Spin (The Indigo Lounge Series) (13 page)

I glance at Paul. “Isn’t it time for you to leave?”

He nods and slides the documents in front of Zach. “These are the shares Mr. Reed recommends you liquidate now if you want to maximize your profit. I’ll leave you to look it over.” He hurries to the door and knocks. The guards lets him out and shut it behind him.

I gaze into intense slate grey eyes, and I want to cry and laugh at the same time.

“Have you come to end things with me, Bethany?”

“What? No!”

“Then can I touch you?” he jerks out in raw demand. “I
need
to touch you.”

I sneak a peek at my watch. “Not for another minute. The camera will go off at eleven fifteen.”

He swallows hard. “You trust this Paddy guy?”

“I trust your friends. Mason and Noah set this in motion.”

He nods. I ease my fake glasses off and place them on the table. We waste the minute staring at each other, absorbing and cataloguing the subtle changes.

The moment the red light blinks off I launch myself at him. He catches and drags me to his side of the steel bench. Our lips meet and devour, our tongues shamelessly fucking each other’s mouth. Zach’s hands trail feverishly over me, over my breasts, my stomach, down to yank up my pencil skirt. I waxed especially for this occasion, and when his hand finds my bare, unclothed pussy, he freezes.

“
Christ,
Bethany, tell me you didn’t drive all the way here with no panties on?” he growls in a raw, ravenous voice, his gaze locked on my pussy.

“I...didn’t want to waste time.” My fingers shake as I tackle the opening of his orange jumpsuit.

His head rears up and his eyes appear glazed. “Fuck. You wanted me that much?”

“
Yes
. Don’t make me wait, Zach. Please...”

He yanks my skirt up higher. Then he raises his hips with me still straddling him, to attack the rest of his press-on buttons. He jerks his hands free and his upper half is exposed to me. I explore the leaner, sleeker version of Zach as he pushes his suit down. His six-pack ripples in reaction to my touch, and I groan with pleasure as his beautiful cock pops free. He sits back down and arranges me over him.

“Hold on to the bench, baby,” he instructs, his voice barely recognizable, gripped in a fever of need.

I clutch the edge and hold my breath. He brushes the head of his thick cock against my opening. His eyes collide with mine. “Do you know how much I’ve missed you, Peaches? How I’ve craved you?”

“I...I think so,” I whimper. “If you’ve been half as miserable as I’ve been...please, Zach. I need you so much!” My voice breaks and tears form.

“God! I can’t believe you’re here...with me, ready for me. I’m going to cram this cunt full, baby. Imprint myself in you.”

I try to wriggle downward. “Hurry!”

With a deep grunt, he pushes me down, impales me on his cock. His mouth devours my scream. Then we both stay still, desperately adjusting to the wild and tumultuous sensation.

“Fuck. My God, I love you.” His voice trembles with the confession.

I realize how much I’ve needed to hear that. My pain eases and I smile against his mouth. “I love you, too.”

I ease up and slam back down. My neglected pussy squeezes him and he grunts in pleasure. “Fuck, fuck,
fuck
!”

With my heels planted on the floor, I grind him shamelessly, wringing every lick of pleasure from him. He gives me free rein, and I ride him until my bliss crests in a blinding orgasm. I’m still riding the wave when time and desperation propels him to his feet. He slams me onto the table and my eager legs wrap around his waist. He rears over me and plunges back inside.

My back arches. I cry out as the wave surges higher.

“Is this what you want, my filthy Peaches?” He frees my shirt buttons and sucks my nipples in greedy pulls. “For your man to do you like this?”

“Yes.”

His thrusts slow. “Am I still your man, Bethany?” There’s a distinct note of vulnerability in his voice.

My eyes widen in shock. “Of course you are. Why would you think differently?”

Pain fills his eyes. “I’ve been too scared to hope—”

“I will
always
love you, Zach. No matter what. You told me in the hospital to never forget that you love me. I’m telling you the same. I’m yours,
forever
. Now, please,
please
keep fucking me. We only have fifteen minutes left.”

My gorgeous man plants his hands on either side of my head and pistons inside me. My eyes roll and before I know it, I’m riding the wave again. He collapses on top of me seconds later, and I feel him gush hot and hard inside me.

“Baby?” he croons when we catch out breaths.

“Hmm?”

“I love that you brought your beautiful pussy to me ready to devour, but please tell me you have panties in that prissy briefcase of yours.”

Laughter and happiness bubbles through me. “As a matter of fact, I brought two. The indigo one is for you to keep.”

His deep laugh fills the hollowed out pockets of my heart. “Never stop being amazing, sweetheart.”

“I won’t.” We share a kiss and my heart dips when I sneak a glance at my watch.

Three minutes
.

My happiness dims. Zach pulls out of me and reaches for my case. He opens it and pulls out the tissues and underwear I brought with me. After he cleans me up, I slip into my panties and readjust my clothes.

By the time the red light blinks on, he’s sitting next to me with a respectable but cavernous distance between us. With our backs turned to the camera, his broad shoulders hide our hand-holding.

My heart mourns each passing minute.

“I wish I was doing time with you,” I blurt.

He looks up from our linked fingers with a sizzling glare. “What? Don’t fucking say that.”

“Why not? It’s true. At least this way we could be together—”

“Stop it! Right now. I can barely function as it is. Do you have any idea what it’d do to me to think of you behind bars, too?”

I can’t stem the tears that prickle my eyes. “This is so hard.”

He jerks to his feet and walks directly beneath the camera, the documents clutched in his hand. He motions to me and I join him in the blind spot. He drops the papers and catches me in his arms. He tucks my head into his chest and rests his head on mine.

“I know it’s hard. But I need you to hang in there, baby. Whatever you need to help you, just say the word. Philip has access to everything.”

“I...not everything.”

He remains silent for a full minute and I die. When his forefinger lifts my chin, I raise my gaze.

“What do you need?” he demands.

I’m reluctant to voice my petty needs in this harsh, soulless place.

“Bethany, stop biting your lip and tell me what you need.”

“Your clothes don’t smell like you anymore. I miss smelling you when I walk into our bedroom. It’s killing me.”

“Okay. I’ll take care of it.”

“What? How?”

“Don’t worry about the logistics. Just take care of yourself. Promise me.”

“I promise.”

He rests his forehead against mine for a moment.

“I should have married you the day I gave you the ring. Hell, I should’ve married you the day we met.”

“Don’t do this, Zach.”

He shakes his head continuously, his fingers linked around my waist. “I love what you did for us today. But I don’t want you to do it again.”

My heart shreds. “What? Why?”

“Because it’s dangerous. I can’t risk you being caught.”

“Zach—”

“No. I want you at home, safe. I’ll instruct my lawyers to put video visitation in place. We can keep in touch that way.”

My tears flow freely. “It won’t be the same.”

“Please, baby. It
has
to be this way.”

Implacable Zach is in full-on mode. He brushes my tears away but doesn’t back down. We stay like that until the risk of being out camera shot sends us back to the bench.

Zach signs the forms. Then meshes his hand with mine one last time. “I love you.”

My throat is too full to answer, so I nod.

Paul Spencer returns with the guard. Business-like goodbyes are said. I look into Zach’s eyes one last time. He’s led out the door.

And I return to hell.

We Limbo

Bethany

W
e settle into a routine. Of sorts.

I agree to eat and sleep on a regular basis. Zach sends me a video visitation once a week. And twice a week I get a T-shirt that bears his distinct scent delivered to me by Philip. I don’t know how Zach is swinging that, but I’m too fucking grateful to care.

For our screen time, I make sure I look better than a zombie. I smile. I laugh. Sometimes I even flirt.

But we both know we’re bidding time. The attorneys are working feverishly to knock some more time off his sentence. The DA isn’t playing ball.

Slowly we sweep past the halfway mark. My bosses have given me leave for as long as I need it. The fact that my currency would triple the moment I become Mrs. Zach Savage means they’ll pretzel themselves into any shape I want in order to hang onto me.

To keep my mind off the abyss that yawns when I’m not talking to Zach, I take on a few easy jobs that won’t require too much client interaction—a councilwoman’s son’s Bar Mitzvah that goes without a hitch, and a sky-diving wedding proposal that goes wrong from the very start. From the dropped ring to the vomiting session by the prospective bride, I’m kept on my toes as I wait for the couple’s return to Teterboro Airport.

Despite the many hiccups, they couple are ecstatic as they sign off their paperwork. I can’t help but be a lot sad and little envious when they launch into excited plans about their wedding.

My mood hasn’t lifted by the time I connect with Zach on the video visit. He frowns immediately.

“What’s wrong?”

I bite my lip against the pat
it’s nothing
that he’ll see right through. “A sub-par mood I’m trying to get a handle on.”

He nods. “Something specific cause it?”

In what universe did I imagine he’d let it go? “Yes.”

“Tell me.”

I breeze through the event and attempt to change the subject.

“Do you want to get our wedding plans back on track?” he asks.

My heart does a loop that leaves me a little dizzy. “I didn’t tell you this to provoke a response, Zach.”

“I know. But I’m asking nonetheless. The important things are already in place. The rest is a matter of logistics.”

I shake my head. “I’d rather wait.”

His face hardens. “We waited, Peaches. The time was stolen from us.”

“I know, but...” I want to tell him I don’t want to tempt fate. But surely fate is done fucking me over?

“But what? Are you having second thoughts?”

“Of course not. But don’t push me into it, Zach. This wouldn’t have come up if I hadn’t told you what happened today. I want to marry you more than anything. But I want you here with me when I make any further plans. Is that okay?”

The tension leaves his face, but his eyes still probe mine. “Tell me you love me.”

My fingers touch the screen, trace over his mouth. “I love you.”

The words settle him and normal service resumes. We talk for another half hour before I sign off.

But the conversation lingers. And when midnight rolls around and I’m still awake, I grab my planner and start a list.

By the end of the week I’ve progressed from a list to a few tentative phone calls. Under strict confidentiality, I begin to make plans. If Philip suspects what I’m up to, he doesn’t indicate by word or deed.

My next phone call with Zach is markedly different from the last. “You seem happier.”

I grin and blow him a kiss. “Because I’m talking to you.”

“Nice try. But whatever it is, if it’s making you happy, I’ll let it go.”

I’m stunned enough to gape at him. “Who are you and what have you done with my fiancé?”

“I may be the guy who gets out the slammer in two weeks time.”

My heart slams hard against my ribs. “Zach?”

“Peaches?”

I splay my fingers against the screen, in need of tangible reassurances before I let hope fly. “Please tell me you mean that.”

“You think I’ll toy about this? About back by your side?” His gaze pierces me through the screen.

Numbly, I shake my head, my fingers still caressing his face.

“Fourteen days, my love. Hang in there.”

“I will. With everything I have.”

He gives a solemn nod and we sign off.

I’m shaking when I pick up the phone and begin making fresh calls.

When Zach misses our next video conference I worry, but I don’t panic. I can’t call Rikers or just turn up. So I speak to Philip and he tells me he’ll look into it.

Zach calls the next day and my heart stops when I see the purpling bruise on his jaw.

“What happened?”

He shrugs. “Nothing to worry about. Just got caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. You should see the other guy.”

The answer is too pat. “Zach, please tell me the truth.”

His eyes harden a touch. “It’s nothing to worry about, baby. I promise. Tell me what you’ve been up to.”

I planned to keep it a surprise, but my instincts push me to tell him. In case he needs something to hold on to. “I’ve been planning our wedding,” I blurt.

His eyes widen, then a slow smile spreads across his face. “Yeah?”

His clear happiness fuels mine. “Yes. I picked three venues because I wasn’t sure where you wanted to get married.”

“Wherever you do. But tell me.”

“Here in New York, home in San Francisco, or Maui.”

“Where do you want it, baby?”

“New York didn’t work out the first time. I want to give Maui a try.”

“At the Indigo Maui?”

“Yes.”

“Go for it. All I want is to see you walk down the aisle so I can put my ring on your finger. Everything else is—”

“Logistics, I know.”

He smiles. I smile.

“Are you really okay with this?”

“Do you love me?”

“I love you.”

“That’s all that matters, baby.”

***

I
t turns out fate wasn’t done with me.