The Confession

by Marquita Valentine

  “What I said earlier, when we got here, about not wanting you to touch me?”

  I nod, afraid to break this spell we’re both under.

  “I lied.” Slowly, her robe begins to open, and then slides down her shoulders.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  THE CONFESSION

  “Are you sure?” I ask.

  She nods, her hands going to the hem of my t-shirt and lifting it up. “I’m positive.”

  Releasing her, I raise my arms and allow her to undress me.

  Soon, her lips replace her hands. Soft kisses rain down on my skin, reminding me of our first date. I’m at her mercy right now, even while my body is screaming at me to dominate.

  Forcing myself to allow her to take the lead isn’t easy. It’s pure torture. But I can’t allow this to happen. I just can’t. “Even though I’ve killed people?” The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them, but they have to be said.

  “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  She tilts her head, her hair sliding over one bare shoulder. “Does it matter?”

  It shouldn’t, but it does. I should keep my mouth shut and give in to her. “Yes, it matters.”

  “What if I don’t want to explain why?” she asks, the look on her face growing uncertain. Perhaps now she’ll reconsider her plan of seducing me. “Maybe I can’t explain why. Maybe I just know what I want.”

  Her fingers trail down my chest, lower still to my abs and they contract in response. Looking down at her, I stare at the white strips on her wrists as she unbuttons my pants and shoves them down, The white strips are reminders of her time away from me. Reminders of what Viktor had done to her. She could have died.

  “Then don’t, love,” I murmur while taking off my boxer briefs. “I’ll give you want you want.”

  Scooping her up in my arms, I kneel on the floor and lay her on the white rug in front of the fireplace. Flickering light plays over her golden body as I sit back on my legs, simply admiring her.

  Her nipples harden under my watchful gaze. Unable to resist the temptation, I lean over her, taking one into my mouth and sucking. Biting. Kissing. Licking. I give the same attention to the other one, until she is moving restlessly beneath me.

  I blaze a wet path down her body, pausing at the soft swell of her stomach to kiss her there. The tops of her thighs, her plump hips. The dimples in her knees. All the way down to her ankles.

  Taking a foot in my hands, I rub the instep and she rewards me with a sweet moan. I slip my hands up the backs of her legs, kneading the muscles as I travel higher and higher.

  By the time, I’m between her sweet thighs, her legs are parted and her voice is breathless when she asks, “See anything you like?”

  I peer up at her, through my lashes. “Everything.” Lowering my head, I part her soft curls to reveal her wet, hot flesh. “Try not to bring the house down with your screams, yeah?”

  Her hands fist my hair when my tongue grazes her swollen clit. She tastes divine. With slow, leisurely licks, I drive us both mad.

  “Are you on birth control?” I ask, lifting my mouth slightly. I lick my lips, savoring each drop of her that still clings.

  She nods and licks her own lips. “I get a shot every three months.”

  “I want to—”

  Pushing me back, Everly straddles my lap, wet curls brushing my hard cock. “Do it.” She runs her hands down my back and kisses my neck. The hard points of her nipples scrape my chest. “Make me yours.”

  “You already were mine.” Cupping her hips in my hands, I position my cock at her entrance and her head falls back, eyes closing in pure pleasure. “You’ll always be mine.”

  “Now, Roman.”

  “Look at me.” Her eyes fly open. “Know who’s possessing you,” I say as I begin to ease inside. “Who owns you and will raze an entire civilization to keep you safe.”

  She gasps, her thighs widening. I rock into her, taking my time and keeping her on edge, not allowing her to sink down on me.

  “Know that I would lie, steal, and cheat for you.”

  “You don’t have to,” she says. Her fingers dig into my biceps, a welcome, stinging pain.

  Not until I’m fully seated to the hilt, do I speak again. It’s nearly impossible to do so. There is nothing between us. Only her hot, wet inner walls. Our bodies are perfectly aligned with one another.

  “But I would, love. I would use everything at my disposal.” My heart slams against my chest as she leans up to kiss me.

  I kiss her back, mindful of her injuries. Her tongue traces the seam of my mouth and I open slightly, but that’s all she needs. Boldly, her tongue touches mine, stroking and caressing.

  Rolling my hips, I thrust into her, hard enough to make her breasts bounce. I palm her ass and guide her movements, slow and then fast. Hard then soft. Our bodies become slick. She’s as hungry for me, as I am for her.

  We can’t stop kissing, can’t stop touching and stroking. “Please,” she whispers in my ear. “I need you.”

  Reaching between us, I find her swollen clit and tease it. She whimpers, her thighs tightening. There is something very humbling yet powerful to hold a woman like this. To touch and stroke her, to make her come undone...

  Everly’s mouth parts on a cry. “Roman.”

  Out of nowhere my orgasm slams into me, shooting down my spine and I thrust deep. “Ya loobhloo tyeh byah fsyei dooshoi.” I love you with all my soul. I do. I love her more than anyone else I’ve ever known.

  Carefully slipping out of Everly, I lay her on the rug and join her. She runs a hand over my hip and I can’t help but pull her against me, her back to my chest.

  Kissing her again, I murmur, “Ya nyee mahgoo zhit byehs tyehbyah.” I can’t live without you.

  “What did all of that mean?” she asks, her voice sleepy. Adorable.

  “That you look beautiful when you orgasm.” That much is true. She is exquisite at that moment.

  “Oh.” Her sleepy voice turns slightly bashful. “Thank you?”

  I laugh, for the first time in days. “You’re welcome.”

  *** *** ***

  We are awoken by the sound of a vase crashing to the ground. At first, I lie there with Everly in my arms, enjoying the feel of her in my bed. Earthquakes, while rare, are known to happen here, but they are usually mild.

  The entire house shakes, windows rattling. I hear shouting, and the sound of something crumbling, almost in on itself. I sit upright in bed. “Not an earthquake.”

  Everly stretches while I dress. I don’t want to alarm her, but I’m pretty sure the house has just been invaded. Cursing the fact that I have absolutely no security monitors in this room, I grab the outfit that Gustav had brought up for her the day before.

  “Get up and put these on,” I say sharply, tossing the clothes on the bed.

  “What’s wrong?” she asks, dressing in dark jeans and a light blue sweater. She pulls her hair into a ponytail and then slips on her old shoes.

  I check the door, and then inch towards the window, grabbing my gun along the way. “I’m not sure. If you need to use the bathroom, now is the time to do it.”

  Eyes widening, Everly bolts for the bathroom. She’s out in no time. “What do I need to do?”

  “Check the drawer by the bed. There should be a gun and an extra clip fully loaded.”

  “Got it,” she says, just as the door bursts open.

  A smoke bomb is thrown inside. I dive for Everly, covering her mouth with my hand as we fall to the floor. “Try not to breathe too deeply and follow me,” I whisper into her ear.

  The one thing I did see fit to put in this room was an exit. Everly and I crawl to the closet. Pulling her up, I hit the button hidden on the side of a display cabinet for shoes. The wall swings open, and I send her through first. But before I can join her, someone grabs me. I clamp my hand on their wrist and flip them over, only to find a familiar face staring up at me.

  “Gustav?” He had set off the bombs?


  He takes aim at me. “A parting gift from—”

  I shoot him twice before he can get one bullet off. “You stupid man. You were sent to your death.”

  “Roman,” Everly whisper-shouts.

  Stepping into the dark passageway, I hit the interior button and the wall closes. I lean over, grabbing the bag I had packed in case of an emergency like this and pull out a flashlight, clicking on the light.

  “This leads to the cottage on the far side of the estate,” I explain as we walk in nearly complete darkness. Only the flashlight highlights our path. “It connects to an underground tunnel.”

  “What about when we get there?”

  The house rocks again, sending us stumbling to one side. Dust and plaster fall on top of us. I look at Everly.

  “Run.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  THE CONFESSION

  Grabbing Everly’s hand, I take off. The house begins to crumble behind us, like in an old Indiana Jones movie I’d watched as a child. However, Indiana, as the hero of the movie, was guaranteed an exit.

  Unfortunately, this isn’t a movie set, and I would never be cast as the hero.

  “Faster, love.”

  Our feet pound against the ancient wood. Gun shots rings out, putting holes in the walls and allowing sunlight to shine through.

  “They’re inside the wall,” a man shouts.

  Fuck me. I shove Everly to the floor, covering her body as bullets begin to rain down on us.

  Everly starts to cry. “I don’t want to die.”

  “It’s okay. We’ll be okay. I promise.” When the bullets stop, I jump to my feet and peer through the holes, then take aim. One. Two. Three clean shots to the throat. Each man goes down like a heavy sack of potatoes, clutching at his neck.

  “Up on your feet,” I say, helping her to stand. I break out into a jog, noting with pride that, despite her tears, she’s keeping up and holding it together.

  “Only a little bit further,” I say, trying to give her encouragement.

  The wooden floors give way to hard-packed dirt. Roots dangle from above. Exhaling, I slow down and glance at her, putting one finger over my lips. I have no idea if they’ve discovered this place. No one knew about my escape route, not even Gustav—the traitor.

  Carefully, I climb the wooden stairs leading into the kitchen and push up a little, before assessing the area. It’s empty, the thick layer of dust indicating that no one has been in here for years.

  I shove the entire hatch open and motion for Everly to join me. Wrapping my arms around her, I guide her to a rocking chair to sit, and place the bag in her lap. “Hold this, please.”

  She looks up at me gratefully. “We made it.”

  “Mostly.” I don’t want to get her hopes up. “We still have to get to the outbuilding and into my Range Rover.” Parting the curtains, I check our surroundings. Nothing. Not a car or man in sight. “Do you need longer or can we go now?” I ask, trying to be considerate.

  Shooting to her feet, she swings the bag over her shoulder. “Now.”

  “You would make a fine assassin.” Or she would once she learned how to defend herself properly.

  Her brows crease together. “Except, I don’t know how to use a handgun, and I’ve never killed someone.”

  My smile falls. I clear my throat and run a hand through my hair. “The gun knowledge, I can supply.”

  “And the other?”

  “I pray to God you never kill anyone.” I grab her hand once more and head outside.

  We make it to the outbuilding and into my SUV, without incident. I start the engine and begin to drive in the opposite direction of the mansion.

  “Oh my God,” Everly gasps, looking back.

  I glance into my rearview mirror, watching in pure disbelief as the house we just left goes up in flames.

  “If Agent—Viktor is dead,” Everly begins, “then who would do that to you—us?”

  “I don’t know, but I am going to find out.” The only person who knew we were here is Benjamin. And isn’t it rather convenient he always shows up at just the right time, in just the right place.

  “What do you remember about the day I was shot?”

  Everly lets out a mirthless laugh. “Which time?”

  “Second.”

  “After you were shot, all these men showed up. They were dressed in black, from head to toe. Viktor was more concerned about me, I think than you, because he was the one to get me out of there.”

  “He didn’t stay behind?”

  “He told one of the men to get rid of the body.” She runs her hands over her face. “I’m sorry, but I don’t... I don’t remember much after that.”

  “Don’t apologize. You’ve helped me more than you know.”

  With a grim smile, I hold up my phone and text Benjamin. It’s time the hacker confessed all.

  “I asked Ben to meet us in Barcelona, at the Hotel Majestic.”

  Everly glances at me. “We can drive there?”

  “We’ll take the train.”

  “But I don’t have my passport. I have no idea where any of my things are.”

  I train my gaze on the road. “That won’t be an issue.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  THE CONFESSION

  En route to the train station, I make a stop at Foust’s Watch Repair to get I.D.’s for Everly. In less than an hour, we have the required documents for her to travel through Europe and abroad.

  She glances at the fake passport. “Everly Smith?”

  “It’s easier for us to travel as honeymooners. We’ll attract less attention that way.”

  With a sigh, she closes the passport and tucks it into the side pocket of the purse she’d bought while we waited for Foust to finish. There is another travelling bag as well, filled with resort wear. I don’t think Everly cared what I bought for her.

  At this point, I think Everly is barely aware of what she’s doing, just following my instructions in order to stay alive, but I have no time to stop and really check on her.

  There will be plenty of time to rest on the train. It’s a fifteen-hour trip, and I’ve already purchased first class tickets. We will be able to shower, eat, and sleep along the way.

  Pulling into the parking deck, I find a spot and cut the engine. Everly just sits there, even as I grab our things and open the door.

  “Everly,” I say, touching her leg.

  She jumps. “Oh. We’re here.”

  Grabbing her purse, she gets out of the SUV. I finish gathering our things, keeping her in sight from the corner of my eye. This is not good. Although, the worst hasn’t happened, in that we haven’t been reported to Interpol as being terrorist on the loose, the mindless way she’s acting right now is a dead giveaway that something is wrong.

  Or, she could be suffering from jetlag.

  I seize upon that thought. Grabbing her shoulders, I turn her to face me. “Listen to me. We met in Raleigh and fell in love. You flew to join me in Berlin yesterday, and we were married. Now we are travelling to Barcelona for our honeymoon.”

  She blinks slowly. “Am I supposed to tell someone that?”

  I kiss the top of her head, then grab our bags and her hand. “Anyone who asks.”

  ***

  Everly showers in the connecting suite, while I unpack and check my weapons. It’s easy enough to get through security when you know the right people. But the story I had concocted for us, is for those who can’t be paid to look the other way.

  Sitting down on the edge of the bed in the sleeper car, I drop my head into my hands. I’ve never been this weary before... then again, I’ve never been on the run before, and certainly not with another person.

  The door swooshes open and I look up as Everly steps inside, holding a tray. “I ordered meal service for us. I hope that’s okay.”

  I motion to the identical bag beside me. “I did the same.”

  A little smile curves her lips, lighting up her face. “Guess we should have coordinated better, huh?” She sets
the tray down on the opposite bunk.

  Reaching out, I grab her arm and pull her between my legs. “Thank you for being so thoughtful.” Releasing my grip, I shift my hands to her hips and lean against her. “God, you feel good.”

  Her fingers sift through my hair, soothing me. “Have you slept much in the past few days?”

  No. “Enough.”

  “Roman, you need to sleep,” she says sternly.

  “Sleep is for the dead.” Which we will be if I don’t stay alert.

  She steps out of my embrace. “Then call me a corpse, because I’m exhausted.”

  I eye her, taking in the fatigue that clings to her like a shroud. “Are you feeling well, love?”

  “I just escaped imminent death.” Her smile widens slightly, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Of course I feel well.” Turning away, she grabs the tray, sets it on the table under our window, and begins to pull off the lids over the plates.

  I do the same with mine, and after a few minutes, we are eating in silence. “Everly—”

  “Please don’t,” she says, wiping her mouth. “I’m clean, I’m full, and there’s a bed calling my name. And I’m fairly certain we’re safe aboard public transportation. Please don’t take that away from me.”

  Standing, I cross the small space to gather my things. “I’ll be in the shower.”

  “Have fun.”

  I exhale, thinking of her forced cheerfulness and the cramped space I’ll have to wash in. “Thanks,” I mutter.

  By the time I return to our sleeping cabin, Everly is fast asleep. The bedcovers are pooled around her waist and her mahogany-colored hair is spread across the pillow. She’s wearing nothing but a small tank top that barely conceals her round breasts.

  Desire surges inside of me, but I ignore my needs to cross the room and pull down the blackout shade. I have two choices at this moment. One, sleep in the bunk across from her. Two, sleep under her in the same bunk.

  Everly’s eyes open. “Why are you standing there?”

  I turn off the remaining lights and take off my clothes. “I’m trying to decide where to sleep.”