Rattling Bones

[stone_roses]

Who: Vivian and Breacan.
When: Now.
Where: New York City.

Rating: R for sexual content and talk of violence.
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I pick terrible times to travel.

The thought came when I exited the warmth of one of Hush’s limousine’s to depart into the bitter cold of New York City Winter. Mac, Fiachra MacLir, had been the one assigned to pick me up from the airport and I wanted to protest having him chauffer me around like hired help, when I could do the job of driving myself perfectly well. Admittedly I was more than a little thankful Martel sent a driver. The busy airport filled with harassed workers who saw to equally harassed holiday passengers, managed to get on my wire thin nerves, and the safety of the warm limousine was a cure to soothing my rattled experience.



As I left the car, my eyes caught the driver's gaze and I leant across the seat of the car to plant a soft kiss against the bare skin of his bald head. I could feel the softness and hardness of his skin, at the same time I caught a whiff of his aftershave mingling with the scent of his cigarette. My fingertips brushed along the back of Mac’s head to wipe away the smear my lipstick left. His granite face soften with a well-known lop sided grin.

“Take the night off, Mac. I’ll see you later.”

As I exited the limousine, my lips curled up into a ghost of a smile. I could hear Mac singing in perfect pitch, Ebony Eyes by Bob Welch, and I gave him a wink. Finally, I stood looking at the expansive front of HUSH Hotel. It wasn’t Paris.

I wanted to stay in Paris, enjoy the city in winter and look forward to getting on with the job of modelling booker. I didn’t need Martel to send for me when work went along so well. Well enough to let me collect a few thousand Euro’s for savings. It was a small start. Each day I looked forward to working. An irony considering I was in the city of love; yet all I wanted to do was work. I supposed I shouldn’t be surprised at all with the knowledge I don’t need love and affection, I am far too independent for that. Why would I be interested in love? I was working with the most in-demand fashion photographer, in an exciting day job filled with exquisite fashion. I found myself learning so much looking behind the lens of a camera when they offered to teach me. I had talent for seeing great potential in models who came in. That fabulous skin would photograph a million dollars in colour. With the right make–up and hairstyle they would be a knock-out on the cover. I wasn’t’ so fed up with the usual faces like the working photographer.

I knew things were doing well - now I had to return to New York City.

I moved from the limousine to be greeted by an attractive man in a black uniform with silver buttons and HUSH stitched in pink letters on the left breast of his jacket, he extended a white-gloved hand to help me from the car.

“Good evening, Miss Martel. Welcome back to Hush Hotel.”

I greeted him with a warm smile. He, being the picture of absolute sexual perfection, as was all Martel’s employees. “Thank you Julian.”

My body hummed near Julian. He was easy on the eyes, if you liked the type. Six feet tall, black hair, dark brooding eyes and a rough neck vibe with tattoos and a big muscular build. Julian Decker - Jewels - is a known tiger in the bedroom. I, by this point, have managed to thoroughly convince myself I didn’t want a tiger. Jewels, was then meant for warming my bed and my body was used to curling against his. Unfortunately or fortunately for both of us this trip round I no longer needed bed warmers.

A massive shouldered doorman whooshed opened the doors to Hush letting me step into the warmth of the large lobby. Martel hired people to decorate the lobby to reflect old world Christmas charm with glittering decorations in deep burgundies, warm gold’s, and deep greens. The inviting restful place, appeared as I remembered. There was quietness to the surroundings that put hush into HUSH. Once inside I could pick up my room key at the concierge desk from a graceful, erotic, female redhead. Door key in hand, I made my way wearily to the elevator. I was joined by a patient, eye-catching looking Adonis, bringing my suitcases. My arrival, no doubt, appeared to be common news amongst the staff and I was greeted with high-class service well-known to Hush. I was home.

Entering my room I tipped the bell-hop Adonis, and inspected my surroundings. A king-size bed with arched headboard of two-tone wood, cherry and maple dominated the room with its sheer size. In a hotel meant for sex, nothing else would take up the floor space of the room. The bed looked inviting as I ignored the desire to lie on the thick down comforter that was decorated in geometric patterns of black, white and burgundy. I found myself in the bathroom inspecting my appearance. My hair was in a perfect French braid, dark eyes looked back at me from the mirror. The light application of makeup to my skin didn’t do much to mask the dark circles under my eyes. I still hadn’t managed to sleep properly since Markus and I dragged ourselves from the elevator and back to living some kind of normalcy after the Draug attack. I pushed the thought aside to answer the incoming call on my cell phone.

“Vivian, may I have a moment?”

The voice of Captain Breacan Sanchez came over the line. My brow furrowed – He and Eothian had returned to work – Now he was here? I mentally shrugged, arranging to see him in one of the private rooms Martel organized for conferences. The room was prepared with all the proper security allowing the knowledge the place was not meant for any ears or eyes of outsiders.

I was faced with the back of the sea captain as I entered the room. My gaze lingered over his back. He stood straight, hands behind his back; even at ease he was military as always. Dressed in an elegant dark suit he appeared more than military with his finely toned body. When he turned to face me I resisted a soft gasp of pleasure. My gosh he was beautiful. Alluringly beautiful, similar to those descriptions in fantasy romance books. I briefly imagined him to be like Christian Grey and instantly felt heat creep into my cheeks. The man, the Immortal, was married with a child. Or so I heard. Not to mention he could hardly pass as Grey with such closed off expressions that showed little humour. He no doubt had coined the phrase: Poker face.

I cleared my throat.

“What are you drinking?” I asked and added, “I’ll share one as well.”

He moved fluidly from the window he stood looking at to the bar, then to hand me a glass of liquor. I raised the glass to my lips and let the drink hit the back of my throat; it was subtle Norwegian drink, Akvavit. I could taste the potato and caraway blend and knew its name through Audr.

“Did Martel tell you I was arriving tonight?” I finally asked while I settled upon the comfort of leather couches gracing the conference room.

“I requested Marty to bring you home.”

Even the Captain noted this hotel was my home. I took another drink of Akvavit, eyeing him from behind the rim of the glass. “And Daddy agreed, just like that? There has to be something of importance you wanted then.”

When he took a healthy drink from his own glass and stalked back to the bar to re-fill his glass, I pondered just exactly what favour he was going to request of me. “So, how much should I know about this favour you’re going to ask of me. And do I have any chance of saying no.”

He turned and my heart did a crazy little flip flop at the sight of a smile gracing his sombre features. Damn, how could I say no to that ?

“Madame, there is a life in your hands.”

As if that really gave me any idea of what I was getting myself in for.

“There are things you must know first…”

“What? You’re a Selkie? A Sea god’s captain of the guard?” I arched an eyebrow at him.

“Audr talks?”

I gave him a look from under my dark lashes. “The Immortal can talk underwater; you should know that of Vikings.”

He laughed. I at least had the thought to mentally sigh wistfully and privately continue my ogling. Anything audible would have made me want to slither under the couch in shame.

“This shall make things much easier,” My attention was drawn back to the captain as he spoke. “A Selkie, close to the queen’s protection guards is to be banished. Without the sea he will die.”

“What does this have to do with me?”

“He needs to redeem his treachery in the eyes of our King and Queen…”

My brows knitted together, letting his words sink in, “Whoa now, traitor?! Why don’t you send him to any of the others ---Markus, even?”

“He will kill Markus. Being that he is loyal to our house.”

I could feel the anger rise up in me, feel it darkening my mood. “He touches a hair on Markus’s head and I will toe cut him to begin with…” My voice sounded unnaturally unlike me. I was protective of Markus more than I care to admit and it came about the moment I felt his hand tremble against mine while we stood in that hall way waiting for the end…except it didn’t end. No matter how much fear he had for himself he still pushed me through the first available door and to safety before himself. Markus was a hero in my eyes.

“Audr speaks…”

“No,” I said, standing, “I speak. And I keep to Audr’s promise I will not be the reason Markus dies.”

The captain briefly gave a nod of his head in understanding. “Then, what say you of this arrangement?”

“How can I be a reason for a king and queen of the sea to allow a traitor to return converted?”

“Shall he last a year and a day, remain by your side to fulfil one selfless deed; he will return.”

“If he doesn’t?”

“I will kill him myself.”

My gaze settled on the captain. “He is a friend?”

“Yes. One of the first to introduce me to the Selkie world when Poseidon took me from upland. I owe him.”

I sighed. What harm would it do? A year? “Will he say yes to this idea you’ve cooked up for him?”

“Possibly not. However, I have one thing to give to you to make it impossible for him to say no.”

Taking a healthy drink from the remains of my glass, I suddenly found myself afraid to ask what. Thankfully the sea captain spoke first. He moved to a beautifully carved box made from delicate shell, and turning back to me he held out his arms. In his hands was a fine fur. ”I think fur coats are out of fashion…”

“No Madame, this is not a coat for you to wear. This is his skin and it belongs to you. He must stay with you for as long as you have it. If he steals his skin back then he can leave.”

I gingerly took the ‘skin’ in my hands. It was soft. So very soft. My hands brushed across the silky feel of the fur. “He can’t leave can he?”

“No. I wish for my friend to be saved.”

I sighed, my teeth grazed at my bottom lip in worry. This could end well or end badly. I understood the sea captain’s loyalty to the man who protected him when he first became a Selkie and knew somehow he should be repaid in kindness. But was I really the only option? My gaze rose to search Breacan’s deep, sapphire blue eyes,

“If I save him, then I want your word Markus is free from the debt he owes your house with Audr’s death. And your house will let him live.”

It was a bold move. If I was expected to be part of this arrangement then I should get something out of it too. It may be too bold of a move…

“As Madame wishes.”

We had a deal then. Shockingly so.

I now had a man’s life in my hands – literally with his skin laying against mine – and I knew nothing about him. My stomach felt knotted up in an ill feeling tightness I couldn’t explain. I pondered if this was what women who were in arranged marriages felt like. Except, death or life was hardly a marriage contract, was it? I had more questions for myself after that.

The same night I still had no answers to give myself. The ill feeling tightness in the pit of my stomach had settled into my mouth leaving a bad taste. The feeling only subsided when I let my body greedily take up the heat of Jewel's body while he lay against mine…

So much for not needing bed warmers.