Authors: Dani Jace
“Let’s eat.” He landed their bag of fast food on the coffee table then dropped onto the sofa next to her. With her black eye, she looked frail and it didn’t sit well with him. “You’ll feel better after some food and a shower.”
“All I want is you.” She crawled onto his lap and hugged his neck. “I didn’t think I would ever…” She lay her head on his shoulder and broke into tears.
He drew her tight. Her vulnerability bought out his protective side, but his dick let him know she was still his woman. He shifted to keep her from feeling his hard-on. Right now, she needed to feel safe.
He caressed her back and nibbled on her neck. His body strained with need. He wanted her in his bed, beneath him. Feel her reassuring warmth that she was alive. He ached to be so deep in her softness he’d forget his fucking name. “Shouldn’t we finish last night’s conversation?”
She drew back. Her brows furrowed as she combed her hair to hide her black eye.
If he could kill the bastard again for hurting her, he would.
She tried to leave his lap, but he held her there.
“Why didn’t you want to tell me you might be pregnant?” It hurt that she didn’t feel comfortable confiding in him for such a matter even if they’d split after an argument.
Her gaze drifted from him. “When you left, I’ve never hurt so bad―except when dad died. I was afraid you’d say something in anger. I would have found that hard to forgive.”
He never suspected his actions warranted that type of harsh belief. “Never, baby. You can tell me anything. That’s part of our problem. You don’t tell me enough.”
“I couldn’t tell you everything that Harley knew from DEA. He made me swear. I tried calling you when I heard about Vic, but then I panicked. Not because I didn’t trust or believe in you. You ended up putting your life on the line. The very thing I feared.”
He scratched his chin. “Harley is undercover with the DEA. That is a fucking revelation.” He still didn’t trust him.
“Scary, huh.” Her hands tunneled beneath his shirt. Smoothed her fingers over the taunt muscles of his chest.
She wanted him and his cock took notice. He unzipped her jeans. “Not as scary as his hook-up with your friend, Tami.” He winked.
“He’s calling her Black Widow.”
He laughed so hard she had to hold on. “Let’s get a shower.” He loved how she licked her lips at his invitation.
After leading her to the bathroom, she slid off her jeans and panties.
He helped her off with her shirt and unhooked her lacy bra allowing her breasts to fall free. Her rosy nipples pebbled under his gaze. “So beautiful.” He cupped them.
“My turn.” She reached for his fly. “Lose the shirt.”
Her hands made fast work of stripping him to the buff. She caressed his eager shaft with several light strokes and then drew him into the tub. The hot water and her roaming hands eased his tight muscles like a healing balm. They languished beneath the steam reconnecting through touch alone.
He boxed away his terror from last night, unable to fathom if events had gone differently. He could be alone this morning, helping Bobby plan her funeral. His heart nearly seized. He let the tears flow under the water.
After soaping one another, he drew her back to his front. Revived his desired by massaging his cock against her firm rear. Water sleuthed between her breasts as he filled his hands with their weight and traced her shoulder with tender kisses.
She moaned and let her head fall against his chest.
He needed to be inside of her. Filling her with his love. He cut off the water, wrapped her in a towel and led her to his bed.
In the middle of the dark sheets, he poised over her, taking in the dark amber of her gaze.
She cupped her swollen eye.
He frowned. A shot to the head was too easy for the asshole.
After removing her hand, he soothed her injury with a kiss “What do you care about a black eye? You’re a tough girl.”
She locked her arms around his neck. “It’s just―”
“It doesn’t matter. I love you, Jo.” Nothing in his life matched the fear that ripped his gut when he arrived at the blaze. If he ever doubted prayer, finding her on the beach proved otherwise. Relief had flooded his chest, and a millisecond later, training took over. She became the mission. Detaching proved nearly impossible. Instead, he focused on the target with all his abilities.
Now, he needed to be inside her. Consummating his love. Absorbing hers. “Let me love you, baby. Everything is going to be okay, I promise.”
With a sigh, she welcomed him. Molded her thighs around his hips. Drew him deeper. Luscious lips nibbled his earlobe and neck, sending shivers along his spine. With each thrust, her body squeezed him. He lengthened his strokes and slowed the tempo, needing to prolong their union.
She clutched his shoulders as they hurled toward oblivion. God, he loved her enthusiasm. Each time she took him higher than before.
He drove faster. “Now, baby?”
“Yes.”
His muscles tensed as she let go and took him with her.
Falling. So easy. So good. He welcomed it. With heart pounding, he gave his soul and felt it returned.
* * * *
Her womb clenched and she spiraled into a second orgasm. His warm release filled a secret hollow place inside of her. In his arms, she felt complete not just a surfer girl turned firefighter. “I love you, Ray,” she whispered, as they lay entangled.
He kissed her forehead. “I’m sorry for being jealous.”
“Why won’t you tell me why you two are at odds?” Not knowing the truth had caused her trouble. She didn’t want to be blindsided again.
“Why does it matter?” He looked away.
Their avoidance of the issue made it seem more important. “You said I could tell you everything.” She traced along his tattooed bicep. “It works both ways.”
“I’ll make a deal with you.” He twirled a lock of her hair around his finger.
“Are you bargaining for backdoor, Mr. Andrews?” How bad did she want to know the men’s secret?
His narrowed his gaze. “You don’t know if you’ll like something until you try it.”
Considering his extraordinary skills, she’d consider his request. He knew how to leave her sated yet eager for more. “I trust you. With my life and more.”
He frowned. “I don’t want payback, baby. I love you and want you to feel loved and safe.” Then he smiled. “And give you the best sex of your life.”
“You can check all those boxes, Hemanus.” She gave his growing erection a loving tug and sat up. “Will they be able to put him away for good?”
His blue eyes searched her with concern. “Drug trafficking should do it. Plus, there’s got to be a law about using someone’s e-mail account illegally. And don’t forget embezzling.”
Even if the police found Nate, she couldn’t be positive her worries were over. But she could count of the best sex of her life with a Hemanus.
With her cheek aching, Jo slid off the bed and checked her reflection in Ray’s dresser mirror.
Still in dreamland, he lay with thick lashes fringing his tanned face. Accented by a sexy grunge beard, he looked peaceful. So at odds with yesterday, when worry lines etched his forehead.
She, on the other hand, looked like she’d been on the bad end of a UFC fight. The swelling in her cheek had subsided, but her eye was the color of Concord and Black Corinth grapes.
Rode hard and put away wet
came to mind. The aroma of coffee enticed her to the kitchen.
“Where are you going?” His iron bar of an arm latched on to her, dragging her onto the rumpled sheets and against his chest.
“For coffee.” She giggled.
“Mmmm. I believe we still have some unfinished business.” His voice deepened.
“Oh.”
“Then we can go get your new driver’s license.” His fingers traced along her bruise.
“Can’t do anything without an ID.”
“We’re getting ready to.” He arched a brow. “Don’t forget you have your volly badge in the Bronco with your gear.”
“It might prove I’m not a terrorist, at least.”
“I kinda like the way you torture me.” His abs rippled in laughter.
She rolled on top of him as his husky rumble resonated through her. It was an endearing sound she wanted to hear forever. “I’ll have you confessing in minutes.”
Thirty minutes later, she took a shower and then headed for the kitchen. A cup of coffee landed on the counter in front of her.
“Who’d you say would be confessing?” His crooked smile challenged as he returned to flipping pancakes with a tattooed bicep.
He won. She didn’t mind. Lord, the man would drive her to the depths of debauchery with his fuck me now body. “When did Craig leave?”
He shot her a sexy squint over his bare shoulder. “I heard his truck start when we were deep into round two.”
Guess she’d been too enthralled to notice.
After breakfast, they stopped at Sarah’s house. Jo almost cried in joy at the site of her Bronco. Ray handed her Bobby’s set of keys he’d given him.
No one appeared home, so she grabbed her badge from her go bag. She wondered if Sarah would be able to forgive Bobby even though he wasn’t the one who dragged her into interrogation.
At the DMV she acquired a new license with a picture that resembled a criminal mug shot. From there, her bodyguard/chauffeur whisked her off to the bank for a new debit card and some cash. Then on to Wally World, his nickname for the world famous discount store.
Ray made a beeline for sporting goods, saying he’d catch her in a bit. She began the hunt for jeans first. She couldn’t blame him for fleeing. Everyone they’d seen since leaving the house directed an accusatory eye toward him in spite of her camouflaging shades. Her hero now thought a villain.
Later, he snuck behind her as she browsed through the lingerie section. “What have you found so far?”
She turned holding up a plain white bra.
“Practical, but how about something lacy?” He grinned. “What else?”
He glanced at the few items in her basket, jeans, panties, socks, and a couple of T-shirts. He cocked his head. “What about makeup, hairbrush. A purse?”
She raked her hands through her hair. The road to normalcy suddenly seemed daunting. Tears threatened. For a girl who didn’t cry when her mother left, she’d become a virtual baller.
He wrapped her into a hug. “It’s okay, baby.”
“I don’t know where to start. I don’t want a purse.” She sniffed as she pulled away and straightened. “I’m a backpack girl. You guys are lucky to have pockets in everything you wear.” The handbag thing sounded stupid, but she was hanging by a thread.
“I’ll help you get what you need.” He took over driving the cart.
He probably figured a script for Prozac would be more helpful. Such a gentle nature for a big guy as he guided her through the store, helping her replace toiletries, cosmetics, and even tampons.
After checking out, they headed to Sarah’s to retrieve her truck. “Thanks for helping. Can I ask you something?” Jo glanced to Ray.
“Uh-oh. Can we go back to purse versus backpack?” His cheek dimpled.
“I just don’t want to be an imposition.”
He rubbed his forehead. “There you go again.” He sighed “What do I have to do before you believe I’m here for you?” The light turned red and he studied her. “If it had been my place, where would I be staying?”
“With me.”
“I rest my case, but if you’d rather―you can stay with my mom in her efficiency.”
Geez, the man could be devious without trying. “I’ll stay out of Craig’s way.”
“He best stay out of yours. The lease is in my name, Dahlin’.”
Sarah met them at the driveway. Her face was taunt and pale. She had her hair drawn into a tight ponytail. “I’m so sorry, Jo. Bobby told me everything. Why didn’t either of you mention you were being watched?”
“Can you say stubborn?” Ray’s jaw tightened.
Sarah nodded. “Bobby called me just a few minutes ago saying the detectives are requesting a subpoena for a transcript of the cellular calls between Nate and Vic.”
Jo didn’t know what to say. “I’m sorry.” She hoped Nate would disappear now that Vic was gone.
“Did Bobby say if they’d found Nate?” Ray looked hopeful.
Sarah folded her arms and shook her head. “There still searching. Don’t feel bad, Jo, my partner is as much to blame. The jerk screwed my personal and professional life. I wish someone would kill
him
so I could collect the business life insurance. Then I could fix part of my world.”
Too bad he hadn’t been on the beach with Vic. Ray would’ve handled it. Surely, her brother considered the possibility of the ass wipe showing up on Sarah’s doorstep. “Are you by yourself?”
“One of my girlfriends is staying until he gets back. She glanced over her shoulder to the house. After what happened to you, Jo, he’s worried and I’m scared. I don’t know about Bobby and me. One thing at a time.”
“You have my number. Call us if you need anything.” Jo hugged her.
Something else she couldn’t fix or control. Life was certainly trying to teach her a lesson in letting go.
* * * *
Covered in sweat, Ray swung off the side of the bed holding his head. “Fuck.”
He shivered and fought the resonating images of blood. Gunfire echoed in his head. The clock glowed three AM.
Jo eased up behind him. “You okay?”
“Sorry.” He patted her hand that smoothed his arm. “Didn’t mean to wake you.”
As he gained control, her fingers kneaded the knots from his shoulders and back. Soft lips caressed his neck. Her tropical scent reminded him of what was real. Jo.
“Nothing to be sorry about,” she whispered. “Bad dream?”
He exhaled.
“Never mind. Lay on your belly.” She patted his hip.
“Huh?”
“For a massage.”
He lay down with the nightmare still nagging his consciousness. His reoccurring rooftop dream paled to this new hell. She didn’t need to know.
Jo straddled him, leaned forward and firmly tunneled her thumbs into the tight cords of his shoulders. Making small circles on either side of his spine, she worked her way to his rear then returned to his shoulders and upper back.
“You’re an angel.”