Sorry for the delay in updating. Honestly, this story is just kicking my butt right now! Hopefully, Wade will be back soon and I'll be inspired to finish it! ;)
Chapter 25
Mia rolled onto her side in the bed, her eyes focusing on the clock on the bedside table, watching as the minutes ticked by. Sleep continued to elude her, but she forced herself to remain still, not wanting to disturb Stu, who had finally fallen asleep beside of her. She didn't want to wake him. After everything that had happened over the past couple of days, he was beyond exhausted and he needed at least one good night's rest in anticipation of what might be yet to come.
She had tried to sleep. At any other time, lying next to him with his arms around her, it would have been more effective than any sleeping pill she could take. But tonight, she couldn't quiet the thoughts of their earlier conversation, his words replaying in her mind, her stomach churning at the implications hidden within them. He was prepared to die for her. He'd already gone so far above and beyond what she could have ever expected from him. Yet, in his eyes, it wasn't enough. He was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that she remained alive.
She tried to convince herself that there was nothing to worry about. That despite whatever he might be prepared to do, it would ultimately be unnecessary. Punk was gone. But in reality, they had no proof that he was looking for them. In fact, if the man had any bit of sense, he would put all his effort into making himself disappear for good, before he was eventually caught, tried, and forced to do some serious jail time for his involvement in Vince's schemes. But even if he was crazy enough to undertake a search for them, he would have the nearly impossible task of picking up their trail. Stu was right. They'd been able to cover their tracks well. Hunting them down would be no easy task for Punk to endeavor and, thanks to Stu's employer, they had numerous resources at their disposal that he simply didn't have. The advantage was theirs and had been from the very beginning.
Even so, Mia found herself on edge, jumping at every minute sound, every pop and crack issued by the settling foundation an imminent threat to their safety. She felt silly. After all, she hadn't been this jumpy since...well, since the first night Stu had confronted her on the patio. She couldn't deny that his mysterious warning that night had unnerved her, but now that she understood the meaning behind it, the search for a boogeyman in every shadowy corner and darkened room didn't seem quite so unreasonable.
She wondered how long he'd sat with her that night before he'd bothered to wake her. Had he been following her even then? She surmised that he had. How else would he have found her there? His anger at her carelessness, which she had found so confusing, now made perfect sense and she shuddered to think what might have happened to her if he hadn't been so intent on keeping a watchful eye on her. How differently things might have turned out if he had merely walked away and let the cards fall as they may.
Sighing, she turned her back to the clock, focusing her attention instead on Stu, who was stretched out on his back, still lost in peaceful slumber. She studied his silhouette in the moonlight, memorizing every line of his face, her heart nearly bursting with emotion as she gazed upon him.
Everything had happened so unexpectedly. Weeks ago she had never even spoken one word to the man, the worst enemy to her best friend. Then fate had thrust them together and he had risked everything to save her. He'd abandoned his assignment. Exposed his true identity. Possibly jeopardized his entire career. All for her. She still did not understand why, unless she was to believe his explanation of a guilty conscience. But even if it was true, it did not warrant the extent of his personal involvement. Not when he could have simply had his employer hide her away somewhere for him, so that he could continue on with his job without hindrance.
But despite her confusion surrounding his motives, she was more grateful to him than he would ever know for what he had done for her. If anything, she was the one who owed her life to him and she'd rather die herself than to know she was the reason for his death. At this point, all she could do was make sure she kept herself out of trouble and if necessary, convince Stu that, in this case at least, flight was better than fight. She'd gladly endure the inconvenience of being on the run, if it meant keeping him out of harm's way. But she had a feeling that convincing him of that would be no easy task, especially after becoming so familiar with his argumentative streak. How many times had she seen just how stubborn he could be when he set his mind on something? More times than she could count, she reminded herself. She had to look no further than John to see that.
Sighing, her mind drifted back to the time before she had known about Stu's secret life. When she thought him nothing more than a fierce competitor, just an eager rookie trying to carve out his own spot in a cruel and unforgiving profession. His feud with John had been one of the worst she could remember in recent history. He'd personally led the attacks on John perpetrated by the Nexus, and those assaults had been nothing short of vicious and brutal. But now that she knew the circumstances surrounding his appearance in the company, she questioned his reasoning behind those attacks. Was he simply playing the part that he had been assigned? Or did his contempt for John run deeper than a mere role in some complex scheme that she was as of yet unaware? He'd seemed hell bent on destroying John and everything that he stood for. But why? What purpose would it have served for him to have done so?
Nestling into the back of her mind, the questions nagged at her and she made a mental note to broach the issue with him at some point in the near future, when things were perhaps not quite so stressful. And there would be other questions too. After everything that had transpired between them, she realized there was so much about him that she still did not know and she wondered, not without a painful twisting in her heart, if she would ever know the real man behind all the mysterious facades.
As if in response to her questions, Stu murmured unintelligibly, then rolled to his side, reaching out for her in his sleep. An arm draped around her waist, pulling her into him and she closed her eyes, her head coming to rest against his chest. She returned his embrace, allowing herself to relax in his arms, letting the sound of his heartbeat soothe her. As the fatigue began to finally works its way through her body, she finally gave herself over to sleep, knowing that she would be also need to be fully rested if she were to keep a watch on Stu in the days to come.
XXXXXX
Propped up in the doorway of his bathroom, Stu leaned against the door frame, his arms folded across his chest, gazing silently at Mia, who was soaking in the large jacuzzi tub. She was reclined against the sloped side of the tub, her feet propped up on the opposite edge, her eyes undoubtedly closed behind the damp washcloth that covered them. The rest of her was well-hidden beneath the the thick cover of bubbles that filled the space to the brim, but that didn't discourage him from admiring her, the concealed areas of her body already well-committed to his memory.
He was happy to see that she was at least making an attempt to relax. She'd been a bundle of nerves ever since he'd updated her on the situation with Punk, and he was starting to regret the fact that he had mentioned anything to her at all. But, it was better that she was aware of the potential for danger, than to have her wander aimlessly into some fatal trap. However, he wanted her to be alert. Not paranoid. And he could tell she was worrying herself sick over the whole situation. A grin played at his lips as he continued to watch her. Perhaps some distraction was in order.
He cleared his throat and watched her jump slightly as she jerked the cloth from her eyes. She frowned at him and he chuckled as he pushed himself off the door frame and stepped into the room, taking a seat on the wide edge of the tub.
"I don't know how you manage to be so quiet all the time. It's annoying." she stated, flopping the cloth over her face again.
"The better to spy on you, my love." he teased, letting his fingers graze along her upper thigh as they trailed through the water. "Unfortunately, I can't see a thing at the moment with all of these cursed bubbles. You do realize you don't have to use the entire bottle at one time?"
"Well you were the one who demanded that I get it..."
"I didn't demand. I merely...suggested. Perhaps it wasn't the best idea after all. I'm afraid I can't see what I'm doing..." His voice trailed off as his hand slipped between her thighs, fingers moving to caress her lightly and Mia gasped in surprise. "Oops. See what I mean?"
Removing the cloth from her eyes again, she grinned up at him, flinching when he pulled his hand from the tub and flicked the water from his hand toward her face.
"Hmmmm. Feels nice and warm. Maybe I should join you?" he questioned and Mia blushed at the double entendre, her heart beginning to race at the prospect of seeing him naked again.
He stood and swiftly slipped his t-shirt over his head, licking his lips suggestively as he gazed down at her. She squirmed uncontrollably, fighting the urge to grab him and pull him in, as he slowly unbuttoned his jeans and slid them off. Kicking them to the side with his foot, he tilted his head in a questioning glance at her.
"Well, are you going to make room for me?" he asked. "Or do I have to kick you out of the tub completely?"
"You wouldn't dare." she laughed, her eyes drinking in his now nude form. "You'd be afraid I'd sneak off somewhere out of your sight."
You'd have to do a lot of kicking to get me out of here now, she thought to herself, unable deny the lust that was quickly working it's way through every inch of her body.
He ordered her to raise up and he slipped into the water behind her, drawing her back into his arms as he settled into a comfortable position. Fully aware of the length of him pressed into her back, Mia tried not to squirm as she moved against him and instead let herself relax, her head falling back onto his shoulder. She closed her eyes as she felt his lips brush lightly across her bare skin.
"This is nice." he murmured, and she sighed in agreement, although she wasn't sure if he was referring to the warm water or the fact that they were naked in the tub together.
Tilting her head to look up at him, she was rewarded with one of his bewitching grins, which made her insides tremble, while at the same time warning her that, without doubt, he was up to no good. But that was okay with her. She hadn't seen much of this lighter, more playful side of the man, and she wanted to enjoy it to the fullest while the opportunity presented itself.
Caressing the side of her face, he pulled her to him, leaning down to kiss her softly, before nibbling on her bottom lip. She moaned into his mouth at the unexpected contact, and he pulled back and smiled, her breath catching in her throat as he gazed down at her, her heart racing at the desire she saw in his eyes.
He guided her head back against his shoulder, and she closed her eyes again as his hot breath washed over her ear. His teeth grazed over the soft lobe, his tongue lightly tracing the outer shell, then he nuzzled the spot just behind it, trailing soft kisses down the side of her neck to the graceful curve where it joined her shoulder. He bit her there gently and she gasped at the sudden unexpected jolt that traveled straight to her loins.
"Perhaps I should have fed you before I let you in here with me. You seem to be very hungry today."
He chuckled softly against her ear, the sound sending a shiver down her spine.
"You have no idea..."
Twisting in his arms so that her side was resting against his chest and she heard his sharp intake of breath as she brushed against his growing erection, which was now pressed firmly against her hip.
"Well, maybe I should run to the kitchen and get you some food. We can't have you starving, can we? You have to keep up your strength."
He smirked at her, his arms tightening about her waist.
"You just try to get out of this tub..."
She giggled, her smile fading as she gazed up into his face. Raising her hand, her fingers twined through the back of his hair, pulling him down for another kiss. She ran her tongue along his lips, then drew his lower lip into her mouth, sucking it gently, eliciting a groan from low in his chest. In response, his own hand slipped into her hair, holding her in place as he kissed her deeply, his tongue stroking against hers in a frenzied rhythm. As his mouth moved to her throat, Mia tilted her head back and sighed. She'd forgotten just how heavenly delicious this was.
Her fingers released his hair and moved to his bicep, gripping it tightly to anchor herself as her head began to spin. His lips seemed to be everywhere at once, nipping, tasting, teasing, the results of which made her dizzy and lightheaded. One large hand palmed her breast, fingers stroking the nipple into erectness and she arched deeper into his hand as his lips moved yet again to her mouth. He held her to him, his grip firm in her hair as his free hand disappeared under the water, slipping again between her thighs. She whimpered and squirmed in his embrace as long fingers caressed her, teased her, then slid inside her, fueling the urgency of her need.
"Stu...please..." she moaned softly, finally wrenching her lips free from his, her nails digging sharply into the skin of his arm.
He chuckled, nuzzling her neck again.
"So we're begging now, are we?"
"Yes...please." she pleaded breathlessly as his fingers continued their sweet torment.
"Very well. Come here love." he ordered, pulling her closer and Mia quickly scrambled to her knees, water sloshing from the tub as she placed her hands on his chest, pressing him back against the side of the tub as she straddled him.
"Ever the impatient one..." he growled, his voice trailing off in a groan as she wrapped her hand around his hardness and lowered herself down onto him.
Her head thrown back, she gripped his shoulders tightly, bracing herself as she began to move. She kept the movements slow and steady, the water licking at their entwined bodies in gentle waves. Hands kneaded her bottom before slipping around her back, pulling her closer and he dipped his head to suck one taunt nipple into his mouth. Mia closed her eyes, savoring the moment. He was in her, around her, ethereal sensations transporting her to a whole other place, where there were no threats. No danger. Only a fierce hunger that she was desperate to quench.
The tension building, she attempted to increase the tempo, but strong hands gripped her hips firmly, holding her in place as he took over control. Bracing himself against the side of the tub, he snapped his hips up sharply, driving them both toward the distraction he'd so stealthily planned.
"Stu...please..." she repeated with a whimper, the tension building quickly, her breath harsh and frantic and she moved with him. Leaning forward, she buried her face into the crook of his neck, her hands clutching frantically at his shoulders as she tried to brace herself for the wave of pleasure that was threatening to consume her.
"God...Mia..." he growled, as he felt her tighten around him, her body finally giving in the ecstasy and he came with her, all of the tension from the past few days dissolving under the wave of euphoria that overtook him.
As the intensity faded, he reclined back against the tub in exhaustion, pulling Mia closer so she rested against his chest. Running his hand soothingly up and down her back, he kissed the top of her head, smiling when he felt her arms slip around his waist, returning his embrace.
Mission accomplished, he thought with a grin. Distraction complete. He closed his eyes, savoring the rare moment of tranquility between them.
Still stretched out on top of him, Mia was overcome with emotion, and she hugged him tightly, burying her face into his chest to hide her tears as fear ensnared her its cold, cruel grip. She felt so undeserving of this man, with his strength and his passion and his chivalrous ways. He deserved better. Better than all the trouble and inconvenience she'd caused. Better than the weakness and foolishness she'd portrayed before him up to this point. Her vulnerability was the reason for the precarious position that they now found himself in and guilt washed over her, the shame and disgust overwhelming her.
This is his job. I'm sure he's faced more dangerous situations than this, she reminded herself, the thought not as welcoming as she had hoped.
He'll do it! He'll sacrifice himself for me and there won't be a thing I can do to stop him!
The warning flashed through her head like a neon sign, lighting up the darkest recesses of her mind, fueling her greatest fears with a blaze of panic.
I can't let him do this! I have to stop him! But...how?
The answer presented itself immediately, with a force so fierce and sudden, it nearly jolted her from his arms. It was so simple. She wouldn't wait for Punk to come to them. She'd go to him instead. She'd find some way to lure him out into the open and, more importantly, away from Stu. It was a dangerous plan, but she was willing to accept the risk, with the hopes that the outcome would ultimately be worth it.
The only obstacle she could foresee would be finding the perfect opportunity to slip away from Stu. With her under his constant vigil, she knew she was going to need help if her plan was to succeed.
And she knew just the person she needed to call.
John.