“Oh fuck. I need to... I don’t feel so well Jonas,” I stutter.
“Oli, get her on that sofa for me?” Oli is beside me instantly, his huge frame coaxes me to sit down and takes me in his arms and he hugs me. His gesture is what I need the most, I need to know I am not alone.
Jonas returns with a glass of whisky and hands it over, “Knock it back, it’ll calm you down,” he instructs.
I comply and look him in the eye, “You make these fucking bastards pay, you get my guy back. I’ve wasted so much time and I’ve only just got him.”
“I’ve already contacted Ross and Sheriff Roberts, but I need to start thinking about the operation now, so please let Oli take you back to the ranch. I need to know you’re safe and being looked after, OK honey?”
“OK.” God, Dolly had hit the gold with this guy. I’ve only just found my own gold and I want him back. I need him back.
So here I sit, now, at Chris’s ranch, waiting for something, anything to happen. I keep looking at the clock in the living room, the clock on the TV, the clock on the DVD player. There are too many fucking clocks that I can’t stop looking at. The hours drag by, with no word from Jonas and the visions plaguing my head keep coming at me, keep battering away at my resolve to stay strong. I’m slowly going mental because the time you tell yourself things will all work out only last’s for so long. My dark thoughts are becoming stronger than positive ones. Every time I rub my hands over my face I can smell him. I can smell his cologne from where I held his neck earlier and the scent of his shampoo is on my hands and fingers, reminding me of the grip I had on his hair. I shouldn’t have fucking left him in that corner, I should have waited with him. It’s my fault that they had the opportunity to take him, my pathetic need to turn him on left him vulnerable.
How will I ever forgive myself if he never comes home?
Dolly hasn’t left my side at all, it’s like she’s super glued herself to me, just waiting for me to break down, explode or have some kind of reaction.
“Dolly, give me space yeah?”
“No. Not going to happen.”
“I’ll be fine, go check on your girls.”
“No. Barbara and Harrison have them, they’re fine.”
“Oli,” I plead, “Make Dolly give me some space.”
“Just hang tight there Neely, we all need each other right now,” he says gently.
“I get that, but does she need to be virtually sat on my lap?”
“Dolly, how about you get us some drinks?” he suggests.
“But...”
“Oh for fuck’s sake Dolly. Leave me be. My guy is out there and I’m sat here doing nothing. I’ve only just fucking got him. We haven’t had enough time together and if anything happens to him, I don’t know what I’ll do. This guy, this ranch, was supposed to be my future and it’s hanging in the balance because of the fucking Vans. I swear to God, I will get them if Chris doesn’t come back home to me.”
The whole room is silent and staring at me. I’m gasping for air like I’ve just run a marathon.
“There,” says my best friend and soul sister, “Now I’ll leave you alone. We’ve had upset, angry and emotional Neely make an appearance. Now I know that sensible, rational Neely is up next, I’m happy to step away.”
I grab her and hug the shit out of her. My sister knows me well and is willing to be my emotional punch bag to help me get through this. It only takes a few seconds before Lottie and Flo come and join the huddle.
“What did I miss?”
The sound of that voice, his voice, coming from the doorway is like a dream.
I must be hearing things. The room starts to sway again and Sonny is the one who comes to make sure I’m OK. “Neely, just breathe, slow deep breaths, Flo,” I hear him shout, “Get her a glass of water whilst I keep her from collapsing.”
Our huddle erupts apart instantly and through my teary eyes, I focus on my guy just standing there. Sonny is still keeping me upright and Flo returns with a drink and tears in her eyes. She helps me take a sip because I’m shaking and finding it impossible to pull together any coordination to complete the task. As soon as I’ve wet my tongue a little she joins Sonny in helping me calm down. I don’t hear the soothing words she’s saying because I’ve got all my attention being drained by the man now stood in the room, the man who was taken from me and whose body I have been visualizing as charred remains
“Jonas,” I hear Oli say into his phone, “He’s back, get the fuck over here.”
Chris looks like he’s been roughed up. His shirt is barely covering his upper torso and you can see red marks, like bruises and his once clean jeans are all muddy and dirty, he also seems to be missing a boot. The knuckles on his right hand are split, broken and bloody, but his face, his beautiful face. It’s taken a good amount of punishment, his jaw is bruising already and one eye is closing due to the swelling, with the skin above the same eye split at his brow.
Oli and the others rush at him, all asking whether he’s OK in a chorus fashion, but my feet feel welded to the ground. I’m still in shock that I’m actually looking at him, alive.
“I’m OK, I survived, but I need my woman. Neely come here baby.”
I still can’t move. I’m rooted to the spot in fear that this isn’t real. My body starts to shake and convulse and I hear him mutter “Fuck,” under his breath and he moves to collect me in his arms. I’m breaking down again, but breaking down with overwhelming relief. “Ssh, it’s OK baby, I’m OK. I’m sorry you were scared.”
The grip I’ve got on him is hurting my arms, it’s so tight and even though he’s in pain too, he lets me take what I need from him.
The front door slams and Jonas comes into the room with a dark and brooding look about him. “You good?” is all he says and I feel Chris nod back at him.
“Did it go to plan?” he asks.
“Yeah, it did, things were getting out of hand for a while, but Ross did his bit to pull it back in line,” Chris tells him.
“Good it won’t be too long now then mate,” Jonas replies as part of this crazy conversation.
“What do you mean, did it go to plan?” I ask Chris.
“Neely, tonight was a set up by Ross.”
“WHAT!” That shaking feeling is back but this time it’s settling in because of pure rage.
“Ross suggested to Henry, that I could be coerced into selling my ranch, if I was given some incentive. Henry fell for it and had his goons pick me up. We thought I’d get roughed up a bit and get some evidence to keep Henry at bay for a bit. I’m sorry you had to go through that baby.”
“You’re sorry, you’re fucking sorry. I’ve been going out of my God damn mind and you’re sorry,” I shout.
“Neely...”
“Don’t fucking Neely me, I’ve been worried to death that you’re body was going to turn up somewhere. Why didn’t you tell me? And this had better be good,” I sob.
“I didn’t think it would happen tonight.”
“Oh well, that’s fucking OK then,” I scream and start shoving him away from me.
“Neely... Neely... NEELY, for fuck’s sake STOP!” he yells, “I’m sorry, I didn’t want to do it, but there was a good reason.”
“He’s right,” Jonas cuts in, “Ross floated the idea as a way to turn up some heat on Henry, a possible way to slow down these take over ideas. Chris could threaten to press charges if he doesn’t back off. Ross wasn’t able to get word to me that Henry fell for it, so we were caught off guard.”
“I fucking hate you all so much, you especially Jonas. You know what I’ve been through tonight and you couldn’t tell me or call someone to tell me to stop me from going insane with worry?” I yell.
“She’s right man,” says Oli who is clearly pissed off about being duped too.
“No, I couldn’t, I knew Ross was with him and we had to keep his cover safe. I’m sorry for what you went through, but we’re trying to keep everyone alive. So Chris, did it go to plan?” Tactical Jonas
is back with us.
“It went better than expected actually. The goons that took me used the half mixed shit that Ross prepared and it made me dopey rather than knock me out cold. They took me to the tunnel entrance on my own fucking land and beat me there. Ross turned up and convinced them to take me out of sight, so they put me in the tunnel.”
Jonas then realizes that Flo, Lottie and Sonny are in the room, they currently know nothing about any of this. “Sonny, Lottie, Flo, this shit is serious, anything you’ve heard or are about to hear does not leave this room. Do you understand me?” He wants complete confirmation from all the puzzled faces before he continues. They all nod and he asks, “They opened the tunnel and took you in?”
“Yeah, it’s fucking unreal. It’s like a military operation. Lighting has been installed, phones. They check in when the doors are opened because some kind of alarm goes off to signal exit and entry.”
“Right, so Ross isn’t breaking into the tunnel undiscovered then for a good look round.”
“Don’t think he’s going to need to, he came to help goon one and two take care of me and received a call midway through. Turns out Henry is expecting a VIP visit tomorrow to prove he’s got his tunnel operations under control.” Chris tells him with a smile, “Ross is now beside himself with fucking joy. He thinks the main man is paying a visit to keep certain factions, namely Polly and Henry, under control.”
“Then it’s nearly fucking over man,” Jonas tells him.
“I fucking hope so. Now, I’m sorry for any stress I’ve caused the rest of you, but could you all piss off so I can de-stress my woman?”
“Um, that shit isn’t happening, you’re hanging onto your title as my guy, by a thread. You need to let me calm down,” I tell him.
“We’ll see. Catch you all later.”
Everyone clears out and either kisses me or hugs Chris on their way to the door. I glare at Jonas, I’m too mad at him to forgive him, but he knows I’ll get there eventually.
That leaves me and Chris and right now I just want to pick up where the goons left off and beat him myself.
*****
Chris
She’s really fucking mad and it wasn’t planned that she wouldn’t know about it. It’s just that Henry is a silly fucking ass hole who couldn’t even pull off roughing me up properly.
How on God’s green earth that man has managed to hook into some criminal mastermind and secret arms tunnel is beyond me, it’s amazing his ranch is even functioning.
“You have to know, I didn’t want things to go down this way.”
“What if something had gone wrong? You could have been killed,” she shouts, she’s not going to forgive me for this easily.
“No what if’s. It’s over. We’re going to be OK, this will be over soon,” I tell her.
“Yeah well, fair warning, try anything like this again and we won’t be OK, this will all be over too.” Fuck me she is totally serious.
“This will never be over Neely. You are it for me. I’m your guy and you're my woman. Now, come here and show me that you‘re my woman.”
“No. I’m not in the mood,” Oh I see, she’s being difficult.
“Neely, I’m giving you one chance to come to me. If I have to come over there, there’ll be consequences.” She takes a sharp inhale of breath and starts to bite the bottom of her lip. I know she wants to defy me, because she is a hard headed woman who doesn’t want to be told what to do.
On the other hand, I can see that she’s figuring out whether ignoring my demand will get her what she really wants, the consequences. Neely wants the fine line between pain and pleasure and I intend to deliver it for her. Now.
Keeping her attention with my eyes, I walk to her and stand in front of her. “Do you want me Neely?”
“Yes,” she says immediately and I turn her around and start to undress her.
“Do you want me to fuck you Neely?”
“Yes.”
“How do you want me to fuck you Neely?” I ask as I let her dress drop to the floor.
“Um...”
“I thought we’d been through this, your inability to make a decision. I thought you knew when I asked a question I wanted an answer. Looks like you’ve lost your chance again and I get to decide.”
By this point in the game Neely is trembling with want and I cannot wait to fuck the shit out of her. She is trembling with desire, her dress is gone and she’s still not wearing panties. I grab the back of her strapless bra strap from behind and pull her up against me.
“Feel how hard I am for you Neely, I am going to make you scream for me. Do you want that?”
“Yes.”
I release her tits from the confines of her bra and leave her stood in just her shoes, I’m going to need the extra height for what I have planned. Reaching round the front, I roughly grab her tits and use them to keep her ass plastered against my cock which is desperate for release. I could probably cum stood here right now, just from the effect I’m having on her.
We’re still in the middle of the living room and I know I can’t fuck her on my sofa. I won’t do it, I’ve fucked so many others on it, it feels wrong and disrespectful to the woman I love.
Whispering in her ear I say, “Lean forward and hold on to the back of the sofa. You can take me here and now.” She does as I ask and the minute she spreads her legs I can see the lips of her pussy are wet and shiny, the scent of her sex is intoxicating.
I unzip my jeans and let them drop low enough for me to get my cock out. Taking it at the base, I rub it once, twice along her clit to give me some lubrication. Forcing her to lean lower down, I press on her spine and she starts whimpering, as soon as I think she’s waited long enough and is right where I want her, I push my cock in her so hard that she jumps forward and ends up fully folded over the back of the sofa, with her feet off the floor. Perfectly spread and completely at my mercy.
“That’s it baby, open up real wide for me.”
My rhythm is precise and calculated because I want this to last, but the noises she is making are threatening my plans, my composure.
On my next surge forward I slap her ass cheek as I seat my cock fully inside her and I’m greeted with the scream I’ve been wanting to hear for so long.
This woman is perfect for me in so many ways, sexually she’s a firecracker, but all she stands for and her beliefs make her truly the woman I desire. She will fix me and make me whole and worthwhile again.
“Come on Neely, let me feel you squeeze me,” I plead. I’m barely holding on and am determined that she go first. I can feel it’s coming so I pick up my pace and speed, whilst I keep slapping her beautiful ass that bit harder.
“Chris... I’m... cuming!” she screams and I follow suit by holding her hips so I’m deep within her when I release myself. I want her to feel what she does for me. I want her to know she’s completely possessed me and that even though I like to control her sexually, she’s the one who really has the power and owns me.
I love this woman and I won’t settle until this ranch is hers as much as mine and we can build a life together for the rest of our days.
“Fuck Neely. I love you.”
Chapter Twenty Seven
My guy took me to the brink of my sanity last night. First, the stupid scheme he cooked up with Ross and Jonas and then his punishing lesson in sexual gratification. It was amazing and it was the most sexually satisfied I’d felt in a long time.
After we’d finished our furious session in the living room, we headed upstairs where Chris let me care for him. He knew I needed to check him over and tend to his injuries. I needed to convince my brain that the images and thoughts I’d conjured up during his time away weren’t real and he was going to be OK.
I filled the tub with hot water and a little soothing bath stuff and took my time cleaning him. Using a wash cloth, I gently rubbed away the dirt and dried blood until I was satisfied he wasn’t seriously harmed. Chris never once complained and let me immerse myself in my tas
k of self healing.
This wasn’t sexual, it felt loving, caring and totally fitting after the scene we’d just finished downstairs.
God, I loved this man with everything in me.
Once we’d finished in the bath I carried on my nursing role and dried him off, I rubbed Neosporin ointment on his cuts. Even battered and burned my guy’s handsome and rugged beauty blew me away.
We both literally fell in Chris’s bed, exhaustion taking over us and as we cuddled and fell asleep, I sent a prayer of thanks to the heavens above that my man was home safe, beside me.
Awakening the next morning I was surprised that Chris was still in bed beside me. It was the first time he wasn’t up seeing to ranch duties or making coffee.
As soon as my eyes hit his he smiled at me said, “I want you to stay here Neely, I want you to live with me and be my wife. I want you to grow old and grey with me and watch our children and grandchildren run around this place. I want you to make my house, our home. Even with all the drama of the last few days, knowing your smile is the first thing I see in the morning makes me want to be the man who deserves you. Aneelia Prince, will you marry me?”
I was already crying before he got to the end of his speech and totally sobbing when I realized he had just offered to make my dreams come true.
“Please tell me those are happy tears baby?”
“Yes, they’re happy tears and yes, I’ll marry you,” I reply and am greeted with my Chris, he’s also crying but he has a smile that is utterly breath taking, generous and caring. The Chris I always believed him to be.
“Great, sorry it wasn’t more romantic or planned out into some grand gesture, but I couldn’t go another day without making you promise to be mine.”
“Best proposal ever,” I whisper and I can tell my answer and confirmation makes him totally happy.
“Now I’ve just got to pluck up the courage to ask your mom,” he says.
“Don’t you mean my dad?”
“Nope. Definitely your mom, your dad already gave me his blessing.”
Forgiving Love (The Soul Sisters Series Book 2) Page 22