Willing Captive(49)

This is the first time I’ve seen his special ferret , and it’s got my brain frazzled.

Standing under the spray of the water, he runs his hands over his face to wipe the water off, opens his eyes, and sees me standing there. He asks, “You need something, princess?

But all my brain is interested in is staring openly at his junk.

He tries again. “Baby, what’s up?”

This snaps me out of it. Sort of. But not really. Swallowing hard, my eyes drift down past his stomach again and I murmur, “Boo asked me to tell you that lunch will be ready in a few.”

Soaping up and washing himself, he replies, “What’re we having?”

“Penis butter and jelly .”

Holy shit!

Slapping a hand to my forehead, I cringe. “Peanut butter and jelly.”

I see him smirk, but he doesn’t say a thing.

Smart man.

“Sounds good. Gimme a sec,” he says.

And I’m good with waiting. The view is spectacular.

Still eyeing his long, thick semi-erect penis, I ask distractedly, “What do you want to dick?”

Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

“What do you want to drink?” I quickly add.

Body shaking with silent laughter, he can’t hide his amusement. “A coke will do.”

Oh dear Lord, his dick is getting bigger! It’s inflating like a balloon.

How on earth does it fit?

My eyes widen at the show I’m getting. I feel like I should be in biology class or something.

I repeat his order. “Sure, babe. One cock. I mean cock. I mean coke!”

Flushing bright red, I exit the bathroom in a rush to the sound of Nox’s laughter.

Gettin’ real tired of your shit, Nox!





***





Nox





You know what’s beautiful?

Lily.

I watch her get ready for bed, and the sight of her is heart stopping. But my mind wanders.

Mechanically undressing, I walk into the bathroom and splash ice-cold water onto my face. I shouldn’t do it. Really, I shouldn’t. But something pushes me.

I don’t like secrets.

I watch her closely. My mind tries to capture her. An image that I can take with me when this is all over.

Looking at Lily is like looking into a flame. There’s a glow surrounding her, and it burns so bright that it hurts to look at her for a long while.

But that while?

It’s worth the hurt.

Dressed in a black tank and panties, she smiles up at me and try as I f*cking might, I can’t return it. I can’t return it because I’ve got to do something really shitty right now. Something that will change her, yet again.

Climbing into bed, I sit facing her. Her face searches mine before I see worry seep into her eyes.

I have to tell her.

It’s time.

“Lily, there’s something I have to tell you…”





Chapter Sixteen

The calm before the storm





Lily





Nox telling me that Jamie Harrison organized the hit was a breaking point for me.

Jamie.

The brother of my heart. My friend and comrade in stupidity.

Once the tears start, I can’t stop them. I cry for a long time. Such a long time that Nox has to get up, bring me some water, and change our bed sheets, which are covered in tears.

They just won’t stop.

Betrayal.

That’s what I feel. Complete and utter betrayal.

Through my tears, I ask, “Is there any chance you got it wrong?”

Nox shakes his head, wiping away my tears. “I’m sorry, baby. No. His apartment had everything we needed to rule out anyone else. We found the laptop the emails were sent from. In the search history, we found internet searches for websites linked to kidnapping and extortion.” His jaw steels. “There was a wall in his bedroom that was filled with pictures of you, Lily. Hundreds of pictures. And what’s worse is that one of those pictures was taken the day I came to get you.”

My stomach lurches. I don’t believe it. I can’t believe it.

It has to be a mistake. Jamie wouldn’t do this to me. He and Jett are my friends! We lived in the same house for almost a year, for Christ’s sake. He taught me how to swear in Gaeilge (Irish Gaelic) and even went as far as to take me places that my dad wouldn’t let me by playing the ‘she’ll be fine with me’ card.

My tears come harder knowing his friendship was all an act.

Betrayed and deceived, I don’t know how I’ll ever get past this.

Knowing I shouldn’t ask, but having to, I beg, “Tell me what happened the first time I was taken.”

Nox shakes his head. “Lily-”

I cut him off with, “Please. I need to know. Maybe then I’ll understand all this. Please help me understand.”

Nox rubs a hand over his face and sighs, “Okay, baby. I don’t know all the details, but I’ll tell you what I know.” Clearing his throat, he starts, “Your dad mentioned it when we first spoke over the phone, and when I couldn’t find a link with the information he’d given me, I thought he was just being paranoid.”

Sounds like my dad.