Echoes

by Angela Verdenius

  With a surprised swear word, she jerked upright and spun around to face him.

  Grinning, he yanked his jeans up and fastened the zipper and button while she brushed her skirt down with dignity and attempted a composed expression.

  “Not working.” He admired her flushed cheeks, bright eyes, passion-swollen lips, and thoroughly sated expression.

  “Huh,” was all she managed.

  God, he loved her. Ryan pulled her into his arms, hugged her tight, dropping his head down to inhale her scent, turning his head to nuzzle beneath her ear. “So, fiery little shrew, no sass left.”

  Ella sagged against him. “Give me a second.”

  “A bit of sass left. Maybe we should go for round two.”

  “I don’t think I can walk.”

  He chuckled.

  “I’d hit you, but I can’t lift my arm,” she said dreamily.

  Kicking out a chair, Ryan dropped down into it bringing Ella with him, tipping her so her bottom rested on his thighs and her head against his. One arm behind her back, his other hand resting on her thighs, he leaned against the backrest.

  Lovemaking with Ella, be it sweet, passionate or rough, he revelled in it, but this time, this quietness when they simply recovered together, all that heat and tempest cooling down to a heart-warming softness and awareness of each other, that was another jewel in the crown of their love.

  Slumped against him, Ella sighed happily.

  Smiling, he pressed a kiss to her temple.

  “So you came on business first,” she murmured a little huskily. “I guess this second bit was pleasure?”

  “Definitely pleasure.”

  “I approve.”

  “Glad to hear it.”

  The cosiness of the moment seeped into him. He really had to buy a jumbo size box of condoms, because the rate he and Ella ended up making love, they - a sudden thought hit him. They’d never talked safe sex. Never used a condom. For the first time in his life, Ryan hadn’t thought about using a condom.

  “What’s wrong?” She combed her fingers through his hair in a soothing motion.

  Ryan debated. They had to have this talk, but to say he wasn’t concerned about her reaction would be a lie. Nevertheless, he never shirked a responsibility no matter the outcome. “We didn’t use protection.”

  “Protection?” She continued finger-combing his hair.

  Lifting his head from where he rested against hers, Ryan looked at her.

  She met his gaze with one raised eyebrow. “Ah. Protection.”

  “Last night and today. No condom.”

  She shrugged. “No biggie. I can’t get pregnant, remember?”

  “Safe sex is more than just about getting pregnant.”

  Give the woman credit, she didn’t stiffen, simply replied, “I’m clean. I haven’t been with a man since you.”

  That had his eyebrows shooting upwards.

  “I told you, I went out a couple of times.” Ella shrugged again. “I wasn’t interested enough to go to bed with anyone else. No man tempted me. You, Ryan Hargreaves, ruined me for any other man. Happy?”

  Bloody oath he was. Call him a hypocrite, but knowing that he was still the only man for her just made him want to, well, puff up his chest. But still… “Seriously? All these years?”

  “Sex doesn’t rule me. I made the decision way back then that if I wasn’t serious about a man, I wasn’t going to just sleep with him. I don’t judge anyone. If they need that intimacy, if they choose to do it for their own enjoyment, good on them. It just wasn’t for me.” Ella regarded him seriously.

  His heart stuttered a little. He’d be lying if he said he hadn’t slept with other women. His baser urges after missions, facing death at times, especially in earlier years. Since he’d joined Wells Security he had sought female companionship for sheer, self-gratifying trysts when the need took him, but nothing permanent, nothing serious. Crudely put, he scratched an itch. But it had never been the same as with Ella, never had the softness, the fun, the soul-warming intimacy. It was also something he didn’t do unless the urge became too strong, the loneliness. It had been awhile. Nevertheless…“I won’t lie,” he said softly.

  Ella didn’t look away. “I don’t expect you to.”

  His hand on her waist tightened. “I was never with a woman more than once. And I never slept with her. It was base gratification, nothing more. But I was careful, I never once went without a condom. Not once.”

  “It’s okay.” She laid a hand on his cheek. “I don’t expect you to make the same decisions as me. Your circumstances were different, the danger you faced every day my life can’t compare to.”

  “I’m sorry.” And he meant it. What he’d shared with Ella was everything, what he’d shared in lonely hours with other women had been nothing more than giving in to base urges.

  “Why?” Ella asked. “You never expected to see me again. We were no longer together.”

  “What we had was special. What we have is special.”

  “And that’s what matters. Here and now.” Cupping his cheeks, she lowered her face to brush a kiss across his lips. “Just know this, Ryan. While you’re with me, there will be no other women for you. I ever hear you even looked at a woman with anything vaguely resembling interest and I will cut your donger off and hang it from my car rear-view mirror. Got that?”

  He grinned.

  “I’m not joking.” She pressed a kiss to his cheek.

  “Do I need a bodyguard?”

  “Do you intend to cheat on me?”

  All hilarity fled him as he gripped her chin gently but firmly, tipping her head back to meet her eyes. His tone deepened, filled with sincerity. “I will never cheat on you, Ella. You’re the only special woman in my life - always have been, always will be. I’d give my life for you in a heartbeat.”

  Her eyes softened. “Ditto.”

  “Yeah,” he growled, “you better not.”

  Her eyes crinkled engagingly at the corners.

  Using the same grip, he drew her face to his, his breath feathering across her lips as he said huskily, “I’m clean. I have regular checks for my own sake. Condoms until I get another check to prove it to you.”

  “I believe you, Ryan.”

  “Still-”

  “There’s nothing to prove.” She placed her hand over his mouth when he started to argue. “You’re clean. You said it yourself. If we don’t trust each other now, when can we?” She removed her hand.

  Love swelled inside him. “You’re quick to trust me, Ella mine.”

  “Because I know that you would never put me at risk.” She rested her forehead against his. “This subject is done.”

  Ryan could happily drown in those beautiful grey eyes. “I love you, Ella mine. I’ve always loved you and I always will.”

  “Ditto.”

  He laughed softly. “So romantic.”

  She nestled closer, tucking her head beneath his chin.

  He was more than content to sit there in that little kitchen with the rosy glow of satiated gratification and loving acceptance filling the air between them, but a knock sounded on the door. A very brisk knock, followed by a voice calling out urgently, “Ella! Ella, are you all right?”

  Ella sat up with a jerk. “That’s Mrs Featherstone.”

  “Ella!” More knocking, a little more frantic.

  Every instinct snapping to attention, Ryan stood, keeping an arm around Ella as she slid off his lap, steadying her while she found her footing. Before she could move, he was striding towards the hall.

  “Wait!” Hot on his heels, she grabbed his arm. “Ryan, wait!”

  He cast her a quick glance to find her cheeks red.

  “I think - I think she heard me.”

  In a split second he realised what she meant, and no way in hell could he stop the very satisfied grin from curving his lips.

  “Stop it!” Cheeks really flushed now, Ella pushed past him into the hallway, quickly approaching the door which her neighbour cont
inued to pound.

  Moving more leisurely behind her, Ryan didn’t bother to hide his amusement.

  “Stay right there.” She pointed at the wall.

  Out of sight of Mrs Featherstone when she opened the door. “Are you embarrassed, Ella mine?”

  She scowled warningly at him. “Just stay there, don’t show your face, and for goodness sake, say nothing.”

  Prepared to be entertained, Ryan leaned against the wall, crossing his ankles and tucking his thumbs into the pockets of his jeans.

  Ella opened the door, effectively shielding him from sight as she leaned out to greet her neighbour. “Hi Mrs Featherstone. Something wrong?”

  “Ella, are you all right?” Ryan heard the woman ask in concern.

  “I’m fine.”

  “I heard you scream out.”

  He watched Ella’s hand on the door handle tighten a fraction, but she asked innocently, “Really?”

  “Several times.”

  “Ah.”

  “Is everything okay?” He could see the woman’s shadow moving beyond the door.

  “Fine. Just fine.”

  “There’s a strange car in your driveway.”

  “Ah. Yes, well, I have a visitor.”

  “A visitor. I know you have a visitor. But why - oh.” There was a split second of silence, then “Oh!”

  “I assure you everything is fine, Mrs Featherstone.”

  “Oh yes. Yes yes yes. Of course.” The woman was starting to babble a bit. “Sorry. I must have heard your TV or something.”

  “I’ll remember to turn it down next time. Horror movie, you know.”

  “Oh yes. Horror. All that screaming.” Footsteps sounded on the wooden veranda. “Okay, I must go, dear. Cake in the oven and everything.”

  “Don’t want it to burn,” Ella agreed cheerfully. “Bye, Mrs Featherstone.” Ella shut the door, cut her eyes sideways at Ryan. “Not one word.”

  “You are a screamer.”

  “Shut up.”

  “I made you scream.”

  “Stop it.”

  He grinned.

  “Oh geez!” She started to giggle. “How embarrassing!”

  “Oh, I don’t know. I like making you scream.”

  “You’re just evil!” She smacked his chest as she walked past him.

  Following her into the kitchen, Ryan crossed to the table to scoop up her panties, letting them hang off his forefinger. “Pretty. Not much of them, but pretty.”

  Snatching them off his finger, she tossed them into the bin. “You owe me.”

  “By all means. Now?”

  “I mean panties!”

  “Sure. Into thongs?”

  “Only on my feet.”

  “Panty thongs.”

  “That’d be like flossing my arse.”

  His lips twitched.

  “Tell you what,” she said, “you wear them, I wear them.”

  “Not happening, Ella mine.”

  “Ditto.”

  He laughed softly.

  “You still owe me.”

  “I know what panties you like.”

  “Alarming that you’d remember after all this time.”

  His smile faded as he studied her. “I never forgot anything about you.”

  Sobering, she met his gaze. “Same.”

  Boof chose that moment to walk in, drawing their attention as he stomped across the room to Ryan. He sniffed his jeans up and down, then his sneakers. Standing there, he looked from Ella to Ryan before he rubbed himself against Ryan in a slow slide, his tail curling around Ryan’s calf as he sidled around him. Coming back to the front, he sat down and blinked at Ella.

  “Wow,” she said. “You’ve just gotten the seal of approval from the other man in my life. Normally he just bites people.”

  Squatting down, Ryan stroked Boof along his head, rewarded with a rusty purr. “He’s a little battered.”

  “He’s beautiful,” she shot back defensively.

  “Never said he wasn’t.”

  “Sorry. Just some people can be a bit mean about his appearance. He’s had a hard life.”

  Ryan nodded.

  “You know we come as a pair.”

  At the odd inflection in her tone, Ryan glanced up to find her regarding him closely, her arms folded. It was plain what she meant. Continuing the slow, light strokes to Boof’s big head, he replied mildly, “I know.”

  “Boof and I are a team.”

  “So we’ll be a team of three.”

  Her eyes softened. “He sheds hair.”

  “I’ll get a brush.”

  “On your clothes.”

  “That’s what the brush is for.”

  “Don’t worry. I have one.”

  He didn’t remove his gaze from her. “Are we sharing it then?”

  No expression crossed her face as she regarded him intently, then she reached for her bag, taking two keys from it on a small ring and holding them out to him.

  Uncoiling from the squat, he stepped over a disgruntled Boof to take the keys.

  “My house keys,” she said.

  Ah. His Ella wasn’t ready to take this to the next level yet. He couldn’t blame her. His decision was easily made, she needed more time. He understood. But this was a big step for her, inviting him into her home, and he’d take it gratefully.

  “Thank you, Ella mine.” Bending down, he kissed her gently on the forehead.

  Ever so slightly she leaned into him before shifting back to smile up at him. “Now the fun’s over, I better start unpacking.”

  Accepting the change of subject, Ryan cast a glance over the shopping bags. “Hmm, I have a bootful myself. I better get this burner mobile into the office then get home before something goes off.”

  “Especially in a car.” Ella’s nose wrinkled. “You’ll never get the stink out.”

  Ryan gave her a gentle chuck under the chin before moving out into the hallway.

  “Hey, if you had shopping in your boot, that meant you were on your way home.”

  “Yes.” He opened the door.

  “So you swung past here after some do-gooder guard dobbed me in.”

  He cast her a glance over his shoulder. She was surveying him thoughtfully.

  “Geez. Why didn’t the guard come instead?”

  “He rang Aaron.”

  “Doesn’t answer the question.” She leaned against the door frame.

  Ryan plucked his keys from his pocket. “Aaron rang me.”

  “Wow, the mill was in overdrive.”

  He slid the keys she’d given him onto the ring with the others. “He couldn’t be sure you’d tell Richie the truth.”

  “Ah, Richie the guard. So?”

  “Aaron gave the option of bringing you into the office for questioning.”

  “Cripes, I’m such a fugitive.” She looked mildly amused.

  “I told him I was onto it.”

  “Sweetie.” She winked. “You were all over it.”

  He couldn’t stop the twitch of his lips. The woman never failed to make him laugh when no one else could.

  “I’ll let Aaron know how effective your interrogation technique is.”

  “Why not. Mrs Featherstone already does.”

  Ella pointed at his car. “Go home.”

  “I’ll see you tonight.”

  “Only if you’re good.”

  “I already proved that.”

  She gave an exaggerated sigh and roll of her eyes.

  With a wink, he left.

  ~*~

  The first morning back at work following the mission, Ryan walked into the office fifteen minutes before it was due to open and halted.

  On every surface of the reception desk was a little hula dancer gyrating madly on little stands. The hula dolls were the same kind that sat on car dashboards with the sun making them move, but somehow these were moving without the sun.

  There were a lot of hula dolls. They gyrated everywhere. Across the surface of the desk, on the keyboard, Blu-Ta
cked to the top of the computer and across the back of Raymond’s chair.

  Marietta had struck again.

  Ryan checked the time. Any second Raymond would walk in and her mischief would get results.

  “This’ll be good.” Big mug of steaming coffee in hand, Ben appeared in the doorway to the back offices.

  No sooner had he said this than the front door opened and Raymond entered. “Man, there’s this new café across the road that serves the best tasting - what the hell!?” His mouth fell open as he stared at the gyrating dolls.

  “Didn’t know you were into dolls, Raymond,” Ben said cheerfully.

  Raymond’s face went red. “Marietta!”

  “Not here.” Ben lifted his mobile and aimed it at Raymond. “Smile.”

  Stalking around the desk, Raymond swept the dolls off the back of his chair and keyboard. “I’ll kill her!”

  Ben happily keyed something into his mobile. Seconds later there was a ‘ping’ from Raymond’s email inbox, followed by several more. Raymond flicked the screen on, his eyes almost bulging as a cartoon hula dancer gyrated lewdly across the screen. The body was va-va-voom, the clothes sparse, the head was his.

  Ben started chortling.

  Being a tech whiz, Raymond had the hula doll off his screen within seconds and his inbox up, swearing as he did so. “What the - what’s this?” He peered closer at the screen. “My cursor is a hula doll!”

  “Kinky.”

  “Ben, you idiot. Get a box and help me clear this crap off my desk before a client comes in. What the heck will they think?” He glared at Ryan’s impassive face. “You need to do something about that woman!”

  “I’ll talk to her.”

  Muttering, Raymond grabbed for his pen, found it missing and dug into the desk drawer. “I swear that woman is soft in the head. What is she - my pen!”

  “Oh man!” Ben goggled at the pen.

  Raymond dropped it onto his desk in horror.

  Looking at it, Ryan had to admit it was at the kinky level. It was shaped like a hula dancer, the main grip area right over her doodah and the click bit to bring the nib out one of her nipples. Ingenious, actually.

  “She didn’t. Tell me she didn’t.” Yanking open a small cupboard beneath the desk, Raymond yanked out a mug. “Oh my God!”

  The mug was in the shape of a hula dancer, very prominent breasts and nipples sticking out, part of one luscious hip forming the handle.