by KJ Dahlen
“Yeah, we get it,” Damon finally spoke. “Did he give them anything we can use?”
“Maybe,” James replied. “The last place he knew Matt was staying at.”
Damon looked over at Ally Bella.
“But,” James spoke again.
Damon swung his gaze back over to him. “But?”
“Yeah, Theo has gone to see if he can haul his ass in too. So we don’t know anything yet.”
“Theo?” Damon looked confused.
“Our partner?” James nodded.
Damon then nodded. “Two names. I get it.”
“Well, I don’t!” Aly stood up and began her pacing. “You have two names too, don’t you Max, or is it three?” she asked Damon. “But what the fuck does any of this matter? Matt is still going to...” She let out a sigh and tipped her head at Damon’s case. “I want one of your guns.”
Damon stood up and stared at her. “Aly—”
“What?” she cut him off. “You told me to stand up to him. You said I could fight back. I am tired of this. I have been in hiding from this freak for over twenty years. I won’t run anymore.”
“Do you even know how to use a gun?” he asked her.
She paused.
“There, you see? You don’t,” he said. “You have never shot anyone. I don’t want you hurt.”
“So, you’re going to what? Protect the little woman?” she sneered.
He raised his hands up at her in defense. “I do want to protect you, yes.”
“Look,” she went on. “I have taken care of myself since I was 4 years old. I’ve been hiding from a dammed serial killer. I carry knives, mace and I kept a baseball bat by every door in my house.”
Damon nodded. “I notice that.”
“Well, I know I have been like a sniveling scared little girl, but all the ends now.” Tears filled her eyes. “I had my parents taken away from me. No protection from them. Then Grant? I was his meal ticket. Now I have you protecting me. I’m sick of it. I’m done with it. I never hurt a fly in all my life, but now? I will to commit murder if I have to. I want my life back!” she shouted and headed down the hall to the room at the end.
Both men heard the door slam.
James raised his brows. “What happened to the girl that was so scared that she ran out into traffic?”
Damon let out a sigh. “She’s had her last fright. Fear doesn’t rule her anymore.”
“Yeah, but it kept her alive...that fear all this time.”
Damon turned to look out the window as the sun had dipped down. “Yeah, that’s what worries me. She intends to face Matt down now.”
“She can’t do that. The man is insane and he has killed so many people.” James stared at Damon. “Keep her close. We can’t have her going out on her own. In the meantime, Matt has someone on his trail that may scare him more than he’s scared any victim in his life.” James actually smiled at the thought. “There are many crazies out there, but they can’t win against a force such as Bane.”
Damon nodded. “Even I heard of the man. A legend. Infamous, but still a legend. Just the name made men tremble in their boots. To be face to face in the dark with a man like that...”
Both men slowly nodded.
Chapter Twelve
Damon took a deep breath then opened the door to his bedroom. He had no idea what he would find. He just knew that keeping her safe was more important than anything. Even his own revenge.
He found Alybella standing by the window looking outside. Tears ran down her face as she stared out the bedroom window.
Closing the door behind him, he just stared at her for a moment. Then he had to ask, “What are you thinking about right now?”
“Right this very moment, I’m thinking about how it would feel to kill a man,” she spoke the words softly.
Damon could hear the truth in her statement. “Well, I for one hope you never have to go through that. Taking another man’s life destroys a piece of your soul that you can never get back.”
“I don’t think I would miss that particular piece at the moment. Matt has destroyed my life over and over.”
Damon knew a moment of fear again. “You have to promise me that you won’t leave here. You won’t try to go after him.”
Alybella frowned and turned to face him. “What the hell are you talking about? He wants to kill me and not just today, he’d wanted to kill me at four years old, he damn well wanted to kill me yesterday. He’s always wanted this. Do I have to spend another night wondering if he’ll finally kill me tomorrow? I’m done running, Max. I don’t know how or why but I just won’t live like this anymore.”
“How the fuck can you think to go up against this killer, Alybella?” Damon exploded. “I just cannot lose you.” He rushed toward her wrapping his arms around her.” Don’t you get it? If you let him rattle you, he has a chance at getting you.
Alybella searched his eyes for the truth and found it. “You can’t lose me?”
Damon nodded. “Yeah, I found out that... I aim to keep you. Make you mine. Marry you. Whatever it takes to keep you with me.”
Alybella leaned forward and rested her forehead on his chest. “That’s a good thing because I’m not sure I could have let you go anyway.”
“I’m glad to hear it. I may be an asshole but I’m trying.”
They both laughed.
“I’m not going anywhere, not without you,” he assured her.
“So, we will stay together then?” she asked still unsure.
“How many ways do I have to...” His voice fell away. “Let me show you.”
She batted her eyes. “Show me?”
Nodding, he reached for her shirt and tugged it up off her body. He gazed at her lace bar.” I want to get a good look at you this time.
Alybella stood still as she looked nervous.
Damon chuckled. “We had a night but we didn’t do it the way we should have.”
She looked confused. “There’s more?”
He halted and laughed. “Oh yes, baby. There’s lots more and I’m not half asleep now. I am wide awake.
“Well, I know I’ve been like sheltered as far as this subject goes, but we did something amazing last night.” She ran her finger up and down his chest.
Damon grabbed her around the waist and lifted her high in his arms. Laughing all the way over to the bed, he tossed her down on the mattress. “Get ready to be unsheltered.” His hands tore off her clothing, tearing the fabric in his hurry to get her naked. When she was bare, he took a moment to get rid of his own clothes. He lowered his body down along hers and her whole body shivered as he opened her folds with his fingers, placing his warm lips over her exposed clit.
“Mmm,” she moaned.
Sliding his hot, moist tongue over her with a rapid motion, he tilted her hips and spread her open wider, his rigid, searing tongue plunging inside of her.
Her body shook terribly. Alybella fought her own body’s reaction, as she’d never thought of anyone doing this to her. It was so raw and personal. She kept tossing her head back and forth while his tongue propulsion grew more rapid and the throbbing became a living bliss. Her leg muscles stiffened as she fought her body’s compelling need to give in to the heated, erotic assault. She inevitably lost the battle to resist as her body spasmed and her thigh muscles tightened. A heady orgasm rippled through her body and the room spun around her. Never in her life had she dreamed a man could do this to a woman. It blew her away. She kept gasping for air.
He withdrew his victorious, probing tongue and watched her climax. His intense gaze roamed over her bar heaving body. “This is what I wanted to see. All of you spread out for just me.”
She shivered at the sound of his voice, hoarse and raspy.
“Now, for these luscious breasts,” he whispered. His warm, wet mouth latched onto her nipple, his skillful tongue circling her tender, aching nerve endings. He began his oral journey with a slow taunting of sweeping licks and nibbles. Increasing the pace of his nipple teasin
g, he suckled harder and tugged gently at her rosy peaks with his teeth and his fingers.
“Ohh!” she mumbled with a helpless shudder.
Moving up to her lips, he began kissing her hungrily and it took what was left of her breath away.
“Please don’t make me wait, I need you so much,” she whispered.
“I need you more,” he told her as he plunged into her waiting core.
His hot hard cock pinned her to the bed and Alybella couldn’t have been happier. She screamed in pleasure and he covered her mouth with his own as he began to snap his hips. The heat between them rose, and sweat beaded on his forehead as he pumped his cock into her.
Alybella wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him in deeper. “Please...” she moaned. “I’m so close.”
“Come with me,” he told her breathlessly as he hammered into her. He could feel her shattering under him. It was enough to carry him over the edge into insanity and he roared her name with pleasure.
Alybella couldn’t catch her breath for a moment. His weight was like a warm blanket and when he tried to move, she held him to her. “Stay just for a moment,” she whispered in his ear. All these years of being alone hadn’t prepared her for such a fulfilling closeness to some else.
“But I’m too heavy for you,” he protested. He groaned and she slowly let him go. Max slid off of her but didn’t go far. He settled for her left side and snuggled in.
“Oh, my God!” she breathed the words out. “That was...” she had no words.
“Just the beginning.” He raised his head up and kissed her softly. “See... there is so much more than what happened last night. I intend to spend a long time showing you just how much I need you and want you.” He settled at her side and snuggled in. “Let’s rest for a bit, then we can shower.”
Alybella finally felt calm. All day, she’d been on edge and now, she felt freer. She could breathe better. She refused to think about her troubles anymore. At least for now. Never before had she felt this free and full of hope. Maybe he was right ...they could possibly heal each other.
They laid there for a while and talked. He told her a little about all the traveling he’d done, even if he skirted around what he did the traveling for. He even spoke about his tours in the Middle East and what military life had been like.
Ally Bella talked to him about all the places she’d lived and the different jobs she’d taken. From seamstress, to movie theater attendant to a florist shop, then she was a short order cook for a long while and she even worked at Walmart for a bit. But none of it ever lasted.
“So that’s why you are good with plants, decorating and cooking?” he asked.
“You should see my needlepoint,” she joked.
Chuckling, Max carried her into the bathroom. Setting her down, he adjusted the water temp, then got in and tugged her inside.
He gently smoothed the sponge up and over her hips. She tensed as the warm water hit her breasts. He knelt down, rubbed the sponge along her skin, and parted her thighs. Lowering his lips to her clit, he tongued her button up and down.
Ally Bella released a shuddering breath. “Ohh,” she moaned as she felt his hot tongue lash her skin there. “You are going to make me addicted to this.”
“Exactly my intention...Open,” Max whispered to her wet skin as he opened her folds to expose her to his tongue.
With a shiver, she lifted a thigh up and placed her wet foot on the shower wall.
He eased a finger into her.
She flinched as she felt herself grow wetter.
Placing his lips on her again, he sucked on her.
“Oh, Max.”
Lashing her repeatedly with his warm tongue, he slid his finger in and out of her.
Her torso stretched out with the ecstatic throbbing from his thorough sensual plundering.
Relentless, he kept up the licking rhythm, pushing another finger into her, and pumped her fiercely.
“Oh, oh,” she panted. “I’m gonna—” She gasped for air as she felt herself climax. He continued to suck on her and she could feel his mouth drawing on her. “Ahh!” She shuddered with pure bliss.
With a wicked smile, he stood up. “Yum,” he purred to her lips while tugging her body closer. Max tenaciously slammed her body against the shower wall. He entered her and lowered his mouth to a nipple.
At the continued glorious assault, her head fell back. “Oh, you will slay me.” Her leg muscles quivered from the orgasm while he sucked on her nipple. “Oh, God—Max.”
Seemingly obsessed with lust, he continued to pound into her.
“Oh, I’m gonna...again!” she exclaimed.
When lifted his head to look into her eyes, his expression was intense and full of passion. “Yes.” He pumped deeper into her and pulled her higher by grabbing her ass. “Come with me, Sweet girl.”
“Unh—unh,” she released a helpless sound.
He ground his cock high up into her and his body grew rigid as he grasped her face and stuck his tongue into her mouth.
Sucking on his tongue with a fevered need, she felt the powerful orgasm pass through her.
The water beaded on their entwined bodies as the loud sound of their breathing echoed in the shower stall.
He held her tightly. “This is us, together. We fit so well. I now think we were supposed to meet. Who would have thought that I would come here to...” he paused. “Then you lived in the same house, my old house?”
She stared into his eyes. “You don’t seem like the type of man to believe in fate.”
“I’m a different man, I think. You make me want to be better. I feel grateful to have you in my arms.”
Alybella finally felt the same way. Anything that made a person feel like this had to be right. She vowed to stay alive and fight. No matter what. She had a future now. All she had to do was slay her past.
Chapter Thirteen
A knock came on the door as soon as Damon had gotten dressed. He hurried over to keep the knocking from waking Alybella.
After the warm shower and... well all else, she had crawled into bed and went to sleep.
He opened the door to see James. Placing his finer to his lips, he then grabbed his boots and went out the door.
James waited till they got to the living room to speak, “Bane didn’t find him. He’d moved on from where Grant said he was.”
Damon heaved a sigh as he set down and tugged his boots on. “So, we are back to where we started. With Matt after her and no sign of where he is.”
James shook his head. “He has to make a move soon.”
Damon nodded. “He won’t have much longer. I want you to tell the guys that I am taking her out of here tomorrow.”
James stared at him. “Without catching him? Wow.”
Damon laced his boots then looked up at him. “What do you mean wow?”
“I thought you would be wanting justice, man. Wanting to track this fucker down.”
Damon let out a sigh as he combed his fingers through his hair. “I want her alive more than I want anything else right now.”
James stared at him. “Well, God damn.”
Damon narrowed his eyes at him.
“Join the club man.”
“What?” Damon was confused.
“You’re in love, of course.”
Damon stared at him as he paused. “Love?”
“Yes, maybe it’s too soon to say that exact word but when a man switches priories to this extent?” James nodded. “It is love.”
“I don’t know. I mean I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Becky. I switched my priorities then.” Damon pondered.
“Yes, but that was just the start. You are now... different.”
Damon turned his head to gaze at him. “You can see it?”
“Hell, yeah. At first the growling and the possessive shit when that Indian was around.” James laughed at his scowl. “He even he stated that you’d claimed her.”
Damon slowly nodded as he sat back down in sho
ck. “I’m in love?”
James laughed. “Poor guy. Don’t worry... You’ll get used to it.”
Damon looked up at him. “You have a woman?”
“Hell yes, I do. Where do you think all the jokes come from? I’m not haunted by anything. I have a life and a wife to go back to. I wouldn’t want a life without her.”
“Yeah, yeah. That is the way I feel. Like there would be no life without Alybella. How could this have happened?”
James chuckled. “It’s never planned that’s for sure, but you are in it now. So you are sure you want to leave?”
“I am. I refuse to sit here waiting for the axe to fall. I want her somewhere safe.” He raised his hard gaze to his friend “I will get her somewhere safe, then I will track this fucker down and end him.”
James nodded. “Now that’s the Maxwell I have come to know.”
Damon rolled his eyes. “You’ve known me for 2 weeks, man.”
James shook his head. “No, not true. Remember, we had kept an eye on you for two years.”
“Well, now that you bring that up, don’t you think that’s a bit creepy Like stalkerish on your part?” Damon raised a brow at him.
James’ eyes widened. “Oh! You made a joke! Oh, my god. I think I’m gonna have a fucking heart attack from the shock.”
The two men both laughed together.
Ally Bella opened her eyes slowly. Her mind went blank when she found herself staring into those cold eyes she thought she would never see again. This had to be the nightmare. The one she’d had so many times. She could fight through it, just like always. It wasn’t real. It isn’t real. She felt the knife at her chin and it brought it all back. The pain of the day he killed her family. The pain of that slice to the neck.
His eyes had a crazy look to them and his lips were curled into a nasty snarl. “If you scream, they won’t get close enough to rescue you before I kill you,” he whispered. “You and I have a date that’s long overdue.”
This wasn’t what he’d said in all the nightmares before. With a gasp, Alybella suddenly realized that she was wide awake.
