Dean’s anger rolls off him like dice on a craps table.

“So you want to tell me what this is all about?” he asks after charging into my office. “You kidnapped her already?”

“Kidnapping is such an ugly word.” I cross to my desk and take a seat. “She was running, so we had to swoop in and take her earlier than expected.”

“I know how much you hate deviating from your plan. You think this is wise?”

“Yes,” I snarl. And with the warning tone in my voice, he doesn’t question, only scrubs a hand across his jaw, a nervous habit he employs frequently.

“I don’t like this,” he finally says after a minute or two.

“You don't have to like it.”

He turns away from me to glance out the window overlooking the vast property.

“Listen, I’ve never questioned you. I’ve always had your back.” He turns around. “But, you’re playing with fire, and I don’t want either of us getting burned.”

“I have everything under control.”

“Like you did in high school?”

My eyes narrow on him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“That girl has owned you since day one, Xavier.”

“That’s not true.” Or at least I wished it wasn’t. But the boy she owned isn’t the man standing here anymore. I just need to remember that.

“I get it.”

“Look at this.” I toss a newspaper clipping of an interview with Ian about their impending nuptials his way, and he reads over the article.

“We’re so happy to finally be getting married. We’ve been best friends since high

school, and I knew the moment I met her my life would change for the better.”

“Best friends?” he scoffs. “I seem to remember it differently.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“I guess that’s what happens when you don’t get out in the sunlight. You become delusional.”

“Vampire. Maybe that’s his weakness,” I muse. “I’ll throw the sun up his ass and test it,” Dean smiles. “And now they’re pretending Rhiannon isn’t even missing.”

“What do you mean?”

“Proxy stand-in. Marry your daughter off without her consent.” I shake my head. “Wedding’s in a few weeks.”

“Unbelievable.” He laughs. “Actually considering who we’re dealing with, it’s not.”

I fill Dean in on the details of my plan, weighing every option and the role Rhiannon will play.

“Have you talked to Marshall?” Dean asks.

“Not in a few weeks, but he’s staying updated.” We’re leaving for LA in a few days, so I need you to make sure the house is sound.”

He nods. “I’ll get started first thing in the morning. I'm going to crash. I'm exhausted.”

After he's gone, I spend the next few hours tying up loose ends and ensuring everything is ready for our arrival. Then I lie to myself that I need to check on her. It’s becoming a nightly ritual, watching her sleep. I just can’t seem to stop. It's as if she's deliberately tempting me. Her soft breathing, the way her red hair falls across her silky skin. Even the way the damn moon caresses her soft curves in a shimmery light. It makes her look edible enough to eat.

I’ve been with plenty of beautiful women over the years. Yet, none as perfect as her. It's never been about looks with Rhiannon, because I know her inside and out, but fuck if she doesn't get my dick hard.

With that thought, I decide not to visit her room tonight and head toward my suite instead.

In bed, I have my laptop with the footage from the last twenty-four hours of surveillance on the house.

All the footage of Rhiannon plays for me, and my eyes devour her.

The more my mind tries to erase the thoughts of her, my body writes it's very own sex scene.

My dick hardens as I watch the screen of Rhiannon down by the lake. Her sexy walk and the way her hips sway from side to side. The wind playing in her hair as the sun’s rays bounce off the sweet smelling strands. I can almost smell her scent drifting from the laptop.

Fuck, what is she doing to me? Even at the ripe old age of fifteen my body was attracted to her. I thought about her all the time growing up. Mainly, late at night in my room alone. While most boys my age were thumbing through dirty magazines, I was thinking about her.

I pull myself out of my track pants and stroke my cock to video footage of her sweet body on display for me.

My eyes roll back as a low groan escapes my lips. Fuck, I want to touch her. What would she do if I did? Would she enjoy it? Would she resist me? Would she beg for more?

My mind spins until I'm dizzy with ideas and adrenaline pumps through me. I tug harder on my massive hard-on, knowing I’ll never know what her touch will feel like. I’ll never know the depths of how far I can take her. How high she can reach with me fully seated inside her.

My heart thunders, as I pick up speed. I’m so close to coming, and the only vision in my mind is of her with her legs spread. Her inviting pussy there for the taking. And I want more than anything to take it. To come so deep inside her. To feel her hot heat clenching around me.

I push the laptop to the side of my bed as I continue pumping and fisting my hard dick. With eyes closed and teeth biting my lower lip, I get off to my favorite image of Rhi... her on her knees before me. God, how bad I want to shove my cock so far down her throat and listen to her gag as she takes me all the way in.

“Fuuuuck,” I breathe out, my abs contracting with the force of coming. Guilt settles in when my body finally calms. And then I push the thoughts of her away, because I need to stop thinking about what will never be.