Shane's Fall (The Escort Series Book 2) (9 page)

She actually liked Riley and had learned that the young woman was just a few years older than her. They’d even had lunch a few times but Riley was usually the instigator and typically carried any stilted conversation they had. Savannah just found it hard to take that last step and trust her, even if she was a part of the family now. As the Barista handed her her order, she weaved her way in and out of the busy crowd and reached the table. Riley’s eyes were puffy, proof she was still hurting from Shane’s verbal attack.

“Hi,” Riley said as Savannah sat across from her. She was a pretty young woman with long blonde hair and kind gray eyes. She worked as a vet tech, which didn’t surprise Savannah when she saw the way Riley interacted with Mr. Pickles when she and Gabe came over.

“Hi. Thanks for inviting me,” she said somewhat awkwardly.

“Gabe told me he was teaching you some self-defense stuff,” Riley ventured. Savannah wondered what else Gabe had told her, but simply nodded her head in response. “It’s smart,” Riley continued. “I can’t believe I never even thought to learn something like that, especially after some of the stuff that happened.”

Savannah knew she was referring to an attack against Riley by her ex-fiancé. The lunatic had actually followed her from Texas, trashed her apartment and then held her at gunpoint when he tried to abduct her in broad daylight in front of her apartment. Luckily, Gabe and his dog Bella had been there or things would have ended in tragedy.

Riley smiled and took a sip of her drink. “I asked Gabe to teach me some moves last night but I guess it’s different when it’s your boyfriend that has his hands all over you instead of an actual instructor.” Riley blushed and Savannah couldn’t help but laugh.

“I’m sorry for what Shane said to you yesterday. Gabe told me,” Savannah said quietly and watched Riley’s face fall.

“I begged Gabe not to go over there.”

“Shane shouldn’t have said it. I don’t know why he did, but in my heart I don’t think it’s what he really believes,” Savannah offered.

“He’s been like a brother to me. He’s a big part of why Gabe and I are together.” Riley shook her head. “But it’s like we’re losing him.”

Savannah didn’t respond, but found herself reaching across the table to pat Riley’s hand. Riley responded by grabbing her hand and holding it for a moment, seemingly grateful for the show of support.

“How long have you been in love with him?” Riley suddenly asked, her voice gentle.

Savannah gasped at the question and then straightened in her chair. She should deny it because to do anything else would be foolish and expose how sad and pathetic she was to be in love with someone so far out of her league. But instead she said, “How did you know?”

“You look at him the way I used to look at Gabe when I thought he wasn’t watching. It’s like a hunger you can’t feed or a thirst you can’t quench.”

Savannah nodded at the description because the young woman across from her was spot on. “It started off as a childish crush I guess.”

“But things have changed?” Riley prompted and Savannah nodded.

“I have a confession to make,” Savannah blurted. “That day we had lunch and I asked to borrow some tissues from your purse, I found his card.” Riley looked surprised but stayed quiet. “I knew what he did – what they all did.”

“Logan told you?” Riley asked, clearly surprised.

“No, definitely not. I overheard the three of them talking about it one night while they were at our house. They were still in college and they were hanging out in our kitchen playing poker and drinking. I came down to get something to drink and overheard them. I never told Logan that I knew.”

“So when you saw his card, you guessed what it was for?” At Savannah’s nod, Riley blanched and said, “Savannah, you know nothing happened between me and Shane, right? The card was a message-” she stuttered.

Savannah laughed and shook her head. “I know. I saw what was on the back of the card and figured that was why he gave it to you.” Riley was visibly relieved so Savannah continued. “I memorized the email address and contacted him.”

Riley shook her head in confusion. “I don’t understand. Why would you need the email from his card to do that? You saw him all the time.”

Savannah bit her lip. She was risking a lot by telling Riley this, but truth be told, she really needed someone to talk to. And since she’d been taking a lot of risks lately anyway, why stop now? Hopefully this one wouldn’t end in disastrous results like the others. It was likely that Riley already knew she’d been at Shane’s apartment last night and that she had stayed after Gabe had left.

“I have some hang-ups…sexually,” she began. “I emailed Shane pretending to be a potential client and paid him to meet me at a hotel. I insisted he wear a blindfold so he wouldn’t know it was me.”

Riley was clearly shocked. “Holy crap,” she muttered. Savannah almost smiled because as much as her brother and his friends used various and colorful swear words, Riley rarely ever did so it always amused Savannah to hear Riley’s version of it. “What happened?”

Savannah decided to forgo the details and just said, “He figured out it was me anyway.”

“So, is that why you were there last night?”

“He agreed to help me figure out some of the stuff I was trying to work through, but I thought maybe it was turning into something else.” Her voice faltered and she felt tears sting her eyes.

“What happened?” Riley asked gently.

“It was amazing. I thought it meant the same to him but after…after, he pulled back from me. He was there, but he wasn’t. He was gone this morning – no note, no goodbye.”

This time it was Riley who reached for her hand to offer comfort. “I’m sorry, Savannah.”

She nodded and then took the napkin Riley offered her so she could dab at her watery eyes. “It’s ridiculous that I could feel this much, this fast, isn’t it?”

“Part of me wishes I could tell you it is, but that’s how it happened for me. I knew pretty much right away that Gabe was my future. It hurt like hell when he pushed me away. I was all set to leave - my bags were literally packed.”

“What happened?”

“Shane happened.”

Savannah sucked in a breath. “What do you mean?”

“He kept sticking his nose in – wouldn’t let Gabe let me go, wouldn’t let me give up on Gabe.”

Riley’s answer actually hurt Savannah physically. Shane would bend over backwards to help his friends find each other, but he wouldn’t even consider pursuing something with her. Hurt lanced through her and she dropped her eyes to her hands, more bitter tears threatening to fall. Something hit the tips of her fingers and she looked up to see Riley pressing Shane’s business card against her splayed hand. She lifted the tips of her fingers and Riley pushed the card under them. The side that said
‘Don’t give up on him’
was facing up and she ran her fingers over the ink. Riley’s hand closed over hers and Savannah let out a deep breath, then squeezed Riley’s hand back.

Chapter 10

Shane heard the ding on his phone indicating he had an email but ignored it. He reached down and grabbed the straw that Paige had so considerately left him this time instead of a rolled hundred dollar bill. He’d seen the drugs sitting on the coffee table the second he walked into the apartment and his control had snapped. He’d spent the entire day struggling to get through his classes and had ended up skipping the last two because he was too on edge to focus. His night with Savannah had destroyed him and he had walked out on her like the coward he was. He hadn’t even left a note because there was absolutely nothing he could say that would justify what he’d done. As soon as she had dropped down on his lap, he had known he was going to take her and didn’t care that she would be the one to suffer. He’d been too raw from his fight with Gabe and his cruelty to Riley to even consider trying to do what was best for Savannah and force her to go.

His plan had always been to let Savannah experiment on him, test her boundaries. He hadn’t even really been sure she’d want to do more than some heavy petting. Keeping an emotional distance from her during any sexual act should have been the easiest thing in the world – he did it for a fucking living for Christ’s sake. But even he couldn’t deny the connection between them as he made love to her. And that’s what they’d done – made love, not fucked. He’d asked her not to let her emotions play into what they were doing, but then he’d gone and done exactly that.

His skin crawled as he imagined Savannah waking up alone in his big bed. She was better off, he reminded himself as he leaned over the mirror that Paige had left in invitation. She’d done all the work and prepared the lines. She hadn’t even been home when he got there, but she’d made sure to leave her “greeting” where he would find it right away. He guessed she also knew it would be harder to get rid of if it couldn’t be quickly disposed of in a sink or toilet. It had been twenty minutes since he’d walked in and seen his salvation, but he had hesitated. His mind knew that if he did this there would be no going back, but his churning gut and burning tongue didn’t care. He was a fool to think he could ever escape this part of his life.

As he leaned over and positioned the straw, he heard his email ding again. A second later there was another, and then another. He could tell by the tone that it was the email he used for escorting. It wasn’t unusual to get the occasional email, but several in a row was something new. Putting the straw back down on the table, he reached for his phone and opened his email. When he saw who the new emails were from, his fingers actually trembled as he opened the first.

I need you.

-S

Shane took a deep breath and scrolled through the rest.

I can’t stop thinking about how hard you were inside me last night.

-S

I want to taste you again like that first time but I don’t want to stop this time.

-S

Each one was dirtier than the next and Shane leaned back to give his hardening cock a little more breathing room. He never would have guessed how naughty his little Savannah could actually be.

I’m in our room.

-S

God, he wanted her again. All the arguments for why he needed to stay away from her fled and he was up and moving. His car seemed to drive itself to the hotel and every time he had a moment of weakness and went to turn the car around, he heard that email tone again. Each little ding had his blood racing and he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to make it up to the room before his cock betrayed him.

By the time he found a parking spot and got the room key from the front desk, he felt like he was on fire. The anticipation of having her sweet mouth wrapped around him was nearly too much and he fumbled to open the door. He stopped at the sight of her laying naked on the bed, her luminous eyes watching him. He saw relief etch her features, but he tried not to give that too much thought as he banged the door closed behind him, reached the bed in two long strides and then slammed his mouth down on hers as he covered her with his body. She immediately began working the buttons on his shirt, even as her tongue stroked his.

Rearing back, he discarded his shirt and then sat back to study her. Her hair was spread out beneath her like a dark pool and her lips were parted slightly. His knees were on each side of her hips which prevented her from moving her lower body, but that didn’t stop her arms from coming up. He thought she would reach for him, but he watched in stunned silence as she caressed her own breasts. His breath stopped as she tentatively tweaked the nipples and then palmed them. She took her right hand and sucked one of her fingers into her mouth, soaking it with saliva. When she dipped the wet finger around one of her nipples, he actually moaned and dropped down so he could replace her finger with his lips. She arched up against him as he sucked her nipple into his mouth and his teeth bit down on the tip. She cried out against the sting of pain and then groaned when he licked her. As her hips thrust up against him, he reached for the zipper on his pants.

Before he could comprehend what she was doing, she sat up against him and then used his momentary fumbling with his pants to her advantage. She reached into his pants and closed her hand around him. It felt so good that he gave in to the pressure of her hand on his chest and dropped down on the bed so that he was on his back. Her hand stayed on him and stroked as her other hand worked his pants down. He was already leaking fluid from his cock so she used the makeshift lubricant to ease her stroking. On each glide, she twisted her hand and tightened her grip and he couldn’t bite back the sound of pleasure that escaped from his lips. He dropped his head back on the bed to just relish in the sensation of it all, but nearly came when he felt her hair skim his thighs. Moments later, her hot mouth was scorching a path up and down his length and then she was sucking him deep. He shouted at the contact and then leaned up on his elbows so he could watch.

She was bent over him, her long hair hiding his view so he quickly pushed it back so he could see as her mouth drew him in as far as she could and then pulled back up. Zaps of electricity fired through him as she kept repeating the motion and when she cupped his balls with her hand, he actually knotted her hair around his fist so he could keep her there. But from the way she was working him, he knew she wasn’t going anywhere until she sucked him dry.

“Take me deeper,” he whispered harshly and she complied. He heard her gag a couple of times but then she seemed to figure out how to relax her throat because she was taking him all the way to the base. She came up for air every couple strokes, but in between she sucked him as hard as she could. When she swallowed around him, he started fucking her mouth.

“I’m gonna come,” he said hoarsely. She tightened her hold on his cock with her mouth and then he felt her fingers playing with the skin behind his balls. Shockwaves went through him as his balls drew up and he started shooting into her mouth. She kept sucking him even as the proof of his release leaked out of her mouth and down his dick. He cried out her name and then fell back on the bed as his orgasm slowly started to wane. She licked him clean and then crawled up his body and kissed him. He tasted himself on her as she thrust her tongue into his mouth and explored every inch of him. He knew he should get her off too, but he couldn’t quite make his body respond yet. He kissed her back and then let his eyes drift shut as she gently ran her lips all over his sated body. He just needed a minute, he told himself, then he would reciprocate. That was the last thing he remembered before he drifted off to sleep.

***

Savannah watched Shane sleep and couldn’t help but marvel how young and relaxed he looked. It was so different from the constant darkness she saw in his eyes. She was glad she’d given him that, even if it was just temporary. It had been a huge risk to bait him the way she had, but drastic times called for drastic measures. As she had lain there naked and waiting for him, she couldn’t help but wonder at the change that had come over her after being with him. He made her feel powerful and beautiful without even having to say the words. The way he’d worshipped her last night had inspired her to want to do the same for him. She knew it was still just sex to him, but if that was the only way she could even reach him, she was willing to try it.

She’d enjoyed watching his reaction to her, especially when she touched herself. It was thrilling to have so much power over a man, but she’d enjoyed the orders he had given her too. It made her feel like they were equal when they came together – they could each gain pleasure from both giving and taking. She doubted it would be like that with all men and at this point it didn’t matter because she couldn’t see herself feeling that free to follow her baser instincts with anyone but Shane. He shifted beneath her and she felt an arm curl around her as he drew her closer. He was still asleep so she pressed her advantage and wrapped one of her legs over his. She’d managed to get the rest of his clothes off after he’d fallen asleep, but they were still on top of the covers so the heat of his body where it rested against hers was very welcome. She placed her hand over his chest, felt his strong heartbeat and then nuzzled her lips against his neck and breathed him in. He reflexively tightened his arm around her and she finally closed her eyes.

***

“Shane.”

He heard his name being whispered but it sounded far away.

“Shane, please.”

When he heard the fear in her voice, he awoke with a start. Savannah was no longer lying next to him and he looked around the dark room for her. The clock showed it was just after midnight. There was only a little bit if light coming from the bathroom, but the door was partially ajar. He got out of the bed and yanked on his underwear as he hurried across the room.

She was sitting on the edge of the tub, her left arm laying exposed in her lap, her right hand resting on her thigh, a shiny silver letter opener clutched in her fist. She was wearing his shirt and staring blankly straight ahead. He dropped to his knees in front of her and pulled the letter opener from her hand. He examined her left arm but saw no new wounds.

“Savannah,” he said softly as he quickly checked the rest of her body for any injuries. There were none. She still didn’t seem to register his presence so he gave her a hard shake and said her name again, this time more firmly. Her eyes seemed to focus and he heard her pull in a deep breath as she looked at him and then around the bathroom as if trying to figure out how they’d gotten there. When she saw the letter opener in his hand, she recoiled and then looked down at her arm.

“It’s okay, sweetheart. “You’re okay,” he said gently as he stroked her bare thigh.

“I didn’t…” she said as her fingers skimmed over the scars on her arm.

“No, you called for me just like I asked you to.”

She looked up at him in confusion and then finally seemed to remember where they were. “I had a nightmare. I didn’t want to wake you, so I got out of bed to get some water.”

He was amazed that he hadn’t felt any of it.

“Do you remember what your dream was about?”

She nodded but said nothing more and he realized that she’d been dreaming about her assault.

“I thought I was getting better,” she cried hoarsely.

“You are, sweetheart. Look,” he said, pointing at her arm. “You called out for me even when you weren’t really aware of it – your mind knew to ask for help.”

She considered his words and then nodded. “Thank you Shane.”

He leaned in and kissed her. He pulled her up and led her out of the bathroom. He dropped the letter opener back on the writing desk where it had come from and then steered Savannah back to bed. Stripping the shirt off her, he pulled back the covers so she could crawl under. He got rid of his briefs and got in next to her. He leaned over her so that his chest covered hers and he kissed her over and over again, soft, gentle kisses that were meant to comfort. She relaxed under him and as he began to explore the rest of her body with his lips, he felt her fingers comb through his hair.

He skimmed her collar bone and then made his way down her chest. His exploration came to a halt when he felt the scar on her breast. He licked it gently and then used his fingers to trace the outline of the other scar on the opposite breast. He was trying to make sense of the unusual patterns.

She must have sensed his thoughts because she stilled and then carefully said, “He bit me.”

It didn’t register what she said at first, but when the words did finally sink in, he felt rage surge through him. The amount of pain that bastard had to have inflicted to leave that much damage on such sensitive skin was mind blowing. He heard her choke back a sob and then she covered her eyes with her hand.

“If I just hadn’t opened the door…” she began but then became overwhelmed with sobs.

He gathered her in his arms and whispered, “It’s not your fault” over and over again. As he held her, he thought about the last thing she said about opening the door. Logan often had to leave her alone when they were younger because he was working so much, but he would have taught her not to open the door to strangers. Nausea rolled through him as he realized what that meant – she’d been raped by someone she had known, someone she had trusted. He’d already figured out from their conversation on that first day in the hotel room that it had happened before she left for college so in all likelihood, the assault had happened in her own home.