Chapter Six

The throbbing in her head was set off by the ringing of her phone. Who was calling her this late at night? One bleary eye opened and she reached for her phone only to feel a large warm presence at her back.

Oh shit, she slept with him. One quick look at her body showed she was clothed. It took a couple minutes of her blinking her eyes and disbelieving that he was in her bed before last night came back to her. It was all platonic and more intimate for that reason.

“Someone is calling you.” His voice was in her ear making her shiver.

“It’s probably Deja.” She crawled over to her nightstand until she could see her phone.

“It’s eleven am, we slept part of the day away.”

“You were tired.”

Tired maybe, slightly drunk definitely. What was in that drink he gave her?

“I’m going to go out into the living room and call her back. After that, I’m going to cook. Any request?”

“Whatever you make I’ll be happy with.”

How do I respond to that? She sat on the couch when she made it to the living room. She called her back waiting as the phone rang in her ear.

“Fire.”

“Deja, sorry I missed your call. Is everything alright?”

“I think so. Declyn didn’t come back last night, and Enzo was worried because he didn’t answer his phone.”

“It must be on mute because I didn’t hear it go off. I’ll tell him to call Enzo.”

“So, he’s there with you?”

“He is.”

“Then we know he’s okay.”

That’s why she and Deja were best friends. She could have called her names. Reminded her of what she told her last night. Instead, she said with her silence that she always had her back and it was okay if she did what she needed to do.

“He’s fine, he just walked out the room. Would you like me to send you a picture of him wearing purple joggers with white hearts on them?”

“Fire you didn’t.” She was laughing too hard to make her voice stern.

“I did. Deja, I’m thirty, and I’m okay with it.”

“I knew you would be. Later.”

“Later.”

“No pictures.”

“I swear.”

“Come here Fire.”

She shouldn’t get up. You should always start the way you intend to go on. They were just friends. Only friends could sleep in bed together and not touch each other.

Then why are your nipples hard?

Why are your panties wet?

So, all married people who don’t have sex one night are just friends?

She had one choice because the other was out of the question. The voices in her head which were different parts of her could integrate with her. End of the problem. So, for the foreseeable future, she’d be talking to herself. A slow smile creased her lips as she stood up. Talking to herself and kissing Declyn, being thirty was so much better than being twenty-nine.

He drew her into his arms when she got close. She loved the feeling of his arms around her they felt like a vice that had the ability to protect her, but they were warm and pliable enough to keep her from feeling scared.

He lowered his head and kissed her closed lips, just a smooth movement of his lips against her. Even that small move made the fire in her belly send up small flames of desire. She licked his lips, and he opened up kissing her deeply. The kiss was drugging. His lips moved over hers desperate like he found something, someone he didn’t want to let go.

His hands tightened on her waist. They trembled just a little making her feel like she was important to him.

“You promised me breakfast.” He backed away.

She could see that he was aroused. A lick of her lips had her turning away because he wasn’t the only one.

“Breakfast or lunch, which do you want?”

“Surprise me.”

She made her way to the kitchen when there was another knock at the door. A chill ran down her spine before she turned to look at Declyn.

“Open it,” he mouthed to her.

“Hello?”

“Safire, It’s Ron.”

Her brow furrowed, what could he want?

“How can I help you?”

“I heard there was an incident last night and I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“I’m fine, thanks for checking you can leave now.”

“Then why won’t you come to the door?”

She gave in mostly because she knew that Declyn wouldn’t let anything happen to her. Ron was making her creep-o-meter go off.

She unlocked the door but kept the chain on just in case.

“Hi, it’s nice of you to watch out for me, but I am perfectly fine.”

“Sorry I just thought I heard a voice in your apartment.”

“Did somebody send you to watch me?” Why would he be concerned about whether she had someone in her apartment male or female?

“No, I guess that sounded rather creepy. Please forgive me. It’s just that I take watching the single females on my floor seriously. I don’t want anyone getting hurt on my watch.”

“Thanks, that’s very nice of you.” Her stomach rolled with bile, he as lying. It was that other sense she sometimes heard about.

“I was wondering if you wanted to go out for lunch or coffee?”

“Thanks, but I’m going to have to say no again, maybe another day.”

“You stay inside too much Safire. You should let me take you out.”

Declyn came up behind her and moved her out the way. One look at his face told her something was different, but she was too busy trying to assure herself that Ron wasn’t a threat to exam him closely.

He took the chain off and opened the door. She noticed he was wearing his jeans but was still shirt and shoeless.

“Hi Ron,” He gave him a big smile. “I wanted to say thank you for being willing to take care of Fire when I’m not around.”

“Who are you?” He stepped back just a little, and his words stumbled before he straightened his shoulders.

“The names Declyn.”

“I didn’t realize Safire was seeing someone.”

“She is now. Although I must say, you have excellent taste in women. I’m sure you’ll be sorry to know she’s no longer available.”

“Devastated. I can’t help but notice your color is a little off.”

“I use to work in the mines. That will do it to you. Now that you mentioned it you look rather pale yourself almost as if you’ve seen a ghost. You should take care of yourself. A cup of tea might help, that’s what my mother always gave me when my color was off.”

His throat worked even as his eyes narrowed. “Thanks, I’ll take that into consideration.” He turned and walked away.

Fire was standing there with her hand over her mouth. She held up a finger and ran into the bathroom slamming the door behind her. Sitting on the side of the tub she started laughing and couldn’t stop.

He knocked on the door and came in when she choked out enter.

“You’re amused?”

She nodded raising a hand to wipe a tear away. “It was the look on his face when he saw you. I don’t think he thought someone like me would ever have someone as handsome as you.”

“Someone like you?” His voice dropped, and there were little flames shooting up in his eyes.

“Your upset?”

“What do you mean someone like you?”

Well hell, she just talked herself into a corner.

“It’s just a saying it doesn’t mean anything.”

“There’s nothing wrong with you Fire.”

“I know, thank you.” She got up and hugged him letting his warmth seep into her. “There is something wrong with Ron. He gives me the creeps. It’s more than that I think he’s dangerous.”

“I agree. Try to stay away from him. If I’m not here, don’t open the door for him.”

“I—.”

His finger pressed against her lips. “Remember what I said last night about protecting you but not taking over your life? This is protection.”

Laying her head on his chest, she nodded. She didn’t want to open the door for him so why should she fight for the right to do something she never planned to do.

“Food or you’ll waste away to nothing.”

Where do I draw the line? The voices in her head didn’t answer her. It was only a day, one date and already he was drawing her in. They sat and watched the city lights laid out before them. He came home with her, kissed her, slept with her, and now she was making breakfast. This happened when they were together for weeks not a day.

“Fire did you start cooking?”

“No, looking in the fridge.”

“Come get dressed if there is anything you don’t want to be found get it, but we have to go now.”

That shiver from last night was climbing up her spine. He wasn’t playing. When she made it to her bedroom, he was dressed. She pulled on a pair of jeans, tennis shoes and a tee. Then she went to her safe and opened it. Taking her pictures, she rolled them up and placed them in several black poster tubes which she put over her shoulder. Then she grabbed her purse, cell phone and keys.

“I’m ready.”

He led her to the door and let her look out the peephole. Ron was outside with several other men. They were all looking towards her door.

“What’s happening?” She backed away from the door before she asked him.

“They are coming after one of us. We need to get away.”

“How?”

“We jump.”

“Jump?” Her voice was a high whisper. “Like over the balcony? We’re on the third floor.”

“Trust me, Alpia.”

She looked out the door. One of them had a gun.

“Let’s go.”

They made their way to the balcony. Her apartment was on the front of the building, she could see her car in its spot. That was the good thing. She looked around for a soft place to land, but nothing had changed, there was nothing but concrete down there.

“Are you sure?”

“I am.”

“They’ll see us.” She was looking at the people who were walking down the street.

“Hold on tight no one will see us.” He took her in his arms, and she closed her lips in a silent prayer that if she died, it would be immediate.

One arm went around her back the other went under her ass pulling her up. She wrapped her legs around him and felt it as he climbed the balcony. Then there was nothing but air under them. She bit her lip to keep from crying out and gave a humph as her body jarred a little on impact.

He carried her to the car. When they got close there was a loud noise, everyone hit the ground. Glass from her balcony doors was flying. People were screaming. He put her down on the driver’s side and went to the passenger side as she unlocked the doors.

Her name was called as she got in the car. Ron was on her balcony screaming at her to come back.

She floored it as she took off.