“Getting you the hell out of here, and away from this Mario guy,” I say. “That's what matters.”
She nods and draws back into herself even further. I want to reach out and take her into my arms – but know that I can't. Not right now. Things are still tense and awkward between us after sleeping with each other. That's just one more big complication in this whole mess. A complication we don't really need right now.
“Sir.”
I look up and see Captain Stern standing in the doorway of the cockpit. “Yes?”
“I've got the flight plan filed and clearance from the tower to get ready for takeoff.”
I give him a nod. “Great. Thank you, Captain,” I say. “I appreciate that.”
He gives me a nod and disappears back into the cockpit again. Celeste just looks so lost right now, and it's killing me. I wish there was something I could do to snap her out of this. To make her see that everything is going to be okay again.
But I can't make that promise, because I don't know for certain that it will be.
“Grant, do you think you – never mind,” she mutters, turning to look out the window.
“No, what is it?” I ask.
“Just –” she turns back to me, biting her bottom lip. “I just want to be close to someone right now.”
I pat the seat next to me, and she moves over quickly, dropping down beside me. I lift up the armrest, and she curls into me, her head resting on my shoulder. I put my arm around her and pull her close, deciding to just go with what feels right. She needs to be comforted, and I'm all that she has.
She nuzzles her face up against my neck, pressing herself even tighter against me. Her hand rests against my chest, and I know my heart is racing. I can feel it thumping hard against my breastbone, and I know she can feel it too. Being this close to her, even after everything we've been through, still feels magical.
I can't even begin to imagine how this has all come to be, how she and I have found ourselves here in this space, together, but I'm not going to question it too much. It's one of the strangest things in my life. I never expected to feel my heart opening up again, to feel my walls – so high and thick around my heart – start to come down.
I never expected it, but I can't deny it – nor, can I deny that it feels so right.
“Thank you,” she whispers.
Her breath is warm against my skin. Her lips gently brush my neck, just barely touching me, but it's enough to send a shudder through my entire body. I curse my lower body, silently telling my cock to behave itself.
She's in no shape for sexual activity, anyway. It's a terrible idea. Given everything we've just seen and gone through together, I wouldn't be surprised she didn't feel like having sex for the next month. Watching Tasha die – right in front of us – was one of the most traumatic things I'm sure she's ever been through. And it's just one of a thousand reasons why having sex with her – or, at least trying to – is a bad idea. A very bad idea.
But my erection has a mind of its own and grows harder at just being close to this woman, and feeling her body pressed to mine.
She's so tight against me, for a split second I pray she doesn't notice that I'm sitting here with a raging hard on. But her hand brushes against the bulge in my jeans, and I realize that she's got a devilish little smirk on her face. Not only did she notice, she's teasing me. It only causes my dick to throb even more as it pines for release. I groan under my breath.
“I'm sorry –” I start to say, but it's too late.
Celeste takes hold of my face, and she presses those perfect lips to mine, stealing the words from my mouth. I want to tell her we shouldn't do this, that it's wrong. There are a thousand different reasons why this is a bad idea. But she kisses me, her tongue thrusting into my mouth, and she grips at my shirt with such need. Her blue eyes are blazing with lust, an electricity radiating from her body.
“I need something, Grant. Something that makes me feel alive again,” she whispers. “You make me feel alive. Please, don't deny me this –”
How can I turn her away? Not only does my body crave her, I can't possibly turn her down when she asks me like that. It doesn't make sense, but I'd give this woman anything she asks for. She's stroking me through my jeans, making it very clear what she wants. She leans her forehead against mine, stares deep into my eyes, and unzips my pants. Her small hand slips inside my boxers, drawing a long, shuddering breath from me, as she takes hold of my member.
God, I need her. In that moment, I realize I need her more than I've needed anything in my life.
I grab hold of her body and pull her on top of me, so she is straddling my lap. She's in a dress, which gives us easy access to what we both need more than anything. My hard cock is pressed firmly against her opening – through her panties. Even through the thin material, I can feel how wet she is. I move my hips, grinding myself against her, bringing a gasp to her lips.
“Did I hurt you?” I ask.
“Not at all,” she says. “I just need to feel you inside of me, so badly. It's crazy, but I need it.”
She reaches down and slides her panties to the side, and the head of my cock brushes against her wetness. She's so warm, and her pussy is dripping with desire. Begging to be filled by me, every bit as much as her eyes are begging me to fill her.
“One sec,” I growl, digging into my pocket.
I pull out a condom and make quick work of the packaging before slipping it over my hard, throbbing erection. Celeste watches my every movement, biting her lip in anticipation of getting what she desires, as I make sure I'm wrapped and ready for her. When that's finally finished, she begins to lower herself against me once more.
As she takes me deep between her sweet, velvety folds, Celeste’s warmth envelops me immediately. She moans softly and slides down onto me further and keeps going until she's sitting flat against my lap. She runs her fingers through my long hair, kissing my face as our bodies get used to being joined together. If it's that connection to life she needs, I'm more than happy to provide it for her. And as we sit there, our bodies united as one, I realize it's a connection I needed as well.
She slowly rocks her body against me. I grab hold of her hips, my fingers pressing into her flesh, and I steady her against me. My lips graze the flesh of her neck, sliding down to her cleavage, while she rides me, her lustful moans filling my ear as her pussy clenches and squeezes down around me.
She's so tight, it takes everything in me not to explode inside of her right then and there. Gritting my teeth and squeezing my eyes shut, I try the old cliché of thinking about anything – except for the way her body moves against mine.
Desperately trying to stave off the coming explosion, I focus on the hum of the plane’s engines instead of her moans and cries, which grow louder and more desperate the harder she fucks me. Celeste is grinding herself on me with such force, that our bodies are slapping together. The sound of our desperation and pleasure fills the cabin.
“Yes, yes,” she cries out, her nails digging into my scalp as she grinds against me. “Oh God, yes.”
Her body shudders hard, then her pussy is suddenly spasming around my cock, gripping me tightly, and then releasing me. I open my eyes to stare out the window. We are a mile in the air. A thick blanket of clouds hangs above the world outside, blocking the view of the Earth below us. I focus on the clouds, scrutinizing them in minute detail – all while urging myself not to lose control too soon. She needs this, Grant. She needs to feel good. This is her moment.
But God, the more she moans, the harder it is for me to focus on anything else but her. Celeste's movements become more erratic and frantic, and she grabs my head, forcing me to look into her eyes.
She whispers, “I'm going to come.”
Her eyes flutter open and shut, and it's like an earthquake goes off inside of her as she shakes violently above me, thrashing wildly as I hold onto her. I feel my balls tighten against me. The pressure is becoming too much.
I try to hold back, but I can’t anymo
re. I bury myself deep inside of her one last time, pulling her down against me, and my cock throbs in powerful release as I come inside of her, filling the condom.
We stare into each other's eyes for several long moments, both of us filled with the knowledge that this is what we both needed. Not just now, but more so now, when it feels like everything in the world is stacked against us. This life-affirming act of defiance in the face of so much terror is powerful. Cathartic.
I feel bad, only briefly, as my orgasm subsides. She's vulnerable, I tell myself. But I fight the urge to pull away from her. She came onto me because she knew what she wanted. What she needed. Celeste may have issues with her memory, but she's a big girl. And she has her own mind. I can't forget that. She's a grown woman, and she has her own thoughts and opinions about everything. If she didn't want this to happen, it wouldn't have happened.
She kisses me softly on the lips, a breathless smile on her face.
“Thank you,” she says.
I push the hair back from her beautiful face and stroke her cheek gently. I should be thanking her, but even that doesn't feel right. We both enjoyed it. Instead of answering her, I merely kiss her again, exploring her mouth with my tongue and letting her know the truth: I wanted this just as badly as she did.
If not more.
* * *
We manage to fly in just before the big storm broke. Snow is falling by the time we're in the car and on the road back to my cabin. It starts with big, fluffy flakes, pulling a thick, white blanket over the world around us. Celeste stares through the window with something like awe on her face. She looks like a kid on Christmas morning, looking at a tree lined with presents.
“It's so beautiful,” she says.
I nod and keep my eyes focused on the road ahead. That last thing I want to do his hit some black ice and put us into a ditch. She's not wrong though. Despite it being colder than hell, winter up here in the mountains is gorgeous. After the snow falls, and the world is covered in white, it really is beautiful. I've seen plenty of snowfall in Chicago in my life, but it can't compare with the beauty of a snowfall up here in the mountains of Colorado. Not even close.
I drive cautiously, but as quickly as I can. I want to get us back to my cabin before the meat and muscle of this storm hits. I've been up here long enough to know what it looks like when something big and nasty is bearing down on the area. The sooner we can get to the cabin, and get a fire going, the better. Maybe then, we can start figuring out what to do.
We spend the next forty-five minutes in silence, as Celeste seems to withdraw into herself again. No matter what I do, I can't quite seem to reach her just yet. Even after we made love on the plane, she’s just shutting down entirely. And I can't afford to have her do that. I'm going to need her brain to help me figure some of this out.
No, she can't remember much just yet, but I'm hoping that since we've now been to Chicago and have learned some bits and pieces of her story, that it'll unlock something in her mind, and she can start filling in some of the gaps.
It might be a long shot, but it's the only shot we have at this point.
After pulling into the driveway in front of my cabin, I unload our bags and we head for the front door. But before I even put the key in the lock, I sense that something's not right.
I can't explain it, but it's like a sixth sense. I had to develop it serving overseas. That intuition, I guess you can call it, saved my ass on more than one occasion. And right now, the flashing lights and red flags are going off in my head like mad.
I put my hand on Celeste's shoulder and gently move her to the side of the door. She gives me a questioning look, but then I see the fear suddenly wash over her. I feel bad – Celeste has been living in a constant state of fear since she woke up in the hospital. But I'd rather have her afraid, than dead.
“Stay right there,” I say quietly. “Don't move.”
“What's wrong?”
“I don't know,” I say. “Maybe nothing.”
“It doesn't look like nothing,” she says. “I can see it in your eyes.”
“I – I'll explain later,” I say, my voice firm. “Right now, I just need you to do what I say. Stay put and do not move. Do you understand?”
She opens her mouth to speak, but closes it again, and just nods. I turn to the door and slip the key in the lock as quietly as I can. With gritted teeth, I turn the key slowly and feel the door unlock. I slowly push the door inward, my body tensed and ready for anything. Slipping my hand to the right, I flip the switch and flood the room with light.
My eyes quickly dart from left to right, my body coiled, my senses on high alert. I clear the front room. Nobody's there. I step through the door and walk around, carefully taking in everything around me. There are no guys hiding in the corners with machine guns or anything like that, but I know somebody's been here – the stench of cheap cologne is still thick in air.
“Celeste,” I call out. “It's clear.”
She steps through the door and closes it behind her. She looks around with terrified eyes, looking as skittish as a rabbit – and just as likely to run.
“W – what's going on?” she asks.
“Somebody was here,” I say. “We need to go. It's not safe.”
“Who, Grant?” she asks. “Who was here?”
“I don't know any better than you do,” I say. “But I'm guessing it was some of our new friends in Chicago.”
Her face blanches and I see the tremor run through her body. She's getting even more scared by the moment and I know I need to do something to calm her down. To be honest, I'm more than a little alarmed by the fact that they found my cabin so quickly – or at all. I live a pretty anonymous life out here. Don't have a lot of friends, don't get out much. I have no idea how they might have found me.
But that's a question better left for another time.
“Grab some things and let's go,” I say.
“Go where?”
“We'll check into a hotel somewhere.”
Personally, I'd rather get the hell out of town altogether, but with the storm bearing down on us, there is no way I'll get Captain Stern to take off in it. So, we're going to have to stay somewhere within driving distance. And given how much the wind is picking up outside, I'm guessing it'll have to be somewhere local.
I rush to the bedroom, grab a bag, and start throwing clothes and other essentials into it. Toothbrush, phone charger, a box of condoms. I have no idea how long we're going to be gone, so I'm just taking what I can get my hands on. We'll pick up anything else that's needed as we need it. I'm not real worried about that.
What I am worried about is the mob guys. I have no idea how long ago they were here, nor do I know if they're still hanging around. For all I know, they could be out in the woods, waiting to gun us down when we step outside again.
I take a breath to compose myself. If they wanted us dead, we'd be dead already. They haven’t kicked the front door in, which eases my mind a little bit. They probably weren't around. But I have a feeling they're coming back, and soon. Hell, if they found out where I live, it's probably not that big of a stretch to think they can find out where I hangar my jet and see that we've just gotten back into town. Which means they might be heading back this way right now.
“We need to go,” I say.
Celeste follows me out of the bedroom without a word. I stop at my gun safe to grab a couple more handguns and a few boxes of ammo. I can feel each and every second slipping by. I pause at the front door, and motion her to the side again. The logs that make up the walls of my cabin are so thick that even if there are guys out there who open fire on us, no bullets would get through to her.
I stand to the side and carefully open the door. No gunfire. I peek my head around and don't see a group of guys in trench coats and fedoras bearing down on us either. The area seems to be clear.
“Okay, let's go,” I say.
I follow her out of the cabin, shutting off the lights, and locking the door behind me –
though, I don't know what good locking it will do, given the fact that they've already been inside. Habit, I guess. I get her to the car, get her inside, throw my bags in the back, and jump behind the wheel. The wind is gusting, the temperature is dropping, and the fat, fluffy flakes of snow are starting to give way to sharp shards of ice.
I fire up the engine and pull back out toward the highway, driving as quickly, but as carefully, as possible. I don't know how many hotels are actually in town, but I aim to find the most nondescript and out-of-the-way one I can find.
Chapter Thirteen
Celeste
“Not a five-star resort, but it'll have to do,” Grant says.
I couldn't care less about the quality of the hotel. I’m still shaking like a leaf and staring off into the distance. I replay the death of Tasha – my best friend – over and over again in my head. The sound of the gunshot, of her body hitting the floor, will forever haunt my dreams.
And there's part of me that wonders if I'll ever be the same after seeing something like that.
It's all also made me unsure that I even want my memory back now. It almost seems like a better idea to escape, to just do what Bruno had told me to do – pretend I'm dead and never go back to my old life. Because if I do, more people will probably end up dead. People I care about – even if I can't remember them – will probably be slaughtered just like Tasha had been.
Maybe it's for the best that I forget. Or that I don't allow myself to remember.
I know deep down that even if I wanted to forget, it's too late now. Mario knows I'm alive. He's going to look for me, no matter what. He won’t stop coming after me. My life will never be the same again.
The sound of running water pulls my attention back to the dingy room in the Motel 6 we're stuck in. Grant is at the sink, splashing water onto his face. Through all of this, he's been there for me. Even though he doesn't even know who I am, he's been there for me. He's saved my life more times than I can count – and for what? I can't imagine this is fun for him. Given how he lives – in a cabin out in the middle of nowhere – I can tell he's a hermit. He's living a quiet life out in the woods. Now he's been drawn into a potential Mafia war, they know who he is – all because of me.
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