Stone
Iwoke up to Bella’s mouth on me. Fuck, forget the age gap. I would never be too old for this. Her tongue was licking me up and down my length, greeting my morning wood with relish. I stared down at her, fisting my hand in her long, silky hair and pulling her face up so I could see her.
“What exactly do you think you’re up to, princess?”
“You said you’d teach me all about this stuff, and I could practice whenever I wanted to.” She pouted softly, making me harder.
“And I stand by that. Practice away, darling,” I muttered as she opened her mouth with a grin and stretched her full lips over the head of me. I let the weight of my hand bear her head down on me until she moaned as the end of me brushed the back of her throat. “Good girl, take it all,” I murmured, watching her every move with rapt attention. I didn’t want to miss a thing.
Fate, it seemed, had other plans as a loud gong sounded through the room, and a flurry of curses left my lips.
“What’s that?” Bella complained as she released me with a wet pop.
“The doorbell.”
“No one ever visits you,” she pointed out.
“Just the way I like it,” I chuckled, untangling my legs from her and standing. My hard-on jutted out, straining up my belly, clearly displeased at being interrupted. “Stay here. I’ll get rid of them,” I said, throwing a robe over my nakedness.
“Be quick. I won’t wait forever,” she called, making me turn. She was laying on the bed, her hand resting on her abdomen.
I narrowed my eyes at her. “Touch that pussy while I’m gone, and I’ll turn your ass bright red.”
Her eyes widened as I strode away. “Promise?”
I laughed as I made my way downstairs. I felt like a different man this morning. Being with Bella had changed me. I was different because of her. Even Thorn Hill’s shadows didn’t seem as deep today, and the past and my regrets less heavy.
I pulled open the heavy front door and stilled, my hopeful heart tightening in my chest. Two police officers stood on the threshold.
“Good morning, sir. We’re looking for a Mr. Preston?”
“I am he,” I said, wishing I was wearing more than a robe for this.
“Mr. Preston, we’ve received a report that you’ve used illegal means to recover a personal loan, including threats, intimidation, physical assault, abduction, and imprisonment.”
Well… fuck.
* * *
The local forcedidn’t deem the nearby police station large enough to handle the complaint against me so they drove me a couple of hours over to their nice, roomy headquarters. I was lucky they had let me get dressed first. I’d never forget the confusion and panic on Bella’s face when the police had led her out of the house, telling her she was needed for questioning.
Now, I’d been sitting in an interrogating room for hours, and the conversation was going in circles.
“So, you don’t deny lending money to Alfie Moore?”
“No. I don’t.”
“Right, but you deny threatening him to pay it back?”
“Short words were exchanged. He defaulted on the agreed terms of repayment and avoided my calls. I admit to getting impatient with him, but I never physically harmed him.”
The detective shifted in his seat and folded his arms across his chest. “What about Bella Moore? Why was she at your home?”
“She recently started working for me. We reached an agreement, her, Alfie, and myself, for her to work for me instead of repaying the debt,” I told him stiffly. It didn’t sound good, not at all, and it painted me in a terrible light, but then, it was the truth, wasn’t it? I’d never claimed to Bella to be a better man than I was. I’d never lied to her.
“So, you’re saying she agreed?” The detective pressed.
I nodded and held my tongue. It didn’t matter what I said. It only mattered what Bella said, and there was nothing I could do about that. Judgment day was upon me, and it fit that my judgment would come from the only person who mattered to me. If I was going to be judged by anyone, I was glad it was her.
“And if I told you she was crying in her father’s arms, happy to be over her traumatic experience?” The detective asked.
He was a little shit. I could see it by the amused glint in his eye. He was enjoying having brought in the rich, elusive Stone Preston for questioning.
“I wouldn’t believe you,” I told him flatly.
“Because?” he prodded.
Fuck it. I believed in Bella and our connection. I was in it all the way. “Because Isabella Moore is in love with me, and she’s going to be my wife.”
The detective’s face split into an incredulous grin. “That’s a pretty bold claim, considering her father maintains you’ve kidnapped her.”
“What can I say? I’m a pretty bold guy. Now charge me with something or let me go.”