A Debt Owed

Chapter 10

Thankfully we were back in the sanctuary of the hotel room. I was still in the bathroom, I’d been in there for the better part of an hour, Kirill hadn’t questioned or complained guess he figured I needed some alone time. Most of which was spent under the shower. The warm water felt so soothing against my tired body. Each droplet massaging mu skin as the two vodka shots I just had did to my insides. I must have soaped myself down at least three times in attempt to erase the memory and the trace of Raul’s touch from my body as the alcohol washed the taste of him from my mouth.

Watching the fog evaporate from the bathroom mirror I applied the small surgical band aid to the cut above my eye I had gotten sometime from when we left the alleyway to the taxi ride back to the hotel. My hands still trembled from the run in with the goon squad as well. I knew how to handle guns and would fire one if pushed but I preferred to steer clear of them. Selling weapons I had no problems with it was being caught in the cross fire that was a whole other story. As the old saying goes; you can’t out run a bullet. My eyes too were slightly red from the tears; yes I admit it I had been crying. Only a little and definitely not in front of Kirill that’s for sure. Things were spiralling out of control I just wanted my money so I could go back to my life of unanimity.

I stared into the basin at the water and blood trickling out of the make-shift icepack fashioned from a handful of ice cubes wrapped in a washcloth. It was crude but functional in keeping the bruising down to a minimum. Gulping down the six aspirins swiftly I silently exited the bathroom. Slumping in the chair I buried my face in my hands desperately trying to block out the events of the last five hours or so I could just have a few moments of peace. This city was doing it to me again, royally screwing me. I was supposed to have been paid and out of here on my way to a tropical island resort somewhere enjoying the sunshine. Instead this city was throwing me every hurdle at me to keep me here. Kirill placed a cup next to me. I slowly glanced up at him then the hot steaming liquid then back at him.

“It was fortunate no glass went into the wound.” His voice was soft, I could say almost caring as he knelt beside me inspecting the cut. “It will hurt for a day or two but it will heal.”

His fingers lightly traced around the bandaid before trailing down the side of my face coaxing in a blaze of fire every molecule in my body to collapse against the strength he offered. He was still dressed in the clothes he had on for the club, I closed my eyes fighting the urge to do just that and only opened them when I felt his hand slip away.

“Drink the tea Madison it will calm you.” He abruptly stood, my eyes followed a he gathered his change of clothes, heading for the bathroom. He paused in the doorway glancing back me. “Thank you for what you did tonight … shooting that man.”

Nothing more was aid as he disappeared soon after I heard the sound of the shower. Well that certainly was some thank you. Guess I did save his life. This meant he owes me, big time.

As I sank into the couch and with two sips of my now warm cup of tea I was somewhat relaxed. The small blinking light of my laptop distracted me; I completely forgot I had left it running. I took a couple more sips before setting the cup down on the desk and opened it finding the search results. A listing and accompanying summaries of news headlines, most of the articles were in Russian. Something about an explosion or bombing in a shopping centre. I blankly stared at the sprawl of words, it was late, my head pounded and I simply couldn’t be bothered translating it all. Reigning in my curiosity I closed the laptop and switched it off, it wasn’t a necessity for me to have the answers to my questions or as to the true identities of those in the photograph. Knowing about Kirill’s life, his past would be of no real advantage to me. I couldn’t blackmail him with it. Probably couldn’t sell the info, even if it did involve scandal or classified material, to the highest paying media tabloid or an adversary jut for the hell of it. But I needed him alive to get my money and if that meant saving his hide then so be it.

I glanced at the couch, the pillow was perched on the neatly folded blanket up on one end, Kirill hadn’t made up his bed yet. Then I studied the perfectly remade, huge warm bed and decided to let him sleep there tonight leaving me the luxury of the couch. I had imposed enough and this was his room, it was only fair that he should sleep in his own bed.

The room was starting to spin again, maybe I was thinking too much, so I stretched out on the couch my body relaxed more as soon as my head hit the soft pillow. It smelt of the sandalwood soap and slight cologne he used, I closed my eyes not fighting the image in my head that he was on the couch with my head resting on his thigh. I rubbed my cheek across the pillow but in my mind it was all him, the muscles contracting as I pressed my face against the softness of the jeans wanting to feel the warmth of his skin instead.

The loud knocking on the door slapped me right back to reality. The visitor pounded his fist again this time yelling for Kirill. I jumped off the couch careful not to make any noise as I listened through the bathroom door for Kirill with one ear and the ruckus outside with the other. The shower witched off so I tape on the door whispering loud enough to get his attention but low enough so as not to alert the visitor, who was till shouting, to my existence.

“Kirill there is a man here looking for you.”

I stumbled back a little as the door suddenly opened and Kirill was there with only a towel wrapped around him, hi body till glistening and hair slicked with soap suds and a gun in hand. I couldn’t remember if he had it on him when he went in or if he had it on him when he went in or if in fact he had a secret hiding place in there for the guns. One other theory could be that he liked to bathe with his weapons. Kinky to say the least.

“Hide in the bathroom. I’ll get rid of him.”

He pushed pat me and I could clearly see he bothered to dry himself off as droplets of water streaked down his skin causing the towel, which was small on him, to cling. An expanse of thigh flesh flashed with each step making the material stretch tighter across his ass. Why oh why couldn’t this how be taking place under ordinary circumstances where I could truly enjoy looking at him. I shut the door as he reached the main door but remained close to listen.

Kirill opened the door the gun hidden behind his back.

“I see I have come at a bad time mu Russian friend.” The rather tall German swaggered into the room, a broad smile plastered on his face when he saw him in the towel. The precariously balanced cigarette between his lips bounced as he spoke.

“Put that out Gehrig or you will set off the smoke alarms.”

“Damn health conscious hotel they suck the fun out of life.” Gehrig begrudgingly searched for a place to dispose of the cigarette, finding none he kept it.

“Why are you here Gehrig?” The gun Kirill had was suddenly gone, stashed away again in a hiding place within the blink of an eye.

“Now, now Kirill I will tell you soon enough,” the cigarette was gone from his mouth and in his hand as he waved it in front of the Russian, “but first it appears you need to finish your shower. Besides I have to take a piss.”

Kirill glared at him, suds streaming from his hair down his face onto his chest. Gehrig’s chuckle defused the sand off as the visitor prompted him towards the bathroom, Don’t tell me you’re shy?”

Hearing their approaching footstep I recoiled from the door and frantically searched for a place to hide. Where the Hell was supposed to go? The door handled squeaked as it started turning, I kept on backing away debating whether or not to take on the visitor but I had no idea how big this guy was or if he was working with or against Kirill. I collided with the shower screen and instantly froze muffling the sound of the impact. Why is it that with things that take a split second to happen they seem to unravel in slow motion. The door began to open; I had to reach a decision fast. I spun on my heels and leapt into the shower tall, which consisted of a sliding screen fixed atop the wall to wall bathtub. It could definitely accommodate two comfortably. I fell to my knees face down scrambling to the far end of the tub, my head slamming against the side as I rushed to curl myself up into a ball, enough not to be easily seen.

The two men cast shadow across the frosted glass of the screen as they walked in, Kirill quickly searched for me making sure his body obscured the view from Gehrig.

“Shower you are wasting precious time.” Gehrig pushed Kirill towards the tub and subsequently me.

I held my breath, my heart was beating a furious five hundred times a minute and my ears rang with the sound as well as the hammering in my skull. Was he going to get into the tub … with me? I glanced up long enough to see him stepping into the tub. Keeping his back to me he removed the towel and slung it over the screen before turning on the taps. I couldn’t tell if the water w warm or cold but surely felt a shiver run through me as it lapped against my legs.

I wasn’t going to look up even though I was fighting every urge to do just that. I dare not turn away fearing that any movement would betray what I was doing and thinking. I continued to stare at his legs studying how the water pooled at his feet, creeping its way toward me soaking my jeans. How it streamed down the back of them coating every muscle in a wet sheen. My eyes moved higher, every female hormone in my body was spurring me on after all he was currently very much naked, to rake over strong thighs. I swallowed hard pushing down the lump in my throat, his back still to me and Gehrig till talking to him. Raising my head slightly I chanced a glimpse at the roundness of his firm ass, his slender waist then those broad sturdy shoulders as muscle and sinew danced beneath his skin when he moved. Small scars and nicks littered his body, mostly his back no doubt a consequence of the life he led.

The toilet flushed Gehrig had finished relieving himself, more likely he had enough target practice with the cigarette he tossed in there. Subsequently Kirill’s shower ended as he turned reaching for the towel. In that one fluid motion I got a flash of one smooth well toned hip followed by a flat lean stomach complete with a trail of dark hair leading from his belly to lower regions, all that was sexual and male. The snugly wrapped towel only emphasised the bulge at the front even more as he stepped out of the tub. I immediately looked down so he wouldn’t know I was watching him but he probably knew. Rapidly jerking away my head crashed into the side of the bathtub, I instantly held my breath along with my swearing fearing that the men hear it. I was saved by Gehrig’s continuous chatter as he tried to persuade Kirill to go out for some drinks and some beautiful talented female company. Kirill remained silent ushering him out of the bathroom.

I let out a huge sigh of relief when the door closed and sat up, that was a mistake as the hammering in my skill returned with a vengeance. My face felt hot, flushed and the room began to slowly spin. Hopefully it wasn’t anything too serious and only a symptom of me unintentionally showering with Kirill. A wave of nausea hit and I took in deep breaths resting my forehead against the coolness of the shower screen. It did ease the dizziness.

“Gehrig is gone.” Stated Kirill opening the ensuite door.

I eased myself upright making sure not to slip on the damp tub bracing for the pain, it never returned, here’s hoping that standing held no problems. As soon as I stepped out into the open space of the room a chill rocketed through me fusing the heat already there, from my soaked legs up to the top of my head sending my teeth chattering. I grabbed the nearest towel and encased myself in it steadying my feet in order to take my next step without falling on my ass.

“Madison you okay?” Kirill shouted from the main room.

“Yeah I’m fine.” I tried to sound self assured and I carefully made my way out. It felt like I was sweating madly but I was also cold not to mention the image of him naked was seared into my brain. I had to compose myself, he mustn’t see me like this it was bad for business.

I found Krill standing by the table, reading through the papers Gehrig delivered. As soon as he saw me he pulled out a chair so I could sit, he was only dressed in black track pants with hair and body still wet. Probably due to the rush to get rid of Gehrig.

I thought Gehrig was never going to leave.” I sat thankful not to be standing.

“So did I.” Kirill seated himself opposite me. “I was ready to throw him out at gun point.

I barely made a smile even though he was being funny and cute.

“Are you sure you are okay? You look,” he studied me for a moment, “… ill.”

Fatigue started to set in as I wasn’t sure I even heard his question, which he repeated several times. “Yes. I think the events of the evening must be catching up with me.”

We were back to staring at each other before he finally spoke. Nothing was mentioned about the incident in the bathroom.

“Your cut is bleeding again. I’ll clean it up then you better change into some dry clothes.” He returned from the bathroom with a first aid kit.

“When did you get a first aid kit?” I watched him sit and fuss with the antiseptic bottle and wash cloth.

“I decided I needed one after the restaurant when you hit me with the gun.”

Before I could say anything he grabbed the front of my chair pulling me towards him. The chair skimming across the carpet in one seamless motion trapping me between his legs as he straddled both me and the chair. He leaned into me ripping the now mangled bandaid from my temple. I winched in pain. My fingers digging into this thigh. I hadn’t realised my hand was even on his leg. His hand holding my face was the only thing topping my head from snapping back.

“Sorry.” His voice a low whisper that vibrated along my skin.

I watched on in silence as he reached back with one hand, the other still holding my face, to soak a corner of the washcloth in the disinfectant. Those muscles I only caught glimpse of underneath his shirts were in clear view stretching and working across a wide well defined chest.

Moving even closer he pressed the washcloth gently on the cut. I didn’t make a sound or move away and simply stared ahead letting it sting. His breath felt warm against my cheek as I felt the warmth of my own breath bounce of his skin. I was that close that if I leaned in a fraction more I could nuzzle his neck and shoulder. A droplet of water started its voyage from his face down his neck, along his chest then rolling lower across his stomach. It was mesmerising to witness. I was hypnotised as another droplet began its journey, in the mean time he had changed my wound and applied a fresh bandaid. The droplet danced about as it hit the pulse point in his neck sending my own pulse racing. I wanted to follow its trail with my tongue, taste him in my mouth, or was that just too rude of me?

My mind fogged over as I looked at him fixating on that droplet that went everywhere I wanted to go. Wanted to claim and wanted to hide in. Suddenly the images blurred and the scent of sandalwood engulfed everything then softness touched lips. Smooth velvet tentatively rubbing against them enticing me to want more. I didn’t protest. Then firmly kissing me.

Daring me to ask for more.