Beautifully Insightful

by K. C. Lynn

  “I’ve had to deal with him a little over the years. Our parents really want us together, but it was never this bad. Not until my sight returned. Now he’s shown up almost every day.”

  His teeth grind so hard I’m surprised his jaw doesn’t snap. “You should have told me everything about your father today.”

  “I didn’t want my parent’s ignorant opinions to hurt your feelings,” I whisper, feeling guilty that he knows about it even now.

  Reaching over, he cups my face. “Their opinions don’t bother me, baby, the only thing that can hurt me is if they hurt you.”

  I place my hand over his. “I don’t care what they say about us. I never did.”

  We watch one another for a moment, six years ago hanging heavy between us. I wait to see if he will say anything about why he left, but he doesn’t. Instead he kisses me until all the bad fades away and nothing else matters but us. He eventually pulls back then rests his forehead on mine. “We’ll talk about all of it later, Em, but let’s go see a movie first, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  He gives me another quick kiss before putting the SUV in drive and pulling away. The entire way to the theatre I can’t help but feel nervous for him to tell me what happened all those years ago. I just pray, that whatever it is, it won’t leave any more scars on my heart. Hopefully it will heal it.

  A short ten minutes later we walk into the theatre that shares the same street with a bunch of boutiques and antique shops. The sound of popcorn popping and the delicious smell has me craving to buy some. The place is fairly busy, from couples holding hands, to families with small children. My gaze lands on a group of high school girls laughing, looking like they are having a blast with each other. I instantly feel a pang of sadness, knowing that’s something I always missed out on.

  Ryder’s arms wrap around me from behind and he pulls me back against him. “What movie do you want to see, baby?” His deep, smooth voice in my ear has my body wracking with shivers.

  I try to keep my wits about me and look at the movie posters but I have a hard time distinguishing what they’re about. “I don’t really know.”

  “Well, do you want to watch something scary, funny, or action-packed? I’ll sit through a chick flick if I have to, since this is for you, but I’m not going to lie, I’d rather not.”

  I giggle at his honesty. “I don’t care. You pick. I’m just excited to be here.”

  “All right, come on.” He leads me over to the ticket booth, and purchases tickets for some sort of crime thriller movie. I tried to take out my wallet to help pay but the nasty look he shot me had me depositing it back in my purse quickly.

  Getting popcorn and some sort of candy called Milk Duds we head to our theatre. “I can’t believe you’ve never had Milk Duds, baby, this is an abomination.”

  I smile and shake my head at his teasing. He doesn’t realize that there is a ton of candy I haven’t tried. It was yet another luxury I was denied because my mother was worried I would gain weight, and it would only further ruin the image that my disability already put a damper on. If it weren’t for Rosa I would have never had any sugar, but lucky for me she would always bake for me and hide it from my mother. Her cinnamon buns were always my favorite.

  Our theatre isn’t as busy as I anticipated, but Ryder says it’s because the movie has been out for a few weeks. Taking my hand, he leads me up the dim-lit stairs and sits in the empty, last row at the very top. I use a moment to take in my surroundings, noticing most people are sitting either in the middle or lower down. The screen, that is front and center, is absolutely massive, and a rush of excitement flows through me at finally getting to experience this. I glance over at Ryder to see him watching me with a smirk and I can’t help but get a smile of my own. “This is pretty cool.”

  “I think you’re fucking cool,” he replies, making me giggle. It trails off into a moan when he gives me one of his delicious kisses.

  Suddenly the lights go down, leaving the theatre in total blackness. I gasp and grab on to Ryder, my heart pounding in fear. The big screen quickly comes alive, dimly lighting the theatre back up. I release a breath and see Ryder watching me inquisitively. I ignore his questioning gaze and turn my attention to the movie.

  All talk ceases, and Ryder drops a hand on my bare leg. It’s hard not to be intimately aware of him in the dark room. His body heat and clean masculine scent wraps around my senses, making it difficult to concentrate.

  An hour later, I’m completely enraptured by the movie. Some parts are scary, and others a little disturbing. I’ve had to close my eyes at some of the killing, but mostly I’m intrigued at finding out who the murderer is. Ryder made a guess at the start of it, but I don’t think he’s right. My money is on the nosy neighbor. Sometimes I have a hard time keeping up with what is happening, and I think I’m driving Ryder nuts with all my whispered questions, but he always patiently explains. I’m surprised he can even hear me, considering how loud it is.

  Things start to get steamy between the cop and victim in her hotel room. What the… Holy moly. My mouth drops open and my eyes bug out when the guy rips the girl’s clothes off, leaving her stark naked for all of us to see. My face flushes with heat and I feel like I should be looking anywhere else but the screen. But I can’t seem to take my eyes off of it. The room becomes really hot, and I squirm in my seat feeling uncomfortable. I sense Ryder watching me, but I don’t look over since this is awkward enough. Geez Louise, I feel sorry for anyone who is here with their family, this is just… awkward.

  I tense when Ryder begins trailing his hand up my bare leg. I slap it away when he tries slipping it under my skirt and I look over at him, wondering what the hell he’s doing. He gives me a dirty grin, as if he knows what my thoughts were just moments ago. Loud moans fill the silence and I feel myself flush a darker shade of red before I look away from him. His quiet chuckle makes me want to slap his sexy face. He tries putting his hand between my legs again, but I have them squeezed together tightly. I’m not sure if this is because I don’t want him there, or because I’m trying to alleviate the minor ache that has started between them. Probably both.

  “Come sit on me.”

  My gaze snaps to his, wondering if he’s serious, and I quickly realize he is by the smirk he still has on his face. “What? No!” I whisper harshly. “Now stop it!”

  He chuckles again at my outrage and leans in close to my ear. “Come on, baby, come over here and sit on me. Let me feel how wet your pussy is.”

  Oh god. I hate it when he says stuff like that… Kinda. When I don’t budge, and attempt to ignore him, he starts tugging on my arm. “Would you stop it? Someone is going to see us!”

  He rolls his eyes. “No one is going to see us, now get your sexy ass over here, Emily, and let me give you a new experience for the both of us.”

  For the both of us? Meaning he hasn’t done this to another girl here, right? I’m not going to lie, I like the sound of that. I don’t think there’s much I’ll be able to do with him where it will be a first for both of us. His sly smirk spreads, knowing he has me, and he pats his leg. My body aches for his touch, but my heart pounds in fear at being caught. Oh to hell with it. I’m barely out of my chair when he pulls me down on top of him, his huge erection directly under my ass. I hear him groan and I’m glad to know I’m not the only one worked up. He spreads my legs, draping them over top of his, then he brings my back snug against his chest. I frantically look around, making sure no one can see us, but thankfully they all seem to be engrossed in the movie. One of his hands wraps gently around my throat and he tilts my head back, bringing his mouth to my ear.

  “Watch the movie, Em.” His low demand has heat blazing through my body.

  I do as he says, focusing on the big screen in front of me, where the cop and victim are now in full mode. The guy has the girl against the wall, screwing her senseless while her screams of pleasure fill the theatre. Oh this is so, so dirty and wrong, but boy do I like it.

  My brea
thing kicks up as Ryder’s hand snakes between my spread legs. “The best decision you made tonight was wearing this fucking skirt.” Pushing the center of my wet panties aside, he wastes no time sliding his fingers through my aching flesh. I gasp at the sensation of his touch, remembering the pleasure it brought me last night.

  “I knew you would be soaked. Is this for me, Em, or the movie?”

  He knows damn well it’s for him, but I decide to stroke his ego anyway and play along. “You,” my response is breathless. “I’ve been like this since I left you this afternoon.”

  His low growl in my ear has goose bumps breaking out over my heated flesh. “You’re dying for me to smack that tight ass of yours again, aren’t you, baby?”

  Oh, am I ever, but I wasn’t about to admit that.

  “You see how that guy is fucking her?” he murmurs huskily while lubing his fingers with my arousal. “That is nothing compared to what I’m going to do to you later.” With that arrogant comment, he slides first one finger inside of me then quickly follows with another.

  “Oh god,” I moan at the exquisite burn and grip onto his arm tightly.

  “Shhh. Easy, baby,” he murmurs in my ear before starting to pump his fingers in and out of me. I whimper at the incredible sensations ripping through me, my body so sensitive, so turned on, I feel close to exploding already. I rock my hips to the rhythm of his hand, my ass sliding against his erection under me. He releases a low growl. “Stop fucking moving or I’m going to come in my goddamn pants.”

  The rough command has me stilling, but it’s torture, my body needing more. I am so close to the edge, so close. Ryder senses it and slides his hand down my throat into my tank top. My breathing becomes erratic and my body desperate for release. His skilled fingers find my puckered nipple and pinches with enough force that the pleasure shoots between my legs and sends me over the edge.

  He removes his hand from my breast and slaps it over my mouth, muffling my cries of pleasure. And thank god for that because I couldn’t have stopped if I tried. He doesn’t let up until every ounce of pleasure spills from my body. Once my tremors cease I lay back against him, limp and sated. He removes his hand from between my legs and wraps his arm around my waist, while the other locks possessively across my chest. His warm lips trail down the side of my throat as I catch my breath. “You’re so beautiful, Em.” My heart melts at his sincere whisper in my ear. He has always made me feel beautiful, which means everything to someone who was always told they weren’t good enough.

  Turning in his arms, I bring my mouth to his and kiss him with everything I am and everything I feel. I show him how much I have missed him and I don’t stop until my lungs are craving air. His intense green eyes shine bright with so many emotions. Lust, restraint and something else, something that has my heart turning over in my chest. “Take me home, Ryder. I don’t want to wait any longer to feel you inside of me.”

  He doesn’t need any convincing. Giving me one more deep, hard kiss, I stand and attempt to fix my skirt, but Ryder grabs my hand then starts hauling ass down the stairs. I try to keep up with him but clearly I’m not moving fast enough, because once we get to the bottom of the stairs he picks me up around the waist and blows out of our theatre’s door. I wrap my arms around his neck with a giggle.

  “There is nothing funny about how hard you make my dick, Em.”

  He races to the exit doors but I stop his quick pursuit. “Wait!”

  “What?” He looks down at me impatiently.

  “I need to go to the bathroom.”

  He stares at me in utter disbelief. “Are you fucking kidding me right now?” I shake my head and try to keep a straight face at his expression. He blows out a heavy breath. “Fine. Hurry up or I’m coming in there and we are fucking in the girls’ bathroom.”

  I don’t doubt for a moment he’s serious, not after what he just did to me in the theatre. “I promise. I’ll be quick.” The entire walk to the bathroom I can feel his eyes on me, roving as if it were his hands. Lord I cannot wait to get home.

  Ryder

  I watch Emily walk into the bathroom and want to fucking weep. My cock is so goddamn hard I fear it’s going to fucking break off. I run a hand through my hair and get a whiff of her sweet scent still on my fingers. Seeing her face when she saw that sex scene for the first time, and the way she came apart for me watching it… Fuck, it was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.

  I hope I can hold back long enough to say what needs to be said. I know we have to deal with the past and I have to tell her the truth before we move forward. I can’t keep it from her any longer. It’s one thing to touch her and another to fuck her. I just hope she understands, hell, I will make her understand.

  My cell phone rings and I see it’s Stone. I go find a quiet corner to answer. “Jameson.” I get a bunch of static so I plug my ear and turn into the corner until it’s clearer. “Hello?”

  “We need to talk.” I can tell by his tone this can’t wait.

  I look behind me to see Emily is still in the bathroom, but I get static again so I turn back around. “What’s going on?”

  “I just saw the school counselor, Marianne Olsen. I have some new information and it sounds like this shit is even bigger than we anticipated, Jameson.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “When Cassie went missing, and no one would help her, she did some digging on her own. She has a good friend who works for Child Protective Services, who told her rumors circulated in the office about Michaels before. Apparently there was a social worker who tried bringing him down sixteen years prior.”

  “Sixteen?” Jesus, how the fuck has he gotten away with it for this long?

  “Yeah, and supposedly she was building quite the case, but most of her evidence was circumstantial. So she decided to play detective. Marianne’s friend said she heard that this social worker decided to go undercover at one of his charity functions; she said something big was going down and she would be able to get solid evidence. Only she was never seen again.” I grunt, not surprised to hear that. “Now this is where shit gets twisted. Her friend said that the circumstantial evidence she had involved high profilers – the majority were politicians from other states and countries. Girls were being trafficked within the web of the involved parties. I think we have more than just this group home, Jameson, I think we have stumbled upon a major human trafficking ring.”

  Well shit! “We need to bring this to Senator Adams, when I spoke with him today this was far from what he was suspecting, but he may have some insight as to who else may be involved. I’m thinking there has to be someone higher up, because sixteen years ago Michaels would have only been Lieutenant Governor, maybe even lower on the chain. Not saying he isn’t one of the big fish now, but back then there must have been someone more influential who was able to keep this quiet.”

  “If what this lady says is true it sounds like a lot of this shit is going down at his charity functions, which are being held at his plantation. You need to speed shit along with your girlfriend, Jameson. No more pussyfooting around with her. I can’t get that fucking girl from the group home out of my head, and I want this shit solved now – before those girls are moved to god knows where.”

  My temper spikes. “And you think I don’t? I’m an FBI Agent, Stone, not a fucking magician. This shit takes time. I haven’t seen this girl for six years and…”

  The sound of a gasp has me realizing my mistake too late. Turning around I see Emily standing behind me, her blue eyes filled with shock and betrayal while tears stream down her face. Fuck! Clearly she heard more than just the last part. Before I have a chance to say anything she takes off. “Shit! I gotta go!” Hanging up, I start after her. “Emily, wait!”

  She ignores me and runs out of the theatre. I bolt out the door into the dark night, almost plowing people down in my haste. I catch up to her quickly and snag her arm. “Em, will you just fucking wait!”

  She spins around and I don’t anticipate the blow to
my face, her hand leaving a good fucking sting on my cheek. “Don’t touch me!”

  “Baby, just let me explain…”

  “I heard enough,” she sobs, backing further and further away from me. The pain on her expression makes me feel like someone just punched me in the throat. “God I am so stupid, I can’t believe I fell for your shit! Well never again, Ryder, you can go to hell!”

  She turns back around and I’m about to go after her again when the squeal of tires catches my attention. Turning, I see a dark car peeling out of its spot with its lights turned off. That was my first warning; the second was the back window rolling down.

  Fuck! I spring into action, adrenaline fueling my speed. “EMILY, GET DOWN!” My warning shout has her spinning around. Her eyes widen in fear as she sees me charging at her then suddenly everything happens in slow motion. Gunshots and screams sound behind me just as I plow into her and take her down. I try to take the brunt of our fall then roll over top of her. Glass shatters and rains down on us from the store windows, the crashing sound mixing in with Emily’s screams. Reaching down, I grab my gun that’s strapped to my ankle, but by the time I have it aimed the car is turning the corner and everything is over within seconds.

  I quickly rise up on my arms to check Emily, and see her face pale with fear and her eyes wide with shock. There is a small gash at the top right corner of her forehead. “Shit.” I push her hair back to make sure there is no glass in it. “You okay, baby?”

  “I- I think so. What was that? Gunshots?”

  “Yeah,” is my only response because I’m still trying to figure out what the fuck just went down. Putting my gun back in its holster, I help her sit up and take a closer look at her gash. Thankfully it doesn’t seem too deep. “Is your head okay? Can you see clearly?”

  “Yes, I can see fine,” she answers numbly.

  I help her up carefully, and then look behind me to see a large crowd in front of the theatre. Taking Emily’s hand I rush over, dragging her behind me. “Is everyone okay, anyone hurt?”