Chapter Seventeen

Five days

Rafael

I think about the week and smile. I don’t think I could have planned a better week of Ops if I tried. Athos ran perfect. The teams are supporting each other in a way that I haven’t seen before. Some of them show when the team gets in just to tell them they did a good job. Perez has video running in the common rooms. I wasn’t sure if it was good or bad at first. Waters thinks it will keep everyone motivated. The Commanders don’t seem to care.

When she moves, my arm moves to tighten around her instinctively, but I hold still. She’s facing away but has her head on me close to my shoulder. I love her sleeping against me. Her legs straighten and I roll so I’m against her back. “Morning, mi vida.”

“Mmm, morning.” It sounds like a moan causing my dick to jump.

I smile. “It could be.” My hand runs up her side starting at her waist getting another morning moan sound.

She takes my hand and moves it to her tit. “No laps, crazy acrobat stuff on the bar, or jobs this morning?”

“Hmm, your crazy acrobat stuff on my dick was the plan, mi amor,” I tell her rubbing my beard against her neck and biting her ear.

Her body shivers, I smile and squeeze her nipple. “I love your plans.” She moves my hand and rolls off the bed. “In a minute I’ll love it more.” She runs hitting the throw rug and slides to the bathroom door. She’s getting good at that, but I need to get new rugs. I use the bathroom off the kitchen and beat her back to bed.

She slides on the rug back with the biggest smile. “Drool worthy body, panty dropping smile and loves thick dark chocolate sounds like an ad for a dating site. I’m just calling you mine, GI Joe.” Rolling toward me she pulls my hand putting it back on her tit. For some reason, I think she’s going to be another Stella when she gets older. I push that away squeezing her nipple and burying my face in her hair.

“Could I at least be Rafael?” I scrape my teeth on her neck taking a little bite.

“Mmm, I love you both. GI Joe is hard and rough.” She moans as I slide my dick against her. “Rafael is romantic. He doesn’t miss hitting all my favorite places with his sexy languages and big fat, aaaaah.”

I push in hard smiling. “My Bella is ready for anything all the time. It’s time to stop describing and feel, mi amor.”

“I feel like I love Rafael.” She pushes back trying for deeper and I clamp my mouth shut. She’s going to be a Stella. Getting that out of my head, I push in deeper listening to her breathing and those sexy as fuck sounds she makes.

Moving my arm under her, she holds her hand over mine at her pussy. Mi vida knows where she wants me. My mouth finds her neck then her ear and I tell her how good she feels in my hands and on my dick. She moans and moves her ass in perfect sync, making me feel more connected to her. She has no idea what I’m saying but gives me those sexy reactions.

Her hand pushes mine in harder. “Ohh, don’t stop.”

“Never, beautiful. Feeling your pussy love my dick is heaven.” I switch to English. “Let it go, baby.”

She moans as her body starts shaking. I switch back to French. “Let it go so I can feel that heaven right here with you in my arms.” My breath stalls as she squeezes my dick. The primal sound she makes has me holding her tighter. The first breath I take is a moan. “Heaven, beautiful.”

Moving slow I hear her breath go deeper and her sounds louder. I get to my knees pulling her with me not wanting to lose the connection. I start moving again. Slow gives her time to climb back to us, so I slide in and out talking to my Bella about her making that easier for me.

When she moans I move faster, harder. Her breathing gets shallow and I’m ready for her to push me over. “Again, my beautiful witch. Take me to heaven with you and I’ll protect you in my arms while we fly.”

I jump back to English, slamming into her, feeling every stroke she makes. Wrapping my arms around her, I pull her up. “Now, baby, let go with me now.” Sitting back on my knees I slam her down with a growl and hold her still while she yells.

Jesus, keeping her wrapped up in me I catch my breath without moving anything else on my body. “You feel like heaven, beautiful.”

“You too,” she moans holding my arms as if I’m going to let go.

I kiss her neck and shake my head. She blows my mind making it hard to remember if I spoke English.

A knock then the door opening has my arm reaching for the table. My gun is aimed with one arm across Cassidy. She giggles as Myrna’s head pokes around the door.

Jesus Christ. I’m on my knees with my back to the door and Cassidy in front of me laughing. “Next time I shoot first,” I growl at her.

“Oooh, it would be worth it! Stella!”

I’m trying to decide if stunning her would kill her while Cassidy is laughing like the cartoon dog only making those wheezing sounds.

“Get out!” My finger stretches as I aim at her shoulder.

Stella pushes the door open wider running in. Seeing the gun, she stops short. “Oh my, look at the muscles on his back!”

Cassidy is coughing in between the wheezing dog sounds and I’m fucking pissed. “Get the fuck out!” Yelling does no fucking good with these two.

Myrna steps into the room and I shoot the wall with the laser. They scream running out.

Dropping the gun, I turn Cassidy around. “Bella, relax. Just hold your breath for a couple of seconds.” Her head is nodding, but her body is still shaking with the wheezing and coughing.

“Is she okay, Rafael?”

This is not happening, but it does explain how Myrna and Stella got in. “Mom, get out and close the fucking door.” I hold Cassidy against me thinking there is no possible way this could get any more embarrassing for her.

“Harper! Cassidy can’t breathe!” my mother yells and I pick up the gun pointing it at the door. Stella and Myrna are yelling out there telling Lecompte to hurry.

Lecompte runs in and spins around moving right back out. “Lecompte, get them away from my fucking room! Hold them in the living room using whatever force is necessary!”

“Roger, Commander. Umm, I am backing into the room to pull your mother out.” She steps back in, reaching behind her, laughing the whole fucking time. Jesus.

“I changed your diapers. It’s nothing I haven’t seen before.” My mother wants to make a stand now?

Lecompte makes a noise giving my mother’s arm a yank. “I’m pretty sure watching them like this is incestuous porn.”

Jesus. “Cuff them, shoot them, lock them up!”

The door slams closed and I loosen my arm around Cassidy and drop the gun. “Bella, I’m all for you breathing anyway you can, but your teeth are sunk into my chest.”

She makes a noise and thank fucking God, let’s go. I get her inhaler and wait for the wheezing laugh to get to the end. When she pulls in air, I shoot medicine in her mouth. I have no idea if people can die from laughing, but she needs to breathe.

Rubbing her back I tell her about the week being good. She looks up at me and starts laughing again. “Breathe, mi vida.”

She nods laying her head back on my chest. “Sorry I bit you. I didn’t know I was until you said it.” A laugh bubbles up, but she stops it.

“Usually when you bite me, my dick jumps into action. Today he was hiding. Next time make it without the fucking crazy women. ”

She laughs and my arms loosen. “I thought men dream about more than one woman in their bedroom.”

I lift her up thinking she’s as fucking crazy as they are. “That’s fucking sick and I’m positive it’s never the dream of any sane man.” I shake getting that thought away from me and bring her to the shower.

She laughs the whole way.

Fucking sick.

* * *

Cassidy

After the lecture he gave them he went downstairs. Not one of them said a word the whole time. Stella and my mom were staring at him and his mom was waving her hand like it didn’t pertain to her. Basically, it did no good.

“He’s got a beautiful body. I bet Miguel does too.” Stella gets up wringing her dishtowel and starts pulling out food for breakfast.

Harper laughs like this is funny. I grab the towel and point at them to sit. “You won’t listen to him, so I’m going to say it in a way that you understand. If you walk into our bedroom again, you will be invited to only traditional holidays here. You will not pop in for dinner, you will not celebrate with our friends and us, you will not be asked to babysit our children. You will be the rude, obnoxious women that are invited for Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter. I’m going to the bakery with Harper to get Rafael breakfast. I don’t want your damn breakfast so don’t cook for us.”

I pull Harper with me and stomp my foot at the bottom of the stairs. I forgot my purse. I hear power tools and walk around to the workshop. He looks up as I get closer and shakes his head. I stop walking and wait for him to shut his machine off. “The sawdust will make breathing harder, mi vida.”

I nod. “I just need some money for the bakery. I threatened the lunatics and stormed out telling them I didn’t want their food but forgot my purse.”

He laughs pulling the mask down and kisses the edge of my lips. “Always protecting me. I love it, mi vida.” He hands me his wallet and pulls his mask back up. “Take what you need, Bella.”

I almost dance with excitement. I have his wallet in my hands. I step back opening it and see money and credit cards in the little spaces for them. The man hides nothing. Damn. Taking a twenty, I put the wallet on the counter giving him a wave.

Harper watches me, then her eyebrows draw down. “What’s the matter?”

“The man doesn’t hide anything. His drawers, his wallet, his closet have nothing to look at. No secret treasures.”

She shakes her head and pulls me down the drive. “You’re like Ma with the snooping. Stop this now, or I’m going to go through life holding you at gunpoint.”

Egad! “I am nothing like Ma!”

At the bakery, she gives me a look. “Why don’t you think about that while you’re going through more drawers and closets thinking Rafael is hiding the good stuff from you. I’ll sit back and watch hoping you’ll get a fuckin’ clue that he is the good stuff, he doesn’t need to hide shit. He lets you see it all.”

She looks at the display case and I feel horrible. He does show me everything. What am I looking for? He’s honest, he’s fascinating and he loves me. She gets a box started and I add to it getting Rafael his favorite real cream and strawberry long johns.

When we get back, he stops and makes us coffee with his little one cup maker. I didn’t even know it was here. Harper was right. Everything is right out in the open. We eat talking about next week. His plans are made and he’s happy. I can’t take the time off work and asked for a couple of days then a honeymoon next month. He agreed but is keeping the plan a secret until we’re married. I think that’s smart.

He gives me a funny look. “What am I wearing, mi vida?”

I shrug, “I only had my dress and the bridesmaids. ”

“A tux needs to be ordered.” He’s got a surprised look on his face like he just realized he has to dress himself for the wedding.

I laugh. “If you want a tux you better order it.” I did tell him comfortable.

Harper is watching then sits forward. “Your uniform doesn’t fit here?”

My eyes snap to his seeing his nod. I close my eyes knowing I’m an idiot. I bet everyone he knows was married in uniform. “I’m wearing a dress that is white and blue and falls to just under my knee on one side and lower on the other. It’s more of a dancing dress than a wedding dress.” I smile seeing that he’s surprised.

“Her whole life she just wanted to be comfortable and have fun. She doesn’t want wedding games and the stupid shit. She’s not throwing a bouquet to raise hopes or starting shit with another couple. She wants fun, eating, drinking and dancing. Be comfortable, Commander. A button down and nice pants will work.”

He nods then smiles. “At home, you can call me Rafael, Harper. After this morning you earned that one.”

Harper cracks up, then I do. “They’re fuckin’ crazy. I think Cassidy got to them, but I’d lock the door at all times.”

He nods so seriously. “I’m having a scanner installed on it.”

I jump up and run to the bathroom trying to get the button and zipper on the side down before I wet my pants. I sit and breathe a sigh of relief then laugh. They can’t get in without the fingerprint thing. I can’t wait for them to start trying to get past that one. We’ll be missing glasses and be touching tape all over the house.

When I come out, he says Harper went upstairs with Donna. He actually said Harper instead of Lecompte. I kiss my GI Joe and help clean up his counter then walk the stairs thinking about the scanner. He has one on his office. He uses an old hitching post to hold the door open when people are working in there. Sometimes the door is closed, but I think he’s the only one that can get in.

I hear Stella telling Donna what position we were in when they walked in. Dear Lord, his mother is right there.

“That was his father’s favorite,” my almost mother-in-law says.

I stop, not wanting to know this, but I know they won’t stop if I don’t move.

“Can we NOT talk about my sister and the Commander’s favorite position, please? This is fuckin’ off on way too many levels. You’re their parents and shit. Stop already.” Harper has me staying put. I’m glad she’s disgusted with them.

“Even you were fanning yourself when you walked out!” Stella yells.

Harper jumps up seeing me. “He was pointing a fuckin’ gun at me!”

Donna laughs. “Sounds like an interesting morning. Tell me again what made you open the door to their bedroom?”

They all look around the table top hoping for something to clean.

“I thought I heard Cassidy yell. I did knock,” my mom says sounding ashamed. I don’t move thinking this is new.

“He shot at us! Blue light came from his gun like the Wars movie!” Stella rushes to tell her.

“So, not just Myrna was checking on Cassidy, but you followed?” Donna is cross-examining them and they’re going to lose. She’s a good lawyer.

Stella is shaking her head no and smiling. “I ran right in when Myrna called. I was closer and saw all his muscles holding her in front of him and his arm out with the gun. You could even see muscles on his butt.” She looks at Rafael’s mom, “He has a nice butt.”

“So, Myrna called you in after she saw Cassidy needed help?” I love her. She’s not going to let up.

“Well, no. Cassidy was fine. At least I thought she was. He shot the blue light and we ran. Then we heard him telling her to breathe and his mom went in. ”

Donna’s face turns to Mrs. Saber. “You walked into his room after he shot at Myrna and Stella? You thought it was okay for you to go in?” She doesn’t wait for an answer. “If anyone walked into your room while you were naked and in a compromising position, you’d scream bloody murder and expect them to leave. He protected Cassidy and actually had to endure Myrna inviting Stella into the room. Then you think it’s okay because you’re special and gave him life, so you stay and have to be pulled out by Harper. So, this man and woman have been seen by no less than four sets of eyes, only one of which gave them birth. What the fuck is wrong with you that this is now okay? Did any one of you apologize?”

Harper raises her hand. “I did. But I was told Cassidy couldn’t breathe. They didn’t say they were naked on the bed and he was pointing a gun. I just walked into all that.”

“I told them they wouldn’t be welcome here for anything other than three holidays. That was humiliating for my poor GI Joe and me.” I walk in and sit.

“They don’t deserve to be here now. I can’t believe he didn’t kick them out.” Donna plops down next to me.

“He’s trying to show them respect. He thinks they’ll calm down once they see he’s accepting them. He’s obviously wrong,” I tell her.

Harper laughs. “Boy was he wrong. They’ll get pissed if you treat them badly, but laugh when they do it. Let’s go down to the flea market. We already did the dinner plans,” Harper says and I’m ready.

I make the bed quick and get my purse. Rafael was so pissed he washed me, dressed and left the bed unmade. He hates that. My poor GI Joe was rattled this morning. When I come out, only Harper and Donna are in the kitchen. “They went to apologize and said they’ll meet us later for dinner.” Donna is smiling.

“Thanks for pointing it out. I swear they live to humiliate me. His mother was standing six feet away from me while his hand was covering my boob. ”

“I’m never getting married if mother-in-laws think that’s normal. The new jokes we could come up with for that will be fuckin’ awesome. Imagine if it’s Stella?” Her voice goes low. “‘Wait, babe, let me just grab the dishtowel and wipe that up.’ He pulls the towel out of Stella’s hand then goes back to fuckin’ you.”

“EUWWWWW!” we say at the same time laughing.

At the bottom of the stairs, I’m stopped by Donna’s back. When I look up, my eyebrows hit my hairline. Rafael is looking at his feet, but Stella, my mom and Mrs. Saber are looking at us.

Harper moves toward the door. “I’d say I’m sorry for talking about you like that, but it is so close to true I can’t.” Oh, my God, she is so rude. Honest, but rude.

Donna follows giving them a finger wave and my feet move me to Rafael. “We’ll be back in a couple of hours. Do you want me to kick the golden girls out?”

He laughs pulling me into a hug. “If they make you happy, they can stay, mi vida, mi amor. I’m working in the shop unless I’m called for Ops. I can work from here today. Have fun, Bella.” His damn voice that close to my ear is killing me.

Once the shiver passes, I lift up and kiss his neck then lips. “Love you, GI Joe.”

* * *

Rafael

I clean up the shop and put Cassidy’s little treasures in a clean box. Taking them upstairs I bring them right into the room glad she’s gone today. I smile remembering Harper’s joke. It wasn’t far off. The ‘golden girls’ left without a word as soon as my Bella walked out.

Turning the knob on the bookshelf drawer, the shelves slide to the side and I walk in. The lights come on by sensor throwing a glow around the shelves and walls. I put the box on the bed and start pulling pieces out, putting them on the shelves with mine. Her father got her a little something from different countries. I smile at the geisha figurine. I had to get two toy horse figures and transfer the hair to it. I think it came out pretty good. When I’m done, I lay on the bed and look around. The ceiling is a painted sky scene. The bed is like a big day bed with pillows on three sides. Above me are pictures I bought in Africa and Germany. The landscapes are nice, but looking around, my eyes fall on my favorite. It’s a sketch of a woman lounging across a bed just like this one. Her long dark hair and the shape of her face reminded me of Wonder Woman. It’s been wrapped for so long, when I finally hung it up, I was struck by the similarity to Cassidy. It’s perfect. Familiar.

Fixing the pillows, I make sure the room looks right for when she sees it. Walking around I move figures forward or to the side then run my hands along the spines of the books. I can picture us in here with me reading to her from them. I walk out, but turn to see how it will look when I open it for her. I see her treasures mixed with mine thinking it’s perfect.

Closing the doors, I take the box downstairs and pull the table out. She had a table to put her keys and purse on when she walked into her house. Using the wheel, I made her a place to hang her purse or coat and drop her keys. At the top landing, I move it into place and step back. I adjust it at an angle and look again. I like it. Taking the tray Harper found from her old house, I put it on the little table and smile. Dropping my keys in it has become a habit for me.

I hear the door, then my mother telling them to put the bags on the dumbwaiter. Rolling my eyes, I go down to help thinking here we go again and Cassidy isn’t here to guard my ass.

“I got it,” Ford says and I smile. He can guard my ass.

* * *

Cassidy

“I can’t believe you bought it.” Harper is going on again about the stupid picture.

Donna slaps her arm. “It’s a beautiful specimen of the male form. His dick isn’t showing, so why are you making a big deal about it?”

It looks like Rafael too. I don’t dare add. She’s still a little grossed out by seeing him this morning.

“The frame is pretty too. I bet he can fix it up.”

She laughs. I think he’d do it for me. When we get out of the car, he walks toward it. I don’t move but watch him get closer. Damn, he’s sexy in all the right places.

“Just in time, Bella. The ‘golden girls’ just pulled in. I only had Ford to guard my ass.” He’s too cute.

“I got your body parts covered. The ‘golden girls’ fits. I’m using it from now on. Did you get your work done?”

His whiskers skate right across my cheek. “I did, mi vida. I can’t wait for you to see it, but it’s a wedding present. You’ll have to be patient and let the anticipation build.” His teeth scrape down my ear and I shiver with anticipation.

“Holy shit, you need a friggin’ warning label or something.” Harper slams the door making me jump. “You might change your tune, Commander. She’s got something to show you.”

Dammit! I look up fast. “I was hoping you could fix up the frame.”

Donna laughs walking away. Traitor. I pull the frame out and show it to him watching his face. His eyes follow the lines like he’s memorizing the picture. When he moves to the frame, his fingers follow the grooves. “I can do something with this, mi amor. It’s perfect.” He’s talking as if to himself. His eyes go from the frame back to the picture.

I didn’t really think he’d like the picture, but I knew he’d love the frame. He fixed one from his father’s box that was similar. “You like it?”

His head turns fast like I surprised him. “I love it. I’ll fix this for you, mi vida. It will be perfect. ”

Perfect. Why does he keep saying that? “Thank you.” Men are so weird.

He takes my hand and walks me in holding onto the frame. “I’ll put this in the shop and be up.”

I get a kiss on the edge of my lips then he’s walking away. I guess he likes the picture. My feet don’t move until I hear the door go up. Men. Running up the stairs, I stop at the top. There are purses hanging from his boat wheel. The man may be weird, but he does some really impressive work. Sliding my hand across the table, I can’t help but smile. My key tray sits right in the middle. Digging for my keys, I drop them on the tray and hang my purse with the rest. What a cool thing to do with a wheel.

When I get to the kitchen, I look back at it. It fits in with his furniture. He’s good with his hands.

“Where’s Rafael?” Donna asks as she’s ripping lettuce up.

I shrug, “He liked the picture and took it to his workshop.”

They start talking about the wheel and other things he’s done. I jump in helping get dinner going.

When I’m setting the table, I realize he hasn’t come up at all. Ford and the twins showed. May and a couple of guys I don’t remember names for are here, but I haven’t seen Rafael. Setting the last place, I turn toward the pole but hear Mrs. Saber yell down that dinner is ready.

When he comes in following everyone from downstairs, he’s smiling. I get a kiss right on the lips this time. “It won’t take long, Bella.” He’s excited.

I just nod and sit. I catch my mom and Stella staring at him, but they keep their comments to themselves. For once.

“We have news,” Mrs. Saber tells us. Everyone looks her way. “I am moving in with Stella and Myrna.”

“Oh, shit,” Harper says making the men laugh.

I look at my mother. “You’re moving?”

She nods looking so happy. I look at Harper, but she’s watching the three of them. “We decided we like being the golden girls and are moving into Stella’s house.”

“What about Télia?” Rafael asks his mother.

“She is moving to Donna’s garage. She already has a job here. My children are here or in California. I want to live near you and Miguel. You’ve been gone so long and I never see either of you.” Awww. I feel so bad for her all alone in New York.

He rolls his eyes at her. “We saw you more than everyone else did.”

She waves her hand and I picture Stella’s dishtowel in it. This is going to be fun.

“I’ll bail them out first.” I look around the table.

They all laugh. “I’ll take the second,” Donna says.

“Don’t call me. I’ll let your asses rot in jail.” She is just so damn rude. Sometimes I want a blood test proving she’s related.

Rafael is shaking his head. “You need your things brought up?”

“The twins volunteered to move us in and Télia is getting rid of all she doesn’t want. I already had what I wanted here but furniture.” Oh, my God, she’s as diabolical as the other two.

Donna didn’t miss that. “So, you were moving up here before you even left New York.”

She smiles so pretty nodding her head. Rafael is looking at his plate, but everyone else is laughing.

I squeeze his hand and his eyes turn from the plate to me. “I’m sorry, Bella, but she’s not as bad as Stella, yet.”

I laugh kissing the side of his lips. “I can do something with that, mi amor,” I tell him laughing at his surprised face.