MAY 17
Days in Vegas do not start or end as any other city. It was hot and sweltering but it was only nine o'clock in the morning. At first Liz had felt a little self conscious as she glanced down at her attire.
Silas had assured her that no one would turn a head or blink an eye, but to walk through a ritzy hotel lobby in nothing more than a sheer net cover over her bikini clad form... gave her pause for thought.
As she and Silas walked the short distance from the Private entrance, she noted that while she did receive some looks they were all pleasant enough, not to mention there were several other women scattered about who were dressed much more risqué than she.
The cool interior of the elegant space inside, was more than welcomed after the hot sun. She noticed Red off to her left, standing leisurely beside Mark, awaiting the arrival of a set of elevators.
The man turned his head as she neared, his eyes sweeping her bikini clad form, lasciviously.
Liz inhaled shakily as she watched him look her over, damning herself as she felt a rush of arousal traverse her body.
Silas' bemused expression told her he had picked up on the fact. He grasped her arm, breaking the spell, leading her away from the bad influence. She scowled up at the man, then grimaced when she realized, she had almost run into a large pillar directly in her path.
Good job, Liz. Face plant into a wall, because that's sexy.
She glanced back at Red quickly, finding his eyes had dropped meaningfully... more specifically, to her ass.
He lifted those eyes, the heat contained in them, making her blush return post haste. His intense perusal of her suddenly slipped into a dark scowl, his eyes shifting beyond her vicinity.
Liz glanced over, finding Brad standing there giving her a once over which made her pretty face glower over with annoyance.
She listed slightly from Silas' soft hold, aligning herself within the visual path of Red Reddington once again.
She smiled coyly back at the man, offering a flirty but almost negligible shimmy of her shapely bottom, pleased as hell to see Red's attention focusing sharply back to where she needed it.
Mark laughed throatily, laying a hand on Red's advancing form, casting a chastising glance at both Elizabeth and her guard. He waved Silas off, physically turning the older man back to the elevator which had opened as if on cue.
"Fucking rabbits..." Silas grumbled as he opened the door, shoving her outside and out of sight of Red and more importantly, Brad.
"What did you just–" Liz took exception to the graphically stated observation.
"You got Red's attention back. Leave it at that."
"I beg your..." she frowned.
"His mind is on you, not on that dumbass." Silas shooed her away from the door. "To go back inside right now is only asking for trouble."
Liz calmed instantly.
"Besides, Sugar Daddy has to work." Silas waved a hand meaning, proceed forward.
"He is not my Sugar Daddy." Liz stalked off to a shaded area, to a cabana which looked more than inviting, sitting her sunglasses down on the table.
"He's mine." Silas flicked his fingers, shooing her to the water. "You're not the only one that benefits from that hard earned money."
Liz sighed, shrugging her shoulders before letting the matter go.
She could, and would, play with Red later. She would just consider the time until then, as foreplay.
Finding the pool half empty, much to her delight, she stepped off into the water with Silas' help.
"Don't push it." he warned. "Your muscles are weak."
"Well, no shit." she tested her ankle on the first step, finding it somewhat lacking but the water felt amazing, drawing her deeper into it's cool depths.
"Hey, I'm having a good hair day." Silas pointed to said hair. "I am not diving into the pool to rescue your ass and ruining this."
Liz tried hard to control her smile. "Yeah you're right, that doesn't happen very often." she flicked his hair with a tepid gaze, noting the man had forgone his usual ponytail today.
"I look good everyday, but some days, I'm like a God..." Silas shook his head woefully and for one brief second, he did sort of remind her of the Norse God, Thor. His muscled body gleamed in the sun, his hair flowed wistfully with the wind. She shook the image quickly.
"I bet you want your debased cult to sacrifice virgins for you." she mumbled dejectedly.
"Why waste a good virgin when I can fuc–"
"Don't you even..." she warned sotto voce, glancing hastily about their surroundings. Luckily no one seemed in hearing distance.
"Still up to your match of wills, I see." Francis interrupted having come on scene, tossing his towel and a floral bag to the lounge.
"Of course." Silas sat into the lounge, crossing his ankles, stretching out his legs, his fingers linked behind his head. "And yes, I'm still winning." he frowned slightly at Francis, more specifically the bag he was rummaging around in. "Nice purse." the man gestured to the very feminine tote Francis had.
"It's a beach bag, numb nut." Francis scowled. "And it's Lia's."
Silas looked around, then back at Francis. "I don't see her. So fess up." the guard needled. "You're switching teams right?"
"She's getting a drink." Francis rolled his eyes. "And I'm too valuable a male specimen to not share the goods," he made a show of cupping his package, before heading into the pool, "...with the ladies."
Liz dropped her face in her hands, hiding her enormous smile, finding a woman staring at her friend like he was another life form. A lower one, of course.
A short time later after a few laps, Liz broke the surface, wiping at the water in her eyes. She looked beside the pool, scowling slightly.
"What's wrong?" Silas asked, knowing the problem could have nothing to do with him.
"Did you take my towel?" she half suspected.
"Yes," the guard screwed up his face, "I'm holding it hostage until you admit that I am so much more intelligent than you."
"Funny, asshole." she crinkled her nose. "What'd you do with it?"
"I didn't do anything with it," he murmured around the long straw in his mouth, "because you didn't bring it." he shrugged, before leisurely sipping his fruity multi-colored slushy drink. He had not been without the large, foot tall concoctions since their first night at the bar.
"Why didn't you say anything?" she scowled.
"I was hired to guard you." the man drawled slowly. "Not remind you that you lack accessories."
"Could you please go fetch me a towel." she irritated.
"Do I look like a cabana boy?" he spread his hands expressively, the drink still held carefully aloft.
"No actually, you look like a Norse God." a feminine voice carried over the wind to a very appreciative guard, who actually sat up searching for the source of such wisdom.
"I don't know..." Liz snipped, looking around as well for such a delusional person, "go put on a speedo to give me the full effect," she squinted hard at the man, "and when you do, can you grab me a freaking towel!"
Silas dropped his head back as though the weight of the world was suddenly upon him, sighing heavily.
"You're so dramatic!" Liz whined.
"Oh, come on baby," the voice pleaded her cause, "put the Speedo on."
Silas zeroed in on a little blonde and her friend stretched out luxuriously several longue chairs down to his right. He cast them both a slow sensual smile.
They both giggled, delirious to have been noticed by such a fine example of the male species.
"I can watch her Silas." Francis chuckled behind her, as he and Lia floated, wrapped around one another in a loose embrace. The woman pouted playfully at the man, kissing his Avengers bandage.
"If someone kills you while I'm gone, don't come crying to me." Silas bitched as he shoved his way up from his lounge seat. He tugged negligently at his shorts just where his package sat, the fabric straining over the ample bulge, care anyone look.
The action more than titillated his new found groupies which encouraged even more unconventional actions on his part were he of a mind.
He smiled lazily over, setting his drink aside. He motioned to the blue and pink confection as if to say, 'keep an eye on it for me, ladies'.
The giggling and salacious looks made Liz want to gag.
"One of these days," the woman grumbled, " I'm gonna haul back and punch him right in the mouth."
"You sure you want to do that?" Francis asked seriously. "Sounds like he might think you're flirting." he cupped Lia's bottom, hoisting her up higher around his waist as he floated them backwards. "That could be considered foreplay in his world."
"Knowing that little bastard," Liz huffed, "he probably would."
Silas strolled past the women, to their great delight trailing a lazy finger over the sun kissed shoulders and napes.
"There's nothing little about me, ladies." he assured them boastfully as he continued on his trek.
The women literally swooned their approval.
Red had passed through the elegant corridor, his mind still on the meeting they had just attended. Mark was expounding the virtues of several possible scenarios that had been discussed. The man listened attentively.
Pushing out the Private entrance to the pool, Red sighted Lizzy floating around on a raft, a drink in it's holder, looking to be a breath's away from passing out into a blissful oblivion.
Or maybe not, he thought wryly, having seen the outlined shadow stealthily approaching from beneath.
"Uh, oh. I see a potential victim in my sights." Mark nodded knowingly having pulled up his steps alongside Red's more stocky frame.
"I've seen this before." Red mentioned in passing. "Spielberg, right?"
"It was in the opening shots of the movie." Mark reminded. "Should I sing the theme music as warning?"
"No, I want to see what she does." Red held his amusement.
"You're sacrificing your betrothed to a possible watery grave... because you want to see her reaction?"
Red gave his own opinion. "I don't think it's Lizzy that will be visiting Davy Jones' Locker."
The two men watched the snorkeled man get closer before dipping down under the water, coming up under Liz's raft. It was then, lifted high in the air, unceremoniously tilted, which dropped it's passenger into the swirling water below.
"You little bastard!" Liz squealed, directly before she fell into the dark depths.
Her assailant turned to flee but was not fast enough. She grabbed the plastic pipe sticking out of the water, snatching it off the man's head, drawing him back into her sphere of influence.
Liz unceremoniously beat the man over the head repeatedly with the plastic straw.
"Francis!" she spurted, "I'm gonna drown your ass!" She grabbed Francis' head, pushing it into the warm water, wrestling playfully with the flailing man.
"She hasn't even seen him yet." Mark was somewhat confused. "How did she know?"
"Only Francis would be stupid enough to do it." Red grin widened as he listened to Liz giggling. "He probably wanted revenge for her winning so much at the tables... he can be a vindictive little bastard."
"Stop it!" She shrieked, twisting and turning this way and that, splashing water madly. "That tickles!"
Red's eyebrow rose, What exactly was he doing to her down there?
"Don't you dare! Oooh!" She screamed as she was bodily lifted straight out of the water, then catapulted into the air, landing with a big splash a couple feet away.
Francis shot to the surface, arms raised triumphantly, whooping in victory. Catching sight of their audience, he gave a thumbs up, then glanced around quickly for his foe.
"Where'd she go?" He dropped the goggles around his neck, spinning around once more.
Red looked out at the water himself, actually getting a little worried. She'd been down there a long time, for her anyway. And in the shaded lagoon, he couldn't see clearly into the pool.
"Where is she Francis?" Red asked, concern lacing his voice.
"Oh, shit!" Francis struggled with something unseen, before hastily ducking below the surface. He popped up seconds later, his powerful legs having bounced him upward.
"Get back here you little brat!" He reached out, snagging Liz's top with deft fingers.
Red breathed a sigh of relief when Lizzy finally broke the surface, swimming straight for him. She waved something about in her hand.
About ten feet away from safety, she threw the hindrance at Mark and Red, both men side stepping quickly out of the way of the sopping wet projectile.
"Help!" She laughed gaily, continuing her trek frantically, as Francis rapidly gained on her.
Red came to the water's edge, leaning down his arm, gripping her hand when she slapped it into his.
"Hurry!" She squealed. Just as Red pulled at her, Francis made one final swipe, his hand grazing her wet skin.
"Ohh!" She yelped just as Red lifted her out of Francis's reach. Unfortunately his timing his had been a little off.
"Francis." Red growled, his arms shielding the woman's sudden nudity. The young man had managed to snatch Liz's top before she had been rescued.
"Hey! She started it." Francis lied convincingly.
Red sighed heavily, knowing a lie when he heard it. Not to mention he had actually seen the crime being committed.
Liz held tightly to Red's chest area, glad his coat was shielding much. She briefly wondered how she would extract herself from this particular situation.
Red felt a grin spreading over his face, and it wasn't only because of the half naked woman he held tightly against his now saturated body.
"Did they make this a nudist area," Mark laughed, holding up Francis's swim trunks, "and not inform me."
Red grinned down at the wet little bundle he held in his arms, "You are a little brat."
"I am not!" She pulled back ready to argue the point, then quickly clutched Red, remembering her present state of undress. "He dunked me first, then stole my top." She defended herself. "Kill him, Red!"
"Now, baby." Red held his smile. "If I kill him, it will render the pool useless. And you don't want to spoil every one else's fun." he nuzzled her jaw line affectionately. "Do you?"
Francis waited patiently, and then not so much so. "Hey!" he demanded an immediate answer.
"I'm thinking!" Liz bitched.
"And why?" Red questioned. "You look quite beautiful the way you are." he made a show of seeking out her full breasts which were pressed so intimately into his shirt.
"Other men are present, Red.." she countered, sensing his weakness.
Red thought about it a minute, reaching under his jacket for his weapon, his intentions clear.
"Hey man, what the hell happened to bro's before ho–," Francis hesitated visibly when Red actually curled his fingers around the stock of his gun. The man's look issued a certain type of warning. "I mean... chicks." the young man altered hastily.
"She has so much more to offer me..." Red replied smoothly, cupping Liz's small ass cheek in his hand.
Liz batted her lashes flirtatiously up at Red, pushing her breasts into his chest more firmly. She looked down at Francis, sticking her tongue out.
"Push her in, Red!" Francis demanded as Lia floated up behind him, looking between the two sides squaring off.
"Now why would I do that after saving her from your evil clutches?" Red questioned.
"She took my drawers!" He gave Liz an evil glare as she crossed her eyes in retaliation.
She hugged herself tighter to Red when Francis made another grab for her, before twisting her face comically at the man.
"Baby, you don't want your face to stick like that." Red said conversationally. He chuckled when she dropped the pose immediately. Red leisurely returned his attention back to the troublemaker in the water.
"Mark has your swim trunks now, bargain with him." Red suggested a compromise.
"Ahh, man." Francis whined, knowing Mark all too well. "Come on, be a bro! Give me back my dignity."
"As if you ever had any..." Liz wheedled causing Mark and Red to chuckle. "Give me my top first!" she countered.
Lia floated up just behind Francis, stroking her fingers over the man's broad shoulders and muscled arms. Francis did not note her hand disappearing under the water, fluttering around his waist.
"I don't have it." Francis grinned maliciously.
There seemed to be a stalemate developing.
"Whoo!" Francis started visibly, then relaxed instantly, his head turning to the cute little brunette who was pressed so intimately to his back now. Their eyes met and held, something intimate passing between them.
Red rolled his eyes, having a pretty good idea what the woman was doing to Francis under that water.
He could not say he did not envy the young man such a inventive partner. But he did have other priorities at the moment.
"Cover yourself." Red mumbled to Liz, stepping back slightly.
Liz gasped, bringing her palms up, covering her breasts before he pulled entirely away.
Red held out his hand, and Mark cordially placed the offending trunks into his waiting palm.
"Come on." He winked playfully, taking the woman's elbow, pulling her along.
"Wait..." Francis groaned, his hand covering Lia's activities for a beat. Halting the intensely pleasurable pastime went against his grain, but first things first...
"...Yes?" Red turned expectantly, his brows lifting.
Francis sighed, holding up Liz's bikini top. "I found it..." He pouted.
Red walked over, snatching the object from the other man's hands. He did not resist when Mark jerked the trunks from his unresisting fingers.
"How am I going to get that back on?" Liz motioned accordingly, glancing around for prying eyes, only to find her guard grinning over at her, the large straw of his drink dangling lackadaisically from the corner of his mouth.
"Turn around." Red directed, before looping the ties around her neck, then the one around her rib cage. "Good? Not too tight?"
"No, it's good." she turned and pulled her hands free. Her ring caught the wet fabric, tugging it, exposing her chilled nipple to his gaze.
He reached out, the back of his finger inadvertently brushing against her puckered flesh as he settled the cup back into place.
She gasped, unconsciously leaning into his touch. There was something decidedly wicked about a such a public display that she found vaguely enticing.
Liz self consciously pulled the cups straighter when he dropped his hand, "Better?" she asked shyly.
"I wouldn't say that..." he replied roughly, keeping his eyes on the tight nipples hidden from his view.
Liz blinked at the obvious sexual overtone. She felt her body respond under his unwavering stare.
Her tiny nipples strained further against the wet of her suit. He wondered if she had just wet her bottoms with a sweet rush of arousal. He swore he could smell her over the subtle hint of coconut scented lotion.
The woman startled, as a hand came out of nowhere, snagging her ankle.
"Come here, you little..." Francis grunted, stretching as far as his arms and modesty would allow.
Red had grabbed her quickly, pulling her free from Francis's reach. When Liz settled on her feet, she spun around, doing her own little victory dance.
Red's eyes shifted hastily to the swiveling little hips.
"Ah ha!" She rejoiced, grinning triumphantly. Francis jumped up out of the water once again, just grazing her feet but she rushed back to the safety of Red's arms. "That's what you get for flipping a poor defenseless woman off her raft. You naked pervert!"
"Defenseless?!" Francis's voice squeaked. "You stripped me bare before I could even blink."
"A first and most likely last time, that'll happen for you, Francis." Liz bent over, brushing her bottom against Red's crotch, resuming her victory dance.
Red stared heatedly down at the woman bent over in front of him. He ran a territorial hand up her spine. He felt her skin erupt in gooseflesh in response to his touch.
He rested his hands lightly on either side of her hips, his gaze never averting from the sweet little backside.
The vision of how they were positioned made his dick ache.
"Ohhh, when I get out of here..." Francis shook his fist at a disinterested Liz Scott.
"Ah ah ah." Mark sing-songed, holding up the still dripping trunks. "Play nice." Francis scowl increased. "Say please."
Red frowned, looking around beside them and out over the water. Where the hell did Lia go?
In all the distraction he had lost track of the young woman. He turned quickly in Silas' direction, finding the man grinning, giving a 'thumbs' down' gesture, before returning to his large straw.
Red searched the vicinity indicated chuckling his amusement. The slight form was gathered covetously around Francis legs.
"Can I please have my trunks back now?" Francis drawled before snapping his eyes towards the water, staring disbelievingly into the sparkling depths below. He stood perfectly still, not wanting to disturb the rather satisfying activities taking place.
Lia slowly slithered her way to the surface, a beautiful grin on the beguiling face.
"Damn, girl..." Francis could not keep the admiration from his tone.
"Honey, no matter what he told you," Silas readily informed the girl, "that ain't no cinnamon stick!"
Mark dropped the shorts, plopping them wetly into Francis' face. "More like a hard candy, you can choke on." he quipped.
"You got that right..." Francis snorted, then scowled, "I mean, you know because I'm so impressive."
"Oh my God..." Liz scoffed his incredulous disbelief.
Francis threw his best-friend a nondescript glare, before quickly returning his full attention where it was needed.
"We'll continue that..." Francis sought out Lia's unseen hand, "later... baby cakes."
Dropping the trunks under the water, he quickly dressed, bracing his arms on the side of the oasis, coming straight out of the water. He reached back down, grabbing hold of Lia's hand, pulling her easily to his waiting embrace.
He dropped a quick but meaningful kiss to the full little mouth before holding up a finger. He had business to attend to. "Hold that thought." he stated. "And anything else that catches your fancy."
He made tracks towards his foe for a challenge had been issued and he was one not to back down from a challenge.
Red's hand lifted, halting any advancement, the man's features formidably set.
"Are you kidding me?" Francis was flabbergasted.
Liz placed her chin on Red's shoulder, crossing her eyes and sticking out her tongue accordingly.
Francis started forward again only to be waylaid when Red Reddington stepped forward himself, a dark scowl issuing it's own certain type of warning.
Francis instantly backed down. "This is not over!" he warned Liz more than Red. "I have a long memory, uh..." he suddenly blanked on her name so many other adjectives filling his head.
"Elizabeth..." Silas helpfully offered, waving over a cute little waitress as he held his empty drink aloft.
"Whatever!" Francis swished the assistance aside moodily. "The war wages on." he prophesied. reaching back, grabbing Lia's hand as he stalked away peevishly. "Come on, little doughnut hole." he pouted his best pout. "We have some unfinished business to attend to..."
Lia giggled approvingly, following docilely.