by S. E. Rose
“First, Alexei has not been caught.” We all look defeated as the realization dawns that we may be holed-up here for a while. “Second, we did have a confirmed sighting of him in Prague last night.” He puts a hand up before we can react. “But we still are concerned for your safety. Isabelle, we’ve decided you can go home. No one knows of your involvement in all of this and we think you’ll be safe. We will have surveillance on you for a few weeks just to be sure, but at this point, there is no cause for concern about your safety.”
Isabelle nods and gives me a small smile that tells me that I’m all but forgiven.
“As for the rest of you, we think it’s safe for Lily and Nick to return home. Nick is about the same as Isabelle in that no one really knows about him. Lily, we have our U.S. counterparts ready to provide security to you for a while, but Alexei doesn’t have as many U.S. connections so we feel at this time you should be fine returning to your normal life. The same goes for Mal, Oliver, and Rose. We’ll keep security on all of you for a while; however, you should start to get back into your normal schedules.”
Oliver scuffs at this. “Yeah, normal, like therapy for my poor girl for the next twenty years,” he says under his breath.
Rose places a hand on his shoulder. “Dad, I’m OK.” He pulls her onto his lap and wraps his arms around her.
“I’d really prefer you don’t go back to school for this term,” he states emphatically.
We all start talking at once until Agent Banks clears his throat, and like children who have been bad, we all stop and look up at him.
“Laura, we’d like you to finish out your time at the cottage as planned. Jack, we need to figure out what you will be doing. You are the highest profile person in this case, so, for now, return back to your house. We will keep security around the property until we make a decision. Lily and Nick, here are your plane tickets for tomorrow afternoon. You’ll be leaving from Glasgow.” He debriefs us on the details of our return to normal and then leaves.
We all pack. The kids want to spend the night with me. So it is decided that security will maintain a perimeter around the cottage and then follow them to the airport in the morning. We all enjoy a lunch together and then one by one we start to leave.
Isabelle leaves first. “You better keep me in the loop,” she says. “Girl, you really know how to live the high-drama life.” She kisses my cheek and heads off in her Audi convertible that Agent Banks had delivered. It’s bright red and I shake my head at her as she waves while driving down the estate’s driveway. So typical, I think to myself. She’s like a glimmer of sunshine in an otherwise gray stormy sky.
Mal comes up behind me. She has two glasses of wine in her hands. “Here,” she says, thrusting one at me.
“Thanks,” I reply and we clink glasses. “So, what are your plans?” I ask, raising an eyebrow at her.
“Well, for now, all three of us will stay here. We decided to keep Rose home from her camp this summer. We’d like her to get some therapy and Oliver and I have some things to work out.”
“Oh really?” I bump her with my hip and she laughs for the first time in five days.
“I don’t know what happened, but it’s like this whole thing just clarified our needs and desire to be together,” she shrugs. “Rose doesn’t know yet, we are trying to keep it under wraps for a bit to see where it goes.”
“I understand,” I say.
“You heading back over to the cottage now?” she asks.
“Yep. The kids want to spend the night there before they leave in the morning. So we might as well head over there,” I say.
“Rose is really going to miss Lily,” Mal says.
“I think the opposite can be said as well,” I reply. “I’m off to pack. I’ll stop by later this week for dinner?”
“Sure thing,” she says, stopping at the door. “Laura, if you need anything, anything at all.”
“Thanks, same,” I say as I give her a sideways hug.
The kids and I head over to the cottage before dinnertime. Hagrid is super-excited to see us. I’ve had Nigel checking in on him and somehow I don’t think Nigel is a cat person.
“Do you still want us to take Hagrid home?” Lily asks as she strokes his head.
“Yep,” I say. “Just easier that way. I have his meds ready for tomorrow so he should just sleep the whole way home.”
“Alright,” she says. “If that’s what you want.”
I nod and wrap my arms around her. She adjusts herself on the sofa so that she is sitting on my lap like a little girl. She leans her head against my shoulder and I kiss her forehead.
“I love you, Lilypond,” I say, using her old nickname.
“Love you too, Mom,” she answers. “I’ll be fine. So don’t worry about me.”
“I know,” I reply. “I already emailed Dr. Garrett to give him a heads-up about everything.”
“Mommmm!” Lily groans, exasperated by my meddling most likely.
“Lily, you need to talk about all this in therapy, OK? You’ve come so far and even if you feel like it’s nothing, it isn’t so just talk about it. Please, for me.” I nudge her.
“Fine, for you,” she says, poking my arm as she gets up and takes Hagrid with her to the guest room.
We eat a dinner of homemade tacos and then head to bed.
The kids are quick to pack up and get Hagrid ready in the morning. Jack shows up just before they leave and they all say their goodbyes. I kiss them all goodbye, both my fuzzy and human children and I watch them get in their car and head toward the airport as tears stream down my face. I turn into Jack’s open arms and sob after they leave. I’ve never been good at goodbyes and after everything that’s happened my emotions are like brittle straw, crumbling as I watch my family leave. He holds me in the doorway for a few minutes until I manage to pull myself together.
He takes my face in his hands and lifts it until our foreheads are touching. “They are going to be alright, Laura.” His voice is reassuring, and I close my eyes and listen to his breathing as I feel the hot air of his breath on my lips and the minty smell of his mouthwash fills my nostrils. And then I feel his lips on mine, at first tentatively and then with such need and desire that I open my mouth in surprise. His tongue accepts this as an invitation and within seconds I am lost in our kiss.
It takes me a moment to realize that Jack is moving me from the door to my bedroom. Not until the backs of my legs hit the bed do I realize where we are at and then I feel Jack pulling up my shirt. I lift my arms and he tosses my shirt to the side. He helps me lift his shirt off too, disposing of it in a growing pile of clothing on my floor. When we are free of all the cotton barriers, he pulls me against him. His eyes never leaving mine, his fingers delicately graze my cheek and I lean my head against them.
“You are so beautiful,” he whispers and he pulls me up as he climbs onto the bed with me hanging from him. I’m laid down on the sheets and he lies down on top of me, his hands exploring my arms, my neck, my breasts. His mouth follows the trail.
“Jack…,” I whimper against his touch. It is so light that I barely feel it which makes me want him that much more. I reach between us and grasp him, feeling his length and girth as my hand moves up and down his erection. He groans.
“Not yet,” he murmurs. He looks at me and I give him a pouty face. He laughs. “Fine, if that’s the way you want to play this.” He rolls us over so I’m on top of him and I giggle from the sudden flip. “Turn around, baby.”
I smirk at him and roll my eyes. I know exactly what he is doing and I grin a little as I haven’t done this in years. As I turn around, he playfully swats my ass. I lick my lips as I come face-to-face with his manhood. I run my tongue up its length as he pulls me over his face. I can feel him spreading my legs farther apart. I only half pay attention as I am busy swirling circles around the tip of his erection before taking him in my mouth. My hand plays with his base and then cradles his balls and I can hear him moan as I suddenly feel his tongue run up my sli
t and penetrate my core. I let out a gasp and then succumb to the deluge of sensations as his fingers and tongue work magic circles on my clit before plunging back inside me. I try to match his movements with my hands and mouth, pushing and pulling on him.
I’m so close to coming when I feel him lifting me and suddenly I am turned around facing him. He sits up against my headboard and he enters me in one thrust as I sit down on him. He’s deep and I arch my back as I come back down on him again and again. I lean forward so we are touching noses as I push him deeper into me.
“You feel so amazing,” I murmur against his lips.
“So do you,” he says as he gives a very hard thrust into me. I groan and then continue my movement. I can feel the friction building. He starts rubbing my clit with his thumb and suddenly I’m exploding around him. I can feel the walls of my sex clenching him as I fall over the edge. He drives deep into me one last time and then I can feel his heat spreading inside of me as he cries out in bliss. I collapse on top of him and we lie there for some time not moving.
“I need to go back to my house tonight,” he says quietly. I put my face on his chest and look up at him.
“Why?”
“Agent Banks is coming by and we are discussing my options.”
“Which are?”
“I don’t know yet,” he says, his eyes searching mine. I close my eyes relishing this moment as I feel him getting softer inside of me.
“I hate this,” I whisper. “I want to be with you.”
“I know, love. And I, you.” He kisses my forehead.
“Can you stay with me for the day?” I ask.
“Yes, but I’m meeting him tonight after dinner.”
I get up and give him my hand and he takes it. I lead him into the shower where we lavishly clean one another. He throws on some shorts he’s left here and lies on my bed. I smile at him and place my headphones on his head and grab my computer. I sit between his legs and I scroll through some music on my phone. I smile as I find “Thank You” by Dido and I hit play.
I check in on my email and respond to one from my mother. Damn, I really haven’t been emailing her, but I feel better knowing that she is safe and far away. I turn to my phone and press play on a playlist I have made just for this occasion. Jack runs his hand down my back and I sigh. I grab his hand and kiss his palm and he leans up and pushes my hair to one side and sucks gently on my neck.
“I love you, Laura,” he whispers in my ear. I turn and kiss him.
“I know,” I say. And I turn back to my work.
I email my brother and then decide a text will help, so I send him one of those too and ask him if he can pick my kids up from the airport. I reply to several emails from various friends. Isabelle has sent me one for a family reunion next summer. I flag it, not wanting to respond quite yet. Then I turn to the latest version of my book. My editor has sent it back to me for further review. I start mindlessly going through it page by page, reading comments, responding, and changing various passages.
We sit like this in bed for several hours. Occasionally I hear Jack typing on his phone sending various messages that I assume are about his work.
We eat lunch on my patio in semi-silence. We continue our work from my bed throughout the afternoon. By 4:00 p.m., I feel like I’ve actually made some headway on my editing.
“I’m going to make us some tea,” says Jack as he stands up while pulling me up to him.
“Oh really.” I smirk as he kisses me quickly and then tosses me back on the bed.
“And what would madam want this evening?” he says, trying to hide his smile.
“Well, hmmmm…I don’t know. Surprise me!” I say and fan him out of the room with a motion of my hand.
I dive back into my editing and am paying zero attention when I suddenly feel a hand touching my arm. I about jump out of my skin.
“Sorry,” Jack murmurs as he steps back from me. “Tea’s ready.”
I clutch my chest and look up at him. “Sorry, I’m just a little on edge.”
He holds out his hand and I take it. I follow him into the kitchen and breathe in the most delicious smell. I look at the table and see he has set a romantic dinner for two complete with a lit candle and glasses filled with red wine. Coq au vin is elegantly laid on our plates as though a chef at a five-star restaurant has plated it. I spin toward him and throw my arms around his neck while planting a kiss on his lips.
“Thank you,” I whisper against the heat of his breath.
“You’re welcome, my love,” he whispers back as he pulls a seat out for me. I sit and we eat.
“This is amazing,” I say to him, moaning from the flavors that burst in my mouth.
“Well, on occasion I have been known to be able to cook a thing or two,” he says with a laugh.
“How did you learn to cook?” I ask.
“We had this cook at the house, Gertie. She was almost my grandmother’s age and she was just delightful. She was always sneaking Oliver and me cookies and special puddings after tea even when our parents said no. I loved her, and throughout my childhood, I’d find excuses to go into the kitchen and see her. As I got older, she would teach me how to cook things. I guess I was a curious boy and I was always asking, so she taught me. She was a lovely woman and I miss her greatly,” he finishes with a slight smile of fondness on his face.
“She sounds amazing,” I say and place my hand on his.
“Who taught you to cook?” he asks.
“My father,” I reply, a slight tinge of pain flashing across me. “He was always teaching me things when I was little. Cooking just happened to be one of them.”
“I wish I could have met him,” Jack says as he grasps my hand more firmly. I pull it away and place it in my lap.
“Me too.” I glance at him and his eyes widen slightly.
“I’m so sorry, baby.” He scoots his chair over toward mine and places a hand on my shoulder. “What about your mother? Could I meet her?”
I take a breath and look up at him trying to smile. “Yes. She lives in a fifty-five and over community in Florida. We talk some, although not as much as we should.”
He nods. “You were closer to your father?”
“Yes.” I smile, remembering my father.
“Laura, I’m so sorry. I can see how much you miss him when you speak about him.” He stands and envelops me into a hug. I wrap my arms around his waist and lean my head against his abdomen.
“It’s alright, it happened a very long time ago.” I think back to my father and his memory brings me strength. “He was such an amazing man. He was always teaching me and my brother various things whether it was cooking, self-defense, or even how to play chess. Sean met him once before he was killed. That always brought me comfort that my dad knew my husband.”
He drops down on his knees and holds my head in his hands. “I wish I could erase all the pain you’ve suffered.”
“I don’t,” I say to him and watch his eyes widen in surprise. “Everyone I’ve lost and everything I’ve been through makes me who I am. And maybe if those things were different, I may not have met you. I don’t know why, but I feel a connection to you that I’ve never felt with anyone else, ever. I belong with you, Jack. I know it.”
“Yes, love, you do.” And he leans in and kisses me. “Now, let’s finish this food before it gets cold.”
I nod and he sits back down. “You can meet my brother, Jesse. He lives near me.”
“I’d love to meet your brother.”
We finish our food and clean up in silence.
“I have to go, Laura,” he says as I hand him the last plate to dry.
“I know.”
“I don’t want to leave you here, but I think it’ll be safer than taking you with me.”
I give him a quizzical look. “Why is that?”
“I don’t know what Agent Banks will want me to do and I need to know you are safe.”
“Fine.”
“I promise I’ll be here after I go
for my jog tomorrow, OK?”
“OK.” I follow him to the door.
“Lock the doors,” he says and kisses me quickly as he leaves. I watch him go. Two security officers sit in their car by the drive. I wave at them and they nod in my direction. Great, babysitters.
I close the door and look around at my empty cottage. I wish Hagrid was here. It now feels too empty and I don’t like it.
As I look around, I notice some items on the table are out of place. I put them back. Frowning, I head toward my bedroom. I don’t remember anyone moving those things, but I’m likely overthinking everything at this point.
I stay up until I hear the vibration of my cell phone alerting me to a text. I glance down and see that Lily and Nick have landed and Jesse has picked them up. I text them back and turn off my light before falling asleep.
Chapter 31
Beginning of August
Laura’s Playlist: “Come Undone” by Duran Duran
I sit waiting in my kitchen for Oliver. I awoke to a person staring at my cottage and then vanishing and then a boat that vanished as well and no Jack. He had promised to come by this morning only he never did and he never came by the cottage on his normal jogging path. Oliver should be here by now. His text said he would go on the path and look for Jack. I’m confused and my imagination is taking hold. I push down my fears and take a deep breath.
I decide I can’t wait any longer. I walk to the kitchen door and go to open it. It’s unlocked. That’s strange, I think to myself. I know I locked it when I came back in from looking for the person outside my cottage. I shiver at the thought of someone in my cottage. I shake my head and I go to the path. I walk in my normal direction. The sun is up now and its glare makes it difficult to see. Damn it, I should have put on my sunglasses. I don’t see anyone and I turn to walk toward Jack’s when from far down the path I see someone. I can’t quite make the person out. However, I think it might be Jack or maybe Oliver. From this distance, it’s hard to tell. I think they are yelling my name. I wave my hand at them and I realize he is running. I still can’t see his face. I can now hear my name on the wind. I start walking toward him and then everything goes black.
