by Mia Hoddell
“We should wait. We won’t even get out of here without him seeing one of us.”
“I have a plan.”
He regarded me warily.
“What?” I asked innocently.
“The last time you told me you had a plan I ended up standing in a boat while it travelled through rapids, falling out of said boat, and then throwing myself off a rock.”
“And you loved every second so shut up.”
“That’s not the point. It’s different this time. There’s more at risk and I’m not putting you in that situation.”
“You won’t be. I told you I have a plan.”
He groaned, the sound weaker than before. “Let’s hear it then.”
“I take it you bought a new phone if Levi has been in contact with you?”
He nodded, and I retrieved mine from my bag.
“Give me your number. I’ll be lookout and if it’s clear I’ll text you.”
“That’s your plan? It’s seems more like a ploy to get my number.”
I ignored his comment, knowing he was attempting to distract me. “The simple plans are always the best. It’s when you start overcomplicating things the chances of something going wrong increase. Although, if you want to go with plan B, then all right.”
“What’s plan B?”
“Well, first of all you need to get to the lift and pry the doors open. Then we both shimmy down the lift shaft until we get to the basement, and if we survive that we need to make like ninjas and get to the delivery entrance at the back of the hotel. From there we should be safe and can run off to the markets.” I couldn’t hold back the laugh. It rippled from me at the mixture of shock and puzzlement on his face.
“I really need to learn not to ask stupid questions around you. Your mind does not work like a normal person’s.”
“I take it you’re not a fan of plan B?”
“The whole point of the plan is to keep us alive, not kill us quicker. Anyway, why couldn’t we just take the lift down to the basement?”
I slapped him on the shoulder in jest. “Aww, where’s your sense of adventure?”
“You’re crazy.” He nipped at my lip.
“You knew that from day one, I never hid it so you must like it. How about we merge the plans? You take the lift down to the basement and I’ll meet you around the back?”
“I haven’t agreed to anything yet.”
I held out my hand and made a grabby gesture, asking for his phone. When he made no move to hand it over I dipped my hand into his pocket and retrieved it myself. Once I input my number I threw the device back to him and scurried over to the door. “Either I’m going on my own or you’re coming with me. Which is it?”
“Alaya, please wait until Levi gets here.”
I shook my head and placed my hand on the door. “It’ll be fine. Staying or coming?”
“Fine, text me when it’s clear and I’ll make my way out the back.”
“I knew you’d see it my way.” I opened the door and stepped out when a last minute thought came to me. “Oh, and make sure you have your passport on you. You need to carry ID here.”
Cole didn’t appear convinced, yet before he had a chance to voice any kind of protest I opened and shut the door behind me. Making my way down to the lobby, I scoured the area for any signs of Ryder. Thankfully, he wasn’t a hard person to miss. His tall and bulky frame, not to mention the huge, unforgettable scar on his face, gave him away in a crowd and I could see no one fitting his description watching me.
When I headed for the exit I made sure to keep the front of the hotel in view at all times as I blended in with the crowd. My height gave me an advantage when I wanted to disappear and I remained focused on the front door, but no one followed me out. As I strolled around to the back of the hotel I kept glancing over my shoulder. Away from the crowds and Cole the threat seemed a lot more real, and instinctively my pace increased with my breath that misted in front of me in the cold November air.
I reached the back door and texted Cole, hoping it wouldn’t take him long to get out.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Alaya
Everything was exactly how I remembered. As soon as we crossed the bridge on the short walk from the hotel, we became immersed in the bustle of tourists and locals moving about the stalls, the smells of Bratwursts, roasted cashew nuts, and pine. Like a thick blanket the scents coated the area, making the air seem denser as we stood on the outskirts.
The area reminded me of a tiny village, set up in front of the cathedral that towered over everything. Each stall had its own wooden hut and their candy red roofs had been decorated with artificial pine garland and stars which were illuminated in the soft glow of the fairy lights. An enormous tree stood proud in the centre, and draped from it hung a net of lights to cover the closest stalls and mimic the stars by encasing the area in a warm glow to make the night cosy and inviting.
At the entrance, a giant squared gate made of lights welcomed people with a bright sign that read “Weihnachstmarkt. Am Kolner dom” and on either side the buildings were decorated to look like gigantic presents with over-sized ribbons hanging down the front.
I had deliberately chosen dusk to come out. The fading light meant we caught the magical atmosphere in full effect. Everywhere I turned the sight or smell of Christmas was thrown at me.
I took Cole’s hand in mine, then gave myself a second to realise what I’d done. My gloved fingers clasped his, yet apart from the subtle glance he sent me he didn’t react. In fact, I could have sworn I felt him squeeze my hand softly as I led him into the market.
“Are we searching for anything in particular?” he asked as I guided us past the stalls displaying hand-painted baubles and other glass ornaments. His attention wasn’t focused on the array of coloured glass, though. Rather, his head twitched to watch over his shoulder and study the crowd. I decided to ignore the gesture.
“Nope, just getting the lay of the land. I have weeks to shop for things if I want.”
“Why do you seem to know exactly where you’re going then?”
“Because I do.” I hadn’t told him my entire plan, wanting to see his genuine reaction when I revealed what we were really doing. I hoped it would loosen him up and make him stand down. His constant paranoia kept me on edge and I wanted fun. We made it all of the way to the markets and hadn’t noticed anyone so why couldn’t he let go? If Ryder followed us surely we would have seen him by now.
We passed as many stalls as I could find—decorations, food, candles—until we’d covered the entire market. Neither of us said a word as we wandered around, and when the light had faded completely I decided it was time for stage two of the plan.
“Come on, there’s something I want to do.” I gave a small tug on his hand, pulling him towards the exit.
“I’m really starting to hate it when you say those words.”
I snorted a laugh. “Don’t lie, you love my ideas. And anyway, at least if you’re going to die, my way is more fun.”
“I’d rather not die at all.”
“And I haven’t killed you … yet.” I glanced at him from the corner of my eye. The easy-going smile I’d brought out hardened.
“It’s not you I’m worried about,” he almost growled and his grip on my hand tightened. “I mean I’m not worried about you killing me … not that I’m not worried about you at all.”
Jolting us to a stop in front of the cathedral, I turned to him and took his hands in mine. Only when I had his full attention did I speak. “Nothing is going to happen, Cole. Have you seen Ryder so far?”
His jaw locked and he ground his molars together. Finally, his answer came through gritted teeth. “No, but—”
“Exactly, so stop all of this. You wanted to feel alive and I’m only following through on my promise to help you.”
“It doesn’t mean he isn’t out here. You need to take this more seriously.”
“What can he do in a crowd this big? Really, what option does he have?�
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Cole forced out a weighted breath and raised his free hand to massage his temple. Seeing his resolve falter, I grabbed the opportunity so he couldn’t form an argument.
“How do you feel about abseiling?”
His eyebrows knitted together, but his stare remained dark with anger or annoyance—I couldn’t tell which. When he spoke he sounded tense. “How do I feel about hanging from a building and leaving my life in the hands of a single rope? Uh, no. I’ll give this crazy idea a miss.”
“Why? The times you feel most alive are when there’s a risk of death or injury. Those are the times when your heart is pounding, adrenaline is coursing through your veins, and you realise what living is.”
“Not doing it.”
“Come on. It’s perfectly safe!” I cried, and when he shook his head I tried a different tactic. “I bet I could convince you.”
He shook his head, folded his arms, and fixed me with a challenging stare.
Game on.
“You know how you lost our first bet?”
Uninhibited desire swept through his eyes. The hazel colour seemed to grow lighter as I piqued his interest. He knew exactly where I was going with this. “What about it?”
It pleased me to hear his voice drop to a raspy register, although the husky tone made it hard to form my next words while keeping my voice level. “Same terms. If you climb those five hundred and thirty-three steps and abseil back down, when we get back to the hotel I’ll put on a show.”
A string of emotions flickered across his face—eagerness, lust, and an uncontainable grin. He couldn’t prevent his gaze from wandering down my body, even though my large winter coat covered up most of it. Whether he was aware of it or not, his tongue slipped out and glided over his lips to moisten them.
“Okay, you’re on.”
Quicker than I thought possible, he began striding in the direction of the cathedral entrance. At the sound of my laughter his steps faltered and he whirled back around. The heaving chuckles had my stomach tensing and were starting to cause an ache in my throat and chest as I bent over to brace myself on my thighs. “You … thought I … was … serious.”
The heat from his gaze landed on me, the desire darkening to annoyance once more. “You weren’t?”
I shook my head furiously, not able to form the words.
“So we’re not abseiling?”
“Cole, it’s eight thirty, dark, and cold. I don’t even know if they do abseiling here, I only wanted to see your reaction.” In fact, I wanted to distract him and it seemed to have worked.
“That’s cruel.”
I tilted my head to the side. “Did you really want to abseil that much? Because I’m sure I could find a place with the option. We can go tomorrow if you’re so interested.”
“Does the bet still stand if we do?”
I guffawed, “Of course not”
“I’ll pass then,” he stated. Typical guy. “What are we doing now?”
“You’ll see.”
* * *
“Ice skating?” Cole protested, his nose crinkling like a little kid who’d been told to eat his vegetables as he stared at the rink.
“Don’t tell me you’re scared. You’re going to go down in my estimations if that’s the case.”
“I’m not scared; it’s just not something I expected from you. I didn’t think there would be enough adrenaline involved.”
I plonked myself down on the bench. Tugging off my boots, I changed them for the heavy skates I’d acquired from the stand. When I was satisfied with the tightness of the straps I stood toe-to-toe with him, my steps slightly shaky. Even with the extra inches I didn’t reach his eye line.
“I’ve never done it and it sounds like fun.” I shrugged. “Have you skated before?”
Cole shook his head, steadying me by taking my shoulders in his palms.
“I’d hurry up and get your boots on then, otherwise all of the penguin supports they give to children will get taken.”
Cole’s glare bore into me, sending a shiver skirting down my spine. “Don’t you need one too, if this is your first time?”
“No, I’ve got you. If I’m going down like an idiot, you are definitely coming with me.”
“You’re not funny.”
“I’m hilarious, and you know it.” I reached out for his waist, stepping into him so my chest pressed flush against his. It forced me to lean my head almost right back to see him as his fingers traced lines up and down my arms.
“You’re really not.” The words caught in his throat when I slid my hands into the back pockets of his jeans. “And if you keep tormenting me I’m going to be forced to fight back again.” His voice dropped to barely a whisper, the loud music smothering his words completely so only I could hear.
“What if I want you to fight back? It wasn’t half bad last time.”
“Half bad? It was fucking epic and you know it.”
“I think I need a second round to be sure.” Our heads inched closer together so I felt every breath of his as he spoke. They swept over my chilled skin in warm caresses, making it impossible to forget his presence. Everything else became a distant memory, the sounds and smells not even registering as I kept my focus on Cole.
“Are you asking me to kiss you, Gingernut?”
A smile pulled at the corners of my lips and I nodded slowly. Not once did my eyes leave his as he gradually closed the gap between us. His gaze repeatedly dipped to my lips, and I whimpered. The smirk he wore told me he was dragging things out deliberately, and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it with him holding on to my arms.
His mouth hovered over mine, barely centimetres between us. I wanted to lean forward and close the gap—to feel his lips on mine, to taste him—but he fixed me in place. All I could see was Cole, and all I could feel was his body against mine. His breathing quickened, and the only thing I could smell was the scent of his cologne. He consumed all of my senses except for the one I desperately wanted.
As if reading my mind, he inched forward with a measured slowness. My eyes shut on impulse. I waited for the soft feeling of his lips to meet with mine, but it never came. When his words swept over my ear as he spoke, my entire body tensed.
“Teasing goes both ways, sweetheart. Remember that.” It would have been a lot more convincing had his words not come out in almost a growl. He was affected by his actions too, yet he still denied us what we wanted.
When he released me suddenly and stepped away to collect a pair of skates I remained standing in the middle of the pen, gasping for breath. For a second I shut my eyes, and with shaky legs I sat back down in an attempt to compose myself.
At the feel of his hand circling my waist my gaze flew to his. He was once again too close, his proximity stirring the cluster of butterflies in my stomach into a frenzy. Cole pulled me against him, seemingly unaware of the affect his actions were having. However, the evil glint in his eye made me doubt that. He appeared to relish every second of my torture.
“Are you okay? You seem a bit flustered.”
“I’m fine. Why would I be flustered?” It took all of my strength to keep me from choking on the words.
He dropped his lips to my ear, nipping at my earlobe. “I don’t know, sweetheart. You tell me.” He drawled out the nickname in a sexy growl, which only sent the butterflies into an even more frantic spin within me. Like each of them was an individual fireball, heat coursed through my veins as they shot around my body.
“I was practising my pole dancing routine in my head.” I rested my hand on his thigh. Two could play his game. If he wanted me to be left frustrated and wanting then I swore to make sure he suffered twice as much. My fingers scratched at his leg through the denim. Slowly, I moved my hand higher up his leg then slid it back down. “I’d be wearing this black lace, flyaway babydoll.” I noticed his Adam’s apple bob. “And these tiny matching lace panties.”
A hiss escaped his lips as he inhaled sharply. He swallowed hard and suddenly ripped
my hand from his leg. I swore I saw him try and adjust himself, but most of my attention remained on his eyes as I fixed him with a teasing grin.
“What’s the matter, Cole?” I asked innocently. “You’re looking a bit flustered.”
It took him a moment to respond, and even when he did his voice remained a deep growl. “I think we should get on the ice now, or I’ll decide this is a bad idea and take you back to the hotel.”
“I wouldn’t mind that.” I glanced over my shoulder as I sashayed away from him. It wasn’t the easiest thing to do—be sexy while walking in skates—but I didn’t care. I handed over my token to the man in the booth and glided on to the ice so Cole couldn’t follow through with his threat.
“Is something wrong, Hazel?” I called out to him over the wall I held on to when I noticed he remained seated on the bench. By the deadly expression he shot me I figured I was pushing it—and I loved it.
Rather than reply, he handed over his token and placed his feet on the ice. He pushed off from the wall, skating over to me flawlessly. Sliding to a stop beside me, he took my hands and released the death grip I had on the barrier finger by finger. Gently, he skated backwards, taking me with him. When I stumbled or wobbled, Cole caught me every time without missing a beat until I leaned on him heavily.
“I thought you’d never done this before.” I stared at him suspiciously.
He guided us towards the centre of the rink and away from the ring of people. “I may have lied slightly.”
“Hazel—” My complaint fizzled out when the hungry spark in his eyes returned.
“Call me Hazel one more time and I’m carrying you off this ice over my shoulder and back to the hotel.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“I will, try me.”
“No, you really won’t. And if I were you, I’d be a little nicer to me.”
“Why’s that?”
I glanced down at where my hands clutched around his thick biceps. “Because I have control over what we do. If you don’t want to lose me, you have to follow the rules. You haven’t seen crazy ideas yet.”
