Deceptive People

by Kristen Echo

  The office was only a few feet from my room, however, the journey across the concrete took ages off my life. I pushed the glass door open and entered the well-lit lobby. A man stood several feet away behind a counter talking on the phone. I screamed for him to call the police. He registered my frantic state, said something into the receiver and hung up. Then his expression turned from inquisitive to horrified by the time I reached the counter. His big eyes locked onto something over my shoulder, we had company. The shot blast forced my feet to jump a few feet into the air, at the same time I watched the clerks’ forehead open wide with a bullet hole. His body slumped to the ground as my terrified screams filled the room.

  I hurdled over the counter-top and landed half on top of the clerk's dead body. Scrambling to my hands and knees, I tried to spot any mode of escape. A door to my left was the only option, and I crawled as fast as I could towards it. Reaching my hand up for the handle, I stopped screaming not wanting to give away my location. With a loud creak the door opened, and I tumbled in, quickly closing it behind me. The door had no locking mechanism, but I sat with my weight against it, preventing anyone from opening it. The back office had a computer and several monitors. I couldn't see an exit, but I could see the security camera footage displayed on the screens. Cameras were positioned at various locations throughout the hotel. They streamed live video from outside the main door, one on the lobby, and several others which didn't help me. I watched the detective approach the front counter with a gun in her hand and a less than pleased expression on her face. The phone on the desk provided no assistance as it was too far to reach. If I left my position, I would be too vulnerable. I could do nothing but stare at the monitor in horror and wait for her to reach me. She stepped out of view, causing my pulse to skyrocket.

  The handle rattled as she tested it, unable to open the door. She pressed against it, but the door didn't budge with my added resistance. “You know I can shoot you through the door, right? You may as well open up.”

  I hadn't thought of that. Panic set in when I realized I was trapped with no exit and no ideas. I took a calming breath, not wanting to let my fear take over my senses and pass out again. “If you shoot me, you'll never know where I hid the information.” It was the ace up my sleeve. I knew something she wanted.

  “That's the only reason you're still alive. Talk and I'll make it a painless death. Come on, June. Be reasonable.” She tried the handle again and put more weight behind her push, causing the door to open a crack, before I fought back and succeeded in closing it.

  “I will tell you if you let me go. Let me disappear.” Never in a million years would I let them get away with everything they had done, but I had to survive in order to make them pay for their crimes. On one of the monitors, I noticed a car drive by outside, and I hoped the person didn't need to come here. I prayed another innocent life wouldn't be taken. Tears poured out for the clerk who would never again open his eyes. Wiping the moisture from mine, I braced myself for her next attempt. “I promise I won't say a word. Please don’t kill me,” I pleaded.

  “You know too much, I can't let you get away, but I promise to make it end quickly. Tell me where the information is,” she demanded.

  “I don't believe you. Once I tell you, you will torture me for pissing you off. You're a nasty, vengeful woman, and I don’t trust you.” My heart was beating so fast, I thought it might beat right out of my chest. She rammed her body into the door, however, I managed to keep her out. She tried repeatedly, but I held my ground. Casey Donovan was bigger and stronger, I knew she would wear me out sooner or later, although I wasn't going down without a fight.

  Someone approached the entrance, and my airway tightened in fear. It got worse when I realized it was Brian on the small screen. I recognized that large frame anywhere. He moved fast, but I caught the panicked look that marred his handsome face.

  “June, you Bitch. Open the fucking door, before I shoot you,” she bellowed. The pressure on the door loosened. Holding my position on the worn carpet, I couldn't do anything but watch the monitor, and pray he would save me once again. Brian yelled something I was unable to decipher and drew his pistol. A shot rang out in the silent lobby the instant he disappeared from view. A body thumped to the floor, followed by a deafening silence. The only sound was my labored breathing, and I forced myself to concentrate on each breath. Please let him be okay, I repeated over in my head like a mantra. This nightmare had to be over soon, but at that moment only Brian’s safety mattered to me. If his body was crumpled on the floor, wearing a bullet meant for me, I wasn't sure how I could live with myself. I pulled my knees to my chest, buried my face in my hands, and sobbed quietly. A mix of dread, anxiety, and desperation forced me to lose track of time. Five lifetimes passed as I rocked back and forth in a ball.

  “June.” The most alluring sound of Brian's deep rasp triggered my heart to skip a beat. “Are you back there? I'm going to open the door; you're safe,” he said. The distinct wails of police sirens rang in the distance. Brian pushed against the door, and I offered no resistance as he moved me right along with it. I peered up to see his green eyes fill with relief. My waterworks became unstoppable. “Thank God.” Brian sank to his knees and wrapped me in his arms. His familiar scent wafted over me, and I felt safe.

  I clung to him, unable to loosen my grip on his sweater. “Is it over?” I asked, my voice weak and hoarse.

  “Yes, June. Casey's dead, it's over.” He patted the top of my head, buried his nose in my hair, and breathed me in; just as I did to him. We had survived. “We found the information in your car, and my tech buddy worked his magic. They have everything they need to put a lot of people away for a long time. But are you alright? Tell me she didn't hurt you?” He pulled away and looked me over, trying to find injuries but coming up empty. “I rushed back to you as soon as I saw her name on some of the accounts. I am so sorry, Sweetness.”

  Brian was shaking, and I couldn’t tell if it was from adrenaline or from fear of losing me. I took some comfort in the latter, yet several minutes passed, before I processed everything he told me. “Say it again,” I asked, needing to hear him say the danger was behind us.

  “Say what, Sweetness? You're safe. We've caught the bad guys, and no one can hurt you. What do you need to hear, June?” The way my name rolled off his husky voice always made me feel loved and cherished. Brian held me tight. I didn't answer, I simply melted into the safety of his strong arms. “We have to get up. Backup has arrived.”

  I opened my swollen and sore eyes, to see the monitors displaying several cruisers parked out front with their sirens blaring and their lights flashing. Brian helped me stand, then swept me into his arms, my feet dangled off the floor, consequently I wrapped my legs around his waist. He kissed me hard and fast. We were breathless when he pulled away. “I'm happy you're alive. When this debriefing is over, I'm taking you to my place and we're going to have that talk.”

  I nodded, and he put me back down on my bare feet. “Okay,” I said, because he deserved my time after saving my life twice. An instant later we were surrounded by police officers.

  It took several hours, and Brian never left my side as I gave my statement repeatedly to different officials. He held my hand throughout the entire ordeal, and I appreciated it. They dismissed us with the knowledge that I would have to testify down the road. But for now, the corrupt cops had been identified, and all the bad guys were behind bars.

  Brian helped me into his pickup truck and drove us to his house. Discarded coffee containers and garbage cluttered the space. Unlike the SUV, there was no mistaking this truck belonged to him. Visions of cleaning up after his messes flooded my mind. Brian was great at many things, but he sucked at cleaning. The ride was a quiet one, with neither of us saying a peep. We let the radio fill the void. Chart topping songs distracted me from my inner turmoil. I dreaded the conversation ahead, but even amongst the filth and memories, I was happy to be with him.

  Chapter Ten

  WE ARRIVE
D AT Brian's house, and I hesitated with my hand on the handle. Suddenly unsure about what I was doing, I couldn't open the door. I wanted to be with Brian, but I was scared. Sensing my hesitation, he helped me out of his truck and into his house. It took all my courage to walk through his front door and the moment after, I wished I hadn't.

  “This doesn't feel right, I should leave,” I said the words, but my body remained still. His space appeared tidy and uncluttered, which was unexpected. Maybe Brian had changed in more ways than one. He looked at me with hurt in his eyes, and I hated that I caused him anguish. We shouldn't have reconnected. It only made leaving harder on us both.

  “Don't leave me again. Please, June.” The pleading quality to his voice I had never heard before, and it was breaking me apart. “I never got over you, don't think I ever could. Us, being together tonight, made me realize how perfect we are for one another.” He reached out and took my hand. The warmth of his touch wounded me as much as it soothed.

  Goodbyes were hard, and he was making this impossible. We weren't meant to be together, and we both knew it. “I've never stopped loving you either. But love wasn't enough then, and it changes nothing now.”

  He squeezed my hand almost painfully. “I thought love conquered all.” He gave me a lopsided grin. “I can't even remember why we're not together anymore, can you?”

  Of course, I could. I knew exactly why we separated, and why this whole mess had been a mistake. “We were at an impasse. I wanted kids, and you didn't. There was no compromise for either of us. There is no future for us Brian.” I sighed, dreading the conversation ahead of us. Standing in the foyer of his bungalow staring at each other wasn't getting us anywhere. “What happened tonight, between us, was amazing. You are an incredible man. You're right, being with you, reminded me how wonderful we are together, but nothing has changed. I love kids, and I want to be a mom.”

  “Then let's do it. Have my babies,” Brian said with all sincerity.

  I was taken aback. “What? You don't mean that.” I couldn't reconcile those words coming from Brian. The man I knew, was adamant about not wanting a family. He spoke incessantly about the world being an overpopulated, horrible place, filled with horrible people who do horrible things. That being a cop made him wiser and opened his eyes. He didn't want to bring new lives into the messy world we lived in.

  “Yes, I meant every word. Be with me forever. Be my family.” His voice was huskier than normal, drawing me in, making me want to believe him.

  Tears streamed down my cheeks. “What changed? Why now?”

  He kissed my tears, hugging me close to him, and I went willingly into his embrace. “I lost you once, I can't do it again. June, I swear I’m not trying to make excuses, but I was young and stupid, thought I had the world figured out. Boy, was I wrong. Back then, the idea of having a baby scared the crap out of me, but losing you again scares me more. I've had over three years to think about this, and I would love to see little mini versions of you; running all over our house, getting into everything and asking a million questions. I want that, I want you,” he whispered into my ear.

  My fingers tangled in his short hair as I hugged him hard. “I. I'm overwhelmed. You've changed, but you're still the same in so many ways.” Staring into the vast lawn of his iris's, I saw only truth. He meant these things, he wasn't just blowing smoke. I wanted to jump up and down with joy. Tackle him to the ground and shower him with kisses, but he had burned me before. I still sported the scars. “How do I know you won't change your mind?” I asked tentatively.

  He placed a chaste kiss on my cheek and took off down the hall. I stood there for a minute and Brian returned with a box of condoms. He took my hand and walked us into his kitchen where he tossed them in the trash. “That's probably more symbolic than anything, I've had those since we were together.” His lip lifted on one side, a sly sexy smile making its presence known, causing butterflies to dance in my stomach. “I want you to know there has been no one since you. Every woman has paled by comparison since the day we met. I'm serious about starting a family with you. And we can start trying whenever you want.” Brian took a large gulp of air. “I am ready. Tonight taught me we’re not invincible. I don’t want to waste any more time being selfish and lonely. Let’s be together, I want to make you happy for the rest of our lives. I need you in my life.”

  My heart was bursting with happiness, and I rubbed it absently. “Oh, Brian. I went through the motions these past few years, but I wasn't living. You are the only man I envisioned a future with, and I haven't been with anyone else either.” I teared up. “When I thought she shot you, I couldn’t breathe. I’m dense, and it took bullets to make me realize I don’t want to live without you.” I tried to get over him, but deep down there was no man I craved more, loved more than Brain Rigshaw.

  He sank to his knees and took my hands in his. “Be my wife. Be the mother of my children. I love you.” His eyes glistened with moisture. “Will you, June Temple, marry me?”

  I sobbed. Tears of joy streamed out like a waterfall soaking the top of my blouse. “Yes,” I whispered through quivering lips.

  “Say it again,” Brian asked.

  “I love you more than I can express. Yes, I will marry you.” This time, I said it with more conviction.

  He stood up, pulled me against his hard body and kissed me. It was a kiss that spoke volumes about our love, and about this new chance at life, we had found. I unbuttoned my blouse and let it fall to the floor. I pressed my chest against Brian wanting to deepen our connection. The friction made my nipples hard. He pulled his sweater up and over his head, severing our kiss. Breathless, I took a moment to admire his torso, kissing every exposed inch I could.

  “I want a house full of children. Are you ready for that?” All these years we had been hurting each other. Our futures weren't painted the same, but now they were.

  “That means lots of sex. Bring it on.” He lifted me into his arms, carried me into his bedroom, and over to the king sized bed.

  An instant later, we were naked and kissing like mad. Lying beside each other, every inch of our bodies touching and grinding in a slow unhurried manner. He pulled me on top of him and I looked down into the smiling green fields of his eyes. I undulated my hips causing Brian to moan. I gripped his shaft and directed it at my entrance. His thick length slipped through my wet crevasse, coating him in my eagerness. He fondled my breasts, squeezing and tugging just how I liked it. Once his cock was saturated, I angled it just right and slammed down hard. Both of us mewled in contentment at finally being joined. I took every inch he had. Filled so perfectly, so completely, there was no room for doubt.

  He was the love of my life, my future husband, and the father of my future children. I gripped his broad shoulders and lifted my pelvis slowly, then rammed his cock into me again and again. This position allowed him to penetrate deeper and hit my g-spot which caused howls of pleasure to fly from my mouth. Brian raised his hips and thrust upwards, meeting my pace and groaning in delight right along with me. We were far from quiet. Our lovemaking was at breakneck speed, both of us eager to feel the release only the other could provide. Brian sucked my nipple into the heat of his mouth, and I almost shot off to the moon, it felt so good. His tongue alternated between both hardened tips until I thrashed like a wild beast. I was on top of the man I loved, riding him into a future we both wanted. He moved one hand down our sweat soaked bodies and rubbed the little bundle of nerves until I lost myself completely.

  My climax was intense, my entire body squeezed him tight. My knees pressed against his ribs, my nails dug into his flesh, and my inner muscles clenched around his cock like a vise. Cries of ecstasy reached way beyond the four walls of his bedroom. I screamed Brian's name until my voice was hoarse. My orgasm continued to roll through me as Brian thrust into me a few more times hard and deep. He stilled, the heat of his seed spurting into me, warmed me from the inside out. I captured his lips muffling my name. He pumped his hips until he filled me with his release.


  How had I lived all these years deprived of this man? Never again, would I have to imagine that life. “I love you,” I panted, resting my head against his glistening chest.

  “Give me a couple minutes and we are so doing that again.” Kissing the top of my head he chuckled to himself.

  This had been the craziest, the scariest, and the happiest day of my life. I would have a lot to deal with in the coming weeks, but with Brian by my side, I could handle anything. We were back together, stronger than ever, and building the life I had always dreamed for us.

  About the Author

  Born and raised in the Prairies, Kristen Echo has always been a voracious reader. She loves all genres of romance and has a hard time putting down a good mystery. Her love of writing started as soon as she was able to put pen to paper. She lives and writes in the extreme weather of Manitoba, Canada. When she’s not busy writing, you will find her spending time with her husband and two beautiful little girls.

  Acknowledgements

  Thank you to my family for their ongoing support and a huge thanks to you the reader. There is an endless supply of books to choose from, and I thank you for reading mine. Writing is my passion and I hope you enjoyed this short story. I would love to hear your thoughts, so please take a minute and write a review. Good, bad or ugly, I enjoy getting feedback about my writing and am always looking for ways to improve.