Forest's Fall (Captive Hearts Book 3)

by Ellie Masters

  Ours with Sara.

  It made perfect sense.

  My heart squeezed with the emotions spilling through me. I never imagined I’d have a future with anyone, and now I was thinking about kids?

  “Hey, Beanpole. Are you okay?” She squeezed me as I watched Sara with Paul.

  “Yeah.” I looked down at Skye.

  “What’s going through that head of yours?”

  “You may be my summer sky, but they are the light in my darkness. I’m going to marry them.”

  “Them?”

  “Well, Sara to make it official. Paul and I have another arrangement to sort out.”

  “And Sara’s okay with that?” She looked at me, quizzically. “Are you his Dom or something?”

  “He’s mine,” I said that with pride.

  “I see. I’m happy for you, Beanpole.” She gripped my hand in hers and looked down at our interlocking fingers. “It feels good to hold your hand.”

  “It feels even better to hold you.”

  “It’s really over, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah, it is.” I tugged her to my side and kissed the crown of her head.

  Sara returned Zach to Ash and glanced around the airfield, looking like she was interested in her new surroundings, but she was giving Skye and me some space.

  Paul spoke to his sister for the first time in over a decade. Sara went to him and hooked an arm around his waist. He reciprocated, and she leaned against him. I loved seeing them standing side by side. In them, I saw my future.

  It was time to put the past behind me.

  I wasn’t a victim.

  I was a survivor.

  There was strength in that.

  Frankly, I was ready to let it go. What Snowden did to me—had done to me—no longer mattered. I’d survived when it mattered most.

  Skye no longer had to worry about me.

  I found Sara, and I found Paul.

  I beat Snowden at his game.

  I had won.

  Several cars drove up, and Xavier jumped out of the lead vehicle.

  Mitzy and Raven spilled out behind him. I braced for Mitzy’s leap into my arms and caught her as she flung herself at me.

  “Forest! You’re alive. Oh my God, you are brilliant. When I started getting pings, and then I realized it was you…” A rush of words escaped her as she recapped how she discovered my signal then used it to map out Snowden’s operation.

  Xavier shook his head at Mitzy’s antics.

  “It’s good to see you,” Xavier said.

  “Likewise.”

  “We’ve got a lot to talk about, but first, how about we get everyone out of the heat?”

  It sounded like a good plan. I made introductions all around, getting various reactions when I introduced Sara and then Paul.

  I wanted to keep the three of us together, needing Paul’s steadying influence by my side, but there wasn’t room to put all of us in one car, not with Mitzy and Raven stealing seats.

  I didn’t worry about it too much. Ben took control of Paul, who appeared oblivious to his surroundings. He kept his head down, fingers clutching the phone, as he talked nonstop with his sister.

  I didn’t see tears. Paul was too strong to cry in front of others, but I sensed he was overwhelmed. For that reason alone, I gave him space.

  Xavier debriefed me on the ride to his estate.

  There wasn’t a single piece of Snowden’s operation still in existence.

  It was all finally gone.

  Which meant I would be busy.

  We had thousands of rescues who needed our help. The foundation Skye and I built would be bursting at the seams, and that was a good thing. We had years of experience working with victims of human trafficking and sexual abuse.

  Life wouldn’t be easy for our new rescues, but we could only make things better. Those with no family would find one with us. Those who had families waiting for them would be reunited. They would all receive the counseling and skills they needed to rebuild their lives.

  All because of a few lines of code I’d inserted on Paul’s phone.

  Xavier leaned forward. “As much as I hate to say it, we got far more than we ever imagined because he took you. Everything is coming down.”

  “Agreed.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Once everyone stops asking me, I will be.”

  “Understood. If you need to stand under my whip, the offer is open.”

  A fierce dominant and expert Master, Xavier knew how to meet the needs of the men under his care. He understood me, and what it was going to take to put all the broken pieces together again. There had once been a time when I’d felt his pull, but I only wanted one man standing over me.

  “Thanks, but I’ve got someone.”

  “Paul?” He gave a nod of approval. “Extreme circumstances build unique bonds. Interesting choice, but I’m happy if it works out for you.”

  I took Sara’s hand in mine, needing her connection. “Extreme circumstances also have a way of showing you what’s been under your nose all along.”

  “Can I second that?” Sara cupped my cheek and pressed her dainty lips against my lips.

  I was definitely putting a ring on Sara’s finger.

  Xavier’s astute gaze took in the way I held Sara’s hand, but he made no mention of it and continued. “Ben and his contacts in the FBI will handle what we’re handing over.”

  “Not all of them will make it to jail.” I wanted all the fuckers to get their due; jail, or otherwise.

  “No, but they’ll all see justice.” Xavier made it a promise, and I had no doubt he would follow through on it.

  I leaned back and took in a deep breath. “Everything is finally over.”

  Xavier put his hand on my shoulder. “I think what you meant to say is that everything is finally beginning.”

  I lifted Sara’s hand to my lips and kissed the backs of her knuckles.

  I had to agree with Xavier.

  I couldn’t wait to begin my new life.

  Chapter Fifty

  Paul

  Six Months Later

  * * *

  As the sun dipped below the horizon, I watched for the elusive green flash. Legend said if a person saw the flash, they would never go wrong in matters of the heart.

  I contemplated whether that might be true for a man like me.

  Was I taking the right step?

  “Aren’t you heading down?” My sister, Piper, flounced over to where I looked down on the private beach beneath the cliffs. She was a tiny thing, a perpetual bundle of energy, full of the biggest smiles and the best hugs. I pulled her to me, draping my arm over her shoulder as I stared out at the horizon.

  “Nah.” I kissed the crown of her head. “I’m gonna stay here.”

  “You sure? Everyone is down there.” She glanced at me, her eyes full of supposition and questions she wanted to ask, but wouldn’t. “You should come. You keep to yourself too much.”

  I didn’t keep to myself.

  Forest was with me nearly every second of every day. If we weren’t fucking, fighting, or fucking some more, he dragged me to the office, showing me off to anyone who cared to listen, and some who didn’t. Where Forest went, Sara was always near. The three of us were inseparable, which meant I was never alone. I should go down there, get to know the band better, but I had the two people who meant the most to me in the world. That was enough for me.

  There was a lot of work to do after tearing apart my father’s business. I was still dealing with a lot of emotional shit. Forest kept me busy, which helped.

  He was my boss now, which was funny considering how our roles reversed when we weren’t at work.

  “You think too much,” she said. “If you need to talk…”

  “I’ll talk to Forest.” I didn’t want to share that shit with my sister.

  She was concerned and insisted on mothering me, not believing I was okay with killing our father, but I was done talking about him. He twisted the affections
of a young boy who found himself in a living hell. He made me believe he had saved me when the truth was far different. The horrible things I’d done for him, in my mind, had been justified. Now, I had to face the consequences of my actions. The bastard had been a sick fuck, and it would be years before I worked through all my issues.

  I had no problems putting the bastard down. Piper thought I should.

  I didn’t.

  The past held no interest for me, not with Forest beside me. He promised a bright future, and I wanted to become the man I saw when I looked in his eyes. My redemption came in the forgiveness Forest gave me and in the love he smothered me in day in and day out.

  I didn’t need to make friends. I had Forest, and I had Sara.

  Angel Fire was gathered down on the beach for a cookout. It was rare for everyone to be home, so they made a point to hang out and reconnect, which turned into a big ordeal, leaving me slightly overwhelmed. Forest and Sara were down there, snuggling with each other, as I waited for my mystical sign.

  It had been six months since Forest brought Sara and me to the insane home he shared with what I could only describe as the most unique family. The palatial estate, aptly named Insanity, had been built by Forest as a recording studio for the rock band he managed. It was later adopted as a permanent home by the band. Ash, Bash, Spike, Noodles, Bent, and Forest now called it home.

  The band family was growing. Ash and Skye were working on kid number two. Bash had his woman and a teenage daughter who, as I understood things, had moved in recently. Spike and Noodles remained unattached bachelors. Then there was my sister, my wonderful, glorious, ever perky sister who I thought I’d lost so many years ago.

  “Well,” she said, “I have to get down there. Bent’s waiting for me, and you know what happens when I’m late.”

  “Yeah,” I snorted. “But you like it when he smacks your ass.” I gave her an affectionate squeeze.

  I didn’t think it would be long before the two of them started popping out kids. In an odd twist, my sister turned out to be quite the kinky little submissive. We were alike in so many ways.

  “It’s pretty neat about Forest and Sara, isn’t it?” She looked up at me, eyes searching to make sure I was okay with their recent engagement.

  “It’s fucking fantastic.”

  My excitement wasn’t faked. I’d gone with Forest to buy Sara’s engagement ring, helped him pick it out, and planned the whole proposal. Hell, I’d been the camera guy with a goofy-assed grin snapping ten-thousand photos as Forest bent his knee and stammered out nearly unintelligible words.

  “And you’re not worried?” she asked.

  “Why would I be?”

  “I just want you to be happy.”

  “I am.” I was insanely happy with how my life was turning out.

  I had a man I loved who was deeply submissive to me. We fucked like we were fighting; brutal, aggressive, bordering on insane, but it was also beautiful and perfectly right. I had a lovely woman I called my friend, who loved Forest with the same passionate intensity as I did. Sara and I got along well. We complimented each other, joined by our love of Forest. He was the glue that held us together.

  My affection for Sara confused me because it felt a lot like what I felt for Forest. She was a part of me, just like Forest was a part of me. I couldn’t imagine a life without her in it, and I didn’t know how to process those emotions.

  I didn’t understand how my body reacted around her and wrote it off to some strange extension of my feelings for Forest. I’d never been with a woman before. I thought that was just how I was built but damned if my cock didn’t twitch when I watched her and Forest make love. They were glorious together, and I couldn’t get enough of watching their bodies slide together in their passionate coupling.

  We still got looks from the others. Our unlikely threesome confused everyone.

  Not that I cared.

  I couldn’t be happier for Forest and Sara. Forest was a genius, but in many ways, remained a concrete thinker. Tying Sara to him with a ring mattered to him, and I had plans for the wedding.

  “Don’t worry about me, Sis. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.” Or would be if I went through with tonight. I turned my attention back to the setting sun. It was almost ready to disappear beneath the horizon.

  “Sister’s prerogative.”

  “What’s that?”

  “It’s my job to worry about you.” She lifted on tiptoe and kissed me on the cheek.

  “Don’t.”

  Forest had just completed construction on a separate residence adjoining the main complex, and we were moving into it tonight. I’d already moved my things into the second bedroom. We were starting a new chapter together.

  When Forest mentioned he was building a separate house for the three of us and planned on constructing a dungeon for the two of us, I stepped in and took over. The bastard was the most troublesome submissive, but that’s what I loved most about him. As far as the dungeon was concerned, tonight would be the first time he saw it.

  “You shouldn’t stare at the sun,” my sister said, chastising me.

  “You need to get your ass on that gondola and get down to the beach, or Bent will paddle it cherry red.”

  She winked at me. “Why do you think I’m still talking to you?”

  “Are all submissives this bratty?” I gave her a shove toward the gondola. “Don’t think I won’t tell Bent what you said.”

  Piper stuck her tongue out at me, but she climbed inside the gondola and gave me the finger as it slowly moved along the rails, headed to the beach below.

  I turned my attention back to what was left of the sun. Only a sliver remained, and while I shouldn’t stare at it, I kept my eyes on it.

  A burst of green less than a second long blinked at me.

  The green flash.

  I pulled my phone from my pocket and texted Sara.

  Me: It’s time.

  Three dots danced on my screen, then her reply popped up.

  Sara: I’m so excited. Do you think he’ll say yes?

  I hoped.

  Me: Just get your ass up here.

  I didn’t add ‘Or, I’ll swat your ass,’ but damned if I didn’t think it. My cock gave a little jerk with images of putting Sara over my knee. She wasn’t into kink, but I couldn’t help but hope. It was simply the way I was born. Thoughts of dominating Sara and Forest kept me up most of the night and starred prominently in many fantasies.

  As I had been Forest’s wingman, getting Sara’s engagement ring, she had been mine, helping me set everything up for tonight.

  Most times, she left Forest and me alone. Brutal barely came close to describing how Forest and I fucked. The man had a lot of aggression to work through. Fortunately, we were evenly matched, and if I didn’t beat Forest on the mat, I took him down a notch beneath my whip, putting him exactly where he needed to be. Sara didn’t get the sadomasochism Forest and I embraced but was coming around to our D/s dynamic.

  Not that she never watched.

  Like me, she was a voyeur. The girl had a little bit of kink in her. I loved watching her and Forest fuck, and she loved watching me fuck Forest. It was my hope to bring all of that together, melding all of our needs into one.

  We were a perfectly twisted threesome.

  The gondola made its way down to the beach. My sister climbed out, and Forest and Sara piled in. Tamping down my excitement, I put on my game face. The moment Forest saw the look in my eye, there would be no question as to how the rest of this evening would progress.

  The motor cranking the gondola up the cliff face groaned as I suppressed a groan of my own. Just thinking about having Forest under my command made me instantly hard. I wasn’t going to get very far with a raging erection. Fortunately, as the Dom, I could do something about that.

  I waited for them at the platform. When the car drew into view, I caught Forest looking for me. When our eyes met, his face broke into a huge grin. I gave a slow shake of my head, letting him know
I had assumed my role. His eyes widened, and he glanced back down behind him.

  I knew what he was thinking. We were discreet as a rule, mindful that our dynamic belonged to us alone. We didn’t subject the others to our kink, not that we hid it, but we were careful to respect those around us. With everyone on the beach, and far out of earshot, it was time for the kid gloves to come off.

  Tonight would be brutal. I intended to test the limits of Forest’s submission. If he passed my test, the rest would follow.

  When the gondola arrived, Sara stepped out first. She knew what I planned and took a step to the side. My gaze locked with Forest’s. His Adam’s apple bobbed. He swallowed and bent his head in deference to the power I held over him.

  I closed the distance, grabbing his throat as I slammed into him and claimed my kiss as I intended to subjugate him. Forest staggered back, overwhelmed, but then he pushed against me, leaning into the grip I held on his throat as if challenging my authority. This was our dance, and I happily obliged him. My fingers around his throat squeezed, and I reached for his balls with my other hand. He hissed against the pain as I squeezed.

  I waited for the moment the switch flipped in his head. When he went from challenging me to submitting, when the tension in his body melted away and he surrendered to me, I didn’t hold back.

  I ripped at his clothes. Shredding his shirt, I bared his muscular chest and twisted a nipple until his low throaty groan edged with pain. My dick was so hard it practically punched a hole in my jeans. I worked my belt free and lowered my zipper. If I wasn’t so damn hard, I might have put my belt to better use, but I needed him now.

  I moved Forest by the throat, pushing him away from me, then forced him to his knees. My grip shifted to his hair, and I yanked him forward until he swallowed my dick. Then I fucked his mouth, taking what I needed without mercy. I came aggressively, shouting his name.

  When I pulled out, Forest’s arousal tented the fabric of his pants. It was going to be a long, uncomfortable night for him because I didn’t intend on giving him release until the very end. He could be a greedy fucker and often manipulated me into letting him come when I intended to withhold his release. The man loved to challenge me and forced me to reassert my position as his Dom every day.