You’re killing me, love; I don’t want to let you off my lap much less have to wait until tonight for that loving, touching and squeezing as you put it. I will wait, though, as long as you agree to stay with me today and I can have you all to myself tonight. I want to make you mine all over again.
“I guess I can agree to that. Right now, though, I need to go home so I can shower and change clothes. So why don’t you pack a bag and you can stay at my house tonight, we will have less interruptions there? We can shower and ……”
I chuckle and tell her; I quit listening after we can take a shower. However, I will happily pack a bag and go shower with you. That earns me a giggle. I pull her to me again and kiss her. The kiss is soft at first, but it quickly goes to a we should be naked right now kind of kiss. When we do break apart, our foreheads meet again, and we both let out a sigh. She eases off of my lap.
“You pack that bag, and I’ll go check on Clara. I know you don’t want to leave her either so she can come to the house if you want.”
No, Brad is staying to take her and Nicole to the hospital to see dad. From there I’m sure good ole Dr. Hunter Brantley will want to be with her.
I watch Lana walk up the stairs to go see Clara. I am so grateful that she and Clara are alright. I hate knowing this whole situation will likely have lasting effects. I don’t want Clara or Lana ever to be afraid. Unfortunately, it’s not all over yet either; we still have to catch Andrew and make sure there are no more surprises left for us.
It only takes me a few minutes to put together what I need. When I walk out to the living room, Clara is hanging up the phone.
“That was Hunter, dad had a good night, and they are going to move him to a regular room around lunch time today. Brad is going to take me and Nicole up to see him. Then we are going home with the guys. Hunter is upset; he feels like it is his fault that I was taken.”
I think she thought I was going to argue with her about going home with Hunter. I know he feels guilty, at it really is not his fault. I also know that if his feelings for Clara are anything close to how I feel for Lana, then I know he needs her close to know she is really ok and safe. I know if I find myself looking for them both if they are out of my line of sight.
Now that I know both of them are safe I am ready to go see my dad. I hate that I had to leave him last night, but I also know he would have handed my ass to me if I wouldn’t have left when I did.
I tell Brad that we will call when we are on our way up to the hospital and remind him to let me know when they get there. As the girls are hugging and saying bye, Brad and I double check our weapons. It’s better to be prepared, especially since that slimy fucker Andrew is still out there.
The ride to Lana’s house is quiet. The radio is playing in the background, but I couldn’t even begin to tell you what is playing. I wish I knew what was going through her mind right now. I don’t like the silence; I would rather her scream and yell. I don’t want her to hold her emotions in. I know she feels like she needs to take care of everyone else, but she also needs to process everything that has happened.
When we pull into her driveway, I ask her to stay in the truck until I can have a look around just to make sure it is safe. I can tell she doesn’t want to, but she agrees. Once I feel like the outside is secure, I head back to the front to tell Lana everything looks ok. Only she is not in the truck where she is supposed to be; she is standing on the front porch.
Lana, I thought you were going to stay in the truck and wait for me to make sure it is safe. She hands me my keys.
“Sorry, I was tired of just sitting there. I saw you round the back of the house headed back this way, so I decided to wait for you here. Once I saw you I figured everything looked alright.”
Mon doux vous allez être la mort de moi!!!
“English, love, I speak English, not French!”
You will be the death of me!! You were taken just last night; I just got you back. Can you please play along just for a little bit so I can have some peace of mind that you are safe? Please, for me?
This makes her chuckle just a little. I wrap one arm around her waist, pull her to me, and bring my other hand up to her cheek. I’m serious my sweet girl. I almost lost you, right now I need to know you are safe. I need you to know and understand how precious you are to me. Even after the short time we have been together, you were already under my skin. Now that I know you really are my Ali, you truly are a treasure to me. All those years ago I called you my treasure; you are still that treasure to me.
She blushes slightly and looks down. I tilt her head back slightly, so she will look at me again. I kiss her softly. Do you understand what I’m saying?
Before she can say anything, a loud crash comes from inside the house. I let go of Lana and pull my gun from the holster at my back. Lana, I need you to please go get back in my truck and lock the doors. Here are the keys, baby, please stay in the truck until I come for you. If I am not out in 20 minutes then you leave, do you hear me, don’t argue, in 20 minutes you leave and you call Brad. Go baby, now.
She doesn’t want to but she listens, and she runs to the truck. She climbs in the driver seat and locks the door.
I twist the doorknob and ease the door open. I can see a shadow moving in the kitchen and can hear drawers being opened and closed. Whoever is in there is mumbling, but I cannot make out what they are saying. Just before I turn the corner to face them head on the floor creaks giving me away. As I am entering the room, the man turns and fires his gun in my general direction. The bullet misses me but does hit the wall close to my head. The man throws the gun down and runs out the back door. I chase after him, and we round the house headed toward the driveway. For a short, round little fucker he is fast.
I hope he doesn’t see Lana in the truck and try something really stupid. Just as that thought crosses my mind, I am stopped short. When he tried to run past the truck, Lana flung the door open, literally knocking the bastard out.
She hops out of the truck and runs up to me, wrapping me in a hug. “I heard the gun go off; I was worried about you.”
I’m ok, love.
The man on the ground groans and we both turn to look at him.
“That’s the guy that was with Josh the first day I saw him here. He is in the pictures Neil and Leo showed us.”
I don’t recognize him other than from the pictures. Before I can say or do any Lana moves over to the guy and stands over him. She slaps him and yells at him to wake up.
When he notices who is standing over him, he tries to get up, but Lana puts her foot on his chest and tells him to be still.
“What the fuck were you doing in my house, and how did you get in?”
When doesn’t answer she applies a little more pressure to his chest and moves her foot up to his throat.
Sweetheart, if your foot is crushing his windpipe, he can’t answer you. She smiles up at me and pushes a little harder then steps away from him. As soon as she is off of him, I roll him over and cuff him. I call Leo and tell him I have a package for him to pick up at Lana’s house.
I pull the man to his feet and walk him to the porch. Lana asks him again who he is and how he got into the house. It takes a little convincing by both of us, but he finally starts to talk. His name is Jonathan, and he got into the house with a key. It seems his grandmother is Lana’s landlord. But, apparently, she doesn’t know that he is even in town, much less that he has her keys.
It only takes about 10 minutes or so for Leo to get to the house. I swear he come in on two wheels. When he is out of the SUV, he runs straight to Lana and wraps her in a hug asking if she is ok.
I have to catch myself from getting in between them. I have to remember they have been friends for several years. I still don’t like to see his hands on her. Leo must feel my tension level rise because he lets her go and takes a step back. He chuckles and says “Sorry, bossman, I couldn’t help myself, but don’t worry I know she is yours.”
I pull her to me placing her b
ack to my front. I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her tight to me. Damn straight, she is mine, and I don’t share. I know you are friends, though, so I will cut you some slack. Now, take Jonathan here back with you and get as much information out of him as you can.
Chapter 31
Lana
Leo tosses Jonathan into the backseat of his SUV so he can take him to the rest of the team. He comes back to me and wraps me in another hug. “You sure you are ok?” Yea, Leo I’m ok, just promise me you will be careful with these clowns.
When he drives off, Ash takes me by the hand and leads me back up onto the porch. We walk into the house together. I head straight to my bedroom. When I get there, I freeze. My bed is a mess from where I fought Josh until he used the chloroform to knock me out. I can’t even walk all the way into the room.
Ash steps around me and stands in front of me. He tilts my chin up so that I am looking up at him.
“Baby girl, you do not have to be here. I will book us into a hotel for a few nights. We will stop and get you everything you need on the way there.”
I nod my head in agreement and take a step back. I didn’t anticipate having trouble going back into my place. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, though; this is twice in a matter of days that someone has been in my house uninvited and definitely unwanted.
Ash leads me back out to the truck and sets me into the passenger side and pulls out of the driveway. When we get on the road his phone rings. Brad tells him that they are on their way to the hospital to see his dad now. Ash recounts what happened at the house and tells him that we are on the way to a hotel to check in.
Before I realize it, we are pulling up to a hotel. I look up and see that we are at the Four Seasons.
Ash, why are we at the Four Seasons, we can go somewhere cheaper. We just need a bed to sleep in.
“No my love, we need somewhere that we feel safe and where I can pamper you.”
Ash, I don’t need to be pampered. What I need is for all for all of this shit to be over. Chase and Morgan are supposed to be her for New Years, and I’m not sure I will feel safe in my own house now. So in the next few days, I need to find a new place to live. It’s going to suck because I will be breaking the lease, so I lose my deposit. All of this needs to be done and over, with me settled into my new place before my classes start.
“Lana, I know I am asking a lot, but just for a little while, I want you to let it all go. I know it is hard to do, but please try. I will help you with everything you need to accomplish.”
Ash, I can’t ask you to do that. You have enough on your plate as it is. You should be focused on your family and finding Andrew right now, not on pampering me.
Before you say anything, I will agree to stay here one night because we both need a good night’s sleep, so yes we can stay here tonight. So let’s go check in so we can shower and go to the hospital to see your dad.
“I’ll take it for now. Come on, let’s go get a room.”
As we are walking through the opulent lobby, Ash pulls me close to him. In fact, if I were any closer to him he would be carrying me.
I know I look so out of place here. I’m still in one of Ash’s long sleeve Vanderbilt shirts, and I’m sure there is still some swelling to my face.
Just before we get to the desk to check in Ash’s phone rings. He looks at it and hands it to me. “It’s Chase and Morgan, you fill them in, and I will get us checked into the room.” I take the phone from him and answer, trying to put a smile into my voice. I’m not sure what they know yet. There is a sofa off to the side, so I walk over to it as we get through greetings.
I walk Morgan through part of what is going on, just enough to let her know we have had some trouble, but that it is handled now. I do let her know that I will be moving and will give her the new address as soon as I have it. I also confirm that I still want them to come out here to celebrate New Year’s. When she tries to argue that it will be too stressful for me, I come back by telling her that I need her to come because I have so much to fill her in on who Ash really is and what is going on between us. I know she can’t resist good girl gossip. The house phone rings in the background, so we end our call with promises to see each other soon.
We make it up to the room, and it is beautiful. I turn to Ash, and he just gives me a sheepish smile. He knows this is too much, especially for just one night. However, it will be very nice to have a nice bed and oh a bathroom to soak in tonight after we finish all of our errands.
Ash walks up behind me, wraps his hands around my waist and pulls me into him.
“As much as I do not want you out of my sight, and as badly as I want to be in the shower with you, I need to call and check in with the team. I just want to make sure they are good to go; then I will take a quick shower so we can get to the hospital. So you go take a nice hot shower, and I will see you in a few.” He kisses me lightly on the neck and squeezes me tightly once more before I step away.
I was looking forward to some shower time together, but I guess some alone time; even just a few minutes will do me some good.
The bathroom is even more beautiful than the room if that’s possible. There is a packaged toothbrush and toothpaste on the counter. I reach in and turn the shower on to heat up while I brush my teeth. Damn my whole face hurts when I am brushing my teeth. The soreness is starting to set in.
I finally step into the shower. When the water hits my skin, I can feel all of the tension I have been carrying. The water stings when it hits my cuts, but it is still soothing. I can feel it; it means I’m alive.
When I close my eyes, I am assaulted with memories of being tied up in that damn basement. I make my way over to the seat in the corner. I sit back against the wall and pull my knees up to my chest. As I wrap my arms around my legs, I lay my head down onto the top of my knees. I just let it all wash over me. Who am I kidding, I couldn’t stop it if I wanted too, so I let the memories and tears flow. Thoughts of Josh in my bedroom. Waking up to Clara’s screams, OMG sweet Clara. I wouldn’t have been able to handle it if anything more would have happened to her. It’s bad enough knowing what she already had to overcome. As all of these thoughts assault my mind, I can feel myself physically shaking even with the hot water and steam in the shower.
I jump when I feel a hand on my shoulder.
“It’s ok love; it’s just me, it’s just me. You are safe; no one is going to hurt you anymore.”
Before I can say anything Ash lifts me up and sits down with me in his lap. I’m sitting sideways with my head tucked into his shoulder. I try to stop crying, but the tears just won’t stop. Ash is continually murmuring that I am safe now. “Ash, what if they would have hurt Clara more than they did?”
“After everything, you have just been through, and you are worried about my sister? You are definitely something special my love. Don’t worry about Clara, thanks to you she is safe. Both of you are safe now, and that is what matters love.”
I try to sit up, but Ash pulls me back into him.
“Give me another minute, please. I have wanted to hold you close since I found you in that basement, and the fact that we are naked makes it even better.”
This makes me chuckle.
“Yes, being naked definitely makes it better.”
I lift my head enough to place a light kiss on his neck, and I felt his whole body shudder beneath me.
“Hey now love, let’s not do that, or my ability to be a gentleman will go straight out the door. I need to be a gentleman now because when our running around today is done and we are alone you are all mine. Just the two of us together. But for now, why don’t you finish washing and step out so you can get dressed.
Oh hell, Ash, we didn’t stop and get me any clothes.
“It’s all taken care of love, new stand up and turn around and I will wash your hair.”
Chapter 32
Ash
I can’t help the cascade of thoughts and images of things that I would love to do in this shower with La
na, but I know now is not the time. I turn her around and move her under the streams of water to get her hair ready to wash. She tilts her head back slightly, and water spills over her shoulders and down her body. I watch as her nipples pebble, and she lets out a small sigh as she closes her eyes. She is so fucking beautiful. I hate seeing the cuts on her chest, but I am glad she is not thinking about them or being self-conscious about them. They do not take away from her in any way. She is still the most beautiful person I know.
If being this close to her, naked and wet, without touching her doesn’t kill me; I don’t think anything will. I reach up and grab the shampoo. When she hears the lid pop open she opens her eyes and looks up at me.
“Sug, you don’t have to wash my hair, I am ok, I can do it.”
Love, I know you can, but let me, I want too. Remember the idea is to paper you, now turn around. She stands on her toes and brushes a quick kiss across my lips and turns around. I run my hands through her hair to make sure the shampoo lather covers all of her hair; then I start to gently massage her scalp. She hasn’t complained of a headache but after being hit like she was will definitely result in one. Lana moans softly and leans back into my chest.
Don’t relax too much just yet we still have to rinse and use the conditioner. She leans back up off of me and turns back around to rinse. I run my fingers through the long strands to make sure all the shampoo is gone.
I nearly jump when she reaches down and wraps one of her hands around my now steel hard cock. She gives me a smirk, “well, well, what do we have here?”
Now, I am trying so hard to be good, you touching me like that is not helping my ability to do that.
His To Protect (Four Seasons Security Book 1) Page 14