Safer With You (29 page)

“Nora, I love you. Can’t you see? Don’t you know?”

“I’m not sure,” I whisper, and try to pull away from him.

He tugs at my hair again and settles his body in-between my legs. His other hand comes down around my ass and pulls me against his hard length.

Oh, dear God.

I try and fight, but I know he’s winning.

“Nora, stop this,” he quietly pleads. He tugs my hair again, cementing us closer.

I listen and let him try to explain.

“I have to pretend to be her fiance for tonight. So many lives are depending on this. I can’t tell you yet, but I promise when I can tell you…I will. You have to trust me. Do you trust me?”

I swallow. Of course I trust him. That’s the problem. I trust everyone, and they lie to me.

“I trust you, Jase, I do, and that scares the hell out of me. Everything I feel for you scares me. Why didn’t you tell me you were bringing her? A little warning would have been helpful.”

He exhales in relief. His breath is close to my neck, “It’s scary for me, too. The way I feel for you is…I can’t even describe it to you right. There are no words. I only know that I can’t stand to be away from you. I wonder what you are doing every second I’m not with you. I want to protect you, hold you, kiss you, and feel you against me. He moves his lips close to my neck, and whispers, “I need to make love to you.”

He pulls back and his eyes glow with lust. “I hate that you are with that prick tonight. It’s killing me. I hate that he’s the one protecting you, holding you, walking around showing you off, and touching your soft skin.”

Our lips move closer and he speaks against my mouth. “I can love you better. Please, give me the chance. I promise no one will love you like I will. You are my everything, you are all I want, you are my eternity.”

I can’t hold back. The passion coming from his words seeps into me. He lets me go as I pull away, leaning back against the table. He’s waiting for me to respond. His eyes are dark, hooded, and narrowed in on me. His lips are full and slightly tight. He looks like a predator and I’m ready to be his prey.

I’ve never taken charge before, but there is a heat between my thighs that only he can extinguish. I reach for the straps of my dress and slowly pull them down to show him the dainty black bra that’s covering what he wants.

He sucks in a deep breath and lets it go in appreciation. I wrap his tie around my wrist and pull his mouth over mine. He takes my kiss, my caressing tongue, every movement I make against his body. I can’t control myself. I want to taste him, every inch of him. I need him inside me.

“You deserve to be worshiped. I will worship every inch of your body,” he says, as his tongue licks below my ear and my neck arches back. The further I lean back, the closer he works towards my breasts. His hand yanks my bra, and it falls away from me.

The heat from his mouth circles my breast, and with a tug, my nipple is between his teeth. I moan in pleasure. My body tingles as he takes his time with each breast, tugging, licking, and sucking.

His hands slide up my dress and the hiss he makes assures me he’s happy with what he finds.

“Fuck. Thigh highs—you are fucking killing me.”

I lick my bottom lip and gesture with my pointer finger for him to come closer.

Rough and eager, he returns to my lips. The kissing turns feverish and intense. In the midst of passion, I untie his bow tie and help him remove his jacket as our lips never leave each other. I yank at his belt buckle, but he pushes my hands away and gets on his knees. He is perfectly mouth level between my thighs.

His lips move horizontally back and forth over my thighs and he works towards where I ache. I can feel his hot, wet mouth on me as he licks, sucks, and tastes me.

I moan loudly, knowing full well we are in a public place and I should stop. People might hear. But I can’t. He said he was going to worship me, and him worshiping me is the only thing that I feel right now.

“You’re so wet, so soft. Sweet,” he whispers, as he kisses his way back up to my lips. I can taste myself on his tongue. I sit and push him back, trying to get at his belt again. He brushes my hand away again, but this time he unbuckles it and I attack the button.

Ripping down his pants, I feel his hard length. I make a move off the table to repay the gift of worship, but he says, “No, baby, all you. I’m worshiping you, remember? All I want is to come inside you.”

I lie back, my body humming. I spread my legs wider and he pushes inside, while he lifts my ass off the table. His strong arms hold me up and he fills me. His movements are fast and hard as an ocean wave, but the rhythm takes over and we are in sync.

Moving with each other like we have done before, I can’t hold back; I feel it build until I come gloriously around him, saying his name.

Within seconds, he growls with each movement, and while holding onto his arms, I can feel his muscles tense, and soon I feel him release in me.

When I return, we are both breathing heavily, but a smile spreads across his face. But then, his lips form a straight line and his eyes narrow. He lays me back on the table and his chest hovers over me.

“I have never felt anything like that. I don’t even know what to say. Last night was beautiful but this…this was amazing.”

I echo his words.

“Do you feel it? Feel how much I love you?”

“I do, Jase.”

“I love you with everything I am. I’m so sorry I left you that night. I didn’t protect you. I left you to defend yourself against that monster. I will regret that decision for the rest of my life. He will never touch you again.”

I cup his beautiful face with my hands, “You didn’t know. I’m okay; I’m here with you. I made it, and you did save me.”

He backs away from me, running his hands through his hair. All of a sudden, I feel cold, like something is about to destroy my whole world.

Jase finishes buckling up his pants, while I situate my dress.

He stares at me and then lets out a deep breath. “Nora, you are still in so much danger. I know who did this to you. The people you think you can trust…you shouldn’t. Luke, the senator, Isaac…and me.”

“What?” is all I can manage.

“You can’t go back out there with Luke.”

“Jase, I’ll make him understand. I love you. He’ll be fine. He won’t hurt me.”

I try to shrug off his worry, but his expression is laced with fear.

“I didn’t want to tell you this tonight. I don’t want you to be scared, or hate me and leave, but you need to know. Isaac Campone is the one who attacked you. He isn’t finished with you yet.”

He’s talking so fast that I’m having a hard time comprehending what he is saying. He keeps going. “Luke knows. He’s lying to you about who he is. Luke’s real name is Michael Malone, and he works for his uncle, and so does Isaac. Isaac doesn’t like what you know about Luke, about his family.”

I can’t catch my breath. Isaac? Who is Isaac? It hits me like a ton of bricks. Zack, Luke’s cousin? Why? Then I realize it has to do with what I saw in Luke’s office. Luke? Luke is Michael? He knows all about my attack.

Rage seeps through me. “Why did you let me near him? Why did you make me come with him tonight?”

“I had to, Nora. He has orders to take you away from here if I don’t comply and act like Samantha and I are back together. I have enough security so that we can put an end to this tonight.”

“You’re using me as a pawn, is that it?”

“No, baby. I would never. But I have to keep an eye on you. As long as I’m within your eyesight, nothing is going to happen.”

I’m so pissed. He’s right about one thing—everyone’s lied to me, including him. I need to leave. I’m going to my parents’ house, to my Dad. I should have only trusted him in the beginning anyway.

“I’m leaving!”

Jase pushes me against the table and holds my arms. “Nora, calm down. You’re not thinking clearly. I’m going to protect you. Everyone is working for the senator. I made the mistake of trusting him. I made the mistake of trusting these monsters.”

I tip my head back and look at the dark ceiling. I can’t see all that well, but it is the only thing I can think to do. I can’t look at him right now. They all knew who attacked me; they were all in on it but me. All this time, he’s been trying to protect me, yet he deposits me right in the middle of danger.

A loud knock at the door draws me from my thoughts. “Mr. Madsyn, you are needed, immediately,” Tucker’s curt voice says from the other side of the door.

“Jase, I need a few minutes by myself. I can’t go out there right now.”

He lets out a breath. “Fine. But Tucker will be outside this door to escort you to my table. After Samantha presents the senator with the check, we are gone.”

“What about Isaac? Is he going to show up?”

“My security team is here and waiting for him. We’ll make him think you’re still here if he shows.”

He kisses my forehead and opens the door. “Don’t leave this storage room unless Tucker is with you. He will be standing out here until you are ready to return to the table.” Then he leaves before I can even respond. I’m left all alone to soak in this ludicrous situation.

Screw this! Some lunatic is waiting on me while his family is in on it. What the fuck is wrong with these people? What did I ever do to Isaac? I didn’t tell anyone anything about what I saw in Luke’s office, not even Jase.

I use the dim light to straighten my dress as best as I can and comb my fingers through my hair. Luckily, my bag is close by. Taking my cell phone out, I text Jenny that I’m leaving and heading back to Mom and Dad’s…alone.

Ignoring Jase’s instructions, I open the door and peek my head out. I survey the area, no Jase, no Tucker, no one. It’s strange that no one is around, but, oh well, it’s better for me that way.

I take the opportunity to leave the tiny room and head for the first exit I see. It doesn’t matter where it leads to, as long as I get the hell out of here. I tiptoe down the narrow hallway and round the corner. Bingo! An exit sign. I’m close to tasting freedom until Luke yanks me back.

My body goes on alert as I feel his strong fingers wrap around my wrist.

“Luke, stay away from me. I know all about you!” I struggle to break free from his grasp.

“Calm down, Nora. What are you talking about?”

I shove hard against his chest. If Jase is right, then I don’t want to be alone with Luke.

“You son of a bitch, I know all about you,
Michael.
”

“Nora, hush. Let’s go outside and talk. I’ll explain everything.” He yanks my arm again, but this time through the exit. My ankle gives and I stumble through the doorway.

“Luke, stop holding me so tight; stop touching me!”
 

He swings me around until we are nose to nose. “Stop this, please. Jase is lying, whatever he told you is a lie. You can’t trust him. He is the dangerous one; he is involved in something so much more dangerous than I have ever been.”

“I’m not worried about him; I want answers from you. You are responsible for my attack, why would you ever hurt me like that? Why are you going along with your uncle and Isaac?”

He looks confused. “What are you talking about?”

“ Zack, Isaac whoever he is. He attacked me because you probably told him I was snooping in your office. How could you put me in danger like that?” Rage is coursing through my veins. I can’t ever recall screaming at someone like this. My mouth is dry and my voice is hoarse from all my screaming.

“He doesn’t think of anyone but himself. I, on the other hand, have only thought of you.”
 

Isaac appears from the shadows behind Luke. Isaac is calm, content even. I’m so struck by his sudden appearance that I don’t even notice the gun until it’s too late.

As Luke turns, a gunshot rings out, and Luke falls to the ground at my feet.

“Don’t make a sound; come with me. I’ve already had the privilege of making you bleed once. I have no problem doing it again.”

His voice is low and there is evil behind his words. Isaac, at one time, was an attractive man, but right now he is the devil. His long black hair is pulled back in a sleek ponytail. He’s wearing an all-black suit, shirt, and tie. There is no life behind his eyes. No gleam or spark. Dark and blank.

I look down from his face, no longer able to stare at him. I see that the gun is trained on me. I make the mistake of looking down further to the ground, where Luke is laying with blood staining his chest. I hear him moan.
Thank God he’s alive.

Somehow, I find my voice, “Let…let me call for help, then I’ll go with you,” I beg.

“No, come with me…now.” He reaches his other hand out to take mine. “I won’t give you another shot. No pun intended,” he bellows and my stomach rolls. “I also know how to find Jenny if you’re not willing to cooperate. Besides, it’s not you I really want to destroy.”

Who?
Oh, God, I can’t breathe. All I can smell is smoke, gun smoke. The sound of the gun. Why hasn’t anyone else heard it?

I’m shaking and I feel like my legs are going to give out. His hand is locked onto my wrist. I can’t make my legs move, but it doesn’t matter because he just drags me with him.