Chapter 38
thirty-eight
“Come with me,” I tell her, pulling her closer with a glance over my shoulder.
The enforcer, Mr. Earl, heads right toward us with his hand pressed against his hip. Probably reaching for his weapon. They wouldn’t shoot me dead here in the middle of the party in front of everyone. No way.
Would they?
Olivia’s skirt swishes quietly as we scurry down the entry hall and duck around a corner. I press her back against a door, out of sight while waiting for Mr. Earl to pass. When he does, I hold my breath, heart pounding in my throat.
After a preliminary survey, he grabs his earpiece and says, “I can’t find them. Keep looking. Make sure to watch their cars…”
His heavy footfalls fade on the marble floor, and I press my mouth to my love’s ear. “We need to get the fuck out of here.”
Olivia reaches into her bag and reads a text on her phone. “Dad says he’s stalling. We can take his car.”
“No. Too obvious… Wait…”
I’d noticed the representatives from Crystal Angel Charity here. So I hurriedly place a text and wait for a notice of reply.
“Okay, let’s go.”
My brow pinches, not wanting to make the wrong move. “Where?”
“We’ll sneak out the back and then down to the stadium. A car will be waiting for us.”
She hurries with me through the glass patio doors but huffs a chuckle. “I don’t think I’m going to be sneaky at all in this dress.”
I glance down at the folds of the fabric. “Want me to carry you?”
“No. I’ve got it.” Fingers dig into the skirt, and she tugs, trying to rip it. Reaching out to help, she nods, and I reach down and hurriedly tear most of it off her corset.
A tiny smile makes my eyes crinkle. I think the old Olivia would’ve been too scared to do this. But I always knew she was a true rebel.
My heart skips a beat as the enforcer spots us entering the back garden and shouts sharply. “There they are!”
“Let’s go!” I yell at my Monarch, and we take off as fast as possible.
She kicks off her heels, abandoning them as we sprint toward the trees. We have enough space that we could hide, if not for her pink dress.
Holding her hand, I lead her over brambles and fallen logs. She moves with deftness, though, skirts gathered tightly in her arms, silent and swift despite at least one enforcer pursuing us closely. Every snap of a branch tightens my nerves further, adrenaline surging with each hurried step.
As soon as we reach a hill and the sound of our pursuer trails off, I dip underneath a rock overhang and grab my Ruger from the holster. Olivia presses her palm over my hand and shakes with cold or fear.
“Don’t!” she whispers, her eyes wide.
“I have to keep you safe.” I dart a glance up the steep incline we just ran down, but there’s no sign of the guy. “No one’s going to touch you.”
“And I’m not letting them hurt you.”
Her warm breath steadies me, and I press a brief, urgent kiss to her parted lips. Instantly, she grabs my collar and pulls me closer, deepening our desperate connection. Tongues slide against one another’s. I’m taken to another place where we’re safe. Comfortable. And alive together.
I break apart long enough to whisper, “You did that to distract me.”
She giggles low. “I did.”
“It worked. Got a semi now, too.” With one last scan of the forest, I make sure no one’s around, then thread my fingers through hers. “Okay, let’s keep moving.”
The scent of damp earth permeates the chilled night air as we proceed deeper into the thickness of the trees.
“Ouch!” Olivia’s hair catches on a branch. Carefully, I untangle it without dislodging her tiara.
“We’re almost there…”
“Who are we meeting? My brother?”
“No… One of mine.”
The football stadium is dark, with only a few streetlamps casting a dim glow over the parking lot. I carefully help Olivia down the ravine onto the pavement, and we immediately spot what I hoped would be there. It’s more than just a car—
A sleek, black McLaren 720S gleams beneath the lights, engine purring like a caged beast.
As we stroll up to it, a cloud of smoke emerges as Lex Lynx steps out with a blunt stuck between his teeth and his Glock in his hand. He waves me into the driver’s seat while giving Olivia a lecherous smirk.
“You sure you don’t want me to drive you, boss?”
“Nope. Not tonight,” I say firmly.
Olivia slides quickly into the passenger seat, clutching the shredded remains of her gown, while I slip behind the wheel and slam the door shut. Lex backs up with a nod, smoke curling from his amused grin.
“Hold tight, baby,” I warn her, flicking the paddle shifter with two fingers. The motor revs viciously, just as a squeal of tires behind us cuts through the cabin as the enforcer’s SUV roars into the lot.
“Shit, they’re here,” Olivia gasps and twists anxiously in her seat.
“I’ve got us,” I promise, hitting the gas.
Tires squeal against the asphalt, throwing us forward as we launch onto the main road.
Headlights flash in my mirror, the SUV rapidly gaining.
I toss my lion’s mask into the back so I can see.
Her eyes gleam in the moonlight, thrilled by the danger as adrenaline spikes between us.
Swerving expertly through the campus streets, I narrowly avoid parked cars and late-night pedestrians, who shout and jump out of the way. Olivia grips my thigh tightly, breathless laughter mixing with her fear.
“Valen,” she pants. “This is fucking insane...”
I can’t look at her, can’t ease the sharp curve we’re taking, but the wild thrill in her voice tells me she’s not begging me to stop.
“I’m scared,” she admits, then adds in a breathless rush, “but you’re driving like you got this.”
Adrenaline spiking, a grin cuts across my face. My cock twitches, excited from the sound of her surrender and the sweet way she’s encouraging me. I downshift cleanly and take the next corner harder. It’s just like in my games…only real this time.
“I’ll get us there in one piece,” I growl. “Then tear you apart.”
We speed toward the outskirts, the city’s bright lights fading behind us as trees begin to blur past. I cut abruptly down a narrow road, kicking up dust. The SUV struggles behind, losing distance with every twist and turn.
My heart pounds as my Monarch shifts toward me, her hand moving upward from my thigh.
“Olivia, what—” I start, but my words evaporate when her delicate fingers tug open my belt and zipper.
“Keep driving,” she murmurs, her voice husky and daring as she delves toward the flap of my boxer briefs.
Her palm is soft, but her grip is assertive—just enough to make me groan. My hips twitch instinctively as she strokes once, then again, languid and slow. Every movement tests me. The heel of her hand brushes the head of my cock on the upstroke, spreading the heat, teasing the edge.
“Fuck,” I breathe, jaw clenching, foot still pressed to the gas. I take the next turn too sharp, tires squealing against asphalt.
She giggles. Breathless. Dangerous. Going faster now and more rhythmic. Her thumb swirls over the tip, spreading precum in slow, torturous circles.
With a growl, I press my feet to the floorboard and lift off the seat, angling my firm length at her face. I squeeze the steering wheel tighter, knuckles pale, heart pounding. I can barely focus on the road. Barely breathe.
“You’re going to make me come in my pants.”
Then, she frees me. Slides me out fully, her fist gliding along my shaft with wet, deliberate strokes. “I can fix that…”
I choke back a groan, forcing myself to keep my focus sharp as she leans over, her mouth enveloping me.
Pleasure surges, white-hot and intense, every swirl of her tongue tightens my grip on the wheel.
Her head moves rhythmically, matching the speed of my driving, her wet mouth sending waves of dangerous ecstasy through me.
One hand steadying us on the road, the other tangled in her hair, I push her down on my dick until she gags. My thigh trembles as I ease the pedal closer to the floor, breath caught in my chest, head pressed back against the seat.
I let her up—just for a second—just long enough to steady my nerves as we tear toward the last street out of town.
“Baby…” When I swing inside one curve, I think I may lose my footing. “Is your plan to make us crash?”
She doesn’t let up, though, and the moans that erupt from her throat only make my toes tingle.
Part of me can relax when the enforcer’s lights vanish completely in the rearview as we hit open countryside, our escape finally secure.
As soon as we enter the driveway to our place, I slow the McLaren, gravel crunching beneath the tires until we skid to a halt outside the ancient doors.
Olivia lifts her head, lips swollen, eyes sparkling mischievously. “Did I distract you?” she teases.
A desperate moan escapes my chest. Barely taking time to tuck myself back into my pants, I rush from the car. Pulling open her door, I lift her and her puffy dress effortlessly into my arms. She giggles, arms wrapping around my neck.
“No more distractions,” I promise darkly, carrying her swiftly to the hood. Her breath catches as I lay her down on her back, tugging her skirts roughly up to her hips.
“God, yes,” she whispers, spreading her thighs eagerly for me beneath the open night sky.
Positioning myself between her legs, I shove her panties aside and drive into her with one powerful stroke. Olivia cries out, her body arching until she’s practically sitting on the liquid metal hood. I grip her waist tight, every thrust of my cock deep and demanding, staking my irrevocable claim.
“I’ll never let them take you from me,” I growl fiercely, punctuating each word with brutal, passionate thrusts.
“Nor you from me.” Her voice trembles, eyes locked on mine. “I love you, V.”
“I love you, my Monarch.”
I lean over her, pressing my lips hard to hers as our bodies collide, the rush of escape and victory fueling our desperate, heated union.
We’re alive and in love. Olivia’s nails rake down my back, my tuxedo coat flaring out at the sides.
Her pussy clenches tight around me, dragging me relentlessly toward release.
As she shatters beneath me, I spill deep inside her, our moans blending beneath the stars, the manor looming protectively around us.
Breathless and trembling, Olivia smiles up at me, utterly ravished and beautifully flushed. “Never letting you go,” she whispers.
I brush damp hair from her forehead, my heart finally calming, certain of one undeniable truth. “Good. Because I don’t exist without you.”
When she shivers, I shrug off my coat and toss it over her arms, then readjust my situation. She shimmies off the hood, and I lead her into the house. At least now there are some heated rooms. And the fireplaces work well.
With my hands on her shoulders, I guide her to the makeshift kitchen. There’s a working fridge near the woodstove. And a rudimentary sink sitting on top of a cabinet.
“I need something…” she says, but I’m already grabbing a wine bottle, opening it, and pouring it into tin camping cups for both of us. She lights the candelabra in the center of the rickety wooden table and fluffs her skirt over the bench before perching there as I pass her a drink.
Our eyes meet over the flickering flame as she pulls my coat tighter around her. I take a sip of the cabernet and try to gather some thoughts in my blissed-out brain.
“What happened?” she asks.
“The bartender… Could he be the cloaked man?”
Her dark eyebrows furrow. “The one who was following you?”
I nod. “Sometimes, he seems to help, and others, not so much. I have a suspicion he’s playing some other game. One I don’t know the end goal of.” I put down my cup and place it to the side. “Tonight, when you turned your back, he switched the flutes like he knew you’d poured something in them.”
Her lips purse as she thinks it over. “That’s a pretty big leap.”
I kick my feet up next to her underneath the table and lean my elbows on the top. “He’s not with the president. Or...I assume he’s not. Had you seen him before?”
Her eyes flick upward thoughtfully, searching her memory. “Not before that party I met you at. Well…met Elliot at. He looks like he’s our age. Except with a bad attitude.”
Remembering his snide remarks from our first meeting, I nod. “Yeah. I’ll ask my father to look into his background. See who employs him and what his name is. We’ll go from there.”
“Do you think he’ll alert the president about what we tried?”
“I’m not sure… If the man hates rich people so much, why would he?”
“But then why would he work for them?”
“Unless…” I reach across the table and stroke the back of her hand.
She cocks her head slightly. “Unless what?”
“Unless we stole his kill.”
Her face draws a shocked expression. “Well…maybe we should let him take it.”
“We, unfortunately, are in even more of a hurry now.”
With a delicate shift, she rises from her seat and rounds the table, then sinks onto my lap. Her fingers slide through my hair as she presses a kiss on my forehead. The gesture is small, but it makes my heart soar.
Maybe I’d be more frustrated. Maybe even terrified. But not with her in my life.
Drenched in love chemicals, I can almost believe in redemption. In purpose. Without her, I don’t think I’d have the nerve to do any of this. Because without her…what’s the point?
She’s given me a reason to save someone other than myself.
With her, I don’t have to choose between Vanquish Veil and who I really am.
“Yeah, we are,” she whispers. “So what do we do?”
“We come up with a better plan.”