All I could feel was him and the burst of energy from the fireworks exploding inside of me. And then it was gone, but Ford was still there, staring down at me with awe in his eyes.
“You’re so fuckin’ beautiful, Baby Belle.” I bit down on my bottom lip as he whispered his hand over my face. “I’m gonna fuck you real hard now, okay?”
“Okay,” I murmured, swallowing as he leaned back from me.
His hands trailed down my legs to my ankles, and he maneuvered them so they were on his shoulders. “Hold tight,” he warned, grasping my ass for leverage. And then he was pummeling me so hard, but it felt so goddamn good. He didn’t move his gaze off mine as he lifted me higher and thrust harder.
“Fuck,” he ground out.
My back bowed as he hit my G-spot, and my hands clutched the sheet underneath me. “Right there, Ford.” I gasped a breath. “Fuck me just like that.”
My words spurred him on, and he adjusted me so he could move one hand to my chest and play with my nipple. He twisted it as he kept hitting my G-spot, and I wasn’t sure how much longer I could— “It’s coming,” I gritted out, feeling another orgasm brewing, but this one was different.
“Let go, Belle,” Ford begged. “Let go just for me.”
A breath left me in a whoosh, and he pinched my nipple one final time, and then I was flying high, feeling something I’d never felt before as he continued to thrust inside me.
“Fuck yeah, I can feel you pulsating around my cock.”
I moaned and flung my head back, loving every second of my orgasm but being greedy and wanting more. And then Ford stilled, and I felt every jerk of his cock inside me as he came. He let his body fall onto mine, wrapping his arms around me, then rolled over so I was on top of him.
Our skin was sweaty, my room smelled like sex, but I was content. I was always content when it came to Ford. And for the first time in four days, I finally felt like I was home.
Chapter Thirteen
FORD
Sitting across the table from Belle felt easier as we all gathered out on the balcony for a cookout. I had a feeling it was because of what we’d done this morning. All my pent-up frustration had bubbled up, and as soon as I knew we were alone, I’d gone to her without a second thought. The sleeves on my T-shirt covered the nail marks she’d left me with, a wound I was proud of.
I stared at her as she spoke to Asher, the pair of them in animated conversation, and I wondered if she could feel my gaze on her. Could she tell when I was watching her? Did she like it when I didn’t take my eyes off her?
“You’re staring,” a new voice whispered to me, and I whipped my head around and came face to face with Aria.
“What?” I asked, acting as if I hadn’t heard her loud and clear.
Her lips curved on one side, and she leaned back in her seat. “You heard me.” She stared at me for several seconds and raised a brow. “Do anything fun this morning?” she asked, but she didn’t give me a chance to answer as she continued, “I was meant to go to the store with Lola, but I wasn’t feeling too good, so I stayed home.”
I frowned, wondering what she was talking about and then—fuck. She was home this morning, which meant—
“Tyson, I—”
She held her hand up to stop me. “My lips are sealed, Ford.” She grinned then, the type of grin I didn’t see on her face often. “I expected dirty talk from you, but jeez, Belle has a mouth on her too.”
“What?” Belle asked from across the table, obviously having heard her name. “Belle has a what?”
I didn’t take my gaze off Tyson, knowing if I looked at Belle, I wouldn’t be able to keep my mask in place. Tyson knew what we’d done, but I had no idea if she’d keep it to herself or tell the entire table. And if she did—no, she wouldn’t. There was a time where she and Cade had been a secret, and I’d been one of the only people to know.
“I was just telling Ford how Lottie lay with me while I didn’t feel well this morning,” Tyson told Belle, and I finally managed to look away.
“She’s a cool dog,” Asher said, joining in on the conversation which he had no idea about. “She watched me work out this morning, and was jumping in time with each of my pull-ups.” He chuckled, and I smirked, imagining Lottie doing that. She’d fit right in with the family in seconds, and now I was sure they’d all miss her when we were gone.
“I didn’t know you didn’t feel well,” Cade interrupted, obviously having been listening to us talk. His hand landed over Tyson’s on the table, and I could see the concern in his eyes.
“It’s just the new meds,” Tyson told him. “I stayed at the house while Lola went to the store this morning and—”
Belle spluttered, and I glanced at her, meeting her gaze and having a silent conversation. She understood what Tyson was saying now, and one look at me, and she knew that Tyson knew. Her eyes widened, and I could see the panic worming its way up, so I pushed lower in my seat and wrapped my legs around her ankles, giving them a squeeze in reassurance. She didn’t need to worry because I knew deep down Tyson would never out us. Not yet, anyway.
Brody’s cell rang from the table, and he moved from the grill to see who it was. All of us stared at him, and when he looked up, his attention was solely on me. He answered the call and grunted, “Agent Easton.” He listened to whoever it was and then said, “Two seconds,” down the line, and flicked his head toward the sliding doors of the kitchen.
I moved my legs from around Belle’s ankles and stood, followed by the rest of the guys on the team. Silence surrounded us because everyone around the table knew that for all of us to go inside, it was about a case, and right then, the only case we were all on, was Garza’s.
We moved into the lake house and through the kitchen, into the hall, and then entered Brody’s office. He waited until we were all inside with the door closed, then placed his cell on the table.
“You’re on speaker,” he told whoever was on the line. “I have my team with me.”
“Oh, okay.” A throat cleared, and then he said, “I’m calling to tell you the case is adjourned. The judge has listened to both sides and is making a decision.” He paused, and I stared at Brody. “The judge said he’ll hopefully have a decision by next Tuesday/Wednesday, but in the meantime, Eduardo Garza is still on bail.”
We all knew that was what would happen, but it didn’t make it any easier. While he was out on bail, it meant Belle was still at risk, and so was I.
“And how do you think the case went?” Brody asked.
“Obviously, I’m the prosecutor, so I think we won, but you can never be certain. It’s a bench decision, which means it could go either way.” We could all hear his deep breath over the line. “But I’ll be honest, the state has tried to bring charges against him numerous times, and he’s never actually been found guilty of them. He knows what he needs to do to get away with the crimes he commits, so you should keep that in mind going forward.”
I heard him loud and clear. Just because he thought the court case went well, didn’t mean he’d be found guilty. And the likelihood of Garza being sent down was slim, so we needed to start preparing for what would happen if he didn’t go down. And the first person who came to mind was Belle.
“Thanks, Scott.” Brody lifted his cell off his desk. “Keep me informed.” He ended the call and blew out a breath in frustration. We could only do so much, and the parts we could do were over. Now we had to wait and see if the judicial system would work and put the piece of shit behind bars.
“What we gonna do if he don’t get sent down?” Jord asked. It was a question we were all thinking.
“You’re gonna have to keep a low profile for a while,” Brody told me. “And Belle …she’s gonna have to move back home.”
Ky snorted. “Good luck making that happen.”
“She won’t have a goddamn choice,” Brody burst out and slammed his fist down on his desk. “I’m not leaving her out there for him to be able to get to. He’s already tried to break into her
apartment once, and even that didn’t scare her enough to get her to leave.” I kept my lips sealed, not willing to tell him that it had scared her. I’d been there when she was terrified to go to sleep at night or do her shift at the shelter and coffee shop. It had affected her. She just hadn’t shown him that.
“Let’s just see what happens. We have until next week, and in the meantime, we do what we’ve already been doing.” I paused and stared at each of them in turn. They could have an opinion all they wanted, but the fact of the matter was, it was me who had been undercover, and me who was watching over Belle. “We’ll go home on Friday morning, and I’ll take extra precautions until the verdict comes back.”
“No.” Brody crossed his arms over his chest. “You can come back home until the verdict is read. She’s safe with all of us around.”
I shrugged and stepped back. “I’ll let you be the one to tell her, then.”
Brody growled. “Fine.” He let his head drop back as he stared at the ceiling. “You all go back to the office tomorrow, keep an eye on Garza’s whereabouts, and we’ll stay here and act like nothing has happened.”
“Got it,” Jord said, and Ky and Ryan repeated his sentiments.
“And Belle?” I asked.
“I’ll tell her Friday morning.” He stepped around his desk. “But right now, we’re gonna act as if nothing has changed and go eat burgers.”
He walked between us and pulled his office door open, and everyone filed out after him, me being last. I shook my head and clenched my fists in frustration. He should have known by now that telling Belle she had to do something never went well.
I kept a few steps behind them all as they made their way back outside, and as soon as they were seated, I spotted Belle staring at me, biting down on her bottom lip. She opened her mouth to say something, but I shook my head. I couldn’t tell her what had happened, not when everyone was here with us. She’d find out soon enough, and I was sure she wouldn’t go down without a fight.
“So, Asher,” Ky said, distracting the table from the silence that had surrounded it. “I hear you have another tournament coming up.”
“Yep.” Asher reached for a burger as Brody placed them in the middle of the table, and I sat back in my seat, trying to keep my mask in place.
The temptation to walk around to Belle and tell her what was going on was too much. I wanted to tell her what had happened on the call. I wanted to confide in her about the court case and what her dad wanted her to do, but I couldn’t. I was part of a team, and that had to come first. Not just because it was my job, but because it was keeping her safe.
“You getting us tickets?” Ky asked as Brody sat at the head of the table. I caught Brody’s gaze and made sure he knew I wasn’t happy with what he’d done in his office. He hadn’t listened to me, he hadn’t been willing to hear me out, and I couldn’t stand it.
“If you want,” Asher said, then turned to Belle. “Are you gonna come?”
Belle blinked at him, her soft voice asking, “When is it?”
“Two weeks.”
She turned her head to look at me, but I couldn’t give her anything. It didn’t matter what I wanted to say. It mattered what I could say.
“I…I’m not sure. I’ll let you know, okay?”
“Okay.” Asher frowned at her, and I knew he could feel her unease too. She could sense things around her, and I had no doubt she could feel my frustration. I needed to push it all aside, but it was hard when I’d gotten close to her. So close, I wasn’t sure where she ended and where I began.
I pushed my chair back, the scraping of the legs ringing out around us. I opened my mouth, not sure what I was going to say, but then I closed it. I didn’t have control over how I was feeling, so instead of saying something, I stayed silent and walked back into the lake house with Lottie trotting behind me.
I refused to be part of a plan that didn’t give Belle a voice. For now, I’d keep quiet, but Friday morning, I’d make sure to back Belle up.
BELLE
The house had been a flurry of activity since we woke up this morning. We were all leaving together, and I wasn’t sure if it was a coincidence or a plan, but one thing I did know was that I couldn’t wait to be alone with Ford again. Since the one time in my bedroom, we hadn’t touched again. Not since we found out Aria had heard us.
My cheeks heated at the memory of what we did on this bed, and then they reddened even more at the thought of Aria hearing us. She hadn’t said another word since Tuesday evening, and even though I wanted to go and talk to her about it, I feared someone would overhear. So I pretended she hadn’t alluded to hearing us, and resolved to ask Ford what he thought once we were on the road and back to my apartment.
My bedroom door was open, which meant Asher waltzed right in with a grin on his face. “Hey, sis.” He dived onto my bed, missing the suitcase I was packing by mere inches, and then star-fished. His legs hung off the end, but he looked every bit like the little kid he used to be.
“’Sup, Asher.”
He snorted at my greeting. “You’re such a nerd.” He stared at me for a beat, and his grin slowly turned into a frown. “I’m gonna miss you.”
“Awwww.” I zipped my suitcase and jumped onto the bed next to him. “Summer isn’t long away. Then we can terrorize the neighborhood, just like old times.”
He chuckled at my words as he sat up. “I’m already thinking of pranks we can play.” He flung his arm around my shoulders. “It’s not the same at home without you.” I knew what he meant because my apartment wasn’t the same without my annoying brother across the hall.
I opened my mouth, about to confess that to him, but footsteps moving toward my room stopped me. “Your dad wants to see you,” Aria said, stopping in my doorway.
“Okay.” I stared at her for several seconds, wondering if she’d bring up anything, but she just spun around and headed back down the stairs.
“That seemed—”
“Ominous,” I finished for Asher. I raised my brows at him, wondering what was going on, and then stood. “Carry my suitcase down, Asher. Your muscles need working out.”
I heard him heave from behind me, but didn’t turn back to look at him as I made my way out of my bedroom and then down the stairs. I could hear hushed voices coming from the kitchen, and as soon as I walked in, they stopped.
The silence stretched between everyone, and when Asher halted behind me, he asked, “What’s going on?”
“Belle,” Mom started. “Hear your dad out before you—”
“Before I what?” I frowned and turned to look at Ford, but his narrowed eyes were focused on my dad. What the hell?
“You’re coming home with us,” Dad said, his voice brooking no room for argument. He pushed his cell into his front pocket. “Let’s go.” He stepped forward, but no one moved after him. He was used to giving a command and people following it without questions, but this was his family, not his work.
“No,” I ground out. “What the hell is going on?”
“You’re coming home with us, that’s what’s going on,” Dad demanded. “Ford can bring your suitcase, but you can come in our car.”
“And if I refuse?”
Dad took two steps toward me, leaving only a few feet between us. “Then, I’ll put you in my car myself.”
I raised a brow and turned to face Mom. I pointed at Dad, my anger starting to bubble up inside me, threatening to overflow. “Is he serious?”
Her nostrils flared, and I could see plain as day that she wasn’t happy either. “Brody, why don’t you—”
“No, Lola,” he cut her off. “She’s coming home where she’s safe. At least until the verdict is back.”
I stepped to the side and willed Ford to look at me. And when he finally glanced at me, I knew he wasn’t happy with the way Dad was acting either. Mom and Dad started to whisper-argue, acting as if we all couldn’t hear what they were saying, but I continued to drift closer to Ford, feeling his intense stare down to my very soul
.
He tilted his head, a silent promise to back me up, so I spun around. “No.” I looked at Mom and then Dad, driving my point home. “I’m not going home. I’m going back to college.”
Dad moved toward me. “No, you’re not—”
“Yes, I am.” I paused and stared at him, letting him see the me who I was now and not the little girl he thought he had to protect from everything. “You can’t tell me what to do or where to go. I’m safe where I am. I’ve been safe since Ford turned up.”
“You’re not safe!” Dad roared. “Jesus Christ, Belle. I’m trying to look out for you, and you’re not letting me.”
“No. You’re trying to command me like you do with people at work, but you should know better.” I glanced around the room, catching each of their gazes in turn. Mom looked furious with Dad, Cade looked torn, Aria was shying away in the corner, and Asher looked plain mad.
“Why the fuck do you think you can do this?” Asher asked, causing everyone to look at him. “You can’t control everything, Dad. Fuck’s sake. Do you seriously think we’re all gonna stand by while you order Belle?”
“I’m protecting her!” Dad shouted, and I stepped back, a lump forming in my throat. I’d never heard him shout like that. Never in my entire life.
“She’ll be safe with Ford, Brody,” Mom whispered, placing her hand on his arm. He stared down at her, his shoulders dropping at her touch. “She’ll be safe.”
“But what if he comes for her?” Dad asked. “I won’t allow her to get hurt. I took the chance with you all those years ago. I took my eye off the ball, and look what happened.” I had no idea what he was talking about, but the atmosphere in the room became suddenly chilly.
“This isn’t that, Dad,” Cade said. “Belle isn’t Lola. She has Ford there every minute of the day. Nothing will happen.”
I had no idea what they were talking about, and even though part of me craved to know all the details, the other part of me didn’t need to know because the emotions in the room were enough to tell me it wasn’t anything good. Mom had talked to me about her past before, but I had a feeling she’d left things out that she didn’t want me to know about.
Bonded Duet: Ford & Belle: Torn Bond & Tied Bond (Easton Family Duet Boxsets Book 3) Page 17