Page 4 of Stone (Claimed and Protected #3)

My need to fill her became ravenous and I was quickly losing control.

“Come for me, baby. I can’t hold it much longer.”

Her shivers intensified and within seconds, she dug her long nails into my skin as if holding on for dear life. When her eyes rolled into the back of her head, I thrust even harder, using my thigh muscles to power into her.

She tossed her head from side to side, her chest heaving.

“Yes. Yes. Oh, Stone. Oh, my God.”

As before, just hearing her call out my name was sweeter than any top 40 hit. “That’s it, baby girl.”

Her body rocked as she panted and long strands of hair fell on her face. Her laugh was bubbly, full of delight.

Goddamn, what the hell would I do without her?

With her mouth in a perfect ‘o,’ she slowly lowered her head. “That was… amazing.”

“You’re amazing.” I was losing it, doing everything I could to hold back.

She seemed to sense my condition, the mischievous smile returning to her face. When she squeezed her muscles, a moment of shock and awe rolled through me.

“You’re sure you’re a virgin? Where the… fuck did you… learn to do that?”

Her giggle filled the cab. “I do read.”

She surprised me even more, bucking harder against me until I couldn’t hold back any longer. There was no chance of doing so. As soon as I gripped the back of her neck, my entire body stiffened.

The beautiful feeling of filling her with my seed was entirely different than I’d thought it would be.

Doing so was much better. So much better.

I ground my teeth together to keep from roaring loudly.

She laughed and continued grinding her hips against me. As we slowly came down from the high, I wasn’t certain there was enough air in the cab for the two of us.

Fumbling, I finally found the handle and started to roll down the window. Steam covered every surface.

“That was hot,” she murmured.

“No, you’re hot, baby. Look what you did to my truck.”

“You can’t be angry with me. Right?” She pouted her pretty lips and I was about to kiss her again when something caught my eye.

Dani noticed my gaze and snapped her head toward the back window. “Oh, my God. Are those blue lights?”

I glanced into the side and rearview mirrors before craning my neck. “Oh, fuck. Get dressed, baby. We’ve got company.”

“Oh, shit. Oh, shit! Ugh, if my father finds out about this, he’ll kill us both.”

Tell me something I didn’t know.

We scrambled as the lights got closer. I lifted my butt off the seat, fighting to shove my cock into my jeans. My hands were sweaty and my fucking pulse was through the roof. This was the last thing I needed. If I was arrested, my career as a Navy man would be over before it started.

She tossed me my shirt, half laughing, half moaning as she struggled into her own.

When two vehicles pulled alongside us, I pulled back and tried to think of some plausible story. Sure, the place behind the star had long since been known as a lover’s lane, the place kids had gone to for decades. The cops usually didn’t care as long as crimes weren’t being committed.

We were both of age. We hadn’t used drugs and there wasn’t a drop of alcohol in my truck.

What the fuck were they hassling us for?

I took a deep breath, noticing she was finally fully dressed. “You ready? We’re out of time.”

“I’m ready.”

“Just act natural. We were just here to spend our last night together.”

She nodded and bit her lip. I rolled the window all the way down as two car doors were slammed shut. Fuck. This wasn’t going to be good.

I immediately reached for my wallet, throwing Dani a sly smile while I fumbled to get my driver’s license. “Good evening, Officer. What can I do for you?”

His face was pinched and my nerves shot to the edge.

“Son, you need to get out of the car. You too, miss.”

I’ll be damned if the bastard didn’t shine his flashlight in the cab, concentrating the beam on Dani. Wincing, she shielded her eyes. That’s when I noticed she’d put her shirt on backwards. Well, fuck me.

“What’s the reason for the stop, Officer ?” she threw out, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Miss, just exit the vehicle.”

“I know my rights, Officer. Unless you tell us why we are being detained then we’re staying put.”

“It’s okay, baby,” I told her. I knew exactly how she got when her feathers were ruffled.

“No, it’s not,” she snapped. “This… person is simply hassling us. Do you have nothing better to do? And get the goddamn light out of our eyes.”

“Dani. It’s okay.” The situation was already getting out of hand.

“It’s okay, Jim. My daughter has a point.”

Daughter? Oh, fuck a duck and then some. I’d recognize her father’s voice anywhere since he’d been on television so damn much in his reelection bid.

“Daddy. What are you doing here?” Dani was startled.

“I guess I could ask you the same question, but I suppose I don’t need to.” Bradford Vale was a powerful man within the city limits. I had no doubt he had his aspirations set on the White House.

That wasn’t the reason I hated him. His arrogance and entitlement did that in spades.

Plus, his absolute hatred of my father had chafed me a long time before.

“I’m going to ask you one more time,” the officer chimed in. “Please exit the vehicle.”

I noticed a second officer had moved to Dani’s side, keeping the beam low, but prepared to search for anything illegal. The fucking mayor was trying to ruin my life because I loved his daughter.

Well, fuck him.

“Come on, baby.” I opened the door and heard her cursing under her breath.

As soon as I stepped out, I was roughly frisked just like I’d anticipated.

Dani flew around the back of the truck. “Leave him the fuck alone! He did nothing wrong.”

“Watch your language, Daniella,” Bradford told her. “In case you both didn’t read the sign, which I know you did, the park is closed at eleven. It’s almost midnight. You lied to me, Daniella. You told me you were spending the night with friends.”

The asshole had had one of his security goons tail us. I’d bet that in any poker game. I tried to keep my cool, reminding myself that at least I wouldn’t need to put up with his constant shit much longer.

“Tonight is the last night Stone will be here, Daddy. I had to see him. Surely, even you can understand that. He’s my boyfriend.”

“As I told you before. He’s not good enough for you. Search the vehicle, Officers,” he told the cops.

“For what?” I demanded.

“Yeah, Daddy. What are you trying to do?” Dani folded her arms and walked closer to her father. I’d never seen her so angry around him and I had to admit I was kind of proud of her.

“Trying to protect my daughter since she obviously has poor taste and can’t look out for herself.”

“Daddy!”

“It’s okay, Dani. I’m used to it.” Sadly, I was. He’d hassled me as much as he had my father, as if our bloodline was tainted. I had no idea why, my dad refusing to talk about it.

Bradford walked closer and I could swear he was trying to goad me into punching him. He had no idea how much I wanted to, but he wasn’t worth it. Not losing my career. Not possibly spending time in jail. Or losing Dani over my need for violence.

“Go to my car, Daniella,” he told her.

“Daddy, no.”

“I said,” he growled. “Get your things and go. To. My. Car. Now.”

She was shocked, turning toward me. “He’s leaving tomorrow morning, Daddy. I need time to say goodbye.”

“You’ve had plenty of time. Too much time if you ask me. Now, do as I say.”

She was eighteen, but still lived under his roof. I knew how difficult our relationship had been for her since her dad hated me so much. I just couldn’t figure out why. Other than that I was in a different financial class.

“I love you, Stone. Call me.”

We’d already made plans for her to come to the parking lot where I’d leave on a bus. At least we’d have a few more minutes together before I left.

“Don’t worry. I will.” I gave her a slight smile while the fuckers rifled through my truck. So help me God, if they dared plant anything, I’d… Hell, I had no clue what I’d do. What money did I have for getting an attorney?

Her father waited while she walked away, even watching to make certain she didn’t double back before exhaling. “Son, I thought I made myself very clear during our last conversation that you were to leave my daughter alone.”

“With all due respect, Mr. Vale, your daughter is eighteen and entitled to make her own decisions.”

His chuckle was infuriating. “My daughter is a very intelligent girl, Stone, but she can’t made decent decisions for herself. To want to be in a relationship with nothing more than trailer trash is beyond me.”

Trailer trash. I opened my mouth, ready to spew off some shit, but knew that’s what he was looking for. I thought about my mother and how proud she was I’d graduated from college with honors and was headed into the Navy. It would kill her if I ruined my opportunity.

When I didn’t take the bait, he laughed.

“The fact your father should be rotting away in prison doesn’t seem to deter her. Now, fortunately, you’ve done us both a favor by joining the military. Who knows. Maybe one day you’ll make something of yourself.”

That was it. I reared back, the thought of breaking the fucker’s neck all that was on my mind. He could say anything he wanted about me, but not my parents. Bradford didn’t move. The fucker even had a grin on his face.

“I think I found something,” one of the officers said from behind me.

My God. I stopped short, half laughing. “I’ll give you credit, Mr. Vale. You’re damn good at framing someone. I’m curious if that’s how you’ve advanced in your career. You and I both know the officers found nothing in my truck. Not a damn thing. You just want me out of your daughter’s life.”

“Yes, I do, but you don’t seem to want to go willingly. I thought a little reminder of just how different and difficult your life could be was necessary.”

“I’m leaving in the morning to serve my country, something I’d certain you never had the guts to do. I’ll be out of your daughter’s life.”

“Then I don’t think we have an issue here.” He waved off the officers. The fucker had won. Again.

Soon, she’d be halfway across the world and he couldn’t control her any longer.

“What do you have against my dad?”

He laughed. “Nothing for you to worry about, son. As long as you don’t contact my daughter again, I don’t think we’ll have any problems.”

I gritted my teeth and glanced toward his vehicle. Even in the darkness, I could still see her face. The ache was terrible, my heart in my throat. What the hell could I say at this point?

He seemed to sense I was resigned to the unholy deal he thought we’d made. The fucker didn’t know me that well. As soon as I had everything figured out, I planned on asking Dani to marry me. And there would be nothing the asshole could do about it.

“Good luck, son. I’m certain you’ll need it.” Bradford clapped me on the shoulder before turning away.

“You might think of yourself as a powerful man, Mr. Vale. You’ve certainly enjoyed stepping on people along the way.

I suppose you think you’re a great man, but I’m here to tell you something.

My father did the best he could. Sure, we grew up in a trailer and sometimes we didn’t have a lot of food to eat.

Forget about Christmas. There was no money for presents, but he always provided what I needed.

He never let me down. He never condescended to me for a single decision I made and told me often he was proud of me.

My father is truly a great man, Mr. Vale.

Not you. I will promise you this. We will meet again.

One day there will come a time when we’ll meet and, on that day, I will have the pleasure of punching you in the face for insulting my family. ”

He had the balls to laugh at me.

With a smile on my face, I waited as he walked away. Still feeling good about himself. Still acting as if his shit didn’t stink.

I remained where I was, refusing to allow the vile man to run me off.

Only when the taillights of their vehicles faded in the distance did I finally slump against the side of the truck. I was so tense and so angry I couldn’t think clearly.

The ache was real and so painful.

Somehow, I feared I’d never see her again.

But a promise had been made and I planned on doing everything in my power to keep it.

As soon as I climbed into my truck, I slammed my fists against the steering wheel and dropped my head. A single tear fell. My life was about to change.

Because I’d be without the woman I loved.