One week later, Narita International Airport, Tokyo, Japan
Adila stepped off the private plane right onto the tarmac. It was so strange not to have to go through that tunnel like exit straight into the airport terminal. Looking several yards ahead of her, she saw a familiar gentleman with gray hair and a thick moustache dressed in a dignified black suit. She returned his smile because she was genuinely happy to see him.
"Hello, Watari. It's nice to see you again," she greeted him as the porters from the airplane stowed her luggage in the trunk of the limousine.
"Hello, Miss Sharvani. It has been a long time," he rejoined, opening the door for her. "I will take you to the room he has for you. He requested that you wait there for him."
...
L spared no expense. It was a whole suite with only one bedroom. The furniture and decorating style were very modern using only the colors white, black, and red. It was not cozy at all and seemed to be more of a work of art than a hotel room. There was a computer set up on the desk in the bedroom with a screensaver of a black Old English script L against a white background. He was still as full of himself as ever. The kitchen was fully stocked with food including lots of sweets. Did he plan on staying in here with her?
A smile touched her lips and her body shivered a bit from the memories of the few nights they shared together. She would not mind at all if he shared the suite – and the bed – with her. She went to the bedroom to unpack her suitcases because she had the feeling she would be here for a while. Fatigue and jet lag began to set in halfway through unpacking her last bag. The twelve hour flight could hardly be deemed arduous since she had been on a private plane all by herself except for the pilots and a flight attendant. She had felt like a queen on the trip. However, it had given her too much time to think. She cried over Naomi's death for a while, apologetically explaining to the concerned attendant what was wrong. The woman had politely nodded and sat in the back of the plane to read a book while leaving her to her tears.
Adila had thought about Teru as well. She had chosen not to take the job offer because it was a desperate attempt by Teru Mikami to bring her back into his life. After being with L, she had begun refusing Teru's letters and sending them back unopened. She had even blocked his email when he resorted to modern technology to contact her. The only phone number he had for her was to the FBI office, and the operators had been put on alert for when he called. His calls were directed to a voice mail account on her Uncle Anthony's phone, and he would promptly delete the messages so she would not be tempted to listen to them. With all of that, thoughts of him still swirled around in her mind. Maybe he was right. Perhaps Fate would carry her back to him someday especially if he continued pushing its hand. She would fight the current of the universe and Teru that was pulling her back to him as long as she could.
When Adila awoke from her nap, the sun was setting. Getting out of the bed, she walked out onto the bedroom balcony to watch as the red orb dipped below the horizon. A cold wind blew and immediately chilled her straight to the bone, forcing her back into the room.
There he was. She would have thought he had blown in with the winter breeze when she slid open the balcony door. L stood there looking like a phantom with his pale skin against the super black hair that was still a mess after all this time. He was even wearing the same white shirt and oversized jeans. At least he was consistent. Neither one moved or said a word for several minutes as they silently looked over the other.
Adila had made only minor changes in her appearance such as having her hair straightened so that it hung in soft waves below her shoulder blades instead of unruly frizzy curls. Working at the bureau, she had gotten into the habit of wearing feminine business suits with skirts of varying lengths. The skirt she had on now was a little short for winter considering it reached her mid-thigh. She had worn it for him and her efforts had not gone unnoticed because his eyes lingered on the high hemline. He looked pleased about the depth of the neckline of the black cashmere sweater she wore as well. She was barefoot like him because she had kicked off her heels upon arriving and had no intention of wearing any kind of shoes while in her room. She always wore heels of varying heights. The thought of wearing the sensible manly shoes most female agents wore was unbearable to her. The male agents joked with her about being a 'redneck, country girl' because they always found her walking around in her office barefoot after leaving her shoes under her desk. A few of them dared to be more crude telling her if she liked being barefoot so much she could be their wife and they would be happy to keep her barefoot and pregnant while she stayed in the kitchen at home. Those agents found some very unpleasant surprises in their offices or food and one unlucky man's girlfriend received a phone call. He was single a few days later.
"I'm glad you came," L said at last, breaching the silence.
Adila gasped when she found herself in his arms with his lips against hers. It was shocking how fast he could move. She wrapped her arms around his lean body, holding him close while his lips gently moved across hers. The gap of time that had passed between them was removed with that kiss.
"I'm sorry I couldn't go with you," she whispered, unable to speak to louder.
"I already told you I understood. It doesn't matter now. Shut up and don't ruin the moment," he chastised her, taking her lips for his own again.
Adila tightened her grip on him as the kiss turned more insistent hinting at something more than a friendly hello. She sighed when his hand pressed to her breast, molding to its roundness and squeezing slightly. Her hands slid under his shirt touching the smooth, perfect skin of his back that had probably never seen the sun. Pushing him to the bed, she pressed him against the mattress until he bent his knees and sat down.
"Still unwilling to give up control I see," she murmured, sliding his shirt over his head.
"You once told me that control is only an illusion," he reminded her, pushing up her sweater and licking around her belly button.
'Damn him,' Adila thought as her hands went to his shoulders because her knees had weakened. She pulled her sweater off and unhooked her bra to reveal her breasts. A satisfied smirk tilted her lips when he looked up and grunted, immediately placing his hands over them. She closed her eyes and moaned when his hands cupped them and he flicked his thumbs across the tightening nipples.
"You always could cause the most wonderful reactions in my body," she sighed, unbuttoning her skirt and letting it fall to the floor.
"I've missed you," he mumbled, sliding his fingers over the top of her panties and pushing them down. "All of you."
"Oh, god," she gasped when he placed a kiss in an unexpected place. She yelped when she was suddenly seized and thrown onto the bed.
Adila assisted him with removing his jeans and underwear which were the final barriers between them. She held his gaze, studying his dark, dilated eyes as he hovered above her. She kept her eyes on his while he pushed into her. They both moaned loudly from the pleasure of their reconnection. He was the last man she had been with and she did not think it would be assuming too much to think she was his last woman. That was well over a year ago. She was afraid to close her eyes, fearful he might disappear and all of this would be a dream. It appeared he had the same thoughts as her. Their eyes stayed open, breaking eye contact only occasionally to gaze at other body parts over which their hands roved. Their hands stayed constantly in motion; touching, teasing, savoring the feel of the other's skin. The pleasurable sensations and moans of satisfaction it stimulated were rather enticing as well. Paying close attention to each other's facial expressions and breathing patterns, they managed to reach an orgasm at the same moment which was the first time they took their eyes off of each other. While still deep in the blissful throes of passion, their lips met and held keeping them anchored to each other on the waves of pleasure that assailed their bodies.
"Tonight you're mine as a woman. Tomorrow I need you as an investigator," L said, kissing her briefly.
"I understand," Adila replied, sliding her hands over his chest. She pressed a kiss to his shoulder, then began working her way across his chest. If that was how he wanted it, then he had a lot of work to do tonight. Good thing he did not sleep much because he would not be getting any.
...
Adila woke up alone just like she thought she would. She was grateful he had allowed her to get a few hours of sleep. There was a message for her on the computer screen informing her of the suite to come to once she was dressed. After her shower, she dressed in a mid-calf length skirt and a magenta colored cowl neck sweater. There was no reason to stir up temptation when they had no time to indulge it. With the addition of her black pumps, she was on her way to the indicated room, lugging her bag stuffed with her laptop and notebooks.
Adila knocked on the door and was taken aback when a man she did not know opened the door. He looked to be around her age with black hair and dark brown eyes. His smile was surprisingly warm and friendly. He blushed violently when she smiled back.
"Who are you?" she inquired when he continued to just stare and blush.
"Matsuda!" a man yelled behind him.
For some reason the voice triggered something deep inside of her. Ignoring the feeling, Adila's grin widened when his blush darkened to a cherry red. 'Who the hell are these people?' she wondered.
"Quit standing there with the door open, you moron," the man reprimanded him, pushing him out of the way.
Adila gasped when she saw the man. Looking into a familiar pair of dark brown eyes on the only Japanese man she had ever seen with an afro, she lost the ability to breathe. Her body shook as she took an unsteady step backwards.
"Adila?" Shuichi Aizawa asked, his eyes widening in shock.
"It can't be. Oh, dear god, it just can't be," she mumbled, taking another step back. Her head felt as if it were about to float off her shoulders it was so light.
"It is you," he murmured, reaching out to pull her into his arms.
"Shuichi? But how? Why are you…oh, god, I don't understand," she said, her brain completely muddled at this time.
"The NPA was called in to help with the case. I'm a detective, remember?" he asked, holding her limp body against his because he thought she might faint.
Oh, yes, she remembered. He had just been promoted when they met. Her heart was bleeding over Teru, and they drank themselves silly. They were friends for a short while. Then they said good-bye.
"How is your wife?" Adila inquired, noticing his eyes grew dim and sad.
"She's good. We have a child," he answered, forcing a smile to his lips.
Adila could tell something was wrong, but she was not going to ask. It was none of her business. Besides, she was with L and…oh, no! She pushed Shuichi away from her and walked into the hotel room. Ignoring the stunned faces of the other men in the room, she went straight to L where he sat poking at his computer keyboard.
"L, there's something we need to talk about," she said, trying to keep her voice low. Glancing around the room, she noticed it had been set up like one of their 'war' rooms at the agency when they were on a major case.
"I already know you were involved with one of the investigators working with me," he informed her without looking away from his computer.
"But how did you…nobody knew that," she hissed, turning his chair to force him to look at her. She wanted to slap him so badly as he gave her a self-important, all-knowing smirk.
"I have to do an in depth background check on each person who works with me. I also personally interrogate each person to make sure I can trust them," he explained, keeping his voice low which gave it a slightly menacing tone. "I know all sorts of things about you too. I'm glad you took my offer instead of the job proposal from your ex-boyfriend," he said, his smirk widening into a creepy grin.
Adila was suddenly reminded why she did not like him when she first met him. The sinister little bastard was pissing her off right now. She bit her lower lip, her body shaking from the effort to hold back her emotions. It annoyed her that he had used ex-boyfriend and proposal in the same sentence. How did he know about that? Just how closely had he been watching her over the span of time that had passed between them? What else did he know about her? Before she could control it, her hand launched itself toward his face. She slapped him so hard he nearly fell from his perch. Somehow, despite his odd crouching position on the chair, he was able to maintain his balance.
"Bastard," she muttered with venom. She had managed to slap the smirk off his face, but his eyes did not look away from hers. Turning on her heel, she walked toward the door.
"Adila!" Shuichi called, moving to go after her.
"Mr. Aizawa!" L shouted, making everyone in the room halt their activities. He never raised his voice and usually mumbled in a low tone when he talked. "Sit down. Somehow I doubt she wants to talk to you right now. She will be back."
...
L beat on her room door giving her one more chance to open it before he used the key that Aizawa had retrieved from the front desk for him. 'Damn, stubborn woman,' he thought to himself as he waited. He cursed himself for miscalculating her stubbornness. It was a good thing none of the criminals he had encountered so far were women. He did not know how to factor in their emotional volatility. She would be useful in that arena should the problem arise. Counting in his head, he gave her ten more seconds.
"Zero," L muttered aloud, using the key. Pushing open the door, he immediately had to dodge a flying projectile. He covered his head as the dish hit the wall and exploded into shards of ceramic shrapnel.
"Prick!" she yelled, retreating to the bedroom and slamming the door.
"Really? You think you can hide from me?" he demanded, rushing to the door. With a skillfully placed kick, he caused the door to go flying inward, breaking the frame around the lock into splinters.
Once again he had to avoid an airborne missile. This one was a lead crystal candy dish from the nightstand that could have given him a concussion or worse. Seeing that she was searching for another weapon, he leapt across the bed and grabbed her in a bear hug.
Adila screamed with surprise and anger when he threw her on the bed. She screamed again when he sat on her back to hold her down. Her shouting ceased when he tightened his thighs around her and constricted her ribs about her lungs to make it difficult to breathe. She wriggled and bucked like a wild mare trying to lose her unwelcome rider. Her movements ceased when she felt him pulling up her skirt.
"Are you kidding me?!" she bellowed, when he held her wrists together behind her back and slid down to sit on her thighs. She buried her face in the bed, moaning in surrender and anticipation when she heard the zipper on his jeans. Once again she found herself in a tremendously unusual sexual situation yet she liked it.
"What are you going to do? Fuck me into submission?" she growled, as he removed her panties.
"Oh, I actually find that rather inviting, my dear," he murmured, pushing her legs apart. "Maybe I am. I think you'd like it."
"Dammit!" she grumbled because he was absolutely correct. Again. Damn the super nerd.
"Take a deep breath," L warned her, shoving into her all at once.
Adila yowled out of pleasure and not pain. She tried to buck him off again when she heard a sadistic chuckle come from him. Not to be deterred now that he had her, he pushed her down and continued plunging into her until they were both satisfied. Once their strange, playful, and ever so pleasurable encounter was over, he lay down beside her.
"You're the weirdest person I've ever known," she told him, rolling onto her side and propping on her elbow to look at him.
"The feeling is mutual. Are you ready to begin working this case with me or do you need to go home?" he questioned her quite seriously.
"I'll be fine. I can do this," she assured him, kissing him briefly and biting his lower lip.
"Ow! What was that for?" he asked, touching his lip to check for blood.
"For knowing about Aizawa and not warning me. It was cruel, L," Adila scolded him in a toneless voice.
"Maybe so. You should know by now that it is imperative be ready for anything or anyone who might pop up during an investigation. By the way, Beyond Birthday is dead. Kira killed him today," he advised her, expecting an adverse reaction. Instead, she had no reaction at all except to rise from the bed. She was beginning to annoy him with her unpredictability.
"I see. Then I suppose we better get started. Kira is not wasting any time so neither should we."