14. Harvey
Chapter 14
Harvey
“ Y ou watched it?” My stomach drops, white-hot rage pulsing through my veins as I stare down at the drive.
“Yes. You need to see it.”
I step away from the door, trying to regain my composure. “What the fuck, Aspen? How long have you had this?”
“Since he first threatened me with it.”
“All this time? Did you just now watch it? How are you so calm right now?”
She moves past me. “Where’s your laptop?” She spots it sitting on my coffee table and walks over to pick it up.
“Wait, wait!” My hand darts out to still hers. “I can’t—I need a minute to process this.”
“It’s not—it’s not a recording of me.” She stumbles over her words that aren’t making sense. “There’s something I didn’t tell you about all of this when I thought it was a recording of me.” She glances away. “I didn’t remember it happening.”
“What the fuck are you saying right now?”
“I didn’t have a relationship with him, not really. He flirted with me and I liked it. I haven’t had many—I haven’t really been with a lot of guys. I was naive and trusted him. I thought he did like me and when he kissed me the first time?—”
She pauses when she looks at me, my face I’m sure a twisted mess of anger and disgust.
“I can handle it,” I reassure her and myself.
“I kissed him back. We only kissed a few times and he asked me out on a date. I wasn’t familiar with the place we went to, but I did notice that after only one glass of wine, I was already tipsy. I don’t drink a lot but this wasn’t a normal tipsy. This was bordering on drunk. It felt so strange and yet, he didn’t act like he noticed, like I was behaving any differently.”
“He drugged you?” She nods and I release her hand, stepping away. “What the fuck?” A sickening knot forms in my stomach at the thought that I have to face this man again and not put a bullet through his fucking head.
“I don’t know for sure but he had to have. I didn’t even finish my second glass of wine, I remember that. I also vaguely remember bits and pieces as we got home and he—undressed me.”
I want to pull her into my arms and tell her it’s over. That I’ll make sure nothing like this ever happens to her again, but that was the same promise I said to my mom, the same promise I wasn’t able to keep.
“That’s what flashed through my memory at Blaire and Jimmy’s. I started piecing things together and I remembered him saying something to me when he stood over me. Something about how he never wanted me.”
“So what’s on the drive, then?”
She reaches again for my laptop and plugs the drive into the USB port. She clicks twice, then turns the screen around to face me.
We both sit in complete silence when it finishes, a mix of relief and confusion rushing through me. Finally, I turn to look at her. “What made you decide to watch it?”
“It didn’t make sense to me. Why would he incriminate himself like that? Literally record himself assaulting someone only to use it to blackmail me and give me a copy of it?” She stands up, starting to pace back and forth. “I could just feel it in my gut that there was more to this, so that’s what I had to do tonight. I needed to watch it alone. I had no idea what I was about to witness on it and I didn’t want to experience that with someone else there.”
“I understand.” I continue sitting on the couch, staring at the floor.
“I just keep thinking about it over and over again. Another thing he mentioned was money. In my excitement to accept the promotion from him months back, I’d mentioned how I’d finally be able to pay off my mom’s medical bills someday with the raise. I think he assumed that offer would be enough that maybe I wouldn’t even look at the drive. But then, when he came over that night, gave me the drive, and threatened me, he told me he wouldn’t hesitate to destroy me in the process of destroying himself but I know that can’t be true.” She shakes her head, looking at me.
“I would agree with that assessment. From the little I know about the man, he’s a sexist pig but he loves himself far too much to throw it all away for money. The man’s worth eight hundred million.”
My head snaps up. “Did you just say eight hundred million ?”
“That’s what the headlines say.”
“Yeah, it doesn’t make sense, then.” She fiddles with her fingers for a moment. “He thought I wouldn’t watch it; he counted on that.” She wipes at her eyes. “He’s evil. Where everyone else sees a shy, quiet woman, he saw a broken one, starved for attention and love, and he used that against me.” She looks up at me with tear-filled eyes and it’s like watching my heart break into a million pieces.
“Baby.” I don’t know what else to say to her other than I’ll drive across town right now with zero hesitation and put a clip in him, but I know that won’t help the matter.
“I-I have a plan, a way I can use this to ruin him… for good.”
My eyes grow wide and I stand up to look at her. “Ruin him?”
She nods confidently. “I’m done being used. I’m done being trampled and I’m done letting people like him trample others.” Her voice wavers slightly, and her chin even quivers but she remains calm. “I know I’m not the only person he’s done this to and I can guarantee you that he either has plans for Natalie or he’s going to just use her and throw her away once she’s boring to him.”
This isn’t the first time someone has tried to break Aspen, that’s evident. She has that steely look of determination in her eyes, the same one I had when I told myself there was only one way my father was ever going to leave this earth and that was in a body bag that I put him in.
“What’s your plan?”
She taps her fingers nervously against her leg as she levels her eyes on me with a look I’ve never seen from her before. It’s the look of a captive animal that’s been pushed to the point of no return.
It’s one that says there is no going back.
There is no more negotiation.
“He has to pay for what he’s done and I’m going to be the one to make sure that happens.”
“ We ,” I reiterate as I stand up and pull her into my arms, “are going to be the ones to make sure that happens.”
“No.” She shakes her head as she places her hands gently against my chest. “I can’t involve you in this, not with your company and reputation at stake.”
I lean in and kiss her, my hands on either side of her face. “There’s nothing in this world that will stop me from helping you. If I have to, I will walk away from Four Forces. I will gladly sell my part of the business to the others if it means keeping you safe—for good.”
“I can’t…” Tears fall down her cheeks. “I’ve already lost someone before—I can’t lose you too.”
I don’t ask for an explanation, now isn’t the time. Instead, I wrap her tightly in my arms, telling her over and over again that I’m not going anywhere. I close my eyes, her sobs finally coming in waves that rack her body with convulsions.
Picking her up in my arms, I carry her to my bedroom where I lay her on the bed, crawling in beside her to pull her against me.
Maybe this is my second chance. Maybe this time… I can save her.
When the sunlight breaks through my curtains, I feel Aspen stir beside me.
“What time is it?” Her sleep-filled voice groans as she stretches her arms over head and sits up.
“Shit.” I look down at our still fully clothed bodies. “We both conked out, I guess.” I grab my phone and look at the time. “It’s just after six thirty.” I place it back on the nightstand and turn to look down at her.
“Good morning.” She blinks up at me, a lazy smile on her face as she curls into my chest.
“Mmm, I could get used to this.” I toss one leg over her. “You’re not going anywhere today,” I mumble against her neck.
“I guess it’s a good thing it’s Sunday, then.”
“Fuck.” I roll to my back and drag my hands over my face.
“What?”
“Tomorrow starts the security detail.” I stare up at the ceiling, my stomach churning at the thought of protecting someone I wouldn’t even high-five if they were drowning. I push the thought from my mind and roll back toward her.
“This is why you can’t be involved,” she says, and I hold my finger up against her lips but she pulls it away. “I’m serious, Harvey.” She sits up, looking down at me. “It won’t be—there are some things in my past you don’t know about, things that could get you in trouble.”
“And you think that’s going to scare me away?” I sit up and reach for her hand, then we both climb off the bed. “I told you last night, I’m not going anywhere. Right now, though”—I spin her and turn her toward the en suite bathroom—“we’re going to take a shower, and then I’m going to make you breakfast.”
“I’ve never had a guy make me breakfast before.” The smile on her face is a welcome sight when we enter the bathroom. I reach into the glass-enclosed shower and flip the water on before turning my attention back to her.
“All the more reason for me to show you the kind of man you deserve.” I stand behind her, both of us looking at each other in the mirror. I run my hands up her arms, gently pulling the straps of her dress over her shoulders one at a time.
“Are you the kind of man I deserve?” Her voice has that light, breathy tone she gets when she’s turned on. The zipper glides effortlessly open, allowing her dress to fall to her feet in a puddle. I slowly turn her around to face me, taking her hands in mine as our lips meet. This time I let the kiss progress just enough until she’s panting against my lips, her hands reaching for my belt.
“I want to be.” I pull back and look into her eyes. “But you have to let me.” Her eyes shift from mine. “Hey, look at me,” I say, trying to pull her back.
“There’s something you don’t know, something that might make you look at me differently.”
“Stop.” She looks up at me. “Stop trying to push me away. There’s nothing you can tell me that will change the way I—” I hesitate but there’s no use in holding back; I don’t want to. “The way I feel about you.”
“But what if it?—”
I kiss her again. This time, though, I don’t stop. I don’t stop until we’re both breathless and tugging at the rest of our clothes. When I finally reach for my belt, she shoots her hand out to still my movements, her eyes heavy-lidded.
The only sound is the water of the shower as she keeps her gaze on mine, her fingers pulling my belt free from the buckle. I grip the edge of the counter behind me, watching her delicate fingers pull the zipper down my jeans, my cock already throbbing.
“Ohhhhh fuuuuuck.” My voice is rough and unrecognizable as I struggle to maintain my composure when she pulls my pants down low enough my cock finally springs free. Her fingers gently wrap around me and my head falls back.
“You’re so big.” She stares at me in awe as she wraps her hands, one atop the other, around my cock.
“Oh shit, that’s hot.” I look down, just the tip of my cock visible above her hands as she stares up at me with big eyes.
She releases one hand, the other squeezing me just tight enough that when she pulls her hand down my shaft and back again, I’m confident I’m going to shoot my load early. She repeats the process, her eyes glancing from mine to my cock.
“Is that good?”
“Just like that!” I practically bark the words at her. “Oh God, don’t stop.” She starts to lean forward, the tip of her tongue poking out, but I grab her around the back of her neck, jerking her head back. “Don’t you fucking dare.”
She’s startled at first, probably thinking she’s done something wrong, but once she realizes the look on my face is one of a man on the edge of blowing, she leans forward and wraps her lips around me.
I grab her head to try to pull her off but it feels too good. Instead, I keep my hands in her hair, watching her mouth stretch wide as she takes me deeper.
“Oh, you little minx,” I groan, my teeth gritting together so tight I’m sure I’ll have a headache after this. “Is this what you wanted? To get me so fucking hard I can’t see straight?” She looks up at me, her lips still wrapped around me and her hand still gripping me tightly as she jerks me off. She nods her head slowly, turning her attention back to sucking me off.
I give up on trying to stop her, on trying to resist. Instead, I let go, letting my pleasure take over as I move closer to the brink. My body wants to come undone but I try to hold off so I can watch her, her head bobbing up and down
“I’m gonna come.” I attempt to pull her off me in time, but I only get the job halfway done. Cum dribbles down her lip and chin, the rest on her hands and tits. The orgasm is explosive, my eye sight growing blurry as my knees almost give out. I look down at Aspen, a content smile on her face as she wipes me from her lips.
“I think I need that shower now.”
“I think you’re mine now,” I say, backing her into the shower.
I take my time washing her body, using the suds to massage her shoulders and back as I nibble against her neck. My still-hard cock presses against her ass cheeks, making her giggle.
“You’re still hard.”
“Yeah, I’ve got my hands on your naked body.” I slide them around, cupping her breasts. “I just had the best blow job of my fucking life.” I nip her earlobe while I pinch down on both of her nipples, making her hiss. “And when we’re done with this shower, I’m going to explore every fucking inch of you with my tongue.”
Her back arches against me, her hands coming around to grab for me as I continue to toy with her breasts.
“I warned you,” I murmur, pinching down hard until she hisses, causing her nails to dig into my waist. “I had a healthy appetite before you and now that I’ve had your pussy on my tongue, baby, I’m going to be insatiable.”
I reach around her, my tongue in her mouth, her hands on my body, and flip the water off.
“You’re clean enough.” I dry her off, squeezing the excess water from her hair as I look at her in the mirror. “Besides, you’re about to just get filthy again.”
“Filthy?”
I grab her towel from her and toss it to the floor with mine before picking her up and walking her into the bedroom where I lay her gently on my bed so that I can look down at her body.
“For the next”—I look over at the bedside clock—“twelve hours at least, you’re not leaving this bedroom until I’ve had my fill of you.”
“And after you’ve had your fill of me?” she asks as I lean forward and begin to trail my lips over her skin.
“The only way I’ll ever have my fill of you”—I drag my hand up her inner thigh until I reach her already wet center—“is if I’m dead.”
“Ohh.” She lets out a little moan when I breach her entrance, my finger sliding all the way inside.
“You have no idea what that sound does to me.” I don’t increase my pace; I just add another finger. “Every time I hear you moan or gasp”—I lean forward and flick her nipple with my tongue, eliciting another response from her—“it makes me wonder how loud you’ll be when my cock is inside you. Stretching you. Filling you.” I curl my fingers, her body beginning to squirm. She’s right there; another thirty seconds and I’ll have her flooding my face with her sweet juices, but I don’t want her to yet. “You think you can handle me now, Aspen?”
“Ye-yesss.” She twitches, her orgasm so close, but I don’t let her come. I pull my fingers from her slowly, bringing them to my lips as she whimpers in frustration.
“Spread your thighs for me, baby.” I position myself over her, her legs falling open as I drag the tip of my cock up her pussy to her clit, repeating the process before sliding my tip just inside of her.
“Your voice,” she purrs, her nails digging into my chest.
“What about my voice?” I slide in an inch farther and when she opens her mouth to gasp, I kiss her.
“It does things to me.” She groans when I slide out and back in, her hands pulling me back down to kiss her.
“Fuck,” I pant when I pull back. “Your tongue does things to me.” My words are strained as I slide in even deeper this time, a long moan from her joining me. I kiss her again, deeper, longer, dragging my teeth down to her breasts as I slide farther in. “Wicked things like make me want to fuck you mercilessly over”—my cock nudges deeper inside her—“and over.” My hands grab hers, pinning them above her as I go just a little deeper. “And over again.”
Her cries grow louder, in time with my strokes, but she begs me not to stop.
“I’m not even all the way inside you.” I keep her hands above her head, my other hand grabbing her ass and tilting her hips upward.
“Oh God!” Her hands tug against the restraint of my hand but I keep her hips elevated as my hips resume their movement.
“How do you like to be fucked? Do you like this, slower, longer strokes?” I don’t expect a response from her. Her eyes are barely open at this point and when they are, they’re rolling to the back of her head as her mouth falls open with a sound that can only be described as pure fucking ecstasy. “Or do you like it rougher? Harder? Faster?”
My voice is strained, my body on the verge of losing control. I lean forward, taking her lips with mine in long slow kisses that have us both moving against each other to get to the finish line.
“Yes, ohhh, I’m going to coooo—” Her back arches one last time, her hands tugging so hard against my grip on them I’m worried she’s going to hurt herself. Her hips thrust upward, my hand sliding between us to prolong her pleasure by pressing against her clit.
I’m right behind her. I pull back to look down at her one last time, her eyes glassy, her lips swollen and pink like her nipples. Finally, I release her hands, dragging one of my own down to her hips where I grip her tightly, pulling out just as my release hits a pinnacle.
“Fuck! Oh fuck, baby.” I bark the words, gripping the base of my cock tightly as I pull out and flood her belly and tits with my cum. “Goddamn, I can’t stop.” My cock twitches and pulses with the final drops of my release.
After we both catch our breath, I walk to the bathroom to grab a towel to clean her.
I fall forward onto my hands, framing her body, softly kissing her lips, jaw, and neck as I reach for her wrists.
“Fuck, did I hurt you?” I kiss the red marks on her wrists, trailing my lips over any part of her exposed skin.
“A little,” she says finally, her voice thick with lust as she stares up at me, heavy-lidded. “But… I liked it.” Her teeth drag slowly over her bottom lip.
“Yeah?” I lay beside her naked, worn-out body, dragging my fingertips gently over her. “What else did you like?” I follow the movement with my eyes, my finger dipping down between her breasts and back to her nipple.
“The talking.” She blushes and curls into me.
“No need to be ashamed about that. And it works out for me because clearly, I can’t keep my fucking mouth shut when I’m inside you.” I lick her nipple, blowing a cold puff of air against it. “You bring out the animal in me.” I bite down this time and her hands come to tangle in my hair. I repeat the process on her other breast, bringing my lips back to hers to slide my tongue deep inside her mouth.
“What does the animal in you want?”
“To possess you.” My cock twitches against her thigh and she reaches down to grip me. “Fuuuck, to claim you.” I lean my head back as she slides her hand up and down my shaft. “To fucking ruin you for any other man.”
My eyes fly open when she releases me, pushing her hands against my chest as she climbs atop to straddle me. Her hand reaches back down to stroke me a few times before lifting her hips and hovering over my tip.
“Are you sure?” I struggle to restrain myself as I look down to see her hips lowering just enough that her pussy grips my tip, the warmth of her making my thighs tremble with the need to be inside her again.
“Tell me more.” She lowers down a little farther, wincing. I lick my finger, rubbing it gently against her clit. “Take your time.” I hold her hip, still stimulating her clit while she moves up and down the first few inches of my cock, trying to acclimate. We stay like this for several minutes, my eyes not moving away from the way her pussy lips stretch around my girth. Her hands press against my chest, her hips slowly starting to find their rhythm.
“I want to hear more,” she whimpers, taking more of me.
“I’m gonna leave bruises on you,” I groan, my fingers digging deeper into her hips. “I hope I do because every time I look at them… Ohhh—” She slides down my cock deeper this time, coming back up fast. “Do that again. Fuck.”
She obeys, her hands pressing harder against my chest as she begins to move only her hips.
“Every time I look at them,” I try again, “I’ll be picturing you bouncing on my cock like this.”
“Don’t stop,” she begs as I remove my hand from her clit and slide it up to grip the base of her throat.
“Oh, I’m not stopping, Aspen. I’m not stopping until you’ve drained every last drop from my balls with your tight cunt.” I lift my hips as she slides down, her body falling slightly forward onto me as she yelps. “You can take it. Come on, baby, let me fuck you.”
She’s a wreck, a complete quivering mess, but I continue to grip her throat, using the lever to pull her down onto my cock as I lift my hips.
“And if you like the things I’ve said and done to you this far”—I nip at her jaw, her lips, sucking her tongue into my mouth as her pussy begins to quiver and pulse around me—“you should see the things I’ve already done to you in my head.”