by C. M. Steele
His phone buzzes, putting a halt to our kisses. “I hate to do this, but I have to go back out there. I don’t have a lot of time to get this done before the lawyer comes. Please, no more passing out on me.”
“It was just a shock.”
“Again. The only time I want you to pass out is after I’ve given you so many orgasms that exhaustion takes over.”
“Sign me up.” I kiss him once more. “I left Louisa waiting for me. Please be careful yourself. I don’t know what he has planned, but I don’t trust him.” We part ways; he goes to work, and I hang out with Louisa.
It’s been two hours and she has to go get the boys from school soon, but I love having her here with me. “I think you need to contact Marisa. I don’t know if they’re going to be after her or not.”
“I called her while you were talking to Tobias. She told me that Landon Black has provided her with security.”
“Really?” I smile. That’s so kind of him.
“It would seem so. Landon’s a nice guy and handsome as hell too.” She nods her head and winks.
“Yes, he is.” I remember wondering if he had a brother when I met him. A brother-in-law works perfectly for me.
“Who the fuck is handsome?” Tobias asks, coming up to me and kissing me hard. God, this man sends me into a horny mess with his touch.
“You, but she’s talking about Landon. He has security on Marisa.”
“She needs it now more than before. She’s become a target when they had someone following her. Anyway, I’d like you to meet my lawyer.”
“Hey, Bill,” Louisa says. He kisses her hand and drops it.
“Louisa, it’s good to see you again. John still treating you good?”
“Always. Excuse me. I have to get the boys.” I wonder if he has a thing for Louisa.
“Good luck. I’ll call you later.” We hug and she leaves.
“Let’s go sit down and hash this all out.”
We go into Tobias’s office and he sits me on his lap. I’m so small in comparison it feels like my own personal cushy chair. “So what’s going on?”
“Well, first, I’m Ava Henry.”
“Wait. The woman missing from Indiana?” Wow, I didn’t know my disappearance made national news.
“How do you know that?”
“I was watching the news and it came up once that the daughter of a prominent lawyer has fled with over ten million in her possession,” he says, pulling something up on his phone. He passes it to Tobias. “See for yourself.” That bastard.
“Ha. Ten million? I left with ten thousand of my hard-earned money.”
“Most are guessing you fled to the Caribbean or something of that nature with that supposed kind of funds. However, I’m more curious why you fled?” He’s shrewd for sure.
He passes Bill’s phone back. “That’s why we called you. Tell him what happened, babe.”
Tobias rubs my back. “The night I ran, my father had struck me hard, leaving me with a black eye and bruised face. As soon as they’d left for the gala, I packed my bags and ran to my dorm and packed up as quickly as I could, grabbing everything that I might need to survive for a couple of months.”
“So you’re frightened of him?” he questions.
“Yes. Well, I was, but not as much anymore. He has his claws into a lot of the officials and police officers. I was too scared to go to them, so I ran.”
“So there’s no truth to the ten million dollars stolen.”
“None. On my twenty-second birthday, I inherit ten million from my mother’s trust she set up for me.” He nods as if he’s processing what I’m telling him. I wonder what he has in mind.
“Twenty-second birthday? That’s an odd number.”
“Well in my mom’s mind, people tend to go off the rails at twenty-one with drinking and partying. She wanted to make sure I didn’t blow the money. She died almost fifteen years ago.”
“So if he doesn’t have access to it, why does he want you back?”
“He wanted me to marry a guy I know. I had no interest in it and as far as I know the guy has no interest in marrying me. Either that, or he plans to kill me and inherit the money as my sole living family member.” Tobias’s body tenses as he growls like a sexy, protective beast.
“Do you have a will?”
“No, I don’t. He told me I had no reason to have one without the money.”
“Yeah, well. Bastards like him make it hard for good lawyers. There are plenty of us who work for the purpose of actually serving the people. I’d say you have one drafted right away. Then he can’t have any claim, which means he’s less likely to kill you. Put it in a trust for your kids if you have any or leave it to someone you trust not to kill you. Remember, you can always change your will later. You want to establish a barrier between the funds and him. Also, regardless of what happens, I recommend you go to the police with the matter. The letter, the photos, and your testimony on the previous events will go a long way with protecting yourself.”
“That all sounds grim.”
“I’ll kill that bastard first,” Tobias bites out.
“Well, now that he’s found me, I guess there’s no point in waiting to inform the world about my whereabouts, but I’d like to do it after the will is created.”
“That’s fine. Do you have a lawyer in mind, or would you like my firm to draft one?”
“I don’t know how expensive you are.”
“Don’t worry about cost. I want you protected at all costs,” Tobias says. “Bill, just send me the invoice.”
“I have my laptop with me, so we can get you protected as soon as possible. Can you print the documents I need out?” he asks Tobias.
“Sure.” We draft it up and I leave everything to Marisa in the event I die. Of course that will change later, but it leaves a neutral party in charge of my future estate. “I don’t want to make this public at all.”
“Understood. I need to file these with the courts in the morning, but you should be good to go.”
“Thank you.” Tobias walks him out and I sit in his office, feeling like maybe I should have asked him if he wanted to be my beneficiary.
“What’s on your mind, babe?” I look up at him. “Are you upset that I didn’t add you on there as a beneficiary?”
“Hell, no. I’m wealthy in my own right, but it’s smart of you. I don’t want you to have any doubts in your head that I don’t want forever with you. I love you, Ava. I might have all the money I made playing football along with the endorsements and well, my investments with Landon that put me closer to a hundred million, but none of that matters. I want you to feel safe. If later you want to change it to give it to our children, then so be it.”
“Our children?” I ask, trying to ignore that he said he’s worth so much money.
“I told you I loved you. I’m going to one day, when you’re ready, fill your belly with little versions of us.” He kisses me softly until I’m moaning in his arms.
“So you’re not ready to toss me on my rear in three months?”
“Why would I want to throw away the one person I know I can’t live without?”
“Do you really mean it?” He lifts me off his lap and then walks across the room to a picture and moves it just like in the movies to reveal a safe. After a moment, he comes back and drops to one knee.
“I know it’s soon. I know you’re just getting away from a bad situation, but I love you and I mean it when I say you’re the only one I’ll want for the rest of my days. From the first moment you splattered spaghetti sauce all over me, I knew you were the one I wanted to marry. Please marry me.” He opens the box to reveal a large diamond surrounded with tiny pink stones around the sides of the band.
“I don’t know…how this happened, but I can’t live without you either,” I manage to say without stuttering.
“Well, woman, is that a yes?” He looks so damn vulnerable, and I’m still so shocked that I forgot to say an actual yes.
“Yes. Of course
. Yes.” I throw my arms around his neck and kiss him repeatedly. We’ve been together less than a month, but I’m sure of our love for each other. I’m sure that he’s the one I’ll need for the rest of our lives.
The next morning while Tobias is out to work and I’m washing the dishes from the breakfast I just made, my doorbell rings. I didn’t hear the gate and the security won’t let anyone in if they’re not approved. I walk to the door, and it’s Louisa. “Hey. I didn’t expect to see you today. To what do I owe this pleasure?”
“Are you watching television?”
“No. I don’t really watch television. Why? What’s going on?” She takes me into the living room to sit down on the sofa. “You’re freaking me out. What’s going on?
“Sorry. I just wanted to get this out there before you see it. Well, you know that shitty thing I mentioned about the rumors? I don’t want to freak you out, but she’s on TMZ telling everyone that she’s having Tobias’s baby, and that he threw her out pregnant and moved on with another woman. The pictures that your father sent of you two outside the restaurant are plastered over the news.” She rattles this all off in such a hurry that it takes me a minute to process what she’s saying.
“Oh my God. Are you fucking serious?”
“Yes and they leaked it that you didn’t run away from home. You went to trap you a man, having met Tobias through his sister. It’s crazy, and I’m just making sure you’re okay.” I’m holding the tears back even though I want to cry and punch that crazy bitch in the face.
“I am fine. I need to see this video.” I watch the exclusive and of course they cover their ass, saying it’s all hearsay from the woman’s camp, but reporters will be invading the small town soon. She leaked the address. Not that it’s hard to find. His ranch I’m sure is listed as a business.
“Ava, Ava,” Tobias shouts my name frantically through the house.
Seeing Louisa, he doesn’t know whether to be angry or relieved. I hear the vehicles pulling up to the secured gate, buzzing it like crazy.
“You told her?” he asks Louisa angrily.
“I have to ask you, Tobias. I want an honest answer. Is there any truth to this?”
“No way in hell. I’ve never touched that woman—” I press my hand to his lips, stopping right there.
“I believe you.”
“You do?” he questions, looking so unbelievably confused.
“Yes. I do.”
He kisses me hard. “You are my fucking world, Ava.”
Now I brace myself for the onslaught. “Let’s address them.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am, Tobias. Let’s get the trash out of our lives.”
We step outside, and there are more security guys at the gate than I remembered. “I’ve beefed up security. Besides my friend’s firm there’s another one in town I called.” When they see us, questions come flying out of their mouths in a mad rush that I can’t make out over the noise.
Tobias gives them the shut the fuck up signal of his palm out. There’s still chatter, but it’s gotten a little lower. “Hello, calm down. I’m not saying shit until you act a little civilized. I don’t want you on my doorstep harassing me, so if you don’t act right, my guards will deal with the mess.” They calm down and wait. They’re like hungry sharks with a bait ball. “So as it stands, whatever her name has fabricated the story. She’s most definitely not carrying my baby. I’ve never touched her, and my lawyer will be contacting her with a defamation lawsuit.”
I tap his shoulder and whisper in his ear. “I need to say something.”
“Have at it, baby.”
“Hello, I’m Ava Henry. I’d also like to address the rumors that I came to seduce Tobias. We only just met when I arrived in Cunningham Falls after I received help while sleeping in my car. According to reports, I skipped town with my father’s money. That’s a lie. I will come into a trust on my next birthday. None of which will belong to my father, but I ran from his home after he left me with a black eye and bruising. The teller at the bank knew I needed help but feared going to the police and led me to this town. She’s an amazingly wonderful person. I might add that the photos making TMZ’s page were given to him by my father’s investigators. See, he sent these to me.” I lift up the pictures I have and continue. “Proving he knew where to find me.”
“Are you and Tobias Reynolds an item?” One reporter asks.
“We’re engaged,” Tobias interjects, sliding his arm around me. “Now—that’s all we have to say. The rest will be handled by our lawyers. Now, you’re trespassing on private property, so please move along.” He lets go of my waist, then takes my hand, and we turn around to head back to the house. “Come on, love. We have company waiting for us.”
Chapter 12
Tobias
I’m leaning back on the kitchen island with a beer to my lips as I stare at my fiancée with wonder and amazement. When John met me on the field to say that my old cook told TMZ that I’d fucked and then dumped her on the street with my kid in her stomach, my heart nearly stopped. He rushed me over to the house before I collapsed with fear of losing the woman I love. I couldn’t let Ava believe that bullshit and prayed that she wouldn’t.
Thankfully, the tears she cried were out of frustration, but she gave me her trust. We stood as a united front with that crowd of paparazzi and spoke our peace. My lawyer’s preparing the papers for a lawsuit, including a paternity test to prove it. As much as I hate the idea, it’s what I need to prove my innocence.
As Ava cooks lunch, keeping herself occupied, I admire everything about her. Louisa sits on the stool next to her, and they chat about the kids, hoping to soothe the tension we all feel.
“I need to have a word with you in private, Ava.” I stop her hand from cutting the vegetables and set the knife down. “Excuse us, Louisa.”
“What’s up?” she asks as I lead her to my office. I don’t answer until we’re inside with the door closed, then I pin her to it. Thrusting my hands into her hair, I claim her mouth, kissing her frantically.
“I fucking love you, Ava,” I say, unable to hold back any longer.
“I love you too, Tobias.” She reaches between us and cups my cock, reaching for my zipper, feeling as greedy as I am. I help her free my length and then pull off her yoga pants, letting her panties get tangled up with them as they fall to the floor.
“Fuck I love these things.” Lifting her up, I line up my cock and then lower her onto my shaft. “You better be quiet. We have company out there,” I grunt out, taking in the feel of her walls encasing my length. Once she’s fully seated, I pick up the pace.
“What are you going to do? Punish me?” she challenges, panting heavily as I drill her to the door. I’m sure as fuck Louisa can hear the door bang against the frame, but I don’t care. I love making Ava cream all over me until I let go and fill her up.
I squeeze Ava’s ass, grinding my rod deeper into her as I give her a warning. “Damn right. I’m going to spank that ass again, reminding you that I don’t want anyone else to hear you come. I love hearing your screams, but I need you to behave.”
“Only if you can keep yours down as well. I’m feeling extremely possessive at the moment.”
“I’m all yours,” I grunt, biting on her nipple through her clothes. She lifts up her shirt, inviting me to suck on her plump tits. I use one hand to yank down the cups and lick her supple flesh. Growling, I nip and taste her stiff peaks until I’ve left my mark on her breasts. “And you’re mine,” I whisper against her cheek before ravaging her lips.
She falls apart, coming hard all over my throbbing cock. With another pump through her tight heat, I let go filling her up with my cum. Our cries are muffled by our kiss, and sounds of the door. I bend and slide us down to the floor, holding her on my lap with myself still fully inside of her warmth. He has no intentions of ever getting out, but I think I’ve abused her enough for one day—well, at least for a couple of hours.
Resting my forehead on hers as we
attempt to get our breathing under control, I whisper, “I’m sorry for being an animal.”
“Don’t be sorry. I needed that as much as you did.”
“We might have a long road ahead of us,” I warn. Who knows how long this woman is going to keep up her lies. It could go on forever, but I’m hoping a lawsuit sends her packing with her tail between her legs. She has no evidence of the imagined incident and subsequent fake baby.
“Good. I’m not letting anyone get in the way of our happiness.”
“God, I love you so much.” This woman is something extraordinary. I can’t believe how lucky I am to have her come live with me before I knew she existed.
“I think we should get back to Louisa and John before they leave to get the kids.”
“Smart plan.” I kiss her temple then back up so I keep it chaste. I want her all the damn time.
As soon as we straighten up and return to the room, Louisa and John make their excuses and head out. I’d prefer to be alone with Ava anyway. We need time to digest everything that happened today. I sit on the sofa with Ava on my lap, nestled against my chest.
“I’m glad you believed me,” I say. It’s been on my mind since this happened.
“Well. I have a confession to make.” She cringes slightly which concerns me a bit.
“What?” I ask nervously. I’m not in the mood for any surprises.
“Louisa told me about what happened with the last cook and how you freaked out and destroyed the sheets and mattress before I even learned about the TMZ thing. That’s why it was easier for me to digest and believe.”
“Good. I’m glad you already had that information. These days, it’s not like a man can’t lie. After all, if she is pregnant that asshole who’s baby it could be is married, or he was. I’m not sure. It’s fucking disgusting. But I will say the mattress is in the bunkhouse. The guys don’t care if someone fucked on it.”
“Have you ever cheated on anyone?” she asks. I’m sure that as an athlete that is commonplace, but I’ve never been that kind of guy no matter how many females showed up after the games.
