30. Laney
There’s a parade happening in the city.
Reed wants to take me.
There will be live music, and floats with dancing girls, and stalls selling street food and booze.
I want to make him happy, and I also don’t want to give him a reason to be worried about me.
“Come on, Laney,” he insists. “It’ll be fun.”
“What about Darius and Cade?”
“I was hoping we could spend some time it being just the two of us.”
I’m not sure how it can just be the two of us when we’ll be in big crowds of people, but I understand what he means.
It’s important I spend quality time with each of them.
One of the things Reed was worried about back in the cabin was that I’d come between them, cause jealousy and a rift, and I’ll do whatever I can to ensure that doesn’t happen.
“I’m not sure…”
He takes my hand. “Is it the crowds you’re worried about?”
“Pretty much,” I admit.
“They’ll give us some anonymity, though,” he insists. “There will be so many people there that no one will pay us the slightest bit of attention.”
It’s been weeks now since we were rescued, and the heat has been dying down. I haven’t seen anything online about us. The press has even stopped talking about Darius’s disastrous comeback performance.
Flight Crash Investigation teams are still trying to find the plane.
I feel terrible for the families of the people who died in the crash, that we hadn’t been able to help them more, but this is our survival we’re talking about.
It doesn’t need to be forever, just until after winter, so we know if Smith and the others are still out there, they won’t have made it either.
One day, we’ll work harder to help the investigation teams find the location of the plane and then we’ll help them return the bodies to their loved ones.
“Okay,” I relent, “but if it gets too much, we can leave, right?”
He kisses me. “Absolutely. Just say the word and we’ll get out of there.”
I’m still unsure, but I agree.
We arrive downtown shortly after eight p.m., and the party is in full swing.
I have to admit it seems like fun. The energy from both the people and the music lifts my soul, and, once we’ve grabbed food and drinks—fish tacos and a virgin margarita for me—I find myself dancing along with everyone else, my arms lifted in the air.
The signs of my usual panic attacks haven’t arisen, and I’m feeling good.
Reed leans into me. “You having a good time?”
I grin up at him. “Yes, I am. Thank you for bringing me.”
“You can’t hide away in that trailer forever, baby-girl.”
“I know.”
One of the girls on the floats throws some beads our way, and Reed catches them and strings them around my neck.
“Perfect,” he says.
I’m surprised to find I’m having a good time.
“Laney!”
The male voice catches my attention, and a moment later, an arm is flung around my neck. Panic rises inside me, but then I realize who it is.
“Sonny,” I say. “You nearly gave me a heart attack.”
A wave of booze floats off of him.
“Sorry, Laney. Just wanted to say hi.” He glances over at Reed. “This must be your dad,” he says.
My cheeks burn. “My stepfather,” I correct him.
“Can I borrow her to come and dance?”
He grabs my hand, dragging me through the crowds. I throw a backward glance to Reed. It’s not that I mind dancing with Sonny, but my gut tells me this isn’t going to end well.
Reed’s expression has taken on a hardness I’ve never seen in him before.
He storms after me, shoving people out of the way, ignoring their cries of protest. He reaches the spot where Sonny—completely oblivious to what is going on—is still trying to dance with me.
His hands are on my hips, but he’s not making any other contact with me.
I almost feel sorry for the guy. He’s trying to have fun, but he’s completely misread the situation.
Reed reaches us and shoves Sonny in the chest.
Sonny’s eyes widen, and he stumbles back in surprise. “What the fuck?”
“Get your fucking hands off her.”
“It’s okay, Reed,” I say. “He wasn’t doing anything. We’re just dancing.”
“You only dance with me.”
Reed twirls me away from Sonny and jams his hips against mine.
Sonny stares at us. “Your family is fucking weird.”
He can sense there’s something going on, his gaze flicking between us. His expression goes from confusion to understanding dawning.
“Oh, shit. You’re with your stepfather?” Then he must remember Cade back at the trailer. “And your stepbrother, too?” His disgust at the situation is written all over his features. He throws up both hands. “I don’t want to get in the middle of that .” And he turns and walks away.
I glare at Reed.
“Do you see what you did then? You overreacted. He knows something is going on between us. Something more than a stepfather and stepdaughter.”
“I don’t give a fuck. I’m not having some boy thinking he can take you from me.”
He catches up my hand and pulls me away from the main drag where the parade is happening, and into a small parking lot.
We’re fighting now.
“He wasn’t taking me away. He’s a friend. We were just dancing.”
“You don’t get to dance with anyone else. You’re ours. Got it?”
“Fuck, Reed. I’m allowed to be my own person.”
“No. Your mouth is ours. Your pussy is ours. Your ass is ours. No other kid is thinking he’s got a chance with you. Now, turn around.”
“What?”
“I said turn around.”
He spins me around so I’m facing the car, bends me over the hood, and yanks up my skirt. He drags my panties to one side and roughly plunges two fingers inside me. I cry out, the force of him shoving me forward. I’m instantly wet.
“Take it, baby-girl. This is Daddy’s pussy.”
He fingers me roughly, his digits curled to apply pressure to the spot on the inside of my walls. I whimper and moan.
Then I hear the clink of his belt buckle. He reaches over the top of me and uses the belt to cinch my wrists together.
I’m splayed across the hood, half-naked, exposed. He kicks my feet apart. A cold night breeze kisses my wet skin, and I can smell myself on the air.
“I’m gonna fuck you now.”
Maybe I should protest more—fight back—but I’m fully into this. Seeing this possessive, dominant side of Reed had made me forget all about what happened with Sonny.
“Take me, Daddy. Fuck me hard.”
The head of his cock presses to my opening—hard and smooth and hot. He barely pauses long enough for me to snatch a breath, then rams in deep and hard.
“Oh, fuck,” I cry out.
He’s not taking any prisoners. He grabs both of my hips and fucks me hard and fast.
My head is spinning; my brain has gone into meltdown. We’re both chasing the high of a climax and giving no thought to anything else.
“Ah, fuck, baby-girl. I’m coming. I’m filling your tight little pussy with my milk.”
The noises that leave his lips are some of the hottest sounds I’ve ever heard—so raw and primal.
I come with him, my body shattering around his cock.
I lay slumped on the hood of the car, breathing hard. My hands are still bound with his belt. My heart thumps in my chest.
Suddenly, Reed pulls away from me, tugging my skirt back down to cover me up.
“Shit,” he curses.
I lift my head and chest. “What’s wrong?”
“Someone was over there.”
“You think someone saw us?”
I realize how stupid we’ve been. How incredibly reckless. What had we been thinking, having sex out in the open like this? Yes, it had been incredibly hot, but no orgasm was worth the risk.
“I’m sure it was no one,” Reed says.
I don’t believe him.
“We shouldn’t have done that.” I hold out my arms. “Quick. Untie me.”
He does and threads his belt back through his jeans.
“Do you think it was Sonny?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “No, I don’t think so, but it was hard to get a good look.”
“Is this going to cause us problems?”
“No, I’m sure it’ll be fine.” Despite his words, his expression is troubled. His forehead is furrowed, his lips thinned.
He places his hand on my lower back. “Let’s get you home.”