"You don't remember, do you?" Donovan asked as he reached out and grasped her lightly by the shoulders.
"Remember?" She trailed off as the memories of the previous evening poured back into her mind. "I remember," she added dejectedly. "Why are you here? Is it so important for you to continue to humiliate me?"
He shook his head slightly, forcing himself to stay in character. "Porcoddio! [Goddamn!], you are a stubborn woman." He touched her cheek softly and released an exasperated sigh when she wrenched out of his grasp. "It was never my intention to humiliate you. I'm sorry you feel that way." He made a move toward her again, but quickly backed off when she flinched away. "Why is it so hard for you to understand that I did not want to take advantage of you?"
She absently wondered what he had shouted in his language, but let the thought drop. "This is ridiculous, Ettore. Why are you even here?" she asked again. "Why can't you leave me alone?" She could feel the tears pricking her eyes and cursed herself for her weakness.
Although she worked hard to keep him at a distance each time he approached her, she had let her defenses down with him. She was unprepared for the emotional baggage that went along with it. She wanted to believe he was genuine and that he found her attractive; she also knew that it was impossible. How could he find her anything but abhorrent?
She wasn't sure what was hurting her more at the moment - her enormous headache or the words that were about to leave his mouth.
"You can't keep pulling away from me, Taylor. You'll run out of room sooner or later." He almost smiled when she glared at him. The defiant spark in her eye was something he had come to expect. It was the one thing he could picture even when he could not get a good look at her eyes through her thick glasses. "Why can't you believe that I want you?"
"Look at me, Ettore. You could have a supermodel draped over your arm. I'm no beauty," she reasoned.
He reached her in two quick strides. He placed his forefinger and thumb under her chin, tipping her head up so that he could look into her eyes. "You are so wrong, Taylor. You hide behind that cold matronly façade you've created, but there is so much more to you than that." He dipped his head and brushed his lips to hers. "I wanted you last night. I want you now," he informed her huskily. "But I want it to be something you also want."
"Stop it," she whispered as she averted her eyes from his knowing gaze. She would swear he could look right through her and see each and every one of her secrets.
"Stop what, Taylor? Be honest with yourself as well as me," he demanded softly. "You can keep yourself hidden away from the rest of the world, but I can see you. You can't hide from me."
"I can't deal with this now," she cried as she pulled away from him. "My head feels like it's going to explode." She went to the cupboard and searched through the contents until she found her bottle of aspirin. She dry swallowed a few tablets and then poured a cup of coffee. She knew he was watching her, but she hoped if she ignored him long enough he would go away. Sure, Taylor. Real adult of you.
"I won't press," he insisted as he came to stand directly behind her.
He stood so close she could feel the heat radiating from his body. She wanted to lean back against him and take comfort in that warmth. Would it be so awful to give in to her desire just once? Would it? It will be, if he is anything like Jason. "Just standing so close is pressing, Ettore. You must know that."
He gently brushed her hair off to the side. He leaned down and kissed the tender flesh of her neck. "No more pushing. I will leave you now, but I will see you tonight."
Her body stiffened when his lips touched her skin. She wanted to turn around, plunge her hands into his silky black hair, and kiss him until he begged for air. To be totally honest, she wanted to do much more than that, but she refused to let her mind go there. If she visited that forbidden place, she would never be able to return. "Fine. Whatever," she ground out through clenched teeth. She knew as well as he did that she would never see him again outside of work. She could deal with it as long as he didn't touch her again.
"Until later," he said, stepping away from her. He glanced back at her one last time before he left the kitchen. She was frozen in the same spot as though she was afraid to move. He was tempted to call out to her. He had the feeling she would willingly come to him, but he wouldn't play those games with her. Aren't you playing with her, Ettore? Aren't you just using her? Sometimes he really hated his inner voice. He was using her, and when he obtained the information he needed from her, he would never see her again. You're a bastard, Donovan.
~*~
"So? How'd it go?" Cody demanded.
"Nice to see you, too," Donovan replied as he sat down on the edge of the bed. He had taken a few minutes to run by Ettore's apartment to shower and change. He had barely walked in the hotel room before Cody hit him with questions.
"It is nice to see you, Donovan," Monica inserted. "But we're beyond bored. So.spill."
Donovan laughed. "I'm making headway," he supplied elusively. The sad fact was that he was getting nowhere fast. The only thing developing in the case was his feelings for Taylor, and that would only prove to be his undoing. He had to find another way to get the information he needed. The longer he was around her, the more likely he would hurt her. His nasty little voice perked right up at that thought. So arrogant of you to think she will fall for you. The world revolves around the mighty Donovan, does it? Could it be possible it's you that is falling and afraid she will be the one to cause you pain? Think about it.
"Right," Alex snapped. "Thanks for the detailed briefing." She moved to sit alongside him and nudged him in the ribs. "Did ya get some?" she asked, winking.
"Very crass, Agent Cross," he returned. "The most I've managed is that she allows me in the same room with her. She'll be at the club again tonight and Ettore will be there also."
"Ooh, so you did make headway! The Ice Queen has thawed."
"Not entirely," Donovan corrected. "But she's coming around."
"I'm sure she is," Cody snickered.
"Grow up, Cody."
"Yes, sir."
"Any news from Jake?" Donovan asked.
Monica nodded. "He's joined the transportation company and is scheduled to deliver the next shipment of vehicles.
"Good. By then, we should have the proof we need from Miss Kinney. When we get our hands on the next shipment of coke, we can wrap this up and get back to Chicago."
"Thank God," was cried in unison.
Donovan arched a brow at them. He was not so sure he was in agreement with them. He dreaded what was going to be left in their wake. More in particular, he dreaded who was going to be used and then betrayed. The more time he spent with her, the more his sixth sense was telling him she didn't deserve what she was going to be put through.
~*~
Taylor spent a good part of her Saturday morning soaking in a hot bath. Her headache had reared back to a dull roar and she was at least able to think clearly again. She silently cursed the man whose name she refused to say; she was tired of it echoing endlessly for hours within her mind. It was his fault she had drank so much the previous night. His presence had thrown her totally off balance and she took the easy way around her inhibitions. She lost herself in tequila and paid for it dearly.
She groaned as his rejection of her replayed in her mind. It would be easy to continue to believe he had pushed her away because she repulsed him, but the memory of his kisses made that thought impossible to accept. Passion and demand mixed and mingled with each caress of his lips and tongue. When she closed her eyes she could feel the sensations as though they were happening in real time. She bit her lip and forced herself out of the tub. She had to do something to stop herself from thinking about him constantly. He was haunting her every thought and it was driving her out of her mind.
What amazed her most was that he insisted he had been thinking of her well being when he put a stop to their activities. She had wanted to call it lovemaking, but wasn't that reserved for people who cared for each other and not for relative strangers? Not wanting to call it a failed 'one night stand', she just decided not to think about it any longer. She reminded herself that he was nothing more than a lowlife salesman who was only using her, but why? It was in his nature. She wasn't sure what his angle was, but he wanted something from her. It had to be more than 'that activity', because she knew she wasn't that desirable, no matter what he had said. Sooner or later, he would reveal his motives and her opinions of him and his profession would be justified.
In the meantime, she had to arrange for Bubo's meal. She was also concerned about his health. His cough was worse than it had been the day before. She dressed quickly and made her way to the diner where Jeanie had a lunch consisting of a chicken salad sandwich, chips, and a large sweet tea waiting for her. Bubo had not been on his bench between her house and the diner, but she knew where she would find him. He enjoyed the activity of the tourists on the weekends and usually could be found on a partially secluded bench in Emmet Park not too far from the main stream of activity.
She took a bus to the river front and made her way to the park and found Bubo exactly where she thought he would be. He looked very tired and his cough had worsened. After a long half hour of convincing, she finally managed to get Bubo to go to his 'home' and get some rest. She walked with him there, still carrying his lunch. Once at his home, she left him with strict instructions to stay put and eat his lunch. She was going to visit an old friend of his and ask him to come for a visit later. Only after Bubo promised her, or at least, she was sure he promised her, that he would wait on his friend's visit, did Taylor leave him.
.to be continued.