by Ivy Nelson
“Did you forget some files?”
“No. I just miss my bed and I need to be alone to think.”
His eyes grew cold. “Absolutely not. You’re not staying there alone.” She rolled her eyes. Michael had said the same thing.
“Why not? It’s my apartment, and the police cleared it.”
“I don’t care Darci. That fucker is still out there, and you are not going home.”
“You can’t tell me what to do,” she said, testing him. He glared.
“You’re right, I can’t but so help me, Darci, if you go home, I will spend the night in front of your door, and you can’t stop that.” He was angry now.
“Where do you propose I stay?”
“With me.”
She sighed loudly. “Bradley, I can’t let this guy, whoever the fuck he is, disrupt my life. I want to be in my home. I can’t think around you. How am I supposed to sort out my feelings for you if I’m staying at your place?”
“It isn’t safe for you to go home. I promise I’ll keep my distance. We don’t have to share a bed. I can sleep on the couch. You can have the bedroom.”
“I’ll stay tonight, but damn it, I want to go home. I want to get dressed out of a closet not a suitcase. I want to finish cleaning up.” Darci gave him a pleading look.
“We can go tomorrow after work, and I’ll help you do more of the cleaning. We can bring more of your clothes to my house, and you are welcome to the closet.” She let out a sigh of exasperation at his response. This conversation was going nowhere.
“Fine. Can we go home now?”
Bradley appeared frustrated. He motioned for the waiter and paid their bill.
“Can we please go back to having a pleasant conversation?” he asked quietly
“We could if you would stop being so damn controlling.”
He threw his head back, and his body shook as laughter rippled through him.
“I don’t see anything funny,” she huffed with a look of irritation on her face.
“I just know how submissive you can be. I thought you liked controlling in a man.” He winked, and she blushed as the waiter returned with his card.
“You’re mean,” she said after they were alone again.
“Oh, darlin’, you have no idea.”
“Let’s go, before I get a cab and go to my place.”
“Don’t push your luck. You might not be my submissive, but I would track you down and turn you over my knee if you did that. I’m taking you home with me.”
Once in the car, he grabbed her hand. “I’m sorry if I come across controlling. I don’t mean to. Well, at least not yet. You're special, and I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”
She squeezed his hand reassuringly. “It’s sweet. I just don’t want to be smothered, and between you and Michael, I know I’m going to be suffocated with protection.”
“How do you know him, anyway? I know he’s a member of the club, but you seem closer than that.”
“That’s a long story that I would rather not tell right now.” The painful memory had her grimacing.
He squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry.”
“He’s a good friend in and out of the lifestyle, but he worries about me all the time. He hates that I write a blog with such a public face.”
“I love your blog, but I can see his concern.”
He really cares about me, Darci thought. It was nice to be worried about, and she was very attracted to him. So why did this still feel like such a bad idea?
Perhaps she should rethink her stance on being so open about things. Nobody had to know she was seeing him. She was terrible at keeping secrets though. One step at a time Darci, she reminded herself. She was so distracted she didn’t realize they had arrived at his building. He came around to the passenger side and opened her door. It made her smile. “You’re such a gentleman,”
“I have my moments.” They walked hand-in-hand to his apartment. Damion was never very affectionate, so she was enjoying the gentlemanly gestures.
When Bradley shut the door, he wrapped her in a hug. “Thank you for not arguing too much about coming here.” She returned his embrace. It felt so nice.
“Thank you for wanting to protect me,” she replied. The urge to kiss him overcame her. Fuck it, she thought. I’m here, might as well enjoy it. She pulled out of his embrace and placed her hands on either side of his face. His eyes widened in mild surprise as she pulled him towards her and kissed him. It only took a second for him to recover. He returned the kiss with passion. He backed her up against the entry wall and pushed his tongue into her mouth, taking control of the kiss.
“I want you so badly,” he growled when he finally broke the kiss.
Without another word, he scooped her into his arms and carried her to the bedroom. He dumped her on the bed and straddled her. “I want to enjoy all of you.” He kept his eyes locked on her as he shed his suit coat and undid his shirt.
“I want you to fuck me,” she said as her pulse raced. “Don’t be gentle.”
“Are you sure?” he asked leaning over her pinning her arms on either side of her head.
She nodded, and that’s all the affirmation he needed. The skirt and blouse she wore gave him easy access to reach under and pull her panties down. Pushing her skirt up around her waist, he slipped a finger inside of her. She immediately clenched around him, and with a chuckle he removed his hand and stepped back. Unbuckling his belt, he lowered his pants and boxer briefs in one motion and kicked them aside. Then he was straddling her. A second later, he was fully inside her. There was no easing into it this time. Her breath caught as he slammed every inch of his hard cock deep.
He slammed into her hard and fast, holding both of her hands above her head in one of his. With his free hand, he unbuttoned her blouse, pulled her bra down and grabbed one of her hard nipples. The pinch lasted until she let out a breathless squeal. The sensation was almost enough to send her flying over the edge. As if he sensed she was close, his movements slowed long enough to bring her back from the brink. His fingers still held her nipple. “Not yet,” he whispered with a grin. Then he released her sensitive nub and was slamming into her again. Sweat covered them both. Her need grew more intense, and soon she was whimpering. But he wasn’t going to give in that easily.
“Can’t hear you, baby. What do you need?”
Finally, she screamed, “Please let me come. I need it.” He groaned, pinched her other nipple tightly and thrust into her harder and faster.
“Come,” he commanded. She soared, screamed her pleasure as he increased the pressure on her nipple. The spasms of her tight sex around his cock sent him over the edge, and he lost himself inside her. He collapsed on top of her. They were both struggling to catch their breath.
“You’re crushing me.” She giggled.
“You told me not to be gentle.” He grinned wickedly pressing himself into her harder for a moment before laughing and rolling off. Darci hadn’t had sex like that in ages. She laid on the bed watching him move around the room.
“I didn’t even take my clothes off,” she muttered more to herself than him.
His eyes swept over her as he pulled on a pair of boxers. “God, you’re hot like that, woman. Clothes half off and hair tousled laying in my bed. I could look at you forever.” Her blush was instant, and it made him laugh.
Where this was going Darci didn’t know, but the sex was good, so she wouldn't think about it too hard for now.
It was early still, but Darci caught herself stifling a yawn as she was stripping out of her rumpled clothes. “Wear you out, did I?” he teased as her shirt and bra hit the floor.
“You are very exhausting.”
“Somehow I don’t feel like that was a compliment,” he grumbled.
Back on the bed next to her, he nuzzled the sensitive spot where her neck and shoulder met, causing her to sigh. “So, what’s it going to be, love? Are you going to banish me to the couch, or can I stay here curled up next to you?”
She mumbled her consent, and he smiled as he pulled the blankets up over them. “Goodnight sweet girl.”
“G’night, Sir.”
Chapter Twenty
Bradley grinned in the dark at the sound of her calling him Sir. She was so beautiful. Worry plagued him though. What if they couldn’t catch this bastard? What if something awful happened? The thought of anything happening to the beautiful woman lying beside him sent a shudder through his entire being. He couldn’t handle walking in on another body, especially not hers.
With that in mind, he vowed to do everything in his power to keep her safe. Tomorrow he was going to arrange a private security detail for her. It would piss her off, but at least she would be safe. She shifted in her sleep, and he stroked her hair. She felt so right next to him. He closed his eyes knowing that for now at least she was safe in his arms.
A few hours later a noise jerked him awake. Is that the door? He jumped up and grabbed pants. Darci shifted but didn’t wake. When he opened the door, the building’s doorman was there. “Sorry to wake you, Mr. Givens, but somebody slashed your tires. We need to call the police.”
“Shit. Did you catch whoever did it?”
“No, Sir, Security thinks they scared the guy off.”
“Bradley.” A soft voice from the bedroom startled them both. “What’s wrong?”
He stared at her for a moment, taken by her beauty. Darci was wrapped in his blanket, and her curly red hair was everywhere. “Somebody slashed my tires, baby.”
“I’ll call Michael,” she said, suddenly looking wide awake.
“We’ve already called the police. Seriously, you can go back to bed.”
“No!” she cried emphatically. “I’m calling Michael. What if it’s related to me?” The thought had already crossed his mind, but he was trying not to dwell on it. If that were the case, then this fucker was stalking her.
“You’re right, call him,” he agreed.
“I’m going back down to the door, Mr. Givens. Security is with your car until the police arrive.”
“Thanks, Aaron. We’ll be down in a few minutes.” When he got back to the bedroom, Darci was pulling on a pair of jeans and had her phone pressed between her shoulder and ear.
“Wake up, Michael. Somebody slashed Bradley’s tires. The police are coming, but I would like it if you came too. Fine. Yes, I’ll owe you coffee. Just hurry please.” She hadn’t noticed him come in, so he propped himself against the door frame and watched as she fastened her jeans.
When she ended her call, she dropped the phone onto the bed and looked up at him. “What are you grinning at? Somebody just slashed your tires.”
“I just think you’re cute, that’s all.” She rolled her eyes as she put on her bra and reached for a t-shirt. Before she could get it over her head, he crossed the room to her and pulled her into his arms.
“I’m glad you’re here,” he whispered. And he was, even if this was the killer, he was glad she had been safe in his bed and not at home alone. He would rather see his tires slashed than her throat. He didn’t voice that as he tightened his hold on her, resting his chin on her head.
“I’m glad I’m here too,” she said after a long moment of silence. They finished dressing and headed downstairs.
Three of his tires were slashed. The police had arrived and were talking to security. They had a few questions for Bradley but were more interested in seeing the footage from the parking lot surveillance cameras.
Michael arrived a few minutes later. After a brief exchange of greetings, he walked around the car with his flashlight. Bradley gripped Darci’s hand tightly as they watched him examine the vehicle. At the rear passenger tire, he bent down. Darci pulled her hand from his and rushed over to Michael before he could stop her.
“What is it? Did you find something?”
“Back up, nosy. You’re blocking my light,” Michael said.
She huffed but backed away. After snapping on a pair of latex gloves, the tall detective reached into the gash in the tire and pulled out a piece of paper.
“What is it?” If Bradley wasn’t mistaken, there was a hint of panic in Darci’s voice.
“Jesus, Darci give me a minute.”
“Darci come here baby. Let the man do his job,” Bradley said, holding out his hand.
“Sorry, Michael. I’m just nervous,” Darci said, letting Bradley pull her against him.
Michael didn’t respond as he examined the paper. “Bradley, you better see this.” Bradley kissed the top of Darci’s head and slipped around her to where Michael knelt by the tire.
“Fuck,” he bit out. Fear curled in his belly. Printed on the paper was a photo of Darci and him at Iwo Jima yesterday morning along with a handwritten note that read:
You can’t keep her safe.
“What is it?” Darci practically shouted.
“It’s definitely him. Darci,” Michael said. “It’s time for us to go through your life with a fine-tooth comb. We need to look at any and everyone that this could be.”
“We need to put professional security on her,” Bradley said.
“No! I will not let some goons follow me around all day.”
“Darci, it’s not a bad idea,” Michael interjected. “What would Peter say?”
Bradley had turned to look at Darci. She was not happy about the notion of security, but when Michael mentioned Peter, her demeanor changed. He decided not to say anything else. One way or another though, a security detail was being assigned to her tonight.
The police finished their questioning, a tow truck came and took the car away, and Darci invited Michael in for coffee.
• • •
Darci paced back and forth in Bradley’s living room. He had holed himself up in his office with Michael when they got inside. She couldn’t help but feel like they were conspiring against her. The urge to sneak out and catch a cab back to her apartment was overwhelming. Knowing that both men in the office would hunt her down and the fact that a serial killer was taunting her kept her from it.
Darci had never done well with being smothered. The foster homes she lived in always seemed overprotective and stifling, and then there was the night in college that changed her life forever. Everyone always thought they knew what was best for her and didn’t appear to care what she wanted. They always meant well, but it still made her feel trapped. Michael came out of the office first. At the site of her pacing, he shook his head.
“Darci, sit down. You’re gonna wear a hole in the floor.”
“Michael, I can’t stand being smothered. You know that. Please don’t let him smother me.”
He laughed. “I’m not sure I can keep him from anything, but I talked him into only two bodyguards instead of twelve.” She gasped in horror before she recognized the twinkle in the detective’s eyes.
“You’re mocking me, right? This is you mocking me?”
“Maybe just a little,” he admitted. “He cares Darci, and so do I. You need the protection and I recommended Peter’s old firm. They train these guards to keep you safe without completely disrupting your life. You’ll be able to work like normal. You’ll just have to share your schedule with them and get used to being followed.”
“Apparently, I’m already being followed,” she snapped.
He sighed. “Don’t remind me. Just promise you won’t do anything stupid like try to ditch your detail.”
“If she does that, I’m going to take her across my knee, mine or not.” They both whirled around at the sound of Bradley’s voice. There was a hardness to his voice that Darci had not heard before. It was kind of hot. But not hot enough to keep her from being irritated.
“I’m staying out of this one,” Michael said, stepping out from between them.
“A lot of help you are.” Darci glared at him, but he just grinned and stepped farther away from her.
“Darci I mean it. Do not fight me on this because I will win,” Bradley said as he reached her.
“I can tell you mean
that, and I know you mean well, so for now, I’m going to shut up and go back to sleep, but I’m not done talking about this, Bradley. If they disrupt my life, I’m going to throw a fit.” Something flashed in his eyes. Anger? She wasn’t sure, but she didn’t want to find out.
“Michael, do you need Darci and me tonight?” Bradley’s voice was calm. Too calm.
“No, but we need to do an intense interview with Darci about anyone she’s crossed paths with so we can cross off names,” Michael answered, oblivious to the fact that the energy had shifted in the room. Darci however, was very aware of the change.
“Fine. Would you mind leaving us alone then? We’ll schedule something for tomorrow.” He was calm and polite, but Darci was sure they were about to have an epic fight. She sighed. So much for going back to sleep. Michael said goodbye and Bradley calmly shut and locked the door. He turned and leaned against it, folding his arms across his chest, regarding her coolly.
“We can either fight, or we can fuck. The choice is yours.”
Darci gasped. That was not at all what she had expected. He stalked toward her. “I’m waiting,” he said when he reached her. Staring into his eyes, she swallowed hard. The deep blue orbs were boring holes into her as he waited for her answer.
“Well I certainly don’t want to fight,” she whispered, so turned on it hurt.
“Good. Me either.”
Without another word, he crushed his mouth to hers. Darci threw all her anger and frustration into their kiss. It was all teeth and tongue and hot. She bit down on his bottom lip and soon tasted the blood she drew. He growled and thrust his tongue deeper into her mouth. Backing her up, he lowered them down to the couch. The weight of him on top of her fed the fire of her need for him.
Suddenly he broke their kiss. Helping her sit up, he scooped her shirt off and made quick work of her bra. Her nipples were hard, making her need apparent. Taking both of her nipples, he gave them a sharp pinch. The girlish squeal she let out made him grin. His erection pressing into her fueled her desire, and she wanted to feel him inside her now. But he smacked her hand when she reached for his zipper. “Not yet.”
