THE REVENGE OF MIGUEL BAIN

by Deena

CC put the plane on automatic pilot as soon as she could. She needed some time to think about what had happened the night before. Had she really just made hot and heavy sex with a man she barely knew? A man who obviously had some very dangerous enemies? But it was like he had had some strange connection with her. At this point she wasn't even sure if she liked him. He was a hard ass with a hard mouth and .. she giggled. Yeah, she thought, I guess I should be happy that there was that other thing that was hard last night. But who the hell is he?

"Hey, Papa, what do you think, huh? A secret agent? An industrial spy? An Amway salesman? Speak up!" She pushed a string of birdseed through the cage and looked expectantly at the big-mouthed bird. "Merde! Bite me!"

"You are absolutely no help at all," CC sighed as Papa let loose with a string of expletives. "Well, let's see. Let me check my appointment book. What was that guy's name...Roth, Ralph,...ah, here it is.. Rath. Robert Rath….hmm, the pick up's not for him, but his associate, Anna MacIntosh. Hey, what do you think, Papa? Some egg head with spectacles? Oh well, as long as I get paid it could be for his pet pig. And I like this. He's got his own private airstrip! Wonder why he doesn't have his own private plane and pilot? Well, fine by me. I need all the jobs I can get."

Miguel watched the plane as it took off. Cyber was well trained and returned to the cabin as CC taxied down the short landing strip. For some reason the dog had taken a liking to him. Miguel couldn't figure it out, and he would die before he'd admit that he had started to like the dog in return. Maybe it was because it didn't want anything from him. He didn't even feed him. CC had a special feed bowl with a timer and the dog actually would appear like clock - work from wherever it was playing when it was time for him to eat. No. For some perverse reason the dog liked him.

"Okay, Cyber, mi amigo. Time for some playing. Let's get Bobby's attention."

He plugged the laptop into the outlet near the window and sat with the morning sun at his back. Cyber circled around twice and curled up at his feet. Every so often Miguel absentmindedly reached down to pat the soft furry head of the panting pooch lying on the cabin floor. Finally, the computer was booted up and he was ready to tweak the bastard's nose.

>Are you there, Rath?< He typed. Almost immediately, a response appeared.
>Ready when you are, my anonymous friend.<

Quickly, Miguel called up the cyber chessboard. It was his move. He had a choice now. If he moved his knight one way, the game would progress in a traditional pattern. But, if he moved his knight another way... the Fadlan Gambit would come into play. The cursor hovered over the chessboard. If he made that move then the game would climb to a whole different level. Rath would be confused. Only two people in the world knew the intricacies of the legendary ibn Fadlan Gambit. Only two people had ever seen the progression of moves laid out from beginning to end. Miguel Bain and Robert Rath. Their love of chess was a tie between them. In fact, they had both bid on the same manuscript-"The Master of the Game – Ahmad Ibn Fadlan" at an auction. Rath had outbid him, but six months later, Miguel had stolen the document from him.

Now, if he made that move, Rath would instantly set his inquiring dogs into motion. He would know that Miguel was still alive. He would track Miguel down and bring this vendetta to a climax. Miguel's finger pressed the mouse lightly. A little more pressure. That's all it would take just a little more pressure…

"Shit!"

He yelled in disgust as he jumped up. Cyber had suddenly gone apeshit! With a howl and a furious scrabbling of four large paws, the dog ran out of the cabin, the laptop cord tangled around his hind legs. As Miguel chased after him, he let out a stream of curses in Spanish. The dog was running as if all the hounds of hell were chasing after him. The laptop bumped along behind him, like some sort of crazy leash. "Perdicion!" He couldn't catch his breath. The exertion had reopened some of his wounds and he was beginning to bleed. His chest heaved as he tried to gather some oxygen into his lungs. "Mierde!" He kicked the cabin door. Once. Twice. Son of a bitch! Now what the hell was he going to do?

CC circled the private airstrip of Robert Rath. It was located in Big Sur. The house that was set back from the landing field could only be considered a mansion. Now why does a guy who can afford a house like that and a private airstrip not have his own plane and pilot? Unless, he's so distrustful of people he doesn't want to have too many people around? Hmmm. Interesting. With the smooth handling that came from many years of piloting, CC set the plane down. A small, cherry red Ferrari pulled up close by with a screech and the smell of burning rubber. Out of the shiny chariot stepped a gorgeous long-legged red head with a small pet carrier. CC peered through the window of the cockpit at the familiar despised figure. It couldn't be... but it was...the bitch who had caused her brother, Eric to kill himself - only her name wasn't Anna MacIntosh, but Electra MacKenzie! Then that carrier had to hold her precious cat, Pearl. Electra had completely disappeared after leaving Eric holding the bag. The material on the disc she had stolen had been programmed by Eric. The data contained had held the latest tracking system for the industrial satellites built and launched by Telecam, Inc. Now, its rival company held the encryption and could control the orbiting machinery. She had seduced him, promised him they'd live off the money they'd make from selling the disc. Instead, she'd pointed the finger at him and vanished like a houri in a dream of the Arabian nights. Eric couldn't deal with it. The humiliation...the shame...the loss of the one woman he thought had loved him. He had hung himself in his apartment. CC had been the one to find the body. For months she had been haunted by that memory. He had held Electra's picture in his hands so tightly the frame had cut his palms. She and her stupid cat had grinned up at CC as she pried the small rectangle from his fingers.

Now here she was. In her grasp. She longed to just take the knife she had strapped to her ankle and slit her lily - white bitch throat, but she was curious. What was her connection with the mysterious Mr. Rath? Why had she been hired to haul her to Thousand Oaks? She'd hold her tongue and keep the knife sheathed for another time. And there would be another time.

"Welcome aboard, Ms. MacIntosh," CC said softly holding the passenger door open. "Welcome aboard."

Robert Rath stared at the blank screen. What the hell had happened? The game had just started to become interesting. The unknown chess player had proven to be a better player than he could have hoped for. That last move. Damn, if he didn't know better. But no, it couldn't be. After all, there were countless options. But still. If his nameless opponent made a particular choice….No! Damn it, no! It was impossible! He had seen the body, riddled with bullets, the blood oozing out of the myriad wounds. No. There was no way that Miguel could be alive. No way. But shit….that move. The knight..if it went one way… Ibn Fadlan and the Fadlan Gambit. He knew what that meant. A challenge would have been given. A challenge that could only lead to the death of one or the other player. What the hell had happened to his wily opponent? Why had the screen gone blank at just that crucial point? He stared at his computer as if it were alive. A snake coiled to strike at any moment. As he pushed himself away from the desk, his chair crashed to the floor. With an anger fueled by the futility of trying to guess the next move, he threw the chair out of the window sending shards of glass to the manicured lawn below and startling the peacocks parading on the emerald green grass. The screeching of the cocks just barely overcame the screeching of Robert Rath as he screamed in rage.

Miguel threw himself on the bed, the sheets still tousled from last night's lovemaking. He tried to control his breathing using the mantras he had acquired in his travels. Slowly, his breath eased in his chest. A spicy scent filled his nostrils. Her scent. He hadn't planned on last night. Hadn't expected that he would lose control like that. But when she had bent over him to change his bandage he had smelled that unique perfume of hers and it had triggered something. That tie that he had felt almost from the beginning had tightened. He had wanted her and Miguel always took what he wanted. And she had wanted him, too. For that he was glad. CC...she was like a tigress. It had been a long time since he had had a lover as strong as he was himself. G-d, she may not have wanted his wounds to reopen but she sure as hell had given him a few minor cuts to show for last night. His sex hardened as he thought of their reunion when she flew back to him. A loud clattering had him jumping from the bed reaching for a gun that wasn't strapped to his side. Cyber! The damn dog was back. Sadly, Miguel looked at what remained of his laptop.

Cyber limped into the cabin, favoring one paw, the broken laptop trailing behind him.

"What's wrong, boy?" Miguel asked softly. "Let me see." Slowly he reached out his hand, not wanting to frighten the injured animal.

"Shit! You've got a wasp sting in there, mi amigo. Is that what made you run? Easy, easy. Let Miguel take it out for you." Carefully holding his still bleeding side, Miguel went into the bathroom and rummaged around in CC's medicine cabinet until he found a tweezers. Cyber had gotten up onto the bed, and looked directly into Miguel's eyes. It was unnerving. There was such trust in those liquid black eyes. He had never had anything trust him like that. Carefully, gently, slowly, he pulled the wasp's stiletto from Cyber's paw. He gingerly dabbed some witch hazel he had taken from the cabinet onto the huge paw. Shaking his head ruefully, Miguel removed the remnants of the computer from Cyber's neck. There'd be no more chess with Rath for a while.

"Well, Miss MacIntosh, we're here. Can I take you some where?" CC asked in a honeyed voice. She could barely stand to be with her in the same plane, but she had all the patience of her native forbears. Papa had been a diversion, screeching out loud when he realized a cat was in the vicinity.

"Why no,I'm expecting to be met. Here. It was a most interesting ride." With the disdain of someone who now had more money then she knew how to handle, Electra offered CC a fifty dollar bill. For a second she almost refused it but then she thought, no. No, I'll take her money. Damned if I won't!

A limousine pulled up and the red head and her cat piled in. CC had found out that Pearl had to visit the vet. They'd be back the same day, but late. Nothing now to do but wait and sleep. As she leaned back in the passenger's reclining seat, her thoughts drifted back to Miguel. Her dreams while she waited were wild. They were in a lake, totally nude, he held her around her waist and she wrapped her legs around his slim hips. She could literally feel him. He was like a stallion, pumping into her. She moaned in her sleep and tossed in the small plane's cabin. Her breath fogged up the windows as she let herself go with the passionate lovemaking in her dream. She was so close to coming, so close...

"Miss Tonali, are you all right?" The abrupt knocking from her passenger woke her up. For a second she was dazed.

"Yeah.. give me a second."

She got back into the pilot's seat and opened the door.

"Where's the cat?"

"Oh, poor Pearl. She has to stay at the vet's for a few days." The slut shook her head sadly. The bitch cares more for the damn cat than she did for my brother, CC thought.

"Well, shall we get on with it? I'd really like to get home in time for dinner."

"Sure. Strap yourself in." It's going to be a bumpy ride, CC thought hysterically. It was.

"She's back, Cyber! Damn! I didn't expect her back tonight. Let's get the runway lights on." Miguel turned into the cabin and threw the switch CC had indicated that would turn on the bright lights necessary for an evening's landing. The man and dog watched eagerly as the plane came in to land.

CC jumped out and immediately Cyber limped over to her. He jumped up and washed her face with his big rough tongue. Miguel watched, envious of the dog and determined that his tongue would be the next to taste that skin.

"CC, I did not expect you back so soon."

"Neither did I, but I finished early and got paid for two days so I thought what the shit. Why hang around? Did you miss me?" She asked playfully.

"Yes, damn it I did!" Miguel grabbed her and brought her body tight against his own. He was stunned by the extreme reaction he had felt as soon as he saw her. He gripped her hips and looked at her almost angrily. "I have never missed anyone before. I don't like it!"

"Well, excuse me. I didn't do anything to make you miss me!" CC tried to pull away from him, but even for someone as strong as she, Miguel was stronger.

"We'll have to do something about it." With that he scooped her up and stalked into the cabin. He threw her down on the bed and began to strip off his shirt.

"Your bandages! They're bloody! What the hell did you do to yourself?"

"Chased after Cyber." He continued to strip until he was totally naked. His arousal ample proof that she had a profound affect on him.

"Why are you still dressed?" he demanded. "Get out of those clothes. I want you. Now."

CC tore off her blouse and skirt. Her scanty panties flew onto the floor joining his jockey shorts.

With a growl he threw himself on her. He was voracious, licking every inch of her. Biting, suckling, kissing her. He feasted between her legs, lapping up the spicy honey that was uniquely hers. Love words in Spanish streamed from his lips. Soon she was begging him to take her completely.

"Miguel, damn you why are you making me wait? Haven't you tasted enough of me? I want you in me now. Now, damn it!" She pulled his hair, and his eyes snapped with surprise. Their gazes locked and then he made his move. He grasped her buttocks and raised her up. "You had only to ask, mi flamme." He thrust into her, pounding his body against hers. Harder. Faster. Deeper. The sweat poured off them as they raced to the sun. CC's moans filled the little cabin, flew out the window and startled the stars.

"Don't. Stop. Don't. Stop. Don't. Stop. Miguel, I love you!" It slipped out. CC bit her tongue.

"You don't, but I don't care."