Payback: A Vigilante Justice Novel Read online

  But as I grabbed the remote from its dedicated home on the table next to Alder’s leather couch, lights flared in the window. Someone driving by out on the road, it seemed. Alder lived far enough out that seeing others was a rarity, so I watched the lights as they moved closer. As they slowed. As they stopped at Alder’s driveway.

  “Oh no.” Dropping the remote, I raced for the stairs, slipping and sliding on the wood floors. I checked that the front door was locked—it was, Alder always secured the doors when he came in or out—and double-timed it up the steps. I didn’t pause, didn’t even think about what I was doing or what state Alder would be in until I ran through his bedroom and turned the corner into his bathroom.

  And then I froze.

  Naked. Alder was naked in the shower. Steam billowed all around him, but there was no ignoring the naked before me. Every dip of muscle, every curve of bone. Naked. Every inch of his hard cock. The one his hand stroked at a leisurely sort of pace. Totally, utterly naked.

  I drenched my panties in exactly two-point-one seconds, and his cocky grin when he caught me watching him with my mouth agape certainly didn’t help.

  “You plan to stand there all night, or are you going to climb in here with me, honey?”

  Definitely climb in. Definitely. Except…

  “A car.”

  His brow tightened, and he turned off the water. “What?”

  “A car. Outside. I saw a car stop in your driveway.”

  His smile fell, his face going hard and mean as he yanked the shower door open. Without a word, he raced past me, grabbing a towel to throw around his hips before barreling into his bedroom. I followed, keeping my back to the wall to stay out of his way, my heart thumping fast in my chest. Alder was big enough to be scary on his best day. Pissed off? He was a nightmare. I wasn’t afraid of him, though, more of what he’d do if that someone in the driveway turned out to be a trespasser. More of if he’d get hurt dealing with the threat.

  When Alder turned from the nightstand, he had a gun in his hand. A gun and a cordless phone. Neither of which I could wrap my head around until he stood right in front of me.

  He had. A gun. In his hand.

  “Lock my bedroom door behind me and stay up here,” he said, pressing the phone into my limp hand. “If I’m not back in three minutes, press and hold five to call Gage.”

  The words no, no, no skated through my head, but I couldn’t speak. Couldn’t remember how, so I couldn’t tell Alder how terrified I felt. For him, not me. But my silence gave him no reason to pause. Alder made sure I had the phone in my grip, kissed my forehead, and ran out of the room. Gone to fight whoever dared to cross onto his property.

  The thought of fairy tales danced through my head again. Of the stories my mother had read to me. The ones where valiant princes raced off to defend their darling princesses. Those fables that had poisoned my mind as a child and made me want things that were impossible. I’d known for years that I wasn’t a princess, but Alder wasn’t a prince either. He was the goddamned dragon at the gates of the castle, and he would burn you to ash if you threatened him. Why that protectiveness was such a turn-on, I might never know. But it was, even if I was playing the part of the cook in the story. The cook could be with the dragon, right? Maybe?

  Must. Stop. Thinking. About. Impossible. Things.

  Knocking myself out of my panicked—and slightly lustful—stupor, I hurried to close and lock the bedroom door as he’d told me to. Once secured, I crouched between the bed and the wall with his phone clutched in my hand. And then I counted.

  One, two, three…

  The seconds ticked by slower than I ever would have imagined. By fifty-two, I was edging around the corner of the bed. At eighty-nine, I had my ear pressed to the door. At one-hundred-and-one, a loud bang sounded from somewhere far away, and I jumped. Losing count.

  “Please, please, please, be safe.” I clung to the phone, listening again. Waiting for some sign that Alder was okay. Terrified he wouldn’t be.

  If I wouldn’t have had my ear to the door, I wouldn’t have heard the soft snick from downstairs. I knew that sound—had spent the last few days loving and hating it depending on which way Alder was going. The sound was the latch catching as the front door closed, and that could mean Alder was back. Or someone else had just walked into the house.

  Fuck three minutes. If Alder needed backup, he needed it now.

  With a shaking hand, I unlocked the bedroom door and slowly, quietly opened it. The hall appeared empty, the light on and the path to the staircase clear. Maybe if I leaned out, I could see. I just needed to know who had come through the door. So I leaned and I crept and I slipped a few feet down the hall until I could see most of the front landing, my finger hovering over that number five on the phone the entire time.

  Alder stepped into the area at the bottom of the stairs, looking up and catching my gaze. “It was Bishop.”

  Three words. That was all it took to unravel the knot of fear holding me back. It also unleashed every bit of self-control I’d been hanging on to for these past few days.

  I dropped the phone and ran down the stairs, throwing myself at the mostly naked man before me. Needing to feel his flesh against mine and to know he’d returned safe and whole. Wanting it too much to resist. Of course, Alder caught me, pulling me close, wrapping his arms around my body and lifting me right off the floor.

  Safe. Both of us are safe.

  I didn’t even pretend to hold back, didn’t even try to stop myself. I pressed my lips to his and dove into a kiss he quickly overtook. Desperation fed my desire and broke all my restraints. I clung to him, my hands fisting his hair and holding him in place. This…this was what I needed. The connection between us, the flare of chemistry. Him.

  When I whimpered against his lips, Alder slid his tongue into my mouth and groaned. Delicious, and exactly what I wanted. My back hit the wall behind the door, his hips pinning me in place. His hard cock wedged between us. And I had nothing left, no sense of propriety or worry about what the future would bring. No feelings of not being enough or of being all wrong for him. All I had was a deep sense of relief that the man I cared so much about was still alive. That the dragon at the gates was off his leash and safely within the castle walls once more.

  My dragon at the gates.

  “What do you want, Shye?” Alder’s grumbled question as he moved his attention to my neck sent a shot of lust straight down between my legs. “I’ll give you everything, just tell me what you want. Don’t make me guess, honey.”

  My sweet, sweet dragon. “Everything. I want all of you.”

  He growled, his hands so rough as they moved to grip my ass tight. So perfect. “Then show me, honey. Take what you need from me.”

  I rocked against him, grinding myself all over the hard line of his erection as he moved with me. And when his lips traveled down to my neck, when he bit and kissed and licked a trail to my shoulder, I chanted his name. He liked that for sure. His movements growing rougher with every syllable uttered, more intentional. He rolled his hips into mine in a way that showed exactly how strong and graceful his body could be, the soft growl he made on every thrust ratcheting the growing pressure inside of me higher until we were nothing but need and desire and friction. I doubted his towel remained around his hips, somehow knew that he stood naked as he pressed against me. And I didn’t give a single fuck. I wanted him naked. Wanted him inside me, too.

  “Jesus, honey. You’re just so small.” He gripped my ass harder, pulling me up a little, making me yelp as his cock rubbed right against my clit. “That’s the spot, yeah, sweet girl? That’s the one that feels good? Gonna make you come like this. Right here against the wall since my fucking bed seems too far away. Do you want that? Want me to make your pussy mine right here?”

  I nodded into his shoulder, clinging and moving in time with him. There was no break, no pause, no holding back—if it weren’t for my yoga pants and panties, we’d be fucking right there against the wall of his
entryway. And I would have been thrilled. In fact, I’d never cursed my clothing more in my life.

  “So small, so small,” Alder chanted, lifting me as if I weighed nothing. “I bet your pussy’s small too. Bet I’m going to have to go real slow when I finally get inside you. You’re going to squeeze my cock half to death, aren’t you, honey?”

  I couldn’t think enough to answer. Every brush of his body against mine sent shock waves through me, every push making me gasp his name as I chased that feeling. The one that would take me right over the top. So close, so close. A little more…just a little—

  “I’m going to have you riding me in no time, little one. I’ll lick you until you’re so soft and wet and ready, then I’ll stuff you full of my cock. I’ll train your tight little cunt to take every inch of me.”

  That did it. Alder’s dirty mouth pushed me right over the edge, my orgasm ripping through me. My head hit the wall as I yelped his name, my body bowing as he pushed me through my pleasure, as he growled and stiffened against me. As he came, soaking right through my clothes and leaving me shaking in his arms.

  “Jesus fuck, honey,” he said, a little breathless, a little handsy still as well. “That was a real nice greeting. I’d take that over dinner on the table any day of the fucking week.”

  I chuckled, holding him tighter. Unable to stop touching. “I’m sorry I attacked you. I was just so worried.”

  “I’m not even close to sorry. If you want to greet me that way every day, I’ll die a happy man.” He pulled back, placing a gentle kiss on my lips. “C’mon. Let’s go to bed.”

  But reality slammed back into me, and I froze. I couldn’t sleep with him, couldn’t let him see me naked. See the scars and the proof of who owned me.

  But Alder was nothing if not perceptive. He laughed, squeezing me once before setting me on my feet. “To sleep, honey. That was all a little too real for me, and I want to make sure you’re safe. If you don’t sleep in my bed, I’ll end up awake half the night worrying about you.”

  He grabbed his gun and towel off the floor—yep, definitely naked—set the alarm, and tugged me toward his room, not giving me time to argue. I wasn’t even sure if I would have anyway. Sleeping in the same bed with Alder was a dream. One that was apparently about to come true.

  Alder dragged me into his room, letting me go only once he’d closed and locked the door behind us. He tucked the gun back in his nightstand before heading to his dresser to don a pair of boxer briefs, the fabric stretching over his half-hard cock. Which served as a reminder of my own state of dress.

  “I need to change.” I tugged at the waistband of my pants when he turned my way. “I’m all…wet.”

  His smoky grin nearly made me want to climb him again. “Wet…with my come and yours.”

  Damn that filthy mouth. “Yeah.”

  “Gotta admit, I like the thought of that.” He grabbed a white shirt and stalked my way, dropping to his knees and pulling my pants just over my hips before leaning forward to place a kiss on my hip bone. “Can I strip you down, honey?”

  My step backward was more instinct than anything, my thoughts going straight to the scars on my back at his words.

  “Never mind.” He kissed my hip again, those eyes giving nothing away, then rose to his feet. “I don’t mean to push so hard, Shye. Use my bathroom to change, and then we’ll go to bed.”

  Such a good man, and one I had somehow been blessed to cross paths with. It was going to hurt like hell when he finally turned his back on me.

  Happy, excited, and dreading the next few days all at the same time, I scurried into the en suite, closing the door behind me and taking a deep breath. The man drove me mad in the best way, but I couldn’t want more than what we had. Shouldn’t. I wouldn’t get the prince—or the dragon—in the end. I could only hope to borrow him for a bit.

  And prepare for the agony of letting him go.

  Once I’d stripped and tugged his shirt over my head—sans panties, though the hem ended at my knees so I figured I was covered enough—I opened the door and shut off the light. The sight before me froze me in my tracks.

  Alder sat in his bed, the blankets pulled up around his waist, and his deep stare on me. He’d turned off the overhead light, using the small lamp on his nightstand to make the room glow in a soft, golden hue. The shadows across his bare chest accentuated his deep muscles, made the hair scattered across the width of him and following the midline down, down, down past his belly button all the more visible. I nearly whimpered at the sight of him. And then he held out his hand, and he smiled. At me.

  “C’mon, honey.”

  No thought, no decision, no hesitation. I headed straight for him, climbing onto his big bed and slipping under the covers as he held them up for me. He reached to turn off the light, then slid down deeper. Holding me tight. Making me feel so damn small and delicate, fragile almost. And protected.

  “Sleep, honey. I’ll keep you safe.”

  And for just a moment, wrapped in his arms with his big body covering mine, his scent completely surrounding me as I closed my eyes against the dark, I almost believed he could.

  Chapter Ten

  Alder

  I’d never really been all that chipper in the morning, but that was before spending an entire night with Shye in my arms. My girl had slept peacefully against my chest, her hands pillowed on my stomach. I hadn’t slept—too wound up to rest, too hard to even try after the little bump and grind session in the hallway. Still the best night of my life, at least so far. I hoped for even better…for more. I hoped like hell for that. But Shye hadn’t been ready last night, so I’d held back. Given without taking much for myself. I had long-term plans for her—I could be patient if I had to be. Special Forces had taught me to take my time when planning a mission, and I’d use every skill I had to make sure she stayed mine.

  I was in the middle of making breakfast when I heard Shye’s soft footsteps on the stairs. The rhythm sounded off, though—too tentative. Too slow. Cautious in a way that screamed she felt uncomfortable for some reason. I couldn’t have that.

  “Get down here and give me a good morning kiss, honey.” I turned, thinking a smile would push her along, but the sight on the stairs stole my smile and my ability to move. Shye stood there in a beam of sunshine, wearing nothing but my white cotton T-shirt. The light seemed to set her hair on fire, soft pinks and oranges burning through the blond strands. My shirt swallowed her all the way down to her knees—there was no denying that garment belonged to a man in her life. The only man in her life. Me.

  Mine.

  I choked back the possessive need rising within me, but Shye must have caught it. Or noticed something else that made her nervous. She cocked her head, still standing way too far away from me. Still hiding on the stairs.

  “What?” she asked, not moving an inch. “Why are you staring at me like that?”

  Like a man in love? Like a man about to grab his woman and secret her away to his bed for a few days? Like a man whose dick pounded in his pants at the very idea of finding its home in the heaven between her legs? Like a man who’d throw every bit of food he’d made into the trash and instead feast on her pretty pussy?

  She’d run away if I told her any of that, though. “Because you’re beautiful, and because I like seeing you in my clothes. Now, come eat. I’ll even let you keep your lips to yourself.”

  Shye didn’t move—looking so fucking adorable as she bit her plump bottom lip—so I turned back to the stove to give her a second to collect herself. Some days, she really lived up to that name of hers. But as I plated the bacon, she slipped in beside me at the counter. At the touch of her hand on my arm, I jerked and looked down at her, seeing the tension in the stiff set of her shoulders. That just wouldn’t do.

  “What’s wrong, honey?”

  She shook her head before rising onto the balls of her feet and kissing the one place she could reach—my collarbone. The touch of her lips against my bare skin had the animal inside of me ragi
ng to take her, to make her ours. But I was a patient man. I’d waited three long years for her. I could wait out her shyness too.

  Still, I took my opportunity. I leaned down before she could slip away, dropping a gentle kiss to her lips. Nothing too deep—closed mouth, soft and sweet. Just what she needed, apparently.

  Shye smiled when we finally broke apart. “Good morning.”

  “Did you sleep okay?”

  “Like a baby.” She headed for the cabinet and began pulling plates and glasses down for us. “Thank you for letting me stay with you. I don’t think I would have slept a wink alone.”

  Letting her—as if I’d given her a choice. “You’re welcome, honey. You can stay in my bed whenever you want. I liked having you there.”

  Her cheeks darkened, her head dropping to stare at the counter, but I saw the smile tugging at her pretty lips. My shy girl.

  “Why don’t you grab yourself some coffee?” I suggested as I pulled the sausages from the pan. “Breakfast is ready, and I’d like to enjoy it with you before I head into work.”

  And I needed to get food on the table before I lifted her onto the counter and ate her instead.

  * * *

  Not thinking about Shye when I was supposed to be working had become difficult, though it definitely got easier that morning. Even if only for a moment.

  “The masks are here.” Finn hurried up the stairs to my office, followed by Deacon, who carried a cardboard box.

  “You got the right kind?” I stood and headed over, my interest in the gear Deacon had found piqued. I couldn’t help it—someone brought new hardware in, and I became a kid on Christmas just waiting to play with the new toys.

  Something I doubted I’d get to do.

  “You trusted me to figure out what we needed to burn down a meth lab. I figured out what we needed to burn down a meth lab. You going to question me now?” Deacon raised an eyebrow and stood back, letting Finn and me dig through the boxful of full-face respirators.