by S. E. Rose
He places his hands on my face and draws me up while he leans down. He touches his forehead to mine as the shower water streams over our faces. “I promise. If I have to move the earth, the sun, and the moon, I will make it happen.” And then he kisses me, a slow kiss that leaves me tingling everywhere and I know he’s promising me with this kiss.
“Now, let’s get ready for a party,” he says playfully as he gets out of the shower. I laugh as he playfully tosses me a towel.
We dance around each other in the bathroom as we get ready, our movements comfortable, like an old, married couple. I catch him glancing at me in the mirror every so often and I smile and then catch him smiling. As I put in my earrings, he comes up behind me and places a beautiful necklace around my neck. I pick up the pendant and look at it in the mirror. It’s intricately woven silver that creates a 3-D flower, a rose, and it has diamonds and garnets placed here and there throughout the flower with one larger yellow diamond in the middle. It is breathtaking, unlike anything I’ve seen before and my eyes look at his not understanding.
“It’s beautiful,” I say softly.
“It was my grandmother’s,” he replies. “She always wore it for special occasions. I went to visit her when she was first ill and she gave it to me. She told me to give it to the woman who captures my heart.” He bends down at this last comment, whispering it in my ear and my heart melts into a vast pool of love for this man. I turn around and kiss him with all the passion and longing I feel in my heart at that moment. It’s endless and I feel like I may not be able to pull away from him, my head is spinning.
He pulls back after several minutes. We both breathe heavily trying to catch our breath. “If you kiss me like that any longer, I won’t be responsible for my actions.” He grins.
“Jack…” I turn back and look at it in the mirror. “I love it and I am honored that you want me to wear it but…,” I trail off.
“It belongs right here,” he says, placing his hand over it and my chest. “Because that is where my heart belongs now.”
I gulp. This is crazy. This is the stuff I write about. I don’t live this life. No one lives a life like this. It’s the stuff of fiction. This entire time here has been a work of fiction. Maybe I’ll write an autobiography next time. I won’t need to make up anything and no one will believe it.
He leans down and kisses me sweetly and then claps his hands together. “OK, let’s go.”
He pours us each a glass of champagne as I put my heels on. I loathe heels, but for him, I suppose I can deal for one night. I test my ankle and take a few steps. It’s a little unsteady, although hordes better than a few days ago. The color is back to normal, but it’s still slightly swollen. I’m sure my doctor would kill me if he saw me trying to wear heels, even these small ones.
“Liquid courage,” he says, tapping my glass against his. I’m not sure if he’s referring to our current drug lord, underground Russian mob predicament, or having to face Mal and Oliver. I drink without asking.
We drive up to the main house. Small lights are on along the driveway and the house looks even larger.
As we exit the car, a young girl comes running out of the front door and charges straight at Jack leaping into his arms and smothering him with kisses. “Uncle Jack!!!” she squeals.
He kisses her and then they rub their noses together. “Hey, sunshine of my heart! Happy birthday!”
“What’d you get me?” she asks, looking for a package.
“You’re expecting a gift?” He pretends to be appalled and shocked. She puts her hands on her hips and glares at him in a very pre-teen manner. “You know the rules; no gifts until after the cake.”
He pats her nose with his index finger and she giggles. “Fine, but I expect something very nice.”
She stops and looks over at me. She walks over slowly and puts out her hand. “You must be Laura,” she says with a giant smile. I shake her hand.
“Yes, and you must be Rose.” She smiles at me and nods.
“Come on, tea is going to be served any second.” She grabs my hand and then Jack’s and pulls us up the stairs and through the giant doors. We are led into the dining room where I last ate with Oliver. It’s decorated modestly with pink and purple balloons and a happy 13th birthday banner. She makes us put on funny party hats. I spot Mal and she walks over and gives me a big hug.
“Thanks for coming,” she says grinning. I see her grin waiver slightly as she looks down to see my pendant. She picks it up and rubs her fingers over it. “Rose’s necklace,” she breathes.
I look at her confused. “I thought it belonged to Jack’s grandmother.”
“It did, her name was also Rose,” she whispers to me setting it back down against my skin. I nod my understanding. “Oliver and Jack so loved her and she absolutely adored them. I was fortunate to know her for many years. She was a kind and loving woman.” She places her hand on mine and I look down to see a ring, very similar to my necklace. I look up at her and she just nods. “Come, please sit.”
I’m led to the table, but not before Oliver walks over and kisses my cheek. “Thanks for joining us, Laura,” he says, squeezing my hand.
“I wouldn’t miss it. I haven’t been to a birthday party overseas in…well, sadly several decades.” I grin and sit.
Rose regales us with funny stories from school as we are served her favorite meal: chicken pot pie. Oliver explains that their chef learned it from her grandmother and their mother always had it served at family parties.
It is delicious, much better than the frozen ones I’m accustomed to in the States. After dinner, we retire to a sitting room and Rose plays us some songs on the piano while we all sip a scrumptious port. Then a beautiful cake is brought in, decked out in thirteen candles. We and the staff sing happy birthday and Mal takes a few photos while Oliver records it. Rose delights in taking her time making a wish before she finally blows out the candles with ease.
“Presents!” she yelps and turns to Jack, holding out a hand. He sits down and pats his knee and she sits on it. “Come on, Uncle Jack, you’re killing me.” We all burst out into laughter as he pulls a small box out of the inside pocket on his jacket and places it in her hand.
She eyes him suspiciously and then opens it and laughs. She takes out a beautiful charm bracelet and holds it up for us to see. There is a charm of an ice cream cone, the Eiffel Tower, the Tower of London, a slice of pizza, a soccer ball, and the number 13. He places it on her wrist and she falls back against him wrapping her arms around his neck and kisses his cheek. “I love it! Thank you!” She hugs him, closing her eyes and breathing him in and she looks adorable and completely enamored with him. “You are my best uncle!” she announces, bouncing out of his lap.
“Well, thanks. I’m not sure how to take that considering I’m your only uncle, but alright,” he says, scolding her with a finger.
I motion to the butler who took my purse and ask him to bring me the bag inside it. He nods and is back after a moment holding the bag I had made earlier. I place it in front of Rose.
“Ohhhhh,” she says and looks up at me. “You didn’t have to get me anything.”
“Well, it’s your birthday, of course, I did,” I say, giving her arm a squeeze.
She studies the bag. “Did you make this?” she asks, running her fingers over each petal.
“Yes,” I say.
“It’s lovely,” she says. “It’s like a gift all on its own.” She peers inside and pulls out another small box. She opens it and squeals again. It’s a gift card to a posh girl’s shop and a pair of silver rose earrings.
She jumps into my arms, hugging me with such force, I’m afraid I may fall over as I grasp the nearest piece of furniture. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!”
I hug her back. “You’re very welcome.”
“You have a daughter, yes?” she asks.
“Yes, Lily, she’s in college,” I say. Rose nods.
“That explains why you are such a good gift giver. You’
ve had practice,” she states.
“I guess so,” I reply with a laugh.
Rose proceeds to open a number of other gifts including a spa day from Mal and a new riding saddle from Oliver. There are a few others from staff members and some other distant family members who aren’t here. We eat cake and Rose continues to entertain us. She really is a very lively and sweet child. She doesn’t seem to have a care in the world. A few times I see Mal and Oliver exchange looks as Rose opens various gifts. I wonder why they aren’t together still.
Eventually, Rose starts to tire near midnight and Jack and I excuse ourselves to head back home. Rose gives us both a huge kiss and hug and makes me promise that we’ll hang out soon. I promise and we head back. Jack holds my hand the entire way.
“You know you have a lovely family,” I say to him as we reach his front door. He leans against me pushing my back against the doorframe.
“What am I going to do with you?” he asks.
“Hmmmm…well, I can think of a few things.” I smile up at him innocently and then duck under his arm and run through his door and up the stairs, yelling down at him as I bolt, “But you’ll have to catch me first.” I squeal as I hear him bounding up the stairs behind me. His arms are around me before I’ve managed to take three steps in the hallway and he throws me over his shoulder as I scream with laughter. He tosses me down on his bed and hovers over me on all fours.
“What were you thinking?” he says, his eyes twinkle with humor.
“You know…things,” I say. I love it when he acts boyish with me. It makes me feel young and carefree again.
He leans over and pulls my dress up and over my head and then leaves it there so I can’t see a damn thing. I feel him release my breasts from my bra and then his mouth is on my nipple and I let out a gasp. My sense of touch is heightened with the dress covering my eyes and I can feel his every breath and every caress.
“Like this?” he asks.
“Yes,” I whisper breathlessly as I feel him run his finger down the lacey edge of my thong and then up my slick slit.
“And this?” he asks, his voice getting raspier.
“Yes,” I breathe. He yanks down my panties and pushes my legs apart. I feel his tongue push into me and I cry out.
“What about this?” he breathes against my sex as he nips at my sensitive folds.
“Yes!” I cry out. And then I feel him enter me in one single thrust.
“This?” he groans.
“Yes! God, yes!” I scream as intense sensations fill me along with his flesh. His strokes are relentless and he soon brings us both to our climaxes. He falls down on my chest and pulls the dress off of my head so I can see him.
“I like catching you.” He smirks as he kisses me.
“I can see that,” I say with a smirk. He rolls us over so I’m lying on top of him and he strokes my hair as I fall into a deep sleep.
Chapter 26
Laura’s Playlist: “Orphan” by Jack’s Mannequin
As usual, Jack is gone when I wake up. I roll over and stretch out on the bed. His pillows smell of him and I breathe in his scent and smile. Hagrid is happily trotting around the room. He sees that I’m awake and he meows and pounces at my feet before curling up between my legs.
“Sorry, buddy, I have to get up,” I say, kissing his head and getting out of bed. He gives me a semi-dirty look before rolling back up into a ball again and falling asleep. I sure hope Jack is OK with a cat on his bed.
I go downstairs and find that coffee has been made. I pour myself a cup and sit at his breakfast bar. I decide to explore some more of the house. I walk into a study and begin perusing his shelves. He has many books, some nonfiction, some fiction. I find sections with classics, fantasy, mysteries, and a few adventures. He has a few photos on the shelves. One must be of him and Oliver as boys. They are young and on a beach with their beach rafts in hand. I see another of Jack with a young woman. They are maybe in their early or mid-twenties. She is very beautiful with deep-red hair that has a slight wave to it and brilliant bluish-green eyes that sit above a splattering of barely noticeable freckles. Jack is looking at her as she laughs and I know this has to be a girlfriend or a lover, perhaps Abigail? I can see the adoration in his eyes. I put the photo back down and look at several others. He has a few of Rose and another with this woman and Mal. There are a few more family photos with what I guess to be cousins and aunts and uncles and one of Jack with his parents and an older woman. I’m guessing it’s his high school graduation. He looks so young and handsome. I can only imagine he is the type of guy that has had women and girls swooning over him since he was a child. Looks like his are not common.
I set my coffee mug in the sink and walk out into the garden. I sit on the bench and meditate for a few minutes before I hear feet crunching on gravel. My eyes fly open to find Jack walking over and I immediately relax my muscles.
“Sorry,” he mumbles. “I didn’t mean to give you a fright.” He glances around. “You really should be careful out here.”
“I’m fine. I sometimes get lost in meditation that’s all.” I smile at him.
I take his hand and we walk back to the house and shower.
“So what’s on the agenda for today?” I ask.
“I need to get some things in town,” he says. “Will you come with me?”
“Sure,” I say. “Maybe I can talk Mal into grabbing some lunch.” I send her a text and she sends me back several thumbs-up emojis. I know the real reason he is going to town. It is Tuesday. And Alexei said to go to a certain place on Tuesday.
Jack says he needs some supplies for the house, which I know is a blatant lie, but I let it go. He drops me off at the cheese shop, although not before I get several warnings to be careful. I roll my eyes. I fight the urge to follow him, however, I lose sight of the car quickly, and with a sigh, I go into the cheese shop and find the girl Mal hired behind the register. I say hi to her and ask for Mal who pops her head out of the back room.
“I just need to finish one thing, love. Meet you over there in five?” she says. “Order me a pint.”
“Sure thing,” I say and proceed back across the street. I’m just about to the pub when I notice something out of the corner of my eye, a man in the shadows of an alley. My heart starts to beat harder and I quicken my walk to nearly a jog until I realize that it’s Agent Banks. He motions for me to come into the alley, and after glancing around to find myself alone, I head toward him. He pulls me behind a dumpster.
“I got your text,” he says. I nod. Thank God he had his IT people do something to my phone to both track me and encrypt everything I send and receive. They wanted to give me some special phone, but I explained that I was not walking around with a second phone, so making my phone into a “spy” phone was their only choice. “The audio isn’t great, but it’s a start. We need something more concrete. We aren’t sure how he got into the country either. Do you know where Jack is going to get the packages?”
I shake my head. I’m guessing that is where he actually is. I tried to push that thought out of my head the second he dropped me off at Mal’s place.
“Laura, listen, you are going to have to follow him next time he goes, OK?” he says curtly. “I need to know the drop-off point and I don’t think Jack is going to share that with me.”
“Don’t you have a tracker on him?” I ask. He nods.
“Yes, but he left his phone in the car and he’s not in the car, so we have no idea. Jack’s been around the block, this is not his first rodeo as you say in the States.” Agent Banks gives me a hard stare.
“Fine, I’ll figure it out and let you know,” I say with a huff. I turn to walk away. I feel sick. This is what a double agent must feel like.
“And, Laura,” he says as I swivel back toward him. “Be careful. We didn’t plan this thinking you’d meet Alexei so soon. The fact that he is here tells me there are more important things going on than just some drug deals.”
I nod and head to the pub. I ord
er us drinks and sit down. My mind is going a mile a minute and I don’t even hear Mal sit down next to me.
“Hello,” she says with a laugh as she clinks her pint to mine.
“Oh, sorry,” I say shaking my head. “Daydreaming I guess.” I quickly recover. “So how’s Val working out?”
“She’s coming around. Lots of training left to do, but I think it may work out,” she says.
“Well, that’s good news. Thanks for letting me crash Rose’s party last night by the way.”
“I’m glad you could attend. Rose loved having you there and, honestly, you were good for breaking the tension between all of us adults. We do this every year for Rose, but it really can be very…well, very strained shall we say.”
“I understand,” I say. “Jack really loves Rose. I know he doesn’t let on about that much but…” I stop short of telling her about his school visits as I feel that is not my business. “It’s pretty obvious.”
“I think so too. I hope someday they’ll be able to have a good relationship.”
I keep my mouth shut again as I’m not about to spill Jack’s secret. Rose and he do have a great relationship. I internally sigh. I hate family secrets and this family is full of them.
Mal asks about my book and I tell her I finished my first draft. We clink glasses on that and then chitchat about a number of things including how she’s frustrated by Oliver at the moment. Jack eventually finds us, and after another pint, we head back to his house.
When we are back, he changes into his morning running gear and comes into the kitchen. I’m cleaning up the coffee maker when I hear him coming down the stairs.
“I have to go check on some properties that are nearby, so I’m going for a run.”
“Oh, OK,” I say. This is strange, he doesn’t come in and I can’t see him in the darkness of the hallway. I can make out his clothes and that is about it. “Will you be long?”
“No, love, I’ll be right back. I promise.” And with that, he heads out the door.
