Treasured Temptation [Triple Dare County, South Dakota 4] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Polyromance)

by Paige Cameron

  Her door was shut. The security guard on the floor joined them by the stair well. “It’s quiet in there,” the guard said.

  “Take the detective to the next room. We’ll stay here until needed. He might hear us and shoot her before we can get to him,” the security chief said to his guard.

  Tor and two policemen moved carefully down the hall. The security guard opened the office door next to Amy’s. Thank goodness, it didn’t squeak. Tor went to the window and glanced down at the ground. He had a choice. The SWAT team was on their way, but Tor didn’t know how much time Amy had before the man would shoot her. He wasn’t going to chance it.

  The guard unlocked the window. “You’ll have to burst through hers.” He handed Tor a metal rod with a spring mechanism. “Hit the window with this and kick at the same time. You should go right through.”

  “I’d better or he’ll shoot us both. You and the others come through the door when you hear the glass break. It’ll confuse him and the closest person can take him down. He’s a frail old man.”

  Tor carefully climbed through the open window to the ledge. The two windows weren’t too far apart, but it seemed like a long stretch to Tor when he glanced down. Thank goodness the ledge was wider than he expected.

  He leaned back against the wall and moved slowly. His heart was in his throat. But to keep back the fear, he thought about Amy at the mercy of a madman with a gun. It urged him on.

  * * * *

  “Mr. Collins, you don’t want to kill me. What will your wife do without you?”

  “It doesn’t matter. She’ll get by, and if I gave up now, I’d go to jail. For an eighty-year-old they might as well sentence me to life. This is better. I’ll see you die, and then I’ll shoot myself.”

  Amy’s mouth went dry. Her heart pounded in her ears. She desperately tried to think of anything to change his mind.

  “I’m sorry your grandson died. His father influenced him and encouraged him to do what he did. If he’d only surrendered, he’d still be alive.”

  “No, he killed too many people. He’d have gotten the death penalty.” Mr. Collins sobbed. “I have nothing left.” He raised his gun at Amy’s chest.

  “You have your wife.”

  “She’ll be better off without me. At least this way I’ll have some satisfaction. You’ll have paid for your part in my son and my grandson dying young.”

  She saw his hand shake as he put his arms out straight toward her. Amy stared at his finger. “Please take time to think about this. You’re upset.”

  Mr. Collins glared at her. “Die, bitch.”

  He held the gun with unsteady hands. She saw his trigger finger begin to move and threw herself to the side, hoping she’d live.

  Suddenly, the window exploded, and a man flew through. The gun went off, hitting a picture on the opposite wall. Two policemen and the security chief and guards swarmed through her office door. Two of them got the gun from a confused Mr. Collins and handcuffed him.

  Amy lay on the floor, too shocked to move. Tor knelt at her side. “Are you wounded?”

  “I don’t think so.” She sat up and Tor put his arm around her.

  The room filled quickly with the SWAT team, who’d just arrived after the shot, and other police officers. Amy glanced around. “You brought a crowd of people with you. I thought I was dreaming and Superman had come through the window to save me.” She brushed his longish blond hair off his face. “You were certainly impressive.”

  “I aged ten years since I got the call about you being in danger. Then walking on that ledge aged me another ten. I’m an old man now.”

  The magnetism of his smile melted her insides like heated butter. “If there weren’t so many people in this room, I’d show my appreciation more enthusiastically,” Amy spoke softly so the others wouldn’t hear.

  “Keep that thought until we get alone.” He straightened and spoke with the sergeant. “Can your men handle this now? I’d like to take the lady home. She’s not hurt, but pretty shook.”

  “I can’t say I blame her,” the head of the tactical team said. “She kept him talking and held her end until help arrived. She’s a smart, cool lady.”

  “I’m sorry I couldn’t wait for you guys. I didn’t think there was a minute to spare.”

  “There wasn’t.” The SWAT team leader looked across at Amy. “If she hadn’t thrown herself on the floor she’d be wounded or dead. But when you crashed through and everyone else charged in, it confused him and stopped him from trying again. Have you ever thought about being on the SWAT team?”

  “No. I hate heights. The only reason I got on the ledge is because I love that little lady and plan to marry her, if she’ll have me.”

  The man clapped him on the back. “Then good luck, marriage can be more dangerous than most of the work we do.” He grinned and walked off.

  “I’m heading out, Sergeant. I hope the rest of your shift will be quieter.”

  Tor put his arm around Amy and headed toward the door. The chief of security stopped him. “I’ll take you out the back way. Have one of your men bring your car around. The front is full of reporters.”

  “I appreciate the offer.” Tor asked one of the policemen to drive his car to the back. “Here are the keys. It’s the blue Chevy.” The officer laughed. “Sir, we all know your old car.” Laughing, he got on the elevator.

  “I think I’m insulted,” Tor said. Amy bit her lip. “I see you agree with him. Will you be embarrassed to ride home in my old car?”

  “Not at all, it has character.”

  A portly man rushed up to Amy. “Are you all right, Amy?”

  “Yes, sir. I’m a little shaken, but fine.”

  “I heard on the news it was our building and our floor. I knew it was probably you. You stay late so many nights. My partner told me what he said to you this afternoon. Don’t believe him. You’ll get your promotion within the next six months, I promise. Now let this gentleman take you home and take tomorrow off. Don’t worry about the office.”

  “I was surprised and disappointed when he said a man would be promoted over me. His statements were definitely gender biased. I had planned to talk with you later this week.”

  “I’m the senior partner. I’ve warned him if this happens again he’ll be fired. You’re an excellent employee, and I know how hard you’ve worked for this promotion. Go home and rest, and enjoy your day off.”

  She thanked him and they rode down the elevator with the chief of security. He took them to the back door.

  The policeman stood by Tor’s open car door. In minutes they were headed to Amy’s condo.

  Tor turned on the radio. There was a news alert about a man with a gun threatening to kill a woman but no names were given. “We can go to your place. The reporters will swarm the area once they have your name, but we’ll get in ahead of them.”

  “How did you know to come to my rescue?” Amy asked.

  “Mrs. Collins called. She was crying and could hardly talk. She had waited since last night before getting up the nerve to contact us. I guess she wanted to protect her husband, but she didn’t want him to kill anyone. I’d headed home. I turned and went straight to your office building. Do you have a parking spot in your condo garage?”

  “Yes, I have two. Turn right here. There’s the entrance. I’m on the second floor.”

  Once they’d parked and ridden up the elevator to her floor, Amy unlocked her door and walked in. “I’ve never been so glad to be home.”

  She started to shake and the tears ran down her face. Tor gathered her in his arms.

  “It’s all right, honey. You did really well, and actually, you saved your own life with your quick thinking.”

  Amy sobbed into his shoulder. “But if you hadn’t arrived with the rest of the police, he’d have had time to shoot at me again, and I doubt he’d have missed.”

  He held her close, one arm around her waist and one hand cradling her head. “Let it all out.”

  She molded her body aga
inst his. His warmth and the steady beat of his heart gradually calmed her. “I’m sorry. I’ve never fallen to pieces like this before.”

  “Don’t be sorry.” Tor handed her his handkerchief. “You held yourself together until you were safe. That’s what counts.” He swept her into his arms and sat in the only large chair she had in her living room. He brushed her hair off of her face.

  “Look at me.” Tor lifted her chin up. “I want to apologize for my immature behavior in South Dakota. I have a quick temper, but it doesn’t last. I’m going to work on it. When I saw you leaving on the plane, I wanted to run and grab you and beg you to stay.”

  “I thought I saw you.”

  “It was me. But my behavior embarrassed me.”

  “Someone hurt you.”

  “Yes, it was long before I met you. And then I saw so many of my friends in the police force getting divorced and decided I didn’t want to be vulnerable to a woman, ever.” A wry smile curved his sexy lips. “I guess I overreacted.” Tor explained about coming home to a good-bye letter from his girlfriend. “I think it hurt my ego more than my heart. Thinking I’d spoiled things for us hurt my heart.”

  “I love you, Tor. You and Chad have my heart. I planned on calling you soon, but my other boss told me earlier today that a man was going to get my promotion. I feared you and Chad would think you were my second choice.”

  “Silly woman and you’ll still get the promotion from what the older gentleman said to you earlier.”

  “He’s the real boss. What he says goes. But if you and Chad want me as your wife after all of this, I’ll resign from my job tomorrow.”

  Tor kissed her hard, and then his smile dazzled her when he said, “If? Chad’s been going out of his mind. He was willing to wait forever.”

  “And you?” she asked. Amy ran her finger over his lips and he nipped the tip.

  “I’d have waited forever, too. You are the only woman we want for our wife. Do you have a bedroom in this place?” Tor stood with her in his arms.

  “Down the hall, the last room on the right,” Amy directed him.

  He made rapid strides to her bedroom and sat Amy on the bed. “Before I start making love to you, we’d better call Chad and your mother. They might have heard the news and be frantic.” He punched in Chad’s number.

  “Hello, I was going to call you. Is Amy all right?” Chad asked.

  “We’re both fine. I’ll let you talk to her. She has a lot to tell you.”

  “Chad, I told Tor I wanted to come home. He doesn’t think you’ll mind.”

  “I don’t, but do you also mean you’ll marry us?”

  “Yes. I love you both. I’ll resign tomorrow.”

  “Oh, honey. I wish you were here so I could take you in my arms and hold you. Hell, I’ll fly to Pittsburgh tomorrow. We’ll spend a day together, and then I’ll have to return to New York to finish up my work.”

  “Wonderful. I’ll tell Tor. Call me with the time to pick you up.”

  “I can take a cab.”

  “No, you can’t. I don’t want to wait that long.”

  He said good-bye and hung up laughing. Amy had been watching Tor undress. His hard-muscled body, wide shoulders, lean hips, and long legs made her mouth water. Seeing her staring, he moved closer and put a condom package by the bed.

  She dialed her mother’s number. Her mother had been resting and hadn’t heard the news until one of her brothers had just called her.

  “I’m fine. A little shook up, but that’s all. I’m going to rest and will call you later tomorrow. Love you, too.”

  As soon as Amy hung up her phone, Tor hurriedly undressed her.

  Amy reached out and ran her fingers down his chest, across his abdomen, and wrapped her hand around his hard cock. “You’re a magnificent specimen of a man.”

  Her hands stroked his hardness. She pulled him closer and put his cock deep in her mouth. She licked his satin hardness and cupped his sac, moving his balls gently. When she heard him hiss, she smiled.

  “Darlin’, I’m so hungry for you. One more touch and I’ll explode. Let me take over.” He loosened her hand and moved her up and to the middle of the bed. Then he put some of her lotion in his hands.

  “Turn on your stomach.” Tor helped her change positions. Then he began to rub her back. He massaged her muscles and kissed her backbone all the way to her buttocks. After putting more lotion on his hands, he kneaded all the way down her legs to her feet.

  Her body sank into the soft mattress and every spot of tension relaxed under his skilled hands.

  “If you keep this up, I’ll fall asleep.”

  “It’s time to roll you over. You can sleep afterward.” Tor helped her get on her back. With his hands full of cream, he started at her neck and worked his way down.

  Heat flashed in her core and her heartbeat speeded up. He put his hands on her breasts, and she gasped when a rush of pleasure infused her body.

  His fingers traced circles around her sensitive skin, getting closer and closer to her nipples. When he finally rubbed across her tight buds, her body arched and she moaned. Then his teeth grazed the very tip of her nipples, and a jolt of electricity flew up her spine.

  Amy looked into his eyes and her heart filled with joy seeing the love shining there for her. Every cell of her body yearned for him to fill her pussy with his large cock.

  Tor bent his head and kissed each bud tenderly, and then he moved down to her midriff, rubbing more of the lotion on her. Her abdomen quivered under his hands. She ran her fingers through his silky hair.

  When he got to her lower lips, he skirted the area and rubbed on down her legs. Then he straddled her body and reached for the condom package. “Open it and roll the condom on my dick.”

  She did as he said then he moved back down and spread her legs. When he licked her clit, her hips rose to meet his mouth. He licked and tasted her juices all the way to her pussy opening.

  “Truly delectable,” he said and slid two fingers into her pussy. With the other hand he tweaked her nipple and had her twisting on the bed.

  “Put your hard cock inside me,” she pleaded.

  “Be patient.” He kissed her nipple, along her soft abdomen, and over her clit.

  Her insides were shaking with her hunger for him. Her heart lurched when he moved his dick into position and plunged inside her wet pussy. Her pussy walls grabbed his cock tight.

  Tor raised her hips and sank deeper. She ground her hips against him. As he thrust back and forth, his strength and vitality drew her closer to him. They moved back and forth in time with each other. Then his strokes became longer and he plunged in faster.

  “Look in my eyes,” Tor said.

  The expression in his eyes stimulated her desire to higher levels. His pupils were large and dark and a gold light burned deep inside.

  “I pledge to you I’ll always love you, protect you, be your friend and lover from this day on.” A wry smile crossed Tor’s lips. “And if I forget and lose my temper, you have my permission to give me a swift kick.”

  Amy clamped her pussy tight around his cock. She kept eye contact with him. “I’ll love you and Chad forever.”

  At her words, Tor took her fast and hard. A rush of euphoria rippled across her body. She put her legs around his waist and took all he could give. Waves of passion shook her, and he held her tight, creating a long, drawn out orgasm.

  When he looked close to reaching his peak, Amy raised her hips and tightened her muscles. He yelled her name as he found his completion.

  “You really are going to marry us?” Tor leaned up on an elbow, waiting to hear her words.

  “Yes, I am going to marry you and Chad.” She smiled. “Does that convince you?”

  “What will really do it is when you say yes in the wedding ceremony.”

  “Stay the night with me, and maybe I can help you feel more secure.”

  “Darlin’, that’s an invitation I can’t refuse.” He kissed her mouth, and she cuddled against his s
ide.

  “You had me worried, too. I thought you’d stay mad and ignore me.”

  “Honey, my hand got a cramp from all the times it reached for the phone to call you. But I was scared of your reaction.”

  “A big, strong guy like you scared of me?”

  “Honey, you’re the only thing that can scare me.”

  She kissed him. “You’re sweet. You just hide it under that tough exterior.”

  “Don’t tell anyone else. You’ll ruin my reputation.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Amy watched the news the next morning. Tor had left for work, and she planned to meet Chad at the airport in an hour.

  There were pictures of the building and one of Tor walking on the ledge.

  Her heart jumped just seeing the picture, and then the announcer said, “According to police, Torrad Davidssons has a phobia regarding heights, but he didn’t believe they had time to wait for the SWAT team to arrive. He was right, the shooter tried to kill Ms. Gresham as Davidssons came through the window.”

  Tor had a fear of heights? Yet, he put himself on that ledge to save her. Nothing could be more of a declaration of his love, and yet he didn’t mention it last night. Her love for him filled her heart.

  She turned the television off. Hopefully reporters wouldn’t be around when she went to her car.

  When she got off the elevator, she saw several men and women outside the gate and heard them call to others. Amy jumped in, started her car, and locked the doors. Then ignoring the reporters’ pleas, she drove out and away. Cameras snapped as she rode by them.

  At the airport, she parked, took the elevator to the main floor, and waited for Chad. It wasn’t long before she saw him. Dressed in a black suit with a pale-blue shirt, he had women’s heads turning as he walked by. When he opened his arms, she flew into them. And as he kissed her, she heard one woman say, “That’s one lucky lady.”

  “Welcome to Pittsburgh,” Amy said.

  Chad stepped back. He gave her a slow and seductive look, making her insides tingle, and her heart pound.