She laughed at him. “Well, if you’re so threatened, maybe you should stake your claim.”
“Is that a dare?” He dropped some ice cream onto the side of her neck and began licking it off.
“More like an invitation. I am yours, Rex. I’ve only ever belonged to you. If you need to make me yours in a million different ways, well, far be it for me to take that away from you.” She smeared a dollop of ice cream on his ear and nibbled it away.
“Come here, honey.” He grabbed the spoon from her and set the ice cream on the nightstand. “Let me stake my claim.” He winked at her as he came down on top of her. “I’ll play the big, strong Navy SEAL and you play the thankful hostage I’ve just rescued from the clutches of evil.”
Chapter Nineteen
Rex spent most of the next day making arrangements with the realtor to sell his condo. He met with some movers and walked them through the condo showing them what would be packed up. He made several calls to Shelby throughout the day to check on her. They had agreed to spend the weekend finding a home, so he wanted to get as much done today as possible. If they concentrated on finding their new home that would be one less thing to worry about as they planned the wedding.
Things were moving so fast, but he still couldn’t seem to get them to move quickly enough, no matter how hard he tried. He wanted it all now. He wanted the home, the wife, he wanted to travel and make love to her with the Eiffel Tower in the distance as they conceived their first child. The first child of many. He looked out of his condo’s picturesque window while he listened to the realtor ramble on about commission and the market. He didn’t care about any of it. He wondered if this was the same whirlwind that Jack had gone through. Then he laughed. They were a rough and rowdy bunch in their SEAL days, but now these two women had reduced them to a couple of teddy bears. What’s more, he didn’t even care.
“Mr. Metcalf, are you listening to me?” the gray-haired Mrs. Brooks asked him.
“Hmm? Honestly, no. Sell the condo. I don’t care about the details. But try and sell it quick. I want this over with so I can start my new life. Oh, and see if you can arrange some sort of estate sale. Or maybe you can sell the place with the furnishings. I’ll be starting fresh, so I don’t need any of it.” Rex started to head toward the front door. “Lock the door on your way out.”
Mrs. Brooks stood there stunned, but clearly pleased.
Rex walked into the coffee shop and plopped down in a chair in front of Cullen and Andrew.
“Okay, you got us here, on our day off no less. So do you want to explain to me why I am here and not with Amanda on one of the few days we have alone together?” Andrew demanded.
Rex nodded. “Sorry about that, but I need a favor.”
“Don’t you always,” Cullen muttered before taking a drink of his coffee.
Rex ignored the snide comment. “PATAVOC, what do you know about it?”
Cullen and Andrew both looked up at him, surprised by the question. “They’re a pretty clandestine organization.” Andrew responded. “Why do you ask?”
“Let’s just say it’s important.”
Andrew looked at Cullen, who shrugged. “It’s a vigilante group that has grown pretty large over the past, maybe, twenty years now. They’re frowned upon by law enforcement for their, shall we say, aggressive tactics. But the truth is, I don’t think there is any agency out there actually actively looking to apprehend its members. They tend to do what law enforcement can’t do or won’t do because their hands are tied with laws and proper procedure.”
“Is that all you know? That’s not much. I know that much already,” Rex countered.
Cullen acknowledged the question. “There isn’t a lot to go on. What little we have heard is mostly word of mouth. I don’t think there’s actually any paper trail. I think they keep things pretty well hidden under the radar. What is this all about anyway?”
Rex considered it for a moment. Shelby didn’t know what his intentions were. But he also didn’t think she would mind if Cullen and Andrew knew. She seemed to have come to terms with her past, and she was thankful to PATAVOC and Jesse. He was sure she would be behind him on what he had planned.
“It’s about Shelby. You both have heard bits and pieces of what happened to her when she was younger. Needless to say, they are the ones responsible for getting her out.” Rex waited as he watched their mouths drop open.
When he was sure they got past the shock, he continued. “I can’t say I disagree with some of their lawless methods. There are some real assholes out there. I want to find some of its members to, ah, help their cause, so to speak.” Rex noted the change in their expressions. Obviously, they needed clarification. “I’m interested in making a donation.”
Andrew stopped Cullen before he could respond. “Are you kidding? Are you actually asking for our help to donate money to an illegal organization? We’re cops for crying out loud. We can’t help you with that kind of thing. We’ll lose our shields.”
Rex just stared at them, not responding. He knew his stare made Cullen nervous. He decided to use it to his advantage.
“Damn it, stop it. You know I hate it when you stare us down like that,” Cullen snapped at him.
Rex shrugged. “A guy’s got to use all of his ammunition in a battle if he intends to win.”
“This isn’t a damn battle. You’re not in the Navy anymore. It’s our jobs you’re talking about here. It goes against every oath we took when we became police officers. We vowed to uphold the law, not break it,” Cullen shot back.
“Oh, cut the crap, Cullen. You’re melodramatic just like your parents.” Rex winced as he made the snide remark. He hadn’t really meant it, nor did he feel that way, he just wanted the information, any information that they had. When he woke up this morning, it had seemed so important, like something that he had to do.
“I’m sorry, that was uncalled for.” Rex sincerely apologized. “This is just so important to me. If they hadn’t saved her, I might have never had the chance to know her or to love her.”
They all just stared at each other for several moments. None of them was really sure what to do or say.
“Look, I know you’re cops. I know I’m asking a lot. But, it’s Shelby, guys. The thought that she might have–look, I’m not asking you as a cop. I’m asking you as a civilian, as a human being,” he pleaded.
Andrew glanced at Cullen and then looked up. He muttered something under his breath that sounded like a curse and then leaned across the table. “I’m not sure, but I think our chief may have a file in his office on potential members of the organization.”
“Andrew!” Cullen snapped. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Can it, Cullen. Rex is right, damn it. I know it, and you know it, too. We see this kind of crap every damn day on the job, and we can’t do anything about it. If there’s even a chance that these people helped Shelby then–hell, what’s it gonna hurt to give Rex a name or two?” Andrew said, torn between his sworn duty and his conscience.
Cullen took a deep breath as he steepled his hands above his coffee. “Fine, but if you’re going to get him the information, I’m going to help you.”
Andrew looked surprised at Cullen. “Are you sure? You’re Mr. by-the-book. Since when have you found a gray area in law enforcement?”
Cullen shrugged and took a drink of his coffee. “We’re partners, aren’t we? Besides, I feel like we’re doing it more for Shelby than we are for this arrogant SOB.”
Rex chuckled. “Whatever it takes, man. Thanks.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Cullen retorted.
“Look, we’ll see what we can find out tomorrow when we go in. Then we’ll let you know, okay,” Andrew said as he got up from the table. “Oh, and by the way, the coffee’s on you.” They walked away from the table.
Rex laughed. “Isn’t it always?” He yelled to them as they walked out.
Rex had invited Jack and Tamara over for pizza and beers that night. Shelby hadn’t seen the stalker
that day, but he wanted to keep her occupied. She had been so happy the night before, and he didn’t want her to have time to stop and worry about anything. It worked out to be a great distraction from the start. Tamara had arrived with a dozen bridal magazines for her and Shelby to peruse.
After the pizza arrived, Shelby and Tamara sat in the kitchen and went over just about every detail imaginable for the wedding. Rex and Jack sat in the living room drinking beer and watching a baseball game. Everything was going so well when Rex heard the phone ring.
“Hello,” Rex said as he picked up the receiver, but no one answered him. The caller was still on the line, but saying nothing. He could hear the erratic breathing on the other end. He walked away from the kitchen so Shelby wouldn’t hear him.
When he got closer to the balcony doors, he let the caller have it. “Listen, you son of a bitch. I’m going to find you, and then I’m going to rip you to pieces. If I were you, I would leave her alone before I get a chance to do that. Because when I do get a hold of you, you’re going to wish that you never laid eyes on her. Do you hear me?”
Rex’s attempt to hide the call from Shelby was for nothing as his voice rose with his anger. “Still got nothing to say, you coward? Fine, say your prayers. Because when I get my hands on you, you’ll wish you were dead.” Apparently, the caller had heard enough as Rex heard the call disconnect.
He stared out the balcony doors to look down into the courtyard. He wondered if the bastard was down there now, but he doubted it. Rex knew that now the guy would be more careful.
“Rex!” Jack snapped at him.
“What, damn it?” He turned to see Shelby staring at him. Her face was pale.
“Was that him?” she asked him in a shaky voice.
He dropped his head down to his chest, angry with himself for letting his emotions get the better of him. He didn’t want her to be upset tonight. He wanted just one night of peace for her. But he looked back up at her. “I think so, honey.”
He walked to her and wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. “Listen, I don’t want you to worry about him, okay. I’m going to stop him. He’s not going to get anywhere near you.”
She nodded in his embrace. “I know.”
“I mean it. Everything’s going to be fine. Let’s think about something else, okay? How about the wedding, do we have a date yet?”
She looked up at him. “Well, actually, Tamara and I were thinking that maybe we could try to plan something for the end of next month. That would give us about six weeks to –”
“Six weeks?” he said in disbelief.
“Well, I know it’s kind of soon, but I thought we –”
“Soon? Honey, I thought we’re going to get married right away. You’re going to make me wait six weeks?” He made a pouting face.
She smiled at him and punched him in the ribs. “Stop it. If you don’t behave, I’ll make you wait seven weeks just out of spite.”
He kissed her. “Okay, I’ll be good. I promise.”
“Do you even know how to behave, Rex?” Jack chided.
“Screw you, Peyton.” Rex jibed right back.
His plan worked. Despite the call, having Jack and Tamara around helped take her mind off of it. They all had a fun night laughing and talking about anything and everything.
The night took on a somber mood at one point when Shelby opened up about what she had remembered the night before. She felt she owed it to Jack and Tamara, as well as herself, to explain to them why she felt she had fixated on Brent. While it took a toll on her emotionally to talk about Jesse and what he meant to her, she felt better for sharing it with them.
Rex watched her. Happy. She looked so happy. Maybe she had been right the night before. Maybe she was going to be okay. Perhaps this really was a turning point for her. He hoped so. Now, if he could just get this stalker to leave her alone, they would have nothing but happiness ahead. There was nothing he wouldn’t do to see to it that Shelby had nothing but joy in her life. She had suffered so much in the past, and she deserved a lifetime of bliss.
They said good night to their friends, and Shelby started to pick up the empty beer bottles that Rex and Jack had left all over the coffee table as Rex locked up. She suddenly laughed out loud.
“Penny for your thoughts,” he said as he leaned over and kissed her.
“I was just thinking how incredibly domestic this feels. Picking up, locking up, it seems like we’re already married. But we’ve really only just begun.”
“It’s true, we only have just begun. We’ve got our whole lives ahead of us, honey. Now pick up this mess, woman. I’ll be in the bedroom waiting for you to pleasure me–oomph.” He hunched over after she leveled a blow to his rib cage with her elbow.
“That is what will happen if you ever speak to me like that again.” She winked at him as she walked to the kitchen.
“Duly noted.” He hobbled off to the bedroom like an injured man as she rolled her eyes at him.
He paced the living room. His hand wrapped around the handle of his knife so tightly that it felt numb. Who did he think he was talking to him that way? Him of all people. Who did Rex Metcalf think he was dealing with? He would pay. He would pay for all of it!
He was going to enjoy sticking his knife deep into the bastard’s body. The pleasure he would gain from watching him bleed until his cold, lifeless body lay limp before him made him laugh. Yes, then he wouldn’t be so tough, would he? No, he would then be the one who wished he were never born. And he would have Shelby then, too. They were going to finally be together.
He smiled. God, the thought of her always made him so happy. She was so beautiful, so sweet. The things that had happened to her were not her fault. She had been abused by monsters. Monsters like that bastard Metcalf. It made him sick to think what he was probably trying to pressure her into. He wouldn’t care that she was innocent and special. No, Rex Metcalf would take what he wanted and throw her away.
He walked over to the wall where he worshiped her. He stared at the different images, the different layers of her soul. She was such a complex woman. He was going to enjoy getting to know all of the things that make her what she is. He would love her, take care of her, and worship her every day for the rest of his life. He traced a finger over a picture of her walking into the health club that she attended. He loved how she looked even when she wasn’t made up. She was always at her prettiest without her makeup. So natural and fresh. She was so perfect.
He felt his arousal building again. The agony of waiting for her was killing his control. He needed her so much more with every day that passed. Every time he thought he could wait and be patient, the need and urgency to have her just exploded inside him. He didn’t want to touch himself. He promised himself again just last night that he shouldn’t. He should wait for her. Wait to give himself to her.
Oh, but he was so achy for her. He kept imagining her, naked and beautiful, lying in a bed, waiting for him to take her. He had no choice. He wasn’t strong enough. He reached into his pants and started to rub himself. He continued the motion, increasing the intensity of his strokes. His final amount of restraint snapped as he unclasped his trousers and pulled the proof of his desire out. He lay down on the floor and pleasured himself as he looked up at the pictures of Shelby. He imagined her touching him, and loving him. It couldn’t be soon enough. He couldn’t have her soon enough.
Rex and Shelby snuggled in bed. For the first time in their whirlwind romance, they fell asleep without making love first. He held her in his arms as she laid one hand across his heart. It was a feeling of unity and of hope. He held her and realized that he could happily fall asleep like this every night for the rest of his life and not want for anything ever again. He would give up all of his money and everything that he had as long as he was able to hold her in his arms.
He tried not to, but he let his mind wander to the stalker. He wondered who he was and where he first saw Shelby. What caused him to become fixated on her? He rem
embered why Shelby thought she had obsessed over Brent. Could it be the same for the stalker? Did Shelby remind him of someone he loved? Or was it just her beauty? It killed him to not know, to not be able to do anything at all. He was trying to steady his breathing and remain calm because he didn’t want to wake her.
But then he heard her whimper. She was sleeping, dreaming. He lay still, unsure of whether or not he should wake her. He waited and watched her. She was moving against him. Almost provocatively. Her whimpers were intensifying. What was she dreaming about? She looked like she was getting turned on.
He was about to wake her when she whispered in her sleep. “Rex, mmm, oh, Rex.” He grinned. Well, it’s about damn time she dreamt about me, he thought to himself. He held on to her a little tighter, his ego a little swollen and a lot happier for the fact that his woman was having an erotic dream about him.
Chapter Twenty
Shelby called Rex to tell him the news that she was so excited about. Not only had Mr. and Mrs. Peterson found a replacement for her but the girl they hired had a lot of experience in law firms. They only thought they would need to keep Shelby on for another week, give or take, barring any unforeseen problems. Then she would be free to plan the wedding and look for their home.
She felt exhilarated. Everything was happening so fast, but it seemed like it wasn’t moving quickly enough. This was meant to be. She and Rex were going to be so happy. She just knew it. An incredible feeling of peace and closure had swept over her since she had the last dream. She thought of Jesse and the pain he had gone through. All that he sacrificed to help others. She would not break her word to him. She would be happy. She would live a healthy and fulfilling life with Rex and have children. Then, when they had a little girl, she would name her Daria, after the child who was taken too soon.
Morgan, Nicole - Sweet Salvation [Sweet Awakenings 2] (Siren Publishing Allure) Page 24