by Arlo Arrow
Julia bites her bottom lip. She’s completely unaware of it, but it’s a look so fucking sexy, I’d take her again if it wasn’t for the seriousness of our conversation.
“I don’t want to put you out any more than I already have,” she says.
“I told you, I’m happy to help. I’m always happy to help you,” I reply and wrap my arms around her. Maybe it’s time to talk about some other stuff, too. “Julia, I know I haven’t exactly laid my feelings on the line, but I want you to know I happen to care very much about you.”
She gives me a sad smile. “I know,” she says, looking down at the ground.
“What’s wrong?” I say.
“It’s just…” She pauses. “It’s just that I don’t want all this to end. Not the Pete thing—that can be over yesterday… but us. You. Me. I… I worry I’m not enough for you and this is all temporary, you know? Like, we’ll go back to the city and it’ll be like this never happened. Back to where we were. Never touching again, and all this will just be a sweet memory. I don’t think my heart could survive.”
Her words astound me. I reach out my hand and gently lift her chin so I can look in her eyes. They’re glistening and I see tears welling up, ready to fall.
“Julia, you’re so much more than enough for me, and I’m so grateful for every second I get to spend with a beautiful, sexy woman like you.” She smiles, but the look of vulnerability in her eyes has me spilling secrets I never intended to. “I’m still confused as to why you want to be with some old man like me, though. How come you haven’t found someone your own age?”
Her tears are gone and she throws her head back and laughs. “Old man? You’re far from that, Griff. When I met you at the interview, I couldn’t get over what a hottie you are. I was expecting your father. Now, that’s an old man.”
A spark of hope ignites inside me. “Then you’re interested in more?”
“I am if you are,” she says softly, her eyes searching mine.
I look back at her and smile. “I definitely am,” I say, and kiss her. “Let’s spend another week here while I have some extra security features added to the house for when we get back.”
“Are you sure?” she asks. “I don’t want you to get cabin fever because you’re sick of me.”
“Sick of you? Impossible,” I assure her. “We can figure everything else out once Pete’s out of the picture. For now, let’s treat the next week like a vacation.”
“Okay,” Julia agrees. “But I want to do this right. I’m sure you’ve thought about it, but I want you to know I’m not after your money, despite how this might look to the outside world. You’re going to have to let me contribute something. Take it out of my paycheck if you want, but I never want to be a kept woman, okay?”
“Why does that not surprise me,” I say with a smile. “Once we get home, I promise.”
“Deal,” she replies.
***
Julia
Griff’s words repeat in my mind. Not only does he want something more with me—to my utter astonishment—but his wording alone speaks volumes to me. Once we get home. Home? Like, my home and his home? Our home? It’s almost too much to think about.
Not only is this incredible man generous, caring, funny, smart, and sexy as fuck, but he has immediately and without question opened his entire life to me. Never have I met someone—apart from my parents—who has put so much faith in me so quickly. It’s more than the connection we share. It’s the possibilities that he’s open to.
I try not to overthink it. Once I start down that road it never usually ends well. Instead, I revel in it. Griff wants me. He cares about me. It’s a huge start.
Especially considering I’ve completely fallen head-over-heels in love with him.
***
The week goes too quickly. With my ribs almost healed and the weather being cooperative, we see the local sites. Griff likes to hike, so we venture into the mountains and the forest surrounding the cabin. By the end of the week, I barely remember that the reason we came here was to hide out and as Griff’s car swiftly covers the miles back toward the city, I feel a peace I didn’t know I was missing before.
The first thing we do is stop in and see my dad, and after I give him a big hug, and he sees I’m all in one piece, Griff and I sit down to talk to him. He doesn’t seem surprised in the least when we tell him Griff and I are now seeing one another.
“Okay, then. I’m so happy for both of you,” he simply says.
“That’s it?” I ask as my eyebrow raises in disbelief.
“Yep. What were you expecting? I don’t know if you two thought people didn’t notice the eyes you two have been making at one another, but I sure did,” Dad says bluntly. “Frankly, I’m surprised you held out this long.”
“Have you had any incidents while we’ve been away we should know about, Walt?” Griff asks, blessedly changing the subject.
“No,” Dad shakes his head, “so far, things have been quiet.”
Relief rushes over me. Maybe this all can just come to a nice, quiet end. Surely, Pete can’t care enough about me to face being arrested and serving time? No, he must be gone.
We make plans to have lunch tomorrow since it’s Sunday before we say goodnight. When we get to Griff’s, Mac is waiting for us and I get the impression that these two go way back. The guys get almost everything inside before Mac shows Griff the new security system features. I decide to wash off all the yuck that seems to have accumulated on me throughout our travels today, and I move toward the room I stayed in before when Griff stops me.
“Julia? Upstairs, first door on the left,” then he goes back to listening to Mac.
Of course, I wouldn’t be sleeping in the guest room anymore; what was I thinking? I’ve never been up here, so I follow Griff’s directions. His bedroom is kind of bare and beige, but it’s warm and sunny with a huge bed that looks so comfortable. I notice an open door in the corner and spot the bathroom. My shower plan is back in action.
It feels heavenly to get clean, and I go back into the room and rummage through my bag for something to wear. Unfortunately, almost everything I have with me needs to be washed. I frown and turn to Griff’s dressers. I doubt he’d mind if I borrow a T-shirt. I opt for the one closest to me and open the top drawer, but I don’t see any, and it doesn’t feel right for me to be rummaging through all his private stuff. Instead of looking further, I pick out the least smelly pajamas I have, throw them on, and head downstairs.
***
Griff
Julia comes back downstairs soon after I show Mac out and set the alarm system to arm it. She has a basket of clothes in her hands, and I show her where the washer and dryer are. I go into the kitchen in search of a takeout menu since the drive has left me with no energy to worry about cooking, and I walk toward Julia with a couple in my hand. From down the hall she notices me, smirks, and undresses. I think she’s throwing the pajamas she was wearing into the wash, but the sight of her perfect naked body has me in a trance, and I’m not paying attention to anything else.
Julia proceeds to walk—no, more like strut down the hall to me. “What do you have there?” she asks, as though her walking around my place in the nude is perfectly normal.
I recall the menus in my hand. “Food,” I mumble, unable to form coherent sentences with her next to me like that, a perky breast prodding my arm.
“Okay. Hey, can I borrow a T-shirt?” she asks.
I nod and follow her as she leads me upstairs by the hand. That peachy ass wiggling in my face with every step has my cock hard before we even reach the top. She giggles the entire way, and the sound of it just makes me want her more. By the time we reach the bedroom, I toss the menus on the dresser and move toward Julia, standing by the bed. Food be damned. She bites her lower lip, and I am done for. My cock throbs inside my pants, and I want her.
“Not hungry anymore?” she asks coyly, putting a finger to her lips like a naughty schoolgirl.
“Not for food,” I tell her.<
br />
“I see.” She closes the gap between us and lifts my shirt. “You know, you’re a little overdressed for the bedroom,” she says, undoing my belt buckle. She unbuttons my pants and strokes me through my underwear, my cock straining inside the fabric.
I quickly disrobe and grab Julia, turning her around so her ass lines up to my dick. I use one hand to hold her head gently in place by her hair while my mouth devours her neck. She moans and I feel her tremble in my arms, knowing that spot drives her wild then I move to the other side, balling her long blonde hair loosely in my hand. I want her like I’ve never wanted any woman before. She purrs with delight, her hand reaching back to my ass, pulling me closer to her.
Julia
“Would you like me to fuck you now?” Griff’s voice whispers gruffly in my ear.
“Yes. Please, Griff,” I beg.
Before I can even close my mouth, Griff pushes me forward and I fall onto the bed on my hands and knees. I spread my thighs wider… waiting. I turn to face him and he’s just standing there, staring at my ass and pussy, his pre-come glistening on the tip of his cock.
“You’re so fucking beautiful, Julia,” he says then he climbs onto the bed with me and slips his hard, silky length into my wet, waiting cunt. I scream out in pleasure from the sudden exhilaration it brings as he fills me completely. The walls of my pussy stretch to accommodate him. So deep. Griff fucks me hard, and I love every second of it. His hands roam everywhere—stroking my back, my belly, my hips. One hand finds a breast and squeezes, rolling the nipple between his finger and thumb. The feeling is exquisite. He tugs gently on my hair and I arch my back, bucking into him with each of his thrusts. Griff just holds me. Somehow, it’s the most erotic thing I’ve ever encountered and I come quickly. I scream my pleasure as my pussy spasms on his thick shaft with every wave of my orgasm washing over me.
Moments later Griff finds his own release, and gripping my hips tight with both hands, he explodes inside me and growls out my name.
“Oh, God. Julia, you’re incredible,” he says as we both collapse onto the sheets, his cock still inside me.
“That was amazing, Griff,” I purr. He spoons me, wrapping his strong arms around me and kisses my shoulder.
“Something we should do again?” he jokes.
“Most definitely,” I promise with a yawn.
I feel sleep begin to take over and I’m not sure if I’m awake or dreaming when I hear Griff whisper, “I love you, Julia.”
Chapter Fifteen
Julia
It’s been a few weeks since we’ve been back, and everything has been surprisingly quiet. Griff is a little anxious tonight because he has to go away on business for a couple days. He’s concerned for my safety. He wants me to go with him, but I really have too much work to do at the office and it’s very important to me not to receive any special treatment when it comes to work. We don’t really argue—and I understand his concern—but I’m a big girl now and I don’t want to be treated like some china doll.
“Griff, if anything bad were going to happen, don’t you think that it would’ve by now?” I ask in an effort to persuade him to calm his fears.
“Maybe, but maybe not, and that’s not a risk I’m willing to take,” he says stubbornly.
I consider other options. There must be some sort of compromise. “What if my dad stays here in the guestroom? Then I won’t be alone and he’ll get some bonding time and home-cooked meals,” I suggest.
“That’s a really good idea,” Griff agrees.
I throw my arms around him and give him a kiss. “Happy?” I ask.
“Very much so,” he confesses. “I know your dad will keep you just as safe as I would.”
“Damn straight,” I say with a laugh. “He’s got a lot of experience with it, you know.”
Griff laughs, and I feel better knowing he feels better. “I know,” he says.
***
Griff’s been gone for two days, and he’s due back sometime early tomorrow morning. I told my dad not to worry about spending the last night here. Partly because I think tomorrow morning could be incredibly awkward and partly because it’s been completely quiet and uneventful. I just don’t think the danger of Pete is lurking about anymore.
I eat some leftovers and watch a movie before bed. I decide to take a shower in the hopes my reunion with Griff requires freshly shaven legs. I grin as I shave, knowing, without doubt, it will. My phone vibrates on the night stand in the bedroom. It’s a message that he’s on his last layover and I text him back that I can’t wait to see him and snap a picture of my wet, soapy, naked self to tease him with.
Griff asks for more, so I happily comply. We go back and forth as I dry myself off until I tell him this is it as I snap one more.
Griff texts back quickly just as I pull a nightshirt over my head and am slipping into my pajama bottoms. Julia, get out of there.
Before I can text him back and ask him why, I notice something move in the mirror and everything goes black.
***
Griff
I go from being an incredibly turned-on man in an airport terminal to a crazy one. The last picture Julia sent me has a figure behind her, and when I zoom in on the face, I make out Pete’s distinctive features. I’m at my wits end, unsure who to call first. I’m hundreds of miles away. Julia doesn’t respond or pick up her phone, so I call Mac. Luckily, he’s not far from there.
“I’m on it. Don’t worry, man. I’ll get her back safe. You get here as quickly as you can,” he says.
I dial Julia again and get nothing. My short flight doesn’t leave for an hour and a half and takes another thirty-five minutes to land. I use my phone to search the drive time between here and home. It’s only an hour and a half so I grab everything I have with me and rush over to the car rental counter.
I’ll get home faster driving, and that’s just what I’m going to fucking do. Sitting around and waiting to hear if Julia’s okay will drive me insane. Less than ten minutes later I’m on the road.
Don’t worry, baby. I’m coming.
***
Julia
The place I’m in is small and dark. It smells moldy. It takes me a few moments to realize that it’s a car trunk and the car is moving. Whatever drugs are in my system have me very groggy.
To my surprise there are no restraints. My hands and legs are free. This gives me a small sense of hope. Either they thought I wouldn’t wake up, or think I’m weak. If it’s the latter, they have another thing coming. I’m not going down without a fight.
I search around for something—anything to use as a weapon while the car’s still moving and I have the chance. At first, I search frantically and find nothing. I almost lash out in frustration and scream, but quickly remind myself that it’s not in my best interest to broadcast the fact that I’m awake. Instead, I slow my breathing like I did when my ribs hurt and calm myself down. It dawns on me that I may be able to find a tire iron somewhere underneath me. That’s a damn good weapon in my book.
It hurts like hell to jam my arm under the trunk liner, but it pays off. My hand wraps around cold thick metal, and when I tug, it comes with me freely. Not a moment too soon, either as the car comes to a stop and shuts off.
Now that I’m calm, the trunk turns out to be bigger than I first thought. I press my feet and body as far in as possible, leaving my right arm as much room as I can to swing. I quickly lie my head down and almost shut my eyes, peering through my lashes and pretending to still be out cold.
The trunk opens. I stay still and remain calm. It quickly passes. With my one open eye, I see a shadow from the trunk lights as someone leans in. I know it’s now or never, so I open my other eye, spot my target, and swing for all I’m worth.
***
Griff
I drive fast. I drive fast and I don’t give a fuck about doing it. By some miracle, I don’t get pulled over, either. The street signs tell me I have a little less than thirty miles to home.
I push down on the
gas harder and drive even faster.
***
Julia
Holy shit! I can’t believe that worked!
I snap myself out of it quickly and push Pete’s prone body out of my way so I can climb out. Once I do, I don’t stick around. I take off barefoot—and in my PJ’s—down the road behind the car. I run until my lungs feel like they’re going to explode, and I can no longer feel my feet. The feet thing is okay, because the pavement hurt with every step. The lung thing sucks. My side begins to cramp, and my ribs even throb a bit when I finally slow to a jog. I’m about to become hysterical from fear that Pete will return when I see headlights coming toward me.
***
Griff
My phone goes off as I pull into the city. It’s Mac, and I answer quickly.
“We found her,” Mac says, excitedly.
“Is she okay?” I ask.
“A little shaken up, but yeah, she’s okay.”
“Thank, God,” I say with extreme relief.
Mac tells me to meet them at the hospital, and I immediately change course. “I’ll be there soon,” I promise and disconnect. Fortunately, the traffic’s light because it’s late, so it doesn’t take long.
Mac must have told them to expect me because they usher me right back into the private emergency area. It’s not until I walk into the room and see her with my own eyes that I truly feel she’s alright.
“Griff!” Julia almost sobs and holds her arms out to me.
“Babe, thank God you’re okay,” I say as I hold her close. “What happened?’
She tells me the story of how she got taken, and I fight to maintain my composure. Mac jumps in that Pete tried to track her, but to no avail.
“Wait, then what happened?” I ask in confusion.
“She knocked Pete’s dumbass out with a tire iron and took off, flagged down a car, and got to the police,” Mac says with a hint of pride in his voice. “If you ask me, Griff, this one’s a keeper.”
I look down at Julia. “You fought back?” I ask.
