Body Shots (22 page)

He loved her. Trent was in love with her. Crystal's heart soared to the clouds and beyond as his words sank in. Here she was, lying atop the wild and rugged man, his hands all over her, stroking and touching and driving her crazy with need, and all she could think was,
He loves me.

“Will you let me make you feel good?” Trent asked. That's when she noticed he hadn't gone beyond touching her. He was waiting for her consent. The decision was an easy one.

“Only if I can do the same for you,” she answered, grinning down at him. Trent gave her a sexy hum of approval. He seemed to need no other incentive.

In another heartbeat, Crystal found herself flat on her back with Trent leaving the bed. She waited, unsure what he would do next. He went to the closet again and retrieved a small wooden box. She frowned. “What is that?”

“Something for your pleasure.”

Feeling naughty, she whispered, “I thought that's what
you
were for.”

“Mm, you're in a mood, aren't you?”

She couldn't deny it. It'd been too long since she'd had him inside her. She was desperate for the connection. “Yes, so hurry.”

“Impatient little thing,” he crooned, then came to sit on the bed beside her. She rolled to her side and propped her head on her hand to watch as he opened the box. She let out a startled squeak when he raised the lid. Enfolded in red velvet lay a dildo.

“Uh, I don't know about this, Trent.”

“You wish Mac were here with us, don't you?”

She bit her lip and nodded.

He winked. “That's what I thought. I can't give you that right now, so this will have to do.”

When he lifted the flesh-toned tool from its bed of velvet and brought it between her legs, she stiffened. With tender care, Trent stroked her clit with it. Crystal was amazed to note its warmth. She'd thought it'd feel cold and unnatural.

It didn't.

It wasn't as if she'd never seen or felt a dildo before. After all, what single woman wasn't familiar with one of those babies? Still, it was the first time she'd ever had a man use one on her during sex.

“Get up on all fours for me, baby.”

Crystal obeyed, her blood racing, her body wild with anticipation. Moving behind her, now on his knees, Trent stroked the seam between her buttocks with his index finger. A moan erupted from deep within her as he let his finger drift back and forth over her puckered opening. She wanted him there and she knew he wanted to be there just as badly.

He leaned over her and kissed the base of her spine. “You like your ass fucked, huh? Remember how sweet and tight it feels?”

“Yes, Trent. Oh yes, I could never forget.” Her voice had gone hoarse with need long ago.

“Would you like me there now, while the dildo fucks your wet pussy? Do you think you can handle both at the same time, baby?”

“Trent, please.”

“I love the sound of my name on your lips,” Trent urged, then he let his finger penetrate her, little by little, until he was buried deep inside her anus. She shuddered and pushed against him. His finger moved in and out, fucking her with slow precision.

Just as Crystal started to think she could take no more of his teasing, one of Trent's big, warm hands clutched her hips. He told her to hold still and she obeyed. Then his hand was holding the dildo. She felt him caressing her clit with the large toy. Crystal writhed and moved in time to his strokes. When she squeezed her bottom, Trent growled.

“I thought I told you to hold still.” Crystal couldn't concentrate on Trent's words. Thankfully he didn't wait for a reply. “Such sweet torture you are.”

She moaned and wriggled. Her breasts swelled and her sex grew damp. His finger pumped her ass, while the dildo slid back and forth over her swollen nub. Crystal felt every heated touch. He was slow at first, then faster, and soon a second finger joined the first and Crystal went wild, her inhibitions dropped as need rushed in and took command. She gyrated against Trent while he tormented her with the toy. When he leaned down and bit her hip, she lost it.

Her climax came from somewhere deep inside. Crystal screamed hard and loud, her back arching as her body flew apart. Everything she thought she knew about sexual pleasure seemed to pale in the wake of what she was experiencing. Trent's rough voice just barely broke through the quagmire of her mind.

“I want this ass, Crystal,” Trent hissed, then he moved his fingers out of her and cupped her dripping mound. “Look at me, baby.”

She turned her head, already limp and sweating from her orgasm, but when she saw the intensity, the insane yearning etched into his not-so-perfect features, her body went from sated to hungry all over again.

“You are mine. From this moment forward, you are mine.”

No words sprang to mind over such a bold claim so she stayed silent. When the heavy weight of Trent's cock entered her bottom and the thick toy nudged into her sex, her inner muscles clenched. She automatically attempted to close her legs, panicked and scared. It was too much, too soon.

“Trent, I can't!” she cried out, her body tensing further.

Trent pulled out instantly. “Shh, it's okay. No need to hurry, baby.”

Crystal relaxed a little, relieved by Trent's words. He slowly slid the toy deep inside her vagina and held it there, then leaned down and kissed her shoulder. She rocked against him when his tongue flicked over the sensitive spot behind her ear. Her panic disappeared and her body hummed back to life.

“You will enjoy this,” he whispered into her ear, “but I know you're still mad at me. Give me a second chance. I'm not like Richard. I would never hurt you the way he did. I might make mistakes, but I'd never intentionally cause you pain, I promise.”

He never waited for a reply, only began stroking her hair and smoothing a palm down her arm to her hip, where he cupped her bottom and kneaded the plump flesh. She melted, giving them both what they needed in that moment. Trent felt it instantly and began a slow glide into her ass, filling her. She felt a delicious sort of pressure and friction. Fullness, oh God, so full, but not so much that it hurt. It was like nothing she'd ever experienced before. The silky inner walls of her vagina were caressed with gentle thrusts from the toy. The taboo nature of what they were doing sent a rush of rapture through her.

With each inward stroke from Trent, the dildo was pulled outward. Her muscles held them both tight, and she squeezed her ass, giving Trent the pleasure and pain that he craved.

Trent shouted her name and pushed against her hips one last time, spilling his seed deep. Crystal felt his every spasm, and it spurred her own orgasm.

Trent pulled the toy free and tossed it aside, then they both collapsed onto the bed. He brushed her damp hair from her face and kissed her cheek. “I love you, baby.”

“Wait,” she blurted out. She hadn't even known she was going to say it. But now that it was out, she knew it was the right thing to say.

His head shot back as if she'd slapped him. “What?”

She pushed out of his arms and stood up. “I need time to think, Trent,” she said as she began getting into her clothes. “About everything. You. Mac. Me. I feel like I've been on a roller-coaster ride and I need to stop and get off. Even if it's only for a day or two.”

He stared at her for several intense seconds, then got off the bed and went to her. “Fine. Take your time and think things through. But while you're doing that, remember what I said. I may make mistakes with you, but my love is true.”

He dipped his head and kissed her, leaving her breathless. As Crystal walked away from him, her mind focused on keeping her head high and her legs moving, she knew that there was no way she would ever be whole without Trent and Mac in her life. They'd stolen her heart, and that was that.

 

Crystal hadn't seen Trent or Mac for a full week. She'd asked them for time to think, and they'd granted it. But each day away from them had caused her heart to ache. Now, as she stood on the porch of Trent's home, shaking with nerves and her stomach in knots, Crystal thought again about how much time she'd wasted, all because of her own insecurities. Richard had done a lot of damage, but it wasn't irreparable. She wasn't going to give up on love. And she loved both Trent and Mac. Who cared if it wasn't a traditional relationship? She knew with the two of them, she would always be cherished. Now she aimed to set things right. If Trent slammed the door in her face, so be it, but at least she had to try.

She took a deep breath and rang the bell. Out of her peripheral vision, she noticed a man striding up the sidewalk. When she turned and saw Richard, her mind stuttered to a halt and her heart seemed to stop beating. The look in his eyes was something out of her nightmares. She suddenly felt as if she'd been tossed into a bad horror movie. She started to move backward, but then her ex struck her across the face so hard she fell to the porch. Time seemed to stand still as she watched the scene unfold around her. The fear of him killing her had her attempting to crawl away. When she heard him whisper her name, it spurred her on. But he was bigger and stronger, and the last thing she thought of before the world went black was how close she'd come to finding her happily-ever-after with the men of her dreams.

14

M
ac had waited a week to hear from Crystal. They'd exchanged texts, but nothing in the last twenty-four hours. He'd sent several messages to her with no reply. Finally, he'd called Mollie, and she'd said the last time she'd talked to Crystal was when she was heading out to talk to Trent. But Trent hadn't seen her, either. The hair on the back of Mac's neck rose. Something was wrong, he could feel it.

As he stood at the door to Mollie's apartment, his impatience had him knocking louder and longer than he'd intended. Of course Crystal didn't answer because she was most likely already in bed by now, but the only thing that mattered was seeing her, at home and safe. When no one answered the door, Mac became edgy. “Crystal!” he called out as he looked in the front window. Instinctively he knew he wouldn't get an answer. She wasn't there.

Mac began to run through his options. It was late, and something told him she wasn't out partying. The idea that something could've happened to her sent fear and anger traveling through his body. Had Richard come around again? God help the man if she suffered even an ounce of pain because of her ex.

Later. He would think about revenge later. Now he had to keep his head and consider where she could be. Mac got in his car and started searching, his eyes watching out for any sign of her dark hair. He took his cell phone out of his jacket pocket and called Trent.

“Did you find her?” Trent asked.

“No, have you talked to her?”

“No, damn it.” He paused. “Could it be that prick of an ex?”

Mac sighed. “Fuck, I don't know, but I hope not.”

“Where are you now?”

“I just left her place,” Mac answered. “I've called her cell, but there was no answer. I'm going to try Mollie again.”

“Should we call the police?”

“Hell, it hasn't been long enough for them to do anything.”

“I'll go looking, too,” Trent said. “That bastard better not touch her.”

Mac could hear the barely suppressed rage in his friend's voice. “No shit.”

They hung up and Mac called Mollie next. “Hey, Mollie, I can't find Crystal and I was wondering if you've heard from her yet.”

“I haven't heard from her,” she said with worry in her voice. “I tried to call a little bit ago, but I got her voice mail.” A few beats later and Mollie's frantic voice came over the line. “Where could she be, Mac?”

His hopes took a nosedive. Even as he held the phone to his ear, his eyes scanned the sidewalks on both sides of the street. It was already ten o'clock on a Wednesday evening, and there weren't that many people out.

“I honestly don't know,” Mac groaned. “I'll call you the minute I find her. Don't worry, sweetie.”

“Did you two argue or anything?” Mollie rushed to ask before he could sever the connection.

“No, nothing like that. I don't think she'd ignore my calls, though, even if she was pissed.”

“No, it's not like Crystal to be so thoughtless.”

Mac thought the same thing. That left only her ex. “I'll find her,” he vowed. There was no other option.

“Of course you will,” Mollie said adamantly. “Call me the minute you do.”

“I will.”

They hung up, and Mac searched for another hour with no luck. He finally turned around and went back to his own place, hoping she'd shown up there while he was gone. He'd left her a note in case she did, asking her to call his cell. His mind imagined her safe and sound inside his apartment. Maybe she just hadn't spotted the note?

Mac pulled up next to the curb and killed the engine. He sprinted to the door and sent up a silent prayer that she was safe. He had visions of her lying in some gutter, cold, hurt, alone. It made him feel sick to his stomach. He pushed the door open and was met with dead silence again. She was nowhere to be found. It was as if she'd dropped off the planet.

As he turned to leave, Mac's phone dinged, signaling a text. He looked at the screen.

 

 

“Richard,” Mac bit out. The address the bastard gave him wasn't far away, either. Mac quickly dialed Trent. “Son of a bitch just texted me.” He told Trent where to meet him, then shoved the phone back into his pocket.

Within minutes he and Trent were standing in front of a big, run-down old two-story. As they entered the house, Trent asked, “What game is he playing, Mac?”

“I don't know, but if she's here we'll find her.”

“I'll kill him if he—”

“Don't even go there,” Mac interrupted. He couldn't let himself think of Crystal hurt.

After they searched the main floor and found it empty, they took to the stairs. When they reached the upper landing, Mac swiftly scanned the hallway. No one was around, or at least there didn't appear to be anyone around. He noted several doors, all closed. They'd have to open each one to find Crystal. Maybe they'd get lucky and she'd be in the first room they came to.

Mac went to the closest door on the right and turned the knob. It opened easily, probably because it was empty. Completely empty. Not even a stick of furniture, just a white-walled room. The upstairs was just like the downstairs, all modern with solid marble flooring. There wasn't a single hint of color; everything was either white or gray—like a crypt. Jesus. He closed the door and went to the one to their immediate left. Like the first, this room was also devoid of life. Okay, so maybe they weren't going to get lucky.

“This place is fucked up,” Trent gritted out. “I'm not getting a good vibe here.”

That was the understatement of the year. The house Richard had sent them to had very little furniture. There were piles of trash and empty beer bottles all over, and the smell of rotting meat made him gag. If this was the way Richard lived, it was weird as shit. Mac felt as if he'd just walked into the filthy den of a wild animal. Crystal had put up with a lot more than abuse during her marriage. Hell, the man wasn't playing with a full deck. Jesus, no wonder she'd been so slow to trust.

Mac moved down the hall, passing door after door until he reached the last one on the left. He stopped and listened. He heard a rustling sound. “This is the one.” He could feel it in his bones.
Please, God, let her be okay.

Without waiting another second, Mac turned the knob and the door opened easily. Inside he found Crystal tied to a chair, her mouth duct-taped shut. Her clothes were still intact, and he thanked the heavens for that much at least. The wild tangle of her hair hung around her face, and she was too damn pale. When she looked up, the fear and vulnerability in her gaze tore a hole in his heart. His rage boiled out of control.

With single-minded purpose, he and Trent practically leapt across the room. Trent yanked at the binds that held her to the chair, while Mac worked the tape loose. Mac looked around, but he didn't see Richard anywhere. This setup was too easy. Why would Richard allow them to rescue Crystal without even the slightest resistance? “Where is he?”

Her eyes widened. “Behind you!”

Mac didn't have time to think, only react. He swiveled around just as Richard jumped toward him, a machete in his hand. Mac ducked as Richard swung. Richard snarled like a rabid animal. Mac had never heard a human make such a crazed sound. Trent quickly moved behind Richard and wrapped his arms around him, giving Mac an opening. Mac knocked the machete out of Richard's hands, then delivered an uppercut to the bastard's jaw, sending him crumpling to the floor.

Trent picked up the ropes he'd removed from Crystal. “I've got him. Get Crystal.”

With Richard unconscious and Trent busy tying up his hands, Mac bent down and pulled Crystal into the cradled warmth of his arms. He got pissed all over again when he felt her body shaking like a leaf. He needed to get her out of there. He wanted her home, where she belonged. Safe.

He forced his voice to sound soft and soothing, belying the way his mind still screamed for vengeance. “Shh, it's okay now. You're safe.”

“Mac?”

The sound of her voice was all it took. Relief swamped him. “Yeah, angel, you're safe now.”

She seemed to hesitate, as if trying desperately to comprehend his words, then she nodded. She wouldn't look directly at him, and that bothered him. She just kept her face snuggled against the safe haven of his chest and held on tight. Mac was anxious to whisk her away from that horrid house.

“Good girl. Now just relax and soon we will be far away from this place,” he said in a soothing voice. She seemed to obey, albeit reluctantly. He speared Trent with a look that conveyed his sense of urgency.

The sounds of sirens rent the air. Soon the place was filled with police officers, and Richard was taken into custody, while Crystal was loaded into an ambulance.

Several hours later, Mac and Trent had Crystal safely tucked in bed. Their statements had seemed to take forever. The only thing on Mac's mind now was the fact that he'd failed to keep her safe. Hell, he'd be lucky if she spared him a glance when this was all over.

When the doorbell rang, Mac rushed to answer it. Mollie stood on the doorstep, her gaze filled with worry. “She's okay,” he murmured as he took her into his arms. “And Richard is in custody.”

Mac desperately wanted to be alone with Crystal and Trent, but Mollie needed to see her friend for herself—to see that Crystal was really safe. And he knew Crystal needed to see Mollie right now, too.

“Thank you for finding her,” Mollie said, her voice wobbly.

Mac put his finger under her chin and tipped her face up. Her sad expression hit him first, but underlying that was the love she had for Crystal. It went deeper than friendship. They were more like sisters. “She'll be glad to see you.”

When they entered the bedroom, Trent was sitting on the side of the bed, his hand resting on Crystal's blanket-covered thigh. Crystal looked over at Mollie, and while the two women stared at one another, something seemed to shift and change. Finally, Crystal smiled. Relief swept through Mac in an instant. It was the first smile he'd seen from her since her ordeal. It was a damn good sign.

As much as he wanted to be alone with the two people he loved most in the world, it was still his first priority to aid Crystal in any way he could. Mac was grateful for Mollie in that moment.

“Mac,” Mollie said, gaining his attention. “She's going to need a few things if you're up to getting them for her.”

He turned and nodded. “Anything, just name it.”

“I'm sure she'd be grateful for some of her own clothes, as well as a few toiletries.” Mollie crossed the room then and asked, “You okay, baby?”

Crystal's lower lip quivered. “I—I couldn't do anything. I felt so . . . oh God, I felt so helpless.”

In an instant, Mac and Trent were on either side of her. They wrapped her in an embrace as Trent said, “Shh, you're safe now, baby. Don't think about it anymore.”

Mac smoothed his hand down her hair and whispered softly, “Trent's right. Richard can't hurt you. Not ever again.”

After a short bout of tears, Crystal appeared to gather herself. She nodded. “I'm glad he's in jail. It's where he should've been ages ago.”

“No argument here,” Mac gritted out. He didn't move away, didn't let go of her hand. He needed that small connection with her to know she was really and truly safe.

“I'm sorry for being such a baby,” Crystal said. She smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. “Thanks for . . . everything, you guys.”

Mollie smoothed Crystal's hair back with a compassionate hand. “From where I'm sitting, you look more like a survivor,” she replied. “Some TLC and a good night's rest, and you'll be good as new. You'll see.”

Crystal smiled slightly, and whispered a thank-you. Then she quickly rattled off a list of things she would need from her apartment, as if drawing on the last vestiges of strength she had. Grudgingly Mac left to get the things she'd asked for. The sooner he left to go retrieve them, the sooner he could be back with her again. She would be safe for the few minutes it would take to drive to her place and back.

After Mac left the room, Trent stood and said, “I'll go make some tea.”

Crystal nodded. “That sounds wonderful.” After both men were gone, she let out a breath. “God, it's all like a strange nightmare.”

“Now that it's just us girls, do you want to talk about it?” Mollie asked. “It might help.”

Crystal was amazed at Mollie's sharp observation. “How did you know I didn't want to talk about it in front of them?”

Mollie shrugged. “I'd have a hard time sharing something so traumatic with those two guys. They're pretty intense.”

Crystal's heart did a little flip as she realized how lucky she was to have both Trent and Mac come to her aid. “I don't know what I would've done if they hadn't been there.” She shuddered. “I don't know what Richard would've done.”

Mollie frowned. “But they
were
there, and that's all that matters.”

Already Crystal felt better with Mollie there. She closed her eyes and rested against the pillow as she went over the evening's events. “Richard showed up at Trent's house and knocked me on the back of the head. I didn't even see it coming.” She shook her head at her own stupidity. “Like an idiot, I thought that if he knew I didn't love him anymore, he'd get the hint and let me go. I pleaded with him, but it only made him angrier.” She hesitated, trying to put Richard's strange demeanor in proper perspective. “He's always been abusive, both physically and emotionally. But this time he didn't appear to want to harm me. It was almost like he'd convinced himself that he couldn't live without me or something.” She swiped a hand across her face, pushing back strands of hair that clung to her cheek. “I've never seen him like that before. As if he'd lost all grasp on reality.”