We had stayed in bed – making love, napping, holding each other – for the better part of the day. Neither of us said anything about it, but we both knew our time was quickly running out. Tomorrow was the day everything would happen. Once we handed Raptor over to the FBI, Price would be back in their good graces and would no longer be a fugitive.
But what then?
Sure, Price had told me just less than 24 hours ago that he wasn’t planning to leave town right away, but that didn’t mean much. He’d said it when he thought I was on the verge of heading off with another man. Besides, saying that he had no plans to immediately leave didn’t mean he wouldn’t leave at some point.
I found myself sitting in the window seat, staring into the dreary dusk, as I tried to answer the question of how long he’d stay. Price didn’t want to leave me, or so I thought, but we weren’t exactly having deep conversations about how we’d spend the next several years; just the next few hours. The line I had to walk was a fine one. On one side, I desperately wanted to get to know him better. On the other, I knew it was too early for me to tell him I loved him. That was the quickest way to send any man running for the hills.
Was it too soon to ask him why he preferred I call him by his last name? That one had driven me nuts for the last week…
When the rain outside slowed to a trickle, Price entered the room and walked up behind me. His arms were comforting when he put them around me and I instinctively melted back against him. Why couldn’t it already be tomorrow night? Why couldn’t this feel like a beginning instead of an hourglass slowly counting grain after grain until the end?
“Are you okay, sweetheart? You’ve been quiet since we got up,” Price asked.
I mustered a weak smile and turned to face him. “I’m just nervous, I guess.”
“I know I’ve said this before,” he began slowly, “but it isn’t too late to turn back. We can always do this with one less person.”
“And I’m sure Raptor wouldn’t think that was in the slightest bit suspicious.”
His face hardened. “I don’t really give a damn what he thinks where you’re concerned. After tomorrow, he won’t be an issue for us anymore.”
Us? I sighed. “I know.” Turning my gaze back to the darkening scene outside I added, “I should probably take you up on that, but I can’t, you know. This is something I have to be a part of.”
“Your father would understand, Skylar.”
Clearly, Price could read my mind. Parts of it, anyway.
“Maybe, but I owe it to…I can’t explain it. I just have to see this through. Please don’t try to talk me out of it. I don’t want to waste any more time fighting with you, not even for another day.”
“I won’t,” he said simply. “It’s always been your call.” He cleared his throat and looked out the window. “You should probably get dressed.”
“Tired of me already?”
He knelt until his face was only inches from mine. “On the contrary, sweetheart,” he began in a low, sultry tone, “I could stay in bed with you for the next month and still not have had enough of you. I just need you to get dressed before Chill and Cherry get here. Your bare skin is too much of a temptation for me.” His hot gaze swept over me. “Even after the way we spent the day.”
Though his comment soothed me slightly, I was still on edge. He must have sensed my apprehension because his expression changed. There were so many things I wanted to tell him, so many emotions I still needed to sort out on my own, but I managed a weak smile and said, “I’m just ready for all of the planning to be over with so that I can have you all to myself.”
Price brushed a kiss against my lips and rose. “It’s just one more night and then I’ll be all yours. Maybe we could go somewhere with a better climate to celebrate when this is over. Belize is nice this year. There’s also a small, private island off the Australian coast I enjoy. I should take you there. I think you’d like it.” A slight smile touched his face, but he shook away whatever he was thinking about. “You should get dressed. They’ll be here in a few minutes, but we can talk about it more tomorrow afternoon.”
I stared at the spot where Price had stood for a long time after he had left the room. It was far from a declaration of love, but it was something, some glimpse of a shared future, albeit brief. No, it wasn’t all I wanted from Price, not even close; however, it was something for me to cling onto.
For the first time, I honestly believed Price might stay with me once all of this intrigue was over.
© 2011, Sydney Katt. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use of content will result in dragon attacks.
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LOL!!!!
I think Price will stay with Skylar after this is over – that is if he is still alive!!!!!
Then again….there is that pesky secret that could change everything – when Skylar finds out…SHE might be the one to kill Price…lol!!!!!
Sorry for the lateness of my review – Monday was my birthday and I was out and about all day, and then out for dinner…..yesterday was chaos as well……..
It’s Wednesday morning here atm, so will go read yesterdays now so that I am all caught up…xxx
Well happy late birthday. Sorry about the chaos though. Unfortunately, it’s something I’m very familiar with around here. :s
For his part, he does certainly seem like he wants to be with her when it’s over. Then again, he could be conning himself…or, like you said, he could be dead.
And looky there, I’ve got you calling him Price now too.