Page 36

Thirty Six

Hailey

I clutched the leather of the seat beneath me. The confrontation with my father was inevitable, but the tension that had built up over the days leading to our flight home for Christmas break was almost unbearable. I almost wished I could have called him and gotten it over with, but this had to be done face-to-face. I needed that closure to move on.

The atmosphere in the car was tense as we mentally prepared for the confrontation.

Colt reached over the center console and placed his hand on my thigh, the warmth of his fingers seeping into my skin and making me realize how cold I actually was. I shivered, and Colt turned up the heat.

“I’m with you,” he said, his voice deep and calm.

“I know. I’m not really scared, just anxious. This isn’t really something you do every day.”

“No …” He shook his head slowly. “Thank fuck it’s not. ”

An involuntary chuckle escaped me, and some of the tension fell away. We pulled up in front of my parents’ house, and like last time, they were waiting for us, the perfect picture. How deceptive appearances can be. Instead of a brunch where we all just put on an act, Colt and my dad went straight to his office this time — where I would follow them in a moment, after dealing with Mom.

As I stepped into the lavish living room, her fingers were skimming the rim of a champagne glass, her nails painted her signature nude pink. She didn’t look up right away.

“Hailey, you’ve been avoiding us,” she said, her tone light but pointed, like a barb hidden beneath velvet.

“Just Dad, really,” I stated, leaning against the back of the sofa. “But I guess that’s okay with you.”

Her eyes flicked to mine, and for a split second, I thought I saw guilt. Then it vanished, replaced by her usual mask of composure. “You know how your dad is. He always thinks about what’s best for us.”

“For us?” I let out a sharp laugh. “You mean for him.”

“Hailey,” she said with a sigh, her tone teetering between exasperation and warning. “You’re young. You don’t understand the sacrifices—”

“Oh, I understand perfectly,” I interrupted. “I understand that you let him use me, Mom. You didn’t even try to stop him.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she set the glass down carefully, as if breaking it would mean losing control. “That’s not fair.”

“Fair?” I snapped. “You’re right. It’s not. None of this is. But I guess as long as you can keep the money rolling in and the parties going, it doesn’t really matter, does it? ”

Her face hardened. “Watch your tone, young lady. I’ve done more for this family than you’ll ever know.”

“Then maybe you should have done something for me,” I shot back, my voice low but sharp.

Her silence was deafening. She didn’t argue, didn’t defend herself, just turned back to her glass and picked it up again.

I shook my head and walked away. There was nothing left to say.

My insides were tied into knots as I strode down the hall to the door of my father’s office. Anxiety churned in my stomach, and my fingernails dug into my palms.

I wasn’t a confrontational person, especially when it came to my family, but I simply had no choice. This was for my independence, for my future with Colt — it had to be done.

I pushed open the door and laid eyes on my father’s surprised face. Colt sat with his back to me and turned his head only slightly, as he had been expecting me after all.

“Hailey,” my father said in surprise, but there was already a hint of annoyance in his tone. “When did we stop knocking? What are you doing here? Is something wrong?”

“Funny you should ask. Yes, something is definitely wrong.” My voice sounded a lot steadier than I felt.

“Is that right?” He raised his eyebrows, his piercing gaze focused on me. “I hope it’s important, because I was just having a crucial conversation with Colt here.” I didn’t miss the way his lip curled slightly as he said his name.

“You can stop acting. I know,” I told him coldly.

He recoiled, and something like panic flickered across his face, but it immediately disappeared behind his mask of arrogance.

“Interesting. So your little boyfriend told you about our arrangement? I wonder … Did he also tell you his dirty little secret?” He grinned smugly.

I rolled my eyes, standing right next to Colt. “The folder? Yes. I know about everything. I also know that without Colt or a certain agreement that involves me, you’re completely screwed from a financial standpoint. There’s nothing you could throw at us that would give you an advantage or drive a wedge between us.”

With each word, some of his bravado faded, giving way to disgust and spite. He slammed his palm down on the shiny table.

“Watch it, you ungrateful—”

Colt cut him off. “I suggest you consider your next words very carefully. I can assure you that you no longer hold all the cards here. We do. And if you treat Hailey disrespectfully, I have no problem expressing my displeasure.” Definitely the wrong time to get turned on, but holy shit, that whole authority thing was fucking sexy.

A sneer spread across my father’s face, and he leaned back in his chair. “Let’s have it, then. What do you think you’ve got on me?”

I stepped closer to the table, Colt’s presence behind me comforting and reassuring. Still, my hands shook as I said, “First, you should know that none of the material you illegally obtained is still in your possession. Second, you may also be interested to know” — he tapped frantically on his phone, even though I was still talking — “that your source of information is no longer available. He was kicked off the team a few days ago.”

With each swipe across the screen, his expression grew more panicked, his movements more erratic. The color drained from his face, and a thin sheen of sweat appeared on his forehead.

“What have you done?” he asked tonelessly.

“Took something from you that you never had the right to possess,” I hissed back. “And while we were at it, we took some insurance with us.”

“Insurance?” His fingers drummed on the tabletop. Satisfaction flooded through me as he for once felt what it was like to have control taken away from him.

“Yes, insurance. I take it the name Markov means something to you? We know of your involvement with them. Try to drag me or Colt into your shit again, and you’ll have your own nice little cell in no time.” I shook my head. “The Russian mob? Really , Dad? Was our life before all this” — I gestured around — “really that bad that you couldn’t bare going back to it? That’s so sad.”

“You don’t know what you’re doing. Just use your head. If I don’t have any money, you don’t either!” he yelled.

“I don’t give a fuck!” I fired back, slapping the table. “Don’t you get it? The money was only ever of interest to you, I would have gladly given it up to get my family back. I’d rather work my ass off than live under the terms of your crooked deals. Not to mention, it’s sick to betray and sell your own daughter for your own gain. You disgust me.”

His face was no longer pale. Slowly but surely a blush of anger rose to it. He’d never liked being called out by others. “You’ve got it all figured out, don’t you?” he taunted. “Let’s see how long you make it before you come crawling back.”

“Don’t hold your breath. You can go fuck yourself. This” — I made a circular motion with my finger — “is the last time we’ll see each other as far as I’m concerned. Stay out of our lives, and we’ll keep our intel to ourselves.”

“Fine by me.”

I scoffed, in a way reeling from his willingness to unceremoniously let his only daughter and child walk away with no prospect of reconciliation. But it also gave me the final push I needed to put this behind me.

“Goodbye,” I said, turning around and grabbing Colt’s hand to pull him out of the room behind me. Without so much as a word, my father let us go.

Just before we crossed the threshold, Colt pulled me to a stop as he turned back to him and spoke in the coldest voice I’ve ever heard come out of his mouth. “If you know what’s good for you, this will truly be the last time we see each other. You underestimated me once. Don’t make the same mistake again. I will do anything for Hailey and to keep her safe.”

The confrontation had been nerve-racking, painful, and cathartic all at the same time. My whole body felt like it was vibrating, and I couldn’t wait to get out of here. Only now did I notice the cold sweat coating the back of my neck.

It took me some time to calm down, and we were well on our way back to Colt’s parents’ house by the time I was more or less back to myself.

“Hang on.” I put my hand on Colt’s forearm. “You up for a little detour?” I needed something to take my mind off this whole ordeal, and I had the perfect idea.

“Are you sure?” He side-eyed me, but when I flashed him a wicked grin, he bowed to my request. He let me guide him through the streets until we stopped in front of a large building.

“The football stadium?” he asked, both amused and a little perplexed .

“Yup.”

“What are we doing here?”

“Catching up on something we could’ve done a long time ago.”

I pulled him with me to the football field where we’d spent so many hours pining for each other. Luckily for us, there was no game today, so the area was empty — perfect for what I had in mind.

Stopping in front of the fence, I eyed it critically. “You think we can climb that?”

Colt looked at me wide-eyed. “You want to go in there?”

“What did you think we were doing?” I giggled.

“I don’t know. We could just see if the lock combo is the same as it used to be,” he suggested.

He proved to be correct. With a satisfying click, we closed the gate behind us, and I walked up to the bleachers and disappeared underneath.

“Princess, what are you up to?”

“You’ll see. You’ll love it, I promise.” I fingered the small bottle in my crossbody bag. I hadn’t expected this to happen today, but it paid to be prepared. In my head, I also patted myself on the back for wearing a dress. Easy access made my plan even more appealing.

I walked backward until my back hit one of the pillars, then I motioned for him to come closer.

A tingling sensation shot up between my legs as Colt stalked toward me like a lion to its prey.

“I know that devilish little smile. What’s going on in that dirty mind of yours?” he rasped as he caged me in with his body.

“Want to find out?” Slowly, I ran a single finger down his chest.

“With you, always.”

Our lips collided in a ravenous kiss, tongues entwining as my hands worked feverishly at his belt.

I pushed his jeans and boxers down far enough for his swollen cock to jump out, then I pulled away from him and slid down to my knees. His eyes, dark with desire, stared down at me as his hands cradled my head, his thumb tracing soft circles on my cheek.

In one long stroke, I licked him from root to tip, trailing the ridge on the underside of his shaft with my tongue, then slowly eased him into my mouth. I let him take control, and he began to thrust deeper and deeper into my mouth until he was fucking my throat. I was on my knees in the dirt, but I didn’t care, nothing mattered but him.

“Just like that,” he groaned. “Be a good girl and make it sloppy.” Colt loved it when I gave him wet, messy head, and considering what I had planned, I could use all the lubrication I could get. My pussy throbbed between my legs, liquid heat pooling in my panties.

When he pulled out of me so I could breathe, a trail of spit hung between my lips and his head, and he groaned at the sight.

“Fuck! Look at that slutty little mouth. You better give my balls some attention too.”

Colt guided my mouth along his length, my tongue darting out to suck and lick along its side, down to his heavy sack. Sucking and licking, I worked both until they were wet, and he pulled me back to his swollen tip.

“Want me to come down your throat?” he rasped, his intense gaze fixed on me, never leaving my face .

I shook my head and fumbled for my purse, which I’d carelessly dropped on the ground when he’d pinned me against the pillar. His eyes lit up with icy flames when he spotted the bottle I was pulling out.

“Are you sure?” His tongue darted out to wet his lower lip as his length, glistening with my spit, twitched between us.

“Absolutely sure,” I said as I stood and pulled him around the corner so we were no longer under the bleachers but on the side facing the stairs. I slipped the bottle into his hand, then he turned me around so I was facing away from him, grabbed my hands, and placed them on the railing in front of us and bent me over with a hand between my shoulder blades.

“Keep your hands there.” His breath was hot across my neck, sending a shiver down my spine.

This wouldn’t be the first time we’d played around with my back entrance, I wasn’t completely insane after all, but I knew he’d been itching to do it in public.

There was a click behind me, probably from the lube, and not being able to see what he was doing added to the sensations. I stiffened when his slippery fingers caressed my second hole.

“Relax,” he demanded, and I obeyed. My body was a slave to his lust.

I exhaled deliberately as he slid his first finger inside, anticipation tightening my stomach. I was pretty sure I’d never get used to the slight burning sensation that felt so exquisite at the same time. My pussy was dripping wet, clenching around nothing, desperate for something to fill it.

Colt added another finger, and I hissed. His free hand slid around my hip to my clit, a low rumbling growl reverberating from his chest as he noticed how wet I was for him.

“Dirty girl, did it turn you on to suck my cock while you were kneeling in the dirt for me?”

“Yes,” I breathed. He added a third finger, and I pushed greedily back into him. His index finger worked on my clit, and I bit my lips to stifle a moan.

A sharp slap on my ass made me squeal. “Don’t you dare keep your moans from me. I want to hear every one of them, do you understand?”

“I understand.”

“Good girl.”

He pulled his fingers out, and my breath caught in my throat when his blunt tip settled against my asshole. Then something warm and wet landed on me and trickled down the crack of my ass. Had he just …?

“Thought you wouldn’t mind a little extra lube.” God, this motherfucker was filthy, and I was here for it.

With a deep, almost pained groan, he pushed himself into me, deeper and deeper, until his balls were pressed against my pussy. We were breathing heavily as he paused for a moment, buried deep inside me.

“You good?”

“Yes,” I grunted. That was all the reassurance he needed as he pulled out of me and rammed back in, fucking me with deep, earth-shattering strokes. His balls slapped my swollen pussy, and I moaned so loudly I wouldn’t be surprised if someone heard us.

“That’s right, let everyone hear what a slut you are for me. Fuck, look at you all filled up with me. I’m going to wreck this little ass with my fat cock, and you’re going to take it like a good girl, aren’t you?”

“Oh god, yes! Wreck my ass, wreck me. Give me fucking everything.”

He pistoned into me harder and harder, my knuckles turning white from how tightly I was clinging to the railing. He had to grab my shoulder with one hand to keep my face from hitting the wall with his brutal blows. My ass was on fire, and the orgasm approached with his fingers skillfully circling my clit.

“You’re going to come for me, aren’t you? With dirty knees and the taste of my cock still on your tongue as I take your ass in public. What a dirty little slut.”

“Yes,” I gasped as my toes began to curl, and my core tightened more and more. “I want to feel your fat cock filling up my ass.”

Colt let out a breathless chuckle and pumped into me even harder. “Gonna give you my cum, but you’ll come first. Give it to me, Princess, I want to feel that ass clenching around me.”

He pinched my clit and, as if on cue, I exploded. Stars danced in my vision as I spasmed around him, trembling and moaning.

“Oh fuck, yeah,” Colt groaned, thrusting into me twice until his hot cum shot deep inside me with every twitch of his cock. “Such a good girl, taking all my cum.”

Slowly, very slowly, I floated back down to earth where Colt drew out of me and cleaned us up with tissues from my purse. He carefully dragged my panties back into place, flipped down my skirt, and pulled me back upright.

His hand gently stroked my back as he secured me against his broad chest, wrapping me in his arms .

“You okay?” he asked gently.

“Mm-hm.” I nodded, completely worn out.

“Good, then let’s get you home so I can take care of you properly.”

Putting my hand to his stubbly cheek, I gazed up at him. “You’ve already done that. You always take care of me.”

“You’ve done so well. Thank you for trusting me so much. I love you.”

“I would trust you with my life. I love you too. Always have, always will. From day one.”

“From day one,” he repeated.