Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
DUNCAN
My plan was to come back to the flat and bury my cock in her sweet heaven, but when I peeked into one of the bags and saw a wrapped gift, I stopped. I had bought some gifts for her too, but I realized we didn't have a tree to put them under.
I walk into the spare room and hang the bags up high. I hope she's okay with money because I know these weren't cheap. I can't wait to have her on my arm tomorrow and show the world she's mine. Some of my Christmas gifts for her will be delivered to Joshua today instead of coming here.
Joshua will be at the party tomorrow with us, he'll be doing some work.
His odd behavior today is concerning me.
The infatuation he has with his "Angel" has gotten worse.
Ian called me earlier to say he's putting Raul on standby for tonight.
This is the most he has gone on a binge in a while.
I walk back out to the sitting room and look out the windows, thinking about how lucky I am to have Maya.
I'll do anything to keep her here with me. I worry about her stalker and wonder about her relationship with Derek. I don't want to even think about her leaving me in a couple of weeks, she'll be closer to that danger. I'm hoping Joshua will talk to her more about working with us.
She walks out of my bedroom in a pair of low-rise jeans with the legs shredded up, a green sweater that's off her shoulders showing a skimpy tank top, and those bloody cowboy boots.
I know she's got a knife in her boot again.
I've talked her into not carrying her sidearm for the last couple of days.
She looks so good, the green of the sweater makes her eyes look brighter. I'm about to change my mind, but then I remember I need to show her she's more than just a shag. My chest pulls and my heart thumps harder. What the bloody hell is going on with me?
"Baby, you look good." I hear the growl in my voice.
"Thank you, handsome." She smiles and walks toward the spare room. I really want to see what she's wearing tomorrow.
Maya
We actually went Christmas tree shopping and ice skating in Hyde Park, then had dinner at a little bistro near the park.
I hadn't done anything like that since before my parents died.
One holiday season my mom had talked my father into letting us have a tree.
It was so much fun. My heart aches a little as I think of them.
I'm fingering their rings when Duncan looks over at me in the Rover.
"Are you okay with a tree, Maya?"
"Yes."
"What's the matter?" He sounds concerned.
"I don't want to bring down the remarkable evening we've had. Thank you for the skating, dinner, and tree shopping, it was fun. I've never been on a date like that." I know I don't sound as happy as I felt earlier.
"Maya, baby, please talk to me." He pulls into the parking garage of his condo and turns to me.
"I just remembered the Christmas season when my mom talked Abba into letting us have a tree, I was fifteen.
She told me stories of her growing up and her family's Christmas celebrations.
She even made homemade eggnog and cookies.
Abba had fun once he realized she wasn't trying to replace Hanukkah but give me a little of her.
I miss her so much. Don't get me wrong, I miss him too, but she was everything. She believed in me all the time. I kept all those ornaments. They’re at my condo.
I bring them out and look at them occasionally.
She got me an angel ornament that year, and every year after until she died. "
"I wish I could have known them. Dad talks about her and Mum a lot now. For a while there, it was like talking about her brought around memories of Mum, and he'd not do that. Now though, he speaks about them all. He liked your father."
"I'm happy you and your dad have worked out your problems." I don't acknowledge his comment about my own dad. I loved him very much but am still not sure why he pushed me as hard as he did.
"I think he suspected us back at the wedding or he hoped, because he was all about me asking you out.
He's also realized that I joined the military for my country and not to spite him.
I'm not a diplomat, I'm not an executive, but I am a soldier.
He worried I'd not come home, so he felt better to push me away he said.
After losing Mum, he doesn't handle loss very well.
You know all about that." He smiles at me.
"Yes, I know about pushing people away. I'm glad you're who you are. I wouldn’t be with you if you were a businessman." I laugh at him.
"Come on, baby, let's head up."
We unload our purchases from the Rover. Duncan even bought decorations for the tree. He's carrying the tree, a small but full one. I'm carrying the other bags. We're heading toward the elevator when my cell starts ringing. I look at the caller ID, knowing who it is from the ringtone.
"Hey, Derek," I say as Duncan makes a face. I whisper for him to be nice and he nods.
"There’s been another delivery. This one better be a joke. You promised me you wouldn’t go back to him." I can almost feel his anger through the phone.
"What're you talking about, Derek?" I'm actually nervous; Derek and I have been through so much and for him to be this angry with me isn't common.
"Well, your ex-boyfriend Carl sent you a dozen roses. You promised me I could kick his ass if he came sniffing around again. With everything going on, and you having Duncan, why would you go back to him? Wasn't his behavior on the unit toward you enough?"
"I ran into him once after he left the unit. I told him I had a boyfriend. I'm not interested in Carl and I want you to get rid of those flowers. Was there a card?"
"Yes, it said he’d always love you. Jeez, girl, you went from no men but me and Dad in your life to two stalkers, one hang on, and a boyfriend. What the hell?"
"Derek, I'm only with Duncan. I'm not with anyone else or trying to see anyone else."
"Damn it, Maya, we need to get control of this. Have you noticed anything there? Has your stalker started sending you stuff there yet? I'll get rid of Carl and his flowers."
"No. I haven’t gotten anything like the last time I was here."
"Seriously?" Duncan hisses, he's looking at me carefully and watching the emotions cross my face. Why would Carl do this? I didn't tell him I wasn't going to be home.
"By the way, the doorman told him you were out of town, too. You need to talk to that dumbass," Derek says, distracting me from my thoughts.
"Motherfucker, I'll call the condo association as soon as I can. Take the flowers to the hospital and donate them. How are you doing?"
"I'm good. Hate the holidays. Thanks for all the distractions, but enough is enough."
"No problem, that's what partners are for. Call me if you need to talk." I hang up the phone and step into the elevator with Duncan. He looks pissed.
"Maya, who's sending you flowers now? And why would your partner need to talk to you? Is that not what his father is for?"
"First, don't get jealous, I told you I ran into Carl and told him I was seeing someone.
He still sent me a dozen roses to my condo.
Second, my partner doesn't do this holiday very well.
It brings him bad memories. He and his father don't discuss this time of year.
He's also condo sitting for me to keep away from the celebrating. "
"Bugger me, why does every man feel he needs to take what's mine?"
"Excuse me? Yours?" I ask as I raise an eyebrow at him.
"Maya, you're mine. Like you, I don't share. I'm getting tired of these blokes coming out of the woodwork. Come on." He still looks upset.
Well, I'm going to show him he doesn't have to worry about any other guy.