Page 92 of Taking

There would be no staying, I realized, as every room but my old one had been soiled in her memory forever.

We stood in my bedroom’s doorway. It hadn’t changed setup wise, but the few things I’d brought from California almost six years earlier had been removed.

Probably tossed in the trash at Lloyd’s bidding since I’d been put away with his help.

He’d won that skirmish, but I’d proven the conqueror. I’d ended up with the spoils, the woman we’d both wanted.

“I wish I could burn this motherfucker down for you,” I murmured, drawing her into my arms, my lips against her hair. “But it’s worth more on the market than an insurance claim.”

“I have enough money for our kids and grandkids to live comfortably—and that’s if I decide to sell off my father’s business.”

The whole I thing about the money didn’t bother me. Our connection, her desire for me, let me know where I stood in terms of our life together. We hadn’t discussed it, but we didn’t need to. Simply looking into each other’s eyes said it all.

“Ever consider California?” I smirked against her hair.

She shrugged and pulled back, smiling up at me. “I’m up for an adventure.”

“Then let’s move things along and get the fuck out of here. Start over. Clean slate,” I stated, lowering my face within inches of hers.

“Okay.” My princess brushed her mouth across mine, and same as always when I tasted her on my lips, my dick decided we would need a little more time before taking another step.

* * *

The cops showed up exactly like we’d expected.

Just to ask a couple of questions, they’d claimed.

Where was I on the night Jenny had been killed?

At a cabin deep in the woods with Addilyn Reed.

Did I know why my father would park his car out in the middle of nowhere and disappear without a trace?

I had no fucking clue—I’d been at a cabin deep in the woods with Addilyn Reed.

I held my princess’s gaze while they continued asking me things, wondering what I’d been up to since getting out of jail. Everything about the calmness on her face and the adoration in her eyes told me the truth before they even asked her to confirm my story.

She would lie for me—I fucking knew it deep in the marrow of my bones. Not one goddamn ounce of fear clenched my gut.

They’d turned to her for the one question that would determine my fate.

“Can you verify his story?”

“Yes.” No hesitation, no shame in her eyes. No hint of lying—and I prided myself in reading faces.

Yes.

Best fucking word I’d ever heard from her mouth.

But I kept my grin to myself until the cops left after offering us both a good day.

Then I showed my woman the emotion I struggled to voice, laying waste to her body, claiming every inch, and leaving her limp and sleeping, leaking my cum.

35

Addilyn

One Year Later…

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