Chapter 23

Ledger

I stare into the soft-blue eyes of Posey Dixon, the woman I've completely fallen in love with.

I know I haven't known her long, but who says there needs to be a time limit on love?

I say, fuck that.

I think I fell in love with Posey the minute I met her. The moment the need to protect her surged through me with an intensity I had never felt before.

I meant what I said, I won't let Bane hurt her. I knew there had to be more to the story of why she was marrying him.

Posey is too good. Too pure.

I kiss her, holding her body against me as my dick comes to life. Thoughts swirl through my mind as I bring her closer, letting my teeth sink into the soft flesh of her shoulder.

She stares at me. "Take all my troubles away. Tell me we'll deal with everything after I feel you inside me once more."

"I'll deal with everything," I say, bringing her tits closer to my face.

She stops me, cupping my cheeks with both hands, moving my face so she can stare into my eyes. "Don't shut me out. I need to help you deal with everything. I need to be involved."

I hate this idea. "I don't want you to get hurt."

"If something were to happen to you, I'd never be able to recover from that pain."

I smooth back her hair. "Nothing's going to happen to me."

She rocks her body against mine. "Promise me," she whispers.

I can't make this promise. Sure, I could easily tell her I promise, but I don't know if I'd be able to keep it or not. So, instead of making her the promise, I kiss her. I kiss her with everything I've got.

Everything I have.

I kiss her like the whole world is burning down around me. I kiss her like she's the oxygen I need to survive.

She grips onto me like I'm her anchor. She moans into the kiss, and I reposition her body, placing the head of my cock at her entrance. I sink her down onto me, groaning as she takes me inch by inch.

"Fuck, you feel so damn good," I hiss out.

She places her hands on my shoulders as she rocks against me, causing the water to splash onto the floor.

I don't give a fuck, because this feels too good. Too magical.

"Nothing's going to happen to me," I tell her, staring into her soft-blue eyes.

"Promise me," she whispers as my dick pushes deeper inside her.

We both groan out in unison once I'm fully seated inside her, and she moves her hips, testing the feel of it.

"You're so fucking pretty," I tell her instead, fisting my hand into her hair. "So fucking good."

"Promise me, Ledger," she says, leaning her head back slightly when I tug on her hair.

I bring my lips to her breasts, covering one with my mouth as I nibble her nipple between my teeth, and then suck. "I can't," I whisper as I move from one breast to the other, repeating the action. I keep sucking on her, going back and forth from breast to breast.

She pulls at my hair, and brings me to where our eyes lock. "Lie to me," she says, kissing me hard against my lips.

I keep pounding my cock inside her, letting her ride me as she wants, and I kiss her, letting her know I won't lie to her. "No," I tell her.

She slams her body hard against my dick. "Lie to me, dammit," she says, letting out a frustrating tiny growl.

I pull out of her, and switch our positions to where she's leaning over the tub, and I'm behind her. I spank her ass as I push myself back inside her. I pull her by the hair to where my mouth is next to her ear. "I'll never lie to you. I'll never tell you something I don't mean. You won't lose me, that's a fucking promise," I tell her, knowing I'll always be hers. No matter if Bane kills me or not, I will always fucking love her. "I'll forever be yours," I tell her, slamming my cock into her at a punishing tempo.

"Ledger, tell me I won't lose you. Tell me you'll be with me forever," she calls out.

"I'm yours, Posey. I'm not going anywhere." I run my fingers up her spine as my other hand sinks further into her wet hair. I kiss her neck, running my fingers over every inch of her. "Tell me you'll never leave me, Posey."

"I'll never leave you."

"Promise me this pussy is mine. Nobody else will ever touch you like I do. Nobody else will ever own your body the way I own it."

"I promise," she screams out as my fingers make contact with her clit.

I play with it, pushing against it. Being rough with it. Letting her know who she belongs to. "You're mine."

"I'm yours."

I'm so fucking turned on as my body builds toward my inevitable release. There're so many things I want to do with this woman. So many ways I want to show her how I feel, but right now, I don't think about the future.

I think about making her come once more. I think about feeling her body explode all over me.

"Come on this cock," I shout out, needing to feel her.

Her body doesn't take long before she's shouting out, "I'm coming," and I feel her crash down around me.

I keep my pace, knowing my release is just around the corner. "Are you on the pill?" I ask her, wanting to fill her up with my seed.

"No," she calls out.

At the very last second, I pull out of her, guiding my dick to the crack of her ass, letting jets of cum land on her porcelain skin. My eyes glaze over, staring at her, knowing I'll never let this woman leave me.

A while later, we lay together on my bed, with me stretched out on my back and Posey nestled snugly into my side, her head resting gently on my chest.

"We should consider leaving here soon," I murmur, my fingers tracing comforting patterns along her back.

"Why?" Posey props herself up, meeting my gaze directly.

"Because it"s only a matter of time before Bane sends his men searching for you here. I wouldn"t be surprised if they"re already on their way."

In a flurry of movement, Posey springs out of bed, scanning the room for her clothing. "We should leave immediately. Bane will show no mercy to either of us." She halts abruptly, fixing me with an intense stare. "I have nothing to wear. You cut my dress."

I shrug casually. "Leaving in a wedding dress would only attract unnecessary attention," I remark, rising from the bed. Making my way to the dresser, I open a drawer and retrieve a t-shirt and a pair of gray joggers, offering them to her. "It might be a bit loose, but it"ll work until we get to where we're going."

Her eyes widen as she slides the joggers up her legs. "Where are we headed?" she inquires.

Slipping into my own t-shirt, I respond, "I think we need to find a safe hideout for you, and I"d like you to meet my friend, Chloe Bardot. She"s a detective and probably the most capable person to help us."

"The police? But Mayor Thornberg likely has them in his pocket," she interjects.

"Not Chloe," I assert firmly. "I trust her completely, with both my life and yours."

Once Posey is dressed, she crosses the room, and I envelop her in my arms, planting a gentle kiss atop her head. "I"m scared," she confesses softly.

"I won"t let anyone hurt you," I reassure her.

We leave my condo, making our way to Club Greed. It's the only place I know with reinforced security. I call Dev and Chloe along the way, asking for Chloe to meet us there.

I hate involving them, especially with the fact they just had a baby, but I don't have any other options.

I also call Greer and Roman to meet us as well, asking Greer to bring a change of clothes for Posey. We'll need all the help we can get.

As we arrive at the back entrance of the club, an hour remains before its scheduled opening. We slip in unnoticed, blending into the bustling activity of the staff preparing for the evening ahead. No one spares us a second glance as I take Posey"s delicate hand in mine, leading her up to Devereaux"s office on the second floor.

It"s only a matter of minutes before Chloe, Greer, and Roman join us. After introductions are made, we bring them up to speed on recent events. Chloe settles into Devereaux"s chair, lost in thought as she absorbs the information. Greer and Roman occupy the couch, while Posey stands by my side as I recount the situation, tactfully omitting certain details—namely, the sex.

"Where's your phone?" Chloe inquires as soon as I conclude my explanation.

Posey shakes her head. "I smashed it and got rid of it before I left."

"Smart," Chloe says, shifting in her seat. "You're sure you heard Mayor Thornberg's voice?"

Posey nods. "A hundred percent. I saw him leave, too."

Roman blows out a breath. "Whatever we do we need to do it fast."

I nod. "I know." Problem is, I just don't know what to do.

"I have a cousin who's a federal agent. Vin Mills. He might be able to help us. I'll call him." Chloe stands from the chair, pulling her phone out of her handbag. "I'm going to make sure the baby and Dev are good too." She heads to the back of the office to have some privacy for her calls.

Greer takes Posey to the ensuite bathroom so they can talk and get Posey the change of clothing Greer brought with her.

I'm left standing with my twin. The man who knows me best in the world, and I swear he can read my mind.

"You love her, huh?"

I nod, because there's no use lying to him. "I do. So fucking much. I feel like I can't breathe, and there's no way I can ever let that asshole get his hands on her."

Roman slaps a hand down on my shoulder. "We'll figure it out. I'm sure Chloe's cousin can help."

"I can't believe Mayor Thornberg. He's running some, what, underground trafficking ring?"

Roman runs a hand along the back of his neck. "Whatever he's doing, he won't be doing it for long."

I stare into the eyes of my brother, knowing this man will forever have my back. And because of that he'll always protect Posey too.