Maeve squeezed on my shoulders and kicked my sides. "Move!"
I ground my teeth together. If I got out of this alive, I was going to kill Simon. Or destroy. Or whatever.
A noise behind me caught my attention. I looked over my shoulder and watched a pair of guards come around the back side of the house. One stopped and pointed at their fallen comrade. My heart quickened. I looked ahead and focused on the tree ahead of us. I took a step forward.
And then we were there.
"Farther!" Maeve hissed. "Don't stop and smell the flowers!"
The guards behind us shouted. I focused on the next tree. And the next. We bounced from tree trunk to tree trunk until I ran out of trees, but that didn't matter. We'd arrived at the garage. Maeve slipped off my sore shoulders and we scooted inside. The interior was pitch-black, but a pair of red eyes greeted us. Certus lit a match and swept his arm towards the limo.
"Mr. Cruor has explained everything. Please step inside the vehicle, Miss Maeve," he invited her.
"Don't mind if I do," she agreed before she slipped into the car.
Certus shut the door behind her and turned to me. "Mr. Cruor would like you to return to the house."
My shoulders drooped and my face fell. "Seriously? Through those guards?"
"He deems it good practice," Certus told me.
I pursed my lips and turned towards the garage door. "He's trying to get me killed. . ."
CHAPTER 13
I slipped out of the garage and looked around. No one was in sight. I tiptoed to the first tree and-
"Stop! Put your hands in the air!"
I cringed. The voice came from behind me. I raised my hands, but focused on the tree in front of me. I took a step forward.
"Stop!"
The voice was now twenty feet further away. I didn't look back to see his shocked face as I jumped from tree to tree. I soon reached the second-to-last tree. The one closest to the house swarmed with guards. I clutched onto the trunk and pursed my lips.
One of the men ran up and pointed in the direction of the front of the house. "Someone was spotted out front!"
The guards raced away from their post, but the new one remained. He looked to my tree and gestured to me. "Come on, Faith!" he hissed.
I blinked at him. "Specter?" I whispered back.
The guard rolled his eyes. "Who else? Now get over here and climb on my back!"
I hurried over. He leaned against the tree and I climbed his back to reach the first branch where I pulled myself up. The window was still open, so I slipped inside and brushed myself off.
"Have you had enough adventure tonight?"
I whipped my head up and found Simon walking towards me with his sly smile on his face. I glared at him. "It's been more like work."
He stopped in front of me and offered me his arm. "Then what do you say to a long break at home?"
I sighed and grabbed his arm. "Now that's an idea I like."
Simon guided me downstairs. Our host and Eileen stood at the bottom of the stairs. We were halfway down the flight when the lights switched back on.
"Finally!" Eileen exclaimed.
"Those damn fools are too late. . ." Eres grumbled.
She grasped her father's arm and her lower lip trembled. "They will find my bracelet, won't they?"
He scoffed. "We'll see if they can even find the safe, empty or not."
We reached them and Simon bowed his head. "I'm sorry we were here at such an inopportune moment."
Eres shook his head. "Nonsense. This was none of your doing. If Eileen hadn't told the whole world about its return this would never have happened."
Eileen glared at her father and dropped his arm. "How was I to know this would happen?"
Her father frowned. "You should have more sense than to tell the whole world about our affairs."
Simon coughed into his hand. "If you'll excuse us. I think I hear my vehicle."
Eileen gasped and rushed over to us to grasp his free arm. "Must you leave so soon? Dinner is hardly over."
He smiled down at her, but extracted his arm. "A theft has occurred, and I'm sure the police will arrive shortly to begin their investigation."
Eres stiffened and cleared his throat. "Yes, the police, well, we'll see if they're needed. The thieves might still be caught."
Simon bowed his head. "Then I wish you good luck, and good evening."
We walked outside and into the cool night air. The limo awaited us, and we slipped into the back. I looked for Mauve, but the rear was empty.
Simon sat across from me and chuckled. "She is in the spacious trunk. There's no chance she'll be seen there."
I raised an eyebrow. "Did she agree to that?"
He smiled. "She was happy to oblige me."
I leaned back in my seat and frowned. "At least somebody's happy about this whole mess. Maeve got stuck in a tree, you sent me on a suicide mission, and Dolf got stuck in a ceiling." I paused and glanced at Simon. "What did happen to Dolf?"
Simon chuckled. "Also in the trunk. I distracted our hosts long enough for him to sneak out of the house and through the trees to the garage. You must have barely missed seeing one another."
I snorted. "I was too busy trying not to get myself spotted. That stupid speed trick only worked when I felt like I was at death's door."
He folded his hands into his crossed lap. "Necessity is the mother of invention."
I slid down my seat and tugged at the hem of my skirt. "This stupid thing didn't help."
Simon disappeared and reappeared beside me. He leaned towards me and his hand slid over the skirt to my bare leg. His voice was soft and seductive. "We could remedy that." His fingers caught on the hem of the skirt and slipped the fabric up to my thigh.
The familiar heat flared up inside me. I shut my eyes and tried to block out his sensual touches. "The. . .the trunk," I reminded him.
He pressed a teasing kiss against my shivering neck. "They can't hear a thing."
I bit my lip to keep back a moan. "I-I haven't forgiven you for making me save Maeve."
"Then let me offer you my thanks," he suggested.
He pressed his cool body against me, but all I felt was the sensual warmth of lust. His right arm slipped behind me and pressed my side against his hard chest. He pulled my skirt up to my waist and showed off my white, soaked underwear.
My heart skipped a couple of beats. I leaned back my head and gasped for air. His hand slipped between my legs and pressed against my shivering bundle of nerves. I jumped in his grasp and moaned. His teasing touches and hot lips were sweet torture to me. My body and mind bent to his will as the ache inside me consumed my senses.
I turned and pressed our lips together in a long, passionate kiss. He pushed me down so I lay on the seat and his body covered mine. His deft fingers opened my blouse. He parted the fabric and cupped my breast in his hand. I groaned into our kiss as he massaged my fleshy, swollen mound. The heat inside me was maddening, but I reveled in the feel of him possessing me. I wanted him to take me and make me his all night long.
His hands pulled off my skirt and I removed my blouse. My underclothes soon followed, as did his clothes. Our naked, sweat-soaked bodies slid against each other as we kissed. His hands caressed my body with his soft, teasing touch. His lips covered me in hot, sensual love that made me groan. I writhed beneath his attentions and craved more of this unbearable pleasure. My hands wound through his hair and my thighs pressed against his hips. The tension was deliciously hot and tight.
My lover pressed his swollen manhood against my wet opening, and I groaned as we joined as one. He grunted and thrust deeper. Every inch of him stroked my sensitive nerves and sent thrilling shots of pleasure through me. I clutched onto him and shuddered. The deep ache inside of me was worsened by his long, slow thrusts, and yet I never wanted this to end.
I leaned my head back and slipped my tongue across my dry lips. "Oh god," I groaned. "Please don't stop. Never stop."
He grinned and slowed his pace. I whimpered and shifted my hips, but he kept up the torture. "Say you're mine," he whispered.
I clutched onto his shoulders and bit my lower lip. The ache inside of me begged for more of him, but my pride held out. "Please."
He stopped his wonderful, sensual thrusts and stared down at me with bright red eyes. "Say it," he demanded.
I looked into the depths of those lust-filled eyes and shuddered. The heat inside me overwhelmed my pride. I parted my lips and breathed out my reply. "Yours."
He chuckled. "Mine."
He resumed our sensual love-making. His hands massaged my rear and breasts, and his lips left searing trails over my shivering flesh. I leaned my head back and groaned. His touches ignited inside me a carnal need only he could satisfy, and every part of me was aflame with desire. I needed him as I never needed anyone else. He was my lover, my master, my everything, and I reveled beneath his domination.
I moaned and squirmed beneath our beautiful, aching friction. He penetrated me faster and faster. My body tensed. My hot core ached. My voice chanted my calls for release, for a finish to this sweet claiming. "Yes. Oh god, yes. Please. Please more."
He grunted and thrust faster and harder into me. My body slipped was on fire with lust. I petted his hair and nibbled on his ear.
"Yes. More of that. Oh god, yes. More. Take me. Make me yours all night."
Small waves of pleasure washed over me. My body shuddered beneath the coming promise of fulfillment. I leaned my head back and smiled.