Page 3 of Safe Haven

I highly doubt Audrey would let someone in to install cameras, so anyone wanting that sort of access would have to do it without her knowledge. The last thing I want is to find my own alternative way in only to be discovered by a fucking hidden camera.

When I’m as satisfied as I can be that no one’s breached any of the access points, I send Isaac a quick text. After letting him know I’m about to make entry, and to send someone after me if he doesn’t hear from me in the next fifteen minutes, I make sure my bag is well hidden and start working my way to the windowI believe is my best option. It’s out of sight from the car parked in front, and the room behind it is dark. Unfortunately, there’s no way to accomplish this without scaring the shit out of Audrey. It’s going to happen, but I’m hoping to control her reaction. If I drop right into a room she’s occupying, there won’t be any time to smother the sound if she screams.

And having her scream loud enough to wake the entire neighborhood would defeat the purpose of everything I’ve just done.

I reach the window I’m aiming for and pull myself high enough I can peek over the sill. The blinds are closed, but there’s a slight gap at one side where I can see what I think is a bed.

I pull the narrow tool we used to bypass window locks free of my belt and slide it between the panes. Again, Audrey’s choice of locations works in my favor—the windows are nearly as old as the house, and their advanced age makes them much simpler to open than newer models. I get it unlatched and pause. Listening for any sign the slight sound drew her attention. I’d love to double check through one of the other windows—ascertain exactly where she is—but I’m not completely confident I wouldn’t be seen, so I ease up the sash, doing my best to raise it along the decrepit casing as silently as possible.

Which is not very fucking silent.

It makes a quiet squeaking sound and I freeze, holding my breath as I wait to see if Audrey heard. When there’s still no sign of her discovering me, I inch it up, managing to get a big enough gap I can slide through. After another pause to listen for any sounds coming from inside, I heft myself up and over the edge, quietly somersaulting through the opening and into the room.It’s a move I’ve executed dozens of times before. And dozens of times before I’ve accomplished it without problem.

This time... Not so much.

As I roll up to my feet and start to straighten, the tell-tale whistle of air as something heavy and blunt swings my direction cuts through the silence. I automatically reach for it, managing to catch the end of the bat before it can connect with my skull.

But, while I avoid the immediate impact, the momentum of the hit still jerks my arm and manages to send me falling backward. Making sure I’m not the only one going down—and the only one at a disadvantage—I grab the wrist of my assailant, locking us together and pulling them down with me.

We both grunt at the impact, but mine is immediately followed by a sigh of relief.

Because the body on top of mine is soft and the voice in my ear is sweet. Even if the words it’s saying aren’t.

“Let me go.” Audrey starts to fight me, not realizing who I am. “If you’re here to kill me, you better be prepared to earn it you piece of shi?—”

I barely manage to get a hand over her mouth, sealing off the increasing volume of her threat. The window I came through is still open, and it’s not outside the realm of possibility someone could hear what’s happening.

But quieting Audrey down doesn’t help any. It only makes her fight me harder, and I take an elbow to the gut before I finally manage to get both arms pinned at her sides.

“Audrey.” Her name comes out ragged since I’m wheezing from the blow she got in. “Relax. I’m not here to hurt you.”

I must not be very convincing, because she continues struggling, wiggling around against me in a not entirely unappealing way.

It’s been a long fucking time since I’ve gotten laid, and between the excitement of being back on the job and the excitement of her generously curved ass grinding against my dick, my body decides now is the perfect time to send a hefty sum of blood racing south.

The change doesn’t go unnoticed.

Audrey stiffens, her breath coming in sharp pants against my skin where my hand is pressed under her nose.

Fuck. I have to let her go. I don’t have a choice.

“Don’t scream.” Bracing for whatever’s coming my way, I release her, immediately guarding my dick and nuts with one hand as she scrambles off of me.

I stay on the ground, hoping it will keep her calmer as she rushes across the dark room.

At least she doesn’t go straight for the bat. That’s gotta count for something.

“Audrey, stop.” I know she needs to put some space between us, but I can’t have her running out the front door. “I need you to?—”

The overhead light flips on, the sudden brightness making me squint.

“Holy shit.” Audrey stands at the closed door, her blue eyes open wide as they move over me. “Maddox.”

The breathy way she says my name doesn’t help the issue I’ve got going on in my pants, but I’m a little relieved she remembers me. “Yeah,” I grunt as I push to my feet, turning to close the windowand fix the blinds I fucked up on my less than stellar arrival. When I face her again, she’s still staring. Like she can’t believe I’m here.

“Why in the hell did you come in through the window?” Her eyes drop to my dick before snapping back to my face. “I almost kicked you in the balls.”

TWO

---