Hustle Into Love - Epilogue, Part Two

Hey all,

Here is is the final installment of my FREE READ.  I've had a great time with you all, and I hope you've enjoyed the story as much as I've enjoyed sharing it.  So settle back with one last cuppa and let's read the ending of this glamorous and exotic story.  Enjoy!!!

 

Hustle Into Love

~*~ 

As Deshi skipped off towards Keya and Ali to cause who knew what kind of trouble, Chantal watched her lover—no, her husband--walk her way.  She sighed, wondering again what wonderful thing she’d done in her life to deserve such a magnificent man.  Not just his looks, though those were drool worthy, but the man himself. 

Mace was everything she’d hoped to find in the man she married.  Sexy, tough, handsome and uninhibited.  Kind, generous, loving and with a sense of honor as strong as her own.   She loved him with every fiber of her body and had been more than willing to change her whole life so they could be together forever.  It hadn’t been easy—two strong willed people.  But they had love on their side and the solid determination to make it happen. 

It wasn’t difficult to decide where they would make their new home.  Chantal had always wanted a family, and London was close enough to the D’Avranches estate in Chester to see Mace’s anytime.  With the unexpected addition of Deshi to the family, Mace’s old apartment was out of the question, so they found a beautiful country house just outside of town with enough property where a growing boy could run and play.

It also had enough room for Lì when he came to visit.  And the first time he did so, he brought his lover, Aaron with him.  The two men stayed for two weeks and the slight tension that existed at the beginning of the visit was gone as the four of them laughed and joked, made pub runs and wandered along the many paths nearby the new house.  Aaron and Mace hit it off pretty quickly, especially once Mace realized Aaron was a businessman like himself.  The happiness on Lì’s face as he watched both men he loved made Chantal thank God all over again that things had turned out the way they did.

In the beginning, she was too busy planning the wedding to think about the changes she might have to make in her own career.  The perfect day with her perfect man came first.  But eventually, the big decisions were made and the copious small ones that cropped up would be dealt with one at a time.  So, once she’d chosen a venue (the rose garden--where else?), hired a band (Mace’s favorite local band, The Highflyers), argued with a caterer over finger foods (no liver anywhere on any table—period) and chosen the perfect gown (found in a tiny shop in Covent Garden), she was ready to turn her attention to dancing.

To Chantal’s surprise Mace didn’t ask her to change the number of shows she did.  Neither did he request her to change where the venues were.  As he’d said when he proposed, his only wish was she arrange her time so he could be with her wherever she was.  Other than the demand she do no more private dances—which she couldn’t really blame him for, he requested nothing else of her at all.

His possessiveness and overprotectiveness might have been a problem in the past, but all Chantal had to do was remember how it felt to wake up in that dank, smelly hold, half-clothed and terrified, and she gladly did what he asked.

So she sat down with a calendar and an empty schedule.  She compared her last year’s schedule of global appearances with the upcoming year and she made her choices.

Instead of being on the go all the time, she chose one week a month to put towards her dancing.  Out of all the requests Bettina, her secretary, had forwarded her, she picked twelve, one for each month of the year.  Three in the Americas, one each in Macau, Russia, and Spain, two back at the Moulin Rogue in Paris, and four others elsewhere around the world.  Then, once those were penciled in, she picked a couple of special performances.  One on New Year’s Eve, this time in New York’s Times Square, and one on the Queen’s birthday—in June, at London’s Royal Drury Lane Theatre.

If something else came up, she and Mace could discuss it, but a set schedule would make it easier for them both to get on with this new life they had fought so hard for.  Her choices made, she emailed a copy to her secretary.  The publication of the Amber Princess’ yearly tour was to be made in just a few days.

Chantal wondered if she’d had a premonition when she’d asked Bettina to hold off on the announcement until after the wedding.  Something had come up all right.  Something that would change everything forever.

“You’ve got that cat’s-got-the-cream expression on your face,” Mace murmured as he helped her to her feet.  He brushed a soft kiss over her lips.  “What have you been thinking?”

She’d been holding the secret delight to herself for almost a week, and she couldn’t wait a moment longer.  “I’ve got an announcement to make,” she told him.  “I want to do it before we eat.  Can you help me up to the stage?”

Mace’s eyebrow quirked up in surprise, but he maneuvered her through the crowd and onto the short dais where the band was getting ready to play.  “This okay?”

“Perfect.  Now don’t go anywhere,” she whispered when he tried to step back down.

“Chantal—”

Ignoring him, Chantal tapped on the microphone for everyone’s attention.  The slight feedback had everyone looking towards the stage.  “Oops.  Sorry,” she giggled as Mace rolled his eyes.  “I just have a quick announcement before we all go into dinner.”

The crowd quieted, turning towards the podium where she stood.  Winking at Lì, who along with Aaron had come up to the side of the stage, she cleared her throat.  “As some of you know, my performance schedule for the next year was to be publicized in a few days.  But, I’m sorry to say that announcement has been cancelled.  In fact, I will be cancelling the entire tour.”

“What?”  Mace grabbed Chantal by the arms and pulled her close as the wedding guests broke into worried and confused murmurs.  “What’s wrong?  What are you talking about?  We went over that schedule together.  You know I’m all right with it.  We can make it work, baby.  I know we can.”

“Oh, Mace.”  She touched his face, loving him more than she ever had before.  “I know you’re okay with my career.  You’ve been wonderful about combining our lives.  It’s not that.”

“Do you need to look at the schedule again?  Maybe more time on the road?”  He ran a hand through his hair in frustration.  “It won’t be easy, but I can take more time off from the company.  I’ll work it out with my father.”

“No, love.”  She kissed the end of his aristocratic nose.  “That’s not it either.”

“Then I don’t understand.”  His face was a study of confusion.  “Why are you cancelling?”

“Remember when I said if something came up, we’d reevaluate our priorities and decide things again?”

He nodded.  “Yes.  So?”

Chantal grinned.  “Something came up.”

“Bloody hell!” Mace shouted as he took her by the elbows and lifted her to her toes.  “What are you talking about?”

They had the whole audience’s attention now.  Chantal wondered if he knew the microphone was still on.  She carefully nudged it away and lowered her voice.  This part was private.  “Remember that night you rescued me?  We came home and spent the whole night making love?”

His cheeks went ruddy.  “Chantal!”

“Do you?”

“Yes.  Of course I remember.”

“Well, you told me my being away was the longest thirty-six hours of your life.”

“Damn it, Chantal.  Get to the point.”

She giggled.  “Well, I may have been away from you for thirty-six hours, but I’d been away from my own room for a full forty-eight.”

“You’re trying my patience, woman,” Mace growled.  “Why does being away from your room for that amount of time matter?”

“Because,” Chantal answered, her eyes sparkling with joy, “that’s where my birth control pills were.”

There was a dead silence.  Mace went so still he looked as if he’d been carved in stone.  After a few seconds, Chantal cocked her head.   “I knew my vocabulary word for the day would come in handy.”

“Chan…tal.”  Mace’s voice strangled in his throat.

“Yep.”  She nodded, ignoring him as he only gaped at her.  “The word is stupefied.  It means to dull the senses or faculties…to amaze or astonish.”  She grinned up at her husband.  “I think you fit the word nicely.  Stupefied.”

“Chantal Montgomery D’Avranches!” he roared, finally getting his breath back.  “You’re having a baby?”

There was a…pregnant silence.  Then the wedding guests burst into loud clapping.  Cheers filled the room and Chantal laughed aloud.  It was the first time she’d heard her married name.  And in such a way?  Coupled with the public announcement of amazing, joyful news?  Perfect…just perfect.

“But when?  How?”  Mace ignored the congratulations being shouted all around him and pulled her to him.  “You’re pregnant?”

“Pregnant.  Expecting, gravid, knocked up, with child, a bun in the oven, in the family way, I have a baby bump, preggers, enceinte—”.  

“Damn it,” Mace interrupted.  He shook her slightly. “Quit reciting the bloody dictionary and tell me how this happened.  And no”—he grinned suddenly, “—I don’t mean the mechanics.  I think I understand that pretty well.”

“Obviously.”  She laughed again.  “The last time I’d taken my pill was the morning before I was kidnapped.  Since I had other things on my mind when we got back from the ship—like celebrating we were both alive—I didn’t think of it then.  So, forty-eight plus hours of waning protection.  I guess I was in my fertile stage, my love, because one of your little swimmers made it through.”

“A baby.”  Mace still looked as if he’d been struck by lightning.  Gingerly he touched her still flat stomach.  “You’re saying we’re going to have a baby.”

Gently, she put her hand on his.  “Yes, we are.  Everything is fine.  I’m healthy and haven’t felt a bit sick.  Just a little more emotional than usual.  In just a bit over six months, you’re going to be a daddy.”

“Too late.”  Mace glanced at where Deshi stood with Keya and Ali.  The little boy’s face was wreathed in happiness as he clapped at the news he was going to be a big brother.  “I already am one.”

Her heart melted all over her golden tipped shoes.  “Oh, Mace.  I love you so much.”

“And I love you, Chantal.  My lover, wife and now—” he smoothed his hand over the very slight rounding that could be felt there, “—mother of my child.  You couldn’t make me any happier than you have right now.”

“Well, I plan on giving it my best shot for the next fifty or sixty years,” she said with a sniffle.  “You know I’m an overachiever.”

He snorted with laughter before his face turned serious.  “Are you sure?” he asked.  “Are you sure you’re all right with cancelling the tour?  I know we’d talked about waiting a few years before we had kids.”

“Mace.”  Chantal cupped his handsome face in her hands.  “I’ve danced for kings and queens, presidents and sultans, and I loved each and every minute of it.  I would have kept dancing forever.  I thought that was my destiny.  To be a star.”

“You were a star.”  Mace’s tone was adamant.  “You are one.”

“Yes.  I am.  I made those dreams come true.”  She pressed a kiss to his strong chin.  “But then I met you and I knew my life would never be the same.  Suddenly, being a star wasn’t my only dream.  It wasn't so important to me.  But you?  You and this baby…Deshi, that’s what is vital to my happiness.  You are the most essential things in my life.”

He sighed.  “No regrets?”

She shook her head, more assured of this one fact than anything else.  “None.  I’m not hanging up my dancing shoes, Mace.  I’m just putting them on hold for awhile.”

“Chantal.”  Mace touched his forehead to hers and shuddered deeply.  “I can’t imagine a day without you.  I love you so much.  This child.  Deshi and our lives together.  Thank God I took that job in Macau.”

“Thank Lì,” she responded with a quick wave to her adopted brother.  He stood quietly, his elegant face filled with satisfaction.  “If he hadn’t walked into that sleazy bar…  If he hadn’t changed my life like he did, we may have never met.”

“A baby!”  Mace laughed suddenly and whirled her around in a big circle.  “My God, woman.  You had me going for a minute there.  Hustled me but good.”

“Maybe.”  Chantal snuggled closer when he drew her in against his warm body and into a fiery kiss.  “But I have to say one thing more before we play to the waiting audience.”

Mace grinned.  “What’s that?”

She did a quick little impromptu dance step, with a twist and a turn, before ending up again in his strong and protective arms.  Her kiss was as passionate as his had been.  “Hustling you into love was much more fun.”

The End

~*~

Sniff...  It's always sad when I end a book, and this one is no different.  Mace and Chantal became more than just characters, they are friends.  I wish them well and who knows, maybe we'll see them back again someday in another FREE READ.

I hope you liked the story and remember, if you're new to the blog, I have several others already posted on my website.  http://cjengland.com  Check them out by clicking on the FREEBIE Link.  You can meet a few other characters who just might become friends too!

Please join me here on the 6th of March (first Tuesday of the month) for some games, prizes and some interesting facts about the truth behind why I wrote this story.  We'll wrap up Hustle into Love and I'll give you a short look at the next FREE READ which will come out hopefully in April or May.  See you then.

Hugs to all,

CJ

Hustle Into Love - Epilogue, Part One

Hey all,

Well, it's almost over.  The Epilogue turned out to be longer than chapter eighteen, so it's been broken into two installments.  But, as promised, we'll be done by the end of the month! WooHoo!  

So, shall we see what Mace and Chantal are up to now that all the danger is over?  Enjoy!!!

 

Hustle Into Love

~*~ 

Epilogue

“I now pronounce you man and wife.” The minister doing the service smiled benignly.  “My boy, you may kiss your bride.”

“Oh, please do,” Mace’s blushing bride whispered up at him, her golden eyes gleaming with laughter.  “It’s been exactly sixteen hours and four minutes since you kissed me last.

Mace laughed out loud, startling the man of the cloth.  “Liar,” he murmured back as he bent close and nipped at Chantal’s lower lip.  “I know for a fact you were kissed at midnight last night.”

“Oh.”  His new wife pretended to look surprised.  “That was you who climbed the trellis to my room?”

Growling at her teasing, Mace pulled her into his arms, and with a flourish, dipped her low to the ground.  He then gave her a heated kiss that had the audience in the church breaking into cheers and applause.  While the minister looked slightly shocked, his parents, grandmum and brother gazed at them with pleased smiles.  Finally, their faces seemed to say.  It’s about time.

Mace had to agree.  As he and his new bride were swept by the cheering crowd into the beautifully decorated ballroom where the reception was to be held, he thought about how his life had changed.

 It was exactly three months to the day since he’d rescued Chantal—or she’d rescued herself—from Chóngdé’s clutches.  He’d wanted to marry her immediately—had even gone so far to petition the local magistrate for permission.  But to his surprise, Chantal had balked at the quickie wedding.  She told him in no uncertain terms that she was only getting married once, and she was going to do it right.

Like most men, the thought of a big wedding sent terror skittering down Mace’s spine.  He’d argued and begged and implored, but his stubborn lady ignored his every plea.  She refused to hear a word about eloping and shot down his ideas of getting married in Macau by stating she wanted a family wedding at Mace’s parents’ house. 

And Lì was going to be the one to give her away. 

The pride and joy Mace saw in his brother’s eyes when Chantal posed the question to him was all it took.  He couldn’t fight both of them.  With a sigh, he gave in.

But three months was all he would agree to.  He pulled out the calendar and his foot down.  “Make it a Saturday,” he stated, pointing to the month he’d chosen.  “But ninety days and no more.”

So Chantal now had another reason to hustle.  Quickly, she finished building The Golden Tiger’s entertainment program.  Cái, who’d become a valued ally, was promoted to director, with diminutive Dié at his side.  Mace had muttered to Chantal he wouldn’t be surprised if there would be another wedding announcement soon.

The male dancer, Bryan, turned out to be a damn fine choreographer, so after a few pointers from Chantal, he’d taken over those duties.  Already he had three new dances approved and ready to teach the others.

And the rest of the troupe, though sad at not having the Amber Princess in their midst, had enough confidence in what she’d taught them to carry the different dances on their own.  Chantal had done what she’d promised.

Lì now had the best entertainment in all of Macau.

Once that was done, they packed up and headed back to England and Mace’s childhood home.  Chantal was greeted with open arms, and Mace felt like a real idiot when his Granmum rapped him over the head with her fan and asked him why he’d taken so long to realize what was right in front of him.

When his bride-to-be batted her eyelashes and inquired the same thing, he’d had enough of the not-so-subtle-teasing.  Instead of smiling and sitting down with tea and crumpets, he instead did something he would have never done B.C.  Before Chantal. 

He tossed Chantal over his shoulder, and ignoring the shocked gasps of his parents he took his lady out to a secluded arbor in the rose garden.  Then he showed her what happened to women who laughed at their men.

Later, rumpled and grass stained, they’d sneaked back into their room, where they were greeted by a note from Mace’s mother.  In it she exhorted him to be more careful with where he took Chantal.  Apparently, a maid wandering in the garden had seen them.  Observing the two trysting—as his mother called it—the maid had quit in a fit of hysterics.  And since good help was so hard to come by, she pleaded with her son not to scare the staff again.

Chantal had whooped with laughter even as she turned red with embarrassment.  But from that point on, they’d been more circumspect.  Until last night, when Mace had climbed the trellis to surprise her with a kiss…and more.

Mace grinned at the memory.  Today was a long time in coming, and there were times he wasn’t sure he’d make it.  During the three-month wait, Mace had tried his best to stay out of the way, but daily he’d been sucked into the wedding planning.  No matter how many times he tried to explain he didn’t care what color the flowers were or how many bridesmaids she had, Chantal coaxed him into helping her decide.  Finally, fed up with cummerbunds and invitation fonts, he bribed Lì into coming to the house early.  Maybe then he could have some peace.

Once his brother was there, he was able to breathe a little freer. Better yet, together they both could escape from whatever wedding planning going on that day.  And Lì brought news of Macau, the casino, and to Mace’s great satisfaction, the final judgment of Chóngdé Sun.

Lì had heard through several underground contacts that while Hui was angry with Chóngdé over Chantal’s kidnapping and the ongoing human trafficking, what he’d been truly furious about was the bombing of The Golden Tiger.  All her acts had been criminal, yet by attacking Lì’s property after Sun had given Mace his word the vengeance would be stopped, Chóngdé had dishonored her father—broken his word.  That more than any other act he could not forgive.

After a week with her father, she’d turned herself in, and the pale, ghostly woman who’d come out of the Sun’s fenced and barred compound was not the same selfish spoiled girl who’d gone in.  Broken both in body and in spirit, Chóngdé welcomed whatever punishment the courts had for her.

Nothing could be worse than her father’s displeasure.

Chantal and Mace both breathed relieved sighs when Lì told them Chóngdé was now sitting in a Hong Kong jail and would be there a very long time.  And as Mace had predicted, Chóngdé’s arrest had broken the back of the Macanese slave trade.  Several other procurers had also been charged and convicted, their assets seized and their organization in tatters. 

Those involved in the bombing—two other men in Chóngdé’s employ—disappeared suddenly and were never found.  Chin Zhao also never made it to a police station.  When asked what had happened to the choreographer, Sun had shrugged and told the police the man had expressed a longing to visit his ancestors.

He was never seen again.

Hui Sun, while not abandoning his daughter completely, stated publicly that he did not condone what she had done, and Chóngdé must accept whatever punishment the law decreed.  Lì said though her father had paid for her legal fees, that was the extent of his involvement.  He did not go to any of the court hearings or visit his daughter in jail.  Apparently since money was what was important to Chóngdé, that was all she now got from the man who’d conceived her.

But, the powerful man also spoke out strongly against human trafficking in a popular monthly Chinese magazine.  In it, he urged everyone to learn from his daughter’s tragic circumstances, and make slavery a thing of the past.  Reports stated Sun had put much of his considerable wealth and influence into making that happen.

So finally, it was really over. Because Chóngdé had confessed, Chantal wouldn’t need to go back to Macau to testify.  The life sentence meant the Asian woman would never see the light of day again.  As Lì and Hui Sun had both promised, she was getting what she so richly deserved.  And Mace hoped knowing this would give Chantal the closure she needed, and the infrequent nightmares she still had about her imprisonment would cease all together.

The entertainment at The Golden Tiger was going along swimmingly, and the dancing brought in many new customers.  Casino profits had doubled in less than three months and Lì was so appreciative, he gave the entire troupe ten days off with pay.  He even paid for a jet to bring them to Mace and Chantal’s wedding.  Since Dié was Chantal’s maid-of-honor, Lì said it just made sense.

Looking around at all of them now, Mace had to admit he’d hit the jackpot when he’d taken the job supervising Lì’s casino.  Not only had he found the woman of his dreams, he’d gotten even closer to his older brother.  He now had a special group of Asian friends, plus, whether he liked it or not, he’d gotten a second brother out of the deal.

He glanced over at where his best man—Eric—was lifting his own wife, Diane, high for a torrid kiss.  His two daughters bounced at the big man’s feet then giggled as he hoisted them up for a four-way hug. 

Eric had become closer than a friend in the last few months, going so far as to move his whole family to England so he could keep working for Chantal.  But Mace, knowing the bodyguard’s level of skill, quickly added to Eric’s duties.  He put the man in charge of a special arm of security in the D’Avranches corporations.  Eric now ran a small team that looked after any VIPs that visited—a number than had increased exponentially since Chantal had come to live at the mansion.  It was a big promotion, but Mace figured if the man could keep a line on Chantal, he could do the same with anyone.

“Deshi!”

Chantal pulled out of Mace’s arms and hurried across the floor.  Bending down, she embraced the small boy.  Deshi was now strong and healthy and no longer silent.  Instead, his smiles and childish laughter brightened up their wing of the D’Avranches mansion.  Dressed in an exact duplicate of the tuxedo Mace wore, he was—as Eric had laughingly put it—a mini Mace.

Which, now, in a way, he was.   In Asia, Mace hadn’t only gotten a lady, new friends and a guy as close as a brother, he’d walked away from Macau with a ready-made family as well.

Chantal and he had adopted Deshi as their own.

They hadn’t set out to do it on purpose.  They’d both been adamant about keeping their promise and getting the little boy back to his home and family.  But when, after securing the government’s permission and setting out for Deshi’s small hometown just out of Hong Kong, they discovered a horrifying fact. 

Deshi had not been stolen from his family as so many children are.  His parents, in their fifties and already having two grown sons—Deshi was a change of life baby—weren’t so excited to have him back.  Not only were they poor farmers who barely made it day to day, from infanthood their youngest had serious health issues they couldn’t afford to deal with.  When they’d been offered money to have the boy go live “as a companion” to a rich Hong Kong family’s child, they’d jumped at the idea of having their burden removed. 

Had they known their son would be heading into a life of degradation and pain?  Of course not, they’d answered.  But Mace hadn’t liked the way their gazes slid away from his when the question was asked.  Leaving the small boy in a home where the same thing might “accidentally” happen again was unthinkable.

Chantal’s famous temper made an appearance, and it was only after Mace had calmed her down and sent her and Deshi out to explore the village that he’d been able to do what he did best.  After all, negotiations were his forte, and one look at the mother’s care-lined face and disappointed eyes when she glanced at her youngest, decided him.

Mace had a son after only fifteen minutes of discussion.

Chantal’s reaction to his impulsive gesture had sealed the deal.  She’d taken little Deshi into her arms and with tears of joy streaming down her face, whispered to the boy he was hers now.  And the look she gave Mace over the child’s dark head was so filled with pride and love, he’d known they’d both just received a wedding present they would hold in their hearts forever.

Keya and Ali—Eric’s daughters—had taken Deshi under their wing and instead of being frightened and lonely in a new country, the three of them became fast friends.  Under the girl’s tutelage, he was learning English quickly though he often chattered away in Cantonese whenever he got excited.

The little boy had puffed up with pride when he’d discovered Chantal wanted him to be the ring bearer at the wedding.  Keya and Ali were the flower girls, so the three friends often snuck away to the rose garden and practiced walking up the aisle.  Mace decided not to tell Deshi real men would have run the other way.

“Mace?  Can you come here?” 

Chantal beckoned him over.  In the white-silver, off-the-shoulders gown she wore she was beyond beautiful.  With golden highlights shimmering through the dress, she looked like an exotic candle sitting on the floor with her arms around her new son.  God.  How had he gotten so lucky? Mace cleared a suddenly tight throat.  He had no idea, but he planned on spending the rest of his life making sure she understood how fortunate he knew himself to be.  

 “On my way.”

~*~

Only one more blog to go.  That's so sad, but it's a happy time, too.  So come on back on Tuesday for the last installment.  We can see just what Chantal has to say to her new husband. 

And a very special Happy Birthday to Carrie who I think has a birthday today!  She's always been a loyal reader and I wanted to wish her well on her special day!  Give her a shout out in the comments below if you've a mind to!!!

Hugs to all,

CJ

Hustle Into Love - Chapter Eighteen

Hey all,

We're coming down to the wire.  Let's find out what happens now! Enjoy!!!

 

Hustle Into Love

~*~

Chapter Eighteen

It took less than an hour to rescue brave Deshi and the others and make their way out to the upper deck.  On the way upstairs they were passed several times by groups of police as they swarmed over the ship, gathering prisoners as they went.

The dead were marked for collection later.

Once he had Chantal and the rest of his little band on the top deck, Mace breathed a sigh of relief.  For the first time he relaxed.  It was really over.

He gazed around at the men being herded off the ship.  Between Hui Sun’s men—who had disappeared as if they had never been, Sun along with them—and Mace’s people, Chóngdé’s crew of sailors had taken a hard hit.  There were almost as many body bags as there were live prisoners.

Little Deshi and the other kidnap victims were being cared for by the authorities, but seeing how his lady’s gaze kept straying to the little boy, and his to hers, Mace made a special note to make sure the child was well cared for.  Chantal had whispered her promise that she’d get the tot home to his family and Mace was determined to do just that.

Lì and Eric stood with Dong Fu, the head of the special task force on human trafficking in Macau, and Mace knew his brother was explaining what had happened to Chantal, as well as Hui Sun’s actions with his daughter.  By the look on the man’s face, Fu knew he had a tiger by the tail.  If he handled this correctly, it would make his career.  But if he pushed too hard and Hui Sun pushed back…well…

It could just as easily be Dong Fu’s career.

Just then, Lì turned and met his brother’s eyes.  He smiled and lifting a brow, nodded towards Chantal.  Mace frowned, not understanding at first, but suddenly it hit him.  His hand went to his pants pocket then he grinned. 

He had another promise to keep.  And this was the perfect time to do it.  He knew his lady always enjoyed an audience.  Turning swiftly to the woman he loved, he brought everything on the deck to a standstill when he dropped to one knee before her.  Chantal’s eyes went impossibly wide.

“Mace?  What—”

“I made a promise to myself,” he interrupted hoarsely, aware that both Eric and Lì were smiling and elbowing each other.  “And even though this may not be the quietest or most romantic place I could have chosen, I’ll be damned if I put it off.”

Chantal’s hands trembled as he intertwined their fingers.  “Oh, Mace.”

He pressed a kiss to her dirty and torn knuckles.  “I love you, Chantal.  With every breath I take, with everything that’s in me.  I almost lost you today, and I was terrified I’d never get a chance to tell you how much you mean to me. I’ve already wasted ten years I could have been loving you, but I’m not going to waste another minute.”

He met her tear-filled gaze as he willed her to understand all that was in his heart.  “I want to be with you forever, honey.  Go to sleep with you in my arms, make love to you all night.  Wake you with coffee in the morning and scrub your back in the shower.”

Chantal’s cheeks turned crimson as she glanced at the raptly listening crowd around them.   “Mace, really.”

He laughed, utter joy filling his soul.  “That’s not all, you know.  I want to take you to your dancing gigs and watch you stun your audience.  I’ll be in the front row at every performance you ever do, and no one will ever be more proud of you.”

He watched as she lost the struggle with tears.  “And…and will you dance with me,” she whispered.  “For the rest of our lives, will I be the only one?”

Knowing fully what she meant, he rose and ignoring the pain in his ribs, sent her into a quick spin before pulling her back against his chest.  His lips stopped a breath away from hers.  “The only one,” he vowed.  “Beyond eternity and always.”

“Then ask me, Mace.”  Happiness turned her eyes to minted gold.  “Just ask me.”

He grinned down at her, and reaching into his pocket, pulled out the ring stored there.  He flipped it open, enjoying her gasp of surprise when the big yellow diamond flashed in the sun.  The crowd murmured their admiration, but he ignored them.

For a brief moment, his thoughts winged back to his grandmother and their talk in the garden so many years ago.  “You were right, Grandmum,” he murmured to himself, as he looked lovingly at Chantal’s beautiful face, “about finding the right person.  I did know as soon as I saw her.”

Bending, he pressed a soft kiss to his lover’s cupid bow lips.  Aloud, he went on.  “I was once told that love is a very special gift.  One I should open carefully and treasure always.”  Slowly, he slipped the ring on Chantal’s finger.  “I think I’ve found that gift in you, Chantal.  So I want my future to be with you, if you’ll have me.”  He took a deep breath and then asked the question that would change his life forever.

“Will you marry me?”

There was so hesitation, no pause for dramatic license.  This time Chantal wasn’t playing to an audience.  He knew her attention was on him and him alone.  Her eyes overflowing with tears, she leapt into his arms with a squeal of joy.  “Yes! Oh, yes, I’ll marry you.”

The crowd burst into applause and knowing the gift he’d been given was truly priceless, Mace cupped Chantal’s face in his hands, and with all the love in his heart, he sealed their promise to each other with a kiss.

* * * * *

“I can’t decide,” Chantal murmured several hours later.  The crackle of the fire blended with the soft music of Chinese flutes on the stereo.  She squirmed against Mace’s naked body and let out an almost cat-like purr of contentment. 

Mace chuckled and ran a hand down her silky hair.  “What do you have to decide?”

“What I like more,” she answered.  “Being clean or being warm and safe.”

“Decisions, decisions.”  Her lover shook his head.  “So very difficult.”

She rolled over and crossed her arms over his chest.  “It is, you know.  I didn’t realize how horrible it could be, and I was only in that filthy hold for a few hours.”

“More like a day and a half.”  Mace wrapped one of her curls around his finger and tugged gently.  “The longest thirty-six hours in my life.”

“For me, too.”  Chantal snuggled closer.  “You were like a real knight in shining armor coming to rescue the fair maiden.”

Mace snorted out a laugh.  “I don’t know about being a knight, but I do know I wasn’t going to leave without you.  I love you, Chantal.  So much it hurts sometimes.  Knowing you were in danger almost killed me.”

Her heart melted right down to her bare toes.  “Oh, Mace.  When I saw you standing there, I knew all was right with my world. And when I saw what had happened to you I wanted to beat up Chóngdé all over again.”

He bent and kissed her.  “Don’t worry about Chóngdé.  She’ll get what’s coming to her and more.”

Chantal couldn’t help a shudder.  “Hui Sun looked so cold.  But I could see pain, too.  She hurt him, Mace.  What she did hurt her father.”

“I have a very difficult time feeling sorry for either one of them,” Mace growled.  “Sun’s not much better than his daughter.  I saw what he did to some of the men who betrayed him.  Save your sympathy for those who deserve it.”

“Like the people we saved.”  She sighed as she thought of little Deshi.  He and the other refuges were now sleeping peacefully in some of The Golden Tiger’s best rooms.  “I was so scared I’d never see you again, but now I know the fear was worth it.  We stopped her.  She’ll never hurt anyone else again.”

“Hopefully it will put a big dent in the human trafficking going out of Macau.”  Rolling over to his side, Mace tucked Chantal beneath him.  “The leader of the human trafficking task force, Dong Fu?  He told Lì not only was Chóngdé’s operation destroyed, several of her sailors are ready to trade what they know about other traffickers in exchange for their lives.”

Chantal’s heart twinged.  “But it will never stop, will it?”

Mace shook his head.  “Not until there is a worldwide outcry against the practice.  There are many countries already on board, but many others don’t understand or are afraid to make waves.  Until all agree what a monstrous activity human trafficking is, those who peddle in human flesh will just keep going.”

They were silent for several minutes before Chantal finally stirred.  “We shouldn’t be sad.  We did a good thing.  And we’ll keep on fighting.  Both here and wherever we are.  We won’t give up.”

“That’s right, honey.”  Mace smiled down at her.  “People will listen to the Amber Princess.”

“I’ll tell my story.”  She shuddered again at the memory of the men she’d killed.  “Then maybe what I went through will mean something.”

As if he knew her thoughts, Mace caressed her lips with his own.  “I’m here, love,” he whispered.  “And I always will be.  You’re free and safe, so let it go for now.”

Chantal closed her eyes and shook off the last remaining bit of lurking fear.  Mace was right.  She was safe and with him.  They were going to be married.

“So give me something else to think about,” she invited.  Boldly, she reached down and took his cock in her hand.  It twitched once and then quickly swelled.  She giggled at his muttered swear word.

“You have magic hands.”  Mace put his hand over hers and helped her find the rhythm to stroke him.

“So do you.”

“You mean like this?”  He put action to words and slipped his fingers between her legs.  They teased at her clit with unerring ease as his mouth moved over her tender breasts.  When he licked and nibbled at her nipples she couldn’t help but moan out her appreciation.

“Yes,” she gasped as she arched against him.  “Just like that.  Do it again.”

He obeyed, bringing her to the top of the peak several times, yet always stopping just before she fell over the edge.  Finally, she’d had enough.

“Damn it, Mace. Quit teasing.”

Laughing, he kissed her, holding her down at she wriggled beneath him. 

“Mace.”  She tried to get even closer.  The heat in her loins was close to bursting.  “Please, I need you so much.”

“I’m here, baby.”  Finally sliding between her thighs, he gave her what she wanted.  So slowly she wanted to scream, he slid inside her.

“This is just the beginning,” he muttered hoarsely.  “We’re going to get married as soon as we can.  And I’m going to spend every night making love to my new bride.”

Her heart was so full it ached.  “I love you, Mace.  I feel like I’ve loved you forever.  Don’t stop loving me, I couldn’t bear it.”

He paused with just the tip of his penis still inside and stared at her  “Stop loving you?  Are you kidding?”

She squirmed closer, already ready to explode just by his touch.  “You’re doing a pretty good impression of it right now.”

Laughing, Mace thrust deeper.  “Then since I have you right where I want you, I have to warn you, I’ll be a very possessive husband.”

“You…you will?” She could barely think, let alone talk.

“Yes.  So you’ll have to promise me you’ll do no more special dances for those playboys or princes.  That drove me crazy even before I knew I loved you.”

Chantal gasped, again right on the edge of pleasure.  “No…no more dances?”

“No. Besides, you’ll be too busy.  You’ll be spending all your time with your new permanent partner.”    Mace groaned as he sent them both over the precipice and into the steps of their own private dance.  “No one will ever cut in on me again.” 

~*~

Sigh.  How romantic.  I think Mace and Chantal are heading for a great new life together.  Only one installment left and then on the last Tuesday of the month I have something special for everyone.  So stay tuned.


See you on Saturday for the Epilogue!

Hugs,

CJ

Hustle Into Love - Chapter Seventeen, Part Two

Hey all,

I don't know about you, but I can't wait to see what happens next!  Will Chantal come out of this alive?  Will Mace be her knight in shining armor?  We'll see!!  Enjoy!!!

 

Hustle Into Love

~*~

* * * * *

It seemed as if hours had passed, and a hundred decks searched before Mace finally found what he’d been seeking.  Sliding around a sharp corner, he suddenly heard the sound of muted female voices.  Coming to a full stop, he grasped his weapon tighter before slipping through the door and into a large hold.  A quick glance sent his heart leaping.  Finally, he’d found her. 

There, standing next to a second hatch door, was Chantal. 

Unfortunately, she wasn’t alone.  Chóngdé stood nearby.  And to his horror, he saw blood streaming down Chantal’s arm.  She’d been shot, no doubt by the other woman. 

Chantal said something he couldn’t hear to Chóngdé, but the other woman’s snarl of anger told him it wasn’t a compliment.  Then, before he could do or say anything, Chantal dropped to the ground and picked up a gun just as Chóngdé took aim at her.  The shot missed, and his shout of anger went unheard with the tumult that followed.  Chantal returned fire and Chóngdé took a bullet in the arm, but it didn’t stop her.  Seconds later, Chantal’s next shot misfired, and he heard Chóngdé’s shriek of rage as both women hit the floor ripping and tearing at each other.  He started to Chantal’s aid, but he was abruptly aware of two others as they raced into the hold behind him. 

The men were so intent on the two women wrestling, they didn’t see Mace in the shadows.  The first man lifted his gun and took aim at Chantal’s blonde head.  Without hesitation, Mace pointed his own weapon and fired.  The man went down like a stone, his shot going wild.

But now the other sailor knew Mace was there.  With a roar of rage, he flew at Mace, not even bothering to pull his own gun from its holster.  A fist slammed into Mace’s jaw, making him dizzy.  He rolled, trying desperately to hold on to his weapon.  The sailor was big, muscled and seriously intent on doing damage, but Mace had all the incentive he needed.  A quick twist of his body and he was face to face with his opponent.

They struggled, first for the gun, and when that dropped and was kicked away, for advantage over the other.  Mace grunted as he fought for all he was worth, viciously aware the woman he loved was also fighting for her life across the room.  Another jab to his already beleaguered ribs made him gasp, and for a moment the sailor had the advantage.

But Mace wasn’t about to give up.  His whole future rested on the next few minutes, and he refused to let some little bitch with a god complex or her henchmen take away the most important thing in his life.

Ignoring the pain in his chest, he absorbed the hard left punch to his face, retaliating with one of his own.  He followed it up by sharp right-handed chop to the man’s neck, almost flinching when he heard the Adam’s apple snap.

The sailor’s eyes went wide.  He gasped once and fell to his knees, clawing at his throat.   Impassively, Mace watched as the man tried to suck in a breath and failed.  A moment later, he toppled like a tree barely missing where Mace stood.

He stared down at the dead man for a long moment, realizing that in the last few minutes he’d taken two lives.  But he would deal with that painful fact later.  Now, he could only be thankful for the training Lì had talked him into.  What the military had started, his brother had finished.

And Lì’s foresight had given Mace the chance to finish this opponent.

A sound from across the hold caught his attention.  Turning, he saw Chantal on top of Chóngdé, her fists flying.  His heart pounding, he scooped up his weapon and raced across the room.

* * * * *

“This is for Lì,” Chantal gritted out as she slammed her fist into Chóngdé’s face, “and this one if for Mace.  This one’s for little Deshi and this one—” she gasped in a needed breath and gloried in the feel of Chóngdé’s nose breaking, “—this one is for me.”

Her enemy lay still and silent, but Chantal didn’t care.  She was out of control, wanting to make sure Chóngdé suffered for all her wrongs.  She kept on hitting her, not caring if the other woman was awake to feel it or not.

When two strong arms wrapped around her waist and lifted her away, she reacted furiously, kicking and biting and scratching at her captor.

“Damn it, Chantal, it’s me!”  Mace’s beloved voice finally cut through the red mist of her anger.  “Stop.  Chóngdé won’t hurt you or anyone else ever again.”

She froze, too dazed to understand until he whipped her around so they were face to face.  He lifted her chin gently, his gaze locked on hers.

“It’s all right, baby,” he whispered soothingly, “it’s all over.”

“M-Mace?”  She reached up and shakily covered his hand with her own.  “You’re here.  You came for me?”

“Bloody hell, woman,” he growled, pulling her against him so hard she lost her breath.  “I’ve been looking for you since an hour after you stomped out on me.”

“Oh, Mace.”  Chantal’s fears all melted away.  She wasn’t imagining it.  He was here.  She was safe.  It was over.  Finally, truly over.  She burrowed into him, uncaring of the small hurts that were beginning to make themselves known.  She was home in his arms and that was all that mattered.  “I was so scared—wishing you would find me.”

“I’ll always find you, honey,” he promised as he touched her lips with his own.  “No matter where, no matter what.  I love you.”

Tears burned and slid down her cheek.  “I love you too,” she wept.  “I’m so sorry I walked out on you that way.  I didn’t mean it.”

Mace chuckled.  “Yes you did.  And you were right.  Not to walk out on me,” he amended, “but about me making you a part of things.  I was wrong about that.”

There was a groan behind them and Chantal stiffened.  Pushing back out of Mace’s arms, she gazed at Chóngdé who was slowly returning to consciousness.  “Damn.  I thought I’d killed her.”

“Chantal.”  

He didn’t understand.  “You don’t know what she’s done,” she whispered, staring down at her battered enemy.  “She deserves worse than anything I can do to her.”

“And she’ll get it.”  Mace’s promise was so assured Chantal turned back and looked at him.  He nodded.  “I told you it was all over, honey.  We do know what she’s been up to.  Found all her records, going back three years.”  He grimaced.  “All the smuggling…the human trafficking.”

“Records?  She kept records?”

“They were what led us here.”  He folded Chantal close again.  “And we’re not the only ones.”

Chantal sighed in relief.  “Good.  You called the police.”

Mace snorted.  “Yes.  I’m sure they’re here somewhere.  But that’s not who I was referring to.”  He smiled coldly then met Chóngdé’s bleary gaze.

“Her father is with us.”

The terror that filled Chóngdé’s eyes was almost worth all the pain Chantal was feeling.  Three years.  For three years this woman had been hurting people and destroying lives.  Without a bit of remorse, Chóngdé had kidnapped, tortured and defiled men, women and children.  She deserved to have all that pain turned back around on her.

Pulling back again, she searched Mace’s eyes.  “You really think Hui Sun will deal with her.  Really make her pay for all she’s done?”

“Honey—” Mace grinned ferally, “—she’ll be lucky if there’s anything left to give to the police.

Satisfaction shot through her when she heard Chóngdé’s frightened whimper, but that pleasure was cut short when Chantal really got a good look at Mace’s face.  “My God, what happened to you?”

“You’re just now noticing?”  He touched his bruised jaw and then probed carefully at his ribs.  “He did.”  Mace pointed with his gun to the bodies lying by the hold door.  “As well as a few others.  It wasn’t easy riding to your rescue, you know.”

“Oh, Mace.”  She traced his bleeding lip.   She suddenly remembered the second shot she’d heard and shivered.  Mace had killed to protect her.  “I’m so sorry.”

“We’ll you’re not looking so good yourself, you know.” He frowned.  “Damn it, woman, I'd almost forgotten.  When were you going to tell me you’ve been shot?”  Ripping her sleeve away from the wound on her arm, he quickly fashioned a makeshift bandage.  “We need to have a doctor look at this.”

“I’ll be fine,” she said soothingly, snuggling against him again.  She hurt, but the sharp pain of the gunshot had dulled to a constant ache.  “It’s over.  We’re together and everything can go back to normal.”

There was a sound at the door and they both braced themselves, but immediately relaxed when they saw it was only Eric and Lì.  Her bodyguard looked around at all the mayhem and putting his meaty hands on his hips, sighed in disgust.

“Damn it, Princess.  Couldn’t you have left any for me?”

Chantal couldn’t help the happy tears as she traded Mace’s embrace for Eric’s.  “Sorry.  I guess I was too busy staying alive.”

“Little sister—” A moment later Lì’s arms were around her, “—you had us all very worried.”

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.  “For everything.  For the trouble, the bombing, for this.  Forgive me.”

“It has already been discussed whose fault it is, and it is not yours,” Lì remonstrated.  “The fault lies with Chóngdé and no other.”

“That is true.”

They all stiffened at the sound of Hui Sun’s deep voice.  Turning, they saw the older man standing with his men, just inside the outer hatch.  His gaze was on his fallen daughter.  He looked up at Mace. 

“Is she dead?”

Mace shook his head.  “No.”

“Good.”  Sun walked forward and stared down at Chóngdé.  “You have my thanks for not killing her.”

“If she’d done any more damage to Chantal, I’d have done the deed, I promise you,” Mace responded, “but fortunately, my lady had things well in hand by the time I arrived to help.  Only had to deal with a few—” he glanced at the fallen men by the door, “—distractions.”

“Fa…ther…”  Chóngdé lifted a pleading hand.  “Help…me.”

Hui ignored her as if she wasn’t there.  “Then you both have my thanks.  And my sincere apology for the trouble she has caused you.  I will deal with her now.”

“My friend,” Lì warned softly, “remember what we discussed.”

Sun’s lips narrowed, but he bowed in response.  “I will not break my word to you.  But the authorities will get her only when I have finished my…chastisement.”

Chantal shuddered along with Chóngdé.  For a moment she almost felt sorry for the woman.  Then she looked up into Mace’s battered face and shook her head.

Nope.  Not so sorry after all.

They didn’t say anything when Sun bent and picked up his broken and bleeding daughter.  Even Chóngdé’s piteous cries didn’t move them.  Instead they watched as the older man turned and made his way out of the hold, followed by his silent army.  After they had left, there was a long pause broken only when her adopted brother sighed.

“I think it is time for us to leave as well.”  Lì smiled at Chantal when Mace wrapped a possessive arm around her.  “There is still much to do and many who are very worried about you.”

“I just want to get out of this damn ship,” Eric agreed sourly as he started towards the hatch that led to the upper deck.  “Now that I’m done cracking heads, I think I’m claustrophobic.”

They all laughed. 

“We have to make a stop first, a few decks below this one.”  Mace smiled ruefully at Chantal.  “As much as I want to get you somewhere safe, I made a promise.”

Chantal met his gaze, knowing what he meant and loving him for all she was worth.  She nodded.  “As did I, my love.  As did I.”

~*~

Okay, I feel so much better.  They've found each other and it looks as if everything is going to be all right.  But where do they go from here?  Stay tuned for Thursday's installment to learn more.

Hugs,

CJ