《Filthy Secret》


 Chapter 1

    Story 1


    Eva set the next dish aside. There was something rough crusted on it. She could feel it with her thumb through the slippery film of rinse water. She wasn¡¯t sure if she had gotten all the soap off. Eva didn¡¯t care much about leftover invisible soap or leftover foodstuff. When she set the table next, she¡¯d just be sure that Seth got that te.


    She wore a tight ck dress. She wore a thong and no bra so no lines showed through the material. She wore low heels, but ck shoes that matched her dress. It was not dishwashing clothes, she knew, but she wanted to feel special, so she tried to wear nice things even during ordinary chores.


    Eva was not new to washing dishes. She could do better and her father would not have tolerated soap or crust on his dishes, but Seth was a bit of a slob and even Eva¡¯s half-hearted work was better than how he had taken care of himself before he paid her way over to the States.


    She had washed dishes ever since she was old enough to stand before sneaking away to America. Back in Freedonia in Eastern Europe, she had three sisters and seven brothers. Most of her brothers, even the younger ones, had gone off to fight in one civil war or another along one disputed border or another. Some of them came back. The ones that did, even the younger ones, married whatever daughter of whatever family they wanted. In Freedonia, eligible surviving men were scarce. They came back from the fighting mean and cold. She did not want to marry one of them even if they did choose her. So, she came to America to marry Seth and poorly wash his dishes.


    Seth was not mean or cold. He was a little gross and puffy around the middle. He needed to shower more instead of spraying on deodorant to cover up


    his stink. He had an oddbination of being fat and skinny at the same time. His belly was fat, but his arms and legs were skinny. His chest was all bone and very little muscle. He had no ass. Sex with him wasn¡¯t exactly terrible, but she had better behind barns and over barrels with horny young men back in the home country.


    Seth liked sex with her. He usually came very fast. That was part of what made it tolerable. She hadrge, natural double-D breasts. Her hair was a pinkish strawberry blend between red and blond. People thought it was from a bottle, but that was natural too. She had kept it up in a kerchief beforeing to America but then began wearing it down. She had an ass that men back in her home country thought was too big. Here in America though she noticed men turning in the streets and at the shopping malls to stare. Sometimes Seth asked her to shake it up and down for him. It seemed silly to her, but she was getting quite good at the twerking that Seth showed her in videos. If she twerked for him before they fucked, then he usually came even faster, so she usually put on the bouncy booty dance show for him while he stroked his tiny, hard cock.


    Seth gave her credit cards and let her roam freely during the day.


    Keeping her happy was a priority for him. He just didn¡¯t know much about how to do so in the bedroom nor did he have the equipment to get the job done. Eva used her credit cards and allowance to buy dildos and vibrators to use in secret when Seth was distracted with his online business which was most of the day.


    She had them hidden around the house. As time went on, she was getting bigger and bigger models. She had arge, veiny ck one. She had a purple one that wasrge enough to fight off a burr.


    Eva leaned on the edge of the sink and tried to remember which one she had in the kitchen. She thought there was a clear, double-headed one stowed away behind the Tupperware. She used that one on her pussy and bent it around to tease her ass. The angle worked the G spot she had read about online.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Seth had hinted that he wanted to take her in the ass. He sometimes rubbed his little cock between her cheeks and shot cum up her back. When he started bringing up sex with her ass, she pretended she didn¡¯t understand what he was saying and he would back off the idea. She liked teasing her ass, but she didn¡¯t want Seth getting used to taking her that way. He was already obsessed with her plump ass as it was just like all American men. She did not want to feed that particr obsession. She kept her ass y secret from him then. She thought about sneaking a little y in the kitchen to deal with her horny feelings. Knowing that Seth was a couple of rooms away at hisputer made it seem that much dirtier.


    Seth called from the other side of the house. ¡°Eva? Are you in the house?¡±


    She sighed and was tempted to sneak out the back door. She had a pack of cigarettes hidden on top of the rafters of the mud room attached to the back of the house. She could hide back in the blind spot in the back corner of the house and lot to smoke away some of her stress. Like the ass y, she did not do it often, but sometimes doing something dirty let out the negative energy. That and shopping usually did the trick.


    She gave the escape n another moment of thought and then she called back. ¡°I am. What do you need, Seth?¡±

 Chapter 2

    She was worried that her words came off too harsh. The only thing that was worse than him trying to hint at fucking her in the ass was him apologizing for offending her. Usually, the times he pissed her off by leaving clothes on the floor or leaving dishes under the bed to mold, he had no clue that he was making her miserable. When she had noticed nothing at all, he would patter on about how sorry he was and would keep asking her why she was mad. He would keep it up until she was mad. Most of the time it was her ent. It turned him on, but it also sounded angry to him and other Americans even when she was just stating something inly with no emotion at all. For all their bluster and tough talk, American men were very sensitive in private. They were annoyingly emotional.


    Seth came back with a voice that sounded upied instead of sensitive.


    That she could live with. ¡°Do you speak German?¡±


    Eva sighed. ¡°Yes, I told you that I do. You know that. I speak German, Russian, Brusian, and French. I also speak and read a little Italian, Ukrainian, Rusyn, and Polish.¡±


    ¡°So you do speak German, right?¡±


    Eva growled and closed her eyes. She did not try to hide the harshness in her voice as she shouted. ¡°Yes, I speak German, you trottel dummkopf.¡±


    ¡°Great. Great. Can youe here, please, Eva? I need your help.¡± Again he was not reading when she was angry.


    She pulled off her rubber gloves and dropped them inside out on the counter beside the sink.


    ¡°What do you need in German?¡± she asked as she walked through the dining room.


    The dining room table was stacked with file boxes. Papers spilled out from under the bent cardboard lids. Most were yellow and pink carbon paper from visa applications from countries all across Europe and Asia.


    ¡°I¡¯m working here, babe. Hurry up, please. I need to know what this


    says.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ming, Seth. Why don¡¯t you use Google Trante as you did before you knew me?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s giving me a weird trantion. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s right. Come on and help me. It will be quick.¡±


    Everything with him was quick, she thought.


    ¡°I¡¯ming,¡± she said as she went down the short flight of steps into the den Seth used as an office.


    She thought of the den as their of some weird skinny and fat bear. It smelled even more musty than the rest of the house. There was a thick orange shag carpet that always caught in and clogged the vacuum cleaner. She had given up on trying to get out all the stains and popcorn kernels he left ground down into the shag. The wood paneling was dark and gave the bear¡¯sir more of a cave-like feel. There were old, water-stained posters of half-naked women along the walls. Most of them were busty women in red bathing suits. Their boobs were not real and were from something called the Baywatch.


    Seth sat at theputer desk in the darkest corner of the room. His sallow, rat-like face looked sharper in the dull, green glow of theputer screen.


    ¡°Babe?¡± He yelled again without turning around. ¡°I¡¯m right here, Seth.¡±


    ¡°Right. Sorry.¡± He clicked his way back up through a screen of text and pointed at a block of lines on the screen. ¡°This. What does this say?¡±


    Eva leaned out over his shoulder and squinted at the screen. Her lips moved as she read through and shook her head.


    Seth turned his head toward her and cupped her breast where it hung down and rested heavily on his shoulder. He pulled at and rubbed at her nipple until it poked hard through the material of her shirt. He licked his lips and took more encouragement from her reaction than she intended to give. She was getting turned on, but it was a shame that his little cock under his weirdly fat belly was her only option.


    She pulled her breast away from his grasp and moved to the side. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see that he was crestfallen.


    ¡°Not now,¡± she said. ¡°I can¡¯t concentrate on this if you are teasing me.


    Do you want this tranted or not?¡±


    He sighed and turned his attention back to the screen. ¡°Okay. What does it say?¡±


    ¡°It is not German,¡± she said. ¡°Well, not all of it.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡±


    Eva waved her fingers over the text. ¡°It is a mix of German and Russian. Some of it is misspelled and the grammar is bad. Words are out of order for bothnguages.¡±


    ¡°Is it a bot?¡± he asked. ¡°This girl keeps messaging me.¡± ¡°Bot?¡±


    Seth waved a hand in a circle. ¡°Is it aputer program putting together random text?¡±


    Eva thought, but then shook her head. ¡°No. I think it is a person, but one that is not good with eithernguage.¡±


    ¡°What does it say?¡±


    She sighed and said, ¡°It talks about bank ounts and transferring money for travel. It talks about trusting God and wanting to serve a higher purpose once she gets to America. That¡¯s the best I can get out of it. Like I said, it is in twonguages and badly written.¡±


    Seth scrolled up and deleted the message. ¡°Super. I¡¯m probably getting contacted by someone on the watch list.¡±


    Eva stood up straight and stared at his face in profile. ¡°What is this watch list? What are you talking about?¡±N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    ¡°Nothing. Patriot Act stuff. It¡¯s probably some hacker trying to scam me out of money, but it might be someone trying to sneak into America illegally.¡±


    Eva swallowed and narrowed her eyes. ¡°Are you going to get in trouble?


    Are you going to get us in trouble?¡±


    He waved a hand at her dismissively as he clicked through pictures of women on hisputer. About half of the pictures werepletely or partially naked. She ignored them as she waited for his answer.


    Seth said, ¡°Don¡¯t be silly. I¡¯ve been doing this for years. I got you to America, didn¡¯t I?¡±


    She looked at a woman on his screen bent over and spreading her bare ass for the camera. Seth bit his lip as he stared at the image.


    Eva said, ¡°That is true, but a lot of bad stuff has happened since then. Are you worried the police are getting mad about all the women you are bringing into the country?¡±

 Chapter 3

    Seth sat back in his chair. The back gave a creak from the strain of his weight. He stared at her a moment and blinked several times. Moisture zed the surface of his eyes. He could have been angry, but Eva knew him well enough to know that he was more likely to cry. American men had their buttons and the ones Eva had met that ordered their brides from Seth¡¯s service had a lot of buttons that made them cry. She prepared herself for whatever storm of emotion might being.


    Seth¡¯s voice shook a little, but he held it together for the moment. ¡°You don¡¯t think I know what I am doing? Do you think I am too stupid to fill out the paperwork properly?¡±


    Eva sighed and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not saying that. There are bad people out there that can take pretty pictures online and fill out the paperwork toe to America. Bad people will use you toe here and do bad things. That is all I am saying. I don¡¯t want you to get into trouble. I don¡¯t want to lose you.¡±


    He softened and smiled, but still looked like he was about to cry.


    American men sometimes cried when women said nice things to them too. Eva thought not for the first time that Seth would not do well at all in a civil war.


    As she focused on his eyes moving up and down her body, she realized he was going to want to have sex that night. She began to brace herself for that possibility mentally. If he looked at enough bridal candidates online and she twerked nicely for him, it could probably be over quickly and he would fall fast asleep. She would be able to take care of herself with the purple monster she had hidden in the bathroom.


    He said, ¡°I appreciate that. They have to pass immigration screenings. I might fudge the numbers and details a little, but if they have any sort of history. They¡¯ll get gged and stopped. No problem.¡±


    Eva nodded. ¡°If you say so, then I believe so.¡±Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Seth leaned back from hisputer and another Eastern European trying to look sexy in a red teddy. Eva saw Seth was wearing a dirty concert shirt for some metal band she did not recognize and baggy sweatpants. She could see the tiny shape of his hard cock. She fought the urge to grit her teeth. He would notice as he tilted his head toward her.


    He held out one hand with orange cheese puff dust under his nails. ¡°Come here, baby. Sit on myp a second.¡±


    She forced a smile. ¡°I thought you had work to do. I have dishes.¡± ¡°Both can wait. Come here.¡±


    She hesitated just a moment, but then moved toward him. She turned and lowered her ass in her tight dress down onto hisp like she was easing into a cold bath. She felt his little prick poking her ass cheek as she settled her weight. She wiggled her hips to try to getfortable. He gave a breathy moan and she thought she had made a mistake. She was going to end up having daytime sex in his stinky bear cave den office with pop corn kernels under her bare feet. She decided once he stripped her naked, she¡¯d leave her shoes on. Sometimes that turned him on enough to speed the process along.


    His hand found her breast and he started working the nipple through the material. He said, ¡°I¡¯m so d I found you, Eva.¡±


    She smiled without having to force it. ¡°I¡¯m d ¡­ to be here too, Seth.


    You changed my life.¡±


    All of it was true, she realized.


    ¡°How about a little celebration before we get back to immigration documents and dishwashing?¡±


    Eva sighed. ¡°I feel sexier at night. Maybe we wait until then.¡±


    His hand slid inside her dress and tugged at her nipple. He slid his fingers across to her other breast inside her dress and Eva shivered. Again, he was encouraged and started twisting her other nipple like he was tuning an old radio.


    She liked to be pulled and yed with rough from time to time, but it helped if she was already turned on.


    ¡°You are sexy all the time,¡± he said.


    She licked her lips. His kindness and unbridled attraction to her was nice.


    It made her feel somewhat like a goddess being worshipped by a lowly worshipper. He was a slob, but he was mostly a humble slob that was in awe of her beauty. She enjoyed that. He had his little honeys on theputer that would do almost anything for him to get to America and get their own worshippers too. As far as she knew, he had not taken any of them up on their offers of blow jobs or dirty, daytime sex since he had married Eva. If he did, maybe he would leave her alone more. Maybe. She might be free to find someone more manly on the side too.


    Eva swallowed and said, ¡°I would rather do it tonight. I will make it special tonight. I promise.¡±


    Seth paused. His expression changed a little. It went more t. He was disappointed. He drew his hand out of her dress, but moved his other hand to rest on the curve of her ass through the tight dress. He was just as stiff as he was before  maybe more.

 Chapter 4

    Seth smiled again. ¡°Listen, speaking of making it special, I have an idea of something new I¡¯d like to try tonight while you are feeling more sexy.¡±


    Eva felt cold inside. This was it. He was going to put her on the spot for ass sex.


    The doorbell rang and someone followed immediately with a deep, heavy


    knock. It almost shook the frame of the house. Eva pictured the person using the heel of his hand in a closed fist for that knock. It was the way soldiers knocked before kicking the door down. For a brief moment, Eva was transported back to the old country where doors were kicked open often.


    The deep knock came again rattling the house above them. ¡°We should get that,¡± she said.


    He patted her butt and she stood up. He took a moment to try to adjust his boner in his sweatpants so that itid down along one leg instead of standing out straight.


    The knocker pounded against the door a third time. ¡°I can get it,¡± Eva offered.


    Seth waved her off as he waddled toward the steps. ¡°I got it. Hold this thought. I want toe back to our conversation once I get rid of this guy.¡±


    Eva did show her teeth as she followed behind Seth. She was hoping they would move on from the discussion of sticking it in her ass for one more night.


    They walked past the overflowing boxes on the dinning room table and made their way to the front door.


    Seth pulled the door open with the broad-shouldered man outside raising his fist for another knock. The man was more than a head taller than Seth. His muscles tested the limits of his steel gray suit. The man had dark hair cropped short and a gristle of beard forming on his face. His eyes were a shade of green that popped out at Eva.


    Seth cleared his throat and his voice sounded small and weak as he said, ¡°What do you want?¡±


    The bigger man tilted his head. He pulled a ck leather wallet out of his inside coat pocket. As the jacket flipped back, Eva caught a glimpse of a handgun in a holster on his hip. He opened the wallet showing an ID.


    The man said, ¡°My name is Agent Cain Bell. I¡¯m with the local office of the FBI. I¡¯d like to take a moment toe in and clear up a few questions we have.¡±


    ¡°What sort of questions?¡± Seth asked.


    ¡°The sort that makes us all feel better so that we can move on with our lives,¡± Agent Bell said.


    Seth nced back over his shoulder at Eva and then back at the agent. ¡°I don¡¯t think I want to do that.¡±


    The agent stared back for a moment. He looked over Seth¡¯s head at Eva and back down at Seth. ¡°I kind of think you do, Mr. and Mrs. vin. I do.¡±


    ¡°Do you have a warrant?¡± Seth asked.


    Agent Bellughed. ¡°No, but I could get one if that would make you feel better. Warrants let us dump out drawers and confiscateputers.


    That would probably y hell with your perfectly legal perfectlypliant business, Mr. vin. I can go get a warrant and a few of my friends to do all that. Or you can invite me in for a nice, friendly conversation to be sure we can clear everything up.¡±


    ¡°Maybe I should get awyer first,¡± Seth said.


    ¡°That¡¯s perfectly within your rights,¡± Agent Bell said. ¡°If I have to talk through awyer, I prefer to do it in a dark interrogation room down at the headquarters. If we are doing things formally, I like to be all official, you understand.¡±


    ¡°Why are you harassing me? I haven¡¯t done anything wrong.¡± ¡°Then, you have nothing to hide, Seth. May Ie in to talk?¡± ¡°Are you trying to trump up charges for some reason? What¡¯s your


    game?¡±


    Agent Bell shook his head. ¡°If I was looking to charge you or harass you, I would get the warrant and I would take you in to scare you into confessing something in my dark interrogation room. I would be here with a partner instead of alone. So, do you care to talk to me informally or do we just get on with more formal interactions?¡±


    ¡°Just let him in, Seth,¡± Eva said.


    Agent Bell looked at her and smiled. His green eyes struck her again. He said, ¡°Your wife, Eva, has the right idea, Mr. vin. What do you say?¡±


    Seth stepped aside. ¡°Come in for a talk, but that¡¯s it. Don¡¯t try to strong


    arm me into anything, Agent Bell.¡±


    ¡°You got it,¡± Agent Bell said as he stepped into the house. ¡°Nice ce you got here.¡±


    Eva looked around at the clutter around the room and sighed. She thought the agent must be making fun of them.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Seth said. ¡°So, what do you want?¡±


    ¡°I need to talk with you about a few individuals that you aided in entering the United States,¡± Agent Bell said.


    Seth swallowed and blinked a few times. Eva saw sweat beading around his face. He was looking splotchy too. The sweat made him look greasy to her. He said, ¡°All my paperwork is in order.¡±


    ¡°You mind if I look through for what I need then?¡±


    Seth rubbed his sleeve over his lip and then across his forehead. ¡°You will need a warrant for that.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve already invited me in,¡± Agent Bell said. ¡°I can pretty much look at what I like if I see it out in in sight and it looks suspicious.¡±R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Cain Bell and Seth both looked past Eva at the boxes in the dining room


    table.

 Chapter 5

    ¡°Invited you in like a vampire,¡± Seth said.


    ¡°Now that¡¯s not very nice, Seth,¡± Agent Bell said. ¡°I am your guest and you are my host. We are just having a friendly visit to clear up any misunderstandings. Remember?¡±


    Seth cleared his throat and then hacked a few times like he was choking on his own spit. Seth said, ¡°Maybe you tell me the names and I see if I can get back to you on the details?¡±


    ¡°Maybe.¡± Agent Bell stared for a moment. He looked down and took out a small notebook chewed around the edges from being in his pants pocket. Eva saw a sh of his gun again. Cain Bell flipped through the dog eared pages with notes and pen scratches on them. He said, ¡°Let¡¯s start with Connie Strovet, Hilda Cornov, and Melinda Trigette. What can you tell me about them?¡±


    Seth squinted and looked down at the floor. ¡°I help a lot of men and women around the world find love matches. I might need to do some searching to find details on those three.¡±


    ¡°I can help you look,¡± Agent Bell said.


    Seth looked up, but stared at the agent¡¯s chest instead of meeting his eyes. ¡°I¡¯d rather you didn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°I insist, Seth. It will be my thanks for inviting me in. I¡¯d hate to put all this work on you.¡±


    ¡°I really would rather you not, Agent Bell. I¡¯ll find what you need on those three and send it to you. Can I have your number?¡±


    Bell tilted his head. ¡°It¡¯s more than three, Seth. Those are just the first three.¡±


    ¡°Well, give me the rest of it then.¡±


    ¡°Here¡¯s the rest of it,¡± Agent Bell said. ¡°We think you are fudging details on visa applications. By think, I mean that we know you are. We think you are in vition of several counts of immigration fraud statutes by gaining permission for aliens to stay in the States by arranging marriages. We think you might be in vition of prostitution statutes by taking extra from the men for guaranteed sex and paying the women a cut for taking care of the men. We think you might need toe down and sit in a cell since we have enough for an arrest. If you are under investigation, we might need to look into your rtionship with Eva as well.¡±


    Eva stepped forward. ¡°No, please, Agent Cain Bell, I will tell you anything you want to know. I¡¯ll do anything. Don¡¯t arrest me.¡±


    Agent Bell cut his eyes at Eva and smiled.


    Seth said, ¡°Shut up, Eva. There is nothing to tell.¡±


    Bell looked back at Seth. ¡°Afraid of what she will tell?¡±


    Seth blinked and licked his sweaty lips. ¡°There is nothing to tell. You have her scared because shees from a country where soldiers don¡¯t follow rules. They make up lies and take what they want including favors from the women in the houses they invade.¡±


    Bell shrugged. ¡°Sounds like an awful,wless ce.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t it?¡± Seth said.


    Eva took another step forward. ¡°Please, don¡¯t arrest him. I¡¯ll do anything you want. Please.¡±


    Bell sighed and said, ¡°That sounds a lot like bribery. Maybe even some of that prostitution we think you may be involved in. Remember what I mean by think?¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± Seth said.


    ¡°Anything, Agent Cain Bell.¡± Eva stepped up and dropped to her knees beside Agent Bell with her hands out and open like she were begging for mercy.


    ¡°Eva, shut up. You¡¯re making it worse. Don¡¯t be scared.¡±


    Agent Bell nced down and stared into Eva¡¯s cleavage in her tight, ck dress. ¡°No, Seth, you guys should be scared, believe me. Let your lovely wife talk. I am interested to see what she says  what she offers.¡±


    Seth sighed and said, ¡°She is not good with English, Agent Bell. She does not understand our customs andws. By taking advantage of her fear, background, and ignorance of the situation, that wouldn¡¯t be hard to prove as entrapment.¡±


    ¡°Look at you, Seth,¡± Agent Bell said. ¡°You are a smart guy that clearly knows how to get around thew when he needs to, huh?¡±


    ¡°Anything you want.¡± Eva sped her hands together in a ssic portrait of begging.


    Seth closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. His jaw flexed, but Seth said nothing to stop her this time.


    ¡°Maybe I hear what she is offering and if I like what I hear, we might work out a deal. After all, this is a friendly meeting. I am the guest and you are the host. It is customary in America to offer your guests something to make them feelfortable and weed, right? Let¡¯s see what she is offering me as your guest and maybe I just might feel weed enough to end our visit on a good note. What do you say, Seth?¡±


    Seth opened his eyes and blinked up at Agent Bell. His voice sounded small again. ¡°Okay.¡±


    They both looked down at Eva and she looked back and forth between their eyes. She did not know what they wanted her to do.


    ¡°Well?¡± Agent Bell asked. ¡°What will it be, girl?¡±


    Seth licked his lips and nodded. He said, ¡°It¡¯s okay, Eva. Do whatever you have to do. I love you.¡±


    Eva said, ¡°I ¡­ what?¡±


    Agent Bell rolled his eyes. ¡°Every suspect wastes my time one way or the other. Turn around and put your hands behind your back, Seth. Don¡¯t go running off anywhere, Eva dear. We¡¯ll being back to talk to you soon.¡±


    Seth held up his hands. ¡°Wait. Please. Eva, for God¡¯s sake, help me outR¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    here.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t make me hogtie you both,¡± Bell said.


    Eva lunged forward from her knees and grabbed the front of the agent¡¯s belt over his crotch. ¡°No, please, I¡¯ll do anything you want.¡±

 Chapter 6

    Bell flipped his coat back and rested his hand on the butt of his pistol. Seth still had his hands up and backed away slowly until his knees contacted a chair and he fell to sitting. Eva realized Seth was abandoning her to whatever the FBI agent nned to do in reaction. He was leaving her at this man¡¯s mercy after she had begged for Seth¡¯s freedom. Eva felt heat in her cheeks that was a mix of fear and anger.


    She said, ¡°Don¡¯t hurt me, please.¡±


    ¡°Only reason to jump on me like that,¡± Agent Bell said, ¡°is if you are going for my gun or you are going for my cock. So which is it, Eva?¡±


    Eva swallowed. She was still holding onto his belt looking up at him. ¡°I was not trying to take your gun. I promise, Agent Cain Bell.¡±


    ¡°Well, then,¡± the agent said, ¡°you better go ahead and show me that you were going for the other. It¡¯s okay, Eva. I won¡¯t hurt you. Just show me how much you and your husband want to stay out of jail and I¡¯ll see if I can make that happen for you. Go ahead.¡±


    Eva looked over at Seth seated in the chair with his hands still up. His eyes were wide and he said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. Do it, Eva. Do it for us. Please.¡±


    She narrowed her eyes at her husband. She could see that his little prick


    was hard again as he offered her to another man. His little erection made her angry.


    She stared at him as she began undoing the agent¡¯s belt. Bell lifted his hand off his gun, but he did not unstrap it. He did not even make a move to remove his coat. He ced his hands on his hips like he was waiting on her to finish a chore. The whole situation felt surreal, but his confidence and broad muscled shoulders turned her on. His green eyes looking down at her made her tingle.


    She unzipped his pants and felt the thick, hard cock through the material of his boxer briefs. She could tell that he wasrge and ready.


    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± he said. ¡°Be nice to it. Take it out and kiss it.¡±


    She started to pull his pants down, but he held on and kept them up. She used her fingertips to ease the waistband of his underwear down off his cock and up underneath his big, heavy balls. She had to hold on to his thick cock to keep it from pping her in the face. Her hand would not go all the way around it.


    Eva looked over and saw Seth¡¯s mouth hanging open in surprise. She smiled at his reaction. As she still looked at Seth, she leaned in and kissed the head of the agent¡¯s cock. Seth grimaced, so Eva kissed it some more moving down the side of it and looking over the top of the agent¡¯s shaft at her husband. She stuck out her tongue and began licking all around his head, shaft, and balls. Her mouth made smacking noises as she pulled away and then moved back in for more. Soon, she had forgotten about Seth entirely as she worshipping the twelve inch cock and felt herself growing wetter with each kiss and lick.


    Agent Bell said, ¡°Oh, yeah, that¡¯s the stuff. Take it into your mouth now,


    baby.¡±


    Him calling her baby reminded her of Seth again. She opened her mouth as wide as she could and slid the head of the agent¡¯s cock past her lips. She looked over at her husband and watched his expression as she slid down on the massive cock inch by inch deep into her mouth and throat. She could not read Seth¡¯s emotions. It was a mix of something. Maybe jealousy and dirty desire, she decided. She went down farther than she thought was possible because she liked the look of surprise she saw growing in Seth¡¯s eyes.


    Eva felt the agent take hold of her strawberry blond hair in both hands. She braced herself and rxed her throat as Agent Bell started thrusting in and out of her mouth. Her throat made a clicking noise with each thrust, but she took it all as the agent fucked her mouth with his fat cock.


    Spit dribbled down her chin as she caught breathes each time he pulled out before sliding back in along her tongue. Agent Bell reached down and felt her tits through her dress before sliding the straps off her shoulders and palming her breasts out. Eva worked her arms out and allowed her dress to drop down around her stomach as she sat up on her knees servicing Agent Bell¡¯s cock. As he felt her breasts, he massaged them and rubbed her nipples gently. As strongly as he was using her mouth and throat, he had a far nicer touch on her breasts than Seth ever had. Eva¡¯s eyes began to water and she coughed, but recovered and kept sucking his cock.


    Seth started to stand. ¡°I¡¯m going to leave you two alone to finish up here.


    Give you some privacy.¡±


    ¡°Sit back down,¡± Agent Bell ordered. ¡°Stay right there and keep your hands where I can see them.¡±


    Eva blinked and looked to see Seth watching with his hands up again.


    Agent Bell took his soggy cock out of her mouth and stroked his impressive length with a slippery, wet sound. ¡°Suck my balls, baby.¡±


    Eva obeyed kissing, licking, and sucking his balls as he stroked himself over her head still wearing his suit and coat.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Agent Bell pulled Eva up to her feet. He leaned down and kissed her passionately on the lips as he felt her breasts. She instinctively stroked his cock as they kissed. Agent Bell pulled away to yank her dress down. He hooked his thumbs into her thong and yanked it down too. Bell took a moment to rub her clit and pussy with two of his fingers. She held onto his shoulders for support and moaned.


    ¡°You are so wet, Eva,¡± he said.


    ¡°You make me wet, Agent Cain Bell.¡±


    Heughed and picked her up naked in his arms. Bell carried her across the room andid her down on the couch. He knelt and spread her legs as his licked and kissed her clit and pussy. Eva put her hands on his head and moaned as she held on. Bell stuck two fingers in her pussy as he tongued her clit. Eva writhed and screamed bucking her hips into his face. She had three orgasms in a row before she realized what had happened. She did not even know such a thing was possible.


    Agent Bell hooked his hands under her knees and folded up her legs. ¡°Will you hold these for me, baby?¡±

 Chapter 7

    Eva grabbed her ankles and pulled them up next to her head. Agent Bell grabbed her breasts again and she spread her legs apart to give him better ess. His huge, rock-hard cock dangle over her exposed, wet pussy.


    Eva said, ¡°I want you to fuck me with your big cock, Agent Cain Bell.¡± ¡°Are you just saying that to stay out of jail?¡±


    ¡°No, I want you to fuck me hard with that cock. I haven¡¯t had a big cock since I got to America. Please, fuck me. Please.¡±


    Seth gave a strangled cough from across the room. Bellughed and stroked the head of his cock up and down her slit. He fed the head in and then used his hips to drive it home. She was stretched out and he was balls deep before she had time to prepare.


    ¡°Oh, God, Agent Cain Bell, that is the best it has ever felt in my life.¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to protect and serve,¡± he said.


    Bell began thrusting until his balls bounced against her ass. Her tits bounced and shook as he fucked down into her bent in half lying on the sofa. She closed her eyes and screamed with pleasure over and over. Bell leaned down to kiss her and then sat back up to fuck her harder.


    He flipped her over onto her side on the edge of the couch without taking his cock out of her. Eva hugged her knees into her chest as Belly down behind her with his cock still inside her. He kissed her neck and nibbled on her earlobe as he fucked her hard on her side. He was driving in even deeper than before as he rammed her hard enough to squeak the springs on the couch.


    Eva opened her hooded eyes enough to see Seth staring at her covering his mouth with both hands. A wet spot on the front of his sweatpants told her he had already cum without even touching himself. Watching another man  a real man  fuck her was better than watching her twerk for him. She felt her pussy tighten on the fat cock pounding her and stretching her. She orgasmed watching Seth watch her.


    Eva tilted her head back and whispered. ¡°Do you want my ass?¡± ¡°As in fucking your ass? Sure,¡± Agent Bell said.


    He pulled out and started to sit up. Eva lifted on her hands and knees and then backed her ass into his cock. Bell quickly aligned himself and she slid her tight ass down on his cock with incredible ease. She shook as she took more and more of him into her ass. She wasn¡¯t sure where it was all going, but she used her own weight to take him in deep.


    Seth sat up and craned her neck. ¡°Are you in her ass?¡± Bell winked and said, ¡°Give thedy what she wants.¡±


    Eva stared at Seth as she started twerking her ass with Bell¡¯s cock inside


    her.


    Bell grabbed hold of her bouncing ass cheeks as she rapidly fucked the agent with her ass. He groaned. ¡°Oh, Jesus, that is so fucking good.¡±


    Seth took out his little half hard dick and started pumping his fist over it.


    Eva thought he was going to rip it off or punch himself in the balls. After a couple of seconds, Seth splurted strings of cum out on their carpet.


    She felt her pussy tighten even though she was being fucked in the ass. Eva fingered her pussy and flicked her thumb over her clit until she came again.


    Agent Bell gripped her hips and said, ¡°Oh, shit, I¡¯m about to cum.¡± ¡°Do it inside my ass,¡± she said.


    ¡°I want to cum on your tits and face,¡± he said. ¡°Get off andy on your back. Hurry.¡±


    Eva pulled off his cock. She kept touching herself as she fell over to her back on the couch.


    Agent Bell climbed up straddling her chest still wearing his suit with his cock out. He put his cock between her tits and started thrusting. Eva pushed her tits together around him and he started fucking harder and faster. His face contorted and cum sttered out between her tits on onto her face. Her chin, cheeks, and forehead were covered in it as she started raking his cum into her mouth.


    Bell stood up over her until his cock was done dripping. He put it away and zipped up looking like nothing had happened.


    Bell turned to face Seth. ¡°We still need to be sure you are following immigrationws.¡±


    Seth blinked and said, ¡°I ¡­ ugh ¡­ well, I meet the girls here for a


    thorough interview. If you would like to meet each one for a thorough ¡­ background check ¡­ like the one you did with Eva just now, well, I think we could arrange that.¡±R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    ¡°We normally background check before they are already here.¡± Agent Bell smiled. ¡°How often do girlse in?¡±


    ¡°Once a week at least,¡± Seth said.


    ¡°Hmm, does more than onee in at a time?¡± Seth smiled back. ¡°Sometimes.¡±


    Agent Bell nodded. ¡°Do you mind if Ie to check on you from time to time, Eva?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± she said. ¡°I want that very much, Agent Cain Bell.¡± ¡°God, you are sexy,¡± he said. ¡°Even a mess all covered in cum, you are


    sexy as Hell.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she said. She was pretty sure he meant that as apliment.


    Agent Bell looked at Seth. ¡°Her ass is mine. Eva can let you jerk off while you look at her, but only I can touch her until I say otherwise.¡±


    Seth swallowed. ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°If you are good and follow the rules, I might let her start giving you


    handjobs again.¡±


    Seth nodded and looked away. ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°But never touch her ass. Only I fuck that ass. Got it?¡± Seth chewed at his lip. ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    Agent Bell stared a moment longer and then walked toward the door. ¡°I¡¯ll see myself out. Thank you for your help in clearing everything up. Call me the next time a girles in like we discussed.¡±


    After the door closed, Eva sat up and cum dripped off her chin onto the couch cushion. Seth stared at her without saying anything.


    Eva said, ¡°Don¡¯t just sit there. Go finish the dished and thene back and clean up your cum off my carpet. Got it?¡±


    Seth blinked, but he stood and walked into the kitchen to wash dishes as he was told.

 Chapter 8

    Story 2


    The following story is a partial fictional story about a girl I met while I worked for a little while for thispany, things didn¡¯t end so well while working there, but the only thing that was good about working there was seeing her. This is the way I truly wish things had gone for Her and me but sadly I left and doubt I¡¯ll ever see her again. The names have been changed for obvious reasons.


    Belle is the type of girl you want to never leave your house because nothing you see in the world will ever be as beautiful as she is. Here is my description of her: She¡¯s 5 foot 4 inches tall, has brte hair, smoky grey eyes, pierced ears, and nose, and her hair sits at the bottom of her shoulder des. She has arge firm set of DD breasts, slightly on the chubby side but the way she wears her weight suits her. When she walks it highlights her stunning big ass so well, her panties entuate her ass helping to define her spectacr figure, she shaves regrly so there is rarely hair on her legs or pussy. Her pussy is breathtakingly stunning, the way her lips run perfectly through the middle of her mound, when she opens her lips to reveal her hidden treasure and her pearl you are left with your jaw on the ground wondering why god didn¡¯t make ALL women this beautiful. If this woman was thest woman you ever got to look at and touch you could guarantee you would die a happy man.


    Jason is a 6ft tall gentleman, with a well build frame from all the work he has been doing in various ces he carries a small amount of excess weight, stepping on the scales he only weighs 187 pounds, and his face is always clean-shaven with a piercing in his left ear. Thick chest hair but shaves his pubic hair because he dislikes the hair there, thinks it makes his penis look bigger, but at 7inches in length and 3 inches in girth, he sits just about average in measurement, meaning any woman would be happy with a man of his measurement. Unfortunately due to a few rtionships turning bad recently, he feels very insecure about his manhood and questions if all the times he was told he was amazing in the bedroom if they were all a lie!


    Today was like any normal day on the factory floor, Jason got himself dressed into his work attire and walked over to the other side of the factory; he worked in the load-out bay of a meat processing factory. His job was to load the boxes of prepared meat and offal into the back of the big 20 and/or 40-tonne shipping containers to be distributed to various countries around the world. During the slower times or times other areas of the factory got busy he was often sent to other areas to assist those sections of the factory where workers were short or that period of the day it got really busy.


    Mark is Jason¡¯s team leader, on this day asked him to go down to the bottom, ¡°Assist them down the bottom as a couple of the boys normally failed to turn up for work and they¡¯re short and being a busy period we can¡¯t afford them to get behind.¡±


    Looking over towards the load-out boys and smiling, Jason responds with ¡°Sure thing Mark, when did you want me to head down the bottom mate?¡± Jason was more than happy to assist all his fellow workmates in times of need.


    ¡°We will finish getting this load ready for the truck and then if you want to wander down after our break please¡± Going back to coordinating his load-out team for the day¡¯s duties, 5 trucks had to be loaded today so it was a fairly typical day today.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    They finished sorting out the load for the truck and parked up the forklift trucks. Jason did a quick sweep over the floor and made sure it was clean, He took pride in keeping his workspace clean and tidy and it was nothing for him to walk over the pick up the stic that had ripped from the sides of the pallets as they were brought out onto the load-out floor. He goes out to the smoking shed for a break, lights up a cigarette chatting away with his fellow factory working mates. He has his cigarette and goes off to make a coffee before heading down to the bottom of the stacking room.


    Down in this section of the factory Jason¡¯s main job is to stack a series of rollers that feed him a mixed bunch of packaged meat. The red-lidded boxes are meat and go to the right to be stacked on pallets, ck lidded boxes go into the st freezer and are generally Offal, these are let go past him to go on a ride to another section of the factory to be loaded into the st freezer, there is a 3rd lot of boxes that are controlled by Jason only when the main line runs slower he can lift the metal gate and let boxes filter into the chain of boxes going to the st freezer.


    In front of Jason and off to the right is a box strapper machine that is controlled by people whoe from another room to strap and feed the boxes also into the main chat going to the freezer. Jason has been down here a few times and has his role down pat, never gets behind with his boxes generally, this work seems so easy he just zones out and does his job not paying attention to what¡¯s going on around him. That was until this particr day, on this asion was the first time he had seen Belle for the first time.


    It¡¯s Belle¡¯s job to feed the cartons down a series of rollers to the strapping machine, where shebels the cartons, puts a few spare stickers into the carton before she straps them shut and feeds them down the end of the rollers and feeds them into empty spaces on the rollers Jason controls. Even though it¡¯s Belle¡¯s job, Jason leans over and feeds the boxes when he gets a chance allowing her to concentrate on thebelling and strapping of boxes. Repeatedly told by the team leader it wasn¡¯t his job but Jason just wants to be helpful so when he gets a chance he still does it.

 Chapter 9

    Jason is feeding the boxes, out of the corner of his eye he catches this short brte walk out of the door from another room and towards the strapper, he has to blink a few times, thinking to himself ¡®My mind is ying tricks on me, where did this woman with a face of an angele from!¡¯ Belle looks up briefly at Jason and smiles then turns to grab the cartons, moves the cartons towards the strapper, walks down to thebeling machine, and starts to tap the screen for the first carton. His eyes be so fixed on this beautiful woman that for a moment he forgets what is meant to be doing. Out of the other side of his eye, he spots a red box that has gone past, turns around, and quickly grabs the box before it goes up the top of the conveyor system. He turns back around again, and out of the corner of his eye he catches Belle giggling, she¡¯s seen what has happened, this makes Jason blush and spend the next five minutes with his eyes down and concentrating on not letting any more red boxes go past him.


    10 minutester his eyes lift, back toward Belle again. This time she has moved from one side of the strapper around with her back turned on Jason, Most of the workers at the factory wear solid white trousers, gumboots, and a polo shirt, but he notices that Belle¡¯s uniform is very transparent, from this angle he can see her ck bra with pink straps, looking further down he also notices Belle is wearing matching panties, they appear to bece and the way they are clinging to her ass it gives Jason a perfect view of her outlined ass, the way they disappear through her thighs lets Jason¡¯s mind wander as he almost lets another box go past him.


    His team leader Dave notices that he almost lets another box go past him,ing up to put his hand on his shoulder, this startles Jason but he turns slightly to talk to his team leader, Dave exins they are caught up now ¡°If you want to go back up the top and help them load the rest of the trucks after you go for a break mate, your help has been greatly appreciated.¡±


    Jason nods his head in agreement and looks over at Belle who is looking his way and smiling at him, Jason winks smiles and is just about to turn around and walk off, but then he sees her head give him a NO motion, and her eyes trace down, Jason looks down to realize he is sporting a tent in his trousers, so he turns to the side slightly and slips out of his area where he¡¯s standing, hoping no one had noticed his hard-on, wandering back out the door and taking a few moments to collect his thoughts, hoping his problem calms himself, putting his hand down his pants and quickly adjusts himself to hide his no longer visible problem.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Jason doesn¡¯t get another chance to go back down to the area where he first saw his mystery woman that week, but ran into her once as he is walking from the toilets to the canteen to buy his lunch, but his nerves set in causing him to blush and drop his head looking at the ground.


    The next time Jason was asked to go down and assist down the bottom, he was there and so was Belle, but sadly this time her uniform was back a solid white, this wasn¡¯t that big of a deal because every chance he got to look over towards that beautiful woman, all he had to do was see her eyes lift, meeting his and see her sexy smile and it was at that moment he knew he had to find out more about this woman. When the other two blokes had gone for their break, this left just Dave and Jason to hold the production line they were working on going. While it was just the two of them in the room Jason decided he needed to know more about his mystery woman asking Dave ¡°Hey Dave, that girl who operates the strapper, who she was?¡±


    Dave turns around and looks at Jason ¡°Oh you mean Belle, she¡¯s the one whoes in moves the cartons to thebeler, and then straps the boxes, and you mean that girl?¡±


    Blushing Jason responds ¡°Yeah! Could you answer me something mate curiously is she single do you know?¡±


    Puzzled Dave tells Jason ¡°Nah mate she¡¯s engaged!¡± Turning back around again to resume stacks his cartons on the pallet.


    Jason feels disappointed but decides to just continue to work feeling like his heart had just been shattered, but at least it made his job down here more interesting. Now to keep his mind from wandering and attempt to get his manhood under control, just so damn hard whenever Belle is around because, in Jason¡¯s eyes, she¡¯s PERFECT!!


    The new half hour or so Jason continued working without a drama, this time he didn¡¯t miss a box from being sorted into the right areas. Dave evenmented on how focused on the job he was today. Jason just smiled and said thanks telling Dave his got a lot of his mind right now but he will do his best to keep his concentration from now on. No more than 30 seconds after he had told Dave this and just like it was set up in walked Belle looked over at Dave and said ¡°Hey Dave it looks like there is a massive storm rolling in I¡¯ve been told to prepare for a power outage¡± she then looked over at me winked and said ¡°Hey Jason hope your mind is on the job today unlike the other day¡± Giggled and switched on the strapper.


    At the point she had flicked the switch on the strapper all the power in the factory went dead, all except the emergency lights that barely lit up the room. From the other side of the rollers, Jason saw Belle lying on the floor near her strapper, calling out to her with no response. Jason mmed the emergency stop button beside him and leaped over the rollers to her side calling out to her ¡°Belle are you ok?¡± Putting his hands gently against her face and rocking her gently to try and get a response, when he didn¡¯t get a response after repeatedly trying over and over again he yelled to his workmate ¡°Dave quick I think she¡¯s been electrocuted mate, go and grab us some help quick!¡±


    Gently putting his hand behind the back of her head being careful not to lift her head or move her all Jason could do was watch in shock as he waited for help to arrive. What seemed like hours, but only a few minutes


    ter Belle opened her eyes slowly looking directly into Jason¡¯s eyes and quietly spoke ¡°Jason what happened? Why am I lying on the ground? And why are you here and holding me?¡±


    ¡°Shh try to keep quiet until help arrives, you must have electrocuted yourself, please stay calm and just talk to me until Dave gets you some help!¡± Jason barely able to talk tells her nervously.

 Chapter 10

    That¡¯s when Jason looked into her big beautiful eyes and saw them roll back into the back of her eye sockets and she passed back out again, but this time she seemed to be no breathing as he looked down at her chest. Quickly thinking Jason puts his fingers on her neck and looks for a pulse, but no pulse can be found!


    Jason automatically goes into first aid mode trying to find the bottom and middle of her chest bones, the problem is because of herrge breasts and the bra she¡¯s wearing holding them it makes it difficult to find the right area, thinking about it for only a split second he rolls Belle onto her side and with a flick of his fingers he unfastens her bra mp and rolls her back onto her back not even thinking he slides her straps down her arms either side pulling the bra out from under her work shirt through the bottom of her top. Tries to find the right position again this time without her bra in the way and after having a little bit of difficulty he finds the middle of her chest and praying he¡¯s in the right spot ces one hand over the other and begins chestpressions. Stopping every few minutes to turn his head to the side and putting his face sideways close to her mouth to listen for breathing, after 5 minutes The first aid team came running in and thanked Jason telling him ¡°We¡¯ve got it now Jason, I know you¡¯re worried but please allow us to take over.¡±


    Jason knowing she¡¯s going to be safer in the first aid team¡¯s hands stands and moves out of the way, standing back and watching for any sign of life. It takes about 2 or 3 minutes with the first aiddy performing CPR on Belle before he sees then turns her onto her side hearing Belle


    struggling for breath. Wasn¡¯t long after that the ambnce team came rushing into the room with the portable stretcher, loaded her up, and with the help of Jason and the first aid team loaded her into the ambnce team Belle was taken to the local hospital.


    Jason goes out to the smoking area, lights up a cigarette, and is in shock about what has happened and worries he did something wrong and injured or made her worse. It¡¯s been a long time since he had to perform CPR on anyone and wondered if he had done it right, he crouched down in the corner looking at his cigarette burning away in his fingers with a tear in his eye.


    Narelle, the first aid officeres over seeing Jason in the corner, puts her hands around Jason in a hugging embrace, and tells him ¡°You look like you have been two rounds with Mike Tyson¡± looks at him concerned, ces her fingers under his chin and lifts his eyes to her telling him ¡°You did nothing wrong Jason when I walked in and say you were doing CPR on Belle and then down at your hands ced on her chest they were in the perfect position mate, you did nothing wrong Jason it was the shock that caused this not you.¡±


    I just looked at Narelle with tears in my eyes and spoke ¡°Are you sure?¡± wiped his eyes ¡°Please tell me she¡¯s going to be okay!¡±


    Narelle drops her eyes slightly breaking contact with Jason saying ¡°We don¡¯t know what damage has been done. ¡± Looking at him concerned ¡°Why don¡¯t you go talk to Dave and ask him if can you knock off and can you go home?¡±R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Jason looked up and around for Dave who was just walking towards the smoker¡¯s area, his eyes were scanning around all the people until he locked eyes with Jason and walked briskly towards him ¡°Jason I didn¡¯t know you knew how to apply CPR mate but you look like you¡¯re about to pass out are you, okay mate?¡±


    Jason just shakes his head and nervously asks Dave ¡°I¡¯m worried about Belle, with your permission I¡¯d like to go to the hospital and wait to see if she¡¯s going to be okay.¡±


    Dave takes on look at his distraught state nods his head and pats him on the back as he watches Jason almost running towards the clock-out panel on the walls swiping his card on the wall as he quickly moves towards the path to his car, looking back to see the machine didn¡¯t light up but not caring ¡°Fuck it, Jason, get your ass to hospital sort that out tomorrow!¡± he tells himself. The car park is about 100 meters ahead and while his power walking towards his car it feels like every footstep is in slow motion looking towards where his car is parked and grabbing his keys out of his pocket.


    Switching his car on and dropping his car into reverse looking around him for others in his way, reverses the car up clicks his automatic transmission into drive, and starts driving towards the hospital. The whole way to the hospital trying to tell himself ¡°She will be okay Jason, She¡¯s going to be fine mate¡±.


    Jason sat at the hospital for six long hours, waiting to hear if she was going to be fine, just staring towards the doors that opened towards the triage bed, a few other beds could be seen from here and as luck would have it as the nurse was walking through the door to grab his next patient Jason saw that one of the rooms that had their curtain closed was now open and seen his Belle sitting up in bed with doctors around her talking to her. Belle looked up towards the door and made eye contact with Jason, seeing the worried look on his face she looked up at the doctor and asked ¡°How long has that bloke been sitting there¡± pointing at Jason sitting on the other side of the opened door.

 Chapter 11

    The doctor looks around and tells Belle ¡°His been here since about ten minutes after you came in¡± looks up at the clock and tells her ¡°About six hours, is he your partner? Would you like to me go get him for you?¡±


    Belle nods her head watching as the doctor went out and let Jason into the corridor, he looked like hell his eyes were puffy and red. As Jason gets closer to Belle the doctor pats him on the back and tells him ¡°She¡¯s okay thanks to her fellow worker who had used his knowledge of first aid. It was the fact he gave her CPR until the ambnce got there that saved her!¡±


    Jason froze in his steps on the spot and looked at the doctor and questioned him ¡°You mean I didn¡¯t cause her more harm than good, I wasn¡¯t sure if I had done it right?¡± Breathing a sigh of relief as he walked to Belle¡¯s side and just stood there beside her bed nervous and not saying a work just relieved she was okay.


    All of a sudden he felt Belle¡¯s hand take his hand and pull him into her and wrap her arms around him cuddling him so tight, then moved her head back to look into his eyes and with a smile on her face she wiped the tear from his eye and said ¡°Thank you Jason, I¡¯m told it was your fast thinking to perform CPR on me that saved my life!¡± Hugging him again.


    Jason breathed a sigh of relief to know he hadn¡¯t hurt Belle, wondering how he would ever live with himself if he ever caused anyone harm let alone the woman who had stolen his heart with one look into her eyes. Jason kept holding Belle for about five minutes when all of a sudden her heard someone clear there throat behind him, this caused Jason to let go and turn around to find a man standing their looking angry. Belle apologized and introduced her partner Neal to Jason ¡°Hey babe this is my work mate Jason, it¡¯s because of him I¡¯m even alive!¡± Looking Neal square in the eyes and then speaks again ¡°Jason this is my fiance Neal.¡±


    Jason shook Neal¡¯s hand and proceeded to turn around on the heal of his work boots and just nodded at Belle wishing her all the best for a recovery and walked back out to his car. Once he got their he lit a cigarette and just held his hands over his face angry at himself ¡°Jason you fool there is no way you can everpete with her fiance you fool just forgetPublished by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Belle¡± He told himself butting out his cigarette in the ashtray starting his car and driving home.


    Over the next week all he got from his fellow work mates were thanks and pats on the back, by the end of the week he was getting so tired of it during lunch breaks he went to the toilet and just sat in the cubicle silent watching his watch to return back to work, the sooner he could go home the better.


    The Monday the following week he was walking out for a break with his eyes down when all of a sudden he felt someone grab his arm and pull him towards them, wrapping their arms around Jason and it wasn¡¯t until they finally spoke Jason realised who it was ¡°Oh my gosh, Jason I have been looking everywhere for you!¡± from the voice he automatically knew it was Belle.


    Wrapping his arms around her for a quick cuddle he then proceeded to say ¡°Hey Belle¡± before he went to walk away saying ¡°Sorry Belle I need to get back to work¡± before walking back towards his load out door. Met at the door by Mark who questioned him ¡°Jason could you have been any colder mate look at her she¡¯s now leaning against the fence crying¡± Pointing at Belle slumped over the fence crying ¡°Get your ass over there man, go apologise to her and go somewhere you both can talk clearly you have something to get off your mind!¡± looking down at Jason with a very annoyed look on his face.


    Jason decided maybe he needed to listen to Mark and walked slowly back towards Belle and leaned against the fence beside her and apologised ¡°I¡¯m uh sorry Belle, please let me exin¡± watching as Belle lifted her eyes to look at him as he continued ¡°I was really getting tired of everyone thanking me for saving you, I don¡¯t think I did save you considering it was only after Narelle took over you started to breathe again¡± Grabbing her hand and asking ¡°Can we go somewhere private so we can talk please?¡±


    Belle starts walking towards one of the rooms off to the side of the building where she knew they wouldn¡¯t get disturbed ¡°Here I know the perfect spot over this way.¡±


    Opening the door to an old office building, flicking the light on as they walk into the old building, closing and locking the door behind her pointing to a stack of chairs as they both grab a chair and Jason ces two chairs side by side and sits down on one while he taps the other one for Belle to sit. But Belle wants to look Jason in the eyes so she takes the chair and moves the chair so their sitting facing each other and sits herself down on the chair and looks Jason square in the eyes.


    The silence between them is unbearable so Belle wraps her hands around his neck and pulls him into her for a cuddle and whispers ¡°Everyone can say that you saved me all they want they weren¡¯t their¡± picking his chin up to look at his eyes again and continues ¡°Narelle has told me how when she walked into the room you had removed my bra and was giving me chestpressions Jason, do you know how many people would have frozen in that situation¡± Belle has a worried look on her face.


    ¡°I just did what I thought was right, I didn¡¯t want to lose you after only meeting the most beautiful woman in the wooooooooooo¡± Jason realised what he was saying and cut himself off pping him hand over his face to silence himself.


    Belle¡¯s eyes lit up wide as she tried to find words from within her mouth but was left with her jaw open all she could muster to say was ¡°Jason you don¡¯t even know me how can you say that honestly?¡±

 Chapter 12

    Jason looked at the floor again this time saying ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter Belle all that matters is your safe¡± looking up with a relieved look on his face.


    The two were sitting there for a few minutes just looking at each other, all of a sudden the power went out again and as if instinct all of a sudden


    Jason felt the weight of Belle as she jumped into hisp scared and wrapped her hands around her as she was just held tight by Jason. From the lighting from the light outside Jason could see Belle¡¯s big beautiful eyes looking into his, as she leaned into Jason and kissed him causing sparks to explode inside Jason, kissing her back slowly and passionately at first as his want and desire started to take over and his hand started to run down Belle¡¯s back going lower until his hand slid inside her work trouser, inside her panties and cupped her ass while he was kissing her and feeling Belle jump slightly as his hand touched her ass.


    They must of stayed there kissing for the longest time but Belle lifted herself up and looked at Jason as he went to apologise to Belle stopping to watch her throw her legs either side of his legs straddling him before cuddling into him and cutting him off from speaking with her lips locking with his. Letting her tongue slide in between his lips turning their kiss into something more passionate as her fingers than though his hair grabbing it and kissing Jason with so much passion and desire, neither of them had realised Belle was grinding her hips into Jason¡¯sp until they both felt the bulge start to grow between legs.


    Belle stopped kissing Jason as she started to feel guilty and questioned ¡°Is this something we really should be.¡±


    Jason just looked into her gorgeous eyes and covered her lips with his finger ¡°Shh lets just live in the moment and worry about regrets after!¡± Pulling her back into him and trying to kiss her again.


    But Belle all of a sudden must have had a thought of regret about the situation and stood up standing over his legs deep in thought. Jason looked up into her eyes for a few seconds before he watched her take a few steps back, thinking to himself what have we done.


    All of a sudden with interest in his eyes he saw Belle drop to her knees between his legs Saying ¡°Fuck it you want this as bad as I do!¡±


    Belle slid her fingers into the waist of Jason¡¯s pants and starts to slide his trousers down his legs tugging as Jason took initiative lifting his ass and watched as Belle slide his pants down over his knees. Sliding her hands up his legs before wrapping her fingers around his semi hard cock and she looks directly into his eyes and licks her lips before running her tongue from under his balls up over the edge of one side and up one side of his shaft wrapping her lips around the tip of his shaft kissing him, then takes her tongue along the other side of his cock. Opens her mouth and wrap her lips around his cock sliding him into her mouth a few inches, taking him back till its just the tip as Jason see¡¯s her look into his eyes and watches as she slides him back into her mouth deeper this time taking a few more inches inside her almost choking.


    Jason thinks his died to gone to heaven as he watches this girl he barely knows sliding his rock hard cock in and out of her mouth, the feeling of her lips as they slide up and down his shaft slowly feels so amazing he wants this picture his looking at right now tost forever. But Jason knows if this keeps up it¡¯s been so long since a woman¡¯s touch felt this damn good, struggling to keep control, he lifts her lips from around his cock pulling her into his kisses as she raises herself slowly up to lean down into his kisses. Jason runs his hands under her shirt finding her bra covered breasts and rubs them moaning into her kisses, his hands start to slide down either side of her tummy and grip onto her trousers, with one tug they fall off her hips and hercy ck pantiese into view under the dim light from outside. Jason looks over to the window in the door to see the blind is up and tilts his head to make Belle aware of the window.


    Belle takes a few steps back and raises her leg up to slide her boot off one leg and remove her trousers off one side and then the other standing in just her socks as she walks over to the door and look around outside to see all the rest of the factory is all over at the smoking area in darkness as she pulls the blind back and walks slowly towards Jason barely able to see in the darkness. She finally feels the top of his head as she pulls her panties off and drops them to the floor, stepping back around to be straddled over the top of Jason¡¯s legs.


    Slowly she lowers herself off while her hand is feeling below her for his hard cock, finding it with her fingers she lines him up with her wet pussy lips rubbing him back and forward between her lips a few times and lines his up with her needy tight pussy. Lowering her hips slowly as he watches her shadow and listens as he feels his throbbing member slide deeper inside her until she feels her catch her breath right as her asses to rest sitting down with his cock buried deep inside her. Wrapping his arms around her waist Jason pulls her towards him kissing her on the lips as he feels her grind on his cock and moan into his lips.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Jason thrusts up as he is mesmerised watching her shadow and the feel of her hips grinding her tight wet pussy back and forward on his cock, it all feels like a dream you always wake up from. But this dream doesn¡¯t end there as she quickens her grinding and her moaning bes really loud into her kisses, Jason has to stop kissing her long enough to remind her they could be busted at any time in this hard to exin position, Kissing her again trying to quieten her moans with his kisses.


    Belle is riding and grinding his cock while kissing his cock with such force that all he can do is kiss and think to himself that his died and gone to heaven, as he starts to feel he is getting to a point of no return Jason is doing his best to resist to urge to not lose his concentration and explode his seed inside her.


    Jason loses all hisposure as he hears the words of an angel tell him ¡°Oh god you feel so amazing I¡¯m about to cum!¡± Moaning and then instructing him ¡°Please Jason you have to cum inside me¡± Begging him.


    These are the words that push him over the edge moaning as he feels his balls tighten and his cock starts to throb as stream after stream of his cum explode inside of Belle¡¯s pussy causing her to start to tremble and cuddle into Jason to help from her falling off hisp. Moaning andying on his chest trembling, Jason is just sitting their smelling her hair and kissing the top of her hair.

 Chapter 13

    They stay like this for the longest of time, Belle moving her head back to kiss him on the lips and telling him ¡°Wow who could of known that you could be so attracted to someone just by looking at them huh!¡±


    Jason stunned mutters ¡°Wait wha¡­ what did you just say!¡± wanting to be sure he heard her right.


    Belle takes her hands and grabs his chin to look him in the eyes and tells him ¡°You¡¯re not the only person who¡¯s been attracted to me Jason, you had me climbing the walls with the thought that a stranger was getting hard just by looking at me¡± Kissing him and continuing ¡°What you didn¡¯t think I noticed you getting a hard-on while you was checking me out?¡± moaning into his kisses.


    Jason responds quietly ¡°But I can¡¯t help it if I¡¯m attracted to all the woman that are out of my league hun, it¡¯s always the ones I can¡¯t have or the ones who use and abuse me!¡± dropping his volume of thest part of his sentence.


    Hearing Belle tell him ¡°Yes I have a fiance for now, but I think it¡¯s time I evaluated my standing after all most of the time I was in hospital he was at the local put and it took them six hours to raise him on the telephone and yet you stood out in that waiting room to make sure I was okay Jason.¡±


    ¡°I just wanted to make sure you was okay Belle, I really care for you and honestly I think it was love at first sight.¡±


    Belle starts to lift herself up from off of Jason as he looks down to see some of his semen run down the inside of Belle¡¯s leg as she leans down to grab her panties from beside Jason and slide them back up her legs.


    They both get dressed right as the power goes back on and wait for everyone else to return to work, Belle kisses Jason on the lips and tells him that she thinks they need to forget that today ever happened and with saying that walks back to join the rest of her team, leaving Jason sitting in the smokers shed wondering what did he just hear?


    Belle and Jason avoid each other for the next few weeks barely even making eye contact, that was until one day on her way past Jason when Belle grabs Jason by the hand and drags him into a room away from others to see and hands him a white stic strip, Jason turns it over to see it¡¯s a positive pregnancy test. Looking up at her he is about to talk when she says ¡°I think we need to talk but not at work can we meet somewhere after work please?¡±


    ¡°Sure message me a time and ce,¡± Says Jason in shock.


    After work Jason is sitting at home stirring his coffee cup when his house matees out and startles him ¡°Jason I¡¯ve heard you stirring that poor coffee cup for thest ten minutes is everything okay.¡±


    But before he can answer thates a message on his phone ¡°City Park in half hour we need to talk please Jason!¡±


    Jason tells his t mate he will let him know, jumps in the car and drives to City Park and sits on a bench off to the side of the bench and looks at his phone and back up again just as Belle sits beside him and starts to talk.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I was so blunt to you this morning with throwing it up like that I was in shock!¡± Apologises Be.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay I was shocked but I¡¯m not the one who is in a rtionship,¡± Responds Jason.


    ¡°We broke up a week ago after he chose to pay more attention to his damn cricket on television than his fiance standing off to the side of him in lingerie asking for his attention¡± smiling at Jason.


    ¡°Plus someone else showed me that I can do better than being a house wife who¡¯s only wanted when it suits him¡± She continues ¡°Look the only answer I need out of you is if you are truly interested in me and if you think WE should keep this baby and raise it together¡± making sure the WE was said louder than all the rest of her words to ensure I got a clear hint she was interested in me.


    Smiling at her I pull her into my arms and kiss her grab her by the hand and tell her ¡°I have loved you from the moment my eyes saw you walking through that door Belle¡± Kissing her hand and continuing ¡°how could I not want a life with you and our child¡± rubbing her tummy gently and smiling from ear to ear.


    (This is thest of the story however I¡¯d like to pursue the story further into a series if enough people are interested)


    The next few months were fairly t out but the one thing that would never change is the sparkle Jason seen in Belle¡¯s eyes when their eyes met as she walked through the front door. Eventually Belle decided to move into Jason¡¯s house with it being a bigger house and having two spare rooms, it just make the more logical choice so Belle packed up all her stuff from her small two-bedroom apartment and moved in with Jason.


    At the four month mark Belle and Jason went along for their twenty week ultrasound to find out their baby was growing well and all looked healthy with the baby, when Jason heard the babies heart beat for the first time he looked at Belle with tears in his eyes lifted her head from the screen where Belle¡¯s eyes were glued watching as her baby was moving on the screen.


    Jason leaned into Belle and kissed her on the lips as their eyes met and Jason told her ¡°My beautiful Belle, where have you been all my life¡± Smiling and continuing ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter because I¡¯ve met my soul mate and you make me the happiest man in the world babe¡± Taking her hand and putting in over his heart wiping a tear ¡°This here heart of mine babe it beats for you!¡±


    Belle wiped a tear from Jason¡¯s eyes telling him ¡°You have no idea how happy I am that we met that day at the factory Jason¡± leaning up to kiss him before turning his eyes to the screen ¡°You will make an amazing dad and I will make such an awesome mother because with us as parents our little baby will never need or want anything!¡±

 Chapter 14

    Their eyes became fixed on each other for what seemed like eternity when the radiographer woke them both out of there trance with the words ¡°As cute as it is the watch a couple so madly in love I am sorry but the scan is over should I book you two a hotel¡±ughing asking Belle ¡°Would you like to have a photo of your baby Belle?¡±


    Belle¡¯s eyes lit up and she eximed ¡°Oh yes please!¡± looking at Jason standing beside her and smiling.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    The Radiographer printed Belle and Jason both a picture and watched as Jason kissed his before taking his wallet out, asking for a pair of scissors to cut the picture to size to fit.


    They left the hospital climbing into Belle¡¯s car but because Belle had a bit of a pot belly and Belle was so short she had to let Jason take over driving because of she no longer fitted behind the steering wheel. Jason


    was more than happy to drive knowing that if he was driving he could make sure that Belle got to all the appointments on time and safely. Jason pulled into the driveway racing around the back of the car to open Belle¡¯s door and holding her hand as she climbed out of the car and walked her up the stairs to the door before returning to grab a bag of things from the back seat, closing and locking the car as he made his way up the stairs walking over to where Belle was now sitting on the couch, Jason sat down beside Belle giving her a stic bag with a few things inside the bag.


    Belle put her hand inside the bag to find a box of choctes and an envelope with what looked like a card inside of it, as she slid her finger along under the back of the envelope to find inside was a card. Belle slid the card out of its envelope and opened it to find a personal message from Jason that read


    ¡®My beautiful Belle, I wake up every morning to open my eyes. Beside me is my guardian angel who picked me up when all hope felt lost. Please know I will always be eternally grateful for the privilege to have you in my life, there isn¡¯t a single woman on this earth whopares to you!¡¯


    Tears ran down as Belle turned to thank Jason to find Jason was kneeling beside Belle on one knee, as Belle looked down to see Jason had a ring in a box that was open, she looked up to see Jason was nervous so before he even got a chance to say a single word Belle screamed ¡°YES I¡¯LL MARRY YOU!¡±


    Jason swallowed a lump from his throat and tried to talk but being so nervous all he could do was smile kneeling into my beautiful Belle for a soft passionate kiss and all the managed to say was ¡°Thank you for making me the happiest man alive.¡±


    Belle leaned into kiss Jason grabbing his hand before she stood up pulling Jason¡¯s hand towards their bedroom pushing him back onto the bed and straddling his pelvis and kissed him passionately on the lips. Laying


    her head onto his chest as her left hand slid up his shirt running her fingers through his chest hair and then dragged her nails down Jason¡¯s chest.


    The feeling of Belle¡¯s nails dragging down his chestbined with the beautiful smell of Belle¡¯s perfume is such a turn on for Jason that his mind goes into overdrive. Jason raises Belle back up to sit on hisp as his fingers run up over her baby bump, across the sides of her breasts enclosed in her bra and his hands slide across to the center of her bra finding the sp with his fingers. With a simple snap of his fingers, the spes undone.


    Belle is so damn hornytely that just looking into Jason¡¯s beautiful brown eyes causes her nipples to tingle, her pussy is wet begging to be touched just from the smell of his musky cologne. She looks down to watch Jason unsp her bra sliding her white t-shirt, and ck and pink braised her chest as Belle lifts her hands slightly above her head to allow Jason to slide her clothes off her hands throwing them towards the tall boy near their bedroom door.


    Feeling a spark hit her as Jason¡¯s fingers grabbed her nipples twisting them gently causing her to moan and lean back down into her man and kiss him passionately on the lips while her hands ran along Jason¡¯s ribs as she lifted his grey singlet over Jason¡¯s head throwing it towards the tallboy to join her bra and top.


    Jason asks his beautiful fiance ¡°You have the most amazing soft lips and I never get tired of your kisses!¡±


    Jason wraps his hand around Belle gently pulling her down into his chest, gently rolling her onto her side and kissing her passionately as they both roll over until Belle is now lying on her back with Jason positioned with his hips between her thighs. He starts to kiss her neck as Belle raises her head to allow him to kiss her along the bottom of her chin towards her eats, biting her on the nipples as his hands start to trace down the inside of


    her thighs along her ck pants along towards her clothed crutch listening to her moans intensify as Jason¡¯s kisses start trailing down over her shoulder des towards Belle¡¯s breasts.


    Belle closes her eyes feeling Jason¡¯s kisses along the edge of her breasts, catching her breath as she feels Jason bite her nipple but moans as he starts to suck on her nipple circling her nipple with his tongue. Just when she thinks it can¡¯t get any better she feels his hand rub her pussy through her pants, opening her mouth and whispering to her man ¡°I love you so damn much Jason!¡±


    Jason looks into Belle¡¯s eyes telling her ¡°I love you too baby.¡± As he pulls the knot open on her pants and slides his hand into her pants his fingers slide into her panties to find Belle¡¯s pussy is so damn wet hears his girl moan as his fingertips make contact with her pussy lips sliding between her lips to allow his middle finger to find her clit just as he hears Belle catch her breath right at the moment he touches her clit.


    Between feeling his lips on hers and her so damn horny pussy finally being touched by her sexy man Belle felt like she was in heaven as her pussy tingled while she was feeling his fingers circle her clit slowly Belle opened her mouth slightly to feel Jason¡¯s tongue slide between her lips making contact with her tongue as his fingers slide further between her pussy finding her soaking wet tight pussy feeling his two fingers slide inside of with ease because of how wet her pussy was.

 Chapter 15

    Jason looks into Belle¡¯s eyes watching them close stopping kissing him to bite her lip as his two fingers slide inside her love tunnel and moan as his finger slide inside her to the second knuckle he slides them back out until just the tip is left before he slides them back in till Jason feels his hande to rest over her pussy and his fingers are inside her biting her lip again as he curls his fingers slightly towards her G-spot and rubs it gentle while watching her mouth open wide while she¡¯s struggling to catch her breath as he strokes her magic spot with his fingertips.


    Belle takes her hands from being wrapped around Jason to put them on her pants raising her knees to press down onto the bed allowing her to lift her ass off the bed enough to slide her pants from underneath her as she watches Jason get the hint sitting up and helping her slide her pants and matching ck and pink favorite panties off her legs towards her feet as Belle¡¯s legs go of the pants to allow him to slide them off her feet and throw them towards their tallboy joining the rest of the clothes, then watched him spread her pussy lips with his fingers as he leans down between her thighs running his tongue from her dripping wet pussy hold towards her clit and Belle closes her eyes moaning with ecstasy.


    As Jason is starting to trace his tongue towards Belle¡¯s clit he can feel Belle¡¯s legs start to close around his shoulders looks up into her beautiful eyes as his tongue circles around her clit. Jason takes his fingers, sliding them back inside her pussy to join his assault of her horny pussy sliding them back to the second knuckle rubbing along her G-spot while his tongue starts to flick her slow at first building up to a faster rhythm to match the movement of her hips gyrating as her moans get louder telling Jason she¡¯s getting close toing all over his face for him.


    Belle knows what the intense feeling building inside her means as she looks down to see the first squirt of her pussy juice hit Jason on the chin followed by another, Belle simply closes her eyes and moans as her body starts to tremble feeling an orgasm ssh over her body. Letting go of herself to allow the intensity of her orgasm to rupture inside her, opening her eyes to see stream after stream of her juice squirting from her pussy as she just bites her lip hard feeling thest few waves crash over her and snap her legs closed to push Jason¡¯s head from her sensitive pussy rolling onto her side trembling and moaning loudly trying to stop herself from shaking but she¡¯s so used to these powerful orgasms now Belle knows it¡¯s pointless trying to control them,ys on her side looking over her shoulder at her man Jason kneeling beside her with his hand on her hip smirking.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    After a few minutes, Jason sees the look on Belle¡¯s face change and a smirke over her face, Belle gets up on her knees and pushes Jason back onto his back just as hends on his back she starts to unbuckle his shorts removing the belt first and folding the belt in half yfully pping him on the leg, winking at him and then she throws it over towards the pile of their clothes. She proceeds to unbutton the first of two buttons on his shorts followed by the other while her other hand slides the zipper down slowly allowing her to open the fly to slide her hand into the top of Jason¡¯s shorts grasping his cock in her hand and giving his member a firm squeeze as she looks up at his smile and leans down closer to his groin and kisses his visible bulge, taking her hands and gripping his shorts and pulling them off his hips and over his knees, down his legs and off at his ankles and throwing them over on the floor.


    Since the only item of clothing left is his pair of boxer shorts Belle figures she will have some fun, she grips one side of his boxers by the band, bites her lip looks down at Jason with a mischievous grin on her face and then rips one side of his shorts and responds with ¡°Oops, they ripped my bad¡± Giggling as she turns her attention to the other side of his boxers ripping those too!


    This makes Jason smirk and start to giggle before asking ¡°Hey why did you rip them, they were my favorite pair.¡± Before he can finish the sentence Belle lifts his legs, pulling his boxers from between his legs, as Jason looks down to see Belle lean forward and wrap her lips around his cock and take his member halfway into her mouth.


    Belle can see from the look on Jason¡¯s face that he is enjoying being teased something she has learned thest few months they have been dating. She slides him out of her mouth as her eyes are fixed on his, runs her tongue around her lips and moaning before flicking the tip of Jason¡¯s cock with her tongue causing him to flinch but moan closing his eyes. Belle takes her hand from on the bed, cing her fingers around his balls giving them a gentle squeeze watching the look on Jason¡¯s face to show his enjoying, massaging his balls as she circles her tongue around the tip of his throbbing cock.


    All Jason can do isy back on the bed with his hands above his head, moaning as he watches his beautiful fiance tease him, but noting to himself ¡®Damn she is such a tease, but she is a natural at this¡¯. Watching her lips wrap around his cock again, taking him a few inches at first sliding Jason back out of her mouth till the tip is left, then sliding him further into her mouth this time. Jason is enjoying this so much however he wants his throbbing cock inside of his girl, so Jason puts his arms around Belle, he pulls her up towards him as she moves her legs over his legs and brings them back so both her legs are now either side of his hips.


    Belle raises her ass off Jason¡¯s hips as her hand runs down between their parted bodies to grip his hard throbbing member, she rubs it along her soft pussy lips and lines it up with her tight wet pussy. Lowering her hips back down allowing Jason¡¯s cocks to slide inside her pussy slowly at first, only stopping when she could feel almost seven inches of his cock inside her and she could feel the head of his member sitting right against her cervix. Slowly gyrating her hips forward till Jason¡¯s cock was almost out and then letting herself slide back down until almost all of him is back inside her, all she can do is open her mouth while she¡¯s looking at his beautiful smile causing her to moan and close her eyes enjoying the feeling of her pussy being so full.

 Chapter 16

    Jason is looking up at his beautiful woman riding him, he tells her ¡°Damn Belle, you have no idea how damn tight your pussy feels¡± Tilting his head up and moaning as she drops her hips back down on him to take his throbbing member back inside her.


    Belle tries to apologize ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I feel too tight for you Jason, you do have a nice thick cock.¡±


    Jason wraps his hands around the back of her to pull her into him for a passionate kiss as his hands run down her back and over her nice thick ass,ing to rest on either side of her hips as he pulls her forward and then rocks her back as he feels his cock sliding back inside her again. Jason is enjoying the movement so much that he knows it won¡¯t be long before he cum¡¯s himself but Belle and Jason both agreed to resist the urge to have Jason¡¯s cum inside her pussy as it just didn¡¯t feel right with Belle being pregnant. Jason rolls her onto her back, sliding his hard cock back inside her to start fucking her slowly as he can sense his orgasm getting nearer and nearer, at the point he can sense himself about to explode he pulls his cock out of Belle¡¯s pussy and grips his cock pumping it back and forward a few times as he watches his cum start to stream out of his cock, some of itnds on her belly and some of it ends up all over her freshly shaved pussy mound. Jason opens his eyes to look into his beautiful Belle¡¯s eyes as she¡¯s smiling back up at him.


    ¡°I love you so much I honestly couldn¡¯t see myself with anyone else but you baby!¡± Jason tells Belle.


    Belle looks up at Jason kneeling between her parted smiles and tells her man ¡°I love you too Jason, every day I wake up and thank my guardian angel for you.¡±


    Jason leans over and opens his bedside drawer to grab a hand towel out of there, he keeps these clean towels in there to clean up any mess they make, getting up from the bed after gently wiping his cum from all over bells belly and pussy he takes the towel and puts it into theundry hamper. Walking back into the bedroom Jasonys on his back and motions for Belle to roll over into him, as Belle cuddles into him he strokes her hair. After a few minutes Jason can hear the breathing in Belle has changed telling him she¡¯s gone to sleep in his arms, this was usually what happened as Jason closed his eyes and joined Belle in his dreams.


    A few weekster Belle was starting to get really bad stomach pains, Jason was worried about his beautiful Belle and their baby so they went to the doctor. The doctor said that Belle was in perfect health however sent us for a fresh ultrasound to check on the baby, so off we went to the local hospital for a fresh scan. The radiographer told us that our baby was slightly undersized but extremely mobile and she would send a report back to the doctor. We should go back and see the GP in a few days.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    A few dayster I returned home to my Belle on the couch with a worried look on her face, she patted the pillow beside her and motioned for me to sit. As I sat down she wrapped her arms around me, started crying uncontrobly cuddling into me tightly, and just wept between struggling for breaths saying ¡°Oh Jason please hold me tight, I¡¯ve had the worst day!¡±


    I put my fingers under her eyes wiping away the tears and ask my angel ¡°What¡¯s wrong babe is everything okay with bub?¡±


    She stopped crying long enough to tell me ¡°Yeah bub is fine I ran into my ex at the supermarket and he caused a big scene in front of everyone calling me a dirty whore.¡±


    ¡°Oh, babe he¡¯s just jealous you finally have a real man in your life who works hard loves you till the ends of the earth, and doesn¡¯t need to put you down. Making you feel worthless, I mean look at your radiating beauty¡± Jason tells Belle and holds up his phone with the camera turned on facing her.


    Belle smiles and kisses Jason ¡°Thanks Jason I¡¯m just an emotional mess with all these hormones running through me.¡±


    Jason just smiles at his Belle and asks her about her day.


    Belle¡¯s eyes light up as she tells Jason ¡°The Doctor called today and asked us to go see him in a few weeks but he¡¯s not worried about bub. Just said as long as there is movement constantly things should be okay he will start seeing every few weeks if it eases our worries!¡±


    Smiling Jason felt a weight lift off his shoulders as hey back on the couch to rx and watch the news on T. V. Nothing was on but he felt a weight lift off his shoulders after hearing the news from Belle that their baby was going to be okay.


    Belle puts her hand on the crutch of Jason¡¯s shorts and starts to rub his bulge in his shorts while looking out of the corners of her eyes at Jason she gets a mischievous look on her face and starts to unzip his fly in the shorts slowly.

 Chapter 17

    Jason looks at Belle with a cheeky smirk on her face and wonders what she¡¯s up to but it doesn¡¯t take long to figure it out as he feels her hand slide down into his shorts and firmly grip his cock in her hands. She then uses her free hand to unbutton the buttons on Jason¡¯s shorts and pulls his semi-hard cock still inside his briefs up to the top of his shorts. Then leans down and kisses his now rock-hard member through the briefs.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    Belle moans as her fingers grip the top of the briefs pulling them away from his cock, seeing its fully hardened state as she climbs on the floor between his legs. With a tug on his shorts, she watches Jason lift his ass off the couch to allow her to pull his shorts down over his knees, and then as he lifts his legs in the air takes his briefs and shorts off his legspletely and throws them towards the door of the lounge room. Belle then leans forwards looking into his eyes as she runs her tongue from under his balls up over them and traces her tongue along the length of his shaft to the tip of his cock.


    Jason has had a long day at work but I¡¯m in pure heaven between looking into his beautiful Belle¡¯s eyes and watching her trace her tongue


    up and down the length of his hardened member. All he can do is raise his head towards the ceiling and moan as she takes the tip of his into her lips and sucks him into her mouth an inch at first, taking him almostpletely back out of her mouth while watching him and then taking Jason¡¯s cock back into her mouth further with each motion. His eyes are now closed as she feels her lips slide around his shaft and the fact she knows exactly what he likes.


    Belle has seen Jason¡¯s eyes close with her movements, but as much as Belle like to suck on Jason¡¯s cock until he blows in her mouth she hasn¡¯t been able to let him cum in her mouth because the taste of his semen makes her dry reach, she¡¯s apologized to Jason and made a promise when she¡¯s no longer pregnant she will do it any time he wishes but for now he would have to understand she simply can¡¯t Jason would have to cum on her tits etc.


    Jason knows he won¡¯tst long at this rate but given the fact Belle is wearing a short skirt and with the angle she is sitting between his legs he observed she¡¯s not wearing panties. Jason puts his hands on the side of his beautiful girl¡¯s face telling her ¡°Come up and climb on top of me, babe.¡±


    Belle is so horny that she happily obliges straddling his knees and raises her ass above Jason¡¯s legs enough to reach between them both gripping his cock between her fingers, she guides his member at her dripping wet horny pussy and feels the tip slide just inside her opening. Taking him into her deeper as she slowly sits back down and rests on his legs as she is amodating his cock inside her tight tingling pussy for a few seconds, then starts to raise herself slowly and then drops back down on hisp to take him back inside of her as the feeling inside her starts to get intense. She¡¯s looking at her man as she rides Jason¡¯s cock slowly at first but getting quicker with each time she drops back down on his knees.


    The feeling building inside Jason tells him that if she keeps it up his going to explode inside of her so he raises them both off the couch and slowly turned around resting Belle back on the couch as his hard throbbing cock slides back inside of his girlying on the couch moaning so loudly Jason wonders if people walking past are hearing her. Belle looks like she¡¯s getting close to an orgasm, Jason knows how much she loves her breasts yed with so he pulls her top and bra up and with a little bit of force and the help of Belle raising her arms above her head to holds onto the top of the couch they slide up over her head as she moans and releases the grip on the couch to allow Jason to remove her top half of clothing off herpletely and watches as he throws them towards the door.


    Belle closes her eyes as she starts to tremble, and opens her mouth moaning but just as she starts to feel her inside get sensitive as she nears an orgasm she feels Jason¡¯s lips around her nipple and she feels him yfully biting her hard nipple, sucking on one of her nipples as she opens her eyes to see him change to the other nipple. Belle looks directly into her man¡¯s eyes as she feels her orgasm crash over her body and with the trembling of her body she hears Jason tell her his about to cum, watching him grabbing onto his cock, stroking himself slowly at first. Belle moans as she watches Jason spray her with his cum, some of itnding on her leg, pussy mound and thest few dropsnding between their bodies onto the leather couch.


    Jason leans into his girl¡¯s arms kissing her on the lips ¡°I love you so damn much Belle, please never leave me my angel youplete me!¡±


    Belle kisses him on the lips and then on the nose, telling Jason ¡°I am not going anywhere my sexy man.¡±


    Things continued with Jason and Belle confessing their undying love for one another and in a few months their daughter Gabrielle was born.

 Chapter 18

    Story 3


    Josephine Rossi needed a break. Not in the sleepte, spa-weekend, ss-or-two-of-wine kind of way-although as a single mom, she¡¯d take any of those and run like an Olympic athlete going for gold. No, Jo needed a big break. The kind that made careers. The


    kind she¡¯d once gotten, then lost spectacrly. The kind she needed now if she was going to have any hope of living her dream of bing a full-time actress.


    After all, as her agent had delicately pointed out, thirty-two-year-old single moms with limited experience weren¡¯t exactly a casting producer¡¯s first choice for breakthrough roles in new TV series. Not even when those roles spoke to said single mom/actresses deeply, or when they were staring down their veryst shot at getting on the silver screen.


    Jo¡¯s stomach butterflies at the reality check. Ugh, what was she even doing,ing to Remington for this audition? She was never going to get this role-for God¡¯s sake, Teresa Park was directing the show. Park might not be the most famous director in the business, but her work was well-respected and well-known. Jo had been reading about this new show for months and salivating over the lead role for just as long. But so had probably dozens of other actresses. Younger actresses, prettier actresses, actresses with more experience. Jo hadn¡¯t held any major acting gigs since she¡¯d found out she was pregnant with her daughter, Mika, nearly six years ago (despite what her agent said, those half dozenmercials and two jobs as a si extra so didn¡¯t count).


    Jo ttered to a halt mid-step on the chilly city sidewalk, her heart beating a panicked rhythm behind her travel-rumpled sweater. What was she thinking? Yes, Mika was in good hands with her father-Derek might¡¯ve been a shitful partner, but he was a great dad, not even hesitating to care for Mika while Jo came to Remington-but this was crazy. Seriously, she needed to turn around right now and go back to Savannah. She could probably get ate flight home tonight if she hustled. She¡¯d have to make up a whopper excuse to escape her agent¡¯s wrath-Genevieve had pulled some pretty serious strings to get Jo an audition, she knew. But even if Jo dazzled the casting director with her talent and nailed every single syble of the audition, there was probably someone younger/skinnier/curvier/taller/shorter/whatever-er than her who they¡¯d want more. She¡¯d been nuts on toast to think she had even a sliver of a chance of getting this part.


    ¡°Jo-Jo!¡± The familiar voice, so loaded with happiness that Jo¡¯s heart lurched in her rib cage, froze her further to her spot on the pavement.


    She turned on the heels of her favorite (read: practical) riding boots and pasted a smile over her face as she greeted her older sister, whom she¡¯d been on her way to meet for dinner. ¡°Frankie, hey. You didn¡¯t have toe outside to greet me.¡± Damn it. Now Jo would have to wiggle her way out of this face-to-face.


    ¡°Oh, yes I did,¡± Frankie said, wrapping her arms around Jo in a tight hug. ¡°Because I know that look on your face, and you are not ditching out on this audition, ci.¡±


    Well, shit. Her sister could read her like a fifty-foot billboard. ¡°Has anyone ever told you that you are a mammoth pain in the ass?¡± Jo asked, unable to do anything other than give in to herugh.


    Frankie matched herugh in reply. ¡°I¡¯m a detective, sweetheart. Mammoth pain in the ass is pretty much my job description. Now,e on. Since you¡¯re not going back to Savannah for another three weeks¡±-this, she punctuated with a lift of one dark brow-¡°let¡¯s get you out of this cold and in front of a good, hot meal, okay? The Crooked Angel is the best bar and grill in the city. You¡¯ll love it.¡±


    Jo gave in to the warmth of her sister¡¯s wee, stowing away her unease over the audition for now. She was spending three weeks in Remington, taking some much-needed time to catch up with Frankie, her boyfriend Shawn, and Shawn¡¯s daughter, I, as well as prepare for the audition itself, which was scheduled for two weeks from now. Landing the role might be a longshot, and her already fragile ego might take a shecking in the process, but there was a silver lining, here.


    Linking arms with Frankie, Jo listened to her sister chatter happily about her recent move-in with Shawn and I and her even more recent job with Remington¡¯s Vice Unit as they made their way over the sidewalk and into the brightly lit bar and grill. Frankie¡¯s road had been harder than most, and the joy on her face made Jo¡¯s heart squeeze.


    Whoa, that joy turned into something other-worldly as soon as Frankie got to a nearby table and caught sight of her boyfriend, Shawn.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Frankie said, smiling as she leaned in to give Shawn a quick kiss. ¡°Look who I found. The soon-to-be-famous actress!¡±


    ¡°Hey, Jo,¡± Shawn said, standing up to hug her. ¡°You made it.¡±


    Jo lifted a brow at Frankie-who threw on her best what? expression- but kept her smile in ce. For better or worse, she was here for this audition. She even had her very own ce to rx and prepare for the audition, since Frankie still had the lease on her old apartment for another month. Jo might as well make the best of the trip, even if her sister was having some serious delusions of grandeur. ¡°Yep. I sure did.¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s great to see you,¡± he said, and Frankie nodded, gesturing to the group seated around the table.


    ¡°These are the detectives from the Intelligence Unit. Addison Hale¡±- the petite blonde on Shawn¡¯s other side lifted her bright pink Cosmo and smiled a greeting-¡°Matteo Garza and Liam Hollister¡±-the two men across from Shawn and Addison, one dark-haired and the other sporting a neatly trimmed auburn beard and a knit beanie, nodded a hello-¡°and that cutie pie at the end of the table is baby Elijah, and his mother, Isabe Walker.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet all of you,¡± Jo said. She slid into the empty seat at the head of the table, situating herself between Shawn and Frankie. ¡°No I tonight?¡± Jo had met the sweet three-year-oldst month when the trio had visited Georgia, post-holidays.


    ¡°We came here right from work,¡± Shawn said, his eyes lighting up at the mention of his daughter. ¡°So she¡¯s still with our nanny, Ate. But she¡¯s excited to see you this week.¡±Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

 Chapter 19

    The way Shawn had so casually referred to himself and Frankie as ¡°our¡± was not lost on Jo even though Frankie wasn¡¯t I¡¯s biological mother. ¡°I¡¯m excited to see her, too. She¡¯s a great kid.¡±


    ¡°Oh, perfect timing,¡± said Frankie, looking at a spot over Jo¡¯s shoulder. Jo turned, her expression entirely WTF until her eyesnded on the sin-hot blond guy behind her, and dear, sweet Jesus, could her sister not warn a girl?


    ¡°Uh, for what?¡± Jo semi-stammered. Bute on. Between the just- just-long-enough-to-be-sexy-not-scruffy hair curling over his ears, the dark- -chocte eyes fixed directly on hers, and the ck T-shirt molded to his lean, ropy muscles, she couldn¡¯t be med for herck ofposure. For God¡¯s sake, the man¡¯s forearms were practically forey.


    Frankie, who had X-ray vision into Jo¡¯s head after decades of practice, at least had the good graces to tuck her smile between her lips. ¡°For ordering. Jo, this is Sawyer Knox. He¡¯s one of the bar managers here at the Crooked Angel. Sawyer, this is my sister, Josephine Rossi.¡±


    ¡°The soon-to-be-famous actress,¡± Sawyer said, making Jo want to die quietly on the spot. How long had he been standing there?


    ¡°Not exactly,¡± Jo said. Thest thing she needed was to call attention to the fact that she had a snowball¡¯s chance in hell ofnding this role. ¡°But, um, hi.¡±


    Sawyer¡¯s mouth settled into a half-smile that did criminal things to Jo¡¯s insides. ¡°I¡¯ve never met a not-exactly-soon-to-be-famous actress before,¡± he said, reaching out to shake her hand.


    Because Jo¡¯s level of nerves was directly proportional to her tendency for sarcasm, she said, ¡°I can¡¯t imagine that¡¯s the case. Women like me? We¡¯re everywhere.¡±


    ¡°Somehow, I doubt that,¡± Sawyer said kindly.


    Jo flushed. ¡°I meant actresses who aren¡¯t famous yet. There are¡­there are a lot of us, so, you know. We¡¯re everywhere.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± he said, his eyes crinkling at the edges. ¡°Well, what can I get you, Jo?¡±


    ¡°A ss of merlot would be great.¡± One big enough for me to drown myself in, please, and thank you. Seriously, this guy couldn¡¯t be more than twenty-five, and he was probably nice to all the customers. She had no business getting all fluttery over his smile.


    ¡°You got it. How about you, Frankie?¡±


    Everyone else ced their orders, and Jo managed a polite ¡°Nice to meet you¡± as Sawyer departed for the bar at the back of the restaurant. Frankie and Addison started talking about the best menu items-a solid tie between the Cuban sandwich and the French dip-and Isabe excused herself to change the baby¡¯s diaper. Shawn had just turned to ask Jo how her flight had been when a chorus of cell phone chimes and buzzes went off around the table.


    ¡°What the¡­oh, my God,¡± Frankie said, her eyes going wide as both Addison and Matteo slid back from the table, phones in hand.


    ¡°I¡¯ll call Ate and let her know,¡± Shawn said, grabbing his jacket from the back of his chair, and holy crap, they all looked so serious.


    Jo stole a deep breath. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°I am so sorry,¡± Frankie said. ¡°We have to go. I can¡¯t say more, but there¡¯s been an emergency downtown, and they need backup-¡±


    ¡°No, no. I understand. Just be careful, okay.¡± Jo¡¯s heart was beating at about ny miles an hour. How they could all be so calm about the danger they faced on the daily was a bit mind-blowing, honestly.


    ¡°I promise, we will. We have each other¡¯s backs.¡±


    With how intense Shawn¡¯s dark blue stare had just be at Frankie¡¯s promise, that did make Jo feel better, if only by a millimeter. ¡°Okay. I guess I¡¯ll see youter.¡±


    Frankie reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out a key ring, handing it over to Jo. ¡°Here¡¯s the key to my old ce. It¡¯s not a pce, but it¡¯s clean and quiet.¡±


    ¡°Two things my house in Savannah isn¡¯t,¡± Jo offered with a smile to lighten the mood. ¡°Go. Don¡¯t worry about me,¡± she added, because her sister wasn¡¯t the only one who could do the sibling mind-meld thing, and thest thing she wanted was for Frankie to head into an emergency distracted. ¡°I¡¯ll get dinner, then call a Lyft.¡±


    Frankie nodded, turning toward the door. ¡°Okay. We¡¯ll catch up tomorrow, I swear.¡±


    ¡°Bye,¡± Jo said, shooing her on her way with the rest of the detectives.


    As soon as they¡¯d crossed the threshold, Jo eyed the empty table, then the bustling restaurant around her. Sitting here at this huge table by herself seemed silly, not to mention pretty embarrassing. She could just go to the bar and grab a quick dinner there. Sure, she was alone, but plenty of people went out to eat by themselves. She¡¯d never done it, personally, but there was no reason why she couldn¡¯t be bold and badass like her older sister and start now.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Except for the fact that she was neither bold nor badass. She was sitting in the middle of a crowded restaurant all alone, about to face what might well be her veryst audition ever, and that settled it. Takeout and wine in her pajamas might be just as pathetic as dining alone, but at least no one would be around to witness that.


    Jo turned toward the back of the restaurant. All she had to do was cancel her order at the bar, then make a quick stop in the restroom, and she¡¯d be on her way to where she belonged.


    Herfort zone.

 Chapter 20

    Sawyer Knox had been in as many war zones as he had time zones. In his six years as an active-duty Marine, he¡¯d been chased, shot at, and-in the act that had ultimately benched him for good-had an


    The IEDonated 300 yards from the spot where he¡¯d been standing. But none of that had quite prepared him for the gut-dipping terror of his friend Isabe rushing out of thedies¡¯ room in the back of his bar and grill and handing him her baby.


    ¡°Oh, thank God!¡± she said, her words tumbling out in a rush. ¡°There¡¯s been a huge emergency downtown and my entire unit, plus probably half the cops in the district, just got called in.¡±


    Adrenaline perked in Sawyer¡¯s veins, his senses defaulting to full alert. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    Isabe dropped her voice even though the alcove where they were standing was empty of anyone other than the two of them. Well, three, if you counted the squirming baby. ¡°Between us? There¡¯s been a credible bomb threat down by the za. I have to go, like, now. Ken¡¯s on his way toe pick the baby up, but can you watch Elijah until he gets here? Please?¡±


    ¡°Uh,¡± Sawyer grunted, his heart jackhammering behind his ck Crooked Angel T-shirt. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I¡¯m the, ah, best person for that?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be silly,¡± Isabe said. ¡°I know you. I trust you. All you have to do is put him in his stroller for ten, maybe fifteen minutes until Ken gets here. I just changed him, and he¡¯s already had dinner. Chances are, he¡¯ll drift off to sleep any second now, anyway. Won¡¯t you, my little sweet pea?¡± she asked the baby with a smile.


    Elijah wiggled in Sawyer¡¯s grasp, and oh, hell, why couldn¡¯t she have asked him to do something easy, like bullseye a target with an M14 from a hundred yards away? In a sandstorm.


    ¡°Oh. Well¡­¡± Sawyer hedged. She couldn¡¯t exactly take her baby anywhere near harm¡¯s way. Plus, how hard could it be to keep the little guy safe for ten minutes? ¡°Yeah, sure. You got it.¡±


    ¡°Ah, thank you! You¡¯re the best.¡± She took the briefest of seconds to grab Sawyer¡¯s cell phone number, then text him both hers and her husband, Ken¡¯s, before she kissed the baby onest time. ¡°I owe you one.¡±


    ¡°Be safe,¡± Sawyer said as she hustled out of the alcove. Two-point-two secondster, Elijah burst into tears.


    ¡°Oh, no. No, no.¡± Sawyer¡¯s gut bottomed out somewhere in the vicinity of his kneecaps as the tears morphed into a wail. He shifted his hold on the little guy-which was already pretty awkward, since Sawyer had never held a baby in his entire twenty-six years-and wait, how was the baby crying even harder now?


    ¡°Okay, okay. It¡¯s going to be okay,¡± Sawyer said, more to himself than Elijah. But Ken was going to murder him if he came in to find his son screaming like he was being stuck with pins. Isabe had said the baby would fall asleep. Should he put him in the stroller? Or, no, maybe he should walk around with him-wasn¡¯t that what people did on TV to get babies to stop crying?


    Sawyer cradled Elijah in the crook of his arm, which only made the baby squirm harder. He pivoted on one work boot, trying to pace through the tiny alcove to soothe Elijah-


    And nearly ran smack into the very beautiful brte whose merlot was probably sitting on the bar, waiting for him to deliver it.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t what it looks like,¡± Sawyer said, not wanting her to think he¡¯d somehow hurt Elijah.


    ¡°Oh, good,¡± Jo said. ¡°Because no offense, but you¡¯d make a terrible kidnapper.¡±


    Sawyer¡¯s pulse rattled. ¡°What? Oh. God, no. I¡¯m not-I wouldn¡¯t-¡±


    ¡°Rx, Sawyer. I know you¡¯re not kidnapping Isabe¡¯s baby,¡± Jo said. He must have looked confused, because she added, ¡°I was at the table when the whole unit got called away. I assume you¡¯re on babysitting duty?¡±


    ¡°Uh. Yeah.¡±


    One corner of her mouth went up. ¡°You have no idea what you¡¯re doing, do you?¡±


    ¡°What gave it away?¡± he asked, and sheughed, not unkindly.


    ¡°The look of sheer, abject terror on your face was kind of a dead giveaway.¡±


    Elijah continued to fuss, and Sawyer continued to makeme attempts tofort him, to no avail. ¡°Do you want some help?¡± Jo asked, and it took all Sawyer had not to let his reliefmandeer his face.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to assume that you have more experience with babies than I do just because you¡¯re a woman, but if you do, then yes. Please. I¡¯m out of my depth here.¡±


    A look crossed her face, somebination of confusion and something else that Sawyer couldn¡¯t quite peg. But then it was gone, reced by a no-nonsense nod. ¡°Lucky for you, I can help.¡±


    Rather than take the baby from him, though, she gestured with her hands, guiding him through her directions.


    ¡°He looks about five months old, so I bet he¡¯s got a little stranger anxiety. Try holding him up on your shoulder so he can look around. The lights might distract him.¡± She gestured to the white lights strung from the bar¡¯s rafters overhead. ¡°Just keep one hand under his bottom and the other on his upper back to make sure he doesn¡¯t wiggle free.¡±


    ¡°Like this?¡± Sawyer asked, certain he was doing itughably wrong.


    But Jo just nodded, reaching out to readjust his grip on the baby a little. ¡°I¡¯ll see if I can find something in his stroller to snag his attention.¡±


    She rummaged for less than ten seconds beforeing up victorious, holding something small and blue between her fingers. Slipping around Sawyer, she popped it into Elijah¡¯s mouth, and whoa¡­


    He stopped crying.


    ¡°You are magic,¡± Sawyer said as Elijah¡¯s hitching breaths began to even out beneath his palm.


    ¡°I¡¯m just somebody¡¯s mom,¡± Jo countered, but nope. No way.


    ¡°Magic,¡± he insisted. ¡°I never would¡¯ve thought to hold him differently or to look for¡­one of these thingies.¡±


    Sheughed. ¡°Yeah, pacifiers usually do the trick. He just needed a littlefort, that¡¯s all. Didn¡¯t you, sweet boy?¡±R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Jo reached out to smooth a hand over Elijah¡¯s head, and the baby let out a little sigh in response.


    ¡°He likes you,¡± Sawyer said, and again, Jo dodged thepliment.


    ¡°I think he might be getting sleepy. You could try to put him in the stroller and see if he starts to drop off.¡±


    Worry pinged between Sawyer¡¯s ribs. ¡°What if he cries?¡±


    ¡°Then you can just pick him back up again,¡± she said with a shrug. ¡°It won¡¯t hurt him.¡±


    Testing her theory, Sawyer moved over to the stroller, carefully angling Elijah into the seat. Jo reached down to strap him in, then reclined the seat back-which Sawyer had no idea you could even do-and miraculously, Elijah settled in quietly. After a minute, his eyes grew ssy and heavy, and then after one more, they began to drift shut.


    ¡°Wow,¡± Sawyer half-whispered in awe. ¡°Your merlot ispletely on the house.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Her brown eyes went wide, and Sawyer noticed that in this light, they were the color of warm caramel, glinted with little flecks of gold. ¡°Now that everyone was called away, I was going to just head out.¡±


    Why her words sent a pang of disappointment through Sawyer¡¯s gut, he wasn¡¯t quite sure, but they did. ¡°You sure? I don¡¯t mean to brag or anything, but we do make a killer Cuban sandwich. Might even be the best you¡¯ll ever eat.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re sure of yourself,¡± Jo said, and Sawyer lifted one shoulder partway before letting it drop.


    ¡°Just stating the facts. If you want to prove me wrong, guess you¡¯ll have to stick around for dinner.¡±

 Chapter 21

    For a second, Sawyer was certain she¡¯d say no, and maybe that was just as well. She wasn¡¯t wearing a wedding ring, but that didn¡¯t necessarily mean she was single, especially since she¡¯d mentioned being a mom. He didn¡¯t much see the point in bullshitting himself, and the truth was, she was fucking gorgeous. Sure, he wanted to thank her for her help, but he also wanted her to stay for less gant reasons.


    Jo tilted her head, a smile blooming over her pretty, pink mouth, and Jesus, less gant was a colossal understatement. ¡°You¡¯d better hope you can live up to the hype. I¡¯m Italian, through and through. We take our food very seriously.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a woman after my own heart,¡± he said, gesturing toward the dining room. ¡°Please. After you.¡±


    Pushing the stroller down the wood-paneled corridor, Sawyer made his way to the bar with Jo. He found her a seat at the end of the wood, right next to an empty two-person bar table that he slid out of the way to make room for the stroller. Before he could get to the business end of the bar, though, Ken appeared a handful of feet away from Jo.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Sawyer said, lifting his chin in greeting. ¡°The little guy just fell asleep.¡±


    He pointed to the stroller, and Ken gave up a grateful smile. ¡°Thanks, man. I appreciate you looking out for him until I could get here. I know it was kind of a big ask.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d say it was no big deal, but to be honest, Jo here did all the hard stuff.¡±


    ¡°Jo Rossi,¡± she said, waving from her spot at the bar. ¡°And it was teamwork.¡±


    Ken¡¯s dark brows lifted. ¡°Rossi, as in, rted to Frankie?¡±


    Jo¡¯s hands went up as she smiled. ¡°Guilty as charged. She¡¯s my sister.


    I¡¯m here from Savannah for a few weeks.¡±


    ¡°Ah. Well, work emergencies aside, I hope you enjoy your visit.¡±


    A flicker of unease moved through Jo¡¯s eyes, gone so fast it could¡¯ve been imagined. ¡°Thanks. I hope so, too.¡±


    Sawyer waited until Ken had wheeled a blissfully sleeping Elijah out of the restaurant before cing a ss of the best merlot they had on the bar in front of her. ¡°Here you go, ma¡¯am.¡±


    Jo winced. At his lifted brows, she said, ¡°Sorry. ¡®Ma¡¯am¡¯ makes me feel about a hundred years old.¡±Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Great, now he¡¯d insulted her. ¡°I can promise, that wasn¡¯t my intent at all. It¡¯s a habit I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll take to the grave.¡±


    ¡°Were you raised by nuns?¡± she asked, and he had tough. ¡°The Marines.¡±


    Her eyes widened. ¡°Oh. Are you still on active duty, then?¡± Sawyer dodged the pinch in his chest. ¡°Retired.¡±


    ¡°Wow? You¡¯re so young.¡± Again, Jo winced, mping her teeth over her bottom lip in a way that made Sawyer want to bite it, too. ¡°And I¡¯m going to shut up now, since clearly, my brain-to-mouth filter is malfunctioning.¡±


    Her self-deprecating honesty loosened something inside his chest, allowing him to breathe. ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. You¡¯re not wrong. It¡¯s unusual for someone my age to retire. I was injured in the line of duty.¡±


    ¡°God, I¡¯m sorry,¡± she said.


    But her words held no syrupy pity, only truth, and hell if that didn¡¯t make him find her even more attractive. ¡°I am, too. But in the end, it led me here, so I guess I can¡¯tin.¡±


    ¡°Did you always want to manage a restaurant, then?¡±


    Curiosity sparked in her stare, but there was something else there, too, and it made him open his mouth. ¡°Yeah. My old man owns a bar not too far from here, in Charlotte. He¡¯s run the ce for over thirty years. He loves it.¡± Sawyer couldn¡¯t help but smile at the thought. ¡°So, I guess Ie by it honestly.¡±


    ¡°Well, if it helps, you¡¯re a natural.¡± Jo lifted her ss of merlot for a sip. ¡°Not a lot of people could convince me to stick around for dinner by myself when my pajamas and Netflix were calling.¡±


    Sawyer knew that flirting with her was probably a dumpster fire of an idea. So, naturally, he didn¡¯t fucking hesitate. ¡°Ah, but you¡¯re not having dinner by yourself. You¡¯re having dinner with me, remember? And I promise, it¡¯ll be way better than pajamas and Netflix.¡±


    He ced a menu on the glossy surface of the bar, giving her some space to look it over while he took care of a few drink orders and checked in with both their hostess, Evie, and the waitstaff. The height of the dinner rush had passed, which allowed him to hand off the rest of the bar patrons to one of the servers whose section had lightened up-Sawyer knew the guy needed the tips more than he did-and return his attention to Jo.


    ¡°Anything look good?¡± he asked, his blood heating up at the blush pinking her cheeks in the soft bar light.


    ¡°You piqued my interest with your bragging. I¡¯ve got to see if this Cuban sandwich lives up to the hype,¡± she said, sliding her menu over the bar.


    Sawyer wrote up a bar ticket and handed it off to a passing server. ¡°It¡¯s not bragging if it¡¯s true.¡±


    ¡°Well, I hope it is, because I¡¯m starving.¡± Jo took a sip of her wine. As if their earlier conversation hadn¡¯t skipped a beat, she asked, ¡°So, are you from Charlotte?¡±


    ¡°Born and raised. I went all over while I was in the Marines, but after my injury, I came home.¡± He didn¡¯t add that it was partly because Remington Memorial had an excellent Traumatic Brain Injury rehabilitation program, and at the time, his migraines had been so brutal, that his neurologist had bumped him to the top of the mile-long waiting list. Not to mention the crushing PTSD he¡¯d been suffering from at the time.

 Chapter 22

    Speaking of silver linings. ¡°I met another veteran at a local thing and mentioned I was looking for work. His wife is the general manager here, and she just had a baby, so I moved out herest year.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like kismet,¡± Jo said.


    Sawyer nodded. Gamble and Kennedy had saved his ass in more ways than one, Gamble especially. He was all too happy to give them the peace of mind of knowing her restaurant was in capable hands while they spent time with their son, Theo. Plus, Jo wasn¡¯t wrong. Sawyer did love managing the ce.


    ¡°What about you?¡± he asked, pulling a box of cocktail napkins from a nearby storage drawer and topping off the dwindling stack to his left. ¡°Tell me about this not-exactly-soon-to-be-famous thing you¡¯ve got going on.¡±


    Jo took a sip of her wine that bordered on a gulp. ¡°That¡¯s okay. You don¡¯t have to make small talk with me just because I¡¯m here all alone.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m making small talk with you because I want to know more about you,¡± he said, prompting her tart little smile-and the bolt of heat it sent through Sawyer¡¯s blood-to make aeback.


    ¡°Ah, so flirting with your bar patrons is part of the job description, then.¡±


    ¡°Being polite is part of the job description,¡± he amended. ¡°I only flirt when I mean it.¡±


    ¡°Which one are you doing right now?¡± Jo asked softly, and yeah, there was no fucking way he was going to leave that one untouched.


    Sawyer braced both hands on the bar in front of her, leaning in just enough to cut the space between them but not so much that she couldn¡¯t easily pull back if she wanted to. ¡°I suppose that depends.¡±


    Jo didn¡¯t pull back. ¡°On?¡±


    ¡°Which one you had in mind.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± It was more of a whisper than a word, yet it made his heart drum faster all the same. Especially when she said, ¡°Flirting is good.¡±


    Sawyer smiled. Single, then. ¡°I couldn¡¯t agree more. So, where were we?¡±


    ¡°Not exactly famous,¡± Jo said. ¡°Which, when you¡¯re an actress, isn¡¯t an endorsement.¡±


    A server appeared with Jo¡¯s sandwich, perfectly ted beside a pile of golden-brown fries, and Sawyer nodded his thanks as he took the te to put it in front of her. Her expression loosened in pleasure, likely at the scent of cumin-spiced pork and fresh-baked roll that even he could smell from the other side of the bar, and man, he loved feeding people.


    ¡°This looks incredible,¡± Jo murmured, unfurling her napkin and popping a fry into her mouth, smiling as she chewed.


    ¡°It¡¯s one of my favorite things on the menu,¡± he agreed by way of an ¡®I told you so¡¯. He gave her a few minutes to eat in peace, although her happy little moans made him damned d for the half-apron slung over his brewing hard-on.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Finally, in between bites, she said, ¡°I¡¯m actually in Remington to audition for a part in a pretty big new TV show. But it¡¯s a long shot. I doubt I¡¯ll even get a callback.¡±


    ¡°Howe?¡± Sawyer had no clue how these things worked, but he was pretty sure they didn¡¯t let just anyone audition for things like TV shows. Plus, she was fucking gorgeous, with that warm brown stare and those legs that went on for days, perfectly showcased by her dark jeans. They¡¯d be crazy not to put her on screen.


    Jo shrugged, her dark hair brushing her shoulders. ¡°Well, I¡¯ve spent most of the past five years single-parenting my daughter, so I don¡¯t have any substantial experience on TV shows, especially in a regr role. But the real reason is that the part is pretty far outside myfort zone.¡±


    ¡°So, it¡¯s kind of like me trying to take care of Ken and Isabe¡¯s baby?¡± Sawyer asked.


    Her smile was a nice nice try. ¡°If you multiplied it by a thousand and put a cherry on top, you might be close. Honestly, it¡¯s probably a horrible idea to do something this far from my norm.¡±


    Sawyer could¡¯ve let her off the hook. Hell, he probably should¡¯ve. But he¡¯d seen that fiery streak hiding beneath all her caution, and yeah, he¡¯d learned the hard way how short life was.


    ¡°Oh,e on. It¡¯s good to get outside yourfort zone every once in a while.¡±


    Jo scooped up a French fry, pointing it at him before taking a bite. ¡°I like myfort zone. It never lets me down. It¡¯s always exactly what I expect it to be. No shake-ups. No surprises.¡±


    ¡°Except you want a job that isn¡¯t in yourfort zone,¡± Sawyer pointed out, and there-there was that spark she kept so well-covered. ¡°So maybe that zone of yours is just a little toofortable.¡±


    Jo¡¯s cheeks flushed. ¡°And maybe risks like this role are just a little too


    ufortable.¡±


    An idea bloomed in Sawyer¡¯s head, one that would probably end up in a crash and burn, but taking the gamble felt far too good. ¡°Would it make you feel better if I took a risk, too?¡± he asked.


    A startledugh flew past her lips. ¡°What, like, right now?¡± ¡°Right this minute.¡± Sawyer nodded.


    She looked at him, suddenly wary. ¡°You¡¯re not going to do something crazy that will turn into a viral Inte video, are you?¡±


    ¡°Not quite that drastic.¡± Reaching for a cocktail napkin with one hand and a pen with the other, he wrote out an address and handed it to her. ¡°Be here tomorrow at six. Dress warm. Oh, and be prepared to get a little adventurous.¡±


    Jo quirked a brow at him before sliding the napkin between her fingers. ¡°I thought you were the one taking the risk.¡±


    He looked at her, letting his smile have its way with him. ¡°I asked you out, didn¡¯t I? Now all you have to do is say yes.¡±

 Chapter 23

    Jo could count the number of times she¡¯d slept in over the past five years on one hand and have fingers to spare. So, of course, given the chance to hit snooze as many times as she¡¯d like, her eyes flew open at six a. m., refusing to close long enough for her to drift back


    off.


    ¡°Damn it,¡± she muttered after fifteen minutes of trying anyway. At least


    now she could FaceTime with Mika before her morning got busy with script studying and reading up on this project.


    Also, she could spend a good hour or two thinking of the fact that she had a date with Sawyer tonight. Sawyer, with his flirty smile that turned her into a great, big pile of hormones. Sawyer, who had made her feel far too good when he¡¯d asked her about herself with genuine interest.


    Sawyer, who made her want to throw all of her carefully crafted caution out the window so she could climb him like a fifteen-foot spruce, and okay, yeah. She needed a shower. The colder, the better.


    An hourter, Jo was up, dressed, and no less hopelessly horny than she had been when she¡¯d thrown off the covers. But a quick scroll through her phone fixed that right up. Derek might¡¯ve been the love of her life once, but their rtionship had started in a whirlwind and grown serious, fast. The surprise pregnancy five months into things had only made things more intense, and by the time Jo was showing, she¡¯d been starting to see the signs that, while Derek seemedmitted to their soon-to-be-born child, hismitment to her had dimmed. When she¡¯d caught him cheating the first time, he¡¯d sworn it was an error in judgment.


    The second time? Jo realized she¡¯d been the one to make an error in judgment. But Derek had never wavered as a parent, supporting Mika financially as well as being very involved in her day-to-day care. Despite the fact that it had taken Jo a long time to get over the sting of their rtionship copsing (there may or may not have been a period of time when Jo and Frankie referred to him exclusively as ¡°Dickweasel Derek¡±), ultimately, it was for the best. Mika had two parents who loved her. Jo and Derek were raising her amicably and equally. Sure, Jo had shifted her priorities in order to focus on single parenting, and yes, that included both her career and her ck of) sex life, but things could be a hell of a lot worse.


    Jo tapped the icon beside Derek¡¯s name, propping her phone up on the kitchen counter as she poured herself a ginormous cup of coffee.


    ¡°Hey, Jo,¡± he said, his face appearing on her screen. ¡°You¡¯re up early.¡± ¡°Sorry. I know mornings are hectic, but I just wanted to catch Mika


    before you take her to school.¡±


    Derek shook his head, asid back as ever. ¡°It¡¯s all good. She¡¯s having breakfast. Hang on and I¡¯ll give her the phone.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    Mika¡¯s face filled the screen a minuteter, making Jo¡¯s heart squeeze. ¡°Hi, sweetheart. How¡¯s it going with Daddy?¡±


    ¡°Good. We watched a moviest night with his new girlfriend. She wears sparkly lip gloss and giggles a lot, but she¡¯s nice.¡±


    That sounded on-brand for Derek. ¡°I¡¯m d you had fun,¡± Jo said. ¡°Did Mr. Caghan like your Popsicle-stick tower?¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes,¡± Mika said, giving up a gap-toothed grin. ¡°He said it was ¡®impressive¡¯.¡±


    ¡°It was pretty awesome,¡± Jo said. She¡¯d only been semi-kidding about the possibility of still having glue in her hair. ¡°Well, I just wanted to check in super quick and tell you that I love you. I¡¯ll call again in a couple of days, okay? But you can ask Daddy to text me any time.¡±


    ¡°I know, Mommy.¡± Mika nodded at the screen. ¡°Have fun getting ready for your audition.¡±


    Jo¡¯s heart considered exploding, but she kept herself in check and smiled as brightly as she could. ¡°Thanks, butter bean. Love you.¡±


    Ending the call, Jo grabbed her cup of coffee and decided to get to work. She¡¯d no sooner gotten settled on the couch with her printed copy of the audition script though, when a knock sounded off on the door to the apartment.


    Jo padded over, looking through the peephole cautiously. Frankie gave up a wave from the threshold, with Isabe standing beside her, and Jo unlocked the door to let them both in.


    ¡°Holy crap, you guys start early,¡± Jo said, but Frankie justughed and held up a box with a pink and ck logo reading Sweetie Pies.


    ¡°It¡¯s never too early for sugar.¡±


    ¡°Or coffee,¡± Isabe added, moving to the breakfast bar, then passing a cardboard cup over to Jo. ¡°Vanitte with oat milk and cinnamon, right?¡± ¡°You brought me coffee?¡± Jo asked, although she took the cup, because


    a) it smelled far more heavenly than what she¡¯d just brewed, and b) it was her favorite, and she wasn¡¯t stupid.


    ¡°I brought you ¡®thank you¡¯ coffee,¡± Isabe said. ¡°Word is, you totally helped take care of Elijahst night after we had to run. When Frankie said she was heading over here to bring you breakfast, I invited myself toe, too. She told me what to order.¡±


    Jo shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s nice of you, but really, it was nothing.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I heard,¡± Frankie sing-songed, plucking a cruller from the box. ¡°Apparently, you saved Sawyer¡¯s bacon.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything to Sawyer¡¯s bacon,¡± Jo said, realizing a beat toote that it sounded vaguely dirty. ¡°He just needed a little help finding the baby¡¯s pacifier, is all.¡±


    Frankie swapped a blink-and-you¡¯ll-miss-it look with Isabe before turning back to the box on the breakfast bar. ¡°Well, if that¡¯s ¡®thank you¡¯ coffee, then these are apology pastries. Wait, is that a thing?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Jo said. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re sorry for, but whatever it is, gimme.¡±


    Frankieughed and handed over a chocte zed donut. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I had to bolt like that on your first night in town. There was a bomb scare downtown, but it ended up being fine, mostly because Remington¡¯s bomb squad is as good as the police force.¡±


    ¡°If we do say so ourselves,¡± Isabe chimed in with a grin.


    ¡°No one was hurt, and the suspect was apprehended and handed over to the FBI. I¡¯m d it all turned out okay, but I hate that we had to leave you by yourself,¡± Frankie said.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

 Chapter 24

    Jo took a bite of her donut, the sweet, cakey goodness making her sigh. ¡°Oh, it was fine. And I wasn¡¯t by myself. I hung out with Sawyer.¡±


    Frankie wasted not one nanosecond before pouncing like a jungle cat. ¡°I knew it! Spill the details.¡±


    Ugh, there was no way of getting around this. Her sister was a detective, with interrogation skills and everything. ¡°There are no details. At least, not the kind you¡¯re looking for,¡± Jo said pointedly. ¡°He took pity on me, sitting at the bar by myself, and we got to talking.¡±


    Both Frankie and Isabe stared at her, and she had no choice but to confess the rest. ¡°He, um, also might have asked me to meet him outter tonight. But I really don¡¯t think it¡¯s a big deal.¡±


    ¡°Bullshit!¡± Frankie crowed. ¡°That¡¯s a date.¡±


    ¡°Hate to say it, but yep. Totally a date,¡± Isabe agreed.


    ¡°It might be a date,¡± Jo agreed. God, this was crazy. ¡°But I¡¯m sure he goes on tons of them.¡±


    Tipping her head, Isabe said, ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t think so. Ken hangs out with Sawyer kind of on the regr. There¡¯s a veterans¡¯ group that meets up a few times a month. Ken was an Army Ranger before he became a firefighter,¡± she added. ¡°He¡¯s never mentioned Sawyer seeing anybody. Or a lot of anybodys.¡±


    Frankie nodded. ¡°He was definitely flirting with you.¡±


    Here, Jo had to concede. Sawyer had even told her as much. Still¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a little¡­¡±


    ¡°Exciting?¡± Frankie asked.


    Jo let out a sigh, sliding onto one of the stools at the breakfast bar. ¡°I was going to say crazy.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s so crazy about it?¡± Isabe asked.


    ¡°Well, for one, he¡¯s freaking beautiful.¡± Jo started ticking the reasons off on her fingers. ¡°Two, I¡¯ve got to have at least half a decade on him, probably more. And three, I don¡¯t even think I remember how to date.¡±


    Isabe raised her brows in question. Thankfully, Frankie took the reins and said, ¡°Jo¡¯s got a five-year-old and an ex who didn¡¯t do her ego any favors.¡±


    ¡°Ah. Well, I get how your past can mess with you,¡± Isabe said, and something told Jo the woman was speaking from firsthand experience, ¡°and as someone who hasn¡¯t been single for a long time, I may not be the best authority here. But isn¡¯t dating kind of like riding a bike?¡±


    Joughed, because it was better than the alternative. ¡°This is my first date since, like, the Jurassic period. Anyway, I don¡¯t even live here. Maybe I should just cancel and forget it.¡±


    She fully expected Frankie to pull out all that mettle that made her a great detective. So it was quite the gut-punch when her sister¡¯s voice came softly.


    ¡°You could do that,¡± Frankie said. ¡°But you could also look at it as one night to have fun with a good and good-looking guy. Nothing more, nothing less. If anyone deserves that, it¡¯s you.¡±


    Jo paused. When she put it that way, it seemed almost logical. ¡°I suppose it wouldn¡¯t hurt to go on one little date.¡± Sawyer knew she lived in Savannah, and anyway, it¡¯s not as if he wanted to get serious. He¡¯d asked her on exactly one flirty date.


    ¡°Who knows?¡± Frankie waggled her brows, and there was the sister Jo knew all too well. ¡°Maybe you¡¯ll have a lot of fun.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s not get crazy,¡± Jo warned. ¡°We¡¯re only going to spend a couple hours together.¡±


    But as Frankie thankfully dropped the subject and the conversation turned to other things, Jo couldn¡¯t help but wonder just how good a little crazy might feel.


    TEN HOURS LATER, Jo got out of her Lyft and took in her surroundings. Because flying blind was so not on her agenda, especially where ¡°getting adventurous¡± was concerned, she¡¯d Googled the address Sawyer had given her not long after Frankie and Isabe had left for their respective precincts. Her search had yielded precious little by way of insight into Sawyer¡¯s ns, as the Remington Sports Complex housed everything from indoor zip lining to batting cages. But no matter what he had nned, Jo had promised herself she¡¯d go into things with an open mind. Tonight was about fun.


    Unless he was crazy enough to want to take her zip lining. Oh, God, on second thought, maybe stepping outside of herfort zone with a guy she barely knew was a bad idea after all-


    ¡°Hey! You made it.¡± Sawyer¡¯s voice slid over her like warm honey, rooting her feet to the ground despite her hammering heart, and God, was there no end to her libido¡¯s treachery?


    ¡°I did,¡± Jo said, unable to take the suspense any longer. ¡°So, what¡¯s our big adventure?¡±


    Sawyer shifted, revealing a duffel bag slung over one shoulder. ¡°Well, I had to do a little reconnaissance in order to make this happen, so I hope you don¡¯t mind, but¡­¡± He rummaged through the bag for a minute before tugging something out and-


    ¡°Ice skates?¡± she asked with augh.


    ¡°Yeah. I texted Frankie to ask her what size you wear, and you just so happen to be the same size as one of our bartenders, January. She¡¯s about eight months pregnant with twins, and definitely not skating this season, but she was more than happy to loan these out.¡±N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t skated in ages,¡± Jo admitted, her stomach dipping at how much potential this date had to end in tragedy. Or the emergency department.


    Sawyer tilted his head at her, looking far too sexy in a ck knit hat that was the perfect contrast to the blond hair peeking out from beneath the fabric. ¡°We could go zip lining instead, if you want.¡±


    Her eyes went wide-a normal girl¡¯s reaction to mortal fear, thank you very much-and Sawyerughed. ¡°Rx, Jo. I¡¯m only kidding about the zip lining. I skate here a lot, and I can help you if you need it. Okay?¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± she agreed. Sawyer put her borrowed skates back into his bag, and they turned toward the entrance to the sportsplex, falling into step side by side. They passed the batting cages and a huge indoor swimming pool, both withrge observation windows for onlookers to check out the action within. Frankie suppressed her shudder at the sign reading Zip Lining/Obstacle Course with a bold arrow marking the way, relief flickering through her as Sawyer led her in the other direction.


    ¡°In the winter, the rink is outdoors, under a covered pavilion,¡± he said, holding the door open so she could pass through. Sure enough, chilly air surrounded them as soon as they got to the benches lining the perimeter of the brightly lit ice, and Jo was d she¡¯d gone with her fleece-lined leggings and oversized sweater.


    ¡°Any pointers?¡± she asked, her heart skipping about six beats at how efficiently he¡¯d slipped out of his boots and into a pair of well-worn hockey skates.


    ¡°Not really. If you¡¯ve skated before, it¡¯lle back to you with some practice.¡± He gestured to the skates she¡¯d been fumbling with in a non- verbal may I? and while Jo might have enough pride to fill a semi, she also wasn¡¯t above trusting an expert.

 Chapter 25

    Sawyer knelt down, his fingers firm on her calf as she guided her foot into the first skate, and God it had been too long since she¡¯d had sex if this was enough to make her panties damp. ¡°We¡¯re just here to have fun, right? There aren¡¯t really any rules.¡±


    Jo swallowed hard. ¡°Oh. Uh. Well, I¡¯d like to make it through the evening without breaking anything.¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t break anything. Just take it one step at a time and trust yourself a little. You¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    ¡°Your faith in me may be misced,¡± she said, and why, why couldn¡¯t her nervous default be to m up?


    ¡°And you might just be stronger than you think.¡± Sawyer looked up at her, his dark-brown eyes framed by those gorgeous goldshes, and suddenly, talking was thest thing on Jo¡¯s mind. He shifted forward, so close that she could smell the woodsy scent of whatever soap he used, and her heart did a backflip as his strong, sexy mouth formed a smile.


    ¡°So, what do you say? You ready to take a little risk?¡±


    Because trusting her voice not to betray her was a bad idea, she nodded. Standing was a bit tricky, but after a minute of gingerly testing her bnce, Jo managed to tiptoe/shuffle her way to the edge of the ice. Sawyer stepped out first, gliding in an effortless half-circle to face her, and ugh, nothing about this could end well.


    ¡°Would this help?¡± he asked, holding both of his now-gloved hands out to her, and Jo bit the bullet, cing both of her hands in his, squeezing through mittened fingers. Taking a fuck it breath, she stepped out onto the ice. Her equilibrium squawked, making her knees wobble and her heart brew up a fresh batch of adrenaline, but she death-gripped Sawyer¡¯s hands to steady herself.


    Holy shit, it worked.


    ¡°There you go.¡± Sawyer moved backward slowly, pulling her along with him. It wasn¡¯t the most graceful thing Jo had ever done-she wasn¡¯t even sure she was doing the hard part with the way Sawyer was guiding her movements-but she wasn¡¯t sprawled face-first on the ice, either. They made it a quarter of the way around the rink before Jo began to push off to create her own momentum. By the time they finished one fullp around the outskirts, Sawyer was able to drop her hands and skate beside her, albeit a lot more slowly than the other people gliding past them.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got to hand it to you,¡± he said with a grin she felt in a whole lot of ces. ¡°You¡¯re doing far better than I did when I gave this a shotst year.¡±


    Surprise sparked, lifting her chin. ¡°You¡¯ve only been skating for a year?¡± He looked so confident, gliding in sure movements over the ice.


    ¡°Yep. I started to clear my mind, if you can believe that.¡±


    ¡°It is kind of rxing,¡± Jo admitted. ¡°Once you get past the fear of face- nting on a very hard, very cold surface.¡±


    Sawyerughed softly. ¡°I spent my first few months in a helmet, so, yeah. I¡¯m in touch with that fear.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Her bnce wavered a bit-the turns weren¡¯t easy-and he cupped one hand beneath her elbow to steady her.


    ¡°Yeah. As it turns out, one TBI is all it takes to earn you all sorts of cranial precautions.¡±


    Jo spun through her mental database and came up empty. ¡°TBI?¡±


    ¡°Traumatic Brain Injury,¡± Sawyer said. ¡°Sorry, between the medical terms and the military, there are a lot of acronyms and abbreviations.¡±


    Wow. He¡¯d said he¡¯d been injured, and that it had been enough to cut his active duty short, but¡­ ¡°That sounds really serious.¡±


    He paused for a second before admitting, ¡°It is. I did a lot of rehab. Physical therapy. upational therapy. Social support. You name it, and chances are, I did it.¡±


    ¡°Oh, my God. That must have taken forever.¡± The worst injury Jo had ever had to contend with was a broken finger, which had been splinted for a handful of weeks, then healed. She couldn¡¯t even imagine having to tackle something as serious as a brain injury.


    Sawyer gave up a small nod. ¡°It took the better part of a year, and I won¡¯t lie. A lot of it sucked. But it¡¯s also how I started skating.¡±


    Jo took a second to concentrate on making it around another curve on the ice before saying, ¡°That¡¯s not very traditional PT, is it?¡±


    ¡°Nope. Like I said, we had to take a lot of precautions, and I didn¡¯t start until I¡¯d had a ton of other rehab to be sure I was good to go.¡±


    ¡°So, why skating?¡± she asked, unable to curb her curiosity.


    Sawyer¡¯s smile sent a shot of warmth deep through Jo¡¯s belly. ¡°Because it scared the crap out of me.¡±


    ¡°No offense, but that sounds like shitty therapy.¡±


    She jammed her teeth over her bottom lip-why, why couldn¡¯t she do that before her thoughts tripped directly out of her mouth?


    But Sawyer surprised her byughing. ¡°I thought the same thing, at first. But it turns out, taking me out of myfort zone was just what I needed to clear my head. My support team helped me choose something that was safe enough for me to try, but that would also challenge me. My dizzy spells were nearly all behind me at that point. Being on skates gave my brain and my body a good workout. Plus, it let me face doing something that scared me.¡±


    ¡°Okay, but if skating scared you, why choose it instead of something safer?¡± Jo asked. ¡°I mean, I¡¯m terrified of heights. I know better than to go to the top of a skyscraper-or try zip lining-to face that fear. It¡¯s only going to make me more scared.¡±


    ¡°There are some things I knew better than to try,¡± Sawyer said, gliding along for another beat before continuing. ¡°Like you said, some fears are always going to run too deep. But I wasn¡¯t scared of skating like that.¡±


    Jo¡¯s brows lifted toward the brim of her red knit hat. ¡°Then why were you scared of it?¡±


    ¡°Because it was something I wasn¡¯t sure I could do. Something I was pretty sure I might really fuck up, actually. And it was the first big risk I took aftering home.¡±


    The words hit her right in the chest, making her pulse tap faster. ¡°And that¡¯s why you brought me here?¡±


    Sawyer shrugged, but he didn¡¯t drop his gaze from hers. ¡°Skating taught me how to trust myself again. Kind of a risk worth taking.¡±


    At any other moment, Jo probably would¡¯ve felt too cautious, or at the very least, too chicken to act on the feeling pulsing through her. But Sawyer had faced a traumatic brain injury, for God¡¯s sake, and he¡¯d trusted her enough to tell her about it. The least she could do was get bold and give him a little trust in return.


    So she reached out and grabbed his hand. The move slowed them both to a halt at the outermost edge of the ice, and before Jo could stop herself, she slid in front of him, leaving barely an inch between their bodies. His pupils red enough to make her breath catch in her throat.


    But still, she moved closer. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee,¡± Sawyer breathed. His fingers tightened around hers, his stare dropping to her mouth. He didn¡¯t move, though, giving her the lead.


    Jo took it. Pressing up, she touched her lips to his. She¡¯d meant it as a quick gesture, little more than a brush of their mouths. But he exhaled at the contact, a soft sounding out of him that turned her boldness into pure impulse. Jo threaded her arms around Sawyer¡¯s shoulders, bringing their chests flush, and he responded by reaching up to cup her face with his gloved fingers as he deepened the kiss¡­


    And then froze, as solid and still as the ice beneath their feet at the sound of a throat clearing.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

 Chapter 26

    Sawyer had to be dreaming. It certainly exined how he¡¯d felt sofortable talking to Jo that he¡¯d bbed about his TBI and all the rehab he¡¯d done after moving to Remington. It definitely


    exined how she¡¯d grabbed his hand, turning to lift that gorgeous, bow- shaped mouth to his in a kiss he¡¯d wanted since the second he¡¯d pped eyes on herst night. But now he was being rudely awakened, dumped back to reality by someone standing behind Jo, and he opened his eyes, fully prepared to tell whoever it was to move along.


    But as recognition struck, he arched a brow, letting the edges of his mouth kick up as he gently spun Jo so they were side by side. ¡°Jesus, Donnelly. I should¡¯ve known.¡±


    His buddy, Finn-who, funny enough, had been the guy who¡¯d helped Sawyer get acquainted with the ice in the first ce-cracked a smile that bordered on a smirk. ¡°I saw you on my way out from practice and thought I¡¯d throw on my skates and say hi. Didn¡¯t realize I¡¯d interrupt.¡±


    Sawyer ran a hand over the back of his neck, stowing the thought of the kiss away forter. ¡°No worries. This is Jo Rossi. Jo, this is my friend, Finn Donnelly.¡±


    Jo¡¯s eyes went round with surprise. ¡°Finn Donnelly. As in, the superstar center for the Charlotte Rogues, part of the team that¡¯s won back-to-back championships. That Finn Donnelly?¡±


    Finnughed. ¡°Well, I kind of prefer to think of myself as just a guy who likes to y a little hockey now and then. Oh, and also the guy who taught this upstanding gentleman how to skatest year.¡±


    ¡°Holy shit.¡± Jo turned toward Sawyer. ¡°Finn Donnelly taught you how to skate?¡±


    Sawyer couldn¡¯t help it. He grinned. ¡°You want a real surprise? You¡¯re wearing his wife¡¯s skates right now.¡±


    Jo blinked down at her feet, wobbling a little in the process. ¡°Seriously?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯ll be happy they¡¯re going to good use,¡± Finn said.


    ¡°How¡¯s January doing?¡± Sawyer asked. She¡¯d made it partway through her second trimester before working behind the bar at the Crooked Angel had be too much for her, especially since her day job was running the day-to-day office operations at Station Seventeen. Sawyer missed her bubbly personality and meticulous organizational skills. In that order.


    Finn¡¯s face lit up, and man, even Sawyer could see how far gone for January the guy was. ¡°She¡¯s good. Pretty excited to finally meet the babies next month. We both are.¡±


    ¡°I bet. Tell her we miss her at the restaurant.¡±


    ¡°Will do. Well, I don¡¯t want to keep you. Jo, it was great to meet you.


    You¡¯re here for a few weeks, right?¡±


    Jo blinked, and damn it, that¡¯s what Sawyer got for telling January about his date with Jo. ¡°I am.¡±


    ¡°Feel free to hang onto the skates until you head home. This guy hase a long way since he and I first started lessons. There¡¯s no one better to show you the ropes.¡±Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    The words sent a pang of surprise through Sawyer, and he lifted his chin in both a wordless thanks and see yater. Jo murmured a goodbye, and as soon as Finn was out of earshot, she turned to hit Sawyer with a brows-up stare.


    ¡°You are full of surprises,¡± she said, pushing off to skate around the perimeter of the rink again. She was holding her own on her skates-he¡¯d meant it when he¡¯d said she was far better at it than he¡¯d been right out of the gate-but still, he grabbed her hand and held on.


    ¡°Is that a good thing?¡±


    Jo squeezed his fingers, and damn, how could she be so sexy and sweet at the same time? ¡°That¡¯s a good thing.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve spent a lot of time talking about me. Tell me about you,¡± Sawyer said.


    ¡°Well, you already know about the not-exactly-famous thing. I put my full-time acting career on hold when I found out I was pregnant with my daughter, Mika.¡±


    Jo stared at her skates for a second too long, telling Sawyer there was more to that story than she wanted to let out. But that was fine. He was a patient guy, and getting pushy-even though he was curious as hell- wouldn¡¯t make her do anything other than m up.


    But then her face brightened as she said, ¡°She¡¯s five. As sappy as it sounds, she¡¯s totally the light of my life.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound sappy at all,¡± Sawyer said. ¡°I mean, I¡¯m not a parent, but isn¡¯t that how it¡¯s supposed to work when you have kids?¡±


    ¡°Things don¡¯t always pan out the way they¡¯re supposed to,¡± Jo pointed out. ¡°Yes, I have a great kid who I love more than anything. The happily ever after with her father? That was definitely never a thing.¡±


    Sawyer trod carefully. ¡°That must¡¯ve made things harder.¡± He¡¯d been single-parented by his old man after his mom had decided to run off with one of the bouncers from his father¡¯s bar. Sawyer hadn¡¯t heard from her in decades, and didn¡¯t particrly want to.


    ¡°For a little while,¡± Jo admitted. ¡°But even though we were a terrible couple, we are weirdly great at co-parenting. Mika¡¯s well-cared for by both of us. My ex gets to sleep around as he sees fit. Everyone¡¯s happy.¡±


    ¡°What about you?¡±


    A little crease appeared between her dark brows. ¡°What about me?¡± ¡°Are you happy?¡± Sawyer asked.


    ¡°Yes and no,¡± Jo said. Her expression made it obvious that she was surprised to have admitted it out loud. But, to his surprise, she lowered her guard and kept talking. ¡°You know the show Way Back When?¡±

 Chapter 27

    Sawyer chuffed out augh. ¡°Is there anyone in the country that doesn¡¯t?¡± It was a hugely popr prime time drama, with loads of awards and killer ratings. He¡¯d never watched it, but he¡¯d certainly heard of the show. January and Kennedy talked about it all the time at the restaurant.


    Jo nodded, focusing her attention on the ice as she skated beside him. ¡°So, you know the part of Amanda, then.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the role Prisci Contreras ys, right?¡± The actress had pretty much be a household name after the show took off like a rocket five years ago.


    ¡°Yep. Only, she wasn¡¯t the director¡¯s first choice.¡±


    Confusion crowded Sawyer¡¯s brain for just a second before realization smacked him in the face. ¡°Holy shit. You were supposed to star in Way Back When?¡±


    Jo let go of a slow exhale that puffed around her face in the cold. ¡°Yeah. It was a huge break for me. I¡¯d only ever done small roles before that, and half of them had been things like ¡®woman at coffee shop¡¯, where my character didn¡¯t even have a name. But Way Back When¡¯s director wanted a new face in that role. I auditioned twice, once on my own and once with Gray Davis, who ys the male lead. They offered me the part less than a dayter. I was on top of the freaking world.¡±


    ¡°I bet,¡± Sawyer said, even as he sensed the but from a mile and a half away. Still¡­ ¡°I¡¯m sure it took a lot of hard work tond that role.¡±


    Jo lifted one shoulder in a haphazard shrug. ¡°All for naught. I found out I was pregnant three weekster. It was a surprise, but I always knew I wanted at least one kid. I thought I was in a good rtionship¡±-she gave a tiny roll of her eyes-¡°so I was happy. But the show¡¯s producers were definitely not.¡±Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Damn. ¡°So, what happened?¡±


    ¡°I asked them if we could work around it. Loads of actresses hide their baby bumps with props and carefully angled camera shots. But it would mean reconstructing some of the plot-there were things I just wouldn¡¯t be able to do, not to mention they¡¯d have to write in something to exin my six-week absence for maternity leave. One of the producers had worked with an actress who had needed to go on bedrest in her second trimester, and her extended absence really hurt the show¡¯s ratings. They knew they had a potential blockbuster on their hands. They didn¡¯t want to take the risk, so they let me go and hired Prisci. And the rest is history.¡±


    Sawyer said the only thing he could think of, even though he knew it wasn¡¯t enough. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    To his surprise, Jo broke into a smile. ¡°Thanks. In a way, I am, too, but I don¡¯t have any regrets. I have a fantastic kid. I have a decent job as a drama teacher. I don¡¯t love it,¡± she added, that honesty that Sawyer liked so much showing in her eyes. ¡°But I don¡¯t hate it, either.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re here in Remington, though,¡± he said. ¡°So, you must still want to act.¡±


    ¡°I do, but-¡±


    Sawyer stopped on the ice, tugging her to a halt before sliding in front of her. ¡°It¡¯s aplete sentence, Jo.¡±


    She blinked. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± he repeated, ¡°is aplete sentence. If you still want tond a big role, there¡¯s nothing wrong with that. Clearly, you¡¯re talented as hell, and you want it enough to make a trip out here to audition. There doesn¡¯t have to be a ¡®but¡¯.¡±


    Jo stood perfectly still, staring at him with a look he couldn¡¯t decipher for all the world, and shit. Shit! Yeah, he¡¯d meant what he said, but she was obviously nervous for this audition. He shouldn¡¯t have been so damned direct. Sawyer opened his mouth-to say what, he had no fucking clue- but then Jo gave up a tiny smile.


    ¡°For someone I¡¯ve known for twenty-four hours, you have an awful lot of faith in me.¡±


    Sawyer¡¯s pulse picked up in his veins as he smiled back. He liked her more than he should, but it felt too good, too full of possibility, for him to care.


    ¡°I do.¡±


    He let the sentence hang there until sheughed. ¡°Point taken. It¡¯s aplete sentence.¡±


    They began to skate again, the conversation moving to lighter topics. He asked Jo about her daughter, and she asked him about his father in return. They traded stories until her legs got tired, then traded at least a dozen more over cups of hot chocte that turned into dinner at a local cafe. Sawyer discovered her love for action movies (she was firmly on Team MCU, even though he¡¯d tried to argue that the DC Universe had a shitload of merit, not to mention Superman), her dislike for tomatoes (¡°I know, I know. My Italian family considered disowning me.¡±), and that her favorite color was green. The conversationsted until the dishes had been cleared away and their server had started giving them that polite but pointed look that said they were herst table for the night, and even though he didn¡¯t want to, he said, ¡°I guess we should probably head out before they start putting the chairs up around us.¡±


    Jo¡¯s lips parted in surprise as she looked around the otherwise empty cafe. ¡°Oh, my God. I didn¡¯t even notice.¡±


    Sawyer slipped an extra twenty on the table before standing to usher Jo toward the door. ¡°Can I give you a ride back to wherever you¡¯re staying?¡±


    ¡°Actually, that would be great. Thanks.¡± They walked the handful of blocks back to the sportsplex where his Jeep was parked. She gave him the address to Frankie¡¯s former apartment, which wasn¡¯t far at all-much to Sawyer¡¯s disappointment-and they made it there in less than ten minutes.


    ¡°I know I may never live this down,¡± Jo said with a smile. ¡°But this risk-taking thing isn¡¯t so bad.¡±


    Sawyer knew he could tell her he was d she had a good time, make sure she got inside the building safely, and leave it at that. In fact, it was probably the smart thing to do. Jo lived in Savannah, where she had a five- year-old and a job and a life, and anyway, they¡¯d only just met. But Sawyer had learned the hard way to live in the moment, and in this moment, he didn¡¯t want to say any of those things.


    He wanted her.


    ¡°Well, in that case,¡± he said, leaning toward her while still giving her the option of regaining her personal space if she wanted it. ¡°Maybe we should do it again tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°This could getplicated,¡± Jo murmured, but Sawyer simply shrugged.


    ¡°Or it could be a fun couple of weeks. Look¡±-unable to help it, he reached out, tracing two fingers over the curve of her cheek-¡°I don¡¯t suffer any illusions, here. I know you have a daughter. Priorities in Savannah. I would never mess with that. But I¡¯m not going to lie and say tonight wasn¡¯t the best date I¡¯ve had since¡­hell, I don¡¯t even know how long. I know there¡¯s an expiration date on whatever we do, and I¡¯m not asking for any strings. I just want to spend time with you again.¡±


    A beat passed that felt about two hours long, but probablysted more like two seconds, before she said, ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°Okay?¡±


    Jo smiled, closing the space between them to lean over the Jeep¡¯s center console and kiss him softly, just once. ¡°It¡¯s aplete sentence, Sawyer. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow.¡±


    And without another word, she slid out of the Jeep and into her apartment building.

 Chapter 28

    After four outfit changes, three attempts at putting on fake eyshes-all of them a fail-and one breakneck trip to the mall to splurge on new bras and panties, Jo had to admit she


    might be just a teensy bit out of her depth with this whole dating thing. Not that she thought Sawyer would necessarily want to see her bra or panties tonight. But this was their fourth date this week, each of which had been just as much fun as the first and had ended in slow, seductive kisses at her doorstep. Tonight, Jo had offered to cook him dinner, which she¡¯d meant as a genuine date-after all, Sawyer was all about risk, and her cooking skills fell square into the ¡°this could be delicious or a disaster¡± category. But the more she¡¯d thought about it, the more she¡¯d realized the implications of having him over at her ce, just the two of them, with her bedroom right there, and God, she was such a dolt.


    The only thing more nerve wracking than Sawyer thinking she¡¯d invited him over specifically so they could have sex was the knowledge that Jo really, really wanted to have sex with him. Fast, hard, dirty sex, the kind she¡¯d seen in countless movies. The kind she was sure Sawyer was probably great at. The kind she¡¯d never really had in her life, where she lost herself so thoroughly in the moment that the pleasure made her scream and the orgasms arrived effortlessly and more than once-no, twice.


    Yeah, Jo might not make it through her sd without spontaneouslybusting.


    Thankfully, her phone rang, saving her from her thoughts. ¡°Hey,¡± she said, putting her sister on speakerphone as she moved through the kitchen to assemble her dinner ingredients.


    ¡°Hey! How¡¯s the audition prep going?¡± Frankie asked.


    Knowing it would be futile to sugarcoat things like she had with her agent earlier today, Jo said, ¡°Eh.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I may need more to go on than that,¡± Frankie said, and the truth tumbled out of Jo before she could stop it.


    ¡°The part is great. Like, game-changing, career-changing, life-changing, exactly what I¡¯ve been looking for, perfect.¡±


    Frankie let a second drop off the clock before asking the obvious. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t that be a good thing?¡±


    Jo¡¯sugh was short andcked humor. ¡°For normal people, sure. For me, it¡¯s just¡­¡± She paused for a shaky breath. ¡°This is myst shot at something big, you know? And I really want the part. I¡¯m just not sure I cannd it.¡±


    ¡°Of course you cannd it,¡± Frankie said, the same way she¡¯d say that the sun set in the west, or the sky was blue, or any other universal truth. ¡°You¡¯re an incredible actress, Jo. Auditioning for a big role is a risk, sure, but I know you. You¡¯re talented and fierce. I don¡¯t care what anyone says about Prisci Contreras. You¡¯re the original Amanda from Way Back When, the one they wanted first. They chose you. Josephine Fucking Rossi. You¡¯ve got what it takes to nail this audition and make the producers beg you to y the part.¡±


    ¡°Part of me knows that,¡± Jo admitted. She¡¯dnded a lead role on a major prime time show, for Chrissake. No one did that unless they had chops. ¡°I¡¯m just not so great at the big risk part. I keep thinking of all the ways that¡¯s burned me before and all the ways it could go wrong. I mean, I can¡¯t even date a ridiculously hot guy without unintentionally propositioning him. How am I supposed to beat out hundreds of other actresses for this part?¡±


    A shocked silence skipped over the line, and damn it, damn it, damn it!


    Why did her mouth have to have so much independence all the time?


    Finally, Frankie said, ¡°You propositioned Sawyer.¡±


    ¡°No. Maybe. I¡¯m not quite sure?¡± Jo amended, and but her sister pounced.


    ¡°Exin. And don¡¯t even think of scrimping on the details.¡±


    ¡°Has anyone ever told you you¡¯re like a barracuda, only not as charming?¡± Jo grumbled.


    ¡°As a matter of fact, yes. And nice try, but I¡¯m waiting.¡±


    Knowing she had no other choice, Jo told Frankie how she¡¯d asked Sawyer over for a cozy dinner for two. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize it would sound like a booty call. But it totally does, right? Like, I pretty much said, ¡®I want you toe over and take my clothes off with your teeth?¡¯, didn¡¯t I?¡±


    Frankieughed, but not meanly. ¡°Well, not to put too fine a point on it, but he said yes, didn¡¯t he?¡±


    Jo stopped with her hands halfway to the cupboard in front of her. ¡°Oh.¡±


    Oh. ¡°I hadn¡¯t really thought of that.¡±


    ¡°Look, I¡¯m going to tell you something I think you already know.


    Sawyer¡¯s a good guy.¡±


    ¡°I do know that,¡± Jo said. Yes, the kisses they¡¯d shared had been nothing short of incendiary, but he¡¯d never pushed her for anything more.


    ¡°He¡¯s also a twenty-six-year-old, super-duper hetero guy,¡± Frankie pointed out. ¡°I saw how he looked at you the night he met you, and from what you¡¯ve told me about your dates this week, he¡¯s more than a little into you.¡±


    Heat crept into Jo¡¯s cheeks, but she couldn¡¯t deny what Frankie was saying. ¡°Okay, maybe, but-¡±


    ¡°Sweet Jesus in the manger, Josephine. Could you please, just this once, throw caution to the wind and let yourself have a scorching-hot fling? Sawyer¡¯s not some rando you met on Tinder. For the love of all things sacred, let the man bake your potato!¡±


    For a second, Jo¡¯s hard-earned defenses wanted to keep up her argument. But, as much as Jo would probably pay for saying so out loud, Frankie was right.


    ¡°For the record, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll ever be able to look at potatoes the same way again,¡± Jo said, letting a microscopic smile slip over her mouth.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Frankie said. ¡°That one kind of flew out. I¡¯m not trying to push you, Jo-Jo. I just hate to see you second-guessing yourself all the time.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. You¡¯re not really wrong.¡±


    Well, that got her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. What?¡± Frankie asked.


    Jo took out a box of pasta, then bit the bullet. ¡°I do second-guess myself, especially when ites to anything risky or impulsive. I had that sort of rtionship with Derek, and I got really burned.¡±


    ¡°Oh, honey,¡± Frankie said. ¡°Sawyer and Derek are two totally different men.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Jo said slowly. ¡°And I know this is a different situation. I¡¯m only here for a couple more weeks, and we¡¯ve only been on a handful of dates. But the truth is, I really do want to have sex with Sawyer. It might be impulsive, and I may be a little graceless about it,¡± she added, because she was probably the only person on Earth who didn¡¯t realize that inviting him to dinner might make him think she meant to seduce him, ¡°but that doesn¡¯t make it any less true.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re going to cook for him, huh?¡± Frankie asked with a smirk in her voice, and damn, her sister knew her far too well.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    ¡°If following the very detailed, step-by-step instructions that Angelina sent me for a pasta dish she literally called ¡®idiot-proof¡¯ counts as cooking, then yes. I am cooking for Sawyer.¡±

 Chapter 29

    At the mention of their renowned chef cousin, Frankie¡¯s voice grew relieved. ¡°If it¡¯s that one with the pancetta and sun-dried tomatoes and olives, I can personally vouch for the fact that it¡¯s guaranteed to get a man into bed.¡±


    Joughed. ¡°Well, at least it¡¯s been field tested.¡±


    ¡°Go,¡± Frankie said. ¡°Have fun tonight. And use condoms! No throwing caution that far to the wind.¡±


    Oh, for the love of¡­ ¡°I¡¯m not stupid,¡± Jo said, rolling her eyes. Fine. So she¡¯d picked up condoms today, too. A girl could never be too prepared. ¡°Also, I¡¯m never telling you anything again. Ever.¡±


    ¡°Good luck with that.¡± After onestugh, Frankie disconnected the call, leaving Jo to baby-step through the video instructions her cousin had sent her to get this dinner together. She managed without botching things too horribly, and by the time things were well underway, she didn¡¯t have time to worry about what might happen tonight, because Sawyer was buzzing up from downstairs.


    ¡°Hey,¡± he said a minuteter as he arrived at the door to her apartment, Jo¡¯s heart kicking out a steady stream of yes-yes-yes at the sight of him in a ck leather jacket and pair of perfectly battered jeans.


    ¡°Oh, you smell good,¡± she blurted as he leaned in to kiss her cheek, his ensuingugh rumbling past her ear.


    ¡°I ran home to shower after my day shift. But I don¡¯t smell nearly as good as this apartment.¡± His eyes darted to the kitchen with curiosity. ¡°Have you been holding out on me, Rossi? Because I can always use talent in my kitchen.¡±


    Jo snorted, and so much for being seductive. ¡°Hardly. But, luckily for you, I can follow step-by-step recipe instructions like a boss.¡±


    They moved into the kitchen, which was the size of a postcard, and Sawyer held up a bottle of wine. ¡°I took a flyer and figured merlot would


    work,¡± he said, gesturing to the ss-doored cab where a few wine sses stood.


    A prickle went through her that he¡¯d remembered her order fromst week, and she smiled. ¡°Thanks.¡±


    Sawyer shrugged out of his jacket, revealing a snug, long-sleeved gray T-shirt that worshipped his muscles. cing the bottle on the counter, he pushed up his sleeves and grabbed the corkscrew Jo passed over, his forearms flexing and releasing in even pulls as he opened the wine, and the neglected spot between her legs ached with every move.


    She bit her bottom lip, hard. ¡°So!¡± she chirped, and oh, God, was it possible to actually expire from horniness? ¡°Dinner is pretty much ready, so¡­¡±Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    ¡°Great.¡± Sawyer waited for her to dish up two portions of the pasta- which actually did smell pretty divine, if she did say so herself-then brought the two sses of wine he¡¯d poured to the small, two-person breakfast table tucked beneath the window. The nerves that had taken up residence in her belly eased as he took a bite of the pasta and his eyes drifted shut with a smile.


    ¡°You have been holding out on me,¡± he said. ¡°This is delicious.¡±


    Joughed, taking a bite, then another, before saying, ¡°It really could¡¯ve gone either way.¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m d it went this way.¡± They ate for a few more minutes, then he asked, ¡°So, how was today? Did you get a lot done with your audition prep?¡±


    Annnd just like that, Jo¡¯s appetite pulled a Houdini. ¡°I¡¯ve got most of the lines down,¡± she said, trailing her fork through the pasta on her te.


    ¡°That¡¯s a good thing, right?¡± Sawyer asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she meant to say, then drop the subject like a ming-hot potato. But what came out was, ¡°It would be, but I¡¯m struggling with the script even though I¡¯ve got it nearly memorized.¡±


    Sawyer tilted his head. ¡°Is there something specific tripping you up?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± But rather than go the cautious route and m up over her feelings, Jo found herself letting them pour right out.


    ¡°I dug into the lines really hard this week, getting a handle on the characters and how they¡¯re meant to be portrayed.¡± She¡¯d done the exact same thing for the Way Back When audition, studying not just her role, but those of the other leads as well, to better portray her own character¡¯s feelings. ¡°The role I¡¯m auditioning for is really nuanced. Every time I read the script I uncover a different way the character might be portrayed. She¡¯s just soplex. I don¡¯t¡±-Jo paused, but, God, she was so tired of holding back-¡°I don¡¯t know if I can do this.¡±


    For a minute, Sawyer said nothing, the silence expanding into the space between them. Then he pinned her with a stare so intense, her heart began to pound.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been taking risks with me all week, right?¡± he asked, and Jo had to nod. The ice skating trip hadn¡¯t been their only adventure. They¡¯d gone Go Kart racing, yedser tag, and-in a move that had probably pushed Sawyer¡¯sfort zone to its limits, too-taken one of those wine and paint sses. Jo had thought she¡¯d be miserable so far out of herfort zone.


    She¡¯d never raced a Go Kart in her life, and holy crap, she was terrible with a paint brush. But she¡¯d ended up having too much fun to care that she might be bad at whatever it was they were doing.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Jo said.


    One side of Sawyer¡¯s mouth kicked up. ¡°And none of those have ended in disaster, right?¡±


    ¡°No, but there¡¯s a little more on the line with this audition.¡±


    He considered this, finally nodding. ¡°So, maybe it would help if you did something bigger than Go Kart racing, then.¡±


    ¡°You think I should take a bigger risk?¡± she asked, her voice dropping to a murmur.


    Sawyer didn¡¯t stop holding her gaze, but he didn¡¯t move, either, as he said, ¡°I think life is short. If you want something, even something that scares you a little, then maybe you should go all in and take it.¡±


    Jo knew he meant the role. After all, he¡¯d been encouraging her from the start, taking her just far enough out of herfort zone to give her the confidence she needed. But right now, she wasn¡¯t thinking about the role, or about anything other than the intensity in Sawyer¡¯s dark-brown eyes.


    Go all in and take it.


    Without realizing she would, Jo pushed to her feet and stepped toward him. He stood, too, and her pulse quickened in her ears. But as bold as seducing Sawyer might be, it didn¡¯t feel risky or scary or dangerous.


    It just felt right.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Jo whispered, pressing one hand over the t ne of his chest.


    His brows creased, just slightly. ¡°For what?¡±


    ¡°For the fact that your dinner is going to get cold before you can finish it. But I don¡¯t want to wait any more. I want you.¡±


    Sawyer¡¯s heart thumped faster beneath her hand, his stare shuttering as he dropped it to her mouth. ¡°Show me, Jo. Take what you want.¡± His lips ghosted over hers, barely a touch, but God, she felt it everywhere. ¡°All of it.¡±


    She lifted her mouth to his in a rush. He met her halfway, his lips soft even as the kiss was anything but, and a moan broke free from the back of Jo¡¯s throat.


    ¡°Christ, that is hot,¡± Sawyer said against her mouth, as if he wasn¡¯t quite willing to part from her entirely to speak. The words made her brave, and she arched against him to deepen the kiss. Knotting her fingers in his hair, she held him steady, exploring his mouth with greedy glides of her tongue. She experimented with softer, slower movements, tasting and teasing. Sawyer returned each one, until the want building in Jo¡¯s belly made her break from him on a gasp.


    ¡°More. Please,¡± she said. Her voice didn¡¯t even sound like it belonged to her, so throaty and needful. But Sawyer didn¡¯t hesitate. Sliding one palm against the small of her back and the other over her ass, he pulled her flush. Jo moaned at the unmistakable ridge of his cock between her hips, then moaned again when he thrust against her in a way that-oh, God-left nothing to her imagination.


    ¡°More what?¡± he asked, his voice gravel and sin and every other thing that made Jo want toe right there in her kitchen.


    ¡°More you.¡±

 Chapter 30

    She grabbed his hand, fully intending to lead him through the tiny apartment to the tiny bedroom so they could give each other some decidedly not tiny orgasms, but he nted his boots to the floorboards and didn¡¯t budge.


    ¡°Jo.¡± He pinned her with a stare so intense that she stopped where she was. ¡°I need you to say it.¡±


    ¡°Say¡­what?¡± she asked, genuinely confused.


    Sawyer smiled. ¡°All of it. What you want. What you don¡¯t. If those things change at any point. I¡¯m all for living in the moment¡±-he brushed a thumb over her bottom lip-¡°but none of what happens tonight should be a risk for you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not,¡± Jo said, the words immediate. ¡°I want you, Sawyer.¡± Summoning her courage, she continued, keeping her gaze steady on his even as her thoughts made her cheeks heat. ¡°I want you to take me down the hall to my bedroom. Once we¡¯re there, I want you to take off my clothes, then let me go as slow as I want while I return the favor.¡±


    A sound came out of him, something caught between a moan and a grunt, and the power of it shot right between Jo¡¯s thighs, making her bolder.


    ¡°I want you to touch me until I beg you not to stop, and then I want to fuck you until you beg me right back. So, please.¡± Her fingers tightened over his. ¡°Take me to bed, Sawyer. Give me what I need.¡±


    His kiss was more of a iming, and Jo gave in to it without a second thought. They managed to move through the kitchen and down the hallway, pausing a few times to let their mouths linger together. Jo kicked the door to her room all the way open and led him to the spot beside her bed. Her room was heavily shadowed-probably a good thing, since she wasn¡¯t exactly a neat freak-and she gave her eyes a minute to adjust to the dim strains of light filtering down the hallway from the main living space before turning to Sawyer. His mouth found hers, then the curve of her cheek, then the-ah


    -sensitive skin behind her ear.


    ¡°So pretty,¡± he murmured, her heart racing in reply. He slid both hands to the hem of her top, gripping the fabric and lifting it up in one swift motion. A curse grated out of him as he took in her redce-and-satin bra, his fingers tracing the ribbonlike straps. But he didn¡¯t let his touch get any bolder, and all at once, Jo realized that he was waiting.


    I need you to say it.


    ¡°Take it off, Sawyer.¡± Jo shrugged one shoulder just enough to loosen the bra strap that had been resting there, then repeated the movement with her other shoulder. ¡°I want you to touch me.¡±


    He trailed a blunt fingertip over the swell of her breasts, one then the other. His callused touch sent a shiver through her, turning her nipples into hard points, and he cupped her with both hands. Returning his mouth to her neck, Sawyer strung a trail of open-mouthed kisses over her corbone. His lips rested on the line where satin met skin for just a beat, and then, as if something broke free inside of him, he tugged both breasts free, pulling one nipple past his lips as he rolled the other firmly between his thumb and forefinger.


    ¡°Oh, God,¡± Jo sighed, her spine bowing into the contact. Sawyer took the encouragement, his movements purposeful as he tried out different touches and speeds to discover what pleasured her most. Her clit throbbed with every lick and suck, her need snowballing into something that had no name when he cupped both breasts together to alternate his attention in faster flicks of his tongue.


    ¡°Sawyer.¡± It was all she could manage to get past the uncut want singing through her body, turning her panties wet and her mind into a haze.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    Thankfully, he didn¡¯t make her wait. With fast hands, he finished undressing her, then let her tug off his T-shirt and lower his jeans as he kicked out of his boots, and whoa. Whoa.


    Sawyer had the body of a Greek sculpture, lean and defined and perfect, and he was looking at her as if she were a gift.


    Jo¡¯s need to be touched took a small detour at the sight of him standing there beside her bed in nothing but a pair of dark gray boxer briefs. His sculpted muscles were visible even in the soft light, and she ran her fingers over his shoulders, then his chest, taking him in. She mapped the hard ne of his abdomen with her hands, a thrill bursting through her at every hitch in his breath. Jo¡¯s throat knotted when she got to the scattering of hair below his navel, and their moans twined together when she slid her hand over the impressive length of his cock.


    ¡°Fuck, Jo,¡± he grated, his hips moving in time with her hand as she stroked him over the thin fabric. He dropped a hand between them, his fingers sliding over her pussy with ease, and Jo was entirely helpless against the moan that flew out of her.

 Chapter 31

    Then, his touch was gone. Before Jo could protest, though, Sawyer¡¯s arms were around her. He pulled her to the bed, breaking her fall with his body before situating them both more fully on the mattress, his head on one pillow.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    ¡°That¡¯s better.¡± He thrust against her, his boxer briefs the only barrier between them. He was hard and hot and, wow, okay, bigger than she¡¯d realized, and a twinge of worry snuck in past all of her want, making her freeze.


    Sawyer¡¯s hands stilled on her hips. Ugh, of course he¡¯d noticed. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I still want this,¡± Jo assured him, because she really, really did. ¡°It¡¯s just been¡­a while.¡±


    ¡°A while,¡± he repeated.


    Her face heated. Not in the good way. ¡°A long while,¡± she admitted into the shadows. ¡°And you¡¯re, um¡­¡±


    She gestured to the spot where his cock was currently pressed tightly against her body, and thank God, he connected the dots. ¡°Jo.¡± He propped himself on one forearm, levering closer so he could meet her eyes. ¡°For the record, I don¡¯t do this all the time, either. As for the rest¡±-he shifted her forward a few inches, his mouth hitching into an infernally sexy smile


    -¡°I¡¯ve got you.¡±


    Sawyer slid her farther up, so she was straddling his abdomen, and now Jo was the one connecting the dots. Her breath copsed out of her in a pleasured ¡°oh¡± as his destination became wildly clear, his hands guiding her hips over his chest.


    ¡°Do you have any idea how hot those little noises you make are?¡± he asked, his fingers moving to the back of her thighs. Jo¡¯s inner muscles clenched at the closeness of his mouth, the heat of his breath so near to where she desperately wanted him, and all she could do was shake her head.


    Sawyer waspletely undeterred. ¡°Let¡¯s find out if you taste as sweet as you sound.¡±


    He angled his shoulders beneath her, widening her thighs as he pulled her flush against his mouth, and oh, God, oh, GodohGodohGod. Pleasure shot through her, knotting her throat and turning her breath into gasps. He moved slowly, but with intention, exploring her pussy with his lips and tongue as his hands held her steady in front of him. Somewhere, in a dim passageway of her brain, Jo realized maybe she should feel vulnerable. After all, she was straddling Sawyer¡¯s face, and-oh, oh, oh, that was so fucking good-making all sorts of needy, greedy noises as heid her bare with his mouth. But then he moaned in response, making Jo realize that he was just as turned on as she was, and she rocked against him, guiding his tongue right over her clit.


    Sawyer¡¯s fingers tightened, slipping around to cup her ass and hold her close. Sparks burst under her skin, in the pit of her belly, all the way in her toes, but she didn¡¯t stop. She gripped the headboard in front of her, steadying her pace so she could chase the orgasm beckoning from the spot deep between her thighs, where she wanted¡­she wanted¡­


    Jo went utterly still for just a beat, hanging in the space between need and sweet release. Then her orgasm smashed into her, her pussy pulsating against Sawyer¡¯s wicked, unrelenting tongue. He wrung every moan and please and call to God out of her before easing his grip on her hips, gently maneuvering her beside him on the mattress.


    ¡°Even sweeter,¡± Sawyer said. He proceeded to repeat the process with his fingers, slowly finding every spot that rebuilt her need. Somewhere along the way, she tugged his boxer briefs to the floor, stroking his cock in return, until finally, she was certain she¡¯d die if he wasn¡¯t inside of her.


    ¡°Sawyer,¡± Jo whispered. She spared only a brief second to grab a condom from the nightstand drawer, then moved back to the center of the bed.


    He took the condom from her, getting it safely into ce, then settling himself between her parted knees. Anticipation trembled through her, doubling when he slid his rock-hard cock over her waiting body. He lingered on her clit for just a beat, driving her need to a fever pitch before pressing slowly into her pussy.


    ¡°Oh, fuck, Jo.¡± He retreated, then nudged farther inside, seating himself more fully. The pressure made her gasp, but she was so slick with arousal, so full of need, that all she wanted was more.


    ¡°Please,¡± she whispered. ¡°Please don¡¯t hold back.¡±


    For just a second, the words hung between them, reverent.


    Then Sawyer gave her exactly what she¡¯d asked for. He began to fuck her in hard, even strokes, filling her over and over. Her body lit up, the pleasure of watching him take what he wanted giving her a bolt of wild satisfaction. She was making him moan. The focus in his gaze as he watched his cock disappear into her pussy, the sheer pleasure that reced it when she cried out, all of it made Jo reckless with the need to make hime. Wrapping her legs around his hips, she changed the angle of his thrusting, guiding him even deeper.


    ¡°You feel so fucking good on my cock,¡± he whispered. Although the words tempted Jo to feel a naughty thrill, the look on his face was almost vulnerable, making something break loose in her chest.


    ¡°Please, Sawyer,¡± she whispered back. ¡°Take what you need.¡±


    He didn¡¯t hesitate. His motions grew more purposeful, then faster. Jo kept time with him the whole way, her own pleasure racing through her as his grew. His eyes squeezed shut, his breathing in harsh gasps as his movements grew less controlled. He filled her entirely with onest thrust, his body going bowstring tight for a long moment before beginning to loosen. Jo unwound her legs from his waist, but held Sawyer close as his breathing slowed. After a few minutes, he disentangled their limbs just long enough to deal with the condom, then returned to the bed.


    Jo waited for the post-coital awkwardness to descend and trash the moment. But then, Sawyer pulled her in, tucking her head to his shoulder and kissing the top of her head as he simply held her, and instead, she just felt blissfully, weightlessly good in his arms.

 Chapter 32

    Sawyer was inpletely uncharted territory. More specifically, he was naked in Jo¡¯s bed, his body loose, his stomach full, and his chest chock full of emotions he had no idea how to name. After the


    first round of mind-scrambling sex, they¡¯d eventually gotten semi-dressed and returned to the kitchen. There, he¡¯d discovered that the dinner she¡¯d made was just as delicious warmed up as it had been the first time she¡¯d served it, that she looked adorable in her oversized sweater and matching knit shorts, and that she loved olives so much, she¡¯d stolen them right off his te. Although neither of them acknowledged the detour they¡¯d taken to her bedroom that had kept them from finishing their meal the first time, their conversation came just as easily as it had all week. By the time Sawyer had snagged the tomatoes off her te (turnabout, and all), helped her tidy the kitchen, then taken her back to bed for a second, slower round of sex that had somehow been even better than the first, he¡¯de to a startling realization.


    Jo was here for two more weeks. She clearly had a job opportunity in front of her that was both big enough to alter her career and make her doubt herself all in one go. She was cautious-not without reason, but still. She probably didn¡¯t want anything other than a casual extended hookup while she was here in Remington.


    Goddamned inconvenient, then, for him to discover that he really


    fucking liked her.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Jo said, her voice half-sleepy and fully hot. ¡°You okay?¡± She paused to bite her lip, and sweet baby Jesus, was she trying to end him? ¡°Is this weird? The staying the night thing, I mean.¡±


    Sawyer shook his head. ¡°No,¡± he said. She hadn¡¯t technically asked him to stay, but it was well past midnight at this point, and he definitely didn¡¯t want to leave. ¡°It¡¯s not weird at all.¡± A thought urred to him then, making his oh-shit meter spike. ¡°Unless you don¡¯t want me to?¡±


    Joughed. ¡°Are you kidding? I definitely want you to,¡± she said without pretense. ¡°But if that¡¯s not it, then what¡¯s the matter? You¡¯re awfully quiet.¡±


    He knew he could dodge around the question. Tell her he was tired, or that it was nothing, or make up some story to avoid the feelings that were churning around in his rib cage. Hell, he really should.


    But life was short, and happiness came at a premium. Taking it, especially when it was right there in front of him and so damn beautiful that it ached?


    That was something he¡¯d sworn he¡¯d never pass up, and it wasn¡¯t a promise he ever intended to break.


    So Sawyer said, ¡°My mom wasn¡¯t really in the picture when I was growing up, so my old man raised me on his own. He¡¯s a good father- better than most, actually. But it was just me and him, and most of that time, he was working. He had to, I know. There were bills to pay, and running your own bar isn¡¯t a nine-to-five. But I always kind of felt¡­I don¡¯t know, a little lonely, I guess.¡±


    ¡°That makes sense,¡± Jo said. The quiet that ensued gave him the room to keep going, and hell if he didn¡¯t take it.


    ¡°I enlisted in the Marines the week I graduated from high school. I wanted to serve, and I knew they¡¯d pay for college as I went, which was


    great, because we didn¡¯t have the money for me to go without taking out a huge loan. At the time, I thought those were the only two reasons I chose the military, but now, in hindsight, I know I was also looking for a second family.¡± Anton, Mikey B., Pax, Dani-God, they¡¯d all been more than unit-mates. They¡¯d been his brothers and sisters.


    He pulled in a breath, trying to let it steady what woulde next, but Christ, this never got easier. ¡°I did three tours, with time home in between. The military¡¯s not too interested in burning people out,¡± he said, the words falling softly in the shadows. ¡°I was active a lot of the time I was stateside, doing training and working on my degree. But I never questioned that I¡¯d go back for as many tours as I could. By then, I had a pretty wide skillset, and that sort of experience is valuable on certain operations.¡±


    Of course, he couldn¡¯t tell her anything more specific than that. God knew it was an understatement the size of a small town. Only personnel with the highest-level security clearances had been briefed about some of the things he¡¯d been trained in and all of the things that his unit had done. Including hisst op.


    ¡°Were you with the same people the whole time?¡± Jo asked, and he nodded.


    ¡°Mostly. Some people do one tour and they¡¯re done, others opt for different deployments if they can get them,¡± Sawyer said. ¡°But there was a small group of us who ended up together all the time. We were really close. And since we¡¯d had a lot of training and were used to being in different locales, by the third tour, we were being sent out on some pretty covert ops.¡±


    ¡°You mean dangerous,¡± Jo said. Since Sawyer couldn¡¯t really answer, he didn¡¯t, but she read between the lines well enough. ¡°God, that must have been terrifying.¡±


    ¡°In a way. But we were a unit. A family. It¡¯s a lot like how your sister relies on Maxwell when they work together, I¡¯d guess. The shit may bePublished by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    hitting the fan, but you know you can put your life in your teammates¡¯ hands and it¡¯ll be okay. We were well-trained forbat situations. For all situations, really.¡±


    The irony of it pped Sawyer in the face. For a whole excruciating year, he had questioned the validity of that im. Was there something he¡¯d missed that day? Something one of them could¡¯ve done that would have changed the trajectory of events? If Anton, who was notoriously slower than the rest of them because of his two hundred-sixty-pound linebacker frame, had been on point instead of Mikey? If Dani had been on everyone¡¯s six instead of Sawyer? Or Pax?


    But he knew now that those questions had no answers. Nothing would change what had happened, no matter how much he¡¯d bargained with God at one time for that not to be true, and as hard as it was to talk about his past, he needed Jo to know.


    So he kept going, pushing the words past his thumping pulse. ¡°A couple of years ago, we were on an op. It was far from home, but nothing we hadn¡¯t done hundreds of times before. We got to a certain point where the terrain made it impossible to keep our cover. We didn¡¯t usually put much distance between us, but we couldn¡¯t risk being seen. I¡¯d been on our six, so the rest of my unit advanced while I stayed farther behind to make sure we had a safe exit path if we needed it, and also to keep watching their backs.¡±


    As if she could sense what wasing, Jo slid her hand over his chest, propping herself on her other forearm to look at him. ¡°Sawyer, I know I asked what was on your mind, but we don¡¯t have to talk about this if you don¡¯t want to.¡±


    He shook his head, wanting to get the words out. Needing to. ¡°They were about three hundred yards away when one of them tripped an IED. There was a split second where I saw the sh of light before I realized what it meant,¡± Sawyer said, and Christ, how that moment hadsted both forever and not long enough for him to do anything other than scream. ¡°The heat and noise were unreal. I was blownpletely off my feet.¡±


    ¡°Oh, my God,¡± Jo whispered, her eyes wide in the shadows. ¡°That¡¯s how you got hurt.¡±


    Sawyer nodded. ¡°I hit my head on the ground when Inded.¡± Okay, so it was a massive understatement, but there was no reason to scare her with words likemunicated skull fracture and cranial blunt force trauma. ¡°My helmet gave me some protection. To be honest, I probably would¡¯ve been killed if I hadn¡¯t been wearing it. Something like a third of people with severe head injuries die. Still, even with my TBI, I ended up being the lucky one.¡±


    Jo tightened her hand over his. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Sawyer. I can¡¯t even imagine how horrible that must have been.¡±


    ¡°Three of my unit-mates were killed instantly in the st,¡± he said quietly, holding onto her hand like it was a lifeline, letting her presence ease the breath jammed to his lungs. ¡°The fourth, Pax, was seriously injured. The st took out both of his legs, one above the knee. I stabilized him as best I could and radioed for an emergency evac, but it was bad. We both knew it.¡±


    Jo¡¯s hand stayed steady even as the pulse at her wrist quickened beneath Sawyer¡¯s grasp, and the steadiness let him get the rest out. ¡°Pax made me swear that if I made it out of there, I¡¯d live enough life for all of them. That I wouldn¡¯t be afraid to grab every chance that was in front of me and run with it, and that I¡¯d never waste a single opportunity.¡±


    ¡°And you promised,¡± Jo said.


    ¡°It was thest thing he ever heard,¡± Sawyer said. ¡°I swore, right then and there, that I would do right by my unit-mates. I¡¯d live not just my life, but the ones they¡¯d never get, too. It took a year of so many hospitals, MRIs, and medical tests that my file is the size of a dictionary, and every kind of therapy that exists. Physical, upational, psychological-it was painful and soul-crushing and I wanted to give up every fucking day. But I couldn¡¯t. I¡¯d promised Pax I¡¯d live my life with no regrets. I had to heal, no matter how much it hurt.¡±


    Understanding dawned on Jo¡¯s pretty face. ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re not afraid to go big all the time.¡±


    And here it was. The thing he needed her to know. The risk he had to take. ¡°I don¡¯t know what this thing between us is, or what it¡¯ll bring. But here¡¯s what I do know. The idea of spending the night here with you is the opposite of weird. Impulsive or not, I¡¯m pretty fucking crazy about you, Jo. I don¡¯t want to go home. I want to be right here, with you. I want this.¡± He brushed a kiss over her mouth. ¡°No matter what it is, for as long as you want it, too.¡±


    For a minute, she said nothing. Then she broke into a smile so pure and so utterly beautiful that it knocked right into him.


    ¡°I suppose that¡¯s a good thing,¡± Jo murmured, returning his kiss with a slow press of her lips. ¡°Because as crazy as it is, I don¡¯t want you to go home, either.¡±


    And as she settled in beside him and they both drifted toward sleep, Sawyer realized that telling Jo about his past and seizing the present moment hadn¡¯t been a risk at all.


    It had been a beginning.

 Chapter 33

    SAWYER STOOD behind the bar at the Crooked Angel and let his grin have its way with him. Not that it was a tough battle. Four days had passed since the night that had ended with him in Jo¡¯s bed, four mornings that he¡¯d woken up in her arms. She¡¯d adjusted her audition prep schedule to fit around his hours at the Crooked Angel, and they¡¯d spent every non-working minute together, only taking breaks from their trips around the city and long conversations so she could FaceTime with her daughter. Sawyer had heard so many stories about Mika that he felt like he knew her. Although they hadn¡¯t crossed that particr bridge just yet, he¡¯d be ready when Jo was. Mika was the center of Jo¡¯s world. Sawyer might not have a clue about kids, but that didn¡¯t mean he couldn¡¯t figure it out.


    Damn, he was falling for her. And as crazy as that was, it didn¡¯t feel


    crazy at all.


    It felt like living.


    ¡°Uh-oh. Look out,¡± came a voice Sawyer knew all too well, but not even the cocky smirk that went with it could put a dent in his bulletproof mood.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have a photo shoot to get to, superstar?¡± he asked Finn, matching his friend¡¯s smirk as he reached into the beer cooler at his hip for Finn¡¯s usual IPA.


    Finn rolled his eyes, but kept his smile in ce. He¡¯d probably been getting a raft of shit from his teammates for the high-profile underwear ad that had appeared in select magazines this week. Not that it was going to keep Sawyer from joining in, because Finn in a pair of expensive-ass skivvies in front of God and everybody? That shit was priceless.


    ¡°Don¡¯t hate, Knox. The twins need college money, you know. Anyway, don¡¯t think for a second that you¡¯re going to distract me from calling out that look on your face.¡±


    Funny, Sawyer didn¡¯t lose his smile, either. ¡°What look?¡± he asked, popping the cap off Finn¡¯s beer and sliding it over the bar in a well- practiced move.


    ¡°The goofy grin that appears every time you sneak a look at a certain pretty brte sitting next to her sister over by the door. For the record, you may be half-gone for her, but you¡¯re not stealthy.¡±


    Sawyer¡¯s pulse tripped in his veins. Having feelings for Jo was one thing. Other people being able to tell just by looking at him? Definitely another. ¡°Jo and I are enjoying the time we have together,¡± he said, swiping at a spot on the bar with a towel even though he could practically see his reflection in the surface.


    ¡°But?¡± Finn asked. His expression grew serious, his dark brows tugging downward in concern, and shit. Sawyer just wasn¡¯t good at holding anything back.


    ¡°The ¡®but¡¯ isn¡¯t on my end. I do really like her, probably more than I should after only two weeks.¡±


    Finn waved a hand in dismissal, although not rudely. ¡°I¡¯m a firm believer in ¡®when you know, you know,''¡± he said. ¡°You might be taking it faster than usual, but if you like her that much, is it really such a bad thing?¡±


    Sawyer shook his head, slipping a gaze across the bar at Jo. She looked beautiful, her dark-brown hair framing her face in soft waves as sheughed at something Maxwell said, her bright red sweater and jeans hugging every curve. ¡°No. I don¡¯t know.¡± Shit. ¡°Maybe.¡±


    ¡°Really? Because she¡¯s clearly into you, too,¡± Finn said, thoughtfully sipping his beer. ¡°I mean, goofy look on your face aside, you two have been practically joined at the hip the whole time she¡¯s been in Remington.¡±


    Shock lifted Sawyer¡¯s brows. ¡°Who told you that?¡±R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Finn snorted. ¡°Please. Jo tells Frankie, who tells Isabe, who tells Ken, who tells January, who¡­do you really need a diagram, here? Those cops and firefighters may be supreme badasses, but they gossip like middle schoolers. But that¡¯s beside the point. What matters is that your feelings for Jo seem to be mutual. I¡¯m failing to see the problem, here.¡±


    ¡°The problem is that her audition is tomorrow, and she¡¯s supposed to go back to Savannah next week.¡±


    ¡°And that couldplicate things,¡± Finn said, connecting the dots. ¡°Have you talked to her about getting more serious?¡±


    Sawyer hedged. Of course, he¡¯d wanted to bring it up with her, but¡­ ¡°She¡¯s been burned before, taking things really fast. I¡¯d never hurt her, but I don¡¯t want to push too hard, either. We¡¯ve been kind of living in the moment. I¡¯m not sure either one of us thought we¡¯d end up here. With, you know¡­¡±


    ¡°Feelings so big that Neptune looks like a fucking map dot inparison?¡± Finn supplied. At Sawyer¡¯s WTF stare, he added, ¡°What? You think you¡¯re the only guy who¡¯s ever had feelings for another person? I am wildly in love with my wife, you know.¡±


    ¡°Okay, but it¡¯s not like most guys really sit around and talk about their feelings,¡± Sawyer said.


    ¡°Maybe not with just anybody,¡± Finn agreed. ¡°But the whole ¡®men shouldn¡¯t have emotions¡¯ thing is a load of horse shit. Anyway, I¡¯d never leave a brother in need.¡±


    The word, with all its implied closeness, hit Sawyer center mass, making his rib cage tighten. ¡°Thanks.¡±


    Finn nodded, leaning his forearm on the bar and dropping his voice to keep their conversation private from the scattering of people drinking andughing around them. ¡°I know it might be hard to believe it now, but my rtionship with January wasplicated in the beginning, too.¡±


    Sawyer kept his jaw from dropping, but it took some pretty monstrous effort. ¡°You guys wereplicated?¡±


    ¡°Well, yeah. I was ying for New Orleans at the time, and in case you haven¡¯t noticed, that¡¯s not exactly in the same time zone as Remington. Plus, let¡¯s just say January and I have some past history together that made getting together a challenge.¡±


    One day, Sawyer was going to pry that story out of his buddy, but for now, he settled for, ¡°Damn. I had no idea. You guys are so perfect for each other.¡±


    Tilting his head, Finn huffed out augh. ¡°I didn¡¯t always know it, though. What can I say? We professional hockey yers have hard heads.¡± He rapped his knuckles against his temple, his wedding ring glinting in the bar light. ¡°It took some doing for me to see what was right in front of me, but once I did, I knew January was the love of my life.¡±


    ¡°How did you figure it out?¡± Sawyer asked.


    Finn put his beer on the bar, all traces of his usual, cocky smile fading into something a lot softer. ¡°I followed some excellent advice.¡±


    ¡°Which was¡­?¡±


    ¡°To fight for what I really cared about. Well, that and get my head out of my ass,¡± Finn qualified with augh, ¡°although I think you¡¯re a lot smarter than I was. My point is, things might getplicated. They might even get bad before they get good again. But if you care about Jo-if your feelings really are the size of Neptune-don¡¯t be afraid to fight for her if you have to.¡±


    Sawyer looked across the bar at Jo, the tiny white lights strung from the rafters casting a warm glow over her face. She turned to meet his gaze, their eyes locking together for just a beat before she smiled, and oh, hell, Finn was right.


    She was worth fighting for. Even if Sawyer lost it all.

 Chapter 34

    Jo looked at the clock and contemted throwing up. Her audition was in two hours. Yes, she¡¯d spent two solid weeks preparing, and yes, the more she¡¯d dug into the role, the more she¡¯d felt absolutely positive that it was everything she could possibly want. The perfect


    opportunity to do the one thing she¡¯d always dreamed of, for real this time. Thest chance she¡¯d have tond a role that could make her career, and maybe her life, truly limitless.


    Annnnd wee back to wanting to throw up.


    Jo¡¯s cell phone pinged with an iing text message, snagging her from her stress-filled thoughts, and she tapped the screen to life.


    I know I¡¯m not supposed to wish you luck, but that¡¯s okay. You don¡¯t need it. You¡¯re ready. You¡¯re perfect for the part, and you¡¯re going to nail this audition.


    Sawyer attached a photo of him and the whole Crooked Angel staff giving a thumbs-up from behind the bar, and okay, she had tough. This audition was a big deal (fine. It was huge. Gargantuan. Supermassive), but Sawyer was right. She was ready. She¡¯d done every single thing possible to prepare for the audition. Thisst week in particr, she¡¯d thrown herself into the lines on an even deeper level than she¡¯d thought herself capable of, allowing herself to shed her doubts and just live in the moment. She felt at home with the role, like she was exactly where she was meant to be.


    Like she felt when she was with Sawyer.


    Setting the thought aside, Jo scooped in a deep breath. She had to focus on the here-and-now, which meant this audition was the only thing she could allow into her brain. This part was made for her, and she was made for it in return. She was going to pour everything into this audition, and she was going to get the part.


    Which meant she had to start acting like it.


    Living her life meant going all-in, and she¡¯d held back for far too long.


    Turning her attention back to the phone in her hand, Jo scrolled through her contacts, letting her nervous energy bolster her instead of holding her back.


    Derek answered on the second ring. ¡°Hey, Jo. Mika¡¯s at school.¡± ¡°I know,¡± she said.


    ¡°Oh.¡± His voice pitched in confusion. ¡°Is everything okay?¡±


    Taking a deep breath, Jo said, ¡°Everything is better than it¡¯s been in a long time, actually. But you and I need to talk.¡±


    FOUR HOURS  LATER, Jo¡¯s mood had gone through a fucking woodchipper. But at least she was at a bar. Who cared that it was two o¡¯clock in the afternoon?


    After an audition like that, she deserved copious amounts of liquor.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Sawyer said, and ugh, not even his ridiculously sexy smile could get her to her happy ce. ¡°How did it go, Ms. Soon to be Famous Actress?¡±


    ¡°More like Ms. Close but No Cigar Actress,¡± Jo mumbled, plopping down on a bar stool. The Crooked Angel was nearly empty, with only a handful of patrons enjoying the lull between the lunch rush and the dinner crowd. ¡°Can I get a ss of wine, please? The biggest one you¡¯ve got would be great.¡±


    Sawyer¡¯s blond brows lifted in surprise, but smartly, he didn¡¯t say anything about the early hour. ¡°I¡¯m sure the audition wasn¡¯t that bad.¡±N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    ¡°Actually, it wasn¡¯t,¡± Jo said, and wee to the most shitastic part of the whole thing.


    ¡°Okay, you¡¯ve lost me.¡± Sawyer served up a blessedly heavy pour of merlot. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t bad, shouldn¡¯t we be celebrating?¡±


    ¡°It was worse than bad. It was close. I had a real shot at the role, and I blew it.¡±


    Throwing her pride out the window, Jo recounted the audition, starting with the bundle of nerves that had made her stumble through not one, but two takes before she¡¯d shaken them off and asked-sh-begged Teresa Park and the other executives for a third try-which, of course, she¡¯d nailed.


    ¡°They let me go through the entire scene, which might have been amazing if it had been my first take. But it wasn¡¯t. Then they gave me the kiss of death and said they¡¯d ¡®be in touch.¡¯ They didn¡¯t even have the courtesy to cut me loose right there on the spot.¡± Tears pricked at her eyes, borne more of frustration than sadness. ¡°Damn it! I should have known better than to let myself think I had a real chance at this.¡±


    ¡°Jo.¡± Sawyer crossed to her side of the bar, reaching out to pull her close. ¡°You do have a real chance at this. So, you stumbled. You wouldn¡¯t be human if you weren¡¯t nervous. And you just said that them letting you go through the entire scene is a good thing.¡±


    Her heart caught in her throat, making her voice waver. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing if it happens the first time! I stumbled twice, Sawyer. I gave it everything I had and I still came up short. I¡¯m going to go back to Savannah a failure.¡±


    ¡°Hey. Not getting this part doesn¡¯t make you a failure.¡± His eyes shed with the seriousness of his im, but Jo sighed.


    ¡°I know you think so, and that¡¯s really sweet. But the truth is, I¡¯m not so sure I had any business putting myself out there like that in the first ce.¡± For God¡¯s sake, she was a single mom who taught middle school drama sses for a living. Had she really been deluded enough to think she¡¯d get this part?


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. I know so,¡± Sawyer said, a muscle in his jaw going tight. ¡°You¡¯re incredible no matter what.¡±


    ¡°Sawyer-¡±


    ¡°Jo, listen. I¡¯ve been thinking about this a lot, and I don¡¯t want to keep it from you anymore. I know it seems impulsive, but¡­I want us to be together. Part or no part.¡±


    Jo¡¯s heart tripped in her chest, and she gripped the bar in an effort to steady herself.


    It didn¡¯t work. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m crazy about you.¡± He leaned toward her, a soft smile shaping his lips. ¡°More than crazy about you, actually. I know we live in separate cities, and that we¡¯ve only known each other for two weeks, but we can figure all that stuff out.¡±


    ¡°Figure all that stuff out,¡± she echoed, her pulse whooshing faster, making her dizzy, and all the dread from her audition, from the day-God, from all of this, spilled right out. ¡°You¡¯re talking about my life. Your life. We can¡¯t just y those things by ear.¡±


    Sawyer took a step back, brows bent. ¡°I didn¡¯t say I thought it would be easy. But I want this. I want you, no matter what.¡±


    For a single split second, Jo wanted to say yes. She wanted to let herself fall for him, to drift off to sleep beside him at night and wake up, safe and cared for and wrapped tightly in his arms. She wanted to take the chance


    that they¡¯d make it work-the distance, the impulsiveness, her daughter- even though she hadn¡¯t gotten this role.


    But then reality crashed in, swift and sharp, and Jo shook her head.


    She was walking, talking proof of how much a person could lose by taking risks that big. She¡¯d been burned six years ago. Hell, she¡¯d been burned a few hours ago. Caution had never let her down, and it had damn sure never broken her heart.


    She had to y it safe and walk away before she fell for him any harder. ¡°We wanted each other in the moment, Sawyer. This was fun while itsted, but¡±-she forced herself to look right into his melty brown stare even though she saw nothing but hurt there-¡°it¡¯s time for me to go back to


    Savannah, where I belong.¡±


    ¡°Jo, please,¡± he said. ¡°Let¡¯s just talk about this, okay?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Jo whispered. ¡°But the only thing left to say is goodbye.¡± She turned and walked away before her breaking heart could stop her.


    Jo pulled thest sweater from her dresser and shoved it into her suitcase just in time for a knock to sound off on the door to her borrowed apartment. She considered not answering it-she hadn¡¯t buzzed anyone up, and she sure as hell wasn¡¯t expecting anyone-


    but then the knock grew more insistent, making her approach the door with caution.


    ¡°Jo, it¡¯s me. I know you¡¯re in there because I heard your footsteps.


    Open up.¡±


    Sighing, Jo released the chain and flipped the deadbolt to open the door. Of course Frankie still had an extra key to let herself into the main entrance. Jo should¡¯ve known she¡¯d show up here eventually.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to be a cop every second of every day, you know,¡± she groused, standing back to let Frankie in.


    ¡°It¡¯s not my fault you fell for that,¡± her sister said, arching a brow. ¡°I¡¯m good, but unless you¡¯re stomping toward the door or you¡¯re carrying a linebacker on your shoulders, I can¡¯t really hear your footsteps. Anyway, it¡¯s justified. You weren¡¯t answering your phone. How else am I supposed to find out what the hell is going on?¡±


    Sadness stretched out in Jo¡¯s chest, but she soldiered past it. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you mean.¡±


    Grabbing Jo¡¯s hand, Frankie led her over to the couch, and Jo knew from experience that fighting her was useless. ¡°Well, let¡¯s see,¡± Frankie said. ¡°I went by the Crooked Angel to celebrate your audition, but when I got there, you were suspiciously absent and Sawyer was in a mood that can only be described as abominable. When I asked him what was going on, he told me to ask you. But since you didn¡¯t answer your phone¡­damn it, Jo, please don¡¯t make me put on my interrogation voice, because-no offense


    -you look like shit and I¡¯m worried about you. So, can you please help me out, here? What the hell happened?¡±


    Jo meant to stand her ground. She meant to stay tough like always and just say things hadn¡¯t worked out with the audition or Sawyer or anything else, no big deal.


    But instead, she started to cry, and fuck it. Frankie wasn¡¯t going to let her off the hook now.


    ¡°I, um. I think I really screwed things up,¡± she said.


    ¡°Okay.¡± Frankie lifted a finger. ¡°Give me a sec. I¡¯ve got you covered, babe.¡±


    Working quickly, she grabbed a box of tissues and made two cups of tea, snagging the half-full bag of chocte chunk cookies from Jo¡¯s cupboard beforeing back to the couch and listening to the whole story. Jo skirted around the details of Sawyer¡¯s past out of respect for his privacy, but everything else came pouring out. Their dinner date. The feelings she¡¯d been too scared to admit to. The way she¡¯d believed-truly believed, in her heart and soul-that she¡¯d get this part and move to Remington for the filming and finally have all the things she¡¯d wanted six years ago. How it had alle crashing down in the span of a few hours. By the time Jo finally got through the recount of her horrible audition and the ensuing non- versation with Sawyer, her tea was cold and her heart still ached as if she¡¯d been kicked.


    ¡°Oh, sweetie.¡± Frankie reached out to squeeze Jo¡¯s forearm. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry the audition didn¡¯t go the way you wanted it to. I know you really wanted the part.¡±


    ¡°I should¡¯ve known better,¡± Jo whispered. ¡°The part, this thing with Sawyer. If I¡¯d yed it safe and just stayed in Savannah where I belong, none of this would have happened.¡±


    ¡°Do you really believe that?¡± Frankie asked, and Jo looked at her in confusion.


    ¡°Well, yeah. If I hadn¡¯te to Remington for the audition, then-¡±


    ¡°Not that part,¡± Frankie said, shaking her head. ¡°Do you really believe that you belong in Savannah, teaching middle school and watching Netflix alone on Friday nights?¡±

 Chapter 35

    Jo opened her mouth to say of course she belonged in Savannah. She¡¯d lived there for her whole life. But the truth was, she had been prepared to move to Remington to take this role if she¡¯dnded it-she¡¯d even talked out all the details with Derek, outlining a n that would allow for her to move Mika here while she filmed and for him to bring her back to Savannah for a few extended visits throughout the year. He hadn¡¯t been wild about it, but he¡¯d also recognized that she¡¯d wanted it deeply, and that it was a huge opportunity she couldn¡¯t pass up. Jo had been ready to take the leap, to dive into the career she¡¯d always wanted and keep waking up next to the man she¡¯d always dreamed might be out there for her.


    Could she belong here in Remington-here with Sawyer-even if she didn¡¯t get the part?


    ¡°It¡¯s not that easy,¡± Jo said, shaking her head.


    Frankie put her mug down on the coffee table, reaching for Jo¡¯s hand. ¡°It¡¯s also not that hard. I know you like to y it safe, Jo, and I get it. I really do. But when you¡¯re around Sawyer, you don¡¯t just look happy. You look like you¡¯re really living. You look like you. Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s worth a little risk?¡±


    Jo¡¯s heart pounded in response. Her past had taught her to be cautious- for crap¡¯s sake, the one and only time she¡¯d acted on impulse, she¡¯d ended up with a surprise baby, a man who could onlymit to sleeping around, and a career she¡¯d had to put on indefinite hold, probably ruining it forever.


    But this thing with Sawyer didn¡¯t feel like that. It didn¡¯t feel scary, or risky, or dangerous, and it never once had. When Jo was with him, she only ever felt like she was exactly where she belonged.


    When she was with Sawyer, she felt right, and oh, God.


    ¡°I told him no,¡± Jo whispered, her eyes going wide. ¡°Worse than that, I said goodbye! I walked away. How am I supposed to fix that?¡±


    ¡°Well, I think that all depends,¡± Frankie said, ¡°on whether or not you¡¯re willing to get a little bold to get him back.¡±


    Jo didn¡¯t think. She didn¡¯t have to. She wanted Sawyer, no matter what. ¡°I am. I¡¯m done being scared to live in the moment.¡±


    Frankie smiled, pushing to her feet and pulling Jo up with her. ¡°Come on, then. I¡¯ll even give you a police escort. After all, what are sisters for?¡±


    FOR THE FIRST time since he¡¯d started working at the Crooked Angel, Sawyer had no desire to be behind the bar. He¡¯d tried not to let it show too much; after all, the dinner rush wasn¡¯t really going to give a shit that his heart had been smashed into a thousand pieces. But the more he tried, the harder it was to keep his head on straight, let alone smile at the customers starting to fill the seats around the bar.


    Yeah. He was going to have to figure out a way to deal with the fact that Jo had left, but it wasn¡¯t going to be tonight.


    ¡°Hey, Evie,¡± Sawyer said, snagging the attention of their hostess and his assistant-manager-in-training. ¡°I¡¯m going to head back to the office to work on the books for a bit. Javier should be all good in the kitchen, but text me if we get mmed.¡±


    ¡°Sure thing,¡± Evie replied, then tagged on, ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    Nope, screamed the hole in his chest, but seriously, he needed to just get through this shift. ¡°Headache. I¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    He got them often enough that the excuse worked. Making his way through the restaurant, Sawyer cut a path to the small office off the kitchen. The sights and smells normally calmed him, and maybe tomorrow, they¡¯d work a little. But tonight, all he wanted was to be alone.


    No. Scratch that. What he wanted was to be with Jo. Jo, for whom he¡¯d fought. Jo, for whom he¡¯d been willing to risk his heart.


    Jo, who had said goodbye and walked out the door anyway, and damn it, he had to do something to stop feeling like this, even if it was only temporary.


    Sawyer threw himself into inventory and kitchen orders, then staffing schedules for good measure. He found as much of a groove as he was going to, losing himself in the work enough that when his phone vibrated with an iing call, he was shocked to see how much time had passed, then shocked again at who was calling him.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°Hey, Sawyer,¡± Frankie said. Unlike the ruckus unfolding in Sawyer¡¯s chest, she sounded perfectly calm. ¡°Sorry to bother you while you¡¯re working, but I was wondering if you could help me out with something.¡±Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    ¡°Okay,¡± he said, although it was far more of a question than anything else. What could she possibly need his help with?


    ¡°Great. I¡¯m here at the restaurant. Can you meet me at the end of the bar? Thanks.¡±


    This was officially getting weird. But Frankie had already ended the call, and despite Sawyer¡¯s piss-poor mood, if she needed something, he didn¡¯t want to leave her hanging. Plus, maybe she¡¯d spoken with Jo about the audition.


    Let it go, his inner voice warned. He¡¯d done all that he could, putting his feelings on the line to fight for her. He¡¯d known it was a risk, especially when she¡¯d told him that the audition hadn¡¯t gone well, but he¡¯d taken it anyway.


    Crash, meet burn. The best thing he could do-the only thing, really- was to try to forget it and move on.


    Running a hand through his hair, Sawyer made his way through the kitchen, then out to the bar. The dinner rush was in full swing, and he scanned the crowded bar in search of Frankie.


    Instead, his eyes caught on Jo, sitting in the spot at the end of the bar she¡¯d been in that very first night and looking so beautiful it made Sawyer ache, and he walked toward her before his brain could even register that his legs were moving.


    ¡°Hi,¡± she said, and now that he was closer, he realized with a pang that her eyes were rimmed in red, as if she¡¯d been crying. ¡°Sorry we lied to you.¡± She broke off to gesture across the restaurant, where Frankie waved from her usual seat with the members of the Intelligence Unit and the firefighters from Station Seventeen. ¡°But I wasn¡¯t sure you¡¯d want to talk to me.¡±


    Sawyer¡¯s heart smacked into his sternum. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I want to talk to you?¡±


    ¡°Because I¡¯m an idiot.¡± Jo slid off her bar stool, closing the space between them until she was less than an arm¡¯s length away. ¡°You were honest with me, and I didn¡¯t return the favor before. I want to do that now, so here goes. I¡¯ve been so cautious for so long that I lost sight of the bigger picture. The one where I have to not just believe in myself, but take a risk or two in order to really live. I let what happened at my audition today scare me into thinking I¡¯d been too risky, and I panicked. But the truth is, being with you isn¡¯t a risk at all. It feels real. It feels right.¡±


    ¡°It feels right to me, too,¡± Sawyer said, hope filling his chest. ¡°I know we have a lot to figure out, and that parts of that are overwhelming as hell. You live in Savannah, and your daughter is there. My job is here. I wanted to be honest with you about how I felt, to let you know that I believe in you


    -in us-even if you didn¡¯t get the part, but I realize now that I kind of sprang it on you. I don¡¯t me you for wanting to y it safe.¡±


    Jo took a step closer, looking right into his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s true that ying it safe never broke my heart, but it never let me fall for anyone either. I¡¯m done letting caution hold me back. We do have a lot to figure out, and that means we¡¯ll probably have to do this long-distance for a while, but I don¡¯t care. Part or no part, I want to go all-in. I want you, Sawyer.¡±


    ¡°I want you, too, Jo.¡±


    Not caring that he was in a bar full of people, he cupped her face and kissed her. Jo didn¡¯t seem to care about the PDA either, because she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and kissed him right back, holding him tight until the sound of a throat clearing interrupted them.


    ¡°Is it safe to assume you two got that all worked out?¡± Frankie asked, and Sawyerughed.


    ¡°You¡¯re an excellent detective,¡± he said. ¡°And an even better sister.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to remind you of that when youe to meet the rest of our family,¡± she teased, but Sawyer just grinned.


    ¡°Deal.¡±


    He turned to ask Jo if she wanted her usual, but the sound of her cell phone ringing beat him to her attention. ¡°Hello?¡± she said, the crease of her brows marking her confusion. ¡°Oh, hi, Genevieve. No, you came up as Unknown Caller.¡±


    Sawyer¡¯s great mood dropped down a peg. Jo¡¯s agent was probably calling with the official word on the audition. He guided her to a quieter section of the bar, then stepped back to give her at least a little privacy to take the call. Frankie shot him a worried nce, but Sawyer shook his head. Jo was smart and talented and absolutely fucking gorgeous. She¡¯dnd another role. He was sure of it.


    Five minutester, she walked back toward him, and oh, hell, she looked like she¡¯d seen a ghost.


    ¡°Jo?¡± he asked. ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°I, uh.¡± She blinked, staring first at her phone, then at him. ¡°I got the part.¡±


    Sawyer¡¯s breath left his lungs in a gust. ¡°You what?¡±


    ¡°I got the part.¡± That time, the words seemed to sink in, and she covered her mouth with one hand, eyes wide. ¡°Apparently, Teresa Park was so impressed with my third take that she told the other executives she didn¡¯t want to see anyone else. She said¡±-Jo paused for a breath, reminding Sawyer that oxygen was probably a good idea, all around-¡°she said that it took balls to ask for a third take after two side-steps, and that it took unbelievable talent to nail an audition the way I had, and that those two things are exactly what she wants in the actress who ys this role. She had to convince a few of the others, and I¡¯ll have to seriously bring my A-game to every shoot, but Genevieve said it¡¯s a done deal. The part is mine.¡±


    ¡°I knew it!¡± Sawyer scooped her up and swung her around, and Jo held on tight as she began tough along with him. ¡°I¡¯m so proud of you, Jo. You did it.¡±


    ¡°We did it,¡± she said. ¡°I never would¡¯ve believed in myself if you hadn¡¯t believed in me first.¡±


    ¡°I believe champagne is in order,¡± Sawyer said, motioning to the bartender for a quick round, then holding his ss up to Jo¡¯s, the pale liquid dancing in the soft light. ¡°Here¡¯s to new beginnings.¡±


    ¡°To new beginnings,¡± she murmured.


    And as Jo pressed up to kiss him, Sawyer knew they were both exactly where they belonged.


    Together.

 Chapter 36

    Note: Hello everyone reading, I hope that you all are loving these amazing stories so far. I bet you do. This is where the real reading starts and I hope that everyone is tightlu seated. Enjoy.


    WRONG DESIRES


    ETHAN


    Stepping off my private jet, I make my way to the waiting car. My driver holds the door open for me. ¡°Albert,¡± I say by way of greeting.


    ¡°Mr Caldwell, good to see you, sir. I trust you had a good trip?¡± ¡°I did, Albert, thank you.¡±


    He nods as I slide inside and onto the soft leather seats. I sigh, lean back, and squeeze my eyes closed. I have been in New York, finalizing my divorce. Don¡¯t get me wrong; I am d it¡¯s over, but fuck, my ex-wife even though we are on good terms ¨C was demanding to say the least.


    Me being British and her being an American we split our time between New York and London for the past eight years. Mypany, Caldwell Global Investments, allowed it having offices in both cities. It kept Katrina happy ¨C until she decided she wanted to be by her family, in New York, full time, and I caught her fucking her personal trainer.


    The guy did me a favour if I am honest. My ex-wife and me staying friends can attest to that. If I had any sort of romantic feelings towards her, then I would have made her suffer, would not have given in to her demands. But I don¡¯t.


    Truth is, I never really loved her, only married her because having an American Socialite wife with a good family name looked good when trying to gain wealthy clients to invest with mypany and me.


    Along with a shit tonne of money, another of her stiptions in the divorce was for one of her nieces to intern at mypany over the summer. She is attending Oxford University, and having a big corporatepany like mine on her resume will look good for her. Apparently.


    I had met Aspen once, six years ago, when she was a bridesmaid at our wedding. Now not only would she be spending a few months working for me, but she would also be staying in one of my apartments, in the building I owned and lived in.


    Don¡¯t ask me how I ended up agreeing to this, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. How much trouble can a neen-year-old girl cause?


    From what Katrina said, she is quiet, hardworking, and mature.


    I can deal with it for a couple of months.


    I have to.


    ¡°To the penthouse, sir?¡± Albert asks, breaking me from my thoughts.


    ¡°Yes, that would be great.¡±


    I pull out my phone, scrolling through emails as we make our way back to my apartment. The streets of London, like always, are busy making the journey a good hour before we pull up to my building.


    The cares to a stop; secondster, Albert is out of the vehicle and opening my door. I step out. ¡°Thank you, Albert. That will be all for tonight.¡± I tell him before making my way to the open door; my doorman Cristoff holds it open.


    ¡°Mr Caldwell.¡± He greets.


    I smile with a nod. ¡°Cristoff.¡± He returns my smile as I make my way through the door and to the elevator. I push the button for my penthouse before ncing at my phone when it beeps. I see my ex-wife¡¯s name on the screen and sigh. What does she want now?


    I open the message, smirking as my eyes move over the words.


    Katrina: Thank you for making everything so easy today. Aspen will be moving in tomorrow and starting at Caldwell¡¯s Monday. I know what an asshole you can be, but please be nice to her.


    I click off the message without responding as I step into the elevator. Yes, I am an arsehole. I wouldn¡¯t be where I am today if I wasn¡¯t. If Katrina thinks for one minute, I will take it easy on her niece; she has another thinging. If Aspen is big enough to work for apany like mine, then she is big enough to take the shit I dole out to her. No one gets anywhere in life if they are constantly being handled with kid gloves. I will show little Aspen just what it¡¯s like to be in the real world.


    ASPEN


    The taxi pulls up to an impressive-looking building. Caldwell Tower. My home for the next three months while I intern for my aunt¡¯s exhusband. Some may find it weird that I want to work for Ethan Caldwell, especially since he is well known for being a ruthless businessman, but if I want to be the best, I need to learn from the best. And Ethan Caldwell owns one of the best investment firms in the world.


    ¡°That will be ny-one pounds, sweetheart.¡± The taxi driver says, dragging me from my thoughts.


    ¡°Of course.¡± I grab my purse and fish out the money I withdrew from a cash point in Oxford specifically for this. I count out the exact amount, adding on an extra five pounds for a tip. It might not seem like much, but I am a student, and no matter how much money my family has, I don¡¯t like taking any more than the allowance they give me each month. Pushing my purse on my shoulder, I grab my two suitcases and hop out of the vehicle. I walk towards the ss doors where a friendly-looking man is standing.


    ¡°Hello, I am a guest of Mr Caldwell¡¯s. I am moving into one of the apartments today.¡±N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    The man smiles, instantly putting me at ease. ¡°Ah, yes. Mr Caldwell made me aware. I am Cristoff. Make your way to the reception, and Beth will help you. Leave your bags; I will have concierge take them up for you.¡±


    I nod. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    He opens the door, allowing me to step inside before he pulls my suitcases through. He reaches into his pocket, taking out what looks like a cell phone, which I quickly realize is actually a radio, and hits a button. A male voice sounds, and Cristoff talks into the speaker, asking what I now know is the concierge toe and grab my luggage. I smile and make my way to the reception, where a girl who looks a few years older than me waits.


    ¡°Hi, I am Beth. How can I help you?¡± she chirps.


    ¡°Hey Beth, I¡¯m Aspen Kincaid, a guest of Mr Caldwell¡¯s. I should have been assigned an apartment?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Miss Kincaid, let me grab your keys.¡±


    She turns away from me and opens a locker on the wall. It reveals rows of keychains with small stic silver¡­ somethings attached. She grabs one off a hook, shuts the locker, and hands them to me. I stare down at it. It¡¯s not a key, but a little round disk, like a fob.


    ¡°You are on floor thirty-five, apartment four.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I mumble, still staring at the weird thing in my hand. She giggles. My head snaps up, eyes narrowing on her. She jerks her head to the disk in my hand and rolls her eyes.


    ¡°It¡¯s not a key in the usual sense, but it¡¯s what we use here. There is a panel outside your apartment, and you sh the fob across the sensor. It will let you in. Malcolm will bring your bags up.¡±


    I smile, repeat my thanks, and head to the elevator. I hit the button for the thirty-fifth floor and wait for the doors to open. Suddenly my nerves kick in. This is it-my internship for Ethan Caldwell. I met him once when I was a bridesmaid at his wedding to my aunt. I was only thirteen, but even then, I thought he was the most gorgeous man I had ever seen. With his piercing green eyes, dark hair, God-like face, and beautiful smile, he was surely every woman¡¯s dream?

 Chapter 37

    It¡¯s only as I got older and saw his pictures in the tabloids that I could really appreciate the raw masculinity of Ethan Caldwell. I know now he is definitely every woman¡¯s dream. I sigh as the doors open and step inside. I know he will never see me as anything but an intern, his ex-wife¡¯s niece, but just the thought of him kissing me, making love to me, making me feel things I have never felt before, makes me want something I can never have.


    I want him.


    Jesus, I need to stop with the inappropriate thoughts. If my aunt knew I was obsessing over Ethan like this, she would have never agreed to push for this internship for me. She thinks I am just really into investments, but really, I wanted to be close to him, to get to know him, now that I am older¡­legal.


    For my age, I am considered innocent. I have had one boyfriend, who I lost my virginity to in high school. We broke up when I came to Ennd for college, and I haven¡¯t been with or even looked at another man. Well, apart from obsessing over my ex-uncle, that is. But he doesn¡¯t count. It is just a silly little secret crush that I have. It will never develop into anything else. Why would someone like him look at me when he can have any woman he wants?


    My stomach turns. He wouldn¡¯t look at me, and that¡¯s the problem. I am just a delusional little girl that wishes he would.


    The elevator climbs, eventuallying to a halt on my new floor. I step out when the doors open and stride down the hall towards apartment four. Coming to a stop outside, I find the panel and sh it at the sensor. The door clicks; I push it open and step inside, only to stop. Jesus. The ce is amazing. The floor-to-ceiling windows make it light and airy, with the most gorgeous views of London. I am sure tenants pay a pretty penny to live here. The view alone would be worth it. I move further inside, running my hands across the soft furnishings and high-end countertops. I grew up in luxury but having lived as a student for thest year in a dorm, I can appreciate thisvish apartment that I get to call home for the next three months.


    I flop down on the couch, waiting for my luggage. I need it before I shower. And being the polite girl that I am, once I am all fresh and clean, I will go and introduce myself o Ethan. Beth said he lives in the penthouse on the floor above me, so I will go there when I get settled. I smile to myself. I finally get to see Ethan Caldwell again.


    After showering and dressing in some tight, cut-off denim shorts and a loose tank, I make my way up to the penthouse. Butterflies swim in my stomach at the thought of seeing him. I know I should probably wait until tomorrow when I go to his office, but I just can¡¯t stop myself. I want him to see me as the grown woman I am now, not the little girl at his wedding.


    I walk with purpose to the elevator, pushing the button for the penthouse, and step inside when the doors open. I know I am ying a silly game; I know I should get over my infatuation with him, but I can¡¯t. I tried. No matter how many years have passed. He is the only man I see when I close my eyes. Even when I had my boyfriend in high school, I would fantasize that it was Ethan. I¡¯m sick, I know, but I could never stop.


    It was like seeing the sun when I met him; he blinded me, so he is all I see.


    The elevator stops, the doors slide open, and I feel nervous. Pushing those feelings aside, I pad to his door and rap on it a couple of times. I wait for a long minute; when I hear footsteps striding towards me, even hidden behind the door, my heart pounds in my chest. The door swings open, revealing the man that stars in most of my fantasies, looking sexy as fuck with his bare chest and grey sweats. My mouth pops open; eyes widen as he grabs my wrist and drags me inside.


    ¡°Yourte.¡± He barks as he pulls me further inside.


    Late? What am Ite for? I don¡¯t start my internship until tomorrow. I don¡¯t say this out loud. I can¡¯t. My mouth is dry, and I have seemingly lost my voice.


    ¡°You were supposed to be here twenty minutes ago. I pay good money for punctuality.¡± He continues pulling me along, only ncing at me briefly before he kicks open a door to a¡­bedroom?


    That snaps me out of my thoughts. ¡°Wha¡­whattt are you doing?¡± I stutter. He stops and spins to face me with a re before his brows furrow. He steps back, taking me in. His eyes scan me from head to toe, and he frowns.


    ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Aspen. I wanted toe and introduce myself?¡± I ask it as a question why I¡¯m not sure.


    He smirks devilishly. The look sends a jolt of lust between my thighs.


    ¡°Aspen? Katrina¡¯s Niece?¡±


    I nod. ¡°Yes.¡±


    His smirk deepens, and suddenly, I feel like I got caught in a trap.


    Question is, do I want to escape it?N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    ETHAN


    I smirk wider.


    Little Aspen Kincaid grew up. Katrina¡¯s niece, my ex-wife¡¯s niece, is all kinds of sexy. In an innocent way.


    I like it.


    I want her.


    This girl, with her wide innocent sapphire blue eyes and her wless skin and¡­ Fuck me. I don¡¯t think I have ever wanted anyone more. Ever had such a visceral reaction to any other woman before. My cock jerks in my sweats, and my body buzzes with excitement. I want to touch her.


    Mark her.


    im her.


    I¡¯m going to fuck her. That much I know. I don¡¯t care about the familial ties or that she is nearly twenty years younger than me. I don¡¯t give one tiny fuck.


    She is mine.


    She doesn¡¯t know the beast she just released bying up here all naive and beautiful. She is like a littlemb to ughter. I grin at my thoughts.


    ¡°Who did you think I was?¡± she asks so softly; I nearly miss it.


    Well, there¡¯s a question. I thought she was the hooker I paid a lot of money for from a very discreet, very high-end agency. I needed a release, and using someone from Hush, was perfect. But not as perfect as the girl who just walked into the lion¡¯s den.


    ¡°No one.¡± I wave her off. ¡°Would you like a drink, littlemb?¡± I start dragging her back to the living area, her soft skin under my fingertips making me want to rip her clothes off right here and now and bury my cock so deep inside that mye leaks out of her mouth. I stifle a groan at the thought.


    ¡°Littlemb?¡± she questions, but I ignore her.


    ¡°What do you want to drink? I have wine?¡± I ask instead of answering her question. I pull out a stool, spin to face her, and push her down onto it. She res at me. I smile. In these few minutes of knowing her, I can tell she is a spitfire.


    She sighs. ¡°Water is fine.¡±


    I nod, but I can¡¯t help the little bit of disappointment I feel that she won¡¯t be having an alcoholic drink. I would never take advantage, but I was hoping it would rx her. Turning to the fridge, I pull it open and grab a bottle of water. I hand it to her before pouring myself a whiskey. Grabbing my phone, I quickly shoot off a message to reception not to let my now veryte guest up before focusing my attention back on the littlemb. Leaning against the counter, I eye her over the rim of the crystal tumbler. The way her delicate throat works as she swallows, the way her eyes move to me every so often, the way her cheeks pink to a delicious colour every time she finds my gaze already on her.


    ¡°So Aspen,¡± I start. ¡°Are you looking forward to working at Caldwell Global Investments?¡± I¡¯m being polite. I couldn¡¯t give a shit if she is looking forward to it or not. I only have one goal where she is concerned now. And that is to make her mine. Fuck her so hard; I will imprint on her insides.


    She squirms in her seat as if she can read my thoughts, then clears her throat. ¡°I am. I have been looking forward to getting my teeth stuck into some real work.¡±


    The only thing I want her teeth stuck into is me. My cock hardens at the thought. Fuck. I want to consume this littlemb whole devour her until it changes her as a person. Want to blow my seed so deep inside her, it takes root with my¡­child?


    I shake my head.


    What?


    Where the fuck did thate from?


    I have never wanted children. It¡¯s never interested me. But for some reason, this girl, who just walked into my apartment, has brought this primal side out in me. The side that wants to breed her. Make her mine.


    ¡°Ethan?¡± her soft voice drags me from my depraved thoughts.


    ¡°Mmm?¡±


    ¡°How far from the office are we? And what time will I need to leave in the morning to arrive on time?¡±


    ¡°You wille with me,¡± I state, leaving no room for argument. I have this need coursing through me. This need to be around her no matter what. Jesus. I didn¡¯t expect this when I agreed to Katrina¡¯s demands. I smirk. I don¡¯t think Katrina would have either. There is no way she would be happy with me obsessing over her niece. No matter how good of terms we ended on.


    My eyes move to Aspen¡¯sp, where she wrings her hands before moving back to her face. She chews at her full bottom lip, and I want nothing more than to go over there and nibble it myself.


    ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s okay? I don¡¯t want to intrude. I can make my own way there.¡±


    I put a hand up to stop her mumbling. ¡°It¡¯s non-negotiable. You will travel with me to the office.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± she sighs before her lips curve into a breath-taking smile. It¡¯s then I know with one hundred percent certainty that I don¡¯t care if it¡¯s a bad idea; I don¡¯t care that she is Katrina¡¯s niece.


    I am going to make Aspen Kincaid mine in every way.

 Chapter 38

    The next morning at seven-thirty on the dot, I make my way down to Aspen¡¯s apartment to collect her. After she leftst night, I decided that she would be working for me personally. Not Caldwell¡¯s. Me. I want to know every minute of every day, what she is doing, and I can¡¯t do that if she is in another department or on another floor, so the conclusion I came to is that she can be my PA. I will assign Dawn, my current PA, to someone else, and Aspen can take her position. It will certainly ruffle some feathers and may cause several arguments amongst senior management. But I don¡¯t care. I own the fuckingpany. I can do what the hell I like.


    I knock on the door, my mind racing with what my littlemb will be wearing today. I hope it¡¯s a skirt. Easier ess. I could bend her over my desk push it up to her hips as I pull her panties down. I could y with what I am sure is a sweet cunt, getting her wet enough to take my big cock. Then I could ram into her, stretching her, make her take me. I could- I¡¯m cut off when the door swings open, revealing Aspen. Fresh-faced, with a lick of mascara on her longshes. A coat of gloss on her plump pink lips and her brown hair down in soft waves. My eyes drop down her body, my jaw clenches at the sexy but innocent dress she wears. I could definitely work with that.


    Fuck. She is beautiful. I swear to God, if any other man in that building looks at her in a way I don¡¯t like, I will fire the fuckers.


    My gaze moves back to her face to find her blushing. I love the colour on her skin and briefly wonder if her arse would look the same after I spank her. My dick hardens in my trousers at the thought.


    ¡°Morning Ethan,¡± she says shyly, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. I reach forward and take that lock between my fingers, rubbing the soft strands. Her breath hitches, and she stares at me.


    I clear my throat. ¡°Aspen,¡± I say in greeting. ¡°My driver is waiting downstairs. Let¡¯s go.¡± I grab her elbow and pull her outside towards the elevator.


    ¡°I am quite capable of walking myself.¡± She snaps, making me smirk.


    My littlemb has some fire.


    I like it.


    She will need that fire for what I have nned for her.


    Hitting the button for the lobby, the doors open almost immediately. We step inside. She shifts nervously beside me. I watch as she swallows and wonder how far she could take me down her throat. I wonder If she could handle someone like me.


    ¡°What will I be doing today?¡± she asks softly, her blue eyes on me.


    ¡°You will be personally working for me.¡±


    Those gorgeous eyes of hers widen. ¡°Wha-whatt?¡± she stutters. ¡°I thought I would be working for someone¡­ a bit lower down in thepany.¡± She says cautiously.


    I grin, shing some teeth. ¡°No, littlemb. I just decided that you will be mine.¡± by the look on her face, I think she misses the underlying meaning in what I say. That¡¯s okay.


    She will soon figure it out.


    She lets out a long sigh as wee to a stop, and I bite back a smile. My littlemb doesn¡¯t even know the half of what I am going to put her through. I am known for being brutal in the business world, and she will see that for herself. Just as she will see how ruthless I will be when I get her underneath me, taking my big cock in her tight little cunt.


    I stride out, Aspen following close behind. Maurice, who is on the door, opens it with a smile and greeting.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    ¡°Good morning, Mr Caldwell. Have a great day.¡±


    I nod before hopping into the waiting Mercedes, where Albert has the door open for me. My littlemb scrambles in beside me. Her sweet scent hits me again, making my blood pump through my body and my dick harden to stone. A primal need, the same one that happenedst night, courses through me. Without thinking, my hand darts out and mps down on her thigh. She gasps, her eyes widening. I lean in, my lips brushing hers. I smile when she moves closer. She wants this too. I pull back and cup her cheeks.


    ¡°I have high expectations for you, littlemb. I hope you can handle me.¡±


    ASPEN


    ¡°I have high hopes for you, littlemb. I hope you can handle me.¡±


    Somehow, I get the feeling he didn¡¯t mean in the office. Especially since we nearly kissed¡­well, he brushed his soft lips against mine. But in my head, we almost did.


    I sit at my new desk outside Ethan¡¯s office, chewing my lip in thought. The way he touched me. The almost kiss. The bulge in his pants¡­ I saw it with my own eyes. He was hard for me.


    What does this all mean?


    Does he want me like I want him?


    The thought sends a thrill through me.


    Maybe I can have Ethan in the ways I have dreamed about.


    It¡¯s been a week of working at Caldwell Global Investments, and I thought I was being paranoid, that it was all in my head. I¡¯vee to the realization it¡¯s not. No one speaks to me. No one looks at me, well


    apart from Ethan, and I have just about had enough of it.


    I push out of my seat and march towards his door. I knock and wait for his voice to confirm I can enter.


    ¡°Come in,¡± his thick drawl sends a jolt of lust straight to my core. Pushing the door open, I step inside. He sits at his big oak desk like the king he is, tracking my every move as I walk towards him. I swallow at the intense look in his eyes. I suddenly don¡¯t feel so confident about what I am going to say.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong littlemb?¡±


    I swallow before speaking. ¡°Why does no one in this building apart from you talk to me? No one even looks at me. I don¡¯t understand it.¡±


    He smirks before pushing out of his chair and rounding his desk. He stands in front of me. My pulse kicks up at his proximity. Before I know what is happening, he cups my face and smashes his lips to mine. I gasp at the contact, which allows him ess to my mouth. His tongue darts inside, tangling with my own. What the fuck is happening right now? Am I dreaming? No, I¡¯m not. This is real. Ethan is kissing me.


    My handse up,nding on his chest. I try to push him away, but he is so big he doesn¡¯t move. He groans into my mouth, and I feel his cock harden against my stomach. I gasp again. He feels huge. So much bigger than I am used to.


    He pulls away. I stare at him as I try to catch my breath. He runs a finger across his bottom lip before doing the same to mine. He bops me on the nose, then leans in; his hot breath hits my ear, making me shiver.


    ¡°Because you are mine, littlemb. I don¡¯t want anyone looking at you, let alone speaking to you.¡±


    I snap out of whatever spell he had me under and take a step back. ¡°You told them not to talk to me?¡± I ask incredulously.


    He grins. ¡°Yes. I want all your words. All your smiles. Every single one of your facial expressions. I want you. You are mine. You were mine from the moment you stepped into my apartment, and there is nothing you can do to change thatmb.¡±


    My eyes widen at his words. I know I wanted him, but this? This is too much. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. You were married to my aunt.¡± I blurt, even though that never stopped me from obsessing over the man.


    He smirks wider as he cups my face. ¡°Was, being the operative word. Now I am going to have you. Own you. I am going to fill you with my cum.


    Bury myself so deep in your tight little cunt that you will never get me out.¡±

 Chapter 39

    I bite back a moan at his dirty words, but he doesn¡¯t miss the way my thighs rub together. ¡°Ethan, we can¡¯t.¡± I shake my head, not because I am telling him no. But because I can¡¯t believe I am telling him no. This man, who I have secretly crushed on from the moment I met him, wants me, and I am rejecting him. Because now he has made it real, I am afraid of the consequences.


    He steps into me again. ¡°There is no such word as no when ites to you and me. We are happening. This is happening. You have no say in the matter. I decided I want you, Aspen, and what I want¡­I get.¡±


    The arrogant bastard. How dare he think he can just tell me what¡¯s going to happen and expect me to go along with it. Before I can stop him, he grabs and spins me, bending me over his desk. My skirt flips up, and his fingers are there in my panties. He runs a thick finger along my slit as his tongue runs a line up my neck.


    ¡°Ethan,¡± I pant.


    ¡°You can¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t want this. Look how wet you are for me. You are dripping all over my fingers.¡± He groans before pushing a thick


    finger inside me. ¡°Hmm. Tight, just as I suspected.¡±


    I should tell him to stop. Kick him in the balls. Push him away. I don¡¯t do any of that though. Because for the first time in my life, my bodyes alive with a need I have never known. He pumps his finger into me, building me higher and higher. I feel an orgasm build in every single part of my body, from the tips of my toes to the top of my head. And then he withdraws his finger. I whimper. My body suddenly feeling empty, only to shudder when he drops to his knees behind me and runs his skillful tongue from my slit to my clit.


    ¡°Ethannn,¡± I stutter moan. He spanks me. The fucker spanks me. My eyes fly open, and I am suddenly conscious of what we are doing. Yes, Ethan has tinted ss windows, and people can only see if they came to his door, but I am aware now of what we are doing and being caught.


    ¡°Ethan, stop. Anyone could catch us.¡± I hiss.


    He doesn¡¯t make any move to stop; he plunges his tongue into me,pping at my arousal like it¡¯s the air he needs to breathe. I squirm, trying to get out of his hold. He grips my waist tighter, in a vice grip, so I can¡¯t move.


    ¡°Stay still, littlemb. Let me taste what¡¯s mine,¡± he growls confidently  like me being his is a done deal, and I have no say ¨C before thrusting his tongue back into me. The sensation is so out of this world I feel an orgasm barreling through me, and I cry out his name when it hits. I slump forward, falling on his desk. At that moment, I am d it¡¯s there as I have no doubt I would have face-nted the floor. My legs are like jello, my body spent, but I have no time to recover. No. Ethan wraps his arms around me and scoops me into his arms. He takes a few steps then drops me down on the plush couch in the corner of his big office.


    I stare up at him. He licks his full lips as he watches me. I must look a mess with my skirt wrapped around my middle and a just fucked look on my face. His hands move down, and I follow the movement to where he reaches his belt. He undoes it slowly, seductively, then pulls down his zipper and pants in one swift move. I swallow. He is big. Really fucking big, and now I¡¯m scared. There is no way that is going to fit in me. No way I am letting it near me.


    I scoot up the couch, and he must sense my panic because he smirks. He removes his tie, his shirt and finally peels his briefs down his muscr thighs. His dick jumps free, and¡­ holy shit. No. No way. He is too big. It¡¯s then that I jump into action, but I don¡¯t get far because he drops down on me and pins me to the couch.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong littlemb? Never seen a cock this big?¡¯ he taunts in my ear.


    I push at his chest, trying anything to get him to move. ¡°Ethan, we can¡¯t.


    You just got divorced from my aunt; this is wrong.¡±


    He chuckles, the sound hitting me straight in my pussy, but I ignore it. ¡°It¡¯s toote to grow a conscience now, Aspen. I¡¯ve already had my tongue and fingers in you, and now I¡¯m going to have my cock in you. I already told you that you are mine, and now I will im your perfect, tight little cunt. Bury myself and my seed so far in you that you will never get me out.¡± He pulls back to look at me, his eyes soften briefly, no doubt at the look of panic in mine. He cups my cheeks and kisses me so softly, so intimately it makes me want to cry. I feel rather than see him line his dick up to my entrance, and then he thrusts into me. I cry out at the intrusion, but he covers it, swallowing every little bit of my difort. He breaks the kiss and stares down at me.


    ¡°Fuck. You are so fucking tight, littlemb; I¡¯m surprised I haven¡¯t split you in two.¡± I don¡¯t miss the smugness in his voice.


    ¡°It hurts,¡± I whimper as he starts thrusting. Every move stretches me wider, making me fit to his length.


    ¡°You will get used to it. We will be doing this a lot.¡± He says nonchntly, confidently, like he isn¡¯t fucking his ex-wife¡¯s neen-yearold niece.


    I freeze. Stare at him and the smirk on his gorgeous face. ¡°What? No Ethan. This can¡¯t happen again.¡± I shake my head on a moan as he hits me in a spot that makes me see stars. The pain has subsided, and the pleasure has officially taken over. I have never felt anything like this.


    He pins my hands down beside me as he drops down. His mouth hits my ear; he nibbles before speaking. ¡°It can and it will. This is not up for discussion. I have already told you several times that you are mine, littlemb. I don¡¯t like repeating myself. The sooner you get used to the idea, the better it will be for all of us.¡± He pivots his hips as his thumb reaches down and ys with my clit. He knows exactly what he is doing, and before I know what¡¯s happening, a second orgasm blows through me. He feels it and smashes his lips to mine as I moan his name. My pussy tightens around him, drawing out his own release. He stills as his cock jerks inside me, and his hote fills me.


    Fuck.


    He didn¡¯t use a condom.


    I push at him again as panic courses through me. Yes, I am on the pill, but it¡¯s not one hundred percent effective.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t use protection.¡± My lips wobble as the enormity of what I have just done dawns on me. I fucked my aunt¡¯s ex-husband. The man I have been obsessed with for thest six years. I could ept my obsession when it was all in my head, and as much as I wanted something like this to happen, I never expected it would.


    He pulls back and looks at me with a frown before grinning. He doesn¡¯t say anything, just pulls out of me. I feel a surge of wetness between my thighs as hise leaks out of me. I¡¯ve never had sex without a condom before, never had to deal with this. Ethan nces down at it, a proud look on his face. He reaches down, gathering it up between his fingers, and pushes it back inside of me. My eyes dart to his to find his gaze already on me, his lips tipping up into a smirk.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± I snap. He is obviously not taking this seriously, and it¡¯s pissing me off.


    ¡°I want every bit of my seed inside you, littlemb. This,¡± he holds up his finger where he has scooped up his cum. ¡°Belongs to you. Inside you. We don¡¯t want to waste it now, do we?¡±


    I moan as he pushes it back inside me, then snap out of it, remembering I am still angry. ¡°You didn¡¯t use a condom,¡± I state. Whether to Ethan or myself, I am not sure.


    His gaze meets mine, and he shrugs. ¡°Don¡¯t need to. I¡¯m clean. You¡¯re clean. You¡¯re on the pill.


    My eyes widen at his words. ¡°How the hell do you know that?¡± I snap.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    He smirks. ¡°I have my ways.¡±

 Chapter 40

    ETHAN


    I wasn¡¯t lying when I told my littlemb that I have my ways. I do. Money talks and I had an associate of mine run a background check on her and not just a basic one. I wanted every little bit of information on Aspen Kincaid he could find, and he didn¡¯t disappoint.


    I found out she had one boyfriend back in high school in Boston. I found out she started taking birth control at the age of seventeen when they started a sexual rtionship. I found out the brand of her little white pill. I found out he is the only boy she has been with. And I was d about that. I already wanted to jump on my jet, fly to New York  where he was attending college  and murder the little fucker for taking something that should have been mine. For being my littlembs first.


    I don¡¯t know why I felt so possessive over her, but I did, and I couldn¡¯t stop it. It was like a freight train barrelling through me that would onlye to a head once I made her entirely mine. My ring on her finger. My baby in her belly. My thoughts were insane. I knew that. I had never felt like this towards any woman. But Aspen was different. She was just¡­mine. And nothing or no one could change that. Not even Aspen herself.


    I had pushed the thoughts of her first boyfriend aside and cated myself with the fact that I would be herst. She just didn¡¯t know that yet.


    I drag her towards the elevator, deciding that I am over this day at work and want to get her back to my penthouse so I can fuck her some more in the privacy of my home. I want to hear her scream my name as shees around my cock. Although the sex in my office was the best I have ever had, the feeling of her tight pussy squeezing me, the little noises she made, it wasn¡¯t enough. I needed more. I need to hear her moans, her whimpers, as she takes my dick in her small tight cunt.


    ¡°Ethan,¡± she hisses as we step inside the lift. I nce down at her to find her ring at me. ¡°Everyone on this floor just witnessed you dragging me in here. They will all talk. I don¡¯t want to be known as the office whore.¡±


    ¡°Not the office whore littlemb, but mine. I don¡¯t care who saw what. I want them all to know you are off-limits.¡±


    ¡°You are insane. I don¡¯t need rumors circting around yourpany about me. What if it gets back to my family?¡±


    I shrug. ¡°Don¡¯t care. The sooner they find out about us, the better it will be, and everyone can move forward.¡±


    Her mouth drops open, eyes widening. ¡°What? No. No Ethan. They can¡¯t find out about us.¡±


    ¡°They can and they will,¡± I say with finality. Littlemb doesn¡¯t know it yet. But I am going to make her mine in every way possible. Irrevocably. The thoughts I am having about this girl sound crazy even to my own mind, but I don¡¯t care. I want her. I will have her.


    ¡°No, Ethan.¡± She snatches her arm out of my grip. ¡°We are done. It was a one-off. I will admit I have had a thing for you ever since I met you, but this cannot go any further. It¡¯s done.¡± She enunciates thest word. I hum in my throat. She sighs, in relief or triumph, I am not sure, and smiles taking my little nomittal noise as me agreeing to her absurdity. Her mind is now telling her it is a done deal. We are over after that one little fuck. But fuck that. Whatever she has made up in her mind is just that-made up-a fantasy.


    Now that I have had a taste of her. I will never let her go. Soon enough, she will realise that.


    It has been a couple of weeks since I first had Aspen. After getting back to my penthouse, I fucked her again; although she protested, to begin with, she soon let me have my way with her once her pleasure overpowered any thoughts of her family. Of Katrina.


    I knew it wouldn¡¯t take long to coax her into my way of thinking, and she quickly agreed to a rtionship of sorts for the duration of her internship. Little did she know I had something up my sleeve that would tie her to mepletely.


    She has basically moved in with me at this point, and I loved having her in my space. Waking up and going to sleep with her. I wanted it every day for the rest of my life.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    ¡°Oh my God,¡± my littlemb screams as I hit the spot that makes her see stars. I pound into her harder, pivoting my hips. I want her toe around my dick so I can fill her with mye.


    ¡°I prefer to go by the name Ethan, littlemb,¡± I growl. Her eyes fly open, and she smirks at me. I grin. She is morefortable with me now. I love it.


    ¡°You are my God.¡± She purrs, thrusting up her hips to meet me halfway. I growl, pounding into her harder. I reach down to thumb her clit. Her head falls back, and she moans. I know she¡¯s close when her pussy starts tightening around me. I won¡¯tst long once she orgasms; she squeezes me so tight it always brings on my own release.


    ¡°Ethan,¡± she screams as her orgasm barrels through her. I watch her as she slumps back in perfect bliss, her lips parted, eyes closed. She really is fucking beautiful. The most exquisite thing I have ever seen. With that in mind, Ie, releasing my seed inside her. Burying it so deep, she will never get me out.


    I groan, rolling to the side so as not to squash her with my weight. Sheys there, her chest heaving as she tries toe down from her high. I push up on my elbow and look between her parted thighs. Mye leaks out of her. I frown.


    We can¡¯t have that.


    I reach down, scooping up the milky white liquid, and shove it back inside of her. She jerks.


    ¡°Why do you do that?¡± I nce at her; her blue eyes watch me with confusion and curiosity.


    ¡°We don¡¯t want to waste perfectly good semen, do we,¡± it¡¯s not a question, but she answers anyway.


    ¡°Ethan, you are crazy. I am on birth control, and I always ask you to wear a condom. Not that you listen,¡± she grumbles. ¡°But anyway, it doesn¡¯t matter whether it is inside or outside of me. We are done once my internship ends.¡±


    I watch her for a long minute before jumping out the bed and heading to the en-suite to do what I am not sure. I just need to get away from her. I hate it when she says we are done.


    A little white package catches my eye as I pace the bathroom, and I know then what I must do. A smirk curves my lips. She may think we are done when her job is over, but we will never be done. I grab the packet, ring at it like it personally offends me.


    It does.


    Then it hits me like a lightbulb going off in my head-the perfect solution.


    I will have my doctor give me a cebo. She won¡¯t be able to tell the difference. Everything down to the packaging, the shape of the little offensive white pill? It will all be the same, look exactly the same. She thinks she can just discard me like trash when summer is over. Not on my watch. My littlemb has no idea what¡¯sing. As the n forms in my head, my smirk gets bigger. My dick turns rock hard, throbbing with need, at just the thought of burying my seed so deep inside her it has no choice but to take root. Her rounded belly, growing with my child. I groan as the picture shes in my head.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± I¡¯m startled from my devious thoughts and nce up to find Aspen lent against the door jamb, watching not me but her birth control in my hand. I drop them down on the counter and close the distance between us.


    ¡°Nothing. I was just thinking, maybe you don¡¯t need those anymore.¡± I say, wanting to give her a choice. If she says no, I will go ahead and do what I nned anyway, but at least I can rest easy in the knowledge I gave her the chance to choose this, us, first.


    Sheughs nervously and pushes me away as she shakes her head. ¡°You really are insane. The birth control stays, and at this point, I am inclined to ask you to wear a condom, but I know it will do me no good. I don¡¯t want a baby right now, Ethan. Especially not with my aunt¡¯s ex-husband. Do you have any idea the hurt it would cause if my family ever found out about us?¡±


    I do. But I am selfish enough not to care. Katrina will get over it. Aspen¡¯s family will get over it. I watch her intently. She doesn¡¯t realise just how crazy I am or the lengths I will go to keep her, to put my baby inside of her. But that¡¯s okay; she will find out soon. The number of times I n on fucking her, cum inside her, she will be pregnant by the time her internship is over.


    I will make sure of it.

 Chapter 41

    ASPEN


    After the talk with Ethan about birth control, he hasn¡¯t brought it up again. The implication was clear. He wanted a baby with me. I should have been ecstatic at the thought of him wanting me in that way, but there was another part, a bigger part of me, that overpowered it all. I didn¡¯t want to upset my family. Katrina.


    Although I didn¡¯t see much of her, we had always gotten along. It felt like a betrayal what I was doing with Ethan. I know they are divorced, but I still didn¡¯t feel good about myself and what I was doing. It didn¡¯t stop me from doing it though. I can¡¯t get enough of Ethan, and it was obvious he felt the same way. He was insatiable. We fucked in the morning before work, in his office at work  sometimes twice a day  and then in the evening. I was so sore from all the sex, but I just couldn¡¯t stop. It was better than anything I had ever felt before.


    I was now a month into my rtionship with Ethan and six weeks into my internship with another six to go before I finished and returned to my normal life at Oxford college. It saddened me to think about it, to not be around Ethan, to not live with him, but it was our reality, and there was no way we could keep our rtionship going once my contract at Caldwell Global Investments ended. I couldn¡¯t keep Ethan. No matter how much I wanted to. My family would never approve of us, and quite frankly, I couldn¡¯t even me them. Was I sick for allowing this to happen? I didn¡¯t think I was. But I doubt other people would see it as normal given who his ex-wife was and the twenty-year age difference.


    I sigh, wondering how the hell I got myself into this mess. But then I remember that thest month has been the best of my life. And it¡¯s not even just the sex, though that is amazing. It¡¯s him. The way he is possessive over me, the butterflies that swim in my tummy every time I see his gorgeous face, the way he looks after me and knows what I need before I¡¯ve even anticipated it. The way I¡­ love him. My eyes widen.


    Oh god.


    No.


    No. No. No.


    I cannot love Ethan.


    But I do.


    Deep down, I know I do. I have fallen in love with Ethan Caldwell.


    ¡°Aspen?¡± a familiar drawl sounds, snapping me out of my dilemma. I look up to find Ethan hovering over my desk, a frown on his face.


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°I called you several times. Come to my office.¡± He turns without another word and saunters away.


    I push out of my chair and follow him, quietly closing the door when I have stepped inside. He sits on his desk, thick thighs spread, looking good enough to eat. God, he makes my mouth water.


    ¡°Is everything okay? You seemed out of it just then.¡±


    I stride towards him, only stopping when I am close enough to touch him. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I was just thinking about my family.¡± I don¡¯t tell him that I hade to the realization that I have, in fact, fallen in love with him. He searches my face, looking for any hint that I am lying. Seemingly satisfied, he grabs my waist and pulls me to him.


    ¡°I already told you that I am happy to sit down with them and tell them about us.¡±


    I shake my head. ¡°No. We are only together for the duration of my internship. I don¡¯t want to cause unnecessary upset for a fling.¡±


    He makes a noise in his throat as a look I can¡¯t quite decipher shes in his eyes. It¡¯s gone as quick as it came, and he sters on a smile.


    ¡°Very well.¡± He spins me so quick, bending me over his desk. He flips up my skirt and rips my panties from my body.


    I squirm as the cool air hits my wet folds. ¡°Ethan, stop.¡± I hiss.


    He spanks me, making me yelp. ¡°No,¡± that one word leaves no room for argument, and before I know what¡¯s happening, I hear the tell-tale sign of his belt being undone and his zipper being pulled down. I jolt when he runs the tip of his cock down my slit. ¡°You are always so fucking wet for me, littlemb.¡± He groans in my ear. ¡°Does it turn you on, knowing I was your aunts¡¯ husband? Does it turn you on knowing that I never filled her with mye, but I fill you, give you every little drop of me? Hmm?¡±


    Jesus. His dirty words and talking about Katrina shouldn¡¯t excite me, but it does. Dammit, it does.


    ¡°Ethan,¡± I moan. I feel him smile against my skin, and then he shoves into me. I cry out, still not used to the thickness of him, but he doesn¡¯t give me time to recover. He pounds into me relentlessly. Mercilessly. Possessively.


    He reaches round my front and thumbs my clit like his life depends on it, all the while pounding me so hard, I am surprised the desk doesn¡¯t move.


    ¡°Come, littlemb. Come on my cock so I can fill you with mye, just how you like.¡± Although I have requested him to wear condoms several times, some sick part of me likes how I am the only partner he has never used protection with. Likes how I am the exception.


    He thrusts into me so deep now, hitting a spot that sets my orgasm off. It barrels through me, and I cry out his name as I clench around his dick, just as he asked me to.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± he grits, going harder now. Then he stills, and I know he ising when he jerks inside of me, his hote filling me, just how he likes. I fall forward as he pulls out, tired from that little session, then feel his fingers at my entrance. I know what he¡¯s doing-shoving his seed back into me. He likes doing that. I don¡¯t know why. He scoops me up in his arms and stalks to the couch. He drops down, taking me with him, and cradles me in hisp like I am the most precious thing in the world. He strokes hair from my face so gently it makes me shiver. I feel him staring at me, but I don¡¯t open my eyes. ¡°Are you tired, littlemb?¡± ¡°Mmm, I am,¡± I mumble.


    ¡°Why?¡±Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    I frown at the weird question but answer anyway. ¡°Umm, because you fuck me for hours each day and night, and then I have to spend eight hours in an office, working, and you still find time to have your way with me. I¡¯m exhausted.¡±


    He presses his lips to my head. ¡°I am insatiable when ites to you, baby. I can¡¯t get enough.¡±


    I smile. ¡°Is that supposed to be an apology?¡± ¡°No. I will never apologise for wanting you so much.¡± I open my eyes and stare at him. Ethan Caldwell.


    A man off-limits.


    The man I love.

 Chapter 42

    ETHAN


    My littlemb is sick. She is in our joined bathroom vomiting into the toilet. Aspen is naive enough to think it was the salmon we atest night. I wanted to inform her that I would also be ill if that were the case but didn¡¯t want to bother her while she had her head in the toilet.


    I had already purchased the pregnancy tests and hidden them in my nightstand. They were waiting to be used. And I couldn¡¯t wait for her to pee on one. Couldn¡¯t wait to see the two lines confirming she was pregnant. Obviously, it was me guessing about that being the case. I wasn¡¯t a doctor, but deep down inside, I knew.


    Call it gut feeling.


    It¡¯s not.


    It¡¯s my knowledge of her being unprotected. I should feel bad. I don¡¯t. Not an hour after holding that package of pills, I contacted my doctor. Twenty-four hourster, an exact replica of her birth control arrived at my penthouse with the cebo inside. I swapped out the packets and left them in the same state as the actual package. She has no idea what I have done. No idea, her being sick could be because my baby is growing inside her. I had been inside her that many times; it would be more of a surprise if she wasn¡¯t pregnant at this point. She better fucking be. I will not stop until she is.


    ¡°Ethan?¡± her weak voice calls out from the bathroom. I jump off the bed and make my way to her. Pushing open the door, I find her wiping her hands on a towel.


    I close the distance between us and pull her into my arms. ¡°Yes, littlemb?¡±


    ¡°I think I have food poisoning.¡± She cries. I want to scream at her that she doesn¡¯t. That if she opens her mind, she will know exactly what it is. I don¡¯t do that though. Instead, I scoop her up and carry her to the bed. Dropping her down, I pull the cover up and over her.


    ¡°Stay in bed and get some rest. The restaurant down the road does the best soup. I will order you some and get it delivered.¡± I drop a kiss on her forehead then leave the room. I make quick work of ordering from the restaurant and ask Albert to bring it up when it arrives.


    Pacing my open n living area, it only takes a few minutes toe to the decision that I will present Aspen with the pregnancy test. I know she will be mad. But I don¡¯t care. All I care about is knowing for sure whether she is pregnant.


    I stride to my bedroom with confidence. Entering, I find her in the foetal position, and her eyes closed. She peels them open, obviously sensing me. She cocks a brow in silent question, but I ignore her. Rounding the bed, I pull open the nightstand draw, smiling when my handnds on the test. I hear rather than see her shuffling around and turn to face her with the box in my hand. Her eyes widen.


    ¡°What is that?¡± she asks the question, but she knows exactly what it is.


    I drop down and prepare for the argument I know ising. ¡°You know what it is, littlemb,¡± I start softly.


    She shakes her head, then shuffles up so she is leaning against the headboard. ¡°No. No, no, no, no. I am on the pill. I have food poisoning. That¡¯s all.¡± Her denial is adorable. I reach out with my free hand and run my thumb across her full bottom lip.


    ¡°I just want to be sure. It won¡¯t do any harm, will it?¡±


    Her lip wobbles, and I almost feel guilty for putting her in this position. Almost. I don¡¯t feel guilty. Not one bit. I knew what I was doing when I switched her pills. I wanted this. And I know as much as Aspen was against the idea, she wille to terms with our situation and want it just the same. I will never tell her what I did. No way. I don¡¯t want her hate. I just want her. She will never know the truth of this conception. Never.


    ¡°Why do you have a pregnancy test in your nightstand?¡± I don¡¯t miss the usation in her voice.


    I shrug. ¡°Just happened to buy one the other day.¡± ¡°Why?¡± she demands.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter why littlemb. What matters is finding out if you are carrying my baby.¡±


    She rolls her eyes. ¡°You are incorrigible. Even if I am pregnant doesn¡¯t mean I will keep it.¡±


    I see red. My hand tightens around the packet, crushing it. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare say that. Ever again. If you are pregnant, you will keep it. There is no other choice.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t get to make those decisions for me. You are not God, Ethan. What do you think my family will say? Katrina? Don¡¯t you care about any of that? I am too young for a child.¡±


    Over her dramatics and not acknowledging her words, I pull her into me. Pushing off the bed, I carry her to the toilet and drop her down on top of it. I hold out the box to her.


    ¡°Take the test.¡± My tone leaves no room for argument, and she huffs. I almost smile at her little tantrum, but I bite it down, wanting her to see how serious I am right now.


    ¡°A little privacy, please.¡±


    I re at her. ¡°I have seen every inch of your body, Aspen; up close and personal, I might add. I have had my tongue, cock, and fingers in every one of your holes. I think I am good watching you take a pee.¡±N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    She shoots me a look but does as I say. Opening the test, she pulls it out and looks over it like it personally offends her.


    ¡°You just pee on that end.¡± I point to the end of the stick she needs to urinate on. By this point, I am an expert on how they work and have read the instructions repeatedly. Pulling her panties down, she sits on the toilet and holds the stick beneath her. I watch, fixated on what she is doing. In a few minutes, we will know if my seed has taken root. Excitement courses through me, and visions of her belly growing sh in my mind. My dick hardens in my pants at the thought of her swollen belly.


    Just then, there is a knock at the door. Irritation courses through me that it dragged me out of my thoughts, but I bet it will be Aspen¡¯s soup. ¡°That will be your food.¡±


    She nods, wiping herself as she finishes. I take the stick from her andy it on the side before making my way to the door. I smile to myself as I think of the test and hopefully a positive result.


    Grabbing the knob, I pull the door open, only to freeze. The smile drops off my face, and I scowl. Just what I fucking need. She would have toe here now and try to ruin things with my littlemb and me.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to invite me in?¡± Katrina purrs.


    ¡°No. I¡¯m kind of busy right now, Katrina. What are you doing here?¡± I say impatiently, wanting to get back to Aspen.


    Her smile falls as her eyes narrow on me. ¡°I can¡¯t find Aspen. I came to surprise her with a visit, and she isn¡¯t in her apartment.¡±


    Fuck. Why is she visiting her? Katrina has never been close to her niece in all the years I have known her. ¡°And what makes¡­¡± I get cut off when Katrina¡¯s gaze goes over my shoulder, her eyes narrowing further as her brows cinch in confusion. I turn to look at who I know is Aspen. She stumbles towards me, all disorientated, pregnancy test in hand. She hasn¡¯t noticed her aunt; she is so out of it. I spin and rush towards her, grabbing her and the test before she falls.


    ¡°Ethan,¡± she whimpers. I nce at the test, finding the cause of her hysteria.


    Positive.


    A smile curves my lips. My littlemb is pregnant with my baby. I am so caught up in my happiness I forget about my ex-wife behind me.


    ¡°What the fuck?¡± Katrina screeches. Aspen freezes in my arms, her face paling as she realises who is here.


    She pulls out of my arms and straightens. ¡°Aunt Katrina?¡± she asks like she can¡¯t quite believe it¡¯s her and is making sure she is real.


    Katrina¡¯s eyes go from Aspen to me to the pregnancy test in my hand.


    ¡°You,¡± she points at me. ¡°And Aspen.¡± She swallows, her face turning into disgust.


    ¡°Yes, Katrina. Aspen and I are together and are having a baby.¡± I say confidently. My ex is not going to put a dampener on our happy news.


    ¡°What? No. Wait, aunt, I can exin.¡± Aspen blurts, the panic in her voice making my chest tighten.


    Katrina holds up her hand, stopping her from speaking, and I want to rip the fucking hand from her wrist. ¡°You are disgusting. Both of you. He is my ex-husband,¡± she spits. ¡°And you, are you having some sort of mid-life crisis? She is neen.¡±


    I pull Aspen into my arms. She struggles against me, but I grip her harder, stopping her. ¡°Get out. I will not have you upsetting, Aspen. If you can¡¯t ept us, then you don¡¯t have to be in our lives, but we will be


    together regardless of what you or anyone else thinks.¡±


    Her face nches, and she moves her gaze to the girl beside me. ¡°I did you a favor, and this is how you repay me? You are my family, Aspen. What do you think your parents will say?¡± Aspen sobs beside me, the sound making my chest tighten, but I don¡¯t look at her. I shoot daggers at the woman in front of me.


    ¡°Enough.¡± I boom. ¡°Get the fuck out of my apartment Katrina and don¡¯te back. I will not have you speaking to her in this way.¡±


    Katrina shoots us both a look of disgust before turning on her heels and leaving, mming the door behind her. I let out a breath and turn to my littlemb. I wipe the tears from under her eyes and pepper kisses over her beautiful face.


    ¡°Everything will be okay, baby. I promise.¡±


    ¡°How? My parents will hate me. Katrina hates me.¡±


    I pull her closer. ¡°They wille around, littlemb. And if they don¡¯t, then that¡¯s on them. They won¡¯t get to see their grandchild grow up. They won¡¯t get to see you happy or how much I love you because I do, Aspen. I love you, and I love our baby growing inside you.¡±


    She gasps, sucking in a breath. Her teary eyes look up at me, and a small smile curves her lips despite what¡¯s just happened. And then she makes me the happiest man in the world and says the words I didn¡¯t know I needed to hear.


    ¡°I love you too, Ethan.¡±

 Chapter 43

    EPILOGUE


    ASPEN


    ¡°S shh darling. Daddy will be home soon.¡± I stand looking out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the city of London as I rock E against my chest to stop her crying. She has been restless recently, and I think it¡¯s because she is teething.


    E Annie Caldwell was born four months ago. To this day, I still wonder how I got pregnant. I mean, I know it happens even when on the pill but out of all the women on birth control in the world, why me? I wouldn¡¯t change E, though, not for anything.


    To say it has been a hard year would be an understatement. After Katrina caught us, she immediately told my parents. My father was appalled and refused to talk to me for a couple of months, and my mother ¨C although she didn¡¯t like the situation  tried her best to be understanding. She didn¡¯t understand, though. Not to begin with. She cried and screamed at me about being with a man so much older, about being with her sister¡¯s ex-husband. Things were fraught for a while, but we eventually found some middle ground.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Ethan being the amazing man he is, arranged for them to fly here on his private jet, and we all sat down together to talk. When they realized how in love we were and saw the reality of my bump, they started epting us a little more. It will never be one hundred percent eptance, but for the most part, we all get along, and they are involved in their granddaughter¡¯s life.


    As for Katrina, I have never seen or heard from her again, and she hasn¡¯t responded to any of my emails or texts. I can¡¯t me her. I did sleep and get knocked up by her ex-husband. Ethan says it¡¯s a good thing and that hopefully, she will move on and find what we have with someone else. It upsets me that my aunt won¡¯t be a part of my life, but I understand it.


    I nce over my shoulder when I hear the door open, smiling when I see Ethan¡¯s gorgeous face. When we found out I was pregnant, I decided I wanted to continue with my studies, and Ethan supported me in that. As I got closer to my due date, we both sat down with my professors and came up with a n so I could study from home. It was the perfect solution, and I am still on track to graduate with my fellow ssmates and friends.


    My heart beats faster as I watch him move towards us. He is the man of my dreams, the love of my life, and I will never get enough of him.


    ¡°How are my two girls?¡± he asks as he steps into me. I instantly calm when I smell his scent, all man and Ethan. He drops a kiss on my lips and then one on E¡¯s forehead. I swoon. I will never get over how this man is as a father. It¡¯s the most adorable thing I have ever seen.


    ¡°Good. How was your day?¡±


    He grins. ¡°Good. I missed you both, though, littlemb.¡±


    I roll my eyes at his pet¡¯s name but smile. ¡°We missed you too.¡±


    He takes E out of my arms and pops her down in her bass now she has settled. He wraps his arms around me, and I lean into him, letting out a content sigh. Ethan Caldwell is my everything, and I can¡¯t believe he is mine.


    ETHAN TWO MONTHS AFTER THAT¡­


    I pace my office, my thoughts where they always are on my littlemb and my daughter. I love them both so much I sometimes can¡¯t breathe. Aspen still has no idea what I did to her birth control, and I will never tell her. I figured why cause an argument. She is happier than I have ever seen her, and I know she wouldn¡¯t change E or me, for that matter. I wouldn¡¯t allow it. She is mine, and that¡¯s the way it will stay. Since littlembs¡¯ family found out, I know it hasn¡¯t been easy on her, but we are at a stage now where her parents are involved with both their daughter and granddaughter. They don¡¯t necessarily like me  not that I care ¨C but they ept our rtionship for Aspen. For the most part.


    I pull open my drawer and pull out the ck velvet box that¡¯s hidden in there and make my way down to my car.


    Tonight, I will make Aspen Kincaid mine in every way possible.


    I stroll into my penthouse to find Aspen sat at her desk overlooking the window that gives the best view of London. I make my way towards her, only to pause. She looks so ethereal in this moment as the lights of


    the city hit her. Jesus, I love this girl.


    She turns to face me with a smile. ¡°Hey,¡±


    I continue my steps towards her and pull her into my arms. ¡°Hello, littlemb,¡± I kiss her hard like she is the air I need to breathe. She chuckles, breaking the kiss. ¡°Where¡¯s our daughter?¡±


    ¡°Asleep. She was grouchy today, and I just managed to get her down before you got home.¡±


    Perfect. I was going to do this somewhere more romantic, like at the top of The Shard, but where is more romantic than our home? The ce I saw her again after all those years. Before she can say anymore, I drop down to one knee. She gasps, her sapphire eyes widening as they fill with tears.


    ¡°Aspen. You are the love of my life. My everything. You and E have made me whole. I can¡¯t thank you enough foring into my life, for giving me my daughter. There are no adequate words for what you both mean to me. All I know is that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. So littlemb, will you do me the honour of being my wife? Being my forever?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Aspen cries. I smile as I push on the tinum band with a big pear-shaped diamond. Looking down at the ring on her delicate finger, I feel like the luckiest bastard alive. My littlemb is finally mine.


    ¡°Mine,¡± I say.


    ¡°Yours.¡± She replies with tears streaming down her gorgeous smiling face.


    And then I kiss her with everything I have. Possessing her. iming her. Making her mine.


    My littlemb.


    Would I have done anything differently?


    No.


    Would I change anything?


    Also no.


    I wouldn¡¯t have us or our life any other way.


    The End.

 Chapter 44

    CAGED


    Pursued


    Run. It was all I could think, the word pinballing around in my head as my feet pounded the concrete. Run, run, run! Back to the wall, I slid to the ground, curling into a ball in the shadows as the blinding


    spotlight passed overhead.


    Their pursuit was endless, making it clear they knew someone was hiding. No doubt their fancy heat-seeking equipment indicated my huddled form from the sky, though God knew how. I was so cold, I was surprised to still emit any heat. Gasping for breath, I dared to look into the ck, hearing the helicopter¡¯s des cutting through the gloom. As dark as the night, it was camouged from sight once the spotlight was cut, but the darkness didn¡¯t disguise its relentless noise. Sound was thest bastion of hope I had, the one sense they couldn¡¯t confuse.


    ¡°You aremanded to stop!¡±


    The male voice thundered from all around, amplified to ensure everyone in a five-mile radius heard. Panic wed at my insides. Sound was no longer my friend. They had taken that one remaining flicker of faith and used it against me.


    ¡°Stop running, citizen!¡±


    Citizen? I shook my head, my teeth chattering as I huddled against the brickwork. That was augh when all these men wanted was to strip away my rights.


    ¡°Stop running, or we¡¯ll shoot.¡±


    On that point, I had no doubt. I¡¯d heard more than five thousand women were culledst month alone, fleeing from the hordes of men crusading around the country, and those were just the ones we knew about. The world had changed, the constitution torn up. There were no rules.


    You have to run!


    The familiar voice screeched in my mind, reminding me of my fate if I ceded, if I gave in to the oppression. Summary execution would be an improvement on the reports I¡¯d heard from the warehouses. I shivered as memories from the few women who¡¯d avoided the plight reverberated in my mind. Sketchy radio warnings sted where we could hear them, conveying the insidious mastern. Warehouses of women; catalogued and processed with only one function in mind. None had consented to be there. None given a choice. We had run out of ces to hide and people who would conceal us. We had run out of time.


    Women were being hunted, stalked until every female of childbearing age had been processed. Someone had decided there weren¡¯t enough of us having babies. Someone had taken stark action to turn things around, and the worst of it was they¡¯d done so with the popr vote. The propaganda had done its job, brainwashing everyday people into believing catastrophe awaited if someone didn¡¯t act. Suspended in a fearful stupor, the people had stood by and allowed the machine to grow teeth, to snatchw-abiding citizens and force them into warehouses. I didn¡¯t know all the details. All I knew was the machine was out of control, spewing how they had no choice, how they had to act, how it was for the greater good.


    I swallowed as the helicopterpleted another circuit.


    ¡°Last chance!¡± The menacing tone resounded through the air. ¡°Come out now or face the consequences.¡±


    Pulling in a shaky breath, I edged toward the hedgerows. If I could only make it to the foliage, I would have some cover, and there might be animals, something else with a heat source that would throw them off track. This ce had been a farm once, but like a lot of ces, it was deserted, abandoned as women fled and men signed up to work for the machine. Everything had crumbled so fast. In the end, there had been no resistance.


    I edged against the wall, only a couple of feet from the rtive sanctuary of the undergrowth, when I heard them. Men on foot, their heavy boots audible despite their attempts at quiet. Shit! Fresh adrenaline flooded my system as I tried to ascertain where they approached from, but by the time I could decide, the noise wasing from all directions. They were everywhere! ¡°There.¡±


    One gruff voice came from my left, and like a scene from a sci-fi horror, they came into view, the lights at the end of the weapons visible before their dark forms loomed.


    ¡°Grab her.¡±


    Another voice, this time from the right, and suddenly, the ce was littered with dark, moving shadows. Lurching to my feet, I narrowly avoided one grasping hand as I stumbled forward.


    ¡°Halt!¡±


    It was futile to think I could outrun them, crazy to assume I could hide, but I couldn¡¯t stop. I had to run. Defiance to the menace was all I had, thest glimmer of my power in this dystopian nightmare.


    ¡°Take her out.¡±


    The order echoed from behind me as I charged for the bushes, but I dared not look back. I wasmitted. I fell as the bullet hit, the noise of the shot splintering the night as pain ruptured in my side.


    ¡°Fuck.¡±


    Hitting the ground, I was aware I¡¯dnded on earth rather than concrete. ncing up, I realized the foliage was just ahead of me-I¡¯d almost made it. Clutching my side, I expected to feel evidence of my life¡¯s blood seeping away, but all I could feel was something hard prating my clothes and puncturing my skin.


    ¡°How much did you give her?¡±


    My head clouded, I was vaguely conscious of two men towering over me.


    ¡°Enough to knock her out.¡±


    ¡°I preferred it when we could just fucking kill ¡¯em.¡± Darkughter swirled, the only thing to permeate the fog except the sudden cold.


    ¡°Yeah, well, you know the new order. We¡¯ll run out if we do. We have to bring them in instead.¡±


    A bright light shone in my face, forcing me to recoil. Sprawled on the ground, there was nowhere to go.


    ¡°The bitch is still awake.¡±


    ¡°Not for long.¡±


    Dimly, I noticed one rise over me.


    ¡°Once she¡¯s out for the count, we can get something to eat.¡±


    SNATCHED


    The first thing was the cold. Gripping at me with icy fingers, it forced me to curl into a ball and fight for body warmth. The next was the metal beneath me and the realization it was the source of the dilemma. Brows knitting, I tried to fathom why, but I couldn¡¯t think. My brain was misted, as if I had enjoyed too many drinks the night before, but that couldn¡¯t be right. I hadn¡¯t enjoyed anything since they¡¯d started rounding women up, hadn¡¯t rested, hadn¡¯t bathed, hadn¡¯t rxed.


    It hit me then, the gnawing panic that slithered inside like a living thing. I was on the run-in hiding. There was only one logical reason I would wake up surrounded by metal, but I didn¡¯t want to believe it, couldn¡¯t face the reality of what had happened. ¡°Wake up, bitches.¡±


    I tensed, my heart hammering, though my eyes remained shut. Somehow, I could fool myself into thinking this was only a dream while they were closed and convince myself it wasn¡¯t real.


    ¡°Time to wake up!¡± The voice was louder, the sound of metal hitting metal intensifying my rm.


    Reluctantly, my lids flickered open, my head aching as I tried to take stock of the row of cages. The ce was dark, but as I roused, there was no denying what was obvious-five cages crammed with women were apparent in the gloom. My throat dried as my gaze traveled around my new prison, and it finally dawned-I was in a cage. My hand rose to my mouth in a vain attempt to hold back the rising spike of nausea.


    Oh God. My heart threatened to leap into my throat. They got me. Oh God, oh God, oh God!


    ¡°Today is your lucky day, bitches.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t see the man shouting obscenities, but as I hunched tighter, his muddy boots came into view. Passing down the line of caged women, he paused on the other side of the metal bars.


    ¡°Today, you finally get to be useful.¡±


    Terror tore at my belly as I pulled in a shaky breath and locked eyes with the woman in the cage opposite, her brown gaze wide and petrified. ¡°You all know the score by now. You¡¯re to be taken and processed, and if you fail the tests, some lucky guys get to knock you all up.¡±


    Trepidation bubbled inside, the hand at my mouth barely holding back my strangled gasp.


    ¡°No doubt that¡¯s why you all ran. It¡¯s fucking pathetic, thinking you could get away,¡± he scoffed, ¡°but on behalf of me and the other guys, I want to thank you.¡±


    ¡°Oh my God.¡± The woman with the dirty face and brown eyes mouthed the words as his boots stalked away.


    ¡°Because you ran, we get to have a little fun with you first.¡± His chillingughter echoed around wherever they were holding us. ¡°Because you ran, we get first dibs. Turns out, they don¡¯t give a shit who fathers the new


    generation, so long as there is one, so we get to enjoy you first.¡± My blood ran cold at his disgusting insinuation.


    ¡°Since it doesn¡¯t matter how long it takes to impregnate you, we¡¯re gonna give it a go before you reach the warehouse.¡±


    ¡°Well, you say that.¡± Another menacing voice floated from overhead. ¡°It does matter, Matt. They won¡¯t give these whores forever toe up with the goods.¡±


    ¡°True,¡± the first replied. ¡°That¡¯s true, Jim. Let me make a correction. You sluts have a couple months to prove yourself functional. If not, you¡¯ll end up in a shallow grave.¡±


    My throat dried as dread spread through my body, and for the first time, I noticed I waspletely naked. Someone had stripped me before they¡¯d flung me unconscious into a cage. If there had been any doubt about the depths the new regime would sink to, this confirmed all my worst fears. I was caught, exposed, and had never been more vulnerable.


    ¡°Anyway, that¡¯s for the future,¡± he continued gleefully. ¡°For now, your concern is pleasing us, and the first step toward that is getting you bitches cleaned up.¡± The brute snorted as he paced by. ¡°You¡¯re all dirty and not in a good way.¡±


    ¡°So, listen up.¡± The second one, Jim, raised his voice. ¡°Here¡¯s how it¡¯s going to go. We¡¯re taking you out one at a time, then hosing you down. Any protest will be met with a bullet through the head, and this time, it won¡¯t be no sedative. We have enough of you to fulfill our quota and can afford to bleed a few. Once you¡¯re in better shape, we¡¯ll each choose one and get to work.¡± Disgust rose at his dry tone. It was almost as if he found this whole thing amusing.


    How could men who once worked regr jobs havee to this? They were someone¡¯s son, husband, and father-where was their humanity? That had been the true cunning of the machine¡¯s propaganda. It had dehumanized us from the beginning,beling those who didn¡¯t rush to volunteer as selfish and unfit to be a member of society. We needed to bepelled to do the right thing. We would never willingly be judged, which meant snatching us away in the darkness and viting our rights was somehow justifiable.


    I guessed it was easier to do those things if you didn¡¯t see the victim as human, didn¡¯t recognize her frightened eyes like those of your own mother or sister. I assumed it helped them sleep at night.


    ¡°Right then.¡±


    I leapt at the sudden volume of his voice, and barely able to take a breath, I watched as one of them crouched in front of the brown-eyed woman. Dressed all in ck, there was nothing identifiable about the aggressor.R¨ºAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    ¡°Might as well start with you, bitch.¡±

 Chapter 45

    WRENCHED


    Time protracted as she was ripped away. She hadn¡¯t tried to run, but the asshole manhandled her until the metal prison, which had once abhorred, looked like sanctuary. There were women cowering in the cages I could see, and the terrified gaspsing from my right suggested there were even more I couldn¡¯t see. Silence drenched the gray room as they dragged the brown-eyed woman from captivity, her fate unknown beyond the sickening words of the one they called Matt and the soulshattering scream she let out from somewhere out of sight.


    ¡°This can¡¯t be happening, this can¡¯t be happening!¡± a frantic voice panted from down the line.


    ¡°Well, it is,¡± whispered an olive-skinned woman beside the empty cage. ¡°Shut the fuck up before you get us in even more trouble.¡±Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°More trouble?¡± The retort came from another crate I couldn¡¯t see. ¡°How do you fathom that? We¡¯re fucked!¡±


    I closed my eyes, trying to block out the turmoil, but it was impossible. The stranger was right. My worst-case scenario was ying out before my eyes.


    ¡°Next up!¡±


    My body stiffened as my eyes flew open to find those grubby boots marching into view.


    ¡°You.¡±


    Shock reverberated as he fell to his haunches in front of me. I wanted to scream, cry, and resist, but in the distress of the moment, no protests came. What was the point of being a hero? He had all the cards stacked in his favor-authority, control, and guns. I didn¡¯t even have clothes.


    ¡°Out and don¡¯t try any funny business.¡± He unlocked the padlock securing the metal door, and it swung open, revealing the tiled floor and the long corridor to God knew where. ¡°Move it.¡±


    I pressed my palm into the cold floor, easing my weary body into the open.


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother getting up.¡± His tone was snide. ¡°I reckon you bitches can crawl.¡±


    A shudder ran along my back at his sinistermand, but somehow, I was relieved. Better to crawl of my own volition than be shoved and thrown around like the brown-eyed girl.


    ¡°Faster,¡± he snarled, already striding down the narrow hall.


    Fleetingly, I lifted my head, meeting the gaze of the next woman in line.


    ¡°Faster, or I¡¯ll fucking drag you by the hair.¡±


    I scrambled to obey, but it was difficult to move efficiently on my hands and knees, especially when he insisted on such long, unhelpful strides. Following behind as best I could, we rounded the corner to a small open courtyard.


    ¡°You took your time.¡± Another swine stood there, arms folded across his chest.


    ¡°Yeah, the bitch is taking forever.¡±


    ¡°You need to be a little more assertive, Jim.¡± Arms falling to his side, he marched in my direction, grabbing me by the hair and yanking me to my feet. Wincing, I mbered to my full height, hands rising to lessen the sting as he jerked me onto the freezing concrete. For one awful moment, I forgot I was naked, my only focus on halting the fire erupting at my scalp. Heart racing, I ignored the chill of the stone tiles, my feet wet as I was forced to walk through a puddle of water. It all happened in a matter of seconds.


    ¡°Here.¡± He spun me around, shoving me back against a wooden post.


    ¡°Let me look at you.¡± Grasping my wrists, he held me against the wood. ¡°This one¡¯s not bad.¡±


    I could scarcely catch my breath. His face contorted as he chuckled at my predicament.


    ¡°Nice tits.¡±


    ¡°Get on with it,¡± moaned the other one. ¡°We¡¯ve got ten of them to get through. Where are the others? We¡¯re the only ones doing any work.¡±


    ¡°Dn and Ryan should be around,¡± he replied before his attention flitted back to me. ¡°Go find them while I get this one ready.¡± Pushing my arms back, his gaze narrowed. ¡°Gonna be a good girl?¡±


    ¡°Wh-What are you going to do to me?¡±


    His face twisted into an ugly sneer as he tugged my arm higher. The next thing I knew, there was a metal bracelet around my wrist. ncing up,


    I was horrified to see him securing shackles around one, then the other arm.


    In less than a moment, I¡¯d been strung up like a turkey at Christmas, naked and defenseless.


    ¡°Keep your mouth shut.¡± He leered as he stared at my helpless body.


    ¡°You bitches talk too much.¡±


    ¡°But please¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t help pleading, though I instantly loathed myself for it. ¡°I-¡±


    My entreaty was cut short by the thug¡¯s hand rising to my throat and squeezing.


    ¡°I said shut up.¡±


    Immobilized as much by fear as his hand and the shackles, I gasped for air as his free palm slid to my chest.


    ¡°There,¡± he cooed, crushing my left nipple between his thumb and fingers. ¡°That¡¯s much better.¡±


    Struggling for air and unable to get away, there was nothing I could do to resist his predatory advance.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± An unknown voice distracted him, and his hand rxed on my throat.


    ¡°Getting them washed, you asshole.¡± He released my teat as he spat at his colleague. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you helping?¡±


    ¡°You can cope with a few little girls, can¡¯t you?¡±


    I turned to see the newest ruffian¡¯s brow rise. He was more attractive than the one pawing me, though clearly stillcking principles.


    ¡°Fuck you.¡± The first guy, Matt, shook his head as he turned and walked away. Crouching, he collected a hose from the concrete. ¡°You deal with this one if you¡¯re so bloody clever. Where¡¯s Ryan?¡±


    ¡°Enjoying the one you cleaned up.¡± Heughed, his dark hair falling into his eyes as he moved to grab the hose. His gaze darted to me, his free hand sliding into his pocket.


    ¡°Already?¡± Mattined. ¡°We said we¡¯d wait.¡±


    ¡°Apparently, he couldn¡¯t,¡± sniggered the one wielding the hose. ¡°Jim said we could each take one and leave the others ¡¯tilter.¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡± Matt blew out a breath. ¡°Then I¡¯m going to choose one for myself.¡±


    Without waiting for a reply, he stormed back toward the cages, leaving me shackled on the cold stone at the will of the stranger. As if it wanted to taunt me further, the breeze whipped up, goosing my skin as it rushed past. ¡°Who do we have here?¡± His eyebrow arched as he wandered in my direction. ¡°Do you have a name?¡±


    My name? In all the time I¡¯d been on the run, he was the first man to have asked.


    ¡°Eloise.¡± My voice was hoarse after the recent attack.


    ¡°Very pretty,¡± he replied, drinking in my bound and exposed body. ¡°I¡¯m going to hose you down, Eloise.¡±


    ¡°Please¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t take much more. All those days of fear and tension, the hours of hiding and slowly starving had taken their toll, had all been for nothing. They¡¯de for me in the end. There had been no escape.


    ¡°I suggest you keep your eyes and mouth closed.¡± Wedging the hosepipe between his thighs, he rolled up his ck shirt sleeves. ¡°This won¡¯t take long.¡±


    That was all the warning I got. By the time he gripped the hose again, the device had flickered on, water rushing from its spout onto the concrete. Widening his stance, he met my gaze, his blue eyes sparkling as he directed the flow onto me.


    ¡°Ow!¡± I screeched, my feet dancing as the torrent worked up and down my shins. The intensity of the water was so fierce, the impact was almost painful, and given its freezing temperature, my brain interpreted its power as pain. ¡°Oh God, no!¡±


    A small smile rose to his lips as he guided the current. Thankfully, he avoided my sex as there was little I could do to protect the sensitive area except press my thighs together, but the stream felt much tougher against my midriff. Panic spiraled as it rose to my breasts, my pleas increasing when the water hit my nipples. I¡¯d never been so cold and susceptible, never felt so damn powerless. Tipping my head back as far as the post would allow, I squeezed my eyes closed as I dangled from the shackles. The surge went on, hitting my neck and soaking the bottom of my hair.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Finally, the pressure of the current assuaged and shivering, I found the strength to open my eyes. He pointed the flow at me, shifting its focus from one nipple to the next as he drew nearer. He flicked the power off, dropping the hose as he stood regarding me.


    ¡°Matt¡¯s right, they might be small, but you have great tits.¡±

 Chapter 46

    CHOSEN


    I couldn¡¯t help my chattering teeth or the involuntary way my limbs trembled. Torn between the fear of pneumonia, never leaving the walls of this terrible ce, and whatever fate awaited me if he took me away, I was forced to wait and ept his unnerving scrutiny.


    ¡°Turn around.¡± He signaled for me to spin, and not knowing what else to do, Iplied. ¡°Legs apart.¡±


    My head fell at the order, but there seemed little choice but toply, and sniffing back a sob, I inched my feet wider.


    ¡°How old are you?¡±


    He was closer than I recalled, and I leapt at his sudden proximity.


    ¡°Tw-Twenty-s-six.¡±


    ¡°Sir.¡± His hand cradled my ass cheek, and I tensed, though his touch was gentle. ¡°You should call any man you meet, sir. Haven¡¯t they been through the rules with you yet?¡±


    I turned my face toward him, my breath ragged as I took in his sky-blue eyes. In another time and ce, I might have flirted with a man like him, though that idea was preposterous now.


    ¡°N-No, S-Sir.¡± I didn¡¯t want to call any of them sir, but I was so cold, I¡¯d have considered master of the universe if it meant he¡¯d let me down and offer me a towel.


    ¡°Idiots,¡± he muttered. ¡°Let¡¯s try again. How old are you?¡± His lips twitched as his hand slid to my other cheek.


    ¡°T-Twenty-six, Sir.¡±


    He met my gaze with an approving nod. ¡°Good, Eloise. I think you and I are going to get along.¡±


    My breath hitched at the certainty in his tone. I was all too aware of why I was here-the other men had made it more than clear-but I hadn¡¯t reckoned on being handled by anyone with such appeal. My toes curled against the concrete as his warm breath washed over my face.


    ¡°Y-Yes, Sir.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve chosen one.¡±


    I gasped at the voice behind me, my head falling at the sound of footsteps in my direction.


    ¡°Looks like you have, too, Dn.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Dn¡¯s smile widened, his palm possessively patting my damp ass. ¡°I¡¯m taking this one. You need my help with yours?¡±


    ¡°No way.¡±Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    I imagined the ugly sneer on Matt¡¯s face, and gratitude resounded that I wouldn¡¯t be left to him. God knew I didn¡¯t want any of this, but if it must be endured, I would rather it was at the hands of the blue-eyed Dn than the sneering wanker who¡¯d woken us so unceremoniously. I tensed at the thought one of the remaining women had been selected by him but was forced to dismiss the guilt. It was every woman for herself in this new order. There was no ce for valor.


    ¡°Fine, go and get her, and we¡¯ll leave you to it.¡±


    I held my breath until I heard Matt¡¯s heavy footsteps leaving.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to let you down now,¡± Dn whispered into my ear. ¡°And when I do, I want you down on all fours, understand?¡±


    My eyes widened. ¡°P-Please can I dry myself first, Sir?¡±


    ¡°Not until we get inside.¡± He motioned to the door he¡¯d arrived by.


    My gaze followed his line of sight. It was a good few feet to the destination, and I would have to crawl them all. My insides clenched at the denigration.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want any trouble.¡± His hand slid down my wet body before slipping to the weapon hanging at his side. ¡°You¡¯re lovely, but I have my orders about what to do with rogues.¡±


    His gaze burned into mine, expectant yet disturbingly sexy. There should be nothing about this situation that allured me, nothing that aroused any excitement, yet this brooding stranger hade along and thrown the whole ordeal into chaos. I couldn¡¯t think straight.


    ¡°Do we understand each other?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± His lips curled as his attention moved to the shackles at my wrists.


    I waited as he opened the metal, my wrists falling free from the bondage. Fleetingly, I considered kicking him in the nuts, stealing his gun, and making a run for it. I didn¡¯t know how likely the escape was, couldn¡¯t tell whether I¡¯d be able to immobilize him for long enough, but as my pounding heart reminded me, even if I got past the stranger with the enticing eyes, there¡¯d be another, less appealing monster waiting behind every door. I didn¡¯t know where I was, didn¡¯t know where to flee, and as of this moment, I didn¡¯t even have anything to wear.


    Exhaling, I fell to my knees, epting the truth. For the time being, this tempting stranger was my best bet. He wanted to do bad things to me, but the most peculiar thing was, maybe I wanted him to.


    ¡°This way.¡±


    I lifted my chin as his hand caught in my hair. Fingers tightening, he held my tresses, using them to guide me toward the door. Pressing my palms into the concrete, I crawled, grateful when we finally reached the boundary of the building, and I could move onto a more forgiving surface.


    ¡°Where you off to Dn?¡±


    I stilled at the unknown voice, breathing faster as a different set of boots strode in our direction.


    ¡°Taking this one to get started.¡± Dn tugged my head back, revealing my wide eyes to his imposing colleague. ¡°Matt¡¯s about to do the same, and


    Jim is already at it somewhere. I suggest you get going.¡±


    ¡°Nice.¡± His grin was predatory. ¡°Trust you to get a decent one.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t choose her,¡± he replied. ¡°She was there all chained up when I arrived.¡±


    ¡°Some guys get all the luck, eh?¡± He snorted, already heading for the courtyard. ¡°Have fun.¡±


    ¡°Come on.¡± Dn¡¯s hand pushed my face down. ¡°We don¡¯t have all day.¡±


    Dread resurfaced as he led me through the maze of the building on my hands and knees. I was nude and wet, but that was nothingpared to what was toe. I knew the fate of every woman locked in sted cages up and down the country, and even though his face had reassured me when I¡¯d been hosed down, I didn¡¯t know the guy. All I knew about Dn was he¡¯d been recruited into the gangs of men herding captive women. Something about this job had enamored him, which didn¡¯t bode well for me.


    ¡°Here.¡±


    His fingers tightened as his feet paused, and pulling in ribbons of air through my nostrils, my gaze flitted to the ominous brown door. Reaching into his pocket, he yanked out a key and slid it into the lock. A momentter, he pushed the door, holding it open.


    ¡°In.¡±


    His hand applied enough pressure to make me move, electricity firing at my scalp as he jerked me into the room. I swallowed as his digits finally relented, watching as the door closed, and he locked it behind him, sliding the key back into his pocket. Turning to a small chair in the corner of the room, he reached for a towel and threw it at me. I grabbed it gratefully, noticing it was surprisingly clean, considering the circumstances, but acknowledging I would have epted it, regardless.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± I was warmer already, the towel removing the excess water at the same time the carpet under my knees soothed my skin.


    ¡°How did I tell you to address me?¡± He towered over me, his boots grazing my thighs, ensuring they syed as one hand lowered to my chin.


    ¡°Sir.¡± My breath was ragged. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± His voice was stern. ¡°Do it again, and you will be.¡±

 Chapter 47

    PROCESSED


    Dn¡¯s fingers slid away, leaving me oddly bereft without his touch. I didn¡¯t like the way he thought he could ogle and caress me, but then I didn¡¯t enjoy the way all men seemed to think that way now. Just because I hadn¡¯t started a family, the state seemed to think I was fair game-their property. It was our new horrific reality. Any unmarried woman could be herded and judged, their fates not decided by their kindness or intelligence but by their cup size. Evidence conveniently supported the notion that only big-busted women made worthy wives and mothers. The rest of us were to be farmed out for breeding in the twisted new regime-it was why I had run.


    I took a quick look around his room, taking in the nd decor and dirty cream walls. It was the color of an old-fashioned mental institution, the space undeniably dominated by the huge bed at the far end.


    ¡°I have some paperwork toplete.¡± Dn¡¯s tone was matter of fact as if he¡¯d brought me back to his ce for a sexy one-night stand. Copsing into the onlyfortable-looking seat, he collected a clipboard from the nearby table before ncing at me.


    ¡°What¡¯s your full name?¡±


    ¡°Eloise Turner, Sir.¡±N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    I tried topose my breathing as he scribbled it down, absorbing as much detail as I could. Maybe there was something that could help me escape, some small aspect that seemed irrelevant now but would be significantter?


    ¡°Date of birth?¡±


    I rattled off the numbers as if they meant something. They didn¡¯t. Not anymore. Not since the world had gone insane and started farming women for forced procreation. An uncontroble shiver raced down my spine. The only stats that mattered now were the size of my assets.


    ¡°Still cold?¡± He sounded irritated.


    ¡°A little, Sir.¡±


    He rose with a sigh, fiddling with the thermostat on the wall. ¡°That should help.¡±


    My head lowered at the simple act of kindness. It was unexpected.


    ¡°Thank you, Sir.¡±


    ¡°When was yourst period?¡±


    ¡°Myst what?¡± My head rose, heat engulfing my face as he inquired about such a personal matter, although I don¡¯t know why I was surprised. I had been taken against my will and stripped, not only of my clothing but my rights as well. It was obvious they would want to know everything.


    ¡°You heard me.¡± One dark eyebrow rose. ¡°Don¡¯t make this even more painful.¡±


    Painful? That was an interesting concepting from the guy dressed in ck with the gun stashed on his person.


    ¡°About ten days ago, Sir.¡± It pained me to confess I was probably ready to ovte. My periods had been like clockwork since I was fifteen. If it was pregnancy these guys sought, I had a sickening feeling they might just get what they wanted.


    My belly knotted, the reality ying in my head like an awful luby. They wanted babies-my future babies-though God only knew what they intended to do with them. What sort of world would it be if children were produced like this, cultivated on-demand, mass produced for the state? What would it mean for women like me,pelled to breed because a group of men said so? I hadn¡¯t considered a family yet, and maybe one day I would want one with someone I loved, but not like this-never like this.


    ¡°I¡¯m no expert, but that sounds good.¡± His eyebrow cocked as he put down the pen. ¡°You ready?¡±


    ¡°Wait, I¡­¡± My words trailed away as I scuttled back toward the wall.


    ¡°What are you going to do?¡±


    ¡°Nothing you won¡¯t like.¡± Heughed dryly. ¡°I¡¯m not a monster.¡± ¡°Please¡­¡± I craned my neck as he approached.


    ¡°Onto the bed.¡± He pointed as if I didn¡¯t know where it was.


    Pulling in a shaky breath, I crawled toward it. Eye to eye with the beige covers, I gripped the sheets, making myself climb onto them.


    This was really happening. Oh God, this was really happening.


    ¡°Some of the others are desperate to do the deed.¡± He chuckled as he walked to the small bedside table. ¡°Whereas I prefer a more prolonged approach.¡±


    Prolonged? What the fuck was that supposed to mean? Consciously trying to steady my breath, I watched him pull rope from the drawer.


    ¡°On to your belly.¡±


    I was close to tears as I eased into position. It was one thing to convince myself he was a more appealing option than the others, but another to be here now and have to deal with the reality. He could do anything he liked, and I had no say, no right to refuse. The assaultws had been rolled away in one day, leaving the path open to any vile tormentor.


    ¡°Good.¡± He patted my backside as though I was a pet dog. Tension knotted at the crude analogy. These days, canines had better rights and protection than women like me.


    ¡°Arms behind your back.¡±


    Terrified, I considered leaping to my feet and kicking him in the face. I could do it. I had the element of surprise, but then what? Where did you go when the whole world was against you, when every man and even some women were your enemy? The answer was nowhere-I couldn¡¯t go anywhere and couldn¡¯t trust anyone. My heart sank as my wrists slid into position.


    ¡°I¡¯m only going to bind you loosely.¡± He wrapped the tethers around my wrists. ¡°They¡¯re not to hurt you, only to hold you in ce.¡± ¡°Sir¡­¡± I could scarcely get the world out.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡±


    His tone was amused, as if he always captured women from the streets and tied them up on his bed. Belly churning, I realized maybe he did. I may not be the first. I wouldn¡¯t be thest.


    I shook as he tackled my ankles, fettering them in the same way, then drawing the ropes together in a loose hogtie. I¡¯d never even been tied up, and this was horrendous. I could barely move, save for wiggling my fingers and toes.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    I heard him rustling in the drawer again, my muscles tensing. I¡¯d seen enough to know nothing good was going toe out of that ce.


    ¡°Let me warm you up.¡±


    I panted as he climbed onto the bed behind me, not able to see what he was doing but aware of him nudging my thighs wider.


    ¡°Here.¡±


    An odd buzzing sound sprang to life behind me, and I gasped as one of his huge hands lifted my hips, settling me back into position.


    ¡°Oh God.¡± I fought for air as I acknowledged what the peculiar noise was. Something hard and unyielding was vibrating at my sex, the edge of it grazing my clit, forcing it into life.


    ¡°Exactly,¡± he chuckled, patting my cheeks.


    Another noise cut through the tension, the sound of tape being pulled and then ripped, and the next thing I knew, the vibrating object was pushed closer to my skin as he pressed the tape into ce. I wiggled my hips, but there was no way to shake the thing off, its trembling whir alreadypelling my clit to acknowledge its persistence.


    ¡°There.¡± Glee radiated from his tone. ¡°That should hold it.¡±


    ¡°Please, Sir.¡± Panic spiraled as I tried to adjust to the unrelenting pulse at my sex. I didn¡¯t even know what I was pleading for, save release and protection, but that wasn¡¯t likely.


    ¡°Rx.¡±


    His hand stroked the back of my thigh in a strangely tender way. I shivered at the unnerving thought. This guy didn¡¯t care about me, but he¡¯d seen fit to set me up with some sort of vibrator before he took what he wanted. I supposed I should be grateful.


    ¡°You¡¯ll feel better after a few orgasms.¡± Dn crouched beside me, his blue eyes sparkling. ¡°You look great this way.¡± I was d one of us thought so.


    ¡°I need to pop out, but I¡¯ll be back to check on you soon.¡± He rose, and a fresh wave of terror surged through me. If it was daunting being here at his beck and call, the thought of being left, undefended like this, was debilitating.


    ¡°Please, Sir. No!¡±


    ¡°Shhh.¡± He sounded irritated as he crossed the floor to his bedside once more. ¡°If you can¡¯t be quiet, I¡¯ll help you.¡±


    My head pounded as he strode back into view, waving a ck strap before my eyes. In the middle was arge stic ball, my dread escting as I realized its fate.


    ¡°Open up.¡±


    ¡°No, Sir, please!¡±


    ¡°Open!¡± He barked the order. ¡°Or I¡¯ll fucking make you.¡±


    Heaving in a breath, I acknowledged he was right. In this state, I had even less power than usual. I swallowed, slowly parting my lips, and wasting no time, he shoved the ball inside, securing the straps behind my head.


    ¡°Oo od.¡± I groaned, the weight of my predicamentnding on me like a ton of bricks.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± He shook his head at me with a smile. ¡°I won¡¯t be long and will lock the door behind me. None of the others will get their hands on you.¡±


    With that twisted promise of constion, he turned on his heel and stalked toward the door.

 Chapter 48

    STEWED


    Strung up like a bird ready to be roasted, I jerked against the ropes as the pleasure mounted. The pulsing stic taped to me insisted I give in and knew it would win. I had no choice but to sumb to its unyielding demands, just as I had no option but to drool around the hideous gag. I didn¡¯t know how long I¡¯d been left this way or how many highs it had ripped from my reluctant body, but after the first climax subsided, it had pushed me right back to the brink. Over and over, it continued, my moans tapering into frantic mewls. I wanted to get out of the binds, wanted some decorum as I writhed on his bed, but damn it, there was no chance. Overstimted and sore, my clit surrendered to numerous thundering orgasms, their effect no less shattering or denigrating as they rattled on.


    If the whirring tormentor between my legs was here to get me ready for his cock, it had done its job. I could feel my sex slick as it vibrated, my juices seeping down my inner thighs.


    I pressed my head onto the covers, beaten and humiliated. This wasn¡¯t how sex was meant to be, but this was what it had been reduced to-a functional act of propagation in the most humiliating circumstances. Hell, I was lucky he had let mee. Most of the women here would not be so fortunate.


    Tensing at the key in the door, knowing it must be Dn, I couldn¡¯t decide how I felt about the conclusion. I couldn¡¯t bear the thought of one of the others touching me, but could I really tolerate him? He was still a stranger, a thug who was paid to persecute. He was no friend of mine.


    ¡°Eloise.¡± He smirked, his gaze running over me before he secured the door. ¡°I¡¯m pleased to see you haven¡¯t got up.¡± Heughed as if there was anything even slightly amusing about my predicament.


    My breathing elerated at his approach.


    ¡°How are you doing?¡± Without a word of warning, his hand dropped to my clenching ass, easing past my cleft to my pussy. ¡°Wow.¡±


    I moaned as embarrassed heat engulfed my face. I was so fucking wet and couldn¡¯t remember being this aroused for ages, although nothing about the situation should have been stimting, save for the vibrating menace at my clit.


    And him. I pulled in hot ribbons of air through my nostrils, ignoring the snidement in my head. He¡¯s alluring, and you know it.


    ¡°You really are ready.¡±


    ¡°Eeese.¡± I struggled around the ball shoved between my teeth, even more mortified by the noisesing from me, but they worked. His focus switched to my face.


    ¡°Had enough of the gag?¡± Dn¡¯s tone was wry.


    I nodded as he fell to his haunches at my side.


    ¡°Okay.¡± His hand moved to my mouth, and I squeezed my eyes shut. His finger tugged at the strap, easing the ball from my lips. I watched as he discarded it to the floor. ¡°I¡¯ll remove it so long as you keep the volume down.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Sir.¡±


    Wait, why was I pandering to the moron by addressing him the way he wanted? A shiver ran along my spine as he smiled, briefly distracting me from the answer. I feared the consequences if I failed to please him. Yes, that was it. It had absolutely nothing to do with the way my sex tightened when I said it or the dark glint in his gaze.


    ¡°I like you like this.¡± He ran his palm along my back, grazing my exposed ass. ¡°A lot.¡±


    Relieved to be free of the gag, I didn¡¯t know what to say. I couldn¡¯t risk upsetting him and sure as hell didn¡¯t want that ball back in my mouth.


    ¡°I can¡¯t leave you tied like it for too long.¡± He sighed at the realization. ¡°Fortunately, I have another solution.¡± Reaching into his pocket, his grin widened, and I watched, riveted as he pulled out a length of leather. ¡°This means you won¡¯t need to be so restricted.¡±


    ¡°What is it, Sir?¡± I gasped, but he was already stretching the leather around my neck, the dull reality dawning on me before he exined.


    ¡°A cor.¡± Once more, heughed. ¡°Apparently, we¡¯re supposed to see you as animals now.¡±


    My brows knitted at the cutting analogy as he fastened the thing in ce, checking there was room for me to breathe. He wandered to the dreaded drawer, returning with a fresh piece of rope which he wrapped around the D-ring of the cor. Panic soared as he attached the rope to the end of his bed, effectively securing me to the thing.


    ¡°Now we can get down to it.¡± Dn drew in a long breath, trailing an invisible line down my arm on his way to my wrists.


    I panted as he released the binds, wiggling my fingers as he liberated my ankles.


    ¡°Up on all fours.¡±


    This was it. This was what it had all boiled down to. All those days of running, of living in the dirt, the constant fear of capture-all led to this moment of capittion. In the end, it hadn¡¯t made a damned difference. Weary with resignation, my head fell as I mbered into position. If he was going to fuck me, just let it be over with.


    ¡°I think this has done its job.¡± Dn ripped the tape from me, and I gasped at the sudden hurt, quivering at the abrupt loss of sensation. I loathed the buzzing offender, but at least it had prepared me for what was toe. I tensed at the unintended pun.


    ¡°Head up.¡± He moved to my face, my heart racing at the sound of his zipper. ¡°I need you to get me in the mood. I haven¡¯t had the luxury of multiple orgasms.¡±N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    My throat dried as he jerked out his cock. The organ already looked up for the job.


    ¡°Y-Yes, Sir.¡±


    My gaze darted to his knowing eyes, my emotions warring inside me. Dn was precisely the kind of guy I¡¯d have wanted to bed under normal circumstances, but nothing about this was normal. Now he wasn¡¯t some hot guy. He was my aggressor, the man who would take what he wanted, no matter what I wanted.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± His lips curled, his index finger beckoning me forward. ¡°You want me, right?¡±


    Christ, he was just like all the rest of them-so fucking arrogant and full of shit-yet he wasn¡¯t. He had rescued me from the mitts of all the other heinous men here and ensured I was drenched with need. That didn¡¯t sound like an oppressor.


    ¡°Yes, Sir,¡± I shifted in his direction. ¡°I just¡­¡± My words dried up as I tried to vocalize everything I had been through.


    ¡°Just for the record, I don¡¯t approve of what¡¯s going on.¡± His hand rose to my hair, his fingers tightening. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s right.¡±


    Yet still, you go along with it? The usation was right on the tip of my tongue, but I didn¡¯t dare articte it.


    ¡°I think you¡¯re an attractive woman, and I think you want me, too. We can help each other out in this shitshow.¡±


    ¡°What if I get pregnant?¡±


    Eye to eye with his cock, I noticed the way it throbbed, suggesting he was enjoying himself rather more than he was letting on. Damn it, as I surveyed his arousal, I couldn¡¯t deny he was right. I craved him and wanted to have great sex one more time before that too was taken from me, but the idea of having to rear a child-that was something else entirely. I couldn¡¯t agree to that.


    ¡°Then our new masters will be happy.¡± His fist stiffened in my hair. ¡°It¡¯s gonna happen, whatever you do. If it¡¯s not me, it¡¯ll be some other guy.¡±


    His verdict knotted the anxiety in my belly, his conviction reinforcing the gravity of what was happening.


    It was going to happen.


    Whatever I did, they had me. I was a prisoner of the state, and my sole duty was to breed.

 Chapter 49

    ACTION


    My head fogged as I crawled to him, lips parting. If this was to be thest time I actually wanted a guy, I might as well relish it. I didn¡¯t consent to this ce, to the way I was being treated, or to theN?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    crippling inevitability of my fate, but perhaps this could be onest semnce of desire. My gaze flitted to his before I wrapped my mouth around his crown.


    ¡°Hell, yeah.¡± Gripping the back of my head, he pushed me down to the base of his shaft, only releasing me when I gagged. Eyes watering, I gasped for air, but his fist shoved me back to where he wanted me.


    ¡°Swallow me down.¡±


    Tugging against the length of rope secured to my neck, I grasped his thighs andplied, breathing in the scent of him. I was pleased to find he was not only clean but smelled of an alluring, spicy cologne, a scent that made me giddy. Settling into position as a vessel he could fuck, I reveled in the act more than I¡¯d thought I would. I wanted him to use me, to take his pleasure because bizarrely, I recognized a hedonism of my own. There was a satisfaction in yielding, in giving him what he craved because I desired it as well. My every sense was heightened by the idea. Dn would be thest man I ever said yes to.


    ¡°Fuck.¡± Holding my hair, he yanked me away, a trail of saliva falling between us as he stripped away his shirt. ¡°That¡¯s too good. This will be over if I don¡¯t take a moment.¡±


    Catching my breath, I couldn¡¯t decide if that was a positive.


    ¡°Come here.¡±


    He dragged me from the bed, turning me and pushing me over the covers. I went like a rag doll, conscious if he was going to garner gratification from the next round, so would I. I deserved it.


    ¡°Legs apart!¡± Dn barked, pping my ass as he fisted my hair. The rope at my neck tightened as I straightened and slid my feet wider, already aware of his cocktip at my sex. Closing my eyes, I waited, knowing what would happen next, knowing I had no choice but wanting him all the same.


    He impaled me with one sharp lunge, filling me so fast, I gasped. I might have enjoyed the sensation more had his fingers not tightened, forcing my back to arch as he withdrew and mmed into me.


    ¡°Fuck!¡± He thrust harder, the motion jerking my breasts forward as he took his fill. ¡°Do you like that, bitch?¡±


    My brow creased, the insult not reconciling with the man who had turned up the thermostat and taped a vibrator to my clit, but I had to remember-every man here had volunteered for a reason, and Dn was no different. More attractive perhaps, but that didn¡¯t mean he wasn¡¯t brutal, didn¡¯t mean he wouldn¡¯t tear through boundaries for gratification.


    ¡°Do you?¡± He yanked my tresses harder, fire lighting at my scalp.


    ¡°Yes,¡± I winced.


    ¡°What?¡± Withdrawing, he spanked my right ass cheek firmly.


    ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± Lost to his authority, I was caught between his palms, cock, and the infernal fetters.


    ¡°Better,¡± he growled, sliding into my pussy again. ¡°Don¡¯t fucking forget it.¡±


    Pushing me forward, he climbed onto the bed, cocooning my body. t against the covers, I was pinned in ce as his length rammed me.


    ¡°Fuck.¡± I grasped the bedding, overwrought with thepeting sensations.


    ¡°What was that, little girl?¡± He forced me to meet his gaze, his fingers rxing as our eyes locked. ¡°Got something to say?¡±


    ¡°N-No, Sir,¡± I just managed as he increased the pace, propelling his cock into me over and over.


    Trembling, I absorbed his vigor, my toes curling as I took it all. His lids closed, body tensing as he reached orgasm, driving his cum into my sex. Panting, I tried not to overthink the act. Plenty of other guys had screwed me, sometimes without condoms. It didn¡¯t mean anything. It didn¡¯t mean I would be pregnant.


    His hips stilled, cock still lodged deep within as his gaze drilled into me. ¡°Fuck, you feel good.¡± Lowering his face, his mouth brushed over mine.


    ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll have you again.¡±


    For a long moment, time protracted, our bodies fused as he stared at me, then just as I thought I would implode with the intensity, he pulled away, leaving me panting over the bed.


    ¡°What¡¯s next?¡±


    I twisted to find him staring down at the pile of paperwork on the clipboard as he fastened his zipper, and for the first time, I could properly take in the sight of his body. Stripped to the waist, he looked like one of those male models I¡¯d seen on the covers of magazines, his muscr chest tapering to washboard abs and honed obliques.


    ¡°You need to lie on the bed.¡± He motioned for me to move, though his focus remained on the paperwork. ¡°And wait a while.¡±


    My brow rose. Grateful to shift position, I mbered on top.


    ¡°Stretch out.¡± He strode toward me, arms folding across his chest as Iplied, although the bloody rope didn¡¯t leave me much freedom. ¡°Good.¡±


    ¡°Why do I need to do this, Sir?¡± Suddenly, I was vulnerable, conscious of how naked I was. It was absurd after everything I had been through, but I wanted to shield myself from his lingering gaze.


    ¡°It gives us the best chance of conception.¡± He shook his head as he replied, sitting on the bed beside me. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I just said that.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t agree, then why do this, Sir?¡± My heart pounded in recognition of how dangerous a question it was, but I had to know. Why use me if he was unconvinced of the motive?


    Lifting his chin, his gaze slid to me. ¡°Tell me you didn¡¯t just ask that.¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± My heart hammered so loudly, I could barely hear myself over the top of its incessant rhythm. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I just-¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just a whore who¡¯s here to get knocked up.¡± He leaned closer, ring at my impertinence. ¡°Don¡¯t forget it.¡±


    I recoiled from his vicious tone, wanting to curl up into a ball but afraid to move without permission.


    ¡°No, Sir.¡±


    Turning from his cruel stare, I rolled to one side, fighting to hold back the torrent of emotion threatening to drown me. How could I have been so fucking stupid? I thought I¡¯d seen a flicker of humanity in his eyes-a glimmer of something more than just sadism-but evidently, I¡¯d only seen what I¡¯d needed to see to get through the obvious. Dn was no better than any of them, and now it was done. He¡¯d fucked me, and for all I knew, it could have been enough-his sperm could be fertilizing inside me. I wouldn¡¯t need to wait long to find out. Technology had been expedited by the machine, and the modern tests could detect the human chorionic gonadotropin hormone only hours after conception. There need never be a dy determining pregnancy again-a huge benefit to those who intended to farm women. I heaved in a shaky breath, wrapping my arms around myself.


    ¡°I was going to leave you here until we can test, but after that outburst, I think I¡¯ll shove you back in the cage.¡± He rose from the bed, pulling on his shirt as I spun to face him.


    ¡°No, Sir, please!¡± However awful this was, thest thing I wanted was to be cast back inside the metal box at the mercy of the brutes frequenting the ce. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I offended you.¡±


    ¡°Need that gag to go back in?¡± His brow rose as he fastened his shirt buttons. ¡°Perhaps that¡¯s how I need to keep you while we wait?¡±


    I tensed, sensing it was a test. Neither scenario sounded fun, but if I had to endure the awful ball again, I would rather do it here with him than cast into the crate in solitude.


    ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± I couldn¡¯t believe I was saying it. My gaze lowered as I caught the first tear with the heel of my hand.


    ¡°I¡¯m d we agree.¡± Smiling, he collected the gag from the carpet and looked it over as he neared. ¡°You¡¯ll wear it while we wait, then if you prove to be useful, I¡¯ll get you something to eat.¡± Flexing the straps in front of my face, his eyebrow arched. ¡°Come here.¡±


    Miserably, I crawled the short distance to where the gag waited.


    ¡°Open.¡±


    Shuddering, I already knew there was no hope. The only way to avoid finding myself caged, or worse, was to submit to this ordeal again.

 Chapter 50

    TEASED


    Time passed. Long protracted minutes stretched into hours, or maybe it hadn¡¯t been so long? I had no way of checking. He¡¯d fettered me again, binding my hands behind me and my ankles to the head of the


    bed. Then, he left me.


    Swaggering in and out, Dn came and went as he chose, leaving me bound and vulnerable. I had no way of knowing if the door was locked, if I was safe-but then safety was a rtive concept. There was nowhere safe for a woman like me.


    I supposed I had reason to be grateful. I could still be locked in the cages beyond his walls, be at the fate of the other men. Dn had spared me that, but he¡¯d made his feelings abundantly clear-I was here to screw and impregnate-any sentiment was attached only to the possibility I might conceive a child. My brow creased as I struggled toprehend what made a man like him behave this way. He seemed reasonable in so many ways, likable even, but he was prepared to do this-to cage and force us.


    My internal monologue was obliterated as the door opened again, and heart pounding, I turned my head to see him in the doorway. My body tensed as I noticed another man beside him, his ugly leer growing as he took in the sight of me.


    ¡°So, this is the one you¡¯ve chosen?¡± He moved closer, and a strangled mewl escaped my throat as he squeezed my exposed backside.


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Dn folded his arms over his chest, meeting my eyes.


    I wanted to tell him to protect me, not to let this other brute touch me, but there was no point. He had no allegiance to me. My pleas would go unheard, and the oversized ball strapped between my teeth made any such entreaty impossible, anyway.


    ¡°Nice.¡±


    I yelped as the stranger pped my ass.


    ¡°How much longer ¡¯til you know? If you don¡¯t get a hit, I might give it a go.¡±


    My eyes widened as he discussed me as if I was a piece of meat-a thing to be used and discarded. Oh God, I had to get out of here. Whatever happened, this couldn¡¯t be my fate!


    Dn checked his watch. ¡°Not long. I¡¯ll shout if her cunt¡¯s avable.¡± I buried my face in the cover, unable to process the sickening reality.


    ¡°Until then, sod off.¡± Dn snorted. ¡°She¡¯s mine until you hear otherwise.¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡± The swine smacked my behind again,ughing as he pped each cheek. ¡°I¡¯ll choose one of the others. We might as well screw them all while they¡¯re here, and you never know, one of us might get lucky and pick up that bonus.¡±


    My focus slid to the door, watching as the moron disappeared, but his words ricocheted in my head. Bonus? They were getting a bonus? Disgust gripped me as it suddenly all fell into ce. That was the reason they were so keen to knock us up so fast. It wasn¡¯t only the sex they were after, but the cash incentive. My hands balled into fists as that idea resonated. The state was paying these men to round us up and fuck us, and if they impregnated us, they got a cash prize? Anxiety tore at my belly. Oh Christ, it was worse than I thought!


    mming the door closed with his foot, Dn strode inside, his hands rising to his hips.


    ¡°It¡¯s nearly time.¡± His lips curled. ¡°You get to piss on a stick, and we see if I win.¡±


    Trepidation clutched at my heart until pain radiated from my chest. This was my lot-what my life had boiled down to.


    Hands falling to his side, he closed the distance to the edge of the bed, lowering to his haunches. ¡°How are you doing?¡±


    What the hell did he expect me to say to that? I couldn¡¯t even speak if I wanted to.


    ¡°You girls could be pretty important to us.¡± His eyebrow cocked as one hand slipped from my shoulder to my bare ass. ¡°Especially if we can get you pregnant now. We¡¯re on a two-grand bonus for every conception we deliver before you reach the factories.¡± His fingers glided between my cheeks, grazing my pussy lips, and God help me, but I was still wet. One digit slipped inside me as he continued.


    ¡°If it doesn¡¯t work this time, I¡¯ll do you again.¡± His finger curled, eliciting a groan from my lips. I loathed the power he had over me, despised everything he represented, but after so long bound and ignored, I couldn¡¯t deny the thrum of need his attention inspired.


    ¡°I like you, Eloise.¡±


    I squeezed my eyes closed at the twistedpliment, concentrating on fighting my elerated breaths. Heat was building at my core again, and as a second finger swept around to budge my clit, I couldn¡¯t resist my guttural whimper.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Tension mounted at his arrogant tone.


    ¡°You like me too, huh?¡± His fingers slid from me, and in one fell swoop, he rolled me onto my back.


    Panting around the gag, my hands were now trapped beneath me. The ropes at my ankles crossed as my body turned, but he dragged me further toward his pillow, tightening the rope at my neck andpelling my knees to sy.


    ¡°That¡¯s better.¡± He climbed onto the bed at my side, gazing down at me hungrily and one hand skimmed over my nipples, tugging both until they stood to attention. ¡°Much better.¡±


    My back arched at the stimtion, my brain struggling to rationalize how I could relish the stimtion after the way I¡¯d been treated, but by the time his palm grazed my clit, I was forced to admit I was aroused. Dn grinned, easing two fingers into me, and pumping them in and out of my sex as his wrist skimmed my clit. I moaned, wanting more despite myself. I was in the most torrid predicament, doomed to mate with whoever shot the winning goal first, so why not revel in some pleasure? I merited that much, didn¡¯t I?


    ¡°Oh, yeah.¡± He chuckled darkly as his face lowered, and grasping my right teat between his lips, he sucked hard.


    ¡°Uuck!¡± I screeched around the gag, but all the while, my hips bucked, grinding against the stimtion he offered, frantic for more.


    ¡°Come on, you.¡± He shot me a smile before his free hand pinched my left nipple, crushing it between his thumb and finger. A surge of pain spiked, blooming into hedonism as my thighs parted to receive his fingers.


    ¡°Come apart for me.¡±


    His mouth returned to my breast as he helped himself, his digits teasing, ying my body like an instrument. I waspletely ensnared in his ropes, at the mercy of his will, but I was so close-so close to detonation-maybe thest pleasure I would ever be allowed?


    ¡°Ooo!¡±


    Fireworks erupted in my mind as he pushed me over the brink, my body releasing with every ounce of energy I had left. By the time he slipped from my sex, I was weak as well as helpless. I watched as he freed his cock. Dn sported the type of smug expression I hated, easing my juices over his erect shaft before climbing between my thighs.


    There was nomentary as he drove inside me. No thought to the ropes cutting off my blood supply at my wrists or whether or not I wanted him. Those things didn¡¯t matter. They¡¯d never mattered to him. That¡¯s why he didn¡¯t ask, didn¡¯t even remove the atrocious gag silencing me. I was only a cunt to fill, a uterus to permeate.


    I was no one.


    Nothing.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Shuddering, he deposited his load before drawing away and climbing from the bed. Before he copsed back into his chair, he rolled me unceremoniously back onto my belly, pping my ass with a gleeful chuckle.

 Chapter 51

    TESTED


    The ordeal was neverending. I¡¯d been braced for the brutality, for the sickening expectations of the men who seized us, but nothing had prepared me for the head fuck-the desperate sense of longing I experienced when Dn was close, the heat furling at my core, the intensity of the climaxes, and the craving for more-all of which were dashed every time he got what he wanted and left me gagged, bound, and alone. It was as if my hopes were elevated with each meaningless caress, only to be crushed when I was abandoned.


    It made no sense to feel this way. It was ridiculous to expect any salvation from a man as ruthless as him, but I couldn¡¯t resist the maelstrom. The gleam in his eyes had such potential. Maybe he would take pity on me? Have enough mercy to let me go?


    I shook my head against the bedding, ignoring the brimming tears. Of course, he wouldn¡¯t do that. Dn had been clear about his intentions. He was in this for the money-as well as the hassle-free sex. There was no way he was my savior. No way any man would save me.


    ¡°Right.¡±


    I tilted my head, watching as he ced a washing-up bowl on the floor by the wall.


    ¡°It¡¯s time.¡±


    Trepidation twisted in my tummy as he turned and headed in my direction. Tugging at the knots he¡¯d secured at my wrists, he freed me from the bed, jerking me to the floor with the rope still attached to the leather at my neck. Inded on my knees, scrambling toward the bowl as he led me.


    ¡°Squat over it.¡± He pointed to the bowl. ¡°I need urine to run the test.¡±


    My breathing elerated as I realized what he meant. Not only had he taken and used me, but now he intended to denigrate me further by making me relieve myself here, in front of him. I might have begged for clemency had the dreaded gag not prevented my plea. My head fell as I mbered into ce.


    Dn rxed in hisfortable chair, gripping the end of the rope as I got into position. Surely, this was the most miserable moment of my life.


    Being on the run had been desperate, but it had given me meaning, but this -what was this? I was only property, bound and expended, made to perform until my sole purpose had been achieved. I shivered, trying to rx as he nced back at me.


    ¡°Come on.¡± He sounded irritated. ¡°I don¡¯t have all day.¡±


    I eyed him wildly, humiliated as my lips stretched around the ball, and I tried to rx. It wasn¡¯t easy to give him what he wanted when I was this exposed and het up, my muscles contracting rather than rxing.


    ¡°What?¡± he demanded impatiently, leaning toward me as though I was being impertinent by not urinating onmand.


    Heaving in a breath, I closed my eyes, blocking out his re as I tried to calm myself. Slowly, I ceded, the noise of the liquid filling the bowl mortifying.


    ¡°Finally,¡± he growled, pulling me back onto all fours. Securing the rope to the bedpost, he bound me before turning away. He collected the bowl and ced it on the table, fiddling with one of the new fancy pregnancy tests that would determine my fate. My breath hitched as he pulled one from the packaging, lifting it into the air. Its result would decide what became of me, whether I was fed and made to bear a child, who would be another pawn of the system or sent back to the metal bars to be used by one of the others. It wasn¡¯t much of a choice. Tension tore at my insides as he dipped the strip into my urine.


    ¡°It only takes a minute. This little piece of stic is so sensitive, it can detect even the faintest quantity of hCG.¡±


    I wasn¡¯t sure what thementary was for. I¡¯d heard all the propaganda before I ran-all about how wonderful the state¡¯s investment in the pharmaceuticalpany creating the tests was, about how it had revolutionized conception and was building a better world. My stomach churned at the memory of the old radio ads as I watched the side of Dn¡¯s face. He didn¡¯t make eye contact with me, all his attention on the strip between his fingers while I huddled against the side of the bed. The blowby-blow ount was doing nothing to quell my nerves.


    For a fleeting moment, I considered untying the knot he¡¯d made and freeing myself, my heart racing at the idea of liberation before the thought was pulverized by arge dose of reality. Where was I going to go with my newfound freedom? Would I make it to the door before he noticed, and what would be of me when he did? That fear alone was enough to keep me in my ce.


    ¡°Well, well¡­¡±


    I couldn¡¯t decide if his tone was pleased or disappointed, the suspense scratching at my stomach until I couldn¡¯t pull in another breath.


    ¡°It looks like we did it.¡± Dn shed me a grin, waving the strip of stic in the air. ¡°The line is weak, but it¡¯s there.¡±


    My belly tightened, panic pinballing as he ced it down and wandered toward me.


    ¡°Congrattions, Mum.¡±


    Oh God. Pressing my palms into the floor, I resisted the urge to rip the gag from my mouth and scream. Oh God, I was pregnant.


    Striding past me, I barely noticed as he unfettered the rope, tugging it in his hand.


    ¡°Stand up.¡±


    Overwrought, I climbed to my feet on shaky legs.


    ¡°Take my hand.¡±


    He thrust out his palm, time protracting as I contemted the gesture. What did this mean? Was he happy? Would I be rewarded? Or now that he had what he wanted from the bargain, would I just be flung over his shoulder and taken back to my cage? My hand trembled as I lifted it into his, every fiber of me unsure. Dn was no hero, but he had offered me some sce in the confines of these four walls. He¡¯d stopped the other bullies from getting their hands on me, and even though he¡¯d treated me like shit, I had the distinct impression this was the best of a list of bad situations.


    ¡°Sit down.¡±


    Guiding me to his chair, he shoved me on the seat before gripping the length of rope and running it behind me. I nced over my shoulder to see him securing it to the seat fixture.


    ¡°Stay there.¡± His lips twitched as his gaze ran over my naked body. No doubt he was anxious to make sure his bonus stayed secure. ¡°I¡¯m going to get you something good to eat.¡±


    ¡°Ir.¡± It was the first time I¡¯d tried to speak, my throat dry as I gestured to the gag.


    ¡°Can I trust you to be quiet this time?¡± One dark eyebrow arched at his wry tone, and I nodded my head wretchedly.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    He took a step in my direction, sighing as he reached for the strap and eased the ball from my lips. My jaw ached with relief as the object that had silenced me for so long fell to my cor.


    ¡°Better?¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Sir.¡±


    I could hardly believe I was offering gratitude to the man who had gagged me, but there it was. I was grateful, appreciative in this batshit crazy world where I was obliged to procreate, it had been with him and not the brute who¡¯d dragged me from the cage. d he¡¯d at least given some thought to my pleasure in the process. I¡¯d been around the block enough times to know it could have been much, much worse.


    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re getting good at this.¡±


    I tensed at his leering smirk, unable to meet his eyes, but the worst was he might be right. It was easier capitting than I¡¯d realized. I¡¯d always assumed I would fight or die trying, but when push hade to shove, it had been better to cede. A wave of despondency washed over me as the thought registered. I had done this. I had yielded, and now I was pregnant. I wasn¡¯t the only one who would have to live with consequences. There would be a life growing inside me who would be privy to this sickness-an innocent with no one to protect them once they had been ripped from my womb.


    I inhaled a shaky breath, wishing he would just go-leave me to my misery. Head bowed, I struggled with the rising emotion, watching his feet as they headed for the door. It wasn¡¯t until I heard the key turn in the lock that I allowed the tears to fall, their numbering hard and fast as my despair wasid bare. In this troublednd, my hopelessness was the only thing I had left to keep me strong.

 Chapter 52

    SOLACED


    I was all cried out by the time he returned, my head heavy with resignation. No doubt my red eyes and puffy face conveyed my heartache. Not that I¡¯d have guessed based on his nonchnt demeanor


    or the broad smile he offered as he lowered the tray.


    ¡°Here.¡± He gestured to the food.


    My belly growled as I inhaled the aroma of meat and potatoes. How long had it been since I¡¯d had a decent hot meal? I couldn¡¯t even recall. Walking around me, he pushed my seat toward the table, drawing me closer to the steaming hot te. My gaze surveyed the gravy and mashed potatoes hungrily. As far as I was concerned, it was a feast.


    ¡°Tuck in.¡± He pushed a fork toward me. ¡°It¡¯s important you eat properly.¡±Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Anxiety intensified at his implication, but my hunger was the loudest call. Reaching for the cutlery, I pushed it into the potatoes and lifted them to my mouth. My senses erupted as I swallowed the buttery mash.


    ¡°Good, huh?¡± His smirk should have riled, but I was too grateful to care. Leaning forward, he ruffled my hair in an almost tender way. ¡°I knew you¡¯d enjoy it.¡±


    I locked eyes with him while I chewed, trying to make sense of everything. I needed him in a very tangible way-for food, for protection from the grotesque mob outside that door-but the truth was, Dn was as much a threat as any of them.


    ¡°You are beautiful, you know.¡± His hand slid to my damp cheek, caressing my skin. ¡°In another world, at another time, I¡¯d have really liked you.¡±


    I pulled in a shaky breath. What the fuck was I supposed to say to that? This hardly seemed the time for a romantic interlude, but maybe I could use it to my advantage? Perhaps if he had a soft spot for me, he might let me go, sneak me out somehow, make an exception for me-for his child. I was carrying his child, for God¡¯s sake-that must mean something to him.


    ¡°Yes, Sir. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°No, thank you.¡± He leaned against the wall, watching me eat. ¡°You¡¯ve made my first full day on the job very satisfactory.¡±


    A cold shudder of revulsion raced along my spine, my hand pausing by the te.


    ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that!¡± He chuckled as though there was anything even vaguely funny about my predicament. He¡¯d signed up to take women against their will, to knock them up for a fucking bonus! The man must have no ethics at all.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what to say.¡± I pressed the prongs of the fork into a piece of beef. It was sulent enough, but suddenly, the whole meal was less appealing.


    ¡°Then say nothing.¡± Dn straightened, his tone terser. ¡°That would be good advice for you, regardless.¡±


    ¡°What does that mean, Sir?¡± I put down the fork, my fingers gripping tighter around the handle.


    ¡°It means this is your lot now, woman.¡± Dn¡¯s darkughter reverberated around the room. ¡°If I can even call you that anymore. I heard thews have already been changed. All those single girls of childbearing age whose tits don¡¯t make the grade have lost all their automatic civic rights.¡±


    I knew that much already.


    ¡°That barely makes you a woman at all.¡±


    ¡°Wh-What am I then?¡± I hardly dared to ask, but this was at the root of everything. When men like him stopped seeing me as a woman-a person -everything had gone to hell. ¡°If I¡¯m not a woman, then what?¡±


    ¡°A thing.¡± He offered me a twisted smile as he shrugged. ¡°Property, a piece of meat, I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Wh-What?¡±


    Logically, I knew that was the new consensus, but it didn¡¯t make sense. Noting from another human being, noting from the man who¡¯d ensured I¡¯de before he impaled me. My brain couldn¡¯tpute the vile words.


    ¡°What, Sir.¡± He moved so fast, I scarcely saw the motion, my first awareness his huge hand at my throat, pinning me back against the chair.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been through this.¡±


    His fingers stiffened, making it more difficult to breathe.


    ¡°P-Please,¡± I stammered, panic exploding in my mind. This couldn¡¯t be the way I died-no way. I had to live, had to survive for the baby.


    ¡°You¡¯ve gotta learn your ce, bitch,¡± he snarled. ¡°You¡¯re nothing but a glorified cow now. Cattle to be leashed and used.¡± His hand rxed, an insidious grin stretching over his lips. ¡°And you can be useful. I already know that.¡±


    Air flooded my windpipe, and relieved, I snatched it in.


    ¡°That means a little less mouth and a little more deference.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I gasped, though I¡¯d never been less sorry in my life. Dn was the closest thing to an ally I had in this grim ce, and although I


    loathed him, I needed him on my side. ¡°I¡¯ll do better, Sir.¡±


    ¡°I know you will, sweetie pie.¡± His hand rose, tapping my chin lightly. ¡°You¡¯re carrying the very first child this unit has produced. That¡¯s quite an achievement.¡±


    Pain throbbed in my head, goading the well of nausea churning in my stomach.


    ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll even let you stay with me for a while. I¡¯d like to see what the little bugger looks like.¡± He snorted. ¡°See if he¡¯s as handsome as his dad.¡±


    I blew out a breath as his hand finally drew away, suppressing the urge to counter him, to query the fact it might not be a boy. What was the point? Modern man, it seemed, had little interest in girls until they were avable to spawn the next generation. It was fucking horrendous.


    ¡°Th-Thank you, Sir.¡± It repulsed me to ingratiate myself to him, but there was no choice. This was my future, and bleak as it was, manipting him to protect what glimmer of hope I had left was all I had.


    ¡°You¡¯d like that, huh?¡± His lips curled. ¡°Like to stay with me?¡±


    I wanted to punch him in the nuts and gun down every man between here and the border, but sadly, that was not a viable alternative. The fork in my hand was looking more and more like a weapon as the seconds ticked by.


    ¡°Y-Yes, Sir.¡±


    ¡°Then behave yourself.¡± He rose, untying the ropes holding me to the chair. Running his fingers through his dark hair, he turned and strode away. ¡°Eat your meal and keep your mouth closed, and maybe you¡¯ll have a chance of getting what you want.¡±

 Chapter 53

    THE REMAINING GLIMMER


    What I wanted? Was he fucking joking? Could he seriously think that being stripped, leashed, and impregnated by him was what I wanted? Only a few months ago, I¡¯d been in a job I loved, having the time of my life. Now everything had been ripped away, and I was reduced to this. I nced down at my te, my stomach knotting at the prospect of having to eat more, and that¡¯s when it came to me-the only realistic shot of survival was to seduce him, to prove myself useful for more than just conception. I despised the logical conclusion, but it was cogent- and my best shot of surviving this shitshow.


    ¡°Can I help you with anything else, Sir?¡±


    I employed the sexiest voice I could muster, conscious he¡¯d literally just told me to be quiet. It was a gamble, ying this game, but it was the only hand I had left. No part of me really wanted him, but I was a pragmatist. It was better to stay here screwing Dn than dumped God only knew where at the hands of some other evil bastard. Dn was definitely the better devil.


    ¡°What did you have in mind?¡± His expression softened as he nced back at me.


    ¡°Whatever you like, Sir.¡± Batting myshes, I pushed the te away before I slid to my knees. I ignored the gag rattling at my cor bone and tried not to overthink. The more he enjoyed mypany, the less likely I was to end up back in one of those cages, deserted and alone. I had no hope of escape in a hole like that, and my heart went out to every one of the women still locked in them, but I had to concentrate on my opportunity. It was every woman for herself.


    ¡°The advice is we should avoid intercourse in these early weeks.¡± He sat on the edge of the bed. ¡°But there are other ways you can satisfy me.¡± Winking, he clicked his fingers, signaling for me toe to his feet. A surge of indignation spiked, the urge to tell him to go fuck himself loitering on the tip of my tongue. I wasn¡¯t a doormat from the 1950s, a good little wife who would beg and crawl. An independent woman who¡¯d never needed a man, I was naked and on my knees. I was out of choices, and submitting to Dn was about the only option I had left.


    ¡°You can polish this for me.¡± His hand rose to his zipper, pulling it down and releasing his cock. ¡°Prove you¡¯re better than cattle.¡±


    Falling to my palms, I inched closer to his feet, the rope that had secured me to the bed and chair falling between my knees. I could do this. I had to do this. I already knew how good the thing could feel inside me. I could pleasure Dn and make myself indispensable if it meant it saved my skin.


    ¡°Yes, Sir.¡±


    I swallowed him down, flicking my tongue over his crown before the tip lunged deep into my throat. His groan told me just how much he relished the sensation.


    ¡°Fuck, yeah.¡±


    It didn¡¯t take long for him to take control, his hands shifting to the back of my head and encouraging me up and down his shaft.


    ¡°Definitely better than any cow I¡¯ve ever seen.¡±


    My gaze flitted to his before the view was obscured as he pushed me back toward his balls.


    ¡°You¡¯re gonna look great when you¡¯re full term.¡± His palm pressed at my nape, holding me down. ¡°With those titties finally big and filled with milk.¡±


    Pulling hot ribbons of air through my nostrils, I tried to ignore his disrespect, but the image lingered. I couldn¡¯t imagine myself that way, let alone in this awful situation. If I ever contemted motherhood, it hadn¡¯t been anything close to this nightmare. The thought of being farmed and ordered to produce children for this fucked-up system was nauseating, let alone the fact men like Dn might actually be turned on by the prospect.


    ¡°God, yes.¡±


    Fisting my hair, hepelled my head up and down at his pace, and obligingly, Iplied. The sooner he came, the sooner he¡¯d be satiated and willing to go easy on me. The scent of his arousal swirled, his precum coating the back of my throat as he used me roughly.


    I refused to engage, denied the way my clit throbbed at being made to perform for him, just as I shut down thoughts of all the worst-case scenarios. cating Dn with sexual hedonism had to work. It was the only n I had.


    ¡°Fuuck!¡± Wrenching me by the hair, he was back on his feet, pumping his hot seed over my face. ¡°Very good.¡± His thumb stroked the side of my


    face. ¡°You¡¯ll definitely be good to keep around.¡±


    I worked hard to disregard the tears stinging in my eyes, parting my lips as he covered me in cum. It was fucking ridiculous, but I actually bloomed under his perverse praise, d he wanted to keep me-like this. My gaze fell to the floor when he released me, though I wasn¡¯t sure if it was gravity or shame that held it there.


    ¡°You like the taste of my cum, huh?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir,¡± I answered, licking the remainder from my lips. That much wasn¡¯t a lie, at least. I¡¯d always enjoyed giving head and had beenplimented on my skills over the years.


    ¡°That¡¯s good news.¡± His finger tipped up my chin to meet his stare.


    ¡°We¡¯ll always appreciate an excellent cocksucker around here.¡±


    Time lengthened as our gazes locked, his blue eyes scanning over the semen drying on my face, and for one fleeting moment, I thought there was cause for optimism, sensed he was going to kiss me, that he¡¯d take pity on me-that things would be okay.


    ¡°Lucky me.¡± His face neared, his mouth grazing my lips as his hand wrapped around the rope falling from my neck. ¡°Finding such attractive cattle to breed with.¡±


    ¡°Sir.¡±


    I didn¡¯t belong to him, nor any man, but I had nothing left to lose. No possessions, no options. No dignity. I may as well y the dumb female and give him what he wanted. He¡¯d already marked my card by inseminating me within hours.


    ¡°It¡¯s not the normal procedure, but perhaps I can make an exception for you, Eloise. Maybe I¡¯ll keep you bound in here for my own personal use.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t great, but his idea was considerably better than the only viable alternatives.


    ¡°Thank you, Sir.¡± My heart pounded at the eagerness of my tone.


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Dn drew away, dragging me closer to his body. ¡°I could work with that. My own personal fuck whore, and in the meantime, you grow my baby.¡± Dn smiled, revealing a line of perfect teeth. ¡°I¡¯d like to


    fuck those tits when they¡¯re filled with milk before I try some.¡± I shivered at his menacing prophecy.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard it¡¯s a real delicacy.¡±


    Oh God. My stomach cramped at the horrendous thought, but I tried not to let the panic show.


    ¡°Y-Yes, Sir.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± Chuckling, he pushed me away and rose to his full height.


    ¡°That¡¯s decided then. You stay for now.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t decide if I was relieved or terrified as he clutched the rope and dragged me to the door.


    ¡°S-Sir?¡± I scuttled behind him on my hands and knees, cold air hitting me in the face as the door opened.


    ¡°Shut it.¡± Scowling, he waited for me to crawl into the dark corridor before he reached down and hoisted me over his shoulder. ¡°Didn¡¯t I already tell you to be quiet?¡± He smacked my ass, the noise echoing around the hall as he strode away with me.


    ¡°I told you I¡¯ll keep you, but I have other things to do.¡± His fingers delved between my cheeks. ¡°Other whores to knock up. You¡¯ll have to wait your turn.¡±


    What? Headfirst over his shoulder, I could barely keep up, but I recognized the drop in temperature and the concrete as he stalked through the area he¡¯d hosed me down in.


    ¡°Oh God.¡± I forced my lips together as the words escaped, knowing already where he was taking me. ¡°Please, Sir, no!¡±


    ¡°I. Said. Shut. It.¡± He punctuated the words with a hard p to both my cheeks before dumping me onto the cold, tiled floor.


    ncing in both directions, the rows of cages loomed.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t put me back in there.¡± Any remaining dignity bled from me, my fear of incarceration in the tiny metal box outweighing all sense of pride and reason.


    I couldn¡¯t go back in there, couldn¡¯t be that vulnerable again¡­


    ¡°For fuck¡¯s sake.¡± He shook his head, clutching the rope separating us. ¡°The gag goes back in.¡±


    ¡°No!¡± I pleaded, but he was already moving, swooping down withrge hands to lift the ball and shove it back in ce.


    ¡°Cooperate, and I won¡¯t chain your hands in there.¡± He gestured toward the closest crate with an open door. ¡°But the gag stays in.¡±


    ¡°Oooo,¡± I moaned, ceding to his will as he pushed it into ce. In the end, the gag was like everything else-something I had no choice about.


    ¡°If I find you¡¯ve removed it while I¡¯m busy, I¡¯ll invite the others to use your ass and mouth while you¡¯re here.¡± A glimmer of fury glinted in his eyes. ¡°We have cameras pointed on each cage, so I¡¯ll know.¡±


    Terror bloomed in my chest at his threat, his snarling tone convincing me he meant every word.


    ¡°In.¡± He pointed to the crate, holding the door open as he towered above.


    Paralyzed with fear, I didn¡¯t know what to do. I was doomed whichever direction I chose. I didn¡¯t want to be back in that cage, but the thought of the others drooling over me or worse was truly repugnant. The only way to ensure I wasn¡¯t fair game was to obey him, to proactively put myself into the oppressive prison.


    ¡°Don¡¯t make me say it again, or you¡¯ll pay the price.¡±Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Heart racing, I shifted toward the suffocating istion. I only had Dn¡¯s word-not much in the grand scheme-but the thought of the alternative route was too debilitating to contemte. I crawled into the dark, cold space, mouth gagged as I turned in time to see him m the door shut. Pressing my fingers between the bars, I eyed him imploringly as he padlocked it closed.


    ¡°It¡¯s about time you showed some obedience.¡±


    My head fell at his angry growl, the weight of my woe unbearable. By the time I peered up again, he was right there crouching on the other side, surveying me.


    ¡°Oh, and Eloise.¡± His eyes narrowed. ¡°Disappoint me again, and I¡¯ll make sure they ship you straight to the warehouse. There¡¯ll be plenty of


    other pricks to put in your pussy once this baby¡¯s out.¡± I shivered at his predatory tone.


    ¡°Keep the gag in, and if you¡¯re good, I¡¯lle back for youter.¡±


    Pressing my face into the metal, I panted around the dreadful ball. I was back in the bloody cage, unable to cry out for help, and the worst of it was, this time, I had crawled into the damn thing. Alone and abandoned, it looked as if I was the only woman frequenting one, though I couldn¡¯t decide if the thought was reassuring. Whatever was happening to the other women elsewhere, I hoped they had more strength than me, better judgment in the face of impossible choices.


    I watched as his boots disappeared, their dull rhythmic march echoing around the barren space. The final thing I saw before they stalked out of sight was the door mming closed behind him. Dn had left me, and I had no way of knowing if he¡¯d ever return.


    The End.

 Chapter 54

    NOXIOUS


    His lids flutter and close, causing me to panic.


    I try to shake him awake, but it does no good. The rise and fall of his chest is no longer evident, nor is the quiet thump of his pulse


    when I ce my fingers to his neck. This isn¡¯t how our lives are supposed to end. We¡¯re supposed to have a family and grow old together. In fact, ¡°Spend the rest of your life with me,¡± was the first thing he¡¯d said when he proposed six months ago.


    He held silk flowers in one hand and a child¡¯s stic ring he¡¯d bought from a newsstand at Terminal C in the other, as he dropped to one knee. ¡°Victoria, spend the rest of your life with me. Being stranded at the Denver airport isn¡¯t how I¡¯d nned to do this. We should be on a beach in Hawaii as you soak up the sun and sip fancy drinks with decorative umbres, but I guess that isn¡¯t what the big man above had in mind. While we wait for him to reveal our purpose here, I want you to know you¡¯re the love of my life and no matter where we are, I want to spend the rest of mine with you. Will you marry me?¡±


    The scene was as romantic as it could¡¯ve been, considering at the time we¡¯d already been holed up for one hundred and seventy days with no end in sight. In that moment my heart was full, and Hawaii no longer mattered because my ocean swirled in those pleading blue eyes as he waited for my answer. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll marry you.¡±


    Eventually my new fiance and I epted the fact that the rest of our lives meant spending it in this godforsaken building where the bodies of those confident enough to venture outside-only to meet their maker dayster-lie motionless on the floor.


    ncing down the long terminal, I realize how few of the stranded are left. There couldn¡¯t be more than a thousand or so and even that number continues to dwindle, almost monthly, from those who are ovee with the effects of istion. Eventually, taking their own lives.


    It doesn¡¯t help that the news continues to deliver vague information about what is happening and how long we¡¯ll be confined. All we do know is, a new man-made fuel, designed to power household furnaces and other fuel-based mechanics, and was intentionally created to be less harmful on the atmosphere, is instead, emitting toxic elements.


    Widely used all over the country, the fuel has polluted the air causing death tolls to continue to rise. The totals are posted daily, sometimes even hourly, depending on how great the number. Everyone has been instructed to remain inside. I¡¯d warned Elijah not to try to save any of them, but he¡¯d had no intentions of standing by and watching anyone suffer.


    Taking a deep breath of the stale airport air, heyered shirts over his face, leaving only his eyes exposed, then headed straight through the double sliding ss doors, braving the chemical contaminated wind. Heroically dragging people-one by one-back inside. Now they¡¯re all dead, and any hope we had of surviving this mess floats away on the devil¡¯s breath howling just outside.


    Knowing he¡¯s gone is like a vise gripping my chest, squeezing until my heart cracks and eventually breaking into a million pieces. It forces a waterfall of tears to erupt and sends them streaking down my cheeks. I could scream for help-soldiers have taken up residence at each gate of Terminal C-but I know Elijah wouldn¡¯t want that. Even if they could get his heart beating again, there¡¯s no guarantee he¡¯de back as the man he once was. I pull him close, rocking him in my arms until my sobs drown out the world around me.


    I don¡¯t hear the thud of their boots until it¡¯s toote. In an instant something is slipped over my head, enveloping me in darkness before strong arms reach beneath mine and someone tries to separate me from my fiance. But I can¡¯t let go. My knuckles ache from my grip on his shirt. Unfortunately, whoever it is, has ten times the strength of mine and I can¡¯t hold on any longer. I cry out as thest piece of material slips through my fingers.


    ¡°Set her down over there,¡± a man says, and paper crunches beneath my ass as I¡¯m shoved onto a hard surface by heavy hands. When the cloth is stripped from my head, I blink a few times to adjust to the light before looking around.


    The room is small, furnished with two metal chairs next to the door on one wall and a row of cabs with a sink on the other. The scent of stale disinfectant permeates the air, reminding me of a doctor¡¯s office, but the two men dressed in desert camo don¡¯t appear to be doctors.


    I nce down at where I¡¯m seated and find an examination table. Fear settles in, immobilizing me. ¡°Where are we? And what have you done with my fiance?¡± I ask, knowing we haven¡¯t gone far from the terminal.


    Neither of the men answer. The one with his back to me moves as if he¡¯s on autopilot, removing his button-down shirt and cing it neatly on a nearby chair, before washing his hands. He¡¯s not bare chested, but he might as well be because the thin white tank does little to hide his heavily muscled arms and chest. I get so lost in my perusal of how his muscles move beneath his skin and how I¡¯d be no match for him if I tried to escape, that when he does speak, I practically jump out of my skin.


    ¡°By manhandling your fiance, you¡¯ve most likely been exposed to the toxicity from outside. You¡¯ll need to be cleansed of any chemicals, otherwise you¡¯ll die or possibly be sterile,¡± he says, not bothering to turn around.


    The other soldier positions himself next to where I¡¯m seated. His feet are shoulder width apart, his arms crossed at his chest, and his hard stare focused on a spot on the opposite wall. Unlike the other man, he doesn¡¯t say a word.


    These are just two of the many soldiers sent here on a rescue mission- at least that¡¯s what we¡¯d been told-many months ago. But if that were true, I¡¯d be nning my wedding instead of sitting in this medical room, waiting to be cleansed of the toxicity I might have been exposed to.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    ¡°So how does this work? The cleansing, I mean. Do I, like, shower in bleach or something?¡± I ask, jokingly, trying to make light of what could very well mean my life or death. When I¡¯m met with only silence, it doesn¡¯t take long before my mind drifts to images of bleach burning my skin and the thought sends a chill up my spine. I jump from the table and head for the door. ¡°Uh-uh. No way. I¡¯ll take my chances.¡±


    The man standing guard anticipates my move and is quick to react. cing a palm over my mouth and twisting my arm behind my back, he shoves me against the wall. Warm breath caresses my ear as he leans into me. ¡°I knew it wouldn¡¯t be long before Elijah would do something stupid. His loss is my gain. It¡¯s only a matter of time, sweetheart.¡±


    ¡°Let me go, you¡¯re hurting me!¡± I shout but my voice is muffled against hisrge hand. Pinned between his army-built frame and the concrete wall it¡¯s as if I¡¯m stuck in a vise but I¡¯m not giving in, not without a fight. Putting all my weight into my shoulder, I try and push him off bnce, but it does no good. In fact, my fighting has an effect I hadn¡¯t intended.


    Twisting my arm harder against my back, he leans in, pressing his erection against my ass he growls against my ear, ¡°I love a woman with spirit.¡±


    ¡°Goddammit, Travis, can¡¯t you go five minutes without trying to get in someone¡¯s pants?¡± the other soldier asks.


    ¡°And give up the smorgasbord of pussy here? I don¡¯t think so,¡± he says, licking the shell of my ear before biting the lobe.


    ¡°There¡¯ll be plenty of time for that. Until then, you know the routine,¡± the other soldier grumbles. I crane my head to the side just in time to see the man across the room rolling out a leather tool caddy on the counter before turning around. ¡°Go get her cleaned up, by the time you¡¯re back I¡¯ll be ready,¡± he says.


    The air against my body cools instantly when the man-who I now know as Travis-steps back, lifts me off the ground, and carries me from the room. Getting me cleaned up can only mean one thing, and it¡¯s not something I want any part of. Releasing a scream that pierces my own ears, I twist in his arms and beat my fists against his chest. When his grip tightens, and my strength begins to dwindle, more tears spill from my eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t need to do this, Travis. Please, just let me go. If I¡¯m meant to die by means of whatever it is outside this prison, then so be it. You can quarantine me away from the others. Just don¡¯t do this.¡±


    He doesn¡¯t say a word as we duck inside a door that says employees only. On the other side is a room with rows of lockers against the back wall and a small table with chairs in the center. We make a sudden right, moving through the room where he stops and lowers me to my feet. My gasp echoes throughout the tiled space.


    It¡¯s a shower. But not like a shower at someone¡¯s home, this is big enough for a small army. There are exposed shower heads along one wall and open stalls against another, my heart rate increases with each second, I¡¯m in the cold space. Especially with a man who unabashedly was rubbing against me only minutes ago.


    ¡°Everything off, including your bra and panties. The soap¡¯s in the gallon jug with a brush next to it. You must scrub every inch of your skin, including your pussy and ass. If you don¡¯t, or you miss anything I¡¯ll do it for you.¡± He takes a step toward me. ¡°My dick is fucking hard as steel just thinking about it.¡±


    I take several steps back, putting some space between us while eyeing the door behind him. He takes a quick nce over his shoulder and a deepugh erupts from his chest. ¡°Try it and I¡¯ll hold you down while the sarge makes sure you¡¯re squeaky clean before you take one step out of this room.¡± He shrugs. ¡°If he lets you live that is.¡±

 Chapter 55

    My thoughts drift back to the leather tool case being rolled out in the other room and fear clenches my belly. I hadn¡¯t seen its contents but with Travis¡¯s threat I can only imagine what it holds. With shaky fingers I grip the hem of my sweatshirt and lift it a couple of inches before stopping and meeting his cold dark eyes. ¡°Can¡¯t you at least turn around?¡±


    ¡°No. I want¡­ make that, I need, to see the soap on every inch of your body, so you have two options¡­¡± His stride is long, and he closes the distance between us quickly. ¡°Either you do it or I will.¡± I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to avoid him touching me any more than he already has. If that means showering in front of him, so be it.


    Shaking my head frantically, while keeping my eye on him, I back up against the tiled wall. I know there¡¯s no chance I¡¯ll get past him, maybe if I just do this one thing, they¡¯ll leave me be. I can¡¯t think only of myself either. What if there¡¯s a chance this got on someone else and they got sick and died because of me? The guilt would eat me alive. It¡¯s in that moment I know what I need to do. Swallowing back the fear in my throat, I lift my shirt over my head then let it drop to the floor. Travis¡¯s eyes roam over my semi-naked state before he lifts a finger instructing me to continue.


    I drop my pants next then reach behind my back and unsp my bra. With no intentions of seeing his perverted stare on me, I squeeze my eyes shut before I slide the straps over my arms and allow it to fall to the ground. When I bend to slip my panties off, his groan rumbles through the air, startling me. My eyes spring open and meet his appreciative re, not missing the fact he¡¯s also removed his shirt.


    The fear I felt earlieres flooding back and the urge to flee teases my feet like hot coals. Barring some miracle, there¡¯s no way I¡¯ll get past him, so instead I press my body against the cold tile as t as humanly possible. He chuckles. ¡°As much as my dick is aching for that pussy of yours, I¡¯m not taking the chance your fucked-up fiance didn¡¯t contaminate you with that shit from outside,¡± he says, dropping his pants, and turning on the shower while gesturing for me to do the same.


    I know I should just step under the spray and wash as quickly as humanly possible, hopeful that once I¡¯m done, they¡¯ll leave me be, but the vision before me holds my attention.


    Heavy muscles ripple below his flesh and his manhood juts out proudly from his body, bobbing slightly as he kicks his pants away from a puddle of water rising around his feet. I can¡¯t help but stare. Elijah and I had explored one another¡¯s bodies, but it was always in the dark and it never went further than that. My inexperience keeps my eyes pinned on the specimen of a man, and after a beat, I¡¯m wondering how that much girth would ever fit into any woman.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t stop eye-fucking me like that, I¡¯m going to shove you against that wall and slide my dick so far inside you, you¡¯ll be able to taste it when Ie,¡± he states matter-of-factly, crossing his arms over his chest and pinning a hard stare on me.


    I swiftly lower my eyes to the tiled floor and my heart pounds against my rib cage. Not only does his tone startle me from my perusal of his physique, but so does the threat of his words. Every single nerve in my body tells me turning my back on him is a bad idea. The not knowing if he¡¯ll follow through on his threat, even if I oblige, is unsettling but the odds of staying pure seem more realistic if I do.


    Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath then quickly bend down and grab the jug of soap and brush. Once I¡¯ve created a nicether, I scrub every spot of my body as hard and quickly as I can. Making sure to spend a little extra time on the parts that might havee in contact with Elijah before rinsing off and shutting off the water. I¡¯ve no idea if they have towels or anything for drying, so I chance a nce over my shoulder where I find Travis mostly dried, with a towel around his waist and one in his hand.


    ¡°Come here,¡± hemands.


    Shivering, I shake my head. ¡°Just toss it to me. I can manage myself.¡±


    He eyes the wet floor, then starting at my toes slowly drags his gaze upward, stalling briefly on my hand covering the space between my thighs, before continuing his perusal until he meets my timid stare. Something flickers within his, and fear clenches my stomach. Now that we¡¯re both clean, I wonder if his intentions have changed. Extending the edge of the towel out, he makes it look like an invitation into his arms, but it¡¯s one I don¡¯t n on walking into.


    I turn, intent on gathering my clothes and putting them on wet, but within seconds I¡¯m wrapped up in the towel and swept off my feet. The quick movement forces a squeal from my body but I don¡¯t waste any energy trying to fight back because, by the time I¡¯ve realized what has happened, he¡¯s already lowered me roughly to a wooden bench. Leaving me wrapped in the towel before walking over to two lockers on the end. When he turns his back on me to utch the lock on one of them my eyes flit to the door out of this room and away from him. If I time it just right and stay close to the left, I may be able to avoid his reach.


    He turns his back to retrieve whatever contents are inside and I drop my towel and take off running.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    ¡°Son of a bitch. Get back here!¡± he shouts, his thunderous tone echoing throughout the space and following me through the door. It distracts me into thinking he¡¯s that close behind and I turn my head only for a split second, but that split second is too long and I run into a hard chest once out in the hall.


    Strong hands grip my shoulders, and I lift my eyes to find those of the other soldier bearing down on me. ¡°Going somewhere?¡± he asks. My heart drops into my stomach and tears sting my eyes when I realize it¡¯s him. It¡¯s gut wrenching to know my escape has been thwarted.


    He makes no attempt to peruse my body with his gaze, instead he turns me around and forces me back inside the locker room. The anger radiates off him in waves as he calls out, ¡°Travis. Did you lose something?¡±


    Therger of the two menes into view, tucking a gun in the waistband of his camo pants at his back. ¡°No, sir. She wouldn¡¯t have been that hard to find,¡± he retorts, before meeting my eyes with a stare so hard I feel it could turn me to stone.


    ¡°Your confidence is sometimes questionable,¡± the man mutters before shoving me forward. ¡°Now get her dressed and be more careful next time.¡±


    Travis grunts as I¡¯m shoved into his bare chest and his grip, a lot tighter than necessary, holds me in ce. ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    In this moment, I¡¯m seeing Travis as the lesser of two evils. This noname soldier seems indifferent to my presence, almost as if I¡¯m a routine to him and not someone he¡¯s all that interested in. Dare I say, easily disposable. That makes him a lot more dangerous than Travis, who may just lower his guard if I give in a little. Maybe.


    Leaning down until his mouth is near my ear, he breathes out, ¡°If you don¡¯t behave, I will hobble and gag you, do you understand?¡± Scratch my earlier thought. This man may be just as bad, maybe worse. I nod, knowing soon enough I¡¯ll get my chance.


    We step back in the medical room and Travis sets me back on the table, this time his hands settle on my upper arms, and he doesn¡¯t let go. I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror¡¯s reflection and can¡¯t believe my eyes. The woman looking back is not me. With pale skin and matted raven hair, it¡¯s as though I¡¯m not even human anymore.


    Travis¡¯s suggestive stare meets my eyes when his reflectiones into view. I scoff at the thoughts I imagine are rolling through his head, and instead drag my eyes from the mirror to the countertop, and that¡¯s when my whole world stops turning. There, tucked neatly in their own leather slots, are a variety of items designed to induce various levels of pain: Needles, a surgical knife, a lighter, and a branding iron. The steel molded into the letters RD.


    What the fuck do they need a branding iron for?


    This is no rescue mission, and that cleansing shit seems to have nothing to do with what they might have nned. Panic settles in and my heart pounds against my rib cage. The tears from earlier return, as I wriggle desperately in the soldier¡¯s big arms, but his grip doesn¡¯t falter.


    ¡°Miss Sutter, you¡¯ve been selected as a candidate for a secret reproductive division of the government,¡± the other soldier says, plucking one of the needles from its position in the case. ¡°We¡¯ll need some of your blood to determine if you are a viable candidate.¡±

 Chapter 56

    As soon as the tip of the needle nears my flesh, I scream. Pulling away as much as possible, even with the grip Travis has on me. It¡¯s barely a couple of inches and doesn¡¯t make much difference. All I manage to do is force Travis to tighten his hold on me before my arm is outstretched and my bicep is wrapped with a rubber band. My screams turn to sobs as I¡¯m held still, and they prepare to steal the crimson life force from my body.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    It takes merely minutes from the time the skin is broken until several vials are filled with the red liquid after the rubber band is removed.


    Looking at the small tubes lined up on the counter is a mistake because even through my tears, the sight makes my stomach queasy and my head light. ckness creeps into my vision and I¡¯m on the edge of passing out, but the sting from a hard smack to my cheek has my eyelids springing open.


    ¡°Stay with us. He¡¯s almost done,¡± Travis says loudly in my ear. No sooner than the words leave his lips, the needle is pulled from my arm and a bandage covers the hole.


    A quick nce at my pupils with a small shlight, and the man who stole from me utters an order, ¡°Take her to the waiting area to lie down, then grab some juice and snacks from the newsstand. You know where the key is.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sergeant.¡± Travis bends and lifts me into his arms while muttering, ¡°I¡¯m not sure how I get stuck with all the grunt work.¡±


    ¡°Because I¡¯m your superior and thest time you attempted to draw blood, the body ended up in the pile with others that motherfucker tried to save,¡± the sergeant states, matter-of-fact. ¡°Now hurry up or you¡¯re going to lose another.¡±


    Travis¡¯s face is a blur when I nce up at him as my consciousness begins slipping away. Realizing as much, he picks up his pace, hurrying out into the terminal where he ces me gently on a modestly cushioned bench and sprints away.


    The room is spacious and every noise from chatter to distraught cries from many women echo through the space instead of the normally quiet rumble of conversation. It¡¯s thest thing I hear before ckness consumes me.


    ¡°Here, drink this,¡± a woman instructs as she shakes me awake and shoves a cup to my lips. I push her hand away and open my eyes just enough to peer through theshes. ¡°It¡¯s only apple juice. It¡¯ll help bring your blood sugar back up.¡± Her voice is soft, kind even.


    Hesitant, I allow my eyes to adjust to the bright light of the room, then sit up so I can better understand where I am, but the sudden movement causes my head to spin-as does the room-and I feel as though I¡¯m going to lose the contents of my stomach.


    ¡°No, no. Lie back, it¡¯s too soon for you to move.¡± She guides me back with a hand on my shoulder, but in this moment, I¡¯m not very trusting of anyone and instead shake my head, pushing her away once again. Her soft brown eyes look at me curiously, as though she¡¯s offended at my refusal, but then she offers me a small smile.


    ¡°Drink the fucking juice or I¡¯ll pry your jaw open and force it down your throat,¡± a stern voice orders from across the room, cutting through the otherwise quiet space. I turn my head toward the sound and lock eyes with one of the soldiers from earlier. He¡¯s the one who stole the very blood from my body. I nce his way long enough to memorize every curve, line, and shape of his face and think to myself, If we ever get out of here, he¡¯ll be the first one I kill.


    ¡°Sergeant Carisi!¡± the kind woman reprimands the soldier. ¡°She¡¯s been out for a couple of hours and never should¡¯ve been moved so quickly, especially after the amount of blood you took. Just give her a moment.¡±


    He huffs out a breath and turns on his heel, exiting the room. It¡¯s odd how he doesn¡¯t question her dig at his ipetence. Based on his reaction, it appears she holds the cards in whatever game is at y here. With a gentle hand at the back of my head, she takes advantage of my distraction and uses her hold on me to bring my lips to the cup. ¡°Don¡¯t mind him. Beneath that tough exterior is a heart of gold.¡± Herments make me wonder if she¡¯s trustworthy because I¡¯m not sure there¡¯s one bit of gold in that man¡¯s heart. For now, I¡¯ll keep my guard up.


    ¡°What does he need the blood for?¡± I ask, finally giving in to the cup resting patiently on my lips by taking a few very small sips to ensure it really is apple juice.


    ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough,¡± she says, patting my leg while rising from her ce on the coffee table. ¡°Try to stay still but keep drinking. If you need more, I¡¯ll be right over there.¡± She points toward a counter where a microscope sits.


    Once she has her back to me, I scoot up on the couch and take a big swallow, watching her out of the corner of my eye. The cool liquid feels and tastes good going down, and after a few minutes I don¡¯t feel as weak, though I am still exhausted. The sweetness of the fruit sugar lingers on my tongue, and I close my eyes, relishing in how good it is. It¡¯s been months since I¡¯ve had something so sweet to drink.


    As our time here closed in on six months of istion, the soldiers had shown up in gas masks and protective gear. Taking control of the food and supplies, they¡¯d rationed most everything based on their own calctions and schedules. Water was freely avable, as was an overstock of peanuts and cookies normally served on nes, but any other drinks and foods were only essible during meals.


    I swallow down the rest of the juice, knowing I¡¯ll not be asking for more, not from her or either of the two soldiers from earlier. And although it has helped some, I¡¯m still feeling weak, so I close my eyes and drift off to sleep.


    Shrill screams of a woman startle me awake and I shoot straight up off the couch, disoriented and weak. When my vision clears, and I see the source of those screams being carried through the very room where I¡¯ve been asleep, I lift a hand to my mouth. She kicks and screams as Travis struggles to keep a hold on her as he heads toward a door in the back.


    The woman who¡¯d given me juice earlier stands calmly as they approach her, she¡¯s not fazed in the least at what is taking ce right before her very eyes. It¡¯s as though she¡¯s seen this happen more than once. Maybe she has. Maybe this happens when someone goes crazy from the istion we¡¯ve been subjected to for so long.


    Seeing her hysteria reminds me of some of my own thoughts when being here bes too much. Those thoughts where taking my own life sounded better than what I¡¯m living now. Elijah had always been my rock, the one who¡¯d talk me off of the ledge. She must have no one. And although I can¡¯t remember everything Elijah had said to ease my mind, I feel I need to say something. I step forward. ¡°Where are you taking her?¡± No answer.

 Chapter 57

    I move closer, directing my attention to the kind woman from earlier.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to help her?¡±


    A look passes between her and Travis but neither of them utter a word.


    It¡¯s then Travis¡¯s earlier words choose this moment to resurface in my mind, ¡°It¡¯s only a matter of time before I get a turn with you.¡± Could that be what his intentions are with the woman? If so, I don¡¯t n on standing by and watching as she¡¯s carried off so he can have a turn with her. I rush over to them, blocking the door, ignoring the splitting headache that builds in my head.


    ¡°Get out of the way, Miss Sutter. This doesn¡¯t concern you,¡± Travis orders.


    ¡°No!¡± I shout and ce my hands on my hips. ¡°Wherever you¡¯re taking her, she obviously doesn¡¯t want to go.¡± My confidence falters slightly when he turns, and I realize at this distance I don¡¯t recognize the woman. After three hundred plus days, I know almost everyone. I should have at least seen her once or twice, but she¡¯s not familiar. I shrug it off. It¡¯s highly possible I haven¡¯t seen or met everyone who¡¯s left here at the airport, but it doesn¡¯t matter because the wild fear in her eyes tells me she doesn¡¯t want this, which is more important than if I know her. It gives me the courage to stand up against this wall of muscle. ¡°Put her down,¡± I demand.


    Travis looks from me to the kind woman from earlier. She nods. It¡¯s still unclear who she is to him and Sergeant Carisi, but now is not the time to ask. ¡°Very well,¡± he says, and drops the panicked woman to the floor.


    My gasp bes a knot in my throat at his spiteful action, and I crouch down to check on her. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Her eyes go wide as they drift from Travis to the other woman. With a quick whispered, ¡°Thank you,¡± she sprints from the room.


    I cross my arms as I stand and turn to confront them both. ¡°Someone needs to tell me what¡¯s going on.¡±


    ¡°You want to know what we do here?¡± the woman asks.


    I hesitate, thinking back to the blood they took from me and what the sergeant had said about a reproductive division of the government. The memory sends a chill up my spine and I nce toward the neon exit sign. It calls out to me like a firefly in the middle of the night. But I know running would be the easy way out. ¡°Yes, I do. I think everyone here needs to know.¡±


    ¡°Great, you can take Da¡¯s ce. Show her the way, Travis,¡± the kind woman says, turning on a heel and heading back toward her microscope.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    A grin spreads across his face, splitting it from ear to ear. ¡°My pleasure.¡± Opening the door, he waves a hand between us. ¡°After you.¡±


    ncing between them, I pause, suddenly wondering if I should reconsider my bravery until Travis gives me a slight nudge against my back. Knowing I can¡¯t make my way around him toward the exit, I take my chances and move forward, slowly stepping through the doorway and into a dimly lit hallway.


    My eyes take some time to adjust to the darker space. When they do, I notice rows of metal shelves on either side of me. Each hold what appears to be medical supplies and it saddens me to think there¡¯s a ce such as this when, not but twelve hours ago, my fiancey dying on the floor.


    ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking,¡± Travis says, his warm breath skimming across my ear. ¡°None of this stuff could have helped him. Once the toxic fumes settled into his lungs, and the foreign chemical absorbed any oxygen in his bloodstream, it became so severe he suffocated. His airways closing from the inside out.¡±


    The words stab at my heart, and my thoughts drift back to when Elijah took hisst breath. I¡¯d tried giving him my own. Breathing into his mouth and pounding his chest had made no difference. He still chose the other side instead of staying here with me. I can¡¯t hold back the tears. They tease my eyes, blurring my vision, and halting my steps just short of entering arge room. Whatever they were about to show me is no longer as important as it once was. I turn, intent on heading back to the terminal where I can properly mourn my fiance.


    ¡°Uh-uh. You¡¯re not going anywhere,¡± Travis warns, catching my arm before I get far. ¡°You wanted to know what¡¯s going on, and you¡¯ve already promised Marissa you¡¯ll take Da¡¯s ce, so¡­¡± He shoves me forward, tossing out, ¡°Good luck,¡± before mming a door closed behind me.


    I spin around, trying the knob but find it locked. ¡°Travis! Travis! Let me out of here,¡± I shout, pounding my fists against the steel but no one answers.


    After several minutes of wasted effort, and bruised knuckles, it¡¯s clear he¡¯s noting back. I drop to the floor, barely managing to hold my tears at bay. I may not know what they have in store for me, but I know I¡¯m not giving up without a fight. ¡°As soon as I get out of here, I¡¯m going to¡­¡± The rest of the threat catches in my throat when I raise my eyes to finally take in the room¡¯s interior.


    There, lined up on their hands and knees-restrained by pillories molded of metal and designed to secure them by their heads-is a row of women, naked from the waist down. My position from this angle on the floor is every man¡¯s wet dream. Asses and pussies on disy as far as the eye can see.


    I can¡¯t even imagine the humiliation they must feel right now. Had this been where they were bringing Da? Is this their n for me? No sooner than the thought enters my mind, I see the empty pillory at the end of the row.


    Unlocked and separated at the hinge, it sits open and ready for its next unsuspecting victim.

 Chapter 58

    I rise to my feet and bang frantically on the door, once again pleading for someone, anyone who can hear me, ¡°Let me out of here.¡± When a familiar voice cuts through the air from behind me. It sends a chill up my spine, stopping me with fists in the air.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t they beautiful?¡± Sergeant Carisi asks, as the soles of his shoes tap against the concrete floor closing in on me.


    I swing around and press my back against a nearby wall. ¡°Don¡¯te any closer or else¡­¡±


    His steps don¡¯t falter. Instead his eyes lock on me like a predator stalking his prey. ¡°They¡¯re here for our future,¡± he says. ¡°Each one handpicked from the selection of individuals quarantined here at the airport.¡± If his tone wasn¡¯t creepy enough, his robotic motions send my mind reeling with panic. It¡¯s as though he¡¯s in a trance of some sort. Unaffected by everything around us because his focus is solely on me.


    My brain is telling me to flee, run as fast and as far away from this man as possible, but I can¡¯t. Something about the timbre of his voice pulls me in and I want to know more, no matter what I find out or the consequences that could lie ahead. Standing taller, I meet his stare head-on. ¡°Why have they been picked? What are you going to do with them?¡± I ask, conflicted between wanting to know the answers and wanting to remain ignorant to what their ns are.


    ¡°When the destructive wind came, the world wasn¡¯t prepared. I¡¯d told the President on many asions, if he didn¡¯t take drastic actions there would be mass fatalities. But I¡¯m only a sergeant-my opinions aren¡¯t important. At least that¡¯s what I was told and now look at us.¡± He¡¯s close enough that he could touch me if he were to reach out, and he does.


    Strands of my hair roll between his fingertips, as though he¡¯s inspecting each one, before he lets them fall back onto my shoulder. ¡°Each motor vehicle, gas stove, and furnace that runs off the new fuel, emits poisonous gasses into the air,¡± he says, outstretching a hand and encouraging me to walk forward. ¡°They¡¯re light enough to drift anywhere without a filtering system and dangerous enough to kill in seconds, as you have witnessed with your fiance firsthand.¡±


    The reminder should bring me to my knees, instead I push the thought to the back of my mind, fully invested in hearing what the sergeant has to say because he knows more about what¡¯s going on than any news station. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t the reporters have noticed something so, so¡­ obvious and alerted everyone?¡±


    ¡°Because they only knew what they were told.¡± We stop in the middle of the room, and he turns me to face him. ¡°See, the state of Colorado alone has lost over seventy percent of its poption and other states are experiencing the same, if not more.¡±


    My eyes dance between his. The pale blue I saw only moments ago is reduced to only a thin ring as his pupils expand when he leans in closer. I¡¯m distracted by their intensity and suddenly find myself hanging on his every word. He lifts a brow and asks, ¡°Do you really want to know why they¡¯re here? Why you¡¯re here?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± I answer, but ites out barely a whisper.


    ¡°Very well,¡± he says, breaking the spell between us by shouting at a door across the room, ¡°Bring them in!¡±


    At hismand a line of naked men march in one by one, their erections bouncing with each step they take. When they position themselves behind the women, his words from earlier make sense, ¡°You¡¯ve been selected to participate in a secret government reproductive division.¡± These men are here to impregnate the women.


    A gasp tumbles from my lips, so loud it echoes through therge room. He¡¯d said I¡¯d been selected. That means¡­ No, I can¡¯t. My first time isn¡¯t meant to be with some random guy. It was meant to be with Elijah. Backing away, I manage only a couple of steps before he grabs my arm and pulls my back against his chest, preventing my escape.


    ¡°Ah, ah. You don¡¯t want to miss this. Watching humans breed is one of the most erotic things you¡¯ll ever see.¡± Once we¡¯re both facing the line of men, he leans over my shoulder. ¡°All right men, let¡¯s make some babies.¡± They don¡¯t question or fight over a specific woman, instead they stay in the same order they walked in.


    Some begin fisting themselves while others spew out dirty talk, but none of what happens next is what I expect. There aren¡¯t any screams from the women being force-fucked into pregnancy. No whips, chains, or tears rolling down their cheeks. I¡¯d been prepared for almost anything, just not this.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    The men take care in preparing the women for procreation. Some are caressing breasts and pinching nipples, while others are rubbing clits and teasing the woman¡¯s pussy until she¡¯s moaning and slick enough for entry. I should look away out of respect, but the sergeant is right; this is highly erotic.


    ¡°Your thoughts are right on the mark,¡± he says, his breath tickling my ear. ¡°The women are into this as much as the men. They are happy to be part of a program where they can contribute to repopting the world.¡±


    Some couples are ready sooner than others. Those men drop to their knees and rub the head of their shaft around the woman¡¯s opening for an all-natural lube before sliding inside. Moans, grunts, and the p of skin on skin soon be the only sounds echoing through the room.


    A throbbing need builds between my legs as my body betrays me from the sight.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, baby, keep watching,¡± he encourages, distracting me from his actions. I don¡¯t notice the grip he has around my neck until my head is forced back against his shoulder and soft warm lips are on mine. Images of Elijah tumble into my mind and for a moment I imagine it¡¯s him. His pace is slow and tentative, just like our first kiss so long ago-so frustratingly sweet.


    I want to give in, to let this stranger take me back to a time when there was no murderous wind. A time when we didn¡¯t have a care in the world, and life was lived to the fullest. But I don¡¯t, because the right thing to do is resist, to break free from the imposter¡¯s delicate touch, and p him for invading my precious memories.


    It¡¯s not my palm meeting his flesh that draws our attention away from one another, though. Shouts and groans of passione from the line, leaving us breathing heavily, and turning to watch the final two men release their seed into two of the women.


    When the men finish, they retrieve a device that¡¯s connected by a chain to the individual pillories and insert it into the women. The sergeant doesn¡¯t hide his arousal, his erection bumps against my ass as he pulls me tighter against him and exins, ¡°They¡¯re putting in a plug, forck of a better term, it holds the sperm in, ensuring a better chance at conceiving.¡±


    It makes sense but doesn¡¯t answer the lingering question in my mind. ¡°Why are these women so calm, but Da was a wreck when Travis tried to bring her here?¡± He nces from me to the open pillory. A reminder I am supposed to take her ce. There¡¯s no way I¡¯ll be taking part in what I just saw.


    Twisting in his arms, I¡¯m hoping I can distract him from the thought of cing my head between the metal bars before locking me in and stripping off my clothes. ¡°Actually, before you answer, maybe you should tell me your name. I mean, it feels weird calling you Sergeant and all when I¡¯m not even in the military.¡±


    A sh of something passes through his eyes before he answers. ¡°Anthony. Anthony Carisi,¡± he says, keeping his tone so that none of the others can hear.


    ncing toward the women, I curiously roll his name around on my tongue. ¡°Anthony Carisi. Sergeant Carisi.¡± He grips my jawline tightly, forcing my attention back on him. The intensity in his stare raises gooseflesh on my arms, leaving me unprepared for what he does next.


    His lips crash down on mine and he slides his free hand across my stomach until his fingers breach the waistband of my yoga pants. This time he takes whatever he wants no second-guessing, no regrets, and he gives absolutely nothing in return. I need to stop him, because in this room filled with the smell of sex and sweaty bodies, my chances of remaining pure are declining with every second, but how.


    ¡°Now that I know your name, what about my other question?¡± I ask against his hostile lips, hoping it will change the direction of where this is going. It¡¯s clear he has no interest in responding, not verbally anyway.


    Instead, he works his entire hand into my pants and teases my clit with his middle finger. My head drops back as every nerve in my body ignites.


    This is wrong. I should pull away, but the sensations overwhelming me at this very moment prevent any logical thought from entering my head. I¡¯m so close to the point of no return. Wanting, needing his fingers to slip inside. But suddenly he stops cold. The kissing. The touching. Everything. He just stops.


    I should be grateful, yet a whimper of disappointment tumbles from my swollen lips.


    ¡°You want to know more about Da?¡± he asks, gripping my hand.


    ¡°Yes,¡± I whisper breathlessly. ¡°Why did she fight againsting here if all these women are volunteers?¡±


    Tugging me toward the door where the first line of men hade from, he speaks in an even tone. ¡°They were all like her in the beginning.¡±


    ¡°What changed their minds?¡± I ask nervously, now more alert because I know my chances of ending up like them increases with each step we take toward the threshold to the unknown.


    ¡°Well, Victoria, I¡¯m d you asked,¡± he says as he yanks me into a dark oblivion.

 Chapter 59

    We pass over the threshold as a new line of naked men-hard cocks bobbing-march in the opposite direction. My stomach churns at the thought of those women taking on another round. Who in their right mind would agree to such a thing? It¡¯s¡­


    ¡°Wrong?¡± he asks as though reading my mind, not bothering to face me as he leads us wherever it is we¡¯re going. I stare at him with shock. How did he know? ¡°They call it polyamory. People are simr to animals in that aspect. A pride of lions can have one male to hundreds of females. Or a wild stallion can have many mares. In this case, we have some mares and


    many stallions. It increases their chances of conceiving.¡±


    Stopping in front of a door in another dimly lit hallway, he turns to face me. ¡°A lot of time and effort goes into arranging these sessions, particrly around the women¡¯s cycles. We¡¯re making use of the time while we still have it.¡± He tips my head up with a finger. ¡°Victoria, no one is unhappy with this, you¡¯ll see.¡± At that, he pushes the door open and waves me in.


    In the room sits a circle of chairs filled with men and women. One man greets us as we enter, ¡°Wee, Sergeant Carisi. And who might this prettydy be?¡± he asks, sitting patiently front and center with a book settled in hisp.


    ¡°Hello, Dr. Ackerman. This is Victoria. She has an interest in learning more about what we do here. Could you fill her in on everything?¡± Anthony asks the doctor. A look passes between them. They think I don¡¯t notice, but it¡¯s hard to miss. I¡¯m not quite sure what it means, but I n on finding out.


    As soon as I take a seat and the doctor begins speaking, I know whatever happens next will not be in my best interest. ¡°Wee,dies and gentlemen, to your first session. I am Dr. Ackerman. I¡¯ve been a licensed psychiatrist for thirty years. Over the next two weeks I¡¯m going to teach you how to gain control over your mind, body, and spirit.¡± He stands and paces around the chairs,manding the room like a cult leader preaching to his followers.


    ¡°While what you¡¯re about to partake in is a beautiful thing, it will y havoc on your psyche. Ladies, your bodies are miraculous tools for bringing new life into this once perfect world. Some of you may have already experienced this, while others have not, regardless, the process which you¡¯ll take part in for this project requires you to always be in control of your emotions.¡± He looks between those seated in the circle. ¡°All men are different. Some will berger than others, and some will need to be rough to reach their climax. You should be prepared for anything. Which is why you¡¯re here with me now. Before we get started, are there any questions?¡±


    ¡°How do you n on teaching us?¡± I ask, my question drawing rumbles from around the circle.


    ¡°Well, Victoria, thank you for being brave enough to ask that question. I¡¯ll be using hypnotism.¡±


    ncing toward the back of the room, I search for the exit. There¡¯s only one, and it¡¯s guarded by the person who brought me here. My choices roll around in my mind. Stay, and hope the sergeant is the one who takes my innocence, or try to escape, find a gas mask, and risk my chances beyond the walls of this airport. He crosses his arms, offering a nod and a slight grin as if he knows what I¡¯m thinking.


    Adding a smirk to my own adoring stare, I¡¯m sure he assumes is meant for him and his body melting kisses, instead, I¡¯m sizing him up. I understand that army soldiers go through a rigorous boot camp, and it is evident by his physique, but the fact he¡¯s smaller than Travis-it gives me hope.


    ¡°Now, if there are no other questions, let us begin,¡± the doctor states, and the sergeant swirls his finger, suggesting I should turn around. My chances of getting out of here may be slight at best, but it¡¯s something. The grin stered on my face now is real.


    Thest twenty-four hours are a blur. I¡¯m no longer seated in the circle listening to the doctor¡¯s monotone speech. Instead, I¡¯m in the same position the women once were: half-naked, hands and knees on the


    floor, and my neck pressing lightly against a cold bar.


    Shame warms my cheeks, and my pulse quickens as I imagine what the scene must look like from the spot where the sergeant and I stood earlier. How did this happen? I¡¯d tried hypnotism before when a friend wanted to lose weight and I went along for fun. It hadn¡¯t worked. In fact, we¡¯d gained a pound or two. This time, it must have worked, there¡¯s no other exnation for how I¡¯d end up in this position.


    I should be scared, or at the very least angry-cursing and struggling to escape-but my limbs feel like concrete, and my mind is full of fuzz. It¡¯s calming, in a weird way. Almost like this is where I belong, ready and waiting for my mate.


    A door creaks open in the distance and my heart catches in my throat as I crane my head down the now empty row and a manes into view.


    Elijah.


    ¡°Oh my God! You¡¯re not dead!¡± I screech, forcing my heavy hands to rest on the cold bar. ¡°Help me get this utched, they¡¯ll being back soon. We need to get the fuck out of here.¡±


    His steps falter briefly, but he regains his determined pace quickly. Once he¡¯s towering over me, he makes no move toward the lock on the pillory, instead he paces in his bare feet around my ce on the floor. ¡°Several quality men had been handpicked for you, Victoria, and I¡¯ll admit, Travis, uh¡­I mean Anthony. Yes, Anthony and Travis were at the top of the list. With their ideal height, skin tone, hair, and eye color, either man would be a logical choice for you. Nothing but the best for the best,¡± he says, squatting down in front of me to grip my chin and direct my stare to his. ¡°But then I decided there was no way any of them would get near that virgin pussy of yours. It¡¯s mine. You¡¯re mine.¡±


    Not giving me a chance to tell him how happy I am to see him, or allow me the opportunity to feel his body against mine, so that I know this is real, he leans forward and our lips connect. The kiss, while delicate, holds enough passion to set my insides on fire. Most likely a guided reaction from the session with the doctor, but I don¡¯t care because it feels good. So good that I whimper when he breaks away.


    Never in a million years did I expect to be here, forced to choose between death by the elements outside or spending the rest of my life being bred in a fucking airport. Why would Elijah have any part of this? I¡¯m desperate to know, so I ask, ¡°Why, Elijah? Why must it be like this? It was supposed to be on our wedding night. I know things have changed here, but it seems we could do this somewhere a little more privately.¡±


    Tipping my chin up, his sympathetic stare locks on my unsure gaze and he dips his thumb into my mouth. ¡°It¡¯s our duty and privilege to be a part of something so amazing, love. I can¡¯t guarantee it won¡¯t hurt,¡± he says, sliding his other hand down my back and over my ass until his fingers find and tease my clit. ¡°Or that I¡¯ll be gentle.¡±


    Reactively, I circle my lips around the fat digit and moan. Pleased with myself when it elicits a growl from deep within his chest. ¡°Goddammit,¡± he growls, his fingers digging into the soft spot under my chin. ¡°I¡¯m tempted to shoot my load all over your face, but fuck if that wouldn¡¯t just be wasted cum.¡±


    No matter how much attention Elijah shows me, something about him seems off. Maybe it¡¯s the adrenaline coursing through my veins or maybe it¡¯s something the doctor did, but in my fuzzy brain Elijah¡¯s voice sounds different. I¡¯d checked his pulse, and was sure his heart wasn¡¯t beating. It must¡¯ve been Marissa. She must have helped him just like she¡¯d done for me.


    Thoughts of my fiance lying motionless on the terminal floor and him being cleansed of the toxicity by Marissa tumble through my head, consuming my thoughts. I don¡¯t realize he¡¯s positioned himself behind me until he teases my opening with what must be the head of his dick. I take in a sharp breath, quickly reminded of what the men had done earlier as I watched with Anthony.


    I can see why the women weren¡¯t resisting. It feels nice-at first. He¡¯s slow and gentle, just barely pushing against me but it¡¯s not going in. He pushes harder, his size stretching me, but my body resists. The resulting pain causes every one of my muscles to clench.


    ¡°Just rx, baby. The less you fight it the easier it will be,¡± he breathes out before one, single hard thrust, finally breaking my barrier, and forcing himself fully inside. I cry out, pain searing through every nerve between my legs.


    ¡°Please, Elijah, it hurts,¡± I beg, but he doesn¡¯t answer, nor does he stop moving. Eventually the pain wanes enough from the rhythmic motion, igniting a spark and slowly a fire builds. Just when I feel my climax culminating from deep within, his body goes still and a warmth fills my insides. Grunting out thests few thrusts he finally pulls out and reces his dick with the same plug I¡¯d seen used earlier.


    He doesn¡¯te around to face me or offer any kind words, nor does he unlock me from my position on the floor. Instead, he just disappears. Walking away and leaving me on my hands and knees, wet and used.


    ¡°Elijah? Where are you going? Hello?¡±


    It¡¯s not but a few minutester the rumble of another deep tone teases my ears. ¡°Yeah, baby, I¡¯m here. Are you doing okay?¡±Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    ¡°I¡¯d be doing better if you got me out of here,¡± I groan, shuffling around on my knees, trying to position myself so I can get a good grip on the bars surrounding my head to shake the lock free.


    His fingertips trace from the top of my ass crack, along my spine to rest between my shoulder des, before gripping a handful of my hair. ¡°We


    should go one more time, it¡¯ll better our chances.¡±


    Craning my neck, I try to get a better look because I may not have much experience, but I¡¯ve been told it takes guys some time to get hard again and I¡¯m hesitant to believe him. Unfortunately, I¡¯m not in a position for confronting anyone about anything. I rattle the bars. ¡°Get me out of this thing.¡± But instead of freeing me, a dark cloth slips over my eyes.


    This time when he enters me, there¡¯s a lot more stretching than before and his thrusts are much harder and a lot more determined. The pain turns my stomach and the apple juice from earlier settles in my throat. I scream and try to tuck my knees up under my chest, but he grabs my hips and straightens my body. Moving harder and faster until his body stiffens and he¡¯s filling my body with his seed once again.


    ¡°You did so good, baby girl,¡± he praises, plugging the hole his dick just left. ¡°It¡¯ll get easier, I promise.¡± His lipsnd briefly on mine but he makes no attempt at removing the blindfold. ¡°I¡¯m going to get cleaned up, Marissa will be here in fifteen.¡± ¡°Wait! Elijah¡­?¡± No response.


    ¡°Elijah!¡±


    He left. He fucking left me here, used, unsatisfied, and locked up like a damn dog. Silence settles around me, and I can¡¯t think of anything better to crack it except a good cry. So that¡¯s what I do.


    It¡¯s not but a few minutes after my breakdown has started that the bars around my head rattle. ¡°Elijah, you came back?¡± I say to the blurred vision before me, as I blink away the tears.


    ¡°Shhhh,¡± a woman hushes me.


    My eyes go wide at the feminine voice, and I crane my head upward where I find Da. Her dainty fingers are fumbling with the lock on the pillory. ¡°What are you doing here? Where¡¯s Elijah?¡± I ask, tucking my hand around the bar and wiping my eyes.


    She scoffs, ¡°Damn, the doctor sure did a number on you. I hate to be the one to tell you this, but the person, or should I say persons, who just fucked you were not Elijah.¡±


    ¡°It was, I saw him,¡± I defend. I know what I saw. It was him, wasn¡¯t it?


    ¡°No, what you saw was an illusion. A mix of drugs and hypnotism. That¡¯s all it took for you to believe whatever the fuck they wanted you to.¡±


    My heart stops at her words. Could it be true? Was it someone else, maybe even more than one, and not the love of my life who took my innocence? The surface of my skin lights up with goosebumps as chills spread throughout my body. I¡¯m afraid to ask because I already know the answer, but I need to confirm if my instincts are correct. ¡°If not Elijah, then who?¡±


    She sits back on her heels; her stare is soft, sympathetic even. ¡°Anthony and Travis.¡±


    All I can muster at this moment is a shake of my head. It¡¯s no longer drugs or hypnotism that weights down my body, this time, it¡¯s from the pain of deceit. How could anyone be so conniving? Why not just show their true selves? My thoughts are full of anger at what they¡¯d done. ncing up, I focus a hard stare on Da and ask her, ¡°Can you get me out of here?¡±


    She smiles and raises a set of bolt cutters in her hands. ¡°You¡¯d better believe it.¡±

 Chapter 60

    We sneak down the hall and open as many doors as we can find before locating some clothes for me to wear. There¡¯s no time to shower, and the janitorial uniform looks ridiculous, but I don¡¯t care. My mission for revenge doesn¡¯t require a ball gown and high heels.


    ¡°This way,¡± Da says, leading me through a maze of rooms, hallways, and main entryways until we¡¯re standing before yet another door. She turns to me. ¡°This isn¡¯t the best idea, and it will take some time, but if we¡¯re going to have any chance of getting out of this ce, we¡¯ll need weapons.¡±


    She pushes the door open. Inside are hundreds, maybe even thousands of suitcases. ¡°I don¡¯t think suitcases are going to do much damage.¡±


    Chuckling, she moves over to a case, opens it, and starts throwing the contents to the floor. ¡°People travel with guns; they can¡¯t carry them on the ne, but they can check them. If we can¡¯t find any, surely we¡¯ll find something we can use.¡±


    I nce at the piles of bags, then at Da. ¡°This is going to take forever.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d be surprised.¡±


    Crouching down, I grab the nearest bag and crack it open.


    We spend hours hovered over the suitcases and duffle bags looking for something we can use as a weapon. I¡¯m about to give up when I find a hard box buried beneath some clothes. ¡°This looks promising,¡± I say, and show the box to Da.


    With wide eyes, she jumps up from her ce on the floor. ¡°Yes!¡± With a nail file she¡¯d found early on in her hand, she easily pops the lock, and we¡¯re both relieved to find a gun and ammo secured neatly in foam. ¡°This will work. Now let¡¯s keep¡­¡± She stops, nces toward the door, then grips my shirt and pulls me to the floor at the same time the doorknob jiggles. Luckily, she¡¯d thought to lock it. Once the rattle of the knob stops, we slowly stand.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here,¡± she says.


    ¡°But what about more cases?¡± I plead, not wanting to leave unarmed.


    cing a hand on my shoulder, she gives me the same sympathetic look from earlier. ¡°We¡¯ll need to share.¡± I nod, thankful that I don¡¯t have the responsibility of carrying a gun, but fearful at the thought of going out there without one. I hadn¡¯t seen any guns on Anthony or Travis, but that doesn¡¯t mean they couldn¡¯t have one hidden. ¡°Come on, I know where they hide the gas masks and hazmat suits.¡±


    Da¡¯s in the lead as we enter the hall, and I¡¯m tucked closely behind with a death grip on her shirt. We don¡¯t see anyone until we close in on the door to the equipment room that¡¯ll be our saving grace. It took a maze of hallways to get here, and I doubt I could find my way back out without Da¡¯s help, but we made it.


    As expected, the door is protected by a soldier. Fortunately for us, he¡¯s napping. I doubt he deals with escapees too often, causing him to bex. Stealthily, she creeps up behind him and hits him hard on the back of the head, knocking him to the floor. She swipes a ring of keys from his pocket and tries a few of them before finally getting the right one, and we enter the small space that could be better described as a treasure box.


    It¡¯s filled with food, water, gas masks, and protective suits. I know the essentials are things that¡¯ll help us escape, but my stomach growls just looking at the snack cakes on a shelf. Snatching several, I rip off the cellophane and shove two cakes into my mouth. Da is already zipping up a white suit and slipping a gas mask over her head, but not before she tosses an understanding stare in my direction.


    It¡¯s not like we¡¯d beencking sustenance. The soldiers made sure everyone had three meals a day, but they were in control of what types of food we ate, when we ate, and how much. So, taking things freely is more a rebellious action than one of need. I fill my pockets with more food, then grab a suit and a mask. Following Da out the door, I pause only long enough to relieve the guard of his gun.


    It doesn¡¯t take long before wee to a T in the maze of hallways. Right takes us back the way we came, where thest memory of my innocence remains. Left takes us to the unknown. ¡°Which way?¡± Da asks, ncing down both halls.


    ¡°Left.¡± I tell her, without a second thought. Travis or Anthony could still be lurking around, and wild horses couldn¡¯t drag me back through the breeding room.


    She nods, heading past me to lead the way.


    We¡¯re silent as mice as we creep along the wall, trying every door we pass. Most are dark, empty offices with lights illuminated by a motion detector. One room is a janitorial closet and several others are storage rooms. We close in on the end of the hall. There¡¯s onest door, onest chance. The pale oak calls out, like a beacon in the endless sea of painted drywall and wood. If this doesn¡¯t lead us out, it¡¯ll mean going back, and that¡¯s not something I¡¯m willing to do.


    My heart races as Da turns the knob and pushes it open. I¡¯m half expecting her to get snatched before my eyes, but she steps through without incident. I cautiously follow and let out a deep sigh when I realize we¡¯re back in the terminal.


    It¡¯s eerily quiet. That¡¯s not unusual during the evenings when everyone finds their own nooks and crannies to sleep in, but this is different. Not only is it daylight outside, but it¡¯s also lunchtime. There should be at least a straggler or two looking for food. Something doesn¡¯t feel right, which means we need to get the hell out of here. Looking at the bug eyes of Da¡¯s gas mask reminds me I need to slip into my own protective gear.


    When I resemble a DEA agent prepped for ab seizure, she gives me a thumbs-up and we head toward the double doors. Less than a hundred yards away, our freedom lies just on the other side.


    There are two sets, the first opens automatically as we approach. A lock wasn¡¯t necessary, because if anyone is dumb enough to wander out without the proper gear, then they deserve the consequences. The thought reminds me of Elijah, whose body still lies where I¡¯dst seen him. I shouldn¡¯t leave him here alone with the creeps keeping us hostage. But I can¡¯t carry him far, if at all. A single tear escapes the corner of my eye in remembrance.


    Da mumbles something I can¡¯t hear, then holds up her finger indicating for me to wait while she tests the suit outside. It¡¯s like watching a movie. I¡¯m on the edge of my seat, holding my breath, waiting to see what happens.


    I let out the breath I¡¯d been holding in anticipation when five minutes pass and nothing happens.


    She waves me out excitedly.


    I take a step forward and then another until I¡¯m standing before the first set of double doors. My mind is so focused on my freedom and Da¡¯s waving hand that I don¡¯t see him in the reflection until it¡¯s toote. Arge hand covers my gas mask, and an arm goes around my waist, holding me steady and forcing me to watch whates next.


    Her peripheral vision is impaired.


    She doesn¡¯t see himing.


    One shot.


    Another body.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    EPILOGUE


    The twins y quietly in a makeshift pen in the corner of the breeding room. They¡¯re young enough they don¡¯t have any idea what the men are doing to their mommy, and since it¡¯s only on rare asions that


    the men are any other than their own daddies, the boys seem unaffected.


    Seven months ago, when their personalities and facial features began to shine, I knew who their fathers were. They both have dark hair and spitfire attitudes, but that¡¯s where the simrities end. Anthony¡¯s son has pale blue eyes and sharp intelligence, while Travis¡¯s son has hazel eyes, and a stocky build.


    I¡¯ll admit, I was relieved when we¡¯d discovered they were both boys. As a mother, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to watch my daughters be taken by multiple men to pop out babies until they could no longer do so. I know, it¡¯s a given that one day, my boys will perform-the same as every other man here-but their time is a long way off. And as much as us women don¡¯t want to think about it, the experience is different for men.


    Thinking about my boys brings thoughts of Da to mind.


    I hadn¡¯t really known her, but she gave her life for me. If only she¡¯d left sooner instead of releasing me from the pillory and allowing me to tag along. It¡¯s possible the oue would¡¯ve been the same, but I wouldn¡¯t have known.


    Three months after her death is when I¡¯d finally spoken to anyone. My silent treatment was the only way I knew how to honor her. Even the doctor, with his hypnotic ways, couldn¡¯t get through the wall I¡¯d built. Not that it made any difference. I still ended up on my hands and knees being pounded by Anthony and Travis, just with a lot less chatter.


    As ofte, I¡¯vee to terms with her memory and I¡¯ve filed away the nagging twinge of guilt in the back of my mind. Had I not, I¡¯d never have been able to focus on being the best mother I can for Aiver, Tanison, and- ording to Marissa-soon-to-be baby number three. I just need to figure out when to tell Anthony and Travis that they¡¯re going to be dads again.


    My lips curve into a devilish grin. They¡¯re both here, albeit preupied. Anthony is buried balls deep in my pussy and Travis is covering my nipples with a breast pump, intent on capturing every drop of breastmilk before it hits the floor.


    Once all the stars have aligned and they¡¯re both nearing the edge, one from my pussy and the other from his fist, I drop my news, ¡°I¡¯m pregnant.¡±


    The timing couldn¡¯t be more perfect. The toxic air outside has dwindled to almost nothing, and the world is slowly recovering. One day I hope I can leave this ce, find a home, a job, and a good school for the boys. Maybe get back to some level of normal. But when I look between the two men doting over me and my soon-to-be swelling belly, I know they¡¯re never going to let me go.

 Chapter 61

    A LITTLE MORE


    Hadley


    PRESENT


    I was happy.


    Or I tried to be. No matter how much time had gone by though, I couldn¡¯t get that summer out of my head. I would fall asleep at night,


    only to wake to the sounds of my own screaming.


    After attending a party, I drank too much and passed out. Only to wake hoursterpletely naked. I couldn¡¯t remember what had happened but the evidence of what had been done to me, was clear on my skin. News traveled fast and the following year at school was so damn bad with bullying, I upped and moved across the country.


    It didn¡¯t matter anyway. I had been alone my entire life. It wasn¡¯t like I loved the foster family I had been with anyway, so they shipped me off to another family who could maybe calm the girl who screamed at night because her nightmares tried to destroy her.


    Maybe I should have listened to the doctors and spoke to someone.


    Maybe I should have taken the pills they gave me.


    Maybe I should have done a lot of things.


    Like take the garbage outst night.


    Or call my friend who I haven¡¯t spoken to in over a week.


    Or not let my fiance fuck me the way he did. The way he needed. The way he craved.


    I hated him for making me lust for him.


    I hated myself for the way he made me feel.


    But no matter how much that hatred ran through my veins, I still needed him. His power. His wrath. His love. Although, I hadn¡¯t seen that part of him in so long, I wasn¡¯t sure if it even existed anymore.


    The sound of a door closing, pulled me from my thoughts. My back was to the door and although I couldn¡¯t see him, I knew he was close.


    I could picture him in my mind¡¯s eye.


    He would start with his tie first, pulling the several hundred-dor item free from his cor. If it was the same one he had put on that morning, it was blood red. The crimson was so deep, it looked almost ck unless you saw it in the light.


    He would then unbutton his dress shirt. The one he had on that morning was ck. It made his sun-kissed skin appear more tanned in a way.


    Strong fingers would pull the shirt tails from his pants before shrugging out of the fabric that cost more than the monthly bills of the house I grew up in.


    Those same fingers would slowly lower the zipper in the ck dress pants that matched the shirt. It would be so slow, almost teasing in a way, knowing I liked the sound of anticipation.


    My heart sped up.


    My ears were attuned to the sounds flowing around me. They kissed my skin. Promising me pain mixed with pleasure.


    When the nket started lowering off of my naked body, I bit back a whimper.


    I wanted him.


    But I didn¡¯t.


    He scared me.


    I loved him.


    It was all so damn confusing.


    With his light blue eyes that looked almost silver and his sandy blonde hair, Logan Donahue was a walking wet dream. But no matter how much time had passed, no matter how well I thought I knew him, he made me quickly realize that I didn¡¯t know him.


    Not at all.


    Not even a little bit.


    *****


    PAST


    Light blue eyes that appeared so damn light, were staring back at me. They didn¡¯t seem real and yet they were.


    Strong fingers pushed through blond hair that I wished I could touch myself. Was his hair soft? It looked soft. And those eyes. God, those eyes. They looked like silver dor coins. Maybe they were contacts. ¡°Hadley.¡± I looked up.


    Pam Banks, a friend I had made recently after bonding over our love of coffee, ced a mug on the table in front of me.


    ¡°Oh, thank you.¡± I grabbed it with two hands and took a sip, letting out a hard sigh when the sweet warmtte tickled my taste buds.


    ¡°Good?¡± She smiled.


    ¡°Yes, thank you.¡± I hadn¡¯t been sleeping well the fast few weeks. She knew that after spending many nights on the phone with me. She had been the only one I could confide in, even though there wasn¡¯t much to tell.


    Since I couldn¡¯t remember everything that had happened.


    ¡°How are you doing? How¡¯s school?¡±


    My lips tugged into a small smile at the concern evident in her voice. ¡°I¡¯m fine and school is almost done. So that¡¯s even better.¡±


    Sheughed softly. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± She pursed her red lips, her honeycolored eyes locking with mine.


    ¡°What is it?¡± I shifted, getting ufortable under her intense scrutiny.


    ¡°Are you good?¡± she asked.


    I sighed, my heart skipping a beat at her concern for me. I often regretted spilling my guts to her. ¡°Yeah. I am. One day at a time and all.¡±


    ¡°Well.¡± She pped her hands together. ¡°We can pig out on junk food and binge watch crappy movies. Whatever you want. Just let me know when.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like a wonderful n.¡± I took a sip of my coffee while Pam went on to talk about hertest date she went on the other day. She had been going through a rut, falling into bed with random guys even though I warned her against it. I knew what it was like to get into bed with the wrong guy.


    Ever since that night I was sexually assaulted after having too much to drink, I would take out that pain on random guys. Although I didn¡¯t drink anymore, I used sex as an out instead.


    My stomach twisted as those memories tried slipping to the forefront of my mind. I couldn¡¯t go there. Not again. Not ever again.


    ¡°Hadley.¡± Pam reached across the table and grabbed my hand.


    I cleared my throat, my cheeks heating. ¡°Sorry.¡± She must have been trying to get my attention and I never noticed. This time of year, always messed me up.


    ¡°I love you,¡± she said gently. ¡°You know that right?¡±


    I nodded, my gaze flicking across the room to the man who had been staring at me earlier.


    He was looking down at his cell phone, his fingers moving quickly over the screen.


    His head lifted, his eyes suddenly locking with mine.


    My stomach did a flip. I should look away. I didn¡¯t want to be rude and stare at him, but he was beautiful. In a ruggedly handsome kind of way. I found myself unable to look away.


    His hair was shorter on the sides and longer on top. There was a wave to it and it looked soft to the touch.


    His strong jaw ticked, his full mouth pulling into a grin.


    ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± Pam asked, breaking the intense stare down I was having with the stranger.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± Although I had never officially met the guy before, I had seen him around the coffee shop over the past few months. ¡°Well, he¡¯s looking at you like¡­¡±


    I met Pam¡¯s gaze when her voice trailed off. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± She chewed her bottom lip. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I like it though.¡±


    She had be protective ever since I told her what had happened to me.


    I loved Pam dearly. She was the sister I was never allowed to have. It had amazed me how fast our friendship formed, especially when we hadn¡¯t known each other for that long.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± I brushed it off. ¡°I¡¯m going to the bathroom. Want anything on my way back?¡± I asked, rising from the chair.


    ¡°No.¡± She smiled up at me. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    I nodded, turned around slowly and went to head in the direction of the bathroom when I realized that I would have to walk by that guy I had been staring at.


    I didn¡¯t meet his gaze, but I could feel his eyes burning into me. It was like they were drilling tiny little holes into my body until all I felt was him touching me. I wondered if he would be gentle. His suit looked expensive, so maybe his hands were soft from not knowing a hard day¡¯s work.


    Rough calloused hands slid over my stomach, grazing down my abdomen to my hips.


    I bit back a whimper, knowing what wasing next but refused to let him hear it. I refused to let any of them hear it.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    It had been the only memory I had of that night and one I tried to forget.


    A throat clearing brought me back to the present.


    Bright silver eyes were staring directly at me. The man had risen from his spot at his table and was now standing directly in front of me.


    ¡°You okay?¡± he asked, but although the concern was apparent in his words, his voice was clipped with annoyance. Like my momentary ckout interrupted whatever he had been doing on his phone.


    I nodded. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± I winced, knowing I shouldn¡¯t have apologized because the episodes weren¡¯t my fault. But I still felt the need to apologize for them.


    Hanging my head low, I pushed past him. Our shoulders touched, a spark of something passing between us. I stopped suddenly, unable to move as the sudden need to push my way into his arms crossed my mind.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± he asked me, his voice low.


    ¡°Hadley.¡±


    ¡°Look at me.¡± The demand sent a flutter of unease rushing through me but at the same time it left me yearning for his touch.


    I met his gaze then, getting lost in his light eyes.


    His lips twitched. Sticking out his hand, he waited.


    I hesitated but was raised to be polite and slipped my fingers in his.


    ¡°Nice to meet you, Hadley.¡± His thumb brushed over my pulse point.


    ¡°I¡¯m Logan Donahue.¡±

 Chapter 62

    Hadley


    PRESENT


    Pulling myself from the clutches of the man who owned my soul, I slid off the bed and trudged into the bathroom.


    My muscles ached, every inch of me a reminder that Logan got what he wanted. No matter if I was in the mood or not, when he wanted me, he took it. Even if I said no.


    ¡°I¡¯m tired, Logan.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, well I¡¯m not.¡± Logan captured my bicep in his firm hand, spinning me around toward him.


    ¡°Logan, please.¡±


    ¡°Knees,¡± he growled. ¡°Now.¡±


    I attempted to struggle out of his grip, but he was too strong for me. ¡°What¡¯s with you?¡±


    Instead of answering my question, he forced me to the floor. ¡°When I tell you to do something, I expect you to do it.¡± Grabbing a fistful of my hair, he ripped open his pants with his free hand and pulled out his cock. I had never seen him so hard. So¡­unraveled.


    ¡°I told you I just wanted to sleep tonight.¡± I ced my hands against his stomach, trying with everything in me to push him away. Before I could say anymore, he tightened his hold on my hair and ripped my head back. The rough move forced my mouth to fall open. He took that as his chance and thrust every inch of him down the back of my tongue.


    A hard groan left him, but he didn¡¯t let up.


    I whimpered, trying to breathe through my nose and not gag around the brutal thrusts of his dick.


    ¡°Fuck, baby, so good.¡±


    Tears streamed down my cheeks, spittle dripping out of the corners of my mouth.


    His dark eyes locked with mine. ¡°Fight me,¡± he bit out through clenched teeth, pulling me down the length of him. When my lips pressed up against the base of his cock, it pulsed along my tongue. ¡°Fight me, Hadley.¡±


    My lips burned at being forced open for so long, but I did as I was told and struggled against him. I knew he liked it dark, but I had no idea just how dark his desires went.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he panted. ¡°Fight me harder.¡±


    I shoved him back with everything in me, forcing him to rip his cock free from my mouth. ¡°What the hell, Logan?¡±


    But instead of answering, he fell to his knees and pushed me onto my back.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    ¡°Logan,¡± I cried. ¡°Seriously. Stop this.¡±


    He didn¡¯t listen. It only seemed to turn him on more. Flipping me onto my stomach, he shoved my shorts down and over my ass. ¡°Tell me to stop,¡± he whispered in my ear. ¡°Tell me that didn¡¯t turn you on. When I took from you what you weren¡¯t willing to give me. Tell me you¡¯re not wet right now.¡± I whimpered, squeezing my eyes shut and shaking my head.


    Logan reached a hand between us. When his fingers came into contact with my soaked pussy, he chuckled.


    I shook my head, trying to force my incessant need for more from my head.


    The depravity of our sex was evident on my skin, but I refused to look in the mirror and see my shame.


    Logan knew how I liked to be used and took full advantage of it.


    If only his parents knew how not so perfect their son truly was.


    After I used the toilet, I washed my hands and took a chance by looking in the mirror. Tonight hadn¡¯t been that bad. Logan must have had a good night. When he had a shitty day at work, that was when he usually took it out on me. His days were long, and I tried my best to keep his life at home stress free, but I could only do so much.


    ¡°Hadley.¡±


    I jumped at the sound of the deep voiceing from the bed.


    The mattress shifted and secondster, Logan was standing at the bathroom door in all his naked glory.


    I looked away before I could stop myself.


    In a quick move, his fingers dug into my jaw, forcing my head around to meet his stare. ¡°Every time.¡±


    I shoved my head out of his grip. ¡°Maybe if you learned to be more gentle, I could actually look at you.¡±


    He chuckled, walking past me but not before letting his fingers graze my ass. ¡°Keep telling yourself that, baby. You like it when I fuck you like a damn whore and make you squeal and beg for everything I¡¯m willing to give you. You also like it when I don¡¯t stop even after you say no.¡± My jaw clenched, a sharp pain shooting up the side of my face.


    I was only pissed because he was right. He knew that. I knew that. But it still didn¡¯t mean that I liked hearing it any less.


    ¡°What are you doing today?¡± he asked, stepping in front of the toilet.


    ¡°I¡¯m having lunch with your mom and sister.¡± And will try not to murder either of them in the meantime.


    I left the bathroom, not waiting for him toment and slipped back into bed.


    Logan joined me a momentter, wrapping his big body around mine.


    ¡°You¡¯re discussing more wedding ns?¡± he asked, dipping his hand between my legs.


    My breath caught. ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± His teeth found the side of my throat, igniting a low moan to escape me. He grunted his approval, knowing as much as I tried denying it, I liked when he was rough. I liked when he took what he wanted from me without asking. I probably should have cared. There was clearly something wrong with me when a lot of the times our sex left me exhausted and sore after.


    I was smaller than him, so pain was bound to happen.


    Logan had his kinks. His hobbies and vices that he was into.


    I just happened to be his favorite toy to y with.


    ****


    PAST


    ¡°Have coffee with me.¡±


    Iughed. ¡°I already have a coffee.¡±


    Logan took the mug from me and brought it up to his lips. He winked, pulling back the rest of my coffee. ¡°There.¡± He ced the empty


    mug on the table between us. ¡°Now you need more.¡±


    I pouted, looking in the mug. ¡°I was enjoying that.¡±


    ¡°Were you?¡± His voice came out smooth and cocky. ¡°And tell me, Hadley, just how much were you enjoying that coffee?¡±


    The tiny hairs on my skin tingled at the way he asked that question. It was as if sex dripped from his words like honey.


    Clearing my throat, I ran the tip of my finger along the rim of the mug. ¡°I was enjoying it a lot.¡± I wasn¡¯t a flirt by any means. I also didn¡¯t have guys lining up at my door so I could practice either. I took what I knew from movies and reading and that was it.


    Logan grinned and sat back in his chair. ¡°Coffee. With me.¡± He stood. ¡°Now.¡±


    ¡°Are you a caveman now?¡± I giggled, shaking my head.


    He chuckled, grabbed our empty mugs and brought them to the counter.


    He ced his order, looking back at me over his shoulder every so often. I gave him a little wave.


    He winked.


    My stomach fluttered.


    When the barista made us fresh mugs of coffee, he brought them back to the table. I gave him a small smile, thanked him, and took a sip.


    Checking my phone, I found several text messages from Pam.


    Pam: Are you at the coffee shop?


    Pam: Girl, if you see that guy again, please be careful. There¡¯s something off about him.


    I frowned at her warning.


    Pam: I love you, Hadley. I just want what¡¯s best for you.


    A sigh left me.


    How did she even know what was best for me when I didn¡¯t know myself?


    Logan seemed nice. I knew to be cautious and careful, but it was nice talking to someone who didn¡¯t know my past or where I hade from.


    ¡°Hey.¡±


    I jumped as Logan moved to the chair right beside me.


    ¡°You good? You seem off.¡±


    My heart warmed at the concern in his voice. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Thank you.¡±


    We drank our coffees in silence, enjoying each other¡¯spany. Was this what it was like? Couples who had been together for so long, they didn¡¯t have to talk to enjoy each other. I wasn¡¯t sure. But a part of me wondered if I would ever find out.

 Chapter 63

    Logan


    PRESENT


    Hadley was my addiction.


    I tried controlling it but ever since I first met her at that coffee shop, it took everything in me not to crush her to me and devour the


    fuck out of her mouth.


    With her shoulder length light brown wavy hair that brushed her shoulders in a way that made me weak in the knees, I was done.


    Instantly.


    Her full mouth begged for my gentle bites. Her pale skin that seemed to glow whenever I was near. But what drew me in the most was the pain in her chocte brown eyes. She thought she kept her agony hidden but little did she know, I could sense it. Hell, I could almost taste the sweet sting of whatever it was that seemed to bother her on a daily basis. It got to the point, I craved it.


    As Hadley slept peacefully beside me, I couldn¡¯t help but watch the way the moon light kissed her shoulder. Or how it left a glow on her cheeks, recing the blush I put there with its own.


    A sour taste filled my mouth.


    I chastised myself, knowing it was ridiculous to get jealous of the moon light but at the same time, I couldn¡¯t help it.


    I was obsessed with her.


    Hadley whimpered, turning away from me. Soft words left her lips, but I couldn¡¯t make them out. It had been an ongoing scene between us.


    Whatever nightmares creeped into her mindte at night always made me wonder if there was more to her past than what she told me.


    I didn¡¯t know much.


    Not that it mattered.


    She told me she had been brutally raped after a night of drinking. I was sick and twisted when it came to the sex I liked but there was even a line that I wouldn¡¯t cross.


    She continued to whimper, her small body shaking.


    I should have been a gentleman and cover her with the nkets or at least wrap her up in my arms, but I didn¡¯t do either of those things. Instead, I watched her struggle because it turned me on. It had happened more often than not. It would get to the point where her nightmares would have her screaming herself awake. She would then search the room, make sure she was safe ande find me. When she did, she would attack.


    That was what I looked forward to.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    I wanted her to have nightmares.


    I wanted her to struggle.


    Because than I knew that once she woke, she would need me to make her feel better.


    As if on cue, she sat up, her head whipping back and forth but no scream graced my ears.


    Too bad.


    When her head turned to the left, her eyes locked on mine. Even in the dim lighting of the moon, I could see that they were dark. I could feel them burn into me.


    I sat up at the same time she ripped the nkets off of me.


    Hadley straddled my waist, mming her body down on mine in a surprisingly rough move for someone so small. A low groan left the back of my throat as Iid back and let her ride my throbbing cock.


    She may have thought she was in control because I let her use me to her liking but little did she know, I was the one in control. I was the Master of this game, and she was my puppet.


    For now. For always. Forever.


    ***


    PAST


    Tonight was my first official date with Hadley. We had hung out at the coffee shop quite often since meeting a few weeks ago, but I never counted those times as actual dates.


    Hadley was a difficult one to read. I grew up around powerful people my whole life. I had learned from my father how to be ruthless but polite at the same time.


    It was a mind fuck to say the least.


    One moment I was buying you dinner, talking business and the next I was owning every single property you thought you had your hands on. If I felt like it, I would have your wife or daughter, sometimes both, trembling beneath me before you could even sign your name on the dotted line.


    I had spent years learning the ins and outs of my father¡¯s business. But as much as I loved him, things needed to change. He was too nice. He let people walk all over him even though he had spent many nights denying that little fact.


    I yearned to be different than him. I craved control and would do anything for it. I didn¡¯t care who I brought down in the process. That included the women I was sleeping with.


    As much as I enjoyed stewing over how I would take over my father¡¯spany, I had a date to prepare for.


    Once I was dressed, I gave myself a once over in the mirror. My dress pants were ck, along with my shirt. The sleeves were rolled up to my elbows and the top three buttons were undone. Knowing Hadley would approve, I tried to keep it casual but ssy.


    As if on cue, my phone dinged.


    Hadley: I¡¯m excited for our date but also nervous.


    My cock twitched.


    Me: I¡¯m excited as well.


    But not nervous. If anything, I was on edge. I hadn¡¯t dated a woman in a while, myst one being a bad break up.


    Hadley: I¡¯ll see you soon!


    Me: I¡¯m on my way, Beautiful.


    I stuffed my phone in my pocket, grabbed my keys and left my condo with a small smirk on my face.


    I could almost imagine the blush that hit Hadley¡¯s cheeks. She was beautiful but she was the type of woman who didn¡¯t know exactly just how beautiful she was. With her pale skin and dark shoulder length hair, she was an artist¡¯s wet dream. Her brown eyes helped as well. They were big, surrounded by long eyshes. She was curvy but took care of herself and her body. Every night since meeting her, I went to bed to thoughts of her and woke up hard as hell.


    I looked forward to showing her how beautiful I found her. To showering her with gifts and letting her realize my appreciation for her beauty. Besides the fact that she was nice and not like the previous vipers I had dated, she would be something refreshing. I wasn¡¯t sure how my parents would take to her. Especially when she didn¡¯te from money. But a part of me didn¡¯t overly care.


    Once I pulled up in front of Hadley¡¯s small home, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder how tonight was going to y out.


    Would she let me hold her hand?


    Would she let me give her a kiss goodnight?


    Hadley wasn¡¯t shy but she was definitely guarded. She had walls that were locked up tighter than Fort Knox.


    When Hadley appeared at the door, my blood stirred.


    Getting out of the car, I walked to the passenger side and leaned against it. I should have brought flowers or at least greeted her at the door, but I didn¡¯t.


    My palms were sweaty.


    Looked like I was nervous.


    I didn¡¯t do nervous.


    ¡°Hi,¡± Hadley said,ing toward me.


    The tiny hairs on my body tingled at the huskiness in her voice.


    ¡°Hi. You look beautiful.¡± Breathtaking was more like it. Her full lips were painted a deep red. A ck dress hugged her voluptuous frame. It sat just above her knees and held a deep vee that showcased cleavage I couldn¡¯t wait to sink my teeth into.


    ¡°Do I look okay?¡± she asked, chewing her bottom lip.


    I reached up, pulling her lip from the onught of her teeth. ¡°You look more than okay.¡± It took everything I was made of not to pull her into my arms and kiss her. ¡°We should go.¡± I pulled away from her and readjusted my pants.


    ¡°Logan.¡±


    I looked back at her over my shoulder.


    A flush had hit her cheeks, her eyes locked on my waist.


    ¡°Careful, Hadley.¡± I grinned. ¡°Or else we¡¯ll never make it to dinner.¡±

 Chapter 64

    Hadley


    PRESENT


    Spinning the engagement ring around and around on my finger, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder why Logan wanted to marry me. It was almost like as soon as the question had left his mouth, he hadpletely changed. Or maybe he didn¡¯t actually change and just started showing me his true colors instead.


    I was getting ready to meet up with my future mother and sister-inw, when my phone chimed.


    I hardly ever got text messages during the day while Logan was at work and Pam was off at whatever country club, she decided to flirt her way into.


    When I picked up my phone and saw an unread text from Logan, my stomach flipped.


    Logan: Come to the office.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Me: Why?


    Logan: Don¡¯t question me. Just do it.


    My skin heated.


    Me: I¡¯m having lunch with your mom and sister.


    Logan: Not anymore you aren¡¯t. I called them and canceled on your behalf. Now get your ass to my office.


    I wasn¡¯t sure what his deal was. He hadn¡¯t demanded for me to go to the office in a long time.


    Logan: Don¡¯t make mee home, Hadley.


    The hidden threat in his words did something funny to me. It opened up old memories. Unleashed these thoughts where I wanted to see what would happen if I didn¡¯t listen.


    Would hee home like he threatened?


    I ced the phone on the coffee table and sat back on the couch. My cell kept chiming, but I never responded.


    Logan and I were struggling to say the least, but it was times like this, where I craved his wrath. His rough touch. His fiery passion. His need for me.


    I sat there and waited. It had never been like this. I usually always listened when Logan asked or demanded for me to do something. But something changed in a matter of minutes. I was sure Logan wanted me to go to his office because he was stressed and wanted to take it out on me. I neverined when he had me show up once wearing only a trench coat and heels and nothing else.


    My body stirred at the memories of him bending me over his desk and fucking me all the while chatting on the phone with his colleagues. He had shoved his tie in my mouth to keep me quiet. Not that it worked. He had to keep pressing the mute button. Which also earned me a spanking to the point I couldn¡¯t sit without squirming, for days. It was delicious and made me feel powerful.


    The sound of tires screeching in the driveway, made my heart race. I stood at the same time the front door opened.


    Logan was pulling at his tie, loosening it from around his throat. ¡°I seem to recall a time where you actually listened to me.¡±


    I sat back on the couch, crossing my arms under my chest.


    ¡°Is this what I get to look forward to once we¡¯re married, Hadley?¡± he said,ing into the living room and stopping in front of me. ¡°Is it?¡±


    ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡± I stared up at him defiantly.


    A wicked grin spread on his face. ¡°Is that so? I¡¯ve had a hard morning,


    Hadley. And your body is going to make me feel better.¡±


    I shivered, uncrossing my arms at the same time he took a step forward. ¡°What if I don¡¯t want to? Or I¡¯m not in the mood?¡±


    ¡°You always want to, and you are always in the mood.¡± Logan rested a hand against the back of the couch by my head.


    ¡°Maybe my period started.¡±


    He chuckled, the sound dark and inviting. ¡°That¡¯s never stopped us before, Hadley.¡± He tilted his head. ¡°Besides, I know your cycle. You haven¡¯t started. You actually won¡¯t start for at least another week. But if


    we¡¯re lucky, it¡¯ll bete like it has been before.¡±


    I stared up at him, not expecting him to know the schedule of my cycles.


    ¡°Tell me you don¡¯t want to make your fiance feel better, baby,¡± he murmured, his deep voice sending a wave of heat rushing through me.


    My lips parted at the term of endearment.


    ¡°Tell me no.¡± His voice was filled with an edge that I couldn¡¯t wait to jump off of.


    ¡°No,¡± I purred, licking my lips.


    In a quick move, he wrapped a hand around my throat and lifted me from the couch. He pulled me toward him, his fingers tightening around my neck. ¡°Say it again.¡± His light blue eyes burned into me. They promised me a fast hard fuck but held so much passion, that I knew this would continue once he was hometer.


    ¡°No,¡± I whispered, licking his bottom lip.


    ¡°You¡¯re a naughty girl, Hadley.¡± With his hand wrapped around my throat, he tugged me closer.


    ¡°Yeah? And just how naughty am I?¡± I asked, my voice strained from the rough hold he had on me.


    His eyes moved back and forth, searching, yearning for something that only I had ever been able to give him. But even then, I wondered if it had been enough.


    ¡°Tell me, Logan. Just how naughty am I?¡± His eyes roamed down the length of me.


    My skin heated even more at the intense scrutinying from him.


    ¡°Very.¡± He pulled me against him. ¡°Fucking.¡± He pped his free hand against my ass. ¡°Naughty.¡± Before I had a chance to respond, his mouth came down hard on mine.


    I gasped, opening to him.


    It had felt like a long time since Logan consumed mepletely. While my body was in the present, the rough kiss brought me back to the past. To our first time. To a time where we couldn¡¯t wait and had to have each other. No matter the cost.


    ¡°Get out of your head,¡± he murmured against my mouth, giving my bottom lip and gentle nip.


    I whimpered, ripping at his clothes.


    He liked me this way.


    Unraveled.


    Unhinged.


    Desperate.


    Raw.


    Completely and utterly ravenous for him.


    Our sex life was anything but boring. It was healthy. Fresh. Fun. And so damn exciting but while I loved Logan, truly and utterly loved him, something had always been missing. Until I got him this way, it never felt¡­ normal.


    Logan tore at my dress, ripping it off me in shreds. His hands grabbed at me. Massaged and kneaded, digging his fingers into my soft flesh.


    ¡°Logan.¡±


    ¡°Shut up.¡± He spun me around, mming me up against the wall and kept a firm hold on the back of my neck. ¡°Stick your ass out for me. Show me this pretty pussy.¡±


    I shivered, trembling with a need I hadn¡¯t felt in a long time. If ever at all.


    I did as I was asked and stuck my ass out for him. It had been one thing I loved about Logan. He was an ass man and let it be known every single time I walked by him, how much he loved my body.


    Much to my surprise, Logan lowered to his knees behind me. He grabbed handfuls of my ass and gave them a shake. ¡°So fucking hot.¡± A breathlessugh escaped me. ¡°Thank you.¡± He winked, spreading me open for his feasting eyes.


    Before I had a chance to even catch my breath, he dove between my ass,pping at every inch of me.


    I gasped, the pleasure so damn intense, I tried pulling away from him.


    He growled, dug his fingers into my rear and pulled me harder against his face. His tongue dove in and out of my center. He shook his head, eating at me hard and rough.


    Releasing me with a wet smack, he licked his glossy lips. ¡°Turn around. Now.¡±


    I turned around, facing him. My pussy was level with his mouth.


    When he went totch onto me once again, I took a step back.


    The fact that he missed, forced him to his feet.


    Iughed, running away from him.


    ¡°Run fast, little girl. You know I¡¯ll always catch you.¡±


    Facing him, I continued backing up down the hall. ¡°Catch me if you can, baby.¡±


    A wicked grin spread on his face when he charged for me.


    I squealed, spinning on my heel but lost my footing andnded hard on my knees.


    Logan pushed me forward with his foot.


    Inded on the floor with an oomph, a bubble ofughter escaping me.


    ¡°I told you I¡¯d catch you.¡± He knelt between my legs, grabbing a fistful of my hair. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right?¡± When he thrust into me, a low moan left the back of my throat. He chuckled, the sound dark and sinister. It bordered on evil, knowing that I would do anything to get him inside of me. I was addicted when it came to Logan Donahue. I couldn¡¯t help it. From the first moment he smiled at me to when he got down on one knee and proposed. My love for him went beyond just love. It bordered on obsession because I knew that he felt the same way about me.


    Rising on all fours, I mmed my body back into him, taking every inch of him deeper and deeper.


    ¡°That¡¯s it, Hadley. You¡¯re taking my cock like a good little girl, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Instead of answering like I knew he wanted, I pulled out of his grip and turned toward him. His cock glistened with the juices from my body. It was hard and proud, waiting for me.


    Straddling his waist, I wrapped an arm around his shoulders and lowered my body back onto him.


    Logan covered my mouth with his, taking my very breath and making it his own. He was greedy when it came to fucking me. While he enjoyed giving me orgasms, he often didn¡¯t care if I came or not. Unless he was going down on me and even then, the orgasm was few and far between. But I neverined. It was his wrath and rage that I wanted. I usually came after a few thrusts of his cock anyway.


    Pushing me back onto the floor, he powered into me with so much strength, I broke in a matter of seconds. He grunted his approval, giving me everything I could ever want. My body burned, aching at the rough way he was fucking me but at the same time, I couldn¡¯t push him away. Not that I ever wanted to.

 Chapter 65

    Hadley


    PRESENT


    ¡°Do you have to leave?¡± I asked Logan, resting my head on my arms. I was lying on my stomach on our bed. Naked and spent. He finished buttoning up his shirt, came toward me and knelt at my head. ¡°We¡¯ll continue thister.¡± He petted his hand over my head, before fisting my hair. Tugging my head back, he smirked.


    I gasped at the rough hold he had on me.


    ¡°On second thought. You¡¯re going to clean me up.¡± He unbuttoned his pants, lowered the zipper and pulled out his cock.


    My body heated.


    He ran the tip of him over my face and across my lips.


    I peeked my tongue out, itching to get a taste of him.


    ¡°Open,¡± he demanded. ¡°Wide.¡±


    As soon as I parted my lips, he thrust his cock into my mouth in a rough move. My eyes welled. The tip of him bumped the back of my throat, forcing a groan to escape from somewhere deep in his chest. My lips burned at being spread open wide, but my body still heated just the same. I couldn¡¯t get used to how he controlled me. Maybe I never would. It had been something I had needed for so long; I couldn¡¯t remember thest time I ever did the controlling. If ever at all.


    Memories tried sliding into the forefront of my mind.


    Painful memories.


    Dark memories.


    Memories that had no right resurfacing, but they did just the same.


    ¡°Turn over,¡± Logan growled, ripping his cock from my mouth.


    Turning over onto my back, I let my head hang over the edge of the bed.


    Wrapping his fingers around my throat, he slid his dick back between my lips. ¡°Fuck, baby. So good.¡±


    I whimpered, taking him even deeper down the back of my tongue.


    His hold on my throat tightened, the air being taken from my lungs before I even had a chance to catch another breath.


    ¡°Spread your legs,¡± he demanded, pping my hip.


    My knees fell to the sides, opening me to him.


    His fingers reached between my legs, making me jump. But he never let me get used to them as he shoved three fingers into me roughly.


    I whimpered, arching my hips up and up.


    Logan thrust his hips back and forth, his cock stretching my lips wide. Tears leaked from the corners of my eyes. Spittle dripped from my mouth. But this was what I liked. When he lost control and took it out on me. Knowing it left him enraged, I embraced the moment he waspletely lost.


    Hooking my hands under my knees, I brought them to my chest, taking his fingers even deeper.


    A moan left him. ¡°What a fucking sight.¡± He towered over me, the movement pushing his cock even deeper into my mouth. But when his tongue connected with my clit, a muffled cry left me. ¡°That¡¯s it, baby. Take my cock.¡±


    Opening my mouth even more, I breathed through my nose as he powered past my lips. I gagged around him, my eyes welling at the rough impact but even though that was the case, this was what I enjoyed most from him.


    Logan swiped his tongue along my slit, licking up the juices that left my body. No matter how much I had tried denying that I would rather him be gentle, my body always defied me.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to be homete.¡± Logan kissed the top of my head. ¡°So, don¡¯t wait up for me.¡±


    ¡°Howe?¡± I was hoping to have dinner with him.


    ¡°Because someone made me want more and wouldn¡¯t let me leave when I had originally nned.¡± He crouched in front of me, his eyes moving back and forth over my face.


    I swallowed hard at the mere intensitying from him. I was lying on the bed, wrapped up in the evidence of our love and passion and wished he could have spent the rest of the day with me.


    ¡°You know I love you right?¡± he asked, petting a hand over my head before pinching my chin. ¡°You know that I would do anything for you. Anything to make you happy and so you never have to want for anything ever again.¡±


    ¡°Of course, and I love you too.¡± Sure, we had our issues but what couple didn¡¯t? He was a domineering asshole most days, but it definitely could have been worse. He also knew it was how I liked him anyway, so he never even once tried to change.


    His hand moved to my throat, his fingers digging into my jaw. ¡°I love you, Hadley, and I¡¯m looking forward to making you my wife.¡± My breath caught in my throat.


    ¡°I¡¯m also looking forward to making you the mother of my children.¡± Before I could respond and tell him that I wanted to wait a bit before having babies, his mouth came down hard on mine.


    All thoughts left me as Logan once again, used me to his liking. He bent me to his will and not once did Iin.


    Logan


    PAST


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe we¡¯re engaged,¡± Hadley said, holding her hand out in front of her. The engagement ring sat on her ring finger, the diamond sparkling in the dim lighting of our hotel room.


    ¡°We sure are, baby.¡± I kissed the top of her head, holding her tight against me.


    We had gone out for dinner, and I surprised her by bringing her to a hotel I had booked us for the weekend. It was romantic and everything that I was not but for her, I was willing to do anything to make her my wife and the mother of my children.


    It was surreal. My father hadn¡¯t been a good husband. Not to my mother or the many wives he had after her. While I strived to be the businessman that he wasn¡¯t, I also wanted to be a better father and husband. But there was that part of me, that dark and dangerous part, that would always be like him. I had tried ignoring the fact that being a controlling asshole ran deep in my veins but after meeting Hadley, I slowly brought it to the surface. She was none the wiser and I vowed to give her everything but take from her what I wanted at the same time.


    ¡°Are you happy?¡± she asked me, pulling me from my thoughts.


    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I be?¡±


    She sat forward, looking at me over her shoulder. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I know you love me, and I love you but sometimes, I feel like you don¡¯t actually tell me everything.¡±


    My heart jumped. I kept a part of myself hidden. She would meet that part eventually but for now, I had to get her to marry me first. And getting her pregnant shortly after. Maybe before. It depended on how things yed out.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how else to tell you that I¡¯ve given you all of me.¡± It wasn¡¯t true but she didn¡¯t need to know that. Yet.


    Her eyes moved back and forth, searching my face for what I was sure was a sign. A sign that she wouldn¡¯t find or figure out.


    Hadley sighed, turning back around, and looking straight ahead.


    ¡°Babe.¡± I brushed the hair off her nape, cing a soft peck on her bare shoulder. ¡°I love you. Just know that I love you so fucking much.¡± Obsessed was more like it. Ever since I first met her in that coffee shop so long ago, I couldn¡¯t get her out of my system. As time went on, it only became worse.


    ¡°I love you too,¡± she whispered, slowly turning around. A sly grin spread on her face, making my dick jump. I knew that look. That look meant that things were about to be dirty. No. They were about to be fucking filthy. ¡°But I need to tell you something. I don¡¯t really want kids right away.¡±


    She had said that before, but I didn¡¯t believe her. Even if she was serious, it didn¡¯t matter. She was going to have my baby. Whether she agreed to or not. Hadley was going to get pregnant shortly after marrying me, if not before.


    HADLEY


    PRESENT


    Bringing the ss of wine to my lips, I inhaled the sweet but bitter scent of the Pinot Noir as the liquid hit my tongue. It had been almost eight hours since Logan came home and fucked me. It had been


    happening more and more.


    He would go to work, stress about something,e home and take it out on me. He left me an aching panting mess, only toe home and take it out on me once again.


    I was sitting at the table, staring at the dinner I had prepared for him. He should have been home an hour ago.


    I didn¡¯t know where he was. A part of me didn¡¯t care. What I did care about was that this food was going to waste.


    Finishing off the ss of wine, I poured myself another when the front door finally opened. Logan came into the dining room, stopping suddenly when he saw me sitting at the table. ¡°You cooked?¡±


    ¡°Yup.¡±


    He came toward me, kissing the side of my head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯mte.¡± He wasn¡¯t but I appreciated the sentiment.


    ¡°Food¡¯s cold. You might want to heat it up.¡± I stood from the table and went to the kitchen.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to clean up. I ate alone. You can too.¡± It was immature of me, and I knew that he would fuck it out of meter, but I didn¡¯t care. I had never been one to care. About anything. Not anymore. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn¡¯t bring it in me to give a shit.


    I loved him. With all of me.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Maybe that was the problem.


    But again, it didn¡¯t matter.


    ¡°Hadley.¡±


    I stopped at the abrupt use of my name, but I didn¡¯t turn around.


    ¡°Look at me.¡±


    I inhaled a sharp breath, before meeting Logan¡¯s gaze as he stalked toward me. ¡°You didn¡¯t call me or text to say that you were going to bete.¡± I lifted a hand, stopping him from interrupting me. ¡°I already knew you were going to bete. But not thiste.¡±


    He shoved his hands in his pockets, stopping a foot away from me. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for being inconsiderate.¡±


    I frowned, staring up at him. ¡°Since when?¡±


    He tilted his head, that muscle in his beautiful jaw, ticking at each passing second. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I mean¡­¡± I turned toward him, giving him my full attention. ¡°That when I¡¯m upset by youing hometer than usual, you usually shrug it off and act like an asshole. Or you distract me.¡± I closed the distance between us, cing my hands against his chest. ¡°Are you cheating-¡±


    In a quick move, Logan had his hand around my throat and my back pressed up against the wall.


    A little squeak left me at the rough impact.


    ¡°I dare you to finish that question,¡± he growled, his voice low and gruff.


    ¡°What will happen if I do?¡± I threw back at him.


    A wicked grin spread on his face. ¡°Ask me and see what happens.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t scare me, Logan. Never have and never will.¡± Before he could say anything more, I grabbed onto the cor of his shirt and pulled him against me.


    Taking the hint, he mmed his mouth down on mine, our teeth knocking together. Our tongues danced, fighting for that control that neither of us ever had. Our breath mixed and he damn near suffocated me from that kiss.


    A moan left the back of my throat, earning me a rough growl.


    Logan cupped my jaw, pushing me harder up against the wall. He pressed his body into mine, making sure I couldn¡¯t struggle or push him away. Not that I wanted to. I wanted to rip him apart. I wanted him to break me, mold me into what he wanted, give me pleasure and pain and just be with me.


    Grabbing the cor of his shirt, I ripped it open. The buttons of his dress shirt flew,nding on the ground around us. That only seemed to make him kiss me harder and faster. Even though he had been in control every time we had sex, he liked it when I did everything I could to get him back inside of me. He knew I had no control when it came to him and that was how he preferred it.


    Pushing his shirt over his shoulders, I ran my hands along his hard torso.


    Much to my surprise, he pulled away from me, breaking the kiss and spinning me around until I was pressed face first against the wall.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to fuck you.¡± He kicked my feet apart. ¡°I¡¯m going to fuck you hard and fast. Deep and rough.¡± He fisted my hair, pulling my head back until I had no choice but to look up into his eyes. ¡°Violent,¡± he growled thatst word.


    ¡°Yes.¡± I swallowed hard, panting at this dark side of him I didn¡¯t see often but craved each time we were together. ¡°Please. I need it. I need you.¡±


    ¡°You have me, Hadley.¡± He kissed my forehead. ¡°You always have me. Even when we¡¯re fighting. Even when you¡¯re mad at me. You always have me. No one else.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want anyone else.¡±


    ¡°Good girl.¡± He ran his hand up my inner thigh, the tiny hairs on my body, tingling under his gentle touch. As rough as he could be, I found that I often preferred the gentle side of him. Because I knew that I had been the only one who got that side of Logan. He didn¡¯t share it with anyone else because it made him feel vulnerable. It was how people could take advantage of you, he told me time and time again.


    With a firm hand, he wrapped his long fingers around my throat, tilting my head back against his shoulder. ¡°I love you, Hadley,¡± he whispered, his mouth pressed against my ear.


    ¡°I love you.¡± My chest rose and fell with ragged breath, my body vibrating with a need for him I hadn¡¯t felt since the first time we had sex. But even still, this was almost different. More intense. More needed.


    ¡°Please, Logan.¡±


    ¡°Shhh¡­¡± He kissed my temple. ¡°All in good time, baby.¡± His hand that was between my legs, cupped my center. ¡°Mmm¡­nice and warm.¡± He began rubbing me over my panties, the friction not enough but almost too much at the same time.

 Chapter 66

    I whimpered, pushing back into his touch and began undting my hips.


    ¡°Such a greedy girl.¡± Much to my dismay, he pulled his hand from between my legs but kept his other wrapped tightly around my throat. ¡°Take off your panties.¡±


    Doing as I was told; I reached under my dress and slipped the thin material down my legs and kicked them to the side.


    Logan ran his hand back under the hem of my dress and lifted the fabric to my waist. ¡°Keep your hands against the wall and stick your ass out.¡±


    cing my hands against the wall, I tilted my hips, waiting for him to make his next move.


    ¡°I remember the first time we met. I wanted to take you to the bathroom and fuck you within an inch of your life.¡± As he spoke, he slipped his fingers over my hot center, running them back and forth over the swollen flesh. ¡°I thought you were stunning then but now¡­now that I know what you feel like, sound like, taste like, you¡¯re fucking breathtaking, baby girl.¡± He thrust his middle finger into me, pulling a moan from the back of my throat. ¡°I also remember the first time we fucked. I like to think it was us making love but we both know that wasn¡¯t the case.¡±


    Squeezing my eyes shut, I let his words sink into me, pulling forth memories I hadn¡¯t thought about in a long time.


    Logan dug his fingers into my hips, powering forward and back. The pleasure was almost too much. I could feel him in the deepest parts of me. The only parts that mattered.


    This side of him surprised me. He had always been a gentleman, bordering a little on being shy. But when I told him that I wanted to finally take our rtionship to the next level, it was like a switch went off inside of him.


    We never did make it to dinner.


    Instead, he brought me back to his ce and had me up against the wall before I knew what was happening. His strong fingers were around my throat, his eyes never moving from mine, all the while he fingered me roughly.


    Forey had never been new for us, but it was always gentle and sweet. I didn¡¯t realize it until he shoved three fingers in and out of me, that I wanted more.


    ¡°You like that,¡± his voice took on a tone I had never heard before. Not from him. ¡°You like me fingering the fuck out of your cunt.¡±


    Before I could respond, he tightened his hold on my throat and pulled me away from the wall. He took a step forward, forcing me back. If it wasn¡¯t for him holding me, I would have stumbled over my feet as his fingers continued to prate my body.


    ¡°Logan,¡± I whined, which only earned me a dark chuckle.


    He shoved me back, releasing mepletely.


    I gasped, tripping over my feet, andnding on the chaise in his living room. Thankful for the soft fall, I stared up at him with wide eyes. ¡°What the hell?¡±


    He only grinned and knelt on the chaise between my legs. With a rough move, he flipped me onto my stomach and pulled me to all fours.


    The sound of a zipper lowering, sent a shiver down my spine.


    Before I could ask him for more, he grabbed a fistful of my hair, pulled me back against him and thrust his cock into me.


    A shattered scream ripped from my throat and I knew right then that things would never be the same between us.


    ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Logan whispered in my ear, pulling me back to the present.


    ¡°How rough you were the first time we had sex. How delicious it was.


    How much you had me craving more of that side of you. This side.¡±


    His lips pulled up into a smile. ¡°This side is only for you, my love.¡±


    ¡°Good, then I think you should fuck me.¡±


    He chuckled, lowering the zipper to his pants, and let the fabric fall to his feet before he kicked them to the side. ¡°Is that so?¡± he asked, slipping his thumbs into my center.


    ¡°Yes,¡± I panted.


    Logan slowly thrust his cock into me, in between both of his thumbs.


    ¡°So fucking tight.¡±


    The burn of being stretched, forced a hard whine from the back of my throat. I was powerless to his touch, wishing it could be like this all of the time with him. But Logan always left me guessing and aching for more.


    ¡°Fuck, baby.¡± He pulled his thumbs from my soaked body and grabbed my hand. Pushing it between my legs, he sunk his teeth into my shoulder. ¡°Slide your fingers into your pussy.¡±


    I did as I was told, feeling his cock slowly thrusting in and out of me. Hooking my fingers into my body, I began pumping my hand between my legs. That movement alone was enough to push me over the edge.


    ¡°Fuck, yes.¡± He groaned, grabbing hold of my hips, and picking up speed with his deep thrusts. ¡°Just like that, Hadley.¡±


    ¡°God.¡± My legs shook, threatening to give out from under me. ¡°Harder.


    Please, Logan. Fuck me harder.¡±


    My pleas and begging for more, turned into a scream as an unexpected release powered through me. His name left my lips on a gasp.


    ¡°Yes, yes, yes. Suck that cum out of me.¡±


    My eyes rolled into the back of my head, the pleasure too much but not enough.


    We fell to the floor in a pile of tangled limbs with our bodies still connected in the most delicious way.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Logan pulled out of me and rolled me onto my back. Before I could even catch my breath, he was back inside of me. With his mouth fused to mine, he forced another scream from my lips and used my body for his own personal gain.

 Chapter 67

    Logan


    PRESENT


    I wondered if Hadley knew.


    As I stared at the little package in my hand, a sense of urgency rushed through me.


    She didn¡¯t want kids. Or she did but not yet anyway. I had other ns for us. For her. Whether she liked it or not, she would either get pregnant before our wedding day or shortly after. I had every intention of marrying her first before she found out about my n, but she was smart. I was sure she would figure it out. Especially when I made her take a pregnancy test.


    The sound of the door to our condo closing, jarred through me. I quickly put Hadley¡¯s package of birth control pills away in the drawer she kept them in and went out to greet her.


    Once I stepped out into the hall, I made my way to the living room.


    ¡°You know. I love your mom and sister, but I really wish they would let me n things my own way for our wedding.¡± Hadley sighed, dropping her purse on the table by the door. ¡°I¡¯m tempted for us to just get married at a courthouse.¡±


    Not happening but I gave her a small smile anyway.


    ¡°I know that would never happen,¡± she continued, taking the thought right out of my head. ¡°I¡¯m just frustrated. It¡¯s like they¡¯re the ones getting married and not us.¡±


    Before she could continue with her rant, I went up to her and pulled her into my arms.


    She sighed, wrapping herself around me.


    Capturing her mouth in a hard kiss, I sucked a moan right out of her. Even though I would have loved to have taken this further, I didn¡¯t and broke the kiss but kept her safely tucked in my hold.


    ¡°What was that for?¡± she asked, her cheeks pink.


    ¡°I love you,¡± I told her, running my hand down the spine of her back before cupping her ass. ¡°And I¡¯m sorry my mom and sister are being the way they are but it¡¯s only for a few more days and then you¡¯ll be my wife.¡±


    She shivered. ¡°God, I can¡¯t wait.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± I ced a soft peck on her mouth, trailing it down the length of her jaw to her ear. ¡°Because I¡¯m getting you pregnant on our wedding night.¡±


    Hadleyughed, pushing out of my hold, and grabbing her purse from where she left it on the floor. ¡°You¡¯re funny.¡± She thought I was kidding but I wasn¡¯t.


    I had power but not enough, so there was no way that I could have changed out her birth control pills for something different. But after doing some research, I found out that there were some antibiotics that increased the chance of the birth control not actually working. It wasn¡¯t guaranteed but something told me that it would work. If it didn¡¯t, I would have to resort to something else. Something more sinister. I almost hoped that this first part of the n wouldn¡¯t work, just so I could see how far I would be willing to go to put a baby in Hadley¡¯s belly.


    Only time would tell.


    ***


    HADLEY


    PRESENT


    My mother inw and sister inw tried getting me to spend every hour I could with them the night before my wedding to Logan but for some reason, he wouldn¡¯t let me out of his sight. I hadn¡¯t been feeling well earlier in the day and ended up throwing up a few times that morning. When he found that out, he was nothing but kind. He took care of me all day and once I told him I was feeling better, he fucked me.


    Twice.


    It was pushing ten at night and I knew that I should have left the apartment to get the final things ready for our wedding the next day but a part of me hoped that he woulde for me again. He had gone out with some friends for a few drinks and left me naked in bed.


    ¡°It¡¯ll give me something to look forward to,¡± Logan murmured, kissing me hard on the mouth.


    ¡°You could just stay here, and we can do this all night,¡± I suggested.


    He chuckled. ¡°Twice wasn¡¯t enough for you, my greedy girl?¡±


    ¡°It never is.¡±


    And that was the truth.


    Ever since I met Logan and we slept together for the first time; I couldn¡¯t get enough of him. He brought out things in me I never even knew existed before him. With the other guys I had dated over the years, they neverpared. Logan was who I was meant to be with.


    Even though he had his moments where he was an asshole at best, I knew he loved me. But a part of me wondered if that love didn¡¯t go beyond that. Was it love or was it more?


    A couple of hours after Logan had left me in bed, I took a shower, hoping that he woulde home while I was in it and join me. But that never happened.


    I tried fighting the disappointment settling deep in my stomach, but I couldn¡¯t help it. I knew the guys he had gone out for drinks with, would take him to a strip club. This jealousy rearing its ugly head in me, was new. Over the years, I had never felt it before. Not with the women that Logan knew or even the women who had the audacity to hit on him right in front of me. None of that mattered because I knew where he was sleeping at night. He had always been polite whenever he turned the women down. He would pull me close, kiss my cheek and thank them for thepliment.


    But this time I wasn¡¯t with him. I didn¡¯t like most of his friends, but I put up with them for him. I didn¡¯t have a lot of girlfriends my own self. The friends I did have, I had been introduced to through my future sister inw.


    Our worlds were very different.


    The only true friend I had, was Pam.


    Finishing up my shower, I decided to give her a call. Even though I would see her the next morning, she knew I needed to stay home and be away from my future inws. She was okay with giving me space thankfully. But before I could call her like I wanted, the door to the apartment opened with a loud bang.


    Tightening the towel around my body, I headed out into the hall and saw Logan standing in the entranceway.


    His head lifted, his bright blue gaze catching mine. ¡°Come here and drop to your knees.¡±


    ¡°Are you drunk?¡± I asked instead of doing as he demanded.


    ¡°Nope. Those fuckers were trying to get me drunk, but I wouldn¡¯t allow it. I don¡¯t trust them not to do something stupid and get another woman involved. I don¡¯t need that shit when I¡¯m marrying you tomorrow.¡± He lifted a hand before I couldment about how much I hated his friends. ¡°And I know. Before you say anything, Hadley, I know.¡±


    ¡°Do you, Logan? Your friends, if that¡¯s what you can even call them, would do everything they could to get you to cheat.¡± I wasn¡¯t sure if that was true or not but when Logan only grimaced, I knew that my jealousy was warranted in this case.


    ¡°It would never happen.¡± He took a step toward me. ¡°Nowe here.¡± ¡°No.¡± I stood my ground and lifted my chin defiantly. ¡°Youe here.¡±


    Instead of demanding that I listen to him, he surprised me and did as I said. He closed the distance between us, our mouths the first to touch.


    ¡°I love you, baby,¡± he whispered when it was well past midnight.


    I sighed, snuggling into him, and shivering when his cock


    pressed up against my ass. ¡°I love you too.¡±


    ¡°I know they say it¡¯s bad luck to see the bride before we¡¯re married but thank you for staying home.¡±


    Rolling onto my side, I stared up at the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with. ¡°Thank you, Logan. For everything.¡±


    A thought crossed my mind. It came on so sudden, it took my breath away.


    ¡°How are you feeling?¡± he asked me, referring to how I had been feeling earlier the day before. When his hand cupped my stomach, I knew.


    ¡°I think I might be pregnant,¡± I told him.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    ¡°I know you are.¡±


    I sat up, forcing his hand to drop from my abdomen. ¡°How could you know that? I don¡¯t even know that. Not for sure anyway.¡±


    Logan slipped from the bed and went to a bag I never even noticed, that was sitting on top of his dresser. ¡°Here.¡± He came back a momentter with a small package in hand.

 Chapter 68

    Reaching over, I turned on themp sitting on top of the nightstand. When I looked at what he was holding, augh bubbled from somewhere inside of me. ¡°Seriously?¡±


    ¡°Take the test, Hadley.¡± He thrust the box holding our future, into my hands.


    ¡°When did you buy this?¡± I asked him, rising from the bed.


    ¡°A few months ago.¡± The way he answered my question was almost like he was implying that it was no big deal. Which it wasn¡¯t. Not when we were getting marriedter today anyway. But something told me that he knew more about the fact that I could possibly be pregnant, than he was letting on.


    ¡°Why would you buy this a few months ago? I told you I didn¡¯t want kids right away and that I wanted to spend a little bit being husband and wife first.¡±Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°Oh, Hadley.¡± He chuckled. ¡°You really don¡¯t know me at all, do you?¡± I swallowed hard, unsure as to what he meant by that.


    Logan closed the distance between us and took my hand. He led me to the bathroom, flicked on the light and pointed to the toilet. ¡°Take the test because I can promise you, you won¡¯t like it if I have to make you.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t be serious,¡± I grumbled but still did as I was told.


    ¡°Oh, but I am.¡± Logan leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms under his chest. ¡°We get married tomorrow.¡± He looked at his watch. ¡°Actually, we get married today. And I want kids.¡± He nodded toward me.


    ¡°Take the damn test.¡±


    After peeing on the small stick, I tossed it on the counter. ¡°Happy?¡± He closed the distance between us, grabbing my jaw in a rough move. ¡°I¡¯m about to be but I do suggestying off the fucking attitude.¡±


    ¡°I feel like you¡¯re trapping me,¡± I whispered, staring up at the man I loved but would probably remain curious about for the rest of my life.


    ¡°I would never trap you, Hadley.¡± His voice took on a softer tone. One I hadn¡¯t heard from him in quite a while. ¡°I want kids. I want you. I want you to be the mother of those kids. Marrying me means you will want for nothing. This waiting to have kids bullshit doesn¡¯t even make sense. You know I will always provide for you. You haven¡¯t even worked since the day I proposed.¡±


    I got a case of the flu, which ended up turning into strep throat, an ear infection and a whole bunch of other shit that put me off of work for a while. Logan had been nothing but sweet and promised to take care of me and my bills. I moved in with him after he made that promise.


    ¡°You know I love you right?¡± he asked, tilting my head back. ¡°You know I would do anything for you.¡±


    ¡°I know all of that but something isn¡¯t sitting right with me.¡±


    Logan pulled away and grabbed the test. His eyes dropped to it before flicking to mine. ¡°This is right.¡± When he held it out in front of him, I saw two tiny pink lines staring back at me.


    ¡°How?¡± I asked, my hand dropping to my stomach. ¡°I took my pills.¡± ¡°You did. And others too.¡±


    I shook my head. ¡°What the hell does that mean?¡±


    ¡°Those antibiotics you were on. I kept you on them longer than needed.¡± He shrugged like it was no big deal and that he didn¡¯t just admit to drugging me.


    I stared at him. ¡°How? Why? Why would you do something like that?¡± I asked, my head suddenly feeling light.


    ¡°You look a little flushed.¡± He cupped my shoulders, moving me to the toilet and sat me down on the seat. ¡°Deep breaths, baby.¡±


    ¡°You forced me to get pregnant.¡± Even though the words hade out of my own mouth, my voice didn¡¯t sound like me. How could he? How could he make this decision for me?


    ¡°I did no such thing. I just gave you a boost so to speak.¡±


    Augh bubbled from somewhere deep inside of me. ¡°I can¡¯t believe this. The man I¡¯m going to spend the rest of my life with, is forcing me to have his baby before I¡¯m ready.¡±


    ¡°Is anyone ever ready to have a baby?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you did this.¡± Even though I said those words, somewhere deep down inside of me did believe it. Logan wasn¡¯t like any other man I had ever been with. While he had been nothing but sweet and gentle, there was a part of him that he didn¡¯t reveal often. I had never seen it before. Not until now. But I could always sense that it was there.


    ¡°Really?¡± He tilted his head. ¡°I love you, Hadley. Obsessed might be the better word. I want you to have my baby. I want to spend our lives together. I want you. All of you.¡±


    ¡°You could have asked me, Logan. Instead of doing this.¡± I thrust my arms out. ¡°This isn¡¯t right.¡±


    ¡°Would you have said yes if I asked?¡±


    ¡°Well, I guess we¡¯ll never know, now will we?¡±


    A dark shadow passed over his face. ¡°Careful.¡±


    I ignored the threat in his tone and rose from the toilet seat. Making my way out of the bathroom, a part of me was surprised that Logan let me leave. Whenever we fought, he made me speak my thoughts and feelings. It often annoyed the shit out of me, but I got it. I hated fighting with him, but this went far past just being a fight. ¡°Hadley.¡±


    I turned, finding him leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed over his chest. That stance was lethal.


    ¡°How did you manage to slip me those meds without me noticing?¡±


    ¡°I crushed them up and put them in your food whenever you weren¡¯t looking.¡± He shrugged again.


    ¡°What do you want from me?¡± I asked him, my voice soft and unsure. It wasn¡¯t as firm as I would have liked, although I wished it was.


    ¡°I want you. I want you to be my wife and the mother of my children.¡±


    ¡°You haven¡¯t given me much of a choice here, Logan.¡± I tossed the pregnancy test in the trash, washed my hands, and let out a shuddered


    breath. ¡°I wish you would havee to me first.¡±


    He stepped up behind me, cing his hands on my shoulders. ¡°You would have fought me. You would have told me that you weren¡¯t ready.¡±


    ¡°But that was my choice.¡± Our eyes locked in the reflection of the mirror. ¡°Now you took that away from me.¡±


    Logan ran his hands through my hair before fisting it tight and tugged my head back. A sharp gasp left me, my body heating at the rough hold.


    ¡°I¡¯m done exining myself.¡± He leaned down, scraping his teeth up the length of my throat. ¡°I love you. That¡¯s all that matters.¡±


    As much as what he did wasn¡¯t right, I had to admit that a part of me was a little turned on that he took it that far. That he took control and gave me little in return.


    ¡°You like this.¡±


    My eyes snapped to his. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean.¡±


    ¡°Your cheeks are flushed, and your pupils are dted. You like the fact that I forced your pregnancy.¡±


    I looked away, attempting to pull my head from his rough grip.


    ¡°No.¡± He cupped my jaw. ¡°You will look at me.¡±


    ¡°Logan.¡±


    He lowered his mouth to mine, kissing me softly. It had been the softest kiss he had ever given me. It promised so many things, none of them I was sure about but one thing I did know for certain. I loved him. Even him and all of his dark and controlling ways. He was mine and I was his. He satisfied this need, this burning desire in me for that darkness in him. He was all that I needed.


    Cupping my stomach, I let out a slow breath.


    Logan leaned his forehead against mine. ¡°We did it.¡±


    Iughed lightly. ¡°It seems like you did it, Logan.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± He pinched my chin, tilting my head back to meet his mouth. ¡°If you were really bothered by my ways, you would have left me a long time ago.¡± He stared at me. ¡°But you aren¡¯t. Are you?¡±


    I opened my mouth to respond but snapped it shut. ¡°No. I guess I¡¯m not.¡±


    He smirked, giving me one final kiss before stepping away from me.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t think so.¡±


    ¡°What now?¡± I asked, staring after him as he walked away from me.


    ¡°Now we get married and spend the rest of our lives together.¡± He looked at me over his shoulder. ¡°That¡¯s all that matters now.¡±


    LOGAN


    PRESENT


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe we¡¯re married.¡± Hadley sighed, staring at her wedding set. ¡°I also can¡¯t believe I¡¯m pregnant.¡± She sat forward, pulling away from me.


    We were sitting in the tub at the hotel we were spending the night in. Bubbles popped around us but all I could focus on was her. My wife and the mother of my unborn baby.


    The wedding had been small but perfect. After seeing how stressed she was from nning a big ceremony with my mom and sister, I put my foot down and had the ns changed in a matter of twenty-four hours. The ceremony turned into a small and intimate one and I couldn¡¯t have asked for a better day.


    Now we were finally alone, and I made a mental note to spend as much time where it was just her and I. Especially before the baby came.


    I thought back to a few days ago when we had found out she was pregnant. A part of me was surprised she had taken it so well, especially after finding out that I had more of a hand in it besides giving her my sperm.


    But I knew. She needed decisions made for her. Not always. But most times. And I would always be there to help her and give her that little nudge she needed.


    ¡°I love you, Hadley.¡± I kissed her bare shoulder. ¡°More than I could ever tell you.¡± Truth was, it went past it just being love. I was obsessed with her. Beyond obsessed in fact.


    The hairs on the back of my neck tingled. I looked up, finding beautiful dark eyes staring back at me. I didn¡¯t know who she was but what I did know was that she would be mine. No matter what I had to do and how I had to do it, I would marry her.


    Before I met Hadley, I never believed in love at first sight but now I did. Although, in my case, it was more like obsession at first sight. Either way, it worked.


    She was mine.


    We were married.


    And she was pregnant with my baby.


    All she needed was a little push.


    THE END

 Chapter 69

    PAID IN FULL


    PENELOPE


    My heavy lids weigh down my eyes, making it almost impossible to open them. With each attempt, the fluttering of myshes as I struggle to wake up blurs and fuzzes my vision with ck lines,


    obscuring everything. It¡¯s not that the room is dark, though. No.


    The room is bathed in a bright, fluorescent light that sets my head to pounding with any miniscule opening I can manage. Even the faint buzz sounds loud and obnoxious to my ears. It¡¯s like the world¡¯s worst hangover. How much did I have to drink?


    My memories from thest few nights are fuzzy, and I know I indulged a little, but I don¡¯t normally get ckout drunk. Groaning, I keep my head nted against the soft surface as I keep working with my eyes. Where the hell am I? I pull up my arm to rub my temples, hoping to ease some of the difort, but I can¡¯t move. Why can¡¯t I move? Again, I force my eyes to open, but when they do, I¡¯m not given any additional clues about what¡¯s going on.


    From what little I can see, it looks like I¡¯m in a hospital. Am I paralyzed? Keeping myself as still as possible, I start from my toes and work my way up, wiggling every little bit I can. Everything seems to be working, but why can¡¯t I move? I go to move my head, but that won¡¯t budge either.


    My breathse in harsh, panicked gasps as I try again. I still can¡¯t move. The pressure in my head grows every time I try, then lessens when I keep it still. Moving just my eyes, I look down as best as I can and see white padded shackles holding me in ce.


    The relief that floods my system nearly makes me faint. I¡¯m not paralyzed, just restrained. As soon as that thought shes through, my anxiety ramps back up. Why? Have I been kidnapped? For some reason, that feels even more terrifying than the idea of being paralyzed. Wiggling my fingers again, I twist my wrist in a feeble attempt to free myself, but everything holds firm.


    Fully awake and aware, my eyes dart about the space, hoping to get some more clues as to where I am and who could have taken me, but the room is bare. Any ce I look at is just in white walls and metal instruments.


    For a brief second, the idea of an alien abduction flits through my mind, but I dismiss it quicker than anything else. Footsteps echo somewhere to my left, and I freeze, willing my hysteria down. Closing my eyes, I focus on my breathing, pulling up an old anxiety trick. I breathe in for four counts, hold for four, exhale for four, and hold again.


    Though it does nothing to stop my racing heart, hopefully it will be enough to convince whoever ising over that I¡¯m still asleep. The stepse closer, and with each click, my heart thumps a little bit faster. Try as I might, I can¡¯t seem to get it under control.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re awake. We have cameras watching you.¡± The voice is deep, growly, and full of dark promise. My insides churn as he walks closer to me. ¡°Are you still going to pretend like you¡¯re asleep? Because I have no problem starting the examination either way.¡±


    Examination? Then maybe I am in the hospital. The nausea threatening to rise to the surface lowers a touch as I catch the glimpse of a white coat in


    my peripheral. ¡°Wh-what¡¯s wrong with me? Is it my spine?¡±


    The ever-present cking stops, and I can feel the discement of air as he turns near my shins. ¡°To my knowledge, there¡¯s nothing wrong with you. This exam is just precautionary. Here, let¡¯s make this a little better, shall we?¡±N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    His hands are hot against my frigid skin, and in that moment, I realize my legs at least arepletely uncovered. Panic rises as he skims his fingers up my leg and stomach. Naked. Everything. What type of hospital is this?


    ¡°I need a gown, please.¡± The wavering tremor in my voice grates on my nerves. I wanted so badly to be strong, to voice my needs like a woman. Instead, it¡¯sing out like a small, lost child.


    ¡°A gown for what? Where you¡¯re going, you won¡¯t need any clothes. Why waste them on you now?¡±


    It¡¯s just as I thought. I¡¯ve been kidnapped. But by who? Why? The stranger¡¯s hands scald me as they loosen up the various belts holding me down to the table. Should I try to fight him? Would I even stand a chance?


    The table whirs to life and morphs from a t surface to something more like a chair, and my stomach clenches as my head goes forward.


    Biting down on my lower lip, I breathe deep, forcing the contents of my stomach to stay down. I¡¯m bent at the waist with my legs syed up in front of me. It¡¯s like the gynecologist, but far more intrusive and ufortable.


    Once I¡¯m where he likes me, the stranger walks back in front, his doctor¡¯s coat pping with each step he takes. He¡¯s unlike any doctor I¡¯ve ever seen. Dark denim pants hang low on his hips. He¡¯s not wearing a shirt underneath the coat, revealing his muscly tattooed chest. Looking up from there, his full lips twist into a smirk.


    Though I can¡¯t tell how old he is, he looks a bit older than me. He pulls up a stool, his eyes never leaving mine, and sits in between my thighs. Though I try as hard as I can to close them, the straps don¡¯t allow me.


    The muscles burn as I strain against the padded straps holding me hostage, but they don¡¯t give. As he watches me struggle, the smirk widens. It¡¯s like he¡¯s enjoying himself.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to ask you some questions, and you¡¯re going to answer. Understand?¡± My chin quivers as I nod. ¡°Oh no sweetie. You¡¯re going to learn soon enough that we demand words. A nod just simply won¡¯t do. You will say either yes, Sir or no, Sir. Now let¡¯s try this again. Understand?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± My voice still wavers, but it sounds a touch stronger than before. There¡¯s that at least.


    ¡°Very good.¡± Reaching into his coat pocket, he pulls out a sheet of paper and begins reading from it. ¡°Name?¡±


    ¡°Penelope Evans, Sir.¡± Maybe if I¡¯m over-polite and obey him right away, he won¡¯t hurt me as badly. There¡¯s always that hope, right?


    ¡°It says here, Penny.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s my nickname, Sir.¡±


    ¡°Hmmm. I prefer Penelope. It rolls off the tongue, don¡¯t you think?¡± The wink he gives me as he slides his tongue over his lips sends heat racing up my cheeks. ¡°Age.¡±


    ¡°Twenty-two, Sir.¡±


    ¡°Louder. I want the cameras to hear everything you say. Your responses are being recorded.¡±


    Dumbstruck, I look in every possible corner I can, but don¡¯t see anything that looks even close to a camera. The strap holding my head down doesn¡¯t allow me to see very much, so there¡¯s still a chance he¡¯s not lying. At the stranger¡¯s exasperated sigh, I look back down at him as he stands and starts to fiddle with the buckle on his belt.


    ¡°I was hoping we could get through this part without discipline.¡± He tugs on one end and drags it through, the sound of the belt clearing the loops skittering up my spine. Shuddering, I stare at the folded leather. It looks worn and well-used.

 Chapter 70

    Dad didn¡¯t even spank me growing up, much less use a belt on me. He didn¡¯t need to. Even after Mom died, I kept up with my grades, helped out around the house, and didn¡¯t party. Hell, in many ways, I was more mature than Dad. The very thought of this stranger using a belt on me sends bile racing up my throat.


    ¡°N-no, Sir. Please. I¡¯m sorry, Sir. Twenty-two!¡± I purposefully raise my voice when I state my age, not wanting to be told or threatened again.


    ¡°That¡¯s a good girl,¡± he murmurs, hanging the belt on my left leg. ¡°How long ago did you turn twenty-two?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Bile rises again as my heart jackhammers out of control. ¡°How do you not know?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what fucking day it is!¡± I scream out, hysteria forcing my mouth open. Instead of paying me any attention, he makes a few notes on his paper.


    ¡°Language. I promise you, you will not like what we do to wayward tongues. A ballpark, if you will.¡±


    ¡°About a month?¡±


    ¡°Father¡¯s name?¡±


    ¡°Jack Evans, Sir.¡±N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    ¡°Are you aware that your father frequents gambling halls all across the city?¡±


    I want to hang my head, to hide the shame from this man, but the strap holding my forehead doesn¡¯t let me. ¡°Not for certain, Sir. But I¡¯ve had my suspicions.¡±


    ¡°I see. Virginity status?¡±


    My jaw drops as I stare at him, unable to answer for a moment. Why type of question is that? He doesn¡¯t even look up from his papers, but his hand starts to inch towards the belt.


    ¡°I¡¯m a virgin.¡±


    That gets him to look up at me. ¡°Toys? Masturbation? Dildos?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t underst-.¡±


    ¡°Fortunately for you,¡± he pauses for a moment and puts the papers down in hisp. ¡°You¡¯re not here to understand. Now answer the question. And make sure you speak up for the camera.¡±


    I swallow, looking down to avoid his heated gaze. Unfortunately, that shows me just how naked and vulnerable I am. ¡°Fingers only. I don¡¯t dare


    get a vibrator while I¡¯m still at home with Dad.¡±


    ¡°I see. So, a college girl and a virgin. Seems highly unlikely.¡± Again, he pauses, but this time, he ces his hand against his ear and looks up at a


    spot high on the wall. ¡°Did you ever insert your fingers inside?¡±


    Heat engulfs my face. ¡°Y-yes, Sir.¡±


    ¡°Did anyone else insert their fingers into you?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± I nce away, unable to meet his unyielding gaze. It¡¯s bad enough that the fun I did have left me feeling ashamed and used.


    ¡°Did you enjoy it?¡±


    Fuck. How do I even answer that one? The few men that took advantage of me didn¡¯t seem to care if it hurt or not. They just shoved their fingers right in, grateful to be allowed any sort of ess.


    ¡°Look at me.¡± The bite in his tone is acidic, forcing my gaze upward. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare lie.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Just that one word and shame fills me to the brim. I hated what they did to me, but in return for their fumbling, I got a few precious moments where someone wanted me. If I closed my eyes tight enough, I could convince myself they even loved me.


    He shuffles forward, his eyes gleaming. ¡°Did you get wet though?¡±


    Did I? I honestly don¡¯t know. Everything was always over so quickly. ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± More tears fall as the depressing state of my romantic lifees into full view. Here with this stranger, I can no longer hide from myself or the deluded truth.


    ¡°Shh. Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll find out sooner orter. Commencing examination.¡± He stands up and walks over to the side before wheeling a cart into view. Some of the shiny, metal objects on the tray look familiar, but several don¡¯t. Once the tray is where he likes it, he brings over arge light and shines it down on me, illuminating my pussy.


    It¡¯s so disconcerting having something I¡¯ve hidden away to be put on such a vulgar disy. In high school, I¡¯d race to the single shower, just so I wouldn¡¯t have to share. When I¡¯m with the frat guys, I insist they keep the lights off. It¡¯s not that I¡¯m exactly ashamed of my body, I¡¯m more ashamed of the things I feel and the sensations those errant thoughts cause.


    Even now, with this stranger looking at me, I can feel that niggle of arousal fluttering through my stomach. It¡¯s sickening. I¡¯m ashamed of the needs that no man seems to be able to satisfy. The guys I¡¯ve fooled around with stir up all the wanton feelings, but none of them have been able to really give me what I need.


    Instead of pleasure, I get pain. What¡¯s worse is, it¡¯s the pain that seems to ramp things up even more for me. I don¡¯t dare tell the man in front of me. He asked if I enjoyed it. The honest answer is no. I was always left unsatisfied.


    Groaning, I let my head rest against the padding and close my eyes. Maybe if I don¡¯t watch him, it won¡¯t be so mortifying. His hot breath against my lower lips has me squirming against the leather in a desperate attempt to get away, but the straps don¡¯t budge.


    ¡°She¡¯ll need to be cleaned up before the presentation. Commencing hair removal now.¡±


    Kill me. Just kill me.


    I kept things trimmed to make sure nothing really poked out around my underwear, but I never felt the need to remove everything. Cold cream is a sharp contrast to my sensitive skin, and soon, the unmistakable scrape of the razor as it goes through my hair fills the room.


    ¡°Why are you doing this to me?¡±


    He pauses for a moment before removing the razor from me and clinking it against a ss. ¡°You really want to ask me questions when I have something so sharp near something so delicate?¡±


    Unfortunately, he has a point. Biting down on my lower lip, I let him resume, willing the lulling scrapes to soothe me enough to put me to sleep. Maybe then I can wake up from this nightmare. Bile rises up my throat as his hands move over me like he owns me. So far, he hasn¡¯t caused me any harm, but who knows how long that willst?


    The stranger slides something under me before pouring water over the shaved area. It¡¯s already far more sensitive than I could have anticipated. Once more, arousal curls through me as the warm water washes over my skin. I groan as unmistakable need fills my body. Why am I responding to this? I guess Dad is right. I¡¯m just a little slut.


    It doesn¡¯t matter that I haven¡¯t had actual sex. I was a slut ever since I got enough curves to make men notice. Somehow, it was always my fault. Is this my fault too? Yeah, I probably had one too many drinks, but does that make this just? Fitting?


    Soon, his fingers skim my mound, searching out any errant hairs. Once that passes inspection, they start to drift lower, spreading me apart to get to my inner lips. Again, I hold my breath, praying he doesn¡¯t cut me.


    ¡°Your pulse just spiked. You okay?¡±


    His deep voice startles me, and I flinch at the words. ¡°I¡¯m not okay. You¡¯re doing things to me that are wrong. You have no right to be down there and touch me like this.¡±


    ¡°Ah. But that¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong. I do have every right. Now keep still.¡± I let him go about his work, terrified of distracting him. As the razor scrapes against my skin, arousal starts to build once more. ¡°I think someone likes this,¡± he murmurs, clinking the razor in the ss again. ¡°You¡¯re so very wet.¡±


    Heat engulfs my face at his words. I¡¯m not trying to get turned on. It¡¯s just happening! I can¡¯t be at fault for something my body chooses to do! Without a word, he goes to the other side and starts all over again. Thick, rough fingers slide between my lips, pulling and stretching the skin. Again, I groan, unable to restrain the lurid sound from spilling out.


    ¡°Such a naughty, filthy little girl,¡± he replies, smacking his fingertips against me. ¡°Just how I like them. And I¡¯m only preparing you. We haven¡¯t even begun the examination yet. Tell you what. You make it through


    without creaming yourself, and I¡¯ll tell you why you¡¯re here.¡±


    There¡¯s no way I can orgasm. Not with some stranger touching me. He¡¯s crazy if he thinks that¡¯s going to happen.

 Chapter 71

    NICK


    She¡¯s perfect. Laying there, trussed up, waiting to be impaled on some medical device. I don¡¯t normally envy Eric, but this time, I wish it was me giving the examination. Letting my eyes drift over the crowd, I note all the men sitting in the observation booth, hands gliding over their dicks as they watch the proceedings. Unfortunately, many of them are going to walk away empty-handed.


    I know what breeders go for, but never in my experience have we had a virgin put up for auction. She¡¯s going to fetch a hefty price ¨C one most of these jackoffs can¡¯t even touch. If I were a betting man, I¡¯d put my money on Peter. His pockets run deep, and his penchant for virgins even deeper. Too bad she doesn¡¯t have a hymen. If she did, she could probably go for triple.


    Turning back to the ss, I cross my arms in front and stare down at the girl. Eric is right. Penelope does sound so much better, but if I¡¯m being honest, there¡¯s something so endearing about calling her Penny. Not that it makes any difference. I get paid to be an acquisitions man. I¡¯m the one that makes sure the needs of the men that frequent our establishment are met and exceed their high expectations. What I¡¯m not here for is to fuck the merchandise. Still. I nce back over at Peter. His main kink is deflowering virgins. Once she¡¯s had his cock deep inside her pussy, he won¡¯t care too much about what happens after that.


    My cock pulses as I watch him, staring at Penny with lust in his eyes. He catches my nce and smirks, angling his hips to show his thick erection through his pants. My mouth waters as he rubs himself, staring at me with the same lustful intent.


    If he wins, there¡¯s a chance I can strike a deal with him. Perhaps we can share her a bit. We¡¯ve certainly done it before. As long as he consents, I can do what I want with her. Though I¡¯m a top, Peter is the only man I¡¯ll allow to co-top with me. I will switch for him in a heartbeat. There¡¯s just something about him that I can¡¯t get out of my brain or balls.


    I turn back to the girl, forcing my thoughts away from Peter and onto her ripe, luscious body. Normally, the new girls aren¡¯t really my thing, but there¡¯s something about Penny that just makes me want to defile her. Though most of the submissives that service our patrons are here willingly, some, like Penny, are not.


    Now that she¡¯s here, there¡¯s no way we can ever let her leave again. Once the winner tires of her, she¡¯ll probably be locked away in a room, drugged so she can¡¯t really understand what¡¯s going on, and get fucked until she¡¯s no longer able to take it. Though I should feel guilty about her future, her father is the one I ultimately me.


    Pulling out my phone, I switch over to one of the cameras and stare at the sad sack of shit huddled in a corner, stained with his own piss. Jack Evans is the lowestmon denominator, and one I can¡¯t wait to rid the earth of. ncing back up, I watch as the examination truly begins.


    The light sheen of sweat on her inner thighs glistens in the bright light, a testament to how hard she¡¯s struggling. She¡¯s divine. The men all shuffle towards the ss, peering down as Eric grabs the speculum. It¡¯s now or never. Since she¡¯s admitted to having things inserted inside her, this shouldn¡¯t be too ufortable, but knowing Eric, he¡¯ll do his best to make it so.


    Per usual, he doesn¡¯t use any lube. In most cases, the women are already dripping with arousal before he even gets to this point, so it¡¯s normally not needed. Not in this case, though. Eric wants to make her hurt, to see how much she can take. Lube will negate that entirely.


    Penny winces as he drives the cold metal deep inside, and I can¡¯t help the smile that curls up the edges of my lips. I¡¯ve seen what Peter works with. If he does indeed win her, that speculum will feel like a finger inparison. I resist the urge to stroke my own cock as the other men begin to beat their meat.


    As much as I want to join them and ease the ache that tingles my balls, I refrain. Though I don¡¯t possess the highest rank in this club, I am still considered a leader, a prominent cog in the cadre of these men.


    What leader would I be if I sumbed to my urges in the same way these pathetic specimens of the male species do? I nce over at Peter as he raises his arm above his head and leans against the ss. Though he¡¯s clearly aroused, he doesn¡¯t indulge like the others¡­ and that¡¯s why he¡¯s going to win. Like me, he knows how to be patient and to wait for what he wants.


    The problem is, right now, we both want the same thing. Eric turns towards the ss, a smirk tilting up his lips. ¡°She¡¯s tight. No evidence of a hymen, but she¡¯ll choke your cock with this cunt.¡±


    He pulls the speculum out and holds it up to the light. It shines with her arousal. The smirk grows as he reaches out his tongue to lick at the fluids, ignoring Penny¡¯s whimpers of embarrassment. ¡°She tastes good too.¡± Rolling the chair over to an borateb area, he reads some of the printouts, his brows drawn down into a studious frown. ¡°No evidence of any STDs or STIs. She¡¯s the perfect picture of health. But we already knew that, didn¡¯t we, sweetheart?¡±


    Leaning down to the mic at mypel, I pull it towards me. ¡°Okay to start the auction?¡± The men swivel their gazes towards me, like prairie dogs caught outside of their holes. The desperation pours off of them in waves. It would be nauseating if it wasn¡¯t so hrious. Peter finally turns, his eyes boring into mine.


    A thrill of excitement hums through me, tightening my balls further at his knowing gaze. He knows what I want, and it seems like our wants will align nicely. My cock pulses at the thought of both of us balls deep in her, filling her tight little holes together. It will be a stretch, but we¡¯ll make sure she can handle us.


    ¡°Yeah. She passes inspection. Nothing indicates any health issues, but I¡¯m not a gynecologist. She could have underlying issues that make her infertile. The Keep is not liable for any oue of imntation. I will say that she¡¯s not currently on any form of birth control.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Even through the ss, Penny¡¯s screech of rage and shock reverberates into the viewing room. ¡°I have an IUD!¡±


    ¡°Correction,¡± Eric tuts, rolling back over towards her. ¡°You had an IUD.


    Of course, I had to remove it.¡±


    ¡°You ¨C you can¡¯t do this to me! This is illegal!¡±


    ¡°Illegal? Yeah, you¡¯re probably right about that. As to what we can and cannot do to you, we own you. I will do whatever the fuck I want to you, and you will say, ¡®Thank you, Sir.¡¯ Is that clear?¡± He turns back to the ss. ¡°Her cervix is a little sore, but she¡¯s ready to breed. The IUD was nonhormonally based, so once her normal ovtion hits, she¡¯ll be ready.¡±


    Looking past Eric, I stare at Penny, noting the hitch of her breath, the faint pink that spreads across her cheeks. Ohhh, my dirty girl likes that.


    Deep down, she wants to be bred. Excellent. That will make all of this so much easier. Shaking my head, I drive that thought back out. She¡¯s not my anything. If Peter does win her, she¡¯ll be ours at best.


    I lean back down to mypel mic. ¡°Eric, I want the speaker turned on so that Penny can hear what I¡¯m about to say.¡± I give him a moment before addressing the men before me. ¡°Gentlemen. Let¡¯s start the auction. To restate the terms. Whoever wins gets the virginity of one Penelope Evans.¡± As I speak, I keep my eyes trained on her. She can¡¯t see me, but I see every movement she makes. I hear the elerations of her heartbeat from the monitors.


    ¡°As of right now,¡± I continue. ¡°She¡¯s property of The Keep, but winning allows unlimited ess to any and every hole she possesses. She will remain on site, but will be avable to you whenever, wherever, however. Since she is to be an asset to The Keep, she will need to earn her stay.¡±


    The men shuffle about, all desperate to start the auction, but protocol must be maintained. Besides, the more I speak, the more little miss Penny bes dibobted, and I do so love my sluts in that state.


    ¡°Since she will belong to just one of you, that¡¯s not enough to justify her being here. In addition, she will be made into a wet nurse, someone we can milk and sell the product of. Whether thates by means of just hormones or by pregnancy, either is eptable to The Keep. I know some of you are here for the sole purpose of creating an heir. If she bes pregnant and delivers to term, the child is yours. At that time, you may either choose to keep Penelope Evans with you and the child or allow her to remain here. The choice is yours.¡±Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    A smattering of conversations fills the room. Ignoring them, I go on. ¡°This will be a straight auction. No proxies, no going in with another bidder. Only one winner will get her. Now then, gentleman. If you¡¯re ready, we will begin the bid at one hundred thousand dors.¡±

 Chapter 72

    PENELOPE


    Iy there, unable to move or even think. This can¡¯t be real. I must be dreaming. Get it together Pen. Too many shots and too much smut. Of course your brain woulde up with this. How many nights did I get


    myself off to the idea of being used in just this way? Granted, the thought of having a baby was never a part of it. I got the IUD for a reason.


    The man continues to call out numbers, but I can¡¯t concentrate on that. The enormity of what¡¯s happening settles low into my gut, sending bile rising to the surface. Underneath all that is that thread of arousal I can¡¯t seem to tamp down. That¡¯s what convinces me this is still a dream. In what sane world would I find this appealing in the slightest?


    ¡°One million. Do I hear one million, one hundred thousand?¡±


    Blood drains from my face. I thought even one hundred thousand was far too much. If I knew my virginity was considered this ¡°precious¡± maybe I would have sold it myself and pocketed the money. Lord knows it hasn¡¯t done me any good holding onto my V-Card. Perhaps it¡¯s the other perks that are driving the cost.


    It¡¯s those other perks that make my body thrum with arousal. Just the thought of being used in this manner shouldn¡¯t be so alluring, and yet¡­


    ¡°You¡¯re enjoying this, aren¡¯t you? Are you picturing yourself trussed up as our personal wet nurse? Just think about it,¡± the doctor murmurs, sliding the belt off of my leg. ¡°A perfect stranger fucking you until you¡¯re swollen with child. Other men and women sucking from your milk-heavy tits.¡±


    He stands up and makes his way closer, fingertips skimming my erect nipples. Groaning, I attempt to pull back, but there¡¯s nowhere to go. A feral grin forces his lips up, exposing his teeth, and I shiver at the dark intensity in his eyes.


    ¡°Oh. I think you like that idea very much. Hmmm, Penelope? You want to be our little cow?¡± He increases the pressure on my nipples, squeezing for a few moments before giving them a tug. The pressure is immense, but nothingpared to the sharp ache between my thighs. ¡°Will your milk be as sweet as you?¡±


    Before I can think of an answer, he bends down and swipes his tongue along the stiff peak before pulling it in between his lips. Stars burst from behind my eyes as he sucks long and hard. None of the frat boys ever touched me there, much less licked me. They were more concerned with flipping up my skirt and touching other things while they jacked off. Apparently, ¡°virgin¡± pussy was better than tits to them.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Groaning, I let the sensation slide over me. If I¡¯m dreaming, I might as well enjoy it. ¡°That¡¯s right, little Penelope. Should I make you moo for me?¡±


    My eyes pop open, and I stare at the man making me feel things I really shouldn¡¯t. What the hell kind of question is that? Unease slides down my spine as he stands there, looming over me. Is there a chance this isn¡¯t a dream?


    ¡°I¡¯ll take your shocked silence as a no.¡± He chuckles and gives my nipples a final tweak. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Mooing or not, you¡¯ll still be our little milk machine. Now then. I believe a winner has been chosen. Time to get you set up.


    NICK


    My cock is almost hard enough to break the ss I¡¯m leaning against. Just watching how Penny responds to Eric¡¯s treatment draws my balls up until they¡¯re impossibly tight. Though I know we all discussed having a HuCow wing, I never expected it to be put into practice. Peter rocks back and forth on his heels as he stares at his prize, his cock tenting his pants. I shouldn¡¯t feel anything for this female. I don¡¯t even fucking know her, yet part of me wants her, craves her.


    Peter and I are not alike. I don¡¯t give two shits about her virginity. What I want is her body, her soul, and for some unfathomable reason, to father her child. I never get possessive about the girls in our club. Many of them are unattainable treats we dangle in front of our discerning clientele; however, the ones fit for those without bottomless pockets seem dull inparison. It¡¯s probably because those are the ones that are already used up.


    Not Penny though. She¡¯s still fresh, vibrant. Not cold and jaded like the other women. I want so desperately to have her before she gets to that point. Sure, I could have put my own bid in ¨C God knows I make enough money to keep me content ¨C but I know I could never outbid Peter. At one million, five hundred thousand dors, I¡¯d have to mortgage my home and sell what¡¯s left of my soul to The Keep.


    ¡°I won a good one, didn¡¯t I?¡± Peter slides his hand down to the front of his pants and rubs it against the taut fabric. ¡°You guys know exactly what I like and always deliver. What do you think about my virgin?¡±


    He nces about to make sure no one¡¯s watching before snaking out his hand to cup my balls. Groaning, I lean into his touch, grateful for the release of pressure.


    ¡°She¡¯s certainly beautiful, that¡¯s for sure.¡± I look down at her wavy auburn hair as it spills about her shoulders. It¡¯s not quite long enough to cover her breasts, but it could just be how they have her restrained. My cock twitches as I close my eyes and picture her kneeling before me, knees syed with her cunt glistening with arousal and those delicious-looking nipples of hers poking out behind her curtain of hair.


    ¡°You want her.¡±


    Snorting, I look back over at Peter. ¡°Of course I want her. Only an idiot would turn that down.¡±


    Smirking, he raises his hand a bit, brushing against my shaft. My cock jerks at his touch, and I resist leaning in to kiss him. Right now, I¡¯m in a position of authority, and I don¡¯t want anyone thinking my role had any hand in him winning. He stands there for a moment, once more rocking back and forth on his heels. ¡°I only want her virginity. I don¡¯t give two shits about fathering a child. What about you?¡±


    I turn to look back down at Penny, nearly groaning as Eric loosens the straps and helps her off the table. Her legs wobble as she stands there, but Eric doesn¡¯t keep her upright for long. Soon, he forces her to the floor and binds her hands and feet together in a simple hogtie.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think I wanted children, but God, what I would give to have my cum dripping out of her cunt until she¡¯s fat with my child.¡±


    Peter¡¯s lips curl up into a grin. ¡°And the wholectation thing?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t tried it. Have you?¡±


    He nods and slides his tongue over his lips. ¡°It¡¯s sweet. Much sweeter than you¡¯d think. Tell you what. I have a proposition. I¡¯ll take her virginity, as is my right, but you can breed her to your heart¡¯s content. In exchange, I want unlimited ess to her milk, but I want it straight from the source.


    Can you deal with that?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have to run it by Marcus -.¡±


    Peter cuts me off. ¡°No need. I¡¯ll talk to him. Hell, with what he makes off of me, he will be amodating. Besides, you¡¯re a good kid. It¡¯s about time you got rewarded for your hard work.¡±


    His words areced with double entendres. He¡¯s made no secret of how much he wants me, wants to dominate me. The reward wouldn¡¯t just be Penny, it would be him as well. Hell, I could even see all three of us turning into a small, content family.


    Internally, though, I bristle at his words. Just because I¡¯m not a silver fox like he is doesn¡¯t make me a kid. I¡¯m thirty-fucking-five. Well past even young adulthood. Still, he has a point. Peter is almost as revered as Marcus himself. Honestly, I wouldn¡¯t even be surprised if they owned The Keep together and Peter was just a silent partner.


    There¡¯s also the matter of Peter himself. The thought of us three sharing her, using her. I nearly groan at the thought. It¡¯s been months since I¡¯ve had his cock up my ass while I fucked one of our girls. If he¡¯s offering a simr arrangement, I¡¯d be stupid to turn it down.


    Still, just in case, I¡¯ll keep it in my pants until Marcus gives me the go ahead. Since I¡¯m in charge of preparing her forter tonight, it will be agonizing to keep my hands off of her; however, if Peter decides in the moment to add a second person to the mix while he¡¯s fucking her, then I am under obligation to amodate him.


    Thankfully, Eric is in charge of roping her initially, giving me time and space to breathe before her creamy cunt is spread before me. Maybe I¡¯ll be able to get myself under some semnce of control. Peter and I both stare as her limbs stretch backwards, and we groan simultaneously. Tonight is going to be torture.

 Chapter 73

    PENELOPE


    My shoulders and thighs burn as the man ties me up. I¡¯ve been to enough rodeos with Mom to know exactly what he¡¯s doing. Tears prick my eyes at the memories she and I shared. I didn¡¯t expect to think about her, not like this, but at this moment, all I can do isy my cheek against the cold tile and cry. I didn¡¯t even cry at her funeral. How fucked up is that? Yet, here I am, about to be the ything of God-knowswho, and I¡¯m starting to bawl like a baby.


    The fact that it¡¯s this situation that has me remembering her and not something else feels just wrong. It¡¯s like I¡¯m betraying her memory right now. But it¡¯s not my fault. None of this is my fault. Just because I can¡¯t remember anything doesn¡¯t mean I asked for it. Not that it helps, but maybe if I keep repeating it like a mantra, it will eventually set in.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Though the ropes are on the opposite side of the body, it¡¯s wrists to ankles, just like the calf roping. Is that intentional? The doctor spoke at length about making me a cow, so it would stand to reason I¡¯d be trussed up like one. Again, that tendril of arousal mixed with shame curls through my body, sending more tears pouring out of me.


    ¡°Shhhh now, little Penelope. You¡¯ll be okay. I know the man that bought you. He¡¯ll make sure you like it¡­ eventually. Just close your eyes and let him do his thing. You¡¯ll be rid of the pesky matter of your virginity in no time.¡±


    Of course he thinks that¡¯s why I¡¯m crying. To a normal person, it would seem obvious, but apparently, I¡¯m far from normal. In all of this, not once did the idea of losing my virginity cause me distress. In fact, out of all the things that could upset me about this situation, that¡¯s the least important.


    It¡¯s more the how and why I¡¯m losing it that¡¯s distressing. A slight whooshing sound pricks my ears, and I crane my neck in an attempt to see what fate has in store next, but all I can see are two sets of shiny, expensive shoes as they ck their way over to me. No one says a word as they bend down and hoist me in the air.


    Being tied as I am, the new position puts an extra bite of strain into my already sore shoulders. I whimper, but try not to cry out. For all I know, any sign of difort will make them want to just hurt me more.


    ¡°Bye Penelope,¡± the doctor calls out from behind me. ¡°I¡¯ll be seeing you again soon.¡±


    His words are a threat wrapped in the guise of a promise, and I tremble at the knife-edge of them as they cut into my soul. To his credit, he hasn¡¯t seriously harmed me, but that could all change in an instant. I stare down at the floor, watching as it morphs from the white tile of the medical room to a plush, dark-red carpet. It¡¯s like something from those fancy magazines I used to lust over.


    The color never varies, and all I can see is a swath of red. I try in vain to follow along the path they take, but I know it¡¯s no use. Even if I can retrace it, I¡¯ll only know how to get back to the medical room. That won¡¯t help me at all. The burn in my shoulders from the taut wrenching motion bes almost unbearable as the men jostle on, giving no thought to the woman stretched out between them.


    Or maybe they are? Perhaps this is the gentlest they can be? After nearly an eternity, a door finally opens, and they take me inside. The lights are lowered, so dim I can barely make out the color of the carpet, but I don¡¯t have to see it to know it¡¯s probably that same shade of red as the hall.


    The men carry me over to a mattress on the floor, and I nearly cry out loud as the pressure eases from my shoulders. I sink into the pillowy softness, turning my head to make sure I don¡¯t suffocate. As my eyes begin to adjust, I watch as the two leave, noting the crisp lines of their suit pants. Rich, affluent, above thew.


    Minutes tick by in my head as I lie there, soaking in thefort of the mattress. Who knows how long it willst? I wait there, shifting about as anxiety eats at me, my hands and ankles tingling. On top of that, the insane urge to pee hits ms into me, making me squirm. The moment that tingle of need hits me, it¡¯s the only thing I can think about.


    Rocking back and forth, I twist about, stifling the urge as best I can, but with my legs pulled up behind me, it¡¯s more difficult than I nned on it being. Should I cry for help? I open my mouth when shuffling up ahead catches my ears. I¡¯m not alone in this room! At once, my body quakes as I turn towards the sound.


    The stranger says nothing. Instead, he kneels down, his red tie dangling in front of my face. Deep breaths stir the fine hairs on top of my head, and terror grips me until I¡¯m nearly babbling with fear. The inane pleas dripping from my lips do nothing. He just kneels there, listening to me.


    After a moment, he leans down further and starts to work on the ropes. ¡°If I let you go, you need to promise me you won¡¯t try to run away. I can make your stay pleasant here, but only if you obey me.¡±


    It¡¯s that voice from earlier; the one rattling off the numbers. Sighing, I nod, mumbling, ¡°Yes, Sir,¡± before rxing back onto the mattress so he can work without me struggling. In no time, the ropese off, and my legs and arms flop down¡­ useless. I know I said I wouldn¡¯t run, but does he really expect me to keep my word? They¡¯ve fucking kidnapped me. I won¡¯t let him do whatever he has nned without at least trying to get away.


    ¡°I ¨C I need to use the bathroom. Please?¡± My voice is muffled by the thick mattress. So soft, so forlorn.


    Instead of answering me, the man bends down and slides his hands under my arms to help me get up. I still haven¡¯t seen his face, but truthfully, do I want to? If he¡¯s stooped to kidnapping me, what¡¯s keeping him from killing me? His warm hand wraps around my upper arm as he leads me to the opposite side of the room.


    ¡°It¡¯s this door right over here. Take all the time you need.¡± As we get closer, my self-preservation kicks in, along with fractured bits of selfdefense I managed to learn throughout my life. Dropping my full weight to the floor, I jerk my arm from the stranger¡¯s grasp and use his momentary hesitation to dart behind him towards the door I was brought in from.


    I may not know my way out of this ce, but I¡¯ll run as fast as I can, yelling for anyone who can hear. The moment I reach the door, I fling it open, and another man looms in the frame. I don¡¯t even think. All I can do is use the adrenaline pouring through my body. Shoving past, I run out into the hall and go towards the left.


    Shouts follow my wake, but that¡¯s fine. Once they catch up to me, it will be all over anyway. Let them make a ruckus; I sure as hell will be. ¡°Help!¡± I scream at the top of my lungs, running as fast as my legs will take me. ¡°I¡¯ve been kidnapped!¡±

 Chapter 74

    PETER


    I pause at the door, watching the slip of a girl barrel past. Nick¡¯s face is a mottled red as he follows up behind. Holding my arm across the door, I stop him in his tracks.


    ¡°She¡¯s getting away!¡± He sputters, his eyes taking on a dangerous glint.


    ¡°Where exactly can she go? This ce is effectively on lockdown. Besides, with the direction she¡¯s headed, she¡¯ll reach the main dungeon


    soon. I¡¯m pretty sure that will slow her down.¡±Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    I pause for a moment to remove my jacket and roll up my sleeves. It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve had the pleasure of a chase. Arousal and adrenaline pump through me as I hand my jacket to Nick. He eyes my forearms, his anger softening a bit. It¡¯s been far too long since I¡¯ve yed with him.


    ¡°Bring her dad to the dungeon. I¡¯m going to ravage that virgin pussy of hers in front of everyone. Oh, and the boss man wants to see you so he can finalize the arrangement we talked about.¡±


    Not needing to wait and see if he¡¯ll do what I say, I start along the path my virginal runaway took. I know she must be scared out of her mind, but how stupid can she be to run like that in an unknown location?


    My cock kicks against my pants as the heady thrum of the dungeon music reaches my ears. Not long now. My eyes dart about, searching for the naked girl looking lost and alone. It doesn¡¯t take me long to find her.


    She¡¯s rooted to the spot, transfixed, as her eyes take in all the depravity The Keep has to offer. Stalking up behind, I take in the curve of her ass, the way her waist dips in just a touch, the mountain of hair cascading down her upper back.


    Of all the pussies I¡¯ve conquered, she¡¯s without a doubt one of the prettiest. My balls draw up as I slide in behind her. She still has no idea I¡¯m here. In fact, she seems to have no concept of her surroundings at all. Instead, doe-like wonder lights up her eyes as she takes in the hedonistic merriment. If only we had met on different terms. How different this interaction would have been.


    That mixture of innocence, naivete, and stupidity sends stabs of arousal down my spine and up my shaft. Soon, part of that innocence will be gone.


    My only regret is she probably won¡¯t bleed on me. Then again, the night is young.


    Gripping her by the back of the neck, I lean in close, stirring the small hairs around her ear with my breath. ¡°Kneel, or I will make you. You¡¯re


    already in a world of trouble. Don¡¯t make it worse for yourself.¡±


    She trembles at my touch, her body quaking as I stand there, a tower of immovable strength. At first, I think she will not obey, but then, her body starts to sink down before me.


    Another wave of arousal hits me at her tremulous show of submission. She doesn¡¯t want to. That much is clear from her clenched fists and rigid body, ramrod despite the fear quaking through her.


    It¡¯s that little bite of fight in her that has me about to shoot my load in my designer pants. As much as I love defiling virgins, I love it more when they fight back. Once her knees hit the floor, I surge forward, forcing her face down, nting my knee in her back to keep her from moving.


    Instincts must have taken over, because sheshes out, her limbs iling about. I don¡¯t want to injure the girl, so I keep my pressure firm, but not harsh. Reaching into my pocket, I grab a hank of rope and wrangle one arm behind her back.


    Once I get the rope secured, I grasp the other hand and bring it back alongside her other arm. I care little about her legs. Now that her arms are secure, I¡¯ll have much better leverage. Standing, I watch as Penelope rocks back and forth, attempting to roll over. I have no clue what she thinks she¡¯ll aplish by looking at me, but I let her try, grinning as she merely flops about.


    Looking up, I snap my finger, motioning one of the dungeonckeys over. ¡°I need a sturdy chair and ess to the suspension hooks. Make it happen. You.¡± I point to another one. ¡°Get me a bucket.¡± She stills at my words, and I can only imagine the horrors that are tripping through her mind.


    Bending down, I tug on the rope, helping her up to her knees. ¡°You¡¯re going to walk for me, my dear. And if you even think of causing me trouble, I¡¯ll take that tight little ass first. Understand me?¡±


    Even in the dim lighting, I watch as her face goes pale. Someday soon,


    I¡¯ll take thatst virgin hole of hers. It would be too much to believe she¡¯s an oral virgin on top of everything else. Her head drops down as I lead her through the small crowd gathering around.


    I wanted to do this in the privacy of her room with only her father and a few others watching, but by running, she¡¯s involved so many more people. There, in the back area, my chair and a bucket are waiting for me. As we get closer, Penelope squirms a bit, all pretense of submission gone.


    A smile eases over my face as I watch the myriad of emotions y through her body. As a woman, she was taught to fight, as she should, but even with that training, there¡¯s a part of her that wants to see where this will go. I can see it in the pained look shing across her face when she thinks I¡¯m not watching. I can feel it in the hesitation in her movements.


    It¡¯s not just fear and uncertainty making her pause. Hell, the glistening telltale of her swollen pussy that I glimpse now and then is enough evidence that at least part of her enjoys this. She¡¯s not getting wet as a protective measure ¨C I haven¡¯t even touched her intimately yet. She¡¯s getting off on the idea of being helpless, at my mercy.


    The problem is, her brain is having a difficult time epting what her body already knows. She was made for this. She was made for me, andter on, Nick. Once I have the pleasure ofing inside her tight pussy, Nick can breed her all he wants. My cock twitches at the thought of us sharing this delightful morsel.


    I can¡¯t have children, but she doesn¡¯t know that. Every time I shoot my load into her fertile body, I¡¯m sure she¡¯s going to wonder if this is the fuck that will get her pregnant. What she doesn¡¯t realize is I¡¯m only going to fuck her when she¡¯s most fertile, limiting her chances of getting pregnant. Once she¡¯s no longer ovting, Nick will take over. This way, we can keep her a bit longer. At least that¡¯s the initial n. Things are always subject to change.


    It¡¯s not a fool-proof method by any means, and the goal, of course, is to eventually get her pregnant. Right now, however, I want to do things to her that¡¯s not suitable for someone in a delicate condition. I don¡¯t know how potent Nick¡¯s cum is, but I¡¯ve watched him shoot several loads.


    Even if he¡¯s fucking her when she¡¯s not as fertile, she¡¯ll soon be swollen with child. If she¡¯s not, she¡¯s still going to be producing milk for us. Our very own HuCow. Another pearl of precum slides over my head as the tip brushes against my boxers, and I groan. I don¡¯t care about her having a kid or not. I just want my lips around her swollen tits as I suck her dry. Breast milk always tastes best fresh from the source.


    With the way I¡¯m feeling, I need to fuck her soon, but first, she needs to learn her ce in The Keep. She¡¯s not even at a basic submissive level she¡¯s less than that, lower than the dirt under my shoes. Penelope is a fucktoy and nothing more, not until I allow her the privilege of being something greater.


    As we get to the chair, the hook lowers down, and her body vibrates with the fear she¡¯s been holding at bay. I slip my hand around her waist to keep her upright, just in case her knees decide to give out. Grabbing the hook, I slip it around the knots holding her arms back and motion for them to lift it just a touch.


    It brings her up onto her toes, and that¡¯s when all hell breaks loose. Screams erupt from her lips as she dips forward, her hysteria tipping her off bnce. I let her dangle a bit, allowing her brain to fully appreciate the predicament she¡¯s in.


    Chuckling, I bring her back upright as an unknown man slides the bucket in between her feet. More and more people gather, watching the spectacle. Good. I always love an audience.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to be upied for a bit, and I don¡¯t want to have to stop the fun because the need to pee ovees you. I want you to do your business now, before we get started.¡±


    Murmurs shuffle through the crowd as I pull the rope down a bit, letting her squat above the bucket. Her thighs shake as she forces herself to hold the position, her eyes scanning the people.


    ¡°Something you need to learn is that when I tell you to do something, you will damn well do it. Now piss.¡± Her body shakes as she stays there, still as a statue. I know I¡¯m humiliating the fuck out of her, but that¡¯s the point. Again, she chose to run. These are the consequences of her actions.


    I strain over the quiet din, expecting her to not obey me, but soon, there¡¯s the ssh of her pee as it hits the bucket. Beautiful. Snapping my finger, I hold out my hand for a cleansing wipe and wait for her to finish. With as much ising out of her, it¡¯s good I insisted.


    Once my cock is deep inside her, there¡¯d be no way for her to hold all that in, and I refuse to have her pee on me. Once she¡¯s finished, I take the wipe and swipe it over her, thoroughly cleansing her pussy. She trembles again as I pay special attention to her clit, gliding the wipe over it several times.


    ¡°That¡¯s a good girl, Penelope. Was it that hard to obey me?¡±


    She remains silent, but I don¡¯t care. It was a rhetorical question, anyway. Once the bucket is removed, I signal to have the ropes brought back up. Her head whips about as she scans the people, no doubt looking for someone to save her. Penelope bends forward again, tipping her off bnce.


    ¡°Daddy!¡± she wails as her feet struggle to get back under her.


    Perfect. It¡¯s showtime. Standing behind her, I slide my fingers across her soft ass, letting them trail up and down her cleft, but keeping the touch surface level, light, noninvasive. ¡°Ahh. Yes. Daddy. Right on time.¡±


    Letting my hand drop, I work at my belt buckle, staring at the pathetic man in front of me. If I gave a damn, I¡¯d spend the night lecturing him about keeping something as valuable as his daughter safe, but I¡¯m the one about to bury my cock into her virgin cunt, so I have no room to talk. Thest thing I want is for Penelope to be safe. I want her dangerously poised above my shaft before I m her down, ripping through her proverbial innocence.

 Chapter 75

    PENELOPE


    The room is silent as I scream for my father. He¡¯s the one man that should protect me, but he¡¯s not doing a damn thing to stop any of them. In fact, he¡¯s bound up like me with his arms behind his back. The major difference is, strange objects surround his eyes, holding them open.


    Again, that slither of fear winds its way around my heart, robbing me of my breath. They¡¯re going to kill us. I don¡¯t know why. What did we ever do to them? The stranger behind me touches me like he owns me, as my father is forced to watch. It¡¯s mortifying beyond belief.


    I pray he can¡¯t see how aroused I am from where he¡¯s at. The room is dim, and that should be my saving grace. Only it¡¯s not. Within moments of that thought, the lights go down, plunging us into darkness, but before I can utter a sigh of relief, a spotlight shines down on us both.


    ¡°Your father is a terrible man,¡± the stranger murmurs behind me. ¡°Seems he thought you were good coteral for his gambling debts.¡± At his words, the question I was asked earlieres flooding back to me.


    In horrifying increments, it¡¯s all starting to make sense. Nausea churns my gut as another man in a suit grips my father¡¯s chin and forehead in his grasp, ensuring that he can¡¯t look away even with his eyes forced open. ¡°Daddy?¡± My words are weak and pathetic, a mirror of how I feel right now.


    How could he do this to me? I did everything he asked for and then some! Beneath the sorrow choking me, a thread of anger wraps around me, strengthening me as I tip my head up to look him straight in the eyes. He flinches at my unspoken usation, telling me everything I need to know.


    They¡¯re not making this up. The bastard actually put me down as fucking coteral. What would Mom say if she were still here? How would she feel knowing her only baby girl is now at the hands of monsters because of this asshole of a man?


    Once more, the strangeres close, his breath skittering across my bare skin. ¡°I¡¯m going to fuck you, Penelope, while your father watches, so he gets it into his head that the house always wins.¡± Shivers race down my spine as his tongue skims my ear.


    Need burns through me as his hands grab me to put me back onto the balls of my feet. I¡¯ve saved myself for what? It¡¯s not like any of the guys I¡¯ve been with ever made me feel half of what I feel at the mercy of these men. Childish. That¡¯s the only way to describe our interactions.


    Now, I¡¯m in the presence of men. Men that desire me. Men that know exactly what to do with me. Men that are not above debasing me for their pleasure. I didn¡¯t know that was something I craved until this moment. As humiliating as all of this is, I can¡¯t deny that I¡¯m getting even wetter.


    My father mumbles some half-hearted, piece of shit apology, as if he can change things now. There¡¯s a reason he¡¯s down here. It means he¡¯d do all of this again in a heartbeat. Anger wins out, pushing away the cloak of despair threatening to overwhelm me. The man behind me wants me. I can feel his arousal long and thick against my hip.


    ¡°I can blindfold you, if you want,¡± he whispers in my ear. ¡°Just because your father is a jackass doesn¡¯t mean you need to suffer needlessly. He¡¯ll be forced to watch you, but that¡¯s not a punishment you have to take on. Trust me, you¡¯ll be dealt with in a far different way for your actions tonight.¡±


    That¡¯s the only thing that brings back that shaft of fear. As much as I want him to fuck me, I¡¯m terrified of what else they have nned. Once he takes my virginity, that¡¯s it. I¡¯m no longer of use to them. ¡°Please,¡± I whisper. ¡°Please don¡¯t hurt me.¡±


    ¡°Ahhh, my dear, sweet Penelope. I wish I could promise you that. But you see, I never make promises I don¡¯t intend to keep.¡± He punctuates his words with a nip at my earlobe, and I groan, despite the fear swirling in my gut. He slides his hand further around my waist and descends from there until his fingertips glide along my lower lips. ¡°God, you¡¯re so fucking wet. You want me to take your virginity, don¡¯t you, sweet girl?¡±


    I nod, my gaze sliding back to my father¡¯s. I shouldn¡¯t care that he knows how aroused I¡¯m getting, but there¡¯s still that desperate need for approval. With his eyes forced open the way they are, I can¡¯t tell exactly what his expression is, but I know deep down, he¡¯s disappointed that I don¡¯t fight back. But why should I? I¡¯m here because of him. If anyone should be ranting and raving, it¡¯s him.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Of course, he does nothing. At least I tried. I put up a token resistance. All he¡¯s doing is looking at me and shaking his head in shame. Fuck. That. Straightening up my back, I lean against the stranger, sliding my fingers along his taut stomach as best as the ropes will allow.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, my dirty little girl. Let¡¯s give your daddy a show, shall we? I¡¯m going to undo your arms so I can tie them a little differently. Unless you want forey to be with my belt across your ass, you¡¯ll remain as still as possible until I get you restrained how I want you. Am I understood?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir,¡± I breathe, holding myself rigid. To his credit, he works pretty fast, and soon, my arms are at my side. Tingles race up and down as blood flowes back in, but all too soon, he¡¯s in front of me, putting my hands together, and putting more rope around them.


    When I did a little online exploration, rope was something that always fascinated me. After tonight, I¡¯m pretty sure I¡¯m over it. The rough fibers cut into my wrists, not hard enough to really damage me, but it¡¯s ufortable nheless. Soon, he connects the hook and motions to someone I can¡¯t see. The hook begins to rise, pulling my arms high in the air until I¡¯m stretched out before everyone in this club.


    The man goes back behind me and runs his hands over my body. Every touch is possessive. Which, given the sum he had to pay, he¡¯s essentially my owner now. My clit pulses as his hands slide around front to cup my breasts. ¡°Pregnant or not, my little Penelope, you¡¯re going to make the sweetest milk for me, aren¡¯t you?¡± His fingers pluck at my nipples, pulling them, stretching them. The sensation is intense, and I¡¯m not sure if I find it pleasurable or agonizing. It¡¯s on that dividing line of pain and pleasure.


    The man skims his lips over my shoulder as he kneads my breasts, as if his actions alone will produce the milk he so desperately desires. I¡¯ve heard of wet nurses and women who performctation services, but it¡¯s always been in conjunction with babies and not grown men. Then it hits me. Pregnant. Oh. Oh God. That¡¯s thest thing I want.


    I¡¯m still practically a kid myself! I don¡¯t need or want a baby! Thrashing about, I try to pull myself out of his grasp, but he holds firm. ¡°Oh, poor thing. Don¡¯t want to be our little cow? I guess you have dear old daddy to thank for that one.¡±


    For once, my father shows a small sign of having a backbone. He jerks about in his restraints, tears falling from his open eyes. I guess it¡¯s just too little toote. ¡°Please,¡± I whisper, ¡°I don¡¯t want to have a baby. I can¡¯t. I ¨C I just can¡¯t.¡±


    He pulls back around and stands in front of me, stroking his shaft. ¡°Then I guess you better hope to whatever God you pray to that you¡¯re infertile. Because as you can see, I¡¯m not nning on wearing a condom with you. I¡¯m going to stuff that cunt of yours so full of cum that you¡¯ll be leaking for days. And when I¡¯m not fucking you, my friend Nick here will be.¡±

 Chapter 76

    The man from earlieres out of the shadows and crosses his arms. Disappointment emanates off of him in waves. I know he said not to run, but how was I supposed to know the punishment would be pregnancy? Nick shakes his head andes up to me, his clothed body a stark contrast to the naked flesh surrounding me.


    ¡°You better hope you get pregnant, my little cow. That¡¯s the only way you get out of this deal. Once you produce a child for us, you¡¯ll be given the choice to live with that baby,vished on with more money than you can imagine, or stay down here with us and live out your every depraved fantasy.¡±


    He says that, but will he actually give me a choice? These don¡¯t seem like the men that would just allow me to walk away.


    Nick pauses, his fingers sliding over my mound. ¡°God, you¡¯re soaking. You¡¯re enjoying this, aren¡¯t you?¡± He stops at my clit and rubs the sensitive flesh. Groaning, I rock into his touch, silently demanding more. ¡°I hope you decide to stay with us, Penny. I can make every dark wish you havee true.¡±


    Pulling back, he makes room for the other man, and I shudder at the thick erection bobbing towards me. There¡¯s no way they¡¯re going to stall any longer. Soon, that huge cock is going to be inside of me, tearing away thest vestige of my innocence. I should be devastated, but as I stare at the rippling muscles of my owner, I can¡¯t help the thread of excitement running through me.


    ¡°By the way, the name is Peter, not Oh God. Please remember that when you start to scream.¡±


    Peter takes his spot on the chair behind me and pulls me in between his syed legs. Gripping my hips, he runs his lips over the crest of my ass. Nick walks forward, a dark scarf hanging from his hands. For a moment, I feel like a prisoner about to be executed, except it won¡¯t be a bullet piercing my body. With soft, gentle movements, Nick wraps the scarf around my eyes, blocking out the harsh light.


    Even though part of me wants to watch my dad, to see if he really feels any remorse over what he did, a bigger part is grateful they¡¯re insisting on taking that ability away from me. With the blindfold, I¡¯m able to concentrate on what Peter is doing and not on my dad. Besides, do I really want to associate him with this moment?


    Peter¡¯s powerful hands grip my thighs and spread them over his, just like a kid about to ride a pony. His thick cock rides up the crack of my ass, and I can¡¯t help but wiggle a bit, teasing him as much as he¡¯s tormented me.


    ¡°Minx,¡± he growls, pping my clit with his fingertips. It should hurt. By all rights, him striking me should bring pain and not the explosion of pleasure that it does. Groaning, I arch into his touch, rubbing along his shaft again.


    He pulls away, and I ache for his touch. Soon, Peter¡¯s fingers return, cupping my breasts in hisrge palms. Hot, wet heat engulfs one of my nipples, and I pull back, startled by the new sensation. There¡¯s another man in front of me, but I can¡¯t see who it is.


    ¡°Shhh. Settle Penny. You better get used to my mouth on you.¡± I recognize that voice. It¡¯s Nick. My body goes limp with relief as he continues to suckle me. ¡°I¡¯m going to be the one to induce your milk, and trust me, you¡¯ll prefer my mouth over the machines.¡±


    As his lips work me over, his other hand plucks at the other nipple, pulling it, tugging it, bringing me right to the point of pain, only to let go and start again. Moaning, I grind against Peter, needing relief from the myriad of sensations flooding my body. Who knew this is what I was missing out on by suffering the pathetic touches of the drunken frat boys?


    ¡°I need you to be honest with me, Penny,¡± Peter whispers in my ear. ¡°I need you to tell me everything you let those boys do to you.¡± ¡°I ¨C I.¡± Nick¡¯s mouth skims lower, and all thoughts flee.


    ¡°Let me help you out,¡± Nick murmurs, his breath hot against my stomach. ¡°Did they touch you here?¡± He slides his fingers against my clit. ¡°N-No, Sir.¡± I whimper, angling my hips up to him. My arms begin to burn as I hang there, waiting for them to defile me, but I push that to the side, concentrating on just his touch.


    ¡°Good girl. How about here?¡± He slides a finger deep inside, and my muscles contract around the thick digit.


    ¡°Yes, Sir.¡±


    ¡°Did you enjoy it?¡±


    ¡°No, Sir.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    I pause for a moment, looking deep inside. I don¡¯t know how to answer that because I have nothing topare it to. ¡°It hurt. They were very rough.


    It was just a mechanical pumping of fingers.¡±


    Peter lifts me up a touch, giving my arms a moment of relief. ¡°Yes, sweet Penelope. But we¡¯re also rough.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s different,¡± I wail, my body tensing at the pleasure coiling deep within me.


    ¡°How are we different, sweet Penelope?¡± Peter growls in my ear. Nick pulls out his finger and slides back further, and soon, Peter¡¯s fat head is pulled up to my opening. Thebination of Nick¡¯s knuckles and Peter¡¯s tip as Nick pulls the cock back and forth between my lips makes my eyes cross.


    ¡°I¡¯m waiting, Penelope. I will not fuck you until you answer.¡±


    ¡°Because I want this,¡± I finally admit. ¡°I want you. Both of you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s my good girl,¡± he murmurs against my back. ¡°Almost there, love. Just a few more questions. Did any of the boys touch your asshole or your mouth?¡±


    ¡°No, Sir. I only let them finger me. And even then, it wasn¡¯t worth it.¡±


    ¡°Good girl.¡± Before the words are out of his mouth, Peter lifts me high in the air and lowers me onto his cock, never pausing, never checking in, just owning me in the visceral sense of the word.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Pain races through me, bowing my spine as I attempt to get away, but I can¡¯t. Peter holds me in a death grip on his cock as he forces my body to limate to the invasion. Crying out, I wrap my fingers around the small bit of rope I can and w at it, desperate for a fingerhold to help me get up.


    It¡¯s nothing like the fingers that were jammed into me without thought or care. He¡¯s a huge, thick, pulsing rod inside me, filling me in a way that their fingers tried but failed to do.


    ¡°Shhhh, little Penny. Don¡¯t fight him,¡± Nick whispers against my lips. ¡°The pain will be over soon. That¡¯s just your innocence leaving your body.


    After, you¡¯ll finally be fit to be our fuck-toy.¡±


    My pussy flutters at his lurid words, and Peter groans behind me, his fingers tensing and releasing against my waist. ¡°Keep talking dirty to her, Nick. She seems to like it.¡±


    It¡¯s then that I feel the press of Nick¡¯s body against my front, sandwiching me in between him and Peter. It¡¯s warm,fortable, safe. I know logically safety is thest thing I should feel, but for some reason, while I¡¯m here, I feel like nothing can touch me. Sure, they¡¯ll probably make me pay for that security with my body, but is that really such a hardship?

 Chapter 77

    NICK


    Fuck me. Her small body glistens with sweat as she sits on Peter¡¯s cock. Though he and I never finished negotiating how we¡¯re going to divide her up, I know he doesn¡¯t mind sharing in this moment. My hand drifts down again to brush against his balls, and my own tighten at the groan leaving his mouth.


    I¡¯ve never been able to resist ying with him when he¡¯s deep inside a pussy. Kneeling between his thighs, I slide my tongue across Penny¡¯s glistening lips, groaning as her taste explodes on my tongue. She said it herself in the initial interview that those boys never really made her wet.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Yet, here she is, soaking, and it¡¯s not just because Peter¡¯s cock feels so damn good. She was already sopping wet with just us talking about how we were going to use and abuse her. Whether she can admit it or not, she gets off on the humiliation and degradation we provide.


    Going down a bit further, Ip her juices off of Peter¡¯s balls, my lips curving into a smile as he bucks his hips against me. I slide my hands under Penny¡¯s thighs and lift her up, just enough that his cock pops out of her. Wordless groans pour from my lips as I stare at his dick covered in Penny¡¯s arousal. It¡¯s a sex vored popsicle stick that I¡¯ll never get enough of.


    Peter knows what I¡¯m about to do and slides his hands alongside mine, taking her weight from me. Inhaling deep, I slide my nose up his shaft, taking in that musky masculine scent of him mixed with the delicate, feminine scent of her arousal.


    I follow with my tongue, licking up his cock like he¡¯s an ice cream cone,pping at the arousal sluicing off of him. Again, he bucks his hips towards my face, and I give him what he wants. Leaning up, I open my lips wide and slide him deep into my mouth.


    Holding my breath, I continue down his length until his head goes into my throat. It takes all my training not to gag as I swallow him down. I can¡¯t keep this up too long or he¡¯lle inside of me instead of Penny. Pulling back up, I help him lower her back down onto his shaft and start the process all over again.


    Penny whimpers as I pull her up and down, pausing to lick and suck Peter. I know he¡¯s not going tost long. His balls draw up until they¡¯re rock hard. Switching my efforts back to the woman of the hour, I apply my tongue to her clit. Normally, I don¡¯t care if the women in these instances get off or not, but since she¡¯s a virgin, I want her first experience to be at least somewhat pleasurable.


    Her hands pull at the ropes, as if she wants to reach down and grab my hair. Pulling back, I look at Peter, then up at the ropes. He nods and motions for them to let her down. The moment her hands are low enough, she digs her fingers into my scalp as she rides Peter with an abandon I didn¡¯t think was possible from her.


    Groaning against her clit, I graze my teeth over her sensitive nub and am rewarded with her gripping my hair again as she rides Peter even faster. I slide my hands along Peter¡¯s inner thigh and grip him as I pull him towards the edge of the chair. I stand, fusing my mouth with Penelope for a moment as my fingers dance along her lower lips.


    Pulling back away, I kneel again and slide my fingers through her arousal before easing them into Peter¡¯s ass. He moans and clenches around me, but I push past his tight ring, deep enough to curl my finger into that spot that I know turns him into goo.


    My cock strains against my pants as I finger fuck him and my shaft pulses every time he clenches that asshole. Peter takes over, no longer satisfied with Penelope riding him at her own pace. His fingers dig into her waist so tight his knuckles pale from the grip.


    She cries out, but it does nothing to stop her from shuddering on Peter¡¯s cock. Over and over, he ms her down, and I can barely keep my tongue on her clit. Standing, I hunch over so I can keep finger banging Peter but switch to rubbing Penelope with my other hand.


    Both of them groan in unison. Unable to hold back any longer, I pull my hand away from Penelope¡¯s sweet little cunt and undo my pants. My cock springs out as I pull down my boxers, and I nearly moan in relief. Pulling Penny forward, I drag her bound hands to my cock, and without me ordering her to, she grips me, milking my shaft as best she can.


    Reaching back around, I continue to stroke her clit, wanting her to get off before either Peter or I. He catches my gaze from over her bent form and smirks before mming her down once more on his cock. His asshole squeezes around my finger in rhythmic waves as he rocks Penny back and forth.


    ¡°Cleansing wipe. Now,¡± I bellow as I pull my finger out. I¡¯m so fucking close toing. A young submissivees up next to me and wipes my hand down as I continue to y with Penny. Once my hand is clean, I slide back in between Peter¡¯s thighs and pull her luscious mouth up to mine.


    Groaning against her lips, I angle my cock towards her and spray her with my cum, marking her in front of everyone as Peter¡¯s and mine. His cum drips from her cunt, adding to the lubrication as I continue to strum her clit. Soon, her body bows up as she opens her mouth.


    ¡°Master Peter,¡± she cries out as she writhes on top of his softening dick. He and I exchange a knowing look at her exmation. Not once did we order her to call either of us Master, but the fact that she did so willingly is telling about what she likes.


    ¡°That¡¯s a good girl,¡± he murmurs, pulling her up and off of him. ¡°Time to get you cleaned up and ready for your punishment.¡±

 Chapter 78

    PENELOPE


    The blindfold is still on when my feet touch the ground. Vaguely, I have the small memory that I should be concerned about my dad, but it¡¯s quickly brushed to the side as hands rub all over me, toweling me down with warm, damp fabrics. I had no idea what losing my virginity would feel like, but I never pictured that.


    Hell, even the few times I managed to get myself off, it¡¯s been nowhere near that good. They don¡¯t take off my blindfold, and truth be told, I¡¯m grateful I can¡¯t see the people we¡¯re walking past. It¡¯s bad enough I can hear soft whispers around me. I don¡¯t need to see judging faces as well.


    The cold floor soon switches back to carpet, and I¡¯m pretty sure I¡¯m back in the hallway I ran down. How stupid was I to run? Now, after the amazing scene that just took ce, I¡¯m going to have to endure a punishment. How was I supposed to know it was going to feel that great? Wouldn¡¯t any sane, rational woman run?


    We trudge on forever, much longer than it took me to get to the room I was just fucked in. Where the hell are they taking me? I freeze as fear finally ms into me. I was right. Now that I¡¯m no longer a virgin, they¡¯re going to do away with me.


    ¡°Now, now, little Penny, be a good girl and don¡¯t fight Peter and I. You¡¯re already in trouble for running, and I¡¯d hate to add to your punishment.¡± Nick¡¯s voice is soft, and should be reassuring, but it¡¯s not.


    I know he¡¯s talking about making things worse, implying they¡¯re not as bad as they could be, but some things are still horrific even before they get to worse. A door opens, the creak as ominous as in those horror movies. I can¡¯t help the shiver of fear that wracks my body.


    ¡°Now then, take a look at your new room.¡±


    He removes the blindfold, and I¡¯m grateful for the dim lighting. It¡¯s a lot fuller than the room they had me in initially, but that doesn¡¯t help the pounding of my heart. Alongside one wall are many implements, just waiting to be used. Some I recognize from the little research I did into BDSM, but most I have no clue about.


    Off to the other side is a plush bed, far nicer than the other one. If this is supposed to be a punishment, then why is it morefortable? Perhaps the answer is in the odd contraption in the center of the room. Though the bench is padded, metal gleams from various points. Hoses and cups line the front, and my stomach flops about.


    ¡°I¡¯ll leave you two to it,¡± Peter says, letting go of my arm. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, little Penelope, once that milk flows in, you¡¯ll be seeing a lot more of me.¡± With a nod, he leaves the room, and I look up at Nick, trepidation making my body tremble.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I -.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough, Penny. I understand why you ran, but you still directly disobeyed me. Lie down here on the bench, and Master Eric will get you prepared.¡±


    Without another word, I slip over to the padded leather andy down face up. Nick walks over and pulls out some stirrups, very simr to those in the examination room from earlier. We¡¯re both silent as he walks over to a nearby sink and pulls out a baster.


    I know they talked about me being pregnant, but somehow, I figured it would be the natural way and not through artificial insemination. I¡¯m not sure why, but the thought of not being pregnant through sex with either of them makes my heart break just a little.


    It¡¯s stupid. I don¡¯t want to be pregnant. Why should I care who the father is? I watch, fascinated, as he fills the baster up with water instead of cum. Turning, he catches my gaze and winks. Still saying nothing, he grabs a metal bowl and makes his way back to me.


    ¡°This shouldn¡¯t be too hot, but let me know if it¡¯s unbearable.¡± Bending down, he slides the tip in, and God help me, I moan. It¡¯s not that the baster feels good, it¡¯s the fact that I¡¯m no longer empty.


    Nick chuckles as he presses down and squirts water deep inside me. It doesn¡¯t hurt, but the sensations are very ufortable. He pulls out the baster and lets the water drip down into the bowl before squirting more in me.


    ¡°Ahh, getting our little cow cleaned up for me?¡± Eric makes his way towards me and stands over, smiling down. ¡°You look so flushed, so different. If I knew taking your virginity would do such good things to you, I would have bid on you myself.¡±


    He pulls back away and stands in between my thighs as Nick goes to the wall containing the implements. Eric slides a gloved finger deep inside and probes around my cervix, drawing out a pained gasp.


    ¡°She¡¯s not ovting yet. I¡¯ll still have you take the tests daily to see when she is, but her cervix isn¡¯t low enough. I¡¯d say about a week though? Once she¡¯s fertile, your seed shouldn¡¯t have any trouble taking hold.¡±


    Pulling out, he snaps his gloves off and walks over to the wall so he and Nick can have a private conversation. I guess it¡¯s a good thing. If they¡¯re nning to knock me up, then they can¡¯t possibly be nning to kill me. Once they¡¯re done talking, Eric gives a small salute and walks out of the room, leaving Nick and me alone.


    ¡°I know your brain is going a mile a minute, wondering what your punishment could be.¡± With deft fingers, he loosens some nobs, and the stirrups wobble under my feet.


    Grabbing my calves, he lowers my legs and pushes in the stirrups. He then extends his hand and helps pull me up into a seated position. His eyes gleam as he pulls out a wide band with a long chain attached.


    ¡°Since I can¡¯t trust you not to run again, you¡¯ll be chained inside this room. Any time Peter or I decide to let you out, you will be forced to crawl on all fours like the little cow you are. Be grateful that I don¡¯t force you into


    the mindset of the animal, because that crossed my mind.¡±


    I shudder, my stomach churning at the thought of being made into an actual cow against my will.


    ¡°Good thing I like to have actual conversations and a form of rtionship with the soon-to-be mother of our child. Instead of allowing you to bring in your milk naturally, we¡¯re going to speed up the processes.¡±


    Reaching into his back pocket, he pulls out a syringe. A scream lodges in my throat as he pulls off the cap and holds the point up to the light. He taps against the stic, getting all the air to the top, and my vision swims as he pushes the plunger, forcing out the bubbles along with whatever else is in there.


    A dull pounding ricochets around in my brain, much like the first time I woke up in this godforsaken ce. The ironic deja vu is not lost on me. Looking around the room, I find that I¡¯m tucked into bed and no longer on the bench. My arm aches a bit, but other than that, there are no other physical issues that I can tell.


    My dder protests as I move about, so I fling off the covers, pausing when I hear the clicking sound of the chains. I had forgotten all about that. The metal band isn¡¯t too ufortable. I can still move my head and neck around, so that¡¯s a good thing, at least.


    Crawling out of bed, I scan the room for a door, but freeze when I only see the one. Where¡¯s the bathroom? Light floods the room, blinding me as the door opens. I scream, racing back to my bed to throw the covers over me. It¡¯s childish, but it¡¯s the only thing that makes sense in my head right now.


    Soon, firm hands rip the covers away, and I peer up into Nick¡¯s smirking face. ¡°Hiding from me already?¡±


    ¡°S-sorry. You scared me.¡±


    ¡°I gathered as much. Ready to start your day?¡±


    I look around again and notice that there aren¡¯t any clocks or windows. Nothing for me to tell the time or orient myself. The walls start to close in as hysteria churns in my gut. Bile rises up my throat and threatens to choke me.


    ¡°I can¡¯t stay here,¡± I whisper, my voice thready and raspy. I don¡¯t even sound like me anymore.


    ¡°Poor, Penny. I know it¡¯s not the prettiest room, but this is just temporary. Obey me, be my pretty little cow and slut, and I¡¯ll consider giving you a different ce to stay. Now then, why were you out of bed if you weren¡¯t ready to start the day?¡±


    ¡°I needed to pee.¡± As humiliating as the revtion is, the need to go is just getting worse. ¡°I was trying to find a bathroom, but then you came in.¡±


    Taking me by the hand, he leads me over to the sink and points at a bucket next to it. ¡°Thest time you asked to go to the bathroom, you ran away. I¡¯m sure as hell not taking that chance again.¡±


    ¡°Wait. In front of you?¡±


    ¡°You think I¡¯m scared of a little piss? Here, let me help you.¡± He pulls me over and sets me down. The lip of the bucket digs into my ass, adding difort to the massive humiliation. ¡°Wait. Don¡¯t go just yet.¡± He reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a glove and a strip of paper. After he¡¯s covered his hand, he reaches between my thighs and sets the paper against my opening. ¡°Ready when you are.¡±


    I sit there, mortification flooding my brain, cutting off any instinct or desire to go. Whimpering, I stare at him, willing him to get the idea and just leave, letting me do my business. Instead, he reaches up and presses on my dder, forcing me to evacuate myself.


    Tears stream down my face as he holds his hand under me until I¡¯m done. I thought death was bad, but this is far worse. With his free hand, he strokes my cheek until I¡¯m done, then pulls back the hand with paper and walks over to the sink.


    ¡°Levels still don¡¯t show you as fertile. Wipe up and wash your hands, then meet me at the bench.¡± Next to me is a roll of toilet paper, and I take a bit, and look away as I wipe.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Next, I wash my hands, taking my time, hoping to prolong whatever hell he has nned for me next. Once I reach the bench, he pushes me face down, making me straddle the leather. My face and body rest on the cushions, but the cutouts let my breasts hang free.


    Nick goes up to the front and grabs two of the tiny cups before switching on a machine. Once the cup gets close enough to my nipple, ittches on and starts to suck. Hard. He puts the other one on, and I¡¯m unable to think past the difort of my breasts.


    I¡¯m only vaguely aware of Nick behind me until he spreads my cheeks wide. ¡°Just rx, little Penny. I¡¯m just going to take your temperature.¡± Burying my head into the leather, I sob as the pain, humiliation, and unwanted arousal burns through me. ¡°Look at how wet you¡¯re getting for me. Such a good little cow.¡±


    With one hand, he holds the thermometer in ce, with the other, he reaches under me to stroke my clit. The pleasure soon outweighs the pain. Unable to resist, I grind against him, moaning as he touches me in just the right way. I can¡¯t get off like this. I just can¡¯t.


    Unfortunately, as always with this ce, what I want and what I get are two separate things. Groaning, Ie on his fingers as the devilish cups suck at me and the stupid thermometer beeps in my ass.

 Chapter 79

    PENELOPE


    I have no way of telling how much time has passed. Without clocks or windows, it could be days, weeks, or even months. Every day is the same. Master Nick has me pee on the paper, takes my temperature,


    then hooks me up to those damn cups.


    This morning, however, my breasts feel sore, heavy, achy almost. Groaning, I cup myself, relief washing over me as lifting them gives me a respite from the difort. As if on cue, Master Nick walks in with Master Peter behind him.


    Master Peter hasn¡¯t seen me in such a long time, and though my time with Master Nick is enjoyable, there¡¯s something delicious about the way these two share me that has me buzzing with need.


    ¡°Ahhh. There¡¯s my pretty Penelope,¡± Master Peter growls. ¡°I see I¡¯vee at just the right time. Up on the bench.¡±


    I nce between him and Master Nick, my lower lip wobbling for a moment. This isn¡¯t our normal routine. What happened to the bathroom break and the temperature checks?


    It¡¯s mortifying as fuck, but after all that¡¯s done and I¡¯m hooked up to the cups, I get the most immense pleasure of my life. It¡¯s mostly from Master Nick, but that doesn¡¯t make it any less enjoyable. Have I done something wrong? Upset them somehow?


    I¡¯ve always done my best to do what they ask with little hesitation. The first few days were rough, and my ass still twinges at the memory of the punishment cane.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, little Penny,¡± Master Nick reassures me. His lips tip up into an almost friendly grin. ¡°There¡¯s a slight change in today¡¯s ns, but it¡¯s a wonderful change. I promise.¡±


    My heart climbs down out of my throat as I peel the nkets away from my naked body. Trembling, I make my way to the bench and lie face down, as I always do.


    ¡°Not today, Penelope.¡± Master Peter puts his hand on my shoulder, tugging slightly to get me to go back up. ¡°Today, you¡¯re going to sit upright and straddle the bench.¡±


    He fiddles with a few knobs and the area that usually holds my breasts rises, cupping them, as if to offer them up to my Masters.


    ¡°Beautiful,¡± Master Peter murmurs, sliding the tip of his finger along the swollen peak of my nipple. ¡°I think you¡¯re right, Nick. I think she¡¯s ready for me.¡±


    Bending down, he sits on a stool in front of me and leans forward, taking the nipple into his mouth. With his hand, he presses down on the top of my breast as he sucks hard.


    The sensation is far different from the cups they force on me. Though the feeling is still that intense borderline of pain and pleasure, the heat of his mouth and hand soothes me, morphing it into more pleasure than pain.


    It takes a few moments, but soon, the horrible pressure I felt this morning dissipates ¨C about the same time Master Peter starts to moan. I groan right along with him as relief and pleasure swirl through me.


    ¡°Nick. You got to taste this. She¡¯s even sweeter than I expected.¡±Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Master Nickes to the other side, pulling up his own stool. He too leans forward and mimics Master Peter by pressing down with his hand as he sucks on my other nipple.


    I toss my head back, a moan tearing through me. It¡¯s as if their lips have a direct line from my nipples to my clit. The maddening bundle of nerves pulses with every tug of their mouths, with every flick of their tongue.


    They have both made it abundantly clear that I¡¯m not allowed to touch myself, but they said nothing about grinding on the furniture. I rock my hips back and forth, rubbing myself against the leather. Arousal eases my gliding, and soon, I¡¯m humping the bench in wild abandon.


    Before I can climax, they pull away and wipe their lips, each sporting a wide grin. ¡°Seems our little cow likes us drinking from her,¡± Master Peter chuckles.


    Master Nick shakes his head and stands, extending his hand to me. ¡°That will have to wait until your next milking. In the meantime, let¡¯s get you back on track with your routine.¡±


    For the first time, I happily follow Master Nick to the bathroom area of the room. The sooner this gets done, the sooner they will get me off. I don¡¯t care how they do it. Hell, they could fuck me with the end of the crop if they wanted to.


    My nipples are still sore, but don¡¯t feel nearly as abused as when they use the cups on me. Hopefully, this means they¡¯ll be the ones milking me from now on, but I know that¡¯s not a guarantee. After the bathroom and fertility check, I start to head back to the bench, excited about our session.


    Master Nick motions for Master Peter toe over to him, and they huddle close, staring down at the strip of paper. Soft whispers fill the room, but I can¡¯t make out anything they¡¯re saying. They both smile and gesture towards the strip, so it can¡¯t all be bad.


    With a final nod, Master Peter walks over to me and slides his hand about my waist, pulling me close. ¡°You insatiable minx. Though I apud the enthusiasm in which you take my cock, today is going to be the start of an entirely new routine.¡±


    ¡°Hey Peter. Says here she¡¯s fertile.¡± I nce back at Master Peter¡¯s face and an odd, almost mischievous look quirks up his lips as he smiles down at me. My heart plummets at those words.


    This is the second time I¡¯ve been fertile, and I know it means I¡¯ll be fucked as often as they can get it up. They¡¯re both so determined to get a baby in me, and yet, I can¡¯t help the tion that flows out when my period shows up.


    ¡°Come with me, Penelope,¡± Master Peter continues, wrapping the chain around his hand. ¡°You get a new room today.¡±


    My eyes widen as we walk towards the door, and though it¡¯s irrational, there¡¯s something almost terrifying about leaving the haven I¡¯m used to. For the first bit, I couldn¡¯t think of being anywhere else but that room.


    Now that I face leaving, I want to fall on my hands and knees and beg them to let me stay. But I don¡¯t. I know it¡¯s no use. Begging never got me what I wanted, except maybe a cock down my throat.


    ¡°Hands and knees, pretty cow. Outside of your room, that¡¯s all you are. You may not speak. If you have an issue, you can moo. Understand?¡± Master Peter stares down at me, his brows drawn together.


    ¡°M-moo?¡±


    Both he and Master Nick throw their heads back, filling the room with theirughter. ¡°We¡¯re still inside, Penelope. You don¡¯t have to moo for us in here.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m scared, Master Peter. I don¡¯t want to leave this room.¡±


    He shakes his head, the smile softening until it resembles that of a lover instead of a harsh taskmaster.


    ¡°Dear, sweet, Penelope. As long as you obey your Masters, no harm will evere to you. I promise you¡¯ll like your new room.¡±


    Nodding, I sink down to the floor, holding myself like I think a cow would look.


    ¡°She¡¯s not quite ready yet.¡±


    I look over my shoulder as Master Nick pushes off the wall and heads over to the rack of implements. Pausing for a moment, he runs his hands along the various tailed butt plugs, stopping when he gets to the one he wants.


    Great.


    Fucking great.


    With a wide smile, he walks back over and skims his hands along my upturned ass, pausing now and then to knead the muscles.


    ¡°Take a deep breath, Penny. Good girl, now exhale.¡± As I breathe out, he eases the plug in. It¡¯s farrger than the others they¡¯ve used on me.


    Digging my fingers into the carpet, I grit my teeth and force myself to inhale. To his credit, Master Nick doesn¡¯t shove it in. He takes his time with it ¨C easing it in, pulling it out, then easing it in further.


    After an eternity, it¡¯s seated. The pressure is intense. Groaning, I bury my head in between my hands and rock my hips back and forth in an attempt to lessen the pinch and stretch in my ass.


    With each movement, the tail swishes against me, barely brushing against my clit, but it¡¯s there. I feel it. I groan again, but this time for a far different reason.


    ¡°Come on, pretty cow,¡± Master Petermands. ¡°The sooner we get you settled into your new room, the sooner we can relieve that ache in between your thighs.¡±


    The door opens, and I¡¯m confronted by a cacophony of noises. I forgot how deafening the silence was until this moment. It¡¯s too much. It¡¯s all so overwhelming. I yank back from Master Peter, not on purpose, but on pure survival instinct.


    Instead of letting me retreat, he winds the chain tighter in his grasp and yanks, pulling me forward. A startled yell stills in my throat as other people nce inside. I¡¯m only allowed to moo. Just because I¡¯m in the room doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m safe.


    Frantic, I look up at Master Peter, then back at Master Nick. The mooing sounds spill from my lips as hysteria ws at my insides. I want so desperately to scream, to plead with them, but more and more people gather at the door, watching me, their eyes roaming over my body as if they too own me.


    Master Peter leans down, his stern eyes softening as they meet mine. ¡°Penelope Evans. I need you to stop right now and breathe with me.¡±


    Master Nick kneels to my side, his hand sliding under to rest on my heart. ¡°You¡¯re okay, pretty Penny,¡± he coos into my ear. ¡°You belong to us. No one outside of this door matters. We are your Masters.¡±


    ¡°I know you¡¯re scared, Penelope,¡± Master Peter chimes in. ¡°But you need to calm down. I will not carry a fainted cow through these halls.¡±


    The image alone brings a snorted giggle to my lips, and I sigh as the tension leaches out of all of us.


    ¡°That¡¯s my good girl, Penelope. Nick will be beside you the whole time, and I will be in front of you. If you get scared, just moo. It¡¯s okay. You will not get punished for that.¡±


    Nodding, I strengthen my resolve, staring at the floor as we exit. Bright lights flood my vision, and I groan as I screw my eyes shut. Breathing deep, I go where the chain tugs, trusting Master Peter to not let me hurt myself.


    Murmurs and whispers assault my ears, but most of the chatter seems positive. No one is judging me for being in this position. No one thinks less of me. In fact, most of what I can hear is praise and adoration, something not even my dad gave me unless we were in front of other people.


    A blossom of pride blooms in my heart, and I hold my head high, shaking my hips to swish my tail about. Master Nick chuckles behind me and pats the side of my ass as we continue down the hall.


    ¡°Oh, my! What a delightful looking cow. And look at how swollen her teats are. ¡±


    I angle my head up to smile at the neer, showing off my breasts that are already starting to fill that heavy pressure. Now that I know it¡¯s milk, it¡¯s not nearly as agonizing. In fact, the more the pressure builds, the more my clit pulses.


    Hopefully, Master Peter and Master Nick will get me off soon. I don¡¯t think I can stand it. I pause, rubbing my thighs together, and that moment is all the time it takes for the stranger to lean down and grab my breast, squeezing painfully tight.


    Fear and pain collide, and in that moment, I can¡¯t even think or moo. I scream out, calling for both Master Nick and Master Peter. The fingers are relentless, digging into me. The pressure is painful. Nothing like what it felt to be groped by my owners.


    ¡°Nick. Get her out of here. Now!¡±


    Violenceces Master Peter¡¯s voice as the fingers are ripped away from me. My body shakes as uncontroble sobs run through me. I¡¯m barely aware of the powerful hands lifting me up, or the soft, soothing murmurs as Master Nick holds me to his chest.


    I fucked up.


    They gave me one job, and that was to not speak.


    Despair spirals through my gut as Master Nick pushes past the crowd of people gathering around Master Peter and the stranger. Angry shouts and the pounding smack of flesh on flesh follow after us until there¡¯s nothing left to hear but the buzzing in my brain.


    Tears still fall down my cheeks, soaking Master Nick¡¯s shirt, but he doesn¡¯t seem to care. I want to apologize. I want so desperately to say I¡¯m sorry, but out here, all I can do is moo. Burying my face in the damp shirt, I moo in earnest, hoping to convey what Ick in words.


    ¡°Shh. Settle Penny. Oh, my sweet Penny. My good girl. Settle for me.¡± He opens another door and shuttles me in. Despite that, I remain silent. Maybe if I don¡¯t talk, they¡¯ll take it as punishment served?


    Master Nick sets me down on a soft, plush bed, with covers far more sumptuous than what I had in the other room, and I glide my fingers over the rich textures, amazed at the vast difference. Lifting my head, I notice windows that show the outside.


    There¡¯s not much to see since it¡¯s nighttime, but the moon shines brightly above, bringing more tears to my eyes. This time, my tears are in awe of the beauty of the night, a beauty I took for granted.


    I turn, wanting to tell Master Nick just how grateful I am when the door ms open. Master Peter storms in, his eyes zing with anger. Blood drips from his hands and is sttered across his shirt. Fear once more begs me to move, to flee from his ire.


    But I can¡¯t.

 Chapter 80

    Master Nick is behind me, rooting me to the spot, as if he knows my brain better than even I do. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Silence.


    ¡°Penelope Evans, did that man hurt you?¡±


    ¡°I ¨C I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m so sorry,¡± I cry out, falling to the floor at his feet. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to say anything. I was so scared and -.¡±


    ¡°Penny, love, that is not what Peter asked you. You will answer the question.¡±


    ¡°He didn¡¯t harm me. I don¡¯t think. It just hurt very badly, and he wasn¡¯t you.¡±


    Master Peter hunches down and slides his hands under my shoulders to pry me off of the floor. ¡°Dearest Penelope. I think you misunderstand. I am in no way angry with you. What he did was despicable. You never touch another member¡¯s property. You should have been able to crawl through that hallway unmolested.¡±


    ¡°I assume he¡¯s being dealt with?¡± Master Nick¡¯s voice has the same hardened edge as Master Peter.


    ¡°Marcus is dealing with him now. As for you, Penelope. I must apologize. It¡¯s past time for you to be milked, and I¡¯m sure you¡¯re in a lot of difort. Though I love seeing my best girl in pain, I want it to be on purpose, by my hand. Not because I had to deal with a miscreant with a micropenis.¡±


    Master Nick pulls me back against his chest and reaches around to knead my full, swollen breasts. I whimper, desperate to pull out of his grasp. His touch hurts. Not as bad as the other man, but enough that I don¡¯t want it. Though my clit keeps humming with need, the greater desire to get this damned milk out outweighs any pleasure, real or imagined.


    ¡°Poor, poor Penny. Don¡¯t worry, Peter will make it all better.¡± Master Nick cups a breast and offers it to Master Peter. He licks his lips before bending low, swiping his tongue across the sore, swollen peak.


    Drawing my nipple into his mouth, he sucks, more gently than this morning, and soon, that same spine-tingling relief thrums through my body.


    His groans and hispping at my milk go straight to my clit. Soon, I¡¯m back to that needy, achy ce I was before we left the first room.


    Once he drains one breast, he moves onto the other. Master Nickes around to the side and works at Master Peter¡¯s belt, undoing it and his pants so they fall to the floor. Master Peter pulls back just enough to grip me in his arms and lift me onto his thick cock.


    Memories from that first night race through my brain, ramping up my arousal. Instead of facing away from him, I ride him as he stares at me, wonder and lust shing through his eyes. With me firmly impaled, he takes us back to the bed and lies down, pulling me up until my breast is back at his mouth.


    Hetches on as he surges forward, both filling me and depleting me at the same time. I can¡¯t help the filthy groan that slips from my lips as emotions and sensation rip through my body.


    Though I don¡¯t see him, I can feel Master Nicke up behind me. The tip of his cock brushes against my inner thigh as he tugs at the tail in my ass. With everything that happened to me, I had almost forgotten it was in there. Master Peter pulls his head away and gives Master Nick an odd look before turning back to me.


    ¡°You want me to breed you, Penelope? Want me to fuck you until you carry my child?¡±


    I really don¡¯t know how to answer. I never wanted children. Ever. But after being a sex toy to two amazing men, I¡¯m considering giving them everything they want and more. Dropping my gaze, I fiddle with the buttons on his shirt. Anything to quiet my mind.


    ¡°My body is yours, Master. I will submit to whatever you ask of me.¡±


    ¡°Good. Fucking. Girl. Penelope,¡± he grunts, thrusting in time with his words. Master Nick slides his hands across my ass for a moment before going back to the tail. He tugs on it a few times, sparking dark, delicious sensations down there, an area that really shouldn¡¯t be pleasurable at all.


    As with everything they¡¯ve introduced me to, I crave everything and more. He eases the plug out, giving me a moment to breathe before something else notches in the hole. I tense as Master Nick grips my ass, holding me in ce as he drives forward.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    ¡°I¡¯m giving Nick a gift, Penelope,¡± Master Peter murmurs against my lips. ¡°Normally, I like to take every virgin hole. But today is a very special day for him.¡±


    Master Peter remains still, giving me ample time for my brain and body to collide, revealing what¡¯s happening. Until now, both masters have only ever yed with that hole. They¡¯ve put in butt plugs, beads, and things that I¡¯m probably better not knowing about.


    This is the first time either of them has actually fucked me there. Despite having had arge plug in me, Master Nick feels impossibly huge.


    My body quivers as my ass attempts to push him out, refusing to let him in. ¡°Penny, breathe. You¡¯ve had big things in here before.¡±


    ¡°Not as big as you!¡± The high squeakiness of my voice just adds anotheryer of humiliation to the situation.


    Beneath me, Master Peter chuckles and once more slides in and out. ¡°Don¡¯t worry Nick. I¡¯ll distract her.¡± Smirking, he goes back down to my breasts and alternates sucking and licking until my eyes nearly cross with the pleasure he¡¯s bringing me.


    Inch by inch, Master Nick pushes forward, ignoring my pained cries. Neither of them stops until I¡¯m stuffed full with the cocks of my Masters. Once I feel the crisp hairs of Master Nick¡¯s pelvis against my ass, they both begin to rock in opposite rhythm.


    As Master Peter surges in, Master Nick drags out. The sensations are overwhelming. Arousal coils tight within me as I lie there, caught between the two men that own every bit of me. Heart and soul.


    ¡°Sweet Penelope. God, Penelope.¡± Master Peter grips my hips as he climaxes, shooting his cum deep inside me. Master Nick is not far behind. With his own shout, his cock jerks deep in my ass, and I groan as he grinds up against me.


    Reaching between us, Master Peter strums my clit, and my fingers scrabble against his shirt as I desperately seek for something to grab onto. The orgasm that was denied to me earlyes roaring back to life, filling me, consuming me.


    ¡°Please. Oh please.¡±


    ¡°Come for us, pretty Penny,¡± Nick whispers against my shoulder. ¡°I want to feel your body clench around us.¡±


    At his words, my body explodes. If not sandwiched between my two Masters, I¡¯m sure I would have flown apart. We lie there, all three of us in a tangle of limbs as Master Peter keeps stroking me, drawing out my orgasm.


    Tears gather in my eyes as I writhe in between them, sorrow at knowing one day this will all be over beating at my chest.


    ¡°Ahh. Dear Penelope. Why the tears? Surely that orgasm was satisfactory.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that. I ¨C I don¡¯t. I -.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t what?¡±


    ¡°Please don¡¯t leave me. I know that sounds pathetic but -.¡±


    Master Peter cuts off my babbling by pulling my lips up to his. He rarely kisses me, but when he does, he makes my heart sing and my toes curl. ¡°My dear, sweet Penelope. If you think it¡¯s that easy to get rid of us, you¡¯re sorely mistaken. You¡¯re ours. For life.¡±


    A soft smile curves over my lips as heys my head back down on his chest. Master Nick pulls out and steps back, but his absence doesn¡¯t cause me rm. I know he¡¯s just getting stuff to clean us all up with. The fact that he can leave without my heart flying out of my chest is proof enough that I finally believe I belong.


    Never in my life, since my mom died, did I ever feel this loved and cherished. Their love hurts. A lot. But they always put me back together after. I spent so many days hating my father, cursing him for what he did. But who knew his careless actions would ce me in thep of my new family?


    My hand drifts down to my t stomach, and I close my eyes, thinking what it would be like to actually carry their child. No longer do I face that idea with fear. Instead, a warmth flutters through my heart as contentment settles over me like a warm nket.


    Master Nick slides the washcloth between us, cleaning me as best he can before pulling me into his arms and settling on the bed. Master Peter crawls over to the other side, once again sandwiching me. The heat their bodies give off is soothing,forting.


    My eyes flutter closed as Master Nick drags his fingers across my skin inzy circles. ¡°I do believe congrattions are in order,¡± he murmurs against my ear. ¡°Happy Mother¡¯s Day, my beautiful Penny.¡±


    I stiffen in his arms, unsure if I heard that correctly. ¡°You mean -?¡±


    ¡°The test this morning confirmed it. Eric will keep checking in with you, monitoring your progress until we can procure a midwife, but as of right now, you¡¯re carrying a baby.¡±


    ¡°Our baby,¡± Peter growls from behind me, sliding his hand around to rest on my stomach. ¡°We will never let you go, Penelope. Nick and I will still be your Masters, but now, you¡¯ll have a little one to upy your time in between satisfying us.¡±


    My head reels as the words finally sink in. The thing I dreaded most is actually happening, but somehow, with these two powerful men surrounding me, I feel calm, at peace, as if this was how everything was supposed to work out after all.


    The End¡­

 Chapter 81

    STOLEN


    LYRA


    Standing in heels has never been my strong suit.


    The first time I ever slipped a pair on, it was for a party that required evening attire. I twisted my ankle three times, but I wasn¡¯t about to take off the $500 shoes. I didn¡¯t want to embarrass myself in front of my parents¡¯ new friends.


    My new friends.


    The shoes I¡¯m wearing now probably cost more than $500. I didn¡¯t see the final total. Mrs. Caldwell took care of everything. She had my mother¡¯s blessing, the pair of them swapping credit cards and cash more often than some people change socks. With nearly unlimited spending, it ensured ine and I could have the storybook wedding I¡¯d always dreamed about. She¡¯d found me a vintage dress with a strapless sweetheart neckline,plete with a corset bodice decorated in tiny crystals and a tulle skirt so obscenelyrge it made me look like I was floating on a cloud. It¡¯s beautiful, and with this much fabric, no one can see my knees wobbling.


    Every bride is nervous on her wedding day, right?


    Stylists bustle around, dabbing powder on my cheeks and chin to ensure the heavy makeup I¡¯m wearing will stay put no matter how mmy my face gets. I stare at my reflection in the mirror, the brown hair that¡¯s pulled back from my face, the way it tumbles over my shoulders in loose curls. The veil tucked into the loose braid makes it look like I have a halo. I look almost ethereal. Eyes lined in ck and dusted with soft gold, pink cheeks and lips, skin glowing. I smile to myself, then look behind my shoulder to where my mother stands with her arms folded over her waist. Her eyes are narrowed, a flute of champagne in one hand while Mrs. Caldwell stands beside her, tapping her lips with her fingers. She gasps and holds up her hands.


    ¡°There! Stop. Stop!¡± The stylists freeze at the sharpmand. ¡°Finally, I didn¡¯t think they¡¯d ever get it right.¡±


    Spiked heels ck on the wood floor as she stalks over and bends with perfect precision to adjust my gown. My motheres forward, angling her ss of champagne away from me as she takes my chin in hand and turns it side to side. She clicks her tongue, then sighs, and I wince at the unspoken words. I suppose this will have to do, it¡¯s as good as she ever gets. ¡°Where are they taking pictures of her, Charlene?¡± my mother asks.


    ¡°The gardens.¡± Ms. Caldwell finishes her fluffing and stands up, framing me with squared fingers. ¡°I want everyone to see how much we¡¯ve


    done. Get buzz going about the events we¡¯re hosting in the fall.¡±


    I silently tick off the list of charity socials, political dinners, and holiday parties that areing up. Parties where men will drink and toast their sess, and I will be pulled in eighty directions as guest after guest asks if I¡¯m enjoying my new life as a Caldwell. I will say yes, he¡¯s the perfect gentleman. Our life is everything a girl could wish for.


    Hunger gnaws at my stomach. Or it could be guilt for the shift in my thoughts. I should feel grateful. I am grateful. I¡¯m getting everything I¡¯ve ever wanted. This is every girl¡¯s dream right down to the nearly four-carat diamond ring on my finger. ine is handsome, charming, and thanks to his family¡¯s generous investments into my father¡¯spany, we¡¯ll be set for life. I¡¯ll never have to worry about money or anything trivial ever again. All I need to worry about is what I¡¯ll do with my free time.


    My mother and Mrs. Caldwell head to the door and the stylists follow like trained pets. ¡°Lyra, you stay here,¡± Mrs. Caldwell directs. ¡°A photographer will be in once they¡¯re done with ine, the groomsmen, and the bridesmaids¡¯ pictures.¡±


    ¡°Be sure to get pictures by the fountain and the peony bushes,¡± my mother directs. ¡°The flowers will bring out your undertones.¡±


    ¡°Yes, mom.¡±


    ¡°And do exactly as he says. I don¡¯t want you giving him any trouble or questioning their vision,¡± she adds. ¡°These are professionals, Lyra. Don¡¯t be picky or bothersome.¡±


    My throat tightens but I swallow the lump forming inside it and nod. My mother looks me up and down, then gives me the first genuine smile I¡¯ve gotten in weeks.


    ¡°Make us proud, Darling. This is the wedding of the season, maybe even the year. You¡¯ll be the talk of the town for months, so smile pretty, right?¡±


    ¡°I will, Mom.¡±


    ¡°Very good.¡±


    ¡°And get a few sexy pics, too,¡± Mrs. Caldwell adds with a wink as they exit the room. ¡°As boudoir-esque as you can in the gardens!¡±


    The door shuts behind them, and I finally let out the breath I¡¯d been holding since theyced up my corset. My ankles wobble again as I step down from the small pedestal, and my stomach rumbles. They left a tray of hors d¡¯oeuvres in the room, and I know they aren¡¯t meant for me, but I can¡¯t resist rushing over. It would be horrifying if I passed out during our vows.


    I grab a napkin and a chicken skewer, bending awkwardly to keep my skirt out of the way as I eat one, then two, then three before moving onto spinach puffs. I have had nothing since breakfast, and even then, what I ate was minimal. Wouldn¡¯t want to appear bloated in the pictures, after all.


    My stomach twists again. Don¡¯t think like that, Lyra. You¡¯re so lucky. You¡¯re going to be so happy here. You are so happy here.


    The door to the room opens, and the photographer steps through it. I turn away, dabbing carefully at my mouth so I don¡¯t mess up my lipstick or my foundation. Wincing at the embarrassment of being discovered bent over scarfing down appetizers, I slowly turn to greet the new arrival.


    And I freeze at the face that stares back at me.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    No¡­ it can¡¯t be. I tilt my head, letting my eyes rake over his face. The square jaw, the broad cheekbones. Bow-shaped lips. The dark, almond shaped eyes.


    Cade¡­


    My twisting stomach drops to the floor, and I¡¯m transported back to my old life. The one I left behind, the one I try so hard to forget.


    I¡¯m no longer 21, but 17 again, back at a party I have no business being at. Everyone is older, but my friends don¡¯t care. They¡¯re drinking,ughing, and I¡¯m standing in a corner, a can in my hand that I have no intention of drinking from. My friends don¡¯t stick close for long, moving on to whoever pays them a lick of attention while I try to avoid drawing any notice. It¡¯s difficult. No matter how much I try to be the wall a little of the flower peeks out and people pass by, hoping to pluck at my petals.


    At least until hees to stand beside me and clears them all out with no more than a look. Cade Siderus. Former wrestling God. Former delinquent with a temper. Rumor was he got sent away for his tendency to punch people who looked at him funny. Military school, and when that was finished, he enlisted. The Marines, a five-year contract.


    Now he¡¯s back, standing beside me, asking if I¡¯m old enough to be here when it¡¯s clear I¡¯m not. He takes it upon himself to get me out of there, and out of the next party. And the one after that.


    Cade ends up at every party I¡¯m dragged to that summer and assigns himself as my personal protector. My parents had struck it big, and they had even less time for me than before. Everyone was curious and suddenly wanting an in because we had money. I could buy the pizza for parties. I could fund as much booze as they wanted. It was the only reason anyone was nice to me. Everyone except Cade. He wasn¡¯t interested in my money, or the sudden notoriety. He shielded me from it, kept me close to his side and away from trouble.


    He made the long nights when I was home alone a little less lonely.


    We spent as much time together as we possibly could, even when school started back up. Cade was stationed an hour away but drove back whenever he had free time to see me. We shared long phone calls, letters, texts. We made ns. He¡¯d signed up for another three-year contract, and I was looking at colleges close to where he was stationed. When he finished, we were going to get a house somewhere quiet and far away. I wanted to get away from this sudden influx of cash that had little to do with me and live life how I¡¯d always nned. Cade wanted to live it with me. His affection and devotion to me were intoxicating, like a dream. He was a riptide that swept me away in his current and was carrying me out to sea.


    But as with any riptide, eventually the current breaks and you have to choose: drown in the ocean, or swim back to shore.

 Chapter 82

    Teenage me would have chosen to drown. She was naive. Infatuated. I didn¡¯t see Cade¡¯s obsessive and sometimes possessive behavior as dangerous. To me, he was protective. A shelter, and far more reliable than parents who¡¯d all but left me to fend for myself while they focused on building the business that eventually brought us to the city.


    That decision, the move to the city. The moment my parents chose that path, everything went wrong.


    Cade was livid. My parents were forcing me to move in the middle of the year. I was two months shy of 18, and I had no choice in the matter. He offered to find me an apartment in the small town we lived in, pay the rent, give me money for food. Let me stay and finish school and choose my own path. My parentsughed in his face, called him sick. He was too old to be so attached to me, and they forbade any more contact between us.


    Cade wasn¡¯t going to have that.


    Looking at him now, the terror from thest time I saw him returns. I can see his fist hitting my dad¡¯s face, feel his hand around my wrist as he hauls me into a car. He drove me out of town, out of the county, halfway across the state before I convinced him to stop. I was certain my parents had called the police. He was going to be arrested, or worse. I convinced him to stop and let me off, but he wasn¡¯t happy about it. He promised he¡¯de get me. No matter where I was, he¡¯de get me.


    And now here he stands, wearing a suit, holding a camera, looking every bit the handsome man I was once enchanted by. Broad shoulders, toned chest, arms rippled with muscle. His hair is longer. Still short on the sides but long enough that when he slides his hand over his head, his fingers rustle the hair. His brown, almond shaped eyes meet mine, wide and shining. His lips are parted, opened on a gasp that finally slips out and breaks the silence between us.


    ¡°Lyra.¡±


    He says my name like a vow. A whispered prayer of relief, and it makes the knot in my stomach tighten. Nostalgia is an ache inside me, so strong I have to press my hand over my heart to try and stifle it. I stay rooted to the spot while Cade approaches, his hands hovering over my shoulders and face like he¡¯s afraid to touch me.


    ¡°God, you¡¯re beautiful. You¡¯re¡­ gorgeous.¡± His voice breaks midsentence, and my eyes prick when I realize there are tears in his. He blinks them back and lets out a long breath, hands curling around my jaw as his forehead drops against mine.


    ¡°Sweetheart, I missed you. Fuck, I missed you so much.¡±


    ¡°Cade¡­¡±


    It¡¯s all I can say. I¡¯m too shocked by his appearance to form a cohesive thought. Heughs once, then pulls me into an embrace so tight and sincere, it makes every touch I¡¯ve shared with ine thest year seem performative. Cade cups the back of my head, his fingers syed over my back, nose buried under my ear. This hug makes ine seem like an understudy. The stand in. The warmup for the main event. He¡¯s never held me like this. He¡¯s never touched me like this.


    ine has also never punched my father in the face and kidnapped me because he couldn¡¯t stand the idea of letting me go.


    I try to disentangle myself, but Cade holds tight as questions mount in my head. How did he get here? Why did hee? There¡¯s no way in Hell my parents invited him. I wonder if he¡¯s still enlisted. I wonder if they kicked him out.


    Atst, he pulls back, cupping my jaw and tipping my chin up to give me a kiss so quick it¡¯s over before I can protest. He takes my hands in his and backs toward the door, pulling me with him.


    ¡°Come with me.¡±


    I stay frozen in my spot, stumbling as he tugs harder. ¡°Lyra, baby, we need to go.¡±


    It has to be shock that¡¯s keeping me silent. That¡¯s the only exnation. I pull my hands free from his and swallow, trying to loosen the tightness in my throat. ¡°What? Cade. I can¡¯t-¡±


    ¡°I love you, Lyra. I never stopped. I told you I¡¯d never stop.¡±


    A sh of heat warms me from head to toe. There¡¯s a part of me that wants to believe him. The despairing teenage girl inside me who cried so hard when we drove out of town and I left him behind.


    But it¡¯s moot. None of it matters. Things between us ended and I moved on and started a new life.


    Cade frowns at me and takes my hands again, tugging me toward the door. ¡°We can¡¯t stay here. We need to go.¡±


    ¡°Cade.¡±


    Words fail me. I absolutely cannotprehend this scenario. It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s insane. He looks to the door and gestures, but I shake my head. ¡°I can¡¯t go with you. My wedding starts in less than an hour. I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m getting married.¡±


    I show him the ring on my finger, but immediately pull my hand away when I see the expression on his face. The sweet, enraptured look has been reced with rage. It¡¯s palpable, so thick in the air I¡¯d need a sword to cut through it. Cade snarls a curse and grabs my hand, tearing the ring off my finger and throwing it across the room.


    ¡°Like fuck you are.¡±


    His eyes meet mine, and my throat seizes up again as he grabs hold of my arm and hauls me across the room. ¡°Cade, stop.¡± I shove at his chest, trying to rip my arm free. ¡°Please. I don¡¯t-¡±Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    ¡°No, Lyra. Come with me. Now.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Yes, you can.¡± The rage simmers and his expression shifts from anger into desperation. He reaches for my face, pleading with his eyes.


    ¡°Sweetheart, you don¡¯t have to do this.¡±


    ¡°I want to.¡± I press my free hand to my chest. ¡°I love-¡±


    My profession of love for ine is cut off by his growl, and he res at me and shakes his head. ¡°We don¡¯t have time for this.¡±


    Onerge arm wraps around my waist, and it¡¯s then I realize I¡¯ve forgotten how strong he always was. And how big. I mean, everyone is bigger than me since I stand at five-foot-four in two-inch heels, but Cade is enormous. A full foot taller than I am, and at least 60 pounds heavier. It¡¯s like a mouse trying to wrestle a lion. He presses me against a wall, pinning me in ce with his body as he digs into the pocket of his cks.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sweetheart, but this isn¡¯t fucking happening. You¡¯re mine.


    You¡¯ve always been mine.¡±


    His fist emerges, and my eyes widen as he bites off the cap off a syringe and grabs my arm. ¡°Cade? Cade, don¡¯t!¡±


    Instinct takes over and I to stomp on his foot with the heel of my shoe. He grunts, but I only manage to take two steps before his arm loops around my waist and he hauls me to the floor. I scream as he pins me with a knee, grabs my arm, and plunges the needle into my bicep.


    ¡°HELP! SOME-¡±


    The words are cut off by his hand pping over my mouth, pressing so hard I can¡¯t bite down. He pockets the empty syringe, then straddles me, holding my jaw shut with one hand and cupping my head in the other. I punch his shoulders, shove at his chest, kick and il, but it does no good. He¡¯s got me pinned, trapped in his hold, his dark eyes boring into mine.


    ¡°What do you want me to do, Lyra?¡± He demands. ¡°Watch you walk down the aisle? Wait until they ask me to speak or forever hold my fucking peace?¡± Agony shes in his eyes, and he leans his forehead against mine. ¡°There¡¯s no peace without you.¡±


    My arms grow tired, legs get heavy, and eventually they fall to the floor at my side. The room blurs into colorless shapes, and it¡¯s only then that he moves off me. Hands slip under my ribs, under my legs. My head lolls against his chest.


    He¡¯s running, and I¡¯m a ragdoll in his arms. A potato sack over his shoulder. Warm sun bathes my bare back, then it vanishes, reced by soft, cool vinyl. Cade hovers over me, tucking my legs into ce, smoothing my dress down. ck surrounds his face, his palm is pressing to my cheek, but my skin is numb. He speaks, but I¡¯m drowning, moans slipping out of me as oblivion looms.


    ¡°Shh, it¡¯s okay. We¡¯re going home, Lyra. You¡¯re mine. And I¡¯ll fucking kill anyone who tries to take you from me again.¡±

 Chapter 83

    LYRA CASEY, daughter of analytics mogual mark casey, vanishes an hour before wedding to CALDWELL investments heir.


    CADE


    The empty highway looms, my headlights cutting a swath through the darkness. It took hours, but I was finally able to get off the interstates that led out of the city and on to less traveled roads. Roads search parties won¡¯t think of until days from now, when Lyra and I will be long gone. She¡¯ll be home where she belongs. With me.


    Lyra murmurs in her sleep, and I turn over my shoulder to see her stirring then falling still. Her eyelids are smooth, lips parted as she breathes, hair fanned around her head. The veil tucked at the crown of her head gives the appearance of a halo, and my chest tightens.


    She¡¯s so beautiful. Always was, but there¡¯s something about a white dress that does it for a man.


    As pretty as the dress is, I can¡¯t wait to get it off her and consummate this damn thing. It¡¯s been a long timeing. Over four fucking years. I¡¯m going to take my time, make up for all the hours she should have been in my arms. Kissing my lips. Her legs spread around me as she sweetly takes my cock.


    I turn onto a gravel road, shushing when she moans again. My buddy¡¯s house is about a mile off the main highway, and that¡¯s where I¡¯ve kept my truck thest week. Knowing him, it¡¯s probably filled with supplies. Canned food, dried goods, packs and packs of water bottles. Gauze, cotton balls, over the counter medicine. Everything you need extra of when you live off the grid and the closest hospital is over an hour away.


    My truck is parked behind his barn, and I pull up beside it, leaving Lyra in the backseat while I add my own supplies to the back of the truck. I¡¯d gotten her a few gifts. A coffee maker, some books. A few more toys for us to y with. I¡¯ve been buying them online when I go into town, having them shipped to a P. O. Box, but I stopped to get plenty of lube and other things we¡¯ll need right away. Thest thing I want to do is leave her sore. And sure, some of this stuff might have been presents for me, but I deserve something.


    Her sweet voice pops into my head, the image of her straddled over myp making my stomach tighten. I don¡¯t want anyone else but you, and someday it¡¯s gonna be just us. No one else, just us, and we can do whatever we want.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, baby. Just you and me, no one else,¡± I tell her as I open the door of my truck cab, setting her inside then reaching up to stroke her face. My hands smooth up her thighs, pushing her the billowy tulle skirt out of my way. A smile curls my lips at the sight of what she¡¯s wearing. It¡¯s exactly what I like, not what that asshole would pick. Chaste panties under acy garter belt with little blue flowers, white stockings that run from her thighs to her toes. It¡¯s right that it¡¯s me seeing this and no one else. It¡¯ll never be anyone else.


    I kiss her knee as I reach up and pull the panties down her thighs, itching to bury my head between her legs and taste her. There will be time for thatter. I have to focus now. Make sure there¡¯s nothing else in our way.


    Lyra murmurs wordlessly when I part her thighs, and her head rolls on the seat. ¡°Baby, it¡¯s just me,¡± I assure her as I slip on the rubber gloves, wanting to make sure that I keep her safe during this part.


    She tightens when I slip my fingers inside her, and I can¡¯t help but curl them once to see how she rocks at the movement. I know she hasn¡¯t fucked that asshole because papers kept talking about the yboy and his virgin bride. Like she was a unicorn or some mythical creature.


    None of that matters now. He¡¯ll move onto one of the other cunts he¡¯s been fucking behind her back, two of them right at their goddamn wedding, and she¡¯ll forget about him in a few months if not sooner. I have no doubts about that. Once I show her how good it¡¯s going to be between us, she¡¯ll never think about that cocksucker again.


    My fingers sink deep, and when I feel the wiry strands poking out of her womb I frown. Lyra was always wary of doctors. Hated going to them, so I¡¯m not sure how they convinced her to get an IUD. Even more of a reason she belongs with me. ¡°I¡¯ll get this out of you. You won¡¯t ever have to worry about it again.¡±


    My other hand moves to press on her lower belly, thumb smoothing over her dress when she moans. The strands curl around my fingers, then I pull slowly and steadily down. The device slips out, and it drops into my palm. Such a tiny little thing and it could have fucked up months or years of our life.


    I make a mental note to give Lyra some pain meds tomorrow if she needs them. She should sleep through the worst of it, but if not, I¡¯ve got plenty of things to help her out.


    Her panties dangle around one ankle, and I take them offpletely, curling the satiny material in my palm. My eyes drift upward, skating along her long, smooth legs until they settle on her pussy. I lean in, licking my lips as the hand holding the panties moves to rub my cock. God, I want her so bad. Feeling her in my arms earlier, her tiny body under mine, it¡¯s distracting as hell. I unfasten my pants, fisting my dick with the panties and stroking it hard and fast. My other hand slides up her thigh, thumb brushing over her folds, pressing to her little clit and circling softly. She stirs, and herN?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    knees fall open, but she doesn¡¯t wake more than that


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Lyra,¡± I murmur as I pump my fist, my breathing already ragged. It¡¯s been so fucking long. Nearly four years of just my hand and whatever toy I desired in the moment. I¡¯d fucked my fill before I met her but waiting to be like this with her has been nothing short of torture. Her hips rock again, and I squeeze my cock tighter as my thumb dips lower, stroking over her entrance and through the moisture between her folds.


    ¡°I¡¯m gonna take good care of you. Make you forget all those fake pricks; make you remember how good it was between us. How good I can make you feel.¡±


    My stomach tightens, and I cup the panties over the head of my cock and groan, catching my release in the soft fabric. It doesn¡¯tst long, which is good. I want to save as much as I can for her. Such a waste if it¡¯s not getting pushed into her cunt.


    The panties are soaked with cum, but I don¡¯t toss them. Instead, I fold them up and set them on the floor of the car. I want to show them to herter, let her know how badly I want her.


    She mumbles again as I tuck her legs back into the truck and gather up the rest of the trash from my stops. The offensive device joins coffee cups and fast-food bags, and I throw it all in my buddy¡¯s burn bin before tossing the keys to the car on the driver¡¯s seat. My buddy will strip it for parts then send it to the dump, and since it was registered under a private entity, they¡¯ll never trace it back to me.


    She stirs when I get into the car, and I reach back to cover her up with a nket. ¡°We¡¯ll be home in a little while, and then we¡¯ll be happy. I promise, we¡¯ll be so happy.¡±

 Chapter 84

    Search for missing east side bride enters second day.


    Family and fiance issue plea for safe return.


    LYRA


    Light¡­


    Warm, but blinding. I squeeze my eyelids shut and turn my head, face pressing into soft fabric. Inhaling, I¡¯m overwhelmed with the


    scent of pine, cedar, and men¡¯s cologne.


    My wrists are unnaturally heavy, and when I try to lift one arm, the otheres with it. My hands are bound.


    I roll, and my upper body moves but my lower body stays put, tension on both my ankles. Different points of tension. I can¡¯t curl my legs up or pull them together. I blink my eyes open only to immediately close them. Blurred colors. Whites and browns and cks and greens. My stomach heaves, and there¡¯s an ache between my hips I can¡¯t ce.


    Help.


    In my head, the word sounds normal, but the noise thates out of my lips is nothing but a raspy, weak groan. I swallow, wondering if I¡¯ve had something cottony shoved in my mouth with how dry it is. ¡°Help.¡±


    Soft noises echo below me. A chair scraping on the floor. Footsteps. My chest starts to ache from how fast my heart is pounding, and when I open my eyes, I see a shadowy figure. A man¡¯s silhouette. No. Cade¡¯s silhouette. The bed dips, and his face and torso blur thene into focus. He cups a hand under my head and lifts me up slightly.


    ¡°Nnnooooo¡­¡±


    ¡°Shh, Lyra. I got you.¡±


    His thumb pushes my chin down, then something curved is tipped to my lips. Cool water floods my mouth and I choke, causing him to draw back, but when I lean forward and reach for the cup, he obliges me. I swallow gulp after gulp to wet my throat before he takes it away far too soon.


    ¡°Easy. Too much and you might get sick.¡±


    He¡¯s right. Already my stomach is twisting, but I¡¯m unsure if it¡¯s nerves, fear, hunger, or the drugs.


    Cade sets the cup aside and adjusts me on the bed, lifting me like a doll and cing me on a stack of pillows. The semi-propped up position finally gives me a clear view of the room. Wood floors, wood walls, and a wood ceiling. Behind Cade I see a dresser with a mirror and a small armoire. They look hand made. So does the bed frame my legs are bound to, short posts at all four corners with pegs and sps dangling off them.


    My eyes fall on my reflection in the dresser mirror. I¡¯m still in my gown. The tulle skirt covers most of my legs, which are bound to short bedposts with leather cuffs. The same style of cuffs on my wrists. Any makeup I had on has dulled after hours of wear, and my perfectly styled hair is a mess. Cade took the veil off at some point, and I spy it sitting neatly folded on the windowsill.


    I turn from my body to his, taking in therge tattoo on half of his back. A forest scene with tall trees, with an eagle flying overhead. Slowly my gaze drifts to his front, where more tattoos color his muscles. Another set of trees and scenery running down the side of his ribs. Various icons scattered across his skin. He turns to the nightstand, and I see cursive script on his neck. It¡¯s tiny, but I make out an L and a Y before I turn away.


    ¡°Where are we?¡± My voice shakes, still raspy but stronger than it was when I first woke up. Cade doesn¡¯t answer. He opens the nightstand drawer and takes out a few small bottles. I read thebels. Coconut oil. Silicone lubricant. Lubricating gel. My stomach tightens, pulse starting to race.


    ¡°Cade¡­ ¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re home, Lyra.¡±


    Such a simple statement, but the words have so much weight an ache blooms in my chest. Home. Where I always wanted to be with him. Where I never felt like I was in the city.


    Cade grabs a few more things I can¡¯t see from the bedside table then shuts the drawer, looking back to me with a small smile on his face. ¡°You really didn¡¯t think I was going to let you marry someone else, did you?¡± He shakes his head, amused. ¡°I wanted to get you earlier, but there were always people around. They never left you alone. I could tell you hated it.¡±


    I¡¯m too focused on quieting the small part of my mind that agrees with him to say anything. There were times I hated it, but I knew I was lucky to have so many friends around. I was never lonely like I had been before we moved, never desperate for attention and affection like I had been when he came along.


    And so what if he¡¯s right? A broken clock is right twice a day. He kidnapped me. I¡¯m tied to a bed in the middle of God only knows where.


    Any secret apathy I had about my new life without him would never excuse this.


    I twist my neck to gaze out the window, noting the absence of the skyscrapers andrge buildings I¡¯d grown used to. Instead, there are sloping hills covered in thick trees, and nothing but more of the same in the distance. I turn back to see Cade smiling, then he tilts his head and leans in. When I twist my lips away, he cups my cheek, turning my face to his as he settles his body on top of mine. I shove at his chest with my bound hands, but he ignores it, sliding one hand into my hair and closing it into a fist. I wince at the pain, trapped in ce by his weight and his fingers in my hair.


    Then his mouth is on mine, swallowing my gasp, licking my lips open so he can slide his tongue inside. He strokes his tongue against mine, trying to coax a response from me but all he gets are muffled pleas for him to Stop. Wait. Don¡¯t. He catches them with his tongue and pushes them back into my mouth like they never happened.


    I swallow the soft moan that rumbles his throat before he pulls back and smiles. ¡°I forgot how good you taste.¡± He bites my bottom lip softly, and I try to twist again but he holds me still. ¡°Don¡¯t fight, Lyra. I haven¡¯t seen you in over three years. Do you know how awful that¡¯s been?¡±


    ¡°Do you know how awful this is?¡± I shove him again, but he takes my bound wrists in one hand, lifting them over my head. ¡°You drugged me, Cade! You stole me from my-¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t steal you.¡± He pecks my lips, then my cheeks. ¡°I can¡¯t steal what¡¯s always been mine.¡±


    I jerk my head back, to the side, then to the other side, attempting to avoid his kisses. I¡¯m so focused that I don¡¯t catch what he¡¯s doing above me, not until my arms are stretched long over my head and I hear a soft click. There¡¯s a short chain between the cuffs, and he¡¯s hooked it to an attachment on the bed frame to lock me in ce. I try to yank my arms down, the leather cuffs digging into my skin. My heart races and my whole body starts to tremble, including my voice when I try to speak.


    ¡°Cade, please¡­ please don¡¯t do this.¡±


    Tears sting at the corner of my eyes, but he wipes them away and smiles down at me. He licks his lips, eyes darkened by lustful intent. ¡°Let¡¯s get this dress off you, huh?¡±


    He sits up and slides his hands around to my back, tugging at the ribbon on the corset. I turn the sob in my throat to a scream as he uces the bodice with rtive ease despite my arching back, my bucking hips, my head thrashing side to side. ¡°Don¡¯t do this. Cade, please! If you ever loved me¡­ please, I¡¯m begging.¡±


    ¡°I like it when you beg. It sounds so sweet,¡± he murmurs, so fucking calm as he works the bodice open. My bare breasts are revealed as he pulls the dress down, and his eyes dart to them as he tugs the bodice over my hips. ¡°You¡¯re so perfect, Lyra. You were made for me.¡±


    I stop my thrashing because it¡¯s doing no good, and all it does now is make my breasts shake and roll from side to side and draw more of his attention. Cade unhooks one ankle at a time to take the dresspletely off, fastening them back into ce and leaving me spread open, wearing nothing but the garter belt and stockings.


    Where the hell are my panties?


    Cade must see the panic on my face because he smiles as he hangs up the dress. ¡°I didn¡¯t fuck you yet, sweetheart. I wanted you wide awake for that. But I¡­ I did take off your underwear because I needed to do a few things.¡±


    He lifts my panties from the chair and shows them to me, like he¡¯s reassuring me they aren¡¯t lost. My belly twists when I notice the fabric is¡­ stained? Darkened in the crotch. Cade¡¯s expression is a little sheepish when I turn back to him.


    ¡°I know, I know. But they¡¯ll wash, and I couldn¡¯t help it. I wanted you so fucking bad right then, but I held back.¡±


    ¡°Why¡­ why did you need to take my underwear off?¡±


    He gives me a matter-of-fact expression. ¡°I needed to get that thing out of you.¡±


    That thing? What thing? My hymen? Did he finger me just to break it so when he uses his dick it won¡¯t hurt as bad? What else¡­


    My mind drifts back to when I first woke up. The ache between my hips. Like cramps. Like someone had been messing around inside me. Not¡­ inside my vagina. Somewhere deeper and much more intimate.


    Cade moves to the bedside table and grabs the bottles of lube before walking to the bottom of the bed. My eyes follow, heart pounding so hard I¡¯m dizzy. When he finally meets my gaze at the foot of the bed, I whimper, breathing out a desperate question.


    ¡°What did you do to me?¡±N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    His lips quirk, and he bends to kiss right below my belly button. ¡°I told you. I took that god-awful thing out of you. You didn¡¯t want it anyway, and you sure as fuck don¡¯t need it.¡±


    All my thoughts vanish, like I can¡¯tprehend what he¡¯s saying even though I heard him perfectly. It¡¯s that, or I don¡¯t want to acknowledge his audacity. He wouldn¡¯t dare¡­


    Of course he would. He kidnapped me; he¡¯s willing to do anything to get what he wants.


    And again, I have to silently berate the part of my brain that wants to admit he¡¯s right. I didn¡¯t want that thing, but ine said pills were fallible and the shot would make me bitchy. He didn¡¯t want to use condoms when we finally had sex because it wouldn¡¯t be needed. I was a virgin, he was clean. What was the risk?


    Something tells me Cade won¡¯t be interested in using in them either.


    I hear the click of a bottle and look up to see Cade coating his fingers with watery lubricant. ¡°Cade, listen.¡± I sit up as much as my bound arms will allow, watching his eyes sh as he looks from between my legs up to my face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Okay? I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t write after I left and¡­ and that I¡­ you had to know I had no choice. I was still seventeen, and my parents took everything away when I got back. They would have had you arrested, and I didn¡¯t-¡±


    ¡°Baby, I don¡¯t me you at all,¡± he assures gently. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, and you never have to worry about them taking you away from me again. They¡¯ll never find us up here. It¡¯ll be just you and me. Like we wanted.¡±


    He bends to grab a stool, takes a seat at the end of the bed, and takes out a small chest. Lifting a dildo, a cone shaped object, and long microphone shaped wand from the box. My breathing picks up, and I start to thrash again when his palms slide up my thighs, fingers dangerously close to my sex.


    ¡°Just¡­ just tell me what you want, okay? Don¡¯t do this.¡± My pleas are useless, but I can¡¯t stop making them. ¡°Do you want money? I can get you money. It might take a few days but-¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want your money, Lyra.¡± He sounds offended, then he rubs a soothing hand over my thigh. ¡°All I want is you. I don¡¯t need anything else but you.¡±


    My breath hitches, lips trembling. He sounds so utterly sincere, his words just as heavy now as when he told me I was home. It¡¯s clear there¡¯s nothing I can offer him. No bargain I can make.


    Tears slip out onto my cheeks when he pushes his fingers inside me, slick with lube. He moans, leaning down to kiss one thigh, then the other as his fingers start to move in and out. They twist inside me, curling and making my hips buck involuntarily.


    ¡°You¡¯re so fucking tight, sweetheart,¡± he groans before setting his mouth on me, drawing out a gasp as his tongue licks wide paths over my folds before narrowing in on my clit. I stare at the ceiling, studying the cracks, the imperfections. Trying to shut down, to block it out. But it¡¯s impossible. He¡¯s relentless in his movements, steadily increasing the pressure until he¡¯s coaxing my hips to shift and rock. His fingers withdraw, but then somethingrger is pushed inside.


    The dildo.


    He works it in and out until I groan, then leaves it inside me, using his thumbs push my folds back and expose my clit.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been looking forward to this, Lyra,¡± he murmurs between soft kisses and slow licks. ¡°But I gotta get you ready. I don¡¯t want to hurt you, so I need you nice and wet. We¡¯ve got a lot of time to make up for, and I¡¯m gonna spend our first night together buried exactly where you want me. Right here.¡± He moves the dildo and I feel him smile when I grunt and my body tenses. ¡°That¡¯s it. I know you like it, and you¡¯re gonna love the way my cock feels.¡±

 Chapter 85

    Groomsmen and bridesmaids confirm fiance of missing bride was with them at time of her disappearance, ruling him out as a suspect.


    CADE


    She tastes exactly like I remember. Sweet and feminine. I hold onto her thighs, gripping the tops of them to keep her hips in ce. The dildo bumps against my chin but I don¡¯t care. There¡¯s no way in hell I¡¯m pulling my face away from her. Not yet. Not until she¡¯s squirming and clenching around me. Not until shees. Only for me.


    Her breasts heave with her frantic breaths, and I can tell she¡¯s trying to shut down by how she tosses her head, how she grits her teeth to stop the little breathy whimpers slipping out of her throat. She¡¯s begging me to stop. Pleading with me. But all it does is make my cock even harder. I know she¡¯s overwhelmed, maybe scared, but she wants this. She wants me. She can deny it all she likes, it won¡¯t matter. She¡¯s always been mine; she will always be mine.


    Her clit has be a plump pinkish little nub that I can suck on, lick, or stroke with my fingers. I focus on it while reaching down to pump the dildo, and it¡¯s then that she starts to moan. The sound chokes off, like she¡¯s trying to stifle it, but her thighs are shaking, and I watch how her breath changes, how her eyes struggle not to flutter closed.


    ¡°My girl likes having her pussy licked,¡± I murmur, smiling when she tries harder to stop what has already started. I thrust the dildo harder, watching how her lower belly shakes, her lips part, and her head falls back on another groan. Her spine bows off the bed, and her toes curl and flex as her hips rock into my mouth and the toy inside her. ¡°That¡¯s it, sweetheart. Such a good girl,ing for me like that.¡±


    I pump the toy a few more times then pull it out, burying my face against her to feel the aftershocks on my tongue. Her pussy squeezes it, and I lick up her release,pping up the savory taste and nosing her clit. My eyes drift down when I pull my head back, and I see her pink puckered hole peeking at me from between her cheeks. I spit on my fingers, then dip them down and begin rubbing her in small firm circles. Her hips buck off the bed in rm, but I shush her, pinning them down as I slip a finger into her ass.


    ¡°Fuck¡­ No!¡±


    I grab some lube and spread it over her, sinking back in and pumping while my lips and tongue go back to work on her clit. ¡°Sweetheart, if you think I¡¯m going to leave any part of you untouched, you¡¯re deluding yourself.¡±


    The bed frame shakes when she tugs on the bindings, and her legs twitch as she thrashes. ¡°You¡¯re fucking delusional.¡± Her voice is breathy, weak, and she sobs before starting to plead with me again. ¡°Please, no more. Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t do this. Just let me go. Let me go and I won¡¯t tell anyone-¡±


    ¡°I like it when you beg, Lyra, but you¡¯re gonna quit asking me to stop or we¡¯re gonna have problems.¡± I slip a second finger in her ass, bracing my arm over her hips to stop her thrashing. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about trying to deny me what¡¯s mine. I¡¯ve waited too long-¡±


    She lets out an angry snarl and twists so violently I have to pull my fingers out and grab her hips to hold her in ce. ¡°You¡¯re the one who wanted to fucking wait,¡± she spits. ¡°I wanted to have sex-¡±


    ¡°You were seventeen, and I had to leave again. I wasn¡¯t going to leave you aching for me, needing my cock when I couldn¡¯t give it to you every day. I know you wouldn¡¯t have cheated on me,¡± I say when she starts to protest. ¡°But now I can have you all the time. You can spread your legs on your back or ride me good and hard. We can fuck all day if you want.¡±


    She keeps up the protests, but I ignore them. They¡¯re moot anyway. It might take her a few days, or weeks, but she¡¯ll learn quickly what I will and won¡¯t tolerate. The key is to stay calm so she remembers she can trust me.


    I cup one hand under her ass and grab the plug, lubing it up before spreading her cheeks again. She bends her knees and arches her back, pulling her hips away as panicked whines filling the room. ¡°Cade, no. No no no-¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t make me gag you,¡± I warn, wrapping an arm over her hips to pin them down again. I push the plug between her cheeks, but she cries out, stiffening her body just as the plug pushes in. She¡¯s thrashing so much that it slips out again, and I growl and p her on the ass.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡±


    She kicks hard in the binds as I move the clips higher on the bed, keeping her legs spread and positioning her so her ass is bared to me. There won¡¯t be any dropping or rocking her hips in this position, and I pick up the plug, slowly working it into her. She sends wordless pleas at me, sounds of pleasure mixed with fear that turn my dick from hard as a rock to fucking iron. When the plug is snug inside her, I pat the curve of her ass, then lower her legs back to a morefortable position on the posts.


    ¡°There. That¡¯s better, isn¡¯t it?¡± She growls in response.


    ¡°Why are you-¡±


    ¡°You know why.¡± My palms slide up her legs until they frame her pussy, the t silvery side of the plug visible between her cheeks. ¡°I love you; I want all of you, baby. Your mouth, your pussy, your little ass. You¡¯lle so hard when I fuck it.¡±


    ¡°No, please, don¡¯t. Cade¡­¡±


    God, when she begs like that. It makes me want to do so many filthy things¡­


    I settle back in, kissing along her thighs until my mouth gets back to her cunt. She¡¯s soaked, and I want to lick every drop up. Eat her until she¡¯s the only thing I can taste. I slip my tongue inside, and my eyes lift to watch as she tries to thrash, her breasts rolling until I reach up and palm them. She¡¯s fighting another orgasm, and her head lifts to watch me as I lick and swirl and kiss her clit. Emotions flicker across her face. Anger, despair, lustful need she wants to deny. I smile and slip my fingers inside her, curling and pumping them to push her toward the edge.


    ¡°Did that asshole ever eat you like this? He didn¡¯t, did he?¡± She doesn¡¯t respond, but I see the answer when she jerks her eyes away from mine. I pump my fingers harder, wrist flexing, forearm tense as my digits spread her open. ¡°Did he ever make youe, Lyra? Ever take the time to care for you? Learn what you like so he could fuck you right? Answer me.¡±


    I hook my fingers deep inside her, and she snarls as her pussy clenches, round blue eyes ring down at me. ¡°Yes.¡±


    She spits the word with so much effort I know it¡¯s a lie, but jealousy stirs in my chest at the thought. I pump harder, shoving a third finger into her cunt while she groans and tries to jerk away. She whimpers, then lets out a breathless, menacingugh.


    ¡°He made mee every day. With his fingers, and his mouth.¡± She looks down at me, eyes hazy but filled with malice. ¡°I would have let him have me easily. I wouldn¡¯t have fought. I wanted him to fuck me. I love-¡±


    I rip my fingers out of her pussy and crawl on top of her, gripping her jaw and forcing her to look at me. ¡°No. You don¡¯t.¡± I keep hold of her face while I shove my pants off, kicking them free of my legs and fisting my cock in my other hand. ¡°You don¡¯t love him. You never did. And I¡¯d better not hear you say that ever-¡±


    ¡°I love him,¡± she hisses at me. ¡°I love him. Not you. I won¡¯t ever love you! How could I after-¡±


    Reaching over to the nightstand, I grab the tape I¡¯d ced there just in case. ¡°I¡¯m not gonna listen to these bullshit lies.¡±


    Her eyes widen when I rip off a piece, but before she has a chance to spit more venom, I push her jaw shut and p a piece over her mouth. The sound of a second strip tearing fills the room, then a third. She struggles, whipping her head back and forth, trying to get out muffled whimpers and wordless pleas. I cup her face when I finish, rage still simmering in my chest as I lower my forehead to hers and shush her softly. Her thrashing stills, breath slowing as I smooth my thumbs along her cheeks, wiping away the tears.


    ¡°No more talking.¡± My lips press to her forehead, then against her cheek. ¡°I¡¯m going to fuck those lies right out of you. Including the ones you¡¯ve been telling yourself.¡±Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    I push up on my hands and I settle my hips between her spread thighs. My cock slides against her pussy, and she whimpers when I drag it forward and back, coating it in her slickness. Her hips buck toward me, cunt searching, aching to be filled. She doesn¡¯t realize she¡¯s doing it. Even shakes her head, trying to deny how bad she wants this. A good amount of the wetness between her legs is her own arousal, not the lube I used when I first started. I bend to suck on one of her tits, palming the other as my other hand grips her ass, tucking her hips to mine.


    ¡°You¡¯re mine, Lyra. Now and fucking always.¡±


    Then I sink into her warmth in a slow thrust, ending years of unwanted celibacy and filling my girl for the first of many, many, many times.

 Chapter 86

    VIGIL held for missing bride as day 2 ends with no clues in her disappearance.


    LYRA


    My breath catches in my throat when Cade thrusts inside me, his lips still wrapped around my nipple, tongue swirling. He kneads my other breast with firm fingers, his other hand on my hip, pinning me to the mattress as he pumps his hips forward and back. Everyone said it might sting when I lost my virginity. It might pinch, I might bleed. I might not feel anything at all. That was a possibility, too.


    I¡¯d always wished for thatst one, and maybe with ine I would have. I¡¯d seen him a few times and he was average, which would have been fine. Absolutely fine.


    Cade is theplete opposite. Just like the rest of his body, his cock isrge. Sorge that for the first two or three pumps I wondered if he would even fit. Thank God I was slippery from the lube and the orgasms he forced out of me. Otherwise, I might have torn. I still might have considering how thick he is. It¡¯s like a club inside me. Long. And Hot. And Christ help me, he¡¯s thrusting so fucking hard.


    ¡°Shit, Lyra,¡± he pants against my breasts, moving up to press his mouth to my neck. ¡°I knew you¡¯d be tight, sweetheart, but fuck¡­¡±


    He buries his head in my neck, cupping my ass in both hands as he drives his hips forward and back, sawing his cock in and out at a brutal, steady pace. I¡¯m almost d for the tape. It muffles the sounds I¡¯m making. The whimpers, the soft gasps, the quiet moans I can¡¯t hold back. It¡¯s not like my begging or insults were going to stop him. Same with the binds. I couldn¡¯t have fought him off even if I¡¯d been free. It¡¯s better this way. When I escape, I can tell everyone I wanted to try and stop him. I was bound and gagged, but I wanted to try.


    His mouth is hot on my neck, kissing and licking, biting softly and making me shiver. Little grunts and heady groans slip out as he fucks me. Obscene sounds to let me know how much he¡¯s enjoying himself. He steadies himself by spreading his thighs under mine, setting his hands under my breasts to cup them and hold my ribs so he can pull me into his thrusts. I can see his face in this position, parted lips, closed eyes, skin coated with a light sheen of sweat. His expression is ecstatic, filled with so much pleasure it makes me involuntarily clench around him. That only encourages him, makes him pump harder, makes him think I want this.


    I wish he was disgusting to look at. Soft and bloated instead of hard and lean. His arms are ribbed with muscle, shoulders and chest broad and strong, and his toned abs flex as he pounds into me. My eyes drift down to where his body meets mine, where I see glimpses of his glistening cock appearing then disappearing again as he shoves it inside me. It¡¯s so filthy and fascinating.


    I have to focus on this. The mechanics of it. His cock, my cunt, pushed together. The way my breasts bounce with the movement, the feeling of the sheets against my back, the stockings rubbing my thighs. I can¡¯t think about the tension in my belly, the way his hips rub my clit, or the twinging sensation of my pussy squeezing around his cock. I¡¯m barely breathing, because I know if I do, I¡¯ll clench. My body will respond even if my brain refuses to admit this is¡­


    It¡¯s rough. Violent. Bad. Not good. Never good. It¡¯s wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.


    Cade lets out a growl and he reaches down to press my hips into the mattress, digging his knees into the bed so he can pound into me. ¡°That¡¯s it, baby.¡± Our skin ps together, making a wet sound in the absence of his words. ¡°You¡¯re so wet for me, so fucking tight. Come for me, sweetheart. Come all over my cock.¡±


    I shake my head, but this only stirs him on. He reaches between us to rub my clit while I yank on the cuffs, arching my back. The pressure builds and I start to whimper, tears sliding onto my cheeks. Instead of bucking to get away, my hips move with him, matching the pace of his thrusts.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    ¡°Atta girl, Lyra. Fuck me back. Feels so good, doesn¡¯t it.¡± He rubs harder, bracing over me and leaning down to kiss one of my breasts. ¡°It¡¯s all yours, sweetheart. You cane on my cock whenever you want. It¡¯s yours, all fucking yours.¡±


    He rubs faster, and there¡¯s no use in fighting it. I weep openly as my body starts to shake, the pressure between my hips bursting open and sending tendrils of warmth down my thighs and up my spine. I clench so hard it aches as his cock slides in and out. Cade never stops pumping, leaning down to kiss my nipples then my chin when I tip my lips away. ¡°Good girl,¡± he says, smiling down at me as I pant through the sensation, whimpering behind the tape while he keeps pumping into me. ¡°You feel so good around me. You¡¯re so fucking perfect.¡±


    His head bows again, and he somehow manages to thrust harder, the pace increasing until I¡¯m shaking on the bed from the force of his hips against mine. He¡¯s breathing hard, focused, and as my haze of forced pleasure clears, I start to struggle again. I know what happens next. I came around him, and now it¡¯s his turn.


    He groans and sinks deep, grinding into me. Please, don¡¯t. I shake my head in protest when he looks up at me, but he only smiles, cupping my face and kissing me over the tape as he thrusts steady and rough into me.


    ¡°No, baby. You¡¯re gonna get it all. Everyst drop of my cum, right where it belongs.¡± His breathing shakes, and his hips stutter, face shifting and body tensing. ¡°Fuck, you¡¯re so tight, Lyra, taking my cock so sweet.¡±


    His hipbones dig into my thighs, and I clench in ast-minute attempt to dislodge him, but all it does is make him groan. His cock swells, thickening, then there¡¯s a burst of wet warmth and he lets out a near feral sound of pleasure. He braces on my hips to push his pelvis flush against mine, so deep I can feel his cock twitching, his balls as they pulse and empty inside me.


    A series of terrifying images sh in my head. Me tied to this bed, my belly swollen, Cade pushing his cock into me roughly just like he is now. It makes me shiver to think this is what he wants. That this is part of his n. This ce is tiny. Where would a child even sleep? I can¡¯t have his baby here. I can¡¯t have his baby at all.


    His hips have stilled, but he doesn¡¯t pull out. Instead, he rocks into me, sliding out to shove roughly back in even though his cock is softening. Each pump is apanied by an obscenely wet sound as he fucks his cum deeper.


    ¡°Goddamn,¡± he groans after one final pump, his body sagging into mine. ¡°Give me a few minutes, baby. I¡¯ll be ready to go again.¡± Again?


    My eyes are wide, and heughs softly as he reaches up and grips the tape, then rips all three strips off my mouth. ¡°Ow, fuck!¡± I hiss, wincing when he presses soft kisses around my lips. He lifts his eyes to mine, thumbs smoothing over my cheeks.


    ¡°You ready to stop lying?¡±


    The tone of his voice has cooled from how warm it was only moments ago. I re, but he shakes his head. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that, Lyra. You know it¡¯s true. You never loved that prick.¡±


    ¡°I. Did.¡± The wordse fast, an automatic reply without thought or intent. Cade frowns, lifting his weight off me to kneel between my legs. His palms smooth up and down my thighs and he sighs heavily.


    ¡°No, you didn¡¯t. Maybe you should have, but you didn¡¯t. He was smarmy and charming and rich, so of course you should love him. He should have made you feel safe and loved and weed, but he never did.


    You should have loved everything about that life, but you didn¡¯t.¡± Silence hangs between us at his words.

 Chapter 87

    I frown at the ceiling. I¡¯d had the beginnings of a pretty decent speech about how good ine was to me, how much my friends adored me, and how I treasured my life. But the words die on my tongue before they¡¯re even given a chance at life.


    He used the word should. Should, should, should. I should have loved him. I should be grateful. I should want that wedding and I shouldn¡¯t want this.


    I don¡¯t want this.


    Maybe, deep down I wasn¡¯t sure about that life. There were so many intricacies I felt I had to navigate, after all, but that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯d choose this.


    Disregarding my internal struggle, Cade grips his cock, sliding his fist up and down the immense length of it until it¡¯s rigid again. He reaches down with the other hand and undoes the cuff sps on my ankles, allowing my legs to fall open around his hips for a second before he hooks them over his elbows, bending me in half as he moves over top me.


    ¡°Cade-¡±


    He eyes me with a scolding look, and holds my gaze as he sinks in, giving me only a few slow pumps before he starts fucking me so hard my breasts bounce each time his hips p against mine. Within seconds I¡¯m gasping, groaning, and hissing as I try to fight the onught of sensation. Pleasure. Pain. Ecstasy. Agony.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Lyra. It¡¯s me fucking you. My cock inside you, my hands on your perfect body, my mouth kissing those gorgeous lips.¡±Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    My back arches, trying to throw him off, but he releases my legs and quickly flips me over. My arms are twisted but he rights them, then he shoves my legs apart with his knees, yanks my hips back, and pushes back inside me.


    ¡°Oh, fuck.¡±


    ¡°I n to.¡±


    His body leans over mine as he pumps his hips. The top of his pelvis bumps against my ass, reminding me that he shoved a plug inside it. I try to clench, but he knees my legs to spread them wider and grips my hips to assist with his violent thrusts. The head of his cock rubs a spot inside me, something I¡¯ve never felt before. Involuntary grunts and groans slip out of my lips, and heughs as he moves that hand between my cheeks to toy with the plug.


    ¡°You think that feels good now, just wait until I¡¯m buried in your ass.¡± ¡°Oh, God, no!¡±


    ¡°You can beg whoever you want but it¡¯s gonna happen, sweetheart. I¡¯ll fuck your mouth, your ass, your sweet pussy. You won¡¯t be able to walk by the time I¡¯m done with you.¡±


    His thrusting grows rougher, then without warning he fists my hair and yanks my head back, turning my gaze toward the mirror on the dresser. ¡°Look at us, baby.¡± He holds my head and palms my ass before he jerks my hips up, then gives one cheek a hard p. ¡°Watch how good I fuck you. Watch how much you like it.¡±


    Tears blur my vision, but it doesn¡¯t distort the reflection of the man on the bed, rippled with muscle from head to toe. Or the girl in front of him, her back arched, hands bound to the headboard, knees spread. He¡¯s using her like a toy, groping her breasts, her thighs. Clutching her ass. Cade releases my hair, but I don¡¯t turn my eyes away as he pulls my hips higher, pushing my chest t to the bed. The girl in the reflection is positioned the same, her ass in the air, the man¡¯s hips hitting it so hard her thighs shake.


    That¡¯s me.


    It¡¯s my body. With Cade on top of it. Cade fucking me so hard. I close my eyes and try to turn away, but he jerks my head back and holds it there again. It¡¯s pornographic. Obscene. Unwanted pleasure surges inside of me at the sight, because I¡¯m nothing but an object now. I¡¯m a toy for him to y with, for him to use as he sees fit. My pussy clenches on cue and I gasp, tears burning behind my eyes.


    ¡°Please¡­ Cade, I¡¯m begging-¡±


    ¡°I know, baby. I¡¯ll give it to you.¡±


    He keeps his hold on my hair, his other hand snaking under my body and cupping my pussy. A choked, desperate sound leaves my lips as his fingers circle my clit. My hands clutch at the pillows, back arching to open me up more to his thrusts. Cadeughs softly and ps my ass again, then palms over the sting.


    ¡°That¡¯s it. You gonna be my good girl or you still wanna lie?¡± He ps my ass again and I yelp. ¡°Try to tell me you love him now. Say it, Lyra.¡±


    I find his gaze in the mirror then immediately turn away. ¡°I¡­ I do¡­ I swear-¡±


    ¡°So many lies. Guess I have to fuck you harder.¡±


    Another p, then I gasp as he pushes his hand between my shoulder des, pinning my upper body with my gaze on the mirror. His abs flex, and my thighs shudder each time his hips hit mine. ¡°Please,¡± I beg again, but I don¡¯t know what for. I don¡¯t ask him to stop. It¡¯s no good, and my body is pulsing, primed for another release. I can¡¯t fight it. The pressure builds, and as it does, I turn into a speechless, blubbering mess of noises and wordless whimpers. It¡¯s pathetic, and each time I manage to make a sound Cade thrusts harder. Faster. Rougher.


    When the pleasure crests, I scream in an attempt at protest, but it only melts into a moan. I w the pillowcases as if I can escape the sensation. I can¡¯t catch my breath or think straight. All I can feel is his hips against mine, his chest slick when heys over my back, his cock as it pushes in and out over and over and my pussy tightens to the point of pain.


    ¡°You¡¯re all mine, Lyra. My girl. My lover. My fucking wife.¡± Heys his body over mine and cups my throat, still thrusting as he kisses the corner of my mouth. ¡°There¡¯s no one else for you, baby. There¡¯s never been


    anyone but me. Nowe again. Fuckinge for me.¡±


    He holds my jaw, but shoves one of his hands between my legs, holding his fingers to my clit as he continues to pound into me. The orgasm had started to fade, but with his frantic fingers, pumping hips, and the visual sight of us in the mirror it builds up again and I wail when it bursts open. My thighs twitch, pussy clenching over. I¡¯m breathless, unable to protest when his cock thickens and he lets out a deep, desperate growl. He came inside me again. And again, as he softens, he fucks it deeper.


    I¡¯m a teary mess when Cade finally stills, pressing soft kisses to my shoulders and neck. He says nothing as I weep, just holds me in his arms, his too big body on top of my smaller one.


    Eventually, his cock slips out, along with a trickle of fluid that he promptly reaches down to push back in. The action brings a fresh round of tears, but he shushes me, reaching up to release my arms from the bed frame. He doesn¡¯t take off the cuffs, but he folds me into his chest, cradling me as I let the sobs wrack my tired, sore, still trembling body.


    ¡°I know, baby. I know.¡± His forehead rests against the back of my neck. ¡°We wasted so much time, yeah? But no more. Never again. You¡¯re here


    with me. I¡¯m gonna love you like you deserve.¡±


    I want tough but I¡¯m too weak, too bewildered. Love me like I deserve? Did I deserve this? Cade tying me to the bed and using me like a doll? Fucking me like this was something we nned? Like he¡¯s my longlost lover instead of the guy I need to be taken away from because he¡¯s far too obsessed.


    ¡°I have dinner for us.¡± He says after his breathing has slowed, turning my body so I¡¯m forced to gaze at him. ¡°All fresh. All grown here.¡±


    There¡¯s so much pride in his voice it stirs my curiosity, softens the anger for a heartbeat before I rally it again. It¡¯s easy, especially when he moves and the ache between my legs intensifies. My thighs are sticky from his cum leaking out of me and I wince.


    ¡°We¡¯ll have dinner, but we¡¯ll fuck again tonight. I¡¯ll fuck you as often as you need, Lyra. And I won¡¯t ever bring him up again. Neither will you, alright? You¡¯re mine. All of you is mine.¡±


    He pulls me close, lips pressing into my hair, one arm tight around my back as his other hands slides lower, cupping the space below my belly button. His cum is inside me, leaking out onto my thigh, and I can¡¯t help but remember that when I woke up, this all felt like a bad dream.


    But it¡¯s a nightmare. And I have no idea how it will end.

 Chapter 88

    Fiancee of lyra casey steps out with friends on two week anniversary of disappearance. third vigil to be held tonight at caldwell estate.


    CADE


    The white nightgown I bought Lyra rides up over her hips, exposing her cute little ass. I crack my palm against her smooth skin, partly because I want to, and partly because she showered without me. I¡¯ve warned her not to do that. There¡¯s a limited supply of hot water, at least until I get the propane heater put in.


    Which won¡¯t be anytime soon. I¡¯ve got too many other things to tend to before winter. Like my girl, and the way her tight little ass is squeezing me this morning.


    This isn¡¯t the first time I¡¯ve felt it. A few days after we got home, her cycle started. She still has the same horrible cramps, and she was dead set on not letting me relieve them with my fingers or my cock in her pussy. It would make a mess. Like I fucking cared.


    So, instead, I got her on the bed in the cuffs, and took a long, slow ride in her ass until she came twice, easing the cramps for a few hours. We did the same thing the next day, and the day after, until she finally relented and let me put down a towel and have her cunt again.


    But right now, it¡¯s her ass that needs fucked as a reminder that there are rules. Break them, and life gets rough. Especially when the seasons change and travel to and from the cabin is harder.


    The bottle of lube tters to the floor and Lyra¡¯s back arches. She bites back a moan before trying to p at me when my fingers dig into her hips. It¡¯s a weak attempt, and for a second, it¡¯s almost like she¡¯s grabbing at me. Pulling me to her instead of pushing me away. I grab her wrists and twist them behind her back, pinning her thighs between mine and bending her further over the table. Her cunt peeks out from between her legs, and I can feel how wet she is when my balls p against it. Pretty soon she¡¯s gasping, holding back even as her ass tightens around me.


    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t let youe. You¡¯ve been a bad girl.¡± My palm cracks against her ass and I release her arms so I can brace on the table over her hands. Her fingers curl under my palms and she tips her hips up, trying to spread her legs so she can take more of me. As if I have any more to give.


    I¡¯m already balls deep, but my girl is greedy. Achy. Wound so tight on the edge of pleasure and I know it¡¯s only moments before she tumbles over.


    ¡°But you can¡¯t help it, can you? So needy. Coming all over my cock no what hole it¡¯s in, right?¡± I kiss her shoulder as Iy my body over hers when she tucks her head into the table. ¡°Don¡¯t fight it, sweetheart. Let meProperty of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    hear how good it feels to be fucked like a little slut.¡±


    Lyra yanks her arm out and tries to p me, but I grab her hand and shove it between her legs, holding it there as her fingers go to work on her clit. Her breath hitches and she ws at the table rocking underneath us, the legs scraping against the floor, the table making a creaking sound that mingles with her with soft, frantic breaths. I push deep and pump faster, and finally she lets out a long, breathy gasp that melts into a moan. She clenches around me, fingers working furiously, and I let the release I¡¯ve been holding back take over. Heat bursts at the base of my spine and my balls tighten as they empty inside her. My cock throbs as I grab her shoulder for leverage, thrusting until every drop is drained and my head is spinning. It¡¯s only when my sanity slips back that I frown down at myself. It felt fucking good, but it¡¯s a waste.


    It should all be going in her cunt.


    When the haze of pleasure dissipates, I look down at Lyra on the table, the way her fingers are twisting, clutching at mine. I release her arms and slide out of her, watching as she slumps onto the table. I rip off the condom I¡¯d hastily put on and toss it in the bin before tucking myself away, setting a hand on her waist when she tries to stand up on shaky legs. ¡°Easy. I don¡¯t want you to fall.¡±


    She makes a derisive noise and shoves me away. ¡°Your concern is heartwarming.¡± I fold my arms over my chest.


    ¡°I don¡¯t appreciate the sarcasm.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t appreciate being fucked raw three times a day!¡±


    Sheunches herself at me, fists clenched, and face twisted in a snarl, but I¡¯m ready for it. It isn¡¯t the first time and I expect it won¡¯t be thest. I¡¯ve learned when to predict it. She never does it after I¡¯ve bound her to the bed, no matter what filthy things I do or how many times I make here. But if I fuck her without those cuffs or the tape over her mouth, on the couch or over the counter, where she could try to escape and throw me off, she loses her mind. It¡¯s the word ¡°should¡± ying inside her brain. She should be fighting me. That¡¯s what all of those assholes back in the city would expect.


    But she doesn¡¯t want to.


    It¡¯s only been two weeks, so I¡¯m not expecting her to confess the truth yet and admit I¡¯m giving her everything she¡¯s been craving. Structure. Affection. Pleasure. Even pain, because it¡¯s real, and her entire life there was a carefully crafted facade she was thrust into for no other reason than to bolster her parents¡¯ wealth.


    Deep down she knows it. Knows she was little more than a pawn and a ything. But she¡¯s grown to love her cage, and me breaking it open as made her scared to fly. I can help her spread her wings, but it will take time.


    Fortunately, we have plenty of it.


    She manages a good few hits before I grab her arms, spinning her body so her back is against my chest. I¡¯m braced for her to buck and kick at my shins, but she stays still, her entire body a knot of muscle that pulls tighter with every breath.


    ¡°You have to let me go,¡± she snarls. ¡°They¡¯re looking for me. There are search parties, there¡¯s probably a reward.¡± Her body softens a fraction, and instead of looking over her shoulder at me her eyes turn and stare at the door. ¡°If you took me back¡­ I¡¯d say you saved me. You could take the reward and-¡±


    ¡°Fuck the money.¡± I bury my face in her neck, arms tightening around her torso. ¡°It¡¯s nothingpared to you.¡±


    She tenses again, then the knots unravel. Her body sinks and I¡¯m forced to drop to one knee when her legs give out and she starts to sob, turning into my chest. She¡¯s curled like a cat, tears soaking my shirt. I rest my head against hers, shushing softly, not to quiet her, but just to let her know I¡¯m here. A long silence stretches between us, and eventually she sighs and lifts her head to look at me, her face wet with tears. I watch her throat bob with a swallow, then she averts her eyes.


    ¡°I wish you wouldn¡¯t say things like that. Or do things like¡­ this.¡±


    My arms loosen around her, but I don¡¯t let her go. I stare down at our positioning: her curled against me, both of us on her knees, my thighs framing her hips. ¡°Do what?¡± I ask, genuinely confused.


    ¡°This.¡± She gestures to her body against mine and frowns. ¡°I don¡¯t like it when¡­ when you¡¯re sweet.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t like it when I¡¯m sweet?¡± My eyes widen, and I let out a softugh. ¡°I haven¡¯t been enough of an asshole for you?¡±


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve been enough of an asshole for three lifetimes.¡± She scoots away, still avoiding my gaze. ¡°But you break up the cruelty. If you¡¯re going to use me, just use me and get it over with.¡±


    I set my hands on my thighs and let out a long sigh. ¡°I¡¯m not using you, Lyra.¡±


    She lets out a single, wryugh. ¡°No, not at all. Cuffing me to a bed. Fucking me multiple times a day. What¡¯s the point, Cade? What¡¯s your endgame?¡±


    ¡°This.¡± I gesture to the cabin. ¡°I¡¯ve told you. I want you here with me. Where you¡¯re supposed to be. Where you would have been three fucking years ago if you¡¯d just let me figure-¡±


    ¡°I was seventeen, Cade. My parents would have charged you with kidnapping. You should be charged with kidnapping now!¡±


    I roll my eyes. ¡°You were two months from turning eighteen and they couldn¡¯t have done shit then.¡±


    Her face tightens, pain shing in her eyes when she stands and folds her arms over herself, turning her back on me. ¡°You would have just stuck me in an apartment to fend for myself while you got shipped off and it would have been exactly the same. I¡¯d be alone. At least in the city I had people surrounding-¡±


    ¡°You had people kissing your ass to get in good with your parents,¡± I snap. ¡°You really think insipid assholes were your friends? That fucker you im to love so much? You really think he loved you back?¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± she snaps, turning to face me. ¡°He did. Are you implying he couldn¡¯t love me?¡±


    I re at her. ¡°No, sweetheart. He didn¡¯t deserve to breathe the same air as you.¡± Anger makes my muscles tense and I rake my hand through my hair, aching to grab her and hold her against me. ¡°You¡¯re smart, and sweet, and kind, and devoted, and he was fucking your maid of honor up the ass while his friends took-¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Her breathless question stops my tirade, and I grimace when I look up at her face. It¡¯s gone whiter than the nightgown she¡¯s wearing, so pale her lips and eyes are the only thing colored. I exhale and she shakes her head, waving her hands at me like she can wipe away the words.


    ¡°What did you say?¡±


    I press my lips together. I hadn¡¯t wanted to tell her this. When I saw him, ine or whatever the fuck his name is, my first instinct had been to throat punch him. Their engagement had been in every tabloid paper, the yboy bachelor falling for the sweet small-town girl that was new to the city. It was the stuff of romance novels, but I could see on his face that it was all an act. Lyra was photographed volunteering, working at animal shelters and schools. Her fiancee was photographed at bars, taking shots out of belly buttons that didn¡¯t belong to her, and avoiding cameras trying to follow him into private VIP areas-or club bathrooms.


    But I thought he¡¯d clean up his act for the sake of the wedding. At least for a while. But when I followed him down the hall, dressed like the other photographers flitting about, I watched him pay off the one nning to take pictures of the bridesmaids and groomsmen together. ¡°Come back in thirty,¡± he¡¯d said before through a door into a room withrge windows and nts everywhere. I moved past the room, staying just out of sight and peering through an opening in the long gray curtains that shuttered the room off. Then, I watched that cocksucker lift the maid of honor¡¯s dress and shove his cock into her ass. Another one of the bridesmaidsid beside her, and as he pumped, he shoved his fingers into her cunt, promising she¡¯d be next. Ast hurrah, one of the groomsmen said.


    ¡°For at least a week,¡± ine had replied to his friend. ¡°Got a cherry to pop, but then it¡¯ll be back to business.¡±


    Lyra stares at me expectantly, but I shake my head. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hurt you. Just trust me, you¡¯re better-¡±


    ¡°You have hurt me, Cade. You are hurting me.¡± Her hands ball into fists at her sides, ready to pummel the words out of me. ¡°Tell me what you said.¡± ¡°You heard what I said,¡± I murmur.


    Silence hangs in the air, and her eyes fill with tears, her handing up to press against her chest. I move toward her, but she backs away, and I let out a heavy sigh. ¡°Sweetheart, you had to know. It was all over in magazines-¡±


    ¡°I never read them,¡± she confesses. ¡°I hated¡­ I hated it. I hated the cameras following me everywhere. I felt like a circus animal.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all you were.¡± I grimace again, and she shakes her head as I move forward. ¡°Lyra. I¡¯m telling you the truth. He was cheating on you. I saw him and your maid-¡±


    ¡°No.¡± She pushes me away, her voice cracking. ¡°They wouldn¡¯t. They wouldn¡¯t! If I was unhappy, it would ruin all the deals my father set up with


    ine¡¯s family.¡±


    ¡°Did you have a prenup?¡±


    Her breath catches as she turns to face me. ¡°My parents¡­ they said I didn¡¯t need one.¡±


    ¡°Because it didn¡¯t matter. You didn¡¯t matter.¡± My stomach twists, chest aching at the idea ofying the truth out like this. A sickening buffet for her to try to digest when she already has a full te. I move forward, taking her by the elbows. ¡°As long as they got what they worked so hard for, it didn¡¯t matter what happened to you. Your dad all but told me that when-¡±


    ¡°NO!¡±


    She rips herself away from me, wiping her face furiously with her fingers. ¡°You¡¯re just saying this to justify what you¡¯ve done. You¡¯re¡­ you¡¯re sick like everyone said, and you¡¯ll make up any story to convince me that you¡¯re not!¡±


    I narrow my eyes. ¡°If I¡¯m sick, you¡¯re the only cure.¡± I stalk toward her, and she backs away, leaning into anger instead of despair. ¡°I never thought about getting married or having babies or any of it until you. Until you said I made you feel safe. You¡¯re mine, Lyra. You need me.¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t,¡± she snarls, her voice cracking as she bolts up the stairs. ¡°Fuck you. And fuck them! Fuck all of this!¡±


    I hear something crash, but I don¡¯t go up to see what it was. She needs space, needs toe to grips with the truth. I didn¡¯t steal her, and I¡¯m not keeping her captive. That life was her cage.


    And I¡¯m her freedom.

 Chapter 89

    Caldwell heir declines toment when asked about missing fiancee.


    CADE


    I let Lyra rage. She kicks the dressers, pulls out drawers. At one point her veiles sailing over the loft railing to float down like a feather andnd on the floor. I know if I go up there now, it will only piss her off more. So, I head outside to do chores, trying to think of how I canfort her when she calms down.


    But even when she does calm, she won¡¯t believe what I¡¯ve told her. My girl isn¡¯t stupid, but she is naive, and she will cling to the hopes that her parents only wanted good for her. They were there just enough to make her reliant on them, but they never wanted a daughter. They saw her as a tool they could use to advance themselves. First socially, pushing her into dance, pageants, sports, cheerleading. Whatever would get attention so they could be praised for having such a beautiful, sweet daughter. None of that was Lyra shining. She was just an extension of them.


    It was easy to see. The whole town knew the Casey¡¯s had dreams of making it big and getting out of the Podunk ce we called home. They weren¡¯t shy about it, and when they finally started to progress, their daughter turned from a tool to climb a socialdder to a pawn to move up the financial one. What better way to lure investors than to offer a beautiful, sweet, virgin daughter up as a bride? Marry into the family, marry into thepany and potentially make millions. Fuck, they¡¯d even mentioned it to me when they learned we were first dating, until they realized even if I had something to offer, I was going to tell them to fuck off. No way they were going to wield control over her like that. She deserved to be free.


    At least, free to be with me. I didn¡¯t want her with anyone else. She¡¯s right, I am obsessed. Obsessed with her taste and her smell, with her sighs and the way she curls into me. Obsessed with her hands in my hair, and the way she always made me feel strong and reliable when everyone else said I was weak. They were waiting for me to fuck up. To do something unforgivable.


    But she trusted me. She called me her shelter, her protector. And that¡¯s what I n to be.


    The sun is low on the horizon when I step into the cabin. My stomach is growling, and soup sounds good. It¡¯sfort food, something to raise her spirits, but when I go upstairs to ask for her help, I find her sound asleep. She¡¯d worn herself out weeping.


    I move toward the bed, letting my eyes rake over her prone figure. She¡¯s buried herself into a stack of pillows, one tucked under her leg, the other wrapped against her chest. I can see half of her face, the puffiness under her eyes, the tear tracks on her cheeks.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    It¡¯s instinct that makes me strip off my shirt and crawl into bed beside her, careful not to disturb her slumber. I tuck my arm around her waist, pulling her close and burying my face in her hair. Her only response is a soft sniffle, then she snuggles into the pillows and goes back to sleep.


    ¡°I know it hurts, sweetheart. But you don¡¯t need them. I can give you everything you want.¡±


    My voice is barely a whisper, and I slide my hand lower. Below her belly button, cupping the space there and remembering how she used to talk about wanting kids. Two or three of them. She wanted to stay home with them. Never miss a minute, never leave them craving attention the way she did.


    It stirs my cock to life to think about giving her that. Seeing a smile on her face. Seeing her ttened stomach grow round with my child. I press myself against her, grinding to ease the ache at the front of my hips. My hands smooth along her bare thighs. She¡¯s still wearing the nightgown, no panties underneath.


    Warmth and desire race through me as I cup between her legs, my fingers stroking her soft folds. She¡¯s warm, too. Still damp with arousal though it¡¯s been hours. As I pet her, she shifts, exposing more of her cunt to me when she rolls further onto her stomach. I follow, shushing her when she makes a soft noise, smoothing one hand over her hair as my fingers slip inside her, slowly opening her. They plunge in and out, teasing, and I groan as I feel her growing slick and wet. Her body knows my touch, knows only I can give her what she needs.


    I rise onto my knees and unfasten my pants, pushing them past my hips to free my cock. Lyra doesn¡¯t move when I settle between her thighs, when I reach for the lube and pour some onto my fingers and rub them against her. She breathes easy, her body rxed, at peace.


    Because she knows she¡¯s safe.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, sweetheart,¡± I murmur as I spread her legs a little wider and lower my hips to slide my cock inside her. ¡°No one is ever gonna hurt you again. You¡¯re mine, all fucking mine.¡±


    Friends of missing bride lyra casey discuss her volunteer work at animal shelters, love of children, and desire to be a teacher.


    LYRA


    I felt yed open. Like my skin had been sliced and then peeled off my body, leaving vulnerable, raw tissue in its ce. But Cade hadn¡¯t stopped there. He¡¯d dismantled my life in a few simple sentences, preying on the gossip that had swirled around me for months. Everyone told me to ignore it. ine. My friends. The Caldwells. My parents. It¡¯s tabloids, they said. Rumors.


    But in every rumor, there¡¯s always some truth.


    I shouldn¡¯t me Cade entirely for the seeds of doubt that were nted in my head long before he returned, but he was an easy target. After all, he¡¯d sneaked into my wedding, drugged me, and stole me away back to his cabin in the middle of nowhere. He¡¯d use everything he could to gaslight me into believing this life was what I wanted. That he was what I wanted. I was smarter than that. I wasn¡¯t going to be fooled by stories I¡¯d already heard. Besides, if he was trying to convince me toe with him, why didn¡¯t he tell me about ine then? Why didn¡¯t he take me to see it for myself?


    I don¡¯t want to hurt you.


    Bullshit. He drugged me. He¡¯s cuffed me to a bed and fucked me over and over while I cried and pleaded for him to stop. He¡¯s tormented me with toys until my legs were jelly and I couldn¡¯t move. He fucked me up the ass when my period came because I wouldn¡¯t let him have my pussy. He¡¯s vited me in every way I could be vited.


    And you¡¯ve liked every single thrust.


    It¡¯s that thought that sends my anger spiraling into despair, which puts me on the bed face down in the pillows sobbing. I can¡¯t organize my thoughts. They¡¯re a jumble of chaos. My dream wedding, everything a girl could ever want, was poison, and this nightmare I¡¯m trapped in now is the antidote. Everything is upside down. The sky is green, the grass is blue, and the pigs I hear Cade feeding every morning will probably start flying.


    I let the grief consume me until the tears run dry. My life back home was nothing more than a staged performance. My mother was more concerned with how the wedding reflected on them than whether or not I was happy, and my father didn¡¯t give a single shit about any of it. So long as he got his stock price up, everything was good.


    Deep down I always knew, but I was so desperate for my parents¡¯ affection-for their approval-that I didn¡¯t want to see the truth. It¡¯s like being on the nk side of a two-way mirror, and now the ss has been shattered and I see everything.


    I fall asleep, and for a few hours it¡¯s a blissful cocoon that not even my nightmares can prate. That is until I¡¯m awoken by soft grunts, a heavy sensation against the back of my head. There¡¯s pressure inside me, something sliding in and out, and I blink open my eyes and turn to see Cade¡¯s face twisted in pleasure. A gasp leaves my lips, but he covers my mouth with his palm and continues his thrusting.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got you,¡± he grunts into my ear, his other arm snaking under my body, his fingers finding my clit. ¡°Fuck, Lyra. You¡¯re always so warm, and so fucking tight.¡±


    I whimper, feeling his abs flex as he pumps his hips against mine. His cock is sliding easily in and out, building up the pleasure before I even have a chance to fight it. I can¡¯t fight it. I can¡¯t fight any of this. Even if I wasn¡¯t wet from the brutal quick fuck he gave me this morning, he has lube. Tons of it.


    Because he doesn¡¯t want to hurt me.


    I grip the pillow, burying my face into it and making my hips rise up. Cade groans, rising up to cup my hip bones and pull me into his thrusts. pping sounds echo around the room, and my pussy starts to ache from how hard he fucks me. But it doesn¡¯t stop the pressure in my clit, the knot in my lower belly that unravels slowly as the orgasm crests, and I start to moan.


    ¡°Fuck, that¡¯s it. That¡¯s it,¡± he groans as my pussy clenches, squeezing his thrusting cock. I sob into the pillows. Wild, nearly feral sounds ripping out of me, turned from a long note into stato noises as his hips pound into mine. ¡°Such a good girl,ing for me so sweet, making me feel so good.¡±


    His fingers tighten on my hips, and I know his own orgasm is imminent. Part of me wants to crawl away, to try to deny him what he likes most. Filling me with his seed. Coming inside me without any sort of protection.


    He wants me trapped here; he wants me pregnant.


    You want that too.


    Cade howls when hees. A long, drawn-out groan that sends shivers down my spine. I¡¯m still trembling, but he holds me to him as he bows over my back, still rocking his hips into mine. He doesn¡¯t stop, grunting and groaning and fucking me until he softens too much to continue. He¡¯s trying to work up for another round, but my hand reaching back to grip his stills his hips. He presses a kiss to my shoulder, then carefully rolls me onto my back and curls himself around me. My hips are on the pillows I¡¯d been clutching when I fell asleep, his legs tucked under mine, keeping me curled into a ball on my back. I sniffle, and my lips tremble when he cups my jaw and turns my face to his, slotting his mouth against mine to kiss me slow and deep.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I woke you. You can go back to sleep,¡± he whispers between kisses. ¡°I¡¯ll make soup tonight, yeah? Chicken and rice. It¡¯s your favorite still, right?¡±


    I don¡¯t know what hurts worse. The fact that Cade remembers that minute detail, or the fact that ine never learned it.


    Swallowing my despair, I nod. ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s my favorite.¡±


    Cade smiles and kisses me a few more times before he tucks my head under his chin and holds me close, soothing me back to sleep so I can put off facing reality just a little longer.

 Chapter 90

    SIX weeks passed with no signs of Lyra Casey.


    LYRA


    I have to get out of here.


    I keep telling myself that. But each day that passes, the words lose their weight. It turns from a vow into a fleeting thought. Someday, it¡¯ll


    be nothing at all.


    Six weeks, and though he still fucks me every day, sometimes just once, sometimes three or four times, I can tell Cade doesn¡¯t want to ¡°hurt¡± me. He reads me like an open book, knowing there are moments when I don¡¯t want to participate-because it makes all of this real-and he cuffs me to the bed to use me like a toy.


    Other times, he keeps me loose, forcing me to face the reality that as much as I hate this, I also can¡¯t get enough of it. I clutch his shoulders or his biceps when he pins me against the wall in the shower. or sets me on the kitchen counter to push inside me. Other times when he has me in bed, or on the couch he built into the wall, I clutch his hips and hold on for dear life as he pumps and pumps until both of us are shaking. I can count on one hand the number of times he¡¯se before me, forcing at least one if not two orgasms out of me before he satiates himself.


    There¡¯s no hard evidence that a woman¡¯s orgasm increases the chances of conception, but anecdotal is all he needs.


    Besides that, I think getting me off gets him off. But I¡¯ve never asked.


    I have, however, asked how he ns to support himself (and me, since it¡¯s clear he has no intentions of letting me leave). I suggested that he increase the flock of chickens he has so he can sell eggs-or get another goat and sell the milk. If I¡¯m staying, I can help out. I have been helping. Putting grain in buckets to feed animals every morning before mucking the stalls the horses use wasn¡¯t ever on my radar, but I find myself enjoying the tasks. I deeply enjoy the greenhouse he built. So much so that we¡¯ve had little spats about how to expand it so we can grow more. Again, selling produce could be lucrative.


    Cade only kisses my forehead when I bring this up, telling me not to worry. He¡¯ll take care of me.


    There are days we argue. Sometimes, it¡¯s about the fact that I¡¯m his captive and this isn¡¯t some sweet love story we¡¯ll tell our grandchildren someday. Those arguments usually end with me bent over whatever happens to be closest, getting mercilessly fucked until he forces me toe. A reminder that my body likes what he¡¯s doing, that I like what he¡¯s doing, even when I try to deny it.


    I find myself wishing, again, that he was disgusting. Or cruel. It would give me a reason to fight. But he¡¯s neither of those things. He¡¯s caring. Devoted. Shockingly feminist. We don¡¯t split chores ording to traditional roles. He does theundry; I work with the animals. He taught me how to chop wood. He taught me how to shoot a gun, though he took it away immediately after I was done.


    Not that I could shoot him even if I wanted to.


    This morning he lets me sleep in, and when Ie downstairs and head to the bathroom, I find him waiting with a cup and a box of ovtion tests. My eyes widen as he holds it out to me, a little half smile on his face. I shake my head, a little incredulous.


    ¡°Cade, no.¡±


    ¡°I need to know.¡± He gives me a stern, yet hopeful look. ¡°I have to go hunting soon to start stocking up, and I want to make sure we have sex around when-¡±


    ¡°Do you hear yourself?¡±


    ¡°Lyra,¡± he says gently, moving forward to slip his arms around my waist and pull me into his chest. I let him because it¡¯s useless to fight, and it¡¯s cold this morning. His skin is warm and it¡¯s too good to resist.


    ¡°You want this. I know you do.¡± He cups my face. ¡°You used to talk all the time about-¡±


    ¡°Yes, I did. But think about this logically. The nearest hospital is what? Two hours from here? You want to get me pregnant and not have a doctor anywhere near by?¡±


    ¡°Pregnancy is normal, it¡¯s not dangerous. Besides, Nika used to be a midwife before she moved to the states. She told me she¡¯s delivered around


    200 babies.¡±


    Nika and Ivan. The older couple that lives roughly five miles from the cabin. They¡¯re homesteaders, too. Cade does odd jobs and helps care for the cattle. They give him milk, beef, and let him grow crops on theirnd.


    And apparently, she¡¯ll be delivering this baby he ns to have.


    I shake my head, undeterred. ¡°Where would the baby sleep?¡±


    ¡°I can make a bass, and a cribter. If it¡¯s cold they can sleep with us.¡±


    ¡°Where will the baby go when you decide to cuff me to the bed and fuck me?¡±


    A wickedly handsome smile crosses his face. ¡°Sweetheart. You know the bed isn¡¯t the only ce we can fuck.¡±


    My eyes roll before I can stop them, and he gives my ass a soft pat. ¡°Come on. You need to go in the cup so it¡¯s more urate.¡±


    He offers it again, but I fold my arms over my chest. ¡°Aside from how crazy it is that you are actively trying to knock me up, you¡¯re just going to


    leave me here while you go hunting? Completely defenseless?¡±


    ¡°It will only be for a day or two. I¡¯ll leave you plenty of food.¡± He rolls his lips together and gives me a one shoulder shrug. ¡°You¡­ coulde with me. You might have fun.¡±


    Immediately I grimace, but the expression on his face makes me pause. It¡¯s the same one he wears when he tells me he loves me. The same one he wears when we kiss. The one he wears after he fucks me within inches of my life. The sincerity in his eyes, the hope, it¡¯s palpable.


    For a second, I allow myself to entertain the image of me joining him, and how absolutely thrilled he¡¯d be. Even if I was bitching andining the entire time, he¡¯d find some way to make it enjoyable. He¡¯d give me his coat, his hat. Whatever I wanted so long as I stayed out there with him. So long as I gave into this delusional life he¡¯s created.


    We¡¯ve created. I¡¯m an active participant in it now.


    ¡°Cade,¡± I say, trying to keep my voice gentle. ¡°We can¡¯t stay out here.¡±


    He lets out a heavy sigh and puts the cup and strips away. ¡°I looked online. There are-¡±


    ¡°You looked online?¡± I ask, my eyes wide when he pulls out a phone.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t have service; I have a satellite phone for that. But I have WiFi.¡±


    I want to be mad that he¡¯s just now telling me this, but in the face of everything else I let it slide.


    ¡°Anyway, there are courses you could take to be a teacher. We could homeschool the kids, they¡¯d have plenty to do out here. This isn¡¯t crazy, Lyra. You¡¯re happy. We¡¯re happy!¡±N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    My lips are tight as I stare back at him, noting the pained expression on his face. I say nothing, and to my surprise he lets out a low growl and stalks past me. I watch him pull on his jacket and he steps outside, leaving the phone on the table. I stare at it, a battle rivaling world war skirmishes raging inside me.


    This is my chance. I can¡¯t call anyone, but I could log into my email, my social media. I could post my general location or use a map to pinpoint that and share it. I could signal the troops and somehow, they woulde find me.


    But that isn¡¯t what I do. Instead, I pick up the phone and stare at the lock screen, trying my birthdate then the day Cade and I first met as passwords. The second unlocks the device, and I pull open the browser and type in my name, my heart starting to race at the number of headlines that pop up.


    THIRD VIGIL HELD FOR MISSING DAUGHTER OF CASEY ANALYTICS FOUNDER MARK CASEY.


    REWARD OFFERED FOR INFORMATION IN THE DISAPPEARANCE OF LYRA CASEY.


    POLICE BAFFLED AS STATEWIDE SEARCH FOR MISSING BRIDETO-BE YIELDS NO CLUES.


    BLAINE CALDWELL SPOTTED HAND IN HAND WITH IRINA


    PONTAINE AS SEARCH FOR HIS MISSING BRIDE ENTERS SIXTH WEEK.


    CALDWELL HEIR GRIEVES BUT TRIES TO MOVE ON AS NO SIGNS OF HIS BRIDE APPEAR.

 Chapter 91

    I continue to scroll, finding more of the same. The search continues, but even that¡¯s a performance. If we¡¯d still been poor, or if I¡¯d have been anything other than a pretty girl with a happy smile, it would have ended long ago.


    My throat tightens, but I don¡¯t cry. I think my tears have all been shed for that life.


    Feeling slightly numb, I walk to the coat rack and head outside, finding Cade with the animals. He doesn¡¯t say anything when I fall into ce beside him, but he does take hold of my hand as we move from task to task. A few times when I mention needing more feed, or suggesting winter vegetables to nt, he kisses my cheek, but he still doesn¡¯t speak.


    The sun sets, and we head inside to shower like we do every day. Cade helps me out of my clothes, then sheds his and turns on the water, shielding me from the cold spray like he always does.


    I stare at his back, following the tattoos until they lead to the one on his neck. My name in cursive script. I reach up to touch it, letting my fingers trail over the ck ink.


    ¡°When did you get this one?¡±


    He turns over his shoulder to look at me, and I¡¯m surprised to see a sheepish look on his face. ¡°After I tried to leave town with you, before I was shipped off.¡± He checks the water temperature then steps inside, pulling me with him. ¡°I didn¡¯t know what was going to happen while I was gone, but I wanted you with me. If I died, I wanted some record that you¡¯d been mine. Or that I¡¯d been yours.¡±


    The numbness cracks, turning the dull ache in my chest into something warm and bright. I watch the water roll over his skin, the way the droplets skirt over his muscles. For the first time, I chase them with my fingers, letting myself touch him like I used to as I think back to what was really stolen from me.


    Him.


    Had there not been a threat chasing us, I would have stayed in that car. I would have waited two months until I was eighteen then his name would have be mine. He would have still been shipped away, but when he came home after his service term ended, it would have been to my arms.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    The bottle of shampoo tters when itnds on the shower floor, dropped when I reached up and wrapped my arms around Cade¡¯s neck. He responds by wrapping his arms around my waist, moaning softly. When I pull away and drop to my knees in front of him, he gasps.


    I kiss his stomach, his hip, letting his cock rub against my face until he takes my head in both hands and guides me onto him. I open willingly, wanting this. Needing it just as much as I had when I was 17 and he wanted to wait.


    ¡°Fuck. Baby.¡± He leans back against the wall, guiding my open mouth forward and back, pushing his cock down my throat. I let him. There¡¯s no suction, just wetness and my tongue trying to tease and taunt him the way he has me. He doesn¡¯t let me try for long. After only a few moments of his hips thrusting, pushing his cock into my mouth, he hauls me into his arms, shuts the water off, and we step out of the shower only to end up on the rug. He moves to sit up, but I press his chest down, sliding my hips over his and sinking onto his cock.


    No words pass between us. His hands find my hips, fingers digging into my flesh as I bounce and roll on top of him. I ride him like I always wanted to. Fast and eager, rough like he¡¯s taught me. It¡¯s only minutes before I¡¯m dizzy, eagerly seeking out what I know he can give me. What only he¡¯s been able to give me. I hadn¡¯t ever been able to make myselfe until he made me. Until he forcefully took me and showed me what my body wanted.


    What it liked more than anything else.


    Him.


    ¡°God,¡± he breathes, heels slipping on the floor as he tries to get leverage for his own thrusts. He sits up, holding me close and guiding my hips as I start to shiver. ¡°You fuck me so good, sweetheart. You¡¯re mine. Say it. Tell me.¡±


    I whine, still rocking furiously on top of him as I w his damp shoulders. He hisses at the pain, reaching up to fist my hair and hold my gaze to his.


    ¡°Mine.¡±


    ¡°You took me.¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re mine.¡±


    My body tightens, and I¡¯m suddenly grateful that I¡¯m here in his arms, away from that vapid, performative existence where I¡¯d be showering by myself instead of getting fucked so hard on a bathroom floor.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to leave,¡± I confess, tears slipping onto my cheeks.


    ¡°You¡¯re never leaving me.¡± He cups his hands over my ass, pulling my hips flush against his. ¡°It¡¯s you and me, Lyra. We¡¯re going to fuck each other wildly. We¡¯re going to fight. You¡¯re going to love me and hate me and piss me off, but I still won¡¯t let you leave.¡± He kisses me, catching my panting whine on his tongue. ¡°I love you. I love you. Now fuckinge for me, because you love me too.¡±


    I clutch him to me ande so hard my whole body shudders, bucking against him, using his cock like he¡¯s used my cunt. When my thrusting hips slow, he flips me over, pinning me in ce as he pushes deep and follows my violent orgasm with one of his own.


    Then we¡¯re still, tangled on the floor, both of us starting to shiver until he pulls a towel off the rack and wraps it around me, then ils around until he finds one for himself. The whole time, he stays buried inside me.


    Eventually he lifts me off the floor and carries me upstairs,ying me on my back as he snuggles in beside me. He tucks his legs under mine, keeping them propped up, and I can¡¯t help butugh. The sound draws his attention, and he leans up on an elbow to gaze at me.


    ¡°Say it.¡±


    I swallow. ¡°I love you.¡±


    His entire body melts in relief, and he buries his head in my shoulder. I turn my head to kiss his cheek, letting my arm wrap around his shoulders.


    ¡°Cade.¡± ¡°Lyra?¡±


    ¡°We have.¡± I swallow and snuggle closer, trying to think of how to phrase what I¡¯m trying to say. What¡¯s on my mind. ¡°We have to go back.


    They¡¯ll keep looking, they won¡¯t stop.¡±


    ¡°They won¡¯t find-¡±


    ¡°No, they won¡¯t,¡± I agree. ¡°But then they¡¯ll dere me dead, and my inheritance will go to no one when it could go to us. When it could go¡­¡± I shift and take his hand, moving it to the t space between my hips. I hear him swallow, then he looks down at our hands, his thumb smoothing over my skin.


    ¡°To the babies.¡±


    I nod, pressing my lips together. ¡°We¡¯ll need more space.¡±


    He shrugs. ¡°We¡¯ll figure it out.¡±


    I look at our hands again as thoughts of losing out on all that money run rampant through my mind. Maybe it¡¯s selfish, but my parents owe me. A lot more than three years¡¯ worth of time.


    ¡°We have to figure this out first.¡±

 Chapter 92

    Eight weeks pass since vanishing of lyra casey.


    Caldwell heir announces new rtionship.


    CADE


    People can have bad ideas.


    I¡¯ve had plenty. When I first started nning on how I would get


    Lyra back, the entire thing seemed like a bad idea. I don¡¯t regret it, not in the slightest, but on paper it was a bad idea.


    This one is worse.


    I¡¯m almost sick as I stare at her. She¡¯s been out in the barn, using rope to burn her wrists and ankles, bruising herself on the fences. ¡°It would be more convincing if I had old injuries,¡± she grumbles, and my stomach


    twists. ¡°Maybe I should like¡­ try to break my ribs or-¡±


    ¡°If you broke your ribs, you¡¯d be in so much pain that sex would be impossible. Unless someone wanted to torture you.¡±


    She pauses, then wrinkles her nose in agreement. ¡°I still say we should send a ransom email.¡±


    I shake my head. ¡°No. I think¡­ I think you escaping and me rescuing you will get more attention.¡±


    That¡¯s the lie we¡¯re going to tell.


    She thought of it when I drove her through the trading hub roughly twenty miles from my house. We were going to the city. She wore a hat and sunsses and baggy clothes to avoid being recognized. I objected to the idea but relented when she said she wanted to see the hospital and make sure they had a maternity wing. Just in case. She¡¯d even used one of the ovtion strips to show me she was serious.


    I embarrassed myself by crying I was so happy.


    Then she¡¯d told me the n. She was going to appear at the trading hub, battered and bruised and terrified, and I¡¯d be the one to find her. Everyone there would see her for the first time after seeing me for the past year and learning my face. They¡¯d gather her up, and I¡¯d volunteer to take her to the hospital. From there, it would all fall into ce. She¡¯d contact her parents; we¡¯d go to the city. I¡¯d get my reward, and she¡¯d cut ties with all that asshole, her parents, her so-called friends, and all of the other bullshit, iming she needed time to heal.


    But we had to make her desperate escape realistic.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯m ready,¡± she says, looking over her semi self-inflicted injuries. The sight of her raw wrists and ankles and the bruises on her inner thighs make my stomach turn, but not as much as what she wants me to do next.


    ¡°Are you going to do it?¡±


    I swallow, looking down at my hands. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can.¡±


    She fixes me with a hard re. ¡°Cade, you kidnapped me. If I¡¯d broken the syringe, how would you have gotten me out of there?¡±


    I grimace. ¡°I probably would have made you pass out.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the quickest and rtively safest way to do that?¡±


    ¡°With a punch.¡±


    She nods. ¡°Right. I¡¯m not even asking you to do that. Just¡­ back hand me or something. Maybe two or three times to-¡±


    ¡°Fuck that. No, absolutely not.¡± I clench and unclench my fists. ¡°One time. That¡¯s it.¡±


    She quirks a brow. ¡°What if I like being pped?¡±


    ¡°Lyra.¡±


    ¡°What? I like the cuffs. When you tied me up against that rack near the garden the other day, I liked that.¡±


    My dick twitches as the image of her bound to the rack pops into my head. Her arms syed out; her legs wrapped around me as I pumped into her. It had gotten me so hot I came three times before I was finished.


    My sweet girl liked me rough.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to start pping you.¡±


    ¡°Well, you¡¯d better do it at least once,¡± she warns. ¡°The kids will be set for life, Cade. Whoever handles your investments will have them set.


    They¡¯ll never have to worry about anything again.¡±


    I growl under my breath. ¡°It¡¯s always about fucking money.¡±


    ¡°Yes, a little bit. Because you need it to live. Even here, we need it to live. We¡¯re getting the damn chickens and another goat, too.¡± Her eyes look to the barn then back at me. ¡°And a dog. And some cats.¡±


    ¡°The cats will kill the chickens.¡±


    ¡°No, they won¡¯t. They¡¯ll kill mice. Now fucking do it.¡±


    Her arms are tense, fists clenched, and my own hands are shaking. ¡°Lyra,¡± I say, my chest tightening. ¡°I love you.¡±


    A small smile crosses her lips. ¡°I love you, too. Now hit me so we can finally tell the whole world about it.¡±


    It hadn¡¯t urred to me how much that mattered. How being seen with her, even it if was only by the people at the trading center and a few others around our cabin, mattered.


    And it matters that whatever kids we have, they are safe to make their own choices. They have enough to live and never have to worry about us or anyone else stealing their life from them.


    Her parents owe her.


    They owe me.


    They owe us.


    Bracing, I whip my hand across her face, instantly hating myself when she yelps and stumbles to the side. I rush over, grimacing as I see the red mark on her cheek. It¡¯s dark. In a few hours it¡¯ll turn into a bruise.


    ¡°Fuck, I¡¯m sorry,¡± I say before I can stop myself. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Jesus


    Christ, I¡¯m-¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s good.¡± She winces when I touch her cheek. ¡°You did good.¡± Her lips meet mine, and I want to take her inside and make her an ice pack, but she pulls back and draws my focus.


    ¡°Now, where can you drop me off so it¡¯s not too far from the hub?¡±


    ***


    EPILOGUE


    Daughter of casey analytics owner declines offer of tell all book. calls off engagement to caldwell heir and requests privacy after escaping captivity.


    LYRA


    6 MONTHS LATER


    ¡°T his is as much as you¡¯re gonna get, Sweetheart. There¡¯s just not


    enough snow.¡±


    I pout, but quickly rally when I realize that the fading snowfall means we can get to the city. And getting to the city means real ice cream instead of the snow cones Cade has been plying me with.


    He stands at the counter, mixing the fresh snow in with the milk, sugar, and vani he¡¯d whisked together. I wrap my arms around his waist, squeezing myself as close as I can. My tender breasts and tiny swell between my hips make it difficult. I tuck myself under his arm to steal from the bowl. He yfully smacks away my spoon.


    ¡°Greedy.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not my fault your kid is constantly hungry.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re barely thirteen weeks along,¡± heughs. ¡°I think that¡¯s you being hungry instead of the kid.¡±


    I make a face at him, and he mimics me before leaning in to kiss my nose and Iugh. It feels like we¡¯ve been together for years. Everything is smooth and easy, even our fights.


    It took months to resolve everything back in the city, and my parents were a little reluctant to actually pay out the reward for my safe return. It took me making a statement to the media to get them to do it, and I told Cade privately that I thought they would have preferred it if I stayed missing rather than have my return eat into their profits. I¡¯m sure it didn¡¯t help matters that he was the one to ¡°rescue¡± me, but they didn¡¯t question it. I¡¯m fairly certain no one wanted me making a fuss, especially since Casey Analytics biggest investment partner had moved on to another affair before his engagement with the founder¡¯s daughter had time to cool.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    None of that matters though. I¡¯m happy. Happier than I thought I could be. The day I left the city and came home, Cade and I drove to the city and were married in front of two confused witnesses and the local judge. Then he carried me bridal style over the threshold of his cabin and stripped me out of my gown for the second time. We started trying for a baby that night.


    Officially. He¡¯d been trying since he took me, technically.


    Tomato, toma-toe, he¡¯d say.


    It took a few months for it to happen, months where Cade would fuck me just as often as he had the first time he brought me home. It seemed like overkill, but I wasn¡¯t going toin. I was constantly satiated, perpetually brought to bliss even when I begged him to stop. He¡¯d whisper filthy things in my ear, telling me I could take whatever he gave me. I always had. I always would.


    He¡¯s a bit more cautious now, but not much. Nika has checked me over and assures us there¡¯s no reason to suspect the pregnancy will be anything but healthy. Cade was worried about me being outside in the cold the first month, but she assured him it was good for me. She survived birthing in Siberia and the weather here is tropicalpared to what she¡¯d been through. She gave us the name of a doctor she worked with at the hospital, but we decided to do as much as possible at home. We¡¯re safe and happy in our bubble, and we¡¯re going to keep it that way.


    Cade scoops the snow ice cream into bowls and sets a few mint leaves on top. Mint leaves we grow in-house now since it¡¯s so cold outside. I sprinkle a delicacy on mine-chocte shavings. I got them thest time we went into town and I¡¯ve been hoarding them ever since. We sit on the couch together, relishing in the quiet that surrounds us. No TV, no radio, no chaos. Just our clinking spoons and quiet breaths, and hisugh when I press a chocte shaving to his nose then lick it off. He sets his bowl aside and tugs me onto hisp, sliding his hands from my ass to the small swell of my belly.


    ¡°Boy or girl?¡± he asks, and I shrug, pressing a kiss to his forehead.


    ¡°Either way, it¡¯s yours. Just like me.¡±


    His cheeks pink, and he pulls me close, burying his face in my tender breasts. He kisses his way up my throat, lingering on a spot behind my ear that bears his name. It mimics the tattoo he has of mine.


    His name on my skin.


    Marking me.


    Cade¡¯s hand curls into my hair and he pulls me close, his relieved sigh sending a shiver up my spine and making heat blossom between my legs as he whispers my new favorite word. A single syble vow we¡¯ve made to each other.


    ¡°Mine.¡±

 Chapter 93

    BY HIS HANDS


    OLIVE


    We were on the road again.


    I¡¯d lost count of the amount of times we¡¯d piled all of our belongings in the trunk of the car and driven to our next


    destination.


    We never stayed there long enough for me to fit it or to make friends.


    You see, my mom was a serial dater. Or as she liked to say: ¡°I fall in love easily.¡±


    It suited her, until she fell out of love just as quickly.


    To me, that wasn¡¯t love. It was lust-infatuation. She was living day-today, just trying to make it to the next morning. I hadn¡¯t really cared growing up, but now that I was seventeen and in my final year of high school, I wanted more. I wanted one ce to call home. I wanted to stay somewhere longer than two months.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to love it here,¡± Mom said, shuffling in her seat as she pulled up at a stop sign. ¡°The houses are,¡± she sighed, a huge grin on her beautiful face, ¡°they¡¯re so amazing.¡±


    I stared at her, seeing theplete opposite to me in every way. Where she was tall with blond hair and dark-blue eyes, I was short, my hair a midbrown color, and my eyes closer to brown than green. That wasn¡¯t the only thing we didn¡¯t have inmon though.


    Mom was an open book, friendly and approachable, but I¡¯d learned to protect myself, to only let in those who actually cared. Which right now, felt like nobody. Mom was all the family I¡¯d ever known, and she¡¯d made sure to keep it that way.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°What about school?¡± I asked, turning my attention back to the windscreen. That was all I cared about-all I wanted. I had just under four months left until I turned eighteen and graduated. Once I¡¯d done that, I could go and start my own life, one where I created roots and made real friends.


    ¡°It¡¯s only a twenty-minute car ride away.¡± She lifted her hand, pushing some hair out of her face as she took a right turn then stopped at an entrance. Gates forbade us to go past, but a man in a small building stepped out, took one look at Mom, then waved her forward. ¡°That¡¯s Reg,¡± Mommented, smiling at him as she moved forward. ¡°He makes sure we¡¯re all safe here.¡± She was talking like she¡¯d live here for years.


    The gates swung open, letting us into themunity. I wasn¡¯t sure what Mom wanted me to say, because both she and I knew we wouldn¡¯t be here long enough for Reg to even remember my name.


    We drove for a few more minutes, the houses getting bigger and bigger, until finally she pulled into a huge driveway.


    ¡°We¡¯re home,¡± Mom shouted, her tone clearly happy. ¡°I can¡¯t wait until you see inside.¡± She was pushing open her door before I¡¯d even had the chance to undo my seatbelt. ¡°Come on, Olive!¡±


    She waved at me, silently telling me to hurry. But all of this didn¡¯t matter to me. All I wanted was somewhere I could sleep so that I could get to school the next day. It was the simple things that mattered the most to me. Again, yet another thing we didn¡¯t have inmon. Sometimes I wondered whether we were even rted.


    Huffing out a breath, I pushed open my door, preparing myself to meet yet another one of Mom¡¯s ¡°loves of her life.¡± He had no idea what would transpire. I gave it nine weeks, tops, and the only reason I gave it nine was because of how damn big this house was. It was more like a mansion or a pce than a house.


    I stepped forward, quickly ncing back at all of my belongings in the trunk, then walked up the driveway and toward the ck double doors. One was ajar so I slipped through the gap and immediately froze to the spot. But it wasn¡¯t because of the pristine wooden floors and the grand double staircase.


    No.


    It was because of the man standing in the middle of the entryway, his feet hip width apart as he stared down at Mom. He looked¡­indifferent to her. So unlike all of the other men before him. They were normally infatuated with her, not able to keep their hands off her. And she loved every second of it.


    His navy suit fit him like a glove, a telltale sign that it was tailored and expensive.


    ¡°You¡¯re early,¡± the man said to Mom, pushing his hand into his cks pocket. He didn¡¯t look away from her.


    ¡°Am I?¡± Momughed, the sound echoing in the vast space. She nced down at her wrist. I didn¡¯t know why because she wasn¡¯t even wearing a watch. ¡°Oh, I am.¡± She shook her head as if she was admonishing herself, but we both knew it was an act-an act that I¡¯d seen over and over again.


    ¡°We can leave ande back,¡± I said, making myself known. My tone was sarcastic, and if the way Mom gasped was anything to go by, they¡¯d both heard it.


    ¡°Olive!¡± She shouted, as if me talking directly to the new man in her life was a crime.


    ¡°What?¡± I shrugged. ¡°We¡¯re here now, so what¡¯s the problem?¡± It took everything in me not to roll my eyes at him.


    I slid my gaze to the man, finally seeing his eyes for the first time. The ice blue was verging on gray, the coldness to them making me shiver. His dark-brown hair was longer on top and shorter on the sides, his face covered in that fashionable stubble that women seemed to like. He wasn¡¯t Mom¡¯s usual type, but then, I wasn¡¯t even sure she had a type anymore.


    ¡°Olive?¡± the man asked, his voice deep and gritty. I hated how goosebumps spread across my arms at the sound of it.


    ¡°That¡¯s me.¡± I pushed my shoulders back, standing up straighter as he walked past Mom and toward me. Every fiber in my being wanted to take a step back, but I kept my feet nted firmly on the ground.


    ¡°Do you always have an attitude?¡± His voice was lower now, and I wondered if Mom could hear him from where she was standing.


    ¡°Maybe,¡± I whispered, knowing it wasn¡¯t the truth. It was just the way I coped with new people, but it had gotten me in trouble more times than I could count.


    ¡°Hmmm.¡± He halted less than a foot away. He was so close I could smell his musky cologne. He was tall-taller than any of the other men Mom had been with. ¡°I think I like it.¡± He winked, the move so out of tune with the steely look on his face.


    I opened my mouth, but I didn¡¯t know what to say, so I closed it again, deciding silence right now was probably the better option.


    He leaned forward, just enough to look directly in my eyes. ¡°Wee to my home, Olive.¡±


    APOLLO


    I hated when people didn¡¯t follow my orders. I¡¯d built seven figure businesses by telling people what to do and not being crossed, yet this woman hade to my home several hours earlier than she should have. A woman who I knew I shouldn¡¯t have let move into my ce, but I figured it¡¯d be a change of pace, at least for a little while.


    What I hadn¡¯t bargained for was the small, beautiful woman who came with her.


    Jessie had told me she had a daughter, but I¡¯d automatically thought it would be some 10-year-old who liked to y with dolls. That wasn¡¯t what was standing in front of me right now though.


    Olive stared up at me, her chest heaving as her breaths quickened. She wasn¡¯t used to being this close to a man, that was clear, but what I hadn¡¯t expected was for my body to react the way it did.


    The subtle flowery scenting from her was so different to the mounds of perfume her mother wore constantly. And the more I stared at her, the more I realized she was theplete opposite to the woman who had given birth to her.


    ¡°How old are you?¡± I blurted out. I didn¡¯t intend to ask her that, but it was out of my mouth before I could even stop it.


    ¡°Seventeen,¡± she whispered, trailing her tongue over her bottom lip. She wasn¡¯t even aware of what she was doing. It was an innocent move-a move that drew me closer.


    I nodded, already doing the math in my head. Jessie was a year older than me, so at thirty-five, that meant she had Olive when she was eighteen.


    She¡¯s legal.


    My nostrils red at the thought. It was the truth, but still¡­


    ¡°You still in school?¡± I asked, taking a step back. I needed to put space between us before I did something. I was always the master of my destiny, in control of everything around me, but a few minutes in Olive¡¯s presence and I was already losing it.


    ¡°Yes.¡± She blinked, her longshes fanning across the top of her cheeks.


    I inhaled a breath, still not looking away from her. Why couldn¡¯t I look away? Why couldn¡¯t I turn around and head out of the door and to my meeting? I was runningte now, something that never happened, yet I couldn¡¯t bring myself to move away from her.


    ¡°I registered her in the local high school,¡± Jessie said, her voice closer. The sound of it had my back straightening and all of my thoughts wiping away. Her hand made contact with my bicep, causing me to wince. I never should have let her move in with me, even if it was temporary. But dammit, she¡¯d given me the biggest sob story, and it was right after I¡¯d fucked her, so I was sated and rxed. I¡¯d figured having someone else around this huge house would make it not feel so empty, but I was already feeling suffocated and it hadn¡¯t been an hour yet.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got work to do,¡± I announced, not acknowledging what she said. I needed to get the hell out of here. ¡°I have meetings all day, so I won¡¯t be home untilte.¡± I finally tore my gaze away from Olive, missing it the moment I turned to look at Jessie. ¡°Melinda will show you where everything is.¡± At the sound of her name, my housekeeper stepped out of the shadows.


    ¡°Hi Melinda,¡± Olive said. I closed my eyes at her voice, holding in my groan. I¡¯d never had this reaction to a woman before, least of all someone this young. But fuck, I couldn¡¯t stop. I couldn¡¯t gain control of my body. So, I spun around without saying another word and got the hell out of there.

 Chapter 94

    OLIVE


    The rm piercing through my ears was what normally woke me up, ring at me to roll out of bed and get ready for the day. There were two kinds of people in this world: those who set one rm and got up right away, and those who had to set rms for every five minutes for an hour before they needed to get up.


    I was thetter. I always had been.


    But not this morning. This morning I was already staring at my phone, waiting for it to tell me it was time to get up. Sleep had evaded me most of the night.


    Usually moving into a new ce didn¡¯t affect me. I could fall asleep practically anywhere. Not here though. I wasn¡¯t sure whether it was because I¡¯d never slept in a ce so big and fancy, or if it was because I couldn¡¯t get the sight of Apollo¡¯s eyes out of my head.


    He¡¯d stared right through me, but not in the way everyone else did. He wasn¡¯t dismissing me-he was peeking into my soul, trying to find out who I was without asking.


    I groaned, rolling over and throwing a pillow over my face. This whole situation was trouble, moving here was a mistake, but there was nothing I could do about it. Not until I¡¯d finished school anyway.


    Grinning, I pulled the pillow off of me and stared up at the pristine white ceiling. Fifteen weeks. That was all I had left. One hundred and five days of following Mom around. We¡¯d probably be out of here before then anyway. Although, it was nicer here than the rest of the ces, so maybe she¡¯d stay a little longer this time.


    I puffed out a breath. Who was I kidding? The moment we started to getfortable, she¡¯d be packing our bags and taking us on another ¡°adventure.¡± That was what she¡¯d called them when I was little, only now I knew different. Now I knew she was running from something¡­or someone. The sad thing was, I was certain it was herself she was trying to escape.


    Needing to think of anything else but the way I¡¯d been moved from city to city and state to state all of my life, I flung theforter off me and walked into the bathroom attached to my bedroom.


    It was a novelty staying in such an borate ce, and I intended to soak in every second of it while I could. So I got into the shower that had the biggest shower head I¡¯d ever seen. I took my time doing my hair in the mirror that took up most of the wall in the gigantic bathroom.


    By the time I waspletely ready, I¡¯d wasted enough time and only had ten minutes until I needed to leave to start my first day at yet another school.


    The house was silent as I opened my bedroom door and slowly walked down the hallway and down the right side of the staircase. I tried to remember which way Melinda said the kitchen was, but the ce was so big I was scared that I¡¯d get lost.


    Standing in the middle of the entryway, I looked left then right, trying to figure it out. In the end, I spun around and walked toward the right side of the house.


    Several doors were in front of me, but the one that drew my attention was in the middle. The air charged with something I¡¯d never felt before, and my feet were moving toward the door before I even realized.


    My palm touched the cold wooden surface as I pushed the door, and as soon as it was open fully, I halted, inhaling a sharp breath.


    Apollo leaned against the kitchen counter, a cup in one hand and his phone in the other. He hadn¡¯t even looked up at me, but I knew from the way his shoulders stiffened that he could sense someone was in here with him.


    I swallowed against my now drying throat, not sure whether I should say good morning or not. I opened my mouth, wincing as I couldn¡¯t get the words out. Dammit. This wasn¡¯t how I wanted my first morning here to go, but I just couldn¡¯t bring myself to act normal. Just like yesterday when I had first met him.


    Stop staring at him.


    My eyes widened at the thought, and I lurched forward. If I didn¡¯t need to get myself something to take to school for lunch, then I would have turned back around and avoideding in here altogether.


    Each of my steps toward the refrigerator were slow, my shoulders slumping to make myself seem smaller than I was. I hated intruding on someone¡¯s space.


    I nced at him out of the corner of my eye, realizing that he was standing only about four feet away from where I needed to get to.


    ¡°I just¡­¡± My voice cracked so I cleared my throat. ¡°I just need to get something for lunch.¡± It was a hint, a subtle one, but still a hint. He didn¡¯t move a single inch though, he just stayed leaning against the counter, his eyes focused on his phone, but his thumb wasn¡¯t scrolling anymore.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    I stopped a couple of feet away from him, waiting for him to move, but when he didn¡¯t, I stepped forward, squeezing past him, and opening up the refrigerator.


    A box with my name on thebel was right at the front. I frowned at it. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± I pulled it out and turned around to face Apollo, hearing the refrigerator door close behind me.


    He slowly lifted his head, cing his phone into his pocket as he did. It was then that I realized he was dressed in a suit so well fitted it couldn¡¯t have been anything but designer. Much like yesterday¡¯s suit, only this one was a dark gray.


    ¡°Looks like your lunch to me, Olive.¡± He was stating the obvious, but¡­ I didn¡¯t understand. I¡¯d never had a lunch packed for me. Mom had never- ¡°Melinda did it for you,¡± he tacked on to the end.


    ¡°Oh.¡± I stared at it, blinking rapidly, hating that I could feel tears pricking at my eyes. Something so simple shouldn¡¯t have gotten to me so much, but it did.


    ¡°Olive?¡± His voice was softer now, his tone unsure. ¡°You okay?¡± I didn¡¯t know what to say to that, or how to respond, so I just stood there, frozen to the spot. ¡°Olive?¡± His finger touched my chin, bringing my face up so that he could look at me.


    ¡°Sorry.¡± I swallowed, trying my hardest to push my emotions down the way my mom had taught me to. ¡°I know it¡¯s only a packed lunch but¡­I¡¯ve never¡­no one has ever¡­¡± I trailed off, not able to find the words to exin it.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± he whispered. ¡°You¡¯re even more beautiful when you¡¯re sad.¡±


    My breath caught in my throat, my eyes widening as I stared into his eyes. He still hadn¡¯t moved his finger from under my chin. ¡°I¡­¡±


    He stood to his full height, towering over me, his musky cologne wrapping around me like smooth velvet.


    Each breath he exhaled, I inhaled. We were trapped between the counter and the refrigerator, but I could have easily moved away from him. I just¡­ didn¡¯t. He was enticing me, drawing me in closer without saying a single word. It didn¡¯t matter what I told myself, I couldn¡¯t look away from his ice blue eyes.


    ¡°Apollo,¡± I whispered, not sure what I was trying to say, but I had a deep-seated need to say his name out loud.


    His nostrils red, his body swaying closer to me. I watched his gaze flick down to my lips, and I was helpless in my response to trail my tongue across them.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± he started, ¡°why you make me feel like I¡¯m losing all sense of control.¡±


    I wasn¡¯t sure exactly what he meant, but I¡¯d been in this man¡¯s presence twice, yet it felt like I¡¯d known him my entire life. How was that even possible? How could I feel so connected to someone so quickly?


    He wasn¡¯t just someone though¡­he was my mom¡¯stest boyfriend. That thought had me yanking back and putting as much space between us as I could. Yet I still didn¡¯t look away, not until my back hit a wall.


    ¡°I¡­I need to leave.¡± With my lunch held tightly in my hand, I spun around, practically running out of his house.

 Chapter 95

    APOLLO


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to leave!¡± Jessie shouted again, throwing her hands up in the air. She wasn¡¯t just embarrassing herself, but me too. ¡°Apollo!¡± She tried to yank her arm out of my grip, but I held on tighter, my anger fueling me as I pulled her toward the exit of the hotel we were in.


    Tonight was a work function, not just a social interaction. This was where I did a lot of business, rubbing elbows with people who also ran seven figure businesses. Most people thought deals were made in boardrooms or offices, but the reality was, they weren¡¯t.


    I¡¯d made the majority of my money by creating connections with people at these events, and in one fell swoop, Jessie had put all of that at risk.


    Olive wouldn¡¯t have behaved like that.


    My blood boiled in my veins as we finally made it outside where a town car was parked, ready to take us home.


    ¡°Let me go!¡± Jessie screamed, her voice carrying across the street. People turned to look at her, but I couldn¡¯t even slide my gaze over to her because I was goddamn disgusted with the way she acted. She¡¯d gotten so drunk that she could barely stand. It was clear she wasn¡¯t used to free drinks.


    Why the fuck did I think it was a good idea to bring her here? She wasn¡¯t anything special-never had been in the four months I¡¯d known her -but having a date to these things always went down better than when I was alone. It softened the men, but also the women who I wanted to do deals with.


    ¡°Shut the fuck up,¡± I growled, pulling her to a stop just outside of the open back door to the car. Finally, I looked down at her. Her dress was disheveled, half of her hair falling down from the borate updo she¡¯d had done on my dime, and her makeup was starting to run down her face. ¡°Get in the goddamn car, right now.¡±


    She opened her mouth then snapped it closed again as I pushed her toward the door. ¡°But-¡±


    I mmed the door behind her, not moving for several seconds as I stared at the now closed door. I needed a stiff drink and to rx, but I knew I wouldn¡¯t get any of that tonight. Instead, I had to y babysitter to a woman old enough to know better.


    Not saying a word as I rounded the back of the car and got in beside her, I stared out of the window the entire way home. It wasn¡¯t until I¡¯d carried her sleeping ass inside and to her room that I felt like I could breathe easy again. Or maybe that was because I was home¡­where Olive was.


    I didn¡¯t want to think about it too much, not after what had happenedst week. I hadn¡¯t seen her for seven days. I¡¯d heard her in her bedroom, listened in on a couple of conversations between her and Jessie, but every time I approached whatever room she was in, she¡¯d disappear, almost as if she could sense meing.


    Closing the door to Jessie¡¯s room, I then walked down the hallway, halting when I got to Olive¡¯s closed bedroom door. It would have been so easy to walk in there and take what I wanted from her. To show her the kind of person she deserved in her life, to give her everything that her mother had failed to.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    But I couldn¡¯t¡­not yet anyway. I¡¯d scare her off, I knew that, so instead of listening to the demands my body was making, I turned and walked away, heading downstairs to my home office that sat adjacent to the kitchen.


    I didn¡¯t flick the main light on, instead opting for the smallmp next to the light-brown sofa on the back wall. It was worn in all the right ces, perfectly molding to your body when sitting in it.


    A thumb of whiskey was in my hand in the blink of an eye, and as soon as my ass hit the seat, I let out a sigh of relief. If I was honest with myself, if Olive wasn¡¯t here, I¡¯d be turfing Jessie out first thing in the morning. That was what I did to any of the other women who crossed the line when it came to my business. I had a zero tolerance for that bullshit. But here I was, second guessing it because of the dark-haired girl who had captured my attention the moment she¡¯d walked into my house.


    Yanking my tie off and undoing my top three buttons, I let my head dip back, closing my eyes for just a moment to try and stave off the headache I could feel forming behind my eyes. I had too much fucking work to do over the next couple of months with a newpany I was flipping. I didn¡¯t have time for Jessie¡¯s antics.


    Footsteps had my eyes flinging open and I lifted my head, waiting to see where they wereing from and where they were heading to. The closer they got, the more my stomach rolled, nerves making an appearance for the first time since I was a pre-teen about to have my first kiss.


    Jesus Christ, what the fuck was happening to me?


    The footsteps slowed as they got closer, but I kept my gazeser focused on my open office door, knowing that whoever it was would have to walk past it to get to the kitchen.


    A shadow appeared a second before she did. And fuck me, she was a goddamn sight for sore eyes.


    Tight sleep shorts gripped her ass like metal in a vice, and her thin tank top sculpted to her chest and stomach, showing me the outline of every dip and curve of her body. I couldn¡¯t hold the groan in, and at the sound, she froze, her head spinning in my direction.


    ¡°Shit, sorry.¡± She took a step back, her eyes widening. ¡°I was just¡±- she flicked her thumb over her shoulder- ¡°getting a drink.¡±


    My mouth was dry, so I lifted my whiskey to my lips, took a sip, then tilted the ss toward her. ¡°I have a drink if you want some.¡±


    She blinked and wrapped her arms around her waist. ¡°I meant water.¡± I stared at her, not letting her look away from me for even a second. She¡¯d been avoiding me, and there was no way I was going to let her get away with that. ¡°You¡¯ve been avoiding me,¡± I gritted out, cing my ss on the table next to me.


    ¡°What? I haven¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°You have.¡± I raised a brow, daring her to lie to me again. ¡°Why?¡±


    She shook her head, her lips ttening into a straight line as her gaze veered off to the left, probably waiting to see if her mom would appear.


    ¡°She¡¯s drunk and passed out,¡± I said, answering her silent question. I wasn¡¯t sure what I expected, but it wasn¡¯t the sigh of relief that she let out.


    Olive turned her attention back to me, then the wall above my head. ¡°It¡¯s only a matter of time now.¡± I waited, giving her my silence, and seeing what else she would say. ¡°The clock¡¯s ticking.¡±


    ¡°Want to borate on that, Olive?¡±


    She snapped her gaze back to my face, her slightly widening eyes giving away that she hadn¡¯t meant to say anything, but it was toote now. ¡°Erm¡­¡± She bit down on her bottom lip, then let the plumpness go. ¡°I, Mom, I.¡± She rolled her eyes and mmed her hands on her hips. She was clearly frustrated, but I was enjoying the show she was putting on for me. My cock was rock hard, and if she¡¯d only take a few steps closer, she would have seen that. ¡°She never stays anywhere long. Normally a month or two and then she¡¯s onto the next thing and we¡¯re on the road again.¡±


    No. The thought of Olive not being in the same house as me had my earlier anger turning to full blown rage. I couldn¡¯t let her take Olive away, I couldn¡¯t let her-fuck, what the hell was happening to me? I didn¡¯t know this girl; I hadn¡¯t even touched her yet.

 Chapter 96

    Touch her, a voice in the back of my head taunted. Touch her and show her that she¡¯ll never be able to leave.


    I spread my legs wider, cracking my neck to the left as I demanded, ¡°Come here, baby girl.¡± Her chest heaved at my words, her body swaying forward, but she didn¡¯t take a single step. ¡°I won¡¯t bite.¡± I grinned, beckoning her closer with my fingers. ¡°Come in and close the door.¡±


    She took onest look toward where she¡¯de from, her indecision clear, but then at thest second, she walked into my office, clicking the door closed behind her.


    It was just me and her now.


    ¡°Closer.¡± My cock jerked as she took one step, then another, not stopping until she was directly in front of me. ¡°Sit on myp.¡±


    Her throat bobbed as she swallowed, her gaze snapping down to my obvious erection. ¡°Apollo.¡± Her voice was smooth and soft, luring me to her even more.


    ¡°Do it, baby girl. Sit on myp and feel what you do to me when I look at you.¡±


    ¡°I¡­I can¡¯t. It¡¯s wrong.¡±


    ¡°Wrong?¡± I lifted my arm, trailing the tip of my finger across her thigh.


    ¡°There¡¯s no right and wrong when ites to me. Learn that really goddam fast.¡± She shuffled on the spot, goosebumps prickling along her skin from where I was touching her. ¡°I¡¯m not your daddy, baby girl.¡± Her breaths came faster at my words. ¡°Not unless you want me to be.¡± I¡¯d never touched anyone more than five years younger than me, but the idea of Olive calling me daddy as I plunged my cock into her nearly had me exploding in my fucking cks.


    I needed her closer, I needed to touch her more than what I was already doing. ¡°Now¡­¡± I moved my finger off of her and patted my leg. ¡°Sit on me, baby girl.¡±


    She blinked, ring into my eyes like she was trying to read my mind. I wasn¡¯t sure what she was looking for, but a secondter, she climbed onto myp, spreading her legs wide so that her knees coulde on either side of me.


    ¡°I can feel you,¡± she whispered, her cheeks pinking. ¡°I¡¯ve never felt anyone¡¯s¡­¡± she trailed off, her innocence showing, and fuck if that didn¡¯t turn me on even more.


    ¡°Cock?¡± I grabbed her chin with my finger and thumb, pulling her face closer to mine. ¡°You¡¯ve never felt a cock, Olive?¡± She shook her head, giving me the answer that I wanted to hear. ¡°So your sweet cunt hasn¡¯t been touched either then?¡± She shook her head again. ¡°What about your lips?


    You ever been kissed?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she whispered.


    My stomach churned at the thought of someone else touching her, and I knew right then and there that I was done for. I was obsessed with her before I even knew her, and now all I needed was to show her.


    I pressed my palm to her chest, feeling her pounding heartbeat, then slowly dragged my hand down her stomach, over her shorts, and between her legs. A quick flick of my wrist was all it took to yank them aside, revealing her wet pussy lips to me.


    Licking my lips, I dragged my finger between her folds, making her moan so loud that I was sure she¡¯d wake her mom up. She seemed to have forgotten about that though, and I had no intention of reminding her.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    I was a respected member of society, dating the most eligible bachelorettes in town, creating connections in powerful ces, yet this 17year-old girl was bringing me to my knees and there was nothing I could do to stop it.


    ¡°You like that?¡± I asked, flicking her clit and feeling the bundle of nerves swelling, getting bigger under my fingertips, telling me without her answer that she wanted more.


    ¡°It feels so good,¡± she moaned out, grasping onto my shoulders to keep herself upright.


    ¡°Rock your hips, baby girl.¡± She did as I said, adhering to my demands and causing a smile to lift at my lips. She was responsive, more so than I could have ever imagined.


    Her head lulled forward, her hair in a messy bun on the top of her head, and I couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. I mmed my lips down onto hers, groaning at the softness of them, then plunging my tongue in her mouth the same way I wanted to thrust my cock inside her.


    I had to bide my time though. I had to make her beg me for it. I wasn¡¯t just going to torture her, but myself too.


    My fingers dragged down her slit again, stopping at her opening, then moving back to her clit. I did it over and over again as our tongues mingled together, so much so that I wasn¡¯t sure where she began and I ended.


    Everything came naturally when I touched her. Everything felt¡­right.


    ¡°More,¡± she begged, rocking her hips harder. ¡°Please, Apollo, I need more.¡±


    ¡°Whatever you want, baby girl,¡± I ground out, slowly pushing a finger inside of her. Her groan mixed with a sharp intake of breath at the intrusion, but I didn¡¯t stop. Now that I was inside her, I couldn¡¯t help myself.


    She¡¯d opened up the door, and there was nothing either of us could do to slow it down.


    I needed her now. I needed her tomorrow. I needed her every day for the rest of my life.


    She didn¡¯t know it yet, but I had no intention of letting her go. No intention of letting her mom take her away from me.


    Olive was mine the moment she walked in the door, and now this was just confirming it.


    I pulled my lips from hers, trailing kisses down her neck as my thumb rubbed back and forth on her clit and my finger opened her up wider for me.


    ¡°I want to fuck you so much right now,¡± I whispered in her ear, adding another finger into her tight cunt. ¡°It¡¯s taking everything in me not to unzip my cks, pull my cock out, and slide it into your sweet cunt.¡± I kissed behind her ear, loving the moans I got in response.


    Her hips rocked faster, her chest pushing closer to me. I hadn¡¯t even seen her tits yet, but I already knew they¡¯d be as sexy as the rest of her.


    ¡°Do it,¡± she begged, pulling back so she could look into my eyes. ¡°Fuck me, daddy.¡±


    ¡°Careful, baby girl,¡± I warned, stilling my hand but leaving my fingers inside her. ¡°Your words hold more power than you could ever imagine.¡±


    She pulled her lips up on one side, showing me a different side of her- a side I liked a fucking lot. ¡°You like that then, huh?¡± She lowered her voice, rocking her hips again, but I didn¡¯t move my fingers. ¡°You want me to call you daddy?¡±


    ¡°Jesus.¡± My cock was pulsating in my pants, desperate for some relief, so I yanked the zip down with my other hand, pushing my hips up off the sofa and pulling my pants down as far as I could without moving her off myp. ¡°Touch it,¡± I demanded. ¡°Wrap your hand around my cock and show me how much you want it inside you.¡±


    She was slow at first-too gentle-so I wrapped my hand over hers, guiding her, showing her exactly how I like it. Once I knew she¡¯d gotten the gist of it, I moved my fingers inside her, eliciting a chorus of moans from her. The faster I moved, the faster she did, and just as I felt her back straightening and her orgasm starting, I pushed her hand off me, yanked my fingers from inside her, and thrust my cock into her as far as I could go.


    She screamed, but I covered it with a kiss, swallowing her pain as I thrummed at her clit, pulling more of her orgasm from her. Pain and pleasure went hand in hand. She didn¡¯t know it yet, but it was a beautiful mixture.


    Her arms wrapped around my shoulders, her forehead resting against mine as I slowed the kiss and let her cunt get used to the size of me.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to move now,¡± I warned her a second before I grasped her hips and slid her up my cock then back down onto it. Her breaths came in spurts, her pain clear, but I couldn¡¯t deny that I enjoyed every damn second of it. I was the first one inside her, and I¡¯d make damn sure that I¡¯d be thest.


    She was young, had her whole life ahead of her, but I was a selfish bastard. I wanted what I wanted, and now that I¡¯d had her, there was no turning back. I had to make sure she stayed when her mom left, I just didn¡¯t know how. Not until I picked my pace up, taking everything from her and loving the way she milked thee from my cock.


    I stilled.


    That was the answer.


    That was the solution to make sure she never left my side.


    If I put a baby inside her-my baby-then she¡¯d have no choice but to stay.


    So, as she sat on myp, sated with mye mixing with hers and dripping all over me, I made a promise to myself and to her. She was right, the clock was ticking, time was running out until Jessie decided it was time to move onto the next fool.


    If I wasn¡¯t bold in my actions now, I¡¯d lose her. So when she fell asleep in my arms, I carried her up to her room, tucking her into bed then tucking my cock back into my pants. I was determined to find the only thing that stood in my way, but I didn¡¯t have to look far. Sitting on her bedside table was a packet of birth control.


    I swiped them away, pocketing them.


    Olive was mine and there was nothing or nobody who would stand in the way of me having what was mine.

 Chapter 97

    OLIVE


    What did I do?


    Those four words were on repeat in my head from the moment


    I opened my eyes. It was all I could think as I walked into my bathroom. All I could think as the water from the shower sted over my skin, washing my sins away.


    I¡¯d made a mistake, a huge error. I¡¯d let myself get caught up in the moment, something that I¡¯d never done before. I¡¯d betrayed my mom.


    It didn¡¯t matter that Apollo was only a temporary thing until Mom decided we needed to move on. It didn¡¯t matter that she didn¡¯t love him. It didn¡¯t matter that he was just an ATM to her.


    I¡¯d still crossed a line.


    I turned in the shower, feeling the soreness between my legs fromst night. It didn¡¯t hurt, but it felt different. Like I¡¯d lost something but also gained it at the same time. Apollo made sure that I¡¯d remember what we didst night, and if I was honest, I liked the feeling. I liked how he¡¯d left his mark on me. I liked that he¡¯d taken what he wanted.


    But it was still a mistake, one that I¡¯d never repeat.


    Which was why I stayed in the shower longer, knowing that if I waste going downstairs to leave for school, he¡¯d be gone.


    I let the water wash over me, not even turning it off when my fingers started to get crinkly. I¡¯d stay in the safety of my bathroom until I heard his car leave. I couldn¡¯t face him, not after-


    ¡°Avoiding me doesn¡¯t work, baby girl, you should know that by now.¡±


    I jumped at the sound of his voice, my back hitting the cool tiled wall and shocking me even more.


    The steamed-up ss door to the shower opened, and in Apollo stepped,pletely naked.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± I whisper shouted, ncing around as if someone could see us.


    ¡°Well¡­¡± He took a step toward me, pressing his entire body against mine and blocking me in. ¡°I was waiting for you in the kitchen, but when you didn¡¯te down¡±-he trailed his finger down my face, stopping at my lips- ¡°I figured you were avoiding me, so I came up here.¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t do this.¡± My voice was shaky with zeromitment in my tone. He heard it, and so did I.


    ¡°You don¡¯t believe that,¡± he growled, grabbing my thighs, and lifting me up. My legs worked on automatic, wrapping around his waist. ¡°And neither do I.¡± He pressed his forehead to mine, breathing me in as the water cascaded over the both of us. ¡°Are you sore?¡±


    ¡°A little.¡± I inhaled a deep breath, rxing as his cologne wafted around us. ¡°But it doesn¡¯t hurt.¡±


    His eyes red, darkening at my words. ¡°Is that you giving me the go ahead to fuck you, baby girl?¡±


    My mind was screaming no-that I couldn¡¯t do this again-but I was a ve to my body and what it wanted. I should have told him no, to let me down, to leave me alone, to not touch me ever again, but instead, what came out of my mouth was, ¡°Yes, daddy. Fuck me so I can feel you all day long.¡±


    APOLLO


    I¡¯d been in some awkward situations in my life but having Jessie on one side of me and Olive on the other side at the kitchen table had to top them all. We were all inches away from each other, yet I couldn¡¯t stopN?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    myself from reaching under the table to put my hand on Olive¡¯s leg.


    She jumped at the contact, but I didn¡¯t turn to face her, instead, I kept my gaze glued to Jessie, not really listening to what she was saying until I heard, ¡°So I was thinking of going next weekend.¡±


    ¡°Next weekend?¡± I asked, slipping my hand higher on Olive¡¯s leg. A quick nce at her told me she was staring intently at her food, trying not to give anything away.


    ¡°Yeah, the girls already have it nned, I just need to pay for my share.¡± Jessie batted her eyshes at me and pushed her chest out. She had no idea that it hadn¡¯t worked when she was the only one I was fucking, but now that I had her daughter, all it did was gross me the hell out.


    ¡°I¡¯ll pay for it.¡±


    She squealed, jumping out of her seat and wrapping her arms around my neck. ¡°Thank you, thank you, thank you! You¡¯re the best, Apollo.¡±


    Olive tried to pull away so I tightened my hand on her leg, keeping her in ce. She looked up, catching my gaze right away, her expression unsure on how to take what was happening in front of her.


    ¡°You,¡± I mouthed, trying to tell her that it was her I wanted, not the woman clinging onto me for dear life.


    Olive¡¯s shoulders slumped, her gaze moving back to her food as Jessie pulled back.


    ¡°When do you leave?¡± I asked, trying not to act like I couldn¡¯t wait for her to be gone so that me and Olive could be alone.


    ¡°Friday night.¡± She primped her hair, having not touched a single bite of her food that Melinda had cooked us. ¡°I should be back Monday morning.¡± I nodded, trying not to show my excitement, but I wouldn¡¯t deny that it was there. I¡¯d have a whole three nights of Olive to myself without Jessie around. We wouldn¡¯t have to sneak and be quiet. In fact, I had every intention of making Olive scream my name as many times as possible.


    My cock was hard just thinking about it, and I¡¯d only been inside her mere hours ago. I¡¯d fucked her every day for nine days straight, and dammit if I didn¡¯t need to be inside her again today.


    She was addictive, but she was all mine


    OLIVE


    My eyes fluttered open, my rm ring at me from the other side of the bed. I hated when I forgot to switch the damn thing off on a weekend. It was Saturday, and Saturdays were for lie-ins, not for


    getting up early when I didn¡¯t need to.


    I snapped my arm out, trying to switch it off, but as I rolled over, I screamed, my heart shooting up into my throat as a figure in the doorway scared the life out of me.


    ¡°Fuck, Apollo.¡± I pressed my hand to my chest, my heart beating a mile a minute. ¡°You scared the hell out of me.¡±


    He leaned against the door, his top half naked and only a pair of sweats on his bottom half. He wasn¡¯t homest night when I¡¯d fallen asleep. I¡¯d tried but failed to stay awake after Mom had left for her girls¡¯ weekend away.


    ¡°Is your heart racing?¡± he asked, not making a single move toward me.


    ¡°Yes.¡± I pulled theforter aside, feeling myself getting hotter the longer he stared at me. I didn¡¯t know how he did it, but he drove me crazy with just a look.


    ¡°Want me to make your heart race for a different reason?¡±


    My breaths came faster for an entirely different reason this time. ¡°Yes,¡± I murmured, not able to say no to him even if I¡¯d wanted to.


    I had moments of guilt, seconds where I second guessed what I was doing with him. But all it took was one look¡­one touch¡­and I knew there was no turning back. I was in this with him all of the way. And this weekend it was only me and him. We could do what we wanted, when we wanted.


    ¡°Strip,¡± hemanded. ¡°I don¡¯t want a single piece of clothing on your body all weekend.¡± He pushed up off the doorframe. ¡°Understood?¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± I said, nodding and pulling my top over my head, baring myself to him. I didn¡¯t hesitate to get onto my knees and pull my sleep shorts down, but as I went to drop back onto my ass, he stopped me with his hand on my stomach.


    ¡°Stay like that.¡± He stared down at me, taking his time as he took in all of my curves. ¡°You¡¯re so fucking hot like that.¡± His voice was deeper now, showing me how he felt. ¡°Touch yourself.¡± He moved his hand off my stomach and to the waistband of his sweats.


    ¡°Touch myself?¡± I asked, stroking my hand over my chest then tweaking my nipple. I may have been a virgin two weeks ago, but that didn¡¯t mean I¡¯d never touched myself. I¡¯d read somewhere once that to be able to have sexual satisfaction, you needed to know your own body more than anyone else. ¡°Here?¡± I asked, rolling my nipple as my attention moved to his cock when he pulled it out. I moved my other hand down my stomach and dipped it between my legs. ¡°Or here?¡±


    ¡°Fuck me,¡± he gritted out, grasping his cock, and tugging on it. ¡°Just like that, baby girl.¡± He moved closer,ing to the edge of the bed, but neither of us touched as we pleasured ourselves.


    ¡°You want me to put my finger inside?¡± I was already doing it as I said it, groaning at the feel. It was never the same as when he did it though. He could reach all the way back and flick my g-spot expertly.


    ¡°Show me,¡± he croaked,ing even closer. He couldn¡¯t stay away, not for long. It was empowering knowing that I had the same effect on him as he had on me.


    I dropped to my back, shucking off my sleep shortspletely, then opened my legs wide while I finger fucked myself.


    ¡°Goddammit,¡± he cursed, letting go of his cock. ¡°I¡¯ve got to touch you, baby girl.¡±


    ¡°Do it,¡± I goaded. ¡°Touch me. Fuck me. Make me so sore that I can¡¯t walk tomorrow.¡±


    He shook his head, but the grin on his face was unmistakable. ¡°I love it when you talk like that.¡±


    I pulled my fingers out of my pussy and held them up to his lips as he climbed on top of me. He didn¡¯t hesitate in sucking my juices off them.


    ¡°You like the taste of me, don¡¯t you, daddy?¡±


    His eyes red at my words. He loved when I talked like that almost as much as he loved being inside of me.


    ¡°Fuck yeah, I do.¡± He slipped between my legs like he¡¯d been doing it for a lifetime. ¡°What I like more is my cock inside you and mye filling you to the brim.¡± He ended his words with his cock entering me so hard that he pushed me up the bed with the force of it.


    ¡°I love youre inside me too,¡± I groaned. I ced my hands on either side of his face, wanting to look directly into his eyes as he thrust in and out of me. ¡°I love when it drips down my leg.¡± Humming, I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him in closer.


    ¡°Fuck me,¡± he ground out, thrusting harder and faster. ¡°I¡¯m going to make you fucking scream today, baby girl. I¡¯m going to fuck you so much that mye is going to live inside you.¡± He grabbed my thighs, his grip so hard that there was no doubt he would leave bruises. ¡°I¡¯m going toe so much that by the end of the weekend, you¡¯ll have my baby inside you and then you¡¯ll never be able to leave.¡±


    I moaned at his words, loving the way he spoke when we were fucking. It didn¡¯t enter my mind to take them seriously though. We were wrapped up in the moment, caught in the three-and-a-half-week whirlwind we¡¯d created, but deep down, I knew it was only a matter of time until this would all be over.


    So instead of analyzing what he was saying, I went along with him, enjoying every touch he graced me with, every kiss he bestowed upon me, and every bruising grip he held me with.

 Chapter 98

    APOLLO


    There was only so long that I could stare out of my office window looking down at all of the buildings below me while wishing I was somewhere else with someone else.


    I¡¯d never been this wound up over anyone in my life, but Olive had wormed herself into my mind, into my heart, and onto my fucking cock. There was no doubt that she was sore from the constant fucking, I mean, damn, even I was, but she was a drug and like the addict that I was, I found myself needing more and more of her.


    Which was why at lunchtime, I walked out of my office on the top floor of the building and into the elevator, determined to see her. I hadn¡¯t touched her since yesterday evening. It was too long to go without having her skin against mine or hearing her sweet, lyrical voice.


    It was all Jessie¡¯s fault. Since she¡¯d gotten home from the girl¡¯s trip two weeks ago, she¡¯d barely left me alone. They¡¯d only lived with me for a month and a half, but the thought of Olive not being around when I came home from work every day didn¡¯t bear thinking about. So if I had to keep Jessie upied for the time being, then I would. I¡¯d distract her with money for trips and shopping sprees. I¡¯d do just about anything to get time alone with my baby girl.


    I pulled out my phone as I slipped into my sports car, shooting off a message to Olive to tell her to meet me outside of school. If she wasn¡¯t there when I got there, I had no problem with going into the school office and pulling her from her lessons.


    I needed her more than I needed my next damn breath.


    OLIVE


    ¡°Oh god,¡± I groaned, yanking on his hair, and thrusting my hips into his face. Apollo was a master with his tongue. He knew the right spots to hit at just the right time. ¡°I¡¯m going toe!¡±


    He pulled back, stopping his assault just long enough to say, ¡°Come all over my face.¡±


    His words had me on the edge, but as soon as his tongue flicked across my clit, I exploded, my hands letting go of his hair to grip onto the hotel bed sheets.


    This wasn¡¯t the first time we¡¯de here. In fact, over thest two weeks, it had be a daily urrence. I¡¯d leave school a couple of hours early and Apollo would pick me up, then we¡¯d spend the afternoon here before going back home and ying house with my mom.


    I¡¯d barely spoken to her since we¡¯d moved here two months ago, but it wasn¡¯t like she¡¯d made the effort with me either. She was too preupied with the new friends she¡¯d made and the next designer piece of clothing she could buy with Apollo¡¯s money.


    I never knew what to think about the way he let her spend his money. It wasn¡¯t like I wanted it, in fact, I hadn¡¯t asked for a single thing from him other than his attention and his body.


    ¡°Fuck, you taste divine,¡± he sighed.


    I inhaled a deep breath, trying to push my thoughts aside, but it was getting harder and harder to do the longer time went on. Part of me wondered whether he was making Mom toofortable. She¡¯d think there was more here than there was, and even though it meant we would stay longer, it also meant she was living a lie longer than she usually would.


    I was being dishonest, but as I looked down at Apollo between my legs, I couldn¡¯t stop myself from doing it. I was caught in his trap with no desire to find a way out.


    ¡°It¡¯s gettingte,¡± I said,pletely switching the conversation up.


    We¡¯d already fucked twice this afternoon.


    He tilted his head to the side, staring up at me. ¡°You okay, baby girl?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± I answered way too quickly for him to believe me, but I knew he wouldn¡¯t push me on it. He was good at giving me the space I needed, but that didn¡¯t mean he let me get away with it. He may let it drop now, but I¡¯d have to exin it to himter. ¡°I¡¯ve just got a ton of homework to do, and Mom said she¡¯d be home tonight.¡±


    He nodded, his eyes shuttering and his expression going nk. He was so good at hiding his emotions, but normally when it was just him and I, he let me see them all. I hated the way he looked when Mom was around us. I hated not being able to nce into his eyes and know what he was thinking.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    ¡°Get cleaned up then we¡¯ll leave,¡± he said, pushing up off the bed and holding his hand out for me.


    I was quicker in the bathroom than I normally would be, my silence echoing around us as we left the upscale hotel room, checked out, then went to the parking lot adjacent to the building.


    ¡°Olive,¡± he murmured, stopping me at the back of his car. ¡°You know you can tell me anything, right?¡±


    I stared up at him, hating how tears sprung to my eyes. I refused to let them fall though. ¡°I know¡­I just¡­¡± I puffed out a breath and stepped into his open arms, loving the safety that they gave me. ¡°I just hate all the secrecy.¡±


    ¡°I get it.¡± He ced his forehead to mine then pressed a soft kiss to my lips. ¡°It won¡¯t be forever though, okay? Just until you turn eighteen.¡±


    My eighteenth birthday was my milestone. It was just under two months away, yet it felt like an entire lifetime. ¡°When I¡¯m eighteen,¡± I repeated, sighing as I pressed the side of my head to his chest, using his heartbeat to center me. ¡°It can¡¯te quick enough.¡±


    ¡°Tell me about it,¡± hemented, chuckling.


    I pulled back, smiling up at him then lifting onto my tiptoes to press my lips against his, but as I ced my feet back onto the ground fully, a car caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. A car I recognized.


    ¡°Was that Mom?¡± I asked, frowning as it exited the parking lot.


    ¡°No, she¡¯s at home,¡± Apollo assured me. ¡°Which is where you should be heading now, I¡¯ve got one more meeting, so I won¡¯t be home untilte.¡±


    I nodded, still staring at the now empty spot where I¡¯d seen the car speed by. Maybe I was seeing things. Maybe all this secrecy was getting to me more than I thought it was.

 Chapter 99

    APOLLO


    My phone buzzed on the conference table in the middle of the meeting, over and over again, the same name popping up each time.


    I couldn¡¯t answer, not until the presentation was over and I was out of the room. As soon as I stepped into the hallway, it buzzed again.


    ¡°Melinda-¡±


    ¡°Mr. Apollo!¡± The sound of crashing echoed through the line. ¡°Miss


    Jessie is going crazy.¡±


    ¡°You tell that piece of shit that I¡¯m going to sue him for every fuckin¡¯ penny he has!¡± Another crash sounded out.


    ¡°Mom! Stop it!¡±


    ¡°Stop it?¡± Sheughed, the sound manic. ¡°I¡¯m not listening to a whore. I fucking saw you. I saw you with him! How long have you been fucking him, huh?¡±


    ¡°No, Miss Jessie, don¡¯t hurt her.¡±


    ¡°Fuck!¡±


    I was running toward the elevator before I¡¯d ended the call. I needed to get there within minutes, and luckily it was after rush hour traffic, so every light I whizzed through with ease. But by the time I pulled up at the house, it had taken me fifteen minutes and Jessie was throwing thest bag into the trunk of her car and mming it closed.


    ¡°You!¡± She ran at me as I opened my door and flung herself toward me. I tried to veer away from her, but she was like a damn cat, her ws for nails scraping down my face. ¡°I¡¯ll have you arrested for what you¡¯ve done!¡± Iughed, knowing it would drive her even crazier than she already was. ¡°Seventeen is the age of consent here, Jessie. You should learn the damnw before threatening someone with it.¡± I pushed her off me, not caring that she went tumbling to the ground. ¡°If you¡¯ve touched one hair on her head¡­¡± I trailed off as Olive came through the front door, her own suitcase in tow. ¡°Olive¡­¡±


    I stepped toward her, but Jessie was quicker than I thought, blocking my path in an instant. ¡°You¡¯ll never have her.¡± She grinned manically up at me. ¡°I¡¯m taking her away and you¡¯ll never see her again.¡± She puffed her chest out as if she¡¯d won, but she had no idea what I¡¯d been doing to make sure Olive could never leave me.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have a say,¡± I ground out, grasping her biceps to move her out of the way.


    ¡°I do until she¡¯s eighteen.¡± God-fuckin-dammit.


    ¡°Say your goodbyes, Olive,¡± she sang, her smile making me shiver. She was enjoying this way too much. ¡°Because you¡¯ll never see him again.¡± She pulled her arms out of my grip, taking onest look at me then spun around and got into her car.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Olive didn¡¯t hesitate as she flung her suitcase into the back of the car and ran toward me.


    My arms wrapped around her, just like they had only hours ago in the parking lot. She¡¯d been right, her mom had seen us there.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be back, baby girl.¡±


    She shook her head, not believing me. ¡°I won¡¯t. I never know where I¡¯m going until we get there.¡±


    I grasped her face in my hands, bending at my knees as I stared directly into her eyes. ¡°You will. I know you will.¡± I hated the tears that were streaming down her face, but there was nothing I could do while she was still in school. She only had two months left until she turned eighteen, and once she did, she could do whatever she wanted. Little did she know she wouldn¡¯t have a choice but toe back to me.


    ¡°This is it for us,¡± she whispered, her breathsing faster.


    ¡°It¡¯s not,¡± I ground out. ¡°I fucked you every day for two months. I made sure that mye was inside you at least once a day.¡± My nostrils red, my instinct to snatch her away from what Jessie was doing hit me tenfold. ¡°I told you I was going to put a baby inside you.¡± I paused, letting my words sink in. ¡°As soon as that plus sign shows up on the test, you call me.¡± She blinked up at me as I slipped my business card into her pocket. ¡°You¡¯re mine, Olive. You have been from the moment Iid eyes on you.¡± I pressed my forehead to hers, kissing her gently. ¡°It¡¯s only a matter of time, baby girl.¡± I pulled back, letting my hands drop from her face. ¡°I¡¯ll be right here waiting for you.¡±


    OLIVE


    8 WEEKS LATER


    I stared at the first test. Then the second one. And finally, the third.


    He wasn¡¯t lying. I¡¯d thought his words weren¡¯t true, but they were.


    He¡¯d done everything he could from the moment I met him to put a baby inside me. He wanted to trap me, just like my mom had done.


    My shaky hand held his business card as I stared at the screen of my phone. I opened up a new message to him, but I couldn¡¯t bring myself to type the words he¡¯d wanted me to.


    I was eighteen now, legally allowed to do what I wanted. I could vote. I could leave school. I could get my own ce. But he¡¯d taken that away from me by doing this. He wasn¡¯t any better than my mom, the woman who I hadn¡¯t seen since the morning of my eighteenth birthday three days ago. See, now she didn¡¯t have to worry about lugging another body around with her. She was free. That was what she¡¯d said to me as she packed her car with her suitcases and left me in a motel with the room paid for a month.


    My time was running out with everything. But this was what Apollo had wanted. He wanted me to have no other choice but to go back to him.


    I was letting myself be controlled by yet another person.


    My hand moved to my stomach, my gaze meeting my face in the mirror.


    I wasn¡¯t going to repeat what my mom had done. I wasn¡¯t going to put my own convenience first. There was no doubt I¡¯d fallen in love with Apollo over those couple of months, but this wasn¡¯t just about him and I anymore. This was about the baby growing inside me.


    So instead of messaging him to tell him that his final words to me were true, I closed out the message, pushed my shoulders back, determined to find my own way.


    It didn¡¯t matter if I fell t on my face over and over again, all that mattered was that I was the best version of myself for the life that was growing inside me.


    Apollo may have forced this on me, but I was going to make sure I was never controlled another day in my life.

 Chapter 100

    TAKEN BY NIKOLAI


    Yelena


    ¡°Ms. Taylor, wee,¡± the older gentleman says with a slight bow as soon as I step foot outside the airport. I blink at the harsh light. God, it¡¯s nine in the damn morning and this man is very cheerful.


    I grimace at the man using my mother¡¯s maiden name. No one calls me Taylor, it¡¯s disrespectful in our world. I am Yelena Alekseeva, the daughter of Lev Alekseev, the granddaughter of Maskim Alekseev, and the greatgranddaughter of Alexi. Two of the greatest Bratva leaders of our time and yet here, I am Ms. Taylor.


    ¡°Mr. Vasiliev is expecting you.¡± His Russian ent is not as heavy as I had expected, but it¡¯s there enough to let everyone know that the man¡¯s heritage is in fact Russian.


    ¡°Thank you¡­¡± I leave the word hanging, wanting to know his name.


    He smiles brightly at me, the lines in his face deepening, his eyes lighting up with the smile. This man is genuine and I like that. ¡°Pavel, miss.¡± He takes my luggage and we walk toward the waiting vehicle.


    I incline my head as I take his hand. ¡°Well, Pavel, please call me Yelena. Miss Taylor is what my mom would prefer.¡±


    His lips curl at the ends. I¡¯m not in the least bit surprised that the man dislikes my mother. Most people do, my family included. ¡°That¡¯s probably true.¡±


    I can¡¯t help but smile at his assessment. ¡°Trust me, it is. So tell me,


    Pavel, what¡¯s Texas like?¡±


    It¡¯s hot as Hades and that¡¯s something that I¡¯m not used to, but I¡¯m here for a while to recuperate, per my grandfather¡¯s wishes.


    His chuckle is low as he opens the car door for me. ¡°I think you may like it, Yelena.¡± He closes the door once I¡¯m inside and loads my luggage into the trunk.


    I pull the seatbelt on, fighting back the whimper as pain rips through my side. God, it sucks being shot.


    ¡°Are there any good clubs?¡± I ask once he climbs into the car. It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve let my hair down and that¡¯s something that I n on doing a lot of while I¡¯m here.


    ¡°Crimson,¡± he responds instantly as he starts the car up.


    ¡°I¡¯ll check it out,¡± I reply with a smile, d that my mother¡¯s husband sent Pavel to collect me from the airport.


    ¡°What¡¯s Niki like?¡± I question after a few minutes of silence.


    My mother married him six months ago. I was invited to the wedding, but just like the previous three beforehand, I decided to do without the drama. After all, Niki makes my mother¡¯s sixth husband and she¡¯s not even fifty yet. The woman gives a whole new meaning to the word gold digger. The man in question is thirty-nine and probably the most dangerous man in the Russian Mafia outside of my grandfather. He¡¯s ten years my mother¡¯s junior, something I wouldn¡¯t have expected. She usually goes for older guys.


    He coughs deeply once. ¡°Mr. Vasiliev is one of the best men that I know. He is a great man to work for. It is an honor.¡± The loyalty in his words is not unexpected, but the sincerity is. It tells me a lot and I¡¯m slightly pleased that he has managed to instill this loyalty in his staff. It makes me wonder what the hell he¡¯s doing married to my mother.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    I have also done some digging on my newest stepfather. Something I do each and every time she gets married. Except this time, instead of going for the usual older millionaires, my mother has reverted back to her old ways and gone for a member of the Bratva. Of course, this time she fucked up by marrying the Pakhan of Texas. I should have realized when she told me his name was Niki that he was a member of the Bratva.


    ¡°How long are you staying in Austin for, Yelena?¡± Pavel questions as we drive toward my mother¡¯s house.


    ¡°I¡¯m not really sure yet. A few weeks, maybe a month.¡± Unfortunately I have to stay until I¡¯mpletely healed; thest thing I want to do is deal with a pissed off grandfather. That¡¯s worse than dealing with my mother.


    He nods. ¡°I¡¯ll be your driver while you¡¯re here,¡± he informs me and I smile. I can deal with that. ¡°As long as you¡¯re happy with me doing so.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Pavel, that would be great. Thank you.¡± I settle back in the seat and pull my cell from my purse. I quickly send a text message to my grandfather letting him know that I made it to Austin.


    Fifty minutester and Pavel is pulling into a long winding driveway. I¡¯m not surprised at thevish home my mother has; she¡¯s always wanted the best.


    Pavel opens my door once he¡¯s parked out front. ¡°I¡¯ll bring your luggage to your room, Mr. Vasiliev and Ms. Taylor are waiting for you.¡±


    More disrespect from him calling my mother Ms. Taylor rather than Mrs. Vasiliev, but then again, I know how much of a bitch the woman who birthed me truly is.


    ¡°Thank you, Pavel, it was lovely to meet you,¡± I tell him as I press a kiss against his cheek after he helps me out of the vehicle.


    His face flushes red, but the older gentleman smiles widely at me. ¡°My pleasure, Yelena, please don¡¯t hesitate to call me if you need to go anywhere.¡±


    I nod as I move toward the steps that lead up to the house. ¡°I will.¡±


    I enter the house and take everything in. The crystal vases, the white walls, and expensive paintings. Everything screams my mother¡¯s stamp on it. Walking toward the sound of voices, I spot a room to my left. It¡¯s not as bright and airy like the rest of the house that I¡¯ve seen. It¡¯s got a huge sectional couch, and an even bigger TV system. This has to be Niki¡¯s doing, there¡¯s not a chance that my mom would have a couch that big.


    ¡°Ah, Lena, there you are,¡± my mother says as I step into the kitchen. It¡¯s been almost a year since Ist saw her, in that time she¡¯s changed a lot. Her face is thinner, there¡¯s no lines on her face-thanks to the face lift she had -and she¡¯s lost weight. She looks good. Her blonde hair is pinned up into a perfect updo, not a single hair out of ce.


    She rushes over to me and pulls me into her arms. I suck in a sharp breath as she jostles me. ¡°I missed you,¡± she cries.


    I roll my eyes. God, she¡¯s such an actress, I really think she¡¯d do well in Hollywood, she¡¯s that good.


    A deep cough steals my attention. I nce to my left and my breath catches as I see the most gorgeous man that I have ever seen sitting at the kitchen table. His jaw is chiseled and covered by thick ck stubble, his eyes the warmest brown I¡¯ve ever seen, his ck hair short, but enough to pull if you wanted.


    His gaze moves up and down my body and those brown eyes of his heat, and when he reaches my face, he winks at me. Fucking winks. Power and authority radiate off him; he¡¯s sex and sin mixed into one dangerous man. I swallow hard, praying that he¡¯s not around much.


    ¡°Adele.¡± His deep voice makes my knees go weak. ¡°Let your girl breathe,¡± he tells my mother. No-instructs her.


    She pulls back and straightens her dress. ¡°Of course, of course,¡± she says and steps back, but I see the anger swirling in her blue eyes. She¡¯s beyond pissed that he¡¯s telling her what to do. My mother hates being dictated to and rebels against it at every chance.


    ¡°Take a seat,¡± she tells me. ¡°Niki has been dying to meet you.¡±


    ¡°Liar,¡± I whisper as I move away from her, trying my hardest to ignore the heated gaze from Niki.


    ¡°Are you hungry?¡± she asks me and I¡¯m wondering who the hell this woman is and what has she done with my actual mother.


    ¡°No I¡¯m good, thanks, but I wouldn¡¯t turn down some coffee.¡±


    I take a seat beside Niki and the man doesn¡¯t hide the fact that he¡¯s not taking his eyes off me. His gaze firmly on the swell of my breasts that are currently on disy thanks to my bodice.


    I spy the tattoos peeking out from under his shirt cor, not to mention the ones that are on his hands. I want nothing more than to see what others he has hidden beneath his clothing. Every member of the Bratva has tattoos -myself included-detailing our lives and what we have achieved. Niki, being the Pakhan, would have more than most. I¡¯m intrigued to discover what secrets he holds.


    ¡°Of course,¡± she says as she moves to get me one. I don¡¯t like this side of her, she¡¯s after something, there¡¯s no way she¡¯d be this attentive if she wasn¡¯t.


    ¡°Lena, right?¡± Niki says, his voice deep and smooth.


    My nipples pebble beneath my top and my stomach flips. Why am I having this reaction to him? He¡¯s not the first attractive man that I¡¯ve ever seen.


    I nod. ¡°Yes, most people call me Lena, although it¡¯s Yelena,¡± I tell him as my mother ces a cup of coffee in front of me.


    ¡°Oh, Lena, I forgot to tell you,¡± she begins and I sit back in my chair, the coffee cup to my lips, and I raise a brow. ¡°I¡¯ll be gone for the next two weeks, you¡¯ll be okay here without me, won¡¯t you?¡±


    I smile, I should have known that she wouldn¡¯t have stayed around. ¡°I have been for the past twenty-five years, I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll survive another two weeks.¡±


    Her eyes narrow but she releases a high-pitchedugh. ¡°Be good, you have my number. Call if you need me,¡± she tells me and turns on her thousand-dor heels and walks out of the kitchen.


    ¡°You won¡¯t call her, will you?¡± Niki questions once we hear the front door close.


    I take a sip of coffee. ¡°Nope,¡± I reply.


    He makes a low growl in the back of his throat. ¡°You don¡¯t get along?¡±


    I get to my feet, the cup in my hands. ¡°You¡¯re a powerful man, Niki, you¡¯d have been better to do your research before you married a woman


    you barely know. Now if you¡¯ll excuse me, I¡¯m tired.¡±


    I get as far as the door before his hand mps around my arm. The grip tight, and I can feel the angering off him in waves. He spins me around, so that we¡¯re facing one another. I tilt my head to look up at him. The man is six-foot-nine, dwarfing my five-foot-ten height. ¡°Answer the question, Yelena.¡± The way he growls my name has heat pooling between my legs.


    ¡°No, we don¡¯t get along. My mother is selfish, as you¡¯ve probably worked out seeing as you didn¡¯t say goodbye to her. Adele Taylor cares


    about one person in her life, Niki, and that¡¯s herself.¡±


    ¡°You think I¡¯m with your mother?¡± He grunts as he pulls me closer. My body shivering as he runs his tattooed finger down my cheek. ¡°No, malenkaya, I¡¯m not.¡±


    I stare up at him, confused by his words. He¡¯s calling me little one. I¡¯m nowhere near little. Althoughpared to him, I guess I am. I stare into his warm eyes and the air around us crackles. My lips feel dry and I swipe my tongue along them.


    His eyes darken as he steps back and releases me, I feel the instant loss of him and I hate that I¡¯m feeling this way. I don¡¯t do attachments and I certainly don¡¯t get involved with anyone in this life. The criminal life- been there, done that. But Niki, he¡¯s dangerous. He¡¯s my mother¡¯s husband and I¡¯m not going there. No matter how much I want him.


    ¡°Be good, malenkaya, I¡¯ll be watching,¡± he warns me and goes back to sitting at the table.


    I leave the kitchen, needing to breathe. This isn¡¯t good. God, being around Niki isn¡¯t right. I need to steer clear. He¡¯s my mother¡¯s husband after all.

 Chapter 101

    Niki


    It¡¯s been a week since I¡¯ve seen the tempting vixen. I have wanted her from the very moment Iid eyes on her. Before that even. Christ. The picture did not do her justice. She¡¯s home right now, I heard her moving around in her room, it¡¯s why my cock is currently trying to burst out of my pants.


    I pull out my cell and call Stefan, one of my enforcers, needing someone I trust to find out what the fuck my bitch of a wife is up to. ¡°Find her, and, Stefan, I want to know where she is and who she¡¯s with. Make sure you¡¯re not caught.¡±


    ¡°On it, boss, what mother takes off the moment their child shows up?¡± he questions and it¡¯s a valid point, something that I have been asking myself. ¡°Marrying her, was it worth it?¡±


    He¡¯s the only person alive that would survive by asking me that question. ¡°The reason I married her walked through my door seven days ago. So yes.¡±


    ¡°Then it¡¯s time to divorce the suka,¡± he chuckles. We both know what ¡°divorcing¡± means. Her time wille, not that Yelena would be upset if her mother was to take a permanent dip in the Colorado River. The hatred I saw in Yelena¡¯s eyes tells me there¡¯s a lot that Adele has left out, and I¡¯m going to figure it all out and when I do, her time will be over.


    ¡°Find out what she¡¯s up to,¡± I repeat and end the call. d that it¡¯ll all be over soon; six months with that bitch is too fucking long.


    I finish my breakfast and go to my office. Something that Yelena said has me wondering what I¡¯ve missed. I had Anton, my tech guy, do a deep dive into Adele as soon as I realized who she was, I needed to know everything about her.


    Adele was married to Lev Alekseev, making Yelena the daughter of Lev. She¡¯s Bratva royalty in New York. I want the ties that being unified with this family will bring. The Alekseev Bratva have the best assassin on their payroll, someone I want for myself, not to mention Maksim Alekseev took over from his brother just over three years ago and has rebuilt to be a powerful army. One that is matched only by the Italians and Irish.


    I reach for my cell. It¡¯s time to find out what the fuck we¡¯ve missed. ¡°Boss?¡± he answers with a yawn.


    ¡°Anton, we missed something in Adele¡¯s background. Find out what.¡± I demand and end the call; he shouldn¡¯t be sleeping on my dime.


    Unlocking the cab, I pull out the folder that Antonpiled almost eight months ago. Details of Adele¡¯s life and that of her daughter¡¯s. I read through every detail twice, trying to figure out what exactly Yelena knows that I don¡¯t. Yet nothing ising to me. I¡¯m going to have to wait for Anton to get me the rest of the details, he¡¯s obviously missed something.


    Stepping out of the office, I hear water running from the shower and grit my teeth. There¡¯s no fucking way I can stay here while she showers. If I do, I¡¯ll lose my control and join her. I storm out of the house, my cock rockhard at the thought of my sexy stepdaughter naked and wet.


    I hear humminging from the kitchen as I enter the house. It¡¯s almost two in the morning, the lights were off as I came up the drive. I assumed she was asleep, but as I move toward the sound, I see that there¡¯s a dimly litmp on, illuminating the room enough so that I can see her. She¡¯s sitting at the table dressed in an oversized tee. Her long blonde hair loose and falling to her breasts, her knees to her chest, allowing me to see her creamy thighs. She¡¯s not seen me yet, her gaze glued to her cell.


    It¡¯s like a sucker punch, same as the first time I saw her. The pull she has on me is like a ma, one that I can¡¯t deny. I move silently toward her, this woman is calling to me like a siren. My cock thick against my pants. I want her. Fuck me, I want her more than I should.


    ¡°Malenkaya, why are you awake?¡± I ask as I continue my strides toward her.


    She raises her head and then a brow at me. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she says, her ent tinged with a little Russian. ¡°What is it to you? I¡¯m not a child.¡±


    My cock twitches at her disrespect. I am the man of the house, the Pakhan, she needs to learn that. ¡°You are the daughter of Lev, did you not learn how to respect your elders?¡± My voice is deeper with authority.


    I watch as she shivers. I know that she wants me and I sure as fuck want her-no, need-I need her. But the little witch merely smirks at me. ¡°Disloyalty, Niki, is the bigger sin. I am loyal to my grandfather, so respecting you is not on my priority list.¡± She goes back to her cell, dismissing me.


    Oh the little girl has rattled the beast. She¡¯s in for a surprise.


    I move quickly, my footsteps not making a sound on the tiled floor, until I¡¯m standing behind her. I wrap my hand round her neck, feeling her pulse strum beneath. It doesn¡¯t elevate when she feels me behind her. No, in fact, she doesn¡¯t seem to be even slightly affected. Except I know she is. I can smell the sweet scent of her arousal in the air.


    I release her throat and pull the chair backward, her feet fall to the floor and she stands up, whirling around to face me, her cell phone discarded on the table. ¡°What the hell is your problem?¡± she hisses at me.


    The anger shing in her eyes has my cock thickening even more. I tower over her, pushing her back until she¡¯s lying on the table. ¡°The moment you walked into this house, you have tested me.¡±


    Her lips twist into a snarl. ¡°Tested you? You are delusional, Niki.¡±


    My fingers curl around the neck of her tee, possessiveness rearing its ugly head. An emotion that I¡¯m not familiar with. ¡°Who¡¯s is this?¡± I demand.


    ¡°Nik-¡±


    I silence her with a look. ¡°Who does this belong to?¡±


    She doesn¡¯t answer me, making me rage at the thought of her wearing something belonging to another man. I pull at the seam; it doesn¡¯t take long before the material is ripping-the only sound we can hear. Her eyes are wide as she stares at me in horror. Maybe now she¡¯ll think twice about provoking me.


    The material falls from her body, leaving her naked except for the tiny red panties that she wears. I take in every inch of her pale skin, my hands skimming along her silky-smooth legs up to her pussy that¡¯s covered by the barely-there panties. My gaze moves up to her taut stomach, and that¡¯s when I see that she has a white bandage covering her left ribs.


    ¡°What happened?¡± I ask, my finger grazing the bandage.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± she replies thickly. ¡°But I¡¯d really like it if you¡¯d let me up.¡±


    My chuckle is humorless. ¡°Not going to happen, malenkaya.¡± Then I spy the tattoo that¡¯s on her right side and the anger that rips through me is unlike no other. A ck-and-white gun surrounded by roses, the letter K scripted on the gun¡¯s handle tells me she¡¯s a killer. The drops of blood that drip from the roses count for each kill. I see at least three dozen droplets.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Above that tattoo is another-the Alekseev Bratva insignia. That tattoo alone tells me more than enough. ¡°Your grandfather inducted you into the family,¡± I hiss, it¡¯s a statement.


    She pushes me off of her, the strength she has is more than I expected for her height. ¡°You do not judge me,¡± she snarls, her lips thinning.


    My hand wraps around her wrists and I pull her toward me, our bodies colliding. She gasps when she feels my rock-hard cock against her stomach. ¡°No, malenkaya. I¡¯m not judging you.¡± I tell her as I caress her face, the sheer beauty could bring a man to his knees. I have a feeling that she¡¯ll bring me to mine. ¡°Your grandfather on the other hand¡­¡± I leave the words hanging in the air between us.


    ¡°What I do is none of your business,¡± she whispers, the fight and bluster leaving her. ¡°It¡¯s my life and I have lived it the way I want to for a long time. I don¡¯t need a father in my life.¡±


    I chuckle, pressing my cock against her. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be your father. I want to be a whole fucking lot more, melenkaya.¡±


    She nces up at me, her lips parted, her eyes wide and pleading. It snaps the veryst bit of control that I have. My lips crash down against hers, my fingers going to those useless panties-that barely cover anything -and tear them from her body. She gasps, her body tensing and she struggles against me. I use the shock to slide my tongue between her lips, taking everything that I want.


    I push her back against the table, her legs parting for me as she finally gives into the kiss, her body rxing slightly. My hands glide up her inner thighs, my fingers tracing the outside of her bare pussy. I slide a finger inside of her, stifling a groan at the tightness of her. My finger encased in her warm heat.


    ¡°No,¡± she grunts, pulling her mouth away from mine as she tries to close her legs.


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me,¡± I growl as I thrust my finger deeper inside of her. ¡°Dorogaya, you are going toe for me,¡± I snarl as I wrap my other hand around her throat. She does not deny me. ¡°Your pussy is drenched, malenkaya. You want to tell me again that you don¡¯t want this?¡± I add


    another finger into the warm heat. (Sweetheart)


    She gasps at the brutal thrust. ¡°You¡¯re married-¡± She moans as I finger fuck her. She wille for me, I¡¯m not stopping until she does. ¡°To my mother,¡± she snarls.


    ¡°That, malenkaya, is because I need something. Had I met you first, believe me, dorogaya, you would be my wife now.¡±


    Sheughs. ¡°Anyone will do, huh? Why not go find a whore and fuck.¡±


    I add yet another finger, this time she cries out. I¡¯m stretching her, getting her ready for when I fuck her with my cock. ¡°I don¡¯t want anyone, Lena, I want you.¡±


    I¡¯ve wanted her since the moment I saw her picture, but I didn¡¯t expect to have my control shredded the very second I saw her in person.


    My thrusts are punishing, there¡¯s no let up. ¡°Kanchay dlya menya, moya malenkaya shlyushka,¡± I demand.


    ¡°Niki,¡± she cries out as she detonates, her pussy contracting around my fingers, her juices soaking them. ¡°Bastard,¡± she hisses. Her breathinging out in pants.


    ¡°Oh, malenkaya, you have no idea, I¡¯ve just started with you.¡± I withdraw my fingers and pull her from the table. ¡°Onto your knees, dorogaya.¡±


    Her gaze is filled with defiance. She has no idea that her disobedience only makes me harder. I push her to her knees despite her resistance. My fingers grip her jaw as I release my aching cock from my pants.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to suck this, malenkaya,¡± I instruct her, pushing my cock past her lips. ¡°Don¡¯t stop until I tell you.¡±


    I thrust deep into her mouth, the tip hitting the back of her throat and she gags, but like a good girl, she doesn¡¯t stop. ¡°That¡¯s it, horoshaya malenkaya shlyushka, don¡¯t stop.¡± (Good little whore)

 Chapter 102

    Yelena


    I¡¯m truly going to hell now. His fingers are heaven, the man knows how to please a woman. But we shouldn¡¯t be doing this, he¡¯s married to my mother-he¡¯s my stepfather.


    The grip he has on my jaw is punishing. He¡¯s angry because I¡¯ve denied him. Did he really expect me to jump on him? The man is freaking married.


    He pushes his cock into my mouth, the thickness of it almost choking me as it hits the back of my throat. I gag, but push through it, breathing through my nose, I rx my jaw and let him take control.


    ¡°That¡¯s it, horoshaya malenkaya shlyushka, don¡¯t stop,¡± he praises me. My nipples pebble at his words. Never did I think I would enjoy being called a good little whore, but his words send tingles throughout my body.


    His hand tangles into my hair and he begins to fuck my mouth. He¡¯s taking everything he wants his way. I¡¯m merely here for the ride. His other hand goes to my neck, his fingers caressing my skin. The possessive gleam in his eyes is a far cry from the tender way that he¡¯s caressing my neck. Within seconds, the tenderness is gone as he wraps his calloused fingers around my neck, thrusting his cock deep into my throat.


    ¡°I can feel my cock here,¡± he growls. ¡°Keep going, moya prekrasnaya malenkaya shlyushka.¡± (My beautiful little slut.)


    His grip on my hair tightens, bing incredibly painful and tears spring from my eyes, but the pain only heightens my pleasure. His thrusts be even harder, punishing, his cock batting against the back of my throat. I can¡¯t stop the moan that bursts from me.


    His eyes darken, going from the warm brown that stole my breath when I firstid eyes on him to almost ck. ¡°That¡¯s it malenkaya, moan for me.¡± His fingers flex around my neck, causing me to release yet another moan.


    I¡¯m soaked. I¡¯ve never been this turned on, my juices are running down my thighs. I want more. I need some relief. As sick as it is, I know that Niki is the only man that can elicit this type of response from me. At twenty-five I¡¯m not inexperienced. I¡¯ve been in a few rtionships and I enjoy sex, but nothingpares to this.


    ¡°Release me,¡± hemands.


    The authority in his voice has me releasing his cock instantly. I sit back on my knees and look up at him. He¡¯s an opposing figure with his tall muscr frame, chiseled looks, and the dangerous gleam in his eyes; he¡¯s the ultimate bad boy. The one that ha me a quivering mess with just a smoldering look. Not that I¡¯d ever show him that.


    His hands go to my arms, and he effortlessly lifts me in the air and pushes me down on the table. The moment I¡¯m on my back he grips my thighs and thrusts into me with the same brutality as he¡¯s been treating me this evening. My back arches as his cock pierces me, filling me so much that I¡¯m crying from the pain. ¡°Niko-¡±


    ¡°No,¡± he snarls, cutting my words off. He pistons in and out of me like a man on a mission. The grip he has on my thighs is painful and will no doubt leave bruises tomorrow. Even with the brutal thrusts, my body is once again climbing, this man is taking me to new heights. He¡¯spletely wrecking me for anyone else. How am I supposed to pretend that this hasn¡¯t happened?


    I gasp when he slows his movements, pulling out of me until all that¡¯s left is just his thick mushroomed head. He glides slowly back into me, his cock filling me inch by inch. Allowing me to feel everything, every rib of his cock.


    ¡°Condom,¡± I cry as he ms into me once again.


    ¡°Never, Lena,¡± he growls, his eyes narrowing on me. ¡°Never with you.¡±


    I re at him. He¡¯s such an ass. ¡°Bastard,¡± I hiss. ¡°This is the only time this will happen.¡± I tell him adamantly. I¡¯ve made mistakes in my life. Who hasn¡¯t? But this-this is beyond belief.


    He pulls out of me, and I hold back the whimper, hating that I miss the connection.


    The anger is pouring off him in waves. Something I¡¯vee to realize with Niki is that the man hates to be told no. I¡¯m pulled off the table, his eyes once again almost ck. Even though he looks like the devil, he¡¯s still by far the sexiest man that I have everid eyes on.


    He bends me over the table, my ass in the air, his fingers tangled in my hair. ¡°Lena,¡± he growls against my ear as he savagely thrusts into me. ¡°You are mine.¡± He withdraws only to harshly plow into me again. ¡°I will fuck you whenever I want and, malenkaya, as much as you pretend that you


    don¡¯t want it, your pussy and your body tell me otherwise.¡± Oh, he¡¯s a bastard.


    ¡°Kanchay Alya menya, moya malenkaya Shlyushka.¡± e for me, my little whore.)


    His grip in my hair tightens as he pulls, my back arching so that I¡¯m flush against him. His fingers find my clit, he strums at the puckered nub like a skilled musician.


    I detonate. Utterly shatter at hismand. My thighs quiver, my breathes out in pants. I¡¯m utter mush. Niki doesn¡¯t care that I¡¯m unable to form a coherent thought. He continues to fuck me into oblivion losing himself in me. He¡¯s searching for his release.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t a one-time thing,¡± he growls, his hips pistoning as he pulls tighter on my hair. ¡°You are mine.¡±


    My spine straightens. God no. I try to move but he¡¯s too strong. ¡°Mine, malenkaya, you are mine.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I hiss. ¡°My mother is yours.¡±


    Hisughter is humorless. ¡°No, Lena, she is not. Marrying her was a mistake.¡± He ms into me. ¡°This however is not. So, yes. Lena, you are mine.¡± He pushes into me, burying himself to the hilt. Unloading string after string of cum inside of me.


    I copse onto the table. My bodypletely spent. He presses a kiss against the outer shell of my ear. ¡°My beautiful Lena,¡± he whispers as he pulls out of me, I wince at the movement.


    I turn over, his cum leaking down my thigh, and stare at him, finding his eyes on me, his gaze intense as he stares at my naked body. The heat of his eyes has my body igniting.


    Guilt hits me hard as I stare at his semi-erect cock. Everything we did was wrong-but oh so right. He¡¯s not mine. I shouldn¡¯t have touched him.


    Shame fills me.


    ¡°Yelena,¡± he says, his voice thick with lust.


    ¡°What?¡± I ask, my defiance back in full force.


    ¡°I meant what I said, malenkaya, you are mine.¡±N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    I jump to my feet, beyond annoyed at his words. How many times is he going to repeat himself? It doesn¡¯t change anything. ¡°No, I¡¯m not. Christ, Niki. What we did was wrong on so many levels.¡± My gaze goes to his cock once again. ¡°You didn¡¯t even wear a damn condom. Thank God, I¡¯m on the pill,¡± I say disgustedly. I¡¯ve never been with a guy who hasn¡¯t been covered. For the first man to take me bare to be my mother¡¯s husband makes my stomach roll and nausea rise up my throat.


    ¡°Lena,¡± he growls, causing shivers to dance up my spine. His eyes narrow, his lips thin, and anger rolls off him in waves. No doubt at me not agreeing with him. He truly despises disobedience. ¡°I¡¯m not in the habit of repeating myself.¡±


    Oops. seems as though I¡¯ve angered the big bad Pakhan. Oh well. I look down at my torn t-shirt, the one that I loved. It fit perfectly. Now I¡¯ll never be able to wear it again. Reaching down I pick it up off the floor and spin on my heel. I¡¯m confused and nauseous right now. I need to walk away, there¡¯s absolutely nothing that I can say right now. Niki is delusional. The best thing is to stay clear of him.


    A week, that¡¯s how long I managed to avoid him for before. Something that I¡¯ll be doing again after tonight. This can¡¯t happen again. If my mother ever finds out, she¡¯d hit the roof. My mother is one of a kind, someone who does not take being slighted lightly. If she finds out about what happened between Nik and I-I¡¯d be sleeping with one eye open. She can be ruthless when she wants and being married so many times, to powerful men, has helped her amass a great deal of allies.


    ¡°The tee,¡± his deep voice calls out as I reach the door. ¡°Who¡¯s was it?¡±


    I don¡¯t answer him, instead, I keep my head held high and climb the stairs to shower, the t-shirt clung tight to my body. The dark t-shirt belonged to the boy that I loved, the one that taught me way too many lessons. I kept the shirt because it wasfortable and as a reminder not to fall for a pretty face.


    Alessio Bianchi taught me that loving someone can destroy you. He showed me that no matter how devoted to someone you are, they¡¯ll cheat.


    He made me realize that trust shouldn¡¯te freely.


    Four years ago, he broke me. It took me a while to get over that betrayal. I should have known that he was only with me to get information on my family. But the truth is, I would never give them up, no matter how much I loved someone. My family is everything and I¡¯ll protect them with my dying breath.


    Alessio isn¡¯t the only person that I loved to betray me. He wasn¡¯t even the one that hurt the most. He was however the one that I managed to break free of. My mother on the other hand, we¡¯ll that¡¯s something that I¡¯m still trying to figure out.


    Sleeping with her husband does not make us even. Not even in the slightest. But then again, she¡¯s never going to find out what happened between Niki and I.


    Climbing into the shower, I let the water cascade over me. Slowly removing the bandage on my side. It¡¯s looking much better, still puckered and red, but at least it¡¯s closed up and no longer bleeding.


    I close my eyes and my body tightens when the memories of Niki¡¯s hands on me hit. The way his strong calloused fingers felt as he finger fucked me.


    I shake my head trying to get those thoughts out of my mind.


    Christ, this is going to be torture. Being under the same roof as him is going to be hard enough, but having the onught of memories-I¡¯m going to be a mess.


    I just pray that I can survive the next three weeks.

 Chapter 103

    Niki


    I¡¯m beyond fucking furious. It¡¯s been two days since I had the woman I¡¯ve been waiting a fuck of a long time for, and she¡¯s gone again.


    Yesterday, she left the house while I was in the shower; then she was home when I was gone. She locks her bedroom door, but if she thinks that¡¯s going to stop me, she really doesn¡¯t know the man I am.


    Today she¡¯s gone yet a-fucking-gain. I push the door open to her room, the floral scent of her perfume still lingers in the air. My cock stirs to life as it does whenever I think of my woman.


    My gaze goes around her bedroom. It¡¯s clean and tidy, not a thing out of ce. I spy her pill packet and the surge of rage hits me just as it did when she told me that she was taking the contraceptive. I can¡¯t exin why the fuck it infuriates me, but there¡¯s one thing I know for certain, she¡¯s mine and when we fuck, there¡¯ll be nothing between us. I move toward the packet and see that there¡¯s only five missing from this strip.


    I pull my cell phone from my pocket and call the doctor that I have on payroll. ¡°You heard,¡± I snarl. I despise having to repeat myself, and I fucking hate when people try and deny me.


    ¡°But, Mr. Vasiliev, that¡¯s hical,¡± he stutters, no doubt wishing I¡¯d find a new doctor to do my dealings with.


    ¡°That may be so, Garrison, but I¡¯m not asking about ethics. I¡¯m telling you that I want a new pack of pills. But I want them to be cebo ones.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Vasiliev, I don¡¯t know where I¡¯d get them from.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a liar, Garrison, unless you want me to pay a visit to your wife, I¡¯d suggest that you get onboard with what I¡¯m looking for.¡±


    He¡¯s silent for a beat. ¡°I can have them for you in a week.¡±


    Myughter is chilling. ¡°You¡¯ll have them for me in an hour.¡±


    The sharp intake of breath is enough for me to know that I have finally gotten through to him. Good. ¡°Have one of your mene by the clinic.¡± ¡°Good, next time, do as I say when I say.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Vasiliev,¡± he responds instantly.


    ¡°Oh, and, Garrison,¡± I say before he ends the call, something he hasn¡¯t yet learned not to do. I am the boss, I will tell you when the conservation is done, not the other way around. ¡°You give me anything but what I have asked for, make sure that you kiss your wife and daughter goodbye.¡± I end the call and re at the offending strip.


    ¡°You¡¯re crazy, you know that right?¡± Ilya tells me with a chuckle.


    ¡°That¡¯s been rumored for years,¡± I reply with a grunt. ¡°What are you doing here, Ilya?¡± I ask as I turn to face him.


    My deputy, he¡¯s the man who has been at my side since the very beginning. Who knows absolutely everything there is to know about me, including this farce of a marriage to Adele.


    ¡°I received a call from Stefan. Your wife is currently being fucked by a rich dude in Vegas.¡±


    I shrug, not in the least bit bothered by what that bitch is doing. ¡°And?¡±


    He smirks. ¡°Here I was going to give you the news that the suka is doing what we have suspected long before you married her, and I find out that you¡¯re switching her daughter¡¯s birth control. Tell me, Nik, have you lost your mind?¡±


    ¡°Watch it,¡± I snarl.


    His eyes widen at my words. ¡°Watch it. What the hell, Niki? We have been friends since we were kids. Now you¡¯re telling me to watch it.


    What is going on?¡±


    I scrub my hand down my face. ¡°I¡¯m fucking losing it, Ilya. The moment I saw her, I knew she would be mine.¡± His eyebrows practically hit his hairline.


    ¡°She¡¯s avoiding me,¡± I hiss. ¡°She¡¯s gone when I shower and returns when I¡¯m at the club.¡±


    His lips twitch. ¡°And you¡¯re switching her pills because¡­¡± ¡°I want to,¡± I reply, I don¡¯t owe anyone an exnation.


    ¡°You do this and she could end up pregnant. That what you want?¡±N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Yes. That¡¯s exactly what I fucking want.


    I don¡¯t answer him, but of course he knows. Hisughter is mocking as he follows me out of Lena¡¯s bedroom. ¡°You finally found the woman you


    want to settle down with? And she¡¯s the daughter of your wife?¡±


    ¡°Ilya,¡± I growl. ¡°You have a choice. Shut the fuck up or get out.¡±


    He follows me down the stairs. ¡°In all seriousness, what are you going to do?¡±


    ¡°That, I have no idea.¡± Especially with her ignoring me. Does she really think that it¡¯ll work? That I¡¯ll keep my distance?


    ¡°When¡¯s Adele due back?¡± he asks as we enter my office and I frown, how the fuck am I supposed to know that? ¡°What¡¯s going to happen when she arrives back and finds out that you¡¯ve slept with her daughter?¡±


    ¡°Ilya, why are you asking stupid questions?¡±


    He chuckles. ¡°You never fucked Adele did you?¡±


    I shudder at the thought. ¡°Not fucking once.¡±


    ¡°Well, I guess that¡¯s one thing,¡± the velvety raspes from behind me.


    I turn and see Yelena standing in the doorway, her arms over her chest as she res at Ilya and I.


    ¡°You are delightful,¡± Ilya says, shing her his cocky grin that he uses on all thedies. ¡°Have we met before?¡±


    ¡°Ilya,¡± I snarl, trying my best not to reach for the gun in my hostler and kill my best friend.


    He holds up his hand, silently asking me to hold on. ¡°I do know you, you were dating the Italian.¡± He nces at me before turning back to look at the blonde temptress. He clicks his fingers. ¡°The Bianchi boy. Alessio.¡±


    She smiles brightly. ¡°And if I were?¡±


    My fists clench at the thought of her being with anyone else. Again, possessiveness rears its ugly head.


    ¡°Rumor has it that he¡¯s been looking for you,¡± Ilya continues. ¡°What did he do to make you leave him?¡±


    She raises a brow. ¡°Firstly, it¡¯s none of your damn business. My life is exactly that. Mine. Second of all, Ales isn¡¯t looking for me. He and I have spoken. He¡¯s found someone new and he¡¯s out of my hair. Anything else you want to pry into?¡±


    The ass grins. ¡°Sure, so you fucked the boss and now you¡¯re hiding from him?¡±


    She blinks. ¡°Oh, well see how I see it, is your boss, took what he wanted. Whatever game he¡¯s ying, I want nothing to do with it. Three weeks and I¡¯m gone.¡± Her eyes narrow in on me. ¡°If you¡¯ll excuse me, I have somewhere to be.¡±


    The moment she walks away, Ilya chuckles. ¡°Good luck with her, Nik, she¡¯s going to give you a run for your money.¡±


    Oh I have absolutely no doubt about that. Yelena is everything that I want in a woman. Feisty, strong, independent, gorgeous, and she takes cock better than any woman I¡¯ve had before.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± I tell him before I find Lena and fuck her, again. ¡°It¡¯s time to go pay the doctor a visit.¡± I want those damn pills. There¡¯s no fucking way I¡¯m letting her go.     ¡°B oss?¡± Konstantin, my enforcer, says as he steps into my office.


    I look up from myputer screen and see that he¡¯s dressed in a tailored suit, something he despises but wears whenever he¡¯s here at the club.


    Three days, Yelena has been gone for three days and I have no fucking idea where she¡¯s gone. Ilya is searching for her; he¡¯s assured me that he¡¯ll find her. He had better fucking find her. I¡¯m losing my damn mind. I have no idea what this woman has done to me but I¡¯ve realized that I can¡¯t be without her.


    How does that even happen after one time?


    ¡°Stefan¡¯s waiting outside,¡± he tells me and I¡¯m wondering why the hell the man didn¡¯te in. ¡°My informant in the Alekseev Mafia has told me that The Bullet has taken a break. They were taken on a raid that happened outside of New York City.¡±


    The Bullet is the moniker given to Alekseev¡¯s assassin. The greatest marksman known to man. For years, different factions of the Bratva have tried to uncover his identity but so far, it¡¯s been a mystery.


    ¡°Taken?¡±


    He nods. ¡°Yes, it was a setup, an inside job. The Bullet went to take out a target but instead was surrounded by the Babic men. It¡¯s unknown how long he was gone for but ording to Yori, he was injured and is now recuperating.¡±


    The Babics are notorious bastards. The Croats don¡¯t care who they take out. They don¡¯t meticulously n their wars, instead, they go guns zing. They have grown in the past decade, moving across the east of the country. Stupid is what they are, had they grown more steadily in the west, they¡¯d have the numbers to take on the Gaghers and Bianchis. As it is now, they start the war, they¡¯re all dying.


    ¡°Find out who¡¯s no longer avable for the Alekseev family.¡±


    He smirks. ¡°Already done. There¡¯s only three members of the family that are no longer avable. Artur, Rodion, and Yelena.¡± He chuckles as he says her name. ¡°Like Maksim would have his granddaughter be The Bullet.¡±


    I suck in a sharp breath as I remember the bandage on Yelena¡¯s side, the way she yed it off as though it was nothing, the tattoo makes sense now, the gun, roses, and blood drops. How did Maksim manage to keep Yelena being The Bullet under wraps for so long?


    ¡°Thank you, Konstantin. Send Stefan in on your way out.¡±


    ¡°Boss, the suka is back. She¡¯s currently staying at your hotel pissing off every single member of staff. She¡¯s had a lot of phone calls, I have yet to uncover with whom, but I¡¯m working on it.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Stefan, I want the numbers on my desk by tomorrow morning.¡± I do not trust Adele as far as I can throw her and if she¡¯s talking to someone, I wanna know who is.


    Of course, boss.¡± As he turns to leave, my cell rings. It¡¯s Pavel, Lena¡¯s driver.


    ¡°Boss, I have dropped Ms. Alekseeva at Crimson,¡± he tells me as soon as I answer the call.


    I¡¯m up on my feet and moving toward the office door. ¡°Thank you, Pavel, I¡¯m on my way.¡±


    ¡°Stefan, call Ilya, tell him to get his ass to Crimson.¡± My feet are moving as quickly as they can, the thought of anything happening to Lena makes me homicidal.


    ¡°Why are we going there?¡± he questions as he puts his cell to his ear.


    Crimson is one of my clubs, it¡¯s a money maker, a ce that I don¡¯t have to frequent often as it¡¯s run well and kept clean.


    ¡°Lena¡¯s there,¡± I tell him as I push open the back exit door toward my car.


    The drive to Crimson is quiet, Stefan is on edge, not knowing how I¡¯ll react to whatever the fuck is going on. I¡¯m going to make her ass red for leaving the house and hiding from me. Three days she¡¯s kept her distance and tonight it stops.


    I walk into Crimson with Stefan at my side, Ilya is moments away. I don¡¯t have to look far to find Yelena. She¡¯s on the dance floor, her head thrown back as she dances to the music, her body moving in sync to the tempo. She¡¯s dressed in the shortest, tightest motherfucking dress that I have ever seen. She¡¯s definitely getting her ass red tonight. She doesn¡¯t leave the house without a man on her dressed like that.


    Fuck, my cock tightens. She¡¯s beautiful.


    The moment I step onto the floor, I see a man walking over to her. She shakes her head dismissing him but he¡¯s persistent. She verbalizes her rejection, her eyes narrowing as he reaches out to touch her.


    I move to them, the crowd of drunken people parting as I get close to them.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me,¡± she says loudly, her words slurred as she steps away from him. I see that the man that is going to lose his life is Viktor, the bastard is a bouncer here at my club. He puts his hands on her hips and pulls her close to him, yet again, she¡¯s telling him to stop touching her. Each time the wordse out a little more slurred and unintelligible.


    The moment he puts his lips on her, I lose it. No one touches what is mine.

 Chapter 104

    Yelena


    The city lights sh as we drive past them, I sit back in the seat and release a sigh. I¡¯m bone-ass-tired, but I know that returning to the house is a no-go. I can¡¯t deal with Niki today. I just don¡¯t have the


    strength to say no to him.


    My grandfather is going to kill me if he finds out that I¡¯ve been working while he wants me to recuperate. But I need to find out who set me up and I have a feeling I already know. It wouldn¡¯t be the first time that my mother had sold information on me to get what she wants. The first time she did it my father ended up dying.


    My father died when three men came to kidnap me, and he stopped them, but ended up dying from the injuries he had sustained. I¡¯ve always known my mother had something to do with his death, as the very next day she was smiling instead of mourning, and she had a lot of money to unt around. To this day, I¡¯ve not been able to prove it.


    There are only a handful of people who know that I am The Bullet. While other members of the family know that I am an assassin, they don¡¯t know the depth of my skills. My mother, grandfather, and a few highranking members of the Bratva know who I truly am. There¡¯s no one else that could have betrayed the family.


    The men wouldn¡¯t betray me, they are loyal to the Alekseev family. The only person without any ties is my mother. She¡¯s also motivated by greed.


    ¡°Yelena,¡± Pavel says softly. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡±


    I give him a smile. ¡°Thank you, please, go home and rest.¡± The man wants to be by my side twenty-four-seven. While I appreciate the sentiment, I¡¯m quite capable of taking care of myself. ¡°Bring some dinner home to your wife.¡±


    He grins sheepishly at me. ¡°She¡¯d love that, thank you.¡±


    I shake my head. Of course she would. I reach into my purse and hand him some money. ¡°Buy her flowers too,¡± I instruct. ¡°I¡¯ll see you tomorrow,¡± I tell him as I slide out of the vehicle.


    The past three days have been hectic and I¡¯ve barely slept. No thanks to Niki. It¡¯s been almost a week since we slept together, and yet I can remember every inch of what he did to me vividly. My body ignites whenever I remember what happened between us. I want him, there¡¯s no denying that and finding out that he¡¯s never slept with my mother has helped me feel less guilty about what we did.


    Walking up to the club, the bouncer smiles and lets me walk through the rope he¡¯s just opened for me. There¡¯re groans from some of the people waiting outside, but I ignore it and walk in. The music is already thumping and I let it wash over me. It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve been out and had fun. But tonight, I¡¯m having a drink or two, maybe a dance, and then I¡¯m heading home where I¡¯m going to crash-hopefully without seeing Niki.


    ¡°Can I buy you a drink?¡± a handsome cowboy asks a whileter, the lilt of his ent making me smile.


    ¡°Thank you, but I¡¯m good,¡± I decline politely, cursing Niki for being a bastard. If I hadn¡¯t slept with him, this man right here would be the perfect guy I¡¯d hook up with. One night, no fuss, and once it¡¯s over, I¡¯ll never have to look back.


    His smile is wide as he winks at me. ¡°That¡¯s alright, darlin¡¯, I hope you have a good night.¡± Damn, these men down here are sweet.


    ¡°Right back at you. Hopefully, the next woman you ask won¡¯t turn you down.¡± He chuckles as he steps away from me, and I¡¯m d that he didn¡¯t take offense to me turning him down. Some men are dicks and hate being told no.


    The club gets busier as the night progresses. I nce at my cell and see that I¡¯ve been here for almost two hours, my two-drink limit is gone and I can¡¯t remember what number this is. I¡¯m buzzed, my head feels a little lighter and the room spins as I get to my feet. I¡¯m a little uneasy as I make my way to the dance floor, but I let the music take over and lose myself in the song.


    The songs start to blur into one another, I¡¯ve lost track of time, my head is swimming, and I know that I should leave, my mouth feels weird-dryer -and I swallow hard trying to make it better.


    I spot a guy walking over to me, his gaze firmly on me, I shake my head. No, I¡¯m not in the right frame of mind to be around anyone right now. It¡¯s time for me to go home. But the man doesn¡¯t take no for an answer and pushes toward me, his hand outstretched ready to grab me. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me,¡± I hiss.


    Wait, is that me? The slurred words?


    But he doesn¡¯t listen, he grabs hold of my hips, the grip he has is painful as he pulls me toward him to stop me from leaving. His breath is hot against my skin as he leans into me to speak.


    ¡°Get off me,¡± I tell him. Needing him to understand that no means no. ¡°Don¡¯t fucking touch me.¡± My voice is getting lower and lower.


    Has someone slipped me something? There¡¯s no way that I should be this messed up after a couple of drinks.


    His lips press against my cheek as his hand starts to move down my body. Bile rises in my throat and I try to push him away. ¡°I¡¯ve been


    watching you all night, you¡¯re such a cock tease.¡±


    Ugh, why on earth do men believe that we¡¯re doing it for them? I was having a good time until he came over to me.


    Even in my addled state, I know how to take care of myself. My footes down onto his and he jerks back, giving me enough space that I can wrench free of his hold. I bring my knee up and hit him right where it hurts. He clutches his balls, giving me the perfect opportunity to ram my fist into his face. He snarls at me, righting himself before he moves toward me. I brace for what¡¯s about to happen, adrenaline coursing through my body. Just as he gets ready to strike me, a tattooed hand tightens around his wrist, stopping him before he manages to hurt me.


    ¡°You do not touch her,¡± Niki growls. Twisting the man¡¯s arm behind his back, even over the music I can hear the snap of it breaking. ¡°You are going to pay for that.¡±


    ¡°Shit,¡± the voice of the man from the other day sounds from behind me. ¡°Nik, you couldn¡¯t wait for me?¡±


    I sway on my feet, heat courses through my body as nausea makes its way up my throat. I swallow it down and try to step away from the scene in front of me. I need fresh air. But the moment I take a step, I know that something is seriously wrong.


    ¡°Malenkaya?¡± Niki asks, his tone filled with worry.


    I feel myself falling, it¡¯s as though I no longer have control over my body. My eyes close and that¡¯s it, lights out.


    I wake up to voices and the sound of flesh hitting flesh. The angry baritone growl from Niki has me trying to sit up. I realize that I¡¯m in an office, lying on a leather couch. I have no idea where I am but hearing Niki¡¯s voice reassures me. My head¡¯s still spinning with dizziness, and I feel as though I¡¯m going to throw up as I sit back against the couch.


    I watch on as Niki beats the man into a bloody pulp. The sounds of grunting and groaning fill the room. It takes me a few minutes to realize what has happened. I notice the man Niki is hurting is the same man that wouldn¡¯t take no for an answer. My mind is still fuzzy but I know deep inside there¡¯s something seriously wrong. I have a feeling that I was slipped a drug.


    ¡°What did you n to do to her?¡± Niki grunts as he ms his fist into the man¡¯s ribs.


    ¡°Look, had I known she was yours, I wouldn¡¯t have touched her,¡± the asshole says as though it makes any difference.


    ¡°Viktor,¡± Niki snarls, seemingly knowing the man. ¡°This is thest time I ask. What had you nned on doing to her?¡±


    ¡°We were going to have a good time.¡±


    It suddenly clicks, he was the one that drugged me. He was watching as the cowboy came over to me. He had been watching me all night.


    ¡°He drugged me,¡± I announce to the room, my voice hoarse, like I¡¯ve been screaming for the past hour or so.


    The angry snarl from Niki is unlike anything that I have heard before. ¡°You drugged my woman?¡± The punch he throws is into the man¡¯s jaw. ¡°You were going to rape her?¡±


    There¡¯s no answer from Viktor, but Niki doesn¡¯t care, he¡¯s not letting up. I¡¯m not stupid enough to make him stop. He¡¯s right had Viktor been sessful, he would have raped me and there would have been nothing that I could have done about it as I he would have raped me and there would have been nothing that I could have done about it with the drugs in my system.


    The beating Viktor takes is horrendous, he releases a low groan and I know that it¡¯ll not be much longer until he takes hisst breath.


    ¡°I made you a promise, Viktor, I promised you¡¯d die for putting your hands on her. I never renege on a promise. You¡¯ll burn for touching her.¡±


    I¡¯m unable to take my eyes off the scene in front of me. Niki has made a statement tonight, there¡¯ll not be a man in the Bratva here in Texas that won¡¯t know that he¡¯s imed me.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Niki¡¯s punches be ferocious. He doesn¡¯t let up, punch after punch into Viktor¡¯s face until it caves in. He¡¯s tied to a chair, unmoving, his features unrecognizable and I know that he¡¯ll be burnt tonight by someone else. Ensuring that his remains will never be found.


    Niki turns to me, his face and clothing drenched in blood. I should be horrified by what¡¯s happened here-that¡¯s what a normal woman would be -but I¡¯m not. I¡¯ve seen death a hell of a lot and I embrace it with open arms.


    ¡°Malenkaya, are you okay?¡± he questions as he moves toward me, his bloodied hand reaching out and he runs a tattooed finger down my cheek.


    I nod. ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± I whisper, unsure of what really happens from here.


    ¡°Then, dorogaya, let me take you home.¡± His voice gentle and filled with concern.


    ¡°Okay,¡± I reply just as gently.


    He smiles at me and I swear my heart melts. This man has proven more than once that I¡¯m what he wants. The question is, do I take the leap and hold on or do I walk away?

 Chapter 105

    Niki


    Seeing her passed out brought fear to me unlike anything I¡¯ve ever felt. She¡¯s usually so strong and full of attitude, but seeing her unconscious, so vulnerable, has made the beast within rage. I knew that she¡¯d be a weakness to me, but I had no idea just how weak I¡¯d be. She can bring me to my knees. I know that if anything happens to her, I¡¯d burn the world down to avenge her.


    Never. I¡¯ve not once felt this way about anyone.


    The thirst for blood at seeing Viktor touch her was nothingpared to when I found out the piece of shit drugged her. The moment she told me I knew what he had nned for her. Seeing the life leave his eyes doesn¡¯t calm the beast that¡¯s inside. I want more blood, more carnage, I want to hurt him even more, but I can¡¯t, he¡¯s already dead. He died too easily.


    ¡°Malenkaya, are you okay?¡± I question, wondering how she¡¯s doing with the drugs coursing through her system.


    She nods. ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡± Her voice soft and filled with uncertainty. I fucking hate this, I want my brat back, the one that¡¯ll stand tall and deny me what¡¯s mine.


    ¡°Then, dorogaya, let me take you home,¡± I say with concern. I want to bring her home, shower her, and take her to bed where I can hold her and know that she¡¯s okay.


    ¡°Okay,¡± she replies gently, eptance shining in those gorgeous eyes of hers.


    I smile at her, hopefully now we can find a path that¡¯ll get us to where I want us to be. Her in my bed every fucking night. Maybe I should tell her the truth about my situation with her mother? She may be more forting.


    I lift her into my arms, neither of us caring about the blood that soaks my skin and clothes. I know who she is and what she¡¯s done; death is something we¡¯re both used to.


    My men stand tall as I exit my office. I never usually deal with mess here, but this asshole needed to be taught a lesson and I wasn¡¯t going to be too far from Lena.


    ¡°Boss?¡± Ilya says as he gets to his feet.


    ¡°Konstantin, take the bastard from my office and burn him,¡± I snarl as I pull Lena tighter to my body, she¡¯s limp but she¡¯s alert and that¡¯s the main thing. ¡°Ilya, tomorrow morning, I want to find out what he slipped her.¡±


    My right-hand man nods. He knows what I want, he¡¯ll be working on that tonight, knowing him, he¡¯d have the answer within an hour, but I don¡¯t want to be disturbed tonight. ¡°On it, I¡¯ll help Konstantin, we¡¯ll get this done.¡±


    I don¡¯t stand around chatting, I walk past them, needing to get her home where I know that she¡¯ll be safe. She moans in my arms as I jostle her while going down the stairs. I press a kiss against her head in apology.


    Once I get to my car, I put her in the passenger¡¯s seat, needing to be able to see her so that I can keep an eye on her. She has her eyes closed and her legs parted. I ignore the way her dress has risen up to her thighs, making her ck panties peek out between her legs. I focus on driving instead of my raging hard-on-that fucker has a mind of its own whenever Yelena is concerned.


    I¡¯m almost home when I hear a low moane from Yelena and I tense. This isn¡¯t a moan from pain or suffering-no-this is from pleasure. I should fucking know, I¡¯ve been reying those little sounds she makes over and over in my mind.


    ¡°Malenkaya, what are you doing?¡± I demand, my voice thick andced with anger.


    She releases yet another moan. ¡°Ummm¡­¡±Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    I nce at her and see that her fingers are ying with her pussy, her dress is pushed up above her hips and her panties discarded. What the actual fuck? ¡°Lena,¡± I growl. ¡°Take your fingers away from my pussy.¡±


    She releases a sharp gasp. ¡°What?¡±


    I spear her a nce. ¡°Take your fingers out of my pussy, you aren¡¯t allowed to y with it.¡±


    ¡°But-¡±


    My hands tighten round the steering wheel, fighting the urge to pull over and do it myself. ¡°You want to y when we get home, then, malenkaya, I¡¯m more than happy to eat you, fuck you, whatever the fuck you want, but you do not touch what is mine.¡±


    She instantly removes her fingers, her chest heaving as her breathse out in pants. ¡°Please,¡± she whines.


    My cock is thick and straining against my zipper. ¡°What do you want, malenkaya?¡±


    She releases a low whimper as I pull into the driveway. ¡°You,¡± she replies confidently.


    The moment I put the car in park, she¡¯s out of the car and walking toward the house, her steps a little unsteady. I catch up to her before she reaches the steps, and wrap my arm around her waist. She leans against me, her head on my arm. ¡°I wish you weren¡¯t married to my mother,¡± she whispers and hearing those words cut me to the quick.


    I know that I should tell her the truth, that the marriage is null and void. I had ensured that I had a way out, the actual ceremony wasn¡¯t legal. She isn¡¯t my wife. Never has been and never will be, but Adele has information that I need and until I get it from her, she¡¯ll keep thinking that she¡¯s my wife.


    ¡°Come on, malenkaya,¡± I urge her, hoping to change the subject. ¡°Time for a shower,¡± I lift her into my arms when she stumbles climbing the stairs.


    Her legs wrap around my waist as she holds onto my shoulders, her lips close to my ear. ¡°Your cock is so hard. Do you still think about that night?¡±


    My arms tighten around her body. ¡°Dorogaya,¡± I growl low in my throat. ¡°Every fucking minute of the day.¡±


    Her tight little body grinds against my raging erection. ¡°I can¡¯t stop thinking about you,¡± she admits, and I have a feeling that had she not been drugged I wouldn¡¯t be hearing these words from her. ¡°I¡¯ve never felt so alive before. No onepares to you.¡±


    Jealousy and rage whip through me like a tsunami.


    ¡°Lena,¡± I hiss. ¡°You don¡¯t talk about the other men that you¡¯ve been with. Ever.¡±


    Herughter is husky and my cock twitches at the sound. ¡°You¡¯ve ruined me,¡± she says, raising her head to look at me as I enter the house. ¡°No one will everpare to you.¡±


    I smirk. Good, now it¡¯s time to ensure that she¡¯ll not go anywhere else. ¡°Then, malenkaya, it¡¯s a good thing you¡¯re mine.¡±


    Our lips touch, hungry, frenzied, and passionate. She¡¯s given into everything she wants and there¡¯s no holding her back. This woman has mepletely enthralled and there¡¯s no way I¡¯m letting her go.


    I walk up the stairs with her in my arms, our mouths fused together, I want nothing more than to strip her clothes from her and fuck her right here, but first, I want to taste her.


    The moment we hit my bedroom, I set her on her feet. ¡°Strip, malenkaya,¡± Imand and she does without question. ¡°Horoshaya malenkaya.¡±


    Her eyes light up at my praise.


    ¡°Lie down,¡± I instruct. ¡°Legs open, it¡¯s time to eat.¡±


    Her breaths deepen but she does as I ask and climbs onto the bed, giving me the perfect view of her ass-something else that I¡¯ll be iming as mine as soon as I knock her up. She turns to me, her gaze solely on me as she opens her legs for me.


    I strip out of my clothes, my cock¡¯s already leaking pre-cum. I take a hold of it and give it a few strokes, Lena whimpering at my actions. ¡°What do you want, malenkaya?¡±


    ¡°Eat me,¡± she breathes.


    I drop to my knees, see her pussy glistening and I know that when I run my finger through her folds I¡¯ll find her wet. Just the way I like her.


    I¡¯m right, she¡¯s fucking soaked. She¡¯s whining, grinding her pussy against my finger, wanting more. Her sweet scent hits me and I need to taste her. Nothing tastes as good as her. The moment my tongue touches her pussy, she¡¯s arching off the bed, her back bowed as she moans deep in her throat. I feast on her, unable to believe just how exquisite she tastes. I¡¯m fucking addicted. I¡¯d die a happy man if I could have her for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.


    I spot the puckered scar on her side. ¡°What happened?¡±


    She hesitates before answering me. ¡°I know you know who I am. You also must have heard the story of what happened. Our family was betrayed, I was captured, beaten, as the Croats tried to extract information-I was shot as I escaped.¡± The se way that she speaks annoys me, but I also know that it¡¯s a coping mechanism.


    Today, I¡¯ll leave the conversation. When I know that she¡¯s ready, we¡¯ll bring it up again. ¡°Niki,¡± she gasps when I push my finger inside of her. Her pussy walls are contracting around it and I doubt there will ever be a time I don¡¯t want her.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got you, malenkaya,¡± I promise her. I pull her pussy to my mouth and pleasure her with my mouth and fingers, worshiping her, showing her just how much I want her.


    She¡¯s grinding against me, her body tight, she¡¯s close to the edge. ¡°Oooh,¡± she cries as I add another finger inside of her. Needing her toe, needing her to be ready for when she takes me. ¡°Niki,¡± she cries as her pussy convulses around my fingers, I release her clit and get to my feet, I need to fuck her.


    I tower over her as I climb onto the bed. I position my cock at the entrance to her pussy and push into her. Her hands wing at my arms as I bury myself to the hilt. Fuck yes. The overwhelming sense of home hits me.


    This is where I belong.


    ¡°Harder,¡± she pleads.


    I¡¯m not one to let her down, I pull out before pistoning back inside. My thrusts are brutal but Lena fucking loves it; her mewling only encourages me to see how much pain she can take. My hands are on her hips, tilting them, giving me better ess.


    ¡°Ahhh,¡± she cries as I hit the entrance of her cervix. Fuck, the snug feeling of being inside her is almost more than I can bear. I grit my teeth as I withdraw and m back inside.


    ¡°Niki-¡± she cries in pain.


    ¡°Kanchay dlya menya, moya malenkaya shlyushka,¡± I urge her knowing that it¡¯s not going to take much more for me to spill inside of her.


    I continue to pound forcefully into her pussy, she¡¯s wing at me, crying out each time I breach her cervix. My balls tighten and I know that I¡¯m close to the edge.


    ¡°Come, Lena,¡± I demand.


    And she does, her back arching, her eyes closed, as she cries out my name. ¡°Ya napolnyu tebya moey spermoy, moya malenkaya shlyushka,¡± I growl as I thrust once more into her and explode.


    My cock jerks when I think about how fertile she is right now, especially since I¡¯ve swapped out her contraceptive pills. That thought alone, has meing even harder.


    I pull out of her and copse onto the bed beside her, she turns, snuggling into my side. ¡°Thank you,¡± she whispers. ¡°You didn¡¯t need to


    take care of me, this evening, but you did. Thank you.¡± Christ, is she serious?


    ¡°Lena.¡± My voice is a rumble. ¡°You are mine, I take care of what I value, and, malenkaya, you are at the fucking top of that list.¡±


    She burrows deeper into my side as I reach for the bedsheets and pull them over us. ¡°Never,¡± she tells me, ¡°has anyone taken care of me the way you did and I¡¯ve never felt safer.¡±


    I try not to read into her words, they¡¯re groggy and her eyes are closed. But if what she¡¯s saying is true and that her family fucked up by not caring for her, I don¡¯t give a fuck, I¡¯m flying to New York and taking them all out.


    ¡°Sleep, dorogaya,¡± I urge as I press a kiss against her head.


    Within minutes she¡¯s fast asleep. Tomorrow I have to deal with her mother. Adele will tell me what the fuck is going on. Once I get her out of the way, Lena will be free of the bullshit that¡¯s keeping her walls up around me.

 Chapter 106

    Yelena


    It¡¯s been over a month since I was drugged and things between Niki and I are messier than ever. I¡¯ve tried staying away from him but I can¡¯t. I¡¯m drawn to him like a moth to a me. I¡¯ve tried fighting the attraction, tried so hard to bury it deep inside, but it¡¯s futile. The man isn¡¯t giving up and every day I tell myself no more, and every night, I¡¯m being fucked out of my mind by the man that I¡¯m falling so hard for.


    I finish sending Niki a text, letting him know that I¡¯m just having a coffee and then I¡¯m leaving. He wants to take me out for dinner and while I know I should say no, I can¡¯t.


    ¡°Ah good, you¡¯re here.¡± I tense as I hear the sound of my mother¡¯s voice. I had no idea that she was back.


    I spin on my heel and see her walking into the kitchen, looking every bit morous, as always. She¡¯s dressed in a tight red pant suit that really suits her, her blonde hair pinned to her head, a few tendrils falling around her face, she¡¯s painted her lips bright red to match her outfit, not to mention the heels that she¡¯s wearing.


    ¡°Hey, when did you get back?¡± I ask as I bring the coffee cup to my lips.


    Her eyes rake over my outfit. I¡¯m wearing a tight purple dress, one that showcases my legs and ass, because I know how much Niki loves to stare at them.


    ¡°A while ago, I¡¯ve been staying away from the house.¡± Her voice is cold and calcting.


    I ce the cup onto the counter and cross my arms over my chest. ¡°Oh and why¡¯s that?¡± I ask as I lean against the counter.


    I¡¯ve seen this look on her before, the disdain in her eyes. She¡¯s a hard woman to please, something I stopped trying to do at the age of seven when I realized how maniptive she is. She¡¯s pissed about something and she¡¯s about to let me know.


    ¡°You were supposed to be gone,¡± she says, her voice low and calm, yet her eyes tell a whole other story. They¡¯re swirling with rage.


    A sickening feeling coils in the pit of my stomach. She knows.


    ¡°Grandfather told me to stay for another month,¡± I reply, I¡¯m not lying, he did. I think after what happened he wants me out of harm¡¯s way, and I have to admit that the past month has been blissful, but at the same time, I miss the adrenaline-the rush-I get from a kill.


    She res at me. ¡°This isn¡¯t your grandfather¡¯s house,¡± she hisses at me.


    I sigh, already bored of the bullshit. ¡°Whatever you have to say, mother, just say it.¡±


    She takes a step closer to me, her eyes filled with so much rage that it¡¯s a wonder she¡¯s not gone crazy from it. ¡°I want to know what you¡¯ve been doing with my husband.¡± Again, she¡¯s not raising her voice or snarling at me. She¡¯s calm, way to calm about this.


    ¡°Mother-¡± I begin, unsure of what to even say. Hell, their marriage is a sham, I doubt that she¡¯s been faithful to Niki.


    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± she hisses, finally letting her anger out. ¡°I know you¡¯ve been fucking him. I know your dirty little secret. You filthy whore.¡±


    Her words don¡¯t hurt me, they never could. ¡°What I¡¯ve done is wrong, yes.¡± I¡¯m not too proud to admit when I¡¯ve made mistakes, and I¡¯ve made a hell of a lot of them. ¡°But you¡¯ve never had sex with him, and you¡¯ve spent the past month away from him. So, don¡¯t stand there and tell me you¡¯re upset that I¡¯m fucking him.¡±


    Her lips twist into an ugly sneer. ¡°No, the asshole has always been wary of me. But he wants something and until he gets it, I¡¯m staying put. You see, I get a nice monthly allowance from the bastard, one I¡¯m not willing to lose, especially because of you.¡±


    ¡°Seriously?¡± I can¡¯t help theughter thates out of me. ¡°You got all of Dad¡¯s millions, not to mention every time you divorced one of your exhusbands you received a hefty sum. So why on earth would you need money from Niki?¡±


    She nces away. ¡°I lost it all, alright? Everything is gone.¡±


    My lip curls in disgust. ¡°How?¡±


    She carelessly shrugs as if she hasn¡¯t lost the guts of ten million dors. ¡°Investments,¡± she tells me as she straightens her suit jacket.


    ¡°I¡¯ve always known when you were lying, you never did quite grasp how to get the act of deceiving down right. So, we¡¯ll try it again,¡± I hiss as I step forward, my hands falling to my sides where they ball up into fists. ¡°Where¡¯s all the money gone to?¡±


    ¡°You think I got this far, climbed this high without having to pay my way?¡± She looks at me in disgust, her eyes narrowed and her lips thinned. ¡°You got to where you are because of who your family is. I, on the other hand, had to work my way out of the trailer park.¡±


    ¡°Christ, you were born in Boston and you didn¡¯t live in a trailer park.¡± Her eyes widen at my words. ¡°I¡¯m sick of your lies. Not once have you ever told anyone the truth. I mean, do you even know what it is anymore?¡±


    I should have seen iting-it wasn¡¯t the first time she¡¯d lost her temper-but I was too angry, too focused on that to pay attention to what she was really doing. Her arm moves and something smashes into the side of my head, pain bursting through my temple as my eyes start to blur.


    ¡°You really should have stayed away, Lena, if you had, this would never have happened.¡±


    I throw a hand out to try and steady myself, but it¡¯s toote, I¡¯m already falling. I don¡¯t remember hitting the ground, the darkness had already pulled me under.


    The creaking of a door opening has my eyes fluttering open. Within seconds of seeing the bare, off-white walls, I remember everything that happened. Where the hell am I? This isn¡¯t Niki¡¯s house. In fact, the coldness of the room tells me that this house hasn¡¯t been used in a while. I also realize that I¡¯m bound. My hands tied together behind my back, making it impossible to do anything and my ankles are smarting from whatever they have used to keep them together.


    ¡°She¡¯s fucking cold. This is her daughter,¡± I hear a gravelly voice say. It sounds as though he¡¯s far away, but I know by the stale smell of tobo and cheap aftershave that whoever¡¯s talking is in the same room as I am.


    ¡°Who the fuck hits their child hard enough to knock them out?¡± another voice says, this one not as gravelly as the first.


    I don¡¯t dare turn, I have no idea who these men are.


    ¡°She must have done some fucked up shit for her to be on Niki¡¯s bad side,¡± the second man continues. ¡°She¡¯s his stepdaughter, but then again,


    this is the fucking sadistic Russian we¡¯re talking about.¡±


    Wait. They think that Niki ordered this to happen? Iugh at the ludicrousness of this situation.


    ¡°What the hell are youughing at?¡± I first guy questions.


    ¡°You,¡± I reply, my voice hoarse. I twist in the dirty bed that I¡¯m lying on and see that both men are standing against the door. I blink a few times, trying to see them properly. I¡¯m lying on my side facing them. ¡°You really think that Niki ordered this to happen?¡±


    One of the men is tall and muscr, the other is short and chubby, but both have the Babics¡¯ branding on their hands. These fuckers are Croats. Vindication hits me. I fucking knew she set me up, but why?


    ¡°She¡¯s his wife, why on earth would she lie?¡± the taller of the men says.


    ¡°Why would Mrs. Vasiliev tell us that her husband wants you dead?¡±


    I shrug as I manage to sit up. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but I have a feeling that she knows that once Niki finds out that I¡¯m gone and that you¡¯re the ones that have me, he¡¯s going to kill you and effectively take care of her problem.¡±N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    The two men share a worried nce. ¡°Not a fucking chance,¡± the gravelly voice says, and it belongs to the shorter of the two men. ¡°Niki Vasiliev doesn¡¯t care about you,¡± he tells me and while hearing those words are like a knife to my heart, I also know they¡¯re not true. ¡°His wife on the other hand-¡± He grins as he walks toward me. ¡°-she¡¯s really cut up that her daughter¡¯s going to die.¡± I bet she fucking is.


    Within seconds he¡¯s in front of me. ¡°She even told us that we were allowed to touch you.¡± He stretches his hand out, running one of his disgusting fingers down my face, to my neck and then to my breasts. I shudder in revulsion.


    Can my mother get any lower?


    My head snaps to the side as the asshole backhands me. My head swims with pain and blurriness.


    ¡°Disgusted?¡± he sneers. ¡°I¡¯ll show you what you¡¯ll be disgusted about.¡± He pushes me back down onto the bed, his fingers pulling at my dress.


    I try to fight him off but it¡¯s difficult with both my arms and legs tied up. Every time I move, the room feels as though it¡¯s spinning, and having his weight on me is too much, it¡¯s useless.


    ¡°You¡¯ll end up enjoying this bitch,¡± he growls, his fingers digging into my cheeks as he makes me look at him.


    ¡°I doubt that you could even get that small cock of yours up, let alone do something with it. Do the women you¡¯re with ask if it¡¯s in, I mean, being that small, I¡¯d have a hard time feeling it.¡± I¡¯m antagonizing the bastard, but right now, it¡¯s my only choice.


    ¡°You fucking whore,¡± he snarls, his fist smashes into my face and, once again, the abyss is pulling me into it. The fucker doesn¡¯t stop, hends punch after punch to my face.


    As I¡¯m being pulled under, I hear gunshots and I inwardly grin. These fuckers are going to die.

 Chapter 107

    Niki


    I nce at my watch once again. I can¡¯t wait around any longer.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Ilya asks with a frown.


    ¡°Find where Lena is, and do it now,¡± I say with a fuck of a lot moreposure than I feel. She messaged me almost an hour ago telling me she¡¯d be here soon and she¡¯s not. So where the hell is she?


    He immediately steps away and makes a call. I reach for my cell and hit Yelena¡¯s number yet again. But just like thest fifteen times, it goes to voicemail. ¡°Malenkaya, call me.¡±


    I-¡± The edge to Ilya¡¯s tone has me bracing. ¡°She¡¯s not at the house, her cell is and there¡¯s been signs of a struggle.¡±


    I¡¯m moving to the door before he even finishes telling me, he¡¯s hot on my heels. ¡°Ilya, get me the footage,¡± I demand, I want to know what the fuck happened in my house.


    I slide into the backseat of the car and Ilya hands me his cell phone. Konstantin is driving, but I know that he¡¯s listening to see what¡¯s happened.


    ¡°I¡¯ve loaded it up for you, I¡¯ve yet to see it,¡± he says, his tone tight, he¡¯s waiting for me to explode.


    Every one of my men know that Yelena is mine and that nothing should ever harm her. I made it clear the night the bastard drugged her in hopes of luring her out of the club where he could rape her. I made a statement that night-Yelena is off-limits.


    I press y and my kitchenes into view. Yelena¡¯s typing into her phone and I know by the time stamp that she¡¯s messaging me. The moment that Adele walks into the room, the anger on her face is more than enough to let me know that she¡¯s the reason as to why my woman is gone.


    ¡°I want word spread-¡± I growl, barely able to contain the anger that¡¯s rushing through me as I watch the bitch hit Lena over the head knocking her unconscious. ¡°-that Adele is to be found. I want her alive. She knows where Lena is and I want my woman back within the hour.¡± The bitch grabs Yelena¡¯s feet and pulls her through the house.


    Konstantin nods as Ilya reaches for his cell and spreads the word.


    ¡°We¡¯ll find her,¡± Ilya assures me.


    ¡°In what state?¡± I hiss, unable to believe that Adele has done this.


    He¡¯s silent for a moment. ¡°Who would she go to? Adele¡¯s been fucking around with a lot of the major yers. Who¡¯s the one that she¡¯d be stupid enough to go to for help?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s one person that may know.¡± I murmur as I reach for my cell and dial a number that I haven¡¯t used before.


    ¡°Niki Vasiliev,¡± the older man answers after a few moments. ¡°To what do I owe the pleasure?¡±


    ¡°Maksim, Yelena¡¯s been taken,¡± I tell him without sugarcoating it. ¡°She and Adele were arguing and then the bitch hit her over the head, she was unconscious when Adele dragged her from the house.¡±


    ¡°Shlyushka,¡± he growls. ¡°That suka.¡± I hear his hushed whispers to someone beside him. ¡°Niki, what are you doing with my granddaughter?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s mine,¡± I tell him, not in the mood for chitchat. ¡°Where would that suka take her?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a reason why Lena was sent to Austin. We knew someone had betrayed us, someone had given Lena¡¯s name as The Bullet, she had an idea who it was, I doubted her but after this-¡±


    ¡°Maksim, why are you talking in riddles?¡± I snap, pissed that he¡¯s not getting direct to the point.


    ¡°Lena believes that Adele gave the Babics her name and they took her. She managed to escape, but not before killing three of their men. If Adele is working with anyone, it would be the Croats.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll let you know when I¡¯ve found her,¡± I tell him and end the call.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°Konstantin, where are the Babics?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t heard that they¡¯re in town,¡± he replies. ¡°Let me call Stefan, he has a man on the inside.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll call,¡± I grit out. Needing to do fucking something.


    ¡°Boss?¡± he answers instantly.


    ¡°Where are the Babics?¡± I demand. ¡°Tell me you know where they are.¡±


    ¡°Boss, they¡¯re in Barton Creek, they arrived four days ago.¡±


    Relief washes through me now that I know where they are. ¡°I want an address, and, Stefan, I need to know what you have found out about Adele.¡± I spoke to him this morning, we have a meeting scheduled for tomorrow. Whatever he¡¯s found out about that bitch, I want to know right now.


    ¡°Adele and Lev were never meant to be married,¡± he begins. ¡°In fact, Lev was supposed to get married to Alyona Kusova.¡±


    The daughter of the Kusov Mafia in Miami. ¡°A union between them would have been unmatched,¡± Iment knowing why Maksim would want it. It brings together two of the biggest yers in the US.


    ¡°But Adele got pregnant and Lev ended up marrying her. Word is she trapped him, but Lev never did deny those rumors, nor did he correct them. Lev adored his child, the moment the suka was pregnant he went all out to protect them.¡±


    ¡°Admitting she trapped him would have put a target on Adele¡¯s back and with her being pregnant, it was a risk Lev couldn¡¯t take.¡± Whether she trapped him or not didn¡¯t matter. A man like Lev would have done anything to protect his child. Even if the mother is a cunt.


    ¡°Lev died-¡±


    I cut him off. ¡°In a shoot-out, yes, I know.¡±


    ¡°No, boss, Lev was killed when three men entered their home to kidnap Yelena. Word on the street is that it was a setup, Lev was meant to die as was Yelena, but Lev wasn¡¯t an easy man to take down. They fucked up and he killed them all.¡±


    My gut is screaming that this is more than it seems. A fucking setup. ¡°Did Adele have anything to do with it?¡±


    There¡¯s a pause and that¡¯s more than enough answer for me. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, boss, they¡¯re just rumors.¡±


    ¡°Send the address to the Babics, get the men, and meet us there.¡± ¡°On it, boss.¡±


    I end the call. The anger pounding against my skin is ready to explode.


    If they¡¯ve touched a hair on Lena¡¯s head, God fucking help them.


    ¡°Are you ready for this?¡± Ilya asks.


    I slice my gaze to him. Is he for fucking real? What the hell does he think?


    He chuckles. ¡°Stupid question huh?¡± ¡°Ilya,¡± I growl.


    He grins. ¡°Yes, boss?¡±


    ¡°Shut the fuck up,¡± I snarl.


    Thankfully he does as I ask and keeps his mouth shut.


    The drive to Barton Creek is quiet and the mood is murderous. The anger is simmering on the edge and with each mile that passes by, the more my anger rises and the worse the images of what¡¯s happening to Lena hit me. No one will be safe if they¡¯ve harmed her.


    Once we reach the address that Stefan provided, I know instantly that we¡¯re at the right house. Standing guard outside the house, armed to their teeth, are Babics¡¯ men. The moment we get out of the car bullets start flying.


    With my gun in hand, and my men at my side, we return fine, taking out anyone who stands between me and my women. Ilya is on my left, a snarl on his lips as he fires at the men that rush out of the house. ¡°How many of these bastards are there?¡±


    I move past the bodies that litter the ground, the majority of them dead, some with bullets between their eyes, some with shots to their hearts. Stefan uses his gun, killing any remaining survivors.


    The house ispletely bare, the walls are white, there¡¯s no furniture, and no color. Konstantin nods toward the stairs. ¡°There¡¯s people upstairs,¡± he tells me.


    I take the stairs two at a time, knowing without a doubt that¡¯s where these fuckers are keeping Lena.


    Ilya, Stefan, and Konstantin are right with me as we reach the top of the stairs. Konstantin opens the doors one by one, with each empty room my chest tightens. There¡¯s only one left and still no sign of Lena.


    ¡°Open it.¡± I demand when we reach thest door. I pull in a breath as Konstantin lifts his foot and kicks the door.


    I watch as it splinters and my heart fucking stops when I look into the room and see Lena lying on the filthy bed-bound-her beautiful face bloodied, bruised, and her dress ripped. The fucking animal standing beside the bed, with his pants around his ankles, and cock in his hand.


    Bastard. He¡¯s going to die. I¡¯m going to make sure it¡¯s painful.


    Ilya kills the other man that is also in the room, his only saving grace is that the fucker was nowhere near Lena when we entered the room.


    ¡°Take him,¡± I instruct. ¡°I want answers.¡± I have a lot of questions and by the wide eyes and pale face I have a feeling he¡¯ll be forting. Of course that won¡¯t help him. He¡¯s going to die either way.


    Stefan and Konstantin take the fucker that¡¯s left standing; he¡¯ll be the one to lead us to Adele. My gaze fills with a red haze as I stare at the woman that means the most to me. The woman that I love.


    My breath catches at my thought. Do I? Fuck yes. I love her.


    ¡°Nik,¡± Ilya says low as I step up to Lena¡¯s battered body. ¡°I¡¯ll call the doctor, have him meet us at the house.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re taking her to the hospital.¡± My tone filled with authority. He knows better than to argue with me. I want the best care for her no matter what my men think. Going to the hospital raises questions, but my only worry is for Lena.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go then,¡± he says and that¡¯s why he¡¯s my closest friend, my right hand. He¡¯s got my back constantly.


    I¡¯m careful as I walk down the stairs so as not to jostle her. She¡¯s unconscious, her head lulling against my arm. This is the fucking second time that I¡¯ve seen her like this and it¡¯s two times too many. Ilya is already in the car by the time I get outside. I¡¯m careful putting her into the vehicle, I climb in beside her and hold on.


    For the first time in over thirty years, I say a prayer.


    I pray for her to be okay.


    Never did I think I¡¯d find a woman that would make me put her above all else. But the moment I saw Lena, I knew she was the one.


    I can¡¯t lose her.


    It¡¯s not a fucking option.

 Chapter 108

    Niki


    I pace the floor, unable to control the rage that¡¯s burning through my system. Stefan has Adele. That¡¯s the good news, but my woman is currently lying in a hospital bed still unconscious. The door behind me


    opens and I turn and re at whoever it is.


    ¡°Mr. Vasiliev,¡± the doctor says as he steps into the room. His lips pressed into a hard line, a deep furrow between his brows, he¡¯s pissed, no doubt about the protocols that I have in ce. Only a handful of people are allowed to see Lena, and they have to show their identification to my men before being allowed to enter.


    ¡°Is she okay?¡± I ask him, needing to know. Having only just been allowed in to see her. It had been almost two hours since we entered the hospital and the doctors went to work.


    The blood has been cleaned from her face, her cheek is bandaged, as is her head where that fucking bitch Adele hit her. Not to mention her right arm is in a cast. She¡¯s bruised and pale.


    She won¡¯t wake the fuck up.


    ¡°Ms. Alekseeva has multiple contusions, her wrist is fractured in two ces, she has a concussion, something that we are monitoring. Her pregnancy is in its early stages¡­¡± He lets the words trail off.


    My chest tightens at his words. She¡¯s pregnant, but she¡¯s very newly pregnant that she could still lose it.


    ¡°How long will she be asleep for?¡± I manage to grit out. My anger and worry are batting against me like a sledgehammer.


    He nces at Lena and then back to me. ¡°That, Mr. Vasiliev, is something that I can not give a definitive answer on. It¡¯s ultimately her body¡¯s way of healing. She¡¯ll wake up whenever she¡¯s ready. Until then, pray, Mr. Vasiliev.¡± He gives me a tight smile and leaves.


    I move to the bed, she looks so young lying there. My hand is pressed against her stomach where our unborn baby lies. I ce a kiss against her head. ¡°I¡¯ll be back, malenkaya,¡± I promise her. ¡°Rest, dorogaya,¡± I whisper as I press yet another kiss to her head.


    I take onest look at the woman that I love lying in the bed and turn on my heel. The moment I step out into the hall, my men turn to look at me. All seven of them are standing tall and braced for action, ready to intercept any threat that may ur.


    ¡°Kostya, Pasha, Ira, and Kodiak, you will stay here and guard Lena¡¯s room. No one in unless they have permission from me or her doctor.¡± My men nod, knowing what honor I have bestowed on them. Having them protect the woman that I love means that I trust them, that I value them as my men.


    ¡°Stefan, Ilya, and Konstantin are with me,¡± I instruct them as I move further away from Lena¡¯s door. Every instinct in me is telling me to stay, but I can¡¯t. I have two people I need to deal with before I can go back to her. I need to ensure that she¡¯s safe, that when our baby is born that he too will be safe. But as long as Adele is alive that isn¡¯t going to happen.


    Stepping out of the hospital building, it¡¯s the middle of the night and the rain has started to fall. The cool air wraps around me like a cloak. My jaw clenches as I stride toward the parked vehicle, I need to get this shit done, the sooner I can return to Yelena.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    ¡°Boss,¡± Ilya says as he climbs into the backseat beside me. Konstantin is driving and Stefan is in the passenger seat. ¡°Adele is pissed, she¡¯s demanding that we call you.¡±


    My lips twitch at that. ¡°Is she now?¡± I¡¯m wondering where the bitch gets the gall? She¡¯s ying a game, but unfortunately for Adele, she yed against the wrong person and now she has to pay the price for her actions.


    ¡°The suka really thinks that she¡¯ll sweet talk her ass out of this?¡± Stefan questions.


    ¡°Imagine how she¡¯ll react when she finds out that she¡¯s not really your wife.¡± Ilya grins. ¡°I knew there was something off about the entire farce you wanted to call a wedding. You hate the woman, so I didn¡¯t understand why you¡¯d marry her. So I went snooping. The marriage wasn¡¯t real, there was no wedding certificate. Adele Taylor was never your wife.¡±


    My men chuckle, pleased about the news. ¡°Honestly, Ilya, I¡¯m surprised you didn¡¯t figure this out sooner.¡± He¡¯s usually on my back about the women I¡¯m with, especially when I started this illusion with Adele. He made it clear, not just to me, but to her that he didn¡¯t like her.


    ¡°I should have,¡± he grumbles. ¡°Please tell me the suka is going to die.¡±


    My chuckle is dark and humorless. ¡°Oh she¡¯s going to die alright.¡± She set out to have the woman I love killed-my unborn child killed-she doesn¡¯t get to live.


    Stefan rubs his hands together in glee, happy to be witnessing bloodshed. ¡°Who tries to kill their daughter?¡±


    This isn¡¯t the first-hell not even the second-time she¡¯s tried to have her daughter murdered. The first time when Lev died, then by sending the Croats after her, and again tonight. She fucked up, she went after someone precious to me and that means that I get to y, and Adele is going to finally know what it means to get on the wrong side of me.


    The moment the cares to a stop, I feel a calmness wash over me. Knowing that this cunt is going to die eases the worry that I have for Lena. I step out of the vehicle and nod to the men guarding the house that Stefan discovered Adele owned; the stupid bitch had been staying here for thest week or so.


    Entering the house, I hear Adele bitching. ¡°Niki is going to kill you,¡± she tells my men. ¡°I am his wife.¡±


    I shudder at the thought. Fuck no, I knew better than to marry a golddigging whore who wanted the status along with the power that would be bestowed on her once we married. Hell, the bitch started bossing my men around long before she thought we said I do.


    Her eyes widen the moment she sees me walk into the room where she¡¯s currently tied to a chair, her hair is in disarray and judging by the split lip and ck eye, someone wasn¡¯t careful with how they handled her.


    ¡°Do you see what that animal did to me?¡± she cries, something that I¡¯m immune to. Her crocodile tears are as fake as her breasts.


    ¡°Who?¡± I inquire.


    She seems to take my question as though I¡¯m going to help her. She¡¯s deluded, but I¡¯ll allow her to think that for a few more minutes. ¡°Stefan,¡± she hisses. ¡°He¡¯s an animal, does he not realize who I am?¡± Christ, what the fuck is her deal?


    ¡°What happened today, Adele?¡± I ask as I take a seat opposite her.


    She raises her chin as she sniffs. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about, I was minding my own business here at home, when your goons osted me. What on earth is going on?¡±


    She¡¯s good. She could win an Oscar with her performance.


    ¡°Why are you here, Adele?¡±


    The bitch swallows hard and nces around at the men in the room, she¡¯s finally realizing that the men in this room aren¡¯t here for shits and giggles.


    ¡°This is my home, Niki, where I lived before we got married, sometimes I need a break.¡±


    ¡°What about your daughter?¡±


    She bristles at my question. ¡°What about her? Are you going to do something about Stefan? He put his hands on me.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± I answer simply. ¡°I will be doing something about it.¡± She preens at my words.


    ¡°He¡¯ll be getting a raise,¡± I tell her and watch as her face falls, my men chuckle, Stefan included.


    ¡°Niki-¡± she whines but I lift a hand to stop her.


    My men continue tough, they¡¯re happy that the bitch is finally going to get what¡¯sing to her. ¡°Adele, I know what you¡¯ve done.¡±


    Her demeanor changes in an instant. ¡°You fucked my daughter and think that I¡¯ll sit back and allow my husband to disrespect me like that, that


    I¡¯d allow that whore to take what¡¯s mine.¡±


    ¡°Not going to lie,¡± Ilya begins, ¡°I¡¯d do Lena over you any fucking day of the week.¡±


    The rest of my men nod in agreement.


    ¡°Enough,¡± I snarl, pissed that they¡¯re even fucking thinking about my woman in this way. She is mine, not for my men to ogle over.


    ¡°Sorry, boss,¡± is echoed around the room,ing from all the men except for Ilya. He never apologizes for his words. But he gives me a small nod letting me know that he understands that he has overstepped the mark. ¡°You think that you can just rece me with my daughter?¡± she snarls at me, pulling at her restraints.


    ¡°You tried to have your daughter killed,¡± I growl, my anger at seeing Lena¡¯s unconscious, beaten body pulses through me. There¡¯s not a fucking chance in hell this bitch will ever give a crap about Yelena. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be the first time you tried and failed, would it?¡±


    Her face pales and she presses her lips together, finally learning to keep her fucking mouth shut and not lie. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°The attempted kidnap that resulted in Lev dying, that was you. You organized it in the hopes of ridding yourself of your daughter and husband. You set the Croats to take her down, knowing that they were after The Bullet, you decided to out your daughter¡¯s identity and have them kill two birds with one stone.¡±


    Her mouth twists into a snarl. ¡°It didn¡¯t fucking work,¡± she hisses. ¡°She¡¯s like a damn cat with her nine lives. I never wanted her. I wanted the status that came with being the Pakhan¡¯s wife. But it was no use, as soon as the bitch was born everything changed.¡±


    Anger rolls through me, she really is a fucking suka.


    ¡°Lev died and I was left with her. I had to deal with the bitch constantly. But then Maksim took over and trained her.¡± She pulls against her bindings and cries out as the rope cuts into her wrists. ¡°Then the moment she came here I knew you wanted her. Do you think I¡¯m blind? Hell you didn¡¯t even wait a day before you fucked her on the table.¡± A sinister smile ys on her lips. ¡°You¡¯re not the only one who has cameras in the house. I watched you with her.¡±


    I merely raise a brow. I don¡¯t give a fuck if she saw us.


    Ilya on the other hand has no qualms in dishing out shit to her.


    ¡°Jealousy is such an ugly look on you, Adele.¡±


    ¡°Jealous,¡± she scoffs. ¡°What the hell do I have to be jealous of?¡±


    ¡°That your daughter is more of a woman than you¡¯ll ever be, or maybe it could be the fact that she¡¯s fucked Niki and you haven¡¯t.¡±


    Adele¡¯s eyes sh with anger. ¡°He¡¯s my husband, not hers. I always wanted the status of being the wife of a Pakhan. With Lev, it didn¡¯t work, the men didn¡¯t like me. Here-¡± she smiles brightly. ¡°Here, the men respect me. I am Niki¡¯s wife.¡± The smug grin on her face makes me want to rip her head off.


    ¡°Ah, that is where you are wrong,¡± I tell her. ¡°We were never legally married, therefore you are not my wife. But rest assured, Lena will be.¡±


    Her tears are real this time as her scream fills the air. She should have known better than to go against me.


    ¡°You are going to die for what you did to her,¡± I hiss as I get to my feet, reaching for the gun in my back holster. I nod to my men telling them to leave. The moment they do, I crouch down so that I¡¯m level with her face. ¡°Your grandchild will never know you, Adele, he or she will never know what a Shlyushka you are.¡± (Cunt.)


    Her sharp intake of breath is more than enough for me to know that I hit deep with her. ¡°Grandchild?¡±


    ¡°You tried to kill my woman while she was pregnant with my child. Tell me, Adele, at what point did you think I wouldn¡¯t kill you for what you have done?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a bastard,¡± she hisses at me.


    ¡°How did you get working with the Croats?¡± I demand. Needing this conversation over with so I can get back to my woman.


    She shrugs carelessly. ¡°Before I met Lev, I had been with Marko Babic. He was the man that I loved. But he had been promised to another.¡± She sniffs. Does she think crying will make me feel sorry for her? ¡°We never stopped our fling, when I needed something, he was always there to help. He was more than happy to take out Yelena, it meant hurting Maksim and that was a plus for Marko.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll die for what you¡¯ve done,¡± I tell her. My words are final.


    There¡¯s no way she¡¯s getting out of this.


    Her eyes widen. ¡°You were my husband.¡±


    I shake my head. ¡°I¡¯ve never been that. I¡¯ll never be that. I wanted you for one reason only. The Bullet, and I¡¯ve got her. You,¡± I say as I raise my gun to her face. ¡°Are nothing more than a Shlyushka, you¡¯ll never be remembered.¡± I pull the trigger, not an ounce of remorse for doing what needs to be done in order to protect my family.


    ¡°Find out what the Croat knows about what his boss is up to and why he¡¯s here in Texas and then burn this ce to the ground,¡± I tell Stefan. ¡°I¡¯ll be back at the hospital, call me when it¡¯s done.¡±


    Konstantin and Stefan stay behind with the other men to ensure they extract the information that I need, whereas Ilya joins me as we return to the hospital.


    ¡°So, Lena¡¯s pregnant?¡±


    The fucker eavesdropped. ¡°Yes,¡± I reply as I tighten my hands on the steering wheel. ¡°It¡¯s early.¡±


    He nods somberly. ¡°They¡¯ll be okay,¡± he assures me. ¡°She¡¯s probably awake now.¡±


    I fucking hope so.

 Chapter 109

    Yelena


    I groan as pain rips through my head, my mouth feels dry and my eyes are heavy. I wince as the memoriese rushing back. My mother hitting me across the head, the dirty asshole who put his hands on me


    because she allowed him too. I¡¯ve known for a long time that she was a bitch, but I never truly fathomed how far she would go to have me killed.


    Opening my eyes I blink furiously at the harsh light, I focus on the white walls as my eyes adjust to the brightness. It doesn¡¯t take me long to realize that I¡¯m in a hospital. ncing around I see that I¡¯m alone and I can¡¯t help but wonder where Niki is. Does he know that I¡¯m here?


    The door opens and a middle-aged, balding man walks in wearing a whiteb coat and a bright smile. ¡°Ah, you¡¯re awake,¡± he beams as he moves closer to me. ¡°How are you feeling?¡±


    Confused, angry, determined to get revenge. ¡°Fine,¡± I tell him. But I¡¯m anything but; I¡¯m in pain and I feel as though I¡¯ve swallowed nails but I despise hospitals and I¡¯m going to do everything in my power to get the hell out of here.


    He gives me a knowing smile and checks me over. ¡°Your pupils are reacting as they should to the light, which is a good sign. The blow to the


    head could have caused some major damage.¡± ¡°So I¡¯m okay?¡± I ask.


    ¡°Yes, from the scans and the tests that we have run, you are okay, extremely lucky but okay.¡±


    I breathe a sigh of relief.


    ¡°The baby is doing okay too,¡± he tells me. ¡°It¡¯s early stages but the development is normal and there¡¯s no bleeding.¡±


    I blink trying to wrap my head around what he¡¯s just said. ¡°Baby?¡±


    He nods. ¡°Yes, Ms. Alekseeva, you are measuring around five weeks.¡±


    The door opens and I ignore it. ¡°How?¡± I say, wondering why the hell this is happening to me. ¡°I¡¯m on the pill, I take it religiously.¡±


    The doctor pats my hand in sympathy. ¡°Although the pill is a form of contraception, it isn¡¯t a hundred percent effective.¡±


    I can¡¯t believe this. How on earth did I let this happen? I¡¯m pregnant with my mother¡¯s husband¡¯s baby. God, it¡¯ll be a fucking riot at holidays.


    ¡°Can I go home now?¡± I ask, wanting to get on the first flight to New York and get the hell away from here. But first, I¡¯ll have a pit stop to make.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to keep an eye on you today. You were unconscious for a few hours and we want to ensure that you and the baby remain okay,¡± the doctor tells me.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to be here-¡±


    ¡°Lena,¡± Niki interrupts me. ¡°You¡¯re staying until the doctor clears you to go home.¡± His tone brooks no arguments and while he¡¯s staring at me as though he¡¯s never seen me before-his brown eyes dark and filled with worry, not to mention his shoulders are slumped-he¡¯s still got that anger about him.


    The doctor slips out of the room while I¡¯m in a stare off with Niki. ¡°I have something to do.¡±


    He grins as he takes a seat beside my bed. ¡°I bet you do, but, malenkaya right now, you need to focus on ensuring that you and our baby are okay.¡±


    My throat lodges as he ces his hand on my stomach. I¡¯m swamped with so much emotion that tears spring to my eyes. ¡°Nik-¡±


    He presses a kiss against my lips as I will the tears not to fall.


    ¡°Malenkaya, what¡¯s wrong?¡±N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    How do I tell the man that I¡¯m in love with that I¡¯m not sure if I want this baby? I never thought about having kids, it¡¯s why I was so staunch about taking my birth control. Having Adele as my mother made me view things so differently than others would. I¡¯ve always known that I was a burden on her and that she wished she¡¯d aborted me, that was something I¡¯d never inflict on a child.


    ¡°Dorogaya, talk to me.¡± His voice is hoarse, as though he¡¯s not sure what to expect.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how this happened,¡± I tell him honestly. I nce up at him and see something move through his eyes. Something akin to guilt and my stomach drops. ¡°Niki, what did you do?¡± I whisper horrified.


    He removes his hand from my stomach and sits back in the chair. ¡°Ya hochu ot tebya rebyenka moy, dorogaya.¡± (I want you round with my baby sweetheart.)


    I stare at the man that has taken so much without a second thought as to what I want or feel. ¡°What did you do?¡±


    He doesn¡¯t answer me and the silence stretches between us. Nausea hits me and I push it back down. ¡°Niki.¡± My tone is filled with anger and confusion. I know he¡¯s done something, but what, that¡¯s the question I want answered.


    ¡°Tell me,¡± I hiss. I move so that I can sit up and of course the overprotective ass is up on his feet to help me. ¡°Niki, either tell me or leave.¡±


    ¡°I switched out your birth control pills.¡±


    I stare at the man that I love and feel my heart split into two.


    ¡°Get out,¡± I say, my voice hoarse and scratchy.


    ¡°Malenkaya-¡±


    I shake my head. ¡°Get out,¡± I yell, d that I¡¯m strong enough to do so. ¡°Get the fuck out.¡±


    ¡°You think, dorogaya, that you kicking me out is going to make me leave? That it¡¯ll make this thing between us vanish?¡± He shakes his head.


    ¡°No, malenkaya, it won¡¯t. I¡¯ll go, let you rest, but I¡¯ll be back.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± I choke out. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you.¡±


    I tense as he steps closer to me, his hand cups my cheek. ¡°Listen to me, malenkaya, and hear my words. I do not regret what I have done, you are my light, my love, mine. I will do everything in my power to ensure that you are happy and healthy. This baby is a blessing, dorogaya, one that we¡¯ll cherish.¡±


    I swallow hard at his words. Why the hell does he have to be so damn sweet. ¡°You forced me to get pregnant, Niki, a baby was never in my ns. I never wanted to be like my mother.¡±


    He sits on the bed next to me, his breath hot against my face. ¡°You are nothing like that suka, Lena. Nothing. You care about the people you love. Your mother only gave a fuck about herself. But you need not worry about her any longer. She¡¯s not a threat anymore.¡±


    I close my eyes as his words sink in. ¡°You killed her.¡± It¡¯s a statement.


    ¡°She hurt you, malenkaya, that¡¯s not something I¡¯ll ever allow anyone to do, mother or not.¡±


    ¡°I was going to kill her,¡± I whisper, feeling grateful that he has taken the task away from me.


    ¡°You would have, dorogaya, but you shouldn¡¯t have to face that burden. I on the other hand had no qualms taking her out an¡¯ did so.¡± He goes on to tell me how my mother and he weren¡¯t really married and that nothing had happened between them. I feel relieved that what we have isn¡¯t anything to do with my mother but simply because of the attraction we have. ¡°But, malenkaya, it does not change the fact that you are pregnant. That together we are having a child.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m so very mad at you,¡± I tell him and the bastard smiles at me. ¡°Don¡¯t smile, there¡¯s nothing to smile about.¡±


    ¡°Actually, dorogaya, there is. You¡¯re mine, we are going to have a baby, be a family.¡±


    I re at him, that is the wrong thing to say right now. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, Niki, then why the hell didn¡¯t you consult me when you made life changing decisions? Decisions that affect me?¡±


    He cradles my face with both of his hands. ¡°I am a selfish man,


    Melenkaya, one that will do whatever it takes in order to get what I want.


    And that, dorogaya, was you and having you pregnant with my child.¡±


    ¡°So what, job done, you can now go and find someone else?¡±


    His eyes darken, his nostrils re, and his grip on me tightens. ¡°Fuck no,¡± he snarls. ¡°Listen, malenkaya, you are mine, there is no one else. You even think of running and I¡¯ll find you. I¡¯ll bring you back.¡±


    I stare at him utterly confused. ¡°Why?¡± Why the hell has he done this?


    ¡°Ah, malenkaya,¡± he whispers. ¡°Ya lublu tebya, moya dorogaya.¡± (I love you, my sweetheart.)


    My mouth drops open at his words. He chuckles. ¡°Speechless, malenkaya?¡±


    I nod, swallowing back the tears. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to hear those words.¡±


    Hell, I didn¡¯t think love was an emotion that Niki was capable of. The man rarely talks, we rarely talk, it¡¯s just been sex with us. His gentleness with me is what broke through the barrier and made me see more than just the Pakhan of the Bratva,


    His smile reaches his eyes. ¡°Dorogaya,¡± he murmurs. ¡°Do you love me?¡±


    I¡¯m unable to keep the smile from my face. ¡°Ya lublu tebya,¡± I whisper, and it feels so good to say the words. Ones that I have been hiding in fear of rejection. (I love you.)


    ¡°Moya prekrasnaya, dorogaya.¡± he gently presses his lips against mine and I know that there¡¯s no hope in hell that I¡¯d be able to stay mad at him for too long.


    From the moment we met, he¡¯s shown me how much he truly cares about me. He¡¯s never made me feel as though I¡¯m nothing but a fuck to him. I fell hard for him because he showed me his true self. While he¡¯s fucked up and made decisions that affect us both-I¡¯m still pretty pissed about it-but I do know that I¡¯ll get over it. He¡¯s not the only one that¡¯s made mistakes. I have too. But hopefully, we can move forward together.


    ¡°No more tricks, Niki,¡± I tell him as he pulls back. ¡°Talk to me if you want something.¡±


    His lips twitch but he nods in agreement. ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°Good, now, please can we go home?¡± I plead with him, as I press closer to his body.


    ¡°Malenkaya.¡± His words are stern but his eyes light up. ¡°You heard the doctor, if everything is okay, then tomorrow I¡¯ll take you home.¡±


    I bite my lip at his promise, the longing in his eyes is enough to tell me exactly what he ns to do to me.


    ¡°You want something, dorogaya?¡± he teases me. He damn well knows what I need.


    I grin, that¡¯s okay, two can y this game. ¡°What I want,¡± I whisper huskily. ¡°Is something that you wouldn¡¯t appreciate your men hearing.¡±


    His lips thin as his eyes darken so that they¡¯re almost ck. ¡°Now, malenkaya, you¡¯ll pay for that tomorrow.¡± Heat pools between my thighs and I squirm. ¡°Moya prekrasnaya malenkaya shlyushka, tomorrow can¡¯te soon enough.¡± (My beautiful little whore.)


    I bite my lip to stop the whimper from escaping. God, I love it when he calls me his beautiful little whore. ¡°Tomorrow,¡± I reply as I press a kiss to his lips. ¡°Ya lublu tebya,¡± I say with a yawn as exhaustion hits me like a freight train. (I love you.)


    He returns the kiss, this time he deepens it until I¡¯m breathless and clinging to him. ¡°Ya lublu tebya, dorogaya.¡± He gets to his feet and peers down at me. ¡°Rest now, malenkaya.¡±


    He helps me lie back down and covers me with the sheets. I watch as he takes a seat beside me, his hand engulfing mine. ¡°Sleep, Lena, I¡¯ll be here when you wake.¡±


    I close my eyes and all I can think of as sleep ims me is how happy I am, truly happy, something I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever felt before. That the love I have for Niki is unmatched and I know that it¡¯s my forever love.

 Chapter 110

    EPILOGUE


    NIKOLAI SEVEN MONTHS LATER


    ¡°Malenkaya,¡± I call out as I enter the house.


    ¡°Here,¡± she replies sweetly, sounding distracted.


    I move through the home, one that we moved into almost six months ago. Although Lena never mentioned anything about living in the house her mother also lived in, it yed on my mind, not to mention the memory of watching that bitch hit her across the head. So I found a new home for us, one that we¡¯ll raise our family in also.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    I walk into the kitchen to see her standing at the stove, cooking. She¡¯s wearing a short robe that hits just below the tops of her thighs, letting me see her perfect legs and creamy skin. Her hair is loose and hanging down her back.


    ¡°You okay, dorogaya?¡± I ask as I step up behind her, my hands sliding around her waist and pressing against her bump. She¡¯s ready to give birth any week now and there¡¯s excitement from not only Lena and I, but also my men.


    She leans her head back against my chest. ¡°Yes, we¡¯re good.¡±


    ¡°Hmmm,¡± I say. ¡°Did you do anything today?¡± I wonder if she¡¯s going to lie to me.


    ¡°You already know, Niki, so why don¡¯t you say whatever it is that¡¯s on your mind and get it over and done with. I¡¯m hungry.¡±


    I check my anger, knowing that an argument at this stage could end up with her inbor. ¡°You promised me-¡±


    She sets the pot off the heat and turns to look at me, my hands falling from her body. My gaze goes to her robe which is open slightly, giving me the perfect look at the swell of her breasts. ¡°I did no such thing. I told you that I would consider retirement, but I never agreed to it.¡± She crosses her arms over her chest, which pushes her breasts up further. ¡°My eyes are up here,¡± she tells me and I move my gaze from her breasts to her face. ¡°That¡¯s


    better,¡± she tells me as her lips twitch. ¡°I did what I had to do.¡±


    I pinch the bridge of my nose. Why can¡¯t she do what I say? My life would be so much fucking easier. ¡°Malenkaya, you are eight months pregnant, why do you insist on trying to give me gray hairs?¡±


    She gets onto her tiptoes and peers at my head. ¡°You had those before we met,¡± she replies, her eyes filled with mischief. ¡°What did you expect from me, Niki?¡±


    ¡°That you take care, dorogaya, you have a life to think about.¡±


    Her eyes widen and fill with tears. My gut clenches at the anger and hurt that sh through her features. ¡°If you had bothered to check,¡± she hisses. ¡°Then you would have known that I wasn¡¯t alone. In fact, not only was Ilya with me but so was Stefan, Konstantin, Kostya, and Pasha.¡± She steps away from me. ¡°I am not a fucking damsel in distress, nor am I stupid. I may not have wanted this baby at the beginning given how we started, Nik, but I love my son and I will do everything in my power to protect him.


    To protect you.¡± Her chest heaves as she res at me.


    ¡°I understand that, malenkaya-¡±


    She raises her hand to stop me. ¡°So yes, when I discovered that Marko Babic wanted revenge for you not only killing his men but also the woman he¡¯d been fucking for years, I knew I had to do something to ensure that the two people I loved most wouldn¡¯t be harmed.¡±


    ¡°So you took out the head of the Babic family?¡± I ask incredulously.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she replies simply, her brow raised and her hands on her hips. ¡°What did you expect me to do, Niki? Sit on my ass and wait for them to take us all out? To take out my son?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I grit out, knowing that a woman who is trained as she is, would never sit back and allow someone to hurt the ones that she loves.


    She beams at me. ¡°So, take that look off your face, the bastard is dead and the Babic family is no more. Our son can live a life without having those assholes after him. I understand why you¡¯re angry, but you have no right to be and you have no right to insinuate that I¡¯m a bad mother.¡± Fuck.


    I cross the room toward her and pull her into my arms. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, malenkaya.¡± I¡¯m an asshole the majority of time.


    ¡°It¡¯s done,¡± she tells me as she looks up at me with her beautiful green eyes.


    ¡°It is,¡± I reply as my hands slide down to her waist. Even eight monthster, I can¡¯t get enough of her. She¡¯s always been the one that has me harder than stone with just a look. There¡¯ll never be anyone else for me other than Yelena.


    ¡°Nik,¡± she whines as my hands move under her robe. I caress her skin. ¡°Please,¡± she moans.


    ¡°What do you want, malenkaya?¡± I growl as her fingers go to my belt, undoing it without pause.


    ¡°You,¡± she says simply, her breath hitching as I knead her ass.


    ¡°Where?¡± I ask, knowing my woman she¡¯ll want it here and now. Even though she¡¯s eight months pregnant.


    ¡°Nik,¡± she whines once again as she frees my cock.


    ¡°Tell me, malenkaya?¡± My voice is harder this time.


    ¡°Here,¡± she tells me as she wraps her hand around my cock.


    ¡°Robe off,¡± I demand as I take a step back.


    I watch as she unties her robe and it falls from her body. She¡¯spletely naked under it. Her bump prominent against her slight frame, her breasts heavy from the pregnancy. She has never looked sexier than she does at this moment. ¡°Dorogaya, once our son is born, I¡¯m knocking you up again.¡±


    Her breath hitches once again, she licks her lips as her eyes move to my cock.


    ¡°You want it?¡±


    She nods as she moves toward the counter. I grin as I follow her, my wife wants me to fuck her here, then that¡¯s what she¡¯ll get.


    I lift her onto the counter, her ass barely on it, it¡¯s the perfect height for what I want and it¡¯s the main reason why I had the kitchen remodeled. Perfect ess to fuck her when the mood strikes, it¡¯s also one of Lena¡¯s favorite ways for us to fuck.


    Her legs open and I see my pretty pussy is glistening with her wetness. I position my cock at the entrance and m into her, there¡¯s nothing better than being inside of her. This is the best feeling in the world.


    ¡°Yes¡± she hisses, throwing her head back.


    My thrusts aren¡¯t as forceful as they usually are as I¡¯m mindful of the fact that she¡¯s carrying my son, but they¡¯re deep enough for her to feel pain.


    ¡°More,¡± she pleads with me as she grinds on my cock.


    This woman has no qualms about her sexual appetite and I fucking love it. I withdraw slowly from her and slide back in, going as deep as I can.


    ¡°Niki-¡± she cries in pleasure-pain, her movements jerky and her body trembles. She¡¯s close.


    ¡°Kanchay dlya menya, moya malenkaya shlyushka.¡± I nip at her lip as my finger goes to her clit. I flick and pinch at it until she¡¯s a quivering mess. ¡°Come, Lena,¡± I demand.


    And she does, her back arching, her eyes closed as she cries out my name. ¡°Nik.¡± Her fingers clench around my biceps as she holds on through her orgasm


    Her pussy clenches around my cock, suffocating it until I¡¯m no longer able to hold back. I thrust once more into her and grunt with my release. ¡°Ya lublu tebya, moya dorogaya.¡±


    She rests her head against my shoulder. ¡°Ya lublu tebya,¡± she breathes.


    ¡°Always, Nik. I¡¯ll always love you.¡±

 Chapter 111

    TRAPPING HIS QUEEN


    Sloane


    A scraping sound woke me. I knew something was wrong. My dark locks were stered to my face, rather than tucked in my bo-something I would never do. I wasn¡¯t a wild sleeper. My ex said I slept like the dead, although that probably had more to do with choking on his cock than actually being tired. Dry and scratchy, my throat felt like I hadn¡¯t had a drink in a long time. My head throbbed, but if I¡¯d gone drinking with the other waitresses from work, I would¡¯ve taken something before I went to bed. I was never too drunk to pineapple my hair and p my bo on.


    No-slip, my ass.


    My eyelids fluttered slightly as I tried to open them, but they were stuck together. Gross. I tried to lift my right hand to scrub my eyes open, but it was pinned down. I struggled to move the other arm. It, too, was pinned. It felt odd, like I was strapped to something.


    What the fuck?


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to wake you, malishka,¡± rasped a deep, masculine voice close to my left ear. The ent was . . . noticeable.


    I tried to move my legs, but they were strapped down as well. If these were normal circumstances, I¡¯d probably bend over at the sound of that rasp. But this situation was anything but ordinary.


    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± I croaked.


    ¡°I forgot I had these on your eyes, malishka. Give me a moment.¡± Rough hands peeled something off my eyes.


    I¡¯d thought they were stuck shut, but it was some kind of tape, judging by the slight ripping sound it made when he peeled it away.


    I was able to blink my eyes open to see a dimly lit rooming into focus.


    ¡°Where the fuck am I?¡± My voice broke from disuse.


    ¡°Take small sips.¡± I noted he didn¡¯t answer my question.


    A straw was thrust into my mouth, and I gulped down a few sips of water. The tattoos on his arms, drawing my eyes while the vein throbbing made me lick my lips in response. He was a tall drink of water in and of himself. When I¡¯d drunk my fill, I used my tongue to push the straw back out of my mouth.


    ¡°You still haven¡¯t answered my questions¨Cand what does mal-ish-ka mean?¡± I turned my head to take in the man who was in this room with me. Maybe we¡¯d been kidnapped together or something. I wasn¡¯t panicking as I should, which was worrisome.


    My eyes widened in surprise as he came into view. If I was kidnapped and stuck with him, thank the good lord he was sexy as fuck. Better to have eye candy to stare at than the walls.


    Something was seriously fucked with my brain. It was probably all the time I¡¯d spent as a sweetbutt in my local MC. Not that I¡¯d give them any fucking credit for my personality quirks.


    His dark hair was pulled into a bun, but pieces were falling out of it. Must¡¯ve put it up in a hurry. I¡¯ve been there before¨Ctoss your head, gather the loose hair, and apply stic band in a rush. I couldn¡¯t see anything else, other than that he was wearing a sweater and dark pants.


    It made sense¨Cwe were in a mountain town, after all.


    ¡°To answer your question, it is a term of endearment in Russian,¡± he said, interrupting my inner thoughts. His breath blew across my face, and I almost spread my legs as my brain registered his scent of spearmint. My favorite scent.


    Fuck. What was wrong with me?


    ¡°Do you think it¡¯s hot in here?¡± I felt like panting.


    He shot me a look. ¡°It¡¯s not hot in here; it¡¯s the drugs, malishka.¡±


    ¡°Can you untie me, please?¡± My voice was panicky as I tried to pull at the straps. Did he just say drugs? This man drugged me?


    ¡°Not right now,¡± he murmured.


    ¡°What the fuck? Let me go! Why am I here? Who are you? What are you going to do to me?¡± I whimpered.


    There went the hope that he was a hot fellow captive. His aura told me it was his fault I was here. I pushed back up, trying to gain leverage, but my hands were too far apart. Breaking free wasn¡¯t an option in this position. There was barely any give with these restraints.


    ¡°Calm. Breathe, malishka. Nothing bad is going to happen to you¨Cat least, nothing you won¡¯t find pleasurable.¡± His ice-blue eyes made me shiver from their intensity. I willed him to look away, and when he did, I let out a breath I hadn¡¯t known I was holding.


    ¡°I have a life. People will be looking for me.¡± I told him, trying to hide the tremble in my voice.


    ¡°Your life is full of surface-level people. They will be irritated that you didn¡¯t show up to your shift, but none of them will look for you.¡±


    I tried to hold back a whimper, his eyes shooting to mine when I failed.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say that to cause you pain, malishka. I was merely telling you the truth.¡± He moved away from the bed, and couldn¡¯t help the gasp that escaped. This man was huge. There was a scar on the other side of his face that had been hidden from view, and it made him look even more dangerous.


    ¡°Fuck, I know it¡¯s hideous. I¡¯m sorry.¡± He turned away, his shoulders hunched like I¡¯d kicked him.


    ¡°Wait! I wasn¡¯t gasping at your scar; you¡¯re just, well, kind of huge. See, I¡¯m only-¡±


    ¡°5¡¯2,¡± he interrupted, spinning back around to pierce me with his intense gaze.


    ¡°How did you know that?¡± I looked at him suspiciously.


    He waved a hand in front of him. ¡°You were saying?¡±


    ¡°Right, I¡¯m small, and you¡¯re huge, which I guess scared me a little bit, but not because of the scar.¡±


    He leaned over the bed, and I shrank away from him. ¡°Does my size intimidate you, malishka?¡± He put a weird emphasis on size, like he was alluding to something else.


    ¡°Y-yes. I¡¯d feel much better if you¡¯d tell me why you brought me here,¡± I implored.


    ¡°Who said I brought you here?¡±


    His words sent a chill rushing down my spine. ¡°Did someone else snatch me off the street?¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t the street¨CI¡¯d never be that sloppy. It was right after your shift ended, and all your coworkers left you to go home. While you dug for your keys, I crept behind you and knocked you out as gently as possible.¡± There wasn¡¯t any hesitation in his voice while divulging the intricate details of the crime hemitted against me. He didn¡¯t care.


    ¡°With drugs?¡± I¡¯d used some before, but never touched them once I¡¯d left the MC.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t a lot. You are a tiny woman. I didn¡¯t want to overdose you.¡± He smirked at me.


    He had to be a psycho. That was the only exnation for this.


    I came to the realization that I was going to fucking die.


    ***


    ALEXEI


    My little malishka was terrified. I could see it in the tightening of her muscles, the way she held herself away from me, even in the sweat trickling down her dark skin. It was heady.


    Delectable.


    I leaned forward andpped some up. She tasted so fucking good.


    Before I could scare her further, the burner phone in my back pocket pinged. I kissed her forehead, even though she tried to move away. That didn¡¯t deter me. Her fight was everything I wanted. Unfortunately, she would have to wait. I left the room and pulled the phone out of my back pocket.


    ¡°Yeah?¡± I barked.


    It was Roger, my only remaining contact. ¡°Boss, we have several problems.¡± He sounded exhausted on the line.


    ¡°You mean more than the fact that my brother took my throne in Russia and exiled me to this god-forsaken mountain? Or how about the fact that we¡¯re hemorrhaging money and our alliances are jumping ship? If it were up to Viktor, the Bratva would go up in mes,¡± I said with a huff.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Roger had enough respect to let me vent without any input from him. He knew I didn¡¯t want to hear it, especially while I was stressed. I could feel the vein in my temple throbbing as my heart rate kicked up, a side effect of my rising blood pressure.


    ¡°Tell me what you want,¡± I snapped. It wasn¡¯t Roger¡¯s fault. This just wasn¡¯t the most fantastic time to talk to me.


    ¡°The girl you snatched has no priors. There is nothing in her history, but I dug a ton and found that she has a connection with the local MC. I wanted to see if you would like me to find out more about her background, or if you¡¯d like me to focus on why the leader is so obsessed with her,¡± Roger drawled casually, like he wasn¡¯t speaking of the woman who was going to bring my children into existence.


    ¡°What do you mean, that motherfucker is obsessed with her? For what?¡± I felt an itch begin underneath my skin. All this stress was eating me alive. What was supposed to be an easy snatch and grab was starting to turn into a clusterfuck of epic proportions.


    ¡°I have no idea. From what I¡¯m getting, he¡¯s trying to find her, and he doesn¡¯t care if the delivery boys get a little rough with her.¡±


    My blood boiled at the thought of some dirty biker messing up my woman¡¯s face.


    ¡°Were they dating?¡± I growled into the receiver. I didn¡¯t want to think about my malishka being with anyone else.


    ¡°It¡¯s a strong possibility, but she was working at the town diner and didn¡¯t seem to have any issues with the MC while she worked there.¡± I could hear Roger cking away at his keyboard. He was the best hacker money could buy. I¡¯d saved his life a few times and although he had no ties, he was far more loyal than the men in my inner circle.


    Even more loyal than my own blood.


    Viktor and I may have had different mothers, but I never treated him as less than myself. That was all my father¡¯s doing, and something I¡¯d put a stop to when I took the reins after Father¡¯s death.


    ¡°Keep me informed.¡± I ended the call with a click¨Cno goodbye. That¡¯s how we operated. Who knew when the next time we¡¯d speak would be?


    If I wasn¡¯t alone, Sloane would have the protection she needed. But the reality was, I had no allies. No oneing to my aid. The Bratva wouldy down their lives at the feet of my queen. If only they knew she existed.


    But I was a king without a kingdom. So as much as I wanted to storm back to Russia and take my rightful ce, I couldn¡¯t. My brother had seen to that.


    Viktor was a maniptive liar.


    He¡¯d used the men¡¯s greatest fears against them, whispered in their ears about the way I ran things while smiling in my face as I walked by. I¡¯d given him more and more responsibilities: something my father had refused to do. His mother had been a whore and a traitor, but she paid in blood for her betrayal. Father had spoken about how he wished he had smothered Viktor as a child, but didn¡¯t. I wished now that he had. Then, I wouldn¡¯t be in this mess.


    I let out a sigh that did nothing to release my tension. It was time to get back to my malishka. She would relieve my stress more than any drink or drug could provide. Hell, she was the drug.


    From the first time I¡¯d seen her, I knew I wanted her. I sat in the diner every day, out of her section, just watching her habits. She shed her smile at everyone, no matter how they treated her. I¡¯d had to take many men in the back and teach them a lesson of respect, but my little malishka never knew. She was oblivious to my protection. It was why I took her in the first ce. Now, I just needed to keep her.


    Simple.


    As I walked back to the room I¡¯d left her strapped down in, she let out a blood-curdling scream that had me busting down the door in my haste to get to her. I looked around but didn¡¯t see any hidden assants or shadows. She kept screaming, even after she saw I was in the room with her.


    ¡°Oh, malishka. Screaming won¡¯t save you from me.¡± My mouth lifted with a nefarious grin, and I let myself give in to my baser urges. I was going to eat her from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet. Then, when I finished, I expected her to thank me for eating her like a meal.


    If she didn¡¯t?


    Well, I guess she¡¯d see what the king of the Bratva could do to her while shey helpless to stop him. The thought had merit. I ran my lecherous gaze over her.


    I had always loved chocte.

 Chapter 112

    SLOANE


    It urred to me mid-scream that he wasn¡¯t going to let me go. My captor had incapacitated me so quickly. I let out another blood-curdling scream, but who was I kidding? This was the mountains. There


    wouldn¡¯t be anyone nearby who could hear my cries.


    ¡°Oh, malishka. Screaming won¡¯t save you from me.¡± My captor appeared in front of me, a cruel glint in his eyes.


    ¡°Please?¡± I begged.


    He shook his head, taking another step forward. Again he held a cup of water in his hand, with a straw poking out the top. ¡°Drink.¡±


    He tipped the cup towards my mouth, but I refused the straw. Instead, I let the water dribble over my lips, wetting them a bit.


    He ripped the straw from the cup and threw it on the floor. ¡°I said, drink,¡± he snapped.


    I should¡¯ve just epted the straw.


    He pinched my cheeks between hisrge hand, creating an opening for the water he forced down my throat. I coughed and sputtered, but eventually, he got some in me.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    I wouldn¡¯t let him know the water made me feel better.


    ¡°I don¡¯t even know your name,¡± I whimpered. I felt like a wounded animal. My baser instincts red to life, but there was only one that felt important¨Csurvival.


    ¡°Alexei Petrov. And you, my sweet, delectable morsel, are Sloane Williams.¡± He growled my name, and I wished I could clench my legs together.


    What the fuck was wrong with me?


    It was the drugs; it had to be.


    He undid my straps and took me to the bathroom. His hands gripped so tightly on my skin I didn¡¯t think I would be able to twitch wrong before he subdued me. Now was not the time. I had to keep him talking. ¡°Why are you doing this to me? You look like a decent guy.¡± He smirked at that.


    ¡°You could have any woman in the world. Why are you bothering with little old me?¡±


    ¡°I saw you working at the diner, that body so snug in their uniform. You were sweating your sexy ass off, running back and forth between tables. You looked up, and our eyes met. It was then I saw your striking facial features. You¡¯re beautiful hazel eyes, the white of your smile, the sharp nt of your nose, and that chin with the tiny butt in it. I wanted my children to share those features, so I stole you.¡±


    He was a psycho. I mean, I knew he was, but the way he was going on, I knew that there was nothing I could do but wait for an opening and get away from him as quickly as possible. Maybe someone had dropped him on his head in Soviet Russia. I wasn¡¯t sure, and frankly, I didn¡¯t give a shit. I just wanted to get back to my life, even if I had to leave town and start somewhere else.


    He strapped me back down, and I let out a sigh. A gentle caress on my shoulder caused me to jump. I shuddered when my eyes met his.


    He had a hungry look on his face, like he wanted to eat me alive.


    What¡¯s so wrong with that, a voice whispered in my mind. I shook it off.


    He couldn¡¯t know what I wanted. He couldn¡¯t know that I¡¯d always hoped someone would understand my needs.


    My ex had never understood. He was disgusted with me, even though I was his prized obsession. The bed sank by my hip, and I tried not to jump. I couldn¡¯t help being afraid of him. He was a huge, hulking figure that could crush me in his hand with no problems.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to be afraid of me, malishka,¡± he whispered. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hurt you. I want to do dirty, filthy things to that body until it grows big with my child, but other than that, I just want to keep you.¡± He had grown vulnerable.


    I didn¡¯t know what to say. On the one hand, my pussy was gushing liquid, but on the other, my head said that I shouldn¡¯t want this. I shouldn¡¯t give in to him. But if I didn¡¯t, would he hurt me? Force me? My body flushed at the very thought, and my nipples stuck up in the air.


    He withdrew a knife from behind him, and I tried to squirm away. I¡¯d never attempted knife y before, and something told me starting now wouldn¡¯t be the best idea.


    ¡°Shh. I¡¯m not going to hurt you. I¡¯m going to cut these clothes away, and then you¡¯ll obey me. Isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    I nodded my head; there was no choice but to obey. It didn¡¯t matter that the signals my body sent to my brain were all green lights. It didn¡¯t matter that I was strapped down and could barely move. My arms were so sore, I felt like they would fall right out of their sockets.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to fuck you so hard, you¡¯ll get pregnant on the first try. But it won¡¯t matter, because I¡¯ll keep fucking you to make sure that you stay pregnant. You¡¯ll never have to want for anything.¡± He cut away my clothes roughly as he exined the situation I was in.


    ¡°How do you know I¡¯m not on birth control?¡±


    I didn¡¯t understand why I couldn¡¯t keep my mouth shut sometimes.


    ¡°I dug into your background. I know you aren¡¯t a virgin, but I also know that you haven¡¯t been on birth control since you broke up with your ex.¡± He shot me a triumphant look as the de ripped apart my favorite bra.


    ¡°It¡¯s bad for your body,¡± I mumbled. In my defense, birth control wasn¡¯t healthy. I knew it helped women who didn¡¯t want to have children, but I¡¯d rather get identally knocked up than put those chemicals in my body.


    ¡°That¡¯s why you are perfect for me.¡± He stroked underneath my breast.


    I shuddered, my pussy drying up faster than my paycheck after I¡¯d paid my bills. Whether it was from the cold or his touch, I wasn¡¯t sure. The only thing I was certain of was that I needed to survive whatever he did to me. His eyes snapped to the space between my thighs, and he let out a harsh groan.


    ¡°Fuck. I want to see the wetness on your thighs.¡± He sent a light p on my pussy, causing me to gasp in pain and try to close my legs. He ced the knife on the left side of my throat.


    ¡°Open wide, malishka,¡± was the only warning I got before his cock filled my mouth.


    ***

 Chapter 113

    ALEXEI


    The warmth from her hot breath caused me to groan in delight. She enveloped me deeper and deeper inside her mouth until I touched her tonsils.


    ¡°Fuck, malishka.¡± I reached out with my empty hand and grabbed the back of her head, pulling it toward me and pressing the knife deeper into her skin. A trickle of blood ran down the side of her neck, and I wished I was a contortionist, so that I could lick it while thrusting deep inside her hole.


    Her eyes locked on mine; hate warred in them with the same hunger that I knew was written all over my face. She licked the underside of my cock from base to tip. I felt my legs tremble. I hadn¡¯t known it would feel this good.


    I thrust deeper to the sounds of her gag being triggered over and over again. I could do this all night. Sink my cock as deep in her throat as I could and fall asleep.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare vomit,¡± I growled. My voice was almost inhuman as I kept triggering her gag reflex. It felt so good on my cock, and her throat opened to amodate my size. Fuck, I could slit her throat right now and bathe in her blood, but that wouldn¡¯t me the results I wanted.


    But then she wiggled her tongue on the underside vein, and my balls tightened. My knees locked. Who taught her to be such a good little cock sucker? It made me angry, even as a shiver rushed up my spine. I pressed her nose into my pubic bone roughly. She could¡¯ve vomited on me for all I cared; I was too far gone to stop.


    ¡°You¡¯re perfect, just perfect,¡± I mumbled under my breath as mye jetted down her throat. Though tears leaked out of her eyes, she swallowed everything I had.


    When I¡¯d finally given her everything, I stumbled back. Her head fell backward, and she groaned, trying to rub her legs together.


    It wasn¡¯t enough. I wanted more.


    I was ravenous for her.


    ¡°Please, don¡¯t stop!¡± she whimpered. The drugs I¡¯d put in her water had kicked in fully. She was gone. Her mind was running rampant with lust.


    I didn¡¯t like taking unwilling women. In Russia, pussy was thrown at me left and right. My brother would see this as a new all-time low for me. Sloane¡¯s head rolled towards me, and her eyshes fluttered upwards.


    ¡°Anything for you,¡± I growled. I reached out and grabbed the lube I kept close, knowing she wasn¡¯t ready for my size. I practically jumped on her, shoving her legs further apart and dripping the lube between her thighs. I had the forethought to strap her legs up by her head on the bedposts. She couldn¡¯t get away from me and as I looked down on her pussy, she didn¡¯t mind. She was glistening, now that I¡¯d added artificial wetness.


    Maybe notpletely ready, but it would have to do. Her curls were soaked and stuck in all directions. Just in case, I added even more lube. I¡¯d known she wouldn¡¯t be bare. I wanted her to stay like this. Most men wanted a shaved pussy, but I liked them trimmed more. And what a lovely trim it was. Her mound was just as beautiful as she.


    I leaned forward and took a whiff. Her spicy aroma made my heart palpitate. My stomach grumbled, and my mouth ached to eat her. I nipped her clit, and her hips lifted off the bed as she gasped in response. She¡¯d been screaming, so I wasn¡¯t going to give her oral pleasure.


    Maybe next time, when I wasn¡¯t punishing her.


    ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to breeding this tight cunt. Unfortunately, for now, you don¡¯t deserve my tongue,¡± I told her.


    She lifted her head, her eyes zed over. ¡°Wait, what-¡±


    I thrust inside of her in one swift move, not letting her finish the question. My little malishka screamed out, tears rimming her eyes, as she immediately tried to pull her arms back down from the straps.


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t.¡± I pped her on the breast. She pulled the straps again, her eyes shing defiance despite the tears leaking from them. So, I pped her, over and over, all over her luscious breasts, until she yielded.


    By then, she was shaking and sobbing, tears coating her face. It just made me want to fuck her harder. The drugs were making hercent and horny, but not forcing her to pass out. I would still have fucked her even if shey still as a corpse, but I preferred her in action. Even if her movements were sluggish.


    ¡°Well, my little malishka, if you had cried sooner, I could have used your tears as lube.¡± I smirked down at her, not breaking eye contact as I wrapped my fingers around her throat, showing her I meant business. When her body shivered, I grinned. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± I snarled in her ear. ¡°I¡¯m going to fill you to the brim either way.¡± Her pussy mped down on me hard at my whispered promise.


    ¡°Oh, you like the thought of that, do you?¡± I chuckled, not surprised at her response.


    Sloane shook her head no.


    Liar.


    I leaned forward. ¡°I don¡¯t believe you.¡± I thrust deeper into her. After I reached over and grabbed the knife I¡¯d dropped on the bed beside her, I leaned back and shed the straps on her left leg. I ced the knife beside us as I threw her leg over my shoulder, thrusting deeply again.


    ¡°Can you feel me in your womb? I¡¯m brushing up against it right now, so my seed can fill it swiftly.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m so full. It¡¯s painful. Take it out,¡± she cried, cringing as I bottomed out.


    ¡°Of course it is. You want my babies, too. You¡¯re just too ashamed to admit it.¡± When she mped down on me again, I shot her a cocky grin.


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t. I can¡¯t, please,¡± she begged, arching her back. I sped up.


    ¡°Come all over this cock, malishka. The cock that¡¯s going to breed you every single day. You¡¯ll have my cum inside of you twenty-four-seven. I¡¯m going to fuck you everywhere. And when you¡¯re swollen with our child, I¡¯ll squeeze and suck the milk out of your swollen breasts.¡± I reached forward and grabbed her breast, squeezing it so she knew what I would do to them.


    ¡°No! No! God, no!¡± she cried out. I felt another powerful orgasm sweeping through me.


    Sloane wasing, and she was taking me with her.


    ¡°Fuck, that¡¯s it, little bird, choke my cock.¡± I groaned into her neck. When she fluttered harder against me, I lost it, pounding inside her until I burst.


    ¡°Fuck, I¡¯ming. I¡¯ming inside of you, filling you up, and soon, you¡¯ll have my baby.¡± When my cock stopped throbbing, I copsed on the bed beside Sloane.


    I pulled her close to my body, wanting to be intimate for the first time in my life. She was straining her arms, so I grabbed the knife and cut them down. The de nicked her a little more in the process, so I captured all the blood droplets and sucked them off her skin with a groan. Her answering moan had me ready to go again. I wanted to take her everywhere until we created a miniature version of us.


    Once that was settled, I could return to Russia and take back my throne.


    I wanted Sloane by my side for that. I trailed kisses down her body.


    ¡°Um, did you mean what you said?¡± she whispered.


    ¡°I always mean what I say, malishka.¡± I cupped her left breast, wanting to feel the weight of it in my hand.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want a baby, especially not with you.¡± Her voice stabbed through the silence and my heart.


    What the fuck did she mean, she didn¡¯t want a baby?


    ¡°You¡¯ll want my baby,¡± I said with confidence.


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t want any babies. Ever.¡±


    The finality of her tone pissed me off. She tried to roll over and face me, but I wasn¡¯t having it. I reached behind me and grabbed the rag, then reached over and shoved it into her mouth. I climbed off the bed and found the rope, strapping her back down as she red at me. Looks like she can¡¯t say any more shit about what she wants.


    ¡°Hush now. All will be well.¡± I leaned over and stroked my hand over her cheek lightly. I knew her well. I¡¯d watched for a long time from the shadows before I made my move to make her mine.


    When her body rxed, I went and fetched the bo I¡¯d bought just for her, and put her hair up as best I could. She would teach me the ways to care for her.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    As long as she gave me children, I would keep her like the queen she was. I would treat her better than anyone had treated her before. I just needed to break her first. By the time we went to Russia, she would be mine irrevocably. I wouldn¡¯t have to worry about her running or leaving me or, even worse, taking her own life.


    Since she wasn¡¯t amenable right now, I¡¯d have to breed her by force.


    Which was fine with me.

 Chapter 114

    SLOANE


    Days passed, each ending simrly to that night. I wasn¡¯t sure what was happening-I didn¡¯t know what day it was. I barely knew what time it was. All I knew was that I was used and then forced to


    elevate my hips so his seed could take root.


    This time was different. I woke up alone in bed. My captor, or rather, Alexei, preferred waking up with me, but I¡¯d been out of sorts recently. My appetite had waned, and I was short-tempered. I¡¯d even hauled off and tried to hit him, which hadn¡¯t worked out well for me. He didn¡¯t abuse me, at least.


    In fact, out of all the scenarios I could¡¯ve dreamed up, this wasn¡¯t bad. I was well fed, sleeping in a bed, and allowed use of the facilities alone, for the most part. Of course, it could¡¯ve been worse. I could¡¯ve been sleeping on a dirty cot on the floor, using a bucket. But beggars can¡¯t be choosers and all that.


    I didn¡¯t hear Alexei at all. This cabin didn¡¯t seem too big, although I¡¯d only seen the bathroom and these four walls, so I assumed he was out. I tugged on my bindings, trying to work myself out of them to no avail. I was well and truly stuck.


    A whine rose in the back of my throat from the hopelessness of my situation. I was such a stupid idiot. How hard would it have been to ask a coworker to walk me to my car that night? It would¡¯ve been so easy to do.


    ¡°Goodnight, I¡¯ll see you all tomorrow.¡± I waved to Emily, the waitress left closing with me and Jared, the dishwasher. I was in a rush to get out of there. See, Emily and Jared liked to fuck as soon as the coast was clear.


    They waited for the owner to be long gone. But there were a few times I¡¯d forgotten something and walked in on them. I¡¯d seen Jared¡¯s naked ass so many times that it was now a joke I wanted in on their liaisons.


    I jingled my keys, having them in my hands so I could unlock my car as quickly as possible. I wasn¡¯t usually afraid of the dark, but my ex had been making life a little harder on me. He¡¯d followed me around town, and the sound of his bike gunning down the road would send shivers down my spine.


    I used to like the sounds of bikes. But after what I¡¯d been through, I hated the thought of them. I would never be at the mercy of him, not ever again.


    I got to my old Pontiac and dropped my keys by ident. ¡°Fuck, you¡¯ve got to me be kidding me.¡± I always talked to myself in the darkness. It had been the only way to cope with it before.


    I grabbed my phone and turned on the shlight feature, searching for my keys that I had undoubtedly kicked when I dropped them.


    ¡°Idiot,¡± I grumbled. I saw a glint by my wheel and reached to grab them. I hadn¡¯t heard the sounds of motorcycles, so I assumed I was safe. I was wrong. So very wrong.


    A strong arm wrapped around my neck as I struggled, kicking my feet out to get away. Whoever was behind me was too strong. I felt a sharp pinch in my neck.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got you, malishka,¡± a deep rumble reassured me as my eyesight dimmed into nothingness.


    ¡°Thinking of me?¡± His dark voice was tinged with an edge of yfulness.


    ¡°You wish,¡± I snarled, pissed that he¡¯d caught me off guard.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me what¡¯s written all over your face.¡± He dumped a bag out on the dresser beside the bed. I turned my head to watch him closely. What he brought out was horrifying.


    Pregnancy tests. A ton of them, too. ¡°I¡¯m not taking that.¡± I scoffed at him. ¡°There¡¯s no way I¡¯m pregnant.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, and you should have had your period at least once by now. But you haven¡¯t.¡± He smirked down at me.


    ¡°T-that means absolutely nothing,¡± I croaked. ¡°It could be dyed because of the stress of being kidnapped and forced to-to copte with you.¡± The thought that I would be pregnant by this monster, who was no more than a stranger to me, was frightening.


    I should¡¯ve taken birth control.


    But, looking into his eyes, I know that he would¡¯ve just kept me longer. The birth control would¡¯ve worn off, and he¡¯d have had more power over me. There was no way out.


    He undid my restraints and rubbed the reddened skin. ¡°I don¡¯t like seeing you hurt by these. I need to get new ones. Your skin should only be marred by me and my knife.¡± He growled in my ear, but I could see the lust shining in his eyes, and the semi behind his zipper.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    ¡°Take these.¡± He handed me two boxes. I rushed into the bathroom, although my limbs felt shaky and unsure.


    It had been a while since I¡¯d used them.


    I slowly pushed the door closed, but before it couldtch, his foot was jammed in.


    ¡°Door stays open,¡± hemanded like a Neanderthal. Fucking caveman.


    I didn¡¯t even protest. What good would it do? I didn¡¯t know this man. He could hurt me if I didn¡¯t y nice. There was an air of darkness and violence shrouding his soul. I could see it in his eyes. He was not a man who liked to be told no.


    I peed in a cup so I could dip both sticks in, cutting down on time. My stomach roiled with anxiety. I sent up silent prayers that they would be negative. Better to be raped with an empty womb than to subject a child to whatever kind of torture he had nned for it.


    ¡°Time¡¯s up.¡± I looked over at him, and he smiled like he already knew the oue. He motioned for me to look at the sticks.


    I couldn¡¯t.


    Bile rose in my throat, and I ran to the toilet to release what little food I had in my stomach. Alexei came behind me and held my hair, rubbing my back and whispering sweet nothings.


    Fuck, I didn¡¯t want this.


    I let out the tears of despair; I knew what those sticks said before he could tell me.


    ¡°What can I say, malishka? I¡¯ve got virile semen,¡± he whispered in my ear, cing a kiss on my temple before escorting me back to the bedroom.


    His cockiness made me fearful.


    Anxiety roiled in my gut as I waited to see what he had in store for me next.

 Chapter 115

    ALEXEI


    As much as I wanted to fuck Sloane, I couldn¡¯t. She had just been sick. Her face was paler than I would¡¯ve liked. She wasn¡¯t eating enough food; that was for sure. What kind of father would I be if I couldn¡¯t take care of my pretty captive?


    My incubator.


    The woman who would bear all my future heirs. I hoped she had a boy right away.


    I decided to take a calcted risk. I wasn¡¯t going to tie her to the bed anymore. Lock her in this room? Maybe. But I wouldn¡¯t force her to lie in bed day in and day out. I¡¯d aplished what I¡¯d set out to do, anyway.


    I knew she was pregnant, with the knowledge of someone intimate with a woman¡¯s body. Especially Sloane.


    When I pinched her nipples, she would yelp. That hadn¡¯t happened the first time I took her. Another hint of pregnancy: her curls looked lustrous, even though I knew she waspletely off her regr hair care routine. I¡¯d tried the best I could, but right now, she was overdue for a good deep condition and detangling session. I would have to look up some videos on twists or something, so my lovely Sloane wouldn¡¯t lose her hair from neglect.


    If I could trust Sloane, I would¡¯ve brought a stylist here to make her feel pretty, but we weren¡¯t there yet. Instead, I sent a message to Roger asking if he could find someone willing to take care of Sloane¡¯s hair without trying to ¡°save her from her situation.¡±


    I headed back into the bedroom with a te piled with Sloane¡¯s favorite foods. It was telling what someone had in their trash. When I¡¯d seen the same meals over and over, I knew that was what she loved.


    ¡°What do you have there?¡± Sloane croaked. Her voice was hoarse, and her eyes were red-rimmed from all the tears she¡¯d sobbed.


    ¡°I brought some of your favorites, and vored water. You need to hydrate a little better.¡± I sat the tray down.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to tie me back up?¡± Fire danced in her eyes, and oh, I wanted to burn.


    ¡°You¡¯re carrying my child. My heir. I think we are past such things, yes?¡± Sloane started eating the fruit I¡¯d picked out for her. Her favorites were strawberries-something I knew from the various containers she¡¯d thrown in her trash.


    She nced up at me as I leaned against the wall, watching her eat.


    ¡°Ask what you want to ask, malishka.¡±


    ¡°Why me?¡± She sucked on a grape, and I wished it was my cock instead. I was keyed up, knowing that not only was she pregnant, but she was also nourishing my child.


    I shook my head. ¡°Why not you?¡± I wasn¡¯t going to sit here and go over my reasoning. My reasons were for me to know and her to find outter, when she settled. And she would settle.


    ¡°I-¡±


    Three knocks on the front door interrupted whatever she had to say. I pulled my knife from the sheath and lunged forward, holding it to Sloane¡¯s neck. Was I going to kill her? No. But she didn¡¯t know that.


    ¡°Not another word,¡± I snapped. I shouldn¡¯t have had any visitors. I wrapped the rope I kept on hand around her hands and tied her to the bedpost. Then I stuffed a rag from the bathroom in her mouth.


    The knocking was more persistent, which made me even angrier. This set me a few steps back in my n. Sloane was going to hate me for tying her back up, but what choice did I have?


    I ran to the front door after ensuring the bedroom door was closed.


    ¡°What?¡± I snarled, flinging the door so hard itnded against the wall with a thud, shaking from the force.


    Two men in suits stood there. One wore shades, and the other had a smile faker than the self-tan he was wearing.


    ¡°Good afternoon. We¡¯re canvassing the area, looking for a missing woman,¡± the man with shades said.


    I peered around them and saw that they rode here on motorcycles, not vehicles. I didn¡¯t believe them. This was the Devil¡¯s MC.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure I¡¯ve seen a missing woman. I see many women.¡± I let my Russian ent slip further, so they would have a harder time understanding me. If they thought I was foreign, they would leave faster.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been passing around her picture. Can you tell me if you¡¯ve seen her?¡± The ¡°officer¡± without sunsses shoved a picture of Sloane in my face.


    I had to hold back a snarl. This wasn¡¯t a picture of her at work. No, this was a picture of my malishka wearing a leather cut, a bralette, and the tightest leather pants I¡¯d ever seen. It was like she had been poured into them. Her heels were so high, I just knew she tottered in them. With curls piled on top of her head, a few hanging loose, she was alluring. A siren of her own fucking making. My cock wanted to rise to the asion, but now was not the time.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°I saw her at the diner. I¡¯m not from here, but maybe she was trying to get away from this small town. Have you spoken to friends and family?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we have, and we have reason to believe you know where she is.¡± The man with sunsses stepped closer to me.


    I had about a foot on him, so I wasn¡¯t sure if he was trying to be intimidating or not, but I just smirked.


    ¡°Why would you think that?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been seen frequenting the diner in her section a lot,¡± the other one said.


    ¡°Well yeah, it¡¯s the only diner in town. Everyone eats there.¡± I waved my hand in front of my face as if to say try again.


    ¡°Be that as it may, I think we¡¯d like to take a look around.¡± The sunsses man tried to push past me, but I held him back.


    ¡°Do you have a warrant?¡± I was getting fed up with these bikers. Sloane needed to eat, and they were obstructing that.


    ¡°Well, no, but if you have nothing to hide, it shouldn¡¯t matter,¡± the man without the sunsses said.


    ¡°If that were true, then everyone could just waltz into one another¡¯s property and look around. I don¡¯t know you. You didn¡¯t show me badges, and obviously, I¡¯m not from America, but I know my rights. You can¡¯t juste in here. Leave, ande back with a warrant.¡± I knew they wouldn¡¯t. They had no grounds and I knew they weren¡¯t real cops. What would the local MC want with my queen? They said gruff goodbyes and hopped on their bikes to ride away. I waited until I couldn¡¯t hear the bikes to go back to Sloane.


    I wouldn¡¯t let that fucker get his hands on my woman. Not again.


    ***


    SLOANE


    My heart was pounding in my chest at the threat Alexei left me with. I was by no means stupid, but he hadn¡¯t really shown me the darker, more violent side of him. Of course, that had lulled me into a false sense of safety.


    Stupid fucking me, I guess.


    The minute he¡¯d held that knife against my throat, I felt two conflicting things. One was fear, of course. The other, and more shameful, was arousal. His eyes had gone so ck and cold, I didn¡¯t think he would hesitate at all taking my life and that of this child¡¯s. Maybe even starting over with some other poor, unsuspecting woman he snatched.


    I listened to the murmuring of voices. All male, but none I could point out that were distinctive. It wasn¡¯t surprising no one had searched for me. My family had disowned me, and I was alone-the perfect target. Alexei wasn¡¯t the only brute who thought so.


    My head popped up at the sound of a door closing. My breathing came in short pants as I freaked out internally, trying to figure out what, exactly, Alexei was going to do with me. I couldn¡¯t slow my heart. My hands were sweaty, and there was a slight cramp in my stomach.


    As his footsteps came closer to the bedroom door, the cramping in my stomach grew. I figured it was anxiety and tried to calm myself down.


    Alexei pushed open the door, his brow furrowed and his knife still in his hand. Not that I had a choice, but I stayed quiet while he searched my face. My distress must¡¯ve shown, because he stalked towards me and undid the rope. I pulled the washrag out of my mouth on my own.


    ¡°You did good, malishka, but why do you seem more stressed than before they interrupted us?¡± His dark eyes looked back and forth between mine.


    I wanted to ask him if he could read my mind, but another cramp made me bend over with a groan of pain, holding my stomach.


    ¡°What is it? What¡¯s wrong?¡± He bent over with me, but I pushed him away. He didn¡¯t even stumble, and I didn¡¯t have the strength to try and push him away again.


    ¡°It hurts, Alexei!¡± I cried out.


    ¡°What hurts, malishka?¡± I hated that fucking nickname.


    ¡°My stomach. It hurts so bad.¡± I reached out, and Alexei took my arm so I could lean most of my weight on his as he helped me to the bathroom.


    I sat on the toilet with a heavy thud. There was a trickle, and I figured it was pee. Even with all the pain, I leaned forward to wipe, then checked. There in my hand was a wad of bloody tissue paper.


    ¡°Alexei?¡± I whimpered, reaching out for him again. He backed away from me slowly, his eyes going cold again.


    ¡°What did you do?¡± he barked.


    ¡°Me? I-I didn¡¯t do anything.¡± I stumbled over my words, made anxious by his change in attitude.


    ¡°How did you hurt my child?¡± The glint of his knife reminded me of who was in charge.


    ¡°First of all, this baby is my baby. Mine. You¡¯re just an unwanted sperm donor.¡± My maternal instincts must¡¯ve been kicking in. I pulled myself up off the toilet using the towel bar across from the seat. I was so thankful this bathroom was tiny.


    ¡°That¡¯s where you are wrong. You both are mine. No one else¡¯s. Your life isn¡¯t your own; it belongs to me now.¡± He put the knife away, but I didn¡¯t stop thinking about how easy it was for him to threaten me.


    ¡°I need to go to the hospital. I could be losing the baby,¡± I cried. For a baby I wasn¡¯t sure I even wanted, the thought of losing it struck a note of discord in my heart.


    ¡°That¡¯s out of the question. You don¡¯t think I know what you¡¯re doing?¡± Alexei snarled in my face. ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with you, malishka. A little bit of blood never hurt anyone.¡±


    It was then I realized Alexei was a madman. I guess the kidnapping should¡¯ve tipped me off at some point, but he¡¯d been mainly sweet to me.


    His madness was something I could almost sweep under the rug.


    That wouldn¡¯t work any longer.


    I pushed him away, and this time he stumbled back in surprise rather than from my exertion.


    ¡°No! Did you not take me with the sole purpose of forcing a child inside of me? A child, might I add, I never wanted. And now¡­now you¡¯re saying a little bit of blood never hurt anyone? Which is it?¡± I walked right up to him and smacked him right in his stupid chest.


    Fucking idiot.


    ¡°Malishka.¡± The madness in his eyes lessened; it was almost like he was finding his humanity. I reached my arms around him and gave him a hug.


    ¡°I thought you wanted your heir?¡± I whispered.


    When he didn¡¯t answer, I pulled the knife from the sheathe in his back and held it to his throat.


    ¡°You will take me to the hospital, or I¡¯ll slit your throat and take myself,¡± I growled at him. I¡¯d never threatened anyone before, and I doubted very seriously Alexei felt any sort of fear from my threat.


    He leaned into the knife, nicking his neck in the process just a little. As my eyes traveled downward with the drop of blood, he disarmed me.


    ¡°As you wish.¡± He swept his arm in front of him in a mocking bow and motioned for me to lead the way.


    ¡°Fucking bastard,¡± I mumbled.


    The pain had dulled with adrenaline, but as I climbed into the car, it came back in full force. I didn¡¯t know why I was entertaining the chance this child would live, but I sent a quiet prayer up just in case.

 Chapter 116

    ALEXEI


    We drove to the hospital in angry silence. I knew this wouldn¡¯t be easy, but did she have to make it so hard? When she held that knife against my throat, I started to see her as something other than my captive. Instead, I saw her as my queen, one who would protect our child no matter who tried to intervene.


    She would need that in Russia.


    Not that she knew she was headed to my home country with me. It would be hard to smuggle both of us in, but not impossible. I flicked a nce her way, noting the waning of color on her face.


    I loved my dark-skinned beauty looking healthy and fresh. This imprisonment hadn¡¯t been easy on her, but as soon as I had my empire back under my rule, she¡¯d want for nothing.


    I¡¯d make sure of it.


    When we pulled up to the smallest hospital I¡¯d ever set eyes on, I gripped her upper arm.


    ¡°Let me do all the talking.¡±


    Sloane whimpered and grabbed her stomach with her other hand. I let her go; I didn¡¯t want to cause more pain.


    ¡°Can I help you, folks?¡± A nurse rushed towards us, probably because Sloane was slumped over.


    ¡°Yes, my fiance is bleeding. She¡¯s been sweating, and she also just found out she¡¯s pregnant.¡±


    I saw Sloane¡¯s eyes roll up into the back of her head as I exined. I caught her just before she sank to the floor. There was a flurry of people rushing towards Sloane, and I was pushed to the side. They took her away from me, and I had to fight not to lose my shit. Another nurse showed me where I could wait for an update.


    I couldn¡¯t sit still. There was an itching underneath my skin. I wished I could kill everyone here forying eyes on my queen, but she needed them to help her and the baby. I should¡¯ve listened when she said something was wrong.


    I was a fucking asshole.


    A few hourster, a doctor who looked younger than me approached.


    ¡°Sir? Are you family of Sloane¡¯s?¡± He held a little clipboard in his hand. This set my heart racing. Was Sloane damaged further?


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me. I¡¯m her fiance.¡±


    ¡°Well, she nearly had a miscarriage. We were able to get it stopped, but


    I¡¯m going to have to advise that she stays on total bed rest.¡± I sighed in relief. It wasn¡¯t fatal.


    ¡°Wait, I n to take her back to Russia for our wedding. Can we not do that?¡±


    The doctor shook his head in denial. ¡°That would be ill-advised. Her blood pressure is higher than I would like to see, as well. Unless you have your own personal doctor that can be on the flight with her, and even still, I would be wary.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, doctor. I need to see her now.¡± I needed eyes on my malishka.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take you back right now. She¡¯s resting, but should be alright.¡±


    ¡°Thank you again.¡± I shook the man¡¯s hand for saving my queen and our little growing heir.


    She¡¯s lying on the hospital bed when I entered the room, slightly propped up with her eyes closed.


    ¡°Malishka,¡± I croaked.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you two some privacy.¡± The doctor closed the door gently behind him on his way out.


    Sloane¡¯s eyes fluttered open, and her dark brown orbs focused on me.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    ¡°Alexei?¡± She waved me over to her. I grabbed the pitcher next to her bed and poured her a cup of water, since she sounded hoarse.


    ¡°Drink, malishka.¡± I held the cup as her tongue wiggled the straw in ce without moving her arms. I almost broke into a smile. Never had I seen something so adorable until now.


    ¡°What¡¯s going to happen now?¡±


    ¡°We are going back to the cabin. Things will have to change. I¡¯m not sure you¡¯ll be on board with all the changes.¡±


    ¡°Like what?¡±


    I saw a hint of that fire in her eyes, but it was subdued, probably because of the drugs. I would ask the doctor to give her the maximum dose provided it wouldn¡¯t harm the baby.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to confine you, but if you don¡¯t want to lose the baby you¡¯re carrying, you will do well to listen to me going forward.¡± ¡°I can do that.¡±


    I looked into her eyes for any hint of guile but found none. I had to take her word for now. I would also start working on that project I had in mind.


    It was time for me to take this a step further.


    We finally returned to the cabin after moving mountains to get a drugged Sloane released early from the hospital. I tucked her into bed, and she was out like a light.


    Perfect.


    I worked through the rest of the day fortifying the house. We wouldn¡¯t be able to leave anytime soon. I made necessary phone calls to find a doctor that would be content to sit in my pocket. Sloane wasn¡¯t leaving me, ever, nor would I give up on the idea of reiming my throne. I just had to wait until after she had our child.


    I could do that.


    I walked to the edge of the property and opened the shed. I knew Sloane hadn¡¯t noticed it, since we were in a rush to get to the hospital. In the dim moonlight, I looked at the project I¡¯d been working on in secret.


    The cage wasn¡¯trge, but it would be perfect for Sloane¡¯s stature. This would get her into Russia; I just needed to bide my time. Even if I had to force my kids into her over and over, Sloan wasn¡¯t leaving me.


    Not ever.


    I closed the shed again, whistling. Unfortunately, things were about to get a lot bloodier.

 Chapter 117

    SLOANE


    Alexei left me alone after the hospital. I cracked my eyes open and realized I was untied and lying in the bed. The hospital staff exined that I was dehydrated, with early-pregnancy bleeding. I wasn¡¯t supposed to be moving.


    I wanted to ask for help at the hospital, but being in this small town, people would call him. I didn¡¯t need him toe to my rescue. In fact, it would be great for everyone involved if the MC stayed far away from me and my captor. The doctor may have ordered for me to stay still and on bed rest, but I couldn¡¯t. Unfortunately, I didn¡¯t have a choice. This was the perfect time to take off.


    I sat up, and the room spun before me. That wasn¡¯t going to stop my n. See, I¡¯d learned a long time ago how to lie without giving anything away. I¡¯d been lulling Alexei into a false sense of security.


    Maybe he believed he¡¯d broken me, but he hadn¡¯t.


    First of all, I was made of stronger stuff than that. I also had people I could rely on, and I hadn¡¯t called in a favor owed to me in a long time.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Wobbling as I grew light-headed, I climbed off the bed. Bile bubbled into my throat, but I swallowed it down. I was pregnant, but I could still move, and while I stumbled on my first step, I didn¡¯t let that deter me. I could lose my child trying to run, but I had to try.


    Slowly, ever so slowly, I made my way out of the bedroom and into the kitchen. The keys to the only car Alexei had were right on the countertop, not hidden at all.


    Dumb move, old man.


    I swiped them and made my way to the car. It took longer than it should to get to the vehicle, because I didn¡¯t have shoes on. I tried to dodge as many rocks as I could, with some degree of sess.


    I unlocked the car door manually and mbered inside, wincing at the pain. I locked all the doors before I started the car, knowing it would alert Alexei but having no other choice.


    A shout in the distance alerted me that he wasing. I put that fucker in reverse and floored it out of there. Alexei came from behind the cabin, running towards me with a gun drawn. A ping sounded, and I swerved in surprise.


    ¡°What the fuck?¡± I screamed over the squealing tires. I turned to look behind me and Alexei had a look of regret.


    I¡¯d thought he wasn¡¯t going to hurt me.


    He knew I would run, right? He had to have known. Who in their right mind would stay?


    He was a psycho. Maybe even worse than my ex. Even knowing that, part of me stayed behind with him as he gave up and watched me drive away.


    ¡°Just breathe,¡± I told myself.


    I was relieved when he was no longer in my rearview mirror. Fuck, that was close. I headed down the mountain into town. It was time.


    After parking by the little blue house, I climbed from the car, slower than before. The pain almost made me woozy, but I sucked in a breath and made my way up the stairs. I lifted my hand to knock, but before I could, the door swung open, and I almost fell inside.


    Megan gaped at me. ¡°What the fuck, Sloane?¡± She yelled, ¡°Josh! Josh, get out here! It¡¯s Sloane!¡±


    Josh was her boyfriend. I didn¡¯t want anything to do with him, since he was involved in the Devil¡¯s MC, but at this point, I didn¡¯t have anywhere else to turn.


    ¡°What the fuck is she doing here?¡± he growled before looking closer at me. ¡°Sloane? Are you alright?¡±


    Josh used to be my friend. He¡¯d also fucked me a lot, until I caught the eyes of his president.


    Then, I was off-limits.


    ¡°Get her inside,¡± he snapped at Megan.


    He hated me, but he wouldn¡¯t turn me away if I were in trouble. He owed me, and so did Megan. I leaned heavily on Megan so I could enter their house.


    ¡°The car needs to be moved,¡± I whispered.


    Josh looked over at me with a re. ¡°What have you got wrapped up in?¡± he demanded.


    I took a breath. ¡°Not what-who.¡±


    Josh didn¡¯t move to make the call to the boys.


    ¡°I was taken in front of my job by Alexei Petrov.¡± Of course, as soon as I said his name, all hell broke loose.


    ¡°The fuck? We asked that asshole about you. Prez told everyone you were missing, but most of us thought you skipped fucking town to get away from him.¡±


    ¡°I would¡¯ve if I¡¯d had enough money saved up, but I didn¡¯t, so I couldn¡¯t. Now, this guy kept me for god knows how long, and I need to get the fuck out of Dodge.¡±


    Josh tilted his head and looked at me. Really looked. I saw a spark in the back of his eyes that said he had some kind of mischief nned.


    ¡°I know a ce you can go.¡± He gave me a lecherous smile that didn¡¯t help his face at all.


    ¡°No, absolutely not. I came here to get away from that monster, not get in bed with another,¡± I snapped, irritated that even now, when I needed help, he would choose his fucking club over me.


    ¡°It¡¯s toote. I texted the boys; they¡¯reing for that car . . . and you.¡± His words were ominous.


    I shot a panicked look at Megan, but she was staring at the floor. Of course she wouldn¡¯t make eye contact. They knew. They absolutely knew I couldn¡¯t go back.


    ¡°You are condemning me to death,¡± I choked out, my eyes zing over with tears. This had been my only hope.


    I¡¯d been better off with Alexei.


    Megan wasn¡¯t moved. ¡°You chose to leave, and we let you. Now youe in here, looking the way you do, like we¡¯re going to let you cash in a favor. Naw. ¡®Prez wouldn¡¯t like that, and I¡¯m not sticking my neck out for you again. Not afterst time,¡± she snapped, hands on her hips.


    ¡°I know it was fucked up, what I did, but you don¡¯t understand.¡± I tried to plead with her.


    ¡°You betrayed us!¡± Josh yelled, his eyes wild with rage.


    I knew they were angry, but I hadn¡¯t known how angry until just now.


    ¡°I¡¯m pregnant. I can¡¯t go back,¡± I whispered brokenly.


    ¡°Does it belong to the Prez?¡± Josh asked. His tone was wooden, like he didn¡¯t care one way or another.


    ¡°No, of course not,¡± I snapped. There was no way I¡¯d stay pregnant with his president¡¯s child. I would never have gotten out of that life. He wouldn¡¯t have let me leave.


    Josh sighed and sank onto the couch beside me. ¡°Look, ever since you left, Prez has been fucked up. He hasn¡¯t been himself. It wasn¡¯t until he realized you hadn¡¯t shown up to work for two weeks that he sent us looking for you.¡±


    While we were talking, Megan left us alone. She did not want to be in the middle of club shit. Not that I was a part of the club anymore, but she still knew the score. She was on the outskirts more than anyone else. Not a sweetbutt, but not an olddy, either.


    ¡°Y¡¯all left me alone for so long, just watching from a distance, I thought he¡¯d let it go.¡± I knew that was naive, but fuck me, I wasn¡¯t trying to be.


    ¡°What you did doesn¡¯t go unanswered. It¡¯s only because you were the prez¡¯s woman that he allowed you to leave. He promised to stay out of the diner, but that was it. Now, here you are, crawling back. You have no one but yourself to me.¡± He was as hard as ever.


    Fuck, I should¡¯ve never run from Alexei. This situation was much worse¨Cout of the frying pan and into the fire. The sound of bikes could be heard in the distance, and I gulped.


    ¡°Looks like the boys are here,¡± Megan said, after briefly looking out through the curtains.


    I couldn¡¯t run anymore. I knew there was nowhere else for me to go, and I had no funds. I stood up on shaky legs.


    Fuck if they¡¯d catch me off guard.


    ¡°Piece of advice,¡± Josh drawled. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t tell prez that Russian fuck knocked you up. He¡¯d either beat you so bad you couldn¡¯t move or cut the baby out of you. Either way, you¡¯d pray for death.¡±


    I nodded, knowing he was right. His president was the meanest fucker I¡¯d ever met, and I didn¡¯t want him to know about the baby. I could tell him about Alexei, even if the thought of doing that made me want to vomit all over the floor, but I couldn¡¯t tell him about the baby.


    I wouldn¡¯t.


    Even though it wasn¡¯t made out of love, forced inside of me by a psycho, I still wanted to keep it. I could picture a small child with dark, curly locks and blue eyes, running in a field of daisies.


    That daydream was quickly snuffed out when the bikes cut off.


    His boots always drew my eyes. They were shined up, reminding me that prospects cleaned his boots all the time, like he was a drill sergeant. I only stole a nce at his body. I remembered everything underneath that fucking cut; I didn¡¯t need any reminders. Then, my eyes locked onto his.


    They were dead, soulless. He smiled, but it held no fucking mirth.


    ¡°Hello, sweetcakes.¡± He flicked the toothpick in his mouth out and strode towards me.


    ¡°Hello, Damon,¡± I said, nice and clear when he got within a foot of me. I gulped but didn¡¯t move a fucking inch. It was how he liked to y, but I wasn¡¯t going to show him any fear.


    Not this time around.


    We were breathing the same air, and no one had died.


    Not yet, anyway.


    I could only hope and pray that I kept my head attached to my neck, but, knowing my luck, I¡¯d be dead before sunrise.

 Chapter 118

    CLAIMING HIS PRIZE


    LUPITA


    There¡¯s something about a man in a suit. The way it shows the breadth of his shoulders. The ssic lines. The fact it screams he doesn¡¯t belong.


    The man¡¯s body fills the doorway, the top of his head going right past the metal screen on the front door. His eyes are so dark, I could lose myself in them. And his attention is squarely on me, sitting heavily on my chest then sinking through me slowly until I have to fight an insane urge to take a step back.


    I clear my throat, praying my voice won¡¯t break. ¡°May-may I help you?¡±


    Cool and collected, he replies, ¡°I¡¯m looking for Jorge Torres.¡±


    Something about the smooth, hard edge of his voice has me curling my fingers around the unadorned handle on my side of the security door. Dad¡¯s going to have a fit. I¡¯m alone at the house right now, and I shouldn¡¯t have answered the door without checking through the peephole first.


    Would I have opened the door after seeing him standing there? Yes, yes I would. Not that there¡¯s anything I can do about it now. ¡°May I have your name?¡±


    He pauses for a moment, his gaze lowering to my cheek beforeing back to my eyes. ¡°Roman de Marco.¡±


    The words flow over me, velvety and pleasing, sending a shot of something unfamiliar down my body. There¡¯s a distinct note in his voice, as if the name should mean something. As if I¡¯m missing something by not knowing him. We¡¯re in a rural part of South Texas, where everyone knows too much about each other. Yet I¡¯ve never heard of him, and he certainly doesn¡¯t look like he¡¯s local.


    ¡°May I take a message?¡± It¡¯s the only way I can think of to avoid saying Dad¡¯s not around. I nce toward the well-worn drive. Where is he? The rice I fixed is sitting on the stove¡¯s back burner, getting cold.


    ¡°I was told he¡¯d be in at this hour.¡± Roman checks his watch, a dark face on a ck leather band straddling a solid wrist.


    Of course you were. I manage not to make a face. Why would someone give that kind of information to a stranger? He may not mean any harm, but, as Mom likes to say, one can never know what¡¯s in someone else¡¯s heart. ¡°He¡¯s on his way in.¡±


    ¡°I can wait if I need to.¡± He sticks his hand into the pocket of his pants. Pants? cks? Trousers? What do you call the bottom half of a suit? Heat rushes across my cheeks. This is what it¡¯s like to have someone who¡¯s really country meet someone who¡¯s from a big city. The only thing Dad has thates close to being formal is what he uses for weddings and funerals. I don¡¯t have to shop for suits to know what this man¡¯s wearing, even without the leather shoes, is more expensive than everything Dad ownsbined.


    The sound of an engine draws our attention to the long driveway. Dad¡¯s heading in with Mom sitting in the passenger seat.


    ROMAN


    The girl looks into the distance, apprehension clearly visible on her pretty face. I follow her gaze to the battered old truck racing down the dirt path in our direction. Even from where I¡¯m standing, the man


    behind the wheel doesn¡¯t look happy.


    He ms on the brakes, increasing the cloud of dusting in behind them. I turn my face away to avoid a mouthful of dirt.


    It¡¯s a smart n. Theyer of grit ends up covering the visitor¡¯s face, impeding his view while he tosses the door open with a loud crack. ¡°Lupita, go inside,¡± he barks, without sparing her a look. Out of the corner of my eye, I see her step back, disappearing into the house. The waitress at the cafe in town mentioned Jorge could be an asshole, so this isn¡¯t exactly unexpected.


    He stares up at me with a sour expression, his hand hovering close to the holster riding low on his hip. I¡¯d heard Texas could be like the Wild West, but this is too much.


    ¡°What are you doing on mynd?¡± he asks without bothering with an introduction.


    I smile inwardly. If this idiot knew anything about me, he¡¯d realize this isn¡¯t a good thing. But I can read people well enough to know this visit is a waste of time. Then again, it¡¯s why I scheduled this stop first, so I could get it out of the way. The quicker I¡¯m done, the quicker I¡¯m out of this two-bit town and back to the city.


    ¡°I¡¯m Roman de Marco.¡± I forgo a handshake but change my tactic, choosing to go with a secondary offer. ¡°I understand you may consider selling or leasing out for a time.¡±


    He frowns, the color of his face turning dark. ¡°Who the hell told you that?¡±


    ¡°The agent we hired to survey the area suggested several properties, including yours.¡±


    His gaze runs down my chest, taking in my suit, then returns to my face with disapproval. ¡°You don¡¯t look like no rancher I¡¯ve ever seen.¡±


    No, that would be a hell of a stretch. ¡°My family¡¯s interested in more of a real estate venture.¡±


    He lifts his chin. ¡°Ah. You¡¯vee to the wrong ce, mister,¡± he ends in a solemn tone.


    I¡¯m at the exact ce our contact said was the most favorable for crossing, thanks to a bend in the Rio Grande. I can¡¯t help but goad him. ¡°So you haven¡¯t been having problems on yournd?¡±


    The mask slips for a moment, and I¡¯m able to see how truly tired he is. Then he catches himself and narrows his eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t need you or your administrator poking around my business.¡± He juts out his chin, aiming it at my rental. ¡°You can get in your fancy car and get the hell off mynd.¡±


    Fancy? I hardly think so. I could point out the issues he¡¯s having with contraband, the fact it¡¯s going to escte, the money he¡¯s going to lose, and the danger he¡¯s bringing to his doorstep. But I don¡¯t. It¡¯s his life, his decision, his consequences. His and his alone.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Still, I find myself saying, ¡°I¡¯m staying at the Allende until the end of the week, in case you change your mind.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± he snaps.


    I nce toward the truck, nodding once toward his wife before I turn and head to the car. Footsteps echo from inside the old house. Lupita. She was waiting. Interesting.

 Chapter 119

    LUPITA


    I turn on the me for the stove¡¯s back burner when the screen door rattles. ¡°Lupita,¡± Dad yells from the front porch. ¡°Open this damn door.¡±


    I rush back to find him ring down the drive. His frown lines are deep trenches, a sure sign of his mood and the lecture I¡¯m about to get.


    ¡°Mija, get the door.¡± Mom¡¯s urgent pleaes from somewhere out of sight. ¡°Your father¡¯s had a bad morning.¡±


    Great, just what I needed to hear. ¡°Sorry. I had the screen locked,¡± I add under my breath as I fumble with the lock. Meanwhile, tension¡¯sing off her like a thick nket. ¡°There you go.¡± I push the door open, letting her in while Dad keeps looking out at the driveway, his arms crossed.


    She grabs my hand, pulling me along. ¡°I¡¯m so d you were locked in tight,¡± she says loud enough for Dad to hear while she gives me the sideeye. ¡°Please don¡¯t push it,¡± she whispers, sending me ahead. ¡°Just let him vent.¡±


    I turn on the stove as my tummy tightens in concern. Lunch should only take a few minutes. The door ms closed then the snap of thetch echoes in my head. I drop the diced potatoes and carrots into the oil as my pulse hammers against my neck.


    ¡°What were you thinking?¡± Dad asks, his frown still in ce.


    ¡°Sit down, Jorge,¡± Mom says, fussing over him. ¡°Lupita will have lunch in a minute.¡± She pulls a Mexican Coke out of the fridge and sets it on the table.


    ¡°What did the guy say to you?¡± he asks, not budging from the entrance to the kitchen.


    ¡°Nothing, really.¡± I stretch my hand over the pan of rice to test the temperature. ¡°He¡¯d only been here a minute or so, long enough to ask for you and give his name.¡± Roman de Marco¡­the memory of his introduction filters through my mind.


    ¡°Sit down,¡± Mom insists.


    I reach into the cab for a te, catching his movement from the corner of my eye. ¡°Three or four?¡±


    ¡°Four,¡± he replies, reaching for the buckle on his gun belt.


    At least his anger hasn¡¯t messed with his appetite. ¡°Two for you, Mom?¡± I scatter the queso fresco along the middle of the red torti then roll it up.


    ¡°Yes, please.¡±


    ¡°That guy¡¯s up to no good,¡± Dad grumbles. I heed Mom¡¯s warning and keep my mouth shut. ¡°He has some ballsing here.¡± ¡°What did he want?¡± Mom asks.


    ¡°Asked if I wanted to lease out the property.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡±


    The way she leaves the word hanging, as if there¡¯s more she wants to say, speaks volumes. My pulse kicks up immediately.


    ¡°And he knows we¡¯re having problems,¡± he says, his voice much too quiet.


    I nce over, trying to gauge his mood. The bluster I can manage, but this has me a little worried.


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s having hard times right now,¡± Mom points out. ¡°It¡¯s the economy.¡± She¡¯s not wrong. I imagine that¡¯s why Mr. de Marco¡¯s looking at getting somend. ¡°Is leasing something you¡¯d consider?¡±


    Dad draws in a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m a rancher, Ines.¡± He shakes his head.


    ¡°Taught by a rancher, who was taught by a rancher.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Mom says, apologetically.


    I add a helping of rice to the enchdas then cover them in the diced carrots and potatoes. Setting the tes on the table, I take a long look at my poor father.


    ¡°It¡¯s all I know how to do,¡± he says, defeated. ¡°I thought, having a girl, we¡¯d have a Torres who could go to college. That you could make this into a good business for when it¡¯s yours.¡±


    My heart clenches, knowing we don¡¯t have the money for it and the responsibility he feels. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Dad.¡± While I could say it¡¯s nobody¡¯s fault, it¡¯ll get him going about the Mendozas. ¡°I can still learn from books.¡±


    He looks me square in the eye, addressing me like he¡¯s never done. ¡°Do you think we should hand over the ranch?¡±N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    My mouth goes dry. Taking a step back, I run my palms along my jeans at the hips. Leaving this house, the only life I¡¯ve known, and the ce my family has lived for generations is a frightening thought. And what about Dad? All he knows is ranching. Would he end up a ranch hand for one of our neighbors? Then broad shoulders, a powerful jaw, and deep arresting eyes fill my mind. Roman de Marco, our future neighbor. I shake my head slowly. ¡°I don¡¯t know, Dad. I can¡¯t imagine a Torres living anywhere else.¡±


    He exhales then pushes himself up from the chair. He¡¯s lost the stiffness in his shoulders. Is it fatigue or relief? He kisses my forehead. ¡°You¡¯re a good daughter, Lupita.¡±


    I¡¯m not sure what¡¯s more shocking, the fact he asked my opinion, being called a good daughter, or not having him suggest I marry Antonio Mendoza. I can only pray I haven¡¯t made the wrong decision.


    ***


    ROMAN


    ¡°Between yesterday afternoon and this morning, I¡¯ve managed to meet with most of thendowners.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good, little brother,¡± Victor says with enthusiasm. ¡°What do they have to say?¡±


    ¡°In this economy, three are interested in unloading theirnd.¡± Two had almost jumped at the offer, but Victor doesn¡¯t need the details.


    ¡°Including the one we needed?¡± he asks, expectantly.


    Jorge¡¯s expression fills my mind¡¯s eye. ¡°No.¡± I blow out a breath. ¡°That was my first stop yesterday afternoon, but the owner wasn¡¯t interested in selling.¡±


    ¡°God damn it.¡± The sound of his fist mming on his deskes through the phone. ¡°That¡¯s the key piece we need.¡± Knowing Victor, he¡¯s running his hand through his hair in exasperation.


    ¡°I also offered the possibility of a long-term lease.¡±


    He scoffs. ¡°Nah. Doesn¡¯t surprise me he wasn¡¯t interested.¡±


    ¡°Leasing would allow him to keep thend in the family and work his way out of the problems he¡¯s having.¡±


    ¡°Well, maybe we can use that to our advantage.¡±


    Oh hell. He¡¯s already gone to the worst-case scenario. Victor¡¯s always been the shoot now and ask questionster type of guy. That¡¯s one reason why half the time our family name makes people retreat a step. ¡°What are you thinking?¡±


    ¡°Talk to our contact. He can tighten the screws and give the guy some incentive,¡± he concludes, as if it¡¯s a done deal. ¡°If Hugo takes the owner


    out, you jump in and talk his family into selling.¡±


    Lupita¡¯s pretty facees to mind. Somehow, thinking about her being free of family doesn¡¯t seem like such a hardship. Maybe it¡¯s that look of apprehension she had when Jorge turned into the driveway. But I¡¯d like to exhaust all possibilities before resorting to taking a life.


    ¡°I¡¯m meeting with one of the Mendozas this afternoon. The old man¡¯s sick, so he¡¯s beenid up.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯re they?¡±


    I re at the framed picture of a deer hanging on the hotel room wall, gathering my patience. ¡°They own the property that hits up against La Escuadra,¡± I remind him. ¡°The other neighbor¡¯s out of state, so I¡¯ll have to track someone down. That area isn¡¯t as favorable, but it¡¯ll have to work if everything else goes wrong.¡±


    Victorughs. ¡°You¡¯re not really going to be andowner, Roman. This is to get a straight path up from the river so we can increase distribution.¡±


    Regardless of the result, I¡¯d like to have us fit into themunity and keep this under wraps. The trouble Hugo¡¯s causing has disrupted the process enough for me to need to do damage control.


    ¡°I¡¯m putting this together like a gigantic puzzle. It¡¯s more about finding the right buyers and lining them up to our advantage.¡±


    ¡°Whatever,¡± Victor says, dismissing my n. ¡°Just get me thene and fuck the rest of them.¡±

 Chapter 120

    LUPITA


    ¡°If she¡¯d been born a boy, I wouldn¡¯t have this problem.¡±


    Actually hearing the wordse out of Dad¡¯s mouth is like having the skin peeled back from my chest. It¡¯s never been a secret he¡¯d been expecting a boy when I was born, but still. Swallowing the bitter truth, I reach for the truck keys I was sent to retrieve. It takes everything inside me to hold back the tears burning behind my eyes.


    ¡°What difference would it make?¡± Mom snaps.


    I suck in a breath, frozen where I stand. What could have happened to have her talking to him like that? She¡¯s always the perfect little wife, unwilling or unable to stand up to her gruff husband.


    ¡°What the hell do you expect me to do, Ines?¡± Dad asks, exasperated. ¡°Stand there with my arms crossed while these assholes ughter what¡¯s left of our cattle?¡±


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t send your son out there any more than you¡¯d send your daughter.¡±


    The coyotes who¡¯ve cut across ournd have graduated to running drugs. Over time, it¡¯s been harder for Dad to turn a blind eye. This isn¡¯t someone trying to find a better life for themselves and their family. The traffickers are bringing drugs across the Texas-Mexican border, and they¡¯re armed. From the sound of it, they¡¯re making trouble.


    I pinch the key ring with two fingers, pulling it up and away from one of the nails Grandad drove into the wall. I tiptoe out, holding my breath as I inch the screen door open. I make it through without a sound only to have the door slip out of my fingers at thest second, outing me. I cringe, pressing my lids closed. There¡¯s a tiny chance-


    ¡°Est?¡±N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Damn it. I bite down on my lips, searching my mind for a quick n. ¡°It¡¯s me, Dad.¡± I shake the key ring. ¡°Est forgot the keys.¡± I throw in a chuckle, hoping he thinks I just ran into the kitchen. ¡°So, we weren¡¯t going very far. Bye,¡± I tack on then let the door p against the frame so there¡¯s no time for either of them to ask questions.


    ¡°Okay, mija.¡± Mom¡¯s voice is back to the even-tempered wife and mother she¡¯s always been. ¡°Be careful.¡±


    ¡°Lupita,¡± Dad¡¯s voice booms out as the hinges squeak again. ¡°You let Est drive. There¡¯s a lot of traffic on the road.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± I toss over my shoulder without slowing down. I don¡¯t need to see his face and have his words echo in my head. I jump into the passenger seat and m the door a little too hard.


    Est reaches for the keys and catches my expression before I can clear it. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Lupita?¡±


    ¡°Nothing. Let¡¯s go.¡± I pull the seat belt across my body and clip it in ce.


    She puts her hand on the seat, refusing to move. It¡¯s not the time to try standing her ground, not when Dad¡¯s in the doorway, likely already wondering why we aren¡¯t leaving. We¡¯re supposed to be going into town for some feed and supplies while Dad¡¯s at home during the hottest part of the day. He came across a downed fence that needs to be fixed before we lose any cattle.


    ¡°If you want a single word out of me, you¡¯ll leave now.¡± But the wrinkled brow isn¡¯t giving an inch. ¡°Or we can go inside, and Dad can yell at you wasting precious time.¡± I paste on an innocent smile.


    Her gaze flicks to the rearview mirror. Whatever she sees has her jabbing the key into the ignition and giving it a turn. The engine on the beat-up ranch truck roars to life, then she slides the gearshift to first before I can manage a smile. If there¡¯s one thing I can count on, it¡¯s that nobody wants to deal with a Torres when they¡¯re pissed off.


    We pull out of the drive and hit the main highway in silence. She veers toward the center, avoiding the potholes in the asphalt. We make it two or three miles before she clears her throat. ¡°Now, what¡¯s got your panties in a bunch?¡±


    I open my mouth, ready to give a full confession, then think better of it. Having a long, drawn-out conversation about something neither of us can do anything about isn¡¯t going to solve anything.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t anyone tell me about the dead cattle?¡± I ask, turning the conversation to her.


    She fidgets in her seat, checking the mirrors, one after another. It¡¯s a tactic she¡¯s used before while she¡¯s gathering her thoughts.


    ¡°You know how your father is, ch,¡± she says in a cating tone. I can almost see her sitting behind my ten-year-old self, brushing my hair as she¡¯s trying to make me feel better. Back then, she was with us full-time. Now, we can only afford to have here by a couple of days a week.


    ¡°Don¡¯t give me that.¡± Unexpected bitterness slips into my tone. ¡°Both you and he know I¡¯m bound to find out one way or another.¡±


    Her shoulders rise with her indrawn breath. ¡°I know.¡± She sighs. ¡°I wonder if your father thinks he¡¯s raising a fool,¡± she says in disgust.


    I purse my lips. Is she serious or just trying to appease me? ¡°How many did we lose?¡±


    ¡°Two cows and a calf,¡± she admits. ¡°Shot multiple times.¡±


    ¡°A.¡± Needless ends to life. On top of that, given the state of our finances, even that loss equals a lot of money. As it is, this drought is making it nearly impossible to get enough water for the animals. ¡°Could they salvage the meat?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Her shoulders droop. ¡°The boys found ¡¯em this morning, but they¡¯d been dead at least a day.¡± With the South Texas heat and the wild animals, they¡¯d be aplete loss.


    A sinking feeling settles in my stomach as I look past Est to thend on the other side of the road-my inheritance, or what¡¯s left of it. I can understand why he¡¯s upset. No water, dead animals, hostile coyotes, lost money, and nobody to me but fate. Though Mom¡¯s right. Even if I was male, he wouldn¡¯t send me out when we¡¯ve got someone using the herd for target practice. No Torres in his right mind would risk their only child over cattle.


    ¡°Maybe if I could go out there and help,¡± I mumble under my breath.


    ¡°Are you crazy?¡± she snaps, turning to re at me.


    I bristle at her reply. ¡°Why? You think I can¡¯t help put up the fence since I¡¯m a girl?¡±


    ¡°Pshaw. That¡¯s neither here nor there,¡± she says turning back to the road. ¡°God knows what he¡¯s doing, and he doesn¡¯t make mistakes.¡± She sniffs, ending the conversation in her typical manner. ¡°The fact your father hasn¡¯t been able to add to the family legacy shouldn¡¯t be on your shoulders.¡±


    ¡°Then who¡¯s going to take responsibility?¡± Every Torres had done their part to grow the ranch, up until Grandad lost half thend on what may have been a fixed card game. So now, in my generation, not only will the ranch not grow, we can¡¯t even afford to have me go to college.


    ¡°Maybe if we leave your parents long enough, they¡¯ll try for another kid,¡± she chuckles.


    I snort, knowing the mood they were in just a few minutes ago. ¡°Not likely.¡±


    ¡°You never know, youngdy. They¡¯re not too old to try,¡± she chastises. ¡°Are you trying to throw even more shade on Mom?¡±


    ¡°Oh please,¡± she says, slowing down as we approach town. ¡°That thing about your ancestor being cursed is nothing more than a story.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve got to admit, there¡¯s something weird about what¡¯s happened to us.¡±


    ¡°Nothing you should believe or worry about.¡± She waves a hand in dismissal.


    ¡°Oh,e on. Ever since the first generation settled in South Texas-¡±


    ¡°On a deed granted by the king of Spain,¡± she adds, familiar with the story.


    ¡°On a deed granted by the king of Spain, the Torres¡¯s have only had one child. And they were always male.¡±


    ¡°Until you.¡±


    ¡°Until me.¡± It¡¯s the only other time the family name hase into question. The first time a Torres had a second child, though sadly, he didn¡¯t survive. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what would happen if Mom went from the first one to have a girl to having two kids.¡±


    We pull through town, waiting to turn onto Main Street and get to the feed store.


    ¡°If I believed in such a thing, I¡¯d say it was jealousy.¡± The turn signal clicks quietly as her words sink in.


    Jealousy? I¡¯ve never considered it. Though family members have whispered about the possibility of a curse. Because it¡¯s what you do when there¡¯s no other exnation and you¡¯re living in the Dark Ages. The whole thing¡¯s been dismissed as an old wives¡¯ tale, but you never really know how these things start.


    ¡°Only love, hate, and jealousy can be strong enough to endure this long. And nobody knows much about the original settlers, since their only written records are the births, weddings, and deaths documented in the family Bible.¡±


    Yeah, our family history is mostly gossip that¡¯s run from one person to another in the tiny town of Nueces.


    She turns then pulls into the parking spot in front of the town¡¯s one and only cafe, next to a familiar car, then puts the truck in reverse. We¡¯re backing up as the car door opens and Roman de Marco steps out. He¡¯s wearing a different suit today, a blue so dark it borders on ck. I can barely breathe as his gaze meets mine through the cracked windshield.


    ¡°Hey, Est,¡± the owner of the feed store greets her. ¡°Heard about the trouble out at La Escuadra. Everything going okay?¡±


    The question is enough to break the spell. I huff out a breath and unbuckle the seat belt. We aren¡¯t even out of the cab yet, and the town already knows what¡¯s going on at our ce. I push on the door, but nothing happens. ¡°Crap.¡± I must have mmed it too hard when I got in. Annoyed, I put my shoulder to the panel, bumping it in an effort to dislodge the door.


    ¡°Get out on the driver¡¯s side,¡± Est calls out with concern, her attention somewhere past me.


    Out of the corner of my eye, I see Roman taking thest few steps toward the truck. He reaches for the handle, pulling the door open with a solid crack, to set me free. Heat rushes through me, rising incrementally to match the restraint I recognize in his eyes. Then he offers a hand.

 Chapter 121

    ROMAN


    The curiosity in her amber eyes intrigues me, so much more when she takes my outstretched hand without second-guessing herself.


    Stepping down from the truck, she barely reaches my chin. A braid as thick as my wrist slides over her left shoulder as she looks up.


    If my cock wasn¡¯t already semihard, the shot of electricity running from her fingers through mine would do it.


    I¡¯ve never experienced this¡­awareness for a woman. Lust, hate, desire, and rage I¡¯d recognize, but not this.


    The oversized T-shirt she¡¯s wearing does little to hide her assets. The soft cotton is draped across generous mounds and pulled tight against her hips. My mind runs amok, stripping her naked where she stands.


    What would it be like to hold her body to mine? Her lips part, her breath fanning out, as if she knows what I¡¯m thinking. I¡¯m tempted to reach down and taste her mouth, but I know enough not to try. The way my cock is throbbing, I¡¯d want to drag her back to my hotel room and bury myself inside her. Hell, I might not bother going that far when I can stretch her out on the seat.


    Though none of that is going to happen. Her father, idiot that he is, would likely pull that old gun on me, and all hell would break loose. This time, I grin. It would probably be the most excitement this ce has seen in a long time.


    ¡°Have dinner with me.¡± The words are out before I can think much about it.


    Her gaze breaks away, and she pulls her hand out of mine. Just like that, the buzz running through me stops. Much to my surprise, I¡¯m left wanting more.


    ¡°I-I can¡¯t,¡± she replies with a note of regret.


    ¡°Lupita,¡± the old woman calls out,ing around the front of the truck like a mother hen to protect her chick.


    Lupita turns, cheeks a pretty pink. ¡°Est, this is Mr. de Marco,¡± she exins. ¡°He came by the house yesterday.¡±


    The woman¡¯s shoulders settle and she gives me a smile that doesn¡¯t quite reach her eyes. ¡°Mr. de Marco.¡± Her wizened eyes tell me she recognizes a predator when she sees one.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am.¡±


    She closes the door, pushing Lupita past me in the process. ¡°We need to go. Felix is waiting.¡± She points up to the loading dock, where all traffic has stopped to watch us with open curiosity.


    Lupita¡¯s gaze catches mine then falls away. Jesus, when was thest time I saw a woman blush?


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± she murmurs, letting herself be shuffled along. I watch them for a few seconds, enjoying the rear view as much as the front. Then I catch Felix studying me while his two guys are checking out Lupita. My grin disappears. What the fuck do they think they¡¯re looking at?


    Felix whirls back to his employees. ¡°Hey, back to work,¡± he snaps. ¡°I don¡¯t pay you to stand around gawking.¡±


    I turn on my heel, heading across the street to the cafe only to find I have another audience at the window. Fucking fantastic.


    With the cafe being on the corner, the windows stretch around the building to the front. The women inside scatter as I draw near, leaving a guy standing by himself to watch me walk in. For some reason that shit-eating grin makes me want to smash my fist into his mouth.


    ¡°You de Marco?¡± he asks.


    It shouldn¡¯t surprise me that these women have been as chatty with him as they were with me when I showed up yesterday. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± I reply, already guessing who he is.


    ¡°I¡¯m Tony Mendoza.¡± He stretches out a hand. After a brief handshake, he points to the seat nearest me. ¡°This is a good a ce as any,¡± he says, grabbing a seat. He holds up two fingers, and the waitress heads to the counter.


    Antonio Mendoza. The cocky son of a bitch is the third and youngest son of Miguel Mendoza. The one who deals with our contact across the river. I suspect that even if I got to know this guy, I¡¯d still want to help him swallow his teeth.


    The waitress from yesterday puts two beer bottles in front of us.


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ¡°Would you like anything?¡± she asks with the same tilt of her hips that offered much more than information yesterday.


    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll have enchdas.¡± ¡°Cheese, chicken, or beef?¡± ¡°Beef,¡± I answer automatically.


    She jots it down on a small pad. ¡°Tony¡±-she gives him a smile -¡°same as always?¡±


    He pats her hip. ¡°Yup. You know what I like.¡± He takes a swig of beer and watches as she turns on her heel and walks away. He grins, putting down his beer. ¡°So, our friend said I should have a sit-down with you.¡±


    I twist the top off the bottle. ¡°I understand things are getting difficult.¡±


    ¡°Nah.¡± He frowns, shaking his head as he takes another quick drink. ¡°We¡¯re not having any problems.¡±


    Jorge Torres¡¯s expression shes into my mind. I have a feeling I figured out the reason for Jorge¡¯s trouble. He really should have waited to hear my offer; he might have reconsidered. The others I talked to seemed impressed by the money we¡¯re willing to pay. I¡¯m nothing if not generous, especially if it helps keep things moving quietly. He could have cut and run, started a new life somewhere with a future. I could have been done, ready to drive out to San Antonio and fly back to New York. Instead, I¡¯m sitting here talking to someone who thinks he can take me for a fool.


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I was told.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know who you¡¯ve been talking to-¡±


    ¡°Antonio,¡± I interrupt, keeping my voice even. ¡°I flew across the country to smooth things out, so how about you cut the bullshit.¡±


    His pose may be rxed, but he¡¯s trying to figure me out. Something about him bothers me. He strikes me as the type who¡¯d sell out his own mother for the right price, and I¡¯m seldom wrong about a person.


    I unbutton my coat, running theyout of the area through my mind. This ce has a dozen tables, all but ours empty at the moment. One door in the front, another through the kitchen. Windows cover the top of the wall in a standardmercial setup that wraps around the front and side of the building. We¡¯re sitting close enough to the door for me to see anyoneing in beside us. One could still set up an ambush, but it would be unlikely. Either way, I¡¯m prepared, and even if I take a bullet, this fucker won¡¯t get far.


    ¡°Well, there¡¯s no problem there for me.¡± My hard stare lets him know


    I¡¯m not up for this. He exhales and sits forward. ¡°What are you asking?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the issue with you and your neighbor?¡±


    ¡°Oh, that.¡± That shit-eating grin¡¯s back in ce. ¡°Ancient history.¡± He crosses his arms. ¡°More of a disagreement onnd rights between my


    grandfather and Torres¡¯s dad that¡¯s dragged on over the years.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Hmm, so feuds happen out here, too.


    ¡°You met the princess.¡± He points out the window toward the feed store.


    ¡°Torres¡¯s daughter.¡± I nod, ying along. ¡°Yeah, she was there when I went by yesterday.¡±


    He runs his thumb along the edge of his nose. ¡°What¡¯d he say?¡± he asks, his mouth still open, ready tough.


    ¡°He wasn¡¯t up for selling.¡± This bastard doesn¡¯t need to know the details.


    ¡°Yeah. The old man¡¯s holding out hope they¡¯ll turn things around.¡± He scoffs. ¡°It¡¯s not gonna happen, if I have my way.¡± He taps his fingers on the table. ¡°Torres will end up folding.¡±


    ¡°From what I hear, that may be sooner rather thanter.¡± Jorge really should have taken my offer. The house is in the same condition as the old truck he¡¯s driving. They¡¯ve both gone without maintenance for too long. Right on cue, the truck pulls into the street, turning onto the highway in front of us.


    ¡°Hell, my old man tried talking me into marrying her to end this property thing.¡± He keeps his eyes on the truck until they¡¯re past the window. ¡°It¡¯d be an open marriage, for me.¡± He shrugs. ¡°Eh, there¡¯s still time. Who knows because, with a wife like that, I could do whatever I wanted, and nobody¡¯d say a damn thing.¡±


    Anger cuts through my chest with a vengeance. Why it matters is beyond me. I don¡¯t have a dog in that fight. My job is to smooth things out so the goods make it over the border and keep the customersing back. ¡°So, is this what¡¯s causing problems with the supply chain?¡±


    ¡°No, man.¡± He shakes his head. ¡°Jorge knows his ce. He¡¯s not butting in.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t clear up a hell of a lot.¡± ¡°What can I say?¡± He shrugs.


    ¡°You can say you¡¯ll get me in contact with your side of the business.¡± I can¡¯t get any blunter than that.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Antonio goes silent. ¡°You don¡¯t pull any punches,¡± he says, sitting forward.


    ¡°Like I said, I flew across the country for one reason.¡±


    He pulls a grimace, rolling his shoulder as he twists his neck. ¡°I don¡¯t like dealing with those guys, but I can try and figure out-¡±


    Guys? It¡¯s supposed to be one guy. I shake my head. ¡°I¡¯m already here. I¡¯d rather have the conversation than to have things escte.¡± Thest thing this ce needs is to have Victor show up with his brand of negotiations.


    ¡°I¡¯d need time to track our friend down,¡± he says, shifting his gaze away. The cagey routine does work for me.


    ¡°He¡¯sing tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°How do you know that?¡± he asks, eyebrows jammed together. ¡°You forget, we handle the rest of the supply chain.¡± His lips twist as he ends up cornered.


    ¡°I need to touch base when he¡¯s here.¡±


    ¡°Here you go, boys.¡± The waitress sets the tes down in front of us. It takes her a second, but she loses her smile as she senses the tension between us. ¡°Um, I¡¯ll be by the counter, in case you need anything else.¡±


    Antonio stares down at the te, pushing it away. ¡°It¡¯ll be tonight,¡± he grumbles.


    I nod, satisfied with the change in schedule. We might be able to work things out so I can get the hell out of here before the end of the week after all.

 Chapter 122

    LUPITA


    ¡°Come in, base.¡± Dad¡¯s voicees over the radio, drawing my attention from the vegetables I¡¯m washing. The tension in his voice is enough to make my stomach twist.


    I turn off the water then grab a dish towel to wipe my hands as I head to the counter. Please-please-please don¡¯t let there be trouble. Hopefully we didn¡¯t lose more cattle. And if we did, let it be because of the fence being down and not someone using them for target practice. I pick up the radio from the base and press the button on the side. ¡°This is base,¡± I reply, releasing the button.


    ¡°Did you buy T-post clips?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir. The bags should have been with the rest of the supplies.¡± I let my lids drift closed. Unless they ended up with the feed. The guys working for Felix seem to be distracted half the time when we¡¯re there.


    ¡°Well, they¡¯re not,¡± he replies with barely concealed annoyance.


    ¡°Let me check the shed.¡± I set down the radio and rush through the kitchen, letting the screen m against the frame.


    Mom looks up from the garden. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± she asks, her back stiff.


    ¡°The T-post clips are missing,¡± I call out. She slouches where she¡¯s kneeling, her shoulders drooping. I should be more careful. The fact we have people shooting on our property has to be weighing on her. Me running out could have been something happening to Dad.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Pushing back her wide-brimmed hat, she pulls her forearm across her brow. ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve got it.¡± I poke my head into the storage shed. Sure enough, the wooden box holds a couple of bags of feed, with the clips sandwiched between them. I snatch the package out of the box.


    ¡°Find them?¡± Mom calls out. I hold up the bag. ¡°Oh shoot.¡± She drops her hands to the top of her thighs.


    At this point, Dad¡¯s on the other side of the ranch, having ridden by horseback with the supplies. If he has toe back then go again, he¡¯s going to lose what¡¯s left of daylight. That means we could lose some cattle if they try to go into the river for a drink. ¡°I¡¯ll take them out to him.¡±


    ¡°Hang on,¡± she says, pushing up from where she¡¯s weeding. ¡°Est¡¯s gone, so I¡¯ll go with you.¡±


    Because, of course, I¡¯m a girl. ¡°I can go by myself,¡± I shoot back, trying to curb my irritation. How was I supposed to go off to college when I graduated, when two yearster I can barely leave the house on my own.


    ¡°Mom, I¡¯m notpletely useless.¡± She stops in her tracks.


    She chews on her lip for a few seconds. ¡°All right.¡± The defeat in her voice isn¡¯t exactly reassuring. ¡°But you lock the doors.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°And take a radio with you,¡± she tacks on. ¡°But don¡¯t use it while you¡¯re driving. In fact, tell your father to meet you along the way.¡± ¡°That sounds good.¡± I¡¯ll avoid most of the things they harp on.


    ¡°Pay attention to the road,¡± she continues, ¡°because it¡¯s pretty bad in some areas.¡± In recent years, Dad¡¯s been using the few horses we have left, so road maintenance hasn¡¯t been much of a priority. ¡°Be very careful by the riverside, it¡¯s got the drop-off¡­¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± I manage not to roll my eyes at her. I¡¯ve only been through there a hundred times in my life when I used to run around with Dad.


    ¡°And put some jeans on, or your father will have a breakdown,¡± she warns, pointing at the cotton shorts I¡¯m wearing.


    More like he¡¯d have a meltdown. I can¡¯t imagine Dad falling apart over anything. ¡°I¡¯m not getting out of the truck, and I¡¯m not going all the way to where the guys are.¡±


    She sets a hand to her hip. ¡°Well, it¡¯s your butt. Just remember I warned you.¡±


    I rush into the house and pick up the handheld radio but pause before hitting the button to talk. There¡¯s still a chance he¡¯ll tell me I can¡¯t go alone, so I¡¯ll have to be careful about what I say. Clutching the stic bag to my stomach, I take a deep breath and push the button. ¡°I found the bag with the clips. The guys put it with the feed.¡± ¡°Idiots,¡± he grumbles.


    ¡°Mom says to ask if we can meet along the way.¡± I cross my fingers he won¡¯t ask to speak to her.


    ¡°Yeah. That¡¯ll save the rest of the day.¡±


    I rush to the door, grabbing the keys off the nail.


    ¡°Just be careful.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯d he say?¡± Mom asks, heading in my direction.


    ¡°He liked your idea.¡± I keep moving, trying not to give her a reason to change her mind. ¡°I need to go.¡± I pull open the truck door. ¡°And I¡¯ll be careful,¡± I toss over my shoulder as I slide into the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°And I have the radio.¡± I hold it out for her to see before closing the door. ¡°So you have nothing to worry about.¡±


    I pull the seat belt across my waist and jam the key into the ignition. The engine has barelye to life when I¡¯m putting it in gear. This seems like such a childish thing to do, but it¡¯s my version of breaking curfew- something I¡¯ve never had the chance to do.


    In seconds, I¡¯m down the drive, looking both ways until I¡¯m clear before I cross the twone highway to the other side of the ranch. My heart¡¯s hammering in my chest. Yeah, Dad will probably get pissed when I get there without Mom, but I have a good thirty-forty minutes of freedom.


    Firmly packed caliche covers the drive to the stables, but then it bes more of an overgrown path. I slow down to maneuver through a rut deep enough to have the truck lean to the right, sending everything sliding across the cab. This ce has changed so much over the years. Someone, at some point, must have tried going through mud and ended up having a bad day. In the past, Dad never would have let the condition get this bad.


    I press down on the gas, speeding up for the mile or so before there¡¯s another nasty spot. Or, at least, that¡¯s how it was thest time I came down here. If she¡¯d been born a boy, I wouldn¡¯t have this problem. Dad¡¯s voice echoes in my head. I set my jaw. Well, I can¡¯t help the fact I was born a girl. If I was a guy, I¡¯d know this area by heart, just like every other Torres before me. Instead, now I¡¯m stuck in the house, across the highway, while Dad works with the cattle.


    I hug the curb only to have a mesquite branch drag against the truck bed with a screech. Teeth on edge, I check back through the side mirror. It¡¯s not like anyone would notice a new scratch on this old truck. It probably has original dirt on it, because I can¡¯t for the life of me remember Dad getting it washed.


    Turning back to the road, I tighten my grip on the wheel. Then a sharp crack fills the air, followed by another. What in the¡­ An odd fizzing echoes in the cab then the front of the truck drops to the left. ¡°Whoa.¡± I take my foot off the gas and put my weight into holding the steering wheel straight. ¡°Seriously, a t.¡± I drop my head back, trying not to have a fit because, if nothing else, I¡¯m my father¡¯s daughter.


    ¡°What the hell else could go wrong?¡± I reach for my seat belt then catch sight of something moving on my left. Dad? He can¡¯t be this far so fast. In the span of what must be a second, a manes out of the brush, jumping over branches. A camo shirt, sunburned skin, and wild hair, but my attention locks in on the gun he¡¯s got clutched in one hand.


    Who is he? A coyote? Fear catches hold of me. With the tire out, I¡¯m stranded. I reach for the radio to call for help, only it¡¯s not where I set it down next to me. It has to have dropped to the floorboard. Wait, my door¡¯s not locked. I m my hand on the worn panel, hitting the lock as the guy reaches me.


    ¡°Look what I found,¡± he says triumphantly, in Spanish, while yanking on the door handle.


    I lean away, fumbling with the buckle, needing to be free.


    ¡°Where are you going, baby?¡± He¡¯s watching me,ughing like a demented child with a magnifying ss over an anthill.


    Oh my God. He ms his fist against the window. I can¡¯t seem to find the button I need. No-no-no-no-no. Then finally, the base clicks, and the thick bandes loose. Why did Ie alone? I push off the floorboard on the driver¡¯s side but hardly move.


    He ms against the window again.


    I scramble across the seat. The radio. Dad.


    Something solid hits the ss.


    Dad. ¡°My father¡¯s on the way.¡± I nce back to see the crazy look in his eyes then catch sight of the huge rock in his hands.


    The jagged edge hits the window again, the sound of breaking ss filling the truck cab.


    I scream, terror filling me as every mention of danger on the ranch goes through my head. The manughs louder, as if he likes hearing my terrified scream. Tears burn behind my eyes. I reach out as the door opens behind me with the usual protest. He¡¯sing. I clutch the handle, putting my weight against the door, but it won¡¯t open.


    Calloused fingers close around my ankle.


    My throat burns as a shrill scream fills the cab.

 Chapter 123

    ROMAN


    ¡°Look it¡­look it here.¡± The sun¡¯s low in the sky as Antonio stops the truck in the middle of the country road. He taps his hands on the steering wheel, looking out into the distance. He¡¯s been talkative as hell since he took a pitstop at his ce. Paired with the ssy eyes and constant sniffing, it¡¯s not hard to figure out his recreation of choice.


    I take in thend around us, a house in the distance, and cattle by a pond. Hell, I don¡¯t know anything about ranching, but this looks pretty damn good. Even the road we¡¯re on is well maintained, a big difference


    from the stretch at the Torres¡¯s ce. ¡°What am I looking at?¡±


    ¡°Out there,¡± he says, pointing to the left, ¡°is the Border Patrol checkpoint.¡± He switches to the opposite direction. ¡°Over there is the Rio Grande.¡± He turns to me, pointing his finger straight down. ¡°This here, is the pride of La Escuadra.¡± Heughs, as if he¡¯s sharing an inside joke. ¡°Nice evennd, a natural pond that doesn¡¯t go dry, and a great bend in the river that keeps things all private-like.¡± He folds three fingers, leaving his thumb and index finger stretched out. ¡°An escuadra¡­ it¡¯s a pistol.¡± He busts outughing. ¡°Isn¡¯t it fucking perfect?¡±


    I¡¯ve seen the area on a map. I understand the ce¡¯s real value. Antonio¡¯s people want the crossing, and Torres wants thend for his herd.


    ¡°It¡¯s the piece in dispute?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± His empty-headed guffaw irritates me. ¡°We¡¯ll have it tied up in court until the old man¡¯s t broke, or dead,¡± he adds, with a shrug. ¡°Whicheveres first.¡±


    Jorge really should have considered my offer. ¡°That shouldn¡¯t be much longer.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he says, preupied with something in the distance. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± He steps on the gas pedal, and we shoot down the road. ¡°There¡¯s a stable behind the old ce.¡± He juts his chin out in the house¡¯s general direction. ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re going.¡±


    Where I¡¯m going. I¡¯m probably better off on my own. Hugo¡¯s part of a family business, same as I am, and business has been good, until recently.


    But with this idiot flying high, there¡¯s no telling what kind of trouble he¡¯d cause. ¡°Tell me about Hugo. Anything I should watch for?¡±


    ¡°Nah.¡± He shakes a finger in my direction. ¡°Nah, Hugo¡¯s a good guy.¡± He nods, full of energy. ¡°It¡¯s nco you need to worry about.¡± Wild-eyed he turns toward me, ducking as he nces around. ¡°Guy¡¯s loco.¡± He does a one-fingered loop by his temple. ¡°You know that word, Roman?¡± ¡°I¡¯m familiar.¡± Okay, that exins the change.


    ¡°Yeaaah.¡± He goes shifty eyed again. ¡°I guarantee you-gua-ran-tee- they got people watching us right now.¡±


    ¡°Damn.¡± That¡¯s never a good thing. Someone could blend into the surroundings without a problem, and you¡¯d never see them. I hope I don¡¯t end up regretting turning down the people Victor wanted to send with me. If I find trouble, and survive, I¡¯ll never hear the end of it.


    ¡°They can¡¯t see who¡¯s in the truck from across the river,¡± he shares in a low voice. ¡°That¡¯s why I got the darkest tint I could find.¡± He raps his knuckles against the driver¡¯s side window. ¡°I went to check myself.¡± He stares out into the brush, changing his focus from one point to another as we go. ¡°Hell, if it wasn¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯te out here. Not since nco starteding along.¡±


    The brush opens to arge home sitting in the middle of nowhere. The bottom of the walls is covered in t rock, arranged together likerge puzzle pieces. ¡°Who lives here?¡± I nce around, looking for anyone in the area.


    ¡°Nobody.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like nobody.¡± The trees have a well around the root, and rose bushes nk the front entrance. ¡°Somebody has to maintain all this.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± He shrugs. ¡°My grandfather lives-lived-here. Whatever. He¡¯s up at the house, about to croak. We still have peoplee out and check on the ce, but you know¡­¡± He sniffs. ¡°With all theings and goings, you gotta keep that shit to a minimum.¡±


    Which leaves me with even more questions as we pull up to the front of the house. Beginning with why he parked over here when I¡¯m supposed to go into the stable around back.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just wait for you here, man.¡± Antonio pushes back against the seat, settling in.


    This is just trading one concern for another. He could be working with these guys for all I know. ¡°I¡¯ll be back.¡± Scrutinizing my surroundings, I reach for the door handle and let myself out. Everything looks normal in the distance, but, of course, as Antonio mentioned, someone could be sitting in the brush. Those damn camouge clothes I¡¯ve seen around town suddenly make more sense.


    I calmly walk toward the back of the house. Somehow I know my Italian leather shoes are going to end up ruined. I probably shouldn¡¯t have worn these or the suit. Then again, I wasn¡¯t expecting toe out here today.


    As I reach the stable, two voices, men¡¯s, be louder. ¡°Que chingados tienes, nco?¡±


    So, nco¡¯s here, and presumably Hugo isn¡¯t happy with him. ¡°Afternoon,¡± I call out to make sure I don¡¯t surprise anyone.


    The talking stops, and one man backs up, ducking his head past the edge of the house. Hugo. I recognize him right away from the file we have on him. Pushing forty, five foot six with a stocky build, two older kids, and a wife who is nearing the end of what seems like an unexpected pregnancy. Water bottle in hand, he pauses to study me, his gaze running down to my damn shoes then back up.


    A secondter, another guy sticks his head out, blocking Hugo. About five eight, mid-twenties, sunburned, his camo sweaty and covered in dirt. This has to be nco. Lowering what can only be described as a hand


    cannon, he does the same review and sneers. ¡°No es migra.¡±


    No, I¡¯m not Border Patrol, but I¡¯m not going to give up this small advantage. Better they don¡¯t know I understand enough to piece together what they¡¯re saying. I don¡¯t like that I¡¯m walking in blind about this guy. He¡¯s not in the file, and I had no time to look into him. The way Antonio was going on about him, he isn¡¯t a nobody.


    Checking the truck behind me, Hugo tosses the water and sets his hands over his belt buckle. So he¡¯s carrying. ¡°Who are you?¡± he asks in rough English.


    ¡°Roman.¡±


    ¡°A chingao.¡± The frown disappears, and he leans away. Eyes wary, he swallows hard. Now, that¡¯s more like what I¡¯m used to. nco turns to Hugo, cocking his head, but Hugo heads behind the house again.


    Secure that my own weapons sit close to my chest, I follow, scanning my surroundings. To my left, there¡¯s a wooden table made of two-by-fours, holding an orange water cooler and some small blue cans. To the right, the stable Antonio mentioned.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    ¡°Ahora pa limiar tu cagadero.¡± Hugo keeps a neutral expression despite expecting he¡¯ll be cleaning up the guy¡¯s shit.


    ¡°Everything okay?¡± I look from one to the other, as if I¡¯m trying to figure out what¡¯s going on.


    ¡°Si.¡± Hugo nods. ¡°My nephew¡¯s still learning.¡±


    That exins a lot. There¡¯s one wild card in every family business.


    ¡°You lo arreglo.¡± nco mutters the offer to take care of things, confirming he¡¯s the cause of the problems we¡¯re having.


    ¡°Largate, pendejo.¡± With a backward turn of his head, he sends the idiot away. nco shoves his gun in his belt and heads for the stable, a swagger in his step that proims he gives zero fucks.


    ¡°You¡¯re Hugo?¡± I ask, continuing to pretend ignorance while keeping an eye on his nephew¡¯s retreating back.


    ¡°Yes, Mr. de Marco.¡± Hugo clears his throat. ¡°What-what brings you down to Texas?¡±


    With these two, I¡¯m outnumbered and if there¡¯s anyone watching, I¡¯ll be outgunned. Instead of drawing my own weapon, I move to the table and pick up one of the small tins. Vienna sausages. ¡°I think you know why I¡¯m here.¡± I hold his gaze while nco stops, dragging the gun to the back of his waist. It¡¯s an odd thing for him to do.


    I check the surroundings. There¡¯s nothing between us except for a discarded tin and a number of ttened soft drink cans littering the ground. The aluminum is torn and jagged, faded by the sun over time.


    Hugo takes a deep breath, dragging his hand down his chin as the stable¡¯s wooden door squeaks. ¡°You have-¡±


    nco gives a crazyugh, stretching an arm behind the door then securing his footing. There¡¯s a thud followed by nco¡¯s, ¡°Oof.¡± Hugo and I turn to see what happened. nco¡¯s shoulders curl inward. A woman rushes past him, her wrists bound with a dark kerchief. He reaches back, grabbing her thick braid and bringing her to a stop.


    ¡°No!¡± she screams, struggling against him. It takes me only the fraction of a second before I confirm it¡¯s Lupita.


    Rage cuts through me. Going on instinct, I focus on nco, leaving Hugo aside. Can in hand, I spread my fingers around it and let loose, going from wind-up to follow-through. The missile hits over his eye, stunning him long enough for Lupita to get away. I nce at Hugo to find him waving her through. ¡°Correle.¡± Good. Hopefully one less person I¡¯ll have to kill.


    With hering at a wild run, I¡¯d risk hitting her if I shoot. ¡°Run to the truck,¡± I yell as I pass her. Shaking his head, nco swings around on unsteady feet, going for the back of his belt. I reach him right as he brings the gun around and pulls the trigger. I block. The shot goes wide, and the gun goes flying. He grabs my forearm and wrist just as I sweep his leg out from under him.


    Wend hard, neither able to reach our weapon. One of the discarded cans is nearby. I grab it then shift my weight and aim down. nco¡¯s strong. His eyes are focused on the makeshift weapon inching closer.


    ¡°Ah!¡± He releases my left arm, grasping my right. In one fluid motion, I toss the can from one hand to the other and drag the jagged metal across his neck until it hits the ground. The dirt-covered skin opens up, blood spraying out with the racing beat of his heart.


    His eyes go wide and he loses the cocky facade. He fumbles, pressing his hand to the wound. ¡°Tio!¡± he yells for Hugo, kicking his legs.


    I spin around, finally going for my gun, but Hugo¡¯s got his arms crossed, watching. He shakes his head then hocks a loogie. ¡°Problem solved, senor,¡± he announces, tipping his chin to indicate nco.


    My shoulders slump. ¡°Well, son of a bitch.¡± I reach out for the gun as nco starts to fade.


    Hugoughs. ¡°More like bastard son of a whore.¡±


    I pull back my hand to check for damage. The adrenaline in my system doesn¡¯t let me feel any pain, but it looks like the blood isn¡¯t mine. ¡°You called him your nephew.¡±


    He shrugs. ¡°With the shit he pulled, decisions had already been made.¡±


    ¡°I see. So, what now?¡± At home, one call would take care of this. Out here, we¡¯re on our own. And arterial spray makes a hell of a mess.


    Hugo runs his hand down his chin. ¡°Well, the story was going to be Border Patrol got him.¡±


    ¡°That could getplicated if someone goes looking for him. They¡¯re bound to figure out something¡¯s wrong when he doesn¡¯t turn up in custody.¡± ¡°I¡¯d be the one checking on him.¡± So, a lie he could manage on his own.


    ¡°Since there¡¯s no bullet hole, you could leave him out for the animals,¡± I suggest. ¡°They¡¯d tear at the wound and hide the evidence. You¡¯d find him a few dayster and arrange a funeral.¡±


    He presses his lips together and nods. ¡°Add a rattlesnake bite and it would work.¡±


    ¡°Take him to the Mexican side. It¡¯s easier to deal with things over there, in case someone finds him.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± His shoulders droop. ¡°What about you? The runt left you.¡±


    That¡¯s ended up a bag of mixed feelings. It doesn¡¯t surprise me he left, but at least Lupita¡¯s safe. ¡°I¡¯ll follow the road back to my car.¡±


    He looks down at my shoes, now scratched beyond repair, and cocks his head. ¡°Okay, Mr. de Marco.¡±


    ¡°Roman.¡±


    ¡°Roman.¡± Hugo grabs a satchel from beside the table and pulls out a water bottle, tossing it to me.


    The stic ps against my palm where the torn aluminum shaved off the topyer of skin. ¡°Thanks.¡± I hand him nco¡¯s gun.


    ¡°Stay in the middle of the road and watch for snakes.¡±


    I grimace. ¡°Fantastic.¡±


    Hugo loops the strap over his neck and shoulder, shoves it behind him then drags nco around. ¡°You¡¯re going to be a pain in my ass even in death,¡± he mutters, dragging the body along.


    I can¡¯t help but grin as I set the bottle on the table and press the button on the cooler to wash up. With the sun nearing the horizon, I¡¯ll end up walking back to the Mendoza¡¯s house in the dark. I pull the knot of my tie loose, letting it hang around my neck, then undo the first couple of buttons on my shirt. Looking around onest time, I pick up the water and head around the house to start up the road. At least there won¡¯t be anyone there to ask questions.


    I haven¡¯t gone more than a few yards when a muffled yell catches my attention. What the fuck?

 Chapter 124

    LUPITA


    I can¡¯t feel my fingers, yet I manage to twist the knob on the dead bolt. ¡°Wait. Roman.¡± Can he hear me? I pull open the door and freeze. He¡¯s a few feet away, a gun in each hand, the barrels pointing right above me.


    He nces behind me then lowers the guns. ¡°I thought you left with Antonio.¡±


    Hands shaking, I pull back the slide lock and push open the metalframed screen. ¡°No.¡± The image of caliche flying as he hit reverse fills my mind. ¡°He left on his own.¡±


    Roman tucks the weapons into a holster beneath his arms before stepping up from the cement b. His jaw¡¯s tense, making him look even more intimidating than usual. At this point, I don¡¯t care. I¡¯m so grateful to be alive that I throw my arms around him-a total stranger.


    It takes a full second for me to realize what I¡¯ve done. My breasts are ttened against his hard-muscled chest. His waist is at my belly, his zipper pressing into me with the added force behind it. Heat rushes across my face, and my bodyes alive, my pulse hammering in ces it shouldn¡¯t. I tilt my head back to find him studying me and suck in a breath. The patience and restraint I recognized before slowly unraveling.


    I should step away, but I couldn¡¯t move if I tried. Being this close to him makes me feel both safe and in danger at the same time.


    He cups my jaw, right under my left ear, bringing his mouth down to mine. This isn¡¯t a regr kiss; I recognize that even with my limited experience. His lips are taking possession, and my conscience is just along for the ride.


    My senses are in chaos, every part of me he¡¯s touching vying for more. His coat hits the floor and his armse around me. I grip his shirt, his tieing away in the process. I toss it aside, going back to tug at the buttons. My leg¡¯s around his thigh, and I¡¯m not sure how it got there.


    One hand at my lower back, he presses into me, grinding his hard ridge against my belly. My body responds by flooding my panties. I should be embarrassed, but I¡¯m not. I respond on instinct, opening to him when he deepens the kiss.


    His hand¡¯s covering my breast, tweaking my nipple, sending out shots of electricity. He¡¯s guiding me back, struggling to keep our mouths fused. I¡¯m pressed against something immovable and his hard body. His thumbs go into the waistband of my shorts, and I¡¯m only too d to help get rid of them.


    The moment I straighten, his hand goes across my hip and lowers between my legs. He parts my folds, and I¡¯m conscious of the wetness at my thighs.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± he groans, breaking the kiss.


    ¡°Mmmm,¡± is all I can manage. It¡¯s agreement, pleasure, and submission in one. Best of all, it¡¯s enough to drive him on.


    In a heartbeat, he¡¯s lifting me up to the edge of the counter without exerting any effort. The belt. His zipper. The pants and underwear. Gone. Then there¡¯s nothing but arge, thick shaft aimed at me. I could devour him with my sight.


    He hooks my knees, sending me back on my elbows. Then there¡¯s the brush of his shaft along my clit, making something flutter from the base of my neck. The head finds my entrance, and I have a moment of pressure as my body wees him. He thrusts hard, taking me with brief, sharp pleasure-pain. I drop my head back, my inner muscles getting used to having him filling me for the first time.


    I swallow hard, taking a calming breath, and straighten, to find him ring at me, his jaw tight.


    ¡°Was this for him?¡± he snarls.


    ¡°What? Who?¡± My brain¡¯s too muddled to follow, but he increases the pressure against my inner walls, making his point.


    ¡°Antonio.¡±


    Was I saving myself for Antonio? He can¡¯t imagine how ridiculous that sounds. ¡°God no.¡± I¡¯ve never felt this yearning for a man, this desire to touch and be touched. What is it about Roman de Marco that makes me want to answer with raw honesty? ¡°I think¡­I was waiting for you,¡± I finish in a murmur.


    ROMAN


    I¡¯m balls deep in her tight little cunt, barely able to keep a thought in my head past the fact I rammed through her fucking cherry. Someone like Lupita Torres would have held onto her virginity for marriage. Antonio¡¯s wordse back to haunt me. It¡¯d be an open marriage, for me. With a wife like that, I could do whatever I wanted, and nobody¡¯d say a damn thing. Annoyance, disgust, anger all war within me, breaking me free of the fog.


    ¡°Was this for him?¡± I snarl.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    ¡°What? Who?¡± Her eyes open wide as I grind into her pussy, leaving no doubt as to what I¡¯m asking.


    ¡°Antonio.¡±


    She arches her body, blowing out a breath. ¡°God no.¡± Her gaze searches my face. ¡°I think¡­I was waiting for you,¡± she answers in a hoarse voice.


    Sincerity¡¯s there in every one of her features. Something inside me shifts, and possessiveness takes over. I watch her expression, gauging her reaction as I slide out. I¡¯ve never taken a woman who¡¯s pure and untouched. I don¡¯t want to hurt her. The low moaning from her throat is pleasure, something I wasn¡¯t sure a woman could feel her first time.


    I pull the T-shirt up her chest then drag the in white bra along with it. Her nipples jut up from under the tight stic band, making my mouth water. I palm the mound, ying with the stiff bud. Every pinch, every pull, every time I knead the taut tissue, her pussy tightens around me. She¡¯s so fucking sensitive.


    She arches, her chest rising, making the band dig into her rosy skin. I should pull off what little she¡¯s wearing, but I¡¯m greedy enough not to want the pleasure to stop. Running my hand down her rib cage, and across her stomach, I reach the triangle of hair pressing against mine.


    She sucks in a breath as I move lower. I barely brush my fingertips over her slit when a sound escapes her, and she jerks her hips,ing up from her elbows. Fuck. I¡¯d never survive this, not when every touch has her ready to go off.


    Cupping her thighs, I slide out, leaving the tip of my cock in, despite whatever shred of sense I have left. It¡¯s a beautiful sight, joined to this girl who¡¯s everything I¡¯m not.


    ¡°Roman.¡± Her lips are parted, her head tilting back as I bury myself inside her again. I want to taste her jaw, run my tongue along the column of her neck, put my hand to her throat when she swallows.


    I continue to move, to im her body. Cupping the back of her neck, I bring her close and take her mouth. Again, I register the fact she¡¯s not sure of what she¡¯s doing, instead, letting me take the lead. That only manages to pick away at my restraint until I¡¯m actually struggling.


    I¡¯m never careless, never thoughtless, yet here I am, my cock deep in a virgin pussy without a damn rubber, wanting to take the long ride. Right now, I can¡¯t think of a fucking reason why I shouldn¡¯t.


    Releasing her, I push her thighs apart, spreading them open as far as they¡¯ll go. The sound of our bodiesing together grows louder, surrounds us, mixing with those of pleasure. The wooden counter protests, making me want more.


    My breathing is harsh. She¡¯s writhing beneath me, broken soundsing from her open mouth. The confusion. The surprise. The goddamn arching of her back drags me down with her. The next thing I know, I¡¯m grinding into the cradle of her thighs as I empty my balls inside a woman for the first time in my life.

 Chapter 125

    ROMAN


    I don¡¯t know what¡¯s more sobering, the realization I came inside her, or the fact I got to see my cum sliding down toward her ass. It¡¯s only a second before she closes her legs and jumps down from her perch. Pulling her clothes down, she scrambles off, with little more than a sh of her ass cheek at the edge of her blouse. Damn. She¡¯s likely going in search of a bathroom. Just as well. I have no idea what to fucking say to her. Though that view¡­


    I grab the waistband of my pants and underwear then stop to add one more thing to the list. The wetness covering my softening cock is mixed with her blood. Somehow, that¡¯s huge. I run my fingers through the moisture, fully aware of the contents, then spread it over my balls. I don¡¯t even know why.


    I give myself a mental shake and arrange my clothes. Somewhere down the hall, the water¡¯s running. I grab my coat then snatch her shorts and panties off the floor, irritated at the sound.


    A nce out the window confirms the sun¡¯s gone down. I need to figure out what we¡¯re going to do. I set her clothes down and pull the guns from the holster, shoving one at the back of my waist. While Antonio mentioned the ce is empty, I¡¯d rather verify myself. I go through a half dozen doors, finding all the rooms empty.


    Thest doorknob has a crown carved into it. Curious, I push the door open, my gaze scanning every corner. It¡¯s a room unlike the others. White walls with soft, pink ents, a dimmer on the light switch, the facete a carving of vines in an intricate pattern that¡¯s worn at the side from use. A narrow bed sits against the corner. The in, coffee-colored bedspread on it makes it seem out of ce. Frowning, I step in. The bedrooms have no closets, only one with even a wardrobe, so this room likely sits empty.


    The water stops. I toss the clothes on the bed and set my guns beside them. Lupita tiptoes down the hall. I raise a brow as I take in the towel wrapped around her waist. ¡°Did you check for snakes?¡± she asks, ncing toward the bottom of the bedspread.


    She¡¯s serious. I drop my eyebrow and take a cautious step back. I nce her way again then drop to my knees, checking under the bed. Then I flip the pillow. ¡°Snake-free,¡± I certify.


    She nods. ¡°The house is-was well built, so there¡¯s no holes anywhere, but Est says it¡¯s been sitting empty. An empty house brings mice, and mice bring snakes.¡±


    I nod, filing away that bit of information. I¡¯m back at my previous dilemma. ¡°Go or stay the night?¡± I ask. ¡°Not sure how you¡¯re doing.¡±


    She hugs the doorframe, her fingers syed along the wood as her cheeks go pink. ¡°I¡¯m exhausted but fine.¡±


    It¡¯s bad enough that there may be someone out there watching. Now I have to keep an eye on the ground around us. ¡°Are you up to taking a chance with snakes?¡±


    She gives a tired smile. ¡°Snakes, coyotes, mountain lions, javelinas-¡± ¡°Have-a-whatnow?¡± I check to make sure she isn¡¯t messing with me. There isn¡¯t even a twitch to her lips. I drop,nding on the edge of the mattress. How can I protect her if I don¡¯t even know what the hell ising out of the darkness? ¡°Okay, we wait for daylight.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s what I¡¯d suggest.¡± She folds her arms in front of her, cocking her head. ¡°And it¡¯s what my dad would say to do,¡± she says. ¡°Stay in ce¡­ and I¡¯ll find you.¡± Her voice trails away.


    Something foreign stirs in the pit of my stomach. ¡°So, there¡¯s a good chance he¡¯ll show up.¡±


    She swallows hard, blinking in rapid session. ¡°The truck¡¯s on the other side of the ranch. He¡¯d be searching there.¡±


    And he¡¯d be driven to find her, ready to kill someone. I suddenly feel for the man. He may be an asshole, but he looks after his own. That¡¯s something I understand.


    Lupita¡¯s lost in thought, her eyes unfocused. ¡°Come here.¡± My voice breaks her trance. She straightens and approaches me. ¡°Are you okay?¡± I ask again.


    ¡°Yes.¡± She nods, suddenly shy.


    I have the same overwhelming urge to touch her, to feel that hum through my veins. ¡°We¡¯ll leave the lights on, in case he sees them and decides to investigate.¡± Giving in, I put my hands on her hips, guiding her to stand between my thighs. ¡°Then we¡¯ll get going first thing in the morning.¡± It¡¯s the best I can do to reassure her.


    Tentatively, she sets her palm on my biceps, moving up to my shoulder, watching her progress closely. ¡°I¡¯m not on birth control.¡± It¡¯s enough to get my cock stirring.


    Birth¡­the word itself should have me backing off-only it doesn¡¯t. I have nearly a decade on her, yet this innocent girl¡­woman has pushed past my boundaries somehow.


    I tug on the towel, pulling the end loose, sending it to the floor at her feet. One touch. I¡¯m drawn to her, needing more of whatever¡¯s making my pulse race. Even as my fingers make first contact, I know it won¡¯t be enough.


    She sucks in a breath. ¡°Roman.¡±This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Birth. Pregnant. Baby. My baby. This would be a first, a de Marco born with a clean start. As I push the blouse up her body to reveal the patch of dark hair between her legs, the image of her on that counteres flooding back. The slight re at her belly would be pulled tight with my child. The T-shirt rides higher. With one quick pinch, I unhook the white bra, sending them both to sit high on her chest.


    The corner of my lips pull into a satisfied grin. One thing¡¯s for sure, my children certainly wouldn¡¯t go hungry. The heavy mounds fill my hands, the prominent peaks digging into my palm. I want to taste her-all of her.


    Lupita


    His mouth does the most wonderful things to my nipples. I never imagined watching a man as he¡¯s touching me, but I can¡¯t get over his expression. An hour ago, the man looked murderous. Later, he was intense as he took my virginity. Now he looks fascinated, as if he¡¯s enjoying a decadent dessert-only I¡¯m the one reaping the reward.


    This needs to stop. We¡¯ve already taken such a huge risk. I can¡¯t end up pregnant while I¡¯m single, not when the Torres bloodline only produces one child per generation. I dig my teeth into my bottom lip. Just a second or two more.


    I tilt my head back, letting my lids drift closed as my pulse beats heavily. His hold on my breast tightens, sending a shot of awareness through my body as he makes a path up to im the side of my neck. He¡¯s pulled me so close, the warmth of his body¡¯s seeping into mine. Blindly, I feel my way from his side, over hard muscles, to spread my fingers over his abs. Gathering the material, I tug, pulling on the shirttails.


    He takes over, jerking the shirt and undershirt over his head. I start to smile, but he stops it with a kiss. The moment his bare chest touches mine, a shudder racks my entire body.


    One second, his lips are covering mine, the next, I¡¯m on my back in the middle of the narrow bed. I groan in protest as he moves away, abandoning me after I experienced one of the most delectable moments of my life.


    The mattress shifts, and his breath fans across my pelvis. ¡°Oh my.¡± He¡¯s settling between my knees. ¡°Roman, we¡­¡± We what? We shouldn¡¯t? This isn¡¯t how the birds and the bees work.


    Either way, he doesn¡¯t wait for me to continue. His shoulders push against the underside of my thighs, opening them wide. I should be embarrassed, or trying to hold on to a shred of modesty. But his fingers travel over my most intimate area, parting my folds. My head drops back as the pulse ms against his fingertips.


    ¡°Roman!¡± I¡¯ve experienced his touch, his body, and the intimacy they bring. None of it prepared me for the storm his mouth is creating. Clutching the sheet on either side, I try to keep froming off the mattress and shoving myself into his face. My nipples tighten to painful peaks as his tongue continues to y against my swollen flesh. ¡°Ro-man¡­¡± The pathetic plea in my voice strikes a chord in me. What am I even asking for?


    He traces my slit, dropping low to push inside me. ¡°Is this what you want?¡±


    ¡°Oh God yes.¡± No hesitation whatsoever.


    He¡¯s over me, his chest pressed to mine, his features rigid as our breaths mingle. Roman de Marco. So intense. The temptation to see him unleash his restraint, the way he did earlier, is consuming me.


    ¡°Take my cock.¡± The pressure at my pussy leaves me speechless. Therge¡­hard¡­cock presses into my body, stretching the delicate skin, pushing aside any inhibitions and any restraint as he ims me inch by inch. I¡¯m biting my bottom lip as he hits home, his cock fully embedded. ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± he says in a hoarse voice.


    My breathing ragged, I force myself to release the grip on his shoulders. He slides out, returning with shallow thrusts, continuing until my mind¡¯s disconnecting.


    I press my eyes shut, trying to keep the storm in check. He responds by mming his hips against mine, plunging the hard ridge as deep as it¡¯ll go. ¡°Oh God,¡± I gasp. He doesn¡¯t stop there. He¡¯s nipping at me, following my jaw, ending up at my earlobe while driving into me.


    The world narrows around me. Roman hooks a forearm under my knee, keeping me from tightening my legs around him as my body explodes into a thousand pieces.


    My blood¡¯s roaring in my ears while he pins my hips into the mattress. The entire bed feels like it¡¯s moving under me as he finishes. Then the pressure stops, and he settles his weight on top of me.


    I¡¯m wrung out, barely able to breathe. And I don¡¯t even know how I feel about the fact he¡¯s juste inside me again.

 Chapter 126

    ROMAN


    It¡¯s after midnight when we make it out to the kitchen in search of food. Lupita empties the deviled ham onto a te then opens the cab door under the sink and tosses the cans. I frown. ¡°You seem to know your way around the ce.¡±


    She picks up the te and crackers she¡¯s scavenged from the pantry andes over. ¡°I spent the first five-six years of my life here,¡± she says, setting the food between us.


    Antonio¡¯s wordse crashing back. This here, is the pride of La Escuadra. ¡°You grew up here?¡±


    ¡°Just like every Torres before me.¡± She turns back to the cab, pulling open the door. ¡°This is my dad¡¯s handiwork.¡± She points to the jagged, uneven letters carved into the wood, JT. ¡°Why he was in there, I don¡¯t know. But he was learning to write his name, and he told my grandma he ran out of paper.¡±


    ¡°Quick thinking.¡± Now the pink and white room makes sense. ¡°So, was that your room we were in?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Closing the cab, she sits beside me to share the potted meat and water from a gallon sitting in the refrigerator. ¡°I think having the first girl in several generations was both a curse and a blessing. They didn¡¯t quite know what to do with me.¡±


    I smile. Yeah, I can¡¯t see a guy like Jorge knowing what to do with a tiny daughter. ¡°You mentioned generations living here, but this is the Mendoza¡¯s property.¡±


    With a grimace, she takes a deep breath. ¡°Fifteen years ago, my grandparents were at a neighboring ranch for a wedding reception. The party wentte, and the men started a card game. Long story short, Mr. Mendoza said grandad lost the ranch in a poker game, and he had friends there as witnesses.¡± She pours herself drink.


    ¡°He got screwed over.¡±


    She nods. ¡°He denied it. Everybody who knew him said he didn¡¯t drink and didn¡¯t gamble. A lot of people came forward, so the im was in question. That didn¡¯t stop them from showing up with armed men to throw


    us out. By then, they were already putting up a fence.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± That exins why thend¡¯s still under Jorge Torres¡¯s name. Mendoza¡¯s been keeping it tied up all this time.


    ¡°Grandad bought an old house and had it moved across the road. It was supposed to be temporary, a ce to stay while things got straightened out.¡± She cocks her head. ¡°But the dispute has dragged on in court.¡±


    ¡°Draining your resources,¡± I finish for her. Why didn¡¯t I bash Antonio¡¯s teeth in like I wanted?


    ¡°My grandad passed; Grandma moved to San Antonio with her sister. My dad was left with less than half thend and no water for the cattle. He had to have it trucked in. Eventually, he had to sell some of the herd at a loss. It broke my heart to see him go through that. He was devastated.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± It would be a blow to the man¡¯s pride.


    ¡°Thetest is the trouble with the coyotes. They shot three head a few days ago, two full-grown and a calf. And they brought down a fence. That¡¯s


    what Dad was working on when¡­this happened.¡±


    When nco took her. ¡°What happened? How did nco get you?¡±


    ¡°I was driving to the back of the ranch with some supplies. He shot out a tire then dragged me out of the truck.¡± She clenches her jaw. ¡°Dad was


    supposed to meet me-us-he thought Mom was with me.¡±


    ¡°And he brought you here?¡±


    ¡°Yes. We walked for a couple of hours.¡± She drags in an unsteady breath. ¡°I think the fact Dad wasing was the only thing that kept him- nco, from hurting me.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± It was a lucky break. Too bad I didn¡¯t hear about this before. I would have made sure the bastard hurt before killing him. ¡°You won¡¯t have to worry about nco anymore.¡±


    ROMAN


    Lupita stirs in my arms, bringing me awake. Scrunching her brow against the dim light in the room, she turns, settling t on her stomach, her right knee bent.


    With this being a different time zone, my internal clock is off, but I¡¯m more than certain the sun hasn¡¯te up yet. I nce over to the nearby chair holding my guns, like I¡¯ve done every time I¡¯ve opened my eyes. While every light in the house is on, I like to be prepared.


    Thankfully, there¡¯ve been no surprises¡­other than the woman sleeping next to me. I lower my lips to her shoulder, cing a kiss on her bare skin. Her long braid brushes my stomach as I move, sending a ripple through my gut, straight down to my groin. My cock stirs, and my lips pull into a grin. I can already imagine her nipples tightening.


    I run my fingers down her spine, spreading them over her ass cheek, fanning them over to converge at her pussy. Her core, that¡¯s brought me so much pleasure, is already wet. My cock hardens within my next heartbeat. I go up on an elbow, sliding the pads of two fingers down to circle her nub, then return to dip inside her.


    She jerks. ¡°Roman,¡± she says, surprise injected into the single word.


    ¡°Who else would it be?¡± I murmur against her shoulder, continuing my trek. I slide my fingers in, and her hips angle up.


    ¡°Ohhh.¡± Her inner muscles mp down, stopping me at the second knuckle. This lovely woman has inadvertently set up an irresistible temptation.


    Pulling my fingers from inside her, I push myself up, grabbing the pillow she abandoned. ¡°Stay there,¡± I instruct in a tone that stops her from turning in ce. I set a knee between hers, fold the pillow in half, and pick her up by the hips. My cock brushes her ass while I shove the pillow under her hips.


    It¡¯s a beautiful sight, her pink skin glistening with her arousal. I set the head of my cock there, watching myself push aside her walls and disappear into her body. Her apanying groan has me clenching my jaw.


    Leaning over her lets me sink as deep inside her as possible. My balls are practically screaming as I set a hand on the mattress to steady myself. I reach under her, cupping her breast with the other hand. As expected, I find her nipple a tight little bud. My first instinct is to surround it, pulling as I would if I were feeding from her. It¡¯s something she¡¯s going to have to get used to if I have my way-and I always do.


    She hugs me tight, making every muscle in my lower body tense. This time, I press my finger and thumb together hard enough to make her cry out. Later, when she¡¯s alone, it¡¯ll remind her of this moment.


    My cock¡¯s throbbing, a reminder that there should be much more going on. I straighten, pulling out in the process, only to thrust back in immediately. My pace isn¡¯t gentle; there won¡¯t be anything holding me back from taking her. Her body¡¯s wet and waiting, her moans telling me she¡¯s reveling in the possession. She¡¯s my prize, mine to im after everything we¡¯ve been through. I dig my fingers into her hips and drive into her with single-minded purpose until I¡¯m at the brink of brutality.


    Her grip tightens around me as her cry of release fills the room. As much as I want to, I can¡¯t fight the ripple of her inner muscles. My resistance shatters, and her pussy drains every drop of cum from my balls. I stay buried, keeping pressure on her back until she starts to move.


    Breathingbored, I pull out slowly, trying to keep her body from flooding. The image from earlier, present in my mind. Moisture pools, trickling down her pussy. I set my thumb under the thick fluid, moving up, gathering what¡¯s threatening to escape, then press my thumb in to the first knuckle.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asks. Taking my other thumb, I move in gentle circles around her clit. ¡°Oh God. Again?¡± I grin when she doesn¡¯t move, despite thement.


    This damn woman could be dangerous if given the chance, but I¡¯d die happy if I could fill every one of her holes until that happened.


    ROMAN


    We¡¯ve been walking for half an hour when the sound of a vehicle engine catches my attention. Lupita turns to look at me. There¡¯s no way to know who¡¯sing, or if they¡¯re friendly. ¡°You know how to use a gun?¡± I ask, reaching into my holster.


    ¡°Y-yes.¡± She nods, wide-eyed.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    I hand her the gun by the grip. ¡°Go into the bushes; just check the ground.¡±


    ¡°But-¡±


    ¡°Now,¡± I snap, unused to someone questioning an order. Startled, she mps her mouth shut and heads for the edge of the road as I turn back to search into the distance. ¡°I¡¯m moving on. Stay sharp.¡±


    I pull my suit coat on to cover my holster as I continue. Antonio? Somehow I doubt it¡¯ll be him. He strikes me as the type to be at home, cowering in a corner.


    Thest thing I expect is a station wagon toe around the curve. The vehicle slows down, and I immediately recognize Est.


    ¡°Mr. de Marco.¡± The surprise in her voice is evident, despite being muffled. She puts the engine in park and reaches over to unlock the door.


    I check the back, finding it empty. ¡°Lupita, it¡¯s safe,¡± I call over my shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s Est.¡±


    Est freezes, her handing to cover her mouth. She makes the sign of the cross as she throws open the door. ¡°Virgen Maria, gracias. Lupita!¡± She rushes down the road, giving thanks to the Virgin, her arms thrown open until she envelopes Lupita.


    ¡°I¡¯m okay, Est.¡± Lupita hugs her back, pointing the barrel of the gun to the ground, while being crushed in a bear hug. They¡¯re swinging from side to side like a pendulum while Est wails.


    I nce around, making sure we¡¯re alone, before I head their way. ¡°I¡¯ve got this,¡± I say, taking the weapon from Lupita before there¡¯s an ident.


    ¡°I¡¯m going,¡± she says around tears. ¡°I¡¯m taking you home.¡± She sniffs.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care if Mr. Mendoza fires me.¡±


    ¡°Fires you?¡± Lupita frowns, confused. ¡°Why?¡±


    Est pulls back. ¡°I was going to help search for you.¡± She cranes her neck, looking back to find me. ¡°Mr. Jorge is losing his mind.¡± Lupita¡¯s gaze finds mine, her eyes tearing up. ¡°He said I had toe clean for his grandfather, or I¡¯d lose my job.¡± She cups Lupita¡¯s cheek, her brow


    furrowed in anguish. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, mija. I cou-¡±


    ¡°If you hadn¡¯te,¡± I cut in, capturing her attention. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have found her.¡±


    Est nods in agreement. ¡°You¡¯re right, Mr. de Marco.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Lupita nudges her along.


    ¡°Yes, yes, let¡¯s go.¡±


    We pile into the station wagon. I haven¡¯t closed the door yet when Lupita grabs the radio Est has on the dash. ¡°It¡¯s the first saved channel,¡± Est says, pressing down on the gas.


    Lupita¡¯s shaky finger presses the button on top of the unit. ¡°Come in, Jorge Torres.¡± She swallows hard. ¡°Come in.¡±


    ¡°Lupe.¡± The relief in his voice leaves a lump in my throat. ¡°Hija,¡± he says, as cheers erupt in the background.


    ¡°Lupita,¡± a woman breaks in with a sob.


    ¡°Where are you?¡± Are you okay?¡± they say, talking over each other.


    I squeeze her arm, a reminder of the conversation we had to keep what happened from getting out. She nods. ¡°I¡¯m safe. Est¡¯s bringing me home.¡±


    ¡°Come home,¡± Mom says, tearfully. ¡°You, too, Jorge.¡± Lupita drops back in the seat, her breathing in a rush.


    We drive along at breakneck speed,ing up on the main house. The white two-story house has my care and two trucks out front, one of them Antonio¡¯s. Anticipation coils in my gut. ¡°Drop me off here.¡± Something in my tone makes Lupita look over, warily.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll tell Mr. Mendoza I¡¯m leaving, too,¡± Est says with determination.


    The door opens, and Antonioes out, staring as we approach. He jerks his head back, wide-eyed at the sight of us. Anger cuts through me like a torch in the darkness. The son of a bitch left Lupita stranded when she was in trouble. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it, Est. Antonio and I are going to have some words.¡±


    ¡°Ay, Dios mio,¡± she says, calling out to God in concern as I step out.


    I lean down, keeping in sight of the doorway. ¡°He¡¯s not invited to this meeting, Est. Now, you get Lupita home safe. I¡¯ll be along.¡± With that, I close the door.

 Chapter 127

    LUPITA


    The screen door ms, and Dad¡¯s heavy footfalls echo through the house. Hees through the doorway, his shoulders sagging in relief at seeing me. ¡°Lupita.¡± He takes me in his arms, squeezing me so


    tight, he might break a rib.


    ¡°Jorge, be careful with her.¡± Mom sniffs into one of the napkins she¡¯s balled up into her palm as Est consoles her.


    ¡°I thought-¡±


    ¡°I know. I¡¯m sorry.¡± I didn¡¯t know the meaning of the word until today. My poor father has dark shadows under his eyes. Somehow, he looks like he¡¯s lost weight. Meanwhile, Mom¡¯s eyes are so swollen, a swarm of bees could have stung her.


    ¡°I failed you,¡± he says, his voice breaking. ¡°Both as a father and as a man.¡± He blinks, dropping his head when his eyes fill with tears.


    ¡°No,¡± I reply, horrified at his conclusion. ¡°No, you didn¡¯t. I put myself in a dangerous situation.¡±


    He shuffles back. ¡°Did they hurt you, mija?¡± The anguish in his face is painful to watch. ¡°Est, can you take us to the clinic?¡± he blurts, not waiting for my reply.


    ¡°Yes, of course.¡± Est steps forward.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. I don¡¯t need to go to the doctor. The guy who took me knew you wereing, so he rushed me out of the truck and across the ranch.¡±


    ¡°Lupita.¡± He crushes me against him again. ¡°I should have sold the whole damn thing.¡± He looks out to the living room, as if he could see the ranch. ¡°We should have left this damn ce a long time ago.¡±


    ¡°Dad.¡±


    ¡°We can still do that.¡± He sets me back. ¡°De Marco should still be in town.¡±


    Leave, now? Am I being selfish in not wanting to go? Is it the fact Roman will be nearby? ¡°No.¡± I shake my head.


    ¡°After all this?¡± he asks. ¡°You¡¯d still choose to stay?¡±


    My pulse beats at my throat, knowing this is a huge decision. ¡°We can¡¯t sell. Not now.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Roman was with her when I found them,¡± Est chimes in. His brow furrows. ¡°Is that who took you? Was that bastard involved?¡± I open my mouth, but somehow I can¡¯t get the words out.


    Then the door opens, and Dad turns to find Roman standing behind him.     Roman


    I


    don¡¯t even have time to announce myself when Jorge whirls on me.


    ¡°What the hell did you do to my daughter?¡±


    I frown, catching sight of Lupita from over his head.


    ¡°Dad, wait.¡± I should have brought her home then gone back, but my temper wouldn¡¯t allow it. Not when Antonio left her, knowing she was in danger. ¡°Let him in,¡± she continues.


    Jorge cocks his head,ing into the living room. I should have moved into the kitchen. Instead, I left a wide berth, so now he¡¯s trying to exert dominance.


    ¡°I spent the night with Lupita.¡±


    ¡°You bastard,¡± he spits out, lip curled.


    ¡°Jorge.¡± His wife rushes out, gripping his forearm as Lupitaes to stand next to me.


    ¡°He found me out there, and he saved me,¡± Lupita exins.


    ¡°Then he took advantage of you.¡± He turns back to me, his eyes full of hatred. ¡°I should shoot you right here and now, for ruining my daughter.¡±


    ¡°She may be your daughter, but she¡¯s going to be my wife.¡± Silence settles around us so thick, it could suffocate me. ¡°If she¡¯s not already pregnant, she will be by the time we¡¯re married.¡±


    Jorge¡¯s face starts turning a shade of purple. ¡°You think that fixes everything?¡± he snarls.


    ¡°You have until a week from Sunday,¡± I cut in. ¡°To make arrangements -church, dress, friends, whatever else. I¡¯m not willing to wait a day longer.¡±


    ¡°Dress?¡± Jorge spits out. ¡°You expect her to wear white after-¡±


    ¡°Watch. Your. Mouth.¡± I take a step forward, with Lupita pulling on my arm to get my attention. The pleading in her expression is enough to make me grind my teeth. Tightening my fist pulls on the bruised skin. Satisfaction washes over me at the image of Antonio, when I left him. I turn back to Jorge, calmer than I would have expected. ¡°There was nobody before me,¡± I exin. ¡°And there won¡¯t be anyone else after.¡± Jorge turns to Lupita, usation in his eyes.


    ¡°Papa, please¡­¡±


    ¡°Jorge, be reasonable,¡± Ines pleads. ¡°None of us expected this.¡±


    There¡¯s no misunderstanding what she¡¯s saying. I¡¯vepromised her only child. ¡°I would ask for her hand, but I know I¡¯ve taken much more than that.¡± It¡¯s as honest as a man can be. ¡°If you have a problem, I have no issue with getting on a ne and flying to Vegas. We can be married before the day is over. If you don¡¯t want us here, I¡¯ll take her with me, back to New York.¡±


    Ines gasps, turning to her husband. ¡°If they leave, I¡¯m going with them,¡± she deres. Est crosses her hands over her chest.


    Exhaustion evident in every fiber of his being, he turns to his daughter.


    ¡°Are you good with this, hija? You don¡¯t even know the man.¡±


    Lupita steps forward, a pleasant smile on her lips. ¡°Yes, Dad.¡± She nces over her shoulder at me. ¡°There¡¯s a lot still to be said,¡± she admits, turning back to him. ¡°But in my heart, I know this is right.¡±


    He swallows hard, nodding absently. ¡°Okay.¡± Reluctantly, he stretches out a hand. ¡°Wee to the family, Roman,¡± he says solemnly.


    I take his roughened palm in mine. ¡°I understand your love for your ranch, for your heritage. Because of that, I got yournd back from the


    Mendozas. The fencees down tomorrow.¡±


    Jorge goes still. ¡°What?¡± The shock in his expression is priceless.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    ¡°His family fu-¡± I catch myself. ¡°They cheated your family, which is soon to be my family. And I take care of my own, just like you do. With thend you¡¯re getting back and the deals I¡¯ve worked out, we¡¯ll have thirty thousand acres to start with.¡±


    ¡°Thirty thousand?¡± His jaw drops.


    ¡°My children, your grandchildren, will want for nothing.¡± ¡°Dios,¡± Ines adds in.


    ¡°But you¡¯re right, I¡¯m not a rancher. Not yet,¡± I continue. Lupita¡¯s grip loosens. ¡°You can start packing. As soon as we clear out your old house, you can move in.¡± I turn to Lupita, needing to make sure she¡¯s on board. Her shy smile reassures me, so I continue our conversation. ¡°I¡¯d like it if you would teach me.¡±


    ¡°Just like that? You¡¯re going to pull up roots and move here?¡± He lifts a skeptical brow.


    ¡°When you find the one you¡¯ve been waiting for,¡± I say, remembering her words, ¡°it¡¯s a lot easier than you think.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± she whispers next to me.


    I smile down at her pretty face. ¡°Lupita and I will stay there with you until the new house is built, if that¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°New house?¡± Jorge frowns.


    ¡°It¡¯ll be nearby,¡± I assure him. Ines gives me the biggest smile. ¡°I already picked out a spot.¡±


    ¡°That was fast,¡± he says, still frowning.


    ¡°And I fully expect to have you try to run me into the ground the first few days.¡± It¡¯s what I¡¯d do, in his shoes.


    Jorge finally breaks into a tiredugh. ¡°You¡¯re funny,¡± he scoffs. ¡°The first few days.¡±

 Chapter 128

    EPILOGUE


    LUPITA


    I step into the kitchen of the new house and stop short as I find Mom in front of the oversized kitchen window, pouring herself some wine.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know you liked wine.¡± I settle onto a stool at the counter.


    She chuckles. ¡°I don¡¯t, usually, but Roman suggested I try this.¡± She brings the ss to her nose and inhales. ¡°Mmm.¡± Then she sips, her lids drifting closed as her lips pull into a smile.


    Est sets a bowl of fruit in front of me. ¡°Mr. Roman said he and your father would bete for dinner and you were to have something to eat.¡± ¡°I¡¯m good, Est.¡± I shake my head, nowhere near needing food.


    ¡°Ah, no.¡± She wags a finger at me. ¡°I¡¯m not going to be the one to tell


    Mr. Roman you didn¡¯t feed his baby.¡±


    ¡°Whose side are you on?¡± Frowning, I set my hand to my swollen belly.


    ¡°His,¡± she replies without hesitation. ¡°At least when ites to the baby,¡± she adds, then turns back to the counter.


    After five months of carrying a child, I¡¯ve learned that Roman won¡¯t stand for me to deviate from what¡¯s healthy for me and the baby. And Est has been with us every day to make sure.


    ¡°She did the same to me,¡± Mom says, taking the stool next to mine.


    ¡°And look at what a beautiful girl we have now.¡± Est winks at me then sets a te with prosciutto, crackers, and cheese on the counter. ¡°Eat.¡±


    My mouth waters immediately. This child is definitely taking after Roman.


    ¡°We do.¡± Mom raises her wine in a salute. ¡°This is the most delicious thing I¡¯ve ever tasted.¡± She turns to Est. ¡°What did you think of it?¡± Est nces in my direction.


    Mom raises a brow. ¡°Est! She¡¯s married and pregnant. I think she¡¯s old enough to see you drink.¡±


    Est chuckles. ¡°True.¡± She goes across the kitchen, pulling the ss from the sink. ¡°I was hoping you wouldn¡¯t go wash your hands, mija.¡± She sniffs carefully, puts her lips to the rim of the ss then, after a full second,


    she finally drinks. ¡°Ay, Dios mio. This is delicious.¡±


    Mom holds out her ss to me. ¡°Taste.¡±


    Est holds up her hand. ¡°No-no-no.¡± She shakes her head. ¡°What do you think will happen when Mr. Roman finds out you gave his pregnant wife some wine.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s right.¡± Mom pulls the ss back and shrugs. ¡°I have enough to deal with putting up with your father¡¯s crap,¡± she says, the ss at her lips.


    My mouth falls open. ¡°Mom.¡± Estughs, covering her mouth.


    ¡°Okay.¡± She puts her ss on the counter. ¡°At this point, I¡¯m sure you realize what it¡¯s like to be married to a stubborn man.¡± ¡°Well, yes,¡± I grudgingly admit.


    ¡°Then I¡¯m going to share something your grandmother told me.¡±


    Est gasps. ¡°Ines.¡±


    Mom waves a hand, dismissing Est¡¯s concern, while Iy a protective hand over my belly. ¡°The men in this family may have the balls, but it¡¯s the women who have the brains.¡±


    I look from one woman to the other. ¡°Grandma said that?¡±


    Est picks up her drink. ¡°Every time your dad and grandpa got into it.¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t I ever hear this?¡± I ask.


    Mom runs her fingers through the hair at my temple. ¡°Your grandma, and great-grandma, and great-great grandma always had to deal with Torres men.¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯ve always been the wildcard,¡± I finish, slumping against the counter.


    She picks up her wine. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong. They¡¯re determined, hardworking, and loyal. But, dear Lord, can they be difficult.¡± She drinks. ¡°How long did he and Roman go round and round when Roman mentioned building a wine cer?¡±


    Est rolls her eyes. I nod. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°What got them to stop?¡± she continues.


    ¡°When you said the cer might end up flooded,¡± I reply, going back for another cracker.


    ¡°And why, my dearest daughter, does it flood here sometimes?¡±


    ¡°Because we have y in this area which doesn¡¯t absorb water fast enough, so we end up flooding every few years when we have a bad rain.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± She holds the winess, pointing her index finger at me as she winks while Est pretends to p. ¡°And if Jorge had started with that, don¡¯t you think things would have gone a lot smoother?¡±


    I turn to the fruit bowl to hide a smile. What neither of them have realized is that Roman enjoys sparring with Dad. While Dad gave Roman a hard time at the beginning, Roman figured him out pretty quick. ¡°I suppose.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m d you turned out more like my side of the family.¡±


    A wave of sadness rolls through me. ¡°And I¡¯m thest Torres, the one who didn¡¯t do anything to grow the legacy.¡± ¡°What?¡± Mom asked, wide-eyed.


    ¡°Que?¡± Est asks, following suit.


    I shrug. ¡°I won¡¯t be able to help around the ranch.¡± My days of helping with fences, rounding up strays, and birthing are over. ¡°Roman won¡¯t have it.¡±


    Mom and Est turn to each other then back to me, forehead scrunched, looking at me as if I¡¯ve lost my mind. ¡°Lupita, you¡¯re the one who¡¯s done the most for the Torres legacy.¡±


    ¡°By marrying someone?¡± Somehow that doesn¡¯t seem like doing something significant.


    ¡°You¡¯re doing the one thing none of the Torres men could do.¡± Mom¡¯s gaze lowers to my midsection. ¡°You¡¯re giving birth to continue the bloodline.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± I hadn¡¯t really considered that.


    ¡°Nobody¡¯s been able to do that since your¡­¡± She scrunches her brow. ¡°The original Lupita.¡±


    I freeze then talk around a mouthful of strawberry. ¡°Guadalupe Torres was a woman?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± She gives a silly grin. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ve had too much wine to remember how many greats go before grandmother.¡± ¡°Why did I not know this?¡± I ask, bbergasted.


    ¡°Because the Torres are known for having one heir who¡¯s a male,¡± Est adds. ¡°Hey, I remember my mom talking about how your grandad was a looker.¡± She winks.


    ¡°Other Torres have married to grow the ranch,¡± Mom deres. ¡°That¡¯s why your father encouraged you to consider Antonio.¡± She turns to Est. ¡°Have you heard anything about him after the ident?¡±


    Est shakes her head. ¡°No,¡± she replies, turning to me. ¡°But I¡¯m d you chose Mr. Roman.¡±


    ¡°Me, too,¡± I reply. Although it was never confirmed, I suspect Antonio Mendoza¡¯s ident happened while he and Roman were having words. But, true to his word, Roman resolved the issue with the ranch. The fence was relocated, and we moved back home.


    ¡°We¡¯re back,¡± Dad calls out from the front of the house.


    Roman prefers a quieter approach, but once he reaches the kitchen, his gazees straight to me. The hunger in his eyes makes me melt, despite the fact I¡¯m sitting next to Mom.


    ¡°How did it go?¡± Mom asks.


    ¡°Good. We got another forty-seven acres, all the caliche we need, and we¡¯re moving,¡± Dad deres, running his hands through his hair. ¡°Moving?¡± She turns to me and shakes her head. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Hold on.¡± He holds both hands up.


    Roman steps in, heading my way. ¡°You spend most of the day with


    Lupita. I assume you¡¯d enjoy staying here.¡±


    Mom¡¯s face lights up. ¡°I would.¡±


    ¡°But there¡¯s no way we could live under the same roof,¡± Dad cuts in. ¡°No way,¡± Roman agrees. ¡°So, we¡¯re adding another roof.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Mom¡¯s adorably confused.


    ¡°We¡¯re adding another wing to the house,¡± Roman exins. ¡°You¡¯ll have your house connected to ours.¡±


    ¡°Ohhh. That¡¯s wonderful,¡± she dered, excited.


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a lot to clean.¡± Est¡¯s eyes go unfocused.


    Mom frowns at her. ¡°It¡¯s not like I won¡¯t do my part.¡±


    I¡¯d argue the house is already big enough. At six bedrooms, a den, a reading room, living room, dining room, entertainment room, wine room it¡¯s already bigger than both the houses I¡¯ve lived in,bined.


    ¡°And he got me some new guns,¡± Dad says with the enthusiasm of a boy with a new toy.


    ¡°Oh.¡± Mom cranes her neck to see.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have to learn to use my left hand.¡± He pulls the gun, pointing down as he shows it around.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go outside so you can try it,¡± Mom suggests.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Est encourages.


    ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s go.¡±All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Roman moves in front of me as they trail out like children. He pulls me to the edge of the seat so he¡¯s standing between my knees. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to do that.¡± I run my fingers across his cheek.


    ¡°The guns?¡± He shrugs it off, settling his arms around me. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of snakes out there, and I¡¯ll need a trainer for a while.¡±


    ¡°You know that¡¯s not what I mean.¡± I look up at him from under myshes.


    ¡°Oh, the house. That¡¯s what you mean.¡±


    ¡°Yes, the house.¡±


    ¡°A man needs his own roof, Lupita.¡± He nces out the kitchen window. ¡°Especially your father.¡±


    Especially my father. ¡°Is that why you did it? To make my father happy?¡± I ask, feeling self-conscious.


    ¡°Maybe I did it to make you happy.¡± His expression is shuttered, making him hard to read.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    His gaze covers my face. ¡°Because I love you.¡±


    Tears sting my eyes. ¡°I love you,¡± I whisper, running my arms over his shoulders. His mouthes down on mine, and he pulls me close, crushing me to him until I¡¯m light-headed.


    Ending the kiss, he sets his forehead to mine. ¡°Besides, I think your mother will enjoy being around her grandchildren.¡±


    My heart constricts. ¡°You know, we may only have one,¡± I remind him, hating to shatter his image of our family.


    Roman drops his hand to my stomach, caressing his child. ¡°I¡¯m good with one,¡± he says quietly. ¡°But¡­¡± He grins. ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m going to stop trying to make another.¡± He shifts, slipping a hand under my knees, and I have enough sense to hold tight as he picks me up and starts down the hall.

 Chapter 129

    VINDICTIVE HEIR


    I said no to Addler de Marco once, and he¡¯s never let me forget it¡­


    Elena


    Addler de Marco. There¡¯s always been whispers about his family and the dark deals that made their fortune. I survived the rich boy nearly ruining my life but now, thanks to a careless mistake, I¡¯m under his thumb. He¡¯s offering a no-saying-no deal that might save the future of the only father figure I¡¯ve ever known.


    Addler


    Elena Santos. She¡¯s lived in my memory for years. Meeting her again would have been perfect, except for the guilt that shes across her features for the briefest second. Is she part of the underhanded activities my newpany¡¯s been involved in?


    A twist of fate leaves her in trouble, willing to do anything to make things right. It¡¯s the perfect opportunity for some payback.


    Elena


    The first time I saw Addler de Marco walk into a room, I¡¯d swear I heard panties dropping all around me. We were in high school then, but nothing much has changed.


    ¡°He¡¯s never been here,¡± Sage, a fellow contractor working for the oil and gaspany, says flippantly. ¡°We deal with Ezequiel, the ranch manager. He¡¯s a piece of work,¡± she tacks on with a twist of her lips.


    Despite her constant dieting, sheins about how tight her security uniform fits. I think she really doesn¡¯t care much for food, which boggles the mind. If there was anywhere to get a hot meal within the hour and twenty minutes¡¯ drive from town to the ranch, I¡¯d go there now. Instead, I take another bite of my ham sandwich on in white bread and scroll through my phone, hoping Sage will drop the subject.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never met him,¡± she continues, stirring her soup absentmindedly. ¡°But the waitresses at Tacoriendo ran to the ss door to check him out.¡±


    Like I said, nothing¡¯s changed. Back then, every girl in ss was drooling over the burly senior-except me.


    ¡°But I saw him from a distance once.¡± She shrugs.


    Personally, I don¡¯t mind not seeing Addler. Not in the least.


    ¡°He¡¯s tall,¡± she recounts dreamily.


    Six foot six. Still taller than me when he was sitting on the stool in chemistryb and I was standing beside him. Me, the in, fat nerd who¡¯d done well without ab partner, until he showed up, well after the school year started. The rumor was that he was kicked out of the private school he attended. Something to do with the dean¡¯s wife.


    ¡°Dark hair¡­¡±


    Jet ck. The thick locks looking windblown without him doing a damn thing.


    Her cell beeps, signaling a message. ¡°Green eyes, from what I hear,¡± she says, reaching for the phone.


    ¡°Amber,¡± I correct. With green flecks. The opposite of the norm.


    ¡°Oh.¡± She straightens in her seat, snapping out of her dreamy state. ¡°Do you know him?¡±


    Oh damn. Toote, I realize my mistake, but there¡¯s no way to take back the words. ¡°I¡¯m a local,¡± I remind her, hoping that¡¯ll end the conversation. I don¡¯t need Sage drilling me for more information.


    Like just about everyone else working for thepany, she moved here following the oil boom in South Texas. Which means she knows about the ranch owners, but the de Marcos seldom venture into town. In fact, from what I hear, Addler prefers to spend his time in Houston now that they¡¯ve opened the ranch to drilling.


    The private nending at the airstrip in Delta section, the ten thousand acres set aside for the family, was what started the conversation. As the coordinator for the security guards at the various gates around the ranch, Sage is notified of every move the owners make.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t exactly say I know him.¡± I take a huge bite of my sandwich and chew slowly.


    ¡°What exactly would you say then?¡± she prods, refusing to take the hint.


    Damn. Why did I decide toe into the break room? The wooden paneling on the portable office building is the same, so it makes little difference where I sit.


    Despite the message on her phone, she waits as I try to squeeze out everyst second before I have to swallow.


    The two-way radio beeps. ¡°Front gate to Sage.¡±


    She blows out an annoyed breath and reaches for the clip at her waist. ¡°Sage,¡± she replies. Her phone beeps again, drawing her attention. Her eyes go wide as she pulls the screen closer. ¡°Holy shit.¡±


    ¡°See my message? Thought I had a speedering in,¡± the guard says from the radio.


    She pushes out of her seat, stopping me mid-chew. ¡°He¡¯s here.¡±


    Mouth full, I scrunch my eyebrows and tip my chin up. ¡°Who?¡± I manage from behind my hand.


    ¡°But it¡¯s the ranch owner,¡± the guard continues. ¡°He¡¯s heading up the front steps.¡±


    ¡°The ranch owner,¡± she repeats with all the enthusiasm of a groupie.


    I force the food down my throat, but the mouthful seems to expand, nearly choking me on the way down. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Got it. Thanks.¡± She scrambles around the table and heads into the hall.


    I shove what¡¯s left of the mangled bread and ham into the stic grocery bag I used for lunch and follow suit. The boss would want to know the owner¡¯s here.


    I peek into the conference room where Bill had been taking a call earlier, but it¡¯s empty. Hustling across the worn linoleum, I open the door to his office, only to find it empty. His desk is a disaster, with crumpled receipts littering the top and a couple on the floor.


    Did he head out to the field? I go to the recent calls on my cell and press the button by his name. The line rings as the knowledge of the impending visit builds up inside me. Addler. Tall. Dark hair. Amber eyes burning so hot, they look gold. Damn it, Bill. Where the heck would he go and not tell me?


    He answers on the second ring. ¡°Elena,¡± he says sharply. The rumble of the big tires on the work truck fills the void around him. He¡¯s on the highway.


    ¡°You left?¡± I ask, my stomach twisting into a knot.


    ¡°It¡¯s Isab,¡± he exins in a tight voice.


    ¡°Oh hell.¡± His wife of thirty years is in urgent need of a new kidney. If he¡¯s rushing to town, this can¡¯t be good. The sandwich could be a concrete b in my stomach now. ¡°Addler¡¯s here.¡±


    ¡°Shit.¡± The exasperation in his voice makes me wince. ¡°He wasn¡¯t supposed to be in until next week.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I got a call from corporate before I left. Addler de Marco¡¯s the new owner.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± The room swims around me. The entire reason I¡¯m here is to help Bill straighten out the books. Everyone¡¯s been aware Kelly Oil & Gas was ready to sell, but I¡¯m not sure anyone realized it would happen so quickly.


    ¡°Corporate¡¯s supposed to be down on Monday to tell everyone.¡±


    I nod, as if he could see me. ¡°Your office is a mess.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ I didn¡¯t have time to pick up. I¡¯ve got something like thirty thousand in expenses I started to work on.¡± The stress in his voice makes my heart ache. ¡°Can you bring them home, and I¡¯ll swing by to pick them up as soon as I have a chance?¡±


    Damn it. This is likest month all over again. At least, this time he¡¯s down to thirty. ¡°Okay. Let me grab them.¡± I reach for the receipts, stacking them on each other.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°He¡¯ll want to see the cost on the open projects,¡± Bill warns. ¡°I know it¡¯s a holiday weekend-¡±


    These issues are the entire reason I¡¯m here. When Isab got sick, Bill concentrated on keeping the work going, but he didn¡¯t realize the issue with the paperwork until it was toote. If Corporate did an audit, they¡¯d quickly realize how bad this mess is and he could lose his job. I can¡¯t let that happen. Bill¡¯s the closest thing to a father I¡¯ve ever known.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got this.¡± I try my best to sound as sure of myself as possible, because the thought of spending time alone with Addler makes my tummy twist. ¡°You go take care of your family.¡±


    Footsteps sound on the portable building¡¯s hollow floor, getting louder as the visitors approach. I shove invoices and balled-up pieces of paper into the stic bag with the remnants of my lunch. Then I swoop down, pick up the two pieces on the floor, and cram them in along with the others before folding one stic handle over the other. The big smiley face on the bag mocks me with Have a Nice Day.


    My gaze skims over therge wooden desk, satisfied that it¡¯s at least presentable.


    ¡°I managed t-¡± Bill adds.


    I press the button, ending the call. I hate to cut him off, but I¡¯m out of time.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Sage says from behind me. ¡°Is he out?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± I let the phone slide off my shoulder, catching it against my breast as I turn. Sage stands there expectantly, eyes dancing.


    My gaze shifts behind her to the man who¡¯s taller than the doorway. Addler de Marco, the jerk who ruined my life.


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