Page 6

Arden

Six Months Later

I am tapping my fingers on the desk, staring at my email. I took the test to be a certified private investigator yesterday, and I still haven’t received the results. I have busted my ass for a year for this, and I’m impatiently waiting for the results.

“Arden,” Levi says, looking at his computer.

“Huh?”

“Staring at your email won’t make it show up any sooner,” he says.

“Oh, bite me,” I say.

“I’m sorry?” I squeal and jump up when Levi suddenly stands.

Levi and I have an amazing relationship. It’s not perfect, but we know how to communicate. We also have an agreement of assumed consent for free use. That means Levi can fuck me anytime and anywhere he wants. He can do whatever he wants to me and he will only ever stop if I say my safe word. I never have, simply because I trust him. Even when I get overwhelmed, he has this way of bringing me back to baseline, so I don’t spiral into a panic.

This isn’t to say that the paranoia hasn’t found a home in my psyche, because it has. It appears and I do more than just panic. My brain conjures up every reason to think that Levi has done something nefarious, but he hasn’t. Levi without fail reassures me without belittling me. He doesn’t feed my paranoia, but he doesn’t sugarcoat things. If I am being unreasonable, he tells me. No matter what, he is always honest and explains the situation rather than just calling me crazy, even though I am sometimes absolutely nuts. Just last week, I was convinced he was cheating. He was actually with Jett, but my brain refused to see the logic. Levi simply put me in his truck and drove me to Jett’s house. It was late and Jett was confused, but Jett was just as patient with me. By the time we left, I felt better and finally found the logic.

Jett and Levi have spent so much time together, and Jett has become like my brother. He is so fucking sweet and loves his big brother. They have gotten so close and it has impacted Levi for the better. The version of him that is playful and not grumpy is incredible. He still has his bad days and living with him for six months, I can see how he struggles with not drinking. Some days are harder than others, but he is always honest about where he is at with his mental health.

His nightmares are better when I am in bed with him, so I make it a point to go to bed when he does. When he has them, I just hold him until he goes back to sleep. I occasionally have nightmares and he does the same for me. They tend to flare up when we have cases involving sexual assault, but I make sure to communicate with Levi so that he knows where my head is.

“Say it again, Arden,” Levi says, backing me against my desk.

“Bite me,” I laugh.

“Turn around.”

“Make me,” I say. He immediately spins me around and shoves me over my desk before pushing my skirt up. I gasp when he grabs my panties and rips them off. I hear his zipper, so I’m surprised when he leans down and bites my ass cheek. “Fuck!”

“Tell me to bite you, I will,” he says before slamming his cock deep inside of me.

“Oh fuck, Levi,” I moan and push back on him. He responds by grabbing my hips and rapidly fucking me hard and deep. I push my hips back to take him harder, moaning wildly.

The pressure in my belly is building fast and this orgasm is different. I can feel the intensity and just as it starts to surface, I realize we are going to make a mess. “Wait, wait, wait. Oh my God. Levi, no. Fuck. I’m gonna…”

I can’t get the words out before it hits and my arousal floods out of me. I am lost in this feeling and he never lets up as he continues to hammer into me. It hits again as he starts to come and he forces my arousal out.

“Fuck, I love you so much,” Levi says. When I stand up, I scream and nearly hit the floor when I see Jett leaning against the door frame of our office.

“Well, that was weird to walk into,” Jett says, and Levi laughs as he turns me around and hugs me.

“Relax,” Levi whispers in my ear.

“I’m sorry,” I say when he pulls away.

“I’m sorry I scared you,” Jett says. “You two made a mess, though.”

“You did that on purpose,” I frown at Levi.

“Guilty,” Levi laughs and fixes his pants before pulling a towel out of the gym bag beside his desk. I make sure my skirt is fixed before stepping away so Levi can lay the towel down. Instead, he grabs me and pulls me back to clean me. When he is done, then he takes to cleaning up the floor.

“What’s up, Jett?”

“I was in the neighborhood,” Jett says. “How is Macie?”

Macie is six months pregnant and officially on intensive bed rest after nearly losing their baby girl. Macie has always been a clumsy ass, but it doesn’t mix well when pregnant. She tripped going downstairs and started bleeding. Wilder called me in an absolute panic at two in the morning when they took her in, and he was left waiting to see if Macie was okay and their daughter was safe. A few minutes after Levi and I got there, we were allowed to go back to see her. She was bruised, but the bleeding had stopped and their daughter was safe. She stayed for a few days but was given very strict instructions to stay in bed and take it easy. This means no sex, minimal walking, and a stress test every other day. Wilder and Macie are working from home and they have Keith in the office to make sure all is well there. I go in once a week but I am also helping from my laptop so Wilder and Macie can spend their time resting without stress.

“Bored and horny,” I laugh. “Macie wants to help Wilder, but Wilder refuses to let her do anything to him. He is determined to make her relax.”

“I think they will survive without sex for a few months,” Jett chuckles.

“I’ll steal her when Macie and Wilder let me get close enough. That way they can sleep, shower, and fuck,” I say.

“Now you just need to get pregnant.” Jett grins.

“She refuses to take a test,” Levi says.

“What?” Jett says. “Are you late?”

“Three weeks late to be precise, but she is in denial,” Levi explains.

“I am not in denial. I have no symptoms,” I say.

“Macie didn’t have symptoms either,” Levi counters.

“Yeah, but…”

“Go buy the damn test,” Jett says. “Go see Macie, take the test, and celebrate with them. I will take Levi and celebrate. Then, you two can celebrate tonight when there isn’t a chance of someone walking in on you.”

“Bossy,” I frown.

“Hormonal,” he teases.

“Asshole.” I laugh and he grins at me.

“Go, baby. Go get a test and go see Macie. The only reason you haven’t done it is because you promised Macie you’d take it with her, but you don’t want to bother her.”

“I was going to get a test the day after her accident but… I just didn’t want to add any stress to anyone,” I admit.

“Baby, you are in denial. You are emotional, your breasts are bigger and more sensitive, you are always complaining about feeling bloated. Remember, I was there when Charlotte was pregnant. Macie had similar symptoms and neither had morning sickness either beyond nausea. You’re pregnant, Arden. I know your body and I can see the changes. Go get a test. Okay?”

“Fine,” I say with a frown.

“I’ll do this meeting for the next case and make Jett take notes. Just go take the afternoon and see Macie,” Levi says, kissing me.

“I still haven’t got an email,” I say.

“That’s fine. It took me four days to get the email,” Levi tells me. “It’s been one day. You’ll get the email and you’ll be certified.”

“Okay. Okay. I’ll go,” I say. “I’m also going to get Macie and Wilder lunch while I’m out.”

“Good girl. Get your stuff and go, please.” I grab my bag and toss my phone into it before turning to let Levi hug me. “Text me a picture.”

“I will. I love you,” I say, hugging him.

“I love you too, baby.” Levi pats my ass where he bit me, and I giggle.

Once I get into the truck, I turn on music and start driving toward the store. I let myself relax when I park, but I’m not ignoring the weird feeling in my gut as I walk through the store. I get all the junk food that I know Macie wants before going to pick out a pregnancy test.

What no one knows is that I’ve taken ten already. I know I’m pregnant, but I refuse to accept it. Each test revealed a strong positive, but I’m scared. I’m scared to accept this because what if I lose the baby? What if they are born, but then they die? Will Levi survive losing another child? Will I survive understanding what it’s like to lose your child? What if something happens to me, and Levi loses another wife? God forbid, what if he loses both of us? What if I lose him and our child? Anything can happen, and I am terrified of raising a child in a world where evil lurks around every corner.

I pick a digital test but pause to stare at the options. I sense someone is standing near me, but it’s the voice that makes my blood run cold, and fear slams down on me.

“Levi must be thrilled to become a father again,” Caleb says. I look up but immediately back away when I see how close he is to me. “It’s good to see you, Arden.”

“Stay away from me,” I say harshly. I didn’t miss the fact that he not only knew Levi’s name, but also that he lost Melody.

“Is that any way to address me, Arden? You weren’t always such a bitch,” he sneers as he walks closer. I back up, getting ready to turn and run.

“You’re a fucking predator,” I say louder than intended.

“Yet no one has connected the dots,” he says simply. “Not even you and your drunk of a husband.”

“Fuck you,” I growl. “Stay away from me. Stay away from my husband.”

I turn to walk away, but he grabs my arm. I keep a grip on my shopping basket in one hand as I turn and swing at him with the other. I surprise myself when I punch him, so I immediately run before I find out just how pissed he is. His temper is fucking explosive, and I want nothing to do with it. When I get to the checkout line, I choose to go through self-check so I can hurry through. I am rushing to pay and as soon as I get the receipt, I rush out of the store.

“You can run, Arden, but I always catch my prey,” I hear Caleb say when I get to the truck. I toss my bag into the passenger side before jogging around to the driver’s side. Why the fuck did I not come straight to this side? Before I can get into the truck, Caleb grabs me by the throat and slams me back against the side.

“Please, leave me alone,” I whimper. “Please, Caleb.”

“No one believed you before, so what makes you think anyone will come to your rescue now?” Caleb asks.

“Please, Caleb,” I beg as I start crying. I wince when I feel a blade press against my lower belly. “Please.”

“Turn around,” he growls.

“Caleb,” I say as I try to fight back the sobs.

“If I have to ask you again, I will not hesitate to carve that fucking baby out of you and leave him a widow again,” Caleb growls. His eyes are devoid of emotion and only evil lurks in his gaze on me. I sniffle and hiccup, trying to keep control of my emotions, as I turn. He shoves me over the driver’s seat and I hear the condom tear open. “No matter how many times I watch them cry, they’ll never be you.”

“Wha…” I start to say but I am cut off when he pushes my face into the seat. He spits for added lubricant before burying himself in my ass. I whimper as he holds me in place and thrusts hard and fast. The discomfort is manageable but it’s the flashbacks to nineteen that are unimaginably painful. I sob as he rapes me, but I don’t fight. I just want to get in the truck and get the fuck away from here.

He groans as he pushes deep. As soon as he comes, he pulls out of me and backs off. The second his hands are off me, I jump into the truck, slam the door, and lock them all. I’m not surprised when I notice that he gets into the creepy, windowless van beside me. When he pulls away, I take the time to grab my phone. Luckily, a car gets in his way for just long enough that I can take a picture of his license plate.

WRG-1111

I am running on adrenaline as I stomp on the gas and peel out of the parking lot. I want to disappear, but I know I can’t. He mentioned Levi and knows his history, so he is in danger too. I dial his number as I speed toward my brother and best friend. The moment I hear his voice, the emotion hits me.

“Hey, baby,” Levi says cheerfully.

“Levi,” I whimper. “I need you.”

“What happened? Where are you?”

“Driving to Macie and Wilder's,” I cry.

“What happened baby? Are you okay?”

“Caleb. I saw Caleb,” I say. “He… I need you. Please.”

“I’m coming baby. Jett is driving. What happened? I need you to tell me, Arden,” he says calmly.

“He… He knew about you losing Melody… he knew that we’re married… He kept saying weird shit, implying he has hurt others and no one, including us, has connected it. I hit him and got away but… He followed me out.”

“Did he…?”

“He raped me… I tried to beg him not to, but… he had a knife. He was going to hurt the baby… it’s so tiny but…”

“How far away from Wilder’s are you?” Jett asks. I must be on speaker in the car.

“Five minutes.”

“Is he following?”

“No. I got a picture of his license plate though,” I sniff.

“I’m so sorry, Arden,” Levi says with emotion building in his voice.

“It’s not your fault. I think he’s been watching me for a while. He knew too much not to be close,” I say.

“We are pulling into Wilder and Macie’s right now. Do not stop for any reason, okay?” Levi says.

“I’m not. I’ll be there soon,” I say. “Levi?”

“Yes, baby?”

“I’m not Charlotte,” I say. “I can hear it in your voice. I’m not Charlotte. Okay?”

“I know. I’m trying not to panic. It just…”

“I know. It feels familiar,” I say. “I am almost there.”

“Are you okay… physically?”

“Yeah. I think so. He used a condom,” I sigh. “Pulling past the gate.”

“I see you,” Levi says.

I barely park the truck before Levi yanks the door open and pulls me out. I fall apart so fast that the panic hits me. My legs go weak but he scoops me into his arms before I can fall, but I am suddenly sobbing as I cling to him.

“What the fuck is going on?” Wilder says when Levi gets me on the porch. He says nothing as he takes me in and sits on the couch. “Levi. What’s going on?”

“Caleb cornered her at the store. She was on her way here to take a pregnancy test with Macie. He got to her before she could get to the truck and he raped her,” Jett explains.

“What’s going on?” I hear Macie say as she sits close by.

“Caleb raped her again,” Wilder says with so much anger in his voice that it’s almost unrecognizable.

“Look at me,” Levi says, lifting my chin. “Are you in pain?”

“No,” I whimper. “I’ve taken ten tests… I lied when I said I didn’t know… I knew. I’ve known for weeks.”

“I know, baby. I saw one of the tests,” he says, wiping my tears away. “I also know why you lied. I know you were scared that I wouldn’t handle it well and all the possible scenarios that could play out.”

“What’s happening?” Macie asks. I sit up and move to sit beside Levi but look down at my hands for a moment. I am collecting my thoughts so I can explain, but I don’t want to keep crying. I look up at Macie and she moves to sit on the ottoman beside Wilder to take my hands.

“I’m pregnant,” I say. “About eight weeks, I think. The period before the missed one was very light, so maybe as far as twelve. I’ve taken ten tests… and I went to get a digital to come here and take with you.”

“What happened with Caleb?” she asks. I focus on her, because I can manage this with her.

“I was looking at the tests and he came up to me and said Levi must be excited to be a father again,” I say. “I backed off, but he followed. He kept making comments that implied that he’s hurt others and people just haven’t connected it, but that we haven’t either. I assume the we is Levi and myself. That makes me think one of our clients or families is connected to someone he has hurt before… I went to walk away after calling him a predator. He grabbed my arm, so I hit him and ran. I checked out and ran to the truck, but he caught up with me. I went to the passenger side first to set the bags down, and I shouldn’t have done that. He got to me by the time I went around to get in. He pulled a knife and threatened to carve the baby out of me, or whatever. He forced me over the seat and raped me… Anally.”

“But you are okay?” she asks.

“Yeah. He used a condom, thankfully. Although, a rape exam would actually show something if he didn’t, but he knows that I would go, because I did last time,” I say with a sigh. “I uh… When he let go of me, I got into the truck. As he was driving away, he got blocked by someone for long enough that I was able to get a picture of the license plate and the van.”

“You did a good job, Arden,” she says. “You kept you and your baby safe. You got as much info as you could. You got help. I am so proud of you.”

“I feel like an idiot because clearly he’s been watching me for a while,” I say. “I never even noticed. I stayed with Mom and Dad for years, and now I live with Levi. I don’t know how he knows anything about me or Levi.”

“I think you should start by reviewing old cases,” she says. “You know Caleb, so I think going into it and looking for those little things you might not have connected before would be a good place to start.”

“I brought you something,” I say. “Before all of that.”

“Oh?” she asks.

“Yeah. I got you gummy worms because I know Wilder is on a health food kick,” I say. “Now I know he won’t bitch because he doesn’t want to upset me.”

Wilder motions for me to let him hug me, so I move forward to let him wrap his arms around me in a tight hug. “I’m going to fucking kill him,” Wilder says quietly.

“I know. You and Levi both will, I’m sure,” I say. Macie hugs me next before grabbing my face.

“Get your test and come take it with me,” she says with a sweet smile.

“Here,” Jett says, handing me the test from the bag he got out of the truck. Macie stands and takes my hand. I stand with her, and she pulls me off to the guest bathroom. We are silent as I take a moment to clean up and take the test. Once I wash my hands, we both stare at the test as it blinks.

“It’s so slow,” I say.

“Give it a second,” Macie laughs.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay. Feeling better but ready to not be pregnant anymore,” she sighs. She squeals and hugs me tightly when the word “Pregnant” pops up on the screen. “I am so fucking happy for you. I know you were worried there for a minute.”

“Now I’m worried Caleb will kill me, and Levi will lose his wife and child again,” I grumble.

“Don’t you worry. His dumbass will be dead soon enough. Don’t think for a second Wilder isn’t serious.”

“I know. He has the money to make him disappear,” I say.

“Let’s go show them the test,” she says, picking it up from the counter.

We walk out of the bathroom and go back to the living room. Macie hands the test to Levi and smiles. “Congrats, Daddy.”

Levi glances at it before handing it off to Wilder and pulling me down to hug me tightly. “I’m sorry all of this is happening,” I whisper.

“Don’t apologize. Just be warned, he is fucking dead,” Levi says. “Fuck jail time. I don’t give a goddamn if he is charged; the justice system had a chance to catch him, and they failed. I will not let him get away with hurting you again.”

“I don’t know if I feel safe at the house,” I admit. “If he knows your history, he knows where we live.”

“I agree. Wilder has already asked that we move here, at least temporarily,” Levi says. “What history?”

“Well, he knew about Melody and your drinking, because he called you a drunk. He knows we work together, I assume. I just get a feeling that he’s been watching me the whole time,” I say. “Me moving out of Mom and Dad’s and getting married must have triggered him into getting closer again.”

“Jett is going to go to the house with Wilder and get our stuff. I am going to stay here with you and Macie, we will handle telling all the parents, but I’d like them to keep their distance for now,” Levi says.

“I agree. I don’t want them to get hurt,” I sigh. “I don’t really even want anyone involved. Especially Jett. He didn’t ask to be involved in my bullshit.”

“Oh, you can get the fuck over that,” Jett says bluntly. “You are my sister-in-law and I will fucking kill this bastard for hurting you.”

“Thank you,” I say. “What do we do about me needing to go to the doctor?”

“I’ll help you get on with my doctor,” Macie says. “She is great.”

“I pictured this all going so differently,” I say. “I’m pregnant, but Caleb still has a thing for hurting me… He made a comment that no matter how many times they cry, they’ll never be me.”

“Ah, that doesn’t sound like he’s hurt just one person,” Levi sighs. “We can sit down tonight and go over files.”

“Why don’t you go take her to the guest room? Macie needs to go lie back down anyway,” Wilder says. “Jett and I will hurry up and go to the house and grab what we can and come back. We can make another trip later on, too.”

“I’ll get her settled and check on Macie,” Levi says. “We will be good here.”

“I need a shower,” I say with a frown.

“We can do that,” Levi says.

“The guest room down here has a connecting bathroom. Jett can take the one upstairs.”

“Don’t even argue,” Jett says to me. “I want to be here.”

“Alright,” I sigh.

“Come on,” Levi says, pulling me up.

“We love you,” Wilder says to me.

“I love you too,” I say. “Thank you.”

“That’s what family does, babe. We support each other.”

“I’m going to eat gummy worms in bed,” Macie says.

We go to the guest room and a few minutes later, Wilder brings extra clothing, towels, and toiletries so we can shower, along with a new bottle of prenatals with strict instructions on taking them regularly. After, Levi and I go to the bathroom and strip down while we wait for the water to warm. I have fallen silent and numb, so I just let Levi take over and wash my body before washing himself. When he shuts the water off, he gets me out and dries my body before helping me get a large T-shirt on.

“Let’s go lie down,” he says softly. I nod, and we go into the bedroom. I stop short of the bed and look at Levi.

“Fuck me,” I say. “I know it’s stupid to want it. I know he just hurt me, but I want you. I want to feel something other than him. I want to stop thinking about everything.”

“How do you want it?” he asks.

“I want you to take my ass, and I don’t want you to be nice about it… but I want to come,” I say.

“Okay,” he says, kissing me softly. “Lie down on your belly. I’ll be back in a second.”

“Where are you going?”

“To talk to Macie. I’m positive they have lube, but I’ll need to explain why I am asking for it so she doesn’t stab me in the face,” he says.

“Right. Good idea,” I say with a smile. I lie down and rest my head on my arms as I wait for Levi to return. When he does, he pulls the blanket off me and I hear him undressing.

“You ready?” he asks.

“Yes,” I say.

Levi pushes my legs apart before pulling me up to my knee slightly. I hear the lube open and seconds later, he grabs my hips and buries his cock inside my ass. I have no time to react before he starts fucking me as hard and fast as he can, not even allowing time for my body to adapt to his size. I am groaning as I grip onto the sheets, gently rocking my body to push back against him.

“Fuck, you’re so tight,” Levi grunts. “You’re taking me so good, baby. Come for me.”

“Fuuuuck you’re so deep,” I groan as both pain and pleasure ripple through my body. I welcome the pain and revel in the depths of his reach. He slams into me over and over, forcing pleasured moans out of me. He eventually pulls my arm back and encourages me to help myself, so I do. I reach between my legs and start rubbing my clit. “Oh, God.”

“There ya go, baby. Come for me,” Levi moans. “Fuck, baby.”

“Oh, Jesus. It’s so good,” I choke out. “Please. Harder. God, I wanna come. I’m so… Oh God! I’m so close.”

Levi tightens his grip and starts fucking me harder and deeper, harmonizing with my ragged moans and whimpers. I am desperately rubbing myself, and it suddenly breaks. I cry out as I come. Levi pushes me flat and leans into my body to quicken his pace. I lift my hips a little as he straddles my body so he can continue pushing deep. I am up on my elbows, rocking my body back on his cock, wanting to be fucking destroyed. When he finally comes, his beautiful moans echo in my brain. He brings himself down to lie on my back while staying buried inside of me and we are both breathing heavily.

“I love you so much,” I pant. “So… fucking much.”

“I love you too, baby,” Levi says, kissing my shoulder.

“I need a nap.”

“Let me clean you up, and then you can sleep,” he says. I nod and he pulls out of me before gathering what he needs to clean me.