《WOLF LOYALTY》 One CHAPTER ONE WOLF¡¯S LOYALTY Edited.¡Ì¡Ì Chapter One (Betrayal) I mmed the door on my way in, not bothering to hang the keys upon the board. Today is just a bad day. First I have another fight with Raymond, then my boss springs a surprise assignment on me. Now, I forgot the stupid shopping list. I snatched the list from the fridge and am about to head back out when I heard something that makes me stop on my track. Uhmm? I tilt my head to the side, listening. It¡¯s a kind of thumping noise,ing from upstairs. Curiosity came over me as I head for the stairs. My boss won¡¯t be happy if I¡¯m not in, Saturday or not, and I needed to some stuff for dinner on the way home, but this will only take a minute. The trumping get louder as I walk cautiously up the stairs. I wonder if Raymond was trying to fix a broken board or something. Iting from the bedroom. The door is ajar, and I pushed it open, peering inside. What I saw made me freeze in shock. Raymond and my neighbor¡¯s daughter, Rose. She¡¯s neen. They¡¯re together¡­ on our bed. Neither of them noticed me. For a couple of seconds, all I could feel is a numb shock. That is quickly followed by crippling sadness. How could Raymond do this to me? He knows things have been bad between us, but I thought he loved me. He had been lying if I said I hadn¡¯t thought of breaking the engagement, but I never would have guessed he would do something like this to me. If anyone held a knife to my throat, I would have sworn up and down that he would never betray me. These thoughts are swiftly followed by a wave of anger. He wants Rose. Fine, he can have her. I stride into the room, letting the door bang loudly against the wall. There is an uproarious sound from the direction of the bed, but I ignore it. I pulled open the cupboard and start emptying it. ¡°Amelia¡­¡± Raymond was behind me, naked. Running footsteps tell me that Rose had left, but I didn¡¯t look around. I didn¡¯t answer Raymond either, I grabbed my suitcase from the back of the cupboard. He tentatively put his hand on my shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t you fucking dare touch me!!¡± Raymond jerks back as if fire just burn his hands. ¡°Amelia¡­. it isn¡¯t what you think .¡± ¡°Oh yeah? Because it seems to me like I just found you cheating on me with our neighbor¡¯s daughter neen- year ¨C old daughter!!¡± I never meant t¡­.¡±. ¡°For me to find out? I figured that much for myself, Raymond!! You knew I would be gone for hours ¨C or at least, you thought I would. How long had this been going on? ¡°It¡¯s just sex. It doesn¡¯t mean anything .¡± I want to scream at him, but I focus my energies, on packing my luggage. ¡°Please, Amelia, I love you. Don¡¯t go.¡± If you loved me, you wouldn¡¯t have cheated on me, you bastard!¡± I went into the bathroom and started throwing my toiletries into the clothes haphazardly. It doesn¡¯t take more than a few minutes to pack the essentials. I will get the rest of my stuff some other time. Right now, I can¡¯t stand to be with Raymond for another moment. When I got to the door, he¡¯s standing in my way. ¡°Move.¡± ¡°No, please, we have to talk about this.¡±He said. ¡°You think talking is fucking going to help?¡±You should talk to me before you started fucking around! Then it might have helped. Now, is way toote. Move, or I¡¯m calling the police. You can¡¯t force me to stay here. You have five seconds.¡± ¡°Please Amelia¡­.¡± He pleaded again. ¡°Five, four, three¡­.¡± Raymond moves. I didn¡¯t look back as I storm out. I throw my suitcase into the car and started driving. I¡¯m two blocks away when I realized I didn¡¯t know where I was going. I pulled over, trying to think. It was only now that I realized my face was wet. I try to stop the tears. That jerk didn¡¯t worth my tears. I grab my phone and scroll through the most recent numbers. Amanda will let me stay with her. We¡¯ve been best friends since high school. Nothing changed when we went to college, or when we finished studying and got a job. She¡¯s awyer, something I¡¯m immensely proud of. I did well with my journalist degree, getting a job at one of the top news agencies in the city, but what I¡¯ve aplished is nothingpared to Hannah. She¡¯s well on her way to being the manager of herw firm, having worked there only a couple of years. ¡°Hey, Bestie! How are you? ¡°I¡­. can Ie and stay with you for a few days ?¡± My voice is thick and it choked with tears. My nose is blocked too; I must have sounded terrible. ¡° What¡¯s wrong ?¡± ¡°Raymond cheated on me.¡± ¡°Oh honey, I¡¯m sorry. Of course, you can stay with me, for as long as you need.¡± ¡°Thanks. I¡¯m on my way over .¡± I briefly consider asking Amanda to get the rest of the things but decided against it. The chances are about fifty-fifty that she¡¯ll castrate Raymond if she sees him. Awyer or nowyer, that was the mean trouble for her. ~??????????????????????~ Ten minutester, Amanda was waiting for me in the driveway way. As soon as I got down, she pulls me into a hug. I¡¯m eternally grateful that she doesn¡¯t say ¡°I told you before but you wouldn¡¯t listen ¡±. She¡¯s been urging me to leave Raymond for months, but like a fool, I preserved, hoping we could fix things, between us. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ve already ordered pizza and ice cream.¡± ¡°You know me well,¡± I tell her thickly with a watery smile. Amanda leads me inside and I help me unpack into her spare room bedroom. ¡°You want to soak in the Jacuzzi while we wait for pizza?¡± That does sound inviting. ¡°Sure. You have wine. ¡°Of course .¡± I don¡¯t usually drink much, but today, I¡¯m making an exception. It¡¯s only as I¡¯m sinking into the tub next to Amanda when I remember. ¡°I¡¯m supposed to go to work !¡± ¡°Not today, you¡¯re not .¡± Amanda gets out of the tub, looking grim. ¡°I¡¯ll tell your boss. Don¡¯t worry, he won¡¯t give me any trouble.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. No one gives Amanda trouble ¨C and any ones who do seriously regret it. I don¡¯t think Rnd will mind, though. He¡¯s not heartless, and I have a spotless record of him. Sure enough, a few minutester, Amandaes back, along with pizza and ice cream. ¡°Rnd said it fine, he can get someone else to cover the story. He asked me to pass along his best wishes .¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± I poured myself a ss of wine and take a sip. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to do .¡± ¡°For now, rx, drink and eat. Tomorrow, I suppose you¡¯ll be expected back at work. As I said, you can stay here as long as you need. There¡¯s no rush .¡± Her words are afort, but they don¡¯t fill the aching hole that Raymond had left inside of me. Over the next few hours, we proceed to drink out our way through two of Amanda¡¯s best bottles. By the time I¡¯m pretty happy. I flop into the bed, grinning vaguely. My phone is on the dresser and I grab it. I scroll through my WhatsApp contacts, not looking for anyone in particr. The name Aiden Rogers catches my eyes. Rogers was very close to Amanda and me in school and throughout most of college. Everything changed one weekend after he went camping. We never figured out what happened. He came back with blood, refusing to say how he got hurt. Barely a weekter, he moved clear across the state. I¡¯ve tried calling him, with no response. So far he hasn¡¯t responded to my messages. Well, it is worth a shot.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Amelia: ¡°Hey. I broke up with Raymond. He cheated on me. Rogers: Sorry, Lia. Are you okay? Amelia: Sure, I¡¯m great. Rogers: You are drunk, ain¡¯t you? Amelia: Absolutely. Rogers: Lol. Call me when you are sober if you want to talk. It¡¯s not much, but it was more of a response that I¡¯ve gotten so far. I send Rogers another smiling sticker before dropping the phone, missing the dresser and letting it fall to the ground. I try to grab it, but I ended up hitting my head on themp. Oh well. There are five missed calls from Raymond, but I ignored those. Maybe I¡¯ll let Amanda go there tomorrow and castrate him. My head is starting to pound, so I figure this is a good time to sleep. Getting myself under the nkets is a task that defeats me in my drunken state, so I sprawl atop them. My thoughts try to turn to Raymond, and I tried to shut them down with little sess. For the first time in a long time, I worried about my future. I don¡¯t know what my life looks like without Raymond. I don¡¯t know if I can survive without him. What I can¡¯t do it? *****¡ï***** T. B. C Two CHAPTER TWO WOLF¡¯S LOYALTY (Back from nowhere) Unsurprisingly, I woke up with a pounding headache. I groan, rolling over and nearly falling off the bed. I somehow manage to crawl to the shower, thanking every God I¡¯ve ever heard of that it¡¯s a Sunday. If I had to drag myself into work today, it might just end for me. Once I¡¯m dressed, I head for the kitchen in search of water and a painkiller. Amanda isn¡¯t up yet, but I managed to find what I needed rooting through the drawers and cupboard. Feeling slightly revived, I went back to the guest room and spend a few minutes finding my phone. There are two messages. Rogers: Hey, give me a call when you wake up. Rogers: I¡¯m in town, it would be wonderful if we could meet up. I vaguely remember messaging Rogersst night. Still, I started in surprise at his new messages. Does he want to see me? Amanda and I were both under the impression that he didn¡¯t want to be friends anymore. Apparently, that¡¯s wasn¡¯t the case. I found myself grinning as I responded. Amelia: Sure I¡¯d love to meet up. Where? Rogers: How about IHOP Amelia: just give me some hours to bring myself back to life. Eleven? Rogers: Sure see you then. Wow, I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m going to see him again. I wonder what made him disappear for so long? I guess I would soon find out. Amanda is dead to the world, so I spend the morning browsing Netflix. I keep ring at the clock and end up going way too early. I ended up at IHOP half an hour early. As I sip my coffee, I looked at the window watching for Rogers. He arrived at eleven on dot. I leap up, pulling him into a hug.¡° Hey, it¡¯s so good to see you .¡± Rogers returns the hug gingerly, as though afraid of breaking me. ¡°You too, Lia. I¡¯ve missed you so much. ¡°Where have you been? What happened to you? You just vanished! I was really worried.¡± When we were friends, Rogers had never had secrets. We used to joke that he¡¯d make the world¡¯s worst secret service agent. Now, he lean back, his face suddenly closed off. ¡°it¡¯s¡­. it¡¯s a long story. ¡°I have time .¡± ¡°I can¡¯t go into it all. A lot has changed for me. ¡°Come on, Rogers. You¡¯re just suddenly back from nowhere. You¡¯re seriously not going to tell me why? ¡°I¡­. maybe another time .¡± As much as my curiosity was telling me to push, Rogers obviously doesn¡¯t want to talk about this.¡°For me too. Raymond, I never thought he would do that to me.¡± ¡°He¡¯ll regret it .¡± Rogers¡¯s re sends a shiver through me. He looked dangerous. I never thought of him this way before, but I do now. ¡° I don¡¯t know if he will. Things weren¡¯t great between us. He may just be d it¡¯s over.¡± Rogers opens his mouth to say something but closes it again. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re right. It¡¯s his loss.¡± We sit infortable silence for a while. The waiter brings our pancakes, which are especially delicious to my hungover body. ¡°I have some news.¡±Rogers hesitates, seemingly nervous. ¡° I¡¯ve decided to move back here.¡± ¡°Really?¡±That¡¯s wonderful !¡± I don¡¯t know why he was nervous; I¡¯m ecstatic. Getting my friend back is just what I needed amidst of all misery.¡°Do you have somewhere to stay yet? ¡°Yes¡­ The people I was staying with before hooked me up with a local branch. I¡¯m going there. ¡°A local branch for what ?¡± ¡°It¡¯s sort of¡­ amunity .¡± ¡°What kind ofmunity ?¡± ¡°Um. Maybe I will tell you about it sometime. So where are you staying ?¡± I allowed the change of subjects through I¡¯m more than a little curious. My parents use to say curiosity was my curse since it got me into trouble often enough, but it¡¯s certainly been a good use as an investigative journalist. Rogers was waiting for an answer, but I¡¯m lost in thought. It would be wrong to pursue him as a story, but that¡¯s not what I¡¯m thinking. I don¡¯t want to publish whatever he is hiding. I just want to know what it was. ¡°I¡¯m staying with Amanda for now .¡± My mind is already racing ahead. Of course, I have to take some time off from work if I¡¯m going to figure out Rogers¡¯s secret, but I¡¯m sure Rnd will give me that. My conscience niggled at me, though. Would I be betraying Rogers¡¯s trust? Or would I be helping him? After all, I don¡¯t want to know what he¡¯s hiding for a nefarious reason. I just wanted to support him. Surely, that¡¯s not wrong? I find my eyes roving over his body without my permission. Is it just me, or has he been working out? No, I¡¯m not imagining it- he definitely has been working out. Rogers had always been cute, but not he was somehow managed to achieve a perfect bnce between cute and hot. His hair is slightly longer too. It¡¯s always been this gorgeous, thick ck-brown, and it looks more beautiful and alluring just brushing his shoulders. Rogers¡¯s eyes somehow seems bluer than usual as I stared at him. Looking at him reminds me of how long it has been since I had sex, let alone good sex. Raymond and I have hardly been in the mood recently what with all the problems between us. ¡°You ok?¡± I feel myself blushing .¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine. Just thinking of Raymond¡­ I don¡¯t know where things went wrong. It seems that everything I do is wrong. My working hours are too long, I¡¯m not paid enough, I don¡¯t do enough around the house, I¡¯m too fussy, too emotional, and unreasonable¡­.¡± I break off when I saw Rogers¡¯s face. It scares me; he looks like he¡¯s ready to do something bloody, murder. He¡¯s actually shaking. ¡°Rogers?¡± A cracking noise has me staring at the table. Rogers¡¯s hands are clenched on the edge, and he¡¯s broken a piece clean off. ¡°What the¡­?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I have to go. I¡¯ll call you .¡± ¡°Wait, Rogers-¡± It¡¯s toote. He¡¯s already gone, vanishing quicker than I would have believed possible. He¡¯s out of the door before I can even get up. I¡¯m left staring at his half-finished pancakes. What on earth was that? My journalistic instinct kicks in half a secondter. I toss some money down on the table and hurried out, picking up the pieces of the broken table on the way. I scan the road both ways and I quickly make my way to a street-side stall selling fruit. ¡°Excuse me, I¡¯m looking for my boyfriend. We just fought. Please, I have to make up with him -I said some really bad things.¡± The man selling the fruit gave me a sympathetic smile .¡°The young made who just exit the IHOP in such a hurry? Yes, I saw him running down the street- very fast he was going, too. He went this way.¡± Great. Now what? If he had gotten into the taxi, or driven somewhere, I could work on developing a source at a taxipany or a car GPS agency, but if he¡¯s walking or running, I¡¯ll be stuck asking people on the street. I did just that for almost an hour, but it quickly became apparent that it is a losing battle. Rogers was moving quickly, and he¡¯s gaining ground in me every moment I stand still questioning someone. No, there better way to do this. I started walking back to my car, my head full of the mystery of Rogers. It¡¯s easy to think about his strange strength and disappearance than about my headache over Raymond, or my guilty thought about how I wouldn¡¯t protest at all should Rogers decide to pin me up against the wall and kiss me. When I arrived at Amanda¡¯s ce there were police officers at the door. My heart seems to freeze in my chest.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Has Raymond been here? I¡¯d never believed he could get violent with Amanda, possibly asking where I am, but then, I¡¯d never believed he¡¯d cheated on me either. I rushed up to the door .¡°Amanda? Are you okay ?¡± One of the police officers stops me. ¡°Are you Amelia Amber?¡± ¡°Yes.. where¡¯s Amanda? Is she okay¡± She¡¯s fine we just spoke to her. Actually, it¡¯s you we are looking for .¡± That brings me up short. What?¡± ¡°Where were you approximately one hour ago ?¡± ¡°Why¡± ¡°Answer the question, please ma¡¯am .¡± ¡°I was at IHOP, then I spent some time working on the street. You can ask anyone there, I talked to several people. Why?¡± ¡°Your fiance-¡± ¡°Ex fiancee .¡± ¡°Someone has ransacked his house and left a threatening message on his well. We believe it is written in blood .¡± I can feel myself going white .¡°What?¡± ¡° We¡¯ll check out our proof. In the meantime, is there anyone else, you know of who might want to hurt Raymond ?¡± I mp my mouth shut. My first thought is Amanda, but then I remembered how angry Rogers was when he left. Could he possibly¡­.? I have to protect him, and Amanda. I won¡¯t let them go down for standing up for me. ¡°No, officer. I can¡¯t think of anyone .¡± His eyes bore into mine. I don¡¯t know what the legal penalty for lying to the police is, but I¡¯m sure it¡¯s good. What if he doesn¡¯t believe me? T. B C ~~~~~Tife writes~~~~~~ Three CHAPTER THREE WOLF¡¯S LOYALTY (One more question) ¡°Thank you, ma¡¯am. If you think of anything else, please call me.¡± ¡°I will.¡± I take the card he¡¯s holding out.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Please don¡¯t let it be Amanda or Rogers. Thest thing I need is either of them being prosecuted for vandalism. Amanda was waiting inside .¡°What¡¯s going on ?¡± She closed the door, pecking out of the window to make sure the officers are gone. ¡°They said someone trashed Raymond¡¯s house. Not that he doesn¡¯t deserve it, but who will do that. ¡°It wasn¡¯t you, then?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ve been here all morning, nursing a killer hangover. Not that I wouldn¡¯t have done it, but guess someone else beat me to it.¡± ¡° I think u know the people that did it, but I didn¡¯t say anything. I didn¡¯t want to implicate Amanda. Unfortunately, she knows me too well. ¡°You know something. I can see it in your face. Spill it out.¡± ¡°I ¨C don¡¯t know anything for sure ¡± ¡° So you suspect, then, I¡¯m all ears¡± ¡°I suppose she won¡¯t leave me alone until I tell her.¡± ¡°I think¡­ I think it might be Rogers ¡± Amanda stared at me. ¡°Rogers? Why on earth would Rogers do that?¡±We haven¡¯t spoken to him in months .¡± ¡°I, Uh, kind of drunk text himst night. We met for pancakes this morning. He says he¡¯s moving back here ¡± Amanda squeals as she ps her hand together. ¡°Oh, brilliant? Is he okay? What happened to him that make him leave ?¡± ¡°He seems fine. Different, I guess, but still good. He won¡¯t say why he left. Trust me, I¡¯m working on it .¡± Some of Amanda¡¯s excitement fades away as she gets back to the issue at hand. ¡°But why will Rogers go after Raymond¡¯s house? ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like him.¡± ¡°As I said, he¡¯s changed. Don¡¯t worry I¡¯m going to figure out .¡± ¡°You got him, girl.¡± The police were gone, and Amanda doesn¡¯t seem inclined to do anything other than lying on the sofa with an ice pack, which was apparently what she was doing before I came back. I got to my room, not wanting to make her headache worse. I search through my old messages, looking for thest message Rogers sent me. There it is. He said he will be working for apany called Daravit Enterprises. It doesn¡¯t take long to google the name of thepany Rogers said he was working for. The phone ring several times before someone picks up. ¡°Hello?¡± His this Deravite Enterprises?¡± ¡°No, this is Lisa. I think you have the wrong number .¡± ¡°Oh, sorry .¡± I hang up and check the number. It¡¯s definitely the right number. A little more searching for their e Websites aren¡¯t promising ¨C any of the links on the list doesn¡¯t go anywhere. ¡°It¡¯s like thepany doesn¡¯t even exist. I¡¯m impatient to get to myptop. I can do more research from there than from my phone. I never investigated before, when Rogers first disappeared, thinking that he simply didn¡¯t want to be friends with us anymore. Now I know that there¡¯s something more to this. I red at the pieces of the table from IHOP. No one can break off a table like that. No one has the kind of strength -except , Rogers does. I¡¯m going to find out how. I nced at the desks, but remember that myptop is still at Raymond¡¯s house. I left it there when I stormed out. Grinding my teeth, I went into the main room and grab my keys. ¡°What did your research turn up?¡± Amanda asks from the couch. ¡°Only more questions. I¡¯ll figure it out, though. I¡¯m going to get some of my stuff from Raymond¡¯s.¡± ¡°Are you sure? I can go with you if you¡¯d like.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s alright. I can deal with him.¡± Raymond will be probably furious over the damage. Thest thing I want is him thinking it¡¯s Amanda. It¡¯s too risky to send her, and certainly too risky to send Rogers- if what I suspected is right, having Rogers and Raymond in the same room will be a very bad idea. The drive goes too quickly, and soon in Raymond¡¯s driveway. Well, there¡¯s no point just sitting here. Best to get it over and be done with it. I get out, striding inside. Raymond was there, sitting at the table. The house looks terrible _rather like a hurricane came through it. He leaps up when he saw me. ¡°Amelia! I so d you are back -¡± ¡°I¡¯m not here to stay. I¡¯m just picking up some stuff.¡± ¡°Wait, you have to listen to me .¡± I keep walking, going to my study, and grabbing myptop bag. I started parking myptop and charger as Raymond continue his entirety. ¡°It didn¡¯t mean anything. It¡¯s just sex. You know I love you. Things were just so bad between us. You don¡¯t want me, you made that clear. What else was that supposed to do?¡± ¡°Oh, so it¡¯s my fault ?¡± I whirl around, resisting the urge to throw theptop charger at him. ¡°No, that not what I meant. But you can¡¯t pretend you are meless in this, Amelia, it takes to fight. The problem we have are both of ours, not just mine.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, Raymond. It does take two to fight. It also takes two to have sex, and that sex was between you and Sarah. Go back to her, if you want someone to whine to.¡± ¡°You stupid bitch! You¡¯ll regret this, you¡¯ll see. You¡¯ll never find anyone to love you as I do.¡± ¡°Fuck off, Raymond! If you ever call me again, I¡¯m getting a restraining order !¡± I stormed out, half surprised there¡¯s isn¡¯t steaming from my nostrils. How dare he imply that his betrayal was my fault? I should let Amanda and Rogers tear him into pieces. Instead of going back to Amanda¡¯s house, I call her from the car.¡° Meet me at Barnaby¡¯s .¡± ¡°You want to go to a bar ?¡± I would have thought the hangover would take longer than that to wear off.¡± ¡°You going to meet me or what?¡± ¡°You and Raymond fought?¡± She guesses. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°I¡¯m my way.¡± By the time Amanda arrives, I¡¯m already through my third ss. I try to shove Raymond¡¯s words out of my mind by thinking about Rogers. It isn¡¯t difficult to imagine him here with me, sans his shirt. The thought of Rogers without his shirt is a pleasant one. I nced around the bar. There aren¡¯t many people here on Sunday morning, but there¡¯s one guy who catches my eye. He¡¯s well built, with lean muscles and dark hair just touching his shoulder. It took me a moment to realize he looks like Rogers. Damn no wonder I¡¯m attracted to him. ¡°So you want to tell me about it ?¡± ¡°We fought.¡± ¡°Yeah, I figured as much. What did he do ?¡± ¡°Raymond always had a nasty side. I guess I third not to see it.¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t hurt you, did he?¡± ¡°Not physically. I take another sip of my drink. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I ever trusted him .¡± The hurt burns within me, and the alcohol is doing a slow job in making me forget it. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, is there anything I can do ?¡± I shake my head, still eyeing the man on the order side of the bar. He catches my eyes, and I don¡¯t think I¡¯m imagining the invitation I see there. ¡° This is your fourth one. Maybe we should go home¡­¡± ¡°Nope.¡± I down the rest of my drink in one. ¡°You can head out if you want. Don¡¯t wait for me¡± I walk over to the guy at the bar, swaying my hips sexily. This is what I need to get over Raymond and get my mind of Rogers. ¡°Hey, handsome.¡± ¡°Hey.¡± He eyed me up and down, and evidently finds satisfaction because he pulls out a chair next to him. ¡°Why don¡¯t you sit down?¡± ¡° I know somewhere better.¡± I reach for his hand. ¡°Coming ?¡± ¡°Sure. I¡¯m Jake .¡± ¡°Amelia.¡± We don¡¯t exchange any more greetings as I lead him to the bathroom. Jake wasted no time in pressing me up against the wall and kissing me. I responded letting him run his hands down my side,ing to clutch my ass. It will be easy to lose self to him. He started touching my breasts, and I didn¡¯t stop him. We¡¯re still kissing and I¡¯m gasping for breath. As jake started to unbutton his pants, one thought make it through the jumbled mess in my mind. This isn¡¯t right. I don¡¯t love Jake ¨C I don¡¯t even know him. This isn¡¯t me. I know some people like to have casual sex, but that¡¯s never been my style. I shouldn¡¯t let him do this. I can still stop him. Jake started pulling my pants down, and still, I haven¡¯t stopped him. The alcohol is clouding my brain. What are you doing, Amelia? ????????~~~~??????? ~~Tife write~~ . Four CHAPTER FOUR WOLF¡¯S LOYALTY (Back off) The clicking of theptop keys hurt my brain. And my eyes. Not to mention my ears. God, why does it hurt so much? Because you drunk half of the bar, Amelia, you idiot. I¡¯m never drinking again. I try to focus on what I¡¯m doing, rather than my pounding headache. The memories of Jake keep intruding. He took it alright when I freaked just as he was about to get my pants down. I went back to the bar and shortly afterward. It¡¯s not Jake, exactly, that¡¯s bothering me. It¡¯s the fact that I was only attracted to him because he looks like Rogers. I¡¯ve gotten Rogers friendships back, and the least I could do is to ruin it with my inappropriate longings. I force myself to look back at myptop screen. I¡¯m looking into Daravit Enterprises. Everything that I¡¯ve found so far tells me the original suspicious was correct -thepany isn¡¯t real. I consider calling Rogers but decided against it. His stuff ising in with a moving van tomorrow, and I¡¯ve promised I¡¯ll help him move into his new apartment. I can talk to him then. Not that talking to him got me anywherest time, but I wouldn¡¯t be a journalist if I didn¡¯t know the meaning of perseverance.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. Rogers can¡¯t be my primary source, though, not if I¡¯m going on, so I¡¯ll figure out for myself. The first step is to track whoever runs this fake website. They will be my first source in this. I spend my morning talking to the website hosts, pretending to be an auditor. It takes a while but actually I got the name: Dn Mills. I expected Facebook to provide all the information I need, but I¡¯m brought up short when my search results return no Dn Mills in the area I¡¯m looking for. Who doesn¡¯t have a Facebook page nowadays? I did a standard Google search, which turn up nothing. A good mystery always draws me in, and this one is no exception. I got lost in my search, determined to find him. Eventually, I did. He¡¯s cited in a newspaper article about an apartmentplex he had brought out. Whoever he is, he must be wealthy. He also didn¡¯t like the press- the reporter writing the article tried to question him but was turned away on multiple asions. Who are you, Dn? What do you have to do with Rogers? There was precious little information avable, but I managed to find out that after buying the apartmentplex, several years ago, Dn allowed many people to move in for free. They seem a quiet group, from what can glean from social media, keeping to themselves. This must be themunity Rogers was talking about. What brings them together, though? They all seem to bepletely different people from various walks of life. I can¡¯t fifth out why Dn would spend a fortune buying apartment and then just let these random people live there -live with him because he lives in one of the apartments too. There ringing of my phone breaks my concentration. Annoyed, I answer. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Back off¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You heard me.¡± ¡°Look I think you have the wrong number .¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have the wrong number, Amelia. Keep investigating me, and you¡¯ll regret it .¡± Fear pools in my stomach, but curiosity overwhelmed me. ¡°Dn?¡± ¡°Stay away from us if you know what¡¯s good for you. Don¡¯t test me.¡± ¡°You know Rogers, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s toote. He already hung up. This isn¡¯t the first time I¡¯ve gotten a threatening call, trying to get me to abandon a story, but something about the resolve in Dn¡¯s voice gives me shivers. I closed myptop, wondering how Dn knew. He would have no reason to bug myptop ¨C he doesn¡¯t even know me. No, the most likely option is that he has software that lets him know whenever someone is searching his name. Software like that didn¡¯te cheap nor easily avable. Whatever Dn is hiding, It very important to him. For now. I¡¯ll shelve it, but only until I take it to Rogers tomorrow. I close myptop wondering who Dn is and what his secret is. ¡ã¡ã¡ã¡ã¡ã¡ã¡ã*******¡ã¡ã¡ã¡ã¡ã¡ã¡ã¡ã The moving van was waiting when I arrived. It¡¯s a block of apartment buildings that looks suspiciously like the one Dn own. Rogers said he¡¯s joining the local branch of whatever group he¡¯s involved with. I wonder if I¡¯m about to meet Gavin¡¯s counterpart here. Rogers is waiting for me by the van, and his smile weakened me at the knees. What¡¯s wrong with me? He¡¯s my friend! Get your mind out of the gutter, Amelia. ¡°Hey, you ready to haul some boxes ?¡± ¡°Absolutely!¡± It¡¯s Rogers who does most of the box hauling, leaving me with the less strenuous tasks of unpacking them. In a moment of inactivity between boxes, I bring up things that have been gnawing me fit thest day. ¡° Who¡¯s Dn Mills?¡± Rogers stiffens.¡° Where did you hear that name ?¡± ¡°I¡¯m an investigative journalist, Rogers. You know me; I can never leave a mystery unsolved.¡± ¡°So you went digging .¡± ¡°That¡¯s right ¡± Rogers closed his eyes. I wonder if he¡¯s praying for patience. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have done that, Amelia. Trust me on this, you want to back off.¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly what Dn said when he called, he told me to back off, or I¡¯d regret it .¡± When Rogers¡¯s eyese up again to meet mine, theye angry. ¡°He threatened you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you dare disappear on me again, Rogers! Thest time you were angry, Raymond¡¯s home was vandalized. I don¡¯t need you to defend my honor. I need you to talk to me!¡± ¡°Lia, I can¡¯t ¡± His tone brings me up short. He¡¯s not brisk or annoyed or even indifferent. His pained whisper makes me want nothing so much than to put my arm around him. ¡°You can. You can talk to me. Whatever it is. I won¡¯t tell anyone. I promise .¡± ¡°I know you would never break your word to me.¡± ¡°Than tell me,¡± I urge. ¡°I can¡¯t.. I¡­ Lia, it being so long since I saw you. We¡¯ve just reconnected. I can¡¯t lose you. Not now.¡± What can you possibly have to tell me that would make me want to end our friendship? Have you done something? Rogers, if you have, I¡¯m sure it was an ident. You¡¯re a good person .¡± ¡°It¡¯s not simple. My world¡­ it¡¯s dangerous. Dn should give you so idea. I don¡¯t want to draw you into it. I¡¯m not even supposed to be in contact with you, but I couldn¡¯t help myself. Please, don¡¯t ask me to tell you .¡± At that moment, pressing him when he¡¯s already distressed just seems too cruel. ¡°Ok, Rogers. For now, I won¡¯t push. He nods, and with apparent effort, turns to one of the boxes. He doesn¡¯t ask for my promise that I will stop investigating, which is a good thing, because I¡¯m not nning on making that promise. Whatever this secret is, it¡¯s hurting my friend, and that is something I can¡¯t abide by. I will find out what¡¯s going on. I help Rogers unpack for hours. Our conversation turned causal. There¡¯s a lot to catch up on. I forgot just how much I love talking to Rogers. We spend the afternoon chatting and unpacking. When I leave in the early evening. I didn¡¯t go back to Amanda¡¯s house. I drive around the block then packed at a more sheltered spot, within view of the apartment block. Then I did what I so often have to do in my line of work:I waited. Most of the time, the out stakeout is like any other stakeout ¨C boring. I don¡¯t gopletely unrewarded, though. Just as the sun is setting, Rogers and ten other peoplee down from their apartment to the garden area. They are talking andughing together. It looks like they are good friends, but Rogers hasn¡¯t been here that long. He must have moved quickly to make friends already. The odd thing about the interaction is that the whole group treats one member with a certain amount of deference. I guess he must be their leader, though their leader in what? I don¡¯t know. They spent some time doing some barbeque. Most of what I saw wasn¡¯t exceptional, apart from one thing I bit at the end. The leader goes inside andes out with his arms of heavy chains. He hands those to Rogers, who nods, apparently thanking him. My breath seems to freeze in my chest when I saw the manages at the end of the chains. Those chains are meant to chain up a person. What is I Rogers doing with them? I nced around, making sure there is no police officers nearby. What on earth has Rodgers gotten himself into? T. B. C ¡ã¡ã¡ã¡ã¡ã¡ã¡ã¡ã¡ã??¡ã¡ã¡ã¡ã¡ã¡ã¡ã¡ã¡ã ?????Tife writes?????? Five CHAPTER FIVE WOLF¡¯S LOYALTY (Dinner of one) ¡°Come on, Amelia, we¡¯re are going to bete !¡± ¡°I will be out in a moment .¡± I give up on choosing between dresses, grabbing the nearest one, and pulling it on. I was going to do something with my hair, but I¡¯ve procrastinated too long and it¡¯s toote. Amanda is waiting impatiently .¡°I don¡¯t want to bete, we¡¯ll make a bad impression.¡± ¡° You do realize that we¡¯re not engaged, right? You are just filling in for Raymond because I can¡¯t have them alone. A good impression isn¡¯t necessarily. Besides, my family knows you .¡± ¡°I know, but I still don¡¯t want to give them any more reason to berate you than they have already.¡± That¡¯s true enough. My family is going to be a nightmare. Amanda drives, and all too soon, we¡¯re pulling at my mom¡¯s driveway. Marcus¡¯s car is already here. There are cars parked all along the sides of the streets. My mom always favored big gatherings. She opened the door, her eyes going from me to Amanda. Her mouth pop open inical surprise. ¡°Amelia! where¡¯s Raymond?¡± ¡°Nice to see you again, Dolly .¡±Amanda takes my arm and practically drags me inside. Good thinking. I only want to have a say this once; I may as well say it in front of everyone. Everyone clusters around me, looking at Amanda in dismay. I steel myself. ¡°I have something to tell you all. Raymond and I have broken off our engagement.¡± My pronouncement is met with shocked silence. Then the room explodes.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Everyone started asking questions at once. I fold my arms, trying to pick out one or two to answer. ¡°Alright, enough !¡± Amandaes to my rescue. Amelia has just gotten here, let¡¯s not mob her.¡± ¡°But-but- maybe we can fix things between Raymond. You¡¯ve been together for so long¡­. surely you can try again.¡± ¡°Sorry, mom, but I¡¯m going to be strictly dinner for one of the foreseeable future. Raymond and I are done for good, and I have no interest in dating at this moment.¡± I¡¯d hoped she will leave it at that, but of course, she has to keep pushing. ¡°Maybe I can talk to him, get him to consider¡­¡± ¡°Mom I broke up with him.¡± ¡°But why, sweetie? The two of you are so good together.¡± I know she¡¯s trying to help, but I grating on my nerve. He cheated on me, ok? With our neighbor¡¯s daughter. She¡¯s neen.¡± If my first statement was met with shock, it¡¯s nothing to what happened now. A deadly silence smothers the room. Everyone is looking at me with pity. I hate it. ¡°I¡¯m starving. When are we eating ?¡± ¡°Thank God Marcus is here. As always my big brotheres to rescue me.¡°Right through here, Amelia, Amanda .¡± He chivvies us toward the dining room. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if one of the many rtives my mom invited faints. Amanda put an encouraging hand on my back. ¡°That the head part is done. I don¡¯t think any of them will dare bring up the subject again.¡± ¡°Maybe not tonight, but you watch. They¡¯ll be on me like a pack of hounds soon enough. You know how my mom goes on about making sure to have children while I¡¯m still able.¡± Marcus snorts.¡°For God¡¯s sake, you¡¯re twenty-five! Mom¡¯s just neurotic.¡± Before he says anything else, everyone starteding in. The conversation is tense at first, but eventually, everyone loosens up a bit. The rest of the dinner goes about as well as can be expected. I suppose it¡¯s nice enough, but I¡¯m counting the minutes until it¡¯s over. As soon as I¡¯m home, I want to text Rogers. He will get augh out of the whole announcement fiasco, and he ¡®ll find some way to make me feel better about it. Despite his secret, I feel like right now, Rogers gets me better than anyone else does. We get home about four hourster. I sometimes wonder if Dolly is part squid. The way she holds unto Marcus and me is evocative of grasping tentacles. I love my mom, but she can be too much at times. When I checked my phone, I have a WhatsApp message waiting. Rogers: How goes the war. Amelia: I survived with minor wounds, but I fear they may fester. Rogers: That bad, huh? Amelia: I kind of shocked them into silence when I blurted out that Raymond cheated on me with a neen-year-old. Rogers: LoL yeah that would do it. Amelia: They left me alone after that, but the sharks are circling. Rogers: I¡¯ll protect you. What is he going to do, chain my family up? I¡¯ve been working on my investigation, but I haven¡¯t made any progress. I still don¡¯t know what he¡¯s doing with all those chains. Amelia: Are we on for tomorrow? Rogers: Can¡¯t wait, dear. Amelia: See you then. I find myself smiling at the phone on the dresser. Amanda hasn¡¯tmented on the fact that Rogers and I are seeing each other every day. I told myself I¡¯m making up for the lost time, but really, I just can¡¯t seem to stay away from him. I scroll to his profile picture. It¡¯s a good one. He¡¯s leaning casually against the wall, his hands behind his head, looking to the side at the camera. It disys his full form in a way that makes me forget that Rogers and I are just supposed to be friends. I check that the door is closed. Amanda is probably in bed already. Iy back, pushing a hand through my pants. Lightly at first, I started fingering my clit as I looked at Rogers¡¯s pictures. I imagine kissing him and having him kiss me back. The thought spurs me on. I started rubbing my clit faster, closing my eyes as I imagine Rogers touching me, pretending that it¡¯s his finger rather than mine. I¡¯d tell him to hurry up to get his cock inside me. I¡¯m breathing heavily as I envision the scene. Rogers looked up at me, his eyes filled with heat. Fuck I need him so badly. My pussy is aching and empty. I reach over into my drawer and pulled my favorite dildo. I¡¯m already wet and ready. With my left hand, I push it slowly in and out of my pussy, while my right handwork on my clit. I close my eyes, imagining Rogers climbing on top of me. He leaned closer, his hot breath ghosting over my cheek. I turn my head, capturing his lips. We kiss, fast and wet and frantic. I run my hands over his skin. A sight sheen of sweat is building in me. Rogers is breathing as fast as me- as though he¡¯s sprinting rather thanying on the bed. ¡°Get inside me¡± I murmured to the Rogers in my head. His cock was hard and dripping. Pre smears across my stomach. I moan at the feel of him pressed against me. My legs were already spread, but I opened them further, inviting him in. Rogers doesn¡¯t need to ask twice. He pushed in so, so slowly. It¡¯s amazing and infuriating at the same time. I can feel my pussy stretching. Rogers is an average-sized guy, but his cock seems way out of proportion to his body. God, he¡¯s so big. I wonder if he¡¯s really this size, or if it¡¯s my overactive imagination. He starts thrusting into me, grunting each time his cock bit the bareback of my pussy. I¡¯m close, so close. I thrust the dildo faster, my other hand going in a frantic circle over my clit. I¡¯m starting to get cramps in my wrist, but I don¡¯t care. In my mind, Rogers is thrusting faster, pounding into me really hard as he searches for his own release. I imagine what his face will look like as hees, how he¡¯ll hold me tight as he pumps into me. That vision has me tipping over the edge. I cry out Rogers¡¯s name as the organism sweep through me. My pussy contracts frantically, pushing the dildo out, but I¡¯m done with it anyway. My hand lingers on my clit, drawing it out for as long as possible. Finally, it fades leaving me sated and rxed. As I catch my breath, guilt starts to well up in me. What have I done? I can¡¯t wank to Rogers, that¡¯s just in weird. He¡¯s my friend. A smoking hot friend. That doesn¡¯t matter! It¡¯s creepy. Didn¡¯t hear youining when you were crying his name out of pleasure. Shut up, Amelia. You¡¯re going to ruin things for Rogers if you carry on like this. He just got back, and you want him to vanish for another six months. Having arguments with myself in my head is surely the first sign of madness, but I¡¯m still too high off the organism to care much. Still, it was wrong. I really shouldn¡¯t do that again. There¡¯s plenty of porn online. It I want to wank to something. I¡¯ll have to download some of that. Rogers is off-limits. Somehow, I doubt that¡¯s a rule I¡¯ll abide to stick to for long, but that¡¯s a problem for another day. A knock on the door brings me out of my thoughts. ¡°Amelia, are you okay? I thought I had you yelling .¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. Nothing to worry about !¡± Apparently, Amanda thinks from my tone that there is something to worry about because she opens the door. I¡¯m all too aware of how flushed and disheveled I must look. ¡°Ever heard of privacy?¡± ¡°Ever heard a roommate shouting their friend¡¯s name like he¡¯s saving her from a burning building? Because I just did .¡± Crap, crap, crap. No way am I willing to confess to Amanda what I just did. ¡°I think you are hearing things. It¡¯s probably just that wind.¡± Amanda¡¯s eyes narrow in suspicion. I knew it. She doesn¡¯t believe me. Well, she tells Rogers? If she those, I can kiss the dream of remaining friends with him goodbye. T. B. C. Six CHAPTER SIX (A Horrible Mistake) Amelia pov ¡°You don¡¯t have to lie to him, you know. So you have the hots for Rogers. Fine. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m going to tell him¡± I¡¯m torn between shame and relief. Of course, I don¡¯t need to lie to Amanda. I know that. ¡°Promise me you won¡¯t say anything ?¡± ¡°Of course, I won¡¯t.¡± I don¡¯t me her for looking offended. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m off to bed. Enjoy.¡±She wriggles her eyebrows at me. I can¡¯t help butugh. ¡°I think I¡¯m done for the night.¡± Unsurprisingly, I have dreams of Rogers that night. They¡¯re particrly vivid, enough to make me weak up breathless. With a guilt nce at my watch, I realize that I¡¯m seeing him in a couple of hours. I get ready for work without really paying attention. My focus has been somewhatcking recently, but thankfully Rnd hasn¡¯tmented on it yet. The whole morning, I¡¯m watching the clock, waiting for lunch hour, when I¡¯m grabbing something to eat with Rogers at the cafeteria next door. I¡¯m working on a story about a local restaurant hiring undocumented workers, but my isn¡¯t really in it. As far as I¡¯m concerned, those workers ain¡¯t hurting anyone by being here- they¡¯re contributing to the economy. But Rnd is my boss, and I have to do what he says. I get paid well, and I mostly like my job. Maybe someday I¡¯ll make enough name for myself to frence and have papers fighting over my article. I snap myself out of my daydream as my phone pings. It¡¯s a WhatsApp message I open it eagerly, expecting it¡¯s from Rogers, as we text so much this day. Instead, the name Matthew pops up. It takes me a minute to remember who he is. Matthew works across the street from where Rogers lived up until recently. I smoothed over an issue with his Landlord by promising him good press about his apartment block. In return, Matthew has been taking photos for me. Matthew: I¡¯ve got the pictures you asked for. Amelia: Great you can send them here. The pictures starteding in. Most of them are boring photos of people going in and out of their apartment, but one catches my attention. It¡¯s dark ¨C early evening, probably -so it¡¯s difficult to see, but I can get the gist of it. The man I have identified as Dn is working with five others to restrain someone. They look to be putting up a mighty struggle. In the background, someone is running forward with a harmful chain. I zoom the picture. It¡¯s a young guy, barely out of his teens. My heart started beating faster. If these guys are kidnapping people, then it¡¯s gone beyond personal investigation. I need to call the police. Something stops me. Maybe I should talk to Rogers first It¡¯s one thing figuring out his secret for myself, but potentially outing him to the police? I¡¯d better be sure. The phone rings again. Matthew:Is that it? Is there anything else you need? Amelia: No that¡¯s great, thanks. You haven¡¯t told anyone else, have you? Matthew: Nope whenever kinky shit they are doing, it¡¯s none of my business. I hope it¡¯s something innocent. I consider asking him to try to get a look inside, but I decided that it¡¯s too risky. Dn has already threatened me, though I haven¡¯t heard anything else from him since I talked to Rogers about it. I don¡¯t want Matthew to get hurt. I¡¯m so engrossed in my thoughts that I realize I¡¯ve been forgetting to watch the clock. It¡¯s two minutes into my lunch break. I hurried to the cafeteria. Rogers was there waiting for me. ¡°Hey, Lia. How are you doing?¡± I decided to get straight to the point. ¡°There¡¯s something bothering me.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Anything I can do ?¡± ¡°Well actually, yes. I was hoping you could exin this to me. I hand over my phone to him, with the photos in question open. Rogers looks at it for a long time. ¡°Where did you get this?¡± he asked quietly. ¡°Does it matter? I don¡¯t know what kind of group this is, or what kind of stuff they¡¯re into, All I do know is it¡¯s a fraction of the same group you¡¯re part of now. I saw the chains at your current ce.¡± His face darkens in anger. ¡°You¡¯ve been spying on me?¡± Well, you won¡¯t talk to me, so I don¡¯t really know what else I was supposed to do. ¡° I reach for Rogers¡¯s hands, but he pulls them back before I could touch him. ¡°I want to help you, Rogers. Whatever you are going through, you don¡¯t need to do it alone. Please, just talk to me.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re asking. I can¡¯t, Amelia.¡± ¡°Then at least tell me it¡¯s consensual. Because that photo doesn¡¯t look like it. I don¡¯t want to have to go to the police, Rogers, but I will if someone is in danger.¡± ¡°It¡¯s consensual,¡± he says shortly. Rogers stands up. ¡°I have to go ¡± ¡°No- Rogers, wait. Don¡¯t be mad. You¡¯d do the same thing if you thought I was hiding something from you.¡± ¡°And I¡¯d be wrong! You need to learn how to, back off, Amelia.¡± Rogers leaps up and rushes outside. Having Dn¡¯s words ¨C back off ¨C thrown back at me leaves me shaken. I can¡¯t even remember thest time Rogers was angry with me. It hurts, even though I know it¡¯s not entirely undeserved. I would be one thing if I knew he didn¡¯t want me to be involved in this, but I can see it in his eyes on the few asions we approach the subject that he¡¯s hurting, keeping all this all in. He wants me to know, I¡¯m sure of it. I will find out, for Rogers as wee as myself. Still, the hurt burns, and I find myself in want offort I pay and leave, driving on autopilot. It¡¯s only when I¡¯m at the end of the road that I find myself in my distraction k hasn¡¯t driven to Amanda¡¯s house, I¡¯ve driven to Raymond¡¯s. I hesitate, but a car behind me honks. I jump slightly and start moving again, pulling into the driveway. What can it hurt? It¡¯s just a harmless distraction, to get my mind off Rogers. It¡¯s not like I don¡¯t find Raymond attractive.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. He answered on the third knock. Raymond¡¯s face is the picture of surprise. Amelia! It good to see -..¡± I didn¡¯t give him the chance to take. I didn¡¯t want to talk. What I want is destruction, and I know Raymond will give it to me. I stepped forward and kiss him. Raymond makes a noise of surprise, but recovers quickly, wrapping his arms around me as he returns to kiss me. It¡¯s been weeks since I had sex. The dildo just isn¡¯t doing it, even with the fantasies of Rogers. I need the real thing. I back Raymond to the couch. His father pulled my clothes. I lift my clothes. I lifted my arms, letting him take off my top, and then my bra. My pussy is already throbbing in anticipation. I closed my eyes as I kissed him, imagining it was Rogers. The thought has me toasting up things fast, unfastening Raymond¡¯s belt and pulling his pants down his knees. I lie back on the couch, fingering my clit. Oh yes, this is what I need. I¡¯m already wet and ready. Raymond moves down and started sucking my nipples. His tongue stick and hot against mine, and it makes me wild with desire. ¡° I need you inside me ¡± ¡°Yeah? How badly do you need me?¡± ¡°Very badly.¡± ¡°Then beg for it¡± I hate it when Raymond does that- when he forces me to beg. I¡¯ve asked him not to do it, but he insists it turns him on, and I should just get used to it. Right now, I need toe so badly to argue. ¡°Please, Ray. Take me.¡± ¡°As you wish ¡± He pushed inside me, hard and fast. I draw in a ragged breath as I thrust my hips up to meet him. I sp his ass, pulling urging him to go deeper. ¡°Yes, just like that, ¡±I breathe.¡°Fuck me harder ¡± I cry out, arching, my hands tight on Rogers ¨C I mean Raymond¡¯s -ass. My eyes are still closed, and I can see Rogers in my mind¡¯s eye. When he leans forward to lick my nipples again, I pant raggedly. ¡°Wait. This way.¡± I scrambled around so that I¡¯m on my hands and knees. It¡¯s an awkward position on the couch, but I don¡¯t care. I just need toe, and this is the quickest way to get me there. He changed the angle slightly, hitting me in just the right spot. ¡°Yes, Rogers, yes!¡± Rogers stop. No, not Rogers. Raymond. And I just cried out Rogers¡¯s name. Shit. I can¡¯t see Raymond, but I can feel him pull out of me. I¡¯m fucked, and not in a pleasant way. T. B. C Seven CHAPTER SEVEN It¡¯s over!! Amelia pov. ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± I don¡¯t turn around to face Raymond hoping, that he¡¯ll be overpowered by need and ignore my slip. ¡°Keep going. ¡°Come on.¡± Rogers, as in your friend, Rogers? You¡¯ve left me for that loser?¡± No! Rogers and I aren¡¯t together. It¡¯s you I need.¡± I turn around and try to kiss Raymond, but he gets up off the couch. You¡¯re going to have to try harder than that if you want me, Amelia.¡± ¡°Fuck you, then. Without another word, I get up, pull my clothes on and storm off. He¡¯s not making me beg again. Never again. I drive back to Amanda¡¯s at a reckless speed. I know I should slow down, but I¡¯m so horny I feel like I¡¯m going to explode. It takes all my willpower to keep my hands on the steering wheel and not let one of them slide down to my clit. That doesn¡¯t stop me from pressing my legs together. Fuck, I need toe. I rush inside, running to my room and mming the door behind me. I throw myself onto my bed, yanking my pants down. I reach blindly into the drawer for the dildo. It slides into me easily. I start thrusting hard and fast. My eyes slip shut again, and I imagine Rogers again. He¡¯s be such a frequent wank fantasy that I don¡¯t even feel guilty about it anymore. Rogers leans forward to kiss me, his long hair brushing against my neck. I use one hand to work my clit while I use the other to operate the dildo. I wonder what Rogers¡¯s mouth tastes like? I imagine kissing him, sucking on his lower lip before letting my tongue slide into his mouth. I can feel iting on. My thighs tense and my pussy clenches, trying to push out the dildo. In response, I thrust harder, rubbing circles on my clit with my finger. I scream as Ie, my entire being crying out with the release. The dildo falls to the bed as my legs flop down. I lie there panting for a minute before turning the dildo off, washing it, and returning it to the drawer.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. It¡¯s only then that I realize my lunch hour is up. I told Rnd that I was going out for lunch and might bete, so I¡¯ve got some wriggle room, but I need to get going. I get dressed and go back to work, hoping I don¡¯t look too much like I¡¯ve just gone home to wank. By the time I¡¯ve finished the article on undocumented workers, I¡¯m restless and horny again. Fuck, I need sex, and I need it right now. If only I was like the people who could have casual sex, but it¡¯s just not me, and I¡¯m certainly not ready for another rtionship yet. What if that rtionship was with Rogers? Shut up, Amelia, he¡¯s your friend. He doesn¡¯t want to be with you romantically -you would know by now if he did. Just buy a bigger dildo. That¡¯s the best you¡¯re going to get for now. ** As I¡¯m driving home, I get a WhatsApp message. I hurry home, checking it as soon as I¡¯m parked in the driveway. It¡¯s not from Rogers it¡¯s from Raymond. Raymond: So today could have been fun. How about we try again tomorrow? It¡¯ll be like old times. Amelia: It was a one-time thing, Raymond. Things between us are over. Raymond: They didn¡¯t seem so over when you jumped me. Amelia:Never heard of breakup sex? As I said, we¡¯re done. Raymond: You¡¯ve never been one to use people and then dump them I¡¯d hate to see it start now. Amelia: I didn¡¯t hear youining. Maniptive bastard. I try to ignore him, but Raymond keeps texting me. Eventually, frustration wins out and I blocked him. Not two minutester, I get another message. Once again, it¡¯s not from Rogers. Mom: Hey, honey. How are you doing? I highly suspect she¡¯s just enquiring about my health, but I suppose I have to give her the benefit of the doubt. Amelia. Good, thanks. You? Mom: Great! I met the nicest man yesterday. He works at the grocery store down the road, and he says he¡¯s single. You should go there sometime. Mom: His name is Daniel. I think you¡¯d like him. Amelia, I¡¯m not looking for a rtionship, mom. It¡¯s too soon after Raymond. Mom: You shouldn¡¯t be so closed-minded, Amelia. You won¡¯t be young forever, you know. Amelia : Got to go, mom works calling. This is exactly what I expected. I groan in frustration. I knew she would be like this. I swear half the reason I stayed with Raymond even after things got bad was that I didn¡¯t want her badgering me. ** Over the next few days, I do my best to take as long as possible to respond to her messages. I also have to exercise great restrain to stop myself messaging Rogers quite as many times as my mom is messaging me. He responded once, saying he¡¯s out of town for work, and that he¡¯ll contact me when he¡¯s back. If he¡¯s really out of town, or if he¡¯s still annoyed with me? I don¡¯t want to be clingy, so I wait for Rogers to message me. Three days after my fight with Rogers, Amanda and I are having breakfast together when my phone pings its WhatsApp tone. I stab my waffle hard enough that the te makes an ominous cracking noise. Your mom still bothering you?¡± Yes.¡± I don¡¯t need to check the phone to know that it¡¯s her. You know, she¡¯s probably not going to leave you alone until you start going out with Someone else.¡± I know, ¡°I groan. ¡°I may have to change my number.¡± I was thinking of a more creative solution.¡± I¡¯m all ears.¡± Find someone you trust, and tell your mom you¡¯re dating them. Take them to dinner with her a few times. Let them y up the role. She¡¯ll leave you alone, then.¡± Are you volunteering?¡± Amanda grinned. ¡°Could be fun. Can you imagine their faces if you introduced me as your girlfriend?¡± We could make the announcement over dinner and watch them all choke on their potatoes.¡± Amanda and I both dissolve into giggling at the mental image. ¡°No, it wouldn¡¯t work,¡± I sigh once we¡¯ve stoppedughing. ¡°As fun as it would be, she wants me to have children. It would have to be a guy.¡± ¡°You¡¯re telling me that you don¡¯t think I¡¯m fit to bear your children?¡± Amanda¡¯s mock-indignant tone has us both chuckling again. ¡°We can lecture her on what is possible within science nowadays, but I don¡¯t think it would make much difference ¨C I don¡¯t think she¡¯d really believe it, not until the baby is born. So unless you really want to bear my child, perhaps we should think of another option.¡± ¡°Possibly ¨C I¡¯m not ready to be a mother. Besides, can you imagine us as a couple? We¡¯d be terrible.¡± We would be,¡± I agree. Amanda and I are perfect as best friends, but a couple? We¡¯d be a disaster. Rogers, on the other hand¡­ ¡°What about Rogers?¡±Shit, she¡¯s reading my mind now. Uh¡­ what about Rogers?¡± ¡°Would he be willing to help you with this?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really feelfortable asking him that.¡±Why not? You¡¯ve known him as long as you¡¯ve known me. You two are super close. I¡¯m sure he¡¯d do it for you.¡± Maybe, but you don¡¯t know my mom. She wouldn¡¯t be satisfied with dating. She won¡¯t really leave me alone until I¡¯m married. I¡¯m not going to ask Rogers to marry me.¡± At least, not when it¡¯s not real. I couldn¡¯t ask that of him, especially given my very real feelings for him. Shut up, Amelia. You¡¯re ignoring those feelings, remember? Rogers is your friend. ¡°I suppose that is a bit much to ask. What¡¯s going on with you and Luke anyway? You haven¡¯t said a word about him in days. Usually, you never shut up about him.¡± I can feel my face going red. ¡°We kind of had a fight.¡± Let me guess. He¡¯s not happy that you¡¯re still investigating him?¡± ¡°Not at all. Do you think I¡¯m doing the right thing? Should I back off?¡± ¡°No way. I know Rogers. There¡¯s nothing worse for him than keeping secrets. Remember when I nned that surprise birthday party for you? He was miserable for weeks, not telling you. The sooner you find out what he feels he can¡¯t tell you, then happier he¡¯ll be.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I think too.¡± My doubts soothed, I reach for my phone. Still no message from Rogers. Maybe it¡¯s time for me to break the silence. Amelia: Rogers, I¡¯m sorry about what happened. I miss you. Can we meet up: There¡¯s no response. I see that the message is read, but Rogers does?n¡¯t reply. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying not to think the unimaginable. What if I¡¯ve really pushed him too hard? What if he¡¯s willing to end our friendship to keep his secret? I don¡¯t know what I¡¯ll do without him. T. B. C Eight CHAPTER EIGHT Stalked on All Sides Amelia pov **** It¡¯s only as I¡¯m taking my lunch breakter that day that my phone pings again. I hesitate, wondering if I should look at it. It¡¯s probably my mom or Raymond. He can be bullheaded when he wants something, and I wouldn¡¯t put it past him to get a new number just so that he can keep trying to convince me toe back to him. I feel like I¡¯m being stalked on all sides. Between my mom and Raymond, I can¡¯t get any peace. Maybe I should ignore the message. It¡¯s probably the¡­ Or it could be Rogers. It¡¯s that thought alone that has me checking my phone. To my delight, I see Rogers¡¯s name. ¡± Hey, it¡¯s ok. I know you could never let a mystery lie that¡¯s one of the things I love about you, how passionate you are. It¡¯s just difficult when I know what¡¯ll happen once you find out.¡±Rogers said I try not to stare at the word¡¯ love¡¯. I know Rogers just means the love of a friend, but it still has my heart fluttering. ¡°What will happen?¡± I replied ¡°You¡¯ll cut all contact and never speak to me again.¡± He said. The words hit me like a p. How could Rogers think I would abandon him like that, especially after learning what has been causing him so much internal turmoil? ¡°I would never do that.¡± ¡°If you didn¡¯t, it would be worse. If you stayed, you would be in constant danger.¡± He replied I hesitate, unsure how to respond. Thest thing I want is another blowup. ¡°Rogers¡­ are you involved in something illegal? Because if you are Amanda can help you.¡± I responded ¡°Lia¡­ It¡¯s nothing like that. Trust me, you don¡¯t want to be involved.¡± Rogers replied ¡°We¡¯ll see. Can I see you?¡± I questioned ¡°How about lunch tomorrow?¡± He suggested ¡°Great!¡± I know I have a silly grin on my face as I put my phone back in my bag. Lunch tomorrow suddenly seems like a long way away. I don¡¯t know how I¡¯m going to wait that long. *** I wave as I see Rogers, resisting the urge to get up and shout his name. He sees me andes over, smiling broadly. ¡°Lia. It¡¯s good to see you.¡± You too.¡± I¡¯m not sure which of us moves first, but suddenly Rogers and I are hugging. I can¡¯t be the only one squeezing just a little bit harder than usual, holding on just a little bit longer. When we break away, I can tell my face is flushed, but Rogers doesn¡¯t mention it. We quickly get drawn into conversation, both avoiding the topic of our previous fight. Rogers knows that I can¡¯t go against my nature and let a mystery go. I know that I can¡¯t hope to make him happy about it. It¡¯s not like we don¡¯t have anything to talk about. Rogers is so easy to talk to, and I find myself opening up to him in ways I haven¡¯t with anyone else. I know it¡¯s over with Raymond, and in many ways, it¡¯s a relief, but I still miss him, you know? I don¡¯t think it¡¯s even him I¡¯m missing ¨C it¡¯s just having another person to lean on, to hold me while I go to sleep and tell me everything is going to be ok. Rogers¡¯s expression softens into sympathy. ¡°I know it must be hard. You were with him for a long time. It¡¯s ok to miss him.¡± ¡°I just feel like it¡¯s stupid. I should hate him for what he did to me ¨C and I do, in some ways, but in others, he¡¯s just Raymond. He¡¯s my home ¨C or at least, he was.¡± It¡¯s not stupid. Someday, you¡¯ll find someone who will love and respect you as you deserve, but for now, it¡¯s ok to grieve.¡± I¡¯m on the brink of telling him about my disastrous breakup sex with Raymond, but my phone rings. I want to ignore it, but I see that it¡¯s an unknown number. I have to answer unknown numbers because of my job ¨C it could be a source call. ¡°Hello? ¡°Amelia! I¡¯ve been trying to get hold of you. I think your phone must be broken or something.¡± I grit my teeth. ¡°Raymond, I told you to stop calling me -¡± ¡°Listen, I called your mother, and she said she¡¯d love to have us over for dinner. Would tomorrow work for you?¡± ¡°Raymond! Get this through your head! We are not together anymore. You have no right to call my family and arrange dinner dates. Just leave me alone.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be like that. I know you¡¯re mad, but this temper tantrum has gone on long enough, it¡¯s time-¡± Rogers snatches the phone out of my hand. ¡°Shut up,¡± he growls. He sounds so fierce that his tone sends a thrill of fear through me, even though I¡¯m not the one it¡¯s directed at. ¡°If you ever call her again, I¡¯ll kill you. ¡°Do you understand? I will rip your heart out through your throat and eat it if you ever even think of contacting Amelia again. Do you understand me!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be like that. I know you¡¯re mad, but this temper tantrum has gone on long enough, it¡¯s time-¡± ¡°Rogers, I admire the chivalry, but you can¡¯t just threaten to kill someone because they¡¯re annoying me.¡± ¡°He has no right to talk to you, no right even to look at you, after what he did. He had the most precious thing in the world ¨C you love ¨C and he threw it away. God, why is that so hot? Am I blushing? I¡¯m sure I¡¯m blushing. I hope Rogers doesn¡¯t notice. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back. Bathroom.¡± I hurry to the bathroom, biting my lip. It would be stupid to do what I¡¯m thinking of doing, but if I want to have any sort of intelligent conversation with Rogers during the rest of my lunch break, I don¡¯t think I have much of a choice. I know that he was wrong to threaten Raymond, but his protectiveness is solo rmingly arousing that I find myself throbbing with sudden need. I push a hand down my pants, my fingers quickly finding my clit. There isn¡¯t time to savor this. I rub quickly, my mind full of Rogers¡¯s fierce eyes as he stood up for me. It¡¯s awkward trying to do this in the stall, but I¡¯m too turned on to care. I imagine Rogers turning that protective, possessive gaze on me in the bedroom when we¡¯re both naked. I push my pants further down so that I can spread my legs. I keep my right hand on my clit, and let two fingers of my left slip into my pussy My reach isn¡¯t as good as when I have the dildo, but I¡¯m hardly in a position to be choosy right now. I wonder what Rogers¡¯s fingers would feel like inside me. They¡¯re bigger than mine. I imagine him pushing three fingers inside me, stretching my pussy. He starts pumping his fingers into me as he leans down to my breasts. His teeth brush over my nipples, nibbling lightly. The touch sets me afire and I push myself desperately down onto his fingers. I can feel his arm muscles flexing as he works his fingers deeper inside me. I want to ride his arm like a ranger rides a wild stallion. I want him to take me hard and deep and fast. ¡°You¡¯re mine,¡± Rogers whispers, his eyes shining with fervor and desire. He brushes his lips gently against mine, barely even a kiss, but filled with such hot need that it pushes me over the edge. I mp my mouth shut to keep from making a noise as Ie with a small moan. It was rushed and cramped, but the orgasm still leaves me weak with pleasure. When I get home, I¡¯ll do it again, this time taking it slower. That protective look in Rogers¡¯s eyes is probably enough inspiration for a lifetime¡¯s worth of orgasms. I sit limply on the toilet seat for a moment before grabbing some toilet paper to clean up. I¡¯m just pulling my pants on when I hear movement. Someone else is in the bathroom, and in my haze of pleasure, I didn¡¯t notice. Did they hear me moan? That question is answered almost at once. ¡°Hello? Are you ok in there?¡± I freeze. I¡¯m not sure what the restaurant policy is on/customers rubbing one out in the bathroom, but I¡¯m sure it¡¯s not on my side. What will I tell Rogers as to why I¡¯m being thrown out?Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Shit. Nine CHAPTER NINE WOLF LOYALTY I¡¯d Do Anything Amelia pov ** I check my watch. Ten minutes until I meet Rogers. Weeks have passed since I barely escaped getting caught masturbating in the restaurant bathroom. I had to do a bit of quick talking, but I¡¯ve gotten out of tighter spots before when following a story. Amanda is lying on the couch, reading. It¡¯s a Saturday, which means Rogers and I will get to spend the whole afternoon together. As I head for the door, my phone rings. It¡¯s an unknown number. I grimace. ¡°Chuck it over.¡± Amanda catches the phone. We¡¯ve developed a system for this. ¡°Hello? Hi, Raymond. No, Amelia isn¡¯t here right now. Goodbye.¡± Amanda hangs upon him in the middle of a sentence. Thanks.¡± I take my phone back. ¡°Who¡¯s holding the current record?¡± ¡°Raymond, but only by two. Your mom ising in a close second.¡± I roll my eyes. Those two refuse to leave me alone. ¡°I need to go. I¡¯m meeting Rogers.¡± ¡°Enjoy.¡± Amanda winks at me. She knows all about my fantasies about Rogers, but she never brings them up directly. That doesn¡¯t stop her smirking at me, though. I find I don¡¯t mind. I can¡¯t me her for being amused, and she¡¯s kind enough not to give me a hard time about it. Today, I¡¯m going to Rogers¡¯s house. We¡¯re going to get pizza and watch a movie. I¡¯m hoping for some quality couch snuggling time with him. He opens the door on the first knock. Lia! Hey. How are things going?¡± About the same. Raymond just made one hundred earlier.¡± Rogers grimaces in sympathy. ¡°You sure you don¡¯t want me to do something about it? I could send over a few of my friends. Trust me, after a conversation with them, Raymond would probably move continents to getaway from you.¡± I don¡¯t know whether I should beughing or if I should be scared. I don¡¯t want you arrested, Rogers. It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll turn my phone on silent for now.¡± The two of us flop down on hisfortable couch. ¡°Actually, I was thinking of a more permeant solution, to both of them.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not letting you kill Raymond and my mom!¡± Rogers chuckles. ¡°Not that permanent. See, I spoke to Amanda earlier. Oh no. I think I know what¡¯sing. She seems to think that you getting married will solve the problem with both of them. She specified that it has to be a guy you marry, which rules her out as a potential.¡± ¡°Ignore her,¡± I mutter. ¡°I told you not to draw you into her schemes.¡± Why would I do that? You need a fake marriage, and/here I am, single and avable.¡± Is he joking? I squint at him, trying to tell what¡¯s going on in his head. ¡°I could never ask that of you, Rogers. It¡¯s too much.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not asking. I¡¯m offering.¡± Are you¡­ are you serious?¡± ¡°Absolutely. I¡¯d do anything for you, Amelia. You need them off your back, and I can help. It doesn¡¯t have to be a big deal. I mean, you¡¯d probably have to move in here to make it convincing, but I have a spare bedroom. I certainly won¡¯t beining about being able to spend more time with you,¡± I wouldn¡¯t beining about that either. If you¡¯re really sure¡­ then yes, I¡¯d be grateful to you forever if you could help me with this.¡± Excellent!¡± Rogers leaps up and hurries off, returning a few minutester with a small box. He gets down on one knee. If we¡¯re going to do this, we should do it properly. Amelia Conner, will you marry me? I know it¡¯s fake, but the sight of him like that, staring up at me with such sincerity, suddenly sends a pang of grief through me. If only this was real. Hold up, Lia You want to sleep with Rogers that much has been established ¨C but you definitely do NOT want to marry him. Get your head straight. Yes.¡± It¡¯s all I can get out as my turbulent thoughts tie my tongue. Rogers slips the ring. onto my finger. I stare down at it. The gold band wraps around three beautiful diamonds, the middle one bigger than the ones on either side. ¡°How did you afford this? Rogers, I can¡¯t have you taking out loans just to make this look real, it¡¯s not fair to you.¡± I didn¡¯t take out a loan. Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯re good.¡± I know that he can¡¯t afford this on a web designer¡¯s sry. This surely has something to do with the mysterious group he¡¯s involved in. He could only have gotten the money from them. If I move in here, I¡¯ll get a better chance to find out what¡¯s going on. I wonder if the fake marriage will include real sex? Oh please, let it include that. ¡°Lia? What are you thinking? You¡¯ve disappeared on me.¡± I wrench myself back to the present, putting aside my other thoughts. The one that remains is the awed understanding of just how caring and protective Rogers is of me. I never imagined he¡¯d be willing to do this just so that I can get my family and Raymond to stop harassing me. Before I can think about it, before I can even try to stop myself, I kiss him. I freeze with my lips against his, suddenly realizing what I¡¯ve done. I wait for him to push me away. He doesn¡¯t. Instead, Rogers kisses me back. It¡¯s like all of my dreams areing true at once. I kiss return the kiss with such enthusiasm that the two of us topple backward onto the couch. Rogers¡¯s head rests against the arm of the couch as I straddle his chest. I close my eyes as I live out my fantasies. I kiss Rogers deeply, exploring his mouth. It¡¯s better than I ever could have imagined. He tastes of coffee and chocte, and something else I can¡¯t define that leaves me in mind of a deep forest gleaming under the light of a full moon. I can feel his cock rising under me. I wriggle against it, and Luke¡¯s hands go to my waist, moving me atop him. He suddenly rolls us over, clearly trying to get on top, which sends us both tumbling off the couch and onto the floor. Ind on top of his chest, but he swiftly rolls us over. We should probably go to the bed, but the. the sight of him atop me pushes all other thoughts from my mind. Our lips join again in a kiss that leaves me both sated and breathlessly wanting more. Rogers starts undressing me. I eagerly assist him, stripping off my clothes before starting to work on his. I kick them aside, my hands reaching greedily for his bare flesh. The muscles of his chest ripple under my fingers. His skin is lighter here than his face and arms, covered in a lightyer of hair that tickles my palms. Rogers pushes a knee between my legs, and I open them eagerly. He breaks away from our kiss, and I¡¯m about to protest, but the words die in my mouth when he moves down so that his hot breath brushes against my thighs. Oh. Why does that feel so good and he¡¯s not even touching me yet? Rogers starts pressing small kisses to my knees, working his way up to my thighs. By the time he¡¯s nearing my pussy, I¡¯m panting with desire, an undignified whining noiseing out of my mouth.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. He uses his strong hands to grip my waist as he licks my pussy, slow and long, all the way up to my clit. I cry out and jerk as he reaches it, but his hands stop me from moving very far. Rogers¡­ I need¡­ He doesn¡¯t respond to my words except to start licking my clit. I¡¯ve imagined him doing this so many times, but somehow, even my overactive imagination never lived up to the reality of it. His tongue feels like hot heaven on my clit. His fingers dig lightly into my hips, and his hair tickles my stomach. I feel myself falling into the headlong rush of an approaching orgasm. I¡¯m barely aware of the sounds I¡¯m making as I get lost in the sensations. Someone knocks on the door. ¡°Ignore them,¡± I gasp. Rogers does just that, licking me steadily, drawing me ever closer. They knock again. ¡°Rogers, I know what you¡¯re doing in there! Open the door, now.¡± Rogers leaps away from me like he¡¯s been burned. I see something on his face I haven¡¯t seen in many years fear. ¡°Rogers, get back here,¡± I hiss. Shh, quiet!¡± Why does he sound so scared? What right does whoever it is at the door to tell him what to do in his own apartment? ¡°What?¡± Rogers grabs a nket, throws it over me, and hurries to the door. In any other situation, I¡¯d be indignant, but his fear has infected me, and I stay where I am. T B. C Ten CHAPTER TEN Announcement *** I can¡¯t make out the words, but I can hear angry voices. As I listen, my fear starts to subside, to be reced with indignation. I¡¯m just about to throw the nket aside when Rogers returns. He looks pissed, but his expression softens when he sees me. ¡°Sorry about that. Just a concerned neighbor. At any other time, I wouldn¡¯t let an encounter go without question, but I have more urgent matters on my mind right now. I grab Rogers¡¯s arm, pulling him back where he was, on top of me. I need you,¡± I breathe in his ear, taking the opportunity to nibble on my earlobe. Rogers throws aside the gown he¡¯d hastily put on to talk to his neighbor. His cock is still going strong. I reach for it, running my hand down its length. It feels so softpared to the rest of him. I give it a squeeze, pleased by how he strains up into my grip. ¡°Now, Rogers.¡± Iy back on the nket, spreading my legs. Rogers kisses me as he moves between my legs once more. I grab his waist, impatiently pulling him closer. Rogers breaks away from the kiss, chuckling, using his tongue to startpping at my nipples. They start hardening immediately, by they¡¯re nothingpared to the throbbing inferno down below. Rogers¡¯s cock presses up against the entrance to my pussy. Yes,¡± I breathe. ¡°Hurry. He pushes into me with one swift thrust. My head snaps back as I cry out, not. knowing or caring who might hear. Rogers pulls almost out, then thrusts back in. He uses his arms to support himself, his mouth fastened around my left nipple, sucking on it as he moves. I move my hips to meet him, helping create a frantic rhythm. I reach down and start fingering my clit while Rogers pounds into me, but he makes a noise of displeasure snatching my wrist. ¡°Let me.¡± I don¡¯t know how he¡¯s supporting his entire weight with one arm, and I don¡¯t really care. All I care about is that his hand takes the ce of mine, his fingers rubbing firmly over my clit. I put my hand over his guiding him in what movements to make. Rogers is a quick learner and is soon circling my clit in time with his thrusts. I was already right on the edge ofing before we were interrupted. There¡¯s no way I¡¯m going tost long like this. Our eyes meet. Not for the first time, it seems that Rogers¡¯s eyes are glowing with some inner light. He changes the angle of his hips slightly, and that small change is everything. I cry out as he hits my G-spot,ing harder than I¡¯ve evere in my life. Rogers¡¯s yell matches mien as hees too, thrusting twice more be going still. I half-expect him to copse on top of me, but he manages to roll to the side. I don¡¯t know if I¡¯d be capable of that amount of dexterity right now. My body feels like cooked noodles. Cooked noodles have never felt so good. After a time, Rogers gets up, offering me his hand. I find myself staring shyly down at my knees like a schoolgirl. I don¡¯t know what it means, what we just did. I¡¯m afraid to ask. I¡¯ll just go clean up.¡± I hurry to the bathroom. I turn on the shower, deciding that will give me the most stalling time. I let the hot water run over me as I try to think. I just got exactly what I wanted, but what did it mean to Rogers? Clearly, he¡¯s also attracted to me. Does he want more? Do 1? What am I supposed to do now? I wash quickly and turn the water off. I try to do something to untangle my hair in front of the mirror as it steams up. There really is only one thing to do. Time to put on your big girl panties, Amelia. You need to talk to Rogers. That¡¯s the only way you¡¯re going to resolve this. Rogers is waiting on the couch when I get back, looking nervous. I force myself to speak. So, that was¡­ pleasant. The tension breaks, and Rogersughs. ¡°Very pleasant, I¡¯d say.¡± ¡°I-is this part of the fake marriage?¡± ¡°If you want it to be.¡± I hesitate. If I do this wrong, I could lose Rogers forever. I value your friendship more than anything, Rogers. I don¡¯t want to lose it.¡± He moves over on the couch, taking my hands in his. ¡°I value your friendship too, Lia. I have no intention of losing you as a friend. If you decideter that this was a mistake, then things can go on the same between us. I¡¯ll still help you with the marriage. It doesn¡¯t have to change. But I¡¯d be lying if I didn¡¯t say I hope this can happen again. If that¡¯s what you want, of course.¡± I do want that. I just ¨C what does it mean, to you? Is this just friendship, or something else? I don¡¯t understand Rogers¡¯s expression. It¡¯s pain and hope and fears all mixed into one. What do you want, Amelia?¡± I lean back, thinking. ¡°I¡¯m not ready for another rtionship, not so soon after Raymond. But that doesn¡¯t mean we can¡¯t be physically together as friends.¡± Friends with benefits it is, then.¡± Rogers gives me a searching look but doesn¡¯t say anything else. I try to sort out my thoughts. Do I want something romantic with Rogers? Not now, but I can¡¯t deny that the thought has some appeal. Maybe down the line, when my broken heart is mended, when I¡¯m truly sure I¡¯m over Raymond. It wouldn¡¯t be fair to start something with Rogers now, even if I wanted to. Part of me still loves Rogers, as misguided as that part is. But maybe in the future¡­ I care about Rogers more than I¡¯d like to admit. It¡¯s too much to decide right now. I have Rogers¡¯s friendship, and I even finally have the opportunity to live out my fantasies with him. For now, that¡¯s enough. For the future¡­ who knows? It¡¯s awkward at first, but that fades quickly. Rogers orders pizzas and we lie together on the couch. It feels good, nestling myself into his arms. I feel like I belong here. I only leave when the sun starts setting. I always hate leaving Rogers. My good mood seems to sink with the sun. So, when do you want to move in?¡± I¡¯d forgotten about that prospect, and it cheers me considerably. ¡°How does tomorrow sound? ¡°Eager, are you? That¡¯s ok, me too. ¡°Tomorrow is great¡±. Amanda will be pleased that her plot worked.¡± I bet she will. I¡¯lle over tomorrow morning to help you move your stuff. ¡°Goodnight.¡± ¡°Goodnight.¡± I hesitate, wondering if I should kiss him, or if that would be too forward. In the end, I decide not to risk making things weird. We agreed to sex, not casual kisses. That kind of intimacy seems reserved for couples. Amanda is just making supper as I get home. Hey, Amelia.¡± She nces up at me and has already turned around when she suddenly does a double-take, spinning around to stare at me. ¡°What? Do I have something stuck in my teeth you slept with Rogers?¡± ¡°Ever considered a career as a mind reader?¡± I mutter sourly. I can see it ¨C you¡¯re glowing. It¡¯s like you¡¯re walking on air.¡± Manda¡¯s eyes suddenly snap to my hand. ¡°Aha! He agreed to it, didn¡¯t heThis content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. I look down to see the ring Rogers put on my finger before. I¡¯dpletely forgotten about it. I told him your ring size. You two are so perfect together!¡± You know we¡¯re just friends, right?¡± ¡°For now! You never know what happens. You¡¯re letting me n the wedding, right?¡± Sure. I suppose we should send out the announcements.¡± I¡¯ll deliver Raymond s one personally. I can¡¯t wait to see his face! Iugh at Amanda¡¯s evil grin. you¡¯ll have to tell me about it. I¡¯m moving into Rogers¡¯s ce tomorrow. It¡¯ll be a good opportunity. When we were ¨C you know ¨C something weird happened.¡± Nope, don¡¯t say another word. Friends we may be, but I am quite happy not knowing the specifics of your sex life.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that. Someone started knocking on the door. I told Rogers to ignore them, and he was going to, but then they said they knew what he was doing, and he got really scared. I don¡¯t understand it.¡± Manda frowns.¡±Rogers isn¡¯t afraid of much¡­ Amelia, I know I suggested this, but are you sure you know what you¡¯re getting into?¡± Her words send a shard of doubt through me. Surely, Rogers wouldn¡¯t let me move in if I¡¯d be in danger there. What if he doesn¡¯t know? What if we¡¯re both in over our heads? . Eleven CHAPTER ELEVEN Full Moon * I lie on the couch with my head on Rogers¡¯sp. I feel like I could lie here forever. It makes me uneasy. Rogers and I have agreed to be friends with benefits, but ever since we talked about it, I haven¡¯t allowed myself to so much as kiss him. I know I¡¯m being stupid, but I can¡¯t quite get over what happened thest time I trusted a guy. Raymond broke my heart, and it still hasn¡¯t healed. Rogers and I aren¡¯t a couple, but I can¡¯t help worrying that having sex with him again will1 just make me even more attached. Then what will I do if he betrays me as Raymond did? I don¡¯t know if my heart can take that. Are you ok? You look like you¡¯re thinking very hard about something.¡± it¡¯s on the tip of my tongue to confess my thoughts, but I stop myself at thest moment. Rogers will probably just think I¡¯m silly, or be offended that I don¡¯t trust him. The worst part is, he¡¯d probably be right. Rogers is apletely different man to Raymond. Expecting him to make Raymond¡±s mistakes is just stupid. I shouldn¡¯t have a problem trusting him because of what happened in my previous engagement. My broken heart doesn¡¯t seem to agree. So far, the fear of being burned again has overwhelmed my desire for Rogers e, but it¡¯s a close call. I sit up, forcing myself to move a little away so that our shoulders are just barely brushing. I gave up on watching the movie about an hour ago. I think Rogers did too he¡¯s been watching me. ¡°I¡¯m just wondering about the engagement party.¡± That¡¯s not entirely untrue. A wedding has a lot of practical aspects, which I¡¯m loving. With Raymond, the practical stuff was a nightmare. I¡¯ve never liked event nning. Now, it¡¯s an excellent way to distract me from my conflicted feelings about Rogers, and the hurt of what Raymond did. How long until that hurt goes away? It seems. like it lIst forever. ¡°Yes, we do need to sort that out. Do you have any preferences for a date?¡± I was thinking the night of the full moon. That venue we looked at has a wonderful balcony. We¡¯ll be able to see the moon from there, and maybe take some pictures with it as a backdrop. It¡¯ll be beautiful.¡± Rogers is silent for a minute, and I nce at him. His expression isn¡¯t what I¡¯m expecting. Why does he look rmed? It¡¯s just a date. ¡°Not that night. I ¨C um, it doesn¡¯t work for me. I¡¯ve got ¨C work that night. In fact, I¡¯m going to be away for work for those few days.¡± I try to hide my disappointment. I¡¯ve been living with Luke for two weeks, and in that time, the mystery has only deepened. Rogers¡¯s sites work as a reason for several meetings with the other people in his building. They always stop talking whenever Ie close. I get the feeling that they don¡¯t like me, but why? I haven¡¯t done anything to earn any sort of dislike. Rogers has kept me inside as much as possible-kept me away from them. I don¡¯t understand it. ¡°Alright, not that night, then.¡± Should I ask him where he¡¯s going? No, that l just get more evasions, if not outright lies. What about the week after that?¡± Rogers smiles in relief. ¡°Sounds perfect.¡± I sit quietly in thought until the movie finishes. When it does, I say goodnight to Rogers. I can see his eyes on my body. It¡¯s clear he still wants me, but he can also tell that I¡¯m pulling away. He¡¯s giving me the space I need to sort out my thoughts. It¡¯s more than Raymond ever gave me. Raymond wanted what he wanted when he wanted it. Rogers is different. If only my broken heart could understand that.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. To into the spare room ¨C my room, now and get out my journal. It¡¯s not a typical journal that I use to write about my day. I use it to write about the mystery of Rogers. I page through to the next nk page and write an entry for today. Rogers acted weird when I mentioned the full moon. I let it pass. He says he has work stuff for that night, but I doubt it¡¯s true. I pause, wondering. Exactly how mad will Rogers be if I do what I¡¯m thinking of doing? How long can I keep going without knowing his secret before it drives me insane? Coming to a decision, I open myptop and type out an email to Thomas Harrison. I¡¯ve used him before for work. This doesn¡¯t exactly work, but he won¡¯t care about that. ¡°Hi, Jim. I need someone to follow for a few days at the end of this month the five days around the full moon. His name is Aiden Rogers. I can give you his address and further details. Let me know if you¡¯re avable.¡± I hesitate for a moment, but then press send. I¡¯m going to marry Rogers. It may not be a real marriage, but I still don¡¯t want there to be any secrets between us. I¡¯m sure Rogers will be happier when I know. Clearly, he¡¯s not willing to tell me himself, which leaves me little choice. I freeze as I hear footsteps, but they pass my room. Rogers is just going to bed. Even though I know I have good reasons, I feel guilty about the email I just sent. I grab my phone and text Amanda. ¡°Amanda I¡¯ve hired someone to follow Rogers for a few nights.¡± I texted her. ¡°Risky move. Do you think it¡¯ll pay off?¡± She sent. ¡°I hope so! It¡¯s only a matter of time until I find out anyway, regardless of what investigation I do. Living with him just shows me how much he¡¯s hiding.¡± I replied ¡°I¡¯m not sure he thought that through before he offered me the fake marriage,¡± I replied again. ¡°I think he had other things on his mind¡± Manda sent I don¡¯t respond to that. Hannah keeps insisting that Rogers¡¯s feelings for me are more than friendly. I don¡¯t believe her. Or perhaps I don¡¯t want to believe her. If she¡¯s right, then I¡¯ll be faced with choosing between another rtionship, which I¡¯m not ready for, and losing Rogers, which is unthinkable. ¡°Anyway, I think you¡¯re right about him actually wanting you to find out.¡±He just doesn¡¯t want to be the one to tell you, for some reasons yet to be discovered. He¡¯d be a lot more careful if he wanted the secret kept.¡± Manda replied That much is true. I¡¯ve overheard a number of conversations that have hinted at more going on under the surface than I¡¯ve seen. If Rogers really didn¡¯t want me to hear, he would have had those conversations in one of the other apartments, not just outside the door. ¡± I hope so! So we¡¯ve set the date of the engagement party for the full moon¡± I texted ¡°Has Raymond given you any more trouble?¡± Manda replied ¡°Not since you sent him that cease and desist letter. I think he¡¯ll be quiet for now though we may need to hire security for the engagement party.¡± I texted ¡°More like cameras. If he gets crashes and starts misbehaving, we¡¯ll have all the proof we need for a restraining order. Speaking of which, you need to be careful that your guy following Rogers doesn¡¯t do anything illegal to get to the truth. Raymond might be watching, waiting for a reason to nail you on something. It¡¯s the kind of thing he¡¯d do.¡± Manda replied. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve used Jim before. Rnd would never ept a story that could potentially get us into legal trouble for how we acquired our information.¡± I texted ¡°That¡¯s good. Anyway, I¡¯m off to bed. Goodnight!¡± Manda replied ¡°Night¡± I texted and I put the phone aside and crawl into bed. It¡¯ste. I should sleep. I don¡¯t sleep. I want to masturbate. I know it¡¯s a bad idea. Since I¡¯ve lived here, I¡¯ve discovered that Rogers has umonly good hearing. Like, really good. Once, he heard me curse under my breath as I speared my hand with my keys when I was outside the dooring in. He came to check on me covered in water. He¡¯d been in the shower. Who can hear a whispered word two rooms away while in the shower? The incident went in my journal for sure. If I masturbate, Rogers will know. Worse, I don¡¯t trust myself not to cry out his name as Ie. That¡¯ll make things awkward, to say the least. It¡¯s been two weeks since I¡¯vee, and I don¡¯t know how much longer I canst out. Maybe I¡¯ll have to sneak off at work to take care of myself in one of the toilet cubicles. Not the best solution, but I¡¯m getting desperate. I want to groan in frustration, but of course, Rogers will hear that too. I try to think unsexy thoughts and fall asleep. I¡¯m already drifting off when something brings me wide awake again. The nking of chains quickly stifled. I never worked out what those chains were for, but chains are seldom used for anything good. I leap out of bed, hurrying to Rogers¡¯s room. I¡¯m not sure how much help I¡¯ll be if he¡¯s in trouble, but I have to try. I can¡¯t stand the thought of losing him. . Twelve Chains *** Amelia pov. I burst through the door, ready to punch, bite and scream. If someone is trying to chain Luke up, they¡¯| have toe through me first. ¡°Amelia!¡± Rogers leaps off his bed, trying to hide the huge pile of chains behind him. I scan the room. No one else is here. Rogers, what¡¯s going on?¡± I peer around his shoulder. ¡°What are those for?¡± Rogers nces guiltily back at the chains. I see that there¡¯s some kind of oil there, as well as a couple of metalworking instruments. It looks like he¡¯s taking care of the chains, or testing their strength. I- um. It¡¯s for work.¡± This is getting ridiculous. Rogers, you¡¯re a web designer! In what possible world could your work need chains?¡± It¡¯s a long story. Look, I¡¯m tired, I really want to go to bed.¡± ¡°Tell me what¡¯s going on.¡±I look him straight in the eye, silently daring him to lie to me. Rogers drops his gaze to the ground. ¡°I can¡¯t. I¡¯m so sorry, Lia, but I just can¡¯t. If you don¡¯t want to live with me anymore, I¡¯ll understand.¡± It¡¯s moments like this that I feel cruel pursuing his secrets as I do. I know you can¡¯t.¡± I take a hesitant step forward, putting a hand on his shoulder. ¡°I will find out, though. I hope you know that. You won¡¯t have to be alone in this forever.¡± You shouldn¡¯t.¡± I¡¯ve never heard an I shouldn¡¯t¡¯ that sounds so much like a ¡°please do it quickly¡¯ before. ¡°I will. Don¡¯t worry, Rogers. Everything will be fine.¡± I pull him into a hug, which he returns. I take the opportunity to look at the chains. They¡¯re well oiled and made of thick, smooth links. What on earth does Rogers need them for? You should go to bed. We¡¯ve got an early appointment tomorrow for cake testing.¡± ¡°Ok, Rogers. Goodnight.¡± ¡°Night, Lia.¡± I go back to bed, but sleep is a long time ining GOODnight¡­ Yes, of course¡­ My mind is whirring with possibilities, each more worrying than thest. *** ¡°I can¡¯t! I swear, if I have one more bite of cake, I¡¯m going to explode.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take that bet.¡± Shut up, we never should have brought them home from the store!¡± You said they were delicious.¡± ¡°Not so delicious that I want to experience death by wedding cake.¡± Rogersughs, and I can¡¯t helpughing too. Nothing makes me happy like seeing him happy. He looks so cute with a bit of icing on his chin. Before I know what I¡¯m doing, I lean forward and lick the bit of icing off. Rogers¡¯sughter trails away as he looks at me. He has that hot look in his eyes. I know exactly what he¡¯s thinking. I should back away. I should make an excuse to leave, but I can¡¯t. My body seems to be pulling me toward Rogers like he¡¯s a huge, sexy ma. I¡¯ve spent weeks resisting, and I¡¯m at the end of my resistance. With a sigh of surrender, I kiss him. Judging by Rogers¡¯s response, he¡¯s been wanting me just as badly as I want him. He lifts me up by my waist, settling me on his hips as he kisses me. Gosh, I never knew he was that strong. That¡¯s fucking hot. We kiss deeply, breathing each other¡¯s air, our tongues dancing together. I wrap my legs around Rogers, but he seems to be doing a good job of holding me up with his arms. That leaves my arms free to explore his torso. I reach under the back of his shirt, letting my hands run over his back. My fingers find a bump ¨C may be a scar. I want to see it, but I can¡¯t ask anything right now, because my mouth is thoroughly upied. Rogers walks us all the way to the bedroom, my weight giving him no trouble whatsoever. Heys me gently down on the bed. I don¡¯t want gentle. I want him to take me hard and fast. I¡¯m already so filled with a need that my panties are soaked. I scramble to get my clothes off. Rogers does the same with his. I hear fabric ripping, but don¡¯t spare a nce for the ruined shirt. I get onto my knees, facing away from him. ¡°Take me, Rogers.¡± There will be time for slowter. Right now, I need his cock in me. Apparently, Rogers¡¯s need is as dire as mine, because he doesn¡¯t hesitate, sheathing himself inside me in one swift thrust. I cry out as I¡¯m almost pushed forward onto my face. Yes, this is what I need. Rogers grabs my hips to stop me from toppling over as he thrusts again and again. I¡¯m barely aware of my own cries over the pping sound of our flesh on each thrust. It doesn¡¯t take long. Rogers¡¯s name leaves my lips in a scream as Ie.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. I fall forward, but his hands hold me in ce as he keeps going, seeking his own release. Ites shortly after, and his roar sounds like the growl of an animal. The two of us fall forward in a tangled mess of limbs, sated but not yet spent. For a while, we lie without speaking. It doesn¡¯t feel awkward That¡¯s one of the things I love about Rogers ¨C I never need to fill the silence With meaningless conversation. I don¡¯t for a moment think we¡¯re done ¨C I¡¯m certainly not. I¡¯ve had my release, and it was amazing, but it was also hurried. We were both ways too horny for it tost. Now, I want it tost. At length, I roll over, running my handszily up and down Rogers¡¯s chest. I start to explore his thighs and calves, before moving back up. By the time I urge him to turn over, I can see his cock rising again. I run my fingers over the scar on his back as he turns onto his belly. It looks like a bite mark ¨C may be from a dog, though it would have to be a huge one. I don¡¯t know how a dog would have bitten his back, but I¡¯m not going to ask him now. I start trailing wet kisses down his back. I grab his firm ass, enjoying the feeling of the flesh under my fingers. God, he has such a perfect ass. I¡¯d like to know what his workout routine is to make himself look like this. I take my time, kissing my way down Rogers¡¯s thighs. I lick here and there, liking the salty taste of his drying sweat. Rogers is breathing hard, but he doesn¡¯t move, letting me have my fun. Eventually, I take pity on him. ¡°Turn back over.¡± Rogers does more than just turn. He pounces on me, flipping us around so that he¡¯s straddling me. He grips my wrists and raises them above my head, holding them fast with one hand. I don¡¯t do anything to stop him, finding It quite like the restriction. Rogers follows my example, kissing me everywhere, though he avoids my pussy just like I avoided his cock. We both want to save the best forst, it seems. I¡¯m already getting impatient. His kisses are ramping up my desire at an rming rate. If he wanted to take me hard and fast again right now, I certainly wouldn¡¯t beining. I tug at my hands, wanting to touch myself, but Rogers holds them fast. I consider telling him to let go but decide it¡¯s more delicious to let him have his naughty fun with me. He finally finishes kissing me everywhere else, lingering on my breasts, before moving down to my pussy. Instead of kissing, he slips one finger inside me. I can¡¯t help moaning and immediately start thrusting onto the digit. ¡°Still,¡± he warns. ¡°Or I stop.¡± That certainly gets me to keep still. I bite my lip in an effort not to move. Rogers starts thrusting so slowly that I think it might drive me mad. ¡°Rogers¡­ I need more.¡± He chuckles. ¡°I know you do. You also need patience.¡± I¡¯m not going to beg for him; I¡¯m never doing that again, for anyone. It seems that Rogers doesn¡¯t want me to. After a minute of slow thrusting, he adds another finger and moves faster. I¡¯m very near to losing my control and rutting desperately against his hand. Rogers is smiling, his pupils blown wide with desire. Suddenly, he stops. His fingers disappear. Rogers cries out, pressing his hands to the sides of his head. He¡¯s obviously in pain. Rogers! What is it?¡± He can¡¯t answer me. Panicking, grab my phone, dial 911. No.¡± Rogers holds my wrist, stopping me from pressing the call button. ¡°Derek ¨C get Derek.¡± Who is that? Rogers, who¡¯s Derek?¡± Rogers topples off the side of the bed, yelling in pain. I follow him to the ground, my hands fluttering uselessly around him, unable to do anything to ease his pain. I get up and run, screaming for Derek. Thirteen Just Friends ** I can only hope that Derek, whoever he is, lives in the building. I burst through the front door into the corridor. ¡°Derek! Derek, please, it¡¯s Rogers!¡± A man appears from the upstairs floor. He¡¯s walking slowly as if he doesn¡¯t hear my desperate screams, but his eyes are on me. I be aware that I¡¯m naked, but I don¡¯t care. Derek? Rogers needs help ¨C please, hurry!¡± Oh yes, Amelia, Rogers needs help, and you can help him. You need to back off.¡± ¡°I what?¡± The sound of Rogers¡¯s screams suddenly goes quiet. I abandon Derek and run back to the bedroom. Rogers is getting up, his face grim, but he seems uninjured. ¡°I Rogers? What happened?¡± Before he can speak, Derek steps into the room. ¡°I warned you, Rogers. I told you, it¡¯s too dangerous, at least right now. You¡¯ll hurt her.¡± I wouldn¡¯t. I couldn¡¯t.¡± You could. You¡¯ve alreadye close. You need to stay away from her.¡± You don¡¯t own me, Derek!¡± ¡°Yes, I do,¡± Derek hissed. ¡°And you know it. Now get dressed.¡± To my utter astonishment, Rogers does indeed start getting dressed. Seemingly satisfied, Derek leaves. I hear him shut the front door on his way out. Rogers? What ¨C why are you letting him tell you what to do? What happened? Was it a migraine? You looked like your head was about to explode with pain.¡± Rogers doesn¡¯t say anything. He looks pale and shaky. Clearly, he¡¯s notpletely recovered from his ordeal. As much as I need answers, he¡¯s obviously not up to giving them to me right now. ¡°Let¡¯s get you to bed.¡± ¡°Thanks, Lia. We¡¯ll talk tomorrow.¡± Oh, you can count on it,¡± I say as I tuck him in. *** I¡¯m up early the next morning. It took me hours to fall asleep, but when I did, my nerves wouldn¡¯t let me sleep for long. Rogers wakes upte. I¡¯m waiting for him with coffee when he stumbles through to the kitchen. ¡°Hey.¡± I hand him a cup of coffee. ¡°Hey, Lia. Thanks.¡± He drinks in silence for a few minutes. If he thinks I¡¯m just going to forget about what happenedst night, he doesn¡¯t know me. Sooner orter, we¡¯re going to talk about it. So, we should talk aboutst night.¡± Either Rogers is a mind reader, or our minds are just alike.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. Yes, we should. What happened?¡± Rogers sighs, staring at his coffee as though hoping it will exin to him. ¡°The people who live in this building ¨C we¡¯re all part of a group. I know that much already.¡± Of course, you do. I forget what a good journalist you are. Well, the group has a leader ¨C Derek. Derek has ruled that it¡¯s not safe for me to be around other people, at least not for now.¡± Why? What on earth does he think you¡¯re going to do?¡± Lia¡­ when I left before, I didn¡¯t go because I wanted to. I had to. Something happened to me that night in the woods, and it changed me. ?¡¯m not the same Rogers you knew.¡± I know that too. A few details wouldn¡¯t go amiss, though.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t give you details. It¡¯s against the rules. But I can tell you that Derek isn¡¯t entirely without a point. He¡¯s already mad I let you move in here. At the very least, he wants me to refrain from being intimate with you. When he realized I was disobeying his orders, he gave me a¡­ harsh reminder.¡± Do you mean that was him, causing you pain? ¡°Yes,¡± Rogers admitted. ¡°It¡¯s something all leaders of groups like ours can do, but they seldom resort to it.¡± Rogers, we have to go to the police! If he¡¯s hurting you, trying to control you ¨C ¡°No, we can¡¯t go to the police. Trust me, that would just make matters worse. Look, I¡¯ll talk to Derek. He may be the leader, but as I saidst night, he doesn¡¯t own me. He was just mad, and scared, for both of us.¡± So, we can¡¯t¡­? We can. I¡¯m not going to let him control me. I know myself, and my limits. I would never hurt you.¡± ¡°I know that.¡± Derek doesn¡¯t, but I¡¯ll convince him. It¡¯s my life and my body. He¡¯s trying to protect me, but I don¡¯t need his protection.¡± He sounds awful. ¡°No, he¡¯s not. He¡¯s had some bad experiences in the past, which has made him overly cautious.¡± The conversation with Rogers seems to be bringing up more questions than answers. Why don¡¯t you just tell me, Rogers?¡± I¡¯ve told you, I can¡¯t.¡± He drains his coffee. ¡°Now, we both have to get to work. I¡¯ll work out things with Derek.¡± I hesitate, feeling the need to rify. ¡°We¡¯re still just friends, right? I mean, we¡¯re not crossing a line here?¡± ¡°Just friends,¡± Rogers agrees. ¡°Friends with benefits, but still friends.¡± He seems sad when he says it. I don¡¯t know what I feel, and my mind is too busy buzzing with questions for me to examine my emotions right now. Right, then I guess I¡¯ll see you this evening. Oh, and you don¡¯t need to pretend to go to work. I know you¡¯re meeting with Derek and the rest of your group. Rogers shakes his head. ¡°Go to work, Lia, and forget all about this.¡± That¡¯s not going to happen. I keep my private thoughts to myself as I go to my room and start getting dressed. *** I tap my foot impatiently. I should be at home having dinner with Rogers. Instead, I¡¯m sitting in my car on a deserted road, waiting for Jim. Why couldn¡¯t he just give me his information via email like he usually does? Rogers has been away on mysterious business for the past four days, and I¡¯m eager to see him. He promised me that when he got home tonight, we¡¯d have dinner together. I have everything ready at home. I¡¯m too eager to have what Jim knows to wait at home while the roast cooks, though. I check my emails again, confirming that I¡¯m at the right spot. My mind strays to Rogers. Though he talked to Derek, we haven¡¯t had sex since that night. I think we¡¯re both nervous. Tonight, I¡¯m going to break through that nervousness. Now that I¡¯ve had Rogers, I¡¯m not sure I can go without him. I never knew sex could be that good. I¡¯m brought out of my increasingly lusty thoughts as the car door opens. I gasp as I see the person step inside. It¡¯s Jim, but he¡¯s barely recognizable. His face is a mess of cuts and bruises. ¡°Jim! What happened? I came here in person so that you¡¯d see and understand the gravity of the situation. I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve gotten yourself involved in, but back off, Amelia.¡± He¡¯s the fourth person to tell me to back off. How many will need to tell before listening? ¡°What happened??¡± What happened was that I was lucky to escape with my life. Don¡¯t contact me again.¡± with that, Jim leaves. I sit in the car seat, stunned. I can¡¯t believe it. Who would do this to Jim? Derek would. Whatever secret he¡¯s protecting, he¡¯s willing to hurt people to do it, just like he hurt Rogers. I turn the car on, heading home, wondering not for the first time if I¡¯m mad to keep pushing to find out the truth in all this. I get back just in time to take the roast out of the oven. I set it down on the table, looking at the clock. Rogers said he¡¯d be home by seven. Seven Comes. Five past seven Ten past seven. Half-past seven. The food is mostly cold by the time Rogers walks in, but the food is nothing to the expression on his face. Rogers! Wee home, I was¡­ getting¡­ quite¡­¡± My words trail off as what I¡¯m seeing filters through to my brain. ¡°Rogers, what¡¯s wrong?¡± I never thought you¡¯d make it this far, Amelia.¡± His re is powerful enough to back me up a step. What do you mean?¡± You know what I mean! Scoping out social media is one thing, but having me followed? Do you know how badly you almost messed things up? I thought I could trust you!¡± I can barely force a whisper out through numb lips. ¡°You can trust me.¡± Not when it matters. Not when I need to be alone, for my safety and everyone else¡¯s, and instead, I have an investigator trailing me!¡± *What did you expect me to do, Rogers? I¡¯m part of your life now. I need to know what¡¯s going on. You certainly aren¡¯t rushing to confide in me.¡± Do you think I don¡¯t want to? You think I don¡¯t wish every day that I could?¡± You knew I¡¯d take steps to find out.¡± ¡°Well, this is one step too far!¡± Rogers storms through the house, heading for his bedroom. I follow after him, frantically wiping at my eyes. ¡°Rogers, please wait.¡± I don¡¯t want to talk right now. Goodnight, Amelia,¡± He ms the door shut in my face. I stand there staring stupidly at the door. How did he find out? I suppose that doesn¡¯t matter now. Crap, I really messed up. What if he never wants to speak to me again? What if he hates me? Fourteen What Happens After Amelia pov *** Tears are falling thick and fast down my cheeks. I press a hand to my mouth to stifle the sound of my sobs, rushing to my room and mming the door. I don¡¯t know if the door will stop Rogers from hearing me, but it¡¯s the best I can do. I throw myself onto the bed, pressing my face into the pillow. I never thought it would be like this. I never thought he¡¯d find out. Even if I¡¯d known he would, I would have been sure he¡¯d brush it off, just like all my other efforts of investigation. I grab my phone, sending a text to Amanda with shaky hands. ¡°Amanda I messed up. Rogers found out about Jim tailing him. He¡¯s mad. I think he hates me.¡± I texted her ¡°Oh hon, I¡¯m sorry. Tell me what happened, exactly.¡± She replied. I spend a few minutes typing out a description of the fight, not wanting to risk Rogers hearing me speaking to her on a phone call. Hannah¡¯s response is a few minutes ining. ¡°Give him the night to cool off. He has a right to be mad. I¡¯m not saying you were wrong, as clearly what¡¯s going on is dangerous, and you need to know about it, especially if you¡¯re living with him. ¡°She texted. ¡°But I can still see why he¡¯s upset. He cares about you, though. He¡¯ll forgive you.¡± She texted again. ¡°I¡¯m not sure he will. All these years, I¡¯ve been chasing stories, unearthing the truth, but I¡¯ve never worried about whates after. This is whates after pain and hurt. Perhaps some secrets are better left buried.¡± I replied. ¡°I know you don¡¯t believe that. You¡¯re just upset. Trust me, sleep and talk to Rogers in the morning. If things aren¡¯t better by then, call me and we¡¯lle up with an action n.¡± Amanda texted. That brings a watery smile to my face. ¡°Thanks, Manda. I don¡¯t know what I¡¯d do without you.¡± I replied ¡°Crash and burn, obviously¡± She replied. ¡°You just keep thinking that!¡± I texted. Amanda is right. The best thing I can do right now is sleep and hope things will be better in the morning. I¡¯m no longer even remotely hungry, and I can¡¯t summon the energy to get up and put the dinner in the fridge. The stress of the fight catches up to me all at once. I roll over and I¡¯m asleep in moments. *** Rogers is waiting for me at breakfast the next day. His expression is not encouraging. ¡°Amelia. Please sit down. We need to talk.¡± Crap, he¡¯s about to break up with me. Of course, he can¡¯t break up with me, as we¡¯re not a couple. That thought doesn¡¯tfort me as I sit opposite him. ¡°Listen, Rogers.¡± He holds a hand up, stopping me mid-sentence. ¡°I was angryst night. I shouldn¡¯t have shouted at you or said all the things I did. I¡¯m still angry, but I¡¯m also still willing to be your fake husband.¡± What about my real friend?¡± Rogers hesitates. ¡°I still care about you, Lia, and I still want you as a friend. I¡¯m just not sure I can trust you anymore.¡± When I find out what his secret is, everything will be better. ¡°I¡¯d never do anything to hurt you intentionally.¡± I realize that, but we¡¯re very lucky that no one got unintentionally hurt because of your little stunt.¡± I nod, not really understanding, but knowing he¡¯s not going to exin it to me. Hopefully, this will all be over soon. I¡¯ll find out what Rogers¡¯s hiding, and we¡¯ll finally be on the same page. For now, I say we get back to where we were before. Ok, I understand.¡± I give him my most winning smile. ¡°We¡¯ve got food fromst night ¨C it should still be good. I put it in the fridge when I got up. Fancy some chicken for breakfast?¡± I can¡¯t, I¡¯ve got to go.¡± I watch Rogers¡¯s back as he walks out. He may have put the argument behind him, but he doesn¡¯t trust me. WilI ever be able to win back his trust? I go to work, but my heart isn¡¯t in it. If Rnd notices my mncholy, he¡¯s kind enough not to say anything. I count the hours to my lunch break and text Amanda the moment the clock strikes twelve. ¡°Rogers and I talked.¡± I sent ¡°What did he say?¡± She replied almost immediately. ¡°He¡¯s still willing to marry me, but he doesn¡¯t trust me. He wants to maintain our friendship, but I don¡¯t know how he can when he looks at me like he can¡¯t rely on me.¡± I texted her. ¡°He¡¯ll get over it. This is already a vast improvement fromst night.¡± She replied. ¡°How long will that take? It hurts, having him look at me like that.¡± I texted. ¡°You would know that better than me. Like has never been one to hold grudges, though.¡± She replied back. ¡°I wish he¡¯d never left. Whatever made him leave is what¡¯s keeping us apart now. He thinks that if I know his stupid secret, l hate him. I can see it in his eyes; he thinks I¡¯ll leave him.¡± I texted. ¡°Well, you never know. What if you discover he¡¯s a serial killer or something. You¡¯d be mad not to hate that.¡± She replied. ¡°Lol right, like Rogers could ever kill anyone.¡± I texted. ¡°You never know¡± She replied. ¡°I put away my phone, smiling.¡± Talking to Amanda always makes me feel better. After all, what secret could Rogers possibly have that could drive a wedge between us once brought out into the light? I know him. He hasn¡¯t done anything terrible. There¡¯s more to this, some other reason why he thinks I¡¯ll leave. Whatever it is, I¡¯ll find out. I work at top speed on my current article for the rest of the day so that I have time to keep working on my investigation into Rogers. It isn¡¯t strictly something I should be doing at work, since I have no intention of publishing an article on this, but Rnd doesn¡¯t mind if I pursue my own interests as long as my work is done. By the end of the day, my brief good cheer after talking to Amanda has worn off. I¡¯ve hit brick wall after brick wall in my investigation. ¡°The sum total of what I¡¯ve discovered is there¡¯s something weird going on here. ¡°Great job, Amelia. That will really make headlines, that will. Some reporter you are. Sure, uncover scandals for Rnd, but when it really matters, here you sit with basically nothing. It¡¯s starting to look like the only way I¡¯ll find out Rogers¡¯s secret is if he tells me. Fat chance of that. Shut up, Amelia, stop being so negative. You know Rogers. Surely, convincing him can¡¯t be that hard. I¡¯ll have to give him a few weeks, of course. I need to regain his trust before I start asking him to reveal his deepest, darkest secret. All I can do is try my best to show him that I¡¯m trustworthy, that he can tell me. Charged with my new determination, I head home. I have no intention of stopping my investigation, but convincing Rogers to tell me is a more viable option right now. It¡¯s just a happy coincidence that my goal of getting him to trust me fits perfectly with my other goal: having Rogers screw me so thoroughly that I can¡¯t walk straight for a week. I press my legs together at the thought. Rogers is already home when I arrive. He¡¯s sitting in the lounge, reading. He seems calm, and he smiles when he looks up at me. ¡°Hey, Lia. I thought I¡¯d order us pizzas for supper. You in?¡± ¡°Absolutely. Maybe we can watch a movie.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± I¡¯mpletely certain he sees my ulterior motives for the movie, and the fact that he agreed anyway is a good sign. Rogers sits apart from me on the couch, but I move closer. It isn¡¯t long before he puts his arm around me. I¡¯m starting to forget about getting him to trust me and thinking more along the lines of getting his dick in my mouth when the doorbell rings. I expect it¡¯s just the pizza man.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. Rogers gets up to answer. Pm not really listening, until a name jumps out at me. What is it, Derek?¡± Icy fear floods my veins. Did Derek know that I was thinking of sucking Rogers¡¯s cock? I don¡¯t see how he could, but then, how could he know we were having sex the other night? The first time was probably a warning what will he do now? I¡¯m fairly certain it was Derek who bests Jim up. Rogers is involved with Derek somehow, and his obedience is clearly expected. I can¡¯t let Derek hurt him. I have to stop him, no matter what. I leap up, ready to throw myself between Rogers and Derek if Derek shows even the slightest sign of wanting to hurt my man. Fifteen Wee to Hell *** They¡¯re still speaking, but I¡¯m not listening. I hurtle to the door, grabbing Rogers by the shoulder and yanking him back. He¡¯s a lot heavier than I am, and I barely manage to move him, but I push myself between him and Derek anyway. ¡°Stay away from him! I¡¯ll call the police if you hurt him again, I swear I will.¡± Derek raises his eyebrows at Luke. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Rogers cover his face with his hand. Hm, maybe I misjudged you after all.¡± I don¡¯t like the way Derek¡¯s looking at me. It¡¯s like he¡¯s X-raying me. Like he can see everything. ¡°Tell me, what has Rogers told you about our¡­ group?¡± *Just because you¡¯ve got Rogers too scared to say anything doesn¡¯t mean I won¡¯t find out. If you try to hurt him, I¡¯ll bring you down. My best friend is awyer. Trust me, you don¡¯t want to go up against her.¡± Rogers chuckled. He doesn¡¯t appear at all moved by my threats. ¡°It can wait until tomorrow, Rogers. I assume you have things to do?¡± He eyes me meaningfully. ¡°I¡¯lle to talk to you tomorrow. Come back inside, Lia.¡± I step back into the apartment, though I keep my eyes on Derek until the closing door blocks him from sight. Crap, I bet I¡¯ve embarrassed Rogers. That was probably a perfectly innocent conversation, and there I am threatening Derek like a crazy person. Well, I¡¯ve got to admit, I¡¯m impressed. I didn¡¯t think there was any possible way for you to gain Derek¡¯s favor, but threatening him did the trick.¡± Rogers startsughing. I find myselfughing too, more out of relief than anything. Rogers¡¯s not mad. When theughter subsides, he pulls me back to the couch. ¡°On another note, we need to pick outfits for the engagement party on Friday.¡± You¡¯d better dress to impress,¡± I tease. My mother isn¡¯t an easy person to please.¡± Bah, I¡¯ve known your mother since I was thirteen. I¡¯ll have her charmed in no time.¡± Well, see about that.¡± *** I look over Rogers¡¯s suit with a critical eye. Yes, this is definitely good. I¡¯m sure my mom won¡¯t find anything to criticize here, especially when the suit is filled with Rogers¡¯s smoking body. Rogerses up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. ¡°I could do with a shower,¡± he murmurs. ¡°Get cleaned up before the party, you know. Of course, I¡¯ll need someone to help me wash my back.¡± He makes it clear by his tone that washing his back is the least of his concerns. Oh, fuck yes. Getting banged in the shower? Totally on my list of things I want to do with Rogers. Well, I guess I¡¯ll have to help with that. We wouldn¡¯t want you making a bad impression, after all. I¡¯ll turn the water on.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. I start stripping the moment Rogers goes into the bathroom. By the time I step inside, there¡¯s already steaming out of the shower. Rogers is naked and wet, and it looks so hot that if I was wearing panties, they¡¯d be getting a dousing. ¡°Come, join me.¡± I don¡¯t need to ask twice. I step inside. Rogers closes the door and presses me against the shower wall. The warm water feels delicious but not as delicious as his mouth on my breast as he starts licking. He works his way toward my nipple, his tongue pleasantly coolpared to the water. When he finally starts licking my hard tit, I almost gasp in a breath of water, turning my head out of the spray just in time. Rogers¡­¡±I moan, pressing my body against him. There¡¯s one fantasy, in particr, ar, I want to have out. I fall to my knees. Rogers is confused only for a moment. When I take his cock into my mouth, he catches on pretty quickly. He spreads his hands against the shower wall behind him, leaning his weight on his arms as if fearing his legs may give out. It¡¯s a reasonable fear. That is my goal here, alter all. I start sucking and swirling my tongue, using one hand to caress his balls. Over thest few weeks, I¡¯ve learned exactly what Rogers likes. His hips start thrusting right at the point I estimated, and I¡¯m ready to catch him with my hands. That doesn¡¯t go as well as I¡¯d nned, since Rogers is much stronger than me. Change of ns. I let him fuck my mouth as deeply as he can. I struggle to control my gag reflex, a struggle I win. This is actually more fun than the way I was going to do it. I can tell by the frenzy of his thrust when he¡¯s about toe. I squeeze his balls lightly Just as his hote starts to spurt into my mouth. Rogers¡¯s knees copse heavily and he falls to the shower floor. I let him fuck my mouth as deeply as he can. I struggle to control my gag reflex, a struggle. I win. This is actually more fun than the way I was going to do it. I can tell by the frenzy of his thrusts when. he¡¯s about toe. I squeeze his balls lightly just as his hote starts to spurt into my mouth. Rogers¡¯s knees copse heavily and he falls to the shower floor. Smiling in triumph, I swallow hise. I scramble to my feet, giving him a hand up. We should get going. We don¡¯t have that much time before we need to leave.¡± Oh no. Not before I have you sprawling on the shower floor in helpless pleasure.¡± The mental image goes straight to my clit. I know we should be washing and leaving, but Rogers¡¯s invitation is too good to refuse. Quickly, then.¡± I press myself against the shower wall sticking my ass out and spreading my legs. Rogers has to bend, being taller than I am, and I have to arch my back so that my ass is out as far as it possibly can be. It¡¯s all worth it as he presses into me. The anglebined with the hot water flowing over us has my body sending waves of pleasure through me with each thrust. There isn¡¯t much angle to push back here, but Rogers seems happy to do all the work. He wraps his arms around me, work?ng one finger between my folds to touch my clit. ¡°Ungh Rogers!¡± I bash my head on the soap holder as I arch my neck back. Neither of us stops to pick up the soap as it tters to the shower floor. Just like I know exactly how to touch Rogers, he knows exactly how to tease my clit to make me wild. He starts by gently rubbing up and down with the tip of one finger Our flesh smacks together, the water making the sound all the louder, almost eclipsing Rogers¡¯s small grunt at the apex of every thrust. At an urgent moan from me, Rogers uses two fingers to rub firm circles over my clit. I¡¯m already so close that it¡¯s not going to take much to finish me. Rogers slows his thrusts, and I¡¯m about to scream at him not to stop, but it seems that¡¯s not his intention. Brace your arms against the shower wall.¡± Instead of arguing, I do what he says. He grabs my legs, and with an act of extraordinary athleticism, he lifts them up, so that he¡¯s holding my knees just behind his hips, with me pinned between him and the wall. The angle hits my G-spot so hard that I¡¯m seeing stars. I¡¯m vaguely aware of screaming like a banshee as Ie hard enough to turn my organs into goo. I slither down onto the floor, unable to support my own weight any longer. Somehow, Rogers ends up on the floor with me. I realize that he used his body to cushion me from bashing myself on the walls as I went down. I lean against Rogers¡¯s chest, ignoring the hot water still streaming over us. ¡°I should let you get creative more often.¡± I should take showers with you more often.¡± ¡°No argument from me there.¡± We don¡¯t have time to spend more than a few minutes recovering. We wash off quickly and get dressed without much small talk. Rogers is driving, and Amanda is meeting us there. Rogers nces at my grim expression as we get into the car. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t be too bad. You don¡¯t know how my mother gets with potential husbands. She¡¯ll eat you alive. She almost sent Raymond running more times than I can count. Why he persevered, I can¡¯t imagine.¡± You¡¯re worth it.¡± Rogers gives me a flirty wink. It¡¯s a good thing he sent me straight to cloud nine with the orgasm earlier, or I don¡¯t think I¡¯d be able to resist kissing him senseless right now. If she starts asking when we¡¯re having children, deflect. If she starts criticizing your. work, just ignore her. She¡¯ll definitely imply that your intentions with me are less than pure.¡± ¡°That would be fair, seeing as my intentions are definitely not pure.¡± ¡°Shut up, Rogers, this is serious. She¡¯ll bury you,¡± I insist. ¡°I can handle it.¡± I pick at my nails as I watch the lights go by, Before I know it, Rogers is opening the door. Crap, are we here already? He gives me a handout, smiling. encouragingly. ¡°Come on, it won¡¯t be that. bad.¡± I just grimace as we step through the venue entrance. ¡°Wee to hell.¡± Sixteen CHAPTER SIXTEEN The Engagement Party *** I hang on Rogers¡¯s arm as we enter. He really doesn¡¯t know what he¡¯s getting into. Amelia, Rogers! You look lovely, dear. And you, Rogers ¨C that suit is¡­ quite original.¡± I grimace at my mom. Does she have to start with the veiled insults the moment we walk through the door? I already know she prefers Raymond to Rogers. Probably because I limited the time she spent with Raymond for this very reason. Thanks, mom. Josephes to rescue us. ¡±Amanda s already here, she said she needs to talk to you when you get here.¡± Rogers and I follow Joseph to the corner of the room, where Amanda is sitting by the snacks table. She winks at us. ¡°Thought you might need a reason to getaway. Did we have to invite her?¡± I moan. ¡°She¡¯d be crushed if you didn¡¯t, ¡°Joseph points out. ¡°Don¡¯t be too hard on her. She means well. She¡¯s just misguided.¡± I know.,¡± I sigh, and Rogers puts his arm around me. It¡¯s ok. This is what I signed up for, remember? It¡¯s just one night. ¡°No, it¡¯s not ¨C it¡¯s every family dinner from now until death! As I say it, I realize that Rogers and I never discussed how long we would remain married. What happens when one of us finds someone we want to be in a real rtionship with? Do we get divorced? Now¡¯s not the time to discuss it. I¡¯II have to bring it up with him at some point. The idea of being with someone other than Rogers is oddly unappealing. Again, not now, Amelia. Just focus on getting through the night. Rogers and I manage to spend fifteen minutes or so socializing with other guests. We have a mix of my family and friends. Rogers didn¡¯t want to invite any of his people. I guess he doesn¡¯t want to deceive them with a fake marriage. He¡¯s only doing this for me. Surely he has to tell his family and friends at some point, though? You alright?¡± Rogers murmurs. I¡¯m fine. Just can¡¯t wait to get home.¡± Maybe we could pick up where we left off in the shower.¡± Well great. Now I¡¯m just going to spend the rest of the evening fantasizing about how many ways I can bang Rogers in the shower. My mom sidles over. She does a very good job of making it look casual rather than what it is ¨C a headlong attack. ¡°So, Rogers, I hope you¡¯re having a good time? It¡¯s a pity none of your family could make it. Do they live far away?¡± ¡°Yeah, they do. I¡¯ve only moved here recently too, so I haven¡¯t made many new friends, though reconnecting with Amanda and Amelia has been great.¡± He¡¯s such a good liar. I¡¯d be impressed if he didn¡¯t use those skills on me so often. Yes, well, you¡¯d have thought they¡¯d make the effort toe, even if it is a bit of a drive. I¡¯d never miss Amelia¡¯s engagement party. I love her so much.¡± Dolly tries to pull me into a hug, ignoring the fact that I¡¯m ring daggers at her. ¡°It¡¯s just the engagement party, mom. It¡¯s not a big deal.¡± Of course, honey.¡± I¡¯m hungry.¡± I grab Rogers¡¯s hand and drag him over to the snacks, grabbing a pastry. Rogers doesn¡¯t look angry. If anything, he seems amused. ¡°I must admit, I thought you were overstating it, but your warnings were urate.¡± I¡¯m sorry,¡± I moan. ¡°She¡¯s impossible. Ever since I was a teenager she¡¯s been like this with every boy I date. She gets worse the more serious it gets. Joseph says she¡¯s just looking out for me, but that¡¯s no excuse.¡± Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not that easily offended.¡± Let¡¯s see how long we can avoid here if we hide hideout the bathrooms, she¡¯ll miss us.¡± Rogers chuckles and follows me into another abandoned corner. Amanda meets my eye and goes over to Dolly, engaging her in conversation. Amanda is excellent at distracting people, and I¡¯m grateful for her help warding Dolly off. The next few hours go about as well as can be expected. Rogers handles my mother¡¯s interrogation about his intentions toward me wel and manages to ignore her insinuations about his character. She may have known him for years, but now that he¡¯s my fianc¨¦, apparent, ly he¡¯s an evil predator looking to snatch her innocent daughter away. Just great, mom. I suppose she¡¯s at least pretending to be polite, even though we all see through it. Halfway through justifying his career choice to Dolly, Rogers gets a phone call. He excuses himself for a minute. When hees back, he looks worried. I get up and draw him into a corner. ¡°Is something wrong ¡°Not wrong, exactly¡­ but I¡¯m afraid I need to go.¡± ¡°I stare at him in disbelief. ¡°Go?¡± I wouldn¡¯t leave if it wasn¡¯t important, I Swear. There¡¯s been¡­ an emergency.¡± ¡°What kind of emergency?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say.¡± You mean you won¡¯t say. ¡°You can¡¯t leave me here with her, I hiss, gesturing back to my mom, who is cleaning her neck to try to see our conversation. ¡°Do you know how far back it¡¯ll set us in gaining her approval if you disappear halfway through the engagement party?¡± ¡°I know, but this is important. Please, try to understand.¡± I¡¯m trying, Rogers, but it¡¯s very difficult to understand when I don¡¯t have all the facts of the situation. I don¡¯t know anything about why you¡¯re leaving. Look I¡¯ll exin moreter. Ok? But for now, I have to go.¡± The promise of more information into whatever mysterious dealings he has is a good incentive. Alright, but tonight, you¡¯re telling me everything.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell you what I can.¡± I roll my eyes. ¡°Fine. Go sort out your emergency. Good luck.¡± Thanks.¡± He looks really upset. Whatever it is must really be an emergency. That doesn¡¯tfort me as I slowly make my way back into the crowd, bracing myself for a barrage of questions that I can¡¯t answer. *** Rogers only gets home after midnight. My eye is itching with exhaustion, but I¡¯m determined to find out what happened tonight. If I¡¯m exhausted, it¡¯s nothingpared to Rogers. He looks like he might copse at any moment.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. I jump up and pull out a chair for him. ¡°How did it go?¡± ¡°It¡¯s under control.¡± He jumps as I put a hand on his shoulder. I pull his shirt aside, to reveal a bandage ¨C a bandage that I know for a fact wasn¡¯t there before we left for the party. ¡°What happened, Rogers ?¡± Look, I told Derek I wanted to give you more information, but he t out forbade me. He might change his mind in the future ¨C I think he likes you ¨C but for now, I have to keep my mouth shut.¡± Like hell you do! You skip out of our engagement party,e back injured, and still, you don¡¯t want to tell me what¡¯s going on? This is getting ridiculous, Rogers!¡± You knew what you were getting yourself into! You knew I couldn¡¯t tell you everything. You hardly get to cry foul now just because of your efforts to spy on me haven¡¯t worked.¡± Is that it? You¡¯re a spy? Or a fugitive? Who is Derek, and why do you take orders from him? I can¡¯t answer you! You know that! I¡¯ve given you a fake marriage. I can¡¯t give you my secret. It¡¯s not all mine to tell. If you can¡¯t ept that, then maybe you should just leave now!¡± Fine. FINE! You want me gone? I¡¯m leaving. I snatch up my keys and storm out. Rage pounds through my veins. I know Rogers probably just snapped because he¡¯s exhausted and stressed, but that doesn¡¯t take away any of the hurt of the argument. I¡¯ve tried to be patient with him, but he¡¯s right ¨C theck of results in my own investigation is getting to me. I fully intend to go to Amanda¡¯s. I was sure I was taking the turns to Amanda¡¯s house. Somehow, I end up at Raymond¡¯s. No, Amelia, this is a bad idea. Turn around. Go to Amanda¡¯s, for real this time. I know I should, but somehow, I can¡¯t bring myself to do it. I wantfort right now. If not thefort of tenderness, which I certainly won¡¯t get from Raymond, thefort of sex will be enough. Go back, before it¡¯s toote! This is crazy. Remember how badly it went thest time? I reluctantly concede that my internal voice has a good point. I¡¯m just backing out of the driveway when a light goes on over the porch. ¡°Amelia?¡± Crap, Raymond recognizes my car. I can¡¯t leave now, not without looking like aplete fool. I¡¯ve already made a mess of the situation with Rogers. I¡¯m not going to mess up again tonight. Knowing I¡¯ll probably regret this, I get out of the car. Seventeen We¡¯re Not Exclusive *** Amelia. I get out of the car, holding my head high. ¡°Raymond.¡± What are you doing here sote?¡± My head is still buzzing with the argument with Rogers, and I can¡¯t think up anything better on the spot than the truth. ¡°I fought with Rogers.¡± Raymond¡¯s mouth twists in distaste at the sound of his name. ¡°I never thought you two were right for each other. I couldn¡¯t believe it when I heard.¡± *We are right for each other,¡± I growl ¡°Then what are you doing here?¡± He has me there. I¡­ um¡­¡± Words aren¡¯t working for me. I stride over to Raymond and kiss him. He responds by wrapping his arms around me, kissing me back in a way that makes me breathless. He breaks away to lead me inside, closing the front door behind us. I knew you¡¯de back to me.¡± His kisses, now on my neck, are distracting, but I know I have to focus. ¡°Raymond, wait. This isn¡¯t ¨C I¡¯m noting back to you. If we do this, it¡¯s a one-time thing. We¡¯re not together.¡± He pauses to look at me. ¡°You think Rogers will take you back after you cheat on him?¡± That¡¯s extremely riching from you, Raymond. I keep my thoughts to myself, scrambling for something to tell him. ¡°We¡¯re not exclusive.¡± Then who says this has to be the only time? ¡°I do!¡± ¡°Mhmm, ok.¡± I can tell he doesn¡¯t believe me, but that¡¯s his problem. I let Raymond pull me through to the bedroom, pulling my clothes off on the way. I¡¯m already kind of regrettinging here, but not enough to forgo my release. Nothing refreshes you like a good orgasm. I¡¯ll just get this done as quickly as possible, then go stay with Amanda for the night. Raymond wastes no time in getting undressed either. He¡¯s never been one for making slow, tender love. For ages when we were together, I wished he would, but now I¡¯m grateful for it. He pushes me so that I¡¯mying back on the bed. Our lips meet, and I lose myself in the familiar feeling of his tongue moving with mine, the taste of his lip, s and the little noise he makes in the back of his throat. My hair is getting all tangled up. but that¡¯s something to sort outter. I can feel the fitness against my leg. Raymond¡¯s cock is hard and leaking slightly. I push a hand down to my clit, rubbing quickly, trying to get myself ready. All the frustration from the fight with Rogers is begging to be released with a rush of pleasure. Raymond leaves me to work my clit, moving down to my breasts. He sucks one of my nipples hard, eliciting a small gasp from me. We were together a long time, and he knows just how to touch me. His hands are quick and sure, skimming along my sides anding back up to my breasts. I squirm under his touch, relishing the sensations that all run together in my mind. Raymond seems ready enough, but I take his cock in my hand anyway. The harder he is, the better. A good pounding is exactly what I need to forget my troubles. I run my hand quickly up and down his shaft. Raymond¡¯s eyes slip closed, an expression of bliss on his face. I go faster, using some of his pre to slick his cock further. He rears up into my touch, his harsh breathing tickling my neck. As he starts thrusting into my hand, I pull away. No way am Ietting hime now, not until he¡¯s given me what I want. I push him over so that I¡¯m straddling his hips. I lift myself up and lower down onto his cock. Raymond puts his hands on my hips, helping me find a rhythm as I move. His cock is huge inside me, pushing away all of my worries. I lose myselfpletely in the moment, keeping my mouth shut tightly to ward off any traitorous mutterings of Rogers¡¯s name. I m down onto Raymond¡¯s cock, gasping as sweat runs down my face. I grab one of his hands and put it on my clit, annoyed that he hasn¡¯t gotten that much in all our years of being together. He obliges, rubbing quickly in time with our movements. I let out a wordless yell as heat flushes my body and my thighs tense, my squeezing Raymond¡¯s cock. The orgasm rips through me, and I keep moving, squeezing out everyst drop of pleasure. Raymond is still thrusting his hips, chasing his own release, but I don¡¯t care. I fall forward onto his chest, panting. He removes his hand from my clit, using both hands again to move me. Several thrustster, he¡¯sing too, grunting as hise fills me up. I fall to the side, letting his cock slide out of me. I¡¯m weak with the aftermath of my orgasm, and I¡¯d like very much to curl up and nap, but not with Raymond here. Groaning, I roll out of bed. Where are you going? Home. That¡¯s it?¡± You want a thank you?¡± ¡°No, I mean ¨C you can¡¯t just leave like this.¡± I sigh, turning back to him as I pull my dress over my head. ¡°It was great, Raymond, but I have to go now. As I said, this is a one-time thing.¡± Like thest time was.¡± Ok, so maybe I have been giving off mixed signalstely. It¡¯s hard not to when I¡¯m so confused about Rogers ¨C both my feelings for him and the strange situation that I haven¡¯t yet figured out. This is thest one, I promise.¡± Uhuh.¡± I can tell he doesn¡¯t believe me. Maybe he has a point. I keep trying to forget Raymond, but seven years of feelings don¡¯t go away overnight. I don¡¯t want to be with him anymore, but letting go is harder than I¡¯d imagined. Goodbye, Raymond.¡± I¡¯m distracted by my thoughts as I walk to my car, closing the front door behind me. The lights in the house go out. Raymond is probably asleep already. He always did want to sleep after having sex. I¡¯m certainly notining ¨C this means he isn¡¯t running after me, trying to convince me toe back to him. It¡¯s only as I start searching my bag for my keys that the full impact of what I just did hits me. Rogers will be so hurt. Beyond hurt. I didn¡¯t care about that before, but now that my anger has faded, I suddenly regret evering here. It doesn¡¯t make any sense, of course. Rogers and I aren¡¯t a couple. He shouldn¡¯t care who I sleep with. We certainly never said we were exclusive. Still, I¡¯m sure that he¡¯ll see this as a betrayal, even though I can¡¯t really put words to the reason, even in my own mind. I dig in my bag, searching for the keys. Please tell me I didn¡¯t drop them at Raymond¡¯s house. No way am I going back in there. Maybe I should call a cab. I step back from the car, searching the ground, hoping that the keys fell out as I hurried away from the house. In my distraction, I don¡¯t see the maning up to me until he¡¯s right in front of me. I straighten with a gasp. He¡¯s unfamiliar and average-looking, but the sight of him immediately fills me with fear. There¡¯s something in his eyes that I don¡¯t like.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. Before I can say anything, he grabs me by the arms. ¡°Let go!¡± He doesn¡¯t respond, muscling me around so that my front is pressed against the car. I shriek and struggle, but he¡¯s much stronger than I am, and I¡¯m caught by surprise. I¡¯m about to scream for Raymond, but the man mps a hand over my mouth. I pray that Raymond heard the one scream I managed to get out ¨C more like a squeak of rm than a scream ¨C but the lights in the house don¡¯t go on again. I try to stomp on the man¡¯s foot, but he dodges it in time. I twist as hard as I can. It does no good. I can¡¯t get away from him. His hand brushes against the backs of my thighs as he pulls my dress up. The full implications of his intentions hit me. Thad assumed he was going to rob me. What he intends is far, far worse than that. I try to bite his hand, which doesn¡¯t slow him in the slightest. No matter how I struggle, I¡¯m helpless against him. My voice is muffled against his hand, and it¡¯s dark. No one knows that I¡¯m in trouble. There¡¯s no one to help me. Please, let someone see us. Let someone call the police before it¡¯s toote. Please, help me. He pulls my panties down to my knees. Eighteen Please Don¡¯t Tell Amelia. ** He¡¯s fiddling with his pants, but before he can get them undone, the man has suddenly ripped them away from me. I spin around in time to see something huge and furry atop him. It looks like a wolf, but wolves don¡¯t get that big. The wolf¡¯s long teeth sink into his skin, tearing his throat out. I realize I¡¯m screaming hysterically, pressed against the car. The wolf looks at me and hesitates. Probably wondering if I¡¯ll make a good meal. It seems to decide that I¡¯m not worth the trouble. It starts walking away. I¡¯m sobbing, and I can¡¯t seem to stop. The wolf turns back to me. No, please, leave me alone. Eat the guy you killed, surely he¡¯s enough to fill your belly? I don¡¯t see what happens, even though I¡¯m staring right at the wolf. Its shape seems to shift. The fur vanishes and it steps upright, shrinking as it does so. The wolf is gone. Rogers is in its ce. ¡°Lia, it¡¯s ok.¡± He takes a hesitant step toward me. I stumble into his arms, clutching at his shirt. ¡°Shh, you¡¯re alright. Here, let me help you.¡± Rogers reaches down and pulls my panties back up. I flinch, but he calmly smooths my dress, then pulls me into a hug. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get you home.¡± I nod, but I don¡¯t let go of him. I peek at the dead man, my attempted rapist. ¡°What about h-him?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell Derek. He can sort it out.¡± I have no idea how Derek is going to ¡®sort out a dead body, but that¡¯s the least of my concerns right now. Rogers ushers me into the car. I wrap my arms around myself, going over what just happened in my mind as Rogers starts driving. There was a wolf. Then there was Rogers. It¡­ it turned into him. Pieces start falling together in my mind. Everything makes sense the full moon, the chains, the strange authority Derek has over Rogers. Everything except one thing. Werewolves don¡¯t exist. My breath ising in short gasps. I¡¯m going mad. I can¡¯t possibly have seen what I thought I saw. Amelia? You need to slow your breathing down or you¡¯re going to pass out.¡± There¡¯s no air in the car. I can¡¯t breathe in here! ¡°Stop the car, Rogers!¡± He does it at once, pulling over to the sidewalk. I stagger out, gasping great breaths of air. Rogers follows me. He tries to reach out to me, but I jerk away from him. He turned into a wolf. He ripped a man¡¯s throat out.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. I¡¯m not particrly unhappy about the death of a rapist, It¡¯s the Rogers-turning-into-a-wolf part that has terror leaping in my throat. Stay away from me!¡± ¡°Lia, it¡¯s me. You know I¡¯d never hurt you,¡± I do know that, but that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m not seriously freaked out. ¡°Amanda.¡± Rogers understands at once. ¡°I¡¯ll call her I don¡¯t listen to Rogers¡¯s quick conversation with Amanda. I¡¯m too busy watching Rogers for any sign of sudden movement. Is he going to turn into a wolf again? When he hangs up, I gesture to my car. Go,¡± I whisper. ¡°Take the car ¨C Amanda will pick me up.¡± There¡¯s no way I¡¯m leaving you alone after what just happened.¡± He¡¯s right, of course. I¡¯m not thinking clearly. I may be terrified of what I¡¯ve learned about Rogers, but not so terrified that I¡¯d risk myself out hereafter one person has already attacked me. The minute¡¯s snail by. I think Rogers tries to talk to me, but I can¡¯t hear him over the buzzing in my ears. Finally, Amanda arrives. She leaps out of her car and rushes to embrace me. I cling to her as I clung to Rogers when he first rescued me. Are you ok?¡± I shake my head, my face pressed into her shoulder. Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll go to the police. We¡¯ll catch this maniac.¡± ¡°No police,¡± Rogers says sharply. ¡°The man who attacked her has been taken care of.¡± They talk for a few minutes. I assume Rogers is trying to convince Amanda not to call the police. I can¡¯t focus on their words. Then Amanda is ushering me into the car. Seemingly momentster, she takes my hand, leading me out. We¡¯re at her house. Amanda pushes me onto the couch. A few minutester, she brings a cup of tea that seems like it¡¯s got more sugar than tea. I drink at a stern look from her. Amanda wraps me in a nket, then puts an arm around me. My phone beeps in my bag. I dig it out, unsurprised to see a message from Rogers. ¡°Lia, please don¡¯t tell. No one can know about what I am. I promise I¡¯ll exin it all to youter. He sent. I don¡¯t reply. I don¡¯t know what to say. What happened?¡± Amanda asks quietly. I focus on her question, using it as a lifeline to drag my mind out of the fog that shrouds it. Rogers and I had a fight. I was upset and went to Raymond. We had sex and I left. As I was getting into the car, a man attacked me. He got my panties down but didn¡¯t have time to do more than that. Rogers¡­ Rogers must have followed me, I guess. He pulled the man away from me and killed him.¡± Amanda is white as she pulls me into another hug. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Amanda. Thank God Rogers was there. I see why he doesn¡¯t want the police involved. It¡¯s probably best. It I¡¯ll be difficult to prove you were attacked since you aren¡¯t injured.¡± He said someone will get rid of the body. What kind of people is he involved with, who will dispose of dead bodies for him?¡± I shrug, even though I now know the truth. As distraught as I am, though, I can¡¯t bring myself to tell Amanda Rogers¡¯s secret. I always thought that when I found out, she¡¯d be the first one I¡¯d tell. This secret is too big, though. I¡¯m still not entirely sure I¡¯m not going mad. Do you have sleeping pills? I think I just want to go to bed ¨C forget this ever happened. At least for tonight.¡± Of course.¡± Amanda carefully hands me two sleeping pills, keeping the bottle in her hand. It¡¯s not necessary. I¡¯ll certainly be traumatized by the experience for some time toe, but I still don¡¯t want to overdose. Amanda tucks me into bed, and minutester, I¡¯m asleep. I wake to scream my lungs out. In my dream, there is no Rogers, no wolf, and the man does much more than get my panties down. The light turns on and Hannah crouches down by my bedside. ¡°It¡¯s ok, Amelia. You just had a nightmare.¡± I nod, gulping down my tears. A dream, it was just a dream. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°You have nothing to be sorry for.¡± Amanda hugs me again, and I soak up herfort. It¡¯s easy to be here with her and not think about Rogers. Amanda only knows half of what¡¯s bothering me. I manage to drift off again. I woke up several more times that night, but at least the dream stays away. When the sun finally rises, I jerk out of a fitful doze. I¡¯m still exhausted, but trying to sleep seems even more tiring than starting the day. Amanda hears me moving around and hurries to join me. She quickly gets coffee going ¡°I call Rnd and told him what happened ¨C not about Rogers, obviously, but that you were attacked. He said to take as much time as you need.¡± Thanks,¡± I mumble, sipping my coffee so fast that it burns my tongue. ¡°Do you want to talk some more?¡± I shake my head. Amanda epts this easily enough. ¡°I can take the day off work to stay with you.¡± No, that¡¯s ok. You go to work. I think I need some time to think.¡± Of course. I¡¯ll keep my phone on me. Call if you need me, alright?¡± ¡°I will.¡± Amanda kisses the top of my head before heading off to work. I wonder if Derek has gotten rid of the body yet. The thought of Derek just makes me think of Rogers. I don¡¯t know what to do with his secret. For so long, I¡¯ve ached to know everything about him, but now that I do, I rather wish I¡¯d never found out about it. No wonder he didn¡¯t tell me. He was protecting me. I go back to my room and check my phone. As I expected, there¡¯s another message from Rogers. ¡°Lia, we need to talk. Please call me when you get this.¡± He sent I know we need to talk, but I¡¯m afraid of what will happen when we do. How will Derek react to my knowledge? He may not be as tolerant as Rogers is of someone knowing his secret. Have I just been saved from the frying pan only to be catapulted into the fire? Nineteen Time to Think *** Amelia I¡¯ll call you in a few days. I need time to think.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Please don¡¯t take too long. I understand you¡¯re freaked out, but Derek is going berserk about this. I¡¯ll try to hold him off for as long as I can.¡± He sent Rogers¡¯s words do nothing to reassure me. Hold him off? What, exactly, is Gavin going to do to me? Surely, Rogers wouldn¡¯t let anyone hurt me? How much power does he have over Derek? From what I¡¯ve seen so far, Derek does what he wants, and Rogers is expected to follow orders. I spend the morning alternating between pacing and lying in bed, worries swirling in my mind. Will the police find the body? What will Derek do me? What do I want to do about Rogers? He¡¯s¡­ he¡¯s a werewolf. I saw it with my own eyes. Werewolves aren¡¯t supposed to exist. They do. How does this change things between us? In desperation, I resort to Google. Unsurprisingly, Google doesn¡¯t have anything to offer that suggests that werewolves are anything more than fiction. I¡¯m sure if I searched further, I could find some conspiracy theory site that ims they¡¯re real, but that¡¯s not what I¡¯m looking for. I want the truth. I spend the afternoon reading up on different werewolf myths. It¡¯s frustrating, to say the least. There is conflicting information scattered all over the inte. The only thing everyone seems to agree on is that werewolves are humans who can turn into wolves, but that hardly helps me. I know I should call Rogers, but I¡¯m just not ready yet. He¡¯ll give me answers now, I¡¯m sure of it, but I¡¯m no longer sure if I¡¯m ready for those answers. To avoid facing the inevitable, I download a couple of books about werewolves. They¡¯re fiction, of course, but it seems fiction is my only option if I want to get some potential information. I find I like the stories, and I get so engrossed that I don¡¯t notice Amanda hase home until she knocks on the door. I m my kindle shut, trying not to look too guilty. Hey. How¡¯s your day been?¡± Ok. I¡¯ve been reading, mostly.¡± She smiles encouragingly. ¡°That¡¯s good. Listen, I made a few calls. What you went through¡­ I think you need to speak to someone. There¡¯s a doctor nearby who¡¯s supposed to be really good ¡°No. I don¡¯t need a shrink. It might help.¡± It would absolutely not help. Either I lie, which would give them no chance to help me process what happened, or I tell the truth, and get locked up in a mental hospital. ¡°I¡¯ll.. I¡¯ll think about it.¡± Lie. But it¡¯s the only way Amanda will let this go. Telling her the truth will have her carting me off to the hospital herself. Days pass in much the same way. I read werewolf fiction, more confused with every sentence. The nightmares start to fade, at least, though I¡¯m still nervous whenever I go to my car. Rogers gives me space, just as I asked him to. I don¡¯t know whether I¡¯m happy or unhappy about that. Finally, it bes more distressing to ignore the situation than it will be to face it. ¡°I¡¯m ready to talk.¡± I sent. ¡°Great! I cane over now?¡± He replied ¡°Sure. Amanda¡¯s at work, so we¡¯ll have privacy.¡± I replied back. ¡°See you soon.¡± He replied I¡¯m a bundle of nerves as I wait for Rogers to arrive. What on earth am I going to say to him? I go through the motions of making tea. When Rogers arrives, the two of us sit down in awkward silence. I was hoping he¡¯d be the one to speak first, but it quickly bes apparent that¡¯s not going to happen. ¡°So¡­ I understand why you didn¡¯t want to tell me.¡± Rogers can¡¯t seem to meet my eyes. ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure if I¡¯d hear from you again.¡± What do you mean?¡± I¡¯d hoped we would get more time. I knew you¡¯d find out eventually, but I¡¯ve so enjoyed being friends with you again.¡± What? It takes me a moment to understand what he¡¯s saying. ¡°You don¡¯t think I want to be friends with you anymore?¡± I understand. I¡¯m a monster. I¡¯m just d you agreed to see me again. I promise I¡¯ll stay away from Amanda too.¡± I don¡¯t know what Rogers expects me to feel, but what I do feel is anger. More than angry; I¡¯m furious. What the hell, Rogers!¡± His confused expression would be adorable if I wasn¡¯t so mad. What¡­!¡± ¡°How dare you! I would never, ever leave you because of something like this! Why the hell would you think I would?¡± I¡­ Where did you even get this idiot idea that you¡¯re a monster just because you can turn into a wolf? You¡¯ve been reading too much fiction, Rogers!¡± It¡¯s not fiction,¡± he says fiercely. ¡°I¡¯m dangerous, Lia.¡± ¡°Tell me, then. Tell me everything, but don¡¯t expect me to leave when we¡¯re done. Our friendship means more than that to me, Rogers. I hoped it did to you too.¡± ¡°It does. I-I risked everything tofort you, knowing it would reveal my secret. I knew my trust wasn¡¯t misced.¡± I take a calming breath, reminding myself that Luke is also scared and unsure. ¡°Tell me. Start with why you think you¡¯re a monster.¡± Rogers is quiet for a few moments, gathering himself. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve figured out by now when I was bitten. It was that night in the Woods. Who would do something like that to another person? It wasn¡¯t her fault. You see, werewolves can shift to a wolf at any time, but at full moon, we don¡¯t have a choice; it just happens. Usually, when we shift, we can control ourselves, like I did when I saved you.¡± When we shift to the full moon, we be monsters. We¡¯ll kill anything living that gets in our path. It¡¯s possible to learn to control it, but even then, idents happen. For new werewolves, we have to be chained up to stop us from hurting anyone.¡± Well, that at least exins the chains. I don¡¯t say anything, letting Rogers tell me in his own way. That night, a new wolf escaped her chains. Her alpha caught up to her in time to stop her from killing me, but not soon enough to stop the bite. I became a werewolf.¡± When they exined what would happen to me every full moon, I knew I needed to move away, to protect the people I care about. I joined a pack in another city. I¡¯m still years away from being able to control myself when I turn. Once a month, I¡¯m a monster who would kill you without any hesitation.¡± I¡¯d be lying if I said that thought doesn¡¯t give me chills. ¡°It¡¯s not you, Rogers.¡± ¡°Surely you know that. You would never hurt me if you were in your right mind.¡± I know. The silence hangs heavy between us. ¡°What about Derek?¡± He¡¯s the alpha of the pack here, the one I joined when I came back. Alphas have the ability to cause pain mentally, to control their pack members if necessary, but they seldom use it.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe he¡¯d do that to you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be too hard on him. He¡¯s trying to protect all of us ¨C you included. In the first five years, uncontrolled shifting sometimes happens when you¡¯re angry or upset. It¡¯s not the same as the full moon shifting ¨C you¡¯re not a fully-fledged monster ¨C but you don¡¯t haveplete control of yourself either. ¡°People have gotten hurt in the past.¡± ¡°Will Derek be angry you¡¯re telling me all of this? ¡°Not for this, no. At this point, there¡¯s no reason to hide anything from you. He was certainly unhappy about me revealing me to you that night, though.¡± ¡°Does it hurt? The shifting?¡± ¡°Not the shifting itself, but when I struggle, I often injure myself. That doesn¡¯t hurt for long, though. We heal quickly.¡± I try to think of another question, just to keep talking, to give myself time to absorb all this. ¡°Why did youe back, then? You moved away to protect the people you care about. Whye back?¡± Something in Rogers¡¯s face closes off. ¡°That¡¯s.. a story for another time.¡± I thought we were past all secrets¡¯? About the werewolf stuff. This is¡­ something else.¡± I want to scream in frustration. What could Rogers possibly have to tell me that¡¯s worse than what he already has? Worry starts to override the frustration. Really, what else is he into that¡¯s even more dangerous than the werewolf¡¯ business? I look up at Rogers, ready to demand answers, but then I remember how I felt after seeing him shift. I wished I¡¯d never found out. I wanted to go back to my blissful ignorance, only I couldn¡¯t. Whatever else he¡¯s hiding from me, do I really want to know? Twenty Edited??? Better Off Not Knowing *** In the time I hesitate, Rogers has changed the subject. So now you know what I am. Do you¡­ do you still want to go ahead with the fake marriage? I must warn you, living together is more dangerous than us remaining friends since we¡¯ll be in close contact more often.¡± For a split second, I wonder if I should press the issue of why he came back, but I decided that I¡¯m better off not knowing. I¡¯m done with digging up Roger¡¯s secrets. They hurt too much. I don¡¯t know if I can withstand another bombshell like this one. I trust you.¡± That much I know for sure. Rogers doesn¡¯t seem as sure. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you should.¡± You¡¯ve managed to control yourself so far. You¡¯ve never hurt me. If it wasn¡¯t for you, I would have been hurt really badly.¡± Rogers nods, but he doesn¡¯t look like he believes me. I lean back, thinking, that the silence is no longer awkward. If I¡¯m going to do this, I want to be all in. I want to see Rogers, to know all of him. He¡¯s carried this alone for too long. Can you show me? Show you?¡± ¡°The wolf. I have only gotten a glimpse before, and I was terrified. I¡¯d like to see you again.¡± A hint of grin tugs at Rogers¡¯s lips. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Really.¡± ¡°Not here. We¡¯re not like normal wolves- we¡¯re a lot bigger. I¡¯m sure you remember. There¡¯s a game reserve a couple of miles from here we use to run in. Running in our wolf forms is amazing when we¡¯re in Control.¡± Then what are we waiting for?¡± The grin is now firmly in ce. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± I try not to let on how nervous I really am. I want to see, I do, but I still remember how terrifying that wolf was. You know, pretending is pretty useless when you¡¯re in a car with a werewolf. I can smell your fear.¡± Crap, I forgot to ask about the senses. You have a wolf¡¯s sense of smell even when you¡¯re human?¡± ¡°Yeah. Strength and hearing too. Ites in handy, I can tell you. You¡¯d be amazed at the stuff people think they can get away with just because you can¡¯t see them.¡± I¡¯m certainly d I know. I¡¯ll have to be careful not to say anything I don¡¯t want Rogers to hear within a mile of him. Of course, I can¡¯t control what scents my body produces ¡°I¡¯m just nervous. It¡¯s not every day you see a gigantic wolf up close. Perhaps I need a distraction.¡± A distraction, hm? Did you know that with my heightened senses, driving is very easy for me, even if I¡¯m doing something else at the same time?¡± I don¡¯t know where he¡¯s going with this, but the sexy note in his voice is promising. I¡¯m not sure I believe you. Perhaps you should offer me some proof?¡± In answer, Rogers lifts my skirt, moving his hand up my thigh. I watch the road, sure we¡¯re about to swerve, but it seems Rogers is right. We stay steadily in the center of thene. His hand reaches my panties. I tip my head back against the car seat as he presses onto them. My clit starts to throb, demanding attention. I grab Rogers¡¯s hand, moving it fractionally further up so that his finger is positioned directly over my clit. He starts moving it in swift circles. ¡°Rogers ¨C we¡¯ll crash ¡± ¡°You might, but I won¡¯t.¡± I nce once more at the road to ensure we¡¯re still going straight, then surrender myself. Rogers pulls the top of my panties down a little, just enough so that he can get his finger inside them. The feeling of his index finger on my bare clit ignites me. I moan loudly, tilting my hips forward. Rogers quickly works me up into a fever pitch of pleasure. I close my eyes, letting his divine fingers do their work. Rogers I-I¡¯m going The orgasm crashes into me with enough force to knock me onto my back, had I not been pressed against the car seat. I scream and mp my hand over Rogers¡¯s, silently begging him to go harder, faster. He does, wringing everyst drop of pleasure out of me. I go limp in my seat, panting, gathering my senses. When I look over, Rogers is smirking at me. ¡°How¡¯s that for a distraction?¡± I don¡¯t even want to know what I smell like right now.¡± ¡°You smell divine. Desire is the most delectable scent, especially on you.¡± I nce down at Rogers¡¯sp to see his cock creating a bulge in his pants. ¡°Exactly how good is your concentration while driving?¡± I¡­ not that good.¡± I sigh in exaggerated disappointment. ¡°Way to lead a girl on.¡± I don¡¯t want to risk hurting you more than I already am.¡± ¡°Well, when you put it that way¡­¡± Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll be there soon. There¡¯s plenty Of privacy at the game reserve. Privacy sounds good.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. I manage to keep my hands off Rogers for the rest of the drive. His cock slowly goes down, but it won¡¯t stay that way for long if I have anything to say about it. Once we get to the reserve, Rogers and I duck under a section of loose fence. It¡¯s mostly hidden by bushes, but Rogers knows exactly where to find it. Here, in the trees, just in case anyone is about. There¡¯s a nice clearing that¡¯s a good ce for me to shift.¡± My nerves are mounting again, but I follow him without protest. When we get into the clearing Rogers mentioned, I brace myself. You don¡¯t need to be afraid. I¡¯m in control. I won¡¯t hurt you.¡± I nod and give him a faint smile. Rogers closes his eyes and appears to concentrate. As before, it happens so quickly that I can barely track it. One moment, Rogers is standing in front of me. The next, he¡¯s a wolf. A huge wolf, more bear-sized than wolf-sized. I automatically take a step back but catch myself. It¡¯s just Rogers. The wolf has gray fur with bits of white in it. The eyes are dark brown. Apart from its size, it looks like a normal wolf. I take a few steps forward, stretching my hand out. Rogers lets me stroke his fur. I giggle in amazement. His huge tail starts wagging. It looks so dog-like that I double overughing. ¡°You¡¯re just a big puppy, aren¡¯t you?¡± It really is just Rogers. In a different body, maybe, but at his core, he¡¯s still the same person. ¡°Can I ride you?¡± Can a wolf look smug? Not like that! Get your mind out of the l gutter, Rogers.¡± He matches myugh with a series of small yips. Well? Don¡¯t pretend you don¡¯t know what I mean. In answer, he goes to his knees, leaving his back low enough for me to climb on. All nervousness is gone as I Scramble up. To tangle my hands in his thick fur. Rogers waits for a moment to make sure I¡¯m settled. Then he starts running. I¡¯ve never ridden a wolf before ¨C obviously but I¡¯m fairly certain normal wolves don¡¯t run this fast. It¡¯s exhrating, to watch the forest sh by. I screw my eyes up against the wind, wanting to see everything. Rogers¡¯s gait is so smooth that I barely need to hold on. I let go with one, then two hands. Throwing both hands into the air, I let out a whoop. I grab his fur again when he leaps over a log. I¡¯m not sure how long we run for. I¡¯mughing, my voice lost in the rushing of the passing air. Suddenly, Rogers stops dead. I can feel the tension in his muscles beneath me. Should I get off his back, or stay on? When Rogers goes to his knees again, I understand his intent and slithers off. He shifts to human, putting an arm around my waist and drawing me behind arge tree. He puts a finger to his lips as if I needed the warning. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s wrong, but clearly, something is. I peer through the trees, trying to see what he has sensed. It doesn¡¯t take long. I swear, I heard someone screaming. This wouldn¡¯t be the first time a poacher has gotten on the wrong side of some lions.¡± Leave lions to a well-deserved meal,¡± another grumble. ¡°I would, except the boss wouldn¡¯t be happy. Come on, it was somewhere around here.¡± I nce at Rogers in panic. What do we do? Why has he shifted back into his human form? We could be running from them right now. The voices are close, and soon they will be upon us. Very quietly, Rogers starts drawing me back. I almost start to think we¡¯re going to get away when my foot hits a stick. The stick cracks with a sound like a gunshot. We both freeze. Twenty one Edited????? Mates for Life ** The footsteps start toward us. I nce at Rogers, unsure what to do. He hesitates for a moment before sweeping me up into his arms. He starts running, carrying me easily. I can¡¯t hear any sounds of our pursuers over the rushing wind through my ears. Rogers puts me down a few minutester but doesn¡¯t speak, due to the fact he turns immediately into a wolf. I don¡¯t need to be told what to do. I leap onto his back and hold him tightly. We run through the game reserve, the scenery shing by too fast to make out. Only when we finally reached the loose fence did wee in by. Are we safe?¡± I ask breathlessly as Rogers and I hurry to the car. We¡¯re safe. I definitely outran them, but they might still be searching the park. We should get out of here just in case. I¡¯m sorry. ¡°So much for showing you that being friends with a werewolf could be fun.¡± I find myselfughing. ¡°Are you kidding? ¡°That was awesome! Ok, so the nearly getting the caught part wasn¡¯t great, but the rest of it was amazing.¡± Rogers takes his eyes off the road for a moment to look at me. ¡°Really?¡± Really. I don¡¯t care that you¡¯re a werewolf, Rogers. It¡¯s obvious that you¡¯re still the same person, you just happen to switch forms. I want to know everything. I want to be part of your life.¡± He checks my expression again. Then you should meet my pack.¡± I gulp. ¡°Is that a good idea? I don¡¯t get the impression Derek likes me very much.¡± He¡¯ll get over it.¡± I don¡¯t want to chicken out, so I nod, but I resolve not to find myself alone with Derek, just in case. The drive back seems to go much faster than the drive to the game reserve. I¡¯m more than a little nervous as we get out of the car. Instead of leading me inside, Rogers whistles and then waits with me outside. One by one, people start appearing. I¡¯ve seen some of them around here before. Roger¡¯s pack. Derekes out, his eyes fixed on me from the start. ¡°Rogers. Amelia.¡± Rogers, Amelia knows everything now. I thought it would be a good idea for her to meet the pack, now that she¡¯s going to be part of our lives.¡± Are you still going through with that fake marriage?¡± Derek fixes me with a disapproving frown. Yes.¡± I hold my chin up. ¡°Not that that¡¯s any of your business.¡± If you¡¯re hurting a member of my pack, it¡¯s my business.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t hurt Rogers! How could you even say that?¡± Did he not tell you? Werewolves mate for life. We have our own mating ceremony, but a human wedding still constitutes a mating.¡± I nce at Rogers. ¡°It¡¯s ok, Amelia,¡± he says softly. Is it? Would you not be able to be with someone else?¡± I look at Rogers, struggling to read his expression. ¡°I mean, I don¡¯t expect us to stay married forever. Eventually, you¡¯ll fall in love with someone for real, and we can get divorced. Can you still do that with this whole mates for life thing?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Luke firmly, right at the same time as Derek says, ¡°No.¡± I nce between them, confused. ¡°He could be with a human,¡± Derek rifies. ¡°But most wolves choose to be with others of our kind. Only a wolf can really understand what it means to be a wolf. But no werewolf would take a mate who did something as dishonorable as initiating a fake marriage with another.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a problem, Amelia.¡±Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Why not? That sounds pretty problematic to me! ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Rogers res at Derek. Thinking about Rogers being with other women makes me unountably antsy, so l let the subject drop, but it still troubles me that I might be negatively affecting his future, just to get my family off my back. Rogers steers me away from Derek to speak to the rest of the pack. Their healer, Linda, is really nice, as well as her mate Luke. I manage to forget about the conversation with Derek for a bit and just enjoy talking to Rogers¡¯s pack. When my stomach starts grumbling, he leads me upstairs. ¡°How about we order some pizza?¡± I¡¯m hungry for food, but it¡¯s not all I¡¯m hungry for. ¡°Sure. Pizza is great.¡± Rogers must be able to pick something up from my scent, because the moment he puts down the phone after making the order, he pulls me into his arms. We kissed slowly at first, but it quickly heats up. I moan and let my head tilt back at the perfect angle for Rogers to deepen the kiss. I feel like I¡¯m melting into a puddle of happy goo at his touch. We somehow make it to the couch with most of our clothing gone. Rogers¡¯s shirt and my panties are still on, but those won¡¯tst for long. I grab Rogers¡¯s ass, pulling him closer to me. His cock leaks pre onto my stomach. God, I love how quickly he gets hard for me. I reach down and stroke his length while we kiss. Rogers¡¯s kiss bes fierce and desperate as I work his cock. He starts thrusting into my hand. I use the pre still leaking out of the head to slick my hand and then go back to work on Rogers. He pulls away from the kiss, burying his head in my neck. His lips and teeth graze my skin lightly. I urge Roger to spread his legs with my other hand, and cup his balls, stroking softly upward toward his cock. Rogers cries out as he spills himself in my hand. I keep pumping his cock until I¡¯m sure I¡¯ve gotten everyst drop ofe. Look what you did,¡± he whispers in my ear, still out of breath. ¡°Now how am I supposed to take you?¡± ¡°Come now, Rogers, I know you¡¯re more creative than that.¡± I suppose you¡¯re right.¡± He pushes himself off the couch and vanishes into my bedroom. I don¡¯t know what he¡¯s doing, but I¡¯m trembling in anticipation. When he returns, my breath catches. He has my dildo. I¡¯m not sure how he knew where it was, but I don¡¯t care right now. I spread my legs eagerly. Rogers tests my pussy with a finger first, and upon finding me fully soaked, he pushes the dildo inside me. ¡°Setting fire,¡± I tell him. Rogers turns it immediately to the fifth set. The buzzing goes through me in a continuous wave of pleasure. Rogers thrusts it in and out perfectly, hitting my G-spot every time. He uses his other hand to stroke my clit. He starts slowly at first but lets himself be guided by the noises I¡¯m making. As I get closer to my release, he speeds up, both with the thrusting and with his finger on my clit. The dildo is making a sucking noise every time he pulls it nearly all the way out of my pussy. My clit is on fire as Rogers starts moving his finger in circles, just the way that drives me mad. I¡¯m clutching onto Rogers¡¯s shoulders for dear life as I¡¯m swept away on waves of pleasure. My orgasm finally hits, causing my nails to dig into Rogers¡¯s skin, but he doesn¡¯tin. My hips arch and I practicallye off the couch. I might have if Rogers wasn¡¯t there steadying me. When I finally go limp, he pulls the dildo out of me. Rogers goes to the kitchen andes back with a damp cloth. Ipletely forgot that my hand and stomach are covered in hise. I clean up as best as I can without standing. I don¡¯t think my legs would hold me right now. I hold out my arms, and Rogers joins me on the couch. Derek can stuff it,¡± I mutter. There¡¯s nothing better than this. Rogers chuckles. ¡°Too right he can. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m ever going to¡­ well, he doesn¡¯t know what he¡¯s talking about.¡± What does he mean? I can¡¯t work out what was supposed to be beyond Rogers¡¯s hesitation. Does he think that if he marries me, even if it¡¯s fake, he¡¯ll have to be with me forever? The idea certainly isn¡¯t a bad one, but I¡¯d feel terrible if I was standing in the way of Rogers finding true love. My heart sinks as I realize what that could mean. If I¡¯m constantly holding him back from finding happiness, he¡¯s going to start resenting me. Who wouldn¡¯t? maybe I¡¯m just being selfish, taking him up on his fake marriage offer. ¡°Rogers?¡± Hm? He sounds so rxed and happy that I¡¯m loath to ruin it, but I have to know. Are you really ok with this fake marriage thing? Of course, I am. I¡¯m the one who suggested it, remember?¡± ¡°I remember.¡± I still worry, though. He may be ok with it now, but in ten, twenty years, who knows? Twenty two Edited ¡Ì¡Ì¡Ì¡Ì Inevitable *** Tell me more about werewolves. I¡¯ve tried to do my own research, but it¡¯s impossible to separate fact from fiction.¡± It¡¯s been two days since I met Rogers¡¯s pack, and I still feel like I have a lifetime¡¯s worth of information to learn. Rogers hands me a te with a still steaming omelet. ¡°Well, we spend a lot of our time together, pack bonding. That¡¯s why we all live in the same building. We go to the same game reserve I showed you yesterday to run together in our wolf forms.¡± And the full moon?¡± I¡¯m currently the only one in the pack who can¡¯t control myself, so there are plenty of other wolves to watch over me. I¡¯m still chained up, though, just to be safe.¡± ¡°What about your work? I assume that¡¯s a front, right?¡± Correct. Werewolf packs go back generations. Most have umted a lot of money over the years. Our senses make it easy to tell when someone is lying ¨C or to tell when they¡¯re feeling any strong emotion.¡± That makes us pretty good at earning money in the business world. Most packs have developed a fortune over the years, so nowadays we don¡¯t actually have to work. ¡°We usually just focus on pack activities.¡± What about when a werewolf and human mate? Can they have children?¡± ¡°They can.¡± Rogers is giving me a searching look, and I feel myself blushing. ¡°So what would they be? Human or werewolf?¡± There¡¯s an equal chance of either, just like the chances of it being a girl or boy. We¡¯re quiet for a moment. Rogers breaks the silence. ¡°Do you want children?¡± That¡¯s the question, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯ve never been sure about children, and right now, all I can think about is having Rogers¡¯s children. Not the kind of thing you¡¯re supposed to be thinking about a friend, even a friend you¡¯re fake marrying. I decide the question is too dangerous to think about right now and change the subject. Would you undo it if you could? Getting bitten?¡± Rogers stares off into the distance, thinking. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. If you asked me shortly after it happened, I would have said absolutely. But now¡­ I like where my life is. I¡¯m not sure it would be as it is now if not for being a werewolf.¡± I wonder if I¡¯m part of the reason Rogers wouldn¡¯t want his life to be different? It¡¯s probably a stupid thought. Fake marrying one of your best friends is hardly the stuff of dreams. Still, he seems happy spending time with me. I certainly like spending time with him. Shit. It hits me like a ton of bricks. I¡¯m falling in love with Rogers. If I¡¯m being totally honest, I think I¡¯ve been falling for him for some time. Up until now, I¡¯ve managed to ignore or exin away the feelings, but with him looking at me like that, so content and peaceful, I can¡¯t hide anymore. ¡°I¡¯m tired. I think I¡¯ll head to bed.¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll probably be up for a bit longer.¡± Ah, fuck. No, that¡¯s not going to work. He can hear too well for it. Um, actually¡­ I want to call Amanda. Is there any way you could ¨C give me some privacy? To talk to her?¡± I¡¯m already braced for Rogers¡¯s suspicion. What would I want to say to Amanda that I can¡¯t say to him?N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. He doesn¡¯t seem bothered, though. ¡°Of course. Just give me a minute. I¡¯ll put in headphones and listen to some music.¡± God, I love this man. I do my best not to wince at the thought. I make sure Rogers has music ying from his headphones before dashing into my room. I call Amanda¡¯s number, hoping she¡¯ll pick up. On the fourth ring, she does. Amanda!¡± ¡°Amelia, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve messed up, Amanda. Messed up bad.¡± ¡°What happened? No, don¡¯t say anything until I get there! You don¡¯t have to talk without awyer. Despite everything, I find myselfughing. ¡°It¡¯s not that kind of trouble. I haven¡¯t been arrested or anything.¡± ¡°Oh. Good. Then what¡¯s the problem?¡± ¡°I.. you know how I¡¯m supposed to do the whole fake marriage thing with Rogers?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Well you know, he agreed to do it as my friend. It would be a fake marriage. I think I¡¯m messing it up.¡± You¡¯re losing me, Amelia. What, exactly, did you do?¡± My nerves mount, and I finally blurted it out aloud. ¡°I think I¡¯m falling in love with Rogers¡± There¡¯s a beat of silence. ¡°It¡¯s taken you this long to realize it?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Are you only figuring that out now?¡± Amanda asks slowly and clearly like she¡¯s speaking to someone who isn¡¯t quite sane. Yes. You mean ¨C you knew before me?¡± I¡¯ve known it for weeks. I didn¡¯t want to bring it up; I knew you¡¯d talk to me about it when you were ready.¡± I don¡¯t know what to do. I don¡¯t want things between Rogers and me to change. It¡¯s so good being with him like this.¡± Then what¡¯s the problem?¡± The problem is I feel like I have him under false pretenses. Don¡¯t I owe him the truth?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Crap. I¡¯d been hoping Amanda would assure me otherwise. ¡°What if it ruins our friendship?¡± What makes you so sure he doesn¡¯t feel the same way?¡± ¡°He would tell me if he did!¡± Amanda bursts outughing. ¡°Oh, you two are like a romance movie. You do realize that¡¯s exactly how things happen, right? You¡¯re both falling in love, but neither wants to tell the other for fear of ruining it.¡± Could it be? I¡¯m still not sure. Maybe that is the case, but if it¡¯s not, it could ruin everything. It¡¯s still a big risk to take. Besides, I¡¯m not even sure I¡¯m in love with Rogers yet. ¡°I¡¯m definitely heading in that direction, but maybe it¡¯s best to keep my mouth shut until I¡¯m there ¨C or not there, however it turns out.¡± ¡°I guess that¡¯s your choice to make. But I think you should tell him before you go ahead with the wedding.¡± ¡°I know,¡± I moan. The wedding is set for six weeks from now. Will that be enough time to sort out my feelings for Rogers? I¡¯m just not sure I¡¯m ready for another rtionship. Even with how I feel about Rogers, putting abel on it means we¡¯re officially together. After thest disaster¡­¡± Rogers is nothing like Raymond. You don¡¯t need to worry about that.¡± ¡°Yes, but that doesn¡¯t mean a rtionship with him wouldn¡¯t have its pitfalls ¨C all rtionships do. If you asked me at the beginning with Raymond, when I was infatuated and he could do no wrong in my eyes, I would never have guessed how things would have turned out.¡± I think you and Rogers are right for each other. You¡¯ll be good together.¡± I wish I was so certain. I hope so. I¡¯d better go ¨C I have Rogers listening to music so I can talk to you privately, but I don¡¯t want to keep him at it for too long.¡± Have you ever heard of a door?¡± Amanda teases. It¡¯s closed, but Rogers has super-sensitive hearing. And the doors are thin here.¡± I can tell that Amanda doesn¡¯t believe me. ¡°Did¡­ did something happen with you and Rogers?¡± How do I even start? What can I possibly tell her, when Rogers is relying on me to keep his secret? I found out what happened to him that night in the woods,¡± I blurt out. Excellent! What was it?¡± Hannah sounds so excited, and I hate to disappoint her, but I can¡¯t betray Rogers. ¡°I. cacacan¡¯t tell you. He asked me to promise not to tell anyone.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Amanda sighs. ¡°I suppose there¡¯s nothing you can do, then. Maybe he¡¯ll choose to tell me at some point.¡± I wouldn¡¯t count on it. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I kind of found out by ident. I don¡¯t know if he ever nned on telling either of us.¡± ¡°Well maybe living with you will cure him of that particr stupidity. Anyway, I¡¯m heading off to bed. We should meet soon, ok? I could help you with the wedding nning if you¡¯d like?¡± ¡°That would be amazing. Thanks, Amanda. Goodnight.¡± ¡°Goodnight.¡± I¡¯m smiling when I hang up. Talking to Amanda always makes me feel better. I get up to find Rogers and tell him I¡¯m done. If I was smart, ?d tell him everything right now. How I feel about him. My worries about another rtionship¡­ I have to do it. I went downstairs, but find that Rogers isn¡¯t there. Maybe he¡¯s gone to his room. Maybe he¡¯s asleep, and I won¡¯t need to tell him. I go to his bedroom, standing just outside the door. I can hear him moving around inside. I¡¯m going to tell him. I¡¯m going to tell him now. My heart is thumping so loudly in my chest that I¡¯m sure Rogers must be able to hear it even with his headphones on. My hand seems strangely detached from the rest of my body as I raise it up in front of me. I knock on the door. I This might be the end of everything. Twenty three Edited????? Mates for Life ** The footsteps start toward us. I nce at Rogers, unsure what to do. He hesitates for a moment before sweeping me up into his arms. He starts running, carrying me easily. I can¡¯t hear any sounds of our pursuers over the rushing wind through my ears. Rogers puts me down a few minutester but doesn¡¯t speak, due to the fact he turns immediately into a wolf. I don¡¯t need to be told what to do. I leap onto his back and hold him tightly. We run through the game reserve, the scenery shing by too fast to make out. Only when we finally reached the loose fence did wee in by. Are we safe?¡± I ask breathlessly as Rogers and I hurry to the car. We¡¯re safe. I definitely outran them, but they might still be searching the park. We should get out of here just in case. I¡¯m sorry. ¡°So much for showing you that being friends with a werewolf could be fun.¡± I find myselfughing. ¡°Are you kidding? ¡°That was awesome! Ok, so the nearly getting the caught part wasn¡¯t great, but the rest of it was amazing.¡± Rogers takes his eyes off the road for a moment to look at me. ¡°Really?¡± Really. I don¡¯t care that you¡¯re a werewolf, Rogers. It¡¯s obvious that you¡¯re still the same person, you just happen to switch forms. I want to know everything. I want to be part of your life.¡± He checks my expression again. Then you should meet my pack.¡± I gulp. ¡°Is that a good idea? I don¡¯t get the impression Derek likes me very much.¡± He¡¯ll get over it.¡± I don¡¯t want to chicken out, so I nod, but I resolve not to find myself alone with Derek, just in case. The drive back seems to go much faster than the drive to the game reserve. I¡¯m more than a little nervous as we get out of the car. Instead of leading me inside, Rogers whistles and then waits with me outside. One by one, people start appearing. I¡¯ve seen some of them around here before. Roger¡¯s pack. Derekes out, his eyes fixed on me from the start. ¡°Rogers. Amelia.¡± Rogers, Amelia knows everything now. I thought it would be a good idea for her to meet the pack, now that she¡¯s going to be part of our lives.¡± Are you still going through with that fake marriage?¡± Derek fixes me with a disapproving frown. Yes.¡± I hold my chin up. ¡°Not that that¡¯s any of your business.¡± If you¡¯re hurting a member of my pack, it¡¯s my business.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t hurt Rogers! How could you even say that?¡± Did he not tell you? Werewolves mate for life. We have our own mating ceremony, but a human wedding still constitutes a mating.¡± I nce at Rogers. ¡°It¡¯s ok, Amelia,¡± he says softly. Is it? Would you not be able to be with someone else?¡± I look at Rogers, struggling to read his expression. ¡°I mean, I don¡¯t expect us to stay married forever. Eventually, you¡¯ll fall in love with someone for real, and we can get divorced. Can you still do that with this whole mates for life thing?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Luke firmly, right at the same time as Derek says, ¡°No.¡± I nce between them, confused. ¡°He could be with a human,¡± Derek rifies. ¡°But most wolves choose to be with others of our kind. Only a wolf can really understand what it means to be a wolf. But no werewolf would take a mate who did something as dishonorable as initiating a fake marriage with another.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a problem, Amelia.¡± ¡°Why not? That sounds pretty problematic to me! ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Rogers res at Derek. Thinking about Rogers being with other women makes me unountably antsy, so l let the subject drop, but it still troubles me that I might be negatively affecting his future, just to get my family off my back.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Rogers steers me away from Derek to speak to the rest of the pack. Their healer, Linda, is really nice, as well as her mate Luke. I manage to forget about the conversation with Derek for a bit and just enjoy talking to Rogers¡¯s pack. When my stomach starts grumbling, he leads me upstairs. ¡°How about we order some pizza?¡± I¡¯m hungry for food, but it¡¯s not all I¡¯m hungry for. ¡°Sure. Pizza is great.¡± Rogers must be able to pick something up from my scent, because the moment he puts down the phone after making the order, he pulls me into his arms. We kissed slowly at first, but it quickly heats up. I moan and let my head tilt back at the perfect angle for Rogers to deepen the kiss. I feel like I¡¯m melting into a puddle of happy goo at his touch. We somehow make it to the couch with most of our clothing gone. Rogers¡¯s shirt and my panties are still on, but those won¡¯tst for long. I grab Rogers¡¯s ass, pulling him closer to me. His cock leaks pre onto my stomach. God, I love how quickly he gets hard for me. I reach down and stroke his length while we kiss. Rogers¡¯s kiss bes fierce and desperate as I work his cock. He starts thrusting into my hand. I use the pre still leaking out of the head to slick my hand and then go back to work on Rogers. He pulls away from the kiss, burying his head in my neck. His lips and teeth graze my skin lightly. I urge Roger to spread his legs with my other hand, and cup his balls, stroking softly upward toward his cock. Rogers cries out as he spills himself in my hand. I keep pumping his cock until I¡¯m sure I¡¯ve gotten everyst drop ofe. Look what you did,¡± he whispers in my ear, still out of breath. ¡°Now how am I supposed to take you?¡± ¡°Come now, Rogers, I know you¡¯re more creative than that.¡± I suppose you¡¯re right.¡± He pushes himself off the couch and vanishes into my bedroom. I don¡¯t know what he¡¯s doing, but I¡¯m trembling in anticipation. When he returns, my breath catches. He has my dildo. I¡¯m not sure how he knew where it was, but I don¡¯t care right now. I spread my legs eagerly. Rogers tests my pussy with a finger first, and upon finding me fully soaked, he pushes the dildo inside me. ¡°Setting fire,¡± I tell him. Rogers turns it immediately to the fifth set. The buzzing goes through me in a continuous wave of pleasure. Rogers thrusts it in and out perfectly, hitting my G-spot every time. He uses his other hand to stroke my clit. He starts slowly at first but lets himself be guided by the noises I¡¯m making. As I get closer to my release, he speeds up, both with the thrusting and with his finger on my clit. The dildo is making a sucking noise every time he pulls it nearly all the way out of my pussy. My clit is on fire as Rogers starts moving his finger in circles, just the way that drives me mad. I¡¯m clutching onto Rogers¡¯s shoulders for dear life as I¡¯m swept away on waves of pleasure. My orgasm finally hits, causing my nails to dig into Rogers¡¯s skin, but he doesn¡¯tin. My hips arch and I practicallye off the couch. I might have if Rogers wasn¡¯t there steadying me. When I finally go limp, he pulls the dildo out of me. Rogers goes to the kitchen andes back with a damp cloth. Ipletely forgot that my hand and stomach are covered in hise. I clean up as best as I can without standing. I don¡¯t think my legs would hold me right now. I hold out my arms, and Rogers joins me on the couch. Derek can stuff it,¡± I mutter. There¡¯s nothing better than this. Rogers chuckles. ¡°Too right he can. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m ever going to¡­ well, he doesn¡¯t know what he¡¯s talking about.¡± What does he mean? I can¡¯t work out what was supposed to be beyond Rogers¡¯s hesitation. Does he think that if he marries me, even if it¡¯s fake, he¡¯ll have to be with me forever? The idea certainly isn¡¯t a bad one, but I¡¯d feel terrible if I was standing in the way of Rogers finding true love. My heart sinks as I realize what that could mean. If I¡¯m constantly holding him back from finding happiness, he¡¯s going to start resenting me. Who wouldn¡¯t? maybe I¡¯m just being selfish, taking him up on his fake marriage offer. ¡°Rogers?¡± Hm? He sounds so rxed and happy that I¡¯m loath to ruin it, but I have to know. Are you really ok with this fake marriage thing? Of course, I am. I¡¯m the one who suggested it, remember?¡± ¡°I remember.¡± I still worry, though. He may be ok with it now, but in ten, twenty years, who knows? Twenty four The Honeymoon *** ¡°I will, Rogers, I swear¡­ but not now. Let¡¯s just ¨C let¡¯s just be happy for now. We just got married. I know it¡¯s not a normal marriage, but we can still enjoy this. I bet the honeymoon is going to be awesome.¡± His face softens. ¡°It is. This way.¡± I expect to stand in lines and go through multiple gateways, but instead, Rogers leads me down a couple of side passages to a private hangar. A private hangar with a private jet. Rogers¡­ what are we doing here?¡± We¡¯re flying. You own a private jet?¡± The pack owns a private jet.¡± I knew the pack was rich, but I didn¡¯t know they were this rich. Wow.¡± If you¡¯re impressed by this, wait until you see the pack¡¯s ind.¡± The pack has a private ind?¡± Rogers just grins. ¡°Where is it?¡± You don¡¯t really think I¡¯m going to fall for that, do you? You¡¯ll find out when we get there¡± It was worth a try.¡± When we get onto the ne, there are chairs, but there¡¯s also a huge bed right in the middle. Is that usual for a private jet?¡± I gesture to the bed. ¡°No. I asked Derek to put it in. It¡¯s nighttime after all. I figured we¡¯d both be tired.¡± He¡¯s right. I am tired. As much as I want to consummate this marriage, the bed is inviting for an entirely different reason. ¡°Shall we just =¡± ¡°Sleep? Yes, please.¡± The two of us grin at each other before hurrying for the bed. I snuggle under the fluffy nkets, feeling happier than I can remember being in a long time. I close my eyes and drift off. ¡°I¡¯m woken by Rogers what must be hourster. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Where is here? Are you going to tell me?¡± ¡°Seychelles. We¡¯re on the maind, but we need to take a boat to the pack¡¯s ind.¡± Seychelles is a tropical paradise, but I¡¯m certainly d that the huge house on the private ind has an air conditioner. I¡¯m fully awake now, having slept for the entire flight. Rogers looks rtively well-rested, too. Shall I show you around? There¡¯s a forest here that Derek says will be great for running in my wolf form. I can take you around. Or I can show you the house?¡± Right now, I¡¯m just interested in one part of the house. Any idea where the bedroom is?¡± Rogers grins. ¡°I suppose we do have something to do before we explore. Got to get that marriage consummated, after all.¡± He picks me up and carries me to a bedroom with the biggest bed I¡¯ve ever seen. Rogersys me tenderly down and starts undressing me. I raise myself slightly off the bed to allow him to pull my travel dress off. Rogers sheds his own clothing and joins me. We kiss, slow and deep. There¡¯s no hurry. We¡¯ll be here for three weeks. We specifically arranged the wedding date so that the full moon won¡¯t fall during our honeymoon time. I roll us over so that I¡¯m straddling Rogers¡¯s hips. I grind myself down onto him. Our tongues slide together effortlessly. Rogers and I are breathing each other¡¯s air and all I can feel is him. He¡¯s the only real thing left in the world. We kiss until we¡¯re both dizzy. My body is screaming for more of Rogers, and I have no interest in denying it. His cock is pressing up against my ass. It¡¯s easy to move myself down so that I¡¯m sitting on top of it. I tense my thighs as I start bouncing up and down, riding Rogers¡¯s cock. He gestures for me to lean forward, which I do, bracing myself on my arms. He cranes one of my breasts, pulling it to his mouth so that he can suck my nipple. His mouth is a hot, wet, divine heaven. I moan and wrap one hand around his head, holding him to me. Rogers keeps sucking until the nipple is achingly hard before moving to the next one. His movements are bing choppy. I can tell he¡¯s close toing, and ?m not far behind him. Rogers must notice the hitch in my breath because he abandons my nipples and wriggles a hand between us to touch my clit. I cry out and push my hips further forward as I continue to work myself up and down on his cock. The changed angle has his cock hitting my G-spot with every thrust, which is it for me. I hold onto Rogers¡¯s shoulders as Ie hard enough to knock the moon out of the sky. His hote shoots into me in response to the wild contracting of my pussy. My movements slow as my release leaves me sleepy and sated. I let myself fall down on Rogers¡¯s chest. Am I good here? I¡¯m not squashing you?¡± You¡¯re perfect. One of the advantages of being a werewolf¨C we canfortably lift much heavier weights than humans.¡± That¡¯s all the reassurance I need. I¡¯m smiling as I fall asleep, still lying on top of Rogers. We both sleep for about ten hours. Even though we¡¯d slept on the ne, traveling is still exhausting. When we wake at midday, I feelpletely rested. Rogers is in the kitchen making. omelets. Hey.¡± I kiss him before throwing myself into a chair. ¡°So, do we have any ns for today? I¡¯ve never been to a tropical ind before. I suppose swimming is in order?¡± ¡°Absolutely. We¡¯ve got snorkeling and Swimming gear here, as well as equipment for diving if you want to give that a shot. We can also explore the forest.¡± Let¡¯s do that.¡± I¡¯m eager to ride on Rogers¡¯s back as a wolf again, especially without the worry of park rangers stumbling across us. We have breakfast on the deck, then get dressed. Rogers insists on smothering me in sun cream, which I don¡¯t really object to. Thest thing I need is to get burned and spend my honeymoon hurting every time Rogers touches me. Would you like to ride?¡± I¡¯m already nodding before he finishes his sentence. ¡°Yes, please!¡± Rogers grins. ¡°I figured you¡¯d ept me being a werewolf, but I never thought you¡¯d be sofortable with it. Doesn¡¯t it bother you?¡± lt did at first, but I think that was more the shock than anything. As soon as I realized that you were still you, just with different body shapes, I stopped worrying. And it didn¡¯t take long to work that out, given how I found out.¡± ¡°I would have thought how you found out would scare you away. I did kill a man.¡± A man who tried to rape me. Trust me, I¡¯m not crying any tears over him. Even when you were caught up in the violence of that act, you never hurt me. And when you realized how upset I was, you gave way your secret tofort me. How could I be anything but epting?¡± Instead of answering, Rogers kisses me. As always, his kisses take my breath away. When we finally break apart, I keep hold of his waist for bnce. Are you ready to run?¡± In answer, Rogers takes a step back and shifts into his wolf form. I climb onto his back, winding my hands through his fur as I did with his hair just a few moments ago. Rogers sets off running. Even though we¡¯re going through a forest, the speed gives the illusion of wind, blowing my hair back off my face. I find myselfughing like a maniac, but it doesn¡¯t matter, as there is no one but Rogers and me to hear. We run for what must be almost an hour. Rogers stops every now and then to sniff at something, reminding me irresistibly of a pet dog Eventually, I tug on his fur. ¡°Stop, let me down. I want to walk.¡± I¡¯ve never really been into hiking, but this ce is so beautiful, I can¡¯t but want to explore it. Rogers runs too fast for my human eyes to track much of the scenery. Rogers waits for me to get off before shifting to his human form. I take his hand, and the two of us walk through the forest. I¡¯m just starting to think about asking Rogers to run us back to the house for lunch when Rogers suddenly freezes. I wonder at first if he¡¯s messing with me. This is a private ind. There can¡¯t be anyone here. Predator?¡± I guess. Rogers shakes his head. ¡°I had the pack clear off any dangerous animals before bringing you here.¡± What is it, then?¡± Rogers sniffs deeply. ¡°A person. We¡¯re not alone.¡± The way he says it sends chills through me. ¡°Who else would be here? We should go back to the house.¡± Rogers sounds worried, and if he¡¯s worried, I know I should be too. ¡°Let¡¯s go, then.¡± Rogers shifts and I hurry to get onto his back. He sets off back to the house, running like the wind. The Honeymoon *** ¡°I will, Rogers, I swear¡­ but not now. Let¡¯s just ¨C let¡¯s just be happy for now. We just got married. I know it¡¯s not a normal marriage, but we can still enjoy this. I bet the honeymoon is going to be awesome.¡± His face softens. ¡°It is. This way.¡± I expect to stand in lines and go through multiple gateways, but instead, Rogers leads me down a couple of side passages to a private hangar. A private hangar with a private jet. Rogers¡­ what are we doing here?¡± We¡¯re flying. You own a private jet?¡± The pack owns a private jet.¡± I knew the pack was rich, but I didn¡¯t know they were this rich. Wow.¡± If you¡¯re impressed by this, wait until you see the pack¡¯s ind.¡± The pack has a private ind?¡± Rogers just grins. ¡°Where is it?¡± You don¡¯t really think I¡¯m going to fall for that, do you? You¡¯ll find out when we get there¡± It was worth a try.¡± When we get onto the ne, there are chairs, but there¡¯s also a huge bed right in the middle.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Is that usual for a private jet?¡± I gesture to the bed. ¡°No. I asked Derek to put it in. It¡¯s nighttime after all. I figured we¡¯d both be tired.¡± He¡¯s right. I am tired. As much as I want to consummate this marriage, the bed is inviting for an entirely different reason. ¡°Shall we just =¡± ¡°Sleep? Yes, please.¡± The two of us grin at each other before hurrying for the bed. I snuggle under the fluffy nkets, feeling happier than I can remember being in a long time. I close my eyes and drift off. ¡°I¡¯m woken by Rogers what must be hourster. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Where is here? Are you going to tell me?¡± ¡°Seychelles. We¡¯re on the maind, but we need to take a boat to the pack¡¯s ind.¡± Seychelles is a tropical paradise, but I¡¯m certainly d that the huge house on the private ind has an air conditioner. I¡¯m fully awake now, having slept for the entire flight. Rogers looks rtively well-rested, too. Shall I show you around? There¡¯s a forest here that Derek says will be great for running in my wolf form. I can take you around. Or I can show you the house?¡± Right now, I¡¯m just interested in one part of the house. Any idea where the bedroom is?¡± Rogers grins. ¡°I suppose we do have something to do before we explore. Got to get that marriage consummated, after all.¡± He picks me up and carries me to a bedroom with the biggest bed I¡¯ve ever seen. Rogersys me tenderly down and starts undressing me. I raise myself slightly off the bed to allow him to pull my travel dress off. Rogers sheds his own clothing and joins me. We kiss, slow and deep. There¡¯s no hurry. We¡¯ll be here for three weeks. We specifically arranged the wedding date so that the full moon won¡¯t fall during our honeymoon time. I roll us over so that I¡¯m straddling Rogers¡¯s hips. I grind myself down onto him. Our tongues slide together effortlessly. Rogers and I are breathing each other¡¯s air and all I can feel is him. He¡¯s the only real thing left in the world. We kiss until we¡¯re both dizzy. My body is screaming for more of Rogers, and I have no interest in denying it. His cock is pressing up against my ass. It¡¯s easy to move myself down so that I¡¯m sitting on top of it. I tense my thighs as I start bouncing up and down, riding Rogers¡¯s cock. He gestures for me to lean forward, which I do, bracing myself on my arms. He cranes one of my breasts, pulling it to his mouth so that he can suck my nipple. His mouth is a hot, wet, divine heaven. I moan and wrap one hand around his head, holding him to me. Rogers keeps sucking until the nipple is achingly hard before moving to the next one. His movements are bing choppy. I can tell he¡¯s close toing, and ?m not far behind him. Rogers must notice the hitch in my breath because he abandons my nipples and wriggles a hand between us to touch my clit. I cry out and push my hips further forward as I continue to work myself up and down on his cock. The changed angle has his cock hitting my G-spot with every thrust, which is it for me. I hold onto Rogers¡¯s shoulders as Ie hard enough to knock the moon out of the sky. His hote shoots into me in response to the wild contracting of my pussy. My movements slow as my release leaves me sleepy and sated. I let myself fall down on Rogers¡¯s chest. Am I good here? I¡¯m not squashing you?¡± You¡¯re perfect. One of the advantages of being a werewolf¨C we canfortably lift much heavier weights than humans.¡± That¡¯s all the reassurance I need. I¡¯m smiling as I fall asleep, still lying on top of Rogers. We both sleep for about ten hours. Even though we¡¯d slept on the ne, traveling is still exhausting. When we wake at midday, I feelpletely rested. Rogers is in the kitchen making. omelets. Hey.¡± I kiss him before throwing myself into a chair. ¡°So, do we have any ns for today? I¡¯ve never been to a tropical ind before. I suppose swimming is in order?¡± ¡°Absolutely. We¡¯ve got snorkeling and Swimming gear here, as well as equipment for diving if you want to give that a shot. We can also explore the forest.¡± Let¡¯s do that.¡± I¡¯m eager to ride on Rogers¡¯s back as a wolf again, especially without the worry of park rangers stumbling across us. We have breakfast on the deck, then get dressed. Rogers insists on smothering me in sun cream, which I don¡¯t really object to. Thest thing I need is to get burned and spend my honeymoon hurting every time Rogers touches me. Would you like to ride?¡± I¡¯m already nodding before he finishes his sentence. ¡°Yes, please!¡± Rogers grins. ¡°I figured you¡¯d ept me being a werewolf, but I never thought you¡¯d be sofortable with it. Doesn¡¯t it bother you?¡± lt did at first, but I think that was more the shock than anything. As soon as I realized that you were still you, just with different body shapes, I stopped worrying. And it didn¡¯t take long to work that out, given how I found out.¡± ¡°I would have thought how you found out would scare you away. I did kill a man.¡± A man who tried to rape me. Trust me, I¡¯m not crying any tears over him. Even when you were caught up in the violence of that act, you never hurt me. And when you realized how upset I was, you gave way your secret tofort me. How could I be anything but epting?¡± Instead of answering, Rogers kisses me. As always, his kisses take my breath away. When we finally break apart, I keep hold of his waist for bnce. Are you ready to run?¡± In answer, Rogers takes a step back and shifts into his wolf form. I climb onto his back, winding my hands through his fur as I did with his hair just a few moments ago. Rogers sets off running. Even though we¡¯re going through a forest, the speed gives the illusion of wind, blowing my hair back off my face. I find myselfughing like a maniac, but it doesn¡¯t matter, as there is no one but Rogers and me to hear. We run for what must be almost an hour. Rogers stops every now and then to sniff at something, reminding me irresistibly of a pet dog Eventually, I tug on his fur. ¡°Stop, let me down. I want to walk.¡± I¡¯ve never really been into hiking, but this ce is so beautiful, I can¡¯t but want to explore it. Rogers runs too fast for my human eyes to track much of the scenery. Rogers waits for me to get off before shifting to his human form. I take his hand, and the two of us walk through the forest. I¡¯m just starting to think about asking Rogers to run us back to the house for lunch when Rogers suddenly freezes. I wonder at first if he¡¯s messing with me. This is a private ind. There can¡¯t be anyone here. Predator?¡± I guess. Rogers shakes his head. ¡°I had the pack clear off any dangerous animals before bringing you here.¡± What is it, then?¡± Rogers sniffs deeply. ¡°A person. We¡¯re not alone.¡± The way he says it sends chills through me. ¡°Who else would be here? We should go back to the house.¡± Rogers sounds worried, and if he¡¯s worried, I know I should be too. ¡°Let¡¯s go, then.¡± Rogers shifts and I hurry to get onto his back. He sets off back to the house, running like the wind. Twenty five The Watcher ** The moment we get back, Rogers starts locking the doors and windows. I try to help, but he growls and grabs my wrist, not letting me leave his side. I follow along until the entire house is secure. Finally, Rogers seems to rx a little, but his eyes are still darting around everywhere. ¡°Rogers? What¡¯s the problem? It¡¯s probably just some tourist who doesn¡¯t know this is a private ind.¡± ¡°Maybe.¡± ¡°Well, who else would it be?¡± I don¡¯t know, but I¡¯m going to find them.¡± I certainly won¡¯t beining about that. I don¡¯t particrly want my and Rogers¡¯s alone time to be interrupted by misced tourists. Ok. You go and tell them they¡¯re on the wrong ind. I¡¯ll wait here.¡± I¡¯d like to go snorkeling, but it doesn¡¯t look like Rogers¡¯s nerves can take me leaving the safety of the house at the moment. ¡°Stay inside.¡± ¡°I will.¡± Rogers kisses me before leaving, locking the door behind him. It surely won¡¯t take him long to find whoever it is, not with his wolf speed and smell. There¡¯s aputer in one of the rooms, which is set up like an office. I sit down and start doing some research on Seychelles. I soone across a list of privately owned inds. All of the hotels seem to have a simr list, which they disy publicly, from the pictures I can see. Those pictures send a chill down my spine. Almost all tourists here will be staying in hotels. With the list of private inds, they will know full well that this area is off-limits. That¡¯s why Rogers was so worried. Someone deliberately came here, knowing it¡¯s private. I nce once more out of the windows. Maybe they got their map mixed up. Or maybe they figured there wouldn¡¯t be anyone here, and they could get the ce to themselves. Somehow, I don¡¯t believe either of those things. Rogers thinks something is off, and I have no reason to distrust his instincts. I¡¯m sure that searching out the intruder will take an hour or two at most, but it¡¯s almost four hours before Rogers returns. I¡¯ve already had lunch and I¡¯m reading on the couch. It turns out this house has a fully stocked library. I sit up straighter as Rogerses inside. ¡°Did you find them?¡± ¡°No, and I should have.¡± He throws himself down next to me. If it was a lost tourist or something, they would have been easy to find. Whoever it is, they¡¯re deliberately hiding from me and doing it well. It¡¯s not easy to hide from a werewolf. What do you think they want?¡± For now ¨C nothing. They¡¯re just a silent watcher at the moment. Perhaps they¡¯re a pervert who wants to spy on a newly married couple. ¡°Should we call the police?¡± ¡°Not yet. I don¡¯t want to involve the police if at all possible. The pack tries to avoid them whenever we can; they ask too many questions. It¡¯s risky for our secret. Sooner orter, the watcher will either make a mistake or make a move. Whichever it is, I¡¯ll be ready.¡± That doesn¡¯t sound entirely reassuring. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Rogers pulls me into his arms. I would never let anything hurt you. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll keep looking for them. They can¡¯t hide forever. Or maybe we should just get out of here. We can book into a hotel.¡± No way. This ce is amazing. I want to stay. I¡¯m not letting some creep ruin this for us. But you¡¯re going to have to let me go outside. As much as I like this house, I¡¯m not staying shut up here for our whole honeymoon.¡± Agreed. How about some snorkeling? The water is so clear we¡¯ll be able to see anyoneing from a mile off.¡± Sounds good to me. *** There are a number of sexy bikinis to choose from in the supplies, but Rogers insists I wear a thoroughly non-sexy swimming shirt over it. Rogers ¡­ I feel like a nun,¡± I whine. ¡°You¡¯re going to feel like a fireball if you swim without it. Trust me, being sunburned on a beach holiday is definitely not fun.¡± ¡°What about you? I don¡¯t see you smothering yourself in suntan lotion or wearing one of these. Werewolves are a lot more resistant to being burned ¨C to most injuries, actually. I¡¯ll be fine. And even if I wasn¡¯t, we heal quickly.¡± Being a werewolf is sounding like a better and better deal all the time. ¡°Rogers? ¡°Amelia?¡± ¡°Why do most werewolves choose to mate with their own kind?¡± Usually because of the lying. Most packs don¡¯t allow their members to reveal their identities to humans at all. Some make an exception if you marry a human, but even then, you¡¯d have to lie to them for the entire rtionship until you were married.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t imagine that would go down too well.¡± ¡°No, not after lying for years. Most rtionships end at that stage. That¡¯s why a lot of wolves don¡¯t even try to be with humans.¡± Still, there must be others like me ¨C who found out by mistake, or worked it out.¡± There are a few, but the chances are quite slim.¡± They might be slim, but for Raymond and me, that doesn¡¯t matter. I already know, and there¡¯s no other reason for me not to be with him. Except that I still haven¡¯t decided whether I want to risk telling him how I feel. ** Over the next few days, Rogers and I thoroughly enjoy our honeymoon. We snorkel and explore the ind. We lounge on the sand, or on the deck. We explore each other¡¯s bodies more thoroughly than we do the forest. It¡¯s a paradise¡­ but there¡¯s still the lurking worry of our watcher. Every now and then, Rogers catches their scent. He always hurries me back to the house when he does, and then goes searching himself. Unfortunately, the watcher seems adept at hiding. Still, they¡¯ve only watched so far. I¡¯m fairly certain Luke was right and it¡¯s a pervert spying on us, hoping to catch us having sex in the forest. We¡¯ve deliberately avoided being naked in the forest for that reason. It¡¯s a pity, as I would have liked to have Rogers take me up against a tree, but we¡¯ve more than made up for that in the bedroom.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. We¡¯ve also found a highly useful rock formation quite close to the ind. It¡¯s one of our favorite snorkeling locations, and it blocks the views from all sides. Once I convinced Rogers I¡¯d be fine without my swimsuit for a few minutes, we quickly discovered the rush of having sex in the ocean. What with being able to see right through the water, to see Rogers just as well as if we were on drynd, it¡¯s one of the most intoxicating experiences I¡¯ve ever had. A week into our honeymoon, I wake up in the middle of the night to find Rogers gone. He¡¯s probably just gone to the bathroom. Several minutester when he¡¯s not back, I¡¯m forced to conclude that he¡¯s gone out to look for the watcher. asionally, Rogers will catch their scent while we¡¯re inside, at which point he¡¯ll rush out to search. It hasn¡¯t happened at night before, but I take it in my stride. I¡¯m rolling over and trying to get back to sleep. Sleep won¡¯te. I suppose it¡¯s not entirely surprising. Even though the watcher hasn¡¯t yet shown themselves to be hostile, the fact that they¡¯re trying so hard to hide themselves is worrying. Stop being silly, Amelia. Rogers is a werewolf. He¡¯s perfectly capable of taking care of himself. It¡¯s the watcher who should be worried. The creak of a floorboard draws me out of my thoughts. I sigh in relief. Rogers. It¡¯s too dark to see much except an outline, but I don¡¯t bother turning on the light. ¡°There you are. Come back to bed.¡± He doesn¡¯t respond. Rogers?''¡± The breath seems to freeze in my lungs. That¡¯s not Rogers. I can tell from the way he moves. Rogers¡¯s movements are fluid, like a cat. The silhouette in front of me takes another step forward. The movement is undoubtedly human, with none of the werewolf grace I¡¯ve be ustomed to. I reach for the light, but the figure lunges, pulling themp out of my reach. To open my mouth to scream. I don¡¯t know if Rogers can hear my scream from all over the ind, but maybe he¡¯s close enough that he¡¯ll hear it. If he does, nothing will stop him from getting here to rescue me. A hand mps over my mouth. I shriek and struggle, but I¡¯m not a match for their strength. My heart is galloping so loudly that Rogers would surely hear it if he was here. Rogers isn¡¯t here, though. I¡¯m all alone with my attacker. I close my eyes, praying that Rogers will be back soon. I want to ask the watcher what they want from me, but my voice ispletely blocked by their hand. I try valiantly not to faint. If I faint, who knows what they will do to me before I wake up? That thought is enough to keep me fighting. I try to elbow them in the ribs, but the grip they have me in is awkward and I don¡¯t manage to hurt them. The more I writhe uselessly, the more terrified I be, but I can¡¯t help fighting. Maybe If I can just dy them, Rogers will arrive in time to pull them off me before they do anything. I¡¯ve never been so terrified in my life. I want to scream at them, but only muffled Sounds get out past their hand over my mouth. What do they want with me? Twenty six Return * Amelia ¡°Don¡¯t struggle. I¡¯m not going to hurt you.¡± The voice shocks me so much that I indeed stop struggling. That¡¯s Raymond¡¯s voice. He cautiously removes his hand from over my mouth. I spin around and p him across the face. What the hell, Raymond! Rogers is going to murder you for this ¨C that¡¯s if the police don¡¯t get here first.¡± I¡¯m already reaching for my phone, but it doesn¡¯t seem to be where I left it. I fumble with themp switch. Light floods the room, but my phone is nowhere in sight. Rogers must have hidden it somewhere. Raymond is rubbing his cheek, but he makes no further aggressive move against me. ¡°Just calm down, Amelia, or I¡¯ll have to restrain you again. We need to talk.¡± ¡°Like hell we do! Luke! ROGERS!¡± ¡°He¡¯s too far away to hear you,¡± Raymond snaps. He doesn¡¯t know that Luke has a werewolf hearing. I have half a mind to let Rogers kill him when hees back. I know what he is, Amelia.¡± That shuts me up. There¡¯s no way Raymond can really know. He¡¯s just trying to scare me. ¡°Rogers is a werewolf.¡± I manage to force out augh, but it sounds a lot more panicked than I¡¯d like. ¡°What are you on, Raymond? In case you¡¯ve forgotten, werewolves don¡¯t exist.¡± I¡¯ve been following you and Rogers for months. It took me a while ¨C I had to get some pretty fancy technology to hide my scent. That¡¯s what I¡¯ve been using on my hideout here. That¡¯s why Rogers hasn¡¯t found me yet. That makes way more sense than it should. Could Raymond be telling the truth? You¡¯re crazy,¡± I insist. ¡°You¡¯d best get yourself to a hospital on the maind before Rogers gets back.¡± I was in the forest, following him and his friends from the building. I saw them turn into wolves, Amelia. Don¡¯t pretend you don¡¯t know what I¡¯m talking about.¡± I¡¯m now in the grip of a wholly different fear. It doesn¡¯t look like Raymond is going to hurt me physically, but his words present a whole different level of danger. No one will believe that. You¡¯ll bemitted to even suggesting it.¡± ¡°Maybe that¡¯s true¡­ but I have evidence.¡± Raymond pulls out a camera. ¡°Don¡¯t bother destroying it ¨C I have copies of this video stashed all over.¡± I take the camera and press y with trembling fingers. It¡¯s worse than I ever imagined. Raymond has clear shots of Rogers, Derek, and a number of other pack members. The video clearly records them turning into wolves and running off. ¡°Some people will say the video is fake.¡± Raymond shrugs. ¡°But there are ways of verifying a video¡¯s authenticity. Eventually, the truth will win out¡± You can¡¯t.¡± I hate that my voice is trembling. ¡°Werewolves will be hunted down ¨C or captured and studied, at the very least.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s up to you.¡± What do you mean?¡± I have an idea of what he might mean, but I¡¯m hoping he¡¯ll prove me wrong. It¡¯s quite simple really. You return to me. Move back in with me. Marry me. Be with me. As long as you do that, I won¡¯t release the evidence.¡± What¡¯s stopping me from having Rogers chain you up here until you agree to destroy the evidence?¡± ¡°I havewyers all around the world who have instructions to release the documents if they don¡¯t receive an instruction not to within a week.¡± If that¡¯s true, I¡¯m in trouble. I can¡¯t let Rogers¡¯s secret get out, and Raymond is stubborn enough that he wouldn¡¯t tell thewyers to destroy the evidence, even under torture. I don¡¯t think either Rogers or I have it in us to torture someone, anyway. What I need is to buy time. Stop him releasing the evidence long enough for me or Rogers to find a way to destroy it for good. ¡°Fine,¡± I spit. ¡°But you know that this is under duress, Raymond, no matter how much you may wish it otherwise. If you try to touch me, it will be rape. Any consent I give is coerced.¡± I¡¯ll give you the time you need. You¡¯lle to see that I¡¯m the one for you.¡± He¡¯s insane. I never would have expected this kind of reaction from Raymond. He¡¯s just proving to me that leaving him was the right choice, but I can¡¯t say that. Here.¡± Raymond hands me a map. Here¡¯s my base on this ind. Meet me there the day after tomorrow at dawn. Oh, and one more thing. Don¡¯t tell Rogers why you¡¯re leaving. I want you to just disappear from his life as you did from mine.¡± ¡°You know why I left you! You cheated on me.¡± Regardless, you won¡¯t tell him. And don¡¯t think you can get away with it. I have cameras stashed all over. How do you think I knew you were alone now? That¡¯s certainly a chilling thought. I feel like the walls are closing in on me, and there¡¯s no escape. Rogers has covered every possible option. You must know this will never work. I¡¯ll never love you again, Raymond.¡± He leans in and kisses me on the forehead. You will. I¡¯ll see you the day after tomorrow, Amelia.¡± I hate the confidence in his voice. I hate that I know he¡¯s right. I won¡¯t sacrifice Rogers¡¯s life for my happiness. If I have to be Raymond¡¯s captive for a few weeks ¨C or even months ¨C I will do it. Of course, if I run off without telling him why, he may never forgive me, but that¡¯s a chance I¡¯ll have to take to protect him and all other werewolves. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll do it. Now get out of here.¡± Before he leaves, Raymond gets out a spray bottle and sprays the room thoroughly. It doesn¡¯t smell like anything to me, but Raymond grins as he makes sure he¡¯s got the Corners. This will remove my scent from the room. ¡°Rogers will never know I was here.¡± Fuck. There goes that hope. I sit on the edge of the bed as Raymond leaves. I feel useless and helpless, but what can I do? This isn¡¯t something I can fight immediately, but that hardly makes me helpless. I¡¯m a journalist. I¡¯m good at tracking down information people want to hide. I can do it. I turn out the light and force myself to lie down. I close my eyes, but sleep won¡¯te. I need to be asleep by the time Rogers is finished looking for Rogers. If I¡¯m not, Rogers will smell my distress in an instant. Exactly how I¡¯m meant to sleep when my insides are in knots over what I have to do tomorrow, I have no idea. I toss and turn, getting more anxious with every passing minute. Rogers is bound to be back soon, and then he¡¯ll realize from my scent that something is wrong. I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll be able to keep it from him then. No matter how I try to keep them closed, my eyes keep popping open. Eventually, I allow myself to sit up. Maybe I need a snack. I¡¯ll just grab a bite to eat out of the fridge, then I¡¯ll be able to sleep We¡¯ve got arge stic container of leftover pasta in the fridge. I¡¯m just putting a te of it in the microwave when I hear footsteps behind me. I grab the nearest object ¨C a frying pan ¨C and swing my whole body around, ready to knock Raymond unconscious. Rogers grabs the frying pan, stopping my blow short. He gives me a strange look. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Amelia?¡±Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Oh! Nothing. You frightened me, that¡¯s all.¡± Rogers is frowning. He doesn¡¯t believe me. ¡°You smell distressed.¡± I¡¯m just hungry.¡±I gesture to the te of pasta. ¡°I thought I¡¯d have a snack.¡± Rogers puts his hands on my shoulders. ¡°I know what hunger smells like. This isn¡¯t it. Something happened. Tell me.¡± I mp my mouth shut. I can¡¯t tell him. I have no way of knowing where Raymond¡¯s cameras are. If I want to protect Rogers, I can¡¯t say anything. Amelia?¡± ¡°I just want to go to bed. Please, Rogers ?¡± ¡°I thought you were hungry?¡± Shit. I am. Hungry and tired. I want to eat in bed, then go to sleep.¡± I turn away from him and press start on the microwave. I didn¡¯t find the watcher. I tense. ¡°Tm sure he¡¯ll show himself soon enough.¡± I can tell Rogers is confused. He doesn¡¯t know why I¡¯m lying to him. The microwave beeps and I grab my te of pasta. I¡¯m not hungry anymore ¨C lying to Rogers is making me feel slightly ill. If I care about him, though, I¡¯d better make this look convincing. I hurry to the bed with my te. As soon as Rogers steps into the room, he stiffens. He sniffs the air. Oh no. Raymond¡¯s scent-blocking thing can¡¯t have been strong enough. What the hell am I going to tell Rogers? He looks at me, his brow furrowed in confusion. ¡°Amelia?¡± Shit, shit, shit. Rogers is looking at me. I open my mouth, willing a reasonable excuse toe out, but nothing does. Twenty seven Return * Amelia ¡°Don¡¯t struggle. I¡¯m not going to hurt you.¡± The voice shocks me so much that I indeed stop struggling. That¡¯s Raymond¡¯s voice. He cautiously removes his hand from over my mouth. I spin around and p him across the face. What the hell, Raymond! Rogers is going to murder you for this ¨C that¡¯s if the police don¡¯t get here first.¡± I¡¯m already reaching for my phone, but it doesn¡¯t seem to be where I left it. I fumble with themp switch. Light floods the room, but my phone is nowhere in sight. Rogers must have hidden it somewhere. Raymond is rubbing his cheek, but he makes no further aggressive move against me. ¡°Just calm down, Amelia, or I¡¯ll have to restrain you again. We need to talk.¡± ¡°Like hell we do! Luke! ROGERS!¡± ¡°He¡¯s too far away to hear you,¡± Raymond snaps. He doesn¡¯t know that Luke has a werewolf hearing. I have half a mind to let Rogers kill him when hees back. I know what he is, Amelia.¡± That shuts me up. There¡¯s no way Raymond can really know. He¡¯s just trying to scare me. ¡°Rogers is a werewolf.¡± I manage to force out augh, but it sounds a lot more panicked than I¡¯d like. ¡°What are you on, Raymond? In case you¡¯ve forgotten, werewolves don¡¯t exist.¡± I¡¯ve been following you and Rogers for months. It took me a while ¨C I had to get some pretty fancy technology to hide my scent. That¡¯s what I¡¯ve been using on my hideout here. That¡¯s why Rogers hasn¡¯t found me yet. That makes way more sense than it should. Could Raymond be telling the truth? You¡¯re crazy,¡± I insist. ¡°You¡¯d best get yourself to a hospital on the maind before Rogers gets back.¡± I was in the forest, following him and his friends from the building. I saw them turn into wolves, Amelia. Don¡¯t pretend you don¡¯t know what I¡¯m talking about.¡± I¡¯m now in the grip of a wholly different fear. It doesn¡¯t look like Raymond is going to hurt me physically, but his words present a whole different level of danger. No one will believe that. You¡¯ll bemitted to even suggesting it.¡± ¡°Maybe that¡¯s true¡­ but I have evidence.¡± Raymond pulls out a camera. ¡°Don¡¯t bother destroying it ¨C I have copies of this video stashed all over.¡±This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. I take the camera and press y with trembling fingers. It¡¯s worse than I ever imagined. Raymond has clear shots of Rogers, Derek, and a number of other pack members. The video clearly records them turning into wolves and running off. ¡°Some people will say the video is fake.¡± Raymond shrugs. ¡°But there are ways of verifying a video¡¯s authenticity. Eventually, the truth will win out¡± You can¡¯t.¡± I hate that my voice is trembling. ¡°Werewolves will be hunted down ¨C or captured and studied, at the very least.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s up to you.¡± What do you mean?¡± I have an idea of what he might mean, but I¡¯m hoping he¡¯ll prove me wrong. It¡¯s quite simple really. You return to me. Move back in with me. Marry me. Be with me. As long as you do that, I won¡¯t release the evidence.¡± What¡¯s stopping me from having Rogers chain you up here until you agree to destroy the evidence?¡± ¡°I havewyers all around the world who have instructions to release the documents if they don¡¯t receive an instruction not to within a week.¡± If that¡¯s true, I¡¯m in trouble. I can¡¯t let Rogers¡¯s secret get out, and Raymond is stubborn enough that he wouldn¡¯t tell thewyers to destroy the evidence, even under torture. I don¡¯t think either Rogers or I have it in us to torture someone, anyway. What I need is to buy time. Stop him releasing the evidence long enough for me or Rogers to find a way to destroy it for good. ¡°Fine,¡± I spit. ¡°But you know that this is under duress, Raymond, no matter how much you may wish it otherwise. If you try to touch me, it will be rape. Any consent I give is coerced.¡± I¡¯ll give you the time you need. You¡¯lle to see that I¡¯m the one for you.¡± He¡¯s insane. I never would have expected this kind of reaction from Raymond. He¡¯s just proving to me that leaving him was the right choice, but I can¡¯t say that. Here.¡± Raymond hands me a map. Here¡¯s my base on this ind. Meet me there the day after tomorrow at dawn. Oh, and one more thing. Don¡¯t tell Rogers why you¡¯re leaving. I want you to just disappear from his life as you did from mine.¡± ¡°You know why I left you! You cheated on me.¡± Regardless, you won¡¯t tell him. And don¡¯t think you can get away with it. I have cameras stashed all over. How do you think I knew you were alone now? That¡¯s certainly a chilling thought. I feel like the walls are closing in on me, and there¡¯s no escape. Rogers has covered every possible option. You must know this will never work. I¡¯ll never love you again, Raymond.¡± He leans in and kisses me on the forehead. You will. I¡¯ll see you the day after tomorrow, Amelia.¡± I hate the confidence in his voice. I hate that I know he¡¯s right. I won¡¯t sacrifice Rogers¡¯s life for my happiness. If I have to be Raymond¡¯s captive for a few weeks ¨C or even months ¨C I will do it. Of course, if I run off without telling him why, he may never forgive me, but that¡¯s a chance I¡¯ll have to take to protect him and all other werewolves. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll do it. Now get out of here.¡± Before he leaves, Raymond gets out a spray bottle and sprays the room thoroughly. It doesn¡¯t smell like anything to me, but Raymond grins as he makes sure he¡¯s got the Corners. This will remove my scent from the room. ¡°Rogers will never know I was here.¡± Fuck. There goes that hope. I sit on the edge of the bed as Raymond leaves. I feel useless and helpless, but what can I do? This isn¡¯t something I can fight immediately, but that hardly makes me helpless. I¡¯m a journalist. I¡¯m good at tracking down information people want to hide. I can do it. I turn out the light and force myself to lie down. I close my eyes, but sleep won¡¯te. I need to be asleep by the time Rogers is finished looking for Rogers. If I¡¯m not, Rogers will smell my distress in an instant. Exactly how I¡¯m meant to sleep when my insides are in knots over what I have to do tomorrow, I have no idea. I toss and turn, getting more anxious with every passing minute. Rogers is bound to be back soon, and then he¡¯ll realize from my scent that something is wrong. I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll be able to keep it from him then. No matter how I try to keep them closed, my eyes keep popping open. Eventually, I allow myself to sit up. Maybe I need a snack. I¡¯ll just grab a bite to eat out of the fridge, then I¡¯ll be able to sleep We¡¯ve got arge stic container of leftover pasta in the fridge. I¡¯m just putting a te of it in the microwave when I hear footsteps behind me. I grab the nearest object ¨C a frying pan ¨C and swing my whole body around, ready to knock Raymond unconscious. Rogers grabs the frying pan, stopping my blow short. He gives me a strange look. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Amelia?¡± ¡°Oh! Nothing. You frightened me, that¡¯s all.¡± Rogers is frowning. He doesn¡¯t believe me. ¡°You smell distressed.¡± I¡¯m just hungry.¡±I gesture to the te of pasta. ¡°I thought I¡¯d have a snack.¡± Rogers puts his hands on my shoulders. ¡°I know what hunger smells like. This isn¡¯t it. Something happened. Tell me.¡± I mp my mouth shut. I can¡¯t tell him. I have no way of knowing where Raymond¡¯s cameras are. If I want to protect Rogers, I can¡¯t say anything. Amelia?¡± ¡°I just want to go to bed. Please, Rogers ?¡± ¡°I thought you were hungry?¡± Shit. I am. Hungry and tired. I want to eat in bed, then go to sleep.¡± I turn away from him and press start on the microwave. I didn¡¯t find the watcher. I tense. ¡°Tm sure he¡¯ll show himself soon enough.¡± I can tell Rogers is confused. He doesn¡¯t know why I¡¯m lying to him. The microwave beeps and I grab my te of pasta. I¡¯m not hungry anymore ¨C lying to Rogers is making me feel slightly ill. If I care about him, though, I¡¯d better make this look convincing. I hurry to the bed with my te. As soon as Rogers steps into the room, he stiffens. He sniffs the air. Oh no. Raymond¡¯s scent-blocking thing can¡¯t have been strong enough. What the hell am I going to tell Rogers? He looks at me, his brow furrowed in confusion. ¡°Amelia?¡± Shit, shit, shit. Rogers is looking at me. I open my mouth, willing a reasonable excuse toe out, but nothing does. Twenty eight Unforgivable * Amelia lt happened here. Your distress scent is strong in this room. Amelia, tell me what¡¯s wrong. I don¡¯t know whether to be relieved or worried. On the one hand, Rogers doesn¡¯t know Raymond was here, but on the other, Rogers is still expecting an exnation from me. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯tugh at me.¡± ¡°Do you see meughing?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just stupid.¡± ¡°Nothing that causes you distress is stupid to me.¡± He just has to make this harder, doesn¡¯t he? ¡°I had a nightmare,¡± I blurt out. ¡°A really bad one. It was¡­ well, I don¡¯t really want to talk about it.¡± Rogers sniffs the air again. ¡°It must have been an awful nightmare.¡± It was,¡± I insist, willing him to believe me. Can we just go to bed? Please?¡± Of course.¡± Rogers¡¯s expression clears suspicion. Now he looks merely worried. ¡°Come here.¡± I abandon the pasta on the nightstand and crawl into Rogers¡¯s arms. I¡¯m sure he can tell how tense I am, but he doesn¡¯t say anything else. He just holds me close. I try not to shake as silent tears escape out of my eyes and roll down my cheeks. This is probably thest time Rogers will ever hold me like this. The sun is rising by the time I finally fall asleep. I only wake up in the afternoon. Rogers is making lunch. He smiles as I walk in. ¡°Hey, sleepyhead. I was beginning to wonder if you¡¯d ever wake up.¡± In some ways, I wish I hadn¡¯t. ¡°Hey.¡± I sit down as Rogers hands me a te. I pick unenthusiastically at the food. How are you feeling?¡± I force a smile onto my face. ¡°Better.¡± If I¡¯m going to meet Raymond, I have to trick Luke into thinking I¡¯m ok. I¡¯ll have to sneak away while he¡¯s asleep, and I can¡¯t do that if he¡¯s staying up to make sure I¡¯m alright. What did you want to do today?¡± Uh, snorkeling. We can¡¯t talk when we snorkel, which should keep me safe from having to lie to Rogers anymore than absolutely necessary. The day drags by. It¡¯s like someone fixed the sun to move across the sky in slow motion. I want to enjoy thisst day with Rogers, but I can¡¯t. I¡¯m going to do something unforgivable tonight. He¡¯ll be right to hate me for it. I can imagine how Id feel if Rogers vanished without a word. How hurt and betrayed I¡¯d be, even if he did it for a good reason. Amelia? Are you sure you¡¯re alright?¡± I pull Rogers close for a kiss. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I lie for what must be the dozenth time today. I enjoy the feeling of his lips against mine but pull away after a few moments. I¡¯m not going to use sex with Rogers to hide my lies. I¡¯ll have to do the best I can with words. It takes Rogers a long time to fall asleep when night finallyes. He¡¯s probably worried about me having another nightmare. I don¡¯t need to worry about identally falling asleep. My stomach is leaping with nerves and rolling with guilt. I wait until Rogers has been snoring for a good hour before getting up. I know I have until dawn, but Raymond¡¯s base is clear on the other side of the ind, so it may take a while to walk there. I grab some boots and the first pair of pants I can find. I snag a top but don¡¯t take anything else. The more I move around in the room, the more likely Rogers is to wake up. I get dressed on the opposite side of the house and quietly slip out of the door. It¡¯s more difficult than I¡¯d anticipated walking in the dark. I have to resist the urge to go back for a shlight. I can¡¯t risk Rogers hearing me. I just have to make my way as best I can in the moonlight. It¡¯s a good thing I left early because two hours pass before I¡¯m even close to Raymond¡¯s base ¨C that¡¯s if I¡¯m reading the map correctly. I¡¯m just wondering exactly how well hidden this base is, and how I¡¯m supposed to find it in the dark when the sound of snapping twigs has me spinning around to my left. ¡°Rogers? Try again.¡± I can hear the annoyance in Raymond¡¯s voice, even if it¡¯s too dark to see it on his face. ¡°Raymond.¡± I sigh. I suppose it¡¯s a good thing he¡¯s here ¨C now at least I won¡¯t need to break an ankle trying to find his base at night. ¡°Come with me.¡± He reaches out to take my arm, but I p him away. ¡°I told you, Raymond, you touch me and it¡¯s assault.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous, Amelia. I¡¯m just trying to make sure you don¡¯t break an ankle. I know this area. You don¡¯t.¡± I don¡¯t need your help.¡± I¡¯d rather break an ankle than ept his help, whiches out to be the same thing. Raymond sighs impatiently but doesn¡¯t try to touch me again. . ¡°This way.¡± It¡¯s enough to follow his silhouette. We pick through the forest for a few minutes before Raymond stops. He leans down and pulls something up. It looks like a door, which I¡¯m guessing is disguised to match the forest floor around it. There¡¯s lighting from inside. I blink as my eyes adjust. Raymond follows me in and closes the door. ¡°Don¡¯t bother settling down, we¡¯ll be leaving Soon.¡± I sit down on the couch anyway. I¡¯ve been walking for hours and my legs are not happy about it. There goes the hope of stalling Raymond until Rogers wakes and follows my scent here. Raymond gets his stuff together quickly. It¡¯s easy to see that he¡¯s been living here for a while- ever since Rogers and I came to the ind, I¡¯d bet. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± I wonder if I should try to stall him? If I can stall long enough, Rogers will wake up, find me missing and follow my scent here. That won¡¯t break the rules Rogersid out for me, so technically he can¡¯t release the information for it. But relying on Rogers to keep his word is a bad idea and I know it. I trusted him not to cheat on me, and he did. I can¡¯t trust him with that, there¡¯s absolutely no way I can trust him with this. If Rogers spoils his n, he¡¯ll likely post the information publicly just out of spite. I sigh and get up. ¡°How far are we walking?¡± ¡°Not far -just to the beach on this end of the ind. I¡¯ve got a boat ready for us.¡± Raymond at least has a shlight, so I don¡¯t need to stumble in the dark. Every step I take, I want to turn around and run back to Rogers. How could this happen? Rogers and I were happy¡­ Maybe it¡¯s my fault. Perhaps this is karmic justice for not telling him I love him before I married him. Or not even telling him since then, for that matter. Mind your step. We¡¯ve arrived at the boat already. Raymond tosses his stuff inside and holds out his hand. I take it reluctantly, letting to the moment I¡¯m inside the boat. Far too soon, we¡¯re back on the main ind, and Raymond is hailing us a cab. We go straight to the airport. He was honest about one thing ¨C he really has been watching Rogers. He must know that Rogers wille to find me the moment he wakes. Raymond probably wants us to be far away from Rogers¡¯s wrath when it breaks. We¡¯re standing in the line for a ticket when a police officer stops us. Not just any police officer. This one has a dog in one of those working-dog jackets. Oh no. I bet they can tell that I¡¯m not here of my own free will. They probably think I¡¯m a victim of human trafficking, or that Raymond is using me as a drug mule. Excuse me, ma¡¯am, could youe with me, please?¡± Raymond gives me a warning look, but I don¡¯t need it. I know the consequences of messing up now. ¡°Of course.¡± I follow the officer down several corridors and into another room. He gestures for me to sit down, which I do. He sits opposite me. ¡°My name is officer jeffs. I¡¯m here to help you. If you are being forced into something, I can help. I can protect you. All you need to do is ask.¡± He seems so sure of himself. I never thought I¡¯d be tempted, but I find myself biting my tongue. Does he have the power to stop Raymond from releasing the information he has? Can I trust him? What is the best way to protect Rogers? That¡¯s the only question that really matters. I look up at officer jeffs, and I have no idea what to say. Unforgivable * Amelia lt happened here. Your distress scent is strong in this room. Amelia, tell me what¡¯s wrong. I don¡¯t know whether to be relieved or worried. On the one hand, Rogers doesn¡¯t know Raymond was here, but on the other, Rogers is still expecting an exnation from me. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯tugh at me.¡± ¡°Do you see meughing?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just stupid.¡± ¡°Nothing that causes you distress is stupid to me.¡± He just has to make this harder, doesn¡¯t he? ¡°I had a nightmare,¡± I blurt out. ¡°A really bad one. It was¡­ well, I don¡¯t really want to talk about it.¡± Rogers sniffs the air again. ¡°It must have been an awful nightmare.¡± It was,¡± I insist, willing him to believe me. Can we just go to bed? Please?¡± Of course.¡± Rogers¡¯s expression clears suspicion. Now he looks merely worried. ¡°Come here.¡± I abandon the pasta on the nightstand and crawl into Rogers¡¯s arms. I¡¯m sure he can tell how tense I am, but he doesn¡¯t say anything else. He just holds me close. I try not to shake as silent tears escape out of my eyes and roll down my cheeks. This is probably thest time Rogers will ever hold me like this. The sun is rising by the time I finally fall asleep. I only wake up in the afternoon. Rogers is making lunch. He smiles as I walk in. ¡°Hey, sleepyhead. I was beginning to wonder if you¡¯d ever wake up.¡± In some ways, I wish I hadn¡¯t. ¡°Hey.¡± I sit down as Rogers hands me a te. I pick unenthusiastically at the food. How are you feeling?¡± I force a smile onto my face. ¡°Better.¡± If I¡¯m going to meet Raymond, I have to trick Luke into thinking I¡¯m ok. I¡¯ll have to sneak away while he¡¯s asleep, and I can¡¯t do that if he¡¯s staying up to make sure I¡¯m alright. What did you want to do today?¡± Uh, snorkeling. We can¡¯t talk when we snorkel, which should keep me safe from having to lie to Rogers anymore than absolutely necessary. The day drags by. It¡¯s like someone fixed the sun to move across the sky in slow motion. I want to enjoy thisst day with Rogers, but I can¡¯t. I¡¯m going to do something unforgivable tonight. He¡¯ll be right to hate me for it. I can imagine how Id feel if Rogers vanished without a word. How hurt and betrayed I¡¯d be, even if he did it for a good reason. Amelia? Are you sure you¡¯re alright?¡± I pull Rogers close for a kiss. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I lie for what must be the dozenth time today. I enjoy the feeling of his lips against mine but pull away after a few moments. I¡¯m not going to use sex with Rogers to hide my lies. I¡¯ll have to do the best I can with words. It takes Rogers a long time to fall asleep when night finallyes. He¡¯s probably worried about me having another nightmare. I don¡¯t need to worry about identally falling asleep. My stomach is leaping with nerves and rolling with guilt. I wait until Rogers has been snoring for a good hour before getting up. I know I have until dawn, but Raymond¡¯s base is clear on the other side of the ind, so it may take a while to walk there. I grab some boots and the first pair of pants I can find. I snag a top but don¡¯t take anything else. The more I move around in the room, the more likely Rogers is to wake up. I get dressed on the opposite side of the house and quietly slip out of the door. It¡¯s more difficult than I¡¯d anticipated walking in the dark. I have to resist the urge to go back for a shlight. I can¡¯t risk Rogers hearing me. I just have to make my way as best I can in the moonlight. It¡¯s a good thing I left early because two hours pass before I¡¯m even close to Raymond¡¯s base ¨C that¡¯s if I¡¯m reading the map correctly. I¡¯m just wondering exactly how well hidden this base is, and how I¡¯m supposed to find it in the dark when the sound of snapping twigs has me spinning around to my left. ¡°Rogers? Try again.¡± I can hear the annoyance in Raymond¡¯s voice, even if it¡¯s too dark to see it on his face. ¡°Raymond.¡± I sigh. I suppose it¡¯s a good thing he¡¯s here ¨C now at least I won¡¯t need to break an ankle trying to find his base at night. ¡°Come with me.¡± He reaches out to take my arm, but I p him away. ¡°I told you, Raymond, you touch me and it¡¯s assault.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous, Amelia. I¡¯m just trying to make sure you don¡¯t break an ankle. I know this area. You don¡¯t.¡± I don¡¯t need your help.¡± I¡¯d rather break an ankle than ept his help, whiches out to be the same thing. Raymond sighs impatiently but doesn¡¯t try to touch me again. . ¡°This way.¡± It¡¯s enough to follow his silhouette. We pick through the forest for a few minutes before Raymond stops. He leans down and pulls something up. It looks like a door, which I¡¯m guessing is disguised to match the forest floor around it. There¡¯s lighting from inside. I blink as my eyes adjust. Raymond follows me in and closes the door. ¡°Don¡¯t bother settling down, we¡¯ll be leaving Soon.¡±Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. I sit down on the couch anyway. I¡¯ve been walking for hours and my legs are not happy about it. There goes the hope of stalling Raymond until Rogers wakes and follows my scent here. Raymond gets his stuff together quickly. It¡¯s easy to see that he¡¯s been living here for a while- ever since Rogers and I came to the ind, I¡¯d bet. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± I wonder if I should try to stall him? If I can stall long enough, Rogers will wake up, find me missing and follow my scent here. That won¡¯t break the rules Rogersid out for me, so technically he can¡¯t release the information for it. But relying on Rogers to keep his word is a bad idea and I know it. I trusted him not to cheat on me, and he did. I can¡¯t trust him with that, there¡¯s absolutely no way I can trust him with this. If Rogers spoils his n, he¡¯ll likely post the information publicly just out of spite. I sigh and get up. ¡°How far are we walking?¡± ¡°Not far -just to the beach on this end of the ind. I¡¯ve got a boat ready for us.¡± Raymond at least has a shlight, so I don¡¯t need to stumble in the dark. Every step I take, I want to turn around and run back to Rogers. How could this happen? Rogers and I were happy¡­ Maybe it¡¯s my fault. Perhaps this is karmic justice for not telling him I love him before I married him. Or not even telling him since then, for that matter. Mind your step. We¡¯ve arrived at the boat already. Raymond tosses his stuff inside and holds out his hand. I take it reluctantly, letting to the moment I¡¯m inside the boat. Far too soon, we¡¯re back on the main ind, and Raymond is hailing us a cab. We go straight to the airport. He was honest about one thing ¨C he really has been watching Rogers. He must know that Rogers wille to find me the moment he wakes. Raymond probably wants us to be far away from Rogers¡¯s wrath when it breaks. We¡¯re standing in the line for a ticket when a police officer stops us. Not just any police officer. This one has a dog in one of those working-dog jackets. Oh no. I bet they can tell that I¡¯m not here of my own free will. They probably think I¡¯m a victim of human trafficking, or that Raymond is using me as a drug mule. Excuse me, ma¡¯am, could youe with me, please?¡± Raymond gives me a warning look, but I don¡¯t need it. I know the consequences of messing up now. ¡°Of course.¡± I follow the officer down several corridors and into another room. He gestures for me to sit down, which I do. He sits opposite me. ¡°My name is officer jeffs. I¡¯m here to help you. If you are being forced into something, I can help. I can protect you. All you need to do is ask.¡± He seems so sure of himself. I never thought I¡¯d be tempted, but I find myself biting my tongue. Does he have the power to stop Raymond from releasing the information he has? Can I trust him? What is the best way to protect Rogers? That¡¯s the only question that really matters. I look up at officer jeffs, and I have no idea what to say. Twenty nine I Love Him ** Amelia Raymond is waiting impatiently in the line. He¡¯s almost at the front. He looks around to be sure there aren¡¯t any other officers nearby before lowering his voice to speak to me. ¡°Well? ¡°I told him everything is fine.¡± Raymond¡¯s eyes narrow in suspicion. ¡°How do I know you¡¯re telling me the truth?¡± I gesture around at the calm airport. ¡°If I didn¡¯t brush them off, don¡¯t you think you¡¯d have officers running to arrest you by now?¡± Raymond can obviously see my point. He nods but doesn¡¯t speak again, as we finally reach the front of the line. He gets us the first tickets back home, which leave in an hour. What are we going to do when Rogers finds us? ¡°We¡¯ll be long gone before he finds us.¡± I know, but unless you want to live the rest of your life on the run, he¡¯s going to find us eventually. Have you thought of that?¡± I have. When it happens, you¡¯re to tell Rogers that you¡¯re in love with me, and you want to be with me. He will respect your wishes.¡± ¡°If he believes it, which he won¡¯t.¡± You¡¯d better make him believe it, or his secret will be on the morning news the next day.¡± ¡°Raymond¡­ please, reconsider. If you let me go now, I can get back to the ind before Rogers wakes up. He never needs to know. He¡¯ll kill you when he finds out.¡± He can try. Ever since I found out about werewolves, I¡¯ve been preparing. Trust me, we¡¯ll be safe. Don¡¯t worry, Amelia. We¡¯ll be happy again, you and I.¡± Answering his madness is pointless, so I simply follow along to the flight waiting area. My mood sinks to my toes as I realize that this is my life now. If I want Rogers to be safe, I have to stay with Raymond. It feels like a great iron door mming shut against any possibility for happiness I have left. ** Amelia Raymond answers the doorbell. He never lets me answer it, which is probably a wise decision from his point of view.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. I¡¯m supposed to stay in the bedroom, but the moment I hear Rogers¡¯s voice, I¡¯m running. I haven¡¯t seen Rogers in two weeks, ever since Raymond and I snuck off the ind. I dash to the door, pushing Raymond aside. Raymond¡­¡±Raymond¡¯s tone isced with a warning, and I check myself. I still need to protect Rogers. I long to throw my arms around him and tell him how much I¡¯ve missed him, but I doubt Raymond would approve of that. Ever since we got back, he¡¯s been threatening to reveal Rogers¡¯s secret if I don¡¯t do as he wants. Iply ¨C like I have a choice ¨C but the more I do, the more I hate him for it. Raymond seems to think that being more controlling will somehow make me love him. How did I ever love someone like this? I suppose he wasn¡¯t always like this, but I clearly judged his character horribly wrong, considering that even after he cheated on me, I never would have thought him capable of what he¡¯s doing now. ¡°Amelia.¡± Rogers¡¯s voice jolts me back to the present. ¡°Rogers.¡± His eyes flick over my body, and his brow furrows in confusion. He can see I¡¯m not injured or restrained. ¡°Can we talk?¡± Actually, Amelia and I were about to watch a movie. Make this quick, will you, darling?¡± Raymond kisses my forehead. He so far hasn¡¯t insisted on sex ¨C I suppose even Raymond draws the line at rape ¨C but I¡¯m not sure how long that¡¯llst. I draw in a deep breath. This somehow feels worse than leaving Rogers on the ind. I snuck away like a coward, then. Now, I have to lie to his face. Maybe that¡¯s it. Perhaps lying is going to be my salvation. I¡¯m sorry you had toe all the way here just to hear me say this, Luke. I¡¯m in love with Raymond. I¡¯m going to marry him after I divorce you. When I told you at our wedding that I love you, it was a lie. It¡¯s always been, Raymond. I love him.¡± Raymond is smirking, but Rogers¡¯s eyes are wide. I didn¡¯t tell him I loved him at our wedding and he knows it. I try tomunicate with him silently, begging him to y along. He needs to make Raymond think he believes me.. and he needs to realize that the rest of what I¡¯m saying to him isn¡¯t a lie. Thankfully, Rogers is quick on the uptake. I see. You should have told me, Amelia. Eloping as you did is uneptable. When I told you I love you at our wedding, I thought that meant something. I guess I was wrong.¡± I keep a nk face, but inside I¡¯m screaming yes, yes, yes! He understands. I don¡¯t know what he¡¯s going to do about it, but things no longer seem nearly as hopeless as they were a few minutes ago. I¡¯m sorry.¡± I back away, my eyes on the ground Now, I just need to keep Raymond happy until Rogers figures some way out of this. Well done.¡± Raymond puts a possessive hand on my back and leads me to the dining room. ¡°How about we order pizzas to celebrate? He¡¯s finally out of our lives.¡± makes the order -I¡¯m not allowed to use a phone. Barely five minutes after he orders, my phone starts ringing. Raymond takes it out of his pocket and nces at the screen. It¡¯s Amanda. Can I trust you to speak to her?¡± Like you need trust. You¡¯re not going to let me have privacy anyway. . Be careful, Amelia, or I won¡¯t let you speak to her at all.¡± Tm sorry,¡± I say quickly. I miss Amanda and don¡¯t want to turn down a chance to talk to her, even if I won¡¯t be able, to be honest with Raymond watching. Raymond hands me the phone, turning it onto a loudspeaker so that he can hear it too. ¡°Amanda, hi.¡± Amelia! I just heard the news, and I must tell you, I¡¯m so pleased.¡± The news? That you and Raymond are back together, of course! You two muste over for dinner sometime. I can¡¯t tell you what a relief it is that you¡¯ve chosen to be with someone as sensible and kind as Raymond is.¡± Ah. Rogers has called her and filled her in. Rogers has no chance to get close to me, but Hannah does, if she ys into Raymond¡¯s scheme. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s all wonderful.¡± I don¡¯t know how many positivements about Raymond puts my stomach can suffer to make, but I have to try. I really have never been happier. I¡¯m so d I managed to reverse the huge mistake made by leaving him in the first ce.¡± Do you two want toe over to dinner tomorrow? I¡¯d love to have you.¡± I nce at Raymond, who nods. Absolutely. We¡¯d love that, Amanda.¡± Raymond is making impatient gestures for me to end the call. ¡°Look, I¡¯d better go. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow.¡± I hang up and hand the phone to Raymond, too happy to even be angry that I¡¯m not allowed to keep my own phone. I¡¯ll be seeing Amanda tomorrow. I miss her so much. I spend the rest of the day ignoring Raymond, as I usually do. Pretty much the only things I¡¯m allowed to do are read, watch TV, cook, and clean. I spend the day in the bedroom reading, and Raymond lets me. We go to bedter that night as usual, with me squashed on the end of the bed, trying to keep as much distance between us as possible. I spend the rest of the day ignoring Raymond, as I usually do. Pretty much the only things I¡¯m allowed to do are read, watch TV, cook, and clean. I spend the day in the bedroom reading, and Raymond lets me. We go to bedter that night as usual, with me squashed on the end of the bed, trying to keep as much distance between us as possible. Raymond is snoring when I hear a tap on the window. At first, I think it must be a tree branch or something, but there is only a light breeze, not nearly enough to move the branches of the tree outside the window. There is another tap. I get up quietly and go to the window. I nearly cry out in shock Amanda is perched in the branches of the tree, tossing pebbles at the window. I make frantic motions for her to go away, ncing back at Raymond, who is thankful. still asleep. Amanda shakes her head and tosses another pebble. I wince as Raymond¡¯s snoring falters. I¡¯m sure she thinks she¡¯s helping, but she¡¯s just putting Rogers in even more danger. I jerk my head to the side, toward the front door. Amanda nods and starts climbing down the tree. I hurry through the lounge and to the front door. The moment I open it, a wailing rm goes off. I have a brief glimpse of Amanda¡¯s face before I m the door shut again, desperately trying to turn the rm off. It does turn off, but the damage is done. I turn to face Raymond as hees out of the bedroom, practically vibrating with rage. Thirty MYTH ** Amelia pov It feels like some weird kind of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. I remember thest months of my and Raymond¡¯s rtionship. We hardly talked to each other, unless we were arguing. It¡¯s simr now, except that this time, I can¡¯t walk away if it all gets too much. I never did before until he cheated, but the knowledge that I could be enough to get me through it. Now, I don¡¯t even have that. On top of that, I know that I¡¯m likely to be a rape victim before I get away from him. I¡¯ve managed to talk him out of touching me for now, but he won¡¯t be put off forever. I¡¯m not allowed to see anyone except Amanda, and even then, only in Raymond¡¯s presence. Thest few weeks have shown me that she could have made a career as an actress if she had wanted to. She¡¯s managed to convince Raymond not only that she believes the sham he¡¯s putting up, but that she supports our ¡®rtionship¡¯. It¡¯s even more impressive when I remember how she threatened to cut his balls off and feed them to a pack of wild dogs after he cheated on me ¨C among other things. We have dinner with Amanda tomorrow, but tonight is just me and Raymond. I haven¡¯t heard anything from Rogers. I¡¯m starting to worry that perhaps I wasn¡¯t obvious enough in my signaling that something is wrong. I haven¡¯t been able to ask Amanda, despite having seen her twice since Raymond started ckmailing me. He¡¯s been very careful not to leave us alone together, even apanying me to the bathroom on various excuses. I always dread nighttime the most. Sleeping in a bed with Raymond is horrible, even if he doesn¡¯t touch me. Goodnight, love.¡± He smiles at me and looks like he¡¯s going to try to kiss me. Goodnight.¡± I quickly turn my back to him, pulling the nkets up to my chin. How long before he loses patience with my refusal to be with him willingly? I want to protect Rogers¡¯s secret, but I¡¯m not just going to lie down and let myself get raped. Raymond sighs impatiently. ¡°Soon enough, you¡¯ll see that this is all for the best.¡± I bite back an angry retort. I just need to get to sleep. Then morning wille and I can get out of this damn bed. As it turns out, I don¡¯t need to wait until morning. A crash and the sound of breaking ss wake me from a deep sleep. I scream and leap out of bed, staring around. Something huge hase in through the window. The figure lunges and grabs me. I shriek and struggle, but he¡¯s too strong for me. Raymond is shouting threats but doesn¡¯t move to get in between me and my attacker. Before I can even begin to put up a proper resistance, I¡¯m being bundled through the window, somehow missing all the broken ss. I¡¯m dragged, kicking and screaming, down the street and shoved into a car. There¡¯s already someone in the driver¡¯s seat, and they start moving the moment I¡¯m inside. A light flicks on and I get a full view of my kidnapper. It¡¯s Rogers. ¡°Oh!¡± I slump in relief. ¡°Rogers, what are you doing?¡± ¡°Tm rescuing you, silly.¡± Relief quickly turns to panic as the full implications hit me. ¡°You can¡¯t! You have to turn around. Raymond -*¡± ¡°He thinks you¡¯ve been kidnapped against your will, remember? I must say, you put up a pretty good fight. He won¡¯t release the information as long as he doesn¡¯t know that you¡¯re cooperating.¡± The information *About me. About us.¡± Rogers takes my face in his hands. ¡°I understand, now, why you left without telling me. You were just trying to protect me, to stop Raymond from revealing my secret. It must have been hard.¡± Tears start to pool behind my eyelids. ¡°It was,¡± I choke out. I fling myself into Luke¡¯s arms, hugging him so tightly that if he was human, I¡¯d worry about cracking his ribs. I¡¯m so sorry I had to do that to you. I -¡± ¡°Hey, it¡¯s ok.¡± Rogers hugs me back almost as tightly, holding my head tenderly to his shoulder. When my tears and breathing are finally under control, I pull back to look at him. How did you find out what Raymond had on me* ¡°A mixture of hacking and good old spying.¡± How is this going to work, Luke? Sooner orter, Raymond will find a way to get me back. If I refuse, he¡¯ll release the information.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that.¡± I only realize when he speaks that it¡¯s Derek driving. How can I not worry? This is all of your lives at stake!¡± Do you think Raymond is the first person in history to want to release our secret to the world? We have ways of dealing with people like him.¡± What ways?¡± I know werewolves aren¡¯t averse to killing to protect their own, but it¡¯s something different, to murder in cold blood, even if it is under threat of exposure. Imprisonment. Packs that have fallen from grace by breaking ourws are assigned to our prison ind as wardens to gain back their honor.¡± Relief fills me. That certainly seems fitting. Would he be there forever?¡± No, just until he decides that our secret isn¡¯t worth spilling. We put all prisoners through lie detector tests every year or so to see if they¡¯re ready for release. But before we take Raymond there, we need to contact hiswyers and get them to give up the. information.¡± How are you going to do that?¡± Rogers answers this time. Another group is going to pick Raymond up and use aputer program to copy his voice. They will use his voice to call thewyers and get the evidence destroyed.¡± It seems Rogers and Derek have everything worked out. I rx into Rogers, sighing as the adrenaline begins to fade. Rogers¡­ there¡¯s something else.¡± What is it?¡± It seems so easy to tell him now, so simple. Maybe it took the trauma of being held by Raymond to remind me that I can always confide in him. ¡°I love you.¡± I love you too, Lia.¡± His voice is cautious, and I know what he¡¯s thinking. I mean I love you more than a friend. I¡¯m in love with you, Rogers. I have been for a while.¡± Even in the dark, I can see his face break into a wide smile. ¡°Me too. I didn¡¯t know if I should tell you or not ¨C I didn¡¯t want to scare you away. You are my mate, Lia, and I am in love with you too.¡± He pulls me in for a sweet, tender kiss. Iugh as I pull away. ¡°I guess this is exactly what my mom wanted. I don¡¯t have a fake marriage after all.¡± Rogers chuckles with me. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll have to thank her.¡± He pulls me practically into hisp, stroking my hair as I lie against him,pletely rxed. We arrive at Rogers¡¯s apartment block, and Rogers leads me straight to his apartment. He locks the door and turns to me. ¡°I hope I did everything right. It took some time to work out the details_¡± He doesn¡¯t finish the sentence, due to the fact that I¡¯m kissing him. Rogers¡¯s armse around me, pulling me closer I lean on him until he¡¯s practically supporting all my weight. I explore his mouth with my tongue, smiling into the kiss. It¡¯s not anything I haven¡¯t done before, but it still somehow feels new. The first kiss since my rescue from Raymond. Ever since Raymond has had me, I¡¯ve been afraid at the prospect of sex, worrying if he might change his mind about not threatening me into it. Now, my desire is re-awakening so fast that it leaves my head spinning. Rogers lifts me up and carries me through to the bedroom,ying me down on the bed. I quickly wriggle out of my clothes, spreading my legs for him. Rogers kneels down on the floor, at the perfect height to lick my clit. I wrap my legs around his head, pulling him closer. I¡¯m soon whimpering as he licks and sucks on my clit, driving me mad with need. I wonder if my dildo is still in the drawer? ¡°Rogers the dildo ¨C is it-?¡± In answer, Rogers reaches into the drawer and pulls it out, without ever moving his mouth off my clit. He hands it blindly to me, and I maneuver myself so that I can get the dildo into my pussy. The double assault of pleasure has me on the tingling edge of release. I thrust my hips forward, both into Rogers and the dildo. I¡¯m too desperate for my orgasm to bother getting the dildo onto my favorite setting. The automatic setting is goodContent is ? by N?velDrama.Org. enough. My legs tighten around Rogers¡¯s head as my orgasm rushes me. I scream and practically buck off the bed as Ie. Rogers¡¯s tongue is hot and perfect on my clit as he keeps licking me through it. I don¡¯t know how he can breathe, but I can¡¯t bring myself to worry about that at the moment. When I finallye down, Rogers rests his hands on my thighs, grinning at me. ¡°That was¡­¡±I find I¡¯m lost for words. Instead, I grab his hand and pull him onto the bed with me. His cock is so hard it looks painful, and I waste no time in taking it into my mouth. I love the feeling of his cock against my tongue. The contrast of the silky smooth skin versus the hardness of the shaft makes my pussy start leaking again, even though I¡¯ve Juste. I don¡¯t think either of us is going to sleep tonight. I¡¯ve almost gotten Rogers to release when he suddenly sits up. The movement pushes me off his cock. I don¡¯t ask him what¡¯s wrong. because a momentter, I realize exactly what¡¯s wrong. Someone starts banging on the door loudly. I know you¡¯ve got her there, Rogers! Ameliae out now if you know what¡¯s good for you!¡± I shoot a terrified look at Luke. How did Raymond escape the pack? More importantly, has he released the information about them yet? If he has, we¡¯re all in big trouble. Rogers puts a hand on my back. We¡¯ll deal with him. He is no match for the pack. Whatever he throws at us, we can handle it, as long as we¡¯re together.¡± I smile as I take his hand and start walking to the door. ¡°Together, then.¡± Dear readers, here is the end of the first story about beautiful Amelia and her beloved werewolf Rogers. ?? Thank you for your attention and interest! A continuation of the story will be published soon. SEASON 2 COMING SOON Thanks for the wonderfulments ?? The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!