Catching Fox Read online

“Don’t take it to heart. I’m his son and I don’t think he has ever liked me.” Fox smirked. Adalynne let the smile fall from her face, turning around to take in the room. Like the rest of the house it was bare, except for a bed with simple bedding and a dresser that sat on the opposite side of the room. She had tried to picture his room many times over the years. She never imagined it was quite so plain. She moved toward his bed and sat down on the edge. “Where is your guitar? Do you still play?” she asked, curious when she did not see it.

  Adalynne looked up into his intense gaze from across the room. She was not sure what he was thinking. “Oh…is it okay if I sit on your bed?” Adalynne asked nervously, ready to move to stand should he object. She hadn’t realized how overwhelmed she would feel sitting in his room with his shirtless body standing so close. Her heart beat wildly in her chest as she tried to remember what she wanted to say to him. Thoughts of the night when he had come to her room played in her mind after the dance, the scent of his skin and the feel of him against her was so fresh in her thoughts.

  A smile played on his lips. “No, it’s good. I’ve always wondered what you would look like in my bed,” Fox said heatedly.

  “You did?” Her voice cracked and her eyes widened in embarrassment.

  “I have to warn you that in this moment, seeing you in my bed, I lack all will power.” He moved toward her and heat flooded Adalynne’s face. She swallowed exaggeratedly. He leaned in close to her before he dropped down, reaching under the bed to pull out his guitar. “Yes, I still play.” He chuckled.

  “Will you play for me? I miss it,” Adalynne asked. Looking at the guitar brought back so many memories. He used to play it so often when they still visited their camp. It seemed like a lifetime ago since she had heard it.

  “Not now.” He nodded toward the direction of his father and Adalynne dropped it immediately. She did not want to cause any trouble even though she missed the sound desperately.

  “It’s really hot in here,” Adalynne said as she unbuttoned her cardigan. Fox sat on the floor looking up at her.

  “It’s getting hotter.” He smiled. It had been a while since she had seen his genuine smile, way too long. She loved how it played on his handsome face. Adalynne slid off the bed, sitting down in front of him. She touched the dimple on his cheek and he submitted to her touch. “Why are you involved with that stuff?” She couldn’t bring herself to say it but she knew he would understand her meaning regardless.

  Fox closed his eyes and sighed. “I don’t want to talk about it.” His smile vanished. “Let’s just stay like this, like old times when things were simple.”

  “We need to talk about this…how about we play a game?” Adalynne tried to bring him back from his sudden mood change. He was beginning to shut her out.

  “What kind of game?” He looked up at her curiously. Those green eyes were so deep she wanted to dive into them. Her body screamed at her to touch him, to kiss him, and relive the moment that found its way into her thoughts every day since. In this moment, she too had no will power.

  “How about for each of my questions you answer truthfully I take off an article of clothing?” Adalynne moved closer, sliding her legs over his to straddle him. The feel of his body against hers was intoxicating, her clothes suddenly felt restricting and she wanted nothing more than to press her flesh against his. She had dreamed of this for too long.

  “Okay I’ll play your game.” Fox exhaled a breath he was holding. “What’s your first question?” His skin felt so warm, so wonderful. She felt intoxicated.

  “Why are you doing it?” she whispered in his ear, gently caressing it with the slightest touch of her lips. Adalynne smiled against his neck when he shuddered in response. Goose bumps rushed across his skin. When he remained quiet, Adalynne pulled away. “Don’t feel like playing?” Adalynne barely got the words out when he grabbed her arms and brought her back against him.

  “Don’t,” he pleaded. The desperation in his voice touched her. “I want to, please.”

  She looked into his eyes. His confidence was stripped away and he was vulnerable before her, he had let down his guard. Fox slid his hands down the length of her calves and reached down and pulled off her socks. “Hey,” Adalynne complained.

  “Socks don’t count. I owe someone money and I have no way of paying them back except to work off my debt by moving their product.”

  Adalynne slid her cardigan off her shoulders and threw it on the floor. “Why did you borrow the money?”

  “Because my father was and is too drunk to work. There was no way to pay the bills and when it was offered it seemed like the only option at the time, so I took the money,” Fox said softly. She knew it was not easy for him to tell her this. He nodded toward her shirt after his answer. “Your turn.”

  Adalynne slid her shirt slowly up her stomach, watching his hungry gaze consume every inch of skin she exposed. Pulling it over her head, she watched his gaze memorize every line of her body before his eyes found hers. A smile spread across his face. “This is an awesome game.”

  “How much do you owe him?” Adalynne pressed on while he was still giving answers.

  He was silent for a moment, contemplating whether or not he wanted to tell her. “How much, Fox?”

  He closed his eyes tightly. “Ten thousand.”

  Adalynne stood up and unbuttoned her pants and slid them down her legs, kicking them off. Fox pulled his body up to full height in front of her, her skin flushed hot as he looked down at her. His chest rose and fell with exaggerated breath. The hunger she felt for him was reflected in his eyes and she desperately wanted him to feast upon her.

  “How long will it take you to pay it off and what happens if you don’t?” Her voice faltered slightly as she was losing her composure. Her mouth watered and her stomach felt as if it was reeled too tight.

  “Isn’t that two questions? I believe you’re cheating.” He smiled playfully at her.

  “It is technically worded as one question.” She bit her lip.

  I will let you get away with it just this once. A long time, and truthfully if I didn’t pay it off, he would probably kill me.” His answer caused her breath to catch in her throat. “You wanted truthful answers,” Fox accused lightly.

  Adalynne reached up to unclasp her bra. She watched Fox clench his fists at his sides. She dropped her bra to the floor. He leaned in toward her, causing her to back up against the bed but stopped short of touching her. His breathing was laboured and he was close enough for her to feel the heat radiate from his skin. The room felt like a thousand degrees.

  “Once you pay it off are you done with it?” Adalynne asked, watching him study her body.

  “Yes.” His intense eyes found hers.

  Leaning back upon the bed, she raised her hips off the bed to remove her panties.

  “Who do you owe money to?” She was surprised by the heavy voice that escaped her saturated with the desire she felt for him.

  “The game is over. You have nothing left to take off.” He smiled down at her. “I think I won.”

  “This one is to touch me,” she whispered.

  “No fair…what if I don’t answer that question?”

  “Then I put my clothes back on and walk out the door.” She smiled at him and the pained expression on his face told her she had won. He was defenseless against her.

  “Slim,” he whispered reluctantly.

  “Slim?”

  “That’s his name.” He placed his knee against the bed, between her legs, and leaned down over her.

  “What kind of a name is that?” She found it hard to concentrate and wasn’t even sure the words had passed her lips until he responded.

  “It’s his, but ironically he is built like a tank.” He looked down at her with a hooded gaze. “Can I touch you now?” Fox asked breathlessly.

  “Yes,” she said and he brought his mouth down upon hers. His kisses were desperate as he devoured her in his passionate embrace. Adalynne wanted this moment to last forev
er. When she was with him she truly felt alive. He made her whole body pulse with life, and ache with a need so great it consumed her.

  “I want you so bad. It’s all I think about,” Fox whispered breathlessly between kisses. He unbuttoned his pants and kicked them off. His body was like a work of art, beautiful and strong. His heated gaze roamed her body. He leaned down and kissed her lips, her cheek, along her jaw and then slowly continued down her chest. Adalynne felt herself melt into the bed. Everywhere his lips touched left a path of pleasure lingering after his moved on. Adalynne gasped when he took her nipple in his mouth. She stilled as she realized what was about to happen. “What’s wrong?” he asked, noticing her hesitation.

  “I’m just nervous,” she whispered, looking up at him through her lashes.

  He pulled back so his arms were fully extended, looking down upon her naked body. His brow furrowed, he seemed to be tormented with thoughts that she could not even begin to understand. She brushed his hair from his eyes and wished with all her heart the world could go back to when nothing else mattered but each other.

  “What’s wrong?” she questioned when she could no longer bear his silence.

  Fox growled, defeated, as he rolled off her onto the bed, rubbing his hands over his face. Adalynne sat up and looked down at him, touching his arm gently. “Did I do something wrong?” she whispered.

  “No.” He opened his eyes and looked up at her. “I need you to get dressed,” he said, putting his hands back over his eyes.

  “Why…don’t you want me? I don’t understand. I want this.” She reached up and pulled his hand from his face. He was gorgeous with his features so perfect and his green eyes so mesmerizing. She knew with everything in her heart she wanted to be with him. She didn`t understand why he never let himself get close to her. He always pulled away when she needed him the most. She didn`t understand why he couldn’t love her. “I love you,” she whispered.

  “You’re making this so difficult.” He pushed up off the bed and grabbed his pants from the floor before retrieving her clothes and tossing them to her. “We can’t do this, Bee. It was a mistake. I don’t want to be your first…I don’t want to be your anything.” Those last words stung as if he slapped them across her face. It took everything she had not to collapse under the weight of them.

  “Now what?” Anger slipped into her voice. She was embarrassed and angry he turned her down. She hastily pulled her clothes back on.

  “Nothing,” he replied coldly. His guard was back up and he was pushing her away like he always did and it infuriated her. “You need to go.”

  “Gladly.” She fumed, pulling her shirt back over her head and making a show of flipping her hair out of her shirt and then stomped toward the door.

  “Adalynne?” Fox called her back. Adalynne spun around and looked at him through narrowed eyes. “Don’t love me.”

  She glared at him. “Too late, Fox. I have always loved you.” She slipped through the door, making sure to slam it behind her.

  “Sorry, Mr. Knight, but your son has made me incredibly angry. Have a nice day, sir.” She apologized for her dramatic exit when his dark eyes watched her stomp out from his son’s room. He did not respond to her as he tipped his bottle up to his lips. She continued past him and made sure to close the front door more gently as she exited the house.

  Adalynne did not look back as she walked away from Fox’s house. She headed back toward Elizabeth’s building, hoping she would not have to wait long for the bus to return. As she walked she noticed two guys coming in her direction, on the opposite side of the street. When she neared she took in their rough appearance, with tattoos and sly smiles. They watched her the entire time and it made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. If she hadn’t have been so driven with anger she would have listened to the warnings of danger and avoided them all together but as she got closer she realized one of them looked familiar. She had seen him at school hanging around with some of the people Fox associated with. She had an idea.

  “Now what is Adalynne doing hanging around these parts? If I would have known you liked to toy on this side of the tracks I would have shown more interest.” Apparently he recognized her too. He was tall and lean, with oversized clothes hanging off his form. His head was shaven and a tattoo reached up from under his shirt and extended up his neck just below his ear. The other guy had longer hair that flipped out from under his twisted ball cap. He too had a lean build but slightly shorter with wide set shoulders. A devious smile spread across his narrow lips as he raked her entire body with his eyes. Adalynne wanted to cringe but she thought better of offending these two.

  “You know my name?” Adalynne was genuinely surprised.

  “Girls like you get noticed.” He shrugged his shoulders. He was less threatening in his demeanor than the guy in the baseball cap so Adalynne focused her attention on him. “I’m Teeter, by the way, and this is Josh.”

  “You lookin’ for a good time?” Josh’s smile made her want to back away and find safety in distance.

  “Ah…no.” She tried to dismiss his offer casually. “Actually I just wanted to ask you guys if you knew how to get a hold of Slim.” She tried to say his name confidently.

  “Whatcha want with him?” A confused scowl formed on Teeter’s face. His expression bordered on suspicion.

  “I just need to talk to him.” Adalynne crossed her arms, trying to provide cover from Josh’s uncomfortable stares. She thought she was pulling off enough confidence as to not seem like a fish out of water.

  Teeter pulled out his phone. “Are you sure?” He seemed reluctant to give her the information.

  “Yep.” Adalynne smiled and Teeter rambled off Slim’s number. With a quick “Thank you” she left the guys behind as she made her way back to the bus stop. She didn’t turn back but she could feel their eyes on her the entire time she was still in their view. Luckily she didn’t have to wait long before the bus arrived and she was heading back to school with more than enough time before her driver would be there to pick her up. Her body still thrummed from her emotional experience. She took a deep calming breath before she pulled out her phone to dial Slim’s number, before she lost her nerve. She had a sinking feeling she was getting in way over her head. Her relationship with Fox may have collapsed under the painful truth that Fox did not love her but it did not change how she felt about him. She wanted to save him from the trouble he had gotten himself into. She wanted to be able to sleep at night knowing she did everything she could.

  Chapter Eleven

  “Who the fuck is this?” a deep voice with a less than welcoming tone spat out on the other end of the line.

  Adalynne was glad no one was sitting next to her on the bus because his voice traveled too well from the other end. “Hello, I’m looking for Slim. Do I have the right number?” Her voice sounded much smaller than she intended. She couldn’t help but cringe at her lack of conviction.

  “Yes,” he answered frankly.

  “Well…I am calling about the debt that Damon Knight owes you.” This time she managed to get her tone somewhat more assured.

  She closed her eyes and shook her head when Slim erupted into laughter. “Damon’s got a girl doing his dirty work, does he? Tell him he’s mine now and he’s putting in his time until his debt is paid.”

  “Actually, he doesn’t know I am calling. I want to pay off what he owes you.” Adalynne was met with silence for a moment on the other end of the line.

  “Fifteen grand.” His reply was short and to the point.

  “I thought it was ten?” Adalynne countered.

  “His interest just went up. If he wanted fair rates he should have borrowed from the bank. So tell me there, sweet stuff, still planning on bailing out your boyfriend?” he mocked.

  “Yes. How do we do this?”

  “87 George Street. Now or never,” he proposed. Adalynne looked at the time. She knew where George Street was—it was on the edge of town. If it was a quick exchange, she would still make it
back to the school in time before her driver became aware of her absence.

  “I will be there soon. Give me an hour,” she confirmed.

  “Sure thing, sweetheart, looking forward to your visit.” And he was gone. Fear pumped through her veins strong and potent.

  The bus dropped her off at her bank. Adalynne drew a deep breath and tried to create the illusion of calm. She needed to be convincing as she causally pushed through the doors and pushed a smile upon her face. Fortunately for her, school had already been dismissed so it looked better than if she had been there when she was supposed to be in class. Adalynne was never much of a spender. Her parents always bought her whatever she needed so her account just accumulated funds that her parents had put away for her over the years.

  “Hi Greta!” Adalynne walked up the teller with a wide smile. Adalynne’s parents were customers at this bank for as long as she could remember. Over the years she had come to know some of the regular tellers when she came with her parents. The plump woman behind the desk smiled. “Adalynne, look at you! Completely gorgeous, my child. Where did the time go?” She shook her head before continuing. “What can I do for you today?”

  “Well, I need to make a withdrawal of $15, 000. It’s for something that I’m planning for my parents’ anniversary coming up. It’s a surprise.” Adalynne winked at her.

  “Ooh, that must be quite the gift. Just a moment, dear. With such a large withdrawal, I will have to get a manager’s approval.” Adalynne couldn’t help but feel the lump of guilt in her throat but at least her excuse seemed to appease Greta’s curiosity and hopefully keep the transaction a secret from her parents. She felt like her entire body was pulsing with the crazed pace of her heart as she waited for Greta to return with a manager. It wasn’t long before an unfamiliar face approached her.

  “Hello Adalynne. Greta tells me you’re making a large withdrawal today. May I ask what it is for?” This man was all business. His features were pinched and looked like he lacked any sense of humor. He was immediately suspicious.