“It’s probably best if we stay the evening,” Nox said, his lips curling. She hadn’t even heard him come up behind her.
Clearly, he had ulterior motives, but somehow, she didn’t mind. Actually, staying the night at the cabin, indulging her desires, and disconnecting from the world sounded blissful.
“I think we’ll take off in the morning, Rogers. In the meantime, we’re going to have a closer look around the property, in case we missed something. Will you go to the store and pick up some water and other necessities?”
“Of course.”
“And then find yourself a hotel room. You can charge it to me, just have the front desk give me a call.” The local business owners knew her family by name. They’d been coming here for years and dropping a lot of cash every time they visited.
To Rogers credit, his expression gave away nothing. Under normal circumstances, he would’ve stayed with the family, but she wanted some privacy.
“Very good, ma’am.” Rogers took off once more, leaving her all alone with Nox.
He grinned. “Wanted to have me all to yourself, huh?”
“Shut up.”
Chapter 5
The hunt for Amy didn’t last long, and it wasn’t fruitful.
Maeve and Nox had taken a walk through the woods. There was an old campsite she and Amy had used at the north corner. Their dad had allowed them to spend the night there in a tent when he’d brought company over. She and Amy had liked the freedom of being on their own.
Unfortunately, there was no sign of her sister there.
Plus, the cabin was dusty and musty from disuse. Maeve opened the windows and shook out the bed linens, trying to freshen the place up.
Nox had killed a couple of spiders after he’d knocked down their webs. He also fiddled with the fuse box and turned the power back on. When Rogers came, he unloaded the groceries, and she put them away.
After the chauffeur took off, night was falling.
“I’m gonna start a campfire. How do you feel about cooking outside?”
“Sounds good. I’ll make foil packets with meat and veggies.” Rogers had brought them chicken and asparagus.
Nox stood in the doorway, studying her. “You really thought she’d be at the cabin, huh?”
“I wanted her to be here.” It had seemed like such an easy solution.
“Storm is still tracking her down, and he’ll call us as soon as he knows something.”
She nodded.
After he got the wood going, she brought out two foil packets, which he placed in a cast iron pan balanced on a grate, near the edge of the fire. After supper, they sat in lawn chairs, watching the crackling fire, drinking paper cups full of Kent bourbon.
Campfires made her quiet, contemplative. As a kid, she’d spent hours staring into the flames, dreaming of her future, thinking about the present.
Tonight, was no different.
“Don’t lose hope. You said yourself, she had a credit card and a passport. Amy could be anywhere.”
She knew he was right and Maeve was probably worrying over nothing. Still, something about the situation bothered her. Why wasn’t Amy tweeting? Or posting pictures on Instagram? Had she decided to be stealthy? Or was something more sinister at work?
“Yes, I suppose.”
“Do you suspect foul play?”
“I’m not sure. I know, it’s most likely nothing, and I guess I’m just disappointed. She should’ve outgrown this behavior by now. I thought she was making some progress, getting ready to accept her responsibilities.”
“She’s only twenty-one.”
“Yeah, but by the time I was her age, I had my act together.”
“Me, too. I joined the Army when I was eighteen.”
“So, we’re both responsible adults.”
Nox grinned. “I didn’t say that. I enjoy myself, too. I work hard, so I can play hard. And maybe she’ll grow out of this wild behavior.”
“Good, because I can’t stand any more of this. I don’t know how my father did it.”
He sat back in his chair. “I’ve been wondering about your family. From what I read, he seems awfully old to have children yours and Amy’s age.”
“I thought we were going to keep this casual and light.”
Speaking of their not-a-relationship, why was he seated across the fire from her? She didn’t like the distance between them. And it’s not like they had to worry about anyone seeing them. The closest cabin was three miles from here.
“I’m not askin’ you to marry me. I just wanna know more about you.”
She took a sip of bourbon. “Then I’ll tell you. My dad was in his forties by the time I was born. And when Amy came around, he was in his fifties.”
Her father had been old enough to be her grandfather. And yet, most of the time he’d seemed a lot younger than her parents’ friends.
“Why did he have children so late?”
“My dad had a midlife crisis after his first wife divorced him. Apparently, she left him for a younger man.” He’d told Maeve the whole story one night. She hadn’t realized it, but it was the anniversary of his first marriage, and Reggie had been drinking himself into oblivion. “Anyway, she couldn’t have children, and Reggie said it didn’t matter to him at the time. He loved Allison and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.”
“And when it fell apart?”
“He made up for lost time.” Maeve shrugged. “After the divorce, he had a thing for much younger women. I think he was trying to father a child, and while his relationships didn’t last, he did take care of Amy and me. Reggie liked actresses and models, showgirls and Vegas weekends.”
He grimaced. “Yeah, my parents liked to party, too.”
“They didn’t slow down after you were born?”
“No, they dumped me on my grandad and never looked back.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m not.” His face shuttered.
And even if Nox said he was okay, she could tell it pained him. And no wonder, his parents had abandoned him.
“Was your grandad a good parent?”
“The best.” He smiled. “Don’t get me wrong, he could be a pain sometimes, but he loved me. The man never met a rule he didn’t like.”
“Funny. Reggie was the opposite. He was responsible when it came to running his company, but in his personal life, it was another story.”
“You mentioned that your mother wasn’t involved.”
“I’ve never even met her.”
As a child, she’d been curious, but Reggie had dodged most of her questions, and she’d eventually given up.
“Apparently, she came to my dad after she got pregnant, and Reggie agreed to take care of me, with a few stipulations. She signed a nondisclosure agreement, and waved her rights to me, in exchange for a payout.”
He’d let the last bit of information slip one evening, too. Maeve had been devastated when she’d initially learned the truth, but it didn’t bother her anymore. As far as she was concerned, Maeve knew everything she needed to about her mother.
He inhaled sharply. “I’m sorry.”
“Why? Because my mom sold me?”
“For lack of a better term, yes.”
When she’d first discovered what her mother did, Maeve had been devastated, but she’d slowly come to terms with it.
“I can understand why she did it. According to Reggie, my mom was dirt poor. She was a waitress, trying to make it as an actress in Los Angeles. So, she didn’t have a child to raise and could pursue her acting career without lugging me around.”
Maeve supposed she could go looking for the woman now since Reggie was gone, but what would be the point? She might be Maeve’s biological mother, but she wasn’t family.
“Your dad sounds like a character. Why do you call him Reggie?”
“He was eccentric. Once I got older, he wanted to be called by his first name. Personally, I think he did it to disguise his age.”
“Harder to g
et chicks when you’ve got baggage?”
“Something like that.” She snickered. “Do you have the same philosophy?”
Nox smirked. “Why? Do you want me to reform my terrible ways?”
She bet a lot of women had tried to change him, entice him into settling down, but Maeve knew better. Like Reggie, he was a wild one and chasing after him would be a fool’s errand.
“Nope.”
“Pity.” He licked his lips. “I was lookin’ forward to hearin’ your pitch.”
“I think we’re too similar, but you’re wrong about my dad. Before Allison broke his heart, he was a romantic. Their anniversary was a terrible day for him. He took off work, drank himself blind, but he never touched another woman that day.”
Maybe that’s why Maeve avoided love. Watching her father mourn the destruction of his marriage had been painful. And it still hurt him, decades later, like the wound was never completely healed. She’d vowed not to fall into the same trap.
“At least he loved Amy and me.” She sighed. “He never really felt anything for the women he screwed around with, but he enjoyed being a dad. Sort of.”
He raised a brow.
Maeve explained. “I adored him, but Reggie was irresponsible. Do you know how he died?”
“I read in the paper, he passed away at home.”
“No, the fixer I hired, helped me keep it quiet. Reggie died while having sex with a prostitute.” She’d gotten the call in the wee hours of the morning and had to spring into action before anyone found out. “I suppose it’s fitting. Reggie died the way he lived. He was a fun uncle. Not an authority figure.”
“What?”
“You know, he’s the uncle that comes to stay for the weekend, and he lets you drive a car before you have a license, and gets you drunk the first time. Did you ever have one of those?”
“No, can’t say I did. It was just me and grandad. So, Reggie was more like a friend?”
“Yep. By the time I was twelve, I was sneaking out of the house.” Was it any wonder she’d been a wild child? She’d lost her virginity at the age of 13 to the chauffer’s son.
“Didn’t he ever tan your hide?”
She shook her head. “And maybe that’s why I acted out, I wanted him to get mad, and act like a real father. But he congratulated me on my misadventures.”
His eyes widened. “You can’t be serious.”
“Oh, but I am. We traded stories.”
Most parents would’ve been horrified to see their teenage daughter slinking in the front door the next morning. Not Reggie. Instead, he’d laughed and praised her.
No one wanted to be raised by a fun uncle. Even though they complained about it, kids need boundaries, stability, order.
And yet, despite all of his shortcomings, she loved Reggie. He’d genuinely enjoyed spending time with them. They’d always been a priority for him. And she missed him like crazy.
A terrible thought occurred to her.
Guilt gnawed at her. Maeve hadn’t been giving Amy the attention she deserved or needed. After Reggie’s death, things had snowballed. She made a silent vow to spend more time with her sister and check in with her more often. After all, they were the only two left and needed each other more than ever.
“Oh my God, I just realized something.”
“What?”
“I’m not even the fun uncle. I’ve been so consumed with work, and I’ve barely noticed Amy in almost a year. I’m an absentee parent. I only call Amy to ask her to do things and read her the riot act for not following through.”
“You aren’t her parent.”
“For all intents and purposes, I am. I’m all she has.”
And Maeve had let her down. She’d left Amy to fend for herself. Maeve had paid the bills, but she hadn’t really taken an interest in her sister.
She downed the rest of the bourbon in one gulp.
“Hey, don’t go beating yourself up.”
“Why not? I let her down.”
“And you still have the chance to make it right.”
“Maybe.”
He leaned forward. “We’re gonna find her.”
“Yeah.” Maeve desperately wanted to believe him. “You’re right.”
Nox glanced at the fire. “I should build one of these more often. I forgot how relaxin’ it is.”
He was right. The crackle of the flames was mesmerizing.
“Speaking of, I’m sorry this is so rustic. Thank you for staying here with me and listening to me babble about my family.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m enjoyin’ myself. And this isn’t rustic, not by a long shot. I lived in the desert for weeks at a time. This feels like the Ritz in comparison.”
“Now, I’m curious. Tell me more about you.”
He shrugged. “Not much to tell.”
“You don’t like talking about yourself, do you?”
“Not so much.”
“Too bad. I’m not going to back off.”
His eyes danced with mirth. “You’re a spitfire, aren’t you?”
“I never back down from a challenge.”
“Good to know.”
Their eyes locked and the familiar tension between them roared to life. Maeve could almost feel his hands all over her once more.
She waved a hand. “Don’t try to distract me. Come on, start talking. Tell me more about your grandad.”
“He was cantankerous. Gramps joined the army right out of high school. He was a career military man, and he taught me everything I know.”
Nox rubbed his jaw. There was a flicker of pain in his eyes, which was quickly squashed. Evidently, he didn’t like displays of emotion.
Maeve watched and waited for him to continue.
“After my granddad died, I grew up in foster care.”
“How old were you?”
“Thirteen.” His face went blank once more. “I came home from school to find him on the couch. In the afternoons, he liked to read and take a nap.” A smile tugged at his lips. “At least it was peaceful. The old man loved military biographies, and he was smack dab in the middle of Napoleon’s book. It was spread across his chest.”
“What did he die of?”
“A heart attack.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Yeah.” He nodded.
“You said your parents weren’t in the picture?”
A muscle in his jaw jerked. “No, they bailed on me when I was a toddler. I don’t even remember them. My grandma died when I was six or seven, so it was just me and grandad for years.”
“And your parents didn’t take you in afterward?”
He sucked in a breath. “Nope. Neither one of them was responsible enough to care for a child. Both of them were screw-ups, into drugs and alcohol, unable to hold down a job. They signed me over to the state.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m not. If I’d grown up with them, I might have turned out very differently. I learned at an early age, how to fend for myself. Now, I don’t need anything or anyone.”
Nox was so hard, flinty. He had a thick outer shell, and she doubted anybody got inside it. While she wasn’t exactly looking for love either, she didn’t push people away as much as he did.
And she had Amy, too. Maeve had never been completely alone like Nox.
What are you doing? This isn’t your problem. Nox told you he wanted a no-strings relationship. Don’t try to make this more complicated.
“How did you get started in all of this?” She made a sweeping hand gesture.
“All what?” He grinned, all wolfish.
“Bondage. Discipline.” She whispered the words. To her horror, Maeve could feel the blush burning her cheeks. Why did he make her feel girlish again?
“You don’t have to be so discreet. You and I are the only two people around here for miles.” Then he pointed at the moon overhead. It was almost full. “The man in the moon sees everythin’, but he doesn’t tell any tales.”
“Answer the question.
”
“When I was in the military, I met a woman overseas, a dominant, and she ran a special club. It was a place for men and women with unusual appetites to meet and indulge them.”
“And what happened?”
“What always happens, I fell into temptation. She taught me the ropes, so to speak. I crave extremes—pain, pleasure. I need the intensity, the sensations it brings.” He flashed a brow. “And I haven’t looked back.”
“But you prefer being on top?”
“Yes, being submissive chafed, but I learned a lot.”
“What do you get out of it?”
Maeve had only been submissive once, but her experience in the car had been mind-blowing. She’d lost herself to his touch. Since Nox was in charge, he had to be more aware. Who wouldn’t want the freedom of letting go?
“I love control. When I was a kid, I didn’t have any. I didn’t have a lot of choices. I didn’t get a say in who I lived with, or whether or not I moved. I lived my life on other people’s terms. This is a chance to be in charge.”
And she also bet it separated him from his partner. There were roles, an emotional distance. She could see where it might be attractive but didn’t say so.
Maeve also had the feeling, his choice of vocation was all about power, too. He literally held a person’s life in his hands.
Maeve licked her lips. “So, what are we going to do tonight?” Oh my God, was her tone too hopeful? Needy? Maeve couldn’t help it. She was more than eager for another lesson.
“Nothing. You’ve had a little to drink, and it’s been a long day.”
She blinked. “You’re serious?” What? She’d never been more ready to sleep with a man in her life. Was he crazy? Or was this yet another form of control?
“Don’t get me wrong. I’m beyond ready to fuck you, but I don’t want to rush this.” He stood. “Speakin’ of which, we should probably turn in. We’ve got a long drive tomorrow.”
Maeve groaned in sheer frustration.
***
Nox couldn’t sleep.
Why the fuck didn’t I keep my mouth shut?
He hadn’t intended to spill his guts to her, but Nox hadn’t been able to help himself. He never talked about his grandfather or his past. Nox enjoyed playing with women, but he didn’t plan to give one an all-access pass to his head.
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