And suddenly,
the monster in him
falls silent as he
rests his head
on her lap.
; TWO YEARS LATER.
"Meridia, go take the whiskey in the storage!" Zolani ordered while keeping her eyes glued on the list in her hands. Her hair was cut into a bob, a red so bright that it was impossible to not notice her. She had asian features, sharp and seductive, she always wore that bitchy expression but deep inside she was a softie that cared a lot about her workers.
Thea swung the cloth over her shoulder and turned to her side to check on her colleague, "You heard her, Dia." She let out an amused chuckle. The club was getting ready to host a special event tonight; delicate golden decorations hung around the place, the dim leds were turned blue instead of the usual red, seats and tables were set up elegantly.
"Fuuuck." Meridia rolled eyes and got out from behind the counter, tying her platinum hair up in a quick and messy bun. It took her so long to let them grow out and she was impressed by the results. She wasn't going to touch them anymore, she had nothing else to bury, no secrets to hide.
She spent the past few years focusing on herself. She retired from the Special Forces and started anew, in another city. Surely, recovering alone was quite hard, it took her alot of therapies and willingness. And she was proud of herself for the results, because now the past no longer influenced her present self like once.
She learned how to move on, to leave behind the guilt and grief. The death of her father wasn't a burden to her anymore, he deserved it for the horrible things he committed and it happened during her military career. John had signed it as defensive, which was partially true.
Joyce, on the other hand, sold the villa and transferred to a smaller house, close to her sons. At least she would've had company.
Meridia headed down to the secluded hallway, greeting the other waitresses that were pacing around the club to finish the last touches. She had been working here for almost a year and she was proclaimed manager just a few weeks ago, so this was going to be her very first time to witness the special event. The guest's list was already full, there were even special guests coming from other cities and she wondered how famous could this kind of night be.
She checked the time on her phone, another thirty minutes and she would've gone to prepare. Getting down the stairs to the storage, she busied herself on the phone while looking for the bottle of whiskey. Ah, how she'd kill for some.
König: How's the preparations going, prinzessin?
She chuckled quietly over his message. Even after getting rejected countless times from her, he still wanted to hear from her and she couldn't deny that he was such a good friend in the end.
Meridia: don't call me that. everything is going as planned.
After a few seconds he replied.
König: I can't help it. :)
Shrugging him off, she fished the phone back into the pocket of her uniform and focused back on the shelves filled with bottles. She had been so busy that she couldn't even find time to have fun before falling asleep like old people. Even her routine had changed. "Whiskey.. oh, there." She mumbled quietly before grabbing the bottle and quickly turning back to the bar's counter to hand it to Thea.
"Meridia! Why are you still wearing that? Go change immediately, the event is starting soon." Zolani butted in as she passed by the counter, her phone placed on her ear while she talked to one of the incoming guests. "My God.. she's driving me nuts." Meridia grunted and heaved out a sigh, only for Thea to chuckle in amusement. "Every year she gets like this, it's no biggie." She shrugged with a small grin.
Overtime Meridia had learned how to get along with other people, to ignore her head and finally let herself go. She was starting to live once again, and this time for real. "And you should definitely go so you can get yourself a man to suck off by the end of the night." Thea added with humor in her tone, wriggling her eyebrows to tease the older one. The thought of it made her shiver.
Meridia just rolled her eyes in response, "I don't have time for those kind of things." She grumbled before leaving her alone to her things. The time was ticking, Zolani would've thrown her violently into a closet and prepare her herself if she didn't move her ass.
Hopping off the title as sergeant to a club manager was a big difference, surely she wasn't risking her life anymore but she loved her old duties. The thought of saving lives made her more encouraged to work her ass off. Yet, that job required a sanity she didn't have years ago.
Sometimes she still thought about her team, about John and Ghost. She wondered if he had moved on and found a suitable woman, unlike her. It sounded silly the promise he had made to her, just like little kids, but the thought of him committing to another person made her heart ache slightly.
He was the man that her inner child felt comfortable with, understood, and loved.
Even in.. different ways. The physical connection gave life to feelings that were trying to get buried deep down, and she knew she couldn't keep on going like that.
Knowing that he actually felt the same, that he understood her pain, made her realize that maybe she wasn't truly alone in this fucked up world. She had him and he had her, two broken souls that willed to fix each other.
Heaving out a sigh she entered the changing room and closed the door behind her back. Her heart was racing a marathon at only the thought of him. It has been two years since she last saw him, yet the feelings were still there and the same. He had engraved his name on her heart, put a stamp on her soul, she still felt his and only his.
Her eyes fell on the elegant red dress that hung next to the full length mirror. It sparkled beautifully under the bright lights of the room, it had a seductive cut, line, chosen for her kind of personality. She would've attracted many men that night, she was sure of it, but no one compared to Simon.
Meridia started to get ready. She threw on the couch her uniform and slipped inside the dress that hugged her body in all the perfect areas. She let down her hair and put on some makeup to enhance her blue eyes, holding a lively spark now. To finish the look, she wore the red heels that Zolani lent her for the night. She needed to warm up in those, a long night walking around was waiting for her.
She looked absolutely stunning, different, a whole new person. Around her neck still hung the necklace he had given her for her 27th birthday, back at the roof. She hadn't taken it off since then, she refused at all costs. It was a reminder to keep on fighting and going on with her life, to change into a better person for her own sake and his.
Unexpectedly, tears pooled her eyes as her hand played with the pendant. Her heart ached all the times she started to think about him, yet she still felt unready to look back for him. He was still working in the Task Force 141, he had a duty and she knew it perfectly. She didn't want him to get distracted, he was one of John's best soldiers out there.
A few knocks on the door made her snap out of her thoughts, "Dia! The event is starting now and Zolani needs you at the entrance to welcome in the guests." Thea spoke from the other side of the door. Meridia took in a deep breath and grabbed the red lace mask to put on her face. Even the accessory had a few red swarovskis on it, adding more importance to her role.
The key to the event was to wear masks, you could say a masquerade event in a club. How strange yet particular.
She walked in the hallways to the main entrance, the clicks of her high heels ricocheted into the air. Some of the waiters' eyes fell on her figure captivated by her seductive beauty, her dress was shining under the dim leds of the club. A whistle caught her attention, "Absolutely stunning!" Thea gave her thumbs up, and only then she realized she had changed too for the event.
Thea was wearing a simple and elegant black tailleur with swarovskis shining on her shoulders and ears. At least she would've been comfortable serving in that behind the counter, unlike Meridia.
Meridia walked to her and leaned her side against the counter, "Oh, are you trying to impress someone perhaps?" She teased with a small smile on her red lips, "My boyfriend is coming too, with his teammates." Thea retorted while filling up some flûtes with champagne, to serve the first guests. "Teammates?"
"Yeah, he's on a break for a week and he told me that he was coming with them. You know, instead of the usual bar at the corner they could have some fun in here." She shrugged and placed carefully the flûtes on a tray, passing it to a free waitress that rushed by.
Meridia cocked her head to the side, thoughtful, but she quickly snapped out of it and made her way to the entrance to help out her boss. The entrance was packed with people, waiting in lines to be checked on the list. "There you are, I might die here. Help me." Zolani rushed to her side and put in her hands a copy of the same list she was holding.
Everything felt so confusing, between the chatter of the people and the loud music coming from the main hall. She scratched her arm nervously and stepped next to Zolani, eyeing the names written down on the paper. She started calling out a few names, welcoming the guests with a small and guiding them to their tables.
"Price.. MacT.." She mumbled under her breath before raising her head to speak out, "Price, MacTavish, Garrick and Riley! Please come to the front," She called out, her eyes widening slowly when she realized the familiarity of their names.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Four masked men pushed through the crowd, now stepping at the entrance to wait for your guidance to their table. They seemed busy chatting, luckily she was wearing a mask so they didn't recognize her really, "Come this way." She said in a quiet tone before stepping towards the hallway leading to the hall.
Ghost had his eyes on her back all the time, he had caught a glimpse of her necklace and couldn't seem to think about anything else. There was no other person in London with the necklace he had bought for the woman he craved, it had to be her.
On the other hand, she kept on cursing to herself mentally, her old team was walking right behind her, unaware of being in company with an ex colleague. She didn't even look at Simon in the face, she couldn't gather the courage to do so.
As soon as she brought them to their table, she bowed her head to excuse herself away, but a hand grabbed her wrist to stop her. "Miss.. may I have your name for uh.. in case we might want to order from you?" His rough voice sent a shiver down her spine, her heart pounded violently against her chest.
"We have waiters for that, Mr Riley." She turned her head to look at him. Just a tiny glance wouldn't hurt, right? His cold hazel eyes looked the same as before, she could already imagine his face without that damned mask. Her heart was screaming out to hug him, to kiss him, to cling on him and never let go. All the feelings she tried to bury had resurfaced.
The place suddenly felt too hot, she couldn't breathe properly, her knees felt weak. Having him right in front of her made the countless feelings crash down on her all together. But she couldn't reunite with him now, "Excuse me." She shook off his grip and walked away, blood rushing to her cheeks from the panic and embarrassment.
It just took him to hear her voice, to see her eyes and the necklace hooked around her neck to confirm his suspicions. And God, his heart never ran so fast. It has been two years, two years of hell as he waited for her. He never felt anything for anyone except her. The time spent away made him realize that she was only good for him, not even close to being a threat. She held everything he needed to feel safe and happy.
He never realized that she was the light to his darkness, the perfect heal to his wounds. Until that damned day at the hospital.
When she walked away from his life, she brought a piece of his heart and soul with her. He felt nothing but a void, something was missing and it was Meridia; the woman with her stunning ocean eyes and innocent soul.
He watched her bare back as she walked away, again, swaying her hips in a tempting way. His heart ached, he couldn't let her go another time but certainly it wasn't a good moment to keep her here. He knew she was busy, there were lots of guests waiting to be accompanied to their tables and be served, so he would've waited for the perfect moment to pull her away in private. To finally have her back into his embrace.
The night went on, Meridia was already exhausted. She was running around to help the waitresses, the bartender, check up on the guests' entertainment and the other ones incoming. All this time she kept on feeling a pair of eyes glued on her, she was certain that they were Simon's. She knew he had already recognized her, clearly with no doubts, and it was because of that damned necklace she wore.
Yet, she couldn't understand why she had no courage to face him, after months of not seeing him. Her heart had always begged for his, her body and soul had always craved for his desperately. At the same time she was so scared. What if he didn't want her? What if he broke his promise?
She shook her head and as she checked the time, it was finally time for her break. Tiredly, she hopped on a free stool over the bar counter and buried her masked face into her hands. "Love, you should take a break." A familiar voice spoke, with an usual accent she already heard somewhere.
"There's no one to cover me tonight." Thea retorted through the loud music. Only then Meridia realized Thea was talking to her boyfriend. MacTavish.
She sucked in a breath, cursing to the Gods for always putting her near the 141s. "Dia! There you are, how are you doing on those high heels?" Thea finally noticed her and smiled playfully, leaning towards her while wiping clean a cocktail glass.
"Terrible. I might just need to cut my feet off." She replied, face still buried into her hands. She could feel Soap's eyes on her, questioning the mysterious woman sitting next to him and chatting with his girl. "Johnny, this is my colleague. Her name is—"
"Just call me Dia." Meridia quickly cut her off and peeked through her fingers to shoot Soap a glance. He looked confused.
"I thought you hated that nickname.." Thea retorted with a suspicious tone, narrowing her eyes at the older woman.
"Not until now."
"Johnny, just call her M—"
"Dia will do."
He frantically moved his gaze between them, raising his hands in the air, "Damn, women. I get it." He let out a small chuckle before turning all the attentions on the woman behind the counter.
Meridia released a tired sigh and decided to step out of the club to light up a cigarette. Zolani was going to cover her for around thirty minutes so she was free to rest just a little bit. She got out from the back door and leaned against a wall, placing the cigarette between her lips to light it up.
She took a long drag, letting the nicotine get to her head so her nerves could calm down. The night was still long and they weren't even half way through the event, she felt already exhausted.
Raising her head towards the nightsky, she gazed at the stars, admiring their beauty. It has been so long since she last stargazed with a cigarette, surely she missed those times but her present self was healthier.
Thinking about it made her throat shut close, a knot forming into her stomach. She was healthier. But something was missing and she already knew what or who. She took another drag from her cigarette, her other hand went to the pendant of her necklace. Simon Riley, the man that delved into her soul and embraced her heart.
The man that tried to understand her, that took out from her emotions and feelings she had never felt in her entire life. Meridia was missing him like crazy, and knowing that they were both standing in the same club made everything so exciting at the same time so scary. What if he didn't like the person she had become? Would he be proud of her? Would he still want her?
She shook her head, tossing the cigarette under her feet and turning it off with the point of her high heels. Being alone without anything to do brought exactly thoughts she tried to ignore. So, even if her break wasn't over, she walked back in.
As soon as she stepped inside, a hand grabbed her wrist and she was pushed against a nearby wall. A gasp escaped her, her wrists were pinned above her head, a man towered over her. Raising her head, her nose got filled with a familiar husky cologne, a pair of hazel eyes grazed down at her. Speaking of the devil..
His free hand ran across the side of her waist, delicately, before making its way between her breasts and stopping at the pendant of her necklace. She shut her eyes tightly, refusing to look at him, a thousand of emotions crashed down on her. "Meridia." Her name rolled down his tongue in such a seductive manner, sending chills run all over her body.
Simon leaned his face closer to hers, his eyes analyzing all the features uncovered from the red lace mask. She could feel his warm breath hit her face from such closeness, it was sending her heart overdrive. "Look at me, please." At his words her eyes automatically opened, and she wished she didn't follow.
She sucked in a breath, her body froze when he pressed his body on hers. Without hesitation, he snatched the mask away from her face, letting it fall on the ground together with his. "It's really you.. bloody hell." He whispered roughly, cupping her cheeks gently into the palms of his hands.
She melted at the gesture, her knees felt weak, she would've collapsed any time soon. "Simon.." Her voice came out with a quivering whisper, unable to phrase anything in her head. She was at loss for words, she didn't know what to do, how to react.
"I couldn't fuckin' breathe without you."
And before she knew it, his lips claimed hers, pulling her into another universe where it was only the two of them. She felt tears pool into her eyes, she hooked her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. This action made him grunt into her mouth, his lips moved slowly on hers, making her insides melt away. He was kissing her with such delicacy, with desperation, he was savoring her taste after two years of being apart, as if he was going to lose her all over again.
He had missed everything of her, from her lips to her body and soul. She was his, all and only his. Her tears fell freely down her cheeks, some getting in between their lips. "Don't cry.." He whispered softly as he tasted the sudden saltiness, never pulling away from her.
He let go of her wrists and rested his hands over her small waist, pulling her flush against him. He nibbled her lower lip, letting out a small sigh from the satisfaction of finally having her back into his embrace. "You're so beautiful, Riri. Beautiful than ever." His words made her tear up even more, her body was trembling from how bad she was trying to hold herself back.
She was so close to breaking down into his arms, "I missed you." She whispered and wrapped her arms around his torso, to hug him tightly. He radiated a comforting warmth, it was calming her nerves down. Inhaling deeply, she let his strong cologne fill her nose, a smell she had missed so much. It was incredible how she despised him at first and now she was melting into his arms.
"You have no idea how much I've been waiting for this moment." He nuzzled her hair, inhaling her sweet scent. An unusual smile formed on his lips and he pulled her closer, until she was completely squeezed against his body. Reuniting felt heavenly, he was going to make sure to never let her go.
She pushed his body slightly away, raising her head to meet his gaze. The eye contact sent an electric shock run all over her being, heat rising to her cheeks. He never failed to make her feel shy, so little under his gaze. Slowly, he pressed his lips on hers once again, this time giving start to a kiss that screamed desperation and desire.
He pushed her body with his, making her stumble backwards and hit her back against a door. Without thinking twice, she turned the knob and let their bodies inside one of the changing rooms. Their tongues chased after each other, their saliva mixed, she could feel heat expanding down between her thighs.
She kept on backing away, eventually her body fell over a couch with him on top of her, crawling between her legs. His muscles tensed against the elegant shirt he was wearing for the event, his soft locks fell over his eyes, he could feel his pants getting tighter and uncomfortable as his arousal grew.
And he let her know by pressing his hips against her, making a small gasp come from her parted lips. She pulled away slightly, meeting his gaze. His irises were filled with unspoken words and feelings, and she'd drown in them just to know all of him.
His free hand slipped underneath her dress, caressing her thigh as he made his way towards her throbbing core. She squirmed under his touch, digging her teeth into her lower lip to suppress the small noises escaping, "Simon.." Her voice was like a sweet melody to him, something that he wanted to hear everyday.
"Mmh?" He hummed sweetly as he placed his lips on to the exposed zone of her neck, kissing and nibbling gently on her soft and warm flesh.
Her heart was running a marathon, she could feel it slamming violently against her chest, butterflies were exploding in her tummy.
"I love you, Simon."
It didn't take much for him, after hearing those words come from her, to stand on his knees and unbuckle his belt and pants. She stared at him in disbelief, her hands tucking into the elastic of her panties to pull them down.
She was confused, she had just confessed her feelings to him and he was literally...
He leaned back down and claimed her lips hungrily, pouring all the passion and sweetness in it. With a small moan, she kissed him back and wrapped her arms around his neck, tilting her head to the side to have more access to his mouth.
Without a warning, he pushed his arousal between her wet folds, making her cry out of pleasure into the kiss, her back arching. She could feel herself getting ripped apart, the sensation felt heavenly even after being years away from him.
Her body adjusted quickly around him, and he didn't even give her a moment to get used to his size. He rocked his hips against hers, small grunts erupting from his throat as he pressed his forehead on hers.
"Say that again." He whispered roughly, wrapping a hand around her neck to make her look at him directly in the eyes.
A veil of blush fell over her face, his pace gave her no respite, her mouth was left open as soft pleasured noises came from her.
"I.. I love you, Simon." Her face contorted from the pleasure, her eyes rolled to the back of her head when he delved deeper, hitting a sensitive spot that sent her to cloud nine. He pressed his lips on her forehead sweetly, his pace slowing down to not tire her so soon, "Again."
Her legs wrapped around his waist, pulling his hips closer to hers, her back arched once again, "I love you." Her tone came out whiney, gentle, making him melt inside.
He wanted to hear her over and over again, her sweet melody, her confessions, her pants, everything. It was driving him crazy, he couldn't get enough of her. Even when he had all of her, he still wasn't full.
He hooked an arm under her waist and with a swift movement he pulled her on top of him, making her straddle him.
He leaned his back against the couch, tipping his head to the back as Meridia started to move her hips up and down in a very slow manner, taking in his full length. Her legs felt weak, feeling his arousal sliding inside her wetness drove her overdrive.
A growl rumbled through his chest, he grabbed a fistful of her platinum hair and forced her to look at him, his jaw clenching, "I love you, Meridia— fuck." Having her like this, moving so slow, drove him so close to the edge. Her eyes lit up with a beautiful spark, her irises bore into his hazel ones. The sight made him groan out of pleasure, pushing his hips against her to contrast her movements.
She could feel a burning sensation expand into her lower abdomen, a knot forming, her hands clinged desperately onto his broad shoulders, digging her nails into the fabric of his shirt. She couldn't keep her moans anymore, her head felt light, she was losing completely control over her own self. He was a damn drug to her, he could make her reach the seventh heaven with no effort.
It took just another couple of deep and rough thrusts to make the knot snap in half, making her legs quiver and a loud moan erupt from her throat from the high intensity of her release. "Look at me while I make you cum, baby." He tightened the grip around her hair, forcing her to look into his direction as she rode her climax on him.
His release followed right after hers, letting himself come undone inside her tightened walls. Simon's eyes never left hers, his chest rose and fell quickly as his hands caressed her exposed thighs.
She looked so stunning in that dress, her hair had grown longer and left with its natural color. Her blue eyes looked brighter, she looked healthier and alive.
But she was still his Meridia. The woman he had given himself to fully.
He caressed her soft hair, twirling a strand around his finger as his eyes analyzed her angelic features attentively. She was still trying to recover, but an unusual smile panted her red smudged lips. He could feel his heart race, his chest feeling lighter.
"I'm never letting you go again." He broke the silence after a while, his other hand cupping her cheek in a loving way that made her melt and smile even wider.
"Never? If you say so, Riley.."
"Fuckin' hell. I'm true to my words, Riri."
"Even when you said it was just physical attraction?"
"Forget that. It's not only physical attraction.."
A giggle filled the air. Wide and loving smiles were plastered on their faces, before he pressed his lips again on her tempting one, savoring her delicious taste and smudging her lipstick more.