Page 38

Alex

I realize it’s really weird for me to ask you to hold onto some dude’s loose teeth, but this is a package deal, so it comes with the territory. You don’t have to touch them. You can if you want, in which case you’re just as much of a weirdo as me.

Your brother gave me this flash drive and I promised I would guard it with my life. I’ve never seen what’s on it, and neither should you. If you don’t do anything else I tell you, just do me this one favor. It’s not a snuff film. I swear. Just don’t open it.

This key goes to Aiden’s house. It won’t open the front door, but it’s just as important, and it’s already saved one person’s life.

The only reason I left this card in here is because there’s nothing identifiable on it. It’s a key card, but I don’t know what it goes to, only that Mason told me to hang onto it.

I know it looks like a dirty rag in a Ziploc bag, but I can’t bear to throw this away. It was the blanket my mom made for me before I was born. She made one for each of us, and this is what’s left of mine. This is the reason I couldn’t care less whether Jordyn Harrington lives or dies, and why everyone probably thinks I’m the one who almost killed her. I didn’t. But if I did, this would be the reason why.

This necklace is the only thing I have left from my mom. She loved the color purple, and I know you do, too. My dad gave it to her on their wedding day. I don’t think she ever took it off. I remember her telling me that when I was a baby, I’d grab it and hold on to it and I’d always stop crying and go to sleep, no matter what.

There’s no one else I trust more to keep the secrets in this box safe than you. I promise I’ll come back to you, Dallas. And when I do, we’ll do all the things we never got a chance to do and you’ll never have to worry about me leaving ever again.

Love, Alex

●●●

Dallas feels just like I remember, with the same satin skin at the small of her back and dramatic curve in her waist that gives way to those incredible hips of hers. And that dump truck of an ass. And when I reluctantly make myself pull away from her, my eyes are drawn to the amethyst pendant glimmering against her breastbone.

Gripping my wrists, she stares up at me through wide eyes. “You’re here,” she whispers through shallow breaths. “How are you here?”

“I keep my promises,” I reply, gently running my thumbs back and forth across the apples of her cheeks.

Her radiant eyes dart across my face and her mouth falls open, but no words come out. In an instant, her arms fly up and she grabs me around the neck, clinging to my shoulders. I bend down and wrap my arms around her, lifting her to my waist. The heels of her boots tap the backs of my knees as I lumber away from the gaming screens and out of the crowd. And as soon as I lower her back down, she pulls my lips to hers again while her trembling hands move across the back of my neck and beneath the bill of my hat.

“I’m here, Dal,” I murmur between each kiss that feels like an electrical current shooting down my spine. “I’m finally here.”

“I…I—” she stammers as her brow twitches with disbelief. “I have so many questions. Alex… ” she says my name like she’s learning it all over again.

“So do I,” I smirk, “and the first one is, what is this? ”

I seize her face and tip her chin up so her mouth falls open, revealing a neon pink and purple striped stud in the center of her tongue.

“It’s a tongue ring,” she mumbles up at me, except it comes out as gibberish.

“We’ll have to do something about that,” I mutter condescendingly while I peer into her mouth.

“Don’t you fucking tell me what to do!” she gurgles back at me.

“Damn, Mariposita, ” I chuckle, holding her firm. “You’ve got a mouth on you now.”

I can’t contain my amusement as Dallas smacks at my wrists, trying to wriggle out of my grasp. It doesn’t matter how long it’s been, I still know exactly how to rile her up and she’ll still come at me hard each time.

Before I can tease her more, something slams into my shoulder, knocking Dallas out of my grip. She grabs her face with a yelp as she staggers to the side. On reflex, I grab her around the waist and pull her close before my other arm juts out and seizes the assailant by the neck of his shirt. I whip my head around with a snarl, ready to leave this motherfucker a bloody pile of entrails on the marble tile.

“ You, ” Bostwick balks.

My nostrils flare as I glare at him, motionless except for my chest rising and falling with deep, steady breaths.

“Alex,” Dallas presses her palm against my chest in an effort to quell the situation, and to stave off the nervous glances being cast our way.

Concluding he’s not actually a threat, I give Bostwick a sharp shove as I release his shirt.

“You alright?” he asks Dallas.

“Yes,” she murmurs with irritation.

Then he turns his attention to me again. “Are you a cop now?” he glowers, looking me up and down.

“No,” I deadpan with just as much disdain.

“It’s fine, I just—” Dallas grabs my arm and starts pulling me away from Bostwick. “I’m fine,” she reassures him. “Just go, I’ll be right there.”

I snicker with amusement as Dallas leads me away. We come to a stop near one of the brewery kiosks with its counter lined with pint glasses and pitchers of free water. Suddenly, there’s a thwack as Dallas smacks me in the shoulder as hard as she can, which isn’t hard at all.

“Alex fucking Barrera!” she hisses.

She’s finally registered that I’m standing in front of her after an eternity and she’s decided to be angry about it.

“What’s the matter?” I ask.

“ Oh my god, ” she murmurs to herself, clasping her hands over her mouth. “You’re here. But…but…” Now she sounds like she’s talking to herself. “You’re here, but I can’t—but I’m…”

“What? Is Bostwick your boyfriend?” I ask, knowing the answer doesn’t matter.

Per my letter to her, dated almost six years to the day, I’ve already stated what will happen if she’s dating anyone upon my return. Dallas looks up at me with hectic eyes, her breaths turning erratic as she glances around the concourse with a chaotic blend of rage and anxiety.

“Why do you keep looking around?” I ask. “Who are you looking for?”

“You shouldn’t be here.” She looks down at the marble floor anxiously. “You’re not supposed to be here. I’m…I’m supposed to…”

“Meet someone?” I finish her sentence as she trails off.

Her head snaps up and her eyes go wide. I can see the wheels turning behind her eyes, plain as day, squinting at me as she works it out.

“No…” she mumbles. “No, no, no…”

“There are no coincidences, Dallas Riley Lutz , ” I take a step toward her, “you’ve always been playing my game.”

“ What? How…you lied to me?” she creaks out.

“No, Dal, I never lied to you.”

“Your name is not AJ!” she snaps, finally finding her words.

“Sure, it is. Alejandro Joaquín Barrera Torres. Says so right on my birth certificate,” I grin. “Isn’t that what Ponyboy says?”

“Your middle name is Joaquín? And… Torres? ”

“No, I have two first names, followed by my dad’s surname and my mom’s surname.”

Dallas blinks, trying to comprehend my explanation. “But it didn’t sound like you…” she trails off, trying to make it make sense. “That wasn’t your voice.”

“The voice mod rec I gave you was good, wasn’t it, Carino? ”

At that, she jerks her head up, stunned. “You didn’t! ” she seethes through clenched teeth.

I couldn’t help it, I thought for sure Dallas would catch on when I called her, Darling , the other night, but she didn’t. Then again, she was kind of distracted. Can she blame me, though? Probably, but it was worth it. In the end, all of this will be worth it.

“But, AJ—” then she stops herself.

AJ isn’t coming. At least, not the AJ she was expecting .

“I made you a promise, Dal. I told you I’d end any man I found you with when I came back. And look,” I say with a venomous smirk, “I kept that promise.”

I need to get her out of here so we can have a civilized conversation somewhere not in the middle of a thousand other people. But before I can utter another word, an icy splash of water smacks me across the face. I cringe, but remain steady, squeezing my eyes shut as the water drips down my face. When I open my eyes again, Dallas is glaring at me. She slams the empty pitcher back down on the countertop and stalks past me toward the glass doors.

Ignoring the shocked reactions and some girl whining about her stiletto boot getting drenched, I follow Dallas out into the night. Fortunately, she heads toward the surface lot where my truck is parked. Not taking my eyes off of her, I take a detour into the lot, hurry down the second row, and whip out onto the street before she can reach the next crosswalk.

I slow the Raptor to match her pace. “Get in the truck, Dal,” I call out the window.

“You’re a real piece of work, Alex!” she shouts back.

“ Dallas, ” my tone sharper this time, “get in the truck.”

“You could’ve called…texted… emailed! ”

“No, I couldn’t have.”

“Yeah, right, like you couldn’t have messaged me at least once to tell me you were alive! ”

“I didn’t take one look at you until I set foot back on US soil, Dal.”

“ What? ”

“Do you understand what kind of torture that would’ve been?”

“ Good! ” she shrieks. “Because I’ve been revoltingly unfaithful to you, Alex Barrera!”

I can’t help but laugh at her attempt to rebuff me. Dallas is trying so hard to be mean, but I know her. Determined—maybe. Full of conviction—maybe. But not mean.

“Colson said you died! ” she shouts, the last word muddling into a sob.

“I did die.”

“No, you didn’t!”

“Yes, for eight minutes. He didn’t tell you I came back?”

“What do you mean, came back? ” she screams. “ From the dead? ”

Yes, exactly. But whatever the hell Colson said clearly got lost in translation. I grit my teeth, groaning in frustration as I try to think of a way to lure Dallas into the truck without just getting out, throwing her over my shoulder and drawing any unnecessary attention. And, anyway, she's lost her damn mind if she thinks I'm going to leave her to walk through downtown and campus at night in nothing but a tank top and a pair of coochie-cutters. Even if she is wearing her ass-kicking boots.

After following Dallas through another couple of neighborhoods while she alternates between texting on her phone and stalking down the sidewalk, we arrive at her house. She unlocks the front door while I park across the street, but slams it shut before I can set foot on the pavement. Speaking of which, this house is also on my list of things to change.

College campuses are hunting grounds, and no woman is safe. I’m not leaving Dallas here. She needs to live somewhere with proper lighting and adequate security. And if she won’t let me in, then I guess I’ll be posting up on her porch until she does.

Much to my relief, the porch doesn’t actually collapse when I lean on the edge of the railing. It gives a few creaks and groans, but is otherwise solid. After nearly an hour, a faint click draws my attention, followed by the squeak of the ancient door with too many coats of paint.

A soft voice drifts across the porch. “Are you staying out here all night?”

“I’ve stayed in much worse places. Your front porch on a warm night doesn’t bother me.”

I push off the railing and stroll across the creaky floorboards. When I get closer, I see Dallas peering outside apprehensively. She’s no longer dressed as Lara Croft, having changed into a white tank top and lavender sleep shorts. Her hair lays like a blanket over her shoulders, crimped from her tight braid, and she’s wearing her thick black glasses again.

I lean against the door frame, gazing down at her just inches away. “I thought you hated Call of Duty .”

“Yeah, well, I also want to have friends, Alex,” she snips. But then her eyes fall to the ground. “Why did you lie to me?” she asks wearily, the look on her face enough to shatter my heart into a million pieces on this rotting porch.

“Because I couldn’t be anything to you back then—not until now. It was better that I was a faceless nobody you liked to play games with. And what was I to do? You had three years left of high school. I couldn’t even marry you if I was deluded enough to try that.” I lower my voice. “ Get pulled out of Algebra for your parents to tell you I’d been killed in an ambush? Blown to bits by an IED? ”

“Stop,” she squeaks. “I could’ve decided that, not you.”

“No, you couldn’t ,” my tone turns harsh, “because you weren’t allowed to decide any of it. And that’s not what you should’ve been doing, anyway.”

“Alex,” she finally looks up at me, “you’re the only reason I didn’t end up a basket case after Evie died. You kept me from losing myself, and then after you left, I didn’t want to even think about you because I knew it would be too painful. Sometimes, I’d try to convince myself that it wasn’t that deep, that I didn’t mean as much to you as you did to me.”

The typical Lutz mentality— I’ll leave you before you leave me.

“And now that you’re here,” she continues, “I know it’s just a matter of time before you leave again.”

“No.” I shake my head. “I did my service, and I’m not going anywhere.” I plant my boot at the edge of the door. “I came here for one thing, and I’m not leaving without it. I should’ve just busted down this door and not given a fuck about your feelings, especially after you go and name your brother’s dog after me.”

Dallas averts her eyes, but can’t hide the flicker behind them or the twitch of her cheeks as she tries not to smile.

“And I’ve missed you so much, Mama,” I murmur, gazing into her big eyes the color of sapphires. “Please, don’t lock me out,” I whisper. “ I won’t ever say no to you again. ”

She stills, and a moment later, Dallas slowly steps to the side and opens the door wide enough for me to enter. And as soon as I set foot over the threshold, I bend and grab her behind the thighs, lifting her up into my arms. I kick the door shut behind me and continue into the dark house, veering to the left when I catch sight of the living room.

I collapse onto the deep sofa cushions and immediately feel her hands on my face as her lips devour mine. My hand runs up her waist as I kiss her, up her shirt to the gentle curve of her tits. She lets out a soft moan and starts rolling her hips, grinding on my lap.

“Are you still my sweet girl, Dal?” I clench my jaw, digging my fingertips into her ass.

“Only if I get to ride that cock this time,” she replies as she runs her nails over my shoulders.

Grabbing her waist, I throw her down onto the cushions and seize the top of her shirt. With a sharp jerk of my arms, I rip the thin cotton clear in half to expose the two hard, rosy beads on her smooth, porcelain skin.

“ Alex! ” she gasps in surprise.

But then I stop, my eyes transfixed on the tiny stainless-steel barbells running straight through each of her nipples.

And I thought her tongue ring was enough to get excited about.

“I’m fucking hungry, Dal,” I mutter, sinking down to her waist and wrapping my arms around her back.

Pulling her tight against me, I close my mouth around her nipple and suck hard, tonguing her piercing and savoring the sweet taste of her skin. She gasps through the pain, whimpering with pleasure when I release it and give it a few flicks with my tongue before moving to the other and latching on again. And the more she writhes and rakes her nails across my shoulders, the harder my dick gets with each passing second.

Raising up on my knees, I hook my fingers in the waist of her shorts and start working them down her hips. She lets out a giggle that's straight dopamine to my dick and lifts her ass so I can pull them the rest of the way down.

“I’m glad it was you.” She gazes up at me with desperation. “I’m glad you were the one watching me all those times.”

“You are, huh?” I smirk. “Because you can cam for me whenever I want now?”

I reach into my back pocket to retrieve my phone, and with a couple taps, I open the camera and set it on night mode. Her eyes dart between me and the round lens at my waist, biting her lip with anticipation. I center her knees in the frame and then spread her legs wide so she can show me the same glistening pussy I saw on my camera the night I almost decided to scrap my plan and go find her.

“Look at you, Dal, you’re soaking wet for me,” I gaze at her in awe, panning the camera up and down between her legs. “So fucking gorgeous…”

I lean down and hold my arm out to the side to record while I kiss her. She glances at the phone and then pulls me close, sliding her tongue over mine and biting my lip hungrily.

I take her hand and set my phone in her palm. “How about you watch me this time?”

Carefully, she points the lens at me as a smile plays behind her eyes. I hold her gaze and work my way down her stomach, between her thighs where I run my thumb over her bare skin, finding the place that makes her writhe beneath me.

If she liked the way I kissed back then…

Dallas’s thighs tense when I bring her to my mouth and her breath catches as soon as she feels my tongue sweep over her pussy and up to her clit. She tastes like straight up honey, liquid gold I drink up like I’m dying of thirst.

She props my phone up on her ribs and watches with wild eyes as I raise my head and spit straight onto her clit before sucking it off with a kiss. Her hand trembles in a desperate effort to keep the phone still while she starts rolling her hips against my face. Her legs fall open wider and her breaths get more hectic as I press my mouth to her wet heat and shake my head back and forth, tongue-fucking her to drive her to the edge.

Her gasps and moans hit a fever pitch and she grabs the arm of the sofa and pumps her hips against me, letting out a desperate cry. There’s a thud as my phone tumbles out of her hand and hits the floor. I grab her waist, pinning her to the sofa while I draw every ounce of doubt out of her body.

When she’s finished, I raise back up, hovering over her with intense admiration while she convulses with the aftershocks. I’m about to brush her thick waves of black hair away from her face when she grabs my shoulder and pushes me back onto the cushions.

“Was that good enough of an apology?” I ask.

Dallas slides off the sofa and sinks down between my knees. “You’ll find out in a minute.” She reaches for my phone and places it back in my hand.

She starts unbuckling my belt, her eye still on my phone as I slowly turn it upright and prop it on my hip. She makes quick work of unfastening my black pants and I hiss through my teeth as she frees my throbbing dick from its restraint. Locking eyes with me, she runs her tongue up my entire length and closes her mouth around the tip. She sucks hard, bobbing her head and taking me deeper with each movement.

“ Fuck, you’re good,” I moan, letting my head fall back against the cushion when I feel a new sensation. “Fine, you can keep your tongue ring.”

“Don’t tell me what to do,” she retorts, flicking the underside of my shaft with it.

It’s surreal; the girl I once knew who stole all my yellow gummy bears and wanted me to climb through her window to secretly play video games with her is now the force of a woman on her knees before me. She’s the most stunning I’ve ever seen, and I’ll let her consume my entire being.

There’s a click and then a creak of a door, followed by footsteps and faint voices in the kitchen at the back of the house. I glance down at Dallas’s head in my lap, seemingly undeterred by the noise. The corner of my mouth twitches with amusement as the sounds grow closer until, finally, a shadow appears in the doorway of the dark living room. It’s one of her roommates, Shelby—the same Shelby she’s been friends with since high school. She nearly walks past us on her way to the stairs when she does a double-take and freezes.

Preparing for a mortified shriek, I raise my free hand and tip my chin politely. As soon as Shelby registers Dallas’s naked body between my legs, her hand flies to her mouth with a snicker and she spins around to intercept the rest of the group. Hushed voices precede a burst of giggles as Shelby and two other girls scurry toward the stairs, trailed by another guy I don’t recognize.

There’s a creak, and then another, drawing my attention to the kitchen door. A shadow disappears behind the edge of the door frame and a few moments later, I catch the faint outline of a figure just out of view, lingering in the darkness.

Of course, he came back here.

I was going to wait and get Dallas home first, but fuck that, I’ve waited too long already. I want to feel her throat around me so much that I’ll let this motherfucker watch just so he knows where he stands. But one thing’s for certain, if Bostwick takes one step past that doorway, I’m snapping his neck.

Dallas looks up at me with a grin. “I could eat you up, Alex,” she teases. “The nice ones always taste the best.”

She purses her lips and lets a thick mouthful of saliva drip off her tongue and onto my tip. I adjust the phone, centering her in the frame as I gather her mass of thick hair in my fist, pulling it away from her face so I can watch as she runs her full lips up and down my taut flesh.

“Nice, my ass,” I breathe while she smears the spit across her cheeks, “you just want me to give you more candy.”

“And you’re about to give me some,” she hums as she closes her mouth over my tip and sinks down, taking me deep.

I let out a moan as she pauses and then exhales, opening her throat and sinking further until she’s nearly at the hilt. Just like I taught her. Then she pulls back and starts bobbing her head faster, spit dripping from the corners of her mouth as she brings me to the edge. A low rumble starts moving up my chest as I clench her hair tighter and my dick pulses against the back of her throat.

My abs clench and I come hard, filling her mouth with my thick release. I tip her head up slightly as she empties me, and gaze into her blue eyes, shimmering with depravity behind her stark black frames.

“Is that sweet enough for you, Angelína?”

At the mention of her moniker, Dallas’s mouth stretches into a wide grin, letting a mixture of spit and cum drip down her chin. It’s like she knows what I like without even having to tell her.

“Swallow me good and I’ll keep being nice to you tonight.”

She grips my shaft and slowly strokes, sucking hard and swallowing every drop. And when she’s done, I pull her onto my lap, running my hands up and down her back that feels like silk.

My gaze detection triggers, but I don’t even have to see Bostwick to know what he’s thinking, consumed by inner turmoil as he decides whether to engage or stand down. But ultimately, I know he won’t. Keeping one eye trained on the kitchen doorway, I kiss Dallas’s shoulder and start moving up her neck.

“Are you ready to come home with me?”

“My bedroom is right upstairs,” she murmurs in my ear. “I want you to fuck me now.”

No, there’s no way we’re staying here.

“We’re leaving,” I growl into her cheek. “And I’ll fuck you in my bed.”

“I need to get some clothes,” she giggles back through clenched teeth.

“You don’t need clothes when you’re with me,” I say, this time loud enough for anyone with a 20-foot radius to hear.

Before Dallas can respond, I squeeze her around her waist and stand up, hoisting her into my arms.

“ Alex! ” she squeals, but I’m already out the front door, carrying her naked body across the street to my truck.

I set her down in the passenger seat, her arms crossed over her chest, watching me with eyes wide and mouth ajar as I reach into the backseat and grab the black hoodie on the floor next to my backpack. It’s all she’ll need for the ride home; it’ll probably come down to her knees anyway.

“I don’t have my phone, either,” Dallas mutters as I hold the neck of the sweatshirt open for her.

“Good thing you won’t need it,” I reply with a wink as I start tucking in my shirt and buckling my belt again.

She doesn’t argue, which is fortunate because she’s not setting foot back in that house for the rest of the night. In fact, both of us barely say a word on the drive through town, only exchanging lingering glances while Dallas firmly holds my hand in her lap. She runs her fingers over mine in the soothing silence, tracing each one like she’s committing them to memory again.

No more than 10 minutes later, I whip the Raptor into the parking deck of the Enclave and into my designated space.

“You live here?” Dallas asks, craning her neck to look out the window at the high-rise.

I only waggle my eyebrows at her before exiting the truck and rounding the bumper to open her door. She steps out onto the concrete, barefoot, but at least I guessed right and my hoodie comes down to her thighs. She takes my hand and follows me to the side entrance where I unlock the door through the app on my phone.

We stroll across the marble lobby, more or less empty except for a cleaning crew in the back offices and one of the night guards manning the security desk.

“Hey, Ezra,” I greet him, slowing my pace as we approach.

“ Alex, ” he answers with a hint of amusement. “Having a nice evening?”

At least I finally got him to quit calling me Mr. Barrera. I’ve hung out with him and shot the shit enough times on the roof of this building to consider him a friend. But I’m sure we’ll have plenty to catch up about later, from the way he’s scanning Dallas with her sparkly purple toes and sweatshirt that looks like a tent on her.

“Fantastic,” I grin, taking a right and leading her to the bay of elevators. “Just got back from GalactiCon, I’ll have to tell you all about it.”

“Mm-hm,” he grunts, shooting me a side-eye before turning back to the monitors.

Dallas remains silent on the trip up the elevator and all the way down the hallway to my door, not speaking until she wanders into the middle of my living room, gazing around at the pristine details and the floor-to-ceiling windows framing the downtown skyline.

“Alex,” she finally turns to me, “ where did you come from? ”

“A lot of places.” I stroll toward her. “I came back a couple of months ago, and after I got set up here, I came to get you.”

“It was you the whole time, for three years?” She still sounds unsure.

“Yes.”

“I told you so many things,” her eyes begin to wander, “even—”

I know what she’s about to say, and my chest tightens with pure rage at the mere thought. I start to shake my head, but before I can say a word, my phone starts vibrating.

You have got to be kidding me. Right now?

Any other time, I’d ignore it without question, but as soon as I see the name, I know it’s not an option.

“I’m so sorry, Dal.” I raise my hand as I start backing away toward the windows. “I have to take this. Please, stay right there.”

Her quizzical expression remains unchanged as I turn my back to answer the phone.

“ Buenas noches, mi jovencita! ”

As the call goes on, I relax and it becomes apparent that other plans are finally falling into place. And as soon as it’s confirmed, I strategically and delicately end the call as quickly as possible. Shoving my phone back into my pocket, I turn around to resume my conversation with Dallas. But when I scan the room…

She’s gone.

“Dal?” I stop to listen, but the apartment is silent. “Dal?” I do a loop around the sprawling room, glancing inside the powder room off the foyer and through the windows onto the dark patio.

But she’s gone.

I spin around and stop dead in my tracks as my heart starts pounding and my pec tightens. I grit my teeth as the spasms move up my torso. I don’t have time for this. Punching my chest with a closed fist, I power through it while desperately searching for her. Then, my eyes dart to the front door.

“ Dallas! ”

I take off across the apartment, throw open the door, and step into the hallway to find her.