Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Autumn
Eventually, the bed dips, and then he’s with me again. He reaches over me to turn off the light before snuggling up to my back and hauling me into his arms.
His lips come to my neck behind my ear. “Feel better, Baby girl?”
I slowly smile. I feel like I won the lottery. I’m floating, not even inside my body. And then I remember my father, and I sober. Guilt consumes me. I just had the best orgasm of my life a day after my father was murdered. What’s wrong with me?
“Autumn…” Mace uses that warning tone as he grips my hand between my breasts. “What happened, Baby? You stiffened on me.”
My voice is rough when I speak. “My dad just died, and I’m—”
“Don’t do that, sweetheart. You’re right where you’re supposed to be. He sent you to me. He knew how we felt about each other.”
I guess Mace is right, but I still feel like a bad person.
“Deep breaths, Baby.”
I inhale and let it out slowly.
“That’s my girl. Relax your body. Let me take some of your burden. You’re not alone. I’ve got you.”
“Are you going to sleep with me?” The question is ridiculous. Especially after what we just did. What he did. And the thought of him sleeping in another room makes me panic. I don’t want to be alone.
“Yes, sweetheart. For the rest of your life.”
My breath hitches. How can he be so sure? “But…”
“No buts. You’re mine, Autumn. We’ll work out the kinks as we go along.”
I try to relax. My mind is racing. Yesterday seems like a lifetime ago. My father died in front of me. I took the redeye across the country to get here. I’m in bed with the only man I’ve ever wanted to be with. I’m like a ghost, living outside of my body.
Except I just had an amazing orgasm, and my ass is on fire, so I know Mace really did spank me. I didn’t make those things up in my head.
“What am I going to do?” I mumble almost to myself.
“We’ll figure it out together, Baby.”
“I had a job interview…” That seems like ten years ago. Was it really only yesterday?
“I know, sweetheart. I’m sorry. You can’t take that job. The commute would be a bitch.” His voice is lighter. He’s teasing me.
“I can’t just move in with you, Mace.” It seems ludicrous. At the same time, the thought of being anywhere else makes me want to vomit.
“You already did, Autumn. You’re here. I’m not letting you go.” He’s not saying that in a bossy way, as if he intends to hold me hostage. He’s making a promise. But can he keep it?
I switch my focus to my physical state. It seems more tangible, real. “My ass hurts.”
He chuckles. “Your legs are going to hurt from standing in the corner all day if you don’t stop cussing.”
“That’s a silly rule for a grown adult,” I counter.
“It’s a perfectly reasonable rule for a naughty Little girl, though. And I like how you react every time I put my foot down, so you can expect a lot more rules in the coming days. And, Baby girl, let me tell you something: Did you notice how aroused you got when I spanked you?”
It’s a rhetorical question, and I don’t answer it.
His thumb moves absently across my knuckles, still holding my hand between my breasts. “I should point out that when I take you over my knees to spank your naughty bottom for misbehaving, it will not end in an orgasm.”
My breath hitches. After a few seconds, I twist my head around to face him. It’s too dark in here to read his expression.
He’s laughing again. “Do you think I’m not serious?”
“I don’t know what to think. I’m new to this. New to you. New to life, apparently.”
He’s still shaking with laughter as he tugs me down into his arms. “Maybe I should read some of the books on your e-reader.”
“Don’t you dare!”
His lips are on my neck again. I can feel his smile as he plants a dozen kisses behind my ear. “You’re so cute when you’re all riled up.”
“You can’t even see me to know that,” I grumble.
He spoons me tighter, making me wince when his thighs bump my sore butt. I’m pretty sure all he’s wearing now is nylon shorts. The hairs on his legs are tickling me.
“Does your bottom hurt, Baby girl?”
“Yes.”
“Maybe I should take a look at it.”
When he starts to pull the covers back, I grab his arm. “You’re not going to look at my ass, Mace.”
“Tsk tsk. Another naughty word.”
I roll my eyes. Good thing he can’t see me. I think he was only kidding about examining my butt. He has pulled the covers back into place and resumed holding my hand against my chest.
“Your misplaced modesty is adorable.”
“Are you making fun of me?”
The truth is, I’m enjoying this banter. It’s lighthearted and helps me relax. Probably intentional on his part.
“I’m not making fun of you, Baby girl. I promise. I love that you’re so innocent. I love that you haven’t been touched by another man. I love that I get to be the only one to rock your world for the rest of your life.”
My heart is racing again. I want to believe him. I want to freeze this moment and stay right here, in his arms, forever. But it seems too good to be true. I can’t trust this to work out. He barely knows me. I barely know me. Maybe we won’t fit together in the long run.
But I’m certainly willing to give it a try. The only thing I have to lose is my heart.
Time ticks by before I speak again. “What’s going to happen? With my dad, I mean?”
“I’m waiting on my men to get back to me about what’s on his surveillance cameras. They also dusted the house for fingerprints, but I doubt they will find anything.”
“Shouldn’t we call the police?” My father was very specific about his preferences. He wanted me to come to Mace right away and let him handle things, but it seems so weird.
“No, Baby,” he says softly. “I know it goes against your instincts, but trust me on this. Whoever killed your father isn’t a regular citizen who could be arrested and put on trial.
Involving the police would only hamper my investigation.
The person or people aren’t going to get picked up by the cops, put on trial, and go to prison, sweetheart. ”
“Because you’re going to kill them,” I blurt out.
“Yes.”
I bite my lip and ponder this odd new reality. I’m half in love with a man I’ve only met six times. My feelings for him are purely based on fantasy. After all, I can’t really know him well.
But my father knew him. He mentored him and treated him like a son. He made him the executor of his will. He trusted Mace to take care of me, no matter what happened to him or when. I know my father wouldn’t make that sort of decision lightly.
I’ve been wearing rose-colored glasses for twenty-two years. I was oblivious to the ugliest parts of society. I’ve been thrust into a new universe. It’s dark and murky. I suspect I’m going to learn things I never wanted to know.
I’m going to worry. I don’t want Mace to put his life on the line to avenge my father. It’s not worth it. I wish he would just let it go. I grip his fingers with mine.
“Hey… What’s going on in your head now, sweetheart?”
“Can’t you just pretend it never happened? We could have a funeral, like normal people do, and go on with our lives.”
“I’m sorry, Baby. It doesn’t work that way.
Whoever killed your father left a calling card in the form of his poisoned body.
They may have even watched you come home and leave.
I would never risk your safety by brushing this under the rug as if it never occurred.
It’s not what your father wanted, either.
He sent you to me because he knew you could be in danger.
I have to flush that out and ensure you are truly safe. ”
“Okay,” I murmur. It’s not really okay, but I’m not going to talk Mace out of whatever he intends tonight. We can discuss it again later. Maybe he’ll hit a dead end and be unable to pursue my father’s killer.
“Sleep, sweetheart. Let your mind rest now.”
I’m finally fading, probably after being overloaded with thoughts, information, and even a delicious spanking and orgasm.
I close my eyes and will sleep to take me under.