Stealing Allie Read online

  STEALING ALLIE

  What happens when you steal from a thief?

  She’s about to find out…

  About

  Allie’s life is turned upside down when she walks in on a crime in progress. Held hostage and then pursued by the handsome leader, Allie knows that only her wits will save her.

  Data thief Lucas Grayson never makes mistakes…until Allie. He vows to seduce her as a means of control, turning her seduction into a game of passion.

  It's the first game Lucas ever loses.

  When their cat and mouse game comes to an end, Allie knows she must pay the price. But how much is too much? Will she have to do the unthinkable to gain her freedom once and for all? Or will Lucas continue to make her pay, knowing that Allie has stolen much more than she could ever repay...

  Author

  H. S. Russell is the name of a woman who really doesn't want her two grown kids to read this book. An avid reader and writer, Russell has no idea how to write about herself, especially in third person.

  A resident of the southeast, Russell likes most everything, especially salt and vinegar potato chips and Oreos. Gardening terrifies her, so she binges on Netflix instead. She can often be found painting furniture and stalking Facebook Marketplace when not reading or writing erotic fiction.

  Notes

  This story began years ago when I had a dream about a really bad guy chasing after a woman who had taken something that he’d stolen. I had this one flash that imprinted upon my brain, the scene of him seducing her after her date and after he finds her. I knew he was bad….he was much worse in my dream than I’ve written him here. In my dream, she knew her only way to survive was to play along and outsmart him. After dreaming that little snippet, I spent the next ten years working out a plot every night as I went to sleep.

  I wish I could have stayed truer to the dream, but there’s this thing about anti-heroes not being psychotic…

  Happy reading.

  Table of Contents

  Prologue - Now

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Epilogue - Now

  “Cotton in the Air” by Derrick C. Brown

  I lift your body so that your legs strap to my hips and you

  are now adorned.

  I toss you around the room because I don’t want to be inside;

  I want to walk through you.

  So I can know.

  Prologue - Now

  Allie

  I never planned on falling in love with my enemy, but I did. This man stole my heart when I wasn’t looking. Not surprising I guess, since he’d made a living as a thief. A good one. He was ruthless and determined in everything he did. There was no mercy, and certainly no kindness. When he set his sights on me, I never stood a chance.

  Watching him sleep, I trace my fingers over his tan, muscled shoulders. His shoulders make me glad I’m a woman. The first time I saw him, he was wearing a black Henley that molded to him like a second skin. He made my mouth water.

  His dark brown hair is still rich and thick, and still waves at the end when it gets a little long. He’s going to have bed head when he wakes up, and I already know I won’t be able to keep my fingers away from it. It’s not fair how bed head makes him look both sexy and silly at the same time, but it does.

  I watch him for a little while, and then I feel him take a deep breath before his eyes open. His thick eyelashes flicker as he wakes up, and his eyes capture me all over again. His hazel eyes are an explosion of brown and green with flecks of gold. A ring of mahogany blends out from the pupil, leading to the starbursts of color.

  His eyes can still pierce right through me, even after all these years.

  I lean in toward him because I need his touch. I need to feel the heat of his body warming mine. When he sees my need, it transforms him, changing him from supine to predatory in seconds.

  He reaches for me, his hands in my hair, his big body rolling on top of mine. He spreads my legs so that I can cradle him where I need him so desperately. I moan at the feel of him on top of me. His arms surround me and hold me, protecting me from the rest of the world.

  His lips meet mine, brushing them lightly for just a second, until he feels the pull of my fingers in his hair, telling him that I need more, so much more. He pulls away to look at me, questioning me with just a look.

  “Please,” I whisper, and that’s all I have to say before he lowers his head to my neck. My need makes him hard, and I can feel him against me.

  “Allie,” he whispers, “hard or slow, baby?”

  “Both?” I ask him. I need him both ways, and he doesn’t disappoint. He opens my mouth and takes everything while one hand fists my hair so hard it almost hurts. His other hand trails down to test my body to make sure I’m ready for him.

  God help me, I am.

  He grunts at what he finds, pleased at how my body still reacts to him. He pulls away from the kiss so he can watch me as he slides inside. The pleasure makes his head drop down to my neck as if the sensations rob him of his strength and the ability to hold himself up.

  Feeling his thick cock slide into my wet heat is everything I need. His arms keep me imprisoned, exactly the way I like. He knows me so well. I think he’s always known what I needed, even before I did.

  As he begins to move, he growls and bites my neck, causing me to gasp and moan. Even in my willingness he demands my acquiescence, my submission. I close my eyes and give in to my desire, reveling in the feel of him moving over me and pounding into me with strength and unwavering confidence in his ability to satisfy my every need.

  He owns me and he always has, even from the very beginning.

  Chapter 1

  Lucas - 16 years old

  “Dammit, my son is not a thief.”

  That’s my dad, and he’s wrong. I cringe because he’s about to find out that he’s wrong.

  “Mr. Grayson, your son got ahold of the test and snapped a photo, then texted it to his friends. Students have come forward and showed us the text. It’s clearly from Lucas. I’m afraid there is no doubt that Lucas did this.”

  This is bad. This is really bad. I’m sitting all hunched over with my mouth resting on the heels of my hands when I shoot a glance at my dad. He’s all sorts of pissed. Pissed with a side of disappointment.

  The pissed part I expected, but the disappointment part stings.

  Deciding that manning up is my best option, I sit up a little and shoot my dad a quick glance. “Dad…” I shake my head at him and then slump back over in preparation for what’s coming. “I stole it, took a pic, then texted it to whoever paid ten bucks for it.”

  Principal Morehead barks out a laugh before he can stop himself. “You sold copies?” He glances at me, then looks down at his d
esk, shaking his head while he muffles a laugh. I’ve always liked Morehead.

  My dad, however, is not muffling a laugh. “I am so disappointed in you, Lucas.” I hate the way his voice sounds. I shoot him another glance that lasts for about two seconds, then hunker back down.

  Dad sighs and asks the all-important question. “He’ll get, what, after-school or Saturday suspension?”

  Oh shit, not Saturday suspension…that would so suck.

  Morehead isn’t laughing now. “I don’t think expulsion is the right answer here—” Expulsion? “—but unfortunately the rules are very clear.”

  Wait…what?

  I can’t get expelled. Getting expelled would cause a serious disruption in the seduction of one Nora Ames, the reason all this happened to begin with. She needed to pass that test to keep her grades up, so I decided to be her knight in shining armor and steal a copy for her. And since I already had it, why not help a few other students out and make a few bucks spending money? It was a win-win.

  But now, it’s a lose-lose because I’m going to lose Nora. If I’m not here every day to work my magic on her, it would be disastrous. That girl has tits out to here and an ass that promises to pop when it drops, and she’s thisclose to caving. Plus she’s a senior—she’ll be gone next year when I return.

  “Expulsion? Isn’t that a little harsh?” Dad asks, thank god. “He’s a good student, a good kid.”

  “I know he is, but the rules are clear. If it was just between us, I would let this go with a warning. But once things go out on text, everyone knows—and you can bet the board will. Word will get out, then I’ll be in a whole heap of trouble. I’m sorry, Mac, I don’t have an option here.”

  I’m fucked now, but not in the way I’d hoped.

  Oh the irony…

  I slump back in my seat, already kissing Nora’s fine ass goodbye. Or not kissing it, as it were.

  “But,” Morehead continues, “you can petition the board and plead your case before them. They can reinstate Lucas if they choose to.” He takes a deep breath and looks at both of us. “I am unable to comment on the sitting board members, but you have your work cut out for you.”

  ✤ ✤ ✤

  Dad is already gone by the time I get up the next morning. He works long hours now since Mom died. He says he does it for the extra pay to help with her medical bills, but sometimes I think it’s because he can’t stand coming home to a house without her in it. A house with just me.

  Thinking of Mom, my eyes go to the small picture of the three of us. Taken a year before she got sick, Dad is laughing as Mom kisses him on the cheek while she ruffles my hair. My eight-year-old self is smiling because life was pretty much perfect. We didn’t know what was just around the corner.

  After she died, it was like someone stole our sun and left us fumbling around in the dark. We became the blind leading the blind trying not to step on each other—or get too close. It took a long time for me to realize what death was, the finality of it—the permanence of it. Losing her was bad enough, until I realized it wasn’t just her. I’d lost my dad as well.

  Her to cancer, him to grief.

  Looking at the picture and seeing how lost he is now—still—without her, makes me think that falling in love isn’t such a good thing. I think I’d rather be alone than become a shell of a man like my father.

  ✤ ✤ ✤

  Dad makes me get a haircut before the board meeting, then tells me to wear a jacket and tie to it. When my name is called, we both stand and speak to the board; first my dad, then me. I answer their questions as respectfully as possible, glad to see that some of them have a look of understanding on their faces. Everyone but the board president.

  They take a few minutes to talk amongst themselves, and then the president speaks. “You realize that losing his mother doesn’t excuse this behavior. We have a lot of students who come from worse circumstances than this who have managed to not steal tests.”

  “With all due respect,” Dad says in a voice that sounds like the exact opposite of respect, “I never blamed this on his mother’s passing. I’m saying he’s a good kid and he’s had a hard time and deserves another chance.” Dad’s voice chokes a little; I watch him bow his head and squeeze his eyes. He’s composed when he looks back at the board asshole. “He’s been through a lot and deserves a break…this won’t happen again.” Dad shoots me a look, and I give a small nod.

  The fat fuck clears his voice like a self-righteous ass. “I’m very sorry for your loss, but I’m afraid it won’t change our decision. Your son needs to understand his actions have consequences. The appeal is denied. Lucas Grayson remains expelled from the Lancaster Public School System for the remainder of the school year.”

  I stare at him while he’s looking at my dad, watching the expression on his face. That’s not pity that he’s feeling—that’s glee. He loves having all the power…loves it.

  I look over at my dad and see his shoulders slumped in defeat and embarrassment. It’s my fault he’s feeling so humiliated. I did this. I did this to my own father…

  While the part of me that’s still his son is ashamed and remorseful for doing this to him, another part of me is seeing how he’s been stripped of his pride by some smug, holier-than-thou pig, and all I can think is that I never want to be weak like him.

  Just as we’re about to leave the room, the board president rubs more salt in our wounds. “Perhaps you should teach your son to work hard instead of stealing what he’s too lazy to work for.” He emphasizes stealing, saying the word like it’s the worst crime of them all.

  And that’s the moment that changed my life. In that moment, I vowed three things to myself. One, nobody will ever beat me down like this again. Ever. Two, I’ll never apologize for something again. And three, if this man thinks I’m a thief now, he has no idea what he’s just unleashed.

  ✤ ✤ ✤

  After the meeting, Dad and I basically quit speaking and drift even further apart. We’re like two magnets of the same pole, pushing each other away so we don’t get too close. What little bit of parenting he had left is gone, so he retreats even further into his hole of unending grief and long hours at work.

  And bastard that I am, I let him.

  Despite that fateful event, I still graduate on time. I double down on both my studies and my pursuit of Nora, who rewards me with more than just her tits. I use that girl in every angry, depraved way she lets me, pounding all the goodness out of our bodies until we’re both nothing but filthy.

  Unbeknownst to my dad and to Nora, I begin to study the world of computers and hacking. I learn about digital footprints and virtualizations, hypernodes and clusters, boots and encryptions. Then I learn how to sneak into a server and take pieces of information I’m looking for.

  I use the board president as my guinea pig, and over the years, I’ve unleashed my wrath on him many, many times. I feel no remorse.

  I wasn’t a thief before that meeting, but I am one now.

  Allie - 16 years old

  “Allie girl, you’re a goddamned thief!” That’s Bobby McCafferty, and he’s drunk. “I had my heart set on you since the third grade. Third grade! You were going to be the only girl for me, then you started liking that Barry shithead, and it’s like you stole my heart and never gave it back.”

  Drunk Bobby McCafferty is also full of shit. Lucky for him, I don’t care. His dark eyes and flirty smiles and bad-boy ways were enough to get me to sneak away from the school bonfire, and now here I am, sitting on the tailgate of his truck, watching the stars while he plies me with his big puppy-dog eyes and even bigger bullshit.

  “You act like I did that on purpose, Bobby,” I tell him, giving him my best flirty glare. “Besides, you’re so wasted you probably have me confused with someone else. I’m not really sure you even know who I am.”

  He leans away from me and throws his hand over his heart as if mortally wounded. “Allie Jenson, you just broke my heart into pieces all over again. Of course it was you. A
man doesn’t forget his first true love.”

  Did I believe Bobby cared for me? Mmm, not so much. Did that matter? Mmm, not at all. But Bobby is exactly what I’ve been looking for: hot, interested and here, and the right kind of guy to do the job.

  Playing along, I bite my bottom lip and toss my hair over my shoulder. His attention is fun, and it’s making me feel squirmy and needy in the still-mysterious place between my legs. “Well, Bobbie, I guess I’ll just have to find a way to put your heart back together…” Normally I would laugh at such a cheesy line, but it’s the best I could do with my heart pounding so hard.

  I’ve never done this before, so I’m a little nervous.

  Bobby leans over and bumps my shoulder with his. “I’m sure there’s a thing or two that might help me believe in love again,” he smirks.

  I laugh out loud and look him dead on. “Bobby, that is the smarmiest line I’ve ever heard.” He backs up a little bit—probably thinking I’m shutting him down—but instead, I climb over and straddle him. His face lights up like a kid on Christmas morning.

  Or a guy about to get laid.

  He leans up to kiss me, then pulls me down onto the bed of his truck. That’s when I let Bobby McCafferty take my virginity, presumably as a way to make up for me having stolen his heart. Really I just wanted to be done with the whole thing. It was uncomfortable but quick, and later, he was properly appreciative of my token of goodwill. Bobby takes me back to the bonfire where we eventually part ways.

  My folks are still out at a movie by the time I get home, so I stay up late texting with some of my friends. We had much to discuss after my night of debauchery and de-virginization.

  One minute I’m texting my friend, then the next one I’m jolting awake. I stumble out of bed, my heart pounding so hard it feels like it’s going to jump out of my chest. As I’m trying to figure out what’s going on, the doorbell rings in quick succession, making me jump yet again. There’s a heavy knock on the door and a man’s voice shouting something that sounds like “Sheriff.” I look out my window and, sure enough, a sheriff’s car is in the driveway.