Stroke Of Fear

Chapter Seventeen

Tanner

“That’s it, darlin’. Come to me.”

The sunlight is setting behind the trees, leaving a bright beam cascading across the water. Aubrey’s wading in the shallow end. Her arms hover over the surface on each side. The excitement on her face is contagious. “I’m in the water,” she whispers to herself.

I take a step toward her. The water laps at her sides, covering her bellybutton. She’s made so much progress these last few weeks. We’ve actually had a great few weeks. We haven’t seen or heard anything from the creeper guy. Either he left or he’s staying low. I’m guessing the latter.

Aubrey’s laugh brings me back. Lips curling slightly, she smiles to herself like she’s amused about something. “I’m in the water,” she breaths out. “I’m in the fucking water!”

A flock of birds flutter from the tree hovering over the small lake. I laugh and signal for her to walk toward me. Carefully, she treads forward. She looks at the water like it may jump up and consume her, like it did before. Her fingers reach me first, twisting into the nape of my neck. “Darlin’, you’re in the fucking water.”

She laughs loudly. It’s singsong like. I could definitely get used to it.

“Thank you, Tanner. I could have never done this without you. You’re the best thing that’s happened to me in a really long time.”

“Ditto, darlin’. But, you could have done this all along. You’re stronger than you look. You can’t blame yourself for being scared. Someone tried to kill you. Someone you thought loved you.”

She bites her lip and stares down at the water around her. “His mother called me the other day.”

“Really?” I lift a brow. “What did she say?”

She shrugs and hangs on my shoulders tighter. “She told me she knew it wasn’t my fault. That she was mad at me for so long, but now she understands.”

That’s good, right? Why is she frowning? Lifting her chin, I gaze into her hazel eyes. “Then why do you look so sad, Aubrey?”

The sides of her lips turn down. “Is it really not my fault? I saw him starting to get clingy, and I didn’t talk to him. I didn’t try to get him help. My parents broke any contact I had from him. I—I feel like I couldn’t have done something, Tanner. Why didn’t I?”

“Aubrey,” I say carefully. “It’s not your job to take care of him. He could have gotten himself help. You were scared. You had every reason to be scared. This. Is. Not. Your. Fault. His mother is right. It’s his fault.”

She nods. “Okay.”

“Are we finished for today? Or do you want to swim more?”

She swallows and the smile is back. “I think I’m good for today. You ready to go home?”

I’ve been waiting on this day for weeks. Her eyes search mine, and I know she can see it. “Not yet,” I whisper.

A slow smile crawls up her jaw. Before she can say anything, I reach underneath her and bring her up into my arms. She’s quiet as I carry her toward my truck. The back is already set up. I am not going to let this opportunity pass me by again. I need her.

Her voice is so gentle against me. “Here. Please.”

I nod and set her down in front of the tailgate. “Here, darlin’. Right here. No more waiting. There is a towel right there. Dry off and get in the truck. I’m gonna take care of you.”

Smiling, she slowly dries herself off before she jumps into the back of the truck and slides underneath the mounds of blankets. My heart jack hammers in my chest. I dry myself off and crawl after her, sliding beside her, not touching. Not yet.

Aubrey

This is it. He’s finally going to take me. Take care of me. I’m holding back my nerves, looking over at him. His eyes scan my face, down my neck to the curve of my breast.

He drags his thumb along my jaw like he wants to memorize every single inch of me. Nerves shoot down my body. He continues caressing my face, sending explosive heat through me. “When I pulled you out of the water, I knew I wanted you. I knew I’d have you, too. I wouldn’t stop until you were mine.”

His words send tingles down to my toes. When he bends his head closer, he asks me permission with one gaze. “Yes,” I whisper. “I want it.” His woodsy scent mixes with his soap and it clings to my nose. My entire body aches for his touch. He presses his mouth to mine, slowly, but pulls away.

“I didn’t know how long I would hurt from losing Amanda. Then I saw you helplessly hanging on for life. I knew you were meant for me. The desperation in your eyes broke my heart; I saw that same desperation in the mirror every day.”

Need flows through my veins. My nerves, my bones beg for him. Sliding his thumb up my jaw, he traces the edge of my ear. Then he strokes my lips one lip at a time. I whimper, an ache throbbing through me. He grips my face between his large, calloused hands and tilts my face before fitting his lips against mine. I moan and grip his shirt underneath the blankets. His tongue dips hard against mine and sensation sparks every nerve ending in my body. Despite the chilly afternoon his skin is hot and wet against me. His groans melt with my moans. The sounds set me on fire, everywhere.

Pressing into him harder, he hungrily takes my bottom lip between his teeth, biting and pulling. One of his legs wedges itself between my throbbing thighs. He slows down, and I almost cry out in pain. Don’t stop. He nips at my bottom lip again, his hands running along my shoulders to grip the nape of my neck. He pulls me closer, giving himself better access to my mouth. Desperately, I rake my nails down his sides and grind myself down onto his thigh. Everything changes. I moan into his mouth, feeling the tension tighten in his shoulders.

Pulling away, he rolls over until he is hovering over me. Locking my eyes with his, I trail my shaky hands underneath his shirt and help him pull it over his head. The smooth satin of his chest devours me, brushing against the fabric of my shirt. I’m exploding inside, begging him to hurry. But I want to go slow, too. I need him in every way possible. Tanner’s shoulders jerk with his hard breath, his fingers grab my swim suit and yanks at it until my breasts spill out. He’s seen me naked before, but it feels like he’s looking at me for the first time. Reaching down he cups my breast, his rough finger lightly rubbing over the peak. He bends his head to lap at my nipple, first one, and then the other. He nips them, pulling slightly until a cry rips from my throat.

Squeezing one breast, he slips his finger beneath the fabric of my bottoms. He rubs against me with his palm, his long rough fingers circling my most sensitive place. Tremors of excitement ripple through me.

Tearing his mouth free, he sets his forehead against me, never looking away. “Are you mine, Aubrey?” he whispers, his southern drawl even more evident with his voice rough and low.

My arms feel like jelly, but I wrap them around his neck and squeeze. “I’m yours,” I breathe out. I’m kissing all over his face, my body encouraging me to kiss, suck and bite. I’m almost out of control on him.

This sends him frantic. He reaches down and tugs on my bottoms until I’m completely naked underneath him. Before I can come down from my excitement he’s tugging off his shorts, and I feel the hard muscles of his legs hovering over mine. There isn’t a better feeling in the word than having a man on top of you—his hardness against your soft. It’s intoxicating. Spreading my knees with his thighs, he settles between my waiting legs. I hear him reach over and dig around in his shorts. Then I hear the tearing of a condom wrapper. He grabs my elbows, sliding his tight grip to my wrists, where he pulls my arms above my head. Trapped.

“Aubrey,” he mumbles against my ear. “You’re so fuckin’ beautiful. You sure you’re ready? This is your last chance. If I go any further I’m not going to be able to stop.”

I’m gasping against him, and he’s not even doing anything but staring down at me. His strong jaw is tense, his gray eyes wide with need. “I’m ready. Please, I don’t want you to stop. I won’t ask either. I promise.”

Dragging one hand away from my wrist, he touches me again…there. Jesus, I’m going to explode before we even start. “You sure you want me inside you, darlin’?”

“Yes,” I whimper helplessly. Just fucking do it!

His one hand stops stroking me and moves to my hip, so he can balance himself between my legs. I feel his erection against me and my body rocks with need. He doesn’t enter at first, but allows me to see what he’s got. And I’m nervous. Our gazes are desperate. His lips parted, a soft growl leaves them as he rubs against me. We’re panting against each other, the need overtaking us. Raising my hips, he closes his eyes and rests his forehead against mine. When he opens them, his gray eyes are stormy. “I can’t take my eyes off you, darlin’.” He’s still holding me prisoner with one hand and teasing me with the other. I send a silent plea his way, and I know he sees it. A small smile forms on the right side of his mouth and his dimple dents his skin. How can one person be this beautiful? I want to touch the scruff of hair on his jaw, but my hands are tied. But, I don’t feel forced. I don’t feel tortured. I feel alive.

Gray eyes watch me closely for a few short minutes. I hear him repositions himself to roll the condom down his length, it excites me. Then he’s in me. He fills me slowly but deliberately. He’s wide, hard and all the man one person can stand. My shoulders shudder and my sex muscles grip him. A painfully amazing whimper releases from my throat. I’ve never made that sound before.

“Goddamn, Aubrey…” He screws his eyes shut. He releases my hands, and I fling them at his neck, pulling him closer. I need to feel his warmth against me. He begins to pulse fiercely in and out; his breath hard, his chest moving in powerful jabs. I’m delirious. Black swarms my vision in the best possible way. My body aches when he slides his tongue against my neck, coming up to take my ear between his teeth.

A shudder is fevered in me and with each thrust of his hip, I unravel. “Tanner,” I whisper against his ear. My thighs wrap harder around his waist, and I lift my pelvis to give him better access. It sends flames through me and my eyes roll back in my head.

I’m on the verge of undoing. The verge of letting myself go completely with him. “Move. Harder,” I gasp out. My voice doesn’t sound like my own. He growls and starts kissing me like he’ll never see me again.

His hands grip each hip as he moves faster, harder. I feel every fucking lovely inch of him, and I’m shuddering now. My body is literally shaking beneath him. Lifting my hips with his hands, he slams harder into me. The warmth of every pulse consumes me, bringing me to an ultimate high. I’ve never had sex like this. I’ve never felt this…connection. This need. I never want to go without it again. Tremors crash over me. My body comes down, clutching him in every way. I let out a glorious scream, my entire being losing control around him. With his mouth partly opened, he watches me closely. His teeth dig into his bottom lip. “Goddamn, you’re so sexy, Aubrey.” His eyes are still on me, his body jerking as he pumps into me a few more times. He growls out and shudders against me. An almost silent fuck is whispered into my ear.

He lifts off of me, disposing of the condom. Grabbing my indolent body he positions me right above him. His legs are spread wide, my body lying between them. His fingers span over the lower part of my back, his lips trailing kisses along my jaw, my neck, the side of my mouth. “What are you thinkin’?” he asks, breaking the silence.

“For the first time in my life, nothing. I’m relaxed. I’ve never felt better than I do right this second.”

Tanner trails his finger down my body to cup me. He closes his eyes and smiles to himself. “You felt so good, Aubrey. I never wanted it to end.”

“It doesn’t have to. I’m here. And sure as hell not going anywhere.”

Tanner pulls me down so he can kiss my mouth. “No, because you’re mine now. Always.”

My body hurts. I’m so sore. The bright sun is shining down on us, but it’s not too high in the sky yet. It’s still early. The warmth settles on my naked skin. God, I’m naked. Even the word sets the images of last night in my head. A tickle of delight spread through me like poison. I remember his hands, his mouth. Every inch of him torments me. I never want it to stop. My gaze lands on his body beside me. He’s lying on his stomach, hands outstretched beside him. The blankets cover his ass and that’s it. The muscles in his back are tight. I run a finger along them all the way down to his butt. I almost giggle like a school girl, but I hold my tongue.

Shifting, I remember the soreness. It travels up my thighs and settles between my legs, reminding me of everything we did last night. Sliding the covers off me, I grab Tanner’s shirt he wore before our swim yesterday. It smells like him and it envelopes me. I snuggle into it for a few seconds, before scooting out of the back of the truck. The dew drenches my bare feet and the weeds stick to my heels.

The cab door to his truck is opened, so I grab my cell out of the cup holder. 7:00 a.m. We need to leave soon. We both have activities set for the day. Digging for my jeans, I slide into them and button myself up. It isn’t until I shut the door that I notice something whipping in the wind underneath his windshield wipers.

Tip-toeing over, I grab what appears to be the back of a newspaper. There’s something on it in small writing with a permanent marker.

I see you.

I drop the paper and cover my mouth with my hands. Is this a sick joke? Who would do this? Cassie knows I’m here, but no one else. Eric, maybe? No. Cassie would never do this or let Eric.

Grabbing the note from the ground, I crawl back into the bed of the truck. “Tanner,” I whisper.

He moans, stretches and sits up rubbing his eyes. If this were any other moment, I’d be turned on. He has sex hair, mashed against his head. Not to mention the sloppy we-had-sex-last-night grin. “Good mornin’.”

“Read this,” I say before shoving the note at him.

He looks down and then looks back up. “Where did you find it?”

“On the hood of your truck. Who do you think did it?”

Tanner’s serious now. He sits all the way up and looks over it again. “I’m not sure. It could be a fuckin’ sick joke. But, I’m thinking it’s the person stalking around the camp. No one knows besides us and Cassie. Cassie wouldn’t do this, Aubrey.”

“I know,” I whisper out. “That means he’s watching us.”

Tanner nods, wraps his fingers over the back of my neck, and kisses my forehead. “That’s exactly what it means. And it’s gonna stop now.”

“What are you going to do?”

Tanner stands up and pulls on his swimming shorts from yesterday. He doesn’t bother looking for a shirt, before he helps me out of the back of his truck. “Tanner what are you going to do?” I ask, getting into the passenger seat.

He puts the truck in reverse and spins his tires. I haven’t seen him this pissed before. His locks his jaw and starts toward the camp. “Tanner,” I snap. “What are we going to do?”

He swallows, his jaw clenching. “I’m going to kill him.”