I get to my front door and notice the wood toward the bottom is split, and more of the white paint is missing. The neighbor’s cat is often scratching at it, but it looks like a damn panther mauled the thing.
I open it and look behind me as I drag my suitcase in, making sure not to shut it in the door. I have my purse and laptop over my shoulder. Turning around, I halt and fight for oxygen.
My eyes are frantically scanning the apartment that looks like it’s been hit by a tornado. Shit, I’ve been robbed. Oh, my god. What if someone is still in here? I drop my suitcase from my hands and dart back out the door.
In seconds, I’m driving down the road, calling 911. They say they’re sending cops to my apartment. I’m supposed to give them enough time to arrive and then meet them there.
I’m not sure why, other than the fact that when I’m with him I feel safe, but I dial Damon’s number before anyone else. He answers on the first ring.
“Alayna. I’m glad you made it there safely.”
I burst into a sob. The pent up emotions I’ve had from dealing with him and now my apartment pour out of me.
“Alayna, what’s wrong? Talk to me, baby.”
“Someone was in my apartment. They ransacked the place.”
“God, Alayna. Are you OK? Where are you now?”
“I’m driving around, waiting for the cops to get there. I have to go back.”
“Dammit. This is why you belong near me. Don’t stay in that apartment after the cops leave. I’ll get you a flight back out.”
“No, Damon, I’m exhausted, and I’m going to have to clean up my place. I need to see what’s missing. I imagine it’ll take a while with the cops, too.” It’s quiet for a minute. “Are you still there?” I ask.
“I’m flying to St. Louis. I’ll call you soon and tell you what hotel to go to.”
“You don’t need to do that. I’ll be fine, I–I just needed to hear your voice.”
“I’m coming. I’ll call you back soon.”
I pass my house and see three cop cars out front. Their lights are flashing, and I feel my pulse picking up, knowing I have to go back inside.
I see one cop still at his car while the others are walking around the outside of the building. They have their hands on their hips in case they need to pull their weapon. The cop assures me whoever it was probably left a long time ago. A couple of the officers come back and take my keys from me.
Once they’re inside and make sure the place is secure, they have me enter. I answer questions about where I’ve been and what I was doing. They also ask for the details of what happened when I arrived home.
All the electronics are still here, and my jewelry hasn’t been touched. Even the medications I have on hand are still here. The cops scratch their heads and seem even more concerned.
“So, nothing is missing?” one of the officers asks. He looks to be about my age and seems to be staying close to me more than the others.
“It doesn’t appear so, but I might discover something once I get everything back where it belongs. It seems my paperwork is what they were going through the most.”
“You should put a watch on your credit report and frequently check your bank activity. It’s like they were trying to scare you more than anything. Have you upset anyone lately?” the same cop asks.
“I can’t think of anyone who’d do this.”
“Well, you seem sweet, so I imagine it was a random break-in. Maybe it was teens and they chickened out once they got inside.”
Is this cop hitting on me at a time like this?
“Do you have somewhere you can stay for the night? I can’t imagine you would want to stay here, but if you do, I’ll drive by frequently to make sure you’re safe.”
“I’m getting a hotel, so I’ll be fine but thank you.”
My phone rings, so I step aside to answer it. I see that the cops are trying to get finger prints off the door.
“Damon, hi.”
“Quinn and I are on our way to the airport.”
“Already?” I ask.
“He was at his apartment, so he grabbed some things from my place and picked me up. With the flight and hour time difference, we should be at the hotel by nine o’clock.”
“Where?”
“We’ll be staying at the Four Seasons, and they’re expecting you.”
“That’s too extravagant, Damon,” I say quietly.
“We’ve had this discussion before. Stop challenging me.”
“Thank you. I’ll be there.” It’s useless to argue with him, and honestly, I’ll feel safer once he’s here.
Damon
I’m walking to my room at the Four Seasons, outraged over what happened to Alayna. I have a sick feeling it’s tied to the emails. Quinn is here, as well, and is working on arranging some security that will be with us at all times starting tomorrow. He’s also getting it set up for when we return to New York.
Alayna is going to be difficult about the security, so I’m going to have to tell her about the emails to get her to agree to it. I pop the lock on the door and open it slowly, hoping I won’t scare her. I didn’t call or knock in case she’s sleeping.
Resting on her stomach, she’s stretched out wearing only thin underwear that look like boy shorts and a tank top. How am I going to sleep next to her? I can’t escape here.
Lifting her head, she looks alarmed for all of a couple of seconds before she drops it back to the bed and closes her eyes. I get things put away, strip down to my boxers and slide into bed next to her.
“Hi, precious. Are you alright?”
“I am now,” she replies before she turns on her side and pushes her ass against me. Shit. Scooting back away from her some, I pull the blankets over us. My nose is pressed to her neck, breathing in her intoxicating scent. She’s recently showered, which is only making this more difficult.
My fingers travel into her hair and stay there. I don’t know how we’ll make it work, but I’m not letting her go. I don’t care if I have to throw her ass over my shoulder a hundred times. She’s mine.
Alayna
The sun is rising when I open my eyes. Damon is still against me, so I roll over toward him. It’s the first time I’ve seen him sleep. He was able to figure out what I needed last night without me telling him. There’s hope for him yet. I mean, the man jumped on a plane to be with me.
I lean over and kiss his neck before I work my way down to his chest. He moves a little but doesn’t wake until I reach his stomach. I soon hear a light hum and grunt before his hands are deep in my hair.
After slipping down his boxers, my tongue twirls around the tip of his cock before I leisurely skim it up and down his length. I grip the base and squeeze as I use my tongue to draw a circle around the tip again, tasting his arousal.
He growls. “Put it in your mouth, Alayna, and suck,” he says slowly with frustration.
I can’t help but snicker with satisfaction. It’s fun to torture him for a change. “All you need to add is the F-word, and I’ll feel so special.” I glance up and see a lazy smile as I twirl my tongue but it’s fleeting.
The all-consuming hunger I’ve grown to know returns in his gaze. I seal my lips around his base and drag them up gradually, my tongue traveling along with them. I let his erection go completely and only barely circle the tip again.
“Alayna!”
I fight a laugh and get down to business, taking him all the way back to my throat before I begin sucking and moving faster, which he’s insistent on this morning.
He manages to slip a hand under my tank and begins to massage my breast, squeezing harder every time I take him farther in my mouth.
His ass tightens below me, his hips lightly push up, and I feel he’s close to climaxing. I stroke and suck as my other hand grips his thigh and my fingers press into it. It’s not long before he comes undone. His warm release pumps into my mouth as he pulls on my hair and kneads my breast.
I’ve never gotten this excited from pleasuring a
man. He signals for me to move up next to him. I’m soon on my back, and his mouth is on my neck, nipping and licking as his fingers trace around my panties.
“I love that you’re wet from my cock being in your mouth,” he whispers in my ear.
“You owed me from when we used the flogger,” I say between harsh breaths.
“I think you’re in a feisty mood this morning and looking for a punishment.” He grabs hold of a nipple and pinches it as he pulls it out toward him. This happens a few times, and I’m whimpering from the stinging pleasure.
He moves his body down and takes my breast into his mouth, suckling it while his fingers taunt me, circling around the outside of my now soaked panties. A finger slides inside them and barely traces my flesh as he continues to tease me.
“Please, Damon,” I say anxiously.
“I’m better at your game, baby. When will you learn to stop challenging me?”
He pushes his thumb against my clit and drags it down before completely pulling away. My hips lift and I moan. He’s driving me crazy as he repeatedly tugs on my nipples with his teeth, alternating back and forth.
His tongue begins circling my chest and works its way up to my neck while his finger draws circles around the outside of my panties.
“You’re going to come like this.”
“No, Damon, please touch me. I ended up doing what you wanted.”
“Yes, after you teased me, and I told you I’m better at this game. I could deny you an orgasm altogether, but you’ve been through a lot lately, so I think I’ll be generous.”
“Bastard.”
“You enjoy name calling a little too much. I think we’ll finish this later today.”
He’s immediately off of me and out of bed. Oh, I cannot believe him! I lift my arms and legs before dropping them back onto the bed. I groan and mumble some other choice names that suit him as he walks into the restroom.
“You just wait and see if you get any later today. I’ve gone two years without, so it won’t kill me,” I yell to him. “I still have my own fingers, you know.” I hear him turn the water on to the shower.
Asshole. He knows my fingers aren’t as talented as his. Nothing and no one could pleasure me the way Damon does. Sitting up in bed, I sigh and grab my phone off the nightstand. I call Felicia and give her a quick rundown on what happened when I returned to St. Louis.
I called my parents and Curtis last night to give them the news, and I thought it would be a good time to tell my parents about Damon. I figured they would be more forgiving for not seeing them when I was in New York if they were feeling sorry for me over the break-in. I think it worked.
Damon is winning Curtis over, and he doesn’t even know it yet. My brother was impressed that Damon hopped on a plane to come here. I check my email as I wait for Mr. Arrogant to get out of the bathroom. I’m sure he’ll be torturing me next with his incredible clean sheet scent.
That’s interesting. I have an email that says it’s from Golding R. Publishing. My full name is listed in the subject line. I wonder if Damon had sent me one yesterday before I called him. I open it but it’s blank. That’s odd.
Damon soon comes out of the restroom. He’s only in a towel and obviously still trying to tease me. His wet, black hair, coal eyes and natural tan are enough to make me squirm, but add his marvelous frame, and I’m tempted to beg him to tie me up.
I watch him take things out of his suitcase. Could his biceps get any bigger? Why does he feel a need to be in this kind of shape?
“Damon, did you mean to send me an email?” He takes a glimpse over at me, so I hold my phone up. “I received an email from your work but it’s blank.”
After two quick strides, he’s swiping the phone from my hand. His eyes are filling with rage as he reads it.
“I knew it,” he mutters. “I didn’t send this.”
“You knew what?”
“I was going to discuss it with you today. I’ve received two emails since Tuesday, and they included your name. They weren’t threatening, but I’ve still been concerned with your safety.”
“You think the incident at my apartment is related, don’t you? Is that why you came to be with me, because you feel responsible?”
Whoa, the anger evident in his stare now appears directed at me. He tosses my phone onto the bed.
“I’m beginning to wonder how little you think of me, Alayna. I was concerned for your safety, and it’s because I care for you.”
“Damon, I’m sorry. I’ve wanted so badly to believe you came here and slept in bed with me last night because you care for me and are becoming more comfortable. I guess those words came out of my mouth because I’m afraid of being wrong.”
He lets out a heavy breath and pulls me to him. I’m up on my knees as he hugs me. His hand massages the back of my hair, and his naked skin warms my body. After a minute, he takes hold of my arm and holds me away from him to where he can tilt my chin and gaze at me.
“Alayna, I’m here because I feel this burning, incessant need to be near you at all times. It’s driving me crazy, but I can’t stop it.”
“Please, don’t try,” I say.
His eyes show urgency and a touch of sadness. I wish I understood why caring for me upsets him.
“Also, I feel extremely protective of you, so I hired security. I need you to be cooperative about it. There will be someone with us at all times until I figure out who’s behind this.
“My IT department is working on it, but I need to notify them about your email. I believe someone is going to blackmail me to stop a business deal.”
“Whoever is doing this, do you think they’re going to share where you’ve been going for ... you know?”
“Possibly.” He lets me go and walks to the restroom.
Obviously, whoever it is knows about Damon and me. Could this damage my reputation, too? I have to make a living and can’t afford to have readers boycott my books.
I’m still sitting on the bed thinking when Damon comes back into the room. He’s on his phone discussing security with Quinn.
I go into the restroom to shower. The way he is, I figure he would prefer privacy. I have to trust that he’ll fix this.
Damon
“I don’t care how much it costs, Leon. You hire the best hacker you can find to trace this back.”
“Yes, sir.”
“If who I suspect did this, they used a professional, so find us one even better.” I end the call, furious over the lack of control I have. Alayna walks out of the bathroom in only a towel. The woman is definitely asking to be tied up.
“Put some damn clothes on, Alayna!”
Her nail goes right to her teeth.
“You have to give me a minute, geez.”
“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing.”
I see her struggling to hide a smile as she strolls to her suitcase. She’s definitely getting bound later. I check my email, and when I look back up, she’s naked, slipping on a thong.
Her back is to me, and I can’t help but drink in the view of her while she finishes dressing. If there weren’t important things to do, and if I didn’t want to tease her longer, I’d take her right this second.
“Alayna, we need to be in the lobby soon to meet the security guys Quinn hired. One will stay here with me, and one will go with you and Quinn to your apartment.”
“You’re not going there with me?” she asks, sounding disappointed.
Aside from close friends and those in my family, I don’t go to women’s homes. Period.
“I need to work from here, but you’ll have protection. I’ll also replace anything that was stolen from your home.”
“Nothing was taken. It appeared they were possibly looking for something. All my paperwork had been gone through. It’s strange. Do you think they were looking for information on you?”
“Dammit.” I grab my phone and dial Quinn.
“Call my building in New York and emphasize that they are not to let anyone b
ut Margaret up to my penthouse no matter what they’re told.”
Alayna finishes getting ready and we go downstairs. She’s barely spoken since I told her I was staying here. Thankfully, these guys appear to be the real deal.
I could defend us against someone unarmed, but I don’t have a weapon here, and these men do, so they’re needed. It’s also more eyes to watch out for anything suspicious. Another gentleman is supposed to arrive this evening to keep watch throughout the night.
“Damon, this is Wade and Phil,” Quinn says.
I shake their hands. Wade looks to be around thirty, whereas Phil appears older, maybe in his forties. Both appear to be in good physical shape.
“Phil is going to stay here and watch your room while Wade goes with us to Alayna’s apartment,” Quinn says.
I hate this. Quinn and Wade will be alone with her. I should be the one providing her protection. She shakes their hands and then turns to me.
“Can I speak to you for a minute?” I step aside with her. “We didn’t talk about when you’re leaving? Is it today?”
I wrap my arms around her waist and kiss her temple.
“No, probably tomorrow. I thought tonight we could discuss your move.”
She smiles up at me, and I hate to let her go.
“This security seems extreme.”
“I don’t know who we’re dealing with, Alayna. Please accept it for now.” She presses her head to my chest and hugs me hard but quickly lets go.
“OK, Quinn and Wade. I’m ready,” she says.
Chapter Thirteen
Alayna
It was strange having two men I barely know ride in my car, but it’s even stranger to have them in my apartment.
“Guys, I swear the place doesn’t normally look like this,” I say with a chuckle after we’re inside.
“Stay right here until I sweep the place,” Wade says. Quinn and I wait by my door until he comes back with an all clear.
“Don’t mind me. I’ll be going in and out, keeping an eye on things,” he adds. Wade seems serious, and I’m curious if he’s been in the military. His hairstyle makes me wonder, too. It’s extremely short, and he has light brown hair and hazel eyes.
One Urge, One Plea, Keep Me Trilogy Page 16