Collecting the Pieces

by L. A. Fiore

  Her eyes found mine, a slight smile touching her lips. “I like that you can read me so well, but I’m over that. It was a knee-jerk reaction, but you and me we’re still figuring it out.”

  “I’ve already figured it out, babe. I just didn’t want to get your hopes up and then be unable to make the move.” And yet her words had doubt rearing its ugly head. I had Sidney; I knew that. I just wasn’t so sure I had all of her. And I was a selfish motherfucker because I wanted all of her.

  She stopped walking and when I looked back at her, she just stared at me with an expression I could not read. “What?”

  “You’ve already figured it out?”

  “Babe, I’m driving four and a half hours one direction to see you, you’re doing the same. That is not something I’d be doing if I wasn’t serious.”

  Her expression turned soft as her eyes warmed with tenderness and the sorry son of a bitch that I was wanted to bask in that look before dragging her ass to the forest floor and fucking her senseless.

  A coy smile curved her lips. “You like me, you want to kiss me.”

  Grabbing her, her soft curves molded against me. “I want to fuck you right here and if I knew your wolf wouldn’t mistake my intentions and rip out my throat, you’d be naked already.”

  “You speak in poetry.”

  I so was not expecting her to say that, my laugh surprised us both. I couldn’t fuck her right now but I sure as hell could kiss her. We were pulled from the moment when her cell went off.

  “Hello.”

  All the color drained from her face. “Oh my God. I’m coming. I’ll call when I get a flight. Yes, I’ll call.”

  She disconnected the call, her face was still colorless, a sight I did not fucking like. “I have to get home. Jasper’s had a heart attack. It doesn’t look good.”

  “Jasper?”

  “Jake’s dad. They were coming out here. We were just finalizing the plans. He can’t die. He’s too young. I’ve got to call Rylee. I don’t know how long I’m going to be and I don’t know what to do about my patients. It’s too much for Rylee to take on herself. Spike still needs to be monitored and Cain. He’s here because of me. If I’m not here, he may not want to be. I can’t stand the thought of him out there with that mountain lion.”

  My gut twisted at her words, at the reality that she might stay gone. And as much as I wanted to protest, to chain her to me, these people were her family.

  “Don’t worry about any of that. I’ll get the flight. You pack. Cain is okay for now, you can cross that bridge when and if you need to.”

  “You’re right. Thank you.” But there was something different about her, that wall that had been up earlier was back and reinforced. And there it was again, that fucking doubt because I had a really bad feeling the ghost I was competing with held more of her heart than I thought.

  I drove us to the airport in Rylee’s car. Sidney jumped out before the car had even come to a complete stop, Rylee following right behind her. “Call me as soon as you know something.”

  “I will. And thank Doc Cassidy again for helping out while I’m gone.”

  Sidney hugged Rylee before turning to me. There were tears in her eyes. “Thank you for getting me here. I wouldn’t have managed without you.”

  “I’m coming with you.”

  Surprise flashed over her face before shifting to an emotion I had never had directed at me. One so powerful it felt like I took a hit in the gut by a velvet wrapped fist.

  “You are?”

  Two small words, but the emotions behind them left me, for the first time in my life, dumbstruck by the intensity coming off Sidney. When I did finally find my voice, it was gruff as I struggled with the unfamiliar response in me it stirred. “Yeah. You’ve no idea what’s waiting for you. I’m not letting you face that alone.”

  Her reaction eased the knot that hadn’t left me since the phone call earlier, honestly the knot I’d felt since realizing just how far under my skin this woman was. She threw her arms around me and held on tight. Her next words not only disintegrated the knot, but also nearly brought me to my knees. “I love you.”

  I suspected I was squeezing the life out of her with how hard I held her; it was either that or acting completely inappropriately for both the location and the situation, but fuck I liked hearing her say that.

  Once we were settled on the plane, I reached for her hand. Her focus shifted from the window to me. “I never had anyone say that to me.”

  “Never?”

  “No.”

  Tears brightened her eyes as one rolled down her cheek. I wiped it away with my thumb. “I don’t know what it’s supposed to feel like, but I know being away from you physically hurts and being with you I feel a peace I’ve never felt.”

  She moved closer. Her lips were so close I could almost taste them. “Sounds like love to me.”

  Threading the fingers of my free hand into her hair, I pulled her mouth the rest of the way to mine and inhaling the breath she exhaled I spoke the words I had never spoken before. “I love you.”

  In response, she climbed into my lap and wrapped her arms around my neck. I didn’t know she was crying until I felt her tears on my skin. Before I could ask her why the tears, she turned her head and pressed her mouth to my ear. “My heart is so full right now I think it might burst. Thank you for bringing me back to life.”

  No words would come and I experienced another first. My eyes burned from the tears that wanted to fall. And even being in uncharted territory, I was never fucking letting her go.

  Sidney held my hand so tightly as we stepped off the elevators at the intensive care floor. A woman saw us and immediately hurried over. Even being in her sixties, as I guessed she was, the woman was a knock out. Her hazel eyes were bright with tears. I released Sidney’s hand as the two hugged.

  “He’s okay. They think he’s going to pull through.”

  “Thank God.”

  “I’m so glad you’re here. Thank you for coming.”

  “As if I’d stay away.”

  The older woman took a step back as her eyes moved from Sidney to me. “You must be Abel.”

  I didn’t react at first because I wasn’t sure I heard her correctly. Sidney had mentioned me to her in-laws? Possession moved through me because she really was mine.

  “I’m Lauren Stephens.”

  “I wish we were meeting under better circumstances, but I’m glad to hear your husband is doing well.”

  “Thank you.”

  I stood in the Stephens’ living room while Sidney and Lauren went to get drinks. It had been a week, but Jasper Stephens had been moved out of intensive care and would be coming home in two days. I was leaving in the morning; Sidney was staying a few extra days to help get Jasper settled. I hadn’t been sure how her late husband’s family would receive me, but they had opened their home to me. I was Sidney’s boyfriend and that was all they needed to know. On the mantel were pictures of their son Jake—a timeline of his life. Snapshots of him as a baby and a toddler holding a football that was almost too big for him to carry, to grade school and high school dressed in his football gear. Sidney was in many of them, young and happy. Seeing his life on display through pictures really had it hitting home how young he had been when he died. How young they had both been and how much they had lost. There was no question they were in love. And feeling that emotion for the first time in my life, the idea of losing Sidney was staggering. The fact that she picked up the pieces and started a new life was extraordinary, but even more so was hearing her tell me she loved me. That she could open her heart again and that she opened it to me was humbling.

  “Here we are. A Corona for you, Abel.” Lauren said as she offered me the glass with a slice of lime on the rim. I tried to tell her the bottle was fine, but seeing how they lived I suspected not many people drank beer from a bottle in their home.

  “Thank you both for dropping everything and coming here. It means so much to Jasper and me.”

  �
�There’s nothing to thank. You’re family.”

  Sidney’s words were so simple but that was the truth of it. These people were her family and they had welcomed me into it. Fucking unreal considering they lost their son and I was his replacement.

  “Good luck with opening the second store for Pipes. When we visit, I suspect you’ll have another customer. Jasper has the bug.”

  “Seriously? Dad’s thinking about getting a motorcycle.”

  “We rode one in Greece and he fell in love. I’ve got to tell you, I loved it too.”

  “I look forward to working up some ideas for him.”

  “He’ll love that.”

  Sidney joined me at the fireplace, her fingers linking through mine as a smile spread over her face. She was older, but this was my own snapshot of her, smiling and in love with me. Yeah, fucking humbling.

  I thought it would feel strange being with Abel in Jake’s home, but it felt like how it always felt with him, natural. We were in bed, neither of us was comfortable with the idea of intimacy in Jake’s house, but that didn’t keep him from pulling me close and holding me while we watched the news. He was leaving in the morning, and even knowing I would be following him in a few days, I was going to miss him. He wouldn’t be in Sheridan when I returned; he’d been away from Pipes for a week.

  “Thank you for coming with me.”

  “Nothing to thank me for. You were needed here, I got you here.”

  “And have been away from your business for a week.”

  “Priorities.”

  I turned, wanted to see those pale eyes. “You’ve not cursed nearly as much here.”

  “A challenge.”

  “So it is a conscious effort.”

  “Yeah.”

  “You’re a good man.”

  If possible he pulled me closer, close enough that I felt him growing hard. “I am using every ounce of willpower to keep from fucking you. Don’t make that any harder.”

  “Telling you you’re a good man makes it harder.”

  “Play on words intended?”

  “Yes.” And the fact that I could flirt with him, here, was a testament to just how much he meant to me. “I love you.”

  “Fucking Christ.”

  “Not helping?”

  “Fuck no.”

  “I’ll go to sleep.”

  “Good idea.”

  “Good night.”

  I didn’t go to sleep though; I just lay there staring. A fact not lost on him. “You’re not closing your eyes.”

  “I like looking at you.”

  “I’m seriously going to drag you down to the car in a minute.”

  “Okay, I’ll behave.”

  “Good, go to sleep.”

  I closed my eyes. “I’m going to sleep.”

  Silence followed for a minute before Abel said, “I fucking love when you tell me you love me, but don’t say it again or I won’t be held responsible for my actions.”

  I didn’t say it again, but I thought it and I fell asleep in the arms of the man I loved and somehow knew that Jake was smiling down on us.

  Jasper was home and settled in his bedroom, something he strongly objected to. Lauren and I had spent the past few days cooking heart healthy meals for him and freezing them so Lauren wouldn’t be stuck in the kitchen. He was walking around, something his cardiologist encouraged as long as he didn’t over do it. Currently we were in his room getting caught up. They shared their trip to Greece, which included Lauren pulling out many of the items they’d purchased including a beautiful gold cuff bracelet adorned with precious stones they had bought for me.

  Jasper had been listening as Lauren shared story after story, but during a lull in the conversation he surprised me when he said quite unexpectedly, “I like your Abel.”

  Abel and Jasper met while Jasper was in the hospital. They had even shared a few private conversations when Lauren and I were off getting food. Abel hadn’t shared with me what they discussed—I was encouraged that they had those chats—but I hadn’t realized how much I needed Jasper’s approval until that moment.

  “You were needed home and he dropped everything to get you here. It had to be awkward for him to bring you home knowing who we were, but he didn’t hesitate did he?”

  “No.”

  “I wouldn’t have picked him for you. He’s as far from Jake as a man can be. He’s rough around the edges, hardened and not at all diplomatic—says whatever he thinks and doesn’t give a damn how it’s taken. I thought about that in the hospital. God knows I had lots of time to think. When you were younger, you needed Jake. He was solid and centered. He gave you the foundation of love and family you lacked at home. He made you feel safe, loved, protected and did so in his easygoing way. But you’re not the same girl you were. You’ve been through so much, lost so much. Had you found a man like Jake now he wouldn’t be what you needed. You needed someone to shake it up, to snap you out of your pain. Abel brought you back, so I approve and I know Jake would have too.”

  My eyes burned, but Jasper was right. Jake and I had fit and would have had a wonderful life together, but after his loss, Abel was who I needed now. I had been blessed with loving two men in my lifetime and I loved Abel every bit as much as I had Jake. And getting Jasper and Lauren’s approval meant I really would have had Jake’s too.

  On my way home from the airport, my first stop was Abel’s. I wasn’t afraid any more, wasn’t determined to deny myself love and family for fear of losing it. I was ready to move forward, eager to do so, and I wanted that life with Abel.

  He was working on a bike when Tiny showed me to him. He looked so sexy in his jeans and tee with his hair pulled back. Abel’s head lifted, his gaze landed on me and as soon as it did, a smile spread over his face.

  “Hey, Doc.”

  He moved from the bike, wiping his hands on the rag he held. “How was your flight?”

  “Good.”

  “Jasper?”

  “He’s doing really well. Bitching about his new diet, so all is right in the world.”

  Reaching me, he yanked me close and kissed me—a hungry kiss that proved he’d missed me as much as I had him.

  “You’re staying the night.” He wasn’t asking.

  “That was the plan.”

  “It’s a good fucking plan. I’m out of here, Tiny. See you tomorrow.”

  “Yep. Glad your father-in-law is doing better.”

  Tiny rarely addressed me, so those words surprised and warmed me. “Thank you, Tiny.”

  “Where are your bags?” Abel asked as he all but dragged me from his shop.

  “Your office.”

  “We’ll leave them there.”

  “But I don’t have any clothes besides what I’m wearing.”

  “And since you’re going to be naked as soon as I get you home, it doesn’t matter.”

  The man made a good point.

  As soon as he locked his door behind us, Abel had me out of my jeans and panties. Really it was remarkable how fast he undressed me. “We’ll go slower the next time, but if I don’t get my cock into you I’m going to fucking die.”

  Since I felt the same, I was already working on his zipper, which earned me a growl from deep in his throat. He rolled on the condom—had to love a man who was prepared—lifted and pressed me against the wall. With a shift of his hips, he buried himself deep. We both moaned.

  “Fucking finally.”

  Curling my legs around his waist, my heels worked on pushing his jeans lower as my hips rocked against him.

  “Lose the shirt and bra.”

  My blood felt like fire burning through my veins and even though he spoke the words, I wanted to lose my shirt and bra. Grabbing the hem of my tee I pulled it over my head and reached for the bra clasp. His eyes were on me, watching every move and I took delight in that, purposely going more slowly as I pulled the straps down my arms. In reply, he stopped moving his hips; the loss of friction nearly had me whimpering.

  “Two can play that gam
e,” he warned.

  “Don’t stop.”

  “Then get rid of that bra and give me what I want.”

  The ache between my legs intensified as I dropped my bra.

  “Offer it.”

  “I don’t...”

  “Cup your breast and give it to me.”

  There was significance to what he was asking me, but I wanted his mouth on me, so I cupped my breast and lifted it to his lips. His tongue appeared, the tip teasing my nipple with a skill that left me breathless. And when he sucked the nipple into his mouth, I nearly begged him to take more. Instead, he bit me. Not hard, but hard enough that my body crested and fell right over the edge. Chills danced over my nerve endings as the orgasm swept through me. And it was only then that he sucked me fully into his mouth as his hips moved faster until he found his own release. He rested his forehead on mine, his breathing as erratic as my own. “Let’s move this to my room. I intend to go slowly this time, savoring every inch of you, and then I’ll feed you.”

  It was late, almost two in the morning, but Abel and I were still awake. We were in bed, his large body holding me close. Earlier, he had taken his time savoring me and after we ate, I took my time savoring him. We had just showered and settled in for bed, but neither of us wanted to sleep. His fingers running up and down my back had me feeling a bit like Sandbar as I curled my spine into his caress.

  He had been thoughtful while we ate; intense and focused when we made love. Something was on his mind but before I could ask about it, he shared. “I never had a father figure. My own is a piece of shit. Always looking for the next score, the next con. Tiny, he’s my brother, stronger than most blood brothers, but I never had a man talk to me the way Jasper Stephens did. Garrett Hellar was the closest I’d ever had to a father, but he was raising two sons and building an empire. Sitting in that hospital room talking to the father of the man whose shoes I’m, for all intent and purposes, filling. I understand better the kind of man your Jake was.”

  An ache formed in my chest, not just from his words but the glimpse into the beautiful man beside me.