by Imogen Wells
“I’m not ignoring you. I needed some time.” Her hand comes up, and she trails her fingers over my jaw. “I told you before that I didn’t want to be the person that caused you that pain again, but I already am, Rick. You told me it was all on you, but it wasn’t. My father is the cause of all this, and not just what happened to you and my brother. What about what happened to Cam? And how many more people have suffered because of my father?”
I go to interrupt her, but she stops me. “Please, let me finish.” And as though to reassure me, she reaches up and kisses me gently. “I’m not blaming myself for anything other than being born to a man who has destroyed lives, including mine, well, he tried, to garner power and money. Something he clearly regards more highly than the lives and wellbeing of his own children. I just needed a minute to remind myself that I’m not responsible for the decisions or actions of my father. But I am responsible for what I do with that knowledge. My—no, our actions now are what matter. I say we bring down the house of cards and let the ace fall.”
“Fuck, you’re amazing,” I say, clamping her head in my hands and bringing our lips together in a fiery kiss full of everything neither of us dare to say yet. But it’s all there. I can feel her strumming beneath my skin, in my blood, making it hum, and my heart beats in tune with hers.
Before I get completely swept up in her, my mind reminds me why I was in here in the first place.
“If we’re going to do this, then I need full disclosure from you.” She quirks a brow at me, and I know what it means. “From us both.” She nods, then leans forward to kiss me again, but I pull back. Confusion lines her forehead and dulls her eyes. “Want to tell me why Rendezvous, the escort agency, are calling you?”
“Shit!” She snatches up her phone, dialling into her voicemail and listens intently. When she’s finished, a string of curses fall from her lips as she throws her phone back to the bed next to my file.
“What’s going on?”
“My application was refused. Apparently, I’m not what they are looking for just now. They clearly don’t know a hot woman when they see one,” she mocks, and I don’t disagree.
“You are not fucking wrong.” My voice comes out gravely, tone low and sultry, and I see her breathing pick up, chest rising heavily as lust and arousal lick up my spine. Shaking the thoughts away, I pick up the file. “Come on, get dressed. There’s something we need to do.”
Seeing that I’m serious, she instantly drops the towel and saunters to the wardrobe to look for something to wear. When she pulls out a sheer cami, which I have no recollection of ordering for her, and starts to slip it over her head, I snap.
“Hell no,” I say, striding to her and ripping it from her hands.
“I can stay naked, if you prefer,” she purrs, her hand running down between the valley of her breasts.
I turn away before I lose my mind. Grabbing a pair of shorts and a vest top, I shove them at her.
“For the love of god, get dressed, Jess.” And just to make her as uncomfortable as I now am, I lean forward and whisper, “I’m going to make you beg me to stop later.” I pick up the file from the bed and leave, calling out for her to meet me in my office.
The files are just downloading as Jess comes in, and I sigh in relief that she’s not still naked. I don’t think my dick can handle seeing her beautiful body again without having a taste.
“What is this?” she asks, parking her arse on the corner of my desk.
“This is the file from Jake’s house. Scott just sent it over.”
While we wait, Jess explains how she knows about Rendezvous and Adam and Alicia Webster, but I don’t recognise the name. As the screen loads, I flag it as something to chase up later.
We scroll through the documents and notes that Jake put together and discover that his sister went missing just over a year ago. When a picture of Jake’s sister loads on the screen, it’s not only that I know who she is or even that I know she’s dead, it’s that the photo is her profile picture from Rendezvous’ website.
“What is it, do you know her?”
“Yeah, I do. We all do.”
“I don’t understand.”
I give her a brief explanation of what happened to Cam, and how when we rescued her, we found Tammy dead on the floor. It was clear that she had been abused for months and went missing around the time Cam left.
“Are you saying there’s a connection between Donovan and Rendezvous? Because that’s serious, Rick. Donovan was involved in trafficking. Roxy told me how they discovered he was using shipping containers to smuggle girls into the country. She said they couldn’t find out how he was… Fuck!”
“What?”
“My father has a ‘friend’ whose son owns a shipping yard down near—”
“Barking Power Station,” I finish for her, and watch as shock splays across her face.
“How did you know that?”
I explain about the tip off we received on it last year, but I leave out the part where Ryder slaughtered the two men who were sent to kill him.
“Do you think my father is involved?”
“I don’t know, Jess, but at this point, I wouldn’t rule it out.” I know how much that’s got to have hurt for her to hear. I send a quick message to Ryder asking him to look into it, and one to Jay asking him to dig a little deeper into Rendezvous following this new information.
I slide her along the desk until she’s in front of me and rest the top of my head against her abdomen. “I’m sorry.”
“For what? This isn’t your fault, Rick. You need to stop thinking like that. I know who my father is, or at least I thought I did. It seems I don’t know anything of who the real Archie Collins is. But that’s alright because I know who I am, and I’m nothing like him.”
“I think we should head back to London tomorrow.”
“Okay,” she agrees easily, and we sit like this for several minutes while Jess runs her hands through my hair, and I cling to her, breathing her in.
Everything is beginning to snowball, and I’m not sure what’s going to happen. What I do know is that I seem to have been given a second chance at love, a chance at redemption I never thought possible, and I’m going to cling to that. I’m going to fight tooth and nail for Jess, for me and Max, for Kuffs and Sam and for everyone else hurt or who died because of Archie Collins and those connected to him.
Snapping out of my own head, I look up at Jess and decide that I need to live. To make up for lost time and make the most of whatever time I’ve been gifted.
“Come on, let’s get out of here. I want to show you around before we have to leave.” I don’t give her a chance to answer, and instead get to my feet and cover her mouth with my own. I put everything I’m not ready to say yet into the kiss and hope she feels it.
Thirty-Six
Jess
Rick practically drags me from the house to the car and refuses to tell me where we’re going.
As we drive, he slips his hand into mine, and I look across to him and see fear and worry etched there, but I also see a lightness I’ve not seen from him before. I feel relief that he’s finally realising he’s not to blame for what happened to Christian and Samantha.
Me on the other hand, I’m feeling the heavy and oppressive hand of guilt nipping at me. I don’t let it get its teeth into me too much though. A nip here and there is easy to deal with, and I’ll never let it take hold of me the way I know it did Rick.
I try not to think too much about the possibility that my father is involved in human trafficking because if I do, I’m likely to throw up and have a complete breakdown.
We drive away from the barn, passing the main house on the way, and I marvel at the beauty of this place, especially when the world is so full of ugliness.
The sun is bright in the sky and surprisingly warm for this time of year, and a good job too as I only have a pair of jean shorts and vest top on. Rick refused to let me change, telling me there wasn’t time, and the slap to my almost bare arse
as I got into the car and the way he’s now rubbing his thumb over the bare skin of my thigh tells me he’s enjoying my lack of clothing.
We drive through a small town where Rick pulls over outside a quaint little bakery and leaves me in the car while he disappears inside.
Not more than ten minutes later he returns with a small picnic hamper, which he puts on the back seat before we’re driving again.
We drive down a little lane with an arch of trees over the top that allow rays of sunshine to score across the road. As we come out the other side of the tree tunnel, Rick turns off onto a dirt track leading into the trees to the left of us.
Rick parks a little way from the end of the track and steps out, grabbing the hamper as I climb from the car and meet him at the front. Hamper in one hand, he takes mine in the other and leads me round the corner.
Before us is the lake you can see from Rick’s barn, and there’s a small jetty where a little boat is moored.
“Wow, Rick, this place is beautiful.” He releases my hand as I walk to the edge of the water across the pebbles, which grind beneath my weight. Over to the right are several large steppingstones that lead to a raft tied to two poles, which would make a fantastic sunbathing spot in the summer months.
Rick’s front meets my back as I look out of the water, and his breath ghosts over my ear.
“Are you hungry, Jess?” he asks.
A shiver runs the length of my body and goosebumps pop over every inch of my skin, but they’re not because I’m cold. No, I’m suddenly very, very hot. Spinning to face him, I look into his vibrant green eyes. Today they shine bright and swim with excitement and mischief. There’s a devilish smirk pulling at the corner of lips.
“Are you simply talking about food, or did you have another type of hunger in mind when you asked that question? Because I can tell you now, I have an appetite that is unquenchable,” I counter and slide my hands around his waist before slowly moving to grip his arse, giving it a squeeze. He lets out a growl, which hits right at the very core of me, and he closes his eyes as he works to restrain himself. I love that I can do this do him. Unsettle him and tug at his boundaries.
“Two can play your game, Mr Sullivan. Don’t start things you can’t finish.” I let my hands fall away and step back. Taking him in, I can see the results of our little flirtation clearly outlined beneath his jeans, and I allow my hands to run over him as I stroll away.
I hear him behind me just as I take the second steppingstone, and my adrenaline spikes when I look back and see the thrill of the chase flash across his face. We both know he’ll catch me because I’m running towards a dead end unless I fancy a dip in the lake.
I hear tip tap as he jumps from one stone to next, and just as I reach the raft, I chance a look behind me and come face to face with him. I let out a squeal as he picks me up, twirling me round and round and rocking the raft from side to side with the movement.
“Stop, stop, we’re gonna fall in,” I bark out around a laugh. He does, but we continue to sway until the water stills and the raft steadies again. Rick lowers me back to my feet, and I swipe out a hand, slapping him on the arm. “You fool. We could have both ended up in the lake.”
“Hmmm, you dripping in water from head to toe,” he whispers as he nuzzles into my neck, peppering light kisses over my skin. “That’s a sight that I could get behind. Literally.”
I let out a laugh as his stubble grazes across my cheek. “This is a version of you I’ve not seen before. Where have you been hiding him?”
“He was lost,” he says, pulling back to look at me.
I see the seriousness of his words and the unspoken meaning behind them. Instead of voicing a reply, I simply lean up and show him. It seems to be our thing, along with the whole answering a question with a question.
Silence follows as we settle on the raft, and Rick unloads the hamper. The food is delicious, yet simple. After we’ve filled our belly’s, Rick lies back, and I pack the rubbish away. Once I’m done, I lay with my head resting on Rick’s stomach as he talks to me about his childhood and all the things he has planned to do with Max.
“He told me he wants to join the army when he’s old enough, but I don’t want that for him. Six years ago, I would have been proud of my son wanting to fight for his country, but now I don’t want him damaged by the sights of war or tarnished by the corruption of our own army and government. I know I can’t protect him from the reality of this world forever, but I’d like to protect him as long as possible.”
“I don’t blame you. Just don’t substitute reality for fantasy, Rick. Sometimes we forget that the evils of this world feed off our innocence and lack of knowledge. There is no harm in being prepared. I know there’s nothing worse than being sideswiped by a healthy dose of reality that shatters everything you believe.”
We’re quiet for a few minutes before Rick asks, “How close are your father and Seb’s father?”
I twist my head to look at him. “They attended the same university. It’s where they met, but don’t be fooled by the fact they appear to fight on the same side. There’s a fierce rivalry between them. I don’t know the full story though. My father isn’t one for regaling you with stories of his youth, not unless it can gain him something in return. Maybe Seb knows,” I finish with a shrug.
“So how did he get the name The Archer?”
“I don’t know. I just remember overhearing him on the phone once and him telling them it was The Archer calling. I didn’t understand what it meant, and Christian caught me eavesdropping at his office door and dragged me away before I could hear any more. He was so mad. It was just before he joined the army and I went off to college. Do you think he knew something?”
“It’s possible, yes.”
“I think I might go and visit my mother when we get back to London. I doubt she knows anything, but I’ll be able to do some digging now we have something to go on.”
“Just be careful, Jess.”
I roll over onto my stomach, resting on my elbows with my chin on his chest. “Really? No lecture about going alone or putting myself in danger. Who are you and what have you done with the real Rick Sullivan,” I say, pointing an accusing finger at him.
“Would it stop you?” I shake my head. “I didn’t think so.” I turn my face to the side, laying my head back down just as a spray of cold water splashes across my back and legs.
“Argh, what the f—”, I yelp jumping to my feet to see Rick’s hand trailing in the water and him laughing. “Oh, you’re going to pay for that, just you wait, mister.” My body shakes from the chill of the water and is made worse by the fact the sun has disappeared behind a cloud, no longer warming my bare skin.
Rick climbs to his feet, daring me to give it my best shot before he starts laughing again.
Game on.
I go in front as we make our way back across the steppingstones. When we are only a couple away, I turn to look off to the right while pointing, and as Rick’s attention turns too, I give him a shove in the back and run, making it over the last two steppingstones as I hear a splash and an awful lot of cursing.
I race towards the car, but laughter hinders my speed, and it takes less than a minute for Rick to round the corner. I’m almost to the car when he snatches me around the waist, soaking my back and spinning us round. Our laughter rings out through the trees, and as it eases, he lowers me back to the ground, but not for long. Spinning me, he picks me up, and my legs wrap around his waist as rain begins to fall. Not giving a damn about the rain, our lips crash together as a streak of lightning flashes across the now dark sky. Closely followed by a clap of thunder as we slam into the bonnet of the car.
Desperate to feel him, I tear at the front of his shirt, ripping it open as buttons ping off the front of the car echoed by the drops of rain as they hit it.
My hands roam over his abdomen, over his chest and up to his shoulders until my fingers skim the back of his neck, curling into his flesh as our tongues battle and his hips grin
d into me.
Breaking the kiss, he yanks at the straps of my top, pulling it down low enough to give him access to my nipple, sucking it into his hot mouth while his hands leave my body and work to undo my shorts.
Letting my nipple go with a pop, I help him to drag my shorts, which are soaked through, from my body, and as soon as they are gone, Rick slips a finger beneath the edge of my knickers, finding me wet and needy.
His lithe fingers glide along my slit, and he teases my entrance as I buck against his hand, trying to get him where I need him before coming back to circle my clit. It’s like the best and worst kind of torture.
Rain trickles down his chest, dripping from his hair, his dark eyelashes even darker, and his eyes burn a brilliant green as he finally drives a finger inside me. My walls clench around him, squeezing and looking for more as he draws it back out slowly, then drives back in again, thumb brushing my clit, which throbs painfully for release.
As he continues to work me with his fingers the storm around us continues, lightning flashes and thunder claps as the rain pours over us.
Withdrawing his fingers, my nails claw at his back as I watch him free himself, and my mouth waters at the sight of him hard and throbbing. Bracing myself on my elbows, I look into his eyes as he rubs the head over my clit several times, making me gasp and my back arch.
With my legs wrapped around him, heels digging into his arse, and one hand on my lower back, the other guides his cock into my pussy. Another clap of thunder echoes through the trees as he slams home, and my cry is swallowed by the storm.
Rick begins to move, driving into me with a force so brutal, yet beautiful, it matches Mother nature. Unable to hold myself up, I drop to the bonnet as Rick grips my waist, holding me steady against his powerful thrusts.
Every thrust is a dagger to my heart, embedding him in my very soul.
As my orgasm builds, higher and higher, Rick’s hand closes around my throat. That spark of fear, of danger, releases a shot of adrenaline mixed with oxytocin and dopamine that has me thrown over the edge into oblivion.