by Jenny Lynn
I glanced out the window in horror, it was a long drop to the black water. I stared at him, terrified, and he kissed me. “It will be okay, but we need to move - fast.” I pulled myself through the window, then sucked in a deep breath before I plunged into the water. It was cold, I popped back up as Nicholas was pulling himself out and dove beside me. When his head was above water he pressed a finger to my lips signalling for me to stay quiet and he started to swim. I followed him, turning back to look at the thick smoke and flames rising off the boat into the night sky. There were two dark figures standing on the dock, sirens could be heard in the distance and they turned then disappeared. I continued to swim after Nicholas, down the marina, until he found a ladder on a far dock and guided me to the rungs. I pulled myself out of the water, then collapsed, the hard wooden planks of the dock rough against my legs. I started to shiver, watching the boat we had been sleeping peacefully in just moments before engulfed in flames.
Nicholas pulled himself out of the water then stood beside me, looking back as well. The sirens grew closer and we saw vehicles pull up in the distance. “Come on,” Nicholas said extending his hand to me. I took it and he pulled me to my feet, we walked down the dock onto the road and followed it towards the vehicles. Police officers stepped out of the car and Nicholas waved his arms, water dripping off both of us as we walked back. A fire truck pulled up and men jumped out, getting to work. I could feel the intense heat of the fire on my skin, it was so bright in the darkness.
An officer with dark hair and a muscular build noticed us. “You the one that called?” he asked.
“Yes, Nicholas Blackstone. We were asleep when men boarded our boat. They tried to kill us.” The officer’s partner noticed me, my arms wrapped around my body wearing only a slip. He said something to his partner in Spanish then he took a blanket from the car then walked over to me and draped it over my shoulders.
“Here you go, Miss,” he said. “You’re okay.”
I couldn’t stop shaking, my eyes fixated on the blaze that the firefighters were now battling. They started to spray the dock to stop the flames from spreading, there was a cracking noise and the boat tilted, then started to sink. We were standing in the road in the middle of the night, our faces illuminated by the flashing lights. A small crowd started to gather, drawn to the commotion with morbid curiosity that pulls us towards danger and destruction.
“We’re going to need you to come down to the station and give your statement,” the officer told Nicholas. Nicholas nodded then guided me, his hand at the small of my back, as we got into the back of the police cruiser while another car pulled up. “We’re taking them in,” he told the other officers before getting into the front seat. I was still shaking, Nicholas held me close and wrapped me even tighter in the blanket.
“It’s okay Breanne, it’s going to be okay,” he told me reassuringly as he rubbed my arms. I didn’t know how he could be so relatively calm while I was delirious with panic, bordering on catatonic. He continued to hold me close, my head on his shoulder, as the officers drove us to the station. The further we got from the marina, the better I started to feel. I would be safe at a police station, I had to be. But who were those men, and why had they attacked us? It didn’t make any sense.
We arrived at the station and one of the officers opened the door for me, I stepped out, the pavement hard and rocky under my bare feet. We walked in through the doors, past a man at the front desk who looked up at us. We must have been quite a sight, two soaked people being brought in in the middle of the night. We followed the officers down a corridor and into a small room with two couches facing each other.
“I’m officer Diego,” he told us once we were alone. “Can I get you something? Water, coffee, tea?”
“Tea please,” I asked, my voice small and strained. I needed something warm to hold onto, to calm my nerves.
“Black coffee please,” said Nicholas. The officer nodded then left us. When the door closed Nicholas turned to me, holding me in his arms.
“What happened?” I asked, a sob finally escaping my throat.
“I don’t know Breanne, I don’t know,” Nicholas said, holding my head against him and stroking my hair. “We made it out. We’re okay.”
“But what if you hadn’t woken up? They would have killed us, they had guns.” Tears were streaming down my face now, I couldn’t hold them back.
“I did wake up, and we got off the boat. We’ll figure this out, I won’t let anything happen to you.”
The door opened and officer Diego came back holding two styrofoam cups. He handed one to me and the other to Nicholas then he gestured for us to sit down. “We have spare clothes at the station, they’re not much but they’re clean and dry. Someone will bring them here soon,” he said calmly as he opened a notebook. “Why don’t you tell me what happened.”
“We’re from Chicago, in the U.S. I came down for a business meeting and rented the boat in the marina. We were asleep when I heard a noise. The captain, Mateo, had left earlier in the night so I knew we were alone. I woke my girlfriend up and went above deck to check what was going on. I saw a man and when he saw me he pointed a gun at me. I rushed back down, locked the door and called the police. We were trapped and they set a fire, the only way out was through the window so we jumped into the water and swam. That’s when you arrived, and we headed over.”
“Did you recognize the men?” officer Diego asked as he took notes.
“It was dark, it was hard to see. The one I came closest to was tall, thin, dark hair and it looked like his nose had been broken at some point. But no, I’ve never seen them before.”
Officer Diego nodded then turned to me. “Anything to add Miss?” he asked.
I shook my head. “It’s exactly as he said, he woke me up and then we locked ourselves in the room before going out the window. They shot through the door. They were trying to kill us.”
“Mister Blackstone, I have to ask, do you have any idea who might want you dead? Any enemies?”
Nicholas thought for a moment before shaking his head. “No, I don’t. My company isn’t involved in anything controversial. My family is well-known but nothing out of the ordinary that I think could attract this type of attention. Could it be ransom or something like that?”
“It doesn’t seem likely,” the officer said. “From what you tell me they were trying to kill you not capture you. How about you Miss, any enemies?”
“Barely anyone even knows I’m here,” I told him. “Just my parents and my best friend.”
The officer closed his notebook and looked at us. “I seem to have everything I need for now, you both must be really shaken up and need sleep. Do you have somewhere to stay tonight?”
“I’ll call my driver and he can drop us off at a hotel in town,” Nicholas told him. The officer thought for a second then shook his head.
“I think given the circumstances the fewer people who know where you are the better. Where can I bring you?”
“The Grand, I’ve stayed there before, they have me on file,” Nicholas said. The door opened again and a female officer came in holding a pile of clothes and a few pairs of shoes, placing them down on a table.
“Thanks,” officer Diego told her. She nodded then walked back out the door. “You can get changed, I’ll wait outside the door then I can drop you off.”
“Appreciate it,” Nicholas said as he walked out the door. Nicholas went over to the pile of clothes then picked out a t-shirt and pair of sweatpants. “These are size small, here you go,” he said as he handed them over along with a pair of socks and sneakers. The sneakers were a size too big but I didn’t have much of a choice. I dropped the blanket and took the clothes, slipping out of my damp slip then pulling them on. They felt soft and warm against my skin. I watched as Nicholas stripped out of his t-shirt and boxers, then into the clothes he was given. When we were dressed he walked back to the door and turned the handle. Officer Diego was waiting for us outside just like he said he would be.
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Together we headed out into the parking lot and got into a squad car. We pulled out into the road, the sky becoming hazy and purple with the approach of dawn. We wound our way through the deserted streets until we arrived at Grand Hotel in central Barcelona. As Nicholas opened the door officer Diego handed him a card.
“Call me after you’ve had a rest, and let me know if you remember anything else.”
Nicholas nodded and got out, I followed him into the hotel. The lobby was empty at this hour and he headed for the desk where an attendant was waiting. She looked at us in our t-shirts and sweatpants, coming in at an odd hour, a curious expression on her face.
“Welcome to The Grand, can I help you?” she asked.
“We need a room, a suite if possible. I should be in the system, Nicholas Blackstone.”
She typed at her computer then nodded. “Mister Blackstone we do have our Grand Suite available. How long will you be with us?”
“Likely just one night,” he told her. She continued to type, then took out a keycard and handed it over to him.
“The elevators are just past and on the left. Please let me know if you need anything else, and enjoy your stay.”
Nicholas took the key and held my hand as we walked over to the elevators. We went to the top floor, then accessed the suite. When Nicholas opened the door I was surprised by the sheer size of the space, but was still a bit too shaken to be impressed. I was on edge and didn’t think I would be able to sleep again after the horror we had just been through. I looked at Nicholas as he locked the door behind us, then he headed for the bar and made himself a drink.
“Can I get you something?” he asked me.
“What are you having?” I asked.
“Scotch,” he told me. I nodded and he poured me some of the dark liquid into a glass, then walked over and handed it to me. I took a sip and winced, it was strong, but I immediately felt a warm sensation travel through my throat into my stomach. I took another large sip as Nicholas watched me drain the glass. I winced and he took the bottle then refilled my glass.
“Thanks,” I told him. “I know you like to plan exciting dates, but just so you know, near death experiences aren’t really my thing.”
He laughed darkly as he took a drink from his glass. “I’m glad you still have a sense of humor.”
“What do you think they wanted? And are we safe tonight?”
“I think so, no one knows we’re here, Breanne. Tomorrow we’ll head into town and get a change of clothes. Then I think we should head back to Chicago.”
“You’re right,” I told him. I drained the contents of my second glass, I was starting to feel a warm fuzzy calm spread through me.
“Do you want to go to bed?” he asked. I thought about it for a second, then I shook my head. I didn’t think I’d be able to sleep. “Do you want to talk?” he asked. I shook my head again. I put my glass down on a table then stepped out of my shoes. I pulled my t-shirt off over my head, then pushed down my sweatpants. Nicholas watched me with a curious expression as I left the room and headed for the bathroom. I reached into the massive tiled shower and turned on the water, then leaned out of the doorway looking at him.
“Want to join me?” I asked, looking up at him through my lashes. Our lives had been in danger, we could have died tonight. I felt fear, disbelief, confusion but I also felt so alive. I wanted to be with Nicholas, I needed the physical contact. Nicholas tossed back his drink, placing his glass down on the table then pulling off his shirt. I walked back into the bathroom and into the shower, under the warm stream of water. It felt luxurious on my skin, warming me to my core. Nicholas undressed then stepped in behind me, wrapping me in his arms and kissing my neck. I sighed and tilted my head back, finding his mouth with my own. I tasted the smoky flavor of liquor on his lips, his tongue stroking against my own. His hands went from my shoulders down my chest and he cupped my breasts, letting them rest heavily in his hands as he squeezed the sensitive flesh. I moaned against his mouth as he ran his fingertips over my nipples, hardening under his touch.
I could feel his member growing hard, pressing against the curve of my ass. I moved my hips, grinding against him, needy and wanting to feel him inside me. I wanted to feel nothing but physical pleasure until I was drained and the events of this evening were pushed far from my mind. He reached down and lifted my leg, angling the head of his member against me.
“Are you sure you want this Breanne?” he asked, his voice husky in my ear.
“I want you, please,” I pleaded. “Make me forget.”
With a shove of his hips he started to push into me and I gasped, feeling my body stretch to accommodate his thick shaft. Inch by inch he pushed deeper into me, the water trailing down our skin, until he was up to the root. He pulled back out, then groaned as he shoved deep inside again. We both needed this, I could tell. Holding my hip with his other hand Nicholas slid in and out of me with ease, my body soft and wet for him, taking him over and over again. I leaned against the wall, my fingers pressed against the smooth tile as he slapped against me.
Nicholas reached around my waist and started to stroke my clit with his finger, circling in small movements with just the right amount of pressure to make me bite my lip in pleasure. His shaft rubbed deep inside me as he stroked me, in no time I was moaning my body building up in anticipation. I had been on edge all night, this would be my release. I threw back my head and cried out. “Nicholas,” I moaned. He continued to massage my sensitive clit while my entire body shuddered. My orgasm tore through my body and my legs grew shaky as the sensation radiated out from my core. I fell forward, my breasts against the tiles, while Nicholas held onto my hips with both hands and shoved into me in even more powerful strokes. My body shook with each blow, water raining down on us and the slap of wet skin on skin the only sounds in the enclosed shower stall.
Nicholas’ grip tightened and he hissed between gritted teeth. “Breanne, it’s so good, oh my God, ahh-” With one final thrust he shoved deep to the root as he came inside me. He lay his body against me, his breathing rapid and deep, and he kissed my shoulder and he wrapped his arms around me. My legs were still shaky, I turned to face him but almost lost my balance. He scooped me up into his arms, cradling me, and kissed me passionately. He reached a hand forward and turned off the water, then stepped out of the shower holding me against him as he placed a towel over me. He carried me over to the bed and lay me down gently, wrapping the towel around me, then lay beside me with a sigh. I curled up in his arms, feeling calm and safe for the first time that night. We had survived, we were together, and we would be okay.
17
I shot up in bed with a scream, looking around the room in a panic. Nicholas sat up beside me then wrapped me in his strong arms. “Shh, Breanne it’s okay, I’m here,” he said reassuringly. I leaned into him, my heart pounding, and tried to calm my breathing. As I emerged from my dream I slowly remembered where I was, and that I was safe. Nicholas kissed my forehead then looked me in the eyes. “We’re going back to Chicago today, we’re going to figure this out. No one is going to hurt you.”
“I still hate knowing that someone tried to kill us, that they’re still out there,” I said with a shudder.
“We can’t live our lives in fear Breanne,” Nicholas told me, his voice steady. “We need to keep going, even if it’s frightening. Otherwise they win. Besides, you’ll be safe. It seems they were targeting me and not you.”
“That doesn’t make me feel any better,” I replied, curling into his arms. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“I’m going to make arrangements for private security back home until we figure this out. In the meantime,” he said as he rose from the bed, picking up the grey police sweatpants. “We need to head into town and pick up some new clothes.”
“I don’t know, that’s a pretty good look on you,” I teased. He smiled.
“I’m glad you’re finding something amusing in this situation.”
I got out
of bed and found the clothes I had been given at the police station and changed into them as Nicholas did the same. When we escaped from the fire he had grabbed our phones, passports and wallets off the dresser and shoved them into a bag so we at least had those. We left the room then headed for the front desk where Nicholas checked out, then we headed outside to flag a taxi. As a precaution Nicholas decided we wouldn’t use a hired driver or anything that could trace us. A taxi was idling in front of the hotel and we climbed in.
“We’re headed to Avinguda Diagonal,” Nicholas told the man. He looked at us in his rearview mirror, mildly confused that two people dressed the way we were wanted to head to one of the most fashionable shopping districts in the city. Nicholas raised an eyebrow and the driver pulled away, making his way to our destination without a word. We wound our way through the city, Nicholas running his thumb over my hand, until we arrived at a street lined with designer shops. “Here is fine,” Nicholas said, and the driver slowed to a stop. He handed the man cash then stepped out, holding the door open for me. We were standing outside Giorgio Armani. Nicholas walked steadily in through the doors towards a sales lady who did a double take when she saw us.
“Good afternoon,” he told her. “I need a suit, shoes, everything. My girlfriend also needs an outfit.”
Despite the way he was dressed, the woman could tell Nicholas was a man to be taken seriously from the way he commanded himself. It didn’t hurt that even dressed down the way he was, he was still drop dead gorgeous.
“Certainly,” she told him. “Did you have a budget in mind?”
“No,” he told her as a second woman approached us to help. Nicholas nodded to me. “Let her pick out anything she wants.”
