The Escape

by Alice Ward

  “It’s okay.”

  She didn’t look convinced and reached for another towel. Before I thought it out fully, I placed my hands on her shoulders. She stopped. Froze. As did I.

  She was so close.

  Time stilled, slowing… stretching…

  Shifting my hand, I curled it around her throat, using my thumb until she looked up at me.

  She swallowed, and I felt the movement under my fingers. “I want to see you again,” I said before I could force the words back down my throat. “Go out with me tomorrow.”

  Her face lit up, then she frowned, her eyes falling to my tie. “I can’t tomorrow. I… I…” She inhaled and met my gaze again. “I have a date tomorrow night.”

  My reaction was mixed, the differing emotions hitting me simultaneously. The first was abject disappointment. The second was relief.

  “Oh.”

  I dropped my hand away from her throat, but she took it between hers on its way back down to my side. “But I’m free Sunday,” she said, her eyes filled with hope.

  I searched her face, and there was nothing but the guileless innocence I’d first witnessed. “So, this man isn’t someone you’re seeing seriously?”

  She blushed. “Actually, I just met him this week. It’ll be our first time going out.”

  I studied her. I didn’t need this complication in my life, and I knew without a doubt that Journey Walker would be a complication. With her going out with other men, I’d be able to see her without the worry of anything getting serious between us.

  I wasn’t a jealous man, even though something that smelled of jealousy began to weave itself around me when it came to her. I stomped my mental foot firmly on that emotion.

  Thinking of my calendar, I remembered that I had a meeting in Philadelphia Sunday afternoon. I had plans on flying down and flying straight back, but maybe…

  “I could do Sunday,” came out of my mouth.

  She looked happy, the smile brightening her face again.

  Pulling my phone from my pocket, I unlocked it before tapping on the contacts. Handing it over, I watched Journey’s thumbs fly over the screen as she added her name and number. When she was finished, she tapped “save,” then hit the green button to call. A ringtone sounded in the apartment, and she grinned. “Now we both have each other’s numbers.”

  I dropped the phone back in my pocket. “I’ll text details of our trip.”

  Her brow shot up. “Trip?”

  “Yes. Is that okay?”

  Her mouth opened and closed before she settled on, “Yes. Okay. Sounds fun. I have to be at work by eight Monday morning.”

  My balls tightened. Was that an invitation to keep her out all night? Or was she simply letting me know she needed to be home by a decent hour? As open as Journey was to read, I couldn’t tell.

  At the table, silverware clicked on a plate, and I saw Jasmine begin digging through another bag. Journey saw her too and smiled. “I better stop her. She eats like she’s a prisoner when it comes to anything sweet.”

  “See you Sunday.”

  “Yes.”

  She walked me to the door. “Lock up behind me.” Journey studied the new set of locks on the door, which reminded me. I dug into my pocket. “I had the locks changed. I didn’t want to risk either of the Gains men having made illegal duplicates.”

  Journey accepted the keys with a grateful smile. “That makes me feel much better, thank you.”

  Shit. I couldn’t think of another reason to linger, but linger I did, fighting the need to lean down and press my lips to hers.

  She shifted from one foot to the other, and I realized I was making her uncomfortable again. “Goodnight, Journey.”

  She licked her lips. “Goodnight, Grant. And again, thank you for everything.”

  My cock pulsed, and I turned away before it made itself evident to her. “Bye, Jaz,” I called out to the girl still at the table.

  The “Bye, Grant,” sounded muffled, and Journey’s eyes widened as she looked toward her sister.

  “I really need to stop her. She won’t sleep a wink tonight.”

  “What time does she leave tomorrow morning?”

  Journey sighed. “Nine. But we need to be at her school by eight forty-five.”

  Her expressive eyes had grown sad again, and I wanted so badly to touch her. So I stuffed my hands into my pockets. “Then I’m sure you have things to do. I’ll leave you to it.”

  “See you Sunday?”

  “Yes. Sunday. I’ll text details.”

  I found myself smiling as I jogged down the steps, but the smile faded when I got to the bottom. Charlie Jr. was standing there. Had he even moved after all this time?

  “Don’t go near her,” I said.

  He shrugged, his face mean. “I’m just standing here. There isn’t a law against standing, is there?”

  I didn’t like how unafraid he was of me. It wasn’t that I wanted people to cower in my presence, but his lack of respect for my authority didn’t bode well.

  “Don’t go near her or her sister. Don’t approach them. Talk to them. Look at them. Understand?”

  A petulant look crept over his face. “Or you’ll do what?”

  “I’ll have you and your father removed from this property immediately, and I will happily pay the fine for your early eviction.”

  His mouth opened. Closed. “You can’t do that.”

  “Watch me. One word from Journey or Jasmine, and you’re both gone.”

  Without waiting for a response, I turned and headed toward the door. I heard him mutter, “Rich bastard,” but didn’t take the bait. I worked my ass off to get where I was so that I didn’t have to take bullshit from people like him.

  The moment I stepped from the front door of the building, Wayne was climbing out of the car, seeming to anticipate my every movement. How he did that, I’d never know. Maybe it was part of the instincts that had kept him alive during the Gulf War or on the New York streets afterward while he battled post-traumatic stress.

  Six years ago, I found him offering what little food he had to a woman and her two children. I’d given him a job on the spot. I’d given the mother a job too, and both of them were two of the best employees I had. Well, them and Anne and Frank.

  I learned at an early age that people didn’t need a handout. They needed a hand up. Just a fucking chance to make things better for themselves. Anytime anyone had used sympathy on me back when I was a teen, it only made me mad. But if they gave me a task, gave me something to do, things wouldn’t be so bad.

  “They’re nice girls.”

  I met Wayne’s eyes in the mirror. “Yeah, they are.”

  “The older sister is very pretty.”

  I frowned at him. “Yes, she is.”

  The frown didn’t stop him from needling. “Not your usual type.”

  I looked out the window. “I’m just helping her, them, out.”

  I could feel his eyes still on me. “I understand. Should I ask Mitchel to prepare a new contract for you?”

  My balls tightened. It was the very question I’d been asking myself. The thing was, I couldn’t imagine having that conversation with Journey. Having the I’d like to see you again, but I’ve been burned before and want to be certain that there are no misunderstandings of what our arrangement will be conversation. Sign here, please, so I can fuck you without worrying about you trying to take me to court.

  She wasn’t like that.

  I didn’t think.

  No… she wasn’t.

  But still, I’d sworn not to open myself up to that kind of hurt again. Having a detailed contract was better. Knowing what to expect of each other was better. Wasn’t it?

  Surely it was.

  “Yeah,” I finally answered. “Have Mitchel draw up the papers. Leave the date blank. Also, tell Jeffery that I’ll be staying in Philadelphia longer than expected on Sunday, and I’ll have company.”

  The eyebrows rose in the mirror. “Will you need me to go as well?”


  “No. I’ll rent a car. It’s been a while since I’ve been behind the wheel.”

  “Want me to make those arrangements?”

  “Yes. Rent something fun. I get the feeling that Journey hasn’t experienced much of that in her life.”

  The corners of his eyes crinkled. “Yes, sir.”

  The rest of the trip was made in peace, and I bid Wayne a goodnight when he let me out in front of my building. I nodded toward the doormen and front desk security. The elevator opened as I arrived, and I stepped in, pressing the button for the penthouse floor.

  Nash was there, sprawled out on a chair flipping through his phone. He gave me one of his big shit eating grins.

  I grinned back. “Honey, I’m home.”

  Tossing my briefcase on the side table, I loosened my tie for the first time that day and headed straight for the bar. Pouring a couple fingers of Glenlivet 59 into a tumbler, I added a couple drops of water before raising the glass, silently asking Nash if he’d like one as well.

  He lifted a bottle of beer, took a long sip, then finished it off. Smirking at my friend, I grabbed another bottle and headed his way.

  “I’m bored.”

  God. It was like we were back in college and the last ten plus years had fallen away. Nash had always been like that, needing something fun and exciting to do. I guessed when you’d been handed everything you wanted all your life, it became more and more difficult to find something new to amuse yourself with.

  I handed him the beer. “I’m so sorry for you. However will you manage this horrible life you were born into?”

  He grinned. Same old Nash, never taking anything seriously. I didn’t envy his wealth, I’d created plenty of that on my own, but I did envy his affable ways. He was like a duck, and everything just slid off his back.

  If I’d been more like Nash, I would have flirted with Journey, I would have asked her out. I would have chosen something fun for her to do, then wined and dined her until we fell into bed. Not a worry in the world.

  Instead, I, the social moron that I was, invited her on a fucking business trip.

  My therapists were right. I was socially challenged.

  Tossing back half the whisky, I closed my eyes and the liquor slid down my throat, landing in my belly with a smooth burn.

  “Why are you here on a Friday night anyway?” I asked him, taking another sip.

  Nash grinned. “Savin’ myself up for tomorrow night.”

  I lifted a brow. “Big night I take it?”

  He popped the lid off the beer bottle, tossing the top on the table, grinning even bigger when I frowned. Yep… he was the same as ever. “Yeah. Takin’ this girl I met this week to the theater.”

  I scoffed. “You? At the theater?”

  He shrugged, bobbing his damn eyebrows. “Got to give a pretty lady whatever her little heart desires.”

  Yeah. I got it. I thought about Journey, and how I wanted to give her whatever she desired. Wanted to watch her eyes gleam in pleasure, in the honest gratitude she expressed so easily.

  I opened my mouth, ready to tell Nash about my own date on Sunday. It was a date, right? Should I give her the contract before the wheels of the plane left the ground? Or maybe wait until I knew I’d want to go out with her again?

  Totally. Socially. Inept.

  Hell. I didn’t even want to discuss any of this tonight. I needed to shower and sleep, in that order. I had the Philadelphia meeting to prepare for. I was looking to break into new markets and had hired a marketing company to break down the pros and cons.

  Damn. I should have thought all this out.

  What would I do with Journey while I was in the meeting? I couldn’t leave her sitting alone on the plane. Shit. This was a totally bad idea.

  “Why do you look like you’re about the kill the world?”

  I forced my face to unfrown. “Just thinking a few things through.”

  “Like what?”

  What the hell. I might as well tell him, see what ideas he might have.

  “If you had a meeting in Philly for a couple hours on Sunday and was taking a woman along, what would you do with her while you were in the meeting?”

  He sat up straighter. “You’re takin’ a woman with you? Who is she? Do I know her?”

  I shook my head. “No. Not anyone you’d know. I just met her this week.”

  Nash laughed. “Seems like everybody is meetin’ somebody this week.”

  I thought back to Journey also meeting someone just this week. I frowned. “Yeah. Mars must be aligned with Venus or some shit.”

  Nash chuckled. “So you need to keep her busy while you’re in your meetin’. You could give her your credit card and send her shoppin.”

  I drummed my fingers on the arm of the chair. “No. I don’t think she’d buy anything for herself.”

  Nash snorted. “You’re sure she’s a woman then? Checked her tits and all? This day and age, you can’t really tell.”

  I lifted my glass. “I did the Adam’s apple check, so I’m pretty sure.”

  Nash laughed. “Well, you can’t play it too safe. Remember that chick who nearly gave me a blowjob back in college until she ground on my thigh a little too hard and the contraption holding her dick in place broke?”

  I howled. God, why hadn’t I thought of that in so long? It had been funny as hell. The look on Nash’s face had been priceless.

  “I mean, hell,” he went on. “I don’t care if you’re a girl or a squirrel, just damn tell me up front.” Nash wiped the tears from his eyes. “Thought she had a damn pistol at first and was gonna rob me point blank.”

  My stomach hurt I was laughing so hard. After my evening with Journey and Jasmine, my face was hurting too. Damn, it was good to just laugh.

  “I think I had me a little PTSDD after that. Post. Traumatic. Sure that’s a Dick? Disorder.” He was laughing so hard that all his vowels were slurring together. It took a while for us to quiet down. Nash took a long swig of his beer and nodded at me. “But seriously, back to your original question… what to do with your honey while you gab.” He scratched at the stubble on his face. Had he even taken a damn shower today? “I know. Book her some kind of beauty spa thing. Facial. Nails. Massage. The works. Girls love that shit.”

  He was on to something.

  “That could actually work.” Tossing back the rest of my Glenlivet, I pushed myself to my feet. “Thanks for the advice and the laugh. I’m calling it done for the night.”

  Nash raised his bottle in a silent salute. “Of course, you could always invite me to Philly with you. I’ll be happy to entertain your little lady while you’re talkin’ business.”

  I knew he was joking. At least I thought he was.

  We hadn’t shared a woman in years.

  But I had to admit, the idea wasn’t all that unpleasant. Those days had been fun, the situations intense. The pleasure we were able to give the women euphoric.

  But with Journey? Sweet, down to earth Journey?

  I couldn’t see it happening.

  “Why don’t you focus on your little lady tomorrow night?”

  He grinned. “Don’t you worry, I plan on it, then I’ll be heading to Nashville Sunday for a few days, maybe even a week.” He paused, examining me closely. “You really like this one, don’t you?”

  I saw her face. The freckles. The little mole on her lip. “Yeah. I do.”

  He seemed happy for me. “That’s good. Looks like we both might have found a winner.”

  I chuckled. “Wouldn’t that be amazing?”

  I left him there, shit eating grin still plastered in place.

  As my bedroom door closed behind me, I wondered if maybe he was right. Maybe my best friend and I had both found the woman of our dreams.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Journey

  I moaned as a hand ran up my arm, a warm mouth pressed to my ear.

  “Good morning.”

  Eyes still closed, I luxuriated in the closeness of hot male flesh p
ressed against my back, a thick erection making itself known. The hand moved up to my shoulder then farther up to circle my throat. It tightened there only briefly before trailing away and moving down to cup my breast, pressing down until I was on my back.

  “You’re so very beautiful.”

  The words enveloped me just before a mouth enveloped my nipple. I arched into the touch, the pull and suction, the scrape of teeth even as the hand moved lower, lower, tracing over the bone of my hip.

  Running my fingers through thick hair, I pressed his head down harder to my breast, arching into him, wanting more. He gave it to me, pulling the nipple deep into his mouth while his hand explored my body.

  I cried out as his fingers found my clitoris, circling the sensitive spot before pinching and rolling it fully awake.

  The deep sound of his chuckle vibrated through me as his hand moved lower and a finger dipped inside. A second joined the first, then his hand was turning, his knuckles stroking my inner walls.

  His lips trailed down my stomach, his teeth finding my clit as he pressed his fingers deeper inside me, finding the very end of me, pulsing his hand until I was clawing at the sheets.

  I moaned, but a mouth captured the sound as hard lips came down on mine, a tongue taking advantage of my gasp of surprise.

  It licked into my mouth as another tongue licked into my sex.

  I tried to open my eyes, but the pleasure held them closed.

  “So fuckin’ beautiful,” another deep voice whispered against my lips. “Do you know how sexy you are?”

  I felt sexy now. After a lifetime of flying under people’s radar and just trying to be good, I felt sexy… and daring… and wanton… and needy.

  So, when the smooth skin of a cock pressed against my lips, I opened for it.

  Thick and heavy on my tongue, I tasted the salt, felt the smoothness as it filled my throat, gagging me only a little. My eyes finally opened. Above me was a handsome face, blue eyes smiling down at me.

  “Hi, darlin’.”

  He thrust into my throat again, and I accepted him greedily, tilting my head back to give him better access.

  Warm hands pushed my thighs farther apart, and the man between my legs crawled up my body until his cock nudged my entrance, capturing my attention.