Sterling Shore: Tagged And Ashed Part 31

As.h.i.+ara I've never been so in love, and I've never been so in l.u.s.t. When he's inside me, it's the best feeling in the world, and I can't let go.

"Tag," I squeak as he thrusts in so hard it forces me to bow, filling me with ecstasy.

"Say it again," he urges as he slams into me a just as exquisitely hard.

His name comes out in a scream, and the growl in his throat rewards me.

His teeth bear together as he jerks me against his thrusts while he stays on his knees and grips me at my thighs. I buck against him, wanting more, needing him to be even closer, and he rips me over to pull me on top as he flops to his back.

My b.r.e.a.s.t.s rub against him as my mouth closes over his, and we devour each other while he f.u.c.ks me from underneath. I moan louder as my body tenses up, and his rhythm hastens in response.

I pull back, trying to catch my breath as he pushes me to the brink. With a shrill squeal, I fall over the edge, my release epic, and he shudders as he follows.

"Christ," he murmurs as he jerks me to his body. "That was incredible."

My whole body continues to tremble, and I nod vigorously while panting.

"Yes it was."

He laughs a little while squeezing me tighter, staying inside me.

A knock at the door forces us to scramble and pull the sheets up as Tag chuckles, "Yeah. Come in."

Wren's face is solemn as he pokes his head through the door.

"Sorry, but the detective is back. He says he comes in peace, and he needs to talk to you."

Apparently Tag's lawyer has already started making waves, and now the detective wants to apologize for his little accusation. Like I'd ever murder any-d.a.m.n-one.

"We'll be out in a second. Tell him if he tries to interrogate us, I'll press hara.s.sment charges."

"Will do," Wren says before stepping out, and I climb free from the bed to walk over to the closet.

"What now?" I mumble as I pull on a pair of pajama shorts and a tank top.

"I don't know, but we aren't done celebrating tonight," he murmurs in my ear while pressing his bare body against my back.

"Definitely not," I utter while turning to face him.

He stares at my bare b.r.e.a.s.t.s for a second, and then he shakes his head.

"Please don't ever leave me," he murmurs so softly. "I wouldn't make it without you."

A smile spreads quickly over my lips, and I wrap my arms around his neck.

"I've never been engaged before, but not because no one asked. I just never wanted to promise someone I'd love them for the rest of my life. I love you, and I want to make that promise. I'm never going anywhere, Tag."

He smiles his boyish grin, and then he pulls me to his body before kissing my forehead. "Let's go see what the detective wants, and then get the h.e.l.l back in here."

I laugh lightly, and nod before pulling on a s.h.i.+rt, as he goes to find his own clothes.

Tag If this son of a b.i.t.c.h is back to attack Ash some more, I might end up in jail for a.s.saulting a cop. I'm sick of the drama. I'm just ready to start our lives together.

We walk out, hand-in-hand, and my eyes meet the detective's. He stands from the chair, his eyes moving from mine as his lips tighten.

"Why are you here this time?" I almost growl.

"I'm sorry to return so late, especially after our last encounter, but I thought you should know, we found Rene Ballinger tonight."

I exhale in relief, and Ash's arms wrap around me as she trembles slightly. I pull her to me, feeling her anxiety, and my lips stroke the top of her head.

"Did she confess?" I ask.

"Not exactly. Rene is dead."

A ghastly silence spreads over everyone in the room, and Ash looks over to see the tears spreading in Bity's eyes. He's loved her forever, and though he should hate her, I'm sure this is still hard for him.

"If you're here to accuse us again, then you'd better get the h.e.l.l out. We haven't left since you were here earlier."

He shakes his head while pulling out several evidence bags.

"I'm not here to accuse you of anything, but Rene didn't die tonight. She's been dead for a few days. It looks like she ran off the road while driving home. She crashed through the guardrail, and she ended up at the bottom of the cliffs. We had to use dental records to confirm her ident.i.ty. I'm coming to tell you-I think you're right about her being your stalker. We found these."

He hands me the evidence bags, and I gasp when I see several pictures of Rene. Her hair has been dyed and cut to exactly match Ash's. Then I get sick when I see pictures of Ash and me.

Ash's face has been removed and replaced by Rene's. It's freaky and twisted, but it doesn't make sense.

"It looks as though she was severely jealous of the relations.h.i.+p you had with Ms. Branderwood."

"You think?" I growl as tears whelp up in Ash's eyes.

"This doesn't make sense," Bity says while shaking his head. "The threats started before Ash and Tag even knew each other. If she was jealous of them being together, why start then?"

I was thinking the same thing, but I hadn't wanted to voice it in front of Ash.

"I think she was just extremely obsessed with Ms. Branderwood due to the attention she receives from men. During my many interviews with several of the people in your lives, it's rather obvious Ms. Branderwood has been very desired for many years by many men. Once she obtained your interest, it pushed her over the edge and she went from verbal threats to physical ones."

That's not something I care to hear. Any of it. Especially the part where Ash is so desired. As if I don't have enough problems. I'm not even the jealous type, and now I'm incredibly jealous.

My arms wrap around her waist, and she nestles into me, not giving a d.a.m.n about the apparently long line of men fantasizing about her.

"It makes sense why she went after Bity at the wedding now," Wren adds. "He's the only one who ever devoted her any real attention, and then he showed up with Ash on his arm. She was just trying to keep her one admirer."

Bity shudders, and then he looks toward Wren.

"Please, don't ever mention any feelings I had toward her ever again. I'm about to be sick as it is. I f.u.c.king chased a psychopath. I'm lucky she wasn't interested."

"d.a.m.n straight you're lucky," Shannon s.h.i.+vers out. "She would have probably tried killing you, too."

Ash whimpers lightly, but she clears her throat, trying her best to be strong.

"Is there anything else?" I ask, ready to dismiss the detective and hold my girl.

"Yes, actually. The lab confirmed that Dyllan Mathews was killed by the same gun that shot Ms. Branderwood."

"Rene killed him?" Ash gasps. "Why?"

"I don't know. From our observation, it seems he was desperate to get a hold of you in the weeks before his death. It's possible he spotted her following you. We found pictures of you in his storage facility. For some reason, he had it under a false name. When we found his keys, we tracked down where each one belonged. He was following you, too, but we never found any pictures of Rene."

"Can I see these pictures?" I ask.

"I'm sorry, I thought it would be too much for Ms. Branderwood so I didn't bother to bring them. You're welcome to come down to the station tomorrow, if you like."

I nod, not certain if it's worth my time now that this is over.

Russell walks in, ready to secure the perimeter as the detective starts walking toward the door.

"You should be able to relax for a while. We're still comparing the DNA results, but I'm sure Rene is your girl. I'll let you know when it's confirmed."

I nod, and then I scoop Ash's trembling body into my arms.

"Tag, can you just hold me?" she whispers, her voice needy, making me feel like the most important man in the world.

"All night, baby," I murmur. "As long as you want me to."

We head into the room, and she curls against me the moment we're in bed. Our celebration has ended, but so has our h.e.l.l.

Chapter Seventeen.

Misled As.h.i.+ara It feels like I'm moving, and I'm worried my abundant tears have forced me to feel seasick. I open my eyes and gasp loudly when I see and feel my hands bound.

"What the h.e.l.l?" I screech as I jump up in the back seat of a car.

"Just sit still, Ms. Branderwood, or your son dies," a familiar, deep voice releases.

"Russell?" I gasp. "What the f.u.c.k?"

Panic sets in. Why does he have me? My son? Where's Trip?

"We're going to meet someone, Ms. Branderwood. She has your child, and if you're wise, you'll let her do as she wants-if you want him to live."

My heart races as a sick, sinking feeling attacks my stomach. I feel dizzy, nauseated, and so f.u.c.king terrified for my son.

We pull up to a stoplight, and a group of guys in a car look in at me. I want to scream, hold up my restrained hands, beg someone for help, but I know I can't, not without risking the life of my son.

We drive off, leaving my one chance of rescue behind.

"Why are you doing this?" I whimper. "You're supposed to be protecting me - protecting Trip. He's just a baby."

His cold stature doesn't waver as he looks ahead.

"If you do as you're told, your son will live."

"But not me?" I ask, a knowing tone in my voice.

He doesn't say anything, but he answers me with his silence. This will be the last night I live.

The car slows to a stop on the quiet, private beach, and he hops out to drag me from the car. I don't fight him, scream, or make a move as we head down to the deserted section of the beach.

Only one house stands alone for several miles from what I can see. I've never even been here, and I have no idea where we are. I shouldn't have drank so much, and then I wouldn't have slept through my kidnapping.

"Is Tag alive?" I worry as the sudden realization he would have never let someone take me hits me.

"He's still asleep," Russell's gruffly answers. "I happen to be d.a.m.n good with stealth."

He sounds proud of himself-too proud. I regret telling Tag to let the security slack with Rene supposedly dead. It's obvious now she's not, and the f.u.c.king detective was in on it all along.

He grips me by the hair when his rushed pace forces me to stumble, and I let out a painful yelp when he jerks me too hard. He shows no mercy, no remorse, as he continues to painfully drag me down to the water.

The silhouette of a woman comes into view just as he throws me down, making my knees burn and grind against the harsh grit of the unforgiving sand.

I stare at her - her dress whipping in the wind as she carries a bundle in her arms.

Trip.

He's too quiet, too wrapped. I get sick, worried, and dizzy as she nears. He doesn't like strangers, but he's not crying.

Then her face comes into view, and I turn pale as I stare up at her once she's just a few feet away from me.

"It's you," I gasp in horror just before my breath intake grows panicked and shallow, forcing me to black out.

Tag My arm stretches out to pull Ash to me, but her side of the bed is empty. I rise up, wiping my sleepy eyes, to see the pitch black night still in play.

"Ash?" I murmur a little loud, but she doesn't answer.

I climb out of bed and check the bathroom to find it as dark and empty as her place on the bed.