“Mr. Stirling?”
I turned as the pilot approached. He wasn't anyone I knew, but I'd chartered private jets through this particular international company before and I knew them to be professional and, more importantly, discreet. Right now, the most important thing was to keep as many details as possible quiet for as long as we could.
“My name is Antonio Russo.” He flashed impossibly white teeth when he smiled. “I will be flying your party to a private airstrip just outside of Padua. Another plane will be waiting to complete your trip to the United States.”
I shook his hand. “Thank you. Are we ready to go?”
“Yes, Sir.” Antonio nodded. “Whenever you are.”
“We'll board in a minute,” I said. “I just need to have a few words with the gentlemen who won't be coming with us.”
The pilot nodded again and then picked up the luggage Kai had pulled from the backseat. I gave the bodyguard a surprised look. I hadn't even thought about my things. I was glad he had though. It was one less thing I had to bother with.
“Princess Namisa,” Tomas spoke, his voice surprisingly emotional. “Before you leave, we must beg your forgiveness.”
Nami's eyes widened in surprise, but she didn't say anything.
“Kai and I had been charged with keeping you safe for years and we have failed in our duty.”
“No.” She shook her head. “The blame for this lies on no one but Tanek Nekane. You protected my sister. You made sure that she was not harmed by my husband. There is nothing to forgive.”
Kai opened his mouth as if he'd protest, but a sharp look from Nami stopped him.
“Now we have to finish what we have started,” she said. She looked over at me. “I am assuming that running to Philadelphia is not the end of the plan.”
“It's not,” I said. “I'll give you the details on the plane, but the short version is that Kai and Tomas are staying here to implement the last part of the plan to get Tanek arrested.” I glanced at the plane. “We need to go.”
“Reed is correct,” Tomas said. He gave a bow to Nami and then to Halea before turning to me and holding out a hand. “Thank you.”
“Thank you,” I repeated. “And you two be careful.”
“We will.” Kai shook my hand as well. “Take care of our princesses.”
“I will,” I promised.
The pair got back into the town car and drove off to wherever they intended to hide it. After that, they'd go to Kai's car and head for Ina's apartment. Then it became a waiting game for them until the king and queen returned. For the princesses and myself, our time of waiting was beginning right now.
I held out a hand to Nami and she took it, then put her other arm around Halea. Together, we headed for the plane.
I hadn't bothered to ask for their nicest one since availability was more important, so it was more compact than some of the others I'd used before to entertain business associates, but it was still better than a commercial flight, even in first class. I'd been thinking of needing privacy because of who Halea and Nami were, but after seeing the marks on Nami's body, I was doubly glad I'd gone with private flights. The last thing she needed was people staring at her injuries.
Halea settled in one of the seats and, after a quick look at me, Nami went to sit beside her. I was a bit disappointed that she wasn't sitting with me, but I could see why she needed to be near her sister. I headed up to the cockpit to let the captain know we were ready to go and then went to the bar to find out what sort of drinks they had to offer.
By the time we touched down in Italy, both princesses seemed to be calmer and I'd finally started to relax as well. That, I assumed, had just as much to do with the couple of now-empty bottles of liquor I'd consumed. It wasn't enough for me to be drunk or even tipsy, but they'd definitely taken the edge off. I wouldn't be completely tension-free until we were home, but Italy was definitely safer than Saja. Kai and Tomas had assured me that, while relations with Italy were good, Tanek would still have to go through a process to try to get Nami and Halea back from there. It'd be even harder once we were in the States, and that would be if he could find us at all. Considering I trusted the only two people who knew we were coming, I doubted Tanek would be able to figure out where we were before the king and queen arrived back in Saja.
The plane in Italy was a little bigger than the first and included a long seat that Halea immediately claimed. As soon as we were airborne and allowed to unbuckle, Halea stretched out, falling asleep in seconds. I found a blanket and covered her with it, tucking it in so it wouldn't fall off. She looked even younger and more innocent, and I felt a surge of anger that Tanek could even consider hurting her.
“He's never going to touch you,” I promised quietly. I knew she couldn't hear me, but that didn't matter. Even if the king and queen refused to lock up Tanek, I would do whatever it took to protect Halea and Nami.
“Reed.” Nami slipped her hand into mine.
I turned around and looked down at her. I used my free hand to tuck an unruly curl behind her ear. “I don't care what it takes. I will make you safe again.”
She raised herself on her toes and pressed her lips against mine. It was a fairly quick, chaste kiss, but I saw the bright flare of arousal in her eyes.
“You will do anything to make me feel safe?”
That wasn't exactly how I'd worded it, but it was close enough. “Yes.”
One side of her mouth quirked up in a partial smile. “Good. Come with me.”
I was confused, but let her pull me after her. As soon as I realized where she was going, I knew what she wanted. At least, I thought I did, even though I had to be wrong. What I was thinking was crazy.
“Do you know when I feel the most safe?” she asked as she opened the door to the bathroom. She backed inside and pulled me towards her. “When you are inside me.”
Fuck.
“I don't know, Nami,” I protested weakly.
She reached around me and closed the door, locking it. This bathroom was slightly larger than the one on a commercial plane, but it was still a tight fit.
“Do you want me?” she asked, reaching up to trace my bottom lip with her finger.
“I always want you,” I said. And it was the truth. My brain said this was a bad idea, but my cock was insisting it was the best idea I'd heard all day.
Nami slid her hand down my neck and down my chest. Her eyes locked with mine as her hand dropped lower and cupped me through my pants. My entire body jerked as she grasped me. Fuck.
“You're hurt.” I tried another protest even though my cock was screaming at me to shut up.
Nami nodded. “So are you.”
“Not even close to the same.”
She let go of my cock and lifted herself onto the sink. As she parted her legs, she pulled up her dress until the hem rested on her thighs. I let out air in a hiss as she moved her hand between her legs. She made a sound and her eyelids fluttered. I swallowed hard, my pants suddenly and impossibly tight. When she pulled her hand out, her fingers were glistening. Without taking her eyes off me, she raised her hand to her mouth and licked her fingers clean.
“Oh, fuck, Nami,” I breathed.
She nodded. “Yes, please.” She held out her hand. “Fuck Nami. I need you. I need you to make me clean again.”
A better man than me wouldn't have been able to refuse her. I was pushing my pants down on my hips even as I took the two steps I needed to end up right between her legs.
“Fast,” she said as she grasped my cock and led it to her entrance.
I nodded. I would go fast in a moment, but I needed to ease inside the first time. I rested my forehead against hers as I moved forward inch by inch. I kept one hand on her back and put the other beneath her dress. If this was going to be fast, she'd need a bit of help to get off and I was determined to give her at least one orgasm.
A sharp pain went through my earlobe as she bit down. Her mouth started to move down my neck, lips and teeth setting my skin on fir
e. I took that as my cue and started to move. Fast but deep strokes that left her empty one moment and filled the next. My thumb played across her clit and she whimpered, a sound of pleasure and not pain, one that made my stomach clench and my balls tighten. I was so close. Her thighs quivered around me and I knew she was nearly there too.
I thrust into her two more times and groaned as I exploded, unable to hold back anymore. I rocked against her, giving her the friction she needed to follow me over the edge. We stayed that way, locked together in an embrace, our bodies still joined, breathing harsh, blood rushing in our ears. The world outside would wait a little longer. Right now, we were safe and she was in my arms. That was all that mattered at the moment. We'd face the rest soon enough, but I would keep her here as long as I could, letting her know without words that she was safe and I wouldn’t let anything bad happen to her again.
Chapter 16
Nami
I wasn't sure when I managed to fall asleep, but with Reed's arms around me and my head on his shoulder, it didn't surprise me. With the exception of that one night in the hotel, I'd only been sleeping in fits and starts since I’d met Tanek. An hour here and there, waking suddenly with a pounding heart and the certainty that Tanek was there in the dark. In Reed's arms, with his scent around me, the memory of him throbbing between my legs, I was able to let myself go. Even in sleep, when the darkness tried to frighten me, I knew he was there and the thought was enough to keep the demons at bay.
“Nami.” His voice was soft in my ear, but loud enough to pull me from sleep. “We're almost home.”
For a moment, I felt panic and my eyes opened. Then I realized what he meant and the fear faded, though the adrenaline had made me suddenly and completely awake. Reed gave me a concerned look as I sat up.
I didn't give him a chance to ask if I was okay. I had a feeling I would be sick of that question very soon. “Did you sleep at all?” I asked him.
He nodded. “A bit, but I don't think I'll really relax until we're in a place I know no one can get to you.” He reached out and put his hand on my cheek, his touch light enough that it didn't hurt.
“Where are we going?” I asked suddenly, realizing I didn't know any details.
“Philadelphia,” he said. “I have some friends there I can trust.”
“Friends, not family?” I put my hand on his arm.
“No,” he said. “I can't try to work things out with them and worrying about you at the same time.”
“I don't want you worry about me or Halea,” I said.
He gave me the kind of smile that said I just didn't understand. “You're my world, Nami. How can I not worry about you?”
Before I could think of something to say, he was on his feet and heading for the cockpit.
“I like him.” Halea sat down next to me. Her face was pale and she looked tired even though I knew she'd slept through most of the eight hour flight. She reached over and took my hand. “I know you think you have to protect me, but I am stronger than you think.”
I smiled as I squeezed her hand. “It wasn't your strength I doubted. It was mine. I could bear what Tanek did to me, but I couldn't have handled anything happening to you.”
Tears spilled over, running down Halea's cheeks and she buried her head against my chest, her arms wrapping around me so tightly that it hurt. I didn't ask her to stop, putting my own arms around her and kissing the top of her head. My own eyes burned with tears.
“It's all right now, little one,” I murmured. “Shh. We're safe now.”
By the time Reed came back to tell us that we'd be landing at a private airstrip just outside of Philadelphia in a few minutes, Halea and I had both regained our composure enough to excuse ourselves to freshen up. I returned to my seat just as the pilot announced that we needed to put on our seat belts. I sat next to Reed. Now that the immediate concerns were out of the way and we were now simply waiting to hear from Kai and Tomas about my parents, I found myself growing nervous. Not at what was going to happen with Tanek, but rather what would be waiting for us in Philadelphia.
“Your friends,” I asked as the plane began to descend. “Are they picking us up at the airport?”
“They are.” Reed reached over and laced his fingers between mine. A faint flush stained his cheeks. “Do you remember me telling you about Piper?”
It took me a moment, but then I placed the name. “The woman whose decision to go with another man sent you to Europe?”
The corner of Reed's mouth twitched and his ears began to turn red. “I wouldn't have put it exactly like that, but yes. She and her boyfriend are picking us up. They moved in together earlier this summer, but she has an apartment in Fishtown that still has a lease on it. She hasn't been able to find someone to sublet it to, so we can stay there as long as we need to.”
“That's very generous of her.” I hoped I didn't sound suspicious, but I found it strange that a woman who'd rejected Reed would go to all this trouble to help him.
“Nami, there's nothing between Piper and me but friendship.”
I looked up at Reed and found his expression serious. He raised our hands and kissed the back of mine.
“She's actually the one who told me that if I loved you, I needed to go after you and not let anyone stop me.” He squeezed my hand. “What Piper and I had...it wasn't real. She and Julien are meant to be together.” His eyes were warm as they met mine. “Just like we are.”
Because of the six hour or so time difference, it was a little past one in the morning as we left the airplane and I shivered as a gust of wind whipped across the landing strip. Reed slid his arm around my waist and pulled me against him as we walked towards the couple who were waiting next to a normal-looking car. That was surprising. I'd assumed that Reed's friends had as much money as he did.
I looked at her first. She was about my age, maybe a year or two older. Bright red hair that she had pulled back in a ponytail. Dark green eyes and a light dusting of freckles across her fair skin. She was quite pretty, but the way she looked at the man standing next to her kept me from being jealous. She was clearly in love. He was tall with black hair and bright blue eyes, a handsome man, I thought, but not my type.
“Thank you guys so much for helping us,” Reed said as we reached his friends. He put out his free hand and shook Julien's hand. Piper came forward to give him a half-hug, then gave me one as well, surprising me enough that I couldn't cover it.
She smiled. “Julien and I both know what it's like to have everything working against you.” She reached behind her and he took her hand. “Any way we can help, we're more than happy to.”
“Thank you,” I said. All of the anxiety I'd had at meeting her melted away. She had one of the most sincere faces I'd ever seen. “I'm Nami and this is my sister Halea.” I gestured towards Halea who gave Piper a shy smile. I purposefully left off our titles, though I supposed Reed had told his friends who we were. I didn't want them to think of us that way though.
“We brought the car rather than having someone drive us,” Julien spoke up. “Figured it would be the best way to keep from drawing attention.” He glanced at me and offered an additional explanation. “The apartment's not in a bad neighborhood or anything, but a town car would be noticed, even this early in the morning.”
“Thank you,” I said again.
He opened the back door and I climbed in while Halea walked around to the other side. Reed got in beside me as his friends put Reed's luggage in the trunk and then got into the front of the car.
As Julien began to drive, Piper half-turned in her seat so she could see us while she talked.
“You asked us to keep an ear out for any international news,” she said to Reed. “There hasn't been anything yet.” She looked at me, her expression open and compassionate. “I am so sorry for what happened to you.”
I didn't know how much Reed had told her, but I knew at least some of the evidence was still clear on my skin. I nodded, swallowing hard. Reed put his arm around my shoulders
. My stomach flipped and I closed my eyes for a moment, fighting a sudden wave of nausea. It was jet lag, I told myself. Jet lag and nerves. I'd been sick every day since Reed had been arrested.
“The place is mostly empty,” Piper was saying. “We wanted to keep it furnished in case we had a renter who preferred it that way, but it's pretty plain. I went over right after we got off the phone and cleaned, then went shopping.”
I opened my eyes and caught Halea looking at me, concerned. I managed a smile and turned my attention to the city I could see through the windshield. We didn't go downtown though, heading off to a neighborhood outside what I would have considered the city. Piper informed us that Fishtown was part of Philadelphia, but not the business or historical district. I was going to ask why they called it Fishtown when one of the streetlights illuminated the image of a fish on the side of one of the buildings. Not like a drawing or anything like that, but rather a metal cast. I couldn't see much detail as we passed, but it was enough to confirm it was a fish.
“Here we are,” Julien said as he pulled up to the curb.
We were on a cobblestone street off of the main one, parked in front of what I would have thought of as a row house rather than an apartment. It was a rustically beautiful red brick building. I was sure it would be even nicer looking in the daylight.
Piper went up the steps and unlocked the door while Julien grabbed Reed's bags. He kept his arm around me as we followed Piper and Halea followed us. We stepped into a living room just as Piper flicked a switch, lighting things up. It had been painted fairly recently, I saw. Not enough that we could smell it, but enough for it to be clear that she'd done some work on the place.
“It's lovely,” I said.
“Thank you.” Piper gave me a warm smile. “I brought over some clothes for you to wear if you needed them. They're upstairs in the main room. Linens are in the hall closet just outside the bathroom. The fridge is stocked with food and drinks.”