“They were, but I had promised their parents. I should have taken that responsibility more seriously,” she argued.

“You did. Just because Simone died before you could get yourself killed doesn’t take away from the fact that you were going to sacrifice your own life. Simone’s mother had no right to place that guilt trip on you. There was only one person responsible for those girls’ deaths, and that was Leon Winston. Can I ask you a question?”

“Yes.”

“Why don’t you talk with a French accent? I thought that, with your mother being French, you would have one, even if your father was an American.”

“Because the girl who was kidnapped wasn’t the one who came out of that house. Reporters hounded us for the story. The only way to stay sane was to change my name and make me unrecognizable to the public. I took speech lessons, colored my hair, and gained fifteen pounds. I haven’t even been back home to Paris because I don’t want the paparazzi to know I returned.”

“It’s over now. They’ve moved on to new stories to cover.”

“It’s old news to everyone but me. I sometimes think I still hear him walking across the floor upstairs or coming down the steps.” She shuddered against Ice.

“Baby, he can’t hurt you anymore.”

“I know that, Ice. Even if he gets found sane in the future, he can be tried for murder. I know he’ll never get out.”

“He’ll never be found sane; he’s a vegetable,” Ice told her in satisfaction.

“How do you know?”

When Ice didn’t answer, she tried to pull away.

“Don’t you dare feel sorry for that crazy motherfucker. He wasn’t crazy; he was evil and wanted something he couldn’t have, so he stole it. He might not have raped and tortured you physically, but he did mentally torture you. I wasn’t going to let him spend the next forty years thinking he got away with it. I made sure he knew before his neck was broke exactly why. Now he has to breathe through a fucking machine and piss through a tube. At any time, someone could come in and turn that machine off like that.” Ice snapped his fingers. “He’s going to live with that fear for the rest of his sorry life.”

Grace could only listen to Ice’s confession, expecting to experience horror at his actions. However, the only emotion she felt was overwhelming relief that she never had to feel afraid of Winton again. Right or wrong, Avril and Simone had both been given justice.

Ice waited guardedly for her reaction and was relieved when she leaned forward, kissing his lips, her tongue parting his mouth.

Grace didn’t want to think about the past anymore. She wanted to be thankful she was still alive, lying in this bed next to Ice. She rubbed her breasts against his broad chest, experiencing the sensation of her nipples tightening. Ice’s hand smoothed over her ass before sliding under her panties. He used his leg to widen the space between her thighs, letting him find her clit. She was already aroused, wanting him inside her. When he thrust a finger deep inside, stroking her walls, it only teased her when she wanted his cock.

“Ice, I want you inside me.”

“Baby, I’m always going to give you what you need.” Ice jerked her pajama bottoms and panties off, leaving her bottom half-bare. He then unbuttoned her top, sliding it off and exposing her breasts. The cool air tightened her nipples even further. Ice took one in his mouth, grasping the tip of another between his two fingers and slightly twisting it until she arched underneath him.

Ice took a second to put on a condom before pulling her leg over him until she was sitting on top of him. She had been in this position with him before yet had always felt self-conscious and awkward.

Ice lifted her up, holding her with his cock poised at her opening.

“Ice, quit teasing me.”

“Teasing is when I don’t give you what you want.” Ice slowly slid her down his cock inch by slow inch, the metal balls rubbing against her walls, causing her pussy to quiver at the stimulation.

When she was flush against him, he reached up and brought down her head with a hand on the nape of her neck for a tongue–thrusting kiss which heated her insides. The kiss had her unconsciously moving her hips, the awkwardness she usually felt smothered by the rising tide of lust taking over.

Her wantonness was something she had never expected herself capable of. She had gone from a woman who was numb to the desires of the flesh to one who found something new to appreciate every time Ice touched her body. He’d taught her not only how he liked to fuck but what her body enjoyed, discovering her sensitive and erotic zones and giving them the attention they needed until she was a withering mass of flesh that craved his touch.

She moved on him faster and faster. She rose to her knees on each side of him, fucking herself on his cock as the tension built to an excruciating level, which crashed into explosive shock waves that tore through both of them, leaving them limp and exhausted.

What Ice did to her should be illegal. He was slowly stealing away her heart and body every time she was with him. He didn’t care for her dogs, yet he was always gentle with them. He thought her alarm was a piece of shit, but he made sure he always set it for her. If she made him dinner, he would make her breakfast before he left. When they had sex, he always managed to make her feel as if it was the first time, as if each time he touched her, he enjoyed it more and more. He didn’t become bored with her less-than-adventuresome personality; instead, he acted as if her touch was all he would ever want.

She was falling in love with him, and she had no idea how she was going to make it work. Grace was pretty sure the college would frown on their relationship, not even taking into consideration how her family would feel about her being with a man like him. Each time she saw him, she swore she would end it; however, now she realized it was already too late. He had already stolen her heart.

Chapter 20

Ice stretched after they finished lunch.

“I have to head back. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

Grace paused at carrying the dirty dishes to the sink. “Oh, okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She set the dishes down on the counter, trying not to show how disappointed she was that he was leaving.

“I would stay if I could. The club is having a welcome home party for one of the brothers who just got out of prison. He served a nickel, so we’re glad he’s finally out,” Ice explained.

“I see. You don’t have to explain. Are there going to be a lot of people there?” she asked, picking up a washcloth.

“Yeah, the club will be packed,” Ice answered then wished he had kept his mouth shut at her steady gaze.

The room filled with an uncomfortable tension.

“I would take you, but, baby, I don’t think you’d enjoy yourself at one of our parties. The brothers get pretty wild.”

“Do you think that I think I’m too good to go to your clubhouse?”

“You are too good to go to one of our parties.” Ice laughed. “The brothers get drunk, then they start fights over the women.” Ice knew he had fucked up as soon as the words came out of his mouth.

“Are there going to be a lot of women there?”

“Some,” he admitted.

“Oh.” She began doing the dishes.