by Hilary Storm
Chapter Eighteen
Liam
My worst nightmare begins the second the phone rings and I hear my mother's whisper. We turn around and drive with the pedal to the floor until we pull into my parent's driveway. I'm looking frantically, but I can't see her. I made my mom promise to hide in the house after she told me Michael took Livi. The last thing I need is the two women I love both being in danger.
We all jump from the truck in a full run to look for her. There's a patch of trees behind their house and I have to assume that's where he came in from. I round the house and halt just as all five of my brothers and my father do the same.
He's got her. He has his fucking hands on her. Her body is lifeless and he's holding her up by her naked breast with a knife to her neck.
I'll kill him. There's no way this will end any other way. The motherfucker is dead.
"LET HER GO."
"FUCK OFF."
"We have you surrounded. Let the girl go." Jace begins to negotiate with him. I tighten my focus to put a bullet between his eyes. He must feel the heat there, because he lifts her to shield himself from my shot. I wait for someone to get a hit on him as I try to move and spread out from the others.
"QUIT MOVING OR I'LL CUT YOUR BITCH IN HALF."
"LET HER GO, GET IN YOUR CAR AND WE WONT FOLLOW YOU. CONSIDER IT MY GIFT TO YOU."
"NAH, I HAVE A GIFT FROM YOU. I'LL THINK OF YOU WHEN I USE IT." He squeezes his hand on her boob as he says it and I want to hang him and peel his skin off of him. One. Inch. At. A. Time.
I'm still thinking of his torture when I see my mom behind him in the trees. Fuck. She has a gun. I'm so glad she knows how to use it, but I'm not ready to put my trust in her to not hit Livi if she takes a shot.
"SON, I'LL GIVE YOU ONE LAST CHANCE TO WALK OUT OF HERE. PUT THE GIRL DOWN AND WE'LL LET YOU LEAVE."
"POPS, I HAVE ONLY ONE THING TO SAY TO YOU." We wait as he takes a few steps back toward his car, noticing my mom moving a little closer.
"WHAT'S THAT?"
"TICK. TICK. BOOM." I hear him, but I don't really hear him. It doesn't register to me for a few seconds what he's saying. I hear footsteps rushing before I feel the pressure and hear the blast. The heat rushes past me as I hit the ground with enough force to knock the air from my lungs. The sound of a gunshot has me moving faster than I ever have before.
I pray with every step that she is alive when I get there. I pray my family isn't burning alive from the fire and I pray for forgiveness for what I'm about to do.
When I get to her, I see his body on the ground and my mom is covering Livi with her jacket. My mom is trying to wake Livi up, but I can see her breathing. He's bleeding and gripping his chest with a look of agony on his face that can only be on the face of a man that's dying.
I turn my head to count my brothers. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. And my father is still getting up from the ground, but he's moving.
"Mom, Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine now that this asshole that tried to hurt my boys is taken care of."
The house is on fire and the sound of sirens are getting near when Livi begins to wake up. I'm holding her in my arms, waiting for an ambulance to arrive when she brushes her palm across my cheek.
"Liam. Take me home."
"I don't want you to be by yourself. You need to see a doctor."
"I mean to your house. I'm going to take you up on that offer."
Epilogue
Olivia
It's been one week since the explosion. I still can't seem to grasp that Michael did everything he did. I know deep down that he killed James. This entire mess has me missing him more than ever, but I'm finding peace with the fact that he sent me Liam. I know he probably didn't intend for me to move in with his old friend, but we have a connection and honestly I'm beginning to fall for him.
He adores me and I can tell. His family almost died for me, his mother killed for me and she lost her home because of me. This family fought for me like I've never witnessed.
Liam's father says they'll rebuild once things settle down a bit. His mother was cleared for reasons of self defense and I'm thankful she was there to help.
"Hey you." Liam is so damn sexy. Each day he makes me feel so loved and I know this has all been hard on him too. Each night he holds me, but doesn't try to take it beyond that. I feel safe in his arms so I'm able to sleep at night.
"Hey."
"What are you working on?" I have my notebooks scattered on the desk and I'm trying to make sense of all these characters in my head this morning.
"Trying to get organized." I wait for him to sit in his desk chair before I lean forward and pull my shirt down to give him a little peek of the girls. He sits back to watch with that gorgeous smile spread across his face. It's as of I've been challenged.
Challenge accepted, big guy.
I tease him, pulling my shirt off slowly with a few hip movements along the way. Once my shirt is off, I run my hands over my boobs, grab them both and move them up and down in an attempt to be sexy as fuck. He seems to like it and that's obvious when he unzips his pants to let his cock fall free.
It's hard to tease when I'm being teased back. I want that, but I'm trying to do something here. I step up the sexy factor and remove my bra. He watches me as I play with my nipples, only to counter by stroking that beautiful cock. Damn it.
I step away from the desk, giving him a great view of my ass as I bend over and practically touch my toes, while sliding my panties from my hips. He gets a view from behind as I run my finger between my legs and push it just slightly into my own entrance, bringing it into my mouth just as I turn to face him.
He stands to drop his pants and runs his arm across the desk, sending my work flying into the wall. That was so fucking sexy. I just assume the position immediately. I'm done, ready to go now!
He moves in behind me and taps at my feet with his until I spread my legs apart. His grip on my ass is all I feel before he starts to push it in to me. Shit, he's not wearing a condom.
He pulls completely out and then moves so that he's posed at my ass. I wait for the invasion and when it doesn't come, I move back just slightly giving him the invitation he obviously needed, because fuck if he didn't enter.
He moves slow, letting me get used to him. The burn is fierce, but lets up when he pulls back out, only to return when he enters again. Holy hell.
I take each thrust and he's careful each time, giving me a chance to adjust as he goes deeper with each. Eventually, I'm adjusted and he starts to undo me.
"This ass. Fuck, it's gorgeous, but I want to see these." His hands come around and he squeezes each breast until he hears a moan from my lips.
He pulls out, turns me around and lifts me into his arms. He starts to kiss me as he begins to walk with me straddled around his waist.
He lays me on the bed and reaches for the condom before climbing over me.
He watches me and I fight my instincts to close my eyes, knowing he needs this from me. He wants me to look at him and stay with him the whole time.
He's slow and sensual. He moves me across the sheets as he grips the edge of the bed, moving us with each thrust. I never lose eye contact with him and the rawness of that opens me up for everything Liam is saying to me through his.
He's passionate and loving .... and everything a woman could ever want. He may not be the first love of my life, but he's definitely going to be one of the two great loves of mine. I know I'm a lucky woman to have found this twice. It's real and I can't deny it. I know James would want me happy, and Liam makes me happy.
We have sex for hours, just like this. There's no hurry in his game. He sends me through orgasm after orgasm as he caresses me and takes care of every part of my body. His hands know how to work me over, from the massages to how to hold me with each position. I'm so tired when he finally allows himself the release he worked so hard for.
Our bodies are dripping with sweat when he finishes. He leans his face forward and watches m
e, nose to nose, eyes to eyes, mouth to mouth, chest to chest, hips to hips.... "Olivia Drake, I'm falling in love with you." His lips reach for a small kiss after he says it and I notice that I didn't freak out. He said love and I'm ok with it.
"Liam Bryant, I love you already."
If you liked Don't Close Your Eyes....
Make sure you check out my Rebel Walking Series!
In a Heartbeat (Rebel Walking #1) Chapter One is found at the end of this ebook
Heaven Sent (#Rebel Walking #2)
Banded Together (Rebel Walking #2.5)
No Strings Attached (Rebel Walking #3)
Hold Me Closer (Rebel Walking #4)
Fighting the Odds (Rebel Walking #5)
Acknowledgments
My husband is a saint and I love that I have him by my side. He is 1000% supportive of me and I wouldn't do this if he wasn't! He is allowing me to become more than I could ever imagine because of his love and support. He's got my heart.... He has me like whoa... even after 21 years! <3
My kids love that their mom writes and loves her job, but they hate release week because they know that means mom isn't here even though they can see her. When I say... Ok, I'm finished, all three attack me to tell me so much stuff that they've been holding back. I love spending time with them and it's truly because of those 3 that I do everything in my power to become a better person each day.
Scott King... Thank you so much for coming to the US so that I could see you and finally have the perfect cover model for the guy that I've had in my head for nearly a year now. Your look is spot on for what I was looking for and couldn't find! I love that you have such a heart and your compassion has you on an endless journey! I see nothing but greatness in your future, my friend!
Glorya.... it's because of you that I even started this series! I hope you love it and now you don't have to call and ask me for 'Don't Close Your Fucking Eyes'.... lmao... I can't wait for some of the shit we have coming soon!
Christine... One of these days I will call you and surprise you. You're the one person who is never surprised when I have great news because you know my journey is crazy and you seem to know I'm ready for new things before I even know!
Kellie... Girl I love you to pieces! You and I are a force to be reckoned with and I'm so excited to see where 2015/16 takes us! Hold on to your panties... you're on this ride with Hil and it get's a lil sticky!
Golden... for ALWAYS giving me the best freaking picture I could ever imagine!!! And for the blue series that you're running now! I know that's just for me! <3 Blue is my fav color and you know this! lol
Laura... for getting me on this cover and helping make it EPIC! HOLY HELLLLL!
Amanda.... Thank you for all of your extensive research on this book! I really appreciate your hard work and you saved me so much time! I love ya girl!
To my posse.... is posse still a word that's ever used? My girls... My MWSs.... they know what that means! <3 #hashtag #duckseason #fitbook
In a Heartbeat (Rebel Walking #1)
~Chapter One~
Eaven
Today is the first day in the next chapter of my life. My best friend, Ivy, and I are leaving home to finish college. We will be roommates and have the time of our lives. She has been staying at our house since November of our senior year in high school. My parents agreed to help us both with college if we would take two years of basic courses at the local junior college. Now we are moving to Springfield, Missouri to attend Missouri State University.
Ivy’s home life has been anything but stable and my parents have taken her in as one of their own. I'm so thankful for everything they have done for both of us, but we are ready to take the world by storm. Ivy and I have been there for each other since after the first day we met in sixth grade. She has been dealt a rough life and there isn't anything I wouldn't do for her.
"We love you girls! Please do well in school and stay away from the parties." My mom is going to miss us. She won’t admit it, but she will. My parent’s named me Eaven and decided to spell it like heaven without the ‘h’. I'm sure she would reconsider my name now if given the chance. Ivy and I have been quite the handful the past eight years, but mom loves us. Dad is just dad. He goes with the flow and is pretty easy going. I have to say not many parents would take in another child when they already have two girls to raise themselves.
My parents have helped us move everything into our new apartment today. I'm not sure what Ivy and I would do without their help. They're doing everything they can to help us get an education.
We hug mom and dad goodbye, but never make any promises we know we can’t keep. Watching them drive away, I notice an amount of weight leave my shoulders that I never knew I held. I'm free! Free to be me! I'm so ready!
"Eaven, get ready, we are going to the club!" Ivy is ready to get our party started.
"Hell ya, let's do this!" I say, bursting with excitement thinking about the possibilities.
We race up to our apartment to beautify ourselves. After my shower I notice that I missed a call from my cousin Luke. He goes to school here too. He left a message saying that his band ‘Rebel Walking’ will be playing at the club tonight.
"Ivy, Luke wants us to go to Smitty's tonight to watch him play. Are you in?" I ask her hoping she says yes, because I can’t wait to see him on stage.
"Oh yea! We are going to find us some boy toys!" I can hear the naughtiness in her voice as she struts off with pure confidence.
"Luke said that if we can get there, the party bus can bring us back.” I yell at Ivy from my bathroom.
Ivy has beautiful dark brown hair that flows over her shoulders. She has a curvaceous body that moves unlike most girls I know. Her skin is always flawless and she seems to have a tan like she just spent the week at the beach no matter what time of year. It's not fair that she has it and knows it. I wish I had her self-confidence. She has on jeans with heels and a tight fitting t-shirt. Damn, I could never wear that tight of a shirt.
"Are you ready? I'm ready to go.” She looks over at me and instantly the look of distaste flows throughout her face.
“Um, what are you wearing? You are not going out with that top on. Here put this on." She hands me one of her hot pink shirts that is cut so low that her cleavage is always showing in it.
"Ivy, I can't wear that. Your shirts are too small for me. Plus my girls would fall right out of the front of that damned thing."
"Oh no you don't, Ev! Your ex is not here to tell you what you can't wear. You are wearing this and going to love the attention you get all night long. Now hurry up, our men are waiting."
"I can't Ivy, that shirt is just too much, or should I say not enough?"
"PUT IT ON! You are going to step out of your little box and enjoy life if I have to drag you out of it each and every day."
I put it on. I know she will never give up on this issue. The shirt makes me feel completely self-conscious and I don’t know whether to pull it up to hide some of the cleavage that is showing or pull it down to cover the top edge of my jeans.
"Hot damn! Your girls are ready to say hello to the world tonight!" I frown at her cat calls and hooting like a fool. She grabs my arm and yanks me out the door.
I can't believe I'm doing this. I have been able to live a little in our home town, Ridgedale, but always hid under the façade that my mom or ex would never let me do certain things. Ivy is going to enjoy ripping me from my comfort zone. I may as well just enjoy this, because she will never let up.
"How are we going to get there?"
"Oh Ev, just let me handle this. There is bound to be someone in the parking lot we can get to take us to the club."
"What? Are you insane? I'm not riding with some freak to the club."
"You'll see. It's going to be fine. Smitty's is just three miles from here. Someone will be more than happy to take us, especially when they see our gorgeous bodies."
The only person she sees in the parking lot is this guy getting out of a piece of crap car. He lo
oks like a very smart guy though, sporting some killer eye glasses. She doesn’t miss a beat.
"Excuse me, would you be so kind as to drop us off at Smitty's? You see my friend Eaven here needs to go because her cousin is playing guitar in the rock band that is out there tonight. We are all dressed up and we have no way to go."
Then she cocks her head to the side and puts her lips out just enough to make them look even more plump. She grabs his arm and slowly slides her finger up, then back down it. The poor boy doesn't stand a chance. She will eat him alive. He stutters a bit and is very nervous because of Ivy's advances.
"Uh, ok."
Ivy leans over and gives him a peck on the cheek. He about drops his laptop on the ground. I'm pretty positive she will be in his visions for many nights to come, and I mean that literally.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Talon
“Taron, get your ass ready. We have to be there in less than an hour. Smitty won’t put up with your shit. We’re lucky he's letting us play in his club.”
“Bro, quit being so damned pushy. I'll be ready.”
I'm tired of babysitting his stupid ass. We may be twins, but we couldn’t be more different if we tried. He loves to party and has a new girl, or should I say girls, every time we go out. I just haven’t been able to let go like he has. Our high school years were no different. He lived it up. I liked the calm lifestyle I had with Nicole.
“Dude, Luke will be here shortly with the party bus. Is Holden going to meet us out there?” Taron yells at me from his room.
“Yea, he's going to get Lilly and meet us there.” Holden is our older brother, and Lilly is like our cousin. We grew up with her and our parents were best friends. We vacationed every year together. She's pretty special to us Walker boys. I pity the guy who tries to hook up with her. He will have three angry big brothers on his ass. She plays bass in our band.
Our friend Luke is the guitarist, Taron sings and prances around like he owns the stage, and I bring the beat on the drums. I love playing the drums. It's one of the things I can do to escape my life and just live in the music. I can actually let go.
