Chapter 5 #2
Fire races through me. Leon may have seen her first, but I’m the one who went after her when she was in danger. Leon would have left her here to be gang-raped and probably killed.
Her nipples are showing through the creamy lace bra she’s wearing, dark and dusky pink. Pretty enough to make my mouth water. I feel a stab of jealousy that my son is the one who gets to see Elena naked.
I unbutton my shirt, take it off, and help her into it. It’s bloodied, but at least it’s in one piece. “Let’s get you out of here.”
After a few steps, Elena’s knees buckle. I catch her, lift her into my arms, and carry her out to my car. Elena’s arms lock around my neck, and she holds on as tight as she can. She’s gripping me like I’m her only safe place in the world. The adrenaline is wearing off, and she starts to shake.
My truck has a bench seat all the way across, and when I get into the driver’s seat, she plasters herself against my bare chest and holds on tight.
I’m smiling to myself as I peel away from the curb. I just killed four men, and Elena is clinging to me for dear life.
She lifts her head and tries to move back. “Sorry, I’ll let you drive.”
“I can drive just fine with you sitting right there.” I scoop her back against me and hold her to my side. Her hand finds the center of my chest.
When we get back to my house, I switch the engine off, and we sit in the dark. Elena is still clinging to me.
“Do you mind if we just sit here for a minute?” she asks in a strained voice, her cheek pressed against my shoulder.
“I don’t mind at all.” I push my hand into her hair and rub the nape of her neck, trying to ease some of the tension in her body. She moans softly and burrows into my chest.
“You feel really safe,” she whispers.
“Elena, I just killed four men.”
“I know. Thank you.”
I groan softly, pleasure surging through me. I killed four men, and she’s not screaming at me. She’s not running away. She’s thanking me and holding me.
“Do you think anyone will find out it was you who killed those men? I don’t want you to get into trouble because of me.”
Elena lifts her head, and her sweet, imploring expression goes straight to my cock. My son’s girlfriend is achingly beautiful. Not only that, but she also stabbed a man and struck another with a lamp. I think she might be perfect for me.
“Don’t worry about me, darlin’,” I whisper, brushing my lips over her brow, wishing I could carry her upstairs and straight to my bed. I’m in so much trouble, and it’s got nothing to do with four dead men.
“You must think I’m such an idiot for getting lost. I promise I’ll be more careful next time.”
She made a mistake when she got off at Fenton instead of Fenwick, but mistakes happen.
It’s what she did when she got into trouble that counts.
She called for help. She stayed on the phone with me.
As soon as she was able to, she fought back as hard as she could.
The other week, she went straight for the panic button in my kitchen when she thought there was a stranger in my house.
Elena has better instincts than she realizes.
She’s smart.
She’s a quick thinker.
She’s so fucking beautiful.
I caress her cheek. “I think you’re amazing. You’re who I want.” I let her think I mean she’s who I want looking after my daughter.
“I never imagined that anyone would care enough to come to my rescue like you did. Thank you, Mr. Grant. ”
She traces her fingers across my jaw. My lips. I’m transfixed by her. I’m not the kind of man to lust after someone else’s woman, but there’s an undeniable tension between us, and I can’t pull away.
“Mr. Grant…” she whispers.
“Call me Cullan.”
“Cullan.”
Elena saying my name cuts through the last of my self-control. I cradle her face in both hands. “Do you see me?”
Elena’s eyes rove over me, taking in every detail. The blood that spatters my cheeks. The darkness in my eyes.
“Yes,” she breathes.
“Are you afraid of me, darlin’?”
“No, Cullan.”
I groan and slant my mouth over hers. Her lips are soft and parted, and her mouth opens wider for me, surrendering completely to the kiss.
Her fingers twine through my hair, sweet touches that make my body burn.
This is all I’ve ever needed, for a woman to see who I really am and still want me.
I’ve always kept my bloodlust tightly under control, but I can feel my darkness rising and flexing its muscles as I go on kissing Elena.
My tongue strokes lovingly over her lower lip, and she whimpers.
I could push this seat back and pull her astride me.
I’m aching for her as I capture her lower lip in my teeth and bite down.
When she gasps against my mouth, I fumble for the seat controls.
There’s a tapping on the window by my head. “Dad. Elena. Is that you? Is everything okay? ”
Elena breaks our kiss with a gasp, her expression shocked and frightened.
The windows of my truck have steamed up, but I can just make out Leon on the other side, peering in at us.
I prowl around my house with clenched fists. There’s a tight, buzzing in my chest that makes me want to put my fist through a wall.
I saved my woman.
I killed for her.
And another man took her from me.
I’m fully aware that she’s my son’s girlfriend, and he has every right to be alone with her and take her wherever she wants, but I’m furious. Another man is comforting my woman.
Holding my woman.
Kissing my woman.
Doing God knows fucking what to my woman.
I gave Elena her cell phone back and told her she could stay over if she didn’t feel safe in her apartment, but when Leon offered to take her home, she nodded meekly and got into his car.
I felt sick as I watched them drive away.
The next time I try to contact Elena, her head will have cleared, and she will have probably blocked my number and reported me to the police. There will be nothing but fear and disgust in her eyes if she ever looks at me again .
I realize I’m in the kitchen, and I lean over the counter, both hands flat against the cool marble.
As far as I can tell, when Leon looked through the foggy car window, he thought I was comforting Elena while she was upset.
Now he’s upstairs in her apartment, and he’s probably kissing her. He’s probably in her bed.
I take out my phone to check on Rosie, but she’s still sleeping soundly. Mrs. Kerr put her to bed tonight and then went home. Rosie will wake up in an hour or so, and I need to calm down so I can take care of her properly.
My hands and forearms are sticky with blood, so I head upstairs and take a shower.
When I’m naked beneath the hot spray, I stare at my semi-hard cock.
I’ve been hard ever since Elena stabbed one man and hit another with a lamp.
I close my eyes and imagine vividly that she’s still in my arms. That I’m covered in the blood of the men who tried to hurt her, and their corpses lie all around us.
Taking my cock in my hand, I stroke myself, my forearm planted against the shower wall and my forehead leaned against it.
I imagine that I have her pressed against the wall, her face upturned to mine so I can kiss her, and that Elena wants me as much as I want her.
She’s so turned on that her inner thighs are coated with her wetness, and she’s begging for me to soothe the aching need within her.
Anything for my woman.
After the first thrust, I pull out and relish the sight of Elena’s blood on my cock.
She’s a virgin. I’ve claimed her before my son could.
I’m the only man for her. She pleads with me not to stop.
To come deep inside her. Her lips are soft and wet against mine, and she whispers that she wants to be mine forever.
I come so hard that I nearly black out. I’ve never climaxed so hard in my life. I push myself away from the wall and feel the hot water spray over my face. God, I’m so fucked.
As I get into bed, I think one more time about that kiss, and what might have happened if Leon hadn’t interrupted us. Staring at the ceiling, I wonder if I could have coaxed Elena to sit astride my lap and rub herself against me while I told her what a good girl she is until she came in my arms.
I groan and push a pillow over my face. It’s torture thinking about Elena.
I want her, but I also want to be a good father to Leon, and my children always come first.
When I wake up in the morning, I lie still with my eyes closed, wondering if a night’s sleep has put yesterday’s events in a new light.
I hear Elena’s soft, needy whimper as I kiss her.
I feel hot, slippery blood on my fingers and the ghost of the knife and gun in my hands. My cock is thick and swollen.
Nothing’s changed.
I still crave Elena.
And I want to keep killing.
All through the day, I anticipate an angry call from Leon, demanding to know why I kissed his girlfriend.
Surely she’s told him everything by now.
If she hasn’t, then maybe she’s too traumatized to speak about it.
I wonder if she’s coping with the aftereffects of all that violence or if she’s terrified and shaking.
I have to go out on a job, but at lunchtime, I’m able to swing by Archer’s Diner. The greeter tells me Elena called in sick, which makes my heart seize up with worry. I picture her alone and crying after yesterday’s ordeal, and I’m the one who’s traumatized her.
I stride out to my truck and race around to her apartment.
I double park across the street and keep the engine running while I stare up at the building, wondering which apartment is hers.
There’s no sign of life anywhere. Is hers the one with the pale yellow curtains?
Or the one with the row of potted plants on the windowsill?
My guess is the one with the plants, seeing as she was taking a fern to her friend as a housewarming present.
I hesitate for a moment, and then call her.