Hell Bound (Seventh Level Book 2) (11 page)

Wade opened his mouth to offer something, but he wasn’t sure what. He only knew there had to be some way to track her down. If she didn’t want to be with Mark any longer, she could tell him to his face instead of taking the chicken shit way out.

However, the security lights for the pool house fired to life casting a bright glow around the building and drawing both men’s attention away from their conversation. The lone figure standing bathed in the light got Wade’s feet moving. He didn’t stop to consider his own safety, or the fact that security was Mark’s job. All Wade could think about was the possibility of Pamela harming his family. Mark shoved Wade aside before he could clear the doorway.

“Damn it Wade. Stay inside,” he ordered. A gun appeared from behind Mark’s back before he stormed outside. Everything inside Wade demanded he step out the door and forcibly remove Pamela from his property, but his need to protect his family was stronger and he held his ground. Somewhere between the window and back door, Wade lost sight of Pamela. She wasn’t standing where he’d spotted her and he searched every corner of the darkness with his eyes. It was as if she’d disappeared into thin air. Rage boiled in his blood. The crazy bitch had gone too far. It was one thing to accost him in public, but it was another to stalk him in his home.

Mark returned a minute later, shaking his head at Wade’s questioning look. Only when Mark returned his gun to its holster did Wade wonder why the guard thought it had been necessary. “She was already gone by the time I got there.”

Wade nodded toward the weapon. “Pamela is crazy, but I don’t imagine you would have needed to shoot her to get rid of her.”

“You know her?” Mark asked angrily.

Wade let it pass since he recognized he should’ve warned Mark sooner. “I met her in Nashville a couple of years ago. She’s like some sort of vampire freak or something. She tried to get me to sleep with her. I refused. Very crazy shit, but I’d forgotten all about her until she showed up at the hospital the other night.”

Mark’s face could only be described as thunderous as he held up what appeared to be a baby’s rattle. “Well, she’s left you a little calling card.”

Wade’s eyes locked on the child’s toy and the blood froze in his veins. His hands curled into fists as he pictured wrapping his fingers around Pamela’s throat. He heard himself growl, “If she thinks to harm my son, I will see her dead first.”

Mark scrubbed a hand over his face seeming even more tired than before. “I’ll take care of it,” Mark said as he pulled out his cell phone and organized more guards to secure the house.

Chapter Six

Morgan knew Wade was gone before opening her eyes. Rolling onto her side, she did her best to ignore the ache throbbing at her wrist as she blinked at the darkened ceiling in surprise. She’d slept the entire day away. Tossing a glance around the room, she didn’t spot a clock. With a sigh, she clicked on the bedside lamp and went in search of her cell phone. It confirmed her fears. She’d slept past Cole’s bedtime and she felt like a horrible mother for missing his entire day. Since it was too late to do anything about it, she made a quick trip to the bathroom and headed back to bed. As she climbed under the covers, she caught sight of the notebook Wade had been writing in at Champ’s.

Snagging the corner, she pulled it closer and inspected the cover. The blue book had seen better days, and a few of the pages looked ready to fall out completely. She debated for a few seconds whether she should open it, but realistically she knew she couldn’t kid herself. Of course, she was going to read it.

Flipping open the cover, Morgan ate up the sight of Wade’s words. It had been too long since she’d seen his scrawled writing. Perhaps it was a small thing, but she missed it just the same. She traced the lines with the tip of her finger. She recognized the lyrics on the first page as a song already on the radio and she turned the page. The breath caught in her throat as she read her name at the top. It wasn’t music this time but a note.

Morgan,

One of these days, I’m going to work up the courage to mail these letters. For now, they only serve to make you seem less far away. I don’t have long today. My plane will be landing in Denver in about twenty minutes. After doing a show for one night, I’ll be off to someplace else. I can’t really keep up with where any longer.

This morning, I passed a Daisy’s cupcake shop, and you were the first person to come to mind. I didn’t know any were still in business. Luckily for me, they were more than happy to ship a few your way. Maybe they will make it there before they’re stale. Damn, I hope you don’t throw them in the trash when you see they are from me.

Morgan chuckled even as her heart swelled. She’d forgotten all about the cupcakes. There had been a moment or two while she had considered tossing them, but she did love to eat.

I miss you. Every day I take out my phone and I debate whether you would answer if I call. In the end, I always decide you won’t, and I put it away. It’s crazy. I feel closer to you than I do anyone else yet I’m terrified to simply talk to you. You’re still my whole world and I love you. Please don’t give up on me?

Months and months’ worth of notes to her were scattered throughout the book. Each new one she found, the more she realized something important. He’d never intended them to be apart forever. Wade always expected he would come home to her.

One entry close to the end caught her attention, and she paused to read the entire page.

Morgan,

It was odd to see you tonight and not be able to speak to you. There have been times when I’ve been hyper-aware of the passage of time and every second apart has felt like an eternity, strangling the life from me. Other times—like tonight—it seemed as if it was only yesterday you were sinking your teeth into my shoulder while straddling my hips. I can still hear the sound of your moans ringing in my ears, yet as I watched you walking to your car, a spike of fear shot through me. What if you look at me the same way you would a stranger?

Instead of tackling you in the parking lot of your work—as I was tempted to do—I followed you home. When I saw the lights on inside, I almost lost it, but then I recognized Kathy’s car. Maybe tomorrow night I’ll find the courage to talk to you.

A sane woman might have freaked out over the thought of their ex following them around. Fortunately, sanity had never played a role in Morgan’s feelings for Wade. His note did clear up the matter as to why Wade had been there to save her life. A guilty burst of happiness raced through her at the thought, and she fought the urge to hunt him down that very second. To keep herself from moving, she turned to the last entry. It was another letter, one he’d begun while she was sleeping, but it wasn’t finished.

Morgan,

I have no idea how you expected me to sleep with your delicious ass rubbing against me. Just so you know, it’s only the dark smudges beneath your eyes stopping me from slipping your shorts down your hips. It’s absolute hell knowing only a few pieces of material stand in the way of having your juices covering my fingers, tongue, and cock.

Do you remember the time Kathy gave you handcuffs for your birthday as a joke? She laughed until I thought she’d be sick and even though you were blushing, I saw the truth in your eyes. I couldn’t get rid of her fast enough and I don’t think we slept for two days afterwards. There’s a lot of things I’ve done wrong in my life, but every time I caused you to scream my name I felt invincible. I still can’t see a set of handcuffs without getting hard. You trusted me to do things…

A sound outside the bedroom door startled her, and without thinking, she tossed the notebook back onto the bedside table. The door opened and her heart fell as she realized the notebook had landed facedown instead of face up, as it had been when she found it. The sight of a slightly rumpled Wade peeking in stole away all her worries.

“You’re awake,” he said smiling.

The picture he painted with his words beat at her brain and she could only nod. Fortunately, he didn’t seem to need any encouragement. “I went to check on Cole. All the excitement wiped him out and Kathy is sleeping with him in case he wakes up scared.”

Her traitorous body cheered at the thought of having Wade all to herself a little while longer. “That’s good,” she said genuinely relieved Cole would be taken care of. She forced her face into some semblance of regret as an idea took root. “It’s too bad I didn’t wake up sooner. I really need some help cleaning up.”

A look of confusion crossed Wade features. “Why? I have a maid.”

In spite of her best efforts, a flush touched her cheeks. “I meant myself,” she answered. “I need a shower.” Wade’s face cleared and she could practically hear his calculating thoughts as his eyes moved over her body.

“I could help you.” The offer came out a bit too quick, and he immediately backtracked. “I mean, if you tell me what you need. I promise not to look,” he added lamely.

A smile pulled at Morgan’s lips and it took everything she had to keep from laughing. “I really don’t need to wash my hair since—after much cursing—I managed to do that when I got home from the hospital. If you could help me pull it up so it doesn’t get wet and maybe help me figure out how to keep my cast dry, I would really appreciate it.”

Without an ounce of hesitation, Wade closed the door behind him and moved to her side. “A bath is probably our best bet.” Snagging her hand, he helped her to her feet. A nervous fluttered in the pit of her stomach and she almost withdrew her request, but the determined set of his jaw stopped her. With their fingers linked, Wade headed for the bathroom snatching up her bag along the way. She had him right where she wanted him. He just didn’t know it yet.

*

Wade had almost chosen this bedroom as his own back when he first bought the house. The room was almost the same size as the one he’d eventually decided on, but the bathroom was nicer in this room. Tan marble covered every inch and a shower, which looked exactly like a waterfall, filled one corner of the room. The tub was massive in size and required two steps to climb inside it. In the end, the lack of early morning sun filtering through the windows had been the determining factor. His bedroom windows were opposite the sunrise and with his late night hours, a giant tub lost to sleeping in.

Tossing her bag on top of the vanity, Wade snagged the stool with his foot, pulling it out far enough for Morgan to sit. She tilted her chin back, meeting his gaze and waited for him to make the first move. He needed to be clinical about this or she’d never trust him again. At least, that is what he kept telling himself. Sticking with his theory, he pointed at her hair. “Tell me what to do.”

Silently, Morgan unzipped her bag and dug around until she came out holding a plastic clip. “If you sort of twist my hair, then you should be able to hold it in place with this.”

Although he felt her explanation was lacking in helpful details, he also believed given enough time he could figure it out. When he took the fastener from between her fingers, she leaned forward and flipped her hair over. The move left him staring down at Morgan in a position at his waist, which conjured a completely different idea. No amount of deep breathing could keep his shaft from hardening. All she needed to do was lift her eyes an inch and she would be staring straight at the bulge at the front of his jeans. To keep her from realizing what was happening, he went to work. He ran his fingers through her hair, gathering the locks into his hand. As he twisted them around his wrist, the memory of doing the same thing several times before while leading her into the perfect rhythm flooded his mind.

Morgan made a sound, pulling him from his fantasy and his fingers froze. He could’ve sworn she moaned, but hope was a brutal emotion that fucked with his mind. Before he could do something insane, like beg, he quickly closed the clip around the knot of hair he’d created, and to his amazement, it stayed. Her chin lifted and he turned his back on her before she caught sight of his body’s reaction to her.

“I’ll get the water ready while you get undressed.” He paused before adding, “You can get undressed by yourself, right?” He prayed for the sake of his sanity she would say yes.

Her tinkling laughter filled the bathroom. “Yeah. I think I’ve got it.”

He almost sighed in relief as he chose a few large towels from the closet and carried them to the tub. With a twist of the silver handles, water came gushing from several jets and filled the tub quickly. He tested the temperature, forcing himself to focus on his task instead of what was happening behind him. After rolling one towel up for her head and another as a rest for her arm, he searched for something else to do to keep busy.

In spite of his best efforts, the aggravated growls of Morgan attempting to shed her clothes on her own kept dragging his mind back to places best avoided. It had been hell having her ass pressed against his cock as she’d slept earlier and he’d been semi-hard since. Now, his dick throbbed and begged for attention while his willpower was barely hanging in there.

With the deep basin full and left with no other choice, he called on all of his strength. In one quick motion, Wade turned in her direction making sure to keep his gaze averted, but even with his best efforts in place, he could still see too much of her from the corner of his eye. He locked his back teeth together to keep from panting. His dick beat at his zipper wanting to be set free. Unable to speak, he motioned her over and Morgan pressed against him as she accepted his outstretched hand. The muscle in his jaw ticked. Almost no distance separated them as he helped her into the water, and he wondered if he could snap a tendon from the pressure of holding himself in check. The heat of her body, the smell of her skin, the taste of her, and the sounds she made as she came were burned into his brain. He wanted all of those things back in that moment with a desperation bordering on insanity. There was a moment when Wade expected permanent damage as he bent to sit on the step next to the tub. His raging hard on made the task almost impossible, but he refused to show even a hint of discomfort. After sinking into the water, Morgan let her head fall back against the edge and onto the towel he’d left for her. Tilting her chin at an angle, she watched him from the corner of her eye. The temptation she presented was almost crippling. Everything about her appealed to him in a way no one else ever had.