Unreserved: The Vault

by Michelle Dare

  Maybe it's time to make a move. To solidify this thing between us. I'm not sure what that means right now, but it feels right. She and I feel perfect together. We make sense, as crazy as that sounds. Yes, we come from two different worlds, which is the very thing that keeps everything so interesting between us. There's never a dull moment. Even when it's just us in bed watching a movie, we're laughing, having fun, being ourselves. That's not something I can find with just anyone, nor do I want to. I want Alicia and no one else.

  I decide to go to Alicia's for the night when we arrive home. We both have to work in the morning. This way, I get to spend the rest of the night with her before reality comes crashing back down and responsibility slams into us.

  I'm on the bed, in just a pair of loose basketball shorts, waiting for her. The room is dark, quiet. Then the bathroom door opens, light spilling into the room, illuminating the woman I love like the angel she is. She's bare and all mine.

  Switching the light off, she climbs onto the bed, settling beside me. The heat of her body makes me hard in seconds. We didn't get to have sex much while we were in Alaska. There was a lot on our minds and, while I held her every night when we slept, we only made love once. It was desperate and raw. Like we were both opening ourselves up to the other, showing all our scars and vulnerabilities. It was beautiful and something I'll never forget.

  Alicia's hand runs lightly over my stomach down to my waist. She teases me as she touches everywhere. My body is rigid, my dick leaking. Finally, I can't take it anymore and roll on top of her, pinning her hands above her head. My length lies at her entrance, taunting her. It's my turn now.

  I lift slightly to press myself against her most sensitive part then I glide over her, using her wetness to coat me, and fuck me if it doesn't feel amazing. She moans beneath me, her legs wrapping around my waist.

  She lifts her hips up to try and move me back. I let her. I want inside of her just as badly as she wants me there. We hit the perfect angle and I slide into her, pausing once I'm fully seated. If I move, I'll come, and I'm not ready for that yet.

  I take both her wrists in one hand and use the other to cup her breast as my lips meet hers. The kiss is frenzied. Our tongues meet, my hips move quicker, and my finger finds her nipple to tease the stiff peak.

  "Fuck, baby," I say against her lips. "I need you to come. I can't hold back much longer. You make me fucking wild."

  Reaching down, I find her clit and make fast circles over her until her body is trembling beneath me. I drive into her harder—faster—until my release slams into me, making me come so intensely I see stars as her name leaves my lips.

  We both come down together, kissing, caressing one another before I roll us to our sides, keeping her close to me. She nuzzles into the crook of my neck, kissing me lightly.

  "I don't want this to end," she says quietly. I immediately stiffen. What is she talking about? I never said I was going anywhere. Is she? Did I miss something?

  Pulling back, I peer down at her in the dark. I can't make out her every feature, but my eyes have adjusted enough so I can see she's watching me. "What are you talking about? I'm not going anywhere, baby. I only want you."

  "I liked spending the week with you in Alaska. I...I want more, Rider. I want you in my life always." Fuck, please tell me she's not going to propose to me right now. Not that I have any problem with a woman proposing, but if anyone is going to do it, I want it to be me. She has this big, luxurious life, and I want to be the first to give her this. I want to be the man who gets down on his knee and asks her to be mine for life.

  She must read my hesitation. "I'm not asking you to marry me or anything like that. I just want us to move forward. Move in with me." That, I'll let her say. In all honesty, it makes sense for us to live here. My townhouse is good for me, but for us as a couple—moving forward with our lives together—the house is better. Plus, it has all the security features she needs.

  "If I say yes, you have to let me help pay for things." She doesn't need my money, not even close, but I'll be damned if I'm going to let her take care of me. No, I need to contribute.

  "The house is paid for, but if you'd like to help with the bills, that's fine."

  I lean forward and kiss her. "Then, I'm in."

  She nudges me so I’m on my back. Then her body is on mine; her legs straddling my waist. "I love you. I love you so much." I hear the devotion in her voice but also the relief. Like she was scared I was going to say no or leave her.

  Brushing her hair back, I say, "As long as you'll have me, I'll be here. I know you're strong, but you can always depend on me. I'm not someone who is here for any other reason than because I love you and always want to be with you. And I don't want you to think that one day I won't want to marry you. I will; however, I think we are making the right move by living together first. We practically were anyway, but now we will be. My stuff will be here, and I'll be in this bed with you every night. I love you, Alicia." She sniffles in the dark, and I catch her tear with my lips.

  I flex my hips and push my already hardening length up against her. Fuck, what this woman does to me. Every curve of her body, every move she makes, the way her voice caresses my skin like the best fucking music out there. She unravels me.

  Alicia moans and slides her body down, coating me with the evidence of our last encounter. It’s one of the sexiest things that's ever happened to me. Knowing I was in there, that it's part of me slipping out of her.

  "I need you," I tell her.

  She slips down farther so I can grip my dick and hold it up. In a few short moves, I'm inside of her again, her slick heat covering my hard length.

  Our hands meet. I hold her up as she begins riding me. Her breasts move with every thrust of my hips. Her head tips back as she lets pleasure ripple through her.

  "Lift up, baby," I say. She does what I ask and then I'm thrusting into her at a rapid pace. Our bodies hit each time I'm buried deep. She leans forward, her lips seeking mine as she finds the angle that gives her the most pleasure.

  "Oh, God!" she cries out and gives herself over to me, knowing I'll take care of her. Knowing I'll make her feel better than any man ever has before me, and I’ll never let her fall.

  I pull out, causing her to whimper. "On your knees and put that ass up in the air for me."

  She does, and I have to grip myself hard to keep from coming at the sight. Her perfect ass is on display for me. I run my hand along the supple curve of it before dipping my fingers down and pressing two inside. I want to watch her come apart, thanks to my hand. So I add another finger and fuck her hard with them.

  She clenches around me as her climax slams into her, loud cries leaving her lips. God, she's stunning. Every fucking inch of her is mine.

  Her legs tremble. I don't let up. I love this. Love seeing her fall apart in the best possible way. And I'm right on the edge. So fucking close.

  Instead of slamming back into her, I get on my knees behind her while I continue to stroke her and grasp my dick, making myself come hard in a few long strokes. I'm spilling out, coating her back.

  "Holy fuck," I breathe out when every last drop has been wrung out of me.

  Alicia collapses to the bed. "You got that right."

  Looking down, the evidence of my passion for her on her skin, the primal part of me roars to life. She's mine.

  Climbing off the bed, I go into the attached bathroom to wet a cloth. When I return, I sit beside her and gently clean her. As much as I love seeing her like this, no way can I let her sleep this way.

  I toss the cloth into the hamper and bring her body close to me. Her scent, her warmth, every part of her wraps around me until we both peacefully drift off to sleep.

  ALICIA

  I've never been one to have bad anxiety. But today, knowing my dad has a meeting with Rider, my nerves are shot. I have no idea what they’re going to talk about. What my dad could possibly need to speak with him about that I can’t be there. I didn't tell Rider, but I called my dad a
nd asked if I needed to attend, trying to insert myself into the conversation. He told me not to worry and not to join them. It was worth a shot, at least.

  And Rider, I can't put into words what I feel for him. How much I love him. When I look at the future, he's there. An unwavering support I didn't realize I needed until I met him. Now, I can't imagine my life without him.

  When we were in Alaska, I could picture spending my time there with him. After the first two days, things got easier. I forgave Hope for what happened, and we talked like long-lost best friends.

  To see Rider with Rowe, yeah, I could get used to that being my life. Having a couple of exceptionally close friends and spending our time with them. But they live so far away. I'm not sure how to make it work.

  Before we left, Hope told me Rowe asked if Rider wanted to move up there and work with him. Once she said the idea, it settled in my chest. I let it stay there and have thought about it often since. Could we live in Alaska? Make a life there? It's much more laid back than I'm used to. My work is here, but couldn't I work from anywhere, have video-conferences, and fly down here when needed? It's something to consider. An idea I like immensely.

  Here, I feel exposed, hiding behind the security of my home or office. As much as I love it here, I have to admit it bothers me how anyone could come up to my home. I'm well-known here. Maybe in Alaska, no one would give a shit about who I am. We could live off the beaten path and be low-key. I love the idea of that. Just nature, Rider, and me.

  Rowe said the crime rate up there is very low. Next to nothing happens. That's not to say he doesn't have enough to do at work. They have him travel a bit to neighboring communities to help out when needed. Not far enough that he'd be away from Hope for too long, but enough that it keeps his job exciting.

  I'm in my office, staring out the floor-to-ceiling window, when there's a knock on my door. I know it's Rider.

  "Come in," I call.

  Rider opens the door and enters in all his sexy glory. His navy suit is tailored to fit him perfectly. The white button-down underneath has the top couple of buttons undone, giving him a casual vibe. I love it. I wish he'd dress like this more often.

  He shuts the door behind him and strides to my desk. I'm helpless to do anything but follow every step he takes with my eyes as I drink him in. He stops in front of me and leans over to rest one hand on the arm of my chair, swiping a finger over my chin. "You're drooling."

  "I am not," I say breathlessly, not at all convincing.

  "I love the way you look at me."

  Leaning forward, he presses his lips to mine, and I immediately part them, welcoming him in. Just as I'm reaching up to pull him closer, he breaks our kiss.

  "As much as I want to bend you over this desk and have my way with you, I can't. I have to get to work." He told me he was going in after the meeting. There's a bag on the couch in my office with all his things for work in it. The only items he didn't leave here were his guns, which are right now strapped in holsters at his sides.

  "You can't leave unless you strip and put on one of your work suits right in front of me." The suit he wore today to meet with my father is new. He doesn’t want to wear it to work, so he packed something else to change in to.

  "Deal," he smiles. I stand and lock the door, not wanting anyone to come in and see the man before me.

  Rider does as I ask and does it painfully slow. He tells me all the time how much I unravel him, but the feeling is mutual. Everything I do to him, he does to me. When he's dressed in his other suit, I love it, but not as much as the expensive tailored one he had on before.

  "What did you two talk about?" I ask.

  "He offered me a job."

  My eyes widen. "He did?"

  "Yeah, he's looking for a new head of security. Someone who manages the security for events the company hosts and anything else it's needed for." He's always outsourced his security. This is huge.

  "You'd have to build the whole team."

  "Not all of it. You already have bouncers on the payroll at each club, but yes, I'd have to hire some people. The bouncers at each club would then report to me and not the manager of the establishment. Your dad, while he likes who the managers pick, thinks it's best if someone with experience is vetting them and making sure they'll do the job needed. I don't blame him. It's a good idea." I can hear the ‘but’ in his voice, even if he doesn't say it.

  "But?"

  "But I'm not sure what to do. We just decided to move in together. Then there's Rowe and Hope and Alaska. He said they need a new detective up there, and I wouldn't make that kind of move without you. I wasn't even planning on talking about this with you right now and wanted to wait until tonight. I didn't give your dad an answer yet." This is big. Either way, Rider would have a job, just a very different one.

  "Wait, could you do what my dad needs from Alaska? If you're managing the security, you'd be flying to each new club or event with me anyway. We could take our time when we arrive, have meetings, whatever."

  He steps closer to me, his eyes holding mine. "Does that mean you're considering moving up there, as well?" The hope in his voice is evident, and it solidifies this decision.

  "I think if my dad is good with it, and we work out a way I can work up there, then we should do it. It’s gorgeous there. So laid back. So middle of nowhere and out in nature. Nothing like what it is here. Maybe a change of scenery is for the best."

  Rider rubs a hand on the back of his neck. "What about the detective job up there with Rowe?"

  "What do you want to do? What would make you happy?" Only he can answer that, and I don't want to sway his decision. I do love the idea of him working for my family's business and being able to travel with me and getting as invested as I am. But then there's this sliver of doubt, as well. What happens if we break up and he's working for my dad? How would that go?

  "I want you. Everything else falls to the side. As long as I have you in my life, that's all that matters." Well, if that isn’t the right answer, then I don't know what is. I need to voice my hesitation, though.

  "What happens if we break up? I'd be moving far away from my dad, the closest family I have."

  His eyes narrow as suspicion creeps in. I hold back a laugh. "Are you planning on breaking up with me?”

  "Hell, no. I'm just thinking ahead."

  His arm wraps around my back to pull my body flush to his. "I want to be where you are. You're it for me, Alicia. When you know, you know, and there's no one else I want. I love you." This man. He always knows what to say to have me swooning.

  "I love you, too."

  "I think I want to work here, with you and your dad. It would be a new experience and honestly, nothing I would have ever thought of. That is, if I can do it from another state."

  I press a kiss to his lips then step away from him over to my desk. I dial my dad's extension to see if he's free.

  He doesn't say hi, but instead, "Did Rider leave? I like him a lot. A good man you got there." I warm inside knowing my dad approves of the man I love.

  "Not yet. Are you free? We want to come see you."

  "I'm not sure I like the sound of that, but yes, I'm free."

  "Thanks. Be right there." Dad's office is only down the hall from mine. He likes having me close. No matter what I do in life, he wants to protect me always, and I love that about him.

  "Let's go," I say to Rider. "We'll talk to him now and see what happens." Thankfully, he’s dressed in his suit for work.

  We exit my office and make the short walk down the hall. Dad's office is on the corner. We step inside, and I close the door behind us. His furniture is sleek, black wood, and it goes well with the city as the backdrop.

  He doesn't move from his place behind the desk. "Take a seat and hit me with whatever you two have worked up. Get it out of the way, and let's discuss it."

  "We want to move to Alaska," I start. It's like ripping off a bandage. I continue quickly before he can say anything. "I already know I can do my job from a
nywhere. I only come to the office here because I hate being cooped up at home. It's like a fortress and sometimes feels like a prison."

  "And I like having you here, but Alaska? Are you sure?"

  I nod. "What about the job you offered Rider? Would he be able to do that remotely? We talked about it. We could both travel back here as need be and have meetings or travel to any new club openings. No, we wouldn't want to travel all the time, but only when necessary. We could find a place with a workspace where we could have video-conferences or whatever need be."

  Dad rubs the grey scruff on his jaw. "It wouldn't be ideal, but we could make it work." Then his eyes find Rider's. "Does that mean you’re taking the job?"

  "I am," he nods. "I think it would be a great opportunity, and I'd be a fool to pass it up. Plus, this way I could do work with the local police department in Alaska on an as-needed basis. I would get the best of both worlds. From what my friend has told me, I doubt they need two full-time detectives."

  "And my daughter? You're serious about her?" I knew he'd go there, especially with us talking about moving so far away.

  "I am. I love her. One day I'd like to marry her." He turns to me and smiles. "Not right now, but someday. I told you. You're it for me."

  "That settles it then," my dad smiles genuinely, drawing our attention back to him. That smile tells me all I need to know about how he’s feeling. He’s happy for us. "You two move, with Rider joining the company. I'd like four mandatory meetings a year here, to go over our quarterlies, and then any additional travel as needed, but I won't be asking you to fly around monthly. You’ll always take the jet. Hell, I’ll get another small one to keep up north with you. And I get to install the best security system for whatever home you buy. I also get to visit on holidays. I may be a businessman, but my family always comes first."