Returning Home: A Second Chance Homecoming (Return To Me Book 4)

by Parks, AL

  He took a deep breath. It was all very clear to him now. He was a pawn, and the detective was trying to checkmate him. If Rissa had been talking, the detective wouldn’t still be using Robert. He would’ve picked up on the nickname from Rissa, and would be using it. This was all bullshit.

  Griff smiled. “Lawyer.”

  Detective Charles sat quietly, just looking at Griff for another minute or two. It felt like a stand-off, or a game of Who Will Blink First. The door opened, and a man in police uniform walked over to the detective and whispered in his ear. The detective’s face went pale. He stood and followed the uniformed officer out the door.

  Griff stood, preparing to walk out into the hallway to find Rissa. They had wasted enough time there, and he was not going to let them railroad either one of them - or both - into something they hadn’t done. He stepped into the hall, and glanced around. A uniformed officer stood outside a door just down the hall from him. He began walking towards it.

  “Rissa,” he called. That brought some attention on Griff. The uniform began moving towards him. “Rissa!”

  The door opened behind the cop. Rissa stepped into the hallway. Her eyes met his and she began walking towards him. When she reached the cop and tried to pass him, he stuck his arm out, forcing her to halt.

  “You need to go back into your room,” he said, and then peered at Griff. “Both of you.”

  “You need to move your arm, Officer, and let me by. I am not under arrest, and unless you are placing us in custody, we can leave at any time.” She pushed the cop’s arm out of the way and started walking towards Griff. The officer grabbed her arm, twisted it behind her back and forced her against the wall. Her head snapped back when it hit, and she cried out.

  Griff slammed into the man’s side, throwing him off balance. He stumbled, releasing Rissa’s arm. Before Griff could get Rissa’s hand and get them both out of there, the officer was on top of Griff, forcing him to his knees. Griff felt the cold steel of the gun barrel against his neck.

  There was an immense amount of shouting and flurry of activity around him. He tried to find Rissa, but was shoved to the floor. His arms were pulled behind him, and he could feel a knee in the center of his back. Rissa was yelling, but Griff couldn’t make out what she was saying over the hollering that filled the hallway.

  He expected to be handcuffed and dragged away, but was instead helped to his feet and released. His eyes darted around the area until he found Rissa. He stepped over to her and pulled her into his chest.

  “Are you okay?” He kissed the top of her head. He watched as the officer’s glared at him, but made no move to take him down again.

  “I’m okay, Griff.” Rissa pulled back and looked up into his face. They stared at each other until interrupted by Detective Charles clearing his throat.

  Griff looked at the man and tightened his hold on Rissa. There was no way anyone was going to separate the two of them again.

  “You’re free to go, Ms. Beckett. Mr. Griffith. Thank you for coming down.”

  “That’s it,” Griff said. “You accuse me of kidnapping and murder, and then just let me go?”

  The detective took a deep breath, but said nothing.

  “You found her,” Rissa said. “And she’s alive and well. That’s why you’re letting us go. There is no crime, is there, Detective?”

  He stared at Rissa for a minute and sighed. “Mrs. Beckett returned home this morning after seeing a news report regarding her disappearance. It appears she went out of town for the night and neglected to inform her staff she would be gone. Her butler became worried when she did not come down for dinner, and he was unable to find her or get a hold of her on her cell phone.”

  “She went out of town for the night?” Rissa smiled. “I’m going to hazard a guess that she was not alone, mourning for my father. Was the man she was with married?”

  Griff watched as the detective seemed to struggle with how much information to give them. He must have decided to come clean rather than risk pissing off the daughter of a former judge after falsely accusing her of a crime that hadn’t even occurred.

  “She was with a married man…a Mr. Ackerman.”

  “Donald Ackerman? Charlotte’s husband? Well, Detective, you may just get your murder investigation today.”

  Griff took Rissa by the hand and began leading her away. He had been through enough and wanted to get the hell out of there. These rich people were fucked up and crazy.

  ***

  The sun hit her eyes, making her squint, as she and Griff exited the police station. They walked down the steps and turned towards the parking lot. They had made it halfway down the sidewalk when a woman approached them.

  “Ms. Beckett, I’m Carol Monihan. I was wondering if I could talk to you for a minute?”

  Griff stepped in front of Clarissa, blocking the woman from speaking to her. “She has nothing to say. Go find some other human-interest story to report on. She’s been through enough, and I won’t let you use her in your dog and pony show.”

  Wow! So, this is what real love feels like? Every part of her body tingled, and she could feel the smile spread across her face. Having a protector was actually a pretty cool thing to have. She could get used to this.

  “I assure you, the last thing I want to do is exploit her story. And, I agree, she has been through enough.” She looked around Griff, and spoke directly to Clarissa. “I know what you’re going through, Ms. Beckett.”

  “Do you? Were you molested by your father and then outed on national television?” Clarissa asked.

  “Molested? Yes. But I actually outed myself on television, so you have me there.” She offered Clarissa a small smile. She offered her business card, and said, “I really just want to offer you the opportunity to set the record straight in a safe environment. I can assure you, nothing will go on air without your approval.”

  Clarissa looked at the woman. She wasn’t sure what exactly to make of it all. “I don’t want to be the poster child for child molestation, Ms. Monihan. I just want to try and get through my fifteen minutes of fame without it totally destroying me and the people I love.”

  “I can appreciate that. If you ever change your mind, the offer is always open. And if you ever need to talk, or yell, or just have a connection with someone that has been through the same hell, please call me. I put my cell number on the back. Feel free to call anytime.”

  She turned the card over in her hand and peered at the handwritten numbers on the back. Glancing up at the woman, she nodded. Griff moved from in between them, took Clarissa’s hand, and led her to the truck.

  “Are you okay, baby?” Griff asked, pulling open the passenger side door.

  Clarissa nodded. Carol Monihan was still standing in the same spot where they had left her, and was watching them. She gave a little wave to Clarissa, turned and walked away.

  “Yeah, I’m okay.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  Clarissa filled two mugs with coffee and headed into the family room. Griff was sitting on the couch, flipping through stations, but turned the TV off as Clarissa approached. She passed one mug to him, and sat next to him on the couch, curling her legs under her.

  “Sorry you were dragged down to the police station today.” She watched Griff as he took a drink and set the cup on the table in front of him. He turned sideways to face her.

  “It’s not your fault, so stop apologizing for it. Besides, I now have a healthy appreciation for the role of lawyers while being questioned by police. I swear, if I had been left in that room for much longer, I would have either melted into a puddle on the floor, or confessed to killing Lincoln and Kennedy.”

  “Except you weren’t alive for either of those assassinations, dear.” Clarissa took a sip of her coffee.

  “My point exactly. So, who is Donald Ackerman?”

  Clarissa chuckled and shook her head. “Donald Ackerman and his wife, Charlotte, were friends of my parents. They ran in the same social circle while married, and after
the divorce. They were part of the group that sought to humiliate my mother by flaunting my dad and his wife in front of my mother whenever possible.”

  “And why was Brandi with him?” His fingers twisted lightly through her hair as it fell over her shoulder. She loved when he played with her hair, his eyes became soft and dreamy, and he seemed mesmerized by her. It was sweet and sexy as hell. She placed her hand on his thigh and ran her fingernails lightly over his jeans.

  “Well, if I had to hazard a guess, Brandi is on the prowl for her next husband. Stupid move on her part.”

  “How so?” Griff sounded almost distracted, his eyes still on his fingers manipulating her hair.

  “Charlotte won’t let him leave with his bank account or his balls - the two things Brandi treasures most in her life.”

  Griff stopped and stared at Clarissa. A smile slid across his face and he started to laugh. The sound filled the room, and sent a spark of electricity straight through Clarissa’s body, settling deep in her core. She was suddenly on fire, needing Griff, wanting the intimate connection she had found only with him.

  Her hand moved up his thigh as she moved closer to him. She pressed her lips against his, slipping her tongue in his mouth. His erection filled her hand and she squeezed against his zipper. His hand moved to the back of her head, his tongue sliding along hers. She deepened the kiss, swinging her leg across his lap and straddling him. She moved up and down him, their jeans creating a delicious friction. Griff moaned, his hands grasping her ass and forcing her against his growing erection.

  She released his mouth, kissing along his scruffy jaw. She loved the feel of the soft whiskers against her smooth skin. She ran her cheek over his light beard, her lips close to his ear.

  “I love you, Griff. I want to feel you inside me,” she whispered. She lifted off him enough to work her jeans off. She worked the button and zipper on his jeans and watched as he lifted his hips to move them down his legs. She sat on his lap again, running her hot, wet core along his thick erection. Up and down, slowly covering him with her juices.

  His head fell against the back of the couch. His fingers dug into her hips. “Oh, fuck, Riss, that feels so good.”

  She placed her hands on either side of his head, gripping the back of the couch. Lifting slightly, she positioned her opening at the head of his erection, and let it slide into her. She took it all the way inside her, feeling it stretch her, completely fill her. She moved up and down along his length, slowly, letting the head bang against her core. Lightning bolts of pleasure ripped through her body. It felt so good, better than she could have ever imagined having sex could feel.

  Gone was the fear and guilt. None of the apprehension of letting go, and feeling good remained. Griff had opened up her world, allowed her to experience so much of life - the least of which was this most amazing connection between them.

  She welcomed the building climax as her body moved faster along Griff’s thick, hard length. His head thrust into her, hitting a spot that made her moan each time it made contact.

  She watched Griff’s face. HIs eyes were closed, head back, and his mouth was slightly open. With every movement of her hips, he let out a long, satisfied groan. The sound drove her on, making her move faster. She was so close, teetering on the edge of her orgasm. But she needed Griff to be there, also. She wanted them both to go over the edge together. Her core muscles clenched tightly around him.

  “Oh, God, Riss…oh…I’m gonna come, baby…”

  She let out a cry as her body convulsed around him. Griff’s hips lifted and he thrust into a few more times, his grunts mixing with her loud moans. His body fell back into the couch and Clarissa fell against him. Her head was buried in the crook of his neck. Her breathing was out of control. She could feel his hands lift her head, his lips kissing her cheeks, her neck, her lips.

  “I love you, Rissa,” he murmured in between kisses.

  She smiled, unable to speak, only breathe heavy. She laid her head against his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her, keeping her close. His chest moved up and down, rocking her head as he took in deep breathes. They remained that way for several minutes. She was content, happy. Comfortable in a man’s arms. She smiled and let herself get lost in the feeling.

  ***

  Griff’s eyes opened, and he peered around the bright room. He was on the couch in his family room. Rissa was curled up next to him, sleeping soundly. They must have drifted off to sleep after having sex. Her hair was everywhere, the long auburn locks falling all around her head, across his chest, partially covering her face. He moved it away carefully, trying to not to wake her.

  He loved watching her sleep. It was one time she seemed completely at peace. Although, lately, she seemed to be loosening up a lot more while awake. Which was amazing, actually, considering all the shit she was going through. He knew it was due to their new, growing relationship. She had trusted him with her heart and her body, and he had not failed her. It allowed her to open up, let him in, and feel more secure.

  It had allowed him to see all the wonderful things she kept to herself. He had seen glimpses of it in the photographs she had taken. After he had seen the pictures of his bike at the shop, he had looked her up on the internet, and been amazed at the simplistic beauty of her art. But there was still so much of herself that she held back, even in those pieces.

  His heart swelled. He may be one of the only people that had seen the truly beautiful person she hid from the world. All the chipping away at her tough exterior had revealed a gold mine within her. She could make him feel like the only other person alive when she looked at him with those big green eyes. Make him feel as if no one in the world mattered but him when she would smile at him. And he knew he was the only man who had her heart, body, and soul. Something he planned to keep a tight hold of, and never take for granted.

  “What are you thinking?” A sleepy voice pulled him out of his thoughts. He hadn’t even realized he had been running his fingers through her hair.

  He lowered his eyes to hers. “You.”

  She pulled herself up so she was almost eye-to-eye with him. “Really? And what were you thinking about me?”

  “Lots of things. How lucky I am. How beautiful you are. How much I love you. How lucky I am.”

  She smiled. “You said that last one twice.”

  “It bears repeating.” He kissed her on the forehead, and gazed into her emerald eyes. “So, where are we going?”

  “What?” Her eyebrows wrinkled, but the smile remained.

  “We can go anywhere, but I would really prefer to stay in the U.S.” He brushed the hair from her forehead.

  “Did you have a conversation with me while I was sleeping, because I’m lost. What are you talking about?”

  “You can’t live in Newport, and I can’t live without you. So, where are we going?”

  She sat up and stared at him. Her eyes searched his face, and he could tell she was trying to read his heart and soul. It didn’t matter, they would both say the same thing. Wherever she was going, he was going, also. Period. End of story.

  Slowly, a smile graced her face and lit up her eyes. “Colorado’s nice.”

  He nodded slowly. “Hmmm…okay. I guess I could become a ski bum.”