June 10
Dembe's timely assistance afforded Red the opportunity to enjoy a leisurely morning with Elizabeth.
His friend had interceded on Red's behalf, asking a favor of Francis Holbrook and Ben Gilchrist.
Both men took Red's place in the intricate dealings with the association who had gathered for the important meetings taking place almost on an hourly basis.
It was not, by any means, a long period of time allotted Red and Elizabeth but any amount these days was greatly appreciated by both parties.
Just to have the woman literally by his side as they passed a languid morning, left Red feeling centered once more.
Fortunately, Lizzy seemed more intent upon discussing the merits of the elaborate shower the penthouse offered rather than catching up on the things they missed during their forced days apart.
Tom Keen did come up at one point, the guy was a thorn in Red's side. A sore spot.
Red expected the little 'game' the men were executing would upset Lizzy, but she dismissed the fact all too easily.
It gave Red pause for thought but those thoughts dissipated quickly enough by Lizzy's look from the shower stall... which spoke volumes indeed.
With a rambunctious brunette awaiting his pleasure, all other matters faded into oblivion.
Besides, Red hoped he was steps closer to unraveling whatever sordid plot Tom Keen had involved himself in.
He could see no further use or reason for the insect of a man after that. Red was looking forward to ending Tom Keen's pathetic existence, truth told.
He tried to dredge up some emotional regret, reluctance... anything to suggest he still held a modicum of humanity where Keen was concerned, but obviously that ship seemed to have sailed years past.
Perhaps that made him no better than Tom Keen.
God would have to sort it out in the end. Too much water had flowed under the proverbial bridge between the two men.
Red dismissed the interruption to his thoughts instantly, crossing the room to attend to a much more pleasant individual... and most favorite distraction.
After some creative wrangling on his part having applied several different techniques learned through the years... and Lizzy's newly acquired appreciation for pulsating water... that sultry look which enraptured him so, morphed into one of pure contentment and bliss on the beautiful face.
At breakfast, a quiet even mood settled between them.
Red found his appetite a hearty one after so many days taking in bland unappealing food just to survive.
His mood, too, was much lighter and carefree, there was a new spring to his steps.
Red did not note such things.
His mouth curved into a smile as Lizzy pattered past him in nothing more than her panties, bra... and heated hair curlers she had been rather excited to find the hotel supplied.
"That better be an afterglow smile," she warned in passing, "and nothing more."
"What else would I be smiling for?" Red asked, hanging his robe on the provided hook.
Liz glanced at her reflection in a nearby mirror on the wall, her nose crinkling adorably, "It's hard work... producing the end product you know."
Red's mouth quirked irresistibly, "Is it?"
"Damned right," she stood up for her species, "walk a mile in our heels before you judge, fella."
His smile broke through, "May I ask an impertinent question?" he murmured, stepping decidedly closer to the alluring little figure.
"Can I stop you?" she held her smile.
"... Did you wear such... telling garments," he ran a finger about the lace of her panties gracing her hip bone, "before I came into the picture?"
She arched a brow, "What is that supposed to mean?" she queried.
He offered another look-over, his interest clearly on the vision before him.
He blew out a controlled breath, "It's just that..." he confessed a weakness, "had I known what was beneath your staid suits, I might not have been able to control my... inclinations."
Liz sat a finger under his chin, "My eyes are up here." she motioned.
The confident stare lifted, albeit slowly, taking in the curves and delectable skin allowed by the scant covering.
"Did you wear them... for him?" Red managed to keep his ire from his voice.
"You want the truth?" Liz mused.
"I don't want a lie." his brow furrowed darkly. "Do you think you have to–"
"Not at all." she cut him short. "I only meant," she amended, "it's a rather sad state I was in, I suppose." she shrugged. "I didn't feel the need to..."
The silence came for a long beat as the woman confronted some of her past, "I feel... pretty in these." she glanced down. "I feel like I can wear them now."
Red's mind flitted about critically at such a statement.
Liz lifted soft eyes, "You make me feel that way," a well of warmth filled her heart. "Before, I had moments when I had a good hair day or," she forced a chuckle, "a certain dress made me feel pretty... even sexy but..."
She sought him out, "You make me feel that way every day."
"You should feel it because," his scowl deepened by the second, "you are beautiful, sexy and incredibly desirable, Elizabeth. Don't ever...ever doubt your appeal."
"I didn't know I had any appeal," she hugged him tightly whispering the fact, "before you."
"I can not believe that." he refused the belief. Had Tom damaged her psyche to such an extent?
Liz pulled back, a thoughtful expression on the lovely face, "When you hired Hannah and Katie that time..."
She reminded him of her favored beauticians.
"They not only rid me of the filth of Carver," she wanted to say it for a very long time now, "but they... taught me," she floundered for a beat, "well, I guess they erased the damage Tom inflicted as well." she remembered how clean and fresh and... different she felt.
"Elizabeth," Red was touched, "it was such a small thing. I only thought you–"
"No, it was a very big thing," she admonished, "at least, to me. It was... a new beginning or sorts, I think. It sounds kind of stupid, I guess."
"No, it's not stupid," Red almost snapped.
"It was the ego boost I needed to set me back on track. I felt light and optimistic." she smiled for him. "A silly female moment that just... changed my outlook on so many things in my life." she sighed blissfully. "I sincerely thank you for what you did for me."
Red closed his eyes, lifting her hand in his, his mouth planting a gentle kiss on her fingers, "...Don't."
"I want to," she tightened her fingers on his. "Tom crushed my self esteem." she could admit it now. "He took my confidence away and even though it was all a sham, I felt had I been 'good enough', he would have been able to change his ways."
"You don't fucking believe that?"
"I did then," she whispered, "but no, not now. Not now, Red."
He nodded his approval, his stare a quiet one.
"Hannah and Katie reminded me, I had a few good assets," she teased. "Add you to the pot and overtime, well... I know I'm worthy of good things in my life."
The man brooded, not happy with the 'truth' Elizabeth related. That she felt those bad things, and he had been unaware.
"I have a man I can trust," she kissed his thumb, the one worrying her knuckles, "one I can rely on... that has faith in me even when I doubt myself. What more could a gal ask?"
She tip-toed, her lips brushing his.
"It shouldn't matter what the hell I think, only what you–"
"It's nice to be reminded every once in a while though," she reminded, "which you go out of your way to do... constantly. Don't think I haven't noticed because, I have."
Red inclined his head minutely, "If that is how you feel, I'm more than pleased."
"Then why the scowl," she traced his brow playfully.
"Because I hate knowing you felt the other shit." he snapped.
"Haven't you ever felt," she sought the word, "less than what you could be?"
She seriously doubted he had. Such a man? No, Red Reddington had an inborn pride. Confidence verging on arrogance at times.
She envied the man.
"I know my weakness," he had a few, "I know my strengths." he shrugged. "I will say..." he hesitated.
Should he? To bare one's soul so easily could be a major weakness.
Red was careful to reveal such things, even to this woman. Or perhaps, especially to this woman because Elizabeth had the ability to hurt him deeply.
"Sexually speaking," he altered his intended truth, "...I take certain pride knowing that a woman of your caliber finds me... acceptable in such a capacity."
He shifted a curious stare. "You do find me acceptable... right?"
"Mildly," Liz held her grin, running a teasing finger down his biceps.
Red had never given his body much thought... until recently.
He sensed Lizzy found his arms attractive, if only by her reaction to them and bared them at every given opportunity these days.
It shocked Dembe and Silas when he joined their daily regimen of exercises but they held their opinions, for once, when he claimed his health as the reason for his participation.
They knew why he was out there. They had gone out of their way to assist him in his endeavor.
While both men approved of his affair with Elizabeth, they approached the task with differing goals. Silas wanted to help his boss get laid. Dembe wanted to improve the man's health.
It was a win/win situation.
He hadn't felt this sexy in years. He had forgotten the sensation.
The sexual connection of a look shared. The rush of endorphins when a woman's mere touch ignited one's passion.
Sex was all well and good but it was different, what passed between him and Elizabeth.
It was just... not the same.
They shared a deep, powerful... achingly poignant thing.
His cock and balls knew that difference, they felt it to their core.
How did one explain such a thing?
And Lizzy had become the essence of every woman he desired.
The woman of his dreams. Witty, intelligent, amusing, caring, loving, kind and incredibly beautiful and sensual.
And the best part? It was as if someone had designed that hot, tight little pussy just for his pleasure.
Had he searched for her his whole life? He hadn't been aware he was searching but the minute he looked into those deep blue eyes... something stirred to life.
"Have I lost you?"
Red blinked, stirred in another way.
"...So you didn't and don't wear these for me?" he attempted to lighten the moment, his fingers flicking the bows at the sides of her panties.
"Of course, I wear them for you," she confessed freely, "I just didn't want your head to swell any bigger than it already is."
"Which head?"
"Don't you even think about it." she moved slightly away. "I haven't even packed yet and you know what a stickler Dembe is when it comes to flight-time."
"Dembe can go suck himself." Red maneuvered the flimsy garment below her plump cheek line, glancing at his handiwork.
Liz's hand caught the action, trying to prevent it. She giggled infectiously, "He doesn't have to... so many women are in line for that privilege."
"Are you one of them?" Red's hands eased the silky blue material down those shapely hips determinedly.
"I have my hands full enough dealing with you," she squirmed uselessly about. "If we're late, you'll have to explain yourself to Dembe."
Red lifted the slight frame, effortlessly throwing the squealing woman bodily into the air.
Liz landed into the cushy mattress, laughing her delight, "My hair is in curlers!" she fingered the rolls dancing about her shoulders, feeling for lost items.
"It isn't your hair which interests me at this particular moment," Red removed the offending panties, climbing onto the bed, shoving Lizzy's legs apart.
His eyes fell to the delectable pink lips of her center.
"You're gonna get in trouble." she prophesied. "Dembe will be irritated with the delay."
"He will thank me for teaching him patience." Red unzipped his trousers, extracting his painfully enlarged cock.
"You won't always get your way, you know." she welcomed the man's weight, squirming into the warmth enveloping her body.
"I will," it was Red's turn to prophesy, "... today."
"Why can't you be on time?" Silas grumbled.
Liz glanced at the guy, "And why haven't you had your coffee yet?"
Silas lifted disgruntled eyes, "Which implies?"
Liz clamped her mouth shut, looking around innocently, sidling closer to Red.
Red didn't, "It means you are a veritable asshole before... and oft times after, your daily caffeine fix."
Dembe checked his watch, a critical look on the handsome face.
"We can't leave anyway," Red reminded peevishly ignoring Lizzy's stifled giggle for Dembe's mood. "Francis informed me there is a hitch holding up the contractual agreements... I have to smooth it out."
Dembe sighed heavily, not happy with the news. But he also knew, the delay wouldn't take long.
Red's constituents were expecting the same old grumpy, out-of-sorts man they had contended with these last few days.
That was not the man they would see in their midst this day.
Red had a new lease on life. His patience was back. His mood mellow. His outlook clear.
The proceedings would not last long.
"What time frame are we talking about?" Liz was itching to browse a few high-end shops the hotel offered. "I need gifts for everyone."
"My God," Silas snapped, "everyone is here... with us. Why do you need to get them gifts?"
"Not everyone," Liz defended herself, "Nora is home, the guys... Samar." she checked the guard's reaction.
Silas fell uncharacteristically still.
Liz frowned at the man for the fact. After what Red said about the man's infatuation, she expected something different.
"What's going on?" Francis asked as he and Ben took a seat, dragging their plates closer.
"I believe Silas wants to go home." Dembe intoned.
"Yeah? Why?" Francis cut his pancakes, smothering them in syrup. "And who's this Samar?"
"A woman." Dembe raised a knowing brow.
Red hid his smile behind his coffee cup. It was so rare Dembe needled the guard, and with so little effort.
"You want to see a chick?" Francis scowled at Ben, smacking the man's hand away from his bacon. "When the hell did you get soft? Are you gonna eat those pancak–"
"Shut up, Francis or I'll stuff these pancakes up your ass!" Silas tersely advised.
"Kinky..." Francis seemed titillated by the threat, his expression saying as much.
"Why do you want to go home?" Liz asked seriously.
"I don't want to go home." Silas' glare was a threat for Francis to drop the matter. "So shut the hell up about the subject, Francis."
"She's the one who asked?" Francis seemed confused.
"Sounds like he wants to go home to me." Ben murmured under his breath.
"What?!" Silas demanded having heard the murmured statement.
"Nothing." Ben returned to his toast, his expression totally neutral.
"No need to be pissy about," Francis doused his bacon in syrup. "missing... Samar." he mooned dreamily.
Liz's mouth fell open.
Red halted his coffee mid-sip, shaking his head.
Ben chuckled quietly but did not once think to attempt any sort of interference, Red noted. Such was Silas' reputation it preceded the man.
All knew to avoid confrontation if at all possible... except of course, Francis Holbrook.
Maybe the boy did have a death wish.
Silas was up and around the table in record time, his bulk lifting Francis Holbrook bodily.
Ben backed up, practically falling out of his chair to get out of the way of the guard's wrath.
Francis instinctively grasped the fingers gripping his throat, his voice unnaturally strained as he asked the obvious.
"What the hell is wrong with you today?" he rasped roughly, not the least bit disturbed by the display. "Have you not have your coffee yet?"
The veins in the man's neck bulged as Silas tightened his hold, intent on strangling the life from the twit.
"Silas," Red sighed, "put him down, people are looking our way."
Silas huffed irritably, slamming the boy back in his seat.
Francis coughed dramatically then returned to his pancakes, "You got issues, man."
"Yeah," Ben agreed, "issues."
Silas stalked off in a black rage.
Liz watched him go.
Ben turned about, ensuring the man's exit, "Women issues." he nudged Francis knowingly.
"Who the hell is Samar?" Francis asked around his fork.
"She's a friend of mine." Liz fidgeted with her napkin.
"A woman can mess with a guy's mind...even his," Francis rubbed his reddened neck, "that's all I'm saying."
Red resumed his coffee.
Liz worried after her guard, "I should talk to him, right?"
"He has a gun." Dembe's mouth twitched slightly for his own wit.
Ben's good mood was back, "A big one according to him."
"That's his problem," Red joined in, in high spirits after his morning with Lizzy, "he can't use it."
"But it's cocked and ready." Francis joined in the frivolity, laughing at the good line he had come up with.
Red chuckled his appreciation. Even Dembe smiled. Ben was in stitches for Silas' dilemma.
"Oh, oh," Francis raised his hand as if asking permission to speak, another good dig coming to mind, "but will it fire when ready?"
"You better not let Silas hear you question his virility," Red warned. "He will kill you then."
"You guys are horrible." Liz threw down her napkin. "No wonder he's in such a bad mood." she glared at Red in particular. "You are no help at all."
"...Baby," Red soothed, "we're only teasing him."
He chuckled when the woman full on pouted and stalked off, taking the same route Silas had minutes past.
"What did we do?" Ben wanted to know.
Red smiled warmly, when she gave him one last look before turning away with a flourish, her adorable nose in the air. His eyes trailed after the woman until she met up with her guard down the way.
"If I pay for that later," Red warned, "I'll kill you myself."
"Oh, Silas... that is so beautiful!" Liz had found her guard in an odd place.
She could not miss the man's bulk, especially inside the quaint, eclectic shop he wandered into.
He stood, hands in proverbial pockets, staring moodily at one particularly lovely rendition of a female depicted in a striking pose.
The nude figure, surrounded in a moody swirl of iridescent purples was accentuated perfectly against an opaque background, the dark hair wildly disarranged and flowing.
The gorgeous profile was all she offered but the curvaceous body was both seductive and sensual.
Even Liz sensed the allure of the stained glass beauty.
"I always loved stained glass." Liz could feel the tension in the man's frame. She continued on, searching for a way to reach him. "I always wanted to incorporate it into the Brownstone but, there just wasn't a perfect spot."
She glanced at the rows and rows of different variations offered in the shop.
There were colorful butterflies, overflowing garden scenes, waterfalls which took her breath away; all gloriously imprinted into the stately lead-lined treasures.
"Oh, look..." she pointed out an interesting design, "she looks like the mermaid Red has tattooed on his arm."
Silas stopped to glance the panel over. He merely stared at it.
"...Silas," Liz broached the elephant in the room, "is there something I can do to help?"
Silas glanced down to the earnest eyes, returning to the mermaid at length.
Liz wracked her brain for something else to say... more effective than the feeble attempt she had just offered.
"I think Samar is... interested, if that helps." she winced for the badly stated introduction to a sensitive subject. "What I mean to say is–"
"That one." Silas pointed.
Liz followed the direction needed, surprised by the misdirection.
Silas had found a tall sailing ship surrounded by different hues of chipped glass in blues, greens, purple and even shades of grey; all melded together to surround the impressive ship in a turbulent and stormy sea.
"Are you... sure?" the large, startling panel took Liz by surprise. "I mean, where?" she couldn't think of a place and then, "Oh! Red's study!"
"When did it become his study," Silas questioned the new development, "it's your house."
Liz ignored the veiled insinuation, "The window with all the sun!" she beamed happily.
Silas nodded, "He'll see it every time his sits back in his chair."
The more she looked at the turbulent waters, the more mesmerized she became.
"It's almost transient... like it transports you back to another time... another era."
"Are we redecorating?"
Both Liz and Silas gave over their attention to the new group who had arrived.
"How did you find us?" Liz greeted Red with a genuine smile.
"He's hard to miss," Red crooked his head to her guard. "What do we have here?"
Liz allowed Red to peruse the selection at his own time and pace.
Her selections were quite beautiful, full of color... vibrant, like their soon to be owner. Red nodded his approval.
"The meeting went well, I take it?" she hadn't expected Red so soon.
"You should have seen it." Francis was turning a knick-knack this way and that, upsetting the delicate structure.
"Red goes in, tosses his hat on the table, right," Ben was excited to relate the tale, obviously.
"I'm telling this!" Francis slammed the statue down, not happy with the interruption.
"Then tell it, you idiot." Ben urged.
Francis was happy again, "They expected they would have worn Red down after all the haggling–"
"But he wasn't, see!" Ben couldn't help himself.
"Hey!" Francis objected strenuously to the other man's interference.
"Both of you two, shut the hell up." Red rolled his eyes.
"Five percent hike across the board." Francis beamed his pride.
"Take it or leave it, he says." Ben was even more impressed.
"You could have heard a pin drop!" Francis took his turn.
"They want me to be civil," Red pulled at his vest, "then they should have waited until the Santa Ana winds came through before dragging me here." he grumbled. "I'm tired of the smog."
"There are a hundred suppliers waiting in line for my product." Ben practically giggled for Red's audacity. "Maybe some new blood in the business might be just the thing."
"It was a bluff." Red lied but couldn't help but enjoy Lizzy's look of admiration.
"The man knows how to wheel and deal." Ben stated jovially. "I'm just saying."
"Line butter!" Francis accused.
"Get over it." Ben scolded. "You take too long to get to the good stuff."
"It's not as bad as last year," Francis reminded everybody.
"Last year?" Liz asked genuinely interested.
"There was bloodshed..." Francis painted a vivid picture of his own.
"...Mayhem.." Ben nodded knowingly.
"Tears flowed." Francis stated emphatically.
"And you started it all." Ben remembered as well.
"It was all a misunderstanding." Francis defended himself.
"People got undercut." Red told the truth of the matter. "It's the nature of the business."
"Except that crying jag Francis went on." Ben shook his head. "That was so embarrassing."
"It got me Lucinda's number, sucker." Francis offered a victorious smirk.
"Why are you asking?" Red enquired of Lizzy. "Are you interested in starting your own business or wondering how much profit Sugar Daddy made today?"
Liz's answer was to bat her eyes playfully, snuggle up to the man and purse her lips suggestively. The guys got a good laugh out of her actions.
"At least she's honest." Francis shrugged.
"What would you know about honesty?" Ben was amazed. "You took ten bucks out of the churches collection plate."
"I needed change dammit." Francis reminded.
"What were you two doing in church?" Liz was mystified.
"We've set up a money laundering operation out of St. Peter's over on Church Street." Ben advised. "He left a fake ten and replaced it with real ones."
Francis scoffed openly. "After all the money I've given that church, I figured they owed me."
Red shifted Lizzy a stare, "I've listened to this shit for the past hour. Can't we find a good psyche ward to place them in?" he glanced at the two, shaking his head. "You break it you buy it, Francis."
Francis was holding up a glass panel to the light, "You know who this is?"
He showed the men his find.
Liz took in the lovely honey colored hair, and full sided view of an ample breast.
The opened pose was daring, in your face kind of sexuality that was at once appealing and yet... not. At least to Liz's way of thinking.
She mused over the fact. Was she being too critical?
"Madeline." Ben nodded knowingly, having taken his time in the appraisal.
Silas rubbed his finger down his chiseled nose line, "The legs aren't spread wide enough."
"Silas!" Liz gasped her shock then found herself hard pressed to hold back a giggle. "You shouldn't say mean things like that."
She was absolutely shocked to see Dembe nodding thoughtfully as if he were in complete agreement with her guard's assessment of the glass art.
"Dembe!" she truly was shocked now.
"I want this." Red's tone made her seek him out.
"You already have it." Silas grumbled going off down the way.
Liz glanced after him fretfully. She needed more time with the man but the others had interrupted.
Silas was still in a pissy mood.
She didn't like to think the man was hurting... pining after Samar.
But when did Silas ever pine after any woman?
Maybe it was something more.
"What do you think, baby?" Red held his find up for inspection.
Elizabeth dutifully examined the piece.
The nude alabaster backside of a woman with a slender build greeted Liz's stare. Turned sensually, the woman's wild, windswept hair allowed only a teasing glimpse of her breast and lithe frame. When held up to the light, the ethereal perception gave way to seduction.
A temptress in disguise.
It was just enchanting. Red's taste was impeccable, as always.
Red could not stop staring at the alluring image.
"You're not going to get that?" she whispered in a rush, checking on the other men's positions. They all seemed suitably preoccupied, thank goodness.
"I am definitely going to get this." Red confirmed. "It's stunning and provocative."
"Well yes, I know." she agreed, her cheeks flushing with color. "Which is why I'm questioning your purchase, but..."
Did he find nothing in this female that was lacking? A tiny hint of jealousy reared its ugly head. Liz squelched it determinedly.
"This is you, Elizabeth." he pointed a finger at it.
"It is not!" she hissed quietly, her flush increasing. "Put it down, this instant!" she tried to force the man's arm to drop.
He looked at her, amused for her sudden awkwardness.
"The likeness is uncanny, Elizabeth." Dembe smiled warmly at the woman. "It's very beautiful." he nodded his approval to Red. "A remarkable find."
Liz gaped at the man, her embarrassment complete. Where had the man come from?
Dembe had a knack for disappearing into the woodwork at times. She thought she and Red were alone... safely ensconced from prying eyes ogling what Red found.
Red lowered his arms, quirking his brow pointedly. "Told you so."
"Of course, he would say me!" she whispered harshly.
Dembe must have overheard the conversation.
Red shook his head, lifting another nude for Dembe's inspection. "Who is this?"
Francis was instantly there, sensing he was needed. He screwed up his face, his eyes rolling dramatically. "That woman in Rio de Janeiro." he grumbled.
Ben pointed assuredly, "The one on the beach that night."
Liz looked at it again, squinting her eyes. What woman? Who were they all seeing?
"Yeah..." Silas called from across the aisle, having chimed in his opinion. "She had a set." he seemed to approve of the fact.
Liz gasped quietly as Dembe scowled, "She was a good woman."
"Good and ready." Ben chuckled but all the men turned a dark scowl his way. "I just mean... she was a good sport."
Red shrugged indifferent shoulders, placing the frame back in its place without a second thought.
"Her name," he reminded one and all, "is and was... Renata." was he the only one to remember what exactly happened on the beach that fateful night? How invaluable she had been.
"Well, I didn't see the attraction." Francis sulked.
"Francis, the reason she didn't," he sought out Liz, softening the tale, "seek you out is because," he stressed, "you actually were the only one she found acceptable."
"Thanks..." Ben disliked the implication, then second guessed his assumption. He pointed again, "Are you lying to him to placate, because I get that."
Red ignored the man, continuing, "Renata was searching for something in us that she knew she could never find." he placed his hand on the boys shoulder. "With you, she wasn't so sure and she wasn't going to take the chance."
"Yeah," Ben agreed readily, winking at Red, "that's exactly what went down, Francis."
The boy was mollified.
"Baby, how are you going to get these home?" Red questioned seriously, holding his smile when the woman looked at him in a sudden panic.
"He's fucking with you." Silas sighed at the woman's face, shaking his head for gullible she could be. "You have your own plane, twirp."
Liz lay a stilling hand to her chest, the other smacking her guard across the arm for calling her a name, "Don't do that." she scolded Red.
Red chuckled quietly, kissing her sad lips, "We'll have them delivered to the airport."
Dembe stepped forward, providing all the information needed to insure Elizabeth's happiness remained intact.
"They must arrive without fail." Red held his card aloft, bypassing an impatient Elizabeth, who was attempting to find her own card in the voluminous purse attached to her arm.
"I can buy my own things, you know." she grumbled as Red signed the slip, having been faster in his efforts.
"There are other necessities," his eyes swept her form heatedly, "upon which your money could be spent."
She valiantly attempted to keep her stern expression in place, but knew she was failing spectacularly. She enjoyed the subtle innuendo the man suggested, and he knew as much.
Only she and Red knew of the intimate secret shared between them.
She truly appreciated the varied challenges he presented, along with his heated 'look'.
That one remark had her thinking of all sorts of wicked things which she might purchase to... stir his interest.
She rather liked the frivolity of it all.
And Red knew that as well. The man's mouth pursed imperceptibly, his eyes lighting, his interest piqued.
Remembering Silas' words of wisdom, she slowly lifted her eyes to the waiting blue-green orbs watching so intently.
She sought him out, remembering each and every moment the man had touched her intimately, holding his stare stubbornly.
Red focused on the dark blue eyes, his stomach pitching pleasantly. One could never be certain what Elizabeth was thinking... but in this instance, he thought he had an inkling.
He fancied she was recalling every moment he flicked his tongue over her lithe body... but she could just as easily be vexed with him still.
Both scenarios appealed to him greatly, in truth.
His sack pooled with heat. Knowingly or not, the mysterious aura Lizzy exuded intrigued him. And he so enjoyed the woman when she was in a temper.
Though neither had outwardly emoted any sort of response... it was there. The silence spoke volumes.
Liz's sex prickled with awareness, sensing the change in atmosphere where no one else did.
It was an empowering sensation, knowing she affected Red so much. Never in her life had she felt so sensually provocative.
Mysterious, even.
It surprised her to realize, as arousing as it was, it was equally comforting. Sharing this private moment with a partner who loved her as much as she did him.
Red stepped, slowly lowering his mouth to hers. She lifted into the affection, meeting him halfway. A sense of contentment blanketing them.
"Am I forgiven?" he murmured against her soft mouth.
Liz's mouth pursed into a small smile, her fingers playing with the knot of his tie, "I'll let you know... after you feed me."
"Wouldn't that be considered bribery?" Red countered. "Buying your," the man's eyes swept the body inching closer to his, "...favors."
"Isn't that how we happened upon this stalemate?" Liz's eyes lit with merriment. She slid her hands under his jacket, encircling his waist as the man pulled her into his embrace.
"No," Red's tongue flicked about his mouth, "I only suggested you spend your money on... essentials." the man slid his finger under her waistband, skimming the delicate lace of her panties.
Liz's brows rose in feigned surprise, "Is that what they are?"
"They are to me..." Red husked.
"I would have thought you preferred me in nothing at all."
"Is that an option?"
Images flooded his mind. The memory of seeing the outline of her tear-shaped breasts under his shirt and pert bottom snuggled into her tight jeans made his dick throb.
But visions of her prancing around in those cute little panties was equally captivating.
"It could be if I'm given the right incentive." she shrugged. "Never say never."
"You drive a hard bargain." Red mused, enjoying the play.
"All right you two," Silas grumbled, "let's get this show on the fucking road already." he bitched. "You can make eyes at one another and God knows what else... in the car."
Red chuckled in spite of himself. Two birds with but one stone. "We'll get you home." Silas was assured.
Red could feel Lizzy up in the back of the car, hopefully presenting the proper incentive to lose those pesky panties they had been discussing before being rudely interrupted.
They could also get Silas to a point where the man could get himself in a better mood.
If Samar would stay as receptive as Red sensed she might be, anyway.
The day was looking brighter.