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Amelia---Momentary Escape

Staring down at my suitcase, I tap my finger against my mouth. I am forgetting something, I know I am. I also need Duncan to call me back. I don’t feel like texting him, and I just need to make sure everything is okay before Rhodes and I leave.

“Okay, Amelia,” I quietly say to myself. “You’ve packed pajamas and a few swimsuits. T-shirts and shorts are in the wash, you’ll throw your bathroom stuff in right before we leave.” I lift the pile on the bed, grabbing the chargers for my phone and laptop. “Stealing all of Rhodes’ shirts for bedtime, but you already know he’s keeping you naked so there’s that.” I laugh. A book will be in the passenger seat, along with a blanket and snacks. Potentially a large iced coffee as well. Rhodes has this trip planned down to the last detail.

I’m pulling my vibrator from my nightstand when my phone rings from the dresser and I swiftly answer.

“Hey, Duncan.”

“Amelia,” he says, making my eyes narrow at the use of my full name. “I’m just returning your call. I hope that I didn’t catch you too late.”

Odd. First, Duncan Russo uses my legal name, and now he’s speaking stiffly.

“Nope, just packing. You know how it is. Parker and I always pack too much,” I wait to see if he’ll laugh and it is just silence on the other end. Alright, then.

“So, listen. I just wanted to touch base and make sure you’ve got everything handled. I will be off-grid for the next three, maybe four, days. Rhodes says there is a satellite phone at the lake, so I’ll call you when we get there. Um, what else?” I tap my finger on the ridge of my toy, trying to think if I’ve left anything out.

He clears his throat before speaking. “Sure, sounds good.”

“I’m not expecting anyone to start something, Duncan, so that’ll be good.” Rhodes killing Medina in my defense prevented the outbreak of war. I get the feeling the other leaders aren’t missing him terribly, and business has never been better. I sigh, “I’m ready to have things be settled for a while.”

Duncan hums through the line.

“You okay?” I ask.

“What do you mean? I can handle things here while you’re gone, Amelia.”

“Duncan. I know that. Are you sure you’re okay?” I lick my lips. “Did something happen with you and Parker?”

“No,” he scoffs. “Parker and I are fine. I have things handled here. Enjoy your vacation, Amelia.”

With a click of the line, the man married to my best friend hangs up on me.

I’m rooted to where I stand, staring down at the phone. What the actual fuck just happened? That was not the direction I had thought our conversation was going to go. Does Duncan get annoyed? Sure. But he’s typically calm, not one to push against me. Weird. I start to dial Parker’s number.

“You should pack that, pretty girl.”

A voice beside me breaks through the fog, causing me to turn my head, finding Rhodes standing in the doorframe, one hand above his head, gripping the molding.

“Oh, I should, should I?”

His hair is loose—wild and untamed—and the way he’s standing has a slip of skin showing on his abdomen, teasing me with that happy trail leading down to dark denim slung low on his hips. A glint shimmers in those blue eyes. I think he needs to get out of this city as much as I do. Rhodes pushes off the doorframe, stalking my way.

“It could come in handy. I plan on keeping you very, very satisfied. You never know how playful we’ll be.” Rhodes places a quick kiss on my lips as he slides the toy from my hand, tossing it into my bag. “Now, are you packed?”

“Almost. I’m just waiting on a few things, and then we can go.” I climb on our bed, sitting cross legged, peering up at Rhodes. “What’s it like there?”

Rhodes sits on our floor, taking my hand in his, and runs his thumb over my knuckles. “The house sits off the main road by several miles. My parents fixed it up from a run-down shack. It’s honestly perfect. There’s three beds, a decent kitchen. That bay window Lennon will spend all his time in.” He stares at the bedspread, clearly lost in the thought.

“The lakeshore butts right up to the house, so we’ll have the ability to run out and skinny dip,” he says with a smirk. “I cannot wait to watch your body dance toward the water, Amelia. I don’t know why you packed a swimsuit.” His eyes flick up to meet mine. “I’m just going to strip it off your body.”

I chuckle at Rhodes, fully aware of the seriousness of his words. “I’m excited. It’s like seeing another piece of you, one I feel like no one else gets,” I say as I squeeze his hand. “It sounds like heaven.”

“It will be now that you’ll be there.”