by Tia Siren
“That’s not what I meant, either,” she blurted out and jerked away from me with a sigh. “I want to go back to work, Bastian. I want to go back to some sort of normalcy.”
“I don’t think that would be a great idea,” I said, shaking my head. “There are police officers in and out all the time. It’s too much for you to be there right now.”
“What do I do then? I can’t stay guarded in a hotel room for the rest of my life.”
I regarded Joanna’s tense form as she bounced her legs anxiously up and down. “You could press charges, Joanna. You could go above Sid’s head. I have names and numbers that you could call.”
“It wouldn’t go anywhere,” she said flatly. “It won’t go anywhere. Sid will talk himself out of trouble. He’s done it so many times.”
Frustration rose in my chest. I had known that talking to Joanna about pressing charges against Sid would be difficult, but it seemed damn near impossible. There was always a fear blocking that direction, but I knew it was the only way a crooked cop would be set straight.
“I’m just saying that if you want to press charges, that is the only way Sid will go away,” I said sternly. “You can’t keep playing this cat and mouse game, Joanna. He won’t stop because you aren’t standing up to him. He won’t ever leave me alone either because I have no intention of letting you go. You have to stop it yourself. You have to face the demon inside you that is saying you should be afraid of him. I can only shelter you, but that’s eventually going to stop if you want to step out to resume a normal life.”
Joanna blinked a few times at that. I let those words soak in while I rose from the couch to draw us both a hot bath. The entire week played heavily on my mind as I entered the bathroom to turn the tub faucet on.
I slipped out of my shirt to toss it onto the tiled floor. I found myself praying for the first time in a very long time that Joanna would hear the logic in my words. The only way this would ever stop was if she stopped it herself. She had the control and the choice to do it. It was only a matter of whether she could find the strength inside herself to do so. I couldn’t do anything else until she made the decision to tell the truth.
Chapter 32
Joanna
I listened to the sound of water rushing in the bathroom while guilt washed over me. Even if I didn’t want to think about it, I knew Bastian was right. I had to do something or else it would never stop. Ever. You have to stop it yourself.
A part of me coiled back in fear because of the repercussions of talking to someone above Sid’s head. I couldn’t vocalize to Bastian that there was a chance it would make everything that much worse if I talked to someone about it.
I had taken another risk tonight by leaving with Bastian when I knew without a doubt that Sid would arrive at my mother’s house expecting an answer. I chewed on the inside of my cheek anxiously while I listened to Bastian shuffle about in the bathroom. His driver would keep an eye out for Sid, but I needed more time to convince my mother that she shouldn’t trust Sid. I needed to buy an extra day or two.
Grabbing the phone my mother had gotten me from inside my purse, I let out a relieved breath to see no missed phone calls or text messages. I knew without a doubt that Sid would’ve texted me to let me know if he knew I had left. Being silent wasn’t a part of Sid’s personality.
I scrolled down to the number he had put into my phone before leaving.
I need an extra day to think about everything. I’ll let you know my answer.
I stared down at my text message with a pounding heart. I hadn’t wanted to risk texting Sid back at home with Bastian there with me. I held my breath as I watched the delivered message immediately turn into read at 11:02 p.m. Three dots pulled up as Sid texted his response.
My fingers trembled while I waited for the reply.
“You coming in for a bath?” Bastian called out from the bathroom. “It’s nearly done in here.”
“Be there in a minute,” I managed to say in an even voice.
My phone vibrated. One more day. That’s all you have.
Twenty-four hours was all I had left to figure out what I wanted to do. I erased the message quickly before placing my phone back in my purse. For now, though, I had a few hours to just enjoy Bastian’s company after missing him desperately for the past few days.
Steam rushed out when I opened the bathroom door. After quickly closing it behind me, I found Bastian standing next to the tub shirtless and shoeless. I let my gaze settle on the strong muscles of his back while he leaned over the edge of the tub to twist the faucet off. He turned to face me then with an arched eyebrow.
“What were you doing out there?” he asked.
I gladly slid out of my shoes at the sight of a hot bubble bath once the steam cleared out a bit. Soaking in hot water sounded sinfully good at that moment. It was also clear that Bastian had every intention of doing the same thing when he reached for the button on his pants to loosen the band around his waist.
“Nothing,” I said quickly. I didn’t want to talk about Sid anymore. Not for the next few hours at least. “I’m just ready to get in the bath is all.”
Bastian extended a hand to the tub as he watched me with darkened eyes that promised more than just a bath.
“You first,” he said huskily.
I started to strip free of my clothes with Bastian’s eyes watching me intently. Unlike the first night when I had stripped for him tipsily, I felt confident in my movements this time. It felt much more natural and erotic than the first time I had tried to seduce Bastian into being intimate with me. The desire to have him touch me certainly hadn’t changed however.
He held out a hand to help me climb into the hot water that smelled of vanilla bean. The bubbly water immediately soothed my aching muscles when I slipped in with a relieved sigh. I rested my head against the edge of the tub with my eyes closed.
The sound of Bastian’s pants hitting the floor filled the bathroom. The water rippled a moment later as he slipped in with an equally relieved groan.
“It feels so good to be here right now,” I murmured, letting my legs float out in front of me. The tub was big enough for us both to stretch out fully if we wanted.
“No kidding.”
Bastian’s fingers gripped my ankles as he tugged me in his direction. I let the water and bubbles trail through my fingers lazily before Bastian coaxed my legs to wrap around his trim waist. He helped me straighten up water trailing down my back from my now drenched hair. I nestled against him comfortably while we both floated in the bathtub that felt more like a private swimming pool.
“I really did miss you,” Bastian said quietly. “Don’t ever run out like that on me again.”
I rested my forehead against his with a sigh. “I’m sorry. I just thought it would be easier to leave to avoid both of us getting hurt.”
“I’m not a fan of getting hurt, either,” he said. “Both of us have to realize that at some point we will hurt each other. Not on purpose, of course.”
“Does that mean you have plans of sticking with me for a while then?”
“Absolutely, my darling.” His arms tightened around my waist. “I have no intention of ever letting you go.”
It was a funny thing. I recalled Sid saying the same thing to me months ago and how it had struck fear in me. Hearing it come from Bastian’s lips evoked an entirely different emotion. It made my heart skip with love because I didn’t want to let him go. I didn’t want him to let me go either.
“I love you,” I said.
Bastian’s eyes fastened onto mine and searched my expression for something. I let every emotion I felt display itself to him. No more lying or guarding myself. I wanted him to see that I was taking a risk by letting my guard down to let him in.
“I love you, too,” he said. “I’m sorry for everything I did. I should’ve told you what was going on.”
I smiled up at him while I adjusted my arms around his strong shoulders. “I know you were trying to protect me now. It
doesn’t matter. Let’s just be honest about what is coming around the corner, okay?”
“That’s fine with me,” Bastian replied, smoothing a hand along my spine with a smile. “I’m just glad that you came back with me tonight.”
“It really was no-brainer to come with you. I didn’t want to go home in the first place because I had a feeling that Sid had managed to convince my mother you were the bad guy, not him.”
Bastian chuckled humorlessly. “I guess that means meeting your parents is out of the question then, huh?”
“I think once I go forward with talking to someone, they’ll see that I’m serious about what I told them. Right now she thinks that Sid is trying to protect me from you.”
“What a sick, fucked-up game he’s playing,” Bastian spat out. “I swear, there needs to be a warning sticker on that prick’s head about being a narcissist and sociopath. It should warn others that he’ll automatically manipulate them into believing his version of the story.”
“You’re right,” I said and pressed a kiss against his wet forehead. “Don’t worry about all of it right now. Let’s just forget about it for a little bit at least.”
He sucked in a deep breath to calm the anger that was steadily rising inside him. We sat there together for a long time with my legs and arms wrapped around him. Our lips occasionally brushed against one another’s in feather-light kisses before they molted into something fiery. It was a slow burn of passion that built between the two of us while our hands swept down to brush each other intimately.
The feeling of Bastian’s fingers sweeping along to cup my breasts tenderly, followed by cupping me gently between my legs, nearly drove me over the edge right there and then. I needed this man more than ever. The realization flashed through my mind as I pulled back to look down at Bastian. He opened his eyes in confusion.
I loved him. It wasn’t that girlish type of love I had once thought I’d felt for Sid. This was the real type of love that you read about in books and saw in movies. It was passionate, intense, and it burned every inch of me. I couldn’t push him away even if I tried to, even if I knew it would spare him his life, his business, his livelihood.
“Don’t think about it,” Bastian whispered, reading my thoughts with precision. “I’d give it up in a heartbeat to be with you. Don’t you even worry about any of that.”
I nodded, and my eyes hooded when he leaned up to kiss me again. Bastian’s kisses grew deeper and more dominating by the minute as he cradled me firmly against his rock-hard erection that pushed up against my belly. He lifted me up to sheath himself inside me with a sigh while gently rocking my hips the way he knew would feel good to both of us.
I clutched his shoulders uncertainly. Being on top had never been an option before, and I could see why. It gave me the power to control the pleasure and pace. Bastian leaned back against the side of the tub while he let me have control. He was willing to give up a bit of power to let me be in charge of our lovemaking. My heart soared at that while I rolled my hips up and down and pleasure rippled through me.
I kept it slow and steady with Bastian’s fingers digging into my hips. Higher and higher grew the sensation between the two of us. Reaching beneath the water, Bastian rubbed at me in gentle circles until my peak shot up through my spine. I tipped over the edge with a cry while Bastian’s fingers gripped my hips with more force. He thrust up into me with a grunt. Water spilled over the edge of the bath while shudders went through me. I could barely hang on while Bastian continued to thrust up into me out of desperation for his own release. He sank back against the edge of the tub when he finally reached that pinnacle of pleasure.
Exhaustion tugged at me as I slipped back into the now lukewarm water. Wordlessly, Bastian rose from the tub to drain it. He dried himself off quickly before extending a towel to me. I climbed out of the tub weakly, and he rubbed me dry before guiding me in the direction of the bedroom.
I curled up underneath the sheets and blankets with a sleepy yawn. Bastian climbed into the bed alongside me to wrap an arm around my waist. I was on the cusp of falling asleep when I heard the distinct sound of my phone vibrating in the living room. I held my breath anxiously, but Bastian didn’t utter a word. He was already fast asleep next to me in the bed.
There was no doubt in my mind who was calling me. I trusted Bastian, though, when he said that his driver would look out for my mom. Nothing bad would happen to her. I fell asleep, snuggled up in the protective circle of Bastian’s arms.
Chapter 33
Bastian
It took all my strength the next morning to rise at the time my alarm clock went off on my phone to get in the shower. I was tempted to stay snuggled in bed alongside Joanna as she slept peacefully next to me, but I forced myself to climb out of bed as quietly as possible so as not to disturb her.
I settled in the warm shower while I mentally went over what needed to happen today. I needed to get ahold of Shelly right away to let her know that Joanna had indicated to me that my legal problems were undoubtedly caused by Sid. I needed to find out who Joanna could talk to about pressing charges against Sid, and how I could get this jackass stripped of his authority as a cop along with that gun he pointed at everyone. I had a feeling that the only reason Sid waved that gun around anymore was because he lacked the equipment to make himself feel better as a man. That much I suspected from how Joanna responded to our lovemaking every single time.
Drying off quickly, I dressed in the living room while I listened to Joanna’s phone vibrate like crazy in her purse. I reached for it but then pulled my hand away before I could take it out. I didn’t want to become Sid by monitoring Joanna’s every call and movement. I trusted her to do the right thing. I trusted her to keep herself safe now that she was here until I could figure something out with Shelly.
It was close to 7:50 a.m. when I called Shelly to arrange a meeting at my office in thirty minutes.
“I have a meeting at eight thirty with another client,” she said, exasperated. “Can you wait until then?”
“I suppose,” I said reluctantly. I didn’t like the idea of not jumpstarting an investigation into Sid’s involvement in this bullshit case against me—especially because Joanna had come back with me. It was only a matter of time before the guy found her all over again. “I’ll meet you at nine sharp in my office. It’s important.”
“How so?” she asked.
“I have Joanna here with me,” I said, and I heard Shelly sigh into the phone. “She told me that Sid has been threatening her to come back to him. If she goes back to him, then he’ll make all these legal problems go away.”
“While I see your point that he’s admitting to guilt, none of that will work without Joanna’s word to back it up. This will appear to be a love triangle, two men fighting over a woman. I’m just saying, Bastian. I told you it might be a good idea for you to cool it with Joanna until I can come talk to you.”
“It’s not going to happen,” I said flatly. “He’s threatening to kill her and to hurt her mother. I am not going to let that happen.”
“I understand, Bastian. You have to convince Joanna to think about filing a police report. That’s all I’m saying. It would open an investigation against Sid and blow this whole thing wide open.”
I smoothed a hand over my eyes because I knew that was futile at the moment. Joanna didn’t want to file a report yet, so it was up to me. I had to do it while we had a bit of time left before Sid tried to figure out where she had gone again.
“You’re right,” I said. “I’ll see you in my office at nine.”
I hung up before returning to the bedroom where Joanna slept peacefully, curled up against the pillow I had been sleeping on. My heart constricted in my chest as I leaned over her to press a soft kiss against her cheek. She stirred sleepily underneath me before rolling over onto her back to gaze up at me with dreams still clinging to her eyes.
“What’s going on?” she asked, her voice still thick with sleep. “Is everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine,” I said. “I just have to get into the office to handle a few things today. You going to be okay staying here today?”
“Of course I am. Can I order room service?”
I smiled down at her teasing question. The tips of her breasts popped out from beneath the sheets and blankets. It took all my restraint to pull away before I found my mouth nibbling at that tender flesh there.
“Order away,” I said. “My credit card is on file.”
I leaned down to peck a kiss to her lips before she rolled back over to curl up. I adjusted the blankets about her shoulders.
“I’ll call a bit later,” I whispered. “Make sure to only answer the door if you know who it is.”
I stopped by the front desk to leave instructions for a security guard to remain at the door at all times before I felt confident enough to leave. After defrosting the windows, I drove back to my office, which was over thirty minutes away, and met Shelly in the parking lot right as she closed her car door.
“Talk about timing,” she said, arching an eyebrow at me. “What’s going on that you needed to see me so badly?”
I grasped Shelly by the elbow to steer her in the direction of the private elevator. I didn’t trust the unusual number of cars with tinted windows sitting in the parking garage. I waited until the doors closed before I turned to look at Shelly.
“I know Sid is behind this ridiculous harassment case,” I said. “Joanna admitted it to me herself. He’s trying to extort everyone to get what he wants.”
Shelly sighed as she shook her head at me. “As sad as it is, Bastian, I can’t do anything about this without Joanna here to talk to me about it. Is she afraid to press charges against him?”
“He’s a cop, Shelly. You think she has any faith that the police department will do anything about this?” I shook my head in disgust. “It’s only going to piss him off even more. She admitted that to me, too.”
