Her body began to shiver in pure lust. “Fuck me, Jonas,” she moaned. “Faster.”
He pushed himself up on his elbows, and his mouth sought hers as he moved again. At first he rocked gently, picking up speed as the ride continued. Her pussy made wet, slurping noises as he started to hammer her. In response she grabbed him with her vaginal walls, sucking him in more deeply and squeezing tight.
“It’s so hot, you’re so fucking hot,” he managed to say. “I wanted this to last…I can’t...I can’t hold back.”
“Don’t,” she whispered back. “Please don’t. Come with me.”
His hips jerked once, then again, and his breath came in a hiss as the crest broke over him. He stiffened as his release pulsed through her, the hot core of him pushing her over the edge seconds later. He collapsed on her, panting and sweaty. She relished it, hugging him even as her own heart beat out of control from the tiny shocks of electricity that still soared deep within her.
* * * *
She lay in his arms, her body warm and pliant against his. It had begun to rain, giving a soothing rat-ta-tat-tat against the windowpane. Jonas played absently with a lock of her hair as thoughts raced through his mind.
“How’s your shoulder?” she asked.
“Aches a little, but otherwise healing fine. I didn’t use protection, Charlotte,” he murmured.
“I’m on the pill for regulation but still, it’s the pill.”
That gave him one level of comfort. But he wanted her to know that his commitment to her was more than superficial. “It’d be okay if you weren’t.”
“But I am.”
“I’m just saying. It’d be okay if you weren’t.”
“Good to know.”
That did not come out at all what he had wanted to convey. He moved, maneuvering them both until they lay side by side. The sliver of light from the hotel’s sign came through the window, and though it was diluted by the rain, it was enough to capture her ethereal beauty and he marveled that she was his. Or, at least, that part of her was his.
“I know you’ve been confused,” he said.
“I’m not confused about anything.”
He smiled ruefully. “And you’re a terrible liar.”
“I beg your pardon. I lie perfectly well. Just ask my mother.”
“I can only imagine,” he said with a small laugh. “Let me rephrase. You’ve been conflicted. I know you have.”
“I’m not conflicted over knowing that I love you.”
“Just over loving Nash.”
She sighed. “Jonas—”
“Be honest, Charlotte.”
Her lips compressed. He could see that she wanted to lie, but he placed one finger on her lips, holding back whatever she had been about to say.
“Please,” he murmured.
“All right. I may…have feelings for him. But I love you more.”
“You loved him first,” he stated. “You told me. I heard it in your voice.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Why are you pushing this? Didn’t you just beat him up for my honor?”
“I beat him up because he was a prick,” he corrected. “And I’m pushing this because our happiness depends on honesty. Above all, we must be honest with one another. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” she replied.
“So we’ll deal with Nash, and we’ll deal with your love for him. It doesn’t make me love you less.”
“I don’t think…I, uh, I don’t think I can be around him and not want…this,” she finally managed to stammer, sliding her gaze away from his. “If I’m to be honest.”
He waited for the pain to slice into him at her admission. But surprisingly, all he felt was satisfaction that she had finally been honest, with him, yes, but more importantly to herself. And that moment cemented his decision.
“Look at me, Charlotte.”
Slowly, she obeyed, her eyes meeting his.
“I can’t say that I like the idea of sharing you, but I’d rather have half of you than none of you.”
“You have all of me. I’m choosing you.”
“And what about that choice a year from now? Two years? When you’re around him all the time?”
“I’m around him because my sister—”
“You’re around because he’s HS and so is your family. He’s always going to be there.”
She frowned at him. “How can I be happy knowing I’m hurting you?”
He shook his head. “The only way to really hurt me is by not being truthful. Besides, it’s in my blood, I suppose.”
She looked at him in confusion. “What is?”
“I’ll tell you some other time. For now, come here. If I’m going to be sharing you, then I want to make the most of my time with you.”
* * * *
Charlotte wasn’t quite sure what it all meant. This idea of sharing was foreign and…taboo. At least, as far as society went, a woman having two lovers simply wasn’t done. Words like slut and ho streamed through her mind, and she flinched away from them. It was hard reconciling the concept of being in love with two men, being a partner to each of them, against the concept of one woman and one man, together forever.
But as Jonas pulled her into his arms, as his mouth settled over hers, all thoughts ceased as desire soared through her body. She slid her hands into his hair, but he grabbed them and pulled them up, securing her tightly with one of his hands. His other hand moved up the back of her thigh to circle around and find the nub that ached for his touch. Breathy moans escaped her lips in between his kisses, driving her absolutely out of her mind with lust.
And then he pulled back, and she groaned in denial, reaching for him, but he quickly flipped her and brought her to her knees. He pushed her head down, and while keeping her in a prayer position, he brought his hard cock right to the place she needed him the most.
“You’re so fucking beautiful,” he said, and a second later, he pushed inside, filling her in one hard stroke.
She braced herself against the headboard and pushed back against him as he pounded into her, his thrusts shaking her whole body.
“Touch yourself,” he ordered, and she obeyed. Her hand traveled down to find her clit, and she felt her wetness coating his cock as it pistoned back and forth. Being held down in a submissive position made her feel incredibly sexy, and it turned her on even more. Her body started to splinter apart. She could no more hold back her orgasm than she could hold back time. It flushed through her body, pouring out of her, and she heard Jonas’s matching moan as he followed her into bliss.
Chapter Twenty-One
The Rock Ridge police precinct might have been small, but that didn’t stop a multitude of law enforcement from descending upon it. The place was crawling with cops and Feds, and even Nash was there representing Hawke Securities. Although Charlotte had given about a hundred statements yesterday, she was still required to come down to the station for another round of interviews, just in case her brain remembered something it hadn’t the day before.
It hadn’t, of course, but she was there anyway. She had wanted to talk with Sheriff Ratcliff to confirm the vision that Kendra had given her, but getting the sheriff alone looked like it was going to be tough. The man was in his office with several men wearing suits. More feds? She could hear the phone ringing, but he was ignoring it. He looked grim, his face pale and the lines around his mouth deeply carved in a frown.
Melody stood next to her, her demeanor oddly quiet. She hadn’t said more than a few words all through breakfast. Her hair was pulled back into a bun, and a set of dark glasses sat upon her nose.
Charlotte saw Nash look over at them, and her heart sped up a little. She couldn’t help remembering her conversation with Jonas last night. When lying in Jonas’s arms, it had been easy to believe his words, to think that a relationship with two men could work. The cold light of day, however, made her realize how foolish that seemed.
Nash gave Jonas a come-here nod.
“Stay here,” Jonas told her, and
Melody and made his way across the room. Charlotte watched him until he stood next to Nash, and her libido sped up a little at seeing them together. They were almost the same height. Jonas was slightly taller. But Nash definitely had the brawn between them. She couldn’t help but wonder what it would feel like to be trapped between both of them as their bodies raced toward orgasm.
But then her attention got snagged as the suits left Sheriff Ratcliff’s office. He sat at his desk, talking on the phone. Now was her chance.
“Come on,” she told Melody, grabbing her arm.
“What?” Melody asked as she stumbled after her.
“I need to talk to the sheriff about a vision I got from Kendra.”
“When did you get a vision from Kendra? And Jonas told us to stay put.”
“Yesterday. In Kendra’s room. And we’re just going twenty-five feet, to talk to the sheriff. How much trouble can we get into?”
Melody didn’t respond as Charlotte led them into the sheriff’s office and closed the door. He gave them a scowl as he listened into the receiver.
“I’ve got to go,” he muttered to the person on the other end before abruptly hanging up. “Miss Perth. Miss St. Cloud. What can I do for you?”
“I came because of the phone,” Charlotte told him. “You bullied Kendra, and I want to know why.”
“I don’t have time for your imagination.”
“You showed her two pictures, one of Janie and one of Candace. And then you took her phone away and bullied her.”
He stared at her, a mixture of hate and fear shining forth. “It might be best to put your fanciful imaginings aside—”
“She was wearing a white sweater and a blue jean mini skirt. She had those tacky UGG Boots on, that for the life of me I can’t understand why they’re called fashion, and she had this musical note barrette in her hair. She was crying, Sheriff, and I’m thinking you threatened her with something.”
The sheriff surged to his feet. “Get out of my office!”
Charlotte, however, planted both her hands on the desk and leaned forward. “Not until you tell me why. How did she end up going from your office to being buried in some unmarked grave in the middle of nowhere, next to girls she’d never met?”
He stared at her, breathing harshly. She refused to look away, refused to let him hide behind his badge anymore. And finally, she saw him crack, saw his hand shake as he wiped it over his face. He sank back into his chair, the picture of a broken man.
“Because I sent her in there,” he whispered.
Charlotte relaxed.
“What?” Melody asked, sounding horrified.
“I needed eyes into that club,” he continued. “I needed to know and figure out what happened to Janie and Candace.”
“So you bullied Kendra into being your spy. And instead she became the next victim.”
He looked at her with bruised eyes. “You knew?”
“Kendra showed me,” Charlotte told him. “But I needed you to admit it.”
“You…you really see them? You really talked…to her?”
Charlotte nodded.
He swallowed. “Does she…hate me?”
“What do you think? You sent her into a situation she was ill equipped for. You failed her. Your job is to protect everyone, even those that that society deems unworthy.”
“What made you do that?” Melody asked.
He glanced at her. “Because Danny asked me to find out what happened to Candace. But I just couldn’t go in there, accusing without proof.”
“So you forced an innocent girl instead? Why Kendra? Why her?”
“Because she was one of Cecelia’s whores!”
Charlotte jerked back a little in shock. Wow, she’d actually believed the parents when they’d told her their daughter wasn’t into that scene.
“She knew that place, knew those people,” he finally said. “I threatened to tell her parents. She didn’t want them to know.”
“Of course she didn’t want them to know,” Charlotte retorted. “She was their little girl. She was still innocent in their eyes! God, it’s almost like you murdered her yourself.”
“Get out,” he ordered, but this time the heat behind the words had been blanketed. “Get out of my fucking office.”
“You’ll have to tell them,” Charlotte said with a nod over her shoulder, indicating the rest of the police officers in the building.
“Get. Out.”
Melody took her hand and opened the door. “Come on.”
Charlotte took a deep breath, turned, and left. She immediately saw that the suits that had been talking to the sheriff were now talking to Nash and Jonas. Papers were being passed around, folders with reports. Everyone was looking grim.
“Come outside,” Melody said, tugging on Charlotte’s hand. “I need some air.”
Once they were outside, Melody dropped her hand and started pacing. “I can’t believe it. I can’t believe he sent her in there. She was a teenager for Christ’s sake! Why risk the life of another girl because Danny asked to help find his girlfriend? That’s just…wrong! And crazy! There’s something he’s not telling us.”
“Ya think? They’re still searching for a link between Kendra and the other two, but there isn’t one,” Charlotte murmured.
“Except for one cop. It’s not fair.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Where’s the book?” a new voice asked, startling her. Charlotte saw Melody’s eyes widen as she turned, her gaze falling on Deputy Bruce.
“Hey, Bruce. Book? What book?” Charlotte asked, surprised. Then her gaze dropped to his hand and saw the dull shine of his gun, trained on them. “Oh.”
“I want it.”
She glanced over at Melody, who stood to the side wide-eyed. She had this deer-in-the-headlight look about her.
“Want what?”
“Don’t play games, Miss Perth.”
“What, um, makes you think I have a book?”
“I knew following you would be a wise decision,” Bruce said. “I saw you. So, the book, please.”
“Let’s say I had a book. Could be big, could be small.”
“Don’t play fucking games with me!” He shoved the gun in tighter until it touched her belly.
“Okay, okay,” she mumbled, holding her hands up. “It’s in code, Bruce. Useless information.”
“My name is not Bruce!” the deputy said with a frustrated growl.
Charlotte’s startled gaze dropped to his nametag. J Darling.
“How did you get Bruce from that?” Melody asked.
Charlotte shook her head. “I’ve no idea. But I think it’s a misnomer.”
“Not to mention,” Melody murmured, “CD married JD. This is Cecelia Duwhite’s husband.”
“That’s right,” Jay replied. “The girl mentioned the book, but I didn’t think it was real until you told Earl.”
“Earl?”
“Sheriff Ratcliff,” he clarified.
“Oh.” She really had to start learning people’s full and proper names. “Did you kill them? Candace and Kendra?”
“It wouldn’t be very smart of me to admit if I did, would it?”
“I think the gun pretty much screams yes,” Melody managed to rasp out.
“But why hide a marriage?” Charlotte asked, trying to think up enough questions to delay until someone walked outside. Seriously. They were standing next to the precinct where HS and FBI Agents were gathered. What the hell! “Are you committing bigamy? Ritual sacrifice? In that case, don’t kill Melody. She’s not really a green fairy.”
“Shut the hell up and hand over the book!”
She didn’t know what Bruce…er, J Darling was capable of. Against everything screaming at her not to leave the precinct, she knew she had to protect the book. There was no way she could hand it over.
“I don’t have it here,” she stated.
Deputy Darling growled under his breath. He looked around, as if trying to figure out what to do.
“All right, this is what we’re going to do,” he snapped. “You’re going to take me to it. Now, walk in front of me and don’t try anything foolish.” He reached out and pulled Melody in front of him. The gun barrel disappeared in the folds of her dress. “Or she’ll be the first you watch die.”
Charlotte took a deep breath. Would he really shoot Melody? Would he risk that much exposure in a public place? Of course, the man had killed two girls already, which proved he was more than capable of brutal crimes.
“Okay, okay,” she said, trying not to let the panic in her voice shine through. “Let her go.”
“I don’t think so. You need incentive.”
“I think that means he wants to shoot us in a remote area,” Melody whispered, fear making her words thick.
Charlotte felt her heart trying to pound out of her chest. Nerves got the best of her, and before she knew what she was doing, she heard herself blabbing.
“Janie was an accident,” she began. “Why did you have to kill Candace? And Kendra? Kendra didn’t know anything.”
“Shut up,” Deputy Darling muttered.
“I mean, if you’re Cecelia’s husband, then you know about the Here After club. They make a helluva lot of money in one night, don’t they? Is this all about the money? Oldest motivation in the book, eh?”
“Shut up!” he growled again, a little more forcibly.
“I think you should shut up,” Melody whispered to her.
Charlotte ignored them both. “What do you really think you’re going to do, Bruce? I mean, Deputy Darling. You didn’t plan this out well. Now you’re going to have to kill both of us, and how are you going to talk your way out of that? Sure, you can write off a drug addict or two, but we’re respected, smart, popular, well-known people. I’ve got three sisters who will come looking for me. Plus, my brother-in-law is the director of Hawke Securities, a direct descendant from the founder Morgan Hawke.”
“Really?” Melody asked, sounding impressed, seeming to forget their predicament for a moment.
Charlotte nodded. “Yeah, it’s kind of neat having someone famous in the family. Maybe you could do a little research—”
Hereafter [McKnight, Perth & Daire 2] (Siren Publishing Allure) Page 15
