"I would love to," I rasped, and we both chuckled like school kids. She pressed her forehead against mine and whispered, "For the first time in my life, I think I'm actually enjoying this damn party." I chuckled and wrapped an arm around her small waist.
"Is there a bathroom here?" I inquired.
"Yes," she whispered. I proceeded to remove the rest of my clothes, relishing the adoring look in her eyes as she watched me. I then lifted her up and carried her to the bathroom, her arms wrapped around my neck as she kissed me again.
"Would your parents wonder where you've disappeared to?" I asked.
"I made a dutiful appearance, although I nearly caused a scene..." she replied.
"Then we won't be missed for a few more minutes," I suggested, guiding her to sit on the toilet bowl.
With her legs spread wide, I knelt in front of her, reaching for the bidet sprayer and bringing it to her parted knees. I proceeded to clean her up, flushing away any remnants of our lovemaking. Just as I was about to finish, I buried my face against her chest, taking one of her nipples into my mouth and tugging gently. She moaned in response.
Continuing to suckle on her nipples, I slipped my fingers into her, gently removing my semen and caressing her inner walls. Using the pad of my thumb, I massaged her clit, eliciting further moans of pleasure. I didn't stop until she climaxed once more.
Afterward, I stood up and made my way into the shower stall alone, relishing the warm water cascading over me. Despite having recently reached satisfaction, my arousal was reignited by her desire.
However, I didn't anticipate her joining me in the shower, willingly wetting her hair. She knelt down and took me into her mouth, sending a thrill of pleasure coursing through my spine.
"Ah!" I gasped, succumbing to the sensation as she skillfully pleasured me, running my fingers through her hair. But before she could bring me to completion, I pulled her up, carried her, and pressed her back against the shower wall.
A cry escaped her lips as I thrust into her once more. This time, there was no gentleness as we rode the waves of passion together until I climaxed inside her.
"Mark?"
"Yes?"
"Could we just leave and go to my place?"
"Okay," I agreed.
"We can take some of their food with us. I dare say, I'm entitled," she said in a conspiratorial whisper, to which I chuckled.
Helping her dress, I couldn't help but notice her amusement at my attempt to fix her hair.
Surprisingly, I found myself easily creating a decent French braid, leaving a few strands falling down the nape of her neck and framing her face. When I finished, she held my gaze, a searching look in her eyes.
"She must be lucky to have a brother like you," she remarked. I nodded but looked away, feeling a pang of unease regarding my sister's absence.
Doctor Eliza—or perhaps I should simply call her Eliza now that we had crossed an irreversible line—had instructed me on how to exit the building without passing through the party hall. I made my way to her car, to wait for her there.
As I neared the secluded parked car, I sensed someone behind me. Swiftly turning around, I found myself face to face with Justin, who was pointing a gun at me. Another presence made the hair on my skin bristle, and I slowly raised my hands.
"You piece of shit thinks you can just waltz in here and take my girl..." Justin spat angrily.
"Take it easy, Mr. Godino. Let's not let that gun go off now..." the person behind me cautioned Justin.
"Why do you want him anyway? Just let me know if he is some cheap con artist, so I can rub it in that stupid Eliza's face!" Justin retorted.
"I'll take him off your hands, and you can have your girl back. Now... I would appreciate it if you walked away," the man behind me calmly suggested to Justin.
"Bullshit! This asshole broke my nose, and I want..." Justin's words were cut off when, almost instinctively, I swiftly swung the edge of my hand against his wrist, disarming him. Seizing the opportunity, I tightened my fists and struck him hard in the nose, following it up with a quick jab to the throat. Justin made a choking sound and crumpled to the side, collapsing on the lawn.
I turned swiftly, training the gun I had taken from Justin on the man behind me. He stood tall, built like a bull. His face seemed familiar, but I couldn't quite place it. He had drawn his own gun, and the two of us faced each other, each pointing a weapon at the other.
"I could have warned him, but he didn't give me a chance. Hello, enforcer. You're a hard man to kill," the man said, sounding almost amused.
"What do you want?" I asked calmly, suppressing the confusion of being referred to as an "Enforcer." It sounded like something out of a gangster movie. Eliza had been right about this man's involvement in organized crime, but how did I fit into all of this?
"I need your help," he replied, still aiming his gun at me.
"My help?" I echoed skeptically.
"Yes," he confirmed.
"Why the hell would I want to help you?" I retorted, maintaining a cautious demeanor.
"Because it would be mutually beneficial. Someone who knows the Donovans quite well is trying to have you and your sister killed. My boss failed to produce your body, and as a result, he's now dead along with many others dear to me. They're coming after me, and once they discover you're still alive, they'll come for you too..."
"And I'm just supposed to take your word for it?" I questioned, playing along despite having no clue who the Donovans were.
"Well, you can find your own proof by returning to Brooks and showing your face. I know you love living on the edge, but that would be stupid, even for you. Not to mention your sister. Archer Donovan failed to protect you before..."
"But I won't make that mistake again," another voice declared from behind the man pointing the gun at me.
Before he could react, the new arrival shot him in both legs, causing him to crumple to the ground in agony. He cried out, "Wait, wait!" The gunshot was barely audible, indicating the use of a silencer.
The new guy rushed forward, gripping the wounded man's shoulder, and began brutally pummeling him until his face was covered in blood. I didn't even flinch at the sight of such brutal violence.
Meanwhile, Justin took advantage of the chaos and regained consciousness, sitting up. The new guy aimed his gun at him, and Eliza rushed into the scene, shielding both Justin and me with her raised hands.
"Please, don't shoot!" she pleaded repeatedly. The new guy paused as more men surrounded us.
"Oh, shit! Oh, shit!" Justin cursed, pressing his bloodied face into the lawn. I stood there, partially paralyzed, my mind a whirlwind of confusion. It appeared that the new guy was on my side, protecting me.
"Are you one of them?!" the new guy thundered at Eliza.
"One of who?" Eliza replied, her voice tinged with fear.
"This fucker, Venom," the new guy gestured to my unconscious assailant, "and his boss, Adolf. They tried to kill him!" He pointed at me. "And now I received intel that Mark was here and came to find Venom holding him at gunpoint!"
"Sir, please listen to me..." Eliza quickly interjected.
"You have one minute!" the new guy roared in a low, threatening tone.
"I am Mark's doctor! And this... idiot is my ex," she said, pointing at Justin, who still lay on the floor with his face down. "This guy here," Eliza continued, indicating my wounded assailant, "Venom, has been after Mark for a long time. I overheard him and Justin planning to kidnap Mark, and I was about to call the sheriff when you arrived..."
"Kidnap Mark?" the new guy repeated, breaking into laughter. The rest of the men joined in, leaving Eliza bewildered.
"Mark?" the new guy called, turning his attention to me with furrowed brows.
"Yeah?" I cautiously replied.
"Why the fuck are you standing there looking at me like that? You made me believe you were dead!" he exclaimed, a mixture of anger and confusion evident in his voice.
"I kind of had no choice..." I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Choice?" He repeated, his frown deepening as he aimed his gun at Eliza. "What the fuck did you do to him?!"
Instinctively, I reacted. "Please, don't... don't point a gun at her," I pleaded through gritted teeth. His frown intensified, and he darted his gaze between me and Eliza.
"You helped him?" the new guy interrogated Eliza, seeking confirmation of a crucial detail.
"Yes," Eliza affirmed.
"What happened to him?" He asked again.
"A Fisherman found him near the town lake with multiple gunshot wounds in his stomach, chest and one grazed his head…" Eliza said and then flinched when the new guy growled and shot Venom again in the leg. The poor guy whimpered, shaking in evident anguish.
"But he's fine now, nothing's wrong with him?" the new guy pressed.
"Yes, but..." Eliza began to respond, only to be cut off abruptly as the new guy pointed his gun at me and pulled the trigger.
Shock reverberated through me as I staggered backward. Eliza's piercing scream filled the air as I dropped to my knee, searing pain radiating from my shoulder. He had shot me.
He approached me, looming over me with a fierce glare. "That, Mark, is for making me believe you were dead and forcing me to dig a grave to lie to your sister," he seethed.
"Oh, God!" I groaned in pain.
"You shot him for that?! You're insane!" Eliza exclaimed, her voice filled with disbelief.
"He's not allowed to die!" he retorted, growling at her.
I couldn't help but burst into laughter. It was absurd, the whole situation. "You son of a bitch, Archer," I chuckled, lying on the floor and unable to contain my amusement. Memories came crashing back into my mind, flooding me with a torrent of recollections as my memory returned with a vengeance.