22. Steff

TWENTY-TWO

STEFF

I'd managed to spend every waking minute with April, and I still couldn't get enough of her. I didn't know if it was the mating bond or if it was simply the fact that I'd missed her for so long and was desperate to be around her again. Probably both. I was certain the spell played some part in pulling us closer together, but it was really only enhancing all the feelings I'd always had for her.

We were sitting on my back deck when April got a call from Harley. She wanted April to come over for a ladies' night. Some wine, maybe a movie, a relaxing night in. After she got off the phone, she turned to look at me. "What do you think?"

"About you going over there tonight?"

She nodded. "I'd really like to unwind a little."

April would be just as safe at Tate's house as she was here. Tate was on high alert. The hunters were, of course, hunting both him and Harley. Still, my protective nature was screaming at me not to let her out of my sight. I had to suppress those urges, though. I didn't want to end up being some overprotective douchebag who didn't let his lady do anything. That wasn't the type of person I was.

"When did Harley need an answer?"

April shrugged. "I told her I'd talk to you and get back to her."

"All right, let me talk to Tate and make sure everything is good to go."

I called Tate, who must have been waiting for my call. He answered after the first ring. "What's up?"

"Hey, did you talk to Harley about April coming over?" I tried not to sound too uptight.

"I did. I told her it should be fine."

"I'm sure it will be. It's only…"

"You're scared as shit to have her out of your sight?"

I chuckled and glanced over at April. "Basically, yeah."

"I get it. I was the same way with Harley, remember? You even had to go grocery shopping with her. It's tough, I understand that. But you have to remember that you can't always be there. You've got to let her live her life. Plus, I'll be around. April will be as safe as the rest of my family. You can count on it."

"I know, I know. Okay, I'll tell her." I nodded to April. "Ladies' night is a go."

April squealed and clapped her hands together. "Yay!"

I drove April over to Tate's. Since the women were going to be drinking, I didn't want her to get behind the wheel. With everything else that was going on, it was the dumbest way to get in trouble.

"We'll probably be done late. Is that okay?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm a night owl. Give me a call whenever you guys finish up. No problem."

I dropped her off at Tate's a few minutes later and drove around town. The surface part of my mind said I was doing it to relax and kill some time. The more instinctual, deeper portion of my mind was looking for anything out of the ordinary. I cruised through downtown, eyeballing every single person to try to figure out if they were hunters.

At one point, I even opened my window and leaned out enough for my face to be visible. If any hunter were out and about, they might react if they recognized me, but after an hour with no success, I decided to go do something else uncomfortable.

I pulled into the parking lot at Kris and Kellan's bar. It was Friday night and the lot was full. Kellan and I had buried the hatchet and were quickly on the road to becoming friends again. It helped that I'd trusted him with an earth-shattering and dangerous secret. Coaching Aiden had helped us get close enough to reconnect. Kris… well, that was more difficult. He was more open to me being around and wasn't giving me venomous glares anymore, but I wanted to try to make up with him. He'd also been my best friend, and only reconciling with Kellan wasn't enough. I had to reconcile with Kris.

I stepped into the bar and was surprised by how busy it was. It had been the same way a few weeks ago, but I'd thought that was only for April's welcome-home party. Obviously, Kris and Kellan had done a good job of marketing the place, and it seemed like they had a full bar every weekend from the looks of it.

Kris was behind the bar but hadn't spotted me yet. Still on edge, I scanned the room. I didn't see Ryland or any of the other hunters who had been outside Harley's house last year. Deciding it was as safe as it could be, I found a stool at the corner of the bar.

Finally noticing me, Kris nodded at me and continued pouring drinks and opening beers for the people waiting.

After he was done, he came over and leaned closer to me so as to be heard over the crowd. "What can I get you, Steff?"

"I'll take a beer. I'm playing DD for your sister tonight."

Kris rolled his eyes and chuckled as he grabbed two ice-cold bottles from a cooler below the bar. He handed me one and took the other bottle for himself. He waited for me to take my first drink before speaking again. "I'll tell you this. I'm not going to ask any questions. My sister is a grown woman and can make her own decisions. She's chosen to forgive you, and so has Kellan. I trust them more than anyone else in my life, barring my wife. If they're good, then that's good enough for me.

"All I ask is that you don't break her heart again. For her sake, yes, but also for mine. I don't know that I could survive seeing her broken like that again. Do you understand that?"

I did. I could feel and hear the pain in his tone, and I nodded. "I promise I will never hurt her like that again."

I held up my bottle to him. After a moment's hesitation, Kris lifted his and clinked it against mine. In that instant, it was like all the years of pain and anger evaporated. The bitterness and shame, the hurt and agony were gone. It was the type of reconciliation only possible with people who had been as close as we'd been back then. My heart swelled with the thought of getting two of the best friends I'd ever had back.

We caught up between Kris helping customers. I told him about the security firm and playing pro ball, he told me about taking over the bar and meeting his wife, Chelsea.

"She's at the little get-together at Tate's house, too. Harley met her at the nail salon a few weeks ago and they got friendly. Chelsea was surprised to find out Harley's husband was your business partner. Small world, right?"

I grinned. "Small town, more like."

"True. I'm happy she's out enjoying herself. Happy for April, too. All that stalker stuff had her pretty shaken up. She's pissed about the whole world knowing her business, sure, but that along with a bunch of people trying to force their way into her life is more terrifying. She showed me some of the emails and messages. Those people are freaks. From the stuff they said in those messages, it's like they think they know her. Like they already have relationships with her. They are totally out of their minds."

"She showed me. Fuckers are scary."

"Right? Anyway, I think being back home has done her a world of good. Hang on."

Kris went to get an order for a group of ladies. While he worked on their drinks, I thought about what he'd said. He had no idea about the incident a few nights before. The thought of keeping that secret from him was not pleasant. Especially when that secret involved Kris's sister. Plus, if anyone could be trusted to keep his mouth shut, it was Kris.

When he came back, I leaned over, trying to keep my voice low. "You know what you were saying about the stalkers being crazy?"

"Uh, yeah?"

I sighed and glanced around that bar to make sure no one was listening. "One of April's stalkers ended up in Lilly Valley. And I do mean ended. The guy's dead."

Eyes widening in surprise, Kris shook his head as if he was trying to clear it. "The fuck?"

"I know. It's been kept pretty quiet. Lilly Valley doesn't even have a newspaper anymore, so you probably didn't hear anything about it. The guy was left outside my security firm."

Kris stiffened. "Do you guys know who did that? The stalker is scary, but the fact that some psycho killed the dude and left him there like a trophy or something is scarier."

I couldn't get too deep into the details. There were some things Kris and Kellan didn't need to know. "No idea yet. The cops are working on it. There is one thing you can help out with, though."

"Name it."

"Keep your eyes open. Any strange or new customers, anyone who's asking lots of questions about April or me and my guys. Give me a heads-up if anyone like that makes themselves known. Got it?"

Kris lifted his fist, and I tapped it with my own. "Anything you say, brother."

I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep my emotions in check. Kris calling me brother? That was something that hadn't happened in years. It brought me back to a time of laughter and love—a time of my life I thought was gone forever.

I chatted with Kris for another couple hours and paid for the one beer, then headed out to the parking lot. I was shocked to see it was almost one in the morning. Before I could get into my truck, my phone buzzed. I pulled it out and saw it was a text from April:

Heybab im nNeed a ride You come geet me?

I had to read it three times to realize she was drunk-texting me and not trying to send some sort of coded message. I sat in my truck and laughed before heading to Tate's house. Kris was helping Chelsea into his car when I pulled in. She looked pretty hammered, and if that was any indication, I'd have my hands full. I pulled into the driveway and saw Tate standing outside with Harley and April.

I could tell by the look on his face—a combination of exhaustion and humor—that Tate was stone-cold sober. Harley and April, however, were about three sheets to the wind. They were falling all over each other and laughing about something.

Tate gently took April by the arm and led her toward me. "April, Steff is here. Time to go home."

"Oh, what a spoilsport. Big bad dragon is tired and wants to go to bed." Harley pouted, swatting Tate's arm playfully.

Tate looked at her and rolled his eyes. He glanced at me and grinned. "The wife can't hold her liquor."

"Looks like it," I said, taking April's hand.

April leaned into my chest. "I'll have you know, me and my friend Harley are not drunk."

The look on her face told me the opposite, but I agreed with her anyway. "No, babe. You are as sober as a priest on Sunday."

"Ex-exactly." She turned and waved to Tate and Harley as she got into the truck. "Bye, new friends."

Harley and Tate waved and went inside. I closed April's door and got into the driver's seat. Seeing April so completely drunk was pretty funny. All her inhibitions were down, and she was enjoying herself. As I pulled out of the driveway, she leaned in and rested her head on my shoulder. "You know, girl talk is much more fun when the girls are awesome. I like those chicks. They're cool as shit."

I laughed again. "I'm glad you had fun. How much did you guys have drink?"

"We went through a few bottles of wine. No big deal. I'm already starting to sober up a little."

"Could have fooled me."

There was a long pause before April's hand slid across my chest and squeezed my pecs. "God, you're fucking hot."

"Same to you, lady," I said.

She slid her hand down to my thigh and massaged my leg. Every few seconds her hand went higher, closer to my zipper. I did my best to keep my eyes on the road, but I was already growing hard. I shot a look over to her. "You're playing a dangerous game here."

"I like danger. Only a little, though. Just enough to get excited about."

"Huh?" I had no idea what she was talking about. I was having a hard time keeping the car on the road.

April slipped a hand onto my crotch and slowly kneaded me through my jeans, turning my erection rock hard as she worked at me. I sighed deeply, wishing we were already home.

"Steff, I want you to do things to me. If I ask you, will you do them? It's… not the typical stuff. Can I trust you with my secret?"

My breath was coming fast and hard, and my cock was in agony as it strained against my jeans. I'd told her the biggest secret I had ever told anyone. Of course I could be trusted with hers. "You know you can trust me. And I'll do anything you want. Anything to make you feel good."

April gave a contented moan and leaned closer to whisper in my ear. "I want you to tie me up. Tie my hands to the bed. I want to be under your control. Blindfold me so I can't see what you do to me." My heart thundered and butterflies were running rampant in my stomach. "Will you spank me? Hard? Pinch my nipples? Twist them until I squirm?"

"Uh… If that's what you want. I think?—"

"Does it make you hard thinking about doing that to me?"

I couldn't speak, instead, I nodded and gritted my teeth. I couldn't remember ever being so horny in my life.

April's lips brushed my earlobe as she went on. "I want you to dominate me. Take me. I want you to be fully and completely in control. I'll give you whatever you ask for, as long as you call me a good girl. I want you to eat my pussy, I want you to fuck my ass and pull my hair, then tell me how good I make you feel."

I slammed my foot down on the accelerator, trying to focus on getting us home quickly and in one piece. I'd never done those things before, but I would give her whatever she wanted. She laughed as we rocketed down the highway.

I jumped the curb with my truck and parked in her yard instead of the driveway. The last time I felt this nervous was before I lost my virginity. It was like I was a boy again. As I helped April out of the truck, I could see she was sobered up quite a bit. I didn't want her to do something like this drunk, though. "April, are you sure? We can wait for another time."

She pressed against me and kissed me hard, letting me know she was in full control of her mind. She pulled away and left me gasping. "I want you to give me everything I asked for, and more if you can. It'll mean so much more if a person I love takes me that way."

Without another word, I led her inside. I got the door locked and the alarm set, but only barely. April was all over me. Once the house was secure, I was able to give in to everything I wanted to. If this was what April liked, what gave her pleasure, then I would do my best to give her exactly what she wanted.

I laid her on the couch and pulled her pants and panties down, not even bothering to take her shoes off. Instead I rolled her over and pressed my lips and tongue into her pussy. Her back arched and she gasped as I fucked her with my tongue, sliding in and out, my left hand rubbing her clit.

April buried her face in the couch cushions, but I could still hear her. "Take me, Steff. Fucking do it. Do whatever you want."

My breath caught in my throat and I brought a hand down on her ass. The sound of the slap echoed through the house. April released a guttural moan, letting me know she liked it. I spanked the other side, and she ground her pussy into my face. I spread apart her cheeks and slid my tongue around her ass, sliding up and down across her pussy and back to her ass. I pressed my tongue deeper until April was panting.

I spanked her again, harder than before now that I was more comfortable with it, and she sucked in a breath before whispering, "More. Again."

Remembering what she said in the car, I stood up, and started unbuttoning my pants. "No. Be a good girl and suck my dick."

April turned and locked eyes with me. The hunger and pleasure in her eyes gave me the confidence I needed. "Get on your knees and suck me off."

She took me into her mouth and sucked on the head of my cock, and my knees went weak. She caressed my balls as she slid her lips up and down the length of me, and my hips rocked in rhythm with her mouth.

"You're so beautiful when you do that," I whispered, and she sucked faster.

I let it go as long as I could before pulling out of her mouth. I helped her to her feet and finished removing her clothes and threw my own into the same pile on the floor. Without a word, I took April's hand and led her up the stairs. We got as far as the hallway before I pulled her close and lifted her into the air. She wrapped her legs around me, and I nestled her onto my dick. Our gasps intermingled as I entered her. I pressed her back to the wall and fucked her, ramming into her.

She was so wet it was all I could do not to finish right there. Gritting my teeth, I carried her the rest of the way into the bedroom and threw her on the bed. April scooted backward, never taking her eyes off me. She slipped a hand between her legs and her fingers disappeared inside her pussy. I kneeled on the bed and took her left nipple between my index finger and thumb. I pinched gently, and April gasped. "Harder," she whispered.

I licked my lips, then twisted and pulled her nipple. April hissed a breath out between her teeth before biting her lips and looking me in the eyes. "Both. Harder."

My breath came so fast that I thought I might hyperventilate. I took the other nipple with my right hand, and pinched both. Hard. April bucked beneath me, and the veins on her neck popped out, her face and chest flushing a glorious red as she came. She lay back, and I released her, my eyes focused on her red, swollen nipples. I was afraid I'd hurt her, but she'd liked it. Still recovering from the orgasm, she nodded toward her nightstand. "Top drawer. I have it ready for you."

I pulled the drawer open and found… toys. A blindfold lay at the top, then there were four satin strips which I assumed were for tying her to the four corners of the bed. April was already rolling over onto her belly and extending her hands and legs. My nerves were raging inside, but I did as she'd told me. Fingers shaking, I slipped the blindfold over her eyes and tied her arms and legs to the bed. I knotted the strips and caressed each hand and foot as I did it. I looked at her there, the welts where I'd spanked her earlier standing out like bright-red flowers.

Under the ties, I found a bottle of lube. I grabbed it and straddled her, my cock bouncing with the rhythm of my heart. I brushed the hair away from her face. "You're gorgeous like this. Now I'm going to take you. There's nothing you can do about it. Does that make you horny?"

"Oh, God. Yes. Fuck me."

I lubed my cock and pressed it against her ass, pressing slowly. She gasped and moaned as I slid into her. I went exquisitely slow. Inch my inch, I sank into her. The deeper I went, the faster she breathed.

"You'll take all of it, won't you?"

Her head nodded. "Yes. Oh, shit, yes."

Several seconds later, I was fully seated inside her. She was so tight, and all I wanted was to start thrusting, but I held off, letting her relax and get used to the feeling. April started moving her hips back against me, using her body to beg me to fuck her. I rested my hands on the bed and began to move my hips, sliding in and out of her. Slow at first, but quickly picking up speed as her moans let me know she liked it. Before I knew it, I was fucking her brains out, slamming in and out of her ass. Her gasps of delight spurred me on, faster and faster.

"Pull my hair," she gasped out.

I wound my fingers into the thick red curls of her hair and tugged, fucking her faster than ever. She whimpered in pleasure, and I was sure I wasn't hurting her. All I wanted was to make her feel amazing. Knowing that I was pushed me over the edge.

I was about to come when April's body shuddered and a groan escaped her mouth, rising in volume until she was screaming in ecstasy as she came a second time. The explosion of pleasure in my balls and cock took me by surprise. I came so hard that I couldn't breathe as I emptied myself inside her.

We collapsed together, exhausted and spent. I untied her limbs and removed her blindfold. "Did I do good?" I asked, still breathing heavily.

April's mascara had run down her cheeks, and her face was red, but she smiled. She pulled me to her and kissed me long and hard. "So good. The best I've ever had. Steff… thank you for not judging me."

I caressed her cheek with my thumb. "There's nothing to judge. Whatever gives you enjoyment gives me enjoyment."

She cried tears of happiness as we took a shower before bed. I held her under the hot water for a long time. I wanted her to know that she was loved, that I would do anything for her. I let Bently out to pee and then crashed in bed with April. We fell asleep tangled in each other's arms.