Resist (Sphere of Irony 3)

Me —Sorry. Did you leave?

She responds almost immediately.

Sasha —No worries. I made Lex and that ass Grant t

ake me to my hotel.

I cringe, forgetting that Sasha came all this way to see me.

Me —We’ll do dinner tonight to make up for it. My treat?

Sasha —You bet! Say high to your sexy man, stud.

I laugh and toss the phone on the floor.

“What’s so funny?” Gavin asks from his sex coma. I scoot under the covers, curling up behind him.

“Nothing,” I whisper into his hair. “Nothing at all.”

Gavin

“Mitch, what happened down there with you and Halifax?”

The length of Mitch’s body stiffens behind me, the muscles in his arms tensing up around my waist as if preparing for a fight.

I wriggle out of his hold, rolling over until we’re face to face. My hand finds its way to his cheek, gently drifting down the rough stubble to his neck. Continuing my journey, I choke with emotion when I reach his chest.

“Jesus, Mitch,” my voice is thick and slurred. “You almost died.” A single fingertip traces the four-inch scar to the left of his heart. “I—” My mouth opens, but there are no words. Emotion burns my eyes and the scorch of hot tears slide down my face. “Fuck.”

“Don’t cry, baby,” Mitch croons. He wipes the moisture away with his thumbs before pulling me to his chest. My arms tighten around his torso, the torso of a man who nearly died for me. I appreciate the sound of his heart, vital and strong beneath my ear.

Mitch slides his fingers through my hair and down my back, offering comfort when all I really need is the knowledge that he’s alive. And that he’s mine. Words fill my throat, struggling to burst free. I’ve never said them before, never wanted to say them. Now, it seems as if I have no choice.

When they come, they come easily. Easier than I ever thought possible.

“I love you, Mitch.”

The hands on my skin freeze and I hear Mitch’s steady heartbeat flutter. I lift my head to look in his soft, grey eyes.

“I love you, Mitch,” I repeat, louder, more absolute this time. “I think I have for a while now.”

The grip Mitch has on me tightens, the pads of his fingers digging into my flesh. He pulls me up until we’re nose to nose, his breath warming my skin. “I love you too, Gavin.” His voice catches, bringing a deep red tinge to his cheeks.

A smile spreads across my face, feeling as if it might split me in two it’s so big. I kiss Mitch thoroughly with sweet reverence, showing him how much I love him.

“Now, tell me what the hell was going on in my kitchen.”

***

I pace the length of the master bedroom, wearing only a pair of briefs.

“That motherfucker is Grant? Your ex-partner?” I snarl.

Mitch nods, his gaze wary as he watches me stalk back and forth at the foot of the bed.

“So he knew,” I state, the fury growing exponentially, tunneling my eyesight down to one narrow and very specific vision—hurt Agent Halifax. “He knew this whole time that you and I…” My fingers curl up and gouge my palms. “He knew about us and what?” I shout. “He wanted to fuck with you? With me?”

Mitch’s eyes grow watery, his humiliation obvious under the anger. “Probably both. He’s not right in the head, Gavin. Almost as inhuman as the predators he chases.”