27. Poking The Bear #2
She collapses forward, her breasts pressing against my chest, her arms wrapping around my neck as she screams into my shoulder. I keep driving into her, pushing her further and further over the edge.
The feeling of her pulsing around me is too much and triggers my breaking point. The pressure building in my balls is a molten heat that demands release. I grip her ass tight, pulling her down for one last, devastatingly deep thrust.
"Annie," I roar, burying myself as deep as I possibly can, feeling the head of my cock hit the very back of her.
I explode inside her in a powerful sequence of jets that feel like they're never going to stop. I moan, my eyes closing, my whole body shaking as I empty into her. The sheer volume of my ejaculation makes me lightheaded for a moment.
I hold her there, pinned against me, as the last few pulses of my orgasm fade, our hearts beating in a frantic rhythm.
We stay like that for a while, the water continuing to pour over us, washing away the soap, the sweat, and the lingering ghost of Ian's words. There is no more tension, no more filth.
There is only the two of us, tangled together in the steam, completely spent and absolutely certain that, for right now, she’s safe.
ANNIE
The next morning the clinic is pretty steady all morning. I see patients, answer calls, refill prescriptions, and pretend I’m not planning a subversive action this afternoon.
Doc stays close all day without crowding me. There are a lot of accidental touches as the day progresses. I know it’s both his nerves and also reminding me he is here with me. I appreciate that more than he knows.
At lunchtime we
At three-thirty, Alvarez texts.
ALVAREZ: Room is set. I’ll be there by four-ten. Do not arrive before four-twenty.
ME: Bossy, I text back.
ALVAREZ: Correct, he answers.
Doc drives me to the library.
Neither of us says much.
The island outside the windshield looks too normal for what I am about to do. People walking dogs. A delivery van parked at an angle. Someone carrying flowers wrapped in brown paper. The world does not pause because one woman is about to sit across from the man who taught her shame had a voice.
Doc parks two blocks away.
His hands are on the wheel. He keeps them there.
“I hate this,” he says.
“I know.”
His eyes come to mine. “I’m proud of you.”
“I’m scared,” I say.
He turns enough to face me fully. “Alvarez and I will be close. If you need out, get out. If you can’t get out, we come in.”
“I know.” I nod, because anything more will make my eyes burn.
Every sense in me is wide awake. As I enter the scent of aging books and paper is mixed today with wet raincoats, and muddy boots.
Maddie, at the front desk, smiles when I check in for the clinic research room. I sign in and she gives me the key card and tells me I have the room until six-thirty.
The meeting room is just that. Small table. Four chairs. The walls are glass on three sides from the chair rail up. Blinds open. A whiteboard mounted on the inside wall. Public, but just private enough.
Alvarez’s recorder is already here somewhere. I don’t look for it.
I set my bag on the chair beside me, take out a folder, a notepad, the sunglasses, and a pen. I put the glasses on top of the notepad, to my right.
Then I wait.
At five-thirty-nine, Ian appears on the other side of the glass.
He’s in a navy blue suit today. Expensive coat. No tie. Hair perfect. Normal.
He sees me. Smiles. Then opens the door.
“Annie.”
His voice hits something old and familiar in me. I shake it off.
I keep my hands on the table. “Ian.”
He closes the door behind him and looks around the room. “Medical research?”
“I needed a room.”
“And the clinic wasn’t available?”
“Not to you.”
He slithers into the chair across from me without being invited. “So, Kitten, let’s get into it, shall we?”
“So what is it, exactly, that you want from me?”
He leans back. “That depends on you.”
My pulse beats hard against my chest, but my voice stays level. “Stop playing your god damn games. What do you want?”
“You know what I want.”
“I’m not slipping back into being your little puppet like I was in Portland.”
“Now, Kitten. You ended up benefiting a great deal from our business deal in Portland.”
“Okay, if you think I’m going to do anything for you here, you better start telling the god damn truth about Portland.
I wasn’t your fucking business partner. I was eye candy on your arm and put what I thought were truthful words in people’s ears.
Nothing more and I have months of interrogation paperwork to prove it. ”
“Now, Kitten.” He raises his eyebrows at that. “You were absolutely my fucking partner, just not my business partner. Fucking was more fun. I do miss how enthusiastic you were. It's a pity that delicious body of yours couldn’t produce. What a waste.”
I stand up suddenly and start grabbing my stuff. “Fuck you, Ian.”
He leans over the table and slams his hand down on the table on top of my paperwork. “I wouldn’t be so hasty if I were you.” His smile fades. “You are the one who can stop playing games now. You called me, Kitten. So you need something.”
“I don’t want to fight you anymore.”
Ian watches me, scrutinizing my words.
I reach over and grab the folder and pull it closer to me. My shoulders slump a little and I move my eyes away first. I let him see the woman he remembers, submissive, taking his word for gospel and willing to acquiesce.
His expression eases and he leans back. “That’s the first sensible thing you’ve said since I got here.”
The words sting, but I’ll take the pain.
For now.
“I’m tired, Ian.”
“I know.”
No, he doesn’t. But he likes thinking he does.
“I won’t do Portland again.”
His gaze softens into something practiced. “Then don’t.”
“That’s why I asked you to meet me. I need to hear it from you.”
“Hear what?”
“That this is different.” I look up at him, then down again. “That you’re not doing the same thing here.”
For a moment, he only looks at me.
I make myself look embarrassed by the question. Ashamed, needing reassurance from him. He always loved that part. Doubt. It made me easier to control.
“Annie,” he says gently, “Coupeville is not Portland.”
“But Portland wasn’t supposed to be Portland either.”