Page 15 of Splintered Security (Aspen & Evergreen #2)

win the derby

Anni

“He knows,” I mumble into Ren’s skin for the third time. “He knows. And she’s in danger.”

He rubs soothing circles on my back as I sit in his lap on the bed. At some point he turned with his back to the headboard and pulled me into him, cradling me into his body. My head rests under his chin, and I speak into the wall of his chest in a whisper, “She’s not okay, and he’s coming for me.”

“Shhh, baby.”

I’m all cried out. After yesterday, I have no more left.

Hell, who am I kidding? It’s been days, weeks, months, even years since August, and the tears constantly overflow.

I’m not weak, but somehow emotion leaves me through my eyes.

Anger, sadness, frustration, weariness—those things I can’t put into words—they all seem to manifest via my tear ducts.

I may not have any at this moment, but there will always be more.

They’re a clear language I’m never able to mute.

Between being enveloped in his strong arms, his hand rubbing circles, and the warmth of my eyelids, I can feel the lull and pull back to sleep.

I’m not tired, but I am weary, and quite frankly, I want to avoid the thoughts that plague me when I’m awake.

Thoughts of my safety versus my mom’s. Thoughts of the happiness my life could’ve been versus a marriage of convenience simply to avoid the marriage of inconvenience thrust on me.

I shiver, considering what a marriage to Heath would look like. Almost instinctively, I burrow into Ren even deeper, trying to find safety in his broad, muscular chest.

His arms tighten reflexively. “You’re safe, Sunshine. You’re safe. He will never touch you.”

My head rubbing against his chin in a nod is my only response.

“Tell me you know you’re safe.”

I want to shrug but I’m so tightly sheltered within his arms, I can’t. Instead of feeling trapped, I feel safe and secure.

“I know you’ll protect me and do everything you can to keep me safe.”

“You’re right, but that’s not what I asked. Tell me you know you are safe.” He emphasizes the last three words. At the same time, he loosens his top arm and dips his chin to my face as much as the headboard allows. “You are safe, and I want to hear you say it.”

I hold his eyes and nod, but his hand at my hip goes firm.

“This is me being gentle with you like you asked.” His eyes bore into mine. “I need the words.”

“Why? ”

“Because I need to know that you get it. I need you to know in your bones that I will not let him touch you. And not the do-what-I-can-and-hope-it’s-enough, but do everything . I need the words because you don’t use your voice enough and I want you to think it, know it, hear it, and declare it.”

“That’s a little hokey and a lot intense.”

“Humor me.”

“You will keep me safe.” My eyes hold his, and the intimacy of the moment is palpable. “And I am safe. You will make me that way.”

His body softens, and I hate it but I go on, my voice soft to the point it’s weak. “But my mom is not. He’s going after her.”

“Baby, you’re missing it. I know she’s important to you. I’ll make sure you’re not losing your mom to gain your freedom. I’ll protect her too.”

“How?”

“For a woman who hates confrontation, you sure you want to know?”

Good question. “Sort of. I can’t figure out the logistics of it all. I wish I knew for certain that she would be okay.”

“I vow it.”

That’s enough for me. And, I guess he knows it, because his eyes on me shine with some understanding.

He kisses my forehead. “You’ve stopped shivering. Are you good? ”

I bark a laugh. “Good? Eh, I wouldn’t use that word. But I’m no longer panicking and running to turn my stomach out in the bathroom. I’ll feel better when I brush my teeth, though.” I look to the bathroom.

He gives me a squeeze and releases his arms.

I instantly miss his warmth but head to the bathroom and scour my mouth with the toothbrush, grab some mouthwash under the counter, and then brush a second time. When I finish, I return to find him in the same position, only with my phone in his hand.

His body is tight, his jaw is set, and his eyes squint with malice.

I stall, wondering what I should do. We end up in intimate positions time after time…

me in his lap, me in his arms, me straddling his waist. To climb back into his lap is too bold, and I’ve not once initiated the closeness.

But to return to the bed and sit far away feels less than…

less than I don’t know what, but it feels wrong.

I walk slowly toward the bed when his eyes rise to mine.

I see it—the rage glittering in his navy eyes.

His relaxed posture from earlier is gone, but he extends a hand in invitation.

I accept, and he pulls me into his side, folding an arm around my back.

His hand rests on my hip, his middle finger drawing a gentle pattern there. His other hand white knuckles my phone.

“I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him before he touches you or Adrienne again.”

“I didn’t read them all. And I didn’t listen to the voicemails.” I snake an arm around his waist, enjoying touching him .

“Good. We’re going to get you a new phone.

We talked about that, but didn’t get to it yesterday.

I’ll make that happen today. I want you to keep this one active for now.

I want to know what he’s thinking and saying.

It’s intel, and you going dark makes him more of a wildcard.

The more we can have the info and know his movements and thoughts, the better.

That said, I don’t want you reading or listening to any of these. I’ve got it from here.”

“But—”

A firm squeeze on my hip has me looking up. “But nothing.” His finger continues its massage at my hip. “Let me take care of you.”

A shiver runs through me at his double entendre.

“Okay, Ren,” I lift up enough to kiss the underside of his jaw.

Ren

This morning has been shit. It’s been revealing, but shit nonetheless.

I left the house around three-thirty, with Anni sleeping fitfully in my bed. She was only there because I carried her here from the guest room. My wife sleeps in our bed, not in the guest room. I saw to that and held her for a while, silently repeating my vows to her.

I’m aware that when Heath is out of the picture permanently, she’ll have no need for this marriage.

It started as a farce and could remain that way, but since I’m a one-and-done kind of man, and she’s the only wife I’ll have, I may as well try to make it as good as I can for as long as I can.

And it’s Annika, who deserves nothing less.

For her, I got out of my warm bed, extricated myself from my spooning wife, and drove to Pueblo while it was still dark.

I parked my SUV and walked the street, still hidden in shadows, and surveilled the clubhouse of the Lost Mountain Rebels.

I noted all of the bikes there and the handful of cars parked outside.

I waited until things started coming to life in those walls far earlier than I would’ve guessed.

I marked the homes of the three main players—Giltenhouse, Smith, and Conyers—and two other lieutenants.

I drove the streets between the club and there enough to be suspicious if neighbors check their camera doorbells and discuss it.

But I don’t care. I need to know the routes and the ins-and-outs around these guys and how they might come and go next week.

I got home only to find the TV on, and my wife hunched over the toilet, emptying the contents of her stomach into the bowl, while wracked with sobs.

Feeling her fear and seeing her obvious worry for her own safety and that of Adrienne stokes a fire in me that ignited on Wednesday night. I must protect her. I owe it to my best friend growing up. I owe it to Anni.

She was dealt a shit hand in life. Her dad bailed when she was little. Her mom worked a lot but never seemed to get ahead. I know the life. I had the same.

And knowing what I know now about after I moved, I’m committed to making the rest of forever easy and light for her.

So, when she kisses my jaw, I turn my eyes to her.

“Sunshine, we’ve spent too much time with you in tears.

I’m not telling you how to feel, but I will find a way for you to have far more happy moments.

One day, you’ll look back and realize the fear, the sadness, maybe even the loneliness of carrying everything on your shoulders—all of it is a thing of the past. I hope at the end of your life, the scales lean so heavily into joy that they’ve crashed to the ground, leaving no room for the pain to register. ”

Her eyes drop to mine before flickering back to my eyes. She bites her lip and looks away, and that’s all it takes.

I turn into her, pulling her up to whisper against her lips. “I haven’t forgotten about the happy conversation, either. Want to discuss that now?”

Her eyes hold mine captive, and her lips brush mine when she replies, “Not really.”

“Not really because you’re not ready? Or not really because you’d rather have happy?”

The warmth of her cheeks flushing is a yes, but I want the words. “I need the words, baby. You have to use your voice.”

I pull her to straddle me and slide both of my hands to cup her face, keeping her close. “I promise there’s no safer place on the planet for you than right here.”

She nods. “Please, Ren.” She rocks her hips, and it’s game on. I waste no time claiming her mouth. And I mean claim it. My tongue tangles with hers, spurred on by her whimpers. Anni meets me stroke for stroke, still rocking against my rock-hard dick.

I snake one hand down her back, over the globe of her ass, and cup her sex through her pajama bottoms. She moans into my mouth, her eyes go wide, and her lips pop open in an O.

When I trail a finger over her ass and back to her pussy, she shivers.

She forgets about being subtle in how she moves against my cock.

Her hot center is open in invitation, and my dick is dying to accept.

I press into her at the juncture where we meet, my jeans-covered cock seeking out her hot pussy.

I watch in rapt fascination as she moves.

Her face is flushed, her neck is extended.

Her mouth is open in ecstasy. Her arms rest beside my pecs, and she rocks like a jockey bound and determined to win the Derby.

I memorize her—the beauty, the strength, the color of her cheeks, and the pattern of her breaths.

I stare shamelessly at the beauty hovering above me seeking her pleasure.

I lift her hips and slide down the bed until she straddles my chest. She’s wide open to me, and I can smell her desire.

“I want these off.” I tug at the fabric of her bottoms. “And I want you to talk to me, Anni. I won’t do anything you don’t want. But, right now, what I want is for you to sit on my face, and let me eat your sweet pussy until you come.”

Her blush is furious, but she lifts a knee, sliding her pajamas and panties off.

“Climb on baby. Come ride my face like you would my dick.”

She’s slow to straddle me, settling her wet core on the center of my chest, holding my gaze. Her expression is cautious. And she leans down to take my lips. She’s leading, but it’s not at all what I expect with the way her body was just seeking release.

“I’ve never done that.”

“Ride someone’s face?”

“Had anyone do… that.”

Fuck yes.

“Oh, well that changes things.”