I climbed up the wooden railing, which creaked under my weight, and tried to stand. Keeping my balance was tricky. Maybe I wouldn’t even make it to the jumping part, maybe I’d just end up losing my balance and careening off the deck like an idiot.
Worrying wouldn’t help me. I needed to focus. I took a deep breath and rose slowly, distributing my weight between my feet. Then it was jump time.
The window ledge was only a couple feet away, and I imagined that if it weren’t for the drop, it wouldn’t be a difficult task. I just needed to forget about the fall and trust my hands.
One. Two. Three.
I jumped. My hands slapped against the ledge. My knees banged into the wall. That was going to bruise for sure. I grabbed onto it with all of my might, hanging like a chimpanzee. Then I began to lift myself. My arms burned, but it was no worse than a chin up when it came down to it. Once my shoulders were above my elbows, I inched my forearms onto the ledge and held myself there, peering into the room.
If this wasn’t Dallas’s room, I was going to be pissed.
Luckily I soon found my girl. She was on a bed at the far end of the room, propped up against some pillows with a book in her hands. She hadn’t seen me yet.
Not wanting to relinquish the little grip I had on the wall, I tapped on the window with the only thing available. My head.
Dallas looked up, startled. She dropped her book on the bed and peered at the window, then her eyes flew open, and she rushed toward me.
A second later, I was hauling myself through the open window.
“What are you doing here?” she hissed.
As soon as my feet were on the ground, I took her by the shoulders and inspected her face, her neck, her arms, for marks and bruises.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“I’m fine. For now, anyway.” Her face crumpled in pain. “Shane I’m so sorry. They followed me. Wes took my phone, and they won’t let me leave.”
She collapsed into my arms, and I held her, placing soothing kisses on her crown and rubbing her back.
“It’s okay. It’s going to be okay.”
“How can you say that?” She looked up at me. Her eyes were rimmed red with tears. “Look at me. I’m a fucking princess in a tower, only instead of me having super long hair, my prince has ninja moves.”
I chuckled. “Shouldn’t that mean you’ve got an even better shot at salvation?”
“Ninja moves are great and all, but they don’t hold up too well against semi-automatic weapons.”
I couldn’t think any more about what was going to happen. I was so relieved that Dallas was okay, at least for now, that I had to kiss her. I worried I might not get the chance again.
Dallas fell against me as our mouths touched. She wrapped her arms around my neck like she was scared to let me go. I was scared to let her go too.
“How likely is it that somebody will come up here?” I whispered against her mouth.
“Preston and Wes aren’t even here. Nobody else will come up unless we make a bunch of noise. They’re all getting ready for their big Saint Patrick’s Day blowout, and I’m locked in from the outside.”
“Then we better not make any noise.” I tangled my fingers in her hair and tugged her head back, pressing a finger to her pouty lips. I dragged that finger down, brushing it over the tops of her breasts and continuing to the front of her jeans. I cupped her pussy and rubbed back and forth.
Dallas whimpered.
I stopped moving and tightened my grip on her hair. “Not a sound, princess.”
Her cheeks flushed and fire burned in her eyes. She bit her lip and nodded, and I damn near came undone.
Chapter 31
Dallas
Silence fell around us like a blanket, making every bit of contact more intense. Shane’s unwavering gaze filled me with deep, carnal longing. It was dangerous for him to be here, even more dangerous for us to give into our desires while he was, but I couldn’t resist. Things in my life were about to change in a significant way, and this might be the last time I’d ever see Shane. I wasn’t going to miss out an opportunity.
He led me to the bed by my hand, stopping beside it to kiss my knuckles. My heart quickened. Someone moved around downstairs, and we paused for a moment, listening, but they didn’t move toward the staircase.
My fingers found the buttons of Shane’s shirt, and I began to undo them, revealing his broad, muscular chest. The fabric whispered, mingling with the airy sound of our breathing. Shane’s rough fingertips glided under the hem of my t-shirt and pulled it up just as I finished undoing the last button. He pulled it over my head, and a gasp escaped his lips.
My body arched toward him and he buried his mouth in my cleavage. I wanted to scream from the pleasure of it but wisely held my tongue, even as Shane’s carved a wet path between my breasts. He fiddled with my clasp and moved back to guide my bra from my shoulders.
“So beautiful,” he whispered. His hands cupped my flesh, and my breath hitched.
Heat curled in my belly, knotting and tightening with every stroke of his hand against my bare skin. He worked off my jeans and panties, running his fingers up my thighs and toward my throbbing sex. I reached for his bulge. He was hard against my palm, swollen with need for me and me alone. Like he had undressed me, I did the same to him, dropping to my knees below him as his pants and boxers reached his ankles.
Shane’s cock bobbed in front of my face. A pearl of precum glistened at the tip, and before he could move a muscle, I wrapped my lips around it and sucked.
Shane gasped and bit his lip. I smiled. Now who was having trouble staying silent?
With one hand on the base, I began to take more of him into my mouth, stretching my jaw as wide as it could go. I wanted to give him something to remember me by in case things went south, like they most certainly would. I couldn’t tell Shane how mad Wes had been, all the threats he hurled at me before he and his father stormed off to the club to “blow off some steam”. I couldn’t divulge how scared I was. It was too late to do any good. All I could do was show Shane how much I cared for him in this moment, and if it got me off at the same time, who was I to complain?
His cock was stiff and hot. The salty taste turned me on, and I sucked hard to see if I could get more. I swirled my tongue around the shaft and pulled back to lavish attention on the tip, causing Shane’s thighs to quiver. He rested a hand lovingly on the back of my head but didn’t push me, letting me set my own pace for pleasing him. I bobbed along, taking him as deep as I could and squeezing the rest of his shaft with my hand.
Shane tipped his head back, a rumble emanating from his throat. I sped up the pace, thinking that he was close, but he stepped away and pulled me up. His mouth slammed into mine. It was a brutal, demanding kiss. I tried not to moan but a small squeak escaped, and he bit my lip as punishment, which didn’t exactly help. I clawed down his chest, and he growled, pushing me back until my thighs backed up against the bed.
We tumbled into the sheets together. Our lips battled for dominance, hands grabbing and squeezing each other’s exposed flesh. I rolled on top of him and reached to the nightstand for a condom.
Shane looked at me questioningly.
“They keep them in every room of the house, despite my complaints,” I whispered.
He rolled his eyes and we both smiled.
I’d had little practice putting on condoms, but with a bit of help from Shane, I soon managed to do it properly. I climbed astride him and lowered myself over his swollen rod.
Shane held my hips to help me, and the moment I began to sink onto his cock his fingers dug into me like steel grips. I bit my lip to keep from moaning. I thought I’d get used to how intense it felt to have him inside of me, but still hadn’t. My body screamed with delight at the stretching sensation, toes curling, hair standing on end. I took a moment to adjust before starting to slowly rock my hips against his.
We had to take things slow if we wanted to stay quiet. Nonetheless, it was torturous. Every stroke felt like
heaven, and I wanted to dig my nails into his chest and ride him like a bucking bull. I could tell Shane’s thoughts on the matter were similar, as he held my hips and guided me faster and faster, eyes switching between my bouncing breasts and the look of ecstasy on my face. I don’t know how long we moved like that, but it felt like seconds and like hours.
I leaned over him, and he took my nipple into his mouth, sucking and biting as I buried my moans in the pillow. His hips rose to meet mine with every thrust, and as my core slowly twisted up with pleasure, I wasn’t sure if I was going to cum or die. Maybe both. That would be the way to go.
Shane nuzzled his lips into the crook of my neck and released a rattled groan.
He thrust a hand between us, and at first I wasn’t sure what he was doing, but then he began to circle my clit with the pads of his fingers, and it became apparent. I closed my eyes, bliss working into every inch of me. I was powerless against the onslaught of pleasure that hit me like a tidal wave, but it was the kind of powerless I enjoyed. I let my mouth fall open in a silent scream and seized up.
Shane took the reins. He held my hips steady and thrust up inside of me for a few short but powerful strokes then pulled me tight against his hips. He bit into my shoulder and held me there as he released, cock spasming.
Reality thwacked me on the top of the head and I remembered where we were. I listened for any noise above the sound of our breathing but heard nothing.
Shane and I looked at each other and smiled.
“Incredible,” he whispered, kissing my cheek.
I rolled off him, and he pulled me against his chest. We simmered in the moment for a while, but I knew I would have to say it eventually.
“Shane.”
He shifted his face to look down at me. I reached out and brushed my fingers over his lips.
“I want you to go,” I said, and it felt like ripping away my own skin. “It’s not safe.”
“Sure,” he said. “You’re safe for now, that’s all I needed to see.”
I shook my head. My eyes stung. “No. I mean I want you to leave Sitka Valley.”
He studied me, but I couldn’t discern the emotion on his face.
“I won’t do that,” he said.
Ah, the emotion was stubbornness. That didn’t work for me.
“But I want you to. If something happens to you, that’s going to be on my conscience for the rest of my life. I can figure things out on my own here. It’s probably easier that way.”
He didn’t need to know that me “figuring it out” would likely entail groveling and finally having sex with Wes. I had no other choice. He and Preston were furious enough to do something rash, and I worried that my dad would get caught in the crossfire.
“I’m not going, Dallas.” He rolled atop me, caging me beneath him and holding my gaze. “You’re the whole reason I’m here. I’m not leaving until I accomplish what I came here to do.”
“You never said...”
“I didn’t have a plan for how to go forward when you asked me before. I think I’ve figured it out now.” He ran a calloused thumb over my cheek. “I’m not leaving you here. You or your father.”
My heart swelled, even as questions flooded my brain.
“Why, though?” I asked. “Why come back after all this time just to help me?”
“Because, Dallas.” He kissed me. His soft lips feathered over mine. “I love you. I’ve always loved you.”
Joy overtook me so suddenly that I wanted to scream. I did the next best thing, flinging my arms around him and kissing the living daylights out of him. And as our lips and tongues mingled, I realized he wasn’t the only one.
“I love you too,” I murmured.
He smiled against my mouth. “Good.”
Shane extricated himself from my arms and stood, gathering his clothes from the floor.
“Practice your audition piece for Broadway, Princess. We’ll be there soon.”
* * *
Someone burst through my door, and I bolted upright, half asleep and confused.
“Time to get up,” Wes said roughly. “You’re wanted in Dad’s office in five minutes.”
He stormed out as quickly as he came in, and I hopped out of bed. Morning sunlight slanted through my blinds, and I looked longingly at the frame as though Shane might pop back through it, all smiles and optimism. I wasn’t sure how much I believed that Shane would find a way to save me a lifetime of misery at Gromley hands, but I believed in his conviction. After he left last night, somehow jumping from my window to the deck without alerting anyone in the house, I lay awake all night thinking about what he said. About what I’d said.
I loved him. As soon as I said it, I knew it was one of those infallible truths, like the sun rising in the East and bread always landing with the butter side down. There couldn’t be a less convenient person in the world for me to love. There couldn’t be a less convenient time for me to fall in love. I was absolutely screwed.
One problem at a time, I told myself, pulling on some jeans and running a brush through my hair. I tied it into a knot at the back of my head and left my room. I didn’t want to keep Preston waiting.
I reached the office door and knocked. It swung open to reveal Wes’s stony face, and I forced a smile at him as I entered.
Preston was behind his desk, hands folded in front of him. The tone was somber. I felt as though I were standing before a judge with no sense of humor. There was no cocaine in sight, at least.
Wes closed the door. It was just the three of us, which unsettled me further. I was rarely alone with father and son.
“Dallas,” Preston welcomed. “Sit.”
I did, holding my spine straight and my chin up. Wes sat in the chair next to me.
“I’m not going to dance around the issue, Dallas,” said Preston. “We’ve reached a crossroads in our relationship, and you have to make a choice.”
“What’s the choice?”
He smiled humorlessly. “You can choose to leave, as you so obviously would prefer to do.”
My heart skipped. Would they actually let me leave?
“What’s the catch?” I rushed to ask, attempting to keep the tremors from my voice.
“You didn’t let me finish.” He furrowed his brow. “You can choose to leave, and we will kill your father and Shane.”
My mouth dropped open in horror. Like I would ever choose such a horrible option!
“You would be well and truly free to go,” Preston assured, as if that were the problem I had with the whole arrangement.
“You’re a monster,” I managed to bite out.
Preston laughed. “Oh, stop. You’re making me blush.”
I pictured myself lunging over his desk and throttling him. I knew I’d never make it that far and that when it came to strength Preston had a leg up on me, but I was so angry that my muscles tensed to spring.
‘Don’t you want to hear what’s behind door number two?” Preston asked.
I didn’t respond, just glared. Preston plowed right ahead.
“We will let your father and that dumbass live, and in return, you will do my son the great honor of becoming his wife.”
I swung my gaze over to Wes. His mouth was set in a smirk that chilled me to the bone.
“We’ll give you the night to think it over,” Preston continued. “Tomorrow morning, if all goes as I suspect, we will host your nuptials.” He chuckled. “Fitting that we should have them on Saint Patrick’s Day since Wes will finally be getting to see your pot of gold. Plus we can introduce you two as man and wife at the party that evening. Don’t you just love killing two birds with one stone?”
The men laughed, but I shrunk into my seat. It was just beginning to sink in how screwed I was. There was no way I would allow Preston to kill my dad and Shane, but how could I possibly marry Wes?
“Please,” I begged. “Don’t do this.”
I wasn’t sure whether I was begging Wes or Preston. My plea fell on deaf ears either way.
“Get her back to her room.” Preston nodded to Wes. “And make sure she stays there.”
Chapter 32
Shane
Jake sighed and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his fists over his eyes. “I don’t know if this is going to work.”
“It will. You can do it,” I assured.
Jake ran a hand through his fiery hair, leaving a portion sticking out at an odd angle, then sat forward and refocused his attention on the computer screen.
“I’m too amateur for a police database,” he complained a few minutes later. “This is going to take me ages.”
“Then take ages,” I replied.
I knew his real problem, and it wasn’t the level of difficulty involved in hacking the Sitka Valley police. Jake loved a good challenge, especially one that worked the part of his brain he almost never got to tap into at his hardware store job. His eyes lit up when I asked him if he’d be able to help me with a computer problem, but that light grew dim when I told him why.
I had a feeling things were about to come to a head.
Jake tapped away for a couple more minutes while I sat staring at nothing, deep in thought. When he stopped and looked at me, it took me a second to notice the darkness in his eyes.
“Shane, are you sure you shouldn’t just let her go?” he asked. “She’s made it this far, and there’s no guarantee that what you’re doing is going to help her. More likely than not you’re just going to end up dead.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“Don’t be like that.” He frowned. “I just don’t trust Preston, and neither should you. Who’s to say he doesn’t just shoot you on sight when you show up? Why would he care about making a bet with you?”
“Maybe he will just shoot me on sight,” I shot back. “Maybe he won’t. Either way, I have to fucking try something, Jake. Dallas fears for her life, and I’m the only one who can help her. Now, are you going to help me or not?”
He sighed. “Of course I’m going to help you, Shane. You’re my best friend. I’ll do whatever you need me to do just please, be careful.”
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