“I suppose my granddaughter did all right in marrying you.” Looking down, I smile at Ashlyn’s Memaw. The woman is a tiny thing, maybe four-eight, with long gray hair on her head, and a face I know I will one day see on her granddaughter.
“Thanks.”
“Don’t thank me.” She rolls her eyes, and I fight the urge to laugh. “I’m just glad to see my girl happy,” she mutters, pushing in next to me then motioning for the bartender to come over. Once he’s close, she asks him for a vodka and cranberry with extra vodka, and then smiles as he hands it to her.
“Gran, you’re not supposed to be drinking.” Jax takes the drink from her just as she puts it to her lips, and her nose scrunches up in disgust.
“If no one knows I’m drinking it, I can drink it,” she informs him, resting her hands on her hips.
“It doesn’t work like that, Gran, and I saw you order it and know you’re drinking, so your point is moot.”
“You sound like your mom,” she grumbles, then huffs before stomping off in the direction of Lilly, who is standing with Cash and Trevor.
“I’m not quite sure she likes me,” I say, watching her go, hearing Jax laugh.
“You could commit a murder in front of all of these people, and none of them would bat an eyelash. Trust me, you’ve won everyone over without even trying,” he tells me, then looks out at the dance floor to where his sister is now dancing with her cousin Bax, who flew in yesterday with her other cousin Cobi, from Montana, where they have been working. “How’s she doing?”
“Good, she’s been preoccupied with my brother, his wife, and our nephews in town, so she hasn’t had much time to dwell. Have you heard anything new?” I ask as he motions for the bartender to come back over.
“No, nothing. And normally with a story like hers being on the news, there would at least be a couple solid leads, but no one has come forward with any new information.”
“Did you look into Isla?” I know right now isn’t exactly the time to be talking about this shit, but with everything going on we haven’t had a second to touch base in over a week.
“I did. She was in New York and didn’t step foot back into Tennessee until days after the incident,” he says, then pauses, asking the bartender for a beer when he finally makes his way down the bar toward us.
“I have to be honest with you. The more time that goes by without anything else occurring, the more my gut is telling me it was just an accident,” he mutters under his breath, smiling at someone who passes.
“I want to believe that, but I’m not going to let my guard down. I’d rather be overly cautions than pissed at myself if something happened again.”
“We’re on the same page with that, especially with the women who’ve turned up dead.”
“Have you heard anything about that?”
“Not much. The cops I know are keeping a tight lid on the cases since they seem to have been committed by the same person,” he explains, taking a pull from the beer the bartender hands him.
“What about the women?”
“I only know what I’ve read in the papers, and I imagine you’ve read the same things I have.”
I had read the papers. One woman was a known prostitute, and the other was a college student. The only thing they had in common, as far as I could tell, was the fact their bodies were found in town and they were both from Nashville.
“Did you ever think about the rest of the men in the world when you planned this shit?” Parker asks, breaking into our conversation, and I raise a brow at him as he leans across the bar and asks the bartender for a shot of whiskey.
“Cara is currently talking to a group of women about wanting us to renew our vows. First, I didn’t know that was an actual thing. And second, there’s no damn way I could ever pull off something like this,” he waves his hand around, “without asking her mom to help me, and that shit will never happen since I still remember what it was like when she took over our first wedding,” he grumbles, picking up the drink the bartender sets down in front of him, shooting half the glass back before looking at me once more with narrowed eyes.
Shaking my head, I open my mouth to speak, but then look out toward the middle of the room when the DJ calls my name and requests me to meet my wife on the dance floor.
“Christ, and now you’re going to dance. I’m never going to live this down,” Parker mutters with a disbelieving huff, which I ignore as I set my glass of bourbon on top of the bar.
Walking toward my wife, I watch her hold out her hand and her face light up as “A Thousand Years” begins to play through the speakers. “Will you dance with me?” she asks, and without answering I pull her against me as soon as I’m close enough to do so, and then rest one hand on her waist and the other on the back of her neck. “This day has been amazing. Thank you,” she whispers, tilting her head back to look up at me.
“You’re welcome, baby,” I whisper back, placing a kiss to her forehead then lips.
“I can’t believe you got all of my family here.”
“That was your mom. She knew you’d want to have everyone at your wedding if you had one, so we made it happen.”
“You even got Memaw and Papa on a plane,” she says in awe, looking up at me, and I smile. That was not easy, seeing how they hadn’t flown in years and are set in their ways, but Lilly finally talked them around after I insisted on getting them first class tickets to make the trip a little easier on both of them.
“I’d do anything for you,” I state simply, and her eyes close. Tucking her back against me, I sway her from side to side until the song comes to an end, and then dance with her through three more songs before the music changes to an upbeat song, and Hope comes over, shouting it’s her turn to dance with her aunt. Leaving her with a hot, wet, and very deep kiss, I head back to the bar where I spend most of the evening watching her with a smile on my face, until it’s time for her to leave with the girls to go out.
*
Hearing the front door open and close then the sound of giggling and stumbling around, I make my way out of the library toward the foyer then stand back with my arms across my chest, watching Cara and Ashlyn try to shush each other as they laugh drunkenly, holding on to one another to stay standing. Jax told me he was dropping them off; I just had no idea they were as wasted as they are.
“Did you guys have fun?” I ask, and both women look at me with wide, guilty eyes.
“Dillon’s awake, act slobber,” Ashlyn slurs, looking at Cara, who giggles then stumbles into her, almost knocking her down.
“You texted and told ’im you were coming home to have sess. Of course he’s awake.”
Cara laughs and I chuckle.
“Oh yeah, I forgot,” Ashlyn mumbles while kicking off one heel, letting it fly across the foyer before doing the same with the other. Going to her before she can remove her jeans she is trying to take off, I pick her up. When she texted, I couldn’t make out one word of it, so it’s good to know what the hell she was trying to say.
“I’m going to bed,” Cara announces, and I turn us around just in time to find her crawling up the stairs on her hands and knees.
“Babe, seriously.” My eyes move to Parker, shaking his head from side to side, looking down the steps at his wife, who has now crawled halfway up the staircase. “You’re wasted.”
“I’m not wasted,” she huffs, attempting to stand, only to catch herself on the railing before she falls over. “Okay, maybe a little.” She giggles, and Parker laughs, heading down the stairs toward her.
“Come on, lush. Let’s get you to bed.” He scoops her up, giving me a smile and a shake of his head as he carries her the rest of the way.
“I take it you guys had fun?” I ask, kissing the top of Ashlyn’s head, and her head tips back to look up at me.
“So mush fun, but I missed you.” She smiles drunkenly, rubbing my chest then flicking my nipple through the thin cotton of my tee.
“Let’s get you some water.” I carry her down the hall
toward the kitchen then feel her mouth and hot breath against my neck.
“I want sex, not water,” she murmurs, licking my throat, and my cock hardens to the point of pain.
“I’ll tell you what. If you can stay awake after I’ve gotten you some water and aspirin, I’ll give you whatever you want.”
“Okay,” she agrees immediately, but before I’ve even gotten her up to the room, she’s asleep in my arms.
Waking on a groan, my back comes off the bed when my cock slides deeper into Ashlyn’s wet heat as she rocks against me. “Christ, baby.” My hands cup her breasts and she moans, rolling her hips. Sliding my hands from her breasts to her back, I skim them down over her ass and push her harder against my length, and demand, “Faster.” Ignoring me, she lifts and falls, slowly rolling her hips on each downward glide. “Faster,” I repeat.
Her only response is to scrape her nails down my chest and abs then move her hands between her legs to roll her clit. Watching her on top of me, her breasts swaying from side to side, her fingers playing between her legs, I know that if I don’t do something, I’m going to come long before she does. “Fuck,” I snarl, flipping her to her belly, lifting her hips, and impaling her in one deep thrust that bumps against her cervix.
Smacking her ass hard enough to leave a mark, I watch her head fly back and listen to a loud, breathy, “Yes!” leave her mouth. Doing the same to her other ass cheek, her walls spasm and more wetness spreads over my shaft.
“How the fuck did I get so goddamn lucky?” I growl, lifting her with a hand around her chest, holding her impaled on my length as I turn her head and take her mouth, kissing her deep and rocking my hips. “Touch yourself.”
Whimpering against my lips, her hand moves to between her parted thighs and I pull her nipple, making her gasp and writhe against me as I begin to slowly thrust into her.
“Dillon, I’m going to come.” Her breathy words and her pussy milking my cock send me into a frenzy, and without thinking, I push her face-down on the bed, smack her ass hard once more, and come as she does, feeling lightheaded as my hips jerk when her silken walls pull every last bit of energy I have from my body. Collapsing next to her on the bed, I tug her against my chest and listen to us both breathe heavily.
“I fell asleep last night,” she whispers, and I kiss the back of her head, smiling.
“You did,” I agree, cupping her breast.
“I wanted to make up for it.”
“You did that and more.” I laugh into her hair then see her smile as she turns to face me. “How are you feeling this morning?” I ask, running my fingers down her cheek.
“Good, hungry.” She grins, and I smile, leaning in to kiss her.
“What do you want to eat?”
“I really want a glazed doughnut… or a dozen of them.” She laughs, tucking her head under my chin.
“I can make that happen.”
“Really?” she asks, looking at me, and I tuck a piece of hair behind her ear and study her beautiful face for a moment.
“When will you realize I’d do anything for you?” I question, watching her lips part and her face soften.
“I hope I never get used to the idea,” she murmurs, kissing my chin, and I roll her to her back and loom over her. “Rest. I’ll be back with doughnuts and coffee.” I kiss her once more then roll out of bed. Coming out of the bathroom, dressed and ready to go ten minutes later, I find her asleep wrapped around my pillow.
Studying her for a moment, I wonder how I ended up here, how I found my way to her, and then wonder if by some strange chance my parents had something to do with it. They would have loved Ashlyn for me, and if it were possible, I know they would have lead me to her. With a quick kiss to her hair and a shake of my head, I leave the room and head down to my car.
“What’s up?” I question as soon as the phone is against my ear.
“Where are you?” Jax barks, causing my spine to stiffen as I drive through a green light in the middle of town.
“On my way home. Why?” I bark back, reacting to the fear I hear in his tone.
“How long ’til you’re home?”
“Ten minutes, why? What’s going on?”
“I’ll see you then.” He hangs up, and my hand squeezes the phone. Christ, what the fuck is going on? I just left the house. What the fuck could have happened? Pressing Ashlyn’s number, I listen to the phone ring then go to voicemail.
“Fuck!” I roar, pressing down harder on the gas. As soon I pull down the drive that leads to the house, I feel bile crawl up the back of my throat. “What the fuck?” I watch the house get closer and see there are three police cruisers parked outside, along with Ashlyn’s parents’ SUV and Jax’s truck.
Putting the car in park, I open the door and jump out. Running up the steps into the house, I roar, “Ashlyn!” feeling fear lodge in my throat.
“Dillon,” Lilly says softly, walking toward me down the hall with her arms wrapped around her waist, and a look on her face that causes the doughnut I had on the way home to crawl up the back of my throat.
“What’s going on?”
“There’s…” She shakes her head and a sob rips from her chest as she buries her face in her hands.
Feeling my knees go weak, I look behind her when Cash approaches. “Tell me she’s okay.”
“She’s okay, but I need you to be calm for her,” he says quietly, and I nod, not having the ability to speak or the first fucking clue about what’s going on. As soon as we enter the kitchen, I spot Nico and two officers dressed in uniform near the door that leads to the patio talking to Jax, and my heart speeds up. Scanning for Ash, I notice two men wearing suits standing at the island side-by-side, and then feel my lungs tighten when my eyes finally find Ashlyn sitting on the stool she always sits on. Her head is hanging and her hands are balled into fists on the marble island in front of her.
“Baby.” Her head comes up and tears fill her eyes as she stares at me. “Ash.” Standing abruptly, she rushes toward me, throwing herself violently against my chest as the stool she was sitting on crashes to the ground behind her. Stunned from the impact, I think she’s trying to hurt me, then realize she’s clawing at me like she wants me to absorb her into my skin. “What’s going on?” I ask, feeling her body shake as I wrap my arms around her and hold her against me.
“Sir,” one of the suit-wearing men says, and I look at him. “I’m Special Agent Torres, and this is Special Agent Kace. We’re with the FBI.” He motions to the man standing like a pit bull next to him, and I lift my chin in acknowledgment. “We need to speak with you, but I think it would be better if you and Mrs. Keck got comfortable,” he tells me gently as his eyes soften on Ashlyn, who is silently crying against my chest.
Without a word, I scoop her up into my arms and carry her out of the kitchen and down the hall to the library, somewhere I always find her when we’re home together and she’s disappeared. Taking a seat on the large sectional in the middle of the room, I adjust her on my lap, feeling anger swell inside of me as her tears wet my neck. Looking around the library, I watch Lilly and Cash take a seat on the loveseat across from us, and then watch the two agents place themselves on the chairs next to the couch.
“Does someone want to tell me what the fuck is going on, and why the fuck my wife is crying?” I ask through my teeth, trying to control the fury I feel building with every single one of her tears.
“As you may know, two weeks ago, a woman was found murdered in Oaks Park,” he begins, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. “During the police department’s investigation, they found evidence that led them to Mrs. Keck.”
“She didn’t fucking murder anyone,” I bite out, cutting him off, and his face softens.
“No, she didn’t,” he agrees then sits forward, resting his elbows to his knees, and asks, “Do you know the website Dominate Me?”
What the fuck?
“No,” I deny truthfully, rubbing my hand down Ashlyn’s back when she buries her face far
ther into my neck.
“It’s a fetish website where men and women create profiles with their fantasies, and someone looking for the same thing will get in contact with them through the site to—”
“What does this have to do with my wife and the women murdered?” I cut him off again, while wrapping one hand around the base of Ashlyn’s neck and the other around her back, holding her as close to me as I can, needing the contact as much as she does.
“The police found information leading them to the site last night, after one of the victim’s friends was questioned and explained that her friend was meeting up with a man she met off the website.”
“Jesus.” My body tenses in preparation. I know what’s coming, and I know I’m not going to like it.
“During the investigation into the site, we found Mrs. Keck also has a profile on that site, and the same man that we believe met with the murdered women was corresponding with who he believed was your wife.”
“Tell me this is a fucking joke,” I hiss, and he shakes his head, rubbing his hands together.
“I wish I could tell you this is all a misunderstanding, but unfortunately, that is not the case. Over the last two months, there have been four murdered women found in the Nashville area. The detectives working the cases believed they were somehow linked together, but until last night, they didn’t know how.”
“So this guy is a serial killer,” I bite out, and he looks at the agent sitting next to him, gaining his nod before returning his eyes to mine.
“Yes, we believe so, which is why the FBI is now involved.”
“Who put up the profile for my wife on the website?” I grit out, feeling my teeth grind together at the thought of her information being on a site like that.
“We do not know at this time. The person used a disposable e-mail and only explained what their fantasy was before shutting off contact with the assailant.”
“What was the fantasy?” I ask without thinking, feeling my nostrils flare and Ashlyn tense.
Until Ashlyn Page 20
