by Shady Grace
She forced herself to smile. “I think so. I’m just—tired.”
Gabe and Sam stayed behind as Terry led Mary out of the house to his car. He opened the passenger door and closed it behind her. As they sped out of the driveway, she couldn’t help wondering if she’d made a huge mistake in coming here. This rich man in a rich house wasn’t what she expected. She knew he had money, but she didn’t realize what his daily life consisted of, or what exactly he was capable of. And here she was, a bush broad who didn’t belong here.
Country hick storms the criminal underworld. That’s what the papers would say if they knew what was happening. Maybe they already did and were taking snapshots from the bushes right now. She had no idea what to expect in Terry’s fast world.
Now she was in his element. Maybe she should’ve brought her rifle.
Soon the quaint and tailored countryside changed to buildings and sidewalks whizzing by. Mary felt more and more ill at ease. Now they were truly in the city. Away from anything familiar.
Everyone and their dog filled the sidewalks. Action surrounded them as Terry veered around traffic and turned down so many different streets, Mary was already lost. Put her in the middle of the bush with an axe and she’d be fine. Here she was nothing but a body in the concrete jungle.
When they arrived at the Sea Scape, she was bedazzled as Terry guided her through the lobby of the majestic hotel. Right away the enormous plants caught her eye.
“Those dieffenbachia’s and palms are huge,” she commented. “They must be over ten feet tall.”
Terry shrugged. “I have no idea what they are but Dad loved them. Everything you see here he picked out himself, right down to the lampshades. But the palms were his favorite.” He took her over to an aquarium filled with a variety of colorful fish. “Here.” He passed her a jar. “Take a pinch and toss it in.”
Mary tossed the flakes of food into the water, and watched, fascinated as they all rushed to eat.
“When I’m in town I feed them every day. It may sound funny, but these little guys are kinda like therapy for me.”
Mary glanced up at him as he stared into the water, seemingly lost in the glass box. He seemed different, then. Like a whole other man, not somebody who had a gun shoved into his belt. She knew it had to be there somewhere. But knowing he took the time to feed the fish seemed normal. She never imagined any part of his life being normal.
He turned to her then, his eyes dark, searching hers as if he wanted to know her secrets. “I guess I should’ve asked if you wanted your own room, or if you’re staying with me?”
She blushed. “Well, I think it’s pretty obvious why I came all this way.”
“To rescue me?”
“Maybe.”
For a long while, they stood there staring at each other. But the tension was as hot and uncertain as a blazing fire.
“I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.” He seemed so lost. His tormented expression sizzled the tiny hairs on her body.
“I know. I decided you needed me. Let’s hope I won’t regret the decision.”
His sudden smile would put the sun to shame. “Then I’ll be damned if you’re staying anywhere but in my bed.” He grabbed her hand and led her to the elevator.
Her entire body trembled as he pressed the top button. She hugged herself, rubbing her arms absently, and imagined this must be what the hooker in Pretty Woman felt like heading up to the penthouse for the first time.
Terry put his arm over her shoulders and drew her close. His comforting strength and the pure male scent of him set her more at ease.
But when the doors opened right into his apartment, Mary couldn’t help her gasp of utter surprise at the view.
“Holy shit.”
She stepped inside, forgetting about Terry, completely stunned by the view before her. Nothing but a wall of glass covered the south side of the apartment with the most beautiful view of the harbor and the endless ocean beyond. Far more spectacular than his father’s home. She wandered over to the window and looked out.
Beyond the bay the ocean spanned as far as she could see. A great highway of blue.
Hundreds of boats lined the docks in the harbor beneath. Several were out on the water. She could see everything from here, like she stood on top of the world.
“Not bad, eh?”
“Not bad?” She let out a baffled laugh. “It’s awesome. I’ve never seen anything like this before. Not in person anyway.”
He stood behind her now, and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Imagine how I felt when we went for that drive through your woods.” He kissed her shoulder and made his way to the sensitive spot below her ear.
Mary trembled from the sheer ecstasy of his warm lips on her cool flesh. “Do you mean the scenery or the car chase?”
He chuckled, and the vibration on her neck made her shudder. “I’m glad you came here, and I’m sorry for how I left. I would never intentionally hurt you. I was afraid of—of everything, I guess.”
She closed her eyes and exhaled. “I know. When you left that note I read between the lines.” A fierce tingle curved along her spine from his busy fingers. “But don’t worry, I’ll make you pay for that.”
“Mmm.” He rubbed his hands up her sides to her ribcage, and pressed his hard body against her back. “You changed everything when you walked into the room today.”
“I didn’t know if I had the strength to do it, but I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t at least try.”
“Told you I was right. The real you is a tough cookie.”
Mary pressed her palms against the window while he continued kissing her neck and rubbing around her curves with his hands. Every touch lit her fie. Her breath fogged the glass as he held her hips and pressed his erection against her bum.
“I want to be inside you, Mary. Two weeks away from you was two weeks too long.”
She closed her eyes and exhaled. “Yes.”
Terry trailed his hand down to the hem of her skirt and raised it above her ass. “I promise to be gentle later.” He unzipped his slacks, and when she felt the hot, hard shape of him nudging her, Mary sighed and pushed her bum back against him.
He guided his cock between her legs and rubbed himself against her panties. She pushed back, needing him there, needing him inside. The intensity was like a living, breathing thing surrounding them.
“Do you want me to use a condom?” he murmured urgently.
Then he pulled away before she could think to answer. Mary released a pathetic whimper, feeling painfully bereft and desperately turned on. “No, I mean, we didn’t use one before.” She blushed, beyond embarrassed by their previous indiscretion and her desire to not use one now. Maybe she should’ve thought about it harder before acting on her red-hot needs.
“You’re the only woman I’ve done that with. I promise.”
She swallowed hard and nodded. She wasn’t the kind of woman who played the field or had experience with multiple partners. Using a condom wasn’t a new experience for her but it certainly had been a while since she’d used one, or needed to use one.
“I trust you. Now get back here.” Mary turned her back to him, waiting for him to make the decision. She didn’t have to wait long, as he moaned in pleasure and rubbed his hands up her sides again.
“You have no idea what it means to me to hear you say that.” He pressed his hard-on against her back, teasing her mercilessly.
Everywhere he touched her, her body felt singed by fire.
They both panted in unison. Maybe it was the intensity of their relationship, maybe the pain of death around them, or maybe they just missed each other that much, but when he pulled her panties down and entered her from behind, tears filled her eyes from the sheer ecstasy.
“You’re mine now,” he moaned, and pushed in deep, nearly lifting her off her feet.
Terry gripped her hips, rocking her with him, and took her hard against the window. Even though his loving became rough, Mary wouldn’t have it any
other way. She felt his passion, his desperation, his need for her with every thrust.
She rolled with him, crying out with every hard pump, on the verge of orgasm as tears filled her eyes.
She reached down and circled her clit as he relentlessly filled her from behind. As her body shook and the orgasm crested, Terry pushed in deep, biting her shoulder, making her scream, but he didn’t find his own release.
He leaned against her back, still hard inside her as she trembled and gripped him in delicious aftermath.
“I’m sorry if I hurt you,” he murmured.
“You didn’t, and we’re not done.”
He pulled away as she pushed off from the window, and turned to face him. As Mary stared down at his beautiful cock, naked and hard and glistening wet, she wanted more. She wanted him deep and slow. She wanted him to come inside her. She wanted to feel his control snap and make her his completely.
Terry cupped her face in his hands as he kissed her, tasted her; explored her with unrestrained hunger. He stepped out of his pant legs, she wrapped her arms around his neck; he picked her up to carry her to his bedroom.
With a gentleness she didn’t think a rough man like Terry could have, he undressed her, taking the time to tease, tickle, and tweak. She melted, burned for him to take control of her body, as he’d done only twice before.
As he laid her on the bed, Mary knew this was it.
Nothing would be the same after this night.
A new tension simmered between them as he slid off his jacket, tossed it aside, and unbuttoned his crisp white shirt. Mary stared up at him with wonder as he peeled off the shirt, unveiling that furry chest she’d come to love.
“I never realized until I met you how much of a turn on chest hair can be,” she said, her eyes drowsy in lust, cheeks rosy in embarrassment.
Terry chuckled. The muscles in his arms bulged as he chucked the shirt to the side. He stared at her with hunger and possession as he stripped. She stared back at him, but her gaze faltered and traveled down at the dangerous weapon hanging between his legs, before she looked back up into his eyes. What she saw there was a promise for much more than a hard and fast bang against a window.
“Sometimes I want to rub my face against your chest.”
“Like a pussy cat?”
She grinned. “In heat.”
She lifted her arms for him to come to her, and he knelt on the bed and laid down beside her, his lips finding hers for a long, passion-filled kiss. His hard, powerful body pressed against hers, desire flaring hot.
It couldn’t get any better than this. And if it did, well, she’d probably explode.
Mary brushed her hand through the soft curls of his chest hair, lightly raking her fingernails down his rib cage to his navel. Then with a boldness more invigorating than ever before, she stroked his thick cock.
A low sound of pleasure rumbled in his chest while his tongue danced with hers.
With agonizing slowness, Terry peeled himself away from her and trailed his tongue over her chin and down to her chest. He took her taut nipple in his mouth and rolled it with his tongue, the sound of his sucking powerfully erotic, she gripped his hair and ground her hips against him.
Boldly, she reached down and stroked him.
“Fuck,” he whispered, and bit into her nipple, while his hands slid down her hips.
No. I’m in control.
Mary shoved against his shoulder, pushed him onto his back, and straddled him.
With his mouth all over her breasts and his hands reaching round to cup her ass, grinding her over him, she wanted to shout her pleasure. Wanted to scream as he filled her deep.
She ground against him, hot and heavy, then reached down and guided his hard cock where she wanted him.
“Everything’s different now,” he moaned and sucked her nipple hard. “I’m not letting you leave. I’m not letting you go anywhere without me.” His shoved his pelvis up, his hot, hard cock sliding torturously between her wet lips.
With a high whimper, Mary sank down, greedily taking him in deep.
She moaned and sighed and rode him slowly as he murmured hot words of passion and dazzled her with his lips and tongue. He touched her everywhere, his fingertips gripping; his palms rubbing her to madness.
He filled her. Stretched her. Made her want to come all over him.
This was the side of him she needed. The loving torture his body gave her. The real man behind the mask.
She bit her lip in exquisite pleasure as he nibbled on her nipples, biting and sucking while that wrenching, hot pressure of release drew near.
She lifted up high and slammed back down, bucking against him in raw ecstasy.
“Yes,” she whimpered, and leaned down to kiss him. She felt the tremble, the hot surge gripping her.
Then suddenly she was flipped onto her back.
Mary moaned and feathered her fingers through his soft hair. She gripped him hard, holding him there as he teased and tweaked and bit her nipples. She’d been hurt in the past, but as she lay there beneath the solid weight of Terry’s body, she knew without a doubt he wouldn’t hurt her. He touched her as though she were the only sunshine in his dark life. As though she held the key to any shred of happiness he could grasp, and she wanted to make him happy. Wanted to make him love her.
Terry knew she was close. He pushed deeper, harder, and when he wrapped her legs around his shoulders and rolled her hips with him, Mary let go.
Wet heat trickled down her thighs as Terry continued pumping her.
Mary’s mind became a hot mess of satisfaction as she trembled and whimpered, numb to everything but their bodies clinging together.
She closed her eyes and moaned as Terry released a rough moan and found his own shuddering climax.
“Yes.”
Terry lay atop her, panting; she remained still, perfectly numb and content. She didn’t think she could move even if she tried. After a few minutes she managed to roll to his side and put and arm and leg over him. He kissed her forehead and held her close.
Neither said a word.
They didn’t need to talk. Not tonight. Right now she needed to feel him next to her, holding her, making her feel like she made the right choice. She fell asleep with her cheek to his chest, feeling more at home then she’d ever had before. Yet her dreams were plagued with visions of a masked killer, out to destroy everyone in his path.
Chapter 10
The cello resounded a beautiful solo through the Tail Wind Lounge, located off the lobby in the Sea Scape Hotel. Terry tapped his fingers on the table, in tune to the jazzy beat.
He loved the music almost as much as he loved his restaurant. The Tail Wind was decorated in a deep and luxurious navy blue with silver accents on everything. The hundred-plus mirrors adorning the walls reflected smiling faces, the glow from chandeliers, and shimmering crystal dancing off of each other. Everywhere you looked something glimmered and dazzled under the lights.
Terry sipped his drink while he waited for Mary and Wanda to join him for a quiet family dinner, remembering as a young boy how those many mirrors intrigued him. How could he look into one and see the side of his head in another? Or the back of his head from another one at the same time? The mystery and magic of those mirrors bedazzled him as a child. If his parents couldn’t find him, everyone knew he’d be hiding in the lounge.
He chuckled and sipped his drink again. As an adult those mirrors were a great benefit. Nobody would dare stand up and try to surprise him from behind. He watched everything. He saw everything. He knew everything. His table had the best view.
Wanda strolled in first wearing a beautiful red gown with her dark wavy hair hanging loose off her shoulders. No wonder his father loved her instantly. She was gorgeous, and smart. He watched her discreetly as she graced their floor, the trail of her gown billowing behind her.
His stepmother smiled and nodded to a few regulars, as well as the staff, then took her seat opposite Terry on one of the plush high back chairs. “
Hello, darling.” She smiled wide, almost as if she had an excellent secret. “Wait until you see her.”
He eyeballed the doorway but Mary wasn’t there. “When is she coming?”
“Tsk, tsk, boy. Never question a woman’s arrival.”
Terry chuckled at his stepmother’s haughty remark and lifted his hand to beckon their waiter. “Champagne, please, Johnathan.”
A short moment later, Johnathan arrived with a cask of ice and set it on the table. “If I may, sir?” At Terry’s nod, the young man poured two glasses for each of them and gently set the bottle of Krug Clos du Mesnil, a Côte d’Or Chardonnay, on ice.
“Everything is going well tonight, Johnathan?”
The young man nodded and smiled. “Absolutely, sir.” He folded his hands in front of him, his stature stiff and sure. “I’ll return when your lady arrives.”
Not only was Johnathan the best waiter in this city—as far as Terry was concerned—he also took charge of the lounge. The Tail Wind ran smoothly at all times because of Johnathan’s quick wit and charm, and Terry respected the man.
“He’s such a good boy,” Wanda said, staring after him.
Terry watched, amused as Wanda’s eyes drifted to lower places as she watched him walk away. A hint of color touched her cheeks before she turned her attention back to her stepson and smiled.
“How is it that you treat your staff so well? You’re polite to them. How do they do their job with such efficiency when you’re soft on them?”
Terry pursed his lips to halt his laughter as Wanda stared at him with wide, incredulous eyes, as if treating people fairly seemed foreign. “I believe in treating my employees with respect, and paying good wages, they in return do their job well. In that circle, my guests are happy, and I’m happy.”
Wanda sighed deeply. “Your father wasn’t like that.”
His good mood dimmed slightly. He knew his father could be tough, but hearing her say it aloud made him shift in his seat. “Dad wasn’t always easy, especially on me.”
She leaned closer, elbows on table, hands clasped together. If her dark eyes could slice open an already festering wound, they looked at him like that right now. “I always wanted to do something. Something more for the business, but Colton never let me.” She leaned back, her chin lower, lips pouting, the expression on her face softened almost instantly. “He wasn’t always nice to me.”
