Piper
I'm pulled from my flashback as Cole pulls me into a tight embrace, smoothing my hair down and wiping away the tears I didn't know I was shedding. I hear his voice vibrating against his chest as his words soothe my tormented soul "I will never let him hurt you again Piper. Never". I find so much comfort in those words, I want him to love me. That's the first time I have admitted that to myself, the first time I have thought I might be worthy of happiness.
I have spent these last six months blaming myself for Erika's death. Although I didn't put her in that position, I also didn't try to save her. I let her suffer the devil's wrath while I watched on, praying that I wasn't next. Selfish, maybe. I felt so betrayed by both of them, and I let that hurt drive my decision to keep my mouth shut as I watched the life drain from her eyes. I shudder at the thought. I think that will haunt me for the rest of my life.
Cole's hands slide down my back, drawing small circles in the center "Why hasn't he been arrested?".
His guess is as good as mine. I didn't stick around to find out the outcome. Another cowardly display. I would assume he used his money and connections to bury the ugly truth, like he hid the true him from me as well. I went years without ever seeing him for what he truly was before the abuse started. He knew how to tear me down and make me feel like I didn't have other options before he started his reign of terror.
"His family has money and I assume they buried the truth. I never saw a missing person report, no body was found…nothing" I croak.
My family and Ang helped me to relocate, switch cars and swore to secrecy for fear that he would come find me and finish off what he started that night.
Cole looks at me with so much sadness in his eyes before he draws me into his chest again. I gladly nestle in again and let his warmth comfort me.
Reliving that nightmare was not on my list of to-dos but in order to move forward in hopes of a future, I need to let Cole know everything. It's up to him to decide if he is willing to bear my burdens. I'm not willing to give up on us yet and I really want to stay working here. The dynamics of this project and my life are riding on his choice in light of my dark past. I was fully ready for him to turn his back on me, but he surprised me he offered to protect me. I haven't decided if those were just words to comfort me or if he really meant it yet.
Cole covers me with a blanket before planting a soft, comforting kiss on my forehead. His gesture reminds me so much of how my dad used to do every night before bed. "Stay right here for a minute" he softly murmurs before he picks up his phone, shuffling over to the windows and sends a message.
I have no doubt, given his nature, he is going to go searching for clues as to what happened. Part of me wants to cower down and let him deal with it but part of me wants to stand up and protect him like I didn't Erika. I don't want him getting tangled up with Tristan, in business or personally.
A couple minutes later there is a boom at the door that sends me into a panic, I feel so on edge after digging up my past. Cole is by my side in record time "You are ok, I got you". I immediately calm down before Andrew pushes in the door. He has a file in his hand and looks like a man on a mission. I can't help but eavesdrop on their conversation…
Andrew whispers to Cole "It's all here. There was never any news of a death or the cover up. But his parents made a large payment to another family shortly before Tristan took over Vanderpool Holdings. I am assuming they paid off the girl's family to keep them quiet."
Cole glances at me before he responds "Amp up security detail here, at my house, her apartment and for her parents. We are going to proceed with the project but for different reasons now. As soon as he finds out where she is, he will likely start trouble. But I don't want him close to her without me or you present…EVER".
Andrew nods "I will take care of Ang and the rest; you keep her safe". He pans to me briefly, offering a warm smile before he turns to leave.
Cole creeps back over to me before he sits on the coach pulling me on his lap. His strong arms wrapping around my torso pulling me in close. His beautiful blue orbs staring at me like he is searching for something in my eyes before placing a soft kiss on my lips. "You are going to come stay with me for a while".
~
Cole
When she said she had to tell me something, I never thought it would be something this huge. That was the mother of all bombs she just dropped and while my feet should be running the other direction, I feel nothing but the need to stay and protect her. These are feelings I don't quite understand "I will never let him hurt you again Piper. Never" I whisper to her.
I need to find out what happened after she left. So many questions are swirling around in my mind. Did he really kill that girl? How did he get away with it? I need answers, and not so much for the other girl but for Piper. The rage is burning within me for what he put her through. I have never met him in person and yet I want to rip him limb for limb for laying a finger on my girl. He will pay for what he did to Piper. He may have gotten away with it so far but that was before he appeared on my radar.
I will make sure he pays in the business world and personally.
I pull her close to me and ask the questions my mind is reeling with "Why hasn't he been arrested?". I ask it anyways although we both know the answer to this one, his family likely used their assets to bury the truth. A scandal of this magnitude would surely rock the business world and sent their empire crumbling to the ground. I'm just glad Piper had the mindset to flee before things got worse.
A shiver runs down my spine at the though of what could have been her fate had she chose to stay…
I pick up my phone and shoot Andrew a text. We need to see what we are dealing with, so we know how to move forward. I still want to do the project and keep everyone here at Hart Enterprises happy but in the background, I am bringing him down. His reign of terror is over.
Piper jumps as a knock on the door reverberates through the office. I swiftly move to her side, reassuring her that she is ok. When she told me what had happened, I could clearly see the terror in her eyes. The scars are deep, and damage is done. I don't know that she will ever fully recover from it, but I will spend my life by her side helping her. The thought brings me a newfound sense of security as the feeling creeps in.
I don't ask who is at the door, I just order them in. I already know it's Andrew with the information I asked him to get. This is one thing I love about Andrew; he is fast and efficient. I can give him a task, and he gets it done. I like to give him hell about being a slacker in the office, but the truth is, he has always had my back. In the office and in life. He walks in with a file in hand and delivers the news I had already assumed. That asshat used his resources to cover up his dirty deeds.
That is one thing about money, it can buy you a lot of things and get rid of the things you don't want others to see. I personally, have never used my money or connections for this level of evil but I'd be lying to say I haven't ever used them to get what I want. With that thought in mind, I am fixing to use them to protect those that are close to me.
I tell Andrew to increase security around Piper and all those close to her. I can't take any chances of him getting to her when he finds out where she is. And he will, because she adamant about staying on this project. But his demons are about to come back to haunt him, and I thoroughly plan on enjoying the show.
Andrew assures me he will take care of Piper's family and friends while I focus on keeping her safe and getting retribution for the terror he put her through. He smiles at Piper before exiting the office and my thoughts return to the small girl huddled up on my couch.
She is safest with me and that's where she will be. I head for the couch, drop down next to her before wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her on top of me. I stare into her gorgeous green eyes and see so much vulnerability there. She is scared and I put that pain in her eyes by making her share the past with me. But what she doesn't realize is she is one of the bravest people I know. She has witnessed so much, yet she chose to get up, move on and rebuild. That takes courage.
I lean in and kiss her, trying to convey my hearts desires for her before muttering "You are going to come stay with me for a while". She doesn't object and I fully expected her too. Instead, she just voices her concerns about her roommate. This just solidifies my suspicions of her selfless nature. I reassure her Andrew is going to take care of Ang and her family. She relaxes a bit at my words.
"I have some work I need to finish on the project and then we will go home" I tell her. She nods before offering to help me.
We spend a couple hours working out details of the project before we are set to leave. We actually got quite a bit done despite all the uncertainty swirling around involving seeing Tristan again. I page Clara and ask her to go fetch Pipers things from her desk before I lock up my documents and close my computer down.
Piper saunters over to me at my desk before spinning my chair around. She nestles her legs on the outside of mine on either side, straddling me before running her hands through my hair. Her lips are parted, and her eyes are swirling with need. I am brought back to the night in the limo. The way she moaned, the way she shivered with anticipation as I wondered all over her body.
I wrap my arms around her waist before standing up. She wraps her legs around me, and I head for the door. I need to lock it now. I can't wait until we get home to take her.
As soon as the lock clicks over, I am all over her. I start at her ear, planting soft kisses before nibbling and sucking my way down to the crook of her neck. She is already panting, grinding herself against my hard bulge and I can feel the heat building in her core. She wants this as much as I do.
I gently place her ass on the corner of my desk before sweeping the contents to the side. She slides back and grabs for my belt, unbuckling it, sliding my pants and boxers down my legs and setting my hard cock free. She draws her bottom lip in to her teeth as her eyes rake over me with anticipation. She has no idea what that does to me. I slowly unbutton my shirt while she watches on in appreciation.
My hands find her skirt and slide it up until it pools around her waist. She has the most glorious legs I have ever seen. Not skinny but toned and perfect for fitting around my waist or up in the air…depends on my mood. An evil smirk graces my lips as I think about all the things I want to do to her. I untuck her shirt and push it up as my hands find their way to her pert nipples. I pinch and roll them as she squirms with desire. I plant a soft kiss on her belly before murmuring "lay back".
She parts her legs for me as she falls back onto my desk. My fingers start their trek down south before I discover she doesn't have any panties on. "You naughty little girl" I mutter before sliding my finger over her wet folds. A moan escaped her pouty lips as her hips buck forward. The fact that her body reacts to my touch like this drives me wild.
I can hardly wait to be buried deep in her. But I need to pace myself.
I plunge one finger in as she moans loudly. I pull it out and lick it clean before inserting it again. My mouth lands on her throbbing clit as I suck it in an attempt to drive her as wild as she is making me feel. She looks down at me buries her fingers in my hair before tugging lightly and cooing "I need you now".
"Tell me what you want Piper" I reply huskily.
"I-I want you inside me" she moans.
That's all the permission I need. I grab her hips and pull her to the edge of the desk before I position myself at her entrance. She is so wet for me. I slowly push into her while watching where our bodies are connecting. She bellows "Oh my God Cole". I'm trying to pace myself but something about her makes me want to pound this pussy fast and furious.
I slowly lay claim to her, pushing into her while she suckles on my neck and chest. The moves are slow and steady, unlike the previous encounters where we were in a frenzy. This almost feels different, more emotions tied to it. She peers up at me through those gorgeous eyes as she scrapes her nails down my back. I feel her stiffen. She is close.
I hammer into her hard and use a free hand to flick her clit before massaging it. She whimpers "I going to come baby" and that's all the encouragement I need.
My movements are getting harder, faster before I lean over and brush my lips on her ear "Whose pussy is this baby?".
She tightens around my dick as she breathily whispers, "It's yours Cole. Only yours". Her admission sends me careening over the edge with her. She clamps down on my dick as her orgasm rips through her. A scream escapes her mouth as she falls back on my desk. I feel my balls tighten as I fill her up with all my hopes and dream for us.