Scattered Thoughts (Betrayed by Love Book 1) (22 page)

“The police are comparing his fingerprints to the ones they collected to be certain but we have him on video placing the explosives.” A shiver ran down my spine as I realized how close to danger I’d really been. Alec had been right all along. The danger
was
real.

• • • • •

Alec was much more relaxed with Nathan, or whatever his name was, in police custody. He’d insisted on moving me to a different hotel just to be safe, but I didn’t mind too much. I’d wanted to stay at the Wyndham primarily because of its’ proximity to the kids, but considering they were leaving in the morning it didn’t really matter where I stayed.

With the recent bombing at his apartment, I’d expected Alec to still be on high alert, but much to my surprise he didn’t object when I suggested we take a walk on the beach, or when I asked to have drinks by the pool afterwards.

“What’ll it be?” the bartender asked.

I turned toward Alec, deliberately biting my bottom lip, my gaze fixed on his eyes. “I was thinking Sex on the Beach.”

“And for you, sir?”

“I’ll have a glass of your best Riesling.”

“Coming right up.”

When the bartender moved away Alec leaned in and whispered in my ear.  “Careful what you wish for, Isabella.” He kissed me behind my ear, sending goose bumps all the way to my toes. My sex tingled and I nervously bit my lip this time.

The bartender set our drinks down and turned his attention to the group of young women at the end of the bar. I picked up my drink and pulled hard on the straw, my eyes fixed on Alec’s wicked grin. “Yes, sex on the beach is definitely what I’m in the mood for.”

“Anything for you, Isabella.” He moved closer, his lips almost touching mine. “Dangerous, dangerous game,” he said. He pressed his lips hard against mine, his tongue begging me to let him in. My lips parted and he claimed my mouth in a passionate kiss that had my whole body on alert.

By the time I finished my second drink I was beginning to feel the effects of the alcohol. It didn’t help that I’d barely eaten, but food was the last thing on my mind. My body was on fire and all I could think about was getting Alec alone. “Let’s go upstairs,” I said, hopping off the stool. My head started to spin and I had to grab on to the bar to keep from falling.

“After you eat.”

“But I don’t want food. I want you.” I folded my arms in protest.

“Pouting isn’t going to work, Isabella. You’ve had three glasses of champagne plus two very strong drinks. You need food.”

“I only had two and a half glasses of champagne. Now, take me upstairs and fuck me.”

Alec pulled me in to him, cupping my face in his hands, devouring me with a kiss. “As you wish, baby.” He tossed a hundred dollar bill on the bar then practically dragged me into the hotel, an ear-to-ear smile on my face celebrating the battle I’d just won.

As soon as the elevator doors closed and I found myself pinned against the wall with my skirt pushed halfway up my thighs. Alec parted my legs with his knee and before I could catch my breath was shoving two fingers inside me. “Alec,” I cried out but he swallowed my cries with his kiss as he continued to finger my pussy, his thumb rubbing hard circles over my clit.

I was on the edge of orgasm when the elevator stopped. No! I wanted to finish. I
needed
to finish. Alec scooped me up into a fireman’s hold and carried me down the hall to our suite before returning my feet to the ground inside the bedroom. “Clothes. Off. Now,” he said firmly. The shock of what just happened in the elevator hadn’t quite worn off yet and I was struggling to process what he was saying. Alec ripped open my shirt, sending buttons flying. “Naked, Isabella. Now.”

Making quick work of the rest of my clothes, in a matter of seconds I was completely naked. Alec’s chest glistened in the moonlight that flooded the room through the sliding glass door. I wanted to touch him, to feel his toned chest against my skin. I reached for him but he caught my wrists in his hands. “On your knees,” he said in a clipped tone. A rush of heat washed over me and my heart started to race. Was he mad at me? Had I pushed him too far? Letting go of my wrists he pushed down on my shoulders until I was kneeling in front of him.

He unzipped his pants and freed his growing erection. “You wanted me to fuck you, Isabella, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.” He ran his thumb over my bottom lip. “And I think I’ll start here.” Holding his erection in his hand he rubbed the tip of his penis where his thumb had been. I opened to him and he slid his cock into my mouth. My tongue circled him as I gently sucked him in. He fisted both hands in my hair, effectively holding me in place, and began thrusting his hips. Deeper and deeper he thrust until I could feel him in my throat.

“God, Isabella, I love fucking your mouth.” When his thrusts became erratic I knew he was getting close. “I’m going to come,” he said with ragged breath. He started to pull away but I grabbed his ass and dug my fingers into his flesh, wanting to finish what I’d started. Relaxing my throat, I sucked him down as the evidence of his arousal hit the back of my throat.

“Fuck, Isabella,” he moaned as I continued to suck him all the way through his orgasm.

He pulled out of my mouth and lifted me to my feet. “That  was so hot, baby. But I’m not done with you yet.”

With a flick of his tongue my nipple hardened, first one, and then the other. Applying just the right amount of pressure he rolled them between his fingers as his tongue roamed down my body. Alec lifted me up and tossed me onto the bed, spreading my legs wide as he pushed my knees apart, plunging his tongue inside me as he found my nipples once more, pinching and releasing, while his tongue explored my pussy. I was dangling on the edge of ecstasy when his tongue began its dance around my clit. “Alec,” I panted. “I’m going to come.”

“That’s right, baby. Give it to me.” He pushed two fingers inside my wet canal to finish me. The walls of my vagina clenched around him and my orgasm ripped through my body.

I tasted my arousal when Alec claimed my mouth with his. “I love seeing you come apart for me, baby. Knowing I’m the one giving you pleasure.”

“God, Alec. That was amazing.”

“Yes, it was,” he said as began trailing kisses down neck. “But, baby, I’m just getting warmed up.”

Alec leaned against the headboard and pulled me onto his lap, his erection throbbing against my sensitive sex. He covered my nipple with his mouth and he picked up right where he’d left off. I arched my back, pushing my breasts closer to his face as I ran my hands up his thighs, between his legs, my fingers lightly grazing his balls. Wrapping one arm around my waist he lifted me slightly while using his other hand to position his cock at my opening. Steadying myself on his shoulders, I lowered onto his waiting erection.

“Go slow, baby. You’re so tight. I don’t want to hurt you.” I eased myself all the way down his shaft, his penis deep inside me from this position. With his hands around my waist, he lifted me up and down his erection, rotating his hips with each downward motion. The friction on my clit was exquisite. I picked up speed, digging my fingers into his shoulders, rotating my hips now too. I reached behind me, arching my back, getting lost in the pleasure of my building release.

It wasn’t long before I was grinding into him, increasing the friction on my clit even more. “Yes, Alec, yes,” I screamed.

“That’s right, baby. Take me. All of me.”

“You feel so good. Oh, God. Don’t stop.”

Alec reached between my legs and rubbed my clit with his thumb. I climbed higher and higher toward my climax. “Come for me, baby. Let me feel your orgasm.”

“Yes, Alec. Yes. Yes. Yes!” I screamed as pleasure erupted.

With a few final thrusts Alec found his release soon after. I collapsed against his chest, too exhausted to move. “That was incredible, baby,” Alec whispered. “But I’m still not done with you.”

I winced as I crawled off Alec’s lap, my insides sore and swollen from the marathon fuck fest that began last night. Alec’s stamina could rival any man, or woman’s for that matter. Spencer had been my first and, while we had an active sex life, it was nothing like it was with Alec. I never knew sex could be that good, or could leave me that sore. “What do you think, baby. Have you been thoroughly fucked yet?”

“And then some,” I laughed.

“Are you sure? Because I’d hate to think I was depriving you.”

“Oh God, please, no more. I’m so sore.”

A smile crossed Alec’s face. “Just giving you what you asked for.” He kissed me on the forehead. “Anything for you, Isabella.”

Alec ran a warm bath and helped me in. Part of me was relieved when he decided not to join me. We’d have ended up tangled in the throes of passion and I was certain my body couldn’t take any more right now. “Sit down,” he said. “The warm water will ease some of the soreness.” I didn’t argue. There wasn’t a muscle in my body that didn’t get a workout last night. I made a mental note to choose my words more carefully with him moving forward. He’d taken my half-buzzed demand for sex as a challenge. A challenge he wasn’t about to lose.

When I got out of tub some time later I could hear Alec yelling. His voice was the only one I heard, so I guessed he was on the phone. He’d said he was going to order us breakfast, but his clipped tone suggested it wasn’t room service he was taking to.

Pulling on one of his shirts, I peeked out of the bedroom to find out what was going on. Alec was pacing around the room, his hands fisted at his sides. What could have him this upset at five in the morning? He’d been in such a good mood when he helped me into the bath. What could’ve changed in that short amount of time?

“Have Marcus meet me on site. No. I’ll be there in a couple hours.” Alec reached up and pressed the button on his Bluetooth earpiece then turned his attention to me. “Eat,” he said simply, pointing at a tray of food on the table.

I lifted the silver dome off the tray and uncovered two omelets and a selection of fresh cut fruit. Grabbing a handful of grapes, I sat down on the sofa to eat them.

“You’re leaving?” I asked after a few minutes.

Alec sat down next to me. “I’m afraid so, baby.”

“Take me with you.”

“No, Isabella. It isn’t safe for you there.”

“Nathan is in custody, remember?”

Alec took my hand in his. “It wasn’t Nathan,” he whispered.

“But I thought you said the police had him on video at your apartment.”

“The video shows him placing the package but he swears he had no idea it contained explosives.” Alec squeezed his eyes shut. “And his fingerprints don’t match the ones from your house or the hotel.”

My head was spinning. What was he saying? Someone else was trying to hurt me? “What about the fingerprints in my room. You said Nathan had been there.”

“The fingerprints in the hotel room matched the partial from the alarm system at your house, and when the police discovered that Nathan didn’t work at the hotel everyone assumed it was him, including me.” Alec cupped my face in his hands, his eyes holding mine in an impassioned plea. “But it wasn’t him, Isabella. He’s not the one who hurt you.”

Wrapping my arms around Alec’s waist, I buried my face in his chest. Tears had already started to fall. If it wasn’t Nathan, then who was it? “Why, Alec, why is this happening?” I cried. “Why is someone trying to hurt me?”

“That’s what I’m going to find out.”

Alec held me while I cried, which only made me cry harder. I felt so safe wrapped in his arms, but he was leaving. The thought of being alone frightened me in a way it never had before. Whoever was after me had taken the one thing I never thought I would lose, that part of me that made me who I was—strong, fierce, and unafraid of the world. In a blink of an eye my desperate need for independence was gone. This stranger I’d never known existed inside me was all that was left. All I wanted at that moment was to stay wrapped in Alec’s arms forever.

“Take me with you,” I cried. “I don’t want to be here alone.”

“It’ll be okay, baby. I’ll only be gone for a few hours, and Frank will be posted right outside your door the entire time I’m gone.”

“Please,” I whined.

“Let me tuck you in. I’ll be back before you even have a chance to miss me.” He stood up, pulling me to my feet next to him. Scooping me into his arms he carried me to bed.

• • • • •

I tossed and turned but couldn’t sleep after Alec left. I’d wanted to go with him but his insane compulsion to keep me safe kept me here. The beach was full of vacationers enjoying the beautiful Florida weather. I considered hanging out on the beach too, but I hated to drag Frank along. Alec had given him strict orders not to let me out of his sight and he’d given me stricter orders not to ditch security.

Desperate for any distraction I could get I pulled out my laptop to check email. My medical leave was about to expire and I’d be going back to work on Monday, so I should probably get caught up on emails anyway.

Noon came and went and there was still no word from Alec. I’d gotten through all the emails flagged as urgent and was feeling less anxious about being away from work so long. Luckily, Payne Enterprises was the only project I was directly responsible for and, considering Alec was the one who’d insisted I take the leave, I didn’t have a whole lot going on.

I called my dad to make sure he made it home safely. He was closing on the ranch so he had to rush back to Colorado. Our conversation was short but they usually were. My dad hated talking on the phone but at least I knew he’d arrived in one piece.

Frank brought me lunch but I wasn’t really hungry. Being trapped inside was getting to me. I needed to get my life back to normal, whatever that was. The minutes on the clocked ticked away painfully slow. I needed a distraction.

Val answered on the first ring. “Bella, where are you? I came by the hotel last night and they said you’d checked out.” I still hadn’t told her about the divorce or the attacks. How was I supposed to explain what was going on? She knew I’d been staying in a hotel, but she hadn’t asked me why, and I hadn’t offered.

“I needed a change,” I said. It wasn’t really a lie. I did need a change. “I’m staying at the Sandestin. Where’d you go yesterday?” I asked, quickly changing the subject.

“Sorry about that, Bella. I ran into my ex at the ceremony and I had to get out of there.”

“Your ex? Who?”

“Husband number three. He was there with his new girlfriend.”

“Oh, Val. I’m sorry. You should’ve told me.”

“You seemed to have your hands full.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Alec Payne. I saw the two of you together. He’s bad news, Izzy. You should stay away from him. I heard he’s a real son-of-a-bitch.”

“He’s a client, Val. And how do you know him, anyway?”

“I’m serious, Bella, I want you to stay away from him,” she snapped, completely ignoring my question. I was beginning to rethink calling her. I’d been looking for a distraction, not a lecture. “How long are you staying in Destin? I want to see you.”

“I’m not sure,” I answered honestly. “I’ll be going back to work in a couple of days, so probably until then.”

“Hey, I’m getting another call. I gotta run now, but I’ll let you know if I can make it back down.”

“You should try. It’d be good to see you.”

“Definitely. Later, Bella.” And with that the line went dead. Val had never spoken her third husband’s name to me so I had no idea who he was. I had never given him much thought, but hearing he was at graduation had me wondering who he could be. She lived in Chicago. What were the odds her ex-husband would be dating a woman from Ft. Walton Beach?

Staring out at the water from the balcony made me miss my home even more than I already did. Watching the sunset over the water every evening, all those quiet walks on the beach, the sand beneath my feet, the water washing over me, it had been my peaceful sanctuary and now it was gone.

The ringing of my phone brought me back to the here and now.  I ran inside to answer it, hoping against hope it was Alec. Only it wasn’t. “Hey, Spencer, what’s going on?”

“Hi, Bella. I thought you’d want to know Anna called. They made it onboard the ship okay.”

It didn’t surprise me that Anna had called Spencer. After all, she was a daddy’s girl, but I’d hoped she’d call me too. “Thanks.”

“Are you okay? You sound upset.”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just a little sad about the kids leaving I guess.”

“Why don’t you come to the house? Cathy is still here. She’d loved to see you.” It would be nice to see Cathy. She and Spencer had always been more like brother and sister than cousins. And after we got married she treated me like a sister too, welcoming me into the family with open arms, even when her aunt hadn’t. Gladys made no secret of the fact she thought Spencer could do better, but Cathy was always there to reassure me. Even still, there was no way I was going over there.

“Spencer, I can’t, even if I wanted to. My car is still at the house.” True, my car was still at the house, but Frank would drive me if I really wanted to go. But I didn’t. The house was foreign to me now, as was Spencer. What would I do if Cathy started asking questions about the divorce? What had Spencer told her? Plus, he’d been drinking pretty heavily lately and I disliked Drunk Spencer even more than the sober version of him.

“Don’t be silly, Izzy. You’re practically next door. I’ll come get you.”

“Actually, I moved to the Sandestin last night. But I’m not feeling up to it anyway.”

“I understand. Cathy will too. Feel better, Izzy, and please, call me if you need anything.” It was clear Spencer still cared about me, and I him. Nineteen years was a long time to love someone. It wasn’t like either of us could just flip a switch and turn it off.

Tears began to fall as soon as we hung up. Nothing was going to stop them this time. My life was in total disarray. My marriage had ended. I’d been forced out of my home, separated from my family, my kids, and even my career. It was all slipping away and I felt powerless to stop it. I’d lost all control. This was not the Izzy James I knew, the Izzy James I used to be. The tears fell faster. I buried my face in a pillow and sobbed, loud, uncontrollable cries.

• • • • •

I was woken by a commotion in the hall. There were several voices, but I couldn’t make them out. The door swung open and Alec and Preston rushed in, Frank close behind them. Alec’s lips were pressed in a thin, hard line and his eyes were tiny slits on his face. He was mad, really mad. He glared at me, his eyes burning a hole right through me.

“Me?” I breathed. He was mad at me.

“Who did you tell, Isabella?” he shouted. “Who knows you’re here?” His voice was gruff. I opened my mouth to answer but closed it, knowing full well he wasn’t going to like what I had to say. “Answer me, Isabella! And this is no time for half-truths either.”

I took a deep breath to steady my nerves. “My dad,” I whispered.

“Is that it?”

“Spencer knows too.”

“Damn it, Isabella.” He paced back and forth like a caged animal, both hands tugging at his hair. He turned to Preston. “Get me the hotel security video.” Preston moved toward the door. “And find out where Spencer James is at.”

“I didn’t mean to tell him, Alec. It just slipped out.”

Alec glared at me, his eyes burning hotter than embers. Pulling a shirt out of the closet, he tossed it to me. “Get dressed,” he ordered.

“Alec, what’s wrong?”

“You did exactly what I told you not to, Isabella. That’s what’s wrong.” Valerie’s warning came rushing through my mind. “He’s bad news,” she’d said. Shit. Valerie. I forgot to tell him I talked to her, but it could wait. He was already mad as hell and knowing there was someone else I told where we were staying wasn’t going to make it any better.

I didn’t move, momentarily stunned by his anger. Alec cupped my face in his hands. “Get dressed, Isabella. And don’t make me tell you again.” His expression on his face had softened a little and his words were like a promise and a threat all rolled into one.

I looked away, trying to hide the grin on my face. “Yes, sir.”

“Oh you are going to think ‘yes, sir’, Isabella.” A wicked grin crossed his face, making me blush.

With a smile on my face, I grabbed the shirt he tossed on the bed and made my way into the bathroom to get ready. I hopped in the shower, savoring the feeling of the warm water on my still achy muscles.

Before I could get the conditioner out of my hair the bathroom door flew open. “What the hell are you doing in here, Isabella?”

“I’ll be out in a minute,” I called through the glass door of the shower.

“Hurry up. We need to go.”

I rolled my eyes and reached for a towel. “Go where?”

“I’m taking you home.”

Home?
As in the house I shared with Spencer? His words were like a punch to the gut. I’d pissed him off and now he was taking me home. Earlier he’d been so freaked out about my safety and just like that his concern had faded. Could he really be that mad that I’d been talking to Spencer?