Steal Me (Longshadows Book 1)

by Natalia Banks

  Albert said, “I thought you said it wasn’t a birthday party.”

  “Let’s think of it as a rebirthday party.”

  Chapter 12

  The elk Jalapeño dog at Biker Jim’s was both gamey and spicy, coated with a hot mustard. Griffin and Ashe devoured their own dogs, exotic and fanciful against the homey, roadhouse atmosphere.

  “I’ve never had a hot dog like this before,” Griffin said. “Like yours, Ashe?”

  The boy nodded, his mouth filled with food as he chewed, a bit of mustard in the corner of his mouth.

  “It’s not exactly your average dog,” Lorraine said, “but it’s good to have some down-home food every now and then: hot dogs and pizza and things.” After an awkward pause, she explained, “Not that I haven’t had a great time this week—all those fancy restaurants.”

  “It’s been more than our pleasure,” Griffin said.

  A nervous thought wiggled in the back of Lorraine’s imagination. “I have to say…I’m really gonna miss you two.”

  Griffin knew what she was saying, and instead of contradicting her, he only offered a slow, resolute half-smile.

  “Well, well.” Lorraine looked up at the familiar voice, Donal standing by their table wearing a broad, fake smile. “Look what we have here: the first family of Denver, Colorado.”

  Griffin’s eyes shifted from Donal to Lorraine until she introduced the two men. “Donal Roland, this is Griffin Phoenix and his son, Ashe. Guys, this is Donal, he’s…he’s a friend.”

  “A friend,” Donal said, “that’s rich.” He grinned at Griffin. “No pun intended. So what’s your plan with this guy, Lorraine? String him along like you did with me, and then when something bigger and better comes along, drop him like a hot potato? I should have known those months we were together, you were just wasting my fucking time!”

  Griffin stood up and faced Donal down. “Watch your language, buddy! We don’t have any business with you, Mr. Roland. Leave us alone.”

  “Wow, that’s good,” Donal said, “that’s really good. What’s gonna happen, you gonna beat me up too, like you did that other guy?”

  “If you leave me no choice.”

  “Right. I’m no sex attacker, pal. Touch me and I’ll sue!”

  Griffin grabbed Donal by the ear, a move so quick and graceful that Donal was bent forward before he knew what was happening. “Ouch! Ow, stop it!”

  Griffin calmly walked Donal out of the restaurant to proactively avoid the uncomfortable scene that was quickly unfolding, Lorraine and Ashe behind them.

  “Now you listen to me. Lorraine Devonshire is off-limits to you. You see her on the street, cross to the other side and keep walking.”

  “Or what?”

  Griffin yanked Donal, brought him in close, and said in a warning tone, “Like I said, take off and keep your distance!”

  He returned to Lorraine and Ashe while Donal staggered off. “I’m sorry that was uncomfortable; I think he got the message.”

  Lorraine said, “Thanks, Griffin…again. You can’t seem to stop coming to my rescue.”

  He smiled. “More than my pleasure.”

  Back at the hotel room, Griffin was on the phone again, pacing around the suite’s posh living room. “Of course we want news coverage, as much as we can get!”

  Ashe was sitting at the couch, eyes fixed on his laptop, fingers flying over the keys. Lorraine came in from the powder room, drawn to Ashe’s typing. “Wow, you’re fast,” Lorraine said. “Guess that’s a benefit to growing up online. Though I have to admit I use my mouse more than anything else.”

  Ashe nodded but kept typing. Lorraine asked, “What’re you writing? Mind if I take a look?” Ashe nodded and kept typing, Lorraine sitting next to him and leaning closer for a good view of the screen.

  Ashe was working with a word processing program—a white page lined with black text. Lorraine read just the few lines which were nearest to Ashe’s whirring cursor:

  As a free society, we must look out for one another, to give back with everything we can, everything we have. The Bible asks, ‘What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his soul?’ And the library is the very soul of a community, where mind and heart converge.

  “Where mind and heart converge?” Lorraine would have challenged his authorship out of sheer disbelief at the quality of the writing, but she was watching him do it, so there was little room to be confused.

  But there was plenty of room to be impressed. “You know the Bible, Ashe?” He shrugged and held his hand out, tilting it one way and then the other. “I see,” Lorraine said. “You’re more of a researcher than a theologian.” Ashe nodded and Lorraine couldn’t help but chuckle. She read on, interrupting herself to ask, “This is a speech for the rally, for your dad?” Ashe nodded. “Wow, that’s…that’s really impressive, Ashe, I mean it. I know a lot of adults who aren’t that eloquent.”

  “Kid’s a genius, I’m tellin’ ya,” Griffin said. “If I could write that well, I wouldn’t bother to talk either.” Griffin said, “Ashe, would you write something for Lorraine too?”

  Ashe nodded, but Lorraine said, “Me? Oh no, Griffin, no.”

  “Oh yes, Lorraine, yes.”

  A few minutes later, Lorraine’s own smartphone rang, Jeremy’s name on the screen. “Jer, how are ya?”

  “I’m good, Lo’, good. Gettin’ ready for the big rally?”

  “Sure am. I’ve got everybody I know coming down, covered Denver with fliers. It was even on the local news, Lo’! I don’t think you’re gonna have any attendance problems.”

  “And got both Crosby and Nash, so…” But a tense silence wriggled by between them. “You don’t sound that excited, Jeremy.”

  Jeremy’s voice came fast, anxious. “Of course I am, Lo’. And I’m glad for you, that you found that wonderful man. It’s…it’s great.”

  But a sad, nervous thought flashed in the back of Lorraine’s mind. “You…you’re not jealous, Jeremy?”

  “Me, jealous? No, Lo’, of course not. How could you even think such a thing?”

  “I dunno, he’s rich and everything; he’s such a great guy.”

  “And you deserve that, Lo’. What have I been telling you?”

  “I know, I know, you were right, I know that now. You’re a good friend, Jeremy, my best friend.”

  “That’s sweet, kiddo, really…thanks for making it even worse!”

  “Worse? Jeremy, what are you talking about?”

  Jeremy’s voice was rich with a whiny sorrow. “You’re my best friend too, Lorraine, and now I’m gonna lose you! You’re gonna go off with that man, probably marry him, fly off to New York or Paris or wherever his various castles are.”

  “Jeremy—”

  “And I’ll never see you again! And that’s gonna suck, Lorraine!”

  Lorraine wanted to contradict him, but she was secretly hoping he was right. “It might not happen that way, Jeremy. I even…I kind of brought it up.”

  “And what did he say?”

  “Actually, he didn’t. So I think the chances of me staying in Denver are pretty good.”

  But Jeremy’s tearful voice was still swollen with misery. “Oh, Lorraine, I’m so sorry to hear that. Are you sure?”

  Lorraine glanced at Griffin, standing at the window and staring out over Denver, phone to his ear. “No, Jeremy, I… I’m not sure of anything anymore.”

  “Are you okay?”

  She felt that wave of sorrow return, almost impossible to disguise. “That, I’m especially not sure about. And this is the only thing that matters to me anymore.”

  “I see,” Griffin said into his phone, grabbing Lorraine’s attention. “When?” Lorraine and Ashe both looked over at Griffin as he turned away from the window. “All right well, keep us posted.” Griffin swiped the screen.

  “What is it, Griffin?”

  Griffin sighed. “Your attacker, Tony Gardner.”

  “Yeah?”

  “They had to let him go.”


  Chapter 13

  Lorraine said into the phone, “Jeremy, I have to call you back.” She swiped the screen and set down the phone. “They let him go? Why, how?”

  “Mishandled the arrest,” Griffin said. “Your local cops blew it and Gardner lawyered up.”

  Lorraine sat there and she could feel the blood drain from her face. “Oh no,” she said, “no, no…”

  Griffin crossed to her, wrapping his arms around her. “It’s all right, Lorraine, you don’t have any reason to be afraid.”

  “But I do, Griffin. He might have forgotten all about me before. But now he’ll be mad; he’ll know there’s nothing we can do to stop him.”

  “He’ll be injured, Lorraine. What can he do with one good arm? And honestly, sex attackers are bullies and bullies are cowards. That guy’s probably so relieved to be off the hook that he’s miles away. He’s not gonna try to come after you again, Lorraine. Not while I’m around.”

  “But what if you’re not around? After the rally, you’ll go back to New York and I’ll be here…alone…”

  “Why do you keep saying that?”

  “Because it’s true!”

  Griffin looked at Lorraine and she looked back on him, his eyes searching hers for the answer to some question he didn’t seem ready to ask. Instead, he said, “Ashe, you stay here with Mrs. B. Lorraine and I have some urgent business.”

  “Griffin?”

  “Trust me, Lorraine. Trust me.”

  “I-I guess I don’t have a choice, do I?”

  Griffin smiled and opened the suite’s front door. “No, you don’t.”

  Larry Devonshire shook his head. “I’m so sorry, Lo’, there’s got to be something we can do.”

  “I don’t like it one bit,” Sally said. “I think you should cancel.”

  “Can’t,” Lorraine said. “Everything’s in place. We’re set; it’s too late to turn back now. I wouldn’t if I could.”

  “Don’t be foolish, Lorraine,” Sally snapped.

  “It’s up to us to set the example.” Lorraine held her own. “If we back out, the whole campaign could fold.”

  “She’s right,” Griffin said. “And I really don’t think this guy is going to be a problem. I’ll have his mug shot distributed among the security, have him picked up the minute he shows his face. I still don’t see that happening.”

  Sally leaned forward a bit, one brow raised. “But you can’t be certain.”

  Griffin gave it some thought. “I’ll hire a few extra guys. That rat won’t slip through, I promise. If he does, I’ll take care of him myself.”

  “But he could be in disguise,” Sally said. “Maybe he’s got a friend nobody’ll know. The point is, you can’t be sure.”

  “I’m sure of one thing,” Griffin said. “After the rally, I’m marrying your daughter.”

  Lorraine gasped.

  “What?” Larry said in disbelief.

  Griffin turned to Lorraine. “I want to marry you, Lorraine. I want you to be my wife; I want you to help me raise Ashe, and to give him a kid brother or sister, maybe a few…as many as we want.”

  “Griffin?” Lorraine managed to stumble out.

  “Lorraine, you’re the most remarkable woman I’ve ever met. In the last few days I’ve watched you grow, develop, almost evolve.”

  She couldn’t help but smile, and she didn’t want to help it. “That’s thanks to you, Griffin.”

  “No, Lorraine, it’s not. I’m glad to be able to help, more glad than you’ll ever know. But it’s you, Lorraine, it’s always been you…and it always will be.” The breath leaked out of Lorraine’s lungs in a single gasp. “Lorraine Devonshire, will you be my wife?”

  Lorraine felt lightheaded, almost ready to pass out. “I-I can’t believe this is happening…of course! Yes!”

  They didn’t linger at the Devonshire home. They went directly to the downtown shopping district, and Lorraine was flushed with anticipation. It’s a ring, she told herself, he’s taking me ring shopping! I might have preferred if he just presented it, but I guess he’s got to get my size and everything. But who cares? We’re getting married! He asked, he actually asked!

  Missus Griffin Phoenix, whispered silently to herself, Mrs. Lorraine Devonshire Phoenix. Oh my God, I love it.

  But instead, Griffin walked her into a fine lingerie shop with gorgeous silk transparent robes specially draped around mannequins. She tried on several silk robes and matching corsets; immaculate and intricate stitching made the garment of a quality she would never consider purchasing on her own.

  Lorraine took a few more spins in the mirror, peeking out to show Griffin.

  “Thank you, Griffin, I’ve never bought anything like this for myself before.”

  “You deserve it, baby, you look stunning, and keep that corset on, but hand me the tags.” He winked.

  Lorraine agreed, putting her clothes on on top of her new subtle hourglass shape created by the tight fit of the corset. She loved the way it made her feel. She decided on a few more items; the thought of being able to parade around in them in front of her man suddenly excited her.

  “Hop in,” was all Griffin said. He pulled his Mercedes up to the local branch of the Chase Bank.

  “Griffin? Are you sure we should be—?”

  “We’re going to pull you all the way out of that shell, Lorraine.”

  “But—?”

  Griffin looked her dead in the eyes, voice low and cold. “Listen to me, Lorraine. You’ve been hiding too long. If you want to keep hiding, you’re going to do it in plain sight.”

  She wanted to ask what he had in mind, but in truth she already knew. He turned the key, stopping the engine. Without a word, he turned and started kissing Lorraine hard, his tongue aggressive and probing. His hands slipped into her coat, finding her breasts, nipples already hard. Her legs parted to allow him to massage her pussy, circular motions creating a stir of juices, frothing, percolating.

  Griffin’s index finger slipped in, curling backward as if he was signalling for Lorraine to come to him. She was already going to. Her hands found his muscular forearm, pushing against it but now wanting to push him away. She wanted to feel his strength; she wanted to fail to resist him.

  “These people know me, Griffin! They’re already gossiping about me, about us.”

  “And we’re going to let them know how much their gossip means to us. We’re going to show them how little good their small-town bullshit can really come to. We’re not the kind of people who cow-tow to people like that. I’m not, and you’re not either…not anymore.”

  Griffin returned to kissing Lorraine, and she eagerly responded. Having this gorgeous man all over her in public was making her hot and bothered, turning her on big-time. People walked past the car, and her imagination flashed on what they were thinking, if they could even recognize what was going on at all. She was sure they couldn’t see her fully, with the tinted windows, but even the possibility of being caught was turning her on big-time. The quiet little virgin from the library, wriggling naked in her open coat, exposed breasts in a Mercedes-Benz, a billionaire stirring another explosive orgasm within her, the like of which none of them ever experienced or ever would experience.

  Lorraine’s frenzied mind flashed, Is that what they’re thinking? Is that what they’ll see the next time they come to their local library? Good! Let them, let them wish they were me, young and pretty and the subject of this fine man’s fantasies! They’d kill to have this hot guy fingering them like this, for all to see! God, I’m cumming, so hot, so fucking hot, my hot cunt under his masterful hand…the finger, God that fucking finger, it’s talking to me, it’s…oh mmmmmmm…

  Lorraine shook, the sheer danger and crazy exposure making her tremble, her hot crotch leaking all over the silk lining of her coat. But Griffin didn’t mind; he loved it, his wriggling finger driving her up and over the edge, naked legs jutting driving her crazy.

  His hand slid down her slick, naked thigh, his face buried in the nape of her
neck before he pulled back; their eyes locked. “Okay,” he said, “let’s go.”

  Lorraine barely managed to ask, “Where?”

  He smiled. “Inside.”

  Lorraine could hardly stand, leaning against him, her hands clutching her long cashmere coat, one of the only splurges she’d ever made. It was perfectly tailored to her body, and in near perfect condition when Jeremy spotted it at a local thrift shop.

  Her naked body was slick with sweat beneath it. Griffin was perfectly calm and professional, dignified, and he knew his composure was driving Lorraine out of her mind.

  “Yes, a safety deposit box,” Griffin said calmly to the teller—a woman he’d never seen before. But Lorraine had seen her every month for the past ten years. And the look on her face was priceless: eyes shifting, lips curling, struggling to fashion a smile.

  The teller glanced at Griffin’s empty hands and asked, “And what did you need to secure?”

  But Griffin didn’t miss a beat. “My privacy,” was all he said, his voice low and stern, and old Mrs. Atterly got the message. She backed away and, five minutes later, she escorted Lorraine and Griffin into the secured vault, offering them all the time and privacy they needed.

  She knew to be absolutely quiet. The vault door wasn’t entirely closed, and though they were out of sight of prying eyes, prying ears were something else. Griffin sat Lorraine onto the large table in the center of the room, drawers of security boxes on both sides of them. He let his slacks fall to the floor, his huge cock already hard, reaching out to her. Lorraine parted her legs, eager to take him in. And Griffin knew this was no time for a long, slow introduction. Anyone in that bank could walk in on them, and the reverberations of that event would ripple through Denver and back again, enough to drown Lorraine in public shame, probably her parents as well.

  But that huge cock was almost too much to take in, and Lorraine’s gasp welled up in her throat, stopping against her clenched muscles. Griffin was merciful, raking it in and out but only the first few inches. Lorraine’s tight little body wrapped around it, clenching, barely able to take it in.