“The final card is the Two of Swords and it is on the board reversed. The card shows a blindfolded woman in a red dress with her arms crossed in front of her chest, holding two double-edged swords in the air. She sits alone on the beach with the ocean waves behind her and a crescent moon hanging in the night sky. She toils over a decision she must make, but blindfolded, she is lacking all the information she needs in order to make a proper decision. Sadly, she must make a decision or she cannot continue on with her journey.”
“So you probably want to know what this all means?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Good…good.”
“Alright, just to clarify. The Major Arcana are also known as the cards of major secrets. They are representative of the stages of spiritual development. You have several Major Arcana in this reading, which signifies a time of great internal and spiritual growth. There’s also a high concentration of Cups, which indicates the importance of emotions such as love, marriage, children, or relationships. Swords also came up frequently enough to reveal aggression, trouble, and strife.”
“Does this make sense to you?”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Then let us continue.”
“Katrina, as a whole, what the cards are telling me is that the phases of the Tower still are not finished. You are currently still finding your way through the Tower’s destruction and rebirth. Keep that in mind as we are looking at what the culmination of your past, present, and future mean. As for the past, what the cards are saying is that you were in a committed relationship built on deep love and mutual respect. A promise or commitment was made. Then came a form of Death. As the Death card is surrounded by two cards representing emotions, it leads me to believe that the relationship was ended due to a sudden and unexpected death. After some time passed, you decided you needed a change and turned away from your established life, most of your friends and family, and abandoned your success in an effort to find meaning in life again.”
“The present shows you falling madly and passionately in love very soon. The man will be hard to read, a mixture of strength and aggression, fire and passion, inpatient when he wants something, and brutal when he needs to be. He still has the ability to be kind and loving, although it may be buried deep inside of him. Whether or not you can access it, I do not know. The Lovers card tells me you are about to meet him or you may already have.” Katrina flashes a quick look at Tony. Their confused gazes hold a little too long before Madame Maddelena resumes speaking. Kat breaks eye contact. “If you are not currently lovers, you soon will be; but exercise caution as your passions will burn bright, but the Tower still rules your destiny.”
“As you know, the future is always changing and holds many different outcomes. Currently, the small piece of your future that the cards have shown me says that The Moon will affect your romantic relationships and your relationship with the Queen of Swords. The Moon holds many influences over you. They range from mystery and intrigue, to deceptiveness and danger. Keep your eyes open for bad influences, selfishness, ulterior motives, false friends, insincerity, and deceit. The moon will also play on your moods, emotions, dreams and romantic yearnings. This can be positive, negative, or both. One other unique effect of the moon…if you have any tendencies towards psychic abilities, the moon will bring them out, usually during the dream state. This can manifest in many different ways, or not at all. All I can tell you for sure is if you have a psychic vision or dream, you will recognize it.”
“As I see it, both your lover and the Queen of Swords are more than they appear when they enter your life, as are their motives. The Queen of Swords does not appear to be someone currently in your life. She will appear out of nowhere and her motives may not be pure. She is not without merit, but breaking through her armor may prove to be impossible. Thanks to the Tower, she will disrupt your life, and based on the influence of The Moon and The Two of Swords reversed, she could bring lies and disloyalty into your life. Watch out for false friendship, treachery, and misrepresentation.”
“Do you have any questions about the reading Katrina?”
“No Ma’am. Thank you very much for taking the time to do another reading for me.”
“It was my pleasure, dear.”
Hands shaking, Katrina lifts the wine glass to her lips and takes a long pull on the deep red liquid. Excusing them both, Tony helps Kat to her feet and guides her up the stairs and into his room.
Realizing she’s upset and visibly shaken by the direction of her reading, Tony sits Kat at the bottom of his bed.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m not sure, but I will be. Thanks for getting me out of there. Now, will you come closer?” Tony advances until he’s standing above Kat, his legs making contact with her knees. She spreads them so her legs are on the outside of his. Knowing she shouldn’t be flirting with him this way right now, but too shaken to think straight, she decides the need for physical contact is more important and does it anyway. God, she just wants to be held, to make the shaking stop.
Looking up at Tony with desperation in her eyes, she sighs with pleasure when he gently reaches down, caressing her cheek, her jaw, her neck. Tilting her chin up to him, he brings his lips down on hers. She responds like someone who’s been in a sensory deprivation chamber, reaching up and wrapping her arms around his neck, tangling her fingers in his hair, as he deepens the kiss. She opens for him, and their tongues meet, sweet and warm. She pulls him down towards her, but Tony uses his strong, muscular arms to lift her off the bed and lie her back down on the pillows, while the kiss ignites with passion. Body still shaking, Kat moans and pulls him so tight against her, it’s as if they are one.
Tony pulls away when he sits up, leaning on one arm as he stretches out along side of her.
“What’s wrong? Please don’t stop.”
“Are you sure?” he whispers, looking down at the confused look on her face.
“Yes…I…want you …and…I…need you tonight, Tony.”
That almost undid him. He lowers his head, drinking in her kiss. Their bodies intertwine as he moves on top of her and she wraps her arms and legs around him. She pulls on the bottom of his shirt, removing it from where it’s tucked into his jeans. Grabbing the bottom edge of his shirt, she runs her hands up his abdomen and over his chest, dragging the shirt along with her hands and slipping it over his head. He stops and looks down at her, but Kat doesn’t hesitate. She glides her tongue over his chest and nipples, nibbling and kissing, aching to feel her bare skin against his…”Your turn, undress me.”
Tony does as he’s instructed. Beginning with her shoes, he slides them off her feet, allowing them to drop to the ground with a thud. He then slowly slides the zipper down the back of her dress, stands her up and watches as it slides down her body, pooling into a pile on the floor. He groans as she stands before him in a pair of lace panties and nothing else. He lays her back down on the bed, and they cling to each other, kissing fiercely as he allows his free hand to trail down her newly exposed skin. For a brief moment, he wonders how she’ll respond if he just tears the panties from her body. Instead, he lowers his mouth to her breasts and feasts on the tender flesh.
Kat grabs for his pants, going straight for his belt, and then working on the zipper.
“Wait!”
“Why? I want you. Don’t you want me, too?”
“God knows I want you, Kat. I’ve wanted you since the day you showed up on our doorstep.”
“Then what’s stopping you? I’m here, we’re half naked in your bed, and I’m not resisting.”
“I know, but I need to know something. Why do you want me? Why do you need me tonight? Please… tell me.”
“I want you because we both know there is something between us. It’s been so long since I’ve had feelings for anyone other than Derrick. I want to explore them. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that you’re super good looking and sexy.”
Teasing her, he smiles and chides, “You think I’m sexy, huh?”
>
“You know it! Now get that sweet ass over here.”
“Just one more thing...why do you need me tonight?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, why tonight? What makes tonight different than the other night when we kissed on your front porch?”
“I… don’t know…it just is. Besides, your sister, who is also my best friend, was waiting in the car for you.”
“True, you didn’t attempt to invite me in that night. But Bre’s a big girl, she could have taken my car and driven herself home. Not only that, tonight, she’s right down stairs. So again, I’m asking…what makes tonight different? And believe me Kat, I want to hear the right answer because I really do want you so badly…and I’m not just talking about a one nighter.”
Starring up into Tony’s eyes and biting her lower lip, she whispers, “Please hold me and make love to me.”
“I can’t until I know why you want me to. I care too much about you for us to just use each other, Kat. So, is it because of the reading? I know it freaked you out. I saw the look in your eyes.”
“Honestly Tony, I do care about you too….and I am freaked out about the reading. I don’t want all that drama in my life. I don’t think I can handle it alone.”
“You’re not alone, Kat. No matter what happens or doesn’t happen between us, I won’t let you go through this alone.”
“Then kiss me.”
He brushes his lips against hers. It starts as a light peck on the lips, but quickly turns into a hot, wet, open-mouthed kiss. His head still swimming, he pulls away again…“Now Kat please, answer the question.”
“Alright, if I’m honest, I’m scared and the reading does play a part in it, but it’s not the only part.”
“Listen Kat, we both heard the reading. You’re going to be in love soon.”
“First, it’s only a reading. It doesn’t mean it’s going to happen.”
“Did your reading in New York pan out?”
“Well yes, part of it.”
“And the part that didn’t?”
“Well some of it is my future card and umm, now some of it is in the present part of the reading she did tonight. But look, I don’t even believe in this stuff. I mean come on…it’s all for entertainment.”
“No Kat, my aunt is a true diviner. I can’t remember a reading of hers ever being off.”
“Well, who’s to say the guy in the reading I’m going to fall in love with isn’t you, Tony? I mean, tonight might be the start of our romance. She said I may have already met him, so why don’t we find out?”
“Because Kat, if you’re not already in love with me, you’re not going to be. At least, not the way you should be.”
“How can you know that? She said it’s a choice.”
“Because we both heard the reading, we both looked at each other when the description of the Knight of Swords was read. We both know…that’s not me Kat. God knows I wish it was, but that is not who I am. That’s not the type of guy I am. You know it and so do I.”
Tears were stinging her eyes now. “But I want it to be you. I want you, not the asshole Knight of Swords whoever he is. He’s a prick. And what about what I want, not what the cards tell me I’m going to want. I want a nice guy like you. I want someone I can trust and who will be kind and caring. I want you, Tony Morretti. Can’t we make it you?”
“I wish we could and believe me, I want you. If I were the Knight of Swords, I wouldn’t have stopped. I wouldn’t think twice about that reading. I’d act selfishly and try to deny fate and fuck you until you can’t think straight in an effort to get to you first and try to guilt you into staying with me when the guy you’re destined to be with shows up. But that’s not who I am and I don’t think I could handle losing you in a week or a month or a year. Every guy that walks by you will have me wondering if he’s the one who’s going to take you away from me.”
“But I want to stay and be with you, Tony.”
Standing, Tony grabs a shirt from his dresser and tosses it to Kat. “Here, put this on. You can stay. You can stay with me all night. I’ll hold you in my arms, in my bed, while you sleep. I’ll make sure you’re not scared. I’ll be here for you Kat, just no sex. Not tonight. If my aunt’s wrong, then let’s start our relationship out right. When and if it does happen, it won’t be because of a reading, or because you’re scared. It will be because we respect and love one another. Until then, I will be your friend and protector. Now put the shirt on and move over.”
“I do love you, Tony.”
“Yeah I know, as a hot friend, and for now….that’s enough.” Sliding into bed beside Katrina, Tony wraps his arms around her, pulling her against him, resting her head on his bare chest. Brushing her hair aside and kissing her on the top of the head he whispers, “Good night Kat.”
“Night…and… thank you.”
“Go to sleep…I’ve got you.”
And they drift off to sleep in each other’s arms.
Chapter Eighteen
Awakened by the smell of coffee, Katrina sits straight up in bed a little too quickly. Holding her head in her hands she moans out in misery, “I feel like I’ve been hit in the head with a sledge hammer.”
“Put out your hands. Here’s a couple of Tylenol, a multi vitamin, and bottled water. Take them. They’ll make you feel better. There’s a mug of hot coffee for you on the nightstand too. Hope you like cream and sugar.”
“Thanks, but I don’t know if anything will help this morning. My head feels like an entire construction crew‘s inside hammering away.”
“I promise this will help. Now why don’t you grab a shower? It’ll help you feel half way human again.”
“Good idea, help me up?”
Taking Kats arms, Tony pulls her up and out of bed. She intentionally stumbles forward into his arms, taking the opportunity to initiate a long, wet kiss as he leans down to steady her. Noticing the large bulge pressing against the seam of his pants, she reaches out, palming his rock-hard cock in her hand while whispering an invitation through the kiss. “Care to join me?”
Leading her toward the bathroom, he groans, “Please don’t tempt me. You may get more than you bargain for, little girl.”
“That’s what I’m hoping for.”
“Get in there,” he tosses her a clean towel, “and I’ll meet you downstairs for breakfast.”
Twenty minutes later, Kat’s leaning in the doorway of the kitchen, watching Tony at the stove, competently preparing breakfast.
“Feeling better?”
Fingering her towel-dried hair Kat takes a step forward.
“You were so right about the shower; it was exactly what I needed. Need some help?” “No, I have it handled.”
“Okay then. What’s for breakfast?”
“Anything you want.”
“Anything?” She drawls, out giving him a long, naughty look.
Before he can answer, Bre walks in, “Did I miss something?”
“Nope, we’re just discussing what’s on the menu for breakfast.”
“Doesn’t sound or look like you’re talking about food,” she says with a sly grin.
Changing the subject, Kat announces, “I’ve been thinking about getting a tattoo and decided today’s the day. Anyone else game?”
“Eeew, I’ve always wanted one, but I have no idea what I want yet, so I’ll go with you and while you’re getting yours, I’ll look around and see if I get any ideas.”
“That sounds great, but before we go, I have a favor to ask.”
“Anything, what is it?”
“Well, I want to put your awesome artistic talent to work. If I tell you what I want, will you draw it for me? I want a totally unique tat that no one else will have. I know pieces of what I want, but I want you to put it together for me.” Smiling she says, “It’ll be a Bre Moretti original, so what do ya say?”
“I’d love to. Did you notice Tony’s dragon tat? It’s not finished, a tattoo that big and detailed takes several sittings
to complete, but when it’s done, it will start with the head and flames up high on his right shoulder blade, wings and body stretching across his back, ending with the tail wrapping around his left arm.”
“Yeah, I saw it. It’s awesome. Who’s doing it?”
“Well, I designed and sketched it, and Alex at Savage Ink is in the process of inking it.”
“Can we call him and see if he’s available today to do mine?” Laughing she teases, “Tony, will you come and hold my hand through it?”
“Hell yes! I can’t wait to see what you get.”
“Cool, as soon as Bre’s done with the artwork…let’s go.”
After flying almost 16 hours, the modified Boeing C135-C transport made its only approach over an airfield split in two by a long runway. A new day is dawning as the pilot promptly lands at the large, foreign U.S. Military Base that primarily houses helicopters. Standing slowly and stretching out his now stiff muscles, Gage grabs his pack and throws it over his shoulder. As he disembarks, he notices a Private waiting on the tarmac.
They salute each other and the Private states, “Please follow me, Sir. You’ll have an opportunity to clean up, grab some grub and rest before the mission commander sends for you.” Nodding, but not speaking a word, Gage follows.
Several hours later, Gage joins a group of men in the command center. Gazing around the room, he sees an array of stars, stripes, bars, and medals, as every branch of the military is represented. Of all the high-ranking officials in the room, none knew the true scope of the part he’d play in the upcoming mission.
Dressed in Desert Digital Camouflage, Gage heads to the air field shortly before 2400 hours AFT on May 1st, and boards one of two MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters just before they lift off. Inside the aircraft are twenty-three Navy SEALs, a Pakistani-American translator, and Gage. On this moonless evening, the four Night Stalker pilots and two crewmen, equipped with night vision glasses, fly without lights over mountains and borders, dipping into valleys and expertly maneuvering the extensively modified choppers to avoid detection by Pakistan’s military. The ninety-minute helicopter flight ends over a three story house located inside a one acre compound. The high value target they are after is supposed to be there.
The Tower (The Tarot Series Book 1) Page 10
