Chapter 22 #2
“Bloody hell, am I the only one who thinks it’s crazy?” I argued. “We can’t just go around creating sites on the dark web, especially not ones that purport to offer services that definitely aren’t legal.”
“But we wouldn’t actually be providing the services,” Shannon countered.
“It’s just a way of getting Samuel’s attention.
I could easily build a site, make it look legit, and we could leave breadcrumbs on the forums Margie said he uses.
Post as people recommending the site. It might take time, but once he visits, I’ll be able to track his exact location. ”
I was shaking my head, while Dad stared at Shannon, a big smile on his face. This kind of skullduggery was right up his alley. Seriously, I couldn’t believe I was saying this since he was supposed to be the parent here, but he was a bad influence.
“Look, as Shannon pointed out, this will take time,” Dad said. “Think on it. We don’t need to commit to anything just yet.”
Even as he said it, I could already see the wheels turning in his head, plans formulating. Before I could say more, Mam returned with Zara, who wore a pretty new scarf in her favourite colours, purple and green.
“Look what Granny made for me,” she exclaimed, running to Shannon to show her.
“Wow, it’s gorgeous. Thank you so much, Matilda.”
“It was my pleasure. Anyone for tea?”
“Sure, I just need to use the bathroom first,” Shannon said, rising from her seat.
“Use the one upstairs,” Mam told her. “The one down here is on the fritz. We’ve a plumber coming in the morning.”
Shannon nodded, and I watched her go, just like I always did. If she was in the room, my eyes were sure to follow her. Once she was gone, I shot my dad a firm glare. “Whatever you want to do, you have my full permission, but don’t involve Shannon. You can have someone else build the website.”
“All right, but she seems determined to help.”
“Just do it without her. I won’t risk her getting in trouble.” Dad nodded, eyeing me in an uncomfortably focused way. I let out a grunt of annoyance. “Will you please quit doing that?”
“Doing what?”
“Reading me. I can always tell when you’re trying to figure out my thoughts, and to be perfectly honest, it’s intrusive.”
Dad let out a soft, affectionate chuckle. “I don’t need to figure out your thoughts, son. They’re plain as day on your face.”
“Oh, for crying out loud. Just stop.”
“What’s going on with you and Shannon?”
“Enough.”
“Something’s changed between you. The dynamic is—”
“None of your business. Will you ever learn to stay out of my personal life?”
Dad didn’t respond, only arched a single, sardonic eyebrow.
“Oh, leave him alone, Jay. You know good and well what’s happening,” Mam said, sidling over to the table and lowering her voice so Zara couldn’t hear. “They’re falling back in love.”
I wasn’t falling back in love. I’d never stopped.
“If that’s true, I hope you don’t plan on letting her down like you did last time,” Dad said. “Because I don’t think I could forgive you if you broke that girl’s heart again.”
There was a time when I might’ve taken offense to my dad’s warning, but not anymore.
I could take accountability for my past actions now, and besides, I knew he was only coming from a place of love for both of us.
I lifted my chin, staring him dead in the eye as I assured him with absolute confidence.
“I won’t. The rest of my life will be keeping her safe and happy, I can assure you. ”
My response seemed to satisfy him. “Good.”
Mam came and wrapped her arms around me briefly before placing a gentle kiss on my cheek. “It’s been so lovely to see the two of you getting close again. I’m so happy for you, Jace.”
My throat thickened with emotion, and I felt too exposed under my parents’ studied focus, so I stood from the table and went to see what was taking Shannon so long.
She’d been in the bathroom for a while, and I hoped she wasn’t feeling sick.
All the stress of the last two days would’ve had anyone’s immune system struggling.
When I climbed the stairs, I found the main bathroom empty. Where had she gone? As I went to check the other rooms, I found her standing by the desk in my bedroom.
“Shannon?” I entered the room, and she turned. Her eyes were glassy, and I immediately closed the distance between us. “What happened?”
She pointed to the framed painting resting against the side of the desk, the one Roan had done of her. It was still half covered in the protective bubble wrap from when I’d collected it from the gallery.
“You bought it,” she whispered, the words heavy with emotion.
“I had to,” I replied, picking up the frame and pulling off the wrapping before setting it down on the desk so we could admire it fully. “It’s the most beautiful painting I’ve ever seen.”
“Jace.”
“It’s true. I’ve never seen anything more—”
Before I could finish, her lips crashed into mine, her arms around my neck, pulling me close. “I love you,” she breathed, each word slipping between desperate kisses, and for a moment, the rest of the world ceased to exist.
My chest tightened, heart hammering as her words sank in.
A shiver ran through me, and my fingers trembled as I instinctively pulled her closer.
I lifted her into my arms, her warmth anchoring me, and carried her to the bed, laying her down with care.
Every nerve in my body felt alive, every thought consumed by her, by us.
I pressed my forehead to hers, letting the weight of her love wash over me, and I swore I would never let her go.
“I love you, too, never stopped …” Her fingernails raked along the back of my neck, and I groaned. “We can’t do this here, not with my parents downstairs.”
“I know,” she breathed. “I just … need you.”
“Although, saying that,” I added with a smirk, “my parents being in the house never stopped us when we were teenagers.”
She giggled, and it was the most perfect sound. “Nothing could stop us back then.”
“Honestly, I don’t feel like much has changed.” I caught her chin between my thumb and forefinger, pressing a softer kiss to her lips as I struggled to calm my breathing. I swallowed her up with my gaze. She was the sexiest thing in the world. “Tell me again,” I requested, my voice a husky rasp.
Shannon’s eyelids flickered shut, a breath rushing out when I pressed my erection between her legs. “Tell you what?” she murmured.
I sank my hand into her silky hair, then wrapped my fingers around it, forming a thick rope and gave a little tug. Another sexy gasp. “That you love me.”
“I love you, Jace. You have my whole heart.”
“I love you so fucking much. It’s maddening how much.”
“Jace.”
“What is it, baby?”
“Pull my hair again, just a little.”
A dark, sinful smile shaped my mouth as I gave another gentle tug. “Like that?”
“Yes,” she breathed.
“I almost forgot how much you liked that.” Leaning onto my side, I kept a hold of her hair, my gaze traversing the dips and curves of her body as I ran my hand down her stomach to the swell of her thighs.
She quietly moaned, and I tutted, “I can’t leave you in this state, now can I? Not when you’ve been so sweet for me.”
My hand brushed whisper soft between her legs, and her thighs fell open for me on instinct. I needed to get up and close the door, but I didn’t want to leave her. “Hold that exact thought for me, Shannon, yeah?”
She nodded, eyes fluttering closed again.
Quick as a flash, I climbed from the bed, closed and locked the door, then returned to her.
I captured her hair in my fist again, then buried my face in her neck, licking at the goosebumps as I pushed up the hem of her dress, past her underwear, finding her wet and soft and ready.
I thumbed her clit, soliciting a moan and chuckled low and deep as I whispered in her ear, “Gonna have to be a little quieter than that, Kryten. Otherwise, I’ll have to gag you. ”
A rush of desire flashed through her bottomless brown eyes. “I’ll try.”
“That’s my girl.”
I pushed two fingers inside her, and her back arched off the bed. Bloody hell, she was perfect. So reactive. I gave her hair another pull, a little harder this time, and watched with relish as she tried to stay quiet. Her body tensed, and I could tell she was close.
“Are you going to come for me, my perfect, beautiful wife?” I asked as my hand sped up.
“Yes,” she replied, her pretty lips falling open on a sigh. “Kiss me.”
The words had barely left her mouth before I was acquiescing.
I slid my tongue into her mouth, kissing her deep as a flood of wetness coated my hand.
Shannon gripped my shoulder, squirming beneath me.
I continued stroking my tongue along hers until eventually her thighs clamped around my wrist. I opened my eyes to watch her come, the most stunning sight in my world.
“That’s it, ride it out,” I said, my voice full of praise as she shuddered against me, her kiss becoming slower, less urgent. Eventually, her mouth fell away from mine as her hands went to the fly of my jeans.
It took everything inside me to grab her hands, stopping them from proceeding.
“Next time,” I told her softly. “We’ve been gone long enough.”
Her eyes widened as she came down from the fog of orgasm and seemed to realise we were still in my parents’ house. Her hands went to her face as she sat up and began fixing her clothes back into place.
“Oh,” she breathed, full of chagrin, and I took her hand, pulling her back to me.
“Hey, relax. It’s only been a few minutes. I’ll just say we were discussing something about Zara’s school.”
“Okay,” she said, nodding. “Do I look—”
“You’re perfect,” I said, running my fingers through her hair and tucking one side behind her ear. “Besides, I did actually want to ask you for a favour.”
“A favour?”
“I need you to help me film something.”