BTW, I have not made any kind of profit in the making, publishing or posting of this story. This is purely for creative purposes.
PLOT: Playwright John Peter's vacation plans in paradise went sideways when the country went on Covid-19 lockdown. He feels a strong attraction for Aize Bonaventura who is on lockdown with him. What he feels for her crossed a new line. But his conscience is relentlessly hounding him for what he did. This story was inspired by the actor Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones, Narcos, Mandalorian)
Warning: I use a lot of profanity for this story.
Note: If you wanna see Ross' condo go to Acer Wolfe's Pinterest under the same filename.
Chapter Song: "1, 2, 3" - D' Sound
HIDING PLACE FROM HELL
CHAPTER 27
The most beautiful part of loving a guarded woman is this:
When she lets you in it's because she stopped needing people a long time ago.
It's because she wants you.
And that's the purest love of all.
~Unknown
Aize slides the glass door of the wardrobe open to hang John's tux. Thank goodness Paolo got his tux cleaned before he and Reese left for their honeymoon. She hadn't been in this room for more than six months. The room still looks the same. The cleaners were thorough but the condo is just a little stuffy from a few months of not been lived in. The last occupant of the BnB is a stockbroker from Canada who left way before the pandemic hit. He was a regular and had referred others to the BnB before.
The sound of cabinets opening and closing outside the bedroom is John in the kitchen happily putting away the food and the grocery. After they got the refitted SUV from the motor pool they headed to Reese and Paolo's apartment. They didn't stay long after getting the tux, from there they dropped by the supermarket to get a few supplies.
Since they took the SUV, John looks like a kid with a big smile on his face. It doesn't matter that the only place open at the mall is the supermarket his eyes were twinkling with happiness at being let out.
It was amusing to notice that John has been restless even though he had been busy writing his play and coordinating (uh, more like harassing) with his staff in New York. He's been housebound and he's been getting cabin fever just after four days. Had Ross been alive her brother would have gotten along with John very well, Aize smirked. They might even have become friends. She could just see it, she thought with a bittersweet smile as she looks around the bedroom.
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Supermarket-
Aize starts laughing when John came out of an aisle two huge packs of toilet paper under each arm with an even huge smile (under the mask). "TP, I love you!"
"Oh my God, are you cheating already?"
"Cheating?"
"On toilet paper."
"Aize, it's amazing! It's well-stocked!"
"I've never seen someone so happy with TP."
"I think I'm gonna get more!" John looks like a big kid.
"Don't hoard!" Laughing, Aize grabs John's shirt totally oblivious to people watching them.
=0=0=
Smiling at that funny scene at the supermarket she steps to the balcony door breathing the fresh air. Today Aize is happy. She feels alive. So far things were going well…
John joined her at the balcony. "Wow, what a great view." Like her he also breathed in the fresh breeze. The government's decision of freezing transportation in the metro drastically lowered the air pollution even in just a few days.
"Ross always had good eye about these things."
"You okay?"
"Yeah," she gave him a smile meant to allay his concern "I've just been worried how this pandemic is going to impact my staff. Most of them are family men."
"Fuck. You're right."
"I hate to say this but it turns out this is somewhat good for the agency. I've been getting some contracts and almost all of my guys are gonna be busy."
"That is good news. Congratulations!"
Aize puts a hand to protect her eyes, taking care not to let her contacts get blown away. "This is a strong breeze. Is there a typhoon, I wonder?"
"Do we stay here overnight?" John had finally got to wriggle his hands under her clothes. Earlier, he got scolded about his naughty hands when they stopped for gas.
"It depends." Aize smiles as she reaches for John. "I'll let you in a secret: Ben wanted you to live here."
"Oh, really?" John glances inside Ross' well-designed eight hundred twenty-eight or so square foot condo. "Why?"
"He doesn't trust you."
"I see." John gave Aize a lopsided smile. "Uh…when's the charity event, by the way?"
"Tomorrow at eight but we need to be there at five so I could supervise the guys and do some inspection." John is her opposite in personality and temperament. He thrives on motion, on activity, going places, on meeting and seeing people. Aize is the sole introvert in a family of extroverts and she does everything possible to avoid crowds or meet strangers. Being a social animal is not in her DNA. It's quite tiring to pretend to be one so she gave up. Besides, she didn't want to leave poor John all alone in the house while she works at the charity event not when he could come with her for a few hours and meet some people. He'll like that.
"I see."
"Is that okay with you? Would you like to just follow? I'll ask one of the guys to drive you over."
John shrugs, "No, I'm okay with that. I'm used to it. Preparation in theater is more tiring."
"That's good." Aize gazes at John, eyes soft. "John, you okay?"
John gave her a slight smile but his eyes were sad as he gently sweep tendrils of stray hair from Aize's lips. "I'd like to say something to you. Come with me."
Aize had a sight frown when John led her back inside Ross' condo and to the couch. When they sat John does that thing with his hands again like the night he thought he raped her. That was amusing but Aize refrained from even smirking.
"John, I will listen to you with an open mind." John kisses her hand when she reached out for his. "What is it this time?"
"I am scared." he huskily whispered, eyes wary...worried.
"Of what?"
"Losing you."
"Why would you lose me?" Aize shrugged. "Is it about Liam? We were over for more than a decade. Way back in university. I've no feelings for him, John." Looking at John, Aize isn't sure if she got through to him.
"Because of my lie."
"What is this lie about?"
"The airport."
"Tell me." Aize kissed John, hating the look of fear in his eyes. "Please."
John feels cold. "Do you know the feeling of knowing that you cannot get back what you lost forever?"
Aize's heart clenched. Ross. She looked down, eyes suddenly misty. "Yes." She could see that guilt in John's eyes right now. It's a mirror of her own. The fear of loss. Aize listened to John, held his cold hands…he allowed her to do that except wrap her arms around him until he finished his story.
"If you do that I would lie again…."
"Okay…okay," she held his face but his cold hands came up and gathered hers.
John began haltingly…struggling to get the words out. He would pause...lost, and Aize waited quietly without prompting him. All the while his hands in Aize's got icy cold. This is really wrenching John from the inside.
"I…suddenly had a mad plan…you know, the…the one that I told you about that first night I wanted to leave. I had everything planed so fast and so quickly like that…." John clicked his fingers. Aize was fascinated when his eyes and actions changed in intensity. "I touched you and I just…just wanted you so much. I couldn't believe the thoughts that keep on going through my mind. For a moment I was fully aware that I could be jailed because of what I did but I couldn't stop myself. Aize…I am not like that. I do not do these things…I have not done these things ever in my life…I came here to relax…to have a vacation not….not to…not…Aize…come on," John gently moves away from the kiss. "Please…let me finish…"
"John, I will say it again…" Aize grabbed him, annoyed, "will you fucking apologize already?!"
"But Aize…" John stopped when Aize laid a finger against his lips; the scent of the familiar lavender soap she used to wash her hands with to sanitize them. With her finger on his lips she pushed him until his back made contact with the arm of the couch.
"Listen to me. If…" Aize whispers. Insanely, John shivers in desire at the soft but definite threat. Aize smirked when he ogled at her cleavage as she crouches over him, her face mere inches against his, her breath gives him goosebumps. "If I…don't hear an apology… from those lips of yours right now…." She raised her brows to drive her point, "….you won't get…to touch me… ever… again."
"I'm sorry."
"That's better." Aize puts both hands on either side of him, trapping him in the sofa. "I know what you did." John's eyes widened slightly. "I wasn't all asleep the whole time." She smirked when he blinked. "But you made sure that I got home safely without a lot of fuss. I hate fuss. By the way, you scared the hell out of Ben."
John found his voice after getting over some shock at her admission. "I did?"
"He has been tracking you since you entered the house, did you know that?"
"Shit." his jaw dropped open. "He should've worked for the CIA." John joked.
Aize looked at him with sad eyes, "I don't want to lose you either. We cannot let our guilt stop us from being happy, John. I'm also guilty."
"Of what?" John straightens up when Aize got up from him looking serious all of a sudden.
"Of not being a good sister to my brother," Aize looks around the condo. "I treated my brother like a nuisance, for piling one burden after another to me. I was trying to bring the security company back on its feet and there goes my brother on a flipping bender on drugs and alcohol. So I stuck him in rehab. I didn't know he needed me…until it was too late."
She had buried Ross.
He lies beside their parents in that same mausoleum in the cemetery where other Bonaventura's have lain in peace. Unlike when their parents died, Aize had a blank wall for memory, but with Ross she recalls every stark detail about this death.
Aize loved her brother but that love turned to hate when he died. She hated him for leaving her alone. She had no one to help her cope with this aching loneliness…and her conscience.
"I failed my brother." Aize was surprised that she's dry-eyed at this admission.
John smirked, sad. "So we are a pair, huh?"
"Yep. I didn't mean to lessen your guilt, John. I just want you to know that I know how you feel and I will never hold it against you. Ever. But…" she drawls like a lioness and crouched over him.
"But what?" John is again with his back against the sofa but he's smiling this time.
"But I will only forgive you if you kiss me. Now."
John quickly pulled Aize on top of him. The kiss he gave her was from deep in his heart. He held her tight like he wants to merge his body with hers. John tore up. "I don't deserve you."
"Well…" Aize flutters her lashes at John, "I can think of a way for you to make it up…" grinning, she moves up and away and starts unbuckling John's trousers while she kisses the exposed skin above the buckle. His skin feels heated and cooled by the breeze from the outside.
"Hey! I want to do this in the bath." John whines in protest. "I have this fantasy where…Aize…oh shit…" she had gotten him out and her hands and lips began to do breath-taking things to his hardness….
"Wait," Aize sighs at the bell, poised halfway up from between John's legs. The bell went off again, "hold that thought."
John made himself more comfortable in the couch, "Did you order pizza again?"
Aize giggles, "I'm not that addicted to pizza." She looks back at John, pointing. "Cover that!"
"Shit!" Laughing, John grabs one of the throw pillows for his lap. Does he remove his pants or push it half way down? "Aize?"
=0=0=
"What the fuck are you doing here?"
"Hi, nice to see you after ten years, Aize." The person at the door smirked. "Aren't you gonna invite me in?"
"Aize?"
From inside the condo both could hear the soft sound of the rasp of zipper followed by the clink of a belt buckle. "As you can see I'm busy…" Aize nodded towards the sound.
"Aize…who's…" A ruffled looking John steps into view. "Liam?"
A deep frown forms at Aize's forehead. "Why are you here? How did you know I'm here?"
Liam sneered, "I have ways."
"What do you want?"
"A proposal."
"Excuse me?" John and Aize said together.
"Hire me." Liam crossed his hands in front of him.
"For what job?"
"The captain."
"Are you serious?"
"No. I want the job." The man handed her a file.
Aize gave a deep sigh and looks at John. "Better let him in, Aize."
"What?!"
John leans in and whispers, "You'll have the whole floor in on the drama." He gave her hip a consoling squeeze before going back to the living room.
"Shit." John is amused at the way Aize's jaw muscles were working. "Fine." Frowning, she jerked her head for the other man to go inside. Then she all but stomped inside the condo. She slapped the file down on the rectangular six-seater table while Liam leisurely enters and closed the door.
Liam whistled at the interior of the condo. "Nice. Ross does have good taste. Hey, man," Liam got a stiff nod from John. He followed with his eyes as John went to the kitchen and got a can of beer. With his cold drink in hand the American took to the couch. Both men look at one another as men do; sizing, observing, guarded. "You've been married long?" he asked to no one in particular.
"You wanna know because…?"
"Hey Aize, I'm just…it's just small talk."
"English please!" Aize snapped.
"Fine! Whatever." Liam shrugs.
"I don't see your certificates here. Where are they?"
"I'll just send it over."
"I need copies. You'll have to do psych testing and the usual tests I give my guards."
"Yeah, I heard you are very strict."
"I should be. I'm handing those people a gun to guard my clients. I don't wanna have any psycho in the ranks. I'll schedule you for a test next week."
"I heard that you don't have a combat trainer…"
"So?"
John observes that Aize is becoming more and more belligerent towards the other guy. Bad history.
"So, who's gonna give that test?"
"That's my problem."
"I want you to do the CQC."
"WHAT?!" That violent reaction came from both Aize and John.
"No way!" John stood.
"You chose me because…?"
"Well, why not you?"
"That's Paolo's job."
"We can do it now."
"Here?"
"No, the barracks. Isn't that where Paolo does the tests?"
Her eyes narrowed dangerously, "You sure know a lot about it."
"Are you afraid to go head to head with me?"
"Why would I be?
"Well?"
=0=0=
"What the hell is she thinking?! Shit! Why didn't she say no? This is insane! Fucking hell! What the hell is she doing?!" John had been ranting since they left the condo. He didn't realize that he'd been saying the exact four sentences and two profanities again and again in anger.
Aize is driving the Ducati [it was delivered to the condo after a thorough clean up] and if not for John following behind in the 2009 Hummer H3 she would have gunned the bike to the max and leave him behind. Now that he thought of it he should've used his phone's GPS to find his way back to the house but things are fucked up right now.
When they stopped alongside at the red light Aize raised the visor and looked at him from the window; her back is rigid and those eyes were hard. John wanted to reach out from the window and grab her hand. John and Aize lost Liam somewhere in the highway and good thing too because that asshole interrupted an evening he'd been looking forward to with her and if he'd seen him he might have rammed the idiot off the road.
He would.
The automatic back gate of the barracks opened. Aize entered with the bike and John parked on the street outside the gate.
That fucking Liam is already there leaning against his car on the other side of the street. John quickly sought out Aize. On his way in he met Bert with the guards dragging the mats in the middle of the compound. The military man looked like a dog with his tail between his legs.
"Where's Aize?" The tall man pointed behind him to Ben's office then Bert's face darkened when Liam entered the area. Bert rushed at Liam. John doesn't care about them. He knocked on the locked door. "Aize, it's me."
"In a minute."
"Aize, please open." He almost begged, her voice sounded hard and dull. "Please." He took a deep breath. John almost lost hope when it suddenly opened she pulled him inside, closed the door and pushed him on it giving him a passionate kiss. He heard the lock click. Shit, this is exciting but… "Uh…don't….don't tell me…."
"Yes. Here."
"No, Aize. Not here." John stopped her hands from raising his shirt up. "I don't want these assholes to jerk off about you later on."
She looked at him. He's right, and stepped back. "Fine." She snapped.
He quickly gave her a consolation kiss, cupping her face tenderly, "End this quickly and you can have me later." He whispers hotly to her ear. "….fuck!" at the knock John moves out of the way
"What?!"
Liam. "I need a Gi."
"Gi?" John asked.
Aize pointed to the judo uniform she's wearing reaching for another inside the file cabinet labeled 'Paolo'. "Here." She almost threw the plastic wrapped uniform through the door. She slammed the door right after but not before John saw the man looked shocked at his disheveled state again.
'You don't have to do this."
"I do." She finished her own Gi by tying a belt securely around her waist.
John noted the colors of the belt and the markings. He counted the gold stripes, "Yours?"
Aize sighed, "Yes."
"Cool."
Another knock on the door; it's Bert, "Aize? He's ready."
Aize didn't even take a deep breath or do anything looking remotely like some sort of preparation but jerked the door open. All the lights in the compound have been turned on. Liam stands at the other side of the mat, the one near the garage. His face looks calm but his hands and fingers betray him as Aize walks to the mat.
"So I'm thinking we could go five to five…." Liam started with a cocky smile.
"Shut up. I make the rules here. You only get one try. One. That's the most chance I'll give you. Someone get a video of this." Aize nodded when Bert began recording but then the other guys began recording also when John nodded at them. Aize gave John a kiss before she stepped to the far side of the mat pointing to Liam to do the same. "Running attack. Single takedown, lock, and submission. You get it?" Aize bound up her hair in a tight bun. At this point everyone in the compound is tense.
"But what do we use? Jui-jitsu, karate…?"
"Your choice. I'll just meet your attack my way. You've invaded on my goddamn honeymoon already." All the men glance at John standing; legs wide, arms crossed. "Let's go!" Aize started to go her corner…
"Aize!"
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