Web of Lies (9 page)

“Please. Please fuck me.  I need you!”  She did not hide her desire from him but held his gaze.  “Please!”

“Are you sure?  Are you choosing me?” 

His question reminded her of her earlier words, and she knew she had hurt him.  So, now they were even.  She would make it up to him.  She had to because she would always only choose him.

“Yes,” she whispered and pulled her suddenly free hand away to touch his cheek.  “Yes, I’m sure.”

He groaned, and there was no sweeter sound to her at that moment than that.  He pulled her up so she could slide down on his cock, and he drove into her.  She had no idea when he had released himself from his confining clothes, but they were at his feet, and he was nailing her and kissing her.  Two hard thrusts, and she came and came. He fucked her and fucked her until she was trembling and weak in his arms.

He held her against the wall until their breathing calmed, and then he whispered in her ear, as he lowered her legs to the floor, “Thank you.  And I’m sorry.  Forgive me?”

She was too spent to do more than nod and rest her forehead against his sweaty chest.  Eventually, they moved into the bathroom where she had originally been headed, and he let her strip him and wash him. 

She wanted to suck him into her mouth and give him pleasure.  His cock was big, and her jaws ached, but she swirled her tongue around him and drew him in all the way to the back of her throat.  When he slid out, she looked up at him, and the emotion she saw in his face made her moan. 

She held on to his long, thick shaft and settled down to make him lose control.  He tasted like salt and soap and man, and she enjoyed licking and sucking him.  The harder she sucked, the louder he groaned. When she swallowed him to the root, he growled like a wild thing.

Before she knew where she was, he was ramming her from behind, thrusting into her while he squeezed her nipples and circled her clitoris, the water cascading off his shoulders.  He grunted as he took her, and she groaned as he went deeper and harder.

“Oh God, Jack, hurry, please hurry!  I need…”

“I know what you need, baby.  Here it is.  Take it.  Come for me, baby girl.  Come with me!”

Faith did not even have time to think until later that she was glad Bob did not live in the big house because she screamed as she came.  Plus, Jack’s shout was loud enough to be heard in the next county. 
Who knew?  Maybe Bob did hear
, she thought.  Yet, she could not spare a moment to care, as she came down from her orgasmic high and felt herself being tenderly dried.

“Let’s go to bed, baby,” he whispered, when he was dry.  He draped the towel around his hips and opened the door for her.  Taking her hand, he led her down the hall to his room and settled her into bed next to his naked body.  There were things that needed to be said between them, but Faith knew there would be no going back.  She had chosen Jack. 

She snuggled back against his chest, feeling him drape his arm over her as he spooned in behind her.  She was warm, and she felt loved.  No words had been spoken between them, but she knew.  She hoped he knew, too.

CHAPTER TEN

Present day--Jack

The Law Offices of Farrell & Hughes were located on the fourth floor of a modest high rise office building.  James Farrell met them, shook hands, and escorted them into his office.  Once there, he invited them to sit while he fetched the files they would be needing.  The lawyers had instructed Bob to be there, and he sat to one side.  Jack held Faith’s hand because he knew she had become increasingly nervous as they drove in.

“No matter what you hear, just remember I’m with you, okay?  Always.”

He raised her hand to his lips, and she smiled at him as the lawyer sat down and cleared his throat.

“Grant left me strict instructions about this envelope, and I’m happy to be able to fulfill them now.  He wanted me to give you this box, with the letter in it.  He also wanted me to read you his will.”

Faith took the box and held it, waiting to hear what was in her father’s will.  The lawyer spread the single sheet of paper open before him and read:

“To my daughter, Faith Amy Lee, I leave my 1957 Harley-Davidson, and all the money in my bank accounts.  I also leave her half of my shares in the vineyard, in which I still hold an interest.  Finally, I leave her the condominium in Pennsylvania to dispose of as she sees fit.

To my partner and friend, Jacob “Jack” Johnson, I leave the other half of my shares in the vineyard, the main house with the fifty acres around it, and my Victory motorcycle.

To my former manager and friend Robert Lafferty, I leave the cottage and all the remaining livestock.”

The lawyer paused in his reading.  Faith looked at Jack and said, “I thought you said he sold the vineyard?”

“He did.  But he kept some of the shares.”

Faith stared at him for a minute, then said to the lawyer, “Who owns the majority shares in the vineyard now?”

When Mr. Farrell looked at Jack, she turned back to look at him with a smile on her face.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”  Jack was relieved that she wasn’t angry.  There was a reason.

“Grant asked me not to tell anyone.  Including you.  Time enough to know all that once he was gone.”

Mr. Farrell interrupted their conversation, resuming the reading of the will.  

“One further item remains to be disposed of.  Faith’s mother, Eileen Lee, bequeathed me the heirloom jewelry passed down to her by her mother before she died.  Eileen asked me to make sure that our daughter received her mother’s inheritance.”

He looked at Faith.  “Ms. Lee, if you wouldn’t mind removing the letter and reading it.  I think you’ll find it is very important.”

Something in the way he said it made Faith open the box quickly.  Her eyes grew wide at the sight of a matching set of sapphire-and-diamonds bracelet, earrings, and necklace.  An envelope was on top. She immediately pulled a single sheet of paper from it, on which a message had been written by hand.  As she read it, the tears bloomed in her eyes and roll down her cheeks.

“Faith...honey?  What’s wrong?”  Jack reached for her hand, and she gripped his tightly, smiling through her tears.

“Nothing’s wrong.  Everything is fine, now.  Everything.”

“What does it say?” Bob asked, his curiosity obviously getting the better of him.

Faith handed the note to Jack, who read it slowly.

Dear Faith, Your mother and I have loved you since the moment we knew you were coming.  I’m sorry I disappeared on you.  If you’re reading this, the safeguards have held and the jewels are yours free and clear.  I have never stopped loving you, and I needed to take care of you.  That’s why I gave you Jack.

Jack stopped reading, his eyes growing misty, and he had to clear his throat before he continued.

He is a good man, and though he’s older than you by a lot of years, he will never do you wrong.
He will never let you down.  You can trust him.  I do.   I love you, baby girl.  Dad

Jack handed back the letter to Faith and stood up, walking to the window that overlooked the park.  He did not hear the rest of the conversation.  He was too busy thinking back over Grant’s behavior in the last six months of his life. 

Suddenly, everything he had not understood made perfect sense.  Why he insisted that Jack look out for her.  Why he had suggested the road trip, even though he must have known a flight would have been simpler and cheaper.  Why he had made sure to tell Jack so much about Faith, especially in the last six months.  He had been set up, just as she had been, but he couldn’t find it in his heart to be angry with his friend.  After all, he got his wish, as far as Jack was concerned. 

He knew what he felt for Faith was not something he could deny, and it seemed likely to be a permanent and growing emotion.  He could only hope her responses to him since that night of angry sex meant she felt the same way. 

He brought his attention back into the room as the lawyer answered Faith’s question, which he had barely heard.

“The leader of the rival gang, who has been pursuing Grant since he repossessed his bike, was Eileen’s half-brother.  He claimed that she was the illegitimate daughter of their father, and therefore not entitled to receive the jewelry.  Eileen died before Grant could ask her to tell him the full story.  In the first few years after her death, he became a recluse.  When he finally came out into the world again, he had to track her remaining family and get the full story.  But Larry, Eileen’s half-brother tried to tie things up in court, which of course meant neither of them could get their hands on the jewels.”

“Where were the jewels?”

“In the bank where Eileen had put them for safe keeping.  Her instructions had been that the safe deposit box was only to be opened by her lawyer upon receiving instructions from Grant’s lawyer, me.  It meant a lot of time spent verifying Eileen’s parentage and Larry’s.  It was discovered that he is the half-sibling on their father’s side, and that Eileen is the rightful owner of the jewels.”

“So why wait until after my father’s death?  Why didn’t he give them to me before?”

“That I cannot say, though I imagine it might have something to do with keeping you safe until all the legalities were in place to make it a crime for Larry to try and take them from you.”

Faith looked at Jack, and he knew what she was thinking.  That attack in the parking garage had been about the jewels.  Although he knew it would be much harder now for Larry Morton to get his hands on them, he was determined to ensure Faith’s safety.  As long as Larry was alive, he wouldn’t feel comfortable.  His job as her protector wasn’t over by any means, but at least now he wouldn’t need to make excuses to be with her.

They all shook hands with the lawyer and took their leave.  Bob had some business to transact, so Jack and Faith were left on their own.

“Ready to go home?” he asked her.  He suddenly wanted her closer than would be publicly acceptable.  He wanted to tell her how he felt.  She nodded and followed him back to the truck.

“I’d like to go away for the weekend.  What do you say?”

Jack grinned.  “Your wish is my command, baby.”

She was silent for a while as they drove, and then as they were turning onto the long driveway, she turned to him and said, “Thank you, Jack.  For everything.”  She reached over and rested her hand on his leg, squeezing gently.

He rested his own above hers and squeezed back.  “You’re welcome.”

She shooed him away once they got indoors, saying dinner was on her, and he decided that while she was planning to delight his palate, he would plan to delight her everywhere else after dinner.  He called Bob and asked him to find something else to do after dinner which would require him to leave immediately, chuckling when his friend said, “Whatever you’re planning, it’s about damned time!”

Then, Jack set the music he wanted in the CD player in the living room and scrounged around for candles.  He set the matches on the center table and then went back to the kitchen.  Dinner was quiet, which suited him.  Bob and Faith talked about Grant, and he just listened. His mind was full of his after-dinner plans.  When Bob left, and Faith began to clean up, he suggested they leave the washing up until the next morning.

“I have plans, too,” he said smugly. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her thoroughly.   He led her to the carpet before the fireplace, where he had set a few candles.  “Let me get you a drink,” he said, as he went to get her a glass of wine. 

While she sipped, he lit the candles and then shut the lights off.  Immediately, the room’s ambiance changed, and Jack turned to watch the woman he had come to care deeply for sitting cross-legged before the candle-lit fireplace.  She was as gorgeous as the first time he had seen her, and if he played his cards right, he might just get to have her for good.

“Why are you staring at me?” she asked, still gazing at the fireplace candles.

“How do you know what I’m doing?” he hedged, chuckling as he switched on the music and went to sit next to her.

“I could feel your eyes on me.  I could almost hear the wheels turning in your head, too.”  She grinned at him, and he was suddenly impatient. 

He pulled her into him, his hand at the back of her neck.  Then, he kissed her hard.  When she opened for him, he turned her so she was facing him and pulled her onto his lap.  The entire time, he never left the seduction of her mouth.  She was so responsive to him. He wondered how he had found any other woman before her sexy. 

“I wanted to talk to you before bed,” he said, kissing her forehead, her eyes, her nose.  “You’ve been through a lot these last few weeks, and I know you’re still hurting and missing Grant.  But I wanted you to know I’ll always be here when you need me.”

Faith slid her arms around his neck and bussed his lips quickly.  She did not let him draw her in to deepen the kiss, as she knew he would if she let him.

“I know.  And I’m grateful for that, Jack.  I don’t know how I would have managed all this without you.”  She chuckled, and when he quirked an eyebrow at her, she added, “Even when I ran away from you.”

Jack laughed softly and hugged her to his chest.  She had given him a fright and then a run for his money from day one.  He liked that mix of toughness and vulnerability in her.  She was a strong, yet tender woman, and her passion drew him in, like a bee to a flower.  He felt her push against him and looked into her eyes again.  She wasn’t done.

“But I don’t just need you to be my friend and my protector.  That goes without saying.” 

She paused, and Jack watched the play of emotions in her eyes.  He had an idea that she wanted to say to him the things he wanted to say to her.  But he’d let her go first, if that was how she wanted it.  He had nothing to lose by waiting.

“I... I don’t quite know how to say this.” 

Suddenly, she was tongue-tied.  Jack couldn’t help himself.  He kissed her again and again, building the sweet tension that would lead to sweeter lovemaking when he was through.  When she was breathless, and he was aching with need, he pulled away from her and said, “I’ll say it, then.”  He smiled at her.  “I know what you need, baby, because I need it, too.  I need you.  Just you, as my lover, and, eventually, as my wife.” Now
he
paused to look deeply into her eyes, before continuing.  “I know this isn’t what you were expecting when you first met me, and Lord knows I hadn’t expected to ever say such a thing to any woman.  But I know this is what I want, what I need.  And I think you do, too.”

He stopped speaking, and just held her and let her think about what he had said.  The warm spaces inside him, those spaces she had opened up the first time he saw her, had not stopped growing wider.  He knew he would never meet anyone quite like the woman in his arms again. He knew that he was too old to let the chance slip of having her only for himself.  However, he was much older than she was, and he would respect whatever decision she made.  Even if it killed him.  So, he hoped he wasn’t wrong about how she was feeling.