Page 66 of Shifted

"Take it easy." I took her hand into mine as she breathed in and out. "Safehouse shouldn't be too far from here." Zoe remained asleep beside her. I'd never met Isaac in person, but now I knew who he was. I knew his family, his wife, his child; I knew all of it. I could never hold it against him, but I couldn't believe it. Right under my nose, I wonder if he'd already figured me out. But knowing him, he'd use it as leverage.

After another 20 minutes, he drove the car down a pebble road that led to a gate with two guards out front. Amartolós stopped the vehicle and rolled down the window.

"We have Isaac's wife and child per request, 011, and." He looked over at me, asking for my client number. "023," I said, and he looked back to the guard who talked into his walkie-talkie. Then the gates opened up.

"I'd like to go home, to my home. I know that's where they captured me, but it's my home. It’s where I raised Zoe, and I need to go home," Maya pleaded, "If you have families, you must understand?"

"You'll go home someday, but for now, it's safer here," Amartolós said, focusing on the cabin ahead. A taller man exited the cabin, Isaac. He quickly rushed out towards the car as it came into sight. Once the vehicle was parked, I went out to help Maya as Amartolós took the sleeping child out of her car seat.

"Oh, Maya αγ?πη μου." She took two steps forward towards him and slapped him across the face, not sharing a word nor sparing him a glance. Instead, she walked over to Amartolós and took Zoe from his arms, thanking him quietly. She looked over to me, nodded, and then came forward, hugging me.

"Thank you, my Angel of Hope." She whispered those same words as Theo, and I felt my body tense. "I recognized your voice once you said my name. But don't worry. Your secrets are safe with me," she mumbled and pulled away. "Thank you again." I nodded. My voice was usually muffled due to my mask, but my lips were exposed in the car, meaning that if Amartolós had known me, he would've picked up on it.

"I owe you both. The money is in your accounts." Isaac offers out his hand to shake, but I just stare at it. "Keep it," I say, and he looks confused.

"Your wife and child aren't a price. It was my duty to serve them." I looked at Maya as she went inside the house and back to Isaac. "Not you, Isaac, them." I walked back into the car, and Amartolós went to the driver's side.

"You continue to surprise me," he mumbled, shutting the door. He turned to me, leaning against the console. My contact lenses hid the breadcrumbs of my identity, but the fear of Maya learning who I was so easily scared me.

Then, the unexpected followed. Amartolós pulled up my mask, and I found myself leaning into his lips. They were luscious; I couldn't get enough of them. But I broke away, leaning back in the chair, taking in all the feelings. One filled with lust and the other with guilt.

"I can't," He nods.

"So, you do have a family?” I asked, and it sounded as if he choked on the air from my words. “I mean, I'm not home wrecking, right? You could have a wife and kids. I'm just thinking of myself. I could be—" His hand covered my mouth within an instant, shutting me up.

"Angel, it's just me: no wife, no kids, no life, and no strings. There's no home to be wrecked." His words swirl in my mind.

"So it's lonely?" His eyes move back to me in a swift motion.

"Yes and no, it depends on who I'm with. There is a woman who turned my word, and I owe it to her to keep that in my mind. But yes, it’s sometimes lonely," With that, he put the key in the ignition and the car in drive.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Hope Taylor

Three years ago

I felt his fingers trace the frame of my arm as I lay pretending to sleep behind him. But as my small smirk grew bigger, I knew I wouldn't be able to keep up my act.

"Why are you teasing me?" I rasp as the charade was up.

"Who said anything about teasing you?" As I slowly opened my eyes, he greeted me. He seemed in a particularly good mood, even though we were in a double bed with our bodies smooshed together. But it could be worse; most dorms have twin single beds. Since I didn't have a roommate, a bigger bed wasn't a problem, nor was privacy.

"You look so pretty when you wake up in the morning. Did you know that?" He questions, dragging his hand down to reach my ass.

"Are you trying to seduce me?" His finger lifts the waistband of my laced underwear, and his hand wraps itself around my ass cheek, squeezing it. "No, I just find you incredibly sexy?" He swiftly removed his hand and placed a light slap against my ass. I could feel my arousal building as I wiggled my butt back slightly.

"Can I ask you a question, Hope?" I nodded my head slowly, as the words wouldn't form properly. I was too distracted by the tingling sensation within me.

"Mhmm." His hand found its way toward my front, and his finger lifted the waistband. As his hand sank deeper, I felt his fingers sink into my wetness. I cupped his hand against me, breathing sharply as his fingers entered me. I applied pressure as he continued to stimulate my clit. As I looked at his face, a greedy smile spread across it.

"Can I fuck you?" Without a second thought, I nodded, "I need words, Hope."

"Yes.... please." He immediately pushed me against my back, pulling the covers up as he made his way on top of me. He discarded his boxers quickly as his shirt was already nowhere to be found. His fingers grazed my clit once more, teasing me. Then he lowered himself down. He rubbed the tip of his dick against the mess of my entrance. I groaned with impatience as he continued to move.

"Please," I moan. He lowers his head down to my neck, placing kisses down it.

"Beg for it, baby." I felt my insides pulse with just his simple words.

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