“Why?”
I scrambled to come up with an answer that would satisfy her so she wouldn’t insist on accompanying me, without sending her off to meet Griffith. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to come up with something fast enough before Belle, Thorne’s wife, came strolling down the hall.
“Anna!” she called with a grin. “I want you to meet my husband. I’m sure you’ll be working on PR for him soon enough.”
Anna looked at me uncertainly, clearly torn between wanting to meet the famous singer and sticking with me so we could leave as soon as possible. “Well, I have pla—”
“Go, sweetheart,” I encouraged her with a short kiss. “I’ll see Knox and meet you at the arena.”
She shrugged and grinned. “Okay!” Belle reached us and slipped her arm through Anna’s.
“Fabulous! Do you need to grab anything before we go?”
I waved Anna off when she glanced toward my dressing room. “I have it. I’ll see you soon.”
She blew me a kiss before letting Belle guide her away, both of them whispering to each other before they burst into laughter. I shook my head, smiling at how fucking adorable she was.
Five minutes later, I was changed and had both Anna’s and my stuff packed into one duffel. I slung it over my shoulder, locked my dressing room, and hurried to the security office.
Knox was sitting behind his desk with his feet up and his hands behind his head, staring at one of the monitors on the wall. He usually turned off the security feeds when someone entered his office, so I was surprised to see him leave it on. His head turned in my direction, but he just lifted his chin toward the screen and didn’t say anything.
I walked closer to observe whatever it was that he’d called me here to see. The feed showed one of the small rooms they used as cells, where they put people to dry out, interrogate, or wait for the police. A man was hunched over in a chair, his arms crossed, though one hand absently rubbed his jaw. When he lifted his head, and I saw the pout that no real man would ever have on his face, I grinned.
“Is that Dirk?” I asked with a smirk.
“Yup,” Knox confirmed.
I faced him and lifted my brows. “While I appreciate the entertainment of seeing his ass in a cell, this was why you had me come down here and send my woman off to spend time with a man other women drool over?”
Knox shook his head as he stood. “No. I brought you here because that little shit tried to bribe one of my security guards for information about Anna. Particularly security footage and her home address. Asshole should’ve known I don’t employ people who aren’t one hundred percent loyal to me.”
I saw red, and my whole body erupted in flames, boiling my blood.
“My next call is to Detective Myers, but I may have lost his number for a while if you’d like to bump into my detainee.”
I cracked my knuckles and gave him a chin lift, too furious to say anything. Knox tapped a few keys on his keyboard, and the monitor filled with static. Then he walked around his desk and started for the door with me close on his heels. He walked three doors down and looked at the female guard stationed there. With a tilt of his head, she pivoted and disappeared around a corner. Knox pressed his thumb on the touchpad, and the lock clicked as it disengaged.
He stood to the side of the door and inspected his nails as he drawled in a bored tone, “Camera will be down for ten minutes. To be fair, he’s not restrained. Just don’t kill him.” Then he opened the door and gestured for me to enter.
The door reopened ten minutes later, and I shoved the unconscious movie star out of my way as I walked to the exit. Knox glanced down and raised a brow. “He’s breathing,” I growled. After a second, I added, “Barely. Pretty sure his nose is broken.”
“He’d been drinking, so I’m assuming he slipped and fell?” Knox asked conversationally as he handed me a wet cloth to clean up my raw knuckles. I wasn’t sure how I was going to explain that to Anna...
I strolled out of the room and waited for Knox to secure the door before radioing for the guard to return to her post. “Poor guy fell hard enough to crack a couple of ribs and possibly bruise some other parts.” More than likely he was going to be dealing with blue balls for a couple of weeks too. Literally.
We reached Knox’s office, and he returned to his desk and sat in his chair. His lips curled at the corners, which was his version of a smile unless he was looking at his wife. “What do you know, I found the good detective’s phone number.”
“Thanks,” I murmured.
“For what?” he asked, his tone implying genuine curiosity.
“Nothing.” I shrugged, stifling a smile.
“Then what the fuck are you doing in my office, Storm?” he growled.
“I have no fucking clue. See you tomorrow.”
As I stepped into the hall, he added, “Twenty-four hours.”
I halted and twisted my head to meet blue eyes filled with warning. “You want me to text you a picture as soon as it’s done?” My voice was dripping with sarcasm, and by the narrowing of his eyes, it was obviously not appreciated.
“As a matter of fact—”
“Bite me, Dawson,” I interrupted, rolling my eyes.
“Not even if you bought me dinner and got me tanked,” he returned with a snort.
“Puh-lease,” I smirked. “If Addilyn weren’t in the picture, I could have you if I wanted you.”
“Good grief, put away your dicks and just admit that you’d both be chasing my husband’s tail.”
Our startled gazes flew to the door to find Belle and Anna standing there with shaking shoulders as they fought not to laugh.
Knox started to argue, but my focus was solely on my woman. She smiled at me, and I didn’t care about anything but getting her home and naked.
I held out my hand. “Let’s go home.”
Anna beamed at me and placed her palm in mine.
10
Anna
Between being carried out of my office, losing my virginity, and seeing Dirk, my emotions had been all over the place today, but one thing had remained the same—my love for Julian. I wasn’t sure how my feelings for him had grown so strong in such a short time, but there was no denying that they had. Not after hearing him turn that class A jerk’s offer down flat. Eavesdropping on their conversation had laid my fears to rest, and I was finally able to embrace what was happening between us.
Although I’d had the best view in the house, it had been incredibly difficult for me to pay attention to the show. My mind kept going back to the highlights of my day—the incredible orgasms Julian had given me and how he’d ripped into Dirk when he discovered my connection to him. I probably should’ve been horrified when he’d punched the delusional bully—and by how banged up his knuckles looked after he’d been done with whatever he’d been up to with Knox—but I was too turned on by him protecting me to care if it was wrong.
Luckily, the drive to Julian’s house—in a gated community off a golf course of all places—didn’t take too long. The two-story structure with a big, fenced-in backyard practically screamed family home, and it reinforced everything Julian had been telling me. He took the contract at the Lennox because he cared more about building a life than fame. And with the way he carefully lifted me out of my seat and carried me bridal style into the house, I had no doubt that he wanted to spend that life with me.
All my sappy thoughts about our future together were wiped away when he slammed the door shut behind us, set me on my feet, and backed me up against the wall. It was impossible to think about anything except for the hard length of his dick pressing against my belly.
“I finally have you in our home, right where you belong.” He bent to kiss my neck, and I dropped my head back against the wall to give him better access.
Letting out a soft moan, I whispered, “What are you going to do about it?”
“Every single dirty thing I’ve imagined doing to your luscious body,” he murmured before nipping at my pulse point. “P
lan on being in my bed for a long damn time because I came up with plenty of ideas while you were busy avoiding me.”
“Maybe you should take me right here to punish me a little for making you wait so long.” I was intrigued by the possibility of wall sex, but I still blushed after I made the suggestion.
Julian must have approved of my idea because he lifted his head and took possession of my mouth. As we kissed, he pressed closer, grinding his hard length against me, and his tongue swept inside to tangle with mine. I buried my fingers into his hair and wrapped one of my legs around his thigh, whimpering into his mouth.
“I’m not worried about punishing you, sweetheart. Not when you’re finally where you’re meant to be, and I know you won’t run from me again.” He lifted my other leg, wrapping it around his waist, one of his hands anchoring me under my butt to hold me against the wall. My core was lined up perfectly with his cock, and my skirt had crept up my thighs. My panties rubbed against his hardened length, and I cried out in need. “Unless you consider me giving you more pleasure than you can handle a punishment.”
I twined my arms around his neck and held on as I brushed my lips against his. “I don’t know, maybe we should try to find out exactly how much I can handle before I decide.”
“I’m going to make it my mission to increase that threshold year after year, giving you all the orgasms you want and then some.” His green eyes gleamed with male satisfaction and more than a healthy dose of desire. “It’s only fair, considering your pussy is mine.” He reached a hand between us to rip my panties off. “Only mine.” He worked a finger into my core, moving it in and out oh, so slowly. “And always mine.”
He added another finger and twisted his hand to brush his thumb against my clit, and my climax came out of nowhere. “Oh, my...Julian! Yes!”
“That’s right, sweetheart. Come for me.” He stroked me through my orgasm and waited until the shudders passed before setting me back on my feet. Since I was unsteady, I kicked off my heels while gripping his shoulders. As soon as they were off, Julian lifted my blouse over my head and tossed it on the floor. Then he undid the clasp on my bra with a flick of his thumb and pulled it off my body.
“You’re awfully good at that,” I murmured as I reached for his shirt.
“All those years of doing magic have paid off.” He yanked his shirt off before tugging his zipper down. “I get to put my nimble fingers to good use, removing clothes from your gorgeous body.”
“With how quick my orgasm was, I’m convinced you have magic fingers.” I slid my hand into the front of his pants, wrapping it around his hard on. It felt like steel covered in velvet—smooth and solid. “I think we should find out if I do, too.”
“Next time, sweetheart,” he promised as he shoved his pants and boxers down. “But first, I want to come inside you again.”
Without bothering to take off his shoes and kick off his pants and boxers, he backed me up against the wall again. Hoisting me up with one arm, he wrapped his other hand around his cock and lined it up with my entrance. My nails dug into his shoulders as he inched inside me. I whimpered when he pulled back out again, and without warning, he slammed back into me. My back hit the wall, but I didn’t care. “Having you inside me feels so good.”
“Fucking perfection,” he groaned, anchoring himself deep and pressing closer.
He buried his face in the crook on my neck, and I felt surrounded by his hard body as he pumped in and out of me. I held on tight with my arms and legs as he kept a steady pace. It wasn’t long before I felt another orgasm building. “Please, don’t stop. I’m already so close again.”
“Give it to me, sweetheart. It’s taking every ounce of my self-control to hold on with your wet pussy wrapped so tight around me,” he grunted against my throat. “It won’t be long before I fill you up with so much come, it will overflow and dribble down your legs.”
His dirty words sent me over the edge, and my entire body tightened as my orgasm roared through me. As my pussy clamped down hard around him, he started driving his cock harder inside me. After about half a dozen thrusts, I felt him thickening. “Fuuuck!” he shouted as his cock jerked, and he filled me with his come, just as he’d promised.
He held me for a few more minutes before we slid to the floor in a heap together. I cuddled into his chest, muttering in frustration when he shifted away from me. “Nooo! I’m not ready to move yet.”
“Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere.” He reached into the right pocket of his pants and yanked out a small black jewelry box. Flicking the top open with his thumb, he pulled a diamond solitaire ring out of the box and slipped it onto my left ring finger. As I gaped down at it in shock, he twisted around again and grabbed his cell phone. When he snapped a picture of the ring on my hand, my head jerked up. “What’re you doing?”
“Sending Knox a quick text,” he mumbled as he typed out a message on his phone.
It seemed a little strange for him to be sending a random text while he was still inside me, but that wasn’t the most pressing issue at the moment.
“Um”—I wiggled my fingers at him—“I think you have something a little more important to do right about now.”
His head lifted, and he flashed me a sexy grin. “What’s that, sweetheart?”
I pointed at the diamond solitaire. “Is this an engagement ring?”
He nodded. “Yup.”
“Aren’t they normally accompanied by an important question?”
His smile turned sly. “Only when you’re in doubt about the outcome, and I’m not. You’re going to be my wife, period.”
“Alrighty then.” I smiled back at him and jerked my chin toward his cell phone. “What’s up with the text to Knox?”
“There was a deadline to some of the help he was giving me with hunting you down”—when I quirked my brow in confusion, he shook his head and winked at me—“and I told him I’d send proof of our engagement by tomorrow night.”
I bit my bottom lip before asking softly, “Is the deadline why you gave me the ring tonight?”
“Fuck no,” he growled, lifting my hand to press a kiss to my finger directly under where the ring lay. “I put this here because I want to spend the rest of my life with you. To see your belly round with my babies and raise them together. Because I love you, Anna.”
My eyes filled with tears as I replied, “I know you didn’t really ask, but the answer is yes anyway. I love you, too, and I want to be your wife more than anything.”
“Thank you for making me the happiest man in the world, sweetheart.” Julian captured my lips for a deep kiss. “Want to go upstairs and celebrate our engagement?”
I scrambled off his lap and held out my hand. “Yes, please.”
And that’s exactly what we did...over and over again until the sun started to rise.
Epilogue
Julian
“Happy anniversary, sweetheart.”
I brought Anna to a stop in front of a secluded candlelit booth, complete with a high hat that held a bottle of Dom Perignon. There was also a tray of sweets, courtesy of Knox’s sister, Ariel, who owned a local bakery.
Anna glanced up at me, her brow furrowed in confusion. “What are you talking about? Our wedding anniversary isn’t for another month.”
I chuckled as I helped her slide into the cozy booth. Then I swept her hair over one shoulder and leaned down to kiss the newly exposed skin. “It’s been one year since I kidnapped you and we had our first kiss,” I whispered in her ear. She shivered when my warm breath blew across her skin.
She turned her head so she could take advantage of my position and brushed her sweet lips over mine. “You’re adorable, you know that?”
“Awww, I agree. He’s completely adorable,” a new voice teased with a snicker.
I stood and glared at Zack, the owner of the restaurant and the hotel it was located in. I’d known Zack Parker and his brother Becket—who owned half of the hotel but chose to work as a blackjack dealer at the Lennox�
��for a couple of years. When I mentioned to Becket that I was looking for a place to celebrate with my wife, he suggested The Crescent Moon and offered to call Zack and have him set up something special.
“Don’t you have somewhere else to be, Parker?” I groused.
His eyes darted over to a room with large glass windows that was reserved for private parties. A pretty girl with tan skin and long, curly black hair suddenly turned and looked out one of the windows. When she caught Zack’s intense stare, she blushed and whipped back to face the other direction.
When he finally tore his eyes away, he grinned at me and nodded. “As a matter of fact, I do. But I always like to check on my VIPs personally if I can.”
I cracked a begrudging smile, especially after Anna elbowed me in the side and whispered, “Don’t be a Neanderthal.”
“Everything is perfect. Thanks.” We shook hands, and he congratulated us before stalking over to the entrance to the party room.
I turned my attention to my wife, but she slapped my arm and mumbled, “Move! I don’t want to miss this.”
A sigh escaped as I did what she requested, stepping out of her line of sight so she could watch the drama unfold. No doubt so she could gossip to Becket’s wife, Lia, later.
Zack threw open the door and said something before making a beeline for the woman who’d captured his attention before. When he’d closed the distance between them, he grabbed her around the waist and tossed her over his shoulder in a fireman's hold. Then he pivoted on his heel and marched from the room, ignoring the protests coming from his captive. He spotted us watching the show and winked at Anna before traipsing to the back door and disappearing through it.
“What is it with the men around here and kidnapping?” Anna mused in an exasperated tone.
I scooted into the booth beside her and grinned. “Why mess with success?”
Anna rolled her eyes, but they twinkled with amusement. “One of these days it’s going to backfire,” she predicted.
Vegas, Baby: Volume 3 Page 6