Hanging Pawns (The Fate Series Book 2) (17 page)

“If they do this… I swear, I will kill them. All of them!” Morgan snaps. She scoops up a pile of scrambled eggs and slams it against the dish.

“It’s a joke, Morgan… they did this just to mess with us,” Molly tries to calm Morgan down.

“You’re right… Chase wouldn’t be dumb enough to propose to me… and they’re smart enough to not do it together… especially when pain-in-the-ass Judith is out of town. She would kill them for fun, then bring them back and kill them again.” Morgan slams the spoon into the dish again. My eyes blink from the sound every time the two meet.

I look at Josh, my mouth hanging open from shock, then I decide to have a little fun at their expense.

They deserve this for yesterday.

“I guess I know what you guys found,” I say in a sing-song voice, grabbing a plate.

At the same time they both snap their heads in my direction to stare me down.

“Dun, dun, dun, dun” I begin the wedding march.

I can feel their stare grow intense.

Teasing them is actually more fun than the guys.

“I bet they are stunning rings…” I look over the food.

Yeah, that’s right, you did this to me.

“I think…” I’m cut off.

“I think you should go out to the kitchen and look for something…” Morgan growls.

I was just going to compliment them on how beautiful they’ll look in white.

“Are you going to do the double wedding thing? That would be so sweet.” I pinch Molly’s cheek when I get closer to her.

“I hate you,” she mumbles.

“Yeah… payback is a real bitch… but I guess I’m just an asshole like that.” I shrug, and Morgan laughs.

“Hey! Don’t people usually celebrate with mimosas?” I give Molly a teasing look. “I will go grab us some, you ladies look like you could use a drink.” My shoulders rise and fall with delight.

Accuse me of lying… I’ll get you both back. I smirk to myself.

Josh’s arm wraps around my shoulders. “Here, let me show you where that is,” he says.

“Do you have a death wish? They live only for the pleasure of revenge and you just put yourself on their hit list. Have you learned nothing from being around them?” He glares at me.

“That was my revenge,” I give a nonchalant shrug.

“You used to be so quiet.” He pulls me in tighter. “Oh, I need to call home. I’ll meet you in there.” He walks away.

Putting my hand on the swinging door that leads to the kitchen, I hear Simon on the other side of the door talking with the girls’ father and I stop.

“Sir, I assure you I have nothing but the best intentions for Sidney. I know what I am doing, she is fine, and she will never find out,” he says to their father.

I lean in closer.

“I believe you, son. How did she look?” their father says back, his voice filled with excitement.

“She was… breathtaking,” he replies.

My heart clenches. That’s what a man like Simon would be doing in a club. He was watching her, making sure she was okay.

“And you trust this guy… you trust him to watch her?” the man asks.

“I trust him with my life and hers holds more value to me, so yes. I trust him with her life, if it came to that,” Simon agrees.

I step back, covering my mouth. That’s what he meant by it would never be too late…
they
might have a plan, but he has his own. He never intended to let her go forever.

My heart skips with delight. Their love story has sucked me in. I slowly walk back toward the bedrooms thinking it over.

“Hey, what’s with the long face?” Josh asks, walking out of his room. 

I look up at his eyes, those eyes that have managed to make me feel an emotion I never thought I would be capable of. Simon is giving up an uncertain amount of time away from a woman, the only woman he may ever love, because it’s best for her, and I’m standing in front of a man, the only man I have ever completely loved, wasting the time I have with him. Simon and Sidney are living proof that we aren’t guaranteed time and when it’s up… it’s up. 

Grabbing Josh’s arm, I pull him into his room, which is so dark, it’s as if the sun hasn’t come up yet.

“Mea, what’s wrong?” He follows me in.

“Why is it so dark in here?” I ask, squinting to see.

“The rooms all have black out curtains. I don’t like to be disturbed by the sun when I’m on vacation.” He takes the back of my arm, moving me further into the room and lets go when he gets to where he wanted us to be.

The uncertainty of where he is and how close he can be has every nerve in my body on edge.

“Stand here. Don’t move, I don’t want you to trip and get hurt.” I feel his breath against the side of my face.  I reach out, stopping him before he can get too far away. I’m not ready to end whatever this is yet with light.

“Are you alright?” He wraps his hands around my arms.

“Of course, why?” I tip my head up toward where I am guessing he is.

“You’re breathing weird,” he rasps.

So is he.

I’m thankful for the darkness. He can’t see the rapid rise and fall of my chest.

“I’m fine. It’s just… I want to spend time with you… in the middle of your dark room.” My voice sounds strange. 

The temperature of the room feels like it’s rising, and my once cozy robe is beginning to suffocate me.

“You’re not in the middle…” He moves me back against what feels like the side of his bed.

“I’ll be right back, the light is over there. Nothing is going to grab you.” He begins to move away.

“Wait!” I snag him again.

“Is there something you want?” he says, and I hear in his voice he’s smiling, so I play along.

“Well…” I bite my lip, letting go of him to twiddle my fingers.

Oh, how to say this without sounding terrible.

“Is there something you want?” he breathes, taking one of my hands. He runs it up his smooth, firm chest that has shed its robe. My pulse deepens, thumping to a rhythmic beat through my body. Sliding my hands around his back, I pull him close, our bodies stilling when our skin connects. His fingers brush against my skin when he slowly peels my robe off and over my shoulders. The air is filled with electricity, it fills my lungs awakening the deepest parts of my body.

“Actually…” I stop speaking when he places his hand against the bottom of my throat, gently pushing me onto the bed.

My thoughts race all over the place making it hard to think about anything other than losing myself with him.

I have no idea what I am doing.

He moves over me, our bodies aligning.

“They’re going to think we are doing something,” I pant against his shoulder.

He hums, trailing kisses down my neck. His hands slide down the satin of my nightdress crinkling it with each needy grasp he makes. My back arches away from the bed pressing our bodies together.  

“What’s wrong with doing something?” His voice is thick and raspy against my mouth. I freeze under him when his lips brush against mine lightly. Staying a hair’s breath away so he can leave the decision to me. My heart stutters with excitement that consumes my body and feels like it might never calm down.

“I’ve never…” I frown again his lips.

“I had a feeling, love. This is your show.” He kisses my nose.

“Merry Christmas, Josh,” I whisper, closing the tiny space between us. Our lips lightly press together, sending rushes of excitement through me. Moaning against my mouth, he places his hands on either side of my face to hold me. I wrap my legs around his waist.

“Merry Christmas, indeed.” He gives a deep lustful laugh, his hands slide up my back, pulling my body off the bed and the satin material up and over my head before laying me back down.

“Does thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that the stuff life is made of.”

~ Benjamin Franklin

When I wake up, it’s still dark.

“What time is it?” I stretch my sore body against the soft mattress as my hand searches for Josh but I’m alone. Grabbing the sheet, I wrap it around myself to get up. My foot searches for the steps to get down.

Waking up alone in his bed is not how I imagined this ending, now I just need to get out before someone finds me in here.

Once I’m on the floor I kneel down to find my clothes and robe since I can’t go out there in just his sheets. The small amount of light coming from the bathroom offers a little help but not much. Releasing a heavy sigh, I stand up to open the door and hear Josh singing in the shower. I lean closer to the door to hear him better.

Christmas Carols?

He’s singing Christmas Carols! I laugh to myself.

Opening the door, I walk in, and quietly sit down on the bench that is positioned across from the shower. This bathroom is similar to mine but there’s no tub and no TV. It’s a typical male kind of bathroom. No bells, no whistles, just get in and get out.

I sit here thinking over all the ways to scare him when he goes to get out, until he speaks.

“I was going to suggest going ice skating today but since it’s after lunch and you said you have a lot to do, we will have to wait for another day,” he says from behind the frosted glass.

My mouth opens in shock.

“How did you know I was in here?” I check the time.

Three in the afternoon!

“My Mea senses tingle when you’re around,” he jokes.

I ignore him.

“Do you think it’s bad that we had sex and we aren’t dating?” I cringe at little at how slutty that sounds.

“We aren’t dating?” he asks, and my head jerks back.

“Umm, no. I don’t believe so,” I say, unsure of how to answer that.

“Hmm, so all those dinners,” he says, and I cut him off.

“You mean when we were studying and ran out for something to eat?” My head falls to the side.

“What about the night we all went out dancing?” he replies.

“We were all together…” My shoulders rise.

“Were we?” he asks.

I’m not sure now… were we?

Did he set me up again?

“Maybe because you lived a sheltered life you don’t know, but love, we have been dating for months,” he informs me. “You were just too stubborn to see it. You know it’s a good thing you have someone like me, most guys wouldn’t put up with a girl not knowing she’s dating a guy,” he attempts to sound hurt.

Oh, that’s right… I forgot!

The man is insane and masks it with charm and good looks.

“You know, Love. It would save
time
… and water, if you join me,” he yells over the water.

Well, I am curious to know what all that looks like in the light.

Under water…

Sliding the door open, I stand with the sheet still tied around me and my arms crossed in front of me.

“I would but all my things are in my shower,” I pout at him.

Good lord, it isn’t fair one man is this gorgeous.

The water ripples over his shoulders and down his chest.

I’m getting in regardless but I don’t want to come off like I’m suddenly easy and only want sex.

“Well, it just so happens that I, the man who you’ve been dating and knows you so well, had a feeling you were going to use that excuse, so I ran over and got your things.” He raises the small plastic bucket of my shower things.

Giving him my best scowl, I drop the sheet and step in with him. The water is the perfect temperature as it begins to relax my still sore body.

“I didn’t actually think that line was going to work,” he says, grabbing my soap and a washcloth.

“It’s Christmas, and I’m in the giving mood,” I shrug at him as I hold out my hand for the soapy washcloth.

“Me, too.” He smiles back.

Lying in bed next to Josh, I watch him read, he’s so peaceful, so engrossed, so…

“Something on your mind?” He turns to me.

So not paying attention to his book.

“I have a confession to make,” I say, pulling the sheet over my head.

“I love when a conversation starts out that way. Please, tell me more,” he says in a mocking tone.

“Well, part of what I had to do today was to find you a Christmas present. I got the guys new paintball guns because I’ve seen the old ones and I think they need some kind of defense against the girls when they go to have that paintball thing. But I didn’t know what to get you and now I have nothing to give you… and I feel awful.” My face squishes in fear of how mad he’s going to get. He gets up from the bed without a word, and I wish I had kept my mouth shut. The next thing I hear is the bedroom door open and close. Waiting a few more seconds, I decide it’s time for me to go back to my room. I grab my robe, tie it around my waist and head toward my room, making sure to shut the door quietly behind me so no one hears. When I’m in the solitude of my room, I break down and let the tears fall.