Chapter 12

“OH. Hell…”

Shocked by the coolness of the water, she didn’t protest, as he gently lowered her to the bathroom floor. He then grabbed the soap to lather her body. It was soothing and relaxing, as she allowed him to turn her body this way and that. Being taken care of by someone else other than her, was something new. She reveled in the sensations it aroused. Allowing him leeway, she stood quiet and docile under his ministrations. It wasn’t in her independent nature to be led, but with him she found she wanted to. He had tamed her rebellious nature.

‘I’m like a wild animal that has been domesticated.’ She thought in a fit of humor.

But it did feel that way.

‘

‘Wild Fijian woman tamed by an angel. A fitting title to a romantic novel.’

Entertained by the thought, she gave an uncharacteristic snort of laughter. Arrested by the sound after all quietness from her, Brett turned his head to pin her with those eyes, the sparks in them mesmerizing her for a beat, “Do you find this funny?”

The humor in his voice brought her out of her mood.

“Nope. Just the fact that I’m allowing it, that I find funny.” She blurted, then grimaced.

She hadn’t meant to say that at all.

“Hmm. Your candor never ceases to amaze me.” He chuckled.

“Fine. If you want to do it yourself, be my guest.”

“Oh no, no. Continue with your wonderful brand of …” She indicated what he was doing with a rotating finger.

His eyes crinkled.

His face broke into a huge grin as he waited for her to finish her sentence.

“With what you’re doing.” She ended lamely, not finding an adequate word.

Mortified, she watched his hands moving over her skin then come up to her breast. Fascinated, she watched as they smoothed over them, the sensation of his rough palm against her soft skin so exquisite, she trembled.

Then a soft sound from him drew her eyes up to his.

He was staring at his hands as they smoothed over her breasts, his cheek muscles flexed and his cheekbones flushed. She had seen that every time he was aroused. Cupping her breasts, he finally looked into her eyes, as his chest heaved with a trembling breath.

They were panting in unison as one of his hands left her breast, to cup her chin, his eyes never leaving hers. Then he bent his head, as he brought her mouth up to his. She stood on tiptoes, eager to meet that mouth. She couldn’t get enough of his mouth, of him.

His lips were voracious as he parted her lips. He ravaged her mouth.

Her knees went weak.

But he held her up as he feasted on her.

His body overwhelmed hers, as he lifted her onto him.

He had toweled her dry, carrying her back to the bedroom after that shower stall marathon.

Tired, contented, all she wanted now was to sleep, but she had work to do.

“Sweetheart, we have work to do.” He insisted.

He must have heard her thoughts.

She needed to do her map rounds, then work on her plan to rescue her relations. And maybe others as well.

“Okay, I’m up.”

Her body felt light as she stood. She felt she could fly away if she didn’t hold on to something.

He had made her feel heady, blissful.

Powerful.

‘Okay, that one was weird. He’s the one with the power.’

Dismissing the thought, she paused for a second. She had turned around, after rummaging in her drawers for jeans and a t-shirt to wear, to find herself alone. She was so accustomed to him being there all the time. It was always a shock to her system when he left, unexpectedly, without a sound.

‘Why am I anxious? He’s not going to be here forever. He’s an angel, for goodness’ sake. He has other people to protect. Other duties to attend to.” She berated herself.

But the forlorn feeling persisted because he wasn’t there beside her.

“Hey, babe I have brunch ready.” He yelled out from the kitchen area. It set her heart beating fast but gave her peace of mind.

Hardened her resolve as well.

‘Maybe I should just chill and take each day as it comes. Maybe I should just be grateful for what I have now, and not fret over the lack of commitment. Nothing is guaranteed, after all.’

Yes, she was going to do that.

It was a magnificent day.

Cleaning up after their meal, they left around 10 a.m. to pick up her stash for the day, then went walking, dropping fliers into mailboxes. The day was filled with beauty. Everything looked fresh, smelled fresh, after the rain the night before.

Blissful, contented, she was walking on air.

They were happy in each other’s company. There was constant touching, kissing, laughter from him, amid giggles from her. He didn’t care who saw, as he hauled her close every time, she drifted far from him.

She wanted the day to never end.

Nina felt loved, protected.

That day was the summation of joy for her. A day to pit against all the horrible days before, and the ones to come.

But no matter how much she laughed, the shadow lurking in the back of her mind, kept pricking her conscience. The dread in the pit of her stomach was her constant companion.

.

He dropped a bombshell that evening.

“We’re going to Fiji tomorrow. We’re going to finish this, once and for all.”

‘Oh shit! I’m not ready…’ Screamed her mind.

“W…wh…why?” She stuttered. Disbelief, with a touch of fear, clouded her mind.

She quaked at the knees.

In her mind the magnitude of the task ahead was too hard to grasp at the moment.

It was a task she saw herself completing one day.

Just not yet.

She had to prepare herself. Didn’t she?

He was throwing her in at the deep end!

“Because you will never be completely happy. Never feel completely safe, until this is over and done.”

Her mouth closed.

She had no comeback to that.

Flabbergasted, she stared at him in awe.

He read her so clearly, without hearing what she was thinking.

The arguments she thought up later didn’t sway him. Intent on ending Cagilaba’s reign of terror over her, and her family, he stood firm and immovable.

“We’re not flying by plane.”

He forestalled her, before she could argue about passports, or plane tickets.

“I’ll be taking you on the angel flight.” He joked.

If it was his intention to make her feel better, he failed miserably.

“Look babe, we need to do this now. Need to clear up what’s keeping you in chains of fear.”

He tried to explain his reasoning. She knew he was doing it from a place of good intentions, but that did not make her feel any better.

“Pack a bag with some stuff you may need, including your important documents.” He urged.

“We’ll leave in the morning. In the meantime…”

He paused, eyeing her as he slid nearer, his eyes taking on that look she knew so well. Her heart sped up, as she waited for his next move.

His lovemaking that night seemed to be borne out of desperation. Her observation was not fact, but her intuition told her she was right. Her last thought just before she succumbed was, ‘Am I going to die?’

That was the first thing she asked him, when exhausted, satiated, a lifetime later.

“Am I going to die?”

He looked startled, then wary.

“What makes you say that?”

His cautious tone worried her more.

“Your current behavior.”

His eyes widened; the slumberous look disappeared.

Then they narrowed.

“Are you reading my mind?”

That ludicrous question made her laugh. She stopped when she sensed, it didn’t sit well with him.

“Now how can I do that when my mind is locked?” She asked ruefully.

She saw his pained look.

He must have been grasping at straws to avoid answering. But he looked cornered now.

A desperate, anguished look entered those beautiful eyes.

“I don’t know.”

He closed his eyes to hide from her. But she was having none of it.

Grabbing his jaw, she urged his face into the open, so she could see his eyes.

“I know you’re lying to me. Angels can’t lie, can they? Only prevaricate.”

It was a long shot, but she was determined to get her answer.

“No, we cannot. You know I can’t lie to you, even if I wanted to. This is a dangerous business. We knew there was always the possibility of something drastic happening.” He gripped her tightly around the waist, pulling her down to him.

“I wish we didn’t have to go, but we need to. Otherwise, there will be no ending to this threat in your life. But there’s one thing I do know I can control. That is to keep you safe. So, I promise I will do all in my power to do that.”

Without warning, he rolled them over. Pinning her down, he made her forget for a while.

Nina was woken up by Brett at the crack of dawn. Grumpily, she glared up at him.

“Leave me alone.” She protested. “I need to sleep.”

She pulled the blanket over her head, then rolled over to face the wall.

He laughed, and then ripped it off her.

“Oh no, babe. We have to leave. Get up…”

He slapped her butt, making her squeal.

It wasn’t painful, but it was an affront to her pride.

“Shit.”

She turned to slap him, but he grabbed her arms, pushed them over her head, then lay between her thighs.

“If you don’t get up now…,”

His face came closer, his voice lowering to a husky drawl.

“I will carry you to the shower and dunk you under a cold spray.”

He finished in a threatening growl, then laughed when he saw her face.

He knew what she had been thinking. The roguish look he was giving her, told her that.

“Tsk, tsk. Getting addicted to my lovemaking, are we?”

He wagged a finger at her.

Getting to his feet, he strode out of the room. “Hurry, I have your breakfast ready. You should eat while it’s hot.” He threw over his shoulder, just before he exited.

‘Damn that arrogant devil. He makes me want to kill him sometimes. Angel.’ She amended.

Incensed at his knowing look, all she had wanted was to wipe it off his face. He knew she was addicted. And it amused him no end that she could not do anything but succumb. The self-satisfied arrogant look on his face proved that. The fact that he was right fueled her anger even more.

‘Mumbling to myself is not going to do any good. Better get a move on. But TBH, Lord, I’m terrified!’

Nina didn’t want him to think she was a coward, but she wanted to run off somewhere. Get away from the terrifying ordeal ahead of them.

Showered, dressed, she packed lightly. Just a backpack and her satchel. She was surprised when she came out of the bedroom to find Brett waiting just outside her door. The grin on his face told her he knew what she had been thinking. He knew she wanted to run as fast, and as far as she could from this.

“You’ve taken up stalking me now?” She grumbled, as she passed him.

“Oh, I thought it would be easier and quicker me waiting out here, so I could do this…”

He dragged her into his arms.

Her stunned mind knew without a shadow of a doubt, he had transported them to Fiji.

Disoriented, breathless, gasping with shock and anger, she staggered out of his arms. Too incensed to look around, to see where they were, she concentrated on taking deep gulps of air.

“What the hell was that?”

Gasping, spluttering, she managed to choke that out between clenched teeth.

He had gone too far.

He had given her no time to prepare, before he had just whisked her off, to here.

“I know I gave you no choice.”

His tone was sober as he apologized.

“You think?” She glared at him.

He did look contrite. She forgave him in her heart. But pretended to be still mad at him. It suited her purposes. Hiding her fear from his prying eyes was her trump card. It helped her push it way down deep, to where it wasn’t acknowledged by her.

“I’m sorry, babe. But I would do that again if I had to.”

She was ready to jump down his throat again, but he forestalled her by holding his index finger in the air. That shut her mouth.

“It was worth it. This way you wouldn’t be analyzing it or sweating over it. Dithering would only make the fear grow stronger every day. It was better this way. We ripped the band aid off.”

He defended his actions.

Deep down, she understood that, but she wasn’t ready to admit it. Her glare remained in place, but she remained silent. She couldn’t think of anything else to say.

But he persisted.

“Forgiven me?” He asked, his eyes filled with gloom.

“Just leave it.” She snapped back.

He stared at her for a few seconds, then shrugged.

“Okay, but this is not over.” He growled, his eyes dark green as the bottomless sea.

“Whatever…” She said, knowing she was being rude, but not caring.

The look in his eyes promised retribution.

“We have to find someplace to stay, so I brought us to this motel, which has separate units.”

She finally looked.

They were standing in front of a motel, situated between the road they were standing on, and the sea.

It looked familiar.