Chapter Twenty-Nine
Kelsey
It’s been two weeks since everything went down with Jason.
We found out far more information from the police in Gloucester than I think I ever needed to know.
Jason had aliases all over the country and was arrested on several counts of stalking ten years ago in Miami, Florida, which was where he was employed as sheriff in Miami-Dade County.
After the stalking charges stuck, a class E felony in the state, he was fired and that’s when he basically made his rounds all over the U.S.
, changing his name with each move he made.
He stalked and harassed countless women although as of right now, Rachel appears to be his only murder victim.
They ended up finding Rachel’s body, weighed down by cinder blocks, at the bottom of the dock outside the house where Jason held me hostage.
The house actually belonged to her grandparents, who left it to her when they died.
She rarely used it, but the police in Gloucester claimed to have searched it top to bottom during their investigation of her disappearance, yet they never thought to drag the inlet just off the property.
Her body was found, but badly decomposed and barely recognizable, and after expedited dental records were returned, it was confirmed that it was in fact her.
I cried when I got that call. A part of me hoped she was still alive somewhere.
Even though I never met her, I felt a strange connection to her, like I was somehow linked to her forever.
We shared something and seeing that I survived, I felt like I found justice for her.
Her parents showed up at the hospital to thank us, and I was floored.
I realized I was able to give them what they had been seeking for a year. Peace.
Knowing Jason was dead gave us all peace of mind, but finally being able to lay their daughter to rest was a huge relief. I was glad that something came out of this mess and that I was able to help a family heal.
Beck and I have been home for a week now, but it hasn’t been without its problems. I struggle to sleep at night, with dreams ranging anywhere from Jason actually raping me, to Beck dying, and everything in between.
I began seeing a therapist immediately upon returning home and each day gets a little easier. Even though I know Jason is dead, it still doesn’t make it all go away.
Beck stayed in the hospital for a week and as much I wanted to be with him every second, the hospital wouldn’t allow me to stay after that first night. Devastated and admittedly scared shitless to go home by myself, Finn stayed every single night with me until Beck was able to come home.
I know Finn feels guilty for what happened, blames himself, and harbors far too much self-hatred for one person.
During the week he was with me, we talked in great detail about what happened and how I can’t thank him enough for everything he did and still does for me.
Without Finn, I’m not sure I would have survived Beck leaving, and when he rescued me; there was no one else I trusted more at that moment than him.
We’re all working through our issues and I hope that one day Finn will realize what an amazing support system he was for me.
I’ve never been more grateful for anything in my life than to finally have Beck home and resting.
We haven’t talked about what will happen when Beck is released to return to work and I’m not entirely sure I want to broach the subject.
Right now, I need to focus on him getting better and helping myself recover.
I roll over and stare up at the ceiling, waking for the first time in two weeks to light shining through the windows. I smile when I realize I didn’t dream last night —not a single nightmare, no night terrors or cold sweats.
“What’s that smile for?” Beck asks. His voice is groggy with sleep, but I can hear the happiness in it.
“I didn’t have a nightmare last night,” I say, looking over at him and I can feel myself beaming.
“Oh, baby, that’s great news. Things are getting better.”
I nod my head in hopes that he’s right. I feel Beck slip his arm under my neck and I lean into his chest; his smell being the one thing that can still calm me to this day. I inhale as he runs his fingers down my back and kisses the top of my head.
“I love you,” he whispers.
“I love you too.”
It never gets old.
I’ve woken up every morning for the last week with Beck in my bed and the whisper of those words on his lips. It somehow corrects everything that is wrong in my world.
Beck begins to kiss his way along my neck, his nose nuzzling against me and then his hand slips between my legs, but when he shifts his body to get closer to me, he winces in pain.
“The doctor said no sex for six weeks,” I remind him and he groans out loud with a mix of frustration and desire.
Beck takes my hand in his and places it over his already hard cock. “But, baby,” he complains, “I’m dying here. I can’t even rub one out in the shower because of this fucking shoulder.”
“You better not be trying to rub one out,” I say, quoting his famous line back to him and it makes me giggle.
“What do you expect me to do with you home all day, pretending to be my nurse and parading around in tiny shorts and a tank top? And now, you’re in bed next to me naked and wet. You’re fucking hot and it’s brutal.”
“Oh, you poor thing,” I say, laying on the sympathy as I rub my hand over his throbbing cock. “But don’t worry, baby. The doctor said you couldn’t have sex, but he didn’t say anything about me.”
I wink at him as I continue to rub my hand up and down on him. Placing my legs on either side of him, I position myself so he’s at my entrance. Sliding down ever so gently, I coat his cock with my wetness before sliding back off him and taking in the look on his face.
‘What the fuck?” he asks, and I smile at him.
“A few conditions,” I say, eyeing him with a firm look.
“This arm,” I stop and run my fingers from his bandaged shoulder to his wrist, “is to stay right here on the bed. And no rough sex, nice and slow; I don’t want you exerting yourself.
” I bend down and run the tip of my tongue over his nipple and he gasps out loud.
“And I do all the work,” I say, my lips whispering into his ear.
I’m already breathless at the thought of finally getting to fuck him.
“Anything else?” he asks, his voice strained.
“Nope,” I say, wetting my lips as I sit back and let my fingers run over my breasts.
“Then, baby, get moving before I blow my load right now.”
I push myself down over him, every muscle tight as I hold still, listen to him panting and watch his chest rise and fall.
“Fuck, Kels, you’re so tight,” he moans and I smile at him, rotating my hips, but never giving him exactly what he wants.
Beck bites down hard on his bottom lip as I continue my sweet torture. My hips shifting back and forth, watching in fascination as he tries to keep his composure.
His left hand comes up to grip my hip and when he lifts his injured arm, I tsk at him.
“No, no, no, baby,” I say, disciplining him with a small swat to the hand. “You promised.”
“And you promised to fuck me,” he growls.
I begin to move now, slowly still, but I can’t help myself, and I increase the tempo; my pussy sliding up and down his thick, rigid cock. I move above him as his eyes take me in, never leaving my body and when I slide my fingers over my clit, his eyes dart to where our bodies are connected.
Rubbing slowly, I feel myself growing closer and I thrust my body harder against his hips. Beck pulls my hand from my center and licks my juices from my fingers.
“Fuck, I miss the taste of your pussy, baby,” he says and his words make me clench around him. “Come for me, baby. I wanna see you come.”
I fall apart above him. My body shaking as I continue slipping in and out of him, calling his name over and over; my orgasm consuming me.
“That’s it, baby,” he says as he watches and begins to rub my sensitive, swollen clit with his thumb sending me over the edge once again.
By now I’m riding Beck’s cock hard and fast, my pussy milking him until he finally empties himself inside me. My name is a strangled breath that leaves his mouth.
I fall against his chest, panting as my fingers run through his sweaty hair.
“Baby,” he says, his breathing slowing down and his body going lax under me. “I’m never leaving you.”
I don’t ask what he means by that; I’m just enjoying the time I have with him and loving every second of it. Having him back safe is all that matters to me right now.
An hour later, both of us are up and dressed. I need to go into work today, even though Beck continues to protest.
Since returning home, I’ve spent a small amount of time at the inn; working only half days or going in for a couple of hours. But I am the owner and I’ve always taken an active role in what happens during the day-to-day operations. I need to get back into my everyday routine eventually.
I knew my staff was amazing, but it never occurred to me how much they truly care about me, and the inn, until everything happened with Jason. Each one of my employees not only taking on jobs that weren’t in their job descriptions, but also learning how to do things that only I knew how to do.
Marco, my head chef, taught himself how to do payroll and Abby, my nighttime desk assistant, learned how to do bank deposits to help alleviate some the stress for the morning crew.
The list is endless and I immediately gave raises to each one of them, not only for their support but also for their loyalty to me and the inn; trustworthiness being more important than anything when running a small business.
“I gotta go, baby,” I tell him as he pouts and pulls me into his arms. “I’ll be back in a few hours and I’ll bring you that steak sandwich on garlic bread that you love, okay?”
“Fine,” Beck says, conceding, but still stomping his feet like a spoiled child. “It’s boring here without you,” he whines, as Bella sidles up next to him and his hand drops down to pet her. She’s been up his ass ever since he came back injured. It’s really quite adorable.
“I know, you tell me that every day, but you have Bella to keep you company.” I kiss him quickly and wiggle out of his grasp. “Why don’t you go see what Finn’s up to?” I suggest and he shrugs his shoulder. “Or, I think Ryan’s still in town. Swing by Erin’s place and see what’s going on with him.”
“No,” he says with a disgusted look on his face. “I think we both know what’s going on with Ryan.”
“Good point,” I answer, making my way to the front door. “You can either sit around here all day moping or you can find something to do.” This time my words are firm and he laughs at me.
“Fine, bossy girl,” he says, before catching up to me at the front door and pulling me in for one last kiss. “Have a good day.”
“I will and I love you.”
“I love you too.”
I still haven’t gotten a new car and as I hop up into Beck’s truck, the seat familiar and the smell comforting, I’m not sure I want to. Maybe I can convince him to get a new car instead of me.
I pull around to the back of the inn and take a look around. After everything that happened I have a newfound appreciation for all the things in my life, the inn definitely being one of them.
When I walk in the first thing I see is Erin sitting in that horrible chair and it makes me smile. I never thought there would come a time that I would love that chair, but right now I do.
“Hey, girly,” she says, smiling at me. “You wanna get some breakfast? And don’t tell me you’re busy because I’ve been here since six getting all your work done.”
“Erin,” I say, my head cocked to the side, tears welling up in my eyes. “I love you.”
“I love you too and you know that’s true because there’s no one else I’d get up at five in the morning for during the summer but you.”
“I thought Ryan was in town?” I ask as she slings her arm around my shoulders and we walk towards the restaurant.
“He is, but I wore his ass out. He’s sleeping, like the lazy sack of shit he is.” She smirks at me and her smile conveys that she doesn’t believe a word she says. And there’s something in her eyes too, something that screams she loves this boy.
We sit down and order as Erin and I chat about everything but the situation with Jason. We’ve talked about it many times, but there comes a point when continually reliving it becomes too much. Erin recognizes that and does everything she can to keep my mind off it and help me with my recovery.
But today, I feel like I need to share my news with her and I’m sure to most people it sounds miniscule, possibly even stupid, but to me it’s a huge step in the right direction.
“I didn’t have a nightmare last night. Slept straight through,” I say and Erin’s face lights up.
“Oh my god, Kelsey that’s so fucking great. How do you feel?” she asks, still beaming.
“Like I could take on the world,” I tell her and she laughs.
Smiling and laughing with her, my laughter turns to tears and before I know it, I’m sobbing over my mimosa.
But they’re the best kind of tears.
“Oh, sweets,” Erin says, sliding her hand across the table to cover mine. Her eyes are filled with tears and I can’t help the words that spill from my mouth.
“Erin,” I attempt, but it comes out all slushy. “Thank you so much for being so supportive. You are the most amazing friend anyone could ask for and I love you so much.”
“Oh, Kelsey,” she says, choking back the tears. “I wish I could understand what you just said because I’m sure it was wonderful.”
Leave it to Erin to make me laugh and ruin a perfectly sentimental moment.
I stand up and she does the same, pulling me into a hug, her arms wrapping tightly around my body, the two of us stand like this for what feels like forever. I’m not sure what I would do without her.
With all the support I’ve received throughout all of this, from Erin and Finn and Pop, Beck and Ryan and my staff at the inn, and the way the entire town rallied around Beck and me, I can’t imagine ever leaving any of it behind for a life somewhere else.
I can only hope Beck feels the same way.