Withstanding the Enemy

Fifteen

Emma…

I hear the thundering steps echo in the hallway as I stand in the middle of my bedroom with my body quivering and awaiting Rick’s appearance. My eyes shift from the clock on my nightstand to the doorway and back again. Ten minutes! I have been waiting for ten minutes for him to appear. With every second my body tenses more.

Is he going to punish me? Which side of Rick is going to arrive?

A shadow fills my doorframe causing me to focus once again in that direction. His face creases the moment our eyes lock. His flaming green eyes look duller as if in pain. Pain—from me not wearing my ring?

“Where is your ring?” This time his voice is more controlled with a tinge of—regret?

I had already retrieved it before he entered my room. With it in my hand, I open my palm to him.

“Do you not like the ring?” he croaks.

Fearing his reaction, I quickly answer, “No, it's not that.”

“It's too bad I don't believe you,” he says. His voice is low and slow. He shakes his head as he looks to the ring. If I didn’t know better, I would think Rick feels defeated… “You are a terrible liar. I have to go. You will not be leaving the penthouse today. You are to work on plans for the library in your study. I will be in my office. I’ll see you at supper.” He grabs the ring from my hand, fisting it, he walks toward the door, barely audible, he says, “I'm sorry for my rage.” He walks out.

Knocking on Rick’s office door, my heart slams in my throat.

“Come in.”

My palms sweat as I turn the door handle. I hate asking Rick for anything. But, I have to with the library. I take a leveling breath and enter and make my way to the chair opposite of Rick.

“I have a few ideas for the library I wanted to run past you,” I say before Rick can say anything first.

He sets aside his work giving me his full attention, causing my nerves to jump.

“Ok, let's hear it.” Smiling, he waves for me to bring my notebook to the desk.

As I walk up to the desk, he motions for me to come around. Setting the notebook in front of him, he pulls his chair out. Surprising me, he pulls me onto his lap, then scoots the chair back into the desk. Tucking his head under my arm, he rests my arm over his shoulders. A giggle escapes my lips.

“What are you doing?” I giggle again.

“I love that sound,” he says as he curls his arms around my waist.

Something blooms deep within me. I stomp it down and centralize myself. Why are you here…? The library! “I was thinking about the decor for the library. I was hoping to do something different from what we have.” I open my notebook to the pages with all my sketches. Holding my breath, I wait for his answer.

“You want to use secondhand items and vintage decor?” he asks looking over the pages.

“Yes.” I point to some of the designs. “I’m looking for a comfortable, cozy cabin-feel using secondhand items. Like a place you would snuggle up with a book and hot cocoa,” I say as I envision it in my head—hoping my sketches portray my ideas accurately enough for him to see them clearly. “I want people to want to stay.”

“It's not something I would pick, but I must say, Emma, these sketches are impressive.” He pulls out his pencil from the drawer. “Can I add a few things on here? I have a few ideas, too.”

“Yes! Of course.”

To my surprise, it feels comfortable sitting with him. I watch as he elegantly moves the pen. My heart swells in my chest seeing this side of Rick. Is this the same man that stood in my room just hours ago?

“I want to see some of your own touches and poems on display. You are incredibly skilled. You need to show it,” he says.

“Thank you, Rick. So, does that mean you like my idea?”

“Yes, I want you to make it your own.”

I giggle happily and throw my arms around him—instinctively hugging him. “I was so nervous.”

“I don’t want you to be nervous with me.” He reaches up to tuck my hair behind my ear.

Yes … this Rick … this other Rick—I want to kiss—again…

I meet his hazel eyes, and my heart flutters in my chest. I search for his lips and feel an overwhelming urge to kiss him. I watch as his lips curl into a sexy smirk and a little dimple catches my attention. I follow a lazy path up to meet his eyes when I notice a small white scar just above his left cheek.

“You want to kiss me,” he says in a throaty voice.

Heat coils in my center. I lift my finger to touch the scar. “What is this from?” I ask for a distraction and meet his intense stare. He reaches up for my hand, gliding it to his lips, he kisses every one of my fingertips sending sharp currents up my arm.

“Not a story I want to relive.”

My thoughts go to what Ms. May told me about his father and sympathy for the child Rick once was swells within me again. I lock onto his eyes wishing to heal his pain, but in a split second his eyes change—the green of his eyes flame.

Rick pulls out his chair, stands up with me still in his arms. I let out a squeal of surprise. He turns me in his arms, setting me on top of his desk. He cups my face with his shaking hands and plants his forehead against mine. “Emma, please! Can I kiss you?” His dark voice shakes, matching the intensity of his eyes.

His need vibrates through me, causing my own to kick up a few notches. I nod, unable to fight my own desire. Rick wants ME!

His lips brush tenderly against mine, and sparks ignite in waves. He deepens the kiss, probing his tongue for mine. My lips move as if they have a mind of their own and match the tempo of his tongue with soft strokes. My body buzzes as I wrap my arms around his neck to stop my hands from shaking.

Rick breaks the kiss with a throaty growl. He wraps his arms around my hips and pulls me against the solidness of his thigh, applying just enough pressure, wetness pools at my center causing me to let out an involuntary moan.

His tongue flickers gently over my collarbone surprising me with the sensation. I whimper. With another growl, he rakes his teeth across my skin.

Oh s**t…

I wrap my arms around his neck holding on for dear life. His strong hands remain on my hips as he lifts me, grinding my c******s up his thigh. I dig my nails in his back feeling as if I were climbing higher and higher. If I let go—surely I’d fall. Slowly this time, he grinds again with just enough pressure to make my mind spin. Oh God, how is this possible? All the new sensations send my nerves into overdrive, as if everything is hitting all at once. I let out another breathy moan not even trying to hold it back this time.

A knock sounds on the door. Rick picks me up off the desk and holds me up against him as he slides me down his thigh, applying intense pressure to my clit. He covers my mouth with his hand as if he can read my body and knows how it will reaction. I let out a louder but muttered moan. Simultaneously, he hollers, “One minute,” drowning out the sound of my pleasure.

He kisses me hungrily as my feet hit the floor. I stand on wobbly legs and straighten my clothes, my s*x aching as it pulses from more… More what?

“Love, go into the bathroom. Cool down a bit. As sexy as you are in this very moment, this is for my eyes only. Understand?”

I simply nod and wobble toward the private bathroom. My body flames as I feel Rick’s green blaze lick over me with every wobbly step I take, making the cotton of my clothes feel like sandpaper against my skin. Take them off.

I quicken my step in fear that I will react to my last thought, and nearly jump through the door. I press myself against the heavy door. Think. What the hell Emma? You want to—to get naked … with RICK? I feel as if I am a tight string about to snap. I push off the door and decide to walk a circle in the bathroom to loosen the needy tension.

I want him. But this is the same man that…

I hear Rick’s voice with two other men bouncing off the walls of the cold tiles. Walking back to the door, I push my ear to it to make out what they were saying.

“Boss, we have it done—” a man’s voice says.

“But did you FIND him?” Rick snaps.

“Umm … no, Boss, but the first package has been shipped to its destination… As for finding him … the last place he was located was out of the country… Lenny was checking…“ another man says.

Lenny … I haven’t seen Lenny in months, I think as I can picture the man that shadowed Rick everywhere. Where has Lenny been—

“He has some of the best men to help him, that is why I hired you … Do your job—you two pieces of s**t are turning out to be worthless. So much for being highly recommended… He could be under your noses—” Rick snaps.

“But, Boss, we—”

“Shut the f**k up. He is not getting the package no matter what threats he sends… And I don’t want to hear another word out of your mouths until you are telling me that he is found!” Rick snarls.

“What about the transfer—?”

“Lenny will take care of it. Now leave…” Rick says in a low tone.

A loud crashing sound vibrates through the door followed by the door slamming. My heart bangs wildly against my ribs.

I try opening the bathroom door, but it is locked. s**t, what do I do…? Did they hurt Rick… I pace the floor, all traces of passion gone. What transfer and package…? I have always known that Rick was into something … but what? And what does Lenny have to do with this… Are we in danger? Is that why he upped the guards? Where has Lenny been in the last few months and why haven’t I seen him around…? My mind spins. All of a sudden—click—I hear the door open.

I run to Rick with a different twist of fear. “Hey, what is this?” he says folding me into his arms. I land hard against his chest.

“I started to worry that something was wrong. I tried the door and it was locked and I heard—” I say talking too fast.

“See, I'm fine. Somehow the door got locked by mistake and a pile of books fell off my desk… When you didn't come out, I thought I scared you with what just happened between us.”

“Oh … right … about that…” I take a step back and level out my breathing.

“Look, Love, it's okay; we can take it slow. I wanted you to see that there can be pleasure to it… I wasn't going any further.” He holds up his hand. “I promised you.”

“No further?”

“No further. Like I said, I wanted to show you the pleasure it can bring.”

Holding out his hand, he leads me out of the bathroom.

Pleasure…