One
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Previously on ONE: He opened the passenger door of his Ferrari for me and when I opened my mouth to demand to drive, he held up a hand and said, "Don't start, Emily. Get in."
One ~ Twelve
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story by sunny, dream sequences by Harmne
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Emily
We drove the couple miles to the Stromecarron Hotel in sullen silence. Our moods were matched well by the weather which had gone from misty drizzle to a more continuous light rain. We made the turn into the hotel lot, narrowly swerving out of the erratic path of the town's most eccentric senior citizen—an ancient ex-pat Australian of Scottish extraction, Mr. Elmer MacNab—who was trundling along on his red mobility scooter completely hidden under an enormous red and white golf umbrella.
Anthony grinned, beeped the horn and waved that weird surfer hang loose gesture, waggling his thumb and pinky at Mr. MacNab. A liver spotted hand at the end of a green slicker shot out from under the umbrella and flipped us the bird.
Anthony said, "Geez."
"He probably didn't even see you."
"Uh huh."
"He's just a harmless old geezer."
"Yeah, I know. Elmer. We played golf with him and his bud Gerald yesterday. Old. Really old."
"Oh," I nodded. MacNab and Sir Gerald Feinstein are a fixture at Stromecarron Golf course. Then, "Oh!" Because there in the muddy gravel lot was Ranger Manoso, leaning on his black Porsche which was parked next to one of those ridiculously tiny SmartCars...bright red. Like Mr. MacNab's scooter and not a whole lot bigger. It was so small it made the Porsche look hulking and scary and big.
Anthony pulled in beside the Porsche and before he opened his door he reached behind the Ferrari's seats, for—not the umbrella I expected—but a semi-automatic assault rifle.
He said, "Ya never know what may turn up on a boghopping expedition, baby."
I sniped, "Will it work if it gets wet?"
He patted the weapon affectionately and smiled at me. "Ah, the Heckler and Koch G-36. Quite deadly in the right hands. And yes, ma'am, it is waterproof."
"So why's it wearing a rubber? Active sex life? That slut!" The barrel of the weapon was—yes!—covered with what appeared to be a cheap flesh-colored condom.
"I'm a trained marksman, Em. Even a bit of dirt or dust or rain can throw off a weapon's accuracy."
"Yeah, right. And that's definitely a fine tuned instrument." Not. Even I knew the G-36 was designed to throw as many rounds into as many victims in the fastest possible elapsed time. Think spray-gun.
"It has its uses," Anthony said in a fake tough-guy voice.
I rolled my eyes and he grinned.
We got out and Ranger met us in front of the tiny red toy SmartCar, dangling a set of keys on one long finger. He seemed impervious to the rain, greeted me with his almost smile. "Your ride, babe."
"What!" I looked around frantically. My Landy? I did a full 360 and saw only the little red toy. No white Landy. "What the fuck? You playing tricks on me, mate?"
"Powers, your car was stolen. A complication, I admit...but complications arise, ensue...and with the appropriate monetary inducement, are easily overcome." He dropped the keys in my hand and waved at the tiny red toy car.
I handed the keys right back. "That is NOT a Landy."
"No..."
"It'll be a miracle if it gets up over the hills here."
"I'm sure it will. Just cut down on the beers and haggis, babe, so you don't exceed the weight limit."
I aimed a kick at his shin but he was fast.
"Look, Ranger. I can't afford it. Or the petrol. I heard they take premium gasoline!"
He looked as perplexed as a blank-faced man can. "It's a rental, Powers. From LMK Motors, down the loch here...Leased with an option to buy. And it gets fifty miles to a gallon."
"I can't fucking afford it!"
"It's a gift, Emily. Use it as long as you need it. What's the problem?"
L"It's, it's too...cute. And red. And probably expensive? Surely the guys at LMK had something else?" I said desperately. I shoved the key remote back into his hand
Tyres crunched on gravel. And old beat-up Jeep Wagoneer drove slowly into the lot. Ranger made a small hand gesture. "The only other choice was a decrepit Jeep that smelled like sheep shit..."
David got out of said sheep shit Jeep and approached. "...And David needed it for boghopping."
David came up and sheepishly [!] said good morning. The Americans gave him tiny nods. I sputtered for a few seconds then I yelled at David: "You got the Jeep? What the fuck? What about the man who always swore he'd rather push his Landy than drive a Jeep. You hypocrite!" I grabbed the SmartKeys out of Ranger's hand and stomped off to the office.
David looked at Ranger and Anthony. "Maybe it's that time? She's can be really bitchy..."
"TMI, dude," said Anthony.
... ... ... ...
Ranger
I watch Powers flounce off into the Inn. She's cute with her red curls and attitude. I remember last night and grin.
David and Anthony say, "What?" but then Anthony grins too. David looks annoyed, so Anthony gets him going about local dig sites while I mull over Emily's reaction to the SmartCar. I don't blame her for not wanting to be seen in it—but to refuse a free loaner? Stephanie would have been in the car and long gone, smile and wave, you know. The poor little car would be dust by noon probably.
"So does that seem like a plan, Mr. Manoso?"
"Ranger. People call me Ranger."
"Ranger. Plan?"
Behind him Anthony nods so I nod too.
"Pile in then. First stop a broch in the hills to the north above the loch."
"Uh huh."
"I hope you're ready for a good long hike..."
Anthony, riding shotgun says, "Man, we're soldiers, dude. We can hike the shit outta civilians. No problemo."
David cuts his eyes to me in the rearview mirror. "Soldiers? I thought you were...well...from the Economic Conference?"
"Don't ask, dude, please."
I roll my eyes and try not to breathe through my nose.
... ... ...
Emily
I slammed the Hotel's back door and plowed right into my boss Nigel. Perfect. Fucking perfect.
"You're late, Emily."
"I was here til 2 AM, you cretin! I have a concussion!" I wasn't wearing a watch but I was pretty sure I wasn't late either. Nigel was looking for a fight.
He said, "That's no excuse. I need a bookkeeper who's reliable.''
I gasped with fury. My headache returned with a vengeance.
"And as for the bar, I left you in charge two nights! And guess what, both nights there were huge bar brawls. All kinds of damage, my girl. If I can't trust you to keep order in the bar then I'll have to find someone else."
I sputtered. Tending the bar was favor to him! It was NOT my job. "I did my best, Nigel. If you don't like it...fuck you." I went into my tiny office and closed the door very softly. My head was about to explode and the room twirled around me. I sniffed back a few poor-me tears and sighed. Booted up my computer. The room rotated again, my stomach a few steps behind.
I closed my eyes and rested my forehead on my keyboard.
Just for a minute, I promised myself...and in that suspended state of almost sleep last night's dream replayed in my throbbing head.
He was soothing her headache pain...
The gently-tracing finger got as far as the upper swells of her breasts, then went back to her forehead and started over. She was relaxed, floating on the warm, soft surface of the waterbed, lulled by the gentle touch. So she didn't pay too much attention as her face was once again traced and the finger slowly moved down.
This time when it reached the upper hem of the sheet, the finger slipped beneath and continued its path of exploration. When he traced over her nipple it finally registered—but she was too mesmerized to protest. It felt good...
The lazy hand kept moving, stroking, rolling, and gently pinching at her nipples until she moaned softly, moving restlessly. The hand responded and moved down further, circling her navel...and finally reaching that little hidden nub.
Her legs fell open, wordlessly inviting the hand to continue, and it did. One roughened fingertip toyed with the nub until it was swollen and sensitive, and then slid down to finger the wetness below.
Soft whimpers were escaping from her throat now as her hips moved against the stroking hand. They were joined by a low groan as a single finger pushed deep.
A second finger joined the first and she cried out as they probed and retreated, searching for and finding the sweet spot that had her arching her back in response.
"Yeah..." The softly spoken word was barely heard, but she felt the warm hard body slide over hers. Her thighs were nudged further apart as he positioned himself, and the stroking fingers were replaced by something...more.
No longer quiescent, her arms went around him, her hands clutching at his smooth, strong back. He held himself slightly apart from her, leaving space so that one hand could venture between them to thumb and tug at her nipples again.
Suddenly he dropped to brace on his forearms and his thrusts grew longer and more forceful. Then he gave a hoarse shout and her orgasm swamped her, rolling her under like a tidal wave...that burst into flames like an autumn bonfire. And consumed them both.
A door banged somewhere in the Inn and voices raised in the hall. I jerked awake.
I knew who stole my Landy.
tbc
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