“Get dressed and stop tempting my stupid ass,” he told her.
She shook her head.
Finally he found a set of pajama bottoms and a sweatshirt and forced her to put them on.
“We have to leave. Come on. Don’t make a pussy out of all my plans.” He tugged on her hand.
“I can’t wear this.” She looked at her body skeptically.
“You can. And you will. Now march, or I’m picking you up and carrying you, and I know you hate that shit.” He grabbed his suitcase.
“We really can’t leave. What about the houses? The assholes? The douchebags? Your brothers? I haven’t even seen my dad for Christmas yet.”
“We will be gone four days—just a long weekend. I’ve set up everything with the assholes and the douchebags. My brothers know we are leaving. I’ll have my cell and a private plane, and we can come back if Armageddon happens. I bought them houses to flee to, for fuck’s sake. We can FaceTime your dad. Let’s go.” He emphasized his last words.
“Where are we going?”
He was relieved to see her follow him out the bedroom door. “Surprise. And you’re a hard chick to surprise, just saying.” He pulled her down the stairs.
“What about G?” She pointed at the dog.
“He’s coming with us. Right, boy?” Beckett clipped the dog’s leash to his harness.
“We’re really doing this?”
Beckett smiled. “Yes, stubborn bitch. Remember? I’m taking you to a place with water as blue as your fucking eyes.” He restated his promise from years ago. The night Blake was shot, the evening Mouse died, Beckett had promised her the trip he was about to take her on.
“Okay. Fine. I’ll go. Give me five minutes to pack some shit.” She stepped back up the stairs, and he put down his suitcase to tap his watch.
“I already packed for you. Everything’s covered.”
“Private plane. I need to be armed. Where’s my hair knife?” She gave him a hard look.
“Fine. Go. Quickly. And if it’s heavy, I’ll carry it.” Beckett opened the front door and took his dog and his suitcase to the waiting town car.
Eve was behind him, with a duffle bag and wearing a normal outfit, by the time he’d let G pee and put him in the car. “All set.”
He put the bag in the trunk, slammed the car door, and they were off to the airport in the middle of the night. Hilarious that taking Eve on a vacation felt like the most illegal thing he’d ever done. He kissed her lips, and she rested her head against his shoulder.
“What the hell inspired this?” she asked. “It’s like you’re possessed tonight.”
He petted his dog with one hand and put the other on her hip. “You. I want to be selfish with you. Life is short and all that shit.”
She nodded. When they arrived at the airport, she shook her head and rolled her eyes. The path to the plane was lit with white luminaria bags filled with sand and a candle each. It was very Christmas romantic.
“Did you kidnap Martha Stewart for this?” She turned to look at him.
“Not yet.”
She was out the door before he had a chance to open it for her. Jazz played just loud enough to hear, and the plane looked warm and inviting.
The driver grabbed their bags as Beckett led his lady and his dog to the plane for four days of bliss—days to celebrate each other and pretend they had an amazing future together that didn’t involve any of the crap it most certainly would.
Inside, the plane was scattered with rose petals. G ran around sniffing them before jumping on the leather couch. Eve rolled her eyes at Beckett, but smiled as she sat in one of the captain’s chairs. He sat down next to her, and they both buckled up.
“Whose plane is this?” Eve ran a hand over the buttery fabric on the chair.
“Someone who owes me a favor.” Beckett lifted her hand with the diamond on it to his lips.
“I think it would be easier to find someone who didn’t owe you a favor.”
The pilot came over the speakers, basically just saying hello.
“Can I know where we’re headed?” Eve asked when he’d finished.
“You’ll see. Just a couple of hours if everything goes as planned.”
The plane took off smoothly, and the low music resumed.
“Nice clear night, fiancée.” He unbuckled his seatbelt. “How you feeling?”
She undid her belt as well. “Good. Stupidly optimistic.”
“That’s what I’m going for. Come sit in my lap, killer.” He patted his thigh.
She shook her head, but complied. “This has been a long day.”
“Shall we?” He motioned to the couch.
It took some maneuvering, but soon enough they were cuddled there with G at their feet. She watched him for a few minutes before letting her eyes close.
Beckett smiled to himself. They were headed to Florida. After some research and nosing around, he’d found out one of the most beautiful beaches in the world was on the Gulf Coast. Or at least that’s when he’d stopped searching. The woman who owned the plane had a friend with a house along the beach, so that’s where Beckett decided to engagement-moon.
He was still smiling as he dozed off to sleep with Eve in his arms and G snoring on his feet.
The plane began to make different noises that woke Eve just in time for Beckett’s smile. “Killer, we got to get up and buckle up. You ready?”
She nodded and reminded herself to get off the couch like an old person. Beckett touched her arm for just a moment to make sure she was steady. She gave him a hard look. She sat in her captain’s chair and buckled her seatbelt, looking out the window for a hint at the direction the plane had taken while she napped. But the landscape was cloaked in darkness, except for the runway lights.
G waddled his way over to Beckett and jumped up and down on his back legs until Beckett scooped him up and kept him in his lap.
Eve reached over to pet the dog’s head and scratch his chin. “Glad we could bring him.”
“Me too. The spoiled brat.” Beckett kissed G’s head.
The plane landed smoothly, and Eve gave a sigh of relief.
“Our destination is only a few miles away.” Beckett nodded at the Land Rover parked at the end of the runway. The pilot’s assistant helped expedite the deplaning, and Eve took G for a quick walk in the grass. By the time she got into the car with the dog, the bags were secured.
“So Florida, huh?” She put her feet on the dashboard.
“How’d ya know?”
“Smells like Florida. We here for any business?” She helped G get settled in the back seat, and Beckett cracked the back window so he could get a muzzle full of the fresh air.
“Nope. Pleasure only. Lots of pleasure.” He found the defogger and set it on high, as the moist pre-morning air had put a foggy mist on the interior of the windshield.
He wasn’t kidding about the place being close. Within ten minutes he was plugging a security code into a panel on a formidable-looking gate. The doors complied, admitting the Land Rover and sliding closed behind them.
The beach house was beautiful: whites, tans, and floor-to-ceiling glass, still lit by spotlights in the early-morning hours.
“This all ours for four days,” Beckett told her. “I’ve dismissed the staff.” He seemed to be watching for her reaction.
“This feels special.” She nodded at him.
“I’ll grab the bags in a minute. Let’s go in.” Beckett entered another code on the keypad next to the doors, and they unlocked and opened in tandem.
“Fancy.”
Beckett held out his hand, and when she put her left one in his, he lifted it to his lips and kissed it right under the brand new ring. Her heart fluttered. She felt princess tingles like a real girl, and it made her blush. She could feel the heat on her cheeks. “You’re turning me into a pussy.”
He didn’t answer, just led her through the entryway. Opulence mixed expertly with a shabby beach feel. The moon was bright over the horizon, and
from their vantage point, the gentle, long stretch of white beach looked like a rumpled down comforter.
Beckett lifted a huge remote control off the sofa table and pecked in some orders with his big fingers. “Well, either this will open shit up or launch us to the goddamn moon.”
The glass walls closest to the beach slid open, letting the sound of the waves crashing followed by the scent of the sea, fill the huge rooms.
“Wow.”
“Come upstairs.” When she headed for the staircase, he pulled her closer. “No, baby. We gots an elevator to lift our asses places, like fucking kings.” He pressed a button mounted discreetly on the wall, and the door to the hidden feature slid open.
They stepped inside, and G trotted in like he used elevators every day—until the thing started moving. Then he was in Beckett’s arms, whining.
They comforted him while laughing as the doors swooshed open on the second floor. The entire bedroom was white.
“Are you crazy?” She laughed. There was a huge round bed, and pillows—so inviting—piled high. G barked at the glass balcony and growled at the hot tub. “This is just…too much.” She wrinkled her nose at Beckett. “I’m not sure what we should use first.”
She shivered a bit from a stiff breeze. He grabbed a white throw and wrapped it around her shoulders.
“Want to see the view?” They walked together out onto the balcony.
“This is just fantastic. How long have you been planning this?”
“Since the day you woke from the surgery,” he said. “You worried me. Made me face some facts…” Beckett pulled her to him using the blanket. He rubbed her arms through the fabric when she shivered again. G hopped up on the huge bed, hurrumphed twice, and then settled into a little ball of dog.
“Thank you. This has been a hell of a night.” She put her hand on his throat before kissing him.
“Come, get in bed with me. We have a few hours before morning is officially here.”
Eve expected some more carnal expressions of love, but instead, Beckett slid off his shoes and pants and got in the bed. His dimples were in full effect as he spread his arms wide for her. She crawled in and settled her head on his chest. He tucked the blankets all around her.
“Want me to close the wall?”
She shook her head. The sound of the surf was womb-like. She inhaled deeply and let herself fall asleep in his arms. It felt like minutes later when he kissed her awake.
“Wake up for just a few minutes,” he practically shouted. “Look!”
Eve noted that the bags from the car were in the bedroom now, and she was surprised he’d managed to get in and out without her knowing.
He read the direction of her gaze. “I’ve got skills, baby. Shh.” He hushed her even though she’d said nothing, knowing they could argue without a sound.
He pointed at the horizon, so she cuddled back into his arms and waited. The quiet was full of promise. The glass balcony allowed her a stunning view of the climbing sun, like a honeyed coin, slowly painting the morning with light orange and dim pink. The moving water became a canvas for the hope of the new day. Gulls squawked to alert the beach of the changes. She had no words.
Boaters were parked, facing the dawn, gently swaying. She looked up at him then, the soft light taking the pain from the light lines on his face. He looked from the sunrise to her, and her eyes filled with tears. He tilted his head slightly to ask her what was wrong.
She shook her head. Nothing was wrong. Everything was right.
He kissed her, his skin glowing as the sun came up, taking orange and warmth from the star of the show.
She finally stopped him, her hand on his lips. “I really do want to marry you.”
He kissed her fingers. “I know.”
In silence they watched the sun pull itself higher. Beckett motioned to another remote by the bed, asking with his motion if she wanted the window shaded.
She didn’t. She turned away from him, forcing him to spoon her. With the morning light daring the whites in the bedroom to ignite with brightness, she cuddled into the best sleep of her life. The tension left her body, all of her concern seeping out, and then she was just a girl in love with a boy—wrapped in his arms.
Nicholas was neat. About his life, he was orderly. Everything had a place. The suitcase he unzipped in this Virginia hotel room looked like it was packed as a prop for a commercial. Things had their place, and once they were set he could breathe easier.
He checked his suit. Impeccable. Still, he used a lint remover on the shoulders. He left the hotel room and got in his car.
Sonia Kore was easy enough to track. The woman updated her Facebook page with the regularity of an advertiser. She was getting a slightly belated Christmas present of a tattoo (her first) with some girlfriends tonight. Afterward, she’d be stopping at a bar. Even though Nicholas had numerous friendly-seeming Facebook profiles for just these sorts of occasions, her page was public, so he watched her updates freely.
She’d just uploaded the picture of the new tattoo on her foot. It was a flamingo in a Santa hat. She’d regret that decision later in life. Well, someone else with that tattoo might. Sonia’s foot didn’t have much life left. Nicholas almost giggled out loud.
Her phone pinged her exact location every fifteen minutes and updated her profile. It was so easy to follow a woman who relied on social media as her hobby. He knew where she went to the gym, her favorite grocery store, and her license plate number from various hints in her pictures. He looked up from his phone just as Sonia drove by him with three other women in her car.
Nicholas pulled into traffic behind her. The bar the women chose to celebrate their new tattoos was a chain. They laughed and giggled, and he watched from the parking lot as Sonia passed her keys to the redhead. After some surfing on the Internet, he identified Sonia’s designated driver for the evening as Daisy. Daisy had broken her foot, so, according to her comments, she wasn’t taking any chances with alcohol.
Nicholas waited about ten minutes before entering the bar. He was on surveillance only tonight, he reminded himself. He ordered a beer and sat, doing his best to look like a weary businessman. No taking her tonight. No matter how much he wanted to. No matter how perfect the set up was. No taking her. Too many surveillance cameras.
No taking her.
No taking her.
No taking her.
He opened his phone and took some video, watching it back immediately. Sonia was laughing, and her friends seemed flushed with excitement. His balls felt like they were vibrating. Despite his best intentions, he thought it through. He imagined taking her in her yellow dress. He guessed at where the fabric would be damp when she began to sweat from fear. He hoped she was a screamer.
The bartender placed another beer in front of him. “You all right?”
He nodded. He used the phone’s camera to see himself. He was pale, his pupils dilated. Arousal on him looked a lot like panic. He’d already broken a few rules. The bartender had noticed him, asked if he was all right.
But maybe it could be now.
And that snap, that thought unclipped the leash that held the monster inside of him. He pictured his pale skin turning green and scaly, his tongue lengthening and flicking out to smell.
He drank the rest of his beer and slapped a twenty on the bar.
All wrong. It was all wrong. Now it would have consequences. But he could take her. He could feel the yellow fabric between his forefinger and his thumb after it was moist with her sweat.
He left the bar. The spot next to her car was open, so he moved his car next to it. He used his rearview and side mirrors to look for security cameras. He didn’t see any, but his vision was tunneling.
He opened his car door and slammed it hard into her car. Predictably, the car alarm went off. He nodded, congratulating himself for his research. He needed all the information in advance, and when he was high like this, it came back to him in torrents. It was like he was a prescient being. Omnipotent. She would he
ar the alarm, or someone would alert her. Sonia would take the keys from Daisy, not wanting to make her friend walk to the parking lot on her broken foot. She would have to get in the car and put the key in the ignition to stop the noise. The alarm. The screaming, bleating alarm.
All his senses were on alert. He heard footsteps approaching over the racket. He had super hearing now. And he was super strong. Every motion was perfect. Every instinct would be obeyed. Was she sweating yet? Maybe she perspired when she drank. He slipped on his gloves and pulled out a ball cap.
As she inserted the key, he was out of his vehicle. God, he wanted the struggle. He wanted the dress to rub against him as she fought.
But his instinct was necessary.
She would be drugged. Boneless. Quiet. The dress would move because he could make it, but until she was awake, he wouldn’t feel it. These promises were necessary.
When she stepped back out of the vehicle, he was there, open arms. God bless women, they were such proper creatures. Her first impulse was to apologize for bumping into him.
He thanked her in a high-pitched voice, strung tight with his mental illness, before he covered her nose and mouth with the cloth. In an instant she was boneless, eyes rolling into her head. He nodded at a couple headed into the bar before pretending to nuzzle her neck.
Another mistake. It was okay; he’d come back. He’d kill them all. He’d burn down the building. He’d kill all her friends. Everyone would forget Sonia was gone. No one would care. No one would look. He was powerless to stop what he’d begun.
He slid her into his backseat, tucking her legs into the vehicle.
After reversing the car out of the parking spot, he was on the road headed to the storage building before he knew it. He freed himself from his pants and used his teeth to pull off his glove, the taste burning his lips.
Mistakes. He was making mistakes. He growled at his reflection in the mirror before taking the hem of her yellow dress in his hand. It wasn’t moist. He was at a stoplight when he was able to fully grasp himself to masturbate, touching the yellow dress at the same time.
But it was too soon. It wouldn’t work. She needed to be awake. He cursed and looked to his right as a truck pulled even with his car.