I TAKE A COUPLE OF breaths before I turn and pull Livvie into my arms. “You’re so much, Livvie. Everything. That’s who you are. You’re the best big sister, a loving aunt, a caring daughter. You’re kind and giving. You’re sexy as hell and so damn sweet you make my teeth hurt. You’re passionate and independent.” I pull back and hold her face, forcing her to look at me. “You’re brave, and you’re beautiful, and you’re mine.”
“I only feel like that when I’m with you. I haven’t felt like that in so long, and I forget sometimes that I’m not alone anymore.” She blinks slowly as if letting my words register. “I’m sorry.”
I shake my head. “Don’t apologize to me. Just promise me you’ll never lie to me again.”
“I promise. I won’t, but I want you to know I only did it because I felt like I had to. I needed to show him that I’m not some fucking pushover. The real me isn’t the woman he knew, and I just… I needed to do that for myself. I know I should have told you, and I’m sorry I lied. But I do promise never to do anything like that again.”
She’s trying to make sense of it all, and it reminds me of the conversation I had with Ryan. “When I was talking to the marshal, he told me it was normal for victims or witnesses to have a hard time, and that it would take a while to adjust back to your old life. The more time you spent away from your old identity, the longer it would take to get back to the ‘old’ you. I understand that, love. I really do. But please, just talk to me. I’m not as irrational as you think I am.”
Her tongue slides out and moistens her lips. “It’s not just that. I mean, yeah, I still feel a little bit weird. It’s strange being back, and I’m trying to adjust.” She stares off at the vacant stairway. “Do you know that when I was there, I swear I would see you? I’d be shopping or working, and I would see you.”
“I didn’t even know where you were, sweetheart.”
“I know, but those times, Jay, were the only ones when I felt safe.”
I rest my forehead on hers.
“But as time went on, I would see you less and less. And then I’d try to look for you, and I couldn’t find you. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t find you.”
“Hey, hey.” I kiss her cheek then take her hand and lead her to the couch. “It’s over now. You’re safe and I’m here. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“I know. But you can’t do that if you’re in a jail cell. I was trying to protect you for once.”
I smile at her. “Sweet, baby. You’re so sweet, but it’s my job to protect you, not the other way around. Trust me to do that again for you. Trust me enough not to lie to me ever again.”
“I do. And I won’t ever lie to you again, I promise.”
“Good.” I kiss her lips, slow and soft. “Now tell me everything, including where you met him tonight.”
She narrows her eyes and tries to hide a smile. “I walked right into that.”
“You did.”
Her teeth sink into her lip, but then she sighs and tells me, well… everything. I try my best to keep calm, to focus on the words coming out of her mouth and not the picture in my mind of my fist connecting with Paxton’s face and breaking every single finger on his hand.
I absolutely hate that someone else touched her, but I had already forgotten about it because if I let myself think about it, I’d go crazy.
But now I have a different way to look at what happened. Finding out she told him to stop means something else entirely. It means my gut was right. He took advantage of her. The fuckin’ asshole played with her emotions and tried to manipulate her.
Nobody wants to think of their woman getting off from another guy, but I accepted it because it was my fault she was alone and scared in the first place. I even gave the bastard credit if he helped her too in any way. But now she’s back, and she has me. It’s my job to make sure nothing like that ever happens to her again.
“I have some phone calls to make. Wine or beer?”
“Who are you calling? And beer.”
I grab a bottle from the fridge, pop the top, and then hand it to her. “Work stuff,” I lie.
“You made me promise not to lie to you. I think I deserve the same, don’t you?”
“Yes. And I will never lie to you.”
“So, tell me who you’re calling.”
“Not telling isn’t lying, sweetie. And when it comes to keeping you safe, I won’t bend on this.”
She takes a swallow of her beer. I watch her throat work, and my craving for her, to have her lips wrapped around my cock while she swallows me down, almost holds me back from going upstairs. “Be right back.” I jog up the stairs and go to my bedroom.
I slide my phone out of my pocket and dial the only person I know who has ties to any celebrities. My old partner’s best friend has a protection firm out in California, so I’m hoping he can help me out.
“Hey, man.”
“Hi. I’ve got a favor.”
“Everything okay?” Erik asks.
Very briefly, I tell him what I’m looking for and why.
“Give me a couple of days. I’ll have my tech guy see what he can pull.”
“Appreciated.”
“Later.”
I hang up with him then go back downstairs to find Livvie curled up on the couch. When I sit down, she stretches her legs out on my thighs, and I massage her calves.
My fingers slide up her thighs and stop just before her perfectly round ass. I go back down, then up again, but this time, I brush my hand between her legs. She jerks her hips, but I push her back down.
I continue going up and down her body until I’ve reached her head. My fingers slide through her hair, and I fist the soft strands and pull her head back. She gasps but crosses her ankles and rubs her thighs together.
“Stand and take your clothes off.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
I pull my hand away while she stands and watch as she removes her shirt. The lacy purple bra looks exquisite on her. Her tight nipples peak through the fabric, begging for me to touch them. Lick ’em. Suck on them.
She shimmies out of her pants, and when I see the wet spot on her matching purple panties, I have to squeeze my hands into fists so I don’t reach out and touch her.
“Bra.”
Her hands reach behind her back, and when she drops the material to the floor, I tell her, “Turn around.”
“Why?”
“I want to see the back of your underwear.”
She turns around, and I hiss at the sight of her with nothing but a string.
“Come here.” I pat my lap, and she starts to sit. “Not like that. Lie across me.”
Her little nose wrinkles. “Why?”
“Because it’s time you get punished for lying to me.”
Her eyes become saucers, and her breathing picks up.
“You’re going to lie here.” I pat my lap again. “And I’m going to spank your tight little ass, Livvie.”
She reaches for the itty-bitty bit of fabric circling her waist.
“Leave it on.”
Her arms drop, and slowly, she walks to me and then lowers herself on the couch. She crawls over me until her ass is resting just where I want it. My fingers glide over her skin, and she rocks her hips. I gently smack her flesh with the tips of my fingers. “Stay still.”
She loves this—gets off on getting spanked—but I’ve never done it like this before. Usually, I’ve got a fist full of her hair and am taking her from behind when I take my hand to her, so this is new for both of us, but definitely one of my fantasies fulfilled.
I rub in large circles. “Tell me, baby, are you sorry you lied to me?” Smack.
She moans out the word, “Yes.”
“Are you ever going to lie to me again?” Smack.
Her head shakes, and she scissors her legs.
My palm flattens, and I soothe the reddened area. “Open your legs and be still, Livvie.”
“I can’t,” she whines and rubs her hot pussy on my thigh. “Please, Jay.”
“My pretty angel. You need to come?” Smack.
“God, yes.”
“Hmm.” For a minute, I say nothing. I do nothing. She tries to be still, but I know it’s killing her.
I don’t have it in me to withhold orgasms. I like to mess around, but I’d rather make her come than not let her. With one hand, I pull the string on the back of her thong to rub the material in front over her pussy. She screams at the contact, and I slide two fingers into her while she’s in the midst of an orgasm.
“Holy shit!” She pushes back.
“Take it, Livvie. Fuck my fingers. Get what you need.” I can’t help but groan at how fuckin’ hot she is right now. Her hips erratic, her ass is in the air as she pushes back, drawing it out and making herself feel good.
She slows and plops down with a dramatic exhale. “Jesus.”
I lift her up enough to slide out from beneath her then drop my jeans. My fingers grip her hips, and I pull her up then push her panties to the side and slide into her from behind. God, she’s so fucking tight like this. “Fuck, you’re wet, baby.”
She moans in agreement, and I laugh at how lax she’s being.
“Gotta get with the program, Livvie. You know I need you to come again before I do.”
Her walls tighten, and I fall forward, my lips next to her ear. “Do it again.”
Her pussy tightens around me again, and I pull out to the tip and then slam back in. “Again.”
When I feel her spasm around me, I push up and grab her hair then smack her ass again. This time, she clenches around me without me asking. “No more lying, Olive.”
“No,” she moans. “Never.”
“Love you, baby.” I pick up my rhythm and a growl leaves my throat when my balls slap against her warm, wet pussy over and over again.
“I know, shit.” She pushes back. “I love you, too. Oh, my God, I’m gonna come.”
“Fantastic. Me fuckin’ too.”
She soaks my cock, and I empty myself into her while we both shout the other’s name. I fall on top of her and turn her head to get my mouth on her while we’re both coming down. “You okay?”
“Yeah.”
“I hurt you?”
“Not even a little bit.”
I sigh in relief.
“You’d never hurt me, Jay.”
“Never.”
“You’ve gotta be shittin’ me.” I laugh at the information Erik just gave me.
“Nah, man. You need proof just let me know, and I’ll get you copies of these photos.” He chuckles.
“What do I owe you?”
“Nothing. Take care of your girl, and let me know if you need anything else.”
We hang up, and I walk back into the living room at Livvie’s parents’ house. She looks up at me when I stand behind the chair she’s in. “There you are.”
I lean down and kiss her. “I’ve gotta go run an errand real fast.”
She turns. “What errand?”
“I’ll be back in less than an hour.”
“What errand, Jay?” Her voice rises.
“Baby, please.”
She shakes her head. “What errand?”
I grip the back of the chair and put my lips next to her ear, lowering my voice so only she can hear. “I’m going to find Paxton Ray at his restaurant. I’m going to hit him in his face. Then I’m going to punch him in his stomach. After that, I’m going to tell him that if he ever contacts you again, I’ll find him and I’ll break his fuckin’ jaw first then I’ll take great pleasure in watching his fingers snap. I think he’ll know why, don’t you? And then when he threatens me, I’ll let him know that I have pictures of him in compromising positions with women who do not belong to him. And trust me, he won’t want those pictures to go public. Now, I’m standing up, turning around, and walking out this door, and you’re going to let me without saying a word.”
“Please don’t get in trouble.”
“I won’t. But he has to pay for touching you.” I press a hard kiss to the top of her head then do exactly what I said I would.
When I walk into the restaurant, I bypass the hostess and head down the hall to the offices. I open the first one to find an empty room. The next one is locked. But the third one holds the very man I came to chat with.
“You can’t be back here.”
I slam the door and don’t give him any time to do something stupid before I round his desk and slam my fist into his face. His neck snaps back and blood flies from his nose. Grabbing him by the hair, I pull his head back and jab him in the throat.
He gasps, and I stand back, waiting for him to catch his breath enough to pay attention. He finally gathers himself and reaches for his phone. “I wouldn’t do that, because see here, Paxton, I’m going to tell you a little story and you’re going to listen. Then I’ll leave, and you’ll pretend I wasn’t here but remember everything I say. Got it?”
He nods frantically.
“I’ll start by saying that if any woman tells you to stop, that doesn’t give you the green light. I don’t care if she’s about to drop down onto your dick. It means fucking stop, you hear me?”
Another nod.
“Let’s just get out of the way the fact that you’re never going to contact Olive again. Okay?”
He’s able to wheeze out the word yes.
“Now here’s the story part. You ready for this?” I don’t wait for him to answer. “There once was a guy who liked to fuck married women. Particularly women married to a certain senator. And a famous nighttime talk show host. And a certain actor who happens to be filming out of the country right now.” His face pales even further. “Does this guy sound familiar? Maybe a celebrity chef who thinks he’s untouchable but is about to learn that he doesn’t fuck with my woman.”
“What do you want?”
“Her name will never come out of your mouth again. If I even hear that you’re thinking about her, not only will I break your bones but I’ll also get the photos of you with married women plastered all over the fuckin’ place. They’ll spread like wildfire.”
He shakes his head then winces and puts his hand to his nose. The fear in his eyes is almost enough to make me laugh in his face.
“Bet it’s going to kill you wondering how I know. You’re going to wonder, aren’t you? Look over your shoulder because you think you’re being followed. And maybe you will be. Maybe you won’t.”
I grab his arm and make him stand then give a swift knee to his dick. “That’s from Livvie.” Pushing him back, he falls into the chair groaning. I don’t even give him a second glance before I leave his pretentious restaurant and head back to Don and Debbie’s.
Livvie’s waiting for me on the porch, and as soon as I pull up, she jumps off the steps and runs to me. “Are you okay?”
“Of course, I am.”
“Let me see you.” She grabs my face then examines my hands, running her thumb over the redness on a couple of my knuckles. “You don’t look bad. What about him?”
I shrug. “He won’t be contacting you again.”
She wraps her arms around me and rests her head against my chest. “Thank you.”