As we drove home, I heard my phone beeping. The restricted number appeared on the screen. Connor looked over at me and could tell by the look on my face that something was wrong.
“What does it say?” he asked.
As I read the message, I instantly felt sick to my stomach.
“I masturbate to your picture, and you make me come so fast. I hope that turns you on. I dream about seeing your naked body and pressing it up against mine. I dream about being inside of you.”
When I didn’t say anything, Connor grabbed the phone from my hand just as we pulled into the garage of the penthouse. The anger that washed over his face was horrifying. I watched him take in a sharp breath and clench his fist.
“Connor, calm down, right now,” I demanded.
“How do you expect me to calm down when some guy says he masturbates to my wife’s picture and dreams about being inside you,” he yelled as he slammed his fists on the steering wheel. “I can’t just sit back and watch this. I need to do something.”
I couldn’t stand seeing him so angry. When we got out of the Ranger Rover, I stopped him before we reached the elevator, and I wrapped my arms around him.
“Please, Connor. Detective James is going to find this son of a bitch. Please stop being so angry. I know you’re scared and so am I, but I don’t need you going all crazy on me.”
He held me tightly; so tightly, I could barely breathe. “I’m sorry, Ellery.”
We broke our embrace and went up to the penthouse.
“I hope you two didn’t eat lunch. I made the most scrumptious salad for you,” Mason said as he emerged from the kitchen.
I smiled as we sat down at the table and he served us.
“Is Julia taking a nap?” Connor asked.
“Yes. The princess is down for her nap,” he replied as he sat down next to me.
My phone beeped, alerting me I had a text message. Connor’s eyes glared at me as I read it. “Relax, it’s from Peyton. She wants to drop by.”
Connor let out a sigh of relief as I secretly did as well. I wanted nothing more than to get my number changed. Suddenly, Connor’s phone started ringing from his pocket. He pulled it out and said it was Detective James. After a brief conversation, he hung up and looked at me.
“They were able to trace the text messages to a cell phone out of Chicago.”
“He must’ve been there that night at the gallery,” I said.
As we talked, Peyton came walking into the kitchen. We all stopped and looked at her.
“Hi. What’s going on?” she asked.
Connor and Mason both said hello to her, and I told her to have a seat. Mason got up, took a plate from the cupboard, and served Peyton some salad.
“Those text messages weren’t from Connor. Someone is stalking me,” I said.
“Stop it. That’s not even funny.”
“She’s not joking, Peyton. This is serious,” Connor said.
Peyton looked at me and then reached over and hugged me. “I can’t believe this. Do you know who it is?”
“Not yet. But we just found out that the texts were coming from a cell phone in Chicago.”
“Could it be someone from the gallery opening? Wait!” Peyton exclaimed as she took out her phone. “I remember this really weird guy there. I was on my way back from the bathroom and I saw this guy, standing in the corner,” she said as she showed Connor and me her phone. “He was taking pictures with his phone. It caught my attention because he had one hand on his crotch, like he was playing with himself. I thought it was funny, so I took his picture. I was going to show you, but Henry distracted me and I forgot.”
“Who or what was he taking pictures of?” Connor asked.
“I’m not sure, but I do remember looking over to where he was pointing his phone and Ellery was over there.”
Connor got up from his seat, walked over to Peyton, and wrapped his arms tightly around her as he kissed her on the cheek. “Do you know how much I love you?”
“Umm...sure,” she said as she looked at me.
“Send that picture to my phone, please.”
“I will, as soon as you stop smothering me,” Peyton said.
“Sorry, Peyton.” Connor smiled as he looked at me. “I’m going to call Detective James and then I’m flying to Chicago. I want to see those tapes from that night. I’m calling my pilot now to get the plane ready.”
“I’m coming with you!” I exclaimed.
“That’s fine. Mason, can you stay here tonight and watch Julia?”
“Of course I can. You two go and don’t worry about a thing.” He smiled.
***
Connor and I packed a light bag and stopped by the hospital to see Denny before heading to the airport. We told him what was going on and where we were going. He smiled at us and told us to be careful. Seeing him awake and looking well took one weight off of our shoulders.
We boarded the plane, and I took my seat while Connor poured me a glass of wine and himself a scotch. When we finally took off, we unbuckled our seat belts and sat on the couch. I drank some wine, handed the glass to Connor, and laid my head down on his lap. As I stared up at him, he started playing with my hair.
“You tossed and turned all night,” he said.
“I know, and I’m sorry if I kept you up.”
He leaned down and brought his mouth to mine, kissing me tenderly on the lips. “I won’t give up until this asshole is found. No one is allowed to dream of you but me.”
I brought my hand up to his face and softly stroked his cheek. “I love you.”
“I love you more, Mrs. Black.” Connor smiled down at me. He looked at his watch and then back at me. “We have an hour until we land in Chicago. I’m thinking about taking you into the bedroom and making love to you.”
“Is that so?”
“Mhmm,” Connor said as he ran his finger over my lips.
“Then what are you waiting for? Take me. I’m all yours.”
“You’re mine. Mine forever, and nobody will ever take you from me.”
“Never,” I whispered as I kissed him on the lips.
***
As I walked around the art gallery, Connor talked to Vinnie. He told Connor that the guy in the picture was the lighting man, and he was taking pictures of the way the lighting was set up so he could show a prospective client.
“I can call him in if you want to speak to him,” Vinnie said.
“That doesn’t explain why the man was holding his crotch like that. Who does that in a public place?” Connor asked.
“He has testicular cancer, and I know he’s frequently in pain. So that’s probably why he was doing that. Why are you asking about him anyway?”
“Someone’s been sending text messages and flowers to my wife. The texts are sex related and when I saw this picture, I automatically assumed it was him.”
“Couldn’t be him,” Vinnie said. “Did I mention that he’s gay?”
Connor looked at me with a disappointed expression. I thought for sure it was the lighting man, and this would finally be over. A beep came from my purse, which alerted me that I had a text message. As I fumbled for it, I took out my phone and there was a text from him.
“I stare at your picture and imagine what it would be like to fuck you and hear you moan. I think about you all day, and I can’t stop. Your smile drives me insane and your mouth around my cock is what I crave and desire.”
My panicked face gave it away that the message was from him. Connor grabbed my phone and I stood there as rage took over his face and settled into his eyes. He put his arm around me and pulled me into him. “When I find out who’s doing this, I’m going to kill him.”
We thanked Vinnie and left the gallery. When we stepped outside, Connor called Detective James and told him about the latest text message and how the man from the art gallery wasn’t the guy. The text messages were starting to get more graphic, and now I was getting more frightened than before. As soon as Connor hung up the phone with Detective James, he pulled me into him.
“Let’s go get some dinner and then we’ll head back to New York.”
I nodded my head and we walked down the street to a Mexican restaurant. I really wasn’t hungry, so I only ordered the tacos. As we were eating, I kept noticing two girls sitting at the table next to us, eyeing Connor. I had sort of gotten used to the fact that my husband was the sexiest man alive and that women appreciated his looks, but I drew the line when they wouldn’t stop staring at him, even though I was sitting directly across from him.
“Those two women keep staring at you,” I whispered.
“I know. I’ve noticed.” He smiled.
“It’s irritating, and I’m going to say something if they don’t stop.”
“No, you won’t. There will be no embarrassing me tonight. Now eat your tacos!”
I glared at him from across the table as I took a bite of my taco. He glared at me as he drank his beer. The waiter came over and asked if we wanted dessert. I took the liberty of ordering two desserts.
“It’s okay, Ellery, I don’t want dessert; I’m full,” Connor said.
“You can never be too full for dessert.” I smiled.
After a few moments, the waiter set our desserts down on the table. Connor looked at me and sighed. “I’m sorry, baby, but I really don’t want this,” he said.
“Good,” I said as I grabbed his and my desserts and took them over to the women at the next table.
“I would like you to have these desserts on me and my husband. I couldn’t help but notice your incessant staring at him as we were trying to enjoy our dinner. Kudos for making asses of yourselves!”
The women looked away as I winked at them, grabbed my purse, and told Connor we were leaving. I heard him apologize as he walked past their table. I stepped outside the doors of the restaurant and Connor caught up with me. I put my hand up as I walked down the street.
“Don’t, say a word, Black. They deserved it. I don’t appreciate gawkers, especially when it’s directed at my husband.”
“Where are you walking to?” he asked.
I stopped and looked at him. “I don’t know,” I said as I threw my hands up in the air and laughed.
Connor wrapped his arms around me and hugged me tightly. “What am I going to do with you?”
“The same thing you’ve always done. Love me forever, no matter how much I embarrass you.” I smiled.