Page 55 of Doxed

Leaning back in the plush leather armchair, pushing the sleeve of my deep brown turtleneck sweater dress up to check the time on my watch. He’s late. “Phases” by PRETTYMUCH play through the coffee shop’s speakers and when I hear the ding of the bell above the door, I turn around. He’s here.

Standing, I open my arms for a hug when he rounds the chair. “My apologies, Hermosa. I was on a business call that ran late.” Carlos’ amber cologne envelopes me and I relax into his embrace.

“I ordered your usual,” I say when we separate, gesturing to the mug on the low, round coffee table.

He smiles, sitting in the chair across from me and lifting the mug to his lips. He sighs, closing his eyes in blissed out caffeine heaven. “I’m going to miss this shop’s coffee.”

I take a sip of mine, savoring the chocolatey flavor. I’ve been here almost every day since I moved here four months ago. “You can always come back.”

He shakes his head, smiling. “I have no business in Maine. Once you leave, I won't have any reason to come here every week anymore.” I nod. He’s right.

When I got to the airport that night, I just booked the earliest flight.

I ended up here in Shoreside, Maine. I spent a few weeks here alone, looking for myself and a good therapist. Once I found the therapist, I reached out to Carlos, and he chartered his jet.

Through walks on the beach, late night swims in the ocean, surfing lessons, painting in the park, early morning coffees, and weekly meetings with my therapist, I found myself. And now I'm ready to move on.

Maine healed me as much as I could be. I'll never forget being trafficked and what I went through during those long days in captivity. I'll never release the guilt of the women that died in front of me and the ones that I could never find.

At our first meeting, Carlos told me he had taken care of all the men.

He kept the details vague—as I didn't want to know—but I know enough to know that they're dead and they can’t hurt anyone else. But it’s not over.

There are still women out there being taken every day and they aren’t as lucky as I was.

“Are you sure you’re ready to go?” Carlos asks, watching me intently.

“Yeah.” I nod. “I’m ready.”

He turns his gaze to the large window front as a couple bikes by. “I’ll miss this little town.”

I finish my coffee, joining Carlos in looking out over the town that gave me my life back. “I’m sure we’ll come back.”

I missed the trees. I missed the smell of wet earth and the sound of birds chirping overhead, hiding in the forest fortress. I missed him.

I pull up to the gates to find them open, so I pull through slowly.

Is he not home? Did he move? I haven't spoken to Miles in four months.

Not a single word. Maya said he asked about me at dinner with her and Tell.

I was just happy that he went out to have dinner.

When she told me, I wasn't sure if I was going to come back, but it made me happy to know he was still thinking about me.

I had asked him not to look for me or keep tabs on me, and I meant that.

If he had to ask someone else about me, that meant that he kept his promise. That meant a lot to me.

I park Miles’ SUV behind his Porsche in the half circle drive; I guess he is home.

I want to grab my bags from the back, but I leave them.

Maybe he won’t want me back. Just because he asked about me months ago doesn't mean he wants to be together.

But I also gave up my apartment in Seattle; I wanted to start over with him.

The thick heel of my boot clacks against the concrete of the porch when the door opens.

Miles is staring at his phone as he steps out of the house, but he looks up and stops when he sees me.

He’s wearing the same style of clothes he always wore.

A black shirt, black techware pants with the pockets and buckles, a black jacket, and black lace-up boots.

It could be the jacket, but I think he’s bigger than he used to be; slightly more muscled.

He sets down a black, hard case suitcase and blinks at me.

This is awkward. “I’m sorry.” My mind races. I don't even know what to say to him. “I should have called or something before just showing up.” I glance down at the suitcase before looking at him again; he’s still just standing there. “Where are you going?”

He shakes his head, shoving his phone into his pocket. “Nowhere.” His long legs eat up the space between us and his warm hands cradle my face, lifting it so we’re eye to eye. “I’ve missed you so much. Please tell me this is okay.”

I’ve barely nodded my head before he swoops down and smashes his lips to mine.

He smells like rain and pine. He smells like home.

Miles nips at my lips possessively while his arms band around me and pulls me into his body.

My hands run up his body and I notice he has gotten more muscled.

My hands stop on his face and I hold him to me.

I never want to let him go. He breaks loose from my hold, moving his lips over my chin and down my neck.

“Are you here to stay?” he asks, his breath fanning over my neck.

“Yes,” I sigh, pulling his face back up to mine. “But you have to tell me where you were going.” I pull away and look down at his suitcase again.

His lips pull between his teeth. “I was going to Maine to find you,” he admits slowly.

My eyes widen. “You were coming to get me?”

He shakes his head, holding onto my arms. “No. I just couldn’t stop thinking about you and I wanted to talk to you.

To tell you I miss you and I was sorry for everything I did,” he quickly adds, “If you didn't want to see me when I got there, I wouldn't have bothered you again.

I just wanted to show you that I still cared about you and that I still wanted you.

I didn't want you to think my distance was anything but me keeping my promise to you.” He frowns.

“But I guess finding out you were in Maine and flying out there would have been me breaking it.”

Smiling, I shake my head. “Stop talking.” I pull his face to mine for another deep kiss.

I'm not upset he was coming to me. He didn’t invade my privacy until now, and even then, he wasn’t doing it with ill intent.

If I'm being honest, I never thought he would actually keep the promise in the first place.

“You know what I haven't stopped thinking about?” I quirk a brow. Miles still has his arms wrapped around me, so I lean back so I can watch his face.

“What?” He smiles wide. So bright and beautiful.

“You chasing me through these woods.” I bite my lip, eager to see how he’ll react.

His pink tongue slides out to wet his lips. “Take off those boots and run, Little Ghost.”

He lets go and I take a step back, bend my knee, and unzip my boots. I leave them with my socks on the porch. “Do you still have your mask?” I take another step back.

Miles’ eyes light up. “Run, Briar.”

Turning around, I sprint through the clearing and into the dense foliage. My feet sink into the wet soil, water drips off of the branches and lands on me as I run through the trees.

My heart feels lighter than it ever has. The cool wind rushes past me, causing goosebumps to rise up my bare legs.

Miles' hand grabs the back of my dress and yanks me back into his hard body.

His hand covers my mouth, muffling my scream.

“Shhhh.” He hushes me. “I caught you, Little Ghost,” he whispers into my ear.

“What do I do with you now?” The hand over my mouth moves down to my throat and he rests it there, without pressure.

Grinning, I lean back into him. “Fuck me.”

“Fuck yes,” he sighs.

He pushes me against the nearest tree and sinks to his knees.

I look at all the tattoos along Miles’ arms that I missed; he must have ditched his jacket on the porch with my shoes.

His mask sends a thrill through me and I admire the picture.

This scary masked man on his knees for me.

He lifts the mask, leaving it resting on top of his head before he lifts my leg and rests it over his shoulder.

I lift the hem of my thick dress while Miles pushes my panties to the side and stares at my bare sex.

“Goddamn, I missed this too, this beautiful, perfect pussy!” He licks from my opening to my clit, rubbing over it a few times before returning to my opening and pushing his tongue inside.

With one hand, he spreads me open and with the other he caresses my clit, stroking it up and down with his thumb while his tongue swirls inside of me, licking me all over.

My hips move of their own accord, chasing the high. I use my thigh that’s slung over Miles’ shoulder as an anchor and I move my hips back and forth, fucking his face.

His tongue and fingers switch places. Two fingers glide inside of my soaking pussy while Miles flattens his tongue against my clit. I continue to thrust into his face while he fucks me with his fingers at a rapid pace.

“Yes, yes,” I moan, resting my hand on top of the plastic mask. Miles’ teeth graze over my clit, sending tingles of pleasure zinging through my body.

Miles pulls away as fluids splatter across his neck and chest. He stares at my pussy in astonishment until I finish.

My chest heaves as I watch him and come down from my pleasure. “That was so fucking hot, Briar.”

“Fuck me already, Miles,” I whine, moving my stiff leg off of his shoulder.

“I love how demanding you are.” He grins and stands.

With greedy hands, I reach for his pants, unbuttoning them and shoving the zipper down. I slide out of my panties while he pushes his pants down his legs and lifts my leg again, sliding into the space he’s created.

He guides his cock into me, and I sigh with the first press of his pierced head. This is perfect.

“I love how wet and tight you are,” he groans, sliding out and shoving back in.

The material of my dress gets caught in the rough bark of the tree, but I don't care. “What else?” I moan, arching into his powerful thrusts.

“I love you,” he grunts, his fingers digging into my hips.

I suck in a sharp breath and place my hand on his chest, stopping him.

Fully seated in me, he stares into my eyes. “Do you really?” I ask.

He nods. “Yeah. I just didn't have the courage to say it on the porch. That's what I wanted to fly to Maine and tell you.”

Tears fill my eyes and I pull his face closer to me. “I love you too,” I whisper.

Our lips meet in a crushing embrace, our tongue tangle together and he fucks my mouth with his tongue as furiously as he fucks my pussy.

Miles slides his hands up my dress to cup my breasts.

His hands have cooled in the chilly autumn air, making my sensitive nipples zing with excitement.

He rolls them between his fingers and pulls them until I'm coming, screaming my pleasure into the dense overhang of branches and pine needles.

Miles pulls my face back to him with his fingers on my chin. “And I love hearing your scream when you come around my big cock.”

Staring into his eyes, I say. “ I love when you fill up my pussy with your cum.”

“Ah fuck.” He tips his head to the sky and groans.

And not long after, I get my wish as he pummels into me, claiming me as his, officially.

Miles peppers my neck with love bites before sliding out and pulling his pants back up. I glance down at my panties as they lay in the dirt. I can't put those back on.

Miles follows my eyes and chuckles. “Sorry,” he says, pulling his shirt over his head and dropping to his knees again. He uses his shirt to wipe up his cum that drips out of me and stands when he’s done.

“Did you get a new tattoo?” I ask, leaning closer to inspect the dark black bunny mask tattoo on his ribs.

“Yeah,” he stuffs part of his shirt into one of his many pockets so it still hangs out. “I got it a few weeks after you left.”

“For me?” I run my finger over it and grin when he shivers.

“Who else would I get it for?” he asks, raising his brows. Biting my lip, I try to hide my smile, but I can't. “Come on, Little Ghost, let’s go get even more dirty in the shower.” He tugs on my hand, and I happily follow him back to the house.