Page 53 of The Starlet
I need her like I need my next breath. In this moment, she is absolutely everything. I feel her flutter around me, and she tightens her legs behind me. She’s like a vise, and I can’t hold on any more. I let go, giving her everything—my love, my anger, my fear. It’s one of the most intense orgasms of my life, and it seems to go on forever as I thrust everything deep inside her.
Images of her pregnant flash behind my closed eyes, and it’s enough to set me off on another mini-orgasm as I help her ride the waves of hers.
Dropping my head to her neck, I pepper kisses from her jaw to collarbone. “What do you think about moving in with me?”Shit, that wasn’t supposed to be out loud.
She tenses under my grasp as I wait for an answer.
Chapter 33
Move in with him?We’ve been officially together for just over a month now. Things seem to be moving fast, yet, at the same time, it feels right. Being with him is exactly what I need. I shouldn’t be scared, right?
Then why does it feel like he’s just asked me to marry him?
Seconds tick by as he waits for my answer. I drop my legs from his waist, and he slides out of me but stays exactly where he is, on top of me.
“Um, what about my house?”
“We don’t have to make it official if you’re not comfortable with it. You can keep your house and move some of your stuff here, or I can bring some stuff over to you. You weren’t with me for three days, and it felt like a lifetime.”
I know exactly what he’s talking about. Not being able to see him after spending every night together killed me, too. I didn’t sleep well, and when I would wake in the middle of the night, I would reach for him, only to remember he wasn’t there. It was my fault, but it didn’t make it any easier.
He rolls over and lies on his back, his hand resting on his chest. “I know this is moving fast, and I understand if you don’t want to.”
Defeated. That’s how he sounds. That’s the last thing I want, especially after everything he has done for me.
“I missed you when I wasn’t with you. It hurt when I would wake up and you weren’t there. I hated how I didn’t even have your scent to keep me company in the dark.” He takes a breath and turns on his side, facing me—waiting for more. “I’d like to live together, but I want to do it at my place. Right now, when I think of my home, I think of tonight and of other sad, lonely memories. I don’t want that anymore. I want you to help me fill it with new, happy ones.”
“Are you sure?”
I nod and turn to face him. “Yeah. If you’re okay with that.”
He pulls me toward him, careful of my sore bottom, and tucks my hair behind my ear. He leans in, placing a gentle kiss on my lips, and I melt into him. “I love this idea. Let’s get cleaned up and in bed. We can start making arrangements tomorrow.”
* * *
Brad wasgracious enough to find a cleaning crew that could take care of the mess on my living room carpet so I didn’t have to deal with it. I’m paying them extra to come out on a Saturday and get it done as soon as possible. I want to be home, in my bed, with my man. We still have a few days to make up for.
We arrive at the police station and run in quickly to avoid paparazzi in case they are lurking outside. I don’t need this getting out. We arrive at reception, and the woman behind the glass buzzes us through the door. We follow her to a briefing room, and when we decline something to drink, she leaves us alone to wait for Detective Greene.
Brad takes my hand in his and kisses my knuckles before smoothing his thumb over my skin. I lean my head on his shoulder and wait. I don’t care that I’m sitting in a room in a police station. I have Brad here, and all is right with my world for now.
Detective Greene walks in followed by my elderly attorney, Judy Stein. He puts a Styrofoam cup on the table between us and takes a seat on the other side, flipping open a manila envelope. The first thing I see is Josh’s mugshot with yesterday’s date printed on the bottom. I’m itching to grab the information and go through it—see what else they’ve uncovered—but I keep my hands in my lap.
“We have your statement from last night here, but I want to make sure we have every bit of information. We need to make a compelling case if we are going to make sure he’s put away.”
My stomach drops. I didn’t even think of this implication. I’m ruining a man’s life by giving this statement. I’ll condemn him to a few years in prison, at least, and then a lifetime of difficulty. He’ll have to report this going out for any job, or in any relationship. My mind wanders with all the waysI’mgoing to ruin his life.
“I don’t want him put away,” I blurt out. All three sets of eyes bore into me, a look of utter disappointment etched on their features.
I lick my dry lips, wishing I’d taken the other officer up on a glass of water, then nibble at some skin on my lower one.
“Why wouldn’t you want him behind bars? He stalked you and put a lot of personal information out for the mass public. He has to have some sort of mental problem,” Detective Greene says.
“This is already going to haunt him for the rest of his life. I don’t want to make it harder than it has to be. Can we get a restraining order in place, and maybe have him checked out? See if he has any mental health issues that therapy can resolve? I want him far away from me and Brad. I don’t want to be in any part of his life, but if you lock him up, he’s going to remember me forever.”
The detective’s eye twitches. He’s not happy with my decision. He was out for blood. I get the sense he’s a man that stops at nothing until there are no options left.
“Elena, it would be best if he serves some time,” Judy says matter of fact.