Alex couldn’t get enough of her body and how it trembled at every touch. She quivered as he slipped his finger inside her again and again. Her dark eyes met his. “Soon, my sweet. Just enjoy it.”
Breathlessly, she begged, “Alex, I can’t wait . . .”
He entered her again and again, and she cried out in pleasure.
“Please . . . I—”
He knew she was close and increased the rhythm until her body jerked violently, and he felt her powerful release grip his finger.
“Yes. Oh, Alex, yes!” Her cries of passion echoed through the valley. He continued to stroke her with his fingers, slowly until her body began to settle.
His cock ached when he realized he hadn’t brought any condoms with him. His reason for traveling to Tabiq hadn’t been to have sex. If anything, it was to avoid it at all costs. Now he could kick himself for not putting one in his wallet. “Fuck.”
Ziva looked up at him. “What’s the matter?”
He could tell from her expression she thought it was something she’d done. “My sweet, I don’t have any protection with me.”
She relaxed some with his response. He, on the other hand, felt anything but relaxed. His cock was begging for release.
Ziva reached down between his legs and took hold of him. He didn’t need any more torture than he already had. “Please, Ziva, we can’t.”
“Alex, I know my cycle. I’m safe.”
Those were words no man ever believed or shouldn’t anyway. They’d trapped so many men in unwanted relationships. But Ziva wasn’t that type, and with her, he didn’t feel trapped. From day one, he felt she could read his soul. They hadn’t spoken many words to each other, apart from the day she took him to the prison. Yet here he was. With her. Tasting her. Wanting her. What surprised him the most was, he felt more comfortable with her than he did with anyone else. He never knew it would be so easy with someone. So quickly. Trapped was the last thing he felt when he was near her.
Looking at her, he knew she was serious, and he didn’t care if she became pregnant. Until her, he wanted to spend his life alone, unattached. Home wasn’t a place he wanted to be. It was just an address. He called her my sweet because that’s who she was when he thought of her. Nothing but sweet. And mine.
He hadn’t realized he was smiling until she mentioned it. “What are you smiling about?”
Alex would tell her, later. “Just admiring the view,” he said instead. Still true.
She smiled at him, as she pulled him to her. “Then admire me closer.”
He paused and looked into her eyes one more time and knew he was lost. He saw his own desire matched with hers.
He didn’t want to take his eyes off her, and she seemed the same. As he buried himself deep inside her, he captured her lips with his and mumbled her name into her mouth. Their moans blended as they became one. Once he knew she’d adjusted to him—and his size—he slowly began to move inside her. My sweet, you feel amazing.
He started slowly at first, but she met him with her hips, encouraging him to take her deeper, faster. As their bodies came together, again and again, it was like nothing he’d felt before. This was far more than a physical act. It wasn’t fucking. This was making love to someone. A feeling he’d never experienced before. An emotion he thought he was incapable of having.
Overtaken by the need within him, he began moving faster and deeper; her moans grew louder with each thrust. He gripped her hips and met her again and again. He could feel her body tense beneath him as she rocked with a second release. When she clenched around him, he lost what little control he had. Plunging one last time into her, he shuddered with his release.
They lay holding each other, panting. He couldn’t imagine having sex again with anyone else, knowing how amazing it was with someone you . . . cared deeply about.
Alex wasn’t ready to say love. He had no clue what that word truly meant. He’d heard it used by so many people that it had lost its meaning. Yet, holding her tenderly against him now, he couldn’t think of any other word that explained what he felt.
He’d promised her they’d talk later. That’s what tomorrows are for. Right now, I want to enjoy what we shared. Maybe again in a few minutes.
“I didn’t know, Alex. I didn’t know it could be like this. It was . . . so amazing,” Ziva said breathlessly.
“I didn’t know either, my sweet.” I truly didn’t.
Chapter Thirteen
‡
Ziva could stay on this island forever with Alex. It was secluded and had everything one could ask for. There was an abundance of fruit trees and fresh water. The only thing it lacked was a proper bathroom. That was where she drew the line when it came to being an outdoors type.
“Alex, I’d love to stay here, but I need to go back. Myla and the other girls need me.”
He lifted a hand and stroked her cheek with gentle tenderness. “I know. We should talk first.”
Ziva agreed. There was a lot she needed to explain to him. “I’m really sorry that . . . well there’s a lot I’m sorry for. Maybe I should start at the beginning.”
“You don’t have to apologize.”
“I do. Please let me explain everything. It’s important that you understand why certain things happened.” Alex nodded. “My childhood was a good one to a certain age. When I grew older, my father explained to me what happened to some of the women here, things that were out of his control. He hid me away for a few years. It was the only thing that saved me from the fate of the others, well, and that we lied upon my return. Others like my sister, Isa.”
“I’m sorry. I heard she disappeared when you were very young.”
Ziva didn’t know how he knew that. It was many years ago, and she never spoke about it. “How—?”
“Bennett. He does his job well. Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I wish he could tell me what happened to her. I could have closure.”
“I’ll ask him. But I can’t make any promises. Although, I wish I could.” Alex reached out and held her hand.
She knew he would do anything if she asked. Ziva wouldn’t take advantage of that. “Thank you. Why I’m telling you this is so you understand why I did what I did. Your father, James, has a name everyone in my country knows. He was feared like no other. I know he was your father, but he was a very evil man. He had no love in his hear for anyone.”
“Not even his own children,” Alex said softly. Sadly, his statement didn’t surprise her. He needed to remind himself that the Henderson clan wasn’t the only ones who suffered at the hands of James.
“When I heard you were here, I needed to know why. When you went to the same hotel James went to all those years ago, I had to try to stop you. Then I saw you talking to the manager. He is the one who makes all the arrangements with the men and brings them the women. The manager is just like James. Cold and evil.”
“Agreed.”
“I was watching you. Waiting for you to make a move so I could stop you from acting on your . . . what I thought was your sick, immoral behavior. I needed to know for sure, so I broke into your room and—”
“That was you?” Alex had a look of total surprise on his face.
She had a sick sense of pride that she’d been able to pull that off, and he never suspected her. Also, an overwhelming sense of guilt that she’d invaded his privacy. “I wanted to find proof of what you were doing. I thought if I could get the proof and post it on the Internet, your good name would be ruined, and you’d have to stop. I know it was naïve on my part, but I was desperate to stop you.”
“My good name? I’m not sure you know anything about me,” Alex teased.
“I researched you. Well, what I could find on you. There really isn’t much. I’m not sure you have a job, but then again, I suppose with a Henderson bank account, you don’t need one.”
“I have a job. When you’re done, I’ll tell you about it.”
“Sounds interesting. I broke in and found the weapons in the closet. I knew
you were up to no good. But I had a feeling there was something good in you. That is why I took you to the prison. I thought I could scare you toward the right path.”
Alex laughed. “You’re barely five feet tall and you took me to a prison to intimidate me. Don’t you think you should’ve been afraid of what I was going to do to you? I mean you found all kinds of weapons, and you thought I was like my father. I’m not sure you’d make a very good spy.”
Ziva wrinkled her nose. “Really? And you think you would?”
“Well, yes. Everyone, yourself included, believed I was just like James. It all would’ve worked out if someone hadn’t broken into my room and taken Myla. Oh yeah, also came back with a gun and tried to muscle me. By the way, don’t ever pull an unloaded weapon on someone. No more guns for you, period.”
Ziva laughed this time. “I couldn’t hit the side of a barn if I tried. You would’ve been safe either way.”
“Definitely no more guns.”
“Well, it got your attention.”
“My sweet, your beautiful face had my attention.”
She wished he’d take her seriously, but his words warmed her heart. Ziva loved hearing him call her, his sweet. “I’m not as defenseless as you think.”
“Oh, I know. I was there when you knocked Rajani out cold.”
“I’ve never hit anyone in my life, so I was shocked. But that was years and years of fear and hatred coming to the surface all at once. What do you know about her? Was she really behind all the evil here?”
“I only know what little she taunted me with during my not-so-lovely stay. My father and hers started this human trafficking business many years ago. Maybe even before my brother Brice was born. When her father died, she took over the family business. She hoped I’d be interested in doing the same.”
“How could she think you’d be interested in such a thing?”
“How did you think I was like my father?” Alex gave her a wink. “I’m that good.”
Ziva rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. I have you figured out now.”
Alex arched a brow. “Really? Then tell me, what do I do for a living?”
She had no clue. “I don’t know. Maybe nothing but sit home and watch movies,” she teased.
“I do sit home a lot, but I travel mostly. What I’m going to tell you, no one knows. Not even my family.”
“You’re a spy?”
Alex chuckled. “Only in my head. Or maybe, should I say, only on paper. I’m an author. I write espionage books. You know, terrorist and drug lords and all types of crime stories.”
“You’re joking, right?”
“No. Why, what’s so funny about that?”
She looked him up and down. “The way you handled things when we were captured. You were so calm and cool. Like you’d done that before. But in all honesty, I saw the storm brewing in your eyes, even though you acted calmly.”
“Nope. Just wrote scenes like that before. It worked in the books, so I figured might as well try it in real life. But yes, there was a storm brewing, I realized how truly evil and sadistic Rajani and her muscled minions were. Greed is a powerful motivator to people like them.”
Ziva’s eyes widened in shock. “Are you telling me you risked our lives based on what you thought worked well in a book? That is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. If I’d have known then—”
“Did my plan work?”
She studied him for a minute. He was cocky, but he was right. It had worked. They both made it out safely, and he got the bad guy. Or woman. “You got lucky. Life is not a book. Trust me. I’ve read so many with the happily ever afters. The happy endings are pure fiction.”
“It doesn’t have to be that way, Ziva.”
She met his gaze. He wasn’t offering anything, and it really didn’t matter. She knew where she belonged, and he didn’t fit. “Alex, don’t try to write a chapter that won’t fit in the story. Some books just end. You only have to enjoy the story while you’re reading it. That’s all.”
Surprisingly, Ziva didn’t want it to end, but she understood the truth. It must. Going forward, pretending any differently would be lying to each other. I’m done hiding and pretending. I want to keep it real. She didn’t know what her life would look like. The policemen who had taken her had to work for the police department in town. She would be known here now. What will I do?
“What are you saying, Ziva?”
“That we can’t have it all, Alex. This isn’t one of your stories.”
“I know that, but what we have, it’s good. You can come back to Boston with me, and we can give it a shot.”
Oh yeah, that’s what every girl wants to hear. “Alex, I don’t belong in that world, any more than you do in mine. We both know that. And besides, I have work I have to continue in Tabiq. You may have taken out the head, but our government is full of people waiting to step in and take Rajani’s place. I have to be there to make sure someone speaks out against it.”
“You can do that from Boston. There is no reason why you need to risk your life every day,” Alex said.
“Yes, there is. This is my home. My people. It’s what I do, Alex.”
She could see he was putting the pieces together and starting to see things from her point of view. Ziva hated being right this time. With all her heart, she wished there was another way. Leaving would cause such pain with worry and him staying . . . well, he’d hate it. Who wouldn’t? Tabiq is a god-awful place. But it’s my home.
“I understand,” Alex said softly. “Don’t think for a minute that I agree with you. We’ll find a way to make this work. I’m not giving up on us.”
Her eyes began to tear up. “I don’t want you to let me go either, Alex. But it’s what is best for both of us. Stop it now before it hurts too much.” She knew it was already too late on her part, but she hoped he’d be able to go back to Boston and continue with his happy life. That’s all that mattered. Please be happy, Alex.
“I wish we could stay here until we worked this out, but the chopper’s approaching. This conversation isn’t over.”
They quickly dressed, and she wanted to respond but didn’t. He wasn’t joking. He’d drop it for now, but she knew he wasn’t going to leave Tabiq without finishing it. Once they were dressed, he took her by the hand, and they made their way back to the helicopter.
He might think this was easy for her, but that was far from the truth. She had never imagined feeling as she did in such a short amount of time. He made her feel things she’d read in books, yet here she was telling him it wasn’t real. She knew differently. Ziva’s heart was breaking, and she was doing it to herself. Not because she wanted to, but because she had to. She wouldn’t allow herself to say the words. Nor think them. It was already painful enough.
It might not seem over, but it has to be. For your sake, as well as mine.
“Alex, are you even listening?” Brice asked.
Alex couldn’t afford the distraction of Ziva right now. “Yeah. What were you saying?”
“You seem completely distracted. I’m surprised Ziva isn’t with you,” Dean chimed in.
He didn’t want to talk about her right now. It wasn’t time for him to deal with what he felt or didn’t feel for her. There were more important things on the agenda right now. “Let’s stay focused. Where’s the manager now?”
Brice replied, “As I had just said, Bennett and Doug picked him up from the hotel. He and several of his men are being detained until the proper authorities arrive. This is a very complicated situation; the government isn’t supportive of our assistance. We understand why, as it jeopardizes their significant source of revenue.”
“We can’t let these bastards continue,” Alex barked back.
“Alex, there is only so much we can do legally,” Brice stated.
“Hell, we’ve crossed that line already. I want this entire operation shut down. I’m shocked you don’t feel the same way.”
Brice’s jaw clenched. “I’m going to let that comment
slip for the moment and chalk it up to stress on your part. But don’t think for one minute that any of us condone what has taken place here. Whether we like it or not, this fucked-up country is part of who we are.”
“What are you talking about?” Alex demanded.
“We’re American and Tabiqian,” Brice said plainly.
He hadn’t thought about it like that. Alex had linked this place with his mother only. Never had he considered this part of his heritage. Most people were thrilled to learn of their roots. For the Hendersons, not only had they learned their father played a major role in making this country what it was today—corrupt—but he did it to a place where his own children, his flesh and blood had come from. Our people.
“I hate that asshole!” Alex growled, wishing he’d said it just to himself.
“Who, the manager?” Dean asked.
“James Henderson,” Alex replied. “All these years, I wanted to know more about him, thinking if I did, I’d understand why he was so fucking cruel to us. Instead, I find more skeletons in the Henderson closet than I could wri . . . imagine. I am a fool for thinking there was anything good in that man.”
Alex couldn’t believe he almost said the word write. No one but Ziva knew, and he wanted to keep it that way. It just hit him why. All this time he’d been trying to distance himself from being a Henderson. He’d published his books under a pen name and lived most of his life through that alias. So why had he felt comfortable telling Ziva, but not his own family? Maybe because I don’t want to be a Henderson. I want to be anyone but a Henderson.
“You’re no fool, Alex. We all face the same issue. James Henderson did only one thing in his life that was worth anything.”
“What’s that, Brice? Die?” Alex asked.
Brice shook his head. He walked over and placed a hand on Alex’s shoulder. Giving it a squeeze, he said, “He gave us each other. Together we’re going to find our mothers and help Tabiq become a place our children and grandchildren can one day be proud of. It’s not easy, but we need to remember we’re not our father, and we never will be.”
His For Five Nights Page 15
