All The Pieces (Pieces of Lies 3) (32 page)

He lowered the camera so I could see his face. Clint had grown even more handsome as the years went on. The features in his face were more chiseled than before, and his clear blue eyes seemed filled with more love, lust and appreciation. Every time Clint looked at me, it felt like the first time. Some love never stops feeling that way, like the first moment you met. That fresh, exciting feeling that never dulls no matter how much time passes.

“I love it when you call me by my real name, but no, I won’t be giving up the camera yet.”

“Oh really,” I said, a little challenge in my voice. His eyes stalked me like a predator watching his prey. He could tell I was about to try and change his mind, but before I could say something that would most certainly get him to come ravish me, Clint lifted the camera once more.

“As much as that dress is perfection on your body Norah, it would look much better coming off.”

I bit my lip, knowing his intent now. “So, you want to watch me undress?”

“Correction. I want to take pictures of you, while I watch you undress.”

I glanced over my shoulder, throwing him a flirty smile. “Do you really think you can stay all the way over there while I’m taking off my clothes? I mean, I was hoping you would have me over your shoulders by now...Or on my back...Or on all fours.”

Clint’s eyes widened, his mouth opening, the camera dropping down from his eyes, just a little. He sucked in some air and then moved the lens up again, very slowly. “Norah, you are finally my wife. You are no longer the girl that got away. I’m trying to savor this moment...” He lowered his face back behind the lens. “With pictures.” Click, click. He swallowed, seeming unsure that he could hold out. I chuckled lightly and turned back to the window.

“Have it your way...husband,” I began undressing by reaching behind my back, unzipping my dress down a few inches. The beaded capped sleeves fell down my arms. My bare shoulders and part of my back became exposed.

Click, click.

“Do you want a little more?” I asked him, unzipping even further. “Like this?”

More of my bare back came into his view. “Yes Norah. Exactly like that.”

I pulled the zipper down to the end so the top half of the dress fell down to my waist and then it moved so it was just hanging off my hips. I heard Clint shift on the bed.

“You’ve got nothing...”

I cut him off. “Nothing on underneath. That’s right.”

Click, click, click, click.

I bit my lip even harder, looking back at him as I bent over and slowly pulling the dress over my hips so it fell to the floor. I turned my face back around, about to stand up, when I felt his hands on me. They were on each side of my hips while I was still bent over. I grinned, victorious. I loved how quickly and with such need I could make Clint want me.

“What? No more pictures Clint?” I asked the floor, still bent over with Clint grinding up behind me.

“No, I’ve waited over on that bed long enough. I can’t wait any longer to have my wife.” He spread my legs, rubbing one of his hands down and then up the inside of my thighs. “Norah, do you think you’ll be able to be quiet? You know James and Elaine are in the room just down the hall.”

“Clint, I’m sure our little four year old is fast asleep by now. Elaine too.”

Clint gave me a look which suggested that neither the distance or them being asleep could be barriers against hearing me get vocal in the throes of passion. I sighed, amused. “Fine, I will take it down a few decibels. But first, please tell me how I’m supposed to do that when my husband is giving me earth shattering orgasms. I think you’ll have to put your fingers in my mouth to gag me because I can’t promise you I won’t scream and completely lose it while you are fucking me hard.”

Clint’s nails dug into my hips. His mouth dropping open. He tried to speak, but a moan escaped his lips instead. Then he licked his lips. His voice deep and primal. “Forget what I just said Norah. Just. Be. You.” He paused, taking another breath. “Because there is nothing better.”

Our wedding night was the perfect combination of hot and sexy bedroom antics to extremely slow and romantic periods of lovemaking. It had been over three years since Clint left his old world and his old life for me. Three years of re-connecting, falling even deeper in love and growing as a couple. It was also three years before we felt it was safe enough to travel, and finally become husband and wife.

The following day, we decided to do the ‘touristy’ thing and take James to the Trevi Fountain, leaving Elaine at our boutique hotel. We wanted to spend time together as a family. I had to hand it to Clint, he took on the role as a father with gusto. He connected with James instantly when he had moved to the island, becoming involved in his care and upbringing and helping me make decisions. It often surprised me how easily he adapted to the role, but I knew his love for me soon spilled over to James, and very quickly they bonded like father and son.

We intended to tell James the story of his real father when he was old enough to understand, but for now, we were a happy little family unit, living a carefree secret life. Nina Riley and Colton White were just regular newlyweds on holiday with their son in Rome. There was nothing suspicious to look at. Nothing to question or wonder about. The years gone by had made us a little more relaxed in our surroundings and endeavors. We were so used to our new identities now, that our old ones felt like they were separated in a different world. Although, Clint and I had no problem incorporating our old life with our new one in the bedroom.

The Trevi Fountain was bigger than I expected. It was ten times the size of a regular fountain, far greater than the fountains I remembered seeing at the Weston estate. The place was packed with tourists throwing coins over their shoulders which was supposed to bring luck. One coin to return to Rome, two for a new romance and three for marriage. I decided we would each throw in four, just for whatever the superstition may have had in store next. Clint helped James throw four coins over his shoulder and then we followed doing the same. Afterwards we all leant in to look at the fountain, just enjoying its beauty.

“It’s pretty mummy,” James said holding my hand. Clint came and stood behind me, his arms around my waist. He began kissing my neck sweetly, but soon getting a little rough. The sensation made me want to head back to our hotel room immediately. Clint then rested his head on my shoulder, leaning his mouth near my ear.

“So, Mrs. White. You keen to have another?”

“Why Mr. White, whatever do you mean?”

One of Clint’s arms came out from around my waist and rested his hand on James’s head, lightly rubbing at his wavy chestnut hair with affection. I smiled warmly at Clint, understanding what he was asking. I turned and kissed his cheek. “We can start trying tonight if you like?”

Clint didn’t need to answer, he captured my mouth with his and passionately showed me just how pleased he was at my response. It was all so wonderful. Almost too perfect. The feeling of kissing my husband like this with the Trevi Fountain as the backdrop. Nothing could bring down this moment. Nothing could take it away.

“Where’s James?” Clint asked, quickly breaking my spell. When I kissed him, I must have let go of James’s hand. My heart sank, realizing that in a split second, he had wandered off.

“I let go of his hand. Oh my God...”

Clint took hold of mine trying to settle the panic he heard in my voice. “It’s okay. We’ll find him. Don’t panic yet.” Our eyes began searching the crowd around where we were standing. James was wearing a little green collared T-shirt and khaki utility pants and a bright blue cap. My eyes scanned the crowd over and over again, looking for the bright green and blue.

Then Clint squeezed my hand. “There he is.” Pointing to the other side of the fountain. James had wandered off so quickly. He was talking to a man, whose face I could only partially see through the crowd. The dread and panic that I was trying to keep at bay surfaced once more. I took off towards the other side, Clint following close behind. When I finally reached the area where we saw James, he was still there but now standing all on his own. My arms went around him, pulling him in tight to my body.

“Mummy, mummy stop. What are you doing?”

“James Joshua Riley, you scared me! Don’t ever wander off like that again. Never, ever again! Alright.”

He squirmed, trying to wriggle out of my hold. “It’s okay mummy. I was talking to a nice man. He even gave me a coin.”

I internally thanked the gods for the friendly folk that still walked the earth. My moment of fear slowly subsiding. I tried to sound calm and happy as James’s little eyes searched mine to make sure he wasn’t in trouble. “That’s wonderful James,” I said. “But you shouldn’t be talking to strangers. We’ve spoken about this before. Never ever speak to or go anywhere with a stranger. Okay. Do you understand me James?”

“Yes mummy. I’m sorry mummy.” I think I must have sounded more panicked than I realized.

“It’s okay James,” Clint spoke up, his hand going on his back. “But mummy is right. Never talk to strangers. It’s not safe buddy.”

I pulled James off me so I could look into his confused green eyes. “I’m sorry if I sound upset sweetie. I just would hate if anything happened to you.” He hugged me again, knowing I needed it. My heart rate slowed, and I came back from the feeling of terror building inside me. I tried to sound sweet and bring some happiness back into our visit to the Trevi Fountain. “So...do you want to toss the coin the nice man gave you into the fountain now James?”

James shook his head. “No, I want to keep it mummy. Can I keep it please?”

“Oh but sweetie. We are here to toss our coins into the fountain. Why do you want to keep it?”

“Because the nice man told me I will need it one day. That I should hold on to it. That he’ll come back for it when I’m big like you.”

I looked to Clint, who was looking at me with the same wild expression. Our eyes immediately darting all around us.

“He did?” I asked, still searching the crowd with my eyes. Knowing what to look for and at the same time, not knowing what I would find.

“Yes, he said it was a special coin just for me. So can I keep it mummy...please?”

Inside my head, the voice was screaming
“NO, NO, NO!”
This wasn’t possible. I’m just being paranoid. It’s not what I think.

I knelt down in front of James. Clint followed me, kneeling down as well. “Why don’t you show mummy this special coin, and then we’ll decide if we should keep it?” I said, trying my best to sound calm.

James plopped the little coin into my hand, and Clint and I both gasped at what we saw. It felt like it was burning a hole in my palm. The feeling of anonymity and safety, all but gone.  Just like that. In a blink of an eye. I had one of those time stilling moments.  The tourists moving around me became frozen in their movements, like someone had hit pause on them in a movie.  My heart was thumping so loud in my ears that I found myself forgetting to breathe.  I almost choked trying to suck the air in through my nose.  I couldn’t hear the world around me as the realization hit home that it wasn’t over.  It would never be over.

Had we gotten too comfortable? Had they always known where I was? Where he was? Was our new life all an illusion?  Am I in a dream?

They had been watching us.  Watching my son.  Waiting for him to grow and get older so he could become one of them.  Kyser Harkin had been right.  They lurked in the shadows.  They were the nightmares we couldn’t escape.  And they could, as I saw with my own two eyes, turn our world upside down.

I stared at the coin one more time before tossing it as far away as I could from my beautiful little family.  James whimpered as I did, not wanting to let the coin go.

It was a coin, but not just any kind of coin.  It was a coin...

From the Lappell.

THE END.

EXTRA DELETED SCENE.

Norah’s cousin’s wedding.

THE START OF AN IDEA.

(At the end of Pieces of Lies - Book 1.)

I stood on that balcony watching the space between me and Norah grow further and further apart.  She had chosen him.  She was chasing after him.  The ‘him’ being Clint Weston.  I couldn’t believe that we finally had our moment, but it passed us by like something caught in the wind. 

I touched my lips, remembering the kiss we shared.  I couldn’t forget our kiss, even if I tried.  Our kiss, to me, was something out of movie.  It was a kiss filled with passion, excitement, friendship and memories.  It was a kiss that could easily be filled with more...become more...be everything that the word ‘
love
’ encompasses.  But as much as I felt our connection in that kiss, I also felt a stifling distance.  Norah’s heart had opened up to someone else in a way I’d never seen before.  When she used to tell me about Samuel, there was indeed a burning desire in the way she spoke about him, although I never believed that he was ultimately what she needed.  I didn’t feel that Samuel would be her destiny.  But now with Clint, she was all starry eyes, upside down rainbow smiles, and there was something cosmic in the way she moved.   She had...changed.