answers cheerfully. “Mr. Popov, we were just on our way home,” he tells me straight away.
“She’s with you?” I ask.
“Yes, sir. The surprise visit obviously did not go as planned. But we should be home in the next fifteen to twenty minutes.”
“Where are you now?” I ask.
“Just passing the shopping mall with that giant yellow duck statue outside,” he chuckles, obviously looking at the duck. It’s a ridiculous piece of art, but it’s caught a lot of attention around the city. Both good and bad, which, for an artist, is always good.
“There’s a gas station at the next turn-off. Go there. I’ll meet you in the parking area so I can pick her up,” I tell Drake.
“Yes, sir, taking the turn now. We’ll be waiting there for you,” he confirms.
I think it’s time I got her a cell phone. I know I can trust her, and I’d rather be able to contact her at any time, no matter where she is.
Hanging up the phone, I feel an intense urge to scold Stefania for leaving the house without my permission. Anything could have happened to her. Anyone could have seen her. I hate that she took that risk without even asking me.
She just wanted to see you. I argue with myself.
I like the fact that she wanted to see me, but not if it puts her in danger.
Don’t be hard on her; she missed you. It’s sweet.
By the time I pull into the gas station’s parking area, I have no idea which side I’m more convinced of—if I’m angry with her or taken by the gesture.
I climb out of the car and walk toward Drake’s car. Stef jumps out of the back seat and runs toward me, smiling. “That was a total fail,” she laughs as I open my arms and she runs into a hug.
“What happened? Did you miss me so much you couldn’t bear another second away from me?” I tease her, realizing I can’t be angry with her, not with such a beautiful glow around her. She’s too happy, too full of life for me to bring that down. She was trying to do something sweet for me, that’s all.
“Ha. Ha. Yes, I was pining after you. I could barely breathe. I needed you so badly,” she replies sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
I chuckle and wave to Drake as he drives off, then walk Stef back to my car.
“Alright, Ms. Codependent, how about I take you for lunch?” I tease, ushering her into the car.
She scoffs. “Codependent? Don’t be so rude. I am an independent woman,” she demands.
“Mm. Very independent. So independent that you can’t stay away from me.” I wink at her as I climb in and start the car.
We pull out of the gas station and back onto the road, turning toward the beachfront.
“Where are you taking me for lunch, smart-ass?” she huffs, smiling.
“Maybe you should take me for lunch, seeing as you’re such a strong, independent woman?”
“Oh, shush,” she laughs, punching my shoulder.
Our banter carries on, back and forth, playful and light-hearted.
I think about myself and who I am around her.
She’s changed me in a lot of ways. I’m not generally known to be this playful.
Even my own family mocks me for being too stern and uptight.
Grumpy, that’s what they call me. I’m not grumpy, though, not specifically.
Maybe just strict because I need to be in my role as head of the family.
And I certainly need to be so around clients and business partners.
But around Stef, I’m a completely different version of myself.
In fact, around Stef, I can just be myself. No pretense, no wall of protection. Just me, letting go and having fun with someone who brings the best out in me.
“Seafood sounds amazing. And a view of the ocean,” she agrees when I tell her where I want to take her.
“You’ll love the decor too. The whole place is pink-themed. But it’s done in a way that doesn’t insult my masculine senses.”
“Masculine senses?” she bursts out laughing. “Don’t they say that real men wear pink?”
“I’ve heard that. Do you think I should get a pair of pink pants?” I suggest, raising my brows.
“Oh, no, I can’t see you in pink pants,” she laughs.
Behind me, tires scream against tar as someone skids across the road, barely missing us.
“Fuck,” I growl, seeing a man lean out of the window with an assault rifle tucked into his shoulder, pointing right at our car.
“Get down,” I shout, tugging the car to the left as Stef sinks low in her seat, obeying me instantly.
Bullets smack into the side of the armor-plated doors.
She screams in fright and covers her ears. I want to hold her and tell her it’s going to be ok, but my job right now is to get us away from here, somewhere safe.
The attack intensifies when a second car arrives. I can’t do anything to fight back, not when I’m alone with her like this. My best chance is to outmaneuver them and lose them in the back streets. I know this city well enough to do that.
Now and then, Stef lets out a yelp of fright when I turn a corner sharply, sending her skidding into the door or into me.
“Just hold on, we’ve almost lost them,” I shout over the mayhem of the chase.
Behind me, one of the cars takes a corner too wide and slams into a light post, wrapping its bonnet around it. There’s no way they survived that. The front half of the car literally folded.
One down. One to go.
I weave in and out of side streets, avoiding heavily trafficked roads with many pedestrians.
I don’t want anyone else to get hurt in this situation.
The guy stays close on my tail, taking a few shots whenever he has a chance, but finally, he gets stuck behind a bus that crosses at exactly the right time, and I manage to get ahead enough to make a few turns without him.
I know the attackers are still close, so instead of trying to outrun them any longer, I take advantage of what I have and drive into an underground parking area.
I park the car in a dark spot near the back, between a van and a landcover, two cars big enough to hide us.
Switching off the engine, I sit in silence, listening intently.
No one was behind us. No one followed us. The chances of them guessing we turned into this parking lot out of the many options we drove past are zero to none.
I turn to Stef, reaching out to brush my hand over her leg.
“They won’t find us here. We just need to wait it out until they leave.”
Beneath my hand, her body is shaking.
Her eyes are wide with fear when she looks up at me.
I unclip my safety belt and hers and reach out to cup her face in my hand. “Hey, it’s ok. You’re ok, cutie,” I say gently. “I’ve got you, you’re safe now.”
She shivers and bites at her lip. Her eyes flare, and she takes in a sharp breath, then, to my surprise, she climbs right onto my lap. She straddles me and takes my face in her hands, her lips crash into mine, and I realize the adrenaline, the fear… It’s turned her on. She’s wild with it.
Stef rocks against my cock, which instantly grows hard. Harder than I thought possible with the desperation of her moans against my lips. She claws at me, digging her nails into my shoulders as she tries to pull me closer. She moves with feverish need.
I grab her hips and press her harder against my cock.
“Stef, you have to stop. I can’t control myself if you don’t,” I growl.
“No, I don’t want you to control yourself,” she says, breathless against my mouth.
Her words spike lust through me. The intensity of it is terrifying. She grabs at my shirt, pulling it from my belt, and slips her hands beneath it to run them over the bare skin of my chest.
Her touch is hot. Her hands exploring me, her nails leaving red lines on my skin.
The urgency in her movements increases the longer we kiss. Her tongue pushes deep into my mouth as need consumes her.
I grab a handful of her hair and pull her head back. “Stef, we shouldn’t do this here,” I snarl, already knowing I can’t stop what she started.
“I don’t care where we are. I need you,” she gasps, lifting her hips and pulling the button of her jeans open.
All reason disappears.
We’re both scrambling, hurriedly pulling at her jeans while she contorts over my lap in the front of the car. I push the seat as far as it will go to give her room, and she kicks her jeans off and sits down on my lap again.
I tug mine open, eager, craving her in the most dangerous ways.
My cock jumps free as I unzip my pants and tug them down enough.
Stef moans so beautifully as she slides herself up and down my shaft, rubbing her pussy over me.
“Let me fuck you,” I growl.
Her nails dig deeper into my flesh.