Driven By Love (The Heirs 0f Orion Series Book 1) Read online

  Dean stepped in front of Anne, “I think that the Stevens family needs some time alone, Mr….”

  Marshall gave Dean a look of annoyance. “Foss, Marshall Foss. I’m sure you have heard of me. I’ve produced some of the most successful movies in the industry.”

  “Oh, I’m sure you did.” Dean’s sarcastic tone made Anne grind her teeth. There was no reason for him to be so nasty towards him.

  “Thank you for stopping in, Marshall,” Anne politely told him. “Maybe we can have dinner after Missy recovers.”

  Marshall smiled back at her. “That would be lovely, my dear. I’m actually going to be staying in town to attend to some business so if you or your family need anything at all just give me a call.”

  “Marshall, I really can’t…”

  “Nonsense, my dear. I won’t take no for an answer.” He moved towards her but instead stepped right into Dean. “My good man, I mean her no harm.” He reached out and took hold of Anne’s hand and gently kissed it. “A beauty such as yourself should be cherished. I will stop in from time to time to see how things are. “

  “Marshall, you don’t need to…”

  “Darling, I must. I feel such an obligation to help those in need.”

  “Then go save some dolphins.” Dean bluntly told him.

  Marshall smirked, “You need to curb your bodyguard, my dear. He might say the wrong thing to the wrong person.”

  He walked over to Helen and Jeri said his goodbyes and casually walked to the door. Dean glared at him as he passed by and opened the door for him to leave. He was tempted to slam it on his prissy little ass.

  “Who the hell was that?” Dean growled as soon as the door closed.

  Anne stared angrily at Dean. What the hell was his problem? “He’s a friend.”

  “The hell he is.” He muttered and left the room.

  Did his nostrils just flare up? Was he jealous? There was no way. He had his chance last night and he blew it.

  *

  Dean walked out into the hall and narrowly missed being run over by an orderly with a wheelchair. When he rolled past, he walked further away and began to pace like a caged lion.

  Friend? He didn’t believe it for a minute. A casual friend wouldn’t travel thousands of miles and pay for anything the friend and their family needed.

  He stopped and slapped the wall. Damn it! It was good thing that he stopped when he did last night. If things got out of hand, this situation would have gotten ugly.

  The shrill of a hard rock song penetrated his senses. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone.

  “Miller here,” he growled.

  “Whoa, caught you at a bad time, little brother?” Eric Miller said with a laugh.

  Dean took a deep breath and let it out. “No, I uh…need a distraction.”

  “A distraction? Are you having lady problems already?”

  “What?”

  Eric laughed, “It’s all over the web, bro. You and Anne Stevens on your boat. Ring a bell?”

  “Oh, shit.” Dean rubbed his temples. It was a miracle that the press didn’t find his boat yet. When Jeri rented the dock for him she paid everything in cash so there was no paper trail. The dock owner was an older gentleman who never left his house and really loved it when Jeri dropped in to check up on him. He wouldn't utter a word about the boat to anyone. It was also to their advantage that the dock was closer inland and down a different branch of the river. Still, the press knew what it looked like so he had to be careful when they returned back to it.

  “There’s nothing going on.”

  “Oh, come on Dean. Throw me something! I’m in a desert, for God’s sake. There’s no available females for miles! You were on a boat with her - alone. Tell me you rocked that boat until it almost capsized!”

  “There is nothing going on between us Eric. I’m protecting her, that’s it.”

  Eric groaned, “Seriously Dean? You are not doing something right.”

  “She’s attracted to men with money and status. I don’t have any of that.”

  “You got something that those Hollywood fancy boys don’t have.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Bona-fide balls. You have seen and done things that would make those guys’ shit turn white!”

  Dean stifled a laugh as he pictured Marshall out in the field trying to hold on to a gun and accidentally shooting his foot.

  “Women go nuts over a guy in uniform.”

  “If that’s the case, then why are you still single?” Dean snickered as he walked over to the window. The press and fans were still outside, all waited for a glimpse of either Anne or Missy. They were like hungry hounds waiting for a piece of fresh meat to devour and tear apart. He wondered if they would be in the back of the hospital this time. If they were, he’d need some help from the police to get Anne out.

  “I am married to the military, little brother.” His brother’s voice cut through his thoughts. “Staying with one woman is not in my future and I am okay with that.”

  “I wish I had your attitude.”

  Eric laughed, “You and Jeri are both alike. You want to just settle down. Me, I prefer not to be tied down.”

  “Ha! As I recall you do like to be tied down. You just don’t know when to shut your mouth.”

  It was now his brother’s turn to groan, “You had to bring that back up, didn’t you?”

  “Hey, Jeri and I are the ones that have to live with that image for the rest of our lives.” He grinned, “She can’t even read that new bondage romance book because she said she pictures you in it.”

  “Then she won’t do that type of thing and it will keep her out of trouble,” Eric laughed. “Speaking of our little sister…I tried calling her earlier but she didn’t pick up. She okay?”

  “Yeah, she’s here with everyone at the hospital.”

  “Ah, Missy Stevens, heard about that too. How she doing?”

  “Same as yesterday, no better, no worse.”

  “That’s gotta be tough.” His voice was solemn.

  Dean tried not to think about the whole situation. It was all wait and see for now. He wondered if his brother met anyone else recently that had any powers. “So, have you seen anyone lately with strange tattoos?” He knew the lines might have been bugged so he used their code word.

  Eric sighed, “No, what about you?”

  He was itching to tell him about Anne’s power but he swore to her that he wouldn’t. No matter how pissed he was his word was golden. “Nothing.”

  Dean walked back into the hallway as the door to the room opened and Jeri popped out.

  “Hey, speaking of our little sister, she just came out of the room. Wanna talk to her?”

  Jeri beamed as she took the phone, “Hey big brother, when you coming home and don’t tell me next year! I have a really nice girl or, actually, woman that I want you to meet!”

  Dean grinned as he listened to his siblings talk. Jeri was determined to get Eric tied down because she didn’t want him to end up alone and lonely.

  “Then divorce the military!” Dean heard Jeri yell at their brother.

  He shook his head and headed back into the room

  *

  “Don’t know how much more I can help you, Dean,” Stan told him as they waited outside of Missy’s hospital room. “We never had to deal with a situation of crazed stalking reporters before.”

  Dean rubbed his jaw. Stan’s team would block the exits from the hospital and another one would escort them to the highway in case any additional reporters were lurking. If any came out, the team was instructed to have a squad car in each lane slow down to block the reports and to let Dean and Anne get away. It was the best tactic they could come up with for now.

  “To be honest, Stan, I am not exactly sure how to deal with them myself. If they were a deadly threat I’d handle it, but they are civilians.”

  Stan shook his head. “Not if they try to
hurt her.” He looked around. “I’d still feel safer if you let my team follow both of you to your safe house.”

  Dean shook his head. “I can’t do that, Stan. People can get bought.”

  “Not anyone on my team.”

  “You’d be surprised. Throw the right amount of money at someone and they’ll sell you their soul.”

  Stan sighed and bobbed his head. “You’re right.”

  The door of the room opened and Ken stepped out.

  “Any change?” Stan asked his friend.

  Ken shook his head. “Nothing.”

  “She’s a strong girl, Ken. She’ll pull through,” Stan assured him.

  Ken ran his hand over his face. “This would have never happened if Anne would have listened to me!”

  Stan placed his hand on his shoulder. “Ken, you need to let it go. Yes, she decided to go to Hollywood without your approval, but that doesn’t mean you should hate her.”

  “She’s a good person Mr. Stevens. She would never knowingly do anything to hurt your family,” Dean chimed in.

  “She could have exposed us,” he harshly whispered, then looked at Stan. “Dean knows.”

  Stan nodded. “Then he will make sure no one else finds out.”

  “Yes, I will.” Dean assured him. “But there is something you need to do for me.”

  Ken’s head whipped in his direction. “What?”

  “Forgive her. You both need to be here for Missy and bickering at each other isn’t going to make the situation any better.”

  Ken looked away, rubbed his face again and sighed. “You’re right. I may lose one of my girls but I can’t lose both of them.” He spun around and headed back into the room.

  Chapter 13

  Dean saw the squad cars slow down in the rearview mirror and block the stray reporters that found them. He floored Hawk, who fired like a rocket down the road, leaving everyone in their dust. After a few minutes he exited off the expressway and started down the back roads to get back to his boat.

  “Did you say something to my father?” Anne’s voice broke the eerie silence since they left the hospital.

  Dean looked in the rearview mirror as he turned another corner. There was one car and one cargo van that started following them after they got off the expressway.

  “I told him to forgive you.”

  She looked over to him. “Thank you.” She looked ahead at the road again. It was pitch black but the light of the moon lit the road in an eerie glow. “Before we left the hospital he hugged me and told me he loved me.” Her head against the window. Her fingers gently moved a loose strand of hair from her face. “Then he told me all he wanted was for me to be safe and happy. It was probably the longest conversation I have had with him since I left.”

  Dean’s eyes darted back to the rearview mirror as he took another turn. Both vehicles followed them and kept a short distance between them. There was no doubt they were tailing them.

  “Damn it.”

  “What’s wrong?” Anne looked back and saw the vehicles behind them. “I can get rid of them.”

  Dean reached over and grabbed her hand. “Don’t you even try.”

  “They won’t know I did it.” she reassured him.

  “It would be too much of a coincidence if two cars broke down at once. Leave them. I’m sure Hawk can lose them - right, buddy?”

  The engine revved in acknowledgment and sped up.

  “You are a bad influence on him!” Anne yelled at him as she yanked her hand away and turned back to their uninvited tails.

  They increased their speed to match theirs.

  “Shit. Hawk, we have to lose them.” Dean told him.

  The engine revved again.

  “Let go of the wheel!” Anne screamed at him.

  Fear caught in his throat as he let it go. Immediately, Hawk turned right down a dirt road, spewing dirt and rocks as he fishtailed and then straightened to continue down the road. The first car blew past the road but the van caught on and was able to make the turn.

  Dean swore. “Do you know any other way of getting rid of them, Hawk?”

  The engine revved three times, almost sounding like a chuckle.

  A few more feet and he turned left onto another dirt road.

  “He knows what he’s doing.” Anne told him as she looked back. “Those guys are still following us. It would just be so easy for me…”

  There was no way Dean was going to take that chance. His hand reached over and pulled her face towards him. He was protecting her, he told himself as his lips crushed into hers and he tasted her sweet nectar. This was only a distraction for her. She deepened the kiss and his groin tightened in anticipation.

  His fingers began an intricate journey through her silky hair as the scent of her shampoo became engraved in his mind. Her arms wrapped around his neck and her hand went down the back of his shirt, tracing the muscles.

  Hawk took another turn and her body crushed against him.

  The wild beast inside of him wanted out and the scent of her unlocked the door for its release. His mouth let go of her lips and gently trailed kisses down her neck to the top of her blouse. The covered mounds tempted him to take a little taste and his mouth began to water at the sight. Would they taste as sweet as her?

  Another sharp turn broke his thought as he slammed against the door. A quick glance in the mirror showed him they weren’t being followed anymore. They were driving down a dark one lane road with tall trees on both sides of it and no light except for the rays from the moon above them.

  Did she…?

  Anne’s body lurched on top of his and her lips began to ravage his. Their tongues danced and entwined together as her hands pulled up his shirt exposing his muscular chest.

  Her enticing lips traced down his jaw then went down and nibbled on the erogenous tender spot on his neck. How did she know that was his weakness? His mind screamed to stop, but his inner demon craved the fire she created in his loins. She was in every fiber of his being and he couldn’t break loose.

  The leather seat went down and she continued her assault on his body. The moonlight from the t-tops caste a subtle glow inside, making the moment feel surreal.

  Why did she have such a profound effect on him? It was like an addiction that he couldn’t stop craving. Never did he have a reaction to a kiss like he did with Anne. He craved her like a man craved water in the desert--one sip wasn’t enough. He wanted more.

  The moan she placed against his lips made his groin tighten in anticipation as her tongue slowly danced around his lips and slowly, sweetly, tasted him. Her long hair lay around his face creating a veil that contained their lustful heat. All his thoughts of why this was wrong vanished as his arms gripped her tighter against him and she deepened the kiss. Her soft moans fueled that deep passion that he thought vanished with his heartbreak. It was now back with a full vengeance and he welcomed it. The scent of roses penetrated his nose and he fell into an abyss of ecstasy and passion. There was nothing but her, and he couldn’t get enough of it.

  Soon Anne’s shirt followed and Dean broke away to take a look at this beautiful woman. He moved her dark strands of hair aside. Her eyes were dark as the night filled with intense desire for him.

  “I need you, Dean.” Her eyes pleaded with him as her hand traveled up his arm.

  “Anne, are you sure about this?” His heart thudded in his ears.

  “Yes, Dean. I want you… you’re the only man I ever truly feel safe with.” She grabbed his head and brought him closer to her. “I trust you completely and I never felt like this with any man.”

  “I have protection in my wallet.”

  Anne stopped him with a kiss. “I’m on birth control and I had every STD test done after…” She stopped herself from conjuring up those bad memories. “I’m clean… unless you…”

  “I had tests done, too, and I’m clean.”

  A smile formed on her face. “Then what are you wait
ing for, soldier?”

  He captured her lips and crushed his body against hers again. His hands traveled down her back and grabbed hold of her ass as a moan escaped her lips. He felt her hands run down his chest and shot to the front of his pants, swiftly unzipped them to release his throbbing erection.

  He tore himself from her lips and moved to plant kisses down her throat and slowly to her white-lace encased breasts that hovered above him. His tongue twirled above one of the perfect mounds as a soft moan escaped her lips. Gently he nipped at her breast and his tongue smoothed it with a dance that inflamed her even more.

  Dean wanted her to experience a passion like never before. He didn’t have all the money or power that her previous lovers had, but he had something that they couldn’t give her--love. He didn’t want to admit it, even to himself, but he knew he had fallen for her hard. Deep down inside he found a woman who cared for others, and that was something that was hard to find.

  His fingers found their way to the back of her bra and swiftly unhooked it to release her perfect breasts. His hand brought one breast to his lips to feast on as Anne moaned. When he tweaked the other nipple he heard her inhale sharply, which fueled his desire, and he continued to lap the nipple and slowly moved to the other one. As his tongue teased her, his hands swiftly pulled her jeans down. Her breath quickened and he slowly moved her up so his mouth rested on top of her lacy panties. He bit down and ripped them away with his teeth. The moonlight cast her in an eerie glow that made her look like a goddess.

  He emitted a primal growl. “This can’t be real.”

  Anne slowly slid back down, her nipples gently scraped against his chest, creating a ripple that went straight to his groin. She moved to the passenger seat and grabbed his pants and boxers and pulled them down. His weeping cock popped out eagerly waiting for her. Dean held his breath as she gently she took hold of it and kissed the tip of the head. He felt himself swell as his balls tightened. Her soft lips parted and took as much of him in her mouth as she could. The tip of her tongue began to dance up and down the length of him as she continued to pump him into her mouth.

  “Oh, fuck, Anne.”

  His cock popped out of her mouth as she smiled. “That’s exactly what you will do later.” With that, she devoured his cock again, and slid it in and out as her tongue swirled on the underside. As her tongue continued its sensual dance her hand gently massaged his balls and Dean emitted another growl.