Under His Protection

by Karen Erickson

  He had her. Just like that.

  And she hated it.

  Chapter Twelve

  “Why isn’t she here? You promised, damn it.”

  Suzanne startled at the sound of the beer bottle smashing against the wall, bits of amber glass raining upon the beat up hardwood floor. She crouched down on the couch, her arms over her head in a protective gesture when Rich Bentley lunged for her, his fist raised, his face a mask of rage. She watched it all, peeking from beneath her arm.

  “She’s busy, she couldn’t come over,” Suzanne cried, her voice muffled by her drawn up knees. She felt a glancing blow atop her head and winced, thankful she’d curled up into herself.

  She’d learned the pose years ago, after the first few beatings from Rich. Her husband who’d finally found her on the island yesterday.

  Like a ghost walking back into her life, he’d appeared, striding into the little café she worked at as if he belonged there. She’d very nearly dropped the full coffee pot she carried on her toes but somehow she’d kept a grip on it. She’d even managed to smile pleasantly in his direction when he sat at a table with that smug expression on his face she’d fought so hard to banish from her memory.

  How he found her, she had no clue. She’d been so careful to cover her tracks. It had taken months of careful planning and organization. When she’d finally gathered the documents, money and courage, she’d fled.

  Amber Bentley disappeared. Suzanne Arnold had been born.

  Nine long months ago, she’d walked away, thinking she’d never see his angry, scrunched up face again. Such a different woman she’d been then. A different woman, a different life, a sad little lost soul and now she had a life full of promise.

  Or so she thought. Until that promise came crashing down around her ears at first sight of her hateful husband.

  Now he was practically holding her hostage. Looking for an easy way out, looking for some sort of payback for her leaving him.

  “Faking your death did me no good, Amber,” he’d said when he finally got her alone, emphasizing the pronunciation of her true name, knowing it drove her crazy. “Once the insurance company denied the claim because they never found a body, I knew your ass was still alive. And I was right.”

  He couldn’t get over being right or that he’d actually found her. He kept bringing it up, throwing it in her face.

  All because of an insurance policy she had no idea had been on her life. Had he been planning to kill her all along for the cash? She wouldn’t doubt it. He couldn’t ever keep a job, yet he had a very expensive drug habit. He’d turned her into his work horse in order to have extra money.

  When Rich screamed at her yet again for compensation last night, she’d thrown up Blake as some sort a prize. Her one and only friend, she hated how quickly she threw out her name, but he’d given her no choice.

  It was all about survival now.

  Rich’s ears had perked up when he discovered she was the vice president of the United States’ daughter. The gleam in his eye told her he was very interested.

  If anyone could figure out how to extract every last drop of money out of a person, Rich could. He’d already put the plan into place, though she thought it had been stupid of him to call her. Distorting his voice with some sort of weird microphone thing he found at a Halloween shop. He’d drawn attention to the fact that something was brewing. The idiot.

  Besides, Suzanne hadn’t really offered Blake up for money purposes. She’d actually used her brain for once when it came to Rich. Blake would be the perfect bait to draw her to the house with her big, burly Secret Service agent man following and wham-o. Rich would be toast, caught beating his wife and high on drugs as an added bonus. She knew he had a meth stash in his duffle bag. They could probably get him for dealing, he had that much on him.

  Suzanne would have to explain about Amber Bentley’s untimely death but she could handle that. She was tired of running and anything was better than having Rich torture her.

  “You need to get little miss VP out here and soon.” He jabbed a bony finger in Suzanne’s shoulder, making her wince. “I’m ready to get off this shit island and you’re coming with me. We need money. A lot of money to get out of here.”

  “I don’t want to go,” she said but he smacked her alongside the head, shutting her up.

  “You’re going. You’re my wife. Wherever I am, you are. You got away once.” She peeked from beneath her arm again, saw the arrogant smirk on Joe’s face. “You try to get away from me again, and I guarantee you’ll never see the light of day.”

  She said nothing and he laughed.

  “You know, Amber honey, I always said you were too stupid for your own good, but finally you came across a goldmine.” Rich grabbed another beer from the opened twelve-pack that sat next to the couch and cracked it open. “Making friends with the vice president’s daughter, unbelievable I say.”

  “She really is my friend.” Suzanne’s voice trembled and she cleared her throat. Rich made her feel so weak and she hated that.

  “Who’d want to be friends with you anyway? That’s what I don’t get.” He tipped the can to his lips and drank. “We’ll find out for sure tomorrow, right Amber? And once you get your la-de-da friend over here, I’ll put my plan into action.”

  “What plan?” She almost didn’t want to hear it, though she needed to. She needed to prepare.

  “That’s for me to know and you to find out. I can’t trust you as far as I can throw you so I’m not telling you shit.”

  Grabbing her by the arm, he hauled her to her feet and shoved his face in hers. The stench of cheap beer tainted his breath and she wrinkled her nose, wishing she could run away, far away from this mess her life had suddenly become.

  “Let’s go back to the bedroom, Amber. You have some wifely duties to take care of.”

  Oh, God. She didn’t know she had it in her.

  She didn’t know if she could take it.

  * * * *

  Blake stepped under the hot spray of the shower to rinse the conditioner from her hair. She’d fled from Mason’s simple touch earlier, unable to take it any longer. His words had confused her as had his questions.

  He wanted to be with her and give her what she wanted, yet he couldn’t? It didn’t make sense. What stopped him? Was it her, who she was? Or was it his responsibility to her? His fear over losing his job?

  As usual, he’d given her no answer. So she hid away in the shower, unsure if he would join her tonight in her bed.

  Even through the confusion and the sadness, she still wanted him. Wanted to savor his body for as many days as she could before their time here ended. Why deny her body so much pleasure, even if her heart ached with their every joining?

  Oh, she was being dramatic. She needed to get out of this shower, go back out there and attack him.

  Mmm, it would be better if he joined her in the shower. Anticipation curled through her and she imagined what she would do if he showed up at this very moment. Stripped and ready, his eyes would flash with heat when he saw her naked, wet body.

  Her nipples hardened at the thought, her imagination running wild. Letting her hands fall, she settled them on her breasts, cupping them, rubbing her nipples with her thumbs. Slick heat grew between her legs and she closed her eyes, tilting her head back further under the cascading water.

  As if she conjured him from her thoughts, she opened her eyes and there he stood, clutching the edge of the open shower door. Still fully dressed, his hot gaze roved over her naked form, lingering on her backside. She faced him, giving him a better view.

  “Care to join me?” she invited, smoothing the hair away from her face.

  He visibly swallowed, she saw the bob of his Adam’s apple and he nodded slowly. “If you’ll have me.”

  She’d have him every which way she could for the rest of her life if he’d let her. “Take your clothes off then.”

  Stepping back, he undressed with unmistakable urgency. She trembled in anticipation, t
hough they’d done this before. Shower together, washing each other’s bodies, too aroused to resist the magnetic pull between them for long. He’d press her back against the cold tile, the warmth of his body holding her up while he filled her with his thick cock.

  She wanted to do that again. Tonight.

  Naked in record time, he entered the shower, his presence overwhelming the small space, crowding her in the most delicious way. The water hit him square in the chest and he dipped his head, soaking it under the hot spray of water before he stepped away, pushing his damp hair from his face.

  He blinked down at her, the dark lashes surrounding his green eyes sparkling with tiny droplets, rivulets of water running down his face and neck, onto his chest.

  She wanted to lick up every little path of water. Wanted to taste Mason’s musky skin, make him moan with every stroke of her tongue. Giving in to her urge, she reached out and ran her hands down his chest, across his stomach. He stood there, taking it, his mouth tight, his jaw clenched.

  “I’m glad you came,” she murmured. Her gaze stayed locked with his when she took a step closer, her tongue darting out to lick at his distended nipple.

  His eyelids fluttered and she licked again, lingering this time and she swore she felt the bit of flesh grow beneath her tongue. The unmistakable length of his erection nudged her belly and she glanced down, admiring him with eager, hungry eyes.

  “I had to.” The simple statement was all she needed to hear. Her heart sang, exhilarated that he felt this connection between them too. And that he couldn’t deny it any longer.

  Sliding down onto her knees she took him in her grasp, her fingers wrapped around him and he groaned, leaning against the tile wall. She gripped him hard, harder and he jerked in her hand, a little drop of clear liquid forming in the slit of his cock.

  Blake leaned in, dabbed at that bit of liquid with her tongue and the spicy, slightly sour taste of him filled her mouth. She couldn’t tell Mason what she felt, too scared he would push her away. So she would show him instead.

  How much she wanted to be his. That he had her complete and utter surrender and trust. Forever.

  He trembled in her grip and she drew him into her mouth, wrapped her lips around the flared head of his cock. He pulsed and throbbed against her tongue and she pulled him deeper, taking him as far as he could go before drawing him almost all the way out.

  She rested her hand against a hair roughened thigh, the rock hard muscle beneath her palm tensing and she stroked down, then up, up further until she gently cupped his balls. Triumph surged through her when she felt him shake, heard him groan with agonized pleasure.

  There was such power in this exchange, even though she was the one down on her knees. His most important and beloved appendage throbbed in her mouth, rested between her teeth and he trusted she would treat him with the utmost care.

  And she would. She savored him, her lips sucking, tongue licking, dancing over his thick, velvety length. She enjoyed this and she never had before with another man. But with Mason, she wanted to give. Wanted to show how much she wanted him, how much she wanted to please him.

  This act most definitely pleased him. She was arrogant enough to know what she did with her mouth and hands brought him to the brink of orgasm in a matter of minutes.

  He settled his hands on top of her head, knocking her from her thoughts and she glanced up, caught him watching her. His mouth was parted, lips damp, ragged breaths escaping him and he smoothed her wet hair back. He wanted to watch.

  Men were such visual creatures, she thought with amusement. She’d much rather close her eyes and feel.

  Blake withdrew him from her mouth, curling her tongue around the head before she licked the length of his cock. He shuddered, a low murmur of pleasure sounded deep in his throat and she paused, looked up at him once more.

  “Don’t stop,” he begged, his chest heaving.

  She smiled. “You want to come like this?”

  He nodded fiercely, his hair flopping onto his forehead and he shoved it back impatiently before that large, capable hand settled on top of her head once again.

  “Do you want to come in my mouth, Mason?”

  “Jesus, yes.” He sounded pained, as if he were dying and maybe he was, she wasn’t sure. To put him out of his misery, she sucked him deep into her mouth once more, licking, stroking his cock until he tensed, his balls drawn up tight against his body.

  He tightened his hands in her hair, tugging her hair with his fingers but she ignored the pain. Focused solely on the pleasure she was bringing forth. At the first shot of semen in her mouth, she sucked harder, milking him as he came with a shout, his body trembling with his release.

  She gently lapped at him as he relaxed, finally withdrawing him from her mouth. Settling on her haunches, the water pounded over her, making her shiver. Most of the heat was gone, the water lukewarm now and she hugged her arms closer to her body.

  Strong hands grasped her by the upper arms and hauled her to her feet. Mason pulled her close, wrapping one arm around her waist while he reached to turn off the water. She rested her head against his damp chest, dark hairs tickling her cheek. He smoothed his hands up and down her back as if trying to warm her.

  “Let’s get dry,” he murmured in her ear, then nibbled on the lobe.

  She shivered and nodded, letting him lead her out of the shower, standing still on the plush rug while he reached for a towel and slowly, sensually began to dry her skin.

  A soft sigh escaped her as he smoothed the towel over her body, lingering on her breasts, her stomach. She closed her eyes when he bent before her and dried her legs. Starting at her ankles, he slowly moved up, over her calves, her knees, the inside of each thigh. And when he pressed a soft kiss on her mound, she quivered with pleasure, wanting more.

  So much more.

  He stood, grabbing a fresh towel and briskly drying himself off. She watched, dazed and wobbly on her feet and he rubbed the towel over his head vigorously before he let it drop to the floor.

  “Come with me, babe.” He grabbed her, literally picked her up and carried her to the bedroom where he gently set her on the bed. He joined her, stretching his long frame alongside of hers and she crawled on top of him. Straddling his hips, she rested her hands flat on his chest, curling her fingers into the crisp hair that grew there.

  He reached for her, trailing his fingers down her arms. Already his erection grew, nudging against her backside.

  “Impressive,” she murmured as she leaned down and brushed a soft, lingering kiss to his mouth.

  He followed her lips when she pulled away from him, his head lifting from the pillows and he smiled. “It’s all your fault.”

  She rubbed against his lower belly, just above his growing cock and slid her hands down, over his washboard stomach, her fingers tickling. He lurched up, as if trying to buck her off and she clamped her thighs hard against his hips, smiling when she heard him chuckle.

  Joy filled her at his playful side, something he didn’t share very often. He was always so damn serious, it was a refreshing change.

  But Blake liked all of his sides. She loved them. She loved him.

  She just needed to find the courage to tell him.

  * * * *

  The damp goddess who sat astride him was driving him out of his ever lovin’ mind. She hovered above him, a coy smile on her face, her perfect breasts with their equally perfect nipples taunting him. Unable to resist, he sat up, wrapping his arms around her back as he drew first one, then the other nipple into his mouth.

  A gasp escaped her and she slid her hands into his hair, holding him close as he licked and sucked each nipple. He was desperate to please her, his body still throbbed with pleasure after his earlier orgasm.

  The blow job in the shower had blown his mind, bringing forth the most gut wrenching orgasm of his life. He had no fucking idea he could come like that.

  Hell, he didn’t know he could be raring to go so soon after coming like that either. But
he was. He couldn’t wait to bury himself deep inside Blake’s tight, wet heat.

  Something had shifted between them. There was no denying what they shared was more than sex. And though he hadn’t agreed to take it further, he wanted to. Too scared to admit it, he kept quiet.

  It was easier that way. He didn’t want to hurt her. Didn’t want to fuck this up. Day by day was best.

  He watched in fascination as Blake rubbed herself along him much like a cat, her sweet spot settled against his stomach, tantalizing him with her wet heat. The wicked smile that curved her lips told him he was in for a wild ride and when she bent to kiss him, he thrust his tongue deep into her mouth, leaving her panting when he broke the kiss.

  “Mason,” she whispered. His name had never sounded so sweet and he kissed her again, clutching her head with his hands, tugging on her damp hair. She shifted, aligning their bodies perfectly.

  With slow, deliberate strokes, she moved over him, just the head of his cock nestled amongst the folds of her wet sex. She hissed at the contact and bit her lower lip as she moved back and forth teasing her clit with his erect cock.

  “You want it, baby?” He loved talking to her, seeing the reaction written all over her face, the pretty pink flush that darkened her creamy skin. “You want to ride my cock?”

  She nodded furiously, as if she couldn’t speak and he thrust upward, filling her with one strong, sure stroke. The moan that escaped her made him groan in return. He pushed deeper, all the breath leaving his lungs at the first sensation of her clenched around him like a tight, velvety fist.

  Slowly, they began to move, her downward shift meeting his upward thrust in the most perfectly coordinated dance. She curled her hands around his shoulders and dropped her head back, the ecstasy etched all over her face driving him on.