Page 89 of Protecting Kelli
“That was just mean,” he complained, easily lifting her off him as if she weighed next to nothing.
“I love when you do that,” she said on a sigh, as she lay on her back next to him and stretched.
“Do what?” Flash asked, distracted by the way her tits moved on her chest.
“Lift me as if I were light as a feather.”
“You are,” Flash told her. Then he leaned down and kissed her forehead, knowing if he did anything more, he’d never get out of bed. “You need to get up and lock the door behind me, put the chain on,” he told her. “Don’t go back to sleep.”
“I know, and I won’t,” she said.
Flash got out of bed while he still had the willpower, and within minutes, he was kissing Kelli at the front door. “I’ll text you when Smiley and I leave work.”
“Okay. What time…approximately, do you think?”
“Maybe three-ish.”
“Sounds good. Drive safe.”
“I will. I love you, Kelli. You’ve made my life so much better, and while I’d never admit that I was glad we were kidnapped, Iamglad that your cousin decided to have her bachelorette party at the same resort as Chuck.”
“Me too.”
Flash kissed her one last time before heading out. He heard the bolts click into place and waited to hear the clink of the safety chain being slid on. Once he was satisfied that Kelli was as safe as she could be, he strode down the hall and did his best to turn his attention from his cock to the work that needed to be done later that day.
Kelli really,reallyhoped Bree showed up today. She hated keeping the woman’s visits from Flash, but she’d been back twice in the last week and a half, and each time, Bree seemed to relax a little more. And she looked healthier too. The regular showers and being able to wash her clothes went a long way toward giving her some confidence. And it didn’t hurt that Kelli plied her with as much food as she could while she was there, giving her fresh veggies and other healthy foods to take with her, as well.
She especially wanted Bree to show up today, since Flash had said Smiley would be there. If she happened to be there at the same time, maybe she’d work up the courage to talk to him. To finally ask for the help she needed. She’d seemed utterly despondent that first time she’d knocked on the door, and now that she wasn’t quite as desperate as far as her personal needs went, maybe she’d be able to dig deep and ask for assistance with whomever was after her.
Smiley would be so relieved to have found her, and Kelli knew that he’d agree to help in a heartbeat. According to Flash, that had been his goal all along. To make sure she was safe and wasn’t in the clutches of whoever she’d been sold to.
Looking at her watch, Kelli paced nervously. It was getting close to the time when Flash and Smiley should be here, and still no sign of Bree. She’d finally admitted that she’d been following the team; she knew where everyone lived and what they drove. If she saw Smiley’s older-model Ford Ranger in the parking lot, she most likely wouldn’t stop. That would mean Kelli would have to keep the secret of her visits from Flash even longer.
His words that morning nearly undid her. Her promisethat she could talk to him about anything. She almost confessed everything. But then she’d been distracted by Flash telling her that he loved her.
It seemed so unreal. That she, Kelli Colbert, nerd extraordinaire, nobody special, had managed to make Flash love her. And the thing was, she had no idea how she’d done it. Or how tokeephim loving her. It was why she hadn’t said the words first, even though she’d felt them down to her soul. Flash was…he was a miracle. And not only because he’d been her everything when they were kidnapped.
He was a good man. Considerate. Protective. And as a bonus, he was amazing in bed. Kelli became a person she didn’t know when she was with him. Like this morning, riding him like she was a cowgirl at a rodeo or something. But since he wasn’t complaining, and she’d never felt so satisfied, she couldn’t care if she was suddenly…overly exuberant in bed.
Stopping by the window to look out into the parking lot, Kelli didn’t see Bree or her Subaru Outback. She’d spied on the woman after her second visit and saw her getting into the dark green car. She usually arrived early in the afternoon, wanting to make sure she was gone before Flash came home. It was already later than she’d normally visit…but she had no way to know the men would be getting off work early today, so there was still a chance that she’d stop by, and she and Smiley could actually come face-to-face.
Around the time Kelli got the text from Flash saying that he was on his way home, she reluctantly decided Bree wouldn’t be visiting. She was bummed about that, since she truly thought the woman was ready to talk to Smiley,but she’d been running for so long, hiding, that Kelli knew it had to be scary for Bree to consider doing anything outside of her current routine.
Shedidmanage to convince the woman to take Smiley’s cell number after their last visit, and her own. She was worried enough about her, living in her car and on the run, that she’d wanted her to have an emergency way to contact someone. Just in case.
Kelli, at least, would be glad to see Smiley. After more than two weeks in the apartment, she was feeling cooped up. Stir-crazy. The day was beautiful. The sun was out and she longed to go outside, at least for a little bit. Get some fresh air. Surely under both FlashandSmiley’s watchful eyes, she could do just that.
She wasn’t resentful, not in the least. If she was on her own, still at her apartment, she’d be terrified. Wondering when Brant would return…and what he’d do to Kelli when he found her. Here in Smiley’s apartment, even when she was alone, she felt safe. Brant still didn’t seem to know where she or Flash were. And the Ryleigh person who was doing everything in her power to find him claimed she was close to figuring out where he’d been hiding.
Without his credit card or access to his bank account, he’d have to make a move soon. Which scared Kelli, but she was aware that meant she and Flash would hopefully be able to move on with their lives.
What would happen next for them was still to be determined. Would she go back to her apartment? She hoped they’d still date, figured they would…it wasn’t likely Flash would tell her that he loved her one day and decide they were over the next.
Kelli removed the chain on the door after Flash’s text,then waited impatiently in the kitchen for the men to arrive. When she heard the key in the lock, she walked around the counter.
Flash entered first, and Kelli beamed at him. He walked straight toward her and hugged her hard, taking her off her feet. It was how he always greeted her. As if it had been weeks since he’d seen her, rather than simply hours.
“You good?” he asked.
