by Nikki Chase
Maybe he really just wants to talk. I mean, I talked to Steve and nothing happened to me.
“I’ll see him,” I tell Tony.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah,” I say.
As I’m about to leave the room, I decide a little insurance wouldn't hurt, even if Caine Foster really only wants to talk.
I grab Tony’s arm and make him walk with me down the school hallway. “Come with me. Watch me talk to him. If anything weird happens, like if he drags me away or if I start begging for my life, call 911.”
“My sources tell me you’re on the run,” Caine says from across my desk when I ask him why he’s here.
“I understand that. I’m sure you have good, reliable sources and you know they’re right. What I don’t get is why you’re interested at all.” I glance toward the little glass window in door, trough which I can see my bodyguard, Tony.
My bodyguard seems to be playing Candy Crush on his phone as he leans against the lockers, but he sometimes peers inside the classroom to check that everything’s fine. Maybe he’s only checking Caine out instead of being concerned for my safety, but I can live with that.
“I just learned that Nancy is a distant relative of mine. I wanted to get in touch with her, maybe get to know that side of my family. It’s too late for that, but I can still help with tying up some loose ends.” Caine looks calm and collected, like he’s used to dealing with fugitive schoolteachers who are suspicious of him.
Tony’s right. He’s hot, in a rich-trust-fund-kid kind of way, but he’s not my type at all. I prefer my men with some dirt on their hands.
Slick and well-polished, Caine and his designer business suit can waltz right into a photoshoot for a glossy magazine and fit right in. I bet his shiny hair and his well-groomed facial hair would look good in print.
“So I’m a loose end?”
“I apologize if that offends you. I just mean there are some affairs that haven’t been resolved. I’m sure Nancy would’ve preferred it if you didn’t have to run away anymore,” he says diplomatically.
“You didn’t even know Nancy.” I know I’m being difficult and argumentative. I don’t fully understand why myself. I don’t trust this guy. Maybe I’m just not used to dealing with guys like him.
“That’s true. I’d love to hear stories about her from you one day, when we both have more time,” Caine says with a polite smile. His eyes flick toward Tony, who’s still standing outside, right by the door. “And less suspicion.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know you, and now you’re here telling me that you’ve solved all my problems. Naturally, I’m…cautious,” I say, smiling my old, practiced customer-service smile. I can be all diplomatic too.
The way Caine talks annoys me, but of course I’d be ecstatic if he could really get rid of Stan. Maybe a part of me can’t accept that he can do that so easily, so quickly, without even knowing all the facts, when I’ve tried so hard without much success.
“Well, I wouldn’t say I’ve solved all your problems,” Caine says. “But you don’t have to worry about Stan anymore, or any of his people.”
“What did you do exactly?”
“I just made it clear to Stan that I’d get involved if he were to try to harm you. I don’t know how much you know about my family, but most people tend to want to stay in our good books.”
“So he’s not going to come after me?”
“No. From what I can tell, he’s been waiting to be released before he starts tracking you down, but you don’t have to worry about that now. I have someone monitoring his movements. If he so much as makes a move in your direction, we’ll take measures to stop him. I hope you understand why I can’t get into details about our methods,” he says.
“Of course. Thank you.” I get it. This is all the information I’m ever going to get about how Caine has handled Stan. A guy like Caine can’t leave any trace of his involvement, especially if he has threatened a man with bodily harm, which is probably what he’s done.
There will be no proof. I’m just going to have to rely on Caine’s reputation and trustworthiness.
“Don’t mention it,” he says. “You were a great friend to Nancy. I should’ve been there to help her, but you took on that responsibility instead. I just don’t want you to suffer the consequences for the rest of your life.”
“Thank you,” I repeat. I don’t care if Caine speaks like a newscaster on TV. If he really has removed Stan as a threat—and I believe he has—then he has done me a huge favor. I’m genuinely grateful. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
“Well, there’s just one thing. I came here to talk to you, but there’s also another reason. I’d like to meet Bertha Jones. As you’ve probably deduced, she’s also a relative of mine.”
“She’s out of town right now.”
“I know. I was hoping you could tell me more,” he says.
“She just told me she’s visiting relatives. That’s all I know.”
“Okay. I’m sure I’ll get a chance to see her and have a chat soon.” Caine gets up from his chair and extends his right hand. “It’s been a pleasure seeing you.”
“Likewise,” I say as I stand up and shake his hand with relief.
I can’t be happier with the news Caine has just shared with me and I’m sure he’s a good guy, but I’m also glad we’re done talking. I can’t deal with this much tension for too long. Luckily, it seems my brush with the criminal world is over.
Jessica
“You’re gonna be the death of me, woman,” Jacob says as we both stand in the bathtub, the water from the shower hitting our head and shoulders before trailing down our entangled bodies.
When I got home, Jacob was working on his laptop in the living room. I didn’t expect him there, but he’s been here so much lately it only makes sense that he’d start moving his stuff over here and doing his work here.
I told him I met Caine Foster. I said it had gone well and everything’s fine now. Then I told him I needed to take a shower and I’d talk to him after. He followed me into the bathroom, stripped, and jumped into the shower with me.
“What are you talking about? I just solved everything on my own.” I laugh softly.
“Do you know how much I worry about you? You can’t just go off and do dangerous shit like that.” Jacob grabs my face with both hands and stare at me seriously, trying to hammer his point into my head.
But the water dripping down his face keeps getting in the way, making him blink weirdly and sputter out water from his mouth. The final effect feels like I’m watching a big grizzly bear doing something funny and adorable, knowing he can crush me with one hand if he wants to. Luckily, this grizzly bear seems pretty smitten with me.
“The guy was already there at the school. He just wanted to talk, and Tony was there the whole time. Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.” I smile at Jacob.
“It’s just… The idea of this stranger who’s potentially dangerous being alone with you while I’m not there… I can’t be okay with that. It makes me mad that I couldn’t be there. I was just reading the fucking financial section of the newspaper at home when it happened.”
“It wasn’t the life-or-death situation you imagine it to be. We were just talking in a classroom, at school, where there were a bunch of other people. I knew it was safe,” I say.
“I told you not to meet dangerous strange men on your own.”
“You did. And I’m sorry, but it was just something I had to do.” I put one hand on Jacob’s forehead to shield his eyes from the water pelting his face. I stand on my tippy toes, give him a big smile, and plant a light kiss on his lips. His expression softens, his muscles relax.
I usually hate it when people tell me what I can and cannot do, but with Jacob I know he’s only looking out for my best interests. I can’t get angry with him for worrying about me, but he needs to understand I’m still the one in charge of making my own decisions.
“So he told you nobody’s com
ing after you anymore?”
“Yeah. It’s good news, right? We should be celebrating.”
“It is good news,” Jacob says.
Sensing some hesitation in his voice, I say, “You don’t seem too happy about it.”
“I just don’t know if I can trust this guy. So he just walked in and said everything is solved?”
“Yeah. He said he’s related to Nancy and wanted to ‘get her affairs in order,’” I say as I make air quotes between us and laugh. “That’s how he talked the entire time, by the way.”
“There’s no catch?”
“None.” I shake my head. “Believe me, there’s nothing Caine Foster could possibly want from me. He already has everything.”
“He doesn’t have you,” Jacob says in a quiet voice. Is he jealous? That is adorable.
“Yeah, he doesn’t. Because you do.” I look into his eyes and hope my cheesy line works.
I like talking to Jacob, but right now I’m not in the mood for conversation. Not when he’s standing in front of me buck naked, with his chiseled abs, broad shoulders, and muscled arms. With those eyes looking at me like that, like he wants to shield me from all the bad things in the world.
“Say that again. Tell me I have you. Tell me you belong to me.” Jacob pins me against the wet, tiled wall. He leans in and puts his head on my shoulder.
“I belong to you, Jacob.” I close my eyes and feel the water running down my body, hot like Jacob’s breath on my neck.
“Fuck. I can’t keep my hands off you.” Jacob bites my neck, making me cry out in a mixture of pain and pleasure. His hands roam all over my skin, which is slippery with water and soap. He slaps my ass and grab a cheek. His stubble grazes my neck as he places his lips right by my ear. He whispers, “Lucky for me, you’re all mine.”
“All yours.” I wrap my arms around Jacob’s hard body, one hand grabbing onto his back while the other strokes his head, accepting his desire and whatever that brings, whether it’s pain or pleasure or both.
Jacob nibbles down my throat until he ends up between my breasts. He pulls me close with his hand on my back, while I offer myself to his overpowering assault. My breathless moans echo dully in the bathroom as he kisses and licks and bites my nipples.
“Turn around, baby.” Jacob could’ve flipped me with his strength and he knows I wouldn’t have resisted, but I can tell he likes to watch me obey him.
There’s always one moment in every single one of our sexual encounters when I give up my thoughts, my protests, my own desires, and trade them all for single-minded pursuit of pleasure—his pleasure.
It’s like a switch flicks and I’m no longer the stubborn, strong-willed, argumentative person I usually am. Instead, I’m a sensual, submissive slut who’d do anything for his cock.
I’ve never experienced something like this before, and yet it comes so naturally to me. I’ve never allowed other men to order me around. But with Jacob… With Jacob, all I want to do is please him. His pleasure is more important than mine. It’s all that matters.
If he’s satisfied with what my body can offer him, that brings me more pleasure than just any old orgasm can bring. And if he brings me to orgasm, that’s ecstasy.
So I face the wall and feel Jacob’s body behind me, his cock growing, pressing against my ass. I realize I’m the one that’s making him hard. I’m the reason he’s got a raging boner. I don’t care if he’s the one issuing the orders. Like me, he’s just a slave to this vortex of desire swirling around us.
Jacob’s hands explore my tits, my abdomen, my hips, my ass. He grabs my hair and pushes me forward with his wet, warm body, squishing me against the tiled wall.
“If you’re mine, that means I can do anything to you, doesn’t it?” Jacob groans into my ear as his hard cock slides between my legs, teasing my slick lower lips.
“Yeah.” I stick my ass out, needing more of him. My clit pulses, aching for his attention.
“You’re already so wet for me. And I haven’t even begun.” He chuckles as his hand snakes around me and settles over my pussy. He pushes his cock inside me, his girth stretching me and filling me up.
Jacob fucks me leisurely at first, knowing I’m at his mercy. He slides all the way out, then plunges back in until his balls slap against me, wet skin on wet skin. His hand lazily plays with my pussy lips, only occasionally brushing against my clit. It makes me gasp every time. I can almost hear him smile when I do.
“I’m going to fuck you until I’m all your pussy remembers. I’ll make every part of you understand that you’re mine now. You’ll beg for me, you’ll come for me, your body will give pleasure only to me,” Jacob says.
He pulls out just to dip two of his fingers inside me. He sticks those fingers into my mouth as his cock pushes back inside me, impaling me against the wall. He picks up his pace, pushing me forward every time he thrusts inside.
I surrender to the overwhelming sensations. I close my eyes and throw my head back against Jacob’s shoulder. I don’t do anymore; I just feel. Feel the warm, yielding water on my hair and the hard wall against my thighs, my tits, my cheek. Feel Jacob’s insistent fingers in my mouth, on my clit. And most of all, feel Jacob’s hot, hard cock inside me.
“Come for me, baby. Come all over my cock,” Jacob growls. “Cream all over me and show me how much you love being my own personal slut.”
I scream as it all becomes too much. I shatter at his words. I don’t even know anymore if I’m only coming because that’s what he wants. It’s all blurring together, my desires and his, all becoming one as hot water washes over us.
Jacob grunts, pulls on my hair, slams into me over and over again until he comes inside me, biting me on the shoulder. He grinds into me, pushing me right up against the wet tiles.
When Jacob’s done shooting the last drop of cum inside me, he kisses my neck and turns me around. Without saying anything, he washes my body, lathers me up, and rinses me clean. We kiss, we touch, both of us quietly complicit in this filthy cleansing ritual.
“Where’s Max, by the way?” I shout at Jacob over the sound of the hair dryer.
“I don’t know,” Jacob says. “Now that you mention it, I haven’t seen him.”
It’s unfair how guys don’t have to spend any time on grooming. I’ve combed my hair and put my clothes on, but I still have to dry my hair and apply my face cream. Meanwhile, Jacob stepped out of the shower the same time I did, threw on some clothes, and now he’s on the couch watching some animal documentary.
“I haven’t seen him either since I got home. He usually greets me at the door.” I frown.
Could Max be sick? Maybe his energy level is low. He is an old dog. I shut the hair dryer off and comb through my hair one last time with my fingers.
“Max!” I call out randomly as I check every room in the house. This is strange. He’s not even barking back. This house isn’t big enough for him to be anywhere indoors and not hear me. I turn up my volume regardless. “Max!”
I open the door to the backyard, and scream when I finally see a hunk of fur on the grass. It’s still moving, its rib cage going up and down with every labored breath.
It can’t be anything other than Max, can it? And yet...it can’t be Max. It just can’t.
I run toward the furry body and kneel beside it.
It is Max.
Tears stream out of my eyes. What happened to him?
Jacob
When I get to the backyard, Jessica's sobbing, kneeling on the grass. Her bare, freshly showered knees and feet sink into the mud, leaving brown stains on her pale skin.
In front of her, partially blocked by her back, is Max. His coat is as shiny as always, but he's just lying there, struggling to breathe.
“What happened?” I crouch beside Jessica and place a reassuring hand on her shoulder. I notice a small puddle of sick near poor Max’s little furry head, and some blood trickling out of his nose.
Damn it. The poor little fucker probably went out through the dog fl
ap when I was still reading the financial section. When the fuck did I become the kind of person who just lays down and lets shit happen right under my nose?
“I don't know. I came out here and he was just… He was already like this when I found him.” Jessica answers without turning to look at me, her eyes locked firmly on Max.
I get up and start to check the ground. Damn it, it's starting to get dark. I grab my phone, turn on the flashlight, and scan the grass. There may not be anything left, but I need to try, for Jessica’s sake. She needs to know what really happened here.
“I’ll call the vet.” Jessica ‘s fingers start tapping on her phone, the cool blue light from the screen making her look otherworldly in the darkness. “Can you drive me?”
“No.”
“What? Hold on.” Jessica puts the phone to her ear.
I have to hand it to the vet. It doesn't take long at all for Jessica to get an emergency address for immediate treatment, but I don't think any vet is going to be able to help Max now.
Jessica carefully picks Max up in her arms, his little body limp like a lifeless doll. She says, “Get the car keys on the dining table, Jacob. Let's go.”
“No, it's too late for the little guy. We need to find whoever did this.”
“What are you talking about? You're not coming with me to the vet?”
“There are more important things to do right now.”
“Like staring at the grass, when we could be saving Max’s life?” Jessica raises her voice.
“It's rat poison.”
“What?”
“It's poison. I can’t say what kind for sure, but rat poison is the most widely available kind. Someone poisoned Max, and I'm trying to find some clues.” I check the area near the side gate leading to the backyard.
Whoever did this probably threw some kind of food laced with rat poison over the fence, so there should at least be traces of it left.
