Next to Never: Shattered Innocence Trilogy

by Long, A. L.

  As she stepped out of the shower, she heard the faint ringing of the phone. Knowing she wouldn’t get to the living room in time, she quickly made her way to Rade’s room and picked up the phone.

  “Hello,” she said, out of breath.

  “Is everything okay, Ms. Adams?” It was Richard on the other end, letting Dylan know that her dinner order was here and if he could bring it to her.

  “Yeah, Richard, I’m okay, you caught me in the shower. Come on up.”

  When Richard stepped into the penthouse, Dylan had already dried herself off and put on a t-shirt and sweat bottoms.

  “Here you go, Ms. Adams. Looks like Mr. Matheson ordered Italian. I hope you enjoy it.”

  “Thanks, Richard.”

  Richard turned around and left the penthouse, with Dylan holding three bags of carryout food. Dylan hadn’t been hungry at all. She barely touched her lunch with Veronica. All she wanted to do was go to bed and sleep. Taking the food to the kitchen, she removed it from the bags and placed it in the refrigerator, and grabbed a bottle of water.

  Dylan walked over to her purse to grab her cell phone to check if she missed any calls from Rade. When she opened her purse, she saw the small white box with the charm that was delivered to her. Taking it from her purse, she went to the kitchen and set it on the counter. With no calls from Rade, she decided to take her bottled water to her room so she could take her newly prescribed birth control pill. Taking her pill and setting her water and her phone on the bedside table, she crawled into bed and turned on the television. Turning to the news, she upped the volume to hear what the reporter was saying. A picture of her attacker showed up on the top of the screen and her body tensed. As she listened, the reporter was going on about a tip the police got from an anonymous source. Her attacker had confessed to several break-ins and had a rap sheet a mile long. A sigh of relief came over her as she muted the TV. Since the guy was caught, there was now no reason for her to stay at Rade’s. She would finally be safe with her attacker behind bars. She was glad they caught the man, but sad, because she would be leaving Rade’s penthouse to move into her own place. Dylan laid her head on her pillow as emptiness slowly began to form. Feeling fully drained, she closed her eyes, and within minutes she was sound asleep.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  It was close to 10:00 p.m. and Rade was still at his office. He wasn’t sure what he was still doing there when the last hour had been spent thinking about Dylan. Realizing he needed to get home to her, he pushed his chair from his desk, grabbed his suit jacket, and made his way to the door. Just as he was ready to turn the lights off, his cell phone began to ring. Looking down at the screen, he saw that it was Richard. “Hey, Richard, what’s up? I was just about to head home.”

  “I have some information for you. The police found our little present. I just got done watching the news and they showed him. They didn’t give many details though.”

  “That’s good, but I get the feeling there’s more,” Rade declared.

  “There is, sir. I did a little digging on the so-called loan shark. Found out he’s more than just a loan shark. This guy is bad news. He’s pretty far up the ladder in corruption in the States and overseas. Did some asking on the street. Come to find out, when someone owes him, he’ll stop at nothing to get what’s his. Even though everyone knows who he is, he has no name. Everyone I’ve talked to calls him Keshigomu. ‘Eraser’ in Japanese. They say if he doesn’t get what he wants, he will erase anything and everything instead, hence the name. Even those who get in his way. I’m not sure how Dylan’s fiancé got mixed up with this guy, but my guess is, he’s not going to stop until he gets his money.”

  “This isn’t what I wanted to hear, Richard. We need to find Michael Stewart and we need to find him fast. If he has left the country, he would need a passport. Find out if one was prepared for him. Maybe we can get a break and find out at least where he might have gone.”

  “On it. Do you want more protection for Ms. Adams? I can get another guy to watch her,” Richard said with concern.

  “Yeah, given what you’ve told me, I think another man would be best. Let Hewitt know so they can work out the details.”

  Rade hung up the phone. Walking over to his liquor cabinet, he poured himself a glass full of scotch. This was not the news he wanted to hear from Richard. He knew now more than ever, he needed to protect Dylan. Running his hands through his hair, he searched for a plan. He had to be very careful not to let Dylan know the true story with Michael. He would still go forward with his plan to let her move into the apartment. With Hewitt and another man watching her, he knew she would be well protected when he wasn’t with her. He hoped it would be enough.

  Rade pulled into to his parking spot in the covered garage of his building, totally exhausted by the events of the day. He only wanted to hold Dylan next to him and feel her soft skin. Locking his Martin, he walked to the elevator and headed to his penthouse. The penthouse was quiet. It was dark except for the floor lamp left on in the living room. As Rade laid his keys on the breakfast bar, he saw a white box sitting on the counter. Reaching for it, he thought it must have been the charm Dylan received this morning. Taking the box, he removed the lid and looked at the contents. He was right. Placing the charm between his thumb and index finger, he took a closer look at it. He knew he had seen this symbol before. Walking to his study, he fired up his computer and googled Japanese symbols. When the image of what he was holding came up, he clicked on it. In small letters under the image, the word Betrayal was written.

  Why would anyone send this to Dylan? Someone was trying to tell her something. He was pretty certain it didn’t come from Lilly or Dylan’s dad. He was too tired to think about it now, but first thing in the morning, he was going to find out who sent it. Rade powered off his computer and went back into the living room to turn off the light. When he got to his room, he could see Dylan wasn't laying in his bed. Needing to have her near him, he went to her room and saw her fast asleep with the TV still on. Looking at his watch, he could see it was almost midnight. Careful not to wake her, he quietly removed his clothing and tiptoed to the other side of her bed. Taking off his watch, he placed it on her nightstand and slipped into bed. Gently, he pulled her close to him. Brushing the hair from her face, he tenderly kissed her forehead.

  Dylan’s eyes began to flutter open. “Sorry baby, I didn’t mean to wake you. Go back to sleep.”

  Dylan said to Rade, still half asleep, “They caught the guy who attacked me. It was on the news.”

  Rade looked at Dylan with a smile. “I know, Sweetness, Richard told me. Go to sleep. We’ll talk in the morning.”

  Dylan raised her hand to Rade’s face. “You look tired.”

  Before Rade could respond, Dylan nuzzled her head on his chest and fell back to sleep.

  Rade had so many things going through his mind, most of which were of the beautiful woman lying next to him. His feelings for her were getting deeper. His thoughts were torn between whether or not to tell her about Michael. It killed him to think about what would happen between them if he did. This thing they had was more than just a plan to get information from her. If she found out what his initial intentions were, he was sure to lose her. He couldn’t risk it, not anymore. There was something about her he couldn’t be without. His need for her was becoming an ache he couldn’t shake. He knew he should’ve walked away from his plan the moment he saw her at Thrive. He should’ve let the police handle the missing money and arrest Michael Stewart, but that would have been too easy. He wanted more. He needed to make sure Michael got what he had coming. The only problem now was that someone was going to get hurt and that someone would be Dylan. He couldn’t let that happen.

  *****

  It was six o’clock in the morning when Rade woke. Dylan’s naked body was still nuzzled to his. Looking down his body, Rade could see the erection he was tenting underneath the covers. Carefully moving his arm from underneath Dylan, he slowly rolled her over and carefully positioned
his knees between her soft legs. Bending over her, he gently took one of her nipples in his mouth and began tenderly kissing it. He could feel her beginning to stir beneath him. Craving more, he began kissing more of her supple body, diverting his mouth closer and closer to her beautiful auburn mound. Feeling the rise of her hips, he took her clit in his mouth and slowly began licking and sucking her. With one hand on her breast and the other between her folds, he eased his finger inside her wet pussy. Dylan began moving her hips to the thrust of his finger. “That’s it, baby. God, you make me so hard.” Thrusting another finger inside her, he could feel her tighten around him as his fingers curved to find her sweet spot. Flicking his tongue, he began circling her opening, drawing her closer until he met her swollen nub. Licking and sucking her clit, he felt her body shudder. Her hands went to his hair and held him tight as her body’s essence erupted. Removing his fingers from inside her, he grazed them across his lips and sucked her nectar clean. “You taste amazing. Sweetness, I’m going to fuck you now.”

  Rade regretted leaving Dylan while he went to retrieve a condom from his pants. He was looking forward to the day he would be able to take her without a glove. Rolling the condom on his already hard shaft, he slowly eased his body on hers and gently glided his cock down her slick folds. “God, baby, you feel so good.” With a gentle thrust, he entered her tight channel. Dylan could hear the moans of pleasure from Rade’s lips. Lacing her hands in his hair, she cupped his head and lowered his mouth to hers. “I need you, Rade, harder.” Without a second thought, Rade drove his shaft harder into her. He was so close to exploding, but he held back in order to feel her release with him.

  “I want you to come with me, baby. Touch yourself, Sweetness.”

  Dylan slowly moved her hand to her mound and began rubbing her clit. She could feel the slickness of her own wetness as she began moving her fingers harder and faster over her already hard nub. “I’m close, Rade, I can’t hold on.”

  “Come for me.” With those words, she erupted. Rade followed with his own release as her pussy tightened around his cock. Unable to hold himself up, he rolled over, still inside her. He never wanted to leave her body. This was where he wanted to be. “I love having sleepy sex with you.” There was a smile on Dylan’s face as Rade said those words.

  Picking up his watch from the night stand, Rade looked at the time. It was 6:30 a.m. He knew he needed to get to work, and Dylan would need to get ready as well.

  Kissing her on the forehead, he pushed from the bed. “As much as I could stay like this all day, we need to get ready for work.”

  Dylan regretted those words. As much as she loved her job, she loved being held by Rade more.

  “I’ll make coffee and you get that beautiful body of yours in the shower.” Dylan listened to Rade’s words and lifted her tired body from the bed, making her way to the shower.

  Finished making the coffee, Rade walked back to Dylan’s room to make sure she was up. Unable to resist her, he opened the bathroom door to see Dylan standing in the shower. Opening the glass door, he slowly slid behind her glorious body. Sliding his arms around her waist, he could feel her move into him. Without hesitation, Rade move his hands up her soft body and gently grabbed her breasts in his hands. Her breasts felt slick and firm under his hands.

  As he began playing with her nipples, he heard soft moans from her mouth. “Rade, if we continue this, I‘ll never make it to work.”

  Realizing she was right, he removed his hands from her nipples and tenderly kissed her on the neck. “Hand me your shampoo and I’ll wash your hair for you.”

  Dylan lifted her shampoo from the shelf and handed it to him. Rade poured a small portion into his palm as he smelt the scent he so loved. Rubbing his hands together, he slowly began massaging the lather into her red hair. He loved the feel of her hair between his fingers. It was as soft as silk. When he finished thoroughly washing her hair, he placed his hands on her arms and carefully turned her body so she was facing him. “Lean your head back, Sweetness.” Dylan tipped her head back so that the spray of the water washed the shampoo lather from her hair. Rade ran his fingers through her hair to make sure all of the soap was fully rinsed away. Picking up her conditioner, he squeezed a dab in his hand and evenly applied it to her hair, being extra careful to make sure the ends were covered. While waiting for the conditioner to fully soak into her beautiful strands, Rade lowered his head and delicately kissed her lips. He was going to make sure that showering in the morning together was a daily ritual.

  Dylan and Rade dried each other off as they exited the shower. He wanted to know every inch of her body just as she wanted to know every inch of him. Rade had no idea that the simple task of drying someone could be such a turn on. He was beginning to feel the hardness develop between his legs. “I better walk away now; otherwise I won’t be able to get my pants on.”

  With a giggle, Dylan looked at Rade’s erection and took it in her small hand, wrapping it firmly around his shaft. “Why don’t you let me take care of that?”

  Looking down on her, he lowered his mouth to her ear. “I would love you too, but that would mean you wouldn’t make it to work.” Kissing the top of her head, Rade left her room, leaving Dylan alone with her desires.

  Richard was waiting in the parking garage of the penthouse ready to take them to work. When Dylan was dropped outside her building, she leaned in and gave Rade a small peck on the lips. “See you tonight.” Just as Dylan’s lips left his, he felt deprived of the kiss he wanted. Taking her by the back of her neck, he forcefully pulled her back to him and took the kiss he so desperately needed. Dylan felt the command in his mouth as he worked his tongue between her lips. He kissed her with such power that it consumed her all the way to her sex, soaking her panties with arousal.

  As Rade broke their kiss, he looked into her eyes and saw the lust that they held. “I’m going to be late, but I want you in my bed naked tonight.”

  Intoxicated, she just nodded. “Okay.”

  *****

  Dylan’s day was going by at a snail’s pace. She wasn’t sure if it was because she was mostly thinking about what Rade said in the car this morning or something else. “I want you in my bed naked tonight.” She could feel herself beginning to care for him. She could easily fall in love with him. Was this what was supposed to happen? She always held tight to the idea that everything happens for a reason. Maybe she and Rade were meant to be together. She needed to push those thoughts away. She had a pile of files she needed to get through. Looking at her watch, it was almost lunchtime. She wondered if Alex would be available for lunch today. She didn’t see him at his desk when she first got to the office, but she saw that his computer was up. She decided to check and see if he would be available. Pushing herself from her desk, she walked out of her office.

  When she got to Alex’s desk, he was typing away at his keyboard. “Hey Alex.”

  Alex looked up at Dylan and smiled. “Hey, Chica.”

  “I wasn’t sure what your schedule was like today, but do you want to grab lunch?”

  “Like you wouldn’t believe,” Alex said.

  “Great, let me grab my purse and lock my computer,” Dylan said as she left his desk.

  Within minutes she was back and they both headed to the elevator. Once outside the building, Alex recommended a small bistro that had the best sandwiches he ever had. Dylan agreed and they began walking to the tiny place.

  Alex held the door open for Dylan as they entered the small bistro. They placed their orders and sat down at a table facing the front of the restaurant.

  Sipping her soft drink, Dylan broke the ice. “How is your day so far?”

  “Pretty good. Bossman hasn’t requested any errands be done today,” Alex claimed.

  “Well, that’s good. What exactly does he have you do?” Dylan asked.

  “Just about everything, Taking packages, picking up documents, and delivering them to the other businesses. Just whatever he needs.”

  “Doesn’t he h
ave a personal assistant for that?” Dylan questioned.

  “Yeah, but she’s busy working on other things. I don’t mind. Hopefully he’ll see how dedicated I am to my job and give me a promotion or something. Maybe you could put in a good word for me,” Alex giggled.

  “Alex, don’t be silly. How could I do that? I’ve never even met the man.”

  “Chica, you are so funny, stop kidding around.”

  “Alex, I’m serious.”

  “His driver drops you off every morning, how could you not know him?” Alex said, disagreeing.

  “Wait, are you telling me that the person you’re talking about is Rade Matheson?” Dylan asked suddenly feeling nauseous.

  “Yeah, Chica, he’s the CEO of Northgate Financial, plus who knows how many other companies. You didn’t know that?”

  “No, I didn’t,” she said, feeling played.

  Dylan was fuming; she was starting to see fire. How could Rade be so deceitful? She told him about her interview with Northgate and he said nothing about owning it. Dylan was beginning to feel like her interview, her apartment, her salary, was all his doing. She didn’t get this job because of her academic record or knowledge. It was because of him.

  “Chica, you aren’t eating. Matter of fact, you don’t look so well,” Alex confessed.