by Ruby Vincent
“It’s Ezra Lennox. I’m calling about Sawyer Burn.”
“Oh, yes. Mr. Lennox. Has your dean spoken to you? He assured me he’d pass on the news.”
“He did...” I gave Mom my back. “But it doesn’t make sense, does it? Aiden sent him to that van and they grabbed him off the street and took off with him. His parents wouldn’t do that even if it was an emergency.”
“Apparently, his parents did do that,” he replied. “I spoke to them myself. They asked me to pass along their apologies for scaring you. They recognize that it didn’t look good to an outsider.”
“Didn’t look good?” I pulled the phone away and stared at it. Is this fucker serious?
“Yes, Mr. Lennox,” came through the speaker. “A heads-up to you and his frat brothers would have been nice, but their daughter was in the hospital and they weren’t thinking straight.”
I shook my head. “This isn’t right. Aiden—”
“Thank you for bringing up Mr. Connelly. Before Mr. and Mrs. Burn phoned us, we spoke to Aiden at length about the conversation you overheard in the basement. When Aiden said he would be gone soon, he meant from Nu Alpha Theta. Sawyer was struggling to keep up with his workload and the fraternity, so he was thinking of leaving. That’s what Mr. Connelly meant.”
“You can’t be buying this,” I burst out.
“Ezra.” The warning in Mom’s tone was loud and clear.
“I am buying it, Mr. Lennox,” he said, a touch of frost lacing his words. “Because Sawyer confirmed it himself.”
I froze. “Sawyer?”
“Yes. I spoke to him and he backed up everything his parents and Aiden Connelly said. Now, I appreciate your concern, but I have no more time to waste on a young man safely with his family. If that’s all, I’ll be going.”
I didn’t reply. After a beat, the dial tone sounded in my ear.
“Well?” Mom prompted.
“He... spoke to Sawyer,” I said softly. “Everything is fine. He’s with his family.”
“What a relief.” Mom hugged me from behind. “Do you feel better, sweetie?”
I nodded.
“Good.” She kissed the back of my head. “I’m glad you pushed until you were satisfied. It’s what makes you a good reporter and me a proud mama.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Are you and Valentina staying for dinner?”
“Can’t.”
Mom turned me to face her. “Is this because you and your brother are still fighting?”
“No.” I stepped out of her hold. “Val is making dinner tonight. She’s giving the chef a night off as a thank you.”
“Okay. Tomorrow night.”
Mom didn’t phrase it as a question.
“I’ll try.” I kissed her cheek. “Bye, Mom.”
“Goodbye, sweetie.”
I dropped my smile the minute I left the room. Val and Adam were in the dining room. Adam scribbled on a piece of paper. His little tongue stuck out as he concentrated on his masterpiece.
“Everything okay?” Val asked. “Did you talk to the officer?”
“Val, do you trust me?”
Lines marred her smooth brow. “Do I trust you? Of course I do. Why?”
I motioned at the door. Val picked up Adam and followed me out. I felt her eyes boring into my neck, but I didn’t speak until we slammed the car doors shut.
“Sawyer is not with his family. He was fudging snatched and, at the very least, Aiden and the guys in the basement had something to do with it.” My grip tightened on the wheel until my knuckles sang for blood. “Something is going on with the Sams and I’m going to find out what.” I looked her in the eyes. “Will you help me?”
VALENTINA
“That’s it, baby. Just relax.”
“Val, this is serious.”
I pushed him down, letting the sudsy water envelop him.
The bubble bath was perfect. The water danced on the line of too hot. A sweet berry-scented cloud mingled with the steam.
“I know it’s serious,” I replied. “But we couldn’t talk about it in front of Adam. Now we can.”
Sitting on the rim of the tub, I draped my legs around Ezra’s shoulders and tilted his head back. He gazed up at me, those dark eyes more tempting with the storm that raged within them.
I placed a light kiss on his nose. “I hope our children have your eyes.”
“Babe, focus. They took him. They snatched a person off the street and they’re getting away with it. Sawyer was— Sawyer is a good guy and we have to help him.”
“So, let’s think this through.” I pressed my palms against his chest and moved down, up, and down again—relishing the bumps and dips of his body beneath me. “The president of a fraternity had one of his brothers kidnapped. Why?”
His eyes flashed. “I thought you believed me.”
“I do believe you, baby.”
I dipped lower. My nipples brushed his cheek and rippling electricity shot through me.
Focus, Val. With how pissed he looks, this bath won’t end the way you want.
“But we need to understand what’s going on here,” I continued. “Why Sawyer of all people? Was he wealthy? The son of someone important? Did Aiden have a grudge against him?”
“No, I— No.”
A bit of Ezra’s rigidity leaked away under my hands and questioning.
“His family isn’t rich,” Ezra went on. “I mean, I don’t think they are. I don’t know much about him, but rich people tend to wear it, and Sawyer wears clothes from Walmart. If they were looking for ransom money, there were plenty of other Sams who were better targets—me included.”
“See,” I said. “We’re getting somewhere. We know this can’t be about money, so what about revenge?”
He shook his head. “If Sawyer pissed off Aiden or the other brothers, they did a great job keeping it secret. It seemed like everyone loved the guy.” He sat up straighter. “Now that I think about it, Aiden loved him most. Sawyer showed us all up in the brother bonding activities. He lifted heavier, ran faster, and beat our times. Aiden was always saying we needed to push as hard as him.”
“Okay,” I said slowly, mind churning. “If Aiden held him up as a shining example, why would he have masked men snatch him off the street?”
Ezra slumped back. “I don’t know, Val. None of this makes sense. The police say they spoke to him and his parents, but Sawyer didn’t rush out there because he got a call from his mom. Aiden sent him to that van.”
My hands drifted lower, seeking his length almost of their own accord. A soft sigh escaped him and I—
“Were his parents in on it?” He tossed his head. “No, that’s ridiculous.”
I pulled back at the last second. Ezra’s mind was on one thing right now.
“They wouldn’t have to kidnap their own kid. And they definitely wouldn’t be a part of some black van, midnight escape.”
“But his parents told the police they took him,” I said. “Why would they do that?”
An awful thought occurred to me. My wandering hands stilled. “Do you think they’re being threatened? They have to go along to get him back.”
“Maybe that’s exactly it,” Ezra said, face grave. “Aiden spoke of a ‘they’ down in the basement. One thing we know is Aiden and the brothers didn’t leave the party. Someone else drove off with him. They drove off with him.”
I resumed my massage. “Do you have any idea who they could be? Have you seen Aiden talking to someone suspicious or overheard anything else?”
Ezra shook his head and his thick, raven locks tickled my clit. I bit my lip as I shifted away.
This is serious. Sawyer’s life may be on the line. We can’t—
“Did you like that?”
“What?” I glanced at Ezra and lit upon his upside-down smirk.
“You’re so bad, Val.” His reprimand rumbled out his throat, low and deep. “A man may be in trouble and you’re trying to get off.”
Heat rivaling the warmth of the bath flo
oded my cheeks. “I’m not—”
Arching his back, Ezra pressed his head between my legs. “And that’s why we’re meant for each other. It’s all I can do to string two sentences together when you’re touching me like that.” A hand grabbed my wrist and tugged me down. “Finish what you started.”
I pulled free. Ezra’s growl lasted only as long as it took me to stand, twist around, and dip into the water. A smile spread across my lips as I straddled him.
“We are meant for each other,” I said. “I know you, Ezra, and your instincts about people are never wrong. Something happened to Sawyer and we’re going to find out what.”
I closed around his length. He hissed, eyes darkening.
“Which we’ll talk about after,” I said.
I stroked him, loving the feel of him hardening to my touch.
“On your knees,” he ordered.
I rose up, intending to turn around. Ezra took hold of my waist and pulled me closer. He held my gaze as his tongue flicked out and teased my nipple.
“Who told you to stop?”
My hand picked up the pace.
I bragged often and unashamedly about my sex life to Sofia, and why shouldn’t I? Four guys and four different personalities in and out of bed. Ezra was my dark prince. All the things I’d done that were considered taboo; I did with him first.
My first time in a car behind a restaurant. Ezra.
My first time in a bathroom stall while attending a celebrity fundraiser. Ezra.
My first time bent over the living room couch while everyone slept peacefully upstairs. Ezra.
My first, second, and fourth sex toy was a gift from Ezra.
He wanted it when he wanted, how he wanted it, and he wasn’t afraid to take it.
How he wanted it now was harder, tighter, and faster. I knew my man.
His grunts got louder. They poured out of his mouth and vibrated my sensitive nipple.
Heat pooled in my lower belly. I loved the power he had over me.
I cupped my breast with my free hand and forced his attention on the other one. Ezra obliged without hesitation, swirling his tongue around the rippling flesh before taking me in his mouth.
“Ezra,” I rasped. “Ezra, please.”
He knew what I was asking for. I felt his smile against me.
“Go back where you were.”
I scrambled over him. The pressure in my lower belly made me clumsy, but Ezra helped me prop on the rim. I spread my legs for him. Water dripped down my body, mixing with my weeping pussy.
Ezra raked the length of me—wet, stretched out, and legs wide. He licked his lips like he couldn’t wait to feast.
“What do you think?” Ezra pressed a kiss just above my knee. “Should I tease you?”
“No,” I rushed out. “Please, no.”
“But I like teasing you.” A kiss. Then another. Then another. Each one getting closer to where I wanted him to be. “Drawing out every kiss, lick, and thrust. You cum when I say.”
Ezra sank his teeth into my soft skin. Just a playful nip, but the effect it had on me was no game.
I trembled. The last of my self-control dangled off a cliff by its nails.
“I share your body, your time, and your love,” he whispered. “But these orgasms are all mine. Mine to tease from you. They’re mine to lick from you. And they’re mine to pound from that tight, wet pussy.”
My chest heaved with rapid pants. He hadn’t done anything to me yet, and I was aching for him.
“Ezra,” I near pleaded. “Do it.”
Ezra kissed the tiny space between my thigh and lower lips. “I will... but not yet.”
My self-control snapped. I flicked my little neglected nub and Ezra’s hiss sounded as loud as mine.
“Don’t you dare.”
Unheeding of the warning, I dipped inside. I savored my rebellion for all of two seconds.
Ezra moved fast. Water sloshed over the rim, soaking our clothes as he grabbed my waist and spun me around. He bent me over the edge, ass in the air.
My feet couldn’t find purchase. Ezra gripped my legs, holding me securely.
A moan ripped from my throat as he swiped his tongue through my lips. Pissing him off had the best consequences.
He tasted and teased me, darting in and out of me, and then moving down to seduce my clit. My cries encouraged him.
“Ezra, yes. Just like that.” My nails scraped against the tile. “It’s yours, baby. Take it.”
“Not like this,” he rasped. “Up.”
Ezra pulled me back into the tub. He settled me on his lap, reclaiming our earlier position.
“Like this.”
My heart thrummed with anticipation. Ezra rarely let me ride him. He liked to be in control and I liked when he pushed my head into the pillow and pounded me from behind.
I offered my thank you. Our lips connected in a feverish kiss that pulsed heat through my veins. Being with him was everything and more.
Ezra moved in the midst of our kiss and positioned himself at my entrance. I sank down, taking all of him inside me.
I started moving—slow at first as we found a rhythm. Ezra came up as I came down, syncing perfectly.
“Faster,” he ordered.
I bounced on the balls of my feet, giving him exactly what he asked for. Our sweet, strawberry bath sloshed out of the tub and added a noisy chorus to my feverish moans. His tongue brought it so close and now my orgasm was cresting fast.
“Fuck, Val,” he forced out. “Is there a more perfect sight than you bouncing on my cock?”
I laughed, albeit breathlessly. “Yes. You.”
Droplets ran down Ezra’s flushed cheeks. His inky-black hair shone with iridescent, soapy streaks. His hungry, ravaging eyes and soft pink lips begging to feast on me, consume me, tear me apart, soothe me, cherish me, and put me back together again.
Ezra was light and dark. Savage and gentle. The side the world got to see and the part of him that was all mine.
“Cum for me, Val. Give me one more.”
I couldn’t have denied him even if I wanted to. Ezra was slamming into that spot relentlessly and my belly clenched tighter and tighter, riding the building pressure. I was no better—bouncing out of control on top of him.
Ezra released me and sank beneath the surface. I hit that spot again and sunbursts exploded in my vision.
I threw my head back, my mouth open in a silent scream. Wave after wave of muscle-wracking pleasure contorted my body until my cries were anything but silent.
I slumped against the tub. Soft hisses escaped me as the last of my orgasm seeped out of me like the heat from our bath.
Ezra rose out of the water. “We can put that on our list of firsts. Underwater orgasm.”
I laughed. “That was only a first for you. Jaxson and I took care of that a while ago.”
“Shit. I just can’t keep up with you, Valentina Moon.” Ezra snaked an arm around me and drew me to his chest.
I snuggled in, perfectly content in our tepid bath. “Now that we got the sexy portion of the evening out of the way,” I said, “we should figure out what we’re going to do about Sawyer. How are we going to find him, Ezra?”
Worry flushed out my ardor. If Ezra was right, and I believed he was, an innocent guy was snatched off the street and the police weren’t trying to find him or go after the ones responsible.
“We don’t have anything to go on,” I continued. “Aiden’s been lying his ass off, and since the cops are buying it, he’s got no reason to tell the truth.”
“Going at him again wouldn’t be smart,” he agreed. “I gave myself away. He knows I overheard him in the basement and that I’m suspicious of him. I have to let him and everyone else think that I believe the official story.”
Ezra ran his finger down my spine. “Val, what if it’s not only the Sams? Aiden talked about Teagan in the basement. They spun a nice story about why she left, but nothing holds up after what happened to Sawyer.”
I went rig
id. “You think the Sallys did something to Teagan? But I saw the photo of her with her mom.”
“And Officer Noone spoke to Sawyer. But he never met the guy. He could have been talking to anyone. And you met Teagan one and a half times. The story they gave you could be just as fake. We both need to do some digging. Quietly.”
“Ezra... have you thought about what this means?” Tendrils of fear worked their way through me. “They made two people disappear and we don’t know why or what’s being done to them. I thought we left all of this behind in Evergreen.”
“I did too, baby.” He held me tighter. “I did too.”
Chapter Six
“Val, that can’t be true.” Her hold on my legs constricted. “Why in the world would they do that?”
My muscles strained. Every ounce of energy I had poured into lifting me off the floor.
Who in the hell invented sit-ups?
Inch by inch, I drew closer to Sofia’s stricken face. “Fifty.”
I collapsed onto the floor. That morning, I walked into the Sally house just as Leighton, Sofia, Paisley, Blair, Keily, and Mai were walking out. I immediately swung around and offered to join them at the gym. The day before, I called Sofia about our suspicions about the Sallys. She was busy with her father, so she swore we would talk about it as soon as we saw each other.
“Val, what you’re suggesting is insane,” she hissed. “Sororities and frats don’t just disappear people. Why would they?”
I scanned our surroundings just to be safe. Somerset’s gym boasted new, state-of-the-art equipment and a closed-off room for women only. Sofia and I slipped inside and took up a corner to do our workout. The other girls didn’t follow us, and from what I could see, no one in the women’s room was paying us any mind.
“The why is what we can’t figure,” I said. “I don’t know anything about Teagan, and from what Ezra could tell, everyone liked Sawyer. We don’t understand why they would have them kidnapped.”
Sofia was still hanging on to my knees. She leaned over me, clutching tighter. “Val, even bigger than the why is the how. You can’t just snatch a person out of their life and keep going like everything is normal. They have family, friends, classmates, and professors who would notice. I can’t even imagine what it would take to fool all of those people.”
