Darkest Night--A Romantic Thriller

by Tara Thomas

She smirked at him and ran a perfectly manicured nail down his chest. “I have an idea, come with me to my room. You can see the pictures of the evidence I took with my phone.”

  He felt like he was going to be sick. Fortunately, Elise didn’t say anything further. She gracefully rose to her feet and walked out the door. As the sound of her heels grew faint, he realized just how much he underestimated her.

  CHAPTER 10

  Tilly smiled and waved to Keaton as she walked out of the building after her last class of the day. He stood by an oak tree with his hands in his pockets. He looked laid-back and relaxed … until she got closer to him. He was frowning and there were worry lines etched in his face.

  She paused. “Oh, no. Is it Bea? Is she worse?”

  “No.” Keaton looked around like he was expecting someone to be watching or listening. It freaked her out. “Is there somewhere we can go that’s private?”

  “Your house?” she asked, not understanding why they needed to go somewhere when they had the huge mansion he lived in.

  He shook his head.

  “Empty classroom?” she suggested.

  He thought about it and nodded. “Lead the way.”

  She walked back into the building she’d recently vacated, wondering the entire time what had Keaton so on edge. Not knowing where else to go, she led him to the classroom her last class had been in. It was a small room and everyone had left. She didn’t even wait to sit down.

  “What’s up?” she asked.

  This time he didn’t hesitate. “Elise is blackmailing me.”

  “What? Elise?” The sad part was, she wasn’t really that surprised. “About what?”

  “It’s crazy as hell, but she says she has proof that Dad fathered an illegitimate daughter and then had her and her mother killed.”

  “That’s ridiculous. What kind of proof does she have?”

  “She hasn’t shown me yet, but she said she had photos, e-mails, and bank statements. She wants me to think about it.” He spoke the words with disgust.

  “What did Knox and Kipling say?”

  He shook his head. “That’s the thing. She says I can’t tell them or else she’ll set us all up.”

  “It sounds crazy as hell.”

  “I know, that’s what I thought. But the thing is, it’s so crazy, I can’t see her making it up.”

  “Why is she blackmailing you? Doesn’t her family have money? I mean, they’re as rich as you guys, right?”

  “It’s not money she wants,” he said quietly.

  It took her a few seconds to register what he said and what it meant. “Oh, God,” she said as understanding dawned.

  “Yeah.” He looked down and took a deep breath. “Exactly.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I wanted to get your opinion. Obviously, I’m not doing anything until I see this so-called proof she has.”

  “That might be all it takes. For you to call her bluff.”

  “If only it would be that easy.”

  Tilly had a sinking suspicion that he was right. “So if it turns out it looks legit?”

  Keaton clenched his teeth and growled out. “I’m not marrying her.”

  “You can’t possibly think I’m suggesting that.” She put a hand on his shoulder and felt the tension leave his body at her touch. “But we have to look at this as a serious threat. She might possibly have the power to destroy Benedict Industries and your entire family in the process.”

  Keaton took a deep breath and looked up at the ceiling. “If it looks legit, I guess I’ll have to pretend to be engaged to her while I figure a way out. And I’m not sure what that will involve, but I’m sure I’ll hate it.”

  Deep down, she knew it was the best plan. In all likelihood, it was the only one that made sense. But she hated the very thought of Keaton and Elise being engaged, no matter how pretend it was.

  And she knew it wouldn’t be pretend to Elise.

  “I know it’s the best plan. But if you’re engaged, even if it’s pretend in your mind, you and I can’t.…” She couldn’t get the words out and her eyes teared up. “I hate her so much. I mean, seriously? I just got you back.”

  “Hey.” Keaton pulled her into his arms. “I’m not going anywhere and even if I have to pretend to be engaged, there’s no way in hell I’m marrying that bitch.”

  “I know. My brain gets it, but just the thought of you and her…” She shivered just thinking about it.

  “It’s going to be fine. I promise.” He ran his hands up and down her arms. “Let’s get out of here. I don’t want to go back to the house tonight.”

  She didn’t want to go back to his house ever again, but she wasn’t telling him that now. “A hotel?”

  “Yes, but in town this time.”

  She knew what he was doing, flaunting their relationship. While she wasn’t sure it was the smartest thing to do at the moment, she wanted to flaunt it badly.

  “Let’s go,” she said, and held out her hand.

  She’d expected him to take it and lead her outside, but he pulled her to him and kissed her. At the touch of his lips, she felt the tension leave her body.

  “No matter what happens or whatever Elise says, know that my heart is yours and yours alone,” he said when he pulled back.

  When he spoke like that, she felt invincible.

  * * *

  After checking into the hotel, they decided to go for a walk. Tilly tried to drink in every minute with him because if there turned out to be any truth to Elise’s claim’s, she knew the time was rapidly approaching when she couldn’t be seen out in public holding Keaton’s hand. At least not for who knew how long.

  Since they had ended up skipping lunch, they decided to grab a few to-go sandwiches and have an early picnic dinner. It was a typical Charleston summer day, which meant it was nearly unbearable to be outside for any length of time. They found a shady spot near the waterfront and sat on a bench, people-watching and making small talk.

  As they finished eating, she cleared her throat and he looked up. “I was wondering if there’d be a place for me at the new division of Benedict Industries as an afterschool tutor? I love your idea about giving back.”

  His eyes grew wide with excitement. “That’s a great idea. I love it and you’ll be perfect.”

  “I want to be a part of this new venture with you.” She felt her cheeks heat.

  “Come here and kiss me.”

  She went into his arms willingly, amazed at how she’d become accustomed to his kisses in such a short amount of time. She didn’t want to think about not having access to his lips if the plan played out with Elise. Even less did she want to think about Elise kissing him.

  Keaton sighed and pulled back, smoothing his hands over her hair. “She’s here, isn’t she? Already between us.”

  Damn, was she so transparent? Even when they were kissing?

  “I don’t mean for her to be, but I close my eyes and I see her kissing you. I see her hands on you. It’s like she’s already got her claws in you.” She shook her head. “No matter what happens, you have to resist her.”

  “I know. Believe me, I know.” He ran his thumb over her lips.

  She knew he got it. After all, he’d be the one who actually had to pretend like he liked Elise. At least she herself could continue with her undisguised disdain.

  “Let’s walk down to the port and then we’ll go back to the hotel.” His eyes danced with merriment. “I need your hands on me. Because they are the only hands I want on my body.” He lifted her hands to his lips and kissed each one.

  “I could so go for that.”

  Smiling once again, she told herself she wasn’t going to think of Elise anymore for the rest of the night. That hussy had already tainted too much of her time with Keaton and she wasn’t going to let her continue to do it.

  “Should we get ice cream?” Keaton asked, pulling her away from her thoughts.

  “You can. I’m stil
l full.”

  They stopped so he could get a cup of ice cream and then laughed when she ate half of it.

  “You can get your own, you know,” he teased.

  “That’s all I want, any more and my hips wouldn’t be able to make it out of your door.”

  “Good.” He lowered his voice. “That means I get to keep you in bed. Which is fine by me, because I happen to love your hips. They’re perfect for me to grab onto.”

  “Keaton.” She swatted his arm, giggling because she knew he was telling the truth. Her giggles died as she looked out the window of the ice cream parlor and she felt rage start to boil inside. “Damn it.”

  What?” Keaton turned his head.

  But the spot where Elise had stood seconds before was now empty.

  Tilly nodded toward the window. “Elise was just standing there.”

  He leaned over and kissed her. Take that, Elise. “It’s going to be okay.”

  “You keep saying that and I want to believe you, but at times I feel like she’s the one with all the power and she’s going to use it to tear us apart.”

  “I’m not going to allow that to happen.” He stood up and held out his hand. “How about we run by the office on Columbus Street and then head back to the hotel where I can positively guarantee neither one of us will even think about a certain blond until sometime tomorrow?”

  She put her hand in his. “Deal.”

  They walked down the street still holding hands. She loved how he was always touching her in some way when they were together. If any other man did it, she’d probably find it annoying, but when Keaton did it, it brought her comfort. Made her feel protected.

  “Do you need to do something at the office?” she asked. Benedict Industries had a small office near the Columbus Street Terminal.

  He nodded. “There’s some paperwork I need to pick up. Normally, Knox would take care of it, but I told Kipling I’d get it since, you know, Bea and all.”

  Yes, she did. She’d tried to call Bea’s half-brother the night before. She was friends with his fiancée, but she came to discover they were out of the country. Escaping wedding planning madness, if she knew Janie.

  They were almost at the terminal and Keaton appeared to be focused on something else.

  “I’m going to stay out here while you go in,” she told him as they neared the office. “I’m going to go look out over the water.”

  “Do you think it’s safe? I’d feel better if you came with me.”

  “There’s a guard right over there.” She pointed to the armed man standing nearby. “And there’s a police officer across the street.”

  He didn’t want to leave her, she could tell, and it was silly, but for some reason she felt like she had to stay outside. She tried again. “I need to prove to myself that I can be alone and not be terrified.”

  “I understand.” He stroked her cheek with his thumb. “I’ll be quick.”

  She rose on her toes and kissed him. “Thank you.”

  He was only gone for a few minutes. Before she knew it, he was back at her side.

  She smiled and turned to put her arms around him. “I say we head back to the hotel and you make love to me so many times, I forget everything about this day except you.”

  Keaton gave her a small smile and cupped her cheek, his thumb stroking her cheekbone. She felt herself lean into his touch. “I think that’s the best idea I’ve heard all day.”

  She turned her head and kissed the palm of his hand. “It should be. It was your idea, after all.”

  * * *

  They’d barely made it into the room and locked the door before Keaton pushed Tilly against the wall. She gasped as he grabbed one of her wrist in each of his hands and held them above her. He shifted his weight so she could feel the length of him and how hard he was.

  He was hanging on by a thread and he needed her to understand before they moved forward.

  “I can’t be slow or gentle right now,” he said. “Tell me now if that’s not okay or not what you want and I’ll go take a cold shower or run five miles.”

  He half expected her to tell him to stop, but she surprised him by biting his earlobe. “Take me however you need. I’m yours.”

  He pulled back to see the truth of her words reflected in her eyes.

  He wasn’t sure what he’d ever done to deserve a woman like Tilly. She was accepting of him, even on his most unlovable day. She was quickly becoming vital to him. It shook him to his core to realize just how necessary she’d become. It was more than just the need to have her physically or even the need to simply have her in his life. He needed her to be safe and at that moment, he knew he’d give up his own life to keep her that way.

  Keeping her hands immobilized in his grip, he took her lips in a brutal kiss, tasting her, imprinting everything about her to his memory. She whimpered deep in her throat and lifted her right leg and hooked it around his waist, drawing him closer, even as he feared he should pull back.

  Unable to stop himself, he let go of her wrists and yanked her shirt over her head. She looked at him with lust-filled eyes.

  “You like it when I’m rough.” It wasn’t a question and she didn’t answer.

  His hands dropped to the waistband of her jeans and he hurriedly unbuttoned them. He growled as she repeated the action on him. He had hers pushed below her hips and there was only a scrap of silk standing between him and what he wanted.

  He shoved the silk aside just enough to allow him to push two fingers inside her. “Damn, Tilly. You’re soaked.” He pumped in and out several times, but removed his hand completely when her body shook with an impeding release. “Not yet. I want to feel you shatter around me.”

  “Now.”

  He hadn’t thought he could get any harder, but that one word proved him wrong. He bent down, taking her jeans with him, but stood up without removing his. She raised an eyebrow at him.

  “I’m not even going to bother taking my jeans or your underwear off,” he said. “I’m going to take you just like this: dirty, raw, and hard.”

  Her only reply was a shaky “Yes,” that ended with a sharp intake of breath.

  That was the only word he needed. “Turn around and face the wall.”

  She whimpered but moved into position, bending at the waist slightly in order to give him better access. He stroked himself as he watched, wondering if she had any idea just how damn sexy she was.

  True to his word, he only unzipped his jeans enough to remove his cock and she let out a moan when he pressed it against the silk on her backside.

  “Feel how hard I am?” he asked, slipping on a condom. “You do this to me. Only you.”

  But it seemed that Tilly was beyond talking. She only nodded. He pushed the tiny scrap of material between her legs out of the way and with one hard thrust, buried himself inside her.

  Her head fell back and she clenched around him as her climax overtook her.

  “Damn, Tilly,” he said in a half growl.

  He started a rough rhythm, but listening to her gasps of pleasure, he could tell she didn’t mind. Everything about her felt so good. He’d never been with anyone who could both capture his mind and make his body rise. He leaned over her back and in low whispers, he told her how beautiful she was, how sexy, and that she was made for him. But as he felt her second release approach in time with his own, he knew the truth. They were made for each other.

  * * *

  The next morning, Tilly woke relaxed and more rested than she’d felt in ages. Judging by the sunlight streaming in through the small crack in the window, it was still relatively early. She looked over Keaton’s shoulder and saw it was just after seven.

  Odd that she’d wake up so soon, she thought with a smile. After the night they had, she’d expected to be asleep until at least ten. Keaton was still snoring softly. She pushed up on her elbow and gave him a soft kiss on his forehead. A flash of light on the nightstand caught her eye.

  Someone was calling him. Her heart pounded as s
he took notice of the name of the person calling. Derrick, the Benedicts’ lawyer.

  “Keaton.” She shook his shoulder.

  He didn’t budge.

  “Keaton. Wake up.” She shook him harder. “Derrick’s trying to get in touch with you.”

  “What?” He was fully awake now, looking around.

  “Your phone just rang. It was him.”

  He grabbed the phone. “I have a voice mail,” he said and held it up to his ear. After listening, he immediately made a call.

  “Derrick. It’s Keaton.” He was quiet as the lawyer spoke, but his face turned an unhealthy pale color and she scooted closer. He hung up without saying anything.

  “Keaton?” she asked, her concern growing with every second that passed.

  He didn’t look at her. “The police are looking for Kipling.”

  “Has he been threatened?”

  “No, the other blond twin has been murdered. They think he did it.”

  CHAPTER 11

  Keaton’s phone rang almost immediately after he hung up. “It’s Kipling.” He answered it on speaker while going around the room packing their belongings. “Kip,” he said. “Where are you?”

  “I’m on my way home and why do I have all these calls from Derrick? I just tried to call him and got his voice mail.” He laughed. “You aren’t at the police station, are you? I thought for a minute maybe you’d been arrested.”

  Keaton didn’t laugh, but stopped what he was doing and looked over to Tilly. She felt numb. Kipling didn’t know.

  “Keaton?” Kipling said, and worry now colored his tone. “You haven’t been arrested, have you?”

  “No. But listen to me. The police are looking for you. Tilly and I are meeting Derrick at home. Call him. We’ll see you there.”

  “What? Keaton? Don’t hang up.”

  Keaton picked up the phone. “The other blond twin was found murdered last night and the police want to talk to you. That’s all I know. Call Derrick. We’ll meet you at home.” He disconnected.

  To Tilly, it looked as if Keaton was in shock. She walked over to him and put her arms around him. “It’s going to be fine. We know he didn’t do it and I’m willing to bet Alyssa knows it, too.”