Safe (Reckoning Book 1) Read online

  “Elle he's here!” Dawn screams from the kitchen where our front door opens into. Crap, of course, he is early. I'm ready, I just wanted a few more minutes to psyche myself up for tonight. Dawn got her way and put some makeup on me it's minimal but it still makes me feel out of my element. My hair is down in soft waves, it reaches the middle of my back and looks so different to me not being pulled back. I wear a hair tie around my wrist because I know it will end up in a bun by the end of the night. I tend to mess with my hair when I'm nervous.

  Deep breaths Elle. I repeat over and over. It will be fine.

  “Coming” I yell back at her. I want to wear a coat of some kind to hide under but force myself not to. It's summertime and a coat would just look ridiculous.

  Walking out to the kitchen I see Avil at the door. He looks out of place in my kitchen like a shiny penny in a pile of buttons. Wearing the black dress pants white shirt and suit jacket he looks similar to what he did last night only tonight with his jacket unbuttoned I can see he is wearing black suspenders. I thought only old fat men wore those but on him, it looks sexy. Not something I would have imagined to be my thing but I catch myself having thoughts of snapping them while kissing the man.

  “You look beautiful Ellie,” Avil says as he leans in and kisses my cheek. “Shall we?”

  I nod then turn to Dawn to wave then follow Avil through the door. The same black Lincoln that dropped us off last night is out front with Steve greeting us to open the back door.

  “I hope you like sushi I own a place downtown should be nice and quiet.” Sushi oh god yuck I can't tell him I hate sushi.

  “Sounds great. How many places do you own in town?” I ask to deter conversation.

  “Seven. Mostly restaurants. The club is a new venture and the only one I own. What do you do Ellie?”

  We make small talk and my nerves seem to settle for the most part. This man is just so intimidating I'm not sure whether to fear him or swoon over him. I suppose I've been doing a bit of both. His restaurant is on the top floor of one of the tallest damn buildings in the city. It’s aptly named Sky. It must be a private place because I only count five tables and only two are occupied.

  “Mr. Cantrell it's good to see you again.” A tall blond woman says in a sweet voice. “We have your table ready outside.” She leads the way through some glass doors and out onto the rooftop where there are three more empty tables. We sit and she fills our glasses with wine smiles and retreats back inside.

  It is warm outside the humidity of the hot summer day has died off but the heat still lingers. It is a beautiful night and the sky is clear. We are high enough up that the lights of the city are under us making it seem like we are the only ones under this night sky. I just wish we could see the stars.

  “This is some place. Not very busy on a Saturday night, though.” Avil chuckles and takes a sip of his wine.

  “It's exclusive, only a select few know about the place. Invite only.”

  “Fancy,” I say in a sarcastic tone. Trying some of my wine. I'm not much for wine but it tastes good. I'm guessing a red something or other. I really hope it isn't supposed to be paired with raw fish. My stomach rolls at the thought.

  We sit in an awkward silence until the food comes. The blond woman brings it on a wooden plank of some kind. There is a variety of rolls and some of those things that look like little lobster tails, well kinda. I do however see there are a couple that does not seem to have fish in them and there is an actual lobster tail. It's cooked! Now if only we had some butter to dunk it in.

  “Do you not like sushi?” He breaks through my thoughts of butter and lobster.

  “What? Oh… Umm…I…” That's it Elle stammer your way out of this one. He puts up his hand to silence my stuttering.

  “The look on your face when the platter came out looked like we got served a plate of cockroaches.” That bad huh? Well, then I did good.

  “Sorry I thought I could give it a try but raw fish just doesn't… I like the lobster I can eat that. No big deal.”

  He abruptly stands to offer me his hand. Reluctantly I take it and stand with him. “We will just have to find you something you will eat then. Can't have you going hungry.” He takes my hand, intertwines our fingers and we walk out of the fancy probably severely overpriced restaurant.

  In the car, he instructs Steve to take us to a steakhouse, one that I remember going to with Scott and waiting for over an hour for a table and an over priced menu. We are seated immediately. I look over the menu, hiding behind it really, I hope sushi isn't his favorite food.

  “You are biting the hell out of your lip baby girl do I make you nervous?” Avil says lowering the top of the menu so he can look at me.

  “Yes.” I squeak out “I'm sorry I don't like sushi. It…”

  “No need to apologize, yes you should have said something before but no harm, we will eat now then go back to my place.”

  My throat goes dry. His place? This is the first date do I really want to sleep with him already. Truth be told I do want to, just a little.

  “Your place?”

  He smiles then grabs my hand bringing it to his mouth to place a soft kiss on the palm of my hand. “I. Haven't. Stopped. Thinking. Of you. In. My. Bed.” He says while kissing a small path from my palm to my wrist and around stopping on the top of my hand. “Since I saw you at the door of my club last night. You have been running my thoughts raged.”

  “I don't…”

  “Shh. If we get there and you are still uncomfortable with it then you may go home. I can be patient but with you, I really do not want to be.” We order our food and eat in silence. Well, I try to eat. It's been so long since I have been with anyone I'm apprehensive about it, not to mention this man before me is way out of my league. Scott was the only guy I've ever been with and that turned out so well.

  “You are in you head Ellie. Don't over think it. Eat.” He says in a reassuring voice.

  “Okay,” I whisper.

  The ride back to his place is quite much like the whole night has been, quiet. We drive downtown and into a parking garage of a building that I swear is the tallest one I have ever seen. Steve opens the door for us and we walk to an elevator. There are many cars lined up in the parking lot, I'm not one to know the names of cars but I can tell they are all very expensive. We enter the elevator and Avil punches in a code once the doors close and we start our ascent. The doors open up to an empty parlor. Thanking my hand he leads us further into his apartment. Ceiling to floor windows, large state of the art kitchen, and sunk in living room. This place screams ‘I have money’.

  “Some wine? You need to relax, you're wound tight.”

  I nod to him and walk to the large couch in the living room while he heads toward the kitchen. I listen to the noise of cabinet doors opening, glasses clinking and get comfortable on the couch. It's black like the one in his office but it's not leather. It's cushy and soft and I sink right into it. I take off my borrowed shoes and rub my feet because let's face it I don't wear heels ever and they hurt. Avil appears to my right with two glasses of wine. This one is white. He offers one to me setting his on the side table and sits down taking my legs up and onto his lap. He takes over rubbing my feet and I sip my wine. It's sweet and in no time my body starts to feel like jello.

  “Better?” He asks. I just nod and smile a light smile.

  “Good.” He whispers to me and then shifts until he is hovering above me. “You are so beautiful baby girl.” He says softly on my lips then kisses me. I hold back a first but when he licks my lips seeking entry I give in and kiss him back. He snakes his hand into my hair, which I have managed to leave down all night, and tugs lightly causing a rush to shoot through me. He slides his other hand to my waist and under my shirt rubbing my flesh softly. I feel like a teenager all over again making out on a couch with a cute boy for the very first time. He then pulls away and looks at me with such lust in his eyes it would make a nun blush.

  “Let's go to my room.” He says
helps me off the couch and we walk to his room. It is probably the size of my damn apartment and his bed the size of my room. Well, that might be an exaggeration but it's big nonetheless.

  “Let's do away with this shall we?” He motions to my shirt, so I turn my back to him and take my hair out of the way so he can undo the clasp around the neck. I can feel his breath behind my ear as he does this and it sends goosebumps spreading throughout my body. The top of the shirt drops down and he unclasps my strapless bra next dropping it to the floor. Before I can cover myself with my hands his are on me cupping my breasts from behind and burying his face in my neck kissing me and caressing me with his tongue. I moan in response and get lost in the moment. Before I know it my clothes are shed and I'm laying on the bed with just my panties on. Avil is slowly undressing before me and my mouth waters as he pulls his pants from his beautiful body leaving him standing there in just his boxer briefs. Then he is kissing my inner thighs working his way up to my sex. I can't sit still, there are too many sensations driving me crazy. He kisses me over my panties then nips at me. My breath hitches and I bite down on my lip as he drags them down my legs. “My sweet baby girl.” He says right before his tongue gives me one slow lick ending at my clit before he takes it in his mouth. He teases and licks then pushes his finger into me making me come instantly. When the glow of my orgasm subsides he has already climbed up my body and nestled himself between my thighs. His dick is no longer covered by his boxer briefs and is resting on my swollen clit. “You ready for me, Ellie?”

  “Yes,” I say in a breathy plea. That is all the confirmation he needs before pulling himself back and pushing inside me. I'm wet enough but he is slightly large so he takes his time going in inch by inch until he is fully seated.

  “You are so tight baby how long has it been?” He asks as if he is in pain.

  “Almost two years.”

  “Mmmm god damn I knew you would feel good but…” He pulls back and thrusts back in. “Fucking amazing.” Grabbing my hips and angling them so he can get himself deeper he thrusts with abandon. I come once more before he throws his head back and finds his own release.

  Rolling us to the side we lie there in bed still connected to one another trying to catch our breath. I feel him getting soft inside me the panic sets in when I feel his release start to drip out of me. Oh shit, he didn't use a condom. I don't even say a word about it. Shit shit shit. I try to keep myself calm. I will go to the store tomorrow and get a plan B and all will be forgotten. I don't say a word who knows how he will react. After the freak out in my mind, I go to get up but he pulls me back down with him.

  “Where are you going?”

  “Bathroom?” I say.

  He loosens his grip and tells me to hurry back. After cleaning myself up I come back to the room to find him sitting up against the headboard his bottom half under the covers. “Come here baby.” He says holding out his hand. I start toward him and he throws off the covers revealing his once again hard dick. When I get there I put my hand in his and he pulls me onto him. In one fluid motion, he has me impaled on his cock once more. Wow, how did he do that? He is rolling his hips and I reciprocate. I've never been on top before and I feel a little self-conscious. Then suddenly he rolls us pulls out and flips me onto my stomach pushing back into me once again. I almost panic from the abruptness of it all. Then he angles my hips up and starts to play with my clit while taking me from behind. He has me coming within seconds with him not too long after. Once again we didn't use protection. Yes definitely need to go to the drug store tomorrow.

  Now

  I feel like I am being lifted an arm under my legs and another under my neck with my head being cradled by a hard chest. I must have fallen asleep in the truck. I try to move my head to see where I am. “Shh you are okay now just sleep I'm putting you in bed we can talk in the morning,” Vin whispers in my ear.

  “Okay,” I whisper back to him.

  When I wake in the morning the sun is shining on my face and I feel refreshed. I feel.. Free.

  “Mornin.” I'm startled by the deep voice in the room. I sit up to see Vin standing by the door with a tray of food. “Brought you some breakfast. Not much just cereal and juice.” He walks over and sets it down on the table next to the bed.

  “That sounds perfect. Thank you.” I sit up and take the tray. Frosted flakes in a large bowl with a glass of milk on the side and another glass full to the brim with apple juice. It's not much, but really, it's everything.

  “You need to tell me who you are and why you were there. Now I know you aren't just some whore. I've seen what happens to knocked up whores. You mean something to him. So tell me what.” I slowly swallow the last bit of food in my mouth and take a sip of the juice he brought me.

  “I was his fiance.” He looks at me and nods his head once.

  “That his baby too?” He asks pointing to my bump. I just nod. “I take it you wish it wasn't?” I give another slight nod. With that, he gets up and leaves and I am left wondering what will happen to my child and me.

  Vin

  His fucking kid. That motherfucker. I had to leave so I didn't snap in front of her. It's not her fault, hell he probably forced that baby in her. Sick fuck. We were so damn close to closing in on him. After years of searching we finally found him here in Cental, so we set up shop out of town and waited for the right opportunity. Finding that warehouse was a hell of a break. I knew hitting him there would tear a hole in his organization. My guy on the inside told me that particular place is where he kept the women before he shipped them out. Only being there for no more than a few hours. So finding her down there was a surprise. Being knocked up was an even bigger one. Now I believe I have something that could possibly mean more to him than anything. His child. He could possibly care for the woman too but highly doubtful maybe just a possessiveness towards her that borders insanity. But the kid I could definitely use to my advantage could use it to bring him to me. He is about to learn how alive I really am.

  Then

  Avil and I have been seeing each other for almost a month now and I am in love. We haven't spoken the words yet but I can tell he loves me too. We are in the car now and I have a blindfold over my face. He says he has a surprise for me. As we drive I can't even begin to think of what it could be. Since our first night together I have maybe spent five nights at home. Dawn teases me and says that she needs to make appointments to see me. Maybe she is right but this is the honeymoon phase, right? The part where we are so infatuated with each other we don't want to get out of bed. The man is insatiable.

  “Almost there baby girl. Wait till you see it.” He whispers in my ear kissing my neck and nibbling on my ear. I feel his hand on my leg as it moves toward the juncture of my thighs then caressing my throbbing sex. I try to hold back my moan because Vaughn is driving and can more than likely see Avil’s hand rubbing me.

  About a week ago he started driving for Avil to replace Steve who apparently just up and quit. It makes me uneasy that he is the one driving us everywhere. Steve was nice and didn't make me feel uncomfortable.

  “Avil please Vaughn can see us,” I whisper and tug at his hand. I'm wearing a blue sundress and no panties. As per his request. On our second date he told me that the color blue looked best on me, then the next thing I knew he was taking me shopping for clothes making sure everything I bought was some shade of blue and was a dress of some kind. Telling me he didn't want me to wear panties anymore, said he needed to have access to me at all times.

  “He knows you are mine baby girl. He knows he can look but can't touch.” He pushes two fingers into me and rubs my clit with his thumb. God he can use his fingers to play me so well and I am coming within seconds. A wave of embarrassment washes over me, the blindfold gives me some kind of security because I can't see Vaughn but I can still feel his eyes.

  “Don't be shy baby you are fucking sexy, I like showing you off. Like to show other men what is mine and they will never have.”

  “We are here boss.”
I hear Vaughn say from the front seat.

  “Let's go baby girl.” He says and helps me out of the car keeping my blindfold on. It is quiet so I know we must be on the outskirts of town. “Okay. Now I bought this for you sweet girl I hope you like it. Are you ready?” I eagerly nod my head and Avil takes the blindfold off. Shielding my eyes from the sun they quickly adjust and I see a large beautiful house in front of me. Did he buy me a house? Completely dumbfounded I stagger forward taking in the huge place.

  “What? I…” There I go with the stuttering again.

  “I want you to move in with me. Be my wife. Have my kids. Say yes baby girl.” My jaw drops open and instead of sputtering out a sentence I'm speechless. Move in with him? Kids? It's been a month is he crazy?

  “Come let's go look inside shall we?” He takes my hand and we walk into the beautiful home. Walking through the front door seems unreal as I look at the large staircase in the entryway. It seems so degrading to call it that. “Let's explore shall we?”

  White, everything is white and it feels so sterile. The house is beautiful don't get me wrong but I feel like I should ask for permission to walk on the floor.

  “You want to move together? We have only been dating for a month.” I say after the shock sinks in.

  “Yes, but I love you. It's going to happen why not now?” My head snaps up at the word, I knew he did but to hear the words…

  “You’ve never said that before.” I pause to wrap my arms around his neck. “I love you too.” He kisses me softly wrapping his arms around me.

  “Then move in baby girl. You know I'll take care of you. You can continue to go to school and quit that damn job of yours. What do you say?”

  Quit my job? I like my job. Maybe I will just do part time. I do love him and I can keep going to school and get my degree, get myself the job I really want.