"There are two beds?"
The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. If he hadn't tipped his hand before, he certainly had now.
"Yes, this room came with two doubles. If it hadn't, we would have had to find you other accommodations." Anna said flatly with a slight edge of mocking in her voice. "Whatever you assumed about the sleeping arrangements you might need to put aside."
"You act like I got arrested just so I could get into a hotel room with you again?"
"The thought had crossed my mind, yes," she said calmly, but there was a look in her eyes that he couldn't quite interpret.
The bellman set down their bags and cleared his throat to get their attention.
"Senor and Senora, the hotel welcomes you. When the storm hits, we anticipate that we may lose power. If so, this is for you to use."
He handed Anna a sturdy-looking battery-powered lantern.
"We ask that you remain in your room during the storm surge just as a precaution."
She thanked him and sent the man away with a generous tip, her charm and good manners taking over, and the man offered to have food sent up to make them comfortable. After devouring every peanut pack on the plane, David was grateful at the prospect of a decent meal. When the man left, David turned back and stared at the double beds with a stern look.
He remembered with crystal clarity the night when they first shared a bed. And in even sharper colors, the night when she allowed herself to fall asleep in his arms for the first time, the image rendered in great detail on the wall of his memory.
Had it been presumptuous of him to think that he could experience that again? Yes, most certainly it was. But it was during the long nights of confinement after he had used her name in a last-ditch effort to save himself, he felt the loss of her acutely and dreamed of her in his arms one more time. Just one more time.
Kicking off her shoes, Anna gave him a pointed side glance up and down. "I'd say that a shower and change of clothes are in order. I was able to get you some basics through my contacts at the embassy." she pointed to a simple black carry-on bag. "A change of clothes and toiletries should be in there. I'd take your chance now in case we do lose power."
Anna's voice brought him out of his contemplation. His eyes fell on her as she walked towards him, now so much smaller without her heels but not any less commanding. This sight of her made him smile in an instant. He watched Anna walk over to the large window and pull back the curtains to see the wind roiling the trees. Rain was coming down, but the torrent had not yet begun, but all too soon, it clouds and mist hid the stars. Suddenly a lightning flash of gold and silvery grey slicing through the darkness, illuminating her profile and the elegant slope of her shoulders.
"The storms can be beautiful. That's one thing I have learned living in this part of the world," he said quietly.
"Some beautiful things are best admired from a distance," she told him pointedly, but there was a warmth in her voice that gave him courage.
David smiled, slow and amused. "Like you?" His eyes danced wickedly at her.
"Like us," Anna replied, and it may be just his imagination, but there was a playful taunt packed into those two small words. Deep within her heart, something dark and forbidden fluttered like a moth- that yes, yes, she had wanted this forced intimacy thrust upon her, wanted to be left seemingly without a choice to be alone with him. To her surprise, a trace of his kiss still lingered on her lips, even after so many months had passed since Edinburgh. She could feel his eyes on her and an otherworldly chill travel up her spine like a ghostly caress. If she was honest with herself, her choice was made the minute she stepped on the plane to go to him.
But she wasn't ready for him to know that. Not just yet.
She turned back to the window. Something about the firm outlines of Anna's lips told David that she was struggling with her thoughts. Her arms hugged her lithe, almost girlish shape. He took that as his cue to retreat to the shower. This wasn't what he wanted. He didn't want a night filled with old regrets and pain. He just wanted her company. He wanted her laughter.
So he picked up the small suitcase and then closed the bathroom door behind him. Why tempt fate and be left without hot water after all. He emerged a renewed man. The gray sweatpants and black t-shirt fit well enough, and as he toweled his hair dry, he was pleased to see that a tray had arrived with an assortment of delicious-looking items as well as a bottle of tequila. Without hesitation, he tucked in. Anna found herself sitting opposite, pouring tea for herself and chatting freely to him about his ordeal. One hour turned into two, and one shot of tequila became two. David was glad he had finally breached her walls, and he made her laugh so hard at his misfortune it brought tears to her eyes. He loved her laugh, warm and genuine. He was in the middle of an animated oration of his trials in the Honduran rainforest, only for the room to suddenly be plunged into darkness, and the sound of the wind whipping forcefully outside the window was more pronounced in blackness. Anna swiftly turned on the electric lantern, and thankfully it provided a surprising amount of light.
They sat in silence for a long while. Anna smiled softly at him, and it was answered in his own wide smile. It seemed to illuminate his whole being, as if some hearth had suddenly kindled into flame inside of him, irradiating him from head to toe. Best of all, it was involuntary, born of no external effort or motive, but simply the outflashing of a personality, rare and confident and determined. Whatever Anna said about him in his absence, in his presence she liked him, by the grace of some winsome, charming quality in the soul of him. He had "a way with him", that was the best way she could describe it. All too soon, she could see David growing restless, always an inevitability with him when sitting in one place for too long, as she remembered well.
"It's too quiet. There has to be something fun to do around here," he complained.
...Besides each other was the inappropriate conclusion to that phrase that still managed to make its way into his brain.
"I have an idea," she said coolly and smiled in a way that made his body burn.
And walked over to her suitcase and held up her quarry. A deck of cards was in her hand, and David watched as her dexterous fingers shuffled the cards. She sat herself down on the nearest bed and swiftly began to lay cards down. David watched with interest until he realized she was playing solitaire. He let out a deep sigh, and he stood up and started wandering around the room, opening drawers and cabinets aimlessly. He wasn't really sure what he was looking for in the dark. He fiddled with the remote he found on the dresser, but television was out of the question. Then he paced around bored until finally, he stood over her, advising as he saw fit until she was sufficiently annoyed and swatted him away.
"Can we play a game meant for two?" he implored.
Anna rolled her eyes. "I'm afraid to ask what you have in mind."
"I don't know, how about Go Fish? Hearts? Come on, Anna. We used to have fun, remember? It wasn't all doom and gloom."
"We did have a lot of fun," she said ruefully, and the corners of her mouth turned up. David thought maybe he detected the veriest hint of a blush on her cheeks.
"When was the last time you had some fun? We should have some now. Just the two of us."
"David…" she said warily.
"I don't mean that." he chuckled. "How about Truth or Dare."
"Dare!" The word left her mouth with the velocity of a bullet.
"That was quick."
"Seems like a safer choice than Truth right now."
"Alright, I dare you to tell me a truth then." His voice was deep and suggestive.
"You don't play fair.
"When have I ever played fair, Devane? I think that sharing your deepest darkest secrets with me would be easy since my own probably outpace yours. So...Truth. Why did you help me?"
She was taken aback in surprise but his questions, and he took note and smiled his dark, sardonic smile, the one that made her want to slap him and kiss him at the same time.
"What?" he raised his eyebrows, "Did you think I was going to ask you about your first boyfriend or something like that?" He smiled broadly, eyes laughing.
"I'm not sure what I expected. But it doesn't matter. If you must know, I was in Berkeley visiting Robin, she had another baby, so I was spending time with my family when I got an official inquiry from the Honduran government by way of the WSB. I had to cut my trip short, so I could help sort you out."
"You're not answering the question. The how is all well and good, but I want to know why."
"I guess I just knew that no one else but myself could get you out of whatever stupid predicament you had gotten yourself into."
"Well, I'll never forget it. I owe you, Anna, and I hope I can repay you. How did you get them to drop the charges?"
"I already answered your question. But I think that Truth or Dare might be too much for my brain to navigate right now. So I think that we can adjourn."
David watched as she dipped a cloth into a glass of water and mopped it against her neck and then downwards across her clavicle. The air was stifling in their room. No electricity meant no central air and the steam from his shower seemed to hang in the air, muggy and warm. A fine sheen of sweat covered her brow, and a few tray damp tendrils clung to her neck as she moved her hair aside to run the cloth against the nape of her neck. She was beautiful and alluring—an irresistible combination. Then he had an idea.
"It is warm in here. Why don't we try something new and maybe make this next game more interesting?"
"How do you mean?"
"Strip poker."
"Strip poker?"
"Don't tell me you've never played strip poker?"
It was just a joke, a tease. He never in a million years thought she'd take his suggestion seriously, which made it all the more surprising when she gave her reply.
"Sure." She shifted her body to face him, legs crossed underneath her. "Why not?"
He felt a chill envelop him, pure nerves from head to toe. His surprise manifested in an audible gulp. He felt his Adam's apple bob, and Anna raised an eyebrow, but her eyes sparkled. His physical reaction was immediate, so after inwardly cursing the unfairness of being born a warm-blooded male, he did his best to shake off his anticipation mentally and sat down next to her on the bed with a grin. He shuffled the deck a couple of times trying to get a grip.
"You're serious?" he scoffed.
"Deadly serious," she shot back. "Unless you're worried you're going to lose. I'm not worried. I know I will win."
Her confidence brought his competitive nature to the fore. As he dealt the cards, he couldn't help but take stock of what both of them were currently wearing: him, his sweatpants, a T-shirt, underwear, and bare feet. Her: a very promising ensemble of a two-piece suit, and whatever lay beneath it
She dealt a hand to each. Anna held up her cards directly in front of her face and peered over them at David. She glanced down at them, discarded and drew a new one. He saw a barely suppressed look of glee pass over her face and wondered if Anna was any good at bluffing but immediately retracted that absurd notion. Of course, she was. But then so was he.
"Are you going to play, or are you intimidated? We know you are a sore loser."
He cocked his head to the side, her spontaneity and whimsy continuing to delight him. It reminded him of their wedding night, full of teasing and laughter and passion.
"Hell, yes, I'm in."
He walked over to the bed and sat down across from her as she poured some tequila into two clear plastic cups. She handed him one and held her own cup aloft.
"To your freedom," she said sarcastically and then grinned.
"Hear, hear. And to the marvelous Anna Devane who made it happen," he replied. They tapped their cups together and sipped, and her eyes danced at him.
"And here's to us. To reuniting once more even though we never planned to. May we never leave each other wanting and always be satisfied with our time together." He tapped her cup one more time and then downed the contents of his.
His words struck a chord within her, and she pondered his turn of phrase; that is how she felt, not exactly missing, but craving.
"Are you satisfied?" she asked suddenly, her heartbeat rising to her throat.
Her question took him by surprise. In his desire to focus on her alone, he omitted a crucial thing: this was about him too. He looked at her for a long moment. He was so close to her. It occurred to him that a distance of two feet and a couple of layers of fabric were the only obstacles between Anna and the part of him that wanted her most. Not long ago, he'd have avoided thinking of her; she was in the past and rolled up in so much regret, their unplanned night in Scotland was enough to sustain him. Now, he could so rarely avoid thinking about it; he'd given up on repressing his desire.
They weren't experts, Anna and David, at this kind of maneuvering. Their track record of dodging around and de-escalating any heated moment was terrible. Years ago, there was no delicately, constantly teetering on the edge of a precipice that would surely land them in a pit of flames if they weren't careful in resisting temptation. Instead, they usually lept hand and hand into the fire. He knew it; she knew it. He hardly understood what they were waiting for anymore.
As soon as she walked into that Honduran jail, they both knew this moment would come. It was an inevitability with them. They looked at each other, and he felt his features soften. This seemed to happen whenever he looked at her: a tightening in his gut and a flood of emotions and memories to his heart.
"I'll be satisfied when I know who will win this game we are playing."
"That we can agree on," Anna conceded and raised an eyebrow in that way he couldn't quite tell was flirting or not; the one that permitted him to cross certain boundaries but left him unsure of how far he could go. They sat quietly for a few moments, and Anna sipped at her drink. When she brought the cup away from her lips, he couldn't stop staring at her mouth. He couldn't help it; sometimes, her tongue would slide out to catch a spare drop, and it was distracting. Neither was paying attention to the cards in their hands.
"You know what. Maybe we should just call it a night?"
"No," she said. "Not before I get those pants."
His heart stopped in his chest. He couldn't believe what he'd just heard her say. She grinned at him, and he wondered if maybe she was being affected by the alcohol, but neither of them had even finished one cup.
David tugged at the neck of his T-shirt. "It is getting hot in here," he said with a grin of his own.
She shook her head slowly. "I'll bet you'll be getting much cooler pretty soon," she said playfully.
She was right. Anna held a full house and grinned with delight as David pulled his T-shirt over his head and tossed it aside, taking notice of the way she bit her lower lip when he did so. That line of thinking wouldn't do him any favors at the moment. But he'd been wondering for the past twenty minutes just what exactly she had on beneath that prim and proper outfit, and when she leaned forward, he got his answer when he caught a glimpse of black lace.
"What are you looking at, David?" she asked.
"Oh, nothing," he said slyly, looking up.
Luck was on her side the next hand as well, and David was already down to just his pants. She downed the last of her tequila and refilled her cup as she watched him strip down to the last article of clothing between her and victory. Now it seemed she was reveling in the sight of him, and he couldn't be quite sure if it was his state of undress or the fact that she was winning that had her so excited, but he'd take it. Anything to see that smile beaming his way.
The next hands were dealt, and when he saw Anna's face grow stoney and he knew exactly what was about to happen.
Pants or top, he wondered. He couldn't make up his mind which he'd rather see go.
She folded her cards facedown on the bed and slid off until she was standing right next to him, so close. He took one last look at her fully clothed body, and when she slowly tucked her thumbs into the waistband of her suit pants and began to slide them down her legs, the impact of such a moment almost knocked the wind out of him. He kept his eyes glued to her hands as they moved, every excruciating inch as more skin was revealed.
She stepped out of them, first one leg, then the other, and kicked them aside. His body was frozen to the spot. She stood in front of him, and he could see what she had been concealing. It was simple: black cotton lace, hugging her in all the right places. It made him think of the past. It made him think of the days of trust, betrayal, and passion. He wanted to reach out and reacquaint himself with her curves.
But before he could move, she crawled back onto the bed, sat back on her heels, and looked him right in the eye.
"My deal."
He didn't want to change her mind. He wanted to see just how this would play out. So he didn't say a word and let her deal the hand that would undeniably change everything. He picked up his hand, looked down, and after discarding and drawing, arrived at his moment of truth.
He looked at this hand. The face of three kings were staring back at him.
It was good, but Anna had been granted some unbelievable luck, so he didn't want to count his chickens before they hatched. He eyed her, searching her face for a sign, but she revealed nothing this time: as enigmatic as ever. She discarded two cards and drew, keeping her eyes plastered to the deck.
"Let's see what you've got," she said with a completely straight face, but there was an ember in her eye that made his heart beat faster.
He laid the kings down gently on the bed and watched her face, wanting his answer from her, not from the cards. And he got it: a slight flicker in her dark brown irises that gave her away. He looked down at what she'd laid on the bed.
Three queens.
She looked him in the eyes, and this time it was something new, something dangerous. They'd reached a line and were about to cross it so quickly, simply because if they didn't, it would be breaking their rules.
He met her gaze with intensity, and for a moment, it felt like a legitimate standoff; was she waiting for him to put a stop to this? Was he waiting for her too?
Did either of them even want to?
He could only answer for himself at the moment. God yes.
Her finger suddenly moved towards the button of her suit jacket, and in an instant, he knew this was going to happen. She started to unbutton it, her eyes never leaving his. He felt his body react, and suddenly, this wasn't a game anymore. Anna was about to reveal herself to him in a way he felt he hadn't earned, at least not in the way he wanted to earn it. He decided he didn't want it to happen this way: because she'd lost a game. He wanted it to happen in a moment when they both felt like they'd won.
"Wait," he said, and his hand shot out to stop her own, covering it.
She didn't speak. Instead, with her other hand, she reached out to touch his bare chest, the contact electric, and he inhaled quietly when she did it. She looked intently at his skin, where her finger grazed him, from the top of his pectoral muscle to the bottom, just testing the waters. Perhaps it was simply their current closeness, the heat traveling from his wanting body to hers; maybe it was the proximity of his hand to her accessible breast. Maybe she just couldn't handle the pressure anymore. It had never been more clear to either of them that this entire thing, reconnecting once again after so many years, first in Edinburgh and now again here in Tegucigalpa and wondering and longing, was about to erupt like a volcano.
"Still the gentleman I see,"
She leaned forward ever so slightly until the tips of his fingers were grazing her breast through the lace. Her own fingers squeezed his a bit, giving permission. Please, she seemed to be saying. Please touch me. Her eyes closed as if she wanted to indulge in this tiny bit of release without the messy implications of locking eyes with him.
They were both upon their knees now on the bed, leaning in towards each other, their breathing heavy. David reached out and pushed the hair back from the side of her face before maneuvering his head down and capturing her lips with his own. He wrapped his hands around her, one on her back and one cradling her head, as he pressed himself flush against her. Her body reacted instantly, melting into his as he playfully bit her lip before soothing it with his tongue. She could feel his breath hot against her neck, threatening to melt her down. But suddenly, she questioned herself.
"David, hold on. I want you, but should we be-"
He didn't let her finish her sentence, choosing instead to sweep her up in his arms and cover her lips hungrily. It's a deep and satisfying kiss; his tongue probes inside her mouth, tasting her, while his hands tugged gently at her hair. She responded with a moan, and he flipped her onto her back. She threw her arms about his neck, drawing him in. He leaned over her and then settled himself between her legs, and she felt a rush of arousal course through her at the sensation of him on top of her. Anna felt his knees press up against the backs of her thighs, causing her to open to him even more. He pulled back from her mouth and littered a few firm kisses on the exposed skin of her collar bone, whispering "I. Want. You," in-between every move of his lips. Suddenly her moan of pleasure turned into a groan of frustration.
David lifted his head from her neck. Then sat up, "Do I need to stop? Is there a problem?" he asked, his breath ragged.
"No, David. Even after our game, the problem is you're still wearing too many clothes." She laughed in his ear and sampled his earlobe while she was at it. She heard the sharp intake of his breath, then his low chuckle, and helped him remove the rest of their barriers. Finally, they were both naked as the day they came into the world, and all he could concentrate on was that she was so beautiful. He slowed their pace, taking time to touch first with his fingers, then his mouth, all she had revealed to him. He traced her collarbone with his tongue, lavishing open-mouthed kisses to one breast, then made sure he paid the same attention to the other.
Then she pulled his face upward to hers, and there was nothing safe in the way she kissed him. Her mouth was greedy. Her hands, selfish. The press of her body against his laid her intent bare. They had not discussed what would happen after. They had made no promises. If in their time apart he had decided not to take the risk of reaching out, there would be no veil of coyness to hide behind now. Her lips pressed against his skin and marked their way towards his neck, where her teeth grazed the delicate underside of his jaw. She could hear him inhaling sharply with brimming rapture, making her smile against his skin. She has always loved how responsive he was to pleasure and luxuriated in rediscovering all his sensitive spots as much he loved exploring hers—the hand moves to cradle his cheek as she continued to kiss his neck with fervor.
So he lost himself in the taste of her lips, so grateful that she had come for him from half a world away and was intent on showing her his appreciation. But she had other plans as she took the reins, rolled him over, and pushed him down onto the bed. Her fingertips drifted down his abdomen, seeking out a part of him to mark as her own. And she found it and sucked on his hip – the kiss haunting his flesh. The twinge of pain as she pressed her mouth upon it went straight to his core, and he groaned.
She felt her way back up his body, smiling like a Cheshire cat until she was sitting astride him. David steadied one hand on her hip, broad strokes of palm guiding his way down her thigh. Fingertips roused the sensitive bud he found there, making her body quiver.
Anna bit down on her lower lip, stifling a moan of half frustration and half encouragement. His fingers now pushing, stroking, and pressing with intent, making her mouth give a loud gasp of approval. But his caresses merely fueled her craving; it was still not enough to satisfy it fully. Her hands trail down his torso; desperate yearning manifested in every gesture. David moved his fingers away as she lowered herself down onto him. Her toes curled as she took him in, the union she was hungry for all along. David grasped her hips with fresh force while she pressed them down and forward, delicious friction sending shudders of pleasure through her body, all the way to the tips of her fingers, fizzing with sparks of electricity. Her hands found support against his shoulders, and her back arched as she quickened her pace, eager to see his fulfillment. She looked down at David and found him completely undone, staring back at her in all his untamed ravenousness.
She smiled at his wild gaze; he pushed his hips up, knowing exactly which spot demanded the most attention. Anna pressed herself down in response, moaning loudly as her body began to tremble. She moved herself over him harder still, finding her route to satisfaction, and David was more than happy to serve as her. She cried out loudly as the pleasure reached its peak, rippling through her body, the fulfillment as tremendous as the yearning that preceded it. David followed closely behind, his body tensing as he reached his own release, calling her name loudly. The pleasure continued to swirl within her body as they both strived to regain their breaths.
The dispersing of haze brings a moment of clarity to Anna's thoughts, and she questioned if they have been here minutes or hours. But even this realization does not strike any alarm within her mind; she looks down at David, his lips parted and gasping for air, and smiles with gratification. She responded to the delight reflected on his face, then tilted her head and put a finishing note on their moment of bliss with one last kiss.
Anna disentangled herself from him. Exhausted, she slipped under the covers, and her body instinctively found his, like a puzzle piece fitting perfectly. His arm encircled her as she settled to lie down, her head resting on his naked chest. She wanted to enjoy the feeling of release and relaxation, and it doesn't take her long, the coziness taking over her body in an instant.
"Are you satisfied with our time together?" David asked, each word vibrating through her cheek and rippling under her skin.
"You know I am," she sighed in response, pressing herself further against his body, finding each favorite point of contact, skin against skin.
She cannot see it, but she knows a grin has made an appearance on his face.
"I am glad," he responds, ever so innocently, yet the delight at her response radiates with the increased heat of his body. She decided to give him a moment to recover before seeking satisfaction again.
After all, not everyone needs a future, but everyone needs a few stolen moments once in a while.