Finally, once I had exhausted the list, I tried to find something useful in one of the articles. I discovered that a lot of it was appalling speculation and straight up defamation, but I tried not to think about. After twenty minutes, I finally found the glimmer of hope I’d been searching for – Owen’s lawyer.
The man had been quoted in one of the stories, so I looked him up, and then found his firm. I made the call.
It went through to his assistant, of course, and I received the same treatment as I had at Owen’s offices.
“I have some information on Owen Hayes,” I tried.
“I’m afraid we are not interested in any tips on the matter at this time.” Another automated response.
“Please! Tell him it’s Sydney Mercer!”
“Miss, like I’ve said–”
I was starting to lose hope, but then the call was cut short abruptly. A male voice said, “Miss Mercer?”
“Yes! Are you Owen’s lawyer? Can you tell me where he is? I need to speak with him. I have to fix things.”
He replied, “Miss Mercer, I’m afraid you won’t be able to reach Owen at this time. Communication is kept to a minimum, until things are sorted out.”
“I see.” That stung. I couldn’t even talk to him.
After a short silence, he said, “But I will pass on that you’ve called him. Anything you want to say?”
“Just thank him from me and my brother. Declan is getting better. And tell him that I’m waiting for his return. I’d like to thank him, in person.”
“Very well, Miss Mercer. Now, if you don’t mind, don’t try to find him, okay? He will find you, when the time is right.”
“Thanks,” I said, but there were only short beeps on the other end.
Chapter 21
Owen
“Is that all she said?” I asked. I was on the island, taking a walk up in its hills, trying my hardest not to go insane. “Are you certain?”
“Yes, Owen. Sydney thanks you, and she’s waiting for you. Nothing to worry about. Her brother is getting better.”
“Good, good. Thanks for the update. Now, where are we with the case? To be honest, Lucas, I’m losing it down here.”
“Hang in there Owen, because we might be onto something. So far, every case they tried to file has been dismissed. As we predicted, they brought up the fact of the amount of accounts of suspicious business practices, but every case was looked at separately, and you have covered all your bases there.”
“Told you!”
“That’s not all. This week has been the busiest. The IRS wants to look into everything at once, and they want to drag every member of the board into court to ask them about the deals. Thankfully, like you, they have good lawyers.”
I kicked a rock of a cliff and watched it bounced down the slope. “If you’re quite done sucking your own dick, get to the point.”
Baxter snickered. “The point is, they’re looking for you like you’re the fucking Cinderella, Owen, but they have no leverage. There isn’t a judge insane enough send the Feds after you. In other news, your people have done a good job clearing most of your charities, or whatever you want to call them. And since it’s all tied in, your shell corporations have been cleared, as well. Basically, the IRS is at square one. You were right, they will have to dive into paperwork like Scrooge McDuck into money, if they hope to ever prove anything.”
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying, Lucas? Am I good to go?” I stopped in the middle of the forest path, ready to turn back given the signal.
“Yes, Owen, you can come home. I will issue an official press-release and notify your office.”
“I owe you a dinner, man.”
“You owe me a lot more than that, Owen. See ya.”
I swiped off and ran back to my mansion, leaping over rocks and tree branches, like some feral beast. When I reached the paved road, I slowed down and called my pilot. I had forty minutes to get ready.
I hadn’t shaved in weeks – because, why would I? – so that was the first order of business. As the hair fell into the sink, I began to recognize the person in the mirror. I smiled, thinking of Sydney, she’d appreciate the clean shaven look. She was waiting for me. Which meant I had a chance.
There were no things to pack, so I grabbed my phone and my wallet and raced to the airfield.
“I trust everything worked out for the best?” the pilot asked me, as I was boarding.
“Not yet. Let’s get the fuck off this island already and fix that.”
+++
Finally, I landed back in Chicago. On my way home, I felt like I had never left: the city was still the same, busy and oblivious to everything out of its immediate reach. As they were moving east on I-90, nobody paid me any attention. It was like I wasn’t even there. It felt good. I hoped it would carry on that way. I didn’t want public attention any more. A month earlier I might have used this scandal to promote myself and the company, but that seemed so insignificant now. There was only one thing I truly wanted.
I told the driver to change their destination, and I spent the rest of the ride planning my evening.
Half an hour later, the car stopped in front of a small apartment building. There was a car under a tree, a silver Honda.
“Wish me luck,” I said. “And don’t wait for me.”
I stepped out of the car, made sure my shirt looked okay and went up to the front door. I felt like a high-schooler about to ring the bell to ask a girl for prom. I tried to control my breathing, and pressed on the buzzer. A minute later I heard the door unlock, and then it swung open.
Sydney was standing there, wearing a bathrobe, her hair in a ponytail. I looked into her eyes, her nose and the freckles around it, those beautiful lips. Her eyes were getting wet. We stood frozen for a moment longer, processing it, and then she opened the door further, inviting me in.
“You’re here,” she said breathlessly sitting down the couch.
“I am.”
“Where were you? Am I even allowed to know?”
“The island. Hiding out. How are you? How’s your brother?’
“Better, thanks to you. You didn’t have to keep covering the bills you know. I know I broke our deal.”
“Of course you did, because you were scared. But you don’t have to be anymore, I’m cleared. A free man.”
“You are?” Her eyes were bright, I had missed looking into them.
“Yep, they don’t have anything on me.”
“I’m sorry Owen, I misjudged you. I know that now. And if you are into some less than perfect business practices, that’s not my business. I’m not focused on that anymore.”
I moved towards her, “Then what are you focused on?”
“You.”
She stood up and removed her robe.
Fuck.
That body. Those lips. Nothing should have ever kept me away from this.
Chapter 22
Sydney
As soon as he stood from the couch, he was on me, pulling the towel from my hair in frantic movements. He pushed me backward, letting me take off his shirt and then unzip his jeans. By the time we reached my bedroom, we were completely naked and panting, our hands and lips all over each other.
He sat down on the edge of the bed and lay down, inviting me to come on top of him. I knelt with my legs on each side of his waist, but he moved me to his head, making me kneel right above his face.
“I want you to ride my face, baby. I want you to soak it with your tasty juices.”
I moaned and did what he’d told me, climbing on top of his face roughly. I was so turned on, unable to stop grinding while his 5 o’clock shadow brushed against my flesh, adding to my pleasure. I grabbed my tits and twisted my nipples, so wet that it was flowing out of me continuously. His muffled grunts sounded too sexy, making me more aroused than ever, and I was so close to the much-needed orgasm.
I forgot how good it could be with him.
“Ah! Owen! I’m going to come!”
&nbs
p; He put his hands on my waist and guided me, pressing me against his face to the point of suffocating, but he didn’t care, clearly turned on with my pussy all over him. A scream erupted from me, my whole body spasming when the orgasmic pleasure exploded in me, and I covered his face with my hot juices.
“Mmm, so fucking delicious. Good girl. Now I want you to ride my cock. Come on. I’m so hard for you.”
I lowered myself to his cock, but he stopped me. “No. Stand up and turn the other way around.”
I rushed to obey him, facing him with my back as I came in between his legs. I squatted and took his cock in my hand, leading it to my entrance.
“That’s it. Oh fuck.” He groaned when I slid down on him, taking him all at once. His hands landed on my waist, pressing against my skin, and set my tempo.
My pussy convulsed around him when the sensations became too intense, my thighs slightly burning in this position, but I didn’t care since I couldn’t stop even if I wanted.
“Damn. Your ass looks amazing like this.” He smacked it and grabbed it a moment later, and I moaned when the sting added to the existing pleasure. “I love when you bounce on me and I get to see your ass.”
The sounds of our bodies slapping against each other and the loud moans were making my pussy unusually hot, and the pressure in me intensified. I was nearing another climax, and it was going to be so strong...
“Ah! Owen!”
“Yes, baby. I want you to come all over my cock.” Ah! I tensed and shuddered, coming hard, and he groaned. “Fuck yeah. There are so many things that I want to do to you. So many things I missed.”
He flipped us over, leaning over me as he knelt on the bed. He held my legs high in the air and separated them widely apart. He kept them like this as he entered me once again. I moaned and arched my back, feeling completely stretched, and squeezed my breasts when he started pumping me. He was rough, moving without control, and it felt amazing.
“I love you,” he murmured, not taking his eyes off me. “I love you so much. I’m addicted to you and this gorgeous body.”
I thrashed my head against the mattress, suddenly unable to speak from the enormous amount of pleasure, and I was sure I was going to burst again any second...
“I love you too!” I gritted out in between my screams. I was going to explode... “I need you, Owen... Ah!”
I screamed and arched my back when I came hard, and a pure bliss filled my mind and body. A few moments later, Owen followed me and plunged inside one more time before his climax washed over him too, kissing me like he never wanted to let me go, and my heart contracted with happiness. Owen was mine, and nothing would separate us anymore.
+++
I hadn’t even realized in which moment I’d dozed off, but when I woke up, the morning sunrays were already penetrating the bedroom. I stretched in the empty bed, feeling energized even though Owen and I had spent the whole night fucking.
I squirmed and touched my pussy, instantly turned on when I remembered how many times he’d made me come. I looked around the bedroom, but Owen wasn’t here. I heard some noise from the kitchen, so I assumed that he was probably making us some breakfast.
Deciding to take a quick shower, I stood up and went into the bathroom. I was head over heels for Owen, and I couldn’t stop smiling, happier than ever. Just when I washed the soap from my body, Owen entered the bathroom and joined me inside of the shower—completely naked.
“Owen,” I breathed out, my eyes raking over his sexy body. I would never stop being amazed with the perfect shape of his body. Every muscle was chiseled to perfection, making me ache for him.
“Good morning, beautiful,” he said and pushed me to the wall, raising my arms above my head. He kept them there with one hand as he covered my breast and rubbed my nipple in circles.
He kissed me fervently, grinding his hard cock against me, and I moaned into his mouth.
“Please,” I begged, already completely aroused.
“Please, what?”
He lowered his hand slowly over my waist, creating flutters in the pit of my stomach. He stopped right above my pussy, and I grunted, needing him to touch me down there.
“I need you. I need you to touch me and fuck me. Please.”
He smirked. “Good girl.”
I shuddered when his fingers connected with my mound, traveling over my clitoris and vulva on their way to my pulsating hole. He probed my entrance and pushed inside, and I contracted around him, welcoming his much-needed thrust.
“Yes,” I cried out and grabbed his shoulders.
His fingers felt perfect inside, especially when he rolled them, pushing against my tight walls, and I dug my fingers into his skin. The pleasure was leaving me breathless. My heart was hammering against my rib cage, its tempo speeding up along with Owen’s movements in me, and I bit into his shoulder under the incoming orgasm...
“Yes!”
I fell apart in thousand pieces, barely able to stand on my feet, and I clung to him so I wouldn’t fall. His arms wrapped around my thighs and picked me up. I wrapped my legs around his waist when he pressed me against the wall, taking me right in the shower.
“So good,” he said through clenched teeth when he shoved his dick deep into me, stopping for a few moments to relish in the feeling of my pussy against his member. “I would never grow tired of fucking you. Every single day. In every single position.”
His lips connected with mine the second he started moving in me. He was ramming me fast, his mouth drinking my screams.
“Please, Owen... Fuck me harder!”
He raised his eyebrow. “You want me to fuck you harder, baby?”
“Yes!”
“Then get ready to be fucked brutally.” He lowered me down and turned me around. “Brace yourself against the wall.” I pressed my hands against the slippery wall. “Even lower.” He moved my hands down, bending me further, and my ass got arched high in the air. His hand caressed my ass cheeks with adoration as his cock got inside my pussy once more.
Another scream tore out of my throat when he started pounding into me immediately, a wild tempo shattering my whole world, and it was the best feeling I’d ever felt. He was relentless, fucking me like never before, and my throat became sore from all screaming. I could barely support myself since my shaky hands slid down the wall constantly and my knees felt like they were going to give out any moment.
He was like a wild animal, driven by raw desire and need, and it went on and on... The most intense orgasmic pleasure erupted in each part of my body, and it was unbearable, crushing me from the inside out. I didn’t even remember how I ended on the floor—on my back as he separated my legs and pushed back inside of me again, continuing the merciless rhythm that was draining every ounce of energy out of me.
“So beautiful. I love you, Sydney. You’re only mine.” He thrust one last time and stilled, groaning when his hot sperm filled me in several spurts. “Sydney!”
His body came on top of mine, and I barely had any strength left to wrap my arms around him and hold him flush against me. We were both breathing heavily, our hearts beating like crazy until the pleasure subdued.
“This was the best sex I’ve ever experienced,” I murmured into his skin, tracing my fingers idly over his back.
He brought himself to his elbows and looked at me, adoration filling his eyes as he smiled. “And it’s only the beginning. It will be way better.”
“Better than this?” I asked incredulously.
His smirk was cocky, and his eyes reflected his smugness. “You think this is all I’ve got? You better prepare yourself, baby, because now that I have you, nothing will stop me from loving every inch of you...” His lips traced my neck. “Many times...” They lowered to my breasts. “Each day...” He took my nipple into his mouth, drawing a moan out of me, and I was hot all over again. “For the rest of our lives.”
“Owen!” I arched my back when he lowered even further, pressing his lips against my most sensitive part.
Epilogue
Sydney
“How do I look?” I asked Declan.
“Fabulous, Syd. You know, I’ve never seen you so happy.” Which wasn’t true. He’d been seeing me this happy all year, and even happier when I was with Owen.
“Focus, Declan! Are you sure?” I spun around, looking in the mirror.
“I’m sure! Come on already, it’s time!”
I took a deep breath, and then took his elbow. My brother led me out of the small room and down the hall, to tall white doors. I could hear Mendelssohn playing on the other side of them.
“Ready?” he asked.
“As I’ll ever be.”
The doors opened, and Declan led me down the aisle, as all the guests watched us with huge smiles on their faces. Julia was there as the maid of honor, winking at me and giving me thumbs up. Everybody held their breath. I saw Owen at the altar, in a tux and a sexy stubble, a red flower on his lapel.
I couldn’t hold back the tears, and even saw Owen’s eyes get wet, but when the time came, we both managed to say I do. The guests applauded, and we kissed like it was our first time, with more love and passion than I thought possible.
Julia didn’t catch the bouquet, but she met a nice guy at the bar after the ceremony, and that seemed to be good enough.
We had been living together for the past year, at Owen’s apartment in River North, which was now our apartment. He had distanced himself from his business, effectively retiring, and we had spent the past year traveling all over the world, doing all sorts of crazy stuff, from base-jumping to whitewater rafting. There was nothing in the world we couldn’t do when we were together.
We had fought off Declan’s cancer, and he had been in remission for nine months now. He had found a job and promised to return Owen the money he had spent, but we didn’t hold him to it. The important thing was that Declan and Owen had become good friends. There was a lot Declan could learn from Owen, both in business and in life. At first, I didn’t approve – the last thing I wanted was for my brother to get into some sketchy business with the likes of Lawson, but they both promised me that his work would be legit. Now that the sickness was no longer bothering him, Declan had adopted a more positive outlook on life. He had become ambitious and outgoing. He had started practicing yoga and meditation, learning to be at peace with himself.
2X The Hear Page 33
