by Ward, Alice
“You are so beautiful,” he whispered, his other hand crawling up my thigh. He teased me through my yoga pants and I reached for his belt.
“You’ve had a hard day. Let me take care of you,” I insisted. I pushed him onto his back and crawled off the bed, stripping him out of his clothes while he laid back and watched. I pulled my t-shirt over my head and stepped out of my pants before climbing on top of him.
“Oh, baby,” Asher groaned as I slid my naked body against his skin. I lightly stroked his cock with an open hand and nibbled at his earlobe.
“You’re making me crazy,” he exhaled.
“That’s the idea,” I purred. I ran my tongue down his neck, kissing his collarbone before continuing down his chest. He squirmed beneath me, instinctively angling his cock toward my open mouth. I closed my hand around his shaft and took the head between my lips.
“Oh, God,” he moaned, weaving his fingers through my hair. He teased my scalp while I flicked my tongue against his cock and dropped my other hand to his balls. I rolled them gently in my hand in rhythm with my strokes and he quivered in my mouth.
“Slow down,” he gasped. “I don’t want to come yet.”
I stilled my hands, but kept my mouth moving. Asher took long, deep breaths and reached between my legs.
“Oh, baby,” he moaned, pushing a finger into my slick, eager pussy. “You’re already so wet.”
He pulled his hand to his mouth and licked my juices off his finger. “I want you,” he moaned after tasting me. “Come here.”
Asher grabbed me roughly by the hips, pulling me onto his chest. I planted my knees on the bed and lapped faster at his cock while he drove his tongue inside me. His chin pressed against my clit as he plunged deeper and I moaned against his cock.
Asher gripped my ass cheeks with firm, rough hands and I felt myself climb toward release. I bucked against his face and he pushed two fingers in behind his tongue, sending me over the edge. The orgasm washed over me in coursing, powerful waves and I collapsed on top of him. Asher gave me a long, final lick and I jerked away from him, too overwhelmed to take any more of his touch.
“Are you okay?” he whispered, giving me my space.
I rolled to the side of the bed, struggling to regain my breath. “I’m fine,” I gasped. “I’m fantastic. I just need a minute.”
He curled up beside me and looked into my eyes. “Take as long as you need.”
I stretched my neck forward and planted a soft kiss on his lips. “That got a little off track. It was supposed to be about you.”
He smiled and kissed me again. “Believe me, it felt like it was.”
I reached down and stroked his cock lightly. “I’ve been on the pill for a month now,” I reminded him with a grin.
His eyes lit up and he pulled me toward him. “Mmm… I like hearing that.”
He covered my lips with his, kissing me with wild, instinctive rapture. I moved one leg over his hip and his cock found its destination with no guidance. Asher pushed inside me with one long, quick motion and then held his hips still. I clenched my pussy around him and kissed him back hungrily, reveling in the sensations that coursed through my body.
Asher slipped an arm under my leg, lifting it to his shoulder and opening me wider. He rocked his hips back and forth, building his speed as I cried out in passion. His cock hit the magic spot deep within me and my body shook uncontrollably.
“Right there, baby?” he gasped as I clenched down on him again.
“Yes,” I moaned. “Right there… don’t stop, Asher. Oh God, don’t stop.”
Asher moved his hand from my thigh to the small of my back and pushed into me harder. I came with loud cries and wild thrashes, triggering Asher’s release. He trembled and exploded inside me. We lay together for long, silent minutes, still connected.
Asher ran a soft hand down my side and kissed my forehead. He slipped out of me and propped himself up on an elbow.
“I love you so much, Lauren. And I feel like I’ve gotten off easy. You have no idea how much I regret pushing you away. I didn’t think about what I was doing. The moment Merritt called and told us Rachel was missing, I sort of switched over to autopilot.”
“Your instincts took over. I love you, Asher. I know that you love me. But everything about us has happened so fast. And you and Rachel have been through so much. I understand that it will take time for your instincts to change. Like I told you before, I don’t love the way you acted. But I appreciate that you’ve realized your mistakes. And the last thing I want to do is beat you over the head with them.”
“Are you telling me to stop apologizing?” he asked with a grin.
“Yes,” I agreed, grinning back.
Asher’s stomach let out a loud grumble; I rolled out of bed and pulled on my bathrobe, remembering the trays of food stored in the fridge.
“Where are you going?” he called after me.
“You’re hungry. I stopped at the market and picked up all of your favorite things. I have smoked prosciutto, marinated artichokes. I’ll be right back with the trays. Do you want red wine or white?”
“White. I’ll come help,” he offered.
Asher followed me into the kitchen and retrieved a bottle from the wine fridge while I arranged the food on the island.
“We should go easy with this,” he warned. “We have an early day tomorrow.”
“We do?” I asked, at a loss for what he was talking about.
“We’re going to Vermont, remember? We leave at eight. I talked to Kennedy earlier tonight. We’re going to touch down in Boston and pick her up on our way.”
“I forgot all about the trip,” I confessed.
“You’ve had a lot going on,” he reminded me. “If you’re not up to it, I’ll understand. But I really feel like I should go with Kennedy. I need to learn as much as possible about what’s going on.” He popped a cherry tomato into his mouth and reached for his wine.
“I get it. I feel the same way,” I agreed. “And I’d never miss the trip. I’m surprised Kennedy didn’t mention it when we talked.”
“When I spoke to her, she said Claire’s joining us as well,” he replied.
That’s right. Shit, I need to tell him that Claire knows the truth.
“About Claire,” I began, my voice hesitant. I met Asher’s eyes and he studied me for a moment before lifting his brow.
“You told her?”
I nodded. “I’m sorry. I know this wasn’t my secret to tell. I just—”
“It’s fine, baby,” he assured me. “You needed someone to talk to. You’ve known Claire your whole life. I’m not upset that you told her.”
Asher sat his wine on the island and pulled me into his arms. “I’m glad you had someone to talk to while I was being stupid. I like your friends, Lauren. I hope to make them my friends. Now, why don’t you let me carry you off to bed again and show you how much I love you?”
I wrapped my arms around his neck and laughed as he lifted me into his arms.
“I can’t think of any reason to say no to that.”
CHAPTER 3
“This is Captain Brooks. The Montpelier tower has cleared us to land. I radioed to the ground crew and confirmed that your car is waiting. Please prepare for descent.”
Asher and Kennedy closed their laptops while Claire and I cleared cups and snacks from the small table bolted to the jet’s floor.
“We have two hours before we’re scheduled to meet with the camp staff,” Kennedy pointed out. “We’ll have plenty of time to check into our rooms and grab something to eat. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m starving.”
“I’d like to check out the town a little before we go to the camp,” Asher insisted. “I want to get a feel for the place, show Rachel’s picture to some of the locals. If this is where she was while I was at school, plenty of people are bound to recognize her.”
I felt the sudden sensation that I was being dropped and gripped the arm of my chair in panic. Asher took my hand
as the landing gear bounced off the runway and then touched down again. The jet stabilized and slowed to a stop.
“Sorry for the rough landing,” the pilot called out over the speaker. “Enjoy your time in Vermont. I’ll be on standby when you need me.”
We unbuckled our seatbelts and Asher opened the jet door. The ground crew had already attached a staircase and was emptying our luggage into a large, black SUV. We filed out of the jet and Asher climbed behind the wheel of the truck. I took the passenger’s seat while Kennedy and Claire piled into the back. Kennedy opened her laptop again and tapped at the keyboard.
“Our hotel is on Main Street. Looks like pretty much everything is on Main Street, actually. We’ll check into our rooms and then split up. Looks like there’s a little diner across the street from the hotel. Claire and I will start there and then cover these little boutiques. You guys can pop in everywhere else. We should have plenty of time to regroup before we drive out to the camp,” she explained.
“Sounds good,” Asher agreed, steering the truck onto an old two lane highway. I turned the heat on full blast and dug through my carryon for a fleece pullover. Vermont was twenty degrees colder than California.
“I’m still a little mixed up on the details,” Claire chimed in. “Do the people at the camp know who we really are? Or do they still think Kennedy’s visiting on behalf of the Montgomery Foundation?”
“They know who we are,” Kennedy replied. “David Goins spoke to the director yesterday and gave the staff permission to speak with us. They won’t be able to answer all of our questions, but they’re willing to help with what they can.”
“I have a good feeling about this trip,” Asher announced. “I think we’re on the right track. From what I’ve learned about Rachel’s condition, she’s likely to go somewhere familiar. Her parents said she was really happy at the camp. If she did run on her own, I bet she’s nearby.”
Let’s hope so. I’m ready for this nightmare to be over.
I wasn’t as optimistic as Asher. Rachel may be troubled, but she was smart. If she’d run with the money, she’d never hide anywhere where anyone would think to look for her. And she had to have known that Vermont would be one of the first places Asher looked. I hoped to learn something useful at the camp, but I was under no delusions that we’d be taking Rachel home with us. Asher was in a good mood for the first time all week, so I decided to keep my opinions to myself.
“Didn’t you two stay near here before you went to MIT?” I asked as he navigated through the quaint, historic town.
He nodded. “We were in Middlesex. It’s a little to the west of here. It’s even smaller than Montpelier. Rachel and I worked at a small mountain resort. She cleaned rooms. I worked at the front desk.”
“Do you still know anyone in the area?” Kennedy asked. “We may as well speak with as many people as possible while we’re here.”
“I haven’t kept in contact with anyone. But I’ll make some calls,” he promised.
Downtown Montpelier looked like the setting of a Dickens novel. Original stone buildings lined the streets, their historic architecture holding modern boutiques and foodie havens. Gas lamps sat on corners and people strolled casually down the sidewalks. There was a calming sense of peace to the area and I understood why Rachel might be drawn there.
We arrived at the Montpelier Inn and Asher pulled up to the small valet stand. It was a small, family run hotel, much different than the resorts and penthouses Asher and Kennedy were accustomed to. I felt right at home.
“I’ll check us in and have our bags taken to our rooms,” Kennedy offered. “Let’s meet back here in an hour. We’ll compare notes and then head to the camp.”
“I’ll call if we learn anything. You do the same,” Asher instructed.
I circled the SUV and accepted Asher’s extended hand. He gave me a squeeze and turned toward Main Street.
“See you soon,” I called over my shoulder to my friends.
“Good luck,” Claire sang back at me.
Asher pulled me closer and draped an arm around my shoulders.
“Are you hungry?” he asked.
“A little,” I confessed. “But I know we have work to do. And look, there’s a coffee shop a few blocks up. I’ll just grab a muffin or something when we stop in with Rachel’s picture. Where do you want to start?”
Most of the storefronts around us held signs for insurance companies, lawyers, and other clerical type spaces.
“You’re hungry, so let’s start with the coffee shop,” Asher insisted. “From there we’ll go to that nail salon and then the bar, if they’re open.”
I nuzzled beneath Asher’s arm and we started for the coffee shop. The air was crisp and a light breeze blew across the sidewalk. Most of the trees were still holding their color, but a few random branches had started to turn yellow.
“I bet this place is going to be gorgeous soon,” I observed, breathing in the fresh air.
“We’ll come back and see it for ourselves,” Asher promised. “I’ll find us a cozy cabin and we can drink cider, eat maple syrup, and make love in front of the fire.”
“I will be holding you to that one,” I warned with a grin.
“You can hold me to anything, baby,” he replied with a wink.
I slowed to a stop and turned in Asher’s arms. I cradled his face in my hands and stared into his slightly surprised eyes.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
He lifted his brow in confusion. “You’re welcome. But for what?”
“For making the effort to think about us with everything else that’s going on. I know you’re stressed and worried about Rachel. But you’re staying in the moment with me, letting me help you. I just wanted you to know that I noticed that. And I appreciate it.”
Asher leaned down and kissed my forehead. “I promised to do better. I meant it. Now, let’s get you something to eat.”
He held open the coffee shop door and I stepped into the small, warm restaurant. Rustic café tables covered the hardwood floors and the smell of espresso filled the air.
“Good morning,” a friendly red head greeted us. “How can I help you today?”
I stepped up to the counter and studied the chalkboard menu on the back wall.
“I’ll have a praline latte with an extra shot of espresso and one of your sausage rolls, please,” I ordered.
“I’d like an Americano and a lox bagel,” Asher added.
The cashier nodded and hit a few keys on an outdated cash register. “Will that be for here or to go?”
“To go, please,” Asher replied, pulling a twenty from his pocket.
“Sixteen thirty-nine,” she announced. She took the bill from his hand and the register sprang open. Asher pulled Rachel’s picture from his wallet as she turned back with his change.
“My girlfriend and I are in town looking for my sister,” he explained. “I was wondering if you may have seen her?”
The cashier squinted at the photograph and then looked from me to Asher.
“Is she in some sort of trouble?” she asked, all perkiness now gone from her voice.
“No, nothing like that,” he quickly assured her. “In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Our family’s run into a bit of luck and I’m trying to get the news to her. My sister’s always been a bit of a free spirit. She likes to go off on these little solo trips without giving us any of the details. She left home a few weeks ago to backpack through the area as the season changes. We had a free day, so we decided to take a little road trip and try to find her.”
The girl studied Asher’s face for a moment, neither of them speaking. Her shoulders tensed and her eyes darted around the coffee shop.
“I’m sorry, but I haven’t seen her,” she insisted.
Oh, honey. Lying doesn’t suit you at all.
I expected Asher to push her for more information or offer her cash to talk. But instead, he smiled and returned the picture to his wallet.
“Well, thanks anyway. I
f you do happen to see her anytime soon, will you ask her to call home?”
“Of course,” she agreed, nodding her head a little too enthusiastically. She knew she’d been let off the hook and she was grateful for it.
“I’ll be right back with your order,” she added, turning for the small kitchen. She slid a ticket to the man near the espresso machine and he started brewing our drinks. Asher and I perched on a bench near the door and spoke in hushed whispers.
“She definitely knows something.”
Asher nodded. “Yes, but we can’t make her talk. You saw the way she was looking at me. Her entire demeanor changed when she saw the picture. She knew I wasn’t Rachel’s brother.”
“So what are we supposed to do now?” I whispered.
“We stick to the plan. We know she’s been here. We just don’t know when. But I think the more people who recognize her, the safer it’ll be to assume it was recently.”
He pulled his phone from the breast pocket of his wool overcoat and sent Kennedy a quick text message. Then, he called his assistant at EnvisionTech and fired off a list of names.
“I need contact info for everyone as soon as possible,” he instructed. “Preferably cell numbers and physical addresses. I know it’s your day off, but I’ll make it worth your while.”
“Your old friends?” I asked as he ended the call.
He nodded. “I probably should have made some calls before we left California. But this way, our visit will look spontaneous.”
“You’re not going to tell them what’s going on?”
“No. Rachel was much closer to these people than I was. Their loyalties will fall to her. We’ll just pretend that we’re in the area on vacation and wait for them to bring her up.”
“Order up,” the barista called out. He sat two cardboard mugs on the counter and set about cleaning his machine. The redhead returned from the kitchen with our food wrapped in butcher block paper.
“Here you go,” she sang. “Enjoy your stay in Montpelier.”
“Thank you,” Asher replied. He flashed her one last smile as we took our food and left the coffee shop.
