REGENCY: Loved by the Duke (Historical Billionaire Military Romance) (19th Century Victorian Short Stories) (31 page)

Chapter 6

They lay back on the bed, her head pillowed on the substantial muscle of his chest. Adeline smoothed her hand over the line of hair that curled from the center of his chest all the way down, pointing like an arrow directly at the part of him that had just wrung the most excruciating pleasure from her body.

She gazed down, trying to see as much as she could, but the edge of the white cotton sheet denied her. She sighed, at least she’d always have her memories. And what memories they were. Adeline burrowed closer as her mind replayed the amazing scenes, remembering the feel of her entire body going up in flames.

What was truly seared into her brain was the look in his eyes. He had stared into hers, and she had seen…everything. Every desire, every fear, the attraction, affection, and something even deeper that had seeped into his dark chocolate gaze. It had made her breath catch, her chest tighten painfully as some of the walls she had built up around her heart had crumbled.

Damn
. She was in trouble. She’d gone and fallen for him, and she still hadn’t had the courage to bring up the whole weird animal thing she thought she had seen in the alley when he had saved her. How do you bring up something like that? Hi, yes, do you happen to be a bear?

She chuckled to herself, nearly convinced she had just made it up in the trauma of the moment, but she could remember it happening, if a little hazy. Jay cleared his throat, drawing her attention back up his body. His mouth was turned down in a frown that had her sitting up, before he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and guided her back to his shoulder.

“I need to tell you something.” The seriousness of his voice had her pulse kicking in her chest. “I just ask that you listen to everything I have to say before you respond.” He quirked a questioning brow at her and she hastily nodded, wondering what was could have put that fierce scowl on his normally calm face.

“You know what I do. I’m a private investigator.” Adeline nodded again, he had told her about himself when she had talked to him about her trouble with her ex. He inhaled deeply before releasing an anxious sigh.

“A few weeks ago, a new client came to see me. He was real upset about his wife who had went missing. Said the cops weren’t doing anything, and he was desperate. So he hired me to find the woman.” Her stomach dropped, a denial ready on her lips, but he laid a gentle finger over them, stopping her words.

“Let me finish. The client’s name was Blake Newcombe.” Her body tensed, and she couldn’t help the involuntary move to put distance between them, his eyes filling with regret as she pulled away to sit up on the bed.

“As soon as I met you, saw you, I knew something was wrong, that he hadn’t told me the whole truth. Or maybe not any of it.”

“What about the alley?” Sudden horror filled her eyes. “Was the attack some sort of…of…set up or something? To get me to trust you?” Adeline choked on the words, and relief crashed over her as he grabbed her shoulders, rushing to set her mind at ease.

“No! No, that was pure coincidence. And pure luck. If it had been anyone else walking past that alley instead of me, I don’t know what would have happened.” He shook his head at the image filling his mind of all the what ifs.

He had to do something about Blake. He knew his type. Obsessive, Jealous. Dangerous. He would never give up, never leave her alone.

The plan that had been slowly forming in the back of his mind ever since Adeline had told him the whole story started to coalesce. Jay shot her a quick, assessing glance. The plan would depend on her. He took in the straight line of her back, her shoulders thrown back, neck straight. The gentle strength and fire in her blue eyes were undeniable.

Jay took one of her hands in his, lacing their fingers together. This woman was so incredible, and she was his. There was no way around that fact, or the masculine surge of pride the flooded his veins at the thought. She was more perfect than he could ever have imagined.

“I’ve been thinking.” Her eyes widened on his in mock severity.

“Uh oh.” He chuckled, his heart squeezing at her brave show of humor in the face of so many tragedies.
             

“Listen, Blake isn’t going to just go away.” Her expression closed, and he hated the fact that he was causing her any more pain, even inadvertently. “I’m supposed to check in with him in a few hours. I think I have a way we can deal with him for good, but you’re going to have to trust me.” Adeline nodded without hesitation. She knew in her bones that she could trust this man with her life, and her heart.

“Okay, so here’s the plan.”

Chapter 7

The motel room was still dark, despite the afternoon sun shining cheerfully outside in direct opposition to the nervous tension filling the small room. The heavy drapes were pulled closed across the window, and silence was the only sound.  Adeline sat on the bed, now made, her pulse beating a too fast rhythm that she couldn’t do anything about.

Jay had called Blake a few hours earlier to check in, letting him know he had found her, and accidentally letting slip the motel she was staying at. It wouldn’t take Blake longer than a trip to the front desk to find out which room was hers.

Adeline shivered despite the afternoon warmth, taking a deep breath to try and calm her rattling nerves. She didn’t know if she could do this. Suddenly standing, pacing back and forth in front of the foot of the mattress. She glanced at it, picturing her and Jay, their bodies tangled there just hours before.

The thought of him calmed her, gave her the strength she needed to go through with this. A scrape at the door had her jumping, spinning around, and adrenaline surging through her. No, she had been right before. She really couldn’t do this. Only, it was too late to back out now.

The brass doorknob rattled angrily, then a pressure against the door. Adeline tried to take a deep breath, but couldn’t. Panic closed her throat, and left her mind completely blank as the rusted lock finally gave in and the door swung open to bang back against the wall.

She tried to scream, but couldn't make a sound as Blake stepped into the room, and casually shut the door behind him. Fear had her paralyzed, frozen to the spot. All she could do was watch as Blake arrogantly sidled closer, the look on his face all conceited pride and self-impressed cockiness as if he knew she wouldn’t put up a fight. As if he’d already won.

“So, I found you, you bitch.” His sneer twisted his face as the rage and hatred that boiled just under the surface were exposed for a second, before hidden again over his pleasant facade.

“I’m going to take you home, and teach you a lesson you won’t ever forget.” His words jolted her out of her stupor.

“I’m not going with you.” Adeline hated the weakness in her voice, but at least she’d said the words. She had been worried she wouldn’t be able to do even that.

Blake’s eyes widened in outrage at her refusal.

“I don’t think you heard me.” His voice was hard, an edge of something unstable made her skin crawl. “We. Are. Going. Home.” Adeline couldn’t believe she had once thought herself in love with this man. How could she have been so blind to his true, twisted nature?

“And I said no! I’m not going anywhere with you. Not now. Not ever!” She was proud of the new found strength adding weight to her words. She was even a bit surprised, the old Adeline would have never dared to talk to Blake like this.

A thrill of confidence had her standing straighter, facing him head on. A challenging glint entered her dark blue eyes.

“We are over. I never want to see you again, I’m going to file a restraining order. I’m through with letting you hurt me.” Blake’s nostrils flared as anger turned his features ugly, unable to stand her challenging him. He walked towards her threateningly.

“Hurt? Oh, you think I hurt you before, just wait…Agghhh.” His temper-laced threats were cut off as Jay locked him in a choke hold, Detective Jones slapping cuffs around his wrists as he read him his rights.

Jay and his friend, the detective, had been hiding in the bathroom, lights off, door cracked just enough to hear every incriminating word, not mention witnessing his breaking and entering.  While Blake was being detained, Jay rushed to Adeline’s side, throwing his arms around her and squeezing so tight she couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t complain either, there was no other place she wanted to be except in his embrace.

“I’m so proud of you.” His gruff compliment sent warmth shooting through her, helping to settle her still jangling nerves. She looked up into his eyes, her own shining with gratitude.

“Thank you.” She turned to watch Detective Jones walk Blake out of the motel room, out of her life, and into the unmarked squad car parked outside. She leaned into Jay, soaking in the feeling of his body, his strength, surrounding her. Adeline whispered again, so quietly Jay could barely hear it, but he felt it echo throughout his entire being.

“Thank you.”

Chapter 8

Jay sat back in the old desk chair, it creaked as it gave alarmingly under his weight, but soon stabilized. Rubbing his eyes against the headache that had been steadily growing all day, he glanced at the clock on his desk.
Damn it
. Almost seven already.

Another long day, and longer night stuck in the office had him feeling restless. As his reputation as a top Private Investigator had grown, so had the seriousness of his cases, and the file he had flipped open in front of him was one of the biggest jobs he’d had yet.

He was still waiting for a break, but his animal instincts told him to keep persevering. And his animal instincts were hardly ever wrong. They tingled now, the hair on the back of his neck rising just before the frosted glass door opened.

Jay could hear the soft click of high heels against the checkered linoleum floor as they drew closer to the back office, and where he was sitting. Her distinctive scent found him first, wrapping around him in clouds of Lavender and sweetness.

The door of his office opened, and Adeline’s shining blond curls peeked around the big slab of aged hardwood. It was closely followed by her wide forehead with furrowed brows slashing over the most beautiful blue eyes had ever seen. The sight of them still had him catching his breath, even after six months.

Her curved nose, full mouth, and pixie chin all followed in quick succession, but his eyes stayed fixated on her mouth. Oh, the things she could do with that mouth. Jay shifted, trying to ease some of the sudden pressure caused by his wayward thoughts, when the chair gave another ominous creak. He felt it give with a slight drop, level out, and then the back loosened completely, leaving him in an ungracious heap on the cold floor.

Peals of feminine laughter had him looking up, Adeline’s sweet face staring down at him with mirth and love shining clear and bright as she tried to control her giggles. She put a hand over her mouth, covering the inadvertent cause of his predicament.

“Are you okay?” She managed between chuckles, reaching her hands down to help him up to his feet. He took hold, but turned the tables on her by giving a quick tug, pulling her down on top of him instead, and inciting another burst of laughter.

“Hey, you better watch that bear strength of yours.” Adeline teased. It warmed his heart whenever she joked about his true nature. It had been a hard conversation a few months ago when he had brought it up, but it had turned out that she had known about him, and his other half, since the beginning.

She had seen him shift when he had defended her against those thugs in the alley, not quite believing her eyes at first. As she had come to know him, witnessed more of the incredible feats his bear half allowed him to accomplish, she was convinced.

Jay was still amazed that she had accepted him so easily, more open-hearted and generous than he had a right to ask for. And also sweeter. He stared up at her, awed at how lucky he was to have found this incredible woman, the twists and turns of fate that had led him into her path.

“Hey.” The mirth in her eyes slowly transformed into something more serious as she stared down into his dark brown eyes, still laying on his chest.

“Hey back.” He whispered back, his body hardening, impossible to ignore the press of her luscious curves, or the spark of desire firing behind the blue in her eyes.

“I was thinking we should go get some food, but maybe we should just find someplace more comfortable first.” Jay chuckled, the sound distinctly masculine as he drew her up his already straining body.

“How about you just stay on top,” He grinned at her, “It’s your favorite anyways.” It had quickly become his as well. Adeline grinned saucily back at him.

“You’ll be my bed?”

“Baby, I’ll be your bed, your house, your whole world if you just promise me one thing.”

She shifted on top of him, tilting her head to one side.

“Oh yeah? What’s that?” His eyes stared up at hers holding all the love he had in his heart for her.

“Don’t let go”

THE END

Chapter 1

It was the gentle lapping of the waves that woke her.

The smell of salt in her nostrils and the taste of the sea in her mouth roused her from an unwilling sleep.  The water was warm, its soothing touch was comfortable as the tide frothed and bubbled over her skin as the waves crashed on her large body.  Her fingers reflexively dug into the soft and moist sand, the granules lodging themselves underneath her fingernails.  She blinked her eyes and the sea stung at them, blurring her vision.  Reflexively she tried to wipe the smarting sensation from her eyes as another wave rolled up over her…

Water! I’m in the fucking water!

Panic surged into her and she yelped, flipping over onto her back as she turned outwards and looking back at the water.  The sea was just behind her as another wave began to roll in towards her on the beach, like some dark hooded figure rushing towards her and ready to claim her with icy fingers.

Like a scrambling crab she backed up away from the water and deeper onto the sandy shore until the sand became dry and coarse beneath her hands and feet.  All the while she kept her eyes on the water, watchful for any signs of danger that swam in the murky green waters of the rolling tide.  She crawled as far as she could until she felt her thick back encounter a rocky cliff that would permit her to go no further.

Even so, she still tried to clamber away, but to no avail.  The fear that pumped in her heart demanded that she get further away from the water… as far as she could.  The fear sounded firmly inside of her like a church bell until eventually some small portion of her mind convinced her that even being this far from the shore, she was safe.  No need for fear.

Her breathing came in shallow gasps and though the salt of the sea still stung at her eyes and nose she couldn’t take her attention away from the sea that was no more than thirty feet away from where she now sat.  Her eyes, though blurred, combed the water for signs of threatening movement. 

As she sat and watched, she saw none.  Unable to allay her fear she looked to her left and to her right, wary for signs of any other danger… or other people.

All she saw was deserted beach, populated by no one but her and the occasional jagged rocks that sat on the sand but all were too small for anyone – or anything – to hide behind.  She gave one final look at the ocean that fronted her and saw nothing but calm waves and gently rolling waves upon the sand; a picture of paradise.

“Shit!” she whispered to herself, closing her eyes.  “Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!” She tried to bring back her memories.  How had she gotten here?  Where the hell was
here
? “Get it together,” she instructed herself.  She took a calming breath, trying to put it all together.  A swirl of images came back to her mind.

She recalled the boat.  She had been sightseeing… the passengers… she’d had a drink, something strong with flavors she’d never had before.  They were watching dolphins… people were laughing and taking pictures.  Someone gasped… there were strange shapes in the water… blood… the dolphins disappeared.  The boat suddenly rocked so violently… people started screaming… she spilled her drink on herself… People were suddenly being dragged off the boat by… by… claws?  Or were they teeth?  She remembered seeing strange shapes that looked like they were something from her nightmares.  People were pulled off the boat, screaming for God and Jesus, some of them just screaming… and then the boat rocked sideways and she fell over… She had hit the water, hard.  There was no hope of getting back on board… the water all around her was turning red with slaughter… shapes thrashing in the water… some of them the shapes of people… and other she couldn’t identify.  All she remembered doing was swimming… as hard and as fast as she could… praying that she could escape the terror…

It wasn’t much, but it was all she could remember.  It had happened so fast it was like seeing a car drive by at a hundred miles an hour and expecting to remember what color the driver’s eyes were.  It was a blur, the memories distorted by fatigue, drink, and fear… absolute fear.

She opened her eyes.  The waves before her were still calm.  There was no sign of claws, teeth, or gore in the waters before her.  Though her legs trembled lightly she pushed herself onto her feet. 

She looked herself over.  One of her sandals was missing, her skin was pruned from being in the water so long, her hair was a thick mess of wet tendrils, her thick body felt weary, but otherwise she appeared to be unharmed.

She looked up and down the beach again and saw no sign of any other survivors.  The other passengers…?

No one but her had survived, it seemed. 
Survived what?
She thought, her body lightly trembling. 
What the fuck happened?
  She couldn’t find the words to describe what she had seen.  Part of her wanted to believe that it hadn’t happened at all.  Maybe it hadn’t?  Maybe she had just had too much to drink?  The Gulf was famous for mixing ingredients into their drinks that the uninitiated sometimes had bad reactions to.  Maybe that had something to do with it? 

The idea held an odd sort of appeal to it. 

She felt herself calm at the thought of it.
It’s alright,
she told herself. 
It’s alright.  You had too much to drink… you got a little wild… it wasn’t real.

She was prepared to accept that idea eagerly until she attempted to straighten her clothing, though it was soaked with the tide.  The brief calm she’d had vanished when she saw slashes in her clothing that looked like they could only have been made by hand-sized claws.

Her body trembled at the sight and she leaned against the rocky ledge to steady herself.  She closed her eyes and fought the urge to vomit. 
It’s okay… it’s okay… I was soaking in the ocean when I woke up… my clothes were just torn… monsters aren’t real… they’re not real…

She stood in the shade of the cliff for several more minutes attempting to convince herself of the truth before she finally found the fortitude to stand straight on her feet.  Despite the fear that iced its way up her spine she kept her back to the water and set off down the beach, all the while muttering a simple mantra.

“There’s no such thing as monsters… there’s no such thing as monsters… there’s no such thing as monsters…”