by Long, A. L.
Rade insisted on staying with her at the penthouse and Dylan didn’t have the heart to tell him no. Soon he would be home, thinking that their life would begin where it left off a few days ago. The only problem with that was, Dylan had reservations. It was like Rade was telling her how she should feel. As much as she wanted to give him what he wanted, she didn’t know if she could. She had six months to figure it out.
Dylan was getting a glass of wine when she heard the door to the penthouse open. Even though she left Rade not more than an hour earlier, he looked like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. His hair was messy and his otherwise perfect appearance was just as messy, with his tie hanging low and his jacket slung over his shoulder. Something must have happened after she left him.
Walking up to him, Dylan grabbed his jacket and placed it on the bar stool. Taking a good look at him, his forehead was crinkled with worry. She hated seeing him like this. Taking his hand, she led him to the living area and willed him to take a seat on the couch. Rade watched her as she poured him a tumbler of his favorite fifty-year scotch. She held the crystal glass out, and Rade reached for it as Dylan settled down beside him.
Before Dylan could ask him what was going on, Rade blurted out, “Chloe called me after you left. She wants to name the child Isaac if it’s a boy and Liza if it’s a girl. She also wants me to go to London with her to meet her parents. I didn’t even know they were still alive.”
Dylan could tell Rade was angry. Why would Chloe even think that Rade would be okay with her naming their child after the two people he lost, only to be reminded of them? He would never let their child bear the name of either of them. Those names were special to only him. He would never share that part of him with Chloe. There was no love in conceiving the child, only hate.
Dylan tried to comfort Rade, but he was filled with so much rage and hurt that the only sound she heard was the breaking of glass as Rade threw his drink against the wall.
“Rade, you don’t have to agree with what she wants,” Dylan said softly.
“You don’t understand, Dylan. She has the power to do whatever she wants. She doesn’t care one way or another about the people she hurts along the way,” Rade cursed. “That bitch will do whatever it takes to have me.”
“What is that suppose to mean?” Dylan asked.
“It means... she knows exactly what she’s doing. There are things she can use against me to get what she wants,” Rade muttered, pulling his hand through his thick hair.
“Like what things, Rade? What does she have that makes her think she has you?” Dylan looked at Rade, confused. What could Chloe possibly have over Rade? She’s the one who is evil. Dylan knew everything that happened to Rade was somehow her doing.
Rade walked from the living area to where he placed his briefcase in the entryway. Dylan was confused by his sudden retreat. She was ready to question him when she saw him walking back, holding a manila folder in his hand. She wasn’t sure what he was about to show her, but knew more than likely it had to do with Chloe. Rade held out the folder, waiting for Dylan to take it from him. Dylan looked at the folder and then to Rade.
“Take it, Dylan. It will explain everything,” Rade admitted.
With shaky hands, Dylan took the folder from Rade. Flipping open the folder, Dylan could see picture after picture of Chloe bound to a bed with Rade on top of her. Her face was bruised and bloodied. It looked as though she was being raped. Dylan’s hands shook as the folder and its contents fell to the floor. She could only stand there, unable to move, unable to breathe. Rade bend down and picked up the photos. He knew then that Dylan thought it was him in the pictures. The one person he expected, more than anyone, to see right away that it wasn’t him, was crumbling before him.
“Dylan, are you okay?” Rade asked, looking down on her. Taking her by the hand, he gently pulled her to his body. She wouldn’t move. He had no other choice but to lift her from where she stood and place her on the couch. He cupped his hand on her cheek, willing her to look at him. “Dylan, you need to look at me. You need to listen to what I’m about to say.”
Dylan did everything she could not to break down. She couldn’t believe what she saw. There had to be a mistake. It couldn’t be Rade in all those pictures. She knew in her heart he couldn’t have done those things to Chloe. Lifting her head so that her eyes met his, she looked deeply into his, trying to find the man she loved with all her heart. The minute she saw him, she knew. “It can’t be you in those pictures. I know you would never do anything like this.”
“It’s not me, Sweetness. But if you could be fooled, then imagine what would happen if they got into the wrong hands,” Rade confessed.
“Who is it? In the photos,” Dylan whispered.
“I don’t know. But I’m working on finding out,” Rade said with confidence. The man in the pictures was the key to everything. “All I know is, he has a tattoo on his shoulder of a dragon. It’s hard to see, but it’s there.”
Dylan took the photos from Rade and looked more closely at the man hovering over Chloe. She didn’t know how she could have missed it the first time, but there it was, the outline of a dragon on the left shoulder. She knew Rade could never do anything so vicious. Chloe was setting him up. After looking at the photos, it was clear that Chloe was after Rade. Was she so obsessed with him that she would do anything to have him? Dylan didn’t have a vindictive bone in her body. She assumed that everyone was good and if they weren’t, they should at least be given a second chance. But with Chloe, she didn’t deserve a second chance. She didn’t even deserve to breathe the same air as them.
Dylan placed her hand on Rade’s cheek. She knew with all her heart the man she fell in love with would never do such awful things to a woman. Giving Rade the reassurance he needed, Dylan shifted her body so that she was straddling his lap. With a gentle touch she placed her lips on his and kissed him. Rade felt the love she had for him. He cupped her face and pressed his lips harder against hers. He was consumed by her. Every inch of her succulent mouth made him wither. Slipping his tongue between her soft lips, he explored the warmth within. Licking and sucking her bottom lip, he deepened their kiss. He needed her now more than ever. Even though it had only been an hour, every minute he spent without her seemed like an eternity.
Rade gently lifted Dylan with ease while still holding on to her. Nothing could separate them as he walked carefully to the bedroom. Placing Dylan on her feet, he tugged her t-shirt over her head, exposing her lacy bra. He took in her curves as he grazed soft kisses down her shoulder to her neck, where his lips rested just above her right breast. Taking care, he unclasped her bra and lowered the thin straps down her silky arms. His gaze fell upon her breasts as he met her beautiful pink buds. If he were an artist, she would be the most magnificent subject he could have ever captured on canvas. Every line, every curve of her body was flawless. God couldn’t have created a more perfect being than what was in front of him. Lowering his mouth, he took her taut nipple between his teeth and tugged lightly on the pink flesh. Dylan moaned with pleasure as her need for him started to intensify. Rade could feel the small tremble of her body as he continued to assault the other nipple, making sure to give it the same, if not more, attention.
Dylan’s need for him grew with every moment. Unable to hold back her own desire for him, she reached between them and began frantically undoing his belt and lowering the zipper on his slacks. In one swift movement, she pulled down on his silk boxers and his pants, freeing his impressive hard-on from the confines of the material. Dylan wrapped her hand around his engorged shaft while placing soft butterfly kisses along his chest. Tightening her grip, she stroked his cock the best she could with her small hand. She loved the way his length felt in her hand. So soft and velvety. Like silk running against her palm.
Rade couldn’t take it anymore. If he let Dylan continue, he would let loose in her hand and he didn’t want that. He wanted to be deep inside her when he came. He wanted the feel of her tight walls ar
ound him when he pumped in and out of her wet channel. Gliding his hands down her back, Rade gently grabbed her ass and raised her body from the floor. Dylan’s legs automatically wrapped around Rade’s waist as he deposited her onto the bed. No words were said as their eyes met. They knew the feeling between them was more than words could ever describe. Rade tried desperately to remove Dylan’s jeans, but when he lost hope of a quick removal, he gripped the two sides of the thick material and with one forceful pull, the fabric tore in two, giving him immediate access to her sex. He didn’t give Dylan time to protest about the damage done to her hundred dollar jeans, nor did he care about the damage he was going to inflict on her lacy underwear. One tug of the delicate material and she was completely bare. He had to be inside her. His animal hunger took over all his senses. Positioning himself above her, he took hold of his hard shaft and plunged it inside her wet folds. There was nothing that could describe the feeling of his cock entering her silky channel. It was euphoria. It was unlike anything he had ever felt before.
Dylan was already so lost in her own pleasure that she didn’t care that Rade’s animalistic tendency took not only her jeans but her underwear in its wake. All she cared about was this moment and how good he felt inside her. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she locked her ankles tightly together, needing to get him deeper inside her. All it took was one more hard thrust and she exploded with such force, she could have sworn that her heart stopped beating. This wasn’t enough for Rade. He wanted more. There was no way she was going to get away with only one orgasm. Slowing his assault on her, he gently took hold of her clamped legs and put them over his wide shoulders. With his hands under her ass, he began once again pumping inside her, driving his hard shaft deeper and deeper within her tight channel. He loved her in this position. He could get deeper inside, feel every curve of her pretty cunt. He was so close to his own release, but he only wanted to feel her explode once again. Removing one hand from her ass, he snaked his hand down her stomach, placing his finger on her swollen clit. Rolling his finger in small circular motions, her moans grew louder. “Yes, oh God, yes.” Her back began to arch at the same time he felt her walls clench tighter around his hard cock. It took everything he had not to lose it. Unable to hold out any longer, Rade pulled free from inside her and quickly flipped Dylan’s body over. He needed to take control of her body. “Place your hands behind your back, Sweetness.” When her hands came back, Rade clinched them with one hand while holding onto her hip with the other. Pulling her back, he pushed inside her soaked channel. Once again, he could feel the tight grip of her muscles consuming him with each drive inside her. Before he gave her permission to come, she exploded with yet another orgasm, this one more intense than the last. Rade held back as long as he could, until he also violently exploded, spilling his seed inside her.
CHAPTER FOUR
Rade prepared breakfast the next morning while Dylan got in the shower. Last night was the beginning of their life together. He would have Dylan in his bed for good. With breakfast ready, Rade turned on the television as he waited for Dylan to finish her shower. He regretted turning it on, because what he was hearing made him lose his appetite.
“Officials have located Chloe Dupree. Ms. Dupree went missing over a week ago. When asked where she was, Ms. Dupree verified that she was staying with Garrett Matheson, father of Rade Matheson. It seems there was a misunderstanding, according to Ms. Dupree. Rade Matheson and Ms. Dupree are having their first child together. Ms. Dupree went on to say that they were very much in love and would be making wedding arrangements in the near future. She also stated that they would be making a trip to London to visit her parents and possibly hold the wedding there. Ms. Dupree elected not to talk about the events leading to Rade Matheson’s kidnapping. Her only comment was that she didn’t know Alex Moreno as well as she thought and she was glad that the ordeal was over so she and Rade could begin their new life together.”
Rade was beyond furious. Without even thinking he threw the remote at the flat screen, which only tipped it before it settled back on its stand. When Rade turned around, Dylan stood in the hallway, her body slumped to the floor, helplessness reigning in her eyes. The last thing Rade wanted was for Dylan to hear the lies being told about his relationship with Chloe.
Taking the few steps towards her, Rade pulled her into him and wrapped his arms around her limp body. As he held her, her tears fell, soaking his thin t-shirt. Holding her at arm’s length, he lifted her chin so she could see the truth he was about to confess.
“Sweetness, no matter what you hear on the news or in the papers, please know that I will only love you. Chloe means nothing to me. She will never have my heart or my soul the way you do.” Rade brushed his hand along her cheek as he wiped away a stray tear from her eye.
“I want to believe you, Rade. I just don’t know how to do that anymore with everything that has happened between us,” Dylan muttered softly.
“You need to trust me. Trust us. I will never allow that woman to take what we have together,” Rade admitted.
Pulling her body closer, Rade placed his mouth over hers in what began as a soft tender kiss. Then the kiss deepened as if to say that nothing would separate them. Not even Chloe would be able to break them.
Placing his palm on her cheek, he helped her to her feet, hoping that she would trust what he said. Rade turned to shut off the TV while Dylan went back into the bedroom to finish getting dressed.
They ate their breakfast in silence. Nothing they could have said would make this day any better. Dylan only knew that she was confused by everything that was happening. She knew she loved Rade deeply. She just didn’t know if it was going to be enough to keep them together. Everything they had together needed to be placed on trust and a little faith. One thing she did know was that Chloe was going to be a problem for them. She wasn’t going to make this easy on either of them.
Rade and Dylan left the penthouse together, needing a reprieve. The best way for Dylan to get her mind off things was to think about something else. That’s when Rade decided a day of sightseeing was in order. Just as Rade helped Dylan into the passenger side of the Audi, his cell rang. Looking down at the screen, it was Peter. He had Peter checking on things for him regarding Chloe. He hoped that he would have some good news for him.
“Hewitt, I hope you have some news for me,” Rade asked sternly.
“I do, sir. I found out some very interesting things about Ms. Dupree. It seems Ms. Dupree was pregnant once before, but lost the child. She got pregnant during her sophomore year in college. She was dating a senior at the time. The medical records showed that she had some sort of genetic abnormality in her DNA. I’m trying to find more information on this,” Peter confirmed. “There’s something else you might find interesting, Ms. Dupree spent time at the Hawthorne Institution for Women shortly after she miscarried. I’m working on getting those records as well.”
“At least that’s something. Let me know what else you find out,” Rade knew Chloe’s life wasn’t squeaky clean. “What about the doctor? Were you able to find anything on her?”
“Nothing yet, sir. I’ll let you know what I find out as soon as something comes up,” Peter said regretfully, wishing he had more answers for Rade.
Rade felt better after talking with Peter. He knew Chloe and how deceitful she was. He hoped that Peter would be able to come up with something on the doctor. This whole thing with Chloe and the baby just didn’t sit right with him. He wanted to make sure every avenue was covered before he committed fully to this unborn child.
Dylan sat in the seat beside Rade wondering what Peter had found out about Chloe and the gynecologist taking care of her prenatal care. Ten minutes passed when Dylan couldn’t stand it anymore. She thought for sure Rade would have said something to her.
“Are you going to tell me what Peter found out about Chloe and the doctor or are you going to keep that from me as well?” Dylan didn’t mean for her words to come out so crass, but she was tired of be
ing the last one to know anything.
Rade looked over at her, shocked by her sass. He knew he kept things from her, but only because the right time never presented itself to come clean. He still didn’t even know how he was going to explain Michael to her. He knew it would only be a matter of time before Michael showed his face again. It would be a matter of time before the truth came out. Finding out he was going to have a child with Chloe tore Dylan apart, but this would certainly end their relationship forever.
Placing his hand over hers, he gently took it and pulled it to his lips gently kissing the back. Reverting his gaze back to the road, he started explaining his conversation with Peter. “Peter was able to find some information about Chloe. Seems she was pregnant once before, when she was in college. Needless to say, she lost the baby. She had some sort of genetic abnormality. Peter is going to try and get more information on this.”
Dylan looked toward Rade as he explained. Even though he kept his eyes on the road, Dylan knew something else was on his mind. Before she could ask he continued. “Chloe was admitted to the Hawthorne Institution for Women shortly after she lost the baby. Hopefully Peter can come up with something. It would certainly explain her psychotic behavior.”
Dylan’s jaw fell open. It was then that she realized why Chloe was such a nut case. She was institutionalized. It explained everything. She was obsessed with Rade. Everything she did proved it. The incident at The Castle, the staged photos, the baby. Everything was clear as day. Even though it still had to be proved, it made Dylan more convinced that she played a big part in Rade’s kidnapping. It all made sense. She had to have been the one who ordered Alex to drug Rade. She could stay in the background while Alex did everything for her. No wonder Rade couldn’t remember ever seeing her at the house. Then when he was good and drugged, she went in for the kill. Just thinking about how she took advantage of him made Dylan’s stomach turn. She could no longer hold it down.
