Alana moved through the crowd, checking to make sure the caterers were keeping up with the horde of guests, making sure the beer flowed freely and no one went hungry. She needn't have bothered. They'd used the same company for years and had never had a complaint. Everyone was in good spirits and enjoying themselves.

  Alana wasn't really needed now, and she thought maybe she could relax enough to enjoy herself and get something to eat. A quick swig of beer settled her nerves to a smooth mellow.

  Her father came up on her unexpectedly as she was fixing herself a plate of jambalaya and fried gator tail. He clapped her on the back, smiling as he looked across the crowd. "You did a good job with the party this year. I was right to let you handle things," he said, his commanding voice booming over the music.

  She smiled. He rarely handed out compliments. She must've done really well. She'd never gotten one from him before when she'd handled things in the past. "Thanks, dad. I'm just glad everyone's enjoying themselves."

  He nodded and moved off, spying someone else he wanted to talk to.

  Oh well, she thought, and finished fixing her plate. He'd never been big on talking to her. She actually had a hard time filling up on conversation with him. It was terrible that their entire relationship consisted of small talk and orders. She turned around to find a table and bumped into someone, spilling beer all over her hand. "Oh! I'm sorry," she said, looking up.

  Her mouth gaped. She froze, alarm holding her in place.

  "No problem, chere." There was a hint of smile in the sound of his voice. "You catchin' flies with that thang?" A finger snaked out and pushed her chin back in position.

  Alana swallowed, her eyes immediately scanning the crowd for her father. He wasn't thirty feet from where they stood, his back to them, arms gesturing as he told one of his whoppers to the listener. Panic hit her like a ton of bricks, crushing her chest and making it hard to breathe. She had to get him out of here. "You weren't invited to this."

  He laughed, popping a piece of her gator into his mouth. "You ought to know I never miss a shindig, specially one dis big."

  She moved her plate when he reached for another. "Go get your own. Better yet. On second thought, take mine. I'll find you a great seat to eat at." She shoved the plate into his hands, grabbing him by the crook of his arm and leading him as far from her father as she could in the opposite direction.

  "Why do I get the feelin' you tryin' to get rid of me, chere? You afraid big bad papa's gonna see you with a man? Or is it him seein' you with me you're afraid of?"

  Alana scowled at him, pushing through to the edges of the crowd toward her father's house where the cars had been parked by valet. That was her aim. Rafe had no intentions of letting her get him that far.

  "Hey, we done passed the tables." He dropped his plate in a trash can as they passed it by then swept her around in a dance. "I like this music you got playin'," he murmured in her ear, his breath tickling the hair loose around the shell. She scrunched up her shoulder, blocking his mouth.

  She shuddered, trying to pry herself loose without drawing too much attention to herself. She looked around, fearful her father or one of his cohorts would see them. The party was for all her father's friends, workers, anyone and everyone that knew him. Someone was bound to see the two of them and report it to Alan Laroche, if she didn't get rid of Rafe soon.

  He crushed her against his body, moving her with the music. Cajuns sure knew how to dance, and he was no exception. Every move she made to get loose, he countered, drawing her in closer, keeping her in sync with him. With Rafe as her partner, he actually made her look capable of dancing when she'd been born with two left feet.

  He was so close she could feel his heart beating through his chest and into hers. Smell his familiar scent and the hint of some cheap cologne that smelled heavenly on his skin and beckoned her to take a whiff of his neck. She restrained herself, pulling back. "What do you want? I know it's not to dance."

  He looked affronted. "You wound me. It's been weeks since you seen me and this is the welcome I get?"

  "You're crashing the party."

  He grinned down at her, his dark eyes flashing with sudden angry fire despite the loose, playful grip on her waist. "Little enough compensation for what you and your father did to me. Where is old Alan, by the way?"

  "No," she gritted out. "Please don't embarrass me in front of all these people."

  His eyes softened. "You want ta play our little game then, chere?" He brushed his lips against her temple. "I'll give you another picture to burn."

  She swallowed. "Anything, just leave."

  "You know how to make a man feel welcome." He twirled her around, keeping a hold of her hand as he led her toward the house and around it, into the garden. A gazebo rested at the center of her father's gardens. They'd spent time there when they were younger. She'd snuck out of the house to go see him and fool around. Why was he leading her here?

  Darkness had settled over the party, and tiki torches and lamps were lit to ward off the mosquitoes and light the way back to the revelers' vehicles.

  Glowing lamps swayed in the breeze above, casting shadows in the garden. Allie kept scanning the darkness, looking for anyone that might see them. Unfortunately, they were alone. Perhaps that was better, saving her embarrassment, but she didn't want to find out what new game he'd planned for her in the past two weeks. Bad enough that he'd show up here-worse that he'd sucked her in yet again.

  He stopped under the gazebo, just as she feared. He leaned against a support beam, looking out into the night before casting a glance back at her. "I remember many a night on these benches." He adjusted his waistband, drawing her attention to his crotch. He looked semi-hard already. She averted her gaze in embarrassment.

  She sat as far from him in the partial enclosure as she could. "That was a long time ago. I'm surprised you remember anything from that long ago."

  He sauntered toward her, moving like a cat stalking prey. "You'd be surprised what a man thinks about in prison."

  She gulped, feeling guilt heat her face. She should have done something to get him out, but she'd been such a coward-still was when it came to her father. She was spineless and deserved the punishment he gave her. "You were gone longer than I thought you would be."

  He loomed over her. "Did you actually care that I was gone?"

  "Of course. And then, you know. Life gets in the way and you forget."

  "No, I wouldn't. How could I forget anything? My life was hell. I got another five years for defending myself in the pen."

  She swallowed, inching back as he leaned over her and propped his hands on either side of her head on the railing behind her. "I … I'm sorry. I didn't know. Is that what that scar's from on your side?"

  She remembered seeing it when they were in the cabin together, after he'd come in from working outside. She hadn't thought anything of it at the time.

  "Dey aimed for my guts but missed. I wrestled the shank out of his hand and stuck him. Cut my hand purty bad. Cut him worse." The Cajun had come out, husky and guttural, not silky and smooth like when he tried to seduce her. She could only imagine the horrors he'd faced in prison. He'd go for the rest of his life as a sex offender. Oh, how could she have let this go on?

  The guilt threatened to eat her alive. Her heart ached for him, the misery he'd gone through, the life he'd wasted in jail. What a waste, a shame to let a man so beautiful be locked up for statutory rape when he'd been innocent of the crime.

  Alan Laroche's vengeance knew no bounds-nor did his connections to every facet of the government. If he wanted something done, he could get it done. She'd always been powerless against her father. She'd hoped Rafe understood that, but he either didn't or didn't care.

  "You ready to earn another picture?" he asked, his voice low, tense. His face was inches from her. She could smell beer on his breath and wondered how drunk he was.

  The look he gave her should have frightened her. She had no idea what he was capable of anymore. Instead, it made her pulse rise, sent her blood racing through her body in anticipation of what he'd do. Her belly clenched, echoing in the tightness of her cunt. Her nipples tightened with the proximity of his chest, her breasts swelling, sensitive and achy in the confines of her bra.

  Why did she react this way to him, despite the screaming protest in her mind? She had nowhere to run, no way to escape him. The promise of another picture was too great to ignore. She sat, frozen in place, her slit moistening, hungry for him to ravish her however he wished.

  "What do you want from me?" she begged, looking up at him, her eyes wide, frightened they'd be exposed here in the open, hoping he would just hurry up and get this over with.

  His head dipped lower, forcing her back. She arched her neck to lock eyes with him. "I can smell your sweet, hot pussy creaming for me," he growled.

  "You should watch your mouth," she stammered, trying to sound offended. His chest pressed into her breasts, making them ache.

  "Why? When I can watch yours." His head began to lower toward her mouth. She tried to stay strong, assure herself that she could resist him. Her lips parted to drag in a ragged breath. Just a kiss. Just a kiss wouldn't hurt her.

  It'd been so long since she'd felt a man's lips on hers. She'd dreamed of kissing him forever, for years after he'd been gone. She put her hands up, as if to stop him, encountering the warm corded strength of his chest through his shirt. He was so dangerous and exciting. She whimpered when he covered her mouth with his lips.

  A shock surged through her at the connection, warm and wet and wild. Heat shimmered between them, making her body jerk against his chest as he forced her to lie back onto the bench. He leaned into her, his weight near crushing her, overwhelming her senses. He tasted of beer and something indefinable, sweet and earthy. His tongue swept into her mouth, tangling with her tongue, coaxing her out of hiding. He groaned, hungry for her tongue, sucking it greedily into his mouth as if he couldn't get enough of the taste of her. His hands roamed down her arms, trapping them against her sides as he raped her mouth, tasted her tongue and every crevice, her teeth, her lips.

  His thick erection bruised her closed thighs, grinding against the apex and making her long to part her legs and feel him sink inside her. She could feel her cream seeping through her panties, dampening her pants with moist heat.

  He pulled her shirt up, his hands rough on her skin. He ripped his mouth from hers to kiss her neck, her ear, steaming her skin with his hot breath. "You feel so damn good. So soft." He groaned as he filled his hands with her breasts and pinched the pebbled nipples with his fingers.

  She moaned, arching her body against him without thinking, with no regard to her surroundings and the fact that she was supposed to be resisting him. She was helpless to stop him and the raging hunger inside her. He kissed her, making her melt. She kissed him back, teasing him with her tongue, feeling emboldened by his desire so evident against her thighs. She wanted that thickness inside her, was dying for it to happen.

  Her body sizzled with need. She tore her mouth from his to gasp in much needed air.

  He ripped her shirt open. Buttons popped free, scattering over the concrete floor. She gasped when his mouth covered her bra, sucking at the nipple through the thin cloth until it stood rigid and hard in his mouth.

  "Oh God," she nearly screamed in pleasure as he forced her thighs apart and ground his hips against her. He slipped a hand under her ass, making her rub against him, so close yet so far away from where she wanted him to be. His hair sprinkled chest rubbed sensuously against her bare skin, driving her wild, making her want and need more. What did he want from her? Was he finally going to take her as she'd been fearing and hoping he'd do for all these years?

  Her achy, swollen clit found no relief from the hard ridge of him riding against her, stroking her trapped cunt until she thought she'd go insane. His rigid control slipped when she ran her hands down his shoulders, around his back, grasping him hard, scratching him with her nails like a woman possessed. He sensed her desperation, and she could feel him smile against her neck.

  "I never knew you could be so wild, Allie."

  Her eyes fluttered open. "You're a horrible tease, Rafe."

  "I want you beggin' me ta take you. To fuck you until you can't move no more," he said on a growl, scoring her neck with his teeth and sending lightning racing down her spine.

  She shuddered, thrusting her hips against him, desperate to wring pleasure from his clothed crotch.

  He pulled back just enough to work his cock free. The engorged member stood straight out from his body, enticing her with sexual promise. He looked down at her with dark male intent, a crooked smile on his lips as he worked to unbutton her jeans and pull the flap apart. The jeans skimmed down her legs as he lowered himself and pushed between her thighs, grinding into the thin material of her panties.

  Her excitement rose to a feverish pitch. Her pulse soared, throbbing through her body and settling in her warm, drenched center. Her clit pulsed with the wild beat of her heart. His sexual intensity filled the air around him, drowning her in his scent, his touch.

  She whimpered when he ground against her, dipping his head to nuzzle her neck and taste her earlobe, his teeth nipping the sensitive flesh. His hands gripped her thighs, toying with her panties, driving her wild with his proximity, but keeping her still as he did what he wanted with her. How could he maintain such absolute control, she wondered, when she just melted from the merest touch?

  "You're so wet for me, chere. There's nothing I crave more than to sink inside you," he whispered, his voice rough with passion barely held in check.

  Her pussy clenched with arousal. She shuddered violently, wishing he'd just rip the damned panties off her and fuck her brains out.

  He pushed a hand inside, playing with the petals of flesh, groaning his approval at her slippery wetness. "I love feeling how juicy your pussy is for me, baby." He slid through her opening, toying with her clenching vagina and giving her no satisfaction. Her womb contracted when he tickled her hole, a violent spasm that had her gasping for more.

  "Say you want me," he whispered, rubbing her clit with his thumb.

  She would have screamed if she'd had enough breath. "I … I…."

  "What the hell is going on here?" The voice of doom boomed through the air around them.

  Alana shrieked and pushed Rafe off of her, closing her blouse to the sight of her father. "Oh my God! Daddy, I can explain."

  His face was purple with rage. "Is that bastard raping you again, Alana?"

  Rafe jumped up, stuffing his cock back in his pants before turning around and facing her father with a rage surpassing his own. "I never raped your daughter," he said with an alarming coldness in his voice.

  Behind her father were several of his friends and wait staff, gaping at the two of them. "Someone told me they'd seen you come this way. I never thought I'd find something like this." He glanced at the onlookers for only a moment, then locked gazes with Rafe. "Get me the police. NOW. We have a trespasser on my property.

  * * * *

  The darkness filled with the flash of red and blue lights from three of Louisiana's finest cop cars. They weren't taking any chances with Alan Laroche's safety. When he called them, it was important.

  Allie looked miserably at them put Rafe in handcuffs, bending him over the hood of one of the cars as they patted him down for weapons. Someone had draped a blanket around her shoulders while she stood there looking cowardly on. She shivered despite the warm night air, looking around her at the crowd. All the guests had turned out for the spectacle.

  When they stood him up, Rafe locked eyes with her as they put him in the back of one of the cars. He looked at her with cold, dead eyes. Betrayed again. Her father held a protective arm around her as one of the police officers questioned her about what had happened.

  "Did he hurt you?" he asked.

  She shook her head, trying to gather up her courage to deny the charges. The grip of her father held her in check, tamping down her willpower with an effect so great, she could barely breathe. She wanted to scream no, don't take him, but all she could do was cower.

  "Will you be pressing charges?" he asked Alan Laroche.

  "Of course. It's not the first time that bastard has done this. I want him locked away for good this time. I don't ever want to see him in this town again."

  The cop nodded, taking notes. "Did anyone see him enter the premises? Take anything? We've got officers checking for damages."

  It would be so much easier to just let them think what they would, that Rafe had tried to rape her. They'd cart him away and she'd never have to put up with his blackmail ever again. He'd go to jail, she'd go back to her life, and everything would be hunky dory.

  Easier, but she'd never be able to live with herself if she let it happen again. She'd roast in hell if she allowed this travesty to go on.

  "This is a mistake," she told Officer Reagan, finding the courage to speak up. "It's … it's all a big misunderstanding."

  Her father looked at her. "Alana," he said warningly. "You've been drinking. You don't know what you're talking about."

  She shook her head. "Just stop. Please. He wasn't trying to rape me. I … I was a willing participant. I invited him here. Its' not trespassing either." She looked at her father. "I'm sorry, Daddy. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."

  Alan's face turned molten red. He dropped his arm from around her shoulder as if disgusted by her touch. "You heard the lady. Let the man go, but not on my property." He turned away from his daughter.

  She went after him but stopped at the rigidity of his spine and the coldness in his eyes. "Daddy, please don't be mad."

  "Don't speak to me right now, Alana. I don't want to see you right now. You've embarrassed me in front of my guests and there's no getting over this one. Not this time. You've made your bed with a dog. Now go lie in it."

 

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