Obsession and Surrender (The Billionaire's Temptation Book 7) (10 page)

Chapter 19

Lilly had spent the last week locked away in Wyatt’s office, writing like a crazy fiend. But with her book finally done, she couldn’t be happier as she sent it off to her editor. Now she could go to the opening of Wyatt’s club, and not have to worry about her deadlines, though she still had to catch up on her emails and social media.

Dragging her laptop over to where Keane was hanging out with Wyatt, she plopped herself down next to him, her brain fried from the intense focus of the last week. “I’ve been using the new email you set up for me for most stuff, but I still need to access the accounts I use for my readers.”

“And your stalker.” Keane let out a sigh. “Let me double-check with Hadley, to see if she can route you through an untraceable network, just to be on the safe side.”

It didn’t take long for Hadley to send him access to a secure network which would filter her location. Keane finished up and handed her back her laptop as she gave him a peck on his cheek. “You’re the best.”

“Let me know if Sirius has sent you anything else. I’m still worried he’s going to show up and do something crazy.” Keane cupped the back of her neck and pulled her close, his head bent to hers as he stole a kiss and made her pulse race, even if Wyatt was right there to witness it.

“I still can’t believe you have a stalker, Lilly. But we’re going to do everything we can to keep you safe.” Wyatt’s determination and protectiveness was so much like Keane’s, she couldn’t help but feel loved—and protected. “I swear it.”

“I might write fiction, but you guys are the real thing—totally hero-worthy. And I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me.” She couldn’t imagine trying to deal with all of this on her own—especially when the police didn’t seem vested in finding Sirius. She’d have been stuck dealing with it all by herself, with no one to turn to and no one to help her.

And then she logged in to one of her social media accounts. “Fuck…”

When Keane reached over, she handed him her laptop, his cursing immediate. “
No…
This is a problem, Lilly. We need to pack up. Get going.
Now
.”

She’d been tagged in a post—Maire had posted the picture of the two of them online and tagged her in it, their location there for everyone to see. “I’ll ask her to take it down. I’m sure she would, Keane.”

“Except that it was posted online over five days ago.” Keane shook his head and handed her back her laptop. “We can’t stay. It’s too dangerous and I refuse to let that fucking maniac get his hands on you.”

“But…” She felt defeated once more, like she’d never escape this nightmare. “Wait—what about the people who’ve viewed it? Can Hadley find out if one of them is Sirius? Maybe it’ll help her figure out who it is—or if he’s even seen it.”

“Maybe—but we’re still going. I’m not taking any chances, Lil. Not when it comes to you.” Keane cupped her cheek and kissed her. “I’m sorry. I know this can’t be easy on you, but we’ll figure this out. We’ll find him.”

“Where will we go this time, Keane—and the time after that? I can’t just keep running. And you should be here for Wyatt’s opening.” The last thing she wanted was to interfere with Keane’s life any more than she already had. “I can’t have you on the run, abandoning your life.”

“This isn’t up for discussion. No fucking way.” Keane looked ready to shake her until she came around to his way of thinking—and when that failed, he looked ready to tie her up in a neat little bundle and kidnap her off to some private island in the middle of nowhere.

“Keane…I know you care—and I know you’re worried. But we don’t know if he’s seen the post, and frankly, we can’t just keep running.” Squeezing his hand, she pleaded with him, not wanting to argue, especially when she knew he was just trying to protect her. “Can’t we just wait to see what Hadley has to say? She’s got to be close to finding Sirius.”

“Any emails from him?” Keane didn’t look like he was going to budge an inch, and she knew damn well what he was trying to do by having her check email. He just wanted to prove to her that Sirius was insane and that he was tracking her, that Dublin was no longer safe.

She shook her head, trying to stay calm. “You’re not going to scare me.”

He let out a deep breath, anger and frustration lining his face. “Then that’s a fucking problem, Lilly. Because you
should
be scared. Fucking terrified.”

His words unleashed a tsunami of emotion, tears stinging her eyes as everything she’d been trying to hold onto, trying to hold back, just got to be too much. “Fine. You want to hear that I’m scared—well, I am. Of course it’d be easy for me to lock myself away, to run, after what he put me through. But I refuse to let fear dictate and rule my life—and I won’t let them win. Not Sirius, and not Dylan.”

By the time her tears spilled over, her entire body was shaking. Keane set aside her laptop and pulled her into his arms, sitting back with her cradled against him as he held her tight. Wyatt quietly excused himself, clearly wanting to give them some privacy, and for that she was grateful. The last thing she wanted was for him to see her when she was such a mess, especially when he knew what Dylan had done to her.

“Lilly…I get it. I really do.” He kissed the top of her head, and ran a gentle hand down her back, his touch soothing her. “But this is different. This has been escalating, and I can’t take that sort of risk.”

“Please…just check in with Hadley. And if need be, we can leave in the morning—after Wyatt’s opening. I just want one more night of freedom, of not having to worry, before we’re on the run again.” It was a big night for Wyatt, and she didn’t want to ruin it for him.

“Lilly…” He let out a sigh, but when she looked up at him and wiped her tears away, she saw him relent. “I’ll check in with Hadley again and update her on the latest, and then get everything ready for us to go in the morning. But if it’s not safe to go to the club tonight, then we’re staying in.”

“I can live with that.”

***

“It might not be safe for me to go out, but that doesn’t mean you have to stay with me, Keane. This is a big night for Wyatt, and you have to be there for him, especially after he spent the last year preparing for this day.” Lilly desperately wanted to go with him, but it just wasn’t going to happen. Hadley called to say it was too risky, though she was sure she was quickly closing in on Sirius.

“I refuse to leave you here just to go to a club, Lil. That’s fucking insane.” Keane shook his head in frustration as he ran his hands up her arms to cup her face, bending his head to hers to steal a kiss. “And this might be a big night for Wyatt, but he understands. The last thing he’d want is to risk something happening to you.”

“I just hate this. I feel like I’m ruining this for him.” She breathed in Keane’s masculine scent, already so familiar once more, as a pulse of need shot straight to her core.

“You’re far more important—and Wyatt knows that. He wouldn’t want you sitting here alone—nor would he want to put you in danger. And I promise, I won’t let you get bored.” He bit her bottom lip and kissed her, his tongue finding hers as his body pressed her against the back of the sofa, making it impossible for her to ignore his hard length. Wyatt had left hours earlier to make sure everything was ready at the club for the opening, even though it had all been set up and ready to go for days, not wanting to leave anything until the last minute.

“You never let me get bored—but that’s not the issue.” She ran her hands down his back as she trailed kisses and bites down his neck, his stubble rough against her skin, his scent stronger from his sexy aftershave so she could think of nothing but him taking her, stripping her naked and fucking her.

“This will all be over soon—and then it’ll just be the two of us. We’ll be free to do what we want, free to be happy, although if you think we’re not going to live together once this is over, you can guess again. Once we’re back, it’s going to be me, you, and the pup—one big happy family.” As he spoke, he trailed his hands down her back to cup her ass, his hard length pressing against her heat, making her hips rock against him in response.

She bit back the needy moan that wanted to escape, her hips still shifting in search of some relief. “Keep that up, and you’ll have me agreeing to anything you want if you promise to fuck me.”

“Really?” He pulled back enough to look at her and cup her cheek, his mood shifting from seductive to serious. “So if I asked you to marry me, you’d say yes?”

That was the last thing she’d expected him to say. “Keane…you can’t be serious. It’s only been a few weeks.”

“No—
it’s been years
. Because for the time that we were apart, you’ve been my only thought, you’ve been my constant—and I know that you’re my only one. There’s no one else—there never will be.” He shifted and pulled out a gorgeous diamond ring, sparkling like a million stars as it caught the light. “Not exactly what I had planned, but I love you, Lilly. Marry me…”

A panic settled around her heart. Things were just so crazy right now, and it’d been mere weeks since he’d showed up on her lawn. “I love you, Keane—you know that. But things have been so shaky between us. I’m not saying no—I’m just asking for a little more time.”

“Fuck, Lil…I love you with all my heart.”

His clear disappointment at her request was killing her, but she had to stay strong.

“And I love you, Keane. There’s never been anyone but you. But things are crazy right now.” She held onto him when he tried to pull away, desperate to make things right between them again. “Keane…don’t push me away…please…”

As he pulled out of her grasp, her tears spilled over, leaving her to wonder if she’d made a huge mistake, if she should have just said yes. “You’re the one pushing me away, Lilly—not the other way around. And I get it—things are fucking insane. But if you truly love me, I don’t see how giving this more time will make any difference.”

“I’m not pushing you away—I’m just asking you to hold off until I’m not being stalked, until we’ve had the chance to just be together without being on the run, or wondering if there’s an imminent threat to my life.” Again, she thought of just agreeing to marry him—and yet it should be a happy moment, and not something drowned out by worry or fear of losing the other person.

“You know…I fucked up years ago because I was scared to commit, and things felt so serious. And now, I’ve fucked up because I want to commit.” He shook his head with a laugh that held no humor.

The pain in her heart felt like it might kill her. “It’s not like that, Keane, and you know it.”

“I guess I’ll just keep my fingers crossed that you won’t turn me down the next time I ask.”

Chapter 20

Keane thought Lilly would be happy—he thought she’d fucking say yes. His timing might not be perfect, but once she’d gotten over their past and had forgiven him, things had been amazing between them, even if it’d been just a few weeks since they’d gotten back together. And now, seeing the hurt in her eyes, seeing the worry there, was doing him in. “I need to get a bit of fresh air and we’ve yet to have dinner. It’s getting late, and we could probably do with a bite. I’ll run out to the chipper down the road. Will fish and chips do or would you prefer something else?”

“Let me come with you.” She chewed her bottom lip and took a step closer, before hesitating, things between them suddenly awkward—and he fucking hated it.

“I just need a few minutes to clear my head, Lil. And you’ll be safer here.” Closing the distance between them, he ran his hand down her arm and gave her a quick kiss. “I swear, I won’t be more than half an hour, depending on how quick they can get our food together.”

“I do love you, you know…” Her eyes shimmered, making him feel like shit for upsetting her.
Fucking hell
. Why did everything have to be so complicated? Wasn’t it enough that she was all he could think of? That she was his very heart?

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her, his words but a whisper against her lips. “I know, baby girl. I love you, too. Nothing will
ever
change that.”

He meant it, meant every word, even if he was frustrated that she hadn’t said yes to his proposal. And the truth was, it was his fault for rushing things when he knew how skittish she’d been to even start dating him again.

“Don’t go just yet…” There was such need in her voice…it immediately had him going hard. And when she reached down to stroke him through his jeans, he had but a single thought.

He kissed her and kissed her again, his words spoken against her lips. “I’m going to keep asking you, Lil…I’ll give you more time, but I’ll keep asking, again and again, until you finally agree to marry me.”

“Good. Because I will eventually say yes, Keane—and then you’ll be stuck with me.” She pulled her top up over her head and flicked her bra off, before shimmying her jeans over her hips, catching the sides of her lacy panties with her thumbs and shifting them down so she could kick them off. “You’re wearing far too many clothes. You need to remedy that, or I’ll do it for you.”

Fucking hell…there’d be no taking things slow or gentle as worked up as Keane was with everything that had happened. He got rid of his t-shirt and jeans, before quickly discarding anything else that remained.

Grabbing her hips, he spun her around and pinned her against the sofa, fisting her hair as he pulled her head back and to the side so he could feast on her neck. His cock slipped between her plump ass cheeks and into her sweet cunt with a hard upward thrust, so she gasped and thrust back at him, giving herself over to what was between them. He fucking loved that about her…that she’d never been indifferent or halfhearted when it came to sex between them.

“Is this what you want?” With her body tight around his cock, he pounded the next thrust into her, and then the next, his pace focused and intense, his need for her ever-consuming.

Raking his teeth down her neck, he bit her shoulder as she pushed back into him, taking him even deeper as she gave him the answer he was looking for even as he continued to take her. “I’ll always want this, Keane…I’ll always want you…your touch, your kiss, everything…you’ve always been my very heart.
My everything.
”

“Just like you know you’ve always been mine.” His pace quickened, spurred on by her words, by his insatiable need for her, his love for her.

He pinched her nipple, tugging and teasing it, before slipping his hand down between her legs to her slick clit as his other hand gently grasped her throat, pulling her back to him. The energy built inside him as his thrusts quickened, her hips rocking back to meet his, taking him deep, until she was crying out and quivering in his arms, as her orgasm raced through her. But he didn’t slow, continuing to take her hard as he rode that fine edge until she finally tipped him over. He came with a primal cry, the energy lashing his body as his cock pulsed, shooting his cum deep inside her until he finally stilled, his breath coming heavy against her hot skin as he held her to him.

“Fuck, Lilly…you’re always so amazing.” Their coupling had soothed his jagged edges, though he still wanted more—a
lifetime
of more. As he pulled out of her, he kissed her cheek with a smile. “Is it too soon for me to ask again—or do I need to make you come a few more times, so you’re delirious from all the orgasms?”

“If you’re expecting me to say no to more orgasms, you’ll be disappointed.” She turned to face him, worry still clouding her eyes. “And I will say yes, Keane…I just can’t do it right now. I’m sorry.”

He brushed his hand down her cheek and, cupping her neck, he pulled her in close, kissing her soft and sweet. “I won’t give up, Lilly…not ever.”

She looked up at him, managing a smile. “I wouldn’t expect you to. Now, go get us those fish and chips—with lots of malt vinegar. I’ve worked up an appetite and I’m starving.”

He stole another kiss—longer, harder—and then got dressed as she gathered her clothes up off the floor and tossed on her tee to quickly cover her up since it was just long enough. “I’ll be right back—half hour at the most, I hope.”

“Perfect—just enough time for me to hop in the shower.” Holding her clothes to her chest, she turned to go with a smile over her shoulder when he stopped her.

“I’ll lock the door from the outside, but just do me a favor and set the security system behind me. I don’t want to take any chances.” He shrugged into his jacket and headed toward the door.

She gave him a final kiss and followed after him. Once he stepped outside, he locked the door behind him, and then waited to hear the beep of the security system.
Good.

The street was bustling with people getting ready to go out and start their weekend, and though Keane loved the energy of living in a city, he found that he preferred the quieter life he’d carved out for himself in Portmore—not that the quaint seaside town didn’t have plenty going on. He just hoped that once they got back, Lilly would consider moving in with him.

He was waiting for his order to be filled at the local hole-in-the-wall chipper when his phone buzzed.
Hadley.
“Hey...please tell me you have some good news for me. Really? A name?
Thank fuck
.”
Ash Sullivan
. That fucking bastard. Keane grabbed his food and handed the guy the money. “Do we know where this asshole is?”

“Yeah…Keane, it’s not good. He’s in Ireland—probably Dublin.”