Midnight Daffodil (Poisonous Petals #1)

Chapter 29Luke

twenty-nine

LUKE

O livia's skin told a painful story with its colorful bruises, leaving me wondering how her body could’ve withstood such a horrible beating. Thinking about how much she endured alone shattered my heart.

“I should’ve killed him that night. And when I failed that night, I should’ve unloaded my clip into his fucking body.” Emotion thickened in my voice.

She smiled and touched my cheek. “I don't know if I could settle for just conjugal visits.”

I placed my hand over hers and kissed each one of her fingers.

“You’re the sweetest thing I have ever tasted,” I said, admiring the feel of her skin against my lips. “I’ll make sure he never hurts you again.”

“I know,” her voice was nothing but a whisper. “I’m glad I left Matt. I saw that look on your face when I left with him that night at the station.”

Nothing could ever top how bad it hurt when she’d left me the morning after I got a taste of her. I silently vowed that I’d die before I ever let anyone hurt her again.

“You’re here now, though; that’s all that matters to me, angel.”

“I can’t believe I stayed with such a piece of shit for so long.” She laughed at the admission. “I was so stupid.”

“You weren’t stupid. Those relationships can be a death sentence for women who manage to escape and get caught. Some may not understand,” I told her, stroking her cheek. “But I do.”

“I wish I’d left sooner,” she admitted, flinching as she shifted.

“Was I being too rough with you?” I cupped her face, pinning her beneath me, studying her body. “Did I make any of the bruising worse?”

Turning my face to hers, she held back little giggles, stopping me from checking her for more bruising.

“I hurt so good after being with you, Luke.” She sighed. She kissed me, tangling her tongue with mine, pulling my body on top of hers.

“I don’t plan on going back to Matt.” She grinned as she spoke.

Having her smaller body under mine made me weary. What if something was broken? Or she was bruised internally? All thoughts ceased when I felt her legs wrap around my waist. My cock hardened against her heat.

It had only been one official date, after one night, after one year of meeting her, and it was getting damn near impossible not to give her whatever she wanted.

“I don’t want to hear you repeat his name, angel.” I kissed her back. I hardened to steel, ready to penetrate her. “Sweet girls get rewarded.”

I lifted her leg and stretched it to lay on my shoulder while wrapping the other around me. I slid into her silky cunt. Her guttural moan intensified as I slid past her threshold and fully submerged my cock inside of her. Her muscles twitched around me as I fucked her passionately.

The sucking sound of my dick pulling out of her and driving back inside heightened the tingle in the base of my spine. This angle gave me a perfect view of her full tits. Flicking my tongue across her nipple, the twitch in her pussy became a throb that strangled my dick. She clawed my back as her body convulsed.

God, I loved when she came. I’d never seen a woman soak the sheets the way she did, and it was all I could do to lap up every single drop.

Her cunt fluttered and pulsated around me as I hit the deepest part of her. She cried out my name as tears ran down her cheeks. I reached between our bodies and flicked her clit pumping in and out of her.

She was still coming.

The slurping sound of me thrusting into her one last time was drowned out by my own primal roar while my dick shot cum into her. I felt the hot spurts filling her.

“The sound our bodies make gets me hard as cement,” I said, licking over the pulse point on her neck.

“Luke,” she said, swatting at me; her face and chest turned red. “I can’t believe I let you kiss me with that mouth.” Her playful tone cascaded over me.

I chuckled, loving the way she was coming out of her shell.

“We fit perfectly together. You take my cock beautifully. One of these days, I’m going to watch it throb in your mouth while you’re swallowing every last drop.” I cuddled her closer. “I can’t get enough of you.”

She pressed kisses to my cheeks and neck before whispering softly. “You make me feel loved with every touch in a way no one else can.”

Love.

It found its way into my life through Olivia.

I didn’t want to say too much and scare her off, but I was falling in love with her, and it was exhilarating.

We were both spent. Olivia liked to sleep with the TV on, so I picked the sitcom she chose last time and pulled the comforter from the floor. I went to the primary bathroom for a warm washcloth to wipe down her inner thighs. When I returned, I saw her breathing evenly. Her beautiful lashes rested peacefully on her round cheeks. Her tiny breaths came out in puffs. I loved the sound.

A chill ran down my spine at that word again. It was too early for that, wasn’t it? I crawled back into bed with her, and she immediately cuddled into my arms. I kissed the top of her head while the room’s silence enveloped us. She slept in my arms peacefully, trusting I’d do whatever it took to keep her safe.

I got more sleep than I had in weeks, lying next to her. The birds chirping and the sound of Rev scratching at the door woke me up earlier than I would’ve liked. I opened the door, and his big smiling face greeted me.

I let him outside and decided to make coffee. I knew Olivia loved caramel coffee, so I went to several stores before finding the right brand for my Keurig. I made a mug for each of us and rummaged through the fridge.

I wasn’t a neanderthal; I could cook and care for myself just fine. I was good, too; she wouldn’t have to lift a finger with me. I’d happily worship her soul all day and her pussy all night. My stiff morning wood jumped at that thought.

I pulled out eggs, bacon, cheese, and other omelet ingredients. She mentioned she wasn’t a fan of onions and peppers at the restaurant, so I left those out and made it extra cheesy. I memorized every detail I could about her. Rev pawed and barked at the door, ready to come in. I opened it, and he ran straight for the bedroom.

As I carefully arranged the last touches, the soft rustle of movement caught my attention. I looked over and saw her form in the kitchen doorway. She wore my shirt from last night, which trailed down to her midthigh. She rubbed her eyes and yawned, looking gorgeous.

Perfect.

“Something smells good. Are you cooking?” She asked me as her vision focused. Sunlight cast a serene glow over her. Admiring her, she looked heaven sent.

“Yeah,” I said, still staring at her. I jumped, remembering that I had been in the middle of a task that was currently burning. “Shit!” Managing to save the charring omelet, I decided that one would be for me.

I urged her to sit at the table and handed her the mug I made. I laid out three different creamers and two different types of sugar for her to dress her coffee.

“I didn’t know what you would like,” I said, rubbing my sweating hands on a dishtowel. “So I got a little of everything.”

“Luke Ryder, were you expecting to get me to stay the night?” She teased me as she selected the vanilla creamer and the Splenda sweetener. I locked that away permanently in my memories.

“No, I just figured I’d eliminate all reasons you could have for running off again.” I poked back. She didn’t even balk; she laughed while taking a sip of her coffee.

“Fine, I deserved that, but it’s the last time you get to make fun of me for that, old man.” Her eyes glimmered with happiness.

“I have to work tonight, but I’m not taking you back to that hotel,” I told her as she finished her omelet and reached for the toast and jam I set out. She started into that eagerly.

“I don’t wanna go back there. I was gonna call Vera and see if I could stay with her,” she said between mouthfuls of jam and toast.

“I’ll take you there; what’s her schedule like?”

I knew Vera was a realtor, a successful one at that. Vera could probably give Matt a run for his money. Literally.

Olivia shrugged. “Since she works her own schedule, kinda just whatever client needs her and when. I’ll have to call her and figure out when I can go there. I don’t have a key.”

I nodded, just enjoying the sound of her voice. We finished breakfast, I cleaned up, fed Rev, and we all settled into the family room to watch one of Olivia’s favorite movies. She loved the movie so much that she fell asleep in my arms within the first thirty minutes.

Rev snored on the couch next to us, making it feel like a real family. While those two slept, I eventually got invested in the story of the trio of friends who all slept with the same cheating husband, finding friendship in each other despite the situation. The ending was sweet when they each found their own happy endings.

When she woke up, we made love. Slow and sweet, I dipped inside of her in a steady tempo on the couch. Each thrust brought more emotional attachment to her. Feeling her body hold onto mine in such an intimate way sent shocks across my skin, searing me with every touch. Kissing every part of her I could reach, I let my hands bring her two orgasms before finishing myself. We lay tangled in each other’s arms for hours.

Until her phone rang.

She answered, and I excused myself to let Rev out again. He dizzily trotted to the door after his nap. I came back in with Rev when she was off the phone.

“She said I can come over. I have to get there before four, though; she has a showing,” Olivia told me. I glanced at the clock; it was already past two. We had just enough time to shower.

“As badly as I don’t wanna see you go, angel, I guess I can’t hold you hostage.” I joked, ushering her upstairs.

“I might enjoy being held hostage by you.” She winked at me as she stripped the blanket off. “You never know, Sergeant .”

I turned the water up warm enough not to singe our skin but cool enough that she’d want me close to her. We stepped under the rainfall stream and used my body wash to clean away the remnants of last night and this morning. I shampooed her hair and washed her back, enjoying every sweet sigh and curve she offered me. I pressed her against the glass and hooked her leg in the crook of my elbow. I sank into her wet heat. Her head leaned back against my chest, and I pounded into her under the stream of water.

“Luke,” she moaned, flicking her own clit. “I won’t be able to walk straight if we keep at this.” Her pussy throbbed around me while she spoke.

“Maybe that’s the goal.” My breath hitched as I cupped her ass cheeks. I let her leg slide down to the floor, the position tightening her cunt around me. She reached out in front of her, grasping at the slippery walls, arching her body at the perfect angle to watch my cock get lost in her pussy. I buried myself in her until I was spent.

“Shit, that was…” she stumbled, not able to find the words.

“I know, baby. I know,” I told her. The water was running cold, we were running out of time, and I didn’t want her to be late. “Let’s get out and get you dry, angel.”

Thirty minutes later, she sat in my truck with her stuff. My mind already imagining the day when she could just stay. Her angelic voice humming to the country radio station filled the car as we made our way to Vera’s.

We pulled into the parking garage of Vera’s highrise. It looked nice but not at all secure. Anyone could just park in the enclosure and walk right in.

We made our way down the hallway. Multiple units lined the hall. This wasn’t as secluded as Olivia’s last place, but when we stopped in front of door 1657, I noticed there was no security camera, no Ring doorbell, nothing. Olivia grasped the door and opened it.

So it wasn’t even locked?

Loud pop music immediately greeted us, in addition to three cats that ran at the sight of me.

“Vera!” She called out as we entered.

“Are you sure it’s safe here?” I looked around at the floor to ceiling windows that overlooked the city.

I glanced at the door with one deadbolt lock and a chain lock that was more for the illusion of safety. I busted down thousands of those in a week’s time doing what I did.

Nothing kept her safe in this building.

“Oh, come on. Your cop is showing, Ryder,” came Vera’s extra loud voice.

She wore a pencil skirt, tights, and a white blouse. “You guys made it just in time.” She grabbed her purse and headed for the door. “I was gonna leave it unlocked for you.”

So safe.

I didn’t like the thought of Olivia being here with no protection. Just because she left Matt didn’t mean she was in the clear. Abusers didn’t forget about their victims. Not after five fucking years. My blood thickened with worry.

I couldn’t be with her all the time. I couldn’t keep her safe 24/7.

I was already failing her.

“Olivia,” I said, looking down at her precious face. She looked up at me, doe eyed and innocent. “Please, lock the door when you’re alone, and don’t answer for anyone.”

She smiled at me and kissed me gently on the lips. “Okay, Luke.”

“Gag.” Vera wretched as if she were going to vomit. “She’ll be fine, Luke ,” she mocked Olivia’s voice. “I live in one of the safest areas. Plus, she has three ferocious beings here with her.”

As if on cue, a little orange cat peaked his head around the corner, saw me, made eye contact, and scurried away.

“Yeah, they’re real terrifying.”

“Oh, lighten up! We’ll be fine,” she said as she gripped the knob. “See ya later, lovebirds.”

I turned back to Olivia. “Please, lock the door,” I pleaded with her.

“I will. I promise,” she said, standing on her tiptoes kissing me. I pulled her body to mine. I could feel the gentle thud of her heart beating against my ribcage as I held her. I tilted her face up and kissed her lips.

“Call me if you need anything.” I cupped her face in both of my hands and allowed my lips to explore her all over. “I’ll answer.”

She nodded.

I had to peel myself away from her. I needed to nap, then take Rev to get his usual pampering at the vet, and then I had to leave for work. I waited until I heard the click of the lock and chain latching into place. I made my way back to the garage and unlocked my truck.

The screeching of tires sent a shiver down my spine. I looked to the sound and thought I saw the ghost of a white sedan speeding past the garage.

The car looked too familiar for my liking.

Olivia shouldn’t be here.

I got in my truck and waited around to see if I would run into that car again. After nothing happened, I circled the block a few times.

Nothing.

Was I being paranoid?

I had that feeling in my gut that always crept up right before shit hit the fan. The further I got from her, the more I felt like I left my heart behind.