49. Secrets
Secrets
Wade
Fuck.
The worst feeling in the world is coming back into cell service to have my phone blow up with notifications.My stomach drops when I see so many from Elena.
She rarely calls for no reason.
When I listen to her first voicemail, I instinctually drive faster.
Cynthia’s hurt and I wasn’t there.
Flipping through her texts gives me the timeline of events. The last one saying they’re home safe takes my foot off the accelerator.
I’ll be there soon. It’s late, they’re both probably already asleep.
Only the dim light over the stove is on when I finally get home well past ten.
Nights like this aren’t often, thankfully. I hate missing out on the small moments.
Or the big ones, like a broken bone.
Weighing the option of waking Cynthia, I think I’ll wait until morning. I can’t do anything tonight, so there’s no purpose in disturbing her.
I take off my boots at the door, then tiptoe into our bedroom.
Elena’s even breathing is a tell tale sign she’s already out. Today was likely stressful for her, too.
After a quick shower, I fold my way gently into bed.
“Mmm, hi daddy,” she murmurs, turning to lie against me and drape her arm across my belly.
“Hey, baby girl. How is ‘Thia?” I pull her closer.
“She’s tough. Dixon put a splint on it until the swelling goes down.” Her head raises to meet my eyes. “She’s very worried you’re going to be mad at her horse. I promised I’d make sure to tell you that it wasn’t Trixie’s fault.” A smile dances over her lips.
“I’m glad to hear that. I know kids are kids and sometimes just hurt themselves. But damn, I didn’t know how hard it punches when it’s my own.” I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I should have been here.”
Her nail traces my collarbone as she glances at my mouth. “Maybe you’re the one who needs house arrest.”
“That sounds like heaven. I’d love to be trapped here with you.” I work my leg under hers so her thigh rests on mine.
Yea, this would be a good place to be stuck.
Then her palm drifts lower to circle my belly button.
It makes my cock twitch with her proximity.
“Maybe I should.” Her smile grows with a mischievous glint in her dark eyes.
“Should what?” I ask as she rolls away.
“Trap you,” she giggles, then opens the drawer next to the bed.
Before I can register what she’s doing, she tugs my extended arm towards the headboard and I hear the familiar ratchet sound of handcuffs slipping into place.
I forgot she still had those plastic ones left from Halloween.
Naughty. I love it.
She sits on her heels with a proud expression and pulls off her shirt, then crawls closer.
“You’ve got me for good,” I groan. “Now torture me with pleasure.” I reach with my free hand and tug her over me so I can latch my lips around her beaded nipple.
When her fingers wrap my stiff cock it makes me gasp, then suckle even harder.
“Scoot up, baby.” I do my best to manhandle her until her thighs frame my cheeks.
That first taste of her is always the best.
Like I’ve been dying of thirst and she’s the purest spring.
Her hands ride the headboard as her hips gyrate over my mouth.
Fuck, I wish both of mine were free, I’d mash her sweet pussy against my face until I couldn’t breathe.
She pulls away just as her legs begin to quiver.
“Sit,” I grunt, tugging her with my palm.
“Wait,” she pants, working herself down my body until her lips hover above mine. “I wanted to tell you something.”
What on earth could possibly be important enough to stop just before she comes?
My arm moves down her body in an effort to reach her soaking clit, but she shifts again.
“Elena. You’re begging to be punished,” I growl.
When she sits up, she’s almost at my knees, too far to touch now that I’m tethered to the damn bed.
“I discovered something today. A big secret.” Her lower lip rolls in her teeth.
Why does she look like she’s going to cry?
Wait.
A knot forms in my stomach. “Who told you?”
Her forehead furrows. “Dixon,” she whispers.
How did he know?
It doesn’t matter. I need to fix this.
“Elena. I’m sorry. It was a long time ago and he was a very bad man.” I wish I could reach her.
This isn’t how I wanted to tell her.
Her eyes narrow. “Who?”
The hell? “Your father. What are you talking about?”
Those pretty, perfect lips fall into an “O” before she leaps from the bed. “What about my father?”
Shit. This is not what I expected. “Wait, what was the secret?”
She stands, staring at me. “What about my father?” Her voice shakes.
Damn all of this.
My head drops to the pillow. “I’m the reason he’s gone, Elena. He showed up that night after I was gone and he hurt your mom. Bad. That’s why she left.”
I drop my free arm over my eyes to fight the flood of memories. “I found her, broken and bleeding. After I took her to the hospital, I went looking for him.”
When I glance at her again, she’s pulled a robe from the hook and covered herself.
“Go on,” she says stiffly.
“I found him. I made sure he’d never hurt her, or you, again.” I hope she can understand without asking for any more details.
She doesn’t need to know how I beat him with my bare hands.
Or where I buried him.
“I just…wow. I get it, but. Why didn’t you tell me?” Her chin trembles.
I need to hold her.
Tugging at the cuffs, a chill runs through me when I realize they aren’t plastic.
“Elena, please give me the key so we can talk about this.” I look up, searching the room for her.
She’s gone.
“Elena?” I call out, but not loud enough to carry.
The last thing I want to do is wake Cynthia.
Fuck.
“Elena?” I hoarsely whisper, hoping she can hear me.
But when I hear the slam of the front door, it’s a punch to the gut.
She’s gone.