His tanned face skews as the barrel of his gun slams into my jaw. My teeth cut into my cheek, I taste my own blood, and tears pool as I picture my fiancé finding my cold, dead body. Will he place a red rose on my coffin?
Xavier’s ugly chuckle brings me back to the present. He’s three fries short of a Happy Meal as he sits down on the bed and kisses me on my sore, bleeding lip.
He doesn’t even notice me gag as he places the gun back to my temple. “I had everything under control until you opened your big mouth. This is all your fault. I want to come home and you’re the one that’s going to make that possible. Here’s what you’re going to do. I want you to call the district attorney. Tell him you lied about Bear Mountain.”
A little hope takes root because if he needs me to do that, he’s not going to shoot me anytime soon.
When his free hand cups my breast, I slap it away, and scoot back onto the bed. “Don’t.”
“I’m not going to rape you, Isabella. Frankly, I couldn’t get it up if I tried. I hate geeky females who think they’re so smart.”
I pray the gun isn’t loaded as he stands and waves it around in the air. “I tell you what you’re going to do. You’re going to convince Grayson Patten III that you’re only fucking him for his money. That shouldn’t be so hard, should it?”
That grating voice sends chills down my spine. “He’ll never believe me.”
“You’ll see to it that he does. You even hint to anyone about my little visit tonight and you’ll be sorry. Do you understand?”
I nod but will send his stupid ass to jail if it’s the last thing I ever do.
Unfortunately, my face has always been too easy to read because he says, “I don’t think you do understand. Not really. Let me help.”
He opens his cell phone and flashes a picture of my four-year-old niece. She’s all bundled up in her pink snowsuit, swinging in the church playground in International Falls, Minnesota.
At the thought of this monster hurting her, my heart sinks and my stomach churns. “You wouldn’t. She’s just a little girl.”
Xavier’s demon-like eyes shine deep within the shadows of his face and he speaks with venom. “All it would take is one call and this little girl could be lost forever. Get my drift?”
“You bastard.” Not really thinking it through, I kick him in the balls, he drops the gun, and I make a dive for it.
We struggle on the floor and for a brief moment, I think I’ve got the upper hand until he rolls on top of me and punches me so hard I almost lose consciousness. Then, he lords the weapon over me while I moan, curled up on the hardwood floor, holding my jaw.
“If you ever try something like that again, she dies. I’ll be monitoring your calls, your emails, your everything. You can’t take a piss without me knowing. Understand?”
I nod.
“Good girl.”
After the worst of the pain subsides, I swallow hard over the lump in the back of my throat. “Why come back now? You got away with millions.”
He scratches at his short blond beard and pushes a lock of greasy hair out of his eyes, no longer resembling the cool executive of just a few weeks ago. “Grayson Patten needs to learn his place.”
Rubbing his sunken eyes, circled with deep, dark rings he continues ranting. “I’m expecting you to break up with him in the morning. Understand? You try anything and you can say goodbye to this sweet little girl. I believe she’s called Stacey?”
Her name on his evil lips makes me shiver. “Please, don’t hurt her. I’ll do as you ask.”
“Well, that’s more like it.” With the barrel pointed at me, he backs out of the room. “Remember, I have eyes and ears on you.”
My door slams, footsteps fade away, then everything goes quiet.
At first, I’m so shocked, I can’t believe what just happened. Coming to my senses, I turn the deadbolts and drag my couch in front of the kitchen door.
How the hell did he get keys to my apartment?
The rest of the night I just sit there in the dark and think. I should call my brother and warn him about his kid. I should call nine-one-one. I should do something. Instead, I just sit there doing nothing but waiting for the sun to rise.
Because I work in security, I have a better idea than most. Our lives are constantly monitored. Emails, phone calls, and internet, are pretty easy to bug. Electronics are so small that they can be inserted under the skin with a needle. All it takes is money and Xavier has plenty. He could check on my every move and make good on his threats, even worse.
If only my spare computer wasn’t in pieces in the other room. With that, I could maybe set something up and notify the police. Maybe not. What if my place is bugged?
Oh my God.
I turn on all the lights and like a maniac, begin to check every inch of every wall and cubby hole. It doesn’t take long to locate a tiny metallic spider on my bedroom ceiling. Shit. That’s one of Patten’s best-sellers. I pick it up, ready to smash it, then stop.
Even now, Xavier may be watching.
Chapter 2
Grayson
“Isabella to see you, sir.” It’s six in the morning when my doorman’s voice sounds from my intercom.
That’s not so odd. Obviously, my fiancé has sex on her mind, and now, so do I.
Blood rushes to my cock as I walk into the kitchen and push the small black button on the gray panel. “Send her up.”
With my door open, I anxiously wait for the elevator to ping. Then, she walks into the hall and my chest tightens at the sight. Circles under her eyes are so dark, they could be black. Long blond hair is pulled into a messy ponytail, her face is pale, and she’s shivering as if the temperature were below zero.
What twists my gut, however, is the purple bruise on her jaw and swollen lower lip.
I run to her and hold open my arms. “What the hell happened to you?”
“It’s so stupid, really. I fell out of bed and hit my head on the side table.” She buries her wounded face into my dress shirt and cries.
After I hold her for a while, I lead her back into my apartment, sit her in a kitchen chair, and tuck an index finger under her chin. I suppose it’s possible she could’ve got injured the way she described but it’s not likely.
I grab my coat out of the closet. “C’mon. I’m taking you to the emergency room.”
“No, no. I’m fine.” Wide eyes lift with a bit of panic in them and her body stiffens.
Hell, you’re not fine, not by a long shot.
I’m not known as a patient man but I know if I make a big deal of this, it’ll only make things worse. After kicking my door closed, I grab a bag of frozen blueberries from the freezer and put it to her bruise.
Grimacing, she holds the cold plastic to her face while I claim the chair next to her and cover her free hand with mine. “Better?”
“Yeah, thanks.” Always, she tries to be strong and make every damn struggle her own.
I swear that’s why she keeps postponing our wedding date. She doesn’t understand me at all. As soon as she’s mine, I’ll surround her with the best that money can buy. Meanwhile, it sucks she lives alone and won’t let me protect her, not even from wooden objects.
I can’t stand seeing her in pain and that, in and of itself, is so strange. Before I met her, I never felt anything and now I’m tore up all the time.
When our eyes lock, it’s fucking explosive. I hardly recognize the growl that comes from deep within my chest, the beast waiting to claim her. At the same time other alarms ring out, warning me to be gentle.
I lean over, brush my lips across hers and when I taste blood, go Neanderthal. If someone is hurting her, I will fuckin’ pound them so hard that they’ll never see the light of day again.
Feeling me tense, she removes the frozen bag from her jaw and takes our kiss deeper, pushing her tongue into my mouth. With her fingertips in my scalp, I stand, lift her butt onto the kitchen table, and step between her legs.
“You sure? I don’t wan
t to hurt you.” My soul is captured by blue eyes deeper than the oceans, the centers growing dark and wide.
“I want you, Gray. I want this.” She pulls my shirttail out of my slacks and places a pair of icy hands on my waist.
“Ahh!” I jump about a mile and reach for them.
“Sorry.” Her first real, albeit lopsided, smile of the morning brightens my whole damn world.
I bring her cold digits to my mouth, blow warm air, and rub them as I did that night on Bear Mountain, the night she almost died. Then, holding them to my chest we kiss some more.
When our temperatures rise, I let her go and lower the zipper of her long winter coat. It drops to the floor and holy shit… She’s wearing nothing but a pajama top and fold-over cotton pants. After sleeping with this woman for over a month, I don’t need to check for undergarments.
She’s not wearing any.
“Fuck. You went out like this?” Groaning, I pick her up and carry her down the hall but only get two steps before setting her down.
Craving her soft skin against my chest, I tug off her shirt and toss it away. Then, on tiptoes, her head tilts up for another kiss while I worship her, thumbs sliding across her nipples.
She moans, arches, and long legs wrap around me, her wet core pressing my need just below my belt buckle.
Ah hell, I need to get out of these clothes.
I try to get her onto my bed but her ankles are locked at my lower back and she won’t let go.
“I love you so much.”
“Ah, babe. I love you, too.”
And it scares the shit out of me.
My chest tightens. Hell, I wish I could find the right fucking words but I’m no poet. All I can do is show her so I sit with her straddled over my lap, cup her cheeks, and wait until her lashes flutter and those eyes meet mine.
Izzy, what went on last night?
Her mouth captures mine, her chest presses in, and her legs unlock as I lower onto my back. Warm cotton wets my navel, her lovely ass presses into the air, and her tongue plays with my upper lip and teases the tip of my nose.
We kiss like that for the longest time, desire spiking through the roof. When I can take no more, I flip her onto her back and straddle her. I kiss her neck, her collar bone, tasting her saltiness.
My cock swells when her nipples grow taut as I suck and play. When she squirms and moans, I put my mouth to her belly button and drag her pants over her ass. She kicks them away, I unbuckle my belt, and step out of my slacks. My shirt’s already ruined so I rip it off, throw it to the carpet, and pull her to the edge of the bed and kneel.
Mine.
She’s already so wet and so ready that I groan, thinking how many times I’ll make her scream before she comes. The urgent way she tugs on my hair is a real turn-on but we got plenty of time. I flick my tongue over her hooded nub until it rises and her breath catches. Shivering while I tease her mercilessly, she reaches the very edge.
I suck, she stiffens, and spreads her legs wide.
“Grayson…”
“Isabella.” My finger on her clit, I climb up her body and place my cock at her entrance.
Small drops of my sweat drop onto her face and with her eyes glued to mine, she flicks out her sexy tongue.
“Now.” She arches, wets my tip, and I ache to sink into her but not quite yet.
In a one-armed pushup, I reach between us and pinch her clit.
“Oh God.” Her eyes roll back and when she screams, I plunge into her wild orgasm.
Inner walls suck at me, driving me to madness.
“Harder. Give me everything.” She nips at my shoulder and her heels dig into the mattress as she lifts her butt high to meet me thrust for thrust.
She has no idea what she’s asking. I’ve always held back something, never wanting her to know my inner animal. Biting my lower lip, my gut clenches. I’m so damn close. With a finger pressed to her clit, I dive in deep, my tip hitting soft flesh.
She swells, slick liquid warms my hand, and I do it again.
“Come with me, again, baby.” I twist into her, pull out fully, and sink into softness.
“I can’t” Her breathy voice tells me just the opposite.
“Yeah, you can.” I press a little harder, sliding in and out, faster. Then, I turn her onto her knees, her back to my chest and push in at this sweet angle. One of my hands clamps onto her tit, the other slides to her nub, and I bite the back of her neck.
Her pearl is fully stretched and she’s trembling the way she should be, the way I like. My finger swirls around her nub, I press, and she comes apart, muscles dancing all over my cock. Repeatedly, I dive, sweat lubricating us, making us go faster. I’m so damn close that the muscles in my lower back tighten, I groan, and I’m fucking blasting off. Bright lights explode behind my eyelids
After emptying myself fully, I collapse and roll onto my back with her on my chest. After a few minutes, or hours, I’m not sure which, she covers me with gentle butterfly kisses.
I open my eyes, and when I see that hers are filled with tears, my heart stops.
“Oh shit, did I hurt you, babe?”
“No, no, I just love you so much.” She smiles, but something is totally off.
“Me too. I swear, you need to move in with me so we can have sex like this every damn day.”
“Ahhh… about that.” She climbs off from me and the lack of body heat, along with her tone sends chills right through me.
“I think we need to break up for a while.” She tugs on her pants, lifts her pajama top over her head, and heads for the door.
At first, I think she’s kidding, right? After making love like that? But her face is dead serious.
“Whaa?” My chest gets all tight but I keep it together as I look for my trousers.
“Gray, you hardly know me. You can’t possibly understand how screwed up I am.” Tears run down her face and I can’t fucking stand it.
“What’s going on?” I jump up, stand in front of her, place my hands on her wet cheeks, and bring her gaze to mine. “I know what I know. Ten days or ten years won’t change the way I feel about you.”
Her swollen mouth purses and just a small croak comes out. “Wait for me. Please.”
She shrugs out of my grasp, unlocks my door and runs out of my life.
Somehow, I have the where-with-all to text my driver, Slate, to take her home, then collapse on my bed wondering what just happened.
Somehow, I fucked up royally.
Chapter 3
Isabella
Once outside and not in view of the doorman, I fall back against the side of the building, slide onto my heels, and hold back a sob.
Oh my God, what I have done?
I should’ve told Gray about the break-in but if I did, he’d go after Xavier and get himself killed. How will we ever make it through this? I knew what we had was too good to be true. What kind of man wants to get married after only knowing you for a couple weeks?
As I trudge along the sidewalk, there’s a deafening clap of thunder, followed by a drenching downpour.
Perfect.
With my head down, partially blinded by the rain, I run toward Grayson’s black limo. His driver, Slate, has an overprotective streak when it comes to me.
Too late, I realize my mistake.
The back door of the car opens, a rough hand grabs my waist, and I’m pulled into the back seat.
“You stupid, stupid bitch.” Xavier’s face is crunched up into a snarl as he slaps me with the back of his hand.
My bruised lip opens up and blood drips down my chin. “What the fuck? I did what you said. I broke up with him.”
How could he possibly know what went down in Gray’s apartment?
“This is all on you, Isabella. Don’t blame me for what happens next.”
My stomach churns at the thought of Xavier eavesdropping on my most intimate moments and what about my niece? Will this madman make good on his threats?
Before he can hit me again, I push int
o his chest ready to fight to the death. “I broke up with Gray. Now, let me out and leave me and my family alone.”
When I reach for the door handle, all of the locks click and in the rearview mirror, a set of dark, angry eyes stare back. I hadn’t noticed before but the driver is huge.
Xavier wipes spittle from his mouth. “I can see you can’t be trusted. Stay still.”
He twists my hair around his fist, bringing tears to my eyes. Then, he bends me forward and clasps a chain with a clover-leaf charm around my neck. After, he holds up a thin plunger and sticks a needle deep into my shoulder.
“Ow! What was that?”
He drops the needle and speaks with his nose inches from my ear. “From now on, I’ll know where you are, what you say, and who you say it to. You slip up and I will sell your sweet, little niece to the highest bidder. I won’t kill her. That would be too easy. I’ll make you search for her for the rest of your life.”
A tablet is shoved under my nose with a video playing. This time, Stacey’s playing in her front yard, under the watchful eye of Tina, my brother’s wife.
“You wouldn’t dare.” My stomach churns, my heart races, and I look for opportunities to escape.
“Give me your cell phone.”
When I don’t do as he asks, he digs into my purse, replaces the smart card in my android, and puts it back.
“Unlock the doors, Craig.” The locks click again, the car slows, and Xavier shoves me onto my ass into a puddle beside the curb.
With index and middle fingers, he makes a ‘V,’ points it into his eyes, and then at mine. “I’m watching you, Isabella. Don’t fuck up again.”
His vehicle disappears into traffic and New Yorkers rush by while I get up out of the mud. Lucky them. They’re on their way to work, having a perfectly normal day.
Standing, I have an almost out-of-body experience when I recognize the charm around my neck. It’s made by my company, a Patten special.
Shit like this doesn’t happen except in movies.
Busted Play: The Series (Players, Books 1-6) Page 27