Chapter Five

Tabitha removed the pins from her hair and let it fall freely to her shoulders. She stripped out of her rumpled ball gown and underwear and stepped into the shower stall, letting the warm spray of water cascade over her body from head to toe. Since she’d left her toiletries at the hotel, she had no other choice than to use the hotel bar soap, shampoo, and conditioner. After fully rinsing her hair, she lathered her body again with the lilac-scented soap. Closing her eyes, she let the rain shower spray over her body as the soft aroma, that filled the bathroom, enveloped her.

She could already feel her tightened muscles loosening.

If only I could, she thought and then stopped.

“If only you could what, Tabitha?” she snickered. “What? Forget? Not bloody likely.” She could, and would, however, make them forget they ever knew her name.

Shaking her head as if to clear the invisible cobwebs, she turned the shower off, grabbed one of the fluffy, white towels that hung on a gold towel rack, and quickly dried herself off, leaving the bath towel safely tucked around her. Tabitha then grabbed another towel and dried her hair before wrapping it in a knot around her head. She walked over to the double sink where a picture mirror hung above. She snatched a face cloth from the round, gold ring, used it to wipe the fog from the mirror, and then placed the cloth on the vanity.

Even with all the steam from the shower, the two sconces, hanging on opposite sides of the mirror, filled the room with a warm glow. She could see her reflection. The woman that had graced the covers of magazines for what seemed like forever was suddenly unrecognizable to her.

Tabitha stared at her image a bit longer: slender shoulders, bare except for the towel that she’d wrapped around her. Her skin tone a darker caramel against the whiteness of the bath sheet. High cheekbones, a feminine jawline, and full lips framed an oval shaped mouth. An aristocratic-like nose; perfectly arched eyebrows; and dark lashes over hazel contact lenses stared back at her.

Her usually glowing face looked tired. Not a good look at all.

Tabitha wrinkled her nose at her reflection and snorted. “Looks can definitely be deceiving,” she murmured, looking more carefully at the dark circles under her eyes. “Oh well, what the hell, you’ve looked worse, my girl. Far worse.”

She untied the towel from her body and dropped it to the floor. She quickly searched her carryall for her undergarments. After putting them on, she then grabbed one of the hotel’s signature terry-monogrammed bathrobes, slipped her arms through it, and tied it closed. It was a bit big on her, but overall, the robe covered her nicely.

Tabitha then picked up her carryall and walked out of the bathroom and back into the bedroom, where she noticed breakfast had been left for her. She closed and locked the door then rushed over to the bed where she dropped her bag on the floor beside it and sat down.

“You look good, but you have to be cold by now,” she said, looking down at the platter filled with an assortment of breakfast foods. Without thinking about it, she poured herself a cup of black coffee and began to dig into the lukewarm food. Her taste buds weren’t picky. Other than the food not being hot, it was decent. She’d had worse, much worse.

After she finished, she swung her legs up over the bed, rested her still-toweled head against the headboard, and closed her eyes.

“Okay you slimy bastard, how did you know where to find me?” she whispered. She was caught off guard last night with that lock of hair. A cold chill spread across her spine, causing her to shiver.

She would not think about this now. She needed to get out of here without Solomon’s all-knowing eyes looking through her. Tabitha could not afford too many more bumps in the road. There was no more room for error. From now on, it was full speed ahead.

Tabitha thought she heard a soft chirping sound. She opened her eyes and looked around with a frown on her face. Her ears perked up. There it is again. What is it? Just as quickly as she imagined it, she realized what it was and raced over to her bag to retrieve her cell. She looked down at the caller ID and quickly answered.

“Hello,” she whispered.

“I just wanted to let you know that she’s been asking for you, and she is extremely agitated, more so than usual,” the caller said.

Tabitha sighed deeply. “I am not in the city,” she said.

“I know. You had the wedding to attend. I just thought you should know.”

“Thanks. I appreciate it. I am going to try to get a late flight out tonight and stop in first thing in the morning. Try to keep her calm until then. Call me back if you need me,” Tabitha whispered into her cell.

“Will do. See you tomorrow,” the caller replied and then disconnected the call.

Tabitha stared down at her cell for a minute. She needed to charge it. Taking out her charger, she walked back over to the bed and plugged it into the outlet connected to the bedside lamp and then took out the fresh set of clothes from her carryall and dressed.

Tabitha removed the towel from her damp hair, and searched her handbag for a band to tie her hair back. Once her hair was under control, she grabbed her travel-sized solution and squirted a few drops in each of her eyes to wet her contacts.

She also needed to book a flight on the red eye to Chicago. When she could, Tabitha always took the late flight to Chicago when she visited. She was less conspicuous then. She would check available flights later, but right now, she needed to breathe for a minute. Tabitha plopped down on the bed and rested her face in her hands.

There was a soft knock on the door, and she grunted. Undoubtedly, that would be Solomon. The handsome devil just would not give up. She was surprised that he found her. From her time with Asia at that Texas hotel to now, he tracked her with stalker-like precision. He never spoke, just quietly watched and followed with those all-knowing silver orbs.

“Come in!” she called out. Tabitha caught her breath at the sight of him. Solomon exchanged his suit pants and shirt for a pair of well-worn, black jeans and a white tee shirt. His dark hair gleamed and was pushed back from his face, displaying his strong jawline. His hawk-like eyes sparkled like a silver stream, beautiful, unique, and fixated on her. He was looking at her as if waiting for her to say something, but when she did not, he spoke.

“Do you need anything?” he asked.

“No. The food was good. Thank you.” She watched as he walked further into the room and sat next to her on the bed.

“Are you sure?” he asked quietly.

“Positive,” she replied. “You don’t have to worry about me Solomon. I can take care of myself. I’ve had plenty of practice. Believe me.”

“Hmm, so because you’re used to taking care of yourself, I’m supposed to fade into the background, and not worry about you? That’s not happening. I’m not going anywhere Tabitha. I believe you know this already,” he said.

“I don’t have time for any kind of relationship, Solomon,” she said, looking over at him.

“Have you had a relationship Tabitha? A real relationship? A healthy, romantic one?” he asked.

Tabitha stood up from the bed, walked over to the drapes, and pulled them back. She closed her eyes and bathed in the fresh rays of sunshine.

“You ask too many questions,” she said. Folding her arms across her breast, she opened her eyes and looked out of the picture window at nothing in particular.

“And you do a good job of avoiding and not answering questions,” he said walking over to stand behind her.

She tensed up. Tabitha knew what he was going to do before he actually did it. Solomon pulled her back against his tall muscular frame.

“Relax. I am not going to hurt you,” he said, his soft breath fanning her ear.

Oh but you can hurt me, and you will, she thought to herself.

“No I won’t,” he said, engulfing her tighter in his arms.

What? Had she spoken aloud?” She could feel the deep thunder of his heart beating against her back.

“No you won’t what?” she asked.

“Hurt you,” he responded.

“Oh so you read minds now? In fact, ever since last night, you have been invading my thoughts and finishing sentences that I have started. What’s the deal with that?” she asked, relaxing against him.

Tabitha felt safe with him and for that reason alone, he held the power to hurt her. She never had the choice before, the gratification of feeling safe. Her motto for a very long time now, for what seemed like forever, was “Survival.”

“No Little Sparrow, I don’t read minds. Your body language speaks volumes, that is, when you slip and let your guard down,” he whispered against her hair.

“I will have to be more careful,” she said but did not elaborate further.

“Not around me you don’t. We have to talk about what’s going on. Who’s so interested in you?”

“No one, and why do you keep on calling me Little Sparrow? I am neither little nor a sparrow.

“Oh, but you are. Sparrows are small in nature but very powerful, quiet yet protective. They remind one that you do not have to be loud to be heard nor big to feel important. The sparrow goes about its business without making a fuss; always moving, never idle. They travel in groups; not to be threatening but to protect and be protected. They appear docile, yet can be deadly when challenged. This is how I see you, Tabitha,” he whispered. “That is why you will always be Little Sparrow to me. You never travel in a group, but you’re always with groups of people, sitting back waiting to protect.”

Solomon’s words washed over her body like a sweet love song. This man was dangerous, not because he could probably kill her, but because he was quickly embedding himself into her heart. She snuggled closer to him. If she got any closer, she would be a part of him.

He ran his masculine hands up and down her arms to comfort her. She loved those hands.

“Have faith that I won’t harm you in any way,” he whispered, as one sleek hand slipped under her blouse and inside her bra to cup one of her full breasts.

Her breath hitched in her throat.

“Relax. I won’t hurt you,” he murmured against her hair.

“Yes, you will,” she breathed, as he stroked her nipple. “What are you doing to me?”

“Making you feel good. Showing you that you do trust me on some level,” he whispered, giving her hardened peak a little pinch before twirling it between his thumb and index finger.

“Oh man. I can’t,” she moaned.

“You can’t what, Tabitha? Believe in me? Have faith in me? What?”

“I can’t let this happen. It’s not right.” She moaned again.

“Can’t let what happen? Letting go? What can’t you let happen, Tabitha?”

She could not think. Her body seemed to have a mind of its own as it gave in to Solomon’s ministrations. His hands were doing delicious things to her breast. Tabitha was on the verge of climax.

“Oh my god, stop!” she groaned and placed her hand on his, as if to guide him, as if he needed help. No, he was doing quite well on his own.

Tabitha’s legs closed tight as if to stem off her orgasm.

“Don’t be afraid, love, let go,” he whispered and then blew softly in her ear.

She lost it. Tabitha was sure Domino would have heard her scream had Solomon not quickly covered her mouth.

Her breath came out in spurts as she started to come down off of her high.

“How do you feel?” he asked, as if he did not know.

“How’d you do that?” she gasped.

“I didn’t do anything. You did it Tabitha, and it was beautiful,” he whispered, pulling her tighter into his embrace.

Tabitha could not believe what just happened. She climaxed from Solomon playing with her breast as if he actually penetrated her. She could feel his soft, yet slightly irregular, heartbeat against her back. Oh yes, he was also affected by what just happened between them. He always seemed to be in control. A loud shrill startled her from her thoughts. She jumped and whipped her head around in the direction of the sound. It was her cell vibrating and ringing on the night table.

Who could that be, she thought. Tabitha quickly disengaged herself from Solomon’s embrace and walked in slow motion to the nightstand to retrieve her cell. She carefully looked down at the caller ID. Unavailable, it read. Without giving it another thought, she answered.

“Hello,” she called into the cell.

“She’s quite agitated. She even fought me on giving her the sedative. She’s asking for you. What do you want us to do?” the caller asked.

Tabitha let out a deep breath before answering. All right, Tabitha. Showtime. It took all she could muster to camouflage her concern.

“Are you sure? Interesting,” she said.

“Excuse me?” the caller asked.

“I hadn’t planned on leaving until later today. You knew I was at a wedding. Can’t the photo shoot wait until tomorrow?” she said into the mouthpiece, all the while praying that the caller would catch on.

“I keep telling her you’re coming in the morning, but she insists on seeing you tonight. I just need to know if you want us to restrain her in order to sedate her anyway.”

“No, that won’t be necessary. I will catch an earlier flight out. It’s not your fault. Some clients are really demanding. Thanks for calling me.”

“I’m sorry. I wish we didn’t have to bother you. In fact, maybe it’s better if you did come earlier. She keeps saying someone is after her. We’ve checked high and low, and there’s no one here. We’ve even checked the security cameras.”

Tabitha stiffened. She did not like the sound of this, but how could she say so without revealing what was going on. Actually, she herself did not know what was going on.

“I’m sure she’ll settle down soon. I’ll just stay with her until you get here. Again, I’m so sorry to ruin your time away.”

“Don’t be silly. It’s fine. I’ll be there just as soon as I can get a flight out. Talk to you later. Bye,” she said and disconnected the call before the caller could say anything else.

“Is something wrong,” Solomon asked, startling her.

“Oh goodness, you scared me,” she said. “No. Just a photo shoot change,” she said, avoiding all eye contact with him. “I need to book an earlier flight.”

“You’re not going anywhere without me, Tabitha. If you leave, I leave and we’re going together,” Solomon said.

“Solomon,” she began to protest, but he cut her off.

“That’s final Tabitha. I know that was not some photo shoot cancellation. Oh, you tried to mask your concern, but you were a little too late love. I saw it. You can bring me up to speed on the plane. Domino’s private jet is always available. Besides, you don’t have a car, remember?” he smirked. “So where’s the pilot taking us?”

Since she didn’t have time to argue with him, she nodded her head in affirmation.

“Chicago.”

“Is it urgent?”

“I don’t know, yet,” she shrugged nonchalantly, but her insides were in knots.

“I’ll let Dom know. We’ll discuss what’s in Chicago on the way there. I’ll be right back. We should be ready to take off within the hour,” he said, and then left the room, closing the door after him.

Among the many things she liked about Solomon was he knew when to ask questions and when to act.