Blake drove into her again and again. Nicola shifted her hips, sliding her pussy along his thrusting cock, meeting him stroke for stroke in their carnal rhythm. He didn’t know if it was because so many feelings were involved when it came to Nicola, or just the fact that her pussy felt like it’d been made for him, but the friction was perfect... exceptional. Mind-blowing. A burning sensation tingled in his shaft and went all the way up his backbone, pitching him into mindless excitement. He strove wildly to fill his greedy senses. He raced to penetrate Nicola’s farthest depths before she was whisked away from him. ‘Nik, Nik, Nik.’ Her name resounded in his head every time his flesh slapped against hers and she held him in her deep, tight embrace. Blake needed to prove she was right here with him, every bit as real as his own hot flesh, raging blood, and teeming cock.“Blake,” she moaned when he leaned down over her farther, altering the a
When fluid stopped seeping onto her tongue, Nicola gave the entire cockhead a hard polishing, never taking her eyes off the magnificent image of Blake as he watched her with a hyperalert focus. He must have liked what she did because he began to jack his cock faster. The sight was so intensely erotic that her nipples pulled tight in excitement. Not only her clit began to burn… the soles of her feet tingled in mounting arousal. His eyes glittered dangerously when Nicola began to draw on him as hard as she could, hollowing out her cheeks, hoping she could entice him to slide deeper. She moaned when he flexed his hips and thick, throbbing flesh filled her mouth. Blake tightened his hold on her head.“Dammit, Nik! You’re so good…” His fingers sank into her soft hair, pressing against her skull as he began to thrust between her lips… subtly... just tiny electrical pulsations. But her strong suck drew him deeper. So, he gave it to her.“
Blake's side of the bed was empty when Nicola opened her eyes. She reached and touched his pillow. It was cold, a sign he left early for work. She sighed. After three days of having Blake all to herself, waking up in his bed all alone was gut-wrenching. No romantic ‘good morning note’… No breakfast in bed… Not even a red rose on the pillow… His absence hit her hard but this was Blake… a lot of work and just enough play. Well, no more Christmas meant no more days off from the office. Even if he was the boss, the mighty CEO, Blake was also hard-working. Nonetheless, all Nicola hoped was for Blake not to return to his old self, focusing a lot on his work and neglecting Iris once again. She could endure his absence but the baby needed her daddy. Nicola rolled over and sat up, wincing at the soreness in her muscles. She smiled, replaying in her mind the nights they spent together. Every kiss shared every touch, and ev
Several minutes later, when Blake strode through the front doors of the hospital, he found Alma waiting for him. Before he could open his mouth, the housekeeper told him Nicola was rushed to the lab for a CT scan. Blake thanked Alma for everything and asked her to go home and take care of Iris. He put the housekeeper in a cab and went back to the small waiting area outside the lab. A nurse informed him that a doctor would be out shortly to speak with him. With nothing to do but wait, Blake paced the floor and tried not to think the worst. He kept telling himself Nicola would be fine and that he was worrying over nothing.“Mr. Echols.” Blake stopped pacing and turned around to find a doctor standing there.“How is my wife?” he asked trying to stay calm.“She has a mild concussion,” the doctor replied. “I studied the x-ray and the good news is that there is no bleeding or swelling on the brain. She has a sprained ankle and some bruising on her body. I would
In the wee hours of the morning, Blake awoke. He rolled over onto his side and came face to face with his sleeping beauty. Her lips were parted slightly and he could feel her breath on his cheek. He pulled his arm out from under the covers and touched her jaw. Her skin was like silk beneath his fingertips. Unable to help himself he brushed his lips across hers, lingering for a moment before breaking contact.“Are you trying to take advantage of me, Mr. Echols?”“No, Mrs. Echols,” Blake muttered.“Well, that's a shame.” Nicola's eyelids fluttered open and she smiled.“Hi, my love.”“Hi, gorgeous.” She reached out and laid her hand against his chest.“Have I ever told you how good it is to wake up next to you?”“Once or twice… Come on, Nik… Come stay with me in this room,” Blake said. “I need to have you near every second. Especially now.”“And Iris…? Isn’t this going to be too much to take for her?” Nicola asked.“Absolutely not. She already see
Blake was standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling bookcase in his office when the intercom on his desk came on and Daphne spoke.“Norman is here to see you, Blake.” He moved to his desk, bent down, and pressed a button.“Okay, Daphne. Send him in and hold all my calls, please. I don't want to be interrupted,” Blake said then returned to the bookcase and removed a book from the shelf. The door opened and Norman walked into the office.“Hello, Echols!”“Norm,” Blake said. “Have a seat.”“Daph told me your lovely wife had an accident,” Norman told him, taking a seat in front of the desk. “How is Nik?”“Not okay, yet. She’s on bed rest, so she hates every single second of it.” Blake settled in his chair and put the book on the desk.“Nonetheless, my wife is a strong woman. She’ll get through it.”“Of that, I have no doubt.” Norman adjusted his glasses.“What did you want to talk to me about?”“The hearing, Norm. What else?” Blake answere
Finally able to walk without feeling any pain, Nicola went to check on Iris. She was already in her little pink bed, sound asleep. As usual, Olaf sat beside his little friend, watching over her like a real guard dog. It was so touching.“Thank you, Olaf, for taking such good care of our baby girl,” she said, petting his warm, fluffy head. “She’ll be needing you now more than ever.” As if the dog understood Nicola’s words, he licked Nicola’s hand and then got even closer to Iris. The little girl moved in her sleep, then without waking up, she turned slowly to the side and placed her little hand on Olaf’s paw. Her expression was so sweet. Her breathing was so relaxed. Iris was sleeping so well because she knew she was deeply loved by everybody in the mansion. Because she knew that her daddy would do everything in his power to keep her protected.“We love you, munchkin,” Nicola whispered. Then, she bent, gave Iris a light kiss o
The courthouse parking lot was half-full when Blake pulled into it the next day. He located a space toward the front and parked. His eyes glanced in the rearview mirror at Iris in the backseat and his throat tightened. The tie he wore suddenly felt like it was choking him. The urge to run was strong but he resisted it. Iris's life was in his hands. He had to do what was best for her.“Sweetheart,” Nicola said. “We have to go in now.” Blake removed the keys from the ignition.“Let's get this over with. Alma, you and Iris will need to wait in the corridor.”“Yes, Mr. Blake,” Alma said. The small group got out of the car and made their way toward the entrance. They found Norman waiting for them in the corridor outside the courtroom. He was deep in conversation with Daphne.“What are you doing here?” Blake asked her. Daphne rose from the bench.“I’m here to lend my support to you and Nik. Why didn't you tell me crazy Cl
ONE YEAR LATER… “Bedtime, munchkin,” Nicola said from the living room doorway. Iris, who was lying on the floor, watching cartoons, jumped up and ran toward the door.“Come on, Olaf,” she said to the dog following her religiously almost everywhere.“Did you pick out what you want to take to show and tell tomorrow?” Nicola asked as they made their way upstairs.“Yes, I did,” Iris replied. “I’m taking the seashell Aunt Daph gave me.”“That’s a wonderful idea! I believe everybody will like that. They can put it to their ear and listen to the ocean,” Nicola exclaimed and took her little hand in hers. “Let’s say goodnight to your daddy. He’s in his office.” They stopped outside Blake’s office and Iris knocked on the door.“‘Come in,’” Blake called out. Iris opened the door and entered the room.“It’s bedtime, Daddy,” she announced. Blake checked his watch.“Already? Well… you’d better give me my goodnight hug and kiss.” Nicola smiled.
The next morning, Blake and Nicola entered together the Long Beach Police Department. Paul was waiting for them in there. He showed them the way to the interrogation room where Damien Crewe was about to be brought.“Nik, are you sure you want to be present during this?” the detective asked Nicola after she sat in front of the two-way mirror and placed the crutches near her. “You might hear some ugly things…” Blake watched his wife. Before leaving the mansion that morning, he’d asked her the same thing, afraid Nicola might have a breakdown or something. Her reply was a simple ‘yes’ followed by a soft smile.“Uglier than what I’ve been through? Yes, I’m sure, Paul,” Nicola replied in a determined tone. “I MUST be here. This man took away too much of my sanity, my energy, my time with Blake and Iris. It’s time to face the monster and put an end to this. It’s time to move on with my life.” She looked up at Blake and smiled. She didn’t look stressed or worried
Long after Daphne had gone home for the day, Blake sat at his desk, deep in thought. He was thinking of Nicola and the words they had exchanged in anger. ‘What you’re planning to do is wrong, Blake. And you’re going to lose me. Forever!’ ‘And what about our little girl? What do you think it would do to Iris to lose her daddy?’ Those words were the ones that stood out more than anything in his mind. The idea of Nicola leaving him, walking out on their marriage, and the thought of not seeing Iris anymore, scared the hell out of Blake. More than going to jail for breaking into little pieces the son of a bitch who hurt the woman he loved. The last thing Blake wanted was to lose Nicola and the life they had together.“Echols, you look like you lost your best friend,” Norman said, strolling into the office.“Not yet, Norm, but I could,” Blake replied. Norman arched an eyebrow.“Care to explain that to me?” Blake
A week later found Nicola sitting alone in the living room, gazing out the window. Rain was coming down and beating against the windowpane. While she watched it, Nicola thought about her life before being kidnapped and tortured.“I used to be so happy… Now I feel frightened and depressed…” she murmured. “Thank God for Blake and Iris… They are my reason to get out of the bed every morning.” The therapy was working but not as fast as everyone hoped it would. Still, she kept on attending every session, repeating herself to be patient. “Mind if I sit with you for a while? Bruce asked from the doorway. Nicola gave the cushion beside her a pat. Bruce crossed the room and sat down.“How are you doing, Nik?”“I don’t know… Okay, I guess,” Nicola replied. Bruce reached for Nicola's hand and held it between both of his.“It will get easier, dear. I promise you it will.”“You don't know what I'm going through,” Nicola said angrily. “So don't tell me
“Daddy…” Blake glanced up from the book he was reading and gazed at Iris. She was standing in the doorway with Olaf at her feet, and she had a sad look on her face. He closed the book and placed it on the table next to him.“Come here, sunshine.”Iris ran to Blake and climbed onto his lap. She settled in the crook of his arm.“What's wrong?” he asked.“I went to your room to see Nik…” she muttered.“Okay…”“But I didn’t enter because she was crying… I didn’t want to bother her.” He took a deep breath and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.“I see…”“Daddy, why is Nik crying?”“She is sad. When you're sad, don't you cry?”“Yeah.”“Something really bad happened to her and it’s going to take a little while for her to feel better,” Blake explained, caressing her head. “But don’t worry… She is going to be alright… Everything is going to be alright.”The little girl laid her head on his shoulder.“Oh, okay… I'll paint her a picture.”“This is a great idea. Nik adores
Nicola was released from the hospital a few days later. Before she left, she insisted on finally seeing Benjamin. Since Blake was still pretty reluctant about this painful reunion, to get her way, Nicola threatened Blake to go and stay with Norman and Daphne.“Okay, darling… But let's make this brief,” Blake said, pushing the wheelchair down the long hallway. “I want to get you home as soon as possible.”“I'll try not to take too long.” Nicola adjusted the shawl she wore around her shoulders and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, the cuts on her arms throbbing as she moved. Halfway down the hall, Blake stopped and knocked on the door on his left. He heard Benjamin replying and opened the door. Careful not to bump Nicola's broken leg against the door, Blake wheeled her into the room and parked the chair next to the bed.“I was wondering if you were going to come and see me,” Benjamin said to Nicola.“I will leave you two to talk,” Blake said, then kis
The next morning, Blake awoke with an aching back and a stiff neck. Groaning, he slowly rose from the chair beside the bed and rubbed his lower back. After kissing Nicola, who was still asleep, he slipped out of the room and made his way down the hallway to a coffee vending machine. Once the coffee was ready, he took a cautious sip of the steaming liquid, then started walking slowly toward Nicola’s room. When Blake reentered, he found a nurse redressing Nicola's burn. Not ready to face the most devastating and painful proof of her torture, Blake quietly returned to the hallway to wait for the nurse to finish. While he stood there, drinking his coffee, his thoughts turned to last night and anger sprang to life inside of him. The urge for revenge swept over him and he fought for control of his emotions. The time for payback would come soon. Claire will feel his rage… She will…“Blake.” Hearing Daphne's voice, he turned and saw her and Nor
He opened the door and looked out at the detective March.“My wife is ready to answer your questions.” The detective moved past Blake and strolled toward the bed.“Thank you for agreeing to see me, Mrs. Echols.”“It's Nik,” she told him softly.“Oh, alright,” the detective replied. “Then, call me Paul, please.”“Okay. Have a seat,” Nicola invited him. The detective sat down on the chair next to the bed.“Before you get started,” Blake said, glancing down at Nicola, “do you need anything, darling?”“No, sweetheart, thank you. I just want to get this over with. But you should sit down.”“I'll try to make it as brief as possible, Nik.” Nicola turned her head on the pillow and gazed at the detective.“Good… Then, maybe I should tell you right away that I know the name of my aggressor…” Both of them looked at Nicola like she was half crazy. She took a deep breath and watched as Blake was slowly sitting on the side of the bed.“Nik, are you
While waiting for the doctor to come out and speak with him, Blake was sitting in the waiting room. He was leaning forward on the chair, his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. Every fiber of his being was screaming for him to find the doctor and demand answers to the questions that were eating away at him but he also knew he had to keep his composure… for Nicola’s sake.“Dammit, Nik! I failed you… I promised to keep you safe and look what happened…” Blake kept whispering. “It’s all my fault… I’m so sorry, my love…” Tired of sitting on that damn chair and doing nothing, Blake stood and moved toward the window. While he glanced out into the darkness, he thought back over the past several hours, since Alma’s phone call… ‘Mr. Blake, you must come home… Ben has been shot… and Nik… Someone kidnapped her…’ Her desperate voice on the phone iced the blood in his veins. As long as he lived, he will never forget her chilling, utterly