by Bri Clark
“No worries, love, you aren’t going anywhere.” He squeezed my hip. “Before this gets out of hand, we have some issues we need to work out first.” His fingers traced a little line over my collarbone and up my neck, leaving a blazing hot trail upon my skin.
“Uh huh,” I mumbled. Smiling, he pulled his hand away but put it back on my hip. My bottom lip quivered.
He chuckled again. "Settle, Love, I need to do this right. I want you to think clearly so we can attempt to figure this out. Is that acceptable?”
I nodded in agreement.
“All right, then. First and foremost, are you sick?”
I looked at him, bewildered. “No, why would you think I was sick?”
“When we arrived, you were weak and leaned into me. Then you almost fainted out on the balcony,” he reminded me gently placing my hair behind my ear.
“I don’t know exactly what happened when we first arrived. I felt a wave of…” I paused struggling for the right words, “of hatred hit me. It made my mind all groggy and my knees felt weak under the pressure. Then when I finally was gaining some composure, another wave hit even harder. That time I did come close to passing out, and I'm glad you caught me. Do you have any ideas of what could cause that?” He withdrew his hand from my hip and rubbed his chin, a habit I noticed he did when he was really thinking. The he stopped met my eyes and gulped.
The suspense was killing me. “What?”
“Did you have your shield raised?” he asked.
“No.” I answered. He looked perplexed.
“What’s on your mind, Henry?” I prodded.
His face became thoughtful. “I wonder if I sent that wave of anger over you. It wouldn’t be the first time. We had a few incidences when you first came to the base. I think you and I both know I was not exactly cool and collective when we arrived.”
“But if you had your shield up, how would I be able to feel all that emotion? And more importantly, why on earth would you be that angry?” I shuddered at the memory.
He arched his pale eyebrow and his lips compressed. “I do believe I answered this question already.”
“When?” I snorted, crossing my arms across my chest.
“On the balcony, right before we came in. I told you I was jealous. Are you sure that you’re not sick? If you are forgetting something that recent…” He stopped, probably because I jumped up from his lap, and started pacing the floor, trying not to hyperventilate.
A flurry of thoughts, fears, and emotions merged into my mind all at once. I couldn’t think being so close to him. He tried to approach me, his arms outstretched, beckoning me to enter. I wanted to so badly, but we had some issues to figure out, as he had said.
I stopped pacing and faced him, palms up, keeping distance between us. His hurt expression pained me to no end. I knew that expression. Rejection. I knew that pain as well.
“I am fine, Henry, I am just trying to deal with all this. I can’t be level headed when I'm too close to you. I need you to tell me how you feel about me. I need to know why you kissed me, and then ignored me. I need to understand.”
“All right, Love, I can do that.” He backed away and sat down in the chair we previously shared. Never taking his eyes from me, he rubbed his chin then ran his hand through his hair twice. “Listen, I want to do this right, and I don’t exactly know what to say, so I am going to release my shield instead.” I nodded in encouragement, not sure I could handle it all, but the need outweighed the fear.
His defense literally dropped allowing me to feel exactly what he was feeling, every bright, intense, honest emotion. Right now, he was worried, nervous. “Everything I said at the cabin, I meant. I treasure every minute we spend together, but those are the most valuable to me. They have consumed my dreams every night since.” He studied me for a moment. “I ignored you to protect you. I was selfish putting all that emotion on you. I felt awful. Here I am supposed to be protecting you, and I'm doing the opposite. I never stopped caring; I never stopped being your friend. At least that’s what I thought. I wasn’t aware I was so distant. I realize that in suppressing my true feelings for you, Glazier came into control. I am sorry for that, truly sorry. I hate myself for hurting you. And as for Abbass…” He said his name with such malice, I shivered.
“I know what you mean by having a wave hit you. When I sensed him after he first saw you…” He stopped then moved over to the French doors looking out the window clenching and unclenching his fists, the same anger as before overtook me. This time, I was prepared. Holding tight to the back of a chair, I breathed.
“I think you are somewhat aware of his…attraction to you. However, attraction is a G rated word for what is a triple-X type of desire he has.” He became quiet again. “Marie, I have done some viscous things in my time. I have always blamed Glazier, used her as an excuse. But it was all my own desires when I imagined what I would do to him if he ever—” His voice went hoarse. I could feel the rage radiating from him. Turning around to face me, his features softened immediately. My hand covered my heart. “Will you please say something, do something? I am dying from your silence.”
I couldn’t find the words. Allowing him the same privilege, I dropped my own shield. The shining diamonds that met my eyes communicated more than any sense ever could. Yet he still didn’t approach me.
“You have no idea how hard it is for me to stay here and not have you in my arms especially now, knowing you want it, you yearn for it like I do,” he declared.
I winked in encouragement. His arms slipped around me as easy as silk, and I laid my head upon his chest. We basked in each other’s embrace in silence. It was like a final rest after a long journey, a long emotional journey.
“When did you realize I was following you?” Henry finally asked, breaking the quiet. The heat rose, claiming my cheeks, and I tried to bring my shield back up before he read my embarrassment. Nevertheless, it was too late.
“That’s not fair, now what’s all that about?” He was teasing, but I felt his hurt.
I swallowed a huge gulp. “On the balcony.” I whispered.
He looked at me and frowned.
I let out a deep sigh. “I bluffed on the balcony, earlier.”
Next thing I knew I was flying through the air in circled and booming musical laughter assaulted my ears. A welcomed attack all the same. After our spinning, Henry dropped us on the bed. I laughed with him. A loud chime interrupted our merriment. We both looked at the large ornate clock in the corner. It was late. I yawned. He laughed softly and pulled the blankets back. I snuggled underneath while he pulled me against him into a perfect fit. We were like two puzzle pieces, nothing special until we were together. I yawned again. He wrapped me in a familiar embrace and kissed the top of my heard then whispered, “Sleep, Love.”
I obeyed with a smile.
Chapter Eighteen
Marie
In their suite at the compound in Egypt
The chimes of that dreadful clock awoke me from a beautiful dream. I stretched and sat up feeling a piece of paper brush my wrist. On the pillow beside me, it was neatly folded in half with an exquisite blue flower tucked in between the folds. I picked the flower up and opened the note. In elegant script were Henrys’ words.
Love,
I wanted to be there so bad to see your beautiful eyes open.
Abbass has a busy itinerary for his guests. I am with the other men taking a tour of the grounds. Breakfast is at 9:00 am for the women. I will return to you soon.
Please don’t be upset I didn’t wake you, you were simply too peaceful for me to disturb. Don’t worry about breakfast. Just be polite and enjoy yourself.
Do not do anything impulsive, we still have some things to discuss…Please be careful, especially around Abbass. Protect my greatest treasure.
You.
Your fool, Henry
Smiling, I inhaled the scent of the flower's petals. It was refreshing, a sweet scent similar to jasmine. The colors of the petals were a distincti
ve blend of blue and white. I began to recall the events of the previous evening, realizing it wasn’t a dream. He may be a fool sometimes, but he was my fool. Now that I knew the reasons behind his behavior after the cabin and with Abbass, it made my love for him burn.
Love…did I love him? I had no way to know if what I felt was love. There was no experience from my past to compare it to. For the first time, I wondered was there ever anyone else.
A light tap on the door distracted me from my thoughts. “Who is it?” I called, moving from the bed to grab a weapon. A woman’s soft voice answered, speaking Egyptian. I opened the door. It was one of Abbass’s maids, a rotund woman wearing the traditional cleaning garb. She gave me a note informing me breakfast was at nine. Her eyes never looked up from her feet. I thanked her for waking me and patted her shoulder so she would look at me. She trembled as she lifted her head, and I smiled at her. She smiled back shyly then quickly dropped her head back to its original position. She turned to leave. However I beckon her to stop.
Speaking Egyptian, I asked her who sent her, assuming she knew no other language. I wasn't exactly certain how I knew the language myself. Her eyes grew wide. I asked her again, giving her a smile. She looked around then came close and gestured for me to lean down.
Master, she whispered with eyes as dark as midnight and wide with fear. She looked at the clock in the hallway it was 8:30. I sensed her concern. I nodded in acknowledgement and ran to the bathroom.
While I dressed, my mind began to plot. Henry’s note said breakfast was for the women. If Abbass sent his servant to make sure I was attending, he must have been planning to make an appearance. He figures Henry will be with the men, and I will be alone. Abbass was clever. I opened one of the suitcases debating on what to wear. There were mainly dresses; I figured that was what women around here wore. I picked a royal blue dress similar to the green one I wore the day before.
It had straps that tied behind my neck forming a v, leaving my shoulders exposed. It was tight on my waist and flared out from my hips ending at the top of my knees. Finding a pair of matching heels, I strapped them on at Glazier speed. Sprinting to the bathroom, I then realized I had to do something with my hair. It had a wave to it from my shower the previous night. I pulled each side up pinning it back with a barrette. I ran back in the closet fixing to grab a shawl, but decided against it. It was hot here, and it was just breakfast anyway.
Adding my compact to a small clutch, I found the blade I had hidden in my hair the night before and tucked it in the material of my dress under the strap that tied behind my neck. Henry had asked me to be careful. I opened the door holding my breath. It was five until nine. I realized that I didn’t know where I was going. Luckily, the maid was waiting. She stood up when she saw me and motioned for me to follow.
For someone so short, she was incredibly fast. We rushed through the never-ending hallways and parlors then suddenly stopped outside a door. I could hear the soprano voices of several women, mostly speaking in Arabic. She looked at me with her eyebrows raised, and I winked at her. As she opened the door, I saw the room was luxurious, much like the entire house. The walls were a brilliant gold with a crystal chandelier suspended in the middle. Silence converged as twenty pairs of eyes glared at me.
Forcing my lips to form a tight smile, I did a quick sense of the room. Feeling the tension of the women that fueled their united glares, my smile faded. However, there was one woman who was amused. She was the only other woman there other than me lacking a tan. She possessed lovely ivory skin and brunette hair styled on top of her head in a high ponytail and perched at the end of the table. She wore a green dress with short sleeves, complimenting her emerald eyes.
Meeting my stare, her red lips exposed a beautiful set of white teeth. She held her hand out to the empty chair beside her. The gesture strained her sleeve revealing a muscular bicep. Eager to escape the glares, I controlled my stride as I made my way to the vacant seat.
“Boy you sure can make an entrance, Doll.” She greeted me while her warm southern drawl enunciated every word. Stunned, I impolitely ignored the hand she held out to shake.
“Sorry, that was rude of me. I should have introduced myself first before I humiliated you. I’m Shae, Shae Stryker,” she said. Again, her accent was striking, yet soothing, like the honeycomb just beyond the threat of the bees. Shaking her offered hand, I was impressed she returned a firm grip while I introduced myself.
“Marie, Marie Rathbone. Don’t worry you didn’t embarrass me. I don’t understand your comment, though about my entrance.” By now, the other women went back to their conversations. I could both hear and sense the loathing of their voices even in their native tongue. Focusing on Shae, I tried to ignore it.
“Oh, there was nothing you could have done about it. They have been waiting for you all morning.” She giggled picking up a glass of water.
“Why are they waiting for me?”
“You are Marie Rathbone, one half of the elusive Rathbones, are you not?” she answered, winking over her water glass. I laughed. She was infectious. I decided I liked her.
“They have all been guessing what you look like.” She grinned then continued. “The funniest guess was that you had some strange American disease made you ugly, they all were pretty consistent with the ugly part.” She paused then laughed. “And then you walked in.” Her laughter increased. “The looks on their faces.” She was flat out cackling now. She hit her leg in glee unable to continue speaking. I laughed along not really sure why.
Some of the women continued to glare at us. I looked away from their stares and found myself looking at Shae. Heat crept upward along my neck.
“Oh, there I go again, embarrassing you,” she said a little too loud for my comfort, intensifying my flush.
“Can you keep it down a little?” I begged only a fresh wave of laughter responded instead.
“Marie, none of them speak English. They have no idea what I am saying.” She winked.
“They don’t think I can understand what they are saying either. However I can and I will translate for you.” She sat up straight and talked as if we were old friends.
“That will not be necessary I can translate for myself, quite well.” I winked back at her. Shocked at my own ability to understand not only Egyptian but also Arabic, I wondered if perhaps it was something Glazier enabled me to do. I would talk to Henry about it later.
She suppressed another laugh. “Well thanks for sharing, so I guess if you are still talking to me, I would assume you aren’t holding a grudge for my behavior. We can still be friends?” She appeared so blatantly honest, it was refreshing.
I nodded. “I guess I will need an ally with all the other women hating me so much.” I had never realized just how much I wanted a friend up until one was offered.
She snorted. “Doll, they don’t hate you. These women are jealous, that’s their problem with you. You have no need for an ally concerning them.” She rolled her beautiful eyes into her thick dark lashes.
Her reassuring words put me at ease. The doors at the other end of the room opened, revealing an Egyptian female, all the women stood up as she entered. Shae nonchalantly pulled me up with her. The new woman was striking, with her dark hair pulled up in a French twist; she wore a colorful dress or robe of some kind. It looked like it was native. It was bright and flowed across her body like air. She had caramel skin, russet eyes, and ebony hair. She was around 5’3 and petite with healthy curves. She sat down at the head of the table. The other women sat down after her. I glanced over at Shae.
“Abbass’s wife,” she whispered interpreting my questioning look correctly. She lifted her hand, signaling the serving of breakfast. Several servants came around to each of our seats, holding silver trays with lids hiding their contents. The servant woman from earlier held mine. I tried to catch her eye and she maintained her view of the floor. Each of the servants sat the trays down in front of us, revealing our breakfast in unison then quickly dispersed.
I wasn’t sure what I was fixing to eat, but it smelled good. I drew my confidence from Shae, and took a tentative bite of the dish which included onions, parsley, eggs, and bread. It was salty, savory, and delicious. I could hear the low hum of the other women talking again and was able to pick out the dish’s name: Ful Medames. Most of the women were speaking to the ambassador’s wife, sucking up, and complimenting her on her excellent taste. I glanced up at Shae, and she smiled back. It seemed we were thinking the same thing.
Shae began to tell me about herself. Her husband’s name was Collin. He had a degree in weapons analysis, and was a liaison for Russia. They met in the US when he was on a business trip. She was from Georgia. They had no children. Her lyrical voice blanched just a touch then she picked right back up her rhythm. They traveled often because of his job. This was her second trip to Egypt, her first time staying with the ambassador. She had attended some events where he participated. She asked me about my life, and I recited what I memorized from the cover file. Then everything got quiet, the big doors had opened once again and Abbass entered. He wasn’t an ugly man. He actually looked quite handsome in cream slacks and a sports coat. Nevertheless, every fiber of my being told me he had to be a villain.
