His hand faltered slightly, I raised my knee and kicked him hard in the shin and he staggered which was enough for Richard to move.
In one fluid motion, Richard surged forward, gripping the man's wrist and twisting it until the gun clattered to the ground. I stepped aside, my heart in my throat as Martin, appeared out of nowhere, tackling Damon to the ground.
Richard knelt, staring him down with a mix of rage and pity. "I once promised to skin whoever put my wife in harm's way before handing them over to the police. But Rachel wouldn't have wanted that, this will be my last gift to her,"
"You have more enemies, how do you think I knew where to find her tonight," Damon glared up at Richard, seething. "I might have failed but I am not the only one seeking your family's downfall,"
Martin hauled him to his feet as the police arrived. Richard and I watched in silence as he was led away quietly. When the chaos finally subsided, I turned to Richard.
"I could really use that takeout now." He reached for me, hugging me tightly.
"I have to get in life or death situations to get a hug from you nowadays?" I joked and he chuckled.
"I have never been so afraid in my life," he cupped my face in his hands and kissed me on the lips, pouring all of his emotions into that one deep kiss. I love this man, I really do.
*****
Richard's POV
The smell of pizza filled the living room as Nita and I sat cross-legged on the floor, a box of half-eaten pepperoni pizza rested between us, and for a moment, everything felt... normal. Even though she had been through a near-death experience just a couple of hours before.
We were having an argument about my choice of pepperoni and she had laughed, that familiar laughter that looked like she was truly happy.
The fear I felt when I saw the gun to her neck almost crippled me but her bravery swept me off my feet. She maintained her composure like she had been through that experience a million times. I was wrong about her, I thought she wouldn't be able to handle our world, butshe impressed me every day like she was born to be a Numero.
"I'm sorry about tonight," I said to her and she looked at me with those intense eyes that made me want to drown myself in them.
"We are in this together, Richard at least for the next eight months, and besides I know you got my back," she said with a small smile.
Eight months… eight months… looks like time was flying. I just saw her walk down the aisle like two days ago? "Come here,"
"What?!" she looked at me surprised as we were already sitting a few inches apart. I pulled her to me by her waist until she was sitting on my lap. "Richard?"
"Do you ever do as you are told, Mrs Numero?" I pulled her face closer with a finger under her chin.
"You'll get bored,"
"we wouldn't want that would we?"
I pressed my lips to hers, her breath hitched but thank God, she responded. The kiss started slow, a tentative exploration, but it quickly deepened. If I could pull her closer, I would. I needed her like the air I breathe but I can't have her, only to let her go in eight months. Her fingers tangled in my hair, and I felt every blood in my body rush in one direction.
I pulled back and made my way to her blouse, pulling the buttons loose slowly and nibbling around her cleavage, still covered with her bra. She moaned loudly and shifted against my erection. Good Lord!"
She reached for my shirt buttons but I stopped her, I was barely hanging on by a thread, I couldn't let her touch me. I held her breast in my palm, squeezing lightly, to distract her.
"Oh God…." She groaned and grabbed my hair. Through the sheer material of her bra, I flicked my tongue around her nipple. Her gasps came quickly, one after the other.
"relax baby. Just let me…" I whispered against her chest.
"Do something, please," she arched her back giving me further access into her. I pulled in the erect nipple through the sheer fabric and sucked on it as I ran my hand down her chest and between her thighs. I touched her through clothes I wish were never there. I rubbed her gently and hoped to God that would be enough. Her moans got louder and I could feel her get closer as her body vibrated against mine.
Even in the cold air, sweat beads formed on my forehead. My own passion took a back seat while I pleasured her. She screamed my name before her body collapsed in my arms, her breaths evening out.
"Hmm…" she said, her eyes half-lidded as she looked at me.
"Better than by yourself isn't it?" I asked with a wicked grin.
She laughed again, that sultry laughter. "Funny. What about you?"
"I'm fine," I adjusted my pants to conceal my raging hard-on.
"Richard?"
"No, no… Nita," I couldn't. I just couldn't.
"Just tell me why,"
I can't go all the way with you and lose you. But I couldn't say that out loud now, could I?
"I'm practicing celibacy," I joked.
"bullshit! I am not good enough, is that it?" she said pulling her shirt around her and shuffling off of me.
"What?!" Okay! What in the hell was going on?
"I am not good enough for you, Richard. I don't have the perfect hair, the perfect face, or the perfect figure. I'm not a beauty queen. I'll never be enough and I probably should just quit wasting my time! You can go to your little Miss Perfect and finish off with her!" she got to her feet.
"Nita!" I shuffled up but she was already heading into her room. "Nita! Nita! Come on! Just wait one second!"
"Goodnight!" she slammed the door in my face.
"Nita…" I whispered knowing she couldn't hear me. Married life sucks!