by Kym Grosso
“So tell me, Selby.” He pressed into her back hole, sliding in up to his knuckle. “How far do you want to go with me tonight?”
As he filled her from behind, Selby’s channel clenched around his cock. Her mind whirled, giving in to her forbidden desires, letting go of her apprehensions. He slowly added another finger, stretching her open, and her body shuddered in response.
“It feels so… yes, oh my, yes…do it,” she told him. Overwhelmed by the foreign sensation, she clawed at the sofa.
“I love being with you…everything about you,” he told her. “Easy now.”
Selby cried in protest as he removed himself from inside her, leaving her empty.
“It’s okay, baby. I’m not going anywhere. Just wait a second.”
Selby mewled as he poured more lubrication down her crevice. His firm tip pressed to her back entrance and she wiggled against it.
“Slowly. This isn’t something you rush, now. Just breathe and push back onto me.” Garrett gently guided himself into her. His crown pressed through the tight ring an inch and he stalled, giving her time to adjust.
“Oh my God,” Selby sighed as she breathed into his invasion. The twinge of pain subsided as she expanded to accommodate him. He caressed her bottom, encouraging her. She did as he’d instructed, concentrating on relaxing her muscles.
“That’s it, Selby, let me inside.”
“Garrett, please…wait…go slow…yes…”
“You’re so tight…aw, fuck,” he hissed, filling her to the hilt.
Selby’s channel tightened down and she moaned, his fingers flittering over her clit. Catapulted into ecstasy, she splintered apart as he made love to her. No matter what she’d dreamed the experience would have felt like, nothing had prepared her for the exquisite pleasure he’d given her. She heard him call her name, and her orgasm crested. He slammed into her and she climaxed, exploding in a thousand shards of rapture. As she embraced his possession, she mumbled his name over and over, lost in the moment.
“I love you so fucking much,” he cried, coming hard.
“I love you, too,” Selby breathed. Her body shivered as the last spasms rolled through her. Exhausted, she went limp onto the sofa, relaxing as he removed himself from her. She smiled as he gently cleaned her, the cloth warm on her skin.
Before she knew what was happening, he’d lifted her into his embrace, cradling her against his chest. They lay on the sofa. Selby cuddled against Garrett, placing small kisses to his chest. As the party roared below, they’d made love in the moonlight, affirming their future. Happiness bloomed in her chest, and for the first time in her life, she knew she was truly loved.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Insurmountable emotion plowed through Garrett; there was no greater risk than the one he’d just taken. Falling in love with Selby Reynolds was the pinnacle of his existence, one that would far surpass anything he’d ever do again with Altura. He pressed his lips into her hair, astonished that he’d told her he loved her and she’d returned his feelings. Perfectly content with her in his arms, he didn’t want to return to the event. Her fingers ran across his bare chest, and he reveled in the peace he’d made with being in love. His only regret was knowing he’d have to leave her with Lars, so he could go alone to lure a killer.
She adjusted her small form against his, and he decided that they’d stay upstairs for a few minutes more. The party would go on without him, and he was in no rush to end his time with her.
“Garrett,” she called softly.
“Hmm…what, baby?”
“Why didn’t you tell me I talked in my sleep?”
“Because I wanted to tell you myself that I was falling for you.” He wound a finger into her silky hair and played with a strand. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt like this before.”
“Do you think it’s real? We haven’t known each other very long. It seems so crazy. But I just…that day I left you, I knew for sure. I couldn’t believe it, but I kept thinking, how could this happen?”
“I think sometimes in life we like things neat and tidy. We like predictability. People like to say with certainty that they did all the right things in the right order. But that’s not how life works. It’s the complete opposite. Life is messy. It’s unpredictable. And like with us…”
“Hmm…”
“There’s this chemistry. You can’t fight it. You try. But it’s so strong. And you want to explain it away. You want to say that for it to be real, you must absolutely know a person for so long. Or maybe do certain things. But again, life is not full of absolutes. Life is flawed, indefinite. Who are we to say our chemistry isn’t worthy of our love? That day when you walked out…no, even before then, I knew I needed you in my life. Maybe I couldn’t put the words to it, but you were in my heart.”
“Do you really want me to come live with you?”
“I don’t say things I don’t mean.”
“I just thought maybe because we were…you know…”
“Selby, I love you. There is no in between with me. If there is one thing this past week has taught me, it’s that we need to live each day like it’s our last. You think when Evan woke up the day he died, he thought that would be his last? No way. So why wait to be with each other? Yeah, it’s soon, but you’ve already been in my home.”
“I don’t live the kind of life you do.”
“If you’re talking about the money, I’m not going to let you use that as an excuse. I’ll give it all away before that happens. Besides, you’ve seen how I live. Does it bother you?”
“No, I just want to make sure you know who I am.”
“I know you better than you think I do. And I’m looking forward to spending lots of days and nights finding out all of your secrets.” Garrett squeezed her tightly to him, pleased when she snuggled closer.
A pregnant pause followed and Garrett closed his eyes, relaxing into the embrace of his lover. Within minutes, however, Selby stirred, pressing herself upward, with her hand to his chest.
“Garrett.”
“Hmm?” he responded, drifting into sleep.
“Garrett, wake up. Do you smell smoke? I smell smoke,” she said, her voice laden with panic.
His eyes flew open and although he didn’t see any evidence of her concern, the familiar burning scent teased his nostrils. He quickly sat up, reached for his phone, and dialed 911.
Garrett put his hand to the door, its wooden surface still cool to the touch. But as he opened it, smoke billowed throughout the hallway. Instructing Selby to crawl on her hands and knees, he guided them down the hallway and stairs. When they reached the bottom, some of the smoke had cleared. Panicked guests poured through the foyer out the front of the building. As they went to exit the patio, they bumped into Beckett, who called for their help.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s Lars,” he said, panicked. I’ve looked for him everywhere. We were all in the ballroom when the fire started. He said he was going to the wine cellar to get some champagne and he wasn’t there. I can’t find him.”
“Why the hell would he go down there? The caterer is supposed to be handling all of this.”
“I don’t know. He said something about a special bottle for Cormac.”
“Selby, I need you to go with Beckett. Beckett, find Seth and stay with him, do you hear me?”
“No, Garrett, don’t go back in. Let the firemen handle it.” Selby clutched at his arm.
“The firemen aren’t here yet. I’ve already lost two friends in the past month, I’ll be damned if I lose another one.” Garrett’s voice went cold. Lars was as close to a best friend as he had and there was no way he was letting him die.
“Please don’t do this,” she cried.
“It’ll be okay…I promise you. I can’t leave him,” he told her. His eyes softened and he pressed his palm to her cheek. “I love you. I’ll be right back. Don’t come in after me. Got it?”
Garrett quickly pressed his lips to Selby’s and gave Beckett a
nod. The smoke thickened as he ran back into Altura, and he was certain that if he didn’t find Lars within minutes, they’d both be dead.
By the time Garrett reached the basement door, the fire was raging from the east end of the house, where the small parlor rooms were located. On the west side, near the kitchen, smoke poured into the air, but nothing was ablaze. He rounded into the small hallway, and opened the basement door. His heart caught when he saw Lars lying at the bottom of the steps. Broken glass and a mixture of red wine and blood spattered the floor around his body. Under any other circumstances, he wouldn’t have moved him, and would have waited for paramedics. But with the fire raging throughout the building, he had no choice but to get him out of the house first and hope he didn’t injure him further. Hoisting Lars over his shoulder, Garrett noted a significant gash to the back of his head.
As Garrett bounded up the steps, his thoughts raced. The realization that someone had attacked Lars sent him reeling. By the time he’d reached the first floor, the fire had progressed. Opening the basement door, his vision was hampered. Thick with black clouds, the kitchen had begun to burn. Sirens blared through the crackle of the flames.
Garrett fell to his knees and coughed, attempting to orient himself. He crouched low to the floor to avoid the toxic air as he dragged Lars’ body across the tiles. Feeling his way through the darkness, he located the back door, and forced it open, exiting into the yard. Garrett screamed for help and heaved for breath. Within seconds, Nate arrived and lifted Lars into his arms. Garrett shoved to his feet and hunched over, still choking for air. Paramedics arrived at his side and his vision blurred as a mask was forced onto his face. He sucked in oxygen and the haze cleared, bringing clarity to the situation.
Lars coughed and his eyes fluttered open, and Garrett knew that whoever had done this to him had created the ultimate diversion. This time, however, the killer hadn’t killed Lars. No, whoever had done this had quietly subdued him without making a noise. Although Lars was covered in blood, the perpetrator had walked away unmarked, easily slipping into the party unnoticed.
Adrenaline surged through his veins as things came together in Garrett’s mind. He tore around the front of the mansion, looking for Selby. Dazed guests sat on the lawn, and first responders attended to the injured. Screaming her name, he searched frantically, to no avail. It hit him like a ton of bricks raining from the sky, and he doubled over in despair. Selby was gone.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Selby stared at the concrete block walls, her vision adjusting to the dark. Left alone with her thoughts, she took deep breaths, determined not to allow her anxiety to become a greater monster than the one who’d kidnapped her. A computer screen flickered in the corner, illuminating the dirty laminate floor. She stifled the urge to scream as a roach scurried across her foot. Selby tugged again on the twine he’d used to tie her arms to the chair, but was unable to loosen it. As her thoughts drifted to Garrett, she prayed he’d made it out safely.
Her legs had weakened, watching him run into the burning building. She’d wanted to go after him but she’d have only put them both in danger by doing so. Within minutes, the firemen and policemen arrived on the scene, and the guests were cordoned off on the lawn. When Beckett had suggested she leave, she’d steadfastly refused, staring mindlessly at the billowing smoke that spewed from the windows. Tears fell as minutes passed and Garrett didn’t return.
When Beckett had put his arm around her, she’d gone still, uncomfortable with the intimacy. As she attempted to shove away, her eyes flew to his. A sharp metal implement pressed into her back, causing her to freeze. He dug his fingers into her shoulder, nearly bringing her to her knees, and instructed her not to say a word or he’d shoot others at the scene. Separating her from the crowd, he’d managed to get her into his BMW, forcing her at gunpoint to drive to his home in the desert.
When Selby had resisted getting out of the car, he’d dragged her by the hair. She’d fallen onto the dusty gravel, scraping her arms and legs. But she’d refused to cry as he led her down into the cellar. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of her tears.
The door creaked open and Selby steeled her nerves, awaiting his presence. The movement of his feet stomping down the stairs gave her warning that he’d grown more agitated.
“Where’s the data?” Beckett rushed toward her and grabbed her shoulders.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she lied.
As the back of his hand hit her cheek, she saw stars. The chair tumbled to the ground and her head smacked onto the hard surface. Disoriented, she coughed as she inhaled dust. Selby tasted the coppery tang of blood on her tongue, and her eyes teared in pain. As he righted her chair, her head bobbed as if she were a ragdoll.
“Listen, you fucking bitch. I know Evan took the data.”
“I told you…” Selby lifted her mascara-stained lids and glared at him. “I don’t have it.”
“Where’s he keeping it?” He whipped a gun from behind his back and tapped her under her chin. “Yeah, that’s right. I heard the boss man talking about it tonight.”
“Why would you do this? Your brother…” Selby gasped as he wrapped his fingers around her neck. Her lips tightened, and she was unable to speak another word.
“Shut your mouth, you stupid cunt. My brother was a weak piece of shit. He could have been a millionaire like that asshole you’re fucking. But no, no, no.”
Selby sucked breath as he released her throat and began to pace.
“What a fucking idiot. He wasn’t ruining this for me. And you’re not stopping me either. No way. I have a buyer. I’m going to be rich. Emerson will bring the files and then I’m out of here.”
“Where can you possibly run? He’ll find you.”
“There’s a couple dozen countries I can name off the top of my head that don’t have extradition treaties, but it doesn’t matter really. The people who want this data, they’ve got deep pockets. He’ll never find me. None of them will.”
“Evan…”
“Evan suspected someone had been in the files. I just knew that asshole would figure out how to wipe it all. But I also knew he had it somewhere in his possession. The day before his jump, when I asked him why the project was stalled…” Beckett huffed, kicking a storage box. “The dick was such a braggart. I knew he couldn’t keep it a secret. He took the damn files. Had them safe with him, he said.”
“But why kill him?” Selby tried to keep him talking. If Garrett didn’t bring the drive soon, she’d be dead. There was no reason to keep her alive.
“It was impulsive on my part, but I needed more time to search his apartment. I didn’t even know if he’d actually die. I was hoping to land him in the hospital, so I had more time to search his office, all his damn properties. When he died…well, that was an unfortunate accident.” Beckett came behind Selby and knelt, grabbing her breast. “Oh yeah…I could have fucked you so good. When Garrett hired you, well,” he scoffed. “I knew it would be more difficult to get what I needed. You see, I went through Evan’s home office. I found all his credit card statements. I knew everywhere he’d been for over a month. That’s right, Selby. I know.”
Selby went silent, aware that he’d discovered that Evan had come to her club.
“I knew when you came on board that you were involved. You and Evan. How long were you fucking? You spread your legs for all the guys, huh? Garrett must love having a little whore like you.” He pinched at her nipple, and she screamed. “Evan gave it to you, didn’t he? I mean who else would know how to access the systems? He used you and you didn’t even know it. Perfect really. Except now, I need that data.”
“But that night in my apartment…” Selby’s mind swam, trying to figure out who had attacked her. Beckett had been at the party.
“You didn’t think I’d break into your apartment when everyone expected me to be at Altura? I told you…I’ve got a buyer, someone with money. It was easy for me to get someone to help me out with your place.�
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“You paid someone to plant the cameras?”
“No, that was my doing, but I couldn’t actually be there.”
“You paid them to attack me?”
“No, no, no. They were only supposed to get the drive. That’s the only reason you’re alive right now. The asshole I hired didn’t have the balls to take you out.”
Selby blew out a breath as he released her, and circled her chair. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his cell phone. As he tapped at the glass, her stomach dropped.
“Shouldn’t be long now. Garrett will bring the data, and once he does, you both can die together.”
Selby remained silent, allowing him to think he’d won. He stomped up the steps, and she defiantly scanned the room for a way to free herself. In the corner, she spied a pile of boxes. Lifting onto her toes, she attempted to hop to them. But as she hoisted upward, the chair teetered. She screamed as it toppled onto its side, her shoulder slamming into the cement. Throbbing pain stabbed throughout her body, her eyes filling with tears as the dirt-tinged air hit her tongue. Gathering her strength, she focused her effort. If she didn’t do something, she’d die.
Shoving with her feet, Selby propelled herself forward. Inch by inch, she moved, undaunted by her task. By the time she reached the boxes, exhaustion had set in, and she barely had enough energy to breathe. With her teeth, she bit at the cardboard, turning the contents out onto the floor. She closed her eyes as the items spilled around her.
A metal object clanged onto the floor and her fingertips brushed at the gritty earth. A sharp edge prodded at her fingertips and she worked it into the rope that bound her wrists, sawing at it. It released with a pop, and she cried with relief. Selby shoved herself up so she sat leaning against the wall. He’d come for her, she knew. She might die today but it would not be without a fight. Slipping the tool into the front of her dress, she waited for the beast.
