by Smith, Wendy
“Like Drew?”
Grinning, I slap him on the back. “Just like that.”
“I do get to see him and Hayley from time to time. She makes a fuss over me, and it drives him insane.”
“Good. Maybe it’ll keep him on his toes. He’ll hate her attention being on anyone but him.”
James takes a sip of his beer. “You know, even a few years ago, I’d never have picked that we’d all be doing what we are. Adam’s back, and with Lily. Owen, of all people, is settled down. Drew, I’m not surprised about.” He focuses his gaze on me. “And then there’s you. I’m glad you’ve found someone, Corey. It always seemed like there was something missing from your life.”
I nod. “I didn’t know what it was until I found it. I’ve never been so happy.”
“Good for you.”
When I drop him off, I don’t muck around anymore in town.
There’s only one place I want to be right now.
Constance.
14
Corey
Her nose twitches in her sleep, and it’s the most adorable thing I think I’ve ever seen.
There’s no point fighting it. I’m smitten.
I love sex, but I also love my solitude. It’s led to a life that doesn’t usually involve women. The ones I meet don’t tend to understand my need to live away from everything and everyone. I’m not that far from town, but far enough that I have my privacy up here.
Mum and Dad helped me out buying my block of land years ago, and with land being the price it is out in the middle of nowhere, I paid them back pretty quickly. It’s ten hectares of mainly bush, and it’s great for getting lost in when I need some time out. I know it all like the back of my hand.
I trace circles around Con’s nipple. The last few nights have been the most incredible nights of my life, and my only concern is whether or not she’ll want to stay on the mountain with me once she discovers just how much she’s missing out on.
When she came home from her shopping expedition with Lily she was so animated. I’m sure she’ll want to get away again soon.
I’m loathe to tell Graham about her because I know that he’ll have a million questions, and even though she’s strong, it’s a lot to put someone through.
I know I have to tell him.
She could be the difference between cracking the mystery of what’s happening next door and their investigation dragging on for God knows how long. I’m torn between knowing that and just wanting to hide her from the world and protect her.
At least when they arrest Ash for whatever shitty things he’s been doing, the police will pack up and leave my property, and Con and I can get on with our lives—together and alone.
If that’s what she wants.
“Morning.” Her soft voice breaks me out of my thoughts, and I fix my gaze on her smile.
“Good morning.”
“What are you doing?”
I bend, sucking her nipple into my mouth and letting it go with a pop. “Playing with you.”
“Didn’t you get enough last night?”
Raising my hand to her cheek, I smile. “I don’t know if I can ever get enough.”
“Feeling’s mutual.”
I kiss her, long and deep and never wanting to stop. When I’m working, I sleep rough, at the most in a tent, and usually I don’t mind that. Comfortable in bed with her, I don’t know if I ever want to do that again. In a few weeks, I’ve got a week-long hunting trip planned to cull possums. It’s good money, and it’s never bothered me to be away from home before. This time, I’m reluctant.
But it’ll put food on the table, and as it’s my contract I’ll make some extra money from the pelts. It’s a tough job, but I love working outdoors, and it beats using poison the way some landowners do. At least other animals aren’t at risk.
My stomach grumbles.
“Want some breakfast?” I ask.
“I’ll make it.” She sits up.
“Don’t you dare get out of bed.” I run a finger up her leg until I reach her pussy. “I’ll make breakfast, and then I’ll take care of our other needs.”
She laughs. “Sounds good to me.”
Inserting a finger inside her, I grin. “Or I could take care of this need and then make breakfast.”
Her breathing quickens, and I close my eyes as her hand closes around my cock. I wrap one hand around her hand and guide her, moving it up and down, gentle and slow. With my other hand I insert another finger, tilting the tips, my thumb rubbing her clit.
She moans, her movements becoming more urgent. Pressure builds in my body, and I fight my release. I pump my fingers in and out of her, and her hips slam into my hand.
“Let it go,” I murmur, determined not to come before she does. The dirty thought of coming all over her hand creeps into my mind, and I strain to hold on.
“No, you let it go.”
I laugh as she echoes my words back at me. “It’s not a race.”
“Are you sure about that?”
God, she’s going to drive me insane, but if it means getting a hand-job to prove who’s better at masturbating the other, I’m all for it.
“Corey,” she cries as her body shakes.
“I … win.” Relief floods me as I let go of my own release, and I chuckle at the thought of having to change the sheets. It’s worth it to see Constance let go. She’s a different person to the one who landed on my doorstep a few weeks ago, but no less determined.
She’s a lot like me.
I love it.
She licks her lips. “Try again?”
I can’t help but grin. “How about we have some breakfast? I want to take you for a drive today.”
“Where?”
“To the cove.”
She grins. “I haven’t been there since I was little.”
“That’s what I figured, if you’d been there at all. It’s a nice day, and we can go get our feet wet.” I smirk. “As opposed to the bed.”
It takes her a moment, but she blushes and laughs. “I hope I’m not too demanding,” she says softly.
“I’m pretty sure I can keep up.”
Her expression turns serious. “You must think I’m crazy at times.”
I shake my head. “I think you’re a twenty-two-year-old woman who’s lived a very sheltered life. I’m pretty sure it’s normal to enjoy exploring your sexuality.”
“I’m glad it’s you.” She digs her fingers into my beard, and I love it.
“I’m glad it’s me too. The alternative really disturbs me.”
She licks her lips. “Do you think the police should know I’m here?”
I let out a sigh. “Yeah, they should. I’ve been weighing that up since you got here. I want that bastard taken down for what he tried on my sister-in-law, but at the same time I want to protect you.”
“If you think talking to them will help, I will.”
My heart swells with pride when I think back to her first days and how scared she was, comparing them to now. Now, she’s so much braver.
I don’t think she knows just how strong she is.
* * *
After lunch, I take her for the promised drive.
Since she got all her new clothes, she’s not been as scared of going outside. That dress had so much of her identity tied up in it, and wearing my shirts didn’t ease her mind as much as having her own things. I guess adopting her own style has helped her confidence, or maybe it’s just the feeling that she’s less recognisable as ‘one of them’ now.
Whatever the reason, it’s so good to see her shine.
We pull up at the cove and hop out of the car, walking across the parking lot to the beach.
“I remember coming here when I was little.” She slips out of her jandals and digs her toes into the golden sand. “It’s so peaceful.”
“Sometimes. Other times it gets a bit crazy around here.”
We walk along the beach. I like coming down here during the week while everyone else is working. There’
s barely anyone around, and it’s so peaceful. She’s so quiet, and I nudge her arm.
“I was just thinking that I could do with a little crazy. It’ll be good to be around other people, and noise. I like the noise,” she says.
“Noise?”
“My life feels like it’s been so quiet. I didn’t realise how isolating it was even though there were plenty of people around. Just being out like this is … liberating.”
I grin. “I’m glad. If you ever get overwhelmed when we’re out, tell me, and I’ll take you home.”
She shrugs. “I survived the shopping trip. I can survive anything.”
Laughing, I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her into me. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Are you teasing—”
She doesn’t finish her sentence as I silence her with a kiss. Everything’s perfect.
When I pull away, she looks at me with those big grey eyes full of affection. “That’s cheating.”
“Want me to do it again?”
Constance smiles. “As if I’d say no.”
She laughs as I press my lips to hers.
We walk for a little longer, until she yawns.
“Tired already?” I ask.
“It’s all this fresh air. I’m not used to it.”
I shake my head. “What am I going to do with you? I can’t take you anywhere. Come on. Let’s get home.”
She smiles. “Home.”
On the way back, she falls behind, and I slow.
“Your steps are too big.”
“Maybe yours are too small.”
She pokes her tongue out at me, and I laugh.
“This is sounding a bit like Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” I grin. “I could always throw you over my shoulder like I did the night we met.”
Constance laughs, squealing when I tackle her. I pick her up by the legs and throw her over my shoulder.
“Corey, put me down. Is it too late to tell you I’m afraid of heights?”
I spin her around and drop her to her feet. Her eyes show me just how happy she is, and that smile bores straight into my heart.
“There’s not far to go. I’ll make my steps just right,” I say.
She links her fingers behind my neck. “Maybe we can have a nap when we get home. In your bed that’s just right.”
I grin. “Sounds good to me.”
Holding hands, we walk the rest of the way back to the car park.
I reach for her hand when we climb in the truck and place it on top of the gearstick. She grins as I place my hand over hers and put the truck in gear to leave.
“I should learn to drive.”
“That would be a really good idea. Then you wouldn’t be so dependent on me.” I shoot a glance at her. “Not that it’s a bad thing right now. I kinda like it.”
She smacks her lips together. “When we get home, can you call the police and tell them about me?”
I grip her hand tight. “Are you sure you’re ready?”
She nods. “It’s time for me to move on with my life.”
* * *
Graham’s on my doorstep after dinner, and not too happy.
He glares as I open the door.
“Graham.”
“Corey. I’m still pissed you didn’t tell me about your visitor.”
“She walked in straight under your noses.”
“You’re so smug sometimes.”
“I have every right to be. My only concern has been protecting Constance. She’s safe with me.”
He nods. “I have no doubt about that. You still lied to me.”
I shrug. “What would you guys have done? She needed to feel safe, not be harassed about what she knew. Not at first. And I’m still going to be all over you if you give her too much shit.”
A smile spreads across his face. “That’s not the only reason you’ve kept her hidden, is it?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“I’m a married man. I know what that look means.”
“What about it?” I snap.
He shakes his head. “Corey, as long as you’re both happy and it’s legal, I have no issues with it. I always thought it must be lonely living up here by yourself.”
“It wasn’t until she arrived.” I lick my lips. “Graham, she’ll tell you everything she knows. You don’t have to be hard on her.”
“From what I’ve heard of that place, she’s probably been through enough. I just want a chat. There might be something that she thinks is insignificant, but is important to us.”
I nod. “Better come in, then.”
Constance is standing in the middle of the living room when we walk in the door, her hands clasped together. She would have heard a fair bit of Graham and my conversation.
I give her a wink, and her shoulders relax. “Graham, this is Constance.”
He nods. “Nice to meet you.”
Constance links her arm in mine, and Graham nods, as if acknowledging our relationship.
“You can ask me anything you want,” she says.
“How about we sit at the table? I’ll make coffee. You’ll be pleased to know I’ve become quite domesticated since this one moved in,” I say.
Graham chuckles. “You mean, you have milk and sugar?”
I nod. “Constance takes both. I’m not taking the risk of getting in trouble with her.”
She laughs as she sits down. “I’m not as bad as he’s making me out to be.”
“Well, I already know Corey has trouble with the truth,” Graham says. Thankfully his tone is amused and not angry. I should have told him earlier. I know that, but the thought of him talking to her now sets me on edge.
By the time I make the coffee, the pair of them are chatting like old friends. I place the cups down and sit between them.
“I was just telling Constance that this is an informal chat. Obviously she’s not in any trouble, but I just wanted to reassure both of you that’s the case. I’ll take notes, but I just want to get some background.”
I nod. “That’s fine.”
He directs his gaze to Constance. “So, I guess you already know my first question. Why did you leave?”
Constance flicks a glance at me. “Ash told me who I was to marry.”
“You never thought it was unusual he was the one to pick out your husband?”
Con shrugs. “It’s the way I was brought up. There are a few families that have been there since Ash’s father, Robert, started the place, and they decided that was how things were to be.”
“But you didn’t want that?” Graham’s eyes are full of empathy. I know he’s interviewed a few former members of the group, and I’m sure he’s heard stories.
She shakes her head. “I liked a couple of the boys when I was young, and then they were married to other people.” She meets my gaze before looking back at Graham. “The more I thought about it, the less I liked the idea of having Ash pick my husband. I wanted to choose someone for myself.”
“And you left when he picked a man for you?”
Her eyes glisten with tears and she nods. “The man he picked is around the same age as my father. I thought if I could keep my head down and under Ash’s radar he might forget I exist. But he told me he was saving me for something special.”
Graham’s eyebrows rise. “Did he ever touch you?”
She shakes her head. “No, but he told me that John would be a safe choice, after …” Her cheeks flame with colour.
“After what?”
“There’s someone Ash was doing business with. The guy spent the night with a couple of Ash’s girls, and then wanted someone a little more … inexperienced.”
“He was pimping you out?” I ask.
For a moment, she looks confused, and then she nods. “I guess that’s as good a word as any. It would be for one night, and then I’d be safely married to a man who didn’t care if I was a virgin or not.”
I have the biggest knot in my throat. “You didn’t tell me that part.”
>
She shakes her head, and looks down at her hands. “I was ashamed.”
“Of what? You did nothing wrong.”
Graham grips my arm. “I think Constance knows that. But can you imagine telling that story to someone you just met?”
“She just told you.”
“Maybe because I’m the one involved in investigating that dodgy bastard. The more info she gives me, the better.”
I nod, reaching for Constance’s hand. “I’m sorry. It just drives me a little crazy that he thought he could run your life in this way. That he’s run other people’s lives.”
Those grey eyes I adore are fixed on me, and she gives me a small smile. “I know.”
“So where to next?” I ask.
“I’ve got a blueprint of the complex with me. We’ve gathered quite a picture of it, but I want to know if there’s something we don’t know about. Maybe Constance can fill in some of the gaps.”
I squeeze Con’s hand. “Are you good with that?”
She nods. “I’ll do whatever I can. My parents are still in there.”
“Do they want to leave?” Graham asks.
Shrugging, she sighs. “It would be difficult for them to do. They’ve been there for most of their adult lives. It’s what they know. They don’t trust Ash the way they trusted his father, but surviving in the real world would be a challenge.” Her eyebrows twitch. “My mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis a few years ago. She has good and bad patches. I always thought we’d be better off closer to real medical care, but that’s been their life for so long.”
Graham lets out a loud breath. “It’s a tough situation, alright. I’ll talk it all through with my superiors and see what we can do.”
“Thank you. If you can get an update on how my parents are doing, I’d be grateful.”
“I’ll ask.” He turns over his papers. “I’ve managed to leave the blueprint in the car. I’ll go and grab it.”
Constance nods as Graham stands, and as he walks from the room, I take her hand in mine. “You okay?”
She gives me a small smile. “It actually feels good to get it all out. And I feel like I might finally be some help.”
I lean closer, stroking her hair and planting a kiss on her forehead. “Remember, if it gets too much, I’ll tell him to piss off.”
