Chapter
15: It’s All in the Kiss
“Deaq,
to answer your question, ‘Protector’ is just another name I use for Ian.
He’s always looking out for me, so one day I just gave him that name, and it
stuck,” Sara explained once they were all back in the office. “But right
now, I don’t want anymore questions from any of you. We’re working on the
Gallo case, and that’s final. Do I make myself clear?” They all nodded their
heads, allowing her to continue.
“Deaq,
you still need to get up to speed about the progress we’ve made in the last
few hours. Ian managed to get into Gallo’s circle and found out that he wants
me dead. He’s placed two million dollars on my head, along with a million for
each one of you. My plan is to stage our deaths, get it out to the media, make
Gallo think we’re all dead. Then when he least expects it, we swoop in and get
him. Sound good? It better because that’s all I have.”
“It’s
a plan,” Deaq replied as he looked over at Van to make sure they were all on
the same page. When he saw him nod, he turned back to Sara. “How are we gonna
do this?”
“Lights,
cameras, and lots of Ketchup,” Sara answered. This was probably the best
assignment she had worked on, with the exception of her partner being such an
ass hole. It was time to put the plan in action. First, find a good location,
then it was off to makeup, and finally to the press.
The
job proved to be just as fun as Sara thought. She worked with several people,
from makeup artists to photographers, and finally news reporters. It was all
pretty tolerable, even the fake blood that was flowing down the side of her
face. Everything was going to plan just as she wanted it to. Even Ian got into
it, becoming Sara’s personal assistant for the day. He brought her coffee,
lunch, and even snacks if she ever got hungry. ‘So this is what it’s like to
be a movie star?’ Sara thought, feeling a bit envious.
It was
nearly seven in the evening when they wrapped up their little publicity stunt.
Sara was glad to have it over with. All she wanted to do was go home, take a
shower, and curl up in bed. Sleep deprived she was, but not for long. It would
only be a matter of time before she felt the warm covers around her body. As she
stood in the alley they had picked to stage the shootings, Sara felt someone
step up behind her. She turned to see the last person she expected.
“Van,”
Sara tried to saw without hissing, but it just didn’t work.
“Sara,”
he replied in the same tone. His expression softened as he added, “I’m sorry
for being the pompous ass hole you’ve labeled me as. I didn’t mean for
things to get so out of control.”
Sara
looked into those deep blue orbs and smiled. She found sincerity in Van’s
apology. “So, you finally came to your senses?” she asked.
“Yeah,”
he answered. “Seeing how all this came together was more than enough to knock
me back into reality. I guess I owe Ian an apology too. I shoulda believed you
when you said he was on our side. Where is he, by the way?”
“I
don’t know, probably talking to Gallo and telling him we’re ‘dead,’”
Sara said, doing her best Dr. Evil impression.
“You
wanna join me for some coffee or dinner or something? I know I’ve put you
through hell and I just wanna make up for it,” Van replied.
Sara’s
smile grew wider. “Coffee would be nice,” she told him. He took her by the
arm and led her down the street towards the nearest coffee shop, a Starbucks
just around the corner. Being the prefect gentleman that evening, Van opened the
door for her.
“Ladies
first,” he said once they reached the counter.
“Wow!
I like this new sweet side of you, Van Ray. It’s not Ian Nottingham, but
getting there,” Sara replied, half jokingly. She turned to the girl at the
counter and said, “I’ll have the largest cup of black coffee you have, no
cream, no sugar.”
“I’ll
have the same,” Van added.
Sara
turned to him and replied, “You know, I pegged you to be the mocha drinker.”
“I
am,” he admitted. “I just wanted to try something different.”
“You’re
really trying hard to get on my good side, aren’t you?” Sara questioned
after they paid and got their coffee. She led him to a table near the window and
sat down.
“Is
it working?” Van eagerly asked.
“A
little,” she confessed, taking a sip of her coffee.
“You
know, you still have to finish telling me about the Witchblade,” he whispered
as he leaned over the table towards her.
“I
will, just not right now. Let me enjoy my coffee. I’ve got a feeling that
tonight is gonna be another one of those sleepless nights.”
“Making
up with
Sara
began to laugh at his assumption even though it seemed like the right one to
make at the moment. After all, the plan was to make Van think they were a
couple. What better way to do it than giving him hints and letting him make his
own presumptions? “Yeah,” she giggled. “Something like that.”
Van
tried to hide his contempt, but Sara caught just a hint of it in his deep blue
eyes. “What was your fight about anyway, if you don’t mind me asking?” he
questioned.
“Really
stupid stuff,” Sara answered with the wave of her hand. “He’s not used to
being away from me, so when I decided to come to LA, he had to come with me even
though I told him no. But that’s just Ian for ya. He’s my protector; he has
to be at my side 24/7.”
“So,
do you love him?” Van continued his interrogation, striking a deep chord
within Sara’s heart.
She
looked down at her coffee trying to avoid his eyes as she said, “Love is a
really strong word. Too strong, maybe. I wouldn’t say that I love him just
yet. I’m still trying to get over the first guy I ever really fell completely
head over heels in love with.”
“So,
Ian was the rebound guy who just happened to be there for you when the other guy
dumped you,” Van began assuming again.
“He
didn’t dump me,” Sara said in a shaky voice. She was on the verge of tears
when she added, “He made me kill him using the Witchblade.” Van’s jaw
dropped prompting Sara to say, “It’s not like that. I didn’t want to kill
him. It’s just he was unnatural. He had lived for two thousand years looking
for a way to die, and I just happened to be that way. I know it sounds
absolutely absurd, but it comes with the territory. Ever since I got this
thing…” Sara held up her right arm and pointed to the beautiful antique
bracelet on her wrist, “a whole lot of weird shit has happened to me that I
can’t possibly fathom.”
“That
explains the strange case I read about in your file with the guy they called
‘V,’” Van replied.
Sara
shook her head. “Please, don’t remind me about that case. It’s still
pretty hard to talk about.”
“Well,
I’m always here if you need to. And I promise I won’t let another little
thing slip out like I did this morning. I really don’t want Deaq to be in the
same trouble I’m already in,” he said, placing his hand over hers.
“Thanks,”
Sara replied as she looked up and smiled at him. “I really needed to get all
that off my chest.” They soon left the coffee shop and returned to the scene
of the “murders.” The makeup and camera crews were about finished cleaning
up and loading things onto small trucks. Deaq was standing beside one of the
prettier makeup artists talking to her while Ian milled around, his eyes
strictly watching the ground as Sara came up behind him and wrapped her arms
around his waist.
“Hey,
babe,” she whispered when he turned to look at her in amazement. “Don’t
look so stunned. You’ll throw everything off,’ Sara whispered as her arms
moved to wrap around his neck.
“I’m
sorry,” Ian whispered back. “Where were you?”
“Van
took me out for some coffee. He actually apologized for being a dick. He also
wants to apologize to you,” Sara softly replied. She looked over her shoulder
to see him and Deaq walking in their direction. “Quick, kiss me.”
Before
Ian knew it, Sara’s lips were pressing up against his in a gentle kiss. She
pulled away, feeling awkward. “We gotta work on that,” she managed to
whisper just before Van and Deaq came within earshot.
“Ian,
I want to apologize for being so critical of you when I found out you were a
hired hit man,” Van said as he walked up. “I’m sorry for thinking you were
going to kill us all.”
“All
is forgiven,” Ian replied as his arms gently slipped over Sara’s waist.
“I’ll
leave you two alone now so you can reconcile your differences,” Van added as
he and Deaq walked away.
Ian
looked at Sara, puzzled. “Reconcile our differences?” he asked.
“I
made him think we were having sex tonight,” Sara blatantly answered. “Now
come on. Let’s make him believe it. When we get to the apartment, we’re NOT
having sex, but I am going to teach you how to kiss, so next time we don’t
have this problem.”
“I
understand,” Ian replied as he led her back towards the street where her bike
and his car were parked end to end. They headed back to the apartment together,
praying that Van wasn’t going to be back for a little while. Sara checked to
make sure his car wasn’t parked anywhere in the vicinity before she invited
Ian up.
After
opening the door to the apartment, Sara threw her keys onto the table and headed
into the living room. “Make yourself comfortable,” she hollered to Ian as
she made her way to the bathroom. “I’ll be out in a second.” She
desperately needed to brush her teeth before she even dared to lock lips with
anyone that night. After changing into a pair of more comfortable track shorts
and a dark blue tank top, Sara headed back into the living room where Ian was
already sitting on the couch closest to the door.
“So,
where should we start?” she asked. “Oh, I know. Music.” Sara grabbed the
remote off the coffee table and turned on the stereo system. She searched
through all the FM channels until she found one playing adult contemporary
music.
Like
a movie scene
In the sweetest dreams
I have pictured us together
Now to feel your lips
On my finger tips
I have to say is even better
Than I ever thought it could possibly be
“I
love this song,” Sara commented as she sat down in Ian’s lap. He smiled at
her as she threw the remote onto the couch beside them. “Why don’t we start
with the basics?” she said. Sara
leaned into Ian laying her cheek against his. Pulling back softly, she said,
"Close your eyes, Ian, and feel this." He obeyed and puckered up then
he felt the soft fluttering on his cheek. "This is a butterfly kiss,"
Sara whispered in a husky voice. Ian opened his eyes and saw Sara’s face
pressed to him and her eyelashes fluttering against his check.
Its
perfect
Its passion
Its setting me free
From all of my sadness
The tears that I’ve cried
I have spent all my life
“This
next one is a variation of the butterfly kiss,” Sara said as she tilted her
head slightly and leaned closer to his face. She moistened her lips, and as her
mouth made initial contact, she simply grazed him gently. The tension that was
now between them drove Ian wild. He barely held onto his composure as she
shifted in his lap, her hands gently falling behind his neck and ruffling
through his long, dark hair.
Waiting
for tonight
Oh… When you would be here in my arms
Waiting for tonight
Oh… I've dreamed of this love for so long
Waiting for tonight
“There’s
another way to do that kiss,” she replied. “Sort of a variation on a
variation, but it works.” She started off just as she had the last one,
getting close to his face, but instead of gently grazing his lips, she took time
to lightly suck on each one, alternating between upper and lower. Ian moaned,
his arms moving around her waist and gently resting on the small of her back.
Tender
words you say
Take my breath away
Love me now and leave me never
Found a sacred place
Lost in your embrace
I want to stay in this forever
“You’re
getting good at this,” Sara observed, her voice husky and full of lust. She
didn’t know why this was all such a turn on, but it probably had to do with
the fact that she hadn’t made out with a guy in a long time.
“You’re
a wonderful teacher,” Ian commented as he gazed deep into her eyes praying to
find something that told him she was enjoying this as much as he was.
I
think of the days when the sun used to set
On my empty heart
All alone in my bed
Tossing and turning emotions were strong
I knew I had to hold on
“Okay,
last one,” she said. “This one’s a hot one, so you better not get any
ideas. I’m just teaching you how to make our fake relationship look real. I
don’t want you getting in my pants. Go it?”
“I
won’t dream of such a thing,” Ian replied even though in his mind it was the
only thing he could think about at the moment.
Waiting
for tonight
Oh… When you would be here in my arms
Waiting for tonight
Oh… I've dreamed of this love for so long
Waiting for tonight
Sara
pressed her lips up against his once more, this time working her tongue inside
his mouth. She ran its tip along his soft inner lips then traced a line up the
roof of his mouth and across his gums. She let the first half-inch of her tongue
slide across his, encouraging him not to kiss back. Finally, she allowed her
entire tongue to touch his, giving Ian the chance to kiss her.
Waiting
for tonight
Oh… When you would be here in my arms
Waiting for tonight
Oh… I've dreamed of this love for so long
Waiting for tonight
The
moment quickly heated up until Sara found herself in the middle of a make out
session with her stalker. But she couldn’t keep her lips off him. Ian was just
too good at pleasing her. Finally, she felt his hands slip beneath her shirt,
gently caressing the skin along her backbone and pulled away.
Gone
are the days when the sun used to set
On my empty heart all alone in my bed
Tossing and turning
Emotions were strong
I knew I had to hold on
“Whoa,
hold it right there, big boy,” Sara panted, taking a couple of seconds to
regain her composure. She had let this go for too long. It was time to stop, no
matter how much her body longed to feel his lips pressed up against hers in that
heated, passionate kiss. “You got a little too far ahead of yourself. I think
it’s time for us to wrap this up.”
Waiting
for tonight
Oh… When you would be here in my arms
Waiting for tonight
Oh… I've dreamed of this love for so long
Waiting for tonight
Sara
stood up as the song ended, quickly heading to her room to make sure her face
wasn’t as red as she thought it would be after such a strange yet wonderful
experience. It had been too long since she felt such love being delivered in
kisses. When she returned to the living room, Ian was already standing waiting
for her.
“That
was…” Sara began to look for the right word to describe such an experience.
“Fun?”
Ian offered, smiling at her.
‘God,
that smile is so beautiful,’ she thought, longingly staring back at him in a
trance. She quickly snapped out of it and replied, “Yeah, fun. I hope you
learned something.”
“I
learned enough to know which kiss to use in front of your partners,” he
answered.
“Good,
then I’ll see you in the morning,” Sara said as she walked with him to the
door.
“Good
night, my Lady,” Ian whispered as he leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her
lips, sending shock waves through Sara’s body. He had definitely learned what
she liked.
“Good
night, Ian,” she whispered back as she watched him go. Closing the door, Sara
found herself alone again, and in desperate need of someone’s company. She
thought about calling her one of her friends in
A/N: Music: "Waiting For Tonight" by Jennifer Lopez