Page 62 of Stella's Christmas Rescue
“You see, when you’re on your own, you have to figure things out for yourself. And I’ve done just that. I’ve met some interesting people along the way, too.” Just need to stall a littlelonger. I hope. “I’m sure you’ve met interesting people, too. Maybe a pretty girl? Or perhaps Quinn again?”
“Is that to say she isn’t pretty?”
“That’s not for me to say.”
He chuckles. “I told you, Quinn meant nothing to me. She has other, more valuable talents. You knew of my other trifles, I’d like to know, why did Quinn bother you so much?”
I want to scream at him. But I keep my voice measured. “She always seemed like she was up to something. Untrustworthy. Your other girls were obviously just for fun. Easy enough to forgive. Quinn wanted you.”
He smiles and rolls his eyes. “She was never going to get what she wanted. And you knew that. None of them were as pretty as you, Love. Just distractions from missing you. That’s all. Tell me about yours. Your gents, I mean. Unless there’ve been some pretty girls…?” He smirks.
“No girls, Simon, hate to burst your bubble. I remember you always hoped for that, but no.”
“You remember my fantasy?” he’s pleasantly surprised.
“I remember a lot from back then, Simon,” I smirk. “And maybe if you’re a good boy, we can explore some of your fantasies. Regarding my men, they were mere dalliances. Something to distract from all the confusion and chaos.”
He bites his lip for a moment, then asks, “None of them were special to you?”
“Hard to find someone special when your heart is somewhere else.”
He nods. “I know precisely what you mean, Love.”
“Did you really mean it when you asked me to join you?”
He grabs my shirt at the buttons and pulls me close to him. “Do you want to come with me? We can have things the way they were, but this time in the tropics. I’ll run the guns, you run whatever adorable little business you want for the front. Makeus legit. It’ll be perfect. There’s no extradition in the Maldives, so bonus. You don’t have to worry about anything with Witness Protection, no trials to worry about. No more being on the run. No more being alone.” He releases my shirt.
I stroke his lapel and ask, “And all I have to do…?”
“All you have to do is say yes. Say yes to the easy life in paradise, Love. Come with me.”
I smile. “Is that where you’re going after this?”
He nods. “Can’t think of a better place to spend my days. Can you?”
I shake my head. “A place better than the Maldives? No, not at all.”
“Then, say yes.”
If I say yes, then he’ll kiss me. If he kisses me, then I might throw up in his mouth. I softly say, “I’m not sure, yet, Simon.” I tilt my head down and coquettishly murmur, “Convince me.”
He grabs my shirt again and pulls me tight to him, forcing me between his widespread legs. “I could convince you like the old days. You remember how I used to make you tremble?”
“I remember everything, Simon. I promise you.”
He gently moves my head to the side, then licks up my neck. “I could make you scream like I did in the old days, but my boys will hear you in the hallway, and you’re rather shy.”
I shiver in disgust, but he seems to like it.
He murmurs, “You’re shaking like a leaf.”
“It’s been a long time, Simon. And the last few years have been?—"
“Foreplay,” he says.
This is not going as slowly as I had hoped. He’s hard against my thigh. If I don’t stop this now, then this will go way too far, way too fast. God, I hope this works. I whisper, “Simon?”
He nibbles down my neck. His voice is heavy and deep when he responds, “Yes, Love?”
