Authors: Michelle Love
Cosima had skipped out of work early to go to the Crescent City farmer’s market to get some fresh produce for their meal that evening. She had decided their meal would be a mix of Indian and American to honor both of their loved ones so when she spotted a vendor selling traditional Creole food she couldn’t resist. Walking slowly through the market, she got lost in the fresh produce and didn’t notice when the man started to follow her.
She stopped at a seafood stall and ordered some shrimp and lobster for the curry. As she was paying for it, there was a commotion behind her and as she turned she saw Arlo’s security guards barreling towards her shouting, their faces angry and panicked. Then she saw him. Her heart stopped. He was running toward her, his eyes fixed on and in his hand, she saw a flash of silver. In a flash, she raised her arm as he bore down on her and in the second it took her bodyguards to tackle the man, she felt a searing pain across the flesh of her forearm. She dropped her bags, clutching at the wounds, blood pouring from her arms. She panted for breath, from the pain, the shock of the attack as one of her guards pinned her attacker to her ground, and the other, Steve, came to help her. He put a steadying arm around her and then checked her wound and winced. In a flash, she was back in the car and being driven to the
hospital
. Her head whirled, not from the blood – she wasn’t squeamish – but just from the speed of it all. Steve had wrapped his jacket around her
arm,
but she eased it off now to check. It was a nasty cut, deep into the skin below her elbow and now the adrenaline was leaving her, it was starting to hurt. She wrapped it up again as they raced across the city and now she could hear Steve talking to someone – Arlo? – on the telephone.
‘Yeah…yeah, she’s fine, just a small cut but I’m taking her to the E.R. now to get stitched up. Okay. Okay. See you there.’
‘Was that Arlo?’
‘Yes, ma’am.
He
’s going to meet us there.’
Cosima leaned back in the seat, feeling dizzy. Her clothes were spattered with
blood,
and she felt lightheaded and woozy. She saw Steve looking in the rearview mirror at her.
‘Stay awake if you can, ma’am. Keep pressure on the wound.’
In no time, she was being led into the emergency room and into a cubicle. The doctor came and looked at her wound. ‘Pretty clean but
deep
, that’s why you’ve lost some blood. How do you feel?’
Cosima nodded just as a worried looking Arlo arrived. ‘I feel okay, just a bit sore.’ Arlo came and put his arm around her, kissed her forehead. He looked pale and scared.
‘Sweetheart…what happened?’
She told
him,
and he looked angry. He rounded on Steve, who looked like he was expecting that reaction, firing questions at the man.
‘Arlo…Steve and Roger saved my life,’ Cosima couldn’t bear
any more
harsh
words
or violence. ‘They did their jobs exactly the way we wanted them to. No-one could have seen that coming.’ Cosima winced as the doctor injected anesthetic into her injured arm.
‘Lay back, Miss Bedi, we’ll get this fixed up. I would recommend you stay overnight…well, it’s up to you,’ he added when she shook her head vehemently.
‘No, doctor, I’d rather not. I don’t want any of our lives disrupted by this…foolishness.’
The doctor looked unhappy. ‘Well, okay, but I beg you, don’t overexert yourself.’
‘I promise.’
‘I’ll be back in a few minutes to sew you up.’
After he’d gone, Steve cleared his throat. ‘I’ll be outside.’
Cosima called out after him. ‘Thank
you,
Steve. I mean it, thank you.’
Steve smiled and nodded. ‘Anytime, ma’am.’ Arlo, still stony-faced, hesitated then held his hand out to him.
‘Thank you, Steve. I mean it, sorry about before.’
Steve smiled. ‘No problem,
Mr.
Forrester. Feel better soon, ma’am.’
‘Thank you.’
Arlo waited until he’d left then put his arms around Cosima. He buried his face in her
neck,
and she realized he was trembling. She put her good arm around him and held him tightly. When he looked
up,
she was shocked to see he had tears in his eyes. He studied her for a long time as if drinking in every one of her features.
‘When my brother died,’ he began, his voice low and rough, ‘I had to go identify his body. Because of a
mix-up
at the coroner’s office, he hadn’t been prepared or cleaned since the murder. He’d been stabbed in the chest, neck and face. He didn’t look like my brother anymore. When I heard you’d been attacked, that he had a knife
...
God,
Cos, I could have screamed. Thank God you’re okay.’
She kissed away his tears. ‘I am, I really am.’
The doctor came back and attended to her arm.
Afterward,
Cosima got up from the
bed,
and Arlo walked her back to his car. She saw Steve and Roger parked behind them and waved. They both signaled back.
Inside the car, Arlo looked at her. ‘Where to? Shall we go back to my place for tonight, order room service? We can do our thing tomorrow night if you like?’
She nodded, suddenly exhausted. ‘Okay, that sounds like a good idea. Can we stop at my place for a change of clothes?’
In the end, they stayed at her apartment and ordered pizza, eating at the little table that he dragged over to the window. Arlo had some champagne delivered to and during dinner they raised a glass to Arjun and Mason.
Cosima put down her glass. ‘I need a soak in the tub, I feel gross. Wanna join me?’
In the tub, she lay back against his chest, her whole body relaxing. ‘That was a bit of a day,’ she said softly. Arlo was tracing soap bubble patterns on her belly.
‘You could say that. Cos…I don’t want to overstep the mark
here,
but I’m worried. About you being here alone, about your safety.’
Cosima had known this was coming and was ready. ‘I knew you would be but Arlo, I don’t want to feel caged.’
He was silent for a moment. ‘Are you saying moving in with me would make you feel claustrophobic?’
She sat up and turned around, cupping his face in her palm. ‘Absolutely not. But I want us to live together because we
want
to live together, not because circumstances force us to. I hate being regulated; I don’t think you realize just how much my life is organized by other people.’
‘Okay.’
She sighed. ‘Speaking of which, I don’t want to tell Jack about today. We don’t know if it was something to do with my father’s
enemies
or just a random mugger.’
‘Random muggers don’t attack in broad daylight in the middle of crowded markets.’
She shrugged. ‘I don’t know then. But, Arlo, if we tell Jack, he’ll make me leave New Orleans. He’ll make me leave you.’
Arlo shook his head. ‘He can’t do that. You’re not a prisoner, for chrissakes.’
‘But the FBI could revoke our
protection,
and I won’t risk Harpa’s safety for my own happiness. As much as I love you, Arlo, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.’
She felt tears threatening and Arlo, seeing this, kissed her tenderly. ‘I know, I know. Okay, we won’t tell the pretty boy.’
Cosima laughed. ‘That’s so mean. Why don’t you like him?’
‘I like him fine. It’s his roving eye I’m not so keen on.’ But he grinned at
her,
and she flicked him with water.
‘I think you and Harpa are crazy. He’s just a friendly guy.’
Arlo pulled her to him. ‘To be fair to Jack, I can’t say I blame him. Look at you,’ he trailed his fingertips down her spine then moved around to cup her breasts. ‘Your chest should be a national monument.’
Cosima giggled. ‘You
loon
.’ But soon they forgot about the horrors of the day and made love for the rest of the night.
Harpa picked up Jack’s call as she was driven into the city. ‘
Hey,
dude…just checking in on me?’
Jack laughed. ‘Well now, I just called to tell you Mikah Ray has a clean bill of health security wise.’
Harpa chuckled. ‘It’s so weird, you’re like my dad checking out my dates.’
‘If only I could check for douchiness, I could have saved you from Deacon.’
‘Deacon who?’
‘That’s my girl. Have a great time tonight.’
Harpa said goodbye and shoved her phone back in her bag. She had showered and changed into a lilac dress which she knew set off her dark skin and hazel eyes, and sweeping her hair over one shoulder, fastened a simple gold chain which Cosima had given her before she left New Orleans, around her neck. Now, her palms felt
sweaty,
and she surreptitiously wiped them on the seat of the car. Sean was driving today with Tony in the jump seat.
‘Tony…um…what happens if I want to….um…’
Tony grinned around at her. ‘Relax. We’ll be a discreet
distance,
but you’ll have your privacy.’
‘Okay, cool.’ She was blushing furiously. Steve grinned at her in the rearview mirror.
‘We will mock you mercilessly, however.’
Harpa scowled at him. ‘I’m sure that’s not in your job description.’ But she giggled, her nerves easing somewhat. When they pulled up to the bar, she got out, sticking her head back in. ‘Enjoy your Peeping Tom
‘Ha ha. Go have a good date, princess.’
She saw him as soon as she walked into the bar, his tall frame leaning against the bar talking to the bartenders. He stood, smiling, as he caught sight of her and kissed her cheek. God, just the feel of his lips made her cheeks flame and her senses reel.
‘Hi,’ she said, breathlessly.
‘Hello…thanks for coming out tonight. What are you drinking?’
After they had their drinks, they found a table and sat down. Mikah studied her, his eyes taking in her every feature. Harpa felt tongue-tied, desperate to say something but kept getting lost in his dark eyes. Mikah leaned over and touched her face.
‘So, pretty girl, tell me about yourself? All I know so far is your name and that you’re an incredible cook. I take it that’s your passion?’
She nodded, grateful to him for breaking the ice. ‘It is – and thank you. I was so nervous about putting up that dish, especially as it’s so different from the usual menu but Stan’s been an incredible mentor.’
Mikah smiled. ‘He’s a good guy. How long have you been working there?’
‘Just over a month.’
That made Mikah’s eyebrows shoot up. ‘A month? And he’s letting you take a lead? Wow.’ He looked
impressed,
and Harpa relaxed a little.
‘It was a one-off but yes, so generous, but that’s Stan. Have you been going to his restaurant long?’
Mikah smiled. ‘Years. Stan and I grew up together in Tacoma, we’re practically family. I actually own half the restaurant.’
‘So you’re my boss too?’
He laughed. ‘Technically yes, but not really. I stay out of the running of the place.’
‘And you’re an art dealer?’
He nodded. ‘That’s always been my passion. I got started young, I was lucky enough to be mentored by Randall Mallory so I understand what you’re going through now. All work, all the time.’
Harpa grinned. ‘You got that right – I’m at catering
college to
so sixteen hour days is the norm.’
‘Only sixteen? Lightweight,’ he
teased,
and she giggled. God, his voice, so low and mellifluous, was sending her heart fluttering, his smile, so wide and warm was intoxicating.
‘You’re really beautiful,’ she blurted out and then stopped in horror as Mikah smiled. ‘Oh god, I’m sorry, that just came out.’
‘Why are you apologizing? Thank you…’ He leaned forward and took her hand, ‘Look, you’re nervous;
believe
or not so am I, so let’s stop playing games and say what we mean. I’ve wanted you since the minute I saw you. I want you in my bed, Harpa.’
Oh,
dear lord, her vagina was already contracting with the thought of his cock plunging into it… ‘In that case,’ she said slowly and looked up at him from under her lashes, ‘I say…why are we wasting time in this bar?’
Mikah grinned widely and stood, holding out his hand to her. ‘My place is only a few blocks away.’
In the end, she would never remember how they got back to Mikah’s huge apartment because as soon as they walked in, they fell on each other greedily, pulling their clothes off and kissing.
Mikah, towering above her, swept her into his bed and proceeded to kiss every part of her body until she was shivering with desire. When his mouth found her clit, Harpa moaned at the sweet sensations his tongue sent slamming through her body and by the time he tugged her legs around his hips and launched his rock-hard, thick, long cock deep into her, she knew she was lost.
They fucked hard and long, never taking their eyes from the other’s face, Harpa feeling every muscle in her body working as he
plowed
into her with rhythmic, powerful thrusts. His hands
have locked
either side of her head; her own were roaming over the hard muscles of his broad chest, his firm stomach. Harpa could feel her control slipping as he drove her onwards to a shattering climax that made her scream his name deliriously.
Mikah came hard, his cock jerking and pulsing as he shot his semen deep into her belly. He gathered her to him and kissed her deeply, murmuring her name over and over. They had no need for discussion
afterward
; indeed, Harpa did not want to talk, she just wanted this man to take over her body in whatever way he wanted to. He excused himself to use the bathroom and Harpa, feeling the cool air on her body, and her orgasm faded, slid her fingers into her sex and started to rub her clit, keeping it hard and sensitive. Mikah returned from the bathroom and nodded approvingly as he saw her fingering herself. She spread her legs wider so he could watch her and was delighted when he started to fist his cock at the sight of it, the long thick member already at half-mast and growing. They watched each other masturbate until Harpa came; moaning and Mikah gave a long groan as he came, ejaculating onto her skin, then covering her body and thrusting his still rigid cock deep inside her.
They made
love,
again and again, Harpa losing any inhibitions as they screwed in every position, explored each other’s bodies curiously, and taking their time.
Dawn was breaking over the city before they finally feel asleep, sated and exhausted and with a connection formed that neither of them wanted to break.