by Marie Force
“Any time now.”
He begins slowly, tugging on the string with one hand and stroking my bottom with the other as the largest ball pops free, leaving me gasping and sweaty. The others come easier, but he takes his time, drawing out the removal for maximum effect. By the time he drops them on the floor next to the bed, I’m hot and bothered and on the verge of yet another orgasm.
“Flynn…”
“Yeah, baby?”
“I want to come.”
His low growl is the only warning I have before he rolls me onto my back and buries his face between my legs. It takes three strokes of his tongue to finish me off.
I open my eyes to him looking down at me with a goofy smile on his face.
“Why are you smiling like that?”
“Because I love you. I love that you just asked me to make you come. I love having you here in this place that I love and knowing we have days and days to spend together with no one and nothing to bother us.”
“Don’t you mean days to spend naked together?”
He drops his head to my chest. “Mmm.”
I run my fingers through his hair, loving the silky feel of it. “You’ve actually brought me here to make me your sex slave, haven’t you?”
“You’ve figured me out.”
We stay like that, wrapped up in each other, for a long time, long enough that the moon begins to rise over the water.
“Hey, Nat?”
“Yeah?”
“Despite how it might seem, I’m actually your slave. You know that, don’t you? I’m completely and utterly at your mercy.”
“And I’m at yours.”
“You can’t ever leave me.”
I love when he, who could have any woman he wants, shows me his heart and his vulnerability where I’m concerned. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be than right here with you.”
Chapter 20
By Thursday night, we’ve tried everything twice and much of it three times because we liked it so much. My body is vibrating from the hours he spent building me up only to shatter me into a thousand pieces and then put me back together the way only he can.
It has been the most blissfully relaxing and sensually charged week of my life. That I’ve been able to relax so completely despite the nearly constant hum of desire is amazing to me. I’m sad that we have to go home tomorrow, but I’m ready to get back to some sort of productive routine after the beautiful weeks I’ve spent with Flynn.
I also miss Fluff. This is the longest we’ve ever been apart, and I hope she’s behaving for Flynn’s parents. Other than my weekly appointment with my therapist, Curt, which Flynn insisted I keep, we haven’t spoken to anyone but each other in days.
My body feels beautifully used, my bottom cheeks stinging from being spanked, my inner thighs sore and my most tender areas tingling from the burn of his big cock entering me over and over again. I’m officially addicted to that big cock and all the amazing ways he uses it to love me. We’re lying in bed, our bodies cooling from another round of vigorous lovemaking, when the house phone rings, startling us both.
“Probably just the pilots confirming departure,” he says as he gets up to answer it. “I’ll tell them we’re not ready to go.”
“We are ready. We’ve got the Oscars this weekend, and we’re going. My husband is favored to win.”
He growls and makes a playfully sinister face at me. “I can’t believe you said that out loud.”
Smiling, I watch him leave the room. The sight of his tight buns never gets old, even after nearly a week of looking at his naked form.
Listening to the low hum of his voice in the other room, I begin to doze. I’m as relaxed as I’ve ever been after the idyllic time with him. We’ve done nothing but swim, lie in the sun, eat delicious food, drink margaritas and more wine from the Quantum vineyards and make love as often as we possibly could. Every part of me—and every part of him—is tanned from the hours in the sun. We’ve spent entire days in bed, talked about every possible topic and made more plans for our foundation. While I wish our time here could last forever, Flynn assures me we can come back again soon. In the meantime, I’m looking forward to digging into my new role with the foundation and making a difference for hungry children.
I wake with a start when his arm wraps around me from behind. How long was I asleep? How long was he gone?
“Everything okay?”
“That was Emmett.”
Three little words put me immediately on alert. I turn to face him. “What’s wrong?”
“They’ve made an arrest in the Rogers case.”
“That’s great news! Oh my God, what a relief. Now they’ll leave us alone.”
“Nat…”
“What? Who did they arrest?”
“Your father.”
I hate having to tell her this news. I have no idea how she’ll take it or what it even means for her or us.
She sits up in bed, tucking the covers around her breasts. It’s the first time she’s felt the need to cover herself all week. “My father. He killed David Rogers? But why? He didn’t even know him.”
“Emmett didn’t have the details yet, and of course Vickers isn’t taking his calls now that I’m no longer a suspect.”
“I… I don’t understand.”
Her confusion and disbelief make me furious. She was so relaxed and free of worries. And now this. I put my arms around her. “You haven’t seen your father in a long time. Perhaps he had some dealings with Rogers in the ensuing years. You never know.”
“I suppose. But why would he kill him now after he goes public with information about me?”
“Emmett said our investigator was actually the one to tip off the FBI to your father’s possible involvement. He said they didn’t want to bother us while we were here, so they held off on telling us until he’d been arrested. Apparently, the investigator caught the scent of your father because he decided to look into everyone who was involved in the Stone case from the beginning.”
“I need to call Candace and Olivia. I need to tell them…”
“Okay, sweetheart. I’ll get your phone.” I get up to retrieve the phone that’s been stashed in her purse all week. On the way back to the bedroom, I turn it on for her. The phone goes crazy beeping with text messages and voice mails. “It’s probably safe to say they already know.” I hand it over to her.
She begins to return the text messages from her sisters.
“What’re they saying?”
“They’re in shock and hiding from reporters.”
“I’ll set up some security for them.” I use my phone to send a message to Gordon Yates, our director of security in LA, asking him to work with Addie to arrange for immediate security for Natalie’s sisters.
I’m already on it, Gordon replies right away. I share that news with Natalie.
“Thank you. I hate to think of them being pursued by reporters and their lives upended again because of this.”
“What about your life, sweetheart?”
“My life is just fine, and it will continue to be fine. This has nothing to do with me.”
“Nat…”
“What? It doesn’t.”
“Is it possible your dad did this because he wants to make things right with you and he saw killing Rogers as a way to do that?”
She shakes her head, and I can see the disbelief has been replaced by anger. “It’s not about me. He did it because Rogers resurrected all the shit about Oren. In his mind, he was protecting Oren by killing Rogers. It’s always about Oren with him, even now.”
“You don’t know that for sure.”
“Yes, I do. And the only thing that matters to me is that the FBI is no longer looking at you for his murder.”
“Emmett said the press is driving Liza crazy wanting a statement from us about the arrest.”
“You could have her say that Natalie hasn’t seen or spoken to her father in more than eight years. His actions have no reflection on her or her siste
rs, who are also not in contact with Martin Genovese, and we ask that you respect her privacy and that of her family.”
“You’re sure that’s what you want?”
“Absolutely.”
I’m awake all night thinking about things I’d much rather forget. My father killed David. With hindsight, it makes a sick sort of sense. He must’ve been enraged to have the sordid tale resurrected after David went public with my story. Seeing Oren’s name once again dragged through the mud and every sick detail of what he’d done to me rebroadcast to a whole new audience probably sent my father into a rage. The audience was much larger this time around thanks to my relationship with Flynn and the insatiable appetite of the Hollywood media machine.
Despite my horror over what my father did, I’m sick with relief to know the spotlight is off Flynn.
“I can feel you spinning, sweetheart,” he mutters.
I thought he was asleep.
“Talk to me.”
“Nothing much to say.”
“What’re you thinking about?”
“That the only thing that matters is that the FBI no longer considers you a suspect.”
“That’s not the only thing that matters. You matter, too.”
“This can’t touch me if I don’t let it, Flynn. What does it matter to me if my father lost his mind and killed David? He hasn’t been my father in any way except biologically since the night he dragged my mother out of the ER after his friend savagely attacked me. When he left me there, he drew a line in the sand that can never again be crossed.”
“I was going to ask if you wanted me to see about getting him a lawyer.”
“No. He’s on his own. He’s made his choices, and now he can live with them. I don’t want anything to do with him or what he did.”
“Whatever you want, sweetheart. I’m following your lead. What about your mom?”
“What about her?”
“I wondered if you might want to see her now that you’re back in touch with your sisters.”
“I’ve thought about that, about her, and I have to admit that it hurt me all over again to hear she’d finally left my dad when she couldn’t bring herself to do that when I needed her most. Since I’m back in touch with the girls and I intend to be fully present in their lives, I suppose I’ll run into her at some point, but I can’t imagine ever having a close relationship with her.”
“I can totally see where you’re coming from. She had her chance to step up for you and she didn’t.”
“No, she didn’t, and there’s no way she can ever truly fix that as far as I’m concerned.” I link my fingers with his. “I want you to know… If something like this, my dad killing David, had happened before this, before us, it would’ve set me back again to day one, but I’m stronger now than I’ve ever been, and it’s because of you.”
“No, baby, it’s because of you. You’re the strongest person I’ve ever known.”
“Our love has made me stronger than I was alone. And it’s made me happier than I ever could’ve imagined being.”
“Me, too.”
“Thank you for chasing after me the day Fluff bit you.”
“Thanks for turning around, for giving me a chance.”
I smile at him, madly in love and free from the past. “As if I ever had a choice.”
“The choice has always been yours, sweetheart.”
“I choose you. I choose us.”
He wraps his arms around me and kisses me. “I’ll always choose you, too.”
Safe and secure in his arms, I feel like I can take on the world and win every time.
Epilogue
It’s been a very good night for Quantum Productions. Jasper has just won the Academy Award for cinematography for his work on Camouflage, and now we’re waiting for the Best Director award to be announced.
Hayden brought Addie as his date, a development Flynn and I have been whispering about all night. Addie told Flynn it was so she could be here for his big night, but we don’t think that’s the only reason.
My husband leans in to whisper in my ear. “I think she’s holding his hand over there.”
“I’m more excited about that than I am about the awards.”
He smiles at me and drops something into my hand.
I look down to see the red ribbon we played with in Mexico, and my entire body ignites at the memory of it wrapped around my wrists as he had his wicked way with me. I’ve become more comfortable with being bound and I hope one day to be able to play in the room in the basement. But Flynn says it will be a while before I’m ready for that kind of bondage. That’s okay. We’ve got all the time in the world to get there together.
“It matches your dress.”
I’ve worn a red Givenchy gown for his big night because he loves me in red. “What am I to do with this?” I ask, full of mock innocence.
He winks at me. “Keep it handy for later.”
The epiphany I had in Mexico about the kind of sex I have with Flynn being nothing at all like what my attacker did to me has helped to free me from the shackles of the past.
I don’t worry anymore about triggers or flashbacks. I’ve battled through and found my way to the other side. I’m able to separate everything that happens with my beloved husband from what happened long ago to the girl I once was.
I’m a woman now, a woman in love with the most extraordinary man, and he has shown me the limitless possibilities of our love. I want to soar to the heavens with him as my guide and companion. I want to fully experience everything this life has to offer us. I’ve been to hell and back, and I survived. I’m not afraid anymore.
My father has been formally charged with the murder of David Rogers. After we released our statement to the media, they’ve mostly left us alone. The fact that my father and I have been out of touch for most of a decade put a damper on the story as far as the Hollywood press is concerned. I’m sure it’s a big story in Nebraska. It’s not a big story in LA, and I’ve chosen to keep my distance from it. I’ve encouraged my sisters, who are here with us tonight, to do the same.
They are sitting somewhere toward the back of the huge ballroom with Flynn’s family. I had the time of my life getting ready with them earlier, sharing my excitement and pride in my husband with the two people I love most—after Flynn and Fluff, of course.
When Hayden’s name is called for the directing award, we rise to our feet to cheer for him. He kisses Addie square on the lips in front of everyone before heading to the stage to accept his award.
Tears stream down Addie’s face as she watches him. Her stunned expression upon receiving that kiss is priceless.
Flynn and I exchange a smile. He’s so happy tonight, and I love to see him sharing in this special moment with his closest friends.
“Thank you so much to the Academy,” Hayden says once the roar of the crowd dies down. “Camouflage was a very special project for all of us, and to see it recognized with these awards tonight is the greatest thrill of my life. I have so many people to thank, including the entire team at Quantum, all of my friends and family who supported me during the making of this film, and our amazing cast, headlined by the one and only Flynn Godfrey, who gave the gutsiest performance of his career as Jeremy. To the movie-going public that fully embraced Jeremy’s story and, by extension, the stories of all our injured servicemen and women… Thank you for letting them know you care, that you remember, that you appreciate the many sacrifices military members and their families make for all of us.” He holds up the gold statue. “Thank you again for this incredible honor.”
By the time Hayden leaves the stage, I’m mopping up tears from his heartfelt acceptance speech. Addie, Marlowe and I are all a hot mess, which makes the guys laugh.
After an endless commercial break, the show continues with the Best Actress award, which goes to an old friend of Flynn’s. He’s delighted for her, but he’s grasping my hand because it’s finally time for his category.
Last year’s actress winner t
akes the stage to announce the nominees for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Clips from each actor’s performance are played as their names are read. Flynn appears in a scene from the hospital, half his face burned as he talks another injured warrior out of giving up on his recovery. It is among the most powerful moments in the film, and the crowd in the Dolby Theater gives the scene a huge round of applause.
“And the Oscar goes to… Flynn Godfrey.”
For a brief second, it’s just him and me, caught together in this moment in time, disbelief and amazement reflected in his gorgeous eyes. Then he leans in to kiss me before standing to accept hugs and congratulations from his producing partners and closest friends.
Everyone around us is in tears as we stand and cheer for Flynn.
He goes up the stairs to the stage and accepts the award, hugging the actress who presented it before turning to face the crowd. It takes another full minute for the applause to die down. In that time, Max and Stella appear on one of the screens, both of them smiling and crying and on their feet, applauding for their son.
I hope he’s able to see them from his vantage point on the stage.
“Thank you so much. Thank you.” He glances down at the gold statue in his hand. “Wow. I thought I knew what this might feel like, but apparently, I had no clue. Thank you to the Academy and to everyone involved in the making of Camouflage. We knew from the first time we read the script that this would be a special project. We had no idea how special it would become to all of us, and I’m deeply thankful to the Academy for this award as well as the others you’ve bestowed upon the film tonight. You all know it’s been a wild couple of months for me professionally and personally. I want to thank my friends and colleagues in this room for your unwavering support during the tough times. I’ve seen the heart of this community more in the last few weeks than I have in my entire career before now, and I’m deeply appreciative. To my beautiful, courageous, incredible wife, Natalie, I thank you for showing me what’s really important in this life. I love you so much, sweetheart.” He raises his award over his head. “Thank you again.”