Page 46 of Deserving Lara
“You haven’t been that woman since I tucked you into my guest room that first night,” Owl said.
Amazingly, Lara believed him. She might not have seen it then, but in the last month, she’d been more than aware that he treated her with kid gloves less and less. Aware of how he’d touch her in small, intimate ways. How he’d bend over backward to give her anything she might desire. And her friends were right—his gaze followed her everywhere, and not just because he was waiting for her to freak out.
It was all of that and more that had given her the courage to kiss him. If she’d thought for one second that he considered her an annoying houseguest, someone he couldn’t wait to get her head out of her butt and move back to Washington, DC, she wouldn’t have been so bold.
They stared at each other, caught in the magic of the moment.
Then a breeze came through, and Lara shivered.
“Come on, I need to get you out of the cold,” Owl said firmly. His hand slid out of her hair, slowly, as though he really didn’t want to move but was forcing himself simply because she was chilly.
This time as they headed toward the lodge, he wasn’t holding her hand. He wrapped his arm around her waist and had her plastered against his side as they walked together.
Lara smiled as she leaned into him. She wished they didn’t have to go to the lodge. She wanted to go straight back to their cabin and explore what they’d started there in the woods. But the anticipation felt exciting. Besides, she truly did want to celebrate Cora’s wedding. Her friend deserved a huge party, and there was no way Lara would miss it.
* * *
Carter Grant smiled as he sat back in his chair.
He’d done it. It had taken way too long to get the information he needed, but money talked. And he’d hooked up with a man he’d met a few years ago. Someone who was just as deviant as he was…in a different way. His acquaintance wasn’t into hurting and using women, like Carter. His vice was money. He could never get enough. He’d sell his own mother if it meant adding to his bank account.
And since Carter had what the man wanted—cold, hard cash—the guy had no problem agreeing to work with him.
So after months of hard work, racking his brain as he attempted to figure out a way to get Lara Osler back into his bed, under his control, he’d finally found a way.
The assholes who owned The Refuge, the very men who’d been harboring her in their secure compound, would be her downfall.
They wanted a helicopter, and Carter’s new acquaintance happened to have decent hacking skills—and a pilot’s license. He also knew where to find the exact chopper The Refuge assholes wanted.
The emails sent back and forth about the helicopter hinted that Carter would soon have his property back.HisLara might accompany the two former Night Stalkers to check out the chopper they hoped to buy. The one his accomplice had found just for this situation.
Lara stepping foot away from New Mexico was the break he needed. It was his chance. His chance to get her back where she belonged, under him, at his mercy. He couldn’t wait.
With the assistance of his acquaintance, and a shitload of cash—which would totally be worth it—Lara Osler would be his once more, and two of the assholes who’d dared keep her from him would be taken care of. Win-win for everyone.
Well…maybe except for Lara.
She’d find out what happened to those who defied him. If she thought what he’d done before was bad, she’d soon realize she was dead wrong. He’d gone easy on her. But no more.
Carter’s smile grew, and he reached down to unbutton his pants as his erection surged. Now that he had a plan, knew that she was going to be his again, he was desperate to orgasm. No bound and gagged prostitute needed. He was so hard it hurt.
It took less than a minute for Carter to relieve himself, and he closed his eyes as he imagined his come decorating his property once more.
He zipped his pants, not bothering to clean the mess he’d left on the floor of his motel room. He had more plans to make. And a secure location to obtain—one where Lara would never be able to escape.
Nothing would keep him from the woman who got away. Nothing and no one.
CHAPTERTEN
Owl shifted restlessly in his seat as he watched Lara dance with Cora. After dinner, the chairs in the dining area of the lodge had been pushed back and someone had brought out a portable speaker and started some music. It wasn’t very loud, and there weren’t any flashing lights, no special dance floor, but that didn’t seem to matter to anyone.
The guests who’d joined them for dinner had gone back to their cabins by this point, and it was simply the men and women who lived and worked at The Refuge, celebrating the joy of two more of their group being joined together in marriage.
Owl would’ve joined the revelry on the dance floor, but one, he couldn’t dance. And two, his dick was so hard, he didn’t want to announce to the world that he could barely control himself.
It was still almost unbelievable that Lara had kissed him. When she’d pressed her lips to his up on that deck, he’d been so startled, he couldn’t do or say anything. A part of him had thought it was a dream.
As he’d been standing there, marrying his friends, he’d looked over at Lara at one point and immediately fallen into a daydream where it washiswedding. His and Lara’s.
