“Keep on him. I’ll be there soon.”
He ended the call, putting his foot on the gas. An hour passed before he pulled up alongside Henry.
Climbing out of his car, he opened Henry’s passenger seat.
“He in there?”
“Yes. Caleb’s called me. I’m not going to fucking prison, Elijah. This little rage you’ve got going on needs to be wheeled in.”
“I’m more than fine,” Elijah said. “A little scaring will go a long way.” He headed toward the door to the gym teacher.
Chapter Six
Cherry rolled out the pastry while Mindy filled each little pot with the chicken filling. “This smells so good.”
“It does.” Cherry liked teaching her how to cook. They had settled on chicken pot pies for the dinner with a peach cobbler to finish up.
“Right, they’re filled.”
Taking a knife, she cut out each little circle and showed Mindy what to do with it.
“Damn, look at that,” Mindy said, turning up the television.
Cherry looked toward the screen, frozen to the spot.
“We’re here reporting live…” The reporter faded into the background as the headline played along the screen. A gym teacher had handed himself over to the police after admitting he abused the girls and boys that he taught. That wasn’t what surprised Cherry. No, what surprised Cherry was the man she hadn’t seen in over six years. When she was fourteen she had been moved to his parents’ home.
“Damn, I’m so pleased I don’t have to put up with that crap at school,” Mindy said.
“Yes, it sucks.”
The front door opened, and Elijah called out to them. Her hands were shaking as he appeared in the kitchen. Mindy ran to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Dad, did you hear the news about the gym teacher?”
“Yes, it was a shock.”
Cherry stared into his eyes, and he was looking directly at her. This wasn’t a coincidence. Elijah had gone after him.
Cherry finished with the pot pies, putting them in the oven. Washing her hands, she excused herself while Mindy was talking with him. Running upstairs, she went to close her door but found herself stopped by Elijah’s foot.
“Don’t run away,” Elijah said.
“You’re the one who went and found him, didn’t you? You’re the one who made him confess to those crimes?”
She took a step back. There was no point in trying to keep him away. Elijah was stronger than she was. He entered her bedroom, closing the door behind him.
In the distance she heard Mindy turn the music channel up.
“They were not fake crimes, baby. That asshole was using his power as a teacher. He needed to be stopped. The asshole is lucky that the only thing he’s getting is jail time.”
“What could be worse than jail time?”
“Torture and death, which was what I was going to do to him.”
His answer shocked her.
“What?”
“You heard me. I was willing to fucking kill him for hurting you or even putting his hands on you.” Elijah took a step closer. “Jacob Jones didn’t get the same outcome.”
“What?”
“He’s dead, honey. He’s never going to hurt you again.”
“You killed him.”
“You were the first woman he raped, and he’s lived the last fucking seven years doing more. He had to die.”
“You’ve got to stop doing this,” Cherry said. Tears filled her eyes. No one could get away with murder. Something was going to blow back and land on him.
“Doing what? Sticking up for you? I don’t see anyone else giving a shit about you.”
“You’ve have got to stop.” She cried out the words, whimpering. “This is dangerous.”
“I’m not going to stop.”
Her tears spilled down her cheeks. “And what am I supposed to do when you’re caught? Who will protect me then? What about Mindy? You’re the only one who has ever given two shits about me and you could take that all away from me.” The truth spilled from her lips. The truth and the fear of being alone without him. Elijah was the first man she’d felt anything for. “You don’t get it.”
“Talk to me, Cherry. Don’t turn away.”
She wiped at her tears as he wrapped his arms around her. He was so strong, a killer by nature. Cherry closed her eyes. She should be afraid of him, but she wasn’t. “You were my first kiss. You were the first man I’ve ever wanted to be with, Elijah. You gave me my first orgasm. I don’t want to leave, and it scares me. I’m used to being told to leave, to moving on, to being alone. You make me want to have something that I thought was beyond me.”
“What do I make you want?” he asked. His voice was soothing to her.
Glancing up into his eyes, she dropped her gaze to stare at the firm line of his lips.
“You make me want to have a family. I care about Mindy. She’s such a charming girl. If you continue with this vendetta or whatever you’ve got going on, it’s going to end badly, and that scares me.”
He cupped her face. Her heart pounded inside her chest.
“Those men hurt you. They’re hurting other people.”
“They’re not hurting me now.”
“I’m not going to stop unless I know they’re not a danger to anyone.” She went to argue, but he silenced her with his lips.
Moaning, her body awakened at his kiss. She wanted more than his kiss. Cherry wanted everything he had to offer. Pushing his shirt off his shoulders, she ran her fingers down his chest, teasing open the buttons on his thick shirt. She caressed his chest as he brought up over her head the shirt he’d put on her that morning.
The white bra she wore was torn off her. Their movements went from slow to impatient. She clawed at his shirt, dragging it off his body.
Cherry collapsed onto the bed as he dragged her jeans down her thighs. Within seconds they were both naked. Sliding up the bed, Cherry gasped as Elijah flicked her onto her knees.
“I’m not going to last this time,” he said.
He brought her back against him. The tip of his cock teased her entrance. When the head was lodged inside her, both of his hands went to her hips and he slammed in deep. Cherry cried out at the depth of his cock within her cunt. He went deeper still as he didn’t stop pressing more of her. Elijah didn’t pull out of her. It was like his ass tightened bringing him deeper inside her.
His fingers teased through her pussy, coating his fingers.
She cried out in disappointment as he stopped touching her clit. Cherry froze when his fingers went to her ass.
“Relax,” Elijah said.
It was okay for him. He didn’t have a guy stroking his ass.
Biting her lip, Cherry gripped the large blanket underneath her.
His fingers were replaced with his thumb. Elijah pressed the tip of his thumb against her ass, pressing. “Touch your clit, Cherry. Relax.”
Working a hand underneath her, she found her clit, and started to stroke herself. Closing her eyes, she gasped as the pressure on her anus turned into unspeakable pleasure. She’d never felt anything so exquisite in all of her life.
“Please,” she said.
“You want me to fuck you hard, baby?”
“Yes.”
His thumb slid in and out of her ass, teasing her.
“Then you’re going to come all over my cock. I’m not going to fuck you until I feel your cream.”
She whimpered. The arousal built at his words. Cherry worked her clit as he worked his thumb inside her ass.
“I’m going to fuck this ass, baby. Every part of you is going to know my cum, and tonight when you come to my room, I’m going to fill that sweet mouth with my cum.”
Cherry moaned, imagining herself on her knees before him.
“You want that, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Then all you need to do is come for me.”
She cried out, throwing herself into orgasm. Cherry kept stroking h
er clit as the pleasure intensified in ways she didn’t think was possible. The pleasure went to another dimension.
Through her orgasm, Elijah began to pound inside her, fucking her harder and harder. His cock was like a brand, filling her pussy, and making sure no other man would ever get a chance to be within her. She didn’t want any other man.
“Fuck, baby, you’re so fucking tight and hot.” He gripped her hip, fucking her pussy with his cock and her ass with his thumb.
She came a second time, whimpering at the pleasure.
“Fuck yes,” Elijah said, filling her pussy with his cum. He collapsed over her, removing his thumb from her ass.
Elijah didn’t give her a chance to rest. He picked her up in his arms, carrying her through to the bathroom. She protested at being moved so quickly. Everything on her body was sensitive to his touch.
“You, sweet Cherry, you’re going to drive me crazy.” He turned the hot water on, holding her against him as they stood underneath the water.
She was driving him crazy?
Elijah had made her fall in love with him. Cherry closed her eyes to the spray of the water. Biting her lip, she kept those thoughts to herself. He didn’t need to know that she was in love with him. It was such a stupid emotion, and she wasn’t going to be laughed at by him.
****
Elijah watched Cherry gather the dishes and taking them through to the kitchen.
“You’re staring at her again,” Mindy said, smirking.
He turned to stare at his daughter.
“Do you really think I don’t know you’re having sex?” she asked.
“You shouldn’t even know what that word is. Do I need to start hurting boys at your school?”
Mindy rolled her eyes. “No. I’m fifteen. I’m not stupid. They teach this stuff at schools.”
“They really shouldn’t.”
“Are you going to marry her?” Mindy asked. “I know you loved my mom, but she’s been dead a long time. I doubt she’ll want you to be alone forever. I know I don’t want you to be alone forever.”
“Marriage isn’t on the cards.”
“But you’re not going to kick her out, are you? I really like her, Dad.”
Mindy looked so nervous. “I’m not going to kick her out. She’s staying here.” He didn’t know if Cherry even wanted to marry him. She was not the easiest woman to read. The women he’d been with in the past knew what he wanted. The greed in their eyes was always clear to see, but with Cherry, she was different. There was no greed evident when he looked at her.
Cherry came back, carrying the peach cobbler and custard. She took a seat on the opposite side of Mindy.
He’d taken the time to wash her in the shower, teasing her until she was aroused. Her nipples pressed against her shirt, pointing at him. When Mindy was in bed, he was taking her to his room, and tonight she wasn’t leaving his bed. He didn’t care if he had to tie her down, she was staying by his side.
She served them some cobbler while Mindy talked about everything and nothing. The food was delicious. Ever since Cherry had started teaching Mindy, the food had improved tenfold.
After dinner, Mindy went to finish her homework, and he entered the kitchen to help Cherry with the dishes.
“Mindy knows about us,” he said.
Cherry jerked around to look at him. “How does she know about us? I’ve not told her.”
“I know and neither have I, but she knows.”
Cherry stared at the floor between them. “Do you want to stop?”
“No. I want you to spend the night in my bed.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s where you belong.”
He picked up a plate and started to dry it.
“We don’t know each other.”
“You’d be surprised how much we know about each other.”
“You were married before, weren’t you?”
“I was. She was nothing like you, and that’s a good thing.”
“Do you miss her?” Cherry asked.
“Sometimes.”
Since Cherry had entered his life, he’d not missed her once. They finished off the dishes in silence. Elijah left her to go to his study. He opened the drawer where he’d stored his wife’s picture. Bethan smiled up at him. It was time to move on from her. It had been fifteen years since she died.
Putting her picture away, Elijah leaned back in his chair. Staring down at the file on his desk, Elijah opened it up to see the name of the next foster home Cherry had been part of. She spent a great deal of time with this family, a full year when she was fifteen, but for some reason it didn’t work out.
He looked up to find Cherry standing in the doorway.
“You’re looking at my file again,” she said.
“Why did you stay with this family a year?” He pointed down at the piece of paper. She entered the room, closing the door. “Don’t lie to me, Cherry.”
“What is your cover for your real business?” she asked, taking a seat.
“What?” He tilted his head to the side.
“I want to know more about you. If the only way to get information about you is to answer your questions, then I want mine answered.” She tucked some hair behind her ear. “I’m interested in knowing the truth.”
He leaned back in his chair, wondering what her game was. In the month that he’d known Cherry, she didn’t play games. She was blunt with him in all things. The one condition she’d set he’d stuck to until the attraction had been too much for both of them.
“Do you really think you’re in a position to question me?” he asked.
“Then you won’t get your answers.”
She folded her arms over her chest to face him.
“You’ve been quite the little survivor, haven’t you?” he asked.
“I’ve been what I needed to be to live to this moment, yes.”
“You don’t have to survive with me.”
“Then what do I have to do?”
“Live. That’s all you need to do with me. You don’t have to fight for your place. I’ll take care of you in everything.” He turned the file around for her to see. “I’m an investor. I invest a lot of my money into companies that need it. I also work the stock markets. I’ve got one hell of an accountant. I also invest with Caleb and Henry. You’ve met them.”
“Neither of them are just club owners?” she asked.
“No, they’re not. They own guns, drugs, and women. They’re in the lifestyle with me. On paper, we’re all businessmen. Now tell me, why did you stay with the Blooms for a year?”
“They were good people, but they had a lot on their plate.”
“I see they had a son. Why did you leave such a good home?” Elijah asked.
“Their eldest son was diagnosed with leukemia. They needed all the money they could get, and I was just an extra expense. I left them so they could save him.”
“Why? You were living a good life.”
“Wouldn’t you make sacrifices for people you loved?” Cherry asked.
He thought about Mindy. Elijah would die for her, but looking at the woman before him, he’d die for her, too.
“Will you ever get married again?”
Elijah took the file back and turned the page. “You know you’ve got limited questions, right?”
“I know what I want to ask.”
“I don’t know.” He didn’t want to hurt her feelings. The truth was, no other woman had even come close to being marriageable as none of them lived up to Bethan.
“That’s not an answer.”
“No woman has ever appealed to me to spend a great deal of time with.”
“You’ve only been interested in sex?”
“Yes, and that’s two questions.”
She shook her head. “No, that is an extension of the first one, just like this one. Will you consider marrying the right woman again?”
“Yes.”
“You may ask your question.”
“You’re su
re? I’m not going to be targeted or shit?”
“No, go ahead.” Cherry smiled right at him, and that shit twisted his stomach.
“Why didn’t you ever go to the police?”
“Do you really think they’d have believed me?” she asked.
“You don’t have a record. You were clean. They should believe you.”
“Exactly, should, it doesn’t mean they would.” She crossed her legs, staring across the desk. “Why didn’t you just kill me?”
“Did you want to die?”
“No, I didn’t, but you didn’t have to save me. You didn’t know me. How did you know Marcel wasn’t setting you up?”
Elijah ran fingers through his hair. Standing up, he rounded the desk so that he was standing right in front of her. Reaching behind him, he grabbed the file from her. “Marcel knows not to mess with me. Your eyes gave you away. You were terrified.”
“You’re completely insane.”
“I’ve got a reputation for getting jobs done. You wanted to die, you’d be dead already. I’m not interested in giving second chances or even giving people firsts. You didn’t want to be there that day. I know what that’s like.”
“How?” she asked.
Gritting his teeth, he gripped the file tighter. “I didn’t want to be in the hospital the day my wife died. She was the first woman I ever loved or trusted with my life. I didn’t want to be there when they told me I had a beautiful healthy baby girl but they were sorry my wife didn’t make it.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“At the time a bunch of little punk-ass shits thought they could fight me for their territory. That day, I took care of business. I’ve not had to fight for anything else since. It doesn’t take long for people to work out I will kill to get the job done.” Elijah turned the file. “You stayed here for three months, why?”
Her gaze drifted over the file. “I don’t want to tell you.”
“You started this, finish it.”
“Twin brothers, older than I was and decided I was going to be their toy. Their father took care of it. Move on.” Cherry stood, making her way toward the door.
“Where are you going?”
“It’s getting late, and I’m tired.”
“You’re not going to share anymore.”
Elijah: The Boss's Gift Page 6