Chapter 15

CHAPTERFIFTEEN

Everyone came to the lodge to say goodbye the next morning. Lara felt like a zombie; she hadn’t gotten nearly enough sleep, as Owl had been insatiable. He’d done just what he’d promised, filled her up three times, making her orgasm at least double that amount. She felt like a rubber noodle, and while it might not have been his intent, she was too tired, too sated, to feel any apprehension about leaving The Refuge that morning.

Owl had kept a hand on her almost at all times. As if he couldn’t bear to not touch her. At the small of her back, his arm brushing against hers, holding her hand. She’d dreamed of a man like this, but honestly had lost all hope of ever finding him. And now here she was. Lara had to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.

When everyone had said their goodbyes, and as Brick was giving Owl and Stone a last list of instructions and information about the chopper and the transaction, Cora pulled Lara to the side.

“You look tired, are you all right?”

The concern her best friend had for her made Lara feel good. “I’m fine. I just didn’t get much sleep last night.”

“Were you up worrying?” Cora asked with a frown.

Lara gave her a shy smile. “Hardly.”

Comprehension dawned on her. “Oh!” she said with a grin.

“Yeah, oh.”

“I take it giving Owl control worked out for you?”

“Definitely,” Lara agreed.

Cora grinned stupidly. Then she sobered. “I’m in awe of you. Out of the two of us, you’ve always been the smart one, the pretty one, the elegant one. And now you’re the Wonder Woman of us too. You can literally do anything you put your mind to. I should be jealous as hell, but instead I’m just so damn proud.”

“Cora,” she protested, feeling overwhelmed.

“Nope. No crying. I forbid it,” Cora said, even as her eyes filled with tears.

So Lara did the only thing she could right then, she pulled Cora into a hug and held her tight.

“Love you,” Cora mumbled against Lara’s shoulder.

“Love you too,” she returned.

They stood like that for a moment before movement caught Lara’s eyes. She looked up to see Owl, Pipe, Stone, and Brick staring at them.

She lowered her arms and Cora turned.

“What?” she asked. “Can’t two best friends share a hug?”

Pipe chuckled. “No one said anything,” he reassured his wife.

“Whatever,” she mumbled.

Pipe pulled her into his arms. Cora leaned back against him and covered his clasped hands with her own where they rested on her belly.

“If you have any questions about anything, don’t hesitate to call,” Brick told Owl and Stone. “I’ve looked over all the paperwork, so it’s just a matter of you guys signing on the dotted line if you give the chopper your approval after test-flying. As soon as I get word from you that all’s well, I’ll have Savannah get the ball rolling on the money transfer.”

Owl and Stone nodded.

“You’ve got your licenses, right?”

“Yes, Mom,” Stone joked.

Brick winced. “Sorry. Just had to make sure.”

Owl had approached Lara while Brick was still talking, standing next to her with his fingertips resting lightly on the small of her back. That touch reminded her of the night before, when she was on her knees and he was behind her, caressing that spot right where his fingers were now as he took her hard and deep.

She shivered.

“If you feel as if something’s off, speak up,” Brick ordered Lara in a firm tone.

She nodded.

“And, you two, if you get that oh-shit feeling, don’t hesitate. Get the hell gone. A chopper’s not worth anyone’s life,” Brick said.

“You hear anything from Tex?” Stone asked with a frown.

“No. Grant’s still in the wind. I’m just being cautious.”

“Nothing’s gonna happen to Lara. I give you my word,” Owl vowed.

“Good. But she’s not the only one I’m worried about,” Brick said.

“We’ve got this,” Stone said.

“I dare Carter to show his face,” Lara blurted. “Not that he can know where I am or what our plans are, but if he does, he’ll be caught in a heartbeat. He can’t go anywhere without being recognized…thanks to Cora.” Lara smiled over at her best friend. “He sticks out like a sore thumb. We’ll be fine.”

“Right. Then let’s get going. You guys have a flight to catch,” Brick said firmly.

Lara hugged Cora once more then headed out to Brick’s Rubicon with the others. Stone sat in the front with Brick, and Owl held the back door open for Lara. He climbed in after her, and once she’d fastened her seat belt, Owl immediately reached for her hand.

She shot him a shy smile as she squeezed his fingers. He smiled back and ran his thumb over the back of her hand. That brought another reminder of the night before, of the moments after the last time they’d made love. The sheets were a mess, she felt sweaty, but she’d never been more content. They’d lain next to each other, holding hands, attempting to catch their breaths, and Owl had run his thumb over her hand just as he was now. No words were needed; that small touch said it all.

Then they’d taken turns in the bathroom, put their shirts and underwear back on, and had almost immediately fallen asleep in each other’s arms.

Owl was her perfect match. In every way. He made her feel stronger. Invincible. Like she could do anything. They hadn’t talked about marriage, but Lara had no doubt that was coming. She wasn’t so old-fashioned that she felt as if she had to be married to have a child, but her parents would be disappointed if she wasn’t. Not that she lived to please her mom and dad, but since she was sure it was what she and Owl wanted, it wouldn’t be a hardship to take that step.

As they drove toward the airport, as if he could read her mind, Owl lifted her hand and kissed her ring finger. It was almost scary how calm Lara felt. She should be freaking out. Leaving The Refuge was a big deal, but with Owl at her side, she could face anything.

Determined to not be a liability, as purchasing this helicopter was important to Owl and his friends, Lara took a deep breath. She could do this. They’d go up north, test-fly the chopper, then start the multiday trip home, stopping at small towns along the way. Easy-peasy.

* * *

That night, after arriving in Seattle and very nearly having a panic attack at the airport, Lara’s optimism about the trip was waning. It was easy to be brave when she was at The Refuge. But out here, with so many people around, with so many places a man could hide, and so many ways he could manipulate others to get to her, Lara was regretting her decision to come with Owl and Stone.

Recognizing her increasing panic, Owl had been glued to her side, his head on a constant swivel. He’d told her that she was safe probably a hundred times.

Lara wanted to scream that she wasn’t safe. That she wouldn’t be safe until Carter Grant was behind bars. But she kept her mouth shut. She was afraid that if she said anything, she wouldn’t be able to stop. The last thing she wanted was to mess up this trip. For Owl and Stone, and all the others at The Refuge who were looking forward to having a helicopter at their disposal.

They had just arrived at the hotel, and Stone was checking them in while Owl sat with Lara on one of the couches in the large lobby. She was practically on his lap, squished up against the arm of the sofa with Owl’s body plastered against her side, but it made her feel more secure.

Stone walked over to where they were sitting and crouched in front of them, handing Owl a small paper envelope with what Lara assumed were the keys inside.

“You’re in room 412. If you want to go on up, I’ll make contact with Ricky and let you know what time he’ll be ready for us tomorrow,” Stone said.

“What room are you in?” Owl asked.

He shrugged. “There was a mix-up and the room was double booked. But it’s not a big deal. I can stay out in the rental.”

Lara frowned as it dawned on her what he was saying. “No,” she said with a shake of her head. “Absolutely not.”

Stone’s face gentled. “It’s okay.”

“It’s not okay,” Lara said, panic rising within her once again. “You can’t sleep in the car. It’s not safe. And that’s crazy! Why don’t you want to stay in the room with us? Is it me? I know I’ve been a little unsettled, but I promise I’ll be better. I won’t bother you.”

“It’s not you,” Stone said without hesitation, trying to soothe her.

But Lara wouldn’t be soothed. “No! If you’re sleeping in the car, we’re all sleeping in the car. I won’t be able to get a wink of rest if I know you’re out there alone and I’m in a comfortable bed. If you’re uneasy about being a third wheel, don’t. And I can sleep on the couch so you’re rested for tomorrow. I’m assuming our room has one, but if not, I can sleep on the floor.”

“We have a room with two queen beds, Lara. And even if we didn’t, you’re not sleeping on the damn floor,” Owl said with a scowl.

“I am if it keeps Stone out of the car!” Lara almost screeched. Her voice was too loud, but with her panic steadily rising since they’d left the airport, she was on the verge of having a breakdown.

“All right. I’ll stay in the room,” Stone told her quietly.

“Seriously! I don’t understand why you’d do that. I shouldn’t have come. You wouldn’t have even thought about sleeping in the car if I wasn’t here!” Lara had worked herself into a state and couldn’t seem to snap out of it. “You guys are best friends! You’ve been to hell and back and now you don’t even want to sleep in the same room as us? I don’t want to come between your friendship!”

Stone leaned in and gently cupped Lara’s face in his hands—and she abruptly stopped spiraling. “I was trying to be polite,” he said, softly yet firmly.

“Well…stop it,” Lara grumbled.

His lips twitched. “Okay.”

“Okay,” she agreed.

“You good?”

“I don’t know. Are you really going to sleep in the room with us?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’m good,” Lara decided.

Stone held her for a moment longer, then pulled her forward and kissed her forehead before letting go and turning to Owl. “She’s kind of a firecracker. I wouldn’t have guessed.”

Owl’s hand went to the back of her neck and squeezed gently. “For the record, if she didn’t set you straight, I would’ve. What the hell were you thinking, Stone?”

“I was thinking that you guys needed your rest. And you know how bad my nightmares can get. Don’t want to wake you up in the middle of the night because I know it’s impossible for you to get back to sleep once you’re up.”

“Not anymore,” Owl informed his friend.

“What? Seriously?”

“Seriously. Apparently, holding Lara is the cure for my insomnia.”

“Wow. That’s awesome.”

“It is. And fuck you for thinking I’d give a shit about you waking me up. And for not telling me you’re still having those damn nightmares.”

Stone shrugged and stood. “They aren’t anything new. They come and go. I just didn’t want to bother you guys if they happened while we were traveling.”

Owl stood, and Lara did the same, wrapping her arm around him, wanting to stay close to his side but feeling bad for Stone at the same time.

“Well, if they do, it’s fine,” Owl said firmly.

“Don’t let her get near me if I have one,” Stone warned.

“I won’t,” Owl told his friend.

“Wait a minute,” Lara complained. “If you think I’m gonna sit and watch when he’s suffering from a nightmare, you’re wrong.”

“Trust me, sweetheart. I’ve got this. I know how to deal with them. And Stone’s right. You can’t get near him if he’s having a nightmare.”

“I get…violent,” Stone explained as he pushed the button for the elevator. “I’d hate myself if I hurt you.”

Lara’s heart ached for him. “I understand. I’ll let Owl help you then. But…after you’re awake, don’t be surprised if I mother you.”

Stone rolled his eyes. “Whatever. As long as you don’t smother me for waking you up.”

“She needs practice with that mothering thing,” Owl said nonchalantly when they were inside the elevator.

“Wait—what? Are you pregnant?” Stone asked incredulously.

“No.”

“Yes.”

She and Owl answered at the same time.

Stone raised a brow in confusion.

“He thinks he has super-sperm and that he knows he knocked me up last night,” Lara said with a roll of her eyes this time. She felt her cheeks warm and knew she was blushing, but pressed on. “So he’s assuming I’m one day pregnant, but until I see the line on the test or get the thumbs up from a doctor after he examines my pee, I’m saying no.”

“Ah…right. Congrats then. Since I’m the first to know, do I get the honor of having a kid named after me?” Stone asked.

“Did you hear what I just said? I don’t even know if I’m pregnant,” Lara asked.

The door opened, and the three filed out onto the fourth floor.

“I heard you, but I also know my friend. If Owl says he knocked you up, he knocked you up,” Stone said. “He’s nothing if not stubborn like that.”

“You guys are insane,” Lara said. But deep down, she realized that bantering with Stone and Owl, observing how close the two men were, made it easier not to dwell on her own situation.

“And no, we aren’t naming our daughter Jack,” Owl told him.

“Jacketta has a nice ring to it. Besides, you could have boys.”

“Of course we will,” Owl said. “Our first will be a son. Then we’ll have three girls, then another boy.”

Lara turned to him in astonishment. “We aren’t having five children!” she exclaimed.

“Why not? You want a big family. You told me so yourself.”

She had. But five? Then something occurred to her. “Are we seriously talking about having five children when we haven’t even had one yet?”

“Yup,” Owl said with a small smile.

“Whatever.”

“Stoney is a gender-neutral name,” Stone joked as he opened their hotel room door.

Laughing, Lara relaxed when the door shut behind them. Finally behind a closed, locked door with both Stone and Owl, she felt ten times safer.

“What are we doing for dinner?” Stone asked. “I’m starved.”

“Take-out,” Owl and Lara said at the same time.

She shot him a smile.

“Take-out it is,” Stone agreed as he flopped onto his back on the bed closest to the door. “Let me know when it arrives.”

Owl shook his head at his friend. “Guess we can get that pizza with pineapple you love so much, Lara. Or maybe that broccoli pasta dish you like. We can get a family-style dish big enough for us all.”

Lara was confused. She didn’t like pineapple on pizza, and couldn’t remember talking to Owl about it in any case.

But when Stone sat up and grumbled, “Fine, I’ll take care of ordering dinner,” she realized that Owl had been needling his friend once more.

She’d spent some time with Stone, and with all the men at The Refuge, but this was the first time she was seeing the dynamics between the two best friends so up close and personal. They were a lot like she and Cora when they were together, and Lara loved it.

She went over to the bed where Stone was now sitting, scrolling through his phone. She sat next to him and peered over his shoulder. “I could go for a big juicy hamburger, but delivery takes so long the fries are usually soggy by the time it arrives.”

“We could do Italian? We’ve got a microwave in here, and we could zap the noodles if they’re not hot.”

Lara wrinkled her nose. “Steak?” she asked.

Stone smiled at her with a nod. “Hell yeah.”

After they’d sorted that out, and Stone had put in all their orders, he told them he’d go down to the lobby to wait for the delivery person.

“That’s fine, as long as you don’t sneak out to the car,” Lara said a little snarkily.

In response, Stone put Lara in a gentle headlock and gave her a noogie. She screeched and laughed as she tried to get away from him. Stone laughed, kissed the top of her head, and walked toward the door.

Throughout it all, Owl sat in the lone chair in the room, watching them with a sparkle in his eye.

“Be back in a bit. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” he warned. Then right before he shut the door, he stuck his head back into the room and added, “And since she’s already pregnant, there’s no need for a quickie…if this room smells like sex when I get back, I really am sleeping in the car.” He shut the door before Lara or Owl could reply.

“Come here,” Owl ordered as soon as Stone was gone.

Lara walked toward him and gave a little grunt of surprise when he grabbed her hand and yanked her onto his lap. When he got her settled, he asked, “How are you doing?”

“I’m all right,” she told him.

“Seriously, are you good? Because you were spiraling, and it sucked because I couldn’t do anything to stop it.”

Lara put her hand on his cheek to try to soothe him. He’d been joking with Stone minutes ago, but she could see now that he was pretty wound up. “I won’t lie, the trip’s been harder than I thought. But I’m better now. Being here…inside…it’s better.”

“I’m sorry,” Owl started, but Lara shook her head.

“Don’t be. I’m as safe as I’d ever be with you and Stone. And I couldn’t stay hidden away forever. This is fine. It’s good. We’ll get that helicopter and be on our way home before we know it.”

“Home,” Owl agreed. He kissed her softly. Then grinned as he pulled back. “We’ve got at least twenty minutes or so…we could have that quickie.”

Lara could tell he was kidding. “You and quickie are oxymorons. There’s no way you could do quick if your life depended on it.”

“I don’t know, sweetheart. The second I get inside you, I seem to lose all control.”

Thinking of him being deep inside her made Lara squirm a bit. “Right, but you get distracted before you get in there. Do you really think you can see me naked and not make it your quest in life to give me two orgasms before you even enter me?”

Owl wrinkled his nose. “You have a valid point.”

Lara giggled.

“I love that.”

“What?” Lara asked.

“Your laugh. You haven’t done enough of it since I’ve known you. I’m going to make it my goal in life to hear it more often.”

“Being around you and Stone is a good start,” Lara said. “You guys are really close.”

“Crashing, being hunted down and tortured together…it’s a good way to make close bonds really fast,” Owl said dryly.

Lara hated that for him, but at the same time, she was suddenly very glad he hadn’t been alone during that ordeal. “Are his nightmares really that bad?”

“Worse,” Owl confirmed. “They’re night terrors. He doesn’t talk about them with me, doesn’t tell me what they’re about, but I can guess. I thought he was doing better, but obviously he’s still suffering from them. He was serious earlier, if he does happen to have one while we’re on this trip, let me deal with it. Don’t touch him. He’s thrown me across the room more than once, and the thought of him hurting you…neither of us would be able to deal with that.”

“I won’t go near him. I promise.”

“Thank you.”

“Is there anything we can do to help him?” Lara asked.

“Don’t treat him any differently.”

Lara understood that. She hated when people looked at her with pity, although it had been a long time since anyone had done that, and she wanted it to stay that way.

“Now, what can I do to help you when you start feeling uneasy?” Owl asked.

“Exactly what you did today. Stay near me. Touch me. Both help a lot.”

“Not a hardship. And for the record, you did much better than you think today, sweetheart. And I’m not just saying that. The rest of this trip will be a breeze. Tomorrow we’ll head to the much smaller regional airport, where we’re meeting this Ricky Norman guy. We’ll take the chopper up first and put her through her paces. Then we’ll come back to the hotel, finish up the business side of things, and go back to the airport the day after to start the trip home.”

“It’ll take like five days to get home, right?” Lara asked.

“Four or five. Depending on how we feel.”

“So we’ll be home in a week or so,” Lara said with a deep breath. “I can do that.”

“Of course you can. You can do anything.”

“I’m not sure about that. I can’t fly a helicopter,” she joked.

“Sure you can. I’ve seen you on the sim, you’re a natural.”

Lara rolled her eyes. “You said so yourself, the simulator isn’t like flying a real helicopter.”

“True, but I’m sure if you had to, you could do it.”

“Let’s hope I don’t need to find out,” Lara said with a shiver.

“Enough about that. Since a quickie is out…are you opposed to some making out?” Owl asked.

“With you?” Lara teased.

Owl growled and dug his fingers into her sides, tickling her.

Lara shrieked and tried to pull away from him, but Owl’s hold was too tight. Thankfully, he stopped tickling her and wrapped his arms around her instead.

They were still kissing when Stone returned, and he sighed dramatically when he entered and saw them wrapped around each other in the chair.

“You want me to leave and come back later?” he joked.

“No! I’m starving,” Lara told him.

“Me too,” Owl said under his breath, shifting her off his rock-hard cock as he helped her to stand.

Lara giggled and realized how much calmer she felt already, grateful her panic attack didn’t last for hours. This trip was going to work out, after all. She just knew it.

* * *

His plan was going to work out. Carter Grant was feeling more and more confident of that as each day passed.

In two more days, he would finally have Lara back. And he’d make sure she never left…until he was done with her. And it would be a long time before that happened.

He’d gotten word from his accomplice that the test flight was happening tomorrow as planned. He wished he could be there. Wished he could see her face when she realized what was happening.

But he couldn’t leave the island. He’d decided he was still too recognizable, even with the small changes to his appearance. He was probably the most wanted man in the country right now, and with his goal so close, he needed to lie low. Carter didn’t like relying on someone else to carry out the plans he’d so painstakingly crafted, but he had to hope the money he was paying his accomplice was enough to make sure he didn’t deviate from his instructions in any way.

“Soon,” Carter murmured as he looked over the room where his Lara would be living. It was perfect. The chains on the bed, the lingerie picked out, and the door she wouldn’t have a hope in hell of getting through. This time, there wasn’t anyone else in the house he had to hide her presence from. She’d be completely isolated and at his mercy. No matter how loud she screamed, no one would hear.

He just had to make it through two more days. Then his property would be returned. Anticipation made Carter almost giddy. He didn’t feel the throbbing of his missing eye. Didn’t feel an ounce of remorse for what he was about to do. The two assholes with her deserved to die for keeping his property away from him. And Lara?

She’d get what she deserved. And he couldn’t wait.