CHAPTER 33: Unforgettable moments...

Celeste
Hearing him say that, I think back on our date. "Randol?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you remember our date?"
"Of course, I do."
"I told you then, but I don't think you really understood me."
Randol pulls me from his chest to look me in the eyes. "What are you talking about?"
"Randol, you are enough. All by yourself. You don't need anything. You don't need to stop anything. You are what I want. No more. No less. Just you. Exactly as you are." A look of adoration covers his face. Those bright green eyes pierce mine. I couldn't look away if I wanted to. He places his hands on either side of my face.
"Celeste, I love you." He gives me no time to answer or even react. He has pulled my mouth to his before I even know what's going on. My eyes instinctively close. I'm not sure when it happened, but I suddenly realize I have his jacket balled up in both fists pulling him into my body. I can't help it and I can't stop. This is not like the kisses we have already shared. This kiss is hungry and wanton. This kiss is wild and frenzied. This kiss could very easily get me out of my clothes. A moan escapes my lips which only seems to make him press my body to his harder. We are standing, and I can feel him starting to walk me backwards. Suddenly a wall stops my progress back. There is a cold wall at my back and hard muscles heaving up and down with Randol's ragged breathing, against my chest. Just when I think I can't take anymore, I feel Randol take one more step toward me. Jesus.
Pressed against my thigh is what feels like a long, thick piece of steel. I know it isn't, but that is the only way to describe it. As if to assure myself that I'm not imagining things, I bring one hand down from his chest and slowly rub all the way down the piece of steel against my thigh. A growl rumbles in Randol's chest. Yep, it's real. Lucky me.
I suddenly come to my senses, and pull away from the most amazing kiss I have ever had in my life. "Randol, stop. We can't do this."
"It sure feels like I can. Multiple times."
The giggle he loves so much slips from my throat as he is kissing it. "No, we can't. You still aren't fully healed, not to mention the fact that we are on a balcony of a house full of people. Do you really want to risk my father seeing us have sex?" Another rumble reaches my ears, but this one is louder. Randol takes a deep breath and slowly blows it out. "You're right. This is not the time. I may need another shower, though."
"Why, did you spill coffee or something?"
"No, I may need a very cold shower."
"Hahah. Ah, I see. It will happen and when it does it will be amazing. It will be worth the wait. I promise."
"Trust me, I believe you. I just hope that body of yours doesn't kill me first." Getting up on my tiptoes, I give him a soft kiss.
"Come on. Let's get you back inside. I think you've had enough excitement for one day."
After picking up our cups from the table, I lead Randol back inside. He handles the stairs pretty well, and I take him all the way back to his room. "Here we go. You need to rest for a while. I'll come back and check on you soon."
"If I must."
"Yes, you must. By the way, you didn't give me a chance on the balcony, but I love you too." He closes his eyes and breathes out deeply with relief while placing his forehead on mine. He has his hand on the back of my neck like he's trying to reassure himself that I'm there. He just stays like that for a while.
"I'll never be able to live without you now. You know that, right?"
"That's kind of the idea here, isn't it?"
"I love you, Celeste, and I will spend the rest of my life showing you that."
"For the first time in my life, I believe that." He gives me one last kiss before I leave his door.
As I walk down the hallway, I think about the last statement I just made. I really do believe that he loves me. I think this is a first for me. I have heard "I love you" from multiple men, but this is the first time I have truly felt like someone loved the real me. It is a surreal feeling. I feel terrible for the next person who attacks him. At this point, I don't know if I would be able to control myself. It would probably be their last action on this earth. Scary thought. I wonder if this feeling will intensify after the claiming Randol told me about.
My thoughts are interrupted when I get to the kitchen with the cups, and see my father. "Hey, Daddy. What's going on?"
"Celeste, just the girl I needed to see."
"Well, here I am."
"I have been going through all the notes from the interrogation last night, and I think I found something."
"Really? What did you find?"
"I cross - checked it with the information that Bianchi sent us and one name stands out. Several of the guys spoke about General Clark. He was the most mentioned name in the entire group, as a matter of fact. General Clark is, of course, one of the generals that works directly under Donnelly, but that's not all. Clark is the only one Bianchi has pictures of with Donnelly. I think this might be the one general that knows where the children are. He seems to be the closest to Donnelly."
"Daddy, you're amazing! This is just what we need to find the children. If I can get to him, I can make him tell me where they are."
"I had a thought about that as well."
"And?"
"Bianchi. I would like you to ask him to get his guys to grab him then deliver him here. You can reprogram him here and then send him back out to get the children himself and deliver them to their parents. If he is the one taking them out of there, no one will question him. We also don't have to put any of our people in harm's way performing a rescue mission, nor will we have to try to find the parents since he will already know. Once the children are free, then we can go directly after Donnelly."
"I'm surprised you want Mr. Bianchi's help after all the trash you talk about him."
"I know, but desperate times call for desperate measures."
"I will give him a call then. I don't know if that is something he can do since it makes him high visibility, but all he can say is no. It's worth a shot."
"Thanks. Let me know what he says."
"I'll keep you posted, don't worry." After I rinse out the cups, I put them in the dishwasher, and start to leave the kitchen.
"Oh, hey, I meant to ask how Randol is healing?"
"Very well, actually."
"Okay, what's that all about?"
"What's what all about?"
"The minute I said his name, a giant smile blew up on your face." Sigh. "Truth?"
"That would be nice, yes."
"I love him, Daddy. It's like nothing I have ever felt."
"Whoa."