Chapter 18 #2
I could have brutally raped her for the pain that swept over her face. The words stabbed into my chest like a dull knife, and I felt her regret as if it were my own. And it was. Revenge wasn’t sweet. Revenge was a monster.
“Why wait,” Marian exploded. “Maybe we both got lucky! Let’s leave it to fate, Drayton, and see just how strong your sperm are. I bet you can’t even get this right. I bet they’re weak just like you.”
My finger pointed, but I didn’t get a chance to speak before a knock sounded. I undid her from the cuffs.
“That’ll be one of the team. Go clean up. I’ll bring you some clothes once I confirm the ring is there.”
Clean up. I’d cleaned her up the first time. I had carried her to the shower and taken such care with her. I’d been gentle and slow. I’d pleasured her for hours. And now this…
“You make me sick.”
Marian crawled from the bed, throwing me a glare as she tried to hold in the wince that still escaped. She wasn’t walking straight, and the cum running down her legs only left me getting hard again as I pulled up my jeans. I hadn’t even taken them off all the way.
Heading to the door, I looked out of the peephole, pausing in reaching for the knob.
This was not my team. The man, I could have mistaken for a killer.
The woman was far from that as she stood there in a pale pink blouse and slacks.
Her long blonde hair was in big curls, and her natural makeup was flawless.
She could have been on a big screen. I could have made her famous.
But I wouldn’t. I knew who she was. Anna Marks, the reporter.
Quinn had mentioned her, but what the hell was she doing here?
Had she followed one of the team earlier when they dropped off the dye? Who the hell was this woman?
I spun, seeing Marian standing at the hallway, wrapped in a towel. She hadn’t listened and was more curious than anything as she watched me not open the door. More knocks went off as I walked quickly to the hall.
“Not a word. Do you hear me?”
“Who is it?”
I nearly growled as harder knocks sounded.
“A reporter.”
“Anna Marks?”
That she remembered the woman’s name had my lids narrowing.
“Let me handle this. Stay quiet and out of sight. You don’t want to test me.”
I didn’t wait for a response. I walked to the door, pulling it open a good six inches and using my body to fill in the space.
“Can I help you?”
“Hi, my name is Anna. This is my husband, Boston. I have a special where we look for missing people.” She paused, taking in the way I was standing.
The way her eyes traveled over me… the way they took in my every move, I felt myself grab harder to the door.
Brown eyes rose, locking right on mine. The intensity they held as she inched in closer had me reassessing my earlier profile on who this woman was.
She didn’t feel fragile or feminine despite she looked like it.
She didn’t even feel safe to be around. “I have reason to believe you’d like to speak with me concerning Marian LaRoe. ”
“Why Marian? Is she missing?”
“She is. And you dated her. What happened to your face, Mr. Pennington?”
I paused, feeling my jaw tighten. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. Listen, I can’t help you.”
“I think you can. I have video footage of the two of you kissing. She was in town with her fiancé. Now, she’s not, and she’s gone. Who better to help me than you?”
“Listen—”
“Honey, who is it?”
My lids shut, and I could have cursed and maybe even did as I reigned in the anger. A hand swept over my back, and I pulled open the door, giving them view of Marian.
“Not missing, and she’s not his fiancée anymore. She’s mine,” I corrected.
The blonde’s eyes were wide as she took in Marian, who waved, in her towel.
“Did I hear you right? The cops are looking for me?” At the nod, Marian looked up at me worried but went back to Anna.
“I had no idea. I feel horrible. Bastian and I were fighting. I ended things, but he wouldn’t leave.
I mean, he even came down the next morning and was hovering outside of the book signing I was attending.
I just had enough. I snuck out, and well, Drayton and I have been…
preoccupied, making up. It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other.
I’m so sorry you wasted time looking for me.
I’ll be sure to inform the police I’m okay.
” She paused as Anna took in her words. “Oh… and his face; I did that. Complete accident. I’m afraid my hand got caught in my shirt and…
well… we were sort of in a hurry to ah…. get it off.”
“Oh… right, yeah.” Anna smiled, looking towards the large man not feet behind her.
He was in jeans and a black t-shirt. It was only then, I really took him in.
Hazel eyes. Lots of tattoos. Scar on the forehead.
Tall, built. But it was his features I knew.
Ones I recognized from the picture book of our circle.
“Marks, of course. You’re Gilbert Marks’ boy. You’re Boston Marks.”
Confusion had the couple looking at each other.
“I am. And you’re Drayton Pennington. Do we know each other?”
I laughed, shaking my head. “No, but we should. Our fathers are friends. You’re in our circle. Or… sort of. You are, but your dad doesn’t follow tradition. He didn’t want you raised like us. I’m not even sure he wanted you to know. I didn’t tell you that.”
He laughed. “It’s okay. I know. And you’re right. He wanted me to find myself before I decided to step in to take his place. If that’s what I choose,” he said, shrugging. “I’m not sure yet.” He gestured to Marian. “I’m glad everything turned out okay here. We’ll let you go.”
“Thanks.” My brow creased as I took him in. “Feel free to call me any time you’re in California. We should probably stay in touch, in case.”
“Right.” He smiled. “For sure. You two have fun.”
His hand settled on the blonde’s back and they turned, heading back to an SUV.
I shut the door, turning to throw Marian a look.
She didn’t move or budge. She leaned against the wall, tapping her finger as she waited.
As if she were expecting her punishment.
As if… she wanted it. Wanted. Wanted. I raked my eyes over the towel.
Over what the couple must have seen. Over what was mine.
I looked into her eyes at the pressure in my chest and head… waiting… searching for… something. The past? The future? More pain? I couldn’t tell through the need to have her again. To be inside her again.
“I told you there were consequences for not following my orders. I don’t care if you were trying to help. What I say goes. Drop the towel. Back to the bed.