“I love you, Jaydee,” I tell her, my voice full of emotion.
“I know we just met, but it’s like… it’s like…” I stammer.
“It’s like we’ve both been waiting for each other,” she says, finishing exactly what I’m trying to say.
I shut off the faucet, and keeping myself inside her, with her arms and legs wrapped around me as she hugs onto me, I walk us both to our bed.
Sitting down on the edge of the bed, then letting myself lie backwards, she clings to me and we both gasp again, little ripples of our shared climax still pulsing through our bodies.
“Colton?” she shivers, and I draw the covers up over us both.
“I love you too,” she whispers, and we lay in silence. The pleasing weight of her on top of me feeling like the missing part of me I’ve been looking for my whole life.
Running my hands slowly all over her, I squeeze, stroke and caress every inch of her for what feels like hours. Her soft little sounds, sighs and moans finally subside into a sleep I know she needs, but it only lightens my touch on her. I can’t bear the thought of letting her go, not even for a moment.
With her hands curled up under her chin, and mine resting on her fine ass, we both slip into a deep sleep that feels like a gap in the dream we share. The dream that’s come true for both of us, now that we’re together.
Her sweet mouth over mine wakes me up and I realize she’s been watching me sleep, just like I did with her in the hospital.
“Hi,” she whispers, gnawing her lip and shifting herself, feeling my dick pressing harder against her as I flex it. She’s been enjoying it for some time in my sleep.
“Hi,” I whisper back, running my hands up her sides and cupping her chest in my hands. Her gasping sigh makes me growl with pleasure as I feel hers growing. Her thick nipples under my fingers, teased to attention while the line of warmth from between her legs tells me she’s as glad to see me as I am to see and feel her again.
Groaning with frustration, she lets herself off me and starts to get out of bed.
“Where do you think you’re going?” I ask her in mock seriousness.
“Little girl’s room, be right back,” she coos over her shoulder, and I sit up, resting on my elbow and shake my head again as I watch her perfect ass winking goodbye as she leaves our bedroom.
Ours.
Hearing the thought in my mind makes me smile and I sink back onto the pillows, beaming with satisfaction.
“Ours,” I say out loud, finally making sense of why everything has happened the way it has my whole life, leading up to this moment.
To us.
But, my joy is short-lived. Seconds later, Jaydee comes skidding back into the room, naked still but covering her chest with her hands, panting.
This makes me frown.
“What is it?” I ask, sitting up fully, thinking maybe the friendly bathroom spider might have returned, or something else she’s found that she doesn’t like.
“Outside,” she hisses, looking pale. Frightened.
I growl defensively, and gripping the sheets with a fist, I toss them off me. In one movement I’m fully upright, tense and ready for anything.
My eyes narrow in the semi-darkness, making me wonder how long we slept, I glance over to Jaydee, but she’s looking for something to cover herself with.
This displeases me. I’m only just starting to enjoy her body and any interruption isn’t welcome.
I’m suddenly aware of shapes passing across the windows as I step out of our bedroom.
I’m sure I locked the gates. The sensors to the grounds should be on.
“Stay here,” I demand, and close the bedroom door behind me.
In the same instant I see flashes of white light from what I perceive as news cameras and photographers, the familiar stab of blue and red, along with a siren tells me I have the kind of company that probably requires pants.
I hear my cell chime, then the house phone, and eventually the coded alarm starts to wail.
Note to self: call the security company and find out what the hell went wrong.
But first, I need pants, to make sure Jaydee is safe and then… unleash my fury on whoever thought they could trespass on our property.
“Colton! What’s happening?” Jaydee asks, clutching at me as soon as I head for the door.
I hug her close, stroking her hair and noticing she hasn’t found anything to wear, I let my hands slide over her some more.
I can’t help it. Even in a crisis she’s all I can think about.
“It’s the media,” I groan. “Somehow, they got on the grounds. I’m gonna go sort it out. Stay here, okay? Don’t come out and don’t show your face,” I order her again.
I have some experience with the media, but nothing prepares me for what Jaydee thinks I mean by what I just told her.
“Is it because you don’t want to be seen with me? Because I’m not one of your bikini clad beach girls?” she says hurriedly, her lower lip trembling.
Her statement is way off, right from left field, I have to double-check I even heard her right.
“No!” I say loudly, angrily.
Jesus Christ, how did my dream turn into a nightmare so fast?
“Baby, I’ll be right back,” I tell her. “I don’t want you being exposed to this because you’ve had enough to deal with in one day, that’s all.”
There’s a pounding on the door. A loud, law enforcement type of pounding.
“Jaydee?” I ask her, lowering my voice and holding my arm out to her, grateful when she rushes into it and I can shield her with my body.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers. “I’m just so scared.”
“Well, don’t be. I’m here and I’ll take care of all this, you’ll see,” I tell her and giving her one more firm look, she nods in understanding and I fasten a robe on and make my way to the door, switching off that damned beeping alarm which is so loud it hurts my ears.
I swing the front door open, one of my fists ready to meet the first thing I see. But I’m seriously outnumbered.
There’s at least twenty reporters and cameras, all thrusting microphones towards me and blinding me in their glare, many of them only switching on their lights as soon as I open the door.
But closer to me, right up front are two cops who don’t look pleased to see me and a face that makes me freeze on the spot.
A face that cancels out everything for an instant, even while I’m spun around and handcuffed in my own house.
Noah Beckett.
I know in an instant that it’s not just him, my childhood friend turned nemesis from the boy’s home I grew up in.
But he’s also Jaydee’s dad.
Just as I suspected.
“That’s him!” he cries loud enough for the media to hear.
“He’s the one who kidnapped my daughter!”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Jaydee
I know Colton told me to stay in here, but if I do, it’ll only make things worse.
I find another robe and fastening it tight, I take a deep breath and swing the door open.
The front door’s been closed, and Colton’s back is the only thing I see towering over two men in suits until my dad suddenly appears in front of me, flushed and sweaty.
“It’s alright sweetie!” he says excitedly. “I’m here now, I’ll take you home.”
I look at him icily, my eyes narrowing as I connect the dots.
“What did you do, daddy?” I ask him, my own voice getting low, almost growling.
I put my hands up as he tries to hug me, pushing him away.
“Honey, I was so worried. The hospital called me at work, the doctors told me what happened. Who’s gonna pay for all this?”
I try and stay calm, but feel my anger seething inside me.
“What. Did. You. Do?” I shout, and a cop’s head pokes around a doorway before darting back again.
“Colton Smith is not the man you think, Jaydee. I’m not entirely convinced he b
rought you here to… why are you wearing a bathrobe?” he asks, his face dropping, going pale.
“Did he? He didn’t?” he asks, looking at me horrified.
I take a deep breath in. “I’m twenty dad, not five. Whatever you’ve done here, I’ll never forgive you for it. No! just leave me alone!”
He tries to grab hold of me, but I slip past him, trying to get to Colton, but a wall of cops appears in the doorway.
“I want to see Colton,” I try to say calmly, and a friendly looking female in a suit appears.
Good cop.
“Jaydee? I’m Mary Constance, I’m with the police department. Can we have a word?”
I try to stammer an answer, but it looks like she’s made her mind up for me.
Before I know it I’m in the back of a car, with my dad on one side and Mary what’s-her-face on the other. I can only shake my head, ashamed, embarrassed and mad as hell.
I’ve known Colton less than a day, but I feel some relief inside. I know, sure as hell, that he won’t stand for any of this, and everyone involved is going to pay for the mistakes they’re making.
For some obscure reason, I’m taken back home and sat down at the kitchen table while Mary and another woman, who’s waiting there start to ask me all kinds of dumb questions.
In two minutes, it’s clear that they’ve made a huge mistake.
“You’re twenty?” one asks and I nod.
“And you willingly went with Mr. Smith, to his house?” I nod again.
“Colton. Mr. Smith, paid my hospital bill and I discharged myself from the hospital,” I tell them, matter of fact.
Because it’s the truth.
“Whatever anybody else said, or implied…” I say.
Two sets of eyes narrow on my dad’s. I can’t even look at him right now.
Both women excuse themselves, and before they leave, I hear them both tearing strips off my dad and letting him know he’ll be hearing from them both again, and their department. Real soon.
Once they’re gone, I feel hot tears on my cheeks, but I’m determined not to let my dad see me cry about this.
His complete betrayal of my trust, my feelings and most of all, my friend.
Colton!
I shiver at the thought of him being set up like this, the suggestion that he’d even…
Sensing my dad leaning against the doorway, I keep my head down.
“You feel mad as hell now, Jaydee. But I know you’ll thank me for it someday,” he says, almost boasting.
“Do you realize what you’ve done? How much trouble you’re in?” I ask, still not able to even lift my head to look at him.
He gives a dry laugh, almost a smug sounding cough.
“I know exactly what I’m doing, Jaydee. And I’ll say it again, if you knew the man, if you really knew that man.”
“But I do know him!” I shout, standing up, unable to bear the mention of Colton in such a negative, fake light.
“You’re the one who doesn’t get it,” I have a million things I want to say. I want to leave, I want to go back to Colton, I want to scratch my dad’s eyes out, but for some reason all I can do is croak a dry, cracked sound that eventually morphs into a deep wailing cry.
I race to my room and throw myself face down on my bed, crying like a little girl, feeling more hopeless than ever.
Not having anyone, wondering what it might be like. It’s nothing compared to the pain of knowing that the man you love is being framed, and in this case, I’m worried Colton will think it’s me that’s knowingly been used as the bait.
After the worst of my tears subside, I lay still, sniffing Colton’s robe that I’m still wearing and smile at the memory of him. Smile at his scent.
I almost laugh out loud, thinking how much worse off everyone involved will be, until I remember it’s my dad.
Our house, his job.
There’s no way he can keep any of this once Colton defends himself legally, and wins.
Colton will sue the ass off all of them.
But I stop myself.
I don’t really know that.
Maybe dad’s right? He does seem pretty sure of himself, about what he’s set in motion, even though it’s a complete lie.
I sit up suddenly, my tears gone but my throat is more sore than ever.
I nearly died and then I really did go to heaven. I not only found the man I love, but the man I know I want to spend the rest of my life with.
And I don’t even have his phone number.
I groan out loud, punching and then throwing my pillow at my door.
My dad’s right, I am mad as hell, but I plan to be standing right next to Colton when the truth comes out, which will be anytime soon I hope.
It must.
Hang on Colton, just hang on!
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Colton
It takes all I have not to add assault to the ridiculous, baseless accusations these clowns have invaded our home with.
But, I know the truth. Jaydee sure knows I haven’t done anything wrong. Doesn’t she?
It’s only a matter of time.
And my time is pretty soon. A phone call after about a half an hour and some murmured, whispered voices amongst themselves. A few calls to speak with each other in private, and then I hear the cuffs click open.
After I promise to be calm.
A room full of very pale, very sorry and very apologetic law enforcement officials, who tell me that the commissioner himself will be calling me directly.
Any moment.
“There’s been a terrible misunderstanding, Mr. Smith. We were just following procedure.”
“An honest mistake.”
“I was only thinking of my own daughter, Sir.”
Each one of them has an excuse, and I guess they’re right. But I make sure and give each of them my own look. A knowing look that I won’t let this go.
I’ll clear my name easily enough, that’s already done. But the damage to my reputation by the media? And Jaydee?
I vow to make them all pay. I’ll sue each and every one of them. Not for the money’s sake. But for putting Jaydee through this, for even making her doubt me for one second.
And I know exactly who’s behind it all.
Noah Fucking Beckett.
But, he must’ve had help? This is too big for him. He’d never be able to pull all this off alone.
I file it all away, but ready to be retrieved at short notice.
I will have my revenge, but it won’t be for the reasons they’ll think.
“Oh,” I say, suddenly remembering.
“There’s a section of the railing on the pier that’s missing. It’s how Jaydee fell in the water today, right before I saved her life,” I add, and two uniforms assure me they’ll get right on it, relieved at an excuse to dash from the room, which suddenly feels much more like my home again.
My castle.
Our home.
Jaydee!
“Where is she?” I growl. Louder once I see all those eyes looking down.
Someone murmurs her address, which I retain at the front of my mind.
“Thank you,” I say aloud, much calmer.
It’s the not knowing where she was that bothered me. Not being able to just reach out and touch her like I could, even just a few minutes ago.
I realize now just how deep I’m in with Jaydee, but how much we both need each other.
Like not being able to use my arms or legs, I feel like a part of me’s missing. Without her here with me.
I vowed to protect her, to keep her safe and close to me. Here I am, less than twelve hours later and I don’t even know how to reach her.
“We wouldn’t recommend you contact her, or her father right now, Mr. Smith,” somebody says, making me look up.
Making me stand up.
“Do any of you have a reason or warrant? To either be here in my home or to continue being here?” I ask, my voice dropping to a near whisper, but my eyes blazing with anger.
My cell chimes as the room clears, detectives, cops and what I can only guess are media clowns, scampering to get out of our house as quickly as they can.
Glancing at the caller ID, my lip curls slightly.
It’s Mark Bannon, my lawyer.
I pick up and ask him to hold for a moment.
“I’d like some police assistance,” I announce in a loud, firm voice to the few stragglers, who turn and look at me strangely.
“I have a complex security system. Which was breached tonight, and at a glance, there are at least twenty trespassers on my property,” I snarl, letting my eyes travel to the growing throng of reporters, lights and now the sounds of helicopters outside.
“We’ll take care of it, Mr. Smith. Again, we’re very sorry for this embarrassing intrusion.”
I turn my back on all of them, closing my eyes for a second, only able to see Jaydee in the water from the moment I grabbed hold of her.
I thought I’d lost her then and it feels like I’ve lost her again now.
“Mark,” I hear myself say in a deep and commanding tone. “Tell me what I can do, tonight, to make these pricks pay.”
Mark Bannon’s the original trustee of my adoptive Grandfather’s estate. He’s also a retired political figure with more contacts than a downtown electrical switchboard.
“Easy, Colton. I know you’re mad,” he starts, and gives me the room I need to vent.
“Mad doesn’t even scratch the surface, Mark. These people… that man. I was set up, manipulated and then set upon without any evidence. Accused of what? Nobody even said anything, they didn’t have to. He’s trying to ruin me by the mere suggestion. What did that bastard do, I wonder? Who’s really behind this?”
I feel the phone creaking in my hand, which tightens so much as I start to make a pair of fists again, I’m forced to relax a little before I break it.
“I’ve got some people on it, Colton. From what we know so far it was Noah Beckett. A friend of his, whom you may have heard of, someone else from that boy’s home. They tipped off the media and the police with some story about you snatching his daughter, a real set-up, like you say.”
I hear myself growling, listing a ton of names in my mind. All the boys I grew up with, every one of them with a reason to want revenge.
Summer Obsession: An Instalove Possessive Alpha Romance (A Man Who Knows What He Wants Book 185) Page 5