Rush of Innocence (Rush Series #1) (10 page)

As it
had been in the car, his expression was pensive. She wondered what weighed on
his mind so much to cause him so much pain. She was amazed again at the extreme
difference between the cold man at the window and the man who’d been scorching
hot in both the tub and then later in the bed. Her body ached in places she
hadn’t even known she possessed.

Not
able to bear his desolation any longer, she rose from the bed silently and
stepped up behind him, wrapping her naked form against his back. He stiffened
momentarily before turning to tug her around to wrap her in his arms, close to
his chest. He leaned his head against hers and kissed her head softly. He
stroked his hands up and down her back, striving to impart some warmth.

“You’re
cold,” he said quietly.

Placing
a kiss against his muscular chest, she whispered, “Come warm me up.”

She
felt him grin against her hair. “What have I created?”

“Insatiable
lust,” she murmured as she ran the tip of tongue against his salty skin.

He
stared down into her face as he smoothed her hair. “Insatiable, huh?” he
murmured.

“Yep,”
she replied.

His
smile faded. “I… I didn’t expect it to be like this,” he said almost to himself
as he traced the bones of her face with his fingertip.

“Me
either,” she whispered.

“I
don’t know what to do,” he murmured almost desperately.

She
gave a small shake of her head. “I don’t understand.”

Cupping
her face within his palms, he pressed his lips against hers softly, and walked
her slowly backward to the bed. He followed her down, catching his weight on
his elbow. “Insatiable,” he grinned again. “Be gentle with me,” he quipped as
he intertwined their fingers and lifted her hands up above her head as he
lowered his lips once again to hers.

Trinity
spent the entirety of her trip with Rush. He took her sightseeing during the
day and made slow, luscious love to her every night. He worshiped her body with
his own. And for the most part, it was the perfect beginning to a beautiful
romance. But sometimes she’d catch him staring off, lost in whatever
demon-filled world his mind went to. His demons scared her.

He’d
insisted on driving her to the airport. She’d tried to veto this decision, but
Rush Drayton wasn’t a man easily dissuaded. He held her hand as he drove. She
lightly traced the veins in his strong hand. She would miss being with him like
this – it was like they were in their own little bubble. She raised their
joined hands to press a soft kiss to his.

“I
have some business to take care of in Vail, but I’d like to see you when I
return to Savannah at the end of next week,” he said.

“I’d
like that,” she murmured. She tried to push away the thought of how her father
would feel about that.

His
lips twitched. “You won’t try to be insatiable with anyone else, will you?”

“It’ll
be a struggle, but I’ll try to keep it reined in,” she teased.

His
responding smile devastated her by its sheer beauty… as did its fade into the
now-familiar somberness. She stared out the window at the passing scenery for
several long minutes before plucking up the courage to ask once again, “Rush,
what’s wrong?”

He
gave her a soft smile and pressed a kiss to her hand.
“Nothing.”

She
stared at his handsome face for a long time and wondered why he would lie to
her.

He
walked her as close to her gate as security would allow and stood with her
until the last possible moment. He pulled her into his arms and held her close
with his head resting against hers for such a long time.

“I
wish it could always be like this,” he murmured against her hair.

“Why
can’t it be?” she asked, her heart nearly breaking at the sadness in his voice.

He
inhaled deeply then let it out slowly. “Things change… situations change. The
perfect moments always slip away, it seems.”

She
tilted her head to look up into his breathtaking face – with his dark hair and
hazel eyes. She wasn’t sure why, but she somehow knew the happiness she had
right now in this moment would be destroyed the instant she left his arms. The
thought made her wrap her arms tightly around him and bury her face into his
chest. Her lips trembled when the last boarding call for her flight was called.

“I
had a good time, thank you,” she said.

He
smiled down into her face and, for too brief a time, pressed his soft lips
against hers. “Trust me when I say, it was entirely my pleasure. I’ll see you
at the end of next week. I’ll call you at the gallery, okay?”

She
couldn’t reply as tears clogged her throat, so she just nodded her head. He
hugged her tight to him once more, pressed a kiss to her temple, then turned
and walked away without looking back. She wasn’t sure why, but she never wanted
to cry more in her life than at that moment.

Chapter 5

She wasn’t surprised to see Alex
Masters at her gate when she landed. He gave her a courtesy nod of his head,
but otherwise didn’t speak. She glared at him but didn’t speak either.
Silently, they walked to the black SUV. She slipped into the front seat and
fastened her seatbelt. Alex did the same and rested his hands on the steering
wheel and stared straight ahead for several long moments.

“Your
actions were very foolhardy. You know that, don’t you?” he asked quietly.

She
didn’t answer but leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

“Your
father has been very worried.”

Without
opening her eyes, she snapped, “Don’t talk to me about my father.”

“His
only concern is for your safety.”

She
snapped her eyes open and glared at him. “Was it you who followed me on all my
dates? Did you get quite the kick out reporting back all the intimate details
of my life to him?”

“Your
father was only concerned…” he started again before she cut him off.

“Did
he send you back to them to lay down his threats?” she hissed.

His
brows bunched in confusion.
“Threats?
No one
threatened anyone,” he said.

“Was
it you who wrote ‘Eliminated’ at the bottom of each of your investigative
reports?” she continued as if she’d not heard him.

“What
are you talking about?” he asked.

“Come
on, Alex! Don’t act like you don’t know. Wasn’t that what it was all about?
That way my father could continue to control my life?”

Alex
sat staring at her for a long time, trying to ascertain her meaning. “All my
firm was required to do was follow you to ensure your safety. We always keep an
itemized list of events happening during that time so we can document the time
spent on each case. We certainly didn’t ever threaten anyone. And never have we
written anything on a report.”

“My
father apparently was threatening them with life or limb if they so much as
talked to me again. I’m twenty-two years old and not allowed to go on a date
un-chaperoned. Don’t you find that disturbing?” she asked icily.

Alex
stared at her silently for a long time. With his lips set in grim lines, he
turned the ignition over and they traveled the rest of the way home in silence.

It
was late when they pulled into the garage. She was pulling the door lever when
Alex laid a restraining hand on her arm. She flashed angry eyes at him.

Alex
met her stormy eyes calmly. “No matter what your father has or has not done,
doesn’t negate the fact that someone is trying to kill him. Whether you want to
believe it or not, you’re in as much danger as your father. I would appreciate
it if you’d apprise my staff of your comings and goings.”

“No.
Absolutely not.
You and your staff will no longer follow me
around. I am over eighteen years of age, as such, I am an adult. I do not
require your services. If I see any of your staff following me, I will call the
police and report you. Do I make myself clear?” she said through clenched
teeth.

Alex
Masters studied her for a long time. “Perfectly,” he murmured, as he stared at
her with his flinty eyes.

She
opened her door and climbed out of the SUV. She took a deep breath and exhaled
before opening the door which led into the kitchen. Due to the lateness of the
hour, the house was relatively quiet. Trinity walked through the kitchen and
dinning room. Her confusing feelings about Rush Drayton had her feeling edgy
and vulnerable. Her feelings of outrage against her father’s actions left her
feeling molested in the worst possible way – by the person she trusted the
most. She felt off-balance and somewhat lost. Her rioting emotions left her
with the insatiable need to cry.

Her
foot was on the first stair and her hand on the banister when she heard her
father call to her weakly from his office.

“Trinity?
Is
that you?”

She
closed her eyes briefly and swore under her breath. She wasn’t prepared to deal
with her father at the moment. Clearing her throat, she said, “Yes, Father.”

She
turned from the stairs and slowly made her way to his office. He was sitting
behind his desk looking pale and frail. “How are you?” she asked quietly, as
she stepped into the room.

“Better,
now that you’re home. What were you thinking, Trinity? If you weren’t concerned
about your own safety, how could you leave me when I needed you the most? I was
lying in the hospital wounded, and you just take off without a word to anyone.
I was so worried!” he chastised.

“You
know why,” she said quietly.

“Trinity,
I did what I had to do in order to keep you safe,” he said reasonably.

“Did
that include calling the men, and even boys I dated, and threatening them?” she
asked angrily.

Arthur
Grace sighed deeply. “Trinity, one day when you are a parent…”

She
cut his words off. “If it were up to you I wouldn’t ever have the privilege of
being a parent, or even dating beyond two dates. Do you know how much pain
you’ve caused me over the years?”

“I
don’t look at it that way. I see it as how much pain I’ve saved you from,” he
said.

“Father,
I didn’t want to have this discussion right now, but I guess now is as good a
time as any. I want you to quit having me followed. I want to be able to live
my life, and I want your promise you won’t interfere again,” she said firmly.

“Trinity,
there are dangers you aren’t aware of. I have to be able to keep you safe the
best way I know how,” he replied.

She
gripped the back of the chair in front of her. “Let me be clear, Father. I’ve
already told Alex, and I’ll tell you. I am an adult and don’t need protection.
I will not be followed, I will not be watched. If I, so much as think, you are
interfering in my life in any way, I will move out. I have a job and I have my
mother’s inheritance. I don’t have to live here. I live here because I want to,
not because I have to. Don’t force my hand, Father. I’m deadly serious,” she
said firmly and adamantly.

“You
don’t mean that, Trinity. Be reasonable. Someone shot through the windows of
our home. Next time, we might not be so lucky.”

“I’m
willing to chance it. I’m deadly serious. I’m tired and I have to be up early
for work. I’ll see you tomorrow when I come home,” she replied.

“Trinity…
I don’t know what’s gotten into you. How can you speak to me this way? I’m your
father!” he exclaimed.

“Goodnight.”

Exhausted
and emotionally raw, she climbed the stairs slowly and wished above all that
Rush Drayton were there to help her get lost in the sexual abyss he’d exposed
to her. More than anything, she didn’t want to think about how topsy-turvy her
life had become.

***

The next morning she rose early and
dressed with care in a teal pantsuit. Not wanting to run into her father, she
decided to skip breakfast. She called a taxi to take her to work and stayed in
her room until she saw it pull up in front of the house. She really needed her
own car. Her father had always vetoed the idea. Now she could see it was just
another element of control over her. Maybe now was a good time to start looking
for one.

She
was tired after her mostly sleepless night. Her body hummed with the new
pleasures she been exposed to and she longed again for the touch of Rush’s
hands running over her, taking her to the brink and then soothing her back down
to the earth. Who was she kidding? She missed his touch, his kiss, his smile…
she just missed him. Her chest tightened at the enormous emotion he raised in
her. Was this love? She wasn’t sure. If it wasn’t, it was working its way
towards it.

The
taxi pulled up in front of the
LaMont
Fine Arts Gallery.
She paid the driver and stepped out onto the sidewalk. When the taxi pulled
away, she turned to survey the area. She didn’t see anyone she thought might be
following her. It looked as if Alex and her father had taken her seriously the
night before.

As it
was too early for the gallery to be opened, she walked around to the back
entrance and started to slide her key into the lock. She was surprised to see
the door open a crack. She pushed it gently with her fingers and it swung open
further. The hall was dark. Up ahead, under her office door, she could make out
a small sliver of light. Cautiously, she moved forward. As with the back door,
her door was opened a crack as well. Inhaling deeply, she pushed the door open.

The
sliver of light she’d seen from under the door was an antique, green hooded
desk lamp sitting on her desk. While it illuminated her desk space, that was
all she could see. She moved her hand up to flip the wall switch, when out of
nowhere, someone rushed her. Before she understood what was happening, the
person slammed her solidly with their shoulder, which in turn knocked her up
against the wall. Before she had a chance to blink, the masked person grabbed
both sides of her head and slammed it hard against the wall again. The pain was
excruciating. She swallowed hard at the bile rising in her throat and fell. A
loud ringing began in her ears, before changing to a buzzing. Darkness swirled
around until it grew in intensity, sucking her down into its murky depths.

In
some far-off place, she felt arms surrounding her and move to pick her up. In
that same far-off place, she heard someone shout. She wasn’t sure what was
said, as it sounded like it was coming from underwater. The arms holding her
were suddenly pulled away from underneath her and she was free-falling for what
seemed like hours, but in reality was only seconds. She blacked out before she
hit the floor with a sickening thud.

Gentle
pats to her face had her struggling to open her eyes. She opened them gingerly,
but the light made her head hurt, so she closed them again. Up above, she heard
Gavin Lassiter say, “Come on, Trinity,
open
your
eyes.”

So
once again, she tried. Even though it hurt, she left them open. “What
happened?” she murmured.

“It
looks like you interrupted a burglar. I’ve called the police and an ambulance.
Just lie still,” he said.

She
struggled to rise, but Gavin pushed her back down. “I said to lie still,” he
said.

She
closed her eyes and raised a hand to touch her sore head. “Please cancel the
ambulance. I’m sure I’m fine. Let’s not make a big deal out of this. Okay?” she
said.

“Sorry.
No can do. Besides, it is a big deal. You haven’t seen your office, yet.”

She
heard the commotion of numerous sets of feet and voices as they made their way
down the hall. She groaned at what this would mean to her father. He’d probably
feel vindicated.

“Is
there anyway to keep this from getting out?” she asked Gavin.

“What
do you mean?” he asked.

“Nothing…
just nothing,” she muttered.

After
spending all day in the emergency room and being checked out from stem to
stern, she was released with a filled prescription of pain pills. While she’d
not suffered a concussion, she did have a couple of bruised ribs from being
dropped. The biggest source of her discomfort was her elbow which had slammed
into the floor. Overall, she was pretty lucky.

She
did not call her father, as she didn’t want to deal with his irk. She supposed
eventually he’d find out, but she’d put it off for as long as she could. She
called a taxi and had them take her back to the gallery. She nodded to Elena,
one of the salespeople in the gallery, and headed back to the suite of offices.
She knocked quietly on Gavin’s door.

“Come
in,” he said. When he saw her, he rose immediately to his feet and exclaimed,
“What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be home?”

“I
will, but I wanted to see my office,” she replied.

Gavin
Lassiter sat back down in his chair. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” he
murmured.

She
stood blinking at him for moment before turning and walking down the hall to
her office. The door was still ajar and now in the light from the hall, she saw
the door handle had been smashed. Pushing the door open slowly, her breath
caught in her throat at the devastation. Papers were scattered everywhere, and
every drawer had been removed and emptied onto the floor. She raised a hand to
her trembling lips when she saw the canvas she’d been working on with the
autumn leaves; it had been slashed to ribbons. Frantically, she looked around
the room for Rush’s ‘little lady’, as he’d called his painting. She stepped
further into the office. Crumbled amongst all the debris was the tattered
remains of the reflective ballerina. She fell to her knees, and with tears in
her eyes, she ran her fingertips over the destroyed masterpiece.

Suddenly,
it was just all too much: the shooting; her father’s betrayal; her emotional
roller coaster with Rush; her attack; and now the destruction of something so
beautiful. She bowed her head and sobbed. She wrapped her arms around her waist
and rocked herself in comfort. Who’d do this? Was it a break-in or was it
someone after her father? She didn’t know what to do. She didn’t want to be
back under her father’s protection… AKA control. If she agreed to it now, she’d
never be free.