Next to Never: Shattered Innocence Trilogy

by Long, A. L.

  Rade spread Dylan’s legs and lowered his body onto hers. He softly whispered into her ear, “You are mine, Sweetness. No one will ever touch you again but me.”

  Placing a forceful kiss on her pouty lip, he took what was his. Dylan’s body began to submit to his kiss. He could feel her open up to him as he continued to explore the confines of her warm mouth. Every swipe of their tongues brought more and more heat to her core. She knew her arousal was dripping from her core. Rade pulled his lips from her as he continued his exploration of her body. His kisses were light and wet as he trailed them down her heated flesh. Placing one hand on her breast and the other over her sex, he began caressing her body. With one hand he tweaked her already taut nipple while moving the other between her drenched folds. Plunging two slender fingers inside, he could feel her need as her walls gripped his fingers.

  Her moans became louder as he continued pleasuring her. “Tell me what you want, Sweetness?”

  Dylan wasn’t going to tell him what she wanted. It would only prove that she needed him. With no words coming from her soft lips, Rade pulled his hands from her sex and grabbed a hold of his cock. “Look at me.” Dylan didn’t hesitate when he commanded her. “If you don’t tell me what you want, Sweetness, then I will be the only one satisfied tonight.”

  As Dylan watched him stoke his hard length, she could only think how much she needed him inside her. Closing her eyes, she softly whispered, “I need you, Rade.”

  Taking hold of her breast, Rade needed her attention. “Look at me, Sweetness.” Just as Dylan opened her eyes to look at him, a lonely tear slipped from her eyes. “I need you to look at me when you tell me what you want.”

  With a desperate and defeated whimper, Dylan surrendered. “I want you, I just want you.”

  Removing his hand from his cock, Rade lowered his shaft between her legs and gently parted her folds. With small, slow thrusts, he began making love to her. He could feel her submit to him as she moved, mimicking each of his strokes. Rade took her lips to his and passionately kissed her as her moans vibrated between their tongues. Lifting his hand from her body, he quickly untied her wrists. Her arms immediately wrapped around his shoulders as she screamed with her release. Rade could feel the tightening of her walls as her sweet juices shielded him. He continued to move slowly, letting the last of her orgasm fade. Keeping his slow pace, Dylan was close to another climax. Picking up his movements, Rade began pumping deeper inside her. When Rade pushed further into her with rapid speed, he heard Dylan scream his name. Dylan came with a powerful explosion as she tightened her legs around his slick body. Buried deep within her, Rade’s own storm skyrocketed as the last of Dylan’s orgasm receded.

  Fully sated, Rade rolled off of Dylan and pulled her close to his chest spooning her back to his front. Kissing the back of her head, Rade softly whispered. “I shouldn’t have said what I did. I’m sorry if I hurt you.”

  Dylan rolled toward him. The words Rade said earlier did hurt her more than anything. He was angry about what happened. He didn’t mean to lash out with hurtful words. Sensing his remorse, Dylan took his hand in hers and entwined their fingers together as she looked deep into his beautiful hazel eyes. Leaning over, she kissed his lips, acknowledging her forgiveness. Their kiss deepened leading to round two of their make-up session.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  It took all night for Rade and Dylan to finish their make-up session. They went from the bed to the bathroom, even a quick snack in the kitchen led to more making-up. It was nearly 3:00 a.m. before they both finally fell into a deep sleep, utterly exhausted. The light of the morning was peeking through the small gap between the bedroom curtains when Dylan rolled over to see what time it was. She was met with a gentle tug against a warm body. She didn’t protest as the comfort of Rade’s arm slipped around her waist. She could have stayed like this forever. Taking his hand, she pulled it up to her lips and gave him a quick nuzzle. “I could stay like this forever, but I need to get ready for work.”

  Rade rolled Dylan over so she was laying on her back. Placing a tender kiss on her lips, Rade lifted his body from the bed. “Get in the shower, Sweetness, and I’ll start the coffee.”

  Dylan was rinsing the shampoo from her hair when she felt Rade’s body close in on hers. He grabbed her bath sponge and began washing her front as she continued rinsing her hair. “Mmm… that feels so good,” she said as Rade gently brushed the sponge across her pert breasts.

  Rade was smiling. “You know, you could take the day off and spend it with me.”

  Dylan took the soapy sponge from him and began washing his body. “As tempting as that is, I can’t. Besides, we have a date tonight.”

  Rade knew he wouldn’t be able to back out of their date. Dylan had wanted this for such a long time. Now that his lifestyle was out in the open, he knew he needed to show her. He needed to find out if she could handle it and if it would be something he could continue to share with her.

  *****

  Rade was distracted all day. He wanted to make sure every detail of his night with Dylan was going to be perfect. He had to admit, he was a little uneasy about what would happen. He kept thinking about Dylan submitting to his every command. Her appearing before him in the outfit he picked for her to wear. The softness of her body splayed out for him to pleasure. How she would be at his mercy, how he would worship her.

  “Mr. Matheson, you have a call on line one.” The sound of Gwen’s voice over the intercom broke his stupor.

  “Thank you, Gwen.” Picking up the phone, he was agitated by the interruption. “Matheson.”

  The voice at the end was familiar. “Rade, it’s Richard. We finally got a handle on the driver of the car following you. We know he was no way affiliated with David Wu or his father. Here’s another funny thing, the charms that were purchased as a threat were paid for by David Wu’s credit card, but they were picked up by a woman. We’re working to find out who the woman was. With no connection between them and the chase or the charms, we may be looking at another perp. David Wu’s only involvement was the use of his credit card.”

  Rade was thankful for the information, but he still needed more. “Find out who the woman was. Maybe we can get information from her once we find her.”

  Rade ended the call. Even though Richard was sure David Wu had no connection to the events that took place during the last month, Rade wasn’t convinced he was completely clean either. He wasn’t giving up the possibility that someone else was involved either.

  Rade left his office at 5:00 p.m. He tried to push the information Richard shared with him from his mind. The only thing he wanted to think about was his evening with Dylan. He contacted The Castle to make sure all of his arrangements were prepared for him. He wanted to make sure his night with Dylan would be perfect. He went over every detail with them, making sure all the props he planned on using were in place. His good friend Dane Turner assured him that everything would be ready just as he instructed.

  Rade met Dane at one of New York City’s elite clubs. They hit it off from the beginning. Rade always had a domineering lifestyle, and when Dane brought him in as a new member to his private club nearly eight years ago, his desire for this lifestyle grew. When Dane heard of Rade’s plans, he was more than willing to help out.

  *****

  Dylan’s day couldn’t have gone any slower. It may have been the excitement of tonight that caused her focus on work to go out the window. Finding it impossible to concentrate on her work, Dylan decided she was useless. It was 5:30 p.m. when she finally decided her best bet would be to hang it up and go home. She could use the extra time to get herself ready for what would be an unforgettable evening. As she left the building, Peter was waiting for her. Peter seemed different tonight. Normally his expression was hard and emotionless.

  “Hey, you look happy tonight,” Dylan said as she got into the car. “So, what’s got you in such a good mood?” Dylan could see Peter looking at her in the review mirror with a smile on his face that
extended from ear to ear.

  “I have a date,” Peter explained, pulling away from the curb.

  Dylan leaned forward and placed her hand on his shoulder. “It must be some date. You look like you just won the lottery.”

  “Yeah, it is kind of special.” Peter looked quickly over his shoulder as he came upon a red light.

  Dylan sat back in her seat. “Well, good for you. Everyone deserves to be happy.”

  Peter was happy. Rade had given him the rest of the evening off once he dropped off Dylan at her apartment. He finally got the courage to ask Dylan’s friend Lilly out on a date. He hadn’t had a real date in a long time. Most of his encounters with women ended in one night stands. But there was something different about Lilly. The moment he laid eyes on her, he was drawn to her. She was beautiful with her long blonde hair, sapphire blue eyes, and legs that went on forever.

  Instead of pulling in front of Dylan’s apartment building, Peter pulled around to the parking garage. He stopped just in front of the elevator. Peter placed the car in park and got out. When he opened Dylan’s door, she took his offering of assistance. She held onto his hand as she got out. Lifting her eyes to meet his, she said with sincerity, “I hope you have a wonderful time. Maybe you’ll introduce me to this special woman sometime.”

  Just as Peter opened the driver’s door to get in, he yelled over to Dylan, “Hey, Dylan,” Dylan turned towards Peter. “That special woman… is Lilly.”

  Dylan just about fell over. She knew Lilly was attracted to Peter, but she had no idea the feeling was mutual for Peter.

  Stepping into her apartment, Dylan went to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of wine. She poured herself a generous glass and headed to her bathroom for a good soak in the tub. When she got to her room, she noticed a big black box with a deep red ribbon tied around it. She knew it could only be from one person. Kicking her heels off, she walked to her bed. Removing the ribbon and lifting the lid, she saw black velvet. Pulling the garment from the box, she held it up. It was a black velvet cape. Something else was in the box. Dylan folded over the white tissue paper to reveal a black lace corset with a matching lace thong. They were absolutely beautiful. It wasn’t what Dylan would typically wear, but beautiful nonetheless. Removing the lingerie from the box, one item remained inside. A card written in Rade’s handwriting was sitting on the bottom.

  My dearest Dylan,

  I have chosen this outfit for you with care. Please wear it tonight and nothing else.

  The cape has been provided for you to wear as well. This is a required garment for all the women entering.

  I look forward to our evening of complete ecstasy. I hope you are ready to be worshiped.

  R

  Bringing the note to her lips, Dylan detected the slight scent of Rade as she took in a deep breath. Feeling a tingling sensation between her legs, she closed her eyes, imagining Rade’s hands touching her. She couldn’t wait until she would be completely his. Placing the card on her nightstand, Dylan undressed and went to the bathroom to take a much-needed bath. She had chosen Rade’s favorite lavender bath oil. Once the jetted tub was full, Dylan lowered her body into the soothing water.

  Dylan had been so lost in her thoughts, she didn’t realize she had been soaking for nearly an hour. Pushing herself from the tub, she gathered a soft towel and wrapped it around her. The heat from the water caused a slight film of steam to cover the mirror. Dylan stepped up to the vanity and wiped the mirror with her hand so she could clearly see herself. Taking her time, she began styling her damp red locks until the curls flowed down her back. She was thankful her hair decided to cooperate with her. Placing a small amount of make-up on her face and a touch of lip gloss, Dylan was satisfied with her look. The only thing left was to get dressed.

  The outfit Rade left was lying neatly on her bed. The first item she picked up was the corset. Dylan wondered if Rade had picked it out himself or if he had his personal shopper pick it out. She was thankful there was a hidden zipper on the side. She would never be able to lace and tighten the silky strings in the back without help. Once she had it on and zipped, she could see that it fit her perfectly. Her breasts were pushed up to show off her cleavage, just high enough to keep her nipples hidden beneath the lace. The way it hung on her made her waist look smaller, giving her more of an hourglass figure. There wasn’t much to the silk lacy panties. As she pulled them on, she noticed a small red bow in the back centered perfectly just below the two dimples on her lower back. With the exposure of her bottom in the barely there thong, Dylan was thankful that the cape was provided. The last thing she wanted was to show off her ass in front of a bunch of horny men.

  Fully dressed, cape and all, Dylan walked over to her full length mirror to examine herself. She was surprised by what she saw. She no longer saw the shy girl she once was. She saw a woman who knew what she wanted. Removing the cape, she stared at the reflection before her. If she didn’t know it was her staring at the mirror, she might have mistaken herself for a sexy lingerie model like the kind you see when watching a Victoria’s Secret special.

  It was close to nine o’clock when Dylan heard a knock on her door. Looking through the peephole, she saw Rade standing there. He was wearing a white button-down shirt and black jeans. God, he looked good. As soon as she opened the door, she could see by his reaction, he was pleased at what he saw. “Wow, you look gorgeous. I could take you right now.”

  Dylan smiled at his comment and moved to the side of the door so he could enter. “Can I get you a glass of wine?” Dylan asked as she walked to the kitchen.

  Rade walked in behind her, taking in her toned ass as she walked in front of him. He was thankful the cape was a requirement of the club; otherwise he would be fighting off the other male members. “Grab the bottle and we can drink it on the way. It’s going to take a while to get there and we don’t want to be late for the initial festivities.” Rade gathered her cape and helped her into it.

  Richard was waiting for them in the Bentley. It had been a while since Dylan had seen him. He still had that serious look on his face, as always. “Hi, Richard, It’s good to see you.”

  Richard dipped his head with a nod. “Good to see you as well, Ms. Adams.”

  After their pleasantries, Dylan was ushered into the car with Rade close behind her. As they sat in the back seat, Rade pulled out two wine glasses stored in the armrest separating the two seats. He filled one and handed it to Dylan and then filled his own. Holding his glass up for a toast, he said, “Here’s to an unforgettable evening.”

  Watching as their glasses met, Dylan smiled. “Indeed.”

  They had been driving for about thirty minutes before Richard stopped the Bentley in front of two iron gates. Richard pushed the intercom and announced their arrival. “Mr. Rade Matheson and guest.” The iron gates automatically opened. As Richard drove up the long road, Dylan was becoming more and more excited. She had only seen the outside of the large mansion from pictures on the Internet. She couldn’t wait to see the inside.

  Dylan could barely see the outline of the castle through the trees along the driveway. Once past the row of trees, the sight took her breath away. “Oh my God, Rade, it’s beautiful.”

  Rade took hold of her hand as she continued to look out the window. “That it is.”

  There was a fountain in the middle of the entrance that caught Dylan’s eye. It was beautiful. It had two tiers with a sculpture of a man and a woman fully naked, embracing each other with a serpent entwined between their legs. The castle was also breathtaking with its high towers and stone walls. Dylan read that it was built in the early 1900s, but with the updated windows and doors, it looked like it had been built in this century.

  Getting out of the car, Dylan noticed the line of expensive cars and limos parked off to the side. Most of the drivers were either standing outside the vehicles or waiting patiently in the drivers’ seats. She wondered if Richard would be waiting for them until they were ready to leave. Rade gently placed his hand on he
r elbow and guided her up the steps to the front door. Turning her to face him, he took the hood of her cape and carefully pulled it over her head. Another requirement of the private club.

  Rade placed his hands on her arms, causing Dylan to look up at him. “When we get inside, Dylan, there will be a lot of things you may not be comfortable with. You will need to stay next to me during the festivities. There are a lot of high profile people in there and their privacy has to be maintained.” Rade took his hand and placed it on her chin. “Are you ready?”

  Dylan gave Rade a quick nod letting him know she was ready. Rade gave her a soft kiss on her lips and proceeded to lead her to the front door.

  Dylan wasn’t sure what to expect when she entered through the heavy iron doors, but she knew there was no turning back. The corridor was lit with soft lights that were dimmed so low that it gave the place a medieval aura. They were greeted by an older gentleman. The man looked to be in his mid-forties, but very handsome. Rade walked up to the man and shook his hand.

  “Rade, it’s been a long time, old friend,” the man said as he gave Rade a half hug.

  Rade turned to Dylan. “Dylan, this is Dane Turner, he owns the club.”

  Dylan held out her hand. Dane took her hand in his and lifted it to his lips. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dylan.” Dane released her hand and led them to the bar area to the right of the long entryway.

  While Rade and Dane caught up with each other, Dylan scanned the room. She couldn’t believe the number of people she recognized. Even though she was never formally introduced to them, she knew who they were from the newspapers and television. Rade was right when he said high profile people would be here. Dylan turned her attention back to Rade. She wasn’t sure if she was allowed to speak since this was a male dominated establishment, so she stood back and just listened to their conversation. Rade and Dane talked about sports, the weather, and family. When the subject of family came up, Rade ran his hand through his thick hair, telling Dane nothing had changed. Dylan wasn’t sure what Rade meant by that, but she brushed it off for another time.