by B. C. Falls
“I’m not in danger and neither is Kady.”
“How the hell do you know that?”
“Because we’re the only thing keeping Blake alive.” He looks at me confused.
“This is such bullshit, Royce. You said no more secrets.” I feel the tears start to form.
“Look Dane, I’m really sorry I want to tell you everything. I want to tell you about all of what is going on but I can’t. I can’t tell you anything because if I tell you I’ll have to leave and if I leave you…” I shake my head as I close my eyes.
“You’re a cop,” he says.
“Stop digging,” I please. He drops down to his knees in front of me and puts his hands on either side of my face.
“Please Dane,” I beg him to let it go.
“You can tell me. You can tell me why you are here and I’ll never tell anyone. You know me, Royce. You know I won’t say a thing.”
I push his hands away and get up from the couch. In the kitchen, I grab the only gun I keep in here from under the kitchen sink. I place it on the counter top. “You are a cop,” he says. He sits down on the dining room table that wasn’t there earlier today.
“Where did that come from?” I ask.
“I had it delivered.”
“Babe,” I walk over to him and wrap my arms around his neck, “I can’t tell you,” I whisper in his ear.
“Am I part of this game?”
“No. Never. I have to live a real life. That’s part of this job. This is my real life. You are a part of my real life,” I kiss his neck where his pulse is picking up speed. “Please Dane.” When he wraps his arms around my waist and hugs me to him tightly I know we’re okay.
“Trent shot the guy.” I tense at his words. “He dropped his bag and took off running, but he shot him in the right shoulder. When we searched his bag he had pictures.”
“What kind of pictures?” I ask.
“Of Kady and you.” I lean back looking him in the eye. “We printed them, but nothing came up. If you know who did this Royce, I need to know.” I don’t respond and he pulls me back against his chest. “I’m going to protect you,” he growls possessively in my ear. “I’m going to keep you safe.”
“I know you will,” I pull back and cup his cheek in my hand staring at him with as much appreciation as I can muster up. In reality, I’m freaking the fuck out. This guy, whoever he is, knows Kady and I are involved in some way with Blake. I’ll never be able to survive if Kady is taken away from me. Never.
“You’ll get a dog.”
“A dog?” I laugh. “Why do I need a dog?”
“Because dogs are good protectors and you need one around when I’m not there. You can take him to school because he will be able to alert you when your blood pressure get’s too high.”
“Thought of everything have you?” I ask.
“Yes,” he pulls away and goes over to the counter and places the gun back under the sink before coming back to me. “I’m leaving.”
“What?” I ask wrapping my arm around his neck. “Why are you leaving?”
“Trent’s in the hospital.”
“Is he okay?” I ask this time with a little bit more concern in my voice.
He smirks. “Yes. He’ll be okay. They got him in the leg but he’s good. I’ll be back later. Kayden is on his way over should be here in a couple minutes.”
“I don’t need a babysitter.”
He runs his hand across his cheek showing signs of frustration. “Royce, I’m not playing this again.”
“I’m not playing any games. I’ve got protection.” I nod towards the kitchen. “We’ll be fine.”
He spanks me. Fucking spanks me. “If you won’t tell me what’s going on then I get to protect you any way I see fit until I know you are safe. Understand?” then he spanks me again. “Understood?” I can’t help but gasp and smile a little at the spanking. It makes me horny as hell.
“Yes,” I mumble.
“Good. Come on,” he pulls me up the stairs and into my room.
“Where are we going?” I ask but he doesn’t answer.
He stops us inside my door and shuts it quietly before locking it. “Strip.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m rock fucking hard right now from you giving me lip and then you had to go and fucking enjoy that spanking. Strip,” he starts undoing his belt. I start taking my clothes off but it’s taking me forever because I can’t stop watching him and my hands are shaking so hard. “I’ll rip them off.”
“Dane,” I moan so he stalks towards me. He wraps my shirt into his hands and rips it in two. “Holy shit!”
“I told you,” he starts working on my jeans. He tugs them off of me quickly then pulls my panties down next. He picks me up quickly and drops us both down on the bed. “I never got to play with your tits.”
“Later.” I pull his head down so I can kiss him. I shove my tongue between his lips just as he enters me and I can’t help but bite down on his lip to keep from moaning too loudly.
I feel so full and ridiculously energized even after the day we’ve had. I move my hips in time with his. He thrusts slowly in and out of me, driving me crazy with need. I want more, but I don’t fight what he’s giving me. I know better now. When I need air, I move my lips to his neck and pray I don’t scream out. “You are mine, Royce. I protect what’s mine and all that you love.” I smile against his neck. He reaches down and like last night he lifts my ass up so he can go deeper into me.
“Oh god,” I moan. I bite down on his shoulder to stop myself. That triggers off the last of his control.
“Ah fuck, Royce,” he bites down on my shoulder as he thrusts harder.
Last night had to be a warm up to this. Dane is literally fucking me into the mattress. I try my hardest to keep up, but it’s so hard and so good that my toes are curling, my body feels weightless. I’m completely on edge.
“Don’t,” I barely get it out. He sucks on one of my nipples and when he bites down I barely get a sound out before his hand is over my mouth.
I dig my nails into his back trying to hold on to the here and now, but it’s impossible. Yesterday I had four amazing orgasms that didn’t hit me as hard as this single one is. Maybe it’s different right now because he knows more about why I’m here. Or maybe it’s that we are having make up sex for the first time but this… This is so strong. My whole body goes numb as I arch my back off the bed.
“Fuck!” his thrusts slow down. “Jesus,” he groans in my ear then he stops moving all at once. I can feel his dick still twitching inside me as he tries to slow down his breathing. “That was…”
I can’t even talk.
“Royce?” he pushes up on his elbows so he can look at me. “Baby?” he brushes back some of my hair that’s been matted to my face from the sweat building up. “Did I hurt you?”
“N-no,” I barely get out through my panting.
“Did I fuck you speechless?” he asks but I just groan when he pulls out of me. He sits up and stares down at my pussy. “Look baby,” he rubs his cock over my clit making my whole body shudder. “I’m pouring out of you,” he swipes his finger into me then rubs it into my thighs obviously trying to mark me as much as he wants to.
“You are such a cave man,” I put my foot on his chest and push him back. “Tired.”
I roll over until I’m curled around the pillow he used last night. I feel him get off the bed then listen as he get’s dressed again.
“I’ll be back,” he says. I feel his beard rub against my bare back as he leaves small kisses all the way up to my ear. “If you aren’t already awake when I get back I’m going to wake you up slowly because I need you. I need you so much, Royce.” I smile at the last kiss he places on my forehead. “In a little bit.”
“Bye baby,” he kisses me one last time, making me want for nothing more than his arms to be around me.
“Sleep,” he says before smacking my ass and leaving.
When I hear the door close I get up and throw some clothes on
quickly. I get down the stairs and immediately go into the office I had put in near the back of the house. I start up my computer and wait for the call I know is coming.
Blake’s face pops up along with the ringing coming from it. I press the green button and wait a couple seconds until she comes on.
Before all of this Blake used to have long brown hair and could be spotted out of a crowd easily. Now her hair is a mix of brown and red, her skin tone is way more white than it naturally is from not being in the sun all the time, and she looks tired. Her green eyes are blood shot from crying. She looks thinner from the last time I saw her. Honestly, her whole body has changed so much over the last four years.
“Hi,” I say.
“Is he okay?” she asks.
“How you find out about everything is still so hard for me to understand.”
“I have my ways. Now, how is he?”
“You’ve been crying,” I say.
“The love of my life was shot because of me. How the hell did you think I’d be handling it?”
I scowl at her. “He’s fine. Dane just left to check on him.”
“You just had sex,” I look away from her. “You bitch! Ugh, I miss sex.”
“He thinks I’m a cop.”
“You aren’t a cop.”
“Whatever. He knows,” Blake leans back in her chair and smiles. “What are you smiling about?”
“This is totally working out in my favor.”
“How do you see that?” I ask. “I come back to the one town everyone knows you have ties in and apparently the fuckers know that you are tied to me now, then the love of your life get’s shot. So please inform me how this is all working out?”
“Because this is actually going to get those bastards out faster. I’ll be able to come home.”
I laugh with her. She’s got one crazy mind. “Blake,” I look at her with concern.
“Don’t turn on me. We have been through way too much for you to turn on me now. Enjoy this moment. Be my person and enjoy this with me. You are falling in love and I’m one step closer to Trent.”
“Fine,” I smile, “I can’t wait for you to come back here.”
“You can’t wait to get out.” I nod. “Thank you for this, Royce.”
“I’m not doing this just for you.”
“I know, but still.”
“Love you, Blake.”
“Love you, Royce.” I press end on the call.
Before I head back up to bed for the night, I make one last call. It only rings twice before he answers. “You said no one would get hurt,” I tell him.
I hear his heavy sigh, “I know baby.”
“Fuck you, don’t call me that anymore. You haven’t had that right in over a year,” I snap. “You kept pictures of Kady and I?”
“I had taken some of you guys at her first race and then again at the mall. I just wanted to have something of my girls.”
“We aren’t your girls anymore, Jeff.” He sighs again. “You left us. You broke us. You think Kady can handle this shitty life? People abandoning her over and over again? You think I need this?”
I can’t help but yell at him. Everything he’s put us through over the last year is enough to break normal people down. “No, it’s why we broke up.”
“You lied to me and broke me. That’s why we broke up.”
“I miss you girls.” I lean back trying to gain some kind of composure. “I know I fucked up. I know I have a lot to make up for, but we were going to get married, Royce. How do you think it feels having to see that asshole kiss you?”
“I literally can not believe you just said that.” He tries to talk again but I keep going. “No. You lost me. You lost both of us forever. There is literally nothing more here for you. I’m here for Blake now. Just her. Not you. So, please stop fucking trying to get back into my life. Do something else with your life! Leave us the hell alone and stop fucking with mine!” I hang up before he can say anything else.
If I learned one thing from having known Jeff, it’s that life has a funny way of screwing you over and making you stronger all at the same time. Some how Dane made it possible for me to trust again and I’ll be damned if I let my ex destroy that.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Royce
My heart is pounding when I hear the door open a couple weeks later. Dane never called or came back that night and I fell asleep kind of quickly after my phone calls. The last two weeks have kind of been a blur. Dane has been around sometimes, but he’s mostly been with Trent making sure he’s good until his leg heals all the way. He’s seen his family a couple times too and I’ve spent some time getting to know my brothers better. Luke and Kayden have backed off a lot on seeing Dane and I together. Kady’s last couple of swim meets have been amazing, first place all three times.
I’ve done nothing but try and keep my mind off the things I have to do over the next month. I have a deadline and I’ve been putting off the inevitable. Helping Blake is something I have to do and will do, but all this waiting around and not making things happen faster is putting pressure on my real life.
I know Kady is probably still asleep and as the floor boards creek, there is little hitch in my breath from fear that it might not be Dane. Then I hear nails clicking on the floor and instantly sit up.
Dane opens the door revealing a very happy chocolate lab. “Go boy,” he says and the dog jumps up on my bed going straight for me. He starts licking my face and I can’t help but laugh. “His name is Boxer.”
“Boxer?” I ask, scratching his ears. Dane nods. “So you got me a dog?”
“He’s a good one. I know a buddy who trains them up in Atlanta. Boxer here is the best of the best.” Dane sits down on the bed next to us. “He’s trained to sense when you need to take your pills and when you have a high rating. He’s also got some training in defending and attacking. He’s perfect for you.”
“Attacking?” I ask. “What would he need to attack?” I ask Boxer in a baby voice. “So good,” I tell him and he licks my face again.
“Boxer down,” and Boxer instantly stops moving and lays down on my lap.
“Pretty cool,” I tell Dane.
“He’s going to protect you,” Dane tells me. “I’m going to protect you.”
“I get it Dane. Totally understand where you are coming from, but like I’ve told you before I can take care of myself.”
“You obviously got yourself into some trouble with Blake so I’m going to keep my eye on you. Boxer is one of my eyes. Deal with it,” he says before giving me a kiss. “Morning beautiful,” I reach up to hold his face to mine.
“Morning.”
“How are you feeling?” he looks at me with a smirk. “Sore?”
“Just a bit.” The tenderness in between my legs is faint but there. I definitely have been pleased more than I have ever been before, and fuck if I don’t want to feel this way for the rest of my life. “Thank you,” my eyes soften as I look at him. “You’ve done nothing but show me how much you care and that means a lot to me Dane.”
“I’m always gonna be here, Royce. Always.” This makes me smile. This man is amazing to me. “Breakfast?”
“Sure. Let me just get myself together and I’ll cook you something.”
“I’ll cook,” he smiles wide, “You get ready baby.” I smile at his endearment. He’s used it since the beginning but it never ceases to make butterflies rush through my stomach. As he jumps off the bed he asks, “Kady like bacon?”
“Sure does.” I smile at him as he heads out leaving Boxer and I alone. “How you doing, Boxer?” I ask rubbing his head. He whines at me. “Does that mean it’s time for pills?” He barks in reply. “Good boy!” I kiss his head before getting up and going to the bathroom. Boxer follows me and I scowl at him as he watches me take my pills. “So that’s how it’s going to be huh?” He barks after I swallow them.
Dane
Kady is sitting behind me at the kitchen island laughing at the smoke that has gathered around me.
“It’s the dumb stove. I have no idea why I told them to put in a gas stove.” I quickly turn down the heat and try my hardest to get the fan above me to collect the smoke.
“I think it was something about the fire being dangerous in a house this old,” Kady says and I turn around scowling at her. “What?” she laughs.
“You heard that.”
“I was standing right there.” Feisty is definitely something she gets from Royce. “Is it ready yet? I’m starving.”
“Go eat a fish.”
“Fish are friends not food,” I chuckle. “No seriously, is it ready yet?” I look over my shoulder at her giving her a look of complete and utter frustration. Okay, well I wasn’t completely frustrated just pissed that I had burnt some of the bacon. “What?”
“I’m trying!” I defend myself to a sixteen-year-old.
“Royce said you could cook!” she throws her hands in the air.
“Seriously? I can cook! It’s this stove.”
“There is nothing wrong with the stove,” she get’s up from her seat and comes over to stand next to me. “Here,” she turns it back on but only to the six. “You have to turn the heat down or the pan is just going to get way too hot way too fast and the bacon won’t have time to cook evenly.” She picks out the bad pieces in the pan and drops them on the plate I already have set up.
“So Royce can’t cook, but you can?”
“Royce can cook. She just hates it so she tells everyone that she can’t.”
“That sneaky little…” I hear footsteps so I cut my sentence short.
“Sneaky what?” Kady asks but doesn’t wait for my answer ‘cause Boxer comes running into the room with Royce walking slowly behind him. “Oh my gosh, he’s so cute!” Kady practically yells.
I walk over to Boxer and Kady, I snap my fingers getting his attention. “Boxer, this is Kady,” I say it in the voice that my buddy taught me. Apparently getting all alpha on his ass makes him learn who’s in charge. “Protect,” I instruct him and he barks than licks Kady’s face letting me know he understands. “Good boy,” I rub his head before going over to Royce who is freshly showered and completely mine. “Hey baby.”