It was a presence inside of him that reached out, wrapped around him, and threatened to take him under. He still left for his runs, and when he returned, sweaty and exhausted, she showered with him, and the three of them went to bed. It was on those nights that Deacon clung to her, made love to her like an animal.
He was rough, but in the good way, like he had been in the garage.
“I’ll never let you go, Jessa.”
She knew his words held more than one meaning. He kissed her deeply, giving her everything. It was just as good as Thayer’s, and made her toes curl.
Deacon pulled away and helped her now weak body stand upright.
“We won’t be long, baby. Just going to get a few supplies.” She turned to head into the kitchen and squealed when Deacon tapped her on the ass.
His and Thayer’s chuckle followed them as they left the cabin.
An hour later the chicken simmered on the stove, the mashed potatoes were mashed, and the green beans were taking a boiling bath.
She was back in front of the fire on her belly, scanning the headline news. Nothing stood out to her, but when she skimmed over the personals her heart stopped. Leaning in to make sure her eyes weren’t deceiving her, Jessa stared at herself.
The picture was several years old. That had been during a time when she actually believed the lies he spewed. Her hands shook as she gripped the edge of the paper and lifted it.
Family seeking any information on the whereabouts of Jessa Taylor Malone. Jessa suffers from mental illness and can be unstable. She may be confused as to who she is. The family offers 5k for any information that leads to her reunion with her loved ones. Jessa may be confused and agitated. Five-foot-three and weighting one hundred and ten pounds, she has long dark hair and brown eyes.
She re-read the ad over and over again until every word became ingrained in her head. She wasn’t surprised that Paul searched for her, but surprise filled her that he offered five thousand dollars for information on her whereabouts.
If she had skimmed over the personal section for all those weeks she might have seen it. She had been so focused and sure that she would see headline news on her being a murder suspect that she had never contemplated the lengths he would go to.
Tears filled her eyes, and she blinked them away. Paul’s cell number was listed at the end of the ad. Those ten digits made her tears flow harder and faster.
The paper crumbled in her hand, and she threw the ball in the fire. Black smoke billowed from the burning trash, and she laughed sardonically at the image.
That was the story of her life: black and burning until there was nothing left. Part of her whispered that Paul wouldn’t be able to find her at the cabin, but the louder side of her said it was possible, especially when Paul was determined.
The fact he claimed she had a mental illness and others should be wary of her had a hysterical laugh leaving her. The bastard was a sociopath, and she vowed he would never have control of her life again.
She needed to speak with Thayer and Deacon, needed to tell them what was going on, to warn them. If she left now she could make it into town before she missed them.
Yes, she needed to leave now because who knew how soon Paul would come for her. Leaving them was not an option, not when she loved them. She stopped in her tracks and squeezed her eyes shut.
She loved them, so much it hurt at times. She had no doubt in her mind the Uncia brothers could handle themselves, but Paul was the very devil himself and wouldn’t stop, no matter what. That was why she needed to tell them the storm that was about to descend upon them all.
She raced to the door and grabbed her coat, purse, and the keys to her car. Memories of her night spent between Thayer and Deacon washed through her mind.
She let herself think about those times, about the soft moans, whispered words, and pleasure that brought her to the brink of heaven.
A fat tear slowly slid down her cheek and collected in the corner of her mouth. All she wanted was for things to be simple, but of course life didn’t work that way. Hard, body consuming sobs wracked her.
After she put her coat and boots on she gripped the door handle and felt the cold seep into her body. She threw the door open and came face-to-face with the epitome of evil.
Paul stood on the other side, his smile wide, his eyes filled with all kinds of crazy.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t my little whore.” He flicked his eyes behind her, and a scowl took up his expression. “I heard you’ve been shaking up with not one, but two men?”
He cocked an eyebrow at her.
“If you wanted two cocks I could have made that possible. Maybe shared you with some of my buddies?”
The way he said it left no doubt in her mind that the thought of him watching her with his friends excited him.
The sound of her blood rushing through her body was deafening as it filled her ears. Her car sat in the garage. If she could make it there she could lock the turns and try to make a run for it.