by C. M. Allen
"Gage, I spotted you following me in this morning, you aren't that sneaky."
"Well, it doesn't help that you know all of our cars we use either."
I laughed at him. "That's true. You need to go get yourself some beater and stop driving these fancy ass Range Rovers around. Then I might not see you."
"Somehow I still think you would, just because you know the boss all too well."
"That I do. Did you want to come in and have some coffee and breakfast? It's the least I can do."
Opening his door and quickly getting out, he replied. "It took you long enough to come out and ask, a man could starve to death waiting for you to notice he's hungry."
Laughing at him as we headed back inside, I winked at him. "Well, I had to make you suffer a little for spying on me and all."
"I would expect nothing less from you," he chuckled.
As my day finally came to an end, I bid the girls goodbye and walked out with my invisible bodyguard. Approaching my car, I noticed a white piece of paper on the windshield. "Hey, what's that on my car?" I asked Gage.
Raising his arm in front of me to stop me, he ordered. "Stay right here, Sloane." Looking down at me, he finished. "I mean it. Don't move."
I threw my hands up in a frustrated surrendering mode. "Okay, okay, I won't. Sheesh, it's just a piece of paper, though."
"Yeah well, all the same I want you to stay put." Watching him as he walked over to my car, looking around and scanning the area for anything out of the ordinary, caused me to start to do the same, but I didn't see anything odd or out of place. As he read the note, I could see by the expression on his face when he reached for his phone, there was no doubt that he was calling Archer. Whatever was written in the note had not been good at all, and it caused my heartbeat to pick up a little.
Turning back around, he strode over to where I still stood as he talked to Archer, taking me by my arm and leading me to his SUV. "Wait, what about my car?" When he looked down at me with a serious expression, I knew there was no room for arguing with him right now, so I just clammed up and followed him to his car. Opening the passenger side door for me, I got in and he set the locks when he shut the door, continuing to pace outside and talk to Archer. Suddenly my phone beeped with a text message from Archer.
Archer: Sloane do me a favor and don't be your usual stubborn self for once and just listen to anything Gage tells you to do, okay?
Looking out the window, I saw that Gage was still talking to Archer, and thought to myself, leave it up to him to be giving two people orders at the same time. So, I tried to reassure him when I texted back.
Me: I am. And will continue to. But I want to know what that note said! So since you're on the phone with Gage tell him to let me see it!
After I sent the message, I looked back out the window at Gage to see if Archer did what I'd asked. Pausing for a moment in mid pacing, he looked up at me and down at the note before hanging up with Archer and walking towards the SUV, and I knew he'd told him what I said. Just then my phone beeped with another text.
Archer: I did. He's bringing you to me, there's more I need to tell you. See you in a few.
As I watched Gage slide into the driver's seat and shut the door, he turned to me, letting out a sigh. "Are you sure you really want to see this, Sloane? It's just going to upset you."
"Yes, Gage. I need to know what's going on, no matter how bad it scares me. Not knowing scares me even more."
"Okay." He handed me the note. Unfolding it, I read what it said.
You won't know when or where, but I'm coming for you. You'll never be safe from me, Sloane.
Covering my mouth to try and stifle the gasp that escaped me, I quickly handed the note back to Gage. "He knows where I work." I said, looking out the window.
"That's if it's the guy from the club who you saw, Sloane."
Snapping my head back to Gage I asked. "Who else would it be? What is it you aren't telling me, Gage?"
"I think I'm going to let Archer explain that to you." He started the car and pulled out onto the road.
As we entered the elevator that would take us up to Archer's office, I couldn't help getting a little anxious about what it was he had to tell me. What else could top some freak, psycho murderer that possibly wanted me dead? When the elevator doors opened, we made the short walk to his office, my feet feeling like I was walking through quicksand I'd been so nervous about this news. His assistant waved us in, and I barely even registered her presence as I tried to figure out, what now? Walking into his office, we found Archer typing away on his laptop.
When he glanced up at us, he practically jumped out of his chair, heading straight for me, engulfing me in a tight hug as he kissed the top of my forehead. "I'm so glad you're here, and safe. I was so worried about you."
Pushing back from his chest, I asked. "What's going on, Archer? Gage said that you have something else to tell me?"
Motioning towards one of the chairs in front of his desk, he told me. "Please, I want you to sit down and then I'll tell you everything." When he rounded his desk, there was a knock on the door. "Come in," he called out to whoever it was. As the door opened, Riker walks in.
"Hey, Sloane. How are you doing?"
"Well, I've been better, don't really like getting threatening notes on my car and all."
"I was sorry to hear about that."
"Thank you. I don't mean to be rude here but can someone please just tell me what the hell is going on, and what this new bit of information you have to give me is?"
Letting out a heavy breath, Riker moved over to Archer's desk, picking up a file. Placing the file in front of me, he put his hand over the top of it so I couldn't open it. "First, I want you to know that this research was not done maliciously. It was done due to a true concern for your safety, and it's a good thing we did it, now we know what we're possibly dealing with here."
Growing impatient, I snapped out. "Okay, so can I see it now?" Riker begrudgingly removed his hand and flipped the folder open. The first thing I saw was a picture of Jared. "What the hell?"
CHAPTER
27
Archer
When Riker told me the information he had uncovered about Jared, I wanted to jump in my car and race to get to Sloane as fast as possible. The idea of a murderer possibly being after her was more than enough to deal with, but now having to deal with two threat possibilities was going to put me on a permanent edge. I needed this whole thing straightened out, the BDSM murderer caught and I needed to figure out just how dangerous Jared really was. My first instinct was to take Sloane straight home and lock her away, where no one would be able to find her. But knowing my angel the way I did, she would have fought me to the ends of the earth if I even tried that. Seeing the look of fear in her eyes when she entered my office was like a punch to the gut. I hated seeing her upset or afraid and would do anything to take it all away. Sitting here as I watched her go through Jared's file, I waited for her response. "So, is he? Are you telling me? What is it exactly that you guys are trying to tell me with this? That he was with me because I look like these two girls? Or that he's going to try and hurt me?"
"Honestly, we aren't sure. But I wanted you to see this, so you’d know just who it is you're dealing with. He's not a rational man, Sloane." I told her.
She glanced down at the file again. "He didn't seem that off to me, I mean, obviously he's had issues in the past, but he might be better now. And maybe it's just a coincidence that I look like these girls. He wouldn't be the first guy to have a type."
Seeing that she wasn’t taking this as seriously as I wanted her to, I knew I needed to have a private chat with her and make her see things my way. "Riker, Gage, would you two please excuse us? I would like to talk to Sloane alone." Both of them gave me a nod and left my office. Following them over, I locked the door behind them once they are gone. Turning around, I walked back over to my desk where she sat. "I need you to start taking this very seriously, Sloane." I pointed at the open file
to drive her attention to why I was worried.
"It's not that I don't take this seriously Archer, it's just really hard for me to wrap my brain around it. I mean the Jared that I know is not the same guy you have here in this file. I'm sitting here reading all of this and trying to think to myself if I noticed anything off about him during the time we dated. The only thing that comes to mind is how possessive he was with my time, but that's it. You're the same way, too though, if not worse with the whole mine thing, so I don't see how it’s an issue at all. I mean, like I said, the guy has obviously had some problems, but people do change, Archer. Maybe he got better."
Not able to keep the smirk off my face about her possessive comment towards me, I wiped it away just as fast as it appeared. I still needed to get through to her just how seriously I needed her to take this. "Sloane, the stalking issue in college wasn't that long ago, it's only been four years since it happened." Thinking to myself how I could get her to see things my way, I decided to try the sympathetic seduction approach. Taking her hand in mine, I leaned down to kiss it. "Would you please just do this for me Sloane, and stay away from him? You mean too much to me. I can't stand the thought of something happening to you."
"I already told you that I'm not going to put myself in any predicaments where I am alone with Jared again, so please don't worry about me with him, or near him. It won't happen again, I promise. But just for the record, I don't think he's the same guy as he used to be, Archer."
Bringing her hand to my lips again, I kissed each of her fingertips. "Thank you. It means a lot to me that you do as I ask and realize that I'm just trying to keep you safe." Grabbing her other hand, I repeated the same gesture of kissing each finger, further seducing her. "And don't forget that's one of the biggest parts of our relationship, that you trust me to know what's best for you, and to keep you safe." I finished my speech, pressing my thumb to her lips and gliding it over them, prompting her to open her mouth for me. Understanding what I wanted from her, she closes her eyes on a shaky breath, telling me that I was affecting her the way I wanted to.
I slid my finger in between her warm, wet lips, just how I wanted to slide my cock into her warm wet pussy, and it took all that I had not to rip her clothes off right here and bend her over my desk. But I had plans for her tonight, it required a few things I had at home, so I needed to rein in my control until then.
Not able to handle the pressure my pants were putting on my cock any longer, I pulled my finger free from her mouth and leaned down, taking her in a deep passionate kiss. "Let's go home." I mumbled between kisses.
"Mm hmm." Was all she’d said as a response, letting me know that she was just as ready for me as I was for her. I wanted to take her to the places that only I could.
Entering the penthouse, I gently kissed her lips and gave her a command. "I want you to go into the bedroom, strip out of your clothes, then go into the bathroom and wait for me." When she brought her eyes to mine, I could tell she was more than ready for a little playtime, and tonight I’d see just how far I could push her boundaries, starting now. When she told me okay and began to walk away, I gave her one last piece of instruction. "And Angel?" Turning back, she looked at me, waiting for what I would say next. "When I come in there, I want you on your knees in a submissive’s pose, hands behind your back, head down with your knees spread wide. Do you understand me?"
"Yes Archer, I do."
"Good. I'll be in in a minute. I just need to make a phone call."
"Okay." She turned her head away quickly so as not to allow me to see the grin of pure mischief that had spread over her face.
Heading into my office, I shut the door behind me. Looking through my contacts, I finally found the one I need. "Hastings here."
"Hey Nolan, it's Archer."
"Hey Archer, what's up?"
"I need you to do some investigating for me. I had Riker do a background check on a Jared Knight, and he found some very disturbing things out about him. His public records were clean, but he had records that were sealed from when he was a minor."
"Did Riker get into them?"
"Yes, and he found that Mr. Knight did a stint in a psych ward in Scottsdale, Arizona for nearly two years. Seems he had an obsession slash stalking issue with a girl in high school. He was constantly following her around and scaring her. He even broke into her home and put on her undergarments and clothes to be closer to her. The girl's mother found him in her daughter’s bed and called the cops. Then in college when he attended TSU, he had a stalking report filed against him with the campus police. But for whatever reason it was never reported to the local authorities. So I need you to go to Scottsdale, Arizona and see what you can dig up about the girl from his middle school and his stint in the psych ward. Then to San Marcos, Texas and talk to the campus police at TSU and see if you can locate the woman who filed the stalking report. I need to know what was going on and just how dangerous this guy really is."
"Okay, so do you have any of the victim’s names?"
"Yes, the girl from his high school is Stacy Ingram. And the woman from college is Rebecca Simmons. I'll text you their names, and last known addresses."
"All right, got it. What's the interest in this guy anyway?"
Letting out a breath I explained. "Sloane started dating him after we stopped seeing each other, and now that we're back together the guy won't back off and was seen by Gage trying to intimidate her back into being with him. I had Riker do a background check on him and all this came up. Also, someone left a threatening note on Sloane's windshield."
"And you think it was him?"
"Not sure, but I'm not ruling him out yet."
"Well, I will say that I'm glad to see you finally pulled your head out of your ass and realized you had a good thing with Sloane."
"Yeah, yeah, thanks. Now when can you leave?"
“I can leave the day after tomorrow. I just need to finish up the paperwork and a few loose ends on my last job and I'm all yours."
"Great, keep me up to date and let me know as soon as you find out anything.
"Will do. Have a good night."
"You as well." When I turned to head down the hall, I passed by my MP3 player and pushed play, knowing the song that was about to broadcast over the sound system would give Sloane a clear and concise message of just who she belonged to. As I continued on my way to the bedroom, I found her clothes laying neatly over the chair in the corner when I entered the bedroom. Looking into the bathroom, I spotted her on her knees, just as I'd instructed her to be. She faced my direction, so I could enjoy every view of her beautiful body that was on display and all mine to have. The sight of her caused my cock to become strangled by my pants once again. As I stared at her, the only thing that ran through my mind was that no one would take her away from me ever again. If I had to lay down my life to keep her safe, I was more than willing to do so. Stalking towards her, I watched as her breathing picked up the closer, I got, letting me see just how excited she became from my presence in the room alone. It filled my heart with such pride, knowing I could affect her like that. Crouching down in front of her, I tucked my finger under her chin, bringing her eyes to mine. "Are you ready to trust me and give yourself over to me totally and completely tonight, Sloane? Allow me to bring you the kind of pleasure that you know only I can?"
She took a moment before her lips parted with her answer that she'd already given with the scent of her arousal in the air. "Yes, I am."
"That's good angel, because I plan to thoroughly fuck you tonight and give you as many orgasms as I feel you need."
CHAPTER
28
Sloane
Kneeling on the rug in the bathroom as Archer had instructed me to, I waited for him to come and find me. A few minutes passed and I knew he was pulling the anticipation card on me again, that always worked in ramping up my level of hunger and desire for him, if it was even possible for me to want him more than I already did. If there'd been one thing to be said about this man, i
t was that he definitely knew how to play my body and mind in a perfect melody with one another, always taking control of both when he was near.
I heard the music begin to play, signaling that our playtime is about to begin. Listening intently to the words of the song that was playing, I could tell it was one of his favorite artists, The Weeknd. The song playing was, Where you belong, and I knew it was his way of telling me that I belonged to him and only him. Listening to the words being sung to me, I started to drift off into my own thoughts of possibilities as to what's to come, when he finally found me. Feeling his presence before seeing him like always, my heart rate picked up a beat as I grew even more excited just from the suspense, he kept me in. Crouching down before me, he hooked his finger under my chin, pulling my full attention up to him as he informed me of his intentions for the evening ahead. It took every vital cell in my body I had to remain still and await his next command. Moving away from me, he turned on the shower, instantly making me miss his touch. "Stand up and get in the shower." He told me.
Entering the shower, I turned and watched him as he slowly undressed in front of me, revealing all my favorite parts of his impeccably sculpted body. The man was an Adonis with his six-pack stomach, ripped chest, and arms that I couldn't wait to have wrapped around me. Not to mention the cock that was his masterpiece I was dying to wrap myself around, in as many ways as possible. Seeing him naked and the desire he held for me, and only me, in his eyes as he stalked me like the prey that I wanted to be, made my heart melt for him a little more. When he moved into the shower with me, he immediately backed me up under the stream of warm water that cascaded over my body like a beautiful waterfall that kissed my skin as it glided it’s way down over all of my curves. I watched Archer as he reached for the soap. "Turn around and close your eyes." Were his only words to me, and I couldn't seem to do it fast enough. Doing as I was told, I feel his cock pressed against my lower back as his soapy hands began to glide over my shoulders and down my sides, causing me to melt at the feel of his touch on my skin.
