His face changed then. The soft and compassionate expression was removed and replaced with a look of all business. She couldn’t forget that he, too, had been through a lot.
“Take care of that, Nick. That’s more important. I’ll make us something to eat.”
She pulled out of the hug and went to move past him, but his hands quickly grabbed the side of her face, and he brought his lips down to hers. His kiss was still soft and gentle like before, but this time he slid his tongue inside her mouth, stroking and exploring her as though it was the first time their tongues had touched.
The kiss either lasted too long or not long enough. She was filled with mixed emotions of wanting to continue but knew if they did they may not be able to stop. The look in his eyes told her he was thinking the same thing.
“I’ll be in the bedroom. Call me if you need me.” His husky voice sounded so soothing to her.
“I’ll be fine.”
He released her from his possessive hold, and she walked toward the kitchen.
“AJ?”
She turned and saw him standing in the same spot. His eyes were piercing and seemed to leave her frozen, completely unable to move.
“Yes.”
“It’s you and I now. I need you to understand that. I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
He didn’t wait for her response as he turned and walked down the hall to the bedroom. He wasn’t asking her, he was telling her. Somehow he had just claimed her, and even if she wanted to argue, there would be no point. She knew he was right. There was no denying that she would be with Nick wherever it took her and whatever that meant.
Chapter 22
Rex hung up the phone and turned to Adam. “It’s been arranged. There’s an old airfield at the northeast corner of the island. He’ll have to find an old map. It was called Coronado del Norte Aeropuerto.”
Adam nodded. “I’ll get him the information. When are they being picked up?”
Rex looked at his watch. “About eight hours from now.”
Jack interjected. “And you’re sure we can trust this guy?”
“Positive. He’s being paid a ton of cash to ensure he doesn’t talk to anyone. Besides, he’s a small old guy with kids and grandkids. He’s not going to do anything to piss me off.”
“And passports? There won’t be a problem when they land in the states?” Jack persisted.
Rex gave him an annoyed glare. “It’s handled. The pilot is doing a ‘routine’ charter to Honolulu.”
“What?” Adam asked.
“For fuck’s sake. Do you guys think I’m stupid? I paid a lot of money out to get Nick and whoever this girl is back to the States without being detected. A failing charter group in Honolulu is on their last leg. My generous donation to their records-keeping department ensures they will stay afloat for at least another year. It’s all covered. A few people paid off, a few documents forged, and Nick will be home and we can sort out whatever the hell is going on.”
“Don’t get pissy, man. This is our friend’s life we’re talking about here,” Jack reminded him.
“You think I don’t fucking know that, Peyton?” Rex shouted at him.
Adam stood up and held his hands up. He was the hothead of the group, not these two. This whole situation had everyone’s nerves barely hanging on.
“Look, everyone calm down. I know we’re all worried about Nick, and while none of us are saying it, the ladies are clearly a big concern.”
“Tam is worried about JJ.” Jack sat down on one of the two chairs in the small, rundown hotel room. “Truth is, so am I.”
Rex sat in the other chair. “I’m sorry, man. You called Cullen and Andrew though, right? And the Bristow’s took him away, right?”
“Yeah, but to play it safe we don’t know where. It’s killing her she doesn’t know where her son is.”
Adam sympathized with the man. He was worried about Chelsea, too, but having to worry about your child was more than even he could imagine. He glanced at his watch. He didn’t want to worry them more, but the girls had left a couple of hours ago, and they should have been back by now.
“Rex, how far away was that bank the girls had to go to?”
“Forty five minutes at the most. I know…I’m thinking it, too.”
Jack ran his hands through his hair. “And you’re sure no one knows about this account? Shelby withdrawing the money won’t send up any red flags?”
“Positive, man. I had it set up right before we were married. It’s in her maiden name. No activity on it since the day it was opened. Can’t be traced back to me, so they won’t be looking for it. It’s safe.”
“All right, I’m gonna send this e-mail to Nick and let him know what he needs to do. I’m sure by the time I’m done the girls will be back with the money and a car.” Adam tried to reassure them both, despite his own nerves. The only thing that would reassure him was to see Chelsea walk through that door.
He went back to the laptop and typed instructions out to Nick. He already had the disposable cell phone number where he could be reached. The three of them had given the girls specific instructions to first buy a used vehicle, hopefully an SUV with tinted windows, from one of the smaller little lots who weren’t as concerned with paperwork and state regulations. They needed to buy as much time as they could, and the longer it took for a dealership to file paperwork on a vehicle purchase with the state, the better.
Then they were to buy at least a dozen disposable cell phones. Again they told them to try and get smartphones so they had the most capability. Then they were to hightail their asses back to the hotel. Even with all they gave the women to do, they should’ve been back by now. The used-car lots in this part of town were notorious for wanting to take people’s money and push them out the door as quickly as they’d arrived.
He went over a few more details with Rex to make sure he had everything right for Nick. Time was of the essence, and they didn’t have time to dick around. They would only have one shot at getting Nick and whoever this mystery woman was stateside, so they had to get it right.
A knock came at the door right as he hit send. Relief washed over him when he heard Shelby call from the other side of the door, asking to be let in because their hands were full.
Jack opened the door to find all three of the women holding bags of food. They came in, and the aroma of cheeseburgers and french fries filled the room. They’d barely eaten anything in the past day, so diner food sounded like a delicacy.
“Where have you guys been? We’ve been worried.” Rex took a bag from Shelby and kissed her.
“We’re all starving, and we know you three won’t eat unless we force it on you, so consider yourself forced,” Tamara answered.
Adam kissed Chelsea’s forehead and whispered, “Don’t worry me like that again.” Her adoring smile and nod always kicked him in the gut, and it was no different this time.
“Okay, now let’s eat. You don’t want to look at the—well I guess we’ll call it a ‘vehicle’—on an empty stomach.”
“Why? What did you guys get? Were you able to get an SUV with tinted windows?” Jack asked.
All three of the women burst out laughing, none of them able to contain their laughter.
“What?” Adam asked Chelsea. “What’s so funny?”
“Holy shit!” Rex peeked out the curtain. “Please tell me that monstrosity is not what you bought.”
The women, still laughing, shrugged in answer.
Adam and Jack joined Rex at the window.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Jack said.
In front of their hotel room was a purple and black two-toned Cadillac Escalade. The windows were tinted and it had a custom grill on the front which sported a scorpion. Its suspension was dropped making it a contender for world’s cheesiest looking low rider.
Adam turned to Chelsea. “That’s the best you could do?”
She smiled. “You wanted an SUV. Check. You wanted tinted windows. Check.” She
made ticking motions in the air. “So it was either that or the family trickster-like mobile with wood-looking side panels.”
Rex put a hand on each of his and Jack’s shoulders. “Well, looks like the pimp mobile will have to suffice then.”
“Fine,” Jack said, “but we’re taking down those dice hanging from the rearview mirror.”
Tamara laughed. “Fine. You should know they threw those in though since we paid cash. Now let’s eat, I’m hungry.”
Adam sat on the bed next to Chelsea as they all dug into their burgers and fries. In about twelve hours Nick would be back in the States, so they had to be ready. A meal. A nap. Then it was time to figure out how their world got so fucked up, so it could be unfucked right quick.
Chapter 23
Nick scooped the last few bites of goulash into his mouth before taking a healthy swig of water. He’d had the dish a few times in his life but never remembered it being so good. He was hungry though. Getting his strength back also meant getting his appetite back. Plus, he had to admit AJ was a pretty damn good cook. She’d only made him a couple meals, but he had a suspicion there probably wasn’t much she couldn’t do.
He wiped his mouth with a napkin and placed it on the table. She hadn’t said too much since he told her about Adam’s e-mail. If she was scared he understood that, but he wished she knew that he wouldn’t let anything happen to her.
She was picking at her food and had only eaten about half of what was on her plate, which was only half of what she served him. Knowing she had very little to eat and the wrinkle in her brows, he wasn’t able to allow her to quietly contemplate whatever was troubling her.
“What’s wrong?”
She looked up at him, startled, as if she forgot he was even sitting with her. “I’m just…thinking.”
“Yeah I see that. I also see you’re not eating. So what is it?”
She dropped her fork on her plate and dropped her head back, looking at the ceiling. Shaking her head, she answered, “What is this? What’s going on? You were nearly killed. You’re dead. I mean…at least that’s what everyone thinks. My dad is now really dead, and you’re telling me I have to get on a plane with you, avoid customs, and meet up with your friends.”
He knew it was a lot to take in, but there wasn’t anything she said that wasn’t true. He wasn’t sure what she was confused about.
“AJ, I don’t understand. I know you’ve been through hell the past several days, but I’m just giving it to you straight.”
“Are you, Nick?”
He looked at her confused. “Yeah, I am. What are you talking about?”
“You told me I’m going with you. You told me this is what we’re doing. It’s just decided.”
“Oh hell, is that what this is about?” No matter how much he cared about her, he didn’t have time for women sensitivity. This was not the time nor the occasion to get her feelings stuck out because she didn’t like the way he asked.
“Excuse me?”
Her glare toward him couldn’t be good, but shit. This was life or death. What did she expect? That they could just board an international flight? Hell, he was dead, and she was…well she wasn’t in any immediate danger, but he couldn’t take the chance. She was too damn important to him.
“This isn’t the time for this, AJ.” He grabbed his plate and got up to place it in the sink.
“I beg your pardon. This isn’t the time for this? Just what in the hell does that mean?”
He turned around to see her no longer sitting but standing up and facing him. She was angry, so angry that her brown eyes seemed to have flames licking at her eyelashes. The fire he saw must have radiated off of her because he could already feel his need for her grow as his dick hardened.
“Sweetheart, I’m going to have to ask that you don’t look at me like that.”
She gave him an exasperated look, grabbed her plate, and headed for the sink. Pushing him aside when she placed her uneaten dish on the counter, she turned on the water. Every movement she made was exaggerated in an obvious attempt to prove to him how utterly furious she was with him.
Depending on his mood he knew that other times he might be annoyed with her childish slamming around as she washed the dishes. Hell, he might even think it would be cute, but right now all he cared about was running his hands all over her body as his tongue explored every inch of her.
He stood with his back to the refrigerator. His arms crossed as she finished washing the dishes and set them on the drying rack in the alternate sink. He would have offered to help her if he wasn’t so fixated on watching every move she made.
Her hair, or most of it anyway, was up in a ponytail again. He wondered if that was her signature hairstyle. The loose strands that had fallen out of the elastic band holding it might have made most women look a mess, but on her it gave a look of tousled sexiness.
A small bead of sweat trickled down the back of her neck. Having already tasted the sweetness of her kiss, he wanted to kiss her skin and taste the saltiness of her sweat. He wanted to take in every bit of her until he’d uncovered all the hidden mysteries of AJ. Then he would start all over again and discover new and unchartered territory until he claimed her, making her his.
She dried her hands and turned to him. Her anger hadn’t diminished in the few minutes it took her to clean up the remnants of their meal. Her eyes reflected bonfires back at him.
“Nick…”
Oh to hell with this. He was only human. Closing the short distance between them he pressed his body up against hers, pushing her into the counter. His hands grabbed the sides of her face as his mouth crushed hers, stealing any words she was about to say.
This. Oh sweet Jesus. This was what he needed. Her mouth was so hot and tasted so good. He wondered how she tasted in other parts. Damn he wanted to find out.
Her tongue met with his, stroking and dancing in a rhythmic motion while the blood coursed through his veins. He felt like a teenager kissing in the backseat of his old Charger. With every second he was growing thick and more rigid. His hands left her face and moved on their own accord, trailing down her neck to her chest and finally her breasts. A hardened nipple poked at the fabric of her shirt while his thumb played it, rubbing it in circular motions.
The simple motion must have felt as good to her as it did him. She pulled away from his kiss and dropped her head back as she moaned. Her neck offered an invitation he couldn’t refuse. He closed his mouth on the side and used his tongue as a guide as he worked his way down. He prayed she wouldn’t stop him this time. If she did he would stop, but he would surely die if she did.
He slowed his wandering movement when his mouth felt the swell of her breast. He gave her a moment to give him a sign that this was okay. Her fingers running through his hair and holding the back of his head was all he needed to venture on.
He pulled both the scoop of her tank top and bra down in one fluid movement. Her round breasts pushed up as an almost tease to him. Her large areolas were the centerpiece to the feast that stared back at him, with her hardened nipples being the cherry on top. He stared at them for a moment while each of his thumbs rubbed over them.
The ache in his pants was becoming unbearable. He dropped his head and took one of her nipples in his mouth and sucked it in while teasing her with his tongue. She held the back of his head firmly against her. He could feel her body press against his and knew there was no way she didn’t feel his erection.
She wanted him as much as he wanted her. If she even thought about pushing him away this time, she would have one hell of a debate on her hands.
He moved his mouth over to her other nipple, his thumb and forefinger gently playing with the one he just left. Her occasional whimper was going to be his undoing. He wanted to be inside of her, thrusting inside her wet heat while she made those sounds from being filled by him.
His thoughts were wreaking havoc on his self-control. He hated leaving her nipple, which felt so good under his touch, but he had to know. His
hand made its way down her stomach and found her shorts. He made quick work of her snap and zipper and slid his hand below the band of her panties.
Oh fuck. He could feel a neatly shaven small amount of hair on the inside of his hand as the outside felt the dampness against her panties. Her skin felt so hot. Sliding his middle finger past her lips, he dipped it inside of her.
His mouth stopped its ministrations on her. “Jesus, sweetheart. You’re so wet.”
Any longing he thought he had for her was a drop in the bucket compared to what he felt in that moment. His cock hardened unbelievably so. It was heavy, thick and pounding with the need to drive inside her.
“Nick…”
Her one-word whisper sliced through him. She sounded like a virgin who was needy for the first time in her life. Slowly pulling his finger out, he brought it up an inch and slid it across her clit.
He expected a moan, anticipated her to respond, but he hadn’t planned on her scream. It was loud. One you would expect to hear after hours of love making. The sound a woman would make when she had been brought to the brink so many times and finally allowed to let go.
Molten juices flowed from her pussy and coated his hand as her chest heaved from rapid breaths. He slid his finger back up inside her and felt the spasm of her walls as it convulsed around his finger in the aftershock of her orgasm.
He was floored. Utterly shocked. They’d kissed for a matter of minutes. He had barely begun to touch her and lose himself in how enticing she felt when she gave into his touch and found release.
He would be lying if he didn’t admit that it boosted his ego about ten notches and filled him with an insane amount of vigor. Primal needs consumed him, wondering what it would feel like to be surrounded by her as she screamed his name and pulsated around his cock.
Lifting his head, he met her gaze. Her eyes were locked on his while her breaths still came hurriedly. The fire he saw raging in them minutes before now seemed to leave a trail of glowing embers still hot and burning beneath the surface while being calm and at peace. He knew it would only take a small wind of encouragement to blow those glowing orbs into balls of passionate fire once again.
Morgan, Nicole - Sweet Affliction [Sweet Awakenings 4] (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 14
