Caged

by Lorelei James

  Brandi put her hand on his chest. “You’re right, Marcus. Where’s Alan?”

  “Right here.” He parked himself on Brandi’s other side. “Hey, Molly,” Alan said, ignoring Brandi completely. “Do you remember me?”

  “Of course she remembers you. Everyone knew who you were,” Brandi assured him.

  Alan tried to send Molly a smoldering look. “We’ll have to catch up.”

  Right. You never deigned to speak to me before, and I’m not so hard up that I’ll swoon at your feet now. “I’m only here for a short while, and I’ll be busy.”

  “I’ll make time for you.”

  “Are you seriously trying to pick me up on the day my grandma died?”

  Alan blinked in confusion.

  Brandi snorted. “I’m thinking she’d be more into you if you had tits and a pussy.”

  Silence. Then Alan sneered. “You’re gay?”

  Unreal.

  Molly handed the bartender cash and said, “Keep the change.”

  “See? She’s not denying it,” Brandi said.

  “I’m not gay, but it wouldn’t be your business if I were. And for your information, I have a boyfriend.”

  “A boyfriend. Uh-huh. Why haven’t I heard anything about this”—she made air quotes—“boyfriend before now?”

  “Because I haven’t talked to you in a year. Oh, and because I can’t fucking stand you.”

  A nasty look crossed Brandi’s face. “What a faker you are. Acting innocent when you have the mouth of a truck driver. I’m sure Grams would be ashamed of how you’ve treated me on the day she died. You’re not the only one grieving for her.” She affected a sad look. “Even the reverend had to get after Molly today for acting out.”

  How many times had she dealt with Brandi or Jennifer lying to cover their own bad behavior? Too many to count. Molly felt herself reverting into that old role, keeping her mouth shut and letting it go.

  You’re not reverting. Not calling your cousins out on their lies and walking away isn’t cowardly; it’s the smartest option, because you know no matter what you say, you can’t win.

  Molly bit off a civil, “See you in the morning,” to Brandi and escaped from the bar. On the walk back to the motel, she stayed alert just in case one of those drunken bozos followed her.

  After she’d made it inside the safety of her room, the day’s events overwhelmed her and she couldn’t stop the tears. She clapped her hand over her mouth to muffle the gasping sobs.

  “Your tears fuckin’ wreck me, woman.”

  She screamed. Luckily she’d already covered her mouth, but still she froze. She lowered her hand and whispered, “Deacon?” into the darkness.

  “You expecting someone else?”

  “No. But I wasn’t expecting you.”

  “You should have.” He moved into her line of sight, fury and frustration burning in his eyes. “I shouldn’t be the last to know this important shit. I oughta be the first one you call.”

  “You’re mad.”

  “Damn straight I am.”

  “That’s not fair. You don’t know what I’ve been through.”

  “Tell me.”

  “I stayed by Grams’s side until she . . .” She closed her eyes against the sharp sense of loss that sliced through her. “I hadn’t slept in more than twenty-four hours, so after I checked in, I crashed.”

  “But you had time to text Amery and let her know what was goin’ on,” he pointed out.

  “I would’ve texted you, but you’re Mr. I Don’t Like to Text, remember? I planned to call you tonight. But it sounds like Amery already filled you in.”

  “Wasn’t like I gave her a choice.” Deacon reached out and curled his hand around the side of her neck. “Goin’ crazy knowing how bad you were hurting. Knowing you shut me out.”

  “What was I supposed to do? You’ve already told me you don’t do family shit. This is big family shit, Deacon.”

  He stroked his thumb across her jawline. “I said I didn’t do my family shit. I didn’t say a damn thing about yours.”

  “Oh.”

  “We decided to do this relationship thing, babe. That means you don’t decide to take off without a word to me. It makes me do crazy stuff.”

  “Like hopping on a plane to Bumfuck, Nebraska?”

  “Yeah. Would’ve been faster to drive. I had to get a damn rental car anyway.”

  “I could’ve told you that.”

  He made an annoyed noise. “I wouldn’t have had to fly if you’d told me what was goin’ on. Then I would’ve driven with you.”

  “I can’t believe you’re here.” Molly turned her head and kissed the inside of his wrist. Then she looked at him. “Hey. Wait a second. How did you get into my room?”

  “Told the chick at the front desk you’re my girlfriend. I said you were so upset, you left Denver damn near in the middle of the night and forgot to tell me where you were staying.”

  Who said small towns weren’t dangerous? “What was she thinking? Giving a big, mean-looking, tattooed badass access to my room?”

  His full lips formed a smile. “Her husband checked me out. I assured them I wasn’t here to hurt you and you’d be happy to see me.” Deacon bent down, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Don’t make a liar outta me, babe. You are happy to see me, right?”

  She said yes without hesitation.

  Then Deacon’s mouth was on hers. He kissed her slowly, steadily, and sweetly. She teared up, grateful for his tender concern.

  Tender concern? The man probably dropped two grand getting here on such short notice.

  Molly broke the kiss and tried to get away from him.

  But his arms just clamped around her more tightly. “Don’t.”

  “Deacon—”

  “Lemme hold you and say what I need to.”

  She stopped struggling.

  “Know what I thought when I couldn’t get in touch with you? That we were done. You were freaked-out and disgusted by what happened in your bedroom Saturday night.”

  Since Deacon always acted so cool and confident, she’d never considered he might need reassurance that his sexual quirks hadn’t sent her running from him. “Saturday night was hot. I wanted that from you. No regrets on my side, Deacon.”

  “But?”

  “But we’ve had two dates. I wouldn’t ask you to drop everything and come to Nebraska with me, a woman you’re not even sleeping with.”

  He stretched his fingers beneath her jaw, lifting her head so his gaze bored into hers. “We’re involved.”

  “I know.”

  “Then you also know that I want to fuck you until you can’t move.”

  Need spread in a rush of heat from her core outward, warming her body from the inside out.

  His thumb grazed the underside of her jaw in an erotic arc. “But that ain’t the only reason I’m with you or that I’m here. So fair warning. I won’t take advantage of you when you’re in a sad place any more than I would if you were drunk.”

  “You’re chivalrous.”

  “Ain’t no other way for a real man to be, where I come from.”

  Keeping her eyes on his, she sucked his lower lip between her teeth and lightly bit down.

  A low warning rumbled up his throat.

  “While I appreciate your consideration and restraint, Deacon, it’s not only your decision when we become intimate.”

  “That’s what I’m trying to tell you. We’re already intimate, regardless of whether we’ve fucked. Which is why I was pissed off you didn’t come to me first when this family stuff went down.”

  “I am sorry.”

  “I know. And it won’t happen again.”

  A statement. Needing space from his intensity, she retreated. “It’s been an exhausting day.”

  “No kidding. I’m beat.” Deacon fisted his hand in his T-shirt, yanking it over his head.

  When his fingers unhooked the button of his camo shorts, Molly said, “What are you doing?”

  “Getting rea
dy for bed.”

  “Oh. I’ll get out of your . . . space. I’ll grab the extra blanket from the bedroom for the couch.”

  Deacon stared at her. “Contorting my body on that tiny couch ain’t happening when there’s a king-sized bed in the next room.”

  “But . . .” Her mouth dried when he lowered the zipper and his clothing hit the floor.

  Her don’t look, don’t look mantra was overruled by the greedy sexual bitch inside her that screamed, Fuck yeah I’m gonna look! It was dark the last time and I didn’t see much!

  Molly’s eyes followed the line bisecting his upper torso, down his pecs, over his sternum, past his belly button, her gaze straying to the rigid pillows of flesh that created his six-pack, and then, whoa, there was his cock, growing right before her very eyes.

  Then he gritted out, “Molly.”

  “What?”

  “Get ready for bed.”

  She took longer than usual in the bathroom. It seemed the mirror exposed every one of her flaws in brightly lit detail. Screw it. He’s seen me naked before. She slipped on her frilly baby-doll nightgown and marched into the bedroom.

  Deacon was propped against the headboard, watching TV. Immediately, his gaze roved over her, from the tiny pink bow between her breasts to the sheer ruffles hitting her midthigh.

  “What?”

  His tone was even, but his eyes were filled with male appreciation. He pointed at her with the remote. “It’s a damn good thing I’m bein’ chivalrous; otherwise I’d be . . .” He closed his eyes and groaned. “Fuck it. Never mind.”

  Molly inched forward. “Tell me.”

  “Otherwise I’d be ripping that sexy nightie off you with my teeth.”

  Lust and regret landed a one-two punch in her gut and she huffed out, “Oh.”

  He pulled back the covers to reveal he’d slipped on a pair of boxers. “Get in here and cover yourself up, woman.”

  “You’re acting awful bossy for a man who’s a guest in my bed,” she retorted.

  “Babe. I’m bossy in any bed.”

  Molly clicked off the lamp on the nightstand before she crawled in. She curled onto her side, her back to Deacon, giving him almost all of the bed.

  “You mind if I watch TV?”

  “That’s fine. I’m so tired I’ll sleep through it.”

  Shadows flickered from the TV images even after she closed her eyes. Exhaustion overtook her.

  The last thing she remembered was Deacon kissing her cheek and murmuring, “Sweet dreams, sweetheart. You could use them tonight.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  MOLLY woke up and squinted at the clock.

  Dammit. She’d overslept. She had to be at the church in twenty minutes.

  She got ready in record time. When she came out of the bathroom, Deacon was up. Still in bed with the covers up to his chest but looking at her curiously.

  “Hey.” She shoved her feet into her sandals. “I’m meeting my family at the church.”

  “You want me to tag along?”

  “No. Thanks, though. After I’m done I’ll head to the store. Anything in particular you want me to pick up?”

  Those crystalline eyes narrowed. “We’ll go to the store together.”

  “Fine. I’ll see you later.”

  Molly stopped at the convenience store for a giant coffee before she pulled into the church parking lot.

  Reverend Somers sat outside on the stone steps. He smiled at her warmly. “Good morning, Molly.”

  “Morning.”

  The sun shone between the clouds, sending shards of light skipping across the lush green grass. Growing up, she’d attended this church every Sunday. As she’d gotten older and had the freedom to make her own choices, she’d understood that her grandmother had a heavier hand than god in forming her.

  “Erma was proud of you,” the reverend said softly.

  Molly faced him. “I know. But as she’d raised me not to brag, I have a hard time believing she’d boast to you, Reverend.”

  “You’re right. She wasn’t one to boast. Especially not in mixed company. But whenever she invited me for supper, we talked for hours. That’s when she spoke of you. I will miss her.”

  Tears sparked in her eyes. “I’ll miss her too.”

  Uncle Bob pulled up in his boat of a Cadillac. Jennifer exited on the passenger side and Brandi from the back.

  Reverend Somers stood and unlocked the church door. They filed inside after him, falling into silence.

  In the parish office, Molly settled in the lone chair off to the side of the reverend’s desk. As much as it dismayed her to imagine Grams discussing particulars of her funeral with her pastor, it made planning the service easier. It also indicated that her death wasn’t as unexpected as Molly had believed. Had she been so wrapped up in her own life she hadn’t recognized the signs of her grandmother’s failing health?

  Guilt rolled over her.

  Molly was preoccupied when they left the reverend’s office an hour later.

  But when Jennifer grabbed the back of her arm above her elbow—a move she’d been doing since they were kids—and squeezed with enough force to leave a bruise, Molly reacted. She twisted her arm free, grabbing Jennifer’s wrist, stepping sideways, and jerking Jennifer’s arm behind her back.

  “Fuck. Ow. Jesus. Let go,” Jennifer complained.

  “Don’t. Ever. Touch. Me. Again. Understand?”

  “Fine. Whatever, you stupid cow.”

  Molly dropped her arm.

  Jennifer rubbed her wrist. “You have turned into a real head case.”

  “You’d know all about that,” Molly said sweetly.

  Jennifer leaned in and whispered, “I hate you. I’ve always hated how you were Grandma’s spoiled, fat, favorite grandkid.”

  “Jennifer Marie, stop badgering Molly and get moving,” Uncle Bob warned.

  Jennifer muttered something to Brandi and stormed down the hallway, Brandi on her heels.

  Molly exited the church and allowed herself a moment to breathe in the fresh air.

  Jennifer and Brandi lounged against the hand railing, ensuring Molly had to pass by them.

  “You should’ve seen her last night, Jen. Throwing herself at both Marcus and Alan. As if she’d ever have a shot at either of them. It was embarrassing for her.”

  “Didn’t you accuse me of being a lesbian last night?” Molly