Chapter Four

R emy

Remy paced the small, dimly lit room of the Commack Motor Inn, his mind racing with thoughts of the day's events. The adrenaline from their narrow escape at the auction house had long since faded, replaced by a growing sense of unease. He glanced at the closed bathroom door, the sound of running water muffled by the thin walls. Cori was in there, washing away the remnants of her disguise and the grime of the night.

He had retrieved a go-bag from his trunk, a habit ingrained from his years on the hunt. Inside, he found a clean T-shirt, which he left in the bathroom for Cori. He tried not to think of her soapy wet and naked behind the shower curtain. Quickly shutting the bathroom door on temptation, Remy pulled out his phone and dialed John Hunter's number, the head of the Hunter's Guild. The man picked up on the second ring.

"What's the situation?" John asked, cutting straight to the chase.

Remy sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I've got Cori, but there's been a complication. Damian Blackwell's men tried to grab her. We barely got away."

There was a pause on the other end of the line. "That's unfortunate."

"No shit," Remy said, his frustration bleeding into his voice. "Listen, John, I need to know who put the bounty on Cori's head. If it was Blackwell, I'm not sure it's safe to bring her in."

John hesitated. "You know I can't reveal that information. I can't break confidentiality."

Remy's jaw clenched. "This isn't just another job to me. Cori's life is on the line here."

"I understand your concern," John said. "But my hands are tied. The best I can do is assure you that the Guild will take every precaution to ensure Cori's safety once she's in our custody."

That wasn't good enough. He didn't trust Blackwell not to have contacts within the Guild, and the thought of handing Cori over without knowing who was pulling the strings made his stomach churn.

"Fine," he said finally, his voice tight. "I'll bring her in tomorrow afternoon. But I'm sticking around to see how this plays out."

"Understood," John said. "We'll be expecting you."

Remy ended the call and immediately called his next-door neighbor. The sound of the bathroom door opening caught his attention, and he turned to see Cori stepping out, a cloud of steam billowing behind her.

She was wearing his T-shirt, the soft fabric clinging to her damp skin. Her short, black hair was tousled from the towel she had used to dry it, and her face was scrubbed clean of makeup. She looked younger, more vulnerable, and the sight of her stole the breath from Remy's lungs.

"I'm so glad to be out of that wig and that outfit," she said.

For a moment, he was transported back in time, to the countless nights they had spent together in his tiny apartment, tangled in each other's arms. She had looked just like this then, sweet and familiar.

The memory was a punch to the gut, a reminder of all they had lost. Remy swallowed hard, his heart aching with the weight of the unresolved emotions that hung between them.

Cori met his gaze, her eyes searching his face. "What's wrong?" she asked.

Remy shook his head, trying to clear the cobwebs from his mind. "Nothing," he said, his voice rough with emotion. "Just seeing you like this ... it brings back a lot of memories."

A flicker of sadness crossed her face. "I know. I'm sorry. For everything."

"Hello?" the older woman on the other end of the phone warbled. It was obvious from the impatience in her voice that this wasn't the first time she had said that.

"Mrs. Leary, sorry. It's Remy. I was wondering if you could take Maximus out for a walk and make sure he's got food and water. My job extended longer than I thought it would."

"Of course," she said. "He's such a good boy. How about he stays with me until you get back?"

"That would be great." One less thing for Remy to worry about. Mrs. Leary lived alone and loved animals. Maximus would be in great hands.

"Maximus?" Cori asked when he ended the call.

"He's not a puppy anymore."

"I wonder if he would still remember me," she said sadly. "I wonder if I'll ever see him again."

"He'd remember. He was inconsolable until I put your T-shirt in his crate. He still sleeps with that teddy bear I won you at Adventureland."

Cori bit her lip and rubbed her shoulders. "He was such a good boy."

"He still is. You'll see."

"Will I?" she said with a half laugh. "How about the three of us head on out to Mexico for a few weeks. Or the rest of our lives?"

"Do you think Blackwell can't find you there?" he asked pointedly.

After a moment she sighed and shook her head. "No. But it was a nice thought."

"How about Jones Beach when this is all over?"

"How about Maui?" she countered.

"Done," he agreed.

Remy stepped closer, reaching out to lift her chin up so she looked into his eyes. The gesture was intimate, familiar, and Cori's breath caught at his touch.

"We were good together, weren't we?" he asked, his voice low and wistful. "Before everything went to hell?"

Cori nodded. "The best," she said, her voice cracking with emotion. "I never wanted to hurt you. I thought you'd be better off without me. You have to believe that. I was in such a terrible place."

Remy's heart clenched at the pain in her voice, the raw honesty of her words. "And I wasn't there for you."

"I never blamed you," she said.

"I blamed myself. After you were gone. I thought that's why you left, because I hadn't supported you as much as I could have when your mother was dying."

"I understood. The job was everything for you. It was all you ever wanted."

"Not everything. Not all I ever wanted. That was you. And I'm sorry if I ever made you feel like you couldn't come to me. I should have been more open."

"You would have never allowed me to do what I did."

"No," he admitted.

"And I would have hated you for that. I needed revenge. I needed to make someone pay."

"Therapy wouldn't have worked?" He tried for a joke, but it fell flat.

"Taking his money was therapy. Giving it to people to pay their hospital bills helped my anger, my frustration, and my feeling of helplessness."

It was wrong, but he understood how she felt. "We're going to go to Hunter's Guild tomorrow."

She nodded. "I understand. Thank you for helping me tonight."

"It doesn't have to just be for tonight."

She frowned up at him. "I'm going to prison, Remy."

"We'll figure this out," he said, his voice firm with conviction. "Together. But first, we need to get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be a long day."

Cori nodded, a flicker of hope crossing her face. She moved to the bed, settling down on the worn comforter with a sigh. Remy watched her for a moment, his heart aching with the need to hold her, to chase away the shadows that haunted her eyes.

Remy settled into the chair by the window, his eyes fixed on the darkened parking lot outside. As he listened to the sound of Cori's breathing, slow and even in the stillness of the room, Remy felt a flicker of hope spark to life in his chest. They had lost so much, sacrificed so much, but maybe, just maybe, they could find their way back to each other. And with that thought, he let his eyes drift closed, his mind quieting as he slipped into a dreamless sleep.

***

C ORI

Cori stirred from a restless sleep, her eyes fluttering open to the dim light of the motel room. She lay still for a moment, her mind slowly piecing together the events of the past few hours. The auction, the chase, the narrow escape from Blackwell's men. And Remy. Unbelievable Remy.

She turned her head, her gaze falling on the man who had once been her everything. He was slouched in the chair by the window, his head lolling to the side as he slept. The sight of him, so familiar and yet so different, made her heart ache with a bittersweet longing.

Cori sat up slowly, the gaudy leopard print comforter falling away from her body. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, her bare feet sinking into the threadbare carpet. A part of her, the part that had been running for so long, urged her to slip out the door and disappear into the night. It would be easy, she knew. A few quick steps and she would be gone, leaving Remy and the tangled mess of their past behind.

But as she looked at him, his face peaceful in the soft glow of the streetlights outside, Cori felt a tug at her heart. She was tired of running, tired of always looking over her shoulder and wondering when her past would catch up with her. And here, in this dingy motel room with the man she had never stopped loving, she felt a flicker of something she hadn't felt in a long time. Hope.

Cori rose from the bed, her steps quiet as she crossed the room to where Remy slept. She knelt beside him, her hand reaching out to gently brush a stray lock of hair from his forehead. The touch was feather-light, a ghost of a caress, but it stirred something deep within her.

She leaned in, her lips brushing against his temple in a soft, tender kiss. It was a gesture of love, of forgiveness, of a desperate hope for a future she had long since given up on.

But as she pulled away, Cori's breath caught in her throat. Remy's eyes were open, his gaze locked on hers with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. He hadn't been asleep at all, she realized. He had been waiting, watching to see what she would do.

"You didn't run," he said.

Cori shook her head, a sad smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I thought about it."

Remy sat up, his hand reaching out to cup her cheek. His touch was warm, comforting, and Cori leaned into it, her eyes fluttering closed.

"I'm glad you didn't," he said. "Now I know that I can trust you."

Cori opened her eyes, meeting his gaze. "The revenge business was feeling more and more hollow with each job. I think a part of me knew that it was time to face the music, to own up to my mistakes and try to make things right."

"I'm proud of you. I know it's not easy, facing the consequences. But I promise you, I'll do everything in my power to keep you safe. I'll stand by you, no matter what happens next."

Cori felt a lump rise in her throat, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. She had spent so long pushing people away, building walls around her heart to keep from getting hurt. But here, in this moment, with Remy's words ringing in her ears, she felt those walls crumbling.

She surged forward, her lips crashing against his in a passionate, desperate kiss. Remy's arms wrapped around her, pulling her close as he darted his tongue in her mouth. He walked her back to the bed, pausing the kiss long enough to lift the T-shirt she was wearing over her head and toss it aside. Her nipples pebbled at the sudden temperature change, and his gaze fixated on them. Cupping her breasts, Remy rubbed his thumbs over her nipples. It felt so damned good, and she groaned.

"God, I need you," he said. "It's been too long." His voice was rough with need.

"You're wearing too many clothes." Cori reached for his shirt. With a swift motion, she lifted it over his head, revealing his muscular chest and toned abs. She ran her hands over him, feeling the hard planes of his body beneath her fingertips.

"Damn, you're just as gorgeous as I remembered," she breathed, her eyes taking in every inch of him before focusing on the bulge straining against his pants. Her fingers worked quickly to undo his belt and zipper, freeing his erection from its confines. Getting down on her knees, Cori took his hard cock in her mouth, her tongue swirling around the sensitive head as she looked up at him. The pleasure that crossed his face was intoxicating, driving her to take him deeper.

"Fuck, Cori," he groaned, his fingers threading through her hair. "I'm going to come down your throat."

Her cheeks flushed with both pride and arousal, knowing she had such an effect on him. As she sucked on him, the taste of his pre-cum mingling with her saliva, she cupped his balls, gently massaging them. Remy's hips rocked forward, sinking himself further into her welcoming throat.

Her eyes never left his as she continued to take him deeper into her mouth. She could feel the pressure building inside of him, and it drove her wild knowing that she was the one causing it. Just like old times.

Remy's breathing became more labored as she sucked on him, her tongue teasing every sensitive spot she could find. His fingers tightened in her hair, guiding her movements as he neared his climax.

He tensed, and when he filled her mouth, she quickly swallowed. He swayed a bit as she let him slide out of her mouth. She kissed up his body until she got to his mouth. "So? Have I lost my touch."

"My memories didn't do that justice." He pushed her down on the bed. "My turn." He spread her legs wide, giving him full access to her most intimate area. "Look at that pretty pussy." Remy leaned down, his tongue slowly tracing a path along her inner thigh before finding its way to her already-swollen clit. The moment his warm, wet mouth enveloped her sensitive nub, Cori's back arched off the bed, a strangled moan escaping her lips. He hadn't lost his touch either.

"Please don't stop," Cori begged, her body writhing beneath his skilled ministrations. Every flick of his tongue, every gentle suck on her clit, brought her closer to the edge—but Remy seemed determined to keep her hovering there, driving her wild with need.

"Trust me, I won't," Remy assured her, a wicked grin playing on his lips as paused to torment her with the wait. Each tantalizing touch only served to heighten her arousal, pushing her further into a state of delicious, maddening spiral.

"I can't take it anymore," Cori cried out, her body trembling as she drenched his face. Her chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath, the intensity of her orgasm leaving her momentarily disoriented.

"Did you enjoy that, babe?" Remy asked, his voice husky with lust as he kissed his way up her body, pausing to suck on her still-sensitive nipples.

"God, yes," Cori panted, her eyes fluttering closed as she enjoyed the sensation of his lips and tongue on her skin. "But I need more."

"More?" Remy raised an eyebrow, a playful smile crossing his face as he slid two fingers inside her, pressing against her slick, sensitive walls. "Is this what you had in mind?"

"Y-Yes," Cori stammered, her hips bucking involuntarily against his hand as he continued to finger her.

"I could do this all night," Remy whispered against her ear, his breath hot and heavy as he fingered her fast until she was twitching and gasping, clamping her thighs on his arm as wave after wave of pleasure flowed over her. Remy's fingers slid out of Cori, leaving her trembling and breathless. The room seemed to vibrate with the intensity of their passion.

"I want you inside me." Cori rolled him on his back, a predatory gleam in her eye. She straddled him, positioning herself over his thick cock. As she guided him inside her, they both let out a guttural moan of satisfaction.

"God, you feel amazing," Remy groaned as she began to ride him hard, bouncing up and down on his length. Cori bit her lip, her body moving in tandem with his.

"Oh," she panted between thrusts, her hands gripping his shoulders for leverage. "I forgot how good you feel."

His hands slid down to squeeze her ass. He thrust up into her, meeting her movements with his own, their bodies colliding in a symphony of pleasure.

"You're so fucking tight. Squeeze me harder," he urged, and Cori complied, focusing on constricting the walls of her pussy around him, coaxing him towards the edge.

Her climax threatened to consume her completely. He matched her rhythm, thrust for thrust. Another orgasm chased the others and exploded like the finale of a Fourth of July fireworks show. Her head was spinning. She felt like she was floating. "Remy," Cori whispered as she slid off him, her body still trembling from the intensity.

"We're not done." Remy flipped her over onto all fours. He positioned himself behind her, gripping her hips tightly as he entered her doggy style. The sensation of him filling her so completely made Cori arch her back. Her sensitized nipples grazed the sheets, as he pounded into her.

"Fuck, you're so deep," she moaned, feeling every inch of him. His thrusts were powerful and unrelenting. The springs in the bed creaked loud in rhythm. For a moment, she thought the bed might shake apart with the force of their coupling.

"Can't get enough," Remy panted as he continued to drive into her.

"Just like that," Cori cried out. This was perfect. So unbelievably good. It felt so right. It felt like coming home.

"Are you close?" Remy gritted out, his grip on her hips tightening as he maintained his relentless pace.

Close? She felt drunk with endorphins. Each orgasm had sent her further and further into oblivion. She was one huge sensation of pleasure. Her inner walls tensed around him with each delicious stroke.

"Don't stop!" she urged, her thoughts a dizzying mix of pleasure and anticipation. With one final, powerful thrust, Cori's orgasm ripped through her, leaving her breathless and shaking.

Remy pulled out and released himself all over her ass. His hot seed coated her skin, the sensation both erotic and possessive. He leaned down and pressed a tender kiss to her back, the contrast of his soft lips against her flushed skin making her shiver.

"Stay right there," he whispered. Moments later, Remy returned with a warm, damp cloth, gently cleaning her up. Sleepy, Cori felt cherished and cared for.

"Next time," Remy murmured, with a promise that sent a thrill through her core, "I'll pick up some condoms. I want to see your eyes when I come inside you."

"Next time?" Cori questioned playfully, a smile tugging at her lips. "You think you can handle me again?"

"And again and again," Remy replied with a confident smirk, sealing their promise with a passionate kiss that left her aching for more.