I sighed happily. “That sounds wonderful.”
I would love to get lost in a sea of people, an ocean of faces.
“My apartment is small, but it’s close to a great deli. They do the best Reuben. They even make their own sauerkraut.”
“Can we ride bikes together in Central Park?” I asked, tilting my head to look up at him. “I’ve always wanted to do that.”
Shane smiled. “We’ll do anything,” he said, kissing my forehead. “We’ll do everything.”
Chapter 30
Shane
I rechecked my phone and frowned. Still no message from Dallas. I wouldn’t worry if she were only a few minutes late, but she was supposed to be here half an hour ago. Was she okay?
I paced back in forth in front of Jake’s desk, a storm cloud above my head. If something happened to her, it would be my fault for not figuring out how to save her sooner. I’d spent a lot of time with Dallas over the past few days, but the second Preston or Wes called her back to the house I would go straight back to brainstorming. Sometimes during the day, Jake would help me, but he couldn’t figure it any more than I could.
I’d concluded that I could bet on something with Preston to secure Dallas and Randall’s safety, but what? I didn’t want to leave it up to chance, and I didn’t have anything to pump up the stakes to entice him into making such a bet. Jake jokingly suggested dueling him, and that was about as close as I’d come to an answer.
I felt useless. And now Dallas was late, and she hadn’t replied to my latest text. Something could have happened to her.
I paced one more lap, then I turned on my heel and marched out the door, grabbing my helmet and my keys on the way.
If Dallas was in trouble, it was my fault, and I would be the one to fix it. I didn’t have a plan. I didn’t have a fucking clue. But I knew she’d be at Preston’s place, and I’d kick down the front door if I had to.
I took the stairs two at a time, but just before I could reach the door, someone banged hard on it. Dallas didn’t usually knock. They banged again.
It looked like I didn’t have to go searching for trouble after all. Trouble found me.
I adopted a neutral expression and swung the door open.
Fuck.
Rob grabbed me by the collar of my shirt and hauled me through the doorway, tossing me onto the pavement as carelessly as if I were a doll. I took the hit on my shoulder and rolled, jumping back to my feet.
“Shane fucking Kelly,” Rob growled. “When they first told me you were back in town, I thought I was fucking dreaming.”
Rob’s barrel-chested body now reached to a sturdy 6’3”. His hair was cut short enough to see a thick roll of fat at the back of his neck, and his arms were as thick as hams. It was the first time I’d heard him speak since I broke his jaw, and his voice was lower than Barry Manilow’s.
Most intimidating of all, however, was the wooden Louisville Slugger he carried in his right hand. My grip on my helmet tightened.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” I inquired.
Rob pointed the bat at me. “You’re fucking lucky. Preston’s willing to let you leave if you go now.”
“And if I don’t?”
He laughed, deep and low. “Then you’re an even bigger dumb ass than I thought you were,” he said. “You’re fucking with the wrong people for the second time. If you don’t leave, I’m going to use this bat to rearrange your face. And I’m going to break that jaw of yours, see how you like eating out of a straw. Then I’ll bring you to Preston, and he’ll do what he should have done three years ago.”
“Hire better muscle?”
Rob’s nostrils flared. “Better make your decision quick before I make it for you.”
“Oh, my decision’s already been made,” I told him. “I’m not going anywhere.”
The flood of adrenaline in my system was making me twitchy, but I tried to ignore it and focus on Rob’s movements. He was dangerous enough without a weapon. With a baseball bat, one misstep and he’d be hitting a home run on my skull.
“I was hoping you’d say that.” Rob grinned, but the effect was more like a snarl.
He stalked toward me but I stayed put. Both hands on the bat, Rob suddenly lunged and swung toward my ribs. The swing was too low to duck in time, so I flung myself backward, catching my balance and then lurching forward while he reset his stance. I gripped the mouthpiece of my helmet and swung it as hard as I could. It cracked him on the side of the head and Rob stumbled back.
He let out a furious yell and came at me again, swinging back and forth like an inexperienced t-baller. I avoided some of the blows and blocked the others with my helmet, but I knew I wouldn’t last much longer. Rob’s strength far outmatched my own, and right now my only protection was a piece of fiberglass that I was having more trouble gripping with every hit.
Rob lifted the bat above his head and arced it down. It clipped my shoulder as I jumped out of the way. I cried out in pain but pushed through it, slamming the helmet against his head again and switching hands to get him on the other side too.
Rob blinked. His hands loosened on the bat. I rolled up for an underhand blow and hit him just under the chin.
Rob’s head snapped back. The rest of his body followed. He fell backward, and the bat clattered to the ground. I snatched it up and stood over him, keeping a cautious distance.
When he didn’t stir, I poked him with the bat. Sure enough, Rob was out cold.
I didn’t waste any time. I tossed the bat inside the door and raced over to my bike, then sped all the way up to the bottom of Preston’s driveway.
I stashed my bike in the bushes, just like I did the night of that awful party when I found Dallas in Preston’s office. Things were different now. She had a bedroom, and I knew it overlooked the back deck. It couldn’t be hard to figure out where it was from there.
I snuck up along the driveway but kept under cover of the trees. The house was quiet, with only a few lights on inside. A dark figure lounged on the front porch, partially illuminated by the glowing orange end of his cigarette. I made sure not to make any noise as I passed by and rounded the back of the house.
The pool was dark, rippling softly in the moonlight. I kept to the far side, hoping that if anybody were in the dim kitchen, they wouldn’t see me. A set of stairs led up to the top of the wooden deck, which was littered with cigarette butts and empty beer cans. I accidentally kicked a can as I tried to figure out which of the windows on the third floor was most likely to be Dallas’s. The noise sounded like a gunshot in the stillness and I froze.
Nothing happened. Still, I was more careful as I crossed the deck.
Only one window had a light on, and I decided to take the chance that it was hers. It was going to be difficult to get to. I could climb atop the deck railing and make a jump for the ledge, but if I didn’t catch it, I risked falling from three stories up. I walked to the edge of the deck and looked down.
If I did fall, I could try to aim for the pool, I supposed. The splash would probably attract somebody’s attention, but at least it would be better than busting my skull open on the cement. Even if I wasn’t going to make it, I had to try. Dallas could be hurt. Wes could be in that room right now with her, doing god knows what. I needed to be sure she was okay, or else I might as well bash my brains out.
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 k
nees 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.”
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