Chapter Nineteen

Invasion

Ella

She was giddy as she held him, her fingertips skimming over his hot flesh as he pumped his hot cum inside her. They should be using a condom—she knew that—and they had been careful since they’d arrived at the apartment, but somehow, the need to have him had overwhelmed their sanity. She’d taken him to his bed without so much as a thought to contraception. Her heart hammered with excitement as the low guttural groan of his pleasure escaped his throat. Squeezing her intimate muscles around his shaft, she gazed up at the man who’d changed everything.

When she’d woken up beneath the giant tree, her worst fears had been realized. Alone and afraid, she hadn’t known what to expect, but when Tucker had arrived, her anxiety had only amplified. The dark, brooding stranger had ratcheted up her dread with his short, terse sentences and frightening physicality, but when he’d tipped her over his lap and exposed her, she’d been horrified. That first night with him was easily the most traumatic of her life, yet while that had only been a short time ago, it seemed like it was an age.

She, and Tucker, were almost unrecognizable compared to the people they’d been then. Or perhaps, to be more specific, they had the same views and experiences, but their eyes had been opened to a world far beyond their own. Tucker had careened into her life with all the grace of a wrecking ball and demanded her attention, but once he’d helped her out of the forest, she’d found an entirely new side to him. The domineering giant had taken care of all of her needs in the apartment and relented to allow her more freedom.

Tucker had invaded her life in the best possible way, and even though she bemoaned his authoritarian approach, it was no secret that she’d come to love it. He made her feel things she’d never experienced before. He listened to her, guided her, and naturally, it helped that the sex was fantastic.

If the lingering threat of her father and whatever cronies he and Tucker had known in the past hadn’t remained, things might have been perfect. Although, as he grazed his lips over her mouth, the casual observer might never have known about their underlying apprehension. They were simply a couple entwined in love, overcome by sexual rapture.

“That’s better.” She reached for the back of his neck, running her fingertips through his hair.

“So much better,” he agreed, nuzzling her neck. “Thank you, little girl.”

“You don’t have to thank me.” Her eyes fluttered closed at the intensity of his kisses. “I love this, sir.”

“And I’ll never stop being thankful for you.” He rose over her, his dark eyes large as they drilled into her. “Once this whole thing with Kenner is over, I want to take you somewhere hot and exotic and just relax.”

“Sounds good. Where did you have in mind, sir?”

“Where did you fancy going?” He slid from her and sprawled out on her right side. “I’ll happily go anywhere with you, Ella.”

“Mauritius is lovely.” It had been a while since she’d gone there, but the crystal blue waters surrounding the islands were difficult to rival. “But I agree… anywhere with you will be amazing, sir.”

He tugged her closer to his body. “We have the world at our feet, little girl, with the money to go anywhere we want.”

“I’d need to go shopping, though.” She batted her eyelashes at him, her pulse racing at the tantalizing idea. She could call Julia and arrange to meet her for moral support. It had been too long since they’d hit the high-end shopping mall they used to frequent. “I have hardly any decent summer wear.”

“I bet.” His arching eyebrow and dry tone told her he didn’t believe a word. She had more than enough clothes, and they both knew it, but he’d play along because he knew she enjoyed it. “I’m sure that can be arranged.”

She snuggled closer. “I’m sleepy, sir.”

“Then, let’s sleep on it.” He leaned down to kiss her crown. “Holiday plans and shopping trips can wait. Sweet dreams, little girl.”

***

She stirred in the darkness, warm and content as she rolled onto her side and caught sight of the time.

02:57

Her eyes widened as her brain registered the digit’s meaning. It was almost three o’clock. Their post-carnal snooze had morphed into a lengthy nap, and it was now the middle of the night.

She blinked around the shadows, considering whether she was too hot, too cold, or needed to use the bathroom, but no obvious ailment rose to answer her. The sound of Tucker’s gentle breathing behind her curled her lips, and for the longest time, she stayed stretched out at his side, reveling in that soft, rhythmic noise.

He was there with her. They were together.

Everything was all right.

The bubble of gratification swelled in her chest until her bladder decided she might as well tend to its needs before she went back to sleep. She’d padded halfway to the small en suite bathroom before the sound of footsteps down the corridor splintered her contented heart.

Footsteps!

Her brow furrowed even as her heart sprinted. Someone was in the apartment! She moved to the door and pressed her ear to the wood.

What if I heard wrong? What if there’s no one there, and I’m overreacting?

The questions rebounded in her head as she attempted to listen for more movement beyond the threshold, but in truth, all she could hear was the pounding of her panicked heart.

She closed her eyes, willing herself composure. She had to know if the threat was real or imagined before she disturbed her lover. The cold dread that washed over her body when the noise resumed at what sounded like the other end of the corridor was genuinely chilling.

“Shit!” She raced back to the bed and shook Tucker gently. “Tucker, wake up!”

The last time one of them had thought they’d heard someone in the middle of the night, her roses had been abruptly decapitated. She couldn’t risk worse happening to her and the man she loved. They’d known Collins might come back, but she’d need Tucker’s help to deal with him.

“Hmmm?” He roused dozily, rolling to face her. “What’s wrong, little girl?”

“I heard someone.” Her voice was a hoarse whisper. “In the apartment.”

“What?” He was wide awake in a second, sitting bolt upright in the bed. “Where?”

“In the hall.” She gestured behind her as though he didn’t know where the hall was or was even able to see the signal in the half-light. “I heard footsteps.”

“Wait here.” He rose to his full height, finding her in the darkness and maneuvering her to one side as he made for the bedroom door.

“Wait!” she hissed, reaching for him. “You can’t just go out there, sir. What if whoever it is has a gun?”

He paused at that, turning to face her.

“Then I have to arm myself to defend us.” He shrugged, as though there was something inevitable about gunning down an assailant.

But then, she remembered, this wasn’t Tucker’s first time. She wasn’t even sure the guy he’d slain in the woods had been his first civilian kill. Despite her growing adoration of him, she wouldn’t have been surprised if he hadn’t been.

“I don’t keep guns in the bedroom, little girl, and we don’t have time to argue about this. I want you to lock yourself in the en suite bathroom and wait there until I tell you it’s safe.” His voice was low as he reasoned with her.

“I can’t.” Hysteria swirled inside her, threatening to spill over as a full emotional breakdown if she didn’t get a grip. “I’m not staying here and doing nothing. What if you get hurt? What if you—”

“Ella.” His deeper tone cut her off, though her pulse still sped out of control. “I have to act, and I need to know you’re safe.”

“But what about you?” Her hushed voice broke with the question. “I’ll be worried sick, sir.”

“I’ll be fine.” He leaned closer in the darkness. “I’ve been trained to deal with scum like this.”

“Tucker, I’m scared.” She pressed her palm against his hot flesh, suddenly reminded that they were both naked.

“Take your phone from the bedside counter and grab the robe I left on the back of the bathroom door.” His hand found hers in the darkness. “I’ll be back soon, I promise.”

She bit back her tears as she nodded, allowing him to guide her around the bed to collect her device. The last words that left her lips as he ushered her into the en suite were the same ones that filled her head as she locked the door and slid down the wooden frame to cry.

“I love you, Tucker. Please come back to me.”

***

Tucker

He could make out her muffled sobs as he headed for the bedroom door, but Tucker had no time to dwell on his little girl’s pain. If she was right about hearing footsteps then the prophecy of the note left with her damaged blooms had come true. Kenner, or more likely one of his pawns, had come calling.

Collins.

His jaw tightened as he found his pants in the darkness and yanked them on before he grabbed his phone and stashed it in his pocket. The idea of that traitorous bastard lurking anywhere near Ella was nauseating enough, but his blood boiled at the notion that he’d returned to harm her.

I won’t let that happen.

Of course, he’d really come to kill him, but Tucker couldn’t risk her getting caught in the crossfire.

Opening the door as quietly as he could, the cooler air of the hall rushed to meet him. Flashbacks of the last time Collins had broken into the place at night flooded his senses, making it difficult to focus as he edged out into the corridor.

His every sense was heightened as he inched sideways toward his office and the gun he’d kept stowed away. He’d considered keeping it in the bedroom after the last home invasion but couldn’t sleep comfortably knowing such a vile weapon was so close to his little girl. He’d lost his mother to a bullet and refused to even contemplate Ella facing the same fate. His desire to keep her safe then made his need to defend her now even harder.

No obvious noises were audible as he slid into the office and crept to the safe, but he didn’t linger on where the assailant might be. All that mattered was gaining the means to defend themselves. When he had that, he’d go and find the fucker himself.

Once again, the noise of the safe’s security was excruciating as he punched in the numbers, but as soon as the door opened and he reached in to retrieve the weapon, his anxiety immediately quelled.

With the gun in his hand, Tucker knew he was in control. He’d find Collins, or whoever had dared to intrude, and send him a message that even Kenner could feel from his plush mansion house. He’d almost made it to the office doorway when the black silhouette came into view before him.

“Who are you?” He wasn’t even sure why he asked. Tucker knew who he was, but Collins’ identity didn’t matter, so long as he left in a body bag. “Any final requests before I line your lungs with lead?”

“Bowman.” The stranger’s voice was familiar, but strangely, it hadn’t been the one he’d expected. Fleetingly, Tucker paused, attempting to decide who the mystery man was. “We need to talk.”

“Who. Are. You?” Tucker was losing patience, but as his finger hovered over the trigger, he realized if it wasn’t Collins, he needed to know who the culprit was before he killed him.

His query was answered when the intruder flicked on the office light, the pale illumination blinking on to reveal just about the last man Tucker had expected to find in his apartment. There, leaning against the doorframe, as though he’d been invited for coffee and cake, was Alexander Bennett.

“Bennett?” Tucker shook his head, though still he didn’t flick on the safety. “Why the hell are you here?”

Bennett lifted his chin, as though the words he wanted to speak were painful. When he finally blew out a breath, his expression was grave.

“We need to talk about Ella.”