Instead of saying anything, I just kissed him, clinging to him like the lifeline he was. I poured everything I felt into the clashing of lips, tongues, and teeth. All the love, pain, desperation, and heart-stopping terror. And I didn’t come up for air until I started to go dizzy from the lack of oxygen.
After a few seconds, his hand slid under my shirt, sliding up my waist as he backed me through the coats hanging in this musty closet until my back hit the wall. Then he pulled the shirt up, and I couldn’t stop myself from lifting my arms to let him take it off. He quickly undid my bra and yanked it down my shoulders as he bent to take one of my nipples into his mouth.
“Ezra,” I whimpered, sniffling.
His hand slid down my stomach, dipping into my sweatpants, and he wasted no time in slipping his fingers between my folds and rubbing my aching nerves. God, I needed him. I needed to feel him so deep inside me that I couldn’t tell where he ended and I began.
“I need you,” I whispered.
“I’m right here,” he said, kissing my neck. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Inside me,” I clarified. “I need you inside me.”
Instead of withdrawing his hand, he slid two fingers inside me, starting to furiously pump them in and out. I groaned, half in ecstasy and half in frustration.
“Ezra,” I moaned. “Shit. I…I need…fuck!”
Damn it. How was I supposed to tell him that I needed him to make love to me when I couldn’t even string a sentence together?
“I know, baby,” he told me. “I need you too. But I need you to come for me first.”
His thumb landed on my clit, rubbing circles on it as his fingers continued to pump, and in less than three minutes, I flew off the cliff, crying out his name.
Ezra hooked his fingers in my sweats and panties, yanking them down in one swift move. I stepped out of them and moved to unbutton his jeans, pulling them and his boxers down just enough to free his cock. He tore his shirt off, then pulled his wallet out of his pocket, retrieving a condom and ripping it open with his teeth. I quickly took the latex from him and rolled it down his shaft.
Within three seconds, I was being lifted up and pressed against the wall as he entered me in one swift thrust.
“God!” I groaned.
“Fuck, Daph,” he gritted out as he pulled almost all the way out and then slammed back in.
Unlike every other time we’d ever been intimate, he wasn’t gentle or sweet. He was rough and demanding and carnal, and it was everything I needed right now. I needed to feel something that wasn’t the heart-stopping fear and dread that had been consuming me since the second I saw that note from Hugh.
“Don’t. Ever. Fucking. Scare. Me. Like. That. Again,” he growled, punctuating each word with a thrust that left me gasping for breath.
All I could do was hang on for the ride as he took me higher and higher, to a completely different plane of existence. A plane of existence that I’d only ever reached with him. And there were only three words that kept playing on repeat in my mind. The three words that I should have told him while he was awake to hear them.
“I love you,” I panted.
Ezra crashed his lips to mine, plunging his tongue into my mouth and eagerly seeking mine out.
“Say that again,” he demanded as his hand slid between us and started to rub my clit.
“I love you,” I repeated.
“Again.” He kissed me again.
“I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I—fuck, Ezra!”
My orgasm crashed over me like a tidal wave, so intense and all-consuming that I saw stars. I didn’t even register that I’d taken him over the cliff with me until he stilled and pulled me away from the wall, holding me tight as he turned around and used it to brace himself while he slid to the floor.
I pulled back just enough to kiss him, and his fingers threaded through my hair as our tongues slid out at the exact same time. I took my time savoring and tasting him, and more tears stung my eyes at the thought that I could have lost him forever if he hadn’t realized that I’d left to protect him.
“I do love you,” I murmured as I broke the kiss. “I’m sorry I left. I was just so scared of him hurting you and Ari.”
This time, his kiss wasn’t as consuming. It was sweet and gentle, just like him.
“I love you so much,” he whispered against my lips. “You took years off my life, angel. Please don’t ever do anything like that again.”
“I won’t,” I promised. “I’m not strong enough to leave again. I need you too much.”
I shouldn’t have promised that. I should have gotten as far away from him as I could. Because that was what would keep him safe. But I couldn’t have left him a second time if my life depended on it. I needed him the way I needed air to breathe.
“I need you too, baby. More than you know. My life doesn’t make sense without you anymore.” He kissed me again.
Exhaustion crashed over me, and I collapsed against him, resting my head on his shoulder. He held me close, trailing his fingers up and down my back.
“I’m so tired,” I sniffled. “I haven’t slept since you showed me the note from Hugh.”
“Daph,” he murmured, squeezing me tight. “Fuck. Come on. Let’s get you cleaned up and then you can take a nap. We’ll figure out our next move when you wake up.”
I nodded, too tired to do anything but agree. Ezra lifted me off his lap, then stood up and quickly pulled the condom off and tied a knot in it before tucking himself back into his jeans and zipping them. He grabbed the rest of our clothes, tossing me his t-shirt. I managed a half-smile as I slid it over my head and headed out of the closet.
While I crawled into bed, he quickly went into the en suite bathroom to throw the condom out. I heard the sink running, and a few minutes later, he emerged with a wet washcloth. I smiled as I rolled onto my back to let him clean me.
“Laundry?” he asked quietly.
I shook my head, and he tossed the washcloth into the bathroom and got under the covers with me, pulling me close and pressing his lips to my temple. I curled up against him, kissed his bare chest, and squeezed him tight, needing some sort of proof that he was really here right now.
“Sleep, angel,” he said softly. “I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”
Daphne was out like a light within five minutes after we got into bed. It was like she knew she was safe now that I was here with her. Though, unlike before she’d found out who was trying to hurt her, I could still see the tension written all over her face as she slept.
I tried to shift so I could pull my phone out of my pocket, but Daphne whimpered and stirred, tightening her hold on me. I squeezed my eyes shut to prevent the tears that were stinging them from leaking out as I kissed her hairline. As glad as I was that she was back in my arms where she belonged, I knew she’d never feel completely safe until we caught Hugh. I just hoped Jack and his team could figure out how to track him down, sooner rather than later.
I knew I wasn’t the only person who was worried about her, though. Once more, I tried to retrieve my phone, this time tightening my hold on the sleeping angel in my arms so she’d know I was still here. This time, I was successful, and the first thing I did was send a text to Taylor.
Me: Daph’s okay, but she’s passed out right now. She hadn’t slept in almost 36 hours by the time I got to her. I’ll have her call you when she wakes up.
Taylor: Thank fuck. Look after our girl for me, yeah?
I smiled.
Me: I’ll do that for the rest of my life if she’ll let me.
Taylor: I’m sure you can persuade her. But hurt her and I’ll kick your arse.
Me: Wouldn’t expect anything less.
A quiet knock on the door distracted me from our text conversation.
“It’s open,” I said, just loudly enough that Jillian would be able to hear me from the other side.
She cracked the door open and smiled. “Thank God. She’s asleep.”
/> “Yeah. She told me she hadn’t slept since we found out Hugh was behind everything,” I sighed.
“Do you want to come upstairs and talk? Let her sleep a while longer?”
“We can talk here. I’m not leaving her,” I told her.
Jillian’s smile broke into a full-blown grin as she slipped inside and sat down on the floor, bracing herself against the wall.
“I’m glad she found you,” she said. “And Ari. She loves you both so much. I’ve never seen her like this before. About anyone.”
“You two seem close,” I noted. “Since she stayed in touch with you after cutting ties with the rest of her family. She told me you were the only one who didn’t treat her differently after what happened to her in high school.”
“Yeah, we’ve always been more like sisters than cousins. When you live in a small town, being different at all…it doesn’t go over well. And I knew how it felt. I was diagnosed as schizophrenic not too long before she was outed. Daph was the only one who stuck by me. Even when her parents didn’t want her having anything to do with me because I was, quote, ‘unstable.’”
I smiled. “Sounds like her. There’s nothing she wouldn’t do for the people she loves.”
“She’s helped me so much since she got her break. Paid for a lot of my therapy and meds and stuff. Made sure I could work from home because crowds stress me out. When I had an episode a couple of years ago and had to go to inpatient therapy, she paid the bill in full. I never asked her for any of it. She just did it,” she sniffled.
“Yeah, that sounds like her too.”
“I always ask her not to mention it or dedicate it to me when I come to her shows, but she wrote her song ‘Queen of the Angels’ for me. When I was first diagnosed,” she said, turning a little pink. “I wouldn’t be where I am now without her. I probably wouldn’t be here, period. So there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her either.”
“I’m glad she has you, and that she had somewhere she knew she could go when the shit hit the fan.”
“My door is always open to her, and to you. You left your daughter so you could come protect her. That’s all I need to know about you,” she chuckled weakly. “Um, anyway, you guys are welcome here for as long as you want, but I think her manager will eventually start turning over more stones and figure out she could be with me. So, I met with a friend of mine who has a house that she rents out a few hours away from here. I’m not sure exactly where it is, but I know it’s a couple of hours outside Philly. It’s in a gated community with armed security. I told her that I had a friend who had a stalker and needed to lay low and get off the grid for a while. She agreed to put the lease in my name so it’s not tied to either of you, and she’ll take cash under the table. The only thing I don’t know is where we’ll be able to park the tour bus. Daph said it’s still on your parents’ property.”
“That sounds like as good a plan as any. I hate that I have to leave my daughter with my sister, but I don’t want her anywhere near me if Hugh finds Daph,” I sighed. “She might have an idea about where to park her bus. We can talk to her when she wakes up.”
Almost on cue, Daphne stirred, groaning quietly.
“Sleeping Beauty awakens,” Jillian chuckled.
I looked down, and Daphne was looking at me with a sleepy smile on her face. A smile I needed to claim. I put my hand under her chin, tilting it up so I could kiss her.
“You’re really here,” she mumbled against my lips. “It wasn’t a dream.”
I kissed her forehead. “Nope.”
“That would have been a pretty damn vivid dream, since you’re currently wearing his shirt and using him for a pillow,” Jillian teased.
Daphne giggled and turned bright pink.
“I’m going to go make dinner,” Jillian said, standing up. “Ezra and I were just talking, and I think I figured out a way to help you. But I’ll let you wake up a little more before I tell you about it. I tried to get him to come upstairs and talk to me about it so you could sleep, but he refused to leave you. I approve, by the way. He’s a good guy.”
With another smile, she walked out of the room, and Daphne looked back up at me. The fear and pain in her eyes was still evident, and I wished more than anything that I could take it all away. I knew the only way it would ever really go away was when we caught Hugh and he was behind bars, but I had a feeling I knew one thing I could do right now.
“Do you want me to call her on FaceTime?” I asked.
She didn’t need me to elaborate; she knew who I was talking about. Tears welled up in her eyes.
“I can’t even imagine how confused she must be,” she sniffled. “I told her I’d do everything I could to make sure she was safe and happy not even a week ago, and then she woke up this morning and I was gone. She must hate me.”
“She’d never hate you, angel,” I told her. “She loves you. So much. And she was awake when you went into her room before you left. She’s sad, but mostly she’s scared for you. She understands more than you think. I know it’s a risk to call her, but I think you both need this.”
Daphne nodded, and I grabbed my phone off of the nightstand I’d set it on so I could call Rachel. She answered within two rings.
“Ezra. Oh, my God. Daph. You’re okay. Thank God,” she sighed in relief.
“Yeah, I’m okay,” Daphne sniffled, curling closer to me. “Hi, Rachel.”
“Not that I don’t want to talk to you, Rach, but is Ari there?” I asked.
Rachel smiled. “Yeah. Just a second.”
She walked through Hector’s house, and when she got to the living room, she turned the camera so I could see Hector playing a game of dominos with my daughter. I smiled. He’d always been amazing with her. Selfishly, I hoped things worked out between him and Rachel, just because I would have loved for him to be in Arielle’s life more.
“Ari, someone wants to talk to you,” Rachel called.
Arielle hopped up from the couch and zoomed over to Rachel, practically yanking the phone out of her hands.
“Daddy!” she exclaimed.
“Hey, munchkin,” I chuckled weakly.
“Daphne,” she murmured. “Daddy found you.”
Daphne sniffled quietly, but smiled. “Yeah, he did. I’m so sorry I left without saying goodbye, sweetheart.”
“You said goodbye,” Arielle told her. “You just thought I was asleep.”
“That’s right. I did. You know I meant every word of that, right? I love you so much. That’s why I had to leave. Because when you love someone, you’ll do anything to keep them safe. And in this case, that meant making sure that I was far away from you so you wouldn’t get hurt.”
“I know,” Arielle sniffled. “It’s okay.”
I heard Daphne swallow hard, like she was trying not to cry, and I kissed her head.
“Listen, jelly bean, we need to get going. We’re still figuring out what we’re doing until Daphne’s tour starts back up. Daphne just wanted to see you for a minute. But we’ll call back and say goodnight a little later, okay?” I said.
She nodded. “Okay. Love you, Daddy.”
“Love you too, munchkin.”
“Love you, Daphne,” she added.
Daphne choked on a sob, covering her mouth so it didn’t escape.
“I love you too, sweet girl,” she said, just above a whisper.
I hung up with her, and as soon as I did, Daphne moved to straddle my legs, clinging to me like a vice as she let the tears she’d been holding back break free. I combed my fingers through her hair and kissed her head.
“It’s not fair,” she sobbed. “That was the first time Ari told me she loved me, and it was over a damn FaceTime call. I should have been there with her. I just want to wrap her up in blankets and love on her and keep her safe, and I hate that I can’t. I hate Hugh. I fucking hate him, Ezra! I hate him so much. I want him fucking dead for making me leave her like this!”
My eyes stung; I squeezed them shut. I’d cried enough today already,
and Daphne was upset enough as it was. But these tears were different. They were because I didn’t know how else to express my feelings. The love I had for this woman. The overwhelming relief and gratitude that I’d found her safe and unharmed. And the awe that she cared this deeply about my daughter.
The seventeen-year-old girl who gave birth to Arielle had never been interested in caring for her. Not really. It was like as soon as she figured out that she had an actual living, breathing human to take care of, she changed her mind about wanting to be a mother. And she’d left that living, breathing human behind and never looked back. Unfriended me on social media, never called, never even sent her daughter a damn birthday card.
I’d never understood how Katelynn had been able to just turn her back on her own flesh and blood like that. From the second I’d looked at that beautiful baby girl in the hospital, I was wrapped around her little finger. It just about killed me every time I had to leave her for work, but she knew I was doing it for her. Everything I did was for her, so I could give her the best life possible.
Then Daphne came into our lives. Somehow, she just fit with us like she’d always been there. She had no obligation to love my daughter, but she did. In the few months she’d known Arielle, she’d been more of a mother to her than Katelynn ever was. She spoiled her, but didn’t go overboard. She spent time with her and made an effort to connect with her, and the smile on her face when she did always lit up the room all by itself. And if that wasn’t enough to prove to me how much she cared about my daughter, the bucket of tears she was shedding over not being able to be with her right now would have done it.
“It’s not forever, Daph,” I murmured. “I told you, you belong in my life, and you belong in Ari’s life. And I’m going to fight like hell to keep you where you belong. We’re going to find Hugh and he’s going to go to jail for a very long time. And the second we do, I will bring Ari to wherever we are so you can see her again. I promise.”
She pulled back and looked at me, tears still streaming down her face. I cradled her face in my hands and used my thumbs to wipe some of them away.
Falling Angel Page 28
