“Thank you for a lovely weekend,” I tell him, as he drops me off at the apartment. “I hope you get some rest.”
“You too,” he says, his tone brisker than usual. “Thanks for joining me.” He starts to walk away and turns back. “I wish I knew what you wanted,” he says sadly.
I open my mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. I could recite a long list for him, starting with a non-corrupt government.
“I wish I knew too,” I say. “Bye, Sean.”
I shut the door behind him and lean against it. Hopefully, he will move on and meet someone who can make him happy. It just can’t be me. I message Jackal and get no response. I think about calling Gwen, seeing if she’s heard anything from him, but at the risk that she hasn’t, she’ll want to know what happened. I can’t bring myself to tell her that I don’t know where her baby is.
I have a performance in a few hours. I shower and head over to the theater and go through a condensed rehearsal. I’m distracted during the performance, but I don’t think it shows. During the curtain call, I search through the crowd for Jackal’s face. He’s not here, he’s not anywhere. I take my final bow and dart backstage, ignoring anyone who calls my name. Foregoing my shower, I sneak out as soon as I’m changed, walking to the apartment rather than taking a car. I’ve barely stepped out of the shower, when there’s a light tap at the door. I look out my security camera and see Jackal standing there, hands in his pockets.
I fling open the door, smiling wide, and he rushes in, closing the door behind him.
“Where’s the baby? What happened? Where have you been?” I ask, breathless.
“Jewel is hiding with him at her place. She thought it’d be better to take him at night and I agree. We’ll meet her in a couple of hours to take him to Gwen.”
“Does Gwen know?”
“No. We didn’t want to tell her anything until it was all in place...if something went wrong. Your mothers?” he asks.
I nod. “Sylvia went to the station, said they’d had a fight, and Bisa left in the middle of the night. They let her go.” He hugs me tight and I let him hold me there until he finally speaks again.
“I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind,” he says, lifting me up and wrapping my legs around his waist. “All this fucking excitement and danger...and all I want to do is fuck you until I can’t see straight.” He leans his head against mine. “Hi.”
“Hi.” I laugh, rubbing my nose against his.
“Are we okay? Do we need to talk about the whole Langley thing?” he asks, looking pensive.
“I said all I needed to say,” I tell him.
He makes a face. “I’m good with that.”
“Do we need to talk about your mother?” I ask.
“I’d prefer not to,” he says.
I chew on my lip, wondering how hard I should push him.
“We make a pretty good team,” he says. “The Phoenix and the Jackal.”
He carries me to my bedroom and tosses me on the bed. I lean up on my elbows and watch him undress. He motions to me.
“Clothes off. I need to see you. All of you.”
“You’re coming in here awfully demanding…” I say as I pull the leotard down. He watches intently. The tights come down next.
“So that’s how it’s done,” he says. “You don’t want me too?” He reaches between my legs and lifts my wetness to his mouth, licking his fingers one by one. “I haven’t even gotten started yet, and you’re ready.”
He smirks and I pull him down to me. “Stop talking,” I tell him.
“I don’t wanna,” he says. “Better yet, how about you start talking...tell me what you want me to do to you. In detail.”
I groan. “I can’t. Just get after it.” I tug his hair and pull his mouth to mine.
His tongue teases mine and I want him to go faster, but he refuses. He sets a slow pace and when he presses against me, I try to hold him there, but he’s gone, his lips dragging down my neck and his fingers tweaking my nipples.
“Is it okay if I stay here all night?” he asks, his eyes meeting mine.