by Silks, Lacey
Olivia didn’t even scream.
Donato’s grip loosened the moment it hit him. I saw him raise his hand to his chest and touch where the blood spilled over the front of his shirt.
Olivia jumped off the desk, grabbed her purse, and fled. Maybe I should have, but I didn’t run after her.
He turned around slowly, and not surprised at all, looked at me. His last words before he fell to the floor shocked me.
“Thank you.”
It would be a while before I could understand the meaning and weight of his gratitude. It was those confusing words that kept me in that class. I wasn’t sure what I was waiting for. It all seemed like a dream. Blood pooled from underneath Donato’s body. I dropped the gun, but didn’t hear it clunk, and picked up my phone to dial for my security guy, who was probably frantically looking for me. I sat by the back wall, frozen. I’d shot guns and rifles many times before. I respected the weapon the way I’d been taught. I knew my aim was near perfect, yet I still couldn’t believe that I’d killed a man.
Grant, my security guy, arrived in the class within fifteen minutes. I sat against the wall with my knees pulled up to my chest. He picked me up and quietly carried me out to his car without being detected. He took me home and spoke to my parents about what he’d seen. My mom handed me a glass of orange juice, insisting I drink it all. It tasted bitter. Things were fuzzy after that. The next thing I knew, I was sitting in a comfortable chair, listening to the rhythmic voice of a stranger.
I didn’t remember saying a word.
From there we drove for almost half a day, then boarded a train in Quebec, Canada. The first morning I woke up, on our family vacation, it was just that – a getaway we so desperately needed because of my father’s busy work schedule.
CHAPTER 26
Julian and Tristan had been searching for Olivia for over a week. My only hope to get through the trial was disappearing quicker than a boulder in quick sand. It seemed no one had heard from her after high school. She’d moved out of her house, and her parents hadn’t heard from her ever since. What if we couldn’t find her? What if she didn’t remember that day – shock could do that to people, or so I’d heard. What if she didn’t want to testify? The list of my what ifs grew every hour, and when I asked Julian the last one, he opened his laptop without answering and started clicking away. What if she was dead?
An hour later he came back to the balcony where I sat. In my mind, I was slowly counting the days of freedom I had left, multiplying them into hours and minutes. Julian’s fingers touched the back of my neck. He pressed them in, slowly uncoiling the tension near my spine.
We only had a week left before the hearing, and I was afraid this was going to be the last week we had together.
“There’s no death record,” he said.
“At least that’s good news.”
“Kendra, try to relax.”
There was only one way I could, although with everything going on right now, I had doubts whether I could actually bring myself to that place of bliss only Julian was able to get me to. How could I go on if I went to jail – locked away, behind, bars, cuffed? Or worse, somebody’s brand new bitch.
Cold chills returned to my body. Strong smell of earth, mold, and moisture lingered. I feared if I closed my eyes, I’d begin willing death again. I rubbed my wrists where the memory of ropes still burned. How would I ever live through this?
“Come inside, K.” Julian’s mouth lowered to the top of my head. His warm breath rekindled the hope I learned to have. “Don’t think about it.”
He took my hands off my wrists and kissed the imaginary rope burns, bringing me back to the present. I inhaled his fresh scent, letting it overpower the dark aroma filling my lungs. Julian’s tender touch soothed the aches I remembered spreading through my body.
“Come back to me, K.”
His pleading eyes were level with mine. “I will rip this world apart and demolish every single prison before I see you go to jail. Congressman Donato will eat shit before he can say a bad word about you in that courtroom. He knew very well the kind of a bastard his son was, and nothing he can do will tear you away from me.”
I simply wrapped my arms around his neck and let him lift me. Julian scooped me underneath my knees. Feeling the movement of his muscles beneath his thin shirt, I cradled against him as he carried me to our bed.
“Make love to me as if it’s not our last time, but our first of many,” he said, already hovering above me. I couldn’t deny him this last request. Julian’s filled shorts poked against my thigh as he took my bottom lip between his. He pulled on it gently, seeking some kind of approval. My hands slid down his chest to the hem of his shirt. I broke our kiss for a moment and pulled it off him, revealing a thin carpet of dark curls. I ran my hands over his pecs, savoring the feather-like tickle between my fingers, then hooked my hands around his neck and pulled him to me.
This was what I wanted to remember if I went to prison. The two of us together.
Julian’s hungry lips took my mouth again, this time harder, with the passion of the young man I met so many years ago. His tongue slid in, taking mine in its possession, its persistent strength spreading my lips, lingering between my gums like he was discovering me all over again.
His weight over me made me feel safer. The bulky muscles were like my shield, a cocoon of protection from the rest of the world. I dug my fingers into his back, insisting that he press harder. Feeling my body begin to writhe underneath him, hips twisting against his hard cock, then rubbing myself in that blossoming center swelling between my legs, Julian was beginning to take me far away from this world.
My shirt flew up and over my head, and Julian lowered my bra cups beneath my breasts. My nipples ached, hard and sensitive to each scratch from his skin. He flicked his finger over one, then the other, and then hungrily took them into his mouth. I arched my back higher, placing my full self deep into his mouth.
Hooking his fingers into my shorts Julian removed them in one swift pull. His hand roamed up my thigh and to the inside of my leg, cupping my sex. The heat of his palm on me there spread like a wildfire, sizzling across my body.
“I love feeling how much you want me, K,” he said into my mouth.
“Always,” I replied.
The sound of ripping fabric surged through my veins. It seemed Julian didn’t bother with removing my panties the old-fashioned way. The smell of my arousal floated around us, and I yanked the shorts off his hips, springing him free. Feeling Julian’s fingers spread my juices between my slick folds, I desperately needed him inside me. I needed him to claim me, own me, and rock me perpetually. This night couldn’t end. I’d savor every moment I could until the hearing in his arms, with Julian inside me.
When his mouth finally pulled away, his hazel eyes were aflame with ancient appetite of a needy man. I found my chest heaving at the promises he held in that one look. My limbs coiled around him like ivy vines, needing the hot-blood pounding under his skin to nourish them.
I stared at the hollow in his neck above the collarbone, wanting to lick it the same way I had when we first made love in his office. I pulled him lower, sinking my tongue there, tasting the saltiness of his skin mixed with just a hint of his soap from the shower.
He groaned from the depth of his lungs and I spread my legs for him – only him – always him.
“I love you, Kendra.”
And with those words, he thrust inside me, jarring me up on the bed, hitting my depth with his firm dick. Julian supported himself on his arms, rocking us in that torturous rhythm that begged for more. A moan escaped my throat. I curled my knees upward and stretched my feet to the top of his shoulders, resting them there. My ass tilted higher, anchoring me for a deeper plunge.
My body jerked at each advance and I grasped my breasts, squeezing them, rolling my nipples between my fingers, forcing the sting of my pinch to zigzag toward my cleft. Julian’s onslaught rippled from my pussy, tingling in all the right places.
&nbs
p; “You’re so fucking beautiful.” The adoration shone from his eyes.
He slowed the tempo, nearly pulling out of me, but not quite, teasing me with his tip. And when his hand came to rest at my dampness, every nerve in my body responded. He circled his thumb, watching me. I bit my lip and pressed my breasts together, feeling as if I was about to float away. And on the next flick a sharp spasm spread through me, quaking along my skin, breaking me apart in front of Julian. I cried out in joy, feeling tears spill from my eyes. A swell of happiness and near-agony tore through me as the thought that this could be our last time together returned. And I curled into a fetal position and sobbed.
“Shh, I’ve got you.” Julian folded me into his arms, smoothing my hair back, cooing into my ear. “You’re with me forever, I promise.”
And as much as I wanted to believe him, the law was certain. Murderers didn’t go free. They were meant to rot in jail like carcass left out in the sun in the middle of summer.
“K, look at me.”
Julian forced me to turn around. “Open your eyes.”
I listened, seeing him through salty tears.
“You’re one of the strongest women I know. I. WILL. NOT. FUCKING. FAIL. YOU. Do you hear me?”
He held my face in his hands. “Answer me, K. Tell me you believe me.”
“I believe you.” My voice shook, but to my surprise I meant the words that came out of my mouth. I believed Julian.
“You saved a girl’s life. Hell, you probably saved more than hers and you don’t even know it. I bet there were others, too. You changed an entire school, for Pete’s sake! The Facebook connections you made in high school, your support and conviction... No one does that! And then you survived a month in gruesome captivity. You’re a survivor! We will beat this. We’re in this together, to the end.”
Something stilled in my mind.
“What is it?” he asked
“Holy fuck, Julian. Facebook!” I shot off the bed, pulled on a robe, and clicked on my computer. “We never checked Facebook to find Olivia.”
“Of course we did. I checked myself as well. Olivia left no trace.”
“You didn’t check my groups; and Olivia went by Liv.”
I clicked on the keyboard to log in. A few more keystrokes and I was searching for Liv. “Look, last active yesterday! She’s been online. She’s still monitoring what’s going on at school.”
“Send her a message,” he said.
“What if I scare her? She’s my only hope.”
“Tell her your life is on the line. You saved her and now she could do the same for you. Tell her the whole story. Tell her everything.”
It took an hour before I found the right words to explain to Liv how important it was that she contact me. I told her about what Donato had tried to do to me, and why I disappeared after shooting him.
“Honesty is the best policy, right?” I sought Julian’s approval before I hit the send button.
He re-read the message, saying, “Looks good.”
I clicked.
And we waited.
CHAPTER 27
Two weeks had passed since the hearing. To celebrate my freedom, Julian treated me with a trip to Hawaii. For the first time in months – no, years – my life was finally beginning to settle down. My parents were back, alive, my father working along Mr. Cross to stop Congressman Donato from supporting legislation favoring sex-trafficking and money laundering. Julian had said the web of politics was thickly laced with greed and scams. It had long been a dream of the Cross family to restore a balance in the country, fight laws that benefited the wealthy and put those who abused the system – like Congressman Donato – out on the streets.
In court, Peter Donato sat with his mouth open as Liv testified on my behalf. She’d lived in hiding since the incident in high school, but with Allie’s and Laura’s help, she found proper counseling and registered in night-school courses. Peter kept shaking his head as Liv’s story confirmed that I had saved her life. In his defense, he’d had no idea his father was perverted – at least that’s what the shock on his face told me. As for the Congressmen: well, he disappeared seconds after the gavel echoed through the courtroom.
This evening, Julian led me through a crowded street. My eyes were covered with a silk scarf, and I’d promised not to peek. He’d been driving around Manhattan for nearly an hour, trying to confuse me. Whatever the surprise was, I knew it was going to be good. The sound of honking cabs, the diesel fumes of passing busses, and the muttered “excuse me” every few seconds were all familiar.
The aroma of New York’s French fries and spices filled the air.
“I know this smell.” I took a deeper whiff.
“Please, at least let me try to surprise you.” Julian slowed our walk. “We’re almost here; there’s a step in front of you. Lift your right leg, now.”
I stepped over the threshold I couldn’t see. The sounds from the street dissolved behind us when a door closed. The reddish glow under my eyelids darkened. The sound of my footsteps on the tiled floor echoed off the walls. The smell of incense and wax intensified.
We must have stepped into a bigger room because it became cooler.
“Are you ready?” Julian asked, his cheek so close to my face I could feel his warmth.
I wasn’t sure whether I’d ever be ready. Each day was a brand new beginning I embraced with new-found peace. I knew he had been planning something big for the past few days. Allie occupied me with the twins, asking me and Emma to take the kids for a walk every day – which of course I didn’t mind. Tristan and Allie made the most beautiful babies in the world.
The knot at the back of my head loosened. Julian lowered my silk scarf, and as soon as my eyes were open I heard, “Surprise!” and I jumped up.
“Easy, K. I’ve got you.”
We were at Kissed. In front of me, my entire staff stood underneath a Welcome Back sign.
“I mean, we’ve got you,” Julian whispered into my ear.
I toasted with my flute of sparkling water – to friends, family, and the second chance I never hoped to have.
Dear Reader:
Thank you for reading the Layers Trilogy. I hope you enjoyed it and I would love to hear your thoughts about the story. Feel free to shoot me an email or get in touch with me on Facebook anytime. Reviews on Amazon and Goodreads help indie authors like me to spread the word about my work and be accepted for special promotions, so please leave an honest review on those sites. I really, really appreciate it.
What’s next? I’m finishing up a contemporary romance novel with adult content titled, My First, My Last. If you’ve read the short story (which is available for free), I’ve turned it into a novel. It’s very close to my heart and it’s been an emotional roller coaster ride writing it. After that, No More Regrets: a new adult/erotic romance and then another suspense series with a pending title. And yes, all these will be available in 2014!
Cheers!
Lacey Silks
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About the Author
Author of Erotic Romance, Lacey Silks writes her stories from life experiences, dreams and fantasies. She likes a pinkish shade on a woman’s cheeks, men with large feet and sexy lingerie, especially when it’s torn off the body. Her favorite piece of clothing is a ‘birthday suit’.
When she’s not thinking about writing steamy stories, which is a rare occasion, Lacey enjoys camping and skiing with her family (not at the same time of course). She’s a happily married wife blessed with two kids who adore going to the library. She’s an early bird by nature, but loves the nightly adventures with her hubby which provide good content for her books.
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Work by Lacey Silks:
Short Stories
My First, My Last (Free eBook)
Dance With Me
Teacher’s Pet
Over The Limit
Bossy Request (Free eBook)
My Neighbor’s Will
Fantasy in Each Reality (Erotic Shorts 1-3) Collection
Fantasy in Each Reality (Erotic Shorts 4-6) Collection
Mistresses Series: Meet Claire, Casey, Lexie, Paige and Amber in 5 connected shorts in the “My Reason To Cheat” Series.
New Adult/Erotic Romance Novels
Dazzled By Silver (a prequel to the Layers Trilogy)
Layers Deep
Layers Peeled
Layers Off
Coming Soon (Novels):
My First, My Last: A Novel (based on the free short story)
No More Regrets
Untitled Erotic Suspense Series
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Connect with Lacey Online:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/laceysilks
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Acknowledgments
My publishing journey has been the most amazing experience I could have asked for. There were tears, laughs and many sleepless nights. I truly don’t know where the adrenaline comes from, but I’m glad it flows through my veins when I need it the most.