Everything I Need Read online

  I’m practically vibrating I’m so fucking pissed.

  Keelynn keeps crying and screaming while Corsetti just stands there. “Or do you think you’ll actually survive and have a chance at locking me up again?”

  He laughs. “Because we know how that turned out last time. I didn’t even end up serving two years after the trial. My lawyers and good behavior got me out. So what the fuck do you think you’re gonna do to me, huh?”

  “Let her—the fuck—go,” I repeat as I take a step closer to him. Ignoring his questions and taunting.

  At my movement Selano shifts his gun to point at me. Keelynn’s sobs get louder.

  “Nothing, that’s what the fuck you’re gonna do. And I’m going to enjoy watching you as she dies. And then killing you my—”

  “FBI, freeze!”

  “You son of a bitch!” Corsetti yells as all his men shift to aim at the authorities infiltrating the room.

  “Arms up. Show me your hands! Arms up,” is yelled out. Demanded.

  I start walking along the wall. Small measured steps to get to Keelynn while everyone else is distracted by the backup finally fucking arriving.

  FBI and the local police department swarm the room.

  But then Corsetti reaches into his suit coat as Selano makes to move.

  It all happens so fast.

  Keelynn screams in terror.

  Guns go off in a spray of bullets.

  Corsetti hits the ground.

  And so does Selano.

  And I run for her. More bullets flying around me as chaos erupts, but I pay them no attention. Not when my focus is solely on Keelynn.

  I dive into her chair, taking her down, protecting her as much as I can at the impact with her still bound to the chair.

  “Shh, baby. Shh,” I try to soothe through the chaos. Her tears falling faster. Even as the explosions quiet. “I’m sorry, I’m so, so sorry,” I apologize again and again.

  She’s crying so hard she’s practically convulsing.

  “I’ve got you, I’ve got you. I’m going to get you out of here. Hold on, Sunshine.”

  I rip the duct tape from around her ankles first, noticing the zip ties around her wrists. Unwinding the tape, tearing pieces away, doing anything to get her out and into my arms.

  Demands and orders are being screamed around us as more authorities and medics arrive. Coming to help apprehend those still standing into handcuffs and to aid those shot.

  I vaguely register Tanner’s booming voice through the mayhem, ordering his men and local authorities around, but I don’t catch what he’s saying. My focus solely on my girl and getting her free.

  “Me-Merrick,” she stutters through chattering teeth. Shock and adrenaline settling in. “O-oh my Go-God, Merrick.” Her shoulders strain against the binds at her wrist due to her shaking.

  I grit my teeth at hearing her terrified and fearful voice mixed with the relief and love she has for me.

  “I know. It’s okay. I’m here,” I vow. And I’m not fucking going anywhere.

  BLUE LIGHTS FLASH.

  Officers and agents, EMTs and firefighters hustle about.

  Nonstop chatter and orders fill the air.

  My body aches as it trembles. The adrenaline from today’s events wearing off.

  I sit wrapped in a warmed blanket in the back of an ambulance. The doors open. One medic at my side tending to the cuts and scrapes on my face and arms.

  I refused to leave while Merrick was still here. Refused treatment unless I was able to get it here, inside an ambulance. Because I don’t want Merrick out of my sight or more than a foot away from me. Even after everything I found out yesterday.

  Because after today, none of that matters.

  What matters is that I love him. With my whole heart. My entire body. Down to the depths of my soul.

  His plot of revenge no longer matters.

  The secrets and lies he kept and told no longer matter.

  Just him. He’s all that matters. And the fact that I want to spend the rest of forever with him.

  After law enforcement swarmed the building and shot Corsetti, Merrick worked at getting my ankles and wrists free from their binds. He was able to free my ankles easily. Ripping and tearing through the duct tape with minimal effort.

  My wrists though, they were secured with zip ties and as much as he wanted to rip them from my body, he didn’t want to hurt me. So he had Tanner come over with a pocketknife and slice through the heavy plastic.

  As soon as I was free, Merrick scooped me up and cradled me to his chest. Rushing me from the chaos around us. He made sure to keep my face turned into his neck as he stepped over bodies and puddles of blood. Telling me, “it’s shit you don’t need to see, Sunshine.” I cried even harder, if that’s possible, at the feel of his protective arms around me and his warm chest below me as he ensured to keep me safe.

  He tried to soothe me and calm me as best as he could. His full lips pressed to the top of my head, deep voice murmuring how sorry he was, how much he loved me, and how thankful he was I was okay.

  But the tears kept coming. No longer from fear but from relief. Pure relief that we both made it out safely.

  Alive.

  Together.

  I couldn’t speak to reply. To say I love you, too. But I wanted to.

  Because I do.

  Merrick brought me right through the officers and agents demanding statements, straight to an ambulance to have me tended to. He wasn’t waiting one second and barked at anyone within earshot who thought otherwise. They backed off as soon as they heard his tone and saw his face.

  I didn’t want him to move one inch away from me, but once it was settled that I could stay and be treated onsite, he was pulled away to give statements and speak with whomever he needed to.

  But not out of my sight though. Both of us not allowing it.

  I stare off into the busy parking lot, watching Merrick talk with his friend, Tanner. His brows bunched low, face pinched in worry and anger.

  Wincing, I hiss when the antiseptic soaks into a deeper cut. “Sorry about that, ma’am,” the medic murmurs. Working as quickly and efficiently as he can.

  “It’s okay,” I reply softly. Drained and exhausted.

  Once Merrick finishes up speaking with Tanner, he speaks with a couple of other agents and local law enforcement before making his way to me. Strong legs taking determined steps to get to me.

  The set of his brow and jaw letting everyone know he wasn’t to be stopped again.

  At the open ambulance doors he jumps right into the back, not waiting for approval, and drops to his knees at the side of the gurney.

  I pull away from the medic tending to me to lean into his neck. Soaking up all his love and comfort while his strong arms gently wrap around me.

  “I’m so fucking sorry, Sunshine.” It has to be the millionth time he’s uttered those words.

  And at the shake in his voice I pull back slightly and look into his face to see his eyes wet with tears. They fall down his stubbled cheeks as he just looks at me. His stare full of so much apology for the last twenty-four hours.

  For what I found out.

  For how he left.

  For what happened to me today.

  It’s all there in his deep, dark stare.

  “I love you,” I say in reply. Needing him to know that.

  His big shoulders sag and a gruff sob of relief passes his full lips before they land on mine.

  “Thought I fucking lost you, Sunshine,” he says frantically between kisses and swipes of his tongue. “Twice. Thought it yesterday after I walked out. Then today…fuck today. I’ve only ever been that scared one other time.”

  His words hang between us. Suspended in time and pain and loss.

  “When you weren’t at the school and Campbell couldn’t reach you I couldn’t understand what the fuck happened. And then…then I got the call from Corsetti and wanted to rip him from limb to limb. I was petrified, Sunshine. Fucking terrified,” he s
ays. Looking right into my eyes—unashamed and without attempting to hide the tears he’s still crying.

  “But you saved me.” I look at him right back. My eyes just as wet as his. He needs to hear me. Needs to understand. “You saved me, Merrick.”

  My voice breaks and his eyes slam shut.

  “You made it to me. You kept him from hurting me any more. You saved me.”

  He breathes deep. Still kneeling there on the floor of the ambulance. Doors wide open. The medic now having stepped out when our kiss and conversation turned deeper.

  “Thank you, Merrick,” I tell him sincerely. Meaning it.

  “Goddamn it, Sunshine. How can you thank me? The only reason you were in this fucking mess to begin with is because of me. It’s because of me they took you, fucking beat you. I mean, look at you, baby…”

  He stands now and jumps from the ambulance. Pacing the open doors in front of me.

  “I kept it all from you. Why I was here and what it all meant. Because I knew that if you knew you’d try to stop me and—”

  “It doesn’t matter now, Merrick.” I interrupt him. “All that matters is that we’re both safe.”

  “The hell it doesn’t matter. Of course it does, Keelynn. It matters because it’s my fucking fault. It matters because I left you yesterday, making you feel that you didn’t matter. But I want you to know I was coming to you at the school.”

  His words breathe hope back into my heart.

  He stops pacing to look at me again. “I want you to know I was there for you. To tell you that I wasn’t going to go through with it. You need to know that I chose you, Sunshine. I was just too fucking late…”

  “But you weren’t,” I rush to tell him. Going to stand but he climbs back in beside me. Kneeling next to me yet again. “You weren’t too late. If I need to say it a million times I will, honey. Because it’s true. You saved me. And it doesn’t matter anymore because we’re here, together, right now.”

  He finally nods and lets the words sink in.

  “Fuck,” he clips before his lips are on mine again. More gentle this time. Less urgent. But no less passionate and demanding.

  Pulling away, he delicately cups my cheeks. “And you love me? Still, after everything that’s happened. You can still love me?”

  His deep, dark eyes hold me captive as they scan my face. Waiting for me to answer.

  “How could I not?”

  And then he’s kissing me again.

  Claiming me.

  Owning me.

  Possessing my heart and devouring my soul.

  Five Months Later

  WALKING THROUGH THE DOOR, THE only noise filling the house is the faint sound of a sensual beat pulsing through the room from down the hallway. If Keelynn isn’t greeting me at the door after a day shift at the station, then her terribly off-key voice can be heard singing the house down. My girl loves to sing, although she isn’t very good at it. So even though the low beat of a song playing out isn’t unusual, the otherwise quiet house is.

  After kicking off my shoes I make my way down the hall, following the sound. Dropping my truck keys on the table. Draping my suit jacket on a dining room chair.

  As I make my way through the kitchen and toward the laundry room, the music gets louder so I can make out the words of “Dangerous Woman” by Ariana Grande blasting through the laundry room.

  Turning at the doorway, I stop in my tracks as an almighty groan tears up my chest. The rumble drowned out by the loud bass and steady beat.

  Leaning over into the washing machine, sorting a load to be washed is Keelynn. Shapely legs standing on tiptoe to reach inside the massive washer. Her blue dress, the same one she wore the very first day I took her body and she took my heart, rides up, just barely giving me a view of the underside of one ass cheek. When she falls to the flats of her feet, fidgeting with knobs and buttons, she starts swaying her hips to the beat. Sultry and sexy as fuck. Then comes her voice. Singing out of tune about how her man makes her want to do things that she shouldn’t.

  My cock stands at attention behind my slacks. Ready and waiting and more than willing.

  Stepping up behind her, her back stiffens as she gasps, sensing my presence right before my hands land on her luscious hips. “Somebody feeling dangerous?” I ask in a deep whisper.

  Lips to her ear.

  My chest flush to her back.

  No space between us.

  Lifting a hand from her hip, I drag a finger over one shoulder to drape her long hair over the other, exposing her neck and back. Then dropping my hand back down, I trace her hip before gliding it forward to grasp her thigh. All while my lips lower down her neck to her shoulder and back. Nips and licks and kisses raining down on her perfect skin.

  Her breath hitches before she replies with a low moan. Then her breathing turns slightly labored with arousal. A small nod tips her head forward and then I growl.

  My hands spin her around so I can crash my mouth to hers. My tongue immediately seeking entry. As we kiss and bite and nibble, I lift her ass to the top of the washing machine. The height has us lining up perfectly. Her hot, snug pussy to my rock hard dick.

  She lets out a gasp when her ass hits the cold steel and I viciously growl when I see she’s bare underneath the dress I lifted when I picked her up.

  “God fucking damn it, Sunshine.” My voice is nothing but feral and full of need. “You trying to kill me?”

  As the song continues to play in the background, Keelynn smirks and wraps her arms around my neck. Kissing me all perfect and wild before asking, “Now why would you think that, Detective?”

  Ever since I accepted a job as detective for the local PD she’s taken to calling me as such as a nickname.

  I smirk. Loving her this playful.

  Full of sass.

  “Keeping this pretty pussy bare.” I tsk. “You weren’t walking around like this all day, were you, Sunshine? Better not have been.” Demand and warning clear in my tone. “This perfect pussy is mine and mine alone.”

  “Only for you, honey,” she breathes.

  “Damn fucking right.”

  Reaching around behind her, I turn the dial and hit the knob. Causing the machine to come to life.

  She pulls away. Chest heaving. “What are you doing?” she asks, out of breath. Confusion clear on her face.

  Now it’s my turn to smirk. “You wanna do things you shouldn’t, right? It’s time to play.”

  As the washer rocks beneath her, I see her eyes light up. The confusion all cleared up.

  Reluctantly, I remove my hands from her body to work my belt and the zipper of my slacks. Letting them drop to my ankles so I can kick them off. Leaving me in my black Calvin Kleins she loves so much.

  With her feet reaching out behind my back, Keelynn drags me forward so my cloth-covered cock rubs against her slick, wet flesh. Her want for me soaking through the material.

  “Already so wet for me, huh, baby?”

  “Mmmm,” she moans softly as I rock into her while her hands wander to the buttons on my dress shirt. Once undone her small, soft hands land on my bare chest.

  I fucking love her hands on me.

  Not wanting to wait another second, I rip her dress over her head. Seeing that she isn’t wearing a bra either.

  “That’s it. You’re definitely trying to kill me,” I groan.

  She giggles lightly and then moans loudly when I palm her heavy tits. Peaked nipples scraping across my rough palms.

  “Gosh, Merrick. The way you touch me…”

  “Show me, baby. Show me how you like it.” I step back, dropping my hands to give her the space she needs to get to work.

  Blushing, she hesitates before her small hands cup herself. Massaging and squeezing.

  “Like that, Sunshine?” I ask. Getting worked up watching her like this.

  So worked up I push my boxer briefs down, kick them off, then fist my cock and start pumping. Steady, strong strokes from base to tip.

  I groan.


  Keelynn’s eyes are wide and vibrant green as they lock on my hand. Then one of hers leaves one breast and travels down her soft belly, past her bare pubic bone, to her pretty pink flesh right into her slick, wet heat.

  I swear to Christ I almost drop to my knees.

  In the months we’ve been together, and with all of the dirty and thorough ways I’ve worshiped her body, not once have I ever seen her fingers in her pussy.

  Until now.

  Goddamn.

  Now she’s moaning and writhing on her fingers. Rocking along with the washer below her.

  “Enough,” I growl. Startling her.

  I can’t take this for another fucking second.

  Grabbing her hand, I lift it from her pussy to my lips and suck her two fingers clean.

  I’m groaning again. So loud it drowns out the noise of the washing machine. “Nothing tastes better than you, baby. Nothing.”

  Silently, she watches me.

  Panting with want.

  Her body flushed pink with need.

  “Merrick,” she breathes.

  I know that tone. That look.

  “My girl needs me, huh?”

  She nods frantically. And without hesitation I line my cock up to her beautiful cunt and slide into heaven.

  Fucking home.

  My salvation.

  “I missed you,” she breathes out while my cock takes her deeper and harder.

  I slow it down while the washer bounces below her. Looking into her deep green eyes. Getting lost and found all in one glance. “I missed you, too, baby.” I lightly kiss her lips and drop my forehead to hers.

  I had to pull a double at the station because of a break in a case so I was gone last night and all day today.

  “I hate sleeping without you,” she reveals. Clinging to me tighter. Her pussy quivering around me.

  I pull her in tighter against me. My arms banding around her so fiercely a damn tornado couldn’t rip us apart.

  My hand finds the hair at the back of her head. I grip and tug firmly, but gently, so I can see her face. “Isn’t anything I love more than you in my arms. Skin to skin. Heart to heart.” I pull out then thrust deeply. Bottoming out and making her gasp with the force.