Macey
DALLAS ARRIVED TO pick me up five minutes before my shift ended. We walked outside to find Jaxon waiting for us, so I handed him my keys, so he could drive my car home and then climbed into an unmarked, unfamiliar SUV.
“I take it this is an official vehicle,” I said once I was buckled in.
“It is,” he confirmed, and buckled up. “It’s also untraceable and without bugs.”
“I didn’t even think of that,” I admitted. “Where are we going?”
Dallas pulled out of his parking space and headed south. “Newport.”
“What’s in Newport?”
“Jaxon’s parents have a little beach house that’s under his mother’s maiden name. They’re not there right now, so Jaxon organized it so we could be.”
“How could they afford a “little beach house” with six kids?” I wondered aloud.
Dallas chuckled.
“What?”
“You’re just funny,” he said.
“Why am I funny?”
“I shouldn’t say funny, I guess. You’re always so surprised when something is outside of your grasp. Jaxon’s parents aren’t rich, obviously, but it’s not like they’re destitute. His dad’s a dentist, his mom’s a teacher, so they make a decent living. The house has been in his mom’s family for a long time. I guess they’ve been using it as a vacation getaway forever, which means, next to no cost to stay and it’s close enough they can drive.”
“Sounds pretty rich to me,” I said.
“Does it?”
“Yes!” I exclaimed. “My dad was a school custodian, Dallas. He didn’t make much. Mom didn’t work, so yeah, we never had any money. Even when I moved in with my grandparents, things were tight. I was really grateful for the small life insurance my parents left, because it covered college, but not all of it. Not by a long shot. So, I guess it’s outside of my grasp because I have no concept what it would be like not to worry about money.”
He linked his fingers with mine. “You just seem to forget there’s somewhere in between. But you’ll figure it out babe.”
“I will?”
“Yep. Because you will never worry about money again.” He smiled. “We might not have the gobs of disposable income my parents have, but we’ll have enough so you don’t worry.”
I grinned. “This is why I love you.”
“No, you love me because I give you multiple orgasms.”
“Yeah, that too.”
He laughed and focused back on the road. I found myself drifting in and out of sleep as we drove the hour and a half to Newport.
The jolt of the car going over a bump woke me, and I blinked my eyes open and stared out the window. “Oh, this is cute.”
The house was really more of a box with a little windowed conservatory acting as a porch on the front. It was painted a Cape Cod blue with white accents and dark blue shutters, and overflowing flower boxes hung below the front windows.
Dallas hit a button on his visor and drove the SUV into the attached garage at the side of the house, before climbing out and opening my door.
The sea air wafting in made me smile. “Best smell ever,” I said.
“Yeah, it’s pretty awesome,” he agreed. “Let’s go inside and then I’ll get our stuff.”
I nodded and climbed from the car, following him to the porch. He unlocked and opened the door, and then stood back for me to precede him inside.
I stepped into a typical beach house I’d seen pictured in home magazines. Light blue walls, shells and beachy accessories everywhere, sofas covered in white canvas, obviously for easy removal and cleaning. A lit, wood-burning fireplace in the center of the room crackled its welcome as it warmed up the space. Hardwood floors throughout, except the kitchen, bathrooms, and mudroom, which all had tile.
To say the home was adorable was really an understatement. “I think I’m in love,” I said.
“I’m with you.” Dallas smiled. “Come check out the deck.”
I dropped my purse on one of the sofas and followed him through the living room. I passed a door on the right that led to the kitchen, and out French doors to the back deck, gasping as I took in the view. The deck had stairs that led to a small patch of grass overlooking the sea. Directly in front of that was sand. The sun was beginning to set over the Pacific Ocean and I marveled at how close we were to the water. “Oceanfront property is literal in this case.”
“Yeah. We’ll head down there tomorrow if you like.”
“Um, hells yes.”
Dallas chuckled. “You explore, and I’ll grab our stuff.”
“I can help.”
He leaned down and kissed me. “It’s not much, baby. You go pick where we’re going to sleep, and I’ll take care of everything.”
I clapped my hands and nodded. “Twist my arm.”
We left the doors open to let in the breeze and I grabbed my purse and walked the house. It was surprisingly bigger than it seemed from the outside with three small bedrooms, each with either two twin beds or bunks, a hall bathroom, and a master suite, big enough to fit a king-sized bed, with its own en-suite. A double sink ran along one wall with a toilet and stone surround shower with dual shower heads.
I set my purse on the bed and slipped my shoes off, heading back to the kitchen to see what I could get going for dinner. It appeared as though Dallas had brought our food in first, so I went about putting everything away.
* * *
Dallas
I set our bags in the master bedroom and peeked in the other rooms, looking for Macey. “Babe?” I called.
“Kitchen,” she called back.
I closed and locked the French doors before heading into the kitchen. I walked in and ran a hand through my hair in an attempt to fix it. The wind had picked up, dropping the temperature and driving home the fact I’d need a haircut sooner than later. Macey licked her lips as I approached, and I couldn’t help but smile.
“Beer?” she asked, holding a bottle up.
I grinned, leaning down to kiss her as I took the beer from her hand. “You read my mind.”
Macey grinned. “Well, refrain from reading mine right now… it is filthy.”
“How filthy?” I set the beer on the counter and lifted her up next to it. She settled her hands on my shoulders and scooted forward so she could wrap her legs around my waist.
“Pretty filthy,” she admitted.
“How about we order a pizza instead of cooking? I’ll fuck you while we wait.”
Macey laughed. “I hear a new slogan in there somewhere.”
“Your pizza’s baking… we’ll fuck you while you wait?”
“No.”
“Your pizza will arrive in thirty minutes or less… in the meantime, let us deliver you a hot salami?”
“Ew, okay, no, maybe not.” She wrinkled her nose and giggled. “I thought we couldn’t let anyone know we’re here.”
“Jax can pick up the pizza, babe.”
“Oh, right.”
I slid my hands under her top, cupping her breasts as I kissed her neck.
“Let’s forget the pizza for now,” she said, her breath coming in pants as I pulled her bra down and rolled a nipple between my fingers.
I slid her off the counter, keeping her firmly in my arms as I carried her back to the master bedroom. “I’m gonna let you go, baby.”
She nodded and fell onto the mattress. I stretched out beside her and slipped my hand into her hair, pulling her head toward me to kiss her.
Out of nowhere, Macey pushed at me with a whimper. I leaned back and frowned. “Babe?”
Macey sat up. “I can’t.”
“Okay.” I reached for her, but she rose from the bed and wrapped her arms around herself. “Hey. Mace. It’s okay.”
She shook her head.
I rose slowly from the mattress, keeping my distance. “Hey. Mace, seriously, it’s okay. Do you want to talk?”
She shook her head again. “I need a minute.”
I stared at her, my heart twisting at the fear written on her face.
“Alone,” she whispered.
I frowned. “I don’t feel comfortable leaving you alone right now.”
Macey blinked back tears. “Please, Dallas.”
I dragged my hands down my face. “Okay honey. I’ll give you some space.”
I walked out of the room and back to the kitchen where I texted Jaxon to pick up dinner. I wouldn’t always have this option, so I took advantage of it while I could.
I gave Macey fifteen minutes before I couldn’t stand the worry anymore and walked back to the bedroom. I found her curled up in the far corner, her arms around her legs and her head bowed to her knees. “Macey?”
She didn’t answer, so I stepped further into the room. “Babe?”
Still no answer so I hunkered down beside her and touched her arm. She let out a blood curdling scream and kicked out at me, her foot landing in my ribs. I adjusted, despite the pain and moved out of harm’s way. Macey stood, her back to the wall, her eyes unfocused and frantic, as though looking for a way out.
I stayed between her and the door. “Mace?”
I was most concerned about her breathing. It was coming in short bursts and I was afraid she’d hyperventilate.
“Baby, I need you to listen to me.”
Her head followed my voice, but she still didn’t focus on me.
“Macey, honey. Listen to my voice. You’re safe. I’m here.”
She stared at me for several seconds before blinking and bursting into tears. “Dallas?”
I didn’t hesitate to pull her into my arms. “I’m here, baby.”
Macey sobbed into my chest and, despite the pain to my middle as she wrapped her arms around me, I stroked her hair and whispered to her, “It’s okay, sweetheart. You’re safe.”
She squeezed harder and I couldn’t stop my breath from escaping through my teeth.
“You okay?” she asked, frowning up at me.
“Yeah, baby. You just got me in the ribs.”
“Got you?”
I stroked her cheeks, thumbing away the tears. “You kicked me.”
She gasped and stepped away from me. “What? I did? Let me see.” She lifted my shirt and shook her head. “Dallas, I’m so sorry.”
I shifted to look in the mirror and saw the redness of where she’d kicked me. It would more than likely be a healthy bruise by the morning.
Macey pressed gently on my side and grimaced. “Nothing feels broken, but I can bind you if you like. It might help.”
“Nah. It’s all good.”
“I’ll get you some ice.”
“Honey, I’m okay,” I insisted, but she rushed out of the room.
I followed her, a little more carefully, into the kitchen where she was dropping ice into a zippy. “I can’t believe I did that,” she muttered. “I’m so sorry.”
“Babe, it’s okay. You were frightened.” I raised an eyebrow. “Do you know what triggered it?”
She blinked back tears. “Shadows.”
“Shadows?”
“The way the shadows covered you, it made you look like… him.” She sniffled. “I’m such an idiot.”
I laid a hand over hers as she slammed the bag of ice onto the counter. “Look at me.”
She shook her head.
“Macey. Look at me,” I repeated. When she did, I smiled. “There are going to be triggers and I’m aware that I might be part of the reason you’re dealing with one right now.”
“No, you didn’t do—”
“Babe. I’m not saying I did anything wrong. Obviously, I can only control shadows so much.”
She gave a little smile.
“What I’m saying is that I am the reason your emotions have shifted. You’ve been able to shut yourself off before, but your feelings for me are making you vulnerable, so don’t minimize this, okay? We’ll work through it together, but don’t feel guilty if you lash out.”
She wrinkled her nose. “How do you know what I’m going to say before I say it?”
“Because I know you, Mace.”
She bit her lip and did a faceplant, albeit a gentle one, into my chest. “Sometimes I hate you so much because I love you too much.”
I chuckled and gave her neck a gentle squeeze. “I’m lucky that way.”
She grabbed a towel to wrap the ice in. Lifting my shirt, she gently placed it on the red mark, grimacing up at me when my body locked. “Sorry, honey.”
“This is proof those classes worked. We’ll be noting this incident on the survey.”
She giggled. “You’re ridiculous.”
The doorbell pealed, and Macey jumped a little. I kissed her forehead. “It’s Jax with our pizza.”
“Oh,” she whispered.
“Why don’t you get plates? I’ll grab the door.”
I pressed the ice to my side and made my way to the front door. I pulled out my burner and saw a text from Jaxon indicating he was walking up the driveway. Still, I peeked out a side window before pulling open the door.
“Hey,” I said.
Jaxon gave me a chin lift in greeting handing over the pizza. “Macey okay?”
“She will be.”
Jaxon nodded. “I’m around the corner.”
“Thanks, brother,” I said, and closed and locked the door. I carried the pizza into the kitchen and set it on the counter. Macey gave me a tight little smile and I sighed. “Babe, it’s okay.”
“I can’t believe I hurt you.”
I opened the box and dragged out a slice of combination, setting it on a plate and handing it to her. “I’ll live.”
“You got combination?” she asked.
“Half.”
“I can’t eat half a pizza, Dal.”
I snorted as I grabbed two pieces of pepperoni. “Have you not met you?”
Macey giggled. “Okay, I shouldn’t eat half a pizza.”
“Live a little, baby.”
“You really want a fat girlfriend?”
“Nope,” I said between bites. “But my woman could stand to gain a few pounds.”
“You’re ridiculous.” She shook her head, but I didn’t miss her grin.
“Love you, babe.”
“Love you, too,” she said, and then bit into her pizza.
* * *
I knew Macey’s panic attack had made her a little more skittish than normal, so for the rest of the night, I gave her space to be distant. I noticed that although she wasn’t close enough to touch me, she didn’t seem to want me to leave her side, following me back to the bedroom when I wanted to change into PJs.
She also changed, but she stepped into the bathroom to do it. I didn’t try to stop her, and I didn’t leave the bedroom. Instead, I pretended to look for something in my bag, so she wouldn’t guess I was stalling for her.
Macey walked into the bedroom, her jeans and T-shirt folded in her hands, wearing a pair of Hello Kitty pajama bottoms and a pink camisole. I focused on my breathing so I could zip up my bag and keep myself from rushing her. I was already hard, and I didn’t want to freak her out.
“Can we watch a movie?” she asked.
“Of course,” I said. “The Notebook?”
“You don’t know me.”
“Hmm-mm… sure I don’t.” I smiled and set my bag back in the corner. “I’m gonna sleep down the hall tonight.”
“Okay,” she whispered. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” I smiled. “Love you.”
She licked her lips. “Love you, too.”
“I’ll pop the corn, you grab blankets, okay?”
Macey nodded and left the room. I followed, finding the box of popcorn we’d purchased in the cupboard.
I was far too focused on Macey to enjoy the movie. Particularly because she sat on the opposite end of the sofa from me and didn’t reach out. It was unlike her. She loved my touch. Liked to be close to me.
As the credits rolled, I took our dishes to the kitchen and then joined her back in the living room. I closed the distance between us. “I’m not gonna kiss you, babe, but know it’s killing me.”
“Thank you.”
I walked her to the master bedroom and smiled. “Don’t lock your door, okay? I’ll leave mine open a bit, so I can hear you if you need me. Remember. You’re safe. I’m armed and Jaxon’s just around the corner.”
She nodded, and I left her, heading to the room next door.
Bunk beds. Great.
I settled myself on the bottom bunk, laying my holstered gun on the nightstand. Dragging my hands down my face, I thought about what I could have done differently so that Macey hadn’t freaked out earlier. Since I didn’t actually know what the trigger was, I supposed it was a futile attempt at understanding.
Grabbing my burner, I did a quick check-in with Jaxon, no issues, which didn’t surprise me. No one but Jaxon, Matt, and Brock knew where we were, and it would stay that way. Staying off radio meant law enforcement, aka Bruce Daniels, also wouldn’t know.
I closed my eyes, knowing that sleep would be virtually impossible, but giving it a try anyway. If I couldn’t relax in a few, I’d grab a beer and watch a game or something until I was tired.
“Dallas?” Macey whispered from the doorway. “Are you awake?”
“Yeah.” I sat up, ducking just in time to miss a collision with the top bunk. “You okay?”
Her body was silhouetted, so I couldn’t see her face. “I can’t sleep.”
“Really? You couldn’t keep your eyes open the last half hour of the movie.” I slid out from under the bunk bed and closed the distance between us.
“I know. But I don’t think I can sleep without you.” She shifted from one foot to the other. “Will you sleep with me?”
“Are you sure?”
She nodded.
“I’m at your service, baby.”
Macey chuckled. “Maybe when this is all done, you could buy me one of those pillows with the arm to hold me.”
“I take my job seriously, Macey.” I grinned. “I will not be farming it out to a pillow.”
“I think you deserve a raise.”
“I think you’re right.” I grabbed my gun and cell phone and followed her back to the master. Macey crawled into bed and I switched off the light and joined her.
She surprised me by tugging me onto my back, so she could settle herself over my chest. “That’s better,” she whispered.
I kissed her temple. “Yes, it is.”
“Thank you.”
“Sleep, baby. I’ve got you.”
She did.