Hard Times by C. Hallman
18
The best word to describe the hotel is decent. One of those middle-of-the-road type places that isn’t seedy, but it isn’t exactly luxurious, either. It makes sense that they would choose a place like this, where most people checking in and out are more interested in minding their own business than they are in the business of the other customers.
Still, I’m having a hard time imagining my luck being this good. I mean, it’s not like I haven’t worked my ass off the past six months. But I never imagined finding them would be this simple. That Hunter would use Delilah’s name to throw law enforcement off track, since they have no knowledge she exists.
He might end up regretting telling me about her—then again, probably not, since it’s not like I have any plans to hurt him. I don’t want to hurt Ryker, either, though he left me chained up and all alone.
He knew law enforcement would be there any minute. He knew they would find me. And honestly, it would’ve been so easy to shoot me before running. Tying up loose ends.
No, that wasn’t enough for him. He had to take the only thing he knew meant anything to me, because in his twisted mind, this is nothing more than a game.
Soon, the game will be over and I’ll be able to move on. I’ll use what’s left of my money and make a new life someplace else. I’ve proven in the past half year I can live frugally. I don’t need much. Maybe I can get a job in a restaurant or a bar and use the stolen money to go to school. Even an Associate degree from a community college would be better than nothing. It would be a start in the right direction.
I might finally be able to live a life. I don’t have to worry about Eric anymore—I’m sure Ryker will take care of him if he hasn’t already. I can leave that up to him and Hunter and stop living for vengeance.
It’s only when I think that, sitting behind the wheel of my car across from the hotel, that I realize how tired I am. Weary down to my bones. I should be enjoying my life, shouldn’t I? A typical twenty-one-year-old finally able to go to bars and clubs, hooking up with guys, living through a hell of a hangover in the morning but laughing about it later.
Here I am, living under an assumed identity, always looking over my shoulder, fantasizing at least once a day about making Eric pay. I’m so tired.
After six hours of sitting in the car, I’m also sleepy. It’s difficult getting any sleep in my building since the overnight hours are when people stagger home in all sorts of bad shape. That’s when they decide to start fights, to break things, to yell at nobody as they stagger down the hall. At least three or four times a week, there’s the added joy of somebody—some man—accidentally trying to get into my room.
In six hours, there hasn’t been a sign of either Ryker or Hunter. They would have to go out at some point to get something to eat, wouldn’t they? Unless they’ve taken up the habit of carrying snacks wherever they go, the way I have. Already I’ve been through a protein bar and a large bag of mixed nuts from a gas station I stopped at on the way here. They’ll need to come out eventually to get food, right?
I might be completely off base, and this was yet another waste of a lead. The name might be a coincidence—I mean, there must be over one Delilah Lewis in the world. I’m sure it’s not as common a name as, like, Mary Smith, but it’s not completely unusual, either.
A yawn so big, I’m afraid it might split my head open, interrupts my thoughts. I’m so exhausted my eyes itch and my vision is blurring. I’m not ready to cross this lead off my list just yet, but it’s obvious if the guys are in the hotel, they’re not coming out anytime soon. Probably lying low for now, watching, waiting for a safe time to poke their heads out.
I should just go back and sleep for a while. Besides, I wouldn’t be any use if they came out right this very minute. I’m too tired, and I doubt my reflexes would be sharp. They could easily overpower me, and I’d be right back where I was months ago.
Then again… law enforcement training and experience have me remembering car accidents caused by sleepy driving. And it’s not like I haven’t already been through a crash of my own. I won’t have Hunter holding me against the seat this time if I fall asleep on the road. It would be painfully ironic if I ended up dying now, for such a stupid reason.
For this reason, I get out of the car and cross the street. I’ll try using another alias and see if it works. If they ask me for ID, I can always say I lost it and all I want is a room for a few hours so I can sleep before continuing toward my destination. I might even remind them of what could happen if I fall asleep behind the wheel. Let them fight with their conscience for a minute.
As it turns out, I don’t have to work half that hard. There’s something to be said for being a young woman, traveling alone. All I have to do is flash the cash and the kid behind the desk hands me a key card. Easy as that. For once, something was easy.
The room is nice enough. Clean, which honestly is all I care about as I drag my feet over to the bed. I only manage to kick off my shoes before collapsing on top of the bedspread. There isn’t even time to turn off the lights—my arm is so heavy; it would be too much effort to reach up and flip the switch on the lamp attached to the wall above the bed.
I don’t know how long sleep lasts. A minute? Four hours? It’s impossible to tell.
All I know is, one second I was alone, in bed, asleep.
The next? There’s something on top of me, making it hard to breathe.
The lights are out. Somebody turned them out. The somebody who is now on top of me on the bed. A man, big and heavy, a man who smells like musky cologne.
Instinct takes over and I fight for all I’m worth, thrashing and punching. A hand covers my mouth and I try to bite down, but he’s too quick for me, whoever he is. Much too strong. That doesn’t mean I can’t do everything in my power to drive a knee into his balls. Anything, so long as he gets off me and gives me a shot at getting out of here. Why the hell didn’t I bring my gun?
A voice works its way into my consciousness, finally audible over my muffled screams and the blood pounding in my ears. “Sugar, Sugar! Relax, would you? It’s only us…”
Sugar.
I soak Ryker’s voice in like sunshine after a cold winter. I go still all at once, falling against the bed. The light flips on, revealing Ryker on top of me and a grinning Hunter on my left.
“Hey there,” he says with a smirk. “Took you long enough.”
When Ryker lifts his hand from my mouth, I can only think of one thing to say, “How?”
“We were down in the lobby when you came in. Didn’t you see us?” Hunter’s wearing a Cheshire Cat grin.
“Waiting for you,” Ryker clarifies.
“I knew using Delilah’s name would draw you in.” Hunter pulls his shirt over his head. “It was only a matter of time before you started looking for her name. Typical cop.”
There’s laughter in his voice, and I know he doesn’t mean it in a bad way. I wouldn’t care if he did. I’m too relieved to be with them again. Now that we’re together, the three of us, everything feels right again. Like, I’ve been holding my breath for six months and only now can exhale.
“Missed you, Sugar.” Ryker’s hand slides up my thigh. “Missed that tight pussy, too.”
Before I can say anything, he covers my mouth again, only this time he uses his lips to do it. I part mine willingly, hungrily, and our tongues tangle while he works a hand under my shirt.
Hunter stretches out beside me and I run a hand over his chest, then up to his shoulder before he leans in to nuzzle my neck. “You smell so good.” His tongue traces my earlobe before it trails down, lapping at my skin, his teeth nipping every so often. His hand glides over my inner thigh before his fingers dig in and he growls. “Feel so good.”
I’m waking up again. The part of me they woke up months ago is coming out of a deep slumber. The deep, aching need they stirred to life is alive now, roaring in my head and my body, taking control of my hands as they tugged at Hunter’s and Ryker’s clothes.
I want to be as close to them as possible. I need to feel every inch of them all over me.
It’s different from it was before. Gentle, passionate, even tender. Ryker unbuttons my pants and slides them down over my legs, then runs his hands from my ankles to my hips while skimming over my skin with his lips. When he reaches my hips, I spread my thighs, practically begging for more.
Hunter turns my face to his and kisses me softly before licking my lips, playfully, teasing. “Is this what you wanted? Why you were looking for us? Because you know only we can treat your body the way it needs treating?” I can only whimper before his tongue probes my mouth, sweeping the inside, flicking against mine. My fingers thread through his hair and I moan into his mouth. Yes, yes, this is what I wanted. I didn’t know it until now.
Ryker pushes aside the scrap of cloth covering my mound and dives in headfirst. His moans of pleasure only heighten mine. My hips move in slow, sensuous circles as his tongue plays over my clit. I reach down and hold his head in place, pressing down, urging him on.
Hunter chuckles. “Going after what you want, huh?” I don’t have it in me to answer. I’m too busy sinking deeper into the sensations they’re treating me to. Ryker sucks my clit between his teeth and I buck against his face, wild now. When he slides two fingers inside me and rubs the bundle of nerves inside my tunnel, I lose it, shouting out my relief at the release he’s finally granted.
The release is more than what’s happening now. More than the joy of coming down from an intense orgasm like he treated me to. This is six months’ worth of tension breaking apart in me, six months of feeling even more incomplete than I normally do.
Because of them. It’s like I was holding my breath, waiting to be with them again. They fit perfectly with me, making me whole. I didn’t know how broken I was until I met them.
Now? I don’t want to be broken anymore. I want this. Years of this. Of Hunter undressing me fully, worshipping my hands with his body. Rolling me on my side to face him, so our bodies touch.
Ryder stretches out behind me and I feel his skin, too, warm against mine. I don’t know who’s touching what as they both explore with their hands, their mouths. Kissing and caressing, stroking my most sensitive places. With one arm wrapped around Hunter and the other behind me, holding onto Ryker’s neck as I crane mine so we can kiss, I wonder if I died and went to heaven.
If so, that’s fine. I could do with an eternity of this.
Hunter lifts my leg and I drape it over his hip, giving him space to slide his rock-hard length between my lips. “Fuck, I forgot how good you feel,” he mutters an instant before entering me. I gasp, arching my back, and he buries his face in my tits.
Ryker strokes the curve of my ass, sliding his cock between my cheeks. He sucks on my neck, my shoulder, making me hiss and gasp in pain and pleasure.
“Let me have some.” Hunter leaves me and Ryker takes his place, entering me from behind and treating me to slow, deep thrusts. It’s so different from before. Sensual. There’s not that sense of desperation now. No rush. They want to enjoy this—to enjoy me.
“I picked the right name for you, Sugar.” Ryker chuckles against my shoulder, moving in and out. “You’re so sweet. I had no idea.”
Hunter pulls me to him for a deep, searching kiss as he slides a hand between us. His fingers find my clit and stroke it slowly, building my pleasure. My moan is more like a whimper, cut off by his mouth locked on mine.
He trades places with Ryker, who rubs himself against my ass while Hunter plunges into me again. “Look at me,” he demands gently, while brushes hair away from my face. “You’re not a brunette anymore.”
The strangeness of this makes me laugh out loud. Here we are, the two of them taking turns on me, and he wants to know about my hair? “You’re not the only one hiding.”
He doesn’t ask what that means, likely because he’s too busy trying not to come.
I don’t know how long it lasts. Not long enough. It’ll never be enough.
And even now, in between them, with the two of them pleasuring me and themselves, I can’t help wondering what’ll happen when it’s over. Is this it? Is this all I’ll get?
I can’t waste time thinking about that. I can’t let myself fall out of this moment because this is the best I’ve ever known. Feeling safe. Wanted. Treasured. Like a goddess.
Something else takes over before long, though, and I welcome it. I welcome their harder thrusts, their short, panting breath against my damp skin. I welcome it and go with it, and the three of us move as one with Hunter inside me and Ryker sliding his cock between my ass cheeks. I hold on to them both, gripping tight, knowing that when this ends it’ll shatter me.
And it does. As the tension in my core reaches the peak and leaves me hanging there in that place, I want to scream but settle for biting down on Hunter’s shoulder because this is the last time I need cops breaking down the door because of screaming.
It goes on and on, that plateau. Tears stream down my cheeks and I don’t know how much more I can take without dying from bliss. But I’d kill them if they stopped.
“Fuck, Annie. I want your ass so badly. I want us both to be inside of you together.”
“Mmm…” I moan and nod my head, because I’m pretty sure even if I could get out a word it wouldn’t be cohesive.
“Was than a yes?” Ryker asks, but he doesn’t wait for my answer. He slides his hand between us and plays with my asshole. He must have spit on his fingers because it feels wet, and his finger slides into the tight ring with ease.
“Are you sure about this?”
I nod again and jut out my ass as much as I can while Hunter fucks my pussy. Ryker’s finger goes deeper, and the sensation almost has me going over the edge again. This feels so good, so forbidden.
He adds another finger, stretching me to prepare for his dick. I’m a little scared it won’t fit and that it will hurt, but that fear only adds to my arousal.
Hunter pulls out of me again, and I whimper at the loss. Ryker chuckles into my ear before plunging into my pussy from behind. He only gives it two quick pumps, then pulls out.
“You are so wet. This will be enough for you to take my cock up your ass.” His voice is harsh, almost like a growl, and that sound vibrates through my entire body. I can feel it from the tip of my nose to my toes.
I tilt my head to the side and burry my face into the pillow when I feel the tip of Ryker’s head press against my ass. He pushes it in slightly and the ring of muscle gives away with ease. I’m surprised by how good it feels, especially when Hunter works his cock back into my pussy.
Ryker’s shallow thrusts in and out of my ass send shivers up and down my spine. He goes deeper with every push until he has worked himself all the way inside of me.
“So tight,” he murmurs into my neck.
“So full,” I say.
They move in unison, filling me from both sides. God, I feel so dirty, so wrong, but also so fucking right at the same time. It feels like we are one, that we belong together.
“Come for us, Annie.” Ryker’s fingers press against my hips hard enough to bruise. “Come for us, Sugar. Let us hear you come. Let us feel you. I want your ass to squeeze my cock and your cunt to do the same to Hunter.”
“Let go,” Hunter urges as his thrusts quicken. “Come with us.”
With them.
Yes.
I convulse, going still as the plateau ends and I go flying over the edge into empty space. “Yes, yes, oh, my God, yes!” I can barely hear them groaning close to my ear over the rushing of blood and the pounding of my heart.
Their thrusts become harsh, feverish, until they are both pounding into me, using my body for their pleasure.
The last ripple of my orgasm still lingers when the guys empty themselves inside of me.
It takes ages for me to come to my senses, and when I do, Ryker and Hunter wipe me gently, almost lovingly, with cloths from the bathroom. They take their time and do a thorough job. It’s not until they collapse on either side of me that anybody says a word.
It’s Ryker who speaks first, his face in a pillow. “What did you mean when you said you were hiding?”
He would remember that, wouldn’t he? I was sort of hoping that would be forgotten. Hunter’s looking at me, waiting for an answer. I won’t be able to get around them—haven’t I tried enough?
I give them the brief rundown. The money I stole. The methods I’ve used to track them down. “You didn’t make it easy,” I admit with a wry chuckle. “There was one time I considered giving up. But one of you has something that belongs to me.”
“By design.” Ryker lifts his head, wearing a shit-eating grin. “And look. It turned out just like I planned.”
“Bullshit. You didn’t plan anything. You didn’t have time to.”
“Fine. I ad-libbed. Tell me it didn’t work out well.” He pulls me closer, kissing my neck.
Hunter looks concerned, though. “I hate the thought of you living in dumps like the one you described. You’re not safe in a place like that.”
“I always have my gun, and I make sure everybody knows I’m armed. Like if they accidentally try to open my door. Trust me. Nobody ever tries twice.”
“That’s my girl.” Ryker settles in, as does Hunter. I’m exhausted, sore, limp.
And happy. So, so happy. Happier than I should be when considering the entire situation. Being in bed with two fugitives, while I’m probably wanted, too.
I’m wanted by them, and that’s all that matters now. With the two of them sandwiching me, I need nothing else. The feeling of being whole again is akin to being wrapped in a warm blanket.
I fall asleep smiling.