Chapter 298: Temporary Happiness

Then he dropped to his knees, pushing my thighs further apart. His tongue traced my center in one long, slow stroke that had me gripping the edge of the counter for support.

"Fuck—" I breathed, head falling back against the mirror as he continued his relentless assault. His tongue circled my clit before dipping lower, teasing my entrance while his thumb maintained the perfect pressure where I needed it most.

My hips bucked against his mouth, seeking more contact. One of his hands pressed firmly on my stomach, holding me in place while the other worked two fingers inside me, curving upward to hit that perfect spot.

The combination was overwhelming. Heat pooled low in my belly, pressure building rapidly as James doubled his efforts, reading my body's responses with practiced ease.

"I'm close," I warned, thighs trembling on either side of his head.

He hummed against me, the vibration sending shockwaves through my core. "Come for me," he murmured, never breaking rhythm. "Let me taste you."

His words pushed me over the edge. My body tensed, wave after wave of pleasure washing through me as I cried out his name.

Before I could recover, James stood and positioned himself at my entrance. With one smooth thrust, he was inside me, filling me completely. The sudden fullness pulled another cry from my throat.

"You feel so good," he groaned, setting a relentless pace that had the bathroom counter rattling beneath us. "Always, baby."

I locked my ankles behind his back, changing the angle just enough to make us both gasp. His hands gripped my hips hard enough to bruise, pulling me onto him with each powerful thrust.

The sound of skin against skin echoed in the steamy bathroom, mixing with our increasingly desperate moans. James captured my mouth in a fierce kiss, swallowing my cries as I felt another orgasm building.

"James, I'm going to—" My words dissolved into incoherent sounds as pleasure crashed through me for a second time.

"Christ—El—" James's rhythm faltered, his movements growing erratic as my inner walls clenched around him. With a final, deep thrust, he buried himself to the hilt, his release pulsing hot inside me.

We stayed locked together, breathing hard, foreheads pressed together as we came down from our shared high.

"I should bring you clothes more often," I murmured against his lips, feeling his chest rumble with soft laughter.

Over the next few weeks, tiny cracks began to appear in the twins' united front against James. After my father sat them down for a long conversation—the details of which he refused to share with me—they slowly started acknowledging James again. First with one-word answers, then with cautious questions, and finally with something approaching their normal enthusiasm.

***

My phone rang while I was reviewing Ephemeral's weekend reservations. I didn't recognize the number but answered anyway.

"Elowen Lewis."

"Sarah." The voice was immediately familiar despite the years that had passed. "Or should I call you Elowen now?"

I straightened in my chair. "Emma? Emma Thornton?"

"Emma Brown now. I filed for divorce a week after William's sentencing. Couldn't stand being associated with him after what he did to everyone." Her voice sounded tense, lacking the arrogance I remembered. "I need to tell you something important."

"I'm listening."

"William's out of prison." She delivered the news bluntly. "Released two days ago for good behavior."

My grip tightened on the phone. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because he came to see me yesterday, demanding money." Her words came faster now. "When I refused, he threatened to make 'us' pay. He specifically mentioned you and James."

A chill ran through me. William had always been unstable, and prison had likely only made him worse.

"Be careful, Sarah," Emma added, her voice dropping. "He's not the same. There's something... different about him now. Something worse."

I immediately called James, my hands shaking as I relayed Emma's warning.

"The twins," I said, voice breaking with fear. "William knows about them. What if he tries to—"

"I'll handle it," James interrupted, his voice tight with controlled anger. "Starting tonight, Marcus will be with you and the children at all times. I'm adding security at their school, your apartment, and Ephemeral."

"Good," I breathed, relief washing through me. "Whatever it takes to keep them safe. William's always been unstable, and now..."

"Exactly. He's unpredictable and vindictive. Until we know what he's planning, we take no chances."

The next morning, I found Marcus stationed outside the twins' school, his presence both reassuring and unsettling. Similar security appeared at Ephemeral, my apartment building, and even accompanied me on errands.

Days stretched into weeks with no sign of William. The twins complained about their "shadows," finding the constant security oppressive. After a month without incident, I convinced James to scale back, returning to our normal routine.

The guards at the school were reduced to occasional drive-bys, and Marcus returned to his regular duties.

That Friday afternoon, I was in the midst of Ephemeral's dinner preparations when my phone rang. I glanced at the screen—Liam calling. 

"Hey, Dad," I answered, wiping my hands on a kitchen towel as I ducked into a quieter corner of the bustling kitchen. 

"Have the children been sent over yet?" His voice carried a hint of concern. 

I checked my watch—6:15 PM. The twins should have been at his house over two hours ago. A knot formed in my stomach.

"What do you mean? Mrs. Jenkins picked them up from school at 3:15. She texted me saying they were on their way to you. They should have been there hours ago."

"They never arrived, Elowen," my father said, his voice tightening. "I've been waiting and waiting, but no one's shown up."

The knife I'd been holding clattered to the counter. "Let me call Jenkins. Maybe they got stuck in traffic or had to make a stop."

But even as I said it, I knew something was wrong. Two hours was far too long for any delay, and Mrs. Jenkins always called if plans changed.

I hung up and immediately dialed Mrs. Jenkins. No answer. I tried again. Straight to voicemail. My heart began to race as I called the school's emergency line. 

"This is Elowen Lewis. My children, Harper and Theo—were they picked up today? And by whom?" 

"One moment, Ms. Lewis," the administrator replied. After what felt like an eternity, she returned. "Yes, Mrs. Jenkins signed them out at 3:17 PM, right on schedule."

Ending that call, I immediately phoned James, struggling to keep panic from overwhelming me as I ran toward the exit.

"Honey?" He answered on the first ring. "What's wrong?"

"The twins." My voice cracked. "They're missing."