Chapter Nine
Will
I run my hands over her back, her arms, her hair and anywhere else I can reach. She’s here. She’s alive. She’s safe.
I’m never letting anyone take her from me again. I came very fucking close to losing her.
“I’ve got you, honey,” I murmur against her temple. “I’ve got you. I’m never letting you go, I love you.”
She lets out a broken sob, burrowing deeper against me. Her breath is ragged, her entire body trembling from fear.
I tighten my hold. I want to fucking kill the bastard who thought he could take her away from me all over again. He had been stupid enough to leave her phone on and I had the best hacker in the entire city on my payroll.
It had taken me less than five minutes to find her. My source had run his number plates and the security footage through the system and in three minutes, I had an identity.
Her stalker had been her former co-star. That is why she is so shaken. It hadn't been a stranger. He is someone she knew and to a certain extent, trusted.
I wish she had listened to me and let me track him sooner. I would have prevented this heartbreak.
She pulls back slightly, just enough to look up at me, her eyes glassy with even more unshed tears. “Will…” Her voice is small. “I love you, too.”
I pull her back to me and seal her mouth to mine, just as we hear a throat clearing by the door. We both turn, but I don’t release my hold on Lily. We see a cop standing in the doorway, he looks young and fit, like he could handle everything we’ve been through.
“Sorry to interrupt,” he says gently, looking to Lily with sympathy in his eyes. I feel a surge of jealousy, I can’t help it. I don’t want anyone looking at my girl unless she’s on stage. “I’m Officer McKay. I assume you’re the one who called us?” he asks, looking to me.
“Yup. Will Bracco. This is my girlfriend, Lily, and the shithead outside is the man who has been stalking her for months.” I take Lily’s hand and guide her towards the officer.
“I’m sorry for all you’ve been through, Lily. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?” Officer McKay asks her.
She sniffles before telling him to ask away. He asks basic details, like how long she’s been being followed, how she knew Ken, and what happened today. She recounts the strange gifts, the weird messages, and the text that lead her to the theater today. She tells them about Ken stealing Martin’s phone to convince her to go there, and his other messages misleading her co-stars and the crew so they wouldn’t come in today.
Officer McKay tells her that they have taken Ken into custody, but that Lily will likely need to testify in his trial for him to be convicted of the stalking, kidnapping, and attempted murder. She tells him she would do anything to make sure he never does this to anyone else again.
I’m so proud of my strong, beautiful girl I could explode. She’s changed me this last week, made me want to build a safer, more secure life. For her. For us. For the family I sense we both want.
The officer turns to me and asks me about Ken’s injuries, I tell him about the gun and the knife, how it was clear he was out for blood. Officer McKay is understanding and thanks me for showing up for Lily before they could get here. I’m glad I sent Ken’s info to my hacker contact, he was able to track him through CCTV security footage and lead me here. He also called the cops while I was on my way, ensuring Lily would have help coming no matter what. Thank God for my contacts.
Officer McKay gives us his card and tells us someone from the station will be in touch if they have any more questions before he heads outside. We walk out to see Ken in the back of the police cruiser, screaming and banging the window with his head. Fucking psycho.
We wait until they drive off before I turn to Lily, needing to get these words off my chest. I’ve told her I love her, but I haven’t properly conveyed what she means to me.
“You've changed something in me. I will be whoever you need me to be and my life would go back to emptiness without you. Only this time, it would be worse because I already know what fullness feels like.” Her brows pull together. I cup her face again, brushing my thumb along the soft curve of her cheek. “Lily, you’ve changed my life.” My voice is raw, the words scraping against my throat. “I’ve been living an empty day-to-day existence. I didn’t think I was capable of caring for anyone.” My jaw tightens. “But for you I’d burn the whole goddamn world. Whatever you want, honey. Just say the world.”
She presses her forehead to mine, exhaling shakily. “Let’s go home.”
Relief surges through me. Home. Home is wherever Lily is.
We ride home in silence. The second we step inside, I lock the door, turn the deadbolt and pull the blinds.
She reaches for me with shaky hands, standing on tiptoes to press her lips to mine.
“You were gone,” I growl, shoving her shirt off her shoulders. I need to touch her skin. “You were gone, and I—” My voice breaks on the last word, and I crush my mouth to hers before I can say something fucking stupid.
She moans, her fingers tangling in my hair. I lose my patience and rip the thin shirt from her body, buttons flying everywhere. I push her against the wall, my hands everywhere at once.
“Mine,” I growl, dragging my lips down her throat. “Say it.”
She gasps, back arching. “Yours.”
I groan, my hands tightening on her hips.
She shoves at my jacket, pushing it off and letting it hit the floor with a soft thud.
Her eyes dart to the spot of dried blood on my shirt and she pauses for a minute.
I expect her to back out. Instead, she swallows hard and pulls the fabric over my head.
My sweet goddess.
She runs her hands down my chest, her nails digging into my skin, her body pressing into mine in the same way she usually does. I lift her, her legs wrapping around my waist instinctively. She gasps when I slam her against the door, my hands gripping her thighs, my mouth hot and desperate against her skin.
“I need you,” I rasp, voice wrecked.
She grabs my face, forcing my eyes to hers. “You have me.”
The words unlock something primal in my brain. I claim her the way I’ve wanted to since the moment I saw her on that goddamn stage. I take her like she’s mine to keep.
We barely make it to the bed and by then we're both naked. I grip her hips and toss her back.
“I don't want to have to tie your hands, angel, but I will if you push me to. Scratch me, claw me, make me bleed from how close you’re holding me.”
She nods, eyes bright with desire.
“Good girl. My good girl.” I groan, locking her legs around me. I start to move. I put her legs over my shoulders and thrust so deep, her hips drove into the mattress.
She screams my name, bucking and groaning under me but she does not let go of the headboard.
“Eyes on me, honey. Don't look away.” I rasp, watching her hazel depths fly open. I grab her two hands in one of mine and keep thrusting whilst our eyes are locked on each other.
She comes so hard, tears pool on both sides of her cheeks. I don't stop thrusting until her throat is hoarse from begging and her legs are shaking from the aftershocks.
I follow right after, calling out her name as I come and thrusting softly as we both come down from our high.
“Yours” she whispers, holding on to me and I know with all certainty that she’s it for me. It is beyond infatuation. I am irrevocably obsessed with her. She owns me.