Estelle In Denver (In Denver Series Book 2) (15 page)

Walking into The Mad Batter, I see Estelle sitting and reading, she looks happy, but something must be up because she is in the middle of a chocolate overload. I walked over, it’s been awhile since we talked, but what they hell, I am feeling brave. When she hears my voice, she looks up and smiles, and I can feel my heart beat in my chest. She isn’t telling me to go fuck myself, that’s an improvement since the last time I saw her. She invites me to sit and I don’t even think twice about it. This is what I have been waiting for since we broke up; a chance, a chance to talk and apologize. Tell her all the things I’ve been holding inside. When Frankie brings me my muffin and tea, I see she gives me the death stare and I know I deserve it.

I all but accused her boyfriend, maybe not boyfriend, of trying to steal my girl. It seems like years ago, but it’s only been a few short months. I hear the bell over the door chime then Ashleigh’s asking me what the hell I am doing. As soon as she sees Estelle, she instantly knows who she is, I’m sure the ten pictures of her in my office, or the picture of her as my computer wallpaper, screensaver, and phone wallpaper, ensure that she would know immediately. Estelle seems confused at first then hurt when she thinks Ashleigh is my date or new girlfriend. Once Ashleigh tells her who she is I see her relax, she thanks her for everything she did in helping the FBI find her. I remember we have a meeting soon. I could give a shit, but this is a government contract, and if we get it, we would create two hundred or more jobs for the area. I say goodbye hesitantly and make my way to the door.

“Oh my god,” Ashleigh says annoyed. “Do I have to tell you everything? You’re so fucking stupid sometimes. Go ask her out to dinner, dumbass.” She says this like a huffy teenager.

“I wanted to ask her on a date, but the truth is, I’m not brave enough to deal with the rejection” I say in a disappointed tone.

“I swear, if you don’t go ask her, I’m flooding your social media with the news that you’ve just discovered you have a vagina.”

I roll my eyes at her, but make my way back to Estelle’s table, where she has resumed reading. Whatever it is has her engrossed, and she is blushing from her cheeks all the way down her neck. I know that I shouldn’t, but as soon as I get back to office I’m hacking her iPad. I want to know what she is reading. When I clear my throat and she looks up, I see a small smile spread across her lips, and then I do it; I ask her to dinner. I’m ready to plead my case, when she tells me we can have dinner tonight.

I’m so excited I almost skip back to where Ashleigh is standing. Holy fuck I must have grown a vagina if I’m thinking about skipping in a bakery. Ashleigh and I get in the car and her smile is as wide as mine.

“What are you grinning at over there?”

“Oh you have no idea. You get Estelle, but I will catch me a Viking.”

“Seriously Ash, he’s much too old for you.”

“Back off, yeah?” she said. “His words were saying no, don’t chase me, but his body and those eyes were telling a different story.”

I have to laugh at her because honestly, in the five years I’ve known her, I have never seen her go on one date; she doesn’t seem interested in men at all. She seems solely focused on work, seeing her all predatory and lioness is funny.

We make it to the meeting and the presentation goes off without a hitch. I tell her I’m leaving the office early. I try on every piece of clothing in my closet, by the time I find something I like, every stitch of clothing I own is on my bedroom floor. If my brothers could see me right now, they would pull my man card.

I pull up to the Anderson Street house and ring the doorbell. When Patrick opens the door, he looks little a pissed to see me and Mel seems resigned, with or without their approval, I will claw my way back into Estelle’s heart. When she comes down the stairs, my breath hitches in my throat.

She has on a pretty summer dress and some ballet flats. I see three teenage girls trail behind her like a gaggle of geese, and they are all grinning. I’m not sure who they are, but I will ask about it at dinner. She surprises me when she says she wants to keep it simple with just some steak when we get in the car, my hands are sweating so hard I can barely switch gears. I don’t think I have ever been this nervous on a date before.

Dinner is wonderful, we take the time to talk about all the things we missed in each other’s life, and I don’t want the night to end. Therefore I ask her to go for a walk with me. When we arrive at the park, I make my move. I entwine our fingers as we walk, and then I tell her everything that is in my heart, and everything I want for us. She does the same, and we agree to take things slow and not make the mistake of rushing everything again.

I’m not going to lie, I’m horny as hell and I remember the heaven of being deep inside her, but she is right, we need to take a different path. When I ask her about kisses, she suddenly faces me and she starts with small kisses that end up heating up really quickly. I have to stop because if I don’t, I’m going to cum in my pants. I haven’t been with anyone since I was with her, and jacking my dick doesn’t have the same effect as it did then I was a pre-teen. I know she is affected too because when we pull away I see she is breathing quickly and her face is flushed. We make our way back to my car and I take her home. I walk her to her door, give her a kiss goodnight, and ask if I can see her again tomorrow night. She says she has plans, but she is free the night after. I tell her I will call and give her one more kiss. I didn't even make it to my car before I send a text.

Rhydian: Tonight was amazing. I can’t wait till I see you again. Sweet dreams, Princess.

Princess: I will count the minutes till I see you again and trust me you will be in my dreams tonight. There will be more than sweet good night kisses
.

Sitting on a plane the morning after my date is agony, but I have a meeting with Reed Sterling, Governor Dewitt, and a fifteen member multi-organization task force. They need my testimony to go along with the videos I have handed over. I tell no one where I’m going; I don’t even let anyone know I’m going out of town. I hop on a commercial flight. I’m reading when I feel someone sit in the seat next to me.

“Are you going somewhere, Princess?” Rhydian asks with a serious look on his face.

I’m sure the shock I feel on my face is evident. “How are you here? Why are you here?”

“I hope you’re not mad, but Ashleigh set up an alert on your GPS unit. Anytime you go out of range, or deviate from your normal routine, she gets an alert. She isn’t doing it to keep tabs on you, or to inform me where you are. She does it because in her own weird way, she doesn’t want for anything to happen to you if she could prevent it.”

“I seriously need to get this thing removed, but no, I’m not mad. I’m glad she cares enough to look out for me." I say sincerely.

“You didn’t answer my question, Princess, why are you headed to California?”

I tell him I have to give my testimony in front of the task force who will then take it to the grand jury, both in Colorado and my rapists' home states. They are trying to charge them with over a hundred crimes from child pornography to rape of a child. The fact that they crossed state lines to commit their crimes makes it a federal case, so they are also charging them with a multitude of offences. While telling him this, Rhydian entwines his hands in mine.

“Princess, I wish you would have told someone. When I called and asked, Pat and Mel said they had no clue why you were at the airport. Kennedy and Tristan didn’t have a clue either. We are your family; we want you to come to us. I’m sorry I made you feel like you depend on us too much. Princess, if this goes to trial, I think you will need all the support you can get. I’ve talked your dad, Sal, and Vaughn; they said you will come over and cook, but you don’t say anything. When they try to talk, you keep the conversation simple—never going too deep,” he says kissing my hand.

“It’s not that, but my dad is dealing with some stuff at work. Vaughn is trying to figure out if he wants to continue fighting or switch careers, and Uncle Sal, he isn’t a man of many words, he likes to watch and listen.” I rest my head against the chair.

“Easton and Kennedy have their hands full, they are about to start the terrible twos with the triplets. Kennedy is raising a family and trying to run her business. Tristan is still trying to get Frankie to give them a chance. I will give it to him, he is persistent. Everyone is doing their own thing; and I learned that it's ok for me to do that too," I add in earnest.

After telling him all this, I fall asleep on his shoulder. I wake up to him kissing my forehead and moving the hair off my face. “It’s time to get up, Princess. The plane is landing and just so you know, while you were sleeping, I upgraded our return tickets to first class. I will be lucky if I can move my legs when I get up—I’ve been so cramped.” He says, trying to stretch his longs legs out. I kiss his cheek.

“Thanks, babe I’m not sure you will be allowed in the room with me, but you're more than welcome to go hang out at the hotel.” I say gratefully

“No, I’m here for you even if I have to wait in the lobby. I’m here to support you, not lay by the pool.” He kisses the end of my nose after making that grand statement.

After leaving the plane, we make it to the hotel and go to the check-in desk.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Kerrigan. We have no open rooms and the room that was reserved is a king bed. We can bring a cot up. Will that help the situation?”

The front desk clerk looks sorry. She can’t fix this for us. I see Rhydian closing his eyes, thinking about, and dreading, sleeping on a cramped cot.

“No, that won’t be necessary. The one bed is fine.” He turns his head and ask if I’m sure I’m really okay with us sharing a room We walk into the room and it’s really nice. “I’m going to take a shower,” I tell him. ”The car will be back to get us in about an hour and forty-five minutes.” I see him nod. I grab all my things and take them into the bathroom. I don’t even bother adding any hot water, I need to cool off. I wash my body and get out. Fuck, I forgot my underwear. I put on the fluffy white robe and walk over to my bag. I grab my underwear and look over to see Rhydian tracking my movements. I rush back to the bathroom and put on my clothes. I make sure I leave nothing behind and step out.

I pull my hair-dryer out of the bag and dry my hair. When Rhydian comes out of the bathroom, he is dressed. The phone rings, it’s the front desk telling us the car has arrived. We hurry down and make it to the federal building. After signing in, I’m led to a big office. It has boards with pictures that were caught from the videos and questions marks drawn over the men they still have yet to identify. I am introduced to everyone at the table. I feel Rhydian, who takes a seat next to me, squeeze my knee under the table.

I start the story from the beginning. They have identified no one, but Frederick Greenly. I walk over and grab a legal pad and marker. I write down each name, how many times they raped, cut, or burned me, and as I tape each sheet of paper to the board, it becomes real. Then I pull the ledger out of my laptop case, open it, and put up three different dollar amounts.

One-What they paid Edwin to rape and torture me.

Two-How much money Edwin had laundered for them.

Three-How much money he owed them at the time of his death.

There are eight men in total.

Frederick Greenly is dead, that leaves seven more bastards to take down. For the next ten hours we go over every detail, while everything is recorded. That’s when the FBI does the paperwork for the federal crimes that have been committed. It is now eleven o’clock, and judges all over the country are being woken up to get local warrants. A heads up, courtesy of Governor Dewitt, had been leaked to all the major news outlets exactly twenty minutes ago, so they will be parked and ready to catch the perpetrators walk.

Rhydian and I call it a night after that and go back to our hotel room; the minute I get in the door, I collapse. I feel Rhydian undress me and put me in the bathtub he’s filled. I noticed the water is scalding hot, just the way I like it. He turns off the light and lights a scented candle, I didn't even know where the hell the lavender bath oil has come from. He walks back into the bathroom and puts his iPad on the sink with the Josh Groban station playing, and closes the door again. I lean back and close my eyes, then about thirty minutes later, Rhydian comes back in with some pajamas.

“Can you scrub my back?” I ask. I can’t reach it and I don't feel clean. I’ve folded my body so nothing was visible. He grabs the soap, applies it to the washcloth, and scrubs small circles on my back. He gets the plastic cup from beside the sink and wets my hair, washing it. He massages my scalp, making sure all my hair is soaped up.

He rinses my hair, my back, and wipes my face with a towel. Just then Leona Lewis's version of the Roberta Flack Classic ‘The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face’ comes on, and it portrays exactly how I felt about Rhydian. I unfold my body and stand up as Leona sings in the background. I kiss Rhydian.

“Princess, let's not rush this.”

“It’s not rushing, Rhydian. This song is exactly how I feel. “I’m tired of my life passing me by, I realized today that life is too short and I need to grab it by the horns. That’s when he kisses me back and lifts me out of the tub. I wrap my legs around his waist and he carries me to the bed.

“Are you sure, Princess? I can wait.”

“No babe, I'm ready.” I say, kissing him behind his ear and on his neck.

He grabs my chin and forces me to look him in the eyes and says, "Princess, I want to be clear about this. I will only go as far as you want, but if you feel the need to stop or don’t like something I’m doing, you only need to say the word and I will stop. I promise you, I won’t hurt you in any way, shape, or form.” He pauses and caresses the side of my face lovingly.

“I understand, Rhydian. I’m ready for you, please put me out of my misery and love me the way I know you are capable of.” I say seductively

He then gently lays me down on the bed and reaches over to the nightstand, grabbing a bottle of my vanilla and brown sugar body lotion and says, "Lay on your belly for me, Princess. I want to start this the right way." He says in a gentle tone.

Warming the lotion in his hands, he gently massages my feet and works his way up to my calves finally ending at my back. As he slowly works all the muscles there, leaving me feeling like a puddle of mush in the center of the bed. Suddenly, I feel his entire body pressed up against my back and he whispers in my ear, "Don’t fall asleep on me now, Princess. The night is just beginning.”

I can feel his rock hard erection press up against my ass, and a little shiver runs through my body.

He then turns my body over and begins a slow and sensual kiss. Leaving my mouth, he trails his lips across my jaw to my ear and nibbles there for a moment. From there, he works his way down my neck, licking my collar bone. He slowly continues his way down to my breast. While he's working on one, he refuses to let the other be neglected. So he takes his hand, which is not holding up his body, and grabs my other breast, holding it in his hand at first like he was weighing it. Then grabbing onto the nipple and giving it a slight pinch. I can feel myself getting even wetter.

He switches sides, and his mouth has taken the place of his hand. After he feels like he has paid enough attention to my breasts, he slowly makes his way, with little butterfly kisses, down my stomach. He locks his arm around my back like a steel band, as his mouth lands on my clit. His tongue jets out, applies the right pressure to my clit, and at the same time slides two fingers inside my pussy. He bends his fingers slightly and moves them in and out slowly. I let the wave hit me and I am seeing stars. I come so hard I blackout for a few seconds. Coming to, I look down at him and see a very satisfied smirk on his face.

"Do you think you have a few more of those in you?” I reply with a smirk of my own.

He climbs up my body and gives me a tender kiss; then reaches down between our bodies, grabs ahold of his cock, and rubs it against my already tender clit. I beg him, “Rhydian, please.” He looks me in the eyes as he pushes his cock into my slick folds. He keeps his eyes locked on me and goes at a nice slow pace. I want to beg him to go harder and faster, but I can tell by looking in his eyes that this means a lot to him and that alone makes it mean increasingly more to me. Just as the walls of my pussy start to clench, he says, “Are you ready, Princess?” we both find our release together. He stays planted deep inside me, leans down, and gives me a deep but gentle kiss.

“Princess, I know things have gone bad between us and we are just now trying to get our shit together, but I want you to know that I’m here for you in the long run, no more of you running off, no more of me running off, no more of me being a careless asshole. I want you in my life forever." 

I fall asleep not thinking of the seven men who were just arrested earlier, or the upcoming trial I will face, or even that I broke my no sex rule. My only thought is of Rhydian and the life I hope we have this time around.