Chapter Thirteen
Knox
I wake up feeling refreshed and very cozy.
Except my bed is breathing. And toasty. A bit hairy. And a whole lot of man.
“Don’t overthink things, baby boy,” Taylor mutters beneath me. I feel the vibration of his chest on my face because I’m laying on his freaking body.
And not just part of me. No. I decided, mid-sleep, to crawl on top of this man and use him as my bed.
I’m nothing more than his blanket.
“I’m so sorry,” I mutter, trying to move away, but his arms tighten around me. “I didn’t mean to cuddle accost you.”
“Your cuddles were not unwanted, baby,” he says, his voice still rough with sleep.
“This is a bit more than cuddles, though,” I say. “I’m using you as a bed. Your chest is my pillow. Fudge! What if I drooled all over you? And I can feel your boner, which means you can probably feel mine.”
Taylor laughs so hard that my body is bouncing. He turns us sideways, so we’re face to face on the bed.
I don’t breathe.
“What are you doing, Pup?” he asks me, clearly more amused than I seem to be.
Double fudge. Pup. Everything from last night, or this morning, whatever, comes rushing back.
Gosh dang it. Why am I always so freaking talkative when I regress?
Taylor’s brows raise reminding me that he asked me a question.
What was it again?
I need oxygen… Oh, that’s right. Turning my face to exhale the breath I was holding, I say, “Morning breath.”
“Technically speaking, it’s afternoon breath,” he says. “Either way, I don’t care. Kiss me good morning, Knox.”
“I can’t,” I gasp. “I’ll murder you from the fumes alone.”
“Now, baby,” he demands in that oh so delicious, not budging an inch, tone.
Triple Fudge.
With my lips securely held tight, I press a small, non-oxygenated kiss to his waiting mouth.
“Cute,” he laughs before grasping the back of my neck in an iron grip and taking what he demanded. I don’t even pretend to fight as he claims my mouth.
“Do you have work you need to get done today?”
Wow! What a wake-up call that was. Wait. What? Did he ask me something? He kisses me like that and then expects me to freaking answer him?
“Uhm. What?”
“Work, baby,” he smirks. “Do you have to work today?”
“Crap,” I scream, jumping out of the bed. “Yes, I have to freaking work. Where’s my laptop? What time is it? Oh, quadruple fudge. If the Mayor asks why I didn’t check in, I’m blaming you.”
“Quadruple fudge actually sounds good,” he says, stretching his arms above his head. I’m frozen in place as his muscles shift with his movement. My eyes trace each one down his very exposed and wonderfully sculpted chest.
“My eyes are up here, baby boy,” he smirks.
“I wasn’t looking for your eyes,” I say. “I was memorizing the art that is your body. Also, I second quadruple fudge. Yummy. Gotta go. Bye.”
Yeah, I’m smooth.
His laughter follows me all the way to the guest room, where I grab my laptop and get to work.
“Nice hair,” The Mayor of Kentucky greets.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor. Would you believe me if I told you I was attacked by a bear?”
I know my hair is all over the place, seeing as how I haven’t had it cut in over a year now.
“Well, my friend, that would depend on the type of bear you’re talking about.”
I worked for Bobby for years before he became the Mayor of Kentucky. To say we have something in common would be an understatement, but Bobby can’t let a single soul know that he’s a secret Little. It would ruin his reputation. I feel so bad for him, and it makes me angry that people judge someone so harshly because of something that is really none of their business.
I only run personal security in four places. The clubhouse, the Cage, Oasis, and the mayor’s house. Of course, I’m the only one who has access to those feeds, but I never look at Oasis or the Cage unless I need to.
Which reminds me that I need to go over hours of feed from the Cage to see if I notice anything weird with any of the workers.
Ghost is missing thousands of dollars, and I will find out why.
“I’m guessing the good type of bear, seeinghow he’s standing behind you.”
“I don’t think I’d classify the man behind me as a bear, Bobby,” I say without looking behind me. I can see his devilishly sexy smirk from my laptop as he leans against the door, drinking coffee. “More like a bossy Dom who doesn’t let me have coffee whenever I want.”
“I wish I had a Daddy like that,” Bobby sighs. Then his eyes grow comically wide, and he starts freaking the heck out.
“Oh, what did I just do? I’m ruined.”
“Hey. He won’t say anything. I promise.”
“Everyone will know I’m a freak, and no one will take me seriously anymore. I’m done. I’m over. Completely and utterly ruined.”
“Bobby,” Taylor says, leaning down behind me so my friend can see his face. “You will stop, little one, and listen to me. You are not a freak. And you’re not ruined. I promise to keep your secret, sweetheart. You have nothing to fear. Nod if you understand.”
Bobby, shocked beyond belief, nods his head.
“He’s perfect, Knox,” Bobby whispers.
“Ugh,” I groan. “I know. Listen, I’m not at the clubhouse anymore.”
“What? You went outside?”
“The tornado that ripped through Harborbrook left the clubhouse in ruin,” I tell him. “I don’t remember much after that apart from Taylor bringing me to his place. Anyway, I say that to let you know that he lives out in the middle of nowhere. You can come over and play if you want. Oh, crap. I mean, if that’s alright with you?” I turn my head and look at Taylor. “I didn’t mean to do that without asking.”
“It’s alright, baby boy,” he kisses the top of my head which makes Bobby swoon. “This is your home for as long as you’ll allow me to hold you hostage. And I agree, Bobby. Anytime you want to come for a Little date, or to visit, you’re more than welcome. I’ll make sure I’m the only other person here. Your secret will be safe here.”
“I could really use that,” he says, unshed tears in his eyes. “I can’t go to clubs or anything like that, and I have to spend so much time being an adult. And, let me tell you guys something, I hate being Mayor. Re-elections are coming up in six months, and I already have a speech prepared to let everyone know that I won’t be running.”
“He only took the job because of his father,” I tell Taylor. “He’s a jerk.”
“Very much so,” Bobby says. “Alright. Enough chit-chatting. We have an actual meeting to attend in ten minutes. Fix your hair, Knox, while I get things ready. Call me before joining the conference.”
“Talk soon.”
Hanging up, I jump up and head to the bathroom.
“Holy cow,” I yell. “I really do look like I was attacked by a bear.”
I spritz my hair with water and tame the beast until it looks presentable. I don’t know how Taylor keeps his long hair looking so dang sexy. It’s unfair.
“I don’t care if you’re in the room with me during this meeting,” I tell Taylor as I plug my laptop in at the kitchen table. “But, they can’t know you are. There’s one man in particular who would be livid. Best not to anger that monster.”
“Monster?” Taylor raises his brows in question. “Has he ever done something to hurt or upset you?”
“Why? Would you kill him for me if he had?” I ask jokingly as I pull up the code to enter the conference.
“In a fuckin’ heartbeat,” he growls.
“Sexy,” I whisper. “Don’t let them hear you.”
With his nod, he sits on the opposite side of the table and watches me. I’m sure that would make most people uneasy to be watched the way he’s watching me. But I bask in it.
I need more.
“Mayor Robert,” Donavan Wood greets. “Mr. Mercer. So glad you two could join me.”
“Where’s Connie?” I ask, referring to Donavan’s partner.
“She’s currently indisposed,” he smiles creepily.
“Then this meeting needs to be rescheduled,” Bobby says. “I’ve told you twice that I won’t start negotiations without both shareholders, Mr. Wood. You are wasting my time when it is needed in many other places.”
The difference between Little Bobby and Mayor Robert are miles apart.
“This isn’t about the land, Mr. Mayor,” Wood says in that creepy tone he always uses. He’s always smiling as if he has some devious plan no one else is aware of.
I wouldn’t doubt it if he did.
“I have no interest in anything else you have to offer, Mr. Wood,” Bobby says.
I’m discreetly trying to pin a location on this man. Something’s off, and I’m hitting brick walls. I’ve never had this issue when tagging his location before.
Bobby has been wanting to buy a piece of land he and his cousin own to build a nursing home on, but they have fought us for months now.
Something never sat right with this man.
“I think you might this time,” he says. “Come here, sweetheart.”
I watch as a young female, maybe nine or ten years old, comes over and stands beside Wood. He pulls her onto his lap.
She looks terrified. But I don’t let him know that I’m affected.
“Meet my daughter, Dee,” he says.
“You don’t have a daughter,” I remind him.
I know for a fact he doesn’t because I spent weeks doing extensive research on the man before I so much as let him have a phone conversation with Bobby. I’ve talked to every woman he’s ever been with, and there was no mention of a child. There are no records with his name indicating he’s someone”s father.
Taylor looks concerned and I can tell he wants to come over here, but I raise my fingers where only he can see.
Please understand, Taylor.
I can see him nod from the corner of my eyes, but I don’t dare look at him.
“How about that,” Donavan laughs. “It appears I do now.”
“What’s your name, honey?” I ask.
“DeeDee,” she answers with a wobbly voice.
“Hi, DeeDee, my name is Knox. Are you okay?”
“She’s fine, Mercer,” Donavon snarls.
“What’s going on, Mr. Wood?” Bobby asks.
“You see, Mayor, I’m in a bit of a conundrum, and you’re going to help me get out of it.”
Without looking away from the computer, I grab my phone and text Bobby.
Don’t act too interested. Shake your head after you read this, so he thinks you’re frustrated.
Bobby glances down for a few seconds before sighing and shaking his head.
“I have no interest in getting involved with whatever you’ve gotten yourself into,” Bobby says. “I’m only interested in your land. I’ll add an extra two grand on top of the offer.”
“You help me out, and the land is yours.”
“You can’t make that decision without your cousin,” I remind him. “You only own half.”
“Then I’ll offer my half,” he says desperately.
“Not acceptable,” Bobby says calmly, almost as if he’s bored. “We want the entire land. My offer only lasts for today, Mr. Wood. After that, I’m pulling it from the table and will look for land elsewhere.”
A tear falls down the poor girl”s face, but she doesn’t make a sound. She doesn’t even move to dry her eyes.
She’s scared stiff.
“If you help me, I’ll make sure Connie signs off on the deal today. She doesn’t want the damn land to begin with. She’s just doing me a solid.”
“I’m not sure doing you a favor would be in my best interest,” Bobby says. “Your land is in the most convenient spot for what we want to build, but it’s not the only place we have in mind.”
“You would be saving this kid”s life,” Donavan says.
“Is this to save the girl”s life or yours?” Bobby asks.
Taylor is on the edge of his seat and a whole lot pissed off. But, he seems to understand the need for his silence.
I watch as the broom leaning against the wall behind Donavan and DeeDee falls to the ground. The noise causes both of them to jump with fear-filled eyes.
Interesting.
“You know, Mr. Mayor,” I say, maintaining the notion that I don’t know the man beyond work. “Saving this girl from whatever is causing her fear would look good for your re-election campaign. But you really should get more information before you even consider it.”
Donavan’s eyes widen with excitement.
“Yeah,” he shouts. “It would. I’ll tell you whatever you need to know about her.”
From my peripheral, I see Taylor smirk, and his eyes brighten.
I mute my microphone so that he won’t hear me typing and I open a new browser.
“Muted,” I mumble to Taylor. I don’t want to move my lips much in case Donavan catches me talking to someone and realizes he can’t hear me.
“So fuckin’ proud of you, baby,” Taylor says. “Damn, you’re smart.”
Don’t smile. Don’t smile. Don’t smile.
But it doesn’t stop me from blushing, which causes Taylor to chuckle.
“Her name is Delilah, but she doesn’t have a last name,” he starts. “I kidnapped her.”
“You did what?” I shout.
“Muted, Knox.”
Fudge.
I unmute my side and repeat myself.
“You did what?”
“It’s not what it sounds like,” he rushes to say.
“How else is it supposed to sound, Mr. Wood?” Bobby asks.
“Just give me a chance to explain.”
“Honey, is he hurting you?” I ask, ignoring the bastard she’s sitting on.
“No,” she whispers. “I think he saved me.”
“You think?” Bobby asks.
“Explain,” I demand. “Why did you kidnap her?”
“I’m part of group called the Divine Ascendance Society,” he says.
Not caring if he can hear me or not, I start researching.
“Nothing,” I mutter to myself. “Divine Ascendance?” I repeat out loud. “As in divine spirituality?”
“Yes,” Donavan answers.
“A cult? You’re part of a religious cult? Donavan, I know everything about you and not once is there mention of a cult.”
“No, there wouldn’t be.”
The evil smile from before is replaced with exhaustion.
“Since you know everything about me, tell me, computer nerd, what do I do for a living?”
“You own the utopian retreat, Harmony Heights,” I answer easily, ignoring his nerd remark.
Freaking proud of it, dude!
“The employees and members of Harmoney Heights are the members of Divine Ascendance,” he explains. “We’re a society that practices in secret. The law states no leaving the retreat unless it’s planned ahead and with many members. Absolutely no electronics.”
“Harmoney Heights doesn’t use electricity,” I say. I remember first reading that and thinking people were nuts if they wanted to spend a few days at that retreat.
“The whole point is to harmonize yourself with nature and the people around you,” Donavan says. “Anyway, that’s what we tell strangers who come asking about us. But we’re actually seeking divine ascension.”
I remove my glasses and rub my eyes in frustration.
I’m angry at myself for not knowing that it was just a ruse for a dang cult.
“You know,” I say, replacing my glasses. “The last one who sought divine ascension was ultimately cast into a pit of fire and brimstone, right? Along with all of his followers.”
“It’s not the same thing,” Donavan says. “We’re not seeking to be God. Just to be like God.”
“I’m renaming you, Lucifer Morning-Star,” I say, rolling my eyes. “You believe whatever you want to believe. Where does DeeDee come into play?”
“It’s okay,” Donavan whispers softly to the poor girl.
Hmm. Maybe he isn’t the one she fears.
“I’m the leader of our Society and it’s time for me to take a wife.”
“Don’t say it,” Bobby cries.
“DeeDee was born with the mark,” Donavan says. “Her eyes. One is brown, and the other one is split right down the center with green on one side and blue on the other.”
“Heterochromia Iridum,” I state. “Amazing. It’s rare but not unseen. Wait, are you telling us that your cult is expecting you to marry this nine-year-old little girl because her eyes are different?”
“And then to consummate the marriage,” he says grimly. “The land is yours if you will get this poor girl out of here. Make her disappear.”
It appears that Taylor has had about all the silence he can take. He lifts me from my chair, sits, and places me on his lap.
Well, okay then.
“Who the hell is that?” Donavan barks.
“Hi, pretty girl,” Taylor says, ignoring Donavan’s outburst. “My name is Taylor, and I’m going to get you out of there and somewhere safe. But, right now, can you do me a favor and cover your ears and sing your favorite song? It sounds really cool when we sing with our ears covered. Want to give it a try?”
It takes her a few moments to cover her ears, and she starts to sing softly.
“Listen here,” Taylor growls quietly. “If something happens to my boy because you got him involved in a damn cult, there won’t be a single place you go where I won’t find you. Your death will be slow and painful if so much as a single hair on his head is displaced. Do I make myself clear?”
“No one needs to get hurt,” Donavan says. “I just need DeeDee to vanish.”
“What about the other kids? Won’t you be required to take a different wife?” Bobby asks.
“No. I don’t even know where that rumor came from. But when the entire group teamed up against me, I had no choice. There are only three more children, and they are all boys. We’re not a violent cult, Mr. Mayor. Our kids are treated with kindness.”
“That was pretty cool,” DeeDee smiles as she uncovers her ears.
“Do you want us to come and get you?” Taylor asks, not beating around the bush.
“They told me all about sex,” she says bluntly. “The ladies made me watch videos, and I had to take a test so they knew I understood what I had to do for my husband.”
My stomach twists at her words.
“My friend and I are going to come get you today and take you someplace safe,” Taylor tells her. “I need you to try and memorize my face because when I get there I’m going to have to take you out of there in a hurry.”
Taylor messes with his phone and pulls up a picture of King.
“This is my friend, King,” he tells her. “Try and memorize his face as well. We are going to be the only two to come and get you. So, if it’s not one of us who takes you away, I need you to fight and scream. Understand?”
With her nod, Taylor leans forward and holds me tightly against his body.
“Where?” is all he asks.
“Harmony Heights,” he answers. “There’s a meditation class that everyone is required to attend in three hours. No exceptions. DeeDee will be skipping it to prepare for her wedding. There will be no electricity, no cameras, no guards, no guns. We’re seeking divine intervention, after all. The only phone is the one I’m currently using for this meeting. DeeDee will make her way outside to the front door as soon as everyone is meditating. It should be simple. And, Mr. Mayor, I’ll have both sides of the deed signed over to you, and it will be in DeeDee’s pocket.”
“I don’t care about the damn land,” Bobby gasps. “Just get her out of there.”
“Either way, it’s yours. Three hours.”
The call ends, and it’s just us and Bobby.
I lay my head against Taylor’s shoulder and moan.
“Cartels and Cults. What has my life become?”
“No more talking to cult members, Knox,” he growls. “And you,” he says, pointing at my friend. “I don’t want you involved either. Stay off of video chats unless it’s with Knox until I give the all clear.”
“You do know that I’m your mayor, right?” Bobby says.
Taylor looks at him and doesn’t say a word.
“Fine,” Bobby whines. “But, let it be known that I do so with protest.”
“Noted.”
“Bye, Bobby.”
“Sorry, I got you involved in this,” he says. “I’ve always felt iffy of that man since our first meeting.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” I tell him. “I’m angrier at myself for not putting two and two together about him being a dang cult leader.”
“A cult right here in Harborbrook, and not a single one of us knew about it,” Bobby shakes his head. “I need a nap. Update me.”
“Bye.”
The screen goes blank, and I feel exhausted.
“Well, that just happened,” I say.
“King’s on his way. Will you be okay on your own for a little while?”
“I’ll be fine,” I say. “I might go hang out on the porch some more.”
“Good boy, baby. When I get back, we have some things to talk about.”
“Am I in trouble?” I ask.
“No,” he chuckles. “Come on, help me get ready.”
“Did you forget how to tie your shoes?” I ask as I follow him from the room. “I have a song I can teach you.”
I smile as Taylor shakes his head.
“You’re a brat,” he mumbles.
I couldn’t agree more.
“But I’m your brat,” I say shyly. Not completely sure we’re at that stage of claiming ownership.
He stops mid-step and turns his head.
“Yes, you fuckin’ are,” he smiles. “Come on, baby. I’ve got someone to save so that I can come back home to my man.”
His man.
His boy.
His Pup.
Oh, my!