The Escape

by Alice Ward

  I leaned into her, my heart beating through my skin onto her naked chest. I cupped her breast in my hand, squeezed and dipped down, taking her nipple into my mouth and sucking hard. “I need harder,” I whispered, praying she would want it too.

  Her nails raked my back as she met my next thrusts with her own. “Please.”

  That was all I needed. I laid more of my body weight on her as I pistoned deep into her. My mind was a blur of smoke and fire, her heat beckoning me to enter her farther. Her hands gripped my shoulders as she raised up off the bed, and we came together in a frenzy. She wailed as her pussy clenched around me to an almost painful degree, then releasing and contracting in waves. It was all I could take, just a few more pumps, and I came hard, shouting my release into her neck.

  As we laid there, our bodies still connected, sweaty and out of breath, the emotions I had for her made my eyes prick with burning heat. I realized I craved this connection with her and didn’t know how I’d done without it even this long.

  It scared me, and not many things did. I wanted to keep her here. Force her to stay with me, never leave my side.

  But she’d been a prisoner to so many things in her life, how could I ask her to stay here with me so far away from everything else? To continue to hide?

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Adara

  After making love, he laid next to me as we intertwined our fingers and caressed each other gently, our bodies coming down from the glorious high we’d reached. I’d never been to the place he’d taken me.

  He was an incredible lover, and every inch of my body felt adored and ravaged. And beautiful. Even after we climaxed, he stayed in me and gently rocked in and out, massaging my tender insides as shock waves pulled us back down into bliss.

  It was the most incredible sensation. I never wanted him to leave me, so when he did pull out, I felt his loss. Instead of getting up and wanting to leave, as I assumed he would, he stayed with me and wrapped me in his arms. He only got out of bed to toss the condom in the trash, then came right back to me. Even hot and sticky, we didn’t want to leave one another.

  I was in a beautiful daze, so far from Jewel and all the worries that I needed to give my attention to. At that moment, I didn’t care about them — I was in heaven. When the sweat on our bodies cooled, and we began to shiver in the cool room, he drew a sheet up over us and kissed my forehead.

  “That was incredible, thank you.” It had taken this long to finally find my voice after such an intense experience.

  “I should be the one thanking you.” He stroked my shoulder as he pressed his nakedness against my hip.

  “Why?” I stroked his velvety cock, loving the feel and size of it. My eyes widened as it swelled beneath my hand. “You did all the magic.”

  He snort-laughed. “It took you to make the magic. Just being here and letting me in.” He tapped my head, signaling that he meant letting him in my world, not just my body. “That’s all you had to do.” He scooped up the hand playing with his cock and kissed it. “I’d stop doing that though, unless you want to spend the rest of the day in this room, me fucking you over and over again until we die of starvation complicated by dehydration.” He kissed my hand again and set it over my stomach.

  “Wasn’t that the plan?”

  “Eventually.” He kissed my cheek, then my neck, and gave me a naughty glance as he popped my nipple into his mouth, making it peak with excitement.

  “Is there something else you’d rather do?” I sucked in a breath as he moved to kiss then nibble my other nipple.

  “Right, yes.” He changed gears. “How about a soak in the hot tub? It’s the perfect time of day for it. The sun’s about to set, we can watch it with a glass of wine as we’re massaged by jets.”

  “Yeah, that’d be fun. I don’t have a suit though.”

  He shrugged. “Too bad. We’ll have to skinny dip.”

  “Do you think anyone will see us? Didn’t you say there’s a neighborhood right over the ridge?”

  “Do you think they’ll move out if they see my scary big cock?” I guffawed out a laugh and covered my mouth with my hand. “Cause if that’s all it will take to get rid of the Nouveau, we’ll ride over there naked on the side-by-side too, just to make sure we really terrified them.” He teased as he got up off of the bed and stretched facing the window.

  His long, lean body framed by the waning sunlight made him look like a god. A day’s worth of stubble shadowed his finely chiseled chin and his bronze-colored eyes almost glowed. He was the most handsome man I’d ever seen. He looked like he should’ve been on a billboard wearing Ralph Lauren underwear and not behind a desk at an outrageously successful dot com.

  “Sorry, you’re way too good-looking. They’ll probably invite the relatives to move in too, and then they’ll all be out there every day, camped out on the ridge with their binoculars, trying to see if they can get a look at your big dick and bare ass. There’s no hope for you.”

  “Well, that’s unfortunate. You’ve got the very same problem, except without the dick.” He sighed a big dramatic sigh, trying to keep the smile off his lips. “Should we go and give them a show then? Chance it?”

  “Let’s do.” I stood up and leaned over to the chair beside the bed to get my brace and put it back on.

  His expression sobered. “Can you walk without the brace?”

  I looked down at my twisted leg. “I can, but it’s not pretty.”

  I ripped open the Velcro, but before I could put the brace on, he swooped down on me, hoisting me into his arms and toward the door. “I like having you at my mercy.”

  “No! Anything but that!” I playfully shouted. “Put me down!”

  “Not till we get to the water.” He started walking in awkward stomps, making apelike grunts as he carried me to the back deck and sat me in a chair while he uncovered the hot tub and checked the temperature. I liked playful, goofy Roman. He was fun.

  I shivered, and he immediately scooped me up again, and it dawned on me that this man knew what I needed almost before I did. He kissed me as we sank into the hot water until the bubbles teased me, slick and delightful, like his mouth on mine. Then he let me go, I found a jet and we both let out long groans. The water was so hot, and it felt good. Luxurious. I hadn’t relaxed in so long I’d almost forgotten how.

  We lounged in the massaging heat, practically boneless. It had been such a great day — he’d made it such a great day — I was truly happy.

  When I got tired of playing footsie with him and he looked like he was almost asleep, I splashed him with water.

  “What was that for?” His eyes lit up and took on a mock stalking expression. “It looked like you’re asking for trouble.”

  I splashed him again, this time in earnest as he slunk into the water up to his nose, his eyes focused on his prey, me. I splashed harder as he grabbed me, and I screamed.

  His mouth clamped down on mine, silencing the sound. “Oh my god, Adara. You have a hell of a set of lungs. Someone’s going to call the police thinking I’m murdering you.”

  I laughed. “I can hold a note for more than twenty seconds.”

  “That’s a long time. I don’t believe you.” He’d floated over to inches from my chest and was looking up at me, a dare in his eyes.

  My heart started racing because I had no idea what he was going to do to me. I was totally at his mercy and loving it.

  His face turned playfully stern. “I think I’m going to have to test that out, and the only way I can think of to do it, except to give you a raging orgasm, is—” His fingers attacked my sides, tickling, and my muscles reacted, and I was splashing and sending a wave of water shooting over the edge of the hot tub.

  I screamed, holding it longer than I would have normally, until he clamped his hand over my mouth.

  Putting his forehead against mine, he laughed, a surprised look on his face. Then he grabbed my legs underneath the water, and I yelped before he bobbed up in front of me and lifted me out.


  “You’ve been a very naughty girl,” he said, smiling as he cradled me to his chest, which was hot from being in the water.

  Despite the cold air penetrating my skin, I could feel the heat radiating from him, and I knew he was excited, his cock jabbing me between my legs.

  “What are you gonna do about it?”

  Without responding, he lifted me over his shoulder. I kicked and screamed bloody murder as I held onto my mask, hoping it wouldn’t slip off. Just before I started pummeling his back with my fists, he lowered me back into the water. His arms came around me as I caught my breath.

  He made me so happy, I suddenly wanted to make him even happier. And I could think of a way. His cock was standing straight out in front of him in the water.

  “I dare you to splash me again.” His voice was quiet and villainous.

  I knew he was teasing, and I was about to turn the tables on him. “I dare you to sit up there on the side of the hot tub.”

  His eyebrows shot up, and he looked at me questioningly, but I only waited, crossing my arms over my breast.

  He complied, pulling himself up on the edge of the hot tub in the corner, giving me a place to kneel on the seat. His cock leaped as I moved between his legs. “Now look what you’ve done.”

  “Serves you right, making me scream like that.” Then I leaned over and ran my tongue up his dick, right over the pulsing vein.

  He sucked in a breath as he began stroking himself with two fingers, holding it steady for me, his eyes fixed on my mouth. “This is a problem, and it’s going to be up to you as to how we should solve it. You’ll have to be creative, I don’t have any condoms out here.”

  I eyed his cock and looked up at him, trying not to allow my face to show how much effort it took not to take him into my mouth and taste him. He sat back a little as our eyes met, and I joined my hand with his, wrapping it firmly around him. His hips pumped, and he made a growling sound in his throat.

  I continued to make eye contact with him as I asked, “So, you want me to do something like this?” I stroked him, using the lubrication from the pre-cum to slide my fingers across his sensitive skin.

  “That’s a nice start.” He smiled and rolled his head back as he worked my hand up and down his shaft. I pumped him as he moaned.

  Then, finally, I bent down and took the tip of his beautiful cock into my mouth. I sucked, swirling my tongue around the mushroom head, then up into the tiny slit. Encouraged by his moans, I took his cock in and out of my mouth, taking it deeper, sucking until he hit my throat and my gag reflex. I knew men loved deep throat, but he was a little too big for me.

  He raised my head, and his cock popped out of my mouth. I gave him a curious glance.

  “Adara.” I could tell that stopping me was costing him. “Only take me into your mouth as far as you can without hurting yourself.” He wrapped my hands more tightly around the bottom of his shaft. “Use your hands to cover what you can’t.”

  Stroking his shaft, I lowered my mouth back on his bulbous mushroom and licked. “Who is fixing this problem, me or you?”

  I teased his slit with my tongue until I could feel the saltiness of his precum bubble out of him. I increased my speed, taking him deep into my mouth, into my throat as I pumped him with my hand. Focused my attention on giving him an incredible orgasm.

  With one hand, I pumped his shaft. With the other, I massaged his balls as I sucked until I felt him thicken inside my mouth. “I’m going to come,” he panted, the words coming out in a breathless rush.

  I’d never swallowed before, but I wanted to keep him in my mouth. When he tried to pull back, I held on, taking him deeper as my hands pumped and massaged the base. He swelled inside my mouth then a delicious heat burst out of him and onto my tongue. I sucked, wanting more, and he flailed on the side of the tub, thumping it with his hand. I swallowed down all that he gave me, licking and sucking until he grabbed me under the arms and hauled me up to his chest.

  His eyes were fuzzy with satisfaction. “You’re amazing. Your mouth is especially amazing.” He shook his head and rolled his eyes like I’d knocked him silly.

  I’d never gotten so much pleasure from giving someone else pleasure.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Roman

  After an incredible afternoon at the lake, we dressed and rode back to the house. I’d phoned Ms. White to let her know we were on our way and that she could begin preparing dinner.

  When I walked in the door, my cell started ringing. It was Adam, my assistant.

  The smile died from my face as I answered and listened. “Sir, all the news channels have taken up the original article’s story. CNN is reporting that Crave dot come and your… greed, sir, is…” Adam cleared his throat.

  “Go on, my greed is doing what?” My hand grasped the phone.

  “Decimating small villages and helpless people who provide goods to your company. There have been interviews and fake confessions. Have you seen any of this?”

  “No, I’ve been…” I glanced at Adara, who was looking at me with a concerned expression. “I’ve been busy.”

  I strode to the den, flipping on the giant screen TV. Froze. Adam was right. My company’s stock had plummeted overnight. It was an incredible scandal being spewed from every network I switched to. I paced while on the phone, trying to tamp the stress down.

  Punching off with Adam, I called my publicity director, then the COO and CFO of the company. I wasn’t sure when Adara left the room, but when she came back in, I was so involved that I didn’t know she was there until she grabbed my elbow.

  I whirled, and she shrank back, fear becoming a living thing on her face. I closed my eyes and pressed my fingers to my temples. “Sorry. What do you need?”

  She swallowed so hard, I saw her neck work to get the emotions down. “I… I’ve been in the kitchen with Ms. White. Just wanted to see if you needed anything.”

  After our glorious time together at the lake house, I’d practically abandoned her, turning into a person she was clearly nervous to be around. I took a deep breath, trying to shake some of the stress off. “I’m sorry. There’s a problem with work.”

  She looked at the television and nodded. “Clearly. And I think I know why.”

  I faced her, my hand still tight around the phone. “Why?”

  She swallowed again. “Last night, I made a threat to Jack. He said if I went through with it, he would make sure my boyfriend’s business would suffer even more.” It didn’t come as a shock, but I was still pissed. “Do you think it’s him, or…” She bit her lip and looked at the TV again.

  It was like a punch in the gut. She was wondering if there was any truth to the reports, despite the possibility of it being all at Jack’s hands.

  Every part of my body stiffened. “I don’t do what they’re saying. On the contrary, I often put back so much into the towns and people that it becomes more of a human relations mission than a business opportunity. It usually pays off in the end though, both for the people and my company.”

  She nodded like she didn’t know what to say, and I was suddenly afraid that this would push her away from me. Or me away from her. Her life had been so full of corruption at Jewel that she probably didn’t want to be touched by any more scandal of any kind. Who could blame her?

  But still… it hurt like a motherfucker that she didn’t trust me after all I’d done for her.

  My phone rang again, and I ignored it, then cursed when it began to ring again. “I need to take this.”

  She nodded and left the room.

  After I’d done all I could at the moment to minimize the damage at work, I went hunting for her.

  Neither Adara or I knew each other that well, so when we’d played with one another earlier, we’d both taken a risk. I’d been willing to take the risk, to make her relax and forget about my seeing her scars. I’d broken through the thick shell Jewel and her injury had encased her in. We walked a fine line as we got to know each other, each trusting our instincts,
hoping the other wasn’t crazy or an asshole.

  This was definitely one of those times.

  I needed her to know I was neither.

  I found her down by the barn with Sissaleigh, who was leaning over the fence, trying her best to hug Adara with her neck. Adara was returning the affection, stroking the horse’s nose as she cooed in her ear.

  “You’re going to spoil that horse.”

  Adara turned to me with a smile, her eyelids heavy. “Affection doesn’t spoil a living creature. Things do. Too many things and not enough affection, enough kindness.” She stroked Sissaleigh thoughtfully for a moment. “Do you eat alone when no one is here? Except Ms. White, I mean.”

  I frowned, feeling like I was stepping into a trap. “Of course. Who else would there be to eat with?”

  Her eyes raised to mine. “Ms. White. She seems very lonely.”

  The suggestion threw me, but it also was a bit laughable. It, in all honesty, had never occurred to me to invite the dowager to the table. I would expect her to smack me for offering such an invitation. But… I’d never asked. Never given her the chance to say yes or no.

  As I considered it, the only real kindness I’d extended Ms. White was to keep her employed and pay her a large Christmas bonus every year. It dawned on me how impersonal and unkind that really was.

  “I had staff. You know, before.” It was like she had taken a step back, couldn’t bear to mention Nate’s name. The horse nosed her when she stopped petting and Adara laughed. “I’ve had staff, but I ate with them when no one else was around, got to know their kids. I even took one of them on tour with me as a back-up singer. My staff was my family.” She shook her head. “You live in a hotel-sized mansion in the middle of nowhere, and you’ve never eaten with Martha… seriously?”

  “That’s not a reprimand, I hope.” I was attempting to be playful, but I was a little hurt. I was also surprised she was on a first name basis with my housekeeper, and I wasn’t.

  And then I got it. Why she’d withdrawn.